# SDMB top 100 all-time fave pop/rock songs **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 27, 2001, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-top-100-all-time-fave-pop-rock-songs/63508 "2001-04-27T07:00:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dragon\_Phoenix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@Dragon\_Phoenix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragon_Phoenix)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2001, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-top-100-all-time-fave-pop-rock-songs/63508/1 "2001-04-27T07:00:15Z")
Apologies if this has been done before (a search did not show it). Post your all-time favourite top 10 pop/rock **tracks** (not complete CD’s) here, ranked from 1 to 10. At the end, I will compile the SDMB all-time favourites by awarding 10 points to the numbers 1, 9 to 2 etc. I will start the ball rolling. 1. Jesse/Janis Ian 2. Mad man moon/Genesis 3. Kayleigh/Marillion 4. Ghosts/Japan 5. Carpet crawler (original version)/Genesis 6. Private investigation/Dire Straits 7. Desperado/Eagles 8. The man with the child in his eyes/Kate Bush 9. Killer queen/Queen 10. San Jacinto (live)/Peter Gabriel ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2001, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-top-100-all-time-fave-pop-rock-songs/63508/2 "2001-04-27T13:44:34Z")
1. Rosalita/Springsteen 2. Stairway to Heaven/Led Zeppelin 3. Hotel California/Eagles 4. Rocky Mountain Way/Joe Walsh 5. Sympathy for the Devil/Rolling Stones 6. Don’t Get Fooled Again/The Who 7. Lola/Kinks 8. The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys/Traffic 9. Atom Heart Mother/Pink Floyd 10. Uncle John’s Band/Grateful Dead ---
**Author:** ![Monkey\_Chews](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/65b543/32.png) [@Monkey\_Chews](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monkey_Chews)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2001, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-top-100-all-time-fave-pop-rock-songs/63508/3 "2001-04-27T14:18:13Z")
1. Last Goodbye – Jeff Buckley 2. No Aphrodisiac – The Whitlams 3. Champagne Supernova – Oasis 4. Just – Radiohead 5. Cigarettes Will Kill You – Ben Lee 6. Everlasting Love – U2 7. Underground – Ben Folds Five 8. Joey – Concrete Blonde 9. Tender – Blur 10. Glory Box – Portishead ---
**Author:** ![dodge\_this](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e5b9ba/32.png) [@dodge\_this](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dodge_this)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2001, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-top-100-all-time-fave-pop-rock-songs/63508/4 "2001-04-27T14:59:51Z")
1. Bad - U2 2. Wild Ones - Suede 3. Mystery - Indigo Girls 4. Song To The Siren - This Mortal Coil 5. Bittersweet Symphony - The Verve 6. That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore - The Smiths 7. Always In Disguise - Peter Himmelman 8. Captive Heart - Brendan Perry 9. Creep - Radiohead 10. Thank You - Tori Amos ---
**Author:** ![Philosophocles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b38774/32.png) [@Philosophocles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philosophocles)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2001, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-top-100-all-time-fave-pop-rock-songs/63508/5 "2001-04-27T22:17:30Z")
1. The Mayor of Simpleton…XTC 2. My Bird Performs…XTC 3. World Leader Pretend…REM 4. Strawberry Fields Forever…The Beatles 5. Senses Working Overtime…XTC 6. Generals & Majors…XTC 7. Talk About the Passion…REM 8. You are the Everything…REM 9. One of the Millions…XTC 10. Scarecrow People…XTC Honorable mention to all other tracks from Drums & Wires, Oranges & Lemons, Nonsuch, Skylarking, Murmur, Green, Document. ---
**Author:** ![Journeyman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/779978/32.png) [@Journeyman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Journeyman)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2001, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-top-100-all-time-fave-pop-rock-songs/63508/6 "2001-04-27T23:00:10Z")
1. Sultans of Swing, Dire Straights 2. Tears in Heaven, Eric Clapton (Clapton is God) 3. Romeo and Juliet, Dire Straights 4. It’s the End of the World As We Know It (and I Feel Fine), REM 5. The Great Beyond, REM 6. Nothing Else Matters, Metallica (I know, they aren’t really pop/rock, but I love the song) 7. Unforgiven, Metallica (^) 8. Layla, Eric Clapton (Clapton is God) 9. Pardon Me (unplugged), Incubus 10. Purple Haze, Jimi Hendrix (right next to Clapton in musical Nirvana) ---
