Smells Like Teen Spirit

[Piddzilla]

Do you have a song that you remember exactly where you were the first time you heard it?

In High School me and my friends sometimes used to rent these small gymnasiums to play floorball (a swedish sport). We always brought music tapes with us and cranked up the volume while we were playing. One time my buddy had brought this tape that his big brother had recorded for him. We put it on while we played... I don't remember any other songs on it but suddenly I thought to myself: "What the hell is this???". I remember saying to my buddies that it sounded like a Metallica from the punk era. :laugh:

I just remember that it opened my ears to another world. I was allready into "alternative" music, but mostly the british indie scene. But that was so defenite. So clearly a start of something new. I mean, that intro! My god! The riff and the drums!! Mighty mighty Grohl. And the way Kurt sang. That's not my favourite Nirvana song and Nirvana was never my favourite band. I was more into Alice In Chains and Pearl Jam during the grunge years. But that moment when I heard that song made such an impact on me. And the hair on my body still stands straight up today every time I hear that song.

I think a lot of people of my age think of that song as an anthem of our generation. What's your anthem?

[The Silver Bullet]

The first time I heard Summer Rain [a really bad song from the eighties by Belinda Carlisle] I was in my car on the way home from Adelaide and I don't know why, but I never, ever forgot it and still haven't. Even now when I heard it I always try to stand still [example: yesterday walking through an Irish pub I heard it on the radio, and so I began to stall, trying to keep my Nan, who I was eating lunch with, in the vicinity until the end of the song] just because it means so much to me for a pathetic reason that I don't even know.

The first time I heard How You Remind Me by Nickelback for the full length of the song, I had just spent the entire day at school on a weekend preparing the year twelve media studies class work to get sent away to the modertors in Adelaide . On the way back to a beach shack where myself and some of the kids [my best friends at that stage despite the age difference] were staying I sat in the middle of the backseat so I could see straight out the windsheild. We had a heap of pillows in the backseat and two of the girls were sleeping and leaning on my shoulders and I was going to sleep too, and the two guys in the front we dead silent, and the clouds overhead with brooding and grey and the road was just [i]empty. And then one of them put on a CD and this song came out. And I was so calm and relax and the entire situation just felt so right. I don't see those guys/girls much anymore, but it doesn't matter because I swear to God the summer of 2001/2002 was enough for me with them. If everyone grows up over summer, that was the summer over which I grew. That was the defining moment. And thus I always remember that song.

And as of Wednesday 99 Red Balloons by Nena will always be a song that I hold dear [along with about five other terrible songs from the same period] because it was playing while I spent two glorious hours making and eating chocolate pancakes with my best friend Lizzie who I see way too little of.

:)

[Naisy]

I remember Everywhere You Go by Taxiride was the first song i heard as i watched a former crush leaving for the last time.

Livin On A Prayer I heard on the radio as i was traveling to a place where i didnt think i would be returning from.

Everywhere Michelle Branch, i first heard after my girlfriend and i had been *together* for the first time.

[Piddzilla]

That's a beautiful story, Bullet.

There are a couple of songs like that that forever will symbolise a moment or a time in your life or just remind you of a girl or an alod friend.

I don't know if you've heard "Range Life" with Pavement. it's one of my favourite songs ever and when I hear it I can smell the summer of '95 and I can feel the sun in my face. I remember my best friend at the time (we're still friends - hell, even roomies at the moment) got us a two-day-job, driving around these parts of Sweden putting up posters for some event. We listened to "Range Life" a lot. I specificly remember one moment when we just pulled over, lay down in the grass and took a nap in the warm summer breeze. That, my friends, was freedom. :love: Then in the fall, Pavement came and played in a city nearby and the very last encore was "Range Life". I swear, I almost cried.

[Piddzilla]

Do you remember the first record or cd you ever bought? Or got for present?

