10 Songs Which Gave Birth To Heavy Metal

By Christopher Jennings /

10. The Kinks - You Really Got Me

Released: 1964 "You Really Got Me", The Kinks third single, reached Number 1 in September 1964 and remained there for two weeks, the group's desire to release a hit single unknowingly laying down the foundations of Heavy Metal in the process. In comparison to the other tracks found on their debut album, €œYou Really Got Me€ is an instant highlight, less Merseybeat and more raw, dirty Rock N€™ Roll; a brave move, particularly on a debut album released in the early to mid 60€™s. €œYou Really Got Me€ was undoubtedly revolutionary, constructed around a punishing, distorted, power chord riff that was the first hit single to base a whole song around such a structure. Way before its time, it would be years before musicians utilised the same approach to compose whole albums; the seeds of Heavy Metal sown by the Kinks in just 2 short minutes. The Kinks basically re-recorded this song just 2 months later, so successful was the formula, in the shape of €œAll Day and All of the Night€ and no one batted an eye-lid! It wasn€™t laziness, just simply the realisation that they were on to something incredibly special. In 1999, €œYou Really Got Me€ was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and it stands proud as one of the first wave of songs which helped to forge the genre of Heavy Metal.