There are no years as emotional and thought-provoking as your teenage years.. or so they say..
Nonetheless, the drama would not have been half as big if you didn’t have the perfect soundtrack to go along with it.
Here’s some of our favourite songs that will always bring back memories of those angst-filled years..
________________________________________________________
Wheatus – Teenage Dirtbag
Ah many an hour was spent shouting this out as you could like totally relate to it
Video via YouTube/WheatusVEVO
The Offspring – Pretty Fly for A White Guy
A revolution of its time, this was the summer track of 1998.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzY2Qcu5i2A
Video via YouTube/offspringtvVEVO
Nirvana – Smells Like Teen Spirit
Ah the early ninties, Nirvana were the kings and their lyrics were our motto. Post 1994 the lyrics became all the more powerful and a generation of head bangers were born.
Video via YouTube/NirvanaVEVO
Bloodhound Gang – Bad Touch
Hmm… how many young spotty teenage lads thought they were chatting you up with the words, “You and me baby ain’t nothing but mammals…” oh the flirtatious moves of the past.
Video via YouTube/BloodhoundGangVEVO
Robbie Williams – Angels
The song broke hearts across the world. Girls weeped, slow dances became slower and the world just made sense with this song. Robbie rocked us all out with Rock DJ soon after.
Video via YouTube/robbiewilliamsvevo
Bon Jovi – It’s My Life
Another “scream at the top of your voice” song, Bon Jovi knew exactly how you were feeling and put it into rocking words for you to blare to your heart’s content.
Video via YouTube/BonJoviVEVO
Eiffel 65 – Blue
This song is still a smash hit when it’s played now, and coupled with the obsession with the blue lollies you could get for 10 cent in the shop that turned your tongue blue (was that just us?!) it was amazing.
Video via YouTube/Q-D.O.K crew
The Tamperer featuring Maya – What’s She Gonna Look Like
This song was full of anger and frustration – the perfect fit for our teenage rebellion.
Video via YouTube/Mohamed Boug
Alanis Morrissette – Ironic
Again, Alanis was the soundtrack of the teenage angst. Her songs had meaning, her lyrics spoke to you and she was basically able to look inside your head. Everything was ironic for us in those days.
Video via YouTube/Alanis Morissette
Tenacious D – Tribute
Alas a bit more towards the later teens (hmm, are we giving away our age a bit) this genius song was literally that.. genius.. there are no words, our minds were blown.
Video via YouTube/tenaciousDVEVO
Oasis – Wonderwall
The usual Oasis vs Blur fight could never even register if you took into account Oasis’ iconic Wonderwall. Coupled with Don’t Look Back in Anger they were the only two songs to be sung on your guitar at a house party.
Video via YouTube/Oasis
Lou Bega – Mambo N0 5
We all wanted to hear our names in this song and screamed it as loud as we could when it did feature.
Video via YouTube/LouBegaVEVO
Fatboy Slim – Praise You
The video was a sensation, the song a massive hit. Genius.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ex1qzIggZnA
Video via YouTube/Fatboy Slim
Run DMC vs Jason Nevins – It’s Like That
Again, lyrics that spoke volumes to us – we were able to rap every single line.
Video via YouTube/RUNDMCVEVO
Vengaboys – Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom
The Vengaboys that sparked so many rows over whether you were pronouncing them correctly (venga or benga – we still don’t know).
Video via YouTube/Vengaboys
Aqua – Barbie Girl
A song that we liked to sing semi tongue-in-cheek but secretly knew every word to.
Video via YouTube/AquaVEVO
Greenday – Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)
The Leaving Certificate graduation song for about ten years running, we sang this with passion and sadness as we headed for the greener pastures of college.
Video via YouTube/Green Day
Spice Girls – Spice up Your Life
It wouldn’t be a proper look back at the teenage years without a Spice Girls mention. There were too many good ones to choose from.
Video via YouTube/emimusic
DJ Oatis – Hey Baby
Again rewind to the youth club disco and everyone undoubtedly shouted “Ooh Ah” at just the right moment.
Video via YouTube/hlxino
Smokie – Living Next Door to Alice
There was nothing bolder and more daring than singing the chorus to this song in full. You were cool as.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDvuskOGiY0
Video via YouTube/HDClipsMusic
Scooter – The Logical Song
Scooter was the undisputed king of dance music for most of the 1990s and this was the soundtrack of youth club discos.
Video via YouTube/ScooterVEVO
Stain’d – It’s Been A While
Stain’d stormed into the charts with this song and Outside. Perfect when you were brooding over a love lost.
Video via YouTube/Atlantic Records
Chumbawamba – I Get Knocked Down
The song that helped you no matter what life threw in your face. You were always able to “get back up again.”
Video via YouTube/TheSoaron
Cascada – Everytime we Touch
Be it the fast version or the slow version this song was one of the favourites.
Video via YouTube/SteveAATW
Boyzone – Father and Son
Yes, cringe though you all may, Boyzone deserve the mention as they dominated the charts of the 1990s. Father and Son was a poignant tune released around Christmas.
Video via YouTube/BoyzoneVEVO
Alicia Keyes – Fallin’
The piano. The voice. The stunner. We wanted to be Alicia Keyes, or at least be able to sing like her. OMG.
Video via YouTube/aliciakeysVEVO
Notorious B.I.G – Hypnotize
Who could forget that scene in Ten Things I Hate About You when she gets up on the table and rocks it before falling perfectly into Heath Ledgers arms.. sigh.
Video via YouTube/monicabee
Blur – Parklife
We knew most of the words to all Blur songs, but this one in particular stuck out. We always got up whenever we wanted too… eh we wished!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIEsmGzo2UE
Video via YouTube/emimusic
Elton John – Candle in the Wind
Most people remember where they were in 1997 when the news broke that Princess Diana had died. Elton wrote this song for her.
Video via YouTube/gabriela2415
Dawson’s Creek – I Don’t Wanna Wait
Dawson and Joey were part of our evening fill of drama.. even though they looked about 20 when they were meant to be 15..add this to My So-Called Life (well hello there Jared Leto) and our TV viewing was well and truly sorted.
Video via YouTube/ralphmysta
Take That – Never Forget
Hearts were broken around the world when Take That announced their split and their Never Forget song was screamed back at them by thousands of heartbroken fans with tears streaming down their faces.
Video via YouTube/TakeThatVEVO
And finally, the special mention….
Richie Kavanagh – Aon Focal Eile
We know this was technically more of a primary school thing, but who else thought the lyrics were awful bold (but great fun to sing)?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPqT6_TkU6Q
Video via YouTube/E Ryan
