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| 4 | %% Image removed per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1453601889048403800 |
| 5 | %% Due to the nature of this trope, finding a proper image will be very tricky. |
| 6 | %% Thus, do not add an image to this page without discussing it in Image Pickin' first. |
| 7 | %% |
| 8 | %% Administrivia/ZeroContextExample entries are not allowed on wiki pages. All such entries have been commented out. Add context to the entries before uncommenting them. |
| 9 | %% |
| 10 | This is a music trope for the (usually) one song by an artist that everyone knows. It doesn't matter how people know the song -- maybe it was all over the radio, maybe it was used in a movie, maybe it was used in a TV show, maybe it was used for an ad that got played over and over and over again -- but people know it. |
| 11 | |
| 12 | These songs tend to be songs with an EpicRiff; they can also be {{Black Sheep Hit}}s. It's also possible for an artist to have more than one Signature Song, especially one for two or more distinct phases of their career. Whatever the case, these songs are very likely to be SugarWiki/{{awesome|Music}}. |
| 13 | |
| 14 | Some of the more rabid members of the artist's {{fandom}} may accuse one of not being a [[FandomHeresy true fan]] for disliking the artist's Signature Song, even if said person may like every other song that the artist has recorded -- or, inversely, liking the Signature Song more than what {{Fanon}} considers the artist's "real best work". |
| 15 | |
| 16 | Sometimes the signature song isn't the artist's biggest hit (see ChartDisplacement). It also doesn't necessarily run in line with their SignatureStyle (see BlackSheepHit). |
| 17 | |
| 18 | The song can also be famous due to its inclusion in a certain work. The songs that are {{pothole}}d are examples of these. |
| 19 | |
| 20 | If they made an appearance in ''VideoGame/GuitarHero'' or ''VideoGame/RockBand'', it's probably this song. If the artist was a composer of ClassicalMusic, the song is probably a StandardSnippet now. |
| 21 | |
| 22 | In earlier times, such as the 1930s and 1940s, it was not uncommon for a band or singer to open their set with their signature song or at least a few bars of it, especially when they appeared on radio. With the advent of television talk shows, it also became common for the studio band to play a few bars from the artist's signature song as he or she walked onstage. |
| 23 | |
| 24 | To stop people from leaving at gigs after they've heard the song,[[note]]as what happened ''a lot'' to Music/{{Radiohead}} with their song "Creep" from ''Music/PabloHoney'' before they developed a larger fandom[[/note]] these songs are normally played live either at the end of the main set or during the encore. Not performing it at all may result in an IconicSongRequest. Some artists or bands will actually avert playing their signature at all. Be it because they consider it an OldShame, a target of MisaimedFandom, because they would rather try out some deep cuts on that tour, or any other reason. |
| 25 | |
| 26 | Some musicians arguably avert this by having several equally famous hit songs; Music/TheBeatles, Music/MichaelJackson and Music/ElvisPresley being three prominent examples. As such, if they'd left off one of their hits from a show it wouldn't have been such an obvious oversight. That said, certainly some of their songs are more identified with them than others. A BlackSheepHit is somewhat more likely to fall victim to this, for obvious reasons. |
| 27 | |
| 28 | Occasionally, an artist can have a signature song that is eventually usurped by another song (although this could be temporary). It's also possible for an artist to have different signature songs in different countries. Additionally, one could have different signatures songs for different audiences. Though a rare occurrence, it's possible for two different artists to have the same signature song. |
| 29 | |
| 30 | Signature songs may be slightly different from region to region, as well. |
| 31 | |
| 32 | See OneHitWonder for an extreme case of this trope. Not to be confused with {{Leitmotif}} or CharacterSignatureSong, which is about signature songs sang by fictional characters. |
| 33 | ---- |
| 34 | |
| 35 | [[index]] |
| 36 | * SignatureSong/ProfessionalWrestling |
| 37 | [[/index]] |
| 38 | |
| 39 | [[foldercontrol]] |
| 40 | |
| 41 | [[folder:Advertising]] |
| 42 | %%* Portuguese television service NOS uses {{Music/Queen}}'s "Don't Stop Me Now" for all of their advertisements. |
| 43 | * Ride/SixFlags -- Vengaboys' "We Like to Party" has become synonymous with the franchise due to its usage in the memorable and highly memetic "It's Playtime" commercial from 2004. |
| 44 | [[/folder]] |
| 45 | |
| 46 | [[folder:Anime and Manga]] |
| 47 | * AwesomeMusic/IchiroMizuki: Despite his 50 year long career and a discography of over 1,200 songs, up until his passing of December of 2022 his most famous hit was the the opening of ''Anime/MazingerZ'', the one that catapulted him to fame. He would often begin or end a concert with Mazinger Z, and it wasn't unusual for him to begin with it and then sing it again at the end as an encore. |
| 48 | * ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'' has two choices for songs most strongly associated with the series: Music/{{Yes}}' "Roundabout", the RealSongThemeTune for the first season, and "il vento d'oro", the ThemeMusicPowerUp from Part 5. Both became ''huge'' memes, making them extremely memorable to anyone with any amount of familiarity with ''[=JoJo=]''. |
| 49 | * ''Anime/{{Macross}}'': |
| 50 | ** ''Anime/SuperDimensionFortressMacross'': [[Creator/MariIijima Lynn Minmay]] -- "Do You Remember Love", which not only shares its name with the CompilationMovie and features heavily in the climax, but has gone on to become of the most iconic songs in the entire franchise. Not only does it play a major role in the climax of the anime version of ''Anime/MacrossFrontier'', it was also re-recorded by the casts of ''Frontier'' and ''Delta'' for the 40th Anniversary album. |
| 51 | ** ''Anime/MacrossFrontier'': |
| 52 | *** [[Music/MayNakabayashi Sheryl Nome]] -- "Diamond Crevasse", which she sings during a major MusicForCourage moment in the anime and the first CompilationMovie and has become iconic among fans for marking a major shift in Sheryl's character development. |
| 53 | *** [[Creator/MegumiNakajima Ranka Lee]] -- "Seikan Hikou" has become memetic for its prominent usage of Ranka's Kira pose. It has become popular enough that many Nico Nico Douga mashups will feature it. Many people have gone on to WatchItForTheMeme because of this song and the gesture, and referencing both has become a common StockShoutOut to the franchise in Japanese media. |
| 54 | *** "Diamond Crevasse" and "Seikan Hikou" are so iconic of their respective singers that not only did JUNNA and Minori Suzuki (the singing voices for Mikumo and Freyja in ''Anime/MacrossDelta'') cover them (the latter song even being sung by a young Freyja in a flashback), but they also got the chance to duet them with both May'n and Megumi Nakajima respectively when they guest starred in one of Walkure's concerts. |
| 55 | *** For both of the IdolSinger[=s=] -- "Lion", the second opening, has become iconic for its usage in the various fight scenes in the anime and CompilationMovie[=s=]. Like the aforementioned "Seikan Hikou", it features in many different Nico Nico Douga mashups. |
| 56 | ** ''Anime/MacrossDelta'': |
| 57 | *** [[Creator/MinoriSuzuki Freyja Wion]] -- "Rune ga Pikatto Hikattara", the first ED, which debuted near the top of the Oricon charts and for a brief time was the number one song on the Japanese [=iTunes=] store. One might even argue it can be viewed as the SignatureSong for Walkure as a whole, as its [[SuspiciouslySimilarSong resemblance to]] Music/EarthWindAndFire's "September" has not lead to several different mashups on Website/YouTube, but has led many people around the internet to WatchItForTheMeme. |
| 58 | *** [[Music/{{JUNNA}} Mikumo Guynemer]] -- "Ikenai Borderline", which is another iconic song from Walkure that plays during prominent moments in the series, but is more associated with Mikumo due to it matching her mature and alluring nature. |
| 59 | * While ''Anime/PokemonTheSeries'' has had several theme songs over the years, two in particularly are easily the most iconic, "Mezase Pokémon Master" from the original Japanese version, and the aptly named "Pokémon Theme" from the English dub. Both were the [[FirstInstallmentWins first theme songs used for their respective versions]], and both have received more covers, both official and unofficial, then any other song. |
| 60 | [[/folder]] |
| 61 | |
| 62 | [[folder:Asian Animation]] |
| 63 | * ''Animation/PleasantGoatAndBigBigWolf'' has had a lot of different theme songs over its run, but the original theme from season 1 is still the most popular song from the show. The original theme song is still associated with ''Pleasant Goat'' several years after the show began using different theme songs. This might be because the original theme song is still used here and there, just in the closing instead of the opening. |
| 64 | [[/folder]] |
| 65 | |
| 66 | [[folder:Comic Books]] |
| 67 | %%* ''ComicBook/TheAvengers'' -- The theme tune from the ''Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse'' films. |
| 68 | * ''ComicBook/{{Batman}}'' -- The TitleThemeTune from [[Series/Batman1966 the 1960s TV show]] and Creator/DannyElfman's composition from [[Film/Batman1989 the 1989 film]] are equally cherished among the fandom. And while Music/HansZimmer's composition for ''Film/TheDarkKnightTrilogy'' has its fans, the two aforementioned themes are the most ingrained in pop culture. |
| 69 | %%* ''ComicBook/CaptainAmerica'' -- The theme from the Captain America segments of ''WesternAnimation/TheMarvelSuperHeroes'', though the Alan Silvestri theme from his solo movies are gaining traction. |
| 70 | %%* ''ComicBook/{{Deadpool}}'' -- The rap from [[VideoGame/{{Deadpool}} the video game]]. |
| 71 | %%* ''ComicBook/TheFlash'' -- "The Fastest Man Alive", the theme tune from [[Series/TheFlash2014 the 2010s TV series]]. |
| 72 | %%* ''ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk'' has had the Lonely Man theme follow him since [[Series/TheIncredibleHulk1977 the 70s show]]. |
| 73 | %%* ''ComicBook/IronMan'' has the song (or more accurately, the riff) from the song of the same name by Music/BlackSabbath. The RatedMForManly TitleThemeTune of the [[WesternAnimation/IronManTheAnimatedSeries 1994 cartoon series]]' second season is also a contender. |
| 74 | %%* ''ComicBook/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica'' -- The theme tune from [[WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague the 2000s cartoon]]. |
| 75 | %%* ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'' -- The TitleThemeTune from [[WesternAnimation/SpiderMan1967 the 1967 cartoon]]. Contenders for second place are [[WesternAnimation/SpiderManTheAnimatedSeries the 90s cartoon theme]] or Music/DannyElfman's score from the ''Film/SpiderManTrilogy''. |
| 76 | %%* ''ComicBook/{{Superman}}'' -- Music/JohnWilliams' composition from [[Film/SupermanTheMovie the 1978 film]] is widely regarded as the character's definitive theme. |
| 77 | %%* ''ComicBook/WonderWoman'' -- Originally the TitleThemeTune from [[Series/WonderWoman1975 the 1970s TV show]] until it was eventually supplanted by "Is She With You?", the character's {{Leitmotif}} in the Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse. |
| 78 | %%* ''ComicBook/XMen'' -- Both the theme tune from [[WesternAnimation/XMenTheAnimatedSeries the 1990s cartoon]] and the one from [[Film/X2XMenUnited the second film]] are highly regarded. |
