Rock music flourished during the ’80s and ’90s with large production values and epic synthesizers dominating MTV. Joan Jett raised her fist to rock n’ roll while heartland icon John Mellencamp sang about eating chili dogs!
As hair metal began to decline, grunge emerged as its successor. Bands such as Nirvana, Alice in Chains and Pearl Jam helped bring new sounds to rock music with this genre.
1. You Oughta Know by Alanis Morissette
Morissette found herself thrust into mainstream and international fame following the release of Jagged Little Pill. Although Morissette found it hard to accept that people who didn’t previously cared for her music now recognized her everywhere she went, particularly by those she hadn’t met prior. One of Morissette’s first number one hits made this track both popular and controversial – quickly producing songs during each session with producer Glen Ballard; during which Morissette would write deeply personal tunes such as “You Oughta Know.” During this session Morissette wrote “You Oughta Know,” an intimate song detailing relationship issues from within herself.
Once released in July 1995, this song quickly became an international success, both musically and visually. The music video proved particularly acclaimed – providing both singer and feminist movements with credibility through this landmark achievement.
Many listeners considered the lyrics of this song to be highly personal. Among other references, the song mentions actor Dave Coulier (known for playing Uncle Joey on Full House). Dave Coulier and Morissette had been romantically involved from 1992 until 1994 before parting ways. Coulier claims the song is about him but she has never acknowledged this fact publicly.
As well as an acoustic version, there is also an orchestral rendition featuring composer Duomo and Kroma String Ensemble. This version featured prominently during season 2 of period drama TV series Bridgerton when Viscount Anthony Bridgerton contemplated marriage and this version provided him with comfort at that critical point in time.
Morissette has been asked repeatedly to alter the lyrics for radio and TV performances, but she always refused. Instead, she believed in singing her truth instead of trying to change it for performances on air or TV. An uncensored version can be heard on Morissette’s B-side You Learn as well as being performed at the 1996 Grammy Awards with 7 second delay so producers could bleep out “f-ck.” However, Morissette was unsatisfied with this version so later sung a slower version at other performances.
2. Come and Get Your Love by The Police
Mechanic Falls Police Department in Maine has taken the viral lip sync challenge one step further with a video that has gone completely viral. Their officers delivered an outstanding rendition of Redbone’s 1974 hit single Come and Get Your Love that has gone completely viral.
Lolly Vegas’s song was one of the first Native American rock songs to achieve mass appeal, highlighting empowerment and encouragement through lyrics that proclaim she’s perfect just the way she is and encourage her to “come get your love”. Additionally, it features both an acoustic guitar and electric sitar for an organic sound appreciated by music fans worldwide.
Real McCoy released a cover version of the song in 1995 that reached number 19 in both the United Kingdom and America on Billboard Dance chart. This song later appeared on Netflix’s F Is for Family soundtrack as well as commercials for Google Pixel, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Walmart, and J C Penney.
Even as the 1980s gave way to angrier 1990s, some of the greatest rock music ever written remains popular today thanks to timeless hits from The Police and Green Day. Additionally, during this decade there was increased emphasis on drum sound through heavier compression techniques that produced punchier low-end drum tracks than what we see now in modern mixes.
3. Guns N’ Roses “Sweet Child o’ Mine”
Guns N’ Roses “Sweet Child o’ Mine” has become a timeless rock classic with over one billion YouTube plays to its credit. But did you know it began as an unwitting jam session? Guitarist Slash and drummer Steven Adler were warming up, when Slash began playing a riff that later evolved into what eventually became Sweet Child o’ Mine. Following hearing Slash’s initial riff, rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin wrote chords around it while bassist Duff McKagan added his own melody; making Sweet Child o’ Mine complete in just one day!
Appetite for Destruction from their debut album was their only US number-one single and quickly became an international smash hit, earning them their first Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance as well as becoming the first video to reach 1 billion views on YouTube.
Guns N’ Roses transitioned smoothly from the more anthemic ’80s into the more insular and challenging ’90s with hit after hit from Chinese Democracy album, but not every hit met with success; like many artists during that era, GN’R struggled at first with MTV but music videos for Appetite for Destruction and Chinese Democracy helped push their success forward.
Recently, Guns N’ Roses “Sweet Child o’ Mine” was named the greatest guitar anthem of all time in a poll conducted by Billboard Hot 100 chart. This song from their debut album became certified platinum within six weeks and became one of the highest charting singles ever from any debut rock band that year on that chart.
Guns N’ Roses have long been known for their lavish live shows and drama, yet have also used their music to address social issues and speak up for those in need. Last year, Detroit Youth Choir sang Guns N’ Roses’ “Glory” as part of an effort to raise awareness around police shootings across America; now, in 2019, they return with another stirring rendition titled “Sweet Child O’Mine”, demanding action to stop gun violence.
4. Judas Priest “Dead or Alive”
The 1980s was an exciting, explosive era for rock music, producing some of its most colorful and energetic tunes to ever grace our ears. R.E.M. declared its defiance while Judas Priest betrayed Jesus via songs that showed unabashed defiance and passion.
Andy Summers created an opening squeal of feedback by cranking up his amp and standing close to it, creating sounds often mistook for synthesizer sounds.
This song originally featured Nikki Leeger on vocals; however, when SAW released their album in 1988 she was replaced with Debbie Harry.