A top 500 that takes the title

Surely it’s just coincidence that Rolling Stone’s new list of the top 500 rock songs of all time is topped by two records that invoke the magazine’s name. Bob Dylan’s “Like a Rolling Stone” gets the top honor in the poll of various musicians, producers, record executives and music critics. The No. 2 finisher: the Rolling Stones’ “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.”

Following its recent list of the top 500 albums of all time, the publication ranked John Lennon’s “Imagine” at No. 3 among songs. That is followed on the list by Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On,” Aretha Franklin’s “Respect” (written by Otis Redding), the Beach Boys’ “Good Vibrations,” Chuck Berry’s “Johnny B. Goode,” Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and Ray Charles’ “What’d I Say.”

In giving Dylan the top nod, senior editor David Fricke writes: “No other pop song has so thoroughly challenged and transformed the commercial laws and artistic conventions of its time, for all time.”

Or, at least, for this year.

*

Randy Lewis