A band's signature song? Everyone take part (1 Viewer)

[L. Anton Dencklau]

Some of the women:

Annie Lennox - Walking on Broken Glass

Fiona Apple - Criminal

Alanis Morrisette - Ironic

Sarah McLachlan - Angel

Tori Amos - Cornflake Girl

Mariah Carey - Fantasy

Mazzy Star - Fade Into You

Natalie Merchant - These Are The Days

Sheryl Crow - All I Wanna Do

Suzanne Vega - Tom's Diner

Tracy Chapman - Fast Car

The Cranberries - Dreams

Joan Jett - Bad Reputation

Melissa Etherage - Come To My Window

Sinead O'Connor - Nothing Compares 2 U

Veruca Salt - Seether

Janet Jackson - Love Will Never Do Without You

Amy Grant - Baby, Baby

Pat Benetar - Love is a Battlefield

Pretenders - Dont Get Me Wrong

Tina Turner - Whats Love Got To Do With It?

Portishead - Sour Times

Stevie Nicks - Edge of Seventeen

 

[Derek Miner]

Suzanne Vega - Tom's Diner

I'd only disagree with this one because most people are familiar with "Tom's Diner" through the re-interpretation by DNA and not her version. I think "Luka" would be a better choice for Suzanne Vega.

And I thought of some more:

Tracy Bonham - Mother, Mother

Julie Brown - The Homecoming Queen's Got A Gun

Butthole Surfers - Pepper

The Cardigans - Lovefool

The Dead Milkmen - Punk Rock Girl

Jellyfish - That Is Why

Fountains of Wayne - Radiation Vibe

Juliana Hatfield - My Sister

Lemonheads - Mrs. Robinson (even though it's a cover)

Mojo Nixon - Elvis Is Everywhere

Poe - Angry Johnny

The Rembrandts - I'll Be There For You (Theme From Friends)

Smash Mouth - All Star

Jill Sobule - I Kissed A Girl

Spin Doctors - Little Miss Can't Be Wrong

Squeeze - Tempted

Sugar - Helpless

10,000 Maniacs - These Are Days

Toad The Wet Sprocket - All I Want

Violent Femmes - Blister In The Sun

The Waitresses - I Know What Boys Like

"Weird Al" Yankovic - Eat It

 

[Jon_B]

I'm a little confused by some of the posts on this thread because I can think of so many good songs by some of these artists.

For example INXS - Devil Inside, Suicide Blonde, New Sensation. Michael listed "Need You Tonight". Now...we could say that because the lead singer committed suicide that "Suicide Blonde" would be the song that ironically has become their signature song. Is this logical thinking or am I just way off?

Another favorite band of mine Toad The Wet Sprocket had "Something's Always Wrong", "Walk On The Ocean", and "Fall Down". Derek listed "All I Want" as their signature song.

Are we talking about the band's only hit(s) or the song that got them the most radio play?

Jon

 

[Sam Hatch]

Yeah, the original post also stated that the songs should be longer than usual -- which most of these posted are not. It's become a 'what's each band's biggest hit?' thread.
But the original criterion is a tough one to meet. The list of long, 'epic' songs that are also the band's most recognizable work is a very short one. Like Radiohead for example. Everyone agrees that 'Paranoid Android' fits in the epic rock category, but they've yet to erase 'Creep' from the minds of the masses. As popular as they are, the only song many people will ever know them for is 'Creep'. And it's certainly not overly long.
Or even Rush. 'Tom Sawyer' was listed, but is the song longer than usual? Not at all. '2112' could probably win as their signature tune, except that most average folks will think of 'Tom Sawyer' before '2112' when pondering Rush. It's enough to make yer head spin!
So the topic should really be -- How many bands' most popular song is also a rock opera number?

 

[Ben Motley]

Well, in that case, definitely Iron Butterfly's In a Gadda Da Vida.

 

[Kevin Leonard]

I went back and read Michael's original post, and well I'll be damned...none of us listened to him:

A band's (or singer's) signature song, one that they will always be identified with (whether that's good or bad, I dunno). The song is longer in duration than usual, something grand in every regard (singing, guitar, drumming, production, etc.)

