The Best Rock Song of Each Year Since 1970

What’s the the best rock song of each year since 1970? That’s over 50 years of great rock music and the Loudwire Staff has gone through year by year and picked out the rock songs that exemplified the best that rock had to offer, year by year.

We analyzed what was hot and what left a lasting impact in the rock world. Throughout this list, you’ll see certain bands definitely having a peak period with multiple entries close together, starting off at the top of the list with Led Zeppelin placing a pair of songs as the best in the first two years. Do you know what they are?

This list is also an interesting study in analyzing the changing tide of what was connecting with audiences in rock music. From the ’70s blues rock offshoots to the ’80s hair metal craze to the ’90s grunge domination and moving into the 21st century when nu-metal and emo had their moments, there’s a little something for everyone.

Plus, just for argument sake, each year we’ve provided the rock songs that ended up as runners up in our collective staff voting. And it should also be noted that if you think certain acts such as Metallica, Korn, Tool and System of a Down are missing, there’s still the Best Metal Song of Every Year Since 1970 feature you should check out.

READ MORE: Where 20 Rock + Metal Band Names Come From

Scroll through the list below to see what our picks were and let us know what you think was our biggest omission. Likewise, if there’s something we got dead right that you couldn’t agree with more, let us know to help us settle any lasting arguments among the staffers.

See Loudwire’s picks for the Best Rock Song of Each Year Since 1970 below.

Okay, now that you’ve seen the best rock song of each year, how about we go through the best rock album of each year since 1970?

Keep scrolling to see those below.