25 Best (Underrated) Rock Anthems of All Time
Stephen H. Provost
Stephen H. Provost is the author of Pop Goes the Metal: Hard Rock, Hairspray, Hooks & Hits, chronicling the evolution of pop metal from its roots in the 1960s through its heyday as “hair metal” in the 1980s and beyond. It’s available on Amazon.
There aren’t many things more subjective than a “best of” music list. And, since I like music — and being subjective, I thought I’d put together my own. My first subject of choice? The rock anthem.
Even the definition of a rock anthem is subjective. A site called DigitalDreamDoor, which compiled its own list, described it as: “a powerful, celebratory rock song with arena-rock sound often with lyrics celebrating rock music itself and simple sing-a-long choruses, chants, or hooks.” I like that definition, so I figured I’d use it as a starting point here.
But be warned: You won’t agree with everything on this list. You won’t find most of the obvious choices here, even if they’re among my favorites. (Examples: “Won’t Get Fooled Again,” “Born to Run” and “Rock and Roll All Nite.” And no, streetlight people, you won’t find “Don’t Stop Believin’” here, either.)
What you’ll find below are my selections of underappreciated anthems from the 1970s through the new millennium. They’re not necessarily the most popular or most played. In fact, I went out of my way to pick some surprising tracks that probably won’t appear on many lists.
So here goes:
25. The Final Countdown – Europe, 1986
Yeah, it’s a synth riff, but it’s still a killer riff. An almost one-hit-wonder (this Swedish band also charted with “Carrie” from the ’80s), this song was all over MTV in the hair-metal days. But it seldom appears on any list of anthems, so I wanted it on mine.
24. Spirit of Radio – Rush, 1980
“The words of the prophets are written on the studio walls.” Indeed. The more obvious choice might be their biggest hit, “Tom Sawyer,” but this one came out a year earlier... and I like it better. I actually like “Freewill” off the same album (“Permanent Waves”) better, but this fit more the definition of an anthem better.
23. Do You Remember Rock ’n’ Roll Radio – Kiss, 2003
The Ramones came out with the original version of this tune in 1979, but I prefer KISS’ version on the 2003 tribute album, “We’re a Happy Family.” Sure, most KISS fans would choose “Rock and Roll All Nite,” but as iconic as that tune is, I’ve heard it so often I wanted something different, and this cover is surprisingly good, especially since it isn’t from their golden era.
22. It’s My Life – Bon Jovi, 1999
Most people would probably choose “Livin’ on a Prayer,” right? Well, this later selection – from the 1999 release “Crush” is every bit as much of an in-your-face affirmation and just as catchy, in my book. It’s only disadvantage was the fact that it wasn’t included on the mammoth smash CD “Slippery When Wet.” Still, it was a No. 1 hit in Europe.
21. Working for the Weekend – Loverboy, 1981
Confession: This one is a guilty pleasure of a karaoke track for me. I never owned a Loverboy album, and I doubt I ever would, but this track is easily the catchiest and most anthemic song they ever put out. The lead track from their smash sophomore release, “Get Lucky,” it got all the way to No. 2 on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart.
20. I’m Gonna Win – Foreigner, 1981
Foreigner’s fourth album, aptly titled “4” had two No. 1 Mainstream Rock hits and a No. 3 entry in the form the anthem “Juke Box Hero.” The band never released the album’s other anthem as a single, but it was just as good – better, I think. “I’m Gonna Win” is the perfect soundtrack for anyone determined to overcome an obstacle. That’s why I chose it.
19. All Fired Up – Pat Benatar, 1988
The lead track off Benatar’s “Wide Awake in Dreamland” LP, “All Fired Up” just barely cracked the top 20, peaking at No. 19. It was actually Benatar’s last song to even chart on the Billboard Hot 100. She’s better known for “Love is a Battlefield” and the similarly anthemic “Invincible,” but you’d be hard-pressed to find a more empowering song than this one in her catalog. Or, for that matter, anywhere.
18. I Hate Myself for Loving You – Joan Jett, 1988
Every bit as catchy as her monster hit “I Love Rock and Roll,” which topped the charts seven years earlier, this tune came from the former Runaway’s sixth album, “Up Your Alley.” It got as high as No. 8, making it her third, and last top 10 hit. A virtuoso at cranking out cover songs that were harder-hitting than the originals, Jett actually co-wrote this one herself, with Desmond Child.
17. The Golden Age of Rock ‘n’ Roll – Mott the Hoople, 1974
Not as well known as the David Bowie-penned “All the Young Dudes,” this was nonetheless a standout track from the British band, which took it to No. 16 on the UK singles chart. If I had my druthers, I’d go with Def Leppard’s 2006 cover version, but I promised to limit myself to one selection per artist. If I hadn’t, I’d have four or five Def Leppard songs on this list.
16. American Idiot – Green Day, 2004
I had to include something by Green Day. The only question was whether it would be this one or “Basket Case.” I chose the title track to their 2004 chart-topping album of the same name mainly for the lyrics: “Don't wanna be an American idiot – One nation controlled by the media – Information Age of hysteria – It's calling out to idiot America.” They just didn’t know how bad it would get.
15. 20th Century Boy – T. Rex, 1973
No, not “Get it On (Bang a Gong).” Unlike that one, this far more anthemic selection never was a hit in the states. There’s no accounting for taste. One of the heaviest tunes Marc Bolan and company ever put out, it’s another one that was covered admirably by Def Leppard in 2006. Despite Bolan’s lack of hits in the U.S., T. Rex made it into the Rock and Roll Hall Fame this year – and deservedly so.
