There's little doubt that 60s Songs played a major role in shaping the music we have today. It is rare to find an artist or band that does not cite an artist or band from the 1960s as one of their influences. Musicians of all ages and backgrounds cannot stop raving about this period of music. Even I can't stop raving about it even though I was born at the end of the 1980s.

The article hopes to explore some of the most memorable 60s Songs that defined this period. The criterion is not the commercial success of the song but the cultural and social impact of the song on 1960s society (and even contemporary society). So without further ado, here we go.

I Wanna Hold Your Hand - The Beatles

This was the song that catapulted the Beatles into worldwide fame. Their performance on the Ed Sullivan show in February 1964 singlehandedly started the British Invasion in America and changed the course of music forever. Before this major event, American music was stuttering and stalling. British music brought a new tune and rhythm that defied musical conventions of the time and it struck a huge chord with the American audience. Music would never be the same ever again.

I Can't Get No Satisfaction - Rolling Stones

As one of the beneficiaries of the British Invasion, the Rolling Stones released I Can't Get No Satisfaction in 1965, a very controversial song for the censors, but a song that expressed perfectly the concerns and issues of 60s youth. It was the song that launched the group to fame the world over and as a result, they have continued to be popular for almost 45 years. A killer guitar hook with killer lyrics and a killer singer guaranteed this song's status.

Good Vibrations - The Beach Boys

Between 1965 and 1967, the Beach Boys and the Beatles engaged in a battle for both commercial and innovative supremacy. Experimentation was at its peak during this period and has never again reached such levels. As the story goes, the Beatles album Revolver influenced the Beach Boys album Pet Sounds which in turn influenced Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. All 3 albums are now in the Top 10 most influential albums of all time according to Rolling Stone magazine. One of the songs that resulted from this period was Good Vibrations, which was the brainchild of Beach Boys frontman Brian Wilson. Its production became a obsession for Wilson and which led it to becoming the most expensive song produced at the time. At the same time, it contributed to Wilson's mental deterioration. Arguably, the Beach Boys never reached such peaks. Nevertheless, this song will forever remain the legacy of Brian Wilson from a period where anything was possible.

While these songs may have been commercially very successful, the decision to put them in this article was solely due to the cultural and social impact that these songs made. It is for this reason that these 60s Songs are so memorable today.