What's the most popular song in Rock & Roll history?

[Jeff_DeGordick]

Not necessarily the best song or your favorite song, but the generally agreed upon most popular song in history?

[Soror_YZBL]

prolly louie louie.

[Squaretriangles]

Stairway, maybe?

[a21schizoidman]

Rock Around the Clock - Bill Haley & His Comets

[JukeBoxHero]

Rock Around the Clock - Bill Haley & His Comets

That, or the great devil that is freebird...

[MdrnDayWarrior]

Yellow Submarine

[ImHotterThanYou]

Hmm most popular with and renown song with classic rock fans would be "Stairway to Heaven". But its definitely not the most well known I heard it for the first time like a year ago. I'd say the most well known song would be "we will rock you" by queen.

[mercury11]

Thriller / I Cant Get No ( satisfaction )

[Rockbandfan23467]

Probably one of The Big Four Of Queen.

[back_blows]

One of these:

Stairway to Heaven
Bohemian Rhapsody
We Are the Champions
Shook Me All Night Long
Back in Black
Sweet Child O' Mine
Welcome to the Jungle
Freebird
Don't Stop Believin'

EDIT: By popular request.

[SteelersFreak1]

Probably Back In Black.

[Parodygm]

Happy Birthday to You. :D

[Dante1847]

Im guessing Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone"

[jamie the joker]

One of these:

Stairway to Heaven
Bohemian Rhapsody
We Are the Champions
Shook Me All Night Long
Back in Black
Sweet Child O' Mine
Welcome to the Jungle

You forgot hotel california and free bird

[tridentgum0]

One of these:

Stairway to Heaven
Bohemian Rhapsody
We Are the Champions
Shook Me All Night Long
Back in Black
Sweet Child O' Mine
Welcome to the Jungle

Missing Free Bird and Don't Stop Believin'.

[Rockbandfan23467]

Missing Free Bird and Don't Stop Believin'.

The later only got popular ironicly in the last couple of years.

[Bub]

Smoke on the Water.

[timmay9]

Just a list of songs that most people know a part of:

Stairway
Free Bird
Bohemian Rhapsody
Hey Jude
We Will Rock You
We Are the Champions
Smoke on the Water
Don't Stop Believin' (in the last decade)
Hotel California
Johnny B. Goode
Rock Around the Clock
Hound Dog

and others.

[a21schizoidman]

Happy Birthday to You. :D

the most played songs in the English language are:

Happy Birthday to You
Auld Lang Syne

and

In-a-gadda-da-vida!

[JukeBoxHero]

Just a list of songs that most people know a part of:

Stairway
Free Bird
Bohemian Rhapsody
Hey Jude
We Will Rock You
We Are the Champions
Smoke on the Water
Don't Stop Believin' (in the last decade)
Hotel California
Johnny B. Goode
Rock Around the Clock
Hound Dog

and others.

Brown Eyed Girl is suppose to be really popular as well.

[AKALink]

Johnny B. Goode
Hound Dog
Stairway to Heaven
All you need is love

[Jeff_DeGordick]

What about "Smells Like Teen Spirit"? That was the first song that came to mind. It feels like that rock anthem that everyone's played non-stop since its inception.

[ImHotterThanYou]

What about "Smells Like Teen Spirit"? That was the first song that came to mind. It feels like that rock anthem that everyone's played non-stop since its inception.I heard it for the first time like 2 years ago. Its not as well known as the others.

[a21schizoidman]

I heard it for the first time like 2 years ago. Its not as well known as the others.

most of us heard it for the first time about 18 years ago

[ImHotterThanYou]

most of us heard it for the first time about 18 years ago
Not possible for me and I know many people who if you played it for them they wouldn't be able to tell you its' "Smells like teen spirit".

[Fizzeler]

most of us heard it for the first time about 18 years ago

what about those who were not alive 18 years ago :p

I heard it first about 12 years ago when my mom put on Nevermind during a car trip

[ImHotterThanYou]

what about those who were not alive 18 years ago :p

I heard it first about 12 years ago when my mom put on Nevermind during a car trip
I didnt hear it until I watched the 100 greatest songs of the 90s on VH1.

[Fragory123]

"Bohemian Rhapsody" would be my guess.

[supernova1324]

what about those who were not alive 18 years ago :p

I heard it first about 12 years ago when my mom put on Nevermind during a car trip

I heard it when I was about 5 or 6.

[Mystlyfe77]

The most popular track for the week ending on July 19th on last.fm was "Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson.

