Jesus Christ how much of my brain is dedicated to remembering every song I’ve ever liked and why can’t I use it to remember anything my boss told me last week?
It’s like the London cabbies that lose other memories when they have to memorize all the London streets. Half my long term memory is taken up by stuff like classic rock and what Camaro tail lights looked like every year until they got sucky in the 80s.
Simple minds don’t you is a great song, maybe loved more by Americans because of The Breakfast Club and its not there most iconic. Belfast Child, alive and kicking (a Fav among Scots 
) and promise you a miracle, waterfront and catwalk to name a few.
Kansas is a co-iconic band
Greenday might be too between Basket Case and Longview
MJ has a bunch. Best is Billie Jean then Wanna Be Starting Something imo
Freebird is ready to make a comeback
Styx iconic - Come Sail Away, best - Renegade but lately I really love Blue Collar Man for some reason
.
I guess that’s the reason my long term memory is muck then, thanks as I though it was the thc… 
Now I know. 
Damn. It struck me at dinner that this was the most correct answer this thread will ever see. Probably the only legit use of the Rickroll as well where it isn’t just straight up trolling.
Rhianna - Umbrella (both)
Omg: Tell Me What You Want by Zebra. Probably haven’t heard that song since 1985. We are really dating ourselves with some of these picks!
god I’m enjoying seeing Americans express their awareness of the Stone Roses. All the thumbs up!
Another fun fact: I lived roughly a mile from Spike Island in 1990. I did not attend the now legendary Stone Roses gig, as I was more a Happy Mondays fan. Not a musical choice that stands up well to the test of time.
I think it’s become Carry On just due to Supernatural introducing it to a generation of new fans.
Fun Fact: I was at the Supernatural Panel 2 years ago at Comic Con where they literally brought Kansas out to play that song. it was fucking amazing, mostly because it was a legit surprise. They had somehow managed to keep it entirely under wraps until Sunday of ComicCon. I don’t know how that’s possible in this day and age, but they did it.
suzzer, I thought the idea of the thread was that there were relatively few bands that had more than a couple hits and also a clearly best song. But at this pace we’re gonna name like every band that ever existed before Monday morning.
Kansas - Damn, that is a very tough call, but I think Wayward Son slightly beats it. Maybe radio play they’re just as well known, but if you go to a bar, a club, or just karaoke, you’re far more likely to hear Wayward
Basket Case is #2, but American Idiot is #1 for Green Day
Some additions:
Aerosmith - Dream On because I remember when that was their most well-known song, but I think their most iconic song might now be “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing,” another example of a song that was written by someone else (it was originally a country song)
Bush - Machinehead
Whitney Houston - I Will Always Love You (another cover)
Mariah Carey - All I Want for Christmas (this is the only song of hers that has endured across generations imo)
John Mellencamp - Jack & Diane
Tears for Fears - Shout or Everyone Wants to Rule the World??? I think Rule the World barely beats it out.
Pavarotti - Nessun Dorma
Pearl Jam - NOTHING THAT BAND SUCKS
The Beach Boys - Good Vibrations
Kiss - I Want to Rock and Roll All Night
Def Leppard - Pour Some Sugar On Me
The Who - Baba O’Riley (commonly called Teenage Wasteland)
Mumford and Sons - I Will Wait
Depeche Mode - Your Own Personal Jesus
Nickelback - Photograph
That’s amazing.
I think about this all the time. If only there was a way to harness pop culture knowledge we could solve climate change. The other half, by the way, is quotes from Seinfeld episodes and Coen brothers movies.
IDK man, I think “Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough” is far and away the winner. Put it on right now and tell me I’m wrong. The first ten seconds would convince anyone.
I’m calling my shot, Babe Ruth style, everyone will agree
Poison
Every Rose Has Its Thorn
At The Drive In maybe?
lol