Taylor Swift once said, “I think fearless is having fears, but jumping anyway.” This quote captures the spirit of being 17. It’s a time when you’re almost an adult but still face the ups and downs of being a teenager. Music is key in shaping who you are at this age. We’ll look at the best songs about being 17, making a playlist that truly represents this important year.
Studies show music is vital for teens, affecting their feelings, views, and relationships. The right songs can offer a sense of belonging and inspire you. We’ll explore 17 songs about being 17, from classic rock to modern pop, to make the perfect playlist for your 17th year.
1. “Seventeen” – Winger
Hey you! Remember that rush of adrenaline when you first fell for someone older? This power ballad captures that forbidden crush feeling we’ve all had at seventeen.
🎵 Best lyrics: “She’s only seventeen; daddy says she’s too young, but she’s old enough for me.”
2. “Strawberry Wine” – Deana Carter
Close your eyes and picture this: your first summer love, the taste of sweet wine, and that feeling that everything was possible. Sound familiar?
🎵 Best lyrics: “Like strawberry wine and seventeen, the hot July moon saw everything.”
3. “Edge of Seventeen” – Stevie Nicks
Ever had a year that changed everything? That’s what Stevie captures here – the moment you realize you’re standing on the edge of something huge.
🎵 Best lyrics: “Just like the white winged dove sings a song, sounds like she’s singing.”
4. “Seventeen” – Stone Cold Fox
Ever catch yourself daydreaming about your wild teenage days? This indie rock gem perfectly captures that bittersweet feeling of looking back at your fearless youth.
🎵 Best lyrics: “When we were seventeen, killing everything, running wild and free.”
5. “Dancing Queen” – ABBA
Go on, admit it – you’ve danced to this in your bedroom using a hairbrush as a mic! This song makes everyone feel like teenage royalty.
🎵 Best lyrics: “You are the dancing queen, young and sweet, only seventeen.”
6. “Seventeen” – Marina and the Diamonds
Think you’re the only one who felt like an outsider at seventeen? Marina turns that universal teenage angst into pure pop gold.
🎵 Best lyrics: “I’m not seventeen, but I’ve cuts on my knees falling down as I grow.”
7. “Anthems for a Seventeen Year Old Girl” – Broken Social Scene
Have you ever watched someone change so much you barely recognize them? This haunting track perfectly captures that transformation from girl to young woman.
🎵 Best lyrics: “Used to be one of the rotten ones and I liked you for that.”
8. “Furr” – Blitzen Trapper
What if you could freeze time at seventeen? This folk tale-like song explores growing up through a magical lens that’ll make you question your own journey.
🎵 Best lyrics: “When I was only seventeen, I could hear the angels whispering.”
9. “Seventeen” – Alessia Cara
Let’s be honest – who hasn’t wished they could tell their younger self it all works out? Alessia’s letter to her past self hits right in the feels. 🎵 Best lyrics: “Look in the mirror; tell me who’s the strongest of them all?”
10. “At Seventeen” – Janis Ian
Warning: this one might make you tear up! It’s that raw, honest look at teenage insecurity that somehow makes you feel less alone.
🎵 Best lyrics: “I learned the truth at seventeen, that love was meant for beauty queens.”
11. “Paradise By the Dashboard Light” – Meatloaf
Picture this: it’s summer, you’re in love, and you’re making promises you don’t fully understand. Sound like your seventeen?
🎵 Best lyrics: “Though it’s cold and lonely in the deep dark night, I can see paradise by the dashboard light”
12. “17” – Youth Lagoon
Ever felt like your thoughts were too big for your teenage brain? This dreamy track captures that floating-between-worlds feeling of late-night overthinking.
🎵 Best lyrics: “When I was seventeen, my mother said to me, ‘Don’t stop imagining. The day that you do is the day that you die.”
13. “Seventeen” – RAC
Ready to dance? This electronic banger captures that electric feeling of being young and unstoppable – go ahead, turn it up!
🎵 Best lyrics: “We were young and we were free, back when we were seventeen.”
14. Seventeen Ain’t So Sweet” – The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
Got teenage drama? This pop-punk anthem gets it. Sometimes being seventeen feels like the world’s against you, right?
🎵 Best lyrics: “Your sweet seventeen is just a memory.”
15. “Let’s Go” – The Cars
Fast cars, summer nights, and that feeling nothing bad could ever happen – this track bottles the essence of teenage freedom.
🎵 Best lyrics: “She’s just seventeen, but she’s my teenage queen.”
16. “I’m Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman” – Britney Spears
Standing in that awkward space between childhood and adulthood? Britney gets it, and this song is your perfect anthem.
🎵 Best lyrics: “I’m not a girl, not yet a woman. All I need is time, a moment that is mine.”
17. “Eastside” – Benny Blanco, Halsey, & Khalid
Remember those teenage relationships that felt like they could conquer anything? This modern classic tells the story of young love fighting against parents’ disapproval and life’s obstacles.
🎵 Best lyrics: “When I was young, I fell in love / We used to hold hands, man, that was enough / Then we grew up, started to touch / Used to kiss underneath the light on the back of the bus.”
Conclusion
Being 17 represents such a unique moment – you’re standing at the threshold between childhood and adulthood, experiencing intense emotions, and making decisions that feel monumental. It’s a time of firsts, of pushing boundaries, and of discovering who you really are.
Music can inspire and guide you through your teenage years. By picking songs that speak to you, you create a soundtrack that celebrates you. It could be classic rock, pop hits, or emotional ballads. The music you choose will be a big part of your 17th year, offering comfort, inspiration, and self-discovery.
Bookmark viralfeels.com and What song defined your seventeenth year? Share your story in the comments below.
