Western Rock Popularity Ranking [2026]

ClocksColdplay29rank/position

Coldplay – Clocks (Official Video)

One of Coldplay’s signature songs, known for its striking piano riff.

Released in 2002, it appears on their second album, A Rush of Blood to the Head.

Centered on the passage of time and the value of each moment, the song—paired with Chris Martin’s vocals—beautifully captures life’s fragility and anxieties.

It garnered numerous accolades, including the 2004 Grammy Award for Record of the Year.

It’s the perfect track to listen to when you want to pause amid your busy days and reflect on life.

SundaySonic youth30rank/position

Sonic Youth – Sunday

Sonic Youth, hailing from New York, can be called one of the bands that formed the very origins of the alternative scene.

Fusing art-pop and punk sounds that reflect the influence of their fellow New Yorkers The Velvet Underground, they created a singular musical style.

Though they were not a band that achieved massive commercial success, they had a profound impact on the scenes that followed and still reign as a group beloved by rock listeners.

This attitude—valuing the pursuit of musicality over commercial success—is the very essence of “alternative,” and the decisive difference from the mainstream.

AfricaTOTO31rank/position

Toto – Africa (Official HD Video)

Toto is a band that brought together members with proven skills as studio musicians.

With a sound that blends a variety of genres around a rock core, they continue to captivate many fans.

This piece is a track from the 1982 masterpiece “TOTO IV,” which reached the top of the charts in February 1983.

It grandly sings of the songwriter’s longing for the African continent, and in recent years it was also used in the drama “Stranger Things.” Perhaps it is precisely because it portrays a place never actually visited that its mysterious imagery is so compelling.

The lyrical world, where awe for majestic nature intersects with the earnest feeling of not wanting to part from a loved one, is truly breathtaking.

It’s the perfect song for when you want to bask in a grand, expansive mood.

Song 2Blur32rank/position

Blur – Song 2 (Official Music Video)

The devastatingly powerful guitar sound unleashed by Blur, emblematic of British Britpop, sent shockwaves through the 1997 music scene.

Upending their previously English pop sensibilities, the band delivered an experimental piece that fused a raw, US indie rock–inspired sound with spontaneous, meaning-free lyrics—and, ironically, it became their biggest hit.

Born from the album “Blur,” the track’s impulsive creation—reportedly completed in just a few dozen minutes—helped open up a new frontier for the band.

Widely featured in films and video games, its explosive energy also electrifies crowds at sporting events.

It’s truly the perfect song for moments when you want to unleash your energy and get your heart racing.

Best Of YouFoo Fighters33rank/position

Foo Fighters – Best Of You (Official HD Video)

This is “Best of You” by Foo Fighters, led by Dave Grohl, formerly of Nirvana.

From the very beginning, Dave is strumming the guitar while singing, and he sings incredibly well.

It’s one of the classic songs of alternative rock—both heartrending and intense.

Dream OnAerosmith34rank/position

Aerosmith – Dream On (Audio)

Aerosmith is a legendary American band that has continued to lead the rock scene from the 1970s to the present.

Since their debut in 1973, they have captivated music fans around the world with a sound richly infused with blues and R&B elements.

Among their many hits, signature songs include “Walk This Way,” “Dream On,” and “Love in an Elevator.” They have won numerous awards such as the Grammy Awards and the American Music Awards, and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001.

Despite overcoming hardships such as drug issues, Aerosmith continues to mesmerize audiences with their overwhelming performances and charisma, truly making them a living legend of classic rock.

They are highly recommended not only for fans of classic rock but also for anyone who has yet to experience their music!

To Be With YouMr. BIG35rank/position

Mr. Big – To Be With You 4K Video

A rock band whose members all possess outstanding musicianship and enjoy immense popularity in Japan, Mr.

Big’s song is featured here.

Included on their second album, “Lean Into It,” it’s known as one of their signature tracks that reached No.

1 on the U.S.

charts.

While it’s a ballad featuring acoustic guitar and soulful vocals, the prominent presence of both guitar and bass overflows with Mr.

Big’s distinctive character.

With exquisite choral work that elevates the song’s completeness, it’s a classic rock ballad that showcases the band’s pop sensibilities.

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Hoshino Takashi

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