Western Rock Music Popularity Ranking [2025]

Rock Around The ClockBill Haley & His Comets36rank/position

Bill Haley & His Comets – Rock Around The Clock (1955) HD

Bill Haley & His Comets, who led 1950s rock ’n’ roll, were pioneers of American rockabilly famed for their lively rhythms and energetic sound, with hits like “Rock Around the Clock.” They broke through with their debut in 1954, Rock Around the Clock, and the smash success of the title track the following year.

They went on to release a string of classics, including “Shake, Rattle and Roll.” The band featured distinctive members with strong country influences, such as on steel guitar and accordion, and combined with frontman Bill Haley’s humorous persona, they exuded a unique presence.

An essential artist for any rockabilly fan.

20th Century BoyT-REX37rank/position

T.Rex – 20th Century Boy (Full Version) [HD]

With its fiercely distorted guitar riff that makes your body move before you know it, this is a signature track by the British glam rock band T.

Rex.

Released as a single in March 1973, it initially didn’t appear on an album yet still reached No.

3 on the UK chart.

Marc Bolan’s confident vocals—almost as if declaring himself the darling of the era—paired with the rough yet catchy sound are irresistibly cool.

The song is also known for being used in a Levi’s commercial in 1991 and for influencing the title of the popular manga “20th Century Boys.” It’s the kind of track that gives you a firm shove forward when you’re facing a big wall, saying, “Your power is far greater than that.”

AfricaTOTO38rank/position

Toto – Africa (Official HD Video)

Toto is a band that brought together members with proven skills as studio musicians.

With a sound that blends a variety of genres around a rock core, they continue to captivate many fans.

This piece is a track from the 1982 masterpiece “TOTO IV,” which reached the top of the charts in February 1983.

It grandly sings of the songwriter’s longing for the African continent, and in recent years it was also used in the drama “Stranger Things.” Perhaps it is precisely because it portrays a place never actually visited that its mysterious imagery is so compelling.

The lyrical world, where awe for majestic nature intersects with the earnest feeling of not wanting to part from a loved one, is truly breathtaking.

It’s the perfect song for when you want to bask in a grand, expansive mood.

Bullet with Butterfly WingsThe Smashing Pumpkins39rank/position

The Smashing Pumpkins – Bullet With Butterfly Wings

The Smashing Pumpkins—aka “Sma-pan”—achieved exceptional commercial success in the alternative rock scene of the 1990s and, despite repeated breakups and lineup changes, continue to be active even now in the 2020s.

Hailing from Chicago rather than the so-called Seattle scene, and with frontman Billy Corgan—who is of the same generation as Kurt Cobain—being a strong personality, the band often drew criticism from peers at the time.

Still, Corgan’s outstanding songwriting talent and the magnificent band ensemble that powers their sound are the real deal.

Among the many gems produced by the Pumpkins, whose strength lies in their stylistic breadth, this track is packed with the band’s core appeal as an alternative rock act.

If you think it’s cool, go grab the album right now!

DreamsFleetwood Mac40rank/position

Fleetwood Mac – Dreams (Official Music Video) [4K]

It’s a song with a memorable melody that gently embraces the space between love and loneliness.

The lyrics, woven from Stevie Nicks’s own experiences as a member of Fleetwood Mac, poignantly sing of the pain of heartbreak and a longing for freedom.

Released in March 1977, the track was included on the album Rumours and became a massive hit, reaching No.

1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Its calm yet gradually swelling composition feels as if it nestles close to the listener’s heart.

If you sing it at karaoke, try to channel Nicks’s captivating vocal style and pour your emotions into it.

For those who have experienced a breakup or are about to take a new step forward, this song will gently give you a supportive push.

Crazy TrainOzzy Osbourne41rank/position

OZZY OSBOURNE – “Crazy Train” (Official Video)

It is included on the 1980 album Blizzard of Ozz.

He is a rock singer born in Birmingham in 1948.

As the vocalist of Black Sabbath and as a solo artist leading his own band, he has been highly active.

He is no stranger to outrageous episodes; even Marilyn Manson, known for his grotesque style, has raised the white flag, saying, “I can’t compete with him.”

The Final CountdownEurope42rank/position

Europe – The Final Countdown (Official Video)

If the song title doesn’t ring a bell, you might recognize it from the intro.

Europe is a hard rock band from Sweden.

They’re known for their heavy band sound paired with a soaring high-tone voice.

They were one of the bands that sparked the metal boom in Europe.

Their signature song is “The Final Countdown”! It’s a classic everyone knows.

By the way, the lyrics of this song were inspired by David Bowie’s “Space Oddity”! That’s a surprise, isn’t it?