History AwesomeMusic / Rock

* "Rock Around the Clock", by Music/BillHaleyAndTheComets. The song that started Rock and Roll. Its guitar solo, originally played by Danny Cedrone, inspired many future guitarists, including Music./JeffBeck.

* Every time I Fight Dragons does a cover, that song can be easily defined as InstantAwesomeJustAddDragons. EVERY TIME. Examples:

* The album ''Alaska'' by Between the Buried and Me is pretty epic in its entirety, but the song [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19UZd_DKs2Q "Selkies: The Endless Obsession"]] takes the cake.
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApNSnzQciTQ "White]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrU2Upud518 Walls"]] too. Specifically the the intro, the White Walls and "We will remembered for this" roars, and the incredibly amazing ending solo.
* Music/{{Goldfrapp}}'s "Strict Machine" is brilliant, as is "Number 1" and "Black Cherry".

** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qs6F1KwzGwE "Human"]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0aCt--Y_SU "Pilots"]]. ''[[TVTropesAsAGatewayDrug Yikes.]]''

* {{Music/Paramore}}'s live performance of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xCkyFFHcII "Let the Flames Begin"]] comes right the hell out of nowhere and turns a pretty good middle-of-the-album song into an epic performance, despite a few vocal slips on Hayley's part.

* Tsai A-Ga's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55rKnc5rCKo Taiwan is So Awesome]] is so awesome, indeed.
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWdLX8p1zMg The cover made for NTNU's camp]] adds a country and acoustic sound into it.

* Van Fan's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3HajLSq3EA What brings you here]] is a good soft rock ballad with an epic hard rock chorus.

** Van Fan's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3HajLSq3EA What brings you here]] is a good soft rock ballad with an epic hard rock chorus.

* Music/TheKnack spent their entire career trying to live down the fact that their label tried to market them as a SpiritualSuccessor to ''Music/TheBeatles'', but they got pretty close with 1998's "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53CHD7uaJow (All in the) all in all]]", a gorgeously trippy number that recalls the Beatles' "Dear Prudence", or possibly "Real Love" or "Free as a Bird". It even got used in ''Film/DaydreamBelieverTheMonkeesStory'' for a scene where the Monkees meet the Beatles.

** Also, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EY353c6y48Q "Something Happened on the Way to Heaven"]]. So. Very. [[EarWorm CATCHY.]]

* The Doobie Brothers bring us [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbXlLUUbX8U "Long Train Runnin'"]]. It's epic for an acoustic song, and [[EarWorm you'll be hearing it for days]].

* Jukebox the Ghost, an indie rock band from Washington, D.C., kicks butt on the song "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1whUHF7eVE Somebody]]". The problem is, [[EarWorm you may find yourself singing it randomly.]]

* Music/FleetwoodMac's discography is full of them, but special mention goes to and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJh0TogkAFM "My Heart Beat Like A Hammer" from the debut album]] for its [[EpicRiff awesome blues riff]] and the powerful vocals by Green, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Z2E37iNV0w "Monday Morning"]], for how it introduced the Pop Era of Fleetwood to the masses with a soaring vocal delivery and awesome guitar work from Buckingham, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_aYibUx1B8 and "Rhiannon"]], one of their most iconic songs due to Nicks' beautiful delivery and [[EpicRiff Buckingham's guitar work]], from the second self-titled, [[HolyShitQuotient all of]] ''[[https://open.spotify.com/album/3nuRoTy7gi52Z4C0negdw1 Rumours]]'', with special mention to [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcawnRIyeok "The Chain",]] especially the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcawnRIyeok#t=184s section near the end]] that will be familiar to any [[UsefulNotes/FormulaOne fans of Formula One]] for its blend of [[EpicRiff an epic bassline and an awesome guitar solo]], and [[SerialEscalation all of]] ''[[https://open.spotify.com/album/5FIN8pyPVx8ggNs5jQ86Re Tusk]]'', with special mention to [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7U7XtYeq8c the title track]], with the [[EverythingIsAnInstrument use of Kleenex boxes and hitting meat with spatulas in the tribal-inspired drumming]] and the USC Trojan Marching Band's stunning performance that kicks in during the chorus being the major highlights.

** For the record, the lyrics also quote, word-for-word, the philosophies on a leaflet written by a member of an anarchic group called the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Up_Against_the_Wall_Motherfuckers Up Against the Wall Motherfuckers]][[note]]they tore down the fences at [[Film/Woodstock]] and very likely torched the overpriced cult-run Food for Love concession[[/note]]. The song helped the phrase, normally used by police arresting civil rights activists and war protesters, rise in popularity as a rallying cry. Not bad, considering the song was originally released as a B-Side.

** For the record, the lyrics also quote, word-for-word, the philosophies on a leaflet written by a member of an anarchic group called the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Up_Against_the_Wall_Motherfuckers Up Against the Wall Motherfuckers]]. The song helped the phrase rise in popularity as a rallying cry. Not bad, considering the song was originally released as a B-Side.

* "Won't Get Fooled Again", by Music/TheWho. Particularly Roger Daltrey's scream, about seven minutes in. [[Series/CSIMiami You know the one.]] And also the guitar solo, the organ solo, and arguably the most epic drum solo of all time.
** "Baba O'Riley". Beginning, middle, and end. "Don't cry, don't raise your eyes, it's only teenage wasteland..."
*** Not to be overlooked is Pete Townshend's demo of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmbaWtQoLM0 the original "Teenage Wasteland"]] (yes, [[RefrainFromAssuming it had that title at the time]]), featuring all the lyrics of "Baba O'Riley" and then some...with the first half in that gut-wrenching minor key. ''Lifehouse'' was quite the Missed Album of Awesome.
** The last part of the song "We're Not Gonna Take It", the "See Me, Feel Me" part when played at Woodstock. After finishing their two hour set, with the epic RockOpera ''Music/{{Tommy}}'' coming to the end, Roger Daltrey sings with all the powers he's got at the same time [[CueTheSun the sun comes up.]]
%%** All of ''Music/{{Quadrophenia}}'', but especially Side 4: "Doctor Jimmy/Is It Me?", "The Rock", "Love, Reign O'er Me".

