If you ask twenty people what the greatest song ever made is, you’ll probably get twenty different answers. This, in fact, is what makes music so beautiful. What others say is less important than a great song’s ability to move people on a personal level. This is a collection of songs deemed to be the best of all time by music critics and fans alike. This list was compiled using Ranker’s The Best Songs of All Time and Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Let’s get this party started!
These Are The Greatest Songs In Music History
‘Gimme Shelter’ — The Rolling Stones
Isn’t it incredible that Keith Richards wrote this song in only 20 minutes? Those who heard “Gimme Shelter” were left with a lasting impression. It was the first track on the 1969 album “Let It Bleed,” but it was never released as a single. Despite this, it has appeared on a number of compilation albums and has been performed live on numerous occasions. For their 50th anniversary tour in 2012, the Rolling Stones performed it with Florence Welch, Mary J. Blige, and Lady Gaga.
‘Gimme Shelter’ — The Rolling Stones
‘One’ — U2
This is the third track from U2’s 1991 album “Achtung Baby,” and it was a spin-off from the second single, “Mysterious Ways.” According to Rolling Stone, The Edge came up with two bridge ideas. Bono was so taken with the other one that he wrote new lyrics for it. They were not expecting “One” to be a wedding hit, despite its success. “People have told me they play it at their weddings,” the Edge explained. “And I think to myself, ‘Have you read the lyrics?'” That’s not the type of song it is.'”
‘One’ — U2
‘No Woman, No Cry’ — Bob Marley
The best version of “No Woman, No Cry,” in our opinion, is not from the 1974 album “Natty Dread,” but from the 1975 performance at the Lyceum Theatre on July 17, 1975, as part of Bob Marley’s Natty Dread Tour. It not only changed his life, but he also credited a childhood friend, Vincent “Tata” Ford, with songwriting. Because of its success, Ford was able to keep his soup kitchen in Kingston afloat.
‘No Woman, No Cry’ — Bob Marley
‘You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling’ — The Righteous Brothers.
“You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling” was first recorded by The Righteous Brothers in 1964, and it went on to top the charts in both the United Kingdom and the United States. in addition to charts from the United States The following year, it was the fifth best-selling song in the United States. The song has been covered by a number of artists, including Hall and Oates and Dionne Warwick. However, no other version has come close to Bill Medley’s. The instrumental intro was memorable: “You never close your eyes anymore when I kiss your lips.”
‘You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling’ — The Righteous Brothers
‘Sympathy For The Devil’ — The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones have seen their fair share of controversies. In 1968, they released “Sympathy for the Devil” from “Beggars Banquet,” which caused a stir among religious groups who believed they worshiped the devil. Rolling Stone interviewed them in 1995. Mick Jagger clarified the situation by stating that the phrase was inspired by French writing. “I just expanded on a couple of lines,” he explained. “I wrote it in the style of a Bob Dylan song.”
‘Sympathy For The Devil’ — The Rolling Stones
‘I Walk The Line’ — Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash was serving in the Air Force and stationed in Germany when he began work on “I Walk the Line.” He didn’t get to record it until many years later, when he realized the original tape was damaged. This worked out well because he chose to embrace the distinctive sound that resulted. To spice things up even more, he wrapped a piece of wax paper around the guitar strings. This is how he got his first No. 1 Billboard chart hit. “It was unlike anything else you’d ever heard,” he told Rolling Stone. “A voice from the middle of the Earth,” Bob Dylan added.
‘I Walk The Line’ — Johnny Cash
‘River Deep – Mountain High’ — Ike and Tina Turner
Phil Spector considers the 1966 Ike and Tina Turner album “River Deep – Mountain High” to be his best work as a producer, and a large number of people agree with him. It was even ranked No. 33 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. In 1999, it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. “I must have sung that 500,000 times,” Turner revealed to the Rolling Stone of the experience of putting it together. Spector made her sing it for hours to make it “perfect.” “I was drenched in sweat,” she added. To sing, I had to remove my shirt and stand in my bra.”
