You can argue a lot about the 90s – the moon boots, the screaming neon lights, Eurodisco etc. But you can’t deny the fact that this decade has been great years for rock music. Following the shallow and shiny synthesizer pop of the 1980s it was artists like Cobain who re-discovered the guitar and played it as loud and dirty as possible. America first got its grunge and than its alternative rock wave, Europe saw the Britpop wave. No matter what side you took – or if you even enjoyed all different waves – it were golden years for rock music.
We took that occasion to take a look back on some of most terrific rock moments from 1994. 13 unforgettable classics – from epic stadium rock to raw indie spirit. Those were the anthems for a whole generation. And maybe you forgot a few of them. Or you weren’t even born back then. This is your moment to rediscover the past and hopefully learn something for the future. May the spirit last forever.
01. SOUNDGARDEN – ‘Black Hole Sun’
What a video! Disturbing and absorbing. A sophisticated middle finger from rock music to establishment. Seems that this attitude went out of style since then.
02. OASIS – ‘Live Forever’
As a counter movement to the depressing spirit of grunge music, Noel Gallagher wrote this uplifting anthem about living life to the fullest. And brother Liam was the perfect person to represent that lifestyle. The birth of Britain’s new working class heroes. The rest was bloody history.
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03. AEROSMITH – ‘Crazy’
Isn’t that Jon Bon Jovi on the tractor? Anyway, Liv Tyler in the 6 minutes road movie of the nineties. Everybody wanted to be in that bike scene – oh wait that was Amazing. Anyway, you get that as a trilogy. Amazing, Crazy, Cryin’. Seriously.
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04. BON JOVI – ‘Always’
All clichés of teenage girl bedroom posters in one video. Well, it’s for the kids whom GUNS’N’ROSES was too dangerous. But we all had our secret hits, especially love songs from BON JOVI. Never mind you probably forgot the name of the crush, you sang that song to in your dreams.
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05. R.E.M. – ‘What’s The Frequency, Kenneth?’
Following the commercial breakthrough and hits like Man On The Moon and Everybody Hurts from 1993’s Automatic For The People R.E.M. decided to show the expectations a big middle finger with the follow up. Monster was way rougher and not focussed on its. Kenneth was one anyway and still is.
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06. STONE TEMPLE PILOTS – ‘Interstate Love Song’
The band for the ones looking a bit beyond the top ten. Pretty underrated but they can’t be missed in a 1994 list. Sadly, the only press they produced afterwards was about the quarrels in the band.
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07. BLUR – ‘This Is A Low’
Contrary to the title this is one of the highlights on 1994’s Parklife. It was the year of BLUR‘s breakthrough, followed by the legendary 1995 ‘Battle of Britpop.’ Of course they won against OASIS as they always did – with dignity and intelligence.
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08. MORRISSEY – ‘The More You Ignore Me, The Closer I Get’
Let’s face it – the 90s haven’t been the best decade for the former SMITHS mastermind. But 1994’s Vauxhall & I album marked a return to former strength. The lead single sees MORRISSEY in the role of a fanatic stalker – so, pretty much what we could expected from this man. Yes, pretty pop for this list but after all it’s him.
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09. ALICE IN CHAINS – ‘Grind’
Another must-watch from the times, where video clips have been statements. If you liked the Black Hole Sun video, Grind is the one to proceed with.
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10. WEEZER – ‘Buddy Holly’
Now that’s an evergreen. Especially with that fancy ‘Happy Days’-theme music video. Seriously, how American can a video probably be? Those were really the good-old days. Please try the fish!
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11. THE SMASHING PUMPKINS – ‘Disarm’
Already featured on the band’s 1993 album Siamese Dream but released as a single in 1994. It’s a heart wrenching classic with the distinctive and unforgettable key line ‘The killer in me is the killer in you.’ It even becomes sadder when you see what Billy Corgan is up to these days.
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12. SUEDE – ‘We Are The Pigs’
When people discuss 90s Britpop they sadly always focus on Mr. Albarn and the Gallaghers. Quite often they forgot about SUEDE who were actually one of the first bands. Brett Anderson was an androgynous god, his lyrics were sharp and the guitars almighty.
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13. NIRVANA – ‘Where did you sleep last night’
‘Fuck you all this is the last song of the evening.’ Kurt Cobain’s words to introduce that song. Go and watch, nothing to add. Rest in peace.
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