We often equate the ‘60s and ‘70s as the pinnacle decades of musical influence; Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix and the Beatles are still cited as three of the most influential musical acts of all time. That being said, a decade that is often overlooked for its music genius just might be the era of Nickelodeon slime and Will Smith’s rap career: the ‘90s. Artists such as the Foo Fighters, the Verve, Stone Temple Pilots and a few “one hit wonders” helped inspire a new generation of music that we are enjoying today. With that being said, lets take a look at this writer’s top ten songs of the ‘90s.
10. Foo Fighters- “Learn To Fly”
- There is something about David Grohl’s voice that will make any ‘90s child smile. The Foo Fighters have never really gone out of style because they mix competent musicianship with universally honest songwriting. Is it the soaring guitar riff? Is it the lyrics? We have all been lost and for a generation still yearning to define itself, “Learn To Fly” is a good place to start.
9. Stone Temple Pilots- “Plush”
-To be honest, I have never been the biggest STP fan. This song, however, has always been a favorite of mine and was popular enough to help Scott Weiland and company snag a Grammy. Not bad. This song evokes the ‘90s not for its lyrics, but from the music. During this decade the use of dissonance was a hot topic among musicians. The music itself sounds dirty and mixes perfectly with Weiland’s voice. A true ‘90s classic.
8. Len- “Steal My Sunshine”
- I know someone will call foul play for my choice to put this song in this spot (or even on the list), but if you’re a ‘90s kid, you can’t deny this song. It’s a one-hit wonder that evokes summer nostalgia. There is nothing fancy or profound going on in this one, but we can’t always be snobs about music. “Steal My Sunshine” just has an intangible vibe that will make you want to throw on some Jncos and play Nintendo 64.
7. Notorious B.I.G.- “Mo Money, Mo Problems”
- If you went to a party in the ‘90s this song was on at some point. You will still here it on the radio today and there is a good reason why: the lyrics are genius. A lot of people downplay rap and knock it because it does not use conventional instruments. While I can’t claim to be a connoisseur of the genre, I can appreciate what is good. Puff Daddy and Ma$e do a good job rounding out this classic lyrical gem.
6. Nirvana- “Drain You”
-You may have seen the band and thought for a split second, “Oh, here we go again with ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit!’” While that song does has a life of its own and probably would end up in a ‘90s time capsule, it overshadows the rest of the music on the band’s second studio album Nevermind. “Drain You” is a perfect example of Kurt Cobain’s willingness to write a four-chord verse and with sinister lyrics. The bridge alone is comparable to the Who’s famous “breakdowns,” but Nirvana’s heavy sound makes it darker. It’s an amazing song off an amazing album that should not be overlooked.
5. Red Hot Chili Peppers- “Around the World”
- Flea. Is. Amazing. Seriously, his bass parts are insane in this song. Californiacation is an album that defined the sound of this decade, and “Around the World” is one example why this is true. From a musical standpoint, it showcases the prowess of Flea’s bass and John Frusciante’s guitar and beautiful backing vocals. Anthony Kiedis’ lyrics for this song are not terrible (better than a lot of the rapping-that-makes-no-sense verses), but he has done better. Still, this song sounds amazing especially with a subwoofer.
4. Marcy Playground- “Sex and Candy”
-This song off the band’s self-titled album is one of the sexiest I’ve ever heard. Singer John Wozniak sounds like he doesn’t give a damn when he sings, and it exudes confidence. The lyrics are simple and the crawling pace of the song makes this another awesome one-hit wonder. Not much else to say.
3. Incubus- “The Warmth”
-This band does not get enough credit. Everything from the musicians to the lyrics to the live show is amazing. The band’s third album Make Yourself is the first one to actually make mainstream waves. Many may remember the acoustic ballad “Drive,” but while that song is a classic, “The Warmth” does a better job at exposing Brandon Boyd’s vocal prowess and lyrical genius. Plus, the breakdown in the bridge is pretty wicked.
2. The Red Hot Chili Peppers- “Under The Bridge”
-I didn’t want to put a band on this list twice, but “Under The Bridge” is just too good to not have on any ‘90s playlist. Do yourself a favor: if you don’t already own a copy of Blood Sugar Sex Magik, go buy one now. The collection of songs is brilliant, but “Under The Bridge” has always been the most striking to me. You can instantly hear the Jimi Hendrix influence on Frusciante’s opening riff, and it is juxtaposed beautifully with Anthony Kiedis’ sincere vocals. It’s a sobering song of loneliness and finding yourself, a subject to which we can all relate.
1. The Verve- “Bittersweet Symphony”
-The Verve always present an interesting problem for me because they are not my favorite band, but they wrote what I believe to be the best song ever written. Yes, the best song ever written. I have never thought their 1997 album Urban Hymns was anything amazing, but this song made up for the others and every other bad song I’ve ever heard. If you don’t believe me, type the song title into YouTube and look for the band’s performance of it at Glastonbury. Come back and tell me it wasn’t the most epic thing you have ever heard. Every word of this song sounds like it was carefully chosen by Richard Ashcroft and written by a man coming to grip with some harsh realities of life. The reason this song is the best is because it takes a sobering subject and not only articulates it well in lyrics, but layers it on top of a striking string sample. It’s the ‘90s at its best.