| 79 | [[/folder]] |
| 80 | |
| 81 | [[folder:Comic Strips]] |
| 82 | * ''ComicStrip/TheAddamsFamily'' -- [[https://youtu.be/cfawtDT945o?si=iAYLu3ofQtIGGv9Q the theme song]] from the [[Series/TheAddamsFamily 1960s series]] is so notoriously catchy that it has been used as the theme song of pretty much every adaptation of the comic. |
| 83 | * ''ComicStrip/{{Peanuts}}'' -- "Linus and Lucy", the BootstrappedTheme of the animated specials. Its two most famous uses are in the opening scene to ''WesternAnimation/ItsTheGreatPumpkinCharlieBrown'' (where Linus and Lucy take the pumpkin home from the pumpkin patch) and the [[EverybodyDoTheEndlessLoop oft-parodied dancing scene]] in ''WesternAnimation/ACharlieBrownChristmas''. |
| 84 | [[/folder]] |
| 85 | |
| 86 | [[folder:Fan Works]] |
| 87 | * ''Fanfic/SOSchip'': |
| 88 | ** [[Music/{{Oasis}} "Don't Look Back in Anger."]]. It's used as prominent BackgroundMusic in many episodes of the series, is sung in the episode "Hype Derailed", and in the original fanfic the song is performed multiple times. Several other contenders are [[GratuitousJapanese "Yonen wa Shinu"]], Music/NineInchNails' "The Four of Us Are Dying" WithLyrics -- and most notably "La Mer", also by Music/NineInchNails. |
| 89 | %%** In terms of ''original'' songs from ''[=SOSchip=]'', though, the Signature Song here is undoubtedly "Pride Yourself", Absent's power ballad from the MusicalEpisode "Hostile California". |
| 90 | [[/folder]] |
| 91 | |
| 92 | [[folder:Films -- Live Action]] |
| 93 | * ''Arrival to Earth'' is ''the'' most enjoyed track from the ''Film/TransformersFilmSeries'', and one of the few parts of the series that is universally agreed to be amazing. Fans were ''very'' happy when a portion of it was heard during the final action sequence of ''Film/TransformersRiseOfTheBeasts''. |
| 94 | [[/folder]] |
| 95 | |
| 96 | [[folder:Films -- Animation]] |
| 97 | * "Let It Go" is invariably associated with ''WesternAnimation/Frozen2013'' over its other songs, being from the film's most beloved and parodied scene; its official [=YouTube=] uploads have amassed millions, if not ''billions'' of views. |
| 98 | * Creator/JenniferSaunders's cover of "Holding Out for a Hero" is the most iconic song from ''WesternAnimation/Shrek2'', from the film's most iconic scene. It's more associated with this film than its original artist. |
| 99 | * ''WesternAnimation/TheSuperMarioBrosMovie'' at one point features a scene where Bowser sings a VillainLoveSong called "Peaches", about his crush Princess Peach. The song quickly became regarded as a highlight of the film, with many "'Peaches', but every time he says 'Peaches', X happens" memes being made out of it shortly after the film released. |
| 100 | * For ''WesternAnimation/TurningRed'', Music/{{Finneas}} and Music/BillieEilish wrote "U Know What’s Up" to be this for 4*Town. The [[WordOfGod producer]], Lindsey Collins describes it as being written to be, InUniverse, "a hit song that everybody knows". |
| 101 | * "[[VillainSong It's Our House Now]]" is by far the most remembered thing from the ''WesternAnimation/HouseOfMouse'' straight to video movie ''WesternAnimation/MickeysHouseOfVillains'', which features all the animated Disney Villains singing as they take over the titular club. |
| 102 | [[/folder]] |
| 103 | |
| 104 | [[folder:Live-Action TV]] |
| 105 | * ''Series/InaiInaiBaa'': |
| 106 | ** "Guruguru Dokkan!", the 2003-2011 exercise song, is by far the most popular song of that type on the show. It was so popular that several post-2011 ''Inai Inai Baa!''-related media have included the song. |
| 107 | ** The most popular U-Tan Puppet Show song is "Toire de su", the [[ToiletTrainingPlot toilet-training song]]. Toys that play it have been made, and it was one of the few U-Tan Puppet Show songs to be used in the LiveOnStage shows. |
| 108 | ** "Tonton Tomato Chan" is the most popular song segment that doesn't fall into a particular category. Its' popularity among the target audience of the show lead to a sequel song, a short segment that played during the show itself and even a book adaptation. |
| 109 | * ''Series/OkaasanToIssho'': |
| 110 | ** "Dango San Kyoudai" was this in the 1990's era, to the point where the CD single became one of the top-selling singles of all time in Japan. There was also a ton of merchandise based on the song as well as a short based on it that played during episodes of the show. |
| 111 | ** Despite [[NewerThanTheyThink first appearing on the show in 2006]], "Boyoyon Koushin Kyouku" has become the most popular song from ''Okaasan To Issho'', spawning many unoffical and official covers. It's also one of the few non-exercise songs on the show to have an extended version. |
| 112 | * ''Series/WandaVision'' has plenty of musical themes, but the most notable one is "Agatha All Along" since it is the only song from the show to top the iTunes charts as well as the fact that the song has received a large amount of MemeticMutation. |
| 113 | [[/folder]] |
| 114 | |
| 115 | [[folder:Music]] |
| 116 | * 12 Stones -- "[[Wrestling/TheNexus We Are One]]" or "Broken"; however, the most famous song that the band was ever involved in by far is lead singer Paul [=McCoy=] in "[[Music/{{Evanescence}} Bring Me to Life]]" |
| 117 | * 4 Non Blondes -- "What's Up". |
| 118 | * Music/ThreeOhThree -- "Don't Trust Me" could be considered, but their single "Starstrukk" with Music/KatyPerry was a massive hit. |
| 119 | * Music/FiftyCent -- "In Da Club" or "Candy Shop" are always associated as the first songs you think of. |
| 120 | * Music/{{Aaliyah}} -- "One in a Million", "Are You that Somebody", or "Try Again". |
| 121 | * Music/{{Abba}} -- They have a catalogue of songs so a number could count such as "Dancing Queen", "Mamma Mia!", "Gimme Gimme Gimme!". |
| 122 | * Music/{{ACDC}} -- "It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)" was Bon Scott's signature song, and so identified with him that Brian Johnson won't perform it. It's also regarded as the band's signature song in their native Australia. Outside of Australia, the signature song of the Scott era is likely "Highway to Hell" or "TNT", although Johnson continues to perform them. For Johnson's songs it's either "Back in Black", "Thunderstruck" or "You Shook Me All Night Long". They have many ''very'' popular songs, though. |
| 123 | * Music/{{Adele}} -- "Someone Like You", "Hello" or "Rolling in the Deep". Not far behind are also "Set Fire to the Rain", "Easy on Me", "When We Were Young" and her CoveredUp version of "Make You Feel My Love" by Music/BobDylan. |
| 124 | * Afrojack -- "Take Over Control" was his highest-charting hit as a lead artist, but "Can't Stop Me" is also remembered due to its success in dance clubs. |
| 125 | * Music/{{Aha}} -- "Take on Me" may very well be the most successful pop song ever recorded by a Norwegian act. In the U.S., they are still commonly considered [[OneHitWonder one-hit wonders]]. |
| 126 | * Music/AlienAntFarm -- Most famous for their Main/CoverVersion of Music/MichaelJackson's "Smooth Criminal". |
| 127 | * Music/AlterBridge — "Rise Today", which is even acknowledged by the band themselves because it usually is their closer during concerts. Also up there is "Metalingus", which while never an actual single is best known for being the long-time entrance song to legendary professional wrestler Wrestling/{{Edge|Wrestler}}. |
| 128 | * Music/{{Aqua}} -- "Barbie Girl", which was one of the songs that defined The90s and their biggest hit by far. Some go so far as to label them a OneHitWonder, though they did have other songs that charted. |
| 129 | * Music/{{Ashnikko}} -- Her breakthrough hit, "STUPID" blew up on Platform/TikTok. "Daisy" and "Slumber Party" can also be considered. |
| 130 | * Music/IggyAzalea -- "Fancy" with Music/CharliXCX or "Work". |
| 131 | * Music/RickAstley -- "Never Gonna Give You Up", thanks in part for the music video becoming the basis for one of the most well-known [[MemeticMutation memes]] on the Internet, the JustForFun/{{Rickroll}}. |
| 132 | * Music/AvengedSevenfold — "Bat Country", their BreakthroughHit, remains the band’s best known song to this day, though its follow-up "Beast and the Harlot" is not far behind. |
| 133 | * Bachman Turner Overdrive -- "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet" and "Takin' Care of Business" are their most well known hits. |
| 134 | * Music/BackstreetBoys -- "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" is a definite hit that is played at every party. "I Want It That Way" could also qualify as their most popular ballad. |
| 135 | * Bananarama -- "Venus" or "Cruel Summer"; while the former was a bigger hit in its heyday, its status as a CoverVersion could give the latter, which was their original song, the advantage. |
| 136 | * Creator/JohnBarrowman -- "You're So Vain"; the orchestral arrangement makes it immediately recognizable from Carly Simon's version. |
| 137 | * Music/TheBeatles -- The band has so many iconic songs that it is impossible to single out just one as their signature (though "Hey Jude", "Yesterday", "Here Comes The Sun", "Let It Be", "All You Need is Love", "Blackbird", "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", "In My Life" and "Come Together" would probably be the first picks), but during the peak of Beatlemania in TheSixties, "I Want to Hold Your Hand" and "She Loves You" would've held the title. However, there's no denying that the signature song of Music/JohnLennon's solo career is "Imagine", the quintessential anthem of World Peace. For Music/GeorgeHarrison instead, it's "My Sweet Lord", probably the most famous song ever that fuses rock and gospel, and it's also worth mentioning that its album ''All Things Must Pass'' is the best-selling album by a solo Beatle. |
| 138 | * Music/TheBeeGees -- "Stayin' Alive" from the ''Film/SaturdayNightFever'' soundtrack, which made the group the face of {{disco}} music around the world, and becoming the unofficial Signature Song of the entire genre. |
| 139 | * Music/TonyBennett -- "I Left My Heart in San Francisco", "I Wanna Be Around", "The Good Life" |
| 140 | * Music/{{Beyonce}} -- "Crazy in Love", "Irreplaceable", "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)", "Halo", "Run the World (Girls)", "Drunk in Love", "Sorry", and "Formation" are probably her most popular to date, but depending on the time period, it could really be any of her singles. |
| 141 | * Blackfoot -- "Highway Song" and "Train, Train" (both from ''Strikes'') are their most notable songs. |
| 142 | * Music/Blink182 -- "All The Small Things" and "I Miss You", arguably down to Tom [=DeLonge=]'s unique vocals. ("All The Small Things" is arguably helped by the NHL's Colorado Avalanche adopting it as a victory song and riding that momentum to a 2022 Stanley Cup, for which blink-182 would congratulate them.) |
| 143 | * Music/BonJovi -- "Livin' on a Prayer", full stop. "You Give Love a Bad Name", "Wanted Dead or Alive", "It's My Life" and "Always" are runner-up songs, but "Prayer" remains their best known song overall. |
| 144 | * Music/DavidBowie -- As his first hit, "Space Oddity" is usually regarded as this, since the range of his career and resultant arguments over his best era make it hard to settle the question otherwise. However, songs such as "Life on Mars?", "Rebel Rebel", "Starman" and especially "'Heroes'" have become competitors for the title in recent years. While relatively early in his canon, "Changes" kinda pokes fun at this, and (ironically) became another one of his signature tunes. |
| 145 | * Music/BowlingForSoup -- "1985" or "Girl All The Bad Guys Want". |
| 146 | * Music/{{Busted}} -- "Year 3000" or "That's What I Go To School For". |
