I’ve always enjoyed music growing up. Throughout my childhood I enjoyed a variety of different styles and genres – from pop, to dance and even a bit of rap. When I got to my teenage years, I finally discovered my true love – Rock!
I love everything about rock; the guitars, the drums, the vocal types and the lyrics in songs. I like a variety of general rock, hard rock, alternative rock, indie, folk, singer/songwriters and pop rock. In my rock playlist alone I have over 2000 tracks with more still to add and discover.
After careful consideration, I would like to share my Top 10 favourite rock tracks:
10. Weight of Living Pt. II – Bastille
I begin my countdown with an album track from alternative rock British band Bastille. Weight of Living Pt. II actually appears before Pt. I, in their debut album Bad Blood, which I always found slightly odd. Despite this, it was the lyrics that caught my ears and I could relate to the feelings expressed in the song.
It looks at how when you’re a child your dream of growing up but as soon as you do, you feel time is passing too quickly and adult life isn’t what you’d hope it would be and you have to try accept it for what it is.
9. The Ones That I Love – Twin Atlantic
This track is an intro piece from Scottish rock band Twin Atlantic’s second album Great Divide. It is a stripped back piece of piano and vocals. The song is about how the youth of today are struggling to be heard by other generations and they wish could speak to the loves one who have passed away. I particularly like this track for the line “Music is my therapy, I could listen to it all night long”. I can relate to this as I find music a source of therapy as it can bring calmness, relaxation, understanding, enjoyment and happiness.
8. Mr Brightside – The Killers
This has to be the greatest song ever recorded by Las Vegas indie group, The Killers. It’s the perfect sing along rock track at gigs and festivals. The guitars, drums and vocals are marvellous. I do have to thank my former roommate from school for introducing me to this talented band and to this incredible genre.
7. It’s My Life – Bon Jovi
I first fell in love with this song at a school disco when I was 15. The guitars are really strong and the lyrics are powerful. This song influences me to enjoy life as much as possible and should achieve all my hopes, dreams and goals as life is too short to waste. I should make the most of being alive while I still can.
6. Welcome to The Black Parade – My Chemical Romance
This track is like a musical story with a beginning, middle and end. It opens with the piano and marching like vocals. It then builds into a rock middle and climaxes with the marching drums. It is great for singing, air guitaring, air drumming and head banging too. I could imagine it appearing in a West End show one day.
5. Sk8er Boi – Avril Lavigne
This track is a bit of a curve ball but I still love it and brought me many childhood memories. Yes it’s classed as a pop song but it has guitars and drums and it is about a rock star so for me it is still in my top 10 favourite rock tracks. It has great guitar riffs, a good drum beat and easy sing along lyrics. As a child I remember creating dance routines to this and surprisingly still remember the moves today.
4. Knights of Cydonia – Muse
I have one word to describe this song – Epic! Great build up, amazing guitar riffs, outstanding drumming and memorising vocals. A good solid head bang, jump up and down mosh-pit rock song. Not bad for three guys from Devon.
3. Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen
Embarrassingly I first discovered this song on The X Factor when I was 10 years old when another 4-piece band called G4 performed it. I later found out it was known to be one of the greatest songs created by one of the greatest British rock bands of all time. In 2017, it was voted as the Best British song ever by Radio X listeners (including myself). The song is a masterpiece. It has everything you would want in a rock song and more. Plus it holds personal value as it glued the friendship of an awesome person I met at college and later the song became the key in me becoming her bridesmaid at her wedding in 2015.
2. Run – Snow Patrol
Although this song is tinted with sadness, it is also filled with love. It is about having to say goodbye to someone you love but will promise to always stand by them. I love the rhythm, the melody and the beautiful use of language in their lyrics. This song has a special place in my heart as this Irish band is also my Dad’s favourite band and I got the chance to take him to one of their gigs back in 2012. It was a memorable night and a rare moment to spend quality Father and daughter time together.
1. Best Of You – Foo Fighters
And finally, my number one spot goes to the Gods of Rock – Foo Fighters! I only begun to like them in 2011 after watching them perform on TV. A year later I got the chance to watch them headline at Reading Festival. That was the night I fell in immediate love with this song and became my favourite live band. The middle eight where everybody sings the “woooaaa” parts in acapella unison is just magical. It is a positive, electrifying, perfect rock track! I’ve been lucky enough to see them perform for a second time in Milton Keynes and due to see them this year at the London Stadium.
There are so many more bands and artist I would love to include such as Green Day, Biffy Clyro, Paramore, Arctic Monkeys, Kasabian, Jake Bugg … the list could go on!
