Rock
Nine Inch Nails’ 1994 industrial rock hit courted controversy with its explicit lyrics and throbbing, dark beat. Despite (or because of) its shock value — including the infamous chorus “I wanna **** you like an animal” — “Closer” became an iconic track of the decade. Trent Reznor’s edgy, provocative masterpiece was paired with a macabre, artful music video that MTV heavily censored. Controversy aside, the song’s pulsing synths and raw sexual energy etched it into ’90s music history as a bold statement from the cutting edge of alternative music.