The Best Grunge Music Hits of the 2000s
Contents
Looking for a blast from the past? Check out our list of the best grunge music hits of the 2000s! From Nirvana to Pearl Jam, these songs will take you back to a simpler time.
Introduction
The term “grunge” was first used in print in the Seattle fanzine Desperate Times in 1985, when editor Shawn Smith used it to describe his band, U-Men. By the end of the decade, grunge had become a catch-all term for the Seattle sound, a guitar-driven fusion of punk and metal that was characterized by its muscular riffs, feedback squalls, and aggressive attitude. But it wasn’t until the early ’90s that grunge broke through to the mainstream, thanks to a trio of platinum-selling albums: Nirvana’s Nevermind (1991), Pearl Jam’s Ten (1991), and Soundgarden’s Badmotorfinger (1991).
With Seattle at the epicenter, grunge quickly spread to other parts of the country, as bands like Alice in Chains, Stone Temple Pilots, and Screaming Trees signed major-label deals and began topping the charts. But as grunge became more commercialized, some fans began to turn on the music, feeling that it had sold out its DIY roots. This backlash came to a head in 1994 with the suicide of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain; many felt that his death signified the end of grunge.
In spite of Cobain’s passing, grunge remained popular throughout the rest of the ’90s, as Pearl Jam and Soundgarden continued to release successful albums. And while new bands like Bush and Nickelback helped keep grunge alive into the new millennium, it wasn’t until 2007 that a true heir to Nirvana’s throne emerged: California quartet Foo Fighters. Since then, Foo Fighters have releasedsix more studio albums, solidifying their place as one of the most successful bands of their generation.
The Best Grunge Music Hits of the 2000s
The 2000s was a great decade for music, with a wide variety of genres and sub-genres emerging and becoming popular. Grunge music was no exception, with many great grunge bands emerging and releasing some of the best grunge music hits of the decade. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the best grunge music hits of the 2000s.
Nirvana- “Smells Like Teen Spirit”
Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” was released in September of 1991 and was the lead single off of their album Nevermind. The song quickly became a hit, reaching the top of the Billboard charts. The music video for the song was also successful, receiving heavy rotation on MTV. “Smells Like Teen Spirit” is often considered to be one of the most important songs of the 1990s and helped to popularize the grunge genre.
Pearl Jam- “Alive”
“Alive” is the first single from Pearl Jam’s debut album, Ten. The song peaked at number 16 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. Some band members have said that the song is about frontman Eddie Vedder’s biological father, Edward Louis Severson III, who he met for the first time after learning of his existence when he was 20 years old.
Soundgarden- “Black Hole Sun”
Released in 1994 off of the album Superunknown, “Black Hole Sun” is one of Soundgarden’s most well-known tracks. The song was inspired by a newspaper clipping that singer Chris Cornell had come across, which featured a photograph of a statue with an ominous black sun behind it. The statue, called the Statue of Liberty, would eventually become the album artwork for Superunknown.
The song itself is a grunge anthem, with heavy guitar riffage and Cornell’s signature wailing vocals. It was nominated for multiple Grammy Awards and won two, for Best Hard Rock Performance and Best Metal Performance.
Alice in Chains- “Would?”
Alice in Chains is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1987 by guitarist and songwriter Jerry Cantrell and original lead vocalist Layne Staley. The initial lineup was rounded out by drummer Sean Kinney and bassist Mike Starr, who was replaced in 1993 by Mike Inez. Although widely associated with grunge music, the band’s sound incorporates heavy metal elements. Since its formation, Alice in Chains has released five studio albums, three EPs, two live albums, four compilations and one box set.
“Would?” is a song by the American rock band Alice in Chains. It was released as a single in May 1992 from the band’s second studio album, Dirt (1992). The song was co-written by guitarist Jerry Cantrell and singer Layne Staley and features backing vocals from Cantrell. “Would?” peaked at number 16 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and number 74 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was included on Alice in Chains’ greatest hits album Nothing Safe: Best of the Box (1999) and Music Bank (1999). The track is also included on the soundtrack to Cameron Crowe’s 1992 film Singles.
Stone Temple Pilots- “Interstate Love Song”
Stone Temple Pilots were one of the most successful bands of the early 1990s, with their debut album, Core, selling eight million copies. The band went on hiatus in 2002, but reunited in 2008 and released their self-titled sixth album in 2010. “Interstate Love Song” was the second single from their 1994 album, Purple, and it became one of the band’s most popular songs, reaching number one on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.
Conclusion
In conclusion, grunge music was a huge part of the 2000s music scene. Although it is no longer as popular as it once was, there are still many great grunge bands out there making great music. If you’re a fan of the genre, be sure to check out some of the best grunge hits of the 2000s.
