Definitive Gen X song?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:[img]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know these songs you all are listing.


Michael Jackson – “Rock With You” or "Billie Jean"

Prince – “Purple Rain”

Anita Baker – “Sweet Love”

Luther Vandross – “Never Too Much”

Sade – “Smooth Operator”

Cameo – “Candy”

New Edition – “If It Isn't Love”

Mary J. Blige – “My Life” / “Real Love”

Boyz II Men – “End of the Road”

Jodeci – “Come and Talk to Me”

TLC – “No Scrubs”

Maxwell – “Sumthin’ Sumthin’”

Ginuwine – “Pony”

D’Angelo – “Lady”

SWV – “Weak”

EU's "Da butt because School Daze was an accurate description of what it was like to go to an HBCU in the '80s and '90s.

Good point — the black community will likely have a different answer rooted more in R&B.

One other thing is GenX is also kind of defined by New Wave or “alternative,” which opens the door to another canon — Kate Bush’s Running Up that Hill, Echo and the Bunnymen’s “Lips Like Sugar” or “Bring on the Dancing Horses,” etc.

But for mass culture, the soundtrack is dominated by rock and roll, not R&B or New Wave or even grunge or metal. So that brings us back to Teen Spirit, Don’t You Forget About Me. The Take on Me by Aha nomination is also valid.

The dumbest thing I’ve ever read. There’s no black / white/ blue/ green community in Gen x.

Then you don't know what you are talking.

We moved from a predominantly African American area to an entirely white area for my parent's work in 1985. PP's listing of "If it isn't love" by New Edition brought back so many memories of my preteen friends swooning over them.

In out new area, beside the big names like Michael Jackson, no one knew these groups. Pre internet, it was tough to listen to whatever you wanted. The local radio station had so much control of content.

Not a good example. All the white people I know loved that song back in the day!

Where you here in the DMV?

Where we were, no one knew. It just wasn't played over the airwaves.

Yep, I’m grew up in Moco.

[Anonymous]

No Madonna?!

[Anonymous]

Every Breath You Take?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It was absolutely I want your sex by George Michael. Spurred so much discussion about what was appropriate on the radio and spurred discussions on safe sex - definitive issue for Gen X.

I think you must be older GenX. This came out when I was in HS and was just confusing to me. And I love GM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:[img]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know these songs you all are listing.


Michael Jackson – “Rock With You” or "Billie Jean"

Prince – “Purple Rain”

Anita Baker – “Sweet Love”

Luther Vandross – “Never Too Much”

Sade – “Smooth Operator”

Cameo – “Candy”

New Edition – “If It Isn't Love”

Mary J. Blige – “My Life” / “Real Love”

Boyz II Men – “End of the Road”

Jodeci – “Come and Talk to Me”

TLC – “No Scrubs”

Maxwell – “Sumthin’ Sumthin’”

Ginuwine – “Pony”

D’Angelo – “Lady”

SWV – “Weak”

EU's "Da butt because School Daze was an accurate description of what it was like to go to an HBCU in the '80s and '90s.

Good point — the black community will likely have a different answer rooted more in R&B.

One other thing is GenX is also kind of defined by New Wave or “alternative,” which opens the door to another canon — Kate Bush’s Running Up that Hill, Echo and the Bunnymen’s “Lips Like Sugar” or “Bring on the Dancing Horses,” etc.

But for mass culture, the soundtrack is dominated by rock and roll, not R&B or New Wave or even grunge or metal. So that brings us back to Teen Spirit, Don’t You Forget About Me. The Take on Me by Aha nomination is also valid.

The dumbest thing I’ve ever read. There’s no black / white/ blue/ green community in Gen x.

Then you don't know what you are talking.

We moved from a predominantly African American area to an entirely white area for my parent's work in 1985. PP's listing of "If it isn't love" by New Edition brought back so many memories of my preteen friends swooning over them.

In out new area, beside the big names like Michael Jackson, no one knew these groups. Pre internet, it was tough to listen to whatever you wanted. The local radio station had so much control of content.

Not a good example. All the white people I know loved that song back in the day!

Where you here in the DMV?

