1977 Hit Ranked 'Best Classic Rock Song of All Time' Ignites a Fierce Debate

A 1977 song from one of the most iconic singers of the decade has recently been ranked as the "best classic rock song of all time." David Bowie's "Heroes" has long been celebrated as a masterpiece. Still, the choice of that song sparked a passionate debate among rock music fans.

Why David Bowie's ‘Heroes’ Topped the List

In November 2025, Collider published a list of the "best classic rock songs of all time," and ranked David Bowie's "Heroes" at number one. The outlet called the track Bowie's "crowning achievement," praising its production for having repeating elements and still building throughout its run time. The writer insisted the original album version of the song is superior and should be considered the definitive one, while praising the track for fitting any mood a listener may be feeling at the moment.

To the writer's point, "Heroes" is a fantastic song that evokes strong emotions. Listening to it while driving late at night, for example, can feel truly epic and freeing. Originally released on September 23, 1977, "Heroes" didn't even crack the Billboard Hot 100. Despite that, it has become one of the most celebrated songs in Bowie's catalog for good reason. A remastered recording of the song, without any visuals aside from a still image of an album cover, has over 50 million views on YouTube. That proves how deeply the song still connects with listeners.

Why Some Fans Are Pushing Back

Putting together a list of the best songs of any genre is always going to be a difficult task since there will be so many worthy contenders, and music is deeply personal. The way people connect with certain tracks also makes it impossible to please everyone with a decades-spanning music list. Still, even with that in mind, some of the reactions to Collider's list that David Bowie's "Heroes" topped were especially fierce.

The top comment on the article called it out for ranking "Heroes" and other songs on the list by Patti Smith, Blondie, and Bruce Springsteen over classic tracks from Deep Purple, Queen, Guns N' Roses, and Led Zeppelin. That same commenter went a step further by calling the list a "travesty." Another reader instructed Collider to "Hire a real rocker, not a wanabe!"

Collider’s Full List: The 25 Best Classic Rock Songs of All Time, Ranked

1. “Heroes" (1977) – David Bowie
2. "Layla" (1970) – Derek and the Dominos
3. "Born to Run" (1975) – Bruce Springsteen
4. "Gimme Shelter" (1969) – The Rolling Stones
5. "Comfortably Numb" (1979) – Pink Floyd
6. "Baba O'Riley" (1971) – The Who
7. "Purple Rain" (1984) – Prince and the Revolution
8. "Starless" (1974) – King Crimson
9. "Free Bird" (1974) – Lynyrd Skynyrd
10. "Call Me" (1980) – Blondie
11. "London Calling" (1979) – The Clash
12. "The Chain" (1975) – Fleetwood Mac
13. "Gloria" (1975) – Patti Smith
14. "A Day in the Life" (1967) – The Beatles
15. "Tangled Up in Blue" (1975) – Bob Dylan
16. "Bohemian Rhapsody" (1975) – Queen
17. "Where the Streets Have No Name" (1987) – U2
18. "The End" (1967) – The Doors
19. "Kashmir" (1975) – Led Zeppelin
20. "All Along the Watchtower" (1968) – The Jimi Hendrix Experience
21. "Paranoid" (1970) – Black Sabbath
22. "Smoke on the Water" (1972) – Deep Purple
23. "Eye in the Sky" (1982) – The Alan Parsons Project
24. "Sunshine of Your Love" (1967) – Cream
25. "Welcome to the Jungle" (1987) – Guns N' Roses