"Sweet Child O' Mine," Guns N' Roses

Swing those hips, Axl.  This is your jam:

“Sweet Child O’ Mine” shows Guns N’ Roses in all of its Appetite for Destruction glory.  The grainy, black and white footage gives the video an instantly classic feel.  It showcases the band exactly as we expect them:  Axl with his bandana, Slash obscured by his hat and shades, and copious amounts of booze in the background. 

Though the song’s lyrics cover familiar territory, “Sweet Child O’ Mine” is much more than your typical 80s power ballad.  It’s uneasy, uncertain, and makes no promises of a happily ever after.  Axl’s voice twists and turns around Slash’s driving riffs, hitting notes most 80s rockers could never touch. 

Though Slash himself reportedly hated the song, “Sweet Child O’ Mine” was his finest moment with the group.  His second-half guitar solo is so great, so defiant, that he leaves no doubt that the song can only belong to Guns N’ Roses.  No wonder it became the their biggest commercial success. 

Want more rock?  Check out our throwbacks on “November Rain” and “Jump.”