# Singers' Signature Songs **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 24, 2011, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-signature-songs/568731 "2011-01-24T03:05:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![NetTrekker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nettrekker/32/2909_2.png) [@NetTrekker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NetTrekker)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2011, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-signature-songs/568731/1 "2011-01-24T03:05:04Z")
Inspired by another thread, and not finding this topic with a quickie search… Of singers who were known for a wide repertoire (i.e., not one-hit wonders), which ones had a definitive signature song? For example: Wayne Newton…Danke Shoen Ray Charles…Georgia on my Mind Aretha Franklin…Respect Frank Sinatra…Strangers in the Night (or is it NY, NY?) Jim Nabors…Impossible Dream OK, go… ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2011, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-signature-songs/568731/2 "2011-01-24T03:07:31Z")
Tony Bennett: “I Left My Heart In San Francisco” ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2011, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-signature-songs/568731/3 "2011-01-24T03:15:37Z")
Alice Cooper - Schools Out for Summer Garth Brooks - I got friends in Low Places Ethel Merman- I’ve Got Rhythm Jim Croce - Bad Bad Leroy Brown Harry Chapin - Cats in the Cradle ---
**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:** [January 24, 2011, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-signature-songs/568731/4 "2011-01-24T03:42:22Z")
Barbra Streisand – People Tom Jones – It’s Not Unusual Tom Lehrer – Poisoning the Pigeons in the Park ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2011, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-signature-songs/568731/5 "2011-01-24T04:23:15Z")
Bobby Darin - Mack the Knife. He closed his weekly TV show by performing the song. Dean Martin - Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime. Also, That’s Amore. Sammy Davis, Jr. - The Candyman. ---
**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:** [January 24, 2011, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-signature-songs/568731/6 "2011-01-24T04:30:36Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Tom Lehrer – Poisoning the Pigeons in the Park More likely, _Pollution_ or _New Math_. I think far more people were familiar with the songs he performed on _That Was The week That Was_. ---
**Author:** ![KRC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/45deac/32.png) [@KRC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KRC)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2011, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-signature-songs/568731/7 "2011-01-24T12:24:01Z")
No, Tom Lehrer’s signature song is _The Irish Ballad._ I’d be lying if I didn’t say that. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2011, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-signature-songs/568731/9 "2011-01-24T14:31:41Z")
Fanny Brice – _My Man_ Al Jolsen – _Swanee_ Kate Smith – _When the Moon Comes Over the Mountain_ Lena Horne – _Stormy Weather_ Eddie Cantor – \*Makin’ Whoopee \* Nat “King” Cole – _Unforgettable_ Marlene Dietrich – _Falling in Love Again_ Peggy Lee – \*Fever \* Sophie Tucker – \*Some of These Days \* ---
**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 24, 2011, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-signature-songs/568731/10 "2011-01-24T14:39:29Z")
Bob Dylan - Blowin’ in the Wind. Bruce Springsteen - Born to Run. Billy Joel - Piano Man. ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2011, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-signature-songs/568731/11 "2011-01-24T15:00:16Z")
> **[List of signature songs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signature_song)** > > A signature song is the one song (or, in some cases, one of a few songs) that a popular and well-established recording artist or band is most closely identified with or best known for. This is generally differentiated from a one-hit wonder in that the artist usually has had success with other songs as well. A signature song may be a song that spearheads an artist's initial mainstream breakthrough, a song that revitalizes an artist's career, or a song that simply represents a high point in an art... And I’ll add “Friends in Low Places” for Garth Brooks – though I understand real country fans feel that distinction should go to “The Dance”. ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2011, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-signature-songs/568731/12 "2011-01-24T15:08:09Z")
> [@KRC](#): > > No, Tom Lehrer’s signature song is _The Irish Ballad._ Oh no, it’s _I Hold Your Hand In Mine_. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2011, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-signature-songs/568731/13 "2011-01-24T15:20:20Z")
Al Green - Let’s Stay Together B.J. Thomas - Raindrops Keep Fallin on my Head Janis Joplin - Summertime Doris Day - Que Sera, Sera ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2011, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-signature-songs/568731/14 "2011-01-24T15:25:59Z")
I always consider _God Bless America_ to be a signature song of Kate Smith , as well as _When the Moon Comes Over the Mountain_ Jo Stafford - _You Belong To Me_ Dinah Shore - _Buttons And Bows_ Andy Williams - _Moon River_ Anita Bryant - _Paper Roses_ Judy Garland - _Over The Rainbow_ Liza Minnelli - _Cabaret_ Doris Day - _Que Sera, Sera_ ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2011, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-signature-songs/568731/15 "2011-01-24T15:45:25Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > Ethel Merman- I’ve Got Rhythm Or _Everything’s Coming Up Roses._ ---
**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:** [January 24, 2011, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-signature-songs/568731/16 "2011-01-24T15:47:40Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Or _Everything’s Coming Up Roses._ That was Lt. Hurwitz. 😃 ---
**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:** [January 24, 2011, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-signature-songs/568731/17 "2011-01-24T15:48:51Z")
Jerry Lee Lewis – Great Balls of Fire or Whole Lotta Shaking Going On Johnny Cash – I Walk the Line Donovan – Sunshine Superman Elton John – Candle in the Wind ---
**Author:** ![tripthicket](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripthicket/32/297_2.png) [@tripthicket](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tripthicket)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2011, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-signature-songs/568731/18 "2011-01-24T16:05:31Z")
B-52s: _Love Shack_ (although I personally believe it should be _Rock Lobster_, I bow to The God of Higher Recognition) Cyndi Lauper: _Girls Just Want to Have Fun_ Culture Club: _Do You Really Want To Hurt Me_ The Bangles: _Walk Like An Egyptian_ Rickie Lee Jones: _Chuck E’s In Love_ Nirvana: _Smells Like Teen Spirit_ Guns N’ Roses: _Welcome To The Jungle_ Billy Idol: _Rebel Yell_ Carly Simon: _You’re So Vain_ Otis Redding: _(Sittin’ On) The Dock of The Bay_ The Carpenters: _Close To You_ Joan Jett & The Blackhearts: _I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll_ ---
**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:** [January 24, 2011, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-signature-songs/568731/19 "2011-01-24T16:30:48Z")
Procol Harum – A Whiter Shade of Pale Jethro Tull – Aqualung Allman Brothers Band – Whipping Post Jefferson Airplane – Somebody to Love or White Rabbit ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2011, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-signature-songs/568731/20 "2011-01-24T16:38:46Z")
They Might Be Giants - Birdhouse in Your Soul (not to put too fine a point on it) Jonathan Coulton - Code Monkey Kingston Trio - MTA Public Enemy - Fight the Power Lehrer clearly doesn’t have one, though I’d bet the Silent E song would be more widely recognized than any of the ones mentioned so far (just not connected with him). ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2011, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-signature-songs/568731/21 "2011-01-24T16:46:03Z")
James Brown - I Got You (I Feel Good) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-signature-songs/568731.md?page=2)