The question about what makes a great song is complicated by all sorts of contingencies.

But what makes the Ur songs of rock Ur are their, um, Ur-ness.

There is no rock song that rings all the bells as much as Chuck Berry’s Johnny B. Goode.

I can argue that he wrote better songs (how about Carol? Back in the USA? Maybelline?), but Johnny B. Goode has a great beat, a good hook, and is about inventing the music. It’s big, it’s bold, and it’s catchy.

Johnny B. Goode kills.