20 best British songs

Tannin · September 2023

On Saturday nights, we get on-line with our half-a-world-away relatives to drink rakija and talk bullshit (as you do).

Sometimes we set each other homework and have to come back with lists of ... well, nearly anything. Last week it was "Your Top 20 British Songs". I didn't make notes so I can't tell you their lists, only mine.

Note that a "song" has words. (See any dictionary.) So sadly, Hank B Marvin's sublime Sasha is not a "song" within the meaning of the act. (And yes, we have among our number some legalistic bastard who will bring that up and complain if you try to list an instrumental.)

(Well, OK, me.)

Anyway, here is my top 20 British songs. I could revise it and add to it and it's shocking how many great songs are not included. But what can you do? I can't bear to leave any of these out, so here it is.

20: Golden Brown The Stranglers

19: Rebel Rebel - David Bowie

18: The Logical Song – Supertramp

17: Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress - the Hollies

16: A Whiter Shade of Pale – Procol Harum

15: Nights in White Satin – Moody Blues

14: Wild Horses - Rolling Stones

13: Fire at Midnight - Jethro Tull

12: The Chain - Fleetwood Mac

11: Heroes - David Bowie

10: Let it Grow - Eric Clapton

9: Yesterday - The Beatles

8: Aqualung - Jethro Tull

7: Sultans of Swing - Dire Straits

6: Pretty Vacant - Sex Pistols

5: Paperback Writer - Beatles

4: Sympathy for the Devil - Rolling Stones

3: The Hallelujah Chorus - Handel

2: You Can't Always Get What You Want - Rolling Stones

1: Jerusalem - Sir Hubert Parry & William Blake (arr. Elgar). Must be a proper version (i.e., choir and orchestra) none of this ELP crap thank you.

GoldenEraGuitars · September 2023

I don’t have a complete list to offer right now, but I do know I’d want Oasis “Don’t look back in anger” in there somewhere.

blobb · September 2023

'There is a light that never goes out' must be on there?

but my favourite British song is 'Leslie (A Lone Stick of Wheat)' by Vin Garbutt.

Offset · September 2023

Tannin said:

1: Jerusalem - Sir Hubert Parry & William Blake (arr. Elgar).

One of my late Dad's favourites, and one of mine as it happens. We sang it at his funeral and Dad would have been chuffed to pieces to know that the organist on the day was one of Parry's direct descendants (sadly also now deceased).

ICBM · September 2023

Pedantry: The Chain is not a British song, it's a British-American song. The best *British* Fleetwood Mac song is Man Of The World.

Tannin · September 2023

^ Mistaken pedantry rejected. 60% (3 out of 5) members makes Fleetwood Mac British.

viz · September 2023

Tannin said:

Note that a "song" has words. (See any dictionary.) So sadly, Hank B Marvin's sublime Sasha is not a "song" within the meaning of the act. (And yes, we have among our number some legalistic bastard who will bring that up and complain if you try to list an instrumental.)

If Rachmaninov were British, would we be allowed his Vocalise?

Tannin · September 2023

Luckily, I'n not familiar with it.

(I have never liked the romantic period generally, and Rachmaninov especially.)

viz · September 2023

Tannin said:

Luckily, I'n not familiar with it. (I have never liked the romantic period generally, and Rachmaninov especially.)

Fair enough!

ICBM · September 2023

Tannin said:

^ Mistaken pedantry rejected. 60% (3 out of 5) members makes Fleetwood Mac British.

Pedantry upheld: that incarnation of the band is always described as British-American, and although The Chain is actually credited to all five members - it evolved from a collection of previously written parts - the majority of the parts were written by the Americans, and the *song* part of it (the lyrics) definitely was, specifically Stevie Nicks.

Handel was German too, I missed that

.

(OK, a naturalised British subject later in his life.)

thecolourbox · September 2023

It's actually really hard to do this kind of thing really, it is for me anyway. For example a lot of the songs I like I will gladly accept are not as good as some others which I like less. For example Let It Be is a better song than Tomorrow Never Knows or I Am the Walrus, but I know which of those I listen to more often.

I can imagine the lively discussions having to produce this kind of thing!

