22 votes

What are the most iconic songs?

Posted by updawg
Tags: ask.recommendations, songs

I was thinking about this during my run today. I have a playlist where I put songs that I consider to be the "most iconic" and I want help filling it out a bit. I'd also like help determining if some of these aren't iconic enough, but the main ones I'm asking about are literal theme songs, so that may give them some extra points.

Now, this is of course at least semi-subjective, but I have tried to not put songs that are just really great or that everybody knows or that nobody will be singing next summer.

There are certainly multiple ways to define "iconic." I'm really trying to stick to the songs where you don't have to explain how or why it's iconic. It just is, and "everybody" knows it. The way I see it, this could actually exclude some of the biggest songs of all time because yeah, they're popular, but they aren't an icon.

So, before I use any more awful, self-justifying logic, let's get into my list so far!

In the Air Tonight
Born in the USA
Roundball Rock
CBS March Madness Theme
Monday Night Football Theme
Bridge Over Troubled Waters
Hallelujah by Jeff Buckley
Hey Jude
American Pie

Some songs from Grease because I'm sure at least one qualifies, but I grew up hating it because my sister loved it so I don't know which one(s) to include (or exclude, rather)

I can obviously think of a lot of other obviously extremely iconic songs but I've only added songs when I happened to listen to them. So what are Tildes' thoughts?

47 comments

  1. Nemoder
    Link
    If only because it gets played at every highschool sporting event at some point: Survivor - Eye of the Tiger

    If only because it gets played at every highschool sporting event at some point:
    Survivor - Eye of the Tiger

    14 votes
  2. [3]
    moocow1452
    Link
    What makes a song iconic? Is it something that the most people can recognize a few seconds in? If you’re asking me to make a list: Don’t Stop Believing by Journey Layla by Eric Clapton Smoke on...

    What makes a song iconic? Is it something that the most people can recognize a few seconds in?

    If you’re asking me to make a list:

    • Don’t Stop Believing by Journey
    • Layla by Eric Clapton
    • Smoke on the Water by Deep Purple
    • Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin
    • We are the Champions by Queen
    • World 1-1 from Super Mario Brothers

    Granted, this was a lot of my taste in music growing up and my biases are my own, lots of arena rock on your list, so maybe our tastes line up? And I think You’re the One that I Want has to be your pull from Grease, since that’s your showstopper and it’s the one everyone remembers. (Apologies to Summer Nights.)

    12 votes
    1. [2]
      updawg
      Link Parent
      That's what I was thinking. I had those two on there after fairly easily ruling out We Go Together. I had a feeling Summer Nights was more just popular, whereas We Go Together was the all-time...

      That's what I was thinking. I had those two on there after fairly easily ruling out We Go Together. I had a feeling Summer Nights was more just popular, whereas We Go Together was the all-time musical icon.

      2 votes
      1. moocow1452
        (edited )
        Link Parent
        If Youtube number of plays are our canonical measure of iconosity, You're the One that I Want is the winner. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqv56AZwzyGEmMraAsm0XF8PSy_Bvoy7y Unfortunately...

        If Youtube number of plays are our canonical measure of iconosity, You're the One that I Want is the winner. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqv56AZwzyGEmMraAsm0XF8PSy_Bvoy7y

        Unfortunately by that logic, you're going to have to add the Baby Shark dance to your playlist.

        EDIT: Youtube has a playlist for all music videos that have crossed a billion views. Are all of these songs iconic? https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbpi6ZahtOH4OmcA-BD2hn0L082oLvvgV

  3. CannibalisticApple
    Link
    On the serious end: Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen. On the less serious but still absolutely iconic for all the wrong reasons end: Never Gonna Give You Up by Rick Astley.

    On the serious end: Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen.

    On the less serious but still absolutely iconic for all the wrong reasons end: Never Gonna Give You Up by Rick Astley.

