What is the most GEN-X song? I say it’s “I hate everything about you” by Ugly Kid Joe 1991

By Gen X'ers for more for a later Gen X/early Millennial audience more. I mean grunge was basically bashing on early Gen X mainstream. The Gen X who made it came from really depressed, bad way towns and they were extreme outsiders in their own generation who later Gen X seemed to go with to rebel against their older siblings or whatnot and turn mainstream.

Some early X went for that but far more did not than ever did. Many saw it as a wet blanket rejection of what they were about.

I mean check out these late 80s grad party videos, what do they have to do with Smells Like or Gangsta's Paradise vibe?:
https://youtu.be/gxqjoaQYxnw?si=PhfEW1Y3FTgkVNQG&t=4619s (graduation party, Forever Young/Break Dancing Class of '89)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NC1eKmVccOM&t=2958s (graduation party, Debbie Gibson Class of '88)

So if you go with Smells Like or whatnot, fine, but then you need another for sure as well to get all of X covered. Maybe Don't You Forget About Me or Take On Me or Everybody Wants To Rule The World or I Melt With You, Borderline, Thriller, Let's Go Crazy, Video Killed The Radio Star, We Got The Beat or something along those lines.

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awmaleg@reddit

Regulate too

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Spider_Dude@reddit

Mount up!

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KillerSwiller@reddit

Ab-so-fucking-lutely.

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BlueSnaggleTooth359@reddit

1 and 3 could at least work for early/core X too.

Although I'd go more for Don't You Forget About Me, Take On Me, Everybody Wants To Rule The World or such over 1 or 3. And 2 is just a no go to represent earlier Gen X since it basically was a diss on all our culture.

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munkeypunk@reddit

Also, Fight the Power and Fuck the Police.

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Goldbera1@reddit

Man the brenda playing on repeat 90210 does seem to indicate that was a moment

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deniablw@reddit

Yes. I’ll take all 3

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TheJFilez@reddit

Don’t you, forget about me…

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Buddhagrrl13@reddit

And yet, they always forget about us

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ghandi3737@reddit

But we still got the song.

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Warhammer517@reddit

Life Of Agony did a pretty decent cover of that song.

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YRUSoFuggly@reddit

Not by any means my favorite song, but you can't hear it without thinking about Breakfast Club, and Breakfast Club makes you think of High School... Before you know it BAM! you got the feels.

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MaximumJones@reddit

The only answer

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BlueSnaggleTooth359@reddit

This or:
Take On Me, Don't You Forget About Me, Borderline, Come On Eileen, Cruel Summer, We Got The Beat, Pour Some Sugar On Me, Here I Go Again, I Melt With You, Let's Go Crazy, Thriller, Video Killed The Radio Star, Everybody Wants To Rule The World or who knows what.

Maybe one of Don't You Forget About Me, Take On Me, Everybody Want To Rule The World, I Melt With You, Video Killed The Radio Star could most overall represent the mainstream of early/core Gen X.

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BlueSnaggleTooth359@reddit

Yeah, yeah now we are talking!

Anyway it just shows that Gen X, as with most gens, would need two songs, one for early/core and one for later part of the generation.

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Skate_faced@reddit

Also ironic as fuck.

Gen X was fine before anyone remembers we exist between boomers and millennials.

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TheJFilez@reddit

Gen X = forgotten middle child

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D05wtt@reddit

I’m glad we’re the “forgotten” generation. Boomers, Millennials, and Gen Zs get the brunt of the criticisms of what’s wrong with the world these days. Keep us out of it!

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Tim-oBedlam@reddit

That drum break at the end. This is the correct choice for older GenXers who were teenagers when Breakfast Club came out.

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Kylearean@reddit

Followed closely by "We're talking away... "

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rulerofthewasteland@reddit

At my high school graduation in 89 I had to sit out in 90F to a school band playing that song.

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TwistedNightlight@reddit

That’s a good answer.

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replayer@reddit

My vote. After all these years, nothing makes me think of 1985 more.

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Nearby_Situation_400@reddit

I always think of the opening to mallrats

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Gen_Ecks@reddit

Ugly Kid Joe is not the voice of Gen X ffs.

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workswithpipe@reddit

Saw them open for Ozzy, got booed off the stage after about 3 songs.

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magerber1966@reddit

Completely unrelated to the theme of this thread, but my mom used to tell a story about going to a Joan Baez concert where Bob Dylan was the opening act. She said everyone around her were looking at each other like "Who is this nasel-ey fuck and where in the hell is Baez"?

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klippDagga@reddit

Saw them and fuck, I’m having a hard reminiscing. Oh yeah, Slaughter, opening the “No More Tours Tour”.

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workswithpipe@reddit

I want to say LA Guns were the third act for us.

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PutridWorth938@reddit

If i went to see ozzy, and saw a band as lame as UKJ, I'd be booing, too.

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krack1925@reddit

I saw them in a club 3 or 4 years after they hit... they had released a much heavier album... I liked it and i remember it being a decent show. I would have been completely drunk but remember a few highlights. Amusing one hit wonder... club... was in Shreveport or Bossier city. Probably 94 or 95. Fuck I am old.

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PutridWorth938@reddit

My Gen x wife (59f) just said "who the fuck is ugly kid Joe"? As a somewhat older gen x (55m), even Nirvana was a bit into the "in trying to go to college and make a living at the same time" part of early adulthood... So don't really consider them "growing up" type music... But calling ugly kid Joe even a one hit wonder is a serious upgrade...

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Kodiak01@reddit

But calling ugly kid Joe even a one hit wonder is a serious upgrade...

Their biggest hit was a a Harry Chapin remake, peaking at #6.

Harry's version was better. Much better.

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BlueSnaggleTooth359@reddit

Yeah jeez. I wouldn't have a clue who the band even was if someone just mentioned the name. I can't even really recall the song.

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klippDagga@reddit

I Hate Everything About You.

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nickfree@reddit

Thank you.

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fredout1968@reddit

Haaaa! I appreciate the ffs and wholeheartedly agree.

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SpiritualScholar2180@reddit

Literally forgot all about them until this thread

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peptide2@reddit

I hate everything about them

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peptide2@reddit

Had to be said

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Icy-Feeling-528@reddit

💯

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PickleNutsauce@reddit

Thank you.

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wyocrz@reddit

Smells Like Teen Spirit

"oh well, whatever, nevermind."

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United_Vacation_8509@reddit

I mean this is THE only correct answer. I don’t even understand how anyone could think different. Runner up Disarm, Smashing Pumpkins

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BlueSnaggleTooth359@reddit

Because it was 100% the opposite of everything early/core Gen X culture was about?

Gen X (as with most gens) really would need to entirely different songs to be represented. Earlier and later parts are often way different.

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United_Vacation_8509@reddit

I see what you’re saying, but to me smells like teen spirit was just the icing on the cake. It was the tail end of gen x and to me it just embodied the whole generation and what they/we are about.

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BlueSnaggleTooth359@reddit

Except it embodied everything the bulk of earlier Gen X was NOT about.

Not all, but most of my friends from early/core X thought it 100% did not represent them and found it to be a kind of sad wet blanket on everything and sort of shitting all over everything we had been about: upbeat, optimistic, light-hearted, wild, stylish, fun, bright, colorful, chill. (we ourselves had rebelled against the malaise and blandness and angst of just before and didn't really want a return to that).

