# It's their most famous song, but hardly their best. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 25, 2005, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-their-most-famous-song-but-hardly-their-best/296222 "2005-03-25T16:49:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Foxy40](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a9a28c/32.png) [@Foxy40](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foxy40)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2005, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-their-most-famous-song-but-hardly-their-best/296222/21 "2005-03-25T20:01:55Z")
> [@bouv](#): > > Really? Most people I know would classify “Jeremy” as their biggest hit, which, while again not their greatest song, does encompass their sound. I would have thought it would be Black but that is because I am not a big Pearl Jam fan and I know that one 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Roland\_Orzabal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@Roland\_Orzabal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roland_Orzabal)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2005, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-their-most-famous-song-but-hardly-their-best/296222/22 "2005-03-25T20:03:15Z")
“Everybody Wants to Rule the World” is far lighter, “poppier” and more simplistic than Tears For Fears’ usual fare. Also, a third vote for “Creep”. I despise that song, as pretty much the entirety of Pablo Honey. ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2005, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-their-most-famous-song-but-hardly-their-best/296222/23 "2005-03-25T20:44:12Z")
“Cat Scratch Fever” is what some people think of when you mention Ted Nugent, but he has much better songs. Hell, I like pretty much every other song on that album except “CSF”. “The Boys are Back in Town”, “Jailbreak” and “Cowboy Song” by Thin Lizzy. A lot of people seem to think these are about all the songs they ever did. Again, I like “Emerald” or “Fight or Fall” off that album better than the well known songs. I don’t think I’ve ever heard either on the radio. “Love Hurts” or "Hair of the Dog"by Nazareth. They have so many songs that never made the radio that are so much better. Just a few, right off hand. ---
**Author:** ![Cornelius\_Tuggerson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Cornelius\_Tuggerson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cornelius_Tuggerson)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2005, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-their-most-famous-song-but-hardly-their-best/296222/24 "2005-03-25T21:15:23Z")
Space Oddity and Ziggy Stardust are probably David Bowie’s most famous songs, but by far not his best. ---
**Author:** ![brianmelendez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/65b543/32.png) [@brianmelendez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianmelendez)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2005, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-their-most-famous-song-but-hardly-their-best/296222/25 "2005-03-25T21:19:08Z")
Melanie, “Brand New Key” ---
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2005, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-their-most-famous-song-but-hardly-their-best/296222/26 "2005-03-25T21:26:11Z")
Most casual listeners know XTC for “Dear God.” A good song, to be sure, but unusually blunt and strident for Andy Partridge. (That’s probably why he doesn’t like it very much.) ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2005, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-their-most-famous-song-but-hardly-their-best/296222/27 "2005-03-25T21:30:22Z")
Pet Shop Boys. Everyone’s heard “West End Girls,” and yes, it’s a good song, but it’s so far from being their _best_ that I’m at a loss to describe it. “I’m Not Scared,” “Being Boring,” “I wouldn’t normally do this kind of thing,” “Liberation,” “To Step Aside,” “King’s Cross,” “Young Offender,” “Metamorphosis,” “A Red-Letter Day,” “Shameless,” “Closer to Heaven,” “Bet She’s Not Your Girlfriend,” and of course my all-time favourite, “Miracles,” blow it completely out of the water. ---
**Author:** ![HelloKitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecccb3/32.png) [@HelloKitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelloKitty)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2005, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-their-most-famous-song-but-hardly-their-best/296222/28 "2005-03-25T21:38:03Z")
The first one I thought of was **Losing My Religion** by REM. Not even close to their best song or album, but it’s probably the most popular (unfortunately) ---
**Author:** ![JSexton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@JSexton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JSexton)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2005, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-their-most-famous-song-but-hardly-their-best/296222/29 "2005-03-25T21:38:33Z")
You know, I think this is a trend that will be true for the majoity of artists\* that have careers longer than two records. The singles on the radio will be the most accessible, pop-friendly pieces, while the rest of the album will be more daring, and appeal to a more discerning consumer. So many examples came to mind when I saw the topic that I think this must be true. \*By artist, I meaning someone who is creating music, as opposed to someone who is singing, playing, wearing, and endorsing what they’re told. Your definition may vary. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2005, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-their-most-famous-song-but-hardly-their-best/296222/30 "2005-03-25T21:40:48Z")
> [@JSexton](#): > > You know, I think this is a trend that will be true for the majoity of artists\* that have careers longer than two records. The singles on the radio will be the most accessible, pop-friendly pieces, while the rest of the album will be more daring, and appeal to a more discerning consumer. The weird thing to me with the Boys is that they have got just metric fucktons of wonderful, bouncy, dancy tunes with fabulous lyrics that would sound great on the radio or the dance floor but that you will never, ever hear in either place. Don’t ask me what that’s about. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2005, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-their-most-famous-song-but-hardly-their-best/296222/31 "2005-03-25T21:43:03Z")
