@John Alden No one does. In fact, they receive so little attention that they’ve been garnering “negative” streams as of late. Guess the bug boys aren’t all they cracked up to be.
A lot of people who make lists like this worry about it would be "dated" not having modern music on it, but in fact arbitrarily picking random recent popular hits will date the list far worse in years to come.
I cannot believe bad guy got on the list above so many absolute classic works. Its a track that gets old incredibly quick, I have a feeling that wont age good
It's a popular vote, basically. They took around 250 artists and people in the music industry and got them to rank their top 50s. I imagine most people would've only voted for 1 or 2 Michael Jackson songs, so it's likely Beat It wasn't in the majority of people's lists. It actually does make sense.
@John Alden Your comment made no sense you said 'kill anything the beatles has released in the past twenty years' how can the Beatles even release new music? is John Lennon going to revive himself to drop an album 😂😂
@@alphalax7747 I just fundamentally think recent artists should be nigh discounted from lists like this, because they haven’t proven the staying power. You need to hear a track on the radio and have that little “wait… this is now a ten year old song! Holy shit (and hey, it does actually slap, even if I rolled my eyes at it when it was getting overplayed)” moment to qualify for a list like this in my opinion
@@BD-yl5mh YES, there were so many songs back in the day that made me go insane with how much they kept being played and now i look at them and can safely say theyre actually great
No songs in Spanish or any language besides English. Nothing before 1937. Yes, definitely a comprehensive list of the best songs ever made by mankind. Instead they should just call it the best Rock, Pop, and Rap English songs since 1937.
Yeah it’s more like “best commercially-released English-language recordings (with a couple token Spanish-language and instrumental jazz recordings) of the last 70-ish years.
Rolling Stone could have saved a lot of heartache if they had simply said "list is in no particular order". There's no point trying to rate songs from a huge variety of genres: each genre deserves it's on consideration. No point in comparing "Everlong" to Miles Davis' "So What".
I have the same issue with pretty much every music list ranking. The only time it's ever been done right is the book 1001 Albums to Listen To Before You Die
@@badgasaurus4211 I think these kinds of lists particularly with things like music are kinda stupid, we all have different tastes and music is so subjective to what the listener thinks sounds good, yeah Michael Jackson Beat It would sound better to you than Billie Eilish’s Bad Guy, but ask someone born in this generation and they would most likely disagree, I think the conversations that come up after the lists is the real draw in my opinion.
Drake had 3 spots on this list. More than Eminem, Biggie, 2PAC, Kendrick Lamar, Jay-Z, Kanye... don't even get me started on the fact that Nas and MF DOOM aren't even on the mf list. The list is a joke.
Enter Sandman I think absolutely belongs on that list if only for its ubiquity, near-perfect production for hard rock, and being probably the most successful gateway song into heavier music
It might not be saying much as a song but I don't think there's a single song that represents hard rock and metal better than enter sandman, and honestly it's just the peak of the genre
In what world is enter sandman the best metal representation? I like it but earlier Metallica songs or maybe black Sabbath would be better to represent metal
I checked the list and just to give you a picture of how insane it is "Stairway To Heaven" is at #61 while Missy Elliot's "Get Ur Freak On" is at #9...
I’m surprised that you had all 16 tracks on Total Xanarchy in your personal top 20. I do agree with you Melon that Rolling Stone is severely under representing Lil Xan and his impact on the music industry with their joke of a list.
I just have a hard time accepting a song that is less than three years old could ever reasonably be considered an "all time" classic. Doesn't the idea of a list like this insinuate longevity over immediate impact?
I was thinking the same. A song should really need to be at least 10-15 years old before I can be considered a "classic" that has some long term influence and staying power
All of these shitty modern songs they rushed to throw on this list will be forgotten in 10-15 years, so I guess it's the only way RS will get to give them undue attention. But on a basic level, how tf do you compare William Eyelash or Lil Nas X to David Bowie, Queen, Nirvana, Michael Jackson... how do you gin up reasons why the former is greater than the latter? It makes no sense.
Technically, "All time " doesn't exclude recent releases. All time means all time, recent or not. But in all fairness, the list does imply mainly classics.
It’s impossible to make a list of the greatest songs of all time. There are so many things you have to account for such as the impact that the song had among its respective genre and its artistic value and contribution to the music scene as a whole
Yeah, it's obviously just for entertainment and outrage. If they were serious about their lists, they should at least make them separate because it can't never be accurate if you lump them together.
Exactly. I listened to the top 500 singles on Rate Your Music from every year from 1960 to 2019 and I ended up with a 'short' list of nearly 10,000 songs that are all great. And that's just A side singles, not B sides, EP's or album tracks. There are probably 50,000 songs out there that could be in the Top 500.
It’s not impossible for a publication to make a list of what they consider to be the greatest songs of all time. NME, Q (back in the day) and Pitchfork did a better job, it’s a way for people to discover new music and it’s their opinion, even the earlier Rolling Stone one was better but now they just go whichever way the wind blows and made some truly terrible choices, putting ‘Fight the Power’ for example at number 2, it’s one of the most juvenile and poorly written songs I’ve ever heard.
@@j.c985 that’s a good point. I think they wanted to be as diverse as possible with this list to avoid backlash/controversy and that’s what plagues this list
Rolling Stone: we should probably include some songs to demonstrate the incredible creativity and talent in Latin music Rolling Stone: *puts Gasolina at 50*
The list shows their skewed voter selection. The categories were basically "musicians" (appeared to be, who ever they had interviewed relatively recently), "industry" (representatives from music labels, Spotify, radio etc. also twitter wtf), "journalists" (American music journalists) and "Rolling Stone staff" (more journalists) . All the journalists were American and they were the bulk of the voters. There was zero effort to try to get out of their own bubble. I get it's an American magazine, but for "greatest songs" it would make sense to try to get some foreign journalists views as well.
Elliott Smith was one of the greatest songwriters of all time and they didn't include him on this list. For shame! They could have at least put Between the Bars in there somewhere.
I really don't get the buzz for Smith. I've listened to 3 of his albums, and I'm an acoustic song writer also which I know is a demographic he appeals too, but its just never grabbed me other than being pretty decent sounding music
It would have been far less egregious had they done a top 100 for each of the last five decades. It's hard to not have modern songs feel like pandering, when those tunes have not been given time to marinate for a generation or two.
That would have been better probably. They could have rehashed the same lists about the 60s/70s/80s/90s for the people who just want to look at the thousandth list of that nature, maybe throw in a hot take here and there to get the boomer blood pressure going. Then the 2000s list they could reappraise lists from 10 years ago and try to figure out what didn't have staying power and what wasn't usually included on 2000s lists at the time, but should have been. Finally do the 2010s list just to keep a record of what is considered important now, which could then be reappraised in another 10 years or so.
Correct. Personally, I felt there original top 500 was a much closer to objective (as much as that can be said about list-making in general) list of the greatest ROCK songs. I don't think the list ever claimed to be going beyond Western, English-language rock & roll/pop, and didn't attempt to tackle jazz, classical music, etc.
I mean, I would absolutely watch it, but I hiiighly doubt he would do that (nor would I recommend he do that) because that's basically spoiling lots of content/reviews he could be putting out in the future. He wouldn't want to say, for example, something like "Of all rappers in history, (rapper A) is the best, then (rapper B), etc...".... it's not's the point of the channel.
I kinda disagree and agree at the same time, it’s definitely a great song but they could have picked Master or One over it 100% since they’re both instantly regonizable and do wayyy more than sandman, at least to my eyes
OR Bob Dylan XD Now they just try to be so modern so they put black-woman on first place. And yeah, don't get me wrong, Aretha Franklin is a legend but it was obvious even before I look at the list
I have the 2010 edition of this list and mostly agree with it and used it as a template to expose myself to genres I never gave a chance, like Gnarles Barkley, Prince & Bob Dylan. This new list just feels like they are doing what's been trendy, weird, or successful without accounting for its actual musical quality.
Instead of doing top 500, they should do either Top 250 classics (I’d say anything before 2000) and Top 250 Modern (after 2000). Both time periods have fantastic songs but I feel like putting so many recent songs will date this list. Also, some songs can’t be compared. How does a 1950’s easy rock track score higher or below a Nicki Minaj, kind of not taking it seriously, rap song from the 21st century. Also? If this truly is a ‘all time list’, then this is fundamentally flawed. No music except stuff popular in western countries, and only western countries. No Classical or any other genre from before 1950’s. No music from other countries, Indian, Japanese, North Korean. But it’s OK. The worst song of 2019 by a whispering 14 year old is allowed on instead
it is clear that recency bias is heavily affecting the list. Is anyone gonna remember BTS's Dynamite (346) half as long as they will Elton John's Bennie and the Jets (371)?