The rest of the top 10:
"Beat It" - Michael Jackson
"Poker Face" - Lady GaGa
"Sex on Fire" - Kings of Leon
"Thriller" - Michael Jackson
"Use Somebody" - Kings of Leon
"Kids" - MGMT
"Smooth Criminal" - Michael Jackson
"Viva La Vida" - Coldplay
"Black or White" - Michael Jackson

[Rockbandfan23467]

The most popular track for the week ending on July 19th on last.fm was "Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson.

The rest of the top 10:
"Beat It" - Michael Jackson
"Poker Face" - Lady GaGa
"Sex on Fire" - Kings of Leon
"Thriller" - Michael Jackson
"Use Somebody" - Kings of Leon
"Kids" - MGMT
"Smooth Criminal" - Michael Jackson
"Viva La Vida" - Coldplay
"Black or White" - Michael Jackson

That's just because of Wacko's death.

Wait, are we allowed to call him Wacko again?

[supernova1324]

The most popular track for the week ending on July 19th on last.fm was "Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson.

The rest of the top 10:
"Beat It" - Michael Jackson
"Poker Face" - Lady GaGa
"Sex on Fire" - Kings of Leon
"Thriller" - Michael Jackson
"Use Somebody" - Kings of Leon
"Kids" - MGMT
"Smooth Criminal" - Michael Jackson
"Viva La Vida" - Coldplay
"Black or White" - Michael JacksonYA KNOW THAT l COULD USE SSSSUUUUMMMMBOOOODDDDDAAAEEEEEGGGHHHHHH

[dabears116]

The later only got popular ironicly in the last couple of years.

That's like saying the song One only got popular because of GH3. Don't Stop Believing was always popular, however the White Sox usage of it gave it a boost to levels of unimaginable over-playedness.

[supernova1324]

That's like saying the song One only got popular because of GH3. Don't Stop Believing was always popular, however the White Sox usage of it gave it a boost to levels of unimaginable over-playedness.

My mom claims that Sopranos made it popular again.

[NormanCoxwell]

Everyone liked the Karate Kid (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Qae_TUTeGo)

[a21schizoidman]

That's like saying the song One only got popular because of GH3. Don't Stop Believing was always popular, however the White Sox usage of it gave it a boost to levels of unimaginable over-playedness.

i loved seeing them sing it at the parade






...just a small town girl...

[Mystlyfe77]

...living in a lonely world...

[Alright_Computer]

...Eyes bulging from their sockets
With every swing of my mallet
I smash your ****ing head in, until brains seep in
through the cracks, blood does leak
distorted beauty, catastrophe
Steaming slop, splattered all over me...

Oops, wrong song?

[a21schizoidman]

POK-E-MON!!!!!!!!!

Gotta Catch Em All!

[Rockbandfan23467]

But anyway, are we allowed to call Micheal Jackson Wacko again?

[Lolicat]

But anyway, are we allowed to call Micheal Jackson Wacko again?

You never weren't. :/

[sonicnerd23]

Smells Like Teen Spirit.

[gmarsh]

The most popular, I gotta go with Stairway.

[Soror_YZBL]

Not possible for me and I know many people who if you played it for them they wouldn't be able to tell you its' "Smells like teen spirit".

Cave people aren't invited to participate in this discussion. H0m0 Sapienses only, please.

Oh and to add to the discussion, it's not stairway either. :) I'm still betting on Louie Louie. It's such a simple song, and practically every band in the world has played it in some live show or another (or maybe even recorded and released it). Everyone sings along, no one hates it, and if they do, they still sing along or play along to it.

Even if not Louie Louie, it's going to be something simple, something catchy, something fun, and something a little older. Easy lyrics, or in the case of Louie Louie, gibberish, are a bonus.

[a21schizoidman]

Cave people aren't invited to participate in this discussion. H0m0 Sapienses only, please.

Oh and to add to the discussion, it's not stairway either. :) I'm still betting on Louie Louie. It's such a simple song, and practically every band in the world has played it in some live show or another (or maybe even recorded and released it). Everyone sings along, no one hates it, and if they do, they still sing along or play along to it.

Even if not Louie Louie, it's going to be something simple, something catchy, something fun, and something a little older. Easy lyrics, or in the case of Louie Louie, gibberish, are a bonus.

actually, the original version by Richard Berry has understandable lyrics

i still bet on Rock Around the Clock

[Mega-Tallica]

Stairway To Heaven for me. Seriously, who hasn't heard it?

[Teh_Jakester]

Stairway To Heaven for me. Seriously, who hasn't heard it?

I hadn't heard it until I was fourteen. Do I win?

[Mega-Tallica]

I hadn't heard it until I was fourteen. Do I win?

To be honest, I've only heard Stairway To Heaven only a handful of times. Just the fact that it's considered "The best song ever written" makes me want to avoid it at all costs.

