# Most punk song of all time? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 14, 2007, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-punk-song-of-all-time/430021 "2007-12-14T18:49:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2007, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-punk-song-of-all-time/430021/1 "2007-12-14T18:49:55Z")
I know that attempting to quantify “punk” is a messy thing, so this is more of a gut feeling kind of thing. What song or even album would be the first that you reach for when someone says “Play some punk rock”? ---
**Author:** ![Kuboydal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecb155/32.png) [@Kuboydal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kuboydal)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2007, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-punk-song-of-all-time/430021/2 "2007-12-14T18:53:02Z")
Never Mind the Bollocks… is the epitome of punk to me. It’s the first thing I think of. ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2007, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-punk-song-of-all-time/430021/3 "2007-12-14T18:53:30Z")
Certainly not the “most Punk” of all time, but \*I Wanna be Sedated \*popped into my mind first. ---
**Author:** ![Kuboydal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecb155/32.png) [@Kuboydal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kuboydal)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2007, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-punk-song-of-all-time/430021/4 "2007-12-14T18:55:31Z")
[QUOTE=Southern Yankee] Certainly not the “most Punk” of all time, but \*I Wanna be Sedated \*popped into my mind first. [/QUOTE] Oh but whattabout the Cretin Hop? ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2007, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-punk-song-of-all-time/430021/5 "2007-12-14T18:57:01Z")
The only one’s I can reach for, because they’re the only ones I own: Hey Ho Let’s Go (Ramones GH) and RATM’s Renegade. I’m sure they’ll be real punks posting here soon. ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2007, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-punk-song-of-all-time/430021/6 "2007-12-14T19:01:03Z")
_Beef Bologna_ by Fear. I don’t know if it’s the most punk song of all time, but it cracks me right up and that should count for something. Right? ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2007, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-punk-song-of-all-time/430021/7 "2007-12-14T19:01:24Z")
These days - now that the canon is fixed and the influence of punk is most scene in more recent bands like Green Day, etc.? Ramones by the Ramones, with Blitzkreig Bop as Track 1. You could argue for either Anarchy in the U.K. or God Save the Queen, but I like the Ramones goofiness and Wall-of-Sound sensibilities…(and we can get into distracting discussions focused on I Wanna Be Your Dog by Iggy and the Stooges, or some Velvet Underground, not to mention the Clash…). John Peel (famous and influential Brit DJ…) would argue for Teenage Kicks by the Undertones… If you were in the 70’s and ask that question, there would be no 1 answer. How can you play - Blitzkrieg Bop - Psycho Killer by Talking Heads - Venus de Milo by Television - One Way by Blondie, etc. and hear a common thread? Back then, punk was a downtown, indie attitude a lot more than it was a style of music. Everything fit under the punk tent if it was quirky and outside. That’s changed dramatically since then… ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2007, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-punk-song-of-all-time/430021/8 "2007-12-14T19:02:26Z")
How to choose? White Riot? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2007, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-punk-song-of-all-time/430021/9 "2007-12-14T19:03:32Z")
[QUOTE=Cluricaun] I know that attempting to quantify “punk” is a messy thing, so this is more of a gut feeling kind of thing. What song or even album would be the first that you reach for when someone says “Play some punk rock”? [/QUOTE] The Clash or possibly the Buzzcocks, or even Wire’s _Pink Flag_. ---
**Author:** ![Kuboydal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecb155/32.png) [@Kuboydal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kuboydal)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2007, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-punk-song-of-all-time/430021/10 "2007-12-14T19:04:10Z")
I’ve always argued that Stepping Stone by the Monkees was the perfect punk song, but sometimes I just like to argue. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2007, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-punk-song-of-all-time/430021/11 "2007-12-14T19:05:13Z")
Most Punk Song of all time is different from my default if someone were to say “hey man, play some Punk Rock.” I don’t really have an opinion on the former. If someone were to really ask me to play some Punk Rock, I’d put on Park. But really, Park qualifies as the most Emo band of all time, because no matter what changing definition you use, Park is emo. They even are hardcore punk like the original, which is why I’d put them on if asked to play punk. I don’t have a lot of other hardcore stuff that I still listen to. Oh, I have the Ramones and the Sex Pistols, I just wouldn’t play them cause I’m tired of them. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2007, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-punk-song-of-all-time/430021/12 "2007-12-14T19:06:36Z")
The Sex Pistols are a classic intro to Punk. So are The Ramones, with their tongue-in-cheek style. Then there’s Bad Religion. Good classic Punk with tie right ‘sound’. Social Distortion, Suicidal Tendencies, D.I., T.S.O.L., Toy Dolls (for more ‘jokey’ punk)… But when I think of the ‘Most Punk’ song, I always think of _Fuck Christmas_ by Fear. Starts slow, it’s short, but definitely has the Punk sensibility that can offend a lot of people. EDIT: [QUOTE=Ludovic] Oh, I have the Ramones and the Sex Pistols, I just wouldn’t play them cause I’m tired of them. [/QUOTE] Preach it. I used to catch the 12 o’clock retro show on KROQ. _Every day_ they played _I Wanna Be Sedated_, as if it was the _only_ song _ever_ recorded by The Ramones. Gods, I got sick of that song! ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2007, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-punk-song-of-all-time/430021/13 "2007-12-14T19:08:56Z")
My first thought was _My Way_ by the Sex Pistols. ---
**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:** [December 14, 2007, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-punk-song-of-all-time/430021/14 "2007-12-14T19:09:14Z")
_Anarchy in the UK_ is what popped into my head. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2007, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-punk-song-of-all-time/430021/15 "2007-12-14T19:09:30Z")
[QUOTE=Kuboydal] I’ve always argued that Stepping Stone by the Monkees was the perfect punk song, but sometimes I just like to argue. [/QUOTE] Is that the one that the Sex Pistols covered? The song that popped into my head was “This Ain’t Havana” by the Ramones but I have been listening to that one a LOT. So probably “My Way” or “Blitzkrieg Bop.” ETA: Or maybe even “Bodies.” ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2007, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-punk-song-of-all-time/430021/16 "2007-12-14T19:13:50Z")
I guess I would concede that the Pistols have the identifiably punkest song: Holidays in the Sun. Starts of with the simplest drum beat possible, then you think okay, they’ll lay on some guitar or a more complex dum beat, but they **repeat it** with a stompy type percussion. And they lyrics of course are a big middle finger to everyone. ---
**Author:** ![Kuboydal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecb155/32.png) [@Kuboydal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kuboydal)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2007, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-punk-song-of-all-time/430021/17 "2007-12-14T19:14:05Z")
TV Party by Black Flag just popped into the ole brain. ---
**Author:** ![Ol\_Gaffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Ol\_Gaffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ol_Gaffer)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2007, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-punk-song-of-all-time/430021/18 "2007-12-14T19:14:39Z")
“Minor Threat” by **Minor Threat** or “Institutionalized” by **Suicidal Tendencies** ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2007, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-punk-song-of-all-time/430021/19 "2007-12-14T19:15:27Z")
Dead Kennedys’ “Too Drunk to Fuck” ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2007, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-punk-song-of-all-time/430021/20 "2007-12-14T19:17:30Z")
Reaching out to a different punk scene, I’ve always thought that the music and lyrics of “Petroleum Distillation” by Fifteen absolutely epitomize everything punk should be about, and I say this as a huge fan of the Clash, the Ramones, Social Distortion, the Descendents, and Rancid, among others. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-punk-song-of-all-time/430021.md?page=2)