Nirvana's grunge classic and angst-ridden youth anthem "Smells Like Teen Spirit" was recently named the most iconic song of all time, according to the Daily Mail. British computer scientist and musician Dr. Mick Grierson from Goldsmiths, University of London, used computer analysis to look for common features between critics' top songs. He examined songs featured in seven "all-time best" lists in major music magazine publications, such as Rolling Stone and NME. Grierson ran these songs through analytical software to examine and compare their keys, beats per minute (BPM), chord variety, lyrical content, timbral variety and sonic variance.
"We found the most significant thing these songs have in common is that most of them use sound in a very varied, dynamic way when compared to other records," explains Grierson. "This makes the sound of the record exciting, holding the listeners attention. By the same token, the sounds these songs use and the way they are combined is highly unique in each case."
Ultimately, Dr. Grierson's work produced a list of the Top 50 greatest songs ever created. In comparing these tracks, Grierson notes that around 80 percent were in a major key and the average tempo was around 120 to 125 beats per minute. These hits also tend to have a high level of tonal variation but a low number of chord changes, on average between six and eight. However, Grierson states that there is no "magic formula" for writing an iconic song.
"Even by applying [a] scientific process, what is considered iconic is ultimately up to the individual," he states. "My conclusion is that if you want a formula for creating great music, there is one: You just have to make something that sounds great." Dr. Grierson was commissioned by the Italian car company FIAT to conduct this research, in hopes that he would identify a song that would help them successfully market the FIAT 500. Ella Eyre will be re-mastering the grunge anthem for a TV commercial.
Check out the full list of the Top 50 songs below or listen to the songs in a Spotify playlist.
NOTE: Mononymous singer-songwriter Prince removed his entire music catalog from the streaming service earlier this year, so in place of his original track "When Doves Cry," the Patti Smith cover of the song is represented in this playlist. Also, legendary English rock band The Beatles currently have an exclusive contract with iTunes that prohibits their catalog from being accessible on any streaming services; because of this, The Beatles' tracks "Hey Jude," "Yesterday," and "A Day In The Life" featured on Grierson's list are represented in this playlist by covers of the originals performed by popular Beatles tribute bands The Yesterdays and The New Beatles, respectively.
Here is the full list of songs:
1. "Smells Like Teen Spirit," Nirvana
2. "Imagine," John Lennon
3. "One," U2
4. "Billie Jean," Michael Jackson
5. "Bohemian Rhapsody," Queen
6. "Hey Jude," The Beatles
7. "Like A Rolling Stone," Bob Dylan
8. "I Can’t Get No Satisfaction," Rolling Stones
9. "God Save The Queen," Sex Pistols
10. "Sweet Child O’ Mine," Guns N’ Roses
11. "London Calling," The Clash
12. "Waterloo Sunset," The Kinks
13. "Hotel California," Eagles
14. "Your Song," Elton John
15. "Stairway To Heaven," Led Zeppelin
16. "The Twist," Chubby Checker
17. "Live Forever," Oasis
18. "I Will Always Love You," Whitney Houston
19. "Life On Mars?" David Bowie
20. "Heartbreak Hotel," Elvis Presley
21. "Over The Rainbow," Judy Garland
22. "What’s Goin’ On," Marvin Gaye
23. "Born To Run," Bruce Springsteen
24. "Be My Baby," The Ronettes
25. "Creep," Radiohead
26. "Bridge Over Troubled Water," Simon & Garfunkel
27. "Respect," Aretha Franklin
28. "Family Affair," Sly And The Family Stone
29. "Dancing Queen," ABBA
30. "Good Vibrations," The Beach Boys
31. "Purple Haze," Jimi Hendrix
32. "Yesterday," The Beatles
33. "Jonny B Goode," Chuck Berry
34. "No Woman No Cry," Bob Marley
35. "Hallelujah," Jeff Buckley
36. "Every Breath You Take," The Police
37. "A Day In The Life," The Beatles
38. "Stand By Me," Ben E King
39. "Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag," James Brown
40. "Gimme Shelter," The Rolling Stones
41. "What’d I Say," Ray Charles
42. "Sultans Of Swing," Dire Straits
43. "God Only Knows," The Beach Boys
44. "You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling," The Righteous Brothers
45. "My Generation," The Who
46. "Dancing In The Street," Martha Reeves and the Vandellas
47. "When Doves Cry," Prince
48. "A Change Is Gonna Come," Sam Cooke
49. "River Deep Mountain High," Ike and Tina Turner
50. "Best Of My Love," The Emotions