Tannin · September 2023

Handel lived in the UK for decades, and composed most of his best work in the UK. The Messiah had its first two performances in occupied Ireland which was part of the UK at the time, with the subsequent ones in London.

stickyfiddle · September 2023

Nice idea for a thread. Though I'm dismayed by the OP's list. 2 Stones tracks and neither are their best, and The Chain is definitely not a "British Song" imo. I won't even get into Tull, Clapton & Supertramp, which are all just odd imo.

Anyway, my suggestions, in no particular order:

Don't Look Back In Anger - Oasis
The Universal - Blur
Bittersweet Symphony - The Verve (even though I prefer several others, this is the best)
Common People - Pulp
Fake Plastic Trees - Radiohead
Here Comes The Sun - The Beatles
While My Guitar Gently Weeps - The Beatles
My Generation - The Who
Satisfaction - Rolling Stones (again I like others more but this is the best)
Sweet Dreams (are made of this) - Eurythmics
Live & Let Die - Paul McCartney
Under Pressure - Queen & Bowie
Romeo & Juliet - Dire Straits
Let's Dance - Bowie
All Right Now - Free
Love Will Tear Us Apart - Joy Divison
This Charming Man - The Smiths
The Whole of the Moon - The Waterboys
Angels - Robbie Williams
Merry Xmas Everyone - Slade

RocknRollDave · September 2023

@stickyfiddle people will query Queen as a British band.

stickyfiddle · September 2023

RocknRollDave said:

@stickyfiddle people will query Queen as a British band.

Well good luck to them...

From Wikipedia...

"As Zanzibar was a British protectorate until 1963, Mercury was born a British subject, and on 2 June 1969 was registered a citizen of the United Kingdom and colonies after the family had emigrated to England."

idiotwindow · September 2023

RocknRollDave said:

@stickyfiddle people will query Queen as a British band.

Which people?

idiotwindow · September 2023

Incidentally, there is a world of difference between a list of 20 favourite British songs (which is what the OP's list is) and a list that attempts to list (as objectively as possible) a list of the best British songs. No reasonably objective list will have Clapton's Let it Grow or The Hollies' Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress anywhere near it. The latter isn't even in a top 20 list of the best songs by The Hollies.

Tannin · September 2023

idiotwindow said:

No reasonably objective list will have Clapton's Let it Grow or The Hollies' Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress anywhere near it. The latter isn't even in a top 20 list of the best songs by The Hollies.

Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress, quite so. Just a personal favourite.

Let it Grow, however, is one of the best dozen love songs ever written anywhere. Yes it comes from Clapton, but that's not the song's fault.

CHRISB50 · September 2023

I can’t see any (electronic) dance music in these lists.

A scene which we’ve lead the world for years.

I know it’s a guitar forum, but ignoring British electronic music is a blinkered approach.

Shame on you

WYNIR0 · September 2023

no "just like heaven" by The Cure? Fail.

WYNIR0 · September 2023

RocknRollDave said:

@stickyfiddle people will query Queen as a British band.

Crazy people?

distressed · September 2023

Tannin said:

to drink rakija

Which kind?

stickyfiddle · September 2023

WYNIR0 said:

no "just like heaven" by The Cure? Fail.

I was *this close* to putting it on mine - honest!

SpoonMan · September 2023

Tannin said:

On Saturday nights, we get on-line with our half-a-world-away relatives to drink rakija and talk bullshit (as you do).

Sometimes we set each other homework and have to come back with lists of ... well, nearly anything. Last week it was "Your Top 20 British Songs". I didn't make notes so I can't tell you their lists, only mine.

Note that a "song" has words. (See any dictionary.) So sadly, Hank B Marvin's sublime Sasha is not a "song" within the meaning of the act. (And yes, we have among our number some legalistic bastard who will bring that up and complain if you try to list an instrumental.)

(Well, OK, me.)

Anyway, here is my top 20 British songs. I could revise it and add to it and it's shocking how many great songs are not included. But what can you do? I can't bear to leave any of these out, so here it is.

