# What is the Signature Song by the Rolling Stones? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 24, 2015, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-signature-song-by-the-rolling-stones/738479 "2015-11-24T21:41:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**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:** [November 26, 2015, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-signature-song-by-the-rolling-stones/738479/81 "2015-11-26T18:45:46Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Word, man! _California Deamin’_ all the way!!! That thing! You did it there! Just so I can be totally wrong in the metaphysical sense, [Dedicated to the One I Love](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4M7gKZqgHn4). Short, sweet, and dynamic. But while I’m disagreeing agreeably with **WordMan** , and want to continue my wrong streak: Zep’s definition is [Ramble On](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pwzZZL-ZJI) (It’s got the acoustic work, really rocks out, and references Tolkien pretty directly. Zep trifecta.) ---
**Author:** ![Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uosdwis_R.Dewoh)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2015, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-signature-song-by-the-rolling-stones/738479/82 "2015-11-26T20:16:46Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > CCR, Bad Moon Rising It has to be Fortunate son. It’s pretty much the signature song for an entire war. You can’t have a Vietnam movie without it. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2015, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-signature-song-by-the-rolling-stones/738479/83 "2015-11-26T20:33:02Z")
> [@buddha\_david](#): > > On the other side of the spectrum, there’s bands like Genesis – do they even _have_ a signature song??? I think so. Genesis is the name of two or three completely different bands, so it needs 2 or 3 answers. Genesis[sub]1[/sub] had Peter Gabriel. Genesis[sub]2 being the two albums that Steve Hackett stuck around for; this brief interval harked back to the Gabriel era mostly, but then was transitional to Genesis[sub]3[/sub], the trio which is the only Genesis most people know of. Genesis[sub]1[/sub]: definitely “The Carpet Crawlers,” which over time emerged as the most beloved song of that era. It was the song that got Gabriel to reunite with them. Genesis[sub]2[/sub]: probably nothing; maybe “Squonk.” Genesis[sub]3[/sub]: I don’t know, I never listened to them after they were three. You tell me? ---
**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:** [November 26, 2015, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-signature-song-by-the-rolling-stones/738479/84 "2015-11-26T21:11:14Z")
> [@Johanna](#): > > Genesis[sub]1[/sub]: definitely “The Carpet Crawlers,” which over time emerged as the most beloved song of that era. It was the song that got Gabriel to reunite with them. > Genesis[sub]2[/sub]: probably nothing; maybe “Squonk.” > Genesis[sub]3[/sub]: I don’t know, I never listened to them after they were three. You tell me? There is NO Genesis[sub]3[/sub]. They never existed. Oh, sure, there was some horrible Marillion-clone band in the late 90’s that sang songs about Shipwrecks in the Congo and had a remarkably similar name, but they had NOTHING to do with the real Genesis, uh-uh, no way. 😛 Hmm, for Genesis[sub]2[/sub] it could be “Turn it on Again” or “Abacab”, or maybe even “Invisible Touch” (loathe as I am to admit it.) ---
**Author:** ![Lobot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce7236/32.png) [@Lobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobot)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2015, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-signature-song-by-the-rolling-stones/738479/85 "2015-11-26T21:32:05Z")
**Johanna** was referring to the fourpiece as Genesis[sub]2[/sub]. I’d say “Los Endos”. For Genesis[sub]3[/sub], I’d say “Invisible Touch”. I mean, the Duke suite is their artistic peak as a threepiece, but that’s not the question. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2015, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-signature-song-by-the-rolling-stones/738479/86 "2015-11-26T23:03:31Z")
The Who: My Generation! (Hope I die, before I get old!) ---
**Author:** ![alted315](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/cc9497/32.png) [@alted315](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alted315)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2015, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-signature-song-by-the-rolling-stones/738479/87 "2015-11-26T23:23:56Z")
> [@scabpicker](#): > > Hmm, Satisfaction is a good song, but I’ve always considered [Can’t You Hear Me Knocking](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJ8MvnEVCqM) to be the song that says “Stones” to me. Here here I agree most wholeheartedly it’s got every aspect they make the stones the greatest band in the world[/] ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2015, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-signature-song-by-the-rolling-stones/738479/88 "2015-11-26T23:31:48Z")
I don’t think there can be much debate about Deep Purple’s signature song. Do I have to even write it down? ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2015, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-signature-song-by-the-rolling-stones/738479/89 "2015-11-27T03:17:48Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > I don’t think there can be much debate about Deep Purple’s signature song. Do I have to even write it down? Nope. Funky Claude can tell you all about it. ---
