i'm 22 years old. While I enjoy 'Purple Haze', 'Smells Like Teen Spirit', and similarly gigantic songs, i'm curious about what you think the modern equivalent is.

My #1 vote would be M.I.A's 'paper planes'. i've been to many parties within the last several years that...when this song comes on...everybody just goes nuts. hell...i would still go nuts if this song came on the radio tonight.

Other thoughts:
The Shins - New Slang
White Stripes - Seven Nation Army


if you're aged 16-26...love to hear your thoughts

This message has been edited. Last edited by: heywhatsthis,

I'm in concurrence about "Paper Planes," it's my number 1 song of the decade.

It's either that or something like "Hey Ya!" by Outkast. Also, I think there are already a few threads devoted to this topic.

A 'defining song of a generation' should say something about the generation it defines. "Paper Planes" says nothing about who 'we' are.
Talk about 'generations' is always kind of loose (when does one generation end and the next one begin?) but as an example, Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" is often cited as the defining song of 'Generation X' (i.e. people born in the 60s/70s, who were teenagers/20-somethings when that song came out in 1991). That song (and its video) do represent the energy/attitude/'philosophy' of that generation. Culturally and musically that song seized popular music from the hands of the Baby Boomers (the corporate, manufactured pop that ruled the 80s) and pushed Gen X into the spotlight (that whole 'grunge' period). If "Paper Planes" represents this generation, what does it say about them?; and what has it changed about culture and/or music? Nothing, and nothing.

quote:

Culturally and musically that song seized popular music from the hands of the Baby Boomers

I like the way you worded that. Nicely put.

Since I have kids, this seems like a really interesting topic and I'm anxious to see the suggestions. It seems like it would have to be by an artist who is massively popular. And not just among music geeks. Maybe along the lines of OK Go, All-American Rejects, Pink, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, etc... But also not members of the previous generation like Green Day or The Foo Fighters.

Possibly 'Move Along' by All-American Rejects?

quote:

Possibly 'Move Along' by All-American Rejects?

I don't think so. Like, not even close.

quote:

Originally posted by crob3888:

quote:

Possibly 'Move Along' by All-American Rejects?

I don't think so. Like, not even close.

Lol. I'll just sit back and watch this thread. I'm way too old to participate. I'm going by stuff that my kids like.

Going by the standards that Misfit has set up for us, I think that only leaves "Hey Ya!" or something maybe by Eminem as a defining song of our generation, since those seem to have reclaimed music for a generation, though clearly not even close to the degree "Smells Like Teen Spirit" did.

Kind of a vague definition... I'll narrow it down to the past say, 10 years, and eliminate purely pop songs (Brittney Spears, NSync, etc.). Looking for songs that are both musically and culturally significant. (getting harder and harder to find)

Modest Mouse - Float On
Eminem - The Real Slim Shady
Jay Z - Izzo (H.O.V.A)
The Postal Service - Such Great Heights

Seven Nation Army and Hey Ya! I would agree with as well...

I don't think there is really an answer to this question. And I warn you not to dig too deep because if there is an answer it's probably a Nickelback song.

quote:

Originally posted by Shadrach:
I don't think there is really an answer to this question. And I warn you not to dig too deep because if there is an answer it's probably a Nickelback song.

Yes.
I don't think 'this generation' has a defining song.
'This generation' is defined by Myspace, Facebook and Twitter.
At the risk of being a grumpy Generation Xer (and provoking you guys who do care deeply about music and who are the exception to the rule), I don't think this generation really cares as much about music as previous generations did. Perhaps this is because 'illegal' downloading has 'devalued' music; perhaps it's because they have access to so much music, everywhere, they don't care that much about it; perhaps it's because the top 40 pop charts and commercial R&B/dance/hip hop/pop music (that is, the music most people hear) has been completely insipid (with very few exceptions) for a decade; perhaps our culture has become so 'accelerated' that very few things have a chance to really resonate before people move on to the next thing (like a kind of mass A.D.D. syndrome). Or perhaps everything has become so niche (because of the internet) that very few songs (or films or books) really unite people in the way they did even 20 years ago, and certainly not like they did in the 60s or 70s.

quote:

Originally posted by HeyThatsMyShoe:
Or perhaps everything has become so niche (because of the internet) that very few songs (or films or books) really unite people in the way they did even 20 years ago, and certainly not like they did in the 60s or 70s.

