Since their formation in Hanover West Germany in 1965 (58 years ago); Scorpions have become one of the most successful, and one of most iconic heavy metal bands in the world! Founded by Rudolf Schenker, the band’s style over the years has ranged from hard rock, heavy metal, glam metal, and soft rock. Over their 58 year reign they have sold over 100 million albums worldwide, released a long list of memorable hits, and are quite possibly Germany‘s biggest musical export!
The band’s line-up has changed quite a bit over the years, with previous well-known members including: Michael Schenker, Francis Buchholz, Uli Jon Roth, Herman Rarebell, and James Kottak to name but a few. To day the key members of the band are:
- Rudolf Schenker – Rhythm and Lead Guitar,
- Klaus Meine – Lead Vocals,
- Matthias Jabs – Lead and Rhythm Guitar,
- Paweł Mąciwoda – Bass Guitar,
- Mikkey Dee – Drums.
I first discovered Scorpions over a decade ago, when I went looking for a song with those famous lyrics: “Here I am, Rock you like a Hurricane“. I found a live performance of that song, and from that first viewing, I was hooked. Since then over the last decade and a half, I just grew to love their music more and more, until eventually they became my number 1 favourite band in the world!
Their music does feature a variety of sounds and styles, but those Heavy Metal sounds are what makes them stand out to me the most. Their onstage antics too are also very enjoyable to watch, as they always put on a great show, and always demonstrate terrific musicianship in their songs. I even frequently ask my bass guitar teacher to help me learn Scorpions songs.
So after holding out from posting my favourites all these years, I thought it was time to finally do just that. Now of course, as is the usual, they have made more than 10 songs, so just to give the other greats a time in the spotlight; here are the other greats:
No One Like You, Lust or Love, We Were Born to Fly, 321, Raised on Rock, Blackout, Peacemaker, and Coast to Coast.
And so, without further ado; here are My Top 10 Favourite Scorpions Songs; Enjoy!
10. Sting in the Tail – I do find it rather surprising that it took a band called Scorpions several decades to release a song called Sting in the Tail. Sting in the Tail features a great opening and riff that just draws you in, to what is a very serious sounding tune, like they are going to make a very serious announcement, and you need to listen to it! And while it does feature some less serious sounds, and occasional light hearted-ness, that serious sound keeps your ears close to the amplifiers, and alert, as you listen in for the important points!
9. Don’t Believe Her – Don’t Believe Her has a very mixed tune, and you don’t know what to make of it. But once all that is out of the way, you get that incredibly catchy chorus. It’s lyrics just stick in your head, and come out when you least expect them. The lyrics are kind of similar in tone (but definitely not in tune) to the Jimmy Nail song Ain’t No Doubt; as it tries to warn the listener to the lies spoken by a potential lover; and it does it in such a convincing way, that you can do nothing but totally agree!
8. The Future Never Dies – Humanity: Hour I is such an enjoyable album, there’s hardly any tune in it that’s bad, they are all superb. And in this mix we have songs like this, which sound less Metallic, more Classical, with the tune being carried by a piano, with the other instruments used to accent it. Meanwhile we get these powerful lyrics sung with real passion, as the singer desperately tries to get their message across. It’s a nice tune to listen to, it’s a nice change from the usual song from the band, and it carries both a relaxing tune, and tragic story at the same time. All-in-all, it’s a rather nice song, but in a very sad way!
7. Dynamite – So we have had peaceful, now it’s time for something truly HEAVY! Dynamite is fast, heavy, and loud; but features nice little gaps just to catch your breath before jumping head-long into another bit. It’s a great song from the classic Blackout album, but it’s also a great live song too, as it just jumps head first into a sea of head banging and screaming, but still gives you the occasional moment of respite!
6. Humanity – Back to Humanity: Hour I now, with the albums lead track, a song which is just so incredibly sad (with a killer riff of course). Lyrically, it’s so miserable. It highlights the futility of human existence, and it’s potential extermination. And it does all this by saying ‘Goodbye’, and concluding with a small boy saying ‘It’s Time!’. Very despairing lyrics. And all this is backed up by instruments driving every point forward in a minimalist way, with some sombre moments too, plus a solo which sounds like it’s just trying to end it all as quickly as possible. This song is a very unhappy piece of art, which features a great sound, and a powerful message, one that is overall just so downcast!
5. Wind of Change – You can’t do a list of the best Scorpions songs without at least mentioning Wind of Change. A world-wide number 1 hit and one of the best selling singles of all time, and best of all, is not overrated in any way! As soon as the song starts, it’s immediately iconic, with that brilliant whistling, and that nice and easy tune. This nice and easy tune, makes the song so easy to hear, and is not filled with screeching metal lyrics, allowing the listener to hear every single one of those paramount words of importance. It’s such a nice and easy going song, but one that details something of the utmost importance. It’s also a relaxing tune, but when it reaches it’s peak, it includes a strong surge to keep you involved, and build up your adrenaline for the grand climax, even if it’s still just slow and gentle!
4. Big City Nights – Big City Nights is a weird one, because it feels and sounds rather generic, like it’s a song which just shouldn’t stand out, and sounds more like an album filler; but then again a Scorpions Live set just wouldn’t be the same without it. The song is describing exactly what it says on the tin, whilst delivering a cool metal riff, one that you can join in with so easily. Be it singing with the lyrics, clapping your hands, or stamping your feet. It’s also a great concluding track to as it just feels like the ultimate way to wrap up a show. It’s and odd-one, but also a great one!
3. The Zoo – A song that proves you don’t need to be fast to be heavy. Such an easy song to learn on bass too. Most of the time it’s just one note. But this plodding along sound works wonders with the lyrics highlighting the mundanity of a boring work life. The song also features a great voice box section too, which just adds to the wild premise of the song’s name. But the highlight is that simple, but powerful chorus. One you can easily sing to, and believe, as it’s just simple, real truth. A terrific song and a real shiny emerald in their jewellery box of priceless gemstone songs!
2. Hit Between the Eyes – This song is like a real roller coaster, but one that climbs down before speeding up-hill. It carries that nice low moody bridge, which just brings you down to earth, and holds you there, and continues to hold you there. It grabs your attention and keeps hold of it and releases it only when the time is right. And when that time comes, you’re not off to the Moon, your heading straight for Neptune. It’s a great composure device, as it draws you in again and again, before setting you off into space, for the ultimate high. And it keeps doing it, and even throws in a feint, as you think the song isn’t going to stop, but then abruptly does. But in reality, you don’t want it to stop, because it’s just too good!
1. Rock You Like a Hurricane – Well, what else was it going to be, and it’s not just their ultimate song; but one of the best (if not the best) songs ever created. It’s also a hard one to pin down, as you sort of want the song to both start and finish the show off. That opening riff creates wonder and excitement, as you know within a couple of notes what’s coming. But it perfectly times in a few easier moments to allow build-up and intensity to it’s heroic chorus. They come and go, both alternating, and then comes that beautiful solo which increases and heightens the reality, before then jumping into the ultimate finish. Again, it’s a song you don’t want to stop, you wish it could just go on forever, and charge out into the night, filling the ears of everyone world-wide with the pure intensity, and the true sheer joy of Heavy Metal. It’s a legendary song for a reason, and why it will always standout as their greatest song!
Things I Like 
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