Alternative Pop/Rock is essentially a catch-all term for post-punk bands from
the mid-'80s to the mid-'90s. Though there is a variety of musical styles within
Alternative Rock, they are all tied together since they existed outside of the
mainstream. In some ways, there are two waves of alternative bands, with
Nirvana's success in 1991 acting as a dividing point. In the '80s, most
alternative bands were on independent labels; if they were on majors, they
didn't receive as much support as most of the label's mainstream acts. During
the '80s, alternative included everything from jangle pop, post-hardcore punk,
funk metal, punk pop, and experimental rock. After Nirvana's popularity in the
'90s, alternative included all of these subgenres, but many of the edges were
sanded off because the music was now being marketed as part of the
mainstream. Hard rock and punk-derived music were more commercially
successful than the left-of-center pop that dominated late-'80s alternative
pop/rock, so alternative lost some of its quirkier tendencies in the '90s. Most
experimental bands were relegated to indie rock.
R.E.M.
(1980-present)
• R.E.M. marks the point
when post-punk turned
into alternative rock.
• Their first single, "Radio
Free Europe," was
released in 1981, it
sparked a back-to-thegarage movement in the
American underground.
While there were a number
of hardcore and punk
bands in the U.S. during
the early '80s, R.E.M.
brought guitar pop back
into the underground
lexicon.
• Inducted into the Rock and
Roll Hall of Fame in 2007
“Radio Free Europe” (1981)
Beside yourself if radio's gonna stay.
Reason: it could polish up the grey.
Put that put that put that up your wall
That this isn't country at all
Decide yourself, calling all of the
medias too fast
Keep me out of country in the word
Disappoint is into us absurd
Raving station beside yourself
Keep me out of country in the word
Deal the porch is leading us absurd.
Push that push that push that to the hull
That this isn't nothing at all.
Straight off the boat where to go?
Calling on in transit calling on in transit
Radio Free Europe, radio...
Beside defying media too fast
Instead of pushing palaces to fall
Put that, put that, put that before all
That this isn't fortunate at all
Raving station, beside yourself
Calling on in transit, calling on in transit
Radio Free Europe, radio...
Straight off the boat, where to go?
Calling on in transit, calling on in
transit
Radio Free Europe
“Losing My Religion” (1991)
Life is bigger
It's bigger than you
And you are not me
The lengths that I will go to
The distance in your eyes
Oh no I've said too much
I set it up
That's me in the corner
That's me in the spotlight
Losing my religion
Trying to keep up with you
And I don't know if I can do it
Oh no I've said too much
I haven't said enough
I thought that I heard you laughing
I thought that I heard you sing
I think I thought I saw you try
Every whisper
Of every waking hour I'm
Choosing my confessions
Trying to keep an eye on you
Like a hurt lost and blinded fool
Oh no I've said too much
I set it up
Consider this
The hint of the century
Consider this
The slip that brought me
To my knees failed
What if all these fantasies
Come flailing around
Now I've said too much
I thought that I heard you
laughing
I thought that I heard you sing
I think I thought I saw you try
But that was just a dream
That was just a dream
“Everybody Hurts” (1992)
When the day is long and the night,
the night is yours alone,
When you're sure you've had
enough of this life, well hang on.
Don't let yourself go, everybody
cries and everybody hurts
sometimes.
Sometimes everything is wrong.
Now it's time to sing along.
When your day is night alone, (hold
on, hold on)
If you feel like letting go, (hold on)
When you think you've had too
much of this life, well hang on.
Everybody hurts. Take comfort in
your friends.
Everybody hurts. Don't throw your
hand. Oh, no. Don't throw your
hand.
If you feel like you're alone, no, no,
no, you are not alone
If you're on your own in this life,
the days and nights are long,
When you think you've had too
much of this life to hang on.
Well, everybody hurts sometimes,
Everybody cries. And everybody
hurts sometimes.
And everybody hurts sometimes.
So, hold on, hold on.
Hold on, hold on. Hold on, hold
on. Hold on, hold on. (repeat &
fade)
(Everybody hurts. You are not
alone.)
