TIMELESS MELODIES

Is your favorite hit among the top 10 songs of all time?

Image: C D-X

With so many voices, instruments, and melodies over the years, it's a real challenge to name only 10 of the best songs in history. However, some pieces have something that transcends time and trends. We know we've had to omit some iconic hits here (there could be a part two, what do you say?), but here are, in no particular order, 10 songs from the history of music that we've chosen for you. We promise each one has the power to get the whole neighborhood singing along!

Image: Dominik Scythe

Let's start with a classic of classics. It's hard to find an adult who hasn't heard this song at least once in their lifetime. In 1958, the legendary Chuck Berry released an anthem that would define a whole era: "Johnny B. Goode."

A rock and roll masterpiece, you don't even need three seconds of that guitar riff to recognize it and start dancing.

The artist has revealed that this hit has some autobiographical hints, and a quick listen to the lyrics and the title confirms it: Did you know that the talented musician was born at 2520 Goode Avenue in St. Louis?

Image: Vale Arellano

In 1965, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards wrote a song that would become one of the world's most danced-to hits. We're talking about "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" by The Rolling Stones.

Richards' iconic guitar at the beginning of the song is one of the most recognizable hooks in music history! But that's not all; Keith Richards claimed to have recorded that unforgettable guitar riff while he was sleepwalking! When he woke up the next morning, little did he know that he had created a masterpiece destined to be remembered for generations!

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1965 was full of hits, and among them is one of the most famous songs of the legendary Bob Dylan. Ever found yourself singing "Like a Rolling Stone" at the top of your lungs? If not, we highly recommend it.

This hit reached the impressive number 2 spot on the US Billboard charts. But this success came close to never materializing: Rumor has it that, believe it or not, the label hesitated to release the song due to its unusually lengthy duration of nearly 6 minutes.

Image: Duncan Kidd

When it comes to funk, one track stands out above the rest: "Superstition," Stevie Wonder's 1972 hit.

Shortly after it was first released, this hit had already reached number 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. It is said that during the recording sessions, Wonder improvised most of the song, complementing the rhythm set by the talented musician Jeff Beck.

Although Wonder and Beck had initially agreed that Beck would release the track first as part of his album, Stevie eventually took the lead and released it first on his Talking Book album.

Just remember: after you listen, give a knock on some wood for good luck!

Image: Robinson Recalde

While the original song was penned and performed by Otis Redding in 1965, Aretha Franklin's 1967 version of "Respect" lives forever in our memories. With an irresistible rhythm and the Queen of Soul's divine voice, this song was crowned by Rolling Stone magazine as the number 1 among the 500 best songs!

Did you know that Franklin's version subtly changes the original lyrics? "Respect" transcended music to become a feminist anthem of its time, helping to question gender roles in our society.

Image: Dushawn Jovic

Standing as one of the most universally recognized and covered songs, "My Way" by Frank Sinatra was recorded over five decades ago, but is still in our hearts.

As many already know, this hit takes its music from the French song "Comme d'habitude" (we highly recommend listening to it if you haven't already.) And it was the talented Paul Anka who wrote the lyrics specifically for our beloved "Ol' Blue Eyes".

Sinatra's charismatic style and voice propelled this song to international fame, surpassing the original in popularity and making it one of the artist's signature pieces.

Image: Noah Näf

Universally acclaimed across generations and continents, Queen's famous 1975 song, "Bohemian Rhapsody," could not be left out of this list.

The opening chorus of voices, questioning, "Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?" became an emblematic moment for the band. Furthermore, the song's incredible span of 6 minutes allowed for exploration and combinations of rhythms, styles, and harmonies, separating from the conventional rock norms.

Incredibly, no synthesizers were used during the recording process (which took 3 weeks of work), opting to produce all sounds using traditional voices and instruments!

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Marking a crucial moment for the King's career revival in the 1970s, "Suspicious Minds" by Elvis Presley and its iconic guitar solo is to this day a treasure for Elvis fans and the music world in general.

Originally written and first recorded by American songwriter Mark James, it wasn't until Elvis gave voice to this song that it reached commercial success.

Rumor has it that Elvis was initially uncomfortable with Mark James' presence in the studio, so James decided not to attend the recording session, which took place between 4 and 7 am (yes, the working hours of the King). However, when the song was completed, James was blown away by Elvis' version, a fact that ultimately brought the two artists together.

Image: Neil Martin

Regarded by music specialists as one of the Beatles' finest, if not their absolute best, "A Day in the Life" showcases a mountain of talent in both its musical composition and lyrical prowess.

