Many times you might have heard about different rock genres and you might surely have heard about classic rock. But how would you really know if a rock song is a classic?

Classic rock seems to be a loose definition for songs included or considered as part of the genre. It would be to broad to consider all old rock songs as classic rock since songs in this genre should have that special quality that set them apart from the others.

But what really makes classic rock songs classic? Not all songs that were made two or three decades ago can all be included in the classic rock genre. Can classic rock be dependent on past consistent airplay of rock songs on the radio or even on record sales?

If that is the case, then there are other rock songs in the past that may not have been record sellers but are now considered classic rock songs. Do classic rock songs choose and include those that follow a particular style or theme?

Hardly so. There are some rock bands in the past that did not play the same style but were considered as part of the classic rock genre.

So what song does classic rock includes in its roster? Here are some questions that you can use to test if a song or an album can be considered as classic rock:

When was the particular song or rock album recorded?

When a certain rock album or song has been around for more than ten to fifteen years in circulation among different radio stations, then it can be considered a likely candidate for inclusion in the classic rock genre.

But just because it has been there long enough doesn't necessarily mean that such a song or rock album can be considered a classic. There are other means to help you make a judgment of that.

Was it a big seller during its time?

In order for a rock song or album can be considered as a classic, it is important that it has been heard or listened to by a few million people and not just because it is a personal favorite of yours. A hot seller of a rock album can tell you that it is really something worth looking at.

Do you still remember who recorded this particular song?

If the song was a big hit then, you would surely be able to remember who wrote and played it. Bands with a hit song or two may not likely make it into the classic rock category although it will surely show that such a song or album may have been a big seller at one time.

Can you still hear the song being played on the radio?

A good indicator that a rock album or song rightly belongs in the classic rock genre will depend on its playability. Many classic rock songs have been considered as such because people seem to still like them.

People seem to get satisfaction and tend to become a bit emotional once they hear a classic rock song. Whenever they hear it played, memories of the past are conjured back, right at the time when the song had been a big hit. A rock song's timeless appeal can make it eligible to be considered as part of the classic rock genre.