Rappers delight was just a pop recording of the rap phenomenon and the members were put together for the recording. They were also accused of stealing bars and Good Times was very popular as a break track before this. It's really too bad there isn't more rap recorded from this time period because the "record" era of hip hop is not well documented. The sample/808 era is when things really started picking up for the now chart topping genre.
@@Scroolewse Dynamite to me was, a fine song, but it was one of those where it gets played on the radio a ton and you don’t mind it and you never listen to it again after it’s radio play is over. Like Roxanne or Blueberry Faygo
Exactly, like, most songs on the list are there *because* they stood the test of time and putting them beside Billie Eilish seems... premature and hopeful. I love Billie but she literally has just started, who knows if in 50 years we'll remember Bad Guy! I mean maybe she'll have a long ass career and in 2070 bad guy will sound underwhelming and dated.
If they're going to make a ranking like this, then they need to separate it into two lists - one being the most influential/iconic songs of all time, and the other being the greatest songs of all time. I feel that the two sides are clearly very often at odds with each other.
It would have to be seperated by genre before even attempting a list like this which they didnt do. Main factors to consider is influence and iconography as mentioned, record sales, technicality, composition, emotional range, songwriting ability and delivery, and level of innovative pioneering abilities. The list would be extensive and have to go through each genre individually to come to the fairest assessment.
Actually no, as it's just a congregation of many artists votes, they just basically picked their 500 favorite songs and rolling stones did the math. And that's why I think the list is quite weird, the sample was too small for the list to make sense imo.
Honestly, if there were songs from the 2000’s that should be on this list, I would pick these four: Hey Ya - Outkast Crazy - Gnarles Barkley Feel Good Inc. - Gorillaz One More Time - Daft Punk Feel free to reply with your 2000’s songs pic :p
Exactly, I am not a fan of old European classical music, but it has historical significance. This list is only for 20th-21st century American and British music. I would put Italian and French music in that list if I could. No fuckin Ennio Morricone? This list is a joke...
A symphony isn't a song, a song has lyrics. There were probably tracks on this list that don't have lyrics and thus aren't technically songs but I don't care to check.
Yeah, like at least “best albums” kinda binds it to a specific timeframe. If you’re going with “best songs,” how do you leave off people like Stephen Foster and Irving Berlin?
@@sashakrotkov5050 As far as I know, Ennio Moricone didn't write songs (or at least, isn't famous for having written songs). And Beethoven's non-existent 12th symphony certainly doesn't count as a song (nor do his 9 actual symphonies).
“Strange Fruit” and “Fast Car” are both timeless masterpieces. Powerful, poetic lyrics. Top notch performances. They can bring tears to your eyes. Both songs work as cultural artifacts of their respective eras and still feel relevant today. If you wanted to put another black woman besides Aretha in the top ten, you couldn’t do much better than picking one of these songs. …then again, “Get Your Freak On” was a big part of my growing up. I remember going to high school dances, buzzed on Five O Clock Vodka or Mikes Hard Lemonade, and trying to get my freak on. The song’s timeless sentiments of “I’m so great” and “let’s have sex” really resonated with me then. It’s like she could read my mind.
IMO a song needs to be at least 10 years old before making a "Greatest" list. Another good idea is to start with a top 100 per genre (rock, electronic, pop, hip-hop/r&b, country, etc.) and then build the 500 based on those results
@Ivory_ Lagiacrus_YT it puts newer music into perspective. Billie Eilish’s Bad Guy or Lil Nas X’s Old Town Road may be a great song now because of their recency, but the more a song has aged, the more you can determine its influence and how much of a classic it really is.
@Ivory_ Lagiacrus_YT well I like to think that if something made big waves, it had to do something right. But that’s just my two cents. Have a good day/evening/night wherever you are!
@Critique Everything Great song! I'm sure there's more examples like it, but it has to wait a little longer. If it was just one genre I wouldn't place any time restrictions. Even then it's still probably not ranked very high on a "all time hip-hop" list. Prolly in the 40-60 range. Not even sure if "Alright" is in Pharrell's top ten produced songs.
@Ivory_ Lagiacrus_YT Because it'd get way less views and attention if it was just a "my subjective favorite songs" list. Everyone has favorite songs; for most, it's not that interesting just to hear some random person's favorite music. And if you did want to, you could just look at reddit posts or ask a friend or something. Because of this, lists like these made for public consumption require a level of 'objective' cred, and one way to do that is through looking at more objective meters like cultural influence and overall popularity.
Your mentioning of a lowest common denominator from a voting system of many great voters is exactly why your channel is great. Yes there are strong disagreements at times but the agrees hit hard. To have a big group of reviewers makes it feel like fact when it’s no more fact than one opinion, but with one opinion you understand it’s just someones taste. Idk i just love ya man
I personally think it's literally impossible to come up with a list that satisfies everyone when it comes to music. No matter what criteria you use, Music is the most taste based, subjective form of art and one thing that sounds great to someone can sound terrible to someone else. I can love a black metal album for it's raw, violent, low fi mix and someone else might hate it for the exact same reasons. Even if you use criteria like popularity or impact there's still gonna be a ton of disagreements. So when a publication comes up with a list like this, it's just basically a way for them to get some reactions and get some clicks, that's all. It's clear people who voted on this list don't listen to Electronic Music, Prog Rock or Metal at all. And they have no right to declare this list as the greatest songs of all time. And my point is that NOBODY has the right to make this list, because there's nobody out there who likes all type of music. All we can do is to just say "hey these are my favorites" and move on.
They failed even that though because there's a difference between open minded and just plain stupid. I'm sorry but Bad Guy is not a better song than Come As You Are and if you think that, you're either a 13 year old girl or deaf.
I think Aphex Twin has said RS wanted to interview him for his 'drukqs' release but he wasn't interested. They threatened him with bad press if he didn't agree to it and then they gave drukqs their ludicrous 1 star review. They've seemed to have it in for him ever since.
And yet it's never actually going to please since people are always going to find a song they're not fond of and then complain about how it's ranked above a song they really like
More than anything, such lists just promote dumb comparisons. There is literaly no way to make a valuable lisiting for things like these. Every piece here is different, with different purpose, goals, themes, style, audience and came to be within it's own unique circumstances. To rank them is to make a bunch of apple and orange comparisons and call it a day. And while having a top of your own is fine of course, seeing some official list being pushed on people as if they have any merit at all pisses me off.
@@kamilDX1 Yeah exactly. I'd be interested to see any individual's top 500 and take that as _their_ top 500. But you really can't quantify music enough to assert than any such list is authoritative. Especially with, like, a century* of popular music to sift through and consider? At that point you've just got to search through the top 40s to be even remotely thorough, and now you've made a list for mass appeal without even meaning to. Now top 500 in a genre, that would be far more feasible.
The list is incredibly American-centric. The only UK tracks are from insanely well known artists and while they probably deserve to be there there's a lot that ought to be alongside it. Even adding in a bunch of UK voters all you get is an Anglo-centric list that's leaving ninety-plus percent of the world unrepresented, there's definitely enough music out there to take Livin' on a Prayer and Fix You out of the reckoning.
Hey so name your top 100 African pop songs, top 50 Australian songs, and top 100 Japanese songs, go. The fact is, USA has had a lot of the greatest music in the last 100 years and the entire world agrees based on sales and influence. You are making a arbitrary argument not based on artistic value which is what “greatest” implies.
In Rolling Stone’s opinion, “Of all time” just means from American (and occasionally British) artists? There is so much innovative, artistic, and inspiring music all around the world, and they’re just choosing stuff that they think will appeal to the English-speaking demographic😅
@@21benyi there never will be a "greatest list of all time" because it's subjective in the first place. Even if you were to include music from other countries and cultures there are people who would disagree with those songs being better than the ones currently on the list.
The biggest fault of a list like this is that they feel the need to put them in some specific order. Just have a 500 list without an order, no hierarchy, just like "hey, these songs are good"
Are these the greatest songs artistically, influentially , based popularity ? I feel like if you pick either one the list changes significantly and by combining them it has a lesser impact
I would love to see a list based purely on musical qualities like creativity, execution and emotional impact that totally disregard influence and popularity. That isnt this list.
they should have made smaller lists but for many genres, because it feels like they are cramming tons of stuff into the list from far too many genres that have very little in common and it also feels like some genres were completely left out of the list, plus the idea of having artists choose the songs is creating hella bias and adds way too many opinions to the list, rather than having a team of actual critics specialized in individual genres who could choose the songs in a more logical way.
