Those 90’s Songs

Those 90s Songs: The Breeders- Cannonball
The Breeders - Cannonball - Amazon.com Music

It’s always interesting how songs get stuck in your head. This morning, I woke up with a riff in my head. At first I couldn’t place it and I still don’t know where it came from but, after thinking about what it was, I figured out it was “Cannonball” by The Breeders. Ever since this song was released in 1993, it’s been one of the best of the 90’s. Kim Deal is one hell of a writer and it shows ever so distorted on this song. Her contributions to The Pixies are legendary but, The Breeders is really where she established herself as a force. Interestingly, the video for the song was directed by Spike Jonze and Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon. The video features the band in a garage, and the Deal sisters in what seems to be a dressing room trashed with clothes, sitting in a chair together. There are also shots of a cannonball rolling down suburban streets, as well as a shot of Kim singing underwater. When you think of 90’s songs, if you don’t include this on your list, you are missing the mark for sure!

The Breeders- Cannonball:

Those 90’s Songs: Everclear- Santa Monica
Everclear – Santa Monica (Watch The World Die) (1996, CD2, CD) - Discogs

Back in 1995, Everclear released their second album, Sparkle and Fade. This album would put Everclear on the map especially, because of the success of the song “Santa Monica.” I distinctly remember hearing this song on the radio and really liking it. I even remember that same day, seeing the video for the song on MTV. Throughout the years, “Santa Monica” has been a staple on rock radio. Interestingly, this song was not officially released as a single. As it turns out, rock radio stations across the states started playing the song due to requests and it wound up being number 1 on the mainstream rock charts for 3 weeks. Another fun tidbit is that due to the events of 9/11, “Santa Monica” was placed on the do not play list by Clear Channel. This is one of those 90’s songs that still holds up to this day and I’m pretty sure that if you hear it on the radio, it’ll all come back to you.


Everclear- Santa Monica:

Those 90’s Songs: Primitive Radio Gods- Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth with Money in My Hand
Primitive Radio Gods - Rocket - Amazon.com Music

There are so many bands and songs from the 90’s that when you hear a radio staple, often times, you wind up turning up the volume because you haven’t heard that song in a long while and it takes you back to that time. One song that I’ve always done that with is the song “Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth with Money in My Hand” by Primitive Radio Gods. Back in 1996, this song was inescapable. It reached number 1 on the modern rock charts and was featured in the movie The Cable Guy. This song definitely packs a vibe and fits the time quite well. Enjoy this throwback to the simpler times of the mid 90’s.

Primitive Radio Gods- Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth with Money in My Hand:


Those 90’s Songs: Days Of The New- Touch, Peel and Stand
Touch, Peel And Stand by Days Of The New on Amazon Music - Amazon.com

Back in 1997, Days Of The New had released their self titled debut album and the lead single “Touch, Peel and Stand” was blowing up all over radio and MTV. I remember this song getting stuck in my head many times around that time, and it still pops in from time to time. And I’m sure once you hear it, it will be stuck in your head for a bit too. Days Of The New was a pretty solid band with lots of good songs. It’s too bad that things didn’t work out for them. I mean they even went on tour with Metallica and Jerry Cantrell. This song though, is so 90’s and it’s still a good song. It’s one of those that when you hear it, you can’t help but sing along to.

Days Of The New- Touch, Peel and Stand:



Those 90’s Songs: Spacehog- In The Meantime
Spacehog - In the Meantime (Alternative Music Video) - YouTube

While on my Radiohead kick, I came across many videos on youtube from the mid 90’s. One of the ones I clicked on was a song I haven’t heard in a long while and after the song was over it was stuck in my head the rest of the day and night. Now, I’m sharing that joy with you all. The song in question is “In The Meantime” by Spacehog. The song is featured on the band’s debut album, Resident Alien. I remember when this song came out and thinking it was cool and fun. The song and video definitely fits that era of music. So have a little fun with this 90’s rock classic.

