What song(s) defined the 90s?

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

I recently overheard someone say that "Smells Like Teen Spirit" defined the 90s. Though overrated, I'd have to agree since it is probably the best mainstream song of the 90s.

― T. Weiss (Timmy), Sunday, 3 November 2002 00:40 (twenty-three years ago)

but what about the later '90s? That's harder. But the teen angst/grunge zeitgeist among the young had shifted somehwat by 1997 or so. Maybe "No Scrubs".

― Aaron A., Sunday, 3 November 2002 00:45 (twenty-three years ago)

No Doubt's "Just a Girl." The angst (I hate that word, but she does say "I've had it up to here"), the feminism-lite, the ska revivalism, the SoCal pop-punk, the cute and video-ready chick singer.

― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Sunday, 3 November 2002 00:51 (twenty-three years ago)

Oh please, it's OBVIOUSLY Rockapella's "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?"

Duhhhh.

― Curtis Stephens, Sunday, 3 November 2002 01:02 (twenty-three years ago)

i think there are many millions of people for whom "smells like teen spirit" don't mean shit.

― jess (dubplatestyle), Sunday, 3 November 2002 01:05 (twenty-three years ago)

how is that relevant?

― Aaron A., Sunday, 3 November 2002 01:18 (twenty-three years ago)

"20th Century Dreaming (a shaman's song)" by David Sylvian and Robert Fripp...oh wait, sorry , i guess it should be a "hit"

― bahtology, Sunday, 3 November 2002 01:19 (twenty-three years ago)

"boys and girls" by blur.

― cecilia, Sunday, 3 November 2002 01:27 (twenty-three years ago)

"souvlaki space station" by slowdive--kind of sums up a lot of the 90s to me, anyway.

― webcrack (music=crack), Sunday, 3 November 2002 02:37 (twenty-three years ago)

If I say "Where It's At" by Beck, doubtless someone will (as they have before when I answered the same thing on another thread asking the same question) accuse me of being a slave to the media or something. But I still stick by it as a fair representation of the 90s.

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Sunday, 3 November 2002 02:42 (twenty-three years ago)

"Bittersweet Symphony" by that Verve band. A powerful catchy melody, wonderful lyrics (I especially love the line "Try to make ends meet; try to find some money, then you die." Sounds very 90s to me.), and even a sample. And what an AMAZING video.

― Evan, Sunday, 3 November 2002 03:10 (twenty-three years ago)

I wouldn't argue with Sean, except to say that I think Loser ties into the beginning of the nineties a lot moreso than the stuff offa Odelay does.

― Kim (Kim), Sunday, 3 November 2002 03:13 (twenty-three years ago)

Loser was actually written in the late 80's.. but I suppose it doesn't have to be written in the 90's to "define" the 90's, whatever that's supposed to mean.

― Curtis Stephens, Sunday, 3 November 2002 04:03 (twenty-three years ago)

Even though I don't like the song, for some reason Hard Knock Life always seems to be like THE rap song.

― Ally (mlescaut), Sunday, 3 November 2002 04:52 (twenty-three years ago)

ricky martin: livin' la vida loca

― cracker_face, Sunday, 3 November 2002 05:34 (twenty-three years ago)

It didn't really define the nineties but it contained a lot of what was to come (Portishead, All Saints, Sugababes,...): Homebrew by Neneh Cherry

― nathalie (nathalie), Sunday, 3 November 2002 10:46 (twenty-three years ago)

mo money mo problems

― brains (cerybut), Sunday, 3 November 2002 10:49 (twenty-three years ago)

the penultimate track from fushitsusha's 'Double Live'.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Sunday, 3 November 2002 11:19 (twenty-three years ago)

"Children" by Robert Miles. Insofar as it was shit.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Sunday, 3 November 2002 11:34 (twenty-three years ago)

It's an absurd exercise, but anyway I think you need three - one rock, one hip-hop and one dance (caution ultra-broad genres). The much-discussed 'fracturing' of the pop/rock consensus in the 90s was the result of these musics fighting it out for mass public attention without actually crossing over much with one another. That applies much less in the 00s I think.

― Tom (Groke), Sunday, 3 November 2002 12:32 (twenty-three years ago)

See, that's exactly why I chose "Where It's At". It sounds like a head-on collision between all three of those (and more).

