BBC Poll: What's the best song in the world? (A long-but fast- read)

BBC On-Line | Tuesday, 17 December 2002 | staff writer

[ihatemyalarmclock]

Probably "Muskrat Love" by the Captain & Tennille (unless anybody can think of something better.)

Of course! That would be "Honey" by Bobby Goldsboro.

Ouch, that was cruel. Some here will now have that tune stuck in their heads all day...

[My2Cents]

"Surfer Bird" by the Trashmen.

[buffyt]

Walk Don't Run. [real OLDIE from the 1960s]

[Timesink]

Also Debbie Boone's "You Light Up My Life" and "It's Still Billy Joel To Me" by Weird Al.

[Chunga]

"God Only Knows" by The Beach Boys.

[buffyt]

A friend of ours, Danny Ertlejack, is a professional musician song composer, and he got to sit next to Mancini on a flight from LA to Houston once. That was so cool!

[AGreatPer]

I'm Enery The VIII I am. Just love all the verses.

[jpl]

"Big Bottom" by Spinal Tap.

[winodog]

Paradise by the dashboard light? by Meatloaf

[Denver Ditdat]

If this isn't limited by genre or era, I'd vote for Verdi's "Va, Pensiero" from "Nabucco". Never heard it? Listen to the MP3

[Timesink]

 Woke up this mornin' feelin' fine
 There's somethin' special on my mind
 Last night I met a new girl in the neighbourhood, whoa yeah
 Somethin' tells me I'm into something good
 (Somethin' tells me I'm into somethin')

 She's the kind of girl who's not too shy
 And I can tell I'm her kind of guy
 She danced close to me like I hoped she would
 (she danced with me like I hoped she would)
 Somethin' tells me I'm into something good
 (Somethin' tells me I'm into somethin')

 We only danced for a minute or two
 But then she stuck close to me the whole night through
 Can I be fallin' in love
 She's everthing I've been dreamin' of
 She's everthing I've been dreamin' of

 I walked her home and she held my hand
 I knew it couldn't be just a one-night stand
 So I asked to see her next week and she told me I could
 (I asked to see her and she told me I could)
 Somethin' tells me I'm into something good
 (Somethin' tells me I'm into somethin')
 (Somethin' tells me I'm into somethin', ahhh)

 I walked her home and she held my hand
 I knew it couldn't be just a one-night stand
 So I asked to see her next week and she told me I could
 (I asked to see her and she told me I could)
 Somethin' tells me I'm into something good
 (somethin' tells me I'm into somethin')
 Somethin' tells me I'm into something good
 (somethin' tells me I'm into somethin')
 To something good, oh yeah, something good
 (somethin' tells me I'm into somethin')
 To something good, something good, something good

[SamAdams76]

Any attempt to pick a "top song" or even a "top 10 songs" is meaningless. There are just too many subjective tastes in music out there and too many songs - hundreds of thousands of them - to choose from.

It is amusing however to see the songs that ultimately get picked from these surveys. "We Don't Talk Anymore" by Cliff Richard from 1979 as top song ever in Europe? I just don't understand. It was a decent enough tune and even made the top 10 here in the USA. But I just don't see how it could be voted the best song ever.

BTW, Joan Jett, and not Britney Spears, recorded "I Love Rock & Roll." It was a number one hit in 1982.

[Revolting cat!]

You're all wrong! The best song in the world is and forever will remain: (There's) No Room to Rhumba in a Sports Car (Words & music by Fred Wise - Dick Manning ), sung by the best Elvis impersonator, the one and only Elvis Presley, in the movie Fun in Acapulco (another winner!)

[brewcrew]

Billy Don't be a Hero by Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods.

[AmishDude]

Oh, if you're going to go with musicals, what about "Impossible Dream" from Man of La Mancha?

I'd vote for Ode to Joy, myself, but it isn't really a song, per se.

But the worst song is so much easier. Dave Barry called it: MacArthur Park. 'Nuff said.

[Cyber Liberty]

Afternoon Delight by the Starland Vocal Band.

What do I win?

[Charles Henrickson]

LAYLA Eric Clapton, old version or new version

I was going to mention that song--but only the original version, which is fantastic, and not the "Unplugged" version, which I don't really care for. BTW, Clapton recorded "Layla" under the name, "Derek and the Dominoes." Second half of the song is just pure, great guitar work.

SPIRIT IN THE SKY Norman Greenbaum

Fun to sing along with. More great guitar work.

Anything ever sung by Gordon Lightfoot

My fave: "If You Could Read My Mind" (or was it, "If I Could Read Your Mind"? Whatever. Hauntingly beautiful.)

Anything by . . . CCR

Yes! My favorite group (or at least tied with the Beatles). I love to sing along with John Fogerty. Too many great ones. One that stands out in my mind right now is, "Long As I Can See the Light."

Buffyt, you have great taste in music! :-)

[brewcrew]

Talk about mud flaps, my girl's got 'em.

[AmishDude]

"It's Still Billy Joel To Me" by Weird Al

"One More Minute" is his best work.

[Redbob]

"Heilige Nacht, Stille Nacht"

First song ever written for guitar.