Interestingly enough, it was pretty much Reckoning-era R.E.M. that made me curious about alternative music (or, as it was called back then, “college rock”).
But I do agree (christ, I would surely damn hope that I agree) that the impact of “Smells Like Teen Spirit” was utterly seismic. In fact, I remember where I was and what I was doing the first time I saw the video (which was also the first time I heard the song). There are only three other videos that I can say that about (in chronological order: “Thriller”, “I Would Die 4 U/Baby I’m a Star” [live clip], and Metallica’s “One”). Still and all, though, I just think “Losing My Religion” is a much more beautiful, more timeless song.
Hard to go against Nirvana, but of those songs I actually like U2’s “The Fly” the best. Achtung Baby is a great album. I was a huge R.E.M. fan beginning in 1983 when I was 14, but I think Out of Time is not their best effort (mostly because of “Radio Song” and “Shiny Happy People”). “Losing My Religion” is pretty low on my list of favorite R.E.M. songs.
It really can’t be anything else but Teen Spirit. Aside from being a great song, it was revolutionary like no other song that entire decade. So…I’m going with that, though Losing My Religion is really an amazing piece of work as well.