The Righteous Brothers' global hit "Unchained Melody"' has been named the most popular song of all time down under in Australia. The recording beat the likes on ABBA, the Beatles and Elvis Presley, in the list of the Top 1000 Most Popular Songs, as voted by the listeners of Brisbane radio station 882 4BH.
The second most popular song of all time title went to John Lennon's 'Imagine,' while the third spot was secured by 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' by Simon and Garfunkel. Louis Armstrong's 'What A Wonderful World' was voted the fourth best song, while ABBA's 'Dancing Queen' came fifth.
Elvis Presley's 'Love Me Tender,' Bette Midler's 'Rose,' Roy Orbison's 'Pretty Woman,' Beatles' 'Yesterday,' and Midler's 'Wind Beneath My Wings' rounded off the top ten.
The top 6 Most Popular Songs were:
1. Unchained Melody - Righteous Brothers.
2. Imagine - John Lennon
3. Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon and Garfunkel
4. What A Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
5. Dancing Queen - ABBA
6. Love Me Tender - Elvis Presley
The Australian radio station throws the topic open every year to its listeners. Program manager Geoff Harrison said the radio stations takes "thousands" of votes from listeners over a three-week period. "It takes about two weeks - or 10 days - to play the top 1000 songs".
New York Radio Station WCBS-FM meanwhile voted three Elvis songs into their Love Songs chart Top Ten. The Righteous Brothers was also their most popular Love Song.
The top 10 Most Popular Love Songs were:
1. Unchained Melody - The Righteous Brothers
2. Can't Help Falling In Love - Elvis Presley
3. I Only Have Eyes For You - The Flamingos
4. Can't Take My Eyes Off You - Frankie Valli
5. Just The Way You Are - Billy Joel
6. The Wonder Of You - Elvis Presley
7. My Girl - The Temptations
8. All My Loving - The Beatles
9. Love Me Tender - Elvis Presley
10. Always & Forever - Heatwave
Unchained Melody Named Most Popular Song Of All Time
February 16, 2008 | Other
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Tony D. wrote on
February 16, 2008
Out of the 700 or so songs that Elvis recorded, I would rate "Unchained melody" in the bottom 100.
Steve V wrote on
February 16, 2008
Not a bad choice. The Brothers version is my wedding song(wife's choice). Glad to see Elvis made the top 10. Love Me Tender is prob his most popular ballad, although I prefer Cant Help Falling In Love to it.
Mofoca22 wrote on
February 16, 2008
just pretend is a good one though it deserves more credit than it get
Steve V wrote on
February 16, 2008
Lex perhaps your are right, LOL. My fave all time Elvis ballad is Don't. Why he never sang it in concert is beyond me. A Leiber/Stoller classic in my opinion, right up there with Love Me which he never stopped performing!
Harvey Alexander wrote on
February 16, 2008
My favourite version of 'Unchained Melody' is by Floyd Cramer. Just thought you'd like to know.
JerryNodak wrote on
February 16, 2008
I don't have a problem with anything in the Top 10. Although, I've never been a huge fan of "Love Me Tender." Like Steve, I prefer "Don't."
Jerome: What's with you an "Old Shep?" I've seen that title pop up in several of your posts lately.
Are you getting a huge cash kick-back from Sont/BMG for every time you can work that title into one of your posts? I'd prefer "Old Shep" in the Top 10 over "Love Me Tender."
