# What makes a Rock Anthem? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 23, 2009, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-a-rock-anthem/494154 "2009-04-23T21:28:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-a-rock-anthem/494154/1 "2009-04-23T21:28:05Z")
Lots of songs are referred to as “anthems,” but as far as I can tell that’s usually about little more than a kind of epic music style. It seems to me to be a true anthem, the definition would have to be narrower. I submit that the narrator/POV of the song has to be first person singular: we or us. And the song has to be about the power of Rock. No? Obviously, the quintessential such anthem would be Queen’s “We Will Rock You.” Then you have Judas Priest’s “Take On The World.” When I first thought of posting this, I had 4 or 5 other songs in mind. Which of course I’ve forgotten. What other songs are definitively Rock Anthems? ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-a-rock-anthem/494154/2 "2009-04-23T21:30:41Z")
Oh, wait: “Rock’n’Roll All Night,” by Kiss “1999” by Prince ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-a-rock-anthem/494154/3 "2009-04-23T21:55:30Z")
What makes a Rock Anthem? It’s written by Pete Townshend. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-a-rock-anthem/494154/4 "2009-04-23T22:26:36Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > I submit that the narrator/POV of the song has to be first person singular: we or us. And the song has to be about the power of Rock. No? Do you mean “first person **plural** ”? > [@](#): > > What other songs are definitively Rock Anthems? Good question. I think of a rock anthem as the kind of song you’re almost compelled to sing along to, preferably with your fist and/or lighter held in the air. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-a-rock-anthem/494154/5 "2009-04-23T22:31:53Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Do you mean “first person **plural** ”? Um, yeah. > [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Good question. I think of a rock anthem as the kind of song you’re almost compelled to sing along to, preferably with your fist and/or lighter held in the air. Yeah, first of all. But I think it needs a manifesto-style lyric to be a true anthem. No? ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-a-rock-anthem/494154/6 "2009-04-23T22:46:24Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > Then you have Judas Priest’s “Take On The World.” Don’t forget “United”, which came first. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-a-rock-anthem/494154/7 "2009-04-23T23:24:59Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > Yeah, first of all. But I think it needs a manifesto-style lyric to be a true anthem. No? Not necessarily. Bon Jovi’s _Living on a Prayer_ is a love song. Springsteen’s _Born in the U.S.A_. and Creedence’s _Fortunate Son_ are political anthems in the first person, singular. AC/DC’s _Highway to Hell_ is another first person celebration of the rock’n roll lifestyle. Blur’s _Song 2_ is.. well, I never actually listened to the lyrics to tell you the truth. But try and refrain from going WOOOOO HOOOO ! along with the chorus, I dare ya 😛 Here’s a workable definition, courtesy of Google : > [@](#): > > A rock anthem is 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. As for me, I’d say an anthem is generally moderately to slow paced, repetitive both chorus/lyrics-wise and musical-wise, and features lots of sustained power chords in the chorus. It’s the kind of song that makes the whole crowd sing along before it’s over, even if they have never heard it before. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-a-rock-anthem/494154/8 "2009-04-23T23:29:46Z")
Well, I guess I’m saying I kinda disagree with that definition: it has to be about more than a musical style. The subject has to be anthemic, I think. I’ll buy Born in the U.S.A., but almost as a kind of anti-anthem. My point is I think the term is used too loosely, to mean almost any arena-rock, epic ballad. I think the term “anthem” requires something more manifesto-ey. ---
**Author:** ![Simmerdown](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simmerdown/32/14859_2.png) [@Simmerdown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simmerdown)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-a-rock-anthem/494154/9 "2009-04-24T02:43:55Z")
Here’s a few: Twisted Sister - “We’re Not Gonna Take It” Beastie Boys - “(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)” Joan Jett and the Blackhearts - “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” Neil Young - “Keep On Rockin’ in the Free World” ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-a-rock-anthem/494154/10 "2009-04-24T02:59:19Z")
> [@Simmerdown](#): > > Here’s a few: > > Twisted Sister - “We’re Not Gonna Take It” > Beastie Boys - “(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)” > Joan Jett and the Blackhearts - “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” > Neil Young - “Keep On Rockin’ in the Free World” Good ones all. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-a-rock-anthem/494154/11 "2009-04-24T08:34:58Z")
Seeing what others have labeled anthems, I’m thinking I’ve confused them with Rock or Power Ballads, for which one is compelled to belt out the chorus loudly with sustained notes. ---
**Author:** ![DfrntBreign](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f6c823/32.png) [@DfrntBreign](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DfrntBreign)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2009, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-a-rock-anthem/494154/12 "2009-04-24T10:07:36Z")
[The standard by which all others should be judged.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbAho8V3tUE)🆒 Actually, I don’t know the definition, I just know 'em when I hear 'em. [Here’s one.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeZxRYXZ154) [Here’s another.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBnSWJHawQQ) [Would you count this?](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2bGUeDnqPY)