‘River Deep – Mountain High’ — Ike and Tina Turner
‘Help!’ — The Beatles
‘ had hidden depths that he himself was unaware of when he told Playboy in 1980 that he needed “help!” The song was released as a single in July 1965, at the height of Beatlemania. “Most people think it’s just a fast rock ‘n’ roll song,” he explained, “but I was subconsciously crying out for help.” “I didn’t realize it at the time; I just wrote the song because I was commissioned to write it for the movie,” he later told Rolling Stone, adding, “We did it too fast, to try and be commercial.”
‘Help!’ — The Beatles
‘People Get Ready’ — The Impressions
“People Get Ready,” written by Curtis Mayfield, was the Impressions’ most famous hit and peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard R&B chart. The song became the unofficial anthem of the Civil Rights Movement. Mojo Magazine named it one of the top ten songs of all time. “That was taken from my church or the upbringing of church messages.” There’s no hiding place and get on board, and similar images. “I must have been in a state of intense religious inspiration when I wrote that song,” Mayfield explained.
‘People Get Ready’ — The Impressions
‘In My Life’ — The Beatles
This 1965 single from “Rubber Soul” would be on every list of the greatest songs ever written, according to John Lennon. Indeed, Lennon stated that it was “my first real, major piece of work,” adding that “up until then, it had all been glib and thrown away.” His friend and eventual biographer, Peter Shotton, stated that the line “Some [friends] are dead and some are living / In my life I’ve loved them all” was a tribute to both Shotton and Stuart Sutcliffe, who died in 1962.
‘In My Life’ — The Beatles
‘Layla’ — Derek And The Dominos
The 12th-century book “The Story of Layla and Majnun” by Persian poet Nizami Ganjavi inspired Eric Clapton to write “Layla,” which many consider to be one of the greatest rock songs ever written. Clapton was also inspired by his own life, specifically his unrequited love for Pattie Boyd. She was his friend and fellow musician George Harrison’s wife, but everything worked out in the end, and they were married for nearly a decade. In 1974, he told the Rolling Stone, “It was the heaviest thing going on at the time.” “That’s what I wanted to write about most of all,” he added.
‘Layla’ — Derek And The Dominos
‘(Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay’ — Otis Redding
This is most likely Otis Redding’s best-known song. He wrote the lyrics to the song while sitting on the bay’s dock! After the Monterrey Pop Festival, he was on a rented houseboat in Sausalito, California. The distinction is identical. Isn’t it incredible that they used the actual sound of waves for the background track? He wrote it and then recorded it with guitarist Steve Cropper a few months later. This happened just days before he died in a plane crash. His personal vehicle sank into Lake Monona in Wisconsin. The song became the first posthumous number one hit in the United States.
‘(Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay’ — Otis Redding
‘Let It Be’ — The Beatles
It has been said that difficult times breed incredible creativity. This was the case with Paul McCartney and this song. As the Beatles disbanded, he found solace in a dream in which his late mother gave him advice. It inspired the first few lines of the song: “When I find myself in times of trouble / Mother Mary comes to me.” This was the title track of the band’s final studio album. It was iconic in more ways than one. The Beatles’ final single, “Let it Be,” was released in March 1970, just before they announced their breakup.
‘Let It Be’ — The Beatles
‘I Can’t Explain‘ — Jimmy Page
Despite the fact that he was hired for the song, his guitar skills were barely used in the end. Page is known for his iconic riffs in songs, but Townshend played his part so well that they didn’t need him. In 2015, the guitarist discussed the incident, saying it was a great experience and an honor to be in a cult band’s first hit, even if it was barely heard. He was satisfied with the energy of the band and their music.
‘I Can’t Explain‘ — Jimmy Page
‘Baba O’Riley’ — The Who
Meher Baba, an Indian spiritual master, had influenced Pete Townshend of the Who. In this piece, Terry Riley is credited with being the first to use a minimalist composition style. He combined the two at one point, eventually producing “Baba O’Riley,” which was released as a single in 1971. Originally, the song was written for Lifehouse. The rock opera was written as a follow-up to Tommy, which came out two years before. The sequel, however, was eventually shelved. Roger Daltrey described the song as a warning to children who spent too much time on social media in 2018.