Jumpin Jehosaphat wrote on
February 17, 2008
What happened to Old Black Joe by Jerry Lee Lewis SUN record # 337? Great song still need more airplay...Jerry was super on his version.
hillbillycatlover wrote on
February 17, 2008
I saw the Righteous Brothers perform "Unchained Melody' in the 80's. Bill said to Bobby, "I'm glad this is your song with that high note." Then Bobby barely made that high note. Still not as good as Elvis singing it the heartfelt way he always did, even in the '77 concert where he flubbed the end... you can't take away from him the unbelievable soulfulness that he sang that song with from the very first note. Gave me shivers to watch him play the piano and look for approval. Why didn't he realize what his voice--not just him, his looks, his personality, his charisma--but what his voice did and still does to people? Listen to "Angel" again from "Follow that Dream." Listen to the vibratto and the range...I have it on my stereo on repeat just that one song playing softly every night...puts you right to sleep. That's what I mean. The voice. That voice. The voice that goes right through you, whether it's in falsetto, soprano, tenor or bass, you can't help but listen and be drawn in to the passion. We all know he sang "Bridge over Troubled Water" far better than Simon and Garfunkel and did a better arrangement. Because Elvis did the arrangements as well, whatever he sang that someone else had previously sung was a far superior version to the original. My personal favorite is "You'll Never Walk Alone." It makes my heart stop.
John4126 wrote on
February 17, 2008
The Righteous Brothers have the definative version for 'Unchained' as do Simon and Garfunkel for 'Bridge'. Elvis' version of Unchained should have been left for his cronies in the music room in Graceland, who would like you Hillbillycatlover, would have slapped his back and said' Great Boss - any chance of a new car?' The only shivers down my spine are for a junkie who should have been in re-hab. Light blue touch paper and sit back....
Elvisnites wrote on
February 17, 2008
I heard The Righteous Brothers perform Unchained Melody in the 60's at the old Latin Casino in Cherry Hill, NJ. It was heart stopping. I can understand why it's number 1. Elvis with 3 in the top 10 isn't too shabby. I think The Wonder Of You is an excellent choice. JMO I don't know what Jerome's real feeling are on Old Shep, but for me it's a favorite and a real tear jerker if you've ever owned a dog.
hillbillycatlover wrote on
February 17, 2008
No, John, I would not have slapped him on the back and asked him for a car. That's a personal attack which offends me. No one, but no one, could sing a song, whether it was a lullaby or gospel or rock, better than Elvis once he sang it. This is about his talent, his ability to sing and move people with his passion, not his personal life. "We can agree to disagree" and leave it at that without disparaging Elvis or me.
marty wrote on
February 17, 2008
The Righteous Brothers version of Unchained Melody is a classic (still not the original) but I prefer Elvis version. Also Bridge Over Troubled Water is a classic by Simon & Gurfunkel but again I prefer Elvis live version. The same applies to most songs by others that Elvis chose to record. This happens maybe because I am a fan and like to hear Elvis voice or it's the other way around, I became a fan because Elvis sings BETTER than anyone else! The truth maybe is somewhere in between... PS Don't is one of my favourites too. Much more than Love Me Tender.
Andreas77 wrote on
February 18, 2008
Not that this should be a decisive factor when debating this issue, but it is nevertheless interesting to note that Rolling Stone Magazine, when considering E's best songs, held that Elvis' version of UM was one of his best: "Though it has been recorded an estimated five hundred times by artists ranging from the Righteous Brothers to Barry Manilow to Harry Belafonte, the King does a killer version here in his dying days."
JLpResLey wrote on
February 18, 2008
Maybe, "Love me tender" is elvis´ best known song. But is it Elvis´ best song? I don´t think so. When it comes to ballads I think there´s maybe 20-30 ballads that elvis recorded, that´s better than "Love Me Tender". I agree that "Don´t" is an amazing ballad. However, my personal favourite has to be "Doin´ the best I can".
FLASHBOY wrote on
February 19, 2008
Unchained Melody by the righteous brothers is very good but when Elvis recorded it it became superior like most of the songs Elvis has cover Elvis sang it with such feelings it's amazing!
The song was record when Elvis was near his dead it's even more incradible. Elvis voice... unbeattable!
Ton Bruins wrote on
February 20, 2008
Well, what a disappointment that "Love Me Tender" is rated that high when I think about all the other great songs Elvis recorded. I personally don't like "Love Me Tender" at all...very overrated Elvis song..