1.Imagine by John Lennon
Lennon implores you to think about a world where everyone is seen as equals, where people
can dream big and live a life of unison and love. Lennon cites people's desire for material
possessions as a significant cause of the greed and hunger and economic imbalance in the world.
Just a year after the Beatles split, and nine years before Lennon's untimely death, this song was
released and viewed as controversial and anti-religious and radical. Today, it is viewed as an
important song of protest, an emblem of hope, and an important call for peace in the heat of the Vietnam war.

2. Scenes from an Italian Restaurant by Billy Joel

The song tracks the story of Brenda and Eddie and their relationship's ups and
downs. From being prom king and queen to divorce, to reminiscing over a bottle of
wine, this song shows it all.
Beat switches, timing changes, from a simple piano, to a smooth saxophone, to a
chorus of horns, transports the listener to an Italian restaurant in the heart of New
York City. Listeners are swiftly moved through the middle class story and it becomes
easy to be infatuated.

3.All Along the Watchtower by Jimi Hendrix

Viewed by many as the greatest cover song of all time, Hendrix's low and blistering vocals and
wicked skill on the guitar mixed with Bob Dylan's masterful lyrics propelled the hit into rock n'
roll infamy.
Few truly know who/what Dylan was referring to with the "Joker and the Thief." Some see
Dylan calling himself the joker, and the thief referring to artists in the music world attempting
to copy his work. Others view it as Dylan's views on two people discussing how they could
change the establishment. Dylan stated on multiple occasions he viewed Hendrixs' version as
superior.

4.I Can’t Get No (Satisfaction) by The Rolling Stones

The guitar riff came to guitarist Keith Richards in a dream, while the lyrics were written
by Mick Jagger. Originally the song was controversial due to underlying sexual themes
throughout, it later became a #1 hit on the Billboard Top 100 chart in 1965.

The fractured grammar of “I can't get no” added to the sense of rebellion and anti-
commercialism, which appealed to rebellious teenage audiences in the 60s.

5.Heroes by David Bowie

Bowie released this song in 1977 after his Ziggy Stardust era. It contains vivid
imagery about two lovers, one from east Berlin and one from West Berlin. The
speaker dreams of being free and able to cross the wall and even swim with
dolphins. As well as not to be under constant fear of death. Heroes sounds as if
you're floating off into a Science Fiction movie. Beautifully futuristic and yet equally
romantic. The music truly teleports you and makes you feel confined to a side of
Berlin in the late 70s.

7.Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin

Beginning with possibly the most iconic guitar riff of all time, Jimmy Page stated he wanted
the guitar to feel almost exposed and then in addition adding recorders to make it seem
almost medieval.
Layers upon layers make up the instrumentation of the song, including the six and 12 string
guitars, recorders as previously mentioned, bass guitars, electric guitars and pianos, and
drums. The uniqueness and musicality of the song alone make it an all time great, but when
combined with Robert Plant's upper register piercing vocals make it a lock in any top 10 list.

8.Like a Rolling Stone by Bob Dylan

The phrase “a rolling stone” refers to someone who never stays put and has little
responsibilities but lacks a place to call home. Throughout the song Dylan refers to "Miss
Lonely" as a rolling stone and calls her out for her seeking resentment and hatred rather than
love and joy. Additionally, the older "Miss Lonely" becomes, the more difficult life will be if she
maintains her negative views. The song asks the simple question "How does it feel?" Dylan then
goes on to add "to be without a home" and "like a complete unknown, like a rolling stone." The
song is revolutionary with its combination of youthful but yet directness in Dylan's lyricism and
message.

9.Strawberry Fields Forever by The Beatles

Written by John Lennon, Strawberry Fields Forever takes you on a trip to a Salvation
Army run orphanage near Liverpool where Lennon grew up. The song covers the topic
of Lennon's childhood insecurities and privations. However Lennon claims that "there's
nothing to get hung about" meaning there's no reason to stress and strain about it.
The list of hits and masterpieces in the British supergroup's discography is extensive.
What makes Strawberry Field stand above is the carefree yet philosophical subject
matter and ambiguous imagery. Strawberry Fields makes the listener feel as if they're
dazed, traveling through a thick haze. Due to Lennon constantly contradicting himself,
combined with the ominous usage of a mellotron (an electro-mechanical instrument).

