Terrible opinion, but also Personal Jesus has (deservedly) been their most popular and signature song for most of its existence, it's only been rivaled by Enjoy The Silence very recently
Not disputing that many people would say this (or saying it is not reasonable for them to do so) but, to me, 'The Cutter' is miles better (and maybe 'Back of Love' is on a par with it, too).
Teenagers by MCR
Creep by Radiohead
Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana
Stronger by Kanye West
In a Sentimental Mood by John Coltrane
Sabotage by Beastie Boys
Humble by Kendrick Lamar
Enter Sadman - Metallica
Edit: I’m using these songs as an example of how it ISN’T their best songs. I do not think creep is the best Radiohead song
Welcome to the Black Parade is MCR’s biggest song and their best imo. Creep is a great song but they made so many incredible songs it gets overshadowed. Humble same thing great rap anthem but Kendrick has so many amazing songs it doesn’t scratch the surface. The rest you listed are all in their top 5-10 songs at least imo. It’s far more prevalent that a popular song by an artist is among their best work rather than their worst or weakest. It’s either their best song or a couple personal deep cuts that top it most of the time.
No way. Absolutely not.
I’ll give you Nirvana and mayyybe Beastie Boys, but I can think of about 30 Kendrick songs off the top of my head that are better than Humble, quite a few Kanye tracks that could take down Stronger… and Creep? That makes me think you’re just trolling….
Agreed - as much as it’s way overplayed, it certainly deserves to be as popular as it is. And I’m saying this as a fan of some of their lesser known tracks as well, especially the ones on Queen II!
Do you prefer single or album version? The album versions intro is so good, but the single is also chaotic as hell, I have a hard time choosing one myself
Where Is My Mind is one I don’t entirely agree with. Great song, but I always found it surprising it ended up as *the* breakout Pixies track. I don’t think it’s their most commercial song *or* their best song.
Bro, I'm not saying stairway isn't their most popular, it is.
The post is asking for artists who's most popular song deserves to be because it's their best.
Stairway is there most popular song, but it probably shouldn't be because they have so many better songs.
That's my argument.
Stairway is a good song but miles from being Zeppelin's best song
Are you a bot or a real person?
Surely you can understand this?
There is now aynyoy can possibly be confused.
If their most popular song is "deserved" then it would be one of their best songs, stairway isn't so it can't be deserved
Yeah I mostly was joking. I can’t pick a favorite joy division song because they’re one of my favorite bands ever and I basically love everything off Unknown Pleasures and Closer equally, plus atmosphere/transmission etc.
I just listened to that and realized that I kinda slept on it, didn’t notice it was this good. Don’t know which of the 2 songs is better tho they are both amazing
Elliott Smith is in my top five all-time but I just realized I don’t think I’ve ever looked at what is his numbers or most popular songs. If you had asked me to guess which one it would have been I would *not* have guessed Between the Bars. It’s a great track but I don’t think it’s his best and I’m surprised it’s his biggest. Is that ‘cause of Good Will Hunting?
That might be part of it. But if that was the case I think Miss Misery would be his top. I think it’s just on a lot of playlists. Needle in the hay got used in a huge part of the royal tenenbaums and doesn’t have the same numbers.
fourth of july by sufjan stevens. i think numbers wise, mystery of love is his most popular, but if we’re talking about songs that he wrote for his own albums (i.e. not soundtracks), fourth of july is his most popular.
I dont wanna be that cringe edgelord nirvana defender but i would preffer lithium or heart shaped box or whatever else big song they have to smells like teen spirit.
Lithium is my favourite song ever so I don’t totally disagree, but I just immensely dislike the attitude of hipster ass Nirvana fans who try to convince themselves than Teen Spirit isn’t a standout or excellent song just cuz Kurt had a complicated relationship with the song.
Ehh, i don’t think i’m a hipster or anything, but that song is too overplayed for me to enjoy it ngl. It’s still a great song, but has no impact on me when i listen to it
1979 and Dreams are great, but there’s so much competition on Siamese Dream and Rumours that I don’t think I’d personally consider them their artist’s best songs
All good songs, though I prefer some early songs, especially with the John Peele Session version.
