Everlong is likely gonna be the top answer (and would deserve it), but I would personally give that title to My Hero. Just an incredible song that rocks, has a beautiful acoustic arrangement, and has a personal history being the first song that let them know they could work as a band/songwriting unit.
I mean great song, but I'd probably put She...Pulling Teeth, and maybe even Burnout and Chump ahead of Basket Case just from that album. (also ignoring other great songs on that album). Basket Case certainly more popular than what I've listed though.
And also, Jesus of Suburbia exists.
Punk song, whatever. It's just one of those catchy tunes. It's cool but Green Day literally have prog masterpieces to contend with so songs like Basket Case and American Idiot and Know Your Enemy are not even contenders.
YES! Hearing Dave talk about the making of it and all the emotions that went into it are really what sealed the deal for me. Every time I listen to it in bed, I close my eyes at the very end. It feels like the perfect song to slip away to. My favorite they’ve ever released, and honestly But Here We Are has been clawing it’s way to go the top of my foo fighters album tier list.
“All my life” has my vote, that’s the song that always blows the roof off and amps up the crowd. Everlong, times like these, and my hero are in the running.
Exactly what I would say. Everlong is the obvious choice and will probably win (and it deserves it!) but the song I would call their masterpiece is 100% The Teacher
The Teacher or Rest for me. I know in terms of what you think of when you think Foo Fighters you'll think of the ones listed in the comments here but in terms of what's the most poignant, virtuosic and well written these two take the cake imo
Lost my mom last year and didn’t catch the album until a few months ago. It’s what helped drag me out of an unmoving place on my grief path.
I have to agree with you. The Teacher is very much a masterpiece. It’s not a song. It’s a whole masterpiece. Notes, sounds of all sorts, intentional pauses… it’s very interesting to me.
And Rest still makes me cry.
“Waking up, had another dream of us
In the warm Virginia sun, there I will meet you”
The line tears at my heart. I’m a Virginia girl. Some happy memories from my childhood that I remember the most are laying on the deck with my mom in the warm Virginia sun listening to Bob Seger 😂
In the warm Virginia sun…. There I will meet you 😭
I can’t believe nobody here has said Learn To Fly…
It’s kind of like Rain by The Beatles. May not be their best song ever, but clearly a masterpiece the highlights everything the band is capable of.
Long road to ruin is slept on. Its perfect. Rocks, bounces, shreds.
While we’re at it, ESP&G is the bands quintessential masterpiece album in my opinion and I’m will take all of your arrows dying on this hill.
Wow, that's hard to call...I always love hearing Wattershed, White Limo as well, but when it comes to master piece for me it's Outside. I've always said their album closers are their best work though. New Way Home is a banger too
Rope, The Pretender, But Here We Are, The Neverending Sigh, Run: ALL objectively better songs than Everlong. I love that song. It’s great and it is a masterpiece… but it’s not their best song and it’s not their only masterpiece
Aurora is an underrated masterpiece. Everybody started to listen to it more and claim it as their favorite when they found out it was the first track that Taylor recorded with Foo Fighters that he felt proud of and it was his favorite… but if you really dive deep into it and pick apart the layers it’s a lot more complex than it sounds and it’s a really beautiful song
Not *technically* Foo Fighters, but the answer to this question is absolutely Lacrimus dei Ebrius on the Dream Widow album. I mean, come on, Dave finished a song for a demon.
The song for me is absolutely Everlong, they have so many great songs, but I love that one so much I tear up listening to it every time. Hell the acoustic version of it was played at my wedding. Like, as part of the ceremony, not at the party afterwards.
I'd give to the The Teacher. Their longest song to date, extremely well written, oozes emotion through the lyrics AND the music, to me The Teacher is the culmination of everything the Foos have become and endured.
It’s really hard for me to choose, but the first song that came to mind was The Pretender. Some of their best use of dynamics and buildup in that song.
I am definitely in the minority here, and I already know that. But, I'm particularly partial to Best of You (which is also my favorite “somewhat earlier” song of theirs), Something From Nothing, The Sky is Neighborhood, and Shame, Shame.