Aphex Twin is one of the absolute best electronic artists of all time and one of the best artists of the 90s. His Ambient Works series is great. Xtal, Avril 14th, Fingerbib, Flim, We Are The Music Makers, Iz-Us, Windowlicker, Come To Daddy, T69 Collapse, minopops 67, GAK 4, and Crying In Your Face are classics in and out of the electronic genre. Avril 14th is beautiful and showcases his amazing programming on analog instruments.
Can’t argue too much with where “When Doves Cry” or “Purple Rain” ended up, but what is “Little Red Corvette” doing at 360? If it isn’t Prince’s best song, it’s quite possibly his most influential. Artists today still chase that sound.
It's tough, all of these songs deserve respect in their own right, and there's simply no way to fairly rank them. They're too different in so many ways.
Here's an idea: Gather the most well-respected DJs in their respective genres, think Andre 3000 or ?uestlove and whoever the best curators of other genres are, then have them make a fucking list. Probably include Reggie Watts in the meeting just to be safe.
Like the National Film Registry, I think an album or song needs to be around for 10 years before it can enter a conversation regarding best ever anything. It needs to prove its staying power.
@@devinixm8235 Nah, no exceptions. Kendrick is obviously talented enough that we can be pretty confident in his music holding up, but there really is no predicting how time could shift perceptions and even fantastic music can still benefit/suffer from a "heat of the moment" bias.
Yeah, so GKMC and Section 80 could be reasonably brought up in a discussion about best rap albums of all time because they're still held in high regard over a decade later. By contrast, DAMN. and Mr Morales are still recent enough that its uncertain of they'll still hold up to scrutiny by critics 10 years from now. The point is it doesn't matter who the artist is or how solid their back-catalogue is, when discussing any album in terms of "all time greatest" we should always account for how said album stands against the test of time, and for more recent albums it's debatable whether that point has been reached yet.
@@rgreenberg35 yeah, that song to me represents such a special moment in time as silly as it was lol, i remember how hard people went with the shots part
I appreciate the attempt to incorporate modern artists, but I feel like they placed too high a priority on modern popularity. The truth is that the cultural impact that many songs had in the 60s and 70s is just way bigger than anything that came after. The amount of songs that are just "get stuck in your head" significance that place higher than songs that embodied whole generations and still attract listeners 40-60 years later is just incredible.
Yea honestly I wouldve thought "Welcome to the Black Parade" and "I write sins not tragedies" would be on the list after seeing Fall Out Boy was on there. Definitely Gorillas and I wouldve liked to see some metal for sure.
If only Rolling Stone had ever listened to some brazilian albums…. it’s shocking that nothing from Acabou Chorare (1972), Clube de Esquina (1972), Cartola (1976) or Sobrevivendo ao Inferno (1997) is in this list
I think adding in any songs from the last 10 years is tricky af. It’s really hard to tell how songs will be viewed long term so close to when they’ve been released. This goes double for songs released within the last 2-3 years.
Any list like this is gonna be rough. Music is just too vast and incredible to be categorised like that. For what it is, with all the flaws and biases taken as read, I thought it was fine enough. Hey Ya was a great shout for the top ten. Don't think Respect should be #1, but what should? It's all a fool's errand. It got people talking, so fair enough.
@@Sinoops They probably do because they're bops. A "great" song has to both be influential/popular AND good. An amazing song with 500 streams isn't gonna make the list, nor is a Top 1 that sounds like ass (although Top 1s tend to be good for a reason)
@@adanactnomew7085 Nah, I disagree.. A song can be great and still not overtly be influential. A song can be influential and not any better of a piece of music for it. It's kind of like measuring a song by its political message when in reality it's boring or derivative compositionally.. First and foremost is the music, the creativity, and the experience, for me.
The fact that Stairway to Heaven, which is widely regarded as one of, if not the greatest song in rock history at 61, should tell you everything you need to know about the list.
It's also one of those songs that's so ridiculously overplayed that it's hard to enjoy most of the time. Plus personally i think there are much better Led Zeppelin songs.
I think these lists are always unsatisfying because they don’t specify their criteria nor do they have an extensive view of what qualifies as a great song. Much of this is US and UK-based with some bits of Lat Am and Oceania. It acts as if there aren’t fascinating and crucial songs in other continents, including ones that influenced the artists this list is praising. RS lists are good for getting flavors of certain genres, but they're by no means strong overviews of music. They need to specify if they mean “influential” on genres of music, well-constructed songs on their own merits, or reflective of a certain cultural period. Or all of that.
I would rather if they just stick to USA and UK. Putting Daddy Yankee and Bad Bunny is insulting. Even putting Selena is pretty laughable. The best latino artists are Cafe Tacvba, Charly Garcia, Luis Alberto Spinetta, Gustavo Cerati, Caifanes, Prisioneros, Andres Calamaro. Even if you wanna include tropical rhythms, Ruben Blades, Hector Lavoe, and Willie Colon would deserve a place in the list 1 trillion times more than any reggaetonero.
Barely any from Lat Am either. I skimmed thru the list with ctrl+f and couldn't find any Jobim, Regina, or Gilberto, so there immediately goes some of Brazil's most legendary output. I'm not even from Brazil, bossa nova just slaps lmao
@@AlanGarciaC.1093 Ok? What does that have to do with literally anything? Man your music taste is so damn good man holy heck. People are so dumb for enjoying music you don't value as much. Like you saying that has nothing to do with the original post or mine. Dumb or not, they made this list. I'm not saying their opinions are correct as they are just that. Opinions.
I have a feeling The Rolling Stone office is half boomers and half tiktokers and they just resent eachother
This lol
+1 relentless Eric Church fan. But yes. spot on.
Lmao yeah
@@RadioMuse1 HAHA
That’s exactly the feeling I get from these comments
it was really brave of them to put Taio_Cruz_Dynamite_full.mp3 in all 500 spots actually
now that’s a list i could agree with
Oh gosh, that gives me flashbacks to my pirate days 😂
For those who're wondering, yes the song's on the list.
@@69Macaquinho69 as it should be
Creeper
Can’t believe the Rolling Stones made 500 songs together
Amazing work ethic indeed.
comment perfection
Work ethic and a healthy lifestyle
@John Alden No one does. In fact, they receive so little attention that they’ve been garnering “negative” streams as of late. Guess the bug boys aren’t all they cracked up to be.
And they always top their own lists... What a coincidence... 🤔
Fantano saying “no sicko mode?” Felt deep
No way i thought this was one of those joke comments lol wtf
It is in the top 500 songs aot fr tho
bro i thought this was one of those satire comments and then he actually said it lmfao
Why the pfp change? The old one was good
He did say that he enjoyed the song in another similar video about billboard.
A lot of people who make lists like this worry about it would be "dated" not having modern music on it, but in fact arbitrarily picking random recent popular hits will date the list far worse in years to come.
It is all time not the past decade
How do you know that
Woah. Good point
I cannot believe bad guy got on the list above so many absolute classic works. Its a track that gets old incredibly quick, I have a feeling that wont age good
S ur basically saying leave out all recent music to save face, Justin case.
Kelly Clarkson "Since You Been Gone"...
Got way higher than Michael Jackson's "Beat It"................
Makes sense.
Omg how terrible every knows old = good and new = bad!!!!
It's a popular vote, basically. They took around 250 artists and people in the music industry and got them to rank their top 50s. I imagine most people would've only voted for 1 or 2 Michael Jackson songs, so it's likely Beat It wasn't in the majority of people's lists. It actually does make sense.
@John Alden Your comment made no sense you said 'kill anything the beatles has released in the past twenty years' how can the Beatles even release new music? is John Lennon going to revive himself to drop an album 😂😂
@John Alden You can't be older than 15.
@@GodEmperor_ LOL
I was pleasantly surprised when Melon put "Dance Monkey" at #1 on his personal list after a quick change in heart
I was kinda uncomfortable when he chose 500 songs that were written and recorded by only white people, but maybe I’m just projecting here
@@jwaj why does the race of the artist matter?
