37 Best Songs With A Steady Beat – With Video Examples

“Animal” by Def Leppard

Year: 1987

If you do the looking, you will find that many Def Leppard songs feature a very steady beat. It could be due to drummer Rick Allen’s limitations; it could be because it makes their songs better. Either way, Allen’s drumming is largely there to keep a steady beat, not to be overly flashy.

His steady drumming on “Animal” lets the layered guitar and vocal parts float on top with ease.

“The Final Countdown” by Europe

Year: 1986

This 80s anthem may have never caught on if not for its steady beat. “The Final Countdown” is over the top 80s metal, with galloping rhythm guitars, soaring twin guitar solos, synth hooks, and gang vocals just to be safe. The secret to holding down the final seconds before an explosive launch are undeniably the steady drums.

“Got To Have You” by Nuno Bettencourt

Year: 1997

Nuno Bettencourt’s post-grunge alt-rock of “Got To Have You” is moody, dreamy, and surprisingly catchy.

The steady clang of the heavy drums is what glue the entire track together and add weight to the shifting eighth-note guitar riff.

“Teenage Dirtbag” by Wheatus

Year: 2000

The steady beat probably isn’t what you remember most about this early 2000s angst-ridden loser rocker. But listen closely, and you’ll see just how unfaltering the drummer is in delivering the steady backbone this track always needed to become a big hit.

“Bright Future In Sales” by Fountains of Wayne

Year: 2003

“Bright Future In Sales” opens with raucous snare hits, but once it gets going it’s the steadiest of bluesy rockers save for a few shots here and there.

And as per usual, Fountains of Wayne deliver on catchy harmonies, memorable guitar hooks, and some keys to bring the entire track to life.

“Never Gonna Give You Up” by Rick Astley

Year: 1987

In the 80s, songs based around drum machines and synthesizers were normalized. “Never Gonna Give You Up” is certainly a product of its time, and some would consider it quite cheesy. But it’s not completely without merit, because it’s still one of Astley’s most remembered songs, if not his best.

Arguably, most songs featuring a drum machine have a steady beat, but this one is nothing short of lazy in that regard. We’re not calling anyone specific lazy, mind you.

“The Middle” by Jimmy Eat World

Year: 2001

The alt-rock of Jimmy Eat World is very representative of the early 2000s, and if it was any punkier, it would probably have to be lumped in with blink-182. The guitar work is certainly a step beyond pop-punk, mind you.

“The Middle” is marked by an eighth-note rhythm, largely outlined by the layered guitars, and this is where it gets its steady beat from as well.

“Sentimental Blvd.” by Harem Scarem

Year: 1993

Canadian AOR outfit Harem Scarem (a personal favorite) may have missed the 80s metal train by mere years, but that didn’t stop them from making some great music throughout the 90s and beyond.

This gem is from Mood Swings, the album most fans would consider one of their best.

“Sentimental Blvd.” features a steady beat, possibly to accommodate drummer Darren Smith’s rare appearance as lead singer on the track. Smith delivers a Paul Stanley style performance well suited to the emotion of the song.

“Just Like Paradise” by David Lee Roth

Year: 1988

David Lee Roth’s post-Van Halen release, Skyscraper, came with this rocker, a song that sounds as though it could have been a Van Halen hit if tensions weren’t so high between its members. On this track, virtuoso Steve Vai steps in on guitar to deliver, and deliver he did.

In the background of “Just Like Paradise,” though, you’ll notice a plodding bass along with one of the steadiest drumbeats of the genre.

“For the Love of Money” by BulletBoys

Year: 1988

The BulletBoys’ take on this O’Jays classic was raucous, heavy, and on point. Sometimes, covers like these have a way of falling apart, especially when they are products of their time, but somehow, this ingenious take on “For the Love of Money” still holds up today.

Does it have a steady beat? You better believe it!

“Get To You” by Dan Reed Network

Year: 1988

Dan Reed Network’s “Get To You” is funky and catchy. While there is no denying its product of time status, its energy is still tangible, and its hook still impactful. Anything other than a steady beat would have ruined the song.

“Purple Haze” by The Jimi Hendrix Experience

Year: 1967

The opening shots in The Jimi Hendrix Experience’s “Purple Haze” are iconic, and it’s fair to say the song imparted that same drive to many modern rock tunes.

Jazz drummer Mitch Mitchell’s drumming on “Purple Haze” is far from straightforward, not surprisingly, but undergirding the entire track is a steady beat. The opening shots are the steadiest part of the song, mind, so think of this as a bonus.

Top Songs With A Steady Beat, Final Thoughts

When it comes right down to it, songs with a steady beat aren’t that hard to find, especially in a time when beats are often “drawn to the grid” to be uniform, on time, and repetitive. Some songs do emphasize the beat more than others, mind you, and those are the ones that stand out most.

We hope you enjoyed this guide and found plenty of songs worth exploring. What songs do you like most? What is your favorite steady beat? Why does it work so well?