Queen's 1975 hit Bohemian Rhapsody has come in at number one of the all-time favourite chart compiled to mark the 50th birthday of the British charts.

Kylie's Can't Get You Out of My Head is one of the rare modern entries along with Oasis's Don't Look Back In Anger, U2's Beautiful Day and Elvis vs JXL's A Little Less Conversation - a re-worked version of an old Elvis song.

Imagine by John Lennon came second and the Beatles' Hey Jude came third ahead of 13 other Beatles songs in the top 100.

There were 941 number one songs to choose from since the pop charts began in 1952 and the 50 highest tracks were counted down on Radio 2 on Saturday.

Which song would you have voted for? Why doesn't contemporary music feature more highly in the rundown? Are you disappointed with the focus on classics instead of new music?

This Talking Point has now closed. Read a selection of your comments below.

It gets across a beautiful feeling about the world

Jonathan Kerr, UK

Penny Lane is my favourite song, because it gets across a beautiful feeling about the world, as a crazy and lovely place, by describing a small community.
Jonathan Kerr, UK

The best song ever will always be "November Rain" by Guns N' Roses.
Angela, USA

Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here" puts all these songs in the shade. The outstanding poetry and soul-rending musicianship expressed by the Floyd make them a class apart from any other conventional music band. I suppose Zappa could compete, but only just.
Kris, Wales

Where's "Under the Moon of Love" by the fabulous Showaddywaddy?! What better song to get a party under way? Long live the 'Waddy !!
Steve Thorpe, UK

No wonder bands such as The Beatles and Queen are up there on the classics list

Rich K, UK

Manufactured pop groups have nothing on bands that actually write their own songs and play their own instruments. No wonder bands such as The Beatles and Queen are up there on the classics list, they actually had talent. The only classics that Will Young and Gareth Gates will release are cover versions of already classic songs!
Rich K, UK

'Toxcicity' by System of a down, why oh why is that not on list?
Karen, England

This is a great list - all songs you can remember and still sing along to years after their release! Great guitar riffs, some truly moving lyrics, pure performance (Jagger, Mercury) and songs that truly are timeless. I'm 17 and this is exactly my kind of music list - the songs have melody, clever musical arrangements and they've not just been randomly spewed out of a computer. Radio One take heed of this list!
Kayleigh Davies, England

The best songs are usually less publicised and do not reach no.1

Daniel, England

Many of the good songs from the past decade have never reached number 1 and so were not included in the vote. Now heavily promoted manufactured pop gets released and manages to stay at the top of the chart for a week before rapidly disappearing. The best songs are usually less publicised and do not reach no.1, but stay in the chart for much longer.
Daniel, England

Surely True Faith by New Order deserves a mention! And what about Blue Monday. Or the Joy Division classics such as Isolation, Transmission, or Love will Tear us Apart?
Liam Core, Ireland

I want to take a different angle on all this. The extent of a song's quality is, like beauty, in the eyes of the beholder. In fact, it's easier to judge beauty than to judge good music, since the former has an externalised component. One may argue that a song's external component is its sound, but it does seem to me that the all-round effects of a song on a human-being are dependent on a range of factors relative to that person's internal condition, to a far greater extent than the effect of assessment of physical beauty. The point is that it's extremely difficult to gauge any song as 'the best'. And the worst barometer of all of has got to be the charts.
Obinna Ike, Nigeria

Undoubtedly a good selection of classic songs. However, I think a R2 audience should have been only part of the jury. Many songs from the last decade are worthy of merit. I may be "old enough to listen to R2" but "I stick with R1" - why live in the past? R1 play the best of the "golden oldies" too.
Paul Smith, Germany

A revival of 'The Old Grey Whistle Test' would be very welcome.

Steve Byrne, Newmarket

For me, something of a rapid decline in top 40 music quality began in around 1986/87. It seems that at about this time there was a change in programming policy on the part of many radio stations and this took the form of a shift away from the serious music listener and a clear attempt to target a younger and less discerning audience who tend to buy singles rather than albums. I remember hearing recently of how David Gray struggled for years to get Radio Airplay and that his hit single �Babylon� was released 3 times before any stations would take notice.

