JCC 100 Most Iconic Songs Of All Time

Taking a cue from feedback in my "100 Greatest Athletes In The World Thread" that you often do group projects at TFN, I have decided to try the "100 Most Iconic Songs Of All Time"

Iconic is defined as a song that people know just by the name or tune.

I'm open to suggestions on rules, but I would prefer that it be limited to rock, jazz and showtunes(not classical). This allows the list to be more modern and if you go back to the beginning of time there are just to many songs to choose from and it is not as relevant.

So, list your top 10 iconic songs in order, 1st will get 10 points and 10th will get 1 point. Remember, this is about iconic songs, meaning more popular opinion than your own personal opinion.

Here is my list:
1. John Lennon - Imagine


2. Queen - We Are The Champions


3. Europe - The Final Countdown


4. Don McLean - American Pie


5. The Wizard Of Oz - Over The Rainbow


6. Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit
http://youtu.be/zYxkezUr8MQ

7. Kenny Rogers - The Gambler
http://youtu.be/esAr0qGu2S4

8. Annie - Tomorrow
http://youtu.be/5PzL8aL6jtI

9. Billy Joel - Piano Man
http://youtu.be/DmVmt_v32qU

10. The Righteous Brothers - Unchained Melody
http://youtu.be/qiiyq2xrSI0

 

Where would you include something like Wagner's "Flight of the Valkyries"?

It's an iconic piece of music, not just in the context of Das Ring der Nibelungen but it's use in films like Apocalypse Now.

Limiting your choice to "just rock, jazz..." means a piece of music that has lived for over a century is ignored.

And lol at the idea Kenny Roger's Gambler should be higher than Miles' "So What".

 

Define "rock."

 

No blues? Bull****. Both rock and jazz come from it, and the latter was ruined by pretentious *******s.

 

Flight of the Valkyries would be classical and not included. Rock is defined at dictionary.com as "a style of popular music that derives in part from blues and folkmusic and is marked by a heavily accented beat and a simple,repetitive phrase structure."

 

I don't know half the songs you listed. This thread is stupid.

 

Yeah but that suggests a strong limitation in your selection process.

 

I mean, R&B is modern... rap/hip hop is modern.... and again, I'd like to see you definition of rock.

 

I would consider blues a cousin of jazz, so included. My point is that classical and opera would not be inclulded, most popular 20th and 21st century artforms would.

 

Shut this slop of a thread down.

 

It does limit things but in my opinion that is a good thing. Others are welcome to have a different opinion though.

 

That definition tells me nothing. I want your definition within the context of this thread.

 

"Kind of Blue" is a must-own album, and this iconic track is not ahead of Kenny Roger's Gambler? el oh el.

 

And this doesn't strike you as a totally arbitrary wall of separation because...?

 

Cousin?! Blues is jazz's ****ing grandfather!

 

Rap and Hip Hop would be allowed.

My definition of rock would be a song that is a derivitave of country, gospel, jazz, or blues. When I said rock I did not mean to limit songs such as R&B, rap, country, pop, etc, but to exclude songs that did not include lyrics and are primarily orchestral.

 

Also.... your thread title says "of all time," bonehead.

 

It's not arbitrary, the point being is to make a more modern and relevant list.

 

No need to be rude.

The phrasing could have been a little better, yes.

 

"Classical" (in fact baroque/classical/romantic/whatever) music, as far as I'm aware, is mostly not songs. A piece of music is not automatically a song.

 

If you want to compile a list of the jcc community's selections for most iconic songs, then do it. Don't set so many limitations. Just take the submissions.

 

So you're just denying the existence of all classical music and opera recorded after 1900? Musique concrète had tremendous influence on modern popular music but it's got violins so it's a no go?

 

That's a good point, I hadn't considered that distinction. That would probably rule out classical music anyways.

 

Let's Street Fighter 2 this thing.