A true music legend: Rod Stewart’s most memorable songs

It’s hard not to love Sir Rod Stewart and his unmistakeable raspy voice, but Aussies everywhere are starting to get excited as the British crooner recently announced an eight-day tour down under that will see him performing his most iconic songs.

He’s sold a whopping 120 million records worldwide, is recognised as one of the biggest pop stars of all time and even held the world record for largest live concert ever with a crowd of three and a half million people gathering in Rio De Janeiro to hear him play live. So, as we patiently wait to see the live show here in Australia, let’s take some time to look back at the best songs from the living legend himself!

‘Maggie May’ (1971)

This classic tune was about the story of a young man who had fallen for an older woman and was now coming to terms with the fact that his feelings might not be reciprocated. It was more or less a true story according to Stewart who admitted the song was actually about the first woman he ever slept with – although her name was not Maggie May unfortunately.

‘Da Ya Think I’m Sexy’ (1978)

This provocative tune was a disco anthem in its day. However not everyone loved the change of pace, with traditional Stewart fans seeing the different genre as a betrayal to his classic blues-rock origins and labelling him as a sell-out for going down the disco-route.

‘Young Turks’ (1981)

While the actual phrase ‘Young Turks’ is never heard in the song, the title had to be changed to avoid confusion with Candi Staten’s classic ‘Young Hearts Run Free’. However, the title still encapsulates the feeling of the song that centres around the freedom of being young and even touches on the realities of teenage pregnancy.

‘Tonight’s The Night (Gonna Be Alright)’ (1976)

There are few songs out there as seductive as this, and in classic Stewart fashion – he held nothing back in his storytelling journey. The song features French whispers from his then-girlfriend Britt Ekland which caused the song to be cut short on many radio stations due to be deemed too aggressive to be on the air.

‘Mandolin Wind’ (1971)

This slower song follows a man who misses his lover after surviving a horrific winter together. While it wasn’t one of his chart-topping hits, this folky-tune truly showcased not only his talented voice but also his beloved storytelling abilities.

‘The First Cut Is The Deepest’ (1976)

This heartfelt tune was originally written by fellow legend Cat Stevens in 1965 and made famous by soul singer P.P. Arnold in 1967, but Stewart’s stripped back version was good enough to hit number one on the charts around a decade later. The song was the perfect suit for the raspy sounds of Stewart and will now forever be tied to his name.

‘The Killing of Georgie Part 1 & 2’ (1976)

This was yet another lyrical stunner that told a heartbreaking story of a young gay man who was kicked out of his home and eventually killed by a street gang for his sexual orientation. In the late ’70s this topic was still considered taboo and Stewart became one of the first famous faces to make a public statement through his music.