Pink Floyd: Lost For Words (1994)

Floyd openly examines the relationship between David Gilmour and Roger Waters in "Lost for Words." The song is openly sarcastic and honest. By the end, Gilmour is admitting that "sometimes you just can't win."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPwucFar9kM

Eric Clapton: Motherless Child (1994)

In 1994, Eric Clapton released a wonderful album of blues covers. "Motherless Child" might be the best song on the album. It's about an orphan that refused to follow their deceased mother's advice and regretting it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uf84YrUPQUU

Soundgarden: The Day I Tried to Live (1994)

The song is about trying to live life as opposed to being closed off.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbckIuT_YDc

Pearl Jam: Animal (1994)

There are many theories about what, or who, "Animal" is about.  Gang rape, a rant against the media or record company, a love song, a description of compromises made in a recording career...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIgfYVq5Y5A

Top 10 songs of 1994

My favorites...

1. High Hopes- Pink Floyd
2. What's the Frequency Kenneth?- REM
3. Interstate Love Song- STP
4.Lost For Words- Pink Floyd
5. Basketcase- Green Day
6. Estranged- GnR
7. Betterman- Pearl Jam
8. Love is Strong- The Rolling Stones
9. My Wave- Soundgarden
10. The Day I Tried to Live- Soundgarden

Top 35 songs of 1994 (#11-20)

11. Let Me In- REM
12. Star 69- REM
13. Animal- Pearl Jam
14. Supersonic- Oasis
15. Undone (The Sweater Song)- Weezer
16. Buddy Holly- Weezer
17. Nothingman- Pearl Jam
18. Kashmir- Page/Plant
19. Motherless Child- Eric Clapton
20. I Stay Away- Alice in Chains

Top 35 songs of 1994 (#21-30)

My favorites continued...

21. Spin the Black Circle- Pearl Jam
22. Found Out About You- Gin Blossoms
23. Fell on Black Days- Soundgarden
24. Big Empty- STP
25. Mary Jane's Last Dance- Tom Petty
26. Wild Night- John Mellencamp
27. Keep Talking- Pink Floyd
28. What Do You Want From Me?- Pink Floyd
29. Streets of Philadelphia- Bruce Springsteen
30. Because the Night- 10,000 Maniacs

Top 35 songs of 1994 (#31-35)

My favorites...

31. No Excuses- Alice in Chains
32. Zombie- The Cranberries
33. Selling the Drama- Live
34. Welcome to Paradise- Green Day
35. Marooned- Pink Floyd

Soundgarden: My Wave (1994)

"My Wave" switches time signatures throughout, but is mainly in 5/4, which is an odd time signature. It also included a bass wah pedal. It's an outright rocker that peaked at #11 on the rock charts. Matt Cameron's drums on this track were compared to Ringo Starr's work on Abbey Road.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEbYxEXM2cE

Nirvana: The Man Who Sold the World (1994)

David Bowie originally recorded "The Man Who Sold the World" in 1970. Nirvana covered the song during their unplugged performance for MTV in 1993. Bowie loved the Nirvana version, which made him realize for the first time his impact in America. Kids today now compliment Bowie for covering Nirvana when he plays the song. Bowie generally responds with a heartfelt "fuck you."

Nirvana:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fregObNcHC8



Bowie:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSH--SJKVQQ

Oasis: Supersonic (1994)

"Supersonic" did not do that well at first, but sales eventually picked up. It now appears on lists of great guitar tracks.  The band denies the guitar solo was a deliberate copy of George Harrison's "My Sweet Lord." However, they have been known to allow their influences show...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p29MG7wn4F8

Weezer: Buddy Holly (1994)

Rivers Cuomo thought “Buddy Holly” was too cheesy to record, but was talked into it by Ric Ocasek. The video is an all-time classic. It puts the band in Arnold’s Drive-in from the 70s TV show Happy Days. They were superimposed into footage from the show to create a short episode where the band performs and Fonzie dances at the end.  There is an alternate version floating around where the band sings of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers as opposed to Buddy Holly and Mary Tyler Moore.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kemivUKb4f4

Green Day: Welcome to Paradise (1994)

Green Day members moved out of their parents’ homes and into an abandoned house in Oakland, California. They turned the experience into this song. Although the house was dilapidated, they paid no rent and it became home (i.e. paradise).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTKm2Tf97D4

Gin Blossoms: Until I Fall Away (1994)

Many of the bands breaking in the early 90s captured alienation and youthful frustration. The Gin Blossoms captured frustration in a different way. They were melancholy!  Here is an example. The song reached #13 on the modern rock charts.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39mUEE3_xS8

Stone Temple Pilots: Big Empty (1994)

“Big Empty” was once called the “perfect” example of “mainstream alienation.” If you want to know 90s rock, this is a good place to start. The song debuted on The Crow soundtrack before appearing on STP’s second album, Purple.  This song IS 1994.

 

Studio:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59_x5-IfVjs

 

Live:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIGhvqC0P-0

 

 

Pink Floyd: Keep Talking (1994)

Stephen Hawking has done everything. He’s a best selling author, brilliant phycist, and rock star. He appeared in Pink Floyd’s 1994 single “Keep Talking.” The song hit #1 on the rock charts. David Gilmour stated the song represented a wish that problems could be solved through discussion rather than violence.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Leo74b3rqXQ

 

Stone Temple Pilots: Vaseline (1994)

"Vasoline" was STP's second most successful single after "Interstate Love Song." The intro is a bass being run through a wah-wah peddle for effect. Weiland said the song was about feeling like an "insect under a magnifying glass."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ht672-wYelc
 

R.E.M.: Star 69 (1994)

"Star 69" did not take long to become dated. The song is about a phone feature that allows people to check on the last caller. It still exists, but has been rendered irrelevant by caller ID. The song itself is fast paced and full of energy. It evolved from a 6 minute demo to become a 3 minute pop song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1dLr9uyfM0

Weezer: Undone-The Sweater Song (1994)

Rivers Cuomo admits "Undone" is supposed to be a sad song, but everyone thinks it's funny. Originally, he wanted to write a song that sounds like the Velvet Underground, but instead inadvertently lifted from Metallica's "Welcome Home (Sanitarium)."


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHQqqM5sr7g

Alice in Chains: I Stay Away (1994)

The song can't decide whether its sweet and soft or hard edged. It's schizophrenic and reminds me of a mid-90s summer. The puppets used in the video reside in the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODTv9Lt5WYs