What's the most overrated classic rock song?

[RhyeInTheJar]

Two things worth mentioning. You can be a big fan of a band and yet still think a song of theirs is too overrated from a musical standpoint. Secondly and more importantly don't confuse "overrated" with "sick of hearing in played on the radio"! There's many songs I think are actually great buy have no desire to hear again at any point within the next 6 months or so.

I myself have a few candidates, but I'd be interested in hearing others thoughts.

 

[oscar gamble]

"Stairway To Heaven"

 

[Riff Raff]

Glad there is someone at least who knows there is a difference between something being overplayed and overrated.

AC/DC Its a Long Way To The Top. I genuinely do not think that is even a great song. Bagpipes are one of the worst instruments I have ever listened to but in general that song just does nothing for me.

 

[Hydrazoic Acid]

If we talk about Queen songs, for me it's "Another One Bites The Dust" and "Radio Gaga". First - because of excessive dancing style, second - because of pretty annoying chorus. And yes, both songs are really overplayed on the radio.

 

[Aero]

Smoke On The Water. People like this song because of that stupid riff...and it's really pretty simple to play.

The vocals are nothing special, nor are the lyrics transcendent in any way. In fact, they're kind of clumsy.

The guitar solo is probably the best part, IMO.

Not a bad classic rock song...but way overrated.

 

[LOU/REALM]

Agreed ! Smoke on the water and Stairway to heaven wouldn't even make my top 20 by either band.....

 

[Beady Eye]

"Another Brick in the Wall" is IMHO the most overrated while "Satisfaction" is by far the one I'm most sick of listening to.

 

[architect]

I think Free Bird is Overrated and i'm sick of hearing it!

 

[RhyeInTheJar]

My bid is for the most overrated classic rock song is Kashmir by Led Zeppelin. I thought it was droning and monotonous in the 70s and I still do. It's mainly a simple ascending riff that goes "duh duh duh- duh duh duh- duh duh duh- (repeat riff only on higher notes) duh duh duh- duh duh duh.... for 9 minutes And before anyone mentions is, yes Beethovens 5th Symphony opens with a very simple riff too, but he at least managed to keep it brief and inject the rest of the symphony with lots more variety. Kashmir has always sounded to me aloof, robotic and very, very boring. By 1975 Plants voice was pretty much shot too, so the vocal delivery is full of whiny and cracked notes. The middle section is a welcome relief and a good performance from Bonham, but he can't save the song.

And it's not so much that, it's the fact that it seems that two thirds of every hard rock band since have felt the need to do their own version of the song at some point on one of their albums. There's so many songs I've heard that have been obvious attempts to emulate the "duh duh duh- duh duh duh" riff. I can't help but think it's something that bands think they're "supposed" to do if they want success.

Runner up- Another Brick In The Wall. This is so untypically Pink Floyd. It almost sounds like a funky disco track! Maybe that's why it was a success. Or it could be the "we don't need no education" chant became a favorite of rebellious schoolkids. I certainly remember it being popular at my school in 1979!

 

[Kickstart]

Hard to say overall. The thing that agitates me the most about "overrated songs" is when bands get completely reduced to said songs. Smoke On The Water, Satisfaction, Freebird and Stairway to Heaven have been mentioned.
For some bands its one song, for some bands its a handful. I probably get upset the most over people reducing Queen to their Greates Hits I (mainly Bohemian Rhapsody and Don't Stop Me Now) so I'd go with Bohemian Rhapsody though I don't dislike the song.
(Since I don't listen to radio I couldn't tell whether other Queen songs actually get even or more play. This is based on friends and people around me who aren't as interested in classic rock)