There are so many different lists here. I'd like to try to consolidate and make an argument for and against a few songs, and see what you think. I'm defining iconic as not only what people know, recognize in their respective countries, and want to hear, but also as the songs the band will be most remembered for when all is said and done. It's a fascinating topic.
These songs I think are undisputedly the band's most iconic:
1. Landslide
2. The Chain
3. Go Your Own Way
4. Dreams
5. Rhiannon
6. Don't Stop
If you agree with those six, that leaves four slots that are open in a top 10 list. This is when the conversation gets much more interesting, since people have listed very diverse songs from each of Fleetwood Mac's eras. Here's how I would break down what would be most deserving to fit in those four slots, again keeping in mind that iconic doesn't necessarily mean greatest songs (for example: Don't Stop). I ranked my top three songs for Stevie, Christine, Lindsey, and non-Rumours era Fleetwood Mac:
STEVIE NICKS - the most well-known and dominate persona of the band:
1. Gold Dust Woman - Instantly iconic Stevie Nicks, a song only she could have done. It added rock credibility to the band in the 1970s, like Rhiannon. The gold shawl, the psychedelic influences, radio staple on rock stations today. There is just so much life and story and resonance with Stevie's personal struggles in this song.
2. Gypsy - Arguably the best studio production and unarguably the best Fleetwood Mac music video, then the most expensive video made. Probably their most iconic song from either Mirage or Tango in the Night...I don't think YouTube views captures this properly.
3. Sara - The most enigmatic song of Fleetwood Mac's songbook, some call it Stevie Nicks' masterpiece. Gorgeous production.
Some of Stevie's others songs would be in the conversation for best songs, but these three are probably her most iconic besides Landslide, Dreams, Rhiannon, and The Chain.
CHRISTINE MCVIE
1. Say You Love Me - A perfect pop song, probably Christine's most played song on the radio today in the U.S. I rank it higher than the Tango songs because this is the iconic Fleetwood Mac sound that does not sound dated or relegated to 80's pop.
2. You Make Loving Fun - Though very similar in structure to Say You Love Me, I think this is the superior song. Fantastic groove, sounds contemporary today.
3. Little Lies - Love the sound of the three singers in the chorus. The biggest hit from Tango in the Night and one of the biggest in the 80's, though Gypsy is a more iconic song in my eyes.
I don't think Songbird, Everywhere, Hold Me, or Over My Head are quite at the level of these three songs in terms of iconic factor. Songbird is never played on the radio and is most known for closing concerts. Everywhere I compare to Little Lies, coming from the same album, and tend to put Little Lies ahead, though I'd wonder especially how people in the U.K. consider the songs side by side. Over My Head, of course, is the band's first top 20 hit, but I'm not sure that one or Hold Me are as iconic as Say You Love Me, You Make Loving Fun, or Little Lies.
LINDSEY BUCKINGHAM
1. Tusk - Another song that is uniquely Fleetwood Mac's, though I'm not sure the uninitiated would been able to immediately identify it as their song. The product of Lindsey's artistic vision over the Tusk album, great use of marching band in popular music, but it remains divisive to this day for people who believe Lindsey's eccentric artistic sensibility did not necessarily translate into great songs and that his eccentricity should have been reigned in.
2. Big Love - A live performance staple, big hit in the 80s. It was updated to sound fresh (like some of their other songs should be), and remains a fantastic guitar showcase, well known but not enough in my opinion to put in a top 10 list.
3. Second Hand News - Rumours opener, a great pop song. Could have been a single but still widely known by the fan base. I'm not sure it is as universally known by the world or is iconic enough to rank over Stevie's and Christine's songs
I think besides Go Your Own Way, which if you are not ranking in a top 10 list you need to wake up LOL, Tusk has the best chance. But as I said, it is a divisive song. I'm So Afraid is more a concert song and didn't get the airtime Big Love did.
NON-RUMOURS ERA FLEETWOOD MAC
1. Oh Well - I'd argue this is the most iconic of the non-Rumours era songs, though it's really tight for me between this song and Albatross. I think, in fact, I prefer Albatross, but think this song stands out more.
2. Albatross - Is there a better instrumental song produced by any band??? Instantly iconic, wonderful sound. This needs to be played again at a Fleetwood Mac show to remind newer fans how great and eclectic the band has been over nearly 50 years. If they had great management, there would be a special 50th anniversary concert and this song would be featured.
3. Black Magic Woman - This is an interesting scenario: isn't the Santana version more widely known by the world??? I'd argue then that the song isn't as iconic for Fleetwood Mac. Kind of the same case as I Will Always Love You. It was a Dolly Parton Song, but everyone knows it is Whitney Houston's song. I'm interested what people think who have included this song on their lists.
I think the Peter Green songs are more well-known than Bob Welch's to make a top 10 list of all the band's songs, but again my opinion.
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