The Top 10 Rock Songs Black People Love, A Post Written By A Black Person

Wow. You hate music!

Personally, I love everyone – and as long as it ain’t country – the music is good too. But this article should have been titled “10 Songs by White People…” since only 25% of this list should be classified as Rock.

Frank Sinatra? Bitch kill yourself. “Every black person listens to Steely Dan” Oh yea? Btw, who is Steely Dan?

This post is so out of touch. Black people “worship” Frank Sinatra?

You must be sooo bored. Seriously, why is it so many Americans have to find a way to link race to everything? You should see how our Kenyan Electro/House events are filled with blacks, whites, asians and mixed race people. No one ever gives a crap. I’m female, black and African and I don’t like ANY of these songs. Who gives a crap what songs a certain race likes most? It’s weird to try and group an entire people with certain songs. I was listening to Pumped Up Kicks by Foster the People long before it became a crossover hit. I like Indie, House, Electro, Rock, R&B, Neo Soul, whatever – any music that sounds good (except pop). “A post written by a black person” is that meant to validate your opinion or something? So give me a break with the narrow-minded generalisations. Black, White, Asian or whatever, who the hell cares??? It’s music, don’t go polarising it.

Im a white guy but not avarage these days. Don’t like hip hop or r&b at all it dosent speak to me or my situation at all. By the way I have tons of really close friends tht are black spanish asian native &so on we like metal ,punk hardcore .music with a point not just showing off cars & bling or smoking a blun.t our girls are not all bitches.A friend is not my son or another degrading word repeated way to often. Were not doing so well though forclosed houses no working class jobs left ,destroyed middleclass .The music is loud angry & powerful were in a class war against the rich all of us.

I’m black and love rock music so I don’t count but as wary as my folks are of my musical taste they love the Police

The rolling stones or the beetles ?
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1052525548

Well,rap SUCKS anyway,so no need to-in my opinion-go there but….”Eighteen And Life To Go,”(Skid Row”),”All-American Nightmare”(Hinder),ALMOST ANYTHING by either AC/DC or
Thin Lizzy(who as a group,along with the Irish lads’ late,great front-man,Phil Lynott,should be in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame,not to mention Lynott was a BLACK Irish lad!!!),and LOTS of Judas Priest,Van Halen,Twisted Sister,Quiet Riot and other metal blasts turn this on this boy’s engine!!!

Long before I knew anything about Tom Tom Club or it’s parent group Talking Heads I heard black people (actually hispanic people embracing black music) listening to Rappy Rappinghood. I’d say Blood, Sweat, and Tears should be on the list as well.

It’s interesting how you came about this poll. I do take issue over the songs selected, but then again it was a girl who wrote it, so what would she know about real rock music. As a self-described head banger/punk, I’m usually the only one at a concert, in San Francisco.

First of all, funk was rock for black people. It was just bass driven instead of guitar driven. The Ohio Players, Slave, and Funkadelic all had reverence for Jimi Hendrix and worked hard to emulate him. Just listen to the guitar solo of “Maggot Brain”. Eddie Hazel is just as good as Jimmy Page or Brian May (I love all three). Rage Against the Machine had one of the greatest guitar players of modern rock (Tom Morello). I guess most black people would like Duran Duran because they had a beat, or Bowie because he was just super cool.

On the lighter side of rock, I guess Duran, Blondie, Bowie, Kraftwerk, Steely Dan, Zep, The Stones would all be likely guesses. I want to meet the group who listens to Queen, BRMC, The Mars Volta, Budgie, G N R, Bad Brains (a black group), Rush, Queens of the Stone Age, Television, Wolfmother, Jet, BLK JKS (an African group), TV on the Radio (another black group), Eagles of Death Metal, Joan Jett, or Ultra Voxx for that matter.

What you should have ask was “Who Are The Great Black Rockers?” I’ll help you out:

Chuck Berry
Little Richard
Richard Johnson
Jimi Hendrix
Nina Simone
Betty Davis
Bad Brains
Living Color
Kele from Bloc Party
TV on The Radio
Tom Morello and Zac de la Rocca (Rage Against the Machine)
BLK JKS
Sistas In The Pit (first all black female power trio)
Tina Turner
Kamara Thomas (Earl Greyhound)
Mick Collins (The Dirtbombs)
etc, etc, etc

Also, why do you assume that rap music is the default music for black people to listen? stop pigeonholing. we’re all unique people.. I don’t care what color someone is when I’m listening to their music. And out of that list you put I like David Bowie, Aerosmith, Elton John, Nirvana, Queen, U2, The Police, and The Rolling Stones.

I like you, Jalina. I REALLY like you!