@@lukedofboom6053 🤓
@@wellmorza3467 🧑🏿🦲
@@lukedofboom6053 Shut up omfg
Dude, Billie Eilish really is one place above Comfortably fucking Numb
I like her music but she should be nowhere near this list. Even on a top 1000 list it'd be doubtable
@@alphalax7747 I just fundamentally think recent artists should be nigh discounted from lists like this, because they haven’t proven the staying power. You need to hear a track on the radio and have that little “wait… this is now a ten year old song! Holy shit (and hey, it does actually slap, even if I rolled my eyes at it when it was getting overplayed)” moment to qualify for a list like this in my opinion
Billie Eilish music is enjoyable, but what is it other than popular? Just expressing teenage apathy and angst? There’s no short supply of that
@@BD-yl5mh YES, there were so many songs back in the day that made me go insane with how much they kept being played and now i look at them and can safely say theyre actually great
that is a crime to humanity
This list tried so hard to be modern and diverse it destroyed any sense of having such a list.
Lol go cry
@@jeemale9207 L
not really, missing a lot of genre's that aren't as popular or mainstream in the west lol
@Lakshaydeep You missed the point
The list made to trigger people u bucko.
"Sign of the Times" by Harry Styles directly ahead of "Under Pressure" by freaking David Bowie and Queen is hilarious.
I don't think even Harry Styles would put his song above Bowie
You might say its a sign of the times
@@da-p6814 wait... that's the name of the song!!
"Sign of the Times" by Harry Styles is on the list
"Sign o' the Times" by Prince is not
lol
@@killapositionz2 😳
The fact that the highest daft punk track is Get lucky at 465 is criminal. Did they just forget that Discovery exists?
Around the world around the world around the world around the world around the world around world around the world
Sad 😢
Or instant crush:(
in one of the versions of that list One More Time was put in like 200th place
And the rest of RAM for that matter
No songs in Spanish or any language besides English. Nothing before 1937. Yes, definitely a comprehensive list of the best songs ever made by mankind. Instead they should just call it the best Rock, Pop, and Rap English songs since 1937.
fucking this man, mankind is not only popular american music lol
Yeah it’s more like “best commercially-released English-language recordings (with a couple token Spanish-language and instrumental jazz recordings) of the last 70-ish years.
I agree with the sentiment here, but Gasolina was on the list so the first part isn't exactly true
They be like "if we put Daddy Yankee in Top 50, it would be diverse enough cuz he's Latino". lol
There's no song by Jean Leloup, so that lust bullshit
Rolling Stone could have saved a lot of heartache if they had simply said "list is in no particular order". There's no point trying to rate songs from a huge variety of genres: each genre deserves it's on consideration. No point in comparing "Everlong" to Miles Davis' "So What".
I agree.
The heartache is the point tho. No one would give a shit about a list of 500 best songs. The order creates the interest
Yes, but it wouldn't be fun
Maybe "Monkey Wrench"
I have the same issue with pretty much every music list ranking. The only time it's ever been done right is the book 1001 Albums to Listen To Before You Die
Anthony should make his own list of his top 500 songs and then make a video about it
He would never be able to. He could maybe attempt it in a specific genre but across the board? No way.
@@badgasaurus4211 it would be nice to see an attempt
@@badgasaurus4211 I think these kinds of lists particularly with things like music are kinda stupid, we all have different tastes and music is so subjective to what the listener thinks sounds good, yeah Michael Jackson Beat It would sound better to you than Billie Eilish’s Bad Guy, but ask someone born in this generation and they would most likely disagree, I think the conversations that come up after the lists is the real draw in my opinion.
I actually would love if he did like a top 50 album list for previous decades
Would literally be filled with Death Grips, Kendrick, Tyler, Danny Brown and whatever else Hip Hop Heads dickride
Drake had 3 spots on this list. More than Eminem, Biggie, 2PAC, Kendrick Lamar, Jay-Z, Kanye... don't even get me started on the fact that Nas and MF DOOM aren't even on the mf list. The list is a joke.
NY state of mind/CREAM, the two goat rap songs for me not there and truth hurts by lizzo is....
@@nishkishburner9278 still have Stan, Juicy, Changes...
@@nishkishburner9278 C.R.E.A.M. is on there lol
Enter Sandman I think absolutely belongs on that list if only for its ubiquity, near-perfect production for hard rock, and being probably the most successful gateway song into heavier music
AGREED
It might not be saying much as a song but I don't think there's a single song that represents hard rock and metal better than enter sandman, and honestly it's just the peak of the genre
In what world is enter sandman the best metal representation? I like it but earlier Metallica songs or maybe black Sabbath would be better to represent metal
Yeah why did fantano say no to it ?
He was saying that Eric church is not on the same level of enter sandman
This list be like:
"C.R.E.A.M - Wu Tang Clan"
"Oh cool! This song is awesome! Lets see the next-"
"Dance monkey - Tones and I"
The best explanation of this is that a cardi b song is higher than a milli and is on the list over N.Y state of mind by Nas
Fuuuuck I hate Dance monkey
@@Jens9807 *everyone
@@oscarmeldgaard5407 absolutely disgusting lol
please dont tell me dance monkey is actually on the list
edit: it's not
This list was created by Rolling Stone finding 500 random people, asking each their favorite song, and compiling the results in order.
Nuh uh. Im tellin mom what you said.
im half convinced this is truth lol
haha!
They really jumped the gun on this one. They didn't even wait for time to end
Lmfao
Haaaaah
This should be top comment
Don’t worry, it’ll be soon
@@ohwow9870 meteor 2024
I checked the list and just to give you a picture of how insane it is "Stairway To Heaven" is at #61 while Missy Elliot's "Get Ur Freak On" is at #9...
Still not as bad as the Albums list.
Lauryn Hill was number 10, and Yes's 'Close to the Edge' was nowhere to be seen.
Yikes!
Whoa...
that alone makes the list completely laughable and useless
@@lonestar6709 Ms Hill did make a fantastic album tho
@@lonestar6709 miseducation of lauryn hill is a very good album
I've just checked that Rolling Stones has a total of 422 songs, how is it possible to make top 500 songs?
better meme than most of the ones in the fantano comments, thanks
Comedy gold
Maybe some live versions in there?
Remixes included
Sometimes the songs are so good they put them twice
I’m surprised that you had all 16 tracks on Total Xanarchy in your personal top 20. I do agree with you Melon that Rolling Stone is severely under representing Lil Xan and his impact on the music industry with their joke of a list.
This is my favorite comment
@@playboycartea damn
@@playboycartea I hope that’s satire lmfao
@@Free.zen. nah bro they seem super serious :|
@@Free.zen. stop cursing it’s a sin.
I just have a hard time accepting a song that is less than three years old could ever reasonably be considered an "all time" classic. Doesn't the idea of a list like this insinuate longevity over immediate impact?
I was thinking the same. A song should really need to be at least 10-15 years old before I can be considered a "classic" that has some long term influence and staying power
All of these shitty modern songs they rushed to throw on this list will be forgotten in 10-15 years, so I guess it's the only way RS will get to give them undue attention.
But on a basic level, how tf do you compare William Eyelash or Lil Nas X to David Bowie, Queen, Nirvana, Michael Jackson... how do you gin up reasons why the former is greater than the latter? It makes no sense.
Technically, "All time " doesn't exclude recent releases. All time means all time, recent or not. But in all fairness, the list does imply mainly classics.
Terence mckennas alien dream team should be on here
@@weregretohio7728 lmao this is exactly what boomers in the 1980s thought about Nirvana or David Bowie.
It’s impossible to make a list of the greatest songs of all time. There are so many things you have to account for such as the impact that the song had among its respective genre and its artistic value and contribution to the music scene as a whole
Yeah, it's obviously just for entertainment and outrage. If they were serious about their lists, they should at least make them separate because it can't never be accurate if you lump them together.
Exactly. I listened to the top 500 singles on Rate Your Music from every year from 1960 to 2019 and I ended up with a 'short' list of nearly 10,000 songs that are all great. And that's just A side singles, not B sides, EP's or album tracks. There are probably 50,000 songs out there that could be in the Top 500.
@@Philliben1991 exactly. It’s basically impossible to make an objective list
It’s not impossible for a publication to make a list of what they consider to be the greatest songs of all time. NME, Q (back in the day) and Pitchfork did a better job, it’s a way for people to discover new music and it’s their opinion, even the earlier Rolling Stone one was better but now they just go whichever way the wind blows and made some truly terrible choices, putting ‘Fight the Power’ for example at number 2, it’s one of the most juvenile and poorly written songs I’ve ever heard.
