The Rolling Stone 500: The 500 Greatest Songs Ever Written

[loopydate]

I don't remember seeing a thread about this, and I don't know how old this list is, but thought it might lead to some interesting conversations.


Like A Rolling Stone - Bob Dylan
(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction - The Rolling Stones
Imagine - John Lennon
What's Going On - Marvin Gaye
Respect - Aretha Franklin
Good Vibrations - The Beach Boys
Johnny B. Goode - Chuck Berry
Hey Jude - The Beatles
Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana
What'd I Say - Ray Charles
My Generation - The Who
A Change Is Gonna Come - Sam Cooke
Yesterday - The Beatles
Blowin' in the Wind - Bob Dylan
London Calling - The Clash
I Want to Hold Your Hand - The Beatles
Purple Haze - Jimi Hendrix
Maybellene - Chuck Berry
Hound Dog - Elvis Presley
Let It Be - The Beatles
Born To Run - Bruce Springsteen
Be My Baby - The Ronettes
In My Life - The Beatles
People Get Ready - The Impressions
God Only Knows - The Beach Boys
A Day In The Life - The Beatles
Layla - Derek and the Dominos
Sittin' On the Dock of the Bay - Otis Redding
Help! - The Beatles
I Walk The Line - Johnny Cash
Stairway To Heaven - Led Zeppelin
Sympathy For The Devil - The Rolling Stones
River Deep, Mountain High - Ike & Tina Turner
You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' - The Righteous Brothers
Light My Fire - The Doors
One - U2
No Woman, No Cry - Bob Marley and the Wailers
Gimme Shelter - The Rolling Stones
That'll Be The Day - Buddy Holly and the Crickets
Dancing In The Street - Martha and the Vandellas
The Weight - The Band
Waterloo Sunset - The Kinks
Tutti Frutti - Little Richard
Georgia On My Mind - Ray Charles
Heartbreak Hotel - Elvis Presley
Heroes - David Bowie
Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon and Garfunkel
All Along The Watchtower - Jimi Hendrix
Hotel California - The Eagles
The Tracks Of My Tears - Smokey Robinson and The Miracles
The Message - Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
When Doves Cry - Prince
Anarchy In The U.K. - Sex Pistols
When A Man Loves A Woman - Percy Sledge
Louie Louie - The Kingsmen
Long Tall Sally - Little Richard
Whiter Shade Of Pale - Procol Harum
Billie Jean - Michael Jackson
The Times They Are A-Changin' - Bob Dylan
Let's Stay Together - Al Green
Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin On - Jerry Lee Lewis
Bo Diddley - Bo Diddley
For What It's Worth - Buffalo Springfield
She Loves You - The Beatles
Sunshine Of Your Love - Cream
Redemption Song - Bob Marley and the Wailers
Jailhouse Rock - Elvis Presley
Tangled Up In Blue - Bob Dylan
Cryin' - Roy Orbison
Walk On By - Dionne Warwick
California Girls - The Beach Boys
Papa's Got A Brand New Bag - James Brown
Summertime Blues - Eddie Cochran
Superstition - Stevie Wonder
Whole Lotta Love - Led Zeppelin
Strawberry Fields Forever - The Beatles
Mystery Train - Elvis Presley
I Got You (I Feel Good) - James Brown
Mr. Tambourine Man - The Byrds
I Heard It Through The Grapevine - Marvin Gaye
Blueberry Hill - Fats Domino
You Really Got Me - The Kinks
Norwegian Wood - The Beatles
Every Breath You Take - The Police
Crazy - Patsy Cline
Thunder Road - Bruce Springsteen
Ring Of Fire - Johnny Cash
My Girl - The Temptations
California Dreamin' - The Mamas And The Papas
In The Still Of The Nite - The Five Satins
Suspicious Minds - Elvis Presley
Blitzkrieg Bop - Ramones
I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For - U2
Good Golly, Miss Molly - Little Richard
Blue Suede Shoes - Carl Perkins
Great Balls Of Fire - Jerry Lee Lewis
Roll Over Beethoven - Chuck Berry
Love and Happiness - Al Green
Fortunate Son - Creedence Clearwater Revival
You Can't Always Get What You Want - The Rolling StonesThe rest of the list can be found by clicking <a href="http://www.rhino.com/rs500/songs_1_50.lasso">here</a>.

