Rolling Stone magazine's latest list was an update on their 500 Greatest Songs Ever (last published in 2004). As I did with their 2020 all-time albums update, I've decided to list my own favorite songs. While I wasn't a voter, those who did all received a ballot with instructions to rank their favorite songs from 1-50. Unlike that ballot, I've left mine unranked. 32 of my picks made the Top 500.
Just as I found out when doing my albums list, narrowing a lifetime of listening to just 50 songs proved to be an impossible task. See a link below this list for more songs that just missed my Top 50. I've kept this list to one song per artist
Adele - Rolling In The Deep
Aretha Franklin - Respect
Beach Boys - Don't Worry Baby
Beatles - She Loves You
Bee Gees - Stayin' Alive
Bob Dylan - Like A Rolling Stone
Carole King - It's Too Late
Clash - London Calling
Daryl Hall & John Oates - Sara Smile
Dionne Warwick - Walk On By
Donna Summer - I Feel Love
Earth, Wind & Fire - That's The Way Of The World
Elton John - Philadelphia Freedom
Elvis Presley - Jailhouse Rock
Flamingos - I Only Have Eyes For You
Fleetwood Mac - Go Your Own Way
Foreigner - I Want To Know What Love Is
Four Tops - Reach Out I'll Be There
George Jones - He Stopped Loving Her Today
Gladys Knight & The Pips - Midnight Train To Georgia
Glen Campbell - Wichita Lineman
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five - The Message
Hank Williams - I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes - The Love I Lost
Jackie Wilson - (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher
Jackson 5 - I Want You Back
James Taylor - Fire and Rain
Janet Jackson - When I Think Of You
Jerry Lee Lewis - Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On
Joni Mitchell - Help Me
Judy Collins - Both Sides Now
Loretta Lynn - Fist City
Manhattans - Kiss and Say Goodbye
Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell - Ain't No Mountain High Enough
Merle Haggard - Mama Tried
Monkees - Daydream Believer
Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit
Patsy Cline - Crazy
Pet Shop Boys - West End Girls
Prince - When Doves Cry
Righteous Brothers - You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'
Rod Stewart - Maggie May
Rolling Stones - Jumpin' Jack Flash
Sam Cooke - Bring It On Home To Me
Smokey Robinson & The Miracles - Tears Of A Clown
Spinners - Could It Be I'm Falling In Love
Stylistics - You Make Me Feel Brand New
Supremes - Stop! In The Name of Love
Temptations - My Girl
Wilson Pickett - In The Midnight Hour
Here's some more songs that just missed my Top 50.