Songs everyone should know

[Nazulu]

I can think of thousands of songs but one in particular. Second most powerful song I've ever heard is Karn Evil 9 -3rd Impression by Emerson, Lake & Palmer and it should be a well known song but it isn't.

 

[A Weakgeek]

Michael Jackson - Smooth criminal
Elvis - Jailhouse rock

 

[Roxor]

The Pirates of Penzance provides a lyric most redoubtable.
The Major General's Song therein is reckoned Stock Shout Out-able.
And Mr Gilbert's verses as a vehicle for parody,
On many different themes are copied with particularity.
To demonstrate the actor's elocution and acuity,
For ratting through fast-paced tongue twisters with full perspicuity.
Sir Arthur's tune is catchy too, though some can't name the latter's song,
It's still become the model of the modern Filk or Patter Song.

Because the tune in question is so very recognisable,
To make a trope about it is a project not despise-able.
And to be most laconic any sort of Made Of Win-ful song,
Is likely to be based upon the Modern Major General Song.

Yes, I know I read too much TV Tropes. Here's the damn page link. [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/MajorGeneralSong]

In all seriousness, I think common parody sources should be on a list of songs everyone should know, even if they do only know the words to one of the parodies.

 

[CrazyCapnMorgan]

Alice in Chains - Would?
Pantera - Walk
Motorhead - Overkill
Judas Priest - One Shot at Glory
Megadeth - Symphony of Destruction
Foo Fighters - Everlong
Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
Rush - Tom Sawyer, Limelight
Journey - Wheel in the Sky, Lights
Riot - Road Racin'
Winger - Battle Stations
KISS - God Gave Rock & Roll to You
Stone Temple Pilots - Sex Type Thing, Plush, Big Empty, Interstate Love Song
RATM - Killing in the Name Of
Disturbed - Down With the Sickness, Indestructible
Pearl Jam - Even Flow, The Fixer, No Way
Live - I Alone, Lightning Crashes
The Offspring - Bad Habit, You Gotta Keep 'em Separated, Pretty Fly

Excuse the list. I have high expectations of people.

OH, forgot some!

"Weird Al" Yankovic - Dare to be Stupid, Amish Paradise
Stan Bush - Dare, The Touch

 

[Sneeze]

But you don't really care for music, do ya?

I approve, very good call.

Piano man - Billy joel

Bah ninja'd. Love that song. <3

As for others...

 

[Nazz3]

 

[Davey Woo]

Everyone should know at least 2 songs by Queen, I don't care what 2 songs they are, but everyone should know at least 2.

 

[Vibhor]

@ legion
I'm looking for classics. Songs that even 12 year olds should have heard.

Never gonna give you up - Rick Astley
Seemed like the best song to suggest.

 

[Swaggers]

I haven't seen it yet so
Pink Floyd - dark side of the moon

 

[sinsfire]

I hate to be the guy to do this but since we are talking about song titles I have to.

its "Smells like TEEN spirit" by Nirvana
its "What a Wonderful World" by Loius Armstrong

I am correcting these opnly because I agree with them and want them listed so people can find them, not trying to be an ass.

for my own picks I feel like there has to be something from the Rolling Stones but I can't put my finger on what. Probably "Sympathy for the Devil"

Something from Janis Joplin too, maybe "Mercedes Benz", but only if the sarcasm is understood and you don't actually go on believing that she is doing a comercial for them

 

[Bored otter]

Alice in Chains - Would?
Pantera - Walk
Motorhead - Overkill
Judas Priest - One Shot at Glory
Megadeth - Symphony of Destruction
Foo Fighters - Everlong
Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
Rush - Tom Sawyer, Limelight
Journey - Wheel in the Sky, Lights
Riot - Road Racin'
Winger - Battle Stations
KISS - God Gave Rock & Roll to You
Stone Temple Pilots - Sex Type Thing, Plush, Big Empty, Interstate Love Song
RATM - Killing in the Name Of
Disturbed - Down With the Sickness, Indestructible
Pearl Jam - Even Flow, The Fixer, No Way
Live - I Alone, Lightning Crashes
The Offspring - Bad Habit, You Gotta Keep 'em Separated, Pretty Fly

Excuse the list. I have high expectations of people.

OH, forgot some!

"Weird Al" Yankovic - Dare to be Stupid, Amish Paradise
Stan Bush - Dare, The Touch

Not ever going to work, they won't know what hit them. I'm afraid most kids never hear more then what's on the radio.

I do like the list though.

 

[Snake Plissken]

I been looking for a reason to post this for a while now...

 

[Mr_Universal]

-Mad World
-Pretty fly for a white guy (the offspring)It´s not the best song, but everyone knows the song.
-Anything made by Tenacious ´d

most of the other song I could come up with has been suggested already haha

 

[Rough Sausage]

A few songs spring to mind;
More Than A Feeling by Boston,
Hot For Teacher by Van Halen,
Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd,
Are You Gonna Go My Way by Lenny Kravitz,
Welcome To The Jungle/Sweet Child O' Mine by Guns N' Roses,
and last but by no means least, The Boys Are Back In Town by Thin Lizzy.
Hell Yeah.

EDIT: Lot's of epic in this thread. Lots of epic indeed.

 

[Random berk]

Dreams-Van Halen
Paradise City- Gn'R
Thunderstruck- AC/DC
Can I Play With Madness- Iron Maiden
Dr.Feelgood- Motley Crue
Living on a Prayer- Bon Jovi
Pour Some Sugar on Me- Def Leppard
and the list goes on...

 

[meowchef]

Nutshell - Alice in Chains
Black Hole Sun - Soundgarden

 

[Admiral Stukov]

Electric Six with...

(for the age 12 to 17)

oh. Never mind.

Fear of the Dark - Iron Maiden.
Possibly King of Fools - Edguy.

 

[Sam G]

So far, these seem to be almost exclusively rock songs... I know I'm not gonna make any friends with these suggestions, but these are some of the most obviously recognizable songs I can think of off the top of my head:

My Name Is, by Eminem;
Mamma Mia, by ABBA;
Toxic, by Britney Spears;
Numb, by Linkin Park, and
Bohemian Rhapsody, by Queen (yes, I know this one's a rock song, but bloody hell; I couldn't bring myself to exclude it from the list).

I'm not saying I like these songs - I mean, I do, but in the case of some of them I'm not really proud of it - but I reckon the majority of people in the western world will be able to recognize them after about 10 seconds of listening.