5 Popular Rock Songs Your Band Should Cover to Get More Gigs

by Alice Rogers

Here some of the most popular rock songs that people will definitely want to hear live.

  1. Mr. Brightside – The Killers

First released in 2003, it’s the band’s number one song in the U.S. In the UK, it’s the longest charting song in history. To this day, Mr. Brightside remains a staple song at weddings, college parties, indie rock shows, and international music festivals. A song that was made by Millennials for Millennials – but beloved by all generations.

  1. I Can’t Get No Satisfaction – The Rolling Stones

It’s hard to believe that The Rolling Stones’ first number one single in the U.S. was conceptualized by Keith Richards in a dream, but it’s true. This song shows off Keith Richards’ ability to use the famed fuzz pedal as well as his lesser known songwriting talents. I Can’t Get No Satisfaction opens with the most infectious use of the fuzz tone in history, three notes leading the charge in the British blues rock invasion of American shores in ‘65. Followed by Mick Jagger’s passionate retelling of a dream Richards once had, this song is one of the main reasons why The Rolling Stones and their seminal blues rock sound remains heavily popular today.

  1. Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey

In the more than 30 years Journey has been doing live shows, Don’t Stop Believin’ hasn’t had a night off in their set list. There’s a simple reason for this. While it’s not always easy to measure a song’s fame or level of influence on its audience, when a song is officially designated as the most downloaded song of the 20th century, there’s no denying that the people want to hear it.

  1. Livin’ on a Prayer – Bon Jovi

Whether you love it or you hate it, Livin’ on a Prayer continues to be one of the most infectious songs ever written. Whether you’re at a grimy Seattle hole-in-the-wall pub or a sandy karaoke bar on the other side of the world, you’re bound to hear this song at least once a night. And as this year’s recent public sing-alongs have proven, everyone still knows the lyrics. A crowd favorite if there ever was one.

  1. Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen

The only reason this song is last on this list is because not every band is equipped to cover it. Bohemian Rhapsody is not only a popular song, it bridges the gap between musical snobs and Freddie Mercury’s adoring fans. The worst that any critic can say about this song is that it’s overrated, and that’s just because the entire history of rock music has hundreds of songs that can stand comfortably numb beside Bohemian Rhapsody. Be that as it may, there’s arguably no other song in rock history that is as hard to cover as it is popular. No wonder it’s the most streamed song of the 20th century.

These are just a handful of the most popular rock songs that people will want to listen to once live gigs resume. And while these are far from the only songs worth covering, these five are the most in-demand. For the latest gig updates do check out our other articles.

Exclusively written for gigroster.com