    12 votes
  4. [5]
    Minithra
    Link
    Darude - sandstorm The Friends intro song Love and marriage... But that might not be that big for under 25s, lol

    Darude - sandstorm

    The Friends intro song

    Love and marriage... But that might not be that big for under 25s, lol

    7 votes
    1. [4]
      updawg
      Link Parent
      I've gone ahead and added Darude - Sandstorm. I'll need to think more on the others, but I think they're solid picks. I do think I'll Be There for You definitely benefits from the theme song...

      I've gone ahead and added Darude - Sandstorm. I'll need to think more on the others, but I think they're solid picks. I do think I'll Be There for You definitely benefits from the theme song "points bump" and is instantly recognizable as meaning Friends. It's also gained more worldwide popularity in the streaming era, which is probably a good thing for a list with such a vague non-region-specific name.

      But I just don't like the show.

      Love and Marriage on the other hand...is that even in Sinatra's top five (or more) most iconic songs? That doesn't mean it's not a candidate, just that there are a lot of others I may need to include.

      3 votes
      1. [2]
        Sodliddesu
        Link Parent
        I'd say "My Way" or "That's Life" are bigger Sinatra hits, honestly, but with how many of the 'Crooner' songs are covers or performed by multiple different artists I wouldn't begrudge anyone for...

        I'd say "My Way" or "That's Life" are bigger Sinatra hits, honestly, but with how many of the 'Crooner' songs are covers or performed by multiple different artists I wouldn't begrudge anyone for not being able to pick them out of a lineup.

        2 votes
        1. updawg
          Link Parent
          Interesting that I don't know the name and don't recognize the music of "That's Life," but it's got more streams on Spotify than several of his songs that I would think of as candidates for this list.

          Interesting that I don't know the name and don't recognize the music of "That's Life," but it's got more streams on Spotify than several of his songs that I would think of as candidates for this list.

          1 vote
      2. Minithra
        Link Parent
        I'll be honest, I didn't know Live and Marriage was a Sinatra song. But the instant I hear the opening notes I can see the opening of the show in my head, lol, and it was always on during my teens

        I'll be honest, I didn't know Live and Marriage was a Sinatra song. But the instant I hear the opening notes I can see the opening of the show in my head, lol, and it was always on during my teens

  5. [2]
    dhcrazy333
    Link
    Money for Nothing - Dire Straits. Has one of the most iconic opening/main riffs. Pachelbel's Canon is also extremely iconic. Most people will recognize it and it's chord progressions have been the...

    Money for Nothing - Dire Straits. Has one of the most iconic opening/main riffs.

    Pachelbel's Canon is also extremely iconic. Most people will recognize it and it's chord progressions have been the base of many popular songs over the last 5 decades.

    7 votes
  6. [2]
    Cannonball
    Link
    "We Will Rock You" by Queen. Stomp stomp clap is all it takes. I'm also tempted to nominate "I’ll Make a Man Out of You" from Mulan, but that may be too niche

    "We Will Rock You" by Queen. Stomp stomp clap is all it takes. I'm also tempted to nominate "I’ll Make a Man Out of You" from Mulan, but that may be too niche

    6 votes
    1. updawg
      Link Parent
      Don't worry, I also have a playlist called "Fuck you these should be on the Most Iconic playlist."

      Don't worry, I also have a playlist called "Fuck you these should be on the Most Iconic playlist."

      2 votes
  7. clayh
    Link
    I’d have to add: Take on Me, by A-Ha Twilight Zone, by Golden Earring Sweet Child of Mine, by Guns n Roses

    I’d have to add:

    • Take on Me, by A-Ha
    • Twilight Zone, by Golden Earring
    • Sweet Child of Mine, by Guns n Roses
    6 votes
  8. [7]
    Wolf_359
    Link
    Jolene by Dolly Parton Sweet Caroline - Neil Diamond Shook Ones, Part II - Mobb Deep Respect - Aretha Franklin I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor All I Want for Christmas is You - Various versions

    Jolene by Dolly Parton

    Sweet Caroline - Neil Diamond

    Shook Ones, Part II - Mobb Deep

    Respect - Aretha Franklin

    I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor

    All I Want for Christmas is You - Various versions

    6 votes
    1. [6]
      culturedleftfoot
      Link Parent
      I'm very heartened to see a mention of Shook Ones, but I have a hunch more people will think "oh isn't that the beat from 8 Mile?" than recognizing the song itself 😕

      I'm very heartened to see a mention of Shook Ones, but I have a hunch more people will think "oh isn't that the beat from 8 Mile?" than recognizing the song itself 😕

      1 vote
      1. [5]
        Wolf_359
        (edited )
        Link Parent
        Probably would be hard-pressed to find a black American who doesn't know this song. But then again, for a song to be iconic, it may have to cross cultural and geographic barriers more than that...

