[Masterpiece Selection] A Compilation of Classic Western Rock Songs

Welcome To The Black ParadeMy Chemical Romance

My Chemical Romance – Welcome To The Black Parade [Official Music Video] [HD]

The word “emo,” which is now used as if it’s a given, originally referred to a subgenre that emerged from the hardcore scene in the 1990s, and it was the emo boom that swept through the Western rock scene in the 2000s that directly propelled it into the mainstream.

Not all bands labeled as emo necessarily agreed with the term, but one of the flagship bands of that boom—and hugely popular in Japan as well, headlining the main stage at Summer Sonic and successfully playing the Nippon Budokan—was My Chemical Romance, known as My Chem.

As of 2022, My Chem have reunited and are touring, and their 2006 classic “Welcome to the Black Parade,” the song that catapulted them from promising newcomers to a top band in the rock scene, is a superb rock number that transcends the “emo” category and is something we’d love younger listeners to discover.

With a grand, almost old-school rock opera concept revived for the 2000s, it’s dramatically structured yet incredibly catchy—a work that feels like it poured in all the sensibility and craftsmanship they possessed at the time.

If you once avoided them just because they were riding a trend, now that we’re well into the 2020s, why not give them another listen?

When Doves CryPrince

Prince and the Revolution – When Doves Cry (Official Music Video)

Prince is the very definition of a superstar among superstars—a musician whose name is indelibly etched in American music history.

His track “When Doves Cry” appears on an album that was a massive commercial success and is widely regarded as a classic.

Among its releases, this single in particular showcases his dazzling sensibility, offering a completely new listening experience.

No wonder: it contains no bass or guitar, and its rhythm is built from uniquely striking attack sounds.

And yet it remains effortlessly listenable and pop, a track with a mysteriously compelling groove.

Born to be wildSteppenwolf

Steppenwolf – Born To Be Wild (Easy Rider) (1969)

Born to Be Wild, famous as the theme song of the classic 1969 film Easy Rider.

Even if you haven’t seen the movie, you’ve probably heard it in commercials—it’s a song many people know.

The band performing it is Steppenwolf, a hard rock group formed in Canada in 1967.

Their name is said to come from Hermann Hesse’s novel Steppenwolf (The Wolf of the Steppes).

With its powerful band sound, it’s a fiery track that lives up to its title!

The End Of The GameWeezer

Weezer – The End Of The Game (Official Video)

A song by the American alternative rock band Weezer.

The intro jumps right in with guitar tapping, and the melody—featuring prominent, beautiful choral work—evokes the rock scene of the late 1980s to the 1990s, making it an easy listen even for newcomers to Western music.

NumbLinkin Park

Numb (Official Music Video) [4K UPGRADE] – Linkin Park

Transcending the confines of nu metal, the song released in 2003 by Linkin Park—one of the most successful rock bands of the 2000s—can rightly be called one of their signature works.

Featured on the album Meteora, the track quickly dominated the charts after its release, peaking at No.

11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spending three consecutive weeks at No.

1 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, cementing its overwhelming popularity.

With its fierce guitar riffs, rap verses, and Chester Bennington’s emotionally charged vocals, the song powerfully captures themes of identity exploration and social pressure.

It resonated deeply with many young listeners and garnered widespread empathy.

In 2018, it surpassed one billion views on YouTube, becoming a landmark achievement in the rock world.

RebellionLinkin Park ft. Daron Malakian

Rebellion (Official Lyric Video) – Linkin Park (feat. Daron Malakian)

Linkin Park, the American rock band often called “the best-selling band of the 21st century.

” If you’re into alternative rock, you probably know them.

One of their iconic songs is Rebellion, released in 2014.

The track features Daron Malakian, the lead guitarist of the 90s-renowned rock band System of a Down, as a guest—what a stellar collaboration! It’s a shame we can’t see this collab performed live, as Linkin Park’s vocalist, Chester, passed away in 2017.

With or Without YouU2

U2 – With Or Without You (U2 At The BBC)

U2 is a national band of Ireland.

They continue to work actively, and U2 is said to be one of the highest-earning artists in the world.

Their frontman, Bono, is also famous as an international philanthropist and has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize multiple times in the past.