100 Best Classic Rock Songs of the ‘80s and ‘90s

While the term "classic rock" is generally associated with rock songs from the '60s and '70s, music from the '80s and '90s is making its way onto these radio stations. See if your favorite songs made the list!
The Greatest Rock Music From the '80s and '90s
While the term "classic rock" is generally associated with rock songs from the '60s and '70s, the development of this radio format took shape through the AOR scene in the early ‘80s. Typically, classic rock formats feature rock songs from the 1960s to the 1990s. A number of radio stations that sprung up in the ‘80s showcased songs from hard rock bands and blues rock bands. The AOR format helped propel rock in a new direction, focusing on commercially successful acts.
While the classic rock format has evolved over the years, the genre still relies heavily on nostalgia. The list below showcases an epic selection of ‘80s and ‘90s rock songs. If you are a fan of music from these decades, you'll definitely want to share your thoughts. Feel free to share your views and opinions in the comments section.
Top 10 Best Classic Rock Songs of the ‘80s and ‘90s
- “Every Breath You Take”—The Police
- “With or Without You”—U2
- “Sweet Child O’ Mine”—Guns N’ Roses
- “Radio Ga Ga”—Queen
- “Smells Like Teen Spirit”—Nirvana
- “Eye of the Tiger”—Survivor
- “Open Arms”—Journey
- “Losing My Religion”—R.E.M.
- “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now”—Starship
- “Dancing in the Dark”—Bruce Springsteen
What Is Classic Rock?
While the origin of the term "classic rock" is hard to pinpoint, a number of music purists are of the opinion that the term was popularized by ‘80s radio shows. As album-oriented rock stations attempted to connect with adult audiences, the process helped stations focused on the classics emerge. These radio stations played an eclectic mix of commercially popular songs from past decades. This mixed format of rock songs has become one of the most popular radio formats around the world.
Radio Formats for Older Rock Songs
Over the years, the radio-friendly sound of classic rock has become hugely popular with different age groups. While a number of radio stations in the 2000s avoided playing ‘90s alternative rock and grunge on classic rock formats, since 2010, newer formats have started including a broader spectrum of music from the ‘90s. New radio stations have also included commercially popular heavy metal songs in their classic rock formats.
#11–20
11. “Walk Like an Egyptian”—The Bangles
12. “Under the Bridge”—Red Hot Chili Peppers
13. “I Want to Know What Love Is”—Foreigner
14. “Breaking the Law”—Judas Priest
15. “Creep”—Radiohead
16. “Wonderwall”—Oasis
17. “Enter Sandman”—Metallica
18. “Africa”—Toto
19. “More Than Words”—Extreme
20. “Loser”—Beck
Modern-Day Classic Rock
Modern-day radio stations that focus on a diverse set of rock songs are often labeled as "next generation classic rock." These formats include cult hits and commercially successful rock songs from the ‘80s to the 2000s. Presently, a number of internet radio stations showcase a diverse mix of classic retro and rock music. Much of today's psychedelic rock sound can be directly traced to the classic genre.
#21–40
21. “Tears in Heaven”—Eric Clapton
22. “Zombie”—The Cranberries
23. “Faithfully”—Journey
24. “Total Eclipse of the Heart”—Bonnie Tyler
25. “Don’t Speak”—No Doubt
26. “Shine”—Collective Soul
27. “Pour Some Sugar on Me”—Def Leppard
28. “The Final Countdown—Europe
29. “Basket Case”—Green Day
30. “Waiting for a Girl Like You”—Foreigner
31. “Black Hole Sun”—Soundgarden
32. “Iris”—Goo Goo Dolls
33. “(Everything I Do) I Do It for You”—Bryan Adams
34. “(I Just) Died in Your Arms”—Cutting Crew
35. “November Rain”—Guns N’ Roses
36. “Everlong”—Foo Fighters
37. “Here I Go Again”—Whitesnake
38. “Got My Mind Set on You”—George Harrison
39. “Two Princes”—Spin Doctors
40. “Jeremy”—Pearl Jam
Advertising on Classic Stations
While classic rock has connected with a wide range of audiences, it has also gained the interest of radio advertisers. The popularity of the genre has led to a new form of marketing and advertising by companies and organizations on radio. Consumer-friendly advertisements aired on radio stations have made a big impact with people from all walks of life.
