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Cover of Ten by Pearl Jam
Cover: Ten

Song · Pearl Jam

“Alive” by Pearl Jam

From the album Ten (1991)

“Alive” by Pearl Jam appears on 202 radio countdowns from 55 stations between 1991 and 2026. It was first released in 1991 on the album Ten. Its best result is #1 on the WFNX Top 50 Grunge Songs of All-Time (June 2002). In the combined RockLists rankings it is the #38 alternative song of 1992, #3 alternative song of all time and #65 of the '90s.

202countdowns
55stations
#1best position
1#1 finishes
47top 10 finishes
1991–2026years charted

Watch

Pearl Jam - Alive (Official Video)

Video from YouTube (PearljamVEVO). Pressing play loads YouTube's player. Watch on YouTube

"Alive" was Pearl Jam's first single, released in the summer of 1991 ahead of their debut album Ten, and it started life as a Stone Gossard instrumental called "Dollar Short" on a demo tape passed around to find the band a singer. Eddie Vedder got hold of the tape and wrote words over it: a lightly fictionalized version of the day he found out the man he'd called his father wasn't.

That's the ache at the center of the song, even though it plays like a victory lap. Gossard and Mike McCready's guitars roll and surge, Jeff Ament and Dave Krusen keep it moving, and Vedder turns a private wound into a chorus for the whole room. Rick Parashar produced it with the band, and Tim Palmer mixed it.

In the US it was only available as an import, so it never got a shot at the Hot 100, but it still reached 16 on the Album Rock Tracks chart and 18 on Modern Rock Tracks, and it was a top-10 hit in Australia.

Written with AI assistance from RockLists chart data, MusicBrainz and Wikipedia.

RockLists rankings

Alternative & Modern Rock

Indie & Adult Alternative

Classic Rock

Hard Rock & Metal

All Rock Formats

Year-end countdowns

Year#StationCountdownof
1991 106 KROQ Los Angeles, CA KROQ Top 106.7 Songs of 1991 107
1991 58 91X San Diego, CA / Tijuana 91X Top 91 Songs of 1991 91
1992 27 KROQ Los Angeles, CA KROQ Top 106.7 Songs of 1992 107
1992 6 91X San Diego, CA / Tijuana 91X Top 91 Songs of 1992 91
1992 27 Q101 Chicago, IL Q101 Top 101 Songs of 1992 101
1992 69 WHFS Washington, DC / Baltimore, MD WHFS Top 99.1 Songs of 1992 100