Most of these comments had me laughing. Saw both Guns N Roses and AC/DC in L.A. back in the early 90s and saw maybe a half-dozen black folks. Maybe blacks would listen to the song on the radio, but they aren’t going to buy the album or go to a concert. Just like many whites and hip-hop. Reminds me of while watching a Pistons playoff game last year, Rasheed Wallace is noticeably grooving to and lip-synching the chorus to “Paradise City” during a timeout. That had smiling. A question for any blacks that might still be following the posted comments, do blacks generally like Van Morrison? Saw him last year in Detroit and only saw a handful of blacks. I figured his music would be appealing to blacks????

those blax were on PCP. They thought it was a flag of jamaica. gotta watch what you smoke, stick with pot.

obama is the antichrist 666

Hey “L” we have something in common, cuz i L O V E twisting people’s nipples!

I only eat my peas chic’d. May I say, Mrs. 1st Lady, its nice that you actually take the time to write on 2-bit websites that only a handful of people ever look at. P.S., cant wait to kick your ass in November!

obama is the antichrist 666

Does anyone have any idea what this cracker just said?

did i mention how much i can benchpress? iam up to 400 pounds now and if anyone ever sugests that i am anything less than a man i want you to give me your email adress and i will come over to your house and we can do this like men. i may have anger issues, but i am not a rasist. and my iq is alot higher than most of the idiots on here. metalbuoy, barack obama mrs, all you dum people on here, here is my email. guanorocks@hotmail.com give me your address, if you are man enough and i wil kcik your ass.

After reading you racist ppls bull shit i laughed. My dads white and my moms black. I think all you dumb fucks are just angry because for one black people always think about slavery bull shit that happened before anyone on earths time and are instantly emotionally traumatized by middle school. Thats why big o black dudes try to be all macho and shit. So when a white dude mouths of they can smash him. But while the black men are eating everything, lifting heavy ass weights, and becoming a monster,the punny little white nerd is sittin back reading and trying not to say anything racist. The white guys also thinking i gotta be smarter than all the black guys so when i get older i can simply not let the black guys who try to get a job from me get a job. No, this isnt everybody, but it is these people who are at the blood and guts of this racist war. As a mixed dude im pursuing my phd and im benching 365 right now.As my duty as a citizen i will sniff out you sneaky racist people and help your life lead to poverty. And if you say something to my face i will smash you black or white. Get your noses out your asses and do whats right, school, college, job then family.blah blah blah. thats what lifes about. And remember that music doesnt make you smarter. If anything it just stimulates your emotions and in a way makes you dummer.

I FUCKIN HATE PEOPLE WHO ARE RACIST. I NO SOME PPL WHO ARE BLACK AND THEY ARE RACIST. I THINK THATS GODDAMN FUCKIN EL STUPIDO. I MEAN WHT THE HELL. I HAD FOSTER PARENTS WHO WERE BLACK AND I WAS SOMETIMES THE ONLY WHITE PERSON AND I ACT LIKE I’M BLACK BUT THAT’S JUST ME…………………………………………………………………. IF ANYBODY WANTS TO TALK TO ME ABOUT HATEING FUCKIN RACIST PPL TXT ME AT MARYHANNAHGIBSON@ROCKETMAIL.COM!
(AND FOR THE IDIOTS I’M NOT FUCKIN HANNAH MONTANA)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

First let me say I don’t care what comment’s you make in reference to grammar I ‘m not writting an essay or trying to impress you and I could care less what you say I have 2 degree’s from lilly white univerities however if that stoke’s your white supremacy ego.English is not my 1st language this is another I could care less of what you think.I hate that you twist my word’s (typical) I never said allevery form of music came from Africa .the fact I pointed out was about popular music in America in how all the form’s derive from african descent people in the u.s.a. you have the nerve to call yourself Mrs.Barack Obama what a conflict of ideal’s.Europe invaded Africa and destroyed it with the help of sale out Black’s this is why Africa is in the shape it’s in. it’s not because your kind is superior in anyway. I have close white friend’s that would also say you are a closet racist in denial but that’s your problem.I think you and sho-nuff are the basis of why the u.s.a. can’t progress.To everyone else that read’s this understand I don’t mean every white person only the racist one’s like Mrs.? ? and sho-nuff which is also a Black slang term in inner city’s used in the 70′s what a nerve.I really detest these kind’s of peopl.

Well, this page has officially devolved into bad vibes, pointless bickering and stupidity at its lowest level. Thanks for ruining a great and interesting conversation, shonuff and tewrowos.

I have been subscribed to this conversation thread for over two years. It was fun while it lasted, but obviously you can’t keep out idiots on the internet.

I am officially unsubscribing. Good luck everyone else.

Always a goddess,are you a babe?