Radio2 have taken a definite step in the right direction with the introduction of more album tracks to the daytime format. Far more of the same is needed if there is to be an improvement in the state of the British music industry. Also a revival of 'The Old Grey Whistle Test' or a programme with similar aims would be very welcome at this time.
Steve Byrne, Newmarket,UK

Well, the outcome of the survey conducted depends much on the age group of music fans that participated in it. I can guarantee you that if you ask my mother's peers you'd come up with results similar to Radio 2's count down. Ask generation-Y (my peers) who are so much into pop music you'd see a totally different set of results. Most of my friends agree "Love will go on" by Celine Dion is the greatest followed by "Super Trouper" by ABBA, and some other hits from the late 80's till today.
Lesego, Botswana

Some of the finest songs of all time, which were never released as singles, are excluded.

Kim, Australia

Trouble with a chart like this is that it represents singles only. That means some of the finest songs of all time, which were never released as singles, are excluded. I am referring to tracks such as Led Zepp's "Stairway To Heaven," U2s "Sunday Bloody Sunday", Oasis's "Champagne Supernova" and the Stones's "You Can't Always Get What You Want." Surely these should be recognised too, and probably countless other classics that never made it to be singles in their own right.
Kim, Australia

I made up a little tune as I walked along this morning. It was really good. No video or radio airplay, though, so I expect it will be lost to the world. I'm glad to have heard it, though.
Carl, England

So glad Kate Bush got a high position with Wuthering Heights. I had suspected she would be in the Top 50 but when we were at no. 16 I lost hope. Without any doubt the absolute best female artist this country has produced...ever!
Adrian Keppel, Wales

One the best ever is Les Fleur, by Minnie Ripperton. The chorus explodes with hope and optimism, while the verses strike a more thoughtful and melancholic chord. A much underrated artist who died trgically young.
Andy, UK

Bohemian Rhapsody, although an impressive piece of musical composition, is just too pompous

Ben, London

A Number One certainly doesnt make a classic song - it just indicates whats popular in the playground - this has been true as long as pop has been around. For my money Bohemian Rhapsody, although an impressive piece of musical composition, is just too pompous - my number one would be something more honest and heartfelt like No Woman No Cry by Bob, or One by U2, or of course the stunning Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd.
Ben, London UK

'What a wonderful world' by Louis Armstrong, 'Unfinished Sympathy' by Massive Attack and Voodoo Chile by Jimi Hendrix all deserve a mention. Odd how 'The Bodyguard' and that Bryan Adams song from Robin Hood aren't mentioned despite spending so many weeks at the top!
Neil Corbett, UK

There are no black artists in the top 20 which is a disgrace. The fact there is no Stevie Wonder, Otis Redding, or Aretha Franklin is simply staggering. This top 20 is bland and predictable and is virtually the same one each time the poll is undertaken. My top ten would have included Stevie's Superstition, Otis's Dock of the Bay and Athrea's Say a little prayer. Greatest ever single - What becomes of the Broken hearted or Four top's reach out. Believe me - these still sound great after all these years - unlike Queen who are beginning to become the Black forest Gateau of Rock
Barry Howarth, UK

Sad to see no Punk at all in the list.

John, England

Sad to see no Punk at all in the list. I'd vote for the sex Pistols and "Anarchy in the UK", because it was such a breath of fresh air at a time when the charts were dominated by schmaltz. When it was released, it took blatant manipulation of the charts to stop it reaching no. 1, so all the more reason for it to be included now.
John, England

The difficulty for radical new material is getting on to Radio Station playlists. These are controlled and manipulated by the music industry. Lets open it up to new talent.
Terry Emerson, London, UK

Music has not changed or evolved significantly since the mid 1980s. Music from the late 50s was entirely different from that of the early 60s, which was entirely different from the psychedelia of the late 60s. From the Prog Rock of the early 70s, through punk of the late 70s, and New Romance in the early 80s. Huge leaps in music each time (I know I've left a lot of types of music out). But since about 1985/86 nothing much has happened. As a test listen to a song from around then and imagine it was only released today - it would fit right in to the charts!
Kevin McQuillan, Ireland

My favourite song of all time is Son of a preacher man by Dusty Springfield. Perfection in my eyes - apart from being too short - I always have to play it twice!
Janice, UK

Is Kylie a Genius?

