500 Greatest Rock Songs
Criteria: These songs were chosen and ranked based upon their initial and lasting popularity, influence, and acclaim. Also considered is the song's overall impact on the history of the rock genre. An effort was made to cover all styles of rock from the various eras of the genre, from the late 1940s through the early 2010s. An effort was also made to cover as many different important artists as possible without compromising the integrity of the rankings. When two or more versions of a song were fairly equal in importance, the versions were listed together, in order of the "greatness" of each version, based on the criteria. 

Newly added names are in Red
Edited By: Brett Alan, Brian, Bruce
Last Updated: 2016-07-16

 
text title image for 500 Greatest Rock Songs
  1. Johnny B. Goode - Chuck Berry
  2. Respect - Aretha Franklin
  3. Stairway to Heaven - Led Zeppelin
  4. Louie Louie - The Kingsmen
  5. I Heard It Through The Grapevine - Marvin Gaye
  6. (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction - Rolling Stones
  7. Jailhouse Rock - Elvis Presley
  8. Rock Around The Clock - Bill Haley & His Comets
  9. Billie Jean - Michael Jackson
10. Like A Rolling Stone - Bob Dylan
11. Hey Jude - Beatles
12. Good Vibrations - Beach Boys
13. Tutti-Frutti - Little Richard
14. What'd I Say - Ray Charles
15. Hotel California - Eagles
16. You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' - Righteous Brothers
17. My Girl - Temptations
18. Imagine - John Lennon
19. What's Going On - Marvin Gaye
20. Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana
21. Hound Dog - Elvis Presley
22. Born to Run - Bruce Springsteen
23. Light My Fire - Doors
24. Superstition - Stevie Wonder
25. Layla - Derek and the Dominos
26. Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen
27. She Loves You - Beatles
28. Summertime Blues - Eddie Cochran / Blue Cheer / The Who
29. You Really Got Me - Kinks / Van Halen
30. Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon and Garfunkel
31. Let's Stay Together - Al Green
32. Long Tall Sally - Little Richard
33. Purple Haze - Jimi Hendrix Experience
34. A Day In The Life - Beatles
35. Whole Lot of Shakin' Going On - Jerry Lee Lewis
36. That'll Be The Day - Buddy Holly & the Crickets
37. Every Breath You Take - Police
38. In The Midnight Hour - Wilson Pickett
39. Maybellene - Chuck Berry
40. Bo Diddley - Bo Diddley
41. Papa's Got A Brand New Bag - James Brown
42. When Doves Cry - Prince
43. My Generation - The Who
44. Losing My Religion - R.E.M.
45. Sunshine Of Your Love - Cream
46. Whole Lotta Love - Led Zeppelin
47. One - U2
48. A Change Is Gonna Come - Sam Cooke
49. All Along The Watchtower - Jimi Hendrix Experience
50. The Message - Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
51. Great Balls Of Fire - Jerry Lee Lewis
52. Hey Ya - OutKast
53. Mr. Tambourine Man - Byrds / Bob Dylan
54. Proud Mary - Creedence Clearwater Revival / Ike & Tina Turner
55. Shake, Rattle And Roll - Joe Turner / Bill Haley and His Comets
56. Walk This Way - Aerosmith / Run-D.M.C.
57. Let It Be - Beatles
58. Maggie May - Rod Stewart
59. American Pie - Don McLean
60. (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay - Otis Redding
61. Blue Suede Shoes - Carl Perkins / Elvis Presley
62. Don't Be Cruel - Elvis Presley
63. Won't Get Fooled Again - The Who
64. Stayin' Alive - Bee Gees
65. Free Bird - Lynyrd Skynyrd
66. Nuthin' But a "G" Thang - Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg
67. Brown Sugar - Rolling Stones
68. Let's Get It On - Marvin Gaye
