Creating a definitive list of the best rock and roll songs of all time can be a challenging task given the genre's rich history and the various sub-genres that have emerged over the years. However, here's a list of 100 iconic rock songs that have significantly influenced the genre and have stood the test of time.
- "Stairway to Heaven" - Led Zeppelin
- "Bohemian Rhapsody" - Queen
- "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" - The Rolling Stones
- "Like a Rolling Stone" - Bob Dylan
- "Hotel California" - The Eagles
- "Imagine" - John Lennon
- "Smoke on the Water" - Deep Purple
- "Sweet Child O' Mine" - Guns N' Roses
- "Hey Jude" - The Beatles
- "Smells Like Teen Spirit" - Nirvana
- "Comfortably Numb" - Pink Floyd
- "Born to Run" - Bruce Springsteen
- "Layla" - Derek and the Dominos
- "Johnny B. Goode" - Chuck Berry
- "You Shook Me All Night Long" - AC/DC
- "Highway to Hell" - AC/DC
- "Purple Haze" - Jimi Hendrix
- "Free Bird" - Lynyrd Skynyrd
- "Light My Fire" - The Doors
- "My Generation" - The Who
- "Whole Lotta Love" - Led Zeppelin
- "A Day in the Life" - The Beatles
- "Rock Around The Clock" - Bill Haley & His Comets
- "American Pie" - Don McLean
- "Back In Black" - AC/DC
- "Dream On" - Aerosmith
- "Another Brick in the Wall, Pt. 2" - Pink Floyd
- "Under Pressure" - Queen and David Bowie
- "All Along the Watchtower" - Jimi Hendrix
- "Paint It Black" - The Rolling Stones
- "Won't Get Fooled Again" - The Who
- "London Calling" - The Clash
- "Sympathy For The Devil" - The Rolling Stones
- "Piano Man" - Billy Joel
- "Jailhouse Rock" - Elvis Presley
- "Thunderstruck" - AC/DC
- "Black Dog" - Led Zeppelin
- "Fortunate Son" - Creedence Clearwater Revival
- "Brown Eyed Girl" - Van Morrison
- "Tutti Frutti" - Little Richard
- "House of the Rising Sun" - The Animals
- "Kashmir" - Led Zeppelin
- "Go Your Own Way" - Fleetwood Mac
- "Money" - Pink Floyd
- "Bad Moon Rising" - Creedence Clearwater Revival
- "Enter Sandman" - Metallica
- "Let It Be" - The Beatles
- "Seven Nation Army" - The White Stripes
- "Walk This Way" - Aerosmith
- "More Than a Feeling" - Boston
- "Baba O'Riley" - The Who
- "Paranoid" - Black Sabbath
- "Should I Stay or Should I Go" - The Clash
- "Eye of the Tiger" - Survivor
- "We Will Rock You" - Queen
- "Sultans of Swing" - Dire Straits
- "Come Together" - The Beatles
- "Born in the USA" - Bruce Springsteen
- "Riders on the Storm" - The Doors
- "November Rain" - Guns N' Roses
- "Jump" - Van Halen
- "Don't Stop Believin'" - Journey
- "I Love Rock 'n Roll" - Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
- "Wish You Were Here" - Pink Floyd
- "Every Breath You Take" - The Police
- "Ramble On" - Led Zeppelin
- "With or Without You" - U2
- "Everlong" - Foo Fighters
- "Carry on Wayward Son" - Kansas
- "Space Oddity" - David Bowie
- "Welcome to the Jungle" - Guns N' Roses
- "Iron Man" - Black Sabbath
- "Beat It" - Michael Jackson (featuring Eddie Van Halen)
- "Proud Mary" - Creedence Clearwater Revival
- "Sweet Home Alabama" - Lynyrd Skynyrd
- "Tom Sawyer" - Rush
- "Heartbreak Hotel" - Elvis Presley
- "I Want to Hold Your Hand" - The Beatles
- "Creep" - Radiohead
- "Back in the USSR" - The Beatles
- "Superstition" - Stevie Wonder
- "Jeremy" - Pearl Jam
- "Black Hole Sun" - Soundgarden
- "Black Magic Woman" - Santana
- "Hallelujah" - Jeff Buckley (original by Leonard Cohen)
- "Twist and Shout" - The Beatles
- "Wonderwall" - Oasis
- "One" - Metallica
- "Mr. Brightside" - The Killers
- "Hotel California" - Eagles
- "Gimme Shelter" - The Rolling Stones
- "No Woman, No Cry" - Bob Marley
- "Billie Jean" - Michael Jackson
- "I Can't Help Falling in Love" - Elvis Presley
- "Livin' on a Prayer" - Bon Jovi
- "The Sound of Silence" - Simon & Garfunkel
- "Rocket Man" - Elton John
- "Where The Streets Have No Name" - U2
- "Paradise City" - Guns N' Roses
- "In The End" - Linkin Park
Remember, everyone's list will vary based on their personal taste and experiences. These are just some of the songs that have defined rock and roll over the decades. Enjoy your listening journey through the history of rock!