I think it's safe to say we are all staunch defenders of the decade we grew up in. For my parents, everything was better in the 50's/60's. For me, it's all about the 90's. So you can imagine my bewilderment when my boyfriend - who was also born in the 90's - announced that in his opinion, it was the worst decade. Ever. I won't lie - this statement did make me hate him a tiny bit. Because the Nineties were freakin' fantastic...weren't they? When I had gotten over the urge to slap my boyfriend in the face, I asked him why, nay, how could he feel this way? He replied that the only things he remembers from the 90's were badly put-together boy and girl bands, platform trainers and crop tops. Is that really the impression the Nineties have left? What about grunge? Pokemon? Blink-182, Korn, Foo Fighters? The sticker craze? Yo-yo's?! Or was I just a bit weird. I mean, I was never really into the Spice Girls (I couldn't identify with any of them, there was no 'shit-at-everything-Spice'), or Britney Spears, Boyzone (I literally had never heard of them) or N*SYNC (was it just me or was no-one surprised when nearly all of them turned out gay). I listened to The Offspring, I never owned a crop top or plastic sandals, and my favourite thing to do on weekends was browse the comic book store. Don't get me wrong - I like a groove to Hit Me Baby One More Time as much as the next person. And I did participate in nearly all the crazes - I mean, my fuzzy sticker collection was da bomb. But I have been set a challenge by my pessimistic non-believer of a boyfriend to put together a playlist of 90's gems that won't cringe him out. So, for those who still wave the 90's banner high - here are some videos to reminisce over. For those who are undecided - bloody decide. The nineties were awesome.
Smooth by Santana (feat. Rob Thomas)
I defy anyone to not wiggle their ass to this song. It is physically impossible.
Playground Love by Air
Part of the soundtrack to Sophia Coppola's The Virgin Suicides, this track sounds as current today as ever.
Common People by Pulp
Featuring a young Jarvis Cocker, this song has to be one of the anthems of the 90's, and says more about class segregation than Blur's Country House.
Bohemian Like You by The Dandy Warhols
Puts a cheeky smile on your face and has a catchy little riff - what's not to love.
Iris by The Goo Goo Dolls
Every misunderstood teen's anthem.
Come As You Are by Nirvana
Gods of Grunge...RIP Kurt.
I Wanna Be Adored by The Stone Roses
Classic 90's Alt-Rock curtesy of this amazing Mancunian band.
1979 by Smashing Pumpkins
Epitomising 90's carefree attitude.
Born Slippy by Underworld
An iconic tune from the fathers of Trance, featured in Trainspotting. On a side note, I saw them in Italy last year and they're still killing it.
Frozen by Madonna
Hey look - it's Madonna before she started exercising too much and behaving like a fairground stripper. Back in the days when she was actually doing interesting stuff.
Kiss Me by Sixpence None The Richer
The ultimate 90's make-out tune featured in nearly every high-school romance film.
Why Does It Always Rain On Me? by Travis
The first song I ever heard by the Scottish band. The video is great and the vocals are haunting.
Believe me, I could go on, but for now - I'll leave it at that. Perhaps I'll do a 90's Part Two someday.
To be fair - he was only just born in the nineties! It's not as if he can remember that much
ReplyDelete