# Is there any SONG that we ALL would agree is good (if not great)? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [January 7, 2026, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-song-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026427 "2026-01-07T11:53:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 15
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-song-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026427/281 "2026-01-12T16:55:37Z")
Here’s a proposal: a thread discussing songs should only feature things that are _inarguably_ songs. If there’s even the slightest chance that your suggestion might reasonably not be considered a song, don’t suggest it. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-song-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026427/282 "2026-01-12T17:00:37Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > > [@Larsedik](#): > > > > They still play _The Girl from Ipanema_ a lot in Ipanema. I heard it several times when I was in Rio de Janeiro in 2017. > > They should! Why wouldn’t they? That’s one thing to like about Brazilians, they respect their classics and aren’t shy about keeping a 60-year-old song in heavy rotation. I certainly hope they do! They even named their airport after Tom Jobim: > **[Rio de Janeiro/Galeão International Airport](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rio_de_Janeiro%2FGale%C3%A3o_International_Airport#/media/File:RIOgaleao_(Logo_2020).svg)** > > Rio de Janeiro/Galeão–Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport (IATA: GIG, ICAO: SBGL), popularly known by its original name Galeão International Airport, is the main international airport serving Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. > The airport was originally named after the neighborhood of Galeão: Praia do Galeão (Galleon Beach) is located in front of the original passenger terminal (the present passenger terminal of the Brazilian Air Force). This beach is the location where the galleon Padre Eterno wa... If I had to choose just one song of his though, it wouldn’t be The Girl from Ipanema, simply because of overplaying…I’d go with “The Waters of March” as sung by Elis Regina and Tom Jobim. Followed closely by “Dindi” Those two aren’t as familiar to as many people though. ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-song-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026427/283 "2026-01-12T17:08:50Z")
> [@fachverwirrt](#): > > I’m not familiar with the Genesis song and don’t have time right now to listen to it. Heh. Just realized what I did here. Let me rephrase: I’m not familiar with the Genesis _piece_ and don’t have time right now to listen to it. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-song-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026427/284 "2026-01-12T17:14:52Z")
If I have anything to say as OP I am against that: If you want to discuss whatever in the context of songs, good or bad, you may as well discuss whether something is a song or not. And the concept of inarguability is deeply un-Dope-ian. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-song-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026427/285 "2026-01-12T17:15:44Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > I feel the same way about some of the whiny 70s and 80s hits other people here adore. So what? Sorry, the part I quoted seemed to imply that you thought those who went against the mainstream tastes were doing so simply out of being a contrarian. If that wasn’t the intent, then I misunderstood. Please accept my apologies. ---
**Author:** ![peccavi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peccavi/32/388_2.png) [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-song-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026427/286 "2026-01-12T17:17:29Z")
> [@minor7flat5](#): > > I’d go with “The Waters of March” as sung by Elis Regina and Tom Jobim. For those unfamiliar, here is the song. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/E1tOV7y94DY/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGFggZShKMA8=&rs=AOn4CLAaBtjN7Z4UNG0jeOVT6032trLjoA "Elis Regina & Tom Jobim - "Aguas de Março" - 1974") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1tOV7y94DY) There is a documentary on their collaboration on an album, called [Elis & Tom](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26255088/). She was a troubled soul who died much to young, but her performances are well worth seeking out. ---
**Author:** ![Jaycat.again](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat.again/32/11525_2.png) [@Jaycat.again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaycat.again)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2026, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-song-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026427/287 "2026-01-12T22:37:30Z")
OK, who doesn’t like this one? I dare you! ![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/8Ff2Z0Dq2sg/maxresdefault.jpg)https://www.youtube.com/embed/8Ff2Z0Dq2sg?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque&list=RD8Ff2Z0Dq2sg ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-song-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026427/288 "2026-01-13T00:09:45Z")
No worries. There are songs which were heavily played when I was young that I always found schmaltzy and unbearable. Some of the ones mentioned here. Other things like “The Politics of Dancing”. Contrarianism is a thing. But I am very prepared to believe people genuinely dislike songs. Like Kokomo. I like it. It’s one of Seinfekd’s favourite songs too for what that’s worth (i.e. nothing). ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-song-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026427/289 "2026-01-13T02:21:49Z")
> [@Jaycat.again](#): > > OK, who doesn’t like this one? I dare you! Well, it’s got a really simple bass line for a song that Jamerson is playing on… (throws a ninja smoke bomb, then runs and hides) (No, that’s not really a vote against it, but I was surprised at how easy the bass line was when I figured it out.) > [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > Other things like “The Politics of Dancing”. Hehe, that’s one that I kind of liked just because it was so damn declarative, and my teen aged brain couldn’t wrap itself around the idea of dancing being political. But yeah, they did play the hell out of it. ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-song-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026427/290 "2026-01-13T03:33:56Z")