Youth-centric advertisements, promoting college-specific products, have become hugely popular on classic rock stations. These advertisements have challenged preconceived notions that younger generations are not interested in older rock music.
#41–60
41. “Summer of 69”—Bryan Adams
42. “Don’t Stop Believin’"—Journey
43. “Welcome to the Jungle”—Guns N’ Roses
44. “Alive”—Pearl Jam
45. “Sara”—Starship
46. “Livin’ on a Prayer”—Bon Jovi
47. “Money for Nothing”—Dire Straits
48. “I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing”—Aerosmith
49. “Broken Wings”—Mr. Mister
50. “Living After Midnight”—Judas Priest
51. “Blaze of Glory”—Jon Bon Jovi
52. “Free Fallin’”—Tom Petty
53. “Nothing Else Matters”—Metallica
54. “Always”—Bon Jovi
55. “Right Here Waiting”—Richard Marx
56. “Turn Me Loose”—Loverboy
57. “Still Loving You”—Scorpions
58. “Black Velvet”—Alannah Myles
59. “Is This Love”—Whitesnake
60. “Crazy Train”—Ozzy Osbourne
Female Musicians on Classic Radio Stations
While in the past a number of classic rock radio stations were severely criticized for being gender biased and showcasing only male musicians, things have changed drastically in recent decades. Modern classic rock formats have showcased women in a new light. A number of radio stations now dedicate exclusive segments to female classic rock bands and musicians. All-female rock countdowns have become exceedingly popular on modern-day radio stations.
#61–80
61. “All I Wanna Do”—Sheryl Crow
62. “Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)”—The Offspring
63. “Lightning Crashes”—Live
64. “Please Forgive Me”—Bryan Adams
65. “Bitter Sweet Symphony”—The Verve
66. “What’s Up?”—4 Non Blondes
67. “I’ll Be There for You”—Bon Jovi
68. “Keep on Loving You”—REO Speedwagon
69. “Run to the Hills”—Iron Maiden
70. “Start Me Up”—The Rolling Stones
71. “The Flame”—Cheap Trick
72. “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)”—Green Day
73. “Poison”—Alice Cooper
74. “Holy Diver”—Dio
75. “If It Makes You Happy”—Sheryl Crow
76. “Drive”—The Cars
77. “Every Rose Has It's Thorn”—Poison
78. “The Unforgiven”—Metallica
79. “Jump”—Van Halen
80. “Paradise City”—Guns N’ Roses
#81–90
81. “Another One Bites the Dust”—Queen
82. “Back in Black”—AC/DC
83. “Karma Police”—Radiohead
84. “Learning to Fly”—Pink Floyd
85. “Still Got the Blues”—Gary Moore
86. “Crazy”—Aerosmith
87. “No Rain”—Blind Melon
88. “You Oughta Know”—Alanis Morrissette
89. “Semi-Charmed Life”—Third Eye Blind
90. “18 and Life”—Skid Row
91. “We’re Not Gonna Take It”—Twisted Sister
92. “Under Pressure”—Queen
93. “One of Us”—Joan Osbourne
94. “I Hate Myself for Loving You”—Joan Jett
95. “You Give Love a Bad Name”—Bon Jovi
96. “Heaven”—Bryan Adams
97. “Rock You Like a Hurricane”—Scorpions
98. “Livin’ on the Edge”—Aerosmith
99. “Working for the Weekend”—Loverboy
100. “Hunger Strike”—Temple of the Dog
Other Notable Classic Rock Songs of the ‘80s and ‘90s
- “I Won’t Hold You Back”—Toto
