# Signature songs **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 26, 2014, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-songs/687026 "2014-04-26T05:57:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2014, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-songs/687026/21 "2014-04-27T10:33:26Z")
> [@cjepson](#): > > I’d have to dispute these. I’m not sure a song qualifies as an artist’s “signature song” unless the great majority of people, asked to name one song they associate with that artist, would name that song.\* For BS&T, I would think as many people would say “Spinning Wheel” as “And When I Die”. And as for the Monkees – wouldn’t “Theme from The Monkees” be the obvious choice? “And When I Die” was what instantly popped into my head and kind of blocked out anything else. I don’t deny that “Spinning Wheel” is a possible choice, but I didn’t have the luxury of doing a survey and the other seemed so obvious at the time. But you know, the Monkees theme didn’t even pop into my head until you mentioned it. I even had to stop and think what it was. (I know “Hey, hey we’re the Monkees…” \) Even though there is a good argument for it (they played it at the beginning and end of the show), that’s not what comes into my head. I note that it was never released as a single (except in Australia where it topped out at #3). I’ve never heard it played on any oldies channel. I don’t think that’s the song the people want to hear based on their market research. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2014, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-songs/687026/22 "2014-04-27T12:20:18Z")
Kesha - TiK ToK Lenny Kravitz - Are You Gonna Go My Way Dr. Dre - Nuthin’ But a G Thang Bee Gees - Stayin’ Alive Etta James - At Last Pat Benetar - Hit Me with Your Best Shot ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2014, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-songs/687026/23 "2014-04-27T12:36:13Z")
Jimmy Buffett: Margaritaville. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2014, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-songs/687026/24 "2014-04-27T13:34:44Z")
Van Halen (DLR era): Jump ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2014, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-songs/687026/25 "2014-04-27T14:03:27Z")
As far as Blood, Sweat and Tears–no one mentioned, “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy.” Peter, Paul & Mary: Puff, The Magic Dragon ---
**Author:** ![jerez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c68b51/32.png) [@jerez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jerez)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2014, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-songs/687026/26 "2014-04-27T14:43:14Z")
> [@Ranger\_Jeff](#): > > … > Layla - Eric Clapton > … > Ride My Seesaw - Moody Blues > … Better known for “Cocaine,” and “Knights in White Satin,” IMO. > [@cochrane](#): > > Bruce Springsteen - Born to Run > … More classic, for sure, but may be better known today for “Born in the USA.” My picks: Some are singers, olthers are groups: Tom Jones: "What’s Up, Pussycat? Louis Armstrong: “What a Wonderful World” Eurhythmics: “Sweet Dreams” Lou Reed: “Walk on the Wild Side” Muddy Waters: “I’m a Man” Blue Oyster Cult: “Don’t Fear the Reaper” Doris Day: “Qué será” Nancy Sinatra: “These Boots Are Made for Walking” Lynyrd Skynyrd: “Sweet Home Alabama” Composers (no singing): Beethoven: his fifth symphony Scott Joplin: “The Entertainer” Dave Brubeck: “Take Five” Paco de Lucía: “Entre Dos Aguas” ---
**Author:** ![jerez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c68b51/32.png) [@jerez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jerez)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2014, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-songs/687026/27 "2014-04-27T14:51:36Z")
Hm, can’t seem to edit above post, not sure if I waited too long or if the board is acting funny. Just wanted to add that “Cocaine” may not be better known today in most parts. That’s how it was when I was growing up but others may say differently. Another: AC/DC: “Highway to Hell” ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2014, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-songs/687026/28 "2014-04-27T15:06:01Z")
Weird Al-_Eat it_ and/or _Fat_. Second choice-His polka medleys. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2014, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-songs/687026/29 "2014-04-27T16:05:47Z")
> [@jerez](#): > > Better known for “Cocaine,” and “Knights in White Satin,” IMO." “Nights in White Satin”. Nights. (I agree though. “Ride My Seesaw” only got to #42 in the UK and #61 in the US) ---
