Great Rock Anthems

Go to a sports event (well, maybe not right now, since precious little is happening that way with the current state of affairs in the world) and you will undoubtedly hear at least a few rock anthems blasted out of the stadium or arena PA system to pump up the fans and the home team. You know the ones... We Will Rock You, and We Are the Champions, both by Queen. Born to Be Wild, by Steppenwolf. My Generation, by The Who. Born in the USA, by Bruce Springsteen.

Rock anthems were not necessarily written originally to be "anthems". Some of them just became that way by chance, while others were likely composed exactly as sing-a-long songs that celebrated rock music itself. The chorus and chanted parts of songs were especially appealing to revellers. Music that had arena-rock sound became a staple at sports events long ago, and it's become as big a part of the experience as the athletic action.

Most of the anthems we hear today come from the classic rock genre. Mostly songs from the 60's, 70's and 80's, some 90's, by legendary rock and even metal artists. And some Motown and disco hits, too. Then there are the more modern additions to the arena and stadium anthem playlists, which I don't really know and won't bother with here.

Here are a bunch of well-known (not all favourites of mine, I might add) rock anthems, some off the top of my head, and some scavenged from other online lists:

Baba O'Riley, by The Who

Won't Get Fooled Again, by The Who

My Generation, by The Who

Born to Be Wild

American Woman, by The Guess Who

Living After Midnight, by Judas Priest

You've Got Another Thing Comin', by Judas Priest

Free Fallin', by Tom Petty

Rocket Man, by Elton John

Come Sail Away, by Styx

Born to Run, by Bruce Springsteen

Glory Days, also by Bruce

Born in the USA

Eye of the Tiger, by Survivor

Another One Bites the Dust, by Queen

We Will Rock You

We Are the Champions

Start Me Up, by Rolling Stones

Satisfaction, by Rolling Stones

We're Not Gonna Take It, by Twisted Sister

Living on a Prayer, by Bon Jovi

Jump, by Van Halen

Smells Like Teen Spirit, by Nirvana

Enter Sandman, by Metallica

Paradise City, by Guns'n'Roses

Sweet Child of Mine, by GNR again

Welcome to the Jungle, by GNR

Don't Stop Believin', by Journey

I Love Rock'n'Roll, by Joan Jett

Here I Go Again, by Whitesnake

Cum On Feel the Noize, by Quiet Riot

Rock and Roll All Nite, by Kiss

Satisfaction, by The Rolling Stones

Pour Some Sugar on Me, by Def Leppard

Pride, by U2

Celebration, Cool & The Gang

Smoke on the Water, Deep Purple

Rebel Yell, Billy Idol

Mony Mony, Billy Idol

We Are Family, Sister Sledge

R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A., John Mellencamp

All Right Now, Free

Dream On, Aerosmith

Rock and Roll Band, Boston

Rock You Like a Hurricane, Scorpions

School's Out, Alice Cooper

Back in Black, AC/DC

You Shook Me All Night Long, AC/DC

Revolution, The Beatles

Respect, Aretha Franklin

I Can't Drive 55, Sammy Hagar

YMCA, Village People

Bad to the Bone, George Thorogood

Dancing in the Street, Martha and the Vandellas

Lovin' Every Minute of It, Loverboy

I Want You to Want Me, Cheap Trick

As Cold as Ice, Foreigner

Boys Are Back in Town, Thin Lizzy

Gimme All Your Lovin', ZZ Top

Go, Jays, Go!