The 20 Best Rock Anthems Of The 1960s

By Sarah Norman | April 16, 2023

My Generation

The 1960s were an era where music was changing drastically. In just a few short years electric guitars and bombastic drums overtook the quiet sounds of acoustic guitars and vocal groups, which means that every young person who picked up a six-string did their best to strum out a rock 'n roll anthem.

The following '60s rock anthems are in no order, they're just songs pulsating, groovy songs that we can't turn off whenever we hear them on the radio. From early mod-rock hits to destructive psychedelic tunes that continue to blow our minds, these rock anthems stand the test of time. If only we could hear them again for the first time... 

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source: reddit

In 1965, The Who cracked the world of rock 'n roll wide open with their vicious attack on the very idea of getting older. "My Generation" is a blast of youthful energy that only lasts for a few minutes but sticks in your head forever. Written about the idea of trying to find your place in society as a young person, "My Generation" doesn't pretend to be for everyone. With Roger Daltry's stuttering vocal lines and the uptempo power of Pete Townsend and company, this is a song from the '60s that remains as powerful as when it was released.

Listen: "My Generation" by The Who

(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction

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source: Reddit

This is the single that launched the Rolling Stones into the stratosphere and turned them into more than just another Beatles clone during the British Invasion. With "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction," the Stones told audiences that they wanted more than to hold their hands.

Subtext aside, this song kicks you in the head from the first moment that the distorted riff spills out of your speakers. It's hard to imagine what it must have been like hearing this groovy track for the first time in 1965.

Listen: "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" by The Rolling Stones