[The Silver Bullet]

The Beach Boys Greatest Hits. Not a big deal. Not touching. But me and my Mum cruised around Adelaide while my brothers and Dad were at the cricket and we wound up listening to the entire thing three times around. Which was awesome fun.

See? I might not be moved by the story, per se: but I sure as Hell remember the time, place, weather and everything. Weird.

[Travis_Bickle]

The first TAPE I've ever bought was probably either MC Hammer, Vanilla Ice, Kris Kross, or ABC (Another Bad Creation). Seriously.

Back then, In around grade 6, I was still controled by Much Music (The Canadian version of MTV). Everything that was on the charts, I thought "that must be cool".

I remember some Indian guy in grade 7 actually wore his clothes backwards for a while (like Kris Kross). Those were the days.

:yup:

[Piddzilla]

:laugh:

I think the first record I owned - still own it - was a single with a swedish band called Gyllene Tider and the song was called "När vi två blir en" ("When the Two of Us Become One"). :laugh: You've probably never heard about them. They were huge in Sweden in the early to the mid-eighties and the singer founded the duo Roxette after they'd split up.

My first real idols though were Kiss. I even worshipped them before I had even heard them. But in the christmas of '83 (it must have been) I got their new LP "Lick It Up" and I remember it sooooo well. I was floating.... I was so happy and I played that record again and again and again. Drove my dad nuts. :D Then in 1984 my ten years older cousin and her boyfriend took me to see them and, boy, was I the coolest kid in my class or what!

I was a hardcore fan for a couple of years but then I started listening to other kinds of music. But when they did their big reunion/make up tour, it was a dream come true. When we were little me and my buddies always used to fantasize about seeing Kiss with make up on. So it was great to see that. Now I just hink they're pathetic... :laugh: Please, guys. Retire!

[Nikki]

I Don't Want to Miss a Thing by Aerosmith.................Heard it on the radio after breaking up with my first boyfriend...........Crying my eyes out thinking.......am I ever gonna get over this!!!!......HAHAHA.............

Yeah I got over it the next day....!!!!!:rolleyes:

[Monkeypunch]

I have to say that I too had my head re-arranged by Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit," but honestly, the very first song I ever really connected with was "Epic," by Faith No More. It seems kinda stupid now, but it was the first time I realised that there was something out there besides awful hair-metal bands and classic rock leftovers.

Songs that remind me of a certain time in my life:

"No Rain" by Blind Melon and "What's Up" by 4 Non-Blondes (Does anyone remember this song?) remind me of the summer of 1993, the year I graduated High School. A very happy time.

"Creep," by Radiohead always reminds me of my freshman year at college. No, This is NOT a happy memory. I felt hoplessly alone and miserable.

and finally, "Walk on The Ocean," by Toad The Wet Sprocket (man, are songs I like obscure enough or what?) always reminds me of Jess, a girl I used to work with and had this massive crush on when I was 18. (We both liked this song.)

[Piddzilla]

Originally posted by Monkeypunch
"What's Up" by 4 Non-Blondes (Does anyone remember this song?) remind me of the summer of 1993, the year I graduated High School. A very happy time.

If I remember??? How could one forget?!?!? It's like the one-hit-wonder of that era! I loved that song... And so did my parents. :laugh:

Songs that mattered growing up (or whatever):


