20 Most Influential Songs Since "Smells Like Teen Spirit" (Part 1: 20-16)

It'll be twenty years this September since the release of "Smells Like Teen Spirit". One thing I always hear when talking about music with different people is how much that song changed people's perceptions on music and how it can be perceived as the ultimate game changer in modern music as we see it. "Influential" is the biggest adjective used to describe it. This I agree with wholeheartedly. It could be undoubtedly the most important song that has been released since I've been alive for these reasons.

So I thought I'd take an opportunity to look back at the last twenty years at songs that have had
similar, if not as big of an impact as "Smells Like Teen Spirit". The criteria is songs that had the biggest influence and popularity which caused a ripple effect in their genre, the same way "Smells Like Teen spirit" did. If it were artists in general, I'd have loved to included some artists like Wilco, Bright Eyes, Uncle Tupelo, Guided By Voices, and Tool. But in the spirit of it being a "song" narrowing it down to just one song with a huge influence is impossible to do no matter how big their collective work has been an influence. So they failed to make the cut. 

Thanks to everyone for sending me nominations, we had upwards to around 120 to chose from. Also thanks to The Fixer for helping me break it down to a point we could have a countdown of the twenty most influential songs since "Smells Like Teen Spirit" (we agreed on 16 right off the bat).

Before we get into the first five songs, a look at some honorable mentions that just missed the cut. Radiohead being the hardest not to include.

Honorable Mentions:
1. Radiohead-Creep/Just/Paranoid Android/Everything In It's Right Place
Take your pick, each song influenced something in some way...mostly Radiohead themselves and Muse!
2. Killers-Mr. Brightside
Showed that 80's big time production and new wave revival could work in new century.
3. Pavement-Cut Your Hair
Undertone has crept through every indie rock song since its inception.
4. Beastie Boys-Sabotage
Gave rap a rock side which was carried along by many imitators but none as good as original.
5. Dave Matthews Band-Crash Into Me
Jam bands could succeed with soft spoken ballads. Spawned countless similar acts.
6. Gorillaz-Feel Good Inc.
The cream of the crop in guest collaborations of dance, pop and alternative rock that could be enjoyed by all ages
7. Gnarls Barkley-Crazy
Neo-Soul's finest moment of last twenty years influenced many follow up acts.
8. Eminem-My Name Is
White rapping with violent overtones brought praise from the suburbs and the critics.
9. 311-Down

Married white boy funk to standard alternative with huge success.
10. Metallica-Enter Sandman
Amazingly, gave metal mainstream popularity at same time as Smells Like Teen Spirit's success.

And now, the 20 Most Influential Songs Since Smells Like Teen Spirit" Part 1: (Songs 20-16):
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20. Sublime-What I Got (August 1996)

Quick Hit: Responsible for mass appeal of Third Wave Ska revival at the end of the 90's.
Other notable similar and influenced artists: Goldfinger, The Urge, Mustard Plug, Reel Bug Fish, Long Beach Dub All Stars, Smash Mouth, Sugar Ray, Wavves
The Case: Call it a culmination of the death of lead singer Brad Nowell and the surge of a ska revival at the end of the century, "What I Got" was the song that encompassed it all: acoustic guitar, a mad organ line, samples, and a feel good, open groove. It helped move the song to the top of the charts and make this the new "stoner" music for kids while catching the imagination of young adults because its sound was cheery and accessible. As Nowell plowed along in the verses about the shortcomings of life, his chorus message of life being short so love the one you got was heartwarming. It's just a shame he wasn't around to see the domino effect he helped build for similar bands over the next several years.

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19. Amy Winehouse-Rehab (October 2006)

Quick Hit: Brought blue eyed female soul back to the top of the charts in late part of last decade.
Other notable similar and influenced artists: Duffy, Adele, Joss Stone, Lilly Allen, Jessica Hernandez, Lady Gaga
The Case: Right when it looked female artists were going to be stuck in a pigeonhole of VH1's here today, gone tomorrow routine, an English female by the name of Amy Winehouse stormed the charts midway through the decade with "Rehab". It brought a shot in the arm not only to female singers, but to the rebirth of blue eyed soul. England became the new hotbed for singers drawing on inspirations from 60's and 70's soul rather than 80's and 90's dance pop and set a new standard for the "Real" woman with troubles and heartbreak. Yes, Winehouse is a living parody of the song that made her popular as she is in and out of rehab clinics monthly. But look at the influence: Adele has the number one song in America right now with "Rolling In The Deep" (a fine song in itself). I ask, is that possible without the popularity of "Rehab"?

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18. Korn-Freak On A Leash (May 1999)

Quick Hit: Furthered the metal/rap genre in late nineties to chart topping approval. Benchmark in genre.
Other notable similar and influenced artists: Incubus, Limp Bizkit, Orgy, Saliva, Staind, Godsmack, Taprrot, Stereomud, Kid Rock, Linkin Park
The Case: An underground success, Korn already had a few songs under their belt by the time "Freak On A Leash" was released in 1998. So call it a right place at the right time on MTV or an adrenaline rush to a watered down post grunge scene, "Freak On A Leash" helped make the band multi platinum stars with their mix of metal and rap capped off with lead singer Jonothan Davis' bleak, nihilistic vision of the world we live in. Soon "Nookie" and Kid Rock joined the party. Then everyone used "Freak On A Leash" as the benchmark to stardom over the next several years as the "nu-metal" alternative. I looked elsewhere.

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17. Counting Crows-Mr. Jones (1993)

Photo Courtesy: 45cat.com

Quick Hit: Gave an adult alternative to generation X with more roots and heartland influence.
Other notable similar and influenced artists: Dave Matthews Band, Wallflowers, Sheryl Crow, Matchbox 20, Hootie and The Blowfish, Ben Harper, John Mayer, Maroon 5
The Case: While grunge and heavier acts engulfed the music world in the early nineties, the Counting Crows took their approach from Seattle to the heartland delivering music that was more indebted to Van Morrison or Tom Petty than the Pixies. "Mr. Jones" worked with great success in bridging a gap between grunge and heartland music. You could hear it playing next to "Heart Shaped Box" on an alternative station any day of the week in 1994 even if the songs were worlds apart. And the adult alternative scene blossomed because of it. Dave Matthews, Matchbox 20, Maroon 5...they all owe a deep debt of gratitude to the success of "Mr. Jones" as artists still reap abundant success of the formula of that song, for better or worse.

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16. Mazzy Star-Fade Into You (April 1994)

Quick Hit: Showed that ethereal, slow ballads could strike a chord with everyone. Influence has quietly and miraculously lasted.
Other notable similar and influenced artists: The Golden Palaminos, Low, Spritualized, Beach House, Deerhunter, Wye Oak, Howling Bells
The Case: If I knew the influence Mazzy Star's "Fade Into You" was going to have over the next seventeen years when I saw them perform in 1994 I would have called you crazy. But looking at the current hipsters in indie rock and pop and the sweet ethereal blanket they wrap their sounds in, I can't help but see "Fade Into You"'s influence at each doorstep. Soft spoken with slide guitars, it still was a huge hit in itself no matter how introverted it is. I wonder if Hope Sandoval is finally grinning yet? Because she should be. "Fade Into You" created the aura of windy, heartbreak nights on a desolate beach by yourself with flying colors. Nowadays, that's called hip and rightfully so.

Source: http://www.jhostation.com/2011/06/20-most-influential-songs-since-smells.html

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