# What's your "perfect" rock song? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 3, 2010, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-perfect-rock-song/552466 "2010-09-03T04:53:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-perfect-rock-song/552466/41 "2010-09-03T17:03:08Z")
**Free Bird** is the perfect song. Soft, pretty piano (live version) or organ (studio version) into, great vocals, slightly melancholy lyrics, and at least 7 minutes of screaming Southern-fried guitar boogie, and encompassing a philosophy/way of life. AND the anthem of one of the greatest heel stables in pro wrestling history–Michael Hayes, the late Terry Gordy, Buddy Roberts, and because I’m feeling generous, I’ll include Jimmy Garvin as the fourth Freebird. Honorable mention to **Wild Thing** by The Troggs. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-perfect-rock-song/552466/42 "2010-09-03T17:07:39Z")
Three off the top of my head: **R.O.C.K. In The USA** , by John Mellencamp **Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress** , by The Hollies **Won’t Be Fooled Again** , by The Who The first two have classic rock song construction, simple lyrics and driving beats. The third has the best primal scream in rock history. ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-perfect-rock-song/552466/43 "2010-09-03T18:03:16Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > **Free Bird** is the perfect song. Soft, pretty piano (live version) or organ (studio version) into, great vocals, slightly melancholy lyrics, and at least 7 minutes of screaming Southern-fried guitar boogie, and encompassing a philosophy/way of life. So YOU’RE the guy! ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-perfect-rock-song/552466/44 "2010-09-03T18:33:05Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > > [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > > > [Louie, Louie](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Vae_AkLb4Q) by the Kingsmen is the definitive rock song and rock song performance. It’s perfect rock & roll. > > This is the first song that came to mind upon reading the title of the OP. And, after further reflection, I’m going to stick with it. You are obviously a person of towering intellect and staggeringly good taste. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-perfect-rock-song/552466/45 "2010-09-03T18:34:18Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Honorable mention to **Wild Thing** by The Troggs. Which is really just _Louie, Louie_ with different lyrics. ---
**Author:** ![Tethered\_Kite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a5b964/32.png) [@Tethered\_Kite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tethered_Kite)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-perfect-rock-song/552466/46 "2010-09-03T18:47:19Z")
The live version of “Betty Lou’s Getting out Tonight” by Bob Seger. Elton John’s “Crocodile Rock.” “Roll Over Beethoven” by Chuck Berry. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-perfect-rock-song/552466/47 "2010-09-03T19:23:11Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > > [@Oakminster](#): > > > > Honorable mention to **Wild Thing** by The Troggs. > > Which is really just _Louie, Louie_ with different lyrics. Holy crap, you’re right. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-perfect-rock-song/552466/48 "2010-09-03T19:23:55Z")
Another vote for “Born to Run”. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-perfect-rock-song/552466/49 "2010-09-03T19:28:09Z")
> [@StusBlues](#): > > > [@Oakminster](#): > > > > **Free Bird** is the perfect song. Soft, pretty piano (live version) or organ (studio version) into, great vocals, slightly melancholy lyrics, and at least 7 minutes of screaming Southern-fried guitar boogie, and encompassing a philosophy/way of life. > > So YOU’RE the guy! ::::hijack:::: Heh, I came to a shocking realization last week. Now, if there’s _any_ band know for stereotypical classic rock guitar soloes, it’s Led Zeppelin. What I realized is that the vast majority of classic rock guitar soloes that attempt that kind of solo are actually better at it than Zeppelin. Including Free Bird. (And, amogst others, Hotel California, Aqualung, and The Wall, Obscured by Clouds, and even The Final Cut by the Floyd.) ---
**Author:** ![Moonchild](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@Moonchild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonchild)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-perfect-rock-song/552466/50 "2010-09-03T19:35:54Z")
[Even the Losers](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E30XxSYgmqo)by Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers. It’s about love and reminiscence and pain. Great stuff. If I’m thinking hard rock: [Keep Yourself Alive](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JofwEB9g1zg) by Queen; [It’s a Long Way to the Top](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFlNo1NjAEQ) (if you wanna rock and roll) [Ballroom Blitz](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qswKeWhjaUc) by Sweet. Sweet looks dorky as can be, but this rocks. There was a similar thread raised a ways back when someone asked if/proclaimed that Bohemian Rhapsody was the greatest rock song ever. The debate kept coming back to \*\*Radar Love \*\*by Golden Earring. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-perfect-rock-song/552466/51 "2010-09-03T20:42:27Z")