"Rock'n'Roll All Nite" - Kiss
My first idols and I swore I was going to be a rockstar. AND I AM, DAMNIT!!! ;)
"Fight the Power" - Public Enemy
From a time when I mostly listened to hip hop. I think this is one of the best hip hop tracks ever. Sometimes when I'm out they play this one and there's always an uproar on the dancefloor. Every time. "1989, THE NUMBER OF ANOTHER SUMMER!!!" :D
"I Wanna Be Adored" - The Stone Roses
My sister played a tape with the Roses that she'd got from some guy in her class. I thought "This is something different". This is the opening track to their debut album and I swear to you I listened to that record every day for at least two years. I was obsessed.
"The Concept" - Teenage Fanclub
From about the same era as Stone Roses. It's one of the best popsongs ever written and it's on one of my favourite albums ever. I was totally into british indie bands during the time.
"Bombtrack" - Rage Against The Machine
I actually waited for this band to happened. "Why isn't anybody blending rock with rap nowadays?". And then they came. I think it's one of the best bands ever and they kick any nu-metal or rap-metal band's ass.
"Alive" - Pearl Jam
"Would" - Alice In Chains
"Lithium" - Nirvana
These three tracks represents the grunge era I suppose. :laugh: (I've allready told you about "Smells like...") I remember so clearly being in my parents' basement with the volume cranked up, jumping around and screaming my lungs out, wishing I was somewhere else.
"Give it Away" - Red Hot Chilipeppers
The worthless places we went to in the weekends played real crappy music. But for fifteen mins every night they played some stuff like this track so the indie-kids could rock! Man, it was so funny.... But I loved this song. Cool bassline...
"Out There" - Dinosaur Jr
This is still one of my favourite songs. The first time I heard it I was stunned and probably looked like this: :eek: It was in my sister's room cause I didn't have my own cd-player. It's the best rock riff ever and the intro is so powerful. And the way that this guy sings... It was a completely new world to me. I worshipped this band for years.
"Audiowhore" - Archers of Loaf
A totally unique band. This song blew my mind and I think it's sad that these kings of lofi (I hate these labels) didn't get more recognition. Check them out!
"Powderfinger" - Neil Young
I was obsessed with Young's music for a while and this is one of my favourites by him. I finally got the opportunity to see him live the summer of 2001 and this was the very last song of the concert. I almost cried, I was that happy. I stood up and sang my heart out! :rolleyes:
"I Want It That Way" - The Backstreet Boys
Me and my friend were in a cd-store when this track came on - it was allready a big hit. We stood silently looking through the cds and my friend goes: "Damnit, I think this song is great...". "ME TOO!!!". And we started to laugh. "Yeah, Neil Young could have written it!!". :laugh: I also remember it because of a girl. She tells me she always think of me and smiles when she hears it. When I hear it I'm thinking I'm glad I'm over her. :D
"Africa" - Toto
It's four o'clock in the morning. Me and my roomie have just got home from partying somewhere. That's when we put on this song, sit back in a chair and sings along. (You gotta be drunk to understand...).
"Don't Know Why" - Norah Jones
This is the song that makes me think of my present girlfriend that I love more than life. The lyrics means a lot to us and Norah reminds me of her in a lot of ways. Everytime I'm down and I put the radio or tv on, there's Norah Jones! I think that has happened four times. I've been thinking hard of her (we're in a distance relationship) and it's like Norah tells me: "Don't worry... She's here with you...". It's actually pretty creepy. :love:

I could go on forever but this is allready too long....

[The Silver Bullet]

I think I Want It That Way will always live on in my mind too. My best friend was telling me about this music video he made, and you know me, filmmaking is my life, and so I was ver enthused and looked forward to seeing it. One day I was at his house and he put it on and it was a one take VHS shot in bad lighting and him dressed like a Backstreet Boy, lip-syncing the words while another friend sat behind him and pretended to play the gutair.

Needless to say I thought the piece was a work of sheer genius.

:rotfl:

[Piddzilla]

Man, it sounds like a true masterpiece... I wish I could have seen that. It's sounds way better than our porno flick with Barbie and Ken set in my buddy's sister's dollhouse. Why was it so hard to get chics in high school?? :confused:

[MyRobotSuit]

Ok. Sorry about this but I can't pick one! OK some tunes that have changed my life

Solsbury Hill - Peter Gabriel

My favourite song and I can't explain why !

Creep - Radiohead

I'm a massive radiohead fan. They are the only band I've stuck with since the beginning. They seem to adjust their music at key moments in my life.

Disarm - Smashing Pumpkins

Everytime I listen to that song I think about my youth. I love the sense of awareness it evokes.