I really like this list. I think I like it better than the list VH1 put out five or so years ago. Rolling Stone avoided a lot of the cliches, and added some truly amazing and underappreciated songs. I'm especially happy to see stuff like In My Life, Gimme Shelter, The Weight, and Norwegian Wood which didn't even make VH1's list.

So, discuss!

[asphyXy]

The Rolling Stone 500: 500 Random Songs

That's a more suitable title.

[RoXer]

Purple Haze should be higher

[RoXer]

Needs more (some) Metallica

[Kane Knight]

If they're the greatest songs ever WRITTEN, shouldn't the WRITERS get the credit?

[Gertner]

How Dirty Pop by N'Sync didn't make the list is beyond me

[D Mac]

LOL

Smells Like Teen Spirit is NO 9? :wtf:

[samichna]

How Dirty Pop by N'Sync didn't make the list is beyond me

rofl i love you

[MVP]

It's all politics

[Mike the Metal Ed]

The Rolling Stone 500: 500 Random Songs

That's a more suitable title.

[The Gooch]

It's all politics

Being dead makes you a better song writer.

[Silent]

LOL

Smells Like Teen Spirit is NO 9? :wtf:

I was thinking that also

[D Mac]

Yeah It's a great song and all, but writing? Any joker could come up with "here we are now, entertainers."

[el fregadero]

And the lyrics to "Hey Jude" are "na na na na na na na na na na na hey Jude"

[el fregadero]

However, I do have to give it up for Prince being on the list.

[D Mac]

However, I do have to give it up for Prince being on the list.

Who? Oh you mean that guy that now goes by the name of %$&.

[el fregadero]

Actually he's back to Prince now.

[el fregadero]

Funny though.

[The Icon of Elisim]

More to a song than lyrics, gotta give them a spot based on the catchiness of the rifts and the fact that it was a song that defined a whole culture/generation/whatever

[DaveWadding]

Yeah It's a great song and all, but writing? Any joker could come up with "here we are now, entertain<s>ers</s> us."

[FakeLaser]

I liked it, until I realized that Pink Floyd wasn't mentioned until 314 with Comfortably Numb. That is just inexcusable. Rod Stewart is ranked higher with Do Ya Think I'm Sexy.

[What Would Kevin Do?]

I looked over the 500. It's a joke. Hendrix has songs way better than Purple Haze. Smells like Teen Spirit being 9 is a joke too. Seriously. Folsom Prison Blues is way to low too.

Of course, this is all subjective.


But that list is still laughable.

[Funky Fly]

And the lyrics to "Hey Jude" are "na na na na na na na na na na na hey Jude"
Hey jude, don’t make it bad.
Take a sad song and make it better.
Remember to let her into your heart,
Then you can start to make it better.

Hey jude, don’t be afraid.
You were made to go out and get her.
The minute you let her under your skin,
Then you begin to make it better.

And anytime you feel the pain, hey jude, refrain,
Don’t carry the world upon your shoulders.
For well you know that it’s a fool who plays it cool
By making his world a little colder.

Hey jude, don’t let me down.
You have found her, now go and get her.
Remember to let her into your heart,
Then you can start to make it better.

So let it out and let it in, hey jude, begin,
You’re waiting for someone to perform with.
And don’t you know that it’s just you, hey jude, you’ll do,
The movement you need is on your shoulder.

Hey jude, don’t make it bad.
Take a sad song and make it better.
Remember to let her under your skin,
Then you’ll begin to make it
Better better better better better better, oh.

Na na na na na ,na na na, hey jude...

I rather like this song.