        Probably would be hard-pressed to find a black American who doesn't know this song. But then again, for a song to be iconic, it may have to cross cultural and geographic barriers more than that one has.

        I'm also a white guy, so what do I know? I can only really say that I've had a diverse upbringing.

        1 vote
        1. culturedleftfoot
          Link Parent
          Trust me, I get you. I had a convo a while back with someone who was trying to justify an online poll that Eminem's Lose Yourself is the #1 hip-hop song of all time. I'd say that it definitely...

          Trust me, I get you. I had a convo a while back with someone who was trying to justify an online poll that Eminem's Lose Yourself is the #1 hip-hop song of all time. I'd say that it definitely would qualify here as iconic to the broader cultural mainstream, crossing those barriers, but there are a bunch of songs more impactful within hip-hop which should rank higher, even if they didn't reach beyond the culture.

        2. [3]
          updawg
          Link Parent
          That's the best part of this: in the end, I get to be the one to choose what's iconic! But I'm taking it seriously and not just choosing songs that I immediately recognize, think are great, etc....

          But then again, for a song to be iconic, it may have to cross cultural and geographic barriers more than that one has.

          That's the best part of this: in the end, I get to be the one to choose what's iconic! But I'm taking it seriously and not just choosing songs that I immediately recognize, think are great, etc. They have to be big to the greater world. I guess I'm going for how iconic to how many people. So maybe I'll remove the March Madness theme (I added it in March, sue me lol) but I would think to over 150 million Americans, the MNF theme is immediately recognizable as at least "the football music," so I don't anticipate removing that.

          As for Shook Ones, I'm clearly not an expert, but I think I know more classic rap than most people around me and I don't know it. I'm sure it's very well known by some portion of Americans, but is it one of the most iconic songs? Listening to it, it certainly doesn't sound like something that would be on the same level as most of what I have on the list so far.

          1. [2]
            Wolf_359
            Link Parent
            Point taken. I included it on this list mainly because it's referenced everywhere. Once you know it, you can't stop noticing how often it's referenced. They even reference it in Hamilton, which...

            Point taken.

            I included it on this list mainly because it's referenced everywhere. Once you know it, you can't stop noticing how often it's referenced. They even reference it in Hamilton, which threw me for a loop.

            The beat is sampled all the time, 8 mile references it, and tons of rap songs over the years have included variations on the lyrics.

            But again, I can see the difference between Shook Ones and the rest of my list. Influential, perhaps not iconic?

            Perhaps NWA's fuck the police? Or Lose Yourself by Eminem? Hip hop seems to be a lot more transient and subject to current trends, so perhaps iconic hip hop would be harder to find than other genres where the style stands the test of time a bit more.

            1 vote
            1. updawg
              Link Parent
              The main thing I noticed that I recognized from elsewhere other than the title was "you minor; we major." The beat didn't seem "special" to me, but I can definitely see why it would be good for...

              The main thing I noticed that I recognized from elsewhere other than the title was "you minor; we major." The beat didn't seem "special" to me, but I can definitely see why it would be good for sampling.

              I think "Lose Yourself" would certainly be the most iconic. Rap feels full of songs that are influential moreso than "iconic." I'm sure part of that is the sampling culture—when I try to think of other iconic songs, a lot of songs that immediately pop into my head not only sample (or interpolate) other songs, but it's the sample itself that I think of.