Nirvana
(1987-1994)
• Nirvana popularized punk, postpunk, and indie rock, unintentionally
bringing it into the American
mainstream
• While Nirvana's ideology was indie
rock and their melodies were pop,
the sonic rush of their records and
live shows merged the postindustrial white noise with heavy
metal grind.
• 1991’s Nevermind is considered by
many to be the best album of the
1990s
• The band dissolved following
Cobain’s suicide in 1994 via selfinflicted gunshot wound
“Smells Like Teen Spirit” (1991)
Load up on guns and bring your friends
It's fun to lose and to pretend
She's over bored and self assured
Oh no, I know a dirty word
BRIDGE:
Hello, hello, hello, how low?
Hello, hello, hello, how low?
Hello, hello, hello, how low?
Hello, hello, hello!
CHORUS:
With the lights out, it's less dangerous
Here we are now, entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now, entertain us
A mulatto
An albino
A mosquito
My libido
Yay! Hey! Hey!
I'm worse at what I do best
And for this gift I feel blessed
Our little group has always been
And always will until the end
BRIDGE
CHORUS
And I forget just why I taste
Oh yeah, I guess it makes me smile
I found it hard, it's hard to find
Oh well, whatever, nevermind
BRIDGE
CHORUS
A denial !! x10
“Come As You Are” (1991)
Come as you are, as you were,
As I want you to be
As a friend, as a friend, as an old enemy
Take your time, hurry up
The choice is yours, don't be late.
Take a rest, as a friend, as an old memory
Memoria
Memoria
Memoria
Come doused in mud, soaked in bleach
As I want you to be
As a trend, as a friend, as an old memory
Memoria
Memoria
Memoria
When I swear that I don't have a gun
No I don't have a gun
No I don't have a gun
Memoria
Memoria
Memoria
Memoria - no I don't have a gun
When I swear that I don't have a gun
No I don't have a gun
No I don't have a gun
No I don't have a gun
No I don't have a gun
Memoria
Memoria
“Lithium” (1991)
I'm so happy 'cause today
I've found my friends
They're in my head
I'm so ugly, but that's okay, 'cause so are you
We broke our mirrors
Sunday morning is everyday for all I care
And I'm not scared
Light my candles, in a daze
'Cause I've found god
yeah, yeah yeah x6
I'm so lonely, but that's okay, I shaved my head
And I'm not sad
And just maybe I'm to blame for all I've heard
But I'm not sure
I'm so excited, I can't wait to meet you there
But I don't care
I'm so horny, but that's okay
My will is good
yeah yeah yeah (x6)
I like it - I'm not gonna crack
I miss you - I'm not gonna crack
I love you - I'm not gonna crack
I killed you - I'm not gonna crack
I like it - I'm not gonna crack
I miss you - I'm not gonna crack
I love you - I'm not gonna crack
I killed you - I'm not gonna crack
I'm so happy 'cause today
I've found my friends
They're in my head
I'm so ugly, but that's okay, 'cause so are you
We broke our mirrors
Sunday morning is everyday for all I care
And I'm not scared
Light my candles in a daze
'Cause I've found god
yeah, yeah yeah x6
I like it - I'm not gonna crack
I miss you - I'm not gonna crack
I love you - I'm not gonna crack
I killed you - I'm not gonna crack
I like it - I'm not gonna crack
I miss you - I'm not gonna crack
I love you - I'm not gonna crack
I killed you - I'm not gonna crack
“Heart-Shaped Box” (1993)
She eyes me like a pisces when I am weak
I've been locked inside your Heart-Shaped box for
weeks
I've been drawn into your magnet tar-pit trap
I wish I could eat your cancer when you turn black
Hey! Wait!
I've got a new complaint
Forever in debt to your priceless advice
Hey! Wait!
I've got a new complaint
Forever in debt to your priceless advice
Hey! Wait!
I've got a new complaint
Forever in debt to your priceless advice
Your advice
Meat-eating orchids forgive no one just yet
Cut myself on angel's hair and baby's breath
Broken hymen of your highness I'm left black
Throw down your umbilical noose so I can climb
right back
Hey! Wait!
I've got a new complaint
Forever in debt to your priceless advice
Hey! Wait!
I've got a new complaint
Forever in debt to your priceless advice
Hey! Wait!
