How can there be better songs about being 17 than 18?

November 24, 2014 11:40 AM

So last year's mix CD was quite a hit. Now the baby's turning 18. Got any ideas about songs that reference being/turning 18? Especially for a girl?

So far I got Alice Cooper and either the Derrick Harriot or Pete Wingfield version of '18 with a Bullet'.
Thanks!

posted by readery to Grab Bag (20 answers total)

Not sure if this is appropriate but Say 18 by The Matches is the first thing that comes to mind.
posted by radioamy at 11:41 AM on November 24, 2014 [1 favorite]

A bit weak, but in the song 16 going on 17 (from the Sound of Music) ends up with the guy singing "I am 17 going on 18".
posted by PuppetMcSockerson at 11:48 AM on November 24, 2014

"18 Til I Die" ?
I mean... it's Bryan Adams... but it does have 18 in it...

I immediately thought of We Are Young by Fun but it doesn't explicitly reference an age and it is essentially about getting trashed and needing to be carried home from a bar so maybe not appropriate. Damn catchy song though.
posted by Wretch729 at 11:51 AM on November 24, 2014

Here's a big ol Wiki list.
posted by jabes at 11:57 AM on November 24, 2014 [1 favorite]

18 Candles by Nina Nesbitt?
posted by littlegreen at 11:57 AM on November 24, 2014

Ace of Base has a song (Blooming 18) about how reality is such a drag when you're 18 and it's always lurking and your parents are trying to keep you down. It's Ace of Base, so it's got a beat and pretty much nothing else.
posted by crush-onastick at 11:58 AM on November 24, 2014

A very early U2 song, Out of Control. Written by Bono on his 18th birthday, when he wasn't quite so... Bono-ish.

And of course there's that 80s classic by Skid Row, 18 and Life, but that might not be too appropriate.
posted by bondcliff at 11:59 AM on November 24, 2014

Suds in the Bucket, Sara Evans "How can 18 years just up and walk away? / Our little pony tailed girl / Growed up to be a woman / Now she's gone in the blink of an eye / She left the suds in the bucket and the clothes hanging out on the line."
posted by drlith at 12:00 PM on November 24, 2014 [1 favorite]

Can't say it's like, my favorite song, but Dancin' Away With My Heart by Lady Antebellum has fitting lyrics:

For me you'll always be 18
And beautiful and dancing away with my heart
posted by rabbitbookworm at 12:05 PM on November 24, 2014

Can't help this year, but for next year, try The Long Blondes - Once and Never Again
with the parent-friendly lyrics "19, you're only 19 for godsake, you don't need a boyfriend"
posted by Dorothea_in_Rome at 12:27 PM on November 24, 2014

The Pursuit of Happiness — I'm An Adult Now
posted by Johnny Assay at 1:00 PM on November 24, 2014 [5 favorites]

Stars - Don't Be Afraid to Sing
eighteen, alone / in love with the answerphone
posted by quadrilaterals at 1:10 PM on November 24, 2014 [1 favorite]

Probably not the message you'd like to include, but there is The Vandals - Girls Turn 18 Every Day
posted by namewithoutwords at 2:11 PM on November 24, 2014

My pre-teen daughter has been playing this song into the ground lately:

18 - 5 Seconds of Summer
posted by Rock Steady at 2:56 PM on November 24, 2014

Best answer: 18 by One Direction
18 by 5 Seconds of Summer
18 by Bow Wow
18 by Mario

She Will Be Loved by Maroon 5 (which doesn't fit into the theme of my post, but it's a beautiful song, although a bit depressing... beauty queen of only 18..)
posted by valoius at 3:08 PM on November 24, 2014 [2 favorites]

Carrie Underwood - The Night Before (Life Goes On)

Tomorrow she'll be rolling down I-10
Baton Rouge, LSU
18 years in her rearview
posted by BeginAgain at 3:14 PM on November 24, 2014

Best answer: If she appreciates angry yet awesome rock anthems, I would suggest:
Skid Row - 18 and Life
Alice Cooper - I'm 18
posted by partly squamous and partly rugose at 3:38 PM on November 24, 2014

Soco Amaretto Lime by Brand New. Part of the chorus is "We're gonna stay 18 forever, so we can stay like this forever."
posted by possumbrie at 8:50 PM on November 24, 2014

Camper Van Beethoven's "Eye of Fatima (Pt. 1)" has this couplet about 45 seconds in:

He's got an 18-year-old angel and she's all dressed in black
He's got 15 nickels of cocaine tied up in a sack

That's all we hear of the 18-year old, though.
posted by mumkin at 12:34 AM on November 25, 2014

Maybe Eighteen Yellow Roses?

There's really not a lot to choose from, is there?
posted by kristi at 1:23 PM on November 27, 2014