Top 10 Songs About Growing Up
Posted on September 6th, 2011
Growing up is a a funny thing.
All those painfully awkward years of growing up, hoping and praying to become a real.live.adult, all becomes one giant dam of nostalgia ready to burst open the moment THAT SONG comes on.
To help bring forth that wave, All Groan Up presents:
The Top 10 Songs About Growing Up
10. Dammit – Blink 182
To kick off this countdown right, we start with the epitome of Groan Up angst, Dammit!
If you didn’t ride in your friend’s Honda through your neighborhood singing this song at the top of your lungs with the windows down while you pictured the girl who sat in front of you in Bio class, chances are you grew up in Siberia where it is too dang cold to attempt such a thing.
Dammit Classic Line: Well I guess this is growing up…
9. Young – Kenny Chesney
What’s a nostalgic countdown without some country music? 93% of all country music is about your former girlfriend, old home, childhood dog, etc…
Young Classic Lines:
Talked a good game when we were out with the guys
But in the back seat we were awkward and shy
Girls were a mystery that we couldn’t explain
And I guess there are some things that are never gonna change ~ Kenny Chesney
8. No Such Thing – John Mayer
You can say what you want about John Mayer, but the dude can write a song. No Such Thing is the first of two JM appearances on the countdown. John, is there no such thing as the real world?
I wanna run through the halls of my high school
I wanna scream at the
Top of my lungs
I just found out there’s no such thing as the real world
Just a lie you’ve got to rise above
~ John Mayer
7. Jack and Diane – John Mellencamp
Let’s get a little old-school with the original “Cougar” himself about being young and in love.
Jack and Diane Classic Lines: Hold onto 16 as long as you can. Changes come around real soon make us women and men.
6. Glory Days – Bruce Springstein
I am lobbying there be a law passed that every countdown has to include The Boss.
Plus this video is a 80′s gem. The Boss and Guy in Pink Bandanna are forever seared in my heart.
5. Stop This Train – John Mayer
I want to get off and go home again
I can’t take the speed it’s moving in
I know I can’t but honestly won’t someone stop this train
So scared of getting older
I’m only good at being young
So I play the numbers game to find away to say that life has just begun.
~ John Mayer
4. Still Fighting It – Ben Folds
Of course Ben Folds is going to have a poignant song about growing up.
Everybody knows
It sucks to grow up
And everybody does
It’s so weird to be back here.
Let me tell you what
The years go on and
We’re still fighting it, we’re still fighting it.
~ Ben Folds
3. Best Day of My Life - George Straight
Dad, this could be the best day of my life
I’ve been dreamin’ day and night ’bout the fun we’ll have
It’s just me and you doin’ what I’ve always wanted to
I’m the luckiest boy alive
This is the best day of my life
~ George Straight
2. Wake Up – Arcade Fire
This song coupled with the movie Where the Wild Things Are propelled it to number two on this countdown. If you don’t get goosebumps watching this trailer, well you my friend need to take a trip to Chuckie Cheese. (Seems like a good place to put childhood in perspective).
1. In This Diary (Best Days of Our Life) - Ataris
A shout out to my good buddies Josh and Scott, and all the drives we made singing this song at the top of our lungs (that and Whitesnake. But that’s for another countdown).
Being grown up isn’t half as fun as growing up.
These are the best days of our lives.
The only thing that matters
is just following your heart
and eventually you’ll finally get it right. ~ The Ataris
The first times I heard “Welcome to my Life” by Simple Plan and “Vienna” by Billy Joel I cried. They captured what I was feeling exactly, and I have them on my Comfort Music playlist.
Thanks Sarah for those suggestions. I’m actually not familiar with either one so I’ll have to go check them out..
Aw yes…Comfort Music…better than a brownie….
Well…almost…
Nicely done Angone, nicely done.
Great song lineup! For some reason, I always think of “I’ve had the time of my life…” from the movie- Dirty Dancing. Not sure if it goes with the blog theme, but when I hear it, it definitely makes me get that nostalgic feeling of childhood.
I totally agree Naomi!! Great nostalgic memories!!
Hey Naomi, by the way – The Pilot for the new season, New Girl, has an awesome scene of the friends singing this song from Dirty Dancing
You might enjoy!
How about Forever Young by Bob Dylan and When We Were Young by Lucy Schwartz (List in thanks to the soundtrack from Parenthood – another great TV Show!!)
Naomi — Yes great song. Dirty Dancing reminds you of your childhood?? What were you doing growing up…
…ha..I kid, I kid
Great selection!
On my part, the only one missing was “100 Years” by Five for Fighting.
Cheers!
Jacqui – Thank you for the “100 Years” shout out on top songs about growing up. Definitely one I should’ve included as I remember tearing up watching a commercial where the song was playing.
Great line up Angone! I’m old school. How about “What a drag it is getting old”, by the Rolling Stones?
Lou – Thanks for the old school representation with a Rolling Stones shout out. Definitely a great song to include.