Bands and their signature songs

[Greenman72]

Every band has one, and only one "signature song".
Your job - tell us ONE band and their signature song.
And you might have to tell us why, because I feel like there will be some differences of opinion.

I'll start with a controversial one:
Guns n' Roses - Sweet Child of Mine

Yeah, they've got lots of hits, but only one #1.
No other song on that album made #1.
Even "November Rain" never made it to #1.
But "Sweet Child of Mine" made it to #1.

 

[KevInDaBassment]

I'll start with an easy one:
Big Country - In a Big Country


It's their only real hit...

 

[Michedelic]

Every band has one, and only one "signature song".
Your job - tell us ONE band and their signature song.
And you might have to tell us why, because I feel like there will be some differences of opinion.

I'll start with a controversial one:
Guns n' Roses - Sweet Child of Mine

Yeah, they've got lots of hits, but only one #1.
No other song on that album made #1.
Even "November Rain" never made it to #1.
But "Sweet Child of Mine" made it to #1.

Being or not being "number one" is kinda irrelevant…only once have I seen King Crimson(with different personnel) where they did not play "21st Century Schizoid Man". I'll be seeing the Psychedelic Furs soon, and in spite of "Love My Way" being the mainstream breakthrough for them, I'd be shocked if I didn't hear "Pretty In Pink", after all, that title got used for a film, and was the tune most associated with them for a long while. Big Star delivered one of, if not the, power pop/jangle pop classic(s), "September Gurls"; if not that, then the Flamin' Groovies' "Shake Some Action". Both perfect examples of a signature tune.

 

[Michedelic]

I'll start with an easy one:
Big Country - In a Big Country


It's their only real hit...

In the U.S. perhaps, but there's the rest of the world, primarily the U.K., out there.

 

[KevInDaBassment]

In the U.S. perhaps, but there's the rest of the world, primarily the U.K., out there.

Fair enough, even "The Hoff" was big in Germany

 

[Michedelic]

Some more…
In the late 80's, I would DJ at a live venue on mid-week nights when there weren't any bookings. The evening wasn't complete until I spun two tunes in paticular…New Order's "Blue Monday", and then although it really had little to do stylistically with the rest of their catalog, "How Soon Is Now" was the song from The Smiths. Hit the strobe light during the solo tremolo guitar, and call it a night.

A signature tune can change, cropping up later in a career…Leonard Cohen was best known for his song "Suzanne", often covered, but decades later, on a grassroots level, due once again to covers, "Hallelujah" became his most notable song. Or it could happen after an artist was dead. English folk artist Nick Drake had been gone for over two decades, leaving a small cult following, but because of a 90's Volkswagen ad featuring his song "Pink Moon" he became all the rage with many Gen X, however his gorgeous "River Man" was the title that resonated with most, his essential work.

 

[steve_ss]

I'm guessing we are leaving out all of the 'one hit wonders'?
Yes - Roundabout
Warren Zevon - Werewolves of London
Clash - London Calling
Beru Revue - I Got a Job

 

[Greenman72]

Yes - Owner of a Lonely Heart

Fixed that for ya.

 

[bitterminnows]

Eloy - Poseidon's Creation

 

[JimmyM]

Winny Puhh—-Meiecundimees uks Korsakov Laks Elle Latti



They lost Estonia's Eurovision Song Contest, but they won the hearts of the world with this lovely song.

 

[Nebadon2000]

I'm guessing we are leaving out all of the 'one hit wonders'?
Yes - Roundabout
Warren Zevon - Werewolves of London
Clash - London Calling
Beru Revue - I Got a Job

Yes, Zevon and the Clash were far from one hit wonders
Lots of Great Bands/Singer songwriters didn't spend lots of time high up on Pop Chsrts
As to OP when I think of G 'N' R
I Hear 'Welcome to the Jungle'

 

[almost human]

Thin Lizzy- "The Boys Are Back In Town"

 

[Pdaddy1978]

When you say Grateful Dead to a non-Deadhead, I'm pretty sure "Truckin" is the first thing they think of.
Even though "Touch of Grey " was a much bigger hit.

 

[smogg]

Lynyrd Skynyrd - Free Bird
Molly hatchet - Flirtin' with Disaster
Outlaws - Green Grass and High Tides
Blackfoot - Train Train
Redbone - Come and Get Your Love
Foghat - I Just Wanna Make Love To You

 

[smogg]

Duran Duran - Rio
Rainbow - man on the silver mountain
Pat Travers - Boom Boom out go the Lights
Nazareth - Hair of the Dog

 

[maverick49]

Rush - Tom Sawyer

 

[maverick49]

FYI probably should move this thread to miscellaneous…

 

[JC Nelson]

Night Ranger - Sister Christian

 

[ultra60]

Signature Song:

Plimsouls - A Million Miles Away

 

[Greenman72]

Rush - Tom Sawyer

Who else agrees with this?
Personally, I'm more of a "Limelight" guy.