Twodrowos: “African music is the ONLY music that’s travelled from country to country?” I just peed myself laughing! Maybe you can explain to all of us ignorant white folks how classical music developed from its African roots. Also, I’d like to know exactly how I distorted history? What IS the problem, Twodrowos? I think I might know.

sho nuff what is the problem ?AFRICA is the craddle of civilization everyone should know that,however the problem is how some white people like (yourself) have a tendency to distort fact’s and history.The most influential music in the world is music created by AFRICAN descent people period.stop making it a big deal it’s just a fact.African american music be it Blue’s ,hip hop,rock,jazz,funk ,etc is the only music that travel’s from country to country.Europe as white as it is has a whole British invasion based on the influence of Black music,even Arab’s in the middle east rock hip hop.white folk’s in Australia rock funk check out wa ne ne & midnight oil,you fool get over your racist denial.White people created the problem of race not Black’s so face the fact,as a matter of fact check out TIM WISE who is white and honest unlike you, or check out a Mick Jagger or David Bowie’s interview,or even a Jhon Lennon interview you dumb ass….

jason you need to acknowledge the fact’s whocares started the whole thing I just responded with the fact’s not racist intent as you stated.I would past any of your IQ test
I’m with MENSA for your information.you should never make a statment before the fact’s are known.I’m sorry you were offended by obvious truth.

whocare’s,you are really in denial ROCK-N-ROLL was created by Black’s period.the white’s you speak of doing rock before elvis were simply copying Black’s,weak hillbillie swing sucker’s like Bill Haley in the comets were copying BIG JOE TURNER,and so was any other white so called Rock artist at that time.Country music for your information has root’s in AFRICA and theONLY WHITE GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO COUNTRY are Irish white people and some German’s.(that’s it).the root’s of Country were tied into the African’s doing slavery(watch ROOT’S) bitch.who and hell you think played the fucking music why the White folk’s were dancing in the deep south. you may also want to watch gone with the wind it’s shown in this american classic.
Black people have also alway’s had their own type of folk music in case you did’nt know listern to LEADBELLY,ODETTA,TRACY CHAPMAN,our folk music influenced your’s bitch whoin hell you think inspired Pete Seager,Bob Dylan,and other white freedom singer’s.who cares you are truly an example of a weak in denial person,just so you know the Banjo was originally called the KO and came from west Africa,the guitar came from Africa too.The Drum was also developed there in case you did’nt know.The instrument’s that Black’s used here in America had never been played like that before.NO one played the trumpet like Louis Armstrong,No one had ever played a Guitar like ROBERT JOHNSON(exception maybe Jimi Hendrix)Drum’s had never been played the way Max Roache played them.and No one had ever played the sax like Jhon Coltrane & Charlie parker.just about any great white artist you can name I can show you how they borrowed ,stole or copied from some BLACK person who may have never recieved credit.The Beatles were skiffle band (that music came from BLACK’S),THE Rolling stones even took their name from a MUDDY WATERS record not just their sound.most WHITE people are in so much denial when it come’s to giving PEOPLE credit for anything,not just Black’s any group the first cowboy’s were Mexican’s ,The original land owner’s in America are native American’s,Chinese people along with Black’s laid down the railroad.I can go into science ,math ,invention’s of any kind and show you how Whitep have historcally distorted everything in the U.S.A.including ROCK-N-ROLL which is truly a BLACK ART FORM just like HIP HOP,BLUES,COUNTRY,SOUL,FUNK ,REGGAE,SKA,even Punk rock has root’s in Reggae.read the book hammer of god about the group LED ZEPPLIN perhap’s it will break your chain’s of denial …if you have anything else to say get at me bitchhhhhhhhhhhh…

“an evolution of white blues”

Sorry, in the above I meant to type “of blues”, or “of black blues”.

Okay, I’m not black (I’m a mixed race Australian) but I have an African American brother in law so I consulted him.

His response was that, as a rule, most black people enjoy rock music that was big when they were growing up along with “black” music. For instance, he grew up in the early 1990s and he’s a huge Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Black Crowes fan. His dad, on the other hand, loves him some Queen and Zeppelin.

halla yooo im black and i like rock hahahaha yoo

There’s a common thread in the comments here and in the previous post about rap. It goes something like this:

“I’m [insert race here] and I don’t like and do every single thing that you say [insert race here] people do. Therefore you are racist and you suck. I clearly don’t get that not everything in this world is meant to be taken absolutely seriously.”

Well back in the 70s, we (Blacks in Baltimore) first started grooving off of the Doobie Brothers. Every respectable band could play “Long Train Running”. Three Dog Night got much play. Elton’s Bennie and the Jet’s turned the tide completely, after that one we were game for any White Artist who could groove us. The Osmonds had a huge hit w/One Bad Apple, although we thought they were poor Jackson 5 imitators. Of course AWB was in there. As for recently, you left out Eminem who in Vibe Mag just last year, won best rapper of all time in a landslide readers vote. And Justin Timberlake gets mad respect for singing and dancing! Britney made us sit up and take notice! And yes, Older Black People loved some Frank Sinatra. I grew up listening to his music because my grandmother raised me! Fly Me to the Moon? And let’s not forget Tony Bennett, all my older relatives loved him, along w/Judy Garland. I even have Sinatra’s “Young at Heart” on my MP3. Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody is still a favorite in my family. We all get together and act out the song during Holidays.