@@j.c985 that’s a good point. I think they wanted to be as diverse as possible with this list to avoid backlash/controversy and that’s what plagues this list
I wasn’t expecting East by Earl Sweatshirt to take all 500 spots but I can’t say I’m disappointed
I didn’t expect East to be #1 but hey it’s their opinion
Melon’s hysterical laughter is more powerful than any roast will ever be.
them ones where the laugh makes the vio hurt worse
Kanye made 25 of the top 25 songs of all time. Change my mind.
@@GarrettLGoodrich toto africa
@@GarrettLGoodrich Barbie Girl
@@GarrettLGoodrich Never Gonna Give You Up
Rolling Stone: we should probably include some songs to demonstrate the incredible creativity and talent in Latin music
Rolling Stone: *puts Gasolina at 50*
Trash song.
TRASH AF. Over Michael Jackson's Billie Jean which literally broke the color barrier.
Well, Daddy Yankee is a god in the urban Latino world so, I can’t complain.
Gasolina is one of THE single most important songs in Latin music history, idk what you're talking about
The list shows their skewed voter selection. The categories were basically "musicians" (appeared to be, who ever they had interviewed relatively recently), "industry" (representatives from music labels, Spotify, radio etc. also twitter wtf), "journalists" (American music journalists) and "Rolling Stone staff" (more journalists) . All the journalists were American and they were the bulk of the voters. There was zero effort to try to get out of their own bubble. I get it's an American magazine, but for "greatest songs" it would make sense to try to get some foreign journalists views as well.
Elliott Smith was one of the greatest songwriters of all time and they didn't include him on this list. For shame! They could have at least put Between the Bars in there somewhere.
Needle in the hay too
I really don't get the buzz for Smith. I've listened to 3 of his albums, and I'm an acoustic song writer also which I know is a demographic he appeals too, but its just never grabbed me other than being pretty decent sounding music
Who is Elliott Smith?
@@magustrigger9195 The lead singer of The Smiths....jk he's an indie singer.. great singer.
Built to Spill too. They’ll never be in lists like this. The entire northwest sound is ignored.
It would have been far less egregious had they done a top 100 for each of the last five decades. It's hard to not have modern songs feel like pandering, when those tunes have not been given time to marinate for a generation or two.
The alternative to pandering is to have rose-tinted glasses and arbitrarily leave out song sjust because they're new
yeah it always feels a little weird to see a song that just came out 2 years ago above songs that have been heavily rotated for decades
@@bobbymeyers6473 No, it's just being reasonable.
@@bobbymeyers6473 but why is bad guy a most 300 places above come as you are lol
That would have been better probably. They could have rehashed the same lists about the 60s/70s/80s/90s for the people who just want to look at the thousandth list of that nature, maybe throw in a hot take here and there to get the boomer blood pressure going. Then the 2000s list they could reappraise lists from 10 years ago and try to figure out what didn't have staying power and what wasn't usually included on 2000s lists at the time, but should have been. Finally do the 2010s list just to keep a record of what is considered important now, which could then be reappraised in another 10 years or so.
The fact that Billie eilish is the centre point of their graphic tells you all you need to know about this list 😂
My first impression too.
Cardi being next to Aretha Franklin is just disrespectful and tasteless. Cardi is talentless
Correct. Personally, I felt there original top 500 was a much closer to objective (as much as that can be said about list-making in general) list of the greatest ROCK songs. I don't think the list ever claimed to be going beyond Western, English-language rock & roll/pop, and didn't attempt to tackle jazz, classical music, etc.
@@chambeet maybe but rock was the goat for many decades.
@@shannonballspen1s482 It's definitely what I grew up on and still gravitate towards.
We need melon to publish his own 500 greatest list
I mean, I would absolutely watch it, but I hiiighly doubt he would do that (nor would I recommend he do that) because that's basically spoiling lots of content/reviews he could be putting out in the future. He wouldn't want to say, for example, something like "Of all rappers in history, (rapper A) is the best, then (rapper B), etc...".... it's not's the point of the channel.
List is terrible but I think enter sandman totally belongs on a top 500. Probably the most well known metal song worldwide.
He was saying that enter sandman is much better than Springsteen. He wasn't complaining about it being too high on the list
Well known doesnt equal good
@@alphalax7747 but it is good
390 feels right. If it were Top 10 I’d be mad
I kinda disagree and agree at the same time, it’s definitely a great song but they could have picked Master or One over it 100% since they’re both instantly regonizable and do wayyy more than sandman, at least to my eyes
While I disagree, I respect the decision to have Lizzo - Juice in all 500 spots
Good track tho
@John Alden uhhh ok
@John Alden Perhaps you should think more and type less then?
@@janmdsdks if you are a deaf person
Yah Yah Eee
Many of the placements were bizarre. And yes, Aphex Twin and Gorillaz not getting a single song was genuinely bizarre.
Or Elliott Smith even. Was expecting "Between the Bars" at least
Feel good inc is literally played to death on radio, these voters are drunk or stupid
No Frank Sinatra
yeah feel good can replace the kelly clarkson track
the beatles not being a number one was rolling stone "stepping outside their shell"
They already placed Marvin Gaye “What’s Going On” as the greatest album of all time last year. (Which was a solid pick)
OR Bob Dylan XD Now they just try to be so modern so they put black-woman on first place. And yeah, don't get me wrong, Aretha Franklin is a legend but it was obvious even before I look at the list
@@dominikkurowski3145 the Beatles r overrated
@@notforsale9488 theyre really not though
@@dominikkurowski3145 you should look at there “best artist” of all time list. You’ll be even more surprised with who’s in the top ten.
I have the 2010 edition of this list and mostly agree with it and used it as a template to expose myself to genres I never gave a chance, like Gnarles Barkley, Prince & Bob Dylan. This new list just feels like they are doing what's been trendy, weird, or successful without accounting for its actual musical quality.
Instead of doing top 500, they should do either Top 250 classics (I’d say anything before 2000) and Top 250 Modern (after 2000). Both time periods have fantastic songs but I feel like putting so many recent songs will date this list.
Also, some songs can’t be compared. How does a 1950’s easy rock track score higher or below a Nicki Minaj, kind of not taking it seriously, rap song from the 21st century.
Also? If this truly is a ‘all time list’, then this is fundamentally flawed. No music except stuff popular in western countries, and only western countries. No Classical or any other genre from before 1950’s. No music from other countries, Indian, Japanese, North Korean.
But it’s OK. The worst song of 2019 by a whispering 14 year old is allowed on instead
How about just not ranking songs
it is clear that recency bias is heavily affecting the list. Is anyone gonna remember BTS's Dynamite (346) half as long as they will Elton John's Bennie and the Jets (371)?
Rappers delight was just a pop recording of the rap phenomenon and the members were put together for the recording. They were also accused of stealing bars and Good Times was very popular as a break track before this. It's really too bad there isn't more rap recorded from this time period because the "record" era of hip hop is not well documented. The sample/808 era is when things really started picking up for the now chart topping genre.
@@Scroolewse Dynamite to me was, a fine song, but it was one of those where it gets played on the radio a ton and you don’t mind it and you never listen to it again after it’s radio play is over.
Like Roxanne or Blueberry Faygo
Exactly, like, most songs on the list are there *because* they stood the test of time and putting them beside Billie Eilish seems... premature and hopeful. I love Billie but she literally has just started, who knows if in 50 years we'll remember Bad Guy! I mean maybe she'll have a long ass career and in 2070 bad guy will sound underwhelming and dated.
If they're going to make a ranking like this, then they need to separate it into two lists - one being the most influential/iconic songs of all time, and the other being the greatest songs of all time. I feel that the two sides are clearly very often at odds with each other.
well what makes a song „great“?
@@decentlyaverage9483 sound = good
@JAY CHROM3 I agree and influence is important
“Current Political Environment” now matters most.
It would have to be seperated by genre before even attempting a list like this which they didnt do. Main factors to consider is influence and iconography as mentioned, record sales, technicality, composition, emotional range, songwriting ability and delivery, and level of innovative pioneering abilities. The list would be extensive and have to go through each genre individually to come to the fairest assessment.
They actually cannot FATHOM THE IDEA OF A SONG BEING A HIT FOR LIKE TWO YEARS NOT MAKING IT ONE OF THE BEST SONGS OF ALL TIME
I can’t believe Crazy Frog by Axel F is not even on the list.
Mic, is that you?
Haha you're joking right?