[Rockbandfan23467]

actually, the original version by Richard Berry has understandable lyrics

i still bet on Rock Around the Clock

Stairway and The Big Four of Queen are waaaaay more popular than Rock Around The Clock.

[a21schizoidman]

Stairway and The Big Four of Queen are waaaaay more popular than Rock Around The Clock.

in your world

[afterstasis]

the first song that came to mind was "twist and shout".

[janilane]

cherry pie.

[Quinarvy]

the first song that came to mind was "twist and shout".

Same here.

Or We Will Rock You.

[Soror_YZBL]

Stairway and The Big Four of Queen are waaaaay more popular than Rock Around The Clock.

Your grandmother hates stairway, but she loves rock around the clock.

[Rockbandfan23467]

Your grandmother hates stairway, but she loves rock around the clock.

But eveyone knows at least one of The Big Four of Queen (We Will Rock You, We Are The Champions, Bohemion Rhapsody, and Another One Bites The Dust), even though they may not be liked.

[Backbeat60-62]

"Stairway To Heaven" structurally sounds a lot like a Beatles song from Abbey Road that came out a couple years before.. they both build up the same way soft to hard, both songs are about greed leading to heaven, and both have a similar main guitar riff.. hmmmm

[Soror_YZBL]

But eveyone knows at least one of The Big Four of Queen (We Will Rock You, We Are The Champions, Bohemion Rhapsody, and Another One Bites The Dust), even though they may not be liked.

Popular usually implies songs people actually like, not just familiar with. And we're not talking about 4 songs, we're talking about one.

[Rockbandfan23467]

Popular to me mean well known, and everyone knows at least one of those. I'm saying one of those is the answer.

[ROCKBANDFANATIC7526]

Satisfaction or My Generation.

[Teh_Jakester]

Popular to me mean well known, and everyone knows at least one of those. I'm saying one of those is the answer.

We Will Rock You, out of those four. EVERYONE knows stomp, stomp, clap.

[gmarsh]

American pie also comes to mind....

[CycoMiko138]

prolly louie louie.

I could see that. House of the Rising Sun is a possibility, too.

[Runesmith]

How has no one mentioned Born To Be Wild, Blitzkrieg Bop, Bad To The Bone, or (especially) What I Like About You yet?

Seriously?

My vote goes towards What I Like About You. No one knows who performs it, and precious few know the song's actual title, but the moment those duh-duh-duh-duhduhduh-duhduh chords kick in is the moment everyone face lights up with instant recognition.

[Chance494]

We will rock you. No doubt. Everyone knows it.

[JukeBoxHero]

How has no one mentioned Born To Be Wild, Blitzkrieg Bop, Bad To The Bone, or (especially) What I Like About You yet?

Seriously?

My vote goes towards What I Like About You. No one knows who performs it, and precious few know the song's actual title, but the moment those duh-duh-duh-duhduhduh-duhduh chords kick in is the moment everyone face lights up with instant recognition.

This is definitely a nice contender.

[packerfan8675309]

We Will Rock You certainly has to be in contention.

[a21schizoidman]

How has no one mentioned Born To Be Wild, Blitzkrieg Bop, Bad To The Bone, or (especially) What I Like About You yet?

Seriously?

My vote goes towards What I Like About You. No one knows who performs it, and precious few know the song's actual title, but the moment those duh-duh-duh-duhduhduh-duhduh chords kick in is the moment everyone face lights up with instant recognition.

Romantics

[Runesmith]

Romantics

I meant casual music fans or non-fans. :p

[a21schizoidman]

I meant casual music fans or non-fans. :p

suuuuuuuuure ;)

[Cubecubed]

Back in Black has to be considered. Everyone knows that riff.


(FYI-not a huge AC/DC fan, either)

[a21schizoidman]

Back in Black has to be considered. Everyone knows that riff.


(FYI-not a huge AC/DC fan, either)

Highway to Hell is more well known than Back in Black

[Cubecubed]

Highway to Hell is more well known than Back in Black

How do you figure that?

[ROCKBANDFANATIC7526]

AC/DC doesn't belong in this discussion anyway!

[zidan57]

I'd say We Will Rock You, if you have ever been to any sporting game your bound to hear it, or Bohemian Rhapsody who here hasn't gone Waynes World on that song in your car :D

[Cubecubed]

AC/DC doesn't belong in this discussion anyway!

Well Back in Black is one of the best selling rock albums ever,so they kinda do.

[mercury11]

I say We Will Rock you / We Are the Champions even people who don't listen to music or Rock know these

[OGGhostguy]

Agreed for We Will Rock you. It's become a sports anthem and you can't go an entire football game without it being in their somewhere.

