Rolling Stone’s ‘500 Greatest Songs’ Podcast Kicks Off With a Fleetwood Mac Classic

In 2004, Rolling Stone launched its 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list. Tabulated from a massive vote that had artists, industry figures, and critics weighing in, the list has been a source of conversation, inspiration, and controversy for two decades — one of the biggest, and most argued-over, features the magazine has ever done.

In 2021, we completely overhauled the list, with a new batch of voters to better reflect modern-day consensus. Now, our new podcast based off the list, Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs, will take a closer look at the entries from 2021. Made in partnership with iHeart, Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs finds hosts and Rolling Stone staffers Rob Sheffield and Brittany Spanos discussing a new song each week, delving into its history and impact with the help of a special guest — including fellow RS colleagues, producers, and the artists themselves.

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For the first episode, the hosts dive deep into Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams.” Ranking at Number Nine on the 2021 list, the Stevie Nicks-penned track has the highest ranking of any song not ranked on previous iterations of the 500 list. In recent years, the Stevie Nicks masterpiece found new life — and a new audience — thanks in part to a viral TikTok clip, but its history runs deep. The hosts delve into the fascinating story of the song, placing it within the context of the nonstop romantic drama that was Fleetwood Mac in the 1970s.

This week, Rob and Brittany are joined by Senior Music Writer Angie Martoccio. The trio dig into Nicks’ enduring and timeless appeal that seems to grow stronger with each passing year. Check out the episode above, on iHeart, or wherever you get your podcasts, and look for new episodes every Wednesday.

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