@@aymenjbailiof course not, it should’ve been the entire list and more. greatest song of all time
This is more like “top 500 songs you’ll be forced to hear at karaoke night”
The ending of Runaway at karaoke ☠️💀☠️
Assuming half of those new songs they put in will be remembered in 5 years lol
That is the perfect way to describe this list
Lol! xp
respect to the authors, i cant even fathom how hard a list of that caliber would’ve been to make. would’ve been even more respect if it was any good
Actually no, as it's just a congregation of many artists votes, they just basically picked their 500 favorite songs and rolling stones did the math.
And that's why I think the list is quite weird, the sample was too small for the list to make sense imo.
@@macwilliams1727 u be spittin factualities
I'm glad to see WAP at #1. I have new found respect for RSM.
Thank you for pointing out the criminal lack of heavy metal on this list. 🙏🏽
really happy for rolling stone that they decided to give Chumbawumba's "Tubthumping" the top spot. really the obvious choice
To be fair that song deserves at least top 100.
Honestly though, outside of their weird naming, that song rules
Did that song get a spot on the list? It fuckin better
Song is fantastic, deserves a spot on this list
I always liked the musical quality of the Danny Boy part of the song.
Honestly, if there were songs from the 2000’s that should be on this list, I would pick these four:
Hey Ya - Outkast
Crazy - Gnarles Barkley
Feel Good Inc. - Gorillaz
One More Time - Daft Punk
Feel free to reply with your 2000’s songs pic :p
Lose yourself, Flashing Lights, surely.
The first that came to mind is Seven Nation Army. It made it to the football stadiums!
Hey Ya is #10
All falls down
Ms. Jackson
accordion (or ALL CAPS)
Day n nite
Skinny love
Stan (or real slim shady)
Gone
Hey Ya was on this list, it landed #10
I'd put in
15 Step - Radiohead
GAZZILLION EAR - DOOM
Plastic Beach - Gorillaz
It's not an all time list without the 12th symphony of Beethoven !
Exactly, I am not a fan of old European classical music, but it has historical significance. This list is only for 20th-21st century American and British music. I would put Italian and French music in that list if I could. No fuckin Ennio Morricone? This list is a joke...
A symphony isn't a song, a song has lyrics.
There were probably tracks on this list that don't have lyrics and thus aren't technically songs but I don't care to check.
Yeah, like at least “best albums” kinda binds it to a specific timeframe. If you’re going with “best songs,” how do you leave off people like Stephen Foster and Irving Berlin?
@@sashakrotkov5050 As far as I know, Ennio Moricone didn't write songs (or at least, isn't famous for having written songs). And Beethoven's non-existent 12th symphony certainly doesn't count as a song (nor do his 9 actual symphonies).
@@MayTheSchwartzBeWithYou ennio morricone wrote songs mostly for film soundtracks
“Strange Fruit” and “Fast Car” are both timeless masterpieces. Powerful, poetic lyrics. Top notch performances. They can bring tears to your eyes. Both songs work as cultural artifacts of their respective eras and still feel relevant today. If you wanted to put another black woman besides Aretha in the top ten, you couldn’t do much better than picking one of these songs.
…then again, “Get Your Freak On” was a big part of my growing up. I remember going to high school dances, buzzed on Five O Clock Vodka or Mikes Hard Lemonade, and trying to get my freak on. The song’s timeless sentiments of “I’m so great” and “let’s have sex” really resonated with me then. It’s like she could read my mind.
It’d be funny if they put blood on the leaves instead of strange fruit
The 500 greatest songs that americans heard.
up
North America*
Let’s be honest Rolling Stones is an American company and band ofc the music list is going to be filled with American songs.
As an American I do not stand by this list
@@jobsmine Rolling Stone is an American magazine, the Rolling Stones are a British band
IMO a song needs to be at least 10 years old before making a "Greatest" list. Another good idea is to start with a top 100 per genre (rock, electronic, pop, hip-hop/r&b, country, etc.) and then build the 500 based on those results
"greatest of all time", despite its name, does need some time to breathe and be canonized as a classic or a cult hit
@Ivory_ Lagiacrus_YT it puts newer music into perspective. Billie Eilish’s Bad Guy or Lil Nas X’s Old Town Road may be a great song now because of their recency, but the more a song has aged, the more you can determine its influence and how much of a classic it really is.
@Ivory_ Lagiacrus_YT well I like to think that if something made big waves, it had to do something right. But that’s just my two cents. Have a good day/evening/night wherever you are!
@Critique Everything Great song! I'm sure there's more examples like it, but it has to wait a little longer. If it was just one genre I wouldn't place any time restrictions. Even then it's still probably not ranked very high on a "all time hip-hop" list. Prolly in the 40-60 range. Not even sure if "Alright" is in Pharrell's top ten produced songs.
@Ivory_ Lagiacrus_YT Because it'd get way less views and attention if it was just a "my subjective favorite songs" list. Everyone has favorite songs; for most, it's not that interesting just to hear some random person's favorite music. And if you did want to, you could just look at reddit posts or ask a friend or something. Because of this, lists like these made for public consumption require a level of 'objective' cred, and one way to do that is through looking at more objective meters like cultural influence and overall popularity.
Honestly, the most WTF moment on this list is Get Ur Freak On being in the top 10.
should be top 50 tho imo
@@SonicTheo holy shit how you do that.
@@diegocorral8787
doesn't even belong in the top 500
Your mentioning of a lowest common denominator from a voting system of many great voters is exactly why your channel is great. Yes there are strong disagreements at times but the agrees hit hard. To have a big group of reviewers makes it feel like fact when it’s no more fact than one opinion, but with one opinion you understand it’s just someones taste. Idk i just love ya man
I personally think it's literally impossible to come up with a list that satisfies everyone when it comes to music. No matter what criteria you use, Music is the most taste based, subjective form of art and one thing that sounds great to someone can sound terrible to someone else. I can love a black metal album for it's raw, violent, low fi mix and someone else might hate it for the exact same reasons. Even if you use criteria like popularity or impact there's still gonna be a ton of disagreements. So when a publication comes up with a list like this, it's just basically a way for them to get some reactions and get some clicks, that's all. It's clear people who voted on this list don't listen to Electronic Music, Prog Rock or Metal at all. And they have no right to declare this list as the greatest songs of all time. And my point is that NOBODY has the right to make this list, because there's nobody out there who likes all type of music. All we can do is to just say "hey these are my favorites" and move on.
Good take lark’s tongue in aspic, by the way when did you become sentient?
Perfectly said. My thoughts exactly.
@@ihatehumans5185 'sentient' is their middle name
I dont think its more subjective then painting or dancing or any other artform
Very good points The Best King Crimson album, thank you for your words of wisdom
This list is like a hipster trying to show how open minded they are by incorporating random pop artists into their taste.
This trend is really true but never thought about it
I feel like that is 99% of the needledrop's community
Why are you calling me out lmao. I started listening to pop artists to avoid just listening to KSG, and I'm kind of enjoying it tbh.
Hipsters? I feel like most of Rolling Stones’ demographic is Gen Xers and older
They failed even that though because there's a difference between open minded and just plain stupid. I'm sorry but Bad Guy is not a better song than Come As You Are and if you think that, you're either a 13 year old girl or deaf.
I think Aphex Twin has said RS wanted to interview him for his 'drukqs' release but he wasn't interested. They threatened him with bad press if he didn't agree to it and then they gave drukqs their ludicrous 1 star review. They've seemed to have it in for him ever since.
rich has had a history of being a bit of a troll, but if this is true then jesus christ dude
Aphex Twin will outlast Rolling Stone.
Drukqs was kinda mediocre tbh
Who’s RS?
@@yourcommentisntfunnyv2709 Rolling Stone
love how all of the best songs in all of human history were made within a period of 70 years! that makes so much sense!
Pachelbel Canon should be number 1 - most played and most sampled song of all time!!!
Rolling Stone is a rock publication
@@lipby That explains why they have Missy Elliott is a top 10 song........
@@boblee7605 Missy Elliott's music derives from the same blues/r&b roots as rock music
@@lipby Reaching a tad bit........And Rock didnt derive from classical music.
Missy isnt even RnB or blues, shes more hip hop/Pop.
So much respect to rolling stone for having all 500 spots go to Ocean Avenue by Yellowcard, I agree 100 percent
IF I COULD FIND YOU NOWWWWWW THINGS WOULD GET BETTERRRRRRRRRRR 😩😩😩😩😩
that goddamn violin
valid
@@Thndrstrike WE COULD LEAVE THIS TOWN AND RUN FOREVER
Man a list like this can literally never be circumspect. It doesnt matter who's making it. it could only realistically have been made to please.
