Top 10 Most Influential Songs All Time

[Leaping Lindner]

I'm not a fan of the band (as most people who post here would realise ) but I'd say "Whole Lotta Love" by Led Zeppelin is a far more influential song than "Stairway to heaven" as it was probably the track that truly annouced the arrival of the musical genre Heavy Metal. I'm aware they had an album out before this but this was the song that really got the exposure and influenced a generation of future metal heads more so than any track off the first LP. It also pre-dates "Paranoid" and "Black Knight" the other two biggies in metal songs from that era.
Whilst on the subject of influences "I'm waiting for my man" by The Velvet Underground would also rate as an extremely influencial song. It was the stand out track of the "The Velvet Underground and Nico" album (better known as Andy Warhol Presents).
It's often said "Not many people bought this album but everyone who did formed a band."

Dazed and Confused did it first, it's a heavier song too.

regards,

REB

Read my next sentence ya Wally

[ORDoubleBlues]

The Message - Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five

P.S.K. - Schooly D (for all intents and purposes the first gangsta rap song.)

Think that Gil Scott Heron could also be considered a forerunner to rap music


From a biased perspective, I think that "I heard it through the grapevine" by Marvin Gaye would have to be right up there.

[Rik E Boy]

Read my next sentence ya Wally

DOH!!

[Magpiespower]

Think that Gil Scott Heron could also be considered a forerunner to rap music

One of many.

But definitely, Heron and The Last Poets were important.

From a biased perspective, I think that "I heard it through the grapevine" by Marvin Gaye would have to be right up there.

How about...

What's Goin' On?

[ORDoubleBlues]

How about...




What's Goin' On?

Certainly.
A lot of Marvin songs that people would have heard and not realised he was the artist/origional artist. One example being "how sweet it is to be loved by you" that most people would see as being a James Taylor song.

[Leaping Lindner]

How about...




What's Goin' On?

Certainly.
A lot of Marvin songs that people would have heard and not realised he was the artist/origional artist. One example being "how sweet it is to be loved by you" that most people would see as being a James Taylor song.

That's a Brian and Eddie Holland and Lamont Dozier composition. And influential songwriters is a whole other thread again!

[McAlmanac]

That's a Brian and Eddie Holland and Lamont Dozier composition. And influential songwriters is a whole other thread again!

Influential? Those guys WERE Motown - http://www.lamontdozier.com/lyrics.html

Dozier even wrote the Motown sound on Two Hearts for Phil Collins in the 80's. He influenced himself!

[MUNGO JERRY]

my top 10 most influential songs in no particular order are

1.In the summertime - Mungo Jerry
2. Pushbike Song - The Mixtures
3. Bye Bye Baby- The Bay City Rollers
4. Cherish - David Cassidy
5. She Loves You - Beatles
6. Satisfaction - Rolling Stones
7. We gotta get outta this place - The Animals
8. Hey Joe - Jimi Hendrix
9. Sabra cadabra - Black Sabbath
10 Jeans On - David Dundas

[Snaggletooth Tiger]

'Spill the Wine': Eric Burdon (formerly of the Animals) & War

[ORDoubleBlues]

How about...




What's Goin' On?

Certainly.
A lot of Marvin songs that people would have heard and not realised he was the artist/origional artist. One example being "how sweet it is to be loved by you" that most people would see as being a James Taylor song.

That's a Brian and Eddie Holland and Lamont Dozier composition. And influential songwriters is a whole other thread again!

You're right there LL and I was aware that Marvin himself didn't write the song, I guess I was getting off thread a bit about how there are a lot of songs out there that people don't realise are covers.

[johntheclaret]

Don Giovani and Eine Klein Nachtmuzik Mozart - pivotal songs that define the classical era and popularlise the definitive musical ensemble of the music artform - the orchestra

Greensleeves - unknown - first popular song world wide (known) defines the medieval era

Beethovens ninth Symphony - the end of the Classical era and start of the romantic era inspired the new wave of romantic composers Schuburt, Liszt and Strauss

You forgot Vivaldi's Four Seasons 1980 TM. Probably brought cthe classics to the wider public more than any other piece of music. IMHO