# Help me pick the most "definitive" songs by each of these bands... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 4, 2003, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-the-most-definitive-songs-by-each-of-these-bands/179554 "2003-06-04T10:18:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2003, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-the-most-definitive-songs-by-each-of-these-bands/179554/41 "2003-06-05T02:42:44Z")
I second **Space Oddity** for Bowie. Liam Lynch has a great parody of this song (and Bowie in general) on his album “Fake Songs.” Gem lines like: “Hydroplaning towards infinity…” ---
**Author:** ![Blonde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Blonde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blonde)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2003, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-the-most-definitive-songs-by-each-of-these-bands/179554/42 "2003-06-05T02:55:28Z")
**Dokken** has to be **In My Dreams** (you’ll always be…) For Zeppelin, you may want to consider “Whole Lotta Love” or “Black Dog.” No-one has mentioned Blood, Sweat and Tears – do y’all like “Or When I Die” or “I Can’t Quit Her”? Three Dog Night - “One”, hands down. Nine Inch Nails - is “The Day the World Went Away” the song in which the chorus goes “I want to fuck you like an animal?” Because that’s the only NIN song ever played on the air in Dallas, TX. Rock and roll! ---
**Author:** ![broken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@broken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/broken)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2003, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-the-most-definitive-songs-by-each-of-these-bands/179554/43 "2003-06-05T04:24:07Z")
'fraid not Blonde, that’s “closer”, and well, nine inch nails is tough, i would probably agree with “the day the world went away”… or maybe “the perfect drug”. “Hurt” is also a decent option, but isn’t all that representative of most of their music. That’s just me though. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2003, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-the-most-definitive-songs-by-each-of-these-bands/179554/44 "2003-06-05T04:26:14Z")
Well, for Led Zeppelin, I think you ought to pick a song that’s anchored in the blues, since their whole sound was rooted in the blues. So, while I love a LOT of Led Zeppelin songs, I think “Dazed and Confused” comes closer to defining their sound than “Stairway” or any other song. ---
**Author:** ![Blonde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Blonde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blonde)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2003, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-the-most-definitive-songs-by-each-of-these-bands/179554/45 "2003-06-05T04:42:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by broken \* > \*\*'fraid not Blonde, that’s “closer”, and well, nine inch nails is tough, i would probably agree with “the day the world went away”… or maybe “the perfect drug”. “Hurt” is also a decent option, but isn’t all that representative of most of their music. That’s just me though. \*\* Well, it’s clear that I need to obtain more Nine Inch Nails CD’s! Thanks, **broken**! Ted Nugent: (whom I hate, being an animal lover) – Cat Scratch Fever Rush: (whom I also hate, boring and the first concert I ever went to - 1978 I think) – Working Man. I know there’s more popular songs by Rush than that one, but dammit, it’s the only one I like. OK, this one will kill y’all. The opening act for Rush in 1978 was… April Wine. Repeat after me: “She’s A Roller… A High-Roller, Baby!” Alice Cooper: School’s Out For Summer. Played it really loud from my car while picking up my son from the last day of 1st grade, a couple of weeks ago. I received a few odd looks from the other parents. ---
**Author:** ![Banger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@Banger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banger)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2003, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-the-most-definitive-songs-by-each-of-these-bands/179554/46 "2003-06-05T04:55:59Z")
Bah! You have Bad Company, but you don’t have Bad Brains, Bad Manners or Bad Religion? Each of these bands have plenty of great songs to pick, but after some hard thinking I have picked these: Bad Brains: “She’s Calling You” Bad Manners: “Lorraine” Bad Religion: “Stranger than Fiction” ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2003, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-the-most-definitive-songs-by-each-of-these-bands/179554/47 "2003-06-05T04:59:08Z")
I wouldn’t pick _Man in the Box_ for the Alice in Chains song either - good luck finding a song that doesn’t remind you of Layne’s death, since heroin was almost the only thing he wrote about - but I don’t think the song really fits into their style. That first album is very glam-metal, and they (fortunately) left that behind with _Dirt_. _Rooster_ or _Would?_ both work, I think. ---
