I saw an article about this a while back. So here are my opinions as possibles. Not necessarily the best song (none are my favs though I do like Stairway) but the most iconic in that everyone knows it and sings along. Yes my list is lacking in 1960’s and earlier.
Stairway to Heaven - arguably the best known rock song of all time.
Bohemian Rhapsody - perhaps the 2nd best and the one that everyone sings badly along to.
Free Bird - not sure how many actually sing along but everyone jams out to it.
We are the Champions / We Will Rock You - two songs but they’ve been mashed together so much that they belong together. Kudos to Queen for anther song on the list (with one more coming).
YMCA - a novelty song but perhaps the greatest novelty song of all time and who doesn’t get jazzed when it comes on.
I Love Rock and Roll - not really a great song IMO but I can’t deny its place as an iconic song.
Another One Bites the Dust - Queen really did put out some iconic songs.
Don’t Stop Believing - another song that many like yet I doubt many truly love. Yet everyone knows it by heart.
Smells Like Teen Spirit - completely ended an era of rock (hair metal) while ushering in another (grunge and alternative) even though most don’t understand all the words or have a clue what the song is about.
Walk This Way - Aerosmith and Run DMC - the song that opened up rap music to white people for good or bad. Regardless of how you feel about rap its the dominant musical force of the last 20 years and its all because of this song.
Queen Bohemian Rhapsody it’s perfection in ever since, a true masterpiece by extremely gifted musicians at the top of their game. I haven’t heard anything else like it.
Green Grass And High Tides by The Outlaws
Rambling Man by The Allman Brothers
Margaritaville, Jimmy Buffet
Pride And Joy, Stevie Ray Vaughan
The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, The Band
Johnny B Goode, Chuck Berry
Bad Moon Rising, Creedence Clearwater Revival
Roadhouse Blues, The Doors
Hotel California, The Eagles
Layla, Eric Clapton
Don’t Eat the Yellow Snow, Frank Zappa
Bad To The Bone, George Thorogood
Me And Bobby McGee, Janis Joplin version
Manic Depression, Jimi Hendrix
Rocky Mountain Way, Joe Walsh
Dixie Chicken, Llittle Feat
Can’t You See, Marshall Tucker
Pinball Wizard, The Who
Black Magic Woman, Santana version
Livin In The USA, Steve Miller
Brown Eyed Girl, Van Morrison
La Grange, ZZ Top
Assuming I’m enjoying the links. No promises, but I like most things.
The last time I was interested in someone (this was years ago), a few months after we broke up I made a mix tape for her. The CD went inside of a hallowed out book that also had the lyrics of the songs + background images for each track on the early pages. On the CD were links to the Youtube videos.
I don’t know why I remember this thought. I just appreciate good music. It can say a lot about a person for why it resonates with them.
Helter Skelter is the most underappreciated Beatles song and IMO one of the most ahead of its time songs ever. Just the opening few bars is up there for me as best rock song.
If you’re talking “iconic,” I think you’d have to put “Hey Jude” or “I Want To Hold Your Hand” (that one kicked the Beatles into high gear in America) in there. But there are also songs from the '50s. “Hound Dog” and “Blueberry Hill” for two examples, plus so many by Chuck Berry. I don’t think anything from the '70s should qualify. The earlier stuff had more impact on rock ‘n’ roll.
LOL, ya think? All kidding aside, my very soul lies within my favorite songs. That list is the “iconic “ songs of those artists, not my favorites. Those are much better.
