# What are your favorite songs that begin with the letter O? \[Final Poll added\] See rules in OP **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music, mmm-song-poll\ **Created:** [December 4, 2023, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-songs-that-begin-with-the-letter-o-final-poll-added-see-rules-in-op/994099 "2023-12-04T13:16:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2023, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-songs-that-begin-with-the-letter-o-final-poll-added-see-rules-in-op/994099/101 "2023-12-09T04:38:26Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > On the Road Again? This didn’t make it to the finals by accident. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2023, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-songs-that-begin-with-the-letter-o-final-poll-added-see-rules-in-op/994099/102 "2023-12-09T05:20:58Z")
Indeed, even though its one of the few times the leader gets my vote, it kinda hurts that Willie’s classic isn’t in the running. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2023, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-songs-that-begin-with-the-letter-o-final-poll-added-see-rules-in-op/994099/103 "2023-12-09T07:47:21Z")
Driving down the highway, long road trip, singing along to the radio…the only time I’d change the station would be when _Over the Rainbow_ came on. None brilliant, but some great pop in there. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2023, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-songs-that-begin-with-the-letter-o-final-poll-added-see-rules-in-op/994099/104 "2023-12-09T07:53:35Z")
More than half those songs are less than 45 years old, and not a single Beatles or ex-Beatle track in the lot. I think that makes them unusual for these polls. > [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > An interesting point that I hadn’t considered, but c’mon… > > Our Lips Are Sealed? I would have preferred the superior Fun Boy 3 version, but yes, it’s a great song. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2023, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-songs-that-begin-with-the-letter-o-final-poll-added-see-rules-in-op/994099/105 "2023-12-09T07:58:10Z")
> [@Treppenwitz](#): > > . But a great song? Weeeellll… Even though I didn’t vote for it, _Once In A Lifetime_ is an absolute great, I don’t resent its lead. I was hoping _Oliver’s Army_ would make it higher, that’s also a great one. And _Orange Crush_ is one of REM’s best tracks ever, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2023, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-songs-that-begin-with-the-letter-o-final-poll-added-see-rules-in-op/994099/106 "2023-12-09T14:52:30Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Even though I didn’t vote for it, _Once In A Lifetime_ is an absolute great, I don’t resent its lead. I don’t either, really, tho I didn’t vote for it. [I was big into the Heads for about a year or so c. 1981 but haven’t gone out of my way to listen to any of their stuff in years-this cut specifically bugs me because of the mondegreen “letting the days go by at the water hole” but that’s mainly on me I guess] ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2023, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-songs-that-begin-with-the-letter-o-final-poll-added-see-rules-in-op/994099/107 "2023-12-09T15:23:27Z")
No big thing, but yeah, being annoyed at a song because a line is often misheard is odd. Interestingly the mondegren is about as good as the actual lyric. — And on the topic of ‘O’ song lyrics, the Band’s **Ophelia** didn’t poll well, which is understandable — it’s charming but not one of their 5 best songs — but it does have the nice line, “please darken my door”. “Darken my door” is a fun English expression, normally used for its negative connotations. I’m interested if other languages have a similar expression. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2023, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-songs-that-begin-with-the-letter-o-final-poll-added-see-rules-in-op/994099/108 "2023-12-09T20:24:37Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Even though I didn’t vote for it, _Once In A Lifetime_ is an absolute great, I don’t resent its lead. It’s the pick of the bunch, I would happily concede that. But here’s what I was thinking; I’m too lazy to review every letter, but the last with a final poll was H. We had: Here Comes the Sun – The Beatles Homeward Bound – Simon & Garfunkel Honky Tonk Women – The Rolling Stones Hotel California – Eagles Hey Jude – The Beatles House of the Rising Sun – The Animals Have You Ever Seen the Rain – Creedence Clearwater Revival Hard Day’s Night, A – The Beatles Help! – The Beatles Heart of Gold – Neil Young Our mileages may vary, obviously, but I don’t think the O list is in the same class. (I’m no great fan of Here Comes The Sun but it’s the most streamed Beatles song by a distance - [one of many cites](https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/the-beatles-10-most-streamed-songs/)). I’ll stroll down to the next one. You Really Got Me – The Kinks Yesterday – The Beatles You Can’t Always Get What You Want – The Rolling Stones You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’ – The