Many (not all yes, but a majority) of earlier/coe Gen X found that to be a fairly alienating miserable screamy wet blanket of depression, angst and nihilism and found it more silly than ever sooooo deep compared to our supposedly bubble gum and shallow 80s.

And we never really saw what it brought to society but a lot more angst, anger, hating on everything becoming cool (look how movies, tv, actors, music everything is shit on ever since for sport), negative/downer vibes.

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United_Vacation_8509@reddit

It’s honestly impressive how much cultural collapse you’ve managed to pin on one grungy garage rock song. Like, wow—“Smells Like Teen Spirit” didn’t just top the charts, it apparently ruined society, killed fun, and singlehandedly made everyone a cynic?

Maybe it didn’t represent your Gen X experience, and that’s valid—but it clearly struck a nerve with a huge part of the generation that didn’t feel so sunny and carefree. Gen X wasn’t all bright colors and “chill vibes,” and pretending it was kind of erases the real disaffection a lot of people were feeling.

Also, let’s not pretend that cultural cynicism and the “everything sucks” mentality started with Nirvana. That was already baked in by a couple decades of broken promises, political rot, and the creeping sense that the future was going to be worse than the past.

But sure—blame the song.

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magerber1966@reddit

I actually agree with the u/BlueSnaggleTooth359's sentiment here. Early Gen-Xers had a completely different experience than later ones. High school and college ('79-87 for me) were a time of excitement and anticipation with a feeling that better days were ahead. Some of my strongest childhood memories were watching the Vietnam War on TV, Watergate and long, long lines at gas stations. By the 1980's, it felt like things were definitely getting better and our music reflected that.

I graduated from college the year after Bret Easton Ellis, and his first novel, Less than Zero (1985) felt very familiar to me (I also grew up in LA, although my experience was much less affluent than his). I swear that at least 50% of the people I knew in college went on to become investment bankers--I have to believe quite a few of them lived their own version of Wall Street (1987).

By the 1990s, the fallout from living the way we saw in popular media had begun to take its toll, and it became clear that our hope for the future hadn't come to fruition. At that point, the grunge movement felt appropriate. And I love me some grunge...

But, I just don't think we can use grunge as an anthem for all of Gen X, because I think there is a distinct difference between the way we older Gen Xers experienced the world compared to the way the younger crew saw things.

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BlueSnaggleTooth359@reddit

Like how well would you say Smells Like represents what you see here in this 1989 grad party video? Not much I'd say:
https://youtu.be/gxqjoaQYxnw?si=PhfEW1Y3FTgkVNQG&t=4619s (graduation party, Forever Young/Break Dancing)

So if you go with Smells Like, fine, but then you need another for sure as well to get all of X covered.

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BlueSnaggleTooth359@reddit

I was actually on campus among earlier Gen X in the late 80s/earliest of all 90s and again among late Gen X/earliest of all Millennials and the vibe and style that embodied each was not the same, what overall embodied things the second time just would not work for the earlier time. You can't pick one thing to easily represent both. For sure not Smells Like since that just alienates and craps over too much about what way too many earlier X had been about.

Maybe there is some song that could work for both, but that would not be it at all. Probably there is. In the meantime I might say as I did one of the ones I mentioned above plus Smells LIke (or some other choice if you want) to try to cover both sides of Gen X.

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magerber1966@reddit

That's for the young'uns. Maybe Rock the Casbah by the Clash

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BlueSnaggleTooth359@reddit

Not my choice to represent the generation (although it's hard to say what would be) but yeah hella this over Smells Like (which basically shat all over early/core Gen X mainstream culture, not represented it).

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magerber1966@reddit

Oh, I am absolutely with you on this. I just think Rock the Casbah resonates with me because I have a distinct memory of going to a ninth grade dance and my date and I spending this entire song trying to figure out if they were actually saying "F-ck the Casbah" or not...

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wyocrz@reddit

That's more my flavor.

My personal answer would have been more Megadeth or Iron Maiden.

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endosurgery@reddit

My parents would lose their shit when I said that to them. Classic high school 80s saying.

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wyocrz@reddit

Mama was a Beatnik so I knew better to not try to top her.

As she lit the next bowl, "What's it matter? The Russians are going to drop the bomb anyway."

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SargentD1191938@reddit

That whole album with a close second being Blood Sugar Sex Magic. Also Appetite for Construction is in the mix sorta as the grand finale for big hair metal bands making it big.

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splorp_evilbastard@reddit

Don't fix your typo! That's awesome!

Appetite for Construction by Saws 'N Drywall

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SargentD1191938@reddit

Dang it, ok leaving it. Weird Al, there ya go

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TimeLine_DR_Dev@reddit

It's a Paw Patrol spin off now

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SargentD1191938@reddit

Pupstruction?

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BlueSnaggleTooth359@reddit

No way, it's 100% the opposite of what early/core Gen X mainstream was about.

Maybe it came to symbolize later Gen X but even then hell Mariah Carey charted like 1,000x more than Nirvana ever did.

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PrismaticDinklebot@reddit

This defined our entire generation. Very true.

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BlueSnaggleTooth359@reddit

Hell no. It defined maybe part of the later part of the generation.

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BoboliBurt@reddit

Thats obviously the answer i havent heard the name “Ugly Kid Joe” three decades. Not particularly defining.

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wyocrz@reddit

Yeah, it was the obvious answer, not my favorite one.

It really was excellent, don't get me wrong, but damn it was a dagger into metal.

In retrospect, metal collapsed under its own weight. I had people ask me without irony, "Are you going to the Ratt Poison concert????" nah man, Slayer, Motorhead, and Overkill.

I don't like that poser shit! And weirdly enough, only dated hippy chicks.

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chamrockblarneystone@reddit

Three little pigs by Green Jello is more of a whacky wonder of that time

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PoofBam@reddit

Either that or Beck's Loser.

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PhilliePhanatical@reddit

In the time of chimpanzees I was a monkey

Butane in my veins and I'm out to cut the junkie

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MaybeUNeedAPoo@reddit

This is correct.

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SnoSlider@reddit

Would?

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Competitive-Cow-4522@reddit

That’s a fantastic one ☝🏼

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The_Last_Mouse@reddit

And it counts double since it's on the Singles soundtrack

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Competitive-Cow-4522@reddit

Hell yeah 🤘🏼

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attaboy_stampy@reddit

YEP. As overplayed as it was (is), and as much as Guitar Center people hate it, this is the one.

That final lyric is like he literally just gave up writing the song because who gives a fuck.

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Designer-Mirror-7995@reddit

"These Are The Breaks"

"Don't Push Me" (cause I'm close to the edge)

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Kodiak01@reddit

Gonna whip out a little Wang Chung - Everybody Have Fun Tonight

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Zestyclose-Cap1829@reddit

End of the World as we know it.

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geetarboy33@reddit

I always felt like It’s the End of the World as We Know It by R.E.M. felt like the song of our generation.

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Kodiak01@reddit

For R.E.M., I'd lean more towards either Everybody Hurts or Shiny Happy People depending on which end of the spectrum you were at.

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YRUSoFuggly@reddit

And I Feel FINE!

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new2bay@reddit

You know, it kinda is, actually. Global civilization probably has just about as long to live as most of us do.

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Tim-oBedlam@reddit

LEONARD BERNSTEIN!