**Author:** ![HookerChemical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/278dde/32.png) [@HookerChemical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HookerChemical)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2003, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-the-most-definitive-songs-by-each-of-these-bands/179554/48 "2003-06-05T05:14:55Z")
**Beatles:** A Day in the Life, no question. **The Doors:** There’s a reason The End is such a simple pick. Go with it. **Deep Purple:** Hush and Highway Star would be perfect. **Clapton:** Layla. **Cream:** Crossroads. Yeah, it’s a cover, but it’s representative. **Genesis:** Dancing with the Moonlit Knight **Blue Oyster Cult:** I’d go with Cities on Flame with Rock and Roll. I’d avoid Veteran of the Psychic Wars because it doesn’t have their usual killer riff and the drums can be really annoying. **Black Sabbath:** **AC/DC:** Back in Black, though AC/DC has such a signature sound most of their songs will get the point across. **ELP** I’d go with Karn Evil 9, though Tarkus is good too. Don’t go with the Copeland cover. It’s good, but only their other Copeland covers sound like it. **Bowie:** He did a lot of different things, but I always think of Ziggy Stardust when I think Bowie. As the drummer said when the rest of us were trying to figure out if any of us had common musical ground: “Everybody knows Ziggy.” He was right. **Eurythmics:** I’d go with Sweet Dreams, but my knowledge of their catalog isn’t great. **Led Zeppelin:** Though Stairway is the better song, Black Dog is probably more representative of their sound. **Pink Floyd:** Comfortably Numb. **Alice Cooper:** Billion Dollar Babies **Simon and Garfunkel** I’ll second The Boxer. ---
**Author:** ![Blonde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Blonde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blonde)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2003, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-the-most-definitive-songs-by-each-of-these-bands/179554/49 "2003-06-05T05:15:57Z")
People, people. You can’t have a “definitive” song until your band has been around more than 30 days. Jethro Tull – Aqualung Queen – We Will Rock You! (although many other songs were better). Humble Pie – 30 Days In The Hole The Cars – Just What I Needed ---
**Author:** ![HookerChemical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/278dde/32.png) [@HookerChemical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HookerChemical)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2003, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-the-most-definitive-songs-by-each-of-these-bands/179554/50 "2003-06-05T05:18:00Z")
I suppose I should have listed a song for **Black Sabbath**. How about Fairies Wear Boots/Jack the Stripper. ---
**Author:** ![RawkStah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/46a35a/32.png) [@RawkStah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RawkStah)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2003, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-the-most-definitive-songs-by-each-of-these-bands/179554/51 "2003-06-05T05:26:08Z")
Mr. Bungle: Sweet lord, man… anything of \California\ should work, but I’d go with either “Air Conditioned Nightmare” or “Goodbye Sober Day” Stormtroopers of Death: either “March of the SOD” or “Milk”, cuz, IMHO, they were a spoof speedmetal band Body Count: “Evil Dick” or “KKK Bitch”. Yeah, I know you’re going for “definitive” songs, but, damn, those songs are entertaining! Green Day: The temptation is probably to go for “Longview”, but I’d go for “Brain Stew/Jaded” Jane’s Addiction: “Ocean Size”, “Three Days”, “Of Course” or “Jane Says”. Hell, strap your friend down and have him listen to \Nothing’s Shocking\. Ministry: “TV II” or “NWO”. I’d skip anything prior to \The Land of Rape and Honey\ and prior to \Filth Pig\. NIN: “Head Like A Hole”. To take anything from \The Downward Spiral\ and run it solo kind of ruins the whole impact. Unless you are Johnny Cash. “Starfuckers, Inc.” or “The Perfect Drug” would also be good choices. Primus: “Tommy the Cat”, cuz it includes Tom Waits. Or, “Jerry Was a Racecar Driver” Prince: Good luck, my man. The Ramones: Christ, what DIDN’T they do that was definitive? I’d go with “Rock & Roll Radio”. That, or “I Wanna Be Sedated”. White Zombie: “Thunder Kiss '65” Strange… All this music, and I don’t see Black Flag or Rollins Band… ---
**Author:** ![Blonde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Blonde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blonde)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2003, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-the-most-definitive-songs-by-each-of-these-bands/179554/52 "2003-06-05T06:08:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by KnightNavro \* > \*\*I suppose I should have listed a song for **Black Sabbath**. How about Fairies Wear Boots/Jack the Stripper. \*\* Fairies Wear Boots **rocks!** That just might be my favorite Black Sabbath song - and I love them all. Kid Rock - I Want to be a Cowboy Guns 'n Roses - Rocket Queen Umm, am I the only rock’n’roll chick on this thread? Just wondering, not that I have a problem hanging out with you guys by my lonesome. Love it, in fact. ---
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2003, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-the-most-definitive-songs-by-each-of-these-bands/179554/53 "2003-06-05T06:17:18Z")
