The Top 10 2000s Grunge Rock Songs

In honor of the great grunge rock bands of the 2000s, we’ve compiled a list of the top 10 grunge rock songs of the decade. From Nirvana to Pearl Jam, these are the songs that defined a generation.

Smells Like Teen Spirit- Nirvana

Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” was released in September 1991 as the first single from the band’s second album, Nevermind. It was an instant success, propelling the album to the top of the charts and establishing Nirvana as one of the biggest rock bands of the 1990s. The song’s success is all the more impressive considering it was written in just a few hours by frontman Kurt Cobain.

In Bloom- Nirvana

Nirvana’s “In Bloom” is a grunge rock song that was released in early 1992 as the fourth single from the band’s second album, Nevermind. The song was written by frontman Kurt Cobain and was one of the most popular songs from Nirvana’s breakthrough album. “In Bloom” peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and is considered one of Nirvana’s signature songs.

Come As You Are- Nirvana

Nirvana’s “Come As You Are” was one of the most iconic grunge rock songs of the early ’90s. It’s a song that defined a generation, and Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain was one of the most influential musicians of his time. The song is about accepting yourself for who you are, and it’s a message that still resonates with people today.

Heart-Shaped Box- Nirvana

Nirvana’s “Heart-Shaped Box” is a perfect example of the band’s skill at blending pop hooks with their own unique brand of dark, grunge rock. The song topped the Billboard Alternative Songs chart for eight weeks and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance.

Lithium- Nirvana

Nirvana’s “Lithium” is a song about the highs and lows of addiction and mental illness, something frontman Kurt Cobain struggled with throughout his life. The song was released as a single in 1992, but it didn’t gain popularity until after Cobain’s death in 1994. “Lithium” is one of Nirvana’s most popular songs and is often considered one of the best grunge rock songs of all time.

Jeremy- Pearl Jam

“Jeremy” is a song by the American rock band Pearl Jam, with lyrics written by vocalist Eddie Vedder and music written by bassist Jeff Ament. “Jeremy” was released as the fourth single from Pearl Jam’s debut album, Ten, in 1992. The song’s music video was directed by Mark Pellington and received heavy rotation on MTV. The song peaked at number five on both the Mainstream Rock and Modern Rock charts. The song is one of Pearl Jam’s best-known singles.

Even Flow- Pearl Jam

The grunge era of the early 1990’s was a time when Seattle’s music scene exploded onto the mainstream. The sound of grunge was characterized by heavy guitars and angst-ridden lyrics, and the genre quickly gained a huge following. Though grunge eventually fell out of favor, many of the songs from that era have gone on to become classics. Here are 10 of the best grunge rock songs from the 2000s.

1) “Even Flow” – Pearl Jam
2) “Jeremy” – Pearl Jam
3) “Alive” – Pearl Jam
4) “Smells Like Teen Spirit” – Nirvana
5) “Come As You Are” – Nirvana
6) “Heart-Shaped Box” – Nirvana
7) “Lithium” – Nirvana
8) “Black Hole Sun” – Soundgarden
9) “Spoonman” – Soundgarden
10) “The Day I Tried to Live” – Soundgarden

Alive- Pearl Jam

Pearl Jam’s “Alive” was one of the Seattle grunge band’s first big hits, and it remains one of their most popular songs. It was released as the lead single from Pearl Jam’s 1991 debut album, Ten, and it helped the album become a huge success. “Alive” is an energetic, hard-rocking song that features some of Pearl Jam’s best guitar work. The song is also notable for its interesting lyrics, which are written from the perspective of a man who has just learned that he is the reincarnation of someone who died in a previous life.

Black- Pearl Jam

1. Black- Pearl Jam
2. Smells Like Teen Spirit- Nirvana
3. Come As You Are- Nirvana
4. Man in the Box- Alice in Chains
5. Interstate Love Song- Stone Temple Pilots
6. Say It Ain’t So- Weezer
7. Hunger Strike- Temple of the Dog
8. Jeremy- Pearl Jam
9. Shoeshine- Bush
10. The Killers- Brand New Disease

Better Man- Pearl Jam

Better Man was released in 1994 as part of Pearl Jam’s Vitalogy album. The song was written by Eddie Vedder, and it quickly became one of the band’s most popular songs. Better Man is a ballad that deals with domestic abuse, and it is one of Pearl Jam’s most socially conscious songs. The song was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 1995.