# What is your favorite song? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [May 1, 2026, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-song/1029693 "2026-05-01T14:23:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2026, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-song/1029693/1 "2026-05-01T14:23:01Z")
Out of the blue my wife asks me, “What is your favorite song?” “My favorite?” "Yeah, what song makes you happiest when you hear it?‘’ It kind of put me on the spot. While my favorite band is Rush, I think the song that makes me happiest when I hear it is “Born to Run”. It jams and I can’t not sing along (badly) when I hear it. I love that song. I am getting happier just thinking of it now while writing this. So what is your favorite song? What song makes you happiest when you hear it? No lists. Just one song. What song is it? ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@salinqmind1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind1)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2026, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-song/1029693/2 "2026-05-01T14:30:21Z")
I have a million, but ‘Love Shack’ by the B-52s played loud in the car has picked me up from the depths of despair to ‘maybe I’ll hang on for one more day’. ---
**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:** [May 1, 2026, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-song/1029693/3 "2026-05-01T14:41:06Z")
> [@Quimby](#): > > “My favorite?” > > "Yeah, what song makes you happiest when you hear it?‘’ Kinda two different questions really. My favorite is probably “Strawberry Fields Forever”. But the one that makes me happiest? “Wooly Bully” by Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs. ---
**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:** [May 1, 2026, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-song/1029693/4 "2026-05-01T14:53:45Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > “Wooly Bully” by Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs. Way back when we were shopping for bands for our wedding - back when weddings had live bands - my one requirement was that they could do a kick-ass “Wolly Bully”. I’m not even joking. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2026, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-song/1029693/5 "2026-05-01T14:59:02Z")
Here’s a hill I will die upon: [“Return Post” by The Bangles](https://youtu.be/zL_HlsK-yes?si=_11N15RqAfjByjzJ) is a perfect song. ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2026, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-song/1029693/6 "2026-05-01T15:24:31Z")
“Your Song”, released in 1971 by Elton John/Bernie Taupin, for more reasons than I name. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2026, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-song/1029693/7 "2026-05-01T15:33:59Z")
I can’t come up with a _favorite_ on demand. But once when Lorita was feeling down, I stopped at an F.Y.E. on my way home from work, and bought a Fine Young Cannibals CD, just so I could put on _You Drive Me Crazy_ for her. It seemed to lift her spirits. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2026, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-song/1029693/8 "2026-05-01T15:36:15Z")
I mean, it’s a tough choice, but if you put a gun to my head I’ll probably say “Vienna” by Billy Joel. ---
**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:** [May 1, 2026, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-song/1029693/9 "2026-05-01T15:37:11Z")
Kind of a broad question, innit? Can you at least specify a genre? ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2026, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-song/1029693/10 "2026-05-01T15:38:46Z")
My favorite song right now is probably “Starlight” by YOLA. ---
**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:** [May 1, 2026, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-song/1029693/11 "2026-05-01T15:44:57Z")
Instrumental, it’s \*Rhapsody in Blue \*. Otherwise, Roberta Flack’s version of _The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face_. ---
**Author:** ![defecthunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/45deac/32.png) [@defecthunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/defecthunter)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2026, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-song/1029693/12 "2026-05-01T15:56:41Z")
I can’t listen to “The Middle” by Jimmy Eat World without feeling better. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2026, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-song/1029693/13 "2026-05-01T16:00:13Z")
It varies day to day, seriously. Right now I’ve been listening to “[The Ashokan Farewell](https://youtu.be/uZmxZThb084?si=Yg_yW5flLG_2U1qe)” pretty much on repeat, it’s just so … whatever adjective describes something that creeps into your soul. However, year after year, decade after decade, consistently and without fail, my favorite song of all time most certainly does not make me happy, in the sense that it’s in no way uplifting. In fact, it’s a mournful dirge about death. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/tH2w6Oxx0kQ/maxresdefault.jpg "Kansas - Dust in the Wind (Official Video)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tH2w6Oxx0kQ) ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2026, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-song/1029693/14 "2026-05-01T16:03:09Z")
“[Repo Man](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgAuIxj5-cw)” by Iggy Pop. Director Alex Cox needed a song for his movie and went to Iggy to ask if he’ll do it. Iggy, going through a rough patch in his career due to his drug use, readily agreed. Backed by Steve Jones from the Sex Pistols on guitar as well as Nigel Harrison and Clem Burke from Blondie on bass and drums respectively, Pop worked out the song 20 minutes before recording. The opening grabs you right away with Burke counting to four on his sticks immediately followed by grinding guitar and thump thump from bass. It sounds punk with just a touch of surf to it, hinting at the movie’s California setting. The lyrics talk about love, loss, drugs, and teenage ennui, but contain a pageful of nonsense lyrics. I’ve been a fan of Iggy Pop though the years though he was never my favorite artist and yet he made a song that viciously holds on in my favorite song spot unrelentingly for 42 years. I contend that this is the greatest rock song produced. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2026, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-song/1029693/15 "2026-05-01T16:06:18Z")
“Wedding Bell Blues,” by The Fifth Dimension. ---
**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:** [May 1, 2026, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-song/1029693/16 "2026-05-01T16:10:37Z")
When it comes to pure pop, I have to go with this classic: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/dZMc0-ZAUeY/maxresdefault.jpg "THE COWSILLS I LOVE THE FLOWER GIRL -OFFICIALLY TITLED: THE RAIN, THE PARK AND OTHER THINGS.") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZMc0-ZAUeY) ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2026, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-song/1029693/17 "2026-05-01T16:15:48Z")
Back when I had to make long day trips around Missouri, my ritual was to play Born to Run as the first song when I left home, and Radar Love as the first song on the return trip. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2026, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-song/1029693/18 "2026-05-01T16:19:45Z")
Boy, I forgot about that song, but it really is an excellent representative of its time. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2026, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-song/1029693/19 "2026-05-01T16:32:08Z")
“Uptown Funk”: lots of energy and it makes me want to dance. Or “Smooth” by Santana. ---
**Author:** ![Airbeck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/airbeck/32/6574_2.png) [@Airbeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airbeck)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2026, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-song/1029693/20 "2026-05-01T16:33:52Z")
Naive Melody - Talking Heads [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-favorite-song/1029693.md?page=2)