Top Rock Songs of 2009

The Top Rock Songs of 2009 cover rising stars Five Finger Death Punch as well as rock veterans Three Days Grace, revealing that emotional lyrics are just as imperative as the amped guitar riffs and catchy melodies. Ranging from a Wham! cover to a theme song for 'Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen,' here are our Top Rock Songs of 2009, as rated by AOL Radio listeners.

'Hard to See'

Five Finger Death Punch

The first single off their 'War is the Answer,' this rock song is about conflicting differences in opinion -- and the naivety behind a person's perception and limited point of view. It is their first song to debut on both the Billboard Rock Songs chart and Alternative Songs chart.

iTunes | Lyrics

'Careless Whisper'

Seether

Although not George Michael, this Wham! cover is an unusually good (Nickelback-sounding) hard rock take on an '80s ballad -- replacing saxophone with electric guitar. The tune peaked at No. 63 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and made it to the top five on both the Mainstream and Modern Rock charts.

iTunes | Lyrics

'You're Going Down'

Sick Puppies

This rock song was the Aussie alt metal band's most successful single, peaking at No. 1 on the Billboard Active Rock chart and No. 11 on the Alternative Rock Songs chart -- and was selected as the the theme song for WWE's Extreme Wrestling show.

iTunes | Lyrics

'Again'

Flyleaf

After fans noticed the song's lyrics on 'Momento Mori' were different from when the band performed it on tour back in '07, lead singer Lacey Mosley wrote a letter to her fans on their website to explain the change: "...the words say better [now] what my heart meant. It is written for people like me, who feel a restlessness to make the world better somehow, but are much to small to carry the weight of the world on their shoulders. It's to say, you have the right heart, but you weren't meant to carry it all...God's big and he can handle it all better than you! Its okay to let go and not understand everything."

iTunes | Lyrics

'Jars'

Chevelle

Included on their fifth studio album 'Sci-Fi Crimes,' drummer Sam Loeffler explains the song is about saving the environment using "tongue-and-check" innuendos: "Put into jars / Keep safe this earth / We can't both become the same pawn / That's made to fall."

iTunes | Lyrics

'New Divide'

Linkin Park

Written for the movie 'Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen,' the song reveals a great balance between Chester Bennington's pop-vocals and the song's hard rock elements. The song peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it the band's highest-ranking debut ever.

iTunes | Lyrics

'Monster'

Skillet

Lead Singer John Cooper says the song's lyrics are about the idea that all of us have a secret side that we are afraid to show other people, and sometimes we feel like we've lost control and struggle to keep that part of ourselves in check: "My secret side I keep hid under lock and key / I keep it caged but I can't control it / 'Cause if I let him out he'll tear me up, break me down / Why won't somebody come and save me from this, make it end?"

iTunes | Lyrics

'Break'

Three Days Grace

This top rock song of 2009 is about having the option and choice to break away from any situation, good or bad. The single peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard's Alternative Rock Songs chart and No. 3 on Rocks Songs chart.

iTunes | Lyrics

'Scream With Me'

Mudvayne

This tune is Mudvayne's first single off their self-titled and fifth studio album, released in late December of 2009. The single fittingly alternates between mellow Metallica-sounding vocals and the chorus' fierce singing and heavy drums.

iTunes | Lyrics

'I Will Not Bow'

Breaking Benjamin

Although not originally written for the film, this rock song was featured in Bruce Willis' 'Surrogates.' The song peaked at No. 40 on the Billboard Hot 100, and made it in the top five on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks, Alternative Songs and Rock Songs charts.

iTunes | Lyrics

Listen to Hard Rock Radio

Filed under: Best Songs, Top 10 Lists, Rock, Best of 2009

Reader Comments

(Page 1)

1. I LOVE THESE SONGS I WOULD PUT THEM IN DIFFERENT ORDER LIKE 10.Skillet: 'Monster' 9.Mudvayne: 'Scream With Me' 8.Seether: 'Careless Whisper' 7.Breaking Benjamin: 'I Will Not Bow' 6.Sick Puppies: 'You're Going Down' 5.Flyleaf: 'Again' 4.Chevelle: 'Jars' 3.Linkin Park: 'New Divide 2.'Three Days Grace: 'Break' 1.10) Five Finger Death Punch: 'Hard to See' BUT THATS JUST MY OPINION!!

Posted at 6:11PM on Dec 1st 2009 by vanessa

2. honestly its a BS list for sure i can think of many other bands that did a lot better then most of these main stream choke artist. for example Slipknot, Disturbed, and As I Lay Dying.

