What is Pearl Jam's signature song?

[stip]

i shall check out your doppleganger

[Farmer John]

What is Pearl Jam's signature scent?

[Chris_H_2]

It's more like the song that defines them to the general public, and is also representative of their overall sound.

I don't think that these are necessarily compatible or mean the same thing.

There is a thread in Other Bands from about 4 years ago about a song that is representative of a musician's overall catalogue where we had this same debate.

[Jorge]

They don't mean the same thing, but they are factors to consider when determining an artist's signature song

[Strat]

Mind your manners and/or johhnny guitar

[Chris_H_2]

They don't mean the same thing, but they are factors to consider when determining an artist's signature song

so, if i have songs that meet each criterion, should i list them both? i just don't want to piss on the integrity of your thread title.

[Chris_H_2]

signature song to the general public

evenflow

song that best captures their overall sound

given to fly

[Jorge]

That's a fine approach. I would not consider "Given to Fly" their signature song because it lacks the mass recognition of other PJ songs, just like I wouldn't consider "Last Kiss" (their actual biggest hit) their signature song because it is not representative enough.

It is about finding a balance

[Jorge]

Personally, my pick is "Alive"

[epilogue]

To this day, the first song I think of when someone asks me about Pearl Jam is Even Flow. It's not my personal favorite but it's the song I personally most associate with them.

Alive and Corduroy are probably better answers for this thread's purposes, perhaps.

[Buby]

Kinda surprised Animal hasn't been mentioned.

[dimejinky99]

The answer of course is last kiss

[Hypnos]

Evenflow is practically embedded in popular culture by now.

[Hypnos]

But recently, so is Future Days...

[Chris_H_2]

Evenflow is practically embedded in popular culture by now.

it's usually accompanied by a skateboarding jesus christ

[Farmer John]

I would like to live in a world where "In the Moonlight" is their signature song.

[liebzz]

Alive, Jeremy, Daughter, Small Town, Corduroy, and Better Man are probably the strongest contenders.

Corduroy to me is the center point of their sound in my head, so I would say that for myself, but pop culture surely feels differently.

[dimejinky99]

This would be geospecific but evenflow wouldn’t be the song anywhere at all outside the US.
Go to Spain or Italy or anywhere in Europe and try that and they wouldn’t know it.

Stop anyone in the street and sing the first line in the chorus of alive and they know exactly who you mean and will sing along.

[96583UP]

yo soy still alive

[Farmer John]

While “Even Flow” is objectively their most recognizable song amongst the general public across the globe, “Alive” is not far behind, and it might be a better representation of their overall sound. It covers the softer side of the catalogue along with the hard rockin’ jams.

“Better Man” might also be a contender, due to it being a little spritzier than Alive. The song should probably be at least a little spritzy.