Matt you dummy, you’ve got a D and an F in your A’s. Can’t you alphabetize? You’re supposed to sort by last name, else face my ridicule on the interwebs.

And are we supposed to think you’re Abraham Lincoln 2009 because you have at least two black artists on your iPod?

Anyways, I’ll play along. My A’s are: Acid Bath, Adam & the Ants, Add N to (X), Adult., Aesop Rock, Air, Air Miami, Alexkid, Alien Sex Fiend, Ellen Allien, Tori Amos, … And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead, Android Lust, Animal Collective, The Animals, Aphex Twin, The Arcade Fire, Arctic Monkeys, Atari Teenage Riot, Juan Atkins, Atlas Sound, Attrition and Autechre.

Oh wait, no black artists in my “A” section!? Guess that means my redneck ass will be joinin’ the KKK, hyuck hyuck!

Black people love Metallica. Especially Enter Sandman. They think Metallica is just the ultimate metal band. When I was in high school some of them liked Rage Against the Machine and Red Hot Chillie Peppers.

I know before I even post that I’m in a minority. I am a black male who loves folk music. I grew up in the 60′s, 70′s (I’m 53 now) and my album collection included Joan Baez, Janis Ian, Richie Havens (a black dude who sings folk music), Joan Armatrading (not exactly folk, but close to it).
Come on now, nobody can’t tell me that “City of New Orleans” by Arlo Guthrie is not a great song.
Sarah, I remember when I used to work at Six flags. I was only 18, and I remember this white guy used to sing “Take it Easy” all the time. That’s how I got into the Eagles.

I can’t believe no one mentioned David Bowie’s “Fame”….

I think you’re missing the quintessential difference between “Rockin’ songs that black people love” and “Rock songs that black people love”. Plus, who made you the president of of black people? Not only that, show me a black person nowadays, and I’ll point out that they’re not half as black as they think they are. Colour and culture nowadays is just another label in a world that’s far more homogenous than ethnic seperatists would like to believe.

im 100% black and i have to say that every single song on here sucks massive throbbing cock. i dont know where you got the notion that black people love these songs. your a retard.

No Beatles music?

P.P.S. – No offense taken. I thought this stuff was pretty darn funny. Now, that’s all ^_^

To the people who said, “rock is black music.” Not really, not anymore. Things have changed enough since the 1940s and 50s to safely say, it’s white music. Even then, it was largely influenced by country music, which is strictly white. What it really comes down to, it’s all western music. Stuff middle-easterners wouldn’t make. Color has pretty much nothing to do with it.

Really great post denellie. Very well said.

… I think.

Actually, what the fuck did you just say? Can I get a translator?

Hilarious post andre. I love your example of “Fishbone, 24-7 Spyz, Eric Gales and Cody Chestnutt” not getting any respect because they’re black – haha, it’s because they fucking suck. How can you say black rockers don’t get respect when Chuck Berry is considered the father of rock ‘n roll, Jimi Hendrix is considered the best rock guitarist ever, Funkadelic are considered the best funk-rock band ever, Bad Brains are considered the best hardcore punk band ever, etc. And if you hadn’t noticed, one of THE hottest “alternative rock” groups out there right now is TV on the Radio, who’s last two albums were widely voted album of the year in 2006 and 2008. I have all of these respected black rock artists in my collection and many more – you can keep your crappy 24-7 Spyz.

As was said earlier. Rock n Roll wasn’t created by black or white people. Just like Jazz and most American Art forms it was the convergence of many cultural influences that created rock n roll. You can trace the influences as muck back to Ireland as you can to West Africa. The early rock n’ roll cats were hugely influenced by country which is why I don’t understand why black people forgot their contribution to the American songbook other then hip hop and R&B. All American music is pretty much related. You have to include U2 since the the Irish were pretty much Europe’s black people :-) and The Joshua Tree and Rattle and Hum are basically them trying to do American roots music. “I still haven’t found what I’m looking for” is a gospel song in disguise. You think you get strange looks for being black and liking popular rock try being black and liking some of the so called sub genres like indie or alt country. I love me some Neko Case, Ryan Adams, or Gillian Welch. To me this music has much more soul, sentiment and passion then what passes for R&B these days and I can see the influence that goes back before rock and into the music of black American folk artists like Leadbelly.

This is a really hot list. I have one for ya..

Ambrosia

Biggest Part Of Me
How much I Feel
Your The Only Woman

Hey, where the love for Rick Springfield? I know for a FACT sistas loved seeing him as Dr. Noah Drake on GH, and more than a few black women have thrown themselves at him at concerts, too….and as for brothas? Well, they wish they had Jesse’s girl too even if they won’t admit it to each other lol

black women love creed.

