Best Songs Ever Written?

[NovaStar]

Re: Best Songs Ever Written?

The thing I like about the different opinions here is that you guys are giving out some songs I have not listened to nor heard of before. Also, after careful consideration I might change my number 1. I think I have to go to Pink floyd's "shine on you crazy diamond part 2" (I just finished listening to it).There is little singing but if you listen to the song it takes you on a journey, David Gilmore talks with his guitar. This song moves me more than any other. I put Bohemian Rhapsody, Stairway to Heaven and Yesterday as tied for second.

I can't believe no one has mentioned a U2 song, or Parliament Funkentelechy.

[Psyblast]

Re: Best Songs Ever Written?

I can't believe no one has mentioned a U2 song, or Parliament Funkentelechy.

U2 has a lot of great songs...it's hard to pick the best (in my opinion, anyway).

[TheMatrix31]

Re: Best Songs Ever Written?

Does best song ever written necessarily mean lyrics-wise? If so, I think Metallica's "To Live is to Die" is amazing, taking us through the pain and anguish, then acceptance of Cliff Burton's (bassist) death. Absolutely beautiful song.

How about November Rain?

[Brandon13]

Re: Best Songs Ever Written?

How about November Rain?

November Rain is good but if I was going to pick the best GNR song I would choose Civil War.

[Victor99]

Re: Best Songs Ever Written?

AC/DC-Highway To Hell, You Shook Me All Night Long, Who Made Who

Rush-Limelight, Working Man, Tom Sawyer

Steve Miller Band-Take The Money And Run, Rockin Me Baby

Steely Dan-Do It Again, Reeling In The Years, My Old School

U2-Where The Streets Have No Names, New Years Day

The Who-Eminence Front, Baba O'Riley

The Rolling Stones-Miss You, Jumping Jack Flash, Gimmie Shelter

[KENYON06]

Re: Best Songs Ever Written?

Rush-Limelight, Working Man, Tom Sawyer

I was thinking about adding Rush on there. Neil Pert was amazing. My dad took me to a concert a long time ago. Definitely a talented band there.

[pk500]

Re: Best Songs Ever Written?

U2 has a lot of great songs...it's hard to pick the best (in my opinion, anyway).

U2's best song is "One," and it definitely deserves merit on any "best rock songs" list.

Take care,
PK

[pk500]

Re: Best Songs Ever Written?

Does best song ever written necessarily mean lyrics-wise? If so, I think Metallica's "To Live is to Die" is amazing, taking us through the pain and anguish, then acceptance of Cliff Burton's (bassist) death. Absolutely beautiful song.

How about November Rain?

P*ssy rock. One of G N' R's worst songs. "Patience" was about the only ballad that G N' R did that was worth a sh*t, and it wasn't that great.

I'll put "Estranged" atop G N' R's all-time list, followed by "Locomotive," "Welcome to the Jungle" and "Civil War."

Take care,
PK

[pk500]

Re: Best Songs Ever Written?

AC/DC-Highway To Hell, You Shook Me All Night Long, Who Made Who

Rush-Limelight, Working Man, Tom Sawyer

Steve Miller Band-Take The Money And Run, Rockin Me Baby

Steely Dan-Do It Again, Reeling In The Years, My Old School

U2-Where The Streets Have No Names, New Years Day

The Who-Eminence Front, Baba O'Riley

The Rolling Stones-Miss You, Jumping Jack Flash, Gimmie Shelter

Is this a classic rock radio play list or a list of great songs? These are all pop hits.

"Who Made Who" on a list of great AC/DC songs? Wow. That, among many, caught me off guard.

Take care,
PK

[Crucial Mike]

Re: Best Songs Ever Written?

Springsteen's Thunder Road should be up there (if it hasn't been mentioned already).

[blackgoatsemen]

Re: Best Songs Ever Written?

helloween-halloween
edguy-the piper never dies
avantasia-the seven angels
sodom-agent orange
dream theater-pull me under
rush-red barchetta
death-the philospher

the list can go on forever...