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PaddlesOwnCanoe@reddit

I'm singing it a lot now just to keep my spirits up.

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Eric_B_4_President@reddit

One thing about GenX is that there isn’t a definitive song. Our tastes and genres of music exploded and are all over the place.

Another thing I know is that any song by Ugly Kid Joe certainly ain’t it. That seems pretty definitive.

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Kodiak01@reddit

One thing about GenX is that there isn’t a definitive song. Our tastes and genres of music exploded and are all over the place.

I would go from Harry Chapin to Iron Butterfly in a single sitting.

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IndependentPuddin702@reddit

My random soundtrack at work today went from Tupac, Metallica, Amy Winehouse,and Lil Wayne. I have +1000 songs altogether because we had the BEST soundtrack to live by. I can't pick one.

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Agent7619@reddit

Fight For Your Right to Party

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Kodiak01@reddit

Which was a song that was meant to PARODY the people and things they were singing about.

Although, Mike D has fond memories of creating the track — how people interpreted the song was an entirely different story, “The only thing that upsets me is that we might have reinforced certain values of some people in our audience when our own values were actually totally different,” he lamented. “There were tons of guys singing along to [Fight for Your Right] who were oblivious to the fact it was a total goof on them. Irony is often missed.”

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truthdude@reddit

What's going on!

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DiddlyBoBiddly@reddit

Teen Angst

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eightdotthree@reddit

Under rated band.

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wolfmilk74@reddit

you're an aho by denis leary♥️👌

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YRUSoFuggly@reddit

I was a little older when it came out, but I could see how at 17 it could have a definite imprint.
I remember it more as a segue from hair metal to grunge/alternative.

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PretentiousUsername1@reddit

Absolutely not. If there's one song to represent us all, it's Smells Like Teen Spirit.

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Minnow125@reddit

Definitely

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BlueSnaggleTooth359@reddit

Absolutely not since that song shits all over early/core Gen X culture and music.

That could be one of two songs but the other is gonna need to be wayyy different.

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Iko87iko@reddit

Im early gen x, so i was more into 70s, but with that said, pick 1

Smiths- How soon is now

https://youtu.be/hnpILIIo9ek?si=BQUjJaCoIu0elqsl

Or

The Cure - A Forest

https://youtu.be/hnVldyHRcjU?si=CUdUPJVCXvKijbFJ

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bykeithbrown@reddit

Where HAS been the Cure love in here?

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Iko87iko@reddit

Indeed, though I read the assignment wrong, I thought they were just asking for the quintessential gen x soung. I missed the other requirement. Oh well

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chawchat@reddit

🙋‍♂️

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NeonPhyzics@reddit

“Road to Nowhere”

Talking Heads

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Do_Whuuuut@reddit

Starfish & Coffee

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Jag-@reddit

Purple Rain

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klippDagga@reddit

A proper crossover what with the funk and a legit guitar solo.

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Ckc1972@reddit

Or 1999

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BlueSnaggleTooth359@reddit

Or Let's Go Crazy.

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artis107@reddit

Pop: Brittany Spears "Oops"

Rock: Nirvana "Smells Like Teen Spirit"

Hip Hop: Bad Boy "Mo Money ,Mo Problems"

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restingbitchface2021@reddit

Forever Young by Alphaville

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Thatsnotwotisaid@reddit

99 Red Balloons

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morbid_florist_@reddit

99 lift balloons

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restingbitchface2021@reddit

I have both on my playlist. ❤️

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wyocrz@reddit

I get a lot of shit about worrying about, you know, American missiles landing on Russian soil.

I keep saying....it's mistakes I fear, not some leader pressing a button. No, just 99 red balloons floating by.

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Randall_Hickey@reddit

You’re in the wrong decade for me

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Craig1974@reddit

Smells Like Teen Spirit. The whole Gen X thing didnt hit worldwide mainstream until that song was everywhere.

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BlueSnaggleTooth359@reddit

only for later Gen X need a second song for the rest of Gen X then

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Craig1974@reddit

No, not for the rest. You didn't even hear about "gen x" nor remember being referred to as Gen X until that song. Like it or not, it is the Gen X anthem imo. Nirvana is a Gen X age band. All 3 members are Generation X. Im not including Pat Smear (who was a later addition for live shows).

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LomentMomentum@reddit

Jesus Jones, “Right Here, Right Now”.

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Any-Roll609@reddit

Add It Up - Violent Femmes

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PrizeFaithlessness37@reddit

It's definitely not that

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HighBiased@reddit

Beck "I'm a Loser"

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OkJob8464@reddit

Any and every Beastie Boys song.

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R4t4t0skr@reddit

For me in a way it is "Mayor Tom".

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chrisgee@reddit

it has to be Smells Like Teen Spirit right? i'm not even a big Nirvana fan but I don't make the rules.

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OppositeDish9086@reddit

For better or worse, it's probably this. GenX surely isn't a monolith, but if you had to slap some kind of identifier on us via a single song, Teen Spirit would do.

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peptide2@reddit

Well it was a moment when that hit MTV . I remember being mesmerized

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OppositeDish9086@reddit

I was a college radio DJ when it came out. Yeah, it was a big deal.

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BlueSnaggleTooth359@reddit

Umm hell no since that song basically shits all over everything early/core X culture represented. It's the 100% opposite of much of Gen X. So no way in heck you just say that represent the generation and be done with it. Plus it really only represents best the part of Gen X that wasn't even Gen X in the public mind until some time into the 2000s.

If you want to go to two songs then fine that can be one if you want, but then you need something 100% the opposite of that too.

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Glittering-Stuff-599@reddit

I’ve always felt like Smells Like Teen Spirit’s purpose was the correction to GenX music ending on a bad note and letting the Millenials starting on a good note.

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BlueSnaggleTooth359@reddit

a good note is screamy, depressing, angsty, nonsense?

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BlueSnaggleTooth359@reddit

Wrong. Or maybe half right.

It's 100% the opposite of earlier Gen X. If we go to two songs then it could be one and maybe represent late Gen X and then something totally different for the rest of Gen X like Don't You Forget About Me or Everybody Wants To Rule The World or Take On Me or something. (although you know even for later X, Grunge wasn't actually as huge as people make it out to be now and it burned out FAST, someone like Mariah Carey charted a billion more times in the 90s; although I guess in the end it was the negative spirit of grunge and gangster rap that seemed to most alter societies vibe and style in the long run).

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attaboy_stampy@reddit

It's the 800 pound gorilla of 90s music.

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catchyphrase@reddit

It’s this or Welcome to the Jungle. both tapped into something visceral for the times. You felt it in your soul and bones listening to it, one capturing the aggression channeled towards excess consumption and domination and the other capturing the aggression channeled towards its rebellion. ☯️

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OraznatacTheBrave@reddit

This is the right answer.

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NoTooBeastFog@reddit

Right Here, Right Now. Written about an iconic event in history that we were a part of; who can forget the fall of the Berlin Wall?

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Lou_Hodo@reddit

I loved this song, but NiN and RAtM were my jams back then.

"FK YOU I WONT DO WHAT YOU TELL ME!"

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BlueSnaggleTooth359@reddit

Although it probably wouldn't best represent, maybe better to have two songs one for earlier and one for later I wonder what song could be deemed acceptable by both early and late Gen X at once?

