What is your favorite classic rock and roll song? Even if
you’re from the millennial generation or later, how can you not appreciate the
creative skill and artistry that went into so many of these classic rock songs?
For the people who got to experience classic rock songs when they were new songs, it was such a revolutionary experience for them. The lyrics of the rock songs had touched upon issues that used to be considered taboo to express in public. Rock songs dealt with many different themes and topics, such as social problems, sex, love, anti-society rebellion, and controversial lifestyles.
The inspiration for rock songs came from classic rhythm
& blues, pop tradition, and folk music. Artists like Elvis Presley, Jerry
Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry, John Lennon, Mick Jagger and so many others had helped
transform these ideas into a new kind of music that touched people’s souls and
hearts.
Fortunately, the younger generations have easy access to
these songs. They can simply go on YouTube and find any song from the last 80
years. Maybe you will discover some classic rock songs in this post that you
never heard of before.
Since there are so many amazing classic rock songs to
choose from, it is hard to pinpoint the 5 best classic rock songs. Everyone has
their own opinion on which songs were the best.
Based on the internet chillout radio station, below are the top 5 classic rock songs that we feel changed the music industry and society forever.
1) Bohemian Rhapsody
In 1975, the British rock and roll band “Queen” released their hit single entitled Bohemian Rhapsody. It was a song written by Queen’s lead singer Freddie Mercury. The song consisted of multiple sections, including an introduction, ballad, opera, hard rock, and an end of reflection. This revolutionized the progressive rock genre and put Queen and Freddie Mercury on the international stage.
Bohemian Rhapsody ranked high on the United
Kingdom singles charts. Within just 4 months of its release, over 1 million
copies of the song were sold. Bohemian Rhapsody was also the only
British song to rank # 1 on the UK Christmas charts two times by one artist.
Recently, a Hollywood film called Bohemian Rhapsody was made about the
life of the late Freddie Mercury, who died from complications due to AIDS in
1991.
2) Hound Dog
Hound Dog is a classic 1950s blues song. The first singer to record it was Big Mama Thornton in 1952. It was written by composer Michael Stoller and Lyricist Jerry Leiber. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ranked Hound Dog on their list of the “500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll.” It is even an inductee of the Grammy Hall of Fame.
Most famously, Elvis Presley recorded his own version of
the song in July 1956. Presley’s Hound Dog version became a top-selling
single, and it skyrocketed him to international stardom.
3) (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction
In 1965, the English rock band “The Rolling Stones” came out with a new song called (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction. Band members Keith Richards and Mick Jagger wrote the lyrics to the song. It was such a monumental song because it touched upon topics related to commercialism and sexual frustration.
Even though liberalism was progressing during the 1960s, many
critics of the song said it was too sexually evocative. However, Satisfaction
was still a big hit in the United States and the United Kingdom. It
catapulted The Rolling Stones into one of the most successful bands of all
time.
4) Stairway to Heaven
In November 1971, the English rock band “Led Zeppelin” came out with their new song Stairway to Heaven. It was composed for their fourth studio album entitled Led Zeppelin IV. Many people consider Stairway to Heaven to be not only the greatest rock song of all time, but also the greatest song of all time as well.
Stairway to Heaven begins with a low volume and
tempo, but they progressively get higher throughout the duration of the song.
It basically goes from acoustic instruments being heard to electric
instruments. In the end, it finishes with a hard rock tempo and a guitar solo
that you can’t help but love.
According to VH1 in 2000, Stairway to Heaven is
one of the 100 Greatest Rock Songs of all time.
5) Hey Jude
In 1968, the legendary English rock band “The Beatles” recorded a hit single called Hey Jude. It ranked number one in several different countries and sold more copies than any other single in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States in 1968.
The song was written and recorded near the end of “The
Beatles” time together. The lyrics of the song express a depressing situation
involving the character Jude and how it is better for him to have a positive
outlook on life by looking for the chance to find love. Many people can
obviously relate to that.