I've got a new complaint
Forever in debt to your priceless advice
Your advice
She eyes me like a pisces when I am weak
I've been locked inside your Heart-Shaped box
for weeks
I've been drawn into your magnet tar-pit trap
I wish I could eat your cancer when you turn
black
Hey! Wait!
I've got a new complaint
Forever in debt to your priceless advice
Hey! Wait!
I've got a new complaint
Forever in debt to your priceless advice
Hey! Wait!
I've got a new complaint
Forever in debt to your priceless advice
Your advice x3
“Rape Me” (1993)
Rape me
Rape me my friend
Rape me
Rape me again
Rape me
Rape me my friend
Rape me
Rape me again
I'm not the only one
I'm not the only one
I'm not the only one
I'm not the only one
I'm not the only one
I'm not the only one
I'm not the only one
I'm not the only one
Hate me
Do it and do it again
Waste me
Rape me my friend
Rape me!
Rape me!
Rape me!
Rape me!
Rape me!
Rape me!
Rape me!
Rape me!
Rape me!
Am
Am
Am
Am
I the only one ?
I the only one ?
I the only one ?
I the only one ?
My favorite inside source
I'll kiss your open sores
Appreciate your concern
You'll always stink and burn
“About a Girl” (1993)
I need an easy friend
(I do) With an ear to lend
(I do) Think you fit this shoe
(I do) Won't you have a clue
I'll take advantage while
You hang me out to dry
But I can't see you every night
For Free
I'm standing in your line
(I do) Hope you have the time
(I do) Pick a number too
(I do) Keep a date with you
I'll take advantage while
You hang me out to dry
But I can't see you every night
For Free
I need an easy friend
(I do) With an ear to lend
(I do) Think you fit this shoe
(I do) Won't you have a clue
I'll take advantage while
You hang me out to dry
But I can't see you every night
No, I can't see you every night
For Free
I do ...
I do ...
I do ...
I do ...
“Pennyroyal Tea” (1993)
I'm on my time with everyone
I have very bad posture
Sit and drink Pennyroyal Tea
Distill the life that's inside of me
Sit and drink Pennyroyal Tea
I'm anemic royalty
Give me a Leonard Cohen afterworld
So I can sigh eternally
I'm so tired I can't sleep
I'm a liar and a thief
Sit and drink Pennyroyal Tea
I'm anemic royalty
I'm on warm milk and laxatives
Cherry-flavored antacids
Sit and drink Pennyroyal Tea
Distill the life that's inside of me
I'm anemic royalty
I'm anemic royalty
“Lake of Fire” (1993)
Where do bad folks go when they die?
They don't go to heaven where the angels fly
They go to a lake of fire and fry
See 'em again 'till the fourth of July
I knew a lady who came from Duluth
She got bit by a dog with a rabid tooth
She went to her grave just a little too soon
And flew away howling on the yellow moon
Where do bad folks go when they die?
They don't go to heaven where the angels fly
They go to a lake of fire and fry
See 'em again 'till the fourth of July
The people cry and the people moan
They look for a dry place to call their home
Try to find some place to rest their bones
While the angels and the devils try to make 'em
their own
Where do bad folks go when they die?
They don't go to heaven where the angels fly
They go to a lake of fire and fry
See 'em again 'till the fourth of July
“All Apologies” (1993)
What else should I be
All apologies
What else should I say
Everyone is gay
What else should I write
I don't have the right
What else should I be
All apologies
I wish I was like you
Easily amused
Find my nest of salt
Everything is my fault
I'll take all the blame
Aqua seafoam shame
Sunburn with freezerburn
Choking on the ashes of her enemy
In the sun
In the sun I feel as one
In the sun
In the sun
I'm married
Buried
In the sun
In the sun I feel as one
In the sun
In the sun
Married, Buried, Married!
Buried!
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
All in all is all we are (x13)
Pearl Jam
(1990-Present)
• Best selling American band of
the ’90s
• Pearl Jam fused the riff-heavy
stadium rock of the '70s with
the grit and anger of '80s postpunk, without ever neglecting
hooks and choruses
• Pearl Jam canceled their 1994
summer tour, claiming they
could not keep ticket prices
below 20 dollars because
Ticketmaster was pressuring
promoters to charge a higher
price. The band took
Ticketmaster to the Justice
Department for unfair business
practices unsuccessfully.