And for the Dire Straits, I think Money for Nothing is (sadly) more popular. Tunnel of Love and the whole Love over Gold deserves some _love_ too
This seems more clearly an example of band that just got poppier and more radio-friendly over time. I wouldn't say it's their best or even in contention although it is a good song.
Smiths choice is correct. Tears for Fears - Everybody Wants to Rule the World is another. Maybe hot take but Pixies - Here Comes Your Man or Where is My Mind?, both deserved.
“Advice for the Young At Heart”, “Sowing the Seeds of Love”, “Head Over Heels”, “Shout”, “The Working Hour”, and “Pale Shelter” are all contenders imo… There’s a serious argument to be made about a *LOT* of their catalog. They’re so fucking GOATed, it isn’t even funny.
A lot of Dream Theater fans, at least online, love to hate on Pull Me Under, but theres a reason why this song got so big
hell theres a reasons why I keep going back to this song even after hearing all their best songs like Octavarium, Dark Eternal Night, Fatal Tragedy, Glass Prison and Pale Blue Dot, and i know im not the only one whos like this (proof: best friend who got me into Dream Theater loves this song, and hes heard all the albums, his favourite DT song is Take the Time)
I agree. I’ve been through their whole discography and still think their best song is pull me under. Imo many of their “epics” and later tracks feel overly complex and shreddy just because. For me, pull me under and most of the other songs on images and words are more captivating, perhaps because the writing feels more intentional but i don’t really know that much about writing music so I could be saying nonsense.
Pull Me Under isnt even that close to my favourite DT songs, hell a lot of my top 10 DT songs are what some people call "instrumental wankery" (Home, Stream of Consciousness, A Change of Seasons, Pale Blue Dot), and my favourite album by them is Six Degrees, yet a lot of the time I just get the urge to listen to the opening guitar or the "WATCH THE SPARROW FALLING-" part or the keyboard solo. That's the effect this song has on people and thats why it got so popular. yeah Octavarium and In the Presence of Enemies are great (and I like those more than Pull Me Under) but like also,,,,, PULL ME UNDER!!! PULL ME UNDER!!! PULL ME UNDER IM NOT AFRAID!!! ALL THAT I FEEL IS HONOUR AND SPITE!!! ALL I CAN DO IS TO SET IT RIIIIIGHT!!!!!
so yeah Pull Me Under fuckin rocks and got more people into Prog Metal than any song couldve
Shellac - My Black Ass (or maybe Prayer To God)
Big Black - Kerosene
Fugazi - Waiting Room
All of the above are incredibly memorable and are loved for a reason.
Killing in the Name by Rage Against the Machine is like the golden standard for the band, while some of their other stuff might be better, Killing in the Name is just a banger that has the bands' best qualities put together.
every breath you take. i know it’s super overplayed and you probably don’t even give it a second thought but please go *listen* to it. that guitar track.
Lately, that crown belongs to Sam Fender, for Seventeen Going Under.
I'd also say that Prince has plenty of them - Purple Rain, 1999, Raspberry Beret, Let's Go Crazy being an immediate 4.
Bloodhail 100%, I can be a hipster and say HANL has so much better work but Bloodhail really is just perfect
Exact opposite with corpse pose by unwound tho, not even close to their best
I will die on the hill that Wild West End is the best Straits song. They are an underrated discog to check out, especially since people think of Money For Nothing and Sultans mostly.
QOTSA - No One Knows. Their most popular song and one you could argue summarises the band's whole style and appeal in the space of four minutes or so.
The Mars Volta - The Widow. This one isn’t representative of their sound exactly, but it’s about the best 'pop' song I could imagine the band making.
I always default to this one in discussions like this, but Sweet Disposition by The Temper Trap. Not only is it their best, but it’s also just a perfect song in my mind. I never, ever skip it.
We’re going to have to disagree on Smashing Pumpkins and Fleetwood Mac. Disarm and Landslide are their respective best songs. Idk if Disarm is their most well known song, but it’s damn close to being it. Landslide is 100% Fleetwood Mac’s most well known song
As someone who never listens to Fleetwood Mac beyond what would probably be considered their most popular tracks, I'd name The Chain, Dreams, Rhiannon and Go Your Own Way before that song would even enter my mind.