Posted at 6:48PM on Dec 1st 2009 by J

3. C'mon... Where's SHINEDOWN's Sound of Madness, Halestorm - I Get off, Uprising by Muse, The Veer Union - Seasons. Savior by Rise Against, Champagne by Cavo, Overcome by Creed, Please Come In by Black Stone Cherry. Honestly, Besides Jars by Chevelle (Which should have ranked higher), This list is a bunch of garbage. Three Days Grace, Linkin Park, and Seether do not belong on a best of list ever.. I like "I will not bow" by BB but not as 1, maybe 5. Flyleaf - Again is a good choice as well. The rest can go and need to go.

Posted at 7:43PM on Dec 1st 2009 by Bob

4. So awesome Chevelle made the list. They definitely had the best song of 2009.

"I Will Not Bow" should not be #1 by the way, or even on the list. But Chevelle is who I care about :)

Posted at 2:16PM on Dec 2nd 2009 by Caitlin

5. "Monster" is an awesome song!!! I'm glad that Skillet is finally getting some mainstream recognition. If you like "Monster" check out "Whispers in the Dark," "Rebirthing," "Live Free or Let Me Die," and "Hero." SKILLET ROCKS!!!

Posted at 2:20PM on Dec 2nd 2009 by Chris

6. Jars is the greatest 'new' song I heard this year! It still gives me goosebumps :p

Posted at 3:12PM on Dec 2nd 2009 by TheNepster

7. 'Jars' should have gotten rated better. It's a shame that Linkin Park did better than them. Regardless, I am proud of Chevelle!

Posted at 3:37PM on Dec 2nd 2009 by Remy

8. break is the best song by best band ever

Posted at 4:55PM on Dec 2nd 2009 by H1NOI

9. who the noob did this list, ya i agree on most of it, but where is Shinedown's Second Chance and Sound of Madness, second chance made history no song ever did this success, shinedown released 10 singles all number 1 wth is wrong with these people....

Posted at 5:08PM on Dec 2nd 2009 by Ahmed Nassar

10. Great job Chevelle. Keep up the great work!! Yall rock!!!!

Posted at 5:07PM on Dec 2nd 2009 by Will Nicholson

11. "Break"-by Three Days Grace-the best band ever!

Posted at 5:40PM on Dec 2nd 2009 by bengy

12. Jars should have made it higher !!!!

Posted at 6:57PM on Dec 2nd 2009 by sostinkyo

13. Oh My Goodness! I Am So Happy That CheVelle Made It On This List! They Should Have Been Number One Though, I Think That "Jars" Was The Best Song Of The Year! I Love The Entire Sci-Fi Crimes Album!

Posted at 7:11PM on Dec 2nd 2009 by PoisonPassion

14. every band here is AYYYYYMAZING. i'm so proud of chevelle, breaking benjamin, 3DG of course, flyleaf, skillet, sick puppies and seether !!!!!! WEWT

Posted at 8:46PM on Dec 2nd 2009 by getoutalive

15. There are some very good picks here. I think Jars should be #1 though, Chevelle is the Bomb ;)

Posted at 7:53PM on Dec 2nd 2009 by da_butcher_

16. Chevelle the best of the List

Posted at 9:12PM on Dec 2nd 2009 by Grunty

17. yess chevelle on the top ten rock songs!!
jars is my number one favorite on the new album!!

Posted at 9:22PM on Dec 2nd 2009 by alizah.rios

18. Jars should have ranked higher. Chevelle consistantly tops themselves album after album!

Posted at 10:21PM on Dec 2nd 2009 by Josh

19. Jars should be number one, Chevelle is the best band ever.

Posted at 10:43PM on Dec 2nd 2009 by DisgracedSoul

20. woo! chevelle!

Posted at 11:58PM on Dec 2nd 2009 by Joy

21. YAY Chevelle!! I LOVE 3DG & Sick Puppies!! This is definitely not the BEST of '09, but definitely good tunes. However, they base these lists on common opinions, so if u want 2 bitch about the bands on here, go fuck your mother. By my opinion, the only song that would stick on here would B You're Going Down. Anyway, great music all the same:)

Posted at 12:42AM on Dec 3rd 2009 by roatch

22. of this bands I must say that five fingers death punch is number one, some of the ader bands is not rock bands for me it`s pop.

Posted at 5:25AM on Dec 7th 2009 by Thomas

23. Chevelle is AMAZING, yet i have to agree that it should be number 1!!!! I am so happy it made it on the list though!

Posted at 9:38AM on Dec 3rd 2009 by Samantha

24. SEETHER & CHEVELLE RULEZZZZZZZ!!!

Posted at 10:58AM on Dec 3rd 2009 by ASJ

25. When you listen to any Seether song, your in for something great. The Careless Whisper cover is just another example of how much they rock!