All-time and decade countdowns

Year#StationCountdownof
– 38 CRNC 90.1 CRNC Top 90.1 Songs of the '90s 91
1992 283 KROQ KROQ Flashback 500 (Memorial Day 1992) 500
1992 59 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (1992) 100
1993 6 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (1993) 100
1994 53 KROQ KROQ Flashback 500 (Memorial Day 1994) 497
1994 304 Live 105 Live 105 Revolutionary 500 (July 1994) 500
1994 119 WOXY 97X WOXY Modern Rock 500 (1994) 500
1994 7 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (1994) 100
1994 23 KISW KISW Top 1000 of All Time (1994) 1000
1995 109 KROQ KROQ Flashback 500 (Memorial Day 1995) 500
1995 19 Live 105 Live 105 Revolutionary 300 (July 1995) 300
1995 10 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (1995) 100
1995 18 KISW KISW Top 1000 of All Time (1995) 1000
1996 23 KROQ KROQ Flashback 500 (Memorial Day 1996) 500
1996 45 Q101 Q101 Top 500 Songs of All-Time (1996) 500
1996 115 WOXY 97X WOXY Modern Rock 500 (1996) 498
1996 14 KISW KISW Top 1000 of All Time (1996) 1000
1996 8 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (1996) 100
1996 112 WNEW-FM WNEW Firecracker 500 (1996) 500
1997 656 102.3 WBAB WBAB Top 1,023 Rock and Roll Songs of All Time (1997) 1023
1997 10 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (1997) 100
1998 6 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (1998) 100
1998 16 KISW KISW Top 1000 of All Time (1998) 1000
1998 3 Triple J Triple J Hottest 100 of All-Time (1998) 100
1999 15 KROQ KROQ Top 300 Most Requested Songs of the '90s (Labor Day 1999) 300
1999 4 WHFS WHFS Top 500 Songs of the '90s (December 1999) 500
1999 33 91X 91X Fat 500 Songs of All-Time (July 1999) 500
1999 22 Q101 Q101 Top 1,011 Songs of All-Time (December 1999) 1017
1999 13 WLIR / WDRE WLIR Top 300 Songs of All-Time (December 1999) 300
1999 28 WFNX WFNX Top 500 Songs of All-Time (June 1999) 500
1999 15 107.7 The End The End Top 1077 Songs of All-Time (December 1999) 1077
1999 102 WOXY 97X WOXY Modern Rock 500 (1999) 500
1999 6 CD101 CD101 Top 2000 Songs of All-Time (December 1999) 2000
1999 10 CFNY 102.1 The Edge CFNY Top 1002 Songs of All-Time (November 1999) 1002
1999 34 The Buzz The Buzz Top 99 Songs of All-Time (1999) 99
1999 10 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (1999) 150
1999 20 KISW KISW Top 1000 of All Time (1999) 998
2000 2 Y100 Y100 Top 300 Songs of the '90s (September 2000) 100
2000 16 DC101 DC101 Top 101 Rock Songs of the 90s 101
2000 9 WOXY 97X WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2000) 500
2000 9 CD101 CD101 Top 2001 Songs of All-Time (December 2000) 2001
2000 8 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2000) 100
2000 13 The Edge KEDJ Countdown 2000 (106 songs) 106
2000 15 103.3 The Edge 103.3 The Edge Top 103 New Rock Songs of the Millennium 103
2001 11 WOXY 97X WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2001) 498
2001 8 CD101 CD101 Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (December 2001) 2002
2001 7 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2001) 100
2001 9 KISW KISW Top 99 Rock Songs (2001) 99
2001 1712 WFPK WFPK 2001 Greatest Songs of All Time 2000
2001 2 WBRU WBRU Modern Rock Top 500 (2001) 500
2002 1 WFNX WFNX Top 50 Grunge Songs of All-Time (June 2002) 50
2002 7 WOXY 97X WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2002) 500
2002 8 CD101 CD101 Top 2003 Songs of All-Time (December 2002) 2003
2002 6 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2002) 100
2002 10 KISW KISW Top 999 of All Time (2002) 999
2002 256 Fred (XM 44) Fred XM Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (July 2002) 2002
2003 88 91X 91X Top 91 Songs of All-Time (December 2003) 91
2003 4 WOXY 97X WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2003) 500
2003 10 CD101 CD101 Top 2004 Songs of All-Time (December 2003) 2004
2003 5 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2003) 100
2004 8 Q101 Q101 Top 300 Party Songs of All-Time (July 2004) 300
2004 32 107.7 The End The End Original Alternative 500 (May 2004) 500
2004 11 CD101 CD101 Top 2005 Songs of All-Time (December 2004) 2005