‘Baba O’Riley’ — The Who
‘Be My Baby’ — The Ronettes
This song is on the best-of lists of NME, Pitchfork, Time, and Rolling Stone. Phil Spector produced the album. Cher sang backup vocals on the song, which featured a full orchestra. “What Phil was doing was insane and exhausting,” engineer Larr Levine said. “But that isn’t a sign of a nut.” That is brilliant.”
‘Be My Baby’ — The Ronettes
‘Born To Run’ — Bruce Springsteen
The title song of Bruce Springsteen’s 1975 album, “Born to Run,” was his most ambitious song. He told Rolling Stone, “I wanted to make the greatest rock record I’d ever heard.” This was his first international single, but it only charted in the top 20 in the United States. According to The Atlantic, it was a cult hit. It was so popular in Philadelphia that it was aired several times per day on a top-40 morning radio station.
‘Born To Run’ — Bruce Springsteen
‘Behind Blue Eyes’ — The Who
The Who’s “Behind Blue Eyes” was released in 1971 and was said to be inspired by an incident at a concert. The previous year, Pete Townshend was allegedly tempted by one of the groupies! Instead of giving in to temptation, he returned to his hotel room and wrote a prayer. It all started with the phrase “When my fist clenches, crack it open,” which can be found in the song. It was included on the band’s fifth album, “Who’s Next,” and has been covered by a number of artists over the years.
‘Behind Blue Eyes’ — The Who
‘La Bamba’ — Ritchie Valens
The Los Lobos covered “La Bamba,” a Mexican folk song that also served as the title track for the 1987 film starring Lou Diamond Phillips as Ritchie Valens. That has to be the most famous version of the song! Valens’ 1958 adaptation, on the other hand, appears on both the Rolling Stone Top 500 and the Ranker chart. This is the only song on the list that is not sung in English. “La Bamba” is a well-known song from the early days of rock and roll.
‘La Bamba’ — Ritchie Valens
‘Hound Dog’ — Elvis Presley
Willie Mae Thornton’s “Big Mama” Thornton had a hit with this song before Elvis Presley covered it. The Rolling Stone top 500 list ranked the King of Rock and Roll version at number 19. He included it in his 1956 setlist after hearing Freddie Bell and the Bellboys sing it in Las Vegas. Presley famously serenaded a dog dressed in a top hat on the Steve Allen Show later that year. “It was a ridiculous appearance I ever did, and I regret ever doing it,” he admitted, and “Hound Dog” went on to become his best-selling single. It has since become one of the best-selling singles of all time.
‘Hound Dog’ — Elvis Presley
‘Rock Around The Clock’ — Bill Haley And The Comets
While this is a rock ‘n’ roll classic, Bill Haley’s and the Comets’ versions are the most well-known. In 1954, the band released it to critical acclaim. It won first place in both the United Kingdom and the United States. and the United States, as well as American charts This is due in part to its appearance in the opening credits of The Blackboard Jungle. The Guardian dubbed the song “the world’s first rock anthem,” and it sparked riots in cinemas and schools. It could even be said to have paved the way for modern pop music.
‘Rock Around The Clock’ — Bill Haley And The Comets
‘Break On Through (To The Other Side)’ — The Doors
This was the lead single from The Doors’ self-titled debut album. The band’s first single, “Break on Through (To the Other Side),” did not do well when it was released, peaking at No. 126 on the US charts. Whatever the case, it’s one of their most popular songs. According to Jim Morrison, he wrote the song while walking through Venice’s canals. “I was walking across a bridge,” he explained. “I guess it’s one girl, a girl I knew at the time,” says the band’s label, Elektra Records, who removed the word “high” from “she gets high” because they were concerned it would affect radio airplay. Until the 1990s, every re-release of the song came without a word.
