What's the greatest song ever written?

There's no single "best song ever," as it's subjective, but Aretha Franklin's "Respect" often tops lists like Rolling Stone's, while others praise Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody", Bob Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone", The Beatles' "In My Life", and The Beach Boys' "God Only Knows", with Paul McCartney calling the latter "the greatest song ever written". Other contenders include Prince's "When Doves Cry", Stevie Wonder's "Sir Duke", and even Glen Campbell's "Wichita Lineman", which Bob Dylan called the greatest ever.

What is considered the greatest song of all time?

There's no single "greatest song," as it's subjective, but Aretha Franklin's "Respect" often tops lists like Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs, followed by classics like Bob Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone" and Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come". Other contenders frequently mentioned include Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody," Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven," and hits by The Beatles, Marvin Gaye, and Michael Jackson, reflecting diverse tastes from rock to R&B. 

What is the #1 song of all time?

There's no single "#1 song of all time" as it depends on the criteria (sales, cultural impact, chart performance), but popular contenders include Aretha Franklin's "Respect" (Rolling Stone's pick for greatest song), The Weeknd's "Blinding Lights" (Billboard's all-time Hot 100 #1), and Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" (best-selling single globally). Different lists highlight different metrics, from critical acclaim to commercial success. 

What is the most successful song ever written?

The most successful song of all time, by physical sales, is generally considered Bing Crosby's "White Christmas," with estimated sales over 50 million copies worldwide, according to Guinness World Records and Wikipedia and iHeart, though exact figures are debated due to older recording eras. In the modern era, Elton John's "Candle in the Wind 1997" and Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" are also top contenders for best-selling singles. 

What song did Paul McCartney say was the greatest song ever written?

Paul McCartney has called "God Only Knows" by The Beach Boys the "greatest song ever written," stating it reduces him to tears and showcases the genius of Brian Wilson, calling it a masterpiece that elevated pop music. While he often avoids picking a favorite, he's also named his own song, "Here, There and Everywhere," as his top composition when pushed, praising its lyrical flow. 

The Most COMPLEX Pop Song of All Time

What song did John Lennon refuse to sing?

John Lennon refused to sing lead on The Beatles' "Good Night," a tender lullaby he wrote for his son Julian, asking Ringo Starr to handle vocals instead because he felt it didn't suit his public image or was too personal, though he sang it tenderly during demos, notes American Songwriter, Facebook, and Reddit. Lennon felt uneasy singing such a sweet song, especially given his strained relationship with Julian, leading to Ringo's iconic vocal performance on the track. 

What did Bob Dylan say was the best song ever written?

Bob Dylan called Jimmy Webb's "Wichita Lineman" the "greatest song ever written," praising its profound emotional depth, poetic honesty, and universal themes of loneliness and longing, often citing its sparse imagery and powerful yearning as reasons for his high regard for the 1968 Glen Campbell classic. 

What is the #1 one hit wonder of all time?

There's no single #1, but Los del Río's "Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)" (VH1's pick) and PSY's "Gangnam Style" (YouTube phenomenon) are top contenders, often cited for massive cultural impact and global reach, while songs like Dexy's Midnight Runners' "Come On Eileen" and A-ha's "Take On Me" are classic examples of enduring one-hit wonders. The "best" depends on criteria like chart performance, cultural saturation, or lasting appeal, with many lists featuring iconic tracks like Soft Cell's "Tainted Love" or Norman Greenbaum's "Spirit in the Sky".
 

What is the catchiest song ever written?

There's no single "catchiest song ever" as it's subjective, but scientific studies often point to Spice Girls' "Wannabe", due to its fast recognition time in experiments, while other top contenders include Lou Bega's "Mambo No. 5", Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger", and more recent hits like Ed Sheeran's "Shape of You", often featuring simple, repeated hooks and energetic beats that get stuck in your head. 

What is the most listened to song ever made?

The "most played song of all time" depends on the metric, but currently, The Weeknd's "Blinding Lights" is the most-streamed song ever on Spotify (over 5.2 billion streams). For overall popularity across platforms (Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube), Ed Sheeran's "Shape of You" also ranks extremely high, while Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" holds records for chart dominance, and Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" is the best-selling physical single. 

What song held #1 the longest?

The song holding the record for the longest time at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, as of late 2025, is "One Sweet Day" by Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men, with 16 weeks, though recent hits like "Old Town Road" and "A Bar Song (Tipsy)" have tied the 19-week mark, and Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" has charted for over 20 weeks across multiple holiday seasons, making it the current longest-charting song overall. 

What is the biggest hit in music history?

