if you are asking for the best songs of all time (in no particular order after stairway):
stairway to heaven
one
born to run
a day in the life
money for nothing
hotel california
sitting on the dock of the bay
johnny b goode
bohemian rhapsody
my generation
satisfaction
That's pretty spot on, Dylan. If you add Like A Rolling Stone, Where The Streets Have No Name, Smoke On The Water and maybe The River or Thunder Road, you got it.
Some favorites...
Where The Streets Have No Name - U2
Bad - U2
Viva La Vida - Coldplay
Gimme Shelter - The Rolling Stones
Circle - Big Head Todd & The Monsters
We Didn't Start The Fire - Billy Joel
Shiver - Coldplay
Stairway to Heaven - Led Zeppelin
A Sort Of Homecoming - U2
Dream On - Aerosmith
Desire - U2
Every Breath You Take - The Police
Shape of My Heart - Sting
Amazing - Aerosmith
Angel Of Harlem - U2
Clocks - Coldplay
Start Me Up - The Rolling Stones
I Will Follow - U2
Gods Of War - Def Leppard
Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life) - Green Day
Eat The Rich - Aerosmith
Know Your Enemy - Green Day
Walk On - U2
Life Is For Living - Coldplay
40 - U2
Too many to name but lots of U2, Radiohead, Oasis, and early '90's rock for me and one mustn't forget the classics from The Beatles, Stones, and Led Zep.
Upon further reflection, I feel the best song has to come from the most revered band in history so it must be from The Beatles. With all due respect to Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven" and The Rolling Stones' "Satistfaction," the best song of all time should come from The Fab Four - but which one?
Does one choose an early, teeny-bopper great like "She Loves You," "I Wanna Hold Your Hand," or "Hard Days Night?" How about something that showed they were maturing like "Ticket to Ride" "Help," and "We Can Work it Out." What about a sweet ballad like "Yesterday," "In My Life," or "Eleanor Rigby?" You can't go wrong with the John-sung hits like "I Am The Walrus," "Revolution," "All You Need Is Love," and "Come Together," Paul-sung greats like "Penny Lane," "Hello Goodbye," and "Let it Be," or even George-written classics like "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" or "Something." (Sorry, Ringo. Nothing from you really resonates with me). However, objectively speaking, I think the top three Beatles tracks (and therefore the greatest song(s) of all time) are:
3. Strawberry Fields Forever
2. Hey Jude
...
1. A Day In The Life.
A Day In The Life is a masterpiece, but it hasn't probably trascended as much as other (less great) songs like Let It Be, Hey Jude or even Help or Yellow Submarine. Musically they're not as good as ADITL of course, but they've been far more influential, covered and broadcasted - in my humble opinion. A Day In The Life is a masterpiece but won't go/hasn't gone into history as The Beatle's prime. Sadly.
No? I think "A Day in the Life" is quite celebrated on both sides of the Atlantic. It's only "problem" was that it wasn't a single and therefore wasn't included on the (highly overrated) Beatles 1 compilation a decade ago.
Side note: I'd bet on a some sort of release next year to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of The Beatles.
didn't know there was already a thread sozz, (my)subjective list
10)-Hallelujah. (Leonard Cohen)
9)- Always (Bon Jovi)
8)- Welcome To The Jungle (GNR)
7)- Everybody Hurts (REM)
6)- Losing My Religion (REM)
5)- Come As You Are (Nirvana)
4)- One (U2)
3)- New Years Day (U2)
2)- Love Is Blindness (U2)
1)- Breath me (Sia)
10 How soon is now - The Smiths
9-winter - Rolling Stones
8-Perfect day - Lou Reed
7-love will tear us apart - Joy Division
6-Your silent face - New Order
5-Thunder road\growin up - Bruce Springsteen
4-nothing lasts forever- Echo&the Bunnymen
3-motorcycle emptiness- Manic Street Preachers
2-the unforgettable fire -U2
1-five years - David Bowie
U2 - Please
Pink Floyd - Echoes
Archive - Again
Porcupine Tree - Arriving Somewhere But Not Here
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Red Right Hand
U2 - Exit
Pink Floyd - Sheep
Anathema - Closer
dEUS - Bad Timing
The Rolling Stones - Sympathy for the Devil
The Beatles - Helter Skelter
Oasis - Champagne Supernova
In no particular order
5.) Stay (faraway so close!)
4.) Rid of Me- PJ Harvey
3.) Dancing Barefoot- Patti Smith
2.) Supernatural Superserious- REM
1.) Wuthering Heights- Kate Bush