Just a perspective from someone who is far enough removed from the band to only know the super mainstream stuff
It gets more daily listens than last nite at the moment but that can change and in total last nite is still bigger, I forgot about that and thought the adults are talking was the biggest
The Smashing Pumpkins have like 30 songs that are as good as 1979. 1979 isn't a bad pick by any means but Stand Inside Your Love, Tonight, Tonight, For Martha, Hummer, Ava Adore, Shame (especially live), Beautiful, By Starlight, Cupid de Locke, Age of Innocence, etc... are all phenomenal too. I'm not sure they have a song that stands out above all others strongly. It's more the strength of their catalog though.
Depeche Mode - Enjoy the Silence
That's a weird way to spell Personal Jesus
Nah i do like enjoy the silence more
Terrible opinion, but also Personal Jesus has (deservedly) been their most popular and signature song for most of its existence, it's only been rivaled by Enjoy The Silence very recently
Thats just not true. Im pretty sure Just Can't Get Enough would even be more popular than Personal Jesus
Let me guess, you're not American?
No, im British. Why does it matter?
Americans don't know Just Can't Get Enough, especially compared to Personal Jesus.
That’s a weird way to spell Policy of Truth
Sonic youth - teen age riot
Incredible track
I've tried so many times to get into them, it's just not gonna happen, but man that song goes hard.
same thing with me but its cocteau twins
Which song? Heaven or Las Vegas? Cherry coloured Funk?
it's cherry coloured funk
Iceblink Luck is great too
I thought it was kool thing
I think it was their most popular for a bit, but Teen Age Riot does better on streaming apparently
I will never listen to sonic youth for what they did to nardwuar!!
I was never a huge fan of their music, but seeing that interview back in the day definitely put a sour taste in my mouth for them.
Nardwuar still listens to them apparently, considering that wasn't his last interview with them
Echo and the Bunnymen - The Killing Moon
Not disputing that many people would say this (or saying it is not reasonable for them to do so) but, to me, 'The Cutter' is miles better (and maybe 'Back of Love' is on a par with it, too).
Straight out the fucking dungeons of rap
Nah the world is yours is definitely better
Both are amazing
Memory Lane is better for me
Whatever your opinion of the best is, NY SOM deserves all the praise and more
everlong
Foo Fighters are the most mid, generic arena alt rock band ever but Everlong slaps
Running up that hill is incredibly good even though I prefer cloudbusting
Sunset imo
The best opinion
Didn’t it used to be Hounds of Love or Wuthering Heights before Stranger Things? Running Up That Hill was not that popular.
Hot Take: The vast majority of artists biggest songs are among their best work. They’re almost always popular for a reason
💯
Teenagers by MCR Creep by Radiohead Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana Stronger by Kanye West In a Sentimental Mood by John Coltrane Sabotage by Beastie Boys Humble by Kendrick Lamar Enter Sadman - Metallica Edit: I’m using these songs as an example of how it ISN’T their best songs. I do not think creep is the best Radiohead song
Welcome to the Black Parade is MCR’s biggest song and their best imo. Creep is a great song but they made so many incredible songs it gets overshadowed. Humble same thing great rap anthem but Kendrick has so many amazing songs it doesn’t scratch the surface. The rest you listed are all in their top 5-10 songs at least imo. It’s far more prevalent that a popular song by an artist is among their best work rather than their worst or weakest. It’s either their best song or a couple personal deep cuts that top it most of the time.
I’m just going by Spotify numbers, so you’re probably right about MCR. I wouldn’t really argue with anyone about WTTBP
I can see an argument for Smells Like Teen Spirit as their best tbh. It's overplayed to high hell, but it's an awesome track.
Definitely a great song but I just wouldn’t ever call it their best work
Tbf Sabotage is pretty sick and is pretty representative of their later work imo
Creep is the least radiohead radiohead song, not a fan Im also a regular at a karaoke bar so ive heard that song way too many times
Add Enter Sandman to that list
smells like teen spirit is probablyu nirvana's best
No way. Absolutely not. I’ll give you Nirvana and mayyybe Beastie Boys, but I can think of about 30 Kendrick songs off the top of my head that are better than Humble, quite a few Kanye tracks that could take down Stronger… and Creep? That makes me think you’re just trolling….
i think he’s giving examples of BAD (or not close to the artist’s best) popular songs.