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Sunday, 3 November 2002 14:59 (twenty-three years ago)

but "where it's at" doesn't really say a whole lot about what dance (even using its most inclusive def) meant to 90s dance fans does it? it does a little better for hiphop, i suppose. and maybe *least* of all rock cos outside of beck, i can't think of many famed genre-fusers in the 90s rock, uh, canon

― Mitch Lastnamewithheld (mitchlnw), Sunday, 3 November 2002 15:16 (twenty-three years ago)

''It's an absurd exercise''

so sez the man who did a 'worst singles of the 90s' list.

but yes it is.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Sunday, 3 November 2002 15:16 (twenty-three years ago)

Julio lists and "defining the [era]" are totally different things!

― Tom (Groke), Sunday, 3 November 2002 15:20 (twenty-three years ago)

when you list great singles (as an example) they are there becuz they define an era for the person who does it, no?

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Sunday, 3 November 2002 15:45 (twenty-three years ago)

Well no not neccessarily. That's one of the things they can do. I think with a list you get an opportunity to present a kind of jigsaw of a time and let readers join the pieces.

― Tom (Groke), Sunday, 3 November 2002 15:52 (twenty-three years ago)

Professional Widow - Armand mix

Because it's got the huge bass, and the 90s was the decade when big bass was big everywhere. Because it's got rock-type lyrics but also a strong hip hop influence and is still basically a dance record. Because just about everyone on the planet heard it constantly for about a year. Because it's a hedonistic record and an angsty record. etc.

― Jacob, Sunday, 3 November 2002 17:37 (twenty-three years ago)

Assuming style fusion actually is the prime motivator, what about the um, Beastie Boys as well?

― Kim (Kim), Sunday, 3 November 2002 18:40 (twenty-three years ago)

los del rio's "the macarena (bayside boys mix)" ownz0rz this thread...

it sold FOURTEEN MILLION copies worldwide, the biggest selling single of the decade...

get with it.

― gygax!, Sunday, 3 November 2002 18:48 (twenty-three years ago)

"No Scrubs" doesn't mean shit to me. Well, actually, it does mean "shit" to me.....LITERALLY.

One song to encapsulate the entire decade, though? Seems like an excercise in futility.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Sunday, 3 November 2002 18:52 (twenty-three years ago)

(LITERALLY as in METAPHORICALLY)

― mark s (mark s), Sunday, 3 November 2002 18:53 (twenty-three years ago)

nineties zeitgeist moments for rock:

urge overkill's cover of "girl, you'll be a woman soon" appearing in pulp fiction = the wink wink nudge nudge movement hits big & promptly keels over

limp bizkit's performance at woodstock 99 = the break stuff/show us yer tits TOTALLY EXTREME skate video tom green burning man pierced tattoo mountain dew ad blitz = walmart meets pigfuck

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Sunday, 3 November 2002 18:56 (twenty-three years ago)

uh, you are all wrong. it's the theme to the simpsons, thank you. nothing left to debate.

― dyson (dyson), Sunday, 3 November 2002 19:27 (twenty-three years ago)

Didn't Candle In The Wind 97 sell more?

― Tom (Groke), Sunday, 3 November 2002 19:31 (twenty-three years ago)

actually, that pretty much nails it.

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Sunday, 3 November 2002 19:43 (twenty-three years ago)

"Aw, c'mon Mr. Frampton, you're not gonna eat all this watermelon..."

― Nate Patrin (Nate Patrin), Sunday, 3 November 2002 20:17 (twenty-three years ago)

BORN SLIPPY!

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Monday, 4 November 2002 09:17 (twenty-three years ago)

Mostly because its one of the few songs on this thread that couldn't have been made outside the 90s.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Monday, 4 November 2002 09:19 (twenty-three years ago)

limp bizkit's performance at woodstock 99 = the break stuff/show us yer tits TOTALLY EXTREME skate video tom green burning man pierced tattoo mountain dew ad blitz = walmart meets pigfuck

Well said. This sums up everything I hated about the '90s -- the hatefulness, arrogance, and willful stupidity. Just the mookish ugliness of it all.

― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Monday, 4 November 2002 09:30 (twenty-three years ago)

yes i'd say 'Born Slippy' first and foremost - its so 1996 thus so 90s in general (!)

