[Masterpiece Selection] A Compilation of Classic Western Rock Songs
Many music listeners, regardless of generation, probably learned the word “rock” from Western music.
To convey the enduring greatness of Western rock across any era, this article highlights gem-like masterpieces born over more than 60 years of rock history, delivering a curated selection of the best rock songs for those who want to start exploring Western rock.
Articles like this tend to focus on classic oldies, but our lineup also includes artists from the 2000s onward.
So even if you used to listen to rock back in the day, be sure to check it out!
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[Masterpiece Selection] A Collection of Classic Western Rock Songs (31–40)
The Vengeful OneDisturbed
Disturbed is an American heavy metal band formed in 1994.
They are based in Chicago, a city known as a hidden gem of the American music scene.
Since signing with Giant Records in 2000, they have achieved the remarkable feat of having every album they release go platinum.
Their classic track “The Vengeful One” features razor-sharp guitar riffs, biting vocals, and thunderous drums, making for a ferocious song.
It’s especially recommended for anyone interested in heavy metal!
I Don’t Want to Miss a ThingAerosmith
Aerosmith’s signature song “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing,” famous as the theme song of the classic film Armageddon.
Among the many hits Aerosmith has released, it’s one of their most representative tracks.
The song was actually written by American songwriter Diane Warren.
She came up with it when she was commissioned to write the film’s theme and saw the final scene of Armageddon.
At first, it was planned to be sung by a female vocalist like Celine Dion.
However, Diane felt it needed more power, so she decided to have Aerosmith perform it.
Welcome To The Black ParadeMy Chemical Romance
The word “emo,” which is now used as if it’s a given, originally referred to a subgenre that emerged from the hardcore scene in the 1990s, and it was the emo boom that swept through the Western rock scene in the 2000s that directly propelled it into the mainstream.
Not all bands labeled as emo necessarily agreed with the term, but one of the flagship bands of that boom—and hugely popular in Japan as well, headlining the main stage at Summer Sonic and successfully playing the Nippon Budokan—was My Chemical Romance, known as My Chem.
As of 2022, My Chem have reunited and are touring, and their 2006 classic “Welcome to the Black Parade,” the song that catapulted them from promising newcomers to a top band in the rock scene, is a superb rock number that transcends the “emo” category and is something we’d love younger listeners to discover.
With a grand, almost old-school rock opera concept revived for the 2000s, it’s dramatically structured yet incredibly catchy—a work that feels like it poured in all the sensibility and craftsmanship they possessed at the time.
If you once avoided them just because they were riding a trend, now that we’re well into the 2020s, why not give them another listen?
I Was Made For Loving YouKISS
KISS is a rock band whose trademark is their flamboyant white face makeup, known as corpse paint.
They relentlessly pursued extravagance and eccentricity, and as a result, devoted fans known as the KISS Army sprang up all over the world.
In 1979, they released “I Was Made for Lovin’ You,” a track that fused the disco music popular at the time with rock, and it became one of the biggest hits they ever released.
Born to be wildSteppenwolf
Born to Be Wild, famous as the theme song of the classic 1969 film Easy Rider.
Even if you haven’t seen the movie, you’ve probably heard it in commercials—it’s a song many people know.
The band performing it is Steppenwolf, a hard rock group formed in Canada in 1967.
Their name is said to come from Hermann Hesse’s novel Steppenwolf (The Wolf of the Steppes).
With its powerful band sound, it’s a fiery track that lives up to its title!
[Masterpiece Selection] Collection of Classic Western Rock Songs (41–50)
NumbLinkin Park
Transcending the confines of nu metal, the song released in 2003 by Linkin Park—one of the most successful rock bands of the 2000s—can rightly be called one of their signature works.
Featured on the album Meteora, the track quickly dominated the charts after its release, peaking at No.
11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spending three consecutive weeks at No.
1 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, cementing its overwhelming popularity.
With its fierce guitar riffs, rap verses, and Chester Bennington’s emotionally charged vocals, the song powerfully captures themes of identity exploration and social pressure.
It resonated deeply with many young listeners and garnered widespread empathy.
In 2018, it surpassed one billion views on YouTube, becoming a landmark achievement in the rock world.
I Was Born To Love YouFreddie Mercury
Queen is a rock band still beloved around the world.
Among them, vocalist Freddie Mercury continues to radiate a charismatic presence despite the time that has passed since his death.
In fact, there was a period when Freddie pursued solo work under his own name.
A signature song from that time is “I Was Born To Love You.” Many might be surprised, thinking, “Wasn’t that Queen?” It’s a masterpiece by Freddie—more powerful and overflowing with love than anyone.