If you had to pick the greatest rock song ever made...

...what would you pick and why?

And, just to be difficult, I'm saying you can pick only one.

My choice is:

[spoiler] Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen [/spoiler]

The reason is that it's a multi-part song in which every part is legendary. Plus, the song is simply a mix of superb extraordinarly delivered singing, superb energy, inventiveness, and dynamicism. However, even tho it's dynamic, it's still simple in a way, and it has that super resonant quality that makes some songs feel like events while other songs just feel like songs.

I don't have to pick.

is the Eye of the tiger considered rock? (never was sure what qualified something to be a rock song)

Highway to hell

Queen - White Queen

None

Red Hot Chilli Peppers - Scar Tissue

Wanted Dead or Alive - Bon Jovi

Thats a tough one to answer. Theres a lot of great rock songs out there, and rock is a pretty broad genre too.

Right now I've been listening to a lot of Steely Dan, and I love Kid Charlemagne(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylr2D4Pwn58)so thats my vote for the moment

Stairway to Heaven - Led Zeppelin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOofWzI3flA

Bohemian Rhapsody is so over played that I can't stand hearing it. I think it's impossible to pick a single greatest... I can't even decide what my favorite song by Queen is, Death on two Legs, Seaside Rendezvous, The Prophet's Song, Love of my Life, Jealousy, In Only Seven Days, Dreamer's Ball, Killer Queen, Sail Away Sweet Sister, White Queen, Black Queen... I dunno, I'd have to get some dice meant for DnD, assign numbers, and roll it to decide. Inconsistancy

I like Killer Queen the best out of all those you mentioned.

Death on Two Legs has some pretty bad ass riffs.

Welcome to the jungle - guns and rosesjoel_c17

I honestly dont like "Bohemian Rhapsody" all that much. I think its just too much. Too many different sections put together (which is the definition of a rhapsody...) But still, I dont think sophistication = a great song. Far from it. My favorite song ever? Might actually be Mr brightside... and that song repeats itself inits entirety twice, without variation. But that riff, that chorus, those lyrics, the keyboard and guitar motives, and how it all comes together in the end... damn.

I honestly dont like "Bohemian Rhapsody" all that much. I think its just too much. Too many different sections put together (which is the definition of a rhapsody...) But still, I dont think sophistication = a great song. Far from it. My favorite song ever? Might actually be Mr brightside... and that song repeats itself inits entirety twice, without variation. But that riff, that chorus, those lyrics, the keyboard and guitar motives, and how it all comes together in the end... damn.

Shmiity

I don't think it's great because it's sophisicated tho. I think it's great because each individual part is extremely memorable and resonant, especially the "Mama" parts.

But I do agree that sophisticated/=/great. Something like Dream Theatre is supposedly sophisticated but their songs are extremely forgettable.

thin lizzy's wild one is a definite contender. my heart soars when I listen to it

I don't have to pick.

Cherokee_Jack

Hotel California.

Hmmm... alot of competition. I don't have a definitive answer, but it would definitley be a Led Zeppelin song. Something like Achilles Last Stand or something.

Happiness is a Warm Gun - The Beatles

More than a Feeling - Boston
Crazy Train - Ozzy

It's between those two for me.

Man on the Moon - R.E.M.

I barely listen to any rock, but it's gotta be Welcome To The Jungle. That song just jacks you up so much. Alot of rock is too boring to appeal to me, but that song is f***ing insane.

Black Dog - Led Zeppelin

Bohemian Rhapsody at one point would have been my choice, but at the moment, On the Turning Away by Pink Floyd takes it.

Give Peace A Chance - John Lennon.

Hmm man that's a tough one. First thing that came to mind was One by Metallica. It has everything you'd want to hear in a good Metal song.

Happiness is a Warm Gun - The Beatles

CHOASXIII

I love you!!!!! My favourite Beatle song :D:D:D

Lacrimosa - Sacrifice

No high-energy riffs or insane guitar solos (though it does have one), just 9 minutes of some of the most beautiful, serene, yet haunting melodies I've ever heard. It's more akin to CIassical music, but since it has vocals, guitar, bass and drums I still consider it Rock.