| 147 | * Music/MariahCarey -- "All I Want For Christmas Is You" is universally (in)-famous and one of the most played songs during the festive period. "Fantasy", "Emotions" and "Without You" are very popular for showing her incredible voice. |
| 148 | * Music/DojaCat -- "Say So" or "Like That". Her debut song, "Mooo!", is also popular. |
| 149 | * Music/{{Korn}} -- There's really only two candidates, and it's the traditional bookends to their live shows: "Freak On A Leash" for being the most popular of their songs, even 25 years after the fact, and "Blind"; the song known for its crowd-spurring intro: ''"Are... you... READY?!"'' |
| 150 | * Music/GoodCharlotte -- "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" and "Girls and Boys". |
| 151 | * Music/JohnnyClegg -- The anti-[[UsefulNotes/TheApartheidEra Apartheid]] song "Asimbonanga" dedicated to UsefulNotes/NelsonMandela, with English and Zulu lyrics. |
| 152 | * Music/{{Coldplay}} -- "Yellow" from the earlier career. "Paradise" is also massively popular, and opened the band to pop audiences. Also counting are "Viva la Vida", "The Scientist", "In My Place", "Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall"... Just to mention a few, since they have quite a lot of very popular tracks. |
| 153 | * Music/PhilCollins -- "In the Air Tonight" is no doubt his most popular song as a solo artist. |
| 154 | * Music/TheCranberries -- "Zombie", "Linger" or "Dreams." Of those three, "Zombie" (which is also a BlackSheepHit) was the first to get over a billion views on [=YouTube=]. Not far behind is "Ode to My Family". |
| 155 | * Creator/MichaelCrawford -- In the wake of the international acclaim he received as the title character in the original West End and Broadway productions of Creator/AndrewLloydWebber's ''Theatre/ThePhantomOfTheOpera'', the show's VillainLoveSong "The Music of the Night" became the signature song of his recording and concert career. |
| 156 | * Music/{{Cream}} -- A highly beloved band among fans of classic rock, but "Sunshine of Your Love" and their cover of "Crossroads" stand out above the rest. The former is famous for its iconic riff, and the latter is a staple of Music/EricClapton during his solo career. |
| 157 | * Music/CreedenceClearwaterRevival -- A tough call since they had many widely popular hits[[note]]"Fortunate Son", "Bad Moon Rising", "Have You Ever Seen the Rain", "Who'll Stop the Rain", "Proud Mary" (though it faces competition from the cover by Ike and Music/TinaTurner), "Lookin' Out My Back Door", "Down on the Corner", "Up Around the Bend", "Green River" and "Born on the Bayou"[[/note]], but two of them narrowly beat out the rest: "Fortunate Son" - largely due to it being used in many UsefulNotes/VietnamWar themed memes and movies, and easily being their most popular song in America - and "Have You Ever Seen the Rain" - often used in commercials, their most streamed song on the internet (though "Fortunate Son" is close behind) and easily their most popular song in Europe, as well as among pop audiences who may not be familiar with the band. |
| 158 | * Music/BingCrosby -- He used "Where the Blue of the Night Meets the Gold of the Day" as his 'official' signature tune. In one Creator/BobHope movie, Crosby's surprise cameo appearance at the very end was accompanied by an orchestra version of the opening bars of this song. Nowadays, Crosby's signature song is likely "White Christmas", which remains the best-selling single of all time. |
| 159 | * Music/MileyCyrus -- Depending on what Miley era. "Party in the USA" from her younger years. "Wrecking Ball" from the Bangerz era. "Flowers" from her more recent era. |
| 160 | * Music/{{Deadsy}} -- "[[https://youtu.be/AWjgS4O1Aes The Key to Gramercy Park]]" |
| 161 | * Music/TheDeadSouth -- "In Hell I'll Be In Good Company". |
| 162 | * Music/DeepPurple -- The band has many beloved songs, but without a doubt, "Smoke on the Water" is their most recognizable, especially among entry-level guitar players. |
| 163 | * Music/DepecheMode -- "Enjoy the Silence" is their most CoveredUp and most famous song, with "Personal Jesus", "Never Let Me Down Again", and "Everything Counts" all trailing behind in recognizability and notability. "Just Can't Get Enough" is this for Vince Clarke's brief stint with the band, while "Walking In My Shoes" and "It's No Good" are the signature songs for their mid-nineties albums. For their post-TurnOfTheMillennium work, "Precious" is this by far. |
| 164 | * Music/{{Disturbed}} -- "Down with the Sickness" was considered their signature song, and for all intents and purposes it is, considering the band ends almost every live show with it as their encore. However, as of 2015's album "Immortalized", the band has become synonymous with their rendition of Simon and Garfunkel's signature song "Sound of Silence", becoming their sole mainstream music hit. |
| 165 | * Music/PussycatDolls -- "Don't Cha" put them in the mainstream spotlight. "Buttons" became popular recently despite being relatively older in their discography thanks to [=TikTok=]. |
| 166 | * Music/TheDoors -- "Light My Fire", "The End" - notably being featured in ''Film/ApocalypseNow'', "Riders on the Storm", "Break on Through (To the Other Side)", and "L.A. Woman". |
| 167 | * Music/BobDylan -- ''Many'' songs qualify, given his long and incredibly influential career, with "Like a Rolling Stone", the counterculture anthems "Blowin' in the Wind" and "The Times They Are a-Changin", "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" and "Hurricane" all being frontrunners for the title in that regard. |
| 168 | * Music/{{Eagles}} -- "Hotel California", the title track to their 1976 album, is the one song everyone knows by them, even people who weren't even born when the song was released. Second place is their debut hit "Take It Easy". |
| 169 | * Music/BillieEilish -- "Bad Guy" was the song that turned her from cult favorite to worldwide superstar, becoming her first #1 hit and was essential to her sweeping the "big four" Grammy categories in 2020. |
| 170 | * Music/{{Eminem}} -- A few examples. |
| 171 | ** "[[BreakawayPopHit Lose Yourself]]" from ''Film/EightMile'' is his biggest song to date, as it charted at number one on 24 national charts worldwide, including US Billboard Hot 100. It's also the third oldest song to be in the top 100 songs streamed on Spotify. |
| 172 | ** "My Name Is" his BreakoutHit and BlackSheepHit. The "chkka-chkka" disc scratch sound effect used in the song is used throughout the rest of Eminem's discography as a {{Leitmotif}} for his Slim Shady character, long after other rappers had stopped using disc scratching. |
| 173 | ** "The Real Slim Shady", which codified Slim's character as TheGadfly, and an actual threat to society via being an AntiRoleModel who his fans were emulating anyway. |
| 174 | ** "Stan", a MurderBallad that was initially never meant to be a single, is Eminem's most critically celebrated song and led to the word 'stan' getting added to the dictionary to mean a LoonyFan. |
| 175 | ** "'Till I Collapse" was not a hit when first released (it was not a single), but had a RevivalByCommercialization in the early 2010s and, on Spotify, is not only his second most-streamed song, behind the aforementioned "Lose Yourself", but it's also the platform's most-streamed non-single. |
| 176 | ** "Rap God" is the signature song of his [[CareerResurrection post-overdose career]], due to its lyrics wryly summing up the course of his career and its ''outrageous'' level of technical aptitude. Unlike the other entries, it's a favourite among people who rap themselves - it was the #1 most viewed lyrics page on Genius for a good half-decade (it is currently #2, replaced by Music/JustinBieber, Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee's "Despacito", a megahit in Spanish that led many people Googling for a translation). |
| 177 | ** "Killshot" is also notable for being a second CareerResurrection for Eminem after his apologetic, responsible RecoveredAddict persona was [[GoodIsBoring really making people]] [[AudienceAlienatingEra turn on him]], [[CharacterCheck going back to his older style]] of dropping [[TakeThat obliterating insults]] on [[Music/MachineGunKelly white rappers and popstars]] he hates to make what is currently the highest charting DissTrack of all time. |
| 178 | ** "Venom" has stuck around due to its highly catchy chorus making it an internet meme favourite. |
| 179 | * Music/{{Europe}} -- During their prime, this was arguably "Carrie", their BlackSheepHit ballad from the album ''The Final Countdown''. Nowadays, however, it's without a doubt the title track. |
| 180 | * Music/{{Evanescence}} -- "Bring Me to Life" is not only their biggest hit, but quite possibly the most recognizable female-led rock song of the entire 21st Century. |
| 181 | * Music/FooFighters -- "Best of You" or "The Pretender". |
| 182 | * The Foundations -- "Build Me Up Buttercup" with nothing else even coming close. |
| 183 | * Music/ArethaFranklin -- "Respect" is considered the ultimate empowerment anthem; the chorus where the title is spelled out continued to be one of the most iconic lines in musical history. |
| 184 | * Music/GoodKid -- "Mimi's Delivery Service", after it got an influx of covers on [=TikTok=] in mid-2023. This also lead to a ton of fanart of Mimi herself, due to her cute character design and [[GadgeteerGenius personality]], which Good Kid asked for and highlighted in a video featuring the song. |
| 185 | * Music/{{Gorillaz}} -- "Clint Eastwood" introduced them to the world. "Feel Good Inc", "DARE" or "Rhinestone Eyes" may also qualify. |
| 186 | * Music/GreenDay -- A few candidates: "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)" is probably their best-known song of their 1990s output (due to extensive use in soundtracks and for being a staple of graduation ceremonies) along with "Basket Case", which is easily their most streamed song on the internet of that period. Not far behind are "Longview", "When I Come Around" and "Welcome to Paradise", all from their breakout album ''Music/{{Dookie}}''. "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" from ''Music/AmericanIdiot'' is their most popular song of their 2000s work and their most commercially successful song to date, with three other ''Idiot'' songs -- "Wake Me Up When September Ends", "Holiday", and the title track -- also in the running. Then, there's also "21 Guns". "Going To Pasalacqua" was, pre-''Dookie'', their most popular song by some distance, and still gets a good crowd reaction. They've made a lot of well-known songs, though. |
| 187 | * Music/{{Haken}}'s most popular song is "Cockroach King", thanks to a combination of being SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic and having a humorous video in which a {{Muppet}} version of the band does a BohemianParody. In response to its popularity, Haken would go on to create two whole albums based on the Cockroach King, ''Vector'' and ''Virus''. |
| 188 | * HEALTH -- "Crimewave" is their most well-known song in part due to the Music/{{Crystal Castles|Band}} remix. However, their cover of the Units' "High Pressure Days", known as "High Pressure Dave", has easily become a contender thanks to its appearance in ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoV''. |
| 189 | * Music/ScottHelman: "Sweet Tooth", mainly due to it being incredibly high-energy and catchy. |
| 190 | * Music/WhitneyHouston's cover of Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You", performed with such Grammy-conscious gusto, became so big of a hit that she considered it her signature song, so much to the extent that she filed a lawsuit banning anyone else -- even Parton herself -- from performing it. |
| 191 | * Music/EnriqueIglesias -- "Hero" is one of the most famous ballads of the early 2000s. |
