The Rolling Stone released an updated version of “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time” Sept. 15. Here is what members of our staff had to say about some of the songs on the list.

#1: “Respect” by Aretha Franklin – Staff Writer Alex Gribb

Aretha Franklin’s lasting impact influenced an entire genre, and many song readers to this day. This song has an empowering feel, even to this day, and it’s old blues mixed with powerful vocals earned this spot.

Aretha Franklin was able to claim her name and brand, while also fighting the stereotypes that come with being a black woman in the music industry. Her struggle with confidence is perfectly shown in this song, and acts as a message to herself and others to respect themselves and demand it from others.

#5: “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana – Staff Writer Thomas Bourdeon

THIS SONG DESERVES WAY HIGHER, IT’S A CLASSIC BANGER. At first I had never listened to Nirvana in my life before. I started skateboarding and my dad told me to get into rock because that’s what he listened to when he skated. I went around asking my friends what to listen to when someone said Nirvana. I immediately fell in love and it shows how amazing their music was with this rating from The Rolling Stones. This song is still listened to and played almost everywhere I go. Everyone I know knows the song and can sing along with it. It’s a very popular song and is sitting right where it should be.

#9: “Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac – Editor-in-Chief Carly Philpott

This may be my favorite song ever. It was written during a conflicting time in Fleetwood Mac’s history – the band is famed for being wrought with drama, and many of the songs on the Rumours album, which “Dreams” was a single from, are written by members of the group as jabs at other members.

During this time, members Christine and John McVie were going through a divorce, members Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks were breaking up, and member Mick Fleetwood was going through a divorce of his own. As the group fought to leave their personal differences behind when they entered the studio, many of the songs they wrote reflected what was happening.

Nicks wrote “Dreams” largely on her own, with prominent lyrics such as “Players only love you when they’re playing” and “Well, who am I to hold you down?” And “Dreams” isn’t the only dramatic song on the album – “You Make Loving Fun,” written by Christine McVie, was about McVie’s new boyfriend, directly after her divorce with ex-husband John McVie. “You Can Go Your Own Way” was written by Lindsey Buckingham as a direct response to Stevie Nicks.

Although other members of Fleetwood Mac were hesitant about “Dreams,” it rocketed to the top of the charts. Holding the Billboard Top 100 for a week, “Dreams” proved to be Fleetwood Mac’s biggest hit, remaining on charts across the world for weeks. The song has also experienced chart resurgences, such as in 2011 after it was featured in a TV show. It also reentered charts across the world due to social media posts in 2018 and 2019, and again in October 2020, after the song went viral on TikTok.

For me, this song brings back memories of the mountains. My family listens to CDs in the car, and Rumours has long been a family favorite. Though “Dreams” is my favorite song from it now, “The Chain,” featured in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, used to be. The whole album is full of current and past hits, and is a true masterpiece. But “Dreams” stands out as the timeless song from the album, and though it’s my #1, it definitely deserves its #5 spot on this list.

#15: “I Want To Hold Your Hand” by The Beatles – Staff Writer Emily Gleason

“I Want to Hold Your Hand” by The Beatles became the group’s best-selling single and first number one hit on the American charts. It also hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and they were nominated for their first Grammy nomination for Record of the Year in 1965 which would be a start to numerous awards and recognitions.

The Beatles are clearly one of the most, if not the most, influential bands of all time, because of their contributions to rock music and music in general. With the new invention of multitrack recordings in the 1960s, The Beatles experimented with it in order to create more complex songs including this one. Because of this, The Beatles would be an inspiration to many future artists experimenting with different recording methods.

In general, the song is light and upbeat. I grew up listening to this song because my parents would often play it in the house. There isn’t one distinct message throughout the song, but it fully encaptures the feeling of longing to be loved, even if it is only to hold your hand.

#17: “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen – Staff Writer Lianka Pechova

Bohemian Rhapsody was number 17th on the Rolling Stones list, but it topped the UK Singles Chart for nine weeks.

This song and its following album solidified Queen as a band and gave them a platform, something to stand on.

This song and its video hit the world like a storm. It was highly experimental and  pushed the boundaries of radio play, and propelled queen into the spotlight along with other major hits.

