The best screaming in rock when you want to scream along to something and get your frustrations out of your system
Just because this is what I need today, and you might need it too
Welcome, everyone, to a post I decided to put out on the spur of the moment.
I wanted to collect my favorite rock songs containing screams in one place. These are songs where I get a deep sense of satisfaction and catharsis whenever I hear the screaming in them.
I’ve been working on a women-in-rock post I think you’ll really like, but what’s going on in the world right now really sidetracked me for the past ten days as I tried to make sense of it.
What’s happening and where are things going? It feels like the earth is shifting under our feet.
In the last couple of days my frustration has been mounting, until I woke up this morning wanting to scream.
The best remedy? Put on loud rock music and scream along to the best screamers in the business.
For our mutual screaming pleasure and release, I present to you my four favorite screaming songs below.
Feel free to save this if you find these songs cathartic and satisfying too.
And let me know if you have your own favorite rock screams in the comments — or screams in any other genre. (All genres welcome here.) I can always put out a follow-up post sharing those. The more scream-along options the better.
Deep Purple screaming “C’mon!” and “Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!”
There’s nothing to compare with a bunch of feral psychedelic/hard/early metal rockers screaming and going crazy with their equipment onstage.
Deep Purple is one of my favorite bands from the late 60s and early 70s and “Space Truckin’” is probably my favorite song.
Ian Gillan is one of the best screamers in rock, and Jon Lord one of the best keyboardists.
If you’re a Deep Purple fan and haven’t seen this concert, you’re in for a huge treat.
If you want to transport back in time to 1973, this is also for you. The audience remind me of high school and college!
The best screaming starts at 1:35. But hold on because both Jon Lord and Ritchie Blackmore go crazy. Top stuff!!!
Yes screaming “No!” in the face of fascism
Some of my favorite screaming is in the song “Owner of a Lonely Heart” (1983) by Yes.
First there’s human screaming by lead singer Jon Anderson starting at 4:36.
And then there are the little instrumental screams throughout.
But, honestly, the entire video qualifies as a scream of rebellion in the face of what appears to be fascism.1 It reminds me of Pink Floyd’s original video for “Another Brick in the Wall.” They don’t seem to make videos this in-your-face transgressive towards the status quo anymore.
Some may be put off by the animals in the video, but wouldn’t you love to turn into a bird of prey — instead of feeling like something being preyed upon a lot of the time? (Or is it just me feeling this way?)
In the end, to me it’s a joyous and uplifting song reminiscient of the go-go eighties.
But you might want to jump ahead to 2:15 when the song finally gets going. They did some video ‘larking about’ back in this early MTV era.
Judas Priest shouting “You’ve got another thing comin’”
Judas Priest has been going since 1969 and Rob Halford and Glenn Tipton are, amazingly and joyfully, still with this hard-working metal band.
Of course an iconic Judas Priest song is their 1982 hit “You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’” off their aptly named Screaming for Vengeance album.
Glenn does a wonderful guitar solo, but the thing I always listen for when I hear this song is Rob letting loose with a short scream at 3:44. I love it!
It’s also another one of those videos ya just gotta see. They didn’t hold back in the MTV era with the entertainment value.
Five Finger Death Punch screams “I’ve given up on everything!!!”
The name of this group puts some people off, and others will abandon ship as Ivan Moody goes full-throttle heavy metal singing in this live concert video.2
But boy, when I’ve completely had it, I can listen to this song, “Wash It All Away” (2015), over and over again.
Especially with these lyrics:
All of the chaos
And all of the lies
I hate it…
I'm waiting here
For anyone to wash it all away
Wash it all away!
I fantasize about jumping up and down in that audience and then diving into the mosh pit and having at it, getting all of this frustration out of my system.
Most satisfying — the scream starting around 2:45. Whoa!
Let me know your favorite songs to scream along to in the comments. All genres welcome.
The implication is apparently that the secret police are taking him in for questioning, where he sees other people waiting for the same ordeal.
For a different take on his voice, check out “A Little Bit Off,” the band’s humorous covid era video.
Love the topic! Mary Clayton (Gimme Shelter), and Welcome to the Jungle.
Oh yeah, this is great, Ellen!
My first thought was Geddy's screaming "Every nerve is torn apaaaaarrrrrt" at the end of "Cygnus X-1," because I am nothing if not completely predictable in my love of Rush.