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TapPsychological2043@reddit

She fucking hates me by puddle of Mudi loved that song when I was with my ex

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Jebgogh@reddit

I scrolled pretty far and did not see it so will make the obvious one : Alphaville “Forever Young”.

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BlueSnaggleTooth359@reddit

good song

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No_Arugula_6548@reddit

Two Princes

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BlueSnaggleTooth359@reddit

cool song

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JRBowen9@reddit

"Smells Like Teen Spirit". After being force-fed the most soulless, plastic pop bullshit for 1989 and 1990, when this song hit, it was quite literally like being struck by lightning. It was a rallying call. It was uniting in a way that our generation had never felt before. I don't know why it happened, but for some reason, that song absolutely united us and made us feel less alone, made us feel like a tribe. I don't think this aspect has been discussed enough!

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BlueSnaggleTooth359@reddit

Ugh, OTOH it was also taken by a lot of Gen X as the totally alienating miserable screamy wet blanket of depression, angst and nihilism that ruined it all. It was noticeably more pleasant and fun on campus late 80s than in the late 90s after the Smells and gangster rap influences had impacted some.

What did the whole hating on everything, miserable attitudes bring society?

It was so much more fun, upbeat, light-hearted, positive before.

And come on with ooooooh grunge and all are sooooo deep. Jeez the lyrics to half their songs were written in 2 minutes and Smells ones barely have any sense. No popular music is Shakespeare (but the most mocked bubble gum pop by grunge crowd still had more solid lyrics than Smells) or Mozart anyway so why even put on airs? Heck with the whole upbeat, fun is dumb and naive and angsty, angry, depressing is real and ever sooooo deep. Looking good = shallow and fake and greasy unwashed hair and vomit colored rags are ever soooo deep and coool.

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AnastasiaNo70@reddit

I’m 54. Born in 70. I wasn’t even sure who you were talking about. I vaguely remember the song after watching the video.

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BlueSnaggleTooth359@reddit

same

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FarAway_001@reddit

I'm late Gen X. Born in 77, so for us it has to be Smells Like Teen Spirit. No other song even comes close. It put an exclamation point on nearly everything that defined us at the time.

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bigb3nny@reddit

What ... not Ice Ice Baby? lol I am kidding.

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BlueSnaggleTooth359@reddit

honestly I bet plenty of earlier X would sooner go for Ice Ice over Smells

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goosepills@reddit

Yeah, I think this pretty much defines our whole generation

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BlueSnaggleTooth359@reddit

If by whole generation you mean the last few years....

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Fox33__@reddit

I don't think there is ONE... so many that are great zeitgeist captures. But yeah I was obsessed with this song, I related so much to just being an abrasive "whatever you suck" edgelord preteen!

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BlueSnaggleTooth359@reddit

yeah, the various choice for tail X are gonna different than for early/core X

need two songs to represent the generation overall

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TwistedNightlight@reddit

Right, Gen X spans fifteen years. It’s not likely the person born in 65 or 66 would choose the same song as someone born in 79 or 80.

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Sad_Advice_8152@reddit

3 Little Pigs bc they had to rename themselves to Green Jelly.

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Cultural-Task-1098@reddit

1999 Prince

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BlueSnaggleTooth359@reddit

Not a bad choice although I'd go with Let's Go Crazy if we go with Prince.

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skinisblackmetallic@reddit

This is really it... and it is also way above even being the song of a generation. If you put this on at a construction site, all the warring factions unite.

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Denverdogmama@reddit

My husband and I met at a NYE party minutes before 1999 began. This is literally our song.

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lordjohnworfin@reddit

Gen X? Cmon… Video Killed The Radio Star.

[-]

BlueSnaggleTooth359@reddit

yeah I could see this one too

[-]

Ahazeuris@reddit

Melt With You - Modern English. What else could it be?

[-]

BlueSnaggleTooth359@reddit

ooh wow, yeah that is another great choice along with:

Don't You Forget About Me

Everybody Wants To Rule The World

Take On Me

Let's Go Crazy

yeah I Melt With You is a real choice

[-]

rollotheclown@reddit

Technically- I melt with you

[-]

EastAd7676@reddit

That is a good one as well.

[-]

0hheyitsme@reddit

Everybody wants to rule the world - Tears For Fears

[-]

SargentD1191938@reddit

Probably for Class 86 such as yourself but by class of 92 (me) things had fully decoupled from the early 80's sound glam metal, alternative and gangster rap with a handful proto alternative bands thrown in (Portishead, Death Angel, Faith No More etc)

[-]

BlueSnaggleTooth359@reddit

Gen X as defined now, needs two songs. All the stuff you list is like the total rejection and opposite of early X picks and symbolizes all the elements where the 90s went wrong hah. So yeah it should be which two songs represent Gen X.

[-]

BlueSnaggleTooth359@reddit

Yeah this is a total top choice. That or Don't You Forget About Me or Take On Me.

Many other possible choices. Impossible to narrow it really. But if you had to I guess one of those three. (although it feels funny to never have an MJ or Madonna or Phil Collins or Gos-Gos/Belinda Carlise listed then I believe they were the top four hitmakers of the 80s).

[-]

DetroitRedd@reddit

Along with one of my favorite childhood movies, Real Genius. RIP Val Kilmer :-(

[-]

TurtleToast2@reddit

My first thought too.

[-]

OtterPeePools@reddit

Gen X spans so much tunes, but this would be on my list as well.

[-]

TwistedNightlight@reddit

I can guess people ages within a couple years based on which song they say is our definitive song.

[-]

johnnyhandbags@reddit

There’s something about Mazzy Star’s “Fade into You” that makes me automatically nostalgic

[-]

_plays_in_traffic_@reddit

it hits different if youre in r/xennial age range

[-]

Glittering-Stuff-599@reddit

Upvoted because I love Mazzy Star but I don’t feel that song has any generational impact, influence or meaning. The emotion conveyed by that song is timeless and even if that song came out in the 60s or today it would be equally as iconic.

[-]

EastAd7676@reddit

“We’re Not Gonna Take It” Twisted Sister 1984

[-]

_plays_in_traffic_@reddit

that song always brings me back to that dirt bike vs cessna race in iron eagle

[-]

RandallinaO@reddit

Huevos con aceite

[-]

EastAd7676@reddit

¿Que?

[-]

SandmanD2@reddit

What do you want to do with your life Mr. twister?

[-]

TwistedNightlight@reddit

Ugh.

[-]

R808T@reddit

And yet we still continue to take it.

[-]

Any_A-name67@reddit

Correct! You beat me to it.

[-]

_plays_in_traffic_@reddit

saying that that song is the most genx song is even worse than saying something like tesla - signs was an original piece of work and also the theme song

[-]

_SkiFast_@reddit

I don't know, I prefer hard rock but for lyrics for the times maybe REM "It's the end of the world as we know it" or Billy Joel's "we didn't start the fire".

Someone should've made a song called "Whatever".

[-]

nickfree@reddit

I can't nobody's said but it's gotta be:

Liam Lynch - United States of Whatever

[-]

Cool-Group-9471@reddit

Sweet Child O Mine, No Rain, Under the Bridge, Blackhole Sun, Enter Sandman 😃

[-]

a_passionate_man@reddit

Would like to add ‚Killing in the name of‘, Rage against the Machine.

