Using data, computer scientist and musician Dr. Mick Grierson from Goldsmiths, University of London looked at songs featured in ‘all time best’ lists. After some analysis, it showed that most of the songs had around 500 beats, and most of the chord changes were low too. Check it out:
“Best Of My Love,” The Emotions
“River Deep Mountain High,” Ike and Tina Turner
“A Change Is Gonna Come,” Sam Cooke
“When Doves Cry,” Prince
“Dancing In The Street,” Martha Reeves and the Vandellas
“My Generation,” The Who
“You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling,” The Righteous Brothers
“God Only Knows,” The Beach Boys
“Sultans of Swing,” Dire Straits
“What’d I Say,” Ray Charles
“Gimme Shelter,” The Rolling Stones
“Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag,” James Brown
“Stand by Me,” Ben E. King
“A Day in the Life.” The Beatles
“Every Breath You Take,” The Police
“Hallelujah,” Jeff Buckley
“No Woman No Cry,” Bob Marley
Jonny B Good,” Chuck Berry
“Yesterday,” The Beatles
“Purple Haze,” Jimi Hendrix
“Good Vibrations,” The Beach Boys
“Dancing Queen,” ABBA
“Family Affair,” Sky and the Family Stone
“Respect,” Aretha Franklin
“Bridge Over Troubled Water,” Simon & Garfunkel
“Creep,” Radiohead
“Be My Baby,” The Ronettes
“Born to Run,” Bruce Springsteen
“What’s Going On,” Marvin Gaye
“Over the Rainbow,” Judy Garland
“Heartbreak Hotel,” Elvis Presley
“Life on Mars,” David Bowie
“I Will Always Love You,” Whitney Houston
“Live Forever,” Oasis
“The Twist,” Chubby Checker
“Stairway to Heaven,” Led Zeppelin
“Your Song,” Elton John
“Hotel California,” The Eagles
“Waterloo Sunset,” The Kinks
“London Calling,” The Clash
“Sweet Child O’ Mine,” Guns N’ Roses
“God Save the Queen,” Sex Pistols
“I Can’t Get No Satisfaction,” Rolling Stones
“Like a Rolling Stone,” Bob Dylan
“Hey Jude,” The Beatles
“Bohemian Rhapsody,” Queen
“Billie Jean,” Michael Jackson
“One,” U2
“Imagine,” John Lennon
And the big winner is… “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” by Nirvana.
All of this was commissioned by FIAT so they could utilize the information to select a song to promote their new car.