3 Classic Rock Songs That Have Aged Surprisingly Well

Over the past handful of years, people (especially those online) have been litigating and relitigating aspects of popular culture, determining if they are suitable for consumption today. As a result, there is a lot of talk about “things that haven’t aged well.” Here, we wanted to explore songs that have done the opposite. Indeed, we wanted to take a look at a trio of classic rock songs that have aged like fine wine. These three tunes sound great, have enjoyed new peaks in culture, and have messages that resonate today as well (or better) than they did upon their release. These are three classic rock songs that have aged really well.

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“Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac from ‘Rumours’ (1977)

Before we get into the sound or subject matter, perhaps the biggest reason this song has aged so well is due to a pretty great 2020 viral video. The guy in it is so nonchalant as he skateboards down a road, lip-synching the lyrics and drinking an open bottle of cranberry juice. Has anyone seemed so gloriously carefree? Millions were reintroduced to the song thanks to the social media post. But that aside, this song from Fleetwood Mac’s seminal 1977 LP Rumors is about a breakup. And that’s always timeless.

“Born In The U.S.A.” by Bruce Springsteen from ‘Born In The U.S.A.’ (1984)

While this song masquerades as one of rugged patriotism, the track is really about the struggles that come after war. Soldiers return from conflicts and are forsaken, rather than treated as heroes. They often come home and live with PTSD, with lost limbs and with a shell-shocked reality. Springsteen put this truth to music and created an anthem that honors our veterans. Spingstreen poses an important question: They’re born in the U.S.A., so why aren’t we treating them better? That’s an important message.

“Like A Rolling Stone” by Bob Dylan from ‘Highway 61 Revisited’ (1965)

While this song is great, the story around it is what makes it even better. On the track, Dylan addresses someone who is going through a mental breakdown. “How does it feel?” Dylan asks. How does it feel to know the world isn’t as you once thought it was? That you aren’t the most special person on Earth? That difficulty is truly around the corner for each and every one of us. But lyrical content aside, the song also marks the occasion when Dylan went rogue. Specifically, “Like A Rolling Stone” came out when he famously went electric and became a full-on rock and roll artist, flouting his more acoustic folk roots.

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