[-]

Cool-Group-9471@reddit

Love that song

[-]

AuntWacky1976@reddit

This one is a good choice:

Mother Mother-Tracy Bonham

[-]

jonhinkerton@reddit

A thousand years from when they study this era in humanities class the students will attune their audio implants as the professor engages the sacred winAmp emulator and from the depths of time will come the voice of a generation, the sound that was preserved for an epoch, the stirring sound that could not be silenced - that fucking robin hood song by bryan adams.

[-]

SuspiciousMeat6696@reddit

My Own Worst Enemy - Lit

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Reasonable-HB678@reddit

"Loser" by Beck

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Tacotek@reddit

Git crazy with tha cheese whiz.

[-]

ScorpioTix@reddit

Worst concert injury ever.

I saw this band in Jan 1992 at Club With No Name, just before the song hit the airwaves.

Just a little pogo pit of like 5 people when I fell over and landed on a beer bottle cutting my wrist. Wrapped in in a dirty bar rag and called my mom to pick me up.

[-]

Glittering-Stuff-599@reddit

Right year wrong song.

[-]

Ca1v1n_Canada@reddit

It’s the end of the world as we know it by R.E.M.

[-]

Willing_Arm_7044@reddit

Outstanding. I approve.

[-]

ceno_byte@reddit

99 Luftballons

[-]

RikB666@reddit

Almost anything played on Beavis and Butthead.

[-]

OneThatCanSee@reddit

Punk Rock Girl

[-]

wyocrz@reddit

That would include Henry Rollin's Liar

[-]

robm1967@reddit

Creep or Smells like teen spirit

[-]

Ok_Message_8802@reddit

Someone has to mention Violent Femmes - Add it Up.

[-]

PutridWorth938@reddit

Why can't I get just one f***?

[-]

goosepills@reddit

You’re allowed to say fuck on the internet.

[-]

thisgirlnamedbree@reddit

Shout by Tears For Fears

[-]

goosepills@reddit

I always liked Break it down again better

[-]

SargentD1191938@reddit

Let it on out!

[-]

clodmonet@reddit

Nah.

Somebody wants to define a mercurial, don't give a fuck what you think generation with one song?

Pfffffffffffft... LOL

[-]

CelticB-stard@reddit

“Why do they call him Ugly Kid Joe, when he’s not even that ugly” ? “ Do you find him attractive Beavis” ? “No way Butthead, shut up”

[-]

GoodFnHam@reddit

No

[-]

Historical-Gap-7084@reddit

I don't even remember that song.

For me, Duran Duran in the 80s encompasses GenX for me.

[-]

PutridWorth938@reddit

For some reason, the only song by by Duran Duran I can ever think of is Rio... I know there were other great ones

[-]

Historical-Gap-7084@reddit

That's basically the definitive 80s D2 song.

Then we have Hungry Like the Wolf, The Reflex, Is There Something I Should Know?, Notorious, A View To A Kill, The Union of the Snake, New Moon on Monday, Wild Boys...

[-]

bykeithbrown@reddit

If you're going to go Duran Duran, the correct answer is The Chauffeur.

[-]

PutridWorth938@reddit

When you list them out, I can hear each one in my mind as I read it.

[-]

Historical-Gap-7084@reddit

Don't say you're easy on me, you're about as easy as nuclear war!

[-]

N0P3sry@reddit

Pink Floyd “Another Brick in the Wall pt 2”

Dead Kennedys “California Uber Alles”

Suicidal Tendencies “I Don’t Give A Fuck

Mudhoney “Touch Me I’m Sick

NIN “Head Like A Hole”

Nirvana “Smells Like Teen Spirit “

Honorable mention from a previous gen: Velvet Underground “ Heroin”

[-]

JackStraw48@reddit

I take one one one cause you left and two two two for my family

[-]

heyknauw@reddit

Institutionalized.

[-]

Pladohs_Ghost@reddit

I just want a Pepsi.

[-]

SometimesUnkind@reddit

Mike, are you on drugs!?!?!

[-]

AntC_808@reddit

“I went to your schools, I went to your churches…”

[-]

phairphair@reddit

I went to your institutional learning facilities

[-]

FictitiousFuego@reddit

So how can you say that I'm crazy?!

[-]

AntC_808@reddit

It’s ok, I’ll probably get hit by a bus…

[-]

FictitiousFuego@reddit

😄

[-]

new2bay@reddit

Dammit, Beavis! Settle down!

[-]

rollotheclown@reddit

Haha such a good answer! It warms my old punk heart. Have you kept listening to Suicidal Tendencies? I was pleasantly surprised to discover their newer stuff and love it!

[-]

heyknauw@reddit

Selectively, I have Pledge Your Allegiance and Nobody Hears on my i-tunes.

[-]

NailsIn9@reddit

Head like a hole black as your soul I’d rather die than give you control blah blah blah usernamechecksout

[-]

Pablo_Louserama@reddit

gif

[-]

bellzbuddy@reddit

For me it would be the whole album Appetite for Destruction.

Also Faith No More.

[-]

cactusflinthead@reddit

Didn't any of y'all listen to metal?

Not one metalhead in the whole bunch. I didn't bang my head every day but damn.

Between nostalgia for disco and skipping right past the metal phase into grunge I'm starting to wonder if I am one of the few survivors.

No Metallica. No ACDC. No Rush.

Back in Black Spirit of the Radio Kill'em All

[-]

spargel_gesicht@reddit

Personal Jesus

[-]

kidnappervan@reddit

https://youtu.be/3L4YrGaR8E4

https://youtu.be/c7T2BzVzrxA

[-]

RegretAccumulator72@reddit

Went to a Def Leppard concert and these guys opened for them and I swear to God, Ugly Kid Joe looked straight at me the entire time he sang this song.

Still have the Def Leppard t-shirt.

[-]

Choice_Student4910@reddit

Blister in the Sun - Violent Femmes

Never Say Never - Romeo Void

[-]

CosmicTurtle504@reddit

No. The most GenX song of all time is obviously “Eat It” by Weird Al Yankovic.

[-]

TheGreyAlien@reddit

Gen X ... Sweet child of mine - GnRs.

[-]

CharacterInternal7@reddit

I’m Gen X and I never heard this song, so no.

[-]

Prestigious-Echo-164@reddit

You Can’t Bring Me Down by Suicidal Tendencies

[-]

dingatremel@reddit

I’d probably say something more like Losing My Religion but there could be a dozen, from Every Breath You Take to Welcome to the Jungle to Bring the Noise to Billy Jean.

it’s probably Billy Jean now that I think about it

[-]

yerguyses@reddit

I agree, that would be the most popular song but it doesn't represent the angst and irony stereotype of Gen X.

[-]

RCA2CE@reddit

Melt with you - it’s sort of uniquely GenX imho

There’s some like video killed the radio star that are GenX icon songs - melt with you seems to rep this genre well

[-]

Bristle_Licker@reddit

This crap isn’t the song of our generation. We could argue about different bands, albums, or songs being the definitive GenX thing.

This crossed a bright line. This is beyond the pale. What’s next? Mr. Big - ‘To Be with You’ is another possible contender? Same year. Same one hit wonder garbage.

[-]

Cultural-Owl7329@reddit

Devo.

[-]

Oriencor@reddit

Butthole Surfers - Pepper

[-]

PhilliePhanatical@reddit

For years I thought they were all in love with Diane until I finally read the lyrics.