              I think a lot of the songs with a sound that would have strong potential to become iconic are from """underground""" acts (think groups like Wu-Tang—groups with massive popularity that don't have as much crossover appeal as Eminem, Drake, Kanye, etc), so everyone knows about them but they don't actually reach that "Most Iconic" level. Although I think a less...mentally ill Kanye would have some real potential to approach the level of enduring popularity of "Lose Yourself."

  9. updawg
    (edited )
    Link
    I'm realizing I technically may need to add the Entry of the Gladiators😮👀

    I'm realizing I technically may need to add the Entry of the Gladiators😮👀

    5 votes
  10. HelmetTesterTJ
    Link
    Billie Jean – Michael Jackson Crazy – Gnarls Barkley Valerie – Amy Winehouse Walking on Sunshine – Katrina and the Waves These are the most iconic ones from my exercise playlist. They also...
    • Billie Jean – Michael Jackson
    • Crazy – Gnarls Barkley
    • Valerie – Amy Winehouse
    • Walking on Sunshine – Katrina and the Waves

    These are the most iconic ones from my exercise playlist. They also approximately match the average BPM of your list, near as I can tell.

    3 votes
  11. [2]
    sleepydave
    Link
    Here's some I haven't seen mentioned in the thread so far: MGMT - Kids and Electric Feel Kate Bush - Running Up That Hill Grover Washington Jr. and Bill Withers - Just the Two of Us Depeche Mode -...

    Here's some I haven't seen mentioned in the thread so far:

    • MGMT - Kids and Electric Feel
    • Kate Bush - Running Up That Hill
    • Grover Washington Jr. and Bill Withers - Just the Two of Us
    • Depeche Mode - Enjoy the Silence
    • Louis Armstrong - What a Wonderful World
    • Israel Kamakawiwo'ole - Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World
    • John Denver - Take Me Home, Country Roads
    • Toploader - Dancing in the Moonlight
    • Billy Joel - We Didn't Start the Fire
    • Echo and the Bunnymen - The Killing Moon
    • Dead or Alive - You Spin Me Round (possibly one of the funniest music videos in history)
    • Bloodhound Gang - The Bad Touch (as above, so below)
    • Tracy Chapman - Fast Car
    • Men at Work - Down Under
    • Randy Newman - You've Got a Friend in Me
    • Toto - Africa
    • Pink Floyd - High Hopes
    • Nina Simone - Feeling Good
    • The Proclaimers - I'm Gonna Be
    • blink-182 - I Miss You
    • Talking Heads - Once in a Lifetime
    3 votes
    1. rosco
      Link Parent
      I came here to specifically post this one. If you've ever been to Octoberfest, it's clear it's a global banger!!!

      John Denver - Take Me Home, Country Roads

      I came here to specifically post this one. If you've ever been to Octoberfest, it's clear it's a global banger!!!

      1 vote
  13. [4]
    tomorrow-never-knows
    (edited )
    Link
    All completely subjective but here's a few extra: Elvis Presley - Hound Dog Chuck Berry - Johnny B Goode Aretha Franklin - Respect The Doors - Break on Through Jimi Hendrix - All Along the...

    All completely subjective but here's a few extra:

    Elvis Presley - Hound Dog
    Chuck Berry - Johnny B Goode
    Aretha Franklin - Respect
    The Doors - Break on Through
    Jimi Hendrix - All Along the Watchtower
    Lynyrd Skynyrd - Sweet Home Alabama
    Stevie Wonder - Superstition
    Motorhead - Ace of Spades
    Tears for Fears - Everybody Wants to Rule the World
    Simple Minds - Don't You (Forget About Me)
    Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit

    Another good source of inspiration may be the ubiquitous trend of using sad covers of iconic songs in modern movie trailers.

    Edit: corrected song title

    2 votes
    1. [3]
      Promonk
      Link Parent
      I'm surprised I had to look so far to find "Johnny B Goode." If any rock 'n' roll song is iconic, it's that one. It was the only rock song etched into the Voyager Golden Records, the time capsules...

