Akin to Searching for the Holy Grail

What is the greatest pop song ever written? Today, I try to tackle this question by first providing a context which supports the answer I've already come up with while I was driving home from work earlier today.

Pop music, in the broadest sense of the phrase, was born in the 1950's as a way for teenagers to differentiate themselves from their blues- and jazz-lovin' parents, but not from each other, mind you, because that would make them outcasts, and thus, prone to ridicule and ostracization from their peers. Today, pop encompasses pretty much everything you hear on the top 40, soft rock, alternative/hard rock, R&B, oldies, and hip hop radio stations, among others I may have forgotten. Let's just say that if one is cashing checks from Sony Music and/or have shot a music video, then homey's pop.

So how does one separate the weak from the strong? A decent pop song usually includes the following components:

1. A catchy hook that more or less identifies the song. Think the opening riff to "Seven Nation Army," or Master P slurring, "Uhh... na-na na-na."
2. Lyrical content including one of the following:
• Summer loving, in which the artist had a blast.
• Sunshine, lollipops, or anything else of equal value in asininity.
• Any other kind of love that probably didn't fare as well because it took place during a less loving time of the year.
3. Most importantly, the best songs are timeless and relatable for the listener. Take it for what it's worth.

There have been a lot of "greatest" lists lately, many of which with diluted criteria, including some world-changing requisite or letting Q Magazine's retarded readers determine the results. How is this any different? The fact that I'm writing independently and for limited readership allows me to make wilder claims with much less liability. So without further ado, the epitome of the last 50 years:

Big Star - Thirteen

Every element of the song is stripped and so simple that it's impossible not to relate to the innocence of teenage love. The Ronettes' "Be My Baby" came really close, but the Big Star line, "Would you be an outlaw for my love?" just blows it out of the water every time. Sorry, ladies.

Some good cover versions:
Garbage - Thirteen
Elliott Smith - Thirteen

And just to prove that I did put some thought into this thing, here are some other songs I considered:
Beach Boys - God Only Knows
The Beatles - In My Life
Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
The Turtles - So Happy Together
... and a few others. I should really write these things down.