What is everyone’s leasr favorite Zeppelin song? Mine is Stairway to Heaven because the radio stations has played it to death..
“Stairway to Heaven” is arguably Led Zeppelin’s most famous song—often hailed as one of the greatest rock anthems of all time. But for many fans, especially long-time listeners, it’s also the one they like the least. Not because it’s a bad song—it’s a masterful composition with a beautiful progression from folk to hard rock—but because it’s been played to death. Radio overexposure can wear down even the best songs, and “Stairway to Heaven” might be the biggest victim of this.
When it was released in 1971 as part of Led Zeppelin IV, “Stairway” was groundbreaking. It had no official single release at the time, yet it became the most requested song on FM radio during the 1970s. For fans in that era, it was something truly special. But over the decades, it’s been used so much—on classic rock stations, in movies, as a rite of passage for guitar beginners—that it’s lost its freshness for many listeners.
You’re not alone in feeling worn out by it. Some Zeppelin fans skip it entirely when they revisit the album. Others feel it’s overshadowed equally (or more) powerful tracks like “When the Levee Breaks,” “Achilles Last Stand,” or “Kashmir.” These songs often showcase the band’s creativity, intensity, and raw energy without the radio fatigue that clings to “Stairway.”
Interestingly, other songs sometimes show up in lists of least favorites too. “Hot Dog,” from In Through the Out Door, is often criticized for being too goofy and out of place. “D’yer Mak’er,” with its reggae-inspired rhythm, splits fans down the middle—some love its uniqueness, while others think it feels like a throwaway experiment.
Still, no song in Zeppelin’s catalog seems to have quite the same love/hate relationship as “Stairway to Heaven.” It’s like a monument: undeniably impressive, but hard to connect with after so many years of hearing it everywhere. In a way, it’s a victim of its own success.
For fans like you who’ve been oversaturated, it’s worth digging back into the deeper cuts and less-celebrated tracks. Zeppelin has a vast, rich catalog, and once you step outside the shadow of “Stairway,” there’s still a whole world of Zeppelin magic to discover.
