Rolling Stone 500 greatest songs of all time: See the top 25 | wkyc.com
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
The Beatles hold three of the top 25 spots in Rolling Stone's list. 
NEW YORK — Editor's note: Video at the top of this story was originally published in an unrelated rock 'n' roll story on July 16, 2021.
What is the greatest song of all time? Back in 2004, Rolling Stone took on the job of ranking the 500 greatest songs of all time. Now, they've updated that list for the first time in 17 years.
Sounds like a big job. So how did they do it?
Calling the updated list "a total reboot," Rolling Stone said they "convened a poll of more than 250 artists, musicians and producers" along with "figures from the music industry and leading critics and journalists."
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Which songs made the list? Where did your favorite land? Rolling Stone says after nearly 4,000 songs received votes, more than half of the new list features fresh additions that weren't initially included in the original list nearly two decades ago.
To see the full list of the 500 greatest songs of all time, CLICK HERE. We've compiled Rolling Stone's top 25 below...
#25 : Runaway : Kanye West featuring Pusha T (2010)
#24 : A Day In The Life : The Beatles (1967)
#23 : Heroes : David Bowie (1977)
#22 : Be My Baby : The Ronettes (1963)
#21 : Strange Fruit : Billie Holiday (1939)
#20 : Dancing On My Own : Robyn (2010)
#19 : Imagine : John Lennon (1971)
#18 : Purple Rain : Prince and the Revolution (1984)
#17 : Bohemian Rhapsody : Queen (1975)
#16 : Crazy In Love : Beyonce featuring Jay-Z (2003)
#15 : I Want To Hold Your Hand : The Beatles (1963)
#14 : Waterloo Sunset : The Kinks (1967)
#13 : Gimme Shelter : The Rolling Stones (1969)
#12 : Superstition : Stevie Wonder (1972)
#11 : God Only Knows : The Beach Boys (1966)
#10 : Hey Ya! : Outkast (2003)
#9 : Dreams : Fleetwood Mac (1977)
#8 : Get Ur Freak On : Missy Elliott (2001)
#7 : Strawberry Fields Forever : The Beatles (1967)
#6 : What's Going On : Marvin Gaye (1971)
#5 : Smells Like Teen Spirit : Nirvana (1991)
#4 : Like a Rolling Stone : Bob Dylan (1965)
#3 : A Change Is Gonna Come : Sam Cooke (1964)
#2 : Fight The Power : Public Enemy (1989)
#1 : Respect : Aretha Franklin (1967)
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This list is absurd.
I wont dispute any individual song because the list is in fact a poll. A poll in which the respondent names his choices , they are not given a list of songs to choose from.
The thing that makes it absurd is the fact that the last time the list was updated was 2004. Just 17 years ago. With this new update HALF of the "500 greatest" are new editions that were not on the previous list.
Half of the 500 greatest songs of all time came out in the past 17 years ? Absurd.
But it does reflect Rolling Stones shift away from rock and pop toward other genres, particularly hip hop.
And just what is "all time"?
I don't listen to new music so quite a bit of that list is a mystery to me.
The greatest Rock n Roll song of all time is The Who's My Generation
Naming a "greatest" song is like naming a greatest flower or greatest food. It is strictly a matter of opinion.
I just find it interesting that half the list changed in just 17 years. They polled a different type of person this time to put more emphasis on newer music.
Greatest flower - Lilac
Greatest food - My roast chicken or maybe my spaghetti and meatballs
Greatest flower - I dontknow the name of it but its that rose that grows in bunches. One of my neighbors had over 100 roses on one bush.
Food - my jambalaya
greatest song - "All The Way" by Frank Sinatra
Flower ---- Indian Blanket
Food ------ Frybread
Song------ The Weight by The Band.
I know JR, you'd never have guessed it...
lol. i remember
The Weight by The Band is #58 on the list Kavika.
Thanks
Maybe for that genre and opinion. I can't stand My Generation. It's too overplayed in so many aspects. I think The Real Me is far better.
Yes the list is absurd...haven't heard of most of those 'songs'..
The best music came before the turn of the century.....IMHO
I know almost all of them in the top 25. When I looked through the whole list of 500 though there were quite a few that I had never even heard of.
Proof is Like a Rolling Stone : Bob Dylan at number four. I love Bob Dylan but Like a Rolling Stone isn't even in the top ten list of Bob Dylan songs. This list is full of examples just like that. This is what happens when you ask people who don't know music their opinion on music. I do agree on one song though Al Green's ‘Let’s Stay Together’ is definitely the 84th greatest song of all time.
Interesting take. Like A Rolling Stone was #1 on this list from 2004 until the new list came out today.
I remember that and I remember thinking Rolling Stone Magazine putting Like A Rolling Stone at #1 was a bit fishy.
I like "Like A Rolling Stone" . I dont think I would have it in the top 25.