However, I think Michael is wrong on this. There's no rule that says a signature song has to be longer than usual and be "grand." As one can see by the many posts, a person's signature tune is often normal in length can either be heavily layered or very simple instrumentally. A lot of these songs may not go by Michael's rules, but they are the songs that said musician(s) will be forever idenitified with.
That's just how I looked at it.
(EDIT: I just noticed that what I said above is basically what Sam just said. Ah, I'll leave it in anyways. )

 

[Dan Whalen]

Ted Nugent-Cat Scratch Fever

Tears for Fears-Shout

Bloodhound Gang-Fire Water Burn or The Bad Touch

Men Without Hats-The Safety Dance

Men At Work-Down Under

Dan

 

[Philip Hamm]

DEVO: "Whip It"

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers: "Breakdown"

The Doobie Brothers: "China Grove" (or "Jesus is Just Alright" or "Takin' it To The Streets" or - oh, hell!)

King's X: "It's Love"

George Thorougood and the Deleware Destroyers: "Bad To The Bone"

Bon Jovi "You Give Love a Bad Name"

Extreme: "More Than Words" (sadly)

The Who: "Pinball Wizard"

Pete Townshend: "Let My Love Open The Door"

B-52's: "Rock Lobster"

Flock of Seagulls: "Wishing"

Gary Numan: "Cars"

Def Leppard: "Photograph"

Bee Gees: "Stayin' Alive"

Midnight Oil: "Beds Are Burning"

Bruce Cockburn: "If I Had a Rocket Launcher" (tragically)

Aerosmith: "Walk This Way"

Run DMC: "Walk This Way"

Beastie Boys: "Fight For Your Right"

House Of Pain / Everlast: "Jump Around"

Weather Report: "Birdland"

Dave Brubeck: "Take Five"

W.A. Mozart: Eine Kleine Nachtmusik

Beethoven: Symphony 5 (or 9, but 5 has that signature opening riff that defines Beethoven to many)

J.S. Bach: "Brandenburg Concerto #5" or "Tacotta & Fugue"

Pachabel: "Canon in D"

Smetana: "The Moldau"

Yes: "Roundabout"

The Police: "Message In A Bottle"

U2: "With Or Without You"

Paul McCartney (post-Beatles): "Band On The Run"

The Beatles: "Yesterday"

John Lennon (post-Beatles): "Imagine"

Lynard Skynard: "Give Me Three Steps"

Can't think of any more right now.....

 

[Aurel Savin]

OK ... so let me cover the other end of the spectrum
SLAYER - Angel of Death
METALLICA - Enter Sandman (unfortunatelly)
DEATH - Pull the Plug
DESTRUCTION - Mad Butcher
MOTLEY CRUE - Dr. Feelgood
VOIVOD - Astronmie Dominee
LENNY KRAVITZ - Are you gonna go my way
IRON MAIDEN - Run to the Hills (they have so many songs)

 

[Rob Gillespie]

A few...
Tori Amos - Cornflake Girl
Dodgy - Good Enough
Peter Gabriel - either Salisbury Hill or Sledgehammer
Jethro Tull - Locomotive Breath
Pink Floyd - Another Brick In The Wall
and of course...
Rush - The Spirit Of Radio

 

[Walter Kittel]

Some of my choices, using the modified definition -
Neil Young - The Needle and the Damage Done
Sly & The Family Stone - Thank You ( for lettin' me, be myself, again )
Rare Earth - Get Ready
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Give It Away
Hendrix - Purple Haze
Rolling Stones - Sympathy for the Devil
Foghat - Slow Ride
The Doors - Break on Through ( To The Other Side )
Blue Oyster Cult - Don't Fear the Reaper
Warren Zevon - Werewolves of London
Letters to Cleo - Here and Now
Curtis Mayfield - Superfly
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles - The Tears of a Clown
Don McClean - American Pie
The Temptations - My Girl
Marvin Gaye - I Heard it Through the Grapevine
Jim Croce - You Don't Mess Around with Jim
Black Sabbath - Paranoid
- Walter.

 

[MikeH1]

Jon_B, INXS's Suicide Blonde is a definate choice but I think it doesn't fit the bill as their signature song. Up until the Kick release in late 1987 they were a typical pop band. Need You Tonight was released as Kicks' first single and 10 million copies later, they never looked back (until September of 91 like many 80s bands). That song got me hooked and I discovered, through them, much more than just Kick. Just my thoughts on why I chose

 

[Adam Lenhardt]

I'm surprised noone's brought up "Brain Stew/Jaded" for Green Day yet.