[a21schizoidman]

How do you figure that?

it's mentioned more and played a lot more on radio and whatnot

[Cubecubed]

it's mentioned more and played a lot more on radio and whatnot

i guess....i don't have access to statistics or anything,so i will just agree with you. :)

[b4nny]

Roxanne?

[Rockbandfan23467]

Roxanne?

No where near as popular as what was already mentoned.

[Soror_YZBL]

I think I will change my louie louie guess for we will rock you, I forgot about the whole sports music thing. At least it's not R&R2. :) (the tardis)

[a21schizoidman]

I think I will change my louie louie guess for we will rock you, I forgot about the whole sports music thing. At least it's not R&R2. :) (the tardis)

dun da dun da dun da HEY!

[ClassicRockFanatic23]

Almost every song in this thread I hate with a fiery passion, ESPECIALLY Don't Stop Believing.

[ArmsAreLoud]

Probably either Bohemian Rhapsody or the abomination that is Stairway to Heaven.

[Young Claybert]

American pie also comes to mind....

I think this deserves a bit more discussion. I think most people recognize the main lyrics to this one.

But I've honestly got to go with We Will Rock You, too. It's use in sports and movies make it well-known amongst non-rock fans.

[Lambeauleap]

Free Bird

[a21schizoidman]

how about Sirius by Alan Parsons Project?

[rowtheboat]

Welcome to the Jungle?

[RandomBrandon]

These and a couple not mentioned:

We are the champions/we will rock you/queen
You shook me all night long/acdc
Rock and roll all nite/KISS
Enter sandman/Metallica
Welcome to the jungle/guns n roses
Rock And Roll/Led Zeppelin
Stairway To Heaven/Led Zeppelin

[hiimSMAP]

American Pie
Louie Louie
We Will Rock You
Stairway to Heaven
We Are the Champions
Free Bird
I Wanna Hold Your Hand
Bohemian Rhapsody
Hey Jude
Hound Dog
Like a Rolling Stone
Thriller
My Generation
Satisfaction
Don't Stop Believin'
Eye Of the Tiger
Another One Bites the Dust
Bad To the Bone
Rock Around the Clock
Respect
Smoke on the Water
Hotel California
Johnny B Goode
Yellow Submarine
Sweet Home Alabama
In no particular order, but We Will Rock You is the most popular

[l-o-t]

Gotta go with Bo' Rap.

[Insane3]

Just a list of songs that most people know a part of:

Stairway
Free Bird
Bohemian Rhapsody
Hey Jude
We Will Rock You
We Are the Champions
Smoke on the Water
Don't Stop Believin' (in the last decade)
Hotel California
Johnny B. Goode
Rock Around the Clock
Hound Dog

and others.

If this is about international popularity, there are some songs that are not that popular over here like Free Bird and Don't Stop Believin'.

[Insane3]

The most popular track for the week ending on July 19th on last.fm was "Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson.

The rest of the top 10:
"Beat It" - Michael Jackson
"Poker Face" - Lady GaGa
"Sex on Fire" - Kings of Leon
"Thriller" - Michael Jackson
"Use Somebody" - Kings of Leon
"Kids" - MGMT
"Smooth Criminal" - Michael Jackson
"Viva La Vida" - Coldplay
"Black or White" - Michael Jackson

I didn't know Kids was so popular. That's cool.

[a21schizoidman]

Tonight I'm Gonna Rock You Tonight

[Rockbandfan23467]

Tonight I'm Gonna Rock You Tonight


No.

[a21schizoidman]

.

it's incredibly popular in Japan :rolleyes:

[gmarsh]

What I think is probly the most popular.
1. We Will Rock You
2. Stairway to Heaven
3. American Pie
4. Don't Stop Believin
5. Rock N' Roll all Nite

[Teh_Jakester]

1: We Will Rock You
2: We Are the Champions
3: Sweet Home Alabama
4: American Pie
5: Another One Bites the Dust

Just a guess.

[WingsOfSteel]

My Pal Foot Foot

[Jellyman-v]

sweet child o mine
:D

[Evilbottom]

I don't think anyone has said Livin' On A Prayer yet.

EDIT: and I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing. Don't bother telling me that they aren't as popular as the already mentioned, i know. Just thought I would bring them up because they are both very well known.

[ZettaFett]

"Welcome to the Jungle" or "Killing in the Name". Both runners up in my book for being the rock national anthem.

[Backbeat60-62]

How about, think about the oldest song you hear on your radio station. Usually these songs they play over and over have been requested so much they're staples. I would have to say it's going to be a song from the 1960s or 1970s that is still played among more recent songs.