# What is the best song that begins with the letter S? See rules in OP. Polls will appear in this thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music, mmm-song-poll\ **Created:** [October 28, 2023, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-that-begins-with-the-letter-s-see-rules-in-op-polls-will-appear-in-this-thread/992240 "2023-10-28T20:00:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2023, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-that-begins-with-the-letter-s-see-rules-in-op-polls-will-appear-in-this-thread/992240/61 "2023-10-29T17:11:18Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > No love for Sunday Will Never Be the Same - Spanky and Our Gang As the OP limits each of us to three nominations, it’d have to be among someone’s three best/favorite S songs. I have no doubt that it’s in that top three for someone (probably including you 😉 ), but it looks like it wasn’t yet in anyone else’s top 3. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2023, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-that-begins-with-the-letter-s-see-rules-in-op-polls-will-appear-in-this-thread/992240/62 "2023-10-29T17:16:10Z")
> [@xtenkfarpl](#): > > The OP rules are a bit ambiguous. Do they mean ‘best song’ or ‘best performance of a song’? Based on this exchange (plus the way people have been responding in general), I’d assume it’s “best recording/performance”: > [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > > [@Jeff\_Lichtman](#): > > > > George Gershwin and DuBose Heyward were the songwriters. Do you have a particular recording or performance in mind? > > Correct on both counts, both are ineligible. But it’s a reasonable question. The Grammy awards recognize a distinction between a song and a recording, awarding “Song of the Year” to songwriters and “Record of the Year” to performers and producers. Elsewhere, people often get sloppy or ambiguous about the distinction. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2023, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-that-begins-with-the-letter-s-see-rules-in-op-polls-will-appear-in-this-thread/992240/63 "2023-10-29T17:20:18Z")
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious ~ Julie Andrews 🥳 ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2023, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-that-begins-with-the-letter-s-see-rules-in-op-polls-will-appear-in-this-thread/992240/64 "2023-10-29T17:28:51Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > Surfin’ USA - The Beach Boys Not to be too critical, but the music of that was an absolute rip-off of Chuck Berry’s “Sweet Little Sixteen”. In fact, I think there was a lawsuit about it? Dunno why they did that, Brian Wilson was perfectly capable of writing excellent original songs! ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2023, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-that-begins-with-the-letter-s-see-rules-in-op-polls-will-appear-in-this-thread/992240/65 "2023-10-29T17:28:58Z")
My favorite is Miles Davis and Gil Evans doing Porgy and Bess. ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2023, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-that-begins-with-the-letter-s-see-rules-in-op-polls-will-appear-in-this-thread/992240/66 "2023-10-29T17:29:58Z")
Slip Kid- The Who Sure Nuff and Yes I Do- Captain Beefheart ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2023, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-that-begins-with-the-letter-s-see-rules-in-op-polls-will-appear-in-this-thread/992240/67 "2023-10-29T17:38:12Z")
> [@P-man](#): > > Sure Nuff and Yes I Do- Captain Beefheart Now there’s a good one. The Captain at his best had a unique feel for the blues. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2023, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-that-begins-with-the-letter-s-see-rules-in-op-polls-will-appear-in-this-thread/992240/68 "2023-10-29T17:49:10Z")
Silent Night - Mahalia Jackson Summertime - Billie Holiday The Shadow Of Your Smile - Frank Sinatra ---
**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:** [October 29, 2023, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-that-begins-with-the-letter-s-see-rules-in-op-polls-will-appear-in-this-thread/992240/69 "2023-10-29T18:16:48Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Based on this exchange (plus the way people have been responding in general), I’d assume it’s “best recording/performance” This is correct. Although I’m not making a distinction of different recordings of the same song by the same artist. For example, a live version vs. a studio version. Or the Beatles’ single version of “Revolution” vs the album version. 