Rich, UK

The reason classics feature so much is that they have stood the test of time. Some classical composers such as Chopin can be described as nothing short of Genius. Is Kylie a Genius? I would say no, but time will tell.
Rich, UK

The advent of cheap "compose by numbers" PC software has flooded the chart with inane, witless dance tracks that could have been written by a cat walking across a computer keyboard. They make the Stock, Aitken and Waterman hits of the late 80s sound like paragons of craftsmanship. Horrifying.
Frank, UK

I'm glad to learn that my favourite song John Lennon's 'Imagine' has secured No.2 position in the top 100. My favourite band is Beatles and 13 songs are among the top 100. I'm a bit surprised to learn that not even one of Jim Reeves's songs are on the list. Aren't people aware of Jim Reeves?
Albert P'Rayan, Indian expat in Rwanda

I could harp on about the incredulous amount of pap that has reached number 1 in recent times but I won't. We all know a number 1 does not a classic make. For me Prince's Purple Rain is the most beautiful, powerful, heart rendering song of modern times!! You could throw in a bundle of Prince back catalogue songs but that would be greedy.
Chris, UK

What a year-to have Bohemian Rhapsody and 10CC's I'm not in love in the space of three months. They don't make 'em like that anymore. As for turning into our parents - well at least we had original songs, not insipid re-hashes.
Steve Davies, Bahamas

Bohemian Rhapsody - the biggest pile of self indulgent rubbish ever.
Paul, UK

Sad to see Curtis Mayfield's "Move on Up" missing from the list, also Marvin Gaye's "Mercy Mercy Me" and the Isley Brothers "Summer Breeze". Great music of black origin is very under represented. How on earth could Buggles "Video Killed the Radio Star" outclass any of the above three songs?
Pat Hedger, London, UK

This poll proves the dearth of quality music produced today

Rob Fletcher, England

At last a poll that shows that true quality music lasts the test of time. All of the songs in the top 20 have proved their class by still sounding fresh today. This poll proves the dearth of quality music produced today which really is quite worrying for the industry.
Rob Fletcher, England

Suddenly there seems to be a rash of top 100 polls - to wit, top 100 Britons, now Top 100 singles - what next, top 100 muck-raking newspaper articles? Anyway, it's all subjective and I'd say what about Thunderclap Newman's "Somethingin the Air" or the guitar single "Classical Gas?". Oldies sure but goodies.
Karen, Canada

What about Amazing Grace? A song written by an Englishman and sung at church and rock concerts, by drunks and sober blokes alike at Xmas and year round for almost three centuries. Will your favourite last that long?
Ross, Australia

How can you have a top 100 without Led Zeppelin's Stairway to Heaven included? No way!
Alistair, UK

Modern Pop songs have little to do with musical talent, rather commercialism and fashion. However, I'm sure there is a lot of genuine stuff out there that's never makes it to the radio.
Dave C, UK

Runaway by Del Shannon is still the best No 1 song, after 41 years. The rather paranoid words, unusual chord changes, soaring falsetto and arrangement create a unique atmosphere that's never been bettered.
Terry, UK

When I notice the absence of James Brown and Aretha Franklin and the whole catalogue of Motown I realize that this is a list that could only be compiled on the pale shores of England.
Emmet, San Francisco, USA

Simple fact is the old stuff is better. I am 20 years old and I don't bother listening to much new stuff because it's rubbish. Queen are my favourite band and they deserve to be number 1. Who wants to listen to Robbie Williams or Craig David or Westlife or Kylie when you can listen to The Rolling Stones, Queen, Led Zeppelin. Bohemian Rhapsody isn't my favourite song but I can't argue with it being number 1. Come on what do people my age know about music anyway? Not a lot. For heaven's sake those two talentless pop idol winners top the charts, need I say more!
Ian, UK

