Top 200 Songs from the 90s – #109

#109 – Sheryl Crow – “Everyday Is A Winding Road” – (1996)

This was a tough one – a really, really tough one. “If It Makes You Happy” and “A Change Would Do You Good” are both awesome songs in their own right. I mean, Sheryl Crow’s self-titled album rocks. “I used to ride with a vending machine repairman/he said he’s been down this road more than twice/He was high on intellectualism/I’ve never been there but the brochure looks nice…” is a nice way to begin a song and the music is great as well. “If It Makes You Happy” features some great, screaming vocals, and “A Change Would Do You Good” has that nice solid guitar sound. Say what you want about Sheryl Crow’s music in recent years – but this album is quite good. In 1998 she released The Globe Sessions which contains the superb “My Favorite Mistake” – if you can’t make it through that entire song, at least enjoy the fantastic beginning.

 

Top 200 Songs from the 90s – #110

#110 – The Offspring – “Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)” – (1998)

First I must state for the record that I am a proud owner of this CD. Now, for a variety of reasons this song is quite strange. 1) This song was absolutely flippin’ huge – and as much as I watched MTV in the late 90s, I’ve somehow managed to have only seen the video once before today. 2) Now, this might just be me, but when I think of The Offspring, this isn’t necessarily the first song that jumps to my mind, but it should be, and it inevitably surfaces a few seconds later, with me wondering, “Why didn’t that happen sooner?” 3) It is very similar yet completely different from every other Offspring song – in a completely unexplainable way. Maybe it has something to do with the overwhelming mainstream commercial success (as compared to their other, successful but less mainstream hits). 4) The song samples the nonsensical German phrase from the beginning of Def Leppard’s “Rock of Ages.”

Also from Americana, the rarely played “The Kids Aren’t Alright,” and the more popular “Why Don’t You Get a Job?” (the video to which I’ve seen much more of than “Pretty Fly”).

 

Top 200 Songs from the 90s – #111

#111 – Tonic – “If You Could Only See” – (1996)

There is this roaring guitar in this song that is hard to beat. If you listen closely you’ll notice that this song has some pretty hard rock characteristics, so much so that I find it somewhat surprising how big of a mainstream hit it was. Lemon Parade was Tonic’s biggest album and it was released in 1996 – “If You Could Only See” was a big hit in 1997 and “Open up Your Eyes,” an equally rocky but not nearly as good a song, hit the airwaves in 1996 and experienced a brief resurgence in popularity thanks to “If You Could Only See” in 1998 and on into 1999.

 

Top 200 Songs from the 90s – #112

#112 – Haddaway – “What is Love?” – (1993)

If you don’t already associate these two things in your mind: here you go. A Night at the Roxbury (and its respective Saturday Night Live skits) is/are basically the only reason this song has any sort of following at all – otherwise it’d just be obscure. Don’t get me wrong, it was popular in its day, but rarely do songs experience this sort of comeback. Did you know, this song is the 62^nd best-selling single of all time in Germany? Of course it is.

 

Top 200 Songs from the 90s – #113

#113 – Red Hot Chili Peppers – “Love Rollercoaster” – (1996)

“Love Rollercoaster” was originally done by the Ohio Players in 1975. The Red Hot Chili Peppers covered it for the movie Beavis and Butthead Do America – it sounded nothing like the original. If you didn’t know it, it’s unlikely you’d guess this was the Chili Peppers, because it really sounds nothing like them – or at least the Chili Peppers we were used to from the 90s – the Blood Sugar Sex Magik Chili Peppers or their songs from that album: “Give it Away,” and, more popularly, “Under the Bridge.” However, “Love Rollercoaster” is way more fun than either of those two songs.

 

Top 200 Songs from the 90s – #114

#114 – Inner Circle – “Sweat (A La La La La Long)” – (1994)

I love this song. Sure “Bad Boys” is much better known because of its use as the theme for Cops, but “Sweat” is just awesome. I find 80s-90s pop-reggae to be one of the most fun genres of music: UB40, Shaggy, Inner Circle (there’s more, but my mind is blanking). Also, Ini Kamoze’s “Here Comes the Hotstepper;” which is the source of my PlayStation Online username.

 

Top 200 Songs from the 90s – #115

#115 – Blind Melon – “No Rain” – (1992)

Everything about this song fits in perfectly to the early 90s – it could have come straight from Seattle (it didn’t). It has such a distinct sound and lyrics. The video is memorable in its own right with the Bee Girl running and dancing around. There were many good frontmen that were lost in the 90s, and Shannon Hoon is among them. The sound of his voice on this track is so cool…

 

Top 200 Songs from the 90s – #116

#116 – Enigma – “Return to Innocence” – (1994)

I had no idea what this song was when I first heard it. I mean, I Googled some weird stuff trying to figure it out. But seriously: name another radio friendly pop song whose lyrics consist mostly of an aboriginal Taiwanese chant? I didn’t know the words “aboriginal Taiwanese chant” had ever been assembled in that order before. It’s extremely bizarre – and extremely memorable for its hauntingly mystic qualities. Don’t forget to check out their 1990 (and just as weird) hit: “Sadeness Part I.”

 

Top 200 Songs from the 90s – #117

#117 – Toad the Wet Sprocket – “Good Intentions” – (1995)

Toad the Wet Sprocket was one of the best alternative bands from the first half of the 1990s, although they aren’t remembered or as well known today as some of their contemporaries (like the Gin Blossoms). “Good Intentions” (from the strangely named In Light Syrup) is my favorite of their songs – and they had a good handful. Their other big hit was also “All I Want” from 1991s Fear. Also from Fear is “Walk on the Ocean.” And “Fall Down” was released on 1994s Dulcinea.

 

Top 200 Songs from the 90s – #118

#118 – Hootie & The Blowfish – “Hold My Hand” – (1994)

Cracked Rear View is one of – if not the – best album of the 1990s. Truth is, I originally had “Time” listed as number 118 and while looking for which other Cracked Rear View track I wanted to mention along with it, I fell back in love with “Hold My Hand.” They are equally as good. All four big singles form this album are good. I just picked one of two to talk about here. Also I want to mention “I Will Wait” from 1998’s Musical Chairs. I recently re-discovered this one myself.

 

Top 200 Songs from the 90s – #119

#119 – Foo Fighters – “Learn to Fly” – (1999)

So here is that second song I promised where the music video features Dave Grohl in pigtails. The video also features: Dave Grohl in a fat-suit, Dave Grohl as a very John Waters-looking flight attendant, and both members of Tenacious D. This song is inexplicably linked in my mind to Filter’s “Take a Picture.” “Learn to Fly” was the only good single from There is Nothing Left to Lose. Their previous album, The Colour and the Shape was responsible for the songs “Everlong,” “Monkey Wrench,” and “My Hero.”

 

Top 200 Songs from the 90s – #120

#120 – Third Eye Blind – “Jumper” – (1997)

So here’s that other song about people jumping off buildings. I wouldn’t call the song “upbeat,” but it’s definitely more… inspired than say, “How It’s Going to Be,” which is a great song in its own right – but this list is only 200 songs long and Third Eye Blind has enough spots on here. “Jumper” is one of those pop-rock songs with meaning, which is something that has become increasingly rare in newer songs as most bands confuse “angst” with “meaning” nowadays.

 

Top 200 Songs from the 90s – #121

#121 – Will Smith feat. K-Ci – “Will 2K” – (1999)

I can sing this entire song… when I typed “Will 2K” into the top I didn’t know if I should be putting “Wild Wild West” up there instead, then I listened to this again and realized I was correct. Side note: if you’re familiar with Willennium you’ll know that the album version of “Wild Wild West” contains a weird intro where Will and his son are discussing filling time on the album and that’s the only reason “Wild Wild West” even made the album – to fill time – it already was huge from the movie’s soundtrack. “Will 2K” is another one of those new-millennium songs that were popular at the end of 1999. The other single from this album was “Freakin’ It” – but it’s not even close to being on the same level as the other two.

 

Top 200 Songs from the 90s – #122

#122 – Everclear – “Santa Monica” – (1995)

“Santa Monica” was the breakthrough hit for Everclear from their album Sparkle and Fade. It’s relatively simple in nature but catchy nonetheless and proved Everclear would be a fairly reliable alternative band for next few years. In 1997 they released So Much for the Afterglow which contained the singles “Father of Mine” and “I Will Buy You a New Life.”

 

Top 200 Songs from the 90s – #123

#123 – Green Day – “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” – (1997)

I loathe Green Day – Billie Joe Armstrong’s voice is like fingernails on a chalkboard. That said, this is a good song – orchestra strings never hurt in that regard. It is the only worth mentioning from Nimrod but 1994’s Dookie had a few songs to note: “When I Come Around,” “Basket Case,” and “Longview.” “Brain Stew” was the only ‘good’ song from 1995’s Insomniac.

 

Top 200 Songs from the 90s – #124

#124 – Live – “Lightning Crashes” – (1994)

Live is one of those bands that are impossible to Google because every other band on earth has at some point performed live. But they were formed pre-search engine so I’ll let it slide. “Lightning Crashes” is a wonderfully beautiful song that builds and builds until it finally explodes. It is absolutely one of the most powerful and meaningful popular songs to come out of the 1990s. And it has a haunting quality about it – and a haunting quality is the quickest way for a song to earn both my interest and respect. On an unrelated side note, how many successful songs can you name that use the word “placenta?” Another one of their songs that you’ve probably heard is the popular “I Alone.” If you didn’t listen to rock stations during the 90s, you may not have heard of “Selling the Drama.”

 

Top 200 Songs from the 90s – #125

#125 – Shawn Colvin – “Sunny Came Home” – (1996)

“Sunny Came Home” is one of the more recognizable top 40 hits from the 90s. It was her only real big hit and something I happen to like is that the title of the album, A Few Small Repairs, comes from a lyric within this song.

 

Top 200 Songs from the 90s – #126

#126 – Lenny Kravitz – “Fly Away” – (1998)

Lenny Kravitz is more or less a badass. For some reason I can’t help but picture him as a modern day Hendrix – and not just because he’s black. He has his own style, and although not as innovative as Jimi, he definitely knows how to rock. His cover of the Guess Who’s “American Woman” is probably his best known song to date.

 

Top 200 Songs from the 90s – #127

#127 – Sixpence None The Richer – “Kiss Me” – (1997)

“Kiss Me” was used, quite popularly, on Dawson’s Creek and in the film She’s All That (and there was a music video for each). If you remember this one, you probably also remember “There She Goes” which features the same unique voice of lead vocalist Leigh Nash.

 

Top 200 Songs from the 90s – #128

#128 – *NSYNC – “Tearin’ Up My Heart” – (1998)

This song is quite different than anything from Orgy’s Candyass (#129) – except for maybe the title. I find this to be the most tolerable (er, I mean, “best”) song from the boy-band of boy-bands. Also from their eponymous debut album: “(God Must Have Spent) A Little More Time On You,” and “I Drive Myself Crazy.” Watch the video from the latter and tell me that Lance Bass… um… wasn’t extremely obvious. It’s obvious. If you’re looking for any “Bye Bye Bye” info you’re gonna have to wait for out post-90s countdown.

 

Top 200 Songs from the 90s – #129

#129 – Orgy – “Blue Monday” – (1998)

Sorry to all you new wave fans, but this is the version of “Blue Monday” – it absolutely rocks (I don’t care how many singles New Order sold) – and it’s one of my favorite rocks songs post… say… 1980. Listen to the drums. They had another single from Candyass called “Stitches” that I distinctly remember getting heavy rotation on MTV. I’m gonna be pissed if tagging this song with the band’s name gets me in trouble.

 

Top 200 Songs from the 90s – #130

#130 – Dishwalla – “Counting Blue Cars” – (1995)

For some reason I know that the song “Counting Blue Cars” appeared on the album Pet Your Friends. I guess it’s just one of those album names that you can’t forget… because there is no other real reason to know anything about Dishwalla. From about 1996 through 1998 I think this song was playing at all times, somewhere in the world. “Tell me all your thoughts on God, cause I’d really like to meet her…”

 

Top 200 Songs from the 90s – #131

#131 – TLC – “Waterfalls” – (1994)

“Waterfalls” was one of the biggest singles of 1995. I think everyone knows the chorus: “Don’t go chasing waterfalls/please stick to the rivers and the lakes that you’re used to” – I have no idea why bodies of water would ever make a good song, but it’s one of the definitive R&B songs of the decade. TLC released FanMail in 1999 and it spawned their biggest single “No Scrubs” as well as the lesser “Unpretty.”

 

Top 200 Songs from the 90s – #132

#132 – Everything – “Hooch” – (1998)

“Hooch” is fun, different kind of song from a little known band called Everything. It’s been featured on TV shows and in movies – famously in The Waterboy. It sold well and was a mainstay on the radio at the end of the 90s. After this hit, Everything descended into mainstream obscurity, although they remain one of those bands whose name is so un-original that they are nearly impossible to Google using the band name alone and, when told of them, people tend to think there are more words coming.

 

Top 200 Songs from the 90s – #133

#133 – The Mighty Mighty Bosstones – “The Impression That I Get” – (1997)

I often hear this song mistakenly referred to as “Knock on Wood,” which it isn’t. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones were a ska punk band and this song exemplifies that style with the massive amount of brass in play. This was by far the band’s biggest hit and lead singer Dicky Barrett has since become the announcer for Jimmy Kimmel Live – which I find to be incredibly random.