[-]

Stunning-Risk-7194@reddit

Dragnalus by Unwound

[-]

savedbytheblood72@reddit

Seether

[-]

bignicknergy@reddit

“Thriller”

“Don’t Believe the Hype”

“Purple Rain”

[-]

Substantial-Ant-9183@reddit

Thos is iny playlist lol. Three Little Pigs by Green Jelly is another favorite.

[-]

Cee58@reddit

Boy, do I hate that fuckin song

[-]

Comrade_Coconutz@reddit

It’s torture

[-]

Cee58@reddit

Obnoxious too, my ears die a lil more each time heard 💩

[-]

attaboy_stampy@reddit

The song is cheese.

But one thing I like about it is the point in the music video at 0:36 right after the song kicks in and the bass player is just stomping furiously in the surf. That just makes me laugh and laugh so much.

[-]

TeacherPatti@reddit

I just watched that. It is awesome! So full of angst in the waves!

[-]

TwistedNightlight@reddit

I don’t even know that song. That’s not it.

[-]

chawchat@reddit

Yes. This does not resonate with me at all, and frankly: we made merciless fun of this song when it came out. Oddly enough, I dig the groove right now.

[-]

Rough_Ear_9956@reddit

Cotton Eyed Joe

[-]

CarlatheDestructor@reddit

Black Hole Sun

[-]

Reasonable_Bid3311@reddit

Three Days Grace has a song called I hate everything about you. Now that’s the right song to listen to here.

[-]

Reasonable_Bid3311@reddit

No, one hit wonder with people trying to look grunge but sounding exactly like a big hair 80’s band.

[-]

xDeadJamesDean@reddit

Hahaha.., I can barely remember this song… it was at one point on MTV right?

[-]

DummBee1805@reddit

Do better.

[-]

Cjkgh@reddit

omg i forgot all about this song

[-]

fredout1968@reddit

That band sucked then... And it hasn't gotten any better that is for damn sure..

[-]

BlackOnyx1906@reddit

I have never heard this song and to date I have not heard a song posted in this sub I would consider the “song of Gen X” from my perspective

[-]

IronAnchor1@reddit

" Kiss them For Me " Siouxsie and the Banshees. " maybe " Damn, I wish I was your lover." By Sophie B. Hawkins. Or... " Hold My Hand" - Hootie and the Blowfish. Lastly, " Come As you Are" - Nirvana. This is by no means exhaustive just a few candidates.

[-]

descent-into-ruin@reddit

Wasn't there a sock puppet intro to this video?

[-]

Tuffsmurf@reddit

Jeremy or Alive by Pearl Jam

[-]

iamthepickleweasel@reddit

Teen against- cracker “What the world needs now is another folk singer like I need a whole in my head. “

[-]

DeepRedBelle@reddit

I was coming here to say "I Hate My Generation," also by the wonderful Cracker, but Teen Angst is even more fitting. Love those guys.

[-]

StinkyCheeseNFeet@reddit

There are dozens of great Cracker lyrics that sum up Gen X. “Some people, they go to work but I just hang around, dreamin’ up useless stuff.” -from the song Useless Stuff

Maybe one of the most under appreciated bands of that era.

[-]

DeepRedBelle@reddit

I couldn't agree more! They're one of my all-time favorites, and absolutely killer live!

[-]

StinkyCheeseNFeet@reddit

Oh for sure! I’ve seen them live dozens of times. Always a great set, and Johnny Hickman is fun as hell on stage.

[-]

SkidsOToole@reddit

This is the correct answer.

I don't know what the world may need
But a V-8 engine's a good start for me
I think I'll drive and find a place to be surly

I don't know what the world may want
But some words of wisdom could comfort us
Think I'll leave that up to someone wiser

[-]

iamthepickleweasel@reddit

Cause what the world needs now is a new kind of tension, cause the old one bores me to death

[-]

sky033@reddit

What’s Up? 4 Non Blonds “ I pray every single day For revolution“ “I cry sometimes when I’m lying in bed, just to get it all out what’s in my head…”

[-]

buttfirstcoffee@reddit

Don’t you forget about me - Simple Minds

[-]

she_slithers_slyly@reddit

In no particular order...(Name that band)

Killing In The Name

One & Enter Sandman

We Didn't Start the Fire

Closer

Smells Like Teen Spirit

Fight For Your Right

Dr Feelgood

Wayne's World 🤪

[-]

PutridWorth938@reddit

Rage against the machine Metallica (napster killers) Billy joel (he has stated he wishes he'd never written that song) NIN Nirvana Beastie boys Motley crue Queen? I'm assuming you mean Bohemian Rhapsody aka the greatest song ever written

[-]

she_slithers_slyly@reddit

You nailed em all.

Lol, yes and no. I was going to put Bohemian Rhapsody but it was released in '75, the year I drew first breath. But Wayne's World brought it back and WW is 💯 Gen-X.

[-]

fleabus412@reddit

Lol at we didn't start the fire. That's a boomer self love song.

[-]

she_slithers_slyly@reddit

And my son just wandered in singing, "... insane in the membrane".

[-]

tacogratis2@reddit

"Three Little Pigs" by Green Jello comes to mind: https://youtu.be/Gtffv9bpB-U?si=Bwgor5fuzU3EbgIu

[-]

w3stoner@reddit

Ha ha, just revisited that one a couple of days ago

[-]

randallism@reddit

Total budget: $27 for smoke bombs $32 for a bunch of liquor $6 for dog treats $18 for blow up doll Investment = priceless

[-]

MaeONays@reddit

gif

[-]

Theutus2@reddit

Where is my Mind - Pixies

[-]

Tight_Fortune_645@reddit

It’s No Rain for me

gif

[-]

AMPressComix@reddit

Yes!

[-]

B4USLIPN2@reddit

Maybe someone else has already said it, but Gen X is too varied when it comes to music ( and really, all pop culture when you think about it). Gen X is 65-80. When late Gen Xers were teenagers, I was a 30 year old man. And I do mean old.

[-]

GenX-Kid@reddit

Alanis Morrisette Hand in my Pocket. It has the optimistic discontent that I think sums up our generation well

[-]

foxyfree@reddit

I really hate suggesting this overplayed (then and still) song but: Living on a Prayer

[-]

Dano558@reddit

Jeremy by Pearl Jam

[-]

NeedleworkerCivil534@reddit

No Rain by Blind Melon or Smells like teen spirit

[-]

thejohnmc963@reddit

Violent Femmes - Blister in the Sun

[-]

DrLizzardo@reddit

I would put Kiss Off ahead of Blister in the Sun myself, but that's just me.

[-]

socgrandinq@reddit

I take one, one, one ‘cause you left me…

[-]

thejohnmc963@reddit

After deliberations. I agree

[-]

Triggered-cupcake@reddit

Cult of Personality Unbelievable 3am Eternal

[-]

VariegatedThumb@reddit

Yes!!! KLF!!!

[-]

socgrandinq@reddit

Kiss Off by the Violent Femmes. Ten, ten, ten, ten, for everything everything everything everything!!!

[-]

Expensive-Vanilla-16@reddit

Ironically, I hate that song lol.

