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Top 10 Rock Songs About Rocking

Top 10 Rock Songs About Rocking
VOICE OVER: Matt Campbell
Script written by George Pacheco

There's nothing quite like that old time rock and roll! Join http://www.WatchMojo.com as we count down our picks for the Top 10 Rock Songs About Rocking! For this list, we're ranking the most anthemic, fist raising anthems by rock artists, written about the ever-popular pastime of rocking!

Special thanks to our users christo or submitting the idea using our interactive suggestion tool at http://www.WatchMojo.comsuggest

Script written by George Pacheco

#10: "Rock and Roll" (1972)
Led Zeppelin


From that iconic opening drum beat to Robert Plant's howling wail, Led Zeppelin's "Rock 'n Roll" is one of those few songs which perfectly exemplify that hard rocking spirit. "Rock 'n Roll" is a driving jam which hinges upon a bluesy, boogie riff from guitarist Jimmy Page, drummer John Bonham's relentless rhythm attack and special guest and Rolling Stones pianist Ian Stewart hammering the ivories. There's a reason why this hard rock classic continues to be a staple on commercial radio to this day, and it's stated so simply and effectively right in the title.

#9: "Jailhouse Rock" (1957)
Elvis Presley


It's difficult to properly describe quite how massive an impact Elvis Presley had upon pop culture when the performer first landed on the musical world's radar. Presley's influence and power hit like a swinging, hip gyrating tornado, a sentiment which might be best exemplified on The King's classic theme to the 1957 film "JailhouseRock." Elvis is all brash attitude and off-the-charts sexuality on the single, swinging with all of the confidence and sweaty swagger, which would come to define Presley as The King of Rock and Roll for all time.

#8: "Rock You Like a Hurricane" (1984)
Scorpions


Ahh, the 80s, Germany, and heavy metal. Although the band’s impressive hard rock style was first introduced to audiences in the 70s , the 80s would bring a streamlined sense of simplified heaviness to the style of Scorpions, a sound which saw "Rock You Like a Hurricane" rise to the top of the charts back in 1984. Whether it's the pounding drums, searing lead guitar or rip roaring opening riff, "Rock You Like a Hurricane" hits like thunder and strikes like lightning, bringing with it a perfect storm of hard rocking attitude.

#7: "Rock Around the Clock" (1954)
Bill Haley & His Comets


The sound of "Rock and Around the Clock" may evoke relatively tame mental images of 1950s sock hops and malt shops, but it's important today to realize how shocking and electric this song by Bill Haley and the Comets was to the status quo back when it was originally released in 1955. For many, "Rock Around the Clock" and its groovy, irresistible beat represented the sort of juvenile delinquency depicted in director Richard Brooks' classic film "Blackboard Jungle;" a culture of hot roads, make out parties and switchblade knives which meant that the youth weren't going to be ignored, obedient or quiet.

#6: "I Wanna Rock" (1984)
Twisted Sister


Simple, direct and to the point. That's how the glam metal superstars in Twisted Sister decided to play it when the released this single from their smash 1984 album Stay Hungry, a song which describes the band's unwillingness to ever lower down the volume. Sure, there were plenty of similar sounding songs around at the time which may have claimed to stand defiant against peace, quiet and a drastic lack of ROCK, but none were delivered with quite the same amount of flag waving fun as "I Wanna Rock."

#5: "I Love Rock 'n’ Roll" (1982)
Joan Jett & the Blackhearts


She's been saying it for longer than most people care to remember, but we never get tired of hearing about how Joan Jett loves rock 'n roll. The debut single by Joan Jett & the Blackhearts back in 1982, it continues to receive tons of air play on radio waves the world over. "I Love Rock 'n Roll" delivers its message with a very simple riff and chord structure, relying on Jett's striking looks and ultra cool charisma to carry on the song's fist pumping anthem of singing along to your favorite song. We're totally happy to keep feeding the jukebox with dimes with this one.

#4: "Rockin' in the Free World" (1989)
Neil Young


Unlike the other songs on today's list, Neil Young's "Rockin' in the Free World" carries a substantially larger amount of lyrical weight and substance. Sure, the song's main riff may chug along with a firm heaviness, but it's Young's realistic, poetic and even tragic lyrics which really drive home "Rockin' in the Free World" as an anthem for all of those with a conscience about the injustice which often surrounds us on an everyday basis. Young's song offers hope and togetherness in the face of this injustice, so while it rock song which may be about rocking, it's alsoabout something greater: the human experience.

#3: "Rock and Roll All Nite" (1975)
Kiss


If there were an anthem for the world of rock 'n roll, then this might be a very strong candidate. Included on set lists on a nightly basis in the years following its debut on Kiss's Dressed to Kill, “Rock and Roll All Nite”, surprisingly, wasn't an immediate hit for the band. It wasn't until a live version- featuring a blistering solo from Ace Frehley that the track gained its fan favorite status. It's difficult to imagine a Kiss show without it now as it has gone on to become one of the defining songs of the band's career.

#2: "For Those About to Rock (We Salute You) (1982)
AC/DC


It wasn't easy, but we've selected this as AC/DC's best song about rocking. Make no mistake, it had some serious competition from other iconic jams from these Aussie legends, including "Rock 'n Roll Ain't Noise Pollution" and "It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n Roll)." Ultimately, though, "For Those About to Rock" has it all: a driving, mid-paced beat, epic, sing-a-long chorus, rip 'n tear lead guitar and let's not forget those bombastic closing cannons. Indeed, it's this song's final, explosive send off which earns it the silver medal on our list, a near-perfect example of hard rock distilled to its primal, perfect essence.

Before we reveal the song which best describes The Art of Rocking, here are a few honorable mentions!

"Rockin Down the Highway" (1972)
The Doobie Brothers

"Tonight I'm Gonna Rock You Tonight" (1984)
Spinal Tap

"Rock! Rock! (Till You Drop)" (1983)
Def Leppard

"Rock'n Me" (1976)
Steve Miller Band

#1: "We Will Rock You" (1977)
Queen


You hear it everywhere, from radio and television, to movie screens and sports arenas and it's our number one pick. How does a song which, let's face it, is just a stomp-and-clap a capella chant with thirty seconds of soloing from guitarist Brian May, describe rock perfection? Well, maybe it's that visceral "us vs. them" vibe or maybe it's Freddie Mercury's taunting lyrics and snotty vocals exuding that rock 'n roll attitude. All we know is that "We WillRock You" promises rock, delivers rock, and has continued to rock for generation after generation.

Do you agree with our list? Which rock songs do you think best describe how to properly and duly ROCK? For more hard hitting top ten lists, published every day, please subscribe to WatchMojo.com!


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Long Live Rock N' Roll by Rainbow.
User
Yeah, Brian May did write some of the Queen songs.
User
The lyrics for We Will Rock You were Brian May's, not Freddie Mercury's... of course, he is the singer but he definitely isn't the writer...
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