― blueski, Monday, 4 November 2002 12:58 (twenty-three years ago)

This sums up everything I hated about the '90s -- the hatefulness, arrogance, and willful stupidity. Just the mookish ugliness of it all.

they said that about the glorious 80s too

― blueski, Monday, 4 November 2002 12:59 (twenty-three years ago)

No blueski that was stylish ugliness.

― Tom (Groke), Monday, 4 November 2002 13:10 (twenty-three years ago)

U Can't Touch This

― scott pl. (scott pl.), Monday, 4 November 2002 14:14 (twenty-three years ago)

Wow, "defined the 90s"? In terms of radio-friendly "hip 3-minute ditties"? I'd say, at least in the minds of the old people who don't understand our music, possibly "Loser" by Beck.

Though not quite as popular, I would say DJ Shadow's Endtroducing..., as a singular piece of music, summed up the 90s better than anything, in it's very own grungy-hip-hop-collage-of-sound kinda way.

Either that or "CREAM" by Wu-Tang. ;)

― Nickalicious, Monday, 4 November 2002 14:45 (twenty-three years ago)

Kim, I think we've just been insulted.

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Monday, 4 November 2002 16:35 (twenty-three years ago)

b-but you're an old 'dude' sean. haven't met kim.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Monday, 4 November 2002 16:37 (twenty-three years ago)

Tubthumper, anyone?

― Siegbran (eofor), Monday, 4 November 2002 16:44 (twenty-three years ago)

My bad!

Sorry, I wasn't trying to insult y'all at all, I just remember reading a thing in Time Magazine or somewhere back in the 90s where they wrote about Beck's song "Loser" being like an anthem for the "Generation X 'Slacker Movement'", not to mention calling Beck a one-hit wonder. (This was pre-Odelay)

― Nickalicious, Monday, 4 November 2002 16:56 (twenty-three years ago)

actually i'd say 'born slippy' is a pretty good iconic signifier of what people will like to think the nineties were in a similar way that 'opportunities' is for the eighties. unlike the eighties, the 90s hasn't yet been honed down into being about one thing - brash shinyness and making lots of money - but there in born slippy several contenders fight it out. it's a bit clubby, a bit ambient, a bit pop, a bit FHM lad culture, a bit futuristic, a bit retro and a bit squat-culture refusenik. and it's pretty good.

(although i guess this only applies to the UK, i doubt it was nearly so (if at all) ubiquitous in the US or elsewhere).

but my best guess is future generation will go to parties ironically dressed like the woman out of 4 non-blondes and wail laughingly on the karoke.

― adam b (adam b), Monday, 4 November 2002 19:09 (twenty-three years ago)

I was thinking, in the UK at least, the 90s were about three things: laddism, superclubs, and Cool Brittania. So while "Born Slippy" does do all three of those things, surely "Rockafella Skank" does it squared?

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Monday, 4 November 2002 19:56 (twenty-three years ago)

While I don't necessarily disagree with "Tubthumping", why not go whole hog and choose EMF's "Unbelievable" instead?

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Monday, 4 November 2002 20:06 (twenty-three years ago)

As much as I dislike most things Nirvana I have to say that song changed more things for more people then any othersong in the 90s. Mostly because the record labels spent the next 7 years and tons of young hopeless bands trying to recreate it.
Almost singlehandily it seemed to destroyall LA-style hairbands. In a split-second it was uncool in high school to like Bon Jovi, GnR, Poison, NWA or even have clean hair. For a brief moment the suburbs were bareable, then came Pearl Jam to ruin it for me.
Otherwise Sloan's "Underwhelmed" or "Coax Me" would define my later half of the decade and those around me as I moved east, but thats a special case.

― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Monday, 4 November 2002 20:13 (twenty-three years ago)

Thank God i see no Weezer...

...But really, it seems that hip hop and electronica made the biggest inroads - so, something from Wu Tang or Autechre? Of course, Ok Computer opened a lot people's eyes (to much more than Nirvana could). ...Still, i somehow feel that history will be exceedingly kind to Mr. Beck Hansen.

― christoff (christoff), Monday, 4 November 2002 20:44 (twenty-three years ago)

PRODIGY - FIRESTARTER

― Keith McD (Keith McD), Tuesday, 5 November 2002 00:57 (twenty-three years ago)

This is Mambo No.5...c'mon now!