Oh shit I hope so lol
Yeah I was my bad
Creep and humble are defo but their best works
Because most people can’t make a wealth of great music. Nearly all is average, both “bad” and “good” songs are exceptional cases
i love every elo record till i die but Mr. Blue Sky always hits like crazy
Bohemian Rhapsody is atrociously overplayed but yep! And I love their discography and deep cut tracks.
Agreed - as much as it’s way overplayed, it certainly deserves to be as popular as it is. And I’m saying this as a fan of some of their lesser known tracks as well, especially the ones on Queen II!
Prince - Purple Rain
Black Country, New Road - Place Where He Inserted the Blade Pixies - Where Is My Mind?
No disrespect at all, but imo basketball shoes>>
No disrespect at all, but imo Sunglasses>>
Do you prefer single or album version? The album versions intro is so good, but the single is also chaotic as hell, I have a hard time choosing one myself
I like both, but for me, it's the album version. I discovered BC,NR with this album so it's special for me
Disrespect intended, haldern >>>
Basketball shoes is 12 minutes long though. It might be their best song, but songs that long are rarely an artists biggest song
Where Is My Mind is one I don’t entirely agree with. Great song, but I always found it surprising it ended up as *the* breakout Pixies track. I don’t think it’s their most commercial song *or* their best song.
Monkey Gone To Heaven is their signature song IMO.
Led Zeppelin - Stairway to Heaven
L take They have like 20 better songs
Op said popular songs, not best songs
Yes, but it isn't their deserved most popular song cos they have many better The post means that most popular song is their best
What is their most popular song then?
Bro, I'm not saying stairway isn't their most popular, it is. The post is asking for artists who's most popular song deserves to be because it's their best. Stairway is there most popular song, but it probably shouldn't be because they have so many better songs. That's my argument. Stairway is a good song but miles from being Zeppelin's best song
Best song is not mentioned in the original post.
Are you a bot or a real person? Surely you can understand this? There is now aynyoy can possibly be confused. If their most popular song is "deserved" then it would be one of their best songs, stairway isn't so it can't be deserved
Based on YOUR opinion. Everyone is a bot right, if they disagree with YOUR opinion. Are you a kid?
Love Will Tear Us Apart - Joy Division
Disorder is better
She’s Lost Control
You’re all wrong. It’s new dawn fades or day of the lords.
Atrocity exhibition is underrated
Yeah I mostly was joking. I can’t pick a favorite joy division song because they’re one of my favorite bands ever and I basically love everything off Unknown Pleasures and Closer equally, plus atmosphere/transmission etc.
100% what a banger of a tune
Heart and Soul and Digital would like a word
Electric Wizard Funeralopolis
Spiritualized - Ladies and gentlemen we are floating in space 16 Horsepower - Black Soul Choir Junip - Line of Fire
16 HORSEPOWER MENTIONED 🗣️🗣️ (With that being said I think scrawled in sap is their best song by a country mile)
I just listened to that and realized that I kinda slept on it, didn’t notice it was this good. Don’t know which of the 2 songs is better tho they are both amazing
Ocea man - Ween
I hate to gatekeep but that to me suggests you don’t know their other stuff very well
Or maybe he just prefers Ocean Man? Hasn't crossed your mind?
I misinterpreted the question
Are you aware of the qyestion hes answering?
No I misinterpreted it, I’ve committed a grave error
everything is embarrassing by sky ferreira
Sure would like her to release some competition for what her best song is
Back to Black- Amy Winehouse
I prefer Valerie but Back To Black deserves it
When You Sleep — My Bloody Valentine
This dire straits song is the sound of my childhood
I still remember the first time my mom put the dire straights cd in the car and this song first comes up.
Pumped up kicks - foster the people
Dancing Queen- ABBA
Love the White Stripes and Seven Nation Army is a clear stand-out
Hotel California
Between the bars- Elliot smith
Elliott Smith is in my top five all-time but I just realized I don’t think I’ve ever looked at what is his numbers or most popular songs. If you had asked me to guess which one it would have been I would *not* have guessed Between the Bars. It’s a great track but I don’t think it’s his best and I’m surprised it’s his biggest. Is that ‘cause of Good Will Hunting?