**Author:** ![Octarine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/22d042/32.png) [@Octarine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octarine)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2014, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-songs/687026/30 "2014-04-27T16:06:19Z")
Sheesh, I ended up writing a lot more than I expected. This is what me procrastinating tons of homework and studying can do: Van Morrison - “Brown Eyed Girl” Paul McCartney - Like with John Lennon, it’s hard to choose, but I’d go with “Yesterday,” although “Hey Jude” and “Let it Be” come close . . . Norman Greenbaum - “Spirit in the Sky” Green Day - “American Idiot” Patsy Cline - “Walkin’ After Midnight” Simon & Garfunkel as a group - Either “Bridge over Troubled Water” or “The Sound of Silence” Paul Simon by himself - “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover,” “You Can Call Me Al,” or “Slip Sliding Away.” Eric Clapton - There are some good options upthread, but I’m going to say “Tears in Heaven” Bob Dylan - “Like a Rolling Stone” Woody Guthrie - “This Land is Your Land” Francis Scott Key - “The Star-Spangled Banner” (Talk about a one hit wonder!) The Foundations - “Build Me Up, Buttercup” The Supremes - “You Can’t Hurry Love” The Who - “Behind Blue Eyes” Buddy Holly - “That’ll Be the Day” Don McLean - “American Pie” Train - “Soul Sister” Israel Kamakawiwo’ole - “Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World” George Formby - “When I’m Cleaning Windows” Queen - “Bohemian Rhapsody” The Eagles - “Hotel California” Whitney Housten - “I Will Always Love You” The Beatles - Talk about impossible to choose! I would say their most iconic song is “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” but “Strawberry Fields,” “I am the Walrus,” “Here Comes the Sun,” and “Hey Jude” come really close. Chuck Berry - “Roll Over Beethoven” The Mamas and the Papas - “California Dreaming” The Byrds - Personally, I can’t stand it, but maybe their cover of “Mr. Tamborine Man”? “Turn Turn Turn” is up there as well. Irving Berlin - “God Bless America” Sam Cooke - “Wonderful World” Frank Sinatra - “Sunny Side of the Street” Ella Fitzgerald - How about her and Louis Armstrong’s duet of “Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off”? Elvis Costello - “God’s Comic” And some classical composers: Beethoven - Symphony No. 9/ “Ode to Joy.” Honorable Mention: The Moonlight Sonata. Haydn - Symphony No. 94/ “Surprise Symphony” Wagner - “Ride of the Valkyries” (I killed the wabbit, I killed the wabbit . . .) Pachelbel - “Canon in D” (aka The Wedding Song) Mozart - I was going to say “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star,” but he technically just did a series of arrangements for that, so I’ll go with either the Queen of the Night’s aria or “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik.” ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2014, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-songs/687026/31 "2014-04-27T17:04:52Z")
Please don’t consider these an attack on anyone. I dispute the following selections: \*Janis Joplin–Me and Bobby McGee \* Maybe, but “Piece Of My Heart” is as least as iconic for her. _David Lee Roth (Van Halen): “Oh, Pretty Woman”_ For his solo career? “Just A Gigolo/Ain’t Got Nobody” is better. _Jeff Lynne (ELO): “Shine A Little Love” (or “Can’t Get It Out of My Head”, if you hate disco.)_ I had to go listen to “Shine A Little Love”. Didn’t remember it. It’s not nearly as iconic as “Evil Woman” (or “Strange Magic” or “Mr. Blue Sky”) _Peter Gabriel: “Solsbury Hill”_ Not bad, but it rarely gets played on pop oldies stations whereas “In Your Eyes” is played a **lot**. _Ronnie James Dio: “Holy Diver”_ I debated putting “Rainbow In The Dark” on my own list. “Holy Diver” is a close second. _Green Day - “American Idiot”_ Maybe, but “Boulevard of Broken Dreams”, “Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)”, “Basket Case” or “Longview” are all right up there. \*Paul Simon by himself - “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover,” “You Can Call Me Al,” or “Slip Sliding Away.” \* Or “Me and Julio Down By The Schoolyard”. Or “Kodachrome”. Paul is sort of immune to this. _The Who - “Behind Blue Eyes”_ I’d give it to the CSI trio (“Won’t Get Fooled Again”, “Baba O’Riley”, or “Who Are You”) well ahead of this. Maybe even “Pinball Wizard” or “I Can See For Miles”. _Chuck Berry - “Roll Over Beethoven”_ Over “Johnny B. Goode”? No way. _Frank Sinatra - “Sunny Side of the Street”_ Not over the previously mentioned “My Way”, which seems to be written to be a signature song. I’d also put “New York, New York” and “Strangers In The Night” ahead of this. _Elvis Costello - “God’s Comic”_ This is why I made this post. I’d never heard this song before today. His most iconic song is probably “Veronica”. ---
