Greatest Song In The World

[Mac98]

Hey everybody!

Haven't been around much, lately, what with the homework and long working hours, but I've got a bit of time to spare so I thought I'd drop by.

Recently, it dawned on me that there is no song in the world that is considered the "Greatest Song Ever Written By A Human Being" award, so I thought of this: If there was such an award that was awarded once every, say, 500 years, who would we give it to (from1509 to 2009)?

I can't say I'd know for sure, so I'm going to go by vote. To help out a bit, I've written down a few songs and the artist of what may be considered the greatest song ever written.


- Stairway To Heaven (Led Zeppelin)
- Wish You Were Here (Pink Floyd)
- Knockin' On Heaven's Door (Bob Dylan)
- Like A Rolling Stone (Bob Dylan)
- We Are the Champions (Queen) (My friend insisted I add this one to the pile)
- The End (The Doors)
- Smells Like Teen Spirit (Nirvana)
- Spanish Train (Chris de Burgh)
- Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen)
- Voodoo Chile (Jimi Hendrix)
- Hurt (NIN) (Also sang by Johnny Cash which is equally good if not better than the original)
- Dust In the Wind (Kansas)
- Mad World (Gary Jules)
- Death To Birth (Michael Pitt)
- Life (Our Lady Peace)
- Californication (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
- Scar Tissue (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
- Everybody Hurts (R.E.M.)
- Heima (Sigur Ros)
- Suite Madam Blue (Styx)
- Tribute (Tenacious D) (They say it's a tribute to the greatest song in the world, Jack Black once said this was a Tribute to Stairway To Heaven)
- Bittersweet Symphony (The Verve)
- When the Levee Breaks (Led Zeppelin)


I could go on and on for days on end, but these here are just a few suggestions. I, myself, would have to go with Stairway To Heaven because God himself could not have coughed up a better piece of work (however, I can't say Knockin' on Heaven's Door or Dust In the Wind aren't equally great songs, I'm just saying).

So the score is:

1- Stairway To Heaven (By Led Zeppelin)
2- You'd Better Believe It (Hawkwind)
3- Fade To Black (Metalica)
4- Electric Feel (MGMT)
5- Painkiller (Judas Priest)
6- When the Levee Breaks - (Led Zeppeling)
7- 2112 - Rush
8- American Soldier - Toby Keith
9- Teenage Riot - Sonic Youth

Give your suggestions or cast in your vote (you can vote for multiple songs if you want).

PS. I don't know Eric Clapton very much but I'm sure he should be in the list I made... Beatles too)

 

[Ravenwind]

Fade to Black - Metallica.

Might not be the greatest song in the world... but to me it is. When worst turns to very worst, and it feels like life has taken a shit in my shoe, and I find out it was diarrhea, Fade to Black keeps me from going the one route I struggle not to go.

 

[water_side]

You'd Better Believe it. - Hawkwind

Like Ravenwind, I admit it's not the greatest song ever written, but i've seen it performed live many times, and each time I can't help crying. So for emotional impact alone, it gets my vote.

 

[easyluckyfree]

This is a little more indie than any of the songs already listed, but my vote for best song of all time goes to Electric Feel, performed by MGMT. Everything from the way the music is arranged to the sound of the lead singer's voice appeals very powerfully to me. When I listen to it, the whole world seems sexier.

 

[DarkBee]

Painkiller, by Judas Priest

No matter how I feel, that thunderous drum intro and epic riffing will always pick me up and have me bang my head (and, if no-one's around, sing along).

 

[Mac98]

This is a little more indie than any of the songs already listed, but my vote for best song of all time goes to Electric Feel, performed by MGMT. Everything from the way the music is arranged to the sound of the lead singer's voice appeals very powerfully to me. When I listen to it, the whole world seems sexier.

I have to say, MGMT kick ass big time, but tbh, although I enjoy Electric Feel, I hardly think it's their best. I think Handshake and Kids are better... although they're pretty much all great.


And for the others, I've added your vote in (as well as all my friends' votes, though not all here on this forum or topic), but keep in mind that I'm not asking for your favorite song, I'm asking for which song you think is the greatest song ever written. My favorite song, personally, is Michael Pitt's Death To Birth, but I stand by the fact that the greatest song ever written is Led Zep's Stairway... See what I mean? Anyways, keep 'em coming. Thanks.

 

[N_B]

Tenacious D - Tibute

It's a song about being the greatest song in the world. How can you go wrong?

 

[Mac98]

Tenacious D - Tibute

It's a song about being the greatest song in the world. How can you go wrong?

That's exactly why I put it up on the list . And Jack Black is perhaps, imo, one of the greatest vocalists today. Very talented man, him.

 

[Cattypuss]

When the Levee Breaks has always been my favourite Led Zep track (closely followed by Since I've Been Lovin You). And Led Zep are, for me, so much better than ANYONE else that there's no contest.

 

[CherryBomb24]

Confrontation by Otep is my fav.
American Soldier by Toby Keith is another of my favs.. yes i know completely different music style but i listen to almost everything.

My favorite classic, Ozzy Osbourne - Crazy Train.

 

[sethp]

2112-Rush

 

[Mac98]

When the Levee Breaks has always been my favourite Led Zep track (closely followed by Since I've Been Lovin You). And Led Zep are, for me, so much better than ANYONE else that there's no contest.

Zeppelin alone have perhaps the top 100 greatest songs ever written. They are, without a doubt, the most reknowned band there's ever been or will ever be.

2112-Rush

YYZ and Tom Sawyer are also great songs. And how did I forget the band containing the greatest drummer or all time???

 

[sugaredwalls]

Teenage Riot, Sonic Youth....the whole album Daydream Nation brings back very fond memories.

 

[human_male]

Nessum Dorma.