‘Break On Through (To The Other Side)’ — The Doors
‘Here Comes The Sun’ — The Beatles
The Beatles included “Here Comes the Sun” on their 1969 album “Abbey Road.” While John Lennon and Paul McCartney wrote the majority of their songs, George Harrison deserves credit for this smash hit. It was also clear at the time that the lead guitarist was influenced by Indian classical music. He allegedly wrote the song at Eric Clapton’s house to avoid attending a meeting of the band’s Apple Corps organization. This is one of the band’s most popular songs among their fans. By January 2020, it had become the most-streamed Beatles song in the United Kingdom.
‘Here Comes The Sun’ — The Beatles
‘Rebel Rebel’ — David Bowie
David Bowie was regarded as a forefather of the glam rock movement. “Rebel Rebel” is said to be his farewell to it. In 1974, the song was released. It’s about a young boy who defies his parents’ wishes by dressing in female clothing and wearing makeup. In the United States, it peaked at No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100. It peaked at No. 5 in the UK and is still considered a “glam anthem” today. This is one of his most well-known covers. The Smashing Pumpkins, Bryan Adams, and others have all covered it.
‘Rebel Rebel’ — David Bowie
‘You Really Got Me’ — The Kinks
Ray Davies wrote this song for the Kinks’ third single. “You Really Got Me” topped the singles chart in the United Kingdom. It peaked at No. 7 in the United Kingdom in 1964. According to Rolling Stone, Dave Davies’ guitarist created the incredible sound on the riff by using a razor on his amp’s speaker cone. “The song came from a working-class background,” he explained. “There are people fighting for something.”
‘You Really Got Me’ — The Kinks
‘Purple Haze’ — The Jimi Hendrix Experience
“Purple Haze” is ranked 17th on Rolling Stone’s list of the greatest songs. Jimi Hendrix wrote it and released it as the second single from The Jimi Hendrix Experience in 1967. This is one of his best-known songs, and it is widely credited with introducing many people to his distinct psychedelic rock sound. It is frequently included on lists of the greatest guitar songs, including Q magazine’s and Rolling Stone’s. Rolling Stone readers voted it the fifth-best Jimi Hendrix song in 2013. In case you didn’t know, the song’s lyrics are “Excuse me while I kiss the sky,” not “Excuse me while I kiss this guy.”
‘Purple Haze’ — The Jimi Hendrix Experience
‘London Calling’ — The Clash
While going through personal difficulties and being concerned about global events, The Clash wrote one of their most iconic songs. They had no management and a lot of debt at the time. “We felt like we were struggling,” lead vocalist Joe Strummer explained, “like we were about to slip down a slope or something, grasping with our fingernails.” And there was no one to help us.” This was the only single released in the UK from the eponymous album. It reached No. 11 on the charts in 1980, making them the highest-charting single band until they released “Should I Stay or Should I Go” a decade later.
‘London Calling’ — The Clash
‘What A Wonderful World’ — Louis Armstrong
“What a Wonderful World” was ranked 15th on the Ranker list. George David Weiss and Bob Thiele wrote it for George Douglas. Louis Armstrong recorded the song, which went to number one in the United Kingdom. There was a pop chart in 1967. However, in the United Kingdom, it was only ranked 32nd. Regardless, the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999. Many artists have covered the song over the years. Some of the artists who have covered this timeless song include Tony Bennett, Katie Melua, The Flaming Lips, Joey Ramone, Nick Cave, Shane MacGowan, Katie Melua, and Eva Cassidy.
