Contributor Post Created with Sketch. Best Rock Song Ever

 

Fred Cole (@fredcole) thinks the best rock song is “White Room” by Cream for some reason. Jon Gabriel (@jon) said he’d only ever heard The KLF song titled “White Room.” I listened to both and now I want to go BASE jumping without a parachute.

I say “Unforgiven” by Metallica is much better, although it’s not even necessarily my favorite Metallica song (“Whiskey in the Jar” is high on my list). You see, Fred and I obviously have a difference in opinion when it comes to music. He seems like easy listening soft rock, while I prefer to listen to good music.

What do you think is the best rock song ever? Or, at least, share one of your favorites. And don’t forget to casually insult anyone who disagrees with you. That’s the fun part of asserting one’s own subjective preferences as being objectively true.

“White Room” by Cream (😴):

“Unforgiven” by Metallica:

Another favorite of mine is “Cochise” by Audioslave:

If you’d like to post a video of your own favorite rock song in the comments, all you have to do is paste the YouTube or Vimeo URL onto a new line by itself. The video will automatically appear after you publish your comment.

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  1. Judge Mental Member

    For decades around here, Stairway to Heaven topped the list every year, until finally supplanted by Livin’ on a Prayer. 

    • #1
    • January 17, 2019, at 10:05 AM PST
    • 4 likes
  2. Neil Hansen (Klaatu) Inactive

    A Day in the Life is the best Beatles song, thereby making it the best rock.

    • #2
    • January 17, 2019, at 10:12 AM PST
    • 1 like
  3. Jarvis Morse-Loyola Coolidge

    The best rock and roll song ever performed is objectively Paint It Black by the Rolling Stones and if you disagree you’re a filthy communist. It is overshadowed however by the best heavy metal song of all time which as everyone knows is Metallica’s Battery on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays and Iron Maiden’s Flight of Icarus on all other days. 

    • #3
    • January 17, 2019, at 10:19 AM PST
    • 7 likes
  4. Henry Racette Contributor

    I’ve been to five concerts in my life, all between age 19 and 22: Rush once, and Billy Joel four times.

    So I’m probably not qualified to comment.

    • #4
    • January 17, 2019, at 10:22 AM PST
    • 2 likes
  5. Mate De Inactive

    Ummm Define Rock music. There are so many genres within Rock it’s hard to determine which is the best song ever. I nominate the greatest and shortest lived super group ever.

     

    • #5
    • January 17, 2019, at 10:22 AM PST
    • 5 likes
  6. Basil Fawlty Member
    Basil FawltyJoined in the first year of Ricochet Ricochet Charter Member

    Max Ledoux: “Whiskey in the Jar” is high on my list

    I prefer the 1962 Highwaymen version.

    • #6
    • January 17, 2019, at 10:24 AM PST
    • 3 likes
  7. Percival Thatcher
    PercivalJoined in the first year of Ricochet Ricochet Charter Member

    “Layla” 1970, Derek and the Dominos.

    Philistines.

    • #7
    • January 17, 2019, at 10:28 AM PST
    • 8 likes
  8. Hoyacon Member

    I really hope this can degenerate into a high-toned discussion about what is “rock” and what isn’t. As noted just above, this is an impossible question.

    But when you have one the best rock bands ever covering one of the best rock songs ever, you’re getting close. And it’s definitely rock.

    • #8
    • January 17, 2019, at 10:28 AM PST
    • 3 likes
  9. Judge Mental Member

    Hoyacon (View Comment):

    I really hope this can degenerate into a high-toned discussion about what is “rock” and what isn’t. As noted just above, this is an impossible question.

    But when you have one the best rock bands ever covering one of the best rock songs ever, you’re getting close. And it’s definitely rock.

    Not a rock song. A rock cover of a rock cover of a reggae song. Cretin.

    • #9
    • January 17, 2019, at 10:30 AM PST
    • 3 likes
  10. thelonious Member

    Judge Mental (View Comment):

    For decades around here, Stairway to Heaven topped the list every year, until finally supplanted by Livin’ on a Prayer.

    No… Just no. Glam Boy pretenders from Jersey. No way!

    • #10
    • January 17, 2019, at 10:33 AM PST
    • 4 likes
  11. thelonious Member

    Won’t Get Fooled Again by the Who is the obvious answer.

    • #11
    • January 17, 2019, at 10:35 AM PST
    • 11 likes
  12. RufusRJones Member

    Back when music was music.

    • #12
    • January 17, 2019, at 10:36 AM PST
    • 1 like
  13. The (apathetic) King Prawn Inactive

    I can’t tell which parts of this are parody and which are serious. Can someone get @vicrylcontessa involved in this discussion since she’s the only one on the site who actually knows anything about actual music?

    • #13
    • January 17, 2019, at 10:37 AM PST
    • 2 likes
  14. James Lileks Contributor

    Judge Mental (View Comment):
    Not a rock song. A rock cover of a rock cover of a reggae song. Cretin.

    Not a rock song?

    Wha?

    Granted, not everything the composer of “I Fought the Law” wrote was rock. Exhibit A:

    • #14
    • January 17, 2019, at 10:47 AM PST
    • 4 likes
  15. MWD B612 "Dawg" Member

    The criterion I use is: do both my son (19 yo) and I reach for the volume to turn it up?

    So the answer is…

     

    • #15
    • January 17, 2019, at 10:48 AM PST
    • 7 likes
  16. lowtech redneck Coolidge

    Iron Maiden, Infinite Dreams: 

    Megadeth, Peace Sells….But Who’s buying?: 

    Max, I keep forgetting, how do we embed videos?

