Every band has songs with power to overshadow the musicians. When the economic crisis devastated the US in 2008, Rage Against the Machine went to the streets to play by the people and for the people. The show was cancelled, but this didn’t stop the band from singing alongside thousands of fans, “Bulls on Parade” and “Killing in the Name.” They showed the strength and solidarity that music can inspire and to this day these songs have become anthems, which encompass an ideological struggle of a whole country and not just simple songs from a band.
To become an anthem, a song has to break the barrier of time and be praised above the rest by music lovers. It is difficult to explain why there is a solemn air surrounding these songs and why the air becomes charged with power the moment they are played live. The band is also part of this experience, but their voices are added to the millions that sing in tandem to the melody. The guitars, bass guitars, and drums scream louder than ever when the voice of a single ideology is sung.
The NME magazine has a pulse on the beating heart of today’s audience, which is why they left it to the public to choose which are the most symbolic anthems. Many may scoff at this list, believing they don’t truly reflect the best anthems of indie music. However, the people has spoken, and this is the classification we show you today.
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20. The Stone Roses – ‘I Am the Resurrection’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRwR7avc5Oc
It may be the last song of their debut album, but this doesn’t mean the band was amateurish. With almost ten years of experience, The Stone Roses took their time releasing their first album and the wait was well worth it. “I Am the Resurrection” is a grand finale to one of the best discs of the 1990s. This song is a beautiful tribute to The Beach Boys and is influenced by alternative rock that was prevalent in the early 1990s.
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19. Arctic Monkeys – ‘Mardy Bum’
One of the greatest gifts of the internet to the world is the Arctic Monkeys. Their discovery was thanks to MySpace and it changed the way great new bands entered into the public arena. They certainly offer a fresh new sound heralding from Sheffield, England.
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18. Oasis – ‘Cigarrettes & Alcohol’
Epic is the word we use to describe the songs and lyrics of Oasis. No one can deny the great satisfaction that comes from singing at the top of your lungs, “Is it my imagination or have I finally found something worth living for?” There is not a single person who is shaken to the core and at the border of tears by the emotions evoked by this song.
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17. Arctic Monkeys – ‘Fluorescent Adolescent’
A song Alex Turner wrote about the past he shared with his former girlfriend, a song that speaks of time lost changes and the changes we all must suffer when a relationship comes to an end. It is an ode to nostalgia and if you listen carefully to the lyrics you will be taken back in time to the years where your friends were your everything and you would do anything for friendship.
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16. The White Stripes – ‘Seven Nation Army’
One of the most important anthems of contemporary music, it has transcended the barriers of time. We remember how in 2006, during the World Cup, the stadiums were filled to the brim and the spectators were singing this song, egging Italy to become the world’s champion.
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15. The Strokes – ‘Someday’
When The Strokes was discovered, it was quickly considered to be the band that would save rock. This statement still raises some eyebrows, but we cannot deny that ‘Someday’ has all the elements that make up a perfect indie song.
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14. Arctic Monkeys – ‘A Certain Romance’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQYLf2-vkC8
Listening to the Arctic Monkeys live is a unique experience and many attribute it to Alex Turner’s charisma. The reality is a mixture of many elements, one of which is Matt Helder’s frenzied drumming in the first few seconds of the song.
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13. Blur – ‘Song 2’
The band that made its mark in the 1990s and has maintained its musical quality thereafter. The attitude of the musicians is no longer of young rebels who can’t manage fame, but they can certainly bring out the wildest emotions in all of us.
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12. The Smiths – ‘This Charming Man’
The sound of the 1980s is back, and while we know that a reunion of The Smiths is only a dream, we can still revel in their successes. ‘This Charming Man’ is one of the songs that forever changed a decade and we can’t leave it behind.
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11. The Strokes – ‘Reptilia’
A song that breathed new life into Converse by being the iconic song of The Strokes. The music video is also remembered as one of the best of the past decade. “Reptilia” is the song that put The Strokes on the map around the world, and not just English-speaking countries.
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10. Pulp – ‘Common People’
With a single song Pulp shows you don’t need sophisticated guitar riffs to make a song into an anthem. ‘Common People’ is a statement that says we all share an existential doubt about who and what we want to be.
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9. The Verve – ‘Bitter Sweet Symphony’
Many of us remember the soundtrack of Cruel Intentions, but there are others that remember the music video MTV played without stop during 1997. Without a doubt an iconic anthem of the 1990s that if you listen to it today, you will start to sing it with all your strength.
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8. The Smiths – ‘There Is A Light That Never Goes Out’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-cD4oLk_D0
Morrissey and co many not have a song more famous than this one. This song is a declaration of a love that is both tragic and romantic. It is perfect for inveterate romantics and lovers of independent music.
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7. Joy Division – ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’
If Morrissey’s music is tragic, then Joy Division is worthy of any of Shakespeare’s tragedies. ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’ is a sad farewell from Ian Curtis to the world, and it became an anthem that today continues to remind us of a genius who could not bear life as we know it.
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6. Arctic Monkeys – ‘I Bet You Look Good on the Dance Floor’
NME readers are obsessed with this band, since it is profiled several times on this list. Who are we to judge when all of the songs that were chosen have the perfect formula that makes them into indie music anthems? The Arctic Monkeys have the power to make you sing and dance all at once.
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5. The Libertines – ‘Can’t Stand Me Now’
Pete Doherty and Carl Barat’s legendary band had to appear at least once. They exported their unique London style to the world and showed that rock will always have something new to offer.
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4. The Strokes – ‘Last Nite’
Julian Casablancas’ raspy voice skims close to hours of drinking whisky and playing garage rock. The collaboration with Daft Punk is a departure from this style, but we will always go back to the voice, guitar, and drums that brought rock back to life and gave blues a second wind.
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3. Oasis – ‘Live Forever’
The chorus of this song makes the audiences go wild. The nihilism and existentialism of the English is resumed in four minutes and a half, showing that indie music is much more than women, parties, and broken loves.
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2. The Killers – ‘Mr. Brightside’
The Killers occupies one of the top places of this list and while the following statement may sound sacrilegious, in our eyes it is the band that gave a new identity to the word indie. Now, it means independence and a strong musical movement of the past decade.
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1. The Killers – ‘When You Were Young’
A special edition vinyl of “Sam’s Town” was launched to celebrate the band’s tenth anniversary and it was the first song of said album. At that time, The Killers was the most celebrated band on the planet and the first single of this production made audiences, media, and even the game industry stand up and pay attention. If you lived through that decade, you surely played the song in Rock Band.
