[Masterpiece Selection] A Compilation of Classic Western Rock Songs
Many music listeners, regardless of generation, probably learned the word “rock” from Western music.
To convey the enduring greatness of Western rock across any era, this article highlights gem-like masterpieces born over more than 60 years of rock history, delivering a curated selection of the best rock songs for those who want to start exploring Western rock.
Articles like this tend to focus on classic oldies, but our lineup also includes artists from the 2000s onward.
So even if you used to listen to rock back in the day, be sure to check it out!
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- Legendary Western rock masterpieces and hit songs of the 80s
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- [2025] A Collection of Classic Piano Rock/Pop Songs (Western Music)
- 90s Rock Revolution! A Collection of Masterpieces by Western Bands That Colored the 90s
- Must-Listen Now! Classic and Hit Western Rock Songs from the 2000s
- [2025] Songs You’ll Want to Listen to This Summer! Popular and Recommended Classic Rock Tracks from the West
- [2025] Recommended for people in their 50s! A roundup of timeless, crowd-pleasing Western music classics
- Famous Western songs everyone knows: a roundup of classic tunes you’ve heard somewhere before
- Emotional Western Music Special | Handpicked from All Generations
- [2025] A roundup of classic UK rock songs: from the latest tracks to timeless staples!
[Masterpieces Selection] A Compilation of Classic Western Rock Songs (91–100)
Hard To Say I’m SorryCHICAGO
A Grammy Award-winning number from 1982.
As expected, it’s built around the piano with brass coming in, brimming with melancholy, and sung powerfully—above all, a truly dramatic track.
No matter when you listen to it, its melody is emotional and becomes a number that makes your chest feel tight.
Let’s DanceDavid Bowie
He was a British musician who also appeared as an actor in Merry Christmas, Mr.
Lawrence alongside Takeshi Kitano and Ryuichi Sakamoto.
A pioneer of glam rock, he was described as one of the most influential artists of the 20th century.
Sadly, he passed away in 2016, but his achievements will continue to be remembered.
[Masterpieces Selection] Compilation of Classic Western Rock Songs (101–110)
The LumineersNightshade
The Lumineers are an American folk-rock trio.
They’re known for their acoustic sound featuring instruments like the mandolin and cello.
The title of this song, “Nightshade,” literally translates to “shadow of the night,” and it’s also the name of a toxic plant in the nightshade family.
It’s a popular track known as the theme song for the hit series Game of Thrones.
Zac Brown Band ft. Chris Cornell
A collaboration between the country music group Zac Brown Band and Soundgarden vocalist Chris Cornell.
Released in 2015, it reached No.
1 on the charts in the United States and Canada.
It was performed on the TV show Saturday Night Live in March 2015.
Virtual InsanityJamiroquai
Jamiroquai, led by frontman Jay Kay, are emblematic of the acid jazz movement that swept through London in the ’90s.
Their signature track is a classic featured on the 1996 album Travelling Without Moving.
The lyrics, which warn of technological progress and the loss of humanity, are striking, and the music video drew major attention, winning four awards at the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards.
Jay Kay’s distinctive vocals pair perfectly with the funky sound, making this a song that prompts reflection on the relationship between technology and humanity.
Highly recommended for those who want to explore social issues through music.
You’ll Never Find MeKorn
A song by Korn, an American metal band classified in Japan under the category of mixture rock.
Its structure shifts abruptly from an intense tone to sudden calm and back to a driving frenzy, and the loud guitar sound and heavy metal-like style make it a track that will have any fan of hard rock instinctively wanting to bang their head.
One Of UsLiam Gallagher
This is a song released in the summer of 2019 by Liam Gallagher, the guitarist and vocalist of the legendary UK rock band Oasis.
The long-awaited new track retains the essence of UK rock while weaving in a sense of storytelling.
Whether you knew those days or not, that effortlessly laid-back rock is still as cool as ever.