November 26, 2009
#159 – Tal Bachman – “She’s So High” – (1999)
Tal Bachman’s father, Randy, was an original member of The Guess Who and Bachman-Turner Overdrive (does that make him Canadian Royalty?). Tal only had this one hit, and I think it’s safe to say that I needn’t add ’so far’ to the end of that statement. But I don’t think it’s fair that Daughtry has had more hits than Tal had because Bachman is far more talented. But then, so am I.
November 26, 2009
#160 – Joan Osborne – “One of Us” – (1995)
A nice religious song about God… right?… from the girl with the nose ring? I love the somewhat terrifying Dr. Caligari-like sequence at the beginning of the music video.
November 25, 2009
#161 – Cher – “Believe” – (1998)
I could not be less of a Cher fan, but when this song came out, I didn’t know who Cher was and I was easily won over by the ridiculous electronic sound of this song. Plus, it was everywhere (and if you didn’t like it when it came out, it was probably because you thought too highly of yourself).
November 25, 2009
#162 – 98° – “The Hardest Thing” – (1998)
98 Degrees had to suffer as “the other boy band” during the boy band explosion of the late 90s – well, none of them were technically bands. “The Hardest Thing” was the better of their two singles from 98° and Rising. The other was “I Do (Cherish You)” and was the star of the first Making the Video (remember how big that show was?) It had Screech in it. Why? I’m guessing because that was a pop-culture reference that people who watched MTV 10 years ago still understood.
November 24, 2009
November 24, 2009
#164 – Natalie Imbruglia – “Torn” – (1998)
This one was terribly overplayed, unfortunately – to almost Aerosmith proportions. There were other singles, but none nearly as popular as this one – however fortunately or unfortunately that may be.
November 23, 2009
#165 – Nirvana – “Smells Like Teen Spirit” – (1991)
What!? A list of 90s music that doesn’t feature “Smells Like Teen Spirit” at number one (or even the top 150)!? Well, I wasn’t a ‘teen’ when this song was it, So it doesn’t hold the same special meaning for me. I recognize it for what it is and (unlike almost every other entry) nostalgia played no part in this one. If you’ve never heard of ‘music’ before, then you may want to check out “All Apologies,” “Rape Me” and “Heart-Shaped Box” from their follow up album, In Utero. From Nevermind there is also “In Bloom” and “Lithium,” the song mentioned by every ‘Nirvana-freak’ I’ve ever met as their favorite. Ugh, I’m gonna catch flack for this one.
November 23, 2009
#165 – La Bouche – “Be My Lover” – (1996)
Ah, another embarrassing entry from the ‘I Bought This CD’ file. I distinctly remember them performing on Regis and (Kathie Lee?) and explaining what ‘La Bouche’ meant in French. Wikipedia says it means “the mouth,” but how would I know? “Sweet Dreams” was the title track from the album.
November 22, 2009
#167 – Meredith Brooks – “Bitch” – (1997)
In these crazy days of FCC fear-mongering where references to the word ’smoking’ are censored out, it would be a miracle if this song were to be heard over the American airwaves. I still know the chorus by heart.
November 22, 2009
#168 – Shaggy – “Luv Me, Luv Me” – (1998)
What UB40 was doing ten years earlier really kind of peaked in the mid-to-late 90s and this is one of the best examples of reggae-influenced popular music from the 90s. And it’s yet another example of a soundtrack-sourced song scoring big, this time from the Angela Bassett film, How Stella Got Her Groove Back.
November 21, 2009
#169 – Jordan Knight – “Give It to You” – (1999)
You’re right, this should have been #201 (at best) but I originally had “Smells Like Teen Spirit” at this spot. Then I thought “how have I ranked a New Kid from the Block ahead of Nirvana?” The ‘hip-hop’ style beat is ridiculous and way over-the-top, but it was 1999. I also can’t go without mentioning fellow New Kid Joey McIntyre and his semi-ridiculous hit “I Love You Came Too Late,” whose music video I remember more than I do the song. Actually, come to think of it, the McIntyre song should be #169, and Mr. Knight should be the honorable mention.
November 21, 2009
#170 – Chumbawumba – “Tubthumping” – (1997)
I own this CD. I listened to it recently. I got knocked down. I got up again. But really, you have to remember this or at least hearing the word “Chumbawumba” brings back memories – be they horrific or fun. “Amnesia” was also a minor hit.
November 20, 2009
#171 – No Doubt – “Just a Girl” – (1995)
Tragic Kingdom is one of my favorite albums of all time and it just so happens to come from one of my favorite bands. The great ska beat on this, their first single, is what I’ve come to expect from what is an undeniably kick-ass group.