      I'm surprised I had to look so far to find "Johnny B Goode." If any rock 'n' roll song is iconic, it's that one. It was the only rock song etched into the Voyager Golden Records, the time capsules launched into deep space to represent earth and human culture to extraterrestrials. It might as well be the holotype for rock 'n' roll songs.

      Edit: while I'm thinking of it, the Tears for Fears song is called "Everybody Wants to Rule the World." I mention it in the extremely unlikely event that some young pup who doesn't know the tune stumbles across this thread and wants to seek these artifacts of culture out.

      1. [2]
        tomorrow-never-knows
        Link Parent
        D'oh! Had a brain fart on Tears for Fears ha, thanks for pointing it out!

        D'oh! Had a brain fart on Tears for Fears ha, thanks for pointing it out!

        1 vote
        1. Promonk
          Link Parent
          No worries! The song is old enough to run for president. We're lucky we can remember the language it was written in. Sanskrit, wasn't it? I probably would've gone with "Mad World" myself, FWIW,...

          No worries! The song is old enough to run for president. We're lucky we can remember the language it was written in. Sanskrit, wasn't it?

          I probably would've gone with "Mad World" myself, FWIW, though that didn't reach its height of cachet until that cover they put in Donnie Darko, I think. Not as iconic for its time, after consideration.

          1 vote
  14. lou
    (edited )
    Link
    Clair de Lune, by Claude Debussy, strikes me as a very iconic song that lots of people will recognize from numerous films, TV shows, etc. It reallly feels like it is ingrained in the collective...

    Clair de Lune, by Claude Debussy, strikes me as a very iconic song that lots of people will recognize from numerous films, TV shows, etc. It reallly feels like it is ingrained in the collective psyche at this point. It is also very popular in the context of classical music.

    2 votes
  15. archevel
    Link
    A few additions I think are worthy of a nomination: Nothing Compares 2U - Sinéad O'Connor Final countdown - Europe All by myself - Céline Dion Imperial march - ??? (Not sure if it should count if...

    A few additions I think are worthy of a nomination:
    Nothing Compares 2U - Sinéad O'Connor
    Final countdown - Europe
    All by myself - Céline Dion
    Imperial march - ??? (Not sure if it should count if or if it's discualified for not being a song by itself, but certainly iconic)
    Gangsta's Paradise - Coolio

    2 votes
  16. Falcon79
    Link
    Let's add some classical bangers! Beethoven - Für Elise Mozart - Eine kleine Nachtmusik Wagner - Ride of the Valkyries

    Let's add some classical bangers!

    • Beethoven - Für Elise
    • Mozart - Eine kleine Nachtmusik
    • Wagner - Ride of the Valkyries
    2 votes
  18. Sodliddesu
    Link
    Since you didn't say iconic Rock songs, I'm going to add Hypnotize - Notorious BIG 1st of that Month - Bone Thugs N Harmony Nuthin' but a G' thang - Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg It was a good day - Ice...

    Since you didn't say iconic Rock songs, I'm going to add

    Hypnotize - Notorious BIG

    1st of that Month - Bone Thugs N Harmony

    Nuthin' but a G' thang - Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg

    It was a good day - Ice Cube

    The first few notes of any of these songs will perk my ears right up anytime.

    1 vote
  19. patience_limited
    (edited )
    Link
    Seems like there's not much coverage of soul, blues, Motown, or reggae yet. I've selected for recognizability. Sam Cooke - A Change is Gonna Come B.B. King - The Thrill is Gone Otis Redding -...

    Seems like there's not much coverage of soul, blues, Motown, or reggae yet. I've selected for recognizability.

