Dangerous Woman by Ariana Grande
There is nothing dangerous about the track or the album that goes by the same name. It’s Ariana’s way of trying to grow up and balance “love and a lot of other bullshit along the way”. You can sing out her line: I’m locked and loaded/ Completely focused, my mind is open...
Mutt by Blink-182
Yes, that Blink-182 song that played in the hearts of many teenagers after it was featured in American Pie. Nadia (Shannon Elizabeth) arrives at Jim’s (Jason Biggs) house to study. Jim leaves the room, allowing her to change. But the webcam is on. And Nadia is about to take her top off as we hear Blink-182 go: He pauses shaving and he tells himself/ That he is the bomb/ She has her curlers set/ Her credit cards are paying the funds.
Glory Days by Bruce Springsteen
It’s difficult to pick one Bruce Springsteen coming-of-age song but this one is the “Bossest” track, looking back on school days with mixed feelings: Glory days, well they’ll pass you by/ Glory days, in the wink of a young girl’s eye/Glory days, glory days.
Into the Great Wide Open by Tom Petty
You were expecting the more introspective Learning To Fly but let’s go with the straight narrative of Into the Great Wide Open, in which aspiring musician Eddie (played by Johnny Depp), a “rebel without a clue” who finds stardom in Los Angeles, becomes one of the bad boys and then gets spit out by the “celebrity machine”. Into the great wide open/ Under them skies of blue/ Out in the great wide open/ A rebel without a clue.
Anyone Else But You by Michael Cera and Ellen Page
It’s still summertime. Ellen Page’s Juno and the father (played by Michael Cera) of Juno’s child sit down with their guitars — after the teenager gives birth to a baby boy — to sing this classic Moldy Peaches song: You’re a part-time lover and a full-time friend/ The monkey on your back is the latest trend.
Maggie May by Rod Stewart
In 1961, a teenaged Rod Stewart attended the Beaulieu Jazz Festival where he met an older woman to whom he lost his virginity in a beer tent. Ten years later, he encapsulated the experience in the now-classic Maggie May: The morning sun when it’s in your face really shows your age/ But that don’t worry me none in my eyes you’re everything.
Freedom! ’90 by George Michael
George Michael’s entire musical career can play out like a coming-of-age film. But this one track stands out because he was asking us to be free and at the same time making us wonder if freedom was at all attainable. I don’t belong to you/ And you don’t belong to me/ Freedom!
I’m Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman by Britney Spears
Between all her ups and downs, she has given us some awesome pop, one of which is this 2002 track with a line that has stayed on: I’m not a girl, not yet a woman/All I need is time/ A moment that is mine. The song went on to feature in the road film, Crossroads.
18 til I Die by Bryan Adams
The man was way past age 18 when he recorded the track but it’s the spirit of turning 18 that continues to thrive in his music. And he meant 18 is more than a number. If ya wanna stay young — get both feet in it — 18 til I die/ A li’l bit of this — a li’l bit of that/ Li’l bit of everything — gotta get on track.
