My 200 Favorite Songs of the 90s Pt. 3

My favorite decade for music means a bigger list when compiling the best. As noted and explained in Part 1, I decided to roll with 200 214 songs.

Part 1 here and Part 2 here.

Here are Songs 102 through 52…

102. Call and Answer  – Barenaked Ladies (1999)

101. Starseed – Our Lady Peace (1994)

100. Time Bomb  – Rancid (1995)

This song reminds me of an alternative bar in Guelph called Van Gogh’s Ear. No idea if it’s still around. Probably not.

99. Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)  – Green Day (1997)

98. How’s It Going to Be  – Third Eye Blind (1997)

97. Love Rollercoaster – Red Hot Chili Peppers (1996)

The song may be dumb, but I love how the beginning really gets you going.

96. Creep  – Stone Temple Pilots (1992)

95. The Last of the Unplucked Gems – The Tragically Hip (1991)

This song is an unplucked gem. Nobody outside of Canada knows it, but everyone should. It really grows on you.

94. Stop Draggin’ Around – Lenny Kravitz (1991)

Here’s a memory. I’m in Stratford alone with my girlfriend. The London rock station had a nightly vote on two new songs. Ozzy’s Mama I’m Comin’ Home was the champ and this song was the challenger. I called in and voted. I remember Ozzy’s song kicking ass – the vote wasn’t even close. And I remember thinking that London-area rock fans have no taste. I love this song, I have from the start, and Ozzy isn’t even fit to tie Kravitz’s shoes. (Come to think of it – he literally isn’t)

93. Come Out And Play  – The Offspring (1994)

92. Radiation Vibe  – Fountains of Wayne (1996)

RIP Adam Schlesinger, who passed away during the 2020 coronavirus pandemic.

91. Burden In My Hand  – Soundgarden (1996)

90. Zero  – Smashing Pumpkins (1995)

89. Shelf In The Room – Days Of The New (1997)

This band had the potential to be huge. Singer Travis Meeks is such a talent. Unfortunately, he was also a meth addict and his flighty attention to his craft and his attitude towards his band mates destroyed everything. DOTN could have been one of the greats. Instead, they’re a three-album band (only two worth caring about) and a carousel of musicians playing behind Meeks.

88. All Around The World  – Oasis (1997)

87. Head Over Feet – Alanis Morissette (1995)

86. Gotta Get Away  – The Offspring (1994)

85. Low  – Cracker (1993)

84. Grace, Too – The Tragically Hip (1994)

83. Just  – Radiohead (1995)

82. What’s This Life For  – Creed (1997)

81. Money City Maniacs – Sloan (1998)

80. Wheat Kings  – The Tragically Hip (1992)

79. I Am Here – Grapes of Wrath (1991)

Again, can’t be stressed enough – underrated and underplayed Canadian band and this is their best song right here. Give it a listen.

78. Breakout  – Foo Fighters (1999)

Doing this countdown and reviewing these songs made me realize that I like the Foo Fighters more than I originally thought. A lot more.

77. You Don’t Know How It Feels  – Tom Petty (1994)

76. What’s Up  – 4 Non Blondes (1992)

75. Lost Together – Blue Rodeo (1992)

My favorite song from this particular Canadian band.

74. Lucky – Seven Mary Three (1997)

73. Laid  – James (1993)

Played at every bar, every club, every time I went out throughout university. And most college (where I went later) nights too.

72. Cowboy  – Kid Rock (1998)

71. Temptation – Tea Party (1997)

The 90s were truly amazing for Canadian music, and a lot of Americans were robbed of this.

70. Why Don’t You Get a Job?  – The Offspring (1999)

69. Killing in the Name – Rage Against the Machine (1992)

Some bars in Guelph stopped playing this song because fights kept breaking out when it played…

68. Rooster  – Alice in Chains (1992)

I fell in love with this song from the unplugged version. So that is the version I will present here. I bought this MTV Unplugged album because I loved Heaven Beside You and No Excuses. It didn’t take me long to make this one of my favorite albums of all time, period. Every song – gold.

67. Lounge Act  – Nirvana (1991)

66. Let Her Cry  – Hootie & the Blowfish (1994)

When this song and Hold My Hand came out, it blew my mind. It was immediate. Loved them both right away, they stuck in my head, and I overplayed it at home.

65. Karma Police  – Radiohead (1997)

64. Undone – The Sweater Song – Weezer (1994)

63. Lithium  – Nirvana (1991)

62. Strange Currencies – R.E.M. (1994)

In the year-by-year charts, you’ll notice that the “Awesome” songs are in two levels. An upper level (Awesome – 1) and then the next level. Sixty songs from the 90s get that “upper level Awesome” from me, and here is where those songs begin.

61. Nothing Compares 2 U  – Sinéad O’Connor (1990)

I was pining over a girl back in Grade 11, and this song was my favorite for a ridiculously long time. Probably because it reminded me of her. I never ‘got the girl’, as they say. But in hindsight, that’s probably a good thing! See? It’s not the end of the world.

