10 Classic Rock Songs Fans Love — But Purists Hate

Описание: Some songs ignite the fanbase… and infuriate the purists.
From “corporate rock” anthems to over-polished 80s monsters, these tracks were mocked, dismissed, and outright hated by the gatekeepers — yet they became immortal.

Tonight on Backstage Classics, we dive into 11 songs that purists couldn’t stand… but the rest of the world couldn’t stop playing.

🔥 Arena-rock anthems
🔥 Power-ballad “sellouts”
🔥 MTV-era reinventions
🔥 The most controversial bonus pick yet

Stick around — the deeper the list goes, the hotter the takes get.

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📌 CHAPTERS

00:00 – Intro
01:01 – #10 A band in makeup drops an anthem and enrages purists?
02:28 – #9 A polished power-ballad that critics dismissed as “too commercial”?
04:01 – #8 REO Speedwagon – “Keep On Loving You”
05:36 – #7 Styx – “Come Sail Away”
07:09 – #6 A massive crossover hit purists called soft-rock fluff?
08:38 – #5 Boston – “More Than a Feeling”
10:04 – #4 A prog band turns pop — and their fans revolt?
11:34 – #3 A blues-rock band goes MTV-glam?
13:10 – #2 A hair-metal anthem purists called “rock at its lowest form”?
14:47 – #1 This one might ruffle some "feathers"
16:08 – Bonus – A song purists call “the worst great song ever”?
17:42 – Which one do you think is the most iconic? Which one makes you turn the dial?

If you love deep-dive rock history, classic rock controversies, forgotten stories, and the battles between critics and fans, you’re in the right place.
Welcome to Backstage Classics — where the myths, the backlash, and the legends come to life.

Which song on this list shocked you the most?