Ever since the trail blazing success of “Lick my Love Pump,” rock bands have been utilizing the piano to pull their sound up to another majestical musical tier.
Without further ado…
The Top 11 Rock Songs that Leverage the Full Pounding Power of the Piano
11. Clocks – Coldplay
Coldplay could very easily rise to the type of ‘yyyuugeness’ that U2 and REM enjoy today. This piano riffing song is among the first songs to really spring board them into the lime light.
10. Trashcan – Delta Spirit
San Diego rockers Delta Spirit employ the piano to achieve a bluesy Americana sounding rock song. +4 for incorporating a trash can lid as well as the piano – Oscar would be proud.
9. Great Balls of Fire – Jerry Lee Lewis
One of the first Rock and Rollers, Jerry Lee Lewis would usually kick the piano bench out of the way to play, slam on the keys for dramatic effect and once reportedly ended a live set by setting his piano on fire because he was not the headlining act. The song Great Balls of Fire was his most famous, although the song was heavily criticized in it’s time due to some of it’s suggestive sexual tones.
8. November Rain – Guns N Roses
A type of rock ballad, this song was Axl Rose’s work in progress from 1983 until it’s release in 1992. Best known for it’s guitar solo, or it would’ve placed higher. (Also had to make the list for Purvis.)
7. Good Day - Jukebox the Ghost
Need a pick me up piano song? Look no further my friends for this little diddy is sure to put a pop in your step. This D.C. band would not be denied this piano rock list, what with being commonly compared to Ben Folds and “even a muted incarnation of Queen.”
6. Zac and Sara – Ben Folds
I’m sure you read the title of this post and thought “Ben. Folds.” And you would’ve thunked correctly. One could pick almost any Ben Folds song to make this list, but Zac and Sara gets the nod for it’s hyper piano domination throughout the entire song.
5. The Denial Twist – The White Stripes
The talented Jack White dabbles with many different instruments to implement The White Stripes different songs – and does so deliciously with the piano in The Denial Twist. The White Stripes standard minimalistic approach only enhances the use of the piano. Bonus points for the (funny) Conan cameo.
4. Right Now – Van Halen
Hearing the beginning of this stadium ballad immediately transports me back to one Knoch High School football locker room, and I’m ready to run through a brick wall (and help our team achieve that 1-9 record). Is it just me, or did lead singer Sammy Hagar base his dress/look off of Harry?
3. Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen
The most unique song to make our piano rock list, with no chorus and which follows the strange structure of ballad, guitar solo, opera, rock and finally outro; but still has the piano intertwined throughout most of the parts. Fun Fact: The piano used in this music video is the same used by Paul McCartney to record Hey Jude.
2. Stuck Between Stations – Hold Steady
Currently the greatest piano rock band out there, the Hold Steady pull in the No. 2 spot. If you’re not yet familiar with this band, do us all a favor and look ‘em up. Part of the lure is their story – they are a band of burnt out thirty somethings who reassembled after unsuccessfully trying different paths a few years ago; and their experience and sense of sincerity comes through in their music. All we can do is hope we are half as cool when we’re all 30.
1. Hurt – NIN
This song was dubbed as ‘the most accurate song about addiction I’ve ever heard’ by JR Cash, who knew a thing or two about that demon. The song is chillingly executed solely by Trent Reznor and a haunting piano, only having his band join in near the end to place a large exclamation point on the lyrics “If I could start again / A million miles away / I would keep myself / I would find a way”
Honorable mentions:
I Don’t Like Mondays – Boomtown Rats
Our Life is Not a Movie – Okkervil River
Thunder Road – Bruce Springsteen
Colorblind – Counting Crows
Werewolves of London – Warren Zevon
Gettin’ Grown – Cee-Lo (Abe)
Tags: Bundled Beats · Piano Rock · Rocking Rock · Spinal Tap Easter Egg · Top 114 Comments
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again, really enjoying this unbeknown-to-me knowledge of music you have – i liked the countdown and may well have to redownload limewire to get some of these songs.
it’s purvEs with an E not an I. Tell wiley that while you’re at it
Solid list. A few comments, then I will retort with my own list:
Denial Twist- solid pick, and one of my more favorite music videos as of late. Also, off the White Stripes “Get Behind Me Satan” album is “My Doorbell,” which also prominently features the piano.
The Okkervil River Song is titled “Our Life is Not a Movie Or Maybe.”
You know how I know you’re gay? You put Coldplay on this list.
“Hurt” also features a guitar, which enters pretty early in the song.
On to my picks (in no particular order):
1. “Colorshow” by the Avett Brothers
2. “Layla” by Derek and the Dominoes (The full-on version, not that pussy shit Clapton put out years later. Check out the piano on the outro).
3. “Magnetized” by Laura Veirs (Not piano-heavy, but solid use is made of it)
4. “I Need You” by Dan Bern
5. “Go With the Flow” by Queens of the Stone Age (not at the forefront, but really complements the song with constant banging in the background)
6. “Karma Police” by Radiohead
7. “Call it a Ritual” by Wolf Parade
8. “That’s How I Knew This Story Would Break My Heart” by Aimee Mann
9. Does Keyboard count as piano? If so, see anything by the Doors.
@Scotka: Yea, I was really close to clipping Coldplay off the list, but after all the critical acclaim they’ve received, I felt obligated to at least give them a spot (albeit the last one).
I can’t believe I forgot about my boy Dan Bern! Great call. “My Doorbell” is a good WS song, but I felt Denial Twist had more piano in it. Also thought about some Radiohead, but alas, I’m not a big fan of them (gasp!)
Overall, I agree with your playlist. You credit some of the best rock artists that have ever wielded a piano keyboard. However, I feel you seriously denied Something Corporate / Jack’s Mannequin – they’d be number 3 or 2 in my playlist.
Evidence: Dark Blue – Jack’s Mannequin.
The solo piano at the beginning grabs attention as the bass drum and later the rest of the band joins in. The simple piano rift holds the whole song together and sets the tone for the lyrics. Simple variations on the few notes take place through the whole song making the piano the underlying centerpiece, while the electric guitar takes the melody. All together, it makes for a poppy piano rock marriage.
Plus the lead singer beat cancer, how can you deny a cancer survivor?