Top 100 Pop Rock Songs

The roots of pop rock emerged in the 1950s when bands and artists started experimenting with rock n roll music. Musical experimentations and jam sessions by musicians in the early 60s helped the pop rock sound evolve. The arrangement and musical structure of early rock n roll was altered leading to a lush textural sound that came into being as pop rock. Since the 60s numerous rock bands with a mellow/smooth sound have been categorized as pop rock. While the strains of pop rock sound have changed dramatically since the 60s the new sounds are slicker pop rooted in rock.

The

standard chorus and verse format is popular with pop rock bands. While the approach of bands and artists may differ musically and structurally, it’s catchy grooves in the chorus or verse that gives pop rock its identity. Also, it’s the slick studio recording that distinguishes pop rock from rock music. The lyrical content of pop rock bands vary. Some of the popular themes in this format are love and relationships. Over the years the terms ‘power pop’ and ‘pop rock’ have been used to describe slicker forms of rock music. While pop rock is considered as a softer alternative to rock music, the opinion in regard with pop rock as a distinctive genre is debated by musicians and critics.

In the 60s the term ‘pop rock’ was also used as a term of opposition in the realms of rock music to more accessible and commercially successful rock bands with a slick pop influences. While the pop rock movement originated in the US and UK, over the years a number of bands from Germany, France, Italy, Sweden, and Australia have emerged with a distinctive European pop rock sound. Globally the pop rock sound is excessively popular with teenagers. While the debate about establishing pop rock as a genre continues…here’s some of the best pop-rock gems.

100 Greatest Pop Rock Songs

1. Imagine- John Lennon
2. Every Breath You Take- The Police
3. Pour Some Sugar On Me- Def Leppard
4. Summer of 69- Bryan Adams
5. I’m A Believer- The Monkees
6. Brown Eyed Girl- Van Morrison
7. Can’t Fight This Feeling- REO Speedwagon
8. Faithfully- Journey
9. Baker Street- Gerry Rafferty
10. Waiting For A Girl Like You- Foreigner
11. Everything I Do (I Do It For You- Bryan Adams)
12. Africa- Toto
13. Radio Ga Ga- Queen
14. Making Love Out of Nothing At All- Air Supply
15. All The Young Dudes- Mott The Hoople
16. You’re The Only Woman- Ambrosia
17. Ready For Love- Bad Company
18. You Are The Woman- Firefall
19. Here I Am- Bryan Adams
20. To The Moon and Back- Savage Garden
21. Maggie May- Rod Stewart
22. Open Arms- Journey
23. Yellow- Coldplay
24. Right Here Waiting- Richard Marx
25. Too Much Love Will Kill You- Queen
26. I Want To Know What Love Is- Foreigner
27. Keep On Loving You- REO Speedwagon
28. All By Myself- Eric Carmen
29. If You Leave Me Now- Chicago
30. Broken Wings- Mr. Mister
31. Man On A Wire- The Script
32. If- Bread
33. Tears In Heaven- Eric Clapton
34. Hysteria- Def Leppard
35. Drops of Jupiter- Train
36. I Want To Break Free- Queen
37. All Out of Love- Air Supply
38. Drive- The Cars
39. You Can Do Magic- America
40. Iris- Goo Goo Dolls
41. You’re Beautiful- James Blunt
42. Hazard- Richard Marx
43. Go All The Way- Raspberries
44. Just Remember I Love You- Firefall
45. The Flame- Cheap Trick
46. I Want To Hold Your Hand- The Beatles
47. Feel Like Making Love- Bad Company
48. Total Eclipse of The Heart- Bonnie Tyler
49. We are the Champions- Queen
50. This Love- Maroon 5
51. Love Bites- Def Leppard
52. Gravity- John Mayer
53. Sailing Christopher Cross
54. The Air That I Breathe- The Hollies
55. Hard To
    Say I’m Sorry- Chicago
56. Babe- Styx
57. Surrender- Cheap Trick
58. Reminiscing- Little River Band
59. I Just Died in Your Arms Tonight- Cutting Crew
60. Free Fallin’- Tom Petty
61. September Gurls- Big Star
62. Don’t Stop Believin’- Journey
63. Summer Breeze- Seals & Crofts
64. Kiss You All Over- Exile
65. More Than Words- Extreme
66. Horse With No Name- America
67. She Loves You- The Beatles
68. Come Sail Away- Styx
69. Ride Like The Wind- Christopher Cross
70. I Want To Make It With You- Bread
71. How Much I Feel- Ambrosia
72. Wonderful Tonight- Eric Clapton
73. Africa- Toto
74. Just What I Needed- The Cars
75. Science and Faith- The Script
76. I’m Not In Love- 10cc
77. Under Pressure- Queen
78. Walk of Life- Dire Straits
79. How Can you Mend A Broken Heart- Bee Gees
80. Oh Sherrie- Steve Perry
81. My Sharona- The Knack
82. Couldn’t I Just Tell You- Todd Rundgren
83. Every Teardrop is a Waterfall- Coldplay
84. 1973- James Blunt
85. Sugar We’re Goin’ Down- Fall Out Boy
86. Lady- Styx
87. The Man Who Can’t Be Moved- The Script
88. Now and Forever- Richard Marx
89. Another One Bites The Dust- Queen
90. Please Forgive Me- Bryan Adams
91. Sultans of Swing- Dire Straits
92. No Matter What- Badfinger
93. Even The Nights Are Better- Air Supply
94. She Will Be Loved- Maroon 5
95. Welcome To My Life- Simple Plan
96. The Ballroom Blitz- Sweet
97. Angelia- Richard Marx
98. Money For Nothing- Dire Straits
99. Have you Ever Really Loved A Woman- Bryan Adams
100. Goodbye- Air Supply