Top 10 Rock Music Songs of All Time

A countdown of the top 10 rock music songs of all time. Find out which songs made the cut and why they are considered to be the best.

Introduction

The following is a list of the top 10 rock music songs of all time, as voted by the users of ! These songs were selected for their popularity, as well as their overall impact on the rock music genre.

History of rock music

Rock music is a genre of popular music that originated in the United States in the 1950s. The terms “rock and roll” and “rock” each have a long history, dating back to the 1920s. Rock music is characterized by a strong back beat, repeated choruses, and often guitar-based instrumentation.

The origin of rock music is often traced back to the early 1950s, when it emerged as a new style of popular music in the United States from a combination of African American rhythm and blues and country music. However, some historians believe that rock music began earlier, in the 1940s, with the recordings of artists such as Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, and Sister Rosetta Tharpe.

The Beatles

The Beatles were an English rock band that became arguably the most successful act of the 20th century. They formed in Liverpool in 1960 and by 1962 had become regulars on British television. Over the next few years, they acquired international popularity with a string of best-selling singles and albums, earning them the sobriquet “the Fab Four”. Amid creative tensions, they also found time to pursue solo projects during their career as a band. By early 1970, their popularity as a live act had waned, and they stopped touring after playing their final public gig on 29 August 1966 at San Francisco’s Candlestick Park. Recently updated to take into account changes in musical tastes, this is a list of the top 10 rock songs of all time according to Rolling Stone magazine.

1) “Satisfaction” – The Rolling Stones
2) “Imagine” – John Lennon
3) “Smells Like Teen Spirit” – Nirvana
4) “One” – Metallica
5) “Anarchy in the U.K.” – The Sex Pistols
6) “Hey Jude” – The Beatles
7) “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” – The Rolling Stones
8 ) “Welcome To The Jungle” – Guns N’ Roses
9) “I Wanna Be Sedated” – The Ramones
10) “Paranoid” – Black Sabbath

Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones are an English rock band formed in London, England, in 1962. The band members consisted of lead vocalist Mick Jagger, lead guitarist Keith Richards, bassist Bill Wyman, drummer Charlie Watts, and rhythm guitarist Brian Jones. The band’s primary songwriters were Richards and Jagger.

1) “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”
2) “Paint It, Black”
3) “Jumpin’ Jack Flash”
4) “Sympathy for the Devil”
5) “Gimme Shelter”
6) “Brown Sugar”
7) ” Angie”
8)” It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll (But I Like It)”
9) “Start Me Up”
10) “Honky Tonk Women”

Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin is often cited as one of the most influential rock bands of all time. The band’s members – Robert Plant (vocals), Jimmy Page (guitar), John Bonham (drums) and John Paul Jones (bass) – are considered some of the best musicians in rock history. The band’s songwriting was also hugely influential, helping to pioneer the concept of album-oriented rock (AOR). Led Zeppelin’s sound was a mix of blues, folk, and Eastern influences, and their lyrics often dealt with mystical and occult themes.

The following is a list of Led Zeppelin’s ten best songs, according to Rolling Stone magazine:

1. “Stairway to Heaven”
2. “Whole Lotta Love”
3. “Kashmir”
4. “Immigrant Song”
5. “Black Dog”
6. “Ramble On”
7. “Over the Hills and Far Away”
8. “Since I’ve Been Loving You”
9. “Dazed and Confused”
10. “The Song Remains the Same”

Pink Floyd

1. “Another Brick in the Wall, Pt. 2” – Pink Floyd
2. “Satisfaction” – The Rolling Stones
3. “Imagine” – John Lennon
4. “Smells Like Teen Spirit” – Nirvana
5. “What’s Going On” – Marvin Gaye
6. “I Want to Hold Your Hand” – The Beatles
7. “She Loves You” – The Beatles
8. “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” – The Rolling Stones
9. “Hey Jude” – The Beatles
10. “All Along the Watchtower” – Bob Dylan

Queen

Queen is a British rock band that formed in London in 1970. The band members are Freddie Mercury (lead vocalist and piano player), Brian May (guitarist, singer, and songwriter), John Deacon (bass guitarist), and Roger Taylor (drummer and vocalist). Queen’s classic lineup was notable for its diverse musical influences, including hard rock, heavy metal, glam rock, and progressive rock. The band has released a total of eighteen studio albums, ten live albums, eight compilations, and five soundtracks. Queen is one of the best-selling bands of all time with sales of over 300 million records worldwide.

The following is a list of the ten best rock songs by Queen, according to Rolling Stone magazine:

1. ” Bohemian Rhapsody”
2. ” Another One Bites the Dust”
3. ” We Will Rock You”
4. ” We Are the Champions”
5. ” Somebody to Love”
6. ” Killer Queen”
7. ” Fat Bottomed Girls”
8. ” Don’t Stop Me Now”
9. ” Bicycle Race”
10. ” You’re My Best Friend”

David Bowie

David Bowie was an English musician who was active in the music industry for over four decades. He was known for his work as a solo artist, as well as his work with the band The Stooges. He also collaborated with many other artists, including Iggy Pop, Queen, and Lou Reed. Bowie’s musical style was constantly evolving, and he was able to experiment with different genres throughout his career. His most well-known songs include “Space Oddity”, “Changes”, “Fame”, “Let’s Dance”, and “Heroes”.

Nirvana

Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987. The band’s line-up consisted of founder Kurt Cobain on lead vocals and guitar, and Dave Grohl on drums. The band found success with their debut album Nevermind (1991), which featured the single “Smells Like Teen Spirit”. Nevermind was a critical and commercial success, reaching number one on the American Billboard 200 chart and selling over 30 million copies worldwide. In February 2014, Nirvana was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

“Smells Like Teen Spirit” is a song by American rock band Nirvana. It is the opening track and lead single from the band’s second album, Nevermind (1991), released on DGC Records. The unexpected success propelled Nevermind to the top of the charts at the start of 1992, replacing Michael Jackson’s album Dangerous. The song was dubbed an “anthem for apathetic kids” of Generation X, and remains one of the most popular songs in rock history.

“Come as You Are” is a song by American rock band Nirvana, written by frontman Kurt Cobain. It is the second single from their second album Nevermind (1991). The song became a surprise hit following its release, reaching number 32 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in early 1992. In mid-1992 it peaked at number three on both Mainstream Rock Tracks and Modern Rock Tracks charts, making it one of Nirvana’s biggest mainstream hits.

Radiohead

1. Radiohead – ‘Paranoid Android’
2. Pink Floyd – ‘Another Brick in the Wall’
3. Led Zeppelin – ‘Stairway to Heaven’
4. Nirvana – ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’
5. The Beatles – ‘A Day in the Life’
6. The Beach Boys – ‘Good Vibrations’
7. Bob Dylan – ‘Like a Rolling Stone’
8. Chuck Berry – ‘Johnny B. Goode’
9. Jimi Hendrix – ‘Purple Haze’
10. The Rolling Stones – ‘(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction’