10 Songs That Changed Rock History

Any band that was looking to push the boundaries of what rock could do is living in the shadow of what the Beatles did first. After being one of the leaders of the British Invasion, the Fab Four went on a creative streak that served as the blueprint for what you could do within the confines of rock and roll. If you were looking for something that says it all for their craft though, it would have to be A Day in the Life.

Arriving right at the tail end of Sgt. Peppers, this is the true culmination of both John Lennon and Paul McCartney as songwriters, each playing to each other's strengths while still focusing on making a great tune. Though Lennon's song about reading the news would have been great on its own, the rest of the band's contributions turned it into something extraordinary, from the juxtaposition of McCartney's jovial tune to the eventual orchestral swell that seems to be on the verge of madness whenever it plays.

By the time that you eventually reach the ending of the song with the final piano chord, it's almost like an out of body experience hearing everything coming to just the right end. This was far from the Beatles' last mind bending moment, but this is one of those rare songs that you get once in every 100 years.