The Most Universally Accepted and Liked Song Thread

[lonestar]

The other day I saw an old-ish video of a Green Day crowd of thousands singing Bohemian Rhapsody flawlessly beginning to end. It brought to mind the old Kanye video where, although he butchers the song, the crowd, once again, hits it note for note. And just now I watched a "kids react to Queen" video where kids aged 9 to 13 knew the song by heart.

It got me to thinking that this song has crossed generations and genres like few others, to the point where you'd be hard pressed to find someone who doesn't have at least passing familiarity with it.

What say you DTF? Is Bohemian Rhapsody the most universally accepted and liked song?

Any other songs come to mind that have this level of appeal?

Let another pointless argument begin!!!

[KevShmev]

Bohemian Rhapsody is an excellent pick.

Billie Jean is also one of those songs that pretty much everyone knows and likes.

20 years ago, I would have said Stairway to Heaven, but I don't think that song is well known among younger people anymore. 

[T-ski]

Don't Stop Believin'?

[Adami]

We Will Rock You.

[Destiny Of Chaos]

Bohemian Rhapsody is what immediately came to mind for me.

[Crow]

Bohemian Rhapsody is an excellent pick.

Billie Jean is also one of those songs that pretty much everyone knows and likes.

20 years ago, I would have said Stairway to Heaven, but I don't think that song is well known among younger people anymore.

i'm not an MJ fan but there are a fair number of his songs I do like. billie jean isn't really one, i only see it as historically important but not one of his better songs & have never gotten why it seems to be so loved.

bohemian rhapsody i had memorized at like, age 10 or 11 or something tho

[King Postwhore]

Eric Clapton  - Wonderful Tonight.

[rumborak]

Don't Stop Believin'?

In the US, maybe. Internationally, no. I have found none of my friends in Europe have ever even heard of Journey.

But yeah, Billie Jean or Thriller certainly fit the bill.

[IDontNotDoThings]

My first thought was Imagine, but I certainly have no problem with Bohemian Rhapsody. 

[ChuckSteak]

I don't think there is such a song.

[MirrorMask]

I agree on Bohemian Rhapsody, even though at first it came Stairway to Heaven to mind.

[BlobVanDam]

Given that Thriller is the highest selling album, and most of the songs were hits, Billy Jean is a good pick. So is Bohemian Rhapsody. Everyone seems to know the song and have fun with that middle section.
It's tough to say though, because our scope is always going to be narrow, so it's difficult to truly gauge what's "universal".

[The Silent Cody]

Separate Ways by Journey always bring back good memories

[Logain Ablar]

Hey Jude?

[Dave_Manchester]

First to come to mind are The Show Must Go On (Queen) and God Only Knows (Beach Boys).

[AngelBack]

Final Countdown has probably been heard by half the world.

[BlobVanDam]

Final Countdown has probably been heard by half the world.

But is it actually liked?


I love it. Not sure anyone else does.

[Elite]

Final Countdown has probably been heard by half the world.

But do people know the words apart from 'It's the final countdown!' ?

Bohemian Rhapsody is the answer.


And if not, then 'Happy Birthday'

[AngelBack]

Final Countdown has probably been heard by half the world.

But do people know the words apart from 'It's the final countdown!' ?

Bohemian Rhapsody is the answer.


And if not, then 'Happy Birthday'

True, but do the really know the words to Bohemian and is it even possible to know the words to Billie Jean

[BlobVanDam]

Final Countdown has probably been heard by half the world.

But do people know the words apart from 'It's the final countdown!' ?

Bohemian Rhapsody is the answer.


And if not, then 'Happy Birthday'

True, but do the really know the words to Bohemian and is it even possible to know the words to Billie Jean

We all know the words to Bohemian Rhapsody, we just don't know what the hell they mean!

[Logain Ablar]

Others, randomly off the top of my head:

• Pretty Woman
• Unchained Melody
• California Dreaming
• Summer of 69
• Everybody Hurts
• Proud Mary
• The boys are back in town

I'm kinda thinking "wedding disco" here, but I suppose in that case Everybody Hurts should probably be taken out.. 

[Stadler]

BoRhap is a great pick, but I'm going with Stairway.  I disagree with the "20 years ago..." comment.  My kid is 16, and just finished her sophomore year of high school.  At a dance celebrating her freshman year (it's complicated; her old school went through 9th grade, so it was akin to a graduation dance) the final song was...  "Stairway to Heaven".   And again this year, she was at a dance and there was two hours of Flo Rida and Sia and all that jazz, and the final song?    You got it:   Stairway to Heaven.

I also don't think you can have this conversation without Smoke On The Water or Freebird.   (And I'm assuming this is just "rock", because there are standards that far eclipse any we've mentioned:  "Respect", "Hound Dog", What A Wonderful World".

