The term “classic rock” covers a wide period of time and thousands of songs. However, it seems like radio stations that play older rock and roll spin the same 20 songs on repeat while tossing a couple of deep cuts into the rotation every day. As a result, some of the greatest songs in rock history have been tragically overplayed.
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Thanks to their inescapable nature, there are several classic rock songs that I could go my entire life without hearing again. These songs were incredible upon their initial release. Some even helped put iconic bands on the map. However, you can only hear even the best song so many times before it gets old.
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1. “Stairway to Heaven” by Led Zeppelin
“Stairway to Heaven” is one of the most-requested songs in FM radio history. It has also been called the greatest rock song of all time, and for good reason. It’s a great example of the creative chemistry between Jimmy Page and Robert Plant. The song’s three progressively heavier sections unfold in a barrage of musical and lyrical genius.
Unfortunately, the genius behind the song led it to become hugely popular on classic rock radio. Near-constant airplay has made it one of the most overplayed songs of all time. This was already true more than three decades ago when Wayne’s World featured the famous “No Stairway” bit. I loved this song the first 100 or so times I heard it. Now, though, I’m likely to hit skip shortly after the iconic intro begins.
2. “Sweet Child o’ Mine” by Guns N’ Roses
“Sweet Child o’ Mine” brought Guns N’ Roses their first and only No. 1 single on the Billboard Hot 100. Upon its release in 1988, it was a highlight of the band’s debut album, Appetite for Destruction. Since then, it has become a frequent addition to classic rock radio and playlists of classic songs.
When I first got my hands on Appetite for Destruction in the mid-1990s, this and “Nightrain” were in close competition for my second favorite song on the album. Years later, after hearing it thousands of times, I don’t ever need to hear it again. It is, admittedly, a killer tune, but I still skip it while revisiting the classic album.
3. “You Shook Me All Night Long” by AC/DC
I’ve been listening to AC/DC since I was a kid. “You Shook Me All Night Long” marked a huge turning point for the band. It was the lead single from Back in Black, their first album after the death of Bon Scott. It was the world’s introduction to new vocalist Brian Johnson. More than that, it’s a killer tune. However, classic rock radio and my rock-loving pals ran this song into the ground.
This is one of the only AC/DC songs that I skip when listening to Back in Black or Who Made Who. I’ve just heard it so many times that I could go my life without hearing it again.
4. “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd
“Sweet Home Alabama” is one of the only songs that can rival “Stairway to Heaven” in the number of times it has been played on classic rock radio. It makes sense, really. Lynyrd Skynyrd is probably the biggest and most influential Southern rock band in history, and this is one of their biggest hits. A hugely popular song by a massive band is bound to get a ton of airplay. That doesn’t make this tune any less overplayed, though.
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