What a pointless poll really when classic songs like Heroes by Bowie, Led Zep's Stairway to Heaven, Pink Floyds Wish You Were Here, and anything by the likes of the Clash an ineligible simply because they didn't make number one. Meanwhile there are nine Westlife songs that did. Don't people realise number one does not make a classic song?
James Newman, UK

Thank you, James Newman. My very thoughts. Wish You Were Here is pure magic. As for the number ones, it has to be Lionel Ritchie's Hello. They also left out the Wombles of Wimbledon.
Simon Cameron, UK

How can they just limit to number ones when you have tripe like Shuddupaya Face or Mr Blobby or Grandma We Love You? Couldn't they have broadened it a bit?
Martin B, England

We must all still be tired of Watership Down

Amanda, USA

Since the poll was of songs that were number one, I'm surprised Art Garfunkel's Watership Down theme didn't receive many votes. We must all still be tired of it, it was top of the charts for so long.
Amanda, USA

The greatest 7" piece of vinyl ever sold was Strawberry Fields on one side and Penny Lane on the other. However unbelievably it was kept off the number one spot by Engelbert Humperdinck.
Dominic, Italy

My current favourite song at the moment has to be Kashmir by Led Zeppelin. It just sounds so good. I have found out of late though that there is still great music out there. It hides behind the TV tie-in, merchandising brand-name pop music that dominates the singles charts, but it is out there. Sadly it just doesn't get the coverage it deserves.
Mike, UK

What? No Bruce? Anyone of the Boss's songs could have made the list but let's stick with Thunder Road and Born to run. Both rock and roll anthems for the ages.
Jill, USA

This is a good list but lacks some of the great songs from across the Atlantic. I know not every song can be accounted for and people do have their favourites but Purple Rain has to be up there somewhere doesn't it?
Dean Mullin, New Zealand

Imagine by John Lennon definitely deserves to be in there. The song says it all.
Darcy, USA

What a self-indulgent, pompous windy noise

Tom Burrows, UK

Bohemian Rhapsody? What a self-indulgent, pompous windy noise that song is! Personally I can't wait for The Strokes to release their second album and blow away the pipe and slippers brigade! Rock 'n' Roll is meant to be fun!
Tom Burrows, UK

I agree with most here and I can safely say most of my friends in Canada think Bohemian Rhapsody is a classic. It's as new and fresh as it was years back. Queen are the greatest and Freddie will always be remembered fondly here.
Sunny, Canada

LoveSong (extended mix) by The Cure.
Gibreel F, USA

The greatest song ever written and performed is Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen. The Rolling Stones' Satisfaction is a close second.
Richard Kronish, New York City, USA

Anything by the Rolling Stones. Glad to see the Rolling Stones in the top 20 because I can still remember back in the early 70's when my dad, a classical music lover, told me that no one would know who Mick Jagger was in 30 years time.
Louise, Sydney, Australia

I'm a musician and not a scientist, but somewhere in most of these songs is a well crafted formula of melody, harmony, rhythm, lyrics and dynamics that can ultimately move our soul. These are the tools of a trade that could be soon forgotten unless attention is paid to investing in and developing the skills of people who understand how to use this magical formula. Great musicians are a minority group, but no-one in recent times has approached that greatness.
Stuart McInnes, Scotland

Dance/urban music can't really be classed as a song

Jonathan, UK

Number ones tend to be by popular bands hence Queen's strong showing (Under Pressure is pants though!) There is virtually no dance or urban music because it's Radio 2 not Radio 1. Where is Soul II Soul's Back To Life, surely a massive influence on urban music? Contemporary number ones are normally dance/urban music which can't really be classed as a song. I mean I love 21 Seconds but it's more a groove than a song. Biggest omission? The Verve's The Drugs Don't Work!
Jonathan, UK