[el fregadero]

Hey, he took one line from Smells Like Teen Spirit so I took one from Hey Jude. I thought that was how we judge a song's lyrics?

[TapOut]

Louie Louie ahead of Billie Jean? :n:

[weather vane]

Rolling Stone is rubbish.

[D Mac]

Hey, he took one line from Smells Like Teen Spirit so I took one from Hey Jude. I thought that was how we judge a song's lyrics?
Load up on guns
Bring your friends
It’s fun to lose
And to pretend
She’s overboard
Myself assured
I know I know
A dirty word

Hello (x 16)

With the lights out it’s less dangerous
Here we are now
Entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now
Entertain us
A mulatto
An albino
A mosquito
My libido
Yea

I’m worse at what I do best
And for this gift I feel blessed
Our little group has always been
And always will until the end

Hello (x 16)

With the lights out it’s less dangerous
Here we are now
Entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now
Entertain us
A mulatto
An albino
A mosquito
My libido
Yea

And I forget
Just what it takes
And yet I guess it makes me smile
I found it hard
Its hard to find
Oh well, whatever, nevermind

Hello (x 16)

With the lights out it’s less dangerous
Here we are now
Entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now
Entertain us
A mulatto
An albino
A mosquito
My libido
Yea


Epic writing. :shifty:

[D Mac]

What is this song all about?
Can’t figure any lyrics out
How do the words to it go?
I wish you’d tell me, I don’t know
Don’t know, don’t know, don’t know, oh no
Don’t know, don’t know, don’t know...

Now I’m mumblin’ and I’m screamin’
And I don’t know what I’m singin’
Crank the volume, ears are bleedin’
I still don’t know what I’m singin’
We’re so loud and incoherent
Boy, this oughta bug your parents
Yeah

It’s unintel-ligible
I just can’t get it through my skull
It’s hard to bargle nawdle zouss(? )
With all these marbles in my mouth
Don’t know, don’t know, don’t know, oh no
Don’t know, don’t know, don’t know...

Well, we don’t sound like madonna
Here we are now, we’re nirvana
Sing distinctly? we don’t wanna
Buy our album, we’re nirvana
A garage band from seattle
Well, it sure beats raising cattle
Yeah

And I forgot the next verse
Oh well, I guess it pays to rehearse
The lyric sheet’s so hard to find
What are the words? oh, nevermind
Don’t know, don’t know, don’t know, oh no
Don’t know, don’t know, don’t know...

Well, I’m yellin’ and we’re playin’
But I don’t know what I’m sayin’
What’s the message I’m conveyin’?
Can you tell me what I’m sayin’?
So have you got some idea?
Didn’t think so -- well, I’ll see ya
Sayonara, sayonara
Ayonawa, odinawa
Odinaya, yodinaya
Yaddayadda, yaaahyaaah
Ayaaaaaah!

[RoXer]

hahaha Whats that from?

[D Mac]

hahaha Whats that from?

Weird Al Yankovic- Smells Like Nirvana. :D

[Cactus Sid]

Doolittle - 226 :nono:

[Kane Knight]

Load up on guns
Bring your friends
It’s fun to lose
And to pretend
She’s overboard
Myself assured
I know I know
A dirty word

Hello (x 16)

With the lights out it’s less dangerous
Here we are now
Entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now
Entertain us
A mulatto
An albino
A mosquito
My libido
Yea

I’m worse at what I do best
And for this gift I feel blessed
Our little group has always been
And always will until the end

Hello (x 16)

With the lights out it’s less dangerous
Here we are now
Entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now
Entertain us
A mulatto
An albino
A mosquito
My libido
Yea

And I forget
Just what it takes
And yet I guess it makes me smile
I found it hard
Its hard to find
Oh well, whatever, nevermind

Hello (x 16)

With the lights out it’s less dangerous
Here we are now
Entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now
Entertain us
A mulatto
An albino
A mosquito
My libido
Yea


Epic writing. :shifty:

You left out the line "More than a feeling."

[Zen v.W.o.]

