Epic song thread.....

Discuss ...

 

You want really epic in scope, it seems, so here are a few that haven't been mentioned:

"Jungleland" by Bruce Springsteen
"November Rain" by Guns 'N' Roses
"Welcome to the Terrordome" by Public Enemy
"When the Levee Breaks" by Led Zeppelin
"Gimme Shelter" by The Rolling Stones
"Murder was the Case" by Snoop Doggy Dogg
"Purple Rain" by Prince
"B.o.B. (Bombs over Baghdad)" by OutKast
"Badlands" by Bruce Springsteen
"What You Know" by T.I.
"Rock 'N' Roll Suicide" by David Bowie
"Death or Glory" by The Clash
"Ordinary Pain" by Stevie Wonder

I'd probably avoid playing any of those at a wedding, though. You might be able to get away with "Purple Rain," "B.o.B." or "What You Know."

 

She Sells Sanctuary - The Cult
Nobody's Fault But Mine - Zep
Black Gold - Soul Asylum
Birth, School, Work, Death - The Godfathers
The Core - Clapton
Post Toastee - Tommy Bolin
Santa Monica - Everclear
A Quick One - The Who

 

"Layla" - Derek and the Dominos

"Sweet Jane" - Lou Reed (Rock and Roll Animal version)

"Red House" - Jimi (Live In The West version)

Pretty much anything on the Allmans Fillmore East album

 

This thread will go on forever, but for me, an "epic" song is at least five minutes long.

Two for the list that meet this criteria...

Papa Was a Rolling Stone - Temptations
Jesus of Suburbia - Green Day

 

It's funny seeing "Rolling In The Deep " making an epic list in the short time it's been out, but it certainly could be there for the long run. It gets regular play from me.

 

I think with the airplay it got, plus the grammy performance, made it a late entry for me. Same with Empire State of Mind. Even though it was released so late, it could have easily made the top 5 list for song of the decade.

I suppose I Will Always Love You should make the cut too. I always hated that song, but it was everywhere.

Add Thriller too.

 

Inagaddadavita (sp?) - Iron Butterfly

End of thread.

 

Enter Sandman. Perfect for a wedding!

 

Probably too mainstream for an epic list, but listening to Hotel California (especially the first few chords) always brings me to a special place.

 

When I think epic songs, I think long songs with contrasts, changing tempos, lots of complex chords, riffs ...

In other words, prog-rock!

A few favorites off the top of my head:

"Dancing With the Moonlit Knight" -- Genesis (these guys have dozens of "epic songs")
"Natural Science" -- RUSH (ditto)
"Jesus of Suburbia" -- Green Day
"... And Justice for All" (the song) -- Metallica
"Bohemian Rhapsody" -- Queen
"Misunderstood" -- Wilco
"Country Girl" Crosby, Stills, Nash and (mostly) Young
"Heroes and Villains" -- The Beach Boys
"It's All Too Much" -- The Beatles

and, last but not least,

"Through the Eyes of Ruby" -- Smashing Pumpkins

 

"End of the Road" -- Boyz II Men
"Paradise By The Dashboard Light" -- Meat Loaf
"Pumped Up Kicks" -- Foster The People (hey, you wanted to get them moving. This will.)
"Daughters" -- John Mayer (father-daughter song for a wedding)
"Shout" -- The Isley Brothers
"Bang A Gong" -- T-Rex
"Everybody Wang Chung" -- Wang Chung
"The Middle" -- Jimmy Eat World
"Just The Way You Are" -- Billy Joel