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[KrakenIPA]

"It started off from a little trick I had on guitar. I played it to Mal and he said 'Oh, I've got a good rhythm idea that will sit well in the back.' We built the song up from that. We fiddled about with it for a few months before everything fell into place. Lyrically, it was really just a case of finding a good title ... We came up with this thunder thing, based on our favourite childhood toy ThunderStreak, and it seemed to have a good ring to it. AC/DC = Power. That's the basic idea."
-Angus Young



For me personally this song is top notch. The intro that most all rockers attempt to imitate, most all musicians study to understand the craft of power chords, and most listeners are swept into the raging fire of hard rock. If this song comes on at the pub you just know that someone will be scrumming with the authorities as proof to their strength and courage before the night is over. Absolute legend track.

 

[MastAndo]

One of my favorites, and probably the most badass intro to a song ever. I've also thought if I was a boxer or MMA fighter, I would walk out to this song.

 

[BigBooper]

I love the intro, but always found the body of the song boring.

 

[GeekyDad]

Great band with a great library of tunes. It's definitely one of their more fun ones.

 

[T8SC]

The start sounds like Daft Punk - Aerodynamic. (Yes I know, this track came after).











Daft Punk - Aerodynamic is better.

 

[belmarduk]

It doesn't.
AC/DC is a horrible band and their vocalist is annoying.
I always change the radio station when one of their songs come on.

 

[PrimetimeKnight]

It doesn't.
AC/DC is a horrible band and their vocalist is annoying.
I always change the radio station when one of their songs come on.

 

[godhandiscen]

It's a good song, but nowhere close to top 5 rock anthems for me.

 

[Wildebeest]

When it comes to hard rock anthems about stormy weather, I would put it behind Love Reign O'er Me by The Who.

 

[IDKFA]

Great tune, but doesn't get anywhere near my top five hard rock anthems. Not even top ten.

 

[Rat Rage]

It's probably number five on my list. Everytime I hear the song, I want to dropkick someone into oblivion.

 

[Woffls]

Rates highly as an anthem, but I wouldn't put it in my overall top 10 AC/DC songs.

 

[Dark Star]

not a huge acdc fan tbh. it happened over time. I just heard those acdc songs wayyyy too many times for my liking growing up/in school/at sports events/etc

not sure what qualifies as a "hard rock anthem" but off the top of my head, considering the topic is a "classic" band like acdc, these are a good 5 for me:

the final countdown - europe
eye of the tiger - survivor
bad to the bone - george thorogood
born to be wild - steppenwolf
livin on a prayer - bon jovi

 

[RJMacready73]

When I heard it played live at the Amsterdam arena many years ago my mind fucking exploded as did the other 70,000 people crammed into the stadium



Easily best concert I've ever been too

 

[Ozzy Onya A2Z]

AC/DC is a live band, they kill it like no other. Any of their songs are top anthem worthy. As for Thunderstruck being #1? No, I have to put Queen - We Will Rock You as #1.

 

[bender]

It doesn't.
AC/DC is a horrible band and their vocalist is annoying.
I always change the radio station when one of their songs come on.

 

[Nobody_Important]

It depends on what you mean to be honest because that song is complicated for me lol


- Realistically? It is outside of the Top 5 for me. It is a great song with a fantastic hook and an addictive riff. You know the song as soon as it starts, but it does not have much in the way of historic significance in the genre. While being a great classic rock tune it is just another great classic rock tune.


- Personally? It is in my Top 3 because it is literally the song that got me into the genre when I was a kid. I was driving out to Lake Gibson (Oklahoma) with my uncle and the song came on the radio. He turned it up and got me to air guitar. I was 7. From that point forward I was obsessed with rock n roll as a genre. AC/DC, Motley Crue, Queen, Tom Petty, Hendrix, Judas Priest, Metallica, Guns n Roses, Bon Jovi, Journey, The Cult, Van Halen etc etc. All of it. From the cheesiest arena rock to the more hardcore stuff.




And it all started with that song. Because of Thunderstruck I grew up a Rock n Roll kid who drove to school blasting 70's and 80's music instead of the latest pop-culture trash from whatever the latest attention whore had put out. I would roll down my windows when I pulled into the parking lot my Junior year so people could hear whatever classic rock song was on. It was all on my Zune. (Yeah I had a Zune. Fuck off.) I wore band shirts almost daily. I was that guy. God the nostalgia is hitting me. Gonna go listen to that shit right now.

 

[Winter John]

Out of all the great AC/DC tracks that one wouldn't make the top 30. Every track on Powerage or Dirty Deeds craps all over that with zero effort. Listen to the brilliance of Sin City then listen to Thunderstruck. It's almost like they're a completely different band. The drop in quality was shocking after Bon died.

 

[KrakenIPA]

Out of all the great AC/DC tracks that one wouldn't make the top 30. Every track on Powerage or Dirty Deeds craps all over that with zero effort. Listen to the brilliance of Sin City then listen to Thunderstruck. It's almost like they're a completely different band. The drop in quality was shocking after Bon died.

Yeah, straight electric. I can't imagine humpin a 6-sting while crustini. Good dudes, all day.

 

[teezzy]

I prefer Nookie

 

[Rest]

It's not on it. Is it great? Yeah. But there are better AC/DC songs and better rock songs.

 

[dorkimoe]

It doesn't.
AC/DC is a horrible band and their vocalist is annoying.
I always change the radio station when one of their songs come on.

beyond overplayed

 

[Rest]

It doesn't.
AC/DC is a horrible band and their vocalist is annoying.
I always change the radio station when one of their songs come on.

You said AC/DC but I think you meant The Beatles.

 

[Nobody_Important]

I prefer Nookie

 

[nkarafo]

Dunno why but ACDC feels like an American stripper's club music to me.

 

[Men_in_Boxes]

I move to nominate Killing in the Name to be added to the list.

 

[Scotty W]

Ever listen to the lyrics of the song? They are beyond perposterous.

 

[Lanrutcon]

Was actually listening to their discography the other day after jumping over from the Last Action Hero OS.

Some catchy stuff on there.

 

[G-Bus]

Not even close to a top 5. Very iconic song though.

There will always be a place on the playlist for AC/DC. Awesome band. Even managed to see them live. Couldn't believe Angus doing his thing at that age. Dude probably doesn't even think about it and it's pure muscle memory.

 

[Avid Reading Horse]

I don't think I've seen the actual video since the early 90s on MTV. And ya know what? They really HD'd the shit out of this video.

Anyway, loved that whole album.

I don't know about making my own Watchmojo top 10 rock anthems list, but I wouldn't complain about Thunderstruck being on the list.

 

[Ionian]

There's a dude who lives by me. plays 'Thunderstruct' like clock-work heading to to work. It wakes me and I beam with a smile despite being awoken, just a great song.

 

[prinz_valium]

Outside of the top 5

 

[AV]

Nowhere, AC/DC are the pinnacle of dad rock.

Saw them in 2010, they put on a good show but didn't win me over.

 

[Georges Chiellins]

It's a great song. But not Top 5, sorry.

 

[niilokin]

good song but anything from let there be rock or TNT just teabags it to pulp

 

[InfiniteCombo]

I love the intro, but always found the body of the song boring.

As much as I love AC/DC, this is probably true for a lot of their songs, especially after Bon Scott died. (I am very biased and prefer the Bon Scott era to the Brian Johnson era. Don't @ me ).

Anyway, Thunderstruck -- especially the live version -- has one of the best, most hype intros of any rock song ever.

 

[SuperBabyMethod]

It's a great song; perfect to get pumped at the gym or at a boxing match.

 

[Dural]

Love the song, especially love the live at River Plate video. No rock band today can fill a stadium and have the crowd into the music like AC/DC.

 

[RiccochetJ]

Dunno why but ACDC feels like an American stripper's club music to me.

That's Def Leppard. "Pour Some Sugar on Me" is the de facto stripper anthem.

Back on topic, Thunderstruck is outside my top 5 of all time and even outside my top 5 of AC/DC songs. One of the best openings to a song though!

 

[lame gag1990]

I don't listen to AC/DC but let's be honest, Thunderstruck is a banger.

 

[Rival]

Moneytalks is the better song from that album but the intro to Thunderstruck is amazing.

 

[DGrayson]

Huge fan but not top 5.

Side note, I remember my dad got a CD player like in 1991 and this was the first CD he bought.

 

[Tg89]

It doesn't.
AC/DC is a horrible band and their vocalist is annoying.
I always change the radio station when one of their songs come on.

Yeah AC/DC sucks. Up there in the most overrated boomer bands alongside GnR and Rolling Stones.

 

[NinjaBoiX]

AC/DC are a cheesy band, not for me at all.

Same with bands like Iron Maiden and Metallica, it's music for cornball boomers who think it's "proper music" or some shit. It's the sound of bullshit posturing to me.

I just find it all kind of cringe.

 

[Dr.Morris79]

I've never been able to take his hat seriously, or the outfits. Just puts me off

 

[Evil Calvin]

Queen - We Will Rock You
AC/DC- Thunderstruck
Europe - Final Countdown

 

[Kev Kev]

not in the top 5 for me

 

[Avid Reading Horse]

AC/DC are a cheesy band, not for me at all.

Same with bands like Iron Maiden and Metallica, it's music for cornball boomers who think it's "proper music" or some shit. It's the sound of bullshit posturing to me.

I just find it all kind of cringe.

But at least there's no simping element like cringe-ass dudes with Hayley Williams avatars!

...they are kinda cheesy bands. Iron Maiden was always cheese. Metallica less-so but the trajectory they took once the 90s hit makes them the ultimate boomers. They still have some killer songs though.

 

[Kadve]

Nowhere. I don't like post 1979 AC/DC. Brian Johnsons voice makes my ears hurt.

 

[farmerboy]

Was Thunderstruck on the album Appetite for Destruction?

No?

Then it can't be the number 1 hard rock anthem.