And yet it's never actually going to please since people are always going to find a song they're not fond of and then complain about how it's ranked above a song they really like
@@jonhanson8925 Right so they're mostly just playing the bell curve. Not to make everyone happy, but to make people the least pissed they can.
24KGOLDEN IS ON THIS LIST. THAT SAYS ENOUGH
More than anything, such lists just promote dumb comparisons.
There is literaly no way to make a valuable lisiting for things like these. Every piece here is different, with different purpose, goals, themes, style, audience and came to be within it's own unique circumstances. To rank them is to make a bunch of apple and orange comparisons and call it a day.
And while having a top of your own is fine of course, seeing some official list being pushed on people as if they have any merit at all pisses me off.
@@kamilDX1 Yeah exactly. I'd be interested to see any individual's top 500 and take that as _their_ top 500. But you really can't quantify music enough to assert than any such list is authoritative. Especially with, like, a century* of popular music to sift through and consider? At that point you've just got to search through the top 40s to be even remotely thorough, and now you've made a list for mass appeal without even meaning to. Now top 500 in a genre, that would be far more feasible.
The list is incredibly American-centric. The only UK tracks are from insanely well known artists and while they probably deserve to be there there's a lot that ought to be alongside it. Even adding in a bunch of UK voters all you get is an Anglo-centric list that's leaving ninety-plus percent of the world unrepresented, there's definitely enough music out there to take Livin' on a Prayer and Fix You out of the reckoning.
yeah bro its an american list for their mostly american reader base, stop wasting ur time getting upset over a list
I think Livin' On a Prayer does belong in there more than a lot of other tracks. Take Fix You out easily enough though.
@@aidanboyle7611 I'm not upset, mate, I just had a thought.
Hey so name your top 100 African pop songs, top 50 Australian songs, and top 100 Japanese songs, go. The fact is, USA has had a lot of the greatest music in the last 100 years and the entire world agrees based on sales and influence. You are making a arbitrary argument not based on artistic value which is what “greatest” implies.
@@tylurmackinnon6217 stop waffling mate
Imagine they tried to actually do a top500 songs of all time? Including jazz and symphonic, and all around the world? Who is even qualified?
Don’t worry they put so what at 492 that’s basically all of jazz ever covered.
@@andythurman2390 🤣🤣🤣
most symphonic wouln't have vocals. That's the basis of a "song"
@@joaquinlezcano2372 You're technically correct, but there's still plenty of opera, sung jazz, etc.
more than anything im just surprised gimme shelter didnt quite crack the top 10
I swear to god I have yet to hear a song better than gimme shelter
Gimme Shelter is maybe the greatest song ever. I’m 25
Have none of the voters even seen a Scorsese film ffs
Dont let this distract you from the fact they Put Stairway at 61.....
I'd put The Boxer over it but that's about it
I can't believe NAV had all top 10 spots
The goat 🐐 🐐 😤
I can believe it
Why is this video in everyone’s recommend randomly😭😭
Who else would deserve those spots
I'd be more surprised if he didn't tbh
In Rolling Stone’s opinion, “Of all time” just means from American (and occasionally British) artists? There is so much innovative, artistic, and inspiring music all around the world, and they’re just choosing stuff that they think will appeal to the English-speaking demographic😅
Well yes, because that is their demographic...so they're going to pick things to appeal to it...
@@suchmouse but then don’t call the list “of all time” cause its not
@@21benyi there never will be a "greatest list of all time" because it's subjective in the first place. Even if you were to include music from other countries and cultures there are people who would disagree with those songs being better than the ones currently on the list.
To be fair their audience is English speaking so
Shut up, go make your damn list then
The biggest fault of a list like this is that they feel the need to put them in some specific order. Just have a 500 list without an order, no hierarchy, just like "hey, these songs are good"
that wouldn't be as interesting or controversial as this specific top 500 list, now would it?
@@sailor1340 Yeah, Rolling Stone want's the engagement, they want the anger
Are these the greatest songs artistically, influentially , based popularity ? I feel like if you pick either one the list changes significantly and by combining them it has a lesser impact
There is no rhyme or reason for anything on this list
I would love to see a list based purely on musical qualities like creativity, execution and emotional impact that totally disregard influence and popularity. That isnt this list.
@@badgasaurus4211 it’s just voted in by random music celebs and execs
@@badgasaurus4211 I feel like they had some Gen Z interns put it together, so it’s what they think is cool(in their minds?).
@@Skeletontiger Yeah, this is what the Melon mentioned near the end...
I’m just glad Once in a Lifetime is still getting the respect it deserves
Great Stevie wonder song
Its great. An odd song but it has something to it that makes it immortal. Love that song
The song is good but the video really makes it work
Same as it ever was
Don't ya just love how powerful Stevie sings that chorus is amazing
they should have made smaller lists but for many genres, because it feels like they are cramming tons of stuff into the list from far too many genres that have very little in common and it also feels like some genres were completely left out of the list, plus the idea of having artists choose the songs is creating hella bias and adds way too many opinions to the list, rather than having a team of actual critics specialized in individual genres who could choose the songs in a more logical way.
Oh shit, El-P was one of the voters, would be cool to see his top 50
Aphex Twin is one of the absolute best electronic artists of all time and one of the best artists of the 90s. His Ambient Works series is great. Xtal, Avril 14th, Fingerbib, Flim, We Are The Music Makers, Iz-Us, Windowlicker, Come To Daddy, T69 Collapse, minopops 67, GAK 4, and Crying In Your Face are classics in and out of the electronic genre. Avril 14th is beautiful and showcases his amazing programming on analog instruments.
IZ-US is a very nice track to the ear
ah yes, "Royals", a better song than "Love Will Tear Us Apart"
Tbf never even heard of love will tear us apart
@@UnemploymentScrub23 this is not something you should brag about pal.
@@UnemploymentScrub23 listen to it right now
@@GlaciaDay BRUTAL
Ah yes, Bad Guy is a better track then Beat It.
Can’t argue too much with where “When Doves Cry” or “Purple Rain” ended up, but what is “Little Red Corvette” doing at 360? If it isn’t Prince’s best song, it’s quite possibly his most influential. Artists today still chase that sound.
Prince's muzak is unlistenable: banal, insipid, soul destroying!
It's a garbage list
@@miketomlin6040 he’s one of the best guitar players ever lmao
@@dfeezzy2 Have you come across Mozart, very 'talented', but vacuous. What is the function of music?
It's tough, all of these songs deserve respect in their own right, and there's simply no way to fairly rank them. They're too different in so many ways.
Agreed. Where’s Lil Xan?
this is so true, and yet they still managed to completely botch it
weezer
Here's an idea: Gather the most well-respected DJs in their respective genres, think Andre 3000 or ?uestlove and whoever the best curators of other genres are, then have them make a fucking list. Probably include Reggie Watts in the meeting just to be safe.
@@plizzle And producers as well, people like Timbaland, Trent Reznor or Dr. Dre.
The ranking is so random, feel like the writer just randomly inserted pop songs at random intervals to make the list “varied”.
Could say random once more
They used a voting system that included hundreds of people, it wasn’t a single writer that ranked everything. Still many flaws though
@@HelgeStrichen That was kinda of a random thing to say, I don’t really know what you mean, you’re pretty random.
I’m fine with quite a few of the pop songs honestly. Dancing on My Own ranking so high was a power move.
Like the National Film Registry, I think an album or song needs to be around for 10 years before it can enter a conversation regarding best ever anything. It needs to prove its staying power.
Unless it’s Kendrick
@@devinixm8235 Nah, no exceptions. Kendrick is obviously talented enough that we can be pretty confident in his music holding up, but there really is no predicting how time could shift perceptions and even fantastic music can still benefit/suffer from a "heat of the moment" bias.
@@waspswarm870 GKMC dropped more than 10 years ago, so did section 80 and only 3 years until TPAB aswell.
Yeah, so GKMC and Section 80 could be reasonably brought up in a discussion about best rap albums of all time because they're still held in high regard over a decade later. By contrast, DAMN. and Mr Morales are still recent enough that its uncertain of they'll still hold up to scrutiny by critics 10 years from now. The point is it doesn't matter who the artist is or how solid their back-catalogue is, when discussing any album in terms of "all time greatest" we should always account for how said album stands against the test of time, and for more recent albums it's debatable whether that point has been reached yet.
In a list of 500 greatest lists of all time, I would put this list at number 500.
