Because some anthems never leave your soul.
At some point during your teenage years, a song hit you so hard it felt like it was written just for you. Whether it was scribbled in a school diary, burned onto a CD, or blasted from the backseat of your mate’s car — that track became the soundtrack to your coming of age.
For some, it was a grunge anthem that matched your moody flannie vibes. For others, it was a pop ballad you sang into your hairbrush while dancing in front of the mirror or iPhone screen. No matter your taste — indie, R&B, punk, house, hip hop, emo, country — everyone has that one song that instantly takes them back to awkward dances, first crushes, late night chats, and the feeling that life was both overwhelming and wide open.
That song? It defined your teenage years. Even now, it has the power to transport you to a version of yourself you almost forgot.
Here’s a brilliant throwback showing just how much teenage soundtracks have changed over time.
@jarredjermaine The evolution of teenage songs: Nirvana, Wheatus, etc #nirvana #teenager #teenagedirtbag #justinbieber #oliviarodrigo #good4u #music #evolution ♬ Teenage Dirtbag – Sped Up (and she doesn't give a damn about me) (Sped Up) – Wheatus & slater
And while we’re feeling nostalgic, let’s take a moment to honour the generational divide. Because Gen X had their fair share of epic teen anthems too — but how many can you name?
@madamemadameofficial That last song had to be in there, didn’t it?! 🤦🏻♀️😂 How many Gen X songs do you know? #musicchallenge #songchallenge #throwbacksongs #trending #viral #foryou #fyp ♬ GEN X MUSIC CITIZENSHIP TEST – Potatosauraus music challenges
Millennials, let’s be real — this one hits home. These 11 songs? Burned into your brain forever.
@kiwitomofficial Apparently only millenials know all 11?! #millennial #howmillenialareyou #2000sthrowback #musicchallenge #songchallenge #trynottosing #howoldchallenge ♬ original sound – DJ Precise
And Gen Z, no shade… but this is what your 2000s “anthem” looked like:
@eliseecklundx the song that every 2000s kid will never forget
♬ original sound – Elise Ecklund
Whether you were a MTV tragic or blasting So Fresh CDs in your mum’s Camry, the songs you loved as a teenager stuck. And they still hit the same, every single time. And even now, when it randomly plays on the radio or at the pub on a Friday night — you still know every damn word.
