# 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:** 9\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Nema98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d2c977/32.png) [@Nema98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nema98)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-signature-song-by-the-rolling-stones/738479/121 "2015-11-30T21:10:10Z")
“Satisfaction” hands down. It may not be their best but it is probably their signature tune. Signature songs usually are born out of an artist’s heyday or prime. This makes sense for the Rolling Stones, though they would have a lengthy career. The Beatles don’t have one particular signature song, too many. Same with Elton John, Madonna or Michael Jackson. Some artists have an easy signature song to identify, others don’t. Nothing wrong with either case. ---
**Author:** ![Nema98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d2c977/32.png) [@Nema98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nema98)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-signature-song-by-the-rolling-stones/738479/122 "2015-11-30T21:16:27Z")
> [@Peremensoe](#): > > And that’s not just a matter of popularity, in the sense of people liking songs as such. For giant pop artists, a substantial portion of the signature recognition is from people who don’t listen to or like that kind of music at all. > > I’m sure that among people who know _two,_ or more, songs by an artist, the one they like better is quite often not the signature. This is absolutely spot on. A signature song is one that is widely recognizable by the average person, even those who are not fans or don’t listen to that particular artists’ discography. Deep album cuts or songs that were not a hit can’t be signature songs. Take Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody”, must be their their signature song. A runner up would be “We Will Rock You/We Are The Champions”. I or other Queen fans may not think those are Queen’s best songs, they sound overplayed and tired. I like “The Prophet’s Song” from their album “A Nighht At The Opera”, but I can’t seriously say that is the band’s signature song. ---
**Author:** ![Nema98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d2c977/32.png) [@Nema98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nema98)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-signature-song-by-the-rolling-stones/738479/123 "2015-11-30T21:17:47Z")
> [@Peremensoe](#): > > Come on, Springsteen is “Born in the USA.” The one that people who have never actually listened to a Springsteen record would identify. The one that’s famous (as well) for entirely music-unrelated reasons. Let’s make it easy- "Born To Run IN The U.S.A. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2015, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-signature-song-by-the-rolling-stones/738479/124 "2015-12-01T16:08:48Z")
Isn’t the artist with the best known signature song Jimmy Buffet? ---
**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:** [December 4, 2015, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-signature-song-by-the-rolling-stones/738479/125 "2015-12-04T04:55:59Z")
> [@DrCube](#): > > See, when I hear “Blue Suede Shoes”, I think [Carl Perkins](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Suede_Shoes). [Erubisu.](https://youtu.be/dLFVprIjtpw) Kāru Pākinsu. Erubisu. Kāru Pākinsu. Erubisu! ---
**Author:** ![stillownedbysetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@stillownedbysetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stillownedbysetters)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2015, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-signature-song-by-the-rolling-stones/738479/126 "2015-12-04T18:32:50Z")
I would have said “Gimme Shelter” for most because of the movie, but “Satisfaction” is the one that pops into my mind first. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2015, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-signature-song-by-the-rolling-stones/738479/127 "2015-12-04T23:56:44Z")
I think most people would say “Satisfaction.” A good argument could be made for “Money” as well. But the last time I saw them, there was a three-story blow-up Honky Tonk Woman perched on the edge of the arena, with a cigarette dangling from her hand, and a red stiletto pump dangling from her toe. Sure looked to me like they were trying to make that their signature song. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2015, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-signature-song-by-the-rolling-stones/738479/128 "2015-12-05T01:18:27Z")
Rolling Stones - “Gimme Shelter” Bruce Springsteen - “Born To Run” (How is this even a question?) Renaissance - “Can You Hear Me?” or “Ashes Are Burning” Beatles - a Day in the Life" Fleetwood Mac - “Go Your Own Way” or “Rhiannon” ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2015, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-signature-song-by-the-rolling-stones/738479/129 "2015-12-06T03:40:14Z")
Gimme Shelter, with Sympathy For The Devil as a close second. I love Gimme Shelter so much that the opening bars of acapella “Ooooooo”-ing are a ringtone I created. When I’m on a shoot and I get a call, I offhandedly will say, " Sorry, Mick Jagger’s calling, be right back". 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-signature-song-by-the-rolling-stones/738479.md?page=6)