Fact check: What's objectively the best song ever?

1. Summary of the results

The question "What's objectively the best song ever?" cannot be answered definitively because musical quality is inherently subjective. However, the analyses reveal several different approaches to measuring "best":

Sales-based metrics show that "White Christmas" by Bing Crosby dominates with over 50 million copies sold, making it the best-selling single of all time according to Guinness World Records ^{[1] [2]}. This commercial success spans decades and represents unprecedented global appeal ^[3].

Critical consensus is represented by Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, which uses weighted votes from selected musicians, critics, and industry figures to create rankings ^[4]. However, this list doesn't establish a single "objectively best" song but rather reflects collective professional opinion ^[5].

Current popularity is tracked through charts like the Billboard Hot 100, which measures contemporary performance and sales data but focuses on current trends rather than all-time greatness ^[6].

Interestingly, the analyses also examined One Direction's "Best Song Ever" - a song that ironically carries the title but is explicitly acknowledged as not actually being the best song ever, despite being described as catchy and fun ^{[7] [8]}.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question assumes objectivity exists in musical evaluation, but the analyses reveal this premise is flawed. Several important perspectives are missing:

• Cultural and generational differences in musical taste are not addressed - what resonates with one generation or culture may not with another
• Genre-specific excellence is overlooked - the "best" rock song, classical piece, or hip-hop track might each deserve separate consideration
• Technical musical complexity versus emotional impact as competing criteria for greatness
• Historical significance and cultural influence beyond just sales numbers
• Streaming era metrics versus traditional sales data, which may favor older songs that had longer periods to accumulate sales

Industry stakeholders who benefit from promoting certain narratives include:

• Record labels and publishers who profit from songs being deemed "greatest" through increased licensing and sales
• Streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music that benefit from playlist placements of "classic" songs
• Music critics and publications like Rolling Stone that gain authority and readership from creating definitive lists

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question contains a fundamental false premise by assuming objectivity can exist in artistic evaluation. This framing is misleading because:

• "Objectively" implies measurable, universal standards that don't exist for artistic works
• The question ignores that musical appreciation is deeply personal, cultural, and contextual
• It suggests there's a single answer when the analyses clearly show multiple valid approaches (sales, critical acclaim, cultural impact)

The question may inadvertently promote commercial bias by implying that popularity or sales figures could determine artistic merit. This benefits major record labels and established artists while potentially diminishing innovative or niche music that may be artistically superior but commercially unsuccessful.

The phrasing also reflects Western-centric assumptions about music evaluation, potentially excluding non-Western musical traditions and criteria for excellence that don't align with commercial or critical frameworks developed primarily in English-speaking markets.