Actually, rock music is the product of White AND black roots. Specifically early rock music is the convergence of the country music of poor Southern whites and the gospel/R&B of poor Southern blacks. Hank Williams Sr. is every bit a part of the formation of rock and roll as Little Richard and Chuck Berry are. (And Ike Turner…since he was part of Jackie Brenston’s Delta Cats and “Rocket ’88″ might very well be the first rock record.)

The Rolling Stones!!!! (Have all their hits)!! Michael MacDonald (still listening)

I am 30 year old black woman and I absolutely love anything from Billy Idol. From Generation X to Devil’s Playground he never made a bad song ,not ever!! The Killers are good and I like Queens Of The Stoneage, a little AC/DC and throw in some Black Sabbath. There are to many more to mention. Rock is awesome.

If white people are calling your list of rap songs that white people love “racist,” they really need to calm down.

I thought it was hilarious, although I only really like about half of the songs in the actual top ten. I loved almost ALL of the songs in the Honorable Mentions section. :D

whatever..imblack..i listen to nothing BUT striaght up metal..death,blac,metalcore..and i go to shows too..

Okay, I’m not being a bitchy whiny finger-pointer. I just simply want to say that I do feel that it is a stereotype to say “be careful not to spill your jamba juice on your macbook” Not ALL white people drink jamba juice, I, personally have never stepped foot into one, niether do I own a macbook. I was raised in various parts of the country, mostly the south, where black culture was very prominent.

Though I consider myself a well-educated white young woman, I attended a mostly black school, had alot of black freinds, down to being raised sowing weave and gluing tracks.

So, by saying things in that way, you are generalizing white people in a way that could be construde as “racist” or offensive, though I do not believe that is your purpose. Just think about if someone in the same place as you to say “Don’t spill your kool-aid, or get fried chicken grease on your def jam dvd” rude, well, so was the aforementioned comment.

Otherwise, I did enjoy your list, I found it quite surprising, although I had a few takebacks when a few of my more cultured black friends came to my house and started singing to my beatles album.

Take care, and take care of eachother

Hello im black man I was born in England but grew up in los angeles, an love rock music, new and classic I even have hundreds of softrock music on mp3 player I like Coldplay, Boston, the eagles, 80′s heavy metal I wish i had the money to see “the police live, I wish I had the time to see more live shows but I have to many bill to pay I have an 80 Gig Ipod and about 90% of the music and videos is rock, to classic rock, punkrock I guess my fav bands is aerosmith, led zeplin, “Nirvana” I wish I was old enough back then to see them, but I was 8 when kurt died Queen, the roling stones “green day, “incubus”-I saw them live at the great western fourm, I want to see matallica and U2, even Elton john but its too expensive I also love “RATM” Love RATM” NIN, SLIPKNOT, ACDC, The hives the Strokes, The white stripes, KISS, “Linkin Park-saw them live at the long beach area, right not im listening to the best of iron maden and 100 greatest guitar solos I download from the piratebay, and playing alot of guitar hero 2 and 3 the hardest part about being a young black man who like rock music is, your always the only black person in line to get into the arena to see the show, it can be quite embarrassing and funny because everyone talks to me, to see what kind of music im interested in, and its almost impossible to find a black girlfrend who like the same kind of music.
If anyone know any kind of fourm or site for people like me, email me

I’m black and I haven’t heard of a lot of the songs on the list. Some songs that me and my friends like that should have been included:
Any song from Nirvana’s 1st album.
“Personal Jesus”-Depeche Mode
“Feel like making love”-???
“Shout”-Tears for Fears

For old school urban memories:
http://30sumthin.blogspot.com/

how can i forget fiona apple?!?!?!

Seriously, no love for Living Colour? THEY WERE A BLACK METAL BAND FOR GOD’S SAKE!

One of my favorite high school memories was Phil, the bus driver in my sophomore year. Looked like every white man’s nightmare, but loved his metal. He had a cassette player (sorry, it was the early eighties) installed in the bus and we’d ride to school rocking out to Iron Maiden or AC/DC. Every time I hear “Run To The Hills” I think of him.

Fiona apple- Criminal.

Alanis Morrisette – Jagged Little Pill

My one and only black friend is solely responsible for forcing me to love death metal. He played it all the time. The funny thing is he had a huge sound system in his car, but instead of rap he was playing Morbid Angel. It made for lots of awkward moments sitting at red lights.

How was Linkin Park left off of this list? I have yet to meet a black person who does not worship them.

This black girl has to agree with most of the list, especially Jane Child! Also want to add:

Under the Bridge, Red Hot Chili Peppers
Black Hole Sun- Soundgarden
Bohemian Rhapsody- Queen

Well, I’m black, and I’ve never heard of half the things on that list, BUT I will wholeheartedly second “Benny and Jets” as a song that needs to be on this list (and I know my mom would too)…even if it’s not so much rock. And the Average White Band is the shit, they should be number 1. These articles are hilarious.

I’m black and I listen to lots of rock. Impressive amounts, in fact (at least my white and black friends are impressed), although I am terrible at remembering song and band names in many cases. First off: The original post was wack. All the posters are awesome, and the real list should be taken from the posts. The best thing about reading all this was going and finding all the songs on the net that I was unfamiliar with, playing them, and then recognizing EVERY SINGLE ONE within a few bars, and then rocking out! Kudos to all the real music know-it-alls who posted.

You forgot ICP, yo.

in response to rick with the new “artist” kissimitry promotion.. i swear i dont mean any offense to you, but -i checked it out. and what i heard on the youtube clip reminded me of some over 40′s suburbanite, musically undeucated white males sitting behind a big corporate table passing this off as a concept song for a fast food chain or a phone company trying to expand its marketability to “urban audiences”. just because you throw a black person and some music that isnt made entirely by a live band together doesnt make them some kind of groundbreaking genius, a paragon, and hopefully not an indication where a sub-genre of music that has the potential for allowing creative greatness (such as crunk-rock, rapcore) is headed. kissimistrys music sounds like a delusional idea of a mass marketing scheme to make money in the bubblegum-pop music market with the watered down/made for network television “beat”. its almost as if the producers of this song are going for “black effect”.. or “just urban enough- but not TOO much, so that white parents will still let their little girls buy the album. i have been a dj and worked in the music indusrty (PR and marketing) for 12 years.- no i do not think this qualifies me as an expert on music of any genre, but i do know i would be EMBARASSED for anyone promoting this song as any type of representation of “hip hop”. crunk, or otherwise. just my opinion. not an attack.

I’m white but I’m going to respond anyway. I grew up with mostly African American friends. To me most of them just liked good rebellion music which is ultimately rock music if you study the roots of rock. Therefore, blacks have been running rock since day one and haven’t stopped.

(60s-70s) Chuck Berry, Lil Richard, James Brown, etc.
(70s-80s)Sly & Family Stone, Whole Funkadelice movement,etc
(80s-90s) Prince, Jacko, NWA, Public Enemy (Rap),
(2000s) New movement where hip hop crosses over to it’s roots of rock like Shop Boyz, Crunk Rock, Lil John, and new artist Kissimistry who mixes them both perfectly. She just left underground to sign to a major to prove my point. You can check her out a little here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZH8dvBhOks

OK…

So to whomever said that U2 gets a pass, you are SO WRONG. Just because BB King was on “When Love Comes To Town” does not make U2 funky.

Kraftwerk is a BIG Black folks club staple, especially in Chicago, Detroit, and NYC. TransEurope Express will have the old folks on the floor in a second.

The Doobies! I totally forgot they were on What’s Happening!

And Pink Floyd… The Wall is another dancefloor jam.

Depeche Mode and Duran Duran are staples for this lady right here. Human League, too.

Hall & Oates get a LIFETIME ghetto pass, along with my brothas Phil Collins and George Michael.

And before anyone says it, Amy Winehouse DOES NOT. Maybe she gets a few praises at church because of her crackishness, but no, Black folks are not claiming her.

Everyone forgot the best Queen song ever…. Bohemian Rhapsody. As a Black child of the 80′s, I love ‘white-folks’ music. I’ll listen to anything as long as it sounds good and I can understand what the artist is saying.

I’m black and I would say the vast majority of this list does NOT represent the rock songs I love, nor those beloved by my brothers, cousins, and other black relatives. I do agree with Black people lovin’ Taylor Dane and insisting she’s black, but she ain’t rock so she shouldn’t be here. My top 10 list of rock songs would be:

1. I can’t go for that – Hall & Oates (anything by Hall & Oates in fact… we love them white cats)

2. Another One Bites the Dust – Queen

3. November Rain – Guns & Roses (Slash IS black afterall)

4. Cult of Personality – Living Colour (they are the only black rock group of the 90′s I believe)

5. Dream On – Aerosmith (Steven Tyler’s “nigger lips” as he’d say gives him a honorable black person pass… like Taylor Dane)

6. Love Is A Battle Field – Pat Benetar (are you kidding… how could this be left off the list… Pat repped it for all the chickenhead ho’s of the 80s)

7. Purple Haze – Jimi Hendrix (don’t have many black rockers but you best believe we love the ones we got)

8. Uptown Girl – Billy Joel (Joel’s worst song ever, but hey, it was the supermodel era and every lil’ girl, black or white, wanted to be Christie Brinkley… she put Billy Joel on the map for Black folks)

9. You Can Call Me Al – Paul Simon (come one, who could forget how Paul Simon was all over the airwaves and video channels, and Saturday Night Live, never without his African Boys Choir… Simon was the shit!)