Hurt - Nine Inch Nails

The first song in which lyrics like 'a crown of shi*t' moved me.

Last Goodbye - Jeff Buckley

Amazing, short lived musician. His album 'Grace' will die with me.

Roads - Portishead

If I had to pick a song that would capture the whole essense of my life every day life, I would pick this.

Slave to Love - Bryan Ferry

It makes me cry with happiness that I'm with someone I love.

:)

[LordSlaytan]

Let's see...

My first real rock and roll albums were Van Halen II and AC/DC High Voltage, I listed to all the songs ad nauseum.

I was in love for the first time and lost my virginity while listening to Mötley Crüe's Too Fast for Love.

When I went to Job Corps, I fell in love with thrash metal. It and rap were brand new on the scene, hardly anybody had heard either yet. Metallica just released Kill 'em All, but before they did that, a band from Europe named Metal Church released their self titled album. I lisrted to a song called Beyond the Black over and over and over and over and...well you get the point. It was always be the song that reminds me of Job Corps.

Basic training was almost over, and we were finally allowed to go to the PX. We did basic and AIT together, so it was eight months of basic training. At the PX there was a video juke box. The most popular video was America's number one hit at the time (I didn't care for it, too tame). Bon Jovi's You Give Love a Bad Name.

When I was in the gulf, I had a beat up walkman I would be able to use from time to time. There were two particular songs that I would listen to on a regular basis (until my walkman broke). They were Guns N' Roses Welcome to the Jungle, if I needed some quick rush of adrenaline, and The Bangels Eternal Flame if my heart were sick. Both helped me a lot.

I wasn't home from the gulf yet when my first daughter was born. Oddly enough her birthday is 02-27-91, the day the war ended. Anyway, when my second daughter was born on 02-21-98, my favorite song was Pink Floyd's Fat Old Sun, I had always loved Pink, but there for awhile I was so serene that that was all I wanted to listen too. Funny how things change. :)

Two years later, I discovered that I married Satan's daughter. My mind was nothing but absolute chaos and I started too drink heavily. For awhile I listed to Marilyn Manson's Anti Christ Superstar album exclusivly. It's an album filled with nothing but rage, hate, and contempt. It was very healing. :rolleyes:

Two years after the seperation I fell in love with another woman. I've never met her, but her music serenades me often. Fionna Apple is my absolute favorite female vocalist. I still, to this day, listen to her CD's on a weekly basis. Her song entitled I Know is one of the sweetest and heartbreaking love songs that I've ever heard. No sugar included. It became my healing music. Until my ex-b!tch, decided to hurt me some more. KORN!!!

When my Mother died, I had just boughten the new Beatles #1 Hits CD. The last number one song that they had was Paul's The Long and Winding Road. I greived a lot while listening to that song. I sang it at her funeral and about died doing it. The lyrics:
The wild and windy night the rain washed away,
Has left a pool of tears crying for the day.
Why leave me standing here, let me know the way
Many times I've been alone and many times I've cried
Anyway you'll never know the many ways I've tried, but
Still they lead me back to the long and winding road
You left me standing here a long, long time ago
Don't leave me waiting here, lead me to you door

I've got favorite albums now, but this isn't a time in my life that will be particularly memorable, so I doubt any of the music will last in memory for any reason, other than just liking it. There are songs that I loved at their releases, but have no special memories attached to them other than the age I was listening to them. They are:
Welcome to the Land Down Under by Men at Work
Freeze Frame by The J. Geils Band
Black Magic Woman (The song I've attached to my soul mate) by Santana
There are others, but I won't bore you. (Like it's not a little late for that). :laugh:

[Piddzilla]

That's funny... I saw this thread, it caught my curiosity, and then I discovered that I was the one who started it. :dizzy:

[Monkeypunch]

That's funny... I saw this thread, it caught my curiosity, and then I discovered that I was the one who started it. :dizzy:

Yeah, me too. I already posted on this, as well.

