10 Best Rock Anthems
5. Paradise City - Guns N Roses
Guns N Roses were the antithesis of the hair metal of LA, as they forged ahead with their unique blend of classic rock tendencies and gutter punk aesthetic. With sleazy lyrics that reeked of excess, the band's music certainly lived up to their title as the World's Most Dangerous Band.
Across all the songs on the band's debut record, the spirit of rock is present from the Bo Diddley beat of "Mr Brownstone" to the street talk of "Welcome to the Jungle." Out of each classic tune, "Paradise City" is the greatest blend of beauty mixed with ferocity. Opening with a beautiful guitar motif by Slash, the song explodes with a verse riff that is one of the gnarliest sounds to come out of the 80's.
The lyrics also touch on the theme that is present in many rock's songs: the need to escape the life you're living. Axl Rose may not even know if the grass is greener on the other side, but the urge to take the gamble of life is just too tempting for him to refuse. A fantastic pastiche of rock music that combines the unholy menace of life with the right amount of beauty to make you want to come back for more.