Spacehog- In The Meantime:


Those 90’s Songs: Dinosaur Jr- Feel The Pain

Dinosaur Jr. - Without A Sound (1994, Vinyl) | Discogs

The 90’s are such an amazing time for music. Just like the 60’s, the 90’s helped to revolutionize music. We all know about the big bands from that era but, it’s the lesser known ones that have really left an inspirational impact. For example, the band Dinosaur Jr. The band had been around since the early mid 80’s but, it wasn’t until 1994 and their album Without A Sound, that they really started to get the acclaim they deserve. The lead single “Feel The Pain,” is truly one of the best songs of the 90’s and it really hits the mark of the time.

Dinosaur Jr- Feel The Pain:

 

Those 90’s Songs: Third Eye Blind- How’s It Going To Be

How's It Going to Be - YouTube

Sometimes I truly wonder how certain songs pop in my head. Out of the clear blue a part of a song just appears in my mind and from that point, it’s on. Yesterday while working from home, the song “How’s It Going To Be” by Third Eye Blind just suddenly happened to come through. It’s strange. I wasn’t listening to anything in that realm either but, it was a nice change of pace.  After the song popped in my head, I went back and listened to their debut album. I forgot how many good songs are on that one and that’s not just the singles. The album still holds up to this day.

 

Third Eye Blind- How’s It Going To Be:

 

Those 90s Songs: Harvey Danger- Flagpole Sitta

Flagpole Sitta" by Harvey Danger |

There are so many 90s songs that pop up at random times. Most of them these days I keep finding in movies and I chuckle at the scenes these songs are used in. Plus it is pretty fun to go back and look into the band and song history of these songs. The other evening while searching for something mindless to watch before bed, I noticed the first American Pie was on so, I watched it. The movie still has some funny moments and it’s good for a nostalgic laugh. And then, this song came on and I immediately knew I had to include it in this topic. Who else remembers the song “Flagpole Sitta” by Harvey Danger? I’m sure you don’t necessarily remember the name of the song or the band but, when you hear the song, it all comes back to you. It’s quite interesting too that this song is still highly requested on radio stations today but, many people still don’t remember who the band is that sang it nor the actual name of the song.

 

Harvey Danger- Flagpole Sitta:

 

Those 90’s Songs: Blur- Song 2

Blur: Song 2 (Video 1997) - IMDb

It’s strange how sometimes, certain songs just pop in your head out of thin air. This morning, while just getting ready for to start the day, the Blur song, “Song 2” just randomly started playing in my head. It’s such a simple song but, it sure does get you going the moment you hear it. Interestingly, the song was written as sort of a joke towards the bands label. Not surprising though. And, it’s also worth noting that this song appears on the fifth (yes, 5th) album of Blur’s career. Still, since 1997, this song has been quite the rock anthem. So, now that I have you attention, enjoy this 2 minutes and 2 seconds of Woohoo!

 

Blur- Song 2:

 

Those 90’s Songs: Garbage- Vow

Garbage - Vow - Amazon.com Music

I don’t know how I wind up listening to things at times. The other day while I was working, somehow I wound up listening to the band Garbage. I still have no clue what brought that up but, I’m glad it did. I spent the rest of the day and most of the next delving back into their catalog and history. Garbage really have some pretty great songs and albums. Their newer albums too are pretty damn good. While listening to their debut album, I had a flashback to the first time I heard the band and their song “Vow.” I remember listening to the radio and being totally taken aback by the voice I heard. Shirley Manson really left a mark on me and the music the backed her up on that song was just as grabbing. Some interesting history on the song, Garbage had not initially planned to release “Vow” as their first single, as a single at all, or even include it on their self titled debut. According to the band, they felt that “Vow” was not representative of the album’s genre-hopping body of work, although they later came to appreciate the situation that led to the song becoming their debut. Manson declared that “now we can do whatever and people won’t know what to expect”, but if the band had instead settled for “of the more clubby tunes” as a single, “we would have been pigeonholed as a dance band and that’s a hard tag to shake.” Either way, I’m glad it was released and on their debut. It wouldn’t be the same if it wasn’t.

Garbage- Vow: