Definitive Gen X song?

[Anonymous]

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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Definitely not Counting Crows!

There are many, many options here. I feel like Prince's 1999 is a top contender, both for popularity that crosses many demographic groups plus older/younger Gen X, plus the lyrics/theming of song.

Other options:
Smells Like Teen Spirit (not sure why you DQed Nirvana)
Blister in the Sun
Billie Jean
Don't You Forget About Me (Breakfast Club!)
Just Like Heaven
Safety Dance
Vogue or maybe Material Girl
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

I wouldn't pick End of the World as We Know It, but I recognize that as a very valid viewpoint.

This is the correct answer.

+1

[Anonymous]

For me the songs are Voices Carry and Karma Chameleon

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

[Anonymous]

I’m going to say motownphilly (because everyone danced to that song) and smells like teen spirit— I saw the video while babysitting as a 12 yr old and it’s burned in my memory

[Anonymous]

For me, it was music that I was listening to in college in the late 90s, so Alanis Morissette is definitely on the list.

I think it’s weird to think of folks like Bruce Springsteen - love him, but definitely think of him as more of my parents generation than mine.

[Anonymous]

In Your Eyes

[Anonymous]

‘79 Xennial so the 80s music is right out for me. Smells Like Teen Spirit is unequivocally the answer in my mind.

The other one that jumps to mind is ‘Nuthin but a G Thang’ by Dre and Snoop. Just a massive rap/R&B blast into the mainstream.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:REM

"It's the End of the World as We Know It (and I feel fine)"

+1

I was in high school class of 1988.

REM, INXS, Duran Duran

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For me the songs are Voices Carry and Karma Chameleon

Yeah.

And Live Aid when Madonna came out singing “Holiday”. 1984

[Anonymous]

"The Enf of the Innocence" by Don Henley
"Love will Lead You Back" by Taylor Dane

[Anonymous]

[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!

[Anonymous]

This was played at every high school dance:

[Anonymous]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phOW-CZJWT0&list=RDphOW-CZJWT0&start_radio=1