Artists with 2 competing signature songs.

Some performers many people only know by these two songs:
The Beau Brummels: Laugh Laugh and Just A Little
Bob Welch: Sentimental Lady and Ebony Eyes
Sugarloaf: Green Eyed Lady and Don't Call Us
The Left Banke: Walk Away Renee and Pretty Ballerina

Some performers with many known songs, but two that would easily be the ones most casual fans would know:
Dire Straits: Sultans Of Swing and Money For Nothing
Pink Floyd: Money and Another Brick In The Wall
Ramones: I Wanna Be Sedated and Blitzkrieg Bop

Artists with many songs, but two that are clearly their best:
Ringo Starr: It Don't Come Easy and Photograph
Janis Ian: Society's Child and At 17

Steppenwolf's Born To Be Wild and Magic Carpet Ride, mentioned by another poster, may be the best example of all!

 

Stray Cats - "Rock This Town" and "Stray Cat Strut"
The Clash - "London Calling" and "Rock the Casbah"
Barclay James Harvest "Poor Man's Moody Blues" and "Mockingbird"
The Moody Blues "Go Now" and "Nights in White Satin"
Pete Best - "My Bonnie" and "Love Me Do" (6 June 1962)
Paul McCartney (solo) "Maybe I'm Amazed" and "Band on the Run"
Ringo Starr (solo) - It Don't Come Easy" and "Photograph"
George Harrison (solo) - My Sweet Lord" and "Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)"
John Lennon (solo) - "Imagine" and "Give Peace a Chance"

 

John Lennon
Imagine and Happy Xmas

 

"Can You Feel the Love" gets its most love from the younger EJ crowd. If you're under 40, it's gonna rank higher!

"Your Song" is like "Space Oddity": it was the artist's first hit and established itself as the "signature song" so long ago that it's impossible to dislodge. EJ could never play it again and it'd still be his sig song.

Bowie did bail on "Space Oddity" - he only played it maybe 2 or 3 times between 1990 and 2004 - and yet it still remained the easy winner in his poll!

Yeah, that one entered the conversation. You could throw in "Brown Sugar" or "Only R&R" or some others, too.

I still go with "Satisfaction" and "JJF" for the reason I described with "Space Oddity" and "Your Song". Those 2 Stones songs were established as the "big ones" for eons!

 

I think i would put ''Rain On The Scarecrow'' ahead of Hurt and the three above, partly because of it's association with Farm Aid, and because it's a much better song overall.

 

My list of true contenders as Stones "sig songs:

"Satisfaction"
"JJF"
"Brown Sugar"
"Honky Tonk"
"Sympathy"
"You Can't Always Get..."
"Gimme Shelter"
"Start Me Up"
"IORR"
"Miss You"

That's off the top of my head, so it might not be perfect.

Still go with "JJF" and "Satisfaction" for the reason you mention.

Though one could argue "Midnight Rambler" has become their live signature song!

 

It is a better song, but it's hard to top the "first big hit factor", IMO - and that was "Hurts So Good"...

 

Probably mentioned, the Waterboys have "Whole Of The Moon" and "Fisherman's Blues". Both great songs but there's so many that are every bit as great and quite a few that are better. Then again these are among the few Waterboys tunes that are less than six minutes...

 

Yes!
Tiny Tim- Tiptoe Through The Tulips
So good, he only needs one signature song!

 

Good pick for Dire Straits!

I might toss "Comfortably Numb" into the Floyd mix - I kinda feel like it's become ubiquitous in recent years and may have surpassed "Brick"...

 

Not mentioned:

Village People: "YMCA" and "In the Navy"!

 

Strictly speaking, those are normally thought of as "the same song." Plus, I would guess that most people think of "Bohemian Rhapsody" before either of them.

I think the Stones have too many to count. I'm sure there would be some who would say "Jumpin' Jack Flash" or "Brown Sugar" would belong in that group. Others might cite "Gimme Shelter," "Street Fightin' Man," "Ruby Tuesday," "Start Me Up"...the list would go on and on.

I don't think I've ever heard "Black Night" get radio airplay, for one.

"Space Oddity," yes -- but I think many would pick "Rebel Rebel," "Let's Dance," "Changes," "Young Americans," "Suffragette City, " or "Fame" above "Heroes."