10. Vasoline – Stone Temple Pilots (as much as we USE vasoline, how could black people NOT love a song about it???)

Honorable mentions, Chris Robinson is the most soulful white boy in rock… gotta love the Black Crowes. And maybe it’s cause I’m from the Chi, but how can you really love anything rock and not love Smashing Pumpkins pre-breakup… Crush, Tonight, Disarm, Landslide remake… come one, Black people love Billy Corrigan too. And anything by Oasis, cause they’re f*ckin’ crazy! Oh yeah, “I’m Just A Girl” by No Doubt… cause if Gwen Stefani thinks she’s looked at as “just a girl” imagine how you’re viewed if you’re “just a BLACK girl”… I love that song!

It should be noted that a big reason black people like ANY rock song is because they ACTUALLY loved the video – Blind Melon’s “No Rain” is a classic cause of the lil’ white girl in the bumblebee costume, Faith No More’s “Epic” with the dying fish, and Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” which made every high schooler wanna revolt and whose “Nevermind” album was the soundtrack to our protests against the Gulf War.

Rock is indeed radical… what makes people think us Black folks don’t love it too!??!

I’m not sure if half of these would even be considered “rock.” I did know a black guy that LOVED Steely Dan.

While this post was moderately humorous, I felt it marginally accurate. Maybe it’s geared to an older black demographic than myself? As a black 21-yr-old, I’m a fan of Zentraedi’s discourse. Both hilarious and insightful. Especially “#4-I never had this experience. It sounds like a bad dream.”

hey I do find it strange that no one mentioned Buffalo Springfield’s “For What it’s Worth”… One of the best ones out there.
and indeed, how about Queen’s “Another One Bites The Dust”, Primal Scream’s “Loaded” and “Rocks”,
Bowie songs like “Sound & Vision”, “Young Americans”, “Let’s Dance”? What About AC/DC’s “You Shook Me (all night long)”?
What About INXS “I Need You Tonight”? That was one FUNKY tune!
Gunn’s version of Cameo’s “Word Up” owned the original.
No one mentioned The Rolling Stones with “Honky Tonk Women”, “Sympathy For The Devil”, and “Gimme Shelter” (those insane female vocals, on fire!)…
btw, did you know that the backing vocals on Robert Palmer’s “Addicted To Love” were done by Chaka Khan?
Pink Floyd’s “Young Lust” from The Wall was the mother of all down and dirty rock songs, before Def Leppard asked ” how do you take your sugar? one lump or two?”.
U2 did some funky things like “The Fly”, and “When Love Comes To Town”.

i heard elton jon is really a black woman disguised as a gay white man. what about phil collins. that little english panzy can sing.

That list is beyond offensive to me. No Band Of Gypsies, Ozzy, Bad Brains, 24-7 Spyz, Jesse Johnson, Mother’s Finest etc…

Steely Dan? give me a f%^&* break.

Here’s one that KTSU, the Texas Southern University radio mixes in to their funky oldies sets often, that big Buffalo Springfield song with the lyrics “stop, children, look around, everybody see what’s going down…” I think it’s titled “For What it’s Worth.”

I’m pretty sure Duran Duran’s “Notorius” was produced by Nile Rodgers of Chic and Sister Sledge fame (the funkiest brother on the planet!)- so was Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” and David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance”. Human League’s “Human” was produced and written by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. And how funky is “Cruel Summer” by Bananarama?!?
BDUB – I like your analogy. No famous Rock band, as far as I know was not influenced by Black music – from Elvis to Maroon 5 – soul, blues, jazz, RnB, etc., and no Black artist has trancended styles without some pop sensibilities. Hey, it’s all good music! It’s a damn shame radio stations are so divided stylisitcally – it’s all good music!

Listen up all you people who are soooooo light weight you couldn’t tickle a scale of cool with a sledge hammer.

Steely Dan was a dildo.

Rock is ok butt, Jazz is coooooooooooool—-est!!

Hi I’m a 56 old white guy and I loved your list. Shame on anyone that took offense. Really want to help? How about giving me a list of the top 10 rap/hip-hop songs that white women would love to make love to! Thx!

Everybody listens to rock now whether your white or black. I grew up around parties and yes i am black and half the songs on your list would be tossed out. Here are some songs that i remember and personally listen to myself that didnt even make the list. These are also songs constantly played at my family and friends places. These are not in any particular order:
Thunderstruck & Shook me all night long – AC\DC
Sandman – Metallica
In the air tonight – Phil Collins
Another one bites the dust – Queen
Teenage Spirit – Nirvana
Anything by Linkin Park
Pour some sugar on me – Def Leppard
Anything by Eric Clapton (mainly Tears in Heaven, Wonderful tonight and Leila – so i dont know if it counts.)
Anything by Robert Cray (Is he black or white? Dont know if he counts – but he’s popular.)

