Instant Classics

[maniacut]

Bill Withers - ain't no sunshine (2m8s) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eg1Cjm0jptw

[Dyenimator]

Born To Run

[MicroBob]

Skimming a bit here.


Really like U2's "I Will Follow" and think perhaps this transcends a little bit.

Mostly thinking in terms of Motown as ElD mentions as this can grab people young and old I think.
Stevie Wonder's Uptight and Smokey Robinson's Tears of a Clown are a couple that come to mind.

Also thinking of some of the catchier songs from the 80's like We Got the Beat or Safety Dance or even Don't You Want Me.

Also very much agree with Michael Jackson's Don't Stop Til You Get Enough and think this is way more 'instant-classic, transcends generations' more than Billie Jean. This is assuming I understand the drive of the OP and the criteria correctly and there's a good chance I don't.


AC/DC which I believe ElD mentioned is a good choice.
My parents can't exactly get into them.
But I think they transcend across to enough different genre-lovers pretty well.
I do not like Heavy Metal at all.
But there's something about so many of AC/DC's songs that are catchy and poppy enough that I really dig them.


Songs that I definitely think do NOT qualify include:
Garth Brooks - Friends in Low Places or Achy Breaky Heart or whatever.
I think Shania Twain is more 'genre-crossing' than Garth although I really don't care for either.

Bohemian Rhapsody - Don't like the song. I liked in it Wayne's World though.

Wonderwall - I do not understand why this song is considered good or became popular. I simply never liked the song.

Hey Ya - Kind of catchy. Perhaps partly qualifies I suppose because so many people seem to get WAY into it and are just giddy when it comes on.


American Pie was definitely instant-classic worthy.
Probably the same for Hotel California.
I liked these songs at one point in my life. But pretty much can't stand either of them now.

[Vehn]

[ QUOTE ]
I agree, and its because I think everyone here missed the idea of the thread. This isn't wow this song is really good and should be a classic, its songs that instantly became classics. People have heard of it, most people like it, some people love it, it is listenable.

[/ QUOTE ]

if this is the thread criteria:

Pearl Jam/Alive, I first heard this in my car on the radio when I was 16 driving to school. When I got there everyone was talking about it in the halls basically all day, amazing.

Prodigy/Smack my bitch up & Crystal Method/Trip like I do, both stand out as amazing examples of their genre. If you like electronica from then these 2 songs are top of the list.

Britney Spears/Toxic & Justin Timberlake/Sexyback, can anyone who ever goes to a club really dislike these songs? I think both will stand out again in 10 years for what they were, fun tracks that everyone enjoys hearing.

Marilyn Manson/Beautiful People, 15 year olds will be listening to this 20 years from now, just an awesome stand out classic for its genre.

[Benjamin]

Stairway to Heaven was kind of jokingly mentioned, but I think it fits best of any Zep song, by far, and since they are a defining band of the 70s I think the song deserves inclusion. Just because you might have heard it a million times and are sick of it doesn't mean it should be excluded.

Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon and Garfunkle is close.

Heart of Gold by Neil Young fits perfectly.

[Bulldog]

After reading through the thread, a few of my initial thoughts were mentioned, but a handful slipped through. Here's my list:

Piano Man

Friends in Low Places Girls especially love to sing this loudly in public when drunk

Margaritaville

Shot To The Heart (it was the lead song on Barney's Awesome CD [How I Met Your Mother New Year's Eve episode])

Take On Me (maybe a generational thing--everyone who was 12-18 when this video was played 275x per day on MTV has it imprinted upon his or her soul)

Whip It

[HoosierAlum]

The Police-Roxanne

[MicroBob]

Roxanne is one that occured to me as well.
Not positive about that one but probably deserves consideration.

[fish2plus2]

American Girl - Tom Petty

[fish2plus2]

Mary Jane - lou reed
Proud Mary - Creedence