00:00Welcome to WatchMojo, and today, we're counting down our picks for the songs that Generation X
00:11grew up with from the 70s, 80s, and 90s that have maintained their popularity today.
00:23Number 10. Sweet Child O' Mine, Guns N' Roses
00:30That guitar solo intro alone has a legendary appeal that will never, ever get old. Slash's
00:40immaculate shredding aside, Sweet Child O' Mine has continued to remain in the public consciousness
00:45thanks to its nostalgic and heartfelt lyrics, as well as numerous appearances in media over the
00:51years. New generations have experienced its greatness through things like Guitar Hero or
01:02featuring in various movies. It's no wonder why its music video has over a billion views
01:12online, and the song continues to appear on Billboard charts worldwide. Whether the guitar
01:17fans play as real, plastic, or air, we can't stop imitating this sweetest of songs.
01:24Number 9. Back in Black, ACDC
01:33While this Australian rock band has had plenty of legendary hits, few of them have the kind
01:45of instant recognition that Back in Black does. Its unmitigated swagger and charisma is evident
01:50in practically every note. And much like black clothing, it's never gone out of style.
02:00The song's appearances in movies, TV, and pop culture are so frequent that it's practically
02:05become an audio shorthand for a long-awaited return, or else for someone being cool. If ever Back in Black's
02:12popularity does wane, though, we can definitely see it making a comeback for the ages. Set to itself,
02:18of course.
02:25Number 8. Smells Like Teen Spirit
02:28Nirvana
02:28Often viewed as the apathetic anthem of Gen X, Smells Like Teen Spirit distills grunge, rock, pop, and
02:41some nonsensical lyrics into a sound that's one-of-a-kind. In addition to maintaining its
02:46acclaim in mainstream music outlets, Nirvana's masterpiece continues to tap into the cultural
02:52zeitgeist. Teenage angst and dissatisfaction with the establishment are as relevant now as they were
03:06in the early 90s, if not more so. Plus, now that TikTok has gotten a hold of it, the scent of
03:19adolescence has spread throughout the internet like never before. Number 7. Girls Just Want to Have Fun
03:26While originally written by Robert Hazzard, it took Cindy Lauper's version to turn this bubblegum pop
03:42number into a platinum mega hit. Girls Just Want to Have Fun has become an ode to feminine joy over
03:48the years, with its feminist themes and relentlessly catchy lyrics. It has shown up in parody versions,
04:02movies, and video games, and the original version has been viewed billions of times, but girls' and
04:07women's desire for fun is perhaps what truly keeps Lauper's songs so evergreen. Or maybe the reason they
04:13keep listening to it is right there in the words. They just wanna. Number 6. Take On Me. Aha!
04:37This iconic synth-pop song has an incredible legacy. Whether you attribute its continued
04:43success to its amazingly creative music video with its rotoscoped, sketchy visuals, or one of the
04:48greatest keyboard riffs ever, and that impossible high note, Take On Me has endured to connect with
04:55generations after X. It's received hundreds of parodies and tributes over the decades and has been
05:07tied to many popular memes. Contrary to its lyrics, the song has lasted for far longer than a
05:13day or two, and today is another day to find it. Number 5. Dancing Queen, ABBA.
05:34Disco never died, or at least ABBA never has. The Swedish group has had many unstoppably catchy pop
05:41tunes, but none have had quite the staying power as Dancing Queen. A mainstay of dance venues, radio,
05:51movies, and TV, the song continues to connect with new audiences through videos on social media and
05:57memes. In fact, it's still showing up on billboard charts around the world today. Dancing Queen's
06:02infectious positivity and earworm-worthy lyrics have never left the public consciousness. Not that some of us
06:09others haven't tried to forget.
06:134. Don't Stop Believin'
06:19Journey
06:23Belief, whether it's in yourself, others, or a higher power, is something everybody can relate to. That kind of
06:34universal messaging is just one of many reasons why Journey's signature song has lasted as long as it
06:39has. The lyrics of Don't Stop Believin' are so catchy that you just can't help but want to sing along.
06:53It's no wonder why it's often people's go-to karaoke number. That, plus the song's frequent and
06:58prominent appearances in TV shows such as in the much-discussed final scene of The Sopranos,
07:04and it's easy to see why we've never stopped believin' in Don't Stop Believin'.
07:083. Never Gonna Give You Up
07:18Rick Astley
07:19No, we're not Rickrolling you. In fact, while the popular online practice of redirecting people to
07:32the video of Rick Astley's cheesy 80s pop hit may have started out as a prank, it ironically led to
07:38everyone re-evaluating and appreciating it even more than during its initial debut.
07:51Never Gonna Give You Up still appears in the occasional leg-pulling, but movies and TV have
07:56embraced it as a genuinely good song, too. However you choose to enjoy it, though, this is a song that
08:02we're never gonna say goodbye to. 2. Billie Jean
08:14The King of Pop had many smash hits to choose from. However, our pick for the MJ song to have
08:27the biggest impact even today is Billie Jean. First of all, it's a track that
08:32practically demands you dance or move while listening to it thanks to its insistent thumping
08:37bass and Jackson's electric vocals. However, despite all of our best efforts,
08:49nobody can pull off its dance moves quite like Michael Jackson himself. His live performance
08:54solidified iconic parts of his image that are still being imitated today. The rhinestone glove,
08:59the high pants, the jacket, and of course, the moonwalk. It's the king of pop distilled to his
09:05very essence, and new generations continue to discover its, and his, greatness today.
09:16Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
09:19Eye of the Tiger, Survivor, every bit as thrilling today.
09:24I believe what you must know is the eye of the tiger.
09:31Carry on, Wayward Son, Kansas. Supernatural ensured a whole new generation will try and fail not to cry no more.
09:40Carry on, Wayward Son. There'll be peace when you are done.
09:47Everybody wants to rule the world. Tears for fears. Movies, social media, and timeless lyrics have
09:54helped this song reign supreme. Everybody wants to rule the world.
10:01Don't you forget about me. Simple Minds. They asked us not to forget, and we haven't.
10:08Don't you forget about me. Don't, don't.
10:16Sweet dreams are made of this. The Eurythmics. With a dream this sweet. We haven't wanted to wake up for decades.
10:23Sweet dreams are made of this. Who am I to disagree?
10:31Before we continue, be sure to subscribe to our channel and ring the bell to get notified about
10:36our latest videos. You have the option to be notified for occasional videos or all of them.
10:40If you're on your phone, make sure you go into your settings and switch on notifications.
10:471. We Will Rock You, Queen
10:55Honestly, we could have chosen any and every song by Queen to top our list.
11:00The band simply does not miss, and generations continue to love practically all their music.
11:05However, to explain why we chose We Will Rock You, ask yourself this. Have you been to a sporting event
11:12in, like, the last 50 years?
11:21This mostly acapella masterpiece of stopping and clapping was practically tailor-made to cheer on
11:27whatever athletes and or teams you support. We Will Rock You has been rocking our minds and
11:32intimidating visiting teams since the 70s, and if you think it's going away, then you've got mud on their face,
11:39you big disgrace. Is there a Generation X song you still hear today that we forgot?
11:49We'd love to take on your favorites in the comments.
Comments