    [edit by max: paste the YouTube url onto a new line by itself, starting with the “https”]

    • #16
    • January 17, 2019, at 11:03 AM PST
    • 2 likes
  17. Max Ledoux Admin
    Max Ledoux

    Henry Racette (View Comment):

    I’ve been to five concerts in my life, all between age 19 and 22: Rush once, and Billy Joel four times.

    So I’m probably not qualified to comment.

    No, no you are not. 🤣😇

    • #17
    • January 17, 2019, at 11:08 AM PST
    • 5 likes
  18. Hoyacon Member

    Judge Mental (View Comment):

    Hoyacon (View Comment):

    I really hope this can degenerate into a high-toned discussion about what is “rock” and what isn’t. As noted just above, this is an impossible question.

    But when you have one the best rock bands ever covering one of the best rock songs ever, you’re getting close. And it’s definitely rock.

    Not a rock song. A rock cover of a rock cover of a reggae song. Cretin.

    Not so. Are you thinking of “Pressure Drop”? I’m good with the cretin part though.

    • #18
    • January 17, 2019, at 11:10 AM PST
    • 2 likes
  19. Judge Mental Member

    Hoyacon (View Comment):

    Judge Mental (View Comment):

    Hoyacon (View Comment):

    I really hope this can degenerate into a high-toned discussion about what is “rock” and what isn’t. As noted just above, this is an impossible question.

    But when you have one the best rock bands ever covering one of the best rock songs ever, you’re getting close. And it’s definitely rock.

    Not a rock song. A rock cover of a rock cover of a reggae song. Cretin.

    Not so. Are you thinking of “Pressure Drop”?

     

    Nope. I Shot the Sheriff.

    • #19
    • January 17, 2019, at 11:14 AM PST
    • 3 likes
  20. Max Ledoux Admin
    Max Ledoux

    lowtech redneck (View Comment):
    Iron Maiden, Infinite Dreams: 

    Megadeth, Peace Sells….But Who’s buying?: 

    Yeah, ok, but you do like Skynyrd, right? I mean, obviously…

     

    • #20
    • January 17, 2019, at 11:15 AM PST
    • 2 likes
  21. namlliT noD Member
    namlliT noDJoined in the first year of Ricochet Ricochet Charter Member

    James Lileks (View Comment):

    Not a rock song?

    Wha?

    Granted, not everything the composer of “I Fought the Law” wrote was rock. Exhibit A

    @jameslileks , of course you know this, but I have to say…

    Not in the hands of your neighbors, Husker Dü.

     

    • #21
    • January 17, 2019, at 11:16 AM PST
    • 1 like
  22. Max Ledoux Admin
    Max Ledoux

    Anyone who likes the Rolling Stones can just toss their computer out the window, by the way. ;-P

    • #22
    • January 17, 2019, at 11:16 AM PST
    • 4 likes
  23. Hoyacon Member

    Max Ledoux (View Comment):

    Anyone who likes the Rolling Stones can just toss their computer out the window, by the way. ;-P

    This is enough to make me concoct two or three dozen phony bug reports and send them your way.

    • #23
    • January 17, 2019, at 11:20 AM PST
    • 3 likes
  24. tigerlily Member

    Fred didn’t even get the best song by Cream. That’d be “I Feel Free”.

     

    • #24
    • January 17, 2019, at 11:39 AM PST
    • 2 likes
  25. Chris Hutchinson Coolidge

    Hmmm… I can’t say my favorite for sure but I just heard Toto in the car and told myself, “Man, I forgot how good that song is!”

    • #25
    • January 17, 2019, at 11:40 AM PST
    • 1 like
  26. Jarvis Morse-Loyola Coolidge

    Max Ledoux (View Comment):

    Anyone who likes the Rolling Stones can just toss their computer out the window, by the way. ;-P

    Gladly. I can’t stand the vile little mechanical beasts. Look at what they’ve done to this once flourishing community–made us question the most fundamental truth in Rock! This division will tear us apart. A thread divided cannot stand. Accept the Stones now and heal this hurtful wound. 

    • #26
    • January 17, 2019, at 11:42 AM PST
    • 3 likes
  27. Miffed White Male Member
    Miffed White MaleJoined in the first year of Ricochet Ricochet Charter Member

    Musically, the best rock song of all time is Roll With The Changes by REO Speedwagon.

    Yes, I know, It’s REO, But listen to it – it’s got everything. Screaming guitar solos, good vocal harmony, great drums, interesting bass line underneath it all, it’s even got a Hammond Organ.

    • #27
    • January 17, 2019, at 11:42 AM PST
    • 1 like
  28. Fred Cole Member

    tigerlily (View Comment):

    Fred didn’t even get the best song by Cream. That’d be “I Feel Free”.

    Theres a lot of competition for the best Cream song.

     

     

    • #28
    • January 17, 2019, at 11:52 AM PST
    • 4 likes
  29. Codename: Bunsen Honeydew Coolidge

    • #29
    • January 17, 2019, at 12:02 PM PST
    • 4 likes
  30. James Lileks Contributor

    Miffed White Male (View Comment):
    it’s got everything. Screaming guitar solos,

    Richrath was pretty good. I was never a big REO fan even before the ballad period, but for 70s rock – a period when all the music was hand-made – that’s top-shelf mid-tempo Midwestern rock. 

    Of course, my taste in 70s Midwestern rock leaned more towards scorchy numbers like this: 

    REO would never have tried that dissonance at the end of the first chorus, and I don’t think they ever wrote anything as simple and ingenious as the bridge. It’s dressed up like mean heavy metal, except it’s not: it’s actually joyous.

     

    • #30
    • January 17, 2019, at 12:04 PM PST
    • 7 likes

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