#25: “Run Away” by Kanye West – Opinions Editor Nate Meredith

After Kanye’s outburst aimed at Taylor Swift at the 2009 VMAs, he exiled himself to Oahu, Hawaii.

He spent the next year flying in various rap icons to aid him through the making of his 5th studio album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Appearing at the top of most lists is his hit track, Runaway (feat. Pusha T).

The first piano press is one of the most recognizable notes in modern music, and in my opinion, the song is a current “Bohemian Rhapsody.”

#30: “Royals” by Lorde – Staff Writer Lydia Foster

This song deserves its spot. When “Royals” originally came out in June 2013, not many people knew who Lorde was, but it almost immediately gathered attention for its lyrics. It’s a song about wealth, or rather the lack of it, with lyrics that many younger people could relate to.

It quickly became one of the songs that “defined the decade,” having gotten 10,000 downloads within days. It topped the Billboard 100 for nine weeks, and spent the longest time atop the Alternative Songs chart for a song by a woman.

#36: “Seven Nation Army” by The White Stripes – Staff Writer Sydney Topelson

Jack White was messing around on his guitar during soundcheck on one of The White Stripes’ Australian tours when he stumbled upon the weightiest hard-rock riff. “I didn’t have lyrics for it until later on, and I was just calling it ‘Seven Nation Army’ — that’s what I called the Salvation Army when I was a kid,” White said.

“Seven Nation Army” is a very popular song, notorious for its riffs, played at both professional and ammature sporting events.

“Seven Nation Army” is a song about heartbreak and wanting a bit of revenge with some anger.

#40: “All Along the Watchtower” by Jimi Hendrix – Staff Writer Katya Roudakov

This is one of the iconic rock songs that defined the 1960s and 70s, and it’s still a classic today. Originally a song by the everlasting Bob Dylan, Hendrix’s cover skyrocketed “All Along the Watchtower” in the charts, and established it as one of the most influential classic rock songs of all time.

Despite being covered by other artists for years after its release, it has mostly remained in the rock genre, which justifies its ranking as 40th. It wouldn’t be fair to place a song that only primarily influenced one sphere of music among those which affected the entirety of music for decades.

Still, the importance of “All Along the Watchtower” in the evolution of rock music can’t be denied. It’s a masterpiece still being appreciated and analyzed to this day.

#45: “Alright” by Kendrick Lamar – A&E Editor Aila MonLouis

Kendrick Lamar’s storytelling in this song plays a personal role in many people’s lives. The ability for him to be straight up about police brutality during a time that in a way was quieted down, and later became a “BLM anthem,” shows how influential he and his music could be.

Ranking 45 out of 500 is extremely high and overall is a song that deserves that type of recognition and when coming out of.

#47: “Tiny Dancer” by Elton John – Features Editor Bre Mennenoh

I think this song is fine where it’s at. There’s a classic feel to the song that brings you to joyful dance. It’s the kind of song that makes you want to dye your hair red. I really like the lyrics and all the hidden meanings inside of it you know what i mean? The album itself is dedicated to his ex-wife. I think her name was Maxine. This was for her.

#49: “Doo Wop (That Thing)” by Lauryn Hill – Staff Writer Olivia Darnel

Lauryn Hill’s lead single “Doo Wop (That Thing)” on her debut album revolutionized the music industry. Charting #1 on the US billboard hot 100, Hill showcased the ability to mix many different genres into one unique sound. This song showcased Hill’s versatility as an artist and her musical talent. Hill used the song to empower women and men to demand respect in relationships. Hill stresses the idea of knowing your self worth  and not settling for less than you deserve.

The 49 out of 500 ranking accurately describes the impact the song had on the music industry and the public when it came out.

#95: “Wonderwall” by Oasis – Design Editor Madison Seckman

Hitting #8 on the Billboard charts after its release, this song was Oasis’s awakening in their nearly perfect album (What’s The Story) Morning Glory.

Most people believe this song is about the writer’s ex-wife and how he used to love her, so it’s become a common one for new relationships to listen to. In fact, I’ve spent a couple afternoons with my boyfriend playing the song on guitar and me singing along.

