Boards
5-10-15-20
So this is a feature that Pitchfork do occasionally. You pick a song to correspond with each age, whether it was just your favourite song then or whether it defined that time in your life, whatever. Rounded down to the nearest five-year mark in the sequence, depending on your age.
5 - Sinead O'Connor, 'Nothing Compares 2U'
Probably the first sad song I can remember being bowled over by. I remember telling people at school it was the best song in the world for a long time. Probably got some stick for that.
10 - Ace of Base, 'The Sign'
I still own the Happy Nation album. It's still pretty great.
15 - Manic Street Preachers, 'Methadone Pretty'
The Manics basically defined my teenage years, and this song probably best represents the way I thought about everything then. Fuck you! I'm never getting old! No one understands me! etc
20 - Arcade Fire, 'Neighbourhood #1 (Tunnels)'
Around the time I was starting to consider myself a Proper Music Fan. Felt like a bit of an awakening.
25 - Yo La Tengo, 'We're An American Band'
I'm 25 now so it's hard to pick out something defining, but I basically think this is the best song in the world now, so there you go.