69. When A Man Loves A Woman - Percy Sledge
70. I Want To Hold Your Hand - Beatles
71. Good Rockin' Tonight - Wynonie Harris / Elvis Presley
72. Stand By Me - Ben E. King
73. I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor
74. Super Freak - Rick James
75. A Whiter Shade Of Pale - Procol Harum
76. Be My Baby - Ronettes
77. Go Your Own Way - Fleetwood Mac
78. Papa Was a Rollin' Stone - Temptations
79. House Of The Rising Sun - Animals
80. Yesterday - Beatles
81. Where Did Our Love Go - Supremes
82. Rapper's Delight - Sugarhill Gang
83. I Want You Back - Jackson 5
84. I Love Rock 'N' Roll - Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
85. Don't You Want Me? - Human League
86. Jeremy - Pearl Jam
87. Heartbreak Hotel - Elvis Presley
88. Like a Virgin - Madonna
89. Beat It - Michael Jackson
90. Sweet Child O' Mine - Guns N' Roses
91. Under the Bridge - Red Hot Chili Peppers
92. Your Song - Elton John
93. You Shook Me All Night Long - AC/DC
94. Somebody To Love - Jefferson Airplane
95. Green Onions - Booker T. & the MGs
96. Soul Man - Sam & Dave
97. Twist And Shout - Beatles / Isley Brothers
98. Bye Bye Love - Everly Brothers
99. Earth Angel - Penguins
100. Crazy - Gnarls Barkley
101. Sexual Healing - Marvin Gaye
102. Midnight Train to Georgia - Gladys Knight and the Pips
103. Why Do Fools Fall In Love - Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers
104. Good Golly Miss Molly - Little Richard
105. More Than a Feeling - Boston
106. Just My Imagination - Temptations
107. Sweet Dreams - Eurythmics
108. Call Me - Blondie
109. Celebration - Kool & The Gang
110. Another One Bites the Dust - Queen
111. The Sounds Of Silence - Simon & Garfunkel
112. Tainted Love - Soft Cell
113. Roxanne - Police
114. Dream On - Aerosmith
115. Whip It- Devo
116. Another Brick in the Wall Part II - Pink Floyd
117. Be-Bop-A-Lula - Gene Vincent & the Blue Caps
118. Rock And Roll Music - Chuck Berry / Beatles
119. I Saw Her Standing There - Beatles
120. I Get Around - Beach Boys
121. Reach Out, I'll Be There - Four Tops
122. Peggy Sue - Buddy Holly
123. Gimme Some Lovin' - Spencer Davis Group
124. No Woman, No Cry - Bob Marley and the Wailers
125. London Calling - The Clash
126. Ain't Too Proud To Beg - Temptations
127. Lawdy Miss Clawdy - Lloyd Price
128. Roll Over Beethoven - Chuck Berry
129. Family Affair - Sly and the Family Stone
130. We Will Rock You / We Are the Champions - Queen
131. Sweet Home Alabama - Lynyrd Skynyrd
132. Smoke on the Water - Deep Purple
133. Don't Stop Believin' - Journey
134. Dancing In The Street - Martha & the Vandellas
135. Mony Mony - Tommy James & the Shondells / Billy Idol
136. In The Still Of The Nite - Five Satins
137. Jumpin' Jack Flash - Rolling Stones
138. Born To Be Wild - Steppenwolf
139. Oh, Pretty Woman - Roy Orbison
140. I Only Have Eyes For You - Flamingos
141. Anarchy in the U.K. - Sex Pistols
142. Dancing Queen - ABBA
143. Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine - James Brown
144. Waterfalls - TLC
145. White Room - Cream
146. Sympathy For The Devil - Rolling Stones
147. Living for the City - Stevie Wonder
148. Lola - Kinks
149. Girls Just Want To Have Fun - Cyndi Lauper
150. For What It's Worth - Buffalo Springfield
151. Sultans of Swing - Dire Straits
152. Lean on Me - Bill Withers
153. Planet Rock - Afrika Bambaataa & The Soul Sonic Force
154. What's Love Got To Do With It? - Tina Turner
155. Born In the U.S.A. - Bruce Springsteen
156. With Or Without You - U2
157. (You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party) - Beastie Boys
