If Rock Music Had a Theme Song...

[IrishCanadian25]

If Rock Music had a theme song, what would it be and why?​

A "theme song" is roughly defined as any peice of music that defines or represents something else. A wrestler's theme song allows the crowd to know who is about to be on and what is about to happen. It can define personality or offer some insight. In many cases, it is simply a representative summary of the greater topic / item.

So if you had to pick one rock song to be representative of all rock music, what would it be? Well, D-Man, NorCal, my wife and I kicked around a few ideas:

For Those About to Rock (We Salute You) by AC/DC

D-Man first stated that "Back in Black" was the theme for rock, but as we got more into the conversation, he ammended that to include basically anything by AC/DC. For Those... is basically the definitive rock anthem - it talks about how great Rock Music is, and how the people to play it, listen do it, and make it possible all deserve a modicum of respect. The use of power chords and loud booming percussion noises - especially the "21-gun salute" at the end is pretty representative of rock as a whole.

Living After Midnight by Judas Preist

This was my original vote. The whole concept of rock music charging people up and gettng them ready to go out late and night and just fucking party is a great theme song for rock music as a whole. Plus, J.P. is considered among the godfathers of metal / hard rock, along with Ozzy and Maiden. Simple, memorable power chords and a razor sharp vocal track. Awesome.

My Generation by The Who

The greatest aspect of The Who's old school classic is in its defiance. The entire song reads like a split of a certain age group and mind set from that of authority - I'm Talkin' 'Bout My Generation. This song, along with the hard nosed and destructive shows this band put on, really does help define rock music as it has evolved.

It's Only Rock n' Roll (But I Like It) by The Rolling Stones

This was an anthem of the young naive rocker, who didn't really care if the music had a message or not, how loud it was, how technical it was. All he knew was that it was only rock & roll, but he liked it. The Stones are easilly one of Rock's defining forces, and this was among their great anthems.

Other mentions: "I Love Rock & Roll" by Joan Jett, "Old Time Rock n Roll" by Bob Seger, "We Will Rock You" by Queen, "Rebel Yell" by Billy Idol.

There are coutnless other options, and rather than name them all, I'd rather turn it over to you...post well!

 

[jmt225]

I know this answer is to surely piss you off IC, but here is the song that changed rock music forever:

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Now, before someone chimes in and claims, "That's the Grunge theme song," let me say fuck that, grunge is a sub-genre of ROCK, therefore ultimately a rock song, and as I said... that song alone changed Rock 'N Roll forever.

By the time this song hit the airwaves, Hair Metal was dying a slow death, and Smells like Teen Spirit was the final nail in the coffin for what Rock 'N Roll portrayed itself as in the 80's. Kurt Cobain and Nirvana, with this song, brought Rock away from glamor and partying, to grittiness and despair. And that's why to me it'll always be the theme song of Rock 'N Roll.

I love bands like AC/DC, Queen, and Van Halen as much as the next person, but those bands were well before my time. And even though Smells like Teen Spirit was released when I was just a child, I was still old enough to remember the song and the impact it had on the music industry.

All that said... it's just a great fucking song, too. That guitar riff is perhaps the most popular riff in the history of music, and deservedly so. And the lyrics are some of the most discussed and captivating lyrics throughout history as well. All in all it's just a legendary song, and one I feel is as great and important rock song as anyone could ever name.

 

[Ferbian]

That's a tough question really IC. Considering there's a lot, and I mean a lot of songs that could truly define the life of rock music, as well as what it's all about. All depending on how you listen to rock, and in what aspect of rock you listen to it. Also rock can be defined differently compared to what meaning it has to a person.

However, while I'm sure I'm gonna get a lot of disagreement or stuff like that, and because this choice is hardly one that I would expect many, if any to even consider a choice, I still feel like including it. And while it's lyrics is hardly something that would directly be something to define with the rock genre, the lyrics still define something I would say could be closely connected to the rock genre, as well as way the song is played in general is something that makes me think of it when I think of rock.

The song is:

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Aerosmith - Dream On. Generally I must admit the studio version is hardly the best, so I'll go ahead and contribute with one of their live performances.

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Hardly something all worked up and "rock" like, however it definitely shows another aspect of rock that shows that it's not just a one sided thing for those people who have yet to be exposed to "true" rock music.

 

[The Raven's Epitaph]

If I'm being honest, I'd say "God Gave Rock and Roll to You" by Kiss.

Kiss are a great band and are incredibly popular, not only in the rock genre, but the entire music industry. Say what you will about my choice, but whenever I think rock in general, I think Kiss.