Where we were, no one knew. It just wasn't played over the airwaves.

Yep, I’m grew up in Moco.

Well I envy that

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh god, OP, Counting Crows? That's sad!!

I would say Beastie Boys...You've got to FIGHT. For your RIGHT. To paaaaaaarty!

oh Man. The BEASTIE BOYS.
They grew up with us. Licensed to Ill in 1986. They were DJs but started learning instruments by 1992 Check Your Head. Then Sabotage in 95 and Intergalactic in 99. Then MCA's death before 50.
This one is a very genX very good contender. I'm not sure about a song, but this is our band, along with Dear Dave Grohl.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Every Breath You Take?

+1. I remember watching this on numerous sports montages on TV when I was 10 in 1983. Wimbledon even used for tournament highlights that year.

[Anonymous]

Smells like Teen Spirit

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Smells like Teen Spirit

As much as I wish this were not the case, as I think it's a terrible song, I think this is unfortunately what most people associate with GenX. At least maybe the younger end of GenX. For the older end, definitely "Don't You Forget About Me."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know these songs you all are listing.


Michael Jackson – “Rock With You” or "Billie Jean"

Prince – “Purple Rain”

Anita Baker – “Sweet Love”

Luther Vandross – “Never Too Much”

Sade – “Smooth Operator”

Cameo – “Candy”

New Edition – “If It Isn't Love”

Mary J. Blige – “My Life” / “Real Love”

Boyz II Men – “End of the Road”

Jodeci – “Come and Talk to Me”

TLC – “No Scrubs”

Maxwell – “Sumthin’ Sumthin’”

Ginuwine – “Pony”

D’Angelo – “Lady”

SWV – “Weak”

EU's "Da butt because School Daze was an accurate description of what it was like to go to an HBCU in the '80s and '90s.

Good point — the black community will likely have a different answer rooted more in R&B.

One other thing is GenX is also kind of defined by New Wave or “alternative,” which opens the door to another canon — Kate Bush’s Running Up that Hill, Echo and the Bunnymen’s “Lips Like Sugar” or “Bring on the Dancing Horses,” etc.

But for mass culture, the soundtrack is dominated by rock and roll, not R&B or New Wave or even grunge or metal. So that brings us back to Teen Spirit, Don’t You Forget About Me. The Take on Me by Aha nomination is also valid.

The dumbest thing I’ve ever read. There’s no black / white/ blue/ green community in Gen x.

Then you don't know what you are talking.

We moved from a predominantly African American area to an entirely white area for my parent's work in 1985. PP's listing of "If it isn't love" by New Edition brought back so many memories of my preteen friends swooning over them.

In out new area, beside the big names like Michael Jackson, no one knew these groups. Pre internet, it was tough to listen to whatever you wanted. The local radio station had so much control of content.

I find this hard to believe. I grew up in Iowa, home of white people, and “If it Isn’t Love” was my jam! Sooo good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is an illegitimate debate since Nirvana was DQ'd.

Nevermind was the start of the grunge wave. Teen Spirit is the song. Honorable mentions for Green Day's album Dookie; especially the song When I Come Around

How dare you name Green Day in the same breath as Nirvana.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is an illegitimate debate since Nirvana was DQ'd.

Nevermind was the start of the grunge wave. Teen Spirit is the song. Honorable mentions for Green Day's album Dookie; especially the song When I Come Around

How dare you name Green Day in the same breath as Nirvana.

Sorry!

[Anonymous]

"We are the World"

""Rosanna" and "Africa" by Toto

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"What's Up?" by 4 Non Blondes. I like it o.k. even if it's not necessarily my favorite. But, somehow to me, it's the "most 90s" song I can think of. The 90s, in turn, was peak Gen X.

Peak Xennial. Peak GenX in terms of the bell curve is mid-to-late 1980s.

Nah. GenX is centered on 1972. What's Up came out in 1993 when they were 21 which is right, smack in the middle of their cultural relevance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m Black and don’t even know the songs OP listed as “definitive” so please do not try to speak for a generation

Never fails. If you want to suggest a song, go ahead. The rest of us will continue.

Every damn time.