158. Loser - Beck
159. Gangsta's Paradise - Coolio
160. Nothing Compares 2 U - Sinéad O'Connor
161. For Your Precious Love - Jerry Butler & the Impressions
162. Blueberry Hill - Fats Domino
163. Brown Eyed Girl - Van Morrison
164. The Tracks Of My Tears - Miracles
165. California Dreamin' - Mamas & the Papas
166. Who'll Stop the Rain - Creedence Clearwater Revival
167. Kashmir - Led Zeppelin
168. Heart of Glass - Blondie
169. Theme from "Shaft" - Isaac Hayes
170. Me and Bobby McGee - Janis Joplin
171. Baba O'Riley - The Who
172. Fire and Rain - James Taylor
173. Paranoid - Black Sabbath
174. Heart of Gold - Neil Young
175. Wonderwall - Oasis
176. Doo Wop (That Thing) - Lauryn Hill
177. Money For Nothing - Dire Straits
178. Eight Miles High - Byrds
179. Strawberry Fields Forever - Beatles
180. Nights In White Satin - Moody Blues
181. Little Red Corvette - Prince
182. Please, Please, Please - James Brown & the Famous Flames
183. Lose Yourself - Eminem
184. Creep - Radiohead
185. California Love - 2Pac
186. Enter Sandman - Metallica
187. Walk on the Wild Side - Lou Reed
188. It's Too Late - Carole King
189. Into the Groove - Madonna
190. Blowin' In The Wind - Bob Dylan
191. Will You Love Me Tomorrow - Shirelles
192. Georgia On My Mind - Ray Charles
193. Dazed And Confused - Led Zeppelin
194. Gimme Shelter - Rolling Stones
195. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For - U2
196. Heart Full Of Soul - Yardbirds
197. People Get Ready - Impressions
198. Suite: Judy Blue Eyes - Crosby, Stills & Nash
199. All Right Now - Free
200. Paradise By the Dashboard Light - Meat Loaf
201. Jump - Van Halen
202. Crazy in Love - Beyoncé feat. Jay-Z
203. Love Will Tear Us Apart - Joy Division
204. Tears In Heaven - Eric Clapton
205. Shout - Isley Brothers / Otis Day and the Knights
206. Get Ur Freak On - Missy Misdemeanor Elliot
207. I Walk The Line - Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two
208. Bring It On Home To Me - Sam Cooke
209. You've Really Got A Hold On Me - Miracles
210. Good Times - Chic
211. (Don't Fear) The Reaper - Blue Oyster Cult
212. If You Don't Know Me by Now - Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes
213. All Night Long (All Night) - Lionel Richie
214. You Oughta Know - Alanis Morissette
215. Seven Nation Army - The White Stripes
216. Sh-Boom - Chords / Crew Cuts
217. Aqualung - Jethro Tull
218. Honky Tonk Women - Rolling Stones
219. Riders On the Storm - Doors
220. Black Magic Woman - Santana
221. Blue Monday - New Order
222. 1979 - Smashing Pumpkins
223. Clocks - Coldplay
224. The Great Pretender - Platters
225. Ain't It A Shame - Fats Domino
226. Bad Moon Rising - Creedence Clearwater Revival
227. Revolution - Beatles
228. I Wanna Be Sedated - Ramones
229. Money - Pink Floyd
230. Relax - Frankie Goes To Hollywood
231. Paranoid Android - Radiohead
232. Paper Planes - M.I.A.
233. Money Honey - Drifters featuring Clyde McPhatter
234. A Hard Day's Night - Beatles
235. You Keep Me Hangin' On - Supremes
236. Piano Man - Billy Joel
237. Killing Me Softly with His Song - Roberta Flack / Fugees
238. Addicted To Love - Robert Palmer
239. Runaway - Del Shannon
240. Fuck You (Forget You) - Cee Lo Green
241. All Shook Up - Elvis Presley
242. Wild Thing - Troggs
243. She's Not There - Zombies
244. Thunder Road - Bruce Springsteen
245. Comfortably Numb - Pink Floyd
246. Livin On a Prayer - Bon Jovi
247. Fever - Little Willie John