60. Home for a Rest – Spirit of the West (1990)

59. Swallowed  – Bush (1996)

58. Black  – Pearl Jam (1991)

57. Pigeon Camera – The Tragically Hip (1993)

56. Muzzle – Smashing Pumpkins (1995)

55. Hurt  – Nine Inch Nails (1994)

54. The World I Know  – Collective Soul (1995)

53. You Oughta Know – Alanis Morissette (1995)

This song is what made Alanis a superstar – she exploded onto the scene with this one and changed music. Melancholy, angry women with powerful voices started coming out of the woodwork after the success of this album.

52. What’s the Frequency, Kenneth? – R.E.M. (1994)

That’s it for Part 3. Thanks for walking with me through 90s history.

Part 1 (212-153)

Part 2 (152 – 103)

Part 3 (102-52)

Part 4 (51-1)

I have a 1990s playlist on YouTube here.

Here are songs 214 through 52…

52	What’s the Frequency, Kenneth?	–	R.E.M.	1994
53	You Oughta Know	–	Alanis Morissette	1995
54	The World I Know	–	Collective Soul	1995
55	Hurt	–	Nine Inch Nails	1994
56	Muzzle	–	Smashing Pumpkins	1995
57	Pigeon Camera	–	The Tragically Hip	1993
58	Black	–	Pearl Jam	1991
59	Swallowed	–	Bush	1996
60	Home for a Rest	–	Spirit of the West	1990
61	Nothing Compares 2 U	–	Sinéad O’Connor	1990
62	Strange Currencies	–	R.E.M.	1994
63	Lithium	–	Nirvana	1991
64	Undone – The Sweater Song	–	Weezer	1994
65	Karma Police	–	Radiohead	1997
66	Let Her Cry	–	Hootie & the Blowfish	1994
67	Lounge Act	–	Nirvana	1991
68	Rooster	–	Alice in Chains	1992
69	Killing in the Name	–	Rage Against the Machine	1992
70	Why Don’t You Get a Job?	–	The Offspring	1999
71	Temptation	–	Tea Party	1997
72	Cowboy	–	Kid Rock	1998
73	Laid	–	James	1993
74	Lucky	–	Seven Mary Three	1997
75	Lost Together	–	Blue Rodeo	1992
76	What’s Up	–	4 Non Blondes	1992
77	You Don’t Know How It Feels	–	Tom Petty	1994
78	Breakout	–	Foo Fighters	1999
79	I Am Here	–	Grapes of Wrath	1991
80	Wheat Kings	–	The Tragically Hip	1992
81	Money City Maniacs	–	Sloan	1998
82	What’s This Life For	–	Creed	1997
83	Just	–	Radiohead	1995
84	Grace, Too	–	The Tragically Hip	1994
85	Low	–	Cracker	1993
86	Gotta Get Away	–	The Offspring	1994
87	Head Over Feet	–	Alanis Morissette	1995
88	All Around The World	–	Oasis	1997
89	Shelf In The Room	–	Days Of The New	1997
90	Zero	–	Smashing Pumpkins	1995
91	Burden In My Hand	–	Soundgarden	1996
92	Radiation Vibe	–	Fountains of Wayne	1996
93	Come Out And Play	–	The Offspring	1994
94	Stop Draggin’ Around	–	Lenny Kravitz	1991
95	The Last of the Unplucked Gems	–	The Tragically Hip	1991
96	Creep	–	Stone Temple Pilots	1992
97	Love Rollercoaster	–	Red Hot Chili Peppers	1996
98	How’s It Going to Be	–	Third Eye Blind	1997
99	Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)	–	Green Day	1997
100	Time Bomb	–	Rancid	1995
101	Starseed	–	Our Lady Peace	1994
102	Call and Answer	–	Barenaked Ladies	1999
103	When You’re Gone	–	The Cranberries	1996
104	Plateau	–	Nirvana	1994
105	No Way	–	Pearl Jam	1998
106	You Should Come Over	–	54-40	1998
107	Violet	–	Hole	1994
108	Nothingman	–	Pearl Jam	1994
109	Don’t Speak	–	No Doubt	1995
110	Creep	–	Radiohead	1993
111	When I Come Around	–	Green Day	1994
112	Doll Parts	–	Hole	1994
113	Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town	–	Pearl Jam	1993
114	Poets	–	Tragically Hip	1998
115	Pretty Noose	–	Soundgarden	1996
116	Deuces Are Wild	–	Aerosmith	1994
117	El Scorcho	–	Weezer	1996
118	Where Did You Sleep Last Night	–	Nirvana	1994
119	Basket Case	–	Green Day	1994
120	My Friends	–	Red Hot Chili Peppers	1995