10.Good Vibrations by The Beach Boys

Brian Wilson used 18 recording dates to ensure "Good Vibrations" was perfect, even though
originally Wilson didn't think the song was good enough for their upcoming Pet Sounds album.
Musically, the song and instruments are unique. Usage of an organ, harp, piano, and bass line, as
well as combinations of those instruments many hadn't heard before. According to Rolling Stone
Magazine, "Good Vibrations" is "one of the best and most significant rock n roll songs of the 20th
century." Paul McCartney thought the song was incredible, even the best song he'd heard to date.
McCartney thought it would be a major challenge for the Beatles to attempt to match.

11.Johnny B. Goode by Chuck Berry

A story of a kid from rough beginnings who ends up succeeding due to his talent and work ethic. The song beams from start to finish with joyous energy. It makes any listener cheer for Johnny in his quest to become great.

Berry's energetic vocals, combined with the usage of the guitar, bass, drums and piano to convey the story of Johnny, which is really a type of autobiography Berry uses to tell his story. This influence granted Berry the nickname of "the father of rock n roll".

As John Lennon once said, "If you tried to give rock and roll another name, you might call it ‘Chuck Berry'.”

12.Billie Jean by Michael Jackson

Originally inspired by a letter the king of pop received claiming he was the father of one of her children, throughout the song Jackson reiterated the point his mom made in his childhood, "don't go around breaking young girls heart's". In 1983 Jackson made his debut on MTV where he would change music forever; using the short film for Billie Jean he set the music world on fire and changed the industry forever making it important for music to not only sound good but look good as well. Awarded two Grammys for its musical excellence.

13.R-e-s-p-e-c-t by Aretha Franklin

Originally sung by Otis Redding referring to men being the breadwinners in a relationship, Franklin then transformed the song into a feminist anthem. Franklin preached women deserving respect just as men do; she gave a voice to those who weren't being heard. As well as being a feminist anthem it also resonated with the civil rights movement, becoming a bridge between gender, culture, and racial groups.

Franklin's powerful vocals demanded respect (no pun intended). Usage of the Saxophone, trumpets, guitar, as well as drums can also be heard throughout. But the enraged and commanding vocals highlighted the song causing some greatest of all time lists such as the Rolling Stone to have Respect as high as #1.

14.Fight the Power by Public Enemy

"Fight the Power" by Public Enemy is a political song of the group imploring the youth around the world to fight/rebel against racial discrimination and economic inequality. Helping introduce hip hop into mainstream music in the late 1980s early 1990s.

Deemed "the most provocative song ever" by the BBC this song was very controversial in its time. It's celebrated today as being an important political call to action that did what Flavor Flav, Chuck D, and Terminator X intended. It woke the people up.

15.Hotel California by The Eagles

Traveling west just to get lost and trapped in the dark underbelly of the American dream. Eagles band member Don Henley views the song as "Interpretation of the high life in Los Angeles" while "Less like California and more about America".

With a memorable, iconic, and quite frankly kick-ass guitar solo from Don Felder and smooth and sweet vocals from Henley makes for a true American classic.

16.Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon and Garfunkel

Few have come close to conveying such sadness and hopefulness in one song. With Larry Knechte on the piano combined with Art Garfunkel's somber lyrics and vocals commonly described as angelic propelled this 1970 hit to a grammy for song, record, Best Contemporary song, and Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalists of the year. Written by Paul Simon he insisted that Garfunkel sing it due to his ability to show such emotion on a track. 

Simon wrote about perseverance and getting through tough and trying times because at the time (1969) the United States was in that same predicament. Both Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. were killed in 1968, as well as the Vietnam war being in full swing, through the turmoil Simon & Garfunkel were able to provide hope.

17.(Sittin’ on) the Dock of the Bay by Otis Redding

From the first moment you hear Otis Redding's soulful and powerful voice a wave of relaxation and tranquility settles over you. The message within the song becomes increasingly clear the longer you listen. The message being to enjoy life and to sometimes take a moment and take it all in even if sometimes it seems like nothing is going your way.

18. Something by The Beatles

"When there's blood in the sky, red and blue make purple," Prince once stated in an interview with NME. "Purple Rain pertains to the end of the world and being with the one you love and letting your faith/god guide you through the purple rain".

Named by Pitchfork to be the greatest song of the 1980s, Prince was all over the board, with his music ranging from neo-psychedelic to gospel to rock n roll he was on fire and had something for everyone.

20.Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd

The conversation between a patient and a doctor with plenty of all time great guitar solos. According to Roger Waters the writer of the song contrary to popular belief it's not about doing drugs it's about what he felt young and having a fever. As he grew, he claimed he got that feeling frequently saying he almost felt "detached from reality".

21.Baba O’Riley by The Who

Does it feel like you are in the middle of a science fiction movie? Did 70's teens mistake "teenage wasteland" for being a good thing? Is that really an electric violin? The answer to all is yes. 