Released as part of their iconic 1967 album, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, this piece marked a pivotal moment in music production and had a major impact on the society of its time.

According to Lennon himself, the lyrics were inspired by a news article in the Daily Mail reporting the tragic death of Tara Browne, the young heir to the Guinness fortune.

Image: Bill Fairs

Composed by the legendary Bob Marley and released with his band Bob Marley and the Wailers in 1980 (almost 45 years ago!), this gem transcends time and cultures.

We're talking about none other than "Redemption Song". But what makes it so special? Well, it is generally acclaimed for its deep and meaningful lyrics. Bob Marley was preaching a message of self-liberation that still hits today. This hit is characterized by its acoustic nature; all we hear is a captivating guitar and Marley's moving voice.

But there is much more behind the music. Some historians say that when Bob Marley penned this song, he was dealing with the pain of the illness that would claim his life just a year later.

Identity crisis

How Siam became Thailand and 9 other countries that chose to rebrand

Image: pure julia

Countries rename themselves for many reasons—shedding colonial pasts, embracing local languages, or settling political disputes. Some changes are subtle, others dramatic, but each reflects deep historical, cultural, or geopolitical shifts. Here are 10 times a nation decided to swap out its old name for a new identity.

Image: Yves Alarie

In 1989, the ruling military junta of the country changed "Burma" to "Myanmar" to reflect what it said was a more inclusive, indigenous identity. The name "Burma" was strongly associated with British colonialism and the dominant Bamar ethnic group.

The UN and many countries recognized the change, but some, like the U.S. and UK, resisted for years as a political stance against the unelected military regime behind the change.

Image: S'mile Vilakati

In 2018, King Mswati III declared that Swaziland would become Eswatini, meaning "land of the Swazis" in the local language. He announced the change during the country’s 50th independence anniversary.

The king cited confusion with Switzerland and a desire to break with colonial-era names as reasons. Also, the new name had already been in unofficial use for years during local events.

Image: Hendrik Cornelissen

In 1972, the island nation officially changed its name from Ceylon to Sri Lanka after becoming a republic. "Sri Lanka" derives from Sanskrit, meaning "resplendent island."

The name "Ceylon" was tied to Portuguese, Dutch, and British colonial rule. However, some companies (like Ceylon Tea) still use the old name as a global brand.

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In 1997, after the dictatorial regime of Mobutu Sese Seko was overthrown, Zaire reverted to its pre-1971 name: the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

"Zaire" had been Mobutu’s attempt to Africanize the nation, but reverting to the original name also caused its own problems, since its neighbor is also named the Republic of the Congo, leading to some confusion for both locals and tourists.

Image: Ljupco Dzambazovski

After years of dispute with Greece over the name "Macedonia," the country officially became North Macedonia in 2019. Greece claimed "Macedonia" implied a territorial claim over its northern region of the same name.

The compromise unblocked North Macedonia’s path to NATO and EU talks. Though controversial domestically, the change ended a decades-long diplomatic standoff.

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Under the Khmer Rouge regime, the country was known as Democratic Kampuchea. After the regime’s fall in 1979, the name gradually returned to "Cambodia," the anglicized form of the original name.

By 1993, with the monarchy restored and a new constitution, "Kingdom of Cambodia" became official. "Kampuchea" is still used in the Khmer language, but not internationally.

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In 1984, revolutionary leader Thomas Sankara renamed Upper Volta to Burkina Faso, meaning "Land of Incorruptible People" in local languages. The old name referred to river tributaries of the region.

Sankara saw the change as a break from colonial legacy and a tribute to national dignity. The people became known as Burkinabé, a new term coined to reflect unity.

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This was more a rebranding than a true name change. "The Netherlands" has always been the country’s official name, whereas "Holland" refers only to two provinces. In 2020, the Dutch government stopped using "Holland" in international marketing to avoid confusion.

The change was part of a tourism and trade branding overhaul, with major events like Eurovision and the Olympics adopting "Netherlands" exclusively in their materials.

Image: Mathew Schwartz

In 1939, and again officially after WWII in 1949, the country dropped the name Siam to become Thailand, meaning "land of the free."

The change was mainly driven by a nationalist movement that sought to unify the country under a more inclusive Thai identity. While the name "Siam" carried some specific cultural connotations, the name "Thailand" emphasized sovereignty and the ethnic majority’s rule.

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In 1980, the unrecognized white minority government of Rhodesia was replaced, and the country became Zimbabwe, derived from "Great Zimbabwe," an ancient city of the region.

The old name honored British imperialist Cecil Rhodes. The new one reclaimed African history and identity after years of brutal conflict.