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

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

Reader Comments

(Page 2)

51. Seether should not have been number 9. More like number 1. Im still extremely happy they made the top 10 though. Congratulations guys!!

Nicole Hope

Posted at 2:58PM on Dec 22nd 2009 by Nicole

52. I really think that "FORGOTTEN FABLE" should of been on that top 10 list..........thats just my opinion

Posted at 5:58AM on Dec 30th 2009 by Jarod Delgado

53. This list hurts me. I won't go in depth on what I think should be number one or what was left off the list because that is a matter of opinion and people should make their own decisions about what was best. The one thing that I can't pass by is the description of Careless Whisper. Nickelback sounding? That is just ignorant. Nickelback isn't even Rock. Seether actually writes music that means something to them and is full of emotion, not the load of crap Nickelback puts out. They should never be compared like that.

Posted at 4:39PM on Jan 2nd 2010 by akacdc

54. Neither Disturbed nor Shinedown released a CD in 2009 (both of their previous albums came out in 2008), so that may be a reason why they aren't on the list.

Overall, I like this list. Love Sick Puppies and Mudvayne in particular.

Posted at 12:11AM on Feb 12th 2010 by mogilny

55. all good songs--it is so sad now that directv took off xm/sirius satlellite radio and added sonic tap--what a crap station for new rock. it is called Ink'd and it is mostly metal not rock. i miss my new rock, i am now listening to extreme rock here on aol.--it rocks! thanks extreme rock

Posted at 7:12PM on Feb 14th 2010 by jan

56. good music on extremem rock aol.

Posted at 7:11PM on Feb 14th 2010 by barbiejan1

57. This list is absolutely ridiculous. Im not even gonna go on about how terrible it is. If you a real rock fan then you know what im sayin.

- Buddhist Rebellion

Posted at 9:08PM on Mar 4th 2010 by Ryder

58. I agree with this list. I am also proud of Chevelle. However, I had the pleasure to see Chevelle live and they were quite disappointing. The singing was subpar at best. I was quite shocked and frustrated.

Posted at 7:00PM on Mar 12th 2010 by Hamm3rh3ad

59. whoever made this list is fucking crazy....careless whisper give me a break....where is SHINEDOWN??? morons

Posted at 5:45PM on Apr 4th 2010 by james

60. Breaking benjamin deserves the top spot. No doubt about it.

Posted at 1:18PM on Apr 17th 2010 by JJ Smokes

61. MBII - comment #50: First, you show your immaturity, ignorance and lack of education by your profanity. Second, the same guy who produces Three Days Grace (Howard Benson) produced MONSTER and HE is the one who had it arranged that way, so take it up with him. Skillet is the best EVER. Deal with it.

Posted at 11:26PM on Apr 22nd 2010 by Renee

62. These bands are NOT METAL! Are you freakin' kidding me!?

Posted at 10:11AM on Jun 4th 2010 by trEbLa

63. Please, mudvayne at number 2???? Jars was a sick ass song and deserves to be number one with 3 days grace.

Posted at 8:33PM on Jun 15th 2010 by los-dawg

64. Top 3 should be Three days grace-Chevelle-Mudvayne or linkin Park
Because everyone was waiting for a new Three days Grace. But Chevelle is my fav in the whole 10 list! CHEVELLE 4 EVER!

Posted at 5:19PM on Jul 21st 2010 by madd.moni2

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Top Rock Songs of 2009

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