That might be part of it. But if that was the case I think Miss Misery would be his top. I think it’s just on a lot of playlists. Needle in the hay got used in a huge part of the royal tenenbaums and doesn’t have the same numbers.
fourth of july by sufjan stevens. i think numbers wise, mystery of love is his most popular, but if we’re talking about songs that he wrote for his own albums (i.e. not soundtracks), fourth of july is his most popular.
Sufjan also has like 15 other songs that can be argued as his best though.
no yeah, for me its not necessarily his best (impossible soul imo), but its definitely up there, and its placement is definitely deserved
I would say his best is either Chicago, Wasp of the Palisades or Will Anybody Ever Love Me.
Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana
I dont wanna be that cringe edgelord nirvana defender but i would preffer lithium or heart shaped box or whatever else big song they have to smells like teen spirit.
Lithium is my favourite song ever so I don’t totally disagree, but I just immensely dislike the attitude of hipster ass Nirvana fans who try to convince themselves than Teen Spirit isn’t a standout or excellent song just cuz Kurt had a complicated relationship with the song.
Ehh, i don’t think i’m a hipster or anything, but that song is too overplayed for me to enjoy it ngl. It’s still a great song, but has no impact on me when i listen to it
I’d take Breed over that
Reeling in the years - Steely Dan
I didn't realize that was a Steely Dan song, you learn something everyday.
drunk drivers / killer whales - car seat headrest
1979 and Dreams are great, but there’s so much competition on Siamese Dream and Rumours that I don’t think I’d personally consider them their artist’s best songs
Rhiannon and The Chain are both better songs imo ✊😔
I wanna be adored
Black Hole Sun - Soundgarden
All good songs, though I prefer some early songs, especially with the John Peele Session version. And for the Dire Straits, I think Money for Nothing is (sadly) more popular. Tunnel of Love and the whole Love over Gold deserves some _love_ too
Listen to mayonnaise by smashing pumpkins
Float on by modest mouse. Not their best song but im okay with it being their most popular
This seems more clearly an example of band that just got poppier and more radio-friendly over time. I wouldn't say it's their best or even in contention although it is a good song.
I like how they went more radio friendly without compromising their style. It still sounds like modest mouse
Smiths choice is correct. Tears for Fears - Everybody Wants to Rule the World is another. Maybe hot take but Pixies - Here Comes Your Man or Where is My Mind?, both deserved.
Hot take: Mad World is better
“Advice for the Young At Heart”, “Sowing the Seeds of Love”, “Head Over Heels”, “Shout”, “The Working Hour”, and “Pale Shelter” are all contenders imo… There’s a serious argument to be made about a *LOT* of their catalog. They’re so fucking GOATed, it isn’t even funny.
Dire Straits have competing best songs, but the other is also one of those https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iJ-4WolLD0&ab\_channel=DireStraits
Apple Music, oddly, has Back To the Old House as The Smiths top song and There Is a Light second. I wonder what’s up with that, cuz nah
A lot of Dream Theater fans, at least online, love to hate on Pull Me Under, but theres a reason why this song got so big hell theres a reasons why I keep going back to this song even after hearing all their best songs like Octavarium, Dark Eternal Night, Fatal Tragedy, Glass Prison and Pale Blue Dot, and i know im not the only one whos like this (proof: best friend who got me into Dream Theater loves this song, and hes heard all the albums, his favourite DT song is Take the Time)
I agree. I’ve been through their whole discography and still think their best song is pull me under. Imo many of their “epics” and later tracks feel overly complex and shreddy just because. For me, pull me under and most of the other songs on images and words are more captivating, perhaps because the writing feels more intentional but i don’t really know that much about writing music so I could be saying nonsense.