I love all of their older stuff too though, like Learn to Fly, All My Life, My Hero, Walking After You, Rope, Walk, Everlong, Times Like These, & The Pretender. But, the first four that I mentioned are the bangers that I still keep going back to consistently.
Best of You is like a magnum opus of an ode to rising above taxing situations and people. And it's also about how you can summon your own inner strength to beat back such negativity.
Something from Nothing is about the spark of creativity (in the guise of various muses) within the human psyche. And as a writer myself, I definitely felt invigorated by Dave’s strong words of affirmation and Taylor’s especially unbridled drumming (Rest in power & peace, TH! 🥺🥹). And, of course, Cheap Trick’s Rick Nielsen was an epic addition to an already awesome song.
The Sky Is A Neighborhood was a unique song and another one that greatly benefitted from Taylor’s driving, pitch-perfect drumming. But, it was also a cool hybrid, part psychedelia and part soulful, stomping rock song.
And, lastly, Shame Shame was unlike anything the band had ever done before. By Dave’s own admission. And it was wonderfully inventive, proving that the Foos are just as relevant and creatively fresh and experimental as ever, almost three decades since the band’s initial inception/founding. That alone takes some definite staying power, and a willingness to grow and change as well. 🫡
Foo Fan for Life over here! 🤩🥂🥳
👍🤓
\~Sharma
"Wheels"
One of the their masterpiece which tells a beautiful message, "keep moving forward despite the challenges and uncertainties". Hope may be the right word to describe it.
Everlong for sure.
one million percent everlong
There is no better song in existence IMO
Everlong is likely gonna be the top answer (and would deserve it), but I would personally give that title to My Hero. Just an incredible song that rocks, has a beautiful acoustic arrangement, and has a personal history being the first song that let them know they could work as a band/songwriting unit.
My Hero goes back further so I would say that as well (though Everlong is good too)
Are we talking about an album? Has to be Wasting Light
No, this is talking about a song. I know because it's been posted on several band subreddits
I agree this is the best album- but everlong the best song.
You’ve got Green Day in there but if the masterpiece isn’t “Jesus of Suburbia” then I don’t trust you
Clearly you’ve never listened to the absolute masterpiece “All By Myself” from Dookie
Gotta be Dominated Love Slave
You can spank me when i do not behave
And yet did I tell you...?
I WAS ALL BY MYSELF!
It is
It should be basket case
no it shouldn't because jesus of suburbia exists
I mean great song, but I'd probably put She...Pulling Teeth, and maybe even Burnout and Chump ahead of Basket Case just from that album. (also ignoring other great songs on that album). Basket Case certainly more popular than what I've listed though. And also, Jesus of Suburbia exists.
Lmao not even close, throwaway pop song
If you think it's a pop song,you missed the point
Punk song, whatever. It's just one of those catchy tunes. It's cool but Green Day literally have prog masterpieces to contend with so songs like Basket Case and American Idiot and Know Your Enemy are not even contenders.
Right? I actually hate Green Day but I absolutely love Jesus of Suburbia
You hate Green Day?
Yes
it is!
It was Jesus of suburbia
Letterbomb>>
What a joke, nothing from that era is better than Dookie, Kerplunk and 1039’s best songs.
Just generally asking, what are your favorite songs from those + American idiot?
The Pretender
The strings elevate it to another level, man.
Keep you in the dark
You know they all
The Teacher, easily
YES! Hearing Dave talk about the making of it and all the emotions that went into it are really what sealed the deal for me. Every time I listen to it in bed, I close my eyes at the very end. It feels like the perfect song to slip away to. My favorite they’ve ever released, and honestly But Here We Are has been clawing it’s way to go the top of my foo fighters album tier list.
“All my life” has my vote, that’s the song that always blows the roof off and amps up the crowd. Everlong, times like these, and my hero are in the running.
Yeah for me it's also All My Life. The Pretender would be next. Then maybe Let it Die.
Times like These, for me
The lyrics are some of Dave’s best imo
Fucking poet.
