20 Most Influential Songs Since "Smells Like Teen Spirit" (Part 1: 20-16)
20 Most Influential Songs Since "Smells Like Teen Spirit" (Part 2: 15-11)
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10. Alanis Morrisette-You Oughta Know (July, 1995)
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| Photo Courtesy: 991.com |
artists followed suit.
Other notable similar and influenced artists: Jewel, Poe, Tracy Bonham, Fiona Apple, Liz Phair, Paula Cole, Garbage, Joan Osbourne, Meredith Brooks, Nelly Furtado, Katy Perry
The Case: When grunge broke in 1991-92, a lot of female artists built respectable and marvelous followings in its wake such as PJ Harvey, Liz Phair and Sarah McLachlan. But no one, I repeat no one, capitalized on the formula like Morrisette did with her debut single "You Oughta Know" which went straight to the top of the charts. And not just the modern rock charts, Alanis had the pop charts in her sights as well. "You Oughta Know" had the catharsis down from "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and with producer Glen Ballard's sleek production, it became the rallying cry for females who'd been done wrong. This opened the door for female artists who wore they heart on their sleeve ("Angry Johnny", "Criminal", "Bitch", "Mother Mother") as the spill over effect on similar artists was a big payoff. Morrisette went on to have five more charting singles from her widely successful "Jagged Little Pill" album but after that it seems the well had run dry. You can't go on being that angst ridden forever right? And will we ever know who was she singing to? Was it that guy from Full House?
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9. Rage Against The Machine-Killing In The Name (November, 1992)
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| Photo Courtesy: 991.com |
Other notable similar and influenced artists: Tool, Deftones, Queens Of The Stone Age, At The Drive In, The Mars Volta, One Minute Silence, Helmet
The Case: Rage Against The Machine may have stood alone as their own unique enigma, but they influenced so many characteristics in music in the years that followed. If "Smells Like Teen Spirit" may have been straight angst ridden to some, Rage gave an alternative to metal fans looking for something to raise their fists too. They created a more unique darker counterpart to the grunge that had taken hold of the music scene. Rage also raised awareness in Zach De La Rosa's lyrics as each song became political or activist statements. Their theme was to question authority and no where is that more prevalent than in their anthem "Killing In The Name". As De La Rosa shouted "Fuck you I won't do what you tell me" over and over, a more rebellious spirit was initiated and often followed through the next two decades. And while Korn and similar artists used Rage's energy as their influence, most missed the plot of what Rage intended to be doing in the first place. Those few who took "Killing In The Name"'s blueprint tried to match the rebellious anthem, but became just mere descendants of its powerful influence. "Now you do what they tell ya".....
For Video Click Here: "Rage Against The Machine-Killing In The Name"
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8. The Strokes-Last Nite (2001)
Quick Hit: Showed that less was more and simple was catchy. Minimalistic approach was NEW alternative in 2001 and set forth a more casual approach to songs.
Other notable similar and influenced artists: The Hives, The Libertines, Franz Ferdinand, Arctic Monkeys, Clinic, Interpol, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
The Case: Were the Strokes the saviors of rock 'n roll the way they were portrayed in the press in 2001? In a lot of ways, yes. If you look at the music scene at the time, besides the White Stripes, nobody was taking a minimalistic approach to their music the way these guys were handling their music. It was almost so simply done and out of place, you would've swore it was a joke. But it was refreshing and started a movement of less is more in music through the remainder of the decade. Who needs big pointless orchestrations (Creed's "With Arms Wide Open" anyone?) when you could just sit back and enjoy three chord songs again. "Last Nite" was openly unapologetic in the way it came across with a simple ryhtym, a knockout guitar solo and Julian Casablancas' vocal delivery which sounded like someone who had gravel stuck in his throat from a terrible hangover. So if "Last Night" didn't save rock'n roll, it gave listeners another "rock" option from nu-metal, watered down adult alternative and VH1 you should listen to this which were all the mainstays at the time. This is one of a few times in my life I can look at a song and say "This song led me down this path". "Last Nite" is that song as it was for other music lovers as well.
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7. Britney Spears-Baby One More Time (October, 1998)
Other notable similar and influenced artists: Christina Aguilera, Jessica Simpson, Backstreet Boys, Justin Timberlake, Lady Gaga, Mandy Moore, Pink, N Sync, 98 Degrees, Justin Bieber
The Case: We can say the Backstreet Boys and Spice Girls set the stage. We can then say MTV's quest for younger viewership helped further the movement. And then we can all agree that "Baby One More Time" is an individual moment that announced the arrival of teen pop again. It rose from the ashes where NKOTB and other teen artists disappeared at the beginning of the nineties, thanks in part to a more serious overtone in music. But you can't keep teen-pop down. It has always been around and always will (back to the early 60's, if I'm correct...). It just takes a fresh face and a knockout song to start the movement again. "Baby One More Time" is so slick and catchy in character that kids watching MTV with Carson Daly and whatever countdown show they had on at the time couldn't resist. Soon, there were many more options of fresh faced teens full of dance moves and pop ditties. It's evolution baby. We all know the Britney Spears saga since but we've got to remember, "Baby One More Time" one more time is where it originated. Was it influential?...um, yeah.
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6. Pearl Jam-Jeremy (August, 1992)
Other notable similar and influenced artists: Screaming Trees, Smashing Pumpkins, Stone Temple Pilots, Candlebox, Better Than Ezra, Silverchair, Creed, Sponge, Days Of The New, 3 Doors Down
The Case: Pearl Jam can get lumped in with Nirvana and the Seattle grunge scene because, hey, they were from Seattle and part of the grunge scene. But something about Pearl Jam you can notice now that you may not have noticed back in 1992 is that their sound had a bit different influence to it. If Nirvana owed a debt to the Pixies and Husker Du, then Pearl Jam owed a debt more to classic rock like The Who. If PJ's first two singles were hits in and of themselves, with "Jeremy", the band became their own entity and huge rock-stars to boot. It taps into the familiar themes of peer pressure and youthful troubles but with a video that depicted the lyrics and one of the band's best compositions to boot, Pearl Jam had become their own leaders which many, many bands have followed "Jeremy"'s theatrics and tone to success (and many, many have been underwhelming in doing so...). If "Smells Like Teen Spirit" was the man earthquake in music in the last twenty years, then "Jeremy" was the largest aftershock to hit right shortly after.
Source: http://www.jhostation.com/2011/06/20-most-influential-songs-since-smells_23.html
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