Yet the reason that people tend to love this song isn’t the reason it was composed. According to Noel Gallagher, the songwriter, “it’s a song about an imaginary friend who’s gonna come and save you from yourself.”

Either way, there’s a clear message of love, making this one of the best songs for exploring appreciation of something in your life.

#99: “Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees – Staff Writer Lou Leclercq

Stayin’ Alive by the Bee Gees is one of their most well known songs and also one of their most misunderstood songs.

It was actually never meant to be a dance tune, and if you look at the lyrics, it is actually slightly dark. The Bee Gees wrote this song in 1977 after the serial killer David Berkowitz scared New York with eight attacks and added the lyrics “life goin’ nowhere, somebody help me somebody help me” to show how scared New Yorkers were.

Now the song is still played daily and is even used as a CPR teaching tool by using the beat of the song. I think this song is amazing and definitely deserves its spot on the top 500.

#150: “Basket Case” by Green Day – Staff Writer Aurora Miller

The lyrics describe a panicked, confused young person trying to sort through emotions, anxiety, drugs, and relationships. Considering how relevant the lyrics are to today’s generation (whether people like it or not), it’s an important song to give voice to those who haven’t found the words yet.

#171: “What A Wonderful World” by Neil Armstrong – News Editor Lily Deitch

During the 1960s, when melancholy ran rampant through Vietnam war-ridden America; Louis Armstrong produced a sweet melody to communicate words of inspiration. It was his image of a perfect world.

At first, his song was a number one hit all over Europe and South Africa, but this image of a wonderful world didn’t strike America as anything special at first. Less than 1,000 Americans had bought a copy, and most complained about his overwhelming enthusiasm for a world that didn’t seem very wonderful.

“Seems to me, it ain’t the world that’s so bad but what we’re doin’ to it, and all I’m saying is see what a wonderful world it would be if only we’d give it a chance,” Armstrong said in a public remark. “Love baby, love. That’s the secret, yeah. If lots more of us loved each other, we’d solve lots more problems.”

My grandparents grew up during this time when uncertainty was common in the minds of their mid-twenties age group. My grandma recalled feeling constant stress as her friends were being drafted on a day-by-day basis. My grandparents were Armstrong fans and two of the few who listened to this song when it first came out. It gave them some hope that carried them through a hard time.

I grew up with this song. We played it in the car driving up to the mountains; I danced to it in my grandparents’ living room. Through Armstrong’s message in his song, he taught me to have a positive outlook on life.

This message is a necessary one. In a time when our world is falling apart at the seams, we need to remember that love and acceptance are important. We also need to remember that life can be beautiful, even in times that seem like nothing will get better.

#183: “You Are The Sunshine Of My Life” by Stevie Wonder – Staff Writer Amanda Castillo-Lopez

It’s such a peaceful song that has a summer afternoon feeling. Wonder’s soft vocals won him the Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. Though it’s not particularly an energizing song, it evokes a feeling of happy tranquility.

#286: “Dancing Queen” by ABBA – Staff Writer Gabby Clark

This should be higher. “Dancing Queen” is one of the best disco records of all time. The song has a very thought-out and complex structure that lets the whole song flow. The song was the lead single in ABBA’s fourth album Arrival.

After being released, “Dancing Queen” became a worldwide hit, topping the charts in over a dozen countries and becoming ABBA’s only #1 Billboard hit.

#295: “Won’t Get Fooled Again” by The Who – Staff Writer Dalia Martinez

I think they over hyped the song differently, not in the top 300. But besides that It has a really good happy beat. The song gives me rock, some hip and funk. I like the beep voice and the guitar solos.

It only ever reached 84 on the Billboard 100, but it was near the top of charts around the world, and has remained a well-known classic.

#320: “California Love” by 2Pac – Staff Writer Finn Elliott

As one of the largest influences on hip-hop as a whole and an iconic character, “California Love” by 2Pac featuring Roger Troutman and Dr. Dre deserves a higher spot on the list.

Released in December 1995, “California Love” marked 2Pac’s return into the music industry as he’s “out on bail, fresh out jail, California dreamin’.”