FUCKING BLACK-WHITE PEOPLE.

"Bennie and the Jets" was on Soul Train as was "Philadelphia Freedom" – both Elton John Tunes. Also "Golden Years" by David Bowie was also on ST – giving it considerable blackness. These were rockers that did black music at one point. While Duran Duran, Def Leppard, Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple are rock bands, everything else is Funk, Soul or RnB Music. I wouldn’t mention Robin Thicke or Lisa Stansfield or Hall and Oates in this list, nor would I mention Taylor Dayne or Sophie B. Hawkins because they did not do rock tunes. (Well, H+O did "Rock and Soul") "White" doesn’t necessarily equal "Rock". But, as one white boy who loves black music – thank you for your insight!

I am also a "Black" rock fan and I don’t think you guys know the difference between Rock, Disco and Pop, seeing anyone any color would only consider four of those songs "Rock"…..

From my experience the actual ‘rock’ songs black people went batshit over were, by decade:

70′s-"Benny and the Jets" by Elton John-This song had Black America by the balls for quite a while, being the only rock song to actually hit #1 on the urban charts.

70′s Honorable Mention-"Roxanne" by The Police

80′s-"Another One Bites the Dust" by Queen-Black stations had this on heavy rotation.

80′s Honorable Mention-"Addicted To Love" by Robert Palmer-Even my at-the time 52 year old black father loved this song.

As for your list:
#1-I’ve never experienced the synchronistic coming-together of this song and a black person, but my intuition says it would draw laughs and mocking.

#2-There are scores of songs like this that could have made the list, featuring a riff that was lifted in its entirety. Rap has moved increasingly away from this practice over the last decade, so only someone old enough to recognize "Microphone Fiend" would get it. A more interesting choice would have been the song "A Love of Your Own" by AWB. I actually got into a heated argument while listening to that song with my ex-girlfriend because she was convinced they were black.

#3-70′s funk, popular with Black People from that time.

#4-I never had this experience. It sounds like a bad dream.

#6a-You’re definitely right about Duran Duran. All black people who grew up during the early to mid 80′s like a lot of the New Wave Pop. Think Human League, Pet Shop Boys, Flock of Seagulls, Tears For Fears, etc., but NOT Devo or Talking Heads. In addition, not an hour goes by without some adult contemporary R&b station in this country playing "True" by Spandau Ballet.

#6-This song I believe hit #1 on the R&B charts.

#7-We’re in the beginning of the 90′s, when the music is becoming darker. I would have put Lisa Stansfield here. Every black woman between age 30 to 45 owns a copy of her debut album.

#8-Black people do love Taylor Dayne, but isn’t this Miami freestyle?

#9-This ties in to Black America’s odd fetish for all things Italian.

#10-Older blacks like Steely Dan, but they do not bump the Doobies from the list. Steely Dan is jazzy, and therefore more accessible. The Doobie Brothers actually had black people listening to Black Water, a goddamn hillbilly song about smoking joints while catfishing in Mississippi. They were so damn popular with black people they were on 2 episodes of What’s Happening! Also, Michael Mcdonald has always done very well on the black radio stations and charts.

You could have listed "In the Air Tonight" by Phil Collins, "Careless Whisper" or "One More Try" by George Michael. Or to bring this list more in line with the spirit of Brian’s White list, add "Please Don’t Go Girl" or "I’ll Be Loving You Forever" by New Kids on The Block, because believe it or not they were immensely popular with black females of all ages back then. I still remember watching them performing to an all black crowd on Showtime at the Apollo and every girl in the audience was yelling "go whiteboy, go whiteboy" when they were doing "Right Stuff." They were screaming as loud as white audiences did. Simply Red and Rick Astley also did very well with black people.As far as rock from the 80′s…maybe The Police, Pat Benetar, Steve Winwood, Foreigner, Journey, etc.

Here’s an idea: 10 White People Black People Have Adopted. #1-Bill Clinton, #2-Teena Marie…

Your choices are good though half of them aren’t rock. An interesting thing is how all of these songs skew toward an older demographic. My explanation would be that blacks up until the late 80′s were forced to watch MTV and all of those late night video shows that came on Fridays and Saturdays if they wanted to see music videos. You had no other choice or options with so few channels. Therefore they were exposed to many white musicians they might otherwise not have listened to. But with BET people could start self-segregating. Still, in the late 80′s and early 90′s you could still see white artists on BET because the channel was aimed at adults. The turning point came around 95-96′ when BET’s programming format changed to get better ratings. The channel got rid of the adult contemporary format and almost every show was aimed at the teenage demographic. Adult R&B, Underground Hip-Hop, and any faces over 30 virtually disappeared within a few years. Now homogeneity rules, and whites hear far, far more black musicians then blacks hear white musicians.