248. The Loco-Motion - Little Eva
249. I'm A Believer - Monkees / Smash Mouth
250. Dance To The Music - Sly and the Family Stone
251. Roundabout - Yes
252. Empire State Of Mind - Jay-Z featuring Alicia Keys
253. Low Rider - War
254. That's All Right - Elvis Presley with Scotty and Bill
255. Surfin' U.S.A. - Beach Boys
256. Hot Stuff - Donna Summer
257. It Takes Two - Rob Base & D.J. E-Z Rock
258. The Wanderer - Dion
259. Smooth - Santana feat. Rob Thomas
260. You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet - Bachman-Turner Overdrive
261. The Train Kept-A-Rollin - Johnny Burnette Trio
262. Pledging My Love - Johnny Ace
263. God Only Knows - Beach Boys
264. The Letter - Box Tops
265. Under The Boardwalk - Drifters
266. I'll Take You There - Staple Singers
267. Love Train - O'Jays
268. Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough - Michael Jackson
269. Mystery Train - Elvis Presley with Scotty and Bill
270. Enjoy the Silence - Depeche Mode
271. Jump Around - House of Pain
272. Sixty Minute Man - Dominoes
273. Rocket 88 - Jackie Brenston
274. Gloria - Them / Shadows Of Knight
275. Don't Speak - No Doubt
276. I Can See For Miles - The Who
277. Rock And Roll - Led Zeppelin
278. Old Time Rock 'n' Roll - Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band
279. No Diggity - BLACKstreet
280. Blitzkrieg Bop - Ramones
281. Black Hole Sun - Soundgarden
282. Sabotage - Beastie Boys
283. How Will I Know? - Whitney Houston
284. Fight the Power - Public Enemy
285. Sweet Little Sixteen - Chuck Berry
286. Yakety Yak - Coasters
287. Glad All Over - Dave Clark Five
288. Runaround Sue - Dion
289. One Nation Under a Groove - Funkadelic
290. Crying - Roy Orbison
291. Y.M.C.A. - Village People
292. Dreamlover - Mariah Carey
293. My Name Is - Eminem
294. I Got You (I Feel Good) - James Brown
295. Changes - David Bowie
296. The Twist - Chubby Checker
297. Killing In the Name - Rage Against The Machine
298. Iris - Goo Goo Dolls
200. Jesus Walks - Kanye West
300. Folsom Prison Blues - Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two
301. In the Air Tonight - Phil Collins
302. Ain't No Sunshine - Bill Withers
303. Bittersweet Symphony - The Verve
304. Come As You Are - Nirvana
305. How Soon Is Now? - The Smiths
306. Wish You Were Here - Pink Floyd 
307. Rolling In The Deep - Adele
308. Kiss - Prince
309. La Bamba - Ritchie Valens / Los Lobos
310. At Last - Etta James
311. Have You Ever Seen the Rain - Creedence Clearwater Revival
312. Song 2 - Blur
313. Hungry Like the Wolf - Duran Duran
314. Highway to Hell - AC/DC
315. The Times They Are A'Changin' - Bob Dylan
316. You Send Me - Sam Cooke
317. Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It) - Beyoncé
318. Careless Whisper - Wham! feat. George Michael
319. Heroes - David Bowie
320. Everyday People - Sly & the Family Stone
321. Alive - Pearl Jam
322. School Day (Ring! Ring! Goes The Bell) - Chuck Berry
323. Pour Some Sugar On Me - Def Leppard
324. November Rain - Guns N' Roses
325. Help! - Beatles
326. Truckin' - Grateful Dead
327. Fallin' - Alicia Keys
328. Take On Me - A-Ha
329. Lucille - Little Richard
330. I Can't Stop Loving You - Ray Charles
331. September - Earth, Wind & Fire
332. It Was a Good Day - Ice Cube
333. Rock the Casbah - The Clash
334. Black or White - Michael Jackson
335. Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) - Sly & the Family Stone