I was thinking that also


Why wouldnt it be high up? It's impact is undeniable, and pretty much as you see, they're the only post nineties rock band on the top 100 from what I can see. Which is why I think it's a bit biased as usual..most of the time Rolling Stone mag is, but hey..Nirvana is always ranked in the top 5 of everything..top 10 here is deserving.

[Gonzo]

Yeah like FR said, Pink Floyd isn't even on until 314 or something, these lists are far too subjective.

[Kane Knight]

Yeah like FR said, Pink Floyd isn't even on until 314 or something, these lists are far too subjective.

Arbitrary is the word I'd choose.

[Kane Knight]

Also, I love the Who, but in terms of greatest songs ever written, My Generation is a shitty choice. Even if you're going for a big nameed song, "Who Are You" Or "Baba O'Reilley" are MUCH better choices, and everyone STILL knows them.

[loopydate]

Yeah like FR said, Pink Floyd isn't even on until 314 or something, these lists are far too subjective.

Although, to be fair, Floyd is better appreciated on an album-by-album, rather than song-by-song basis.

[Gonzo]

Although, to be fair, Floyd is better appreciated on an album-by-album, rather than song-by-song basis.

I'd agree.

[Blitz]

In case anyone was wondering, the list was created by a bunch of writers, musicians, and industry people, not just by Rolling Stone.

[McDoogle]

How did Smells like Teen Spirit redefine a generation? Nirvana is balls and have always been balls.

A mulatto
An albino
A mosquito
My libido
Yea

WHAT?

[loopydate]

Lyrics aren't everything to everyone. Honestly, I personally prefer good lyrics to a catchy hook, but SLTP was the "coming out" song for the grunge movement, which radically shifted the way the music industry was headed, from the over-production of the 1980s into the "garage" sound of the early '90s.

'Course, that was short-lived, since at the end of the decade, we went back to overproduction, but for anyone who was of a certain age from about 1991-1993, Nirvana was it.

[Kane Knight]

Although, to be fair, Floyd is better appreciated on an album-by-album, rather than song-by-song basis.

And yet, songs like Änother Brick in the Wal, pt 2," Are considered iconic.

[Kane Knight]

Lyrics aren't everything to everyone. Honestly, I personally prefer good lyrics to a catchy hook, but SLTP was the "coming out" song for the grunge movement, which radically shifted the way the music industry was headed, from the over-production of the 1980s into the "garage" sound of the early '90s.

'Course, that was short-lived, since at the end of the decade, we went back to overproduction, but for anyone who was of a certain age from about 1991-1993, Nirvana was it.

Wait, so you're justifying it's status on this list not on any quality of the music itself, but because it's a snapshot of cultural "revolution." So it's not even really about the song at all.

[FakeLaser]

Nirvana redefined a generation because music at that time was cheesy hair metal about staying up all night partying and strippers and crap like that. They killed off that kind of music by introducing a darker more depressed kind of music. Cobain wasn't a good guitarist and you could argue that he wasn't a very good songwriter (to which I would not agree, but he himself would probably agree with you). Cobain never set out to be an epic songwriter or anything, but there's no denying his originality.

The thing that was great about Nirvana is that they did whatever the hell they wanted to do. Cobain didn't want to be big so he wrote some of the most random lyrics and produced albums himself, but it was things like that which made Nirvana popular. It was new and different. It brought alternative rock and all of it's offsets, not just grunge, into the mainstream. It was anti-pop which became pop, the underground topping the charts.

[loopydate]

Wait, so you're justifying it's status on this list not on any quality of the music itself, but because it's a snapshot of cultural "revolution." So it's not even really about the song at all.

Exactly. I personally wouldn't put it in my top ten. It would probably struggle to make any list of mine (there are other Nirvana songs I'd rank above it, anyway). But I can understand why people would rank it so high.

[Kane Knight]

Exactly. I personally wouldn't put it in my top ten. It would probably struggle to make any list of mine (there are other Nirvana songs I'd rank above it, anyway). But I can understand why people would rank it so high.

