Top 10 Best Dire Straits Songs

My top 3 Dire Straits songs:

1. Money For Nothing

Killer riff at the beginning, followed by funny lyrics. Catchy from the beginning to end.

2. Calling Elvis

Very nice allusions to Elvis songs incorporated into the song. Knopfler goes all over the place with an awesome guitar solo

3. Sultans of Swing

Great rhymes, easily Knopfler's best song on acoustic guitar. Good solid concept, and the guitar solo just lifts the listener up.

While the lyrics may not mean much, the musicianship expressed in this piece is thoroughly amazing. I can never get enough of the wicked solo near the end of the song, which really puts the icing on the cake.

Everything sounds absolutely perfect! The bass blends with the rhythm guitar, and drums with the amazing sound of the smooth guitar that is so common with Dire Straits.

Fabulous music and great guitar work! Dire Straits truly have created a class of their own. What in the world can be better than this? This is the best ever!

This song is my favourite song. It has the best guitar tunes and always the easy-to-listen-to-vocals...

I only used to like the guitar riff at the start, but now, it's the best song that's entered my eardrums!

Everyone who has a dire staits dog album on itunes, should always get this complementary song.. Best song in history... And best band in history!

How is this song NOT #1? This is by far the most upbeat, move to groove song by Dire Straits! Even Ma and Pa Kettle have heard this one! Have loved this song since it first came out! This will ALWAYS be their #1 song to me! LOVE IT!

An awesome song! This completely r o c k s! It has a catchy rhythm and the lyrics are easy. the meaning of the song is clear and the lyrics are also easily heard and recognized. The first time I heard this I was completely stunned because I had heard already Sultans of Swing which is very very good song (1 of their best), but this one seriously knocks me out!

Yes Sultans of Swing is a brilliant song (it's a tie between that and this) but this should be at least number 2. The riff is amazing and one of the greatest ever and Sting puts the cherry on top

Amazing song absolute best of their songs with Sultans of Swing, the sad thing is that these guys are only really well known for Money for the Nothing, and the lyrics are just amazing, the amount of thought that had to go into this song... it amazes me so much, GREAT SONG! 10 out of 10

Objectively one of the closest things you can get to a "perfect" song. Masterful, chilling guitar work, soulful yet fitting vocals, emotional and timeless lyrics. Not my favorite Dire Straits song (it's in my top 5), but probably their greatest.

Emotionally moving, The lyrics are nothing but meaning, an absolutely fantastic piece written by Mark Knopfler not a lot of songs come close, the combinations in the song is what hits people and makes for an all around perfect track.

This is not just Dire Straits' best song, it's the greatest music ever made!
It is perfect in every way, and so meaningful...
Love the riffs... And the solo, best by far to anything!
I can never stop listening to this song!

This deserves much more recognisment. I think it's as close to Sultans as Money for Nothing, no offense for Brothers in Arms. To be honest, it's obvious it's not about the lyrics, but dude... Seriously, in my opinion, such an inspiring song. Who needs weed having this? Best perfomance on 1993, On the Night

Every song becomes boring, when you hear it too often, but "Walk of Life" doesn't! In my opinion Mark Knopflers best song and actually one of the best songs at all!

Upbeat - inspiring - catchy chorus lines and one of the most amazing keyboard riffs to die for! Undeniably Fun!

Been listening to it since I could walk... Think it just takes me back... Absolute classic

Love the power of this song, it's so great, I would like to see it on top 3, actually, I would like it in second place, just after the sultans of swing, because this song combine everything that is good, like it a lot, and I don't have more words to describe it. That's all, ROMEO AND JULIET!

One of the best songs I've ever heard. Excellent lyrics, great composition, awesome vocal. It deserves to be no. 1.
You will never get bored with this song. It is THE PERFECT song.

People haven't just listened to it. There can be no other reason it isn't their top song! The lyrics combined with the music will definitely make you cry on days like that.

Love-Song. Peoples, you want one of the best love songs in the world, listen to this. Brings me to tears and great to play to that special woman.

A fourteen minute masterpiece worth every second of its length.