The one that pops into my mind is _Burning Down the House_ by the Talking Heads. It may be their worst song. ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2005, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-their-most-famous-song-but-hardly-their-best/296222/32 "2005-03-25T22:02:04Z")
**King Crimson** is probably best known for _21st Century Schizoid Man_, which is from their first album in 1969. Second would probably be another piece from the same album, _The Court Of The Crimson King_. However, these are not the best tracks by any incarnation of King Crimson. They are certainly very good, but there isn’t one song representative of the group. You would have to select pieces from each period of the band, with its changing members. They’re still together, and have released a fairly staggering amount of music. Each of their phases is different from the last, to the point where sometimes there is no comparison possible. You will find astounding music on any of their albums. The most accessible of these is the 1981 issue “Discipline”, which introduced Adrian Belew into the band. It’s nothing like early period Crimson, although Bill Bruford had rejoined the band for this phase of its career. ---
**Author:** ![Interrobang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/interrobang/32/17463_2.png) [@Interrobang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Interrobang)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2005, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-their-most-famous-song-but-hardly-their-best/296222/33 "2005-03-25T22:04:49Z")
> [@adam yax](#): > > The one that pops into my mind is _Burning Down the House_ by the Talking Heads. It may be their worst song. Wha? I love Talking Heads, and “Burning Down the House” isn’t my favorite of their songs, but it’s pretty good and not all that atypical for them. My favorite would be either “Naive Melody” or “Once in a Lifetime,” the latter of which might also be a candidate for their most popular song. (“Atypical” is the sense I’m really going for – **JSexton** ’s right that most bands with several albums have produced better songs than their #1 hit. Radiohead’s “Creep” is a good example, because it really doesn’t sound much like the rest of their catalog. “My Ding-A-Ling” is another great example.) ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2005, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-their-most-famous-song-but-hardly-their-best/296222/34 "2005-03-25T22:31:03Z")
Ramblin’ Man is representative of part of the Allman Brothers sound from 1973 to 1976, but only a part. So if you’ve only heard that you really don’t have a clue what they sound like in their most famous incarnation ('69 - '71) or in general. Same goes if you’ve only heard Melissa. ---
**Author:** ![Not\_A\_Tame\_Lion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e36b37/32.png) [@Not\_A\_Tame\_Lion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Not_A_Tame_Lion)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2005, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-their-most-famous-song-but-hardly-their-best/296222/35 "2005-03-25T23:00:15Z")
Crowded House, “Don’t Dream It’s Over,” has been played to death on the radio, so much so that I can hardly bear to hear it any more, good song though it may be. Fortunately, I can always pop “Temple of Low Men” or “Together Alone” into the player and get an earful of the really great stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2005, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-their-most-famous-song-but-hardly-their-best/296222/36 "2005-03-25T23:06:05Z")
Deep Purple’s “Smoke On The Water” is their most famous, but unfairly casts them as bludgeoning journeymen riffaholics. A catchy song, but “Child In Time” is much more sophisticated musically, showing everyone’s technique {Ian Gillan’s singing on the live version off _Made In Japan_ is astounding - Blackmore plays a guitar phrase and Gillan mimics it, and you can’t tell which is which}, and “Burn” has the fiddliest riff ever, and peerless musical showing off with Blackmore and Lord’s duelling guitar and organ solos. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2005, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-their-most-famous-song-but-hardly-their-best/296222/37 "2005-03-25T23:26:40Z")
> [@melondeca](#): > > _Stairway to Heaven_ > > Maybe this makes me a snob but when someone tells me that is their favorite Zep song I tend to roll my eyes and change the subject. This was my first choice and I agree. I have a few more: Hotel California, Sledgehammer, and a 2nd for Smoke on the Water. ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2005, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-their-most-famous-song-but-hardly-their-best/296222/38 "2005-03-25T23:55:22Z")
Oh gosh, there are just loads. George Thorogood’s well-known for Bad to the Bone, and it IS pretty representative of his style, but he has so many much better songs. Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville (A Pirate Looks at 40 is better), Jethro Tulls’s Aqualung (EVERYTHING is better), Alice Cooper’s School’s Out doesn’t hold a candle to Generation Landslide, J. Geils’ Love Stinks is cute and catchy but not even close to their best, Elton John’s horrible Candle In The Wind or Crocodile Rock (compare to High Flying Bird or All The Young Girls Love Alice), The Band’s The Weight is not as good as Chest Fever… I could probably go on. ---
**Author:** ![supervenusfreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@supervenusfreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/supervenusfreak)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2005, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-their-most-famous-song-but-hardly-their-best/296222/39 "2005-03-26T01:39:12Z")
One of my favorite pop bands is “Was (Not Was)”. They produced several albums of catchy pop tunes, and most folks know them for their worst song, the annoying novelty song “Walk the Dinosaur”. Every time I hear it even I cringe. ---
**Author:** ![Go\_You\_Big\_Red\_Fire\_Engine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/eada6e/32.png) [@Go\_You\_Big\_Red\_Fire\_Engine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Go_You_Big_Red_Fire_Engine)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2005, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-their-most-famous-song-but-hardly-their-best/296222/40 "2005-03-26T01:59:37Z")
**Mr Jones** - Counting Crows. Unfortunately all their music now sounds like this. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-their-most-famous-song-but-hardly-their-best/296222.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-their-most-famous-song-but-hardly-their-best/296222.md?page=3)