Must-know music

[NobBe Nobbs]

The title's pretty simple - what, if any, are the songs that any true music fan should know?

My personal selections are pretty generic ones; 'American Pie' (the original version, as Madonna's sucked shit) and 'Bohemian Rhapsody'. In my eyes, you HAVE to know these, and in most cases people do.

[TOG]

I know 'American Pie', but I also find it to be amongst the most annoying and overrated songs ever written. It's shit.

It's been bastardized a bit since, but I feel like people should know 'Rebel Yell'. 'Roadhouse Blues' too.

[Cactus Drags]

Fuck Queen man, most over-rated band ever.

[Guest Ringmaster The Living Legend]

FREEEEEEBIRD. YEEEEE-HAW.

[ACCBiggz]

Enter Sandman... not the best Metallica song, but as a pop culture type of topic, music fans should know Enter Sandman.

[I-Will-Rule-You]

I agree with Enter Sandman, Bohemian Rhapsody and American Pie. But it must differ in other countries such as, if in Britain most people would probably know "Fit But You Know It" by The Streets, whereas in America hardly anybody would have heard of it.

[Summers]

Fuck Queen man, most over-rated band ever.

The Beatles say hi.

[Bushmeister]

The Ride Of The Valkyries.

At least the people in Vietnam should know this one

[ACCBiggz]

Thriller - And the dance should be at least somewhat known

[Benji]

The Beach Boys are essential music. I don't care who you are, if you don't know at least one Beach Boys song you must live under a volcano.

[ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster]

Beach Boys are amazing.

I think most people recognise either Beethoven's 5th or 9th, and if not, should do!

"Firestarter" by The Prodigy changed how chart sales were calculated. Not their best song but man, like many others of my age I saw that video and that was that.

"Papua New Guinea" by Future Sound of London was at the forefront of 90s dance music and was extremely important.

"Video Killed the Radio Star" by The Buggles for obvious MTV reasons.

"Major Tom" by David Bowie was amusingly banned from the airwaves during the moon mission. Started the introduction of Ziggy Stardust.

"Waterloo Sunset" and "Sunny Afternoon" by The Kinks as they moved away from the possibilities of massive global stardom to make increasingly British-themed music. And they're amazing summery songs.

[Cactus Drags]

I agree with Enter Sandman, Bohemian Rhapsody and American Pie. But it must differ in other countries such as, if in Britain most people would probably know "Fit But You Know It" by The Streets, whereas in America hardly anybody would have heard of it.

[K]

Bo..he...mian... rhap...sody?

[ChrisSteeleAteMyHamster]

Bo..he...mian... rhap...sody?

It's some song apparantly....

[K]

Sounds shit, and my gosh don't you know it.

[VerbalPuke]

I think all rock and rollers should know Black Sabbath's "Iron Man" and Alice Cooper's "Schools Out".

[Laice07]

I agree with all the suggestions posted, and I'll list some not yet listed:

"Stairway to Heaven": Led Zeppelin

"Comforably Numb": Pink Floyd

"Like a Rolling Stone": Bob Dylan

"Born to Run": Brice Springsteen

"All The Small Things": Blink 182

[ADG]

Just a few off the top of my head.

"One" by U2 is one song everyone should know.

"Living on a Prayer" by Bon Jovi is one everyone does know even if they don't want to.

"God Only Knows" by the Beach Boys is one pretty much anyone can recognise and rightly so.

[YI]

"Bitersweet Symphony" by The Verve (Or at least the riff, you MUST know that)

"Tears Of A Clown" by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles (Whilst you mightn't 'know' it as such, most people recognise it, but can't always name it)

Fuck knows...I can't think at the moment.

Edited April 19, 2006 by YI

[Ananas]

"Wonderwall" by Oasis

"Fire And Rain" by James Taylor

"Heart Of Gold" by Neil Young

[Rich]

"Bitersweet Symphony" by The Verve (Or at least the riff, you MUST know that)

The one the verve sold and the rolling stones made all the money out of an amazing song? good call Richard Ashcroft

Everyone should know and own the Dark side of the Moon album by Pink FLoyd, best album ever created, and i apparenty have a faggy taste of emo music

[Cactus Drags]

Ugh, Oasis? Christ.

I think "Enter Sandman" is probably Metallica's best known song, or "One" maybe.

There should definitely be some Maiden there too, not fucking Run To The Hills though, everyone who knows IM for that one song see them as cheesy as hell. Maybe the Trooper, Number Of The Beast or Fear Of The Dark. It's hard to pick a Maiden song that shows them off well, but that isn't so overdone or seen as cheesy like Run To The Hills.

[The Quasi Juice]

Songs you should know, maybe you don't even like them.

John Lennon - Imagine

The Eagles - Hotel California

The Beatles - Let it be

Johnny Cash - Hurt

Bit obvious ones.

[tristy]

If you're going to pick a Johnny Cash song, it'll be I Walk The Line or Ring Of Fire.

Nine Inch Nails has Hurt, and Closer. Definately Closer, though.

[VerbalPuke]

Ugh, Oasis? Christ.

I think "Enter Sandman" is probably Metallica's best known song, or "One" maybe.

There should definitely be some Maiden there too, not fucking Run To The Hills though, everyone who knows IM for that one song see them as cheesy as hell. Maybe the Trooper, Number Of The Beast or Fear Of The Dark. It's hard to pick a Maiden song that shows them off well, but that isn't so overdone or seen as cheesy like Run To The Hills.

Run to the Hills is a great song. I don't know anybody that see's that song as cheesy either.

It was actually Hallowed Be Thy Name that turned me onto them, and has seemingly been one of their better known songs in my experience with fans of theirs.