# What is the most famous instrumental song of the 20th century? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 21, 2017, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-instrumental-song-of-the-20th-century/796914 "2017-09-21T21:46:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2017, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-instrumental-song-of-the-20th-century/796914/21 "2017-09-21T23:33:17Z")
The first POP instrumental I thought of was Popcorn, the Hot Butter version: Ain't even on the list though. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-instrumental-song-of-the-20th-century/796914/22 "2017-09-22T00:09:12Z")
> [@Weedy](#): > > The hands down most familiar is Chariots of Fire but I don’t think you can count TV and movie songs the same as pop songs. Back when the movie came out, “Chariots of Fire” received quite a lot of radio play. So it does strike me as a little different from, say, the Mission: Impossible theme. ---
**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:** [September 22, 2017, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-instrumental-song-of-the-20th-century/796914/23 "2017-09-22T00:18:46Z")
> [@Weedy](#): > > . The hands down most familiar is Chariots of Fire but I don’t think you can count TV and movie songs the same as pop songs. It made it to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US. I’m not sure how much more “pop” you can get (at least from an American perspective.) ---
**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:** [September 22, 2017, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-instrumental-song-of-the-20th-century/796914/24 "2017-09-22T00:33:01Z")
Weird. I don’t agree with the answer, but _Green Onions_ was the first thing that popped into my head when I saw the thread title. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-instrumental-song-of-the-20th-century/796914/25 "2017-09-22T00:46:06Z")
Out of all of the works mentioned in this thread, “Green Onions” is the only one I’ve never heard of. I find it hard to say that it’s the most famous. ---
**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:** [September 22, 2017, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-instrumental-song-of-the-20th-century/796914/26 "2017-09-22T00:56:43Z")
> [@K364](#): > > I would say “Walk Don’t Run”, “Wipeout”, “Pipeline”, “Hawaii Five-O” are four instrumentals that everybody knows, but can’t name. I’m sure most people can name “Hawaii Five-O,” especially since the reboot currently airs on CBS. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-instrumental-song-of-the-20th-century/796914/27 "2017-09-22T01:02:10Z")
No love for _Happy Birthday?_ Or do you consider that to be a 19th Century song (which is debatable)? ETA: never mind, it’s not usually known as an instrumental. ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-instrumental-song-of-the-20th-century/796914/28 "2017-09-22T01:05:13Z")
Dave Brubeck’s Take Five? Yakkety Sax? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-instrumental-song-of-the-20th-century/796914/29 "2017-09-22T01:06:35Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Going Home by Kenny G. must win in some parts of the world. [Now I’m home, I linking this.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGIw60UKiKw) I don’t know if actually sold a lot of copies, but in China, this song is massive. Certainly the top recognized and remembered instrumental of the 20th century. Kenny G. had it pirated millions of times there, but I believe he tours there extensively and made all the money back(and more!). ---
**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:** [September 22, 2017, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-instrumental-song-of-the-20th-century/796914/30 "2017-09-22T01:08:21Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > [Now I’m home, I linking this.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGIw60UKiKw) > > I don’t know if actually sold a lot of copies, but in China, this song is massive. Certainly the top recognized and remembered instrumental of the 20th century. Kenny G. had it pirated millions of times there, but I believe he tours there extensively and made all the money back(and more!). I actually don’t recognize the song, but reading the comments, it does seem like everyone in China does, so that probably puts it at the head of our list. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-instrumental-song-of-the-20th-century/796914/31 "2017-09-22T01:10:43Z")
I would have said _Yakkity Sax._🙂 IMO _Green Onions_ is an absurd answer. There are plenty of instrumentals that are better known. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-instrumental-song-of-the-20th-century/796914/32 "2017-09-22T01:11:18Z")
