Not necessarily your favorite, or the most meaningful, or the best lyrics, but the song that just seems to embody rock and roll to you. Obviously, since rock means something a little different to all of us, this is a pretty subjective exercise, but I’d be interested to see what y’all come up with.
The song that prompted this question is John Mellencamp’s Authority Song. I think it just might be a perfect rock song. It’s all about rebellion and not growing up, it’s got a rollicking lead guitar and primal, almost heartbeat-like drums, and it comes in at a nice radio-friendly 3:31. Mellencamp clearly owes a debt to Bobby Fuller’s I Fought the Law, but he injects more adrenaline into the same concept than Fuller’s song. Now, I’m a bit ambivalent about Mellencamp in general; sometimes I think he’s got this fantastic blend of folk, country, and roots-rock going on, and sometimes I think he’s a self-important ass, but in my opinion he knocked it out of the park with this one.
Honorable mention goes to fellow Hoosier John Hiatt’s Tennessee Plates. I give it honorable mention because, as much as it involves car theft, prison, Cadillacs and Elvis, I’m not crazy about Sonny Landreth’s guitar on the studio version. Don’t get me wrong; I love Landreth, but I don’t think his guitar suits the song. When I saw Hiatt earlier this summer, his guitarist had more of a “growl” to his slide guitar as opposed to the “whiny” sound Landreth had on the original. I think it just worked better.
Louie, Louie by the Kingsmen is the definitive rock song and rock song performance. It’s perfect rock & roll. This is the only song that will be played at my funeral/memorial/thank god he’s dead party.
Ace Of Spades by Motörhead is a close second, tho. They better crank that one to start the “after” party, eh.
First, I offer Lolaby the Kinks. Some may argue that “You Really Got Me” is a better example of a perfect rock song, but Lola’s got everything a rock song must have. I can’t really describe it’s greatness, so just listen … (as an aside, I also think that the Kinks recorded the perfect *pop *song with Waterloo Sunset).
This thread can’t exist without an AC/DC song, so my second suggestion is It’s A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock’n Roll). It’s maybe the best example of their no-bullshit, relentless brand of rock’n roll, the lyrics are about rock’n roll, and it’s got bagpipes! (Ok, bagpipes are certainly very unusual in a rock song, but they do fit in here perfectly)
Paradise by the Dashboard Light by Meatloaf. (Can’t provide song link from work.)
Subject matter –getting it on for the first time- is pure rock and roll. It’s got an upbeat, driving tempo and doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s actually a couple of songs rolled into one and works brilliantly.
I thought about choosing Springsteen’s “Born to Run” or the Stones’ “Rock and a Hard Place” or Hendrix’s “All Along the Watchtower”, but then I realized the OP wanted “perfect”, rather than “best”. So my choices for the most perfect rock songs are:
Another Led Zeppelin for the perfect rock song, but for Black Dog. I always took it as an homage to old time bluesy rock and roll, but way more complicated. And it rocks.
Not yet mentioned, but “Corduroy,” by Pearl Jam. It’s just a wonderful rock song; awesome hook, awesome power chords, guitar driven, and just about perfectly written. It’s just four minutes of rock heaven.
Also, “Rock and Roll” by Zeppelin, because
It’s awesome,
It’s called “Rock and Roll,” and
Like all the best rock songs, it’s really about sex.
This thread would make an awesome playlist! I came in to say Won’t get fooled again, but Black dog fits the bill pretty perfectly too. Now i feel like I’m copying Mack so I’ll add Child in time by deep purple.
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