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10 Best Alternative Rock Songs

The best '90s alternative rock songs still remain relevant today, songs that carry over legions of fully-grown fans who can still remember the first time they heard Eddie Vedder's gravely baritone blast from their radio speakers. As rated by AOL Radio listeners, here are the Top 10 Alternative Rock Songs.
10
'Under the Bridge'
Red Hot Chili Peppers
This alternative rock song was a well-regarded critical darling, called by one critic "an integral part of the 1990s alterna-landscape, [one which] remains one of the purest diamonds that sparkle amongst the rough-hewn and rich funk chasms that dominate the Peppers' own oeuvre."
iTunes | Lyrics
Red Hot Chili Peppers Under The Bridge
09
'Black Hole Sun'
Soundgarden
Steve Lawrence and his wife Eydie Gormé covered this song as a lounge-style jazz number on the 1997 compilation album, 'Lounge-A-Palooza.'
iTunes | Lyrics
Soundgarden Black Hole Sun
08
'Wonderwall'
Oasis
Liam Gallagher is quite resentful of his own hit, saying he "can't f---ing stand that f---ing song! Every time I have to sing it I want to gag."
iTunes | Lyrics
Oasis Wonderwall
07
'Interstate Love Song'
Stone Temple Pilots
Bassist Robert DeLeo claims the alternative rock song was originally written in bossa nova style until it was played for Scott Weiland, who turned the melody for the song intro into the melody for the chorus.
iTunes | Lyrics
Stone Temple Pilots Interstate Love Song
06
'Say It Ain't So'
Weezer
Asher Roth initially sampled the song for his smash 'I Love College,' until Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo refused the clear the rights, prompting Roth to release a remix of his debut single.
iTunes | Lyrics
Weezer Say It Ain't So
The music video was inspired by both the film 'Zabriskie Point' and a memory Billy Corgan had of a truck driver who, upon giving up his truck, distributed all his leftover stock to the neighborhood kids.
iTunes | Lyrics
The Smashing Pumpkins Today
04
'No Rain'
Blind Melon
Heather DeLoach, the "Bee Girl" in the video, appeared in costume on both the 1993 MTV Video Music Awards and the video for Weird Al's 'Bedrock Anthem.'
iTunes | Lyrics
Blind Melon No Rain
03
'Black'
Pearl Jam
Eddie Vedder didn't want the song released as a single, claiming that "fragile songs get crushed by the business." In fact, he personally called radio station managers to confirm that Epic hadn't pushed the song as a single for airplay.
iTunes | Lyrics
Pearl Jam Black
02
'Creep'
Radiohead
Prince covered this alternative rock song in April 2008 at Coachella, but asked that it be removed from YouTube after it was uploaded by a concertgoer. Thom Yorke responded, "Well, tell him to [retract his request]. It's our song."
iTunes | Lyrics
Radiohead Creep
01
'Smells Like Teen Spirit'
Nirvana
The song was inspired by Kurt Cobain's friend, Bikini Kill lead singer Kathleen Hanna, who spray painted "Kurt Smells Like Teen Spirit" on his wall. Although Cobain mistook it for a grandiose slogan about youthful revolution, Hanna literally meant that Cobain smelled like Teen Spirit, a brand of deodorant.
iTunes | Lyrics
Nirvana Smells Like Teen Spirit

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