2004 4 Y100 Y100 Top 300 Songs of All-Time (July 2004) 300
2004 411 WXPN WXPN 885 All-Time Greatest Songs (2004) 885
2004 5 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2004) 100
2004 15 WBCN WBCN Grunge Top 104 (2004) 104
2005 37 Live 105 Live 105 Top 105.3 Songs of the '90s (August 2005) 106
2005 30 96.5 The Buzz 96.5 The Buzz Top 96 of the 90s 96
2005 12 WOXY 97X WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2005) 500
2005 12 CD101 CD101 Top 2006 Songs of All-Time (December 2005) 1994
2005 7 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2005) 100
2005 69 99X 99X Freedom of Choice 1000 (2005) 1000
2005 5 107.7 The End The End Top 77 Pearl Jam Songs of All-Time (September 2005) 77
2006 30 107.7 The End The End Top 107 Songs of the '90s (December 2006) 107
2006 51 KROQ KROQ Flashback 500 (Memorial Day 2006) 500
2006 14 Live 105 Live 105 500 Co-Op Countdown (Memorial Day 2006) 500
2006 45 WOXY 97X WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2006) 499
2006 6 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2006) 100
2007 21 KROQ KROQ Top 500 Most Requested Songs of the '90s (Labor Day 2007) 500
2007 37 CD101 CD101 Top 2008 Songs of All-Time (December 2007) 2008
2007 6 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2007) 100
2007 267 WTMD WTMD Top 897 Songs of All Time 897
2008 15 KROQ KROQ Flashback 500 (Memorial Day 2008) 500
2008 27 CD101 CD101 Top 2009 Songs of All-Time (December 2008) 2009
2008 6 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2008) 100
2009 38 CFNY 102.1 The Edge The Top 200 Songs of the 90's According to 102.1 The Edge 200
2009 77 Live 105 Live 105 Memorial 500 Song List (2009) 500
2009 28 CD101 CD101 Top 2010 Songs of All-Time (December 2009) 2010
2009 68 CFNY 102.1 The Edge 102.1 The Edge Top 200 Songs of All-Time (2009) 200
2009 6 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2009) 100
2009 684 WYEP WYEP 913 Essential Songs 913
2009 25 Triple J Triple J Hottest 100 of All-Time (2009) 100
2009 468 WXPN WXPN 885 Desert Island Songs (2009) 885
2010 25 CFNY 102.1 The Edge 102.1 The Edge Top 200 Songs of the 90's (September 2010) 200
2010 28 CD101 CD101 Top 2011 Songs of All-Time (December 2010) 2011
2010 205 97.9 The Loop The Loop USO Rock 'N' Roll 500 (2010) 500
2010 4 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2010) 100
2011 28 CD101 CD101 Top 2012 Songs of All-Time (December 2011) 2011
2011 4 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2011) 100
2012 427 WYEP WYEP Top 500 Songs Countdown 500
2012 4 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2012) 100
2012 31 CFNY 102.1 The Edge 102.1 The Edge Top 102 New Rock Songs of All-Time 102
2012 72 WXPN WXPN 885 Greatest Rock Songs (2012) 885
2013 28 CD101 CD101 Top 2013 Songs of All-Time (December 2013) 2012
2013 29 100.7 WZLX 100.7 WZLX Grand Jam 1000 (2013) 1000
2013 5 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2013) 100
2014 27 CD101 CD101 Top 2014 Songs of All-Time (2014) 2013
2014 152 WXPN WXPN 885 All-Time Greatest Songs (2014) 885
2014 4 100.7 WZLX 100.7 WZLX Firecracker 400 (2014) 400
2014 19 100.7 WZLX 100.7 WZLX 1K Countdown (2014) 1000
2014 10 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2014) 100
2014 104 94.3 WCYY WCYY CYY 500 Most Played Songs (2014) 500
2015 12 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2015) 100
2015 94 94.3 WCYY WCYY CYY 500 Most Played Songs (2015) 500
2015 3 100.7 WZLX 100.7 WZLX Firecracker 500 (2015) 499
2015 24 100.7 WZLX 100.7 WZLX Top 1007 Classic Rock Countdown (2015) 1007
2016 5 100.7 WZLX 100.7 WZLX Top 1007 Countdown for 2016 1007
2016 12 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2016) 100
2016 427 Big 100 BIG 500 Memorial Day Countdown (2016) 500
2016 146 103.5 The Fox The Fox Memorial Day 500 (2016) 299
2017 13 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2017) 100
2017 94 97.9 The Loop 97.9 The Loop Top 540 Countdown (2017) 540
2017 427 Big 100 BIG 500 Memorial Day Countdown (2017) 500
2018 98 The Current The Current's 893 Essential Songs 892
2018 19 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2018) 100
2018 423 Big 100 BIG 500 Memorial Day Countdown (2018) 500