121	Yawning or Snarling	–	The Tragically Hip	1994
122	High And Dry	–	Radiohead	1995
123	Everybody Hurts	–	R.E.M.	1992
124	Open Up Your Eyes	–	Tonic	1996
125	Novocaine For The Soul	–	Eels	1996
126	Mama Said Knock You Out	–	LL Cool J	1990
127	Are You Gonna Go My Way	–	Lenny Kravitz	1993
128	Lump	–	The Presidents of the United States of America	1995
129	Push	–	Matchbox Twenty	1996
130	Off He Goes	–	Pearl Jam	1996
131	Fight	–	The Tragically Hip	1991
132	One	–	U2	1991
133	The Man Who Sold the World	–	Nirvana	1994
134	Bulls On Parade	–	Rage Against the Machine	1996
135	Jeremy	–	Pearl Jam	1991
136	Got You Where I Want You	–	The Flys	1998
137	Ruby Soho	–	Rancid	1995
138	Lake of Fire	–	Nirvana	1994
139	Another Sunday	–	I Mother Earth	1996
140	Big Bang Baby	–	Stone Temple Pilots	1996
141	Dumb	–	Nirvana	1993
142	Been Caught Stealing	–	Jane’s Addiction	1990
143	The Bad Touch	–	Bloodhound Gang	1999
144	Yellow Ledbetter	–	Pearl Jam	1992
145	Something to Believe In	–	Poison	1990
146	Inevitability of Death	–	The Tragically Hip	1994
147	Remedy	–	The Black Crowes	1992
148	Who You Are	–	Pearl Jam	1996
149	Just Another Day	–	Jon Secada	1992
150	Wind Of Change	–	Scorpions	1990
151	Malibu	–	Hole	1998
152	Thief	–	Our Lady Peace	1999
153	Celebrity Skin	–	Hole	1998
154	What Was Going Through My Head	–	The Grapes of Wrath	1990
155	Disappear	–	INXS	1990
156	Hole Hearted	–	Extreme	1990
157	I Could Have Lied	–	Red Hot Chili Peppers	1991
158	Come As You Are	–	Nirvana	1991
159	Jumper	–	Third Eye Blind	1997
160	Pretty Fly (For A White Guy)	–	The Offspring	1998
161	Runaway Train	–	Soul Asylum	1992
162	I Got Id	–	Pearl Jam	1995
163	November Rain	–	Guns N’ Roses	1991
164	Linger	–	The Cranberries	1993
165	Tubthumping	–	Chumbawamba	1997
166	Walking Contradiction	–	Green Day	1995
167	Song 2	–	Blur	1997
168	Big Me	–	Foo Fighters	1995
169	Drain You	–	Nirvana	1991
170	Only In Dreams	–	Weezer	1994
171	Nearly Lost You	–	Screaming Trees	1992
172	She	–	Green Day	1994
173	Everlong	–	Foo Fighters	1997
174	Closer	–	Nine Inch Nails	1994
175	Pillar Of Davidson	–	Live	1994
176	Dissident	–	Pearl Jam	1993
177	Scooby Snacks	–	Fun Lovin Criminals	1996
178	Miss World	–	Hole	1994
179	You Learn	–	Alanis Morissette	1995
180	All For You	–	Sister Hazel	1997
181	Always on the Run	–	Lenny Kravitz	1991
182	Thank U	–	Alanis Morissette	1998
183	Nothing Else Matters	–	Metallica	1991
184	In The Garage	–	Weezer	1994
185	Breathe	–	Moist	1999
186	Supersonic	–	Oasis	1994
187	Zombie	–	The Cranberries	1994
188	Black Hole Sun	–	Soundgarden	1994
189	Say It Ain’t So	–	Weezer	1994
190	Loser	–	Beck	1994
191	The Distance	–	Cake	1996
192	Roam	–	B-52s	1990
193	Thunderstruck	–	AC/DC	1990
194	Immortality	–	Pearl Jam	1994
195	Tomorrow	–	Silverchair	1994
196	Cumbersome	–	Seven Mary Three	1995
197	Automatic Flowers	–	Our Lady Peace	1997
198	Your Woman	–	White Town	1997
199	The Sign	–	Ace of Base	1993
200	Misery	–	Soul Asylum	1995
201	A Change Would Do You Good	–	Sheryl Crow	1996
202	Possum Kingdom	–	Toadies	1994
203	Santeria	–	Sublime	1997
204	Blue on Black	–	Kenny Wayne Shepherd	1997
205	We’ll Go To	–	The Tragically Hip	1993
206	One Of Us	–	Joan Osborne	1996
207	Popular	–	Nada Surf	1996
208	All Mixed Up	–	311	1995
209	Give It Away	–	Red Hot Chili Peppers	1991
210	Eat My Brain	–	The Odds	1995
211	Freedom ’90	–	George Michael	1990
212	Enter Sandman	–	Metallica	1991
213	Mr. Jones	–	Counting Crows	1993
214	Interstate Love Song	–	Stone Temple Pilots	1994

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