LONDON, Dec 20: The song, Dil Dil Pakistan by Vital Signs, was on Friday adjudged the world’s third most favourite song ever, after a global poll by the BBC.

The Irish republican rallying cry, “A Nation Once Again”, topped a list of the 10 most popular songs of all time

The ballad performed by the staunchly republican group, The Wolfe Tones, was among a minority of Western songs in the list and only narrowly triumphed over Indian patriotic song, “Vande Mataram”, the BBC said in a statement.

The poll of BBC World Service listeners attracted 150,000 votes from 153 countries and revealed the diversity of the world’s musical tastes. Among the rest of the top ten was a Bollywood movie song, a love song from Nepal, a Tamil Tiger film song and a pop song from Hollywood singer/actress Cher.

Many famous names contributed to the voting, with Bianca Jagger choosing Bob Dylan’s “Knocking on Heaven’s Door” rather than anything from ex-husband Mick Jagger’s band, the Rolling Stones.

The BBC said some artists suffered in the voting stakes because so many of their songs were nominated, splitting the vote. The Beatles had 55 songs nominated and Iranian artist Googoosh had 40. Reggae legend Bob Marley had 29 songs nominated, with “No Woman No Cry” topping the list.

The final top ten list is:

1. A Nation Once Again — The Wolfe Tones.

2. Vande Mataram — various artists.

3. Dil Dil Pakistan - Vital Signs.

4. Rakkamma Kaiya Thattu - Ilayaraja.

5. Poovum Nadakkuthu Pinchum Nadakkuthu - Thirumala Chandran

6. Ana wa Laila - Kazem El Saher.

7. Reetu Haruma Timi - Arun Thapa.

8. Believe - Cher.

9. Chaiyya Chaiyya - A R Rahman.

10. Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen. —Reuters