**Author:** ![jerez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c68b51/32.png) [@jerez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jerez)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2014, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-songs/687026/32 "2014-04-27T17:25:21Z")
“Quote” function not working for me. **ZipperJJ** : Thanks for pointing that out. I’ve been making that mistake for years. Ignorance fought. More: The Knack: “My Sharona” Kinks: “Lola” Hank Williams: “Hey, Good Lookin’” Mungo Jerry: “In the Summertime” If nothing else, some good driving music for this time of the year.🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Octarine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/22d042/32.png) [@Octarine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octarine)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2014, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-songs/687026/33 "2014-04-27T18:18:39Z")
> [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](#): > > _Elvis Costello - “God’s Comic”_ > This is why I made this post. I’d never heard this song before today. His most iconic song is probably “Veronica”. That was one I was unsure of - I have a feeling my perspective is a bit skewed, as for some reason or another “God’s Comic” was the first Costello song I ever heard; for me it has the most associations. In reality, you’re probably right about “Veronica.” ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2014, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-songs/687026/34 "2014-04-27T18:23:37Z")
> [@Octarine](#): > > The Supremes - “You Can’t Hurry Love” The iconic visual is three synchronized palms out for _“Stop, In The Name Of Love.”_ ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2014, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-songs/687026/35 "2014-04-27T20:00:49Z")
Ah, so many wrong answers here. 😃 I nominate a third song for Glen Campbell – Wichita Lineman. Carole King – Tapestry Green Day – Time of Your Life Lynyrd Skynyrd – Freebird, dammit! ABBA – Dancing Queen Al Stewart – The Year of the Cat The Andrews Sisters – Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy Anne Murray – Snowbird Arlo Guthrie – City of New Orleans BB King – The Thrill is Gone Muddy Waters – Manish Boy or Let the Good Times Roll Ben E King – Stand By Me Bill Haley – Rock Around the Clock Bob Seger – Night Moves Booker T & The MGs – Green Onions Aaron Copland – Fanfare for the Common Man Cyndi Lauper – Girls Just Want to Have Fun ---
**Author:** ![jerez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c68b51/32.png) [@jerez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jerez)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2014, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-songs/687026/36 "2014-04-27T20:41:22Z")
“Quote” function not working for me. **Boyo Jim** : “Tapestry” is the album’s title track. The big hit is the opening track “I Feel the Earth Move.” Agree about Freebird but I kinda burned a hole in that one. “Mannish Boy” and “I’m a Man” are the same track. **Ranger Jeff** (post 11) mentioned “The Thrill Is Gone.” ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2014, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-songs/687026/37 "2014-04-27T20:59:58Z")
Dolly Parton: Jolene ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2014, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-songs/687026/38 "2014-04-27T21:03:39Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Dolly Parton: Jolene I’d go with “9 to 5” as it’s maybe the only song that people who don’t follow country music, or even popular music in general, might be familiar with because of the movie. ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2014, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-songs/687026/39 "2014-04-27T23:19:34Z")
Hank Williams: “Your Cheatin’ Heart” Ernest Tubb: “Walkin’ the Floor Over You” Johnny Cash: “I Walk the Line” (although a few others come close) Kitty Wells: “It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels” Tammy Wynette: “Stand By Your Man” Willie Nelson: Hmm, maybe “On the Road Again”, but there are so many. Loretta Lynn: “Coal Miner’s Daughter” ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2014, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-songs/687026/40 "2014-04-28T00:04:11Z")
Roger Miller: King of the Road Ricky Nelson: Travelin’ Man Bob Marley: I Shot the Sheriff Bobby Darin: Mack the Knife Canned Heat: Goin’ Up the Country CCR: Proud Mary Tina Turner: Proud Mary Marvin Gaye: I Heard It Through the Grapevine Mongo Santamaria: Watermelon Man [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-songs/687026.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/signature-songs/687026.md?page=3)