Weird Question:

Can you think of a band or singer or whatever who's work was brilliant but completely overshadowed by others of the same genre who aren't quite as good? I ask because I've just purchased as many Mudhoney CD's as they had in the Newbury Comics used bin, and I am CONVINCED that Mudhoney were THE best band of the 1990's "Seattle Scene", only they were completely eclipsed by Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and the likes, who would not have existed, quite literally, without Mark Arm and Matt Lukin, who formed Mudhoney. (Pearl Jam sans Eddie Vedder were originally called Green River and featured both Lukin and Arm, and Mudhoney used to use Nirvana as an opening act back when nobody else would have.)

[Henry The Kid]

Beck's Two Turn Tables and a Microphone is the song I associate with my youth. I adored Mellow Gold, and when Odelay came out, I just couldn't get enough of the simple genre-bending beauty that it is. I still hold it as a great album, but as I grew and grew, beck seemed to grow right along with me and continue releasing music that just spoke to me. He isn't my favorite artist, but he's up there. His music was with me for most of my younger years, and with Sea Change he continues to make music that seems like it was made just for me

[Golgot]

Cada vez que te veo (every time that i see you). Silly spanish pop song. Makes me think of lost, swift romancito with wonderful greek girl. *sigh* (across two countries. Not counting going to see her in greece and morally/idiotically not trying to win her away from her then boyfriend and confuse everything. Grrrr)

...otherwise....

-the whole Doolittle album by the pixies for my lost sixteens (but especially the main "anthems")

-A ridiculous song called "god is drunk" by me and my mates which summarises the enjoyably talentless jams we slapped together in a loft-conversion when we decided if the Velvet Underground could do it so could we. Good chaotic days.

-a made up song called "i'm just mad a bout Clarie" based on an old anonymous standard that we'd always sing when staggering/spinning home drunk.

-Sir Duke by Stevie Wonder coz it represents my dreams for a sitcom about cityliving/the modern world, and the ideas within it, that i've written and would love to improve and make/get made one day

-Chore a Mitad (sp) by Banda Bardo for similar reasons, but this time for an unfinished film script (that i'm still very fond of. A three part tv-series one day? Maybe? They both contain related dreams/ideals too.

-Full on funk by the Meters and others on an over-used tape that powered me through the only intense bit of work i did at Uni, and most of my days there + the music of a band lead by a crazy man from Oman which made the gloom of northern england lift away.

-Brazil from the film. It just links up with my own dreams, the way Gilliam glorified escapism in the film. I find myself singing it whenever i really need to dream and escape where i actually am.

-Dancing or drumming like a beast within a beast to any mass mobilised perscussion. It's all good ;)

[Aniko]

Nice thread Piddy. Very Interesting.

Right now the only song that comes to mind is Wishing On A Star by Rose Royce.

I first heard this song when I was at a dance at the Naval Academy in Annapolis. My date was a handsome Midshipman who looked great in his unform. ;) I'm not sure why I remember this...but I do...

[Golgot]

ooo, ooo,

Stormy Weather always makes me think of faffing around doing enjoyable amounts of very little. I just like singing it to myself when i'm feeling wistful, yet kind of revelling in a state of relaxed sadness. Good for the soul sometimes methinks.

Right, i am definitely asleep now...

[whoops - must be dreaming this bit - just realised most/all of my examples don't fit what you're talking about Piddy. Whoops. I'm more of a life-groove than moment person. My memory sucks ;)]

[Yoda]

Stormy Weather always makes me think of faffing around doing enjoyable amounts of very little.
Couldn't agree more. I love the Etta James version. Then again, I love everything Etta sings.

Speaking of which, I first heard her belt out At Last while sitting at my computer, commiserating with a friend on the other side of the country about romance. It's still one of my absolute favorite tunes...a lovely song, in every sense of the word.