[-]

NoKYo16@reddit

One Life - Raggadeath Big Empty - Stone Temple Pilots Today - Smashing Pumpkins Ode to my family- The Cranberries Basket Case - Green Day Black Hole Sun - Soundgarden Roads - Portishead Come as you are - Nirvana So What - Ministry Where is my Mind? - Pixies Nothing else matters - Metallica

[-]

Kimber80@reddit

Welcome To The Jungle

[-]

SmooveTits@reddit

We’re the kids in America (who-oh)

[-]

SmooveTits@reddit

Been caught stealing

[-]

NJRougarou@reddit

Creep, by Radiohead

[-]

MizBucket@reddit

It's hard to pick one because there are so many greats that represent us well. Top 3 is easier to choose from for sure! I've got- Smells Like Teen Spirit, Nirvana The Killing Moon, E&TB Insane in the Brain, Cypress Hill

🩵🩵🩵

[-]

Guilty_Character8566@reddit

Bastards of Young- The Replacements

[-]

Goldbera1@reddit

Baby got back. Ive been to karaoke.

[-]

StrictFinance2177@reddit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjtkXM994QE

You can't convince me otherwise with your down votes.

[-]

ericamutton@reddit

We Care A Lot by Faith No More.

[-]

H-DaneelOlivaw@reddit

others songs have been mentioned. I will nominate "future so bright, I gotta wear shades".

[-]

SpiritualScholar2180@reddit

Drive by the Cars

[-]

doobette@reddit

I love this song! It was trapped between the end of hair/glam metal and the beginning of grunge/alternative becoming mainstream. It was an interesting time.

[-]

Dry-Contribution-978@reddit

Sex and Candy by Marcy Playground

[-]

rollotheclown@reddit

“What I like about you” the Romantics. Or maybe “I melt with you” Modern English.

[-]

Time-End-5288@reddit

So What - Ministry, The Mind is a Terrible Thing to Taste

[-]

Voggl@reddit

Love it

[-]

Wetschera@reddit

Even Better Than the Real Thing

[-]

yahoosadu@reddit

It's the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine

[-]

eastsydebiggs@reddit

[-]

juicexiii@reddit

I would say "loser" by Beck is up there

[-]

Magica78@reddit

Sitting on the dock of the bay - a song about being too tired to do anything, so you do nothing.

Photographs and memories - a song about losing what you care about most, leaving you with memories of when you were happy. You'll never get that feeling back.

[-]

Striking_Elk_6136@reddit

Jane Says - Jane's Addiction

[-]

kissthesky303@reddit

How none of you is easy like a sunday morning these days anymore...

[-]

TheSwedishEagle@reddit

Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit

[-]

briizilla@reddit

We Care A Lot by Faith No More.

[-]

Expert_Habit9520@reddit

Maybe not so much the song, but that video by Spike Jones for Buddy Holly” by Weezer is one of the most creative Gen-X things ever. You take a video based on a show most Gen-Xers watched as kids and combine with fantastic mid 90s alternative rock music and you have the perfect Gen-X video.

[-]

eKlectical_Designs@reddit

Linger - Cranberries

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hazelquarrier_couch@reddit

I don't know why but Dizz Nee Land by Dada came to mind.

[-]

Unlikely_Answer662@reddit

It sure as shit isn’t “Closing Time” by Semisonic. I hate that fucking song. You couldn’t be at a bar in the late 90’s at closing time without them playing it.

[-]

Ok_Fig7692@reddit

Cypress Hill - Insane in the Brain

[-]

Significant_Alps9395@reddit

“Satan Gave Me a Taco,” Beck

[-]

iamabutterball75@reddit

or Loser

[-]

PutridWorth938@reddit

For me, the most Gen X Song is radio gaga by Queen... Maybe a Mashup of video killed the radio star, for good measure... I remember getting MTV and rocking out to VKTRS since pathetic Puritanical shitwads ruined Queen in the US

[-]

ThePythiaofApollo@reddit

Wave of Mutilation - The Pixies

[-]

iamabutterball75@reddit

Pump up the Volume... first exposure to the Pixies.

[-]

CMonkeysRBrineShrimp@reddit

I'd have to say Smells Like Teen Spirit as an all arounder. But I've been think a lot about 'What I Am' by Edie Brickell and the New Bohemians lately. Under appreciated Gen X tune.

[-]

BoredBSEE@reddit

Chloe Dancer / Crown of Thorns - Mother Love Bone

[-]

iamabutterball75@reddit

Chills just chills...

[-]

ieatsilicagel@reddit

I reject your suggestion with every fiber of my being.

[-]

ggibby@reddit

'Hunger Strike' - Temple of the Dog.

My first encounter with "Oh, you like those bands? what if they were THE SAME BAND?"

[-]

BarsoomianAmbassador@reddit

Pearl Jam’s debut came out 4 months after the Temple of the Dog album, believe it or not. It was the first appearance of Eddie Vedder, and before he officially became PJ’s lead singer.

[-]

aliasrob@reddit

Didn't they also do a Mr Rogers diss track?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7ApyIDhaaA

[-]

2008AudiA3@reddit

No- most of us hated everything about that song

[-]

klimb2xs@reddit

I hated everything about that band.

[-]

Antmax@reddit

Don't you (forget about me)
The Power
Nothing compares to you
YMCA

Some of it probably depends on where you grew up. I mean... in 1990 Unchained Melody by the Righteous Bros was the best selling single that year and was #1 in the charts for 4 weeks lol. Nothing Compares to you came 2nd.

Seems like a lot of the songs I remember best were 1990 hits. The Power was 1990 too. The year after I finished secondary school.

[-]

maltzy@reddit

Geggy Tah - “Whoever you are “

[-]

zenmaster_B@reddit

I hate everything about that song

[-]

alfundo@reddit

Dire Straits Money for Nothing gets my vote

[-]

magerber1966@reddit

Anything song at all by Dire Straits deserves a spot on this list.

[-]

eric44051@reddit

I guess it depends if your high school/college years were in the 80s or 90s. Let's remember, Video Killed the Radio Star. :-)

[-]

magerber1966@reddit

Ugh...I HATED that song. My college roommates used to play the record just to get to me.

[-]

advwench@reddit

Yeah. Born in '69 here and nothing says the '80s to me like Crazy Train.

[-]

bdbdbfhfI@reddit

They were a pretty boy Floyd cover band right?

[-]

Tim-oBedlam@reddit

Flagpole Sitta by Harvey Danger's gotta be up there.

[-]

SpySeeTuna1@reddit

“Hey uhh, can I like borrow your bass for a day?”

[-]

larz0@reddit

United States of Whatever

[-]

ashonee75@reddit

Came here to say this very thing.

[-]

larz0@reddit

That’s cool

[-]

ashonee75@reddit

Whatever. 😉

[-]

JoyfulCor313@reddit

Yeah, no. Even for as whatever as we are, we weren’t full of piss and vinegar. Hard to be angry and apathetic at the same time.

Generationally, I’d agree with some others and say

”Losing my Religion” by r.e.m. describes a whole lot of us.

”We didn’t start the fire” is like our whole story (and for that matter the story of every generation after)

”1999” by Prince was anthemic.

Runners Up

”I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” - U2 cuz I think we still haven’t

”I Will Remember You” - Sarah McLachlan

”Tainted Love/Where Did Out Love Go” - Soft Cell

[-]

magerber1966@reddit

All GREAT picks...

[-]

NatasLXXV@reddit

Slack Mutherfcker by Superchunk!

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PatrolPunk@reddit

Beck - Loser.