- “You’ve Got Another Thing Coming”—Judas Priest
- “Somebody”—Bryan Adams
- “Linger”—The Cranberries
- “Rainbow in the Dark”—Dio
- “Have You Ever Needed Someone so Bad”—Def Leppard
- “Mental Health”—Quiet Riot
- “We Built This City”—Starship
- “Rock the Night”—Europe
- “When You Love a Woman”—Journey
- “Janie’s Got a Gun”—Aerosmith
- “Mr. Crowley”—Ozzy Osbourne
- “Caught Up in You”—38 Special
- “Thunderstruck”—AC/DC
- “Walk of Life”—Dire Straits
- “Spoonman”—Soundgarden
- “Wind of Change”—Scorpions
- “Eternal Flame”—The Bangles
- “Crazy Little Thing Called Love”—Queen
- “Not Now John”—Pink Floyd
- “Do I Have to Say the Words?”—Bryan Adams
- “The Price”—Twisted Sister
- “Big Love”—Fleetwood Mac
- “Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For”—U2
- “No One Like You”—Scorpions
- “Run To You”—Bryan Adams
- “Higher Love”—Steve Winwood
- “Bad Medicine”—Bon Jovi
- “Harden My Heart”—Quarterflash
- “Plush”—Stone Temple Pilots
- “Twilight Zone”—Golden Earring
- “Cryin’”—Aerosmith
- “Scar Tissue”—Red Hot Chili Peppers
- “Mama I’m Coming Home”—Ozzy Osbourne
- “Crazy Crazy Nights”—Kiss
- “Nothin’ But a Good Time”—Poison
- “Bulls on Parade”—Rage Against the Machine
- “Price of Love”—Bad English
- “Runaway”—Bon Jovi
- “Carrie”—Europe
- “Don’t Close Your Eyes”—Kix
- “Sad But True”—Metallica
- “Cult of Personality”—Living Colour
- “So Far Away”—Dire Straits
- “Home Sweet Home”—Motley Crue
- “Close My Eyes Forever”—Ozzy Osbourne and Lita Ford
- “Panama”—Van Halen
- “High Hopes”—Pink Floyd
- “Keep the Faith”—Bon Jovi
- “I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)”—Meat Loaf
- “Don’t Look Back in Anger”—Oasis
- “I Remember You”—Skid Row
- “Hysteria”—Def Leppard
- “Sailing”—Christopher Cross
- “Always Gonna Love You”—Gary Moore
- “Hazard—Richard Marx
- “Cat Scratch Fever”—Ted Nugent
- “Buddy Holly”—Weezer
- “Amanda”—Boston
- “Come As You Are”—Nirvana
- “Don’t Know What You Got (Till It’s Gone)”—Cinderella
- “Cum on Feel the Noize”—Quiet Riot
- “Are You Gonna Go My Way”—Lenny Kravitz
- “Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?”—Bryan Adams
- “Moneytalks”—AC/DC
- “Where You Goin’ Now”—Damn Yankees
- “Bed of Roses”—Bon Jovi
- “Far Behind”—Candlebox
- “You Get What You Give”—New Radicals
- “Bird of Paradise”—Snowy White
- “Out of My Head”—Fastball
- “I’ll Cry for You”—Europe
- “I Wanna Rock”—Twisted Sister
- “Never Tear Us Apart”—Inxs
- “This Ain’t a Love Song”—Bon Jovi
- “You’re the Inspiration”—Chicago
- “Painkiller”—Judas Priest
- “Two Steps Behind”—Def Leppard
- “Love Walked In”—Thunder
- “Hot for Teacher”—Van Halen
- “What It’s Like”—Everlast
- “Burnin’ For You”—Blue Oyster Cult
- “One”—Metallica
- “I Love You”—Climax Blues Band
- “Hallelujah”—Jeff Buckley
- “Love Bites”—Def Leppard
- “Never Say Goodbye”—Bon Jovi
- “Man in the Box”—Alice in Chains
- “One”—U2
- “Miles Away”—Winger
- “Killing in the Name”—Rage Against the Machine
- “Everybody Hurts”—R.E.M.