    Sam Cooke - A Change is Gonna Come
    B.B. King - The Thrill is Gone
    Otis Redding - Sittin' On the Dock of the Bay
    Bob Marley and the Wailers - Redemption Song, I Shot the Sherriff (pretty much the whole catalog is "iconic" by now)
    Johnny Nash - I Can See Clearly Now
    Jimmy Cliff - The Harder They Come
    Johnny Cash - Folsom Prison Blues
    Nina Simone - Sinnerman
    Aretha Franklin - Chain of Fools
    Marvin Gaye - I Heard It Through the Grapevine and What's Goin' On?
    Percy Sledge - When a Man Loves a Woman
    Barrett Strong - Money (That's What I Want)
    John Lee Hooker - Boom Boom
    Robert Johnson - Cross Road Blues
    Janis Joplin - Piece of My Heart
    Bill Withers - Lean On Me
    Ann Peebles - I Can't Stand the Rain
    Barry White - Never Gonna Give You Up ***ruined forever by Rick Astley...
    The Staples Singers - If You're Ready (Come Go With Me), I'll Take You There
    Gloria Jones - Tainted Love ***not ruined by Soft Cell
    Solomon Burke - Everybody Needs Somebody To Love
    The Commodores - Brick House
    Patti LaBelle - Lady Marmalade

    Songs with iconic intros not already mentioned:
    The White Stripes - Seven Nation Army
    Bruce Springsteen - Born to Run
    The Rolling Stones - Time Is On My Side
    Diana Ross - I'm Coming Out
    Prince - Let's Go Crazy
    The Temptations - Papa Was A Rolling Stone
    Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody
    The Eagles - Hotel California
    The Clash - London Calling
    Pink Floyd - Money
    Queen & David Bowie - Under Pressure
    The Breeders - Cannonball
    Talking Heads - Psycho Killer
    Violent Femmes - Blister in the Sun

    Miscellaneous:
    Green Day - American Idiot, Welcome to Paradise
    Patti Smith - Gloria
    The Ramones - I Wanna Be Sedated
    Lou Reed - Walk on the Wild Side, Sweet Jane
    Leonard Cohen - Hallelujah, Everybody Knows
    Iggy Pop - Lust for Life
    David Bowie - Space Oddity
    Amy Winehouse - Rehab

    1 vote
  20. kwyjibo
    Link
    Some of these songs aren't my favorite, but I tried to mention some that fit into your criteria, at least as best as I understood it. Pink Floyd - Another Brick in the Wall Metallica - Nothing...

    Some of these songs aren't my favorite, but I tried to mention some that fit into your criteria, at least as best as I understood it.

    • Pink Floyd - Another Brick in the Wall
    • Metallica - Nothing Else Matters
    • Black Sabbath - Paranoid
    • Red Hot Chilli Peppers - Californication
    • R.E.M. - Losing My Religion
    • ZZ Top - La Grange
    • Led Zeppelin - Whole Lotta Love
    • Guns N' Roses - Welcome to the Jungle
    • Jethro Tull - Aqualung
    • AC/DC - Thunderstruck
    • The White Stripes - Seven Nation Army
    • Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Sprit
    • Radiohead - Creep
    1 vote
  21. patience_limited
    Link
    Side note: I just read "If nothing is curated, how do we find things anymore?". Maybe "iconic" means "still popular and recognizable after many years", but it seems like there are fewer iconic...

    Side note: I just read "If nothing is curated, how do we find things anymore?". Maybe "iconic" means "still popular and recognizable after many years", but it seems like there are fewer iconic songs from the 21st Century. Does fragmentation and lack of discoverability mean that it's harder for a particular piece of music to become a memorable part of the general culture?

    1 vote
  22. Hobofarmer
    Link
    YMCA Cupid Shuffle Cotton Eye Joe

    YMCA

    Cupid Shuffle

    Cotton Eye Joe

  23. redwall_hp
    Link
    2 Unlimited - Get Ready

    2 Unlimited - Get Ready

  25. Pavouk106
    Link
    Wow, so many great songs already mentioned! You are really good, all of you! I'd like to add a few too: AC/DC - Highway to hell Elvis Presley - Jailhouse rock Whitney Houston - I will always love...

    Wow, so many great songs already mentioned! You are really good, all of you!

