Music taste will often change as the years go by, but one thing is always guaranteed: We’re getting old. It’s just a part of life. And even if our angsty teen days are long past, the songs we loved in our youth can still get the blood pumping; just with a tinge of added nostalgia. Let’s take a look at six nostalgic songs about teenage rebellion!
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1. “Growin’ Up” by Bruce Springsteen
This hit song from Bruce Springsteen’s 1973 album Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J. is a classic teen rebellion song. Spingsteen’s narrator is an insolent child who loves to antagonize the adults around them, especially authority figures.
One could say it’s less about teenage rebelliousness and more about just being young and a jerk. There is a difference, of course. Still, the song was a go-to teen rebellion song for youngsters in the 1970s, and it’s also a great example of Springsteen’s early songwriting.
2. “Break Stuff” by Limp Bizkit
This nu-metal classic from 2000 is quite a memorable one. Some might remember it as one of their favorite songs about teenage rebellion at the turn of the century. Others might remember it as the track that incited gratuitous violence during Woodstock ‘99 and caused the death of a teenager in Australia in 2001. Despite the controversy around the song’s live performances, it’s still a noteworthy song about rebellious youths.
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3. “Teenagers” by My Chemical Romance
This wouldn’t be a list of songs about teenage rebellion without mentioning the 2006 track “Teenagers” by My Chemical Romance. It’s a millennial staple that is still very much relevant today.
4. “Changes” by David Bowie
This iconic 1971 song by David Bowie is less about teenage rebellion and more about accepting and exploring individuality as a young person. And it’s still a banger today, regardless of your age.
5. “Sheena Is A Punk Rocker” by Ramones
This punk rock classic from 1977 was The Ramones’ very first Billboard Hot 100 hit back in the day. The late Joey Ramone even described it as the “first surf punk-rock teenage rebellion song.”
6. “Youth Gone Wild” by Skid Row
We simply can’t leave out those who were teenagers in the 1980s. “Youth Gone Wild” from 1989 was Skid Row’s lead single from their self-titled debut. The band established themselves as rock star bad boys pretty quickly with this one.
Photo by Michael Ochs Archives
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