‘What A Wonderful World’ — Louis Armstrong
‘A Change Is Gonna Come’ — Sam Cooke
“A Change is Gonna Come” was released as the B-side to his posthumous single “Shake” in 1964, just a few days after he was laid to rest in December 1964. Sam Cooke was tragically killed in a Los Angeles motel by a woman. Despite its poor chart performance, it became an anthem for the civil rights movement. In 2007, the National Recording Registry selected it for preservation. It was chosen because it is “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”
‘A Change Is Gonna Come’ — Sam Cooke
‘The Sound Of Silence’ — Simon & Garfunkel
We’re sure you’ve heard this song before. “The Sound of Silence” was ranked 10th by the Ranker community. It was recorded as part of Simon & Garfunkel’s debut album, “Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M.” in 1964, and reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 1966. It also charted in Austria, Australia, the Netherlands, West Germany, and Japan. Although it was featured in The Graduate, the duo wrote “Mrs. Robinson” to do it. The key to the song, according to Paul Simon, was “the simplicity of the melody and the words, which are youthful alienation.”
‘The Sound Of Silence’ — Simon & Garfunkel
‘A Day In The Life’ — The Beatles
This song is widely regarded as one of John Lennon and Paul McCartney’s final true collaborations. “A Day in the Life” was the dramatic conclusion to The Beatles’ 1967 album, “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.” It has been covered by a number of artists, including Bary Gibb, Jeff Beck, The Fall, and Phish. Since 2008, Paul McCartney has been performing the song live. Three years later, Rolling Stone named it the Beatles’ greatest song. According to Acclaimed Music, it is the third most popular song in popular music history. It’s simple to see why this is the case.
‘A Day In The Life’ — The Beatles
‘My Generation’ — The Who
Rolling Stone ranks The Who’s “My Generation” as the 11th greatest song of all time. It is one of the band’s most popular songs. It was also ranked 13th on VH1’s list of the 100 Greatest Rock & Roll Songs and 37th on the Greatest Hard Rock Songs. According to NME, “taking in a timeless sense of youthful disaffection via a countercultural, Mod lens, Pete Townshend’s age-defying ditty distilled what it feels like to be young, energized, and in the prime of life into 3:18 minutes of bristling hedonism.”
‘My Generation’ — The Who
‘Light My Fire’ — The Doors
The Doors’ “Light My Fire” was ranked 16th on Ranker’s list. It was released in 1967 on the band’s self-titled album. For three weeks, the edited single topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It deserves credit for catapulting the band to new heights. As a result of the song, they were also invited to perform on The Ed Sullivan Show, though Jim Morrison was asked not to sing a specific line. Despite the fact that it said, “Girl, we couldn’t get much higher,” he went on to sing it. This could be why they made their first and final appearance on the show.
‘Light My Fire’ — The Doors
‘What’d I Say’ — Ray Charles
Rolling Stone named Ray Charles’ “What’d I Say” the 10th best song of all time. He wrote it in 1958 while the band was performing in Pittsburgh. He wrote one of the all-time great songs in their spare time. “I told them, ‘Hey, whatever I do, just follow me,'” he told David Letterman. “And I said the same thing to the girls, I said, ‘Whatever I say, just repeat it, I don’t care what it is,” he added, to which the audience enthusiastically agreed. His first top ten pop hit came from this song. This song was always played at the conclusion of his performances. It was added to the National Recording Registry in 2002, which was established to preserve historical recordings.
‘What’d I Say’ — Ray Charles
‘Paint It Black’ — The Rolling Stones
“Paint It Black” by the Rolling Stones is currently ranked fifth on Ranker. The single was a huge success when it was released in 1966. It peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and in the UK. Singles chart The band’s third number one hit single in the United States and sixth in the United Kingdom. Rolling Stone readers voted it the band’s third-best single, trailing only “Sympathy for the Devil” and “Gimme Shelter,” and Keith Richards said in 2004 that Bill Wyman’s organ played a role in the song’s success. “It didn’t sound anything like the finished record until Bill said, ‘You go like this,'” he explained.
