10 Rock Songs That People Have Completely Misunderstood

10. Beastie Boys - Fight For The Right

Released as a single in 1987, this pioneering rap rock tune still holds up as a timeless, ageless classic even today. Originally featured as a regular track on Beastie Boys’ debut album ‘Licensed to Ill’ in 1986, the song quickly gained traction from listeners and was released as a single the following year. However, the meaning behind the song was completely lost on the majority of the audience.

Written by the band’s founding member MCA and friend Tommy Triphammer, ‘Fight For Your Right’ was originally intended to be a parody of edgy party songs which had been emerging from the glam rock scene like clockwork. In truth, the song ended up falling in line with anthemic party tunes like ‘I Wanna Rock’ by Twisted Sister instead of rebelling against them. In future interviews, MCA would express a disliking for the song, saying that it inadvertently turned Beastie Boys into the one thing they set out to make fun of, because people just didn’t get what it was about.

The unexpected success of the hit single caught everyone by surprise, not least the band themselves. ‘Fight For Your Right’ reached the top 10 in five different singles charts around the world, received silver certification in the UK and is one of the groups most recognisable tunes to this day.