**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:** [April 28, 2001, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-top-100-all-time-fave-pop-rock-songs/63508/7 "2001-04-28T00:04:46Z")
Just ten? Damn…okay. 1. Under My Thumb, Rolling Stones 2. Suffragette City, David Bowie 3. Behind Blue Eyes, The Who 4. Welcome to the Jungle, G n R 5. Sympathy for the Devil, Rolling Stones 6. (Don’t Fear) the Reaper, Blue Oyster Cult 7. People Are Strange, The Doors 8. Riders on the Storm, The Doors 9. Plowed, Sponge 10. Bat out of Hell, Meat Loaf ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2001, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-top-100-all-time-fave-pop-rock-songs/63508/8 "2001-04-28T00:14:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Journeyman \* > **Dire Straights** _Strai **ts** _ 🙂 Boy, ten songs… albums would have been easier! Then again, that has been done. So, here’s what comes to mind at the moment. 1. Rush - Red Barchetta 2. Twelfth Night - The Collector 3. Rush - Cygnus X1 4. Pink Floyd - The Gunners Dream 5. Savatage - Believe 6. Dire Straits - Telegraph Road 7. Queensryche - Suite Sister Mary 8. Rush - Hemispheres (or 2112? AAARGH!!) 9. Yes - Soundchaser 10. Tea Party - Sister Awake (had to get something recent in there as well ;)) Damn, that’s easily the hardest list I ever had to make. I could actually come up with an entire Top 100. Seriously. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2001, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-top-100-all-time-fave-pop-rock-songs/63508/9 "2001-04-28T00:16:46Z")
This SUCKS. There’s tons of bands that should have a song in my top 10, but didn’t make it because of my Rush fetish. Oh well. Honoury mention to Tool, Shadow Gallery, Dream Theater, Fates Warning, Genesis, more Floyd, Cream, CCR, Springsteen, Tori Amos, and many, many more. There. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Winnie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e480ec/32.png) [@Winnie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winnie)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2001, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-top-100-all-time-fave-pop-rock-songs/63508/10 "2001-04-28T00:26:00Z")
Here are my 10 out of about 150 songs I could name. These are in no particular order - there’s no way I could rank their significance, since they all take me to another place in this universe: 1. Freebird - Lynryd Skynyrd (I know it’s cheesy but that song is the epitome of lazy summer nights and being a “freebird”) 2. One - Metallica (a true masterpiece IMO) 3. Sounds of Silence - Simon & Garfunkel (Such emotion-filled lyrics it nearly brings me to tears) 4. 10th Avenue Freezeout - Bruce Springsteen & The E-Street Band 5. Rocket Man - Elton John 6. The Immigrant Song - Led Zeppelin 7. Sweet Emotion - Aerosmith 8. Piano Man - Billy Joel (another masterpiece) 9. Moondance - Van Morrison 10. Me & Bobby McGee - Janice Joplin ---
**Author:** ![imthjckaz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/imthjckaz/32/3223_2.png) [@imthjckaz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/imthjckaz)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2001, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-top-100-all-time-fave-pop-rock-songs/63508/11 "2001-04-28T00:46:42Z")
Although I like **Zoggie** ’s picks, well the first 8 any way, I will add these, 1. My Generation- Who 2. The Wall- Pink Floyd 3. The End- Doors 4. Hey Jude- Beatles 5. The Song Remains the Same- Led Zeppelin 6. Break Down- Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers 7. Hotel California- Eagles 8. Panama- Van Halen 9. Changes- David Bowie 10. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road- Elton John I could name more, but I’ll just leave it at 10, for now. Oh man, Freebird, Aerosmith, Springsteen, Yes, too many deseve mention. You guys are mentioning some I forgot. Thanks for reminding me about some good music I haven’t heard for awhile. ---
**Author:** ![VenusGirlTrap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/58956e/32.png) [@VenusGirlTrap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VenusGirlTrap)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2001, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-top-100-all-time-fave-pop-rock-songs/63508/12 "2001-04-28T01:06:58Z")
In no order, because that is just too hard(I’m including some punk songs since it woulden’t be right if I didn’t): -Sweet Child O’ Mine, Guns and Roses -Free Fallin’, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers -Sweet Home Alabama, Lennard Skinndard (sp?) -If I die before I wake, at Least in Heaven I can Skate (I think that’s the name), OPM -Great Beyond, REM -What’s the Frequency Kenneth, REM -Ring of Fire, Social Distortion -Story of my Life, Social Distortion -Beautiful Day, U2 -Hope, Descendents ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2001, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-top-100-all-time-fave-pop-rock-songs/63508/13 "2001-04-28T02:27:25Z")
The Kinks; “Waterloo Sunset” Bob Dylan; “Like a Rolling Stone” Big Star; “September Gurls” Randy Newman; “Rednecks” Jefferson Airplane; “White Rabbit” Brian Eno; “Backwater” The Standells; “Dirty Water” The Band; “Up on Cripple Creek” The Flamingos; “I Only Have Eyes for You” The Replacements; “Androgynous” ---