- “Big City Nights”—Scorpions
- “Kayleigh”—Marillion
- “Angelia”—Richard Marx
- “I’ll Never Let You Go (Angel Eyes)”—Steelheart
- “Champagne Supernova”—Oasis
- “Fly”—Sugar Ray
- “Hurts so Good”—John Mellencamp
- “Rosanna”—Toto
- “When I’m With You”—Sherriff
- “Photograph”—Def Leppard
- “Epic”—Faith No More
- “Would”—Alice in Chains
- “Alone Again”—Dokken
- “Kyrie”—Mr. Mister
- “Legs”—ZZ Top
- “Alone”—Heart
- “Biggest Part of Me”—Ambrosia
- “The Boys of Summer”—Don Henley
- “Heaven’s on Fire”—Kiss
- “When I See You Smile”—Bad English
- “Send Me an Angel”—Scorpions
- “Rebel Yell”—Billy Idol
- “Time”—The Alan Parsons Project
- “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around”—Stevie Nicks and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
- “Bark at the Moon”—Ozzy Osbourne
- “I Won’t Forget You”—Poison
- “Dreams”—Van Halen
- “Walk”—Pantera
- “Big Log”—Robert Plant
- “Love Is on the Way”—Saigon Kick
- “Hook”—Blues Traveler
- “This Could Be the Night”—Loverboy
- “Civil War”—Guns N’ Roses
- “Foolish Heart”—Steve Perry
- “You’re the Only Woman (You and I)”—Ambrosia
- “Now and Forever”—Richard Marx
- “Take Me for a Little While”—Coverdale/Page
- “Mixed Emotions”—The Rolling Stones
- “Give It Away”—Red Hot Chili Peppers
- “The Search Is Over”—Survivor
- “Screaming in the Night”—Krokus
- “Will You Still Love Me?”—Chicago
- “Road to Nowhere”—Ozzy Osbourne
- “Hard to Say I’m Sorry”—Chicago
- “Oh Sherrie”—Steve Perry
- “Who Made Who”—AC/DC
- “High Enough”—Damn Yankees
- “Can’t Fight This Feeling”—REO Speedwagon
- “Mary Jane’s Last Dance”—Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
- “Girls Girls Girls”—Motley Crue
- “I’ll Stand By You”—Pretenders
- “Patience”—Guns N’ Roses
- “Hard Habit to Break”—Chicago
- “I Live My Life for You”—Firehouse
- “1979”—The Smashing Pumpkins
- “Born in the U.S.A.”—Bruce Springsteen
- “I See You in My Dreams”—Giant
- “Romeo and Juliet”—Dire Straits
- “Little Lies”—Fleetwood Mac
- “Headed For a Heartbreak”—Winger
- “I’ll Be Over You”—Toto
- “Midnight Blue”—Lou Gramm
- “Runaway Train”—Soul Asylum
- “Without You”—Motley Crue
- “Don’t Cry”—Guns N’ Roses
- “Smooth”—Santana featuring Rob Thomas
- “Even Flow”—Pearl Jam
- “When the Children Cry”—White Lion
- “Silent Lucidity”—Queensryche
- “All I Want”—Toad the Wet Sprocket
- “The Way”—Fastball
- “Almost Paradise”—Mike Reno and Ann Wilson
- “Heat of the Moment”—Asia
- “Sharp Dressed Man”—ZZ Top
- “Don’t You (Forget About Me)”—Simple Minds
- “Urgent”—Foreigner
- “She’s Gone”—Steelheart
- “Love of a Lifetime”—Firehouse
- “(Can’t Live Without Your) Love and Affection”—Nelson
- “Paranoid Android”—Radiohead
- “Sister Christian”—Night Ranger
- “To Be With You”—Mr. Big
- “Fantasy”—Aldo Nova
- “The Best of Times”—Styx
- “Heaven”— Warrant
- “Kickstart My Heart”—Motley Crue
- “Heart-Shaped Box”—Nirvana
- “Push”—Matchbox 20
- “Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm”—Crash Test Dummies
- “No More Tears”—Ozzy Osbourne
- “When I Look Into Your Eyes”—Firehouse
- “Owner of a Lonely Heart”—Yes
- “Live and Let Die”—Guns N’ Roses
- “Pull Me Under”—Dream Theater
- “Heaven in Your Eyes”—Loverboy
- “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”—Deep Blue Something
- “Why Can’t This Be Love”—Van Halen
- “More Than Words Can Say”—Alias
- “The Deeper the Love”—Whitesnake
- “Take It Easy on Me”—Little River Band
- “Let’s Make a Night to Remember”—Bryan Adams
- “Holding Out for a Hero”—Bonnie Tyler
- “Can’t Stop This Thing We Started”—Bryan Adams
- “When Love and Hate Collide”—Def Leppard
- “Run-Around”—Blues Traveler
- “Cherry Pie”—Warrant
- “Angel”—Aerosmith
- “Don’t Let It End”—Styx
© 2019 Ansel Pereira