336. All I Have To Do Is Dream - Everly Brothers
337. Last Nite - The Strokes
338. Do You Really Want To Hurt Me? - Culture Club
339. My Sweet Lord - George Harrison
340. Something - Beatles
341. War - Edwin Starr
342. There Goes My Baby - Drifters
343. Rapture - Blondie
344. (Everything I Do) I Do It for You - Bryan Adams
345. California Girls - Beach Boys
346. Message in a Bottle - The Police 
347. Take Me Out - Franz Ferdinand
348. Fast Car - Tracy Chapman
349. Wake Up Little Susie - Everly Brothers
350. You Can't Hurry Love - Supremes
351. Black Dog - Led Zeppelin
352. U Can't Touch This - MC Hammer
353. Flashdance...What a Feeling - Irene Cara
354. Vogue - Madonna
355. I Can't Help Myself - Four Tops
356. I've Got A Woman - Ray Charles
357. Umbrella - Rihanna feat. Jay-Z
358. 1999 - Prince
359. I Feel Love - Donna Summer 
360. Hit The Road Jack - Ray Charles
361. Dreams - Fleetwood Mac
362. Rave On - Buddy Holly
363. Word Up! - Cameo
364. Regulate - Warren G
365. Penny Lane - Beatles
366. Rock with You - Michael Jackson
367. Yeah! - Usher feat. Lil' Jon and Ludacris
368. Come On Eileen - Dexys Midnight Runners
369. Money - Barrett Strong / Beatles
370. It's Your Thing - Isley Brothers
371. One Love - Bob Marley and the Wailers
372. Zombie - The Cranberries
373. Purple Rain - Prince
374. Baby Got Back - Sir Mix-a-Lot
375. White Rabbit - Jefferson Airplane
376. Who Do You Love - Bo Diddley
377. Rehab - Amy Winehouse
378. Start Me Up - Rolling Stones
379. You Are the Sunshine of My Life - Stevie Wonder
380. Fortunate Son - Creedence Clearwater Revival
381. Play That Funky Music - Wild Cherry
382. Rumble - Link Wray
383. We Got The Beat - The Go-Go's
384. Everlong - Foo Fighters
385. In My Life - Beatles
386. 25 or 6 to 4 - Chicago
387. In Da Club - 50 Cent
388. Jessie's Girl - Rick Springfield
389. Rocking Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu - Huey "Piano" Smith / Johnny Rivers
390. Paint It, Black - Rolling Stones
391. School's Out - Alice Cooper
392. Juicy - Notorious B.I.G.
393. The Boys of Summer - Don Henley
394. Tired of Being Alone - Al Green
395. Only The Lonely - Roy Orbison
396. Kansas City - Wilbert Harrison
397. Feel Good Inc. - Gorillaz
398. Summer of '69 - Bryan Adams
399. Unchained Melody - Righteous Brothers / Al Hibbler
400. Basket Case - Green Day
401. Tangled Up in Blue - Bob Dylan
402. Lonely Teardrops - Jackie Wilson
403. Push It - Salt-N-Pepa
404. Nothing Else Matters - Metallica
405. Walk On By - Dionne Warwick / Isaac Hayes
406. Le Freak - Chic
407. Gold Digger - Kanye West
408. Waterloo Sunset - Kinks
409. Crying In The Chapel - Orioles / Elvis Presley
410. Up On The Roof - Drifters
411. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - Elton John
412. Say My Name - Destiny's Child
413. Back In Black - AC/DC
414. Heart-Shaped Box - Nirvana
415. Tears Of A Clown - Smokey Robinson & the Miracles
416. I Put A Spell On You - Screamin' Jay Hawkins
417. SexyBack - Justin Timberlake
418. Nasty - Janet Jackson
419. Get Up, Stand Up - Bob Marley and the Wailers
420. (Love Is Like A) Heat Wave - Martha & the Vandellas/Linda Ronstadt
421. Everybody Hurts - R.E.M.
422. Sincerely - Moonglows
