ONTD Original - The Best Songs of the 1990's
SO-- