Music Poster Books

,
Check out ChuckyG's reviews of books about concert posters and other music picture books.

Top Ten Songs of the 90s

70s Top Songs

80s Top Songs

What are your top ten favorite songs from the 90s?

10. Misery by Soul Asylum
9. Lakini's Juice by Live
8. Save the Best for Last by Vanessa Williams
7. Building a Mystery by Sarah McLachlan
6. The Freshmen by Verve Pipe
5. A Long December by Counting Crows
4. Lithium by Nirvana
3. On Bended Knee by Boyz II Men
2. Brick by Ben Folds Five
1. When Love and Hate Collide by Def Leppard

10. Cherub Rock by Smashing Pumpkins
The Pumpkins' 1992 album Siamese Dream was one of the key records in the alternative explosion of the early 90s, and this song opened up that album with a firey intensity the likes of which are rarely seen. The beginning builds from quiet chords to a thunderous wall of guitars blasting the listeners' ears, as Billy Corgan sang in his trademark howl/whimper/scream about annoying hipsters. But the lyrical content isn't really important here; this song rocks HARD and comes at you with a catchy sonic assault that will have you playing air guitar each time you listen to it.
9. The Freed Pig by Sebadoh
A classic of the-pen-is-mightier-than-the-sword bitterness, this is Sebadoh founder Lou Barlow's attack on former bandmate J. Mascis, who kicked Barlow out of Dinosaur Jr. Barlow's voice fits the ironic tone of the song perfectly, and it's impossibly catchy, even if it doesn't follow the traditional verse-chorus-verse format. If you're pissed off at somebody, listen to this song.
8. The Bends by Radiohead
The title track from another classic Radiohead album. Probably the most purely rockin' song in Radiohead's oeuvre, it's about a guy who's trying to figure out who his real friends are, if he has any. Thom Yorke's vocal performance is fantastic, and the guitar work, particularly the solo towards the end, is sensational. This is pure rock and roll, Radiohead-style.
7. Freak Scene by Dinosaur Jr.
Perhaps the definitive indie rock anthem of the 90s, this song tells the story of two people so thoroughly fucked up by the underground "freak" scene that they can't have a healthy relationship. Fantastic guitar solos abound, along with a very catchy melody. The last verse, and indeed the entire song is, for me, one of the most moving parts of any rock song ever.
6. I Am A Scientist by Guided By Voices
From lo-fi poster boys Guided By Voices' 1994 masterwork "Bee Thousand", this classic stands out even more than the nineteen other gems on the album. Simple but brilliant, a song about introspection, about the process of discovering yourself, and the satisfaction you feel when you've made your discovery. GBV mastermind Robert Pollard is one of my favorite songwriters of all time. He is nothing short of a pop genius, Bee Thousand is nothing short of a pop masterpiece, and I Am A Scientist is nothing short of the 6th best song of the 90s.
5. Velouria by The Pixies
Though it's from the weakest album in the Pixies' catalog, Bossanova, this song is an absolute classic. Mixing typical love song longing with the bizarre sci-fi imagery that frontman Frank Black was so fond of, Velouria's spacy feel and typically weird lyrics makes it one of the most unique love songs of the decade. The Pixies paved the way in the late 80s and early 90s for alternative bands like Nirvana to make it big, and without them, rock in the 90s would have been totally different - the influence of the Pixies is still being felt today.
4. Basket Case by Green Day
Some indie rock elitists might scoff at this, but I stick to my guns. This is the best single to come out of the alternative rock explosion of the early-mid 90s. Come on, admit it; whenever you hear those opening chords and "Do you have the time..." come on the radio, you turn up the volume and rock out. Maddeningly infectious and charmingly stupid, Basket Case gives a voice to the alternative rock generation while also ridiculing them, with humor and a light-heartedness that bands like Nirvana didn't have. "Am I just paranoid, or am I just stoned?", croons Billie Joe, ushering in a punk revival, and causing terms like "pop-punk" to be invented. Granted, many of their followers are the annoying whiners that Green Day was making fun of in this song- all those bands with numbers in their names, like Blink-182, Sum 41, etc.- you can't deny the influence of this song and the sheer fun that it can bring to listeners.
3. Tired of Sex by Weezer
The opening track on Weezer's second album "Pinkerton" wasted no time in shedding the cutesy geek appeal of their self-titled debut; this is a decidely serious, self-loathing song that goes beyond the "songs about girls" formula of the first album. There is almost a violence to singer Rivers Cuomo's voice, as he screams out the lyrics set to relatively lo-fi production. The song is about the emptiness of the narrator's love life, and how he hates himself for not being able to have real relationships. Rivers has one of the greatest ears for melody of any songwriter in the 90s, and Weezer's first two albums contain some of the greatest singalong pop/rock ever recorded; this song, despite its more serious lyrical content, maintains that sense of melody, with an incredibly infectious guitar riff. It's too bad that Weezer's brilliance ceased on their following albums, where they descended into bland, uninteresting guitar pop. But when they were great, they were GREAT, and Tired of Sex remains perhaps the best example of that.
2. Paranoid Android by Radiohead
This multi-segmented epic from Radiohead's classic album "OK Computer" remains one of the most satisfying listening experiences for me. Starting out quietly and building up to a ferocious rock section followed by more haunting quietude, maintaining a great melody and complex sound, this is my favorite Radiohead song. The lyrics are... well, I don't know what the song is really about, but I don't care. They're cool. And the song can only really be described as awesome.
1. Holland 1945 by Neutral Milk Hotel
My favorite song off my favorite album of the 90s, "In the Aeroplane Over the Sea." The lyrics are oblique yet beatiful, the melody is unforgettable, and the instrumentation- from the sonic delight of the fuzz bass to the gorgeous wail of the horns- is amazing. This is the only rock song about the Holocaust I can think of, and it addresses that topic with as much eloquence as possible. A perfect song on all levels, absolutely remarkable.

10. Everlong by Foo Fighters
soo, soo good.. sounds awesome acoustic.. mad song
9. Army Ants/ Interstate Love Song by Stone Temple Pilots
cant decide?!?!
8. The Way I Am by Eminem
this is em at his best! stuff all that new gay shit (ie cleaning out closed - what the hell is that!?!?) this is classic M!
7. New Skin/science Album by Incubus
6. Suck My Kiss by Red Hot Chilly Peppers
5. Nothing Else Matters by Metallica
and nothing else matters!!
4. Vietnow by Rage Against The Machine
yeh this song is what got me into ratm.. if you havent heard of them check this song!!
3. Newborn by Muse
was this song in 90z?? hope so.. anywayz it's awesome!
2. Otherside by Red Hot Chilly Peppers
peppers F***in ruuuule!
1. Lounge Act/ Come As You Are/lithium by Nirvana
hands down best rock act E V E R!! and in my oppinion nirvanas best song/s.. forget 'smells like teen spirit'.. this one takes the cake ppl!

10. Counting Blue Cars by Dishwalla
If ya haven't heard the song then you should have...it's good.
9. Mmm Mmm Mmm by Crash Test Dummies
Ok i don't know if thats the correct name but thats what i know it as. great song
8. Semi-Charmed Life by Third Eye Blind
Classic car ride song
7. Under the Bridge by Red Hot Chili Peppers
Great song by an even greater band
6. Bawitdaba by Kid Rock
dam strait.. the greatest party song
5. Longview by Green Day
Come on...is this not the best song by Green Day
4. Jeremy by Pearl Jam
hahaha....sorry inside joke...but this is classic PJ
3. No Rain by Blind Melon
One of my favorite songs by a band who this was their one hit, pretty much.
2. Buddy Holly by Weezer
Come on you know you gotta love it. WEEZER ROCKS
1. Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana
Not my personal favorite,but this is the best song overall of the 90's

10. Bitch Please II by Eminem Snoop Dre Nate and xzibit
9. Bow Down by Westside Connection
8. Thug Love by Bone thugs ft 2pac
7. Alkoholic by Xzibit
6. Just Dippin by Snoop Dogg and Dr Dre
5. All Eyes On me by 2Pac
4. Notorious Thugz by Notorious B.I.G ft Bone Thugs N Harmony
3. Hail Mary by 2Pac
2. Gangsta Killa and the Dopedealer by Westside Connection
1. Gangsta Party by 2pac and Snoop dogg

10. Waterfalls by TLC
9. Walking on the Sun by Smashmouth
8. Every Morning by Sugar Ray
7. Just To Be The Next To Be With You by Mr.Big
6. I Could Fall in Love by Selena
5. Good Riddane (Time of Your Life) by Green Day
4. Hard To Say Whatit is I See in You by Blues Traveler
3. Last Kiss by Pearl Jam
2. Closing Time by Semisonic
1. Landslide by Fleetwood Mac

10. Creep by Radiohead
The song that made Radiohead popular.
9. Sober by Tool
The best from Tool's somophore breakthough record.
8. Gel by Collective Soul
Probably Colletive Soul's greatest hit, and with good reason.
7. What I Got by Sublime
It's a shame this band had to end.
6. Lightning Crashes by Live
A Live classic Brilliant.
5. Redefine by Incubus
The lyrics to this song are some of the best work of Incubus. The energy to this song is astounding, as with the rest of the S.C.I.E.N.C.E album.
4. Lithium by Nirvana
My favourite by the breakthrough group of the 90s that defined rock as we know it today
3. Say It Ain't So by Weezer
Beautiful song. Not too many songs can capture the same amount of emotion as this song has.
2. Stinkfist by Tool
This song is amazing.. it captures you from beginning to end. It can be interpreted many ways, as with most of maynard's work.
1. Make Yourself by Incubus
This song is about being true to yourself, and thinking for yourself. This song basically sums up the entire 1999 album release by Incubus. "But if your really want to live; why not try and make yourself?"

10. Men In Black by Will Smith
Even my father 'shook it' to this song.
9. I Only Wanna Be With You by Hootie and the Blowfish
What the heck happened to these guys? They were so good.
8. California Love by Tupac Shakur
If one song described rap/dance explosion, this would be it.
7. Ants Marching by Dave Matthews Band
Dave Matthews is the only man successful at combining masterful orchestration with mainstream pop.
6. Just A Girl by No Doubt
A fun song off of an even funner album.
5. Under The Bridge by Red Hot Chili Peppers
Just damn good.
4. Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana
This song single-handedly triggered new genres of music to form. Combined with Enter Sandman, this song also defines the era.
3. What I Got by Sublime
Do you know anyone who doesn't like this song?
2. 1979 by Smashing Pumpkins
Famous track on one of the greatest albums of the '90s.
1. Enter Sandman by Metallica
This song is the definition Hard Rock. Dominating the charts and sticking in people's heads. Conservative, but headbanging, rock at its best.

10. Anthem for 2000 by Silverchair
I just really like this song, don't no why.
9. Don't Speak by No Doubt
wonderful, makes you want to shut up.
8. Rock Star by Everclear
It has a nice goofy quality.
7. Song 2 by Blur
really good beat + awesome guitar riff = good
6. Walkin' On The Sun by Smash Mouth
The tune is odd enough to be original but good enough not to suck.
5. One Week by Barenaked Ladies
The song makes me laugh.
4. Semi-Charmed Life by Third-Eye Blind
Same as 2
3. Under the Bridge by Red Hot Chili Peppers
Laid-back kind of feel.
2. 1,000 July's by Third-Eye Blind
Song makes me want to have a good time.
1. Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana
Think about it.

10. Gangsta's Paradise by Coolio
"As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death"
9. Pony by Ginuwine
"If your horny - let's do it"
8. Guerilla Radio by Rage Against The Machine
"Turn that shit up!"
7. The Next Episode by Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and Nate Dogg
"Smoke weed everyday!"
6. California Love by 2Pac and Dr. Dre
"Shake it shake it baby"
5. Under The Bridge by Red Hot Chili Peppers
"I dont ever wanna feel like I did that day"
4. Whoomp! There It Is by Tag Team
"Whoomp! there it is - shaka laka shaka laka"
3. Baby Got Back by Sir Mixalot
"I like big butts and I cannot lie!"
2. Ice Ice Baby by Vanilla Ice
"Vanilla, Ice Ice Baby"
1. Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana
"Here we are now, entertain us"

Previous List or Next List

ChuckyG

CeramicsFanatic

We also have pages on this topic devoted to the 80s and 90s

Would You Like To Add Something We Missed?

Please use the submission page to submit information to be used on this page.

The Official amIright
Misheard Lyrics Book

Hold Me Closer Tony Danza and other Misheard Lyrics

Email Siteowner, Privacy Statement

Copyright 2000-2012, by Charles R. Grosvenor Jr.