| 192 | * "Wytches" by ''Music/InkubusSukkubus'' is their most iconic song, summing up the main themes of the band's music. In the 2016 concert at Blackfriar's Priory, lead singer Candia outright states its the song that they can't really get away from, for better or worse, right before they perform it as the closing number of the show. |
| 193 | * Inner Circle -- "Bad Boys", due to it being the theme song of the [[LongRunner long-running]] series ''Series/{{COPS}}''. |
| 194 | * Music/MichaelJackson -- The "big three" of the ''Music/{{Thriller}}'' album take the cake here. "Billie Jean", the album's first chart-topping single, is considered the song that brought about his coronation as the King of Pop and introduced the world to his signature "moonwalk" dance. "Beat It", the other chart-topper from the album was a clash of pop and rock titans thanks to [[Music/VanHalen Eddie Van Halen]]'s guitar playing. And the title track, while only peaking at #4, has arguably [[Music/MichaelJacksonsThriller the most famous music video of all time]] and remains a Halloween staple. His best-known non-''Thriller'' song is probably "Smooth Criminal" from ''Music/{{Bad}}'', as its video featured one of Jackson's most iconic outfits in his white suit, and led to the most famous cover version of any of his songs -- its 2001 NuMetal remake by Music/AlienAntFarm. |
| 195 | * Music/{{Jhariah}}: |
| 196 | ** "Flight of the Crows", for its emotional lyrics and tone. Special mention goes to the spectacular, theatrical finish in the final 30 seconds. |
| 197 | ** "DEBT COLLECTOR" has become popular for its uniquely fast-paced, high-energy tone, awesome lyrics, and use of synth and drums. |
| 198 | * Music/BillyJoel: "Piano Man" takes the cake, but "Uptown Girl", "We Didn't Start the Fire", "Just the Way You Are" and "She's Always a Woman" definitely count as well, and "Vienna" has pretty much become his quintessential album track. Going by album: |
| 199 | ** ''Cold Spring Harbor'': "She's Got a Way" (also counts for the ''Songs in the Attic'' live album, which helped popularizing the song). |
| 200 | ** ''Piano Man'': the TitleTrack, of course. Another very appreciated track is "Captain Jack". |
| 201 | ** ''Streetlife Serenader'': "The Entertainer". |
| 202 | ** ''Turnstiles'': "New York State of Mind". |
| 203 | ** ''The Stranger'': "She's Always a Woman", "Just the Way You Are", "Only the Good Die Young" and "Movin' Out" are the hit singles and are still very popular; however, "Vienna" and "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" count as well. While they never were released as singles, the former has become massively popular in later years on streaming services, especially among younger people, and is not only a firm fan favorite, but also one of Joel's own favorite songs overall; the latter is well-known for being Joel's longest composition, is widely regarded as one of Joel's best songs - and, indeed, he cited it ''is'' his personal favorite song. |
| 204 | ** ''52nd Street'': "My Life". "Honesty" is not far behind, though. |
| 205 | ** ''Glass Houses'': "It's Still Rock & Roll to Me", followed by "You May Be Right". |
| 206 | ** ''The Nylon Curtain'': "Allentown" or "Goodnight Saigon". |
| 207 | ** ''An Innocent Man'': several songs on it are very well-known, but "Uptown Girl" is Joel's best known song besides "Piano Man", very probably. "The Longest Time" is also very popular, while "Tell Her About It" was a huge hit, but nowadays is not as recognized, and was almost immediately dropped from concerts after a few times it was played next to its release. |
| 208 | ** ''The Bridge'': "A Matter of Trust". |
| 209 | ** ''Storm Front'': has many well-known songs, but "We Didn't Start the Fire" stands out. "The Downeaster 'Alexa'" is very appreciated, while "I Go to Extremes" was a hit at the time, but lost a bit of popularity. |
| 210 | ** ''The River of Dreams'': the TitleTrack. "Lullabye" is also popular. |
| 211 | * Music/{{Journey|Band}} -- More than forty years after its release, pretty much everyone in the world will instantly recognize "Don't Stop Believin'". It memorably was used in the final episode of ''Series/TheSopranos'' and was the first song ever covered on ''Series/{{Glee}}''. |
| 212 | * Music/{{Keane}} -- "Everybody's Changing" or "Somewhere Only We Know". |
| 213 | * Music/AliciaKeys -- "Fallin'" from her first album. She's also well-known for "Girl On Fire" and "Empire State of Mind" with Music/JayZ. |
| 214 | * Music/KingsOfLeon -- "Sex on Fire" was incredibly popular and their most well-known single. |
| 215 | * Music/WizKhalifa -- While he is mainly known for his purely rap works, it is the pop rap ballad "See You Again" from ''Film/Furious7'' that he is most famous for in the public eye, due to it being a tribute to the franchise's late star Creator/PaulWalker and becoming a popular anthem for high school and college graduations. |
| 216 | * Music/KendrickLamar -- While "Swimming Pools" was his first mainstream success, "Alright" won him a Grammy for Best Rap Song and later on became a Black Lives Matter anthem. However, "HUMBLE." seems to have won the title overall. |
| 217 | * Music/LadyGaga -- Usually comes down to a tie between "Poker Face" and "Bad Romance", although "Just Dance", her BreakthroughHit, is also up there. |
| 218 | * Music/CyndiLauper -- "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" is ''the'' female empowerment anthem of the 1980s. "Time After Time" is a very close second however. |
| 219 | * Music/LedZeppelin -- "Stairway to Heaven" is pretty much the quintessential classic rock album track, and is known for its iconic guitar riff. They have several contenders, though ("Immigrant Song", "Whole Lotta Love", "Kashmir", "Ramble on", "Going to California", just to name a few...). |
| 220 | ** In addition, during their prime years each of the band's instrumentalists had a song heavily associated with them, with the musician being given an extended solo to show off during the song. "Dazed and Confused" for Jimmy Page, "Moby Dick" for John Bonham, and "No Quarter" for John Paul Jones. |
| 221 | * Music/LilNasX -- The two biggest candidates are "Old Town Road", which was a massive viral hit and made him world-famous overnight, and "MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)", which had [[NoSuchThingAsBadPublicity a controversial yet wildly popular music video]] and had him be much more open about his queerness. |
| 222 | * Music/LinkinPark -- "In the End" was this, with most of their domestic and international fanbase (and even non-fans) knowing the lyrics by heart and late Chester Bennington saying it is a staple of their live performances. "Numb" could also qualify thanks to MemeticMutation. |
| 223 | ** Music/FortMinor -- Originally this title belonged to "Where'd You Go", the only hit song off of the project. Over time, however, this would become its follow-up "Remember the Name", which, while performing poorly on most charts, continued to be prominent as a sports anthem and a staple of movie trailers. |
| 224 | * Music/{{Loreen}} -- Both of her winning Eurovision songs could be considered; "Euphoria" or "Tattoo". |
| 225 | * Little Big Town -- Tough call between "Pontoon" or "Girl Crush". The former was their biggest hit on country radio and their most popular song amongst their core demographic. The latter, on the other hand, is their biggest hit on the ''Hot 100'' and their most widely known and beloved song to general audiences. |
| 226 | * Music/LivingColour -- "Cult of Personality", which was by far their biggest chart hit in the US and only major pop crossover. Especially re-enforced via SongAssociation with pro-wrestling superstar Wrestling/CMPunk. |
| 227 | * Music/LynyrdSkynyrd comes down to a two-way tie between "Sweet Home Alabama", their iconic anthem of Southern Pride which is their best known song to the greater public, and "Free Bird", a classic rock radio mainstay that inspired the IconicSongRequest and is the more popular song with their core demographic. Close behind is also "Simple Man", a quintessential album track in rock history. |
| 228 | * Music/{{Maneskin}} -- Hard to pinpoint exactly which one it would be. Some would say it's their cover of "Beggin'", some would say it's "I Wanna Be Your Slave" while Eurovision fans would most likely associate them with their winning song "Zitti e Buoni". |
| 229 | * Music/MarilynManson -- "[[Music/AntichristSuperstar The Beautiful People]]," "[[Music/MechanicalAnimals The Dope Show]]," and their DarkerAndEdgier cover of [[Music/{{Eurythmics}} Eurythmics‘s]] "[[Music/SmellsLikeChildren Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)]]" are probably the first songs that come to your mind whenever you think of them. Other contenders are [[Music/MechanicalAnimals "Rock Is Dead,"]] [[Music/HolyWoodInTheShadowOfTheValleyOfDeath "Disposable Teens,"]] or [[Film/{{Spawn}} "Long Hard Road Out Of Hell."]] |
| 230 | * Music/BrunoMars -- He had several huge hits since his career first took off in 2010, but his signature song is likely one he was not officially the lead artist for: "Uptown Funk!" was released with producer Mark Ronson as the lead artist, with Mars as a guest. However, it became a 14-week chart-topper, won the Record of the Year Grammy, and was named the biggest hit of the 2010s by Billboard Magazine. |
| 231 | * Music/RebaMcEntire's signature song would either be her cover of Bobby Gentry's "Fancy" (which made the Top Ten on Billboard's Hot Country Hits in 1991.) or her cover of Creator/VickiLawrence's "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia" (made number 12 on the Hot Country Songs chart and is her most frequently played song on radio). Both are also her top two most streamed songs on Spotify. Other candidates include "I'm a Survivor", which was also the theme song of her [[Series/{{Reba}} self-titled sitcom]] (albeit shortened and with the lyrics rearranged), or "Consider me Gone", her fourth most streamed song on Spotify, among her later work. |
| 232 | * Music/{{McFly}} -- "5 Colours in Her Hair" and "All About You". |
| 233 | * Music/MCHammer -- "U Can't Touch This", his 1990 BreakthroughHit, has been credited with making PopRap viable in the mainstream. Ironically enough, it was not his highest charting song due to its limited availability as a commercial single, but it's the only song of his with any modern day presence in pop culture. |
| 234 | * Music/MeatLoaf -- "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)", largely due to the mass confusion over what "that" is (even though the verses spell it out). "Bat Out of Hell", "Paradise by the Dashboard Light", "Two Out of Three Ain't Bad" and "You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth (Hot Summer Night)" are also strong contenders. |
| 235 | * Music/MeganTheeStallion -- "Body" is her biggest hit to date or her (in)famous duet with "Music/CardiB", "WAP". |
| 236 | * Music/{{Metallica}} -- While many of their songs are iconic, "Enter Sandman" probably takes the cake here. Not far behind, though, are "Ride the Lightning", "For Whom the Bell Tolls", "Master of Puppets", "Nothing Else Matters", "One", "The Unforgiven", "Until it Sleeps", "The Memory Remains", "Sad But True", and their cover versions of "[[Music/BobSeger Turn the Page]]" and "[[Music/ThinLizzy Whiskey in the Jar]]". |
| 237 | * Music/GeorgeMichael -- "Careless Whisper" is George's most famous solo song along with "Faith" and "Freedom". |
| 238 | * Music/{{Miguel}} -- Was initally “Sure Thing” before “Adorn” eclipsed it in popularity, but seems to be reverting to the former thanks to [=TikTok=]. |
| 239 | * Music/NickiMinaj -- "Starships" is her most well-known song but "Superbass" or "Anaconda" could also be considered. |
| 240 | * Music/MiracleMusical: "The Mind Electric" is the most popular song on ''Hawaii: Part II'', for its intense story and heavy use in fan projects. |