Righteous Brothers The Year of the Cat – Al Stewart You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away – The Beatles You Keep Me Hanging On – The Supremes You Really Got a Hold On Me – Smoky Robinson & the Miracles You’re No Good – Linda Ronstadt You’re So Vain – Carly Simon And again (IMHO) the O list doesn’t compare well. It’s a good list, but to me it seems a below average one. j ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2023, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-songs-that-begin-with-the-letter-o-final-poll-added-see-rules-in-op/994099/109 "2023-12-09T21:12:52Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > This didn’t make it to the finals by accident. Huh? It is in the finals. > [@scabpicker](#): > > Indeed, even though its one of the few times the leader gets my vote, it kinda hurts that Willie’s classic isn’t in the running. _On the Road Again_ – Willie Nelson ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2023, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-songs-that-begin-with-the-letter-o-final-poll-added-see-rules-in-op/994099/110 "2023-12-09T21:24:27Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > > [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > > > This didn’t make it to the finals by accident. > > Huh? It is in the finals. I think Mr. Lendervedder realizes this. mmm ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2023, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-songs-that-begin-with-the-letter-o-final-poll-added-see-rules-in-op/994099/111 "2023-12-09T21:49:38Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > _On the Road Again_ – Willie Nelson Oh, I know it’s there and you can vote for it, but it’s currently getting 21%. So, it’s not in the running to win the O category. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2023, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-songs-that-begin-with-the-letter-o-final-poll-added-see-rules-in-op/994099/112 "2023-12-09T23:34:15Z")
I love Willie Nelson, but _On the Road Again_ is far from my favorite song of his. Ones I like better include _Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground_, _Always on My Mind_, _Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain_, _Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys_, _Whiskey River_, _If You’ve Got the Money I’ve Got the Time_, _Stardust_, and _Blue Skies_. I’d rather listen to _On the Road Again_ than _To All the Girls I’ve Loved Before_, but that’s not saying much. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2023, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-songs-that-begin-with-the-letter-o-final-poll-added-see-rules-in-op/994099/113 "2023-12-10T07:02:02Z")
> [@Treppenwitz](#): > > Our mileages may vary, obviously, but I don’t think the O list is in the same class. My mileage varies. Check my voting history on Beatles songs. Maybe 3 or 4 have gotten my vote over all letters. Any list that’s like 40% Beatles songs is a _bad_ list, IMO. And any best-of list with _Hotel California_ on it is immediately inferior to any list that doesn’t have it on just because of its stench. > [@Treppenwitz](#): > > And again (IMHO) the O list doesn’t compare well. Again, MMV. I mean, Blondie and the Go-Gos vs Ronstadt and Simon? No contest. The Supremes are doing all the heavy lifting there for the distaff side, and it’s not their best (hell, not even their best Y song), and it’s up against the original rainbow anthem… ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2023, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-songs-that-begin-with-the-letter-o-final-poll-added-see-rules-in-op/994099/114 "2023-12-10T15:53:57Z")
It’s 7 songs from the 80s (one of which is country, not rock), two from the early- to mid-60s (from an artist that has more of an “early rock”/50s vibe), and one from the 1930s. The other polls have more pop and rock from the late-60s and 70s, so if that’s the era you prefer, this would definitely seem like a lackluster poll. I think I even (perhaps subconsciously) skew my submissions to appeal to the audience here. I like 90s/00s/10s/20s songs a lot more than my submissions would suggest. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2023, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-songs-that-begin-with-the-letter-o-final-poll-added-see-rules-in-op/994099/115 "2023-12-10T17:04:40Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > And any best-of list with _Hotel California_ on it is immediately inferior to any list that doesn’t have it on just because of its stench. [Out of my fuckin’ cab!](https://youtu.be/-JlmvtAHhnc?si=71YNlLuU7X_Mpk_t) ---
**Author:** ![rippingtons\_fan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rippingtons_fan/32/11767_2.png) [@rippingtons\_fan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rippingtons_fan)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2023, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-songs-that-begin-with-the-letter-o-final-poll-added-see-rules-in-op/994099/116 "2023-12-14T02:13:04Z")
From the Smooth Jazz genre; **OLD SCHOOL** by Nelson Rangell [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-songs-that-begin-with-the-letter-o-final-poll-added-see-rules-in-op/994099.md?page=5)