But by your own admission, it has no place on this list.

[Kane Knight]

Nirvana redefined a generation because music at that time was cheesy hair metal about staying up all night partying and strippers and crap like that. They killed off that kind of music by introducing a darker more depressed kind of music. Cobain wasn't a good guitarist and you could argue that he wasn't a very good songwriter (to which I would not agree, but he himself would probably agree with you). Cobain never set out to be an epic songwriter or anything, but there's no denying his originality.

The thing that was great about Nirvana is that they did whatever the hell they wanted to do. Cobain didn't want to be big so he wrote some of the most random lyrics and produced albums himself, but it was things like that which made Nirvana popular. It was new and different. It brought alternative rock and all of it's offsets, not just grunge, into the mainstream. It was anti-pop which became pop, the underground topping the charts.

Did you ONLY listen to what was on MTV or something?

Even Cobain-style music was nothing new. It wasn't new or different. Hell, Seattle Grunge is just Boston Post-Punk 5 years later.

[loopydate]

But by your own admission, it has no place on this list.

I can't speak for the whatever musical experts they brought in and their philosphies, but purely in terms of great songwriting, yeah. It wasn't even one of Nirvana's five best songs, let alone one of the top ten of all-time.

[FakeLaser]

Did you ONLY listen to what was on MTV or something?

Even Cobain-style music was nothing new. It wasn't new or different. Hell, Seattle Grunge is just Boston Post-Punk 5 years later.
Uhm, no, not really. When Nirvana released Nevermind I was 6 years old.

I was saying that Nirvana made alt-rock more mainstream, ending the hair metal/new wave 80s era. Seattle grunge was something different than what most people were used to hearing. Even if you want to compare it to Boston post-punk it doesn't change the fact that Seattle grunge killed hair metal and made alternative rock more popular. Every kind of music draws upon a previous inspiration.

[KingofOldSchool]

Also, I love the Who, but in terms of greatest songs ever written, My Generation is a shitty choice. Even if you're going for a big nameed song, "Who Are You" Or "Baba O'Reilley" are MUCH better choices, and everyone STILL knows them.

I :heart: you.

[Kane Knight]

Uhm, no, not really. When Nirvana released Nevermind I was 6 years old.

I was saying that Nirvana made alt-rock more mainstream, ending the hair metal/new wave 80s era. Seattle grunge was something different than what most people were used to hearing. Even if you want to compare it to Boston post-punk it doesn't change the fact that Seattle grunge killed hair metal and made alternative rock more popular. Every kind of music draws upon a previous inspiration.

I know you were only six, but let's get some reality out in the open: By the time Nevermind came out, hair metal was already dying. That's like saying that Rome fell because the Americans were the dominant superpower. Seattle Grunge was used to fill the void, it was not because of "Grunge" that hair metal died.

[KingofOldSchool]

'Course, that was short-lived, since at the end of the decade, we went back to overproduction, but for anyone who was of a certain age from about 1991-1993, Nirvana was it.

Only because Kurt was a whiney pussy and decided to off himself right around Nirvana's peak thus proclaiming his suicide such a big "Tragedy."

Face it, if Eddie Vedder was as much of a pussy as Kurt was, then "Jeremy" would've been in the spot "Smells Like Teen Spirit" is at on this list.

And regardless if Kurt never had died, the band wouldn't be around today. They would've broken up between '96-'98. The only "grunge" band from the early 90's that's left is Pearl Jam, because they were truly the best band from the era. And I'm not saying that because they are my favorite band, but just look at the way they transcended over the years. Sure they may not make #1 in record sales anymore, but seriously...who cares? Record sales don't base a band...they still sell out arenas like last year they sold out shows all over Canada, Mexico, and South America.

Honestly, would Nirvana be doing that if Kurt was still around?

[Kane Knight]

Nirvana would job to the Yoko Factor, and they'd be forgeotten as another pop trend.