“Evenflow” (1991)
Freezin', rests his head on a pillow made of concrete,
again
Oh, Feelin' maybe he'll see a little better, set a days, ooh
yeah
Oh, hand out, faces that he sees time again ain't that
familiar, oh yeah
Oh, dark grin, he can't help, when he's happy looks
insane, oh yeah
Even flow, thoughts arrive like butterflies
Oh, he don't know, so he chases them away
Someday yet, he'll begin his life again
Life again, life again...
Kneelin', looking through the paper though he doesn't
know to read, ooh yeah
Oh, prayin', now to something that has never showed
him anything
Oh, feelin', understands the weather of the winters on its
way
Oh, ceilings, few and far between all the legal halls of
shame, yeah
Even flow, thoughts arrive like butterflies
Oh, he don't know, so he chases them away
Someday yet, he'll begin his life again
Whispering hands, gently lead him away
Him away, him away...Yeah!
Even flow, thoughts arrive like butterflies
Oh, he don't know, so he chases them away
Someday yet, he'll begin his life again, yeah
Oh, whispering hands, gently lead him away
Him away, him away...
Yeah!
Woo...uh huh...yeah, yeah, mommy, mommy..
“Alive” (1991)
Son, she said, have I got a little story for you
What you thought was your daddy was nothin' but a...
While you were sittin' home alone at age thirteen
Your real daddy was dyin', sorry you didn't see him, but I'm glad we talked...
(Chorus)
Oh I, oh, I'm still alive
Hey, I, I, oh, I'm still alive
Hey I, oh, I'm still alive
Hey...oh...
Oh, she walks slowly, across a young man's room
She said I'm ready...for you
I can't remember anything to this very day
'Cept the look, the look...
Oh, you know where, now I can't see, I just stare...
(Chorus)
Is something wrong, she said
Well of course there is
You're still alive, she said
Oh, and do I deserve to be
Is that the question
And if so...if so...who answers...who answers...
(Chorus)
“Jeremy” (1991)
At home, drawing pictures of mountain tops, with
him on top
Lemon yellow sun, arms raised in a V
The dead lay in pools of maroon below
Daddy didn't give attention
To the fact that mommy didn't care
King Jeremy the wicked, oh, ruled his world
Jeremy spoke in class today (3x)
Jeremy spoke in class today (2x)
Jeremy spoke in class today (2x)
Jeremy spoke in, spoke in (2x)
Jeremy spoke in class today
Woo (29x)
Woooooohhh...spoke in, spoke in
Woooooohhh...uh huh, uh huh....
Clearly I remember pickin' on the boy
Seemed a harmless little fuck
But we unleashed a lion
Gnashed his teeth and bit the recess lady's
breast
How could I forget?
And he hit me with a surprise left
My jaw left hurtin', ooh, dropped wide open
Just like the day, oh, like the day I heard
Daddy didn't give affection
And the boy was something mommy wouldn't
wear
King Jeremy the wicked, ruled his world
Woo (14x)
Try to forget this...try to forget this...
Try to erase this...try to erase this...
From the blackboard...
“Black” (1991)
Hey...oooh...
Sheets of empty canvas, untouched sheets of clay
Were laid spread out before me as her body once
did
All five horizons revolved around her soul
As the earth to the sun
Now the air I tasted and breathed has taken a turn
Ooh, and all I taught her was everything
Ooh, I know she gave me all that she wore
And now my bitter hands chafe beneath the clouds
Of what was everything?
Oh, the pictures have all been washed in black,
tattooed everything...
I take a walk outside
I'm surrounded by some kids at play
I can feel their laughter, so why do I sear
Oh, and twisted thoughts that spin round my head
I'm spinning, oh, I'm spinning
How quick the sun can, drop away
And now my bitter hands cradle broken glass
Of what was everything?
All the pictures have all been washed in black,
tattooed everything...
All the love gone bad turned my world to
black
Tattooed all I see, all that I am, all I'll ever
be...yeah...
Uh huh...uh huh...ooh...