The iconic science fiction feel to the opening of the track is done by the usage of the lowrey organ played masterfully by Pete Townshend. While being accompanied by a synthesiser; this usage of the synthesizer was the first in rock n' roll history. "teenage wasteland" was a term Townshend used to describe what he saw during his performance at Woodstock where he saw thousands of kids and young adults on drugs. As to the electric violin aside from being cool enough to give a traditional violinist an aneurysm it was used by Dave Arbus. Arbus was invited by Keith Moon to play the memorable instrument during the outro to the 1971 song.

22.Tiny Dance by Elton John

Tiny Dancer was written by Bernie Taupin after meeting a woman while on tour with Elton John whom he later went on to marry. As referenced in the second line of the 1971 track "Seamstress for the band" the woman Taupin was in love with was the costumier for the tour. John's full and powerful yet sweet vocals make this track widely considered his best work.

23.Dreams by Fleetwood Mac

Written by Stevie Nicks, Dreams is straight up iconic. Having nearly 1.3 million plays each day. What people often don't pay as much attention to is the lyricability of the song, as well as the rhyme scheme. The song teleports you to a rainy day after experiencing a breakup, which many members of the band had been experiencing in 1977; you can feel the band's sheer emotion through the sad guitar and sorrowful piano.

24.Sultans of Swing by Dire Straits

The reason for the success of the Sultans of Swing even to this day is due to the sheer simplicity of the song, from the vocals to the rhythmic guitar, bass, and drums. Everything flows together cohesively making it one of the smoothest rock songs of all time.

25.With or Without You by U2

From the slow soft start to the powerful ending to the 1987 track hits deep. Some view the song as Bono's take on if he should be faithful to his art or to his marriage. Bono said he admired some singers who did go wild but said that he liked his happy medium between being unfaithful and being "house trained". Others see it as the Irish band writing about couples who cannot stand being without each other, but who also cannot stand being with each other. Personally I lean towards the second idea, either way, whatever they meant the song is both catchy and musically impressive.

26.Changes by Tupac Shakur

Tupac Shakur was an influential rap icon under the label of Death Row Records on the west coast in the 1990s. Shakur mentioned issues in society which he viewed as problem areas in his day to day life, such as drug abuse, racism, police brutality, and gang violence, stating that he "see(s) no changes". Referring to the lack of care the government seemed to have about these problematic areas of life in southern California. Using a mix of rapping and melodies the song moves smoothly while still staying on topic with the heavy subject matter.

27.What’s Going On by Marvin Gaye

In the midst of the Vietnam war and increasing police brutality in 1971, Gaye wrote how he knew that "war is not the answer", and there were far too many people dying. Heavy Motown roots using just about every possible instrument. Soulful roots and powerful vocals highlighting the political injustice Gaye viewed happening in America at the time. Really makes you think; "What's going on".

28.Kashmir by Led Zeppelin

Through the duration of the song "Kashmir" we are following a character who experiences beauty as well as horrors while searching for inner peace. Using electric guitars, bass guitars, as well as drums to convey the journey. Electric vocals and innovative techniques combining genres never seen before while still having a hard rock feel are partial to what makes Led Zeppelin so special.

29.Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen

The title track to the 1975 album. Springsteen claimed the purpose of the album was to talk about the time between adolescence and becoming an adult. As well as escaping, with his heels slowly dig deeper into the ground below him. Saying how it's easier to leave while you're young but the longer you stay the more attached you become. Using electric guitars, piano's, as well as Springsteen's emotional voice the music sweeps over you.

30.Fortunate Son by Creedence Clearwater Revival

No, you are not on a helicopter deep in the Vietnamese jungle nor are you riding a motorcycle across the country, but it sure feels like it. The high vocal range of John Fogerty's scratchy yet smooth voice can be heard throughout. Repetitive and catchy "It Ain't Me" is echoed through the song with political lyrics and ideas sprinkled throughout. The term fortunate sons was used as a metaphorical idea of a divide between classes of income in the U.S during the late 60s. In the 60s the "unfortunate sons" were being sent off to war in Vietnam while the "fortunate sons" who were born with "silver spoon in hand" or being born wealthy were getting a pass from their service and potential death in Vietnam. 

HM.Separate Ways- Journey 

With one of the most difficult to sing choruses in all of music due to Morten Harket taking his voice to places that many male singers voice cracks. While that's impressive what makes this song so influential and popular is the music video that accompanies the song, being half in live action and half being animated drawings. From the moment you realize the magazine the woman at the diner is sifting through is alive you become infatuated with the story. A true first of its kind.