I'm 19 and I voted for Bonnie Tyler, Total Eclipse of the Heart which I'm glad to see got in at no.72. Her husky but powerful voice does it for me. The reason more contemporary stuff didn't get in is because it's just not as good. Long live the oldies!
Alasdair Ross, Britain

How about Could You Be Loved? Or Get Up Stand Up by Bob Marley and the Wailers?!! They definitely get my vote!
Clpikulik, USA

Lovers of pop and rock have no choice but to look to the past

Adam, England

Many of today's pop performers are about as disposable and transient as a packet of crisps. Until the industry backs more original, talented performers, instead of force feeding us the image of what they think a pop idol is, then lovers of pop and rock music have no choice but to look to the past.
Adam, England

Kylie rulezzzzzzzzz!! She deserves the first position! Old songs had less competition than today!
Umair, Pakistan

No contest. Teenage Kicks by the Undertones. Pure class.
Pepe, UK

Surely no one can dispute the greatness of Bowie's Laughing Gnome? I sense a conspiracy of forces of which we know nothing...
Martin, Scotland

Nowadays there is no music, only products made for kids! Today's music should be sold at Toys R Us. Number one hits on the radio are just a noise or something covered. The real pop songs (rock hymns) ended in the mid-80s.There have been many good classics but today I'm thinking of Yesterday by Paul McCartney.
Alex Cage, The Netherlands

You are turning into your parents

Andy, UK

Hate to say it but all the people who think "real" music ended in the mid 80s: You are turning into your parents. I'm sure they said exactly the same thing about 80s music when it was hip. The music scene needs to evolve otherwise it becomes stale and I think the list is a good representation of all the hits from both past and present eras.
Andy, UK

For once they're all good songs, and not too many from this year, which adds a little authenticity to the "all time" tag. But no Dire Straits? To the people who say we're all turning into our parents, good music (that's the songs with strong melodies and occasionally meaningful lyrics) is an important part of our own lives, not a stick to beat older generations with.
Andy, Newcastle, England

Bohemian Rhapsody at number one - nice one!!! A beautifully crafted, ground-breaking piece of music that deserves to be at the top of the list for a lot longer yet!
John, England

Once again that over-rated song by that most over-rated of bands tops the latest definitive list of greatest songs.
Rob, UK

Bohemian Rhaspody is a masterpiece. I am speechless every time I hear it...
Roberto, Italy

Looks like a pretty good list to me. The real question is why are radio stations so obsessed with contemporary records when the back catalogue is so fantastic? No other sphere of the arts insists on repeating creations of the current year endlessly - whilst ignoring everything that went before. Come on play list compilers - wake up and give the audience what they so obviously want!
Steve, UK

Never mind the quality, feel the beat

Richard, England

Much of the "music" in the charts today is manufactured in the sausage factory that claims to be a music industry. Still, it's difficult to criticise them when their primary aim is to generate profit and a healthy return for their shareholders. Never mind the quality, feel the beat.
Richard, England

On the list - The Monkees' I'm a Believer and away from the list - Once in a Lifetime by Talking Heads which got me listening to pop music after a strict diet of classical music from the parents. Oh, and it's a classic.
Omri Stephenson, England

There are so many to choose from but I suppose the most exciting hit for me was Brown Sugar by the Stones in 1971. I still listen to it occasionally!
Steve Bratt, UK

It has to be Eurythmics' There Must be an Angel - Annie Lennox's voice and Stevie Wonder's Harmonica - a wonderful, soulful song.
Paul Connelly, Scotland

Comfort songs for those trying to recover their rose-tinted youth

Steve L, UK

Radio 2? Let's be fair, a poll of the 30-50 age group is hardly going to bring up anything different is it? These are comfort songs for those trying to recover their rose-tinted youth. The terms "all-time best" also prejudices against the new because it implies that they haven't stood the test of time - of that there are still those around who remember the first release!!
Steve L, UK

The Doors classic Riders on the Storm would get my vote for the best song of all time. Jim and the boys at their best.
Alex, London