What's the defining song of your generation?

[AreaCode707]

Was listening to some folks born in the 1950s talk about this the other day and they all had strong feelings about it. I'm a 1983 baby and have idea what I'd consider a defining song for my generation.

What do you think?
Song
Artist
Year you were born
Optional link to song on YouTube

 

[coldmeat]

Anything by Kanye obviously.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

I'm also a 1983 baby, and I'd say Smells Like Teen Spirit was a pretty good one for defining our generation. It's loud, unintelligible and pisses off the baby boomers. Granted, that came out when we were 8, but it still helped launch the grunge and alternative rock movements which really defined the music of our generation for the next decade...

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

SONG: Jeremy - Pearl Jam
REASON: Covers topics about Bullying, School Shootings, Broken Homes, Bad Parenting, Suburban Living,..
BORN: Early 80's
YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MS91knuzoOA&ob=av2e
WIKIPEDIA: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremy_(song)

It won the MTV Best Video Award of 1993.
I can also agree with smells like teen spirit.

 

[FoBoT]

'Don't You (Forget about Me)'
Simple Minds
theme song from The Breakfast Club (1985)
http://youtu.be/CdqoNKCCt7A

graduated from high school 1984

 

[guyver01]

Having been born in the early 70s... and grown up in the 80's

“Everybody Wants to Rule the World” – Tears for Fears
“Don’t You Forget About Me” – Simple Minds
“Relax” – Frankie Goes to Hollywood
“Money For Nothing” – Dire Straits

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

iono i grew up in the 90s, so i'd say all those 90s songs. brings back memories of middle school....

but at the same time people call me too old when i put 80s stuff at karaoke. shrug. i really dont feel like singing britney spears (today's stuff) is good karaoke, but that's just me.

 

[SandEagle]

Having been born in the early 70s... and grown up in the 80's

“Everybody Wants to Rule the World” – Tears for Fears
“Don’t You Forget About Me” – Simple Minds
“Relax” – Frankie Goes to Hollywood
“Money For Nothing” – Dire Straits

i always assumed you were born in 1998? huh. '71 yeeeaaahH!!

 

[zinfamous]

Having been born in the early 70s... and grown up in the 80's

“Everybody Wants to Rule the World” – Tears for Fears
“Don’t You Forget About Me” – Simple Minds
“Relax” – Frankie Goes to Hollywood
“Money For Nothing” – Dire Straits

this.

 

[khon]

I was born in 1981, and I think I'll go with "Losing my Religion" by REM.

(Realistically it's probably "Wannabe" by the Spice Girls, or "Baby one more time" by Britney Spears, but I'd like to pretend we have more substance)

 

[guyver01]

i always assumed you were born in 1998? huh. '71 yeeeaaahH!!

nope. i'm almost 40.

 

[Kadarin]

I was born in '68, so identify with 80s music. In addition to the ones mentioned already, let me add this more obscure one by David and David, called Welcome to the Boomtown:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97wvwuHUMCw

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Revolution - The Beatles
Yesterday - The Beatles

born 1957

 

[Gibson486]

if you wanna by my lover....

 

[SphinxnihpS]

1971

Summertime Rolls
Welcome to the Jungle
Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
Head Like a Hole
Money for Nothing
When Doves Cry

 

[Ken g6]

1981 as well. My HS senior class actually voted on this. Against my wishes, they came up with...

Beastie Boys – “Fight For Your Right (To Party!)”
:$:$:$
I don't think they knew it was a parody. I certainly didn't.

 

[bfdd]

1985, Local H - Bound For the Floor(born to be down)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tOq25vBkso

you know we gota keep that shit copacetic.

 

[Mr. Lennon]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzspsovNvII

 

[jhansman]

We Don't Get Fooled Again (The Who). -1949

Except, we did...

 

[Newbian]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psvCUWzecGo

Seriously... I want to get raped but only if it's by a hot chick.

 

[Mike Gayner]

LOL using songs to define a generation.

 

[nanette1985]

LOL using songs to define a generation.

What would you use instead?

 

[Mike Gayner]

What would you use instead?

Your mother.

 

[Drako]

In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida
Iron Butterfly
1959
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGmkM4v9AaY&feature=related


J/K, there are too many good songs from the '60s and '70s that helped define my generation

 

[pyonir]

I'm also a 1983 baby, and I'd say Smells Like Teen Spirit was a pretty good one for defining our generation. It's loud, unintelligible and pisses off the baby boomers. Granted, that came out when we were 8, but it still helped launch the grunge and alternative rock movements which really defined the music of our generation for the next decade...

Late 70s here and I'd agree that it was Smells Like Teen Spirit. For the reasons you already listed.