> [@](#): > > There was a similar thread raised a ways back when someone asked if/proclaimed that Bohemian Rhapsody was the greatest rock song ever. I don’t know “greatest”, but it’s certainly damned great, and I’m surprised nobody’s nominated it yet. I’d also nominate “Inna-godda-da-vida”. ---
**Author:** ![DonLogan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/51bf81/32.png) [@DonLogan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DonLogan)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-perfect-rock-song/552466/52 "2010-09-03T20:49:32Z")
Rock n Roll = sex and sex = Whole Lotta Love, Led Zep ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-perfect-rock-song/552466/53 "2010-09-03T21:25:30Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > [Born To Run](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxuThNgl3YA&ob=av3e) - Bruce Springsteen > > Grab your girl and get out of this town before it turns you into your parents. Pounding drums, screaming guitars…what else do you want? Oh yeah…good choice. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-perfect-rock-song/552466/54 "2010-09-03T21:29:31Z")
Heartbreak Hotel Johnny B. Goode If you don’t know the artists for the above, you don’t belong in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Angel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d26b3c/32.png) [@Johnny\_Angel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Angel)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-perfect-rock-song/552466/55 "2010-09-03T23:52:59Z")
Surprisingly little love for ye olde school rock. I’m surely not the first person to think so, but the fact that most people here cite things well outside the original Rock ‘n’ Roll era only confirms that “Rock” is derived from, but just not the same thing as “Rock ‘n’ Roll”. For example, here’s what I consider a _sine qua non_ example of Rock ‘n’ Roll – if this doesn’t sound like Rock to you, then _Rock_ doesn’t mean _Rock ‘n’ Roll_: [Buick '59 - Vernon Green and the Medallions](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WG0TJlXZjC0) Whatever you call it, this hardly falls into the same category as most of the stuff that’s been suggested in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-perfect-rock-song/552466/56 "2010-09-03T23:57:11Z")
Is it the best? Maybe not. Is it catchy? Hell yes. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/oGOjEAUdErI/hqdefault.jpg "Mary moon") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGOjEAUdErI) ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2010, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-perfect-rock-song/552466/57 "2010-09-04T01:13:57Z")
[Satisfaction](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_VbImuG71M) - The Rolling Stones Honorable Mention: [Wild Thing](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qHX493bB3U) - The Troggs [The Letter](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wD9mCp8SifM) - The Box Tops [(I’m Not Your) Stepping Stone](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUdIKdRuYc4&feature=related) - The Monkees (Yeah, that’s right. I listed a Monkees song. So?) [Jailhouse Rock](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gj0Rz-uP4Mk) - Elvis Presley [Great Balls of Fire](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4NquCaWIQI&feature=related) - Jerry Lee Lewis ---
**Author:** ![Uncle\_Brother\_Walker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f08c70/32.png) [@Uncle\_Brother\_Walker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncle_Brother_Walker)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2010, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-perfect-rock-song/552466/58 "2010-09-04T01:22:27Z")
Oh, yeah. I’ve got to get behind Radar Love. It starts with a bang. It tells you “Get ready to rock.” Then it starts to build. Fast. Then it slows down. Then just sit down and shut up and listen. This used to be my song that would force me to find an on-ramp to a highway while driving so that I could go fast and rock out. ---
**Author:** ![Kilmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a6a055/32.png) [@Kilmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilmore)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2010, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-perfect-rock-song/552466/59 "2010-09-04T01:33:07Z")
For my own personal muse I gotta say “You’ve Got Another Thing Coming” from Judas Priest. Very self-empowering. Though Iron Maiden’s “Hallowed Be Thy Name” is a heavy rock epiphany. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2010, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-perfect-rock-song/552466/60 "2010-09-04T02:08:09Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > > [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > > > Which is really just _Louie, Louie_ with different lyrics. > > Holy crap, you’re right. And _that_ is just one of many reasons that, to me, _Louie, Louie_ is the perfect rock and roll song. It’s simple, it’s catchy, it’s about sex and hardship, and it’s been copied hundreds, perhaps thousands, of times over, and every copy (both covers and stuff like the Troggs song) are almost always nearly-perfect themselves. It’s 3 chords, no waiting, no slow parts, no whining. BAM! POW! That’s rock ‘n’ roll. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-perfect-rock-song/552466.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-perfect-rock-song/552466.md?page=4)