| 241 | * Music/ModestMouse: "Float On", followed closely by "The World at Large". |
| 242 | * Molly Hatchet -- "Flirtin' With Disaster" is by far their most popular song, spending weeks on the top 100, being their most streamed song on Spotify (and the rest aren't even close) and appearing in numerous films and TV shows. |
| 243 | * Music/TheMonkees -- "Daydream Believer" and "I'm a Believer" are more or less tied for the top spot, with "Last Train to Clarksville" being a close third. |
| 244 | * Music/AlanisMorissette -- "Ironic" is probably her best-known song, with "You Oughta Know" also right up there. |
| 245 | * Music/VanMorrison -- "Brown-Eyed Girl" is his overall biggest hit, and the most popular song of his career among average audiences. Among the most popular classics of Morrison's career, although they weren't all big hits on the charts, are also the ''Moondance'' signatures (the TitleTrack, "Into the Mystic", "Crazy Love" and "And It Stoned Me"), "Have I Told You Lately", "Bright Side of the Road", "Domino", "Days Like This" and the classic he penned with his early career band Them, "Gloria". |
| 246 | * Music/NeYo -- "So Sick" was a massive hit and has since been sampled by many other artists. "Miss Independent" also could be this. |
| 247 | * Music/{{Nickelback}} -- "How You Remind Me" is their most streamed song, though "Photograph" and "Rockstar" are also very popular through usage in memes. |
| 248 | * Music/NicolaRoberts -- A weird example. "Beat of My Drum" is technically her most commercially successful song, but her unofficially released single "Sticks + Stones" is widely considered as her best song (to date) and is an EnsembleDarkhorse track on her debut album. |
| 249 | * Music/{{Nirvana}} -- "Smells Like Teen Spirit" from ''Music/{{Nevermind|Album}}'' is the band's biggest hit, and quite possibly the defining song of TheNineties, being responsible in part for bringing both {{Grunge}} and AlternativeRock music to a mainstream audience and ending the dominance of HairMetal. |
| 250 | * Music/{{Noah|Indonesia}} -- "Separuh Aku" is their biggest hit after the name-change from Peterpan and is still the song that will likely to be brought up when talking about "Noah's song". Peterpan, on the other hand, had more songs that still remain in Indonesian public consciousness ("Mimpi Yang Sempurna", "Semua Tentang Kita", "Ada Apa Denganmu", "Mungkin Nanti", "Menghapus Jejakmu"). |
| 251 | * Miike Snow -- "Animal" at first, but now most definitely "Music/GenghisKhan", though the former is back to being this for them in the UK due to the remix being used as the theme tune of ''Series/FridayNightDinner''. |
| 252 | * Orleans -- "Dance With Me" and "Still the One" are their only widely-known songs, being their top two on Spotify and the others aren't even close. |
| 253 | * For Music/OtavaYo, the iconic track is [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PX5OARoNFpg Финская полька]], ''Finnish Pol;ka'', that allows the band members to sign off and which closes every gig. |
| 254 | * Music/OwlCity -- "Fireflies" without question. Chances off, if one brings up the band, this will be the first song to come to everyone's head. |
| 255 | * Music/{{Paramore}} -- "Misery Business" is definitely their signature. However, "crushcrushcrush" and more recently, "Hard Times" are well-known. |
| 256 | * Music/KatyPerry -- "I Kissed a Girl" made her very popular. "California Gurls", "Teenage Dream", "Firework" and "Roar" would all qualify as Katy's signatures. |
| 257 | * Music/PinkFloyd -- While they have several popular songs, but "Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2" from ''Music/TheWall'' probably takes the cake here, being their only #1 hit and having a very distinctive theme railing against the education system. The other song which would take the cake and is the most representative contender is easily [[Music/WishYouWereHere1975 "Wish You Were Here"]], although it wasn't even released as a single at first. Also in the running are "Money", the biggest hit from ''Music/TheDarkSideOfTheMoon'', and "Comfortably Numb", also from ''The Wall''. |
| 258 | * The Pointer Sisters -- "I'm So Excited", with the closest contender being "Jump (For My Love)". |
| 259 | * Music/{{Poison}} -- "Every Rose Has Its Thorn", but "Nothing But A Good Time" and "Talk Dirty To Me" are close behind. |
| 260 | * Music/TheProclaimers -- "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" is by far their best-known song, within the UK and internationally. "Sunshine On Leith" is a strong contender, particularly in Scotland for its association with Scottish football[[labelnote:*]]The song has been thoroughly adopted by Hibernian F.C., the team that The Proclaimers support and who play in Edinburgh's Leith area[[/labelnote]] - that's the song their JukeboxMusical is named after, not "500 Miles". |
| 261 | * Music/{{PSY}} -- "Gangnam Style" was the song that broke down the barrier for K-pop music to succeed outside South Korea. It was, for a long time, the most viewed music video on [=YouTube=] and the first to ever hit the one-billion view mark. |
| 262 | * Music/{{Queen}} has many, many, hugely iconic songs, but even then, one song stands above all: "Bohemian Rhapsody", to the point that it gave its title to Music/FreddieMercury's [[Film/BohemianRhapsody biopic]]. |
| 263 | * Music/{{Redbone}} -- "Come and Get Your Love" full stop. None of their other songs have received even a fraction of the recognition. |
| 264 | * Rev Theory — "Voices" is undoubtedly their best known song despite never being an actual single that was promoted to radio. This is because it is the longtime theme music for iconic professional wrestler Wrestling/RandyOrton. Technically, it isn’t even an actual Rev Theory song, but rather a solo song by frontman Rich Luzzi (although credited to the band as a whole). |
| 265 | * Music/OliviaRodrigo -- "drivers license" and "good 4 u" |
| 266 | * [[Music/RushBand Rush]] -- "Tom Sawyer" is by far their most famous song, but "2112", "Limelight", "The Spirit of Radio", and "Fly by Night" are all favorites among audiences as well. |
| 267 | * {{Music/Sade}} - [[WaxingLyrical No need to ask, it's "Smooth Operator."]] Runner-ups include "Your Love is King," "The Sweetest Taboo," "No Ordinary Love," and "By Your Side." |
| 268 | * Music/ScissorSisters -- "Filthy/Gorgeous" or "I Don't Feel Like Dancin'". |
| 269 | * Music/{{The Rolling Stones|Band}} -- "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" was the band's biggest chart hit and is considered the song that made them Music/TheBeatles' main rivals. The role is shared nowadays by "Paint it Black", their most streamed song on the internet and one of their biggest hits as well. Of course, there are two non-singles that are particularly iconic, as it often happens in rock music: "Gimme Shelter" and "Sympathy for the Devil". Also the hit "Start Me Up" comes close. |
| 270 | * Music/{{Seether}} — On pop radio, "Broken" was the band’s only hit and thus their signature song to that format. On their home rock format, "Fake It" is definitely their most recognizable song. Runners-up include "Remedy", their first song to top any rock chart, and "Country Song", easily their most successful 2010s song. |
| 271 | * Music/BobSeger: "Old Time Rock and Roll". It was only a moderate hit initially, but became his signature due to its famous use in ''Film/RiskyBusiness''. "Night Moves" is likely the closest contender, with "Turn the Page", "Mainstreet", "Against the Wind" and "Like a Rock" (which was very popular in the 1990s and early 2000s thanks to its use in Chevrolet truck commercials) also being up there. |
| 272 | * Music/{{Selena}} -- A close call between "Amor Prohibido", "Como la Flor" and "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom". Though "Dreaming of You" is quite popular among American listeners. |
| 273 | * Shaggy -- "Boombastic", "Angel", and "It Wasn't Me" are his most iconic songs. Since the latter two are duets with other singers providing the lead vocals (Rayvon and Rickardo "[=RikRok=]" Ducent respectively), one could argue that "Boombastic" is Shaggy's true signature, especially thanks to its famous use during the "Biggie Cheese" musical number in ''WesternAnimation/{{Barnyard}}'', which reached meme status around 2016. Not to mention [[Film/MrBeansHoliday Mr. Bean]] dancing to it. |
| 274 | * Music/{{Shinedown}} — "Second Chance" is this, as it’s their biggest hit, only successful pop crossover, and the last hard rock song to ever be a mainstream pop hit. |
| 275 | * Music/SimpleMinds -- In the United States, "Don't You (Forget About Me)", as it was their only song to top the charts there, tied to [[Film/TheBreakfastClub one of the most iconic films of the 1980s]]. Otherwise, of the songs written by the band, their best-known is "Alive and Kicking". |
| 276 | * Music/FrankSinatra -- "My Way" and "Fly Me to the Moon" tie for gold, "That's Life" and "Somethin' Stupid" tie for silver. |
| 277 | * Music/NancySinatra -- "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'," her very first US hit and a landmark of the Swinging Sixties. |
| 278 | * Music/{{Slipknot}} -- "Duality", "Psychosocial" or "Before I Forget" could be considered. |
| 279 | * Music/SamSmith -- "Unholy" was incredibly popular after blowing up on [=TikTok=]. |
| 280 | * Music/SpiceGirls -- "Wannabe", "Spice Up Your Life" and "2 Become 1" would all be synonymous with them. |
| 281 | * Music/DustySpringfield -- "Son of a Preacher Man", "I Only Want to Be with You" and "Wishin' and Hopin'" receive far more airplay and recognition than any of her other songs. |
| 282 | * Music/BruceSpringsteen -- "The Boss" has had many iconic songs, but two songs of his in particular were "born" for this status: his 1975 BreakthroughHit "Born to Run" and his 1984 song "Born in the U.S.A.", which has become appropriated as a symbol of American patriotism ([[MisaimedFandom despite actually being anything but]]). |
| 283 | ** Although by far less representative of his songwriting, "Dancing in the Dark" is technically Springsteen's biggest international hit, and easily his most streamed song on the internet. There's also "I'm on Fire," which is one of his biggest hits and one of his most streamed and popular songs; strangely enough, most compilations lack the song. |
| 284 | ** If you wanna go by album: |
| 285 | *** ''Music/GreetingsFromAsburyParkNJ'': Were once "Blinded by the Light" and "Spirit in the Night", but now "Growin' Up" has (no pun intended) grown to be this, also thanks to its association with Springsteen's youth and live popularity. |
| 286 | *** ''The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle'': "Rosalita (Come out Tonight)". |
| 287 | *** ''Music/BornToRun'': the TitleTrack and "Thunder Road". |
| 288 | *** ''Darkness on the Edge of Town'': "Badlands", followed by "The Promised Land" as a song which grew in popularity and is very much a live staple. |
| 289 | *** ''Music/{{The River|1980}}'': the TitleTrack and "Hungry Heart". |
| 290 | *** ''Nebraska'': "Atlantic City". |
| 291 | *** ''Music/BornInTheUSA'': Pretty much all the songs on the album are classics, but the TitleTrack, "Dancing in the Dark", "I'm on Fire", "Glory Days" and "My Hometown" stand out the most. |
| 292 | *** ''Tunnel of Love'': "Brilliant Disguise" in the US, "Tougher Than the Rest" in Europe. |
| 293 | *** ''Human Touch'': the TitleTrack. |
| 294 | *** ''Lucky Town'': was once the hit "Better Days", but now "If I Should Fall Behind" eclipsed it. |
| 295 | *** ''Greatest Hits'': "Streets of Philadelphia", with "Secret Garden" as a runner-up. [[SongAssociation Both were used in the soundtracks of hit films]]; "Streets of Philadelphia" was written for ''Film/{{Philadelphia}}'', while "Secret Garden" became a Top 20 hit (Springsteen's last to date) after being used in ''Film/JerryMaguire''. |