The "biggest song of all time" depends on the metric, with Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" often cited for physical sales (over 50M), Elton John's "Candle in the Wind 1997" for singles since the 1950s (33M), and Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" as the top-selling digital song of the 80s (18x Platinum). In modern charts, Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" has the most weeks at #1, while Xiao Zhan's "Spotlight" is the best-selling digital single ever by downloads. 

Who is the #1 greatest singer of all time?

In January 2023, Rolling Stone announced American singer, songwriter, and pianist Aretha Franklin as the greatest singer of all time.

What are the top three songs of all time?

There's no single "top 3 songs of all time" as it's subjective, but consistently high-ranking songs in critical lists and public opinion include "Stairway to Heaven" (Led Zeppelin), "Respect" (Aretha Franklin), and often The Beatles' "Hey Jude", with other frequent mentions like Bob Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone," The Beach Boys' "Good Vibrations," and The Rolling Stones' "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction"** appearing across different lists. 

What is the best hype up song ever?

There's no single "best" hype song, as it's subjective, but popular contenders often cited for pure energy and motivation include Eminem's "Lose Yourself," Queen's "We Will Rock You," Kanye West's "Stronger," Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger," and DJ Khaled's "All I Do Is Win," alongside tracks like Pop Smoke's "Invincible," T.I.'s "Bring Em Out," and classic rock anthems like "Highway Star" by Deep Purple, depending on genre preference. 

What is the most overused song ever?

There's no single "most" overplayed song, as it's subjective and varies by genre, era, and location, but popular contenders often cited include "Wonderwall" (Oasis), "Stairway to Heaven" (Led Zeppelin), "Happy" (Pharrell), "Despacito," "Sweet Caroline," and classics like "Free Bird", while "It's a Small World" is likely the most played in history due to Disney theme parks. 

What is the most beautiful piece of music ever written?

The Most Beautiful Classical Music Ever Written

• Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. ...
• Prelude in E-Flat Major, Op. ...
• Piano Sonata in B-Flat Major, K. ...
• Fly. ...
• The Mood That Passes Through You. Michael Nyman, Martin Jacoby.
• Nuvole Bianche. Ludovico Einaudi, Martin Jacoby.
• Fantasia No. 3 in D Minor, K. ...
• Symphony No. 41 in C Major, K.

What is scientifically the catchiest song?

According to the study, the catchiest song of all time is "Wannabe" by the Spice Girls, released in 1996. The song scored the highest in the study's catchiness index, which measured how quickly a listener could identify and recall a melody after hearing it just once.

What's one song everyone knows?

Songs Everyone Knows

• Mamma Mia. ABBA.
• Livin' On A Prayer. Bon Jovi.
• Ain't No Mountain High Enough - Mono Version. Marvin Gaye, Tammi Terrell.
• Rock And Roll All Nite. KISS.
• Mercy. Duffy.
• Scream & Shout. E. will.i.am, Britney Spears.
• On The Floor - Radio Edit. Jennifer Lopez, Pitbull.
• Love Yourself. Justin Bieber.

What is the #1 selling song of all time?

The best-selling single of all time is Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" (1942), with over 50 million copies sold worldwide, recognized by Guinness World Records. Elton John's 'Candle in the Wind 1997' / 'Something About the Way You Look Tonight' is the biggest-selling single since charts began in the 1950s, selling 33 million copies. These figures often distinguish between physical and digital sales, with Crosby's classic leading overall. 

Who is the #1 artist of all time?

There's no single #1 artist, as it's subjective, but The Beatles consistently rank at the top across sales (RIAA, ChartMasters) and charts (Billboard), lauded for massive sales, cultural impact, and timeless influence, often followed by legends like Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, and Elton John in various rankings. Other top contenders often include Madonna, The Rolling Stones, and modern superstars like Taylor Swift, depending on the criteria (sales, chart performance, cultural reach).
 

What song did Bob Dylan refuse to play?

The Day Dylan Went Electric

The song that caused the flap was “Talkin' John Birch Paranoid Blues,” a satirical talking-blues number skewering the ultra-conservative John Birch Society and its tendency to see covert members of an international Communist conspiracy behind every tree.

Who is considered the greatest songwriter ever?

There's no single "best" songwriter, as it's subjective, but Bob Dylan consistently tops lists (like Rolling Stone) for lyrical depth, with Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Carole King, Stevie Wonder, Joni Mitchell, Paul Simon, and Bruce Springsteen frequently cited among the greatest for their profound impact, diverse styles, and incredible songwriting output across decades. 

What was Paul McCartney's favorite Bob Dylan song?

The former Beatle chose Dylan's “Mr. Tambourine Man,” and yes, he's aware that some people might think it's not the coolest choice…but he doesn't seem to care. In true McCartney form, he makes a joke and is slightly self-deprecating in his write-up, beginning his comments by admitting, “I know it's corny.”