    I'd like to add a few too:

    • AC/DC - Highway to hell
    • Elvis Presley - Jailhouse rock
    • Whitney Houston - I will always love you
    • Michael Jackson - Black or white
    • Elton John - Circle of life
    • Elton John & George Michael - Don't let the sun go down on me (best duet I have ever heard)
    • The Who - Baba O'Riley
    • Gun N' Roses - Paradise city
    • KISS - Rock and roll all nite
    • ZZ Top - Gimme al your lovin'
    • U2 - With or without you
    • Smokie - Living next door to Alice
    • Tina Turner - The best
    • seeing classical mentioned I'd love to add Marriage of Figaro and also Nutcracker
  26. culturedleftfoot
    Link
    It's tough to get more iconic than these two from the late, great Ennio Morricone: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly (Main Theme) The Ecstasy of Gold I was recently thinking about the decline of...

    It's tough to get more iconic than these two from the late, great Ennio Morricone:

    The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly (Main Theme)
    The Ecstasy of Gold

    I was recently thinking about the decline of instrumental music as popular music. I don't know what it would take to see some kind of resurgence of music without lyrics at the top of the charts... and hopefully actual musicality along with it. As much as I'm a fan of EDM and various other producer-centric genres, the pop music soundscape is undeniably poorer for the dearth of harmonies, melodies (musical rather than vocal), and bands.

    Also, what will qualify as iconic will definitely depend on the generation. Baauer's Harlem Shake was the last Billboard number one without lyrics, in 2013. I wouldn't stretch to call it iconic but my younger relatives would probably disagree.

  27. first-must-burn
    Link
    One Piece at a Time - Johnny Cash Hotel California - The Eagles House of the Rising Sun - The Animals Hey Jude - The Beatles Total Eclipse of the Heart - Bonnie Tyler Sober - Tool The Night the...
    • One Piece at a Time - Johnny Cash
    • Hotel California - The Eagles
    • House of the Rising Sun - The Animals
    • Hey Jude - The Beatles
    • Total Eclipse of the Heart - Bonnie Tyler
    • Sober - Tool
    • The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia - Reba McEntire
    • Bullet With Butterfly Wings - Smashing Pumpkins
  28. daychilde
    Link
    Aerosmith - Sweet Emotion Metallica - Enter Sandman Alice In Chains - Man in the Box Jamiroquai - Virtual Insanity Verve - Bitter Sweet Symphony Foo Fighters - Everlong Pearl Jam - Jeremy Bush -...

    Aerosmith - Sweet Emotion
    Metallica - Enter Sandman
    Alice In Chains - Man in the Box
    Jamiroquai - Virtual Insanity
    Verve - Bitter Sweet Symphony
    Foo Fighters - Everlong
    Pearl Jam - Jeremy
    Bush - Glycerene
    Blind Melon - No Rain
    Soundgarden - Black Hole Sun
    Beck - Loser
    Live - Lightning Crashes
    Oasis - Wonderwall
    Goo Goo Dolls - Iris
    Rage Against the Machine - Bulls On Parade
    Beastie Boys - Sabotage
    Spin Doctors - Two Princes
    Alannis Morrisette - You Oughta Know
    Blue - Song 2
    Collective Soul - Shine
    Chemical Brothers - Block Rockin' Beats
    Presidents of the United States of America - Peaches
    Lenny Kravitz - Fly Away
    Macklemore - Thirft Shopt
    Lorde - Royals

    So hard to narrow this down.

  29. datavoid
    Link
    Around the world, around the world Around the world, around the world Around the world, around the world Around the world, around the world Around the world, around the world Around the world,...

    Around the world, around the world
    Around the world, around the world
    Around the world, around the world
    Around the world, around the world

    Around the world, around the world
    Around the world, around the world
    Around the world, around the world
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    Around the world, around the world
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    Around the world, around the world
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    Around the world, around the world
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    Around the world, around the world
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    Around the world, around the world
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    Around the world, around the world
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    Around the world, around the world
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    Around the world, around the world
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    Around the world, around the world
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    Around the world, around the world
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    Around the world, around the world
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    Around the world, around the world
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    Around the world, around the world
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    Around the world, around the world
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    Around the world, around the world
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    Around the world, around the world
    Around the world, around the world

    Around the world, around the world
    Around the world, around the world
    Around the world, around the world
    Around the world, around the world

    4 votes