“Bohemian Rhapsody” is this reporter’s top pick for rock song rankings. PHOTO CREDIT: Amazon.com
Over the summer, my dad and I set out to rank our top 10 greatest rock anthems. I’m glad that I have the same music taste as a 57-year-old man because this was such a fun experience to go through with him.
While going through some awesome songs, I was able to describe how a rock anthem should feel like “an immediate serotonin boost.”
Honestly, my top 10 greatest rock anthems are a mix of songs that I could either sing all the words to no problem, make me feel excited or just give me a nostalgic feeling. For my dad, he looked to songs that reminded him of “the good ole’ days” growing up in the 1970s and 1980s.
My list also contains a lot of Queen, sorry not sorry; this list could actually be all Queen songs, but that’s a ranking for another time.
- “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen
An easy and obvious choice. This song checks off all the boxes to make a great rock anthem. I know all of the words, and it makes me feel nostalgic of a time I was never alive for. I have never met someone this song doesn’t excite.
- “Dream On” by Aerosmith
Another obvious choice. This song builds up, which is a common theme of the list. The duality of starting off soft and working up to the beautiful sounds that is Steven Tyler’s voice is what makes this song so good.
- “Stairway to Heaven” by Led Zeppelin
Starting softly and building up again, “Stairway” to heaven creates such a beautiful melody. There is a hike in New Jersey named after the song, which is a testament to how great it is.
- “We Will Rock You” by Queen
The way Queen is able to interact with the audience is honestly what it does for me. With the drums keeping the beat and everything else done acapella until Brian May’s guitar solo, it’s truly an awesome way that the music becomes the listener.
- “Hotel California” by Eagles
This song has been done so many different ways, which I think is what makes it so cool. My personal favorite version is on their album “Hell Freezes Over – Live on MTV, 1994.”
- “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen
I did say there was going to be a lot of Queen. This song gets me fired up, I guess “that’s why they call me Mr. Fahrenheit.” I have so many fond memories of my family and I singing along loudly. This feel-good song has at least made memories with my family, and that makes it a masterpiece.
- “You Shook Me All Night Long” by AC/DC
I could not leave out AC/DC on a rock anthems ranking. As a kid, this might have been what I defined rock and roll as.
- “Baba O’Riley” by The Who
This song is only what I can imagine being a teenager in 1971 was like.
- “Bennie and The Jets” by Elton John
The first time I heard this song was in “27 Dresses” when I was a kid, and every time I hear it now I think of the wrong lyrics from the scene in that movie. Nonetheless, I love this song.
- “Piano Man” by Billy Joel
Mr. Joel is 72 years old and still selling out Madison Square Garden. He is piano man.