 

[IrishCanadian25]

Man, jmt, just when you crawl back into my good graces, you go and post this...

Nah, just messing. I had a feeling SOMEONE would bring up Smells Like Teen Spirit. I just don't think it fits the bill here, and it has nothing to do with how I feel about Nirvana or anything like that.

SLTS was an anthem that spoke for a specific subculture. It was just about anger, angst, confusion. It spoke for kids in the 90's who weren't sure of their identity, had animosity towards their parents (or in many cases, parent), and who felt held back for whatever reason. Nirvana gave this sub-culture a voice, but the song did not, in any way, give Rock as a whole a voice.

To choose SLTS as the "Theme Song of Rock" is to suggest that roack music is depressing and loathesome. Rock is about expression, energy, emotion - it's not about just one specific emotion or one specific expression.

SLTS is certainly the theme song for Grunge Rock, but there are better choices for Rock overall.

 

[Furyof5]

I would have said "Back In Black" by AC/DC, as it is probably the song most synonymous with Rock music, at least today. However I would now agree with the original entry.

For "Those About To Rock(We Salute You)" it really captures the spirit of Rock And Roll. It says why its so awesome, why everyone should play it. Its just the whole spirit of the genre condensed into once song. AC/DC is really just one of those amazing, once in a life time, bands, and they in many circles are regarded as the true rock band. Would I go that far? I dont know, but this song is really what its all about..

 

[Attitude]

People might disagree with me on mine. And I have to admit that I'm a little biased because I'm a big fan of this group and this song. My Choice:

Bon Jovi: Wanted Dead Or Alive.

This song is extremely popular among people I have noticed. Bon Jovi fan or not everyone everybody seems to Love this song for some reason. I've heard people that literally can't stand Bon Jovi but still Love this song. It's the one song like I said Bon Jovi fan or not everybody just seems to like this song for some reason.

Maybe not the most legitimate reason for choosing a song for the Rock Theme song, but that's the best reason I can give.

I agree with everybody else in their posts though. I see some good song choices in here.

Queen: We Will Rock You is a great choice to. This song has definately lasted through the years and seems to be one of the popular songs ever even today. Doesn't matter how old or young you are everybody at least heard this song once. Seems to be one of the best choices.

 

[Kashagi]

Out of all these choices, I would give my vote to 'God Gave Rock And Roll To You'

While I dont like Kiss very much, that song symbolises to me the neverending passion, fun and energy that Rock is often about. It is catchy, with a riff that sticks in your head and a chorus that you can easily sing in a crowd, causing a mob of Kiss impersonators. While almost every song in this thread would do (except for SMTS), this would be my personal choice for a theme song.

 

[Davi323]

God gave rock and roll to you is NOT a Kiss song. They merely covered it. It is by a band called Argent, and had been covered numerous times before Kiss ever got a hold of it.

If rock had an official theme song, I would probably pick My Generation by The Who. The lyrics of that song encapsulate everything that rock and roll should be...youth rebellion, frustration with society, that one song represents decades of rock.

 

[The Brain]

I think this deserves at least an honorable mention:

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When you ask for the theme I’m visualizing someone walking through a music museum. They’re touring all the different genres when they come to the rock section. What better way to greet them than Axl Rose screaming “Welcome to the Jungle”

 

[Kashagi]

God gave rock and roll to you is NOT a Kiss song. They merely covered it. It is by a band called Argent, and had been covered numerous times before Kiss ever got a hold of it.

If rock had an official theme song, I would probably pick My Generation by The Who. The lyrics of that song encapsulate everything that rock and roll should be...youth rebellion, frustration with society, that one song represents decades of rock.

Neverless, it is the Kiss version that everyone is familiar with.

Having relistened to My Generation, I would certainly agree with you there, as well as give We Will Rock You a generous consideration at least.

 

[El Rev sXe]

Gotta agree with both, The Who's "My Generation" (a band and a song that defined how a rock show should be) and Guns N Roses "Welcome to the Jungle". I think that defines rock music since the end of the 80's until now. Amazing song...

However, I've got a couple of other songs that I think can represent rock music:

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I think that this song revolutionized a generation, the music industry amongst others... I don't think that I need more to explain.

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"I AM IRON MAN" lol, one of the songs that defined heavy... in music, in metal.

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Legends of rock, of music, of art! A song AND a singer that were try to reproduce many many times but always failed! That has to mean something right?

And last but I hope not least:
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IMO a song that revolutionized the way of making metal! I think we all remeber the importance of that british metal move.

Really hard question IC25!