U2's "One" named greatest recording and questions on new "classics"

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...according to a poll conducted by Q magazine. Article is here and the top 10 is here:

1. U2 - One
2. Aretha Franklin - I Say a Little Prayer
3. Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit
4. The Beatles - A Day in the Life
5. Elvis Presley - In the Ghetto
6. Eminem - My Name Is
7. Radiohead - Creep
8. Destiny's Child - Independent Women
9. Oasis - Live Forever
10. Ike and Tina Turner - River Deep Mountain High

I know this is another random poll, but it never ceases to surprise me how people constantly name the same songs ad infinitum in these things. Finding Aretha at the second spot is a refreshing change, of course, but do Emimem and Destiny's Child really deserve to be that high? When did they become classic? Actually, when does a relatively new song becomes classic? Is its position at the charts? The artist? The lyrics and music's aport to humanity? When they become a cultural milestone? What is it? I just don't see the brilliance of "Independent Women" in any of these aspects, for example.

Too many questions. I need caffeine.

― Miggie (Miggie), Wednesday, 19 November 2003 12:14 (twenty-one years ago)

I thought it was refreshing to see Em and DC on the list, personally. A relatively new song becomes "classic" when you say it does, I think.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Wednesday, 19 November 2003 12:18 (twenty-one years ago)

At least a list without bohemian rhapsody for once...

― mark grout (mark grout), Wednesday, 19 November 2003 12:25 (twenty-one years ago)

You know, polling a bunch of idiots is bound to produce questionable results...

― dave225 (Dave225), Wednesday, 19 November 2003 12:30 (twenty-one years ago)

What idiots? No-one asked me...

― mark grout (mark grout), Wednesday, 19 November 2003 12:32 (twenty-one years ago)

wank.
it's DC's 12th best song and not even Em's finist hour
'day in the life' is a terrible grab at respectability.
'creep' is not the head's best.

just awful. aretha < the supremes.

― enrique (Enrique), Wednesday, 19 November 2003 12:41 (twenty-one years ago)

Enrique yr thinking of "Yesterday", tho you'd be wrong there anyway. Wrongness is yr colour!

― Andrew Thames (Andrew Thames), Wednesday, 19 November 2003 12:43 (twenty-one years ago)

A Day In The Life is a drug song with a very nice tune. Bid to wriggle out of respectability, I'd suspect.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Wednesday, 19 November 2003 12:44 (twenty-one years ago)

The really odd choice on that list is "In The Ghetto"!!! I can't believe I only just noticed it!

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Wednesday, 19 November 2003 12:46 (twenty-one years ago)

enrique vs the music that goes on over 5min and has strings and lyrics which aren't about birds, drugs, or being on tour.

george martin ruined the beatles.

i don't even know the elvis song.

― enrique (Enrique), Wednesday, 19 November 2003 12:53 (twenty-one years ago)

I love One. It's not their best, but people just seem to hate it more 'cuz it's U2. Cut it some slack!

― Francis Watlington (Francis Watlington), Wednesday, 19 November 2003 14:33 (twenty-one years ago)

george martin ruined the beatles? Heh, that's the second most rediculous statement regarding music I've heard next to "The Beatles suck".

― Mike Salmo (salmo), Thursday, 20 November 2003 00:17 (twenty-one years ago)

this list is so beautifully crazy-ass I'm totally not gonna bitch about it.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Thursday, 20 November 2003 00:22 (twenty-one years ago)

Someday scholars will look back on Nirvana on wonder how such a shite band got such undue respect and acclaim.

"Reasonably catchy tunes, humorless lyrics verging on the banal, backlash over empty-headed pop-metal..."

"Ah must be the sweaters and heroin, then..."

Of course someone's gonna love this list in true contrarian fashion. "One" is a fine tune though.

― Gear! (Gear!), Thursday, 20 November 2003 00:23 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah, I actually "like" this list in that it is totally unpredictable ... can't agree with the rankings tho.

― Broheems (diamond), Thursday, 20 November 2003 00:26 (twenty-one years ago)

Nirvana are not shite.

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Thursday, 20 November 2003 00:26 (twenty-one years ago)

Ah Miccio http://i.imdb.com/Photos/CMSIcons/emoticons/basic2/roll.gif

― Gear! (Gear!), Thursday, 20 November 2003 00:26 (twenty-one years ago)

You cannot take seriously a list where "Independent Woman" is ranked higher than "Strawberry Fields Forever" or "Good Vibrations"

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Thursday, 20 November 2003 00:48 (twenty-one years ago)

who did they poll?!

― M Matos (M Matos), Thursday, 20 November 2003 00:59 (twenty-one years ago)

Q's writers and a selection of well-known musicians cast their votes for the list of great songs.

― oops (Oops), Thursday, 20 November 2003 01:03 (twenty-one years ago)

please tell me no. 11 was "Sussudio."

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Thursday, 20 November 2003 01:05 (twenty-one years ago)

one year passes...

"11 was "Sussudio.""

Hell no it wasn't. In fact, there weren't any Phil Collins or Genesis songs anywhere on the list.

― GLC, Saturday, 6 August 2005 04:30 (twenty years ago)

10. Ike and Tina Turner - River Deep Mountain High

fuck YEAH

― kingfish (Kingfish), Saturday, 6 August 2005 09:04 (twenty years ago)

Any list with "Creep" as the best Radiohead song is pretty much saying "we don't want any credibility, so ignore this list."

― billstevejim (billstevejim), Saturday, 6 August 2005 14:49 (twenty years ago)

surely, for most people, it is their most memorable song though and that goes farther than quality.

― keith m (keithmcl), Saturday, 6 August 2005 16:34 (twenty years ago)

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