Rock tunes were at the heart of Generation X in the 1980s and 1990s. Some of the best rock music of the 20th century dropped toward its end. And many of those songs became anthems of sorts for the generation born between the mid-1960s and late 1970s. Let’s look at just a handful of legendary rock songs that Gen X got to enjoy back in the day!
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“Alive” by Pearl Jam (1991)
Pearl Jam produced quite a few rock tunes that came to define Generation X, but “Alive” stands out as one of the most memorable. This track from the band’s legendary debut album Ten was also their very first single. And it was a fast hit on the charts. “Alive” peaked at No. 16 in the UK and on the Mainstream Rock chart in the US, and it remains a grunge classic today.
“Man In The Box” by Alice In Chains (1991)
I’m not from Generation X, but this is my favorite Alice In Chains song. A lot of fans of grunge would likely agree with me there. “Man In The Box” was released as a single off the band’s debut album, Facelift, and it was a fast hit at No. 18 on the Mainstream Rock chart. “Man In The Box” was also nominated for a Grammy in 1992, which definitely doesn’t surprise me. Layne Staley’s vocal performance on this song is otherworldly.
“Where Is My Mind” by Pixies (1988)
An indie rock song so good that even the youngest among us today absolutely love it. “Where Is My Mind” is basically one of Pixies’ signature rock tunes at this point, and it remains one of the most definitive songs in Generation X’s songbook. It’s been covered about a million times at this point by bands like Placebo, Trampled By Turtles, Kelly Clarkson, and more.
“Killing In The Name” by Rage Against The Machine (1992)
“Killing In The Name” by Rage Against The Machine is probably one of the greatest political and cultural calls to action in Generation X’s history. Released in 1992, this rap metal classic was a hefty charting hit for the band, peaking at No. 1 on the UK Singles chart. The song didn’t chart in the US upon its release in the early 90s, as it did not receive heavy airplay due to the explicit nature of its lyrics. It became a legendary tune among American Gen Xers anyway.
Photo by Rob Verhorst/Redferns
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