**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:** [April 28, 2001, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-top-100-all-time-fave-pop-rock-songs/63508/14 "2001-04-28T03:15:09Z")
Aw thanks, im. 😛 What’s wrong with the last two? Anyway…I wish I’d put “The End” on, but I thought it might be overkill…w/ two Doors songs already. Ahh. Ten is so not enough… ---
**Author:** ![DynoSaur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DynoSaur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DynoSaur)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2001, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-top-100-all-time-fave-pop-rock-songs/63508/15 "2001-04-28T03:48:42Z")
_insert whining about inadequacy of number of selections here_ trying to limit this to one per band… Run Like Hell - Pink Floyd Born to Run - Springsteen You Shook Me All Night Long - AC/DC Sleeping Beauty - A Perfect Circle Sober - Tool Save Yourself - Stabbing Westward Ringfinger - NIN The House is Rockin’ - Stevie Ray Vaughan One Hit Wonder - Everclear Out to Get You - James _insert even more whining about the utter inadequacy of ten picks and apologies for not getting any Rush songs on the list_ ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2001, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-top-100-all-time-fave-pop-rock-songs/63508/16 "2001-04-28T04:05:01Z")
Hmmm, a tough one indeed. Interesting also that the same bands keep turning up, but different songs. Frankly, like some of the other posters I could do an all-XTC top ten and be perfectly happy, but I suppose I’d better mix it up a bit: 1. Rolling Stones, Can’t You Hear Me Knocking 2. Beatles, And Your Bird Can Sing 3. The Who, Won’t Get Fooled Again 4. XTC, Senses Working Overtime (oops) 5. Fleetwood Mac, Oh Well 6. Garbage, Push it 7. Blur, Song 2 8. Missing Persons, Walking in L.A. 9. Romantics, What I Like About You 10. Led Zeppelin, Dancing Days Cheers, ---
**Author:** ![DMC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dmc/32/18049_2.png) [@DMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMC)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2001, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-top-100-all-time-fave-pop-rock-songs/63508/17 "2001-04-28T05:28:21Z")
With only 10 choices, I’d probably come up with a different list in 5 minutes, but here goes (no order, that’s just not possible): Joan Armatrading - Love and Affection Art of Noise - Moments in Love Fatboy Slim - Praise You Rufus and Chaka Kahn - Ain’t Nobody Seal - Crazy (way overplayed, but still belongs in my list) Kate Bush - Hounds of Love Anne Clark - Sleeper in Metropolis Cure - Just Like Heaven Aretha Franklin - (You Make Me Feel Like a) Natural Woman CSN&Y - Suite Judy Blue Eyes Honorable mention :any Carole King from Tapestry, Sam Cooke, Muddy Waters, Tom Waits, Vivaldi ---
**Author:** ![Dragon\_Phoenix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@Dragon\_Phoenix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragon_Phoenix)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2001, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-top-100-all-time-fave-pop-rock-songs/63508/18 "2001-04-28T12:51:05Z")
> [@](#): > > Damn, that’s easily the hardest list I ever had to make. I could actually come up with an entire Top 100. Seriously. I did… see [http://www.geocities.com/hennieschaper](http://www.geocities.com/hennieschaper) ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2001, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-top-100-all-time-fave-pop-rock-songs/63508/19 "2001-04-28T15:57:59Z")
In no order whatsoever… 1. Miracles - Jefferson Starship 2. Brass in Pocket - Pretenders 3. Voices Carry - Til Tuesday 4. More Than a Feeling - Boston 5. Magic Man - Heart 6. Don’t Fear the Reaper - Blue Oyster Cult 7. Walk Away - James Gang 8. Kiss & Say Goodbye - The Manhattans 9. Sweetheart - Franke & the Knockouts 10. The Breakup Song (They Don’t Write 'Em) - Greg Kihn Band 11. We’re Al Alone - Boz Scaggs (later covered by Rita Coolidge) 12. Sister Christian - Night Ranger /… Sticking to only 10 was TOUGH! ---
**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:** [April 28, 2001, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-top-100-all-time-fave-pop-rock-songs/63508/20 "2001-04-28T20:58:45Z")
You’re asking me to do the next to impossible, but here it goes. Off the top of my head: 1. To Be Someone - The Jam 2. Senses Working Overtime - XTC 3. September Girls - Big Star (GREAT SONG!!!) 4. Lady Madonna - The Beatles 5. Ramble On - Led Zeppelin 6. Today - Smashing Pumpkins 7. Debaser - The Pixies 8. Sweet Jane - Velvet Underground 9. Paranoid Android - Radiohead 10. Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana And, as other posters said, it’s really in no particular order. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-top-100-all-time-fave-pop-rock-songs/63508.md?page=2)