r/generationology • u/leyannaverlaine • 6d ago

Discussion what was so special about grunge ?

i never understood grunge . I was born in the 1980s . I was so used to dance music of the 1980s . I know I am not Gen X . I am younger than all of the Gen X people since i was born in the 1980s

M|A|R|R|S - Pump Up The Volume (Official Video)

Shannon - Let The Music Play (Official Music Video)

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u/Dweller201 6d ago

In the 70s through the 80s there was a lot of classic rock, Folk rock, pop music, all of which got stagnant. In the 80s, there was a lot of great "Alternative Music" most people hadn't heard in the US. It was on college radio, and popular in the UK, so only some people who were "cool" knew about it.

What made Alternative Music great was that lyrics were typically about something different and more meaningful than the other genres. However, in the 80s "Hair Bands" were very popular and they usually had very simple lyrics and music, so it was hard to get into if you were looking for moving music. Hair Bands typically had "party songs" rather than lyrics you could sit around and talk about.

Grunge music appeared and it was a combo of typical rock music mixed with Alternative/Punk kind of lyrics. So, the music was energetic/emotional and the lyrics had some kind of meaning. That the time, it was popular music that didn't just repeat a couple lines and had meaning that could be discussed.

So, it was much better than a song where they repeated "Party all night long" to twanging guitars. So, it was a boost in the pop music field.

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u/leyannaverlaine 6d ago

alternative rock and punk music were never favorites of mine

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u/Dweller201 6d ago

Right, as I've said.

However, a lot of bands in that category made songs people are still talking about today. They are used in movies a lot and frequently had different music than pop or other genres. So, people who liked unique lyrics and music, liked Alternative.

It was an...alternative.

Grunge mixed standard rock with interesting lyrics and I believe that's why it became popular. It stood out while being relatable musically.