Top 10 rock songs that turned into pop songs

Top-10 Rock Songs That Turned Into Pop Songs Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the top ten rock songs that were so successful, they’ve undeniably come to be known as pop classics.

#10: “I Love Rock n Roll”

Joan Jett The punk energy that was sweeping through music in the late 1970s was largely a counter-culture movement that only occasionally broke into the mainstream. In the early 80s, when the genre was more widely accepted, it was the perfect time for a rockstar like Joan Jett to make it big. She had the look, the attitude, and, fortunately, the songs needed to really make her mark. On the back of her debut LP “Bad Reputation”, Jett and her band, The Blackhearts, took things to a different level with “I Love Rock n Roll”. The song was a big hit upon its release, topping the Billboard charts, but it arguably became even more synonymous with its era in the time since. A stone-cold classic.

#9: “Highway to Hell”

AC/DC The carefree, fun-loving early days of AC/DC with Bon Scott provided rock music with some of its most essential anthems. “Highway to Hell” marked a major breakthrough for the Aussie legends in 1979, with the song and its album of the same name being the last to feature Scott before his untimely death. The track doesn’t dampen the edginess of anything AC/DC had done up to that point, but it was so insanely catchy that the public simply couldn’t resist it. Though initially a big moment for the band commercially, it’s one of those songs that has only continued to grow in stature. You’re every bit as likely to hear this one at a football game as you are at a house party.

#8: “Black Hole Sun”

Soundgarden Chris Cornell and Soundgarden arrived on the scene pre-packed with a grungey, alt-rock sound that instantly made them a perfect fit for the times. However, what many people didn’t expect was for them to craft one of the most essential anthems of the 1990s, “Black Hole Sun”. Sure, it’s an alt-rocker at its core, but it is the type of well-written melody that would stand up in any genre. To this day, this track is as immediate and catchy as any song from its era, helping grunge receive even more radio-play. While many other favourites from the early 90s have aged a little less well, “Black Hole Sun” is one of the period’s truly timeless classics.

#7: “Eye of the Tiger”

Survivor When Queen denied Sylvester Stallone the right to use “Another One Bites the Dust” in “Rocky III”, it ended up being a blessing in disguise. After enlisting Survivor to write an original song for the soundtrack, Stallone ended up with one of the all-time great power anthems. Not only did Survivor absolutely nail the assignment, but they also created a track, “Eye of the Tiger”, that became far bigger than anyone could have anticipated. It’s a song that even transcends its use in “Rocky”, after countless references in pop culture. In many ways, it is the ultimate motivational song and perhaps the most famous montage soundtrack ever written.

#6: “Seven Nation Army”

The White Stripes The riff at the centre of The White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army” is indeed a simple one, and yet, nobody had ever written it before. Jack and Meg White didn’t just create an excellent rock song with their biggest hit, they crafted a riff that earned its place among the most memorable in rock history. Immortalised through its countless cover versions and use at sporting events and soundtrack inclusions, it became a staple for guitar and bass players everywhere. Although The White Stripes certainly had a few hits, “Seven Nation Army” was a far bigger sensation than anyone could have imagined for a band with such a raw and gritty approach to music. A true outlier in modern rock music.

#5: “Livin' on a Prayer”

Bon Jovi No list of the greatest arena rock anthems of all-time would be complete without a mention for Bon Jovi’s iconic hit, “Livin’ on a Prayer”. On its surface, it is indeed one of the more ‘radio-ready’ tracks of its era. What the band likely didn’t anticipate was that the song would go on to become one of the biggest-selling singles of all-time. In many ways, it is the perfect crossover rock hit, adored by millions for its massive singalongability. Over time, the song just became synonymous with communal celebration, frequently showing up at sporting events, weddings, and karaoke nights. It’s the type of exposure that money simply cannot buy.

#4: “Bohemian Rhapsody”

Queen Many bands have written multi-part epics, often crossing between styles erratically while still keeping a cohesion to the whole thing. The fact that Queen managed to make a prog-rock-opera piece one of the most famous songs of all-time is a truly staggering achievement. “Bohemian Rhapsody” is quite frequently cited as one of the greatest rock songs of all-time, but to limit it to one genre would do it a disservice. It was a huge hit when it first landed, then received several noteworthy resurgences thanks to its use in films. Despite being released in the mid 70s, it’s arguably more relevant today than ever before, which is a rarity for a song that is over half a century old.

#3: “Don't Stop Believin”

Journey Few songs have followed an upward trajectory of success quite like Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’”. Upon its release, it is easy to see why it was a smash hit, but it has popped up on enough soundtracks over the years to ensure that several generations grew up listening to it. It’s a rock song with a universal message of hope and perseverance, the type of message that most people can get behind. The decision to build the song through verse after verse before arriving at its central hook was certainly an unorthodox one. In this case, though, it was a move that paid off several times over.

#2: “Mr Brightside”

The Killers While guitar riffs have not been quite as dominant in the 21st century as the decades before, The Killers managed to write an excellent one with “Mr Brightside”. It’s not the only strong point of the track, either. The themes of jealousy and longing are compelling too, but it's the melody and anthemic chorus that really take it to another level. Few rock songs of the 2000s have reached this level of evergreen status, and yet, even after all this time, it sounds as fresh as ever before. The Killers have more than a few hits worth mentioning, but they really perfected their formula with this one. Don’t be surprised if it's still heavily in rotation fifty years from now.

#1: “Smells Like Teen Spirit”

Nirvana Everything about Nirvana and their biggest hit “Smells Like Teen Spirit” seemed designed to repel mainstream attention. Yet, as the 80s died down and the glitz and glamor of the era's rock music grew stale, the grounded grit of Kurt Cobain and co. immediately stood out. The song is the quintessential grunge anthem, and despite the discomfort Cobain felt from its success, there is some masterful pop songwriting work at its core. Nirvana sometimes omitted it from their sets due to their distaste for its fame, but even if they were, by their own admission, trying to copy the Pixies, they ended up with something truly remarkable. But what do you think is the most surprising rock hit of all-time? Let us know in the comments below.