November 20, 2009
#172 – The Notorious B.I.G. feat. Puff Daddy, Mase & Kelly Price – “Mo Money Mo Problems” – (1997)
What a fun song – even though it was released after Biggie died and it samples Diana Ross’ “I’m Coming Out.” In spite of these things it stands as one of the defining hip-hop songs from the decade and the music video rivals the previously mentioned Will Smith video for biggest 90s-hip-hop-ness.
November 19, 2009
#173 – Will Smith – “Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It” – (1997)
How cool was Big Willie Style? Like it or not, ‘jiggy’ was the word there for a little while. I mean, really, watch the music video and guess the decade it’s from. This album (and this song) really kicked off Smith’s post-Fresh Prince career and made him the superstar that he is now. Don’t forget his first movie-theme/music-hit “Men In Black.”
November 19, 2009
#174 – Mariah Carey feat. Trey Lorenz – “I’ll Be There” – (1992)
Mariah Carey dominated the charts throughout the 90s. When she performed on MTV: Unplugged, she sang this duet with her backup singer Trey Lorenz. “I’ll Be There” was a smash hit – hitting number one. Music Box was the follow up CD to Unplugged and it spawned two massive singles as well: “Without You” and “Hero.”
November 18, 2009
#175 – Pearl Jam – “Last Kiss” – (1999)
If you missed the grunge scene but listened to the radio at all in the late 90s, then you might think that this is Pearl Jam’s crowning achievement (it isn’t: Ten was). But this cover of the 1964 version by J. Frank Wilson & The Cavaliers (which itself was a cover of an obscure song by Wayne Cochran & the C.C. Riders) was released as a single in 1999 – to big success.
November 18, 2009
#176 – Sugar Ray – “Someday” – (1999)
“Every Morning” was the more popular single from 14:59 but I like “Someday” better (the least of which not being the fact it didn’t suffer from over-exposure like “Every Morning” did). It also just feels ‘more 90s’ – whatever that means. If you’re a Sugar Ray fan, you can give the we’re-trying-too-hard “Falls Apart” a go if you want.
November 17, 2009
#177 – The Cranberries – “Linger” – (1993)
With the cool string section in the background to compliment Dolores O’Riordan’s unique voice, “Linger” from Everybody Else is Doing It, So Why Can’t We?, has “lingered” on the airwaves for almost two decades. Two puns in a row… great. If you dig her voice, be sure to check out the more rock-y (but insanely bad-ass) “Zombie” from 1995’s No Need to Argue.
November 17, 2009
#178 – Blues Traveler – “Hook” – (1994)
Ironically (or not, I really don’t know how to correctly use the word “ironically”), Blues Traveler had a knack for creating awesome ‘hooks’ in their songs that really did bring you back.
November 16, 2009
#179 – Sarah McLachlan – “I Will Remember You” – (1995/1999)
This song was originally released in 1995 on the soundtrack to The Brothers McMullen. A live version was recorded in 1999 and released on Mirrorball, only then becoming a top 20 hit. It solidified McLachlan as an amazing vocalist, along with her big hits from her 1997 album Surfacing: “Adia,” “Building a Mystery,” “Angel,” and “Sweet Surrender.”
November 12, 2009
#180 – Goo Goo Dolls – “Black Balloon” – (1998)
Dizzy Up The Girl is one of the definitive pop-rock albums of the 90s. This is just the first single from the album to make this list. Johnny Rzeznik says the song is about heroin addiction. I associate it with Meet Joe Black for some reason.
November 12, 2009
#181 – C+C Music Factory feat. Freedom Williams – “Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)” – (1990)
Scandalous! Martha Wash (the woman demanding that “Everybody dance now!”) was deemed “unmarketable” due to her weight and was not given credit or payment for her role in the song (until a lawsuit years later). Freedom Williams delivers the rap, and C+C are the two guys who laid down the beat. This song is the reason Jock Jam CD’s exist. So I guess it would make sense to check out 2 Unlimited’s “Get Ready For This” as well.
November 12, 2009
#182 – Sheryl Crow – “All I Wanna Do” – (1993)
“Until the sun comes up over Santa Monica Boulevard…” Oh, and the way this song progresses from chorus to verse is just awesome. Also from Tuesday Night Music Club, check out the differently paced “Strong Enough.” On second thought, this song should probably be in the top 25…
November 12, 2009
#183 – Barenaked Ladies – “Brian Wilson” – (1992)
I lifted this from Wikipedia: “Brian Wilson rearranged and sang this song a cappella with his new band at live concerts, one of which was recorded for a live album he recorded in 2000. One of the stories the band often tells is about the time he came to their studio while they were recording Maroon. They played him a bunch of their new songs, and then he played them his version of “Brian Wilson”. At the end, he turned to them and asked, “Is it cool?” Upon his departure, his advice to the band was “don’t eat too much.” The band described the entire experience as surreal.”
If you like “Brian Wilson,” be sure to check out “If I Had $1000000” (also from Gordon) – if you don’t already know it by heart.
