Wildcats, we’re reaching a point in the semester where midterms are over and we’re starting to fade away. We’re getting tired of going to class, doing homework and the usual rigmarole of college life. To liven up your souls, we’ve got a little chicken noodle soup in the form of good old rock n’ roll for that extra kick to make it through the rest of the semester. With memorable lyrics and catchy beats, these songs are essential for the soundtrack of your lives.
1. “Rock of Ages” by Def Leppard
Life is about a lot of things; having fun and being in the moment is one of them. So “rise up, gather round” and “rock this place to the ground” because “it’s better to burn out … than fade away.”
2. “Silent Lucidity” by Queensryche
Geoff Tate lulls us with beautiful lyrics in synchronization with the bewitching melody. “Face your fears, retrace the years and ride the whims of your mind” in “silent lucidity.”
3. “Nothing Else Matters” by Metallica
James Hetfield reminds us that “life is ours, we live it our way.” That’s the way it should be, because “nothing else matters.”
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4. “Veteran of the Psychic Wars” by Blue Oyster Cult
“You’re seeing now a veteran of a thousand psychic wars” are Eric Bloom’s universal opening lyrics. No matter what you’ve been through, the fact that you’ve lived through it proves that you’re a veteran and have persevered in one piece. Do yourself a favor, and “don’t let these shakes go on!”
5. “Who Do You Love?” by George Thorogood and the Destroyers
“Who do you love?” Well, it’s a given we love George Thorogood and this song. It’s catchy, it’s rock ‘n’ roll and it’s thoroughly good.
6. “Come As You Are” by Nirvana
Kurt Cobain sings about being yourself, foregoing all else, because that’s how it should be. So, “take your time, hurry up, the choice is yours” and “come as you are, as you were.”
7. “Paradise City” by Guns N’ Roses
“Take me down to the paradise city, where the grass is green and the girls are pretty,” are Axl Rose’s opening lyrics to a reimagined utopia of the 1950s original American Dream. We’re all looking for a “paradise city” in one form or another, which is what makes this Guns N’ Roses classic a favorite.
8. “I’m Eighteen” by Alice Cooper
“I’m 18, and I don’t know what I want.” Alice Cooper couldn’t put it any better. Most of us in college are 18 and older, only too familiar with this notion. “Feels like I’m livin’ in the middle of doubt.” Yet, while not knowing what your future entails is scary, it’s also freeing and thrilling with so many possibilities in store. “Eighteen and I like it!”
9. “Road to Nowhere” by Ozzy Osbourne
Sometimes, when things are uncertain or bleak, and it seems darkness looms upon the horizon, we feel “the road to nowhere leads to me.” However, all roads lead somewhere, Wildcats, so keep going and “live for today and not tomorrow.”
10. “And the Cradle Will Rock” by Van Halen
A song about the rock and roll party lifestyle and its captivation, this is rock and roll at its finest hour. Take a cue from David Lee Roth and “rock on, rock on, rock on…”
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