Anyone who believes that increasing cultural globalisation will inevitably lead to a dumbing down of consumers' critical faculties has been proved right on the button by a Sony Ericsson poll of 700,000 "music lovers" in 66 countries which has voted Queen's We Are The Champions the world's favourite song.

Britney's Toxic crooned into second spot, beating child-friendly Jacko into third place with Billie Jean. Next up comes the timelessly abominable Hotel California followed by Shakira, Nirvana, The Beatles, U2, John Lennon and Dire Straits.

Sony Ericsson marketing supremo, Dee Dutta, described the winner as "an anthem worldwide, both in music and sporting arenas, it conveys the passion music brings to everyone's life as well as proving a classic rock song is truly timeless."

Hmmm. Rather more interesting is the UK top 10, dominated almost exclusively by the aforementioned Mr Jackson. The only other artists who get a look in are Robbie Williams and Guns'N'Roses, which gives a clue about the demographic which voted in the Blighty section of the poll.

For the record, a quick trawl of the international top 100 reveals Zep's Stairway to Heaven at 35, Wonderwall by Oasis fighting its way into 48th position and R.E.M. fave Losing My Religion at 70. All of these are soundly thrashed by Whitney's I will always love you (22), My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion at 32 and yes, you guessed it, Queen's We Will Rock You at 12. All together now... ®

That international top ten in full:

1. We Are The Champions - Queen
2. Toxic - Britney Spears
3. Billie Jean - Michael Jackson
4. Hotel California - The Eagles
5. La Tortura - Shakira
6. Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana
7. Yesterday - The Beatles
8. One - U2
9. Imagine - John Lennon
10. Sultans Of Swing - Dire Straits

And here are the results of the UK jury:

1. Billie Jean - Michael Jackson
2. Thriller - Michael Jackson
3. Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen
4. Beat It - Michael Jackson
5. Angels - Robbie Williams
6. Smooth Criminal - Michael Jackson
7. We've Had Enough - Michael Jackson
8. Black or White - Michael Jackson
9. You Rock My World - Michael Jackson
10. Welcome to the Jungle - Guns 'N' Roses