Posted at 11:39AM on Dec 3rd 2009 by Sam

26. I'm so happy Jars by Chevelle made it on there and Flyleaf AHHH :DD

Posted at 8:28AM on Dec 5th 2009 by spanglerrr2

27. SEETHER SHOULD BE FIRST, LOVE SOME SEETHER where is shinedown???????????

Posted at 5:46PM on Dec 3rd 2009 by COUGAR

28. CHEVELLE IS COMMING UP WATCH OUT WORLD!!!!

Posted at 8:09PM on Dec 3rd 2009 by Theresa

29. Oh my God!
Breaking benjamin #1....
they really deserve it! they are the best =]

Posted at 1:54PM on Dec 4th 2009 by MrBasel

30. I love all these bands here, but i think that Three Days Grace,Chevelle,Flyleaf, and Seether should of been higher. Seether should of been at least 6 or 5, because they brang back George Michael's song, and make it an alternative sound, and replaced the saxiphone. But i think its a great list and it has great songs.

Posted at 2:22PM on Dec 4th 2009 by Madeline Ramos

31. Hell ya!!!! Go Five Finger Death Punch!!!!! You guys should be number 1 tho in my book ;)

Posted at 2:44PM on Dec 4th 2009 by DanieP19

32. I strongly disagree with Breaking Benjamin as number one. Chevelle and Sick Puppies should have ranked higher and I agree with everybody else. Where the hell is Shinedown?

Posted at 3:17PM on Dec 4th 2009 by Jake

33. YaY I am sooo stoked cheVelle made the top 10!!! THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN #1!!! This album is AMAZING... Jars is the best single of the year!

Posted at 9:16PM on Dec 4th 2009 by Rosanna

34. breaking benjamin deserves to be #1 they are amazing

Posted at 12:18AM on Dec 5th 2009 by jessica armstrong

35. Number one is AWESOME!!!! BREAKING BENJMAIN FTW!!!!!!I even have their new CD =^_^=THEY FRICKEN ROCK!!!!!

Posted at 9:48PM on Dec 6th 2009 by Annamarie

36. I really thought "Jars" should have been top 3... epic!!

Posted at 8:19PM on Dec 6th 2009 by Kenadie

37. Rock on BREAKING BENJAMIN! #1 for them is amazing... they deserve it with the awesome lyrics with hidden messages. The other bands are also great (3DG, Chevelle, Linkin Park, and Seether).

Posted at 12:28AM on Dec 7th 2009 by Linda

38. Chevelle totally deserves to be here! They rock hard! "Jars" is a rawkin' song! Great guitars, great everything!

Posted at 1:26PM on Dec 7th 2009 by Amanda

39. I think Chevelle should have been number one but hey its awesome that they made the list!

Posted at 1:24AM on Dec 8th 2009 by saltonstall3217

40. Chevelle and Three Days Grace are my favourte bands. Awesome list :)

Posted at 6:35PM on Dec 8th 2009 by 3dgonex

41. All these songs are emo...

Posted at 12:35PM on Dec 9th 2009 by Kaittt

42. Yay! Chevelle. Nice.

Posted at 11:27PM on Dec 9th 2009 by Jo

43. u guys r idiots shinedowns songs came out almost two years ago so y should they be on the list and disturbed and slipknot r as mainstream if not more so then the other bands

Posted at 11:38PM on Dec 10th 2009 by djconley

44. Nice list, but where is 30STM??

Posted at 9:26PM on Dec 11th 2009 by Janet

45. yes! I love CheVelle! =D should have made top 3 though!

Posted at 11:09PM on Dec 11th 2009 by sydney

46. Love Chevelle. They definitely should have been higher on the list!

Posted at 5:56PM on Dec 15th 2009 by CheFoo10

47. Your list is one of the best I've found so far - Will be posting my own shortly at my site. I'll be back with the URL if anyone wants it.

Posted at 11:53PM on Dec 15th 2009 by Birdieguy

48. Seether's Careless Whisper's should be Number 1. Love You Shaun! I can't wait for the new album and tour.

Posted at 12:01PM on Dec 20th 2009 by Janet

49. Seether is No. 9?? I think the list is backwards!

Posted at 10:16PM on Dec 17th 2009 by debd

50. "Monster" by Skillet is a shameless rip-off of "Animal I've Become" by Three Days Grace. And all those people saying that "Sound of Madness" and "Second Chance" need to be on the list...have you HEARD "Devour" [first single from the CD that spawned those other 2 songs]? FUCKING BEAST especially when compared with the other 2. Hard to believed the same band conceived all 3 songs.

Posted at 10:40PM on Dec 20th 2009 by MBII

Next 50 Comments

Add your comments

Please keep your comments relevant to this blog entry. Off-topic, promotional or otherwise inappropriate comments will be removed.

Top Rock Songs of 2009

Related Articles

From Our Partners