1991 Grunge Hit Named One of the Top of All Time - And It Still Hits Hard
Grunge music, as a genre, is decades old at this point, but the grunge sound is still very influential in music and remains one of rock's most recognizable styles. From Nirvana to Soundgarden, grunge bands have paved the way for a new generation of noise-makers with a penchant for messy guitars and sharp riffing.
When it comes to the best grunge songs of all time, Nirvana and "Smells Like Teen Spirit" get all the love. It's true that song was the catalyst for grunge going viral, before the term was a thing, but there's more to the Seattle sound.
Now, a 1991 grunge hit has been named one of the greatest grunge songs of all time, and it deserves it. This song was out before Nevermind but didn't catch on until Nirvana saw mainstream success.
A 1991 Grunge Song Has Been Ranked the No. 2 Greatest of All Time
The song is Pearl Jam with "Alive." Appearing on the band's debut studio album, 1991's Ten, it didn't do much out of the gate, but it took off like wildfire after Nirvana popularized grunge in 1992 and after.
In a list for Paste Magazine by Michael Danaher, "Alive" ranks as the No. 2 best grunge song ever. It's only behind, yes, "Smells Like Teen Spirit."
"Pearl Jam's story is one of survival when everything around them was crumbling, so there's no more fitting lyric for the band than Eddie Vedder's singular wail of 'I'm still Alive' setting off Mike McCready's searing solo," he states in the piece. "The song's meaning has actually changed in time, going from a personal tale of Vedder's past to an anthemic mission statement-one bent on longevity and resilience."
It's so much the case that this song hits in a variety of ways. Vedder wrote it about his father, who he didn't even realize was his father until he had already passed away, and plays like a personal diary entry. But, aside from the personal nature of the song, it's a hard-charging grunge anthem that sounds real and raw. I've studied grunge and published a book about it, and I can say with confidence that "Alive" is one of the best of the era.
"Jeremy" is a popular Pearl Jam song, but "Alive" just carries more mystique and an exquisite songwriting aura. Pearl Jam certainly rank among the best, perhaps even competing with "Smells Like Teen Spirit" for No. 1, as one of the greatest grunge songs of all time.
This story was originally published by Men's Journal on May 28, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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This story was originally published May 27, 2026 at 9:12 PM.