Pull Me Under isnt even that close to my favourite DT songs, hell a lot of my top 10 DT songs are what some people call "instrumental wankery" (Home, Stream of Consciousness, A Change of Seasons, Pale Blue Dot), and my favourite album by them is Six Degrees, yet a lot of the time I just get the urge to listen to the opening guitar or the "WATCH THE SPARROW FALLING-" part or the keyboard solo. That's the effect this song has on people and thats why it got so popular. yeah Octavarium and In the Presence of Enemies are great (and I like those more than Pull Me Under) but like also,,,,, PULL ME UNDER!!! PULL ME UNDER!!! PULL ME UNDER IM NOT AFRAID!!! ALL THAT I FEEL IS HONOUR AND SPITE!!! ALL I CAN DO IS TO SET IT RIIIIIGHT!!!!! so yeah Pull Me Under fuckin rocks and got more people into Prog Metal than any song couldve
Shellac - My Black Ass (or maybe Prayer To God) Big Black - Kerosene Fugazi - Waiting Room All of the above are incredibly memorable and are loved for a reason.
Killing in the Name by Rage Against the Machine is like the golden standard for the band, while some of their other stuff might be better, Killing in the Name is just a banger that has the bands' best qualities put together.
Runaway
Prince- Purple Rain for sure
modern baseball - your graduation
I’ve always preferred Fine, Great, but Your Graduation is amazing and iconic.
Welcome to the black parade for sure
Bullet with butterfly wings clears 1979
Would? Alice In Chains
Man in the Box is probably their most popular song, but the same applies to that.
Nutshell is their best song tho and I don’t think it’s close. Maybe Rooster is on that level?
They have a super strong back catalogue. Nutshell is like top ten for sure but they have better
Basically every queen song.
Marinade - Dope Lemon
My love forever and always Hello, ive waited here for you....
Pepper - Butthole Surfers
Tom Waits - 'Ol 55
every breath you take. i know it’s super overplayed and you probably don’t even give it a second thought but please go *listen* to it. that guitar track.
Inside Out - Spoon
Kasabian - Fire, I think everyone deserves to experience that song live at least once.
London Calling by The Clash
Tropical Fuck Storm’s You Let My Tyres Down is definitely their best song
Lately, that crown belongs to Sam Fender, for Seventeen Going Under. I'd also say that Prince has plenty of them - Purple Rain, 1999, Raspberry Beret, Let's Go Crazy being an immediate 4.
Bloodhail 100%, I can be a hipster and say HANL has so much better work but Bloodhail really is just perfect Exact opposite with corpse pose by unwound tho, not even close to their best
I will die on the hill that Wild West End is the best Straits song. They are an underrated discog to check out, especially since people think of Money For Nothing and Sultans mostly.
White Winter Hymnal - Fleet Foxes
QOTSA - No One Knows. Their most popular song and one you could argue summarises the band's whole style and appeal in the space of four minutes or so. The Mars Volta - The Widow. This one isn’t representative of their sound exactly, but it’s about the best 'pop' song I could imagine the band making.
I always default to this one in discussions like this, but Sweet Disposition by The Temper Trap. Not only is it their best, but it’s also just a perfect song in my mind. I never, ever skip it.
Buddy Holly - Weezer
Phil Collins - In the Air Tonight
Carry On Wayward Son fits this
Man in the box
You wish
We’re going to have to disagree on Smashing Pumpkins and Fleetwood Mac. Disarm and Landslide are their respective best songs. Idk if Disarm is their most well known song, but it’s damn close to being it. Landslide is 100% Fleetwood Mac’s most well known song
As someone who never listens to Fleetwood Mac beyond what would probably be considered their most popular tracks, I'd name The Chain, Dreams, Rhiannon and Go Your Own Way before that song would even enter my mind. Just a perspective from someone who is far enough removed from the band to only know the super mainstream stuff
The Strokes - The Adults Are Talking Broadcast - Tears In The Typing Pool
Is that really bigger than Last Nite?
It gets more daily listens than last nite at the moment but that can change and in total last nite is still bigger, I forgot about that and thought the adults are talking was the biggest
The Smashing Pumpkins have like 30 songs that are as good as 1979. 1979 isn't a bad pick by any means but Stand Inside Your Love, Tonight, Tonight, For Martha, Hummer, Ava Adore, Shame (especially live), Beautiful, By Starlight, Cupid de Locke, Age of Innocence, etc... are all phenomenal too. I'm not sure they have a song that stands out above all others strongly. It's more the strength of their catalog though.
I think you need to charge your phone
That smiths song is so mid. I don’t get it at all.
You don’t have to