**Author:** ![Mangosteen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Mangosteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangosteen)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2015, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-signature-song-by-the-rolling-stones/738479/90 "2015-11-27T03:44:43Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > Here’s a tough one: Lynyrd Skynyrd. Is it “Free Bird” or “Sweet Home Alabama”? Gimme Three Steps ---
**Author:** ![Wallaby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/dc4da7/32.png) [@Wallaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallaby)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2015, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-signature-song-by-the-rolling-stones/738479/91 "2015-11-27T04:16:54Z")
> [@buddha\_david](#): > > AC/DC –\> wow, tough one. Call it a 3-way tie between “Back in Black”, “Dirty Deeds” and “Heaven and Hell”. Sorry - from the Aus perspective (and we have a lot of say in this) - it’s ‘Long WaY To The Top’. It wasn’t always - but it’s become synonomous with AC/DC due to a variety of factors. ---
**Author:** ![Lobot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce7236/32.png) [@Lobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobot)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2015, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-signature-song-by-the-rolling-stones/738479/92 "2015-11-27T04:19:24Z")
> [@Wallaby](#): > > Sorry - from the Aus perspective (and we have a lot of say in this) - it’s ‘Long WaY To The Top’. > > It wasn’t always - but it’s become synonomous with AC/DC due to a variety of factors. The iconic Countdown video, for one. ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2015, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-signature-song-by-the-rolling-stones/738479/93 "2015-11-27T04:43:43Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > Stones is definitely Satisfaction. > > CCR, Bad Moon Rising > [@Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](#): > > It has to be Fortunate son. It’s pretty much the signature song for an entire war. You can’t have a Vietnam movie without it. I would say Proud Mary ---
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2015, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-signature-song-by-the-rolling-stones/738479/94 "2015-11-27T05:02:26Z")
I don’t even know a Nazareth song beside “Love Hurts.” Beach Boys - I get Around The Four Seasons - Cherry America - I Need You The Zombies - Time of the Season Cascades - Rhythm of the Rain Beatles - I Wanna Hold Your Hand (first hit in North America) The Association - Windy The Byrds - Turn Turn Turn Everly Brothers - I’ll Do My Crying in the Rain Don Maclean - American Pie Jim Croce - I Got a Name Simon & Garfunkel - Sound of Silence Barry Manilow - I Can’t Smile Without You Donny and Marie - I’m a Little Bit Country/Rock and Roll Andy Williams - Moon River John Denver - Leaving on a Jet Plane ---
**Author:** ![syncrolecyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f08c70/32.png) [@syncrolecyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/syncrolecyne)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2015, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-signature-song-by-the-rolling-stones/738479/95 "2015-11-27T07:27:41Z")
“Satisfaction” is the one Stones’ song that everyone instantly recognizes, its usually the closing or encore number at the shows (Jumping Jack Flash often opens it), its their most quoted, covered, and parodied song. Whether it is the best representative of their work is another story (I’d personally pick “Let It Bleed” as the quintessential Stones song). To me, signature songs represent the defining work of a solo vocalists rather than a band. With the Beatles, I’d say “Yesterday” for Paul. John is trickier as he had a defining signature song after the Beatles with “Imagine.” George is probably “Something.” Ringo, “With a Little Help From My Friends.” I suspect most Americans of the 1960s generation tend to see “I Want to Hold Your Hand” as a signature song, in the UK, “She Loves You” may be their signature song together. Perhaps in other countries, their first big epic hit is the song…did the Beatles break through with other singles elsewhere? ---
**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:** [November 27, 2015, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-signature-song-by-the-rolling-stones/738479/96 "2015-11-27T07:47:29Z")
You guys are trippin… Creedence is Proud Mary Deep Purple is Highway Star Genesis is Suppers Ready. Genesis2 would be with Steve Hackett, but no Gabriel. They don’t have one. The Beatles must be an early song before the division between Lennon and Mccartney set in. ---
**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:** [November 27, 2015, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-signature-song-by-the-rolling-stones/738479/97 "2015-11-27T07:53:04Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > For Talking Heads, it surely would be “One in a Lifetime,” no? I guess, for my definition of “signature song” it would be. It is “Psycho Killer” ---
**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:** [November 27, 2015, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-signature-song-by-the-rolling-stones/738479/98 "2015-11-27T15:11:18Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > It is “Psycho Killer” :smack: How did that one slip my mind? I agree. ---
**Author:** ![Cyros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@Cyros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyros)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2015, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-signature-song-by-the-rolling-stones/738479/99 "2015-11-27T16:04:08Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > It is “Psycho Killer” Qu’est-ce que c’est? ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2015, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-signature-song-by-the-rolling-stones/738479/100 "2015-11-27T16:18:48Z")
> [@buddha\_david](#): > > Green Day –\> “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” is probably the one, if only because 90% of people don’t know the real title. 🙂 I’d personally pick “Longview” or “Jesus of Suburbia”. You are probably right, but “Basket Case” gives “Good Riddance” a run for it’s money, IMO. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-signature-song-by-the-rolling-stones/738479.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-signature-song-by-the-rolling-stones/738479.md?page=6)