[GBrushTWood]

Re: Best Songs Ever Written?

If I had to pick one song to define the Beatles, that song would be it. It has Lennon's pessimistic verse along with McCartney's pop-rock standard. Then of course the experimentation at the end.

See I thought about including Day In The Life when I posted in this thread, but decided not to because I don't think it's a fantastically written song. Not for "best song ever written". Isn't that what this thread is supposed to be?
What is so lyrically great about John repeating what he read in the newspaper and that he saw a film today? I think if John was alive, he'd tell you that there's no genius in repeating what you read in the paper. Paul's bit is definitely solid and interesting, but is there really any deeper meaning to it? It certainly has the same mundane words that John's part has. "Woke up, got out of bed, dragged a comb across my head". It's posh, sort of tongue in cheek, and naturally full of the Beatles charm, but is this the greatest lyrical composition from them?

Don't get me wrong, this is an absolutely marvelous song. In fact, when somebody asks me what my favorite Beatles tune is, first I wince, then remark how difficult the question is, and finally mention Day In The Life at the top of the list. Coming from an absolute Beatles maniac like myself, saying Day In The Life is their best song is no understated praise. I just think that if we are going to say certain songs are the best ever written, we should be selective in doing so.

I think there are better lyrically written Beatles tunes out there, namely, Something by George. If you want to focus on John (and hey, who wouldn't, he's my favorite Beatle), I have to submit Strawberry Fields Forever and In My Life as his best lyrical compositions with the Beatles (though Paul helped on In My Life and thus makes it more of a combination). Also, Julia, from the White Album is vastly underrated and features the caustic, self-questioning typical Lennon opening line: "Half of what I say is meaningless". One of my favorite lines of all time right there. Looking at Strawberry Fields though, it's tough to beat:

"No one I think is in my tree, I mean it must be high or low" That is f'n brilliant right there.

Interestingly, I happen to think Strawberry Fields is lyrically better than Day In The Life, however comparing them from a composition and musician perspective, Day In The Life blows SFF away, in addition to every other Beatles tune (though Something, Walrus, All You Need Is Love, and Within You Without Out are close for me..).

and yes, I am obsessed with The Beatles and could talk about them all day.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: Best Songs Ever Written?

I wasn't saying the song was the Beatles best by any means, but I was saying that if I had to pick one Beatles song to encompass their entire catalogue, "A Day in the Life" would be it.

[NovaStar]

Re: Best Songs Ever Written?

See I thought about including Day In The Life when I posted in this thread, but decided not to because I don't think it's a fantastically written song. Not for "best song ever written". Isn't that what this thread is supposed to be?
What is so lyrically great about John repeating what he read in the newspaper and that he saw a film today? I think if John was alive, he'd tell you that there's no genius in repeating what you read in the paper. Paul's bit is definitely solid and interesting, but is there really any deeper meaning to it? It certainly has the same mundane words that John's part has. "Woke up, got out of bed, dragged a comb across my head". It's posh, sort of tongue in cheek, and naturally full of the Beatles charm, but is this the greatest lyrical composition from them?

Don't get me wrong, this is an absolutely marvelous song. In fact, when somebody asks me what my favorite Beatles tune is, first I wince, then remark how difficult the question is, and finally mention Day In The Life at the top of the list. Coming from an absolute Beatles maniac like myself, saying Day In The Life is their best song is no understated praise. I just think that if we are going to say certain songs are the best ever written, we should be selective in doing so.

I think there are better lyrically written Beatles tunes out there, namely, Something by George. If you want to focus on John (and hey, who wouldn't, he's my favorite Beatle), I have to submit Strawberry Fields Forever and In My Life as his best lyrical compositions with the Beatles (though Paul helped on In My Life and thus makes it more of a combination). Also, Julia, from the White Album is vastly underrated and features the caustic, self-questioning typical Lennon opening line: "Half of what I say is meaningless". One of my favorite lines of all time right there. Looking at Strawberry Fields though, it's tough to beat:

"No one I think is in my tree, I mean it must be high or low" That is f'n brilliant right there.

