The 15 Most ‘Suburban’ Songs In Existence

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If you had to define “suburban,” you’d probably be able to. It’s a term with a definition that you could easily look up on the internet and/or your brain.

The definition though, doesn’t exactly do justice to the suburban aesthetic; one that exists in between two distinct, and, in my opinion, more traditionally alluring landscapes. Suburbs aren’t exactly vibrant cities, but they also don’t possess that unmistakable small town charm. I.e., nobody in a suburb is closing their hardware store because of the big game, nor are they getting really tense because Walmart is thinking about coming in and sucking the town dry.

Growing up in suburb is a definite #thing — you hate it while you’re there, but when you’re gone you find yourself talking it up like you actually really enjoyed the place. Anyway, here’s a playlist:

15. In Too Deep – Sum 41

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emGri7i8Y2Y&w=584&h=390]

14. The Great Escape – Boys Like Girls

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGPgxoIPY6Q&w=584&h=390]

Song about living it up that one last time because your friendship inevitably fades away forever. Vintage suburbia.

13. Girl Next Door – Saving Jane

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbaYuPHMfuk&w=584&h=390]

12. Devil Town – Bright Eyes

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2uw1dx22Mk&w=584&h=390]

This is much more a small-town song than it is a suburban. But again, suburbs are the tortured middle children of landscapes — meaning that they cultivate and embrace qualities of the small town. Particularly, the “I need to get out of here” mantra.

11. Laid – Matt Nathanson

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEDrtj7ovH0&w=584&h=390]

American Pie. Hometown relationships. The complete packages. And the first of two appearances from Jason “king of suburbia” Biggs.

10. Break Stuff – Limp Bizkit

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpUYjpKg9KY&w=584&h=390]

9. You Belong With Me – Taylor Swift

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuNIsY6JdUw&w=584&h=390]

8.  Frick Park Market – Mac Miller

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJ19PJ7-SWc&w=584&h=390]

Miller may be a city-minded dude, but if you could describe a song as a “stoner deli anthem,” you’re gonna gain some big-time suburban cred.

7. Time – Hootie And The Blowfish

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFLysouG86I&w=584&h=390]

6. I Woke Up In A Car – Something Corporate

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iCGJoEFxdY&w=584&h=390]

5. Rockin’ The Suburbs – Ben Folds

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34u_3Z9_LUw&w=584&h=390]

A given.

4. Papercut – Linkin Park

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjVkXlxsO8Q&w=584&h=390]

3. Still Fly – Big Tymers

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iCd6UHR-3I&w=584&h=390]

If this was a power ranking of “best songs to blast in your parents basement at age 25,” this would be a unanimous number one.

2. Soco Amaretto Lime – Brand New

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9Yyf50-s9I&w=584&h=390]

Many a high schooler/college kid back in town has played this driving home after spending the night hanging out in the Wendys parking lot, pissed that the alcohol plans fell through. Or maybe that was just me.

1. Teenage Dirtbag – Wheatus

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FC3y9llDXuM&w=584&h=390]

Gym class and tube socks. The video says it all. 

[spotify id=”spotify:user:lpauker:playlist:4xAgDJy3JUAMTjA7oi1xwF” width=”584″ height=”390″ /]