14. The Middle – Jimmy Eat World, 2001
Jimmy Eat World was one of my favorite alternative rock bands around the turn of the 21st century, and this was by far their biggest hit, a serenade for anyone who feels like they’ve taken a gut punch from life. “Hey, don’t write yourself off yet. It’s only in your head you feel left out and looked down on.” It hit No. 1 on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart.
13. Teenagers – My Chemical Romance, 2007
I never got into My Chemical Romance, but somehow this song and its follow up, “Desolation Row,” both stuck with me. “Teenagers” only hit No. 67 on the Billboard chart (“Desolation Row” didn’t even make the Hot 100), a far cry from their biggest release, the previous years’ “Welcome to the Black Parade,” which got to No. 9. But a catchier tune is hard to find.
12. Rock ‘n’ Roll Damnation – AC/DC, 1978
For my money, “Highway to Hell” and “Back in Black” can’t hold a candle to this revved-up rocker off “Powerage,” which didn’t even chart in the U.S. Not that AC/DC ever was a singles band, anyway. Despite that, at my high school, the local album rock station was already playing AC/DC in such heavy rotation I got sick of them. I never got sick of this one, though.
11. Love is Like a Rock – Donnie Iris, 1982
Donnie Iris never looked much like a rocker, even after he stopped going by Dominic Ierace. The guy always seemed like someone had kidnapped Buddy Holly, given him a New Wave makeover, and transplanted him in the 1980s. But looks can be deceiving. This is an amazingly simple but absolutely killer track that was his only Mainstream Rock top 10 entry, at No. 9.
10. Fight for Your Right – Beastie Boys, 1986
I swear, when this single off the Beastie Boys’ debut album exploded onto the radio in’86, I had no idea they were a hip-hop band. I didn’t even know what hip hop was. This sounded like the epitome of hard rock rebellion, the kind of hook-laden powerhouse that made “We’re Not Gonna Take It” sound like a lullaby. Still, in my opinion, the best thing they ever released.
9. There’s Only One Way to Rock – Sammy Hagar, 1982
I confess, I’m a Van Hagar guy. David Lee Roth’s whooping and posing never did it for me. The Red Rocker was a meat-and-potatoes good-time partier who could actually play guitar. And this, just his second top 40 hit on the rock chart, is more of an anthem (closest competition: “Right Now”) than anything he or DLR ever put out with Eddie and Alex.
8. Draw the Line – Aerosmith, 1977
The album of the same name was, in many ways, a disappointing follow-up to the one-two punch of “Toys in the Attic” and “Rocks.” But the title track was killer. Everyone remembers “Walk This Way,” and rightfully so, but Joe Perry’s guitar riff on this was big enough to carry the whole album. The band was in the twilight of its golden era and had to hit rock bottom before resurrecting itself a decade later.
7. Rock Brigade – Def Leppard, 1980
Def Leppard’s second single off their second album didn’t chart, but I heard it on the radio, and I was sold. It was a close call between this one, “Let’s Get Rocked” and “Rock of Ages” on which would make the list. But this was my first impression of the band, and it definitely stayed with me. Oddly, I never bought this album (“On Through the Night”), but I’ve picked up every one since.
6. Queen – We Will Rock You (Live in Montreal), 1981
This may be the only “obvious” choice on the list, and it tops many others’ anthem rundowns. But there’s a twist: This is not the album version, it’s a revved-up, double-speed racer from Queen’s double-live “Killers” album, recorded in Montreal four years after the studio version came out. It’s even more of a balls-out rocker than the original. That’s why it’s on the list.
5. No Matter What – Lillian Axe, 1992
Yes, this is obscure. This New Orleans-based band never placed even one single on the charts, but they did put out a handful of sophisticated yet hard and heavy albums in over the years. This particular tune got into rotation on MTV. It was a cover of the old Badfinger hit, and – as much as I love Badfinger – it just blows the original away. It’s even better than Def Leppard’s cover, which is saying something.
4. Immigrant Song – Led Zeppelin, 1970
It’s odd, in a way, that Zep didn’t put out any anthems. Some folks might cite “Rock and Roll” as their definitive contribution to the style. But I’d put this one ahead of it. Robert Plant’s opening wail is rivaled only by Paul Stanley’s for Kiss’ “Heaven’s On Fire,” and the rest of “Immigrant Song” doesn’t let up a bit. It sounds just like a Viking invasion, and the line “hammer of the gods” became a signature for the band.
3. Action – Sweet, 1976
For many U.S. fans, the Sweet-est anthem might be “Ballroom Blitz.” U.K. fans would probably prefer “Block Buster.” Either would be a worthy choice. But this track off “Give Us a Wink” really cemented Sweet’s status as more than bubblegum rockers. Unfortunately, the band went downhill shortly thereafter, hindered by the (now late) lead vocalist Brian Connelly’s substance abuse.
2. Represent – Weezer, 2010
Weezer isn’t the kind of band you’d expect to put out an anthem, but when they decided to do so, they hit it out of the park. You won’t find this song on any of their albums. They dropped it free on iTunes in 2010 to mark the U.S. soccer team’s first meeting with England in 60 years. The song is dripping with fist-pumping swagger. Oh, the game? It ended in a 1-1 draw.
1. Uprising – Muse, 2009
I’m from the Classic Rock era, but like my No. 2 choice, this isn’t a Classic Rock arena anthem. I couldn’t name another Muse song if you asked me, but this is darn near the perfect anthem. “Uprising” hit No. 1 on the Alternative Songs chart, fueled by some of the most defiant lyrics: “They will not force us. They will stop degrading us. They will not control us. We will be victorious. (So come on!)”
Top photo: KISS in 2013, Wikimedia Commons