
I'm Worried... There Hasn't Been a Banger Since Mr. Brightside
What Is a Banger?
"Banger" is a term used on both sides of the Atlantic. Sure, it can sound cringey when DJs say it trying to sound hip β but honestly, it's still a great word.
My definition of a banger?
𧨠A banger is any song that everyone knows the lyrics to.
The kind of track where, the moment it starts, people can't help but sing along β loudly.
Itβs more than just an earworm (catchy and stuck in your head). A banger hits you physically β and once you're singing along, you're emotionally purged.
These are the anthems bands close massive festival sets with.
And no offense...
A banger is not any Taylor Swift song β sorry, Swifties! Her songs are mostly known by women. For a song to truly qualify as a banger, guys need to know the words too.
Ed Sheeran? He's borderline β some guys know the lyrics, but not all.
π΅ Bangers Are Generational
Every generation has its own bangers β their life's soundtrack.
Generation | Birth Years | Example |
---|---|---|
Baby Boomers | 1946β1964 | Pick any Beatles song |
Gen X | 1965β1980 | Bohemian Rhapsody β Queen |
Millennials | 1981β1996 | Take your pick from Oasis |
Gen Z | 1997β2009 | Mr. Brightside β The Killers, some indie |
Gen Alpha | 2010β2024 | π¬ No bangers yet |
Gen Beta | 2025+ | Still babies. Fingers crossed for the future |
π Elite Bangers Are Multi-Generational
These are the ultimate anthems β everyone knows them, no matter the age.
- Hey Jude β The Beatles
- Donβt Look Back in Anger β Oasis
- Sex on Fire β Kings of Leon
- 505 β Arctic Monkeys (Gen Z only)
π£οΈ The Road to Bangers Is Paved with What?
The Killers might be the most non-British British band ever.
Like Jimi Hendrix, they blew up in the UK before anywhere else.
And Mr. Brightside? Itβs basically the British national anthem now.
I don't remember learning the lyrics. It's like they were implanted at birth.
The Arctic Monkeys owe part of their banger status to The Inbetweeners β a UK Gen Z show that turned their tracks into cultural icons.
When a song becomes more than just music β when it becomes part of the culture β it's a banger.
π€ No More Bands = No More Bangers?
Can solo female artists make bangers?
Honestly... probably not. And thatβs a problem.
Itβs well-documented: almost no new band has charted since 2010.
And it's way harder for solo artists (male or female) to create true bangers.
Most legendary bangers have come from bands β not solo performers.
If band culture is dying, the banger might be dying with it. π
π§ Final Thoughts
Donβt panic β there are still plenty of classic bangers to fill your playlist.
But new ones? They're getting rare.
What bangers do you love?
Click Contact below and tell me β Iβll compile an all-time top 10. Letβs keep the banger spirit alive. π