If there's one thing every teenager has in common, it's the feeling that no one else understands them and their feelings. Perhaps that's why many adolescents form such strong connections with music that speaks to them. Twitter user @SarahThyre decided to explore what songs best resonated with teens by asking her followers what they used to listen to.
The question quickly went viral!
What song made you feel SEEN as a teenager?— Sarah Wine-Thyre 🇺🇸🏳️🌈 (@Sarah Wine-Thyre 🇺🇸🏳️🌈)1550430024.0
Thyre also offered her own answer.
I have several, but I just heard @depechemode’s “Blasphemous Rumors” and it reminded me of that delicious feeling.— Sarah Wine-Thyre 🇺🇸🏳️🌈 (@Sarah Wine-Thyre 🇺🇸🏳️🌈)1550430100.0
Twitter users offered a wide variety of answers, from many different musical eras and genres!
@SarahThyre The entire Purple Rain album. I happened to have the radio on right before the DJ played the whole albu… https://t.co/RTJd7Ccopq— oonazoyashermancava (@oonazoyashermancava)1550434934.0
ANYTHING by Prince, especially “D.M.S.R.” for some reason— Sarah Wine-Thyre 🇺🇸🏳️🌈 (@Sarah Wine-Thyre 🇺🇸🏳️🌈)1550433598.0
@SarahThyre SO MANY SONGS. But I'd have to say that at the height to my teenage angst it was definitley Hands Down… https://t.co/BR1xaQLkOX— Kimmy D (@Kimmy D)1550430231.0
But what are the kids listening to now?
I just asked my 18yo son this question, and he said “Paper Planes” by @MIAuniverse https://t.co/7k9O7eFNx0— Sarah Wine-Thyre 🇺🇸🏳️🌈 (@Sarah Wine-Thyre 🇺🇸🏳️🌈)1550439174.0
@SarahThyre Ach. “Talula” by Tori Amos. Not necessarily the words, just...the feeling of it.— Ariel Dumas (@Ariel Dumas)1550441995.0
One Twitter user wrote about how a song connected with him so deeply it made him feel almost TOO exposed.
@SarahThyre Smalltown Boy by @bronskibeatband Almost made me feel too seen, like my gayness was about to be expos… https://t.co/omE8ozpdw2— Jonathan Slavin (@Jonathan Slavin)1550439713.0
@slavin_jonathan @bronskibeatband One of my favorite songs of all time! I love songs about leaving for the big city… https://t.co/uSJghYQFQv— Sarah Wine-Thyre 🇺🇸🏳️🌈 (@Sarah Wine-Thyre 🇺🇸🏳️🌈)1550439938.0
The songs kept coming, one after the other.
“Unsatisfied” by The Replacements https://t.co/eVktTIfWJb— sheeple on the tv (@sheeple on the tv)1550432146.0
Kittie unfortunately. Spit and Paper Doll. I was that black girl. https://t.co/IrtJYO97Zh— Numa (@Numa)1550436239.0
"Dare To Be Stupid" by @alyankovic. https://t.co/6su9HUGjY1— bill (@bill)1550432045.0
@SarahThyre Down to You, Joni Mitchell— Stefanie Moore (@Stefanie Moore)1550444421.0
Some of them even had "teen" right in the title!
@SarahThyre Teenage Dirtbag— . (@.)1550431945.0
@SarahThyre Black Hole Sun - Soundgarden Creep - Radiohead Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana— 🏳️🌈 Dick Clark 🏳️🌈 (@🏳️🌈 Dick Clark 🏳️🌈)1550430886.0
@SarahThyre Jagged Little Pill and Forgiven by Alanis Morrissette. I was neither Catholic nor a 20 something white woman.— Numa (@Numa)1550433739.0
It doesn't matter when you were a teen—whenever it was, chances are you connected to whatever music was available.
@SarahThyre The Beatles - Yellow Submarine. 1966. ☺️ Yeah, I’m old but it was Yesterday, there was a Revolution & w… https://t.co/Oc83IX4UkC— Jady ☃️❄️ (@Jady ☃️❄️)1550430889.0
@SarahThyre Its not unusual— CodeMaxX (@CodeMaxX)1550440042.0
@method_Null I go see @RealSirTomJones every time he comes to town and I recommend you do the same!— Sarah Wine-Thyre 🇺🇸🏳️🌈 (@Sarah Wine-Thyre 🇺🇸🏳️🌈)1550440120.0
Hopefully, all these teens grew into charming young people who felt more prepared to connect emotionally with other people.
@SarahThyre "Hazy Shade Of Criminal" by Public Enemy. I had a bootleg t-shirt I bought from the flea market with th… https://t.co/9VCFMSzTxH— Norb Aikin (@Norb Aikin)1550432600.0
@SarahThyre @Pink "Like a Pill" and "Don't Let Me Get Me" https://t.co/EJor050s96— Mary Waugaman 📚🐭 (@Mary Waugaman 📚🐭)1550439507.0
@SarahThyre I Am A Rock, especially the Paul Simon solo version vs Simon & Garfunkel. I was never very contemporary when it came to music.— Laurie Ulster (@Laurie Ulster)1550431570.0
In the meantime, these are all still great songs.
@SarahThyre "Never is a promise" -Fiona Apple— Jeni 💫Eats (@Jeni 💫Eats)1550440620.0
@SarahThyre “Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want” by The Smiths and “Paint it Black” by The Rolling Stones.… https://t.co/M79vAAFw9H— Sarah Collins (@Sarah Collins)1550440623.0
@SarahThyre All The Young Dudes, written by David Bowie, recorded by Ian Hunter and Mott The Hoople 💖☮️🎼🎤🎸🥁❤️— d a singer (@d a singer)1550431171.0
Listening to these jams now might not find the same, visceral connection, but it's always fun to take a trip down memory lane.
@SarahThyre All Cried Out- Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam w/Full Force https://t.co/oKWnq0lIpY— KeL (@KeL)1550430628.0
@SarahThyre If it makes you happy. Sheryl Crow.— Laura Holt’s Anger Translator (@Laura Holt’s Anger Translator)1550441085.0
@SarahThyre Every sad song by Taylor Swift lol (particularly Breathe when I was 16 and All Too Well when I was 19)— Rambling Kite (@Rambling Kite)1550443423.0
As long as there are teenagers, there will be music for those teenagers. Good luck with growing up, teens!
@SarahThyre “Born This Way” by Lady Gaga https://t.co/LrdKArcRHL— Michael✨ (@Michael✨)1550439475.0