What is the Greatest Rock Song of All Time?

[Mr Mojo Risin]

Layla

 

[Pilgrim]

Layla

I think to be more precise, in my opinion anyway, Layla has the greatest coda of any song ever.

 

[Mr Mojo Risin]

I think to be more precise, in my opinion anyway, Layla has the greatest coda of any song ever.

Yes, gives me chills almost every time.

 

[Pilgrim]

Yes, gives me chills almost every time.

For sure-- it's almost haunting.

 

[Romulus]

For me there are quite a few 'iconic' Rock songs also it was relevant for me the time I heard the track first. When I was a young boy the songs which made a big impression on me were Paint It Black by Rolling Stones, Emily Play by Pink Floyd, nearly all the Beatle hits (they literally were a music tsunami at the time) and I remember the song River Deep, Mountain High giving me goose pimples down my back. I remember first hearing the two main melodies in this track and both were absolute winners in my mind, they were so original that hearing the tunes for the first time was an absolute roller coaster...! Afterwards I grew older got to know more music so my favourite choices changed. Hendrix with Voodoo Chile and All Along The Watchtower. I really liked Hot Love by T.Rex and Saturday Night by David Bowie which I thought at the time was a really sexy song...? Then I fell under the spell with Ritchie Blackmore. Smoke On The Water had a catchy riff but for me there are alot of more 'quality' songs from Deep Purple such as Burn and Perfect Strangers. As to solos for me the best ever ending of a solo was played by Michael Schenker in the live album Strangers In The Night on the Track 'Love to Love' It ends dramatically a little bit like Richard Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries music. For me I can't choose the greatest Rock songs of all time, maybe I can manage top 5...

 

[dr wu]

Very subjective as I said earlier in the thread but this is a nice list of Planet Rock's 100 best.
https://rateyourmusic.com/list/LikeIRoll/100_greatest_rock_songs_as_voted_by_planet_rock_listeners_/

 

[Gold Dust Woman]

I could easily throw in a few songs from Fleetwood Macs iconic album Rumours. I will only mention two of the songs, "The Chain" and "Go Your Own Way" but in my opinion they certainly are up there. I also think you have to mention Led Zeppelin's "Stairway To Heaven" and also The Who's "Won't Get Fooled Again would have to be considered as well. I will also throw out two more songs and I am not sure if these fit more in the Folk Rock sound, but Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young's: Suite Judy Blue Eyes and Neil Young's After The Gold Rush.

 

[Saiyan Rocker]

Green Day's Boulevard of Broken Dreams should be up there.

It is so hard to answer a question with just one song. Cause there is just so much music out there. And a good healthy mix of old and new rock is the way to go.

 

[Dizbuster X]

WOW! Now here's a monumental question. Does this mean I can choose from every rock song ever recorded? And will no one jump all over me for picking the wrong one? Do you mean like the 1 song I'd take into outer space with me if I was abducted by aliens? If I had the chance?

Well, then, it sure as heck ain't going to be Smoke On The Water, Stairway To Heaven, A Day In The Life, Bohemian Rhapsody, Thunderstruck, Show Me The Way, More Than A Feeling, Sweet Emotion, Carry On My Wayward Son, Sister Christian, Sweet Child O' Mine, Born To Run, or Against The Wind. That's for sure. Like I ain't heard all of these about 1 Million times. Heck, I'd bet every intelligent extra terrestrial within hearing range of Earth has heard all of them as many times as I have. And these are just the first baker's dozen that popped into my mind.

No, I want something less cliche and more soulful . . . memorable . . . historic . . . meaningful . . . like . . .

Gimme Shelter

 

[dr wu]

BTW....over 2 years now in this thread and the OP never gve their song that is the best.
and they havent posted since then either.......

I still dont have one because I think there are too many great songs....impossible to choose.