The Greatest Music The Greatest Music

1001 Best Songs Ever

Source: Q (Magazine)
Year: 2003
1,001 songs
12 voters

Weight: 38%

How much this list influences our overall rankings. Higher weight means more reliable data.

Penalties Applied:

Voters: are mostly from a single country/location: 10%
List: contains over 500 items(Quantity over Quality): 10%
Voters: Voter Count: 6.9%
Voters: Unknown Names: 10%
Voters: Estimated Count: 5%
List: number of years covered: 19.9%

Published in late 2003 as a one-off special, Q’s 1001 Best Songs Ever is a cheeky, sweep-all-eras ranked survey of pop and rock that doubles as a buy-this-now jukebox: U2’s “One” tops a list that runs from 1950s standards to millennial hits, each entry tagged with punchy “best for…” recommendations and punctuated by celebrity/artist mini-lists. Compiled by Q’s editorial team (with guest contributions) rather than a readers’ poll, the 146–148-page “bookazine” aimed to be an instant library you could beg, borrow, or download right then and there.

View Original List
Rank Song Artists Year
#101 Beautiful Christina Aguilera 2002
#102 Intergalactic Beastie Boys 1998
#103 Loaded Primal Scream 1990
#104 Motorcycle Emptiness Manic Street Preachers 1992
#105 Fell in Love With a Girl The White Stripes 2001
#106 Breaking the Law Judas Priest 1980
#107 Never Understand The Jesus and Mary Chain 1985
#108 Something The Beatles 1969
#109 Gravel Pit Wu‐Tang Clan 2000
#110 Your Cheatin' Heart Hank Williams 1953
#111 Hercules Aaron Neville 1973
#112 Atomic Blondie 1979
#113 Brown Sugar D'Angelo 1995
#114 Song 2 Blur 1997
#115 Strange Fruit Billie Holiday 1939
#116 Heart‐Shaped Box Nirvana 1993
#117 I Want You Back The Jacksons 1969
#118 California Love 2Pac, Dr. Dre, Roger Troutman 1996
#119 Could You Be Loved Bob Marley & The Wailers 1979
#120 Sign o' the Times Prince 1986
#121 (You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (to Party) Beastie Boys 1986
#122 Smoke on the Water Deep Purple 1972
#123 Under Control The Strokes 2003
#124 Geno Dexys Midnight Runners 1980
#125 Watching the Wheels John Lennon 1980
#126 Woman John Lennon 1980
#127 Imagine John Lennon 1971
#128 Mother John Lennon 1970
#129 Working Class Hero John Lennon 1970
#130 Elvis Presley Blues Gillian Welch 2001
#131 No Depression Uncle Tupelo 1990
#132 Not Even Stevie Nicks Calexico 2002
#133 Searchlight Giant Sand 1989
#134 Changed the Locks Lucinda Williams 1988
#135 My Old Friend the Blues Steve Earle 1986
#136 Come Pick Me Up Ryan Adams 2000
#137 Ain't You Wealthy, Ain't You Wise? Bonnie "Prince" Billy 2003
#138 Weightless Again The Handsome Family 1998
#139 Talihina Sky Kings of Leon 2003
#140 Fight the Power Public Enemy 1989
#141 Fake Plastic Trees Radiohead 1994
#142 Ever Fallen in Love Buzzcocks 1979
#143 Family Affair Sly & the Family Stone 1971
#144 It Must Be Love Madness 1981
#145 Bittersweet Symphony The Verve 1997
#146 Ain't Nobody Rufus, Chaka Khan 1983
#147 The One I Love R.E.M. 1987
#148 Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For U2 1987
#149 (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman Aretha Franklin 1967
#150 3am Eternal The KLF 1990
#151 To Be Young Gifted and Black Nina Simone 1970
#152 Pyramid Song Radiohead 2001
#153 Into the Groove Madonna 1984
#154 Harvest for the World The Isley Brothers 1976
#155 You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' The Righteous Brothers 1964
#156 Crosstown Traffic The Jimi Hendrix Experience 1968
#157 It Was a Good Day Ice Cube 1992
#158 Sympathy for the Devil The Rolling Stones 1968
#159 Rocks Primal Scream 1994
#160 Going Underground The Jam 1980
#161 Proud Mary Creedence Clearwater Revival 1969
#162 Aint That a Shame Fats Domino 1988
#163 Give Peace a Chance John Lennon, Plastic Ono Band 1975
#164 Searchin' The Coasters 1985
#165 Long Tall Sally Little Richard 1956
#166 Can You Dig It? The Mock Turtles 1990
#167 The Battle: Speed The Neptunes 2001
#168 Run On Moby 1999
#169 Lovely Head Goldfrapp 2000
#170 Strange and Beautiful Aqualung 2002
#171 Slip Into Something More Comfortable Kinobe 2000
#172 Guaglione Pérez Prado 1960
#173 Cars Gary Numan 1979
#174 Inside Stiltskin 1994
#175 Flat Beat Mr. Oizo 1999
#176 Suspicious Mind Elvis Presley 1984
#177 Missing (Todd Terry mix) Everything but the Girl 2000
#178 Kinky Afro Happy Mondays 1990
#179 Killing Me Softly With His Song Roberta Flack 1973
#180 Let Me Ride Dr. Dre 1992
#181 Under the Bridge Red Hot Chili Peppers 1991
#182 All the Young Dudes Mott the Hoople 1972
#183 Good Souls Starsailor 2001
#184 In My Life The Beatles 1965
#185 Get the Party Started P!nk 2001
#186 Little Animal The Raveonettes 2003
#187 (White Man) In Hammersmith Palais The Clash 1978
#188 Take On Me a‐ha 1984
#189 Roadrunner The Modern Lovers 1976
#190 The Modern Age The Strokes 2000
#191 Dancing in the Street Martha Reeves and the Vandellas 1964
#192 The Beautiful People Marilyn Manson 1996
#193 Instant Karma (We All Shine on) John Lennon 1970
#194 I Want You Elvis Costello & The Attractions 1986
#195 Uptight (Everything's Alright) Stevie Wonder 1965
#196 Gloria Patti Smith 1975
#197 Sit Down James 1991
#198 Yellow Coldplay 2000
#199 Love in an Elevator Aerosmith 1989
#200 Music John Miles 1979

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