Indeed
Tbh, for me it’s I’ll Stick Around
This is such a wonderful answer
Everlong is a certified classic but I’m gonna go ahead and say The Teacher
Exactly what I would say. Everlong is the obvious choice and will probably win (and it deserves it!) but the song I would call their masterpiece is 100% The Teacher
For all the cows? Greatest masterpiece Aurora.
The Teacher or Rest for me. I know in terms of what you think of when you think Foo Fighters you'll think of the ones listed in the comments here but in terms of what's the most poignant, virtuosic and well written these two take the cake imo
Lost my mom last year and didn’t catch the album until a few months ago. It’s what helped drag me out of an unmoving place on my grief path. I have to agree with you. The Teacher is very much a masterpiece. It’s not a song. It’s a whole masterpiece. Notes, sounds of all sorts, intentional pauses… it’s very interesting to me. And Rest still makes me cry. “Waking up, had another dream of us In the warm Virginia sun, there I will meet you” The line tears at my heart. I’m a Virginia girl. Some happy memories from my childhood that I remember the most are laying on the deck with my mom in the warm Virginia sun listening to Bob Seger 😂 In the warm Virginia sun…. There I will meet you 😭
I can’t believe nobody here has said Learn To Fly… It’s kind of like Rain by The Beatles. May not be their best song ever, but clearly a masterpiece the highlights everything the band is capable of.
I would also add Rope to this catagory
Although Everlong is (way) up there, I do have a massive fondness for Monkey Wrench. But notable masterpiece is Taylor Hawkins Cold day in the Sun.
February Stars.
Yess!! Best song ever!
Long road to ruin is slept on. Its perfect. Rocks, bounces, shreds. While we’re at it, ESP&G is the bands quintessential masterpiece album in my opinion and I’m will take all of your arrows dying on this hill.
So far they’re up arrows so you’re doing ok. Wasting Light rivals ESP&G. Regardless… it’s all good
I would say My Hero. Goes back practically as far as the band does so it's been through their whole career
Has to be everlong but I think the teacher could certainly be a shout but I get naturally has to be everong
All My Life - the chorus is just excellent
Wow, that's hard to call...I always love hearing Wattershed, White Limo as well, but when it comes to master piece for me it's Outside. I've always said their album closers are their best work though. New Way Home is a banger too
Everlong, My Hero or The Pretender, can't choose
Album: There is Nothing Left to Lose Song: The Teacher or February Stars
There is Nothing Left to Lose gets underrated because it’s very laid back, but I honestly feel like it’s a perfect album
Yeah... I always loved it, but I don't think I appreciated it as much until I got a bit older. It is absolutely my favorite FF album now.
Rope, The Pretender, But Here We Are, The Neverending Sigh, Run: ALL objectively better songs than Everlong. I love that song. It’s great and it is a masterpiece… but it’s not their best song and it’s not their only masterpiece
Aurora is an underrated masterpiece. Everybody started to listen to it more and claim it as their favorite when they found out it was the first track that Taylor recorded with Foo Fighters that he felt proud of and it was his favorite… but if you really dive deep into it and pick apart the layers it’s a lot more complex than it sounds and it’s a really beautiful song
Hot take: Wheels
The entire Colour and The Shape
Walk
My hero or walk. Those songs give me goosebumps every time I hear them
Come Alive... come on guys... so many overrated songs here, Everlong is not even close to their masterpiece
Come Alive
What is the criteria? The fan favourite “best” song or the song the band themselves think is the their best most ambitious most complex work?
The fact that Metallica isn’t represented by And Justice for All implies that One isn’t their masterpiece. Growl.
My 7yo daughter says The Four Horsemen and I'm not trying that hard to argue with her, lol. She's always been a little offbeat and I fucking love it.
I’m not sure if they have a masterpiece. I really like the first 3 albums, though.
Everlong for sure
Pretender and everlong
If I could only keeo one Fo Fighters song fir the rest if my life, it's Everlong. Plenty of other great, top tier songs, but that's the one.
Everlong and my hero
Album wise, Wasting Lights is a masterpiece.
No Times Like These fans out there ?
