# 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:** 6
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2026, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-song-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026427/101 "2026-01-08T06:18:26Z")
I’m going to say no to **Cherry Pie**. I hated it when it first came out, and I hate it now. IMO, it has no business with so many of the other songs being submitted for discussion. Vulgar, puerile pop metal. ---
**Author:** ![MacDoc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/macdoc/32/18696_2.png) [@MacDoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacDoc)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2026, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-song-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026427/102 "2026-01-08T06:34:55Z")
MacArthur Park? [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sD-zTwi3\_GU&t=3s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sD-zTwi3_GU&t=3s) &1 ---
**Author:** ![Author\_Balk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Author\_Balk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Author_Balk)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2026, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-song-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026427/103 "2026-01-08T11:47:53Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > ’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? I was thinking of Flowers by Miley Cyrus. ---
**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 8, 2026, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-song-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026427/104 "2026-01-08T14:56:54Z")
It might not make it on the list, but I know that I’d like to see **American Pie** on the list. Some cool facts about the song that I posted in another thread several months back: 1. Apparently the Straight Dope was one of the rare places where Don McLean tipped his hand a tiny bit about the meaning. It’s rare to hear about a Chicago Reader article being quoted. 2. The backing tracks were done in almost one take; the vocals were spliced together from 24 different takes. Regarding that smokin’ band, Ed Freeman, the producer, said: > “I wanted to capture the sound of a band that was really cooking, and for that I made a deliberate choice to not use a bunch of studio musicians who could act like a metronome and turn on like a faucet, without any feel. Instead, the people we used were good musicians but ones with not a whole lot of studio experience who, instead of doing a series of overdubs, would play together and provide us with an organic performance.” > … > "Had we rehearsed the song with seasoned studio players, we would have gotten about three takes out of them before they fell asleep. They wouldn’t have needed to play it a hundred times. However, to get Don integrated into the band we did need to do that. And regarding Don McLean’s vocals: > "My nickname at the time was Slash, because I wanted so many cuts — I was a monster when it came to editing tape. Now, when I listen to ‘American Pie’, I know where all of the vocal edits are, but there’s only one where I actually smell a rat. One word is made up of three syllables and they come from three different takes. That’s how picky I was about it, and I have to say that I was helped immeasurably in that regard by Tom Flye.” [Here’s the article](https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/classic-tracks-don-mclean-american-pie). ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2026, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-song-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026427/105 "2026-01-08T15:37:39Z")
> [@ricepad](#): > > Vulgar, puerile pop metal. That is why I find it to be so great!!! ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2026, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-song-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026427/106 "2026-01-08T15:42:14Z")
How about Beethoven’s _Ode to Joy_? ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2026, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-song-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026427/107 "2026-01-08T15:47:34Z")
Ninja’ed by **Tibby** 12 hours ago. ---
**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 8, 2026, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-song-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026427/108 "2026-01-08T16:17:54Z")
And for just a fun clean song that I can’t imagine not liking (unless overplayed): **The Girl from Ipanema**. ---
**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 8, 2026, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-song-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026427/109 "2026-01-08T16:51:41Z")
How about “Satisfaction”? _Anyone_ have a problem with “Satisfaction”?! ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2026, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-song-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026427/110 "2026-01-08T16:59:01Z")
> [@iamatractorboy](#): > > Pick the uber safe option of ‘Sultans of Swing’ Dissenting voice. Don’t like the band, don’t like the song. Also, I really don’t like _Year of the Cat_. Automatic channel change when it comes on. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2026, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-song-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026427/111 "2026-01-08T17:01:39Z")
> [@Thing.Fish](#): > > Songs thus far nominated which I haven’t heard of, but may listen to if the list gets whittled down to a reasonable number: > > Rhapsody in Blue Have you seen a United Airlines commercial? If so, you’ve heard it, or at least enough of it to recognize it. > [@Thing.Fish](#): > > How about “Satisfaction”? _Anyone_ have a problem with “Satisfaction”?! It don’t give me no satisfaction! (just joking, I like that song.) ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2026, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-song-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026427/112 "2026-01-08T17:59:11Z")
**Dock of the Bay** - Otis Redding ---
**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 8, 2026, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-song-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026427/113 "2026-01-08T20:35:14Z")
> [@minor7flat5](#): > > And for just a fun clean song that I can’t imagine not liking (unless overplayed): **The Girl from Ipanema**. My wife _hates_ that song. Not because there’s anything wrong with it, but because to her, it’s the ultimate earworm - she can’t hear it without it being stuck in her head for a week. Sometimes I hum a bar when she annoys me. ---
**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 8, 2026, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-song-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026427/114 "2026-01-08T20:36:30Z")
**You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling -** the Righteous Brothers. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2026, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-song-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026427/115 "2026-01-08T21:12:48Z")
I read the OP and thread title but not the thread. Words like **all** and **none** are extremely powerful words. My answer to the thread title is no. All you have to find is one person who disagrees and it throws out the OP. That said, there are some excellent songs where many, or most of us, would agree are good. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2026, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-song-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026427/116 "2026-01-08T21:26:27Z")
> [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](#): > > **Dock of the Bay** - Otis Redding I’m not a fan of Satisfaction and would probably skip it. Dock of the Bay…not a favorite, but I think I’ll generally let it play. I suppose that’s good enough to pass the OP’s benchmark. I don’t think a song needs to be a **favorite** , just something that someone can passingly enjoy. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2026, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-song-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026427/117 "2026-01-08T23:42:35Z")
> [@smithsb](#): > > My nominee is NEW YORK, NEW YORK by who else, Sinatra in younger days Gah, no. In fact, I’ll pre-emptively nix absolutely everything Sinatra. ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2026, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-song-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026427/118 "2026-01-09T00:05:07Z")
Here’s another suggestion: **Over the Rainbow** > [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > I don’t think a song needs to be a **favorite** , just something that someone can passingly enjoy. That’s why I posted it. Not one of my favorites, but it is one Mrs. Martian’s favorites and has a terrific but tragic backstory. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2026, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-song-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026427/119 "2026-01-09T00:19:40Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > **I’m Not In Love** - 10cc “Why”, you may ask. Because for its time, it was a production giant, using recording techniques that had never been tried before. The layering of the backing vocals was hailed as a breakthrough in recording technique at the time. And it holds up well today for a 70s recording. I’ll agree it’s a banger, but I would be surprised if this is a song we can "all” agree is good, because it’s kind of out-there. As a side note, for anybody who didn’t know, Godley and Creme were members of 10cc, so if you like either but aren’t aware of both, you should check them out. My contribution to this thread would be “Sweet Caroline”. What’s not to love? But a few days ago I saw a massive thread on social media with many people talking about how it’s trash, which makes me pessimistic as to whether there can be any song that we “all” agree is good. Unless the OP intended “we” to be the participants in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2026, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-song-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026427/120 "2026-01-09T00:34:56Z")
Sweet Caroline! Yes. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-song-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026427.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-song-that-we-all-would-agree-is-good-if-not-great/1026427.md?page=7)