‘Paint It Black’ — The Rolling Stones
‘Respect’ — Aretha Franklin
This song was written and recorded by Otis Redding in 1965. Aretha Franklin, on the other hand, deserves credit for making “Respect” what it is today. Two years after the original was released, she turned it into a female empowerment anthem. She changed it up a little by adding the “R-E-S-P-E-C-T” part to the chorus and “Sock it to me, socks it to me…” in the refrain. It’s one of her most famous songs. In 1968, she won two Grammys for it. The first was for Best Rhythm & Blues Recording, and the second for Best Female Rhythm & Blues Solo Vocal Performance. In 1987, it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
‘Respect’ — Aretha Franklin
‘All Along The Watchtower’ — The Jimi Hendrix Experience
Although Bob Dylan wrote “All Along the Watchtower,” The Jimi Hendrix Experience’s version was ranked fourth in history by Ranker voters. It was first released in 1967 on Bob Dylan’s album “John Wesley Harding.” Six months later, Hendrix covered it for “Electric Ladyland,” which reached the top 20 in 1968. Rolling Stone named his version the 47th greatest song of all time. U2, Eddie Vedder, and Neil Young have all covered the song in the past.
‘All Along The Watchtower’ — The Jimi Hendrix Experience
‘What’s Going On’ — Marvin Gaye
All of the police brutality cases reported in California in 1971 inspired Marvin Gaye’s song “What’s Going On.” It wasn’t a commercial success at first. It did, however, reach number two on the Billboard Hot 100. It’s one of the singer’s most successful Motown singles. Rolling Stone called it a “exquisite plea for peace on Earth,” and it ranks fourth on their list of the greatest songs of all time.
‘What’s Going On’ — Marvin Gaye
‘Stairway To Heaven’ — Led Zeppelin
The Ranker community loves Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven,” which was released in 1971. They named it the seventh greatest song in history. It was Planet Rock readers’ favorite song of all time. They voted for it twice as much as the nearest competitor. Despite not being released as a commercial single in the United Kingdom, the song was voted the country’s favorite rock anthem. It was the most requested song on the radio in the 1970s. What an unexpected turn of events!
‘Stairway To Heaven’ — Led Zeppelin
‘Like A Rolling Stone’ — Bob Dylan
The greatest song, according to Rolling Stone, was Bob Dylan’s “Like a Rolling Stone.” It was a little longer than usual, clocking in at six minutes and thirteen seconds. This is why radio stations were hesitant to play the song at first. Regardless, it became a global hit, peaking at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song has been covered by both Green Day and the Jimi Hendrix Experience. Based on statistics, it is the most acclaimed song in history, according to Acclaimed Music. Dylan’s handwritten lyrics were auctioned off in 2014 for $2 million dollars.
‘Like A Rolling Stone’ — Bob Dylan
‘God Only Knows’ — The Beach Boys
The Ranker community voted “God Only Knows” the 19th greatest song ever, while Rolling Stone ranked it 25th. This song is also on Pitchfork Media’s list of the best 1960s songs, as well as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Despite being a B-side on “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” “God Only Knows” was not the Beach Boys’ biggest chart hit, but it remains popular among their fans. In fact, Rolling Stone magazine readers voted it their favorite song. It was Paul McCartney’s personal favorite!
‘God Only Knows’ — The Beach Boys
‘Blowin’ In The Wind’ — Bob Dylan
This song was once referred to as “Dylan’s first important composition,” and it is widely regarded as the most famous protest song in history. Bob Dylan is best known for his song “Blowin’ in the Wind,” which became a civil rights anthem. This song’s inclusion on this list comes as no surprise! Aside from that, it was a huge hit in 1963 for Peter, Paul, and Mary, a popular folk band. In 1994, the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. It was ranked 14th among the 500 greatest songs of all time by Rolling Stone.
‘Blowin’ In The Wind’ — Bob Dylan
‘I Want To Hold Your Hand’ — The Beatles
This is one of the great songs written by the Beatles. The Beatles released “I Wanted to Hold Your Hand” in 1963, which became their first No. 1 hit in the United States but did not chart in the United Kingdom. I’ve been in the top 50 for the past 21 weeks. “I remember when we got the chord that made the song,” John Lennon said of his collaboration with Paul McCartney on the song “eyeball to eyeball.” “We were at Jane Asher’s house, downstairs in the cellar, both playing the piano.” And we were saying, ‘Oh you-u-u/ got that something…’ And Paul strikes this chord, and I turn to him and say, ‘That’s it!’