I endorse “My Girl”. She’d be pissed if I didn’t. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-song-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026427/291 "2026-01-13T04:39:32Z")
There was a Tom Petty in the poll. I know I voted for it. ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2026, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-song-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026427/292 "2026-01-14T18:02:00Z")
Wish you were here Great song, great lyrics Great Melody great band doesn’t get better than that. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2026, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-song-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026427/293 "2026-01-14T22:26:08Z")
> [@Ponch8](#): > > I don’t like “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Oh good, I’m not alone! It’s musically interesting, but the lyrics sum to “I killed someone in cold blood, feel sorry for me because I just ruined MY life!” ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2026, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-song-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026427/294 "2026-01-14T22:28:49Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > “I killed someone in cold blood, feel sorry for me because I just ruined MY life!” Many people interpret that line as Freddie Mercury coming out as homo- or bisexual (replace “killed” with “fucked”). Another line in that vein is “Anyway the wind blows doesn’t really matter to me”. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2026, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-song-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026427/295 "2026-01-14T22:42:54Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > But it it hard to tell where Newton decided slavery was wrong- as opposed to becoming an active abolitionist. True: we know he was still investing in the slave trade in 1754, and that he became an active abolitionist in 1787. We don’t know when he ceased profiting from the slave trade, and we don’t know when he actually changed his mind about it. But I would consider that irrelevant. Having been openly involved in the slave trade for years, who the devil cares when he changed his mind if he kept it to himself or maybe a small circle of friends? Until he publicly renounced that part of his past, it’s meaningless to anyone but him. The rest of us can go with 1787. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2026, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-song-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026427/296 "2026-01-14T22:49:57Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > I’m not going to go through them all, but I wonder when the newest song listed so far is from (other than the joking Macerana). 1980s? Given the Dope’s demographics, I wasn’t going to bother to nominate Chappell Roan’s “[Red Wine Supernova](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VS6ixn2berk)” (2023). ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2026, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-song-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026427/297 "2026-01-14T22:53:40Z")
> [@scabpicker](#): > > It’ll probably never win, but my submission is “Chaise Longue” by Wet Leg. For awhile, it kept popping up for some reason on YouTube’s suggestions for what I might click on next. I listened to it once, and I’ll confess it didn’t do much for me. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2026, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-song-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026427/298 "2026-01-14T22:57:08Z")
> [@Stephe96](#): > > Is there anyone who actually dislikes “Cold as Ice” by Foreigner? I dislike Foreigner and their overwrought music and vocals just in general, and this song is as good an example of those characteristics as I can think of. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2026, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-song-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026427/299 "2026-01-14T23:03:24Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > Except for racists and misogynists, how can someone not like Aretha Franklin’s version of “Respect”? I mean, the title doesn’t exclude racists and misogynists. My suggestion is Tag Team’s “whomp there it is”. I feel an inoffensive pop song that is instantly recognizable and gets everyone moving is the only hope for unanimous acceptance. It’s either Whomp there it is or Outkasts “hey ya!”. Would have added Sir Mix Alot’s “baby got back”, but i think some people might take offense. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2026, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-song-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026427/300 "2026-01-14T23:13:09Z")
> [@Disinfectus](#): > > “Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl)” - Looking Glass Good luck in finding a girl named Brandy who actually likes this song. And for an encore, find a girl named Jenny who likes “867-5309.” I could go along with “Here Comes the Sun” as a possibly universally liked song. Also, Springsteen’s “Born to Run” doesn’t seem to have been mentioned in this thread, so I’ll toss it into the mix. ETA: > [@Disinfectus](#): > > There was a thread here a couple of years ago discussing the lyrics and I was surprised how many people chimed in. Apparently, I’m not the only person who paid attention to Brandy. The vocals of whoever sings the verses are so mushmouthed that I’ve never been able to figure out their lyrics, no matter how many times I heard it back in the day. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-song-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026427.md?page=14) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-song-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026427.md?page=16)