At the time the song was revolutionary. It was much longer than the running length of other pop/rock/folk songs of the time and it had lyrics that were truly quite unique for the era. Bob Dylan's record company knew they were making something that had not been done before , and I think that has been a factor in how high the song has been rated.
Tastes in music change as the generations change. Like a Rolling Stone is considered by us old fogeys to STILL be number one. There are only about 5 or 6 songs on the new list of 25 that I think belong on such a list, but then I'm not a teeny-bopper.
Except for one song from 1939 there isn't one song from earlier than 1955 which indicates in my opinion NOT the greatest songs of all time, but just those liked by a limited number of people who were around when the music first hit the radios/tvs. There was lots of great music from earlier than those on the list.
I love lists such as this one. They include favorite songs that I've let slip out of my mind over time, and hearing them again is almost always a treat.
here is a link to the whole thing, which is much too big to post here.
500 Best Songs of All Time - Rolling Stone
I think the second greatest song of all time is Sympathy for the Devil by the Rolling Stones or maybe Time Stand Still by Rush
More than 250? It's settled then. This list is bulletproof then, eh?
No Temptations in the Top 25?
Surprised this didn't make it in the top:
I couldnt find a page with all 500 in one list but here are the top 100
100. Bob Dylan, ‘Blowin’ in the Wind’ 1963
99. Bee Gees, ‘Stayin’ Alive’ 1977
98. The Beatles, ‘In My Life’ 1965
97. Patti Smith, ‘Gloria’ 1975
96. Jay-Z, ’99 Problems’ 2003
95. Oasis, ‘Wonderwall’ 1995
94. Whitney Houston, ‘I Will Always Love You’ 1992
93. Kelly Clarkson, ‘Since U Been Gone’ 2004
92. Little Richard, ‘Good Golly, Miss Molly’ 1958
91. UGK feat. Outkast, ‘Int’l Players Anthem (I Choose You)’ 2007
90. Aretha Franklin, ‘(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman’ 1967
89. The Beatles, ‘Hey Jude’ 1968
88. Guns N’ Roses, ‘Sweet Child O’ Mine’ 1987
87. LCD Soundsystem, ‘All My Friends’ 2007
86. The Rolling Stones, ‘Tumbling Dice’ 1972
85. Prince, ‘Kiss’ 1986
84. Al Green, ‘Let’s Stay Together’ 1971
83. Bob Dylan, ‘Desolation Row’ 1965
82. Adele, ‘Rolling in the Deep’ 2011
81. The Velvet Underground, ‘I’m Waiting for the Man’ 1967
80. Ray Charles, ‘What’d I Say’ 1957
79. Amy Winehouse, ‘Back to Black’ 2006
78. The Four Tops, ‘Reach Out (I’ll Be There)’ 1967
77. The Modern Lovers, ‘Roadrunner’ 1976
76. Johnny Cash, ‘I Walk the Line’ 1956
75. Pulp, ‘Common People’ 1996
74. Leonard Cohen, ‘Hallelujah’ 1984
73. Beyoncé, ‘Formation’ 2016
72. The Beatles, ‘Yesterday’ 1965
71. Tracy Chapman, ‘Fast Car’ 1988
70. Elvis Presley, ‘Suspicious Minds’ 1969
69. Taylor Swift, ‘All Too Well’ 2012
68. Chic, ‘Good Times’ 1979
67. Bob Dylan, ‘Tangled Up in Blue’ 1975
66. Simon and Garfunkel, ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ 1970
65. Earth, Wind, and Fire, ‘September’ 1978
64. Ramones, ‘Blitzkrieg Bop’ 1976
63. Dolly Parton, ‘Jolene’ 1974
62. U2, ‘One’ 1992
61. Led Zeppelin, ‘Stairway to Heaven’ 1971
60. Kate Bush, ‘Running Up That Hill’ 1985
59. Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, ‘The Message’ 1982
58. The Band, ‘The Weight’ 1968
57. Sly and the Family Stone, ‘Family Affair’ 1971
56. Missy Elliott, ‘Work It’ 2000
55. Madonna, ‘Like a Prayer’ 1989
54. Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, ‘The Tracks of My Tears’ 1965
53. The Beach Boys, ‘Good Vibrations’ 1966
52. Donna Summer, ‘I Feel Love’ 1977
51. Dionne Warwick, ‘Walk on By’ 1964
50. Daddy Yankee feat. Glory, ‘Gasolina’ 2010
49. Lauryn Hill, ‘Doo Wop (That Thing)’ 1998
48. Radiohead, ‘Idioteque’ 2000
47. Elton John, ‘Tiny Dancer’ 1972
46. M.I.A., ‘Paper Planes’ 2008
45. Kendrick Lamar, ‘Alright’ 2015
44. Michael Jackson, ‘Billie Jean’ 1982
43. The Temptations, ‘My Girl’ 1965
42. Bob Marley and the Wailers, ‘Redemption Song’ 1980
41. Joy Division, ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’ 1980
40. The Jimi Hendrix Experience, ‘All Along the Watchtower’ 1968
39. Outkast, ‘B.O.B.’ 2000