| 296 | *** ''The Ghost of Tom Joad'': the TitleTrack. |
| 297 | *** ''Tracks'': "Sad Eyes" and "Pink Cadillac". |
| 298 | *** ''Music/TheRising'': the TitleTrack in the US, "Waitin' on a Sunny Day" in Europe. |
| 299 | *** ''Devils & Dust'': the TitleTrack. |
| 300 | *** ''Magic'': "Radio Nowhere". |
| 301 | *** ''Working on a Dream'': the TitleTrack. |
| 302 | *** ''The Promise'': "Because the Night" and "Fire". |
| 303 | *** ''Wrecking Ball'': The hit "We Take Care of Our Own" was this first, but now the TitleTrack easily eclipses it. |
| 304 | *** ''Western Stars'': "Hello Sunshine". |
| 305 | *** ''Letter to You'': the TitleTrack and "Ghosts". |
| 306 | * Stampeders -- "Sweet City Woman" is by far their largest hit, especially outside their native Canada. |
| 307 | * Music/HarryStyles -- "Watermelon Sugar" became popular thanks to [=TikTok=]. But, "As It Was" has likely usurped it, given it spent fifteen weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 in 2022. |
| 308 | * Music/{{Sugababes}} -- Depending on the era. "Overload" from their debut album. "Round Round" or "Push The Button" when Heidi joined. |
| 309 | * Music/{{Survivor|Band}} -- "Eye of the Tiger" remains one of the most iconic songs of the 1980s thanks to its use in ''Film/RockyIII'' and continued presence as a sports stadium anthem. |
| 310 | * Music/TaylorSwift -- "Tim [=McGraw=]", "Teardrops On My Guitar" and "Our Song" put her on the map but her most well-known singles include "Shake It Off", "Love Story" and "Bad Blood". |
| 311 | * Music/TalkingHeads -- "Psycho Killer" is probably their overall best-known song and most streamed track on the internet, but also "Music/OnceInALifetime" continues to be one of the band's best-known songs and one of the most famous tracks of the 80s thanks to its iconic SurrealMusicVideo and the many, many parodies it received over the years. The song so thoroughly eclipses the rest of the band's output that a GreatestHitsAlbum and a retrospective BoxedSet were both named after it, and it remains a staple of frontman Music/DavidByrne's live performances as a solo act. The other song that comes close to it is "Burning Down the House", which was their biggest chart hit. |
| 312 | * Music/TallyHall: |
| 313 | ** Starting in the early 2020s, "Ruler of Everything" became more and more well known, as it became a staple of several meme edits. Even besides that, it's the multiple tone shifts the song goes through, and the memorable lyrics. |
| 314 | ** From ''Good & Evil'', there's "Turn the Lights Off," known for being incredibly catchy in addition to having a dark and vague story. It's become a popular choice for {{Fan Vid}}s. |
| 315 | * Music/TearsForFears -- "Shout" and "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" are undoubtably this, being two of the most recognizable songs from UsefulNotes/TheEighties. To younger generations it's easily the latter, which dwarfs the former on Spotify. "Mad World" could be considered this, but it's usually overshadowed by the Gary Jules cover from ''Film/DonnieDarko'', while "Head Over Heels" and "Sowing the Seeds of Love" are both fairly popular in their own right. |
| 316 | * Music/ThinLizzy -- "The Boys Are Back in Town" is their most recognizable song by far, receiving ample airplay and being streamed more than any other song in their discography. |
| 317 | * Music/JustinTimberlake -- After leaving Music/{{Nsync}}, his most famous solo songs include "Sexyback", "Cry Me A River" and "Like I Love You" in the early 2000s. |
| 318 | * Music/The1975 -- "Chocolate" or "The Sound". |
| 319 | * Music/TheAllAmericanRejects -- "Dirty Little Secret" or "Swing Swing". |
| 320 | * Music/TransSiberianOrchestra -- "Sarajevo 12/24" from their first album and "Christmas Canon" from their second. |
| 321 | * Music/RandyTravis -- "Forever and Ever Amen" is a staple of classic country music. |
| 322 | * Music/TinaTurner -- "What's Love Got to Do with It" is easily the signature of her solo career and her entire singing career as a whole. It was even the title of her [[Film/WhatsLoveGotToDoWithIt1993 1993 biopic]]. "The Best" could be considered the strongest contender. Her signature song from when she was still paired with her ex-husband Ike is either their cover of Music/CreedenceClearwaterRevival's "Proud Mary", "Nutbush City Limits" or "River Deep, Mountain High"[[note]]Despite being credited to Ike and Tina, Ike had no involvement whatsoever [[/note]]. |
| 323 | * Music/TwinTribes -- "Fantasmas" is the breakthrough hit that is most associated with them, which the duo even acknowledge. They say it was somewhat expected since the song sticks out in the ''Ceremony'' album for being more energetic and intense, with its Spanish chorus being easier to connect to, especially amongst [[BilingualDialogue those who speak in two languages since they live in a border town]]. |
| 324 | * Music/BonnieTyler -- "Total Eclipse of the Heart", was initially her undisputed signature, but "Holding Out for a Hero" has since become a very close contender at least. |
| 325 | * Music/{{U2}} -- A lot of candidates, but "With or Without You," "One" and "Beautiful Day" and "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" are probably the leads, and the latter is a high contender also thanks to being their most covered song. "Sunday Bloody Sunday", "Pride (In the Name of Love)", "Where the Streets Have No Name," "Mysterious Ways", "Desire" and "Vertigo" are also ''very'' popular and recognizable songs, and are their most played live songs, along with "I Will Follow", which can be considered as their first classic overall. They have many popular songs overall. |
| 326 | * Music/{{UB40}} -- Their cover of Music/NeilDiamond's[[note]] Actually, it was first covered by Tony Tribe, with his version inspiring the [=UB40=] cover. [=UB40=] had no idea it originated from Diamond until after they recorded it.[[/note]] "Red Red Wine", followed closely by their cover of Music/ElvisPresley's "(I Can't Help) Falling In Love With You" |
| 327 | * Music/VanHalen -- "Jump", "Panama", "You Really Got Me" (which CoveredUp the original version by Music/TheKinks), "Running with the Devil" and "Ain't Talking 'Bout Love" are their top five most streamed songs on Spotify. "Hot for Teacher" is another strong contender, both due to its iconic drum solo and due to its raunchy music video exemplifying Van Halen's testosterone-fueled public image; it was even the former trope namer for what is now a redirect to TeacherStudentRomance. |
| 328 | * Vaughn Monroe -- "Racing with the Moon", the song was even used on the advertisements he recorded for RCA Victor. |
| 329 | * Music/StevieRayVaughan -- "Pride and Joy" is his most streamed song on Spotify and most frequently played on radio stations. |
| 330 | * Music/VillagePeople -- "YMCA" has appeared in countless shows, movies and ads and is frequently subject to parody. "Macho Man" is the closest second, however. |
| 331 | * Music/VladimirVysotsky -- He was and still is beloved in Russian-speaking countries, and "Koni Privredlivye" (Fastidious Horses) is probably his most famous song, and if anyone outside of those areas has heard any of his work, it's probably that one in particular because of its use in movies like ''Film/AtomicBlonde'' and ''Film/WhiteNights''. Otherwise, songs like "Wolf Hunt" and "The Song About a Friend" are also staples. |
| 332 | * Music/{{Vocaloid}} producers: |
| 333 | ** Music/Deco27 has "The Vampire" and "Ghost Rule". |
| 334 | ** For Kanaria, it would undoubtedly be "KING," thanks in no small part to just how many people have covered the song without it ever truly being CoveredUp. The image of GUMI enthroned, crown in her lap, is practically a visual MadLibsCatchphrase - the creator of the cover will replace GUMI with the character of their choice, or if they're a VirtualYoutuber, with their own avatar. |
| 335 | ** Music/{{Supercell}} has three: the early Miku hit "Melt," the classic "World Is Mine," and the downright ''legendary'' [[Franchise/BlackRockShooter "Black Rock Shooter."]] |
| 336 | ** The late Wowaka is well known for the likes of "Ura-Omote Lovers," "World's End Dancehall" and "Unknown Mother Goose," but the most famous of all (and indeed one of the most famous Music/HatsuneMiku songs, period) would have to be "Rolling Girl." |
| 337 | ** For Pinocchio-P, it would be "God-ish". This is also thanks in no small part to the number of people covering the song without it being CoveredUp. It has its own visualized MadLibsCatchphrase of Miku as a nun holding a cigarette in her right hand. |
| 338 | ** Nulut has either "Fixer" or "Fragile". |
| 339 | ** Balloon has "Charles", once again with its own visual MadLibsCatchphrase of a street as overlooked from a balcony with buildings on the side, rendered in red and sepia. |
| 340 | ** Mikito-P also has his share of signature songs, those being "Roki" on the upbeat side and "Ghost Girl" on the mellow side. |
| 341 | ** 40mP has "Love Trial" and "Clockwork Clown". |
| 342 | * Music/TheWeeknd -- For some time, it was "Can't Feel My Face" (with "Earned It", "The Hills", "Starboy" and "I Feel It Coming" not far behind), but "Blinding Lights" has likely usurped it, given it has the distinction of being seen by many as the signature song of 2020 itself, as it was the biggest hit song released before the UsefulNotes/COVID19Pandemic, remained near the top of the charts for the remainder of the year, even after other hit songs would see release, and was declared by Billboard itself to be the most successful song in Hot 100 history. |
| 343 | * Music/KanyeWest -- The songs that are contending for that title are "All Falls Down", "Jesus Walks", "Gold Digger", "Stronger", "Heartless", "Power", or "All of the Lights", but depending on the time period, it could really be any of his songs. |
| 344 | * Music/{{Westlife}} -- They were very popular for their ballads, mostly "Flying Without Wings" or "You Raise Me Up". They also released a popular cover of "Uptown Girl". |
| 345 | * Music/BarryWhite -- "You're the First, the Last, My Everything" and "Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe", his top two songs on Spotify. |
| 346 | * Music/{{Whitesnake}} -- "Here I Go Again", in particular the 1987 re-recording. Their only other songs that come close are "Is This Love" and "Still of the Night". |
| 347 | * Music/TheWho -- The theme songs to the three core Series/CSIVerse television series ("[[Series/CSICrimeSceneInvestigation Who Are You]]", "[[Series/CSIMiami Won't Get Fooled Again]]", and "[[Series/{{CSINY}} Baba O'Riley]]") are generally considered the frontrunners for this status along with "My Generation" and "Behind Blue Eyes" (which are their most streamed songs behind "Baba O'Riley" and very iconic songs in rock history -- and in the case of the latter, for being [in]famously covered by Music/LimpBizkit). Other contenders include "I Can See for Miles" (their biggest commercial hit in the US and the theme song to the relatively forgotten [[Series/CSICyber fourth CSI show]]), and, even more, "Pinball Wizard" (the signature song of the seminal rock opera ''Music/{{Tommy}}'', as well as one of their most popular and streamed songs and very often played live). |
| 348 | * Music/RobbieWilliams -- Celebrated a very successful solo career after leaving Music/TakeThat in the mid-90s. His most popular song would be "Angels" but "Let Me Entertain You" and "Rock DJ" could also be considered, especially with the controversial video for the latter. |
| 349 | * Music/WillWood: |
| 350 | ** "I / Me / Myself" has the most streams of any song from ''The Normal Album'' for its satirical look at gender identity and general applicability in TheNew20s. |