― Charlie (Charlie), Tuesday, 5 November 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Yeah, that's ok Sean because clearly I am a totally fucking hardcore a gen-X slacker. Those darned kids today etc.

― Kim (Kim), Tuesday, 5 November 2002 11:59 (twenty-three years ago)

I think the song that defined the 90s in Britain would be an entirely different song to the song that defined the 90s in America, now I come to think of it.

In Britain, it could well be a three way tussle between Born Slippy, The Rockafella Skank and Firestarter.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Tuesday, 5 November 2002 12:28 (twenty-three years ago)

but i see 'Setting Sun', 'Bitter Sweet Sympathy', 'Live Forever', 'A Design For Life' and even bloody 'Wannabe' and 'Country House' as being just as defining as those 3 dance tracks Matt, for better or worse. this is very different from choosing your favourite tracks from the decade of course. and it would be different Stateside, with a distinct lack of dance/electronic tracks in a list there probably the key difference

― blueski, Tuesday, 5 November 2002 12:33 (twenty-three years ago)

and i have to add that out of all those tracks mentioned above (incluidng Matt's three) the only one i still really like or want to listen to at times is 'Setting Sun' - the most sonically extreme number one single of the 90s?!?!?

― blueski, Tuesday, 5 November 2002 12:35 (twenty-three years ago)

Actually:

Laddism + beats + dance culture + clubbing + Oasis + Britpop explosion+Beatles influence worn on sleeve = Setting Sun. You're right.

I think Bitter Sweet Symphony, Live Forever etc. negate the dance aspect which was central to the 90s in Britain, far more so than hip-hop was over here.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Tuesday, 5 November 2002 12:37 (twenty-three years ago)

one more vote for 'born slippy'.
massive in spain as well. way more than tiresome revivalist britpop.

― joan vich (joan vich), Tuesday, 5 November 2002 12:41 (twenty-three years ago)

its interesting that the whole Britpop thing is so reviled seven years on whereas the whole 'dance going overground' success of the likes of 'Born Slippy' is remembered fondly. i think i am pleased about this but then again...i remember how irritating it got with everyone trying to dance like Keith Flint or shouting 'lager lager' - it always felt like that was the only reason the track did so well and i'm sure it is, at least coupled with the Trainspotting tie-in - this adds credence to 'born slippy's power in defining the decade as its use in an equally zeitgeist-baiting film meant it would reach an even bigger audience or have a bigger impact on them as there were more instant associations to be made when thinking about the song

― blueski, Tuesday, 5 November 2002 13:27 (twenty-three years ago)

I always loathed "Born Slippy" and probably still do.

NWA were a hair band???

― Tom (Groke), Tuesday, 5 November 2002 13:48 (twenty-three years ago)

(obv my loathing it does not mean it did or didnt define the 90s, I was replying to the remembered fondly bit)

― Tom (Groke), Tuesday, 5 November 2002 13:49 (twenty-three years ago)

Yeah, don't make me dig out old pictures of them.

― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Tuesday, 5 November 2002 13:57 (twenty-three years ago)

not that born slippy is/was my cup of tea either.
but defining of the 90's (if there is such a song), it can be.

― joan vich (joan vich), Tuesday, 5 November 2002 14:03 (twenty-three years ago)

From my point of view 90's are defined the best by Pulp's "Sorted For E's And Wizz" ( I couldn't decide: this or "Common People") and Tricky's "Aftermath". But I'm projecting here (like everone on this thread, I suppose;)) - if I do some sociological research in Poland, it would be Pearl Jam's "Alive", I'm afraid.

― luke (luke), Tuesday, 5 November 2002 14:03 (twenty-three years ago)

i was trying to come out with a song that was massive, not only on a small circuit of music lovers, but on all levels...
so i'm still with born slippy, since i think it was bigger and had a broader effect than smells like teen spirit (my other choice for the moment -- apart from macarena, of course).

― joan vich (joan vich), Tuesday, 5 November 2002 14:11 (twenty-three years ago)

"to define the 90's" for me means some kind of meta-reflection, expression of the aura, not the biggest impact the song have on some, hmm..." 90's generation" (firstly, I'm not sure if such a thing is possible to define). Anyway, Perl Jam in Poland fits both categories.
Or "Killing In The Name Of" by RATM -every garage band started with the cover of this one.