Am I lazy if I just want someone to make a mix of the whole 100? I would love to hear it all. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-instrumental-song-of-the-20th-century/796914/33 "2017-09-22T01:21:28Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I actually don’t recognize the song, but reading the comments, it does seem like everyone in China does, so that probably puts it at the head of our list. Yes, it is played at many stores, parties, festivals, and public events to indicate it is time to leave. Having said that, the song and Kenny G. in general are also very well known and popular there. I lived there for two years. I think there is something about Kenny G’s music that just appeals to Chinese culture for some reason. I can’t figure out why, but it is what it is. He could literally just tour and release music there and make millions off it. It’s also probably why he backed off supporting Hong Kong during protests. He does _not_ want to piss off mainland China. ---
**Author:** ![from\_a\_to\_z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5fc32e/32.png) [@from\_a\_to\_z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/from_a_to_z)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-instrumental-song-of-the-20th-century/796914/34 "2017-09-22T01:24:36Z")
Here is one vote for Francisco Tárrega’s Gran Vals, composed in 1902. Surely one of the most-heard 20th century instrumentals.[all 2:50 of it is here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSQzUx3QW2Y)It can put you in _a_ mood, if not _the_ mood. ---
**Author:** ![Weedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/weedy/32/301_2.png) [@Weedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weedy)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-instrumental-song-of-the-20th-century/796914/35 "2017-09-22T01:27:07Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Back when the movie came out, “Chariots of Fire” received quite a lot of radio play. So it does strike me as a little different from, say, the Mission: Impossible theme. > [@pulykamell](#): > > It made it to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US. I’m not sure how much more “pop” you can get (at least from an American perspective.) Yeah, I agree it counts as a pop song. But I think one of the reasons it’s well known is because it’s associated with heroic, slow-motion, climactic movie moments. There is a visual and story aspect to its popularity. Something like _Green Onions_ stands purely as a piece of music. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-instrumental-song-of-the-20th-century/796914/36 "2017-09-22T01:33:03Z")
I’ll forever associate “Green Onions” with the sunrise scene in _ **American Graffiti** _. ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-instrumental-song-of-the-20th-century/796914/37 "2017-09-22T01:48:10Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > _Theme from Star Wars_? [Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFcmuhTTqoY) by Meco reached #1 on the Billboard 100 for two weeks. It sold over 2 million copies and is (according to Wikipedia) the best-selling instrumental single in the history of recorded music. John Williams’ version also reached the top ten. I’d say that’s a winner. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-instrumental-song-of-the-20th-century/796914/38 "2017-09-22T02:01:23Z")
Agree with ‘In the Mood’ we played it at our wedding. What a fun song. Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells should be in the list. Theme from the Exorcist. But the full version does have lyrics. At least live. Pink Floyd Echo’s too. But that’s probably just me. And PF One of These Days, but there is one line of lyrics Wow, haven’t heard Green Onions in a long time. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-instrumental-song-of-the-20th-century/796914/39 "2017-09-22T02:01:57Z")
My first thought was “In The Mood”, but there are a lot of solid contenders here. Probably not the most famous, but maybe in the running, is the “Dueling Banjos” ditty. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-instrumental-song-of-the-20th-century/796914/40 "2017-09-22T02:04:19Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Yes, “In the Mood” has lyrics. But the most well known version of the song is an instrumental, so I don’t see how that version doesn’t count as an “instrumental.” > > Other than that one, which songs mentioned so far have lyrics? I am not aware of lyrics for “Green Onions” or “Wipeout” or “Rhapsody in Blue” or “Linus and Lucy.” By that definition, any song can be an instrumental. There’s a difference between instrumental music as a genre and the instrumental version of a song. The Top 100 list has a number of pieces with lyrics: “Exodus,” “Route 66,” and “A Time for Us (Love Theme from _ **Romeo and Juliet** _),” f’rinstance. Even “Hawaii Five-O” had at least two sets of lyrics the last time I looked. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-instrumental-song-of-the-20th-century/796914.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-famous-instrumental-song-of-the-20th-century/796914.md?page=3)