These are 10 songs that always, and I mean ALWAYS, transport me mentally and emotionally back to the 1990's. Yes, I did actually live through the 90's and remember most of it. I was born in 1989, so I have memories (hazy, possibly) of the grunged-out early 90's all the way through the teen-pop obsessed late 90's. Sadly that also means that I do in fact remember all the moves to the Macarena. In no particular order are the songs that will always bring me back to my childhood and to the 90's.
15. "Bittersweet Symphony" by the Verve (1997)
For the longest time in the late nineties, it seemed that you could not escape hearing "Bittersweet Symphony" on endless random car commercials. It's also classic Brit Pop from the period. Angsty, despairing and strangely beautiful all at the same time.
14. "Tubthumping" by Chumbawamba (1997)
This was everywhere in 1997, as evidenced by the vast numbers of Chumbawamba cds that you can now find at every yard sale and flea market. I also remember singing it with tons of friends and only years later realizing that it was a drinking/pub anthem!
13. "Semi-Charmed Life" by Third Eye Blind (1997)
Another song that was used far too liberally on car commercials in the later part of the decade, it has such a classic late 90's sound to it that I can feel myself trying to look for a giga-pet, checking for the TGIF lineup and worrying about Y2K without even realizing it.
12. "Two Princes" by the Spin Doctors (1993)
This is one of those songs that I know drives people nuts from sheer repetitiveness, but hear me out. I have very early memories of being picked up from my preschool in Ohio by my mom and us driving out to Meijer in her truck, with "Two Princes" blasting out of the stereo. The Spin Doctors dominated classic rock, pop, top 40, alternative radio for about a year or two.
11. "Only Wanna Be With You" by Hootie & the Blowfish (Or anything else by them!) (1995)
This reminds me of moving from Ohio to Pennsylvania, since that happened in the summer of 1995. We had to do a lot of driving, so we listened to a ton of "classic rock" radio, and you could not escape Hootie or his Blowfish from about 1995-1996.
10. "You Oughta Know" by Alanis Morissette (1995)
The perfect vengeful ex-lover scorned song, penned in an angry, aggressive decade. A match made in heaven! This encapsulates everything about the attitude of the 90's.
9. "She's So High" by Tal Bachman (1999)
I believe that "She's So High" was featured on an episode of Charmed back in 1999, which is probably what first introduced me to it. What a soaring late nineties sound and appropriate amount of decade-specific self-loathing.
8. "Black Hole Sun" by Soundgarden (1994)
Mom was really into Soundgarden in the early-mid nineties for their alternative/progressive sound which was really rad at the time.
7. "Closing Time" by Semisonic (1998)
What else can I say about a song that was all about a bar closing for the night? The epic chorus (about nothing super epic or philosophical) really makes it SO FREAKING 90's!
6. "Breakfast at Tiffany's" by Deep Blue Something (1995)
In the same decade as Seinfeld was on (a show about "nothing), why wouldn't we have enjoyed music about "nothing"? This song is all about a man who almost nothing in common with a girl he's dating, but finds one thing in common...they might have seen "Breakfast At Tiffany's" together and "kinda liked it". Yeahh...
5. "Mmmbop" by Hanson (1997)
I had one friend who was really obsessed with Hanson. I knew far more friends who pretended that they hated Hanson with a passion. You either thought that boys were totally gross or totally adorable! In 1997 it was either the brothers Hanson or Jonathan Taylor Thomas (JTT!).
4. "Macarena" by Los Del Rios (1996)
You didn't think I would leave this one off, did you? I still remember all the steps to the Macarena, and in fact performed it (willingly) in front of an auditorium full of people at a Girl Scout ceremony of some sort at the old Northern Middle School. Yes, it's the same one that they later found full of mold and other shite. Let's blame it on the Macarena!
3. "One Week" by Barenaked Ladies (1998)
The Barenaked Ladies have such a distinct sound and this song has a delightfully neurotic sense of humor to it that the 90's loved.
2. "Wonderwall" or "Don't Look Back In Anger" by Oasis (1996)
Oasis WERE Brit Pop. Nuff said.
1. Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)" by Green Day (1997)
Overplayed at every single graduation ceremony or lame "memories" slideshow.
Do you have any essentials that did or didn't make the list? Please comment!
