What is Pearl Jam's signature song?

[Clem Halibut]

It's definitely either Jeremy or Even Flow

Picture the following...
Cut to some old fart network newscaster:
" Now in other news... Seattle grunge rockers Pearl Jam are touring again"
In the background they're playing the Even Flow video where the kids are stage diving and then they cut to the closeup of Eddie in Jeremy video where he's making his weirdo demented faces.
The sportscaster guy starts talking about the 1990s, and how he owned a bunch of flannel shirts. The attractive weather lady just smiles, confused, as she has no reference to anything that is being talked about since she was only born in 2001. The old fart newscaster guy then declares that he only listens to classic country music, and how it doesn't get any better than Johnny Cash for his money.
The segment ends, and they move onto the guy in the Traffic Helicopter reporting on an overturned vehicle blocking 2 lanes on the southbound expressway.

[blueviper]

Was everyone ok in that overturned vehicle?!

[Matters]

30 years ago it was Jeremy but over time Even Flow and Black have become better answers.

[Matters]

Alive is Ed at his best, Stone at his best and Mike at his best.

[blueviper]

I was playing pickle ball with coworkers at lunch. Sometimes I would wear a Pearl Jam shirt. We have a league going on and playoffs start next week. One guy mentioned my team should walk into the gym blasting Pearl Jam as our entrance music.

He started singing “Alive”

I’ll go with Alive as the top song, followed by Even Flow.

[mikejasond]

It's Alive.

Im surprised there is not more of a consensus on this because it was the obvious answer to me.

Even Flow and Jeremy came to mind a bit, but I still think it's Alive.

I don't think Corduroy is really in contention personally. I don't even think it sounds like the rest of their discography. It's pretty unique to me.

[VMCKen]

After processing the news today, I realized that nobody would ever cite a Matt Cameron-era song as a signature song... or would they? What would that even be? I could make a case for I Am Mine

[darth_vedder]

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.

Yeah, I think it's probably one of 4 songs: Alive, Even Flow, Betterman, or Corduroy.

[VMCKen]

Just listened to that podcast and the hosts are great. I think the final picks of Alive and Yellow Ledbetter are hard to argue with although I was rooting for Corduroy

[epilogue]

Listening to the pod (about half way through). I really dig the conversation.

But re: the Mamasan Trilogy... is it really understood that the character and his mom have a full blown relationship and thengo on a killing spree together? Is that the conventional understanding of the narrative?

That's different from what I remember hearing/reading/learning it was about.

[Farmer John]

Listening to the pod (about half way through). I really dig the conversation.

But re: the Mamasan Trilogy... is it really understood that the character and his mom have a full blown relationship and thengo on a killing spree together? Is that the conventional understanding of the narrative?

That's different from what I remember hearing/reading/learning it was about.

I don't think they go on the killing spree together, but the dude definitely banged his mom. And then Footsteps is him in the jail cell afterwards, thinking about it.

I also just listened to the podcast. It was a fun listen. Jorge's friend seems like a nice chap. But how is it possible for someone to have heard Binaural but not No Code?

[Jorge]

I think it's something along those lines. Not sure about the finer details but I remember there being an incest component and then a lot of violence.

[Jorge]

Listening to the pod (about half way through). I really dig the conversation.

But re: the Mamasan Trilogy... is it really understood that the character and his mom have a full blown relationship and thengo on a killing spree together? Is that the conventional understanding of the narrative?

That's different from what I remember hearing/reading/learning it was about.

I don't think they go on the killing spree together, but the dude definitely banged his mom. And then Footsteps is him in the jail cell afterwards, thinking about it.

I also just listened to the podcast. It was a fun listen. Jorge's friend seems like a nice chap. But how is it possible for someone to have heard Binaural but not No Code?

Also, thanks! Lane has an extremely interesting musical background and there's no making heads or tails of his taste. Big Taylor Swift fan as well as the most abrasive and experimental music you've ever heard. So it makes sense that his exploration of PJ's work is unconventional

[Farmer John]

You should do a special spin-off reaction episode where he listens to No Code for the first time

[epilogue]

My memory or understanding was that the mother actually sexually abuses the guy. "They bang" but it's not necessarily consensual (Alive). It's that abuse that makes him go out and hire hookers and murder them (Once). And then he gets caught and gets put on death row (Footsteps).

Of course, none of this matters. It's all a game of telephone and ethereal. But I was wanted to make sure my "memory" of the story wasn't totally off. If everyone else knows it the way the pod presents it, than my take is fucking stupid.

[epilogue]

Either way, I really dig the episode and I'm gonna go back and listen to the Brittney Spears one.

[Jorge]

I think that's probably more correct, I should've done some research.

And thanks. If you listen to the Britney episode keep in mind we get a little better with each ep, and that being our very first one means it's our worst

[epilogue]

I think that's probably more correct, I should've done some research.

And thanks. If you listen to the Britney episode keep in mind we get a little better with each ep, and that being our very first one means it's our worst

I mean, I appreciate the heads up. And I get it. I'm sure you'll continue to grow into it. But I love the concept and the personalities so much at this point, I'm just here for the convo. I'm looking forward to all eps.

[Matters]

“I can’t see, I just stare” calls back to The Who’s Tommy, a character who is blind and also abused by a family member.

[wease]

My memory or understanding was that the mother actually sexually abuses the guy. "They bang" but it's not necessarily consensual (Alive). It's that abuse that makes him go out and hire hookers and murder them (Once). And then he gets caught and gets put on death row (Footsteps).

Of course, none of this matters. It's all a game of telephone and ethereal. But I was wanted to make sure my "memory" of the story wasn't totally off. If everyone else knows it the way the pod presents it, than my take is fucking stupid.

I never got that it was whores the character was killing in Once. Hmmm. I’m gonna have to check these lyrics out again. Backstreet lover, I guess. For some reason, I never thought of that as a prostitute.

Everything else, you’re spot on.