**David Bowie** - I think I’ll choose “Space Oddity” and move on… **Blue Oyster Cult** - I had hesitations about “Veteran”, since like you said it’s not a heavy song. My 2nd choice was “Godzilla”, but I’ll check some of their other work and decide. **Guns’N’Roses** - I’ve already decided on “November Rain” **Led Zeppelin** - “Whole Lotta Love” is a great choice, but “Black Dog” is too cock-rockish. I definitely want to spotlight their slower, more bluesy side as well (such as “Since I’ve Been Loving You”) “Kashmir” is an awesome song but really is an anomaly for Led Zep, no matter what Page says. 🙂 **Ministry** - “N.W.O.” is a lock. **Nine Inch Nails** - A tossup between “Closer” and “Something I Can Never Have”…nothing else comes close, IMHO. **Primus** - “Tommy the Cat” was my 1st choice, by a mile. > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Banger:_ > You have Bad Company, but you don’t have Bad Brains, Bad Manners or Bad Religion? I have Bad English, does that count? 😃 A nitpick to **KnightNavro** - “Layla” is a Derek & the Dominos song (which features Eric Clapton) So far it’s the easiest choice I’ve had to make so far. 🙂 🙂 (So far nobody’s answered my Charlie Daniels Band question…) ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Nader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Darth\_Nader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Nader)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2003, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-the-most-definitive-songs-by-each-of-these-bands/179554/54 "2003-06-05T06:52:11Z")
So I got carried away and added a few. Now I’m in the mood to make a mix myself! **The Beatles** - “Dear Prudence” **Black Flag** - “TV Party” **Body Count** - “Bowels of the Devil” **David Bowie** - “Ashes to Ashes” **Kate Bush** - “Leave it Open” **Camper Van Beethoven** - “Tanya” **CSN&Y** - “Wooden Ships” **The Cure** - “Lullabye” **The Dead Kennedys** - “California Uber Alles” **Depche Mode** - “Never Let Me Down” **The Doors** - “The Unknown Soldier” **Husker Du** - “Diane” **Love and Rockets** - “No New Tale to Tell” **Marillion** - “Fugazi” **Meg Lee Chin** - “Swallowing You” **Ministry** - “So What?” **Gary Neuman** - “Down in the Park” **Nine Inch Nails** - “Gave Up” **Nobody’s Watching** - “Too Much Green” **Pigface** - “Suck” **Public Image Limited** - “Seattle” **The Rolling Stones** - “Mother’s Little Helper” **The Sex Pistols** - “God Save the Queen” **Sinead O’Connor** - “Just Like U said it Would B” **Skinny Puppy** - “Testure” **The Sisters of Mercy** - “Lucretia, My Reflection” **Violent Femmes** - “Add it Up” **The Warlock Pinchers** - “Where the Hell is Crispin Glover?” **Yes** - “Starship Trooper” Yikes, I’d better stop. I could go on for hours… ---
**Author:** ![Blonde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Blonde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blonde)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2003, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-the-most-definitive-songs-by-each-of-these-bands/179554/55 "2003-06-05T07:00:43Z")
The Sex Pistols- “God Save the Queen” Dammit,[B]Darth\*\*, I was going to throw that one in, but I thought everyone would think I was weird. So, the honors go to you! ---
**Author:** ![RawkStah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/46a35a/32.png) [@RawkStah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RawkStah)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2003, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-the-most-definitive-songs-by-each-of-these-bands/179554/56 "2003-06-05T07:09:12Z")
**Darth** – “Suck” was Pigface? I’ve only heard the NIN version. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2003, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-the-most-definitive-songs-by-each-of-these-bands/179554/57 "2003-06-05T07:18:55Z")
You’d be commiting a musical crime if you gave your friend only one Genesis song and it was “Invisible Touch” or “In Too Deep” or some other pablum. For a definitive Genesis song try “Firth of Fifth”, “Cinema Show” or “The Musical Box”. I mean, would you select “Radio Ga-Ga” for Queen? ---