The range of emotions of the song-- hope, frivolity, nostalgia, and despair-- is remarkable, with this all leading up to the incredible five minute finale. About the finale, the star, of course, is Mark Knopfler's inimitable guitar but one should not overlook Pick Wither's pacing behind the kit. The increasing driving urgency of the drums allows Knopfler to propel the song to the heights it achieved.

In my opinion, not only the greatest Dire Straits song, but it deserves to be on the list of the best long form songs and progressive rock songs.

It is hard to decide on a favorite Dire Straits song...Telegraph Road just ended playing and Private Investigations just started. Knopfler's guitar is mesmerizing. Now I have to play Romeo & Juliet, and since I like Knopfler's solos especially, let me play the Brothers in Arms track. That solo is insane. Once upon a time in the West and Where do you think you're going? , I simply want to play. Fade to Black, You and Your Friend, and Planet of New Orleans all being the intermission of this journey.
The one Dire Straits song I can always hear though, no matter what, is, without a doubt, Six Blade Knife: at home, in the ride, on the streets, on my bike, working out, even skiing; everything about that song is "just being cool".
Dire Straits is one of those bands where I might
"regret"
having vinyl, not a CD changer. Maybe for this reason, my go-to play would have to be Alchemy, all 94 minutes of it, brilliant. The Tunnel of Love jam, that insane version of Sultans of Swing, ...more

This is the best Dire Straits song ever made. With a gentle progressive rock style, deep and beautiful lyrics that are pure poetry, and an final epic, uplifting guitar solo that's possibly the best I've ever heard in my life!

The song ends with a crescendo made with the utmost finesse. I think I have never heard a sound as beautiful come out of a guitar. It sends shivers down my spine and actually makes the hair on my arms raise. A true musical orgasm!

A true rock masterpiece, to be studied for years to come! This is what I would consider part of mankind's musical heritage.

This shows the extent of knowledge of people voting on these lists. Telegraph Road is easily the best Dire Straits song out there. With the exception of the title track, the Brothers in Arms album is the worst album Mark Knopfler released. It shows Dire Straits producing legitimate pop music. The band's prime was its Love Over Gold album, its prog-rock effort. Want Dire Straits at their best? Look into Telegraph Road.

I have listened thousands of times Tunnel of love, Telegraph road and Sultans of swing. I really couldn't decide which of them is the best, it depends on the moment and the mood, maybe Tunnel of love I've listened to it 2 or 3 thousand times more than the other two songs. What I have clear is that they are the three best Dire Straits songs.

To be quite honest, if I could I would have also picked R&J, Money for Nothing & Walk Of Life
But in the end I think that Tunnel of lOve gets the cake.
It pretty much has everything you want in a song, Beautiful melody, a breathtaking solo, and most of all it's played by probably the greatest guitar player in the world.
Long Live Dire Straits!

That "girl you look so pretty to me like it always did Like the Spanish city to me when we were kids' slow part right before Mark's greatest guitar solo is like a magic to me. Beaatiful metaphors and charming voice bring you to the sweetest memories ever living in your heart.

That guitar solo does to me something which makes me so full of emotions and I am not quite sure how to describe that feeling. No other solo that I've heard yet in my life has done that to me! Also, the mellow singing of Sir Mark Knopfler right before the solo sets it up! SO GOOOOD! This song comes right after Sultans of Swing for me.

Highly, highly underrated. Just a move from my end to give the song what it deserves!

Very romantic. Always listened to this song while I was oversea's in the service. It's my #2 favorite

Great song. Very underrated.

Very melodic hypnotizing...

What? How come this isn't in the top 5? At least!? I like everything in this song. So catchy and mind drifting. Hey you people who haven't listened to this: What are you waiting for?

Great track, really one of the band's masterpieces. And great bass too by John Ilsley. Definitely underestimated.

It's quite the same method of composing. Sultans I mean. Top 2 should be LadyWriter

Great biker song.

The quiet intimate sound of the song, compounded with Knopfler's low-sounding voice, creates a wonderful atmosphere of suspense. The live version is much more intense and exciting, while the studio version sounds darker. The guitar is great!