Edit: There's translated lyrics in the video description, if you're interested.

[QUOTE="Shmiity"]

I honestly dont like "Bohemian Rhapsody" all that much. I think its just too much. Too many different sections put together (which is the definition of a rhapsody...) But still, I dont think sophistication = a great song. Far from it. My favorite song ever? Might actually be Mr brightside... and that song repeats itself inits entirety twice, without variation. But that riff, that chorus, those lyrics, the keyboard and guitar motives, and how it all comes together in the end... damn.

GreySeal9

I don't think it's great because it's sophisicated tho. I think it's great because each individual part is extremely memorable and resonant, especially the "Mama" parts.

But I do agree that sophisticated/=/great. Something like Dream Theatre is supposedly sophisticated but their songs are extremely forgettable.

Just curious, how exactly would you measure the quality of a piece of music if not by its complexity and the composer's grasp of musical concepts such as harmony, counterpoint, rhythmic complexity, thematic development, exploitation and variation of rhythmic and melodic motives, etc.?

You point out the individual parts in Behomian Rhapsody are "extremely memorable and resonant", while Dream Theater's music is "extremely forgettable"; now, I'm not refuting either of those claims, but aren't both of them just opinions that basically mean "I like the parts of Bohemian Rhapsody" and "I don't like Dream Theater's music", respectively?

Again, I'm not trying to start a fight, I'm just honestly curious.

[QUOTE="GreySeal9"]

[QUOTE="Shmiity"]

I honestly dont like "Bohemian Rhapsody" all that much. I think its just too much. Too many different sections put together (which is the definition of a rhapsody...) But still, I dont think sophistication = a great song. Far from it. My favorite song ever? Might actually be Mr brightside... and that song repeats itself inits entirety twice, without variation. But that riff, that chorus, those lyrics, the keyboard and guitar motives, and how it all comes together in the end... damn.

black_cat19

I don't think it's great because it's sophisicated tho. I think it's great because each individual part is extremely memorable and resonant, especially the "Mama" parts.

But I do agree that sophisticated/=/great. Something like Dream Theatre is supposedly sophisticated but their songs are extremely forgettable.

Just curious, how exactly would you measure the quality of a piece of music if not by its complexity and the composer's grasp of musical concepts such as harmony, counterpoint, rhythmic complexity, thematic development, exploitation and variation of rhythmic and melodic motives, etc.?

You point out the individual parts in Behomian Rhapsody are "extremely memorable and resonant", while Dream Theater's music is "extremely forgettable"; now, I'm not refuting either of those claims, but aren't both of them just opinions that basically mean "I like the parts of Bohemian Rhapsody" and "I don't like Dream Theater's music", respectively?

Again, I'm not trying to start a fight, I'm just honestly curious.

I don't think that complexity says anything about quality. IMO, complexity is complexity, not quality. Something simple can easily be as quality as something complex. And as far as those things you mentioned, I guess one can use them to measure quality, but the thing is, the quality of a thing is just as much an opinion as anything else, and its usually based on what invidividuals value. I don't neccesarily value any of those things you mentioned above others. Songs don't neccesarily need to be complex, or varied, though they probably do need to use harmony effectively.

Yeah, both of those claims I made are opinions and I understand that someone might feel differently. But I parts of Bohemian Rhapsody because I find them to be memorable and resonant whereas I don't think the same of Dream Theatre.

I agree with Killer Queen, it's one of my all time favourite songs and I always pick that.

Smoke On The Water has a memorable riff but everything else about the song is just boring and I'm not really surprised that anyone hasn't mentioned it. Just thought I'd say considering it's regarded as a rock classic.

Europe - The Final Countdown.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhjSzjoU7OQ

Birdhouse In Your Soul - They Might Be Giants

heavens drive. it might be a japanese song but I still consider it to be rock song