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:** [October 29, 2023, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-that-begins-with-the-letter-s-see-rules-in-op-polls-will-appear-in-this-thread/992240/70 "2023-10-29T18:50:31Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Spoiler: There will be a thread for titles that begin with a punctuation mark. Hehehe, will the thread for titles that start with T exclude titles that begin with “The”? I’ve got no dog in the fight, but I am curious. > [@xtenkfarpl](#): > > > [@P-man](#): > > > > Sure Nuff and Yes I Do- Captain Beefheart > > Now there’s a good one. The Captain at his best had a unique feel for the blues. Oooo yeah! That’s one of the songs I can actually play and sing at the same time! ---
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2023, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-that-begins-with-the-letter-s-see-rules-in-op-polls-will-appear-in-this-thread/992240/71 "2023-10-29T19:08:27Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > > [@SunUp](#): > > > > Sitting on the Dock of the Bay - Otis Redding > > …is not eligible as it begins with a parenthesis. In that case: Summertime Blues - The Who (original by Eddie Cochran) ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2023, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-that-begins-with-the-letter-s-see-rules-in-op-polls-will-appear-in-this-thread/992240/72 "2023-10-29T19:22:15Z")
> [@scabpicker](#): > > Hehehe, will the thread for titles that start with T exclude titles that begin with “The”? Normally, “a,” “an,” and “the” are ignored when alphabetizing, and the OP of this thread (and the previous ones) confirmed that we are following that convention here. ---
**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:** [October 29, 2023, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-that-begins-with-the-letter-s-see-rules-in-op-polls-will-appear-in-this-thread/992240/73 "2023-10-29T19:22:58Z")
[Soon](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ft56il9bGMk) - My Bloody Valentine [Saltarello](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-RglCdlLEA) - Dead Can Dance [Start Choppin’](https://youtu.be/XUgxCpm8xuc?t=16) - Dinosaur Jr. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2023, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-that-begins-with-the-letter-s-see-rules-in-op-polls-will-appear-in-this-thread/992240/74 "2023-10-29T19:31:55Z")
> [@xtenkfarpl](#): > > Not to be too critical, but the music of that was an absolute rip-off of Chuck Berry’s “Sweet Little Sixteen”. > In fact, I think there was a lawsuit about it? It’s a fine line between ripoff and homage. Wilson wanted to name check surf spots so he used the melody of the most popular song to name check cities. Wilson and Berry had the same publishing company so there was no lawsuit. As much as I love Chuck Berry; _Surfin’ USA_ is a better record. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2023, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-that-begins-with-the-letter-s-see-rules-in-op-polls-will-appear-in-this-thread/992240/75 "2023-10-29T19:50:24Z")
Supervixen - Garbage Super Bon Bon - Soul Coughing Shock The Monkey - Peter Gabriel ---
**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:** [October 29, 2023, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-that-begins-with-the-letter-s-see-rules-in-op-polls-will-appear-in-this-thread/992240/76 "2023-10-29T19:55:01Z")
> [@xtenkfarpl](#): > > Not to be too critical, but the music of that was an absolute rip-off of Chuck Berry’s “Sweet Little Sixteen”. > In fact, I think there was a lawsuit about it? Brian Wilson intended it to be a tribute to Chuck Berry. They settled out of court, giving Berry partial songwriting credit, which gave him a cut of the royalties. ---
**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:** [October 29, 2023, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-that-begins-with-the-letter-s-see-rules-in-op-polls-will-appear-in-this-thread/992240/77 "2023-10-29T20:13:50Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > Supervixen - Garbage > Super Bon Bon - Soul Coughing > Shock The Monkey - Peter Gabriel Yay that means I get another choice since I already put in the PG one. I’ve tried to stick to stuff which is more likely to get a vote, vs. personal favorites, but I’ll go with the latter here for a change: Stairway to Heaven - Led Zeppelin Starship Troopers - Yes Seagull - Ride ---
**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:** [October 29, 2023, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-that-begins-with-the-letter-s-see-rules-in-op-polls-will-appear-in-this-thread/992240/78 "2023-10-29T20:42:58Z")
Strawberry Fields Forever - Beatles (Some good S songs there are.) ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2023, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-that-begins-with-the-letter-s-see-rules-in-op-polls-will-appear-in-this-thread/992240/79 "2023-10-29T21:27:39Z")
Starship Trooper -Yes Starship Trooper -Yes Starship Trooper -Yes ---
**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:** [October 29, 2023, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-that-begins-with-the-letter-s-see-rules-in-op-polls-will-appear-in-this-thread/992240/80 "2023-10-29T21:40:33Z")
What are your favorite S songs POLL, part I. Select up to 10. _Poll ([view on site](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-that-begins-with-the-letter-s-see-rules-in-op-polls-will-appear-in-this-thread/992240/80))_ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-that-begins-with-the-letter-s-see-rules-in-op-polls-will-appear-in-this-thread/992240.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-best-song-that-begins-with-the-letter-s-see-rules-in-op-polls-will-appear-in-this-thread/992240.md?page=5)