WITH today being ‘National Get Out Your Guitar Day’ Mecca Bingo has conducted a survey to find out the UK’s top ten favourite songs to play ‘air guitar’ to. e Ultimate Air Guitar Songs Revealed
The top two slots are taken by Queen with other entrants including classics by Bon Jovi, Guns ‘n’ Roses, Eric Clapton, Thin Lizzy and Nirvana.
The full list is below –
No 1. Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen
‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ was written by Freddie Mercury for the 1975 album ‘A night at the Opera’ and became a huge success, staying at the top of the UK Singles Chart for nine weeks and topping the charts in Canada, Australia and Ireland. It later became the third best selling single of all time, selling over 6million copies worldwide.
No 2. We Will Rock You – Queen
This was written by Brian May for the 1977 album ‘News of the World’. Since the original release, ‘We Will Rock You’ has been covered and remixed for multiple TV shows, films and concerts worldwide. It has been ranked by the Rolling Stone Magazine as one of the ‘Greatest Songs of All Time’ and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
No 3. Livin’ on a Prayer – Bon Jovi
The song is playable on music video games such as Guitar Hero World Tour and Rock Band, which could be one of the reasons why it has made it to Number 3 on this list. Since the release ‘Livin’ on a Prayer’ has received plenty of success, it hit the Billboard Hot 100 in 2013, and rated as No. 1 on the VH1’s list of the 100 Greatest Songs of the ‘80s.
No 4. Sweet Child o’ Mine – Guns ‘n’ Roses
‘Sweet Child o’ Mine’ featured in G’n’R’s debut album ‘Appetite for Destruction’. It became Guns n’ Roses most successful single and topped the Billboard Hot 1004.
No 5. Bat Out of Hell – Meat Loaf
‘Bat out of Hell’ was the first song of the Bat out of Hell album trilogy, which is one of the best-selling albums of all time, having sold over 43million copies worldwide. A hit musical has been named after this song too ‘Bat Out of Hell The Musical’ which premiered in 2017.
No 6. Layla – Eric Clapton
‘Layla’ was originally released for Clapton’s blues and rock band Derek and the Dominos in 1971. Two versions of the song have achieved chart success but 20 years apart and it is often hailed as being one of the greatest rock songs of all time.
No 7. Eye of the Tiger – Survivor
‘Eye of the Tiger’ was also the theme song to the film Rocky III. In the USA the song held No. 1 in the Billboard Hot 100 for six weeks and it spend 15 consecutive weeks in the top 10. It also peaked as No. 1 in the UK single charts and remained in the charts for four consecutive weeks.
No 8. The Boys Are Back in Town – Thin Lizzy
In 2005, Q magazine placed the single at No. 38 of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks. The single also won an NME award for Best Single in 1976.
No 9. Ace of Spades – Motorhead
‘Ace of Spades’ had huge success by spending 13 consecutive weeks in the UK singles chart, it has also reached the top of the UK Rock & Metal Singles and Albums Charts in 2016.
No 10. Smells Like Team Spirit – Nirvana
‘Smells Like Team Spirit’ was Nirvana’s biggest hit and has been praised as one of the greatest songs in the history of rock music. ‘Smells Like Team Spirit’ received plenty of certifications including topping the Village Voice Pazz & Jop poll, winning two MTV Video Music Awards and topped the charts in several countries.
