Lyrical Geniuses of the 1990s

Why do so many teenagers constantly have their headphones in? Because this is the time in our lives when we are faced with the most confusion about who we are and where we fit in in the world. Music soothes our soul, transports us away from our problems, and provides us with a kindred spirit to share in our emotions.

I was a very angsty teen, your typical outcast- angry and rebellious, and I was addicted to 90s music. Nirvana was my favorite band- the rage radiates from their music. You can really thrash around and release your anger listening to Kurt Cobain screaming down a microphone, or soothe your melancholic mind to the most desolate, despondent lyrics. I believe the 90s offers us the most ample amount of rich and complex imagery that delve into the deepest parts of the human psyche.

So let's transport back in time to teenage me, and listen to my then favorite musical remedies to each aspect of my teenage angst.

Anger

Zero- The Smashing Pumpkins

This song contains one of the best musical breaks in history.

[Break]

Emptiness is loneliness

And loneliness is cleanliness

And cleanliness is godliness

And God is empty just like me

Billy Corgan delivers these lyrics through a grating dominating voice, and we feel empowered by him challenging the tired 'cleanliness is godliness' phrase we have been force fed our entire lives. This song appeals to teenage rage as it directly challenges two powers we have previously been led to believe were all powerful and unchallengeable- God and our parents, and the frustration we may feel as we are still in a place where we must conform to their requirements.

Sadness

Pennyroyal Tea- Nirvana

To me the imagery in this song perfectly captures some depressive symptoms I felt as a teenager, and I believe are quite common amongst young people.

[Verse 1]

I'm on my time with everyone

I have very bad posture

[Chorus]

Sit and drink Pennyroyal Tea

Distill the life that's inside of me

Sit and drink Pennyroyal Tea

I'm anemic royalty

Losing interest in some things or some people that would bring you joy in your childhood, and slumping over in dismay until you eventually have permanently bad posture. Distilling his life down until there's nothing but the essence of himself left, and feeling a lack of energy as someone with anemia. The grunge music scene during the 90s was an era of emotion rich lyrical genius.

First Love

Creep- Radiohead

[Verse 1]

When you were here before

Couldn't look you in the eye

You're just like an angel

Your skin makes me cry

You float like a feather

In a beautiful world

I wish I was special

You're so fuckin' special

[Chorus]

But I'm a creep

I'm a weirdo

What the hell am I doing here?

I don't belong here

I challenge you to find another song that so perfectly describes the insecurity and frustration felt as a teenager during their first love. This song begins softly at a low tempo singing melancholically about feeling unspecial and having an inability to look the person he loves in the eye. It is then interrupted by reverberating electric guitars and a change in tone to become harsh and frustrated stating he's a creep and doesn't belong near his love at all.

Rebellion

My Name Is- Eminem

I loved this song as a teenager and still do as an adult as it's full of such deep contempt, presented in twisted, often comically outrageous imagery.

[Verse 1: Eminem & Dr. Dre]

Hi, kids, do you like violence? (Yeah, yeah, yeah)

Wanna see me stick nine-inch nails through each one of my eyelids? (Uh-huh)

Teenage rebellion is about breaking away from your parents and challenging societies new expectations of you. You no longer want to be treated as a child and and reject things associated with childhood. In this verse Eminem satires a question that would be asked on a child's TV show and turns it into something violent and grotesque.

[Verse 2: Eminem]

Extraterrestrial, running over pedestrians in a spaceship While they're screaming at me, "Let's just be friends"

....

This guy at White Castle asked for my autograph (Dude, can I get your autograph?)

So I signed it, "Dear Dave, thanks for the support, asshole"

There is a consistent theme throughout the song of feeling like he doesn't fit in, and harboring anger towards a society that never supported him. This is one of the best songs to play loudly when you have had enough of everyone's bullshit.

And that concludes my 90s teenage angst playlist. We've been through anger, depression, first love, and rebellion, and come out the other end. Most of you reading this are now adults, but I hope this has transported you back in time for a brief moment to your most angsty years. I hope your inner teen was soothed by the lyrical mastery that was 90s music.