The 10 best-selling rock singles of all time

Rock and rollers have gradually chosen the album as their principal creative medium from the early 1960s. As The Beatles developed new recording techniques, musicians left and right attempted to create projects that were more than just a collection of songs put together without rhyme or purpose. The craft of making an amazing rock single, on the other hand, has never fully died.

Aside from the power of an album statement, the single is a much tougher medium to perfect. Also, from the many routes that each song takes, a single has to captivate the audience’s attention in a very short span. The song captures the magic that each performer is capable of into a grandiose statement that is difficult to refuse.

However, the genuine golden era of physical singles sales began long before The Beatles arrived in America. Bill Haley landed upon one of the first rhythms in rock history. He did it with ‘Rock Around the Clock,’ which immediately became one of the fastest-selling songs of all time. It sold 25 million copies.

Elvis Presley was the first real pin-up star of rock & roll after its start. Songs like ‘It’s Now or Never,’ which had Presley shaking his hips and making a stir in crowds all over the world, were an excellent sign of where music would go next, with the single selling 20 million copies.

While many performers benefit from having a gimmick onstage, having a single tie-in to something bigger than the record industry may be beneficial. ‘Everything I Do (I Do It For You)‘ was written by Bryan Adams for the album Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. It’s just like ‘Rock Around the Clock’ and was inspired by its appearance in the film Blackboard Jungle.

However, no list of best-selling singles would be complete without mentioning The Beatles. Also, The Fab Four were one of the biggest sensations in music history from the moment they started selling in America. ‘I Want To Hold Your Hand‘ became one of their first huge rock singles to penetrate the American market. However, The song’s success would later grow so great that The Beatles would finally acquire all five slots in the US top 10 at once, with ‘I Want To Hold Your Hand’ standing alongside hits like ‘Twist and Shout’ and ‘Can’t Buy Me Love’.

Any excellent song understands how to pull at one’s heartstrings. The best in their industry have made a fortune by appealing to one’s emotions. During the major relief efforts for Africa in the 1980s, the Band-Aid holiday track ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas‘ and the USA for Africa‘s ‘We Are the World‘ were two of the best-selling singles of all time.

Elton John took the top place in rock singles after revising the original lyrics. The lyrics of his iconic hit ‘Candle in the Wind‘ to fit Princess Diana‘s burial and selling 33 million copies. But there needs to be more than simply catchy music in every single release. Even while the music must be wonderful, it is the passion behind it that moves the audience.