| 351 | ** "The Main Character" has become the breakout on ''"In case I make it"''. Despite the song being intentionally {{narcissist}}ic and tone-deaf, it's a ''lot'' of fun to sing along to and is undeniably catchy. Many have been quick to associate it with their favorite fictional characters, particularly those of the EvilIsCool variety. |
| 352 | * Music/{{YOASOBI}} has "Yoru ni Kakeru/Into the Night" as their top song, with "Gunjou/Blue" and "Tabun/Probably" being close contenders. It helps that Yoru ni Kakeru has a visual MadLibsCatchphrase of its own, with the main character's eyes being obscured by pink marker scribbles. |
| 353 | * Music/ZZTop -- "La Grange" is their most streamed song online. Though "Sharp Dressed Man", "Gimme All Your Lovin'", "Tush" and "Legs" are all close contenders. |
| 354 | * Music/JackStauber -- "Buttercup", with "Oh Klaholma", "Dead Weight", and "Baby Hotline" being runner-ups. |
| 355 | [[/folder]] |
| 356 | |
| 357 | %%[[folder:Podcasts]] |
| 358 | %%* ''Podcast/TheAdventureZoneBalance'' -- "Wonderland - Round Three" |
| 359 | %%* ''Podcast/WelcomeToNightVale'' -- "Ballad of Fiedler and Mundt". For the Weather, either "Bus is Late" or "Pretty Little Head" |
| 360 | %%[[/folder]] |
| 361 | |
| 362 | %%[[folder:Tabletop Games]] |
| 363 | %%* ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'' -- [[VideoGame/Warhammer40000ChaosGate "Ultramarine Chant"]]. |
| 364 | %%[[/folder]] |
| 365 | |
| 366 | %%[[folder:Toys]] |
| 367 | %%* ''Toys/{{Bionicle}}'' |
| 368 | %%** The ''Mata Nui Online Game'' series -- "The Bionicle Music", originally titled "Killing Machines" |
| 369 | %%** The DirectToVideo movie series -- Creator/NathanFurst's score in general, with "the Story of the Bionicle" standing out |
| 370 | %%** ''Bionicle Heroes'' -- The title theme, the [[BossBattle Titan battle]] theme, and the [[SuperMode Hero Mode]] theme |
| 371 | %%** 2005 -- "Hero" or "Caught in a Dream" |
| 372 | %%** 2006 -- "Piraka Rap" or "[[Music/TheAllAmericanRejects Move Along]]" |
| 373 | %%** 2007 -- "[[Music/{{Cryoshell}} Creeping in my Soul]]" or "[[Music/{{Daughtry}} Crashed]]" |
| 374 | %%** 2008 -- "Gravity Hurts" or "Closer to the Truth" |
| 375 | %%** 2009 -- "[[Music/{{Cryoshell}} Bye Bye Babylon]]" |
| 376 | %%[[/folder]] |
| 377 | |
| 378 | [[folder:Video Games]] |
| 379 | * The music from ''The Cheetahmen'' is by far the best-known thing about ''VideoGame/Action52'', thanks to it being one of the few things about the compilation that is remotely competent. |
| 380 | * The ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry'' series has [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xti_6Bzpa8A "Devils Never Cry"]] from ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry3DantesAwakening'', [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WpnPSChVRQ "Devil Trigger"]] from ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry5'', and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jrg9KxGNeJY "Bury the Light"]] from ''Devil May Cry 5: Special Edition''. Fittingly, these are all the main themes of the series' three main characters; [[DemonSlaying Dante]], [[HeroicBastard Nero]], and [[MightMakesRight Vergil]] respectively. |
| 381 | * ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountry'' has "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RR_ifniLcW4 Stickerbush Symphony]]" from ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountry2DiddysKongQuest'', a soothing techno piece that serves as the foremost example of the surprisingly beautiful music the series is known for. It was popular enough to receive a more fast-paced remix in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl'' followed by it reappearing in ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountryTropicalFreeze''. |
| 382 | * The ''Franchise/CompilationOfFinalFantasyVII'' has "OneWingedAngel", the FinalBoss theme of the original ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'' game and the BootstrappedLeitmotif for the BigBad of ''VII'', Sephiroth. It has become one of the most recognizable songs in all of gaming, with its first few notes being near-instantly recognizable (as ''many'' reaction videos of Sephiroth getting into ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate'' can testify). |
| 383 | * When you think ''Franchise/TheKingOfFighters'', pretty much any mix of either [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCYgBXbefYI "ESAKA"]] or [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Evzra9JQNTc "Stormy Saxophone"]][[note]]also called by its original Japanese title, "Arashi no Saxophone"[[/note]] (appropriately enough, being the main themes of [[TheHero Kyo Kusanagi]] and [[TheRival Iori Yagami]], respectively, the two faces of the franchise) will definitely come to mind. The most iconic iterations of each track originate in, coincidentally, ''[[VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters96 KOF '96]]'', the third entry in the series -- being [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukmnYjBdARs "ESAKA?"]][[note]]with a question mark to differentiate it from the ''[[VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters94 '94]]'' original[[/note]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkrbSeIBIJY "Stormy Saxophone 2"]] in particular. |
| 384 | * ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'': Some games in the series are associated with a song (or [[ThemeAndVariationsSoundtrack melody]]) in particular. ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess Twilight Princess]]'' has Midna's theme incorporated in several of its songs (most notably the overworld theme) while ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword Skyward Sword]]'' is pretty much synonymous with the Ballad of the Goddess. |
| 385 | * ''VideoGame/LikeADragon'', thanks to sharing [[Creator/{{Sega}} a publisher]] with [[Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog a certain blue hedgehog]] (mentioned below), has ''a lot'' of iconic tracks, whether we're going by the regular battle themes (e.g., [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uNUhIgC2g "Funk Goes On"]] or [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VMoVVFeDg0 "Outlaw's Lullaby"]]), boss themes (there's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMCAM8y-bM8 "Fly"]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwVlXEuaZ80 "Assassination of Boddhisattva"]], and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApreCAQiZ4w "Pledge of Demon"]]), or karaoke tracks (e.g., [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3jCAyPai2Y "Baka Mitai"]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jry5e4qN26o "24-Hour Cinderella"]]), or perhaps [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSfASV74f1A "Receive You"]][[note]] Which is the most prominent motif in the entire series, getting a remix at least [[OnceAnEpisode once per game]].[[/note]], it's hard to narrow it down to just one theme. |
| 386 | * Without exaggeration, ''the entire soundtrack'' to ''VideoGame/MetalGearRisingRevengeance'' can be an easy contender. But if we're going by MemeticMutation, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3472Q6kvg0 "Rules of Nature"]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYAPgPH9hsI "It Has To Be This Way"]] (the themes for [[WarmUpBoss Metal Gear RAY]] and [[FinalBoss Senator Armstrong]], respectively) are the most well-remembered ones. |
| 387 | * Techno Syndrome, aka the theme to ''Franchise/MortalKombat'', is quite often the first thing fans and even non-fans think of when they hear the name, thanks to the song being a hit after its use in [[Film/MortalKombatTheMovie the 1995 movie]], even making the top 10 in the Billboard 200 charts, and for its iconic TitleScream of "MORTAL KOMBAAAAT!" |
| 388 | * ''Franchise/{{Kirby}}'': |
| 389 | ** ''VideoGame/KirbySuperStar'' has [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Se1uh3PS78Y Gourmet Race]], which is one of the most well-known tracks in the series and has recieved several remixes in following games. It's also been the subject of plenty of Main/MemeticMutation, particually with [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTXYI_bMDto the version from]] ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros''. |
| 390 | * ''VideoGame/LuigisMansionDarkMoon'': Even thought it only plays in one level, the [[https://youtu.be/fGvZRNzagH0?si=aC3auTAMSSVevWRV Library Piano]] theme became very iconic. It even plays over half the trailer that announced the [=HD=] remaster of the game, despite barely being used at all in announcements for the original release. |
| 391 | * Of all the music in the ''VideoGame/RhythmHeaven'' series, Remix 10 from ''Fever'' is the best-known one due to containing snippets from every song in the game, which led to it being frequently used in memes where the game's graphics are replaced to fit a theme. |
| 392 | * Out of all the many songs from ''Shake II'', [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ID2J1j95B0c "Give Me!" by F.K.]] is most well known of them thanks to the ColbertBump given by the custom ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'' map, "wacky_races_v2", which uses this song as its BackgroundMusic. |
| 393 | * ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'': |
| 394 | ** The series has a ''lot'' of awesome tracks, though there are two that seem to define the entire series. The first, [[Level1MusicRepresents understandably enough]], is [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-i8HYi1QH0 Green Hill Zone]] from [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog1 the first game]], the first level in the entire series and the level most likely to get an homage in later games. The second is [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gPBmDptqlQ "Live & Learn"]] from ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2'', the franchise's [[MilestoneCelebration 10th anniversary title]], which doubles as both the game's main theme and final boss theme and codified how vocal themes would be handled in subsequent 3D games. The latter is so iconic that it was used as Sonic's theme [[VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl when he finally made his debut]] in the ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' series. |
| 395 | ** While the game's unorthodox use of Europop music and the soulful vocals of TJ Davis elevated the entire soundtrack of ''VideoGame/SonicR'' to wider recognition (and appreciation) among the fanbase in the years following its release, there are two standouts: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oY9m2sHQwLs "Can You Feel the Sunshine?"]] (the theme of [[PalmtreePanic Resort Island]]) and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MC0hV3dea9g "Super Sonic Racing"]] (the theme of [[AstralFinale Radiant Emerald]] [[EasterEgg when playing as]] [[SecretCharacter Super Sonic]]). While the first can be chalked up to a combination of Level1MusicRepresents and MemeticMutation involving the Tails Doll, both songs have gone on see mileage in not only other spin-offs (''[[VideoGame/SegaSuperstars Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing]]'', ''VideoGame/TeamSonicRacing''), but actual mainline entries (most notably [[VideoGame/SonicGenerations the series' 20th anniversary title]]), being some of the few times a main installment has acknowledged music from spin-off titles. If that wasn't enough, "Can You Feel the Sunshine?" received ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ke1Toz8Nbc an official remix]]'' from Creator/{{Sega}}'s sound team in 2019, "Super Sonic Racing" has had the honor of being used in an [[BootstrappedTheme official series anthem]] capacity once or twice, and both songs (along with "Number One" from the same game) were selected to be included in an OST [[{{Feelies}} that came with]] the [[NoExportForYou Japan-only]] ''[[MilestoneCelebration Birthday Pack]]'' [[MilestoneCelebration edition]] of ''Sonic Adventure 2''. |
