Runner-up: Aretha Franklin, pictured last year

The poll was commissioned by the US arm of music TV network VH-1. Programming director Todd Schwartz said of the song: "It kind of sticks up as an anthem for the time it was released and for every generation since."

Aretha Franklin's Respect came in second and Led Zeppelin's Stairway To Heaven was third.

The Beatles has nine songs on the list, but their best showing was Hey Jude at number nine.

"The Beatles had so many songs that the vote got divided," said Schwartz. He added Madonna, REM, U2, Neil Young and Fleetwood Mac missed out on appearing in the poll for the same reason.

Popular, like the Rolling Stones: Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan came fourth with Like A Rolling Stone and had three other songs, including All Along The Watchtower in the list - but voters preferred Jimi Hendrix's version. Led Zeppelin and Elvis Presley also had four each.

The only 1990s hit was 1991's Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana - which Schwartz put down to the age of the panel.

The oldest was Rock Around The Clock by Bill Haley and The Comets.

Other musicians on the panel included country veteran Johnny Cash and singer Bonnie Raitt, while soul icon Curtis Mayfield also took part in the poll before his death last month.

Click here to see the top 100 in full