The live version is the best chill out classic rock I've heard
The story telling gifts of mark knopfler are out of this world!

This song at 9th? Why!?
It's like Telegraph Road but shorter and only uses a few notes, which makes it an INCREDIBLY AWESOME song.
It's with no doubt in my top 10 songs all time.

This is already at number 9, isn't it?

A song that makes me stop doing whatever I'm doing and just makes me close my eyes and listen to it.. It's incredible.. We also play it with the band and it's my favorite dire straits song.. No doubt about it!

How is this so low?
This is my all-time favourite song. The lyrics are so sad, 'and its your face I'm looking for, on every street. ' But the final guitar solo is so hopeful and makes it one of the best songs ever written

My personal favorite at the moment. The solo at the ending gives me chills every single time!
Have listened to this probably about 300 times (according to Itunes) and I'm still in love

Always liked Dire Straits, but hadn't really take notice of this song until recently. It's a brilliant track and really underrated in my opinion.

The one that got away from the live shows, and I think, overlooked. From their best album "Making Movies".

This song ALWAYS stops me in my tracks. GREAT late night song with a little glass of somethin'

This song should be much higher!

Top ten at least!

"Sultans of swing" is my favorite, but this one comes to me on a more than creditable second place. The song is simply genius and if they didn't stop at 6:27 it seems like going on forever. Got to love it!

Now why is this song #16 when it's clearly supposed to be in the top 5? The drums are simply fantastic in this song, not to mention Mark knopfler's amazing voice and the guitar strums. Fantastic song!

Seriously... This Song is like one of the best songs that have ever been made, this riffs are just amazing... I can't understand why people wouldn't listen to it and just love it, like sultans of swing! Its definitely my top 5 favorites...

This is one of those songs I like to listen to on long car rides. Amazing upbeat guitar helps me get moving. Terrific beginning to their first album.

Oh come on! How is this song languishing in 14th! This shoule at least be in the top ten if not the top five.

This tune captures the essence of early Dire Straits!

Energetic and great

One of the best. The live version in Alchemy is just memorable... the guitar solos are subtle and yet powerful like no other

Catchy song, great guitar, love Mark's vocals in this one. What's not to like? Definitely top 10.

A lullaby for grown-ups, and one of the most beautiful songs ever written. So calm and soothing it's impossible not to love.

Deserves to be on top 10...

Just a beautiful song

This should be number 2 after sultans of swing or maybe even number 1 but mostly number 2

This is one of the most bluesy songs ever written, and it's combined with a perfect amount of funk. This song should be vaulted up top. Drink a beer and turn it up loud... You'll love the chorus.

It just gets you grooving. It has a similar story to Sultans of Swing but from a different point of view. Cool riffs and of course MK's solo is amazing.

I agree should be running up there with Sultans of swing, That guitar is unbelievable.

This tune should be right along side of Sultans of swing. Great keyboard in it.

I think the guitar in this song is unforgettable. It just sticks to your head once you hear it. It makes me think about car accidents. Great song! Deserves a better ranking on the charts...

Beautiful song. Definitely deserves to be higher!

Amazing song... What a melody!

Ah, love this song so much!

Possibly the most underrated dIRE sTRAITS song. Perfect from begining to end, great lyrics, outstanding outro.
It's such a shame it was only played live during the short Love over gold UK tour.

This forgotten last track of the Love Over Gold album deserves more love! Terrific guitar and lyrics - Knopfler at his best. Should easily be in the top 10.

wicked great song...weird for me...it's 2020. I listened to Love over Gold album back in the day. This song did nothing for me. Now catching up with DS and this song is remarkable. Great writing, guiter work, all of it.

Without any doubt the greatest song Mark ever wrote during the Dire Straits period.

Simple and so catchy. The guitar riff is unbeatable.

Catchy keys/guitar, great social criticism of environmental pollution. Pop music ought to sound more like this.

Possibly the most underrated tune by the most underrated band. Deserves way more recognition.

Completeley agree... very underrated and a truly Dire Straits' masterpiece...Lyrics are awesome... and so up to date