 

[Mac98]

Nessum Dorma is a song or artist?

And yes, sugaredwalls, Sonic Youth really are/were an amazing, dare I say, pre-grunge band...

 

[human_male]

Nessum Dorma is a song or artist?

And yes, sugaredwalls, Sonic Youth really are/were an amazing, dare I say, pre-grunge band...

It's a song. No one said it had to be a modern pop song, and I seriously doubt the greatest song ever written by a human being would be contemporary rock or pop.

 

[Mac98]

It's a song. No one said it had to be a modern pop song, and I seriously doubt the greatest song ever written by a human being would be contemporary rock or pop.

Absolutely not. It can be whatever song exists. But I don't doubt at it all. Stairway To Heaven is a beautiful song, weather you like that kind of music or not, and it was written by Led Zeppelin... you can't get more mainstream than that (well, that's actually a HUGE lie). That's why I also added songs like "Heima" and "Death To Birth"... but it's whatever song you think is the greatest song ever written in the history of music.

 

[Cattypuss]

I seriously doubt the greatest song ever written by a human being would be contemporary rock or pop.

Why??

 

[sethp]

It's a song. No one said it had to be a modern pop song, and I seriously doubt the greatest song ever written by a human being would be contemporary rock or pop.

hmmm good point but if you're thinking classical...they're more works and pieces and not really songs? Just a thought. And 200 years from now no one will even know who Rush was! OH the humanity!

 

[caged_doll]

It's a song. No one said it had to be a modern pop song, and I seriously doubt the greatest song ever written by a human being would be contemporary rock or pop.

I'm inclined to agree with that statement. I don't find myself moved by contemporary music, but listening to excerpts from classical works like Tannhauser or Verklarte Nacht can physically affect me; tears, shivers, etc.

Of the ones posted by the OP, I like Everybody Hurts by R.E.M. and We are the Champions by Queen, but I don't consider them anything overly special, even though I am a Queen fan.

 

[Casualencounter]

Impossible Task

Picking one song as the greatest in the world is an impossible task. No two people could ever agree what defines the GSITW. Picking one is like telling a guy he can chose only 1 piece of ass and he is stuck with it for life lol.
For instance, American Pie by Don Mclean. It's over 13 min long, I don't know of another artist that has written a song that long with original lyrics that don't repeat except in the chorus. The beatles hey jude is like 9 min and they jsut did alot of na na na naaa hey jude crap to stretch it out.
500 yrs from now the people will be so dumb they won't even know what a song is. They will listen to some computer synth crap prolly made by a machine. Providing humans havn't killed themselves off by then.,

 

[Mac98]

Picking one song as the greatest in the world is an impossible task. No two people could ever agree what defines the GSITW. Picking one is like telling a guy he can chose only 1 piece of ass and he is stuck with it for life lol.

I've got ONE word for you: Marriage

I'm kidding of course, but I assure you it's no impossible task. Granted, popular opinion doesn't speak for the whole world, but it's sorta' like the Oscars... just because a movie was voted best movie of the year (for example), doesn't make it so... but it's still considered one of the greatest films of the year by the majority of people.

I made a poll in high school and in CEGEP and, in high school, Stairway To Heaven had won with 78 votes, I believe... something like that, it was several years ago... ("Free Bird" by Lynard Skynard came in 2nd with 42 votes). In Cegep, "Like A Rolling Stone" had won with 109 votes and "Something In the Way" by Nirvana came in 2nd with 80-odd votes. I also made a blog last year with votes like I did here... so far, Stairway to Heaven is in the lead...

It's all for shits and giggles... for fun. I doubt anyone can define exactly what the greatest song in the world is, since to each his own opinion, but I think it's a fun little exercise...

 

[littlebabyclit]

I know I couldn't pick one best written song of all time because I adore tons of music and songs. I think the best I could come up with is best written songs about varying subjects, or perhaps best songs for their musical genre.

But for me, I'll stick with subjects. It works better.

To Miss Someone-Maria McKee (best song about missing someone ambivalently.) Wickedly cutting lyrics and gorgeously lush vocals by Ms. McKee.

Wasted Time- The Eagles (best song about the aftermath of a broken relationship) Frighteningly astute lyrics and the best vocal by Don Henley EVER.

All You Need Is Love- The Beatles (best positive message in a pop/rock song)

Thank You- Led Zeppelin (Best Ethereal/Mystical Love Song)

Who Wants To Live Forever-Queen (best haunting/doomed relationship song) Just a gorgeous, ethereal ballad by Queen with piercing guitar solo by Brian May and elegant interpretation of the lyrics by the inimitable Freddie Mercury on vocals.

Live and Let Die-Paul McCartney (Best movie soundtrack song EVER)

Shine On You Crazy Diamond- Pink Floyd (Best Tribute to a "lost" friend.) Also the best song in the world for mellowing and chilling out, from the masters of classic/progressive/space rock.

I could go on and on and on. I need a "Top 100 Best Written Songs" list of my own, ha ha. By the way, I'm sure my poll answers about music could change weekly. There's just so many great, great songs to consider.

 

[Mac98]

agreed. The poor attempt at writing a list in my original post is living proof that there are just too many songs, but i definately feel there are some songs, weather they're YOUR favorite or not, they still stick out from the bunch. Stairway To Heaven is NOT my favorite song of all time, really, (it's "Death To Birth" by Michael Pitt and "All Apologies" by Nirvana) but I can easily say that, imo, it's the greatest song ever written...

 

[Cathleen]

ONE of the greatest songs "In My Life" by the Beatles.

Another one is Larry Carlton's "Sleepwalk," it's a jazz selection and has no lyrics.

I'm sure I'll be back.



I need to get updated since I haven't heard of many of the groups/singers mentioned.