1971 Hit Has Been Ranked the 'Best Rock Song of All Time' and It Still Defines Classic Rock

A legendary track released in 1971 has recently been ranked as the "best rock song of all time," topping a list that includes some of the most iconic pieces of music ever recorded. The ranking places the song over tracks from music icons like the Eagles, Queen, The Rolling Stones, and The Beatles. The song that beat them all is Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven."

Who Ranked Led Zeppelin's 1971 Hit ‘Stairway to Heaven’ the Best Rock Song of All Time?

In January 2026, Shortlist published its list of the best rock songs of all time as they spotlighted what they called "legendary tracks that still hit." After decades' worth of tracks that have stood the test of time were considered, the iconic Led Zeppelin song "Stairway to Heaven" was chosen to top the list.

While explaining the pick, Shortlist praised "Stairway to Heaven" for being an epic rock song that "demands to be listened to in full" and delivers"a sonic journey each and every time it’s played." It also noted that the song owes its greatness in part to its "impenetrable" lyrics, its legendary opening arpeggios, and the dramatic shift from an acoustic sound to full-on rock guitar.

Shortlist is far from alone in its choice to honor the place "Stairway to Heaven" holds in music history. In 2024, Rolling Stone placed the song at No. 61 on its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Earlier in 2019, Business Insider included the track as one of the 102 songs everyone should listen to in their lifetime. Those are only two of many examples of the song being celebrated by music experts.

Of course, the opinions that matter most come from everyday fans who simply love rock music. There is a clear reason why listening to "Stairway to Heaven" has become a rite of passage for teenagers who are discovering the music genre for the first time. Many fans, like myself, will never forget feeling shocked the first time we heard it. After all, the track proves rock can be experimental and thrilling all at once. That is why "Stairway to Heaven" has come to define classic rock for so many people. It moves listeners and changes what they expect from the genre.

The Top 20: Shortlist's Best Rock Songs of All Time

• 20. Black Sabbath — "Iron Man" (1970)
• 19. David Bowie — "Heroes" (1977)
• 18. Boston — "More Than A Feeling" (1976)
• 17. Metallica — "Enter Sandman" (1991)
• 16. Bob Dylan — "Like A Rolling Stone" (1965)
• 15. Bruce Springsteen — "Born To Run" (1975)
• 14. The Beatles — "Hey Jude" (1968)
• 13. The Who — "Baba O’Riley" (1971)
• 12. Nirvana — "Smells Like Teen Spirit" (1991)
• 11. The Kinks — "You Really Got Me" (1964)
• 10. Steppenwolf — "Born to Be Wild" (1968)
• 9. The Doors — "Light My Fire" (1967)
• 8. Guns N' Roses — "Sweet Child o' Mine" (1987)
• 7. Lynyrd Skynyrd — "Freebird" (1973)
• 6. Deep Purple — "Smoke on the Water" (1972)
• 5. (tie) AC/DC — "Back in Black" (1980)
• 5. (tie) The Rolling Stones — "Sympathy for the Devil" (1968)
• 4. Eagles — "Hotel California" (1976)
• 3. (tie) Jimi Hendrix — "Purple Haze" (1967)
• 3. (tie) Led Zeppelin — "Whole Lotta Love" (1969)
• 2. Queen — "Bohemian Rhapsody" (1975)
• 1. Led Zeppelin — "Stairway to Heaven" (1971)