― luke (luke), Tuesday, 5 November 2002 14:13 (twenty-three years ago)

:-O

― joan vich (joan vich), Tuesday, 5 November 2002 14:18 (twenty-three years ago)

Yeah, I know it sounds funny. Especially when you live in Britain ;)
but people here still take this stuff seriously ;).
That's why I need ILX so much!

― luke (luke), Tuesday, 5 November 2002 14:22 (twenty-three years ago)

i can only speak from a UK perspective and my suggestions are based on memory...the criteria would seem to be that it must have been a top 3 hit or sold at least 250,000 - and with the 90s it seems it has to be very youth-orientated (if the defining records of the 80s are 'dont you want me' and stuff by jacko and madonna then are they also regarded as primarily youth-orientated or more universal?)...there has already been a glut of nostalgia shows focussing on the 90s and perhaps these are dictating things too much - concentrating as they did on Britpop, the Spice Girls and sporadic dance hits like 'Firestarter' and 'Born Slippy' - there was a lot more to the 90s than that of course but they are what you tend to think of first for an awful lot of 16-25s in the UK

― blueski, Tuesday, 5 November 2002 14:24 (twenty-three years ago)

Or "Killing In The Name Of" by RATM -every garage band started with the cover of this one.

Tragic.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 5 November 2002 19:15 (twenty-three years ago)

The Macarana

― A Nairn (moretap), Tuesday, 5 November 2002 19:23 (twenty-three years ago)

(spelling?) is it Macarena

― A Nairn (moretap), Tuesday, 5 November 2002 19:26 (twenty-three years ago)

I'd argue that saying the Macarena defined the 90s is like saying the 80s was defined by The Chicken Dance.

― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Tuesday, 5 November 2002 19:38 (twenty-three years ago)

Well the Macarena pretty much sums up late 90's pop:
-written by unphotogenic fiftysomethings
-"remixed" by some faceless party to make it more appealing to Top 40 audiences
-photogenic models all over the video
-cheesy female Latino vocalist

There's also the line-dancing factor, which covers the early 90's

― Curtis Stephens, Tuesday, 5 November 2002 21:35 (twenty-three years ago)

Not to mention the fact that it was so popular that it's still being used in Michelina's commercials to this day. And that it makes those commercials EXCEPTIONALLY annoying.

I'd love to see commercials using "The Chicken Dance"!

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Tuesday, 5 November 2002 22:37 (twenty-three years ago)

Wannabe

― jamesmichaelward (jamesmichaelward), Tuesday, 5 November 2002 23:29 (twenty-three years ago)

"Disco 2000"! Isn't it ironic...don't you think?

― Charlie (Charlie), Tuesday, 5 November 2002 23:37 (twenty-three years ago)

I'd argue that saying the Macarena defined the 90s is like saying the 80s was defined by The Chicken Dance.

except that the chicken dance isn't the biggest selling single worldwide in the history of pop music.

― gygax!, Tuesday, 5 November 2002 23:42 (twenty-three years ago)

You are all very lucky, because you had a few acceptable No'1 in the UK and U.S (I mean - even "Wonderwall" is acceptable compared to RATM, and "Macarena" is understandable in the context of pop sensibility ). On the other hand I' ve got mixed emotions reading this thread - you set up criterium: "massive on all levels", and "Born Slippy", "Firestarter", "Bittersweet Symphony" "Wannabe" fits well - but also Boyzone, Bewitched,Robson & Jerome, Seal in UK or Dave Matthews, Hootie, RHCP or 4 Non Blondes in U.S.. So all the previous choices, more or less, also fits the ILX consensus of "cool things". The same with the 80's analogies,as I remember the 80's were not only about Human League and Pet Shop Boys, but also Dire Straits, Queen or George Michael. The game makes more sense with the requirement the song must be "youth oriented" - it excludes some shit, but still not RATM, unfortunately.

― luke (luke), Wednesday, 6 November 2002 11:32 (twenty-three years ago)

except that the chicken dance isn't the biggest selling single worldwide in the history of pop music.

And neither is the Macarena.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Wednesday, 6 November 2002 12:12 (twenty-three years ago)

two months pass...

But The Chicken Dance did define the 80's.

― man, Wednesday, 15 January 2003 00:30 (twenty-three years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.