 

[Sean Conklin]

Iron Maiden - Run to the Hills or Die with your boots on(all their songs are like a signature, they're awesome)
Judas Priest - You've got another thing comin'
Dio - Holy Diver
Ozzy(solo)- Crazy Train
Van Halen - Runnin' with the Devil
Metallica - For whom the bell tolls
Megadeth - Peace sells, but who's buying?
Skid Row - 18 and life
Black Sabbath(Dio) - Heaven and Hell
Black Sabbath(Ozzy) - Iron Man
Accept - Balls to the Wall
Led Zeppelin - Stairway to Heaven
Beatles - Yesterday
Tommy Tutone - 867-5309
J. Geils Band - Centerfold
Motley Crue - Too Fast for Love
Ted Nugent - Stranglehold
B-52's - Rock Lobster
The Go-Go's - We got the beat
Meatloaf - Paradise by the Dashboard lights
King Kobra - Piece of the Rock
Pat Benatar - Heartbreaker
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts - I love Rock and Roll
Styx - Renegade
Def Leppard - Photograph
Rush - Tom Sawyer
Queen - We will Rock you/ We are the Champions
Scorpions - Blackout
Dokken - Tooth and Nail
Sheriff - When I'm with you
Steelheart - I'll never let you go(Angel eyes)
Cinderella - Night Songs
Europe - Carrie
Winger - Headed for a heartbreak
Mr. Big - To be with you
White Lion - Wait
Guns and Roses - Welcome to the jungle
Queensryche - Queen of the Ryche
Neil Diamond - September Morn
Nirvana - Smells like teen spirit
Kansas - Point of Know return
Krokus - Stayed awake all night
Deep Purple - Smoke on the Water
Journey - Don't stop Believin'
Nazareth - Hair of the Dog
Sammy Hagar - There's only one way to Rock
Aerosmith - Sweet Emotion
Beastie Boys - No sleep till Brooklyn
Cheap Trick - I want you to want me
Heart - Barracuda
Blue Oyster Cult - Don't fear the Reaper
Rainbow - Street of dreams
Bon Jovi - You give love a bad name
Night Ranger - (You can still) Rock in America
Twisted Sister - We're not gonna to take it
Quiet Riot - Metal Health
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Sweet home Alabama
Foghat - Slow Ride
Eagles - Hotel California
Bad Company - Bad Company
Devo - Whip it
Foriegner - Jukebox Hero
Ratt - Round and Round
Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Steve Miller Band - The Joker
Rolling Stones - 19th Nervous Breakdown
Eddie Money - Two tickets to Paradise
Glen Campbell - Rhinestone Cowboy
CW McCall - Convoy
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Refugee
Billy Squier - The Stroke
Concrete Blonde - Everybody Knows
Blondie - Heart of Glass
Warrant - Cherry Pie
Bruce Springsteen - Born in the USA
Don Felder - Heavy Metal
KISS - Detroit Rock City
U2 - Pride
Beach Boys - Surfin' USA
Helix - Never want to lose you
Peter Schilling - Major Tom
David Bowie - Major Tom
Huey Lewis and the News - Power of Love
XYZ - Inside Out
Vixen - Edge of a Broken Heart
Exodus - Bonded by Blood
UFO - Doctor Doctor
Pink Floyd - Another Brick in the Wall
The Doors - Riders on the Storm
REO Speedwagon - Keep on lovin' you
ZZ Top - Got me under Pressure
Boston - More than a Feeling
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Real Men don't kill Coyotes
Great White - Stick it
AC/DC(Brian Johnson) - Back in Black
AC/DC(Bon Scott) - Dirty Deeds
Danzig - Mother
Golden Earring - Radar Love
That should be enough for now

 

[Joel Mack]

Marillion - Kayleigh
Or, if you go by the first post's definition of "signature song", I'd say Forgotten Sons...

 

[Anthony Hom]

I must disagree with the Beatles signature song.

Although a hard days night is the pinnacle of the Beatlemania days, their later timeless work has much better recognition.

I'm afraid I think Sgt. Pepper (intro) is the Beatles signature song. More people would relate the Beatles to that song as a group rather than individual, even though Paul is credited the most for it. Yellow Submarine is probably the most recognized among all ages, but would be accredited to Ringo. Yesterday would definitely be major choice for signature song, but we think of Paul in that instance.