38. Otis Redding, ‘(Sittin’ On) the Dock of the Bay’ 1967
37. Prince and the Revolution, ‘When Doves Cry’ 1984
36. The White Stripes, ‘Seven Nation Army’ 2003
35. Little Richard, ‘Tutti-Frutti’ 1955
34. James Brown, ‘Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag’ 1966
33. Chuck Berry, ‘Johnny B. Goode’ 1958
32. Notorious B.I.G., ‘Juicy’ 1994
31. The Rolling Stones, ‘(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction’ 1965
30. Lorde, ‘Royals’ 2011
29. Dr. Dre feat. Snoop Doggy Dogg, ‘Nuthin’ but a ‘G’ Thang’ 1992
28. Talking Heads, ‘Once in a Lifetime’ 1980
27. Bruce Springsteen, ‘Born to Run’ 1975
26. Joni Mitchell, ‘A Case of You’ 1971
25. Kanye West feat. Pusha T, ‘Runaway’ 2010
24. The Beatles, ‘A Day in the Life’ 1967
23. David Bowie, ‘Heroes’ 1977
22. The Ronettes, ‘Be My Baby’ 1963
21. Billie Holiday, ‘Strange Fruit’ 1939
20. Robyn, ‘Dancing on My Own’ 2010
19. John Lennon, ‘Imagine’ 1971
18. Prince and the Revolution, ‘Purple Rain’ 1984
17. Queen, ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ 1975
16. Beyoncé feat. Jay-Z, ‘Crazy in Love’ 2003
15. The Beatles, ‘I Want to Hold Your Hand’ 1963
14. The Kinks, ‘Waterloo Sunset’ 1967
13. The Rolling Stones, ‘Gimme Shelter’ 1969
12. Stevie Wonder, ‘Superstition’ 1972
11. The Beach Boys, ‘God Only Knows’ 1966
10. Outkast, ‘Hey Ya!’ 2003
09. Fleetwood Mac, ‘Dreams’ 1977
08. Missy Elliott, ‘Get Ur Freak On’ 2001
07. The Beatles, ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’ 1967
06. Marvin Gaye, ‘What’s Going On’ 1971
05. Nirvana, ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ 1991
04. Bob Dylan, ‘Like a Rolling Stone’ 1965
03. Sam Cooke, ‘A Change Is Gonna Come’ 1964
02. Public Enemy, ‘Fight the Power’ 1989
01. Aretha Franklin, ‘Respect’ 1967
#13 on the list, Gimme Shelter.
No BB or Nat King Cole, Sinatra or Bing Crosby. But Taylor Swift...
Rolling Stone lists songs that fit their acknowledged genres, which are rock, rap, r&b, and hip hop and a smidgen of country.
I dont think there is a single song on the list that is "easy listening". Not much of what used to be called "pop" music either. I think there is one disco song on the list of 500 (Staying Alive -Bee Gees) (Maybe two, I think there might be one by Donna Summer).
In any case, it is hardly the 500 greatest songs of all time, all time would have to go back to at least the beginning of the 20th century.
Gloria Gaynor: "I Will Survive," Sylvester: "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)," are on the (disco) list.
Incidentally, anything I add (below) as a song not on the list is IN ADDITION TO because I think this 500 song list is really, really, good! Aretha Franklin's,"RESPECT" heads all many lists! (Is that a shout out to be it being "the greatest song ever"? Hmmmm.
Zeppelin's Stairway to Heaven. John Bonham is the greatest drummer ever too.
A top 100 that doesnt have "I Want You Back" on it is meaningless.
I guess I would take this a bit more serious if it included all genres of music. I'm familiar with many of the artists on the list (Johnny Cash, Prince, Arethea, Queen, Bowie) but there are still genres that aren't mentioned.
Blues (where much of what we know as music stared) are glossed over.
Metal is skipped entirely. There are so many influential bands / artists that it's almost impossible to ignore. (No GnR is not metal).
The number 1 song of all time is probably Over The Rainbow. It was named the greatest song of the 20th century in a joint survey by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Recording Industry Association of America.
This is maybe the goofiest such list I have ever seen. I don't know what the original list looked like, but this is a hot mess.
.
Earth, Wind & Fire (8/11) - Thats the way of the world
It’s funny, I’ve been building a playlist on Amazon Music and I’m up to 256 songs. It covers all genres and I always play it on shuffle so I never know what to expect. It has some of the bands that are on the so-called 500 greatest songs but none of the same songs. I specifically include only songs that are great but not so overplayed that I’m sick of them. I would never listen to this list of 500.
Blending genras is dumb.