423. Time After Time - Cyndi Lauper
424. God Save the Queen - The Sex Pistols 
425. Chain Of Fools - Aretha Franklin
426. Mercy Mercy Me - Marvin Gaye
427. 99 Problems - Jay-Z
428. Thriller - Michael Jackson
429. At The Hop - Danny & the Juniors
430. 96 Tears - ? & the Mysterians
431. Knockin' on Heaven's Door - Bob Dylan / Guns N' Roses
432. ...Baby One More Time - Britney Spears
433. I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me) - Whitney Houston
434. Rock and Roll All Nite - KISS
435. Don't Worry Baby - Beach Boys
436. Honky Tonk - Bill Doggett
437. Just The Way You Are - Bruno Mars
438. It's the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine) - R.E.M.
439. All the Small Things - Blink 182
440. You Can't Always Get What You Want - Rolling Stones
441. Bang a Gong (Get It On) - T. Rex
442. River Deep, Mountain High - Ike & Tina Turner
443. Pump Up the Jam - Technotronic feat. Felly
444. Once in a Lifetime - Talking Heads
445. Turn, Turn, Turn - Byrds
446. Hypnotize - Notorious B.I.G.
447. I Gotta Feeling - Black Eyed Peas
448. Back To Life - Soul II Soul
449. Wooly Bully - Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs
450. Rocket Man - Elton John
451. Friday I'm in Love - The Cure
452. Love Shack - B-52's
453. We Are Family - Sister Sledge
454. Baby I Need Your Lovin' - Four Tops / Johnny Rivers
455. Sweet Caroline - Neil Diamond
456. Ms. Jackson - OutKast
457. The Breaks - Kurtis Blow
458. Dear Mama - 2Pac
459. (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher And Higher - Jackie Wilson
460. Miss You - The Rolling Stones
461. Tequila - Champs
462. Free Fallin' - Tom Petty
463. Buddy Holly - Weezer
464. I Got You Babe - Sonny & Cher
465. You're So Vain - Carly Simon
466. Idioteque - Radiohead
467. Get Lucky - Daft Punk feat. Pharrell Williams
468. Uptown Funk - Mark Ronson (feat. Bruno Mars)
469. Love Potion No. 9 - Clovers / Searchers
470. Try A Little Tenderness - Otis Redding
471. Brick House - The Commodores
472. Gin & Juice - Snoop Doggy Dogg
473. Welcome To the Jungle - Guns N' Roses
474. Maybe I'm Amazed - Paul McCartney
475. The Weight - The Band / Aretha Franklin
476. Willie And The Hand Jive - Johnny Otis Show
477. All My Friends - LCD Soundsystem
478. Sledgehammer - Peter Gabriel
479. Just the Way You Are - Billy Joel
480. Da Doo Ron Ron (When He Walked Me Home) - Crystals
481. Train in Vain (Stand By Me) - The Clash
482. Come Go With Me - Dell-Vikings
483. Me, Myself and I - De La Soul
484. I Believe I Can Fly - R. Kelly
485. Subterranean Homesick Blues - Bob Dylan
486. The Boys Are Back in Town - Thin Lizzy
487. I'm Waiting For The Man - Velvet Underground
488. Like A Prayer - Madonna
489. Pinball Wizard - The Who
490. Suspicious Minds - Elvis Presley
491. I'll Be There - The Jackson 5
492. Tumbling Dice - The Rolling Stones
493. Don't You (Forget About Me) - Simple Minds
494. Higher Ground - Stevie Wonder
495. I've Been Loving You Too Long - Otis Redding
496. Low - Flo Rida
497. Closer - Nine Inch Nails
498. I Want To Know What Love Is - Foreigner
499. Take It Easy - Eagles
500. I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You) - Aretha Franklin