‘I Want To Hold Your Hand’ — The Beatles
‘Johnny B. Goode’ — Chuck Berry
Chuck Berry released “Johnny B. Goode” in 1958. It was a semi-autobiographical song about a New Orleans “country boy” who can play the guitar “like ringing a bell,” peaking at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100. Rolling Stone called it “the first rock & roll hit about rock & roll stardom,” as well as “the greatest rock & roll song about the democracy of fame in pop music.” It was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999 as a result of its influence. On Rolling Stone’s list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time, the rock ‘n’ roll single is ranked first. Ranker, on the other hand, ranked it 11th.
‘Johnny B. Goode’ — Chuck Berry
‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ — Nirvana
This is the only song on this list that was released in the 1990s. “Smells Like Teen Spirit” became an anthem for that disillusioned generation. It was given the brand name of a deodorant. The song went on to become a worldwide hit in a number of countries. The Recording Industry Association of America even certified it platinum. The song also helped propel the “Nevermind” album to the top of the charts in early 1992. Unfortunately, it put Nirvana under a lot of strain. “There are a lot of other songs I’ve written that are just as good, if not better,” Kurt Cobain said. The song peaked at No. 9 on the Rolling Stones chart.
‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ — Nirvana
‘Good Vibrations’ — The Beach Boys
“Good Vibrations” by The Beach Boys was a huge hit in 1966, reaching the top of the charts in both the United Kingdom and the United States. It was the most expensive single ever recorded in the United States of America at the time. It cost the studio $50,000! The song was written and produced by Brian Wilson, who was inspired by his fascination with cosmic vibrations. When he was a kid, his mother tried to explain to him why dogs barked at some people but not others. “A dog would pick up vibrations from these people that you can’t see, but you can feel,” he explained. And the same thing happened with people.” One of his objectives was to write a better song than “You’ve Got a Friend.”
‘Good Vibrations’ — The Beach Boys
‘Yesterday’ — The Beatles
This is without a doubt the Beatles’ most well-known ballad. Ranker readers voted it the third best song, while Rolling Stone ranked it thirteenth. The BMI list of the Top 100 Songs of the Century ranked it third. In 1999, BBC Radio 2 named it the greatest song of the twentieth century after polling music experts and listeners. Only Paul McCartney sang on it, accompanied by a string quartet. According to him, it was “one of the most instinctive songs I’ve ever written,” and he got the melody in a dream while staying with his girlfriend at the time, Jane Asher. The band was initially “a little embarrassed” about the song because it was different from their usual fare.
‘Yesterday’ — The Beatles
‘(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction — The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones ranked “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” as the second greatest song of all time. Despite the fact that it was initially restricted to pirate radio stations across the pond due to its suggestive content, this track helped the band achieve their first No. 1 in the United States. Despite this, it went on to become the world’s most popular song. Keith Richards dreamed up the song’s riff. He was staying in a motel in Clearwater, Florida, during the band’s third U.S. tour. “He awoke and grabbed a guitar and a cassette player.” Richards played the run of notes once before falling asleep. “You can hear me drop the pick on the tape,” he explained later.
‘(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction — The Rolling Stones
‘Hey Jude’ — The Beatles
The best song ever, according to thousands of voters on Ranker, is none other than the Beatles’ “Hey Jude,” which Rolling Stone ranked at No. 8. This was the band’s first single to be released by Apple. It ranked first in many countries around the world. In 1968, it was the best-selling single in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. It conveys a strong and personal message. Paul McCartney reportedly wrote it while visiting John Lennon’s ex-wife Cynthia and their son Julian. He explained that the first line was intended to be “a hopeful message for Julian: ‘Come on, man, your parents divorced.'” I know you’re unhappy, but you’ll be fine.'” He ended up changing his mind.
‘Hey Jude’ — The Beatles