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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

Brands and inventions

When brands become words: 10 U.S. classics

Some 20th-century inventions solved real problems of everyday life, and their stories are just as surprising: like Band-Aid helping soldiers during World War II, or the Jacuzzi being created to relieve arthritis pain. Over time, many of these products became so popular that their brand names turned into everyday words. Here are 10 brand names that became everyday words.

Every small cut brings it to mind, but did you know that Band-Aid was created in 1920 by Earle Dickson, a Johnson & Johnson employee, for his wife? Josephine Dickson often got cut and burned while cooking, so Earle combined two products: adhesive tape and gauze, and the Band-Aid Brand adhesive bandage was created. One year later, 1921, they were already in stores, and in 1942, Band-Aid was the product in every soldier's kit on the front lines of World War II. One century later, in 2021, Band-Aid introduced "OURTONE" bandages, designed to better blend with brown skin tones. Today, it remains the top-selling bandage brand.

Although today they’re linked to relaxation and luxury, the Jacuzzi wasn’t originally designed for that. The story begins with seven Italian brothers who moved to California in the early 1900s. Known as the Jacuzzi Brothers Inc., they worked as inventors, developing water pumps for agriculture and engineering solutions for aviation.

Their most important invention came from a personal need. After one of the brothers’ sons, Kenneth, was diagnosed with juvenile arthritis, Candido Jacuzzi created a portable hydrotherapy pump to help ease his pain. Introduced in 1956, the device turned a regular bathtub into a therapeutic spa. In 1968, Roy Jacuzzi took the idea further and launched the first fully integrated whirlpool bath. Today, the company holds more than 250 patents, and "Jacuzzi" has become almost synonymous with whirlpool baths.

Another man who made a discovery that stood the test of time. In 1968, Spencer Silver was trying to create a super-strong adhesive at 3M (Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company), but instead came up with a weak, reusable one. It could stick to surfaces without leaving marks, but at first, no one knew what to use it for.

A few years later, in 1974, Art Fry needed a bookmark that would stay in place without damaging pages. He realized Silver’s adhesive was perfect for that idea, and it quickly evolved into small and removable notes. In 1977, they were called "Press n’ Peel," but the product didn’t gain much attention until 1980, when they were relaunched as Post-it Notes and became part of everyday life.

Believe it or not, it all started with pie. The Frisbie Pie Company of Connecticut was one of the most successful bakeries on the East Coast by the mid-1900s. College students began tossing empty pie tins, shouting "Frisbie!" to warn each other, and the name stuck as the game spread across campuses.

On the other side of the country, Walter Frederick Morrison was experimenting with flying discs. Inspired by the growing fascination with UFO sightings, he designed a plastic version called the "Pluto Platter," which he was selling in Los Angeles by 1951. In 1955, Wham-O, a renowned toy brand, spotted him and brought him on board. After hearing the word "Frisbee" used by college students, the company officially adopted the name in 1957. Today, flying disc sports are played around the globe by millions of people.

During World War I, Kimberly-Clark developed crepe paper for gas mask filters. After the war, with less demand for military supplies, the company needed new uses for the material. In the 1920s, it was adapted into Kotex, offering a more hygienic option for women. It was later marketed as a "marvelous new way to remove cold cream," but, in 1927, the company suggested another use: disposable "absorbent handkerchiefs." By 1930, it was promoted as "the handkerchief you can throw away," reflecting a growing focus on hygiene and convenience. Today, it’s hard to think of tissues without calling them Kleenex.

In 1923, after seeing his wife wrap small pieces of cotton around toothpicks, Leo Gerstenzang founded the Leo Gerstenzang Infant Novelty Co. and began producing a ready-to-use cotton swab.

The product was first called "Baby Gays," then renamed "Q-Tips Baby Gays" in 1926, before being shortened to simply Q-tips. The "Q" stands for quality. It became widely popular in the 1920s–30s as a baby care product, and in 1987 was acquired by Unilever, helping expand it worldwide. Over time, the name "Q-tips" became so common that many people use it to refer to any cotton swab, not just the brand.

How did a young banjo player in Minnesota end up creating Scotch Tape? Richard Drew, who practiced the banjo in his free time, joined 3M Company (Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company) in 1923 and began working with materials in auto body shops. There, he noticed painters struggled to get clean lines because existing tape damaged fresh paint. He solved this by inventing masking tape in 1925. An early version didn’t have enough adhesive, and painters joked the company was being "scotch," or cheap; a nickname that stuck.

In 1930, Drew adapted the idea to cellophane, creating the first transparent Scotch Tape for sealing and everyday use. The product became especially popular during the Great Depression, when people used it to fix and reuse items instead of replacing them because they were rather expensive or scarce in markets.

In 1845, Peter Cooper created a powdered gelatin, but it wasn’t yet a ready-to-use dessert. Decades later, in 1897, Pearle Bixby Wait and his wife, May, added sugar and fruit flavor, turning it into what would become Jell-O. In 1899, the couple sold their flavored gelatin product and business to their neighbor, Orator Francis Woodward, for $450 because it wasn't growing.

Until Woodward then built a strong marketing campaign, using free recipe booklets and traveling salesmen to show how easy it was to make, helping Jell-O grow in popularity. By the early 1900s, it was already a household name, and today, it’s known as one of America’s most famous desserts.

Dr. Feet was a pharmacist in Lynchburg, Virginia, who opened his family-run pharmacy in 1869. He was known for creating remedies and experimenting with ingredients to help customers.

In the 1890s, he developed an early version of ChapStick. However, it wasn’t until his friends, Mr. and Mrs. Morton, who had already bought the product, refined the idea that the product took shape. Mrs. Morton melted the mixture and poured it into brass tubes to form sticks, making it easier to use and ready for wider distribution, turning the product into America’s easy-to-carry favorite for lip care to this day.

In 1959, the Xerox 914 copier was introduced, allowing people to make plain-paper copies quickly, changing office work for good. How did it all start? Patent attorney Chester Carlson created the first xerographic image in 1938. He needed a simpler way to copy documents after studying imaging processes at the public library. At first, he called his method "electrophotography," because it used light and static electricity. After being rejected by more than twenty companies, his idea was finally picked up by the Haloid Company, when a consultant suggested the name "xerography," meaning "dry writing," to replace the original term.

After the success of the Xerox 914, Haloid Company renamed itself Xerox in 1961, turning the invention into a global business. The copier quickly became essential in offices, making document duplication faster and more accessible than ever before. As the technology spread, the brand name became so widely used that "to xerox" started to mean "to photocopy," until these days.