 

Outside of Britain, it's definitely "This Woman's Work" and "Running..."

 

Blue Oyster Cult-"(Don't Fear) the Reaper" and "Burnin' for You"

 

Yep, but that's a totally different 'Dream On'.

 

Michael Jackson has a few: Thriller-Billie Jean-Dont Stop Til You Get Enough

Same with Bowie: Heroes-Life On Mars-Starman-Space Oddity

Neil Young: Old Man & Heart Of Gold

Dylan: Rolling Stone & Times

 

Aerosmith - "Dream On" & "Walk This Way"

 

Kansas

Carry on Wayward Son
Dust in the Wind

 

Generally everyone knows Queen's stadium songs more than 'Bohemian Rhapsody' though.

I was just writing what's popping out of my head. Generally the Stones have too many signature songs, like the Beatles.

Well, shame. It was overplayed in Germany for a while.

For people who occasionally listen to Bowie, 'Heroes' and 'Space Oddity' (and maybe 'Under Pressure' ft. Queen) will do a fine job already.^^

 

I know just messin with ya

 

I don't think the Rolling Stones really fits the description of an artist with 2 competing signature songs. If you were to do a survey of their hypothetical "2 signature songs," everyone would pick "Satisfaction," but the 2nd song would be a variety of responses that could include, but would not be limited to "Start Me Up," "Paint It Black," "Jumpin' Jack Flash," "Gimme Shelter," "You Can't Always Get What You Want," "Sympathy for the Devil," "Brown Sugar," "Honky Tonk Women," etc. It seems pretty obvious to me that the Rolling Stones' signature song is "Satisfaction," and is not in competition with any other song.

I think Queen also fits in a same category as the Stones in that regard. "Bohemian Rhapsody" has to be their signature hit, and a strong case could be made for a runner-up slot for either "Another One Bites the Dust," "We Will Rock You," "We Are the Champions," and "Crazy Little Thing Called Love."

In my mind, one of the best examples of an artist with 2 competing signature songs on equal levels would be Lynyrd Skynyrd, with "Free Bird" and "Sweet Home Alabama." I also think the Righteous Brothers are a perfect example ("Unchained Melody" vs. "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'").

As for the Prince debate, I would say "When Doves Cry" and "Purple Rain" are his 2 signature songs.

As for solo Beatles, Paul and Ringo I think have co-signature songs ("Band on the Run"/"Maybe I'm Amazed" and "Photograph"/"It Don't Come Easy," respectfully), but John and George's signature songs are very clearly "Imagine" and "My Sweet Lord."

There are some artists whose signature song is more vague, and you could make a strong argument for 5 or more songs (The Beatles, Elvis Presley, U2, etc.)

A few others that could be considered co-signature songs:

• Marvin Gaye - "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" vs. "What's Going On"
• Jimi Hendrix - "Purple Haze" vs. "All Along the Watchtower"
• Buddy Holly - "That'll Be the Day" vs. "Peggy Sue"
• James Brown - "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" vs. "I Got You (I Feel Good)"
• Jerry Lee Lewis - "Great Balls of Fire" vs. "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On"
• Arcade Fire - "Wake Up" vs. "Rebellion (Lies)"
• Everly Brothers - "Bye Bye Love" vs. "All I Have to Do Is Dream"
• Jefferson Airplane - "White Rabbit" vs. "Somebody to Love"
• James Taylor - "Fire and Rain" vs. "You've Got a Friend"
• Crosby, Stills, Nash (& Young) - "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" vs. "Ohio"
• Little Richard - "Tutti Frutti" vs. "Good Golly Miss Molly" (vs. "Long Tall Sally"?)
• Bob Dylan - "Like a Rolling Stone" vs. "Blowin' in the Wind" (although I'm pretty sure most would consider LIRS his signature)

I think AC/DC is in a three-way race with "Back in Black," "Highway to Hell" and "You Shook Me All Night Long."

I think Aerosmith also has a three-way race between "Walk This Way," "Sweet Emotion" and "Dream On."

 

YMCA all the way. Despite being huge in its day I feel In the Navy is forgotten. Macho Man is a maybe. But really, YMCA is their sig.

 

Where's 'TNT'?

 

'Go West' could be a candidate, thanks to the Pet Shop Boys.^^

 

I love the PSB version. I almost think more people connect the song to PSB than the Village People.