5 of the Most Influential Songs of All Time

Plenty of songs through the last century have become major hits and defined the culture in which they were released. Other songs became anthems for change and political unrest. Regardless of where these songs fall, one can’t deny that they were incredibly influential… and still are today. Let’s look at five of the most influential songs of all time!

1. “Fight The Power” by Public Enemy

“Fight The Power” is by far Public Enemy’s most well-known song, and it makes sense why. The 1989 track is a strong, powerful message about unity and, obviously, “fighting the power.” It became an anthem for African Americans (and, really, anyone who has ever been oppressed in the United States) during an age of police brutality and political ambivalence.

2. “I Wanna Hold Your Hand” by The Beatles

This legendary song by The Beatles was released in 1964, and it’s still considered one of the most influential songs of all time. It was the song that many consider to be the one to kick off an entire musical revolution in the 1960s. “I Wanna Hold Your Hand” gave The Beatles the boost they needed to become international superstars. Their performance of the song on the Ed Sullivan Show pulled in a whopping 70 million viewers that year, breaking quite a few records at the time.

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3. “War” by Edwin Starr

This 1970 song was written by Barrett Strong and Norman Whitfield for Edwin Starr. At the time, it was one of the most direct and open musical protests of war that listeners had ever heard. The song was one of the first true protest songs about the Vietnam War, and it’s still used at protests and political rallies to this very day.

4. “Strange Fruit” by Billie Holiday

The incomparable Billie Holiday released “Strange Fruit” in 1939. In a way, it was an even earlier protest song than “War” by Edwin Starr. The song tackled a number of strong themes about police brutality, racism, and the threat of death as an African American in the American South. It’s been called the song of the 20th century, and Billie Holiday’s voice made it all the more powerful.

5. “God Save The Queen” by The Sex Pistols

There have been a lot of punk bands through the years. However, none are quite as recognizable as the Sex Pistols. “God Save The Queen” was released in 1977 on the band’s only album. It was a powerful piece of rebellious work when it came out. The song pushed back on the UK’s politics at a time when young British people were fed up with the state of the country. Today, it’s still a beloved punk anthem that influenced countless rock bands that followed.

Photo by Michael Ochs Archives

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