"Alive" by Pearl Jam

Feel the power of Pearl Jam's "Alive," their explosive debut single from 1991's iconic album Ten! This grunge anthem launched the band to stardom with its driving riffs, intense vocals, and legendary guitar solo. A cornerstone of 90s alternative rock.

Released in 1991 as Pearl Jam's first single from their monumental debut Ten, "Alive" served as a powerful introduction to their signature grunge sound. Written around a riff by guitarist Stone Gossard, the song features a driving rhythm section and Eddie Vedder's passionate vocals, immediately establishing the band as a major force within the burgeoning grunge scene.

"Alive" is renowned for Mike McCready's epic, blues-influenced guitar solo and Eddie Vedder’s intense delivery of its dark, autobiographical lyrics. Despite the somber subject matter, the song's anthemic chorus resonated widely, making this 1991 grunge track a massive hit on rock radio and a staple of Pearl Jam's powerful live performances ever since.

SONG MEANING: "Alive" tells a semi-autobiographical story based on Eddie Vedder's life, concerning a young man who discovers the man he thought was his father died and his current father is his stepfather. Adding to the trauma, his grieving mother develops an inappropriate, incestuous fixation on him due to his resemblance to his biological father. The chorus "I'm still alive" was intended as a curse.