Roger Troutman’s infectious vocals on the chorus create a dynamic introduction, declaring the absolute presence of the hard-hitting track as Dr. Dre and 2Pac rap about the California lifestyle during the 90s.

The song peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks, and later received a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group in 1997.

#346: “Dynamite” by BTS – Staff Writer Nick Rui

The first English single of the popular South Korean boy band, “Dynamite” took the world by storm. The catchy beat and 70s-80s disco-pop vibe has skyrocketed this track to the top of the charts.

BTS made history as “Dynamite” debuted No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the first Korean artist to do so. Additionally, “Dynamite” remained No. 1 on the Digital Song Sales chart for 18 weeks, breaking the previous record.

With their prominent success in the western market, BTS has shattered cultural and language barriers.

#409: “Everlong” by the Foo Fighters – Staff Writer Adam Nowlin

The Foo Fighters’ most popular song of the 90s helped pave the way along with bands like Nirvana or Alice In Chains for more rock/grunge type of music that we saw in the 2000s, bands like Audioslave or Linkin Park.

The lyrics talk about singing with someone. Frontman singer and guitarist Dave Grohl revealed this song to be about a girl. No certain girl, just in general a girl. Just the feeling of love is what Grohl wants the listeners to feel.

It’s one of those songs that really ignited the feeling of falling in love that we see in a lot of music today although this is depicted differently than what most would imagine, as there is no mushy love story but just a random dude who wants to be with a girl and has these feelings he cannot comprehend or fathom.(if you’ve seen the music video it’s not the kind of love song you’d expect)

Everyone will be looking for someone to love at one point or another in life  and this song is an example of how when you find someone, you’ll know from the feeling you get that they’re the one.

#436: “Call Me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepsen – Staff Writer Ella Griffin

Released in September 2011, this was Jepsen’s signature hit. In March 2012, Jepsen’s song was ranked number one on the billboard chart for nine consecutive weeks. It was on the charts for 50 weeks. The song was nominated for two Grammy awards, Song of the Year and Best Solo Song Performance.

The meaning behind the song isn’t as flirtatious as you would think. Many think the meaning behind the song shows Jepsen has a lack of confidence. Her lyrics capture the feeling of meeting someone for the first time and imagining them in your future.

#482: “Bad Romance” by Lady Gaga – Staff Writer Annabelle Crouch

Released in October 2009, “Bad Romance,” by Lady Gaga, was an extremely influential 21st century pop song. As a single on her album The Fame Monster, Bad Romance allowed Gaga to rack up 10 awards including two Grammys.

Bad Romance highlights the experience of platonic relationships, and explores the duality included. Gaga performed this single during the superbowl halftime show in 2017, proving the longevity of this song.

Lady Gaga utilizes a catchy chorus that sticks with you, leaving you wanting to listen more. The iconic repetition of the song is a staple of Gagas brand. Lady Gaga’s Bad Romance has withstood the test of time, as she utilizes juxtaposition to emphasize the struggles of relationships. This makes the song relatable to most and an amazing listen.

#484: “Goodbye Earl” by The Chicks – Staff Writer Norah Rudnick

The Chick’s “Goodbye Earl” is an empowering story about a woman who is living in an abusive relationship with her husband, and decides to deal with the problem by eliminating him.

This song’s story that truly empowers women to stand up to abusive situations, which are inherently common in many relationships.

The violent themes of the song caused controversy in listeners and radios, but the song grew ever more popular.

#494: “Time After Time” by Cyndi Lauper – Staff Writer Anna Mae Simek

“Time After Time,” sung by Cydni Lauper, is an 80s classic. One of Lauper’s biggest hits, having all the teenage girls relating to the heartbreak lyrics. The song still lives on today and sets the bar high for other female pop artists. It’s truly a song for the books. Rolling Stone Magazine can agree!

#497: “Truth Hurts” by Lizzo – Staff Writer Laila Seddiki

Truth Hurts is a song made to uplift women who have been through a break up or dealt with men’s stupidity.

It should be higher because it gives a lot of women confidence. It also shows you can love who you are.