I know someday you'll have a beautiful
life, I know you'll be a star
In somebody else's sky, but why
Why, why can't it be, why can't it be mine
“Daughter” (1993)
Alone Listless Breakfast Table In An Otherwise Empty Room
Young Girl Violence Center Of Her Own Attention No No
Mother Reads Aloud Child Tries To Understand It
Tries To Make Her Proud Yeah
The Shades Go Down Into Her Head
Painted Room Can't Deny There's Something Wrong
Don't Call Me Daughter Not Fit To
The Picture Kept Will Remind Me
Don't Call Me Daughter Not Fit To
The Picture Kept Will Remind Me
Don't Call Me
She Holds The Hand That Holds Her Down
She Will Rise Above Ooh Woh
Don't Call Me Daughter Not Fit To
The Picture Kept Will Remind Me
Don't Call Me Daughter Not Fit To Be
The Picture Kept Will Remind Me
Don't Call Me Daughter Not Fit To
The Picture Kept Will Remind Me
Don't Call Me Daughter Not Fit To
The Picture Kept Will Remind Me
Don't Call Me
The Shades Go Down X4
Woh
“Corduroy” (1994)
The Waiting Drove Me Mad
You're Finally Here And I'm A Mess
I Take Your Entrance Back
Can't Let You Roam Inside My Head
Everything Has Chains Absolutely Nothing's
Changed
Take My Hand Not My Picture Spilled My
Teacher
I Don't Want To Take What You Can Give
I Would Rather Starve Than Eat Your Bread
I Would Rather Run But I Can't Walk
Guess I'll Lie Alone Just Like Before
I Don't Want To Take What You Can Give
I Would Rather Starve Than Eat Your Breast
All The Things That Others Want For Me
Can't Buy What I Want Because It's Free X2
Can't Be What They Want Because I
It's Supposed To Be Just Fun
Yea But To Be Tried Or Be A Judge
I Figure I'll Be Damned All Alone Like I Began
I'll Take The Varmints Path
Oh And I Must Refuse Your Test
Push Me And I Will Resist
This Behavior's Not Unique
I Don't Want To Hear From Those Who Know
They Can Buy But Can't Put On My Clothes
I Don't Want To Limp For Them To Walk
Never Would Have Known Of Me Before
I Don't Want To Be Held In Their Debt
I'll Pay It Off In Blood Let I Be Wed
I'm Already Cut Up And Half Dead
We'll End Up Alone Like We Began
“Betterman” (1994)
Waiting Watching The Clock It's Four O'clock
It's Got To Stop Tell Him Take No More
She Practices Her Speech As He Opens The Door She Rolls Over
Pretends To Sleep As He Looks Her Over
She Lies And Says She's In Love With Him Can't Find A Better Man
She dreams In Color She Dreams In Red Can't Find A Better Man
Can't Find A Better Man X2
Talking To Herself There's No One Else Who Needs To Know She Tells Herself Oh
Memories Back When She Was Sure And Strong And Waiting For The World To Come Along
Swears She Knew Him Now She Swears He's Gone
She Lies And Says She's In Love With Him Can't Find A Better Man
She Dreams In Color She Dreams In Red Can't Find A Better Man
She Lies And Says She Still Loves Him Can't Find A Better Man
She Dreams In Color She Dreams In Red Can't Find A Better Man
Can't Find A Better Man X2
She Loved Him Yeah She Don't Want To Leave This Way
She Feeds Him Yeah That's Why She'll Be Back Again
Can't Find A Better Man Can't Find A Better Man X3
Can't Find A Better Man
“Last Kiss” (1999)
Chorus :
Oh where oh where can my baby be
The Lord took her away from me
She's gone to heaven so I got to be
good
So I can see my baby when I leave this
world
We were out on a date in my daddy's
car
We hadn't driven very far
There in the road straight up ahead
A car was stalled the engine was dead
I couldn't stop so I swerved to the right
I'll never forget the sound that night
The screaming tires the busting glass
The painful scream that I heard last
[Chorus]
When I woke up the rain was pouring
down
There were people standing all around
Something warm flowing through my
eyes
But somehow I found my baby that night
I lifted her head she looked at me and
said
Hold me darling just a little while
I held her close I kissed her our last kiss
I found the love that I knew i have missed
Well now she's gone even though I hold
her tight
I lost my love my life that night
[Chorus]