Honorable mentions:
- Something
- Satisfaction
- Good Vibrations
- Jenny Jenny
- Born To Be Wild

[Train of Naught]

I don't think Bohemian Rhapsody is the most universally liked song at all. In the world of rock music however, it's definitely a strong contender.

I think (one of) the most universally liked song(s) is Hey Ya! by Outkast, I'm shocked no one has mentioned it yet. Even though the 'biggest fans' of that song might not love them quite as much as the hardcore Bohemian Rhapsody fans, I think it covers a way wider range of people who enjoy - or rather, accept - it.

[rumborak]

BoRhap is a great pick, but I'm going with Stairway.  I disagree with the "20 years ago..." comment.  My kid is 16, and just finished her sophomore year of high school.  At a dance celebrating her freshman year (it's complicated; her old school went through 9th grade, so it was akin to a graduation dance) the final song was...  "Stairway to Heaven".   And again this year, she was at a dance and there was two hours of Flo Rida and Sia and all that jazz, and the final song?    You got it:   Stairway to Heaven.

I can not remember the last time I have heard Stairway to Heaven on the radio. To me it's a song that fell by the wayside. I mean, Led Zeppelin gets played all the time, but more stuff like Ramble On.

[BlobVanDam]

BoRhap is a great pick, but I'm going with Stairway.  I disagree with the "20 years ago..." comment.  My kid is 16, and just finished her sophomore year of high school.  At a dance celebrating her freshman year (it's complicated; her old school went through 9th grade, so it was akin to a graduation dance) the final song was...  "Stairway to Heaven".   And again this year, she was at a dance and there was two hours of Flo Rida and Sia and all that jazz, and the final song?    You got it:   Stairway to Heaven.

I can not remember the last time I have heard Stairway to Heaven on the radio. To me it's a song that fell by the wayside. I mean, Led Zeppelin gets played all the time, but more stuff like Ramble On.

It's probably due to the length of the song more than anything. That may have an impact on how well known it with current audiences, but it's still a popular song.

[Lowdz]

We Will Rock You.

I've always preferred the fast version on Live Killers.

[lonestar]

I think (one of) the most universally liked song(s) is Hey Ya! by Outkast, I'm shocked no one has mentioned it yet. Even though the 'biggest fans' of that song might not love them quite as much as the hardcore Bohemian Rhapsody fans, I think it covers a way wider range of people who enjoy - or rather, accept - it.

No one has mentioned it cause no one likes it.... 

[King Postwhore]

BoRhap is a great pick, but I'm going with Stairway.  I disagree with the "20 years ago..." comment.  My kid is 16, and just finished her sophomore year of high school.  At a dance celebrating her freshman year (it's complicated; her old school went through 9th grade, so it was akin to a graduation dance) the final song was...  "Stairway to Heaven".   And again this year, she was at a dance and there was two hours of Flo Rida and Sia and all that jazz, and the final song?    You got it:   Stairway to Heaven.

I can not remember the last time I have heard Stairway to Heaven on the radio. To me it's a song that fell by the wayside. I mean, Led Zeppelin gets played all the time, but more stuff like Ramble On.

You still listen to local radio?

[MrBoom_shack-a-lack]

We Will Rock You.

That's one of the first drumbeats I show my beginner students and when I ask what song they think it's from most of them knows it straight away, I find that pretty cool.

[Lowdz]

I think (one of) the most universally liked song(s) is Hey Ya! by Outkast, I'm shocked no one has mentioned it yet. Even though the 'biggest fans' of that song might not love them quite as much as the hardcore Bohemian Rhapsody fans, I think it covers a way wider range of people who enjoy - or rather, accept - it.

No one has mentioned it cause no one likes it.... 

Never heard of it...

[bosk1]

I think (one of) the most universally liked song(s) is Hey Ya! by Outkast, I'm shocked no one has mentioned it yet. Even though the 'biggest fans' of that song might not love them quite as much as the hardcore Bohemian Rhapsody fans, I think it covers a way wider range of people who enjoy - or rather, accept - it.

No one has mentioned it cause no one likes it.... 

Never heard of it...

Same.  Or Outkast at all, for that matter.  I think for it to qualify as "universally accepted and liked," it goes without saying that people have to have actually heard of it. 

[Mindflux]

Google says:


"The Disneyland classic “It's A Small World” has been played more than any song in history on the radio."

[Kwyjibo]

What about:

Yesterday
Thunderstruck
Smoke On The Water
We Are The Champions
Smells Like Teen Spirit
Africa

and countless others?

[Adami]

What about:

Yesterday
Thunderstruck
Smoke On The Water
We Are The Champions
Smells Like Teen Spirit
Africa

and countless others?

Universally liked on a rock forum is a little differant than universally loved.

[Kwyjibo]

Right, but that goes for Bohemian Rhapsody as well.