[Golgot]

We have something in common!? What the hell's going on? ;)
Good to know Greeny-wannabe ;) [admit it, you're "liberal" really. You'll be telling me GM foods are dangerous next, and that presidents can lie. I feel my whole world shifting ;)]

g'night y'all [or will it be a 4-hourer 2nite. probably. The song plays on...]

[Hondo333]

That stupid hip hop version of that song (i dont know the name) that gos 'Thats Just the way it is', I donno but it sucks, it realy horrible. anyway.... They played ita at my Freinds (I had moved schools and we diddnt hang out) Funeral.... As everyone walked up to the coffin and paied there last respects. That day also left a musical inprint on my life and from now on every time i hear "Tears In Heaven" i will see my freinds mum Screaming at the top of her voice "DONT TAKE HIM AWAY, YOU LEAVE MY BOY ALONE" as they lowerd the coffin in to the ground.



I belive the best song for my generation (Althoght 99% of us (Me Not included) Like the worst hip hop eminem sh*t) is Prisoner Of Sosiety - The Living End. every time i hear Good Ridance - Greenday have to stop and listen, I want it played at my funeral.

Heaps of the pixies leave imprints on me especialy Where Is My Mind and HEY. and when ever i get a racists tendencie i go listen to some Specials.

[Mary Loquacious]

This thread reminds me of that Alan Jackson song that goes, "Ain't it funny how a melody can bring back a memory?" Good line, bad song.

Anywho...

Dramarama's "Last Cigarette" always makes me think of the place Troy and I lived a year or two before we got pregnant--we called it the Punk House. We'd get smashed with a bunch of our friends, weekends and most weeknights, and we always played that song before we crashed out--as we enjoyed one last smoke. Every time I hear it, it feels like the sun's coming up and I have to go to work at the nursing home in three hours, hangover or no hangover. :D Another end-of-the-night music selection: the first half of the All album Pummel. It's so f*cking depressing, too.

Any bluegrass I hear makes me think of home, playing euchre and canasta and poker with my dad. Bill Monroe, Flatt & Scruggs, early Ricky Scaggs, any Johnny Cash (although technically not bluegrass except in the beginning)... The first night I learned how to play Seven Card No Peek, we listened to Johnny Cash's Orange Blossom Special.

There're more, but this gives me an idea for another thread.

And I definitely need to call my dad tomorrow. :)

[Piddzilla]

[whoops - must be dreaming this bit - just realised most/all of my examples don't fit what you're talking about Piddy. Whoops. I'm more of a life-groove than moment person. My memory sucks ;)]


It's the herb. ;D

[Golgot]

Heheheh, unfortunately not. Haven't had any for about a week [most peculiar for me ;)]. I was just born this way :rolleyes:

and when ever i get a racists tendencie i go listen to some Specials.

Eh? How are the Specials rascist? At least two of their members were "rastas" for a start. Are you thinking of some lyrics i don't know about???

[Monkeypunch]

Eh? How are the Specials rascist? At least two of their members were "rastas" for a start. Are you thinking of some lyrics i don't know about???

I think he meant that the Specials are so ANTI-Racism that they change his mind..(My guess)

Thought of another one:

"Here in Your Bedroom" by Goldfinger (Obscure!). This will always remind me of my favorite ex-girlfriend. It all ended poorly, but there were enough good times that I don't feel bad. This song always brings back sitting on the floor of her apartment, listening to CD's, feeding dorito's to her cat, and just being happy. :)

[Hondo333]

I think he meant that the Specials are so ANTI-Racism that they change his mind..(My guess)

Exactly

[projectMayhem]

Don't Let the Bastards Grind You Down - The Toasters, not just that song but the whole album. Anytime I feel down I put that in and I feel better.

Party at Ground Zero - fishbone, just a fun, energetic, party song.

[SystemicAnomaly]

ironically, the first time i heard anything by Eminem (my favorite artist) was in my car on my friends cd player during the intermission of a bible retreat. :D

[projectMayhem]

Yeah those church kids do get pretty rowdy when they get away from their parents.