| 396 | ** From ''VideoGame/SonicFrontiers'' in particular (the series' intended 30th anniversary title), there's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAffKXVPu1w "Undefeatable"]], the theme for the '''''first boss''''' in the game, which in itself is one of that game's {{Signature Scene}}s. Being performed by Kellin Quinn of Music/SleepingWithSirens fame certainly helps. |
| 397 | * ''Franchise/StreetFighter'': |
| 398 | ** The series has no shortage of memorable tunes from each installment, but across the entire series, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onfXKe_UMAY Ryu's]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlz6qgahnYQ Guile's]] ([[MemeticMutation because it goes]] [[Memes/StreetFighter with everything]]) ''VideoGame/StreetFighterII'' themes are among the most remembered, with the former being '''so''' iconic that the only mainline games where it ''didn't'' receive a remix were ''VideoGame/StreetFighterAlpha 3'' (which ditched the longstanding {{Leitmotif}}s for new themes), ''VideoGame/StreetFighterIII'' (where he's completely absent) and ''VideoGame/StreetFighter6'' (which, much like ''Alpha 3'' and the ''III'' series before it, gave completely new themes to its returning characters). And mind you, that's not even getting into the [[VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom many]], ''[[VideoGame/SNKvsCapcom many]]'' [[VideoGame/CapcomVs crossovers]] that ''Street Fighter'' has had over [[VideoGameLongRunners its long run]]. |
| 399 | ** ''Street Fighter II'' additionally has [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARJzWXXupeE the opening theme]], which is typically used as "''[[BootstrappedTheme the]]'' [[BootstrappedTheme theme]]" whenever the series is being represented in crossovers. ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcomClashOfSuperHeroes'' actually used it as Ryu's theme over the usual Suzaku Castle BGM. Even [[WesternAnimation/StreetFighter the 90s cartoon]], for all its faults, saw it fit to give the tune a hard rock arrangement to serve as its credits music. And thanks to the magic of CapcomSequelStagnation, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uY0KBMkvDyo the version]] of the opening theme from ''Super Street Fighter II: The New Challengers'' has been similarly immortalized. |
| 400 | ** ''VideoGame/StreetFighterIV'' has [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHlhcqctS9Y the theme]] of the Volcanic Rim stage, notable in that it effectively became the ''de facto'' theme of the entire series from that point on much like the aforementioned ''SFII'' intro BGM, particularly with its use in both ''VideoGame/StreetFighterXTekken'' and ''VideoGame/ProjectXZone'' to represent the associated Street Fighters. |
| 401 | * ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'': |
| 402 | ** [[Level1MusicRepresents Due to it playing in the first level of a widely-played game when it first came out]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iy3qq7zc4EY the Ground Theme]] from ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros1'' is one of the most recognized songs not just in the ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'' series and its spinoffs, but in video game history as well. |
| 403 | ** For ''VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy'', easily the most well-remembered track is [[https://youtu.be/du3Zz4HrGXA Gusty Garden Galaxy]], to the point of it becoming the [[BootstrappedTheme unofficial theme song]] for the Galaxy games as a whole despite both already having their own official theme songs. |
| 404 | * ''Franchise/{{Tekken}}'', being around the same age as ''KOF'' above, also has had ''plenty'' of memorable music throughout its long lifespan. Across the entire series, the most remembered themes are [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5D5Eo5Aji1I "Black Winter Night Sky"]] and [[https://youtu.be/iAlEVXVb-8g "Emotionless Passion"]] from ''Tekken 2'', Jin's ''Tekken 3'' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6awV2p758VI theme]], the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhN3qc9Ai2M opening theme]] from ''Tekken Tag Tournament''[[note]] which may as well be the main theme for the entire series, since it was remixed in ''VideoGame/StreetFighterXTekken'' to serve the same capacity as the aforementioned Volcanic Rim from ''VideoGame/StreetFighterIV''[[/note]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FL6HOqrl_cg "Sparking!"]] from ''VideoGame/Tekken5'', [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9CGW8pCIgc "Karma"]] from ''Tekken 6'', and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qskXthi1D_E "Heat Haze Shadow"]] from ''VideoGame/Tekken7''. Just to name a few. |
| 405 | * While the series has had many memorable songs over its time, the ''VideoGame/TonyHawksProSkater'' series is most often associated with the song "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0di6EY1p20U Superman]]" by Goldfinger, to the point where it's even sometimes referred to as "The Tony Hawk Song" despite over a dozen sequels, each with a dozen or so tracks of its own, coming afterwards. It ended up coming to a head in ''[[VideoGameRemake THPS 1+2]]'', where the song is used on the game's title screen as an official acknowledgement of the song's status among the ''THPS'' community. |
| 406 | * ''VideoGame/TotalDistortion'' is almost exclusively known as "that game that sings '[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2c4hnA8jXwo You are dead, dead, dead!]]' when you lose." It's very unlikely that anyone nowadays hasn't heard about this game because of the game over song. |
| 407 | * It's safe to say that [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIowwZThIXM "MEGALOVANIA"]] is this for game developer and composer Creator/TobyFox. Initially composed for ''VideoGame/TheHalloweenHack'', it was also used in ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'' and, most famously, ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}''. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDgQdr8ZkTw The last one]] is particularly notable, as it's also considered a Signature Song of that game, where it's undergone so much MemeticMutation that [[ItWasHisSled there are probably more people who know about the spoileriffic situation where it's played]] [[note]]if you're one of the few who doesn't know, it plays during the battle against Sans, the comic relief skeleton, who [[TookALevelInBadass takes a level in badass]] and delivers a deliberately unfair boss battle if you kill every single enemy in the game[[/note]] than there are people who've actually played ''Undertale'', let alone heard it in-game. |
| 408 | * "Into the Wilderness" is this for the first ''VideoGame/WildArms1'' game. Its main melody (the part with the whistling) is not only used in the opening, but also in "Courage" (used in Memory Temple, Lolithia's Tomb and most other dungeons with a TempleOfDoom theme), "The Power that Supports the World" (The Guardians' theme) and even in other ''Wild Arms'' games. It's practically the theme song for the entire series. |
| 409 | [[/folder]] |
| 410 | |
| 411 | %%[[folder:Visual Novels]] |
| 412 | %%* ''VisualNovel/DanganronpaTriggerHappyHavoc'' -- "[[TitleDrop Danganronpa]]" or "Discussion -HOPE VS DESPAIR-" |
| 413 | %%** ''VisualNovel/DanganronpaV3KillingHarmony'' -- "Debate Scrum" or "[[Music/ClaudeDebussy Clair de Lune]]" |
| 414 | %%* ''VisualNovel/DokiDokiLiteratureClub'' -- "Your Reality" |
| 415 | %%* ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'' -- "This Illusion," "Sword of Promised Victory," and "Emiya" |
| 416 | %%* ''VisualNovel/ZeroEscape'' -- "[[VisualNovel/NineHoursNinePersonsNineDoors Morphogenetic Sorrow]]" or "[[VisualNovel/VirtuesLastReward Blue Bird Lamentation]]". |
| 417 | %%[[/folder]] |
| 418 | |
| 419 | %%[[folder:Web Animation]] |
| 420 | %%* ''WebAnimation/HazbinHotel'' -- "Inside of Every Demon is a Rainbow" |
| 421 | %%* ''WebAnimation/HomestarRunner'' -- "Trogdor" |
| 422 | %%* ''Webanimation/{{RWBY}}'' -- "This Will Be the Day" |
| 423 | %%[[/folder]] |
| 424 | |
| 425 | [[folder:Web Comics]] |
| 426 | * ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'' -- While there's a song literally called "Homestuck Anthem", "Sburban Jungle" is arguably more emblematic of the series as a whole, since it's the theme for the in-universe video game the plot revolves around, and it's used as an element in numerous other songs. |
| 427 | [[/folder]] |
| 428 | |
| 429 | %%[[folder:Web Videos]] |
| 430 | %%* ''WebVideo/TheAngryVideoGameNerd'' -- The theme song. |
| 431 | %%* ''WebVideo/AtopTheFourthWall'' -- "Gunslinger Theme" |
| 432 | %%* ''WebVideo/EpicRapBattlesOfHistory'' -- The backing track of "Darth Vader vs. Adolf Hitler". "Barack Obama vs Mitt Romney" and "Steven Spielberg vs Alfred Hitchcock" also qualify to an extent. |
| 433 | %%* ''WebVideo/FilthyFrank'' -- "Kill Yourself" or "STFU" |
| 434 | %%* ''WebVideo/{{Jimquisition}}'' -- "Born Depressed", "March of the Sterling Jester", and/or "Stress". |
| 435 | %%* ''WebVideo/TheLizzieBennetDiaries'' -- The theme tune or Lydia Bennet's closing theme |
| 436 | %%* ''LetsPlay/PewDiePie'' -- "Bitch Lasagna" or "Congratulations" |
| 437 | %%* ''WebVideo/TheNostalgiaCritic'' -- "The Review Must Go On" |
| 438 | %%* ''WebVideo/{{React}}'' -- The ''Kids'' and ''Teens'' theme tunes are equally synonymous to the show, the former more so because of the kids chanting. |
| 439 | %%* ''WebVideo/ScottTheWoz'' -- "[[VideoGame/ThreeDDotGameHeroes Breakout]]" |
| 440 | %%* ''WebVideo/{{Vinesauce}}'' -- "Scoot the Burbs", "Robert Cop", "[[DiscreditedMeme Fuck Bees]]", "dootmario2" |
| 441 | %%[[/folder]] |
| 442 | |
| 443 | [[folder:Western Animation]] |
| 444 | * ''WeSternAnimation/HazbinHotel'': |
| 445 | ** Prior to the show's release, the [[AscendedFanon fanmade turned official]] song "Music/{{Addict}}" was the most popular song in the show's fandom, gaining more than a 100 million views, thanks to its exploration of abuse in the porn industry, unhealthy coping, and for just being insanely catchy. |
| 446 | ** "Loser, Baby" has gained its status as the most acclaimed song in the first season's already phenomenal soundtrack. With many fans falling in love with Creator/KeithDavid and Blake Roman's voices. It's simultaneously vulgar, SugarWiki/{{funny|moments}}, and SugarWiki/{{heartwarming|moments}} which to many fans means the song perfectly encapsulates everything that makes ''Hazbin Hotel'' so enjoyable to watch. Even people who do not like the show or the rest of the soundtrack generally enjoy this song. |
| 447 | * ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'' -- "Gitchee Gitchee Goo" ''easily''. Not only was it the winner of the first ever Cliptastic Countdown, it also was the song that gave the show its identity, as the higher up hearing it for the first time is what caused them to request that all future episodes have at least one song, resulting in the show developing its reputation for banger music. |
| 448 | * ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'': Not counting the ExpositoryThemeTune, "Sweet Victory" from "Band Geeks" is heavily associated with the series, [[MisattributedSong despite being originally performed]] by David Glen Eisley. For actual original songs though, "Best Day Ever" easily comes to mind, followed by a tie of "Ripped Pants", "The F.U.N. Song", or "The Campfire Song Song". |
| 449 | [[/folder]] |
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