It's disappointing not to see any LMFAO on this list 😢
Party rockers anthem is a classic
Unironically will be more remembered than most of the modern stuff they put on here to look cool
@@rgreenberg35 yeah, that song to me represents such a special moment in time as silly as it was lol, i remember how hard people went with the shots part
The list wouldn't be that bad if it was unranked and just chronological. The majority of songs are from like 1965-1974.
I knew this list was shit when I noticed my music wasn’t in it’s rightful spot at # 1. What a joke 😂
The fact that my favorite song and band aren’t the best of all time is appalling from rolling stone
You forgot your upvote bots dude
@@energyflash_tk Upvote bot aka. post notifications / comment early / say something funny / subscribers like that shit to the heavens
@@energyflash_tk you forgot the funny
Felt this comment on an emotional level
For those of you who are wondering, Bohemian Rhapsody is at 17 in this list
Keep in mind that making a list like this literally impossible. I dont see a world where anyone can make a truly accurate list
True, it's best for them to say it was not in order, but this generates click so there's that
@@minister2965 definitely
specially when in only includes basicaly two countries in the world.
@@goncalodias6402 true
Yeah but it wasnt even close to being even slightly accurate
I feel like trying to make a single list of the *greatest songs of all time* is doomed to leave too many out
You should do a tier list for every song Anthony
I appreciate the attempt to incorporate modern artists, but I feel like they placed too high a priority on modern popularity. The truth is that the cultural impact that many songs had in the 60s and 70s is just way bigger than anything that came after. The amount of songs that are just "get stuck in your head" significance that place higher than songs that embodied whole generations and still attract listeners 40-60 years later is just incredible.
Yea honestly I wouldve thought "Welcome to the Black Parade" and "I write sins not tragedies" would be on the list after seeing Fall Out Boy was on there. Definitely Gorillas and I wouldve liked to see some metal for sure.
black parade wasn't on there???
personally not a fan of MCR but it's easily the most iconic song of its genre, genuinely surprised to not see it
yeah im not even a huge fan of emo music but welcome to the black parade is easily an iconic anthem and same with sins
Like Fantano said, the 2000's seemed to get shafted in this list
I love that Melon said "Aphex Twin" four times in this video.
Was just about to comment this
Aphex fans have to stick together
Read this comment as the video was ending and was like "no he didn't" and BAM! there came the triplet
it is pretty wild that aphex twin didn’t have a single song on here
@@zack-cs I disagree. It's Rolling Stone, the world's biggest boomer ass rag.
Did they also forget about prog rock? I feel like King Crimson deserves a song on a list like this.
Rolling stone has been disrespecting prog rock since the existence of prog rock
Rolling stone pretends prog rock doesn't exist cuz it's "too white" for 'em.
@@zackzallie8735 ikr, even though rock and jazz were both originated by mostly black artists and rock, jazz and classical make up the majority of prog
@this is a media didn't see any ELP either
They didn't even put any GG allin
i still believe system of a down should have at least one song here. most preferably would be Chop Suey, Sugar, or War
YES! thank you, I looked through the whole thing and was very annoyed.
@@JamesWilson-zy3qi 👏
Yeah, probably Chop Suey, 'cause that's the most iconic.
Genuinely wouldn’t have blinked if Everlong was top 5. Can’t believe it was closer to 500!
fr thats my favourite song of all time
If only Rolling Stone had ever listened to some brazilian albums…. it’s shocking that nothing from Acabou Chorare (1972), Clube de Esquina (1972), Cartola (1976) or Sobrevivendo ao Inferno (1997) is in this list
If number one isn’t Ocean Man by Ween, I’m gonna be pissed.
I think adding in any songs from the last 10 years is tricky af. It’s really hard to tell how songs will be viewed long term so close to when they’ve been released. This goes double for songs released within the last 2-3 years.
Any list like this is gonna be rough. Music is just too vast and incredible to be categorised like that. For what it is, with all the flaws and biases taken as read, I thought it was fine enough. Hey Ya was a great shout for the top ten. Don't think Respect should be #1, but what should? It's all a fool's errand.
It got people talking, so fair enough.
they should've put stairway to heaven at number 1 just to troll (not saying it isnt a great song though)
@@souljaboysghostwriter2556 Wonderwall!
EXACTLY, lists like these are stupid from the jump cause a list like this is just way too subjective to even rank
“Fools errand” is a great song btw
yeah i mean obviously no one's gonna like the exact list, but i actually think it's pretty decent minus a few glaring exceptions
"500 greatest songs of the anglosphere"
Really struggling without any Fleet Foxes or Bon Iver on this entire list. They have been so influential for indie rock and folk.
Completely agreed
Yeah this list is garbage man. The Shrine/An Argument is one of the best songs ever made.
Mykonos not being on the list but Robyn(?) at no.20(!?) is a crime.
@@HotStrange the brass at the end 😩
And The Mountain Goats
Lorde royals as #30 gives me physical pain. What is this, 7th grade lunch break?
It was a big song of its time
@@adanactnomew7085 So was All About That Bass by Meghan Trainer and Gangnam Style by Psy. Doesn't mean they deserve to be on this list.
@@Sinoops They probably do because they're bops. A "great" song has to both be influential/popular AND good. An amazing song with 500 streams isn't gonna make the list, nor is a Top 1 that sounds like ass (although Top 1s tend to be good for a reason)
@@adanactnomew7085 Nah, I disagree.. A song can be great and still not overtly be influential. A song can be influential and not any better of a piece of music for it. It's kind of like measuring a song by its political message when in reality it's boring or derivative compositionally.. First and foremost is the music, the creativity, and the experience, for me.
@@zebra9072 And Gangnam Style and Royals are high quality bops (as many agree) so what's the issue
Melon should unironically make a "Top 500 Songs Of All Time" list himself. I'd be genuinely interested to watch that!
Melon: “How about you add some Aphex Twin?”
Rolling Stone: “Best I can do is Eric Church.”
Xtal is a top 50 song ever made and it being nowhere on this list is insanity
@@gavinmahoney5402 Xtal is great...but I personally think 4 is his best. Ziggomatic is up there too
I mean, they don't have Bjork either, so they must have been drunk when putting this together
One Amon Tobin entry would have been nice.
@@felixstenson1654 bruh not having at least 1-2 Bjork tracks is a travesty.
The fact that Stairway to Heaven, which is widely regarded as one of, if not the greatest song in rock history at 61, should tell you everything you need to know about the list.
It's also one of those songs that's so ridiculously overplayed that it's hard to enjoy most of the time. Plus personally i think there are much better Led Zeppelin songs.
@@nedisahonkey that is still a massive classic that deserves the praise
If you really think that about Stairway, you either have criminally limited taste, or you are a hardcore zeppelin fanboy.
@@skyrat6822 what a dumb response, it is considered one of the best.
The greatest rock song is I Can’t Help Falling In Love by Elvis Presley.
'Zombie' by The Cranberries is one of the best songs of all time (in my opinion). It's not even on this list
I think these lists are always unsatisfying because they don’t specify their criteria nor do they have an extensive view of what qualifies as a great song. Much of this is US and UK-based with some bits of Lat Am and Oceania. It acts as if there aren’t fascinating and crucial songs in other continents, including ones that influenced the artists this list is praising.
RS lists are good for getting flavors of certain genres, but they're by no means strong overviews of music. They need to specify if they mean “influential” on genres of music, well-constructed songs on their own merits, or reflective of a certain cultural period. Or all of that.
Look at the article yourself. They outright say how they ranked everything. They get a buncha people's votes.
I would rather if they just stick to USA and UK.
Putting Daddy Yankee and Bad Bunny is insulting. Even putting Selena is pretty laughable.
The best latino artists are Cafe Tacvba, Charly Garcia, Luis Alberto Spinetta, Gustavo Cerati, Caifanes, Prisioneros, Andres Calamaro. Even if you wanna include tropical rhythms, Ruben Blades, Hector Lavoe, and Willie Colon would deserve a place in the list 1 trillion times more than any reggaetonero.
Barely any from Lat Am either. I skimmed thru the list with ctrl+f and couldn't find any Jobim, Regina, or Gilberto, so there immediately goes some of Brazil's most legendary output. I'm not even from Brazil, bossa nova just slaps lmao
@@isaacmelendez2241 a bunch of morons' votes.*
@@AlanGarciaC.1093 Ok? What does that have to do with literally anything? Man your music taste is so damn good man holy heck. People are so dumb for enjoying music you don't value as much. Like you saying that has nothing to do with the original post or mine. Dumb or not, they made this list. I'm not saying their opinions are correct as they are just that. Opinions.