Interestingly, I happen to think Strawberry Fields is lyrically better than Day In The Life, however comparing them from a composition and musician perspective, Day In The Life blows SFF away, in addition to every other Beatles tune (though Something, Walrus, All You Need Is Love, and Within You Without Out are close for me..).

and yes, I am obsessed with The Beatles and could talk about them all day.

Great post. This is what I was going for. I want us to put our thinking caps on and really appreciate those songs that really stand out above any others. Sure there are a whole lot of good songs out there, but you should be able to define why one song stands out above another why it is great. Whenever I hear Bohemian Rhapsody I always think afterwards what a freakin song. The same goes for Stairway to Heaven, Shine on you crazy diamond 2(Pink Floyd is my favorite group of all time) and Marvin Gayes what's going on and many others. Some songs are mood songs, so they are good when you are in the mood to hear them, but the great songs, no matter what your mood, you simply acknowledge by saying damn! that is a great song.

This shouldn't be a list of good songs, which songs do you think are the greatest ever? I have just about every beatles album, Eleanor Rigby is vastly underrated "all the lonely people where do they come from, all the lonely people where do they all belong" Strong! I am surprised no one has mentioned Bon jovi's I am a cowboy.

But whatever song moves you whether it be instrumental (music is written) or vocal or both, mention it. I am always looking for songs I have never heard before. It's kind of like asking you, out of all the girls you have dealt with, pick your top 2.

The reason I chose Shine on you crazy diamond part 2, is because Pink Floyd takes you on a musical journey, they start off slow groovin, then gilmore starts grinding on the guitar (simply beautiful to hear) then they hit a r&b flow, then bring you down with a classical flow. It is the kind of song that if I got high I would probably smoke a joint to it, then jump off of a building thinking that I could fly with the music.

[eXperiment63]

Re: Best Songs Ever Written?

The lyrics to the song I suggested, House Carpenter by Hurt:

Our mistake was the love we made
I didn't deliberate
But I never meant you wrong
No I didn't mean it

If you've ever lost a loved one
I pray for you, I really do
If you've ever lost a loved one
I pray for you...

'Cause there's a sad and lonely comfort
In the hollow of your eyes
But don't you let it take you over
'Cause it will eat you up inside

I heard you're married to a house carpenter
And your love will never be mine...

If you're not breathing
why am I
Left alone in this ship
If you're not breathing
Why am I left alone?
With a sad and lonely comfort
Of the hollow in your eyes
But don't you let it take me under
'Cause it will eat me up inside

I'm sure you're married to your house carpenter
And your love will never be mine
...
All the pain and the way it was
All of the shame and the hate, because
I was in love with the way it was
All that I do I do for you

All the pain and the way it was
All of the shame and the hate, because
I was in love with the way it was
All that I do I do for you
...
If you're not breathing
Why am I? left alone in this ****.
If you're not breathing Why am I
left alone?

With a sad and lonely comfort
Of the hollow in your eyes
But won't let it take me over
'Cause it will eat me up inside

I'm sure you're buried with your house carpenter
And your face I'll never see no more
Your face I'll never see no more
Your face
Your face
Your face
Your face...[Each repetition getting progressively darker and stronger]

With a sad and lonely comfort
Of the hollow in your eyes
But I won't let it take me under
'Cause it will eat me up inside

Yeah I heard your married to a house carpenter
And your love will never me mine
No, your love will never be mine...


^Not to mention that the song is a musical masterpiece. It actually has 2 crescendos; one is very quickly over with, and the other explodes as he screams the word face on the last repetition. If you have not heard that song, it is HIGHLY recommended that you do.

EDIT: I forgot I had uploaded that song to putfile when they started circulating their sampler for people to listen to. http://media.putfile.com/Hurt---House-Carpenter <- you can listen to it there. and no, do not ask for me to email the song to you.