Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman wrote “Viva Las Vegas” for Elvis’ 1964 movie of the same name. It was a footnote in the King’s catalog—he never performed it live, and it didn’t receive gold certification until 1992. But after the song was extensively used in movies and ads (and covered by everyone from Dead Kennedys to The Killers), a curious thing happened: It went from being Elvis’ song to our song, a tonic for Vegas’ bad days and recessions. Viva, indeed.

Runner-up: “Leaving Las Vegas” (Sheryl Crow)