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fqdupmess@reddit

Love this song

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hambonelicker@reddit

Alive -Pearl Jam

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nihilistcanada@reddit

It’s this one. No question.

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CheeseAndRiceToday@reddit

I don't remember ever hearing this song.

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Dalmatian_Carl@reddit

“Everybody wants to rule the world” by Tears for Fears.

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MycologistFlat5731@reddit

batards of young by the replacements

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btkn@reddit

Loved Ugly Kid Joe. Cats in the Cradle was an awesome cover!

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LogicTrolley@reddit

Fight the Power by Public Enemy should be somewhere in the list.

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Draun_In@reddit

I saw Whitfield almost get his ass handed to him for fucking with someone elses gf at a dive bar in southern Indiana once. This was after he kept bumming smokes off me half the night.

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Martian_Manhumper@reddit

Pretty vacant - Sex pistols.

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The_Last_Mouse@reddit

I know you know everybody knows

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MathematicianOdd4240@reddit

Bohemian Rhapsody! We made that a hit 20 years apart!!

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fleabus412@reddit

You could make an argument for material girl.

Bit of a niche song but "I want to Conquer the world" by Bad Religion for me. Encapsulates so many of the ways reality as an American falls short of our ideals. In other words, why I'm so cynical.

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ZouDave@reddit

So What - Metallica

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5eeso@reddit

Don’t You Forget About Me

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microhammerhead@reddit

Shitty tune!

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KrasnyRed5@reddit

Santa Monica by Everclear. The watch the world die line always gets me.

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Quick-Economist-4247@reddit

Absolutely no way

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ifallallthetime@reddit

Mother Mother by Tracy Bonham

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CptBronzeBalls@reddit

Bastard of Young - Replacements

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Aroundapole@reddit

Pavement "Range Life"

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wysiwygot@reddit

This is definitely my brand of Gen X.

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literanista@reddit

Portishead - Glory Box

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Tasunka_Witko@reddit

All I wanted was a Pepsi...

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Breklin76@reddit

“Waiting Room” - Fugazi

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NVJAC@reddit

Generation Spokesmodel - Mudhoney (really I think of this when anybody is held up as the spokesperson for any generation, whether it's Gen X, millennials, Zoomers, or even Boomers)

Well, I'm the spokesmodel of your generation, baby
I'll leave my shirt for revelation
Thanks to the kids
For making me who I am
Twenty percent of the gross
Goes straight to the man

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carrndriver@reddit

They came and played at a little bar/club in Springfield MO way back in the day, hardly anyone there and I was right up in front of the stage. I had my hands on something at the edge of the stage and the lead singer complimented my rings. I was a small town girl and thought that was really sweet, lol, so much that I remember it like 30 years later.

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PaddlesOwnCanoe@reddit

Am I a terrible person if I think one of the definitive songs was "Jeremy" by Pearl Jam?

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purple-otters@reddit

Take On Me - Aha

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kiwiboyus@reddit

Every Pub cover band played this one

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nakerusa@reddit

Hard PASS on Ugly Kid Joe.

Lots of other great choices here, but

gif

It's gotta be "Dare to be Stupid"!

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PretentiousUsername1@reddit

Absolutely not. If there's one song to represent us all, it's Smells Like Teen Spirit.

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najing_ftw@reddit

Liar - Henry Rollins

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Beautiful-Pool-6067@reddit

Anything grunge. STP, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Heck even some offspring tracks like, self esteem.

And this song really gives me 90's vibes prob due to empire records: sponge - plowed https://youtu.be/L65NNh6vJ_Q

Ofc if you're more into R&B Janet Jackson pops in my head. She had so many hits in the 90's.

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Tchio_Beto@reddit

Anything off the Violent Femmes' self title debut album.

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SouthOrlandoFather@reddit

Straight Outa Compton.

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Sea_Brush4156@reddit

Don't Dream It's Over by Crowded House

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Foulmouthedleon@reddit

Losing my religion - r.e.m.

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Brief_Pass_2762@reddit

First song I learned to play with my band.

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Monkeynutz_Johnson@reddit

The Police, When the World is Running Down

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truthcopy@reddit

Simple Minds “Don’t you forget about me”

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Dolorisedd@reddit

This is some millennial shit, right here.

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1stOrual_of_Glome@reddit

Melt With You or In Your Eyes

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Monkeynutz_Johnson@reddit

Those are both good songs but they're both boinking someone new songs. I'm sticking with the Police, When the World is Running Down. Essentially everything is falling apart but it's going to be ok.

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334078@reddit

Eighties - Killing Joke

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nautical1776@reddit

Fun fact. I knew those guys from when I lived in Santa Barbara. I miss those days

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ZooterOne@reddit

Sabotage - Beastie Boys

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athenaseraphina@reddit

Insane in

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bluezurich@reddit

California Uber Alles

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MisterEd1966@reddit

The Replacements - "Bastards of Young"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fl9KQ1Mub6Q

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CooperSat@reddit

Came here to say it!

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casade7gatos@reddit

That’s the one.

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hamlet_d@reddit

"How Soon is Now" by The Smiths

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replicant_2@reddit

It might have the right sentiment, but as a song? Meh. Some great ones below however.

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polipolimist@reddit

Totally gave me Wayne’s Word vibes.

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MangorTX@reddit

For me, it would have to be an 80s song like The Smiths - How Soon Is Now.

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cfinchchicago@reddit

Closer. Maybe 1979.

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TransCapybara@reddit

Karma Chameleon

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Eagle_1776@reddit

Welcome to the Jungle

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clorox2@reddit

For some reason, Detachable Penis, by King Missile comes to mind.

https://youtu.be/5G1iLR_yX6Y?si=hyNWuQk9nGTKbRjB

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Simply_Jeff@reddit

"I’ll Be You" - The Replacements

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Usernamenotdetermin@reddit

Lost in the shadows by Lou gram

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aortomus@reddit

Godspeed! You Black Emperor - Dead Flag Blues

"The car's on fire and there's no driver at the wheel And the sewers are all muddied with a thousand lonely suicides And a dark wind blows

The government is corrupt And we're on so many drugs With the radio on and the curtains drawn

We're trapped in the belly of this horrible machine And the machine is bleeding to death

The sun has fallen down And the billboards are all leering And the flags are all dead at the top of their poles."

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aluminumnek@reddit

Yes. Love this band

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nocturneOG@reddit

That’s a great song. Aerosmith in the 80s is the worst songssss

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windmill-tilting@reddit

Lot of good ones love so many. Having said that:

Oh yeah. Life goes on. Long after the thrill of livin' is gone. - Jack and Diane by John Cougar.

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Unassuming_Moniker@reddit

Our generation has so many great songs that limiting it to one overlooks so many other amazing songs!

This is certainly a good song. I'll have this stuck in my head all day!

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Spiritual-Point-1965@reddit

Freakscene, by Dinosaur Jr.

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iamthepickleweasel@reddit

All I can think about is Mike V saying “why would I run through a graveyard?” And then shreds it to that song.

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gentleoutson@reddit

I think it all depends on where you were and who you were around during that time. Everyone’s opinions are gonna be different. Unfortunately I was more of a country music guy during the Gen X grunge explosion so I would say Toby Keith should’ve been a cowboy.

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mpete76@reddit (OP)

So many good ones, definitely going to put together a Apple playlist

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