Frat Rock! Your favorite songs

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I’m not really sure if there is an absolute definition as to what constitutes “frat rock.” But to paraphrase Justice Potter Stewart’s wonderfully pragmatic definition about obscenity, “I know it when I hear it.”

Since many of our “kids” are going to be heading to school soon, some to the Greeks and some not, here are a few of my favorite songs that I consider frat rock (obviously being stuck a few decades ago):

  • “Sherry Darling” Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
    This is from Philadelphia in August 1985 as part of the Born in the USA tour. Just magical (and, b/t/w, the Boss LOVES frat rock!)
  • “Double Shot of My Baby’s Love” The Swingin’ Medallions
    This was a band from South Carolina with, I think, a one-shot wonder. Notably, they appeared with the Boss many decades later, singing this song in a concert in SC:
  • “Quarter to Three” Gary U.S. Bonds
    Another great song, and again one featured by the Boss many times after US Bonds’ definitive version.
  • “Shout” by The Isley Brothers (and later by Otis Day and the Knights):
  • “96 Tears” ? and the Mysterians
    An all-time classic (as they are all), but this one is basically perfect.
  • “Do You Love Me” The Contours
    Great song on so many fronts.

Please feel free to add. Like I said, I don’t precisely know what is frat rock, but I guess you just feel it!

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Great recommendation.

I guess anything by Squeeze also should be included. This is basically their greatest hits:

And going back a few years, the Wicked One himself, Wilson Pickett:

Oh, and Madness. I’ll post their big song, but they did so much great work:

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And this too from The Romantics:

And, the Violent Femmes:

And, of course, the Talking Heads:

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i came on to add blister in the sun! first song i thought of from dancing in a fraternity.

and then there’s billy idol’s mony mony of course. I’ll ask my kids what they think of as frat rock. bet i dont even know the songs

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If it’s past the 1980s, I will likely draw a blank. DD is starting college soon, and I will add to this list when she fills me in on what’s “frat rock” in 2023!

Love “Blister in the Sun”…I can actually play it on the git-box.

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‘Welcome to the Jungle’ by Guns N’ Roses. We had a frat that themed their first big party of the year after this song. I went to college in the dark ages (early 90s), so I’m not sure if they still use it! :rofl:

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Billy Idol Mony Mony

B52s Rock Lobster

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I just googled “best frat songs of all time”, and I’m sad to say that I recognize very few them. No wonder my kids think I’m stuck in another era.

This is one I recognize and love, Outkast’s absolutely brilliant “Hey Ya!”

And since it’s already come up so many times, “Mony Mony” by Billy Idol (which I think was originally done by Tommy James and the Shondells):

And another one, “Love Shack” by the B-52s:

ETA: My google search also came up with “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond. This is a fantastic song, but I was a bit surprised to see it on the “definitive list” of great frat rock songs!

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Beastie Boys “Fight For Your Right” and “Brass Monkey.”

Van Halen “Panama.” So much guitar and those lyrics! “Reach down, between my legs…ease the seat back”

House of Pain “Jump Around”

Bell, Biv, DeVoe “Poison” Never trust a big butt and a smile!

This is scarily easy for me.

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I recognize the names, but not the songs. Yes, this one is a frat rock keeper:

Feel free to post others!

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While I agree that this version is a classic, I really like the version of 96 Tears from Joe King Carrasco y las coronas . Was very popular at UT Austin back in the day.

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Definitely a name I’m familiar with, but I didn’t realize he did a cover. Please post if you wish.

I was DEFINITELY not a Greek, but had plenty of friends who were. I don’t know: frat rock just makes me happy regardless of Greek affiliation (“96 Tears” notwithstanding, which is kind of not happy)!

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Back in my day (mid-late 90s), this played at seemingly every party we hosted, We typically had a mix of rock, pop, dance, and hip-hop:

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I grew up in Detroit and used to see them yearly… Man I am old… Lol

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Anything by Dave Matthews is what I would count as “frat rock”.

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Fantasy by Earth Wind and Fire.
Disco Inferno by The Trampps.

Without these two, there was no party in the late 70s!

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I really don’t want to admit to how many frat parties I attended back in the day, but I have some foggy recollection of REMs “It’s the end of the world as we know it (and I feel fine)” being on a constant loop.
It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine) - YouTube.

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