2019 85 X96 X96's Top 100 Songs of the 90's 100
2019 40 106.7 WLLZ WLLZ 500 (2019) 500
2019 77 94.3 WCYY WCYY CYY 500 Most Played Songs (2019) 500
2019 130 102.5 WDVE DVE Memorial Day 500 (2019) 500
2019 20 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2019) 100
2019 453 102.5 KZOK KZOK Top 1025 of 2019 1025
2019 99 99.1 PLR 99.1 PLR Big 500 (2019) 499
2019 110 Big 100 BIG 500 Memorial Day Countdown (2019) 500
2020 32 DC101 Top DC101 of the 90's 101
2020 306 Q105.7 Q105.7 Memorial Day 500 (2020) 499
2020 69 106.7 WLLZ WLLZ 500 (2020) 500
2020 186 DC101 The DC101 Top 500 500
2020 22 105.9 The X 105.9 The X July 420 (2020) 420
2020 141 102.5 WDVE DVE Memorial Day 500 (2020) 500
2020 17 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2020) 100
2020 103 WXPN WXPN 2020 Greatest Songs of All Time 2020
2020 168 102.5 KZOK KZOK Classic Rock Top 1025 (2020) 1025
2021 462 90.9 The Bridge 90.9 The Bridge Top 909 Songs of the '90s 908
2021 73 106.7 WLLZ WLLZ 500 (2021) 500
2021 24 105.9 The X 105.9 The X July 420 (2021) 420
2021 574 Q104.3 Q104.3 Top 1,043 Classic Rock Songs of All Time (2021) 1043
2021 25 KISW KISW 25 Biggest Rock Songs From The Past 50 Years 25
2021 127 102.5 WDVE DVE Memorial Day 500 (2021) 500
2021 22 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2021) 100
2021 9 99.1 PLR 99.1 PLR Big 500 (2021) 500
2022 18 The Colorado Sound The Colorado Sound Top 900 Songs of the '90s 900
2022 65 101X 101X 500 (2022) 498
2022 54 KEXP KEXP Top Songs of the Last 50 Years (1972-2022) 491
2022 176 X96 X96 Top 500 Alternative Songs of All Time 500
2022 78 106.7 WLLZ WLLZ Rock N Roll 500 (2022) 500
2022 32 105.9 The X 105.9 The X July 420 (2022) 420
2022 243 Q104.3 Q104.3 Top 1,043 Classic Rock Songs of All Time (2022) 1043
2022 492 WMGK WMGK Philly 500 (2022) 500
2022 128 102.5 KZOK KZOK Classic Rock Top 1025 (2022) 1025
2022 154 102.5 WDVE DVE Memorial Day 500 (2022) 500
2022 28 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2022) 100
2022 460 The Colorado Sound The Colorado Sound Top 1055 Colorado Sound Songs of All Time 1055
2022 147 94.1 KRNA KRNA Memorial Day 500 (2022) 500
2023 23 The Current The Current's 893 Essential Songs of the '90s 893
2023 23 91X 91X Top 91 Songs of The Last 40 Years 91
2023 240 102.5 WDVE DVE Memorial Day 500 (2023) 500
2023 26 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2023) 100
2023 6 KSHE 95 KSHE 95 Rock N' Roll 500 (2023) 500
2023 55 94.3 WCYY WCYY CYY 500 Most Played Songs (2023) 500
2023 37 97.1 The Drive 97.1 The Drive Memorial Day Weekend Rock N Roll 500 (2023) 500
2023 147 101.5 WPDH WPDH Top 1015 (2023) 1015
2023 13 106.7 WLLZ WLLZ Rock N Roll 500 (2023) 500
2023 36 105.9 The X 105.9 The X July 420 (2023) 420
2023 768 Q104.3 Q104.3 Top 1,043 Classic Rock Songs of All Time (2023) 1043
2024 37 Q104.3 Q104.3 Top 1,043 Classic Rock Songs of All Time (2024) 1043
2024 186 WYEP WYEP Best Songs of the Past 50 Years 1049
2024 129 102.5 WDVE DVE Memorial Day 500 (2024) 500
2024 32 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2024) 100
2024 222 KSHE 95 KSHE 95 Rock N' Roll 500 (2024) 500
2024 96 WMGK WMGK Philly 500 (2024) 500
2024 87 106.7 WLLZ WLLZ Rock N Roll 500 (2024) 500
2024 390 97 Rock 97 Rock N Roll 500 (2024) 499
2024 56 99.1 PLR 99.1 PLR Top 400 of the Last 40 Years (2024) 400
2025 74 WFPK WFPK Top 500 Songs of the '90s 500
2025 81 106.7 WLLZ WLLZ Rock N Roll 500 (2025) 500
2025 293 97 Rock 97 Rock N Roll 500 (2025) 500
2025 46 99.1 PLR 99.1 PLR Top 400 of the Last 40 Years (2025) 400
2025 40 Q104.3 Q104.3 Top 1,043 Classic Rock Songs of All Time (2025) 1043
2025 194 102.5 WDVE DVE Memorial Day 500 (2025) 500
2025 38 Studio Brussel Studio Brussel De Tijdloze 100 (2025) 100
2026 91 106.7 WLLZ WLLZ Rock N Roll 500 (2026) 500
2026 939 WYEP WYEP Greatest Songs of All Time 1180
2026 67 101X 101X 500 (2026) 500
2026 116 102.5 WDVE DVE Memorial Day 500 (2026) 500

Charting alongside it in 1992

Best songs of 1992 →
  1. 1Friday I'm in LoveThe Cure
  2. 2Under the BridgeRed Hot Chili Peppers
  3. 3DriveR.E.M.
  4. 4OneU2
  5. 5JeremyPearl Jam
  6. 6TomorrowMorrissey

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