Also, I would change Van Morrison from Moondance to Brown -eyed girl. Otherwise, others to add:

Jr. Walker - shotgun

Booker T and the MGs - Green Onions

Marvin Gaye - Heard it thru the grapevine

Mamas and the papas - California Dreamin

Pat Benatar - Hit me with your best shot

Chicago - If you leave me now

Jefferson Starship - We built this city

Billy Joel - Piano Man

Elton John - Candle in the wind

Cars - Best Friends Girl

Isley Brothers - Shout

Weird Al - Eat it

Earth wind and fire - Shining Star

Sly and Family stone - Everyday People

Ventures - Walk don't run

And if we do signature songs for one-hit wonders, which really shouldn't count then you missed:

Steam- Na na hey hey kiss him goodbye

Zager and Evans - In the year 2525

J J Jackson - But it's alright

Gary Numan - Cars

Thomas Dolby - Blinded me with science

Flying Lizards - Money

Vapors - Turning Japanese

Men without hats - Safety dance

Taco - Puttin on the ritz

After the fire - Der Komissar

Ah- ha - Take on me

Animotion - Obsession

alive and kicking - tighter and tighter

Brewer and shipley - one toke over the line

Mason Williams - Classical gas

 

[Charles Gurganus]

Hollies-Long Cool Woman

Zombies-She's Not There

America-Tin Man

Joni Mitchell-Help Me

Carol King-Its Too Late

Richard Thompson-Shoot OUt the Lights

Beach Boys-Surfer Girl

Bee Gees-I Started A Joke

Chicago-Saturday In The Park

CS&N-Deje Vu

Neil Young-Old Man (soft), Southern Man (hard)

Lynyrd Skynyrd-Free Bird

Guess Who-American Woman

Kansas-Dust In The Wind

Pink Floyd-Money

Red Rider-Lunitic Fringe

 

[Rob P S]

Barry Manilow - Mandy

Carpenters - We've Only Just Begun

Police - Roxanne

Bad Company - Shooting Star

Aerosmith - Dream On

Social Distortion - Ball and Chain

Presidents of the USA - Lump

Chris Isaak - Wicked Game

Hooters - And We Danced

Steve Earle - Copperhead Road

Cracker - Teen Angst

Counting Crows - Mr. Jones

Crowded House - Don't Dream It's Over

Bryan Adams - Cuts Like a Knife

Steve Miller Band - The Joker

 

[Yee-Ming]

a few which no one seems to have mentioned yet

Spandau Ballet - True

All Saints - Never Ever

Donna Summer - Hot Stuff

Gloria Gaynor - I Will Survive

Barry White - You're The First, The Last, My Everything

Labelle - Lady Marmalade

Kool & The Gang - Celebration (although Get Down On It comes close)

Weather Girls - It's Raining Men (one hit wonders?)

The Three Degrees - When Will I See You Again

Hues Corporation - Rock The Boat (1HW?)

Gary Moore - Still Got The Blues

Hall & Oates - Maneater (though some might say Private Eyes)

those I disagree with, IMHO:

G-n-R - Sweet Child O' Mine (rather than Welcome to the Jungle or November Rain)

Roxy Music - Avalon (Love is the drug)

Oasis - Wonderwall (Champagne Supernova)

Van Morrison - Brown Eyed Girl (Moondance)

Abba - Dancing Queen (Waterloo)

Doobie Brothers - Long Train Runnin' (China Grove)

Chicago - Hard Habit to Break (Colour My World)

10cc - I'm Not In Love (The Things We Do For Love)

Rod Stewart - Sailing (Maggie May) (especially to Brits?)

Stray Cats - Stray Cat Strut (Rock This Town)

Toto - Africa (Rosanna)

America - You Can Do Magic (although I can't really disagree with Horse with no Name either)

Suzanne Vega - Luka (Tom's Diner)

Tears for Fears - Everybody Wants To Rule The World (althogh Shout is also a reasonably choice. how about Mad World though?)

Queensryche - Silent Lucidity (Queen of the Ryche)

Styx - Mr Roboto (Renegade)

Marvin Gaye - Sexual Healing (I Heard It Through The Grapevine -- much as I like Grapevine, Marvin's sig is IMHO definitely SH)

there are several acts where I'd say it is near impossible to tag them with a signature song, seeing as they have so many candidates. The Beatles (and the discussion thereto) is a prime example. I'm not sure U2 really has a sig song either. for that matter, Madonna? would Like A Virgin count?

Pink Floyd I think also falls in this category, too much good/significant work for one to stand out as a signature. take it back a level, what's their signature album? DSotM? The Wall? Meddle? Animals? or something else? (personally I'd vote DSotM, but recognise many would disagree)

 

[Mike Broadman]

Didn't read the whole thread, so sorry for any repeats, but I'm just gonna name "signature" songs of some of my favorite bands:

Marillion- Kayleigh

Rush- Tom Sawyer

King Crimson- 21st Century Schizoid Man

Dream Theater- Metropolis Pt 1

Black Sabbath- Paranoid

Iron Maiden- Run To the Hills

The Allman Brothers- Ramblin' Man

James Brown- I Feel Good

Joni Mitchell- Big Yellow Taxi