Best Rock Songs
Everyone has their own idea of what the best rock songs are, but there are some that just stand out from the rest. The following are the songs that have helped redefine rock music.
“Stairway to Heaven” by Led Zeppelin
“Stairway to Heaven” was composed by Robert Plant and Jimmy Page, vocalist and guitarist of the band. It is included in Led Zeppelin’s untitled fourth album (simply called Led Zeppelin IV). The song is over eight minutes long.
The song begins as a folk song and culminates into hard rock. It became the most requested song in the US during the 1970s. Never released as a single, it has been recognized by fans and critics as one of the greatest songs ever composed.
“War Pigs” by Black Sabbath
This anti-war song is included in Black Sabbath’s fourth album, Paranoid, released in 1970. The song was written by the group to protest the Vietnam War.
The original title was “Walpurgis”, and it was supposed to be about the Sabbath of the witches. Eventually the lyrics and theme were changed by the group. It is the first track on the album and is included in all live recordings by the band.
“Satisfaction” by the Rolling Stones
“(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” was written by Keith Richards and Mick Jagger. The song was released in 1965 and is recognized as one of the best rock songs of all time. The song is most famous for the guitar riff that opens the number. The anti-commercialism stance has led many to label the song as against the status quo.
“Hotel California” by the Eagles
From the album with the same name, “Hotel California” has become one of the best known songs of the Eagles since its release in 1977. The song is renowned for the guitar solos at the end, played by Joe Walsh and Don Felder.
The song made it to number one in the Billboard Hot 100 on March 1977. The song would also win the 1977 Grammy Award for Record of the Year. A live version of the song is included in the Eagles’ album Hell Freezes Over. According to the band, “Hotel California” is about hedonism and how it can lead to the destruction of the self.
“Born to be Wild” by Steppenwolf
Released in 1968, “Born to be Wild” is oftentimes said to be the first heavy metal song. Certainly the phrase “heavy metal thunder” In the song is the first instance it was utilized in the rock genre. Since the song first came out, it has become identified with bikers and the counterculture movement.
Other Great Songs
“Layla” by Derek and the Dominos, “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen, “Purple Haze” by Jimi Hendrix and “Smoke on the Water” by Deep Purple are some of the other rock songs that have shaped the genre.
These are just some of the best rock songs of all time, and as time passes more songs will be added to the list. But the qualities of these songs mean they will almost always be included in most people’s lists of the greatest songs of all time.