No, this is just a tribute...”
-Tribute by Tenacious D
One of the questions on which everyone has a different view is a question that has haunted musicians, critics, songwriters, and listeners since the beginning of popular music in general. What is the greatest song of all time? The song Tribute by Tenacious D tells the supposed story of a time when the band's members were confronted by a demon that told them to “'Play the best song in the world / or I'll eat your soul.'” They of course accepted and “played the first thing to come into [their] heads / and it just so happened to be / the best song in the world.” However, after this defeated the demon and they went on their way, they could no longer remember the greatest song in the world, so they wrote Tribute instead. Trust me, it's a lot funnier if you listen to the song instead of reading about it. Musically, it is quite enjoyable as well. The video's a little... uninteresting in the beginning and toward the end, but by now I have gotten away from my original point which was, in fact, discerning what the greatest song of all time is.
But this burning question in turn asks other questions, such as “What makes a song great?” There are many answers to that one as well. Some can say that a song is made great by its complexity; greatness is in the creative use of chord changes, technical rhythms, and interesting melodies and harmonies. Others say that a song is great because it is catchy and singable. If this is the case, then a lot of songs that are very creative and original might be disqualified. Still more say that powerful lyrics are the deciding factor for a song's greatness. But what's powerful to one person may not be powerful to another.
Rolling Stone Magazine, experts on all popular music and pretty much the top music criticism establishment in the nation, say that the greatest song in the world is Bob Dylan's Like a Rolling Stone. I can definitely see where they're coming from: the lyrics are a haunting accusation of the 1960's bourgeois upper class and those who fall from grace and are left without any idea of how to function in the real world. It reflected the anger and disenfranchisement that almost an entire generation was feeling. The music is definitely very good as well, with the jangling guitar and the pleading organ.
However, I just can't get behind this as the greatest song of all time. Yes, yes, say what you will, but I honestly don't think that this song is universally beloved, and I sincerely don't believe that it translates perfectly across generations. It worked wonderfully in its day, don't get me wrong. But there's something about it that I don't like. Maybe it's the fact that I don't find Dylan's vocals enjoyable to listen to. Maybe it's the fact that if you play this at a most parties, people will generally leave the dance floor. Maybe it's the fact that when I saw Dylan play this song live, he was already halfway through the song before I realized what song it was. Call me a philistine if you will, but it is not, in my mind, the greatest song of all time.
So what is?
Before I tell you that, I must remind you that the mere fact that something is my favorite song (currently Elegy by the Youngblood Brass Band. Look it up, you might like it.) does not make it, in my opinion, the greatest song of all time. My favorite band currently is Collective Soul, and I would hardly consider them the greatest band of all time. I like a lot of things that aren't great, though I would like to think that I also like a lot of things that are great. With this disclaimer in mind, I shall now continue. Getting to the point, in my opinion,
I can't exactly tell you why. The main piano riff is based on a progression of four chords (E, B, Cm, A) that has been used countless times, so the music isn't the most original. The lyrics are good, but they're certainly not the most impressive that have ever been written. So how can this be the best song ever written?
I did not say this was the best song ever written. I merely said this is the greatest song of all time.
I have no idea just what it is that makes this song work. All I can tell you is that I have never met a single person who does not love this song. Play this song at a party, and not only will everybody start to sing along, but they will get out lighters or start swaying or jumping to the music. The main piano riff is probably the most recognizable in all of popular music. The moment the first couple notes are played, everyone knows exactly what song is playing.
I do not mean to say that this song should not be as popular as it is. As it stands, it has so many things that make it wonderful. The sonorous piano, the impressive vocal range of the singer, the plaintive yet hopeful melody, the soaring guitar work, all of this is great. But is it the greatest?
Well... yeah.
By the way, if you have lived under a rock for your entire life and you do not know this song, you can listen to it here.