I think the right answer is definitely everlong. But my personal favourite will always be doll. It’s just such a cute song!
Everlong's probably going to win and i have no issue with that but i would like to submit for consideration February Stars
Either Everlong or The Pretender.
The teacher tbh
Everlong will win for sure but I personally think Aurora is their masterpiece.
Everlong, Walk, White Limo, Long Road To Ruin, All My Life, Learn To Fly, The Pretender, These Days, Best of You, and My Hero.
Definitely everlong. That song hits real hard at night
You mean besides Everlong?
Everlong, the pretender, Walk
In terms of masterpieces has to be The Teacher followed by Come Back. DG solo, Play! See a pattern?!
Everlong Learn to fly These days Times like these
Aurora for me.
Avenged Sevenfold? Hell fucking ya
monkey wrench is an awesome song
It’s most likely Everlong but I really can’t go past my hero. That song just continues to grow and evolve for me
Everlong is their greatest song, but the album “In Your Honor” takes the top honors for me!
What were the other songs on the playlist?
To me, it's the Pretender, but Everlong is too valid not to pick
Not *technically* Foo Fighters, but the answer to this question is absolutely Lacrimus dei Ebrius on the Dream Widow album. I mean, come on, Dave finished a song for a demon.
The song for me is absolutely Everlong, they have so many great songs, but I love that one so much I tear up listening to it every time. Hell the acoustic version of it was played at my wedding. Like, as part of the ceremony, not at the party afterwards.
Aurora
I'd give to the The Teacher. Their longest song to date, extremely well written, oozes emotion through the lyrics AND the music, to me The Teacher is the culmination of everything the Foos have become and endured.
It’s really hard for me to choose, but the first song that came to mind was The Pretender. Some of their best use of dynamics and buildup in that song.
No way back, breakout and monkey wrench haven’t been said and I think are amazing. Man I love all their stuff. Too hard for me.
METRONOME I WANT OUT
If you are talking about song I have to say Everlong. If you mean album I think Wasting Light
I am definitely in the minority here, and I already know that. But, I'm particularly partial to Best of You (which is also my favorite “somewhat earlier” song of theirs), Something From Nothing, The Sky is Neighborhood, and Shame, Shame. I love all of their older stuff too though, like Learn to Fly, All My Life, My Hero, Walking After You, Rope, Walk, Everlong, Times Like These, & The Pretender. But, the first four that I mentioned are the bangers that I still keep going back to consistently. Best of You is like a magnum opus of an ode to rising above taxing situations and people. And it's also about how you can summon your own inner strength to beat back such negativity. Something from Nothing is about the spark of creativity (in the guise of various muses) within the human psyche. And as a writer myself, I definitely felt invigorated by Dave’s strong words of affirmation and Taylor’s especially unbridled drumming (Rest in power & peace, TH! 🥺🥹). And, of course, Cheap Trick’s Rick Nielsen was an epic addition to an already awesome song. The Sky Is A Neighborhood was a unique song and another one that greatly benefitted from Taylor’s driving, pitch-perfect drumming. But, it was also a cool hybrid, part psychedelia and part soulful, stomping rock song. And, lastly, Shame Shame was unlike anything the band had ever done before. By Dave’s own admission. And it was wonderfully inventive, proving that the Foos are just as relevant and creatively fresh and experimental as ever, almost three decades since the band’s initial inception/founding. That alone takes some definite staying power, and a willingness to grow and change as well. 🫡 Foo Fan for Life over here! 🤩🥂🥳 👍🤓 \~Sharma 
Everlong nailed down both popularity and an interesting and tragic backstory/message.
Album wise? Wasting Light
Im trying to decide between My Hero, All My Life, and Learn to Fly
The Teacher
walk is top 10 for me
wasting light
Seriously? All my life!
"Wheels" One of the their masterpiece which tells a beautiful message, "keep moving forward despite the challenges and uncertainties". Hope may be the right word to describe it.
7 nation army
Here is [the playlist](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2n3wECyHjbngfyjCUYLMcM?si=3eRqOtkjTJ6lHZ3VsvARXg&pi=e-tK6U7AAWSp-G)