This last comment gets real close to the heart of it - not the "people don't care about music no more" angle which is way off - that is grumpy old man stuff!

The other more positive aspect I would add is that this generation has a sense of many generations of music all existing AT ONCE - this offers an incomparable richness of listening experience but also severs the classic modernist link between cultural authenticity & generational identity at a given time - on the one hand this does contribute to a bit of ADD but on the other hand it means this generation is less egotistical and grandiose than the last couple of generations - a little more zen and not so much into identity politics and the search for a spokesperson for them as one group or groups, a Dylan, a Cobain etc...

All this from a fellow generation Xer - typical that I don't even identify with my designated "own" generation!

quote:

Originally posted by HeyThatsMyShoe:
Perhaps this is because 'illegal' downloading has 'devalued' music; perhaps it's because they have access to so much music, everywhere, they don't care that much about it

Amen. Music is such a commodity these days that it isn't nearly as appreciated as it used to. Even among my friends who are into "good" music, they download so much that they invariably miss a lot of good stuff because they don't devote the time that a record deserves. But I guess this is an argument more suited to a thread about downloading....

quote:

Originally posted by melvolume:

quote:

Originally posted by HeyThatsMyShoe:
Or perhaps everything has become so niche (because of the internet) that very few songs (or films or books) really unite people in the way they did even 20 years ago, and certainly not like they did in the 60s or 70s.

This last comment gets real close to the heart of it - not the "people don't care about music no more" angle which is way off - that is grumpy old man stuff!

The other more positive aspect I would add is that this generation has a sense of many generations of music all existing AT ONCE - this offers an incomparable richness of listening experience but also severs the classic modernist link between cultural authenticity & generational identity at a given time - on the one hand this does contribute to a bit of ADD but on the other hand it means this generation is less egotistical and grandiose than the last couple of generations - a little more zen and not so much into identity politics and the search for a spokesperson for them as one group or groups, a Dylan, a Cobain etc...

All this from a fellow generation Xer - typical that I don't even identify with my designated "own" generation!

I did say "cares less" not "doesn't care": sure they care, but I think people in the 60s-90s cared more, and searched for meaning/identity in music more (as you allude to in your post).
Your second paragraph actually expands upon what I was alluding to, so I'm not sure if you do 'disagree' with me. (I agree with your comments, except for the bit about Generation Y being "less egotistical"). This generation doesn't have a defining song (my original statement) because popular music doesn't fulfil that role as much now. Because of the internet 'young people' now have their own public voice (on Facebook/blogs/Twitter) for all the world to hear; they don't need (or care too much about) having a 'spokesperson for the generation' (a Dylan, a Lennon, or a Cobain) to speak for them.

Kanye West is totally the voice of our generation.

I mean, he's a troll. And a good one, at that.

quote:

Originally posted by HeyThatsMyShoe:
I did say "cares less" not "doesn't care": sure they care, but I think people in the 60s-90s cared more, and searched for meaning/identity in music more (as you allude to in your post).

The heart of my comments is that I have always hated identity politics in its inherent egotism; i.e. when seeking meaning is all about defining one's identity - AKA adolescence! Not saying at all that this is anywhere near your position/s but just emphasising it as my pet hate!

My point in the context of this thread is that seeking meaning is not synonymous with seeking to define one's identity in strictly generational terms; people of this or any other generation can seek meaning in music in any number of ways that don't solely relate to when they were born; they can identify with a certain sexy futurism often found in electro now and back to the 70s, a certain minimalist intensity often found in folk music from the last 40 years etc etc.

I agree with you that this generation is all about multiplicity and diversity and are not as singular about musical identity - I was just emphasising that for me this is more of a positive thing than a negative development.

have you guys seen Pitchfork's 500 greatest songs of the decade? 20-1 are so hilarious.