Posted December 6, 20213 yr I saw a similar tweet asking this question: is Mariah Carey's 'All I Want For Christmas Is You' the most well-known song ever? And if not... what is? A few argued it was the happy birthday song (), while others opted for 'I Will Always Love You' or 'Billie Jean'. Is AIWFCIY as big around the globe as it is in UK/US or are there more well-known songs than it? What do you think the most well-known song ever is?
December 6, 20213 yr Author I am also on the no front~ I'd probably say 'I Will Always Love You' is.. but then with younger audiences, perhaps it is this? Also as far as Christmas hits go, isn't 'White Christmas' the biggest selling song ever so that would be above this too? Unless sales =/= how well known a song is :thinking: At least 'White Christmas' would also be known by younger audiences because of its replayability over the festive season which gives it an edge over IWALY..
December 6, 20213 yr My mind instantly went to 'Bohemian Rhapsody'! Yeh same here, i dont know a person who doesnt know it.
December 6, 20213 yr Jingle Bells is probably better known Christmas song I tend to think that Over the Rainbow is the most famous song of "all time" (All time being since the early 1900s)
December 6, 20213 yr Actually, a cross-generational song that everybody knows is "Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu" aka "Volare". Both my grandmothers won't know Mariah, Whitney or Queen but they know Volare very well.
December 6, 20213 yr Blinding Lights is now the biggest song in the history of the world ever made, so there's your answer x
December 6, 20213 yr Author My mind instantly went to 'Bohemian Rhapsody'! See this instantly came to mind too but its stats don't seem to compare to some of the other songs mentioned + I'm not sure how much younger audiences would recognise it if they were played it over some of the others here. :thinking: 'Over The Rainbow' is a great shout too! That's well-known from children (speaking as someone who works with primary age children) right up to elderly!
December 6, 20213 yr Globally, the song has to have several versions released in the local languages to be considered "most famous" The biggest chart hit in my country considering the different versions is Killing Me Softly with His Song. However, the charts were established in the 60s so... But Jingle Bells exists in every language, probably. Edited December 6, 20213 yr by Sour Candy
December 6, 20213 yr I wouldn't even say it's the most well-known Christmas song, surely that would be White Christmas as the world's best-selling song? It may become that way over time though. I would honestly say Happy Birthday if we're counting it, it's sung worldwide and as long as you're one year old, you know it! Other ones could be Imagine, Bohemian Rhapsody, Candle in the Wind (Diana was known worldwide after all) or My Heart Will Go On (likewise, associated with Titanic).
December 6, 20213 yr It must be the most famous Christmas song surely? probably not the most famous song overall though.
December 6, 20213 yr I think anyone older who may be oblivious to AIWFCIY is cancelled out by younger people who won't be aware of White Christmas, which basically means that, out of the two, the only real measure we have is how present they continue to be nowadays. White Christmas isn't one I personally hear very often but AIWFCIY is inescapable - it's on TV, radio, in shops, etc so you're guaranteed to hear it a few times each year whether you want to or not. I'd say AIWFCIY is a good shout for the most famous song (or "pop" song I suppose, stuff like Happy Birthday doesn't feel the same x). Bohemian Rhapsody is another good example and I'd actually argue it has really strong presence among the youth, plus the benefit of being streamed all year round compared to just 2 months of the year for AIWFCIY. That said, AIWFCIY makes a bigger splash every year, so it's definitely up there whether it's the *most* famous or not. I do think stuff like Imagine might be lesser known among younger people these days, or even Candle in the Wind though that probably has a greater reach around the world which could help. Wannabe could be up there but I don't think it's the outright most famous.
December 6, 20213 yr I would say that Last Christmas is as famous as All I Want For Christmas Is You, probably more so after the movie of the same name. So I don't think AIWFCIY is even the most famous Christmas song. Most famous song of them all... My mind went to Candle In The Wind as well. But Bo Rap is a good call too.
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