OTOH, Cobain's suicide did bolster Grunge, so other bands benefited by default. And it got rid of him, so that's a plus.

[Shaved Monkey]

How is it possible that there is only two Doors songs on this whole thing? If there was one band that was just as influential as anyone like Jimi Hendrix and etc. its the Doors.

Yet they put Light My Fire at 35 and The End at 328. :nono:

Who actually makes up these lists?

[Blitz]

Who actually makes up these lists?

See my post on the previous page.

[loopydate]

And the same argument can be made about The Doors as was made about Nirvana.

Live fast, die young, and you're a perpetual music icon.

[Kane Knight]

The Doors are one of the most overrated bands period. Decent music, horribly propelled beyond that into some sort of undeserved legendry.

[Zen v.W.o.]

But by your own admission, it has no place on this list.


My contention is that it most certainly does. A song isnt just about lyrics, it is how you choose to use the lyrics..the way you belt out the words, how you employ them to the tune of your musical instruments..SLTS has everything going for it at the time, and it still holds up now as a matter of fact, and it did knock down doors that other bands from the same era didnt do.

KOOS, Pearl Jam are great, but again, Nirvana didnt become such an iconic band due to his death. They were huge and epic while he was living.
And you cant go into if's or but's just because Kurt is not still alive. If Eddie had commited suicide or died at his peak, would you not be proclaiming that your fave band ever weren't epic and iconic? Yeah.

Also, as I recall things, Eddie wasnt such a strong man himself, considering you called Kurt a pussy. Kurt would run down Pearl Jam and Eddie would fold, and admit to his feelings being hurt. His vvideos would be trashed and Eddie would stop making videos. Eddie in a way back then was a follower, and it was after Kurts death that Eddie started to go the route of the "grunge" type of artist. I doubt Eddie is one to just talk and make praise of someone for nothing, and especially to a guy that once continually trashed his band, but on the night Kurt was found dead, Eddie to his live audience told everyone that none of us would be here if it had not been for Kurt, and the music Nirvana created.
I should say that none of them would be on such a big stage together as they were...Nirvana's music clearly helped music lovers learn and gain knowledge about plenty of other bands, and PJ was no exception.

This goes back to SLTS, if not for that song and the Nevermind album, perhaps the alternative revolution does not become as big as it did, and we are not permitted to suddenly have access to punk rock bands and underground acts on our radio stations and music tv channels. It broke down some doors, which other bands have had the chance to do before Nirvana, but didnt. Soundgarden. REM, AIC, Mudhoney, Mother Love Bone, and many others before Nirvana didnt do this.
Nirvana didnt become big through their label mass marketing them and pushing them super hard. That wasnt it at all. N irvana became big through word of mouth, kids passing around cassettes and realizing how kick ass this band was, and turning their friends on to something fresh and new and well deserving of the praise it would later recieve. That is dedication and hardcore love for a band right from the get-go. It then became an avalanche later on, and Nirvana actually deserved all that acclaim, unlike many bands now who reiceve it, or try to.

btw, speaking of Pearl Jam, they had two members in that band who at one point in time could have been considered in the same vein as other stadium pooch metal acts..Ament and Gossard. When the grunge movement hit, PJ were right in there at the right moment, right time. They got swallowed up in it and rolled with it. They became big because of what Niravana started. When Nirvana left, we could see PJ start declining, as the rest of alternative nation did. In a way, you can look at Nirvana leaving us early for the regression of many bands that became huge during those years. Perhaps if Nirvana were around longer, PJ would have been much more popular for a longer period of time then they were. They obviously still have their hardcore fans that still attend their shows, but so many left them after Vitalogy.

I think it says alot about a particular band(Nirvana) when they have such am imprint and impact on not just the genre of music they helped to make big, but the other bands that fit that style.

[Zen v.W.o.]

btw, the Rolling Stones are still going, yet the Beatles are still better than they are, so your theory about PJ being the sole band to keep trucking on therefore being the better band or the best as you called them is balls.