-->Hey what else can we do now, except roll down the window and let the wind blow back your hair?
-->Well, the night's bustin' open these two lanes'll take us anywhere!
-->We got one last chance to make it real, to trade in these wings on some wheels.
-->Climb in back, heaven's waiting on down the tracks.

--> Now, with these hands, with these hands
--> I pray for the faith, Lord
--> I pray for the strength, Lord
--> I pray for Your love, Lord --
--> Come on, Riiiiiiiise up, come on riiiiiiise up....

--> BAD-LAAAANDS, you gotta live it every day
--> Let the broken hearts stand as the price you gotta pay
--> Keep pushin' til it's understood and these badlands start treatin' us good!

--> And everybody's wrecked on main street from drinking unholy blood!
--> Sticker smiles sweet as gunner breathes deep, his ankles caked in mud
--> And I said "Hey, gunner man, that's quicksand, that's quicksand that ain't mud
--> Have you thrown your senses to the war or did you lose them in the flood?"

** "I'm on Fire", one of the starkest (and probably sexiest) songs about desire ever recorded. Helped by its minimalism: it's only two minutes long and has very sparse instrumentation.

* The mere mention of his name may be a CaptainObvious moment, but there's always Music/JimiHendrix.

** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9XKVTNs1g4 "Jumpin' Jack Flash"]], their most-played song, [[AwesomeMusic and for good reason, too]]. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ga9YAMLGr6E Now get a load of the EBA cover]].

** "Songbird" from ''Heathen Chemistry'' manages to combine a guitar, a flute, a violin, Liam's wonderfully slightly-off-key vocals, and some of the sweetest rhymes you'll ever hear into two minutes of SweetDreamsFuel.

** [[https://youtu.be/TFj0rxyNCtc "Good Times, Bad Times"]], the first song off their first album. Catchy as hell, upbeat and an excellent way to start off the career of arguably the greatest rock band of all time. [[https://youtu.be/wpS39jvRr-c Godsmack's cover of it]] is definitely worth listening to as well.
* [[Music/{{Queen}} Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? Caught in a landslide, no escape from reality... Open your eyes, look up to the skies and see. I'm just a poor boy, I need no sympathy - because I'm-easy-come-easy-go...]]
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGaOlfmX8rQ "We Will Rock You"]]. Seriously, the beat is probably one of the most easily recognized beats in the country. The *clap clap stomp* is practically a real-life meme.
*** The Music/FlamingLips cover is no pushover either.
*** The ''[[VideoGame/GuitarHero Warriors of Rock]]'' choreography is essentially a tribute to this band. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6u32Qupdd10 You HAVE to see to believe.]]
*** Along with co-A-side "We Are the Champions".
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgzGwKwLmgM I'M BURNIN' THROUGH THE SKYYYY, TWO HUNDRED DEGREES THAT'S WHY THEY CALL ME MISTER FAHRENHEIIIIIT, I'M TRAVELLIN' AT THE SPEED OF LIIIIGHT]]
*** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0LgBUMlvwk This]] [[UpToEleven makes it BETTER.]] Complete with EBA and Phoenix Wright!
** Queen also performed the theme song to the 1980s ''Film/{{Flash Gordon|1980}}'' movie. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfmrHTdXgK4 FLASH! Aa-ah! Savior of the universe!]]
** "All we hear is ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t63_HRwdAgk (clap clap)]]'' radio ga-ga... ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LncAQR47eZo (clap clap)]]'' radio goo-goo... ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B688iTySGy8 (clap clap)]]'' radio ga-ga..."
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4UNoECibYk Just gimme gimme gimme]] FRIED CHICKEN!
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pm4fQRl72k I WANT IT ALLLLL! I WANT IT ALLLLL! I WANT IT ALLLL! AND I WANT IT NOWWWWWW!]]
** "Innuendo". Just try to listen to the entire song without getting goosebumps. And the last verse is downright rapturous. "AND WHATEVER WILL BEEEEEEE, WILL BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!"
** [[Film/{{Highlander}} Here we are!]] [[RoyalBlood Born to be kings, we're the]] [[TitleDrop Princes of the Universe!]]
** "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a01QQZyl-_I PRESSURE! Pushin' DOWN on me! Pressin' DOWN on you, no man ask for...]]" Yet another point on the Awesome score for Music/DavidBowie, as well.
*** [[EpicRiff Dun dun dun du-du-dun dun... dun dun dun du-du-dun dun...]]
** Freddie Mercury's epic swan song "TheShowMustGoOn". One of his last songs ever, and he nailed it.

** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFjC4oIwKpA "Into the Night"]] is absolutely infectious. With [[Music/{{Nickelback}} Chad Kroeger]] on vocals, no less. (It's BetterThanItSounds.)

* [[Music/CreatureFeature Creature Feature's]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVwqkBG0ulE "The Greatest Show Unearthed"]] is this mixed with NightmareFuel, with the catchy CreepyCircusMusic mixed with GothRock and lyrics inspired by ''[[Literature/SomethingWickedThisWayComes Something Wicked This Way Comes]]''. Truly is a great show.