20: Golden Brown The Stranglers
19: Rebel Rebel - David Bowie
18: The Logical Song – Supertramp
17: Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress - the Hollies
16: A Whiter Shade of Pale – Procol Harum

15: Nights in White Satin – Moody Blues
14: Wild Horses - Rolling Stones
13: Fire at Midnight - Jethro Tull
12: The Chain - Fleetwood Mac
11: Heroes - David Bowie

10: Let it Grow - Eric Clapton
9: Yesterday - The Beatles
8: Aqualung - Jethro Tull
7: Sultans of Swing - Dire Straits
6: Pretty Vacant - Sex Pistols

5: Paperback Writer - Beatles
4: Sympathy for the Devil - Rolling Stones
3: The Hallelujah Chorus - Handel
2: You Can't Always Get What You Want - Rolling Stones
1: Jerusalem - Sir Hubert Parry & William Blake (arr. Elgar). Must be a proper version (i.e., choir and orchestra) none of this ELP crap thank you.

Yup, totally agree those are definitely the best British songs ever.

Kilgore · September 2023

So you like that Steps song. There's no shame in it. What would Chris do?

Reverend · September 2023

Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath
Judas Priest - Dreamer Deceiver/Deceiver
Iron Maiden - 22 Acacia Avenue
Napalm Death - Evolved As One
Madness - Our House
Groundhogs - Cherry Red
Carcass - Exhume To Consume
Leatherface - Not A Day Goes By
UFO - Doctor Doctor
Deep Purple - Child In TIme
Led Zeppelin - Out On The Tiles
The Specials - Ghost Town
Budgie - Breadfan
Echo And The Bunnymen - The Killing Moon
Angel Witch - Angel Witch
Rolling Stones - Sympathy For The Devil (a touch one as loads of killer songs to choose from in the 60s)
The Beatles - Elenor Rigby
Hawkwind - The Psychedelic Warlords
Edgar Broughton Band - Evening Over Rooftops
Sabbat - Hosana In Excelsior

Sporky · September 2023

April Skies - the Jesus And Mary Chain
I Am The Message - Fightstar
Can't Be Sure - The Sundays
Push - The Cure
Open Wound - Svalbard
All Of Us - Slowdive
Two More Years - Bloc Party
Hold/Release - Palm Reader
If I Sit Still, Maybe I'll Get Out Of Here - This Town Needs Guns
Dogstar - Hybrid
Jonny Sniper - Enter Shikari
Silver - Hundred Reasons
Lucrecia My Reflection - Sisters of Mercy
Stolen Car - Beth Orton
UFOs - Amplifier
Women Who Love Men Who Love Drugs - Oceansize
High Spirits - Conjurer & Pjin
Never Lose That Feeling, Never Learn - Swervedriver
Gorecki - Lamb
Cover Me - Sunscreem (but the version from Ten Mile Bank)

Offset · September 2023

Reverend said:

Angel Witch - Angel Witch

My word! I remember their track 'Baphomet' from the 'Metal For Muthas' album released in c.1980. I even went to see them (they were crap).

Front Cover Photo Of VARIOUS ARTISTS - Metal for Muthas Iron Maiden NWOBHM 12 LP ALBUM VINYL

Front Cover Photo Of VARIOUS ARTISTS - Metal for Muthas Iron Maiden NWOBHM 12 LP ALBUM VINYL

Reverend · September 2023

Baphomet is a killer song. They were too heavy for the time, got loads of stick from the press but massively influential with the likes of Metallica and Megadeth, as well the whole black and death metal scenes later on.

Saw them in the late 90s and then seen them loads since they came back about 15 years ago.

Sporky · September 2023

WYNIR0 said:

no "just like heaven" by The Cure? Fail.

Not when they also did "Push".

I'm not sure Just Like Heaven is even one of the Cure's best twenty songs. Though it is better than most of the things on most of the lists posted thus far...

etc

GoFish · September 2023

You Really Got Me

Dedicated Follower of Fashion

Lola

Tired of Waiting for You

Shangri-La

The End of the Day

Picture Book

Apeman

All Day and all of the Night

Waterloo Sunset

Life on Mars

Queen Bitch

Alladin Sane

Suffragette City

TVC15

Young Americans

Modern Love

Ashes to Ashes

Space Obbity

Lady Stardust

But also...

War Pigs

Sabbath Bloody Sabbath

Paranoid

NIB

Snowblind

No Good

Voodoo People

Out of Space

Everybody in the Place

Fire

London is the Place for Me

Jump in the Line

Steel Band Music

Shame and Scandal

Kitch Come go to Bed

That's 5 artists. Over 30 Songs. I'm doing this wrong.

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20 best British songs

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