Five Rock Songs That Changed The World

by | Jan 27, 2020

Rock is meant to shake things up. Underneath the rebellious attitude, the look, and the notoriety of rock stars are souls and hearts screaming for change in the world. Occasionally, this manifests as historic moments in rock, birthing hits that forever shift the course of history one way or another. So here are five of the rock songs that have transcended the charts and made their way into the history books.

 (Rock Shot)

Sunday Bloody Sunday – U2

Whilst younger generations might primarily know U2 as one of the world’s greatest live stadium performers, older people know that no list of world-changing rock songs would be complete without at least one from the band. And out of all the overtly political anthems that they’ve released over the years, one song stands out. A feature by Lottoland explains how Sunday Bloody Sunday shone a global light on the then-ongoing violence in Northern Ireland. Produced 11 years after the “Bloody Sunday” incident on which the song was based, every lyric and note is meant to give the listener a glimpse of war-torn Ireland in the ’70s, which sparked conversations about the country’s issues around the world.

 (Rock Shot)

Looking For Freedom – David Hasselhoff

While the song is more pop than rock, there’s nothing quite as rock n’ roll as how Looking For Freedom inspired West Germans in 1989 to tear down the Berlin Wall. Although Hasselhoff‘s song was actually about a son in the shadow of his rich dad, it had the perfect upbeat attitude and lyrics to be taken out of context and adopted into the struggle of West and East Germans against the wall. Hasselhoff has since embraced his role in the fall of the wall and now works to preserve what remains of it as a historical reminder of the era.

 (Rock Shot)

Thunderstruck – AC/DC

You might want to sit down for this one. In 2016, scientists found out that playing Thunderstruck while preparing a cancer drug called camphothecin made its particles spring up and down, which allowed medical researchers to coat the particles in plasma shells to extend the drug’s effect. “The overcoating resulted in a markedly slower release of the drug, and this effect correlated positively with the plasma polymer coating times, ranging from twofold up to more than 100-fold,” explains University of South Australia professor Nico Voelcker. In simple terms, AC/DC’s Thunderstruck was used to improve the effectiveness of a cancer drug.

 (Rock Shot)

Panama – Van Halen

Much like many Van Halen songs, Panama is about a car. This however didn’t stop the U.S. military from using the song to draw out former Panama dictator General Manuel Noriega when he was forced to seek political asylum at the Vatican Embassy. After 10 days of sonic, glam rock warfare, the Vatican ambassador had had enough and kicked the general out.

 (Rock Shot)

(Sing If You’re) Glad To Be Gay – Tom Robinson Band

This song was produced in an era of open homophobia and institutionalised sexism. The Tom Robinson Band wrote it in response to how the British Police consistently persecuted gays during the mid ’70s. Police regularly raided known gay bars and clubs in and around London to harass, beat, and arrest paying customers — just because they were gay (or happened to be in the bars). This laid the foundation for Glad To Be Gay to become an anti-prejudice anthem that sparked positive changes to how queer people were treated and perceived in both the UK and the U.S.

This list merely scrapes the tip of the iceberg that is world-changing rock — songs that are proof of how positive music can tilt political balances, communicate with global audiences, and even advance medical science. There are thousands more that deserve a listen, and even more causes to make great rock songs about.

Feature by Keith Skilling

Clairo @ BST Hyde Park 2025 (Kalpesh Patel)

Clairo Brings Soft Focus And Dreamy Intimacy To The Great Oak Stage At BST Hyde Park 2025

In the golden lull between a dramatic afternoon downpour and Sabrina Carpenter’s headline pop spectacle, Clairo turned London’s Great Oak Stage into a sanctuary of softness and reflection. Her early evening performance at BST Hyde Park on Sunday 6th July offered a tender contrast to the festival’s typically high-energy crescendo, inviting the crowd into a quieter, more introspective space.

Jessie Murph (Press)

Jessie Murph Announces Bold New Album ‘Sex Hysteria’, Shares Vulnerable New Single ‘Bad As The Rest’

Boundary-breaking rising star Jessie Murph has unveiled her latest single Bad As The Rest, offering a raw and emotionally charged glimpse into her upcoming sophomore album Sex Hysteria, due out on 18th July via Columbia Records.

The Jacques (Nick Sayers)

The Jacques Announce Riotous New Single ‘All The Other Sinners’ Ahead of Second Album ‘Make Repetition!’

London/Bristol alt-rock trio The Jacques are ramping up momentum ahead of their second album Make Repetition! with the release of their blistering new single All The Other Sinners — a searing, melody-drenched slice of chaos and catharsis out now.

Cam @ The Tabernacle (Henry Finnegan / @finneganfoto)

Cam Captivates London With A Night Of Raw Vocals And Real Stories At The Tabernacle

In a sweltering Tabernacle, a somehow both vast and intimate venue, a sweat-soaked audience filled every seat for...
J.Fla (Press)

J.Fla Redefines Herself With Empowering New Single ‘Stellar Paradox’

South Korean singer-songwriter and YouTube sensation J.Fla has taken a giant leap into the cosmos with her newest release, Stellar Paradox, marking the start of a bold new chapter in her musical journey. Known to millions for her viral YouTube covers, J.Fla now turns the spotlight firmly onto her own voice with a genre-blending, emotionally charged original that paves the way for her highly anticipated upcoming EP, due in late summer 2025.

Chloe Qisha @ BST Hyde Park 2025 (Kalpesh Patel)

Chloe Qisha Closes The Rainbow Stage In Style At BST Hyde Park 2025

After a tempestuous afternoon that saw Hyde Park lashed by torrential rain and set times thrown into flux, it was Chloe Qisha who restored the calm — and then brought the fire — as she closed the Rainbow Stage on Sunday evening with a confident, emotionally astute set that proved worth the wait.

Lusaint (Jade Vowles)

Lusaint Captures The Ache Of A Sunlit Longing With New Single ‘Summertime’ Ahead Of ‘The Apothecary’ EP

Rising Mancunian star Lusaint has unveiled her latest single Summertime, a smoky, jazz-laced track brimming with emotion and understated power. Arriving in the wake of earlier 2025 releases Joking and Neon Lights, Summertime serves as the final preview before the release of her hotly anticipated new EP The Apothecary, due later this summer.

Tanner Adell @ BST Hyde Park 2025 (Kalpesh Patel)

Tanner Adell Brings Southern Sparkle To The Rainbow Stage At BST Hyde Park 2025

In a festival often dominated by heavyweight pop, Tanner Adell’s mid-afternoon set on the Rainbow Stage offered a thrilling detour into rhinestone-studded country pop — with a Gen Z twist and plenty of attitude. On a stacked BST Hyde Park Sunday that saw Sabrina Carpenter headline the Great Oak Stage for the second time of the weekend, it was Adell who delivered one of the day’s most memorable performances before the heavens opened and drenched London in a biblical downpour.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share Thing