**Author:** ![AchimbaProphet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2bfe46/32.png) [@AchimbaProphet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AchimbaProphet)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2003, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-the-most-definitive-songs-by-each-of-these-bands/179554/58 "2003-06-05T07:31:08Z")
You missed a few A-B 🙂 4 Non Blondes - What’s Going On 10 Years After - I’d Love To Change The World 311 - Beautiful Disaster 1000 Clowns - Not The Greatest Rapper 10000 Maniacs - Candy Everybody Wants A Guy Called Gerald - Voodoo Ray A Perfect Circle - Judith A-Ha - Take On Me Adam Ant - Goody Two Shoes Adema - Giving In Afghan Whigs - 66 Afro Man - Cuz I Got High Air Supply - Making Love Out Of Nothing At All Al Green - Ain’t No Sunshine When She’s Gone Alanis Morrisette - Head Over Feet Alice Cooper - School’s Out Alicia Keys - Fallin’ Allman Brothers Band - Midnight Rider Alphaville - Forever Young Amanda Ghost - Filthy Mind America - Horse With No Name American Hi Fi - Flavor Of The Weak Animals - House Of The Rising Sun Annie Lennox - Primative Apartment 26 - Backwards Apex Theory - Apossibly Apollo 440 - Electro Glide In Blue Aqua - Barbie Girl Arch Enemy - Ravenous Aretha Franklin - Respect Arrested Development - Tennessee Artificial Joy Club - Sick And Beautiful At The Drive In - One Armed Scissor Aztec Camera - Oblivious Bad Religion - Shades Of Truth Bananarama - Cruel Summer Bangles - Manic Monday Barenaked Ladies - One Week Basement Jaxx - Where’s Your Head At Bauhaus - Bela Lugosis Dead Beastie Boys - Sabotage Beat Happening - Pajama Party In A Haunted House Beck - Loser Belly - Gepetto Beloved - Today Is The Day Ben Folds Five - Battle Of Who Could Care Less Ben Kweller - Wasted And Ready Berlin - Take My Breath Away Beth Orton - Stolen Car Better Than Ezra - Good Big Audio Dynamite - Rush Big Country - In A Big Country Bill Withers - Lean On Me Billy Idol - White Wedding Billy Joel - It’s Still Rock And Roll To Me Björk - Bachelorette Black Sheep - The Choice Is Yours Blind Melon - No Rain Blink 182 - Dammit Bloodhound Gang - Fire Water Burn Blues Traveler - Run Around Blur - Song 2 Bob Dylan - Blowin’ In The Wind Bob Marley - Redemption Song Bonnie Tyler - Total Eclipse Of The Heart Booker T And The MG’s - Green Onion Bourgeois Tagg - I Don’t Mind at All Bow Wow Wow - C30 C60 C90 GO Box Car Racer - There Is Boys Don’t Cry - I Wanna Be A Cowboy Boys II Men - Yesterday Bran Van 3000 - Drinking In LA Breathe - Hands To Heaven Breeders - Cannonball Brian Adams - Summer 0f '69 Britney Spears - Oops I Did It Again Bruce Hornsby - The Way It Is BT - Blue Skies Buck Cherry - For The Movies Buffalo Springfield - For What It’s Worth Buggles - Video Killed The Radio Star Bush - Everything Zen Butthole Surfers - Who Was In My Room Last Night Byrds - Turn Turn Turn ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Nader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Darth\_Nader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Nader)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2003, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-the-most-definitive-songs-by-each-of-these-bands/179554/59 "2003-06-05T07:32:08Z")
Yay me! I’m weird! Some more thoughts: **Alice Cooper** - “Eighteen” **The Cars** - “Let the Good Times Roll” **The Eagles** - “Take it Easy” **Eurythmics** - “Who’s That Girl” **Fishbone** - “Party at Ground Zero” **Led Zepplein** - “When the Levee Breaks” **Metallica** - “Orion” **Oingo Boingo** - “Interesting Life” **Pearl Jam** - “Black” **Pink Floyd** - “Wish You Were Here” **Simon & Garfunkel** - “Scarborough Fair (Canticle)” **Tool** - “Stinkfist” And yes, “suck” is a Pigface song. Trent did two covers on the “Broken” EP. The other one was “Physical” Nivek Ogre (of Skinny Puppy fame) goes apeshit with that song on the live Pigface cd “Welcome to Mexico… Asshole” ---
**Author:** ![AchimbaProphet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2bfe46/32.png) [@AchimbaProphet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AchimbaProphet)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2003, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-the-most-definitive-songs-by-each-of-these-bands/179554/60 "2003-06-05T07:39:28Z")
And the C’s: C+C Music Factory - Gonna Make You Sweat Cake - The Distance Candiria - Without Water Candlebox - Far Behind Canned Heat - On The Road Again Cars - Just What I Needed Cat Stevens - Wild World Catherine Wheel - Crank Caviar - Tangerine Speedo Chambers Brothers - Time Has Come Today Chapterhouse - Mesmerise Charlatans UK - Weirdo Chaser - Great Escape Chemical Brothers - Setting Sun Chemistry Set - Underground Chevelle - The Red Chicane - Saltwater Chris Cornell - Seasons Chris Issack - Wicked Game Citizen King - I’ve Seen Better Days Clannad - Theme From Harry’s Game Classix Nouveaux - Guilty Cold - Just Got Wicked Coldplay - Clocks Collective Soul - Shine Commander Cody - Down To Seeds And Stems Again Commodores - Brick House Concrete Blonde - Joey Corey Hart - Sunglasses At Night Cornershop - Brimful Of Asha Count Five - Psychotic Reaction Counting Crows - Mr. Jones Cracker - Low Cranberries - Zombie Crash Test Dummies - Superman Song Crazy Town - Butterfly Creatures - Standing There Creed - With Arms Wide Open Crowded House - Don’t Dream Its Over Crystal Method - Keep Hope Alive Cult - The Witch Culture Club - Karma Chameleon Custom - Hey Mister Cutting Crew - I Just Died In Your Arms Tonight Cyndi Lauper - Girls Just Want To Have Fun Cypress Hill - Insane in the Membrane [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-the-most-definitive-songs-by-each-of-these-bands/179554.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-the-most-definitive-songs-by-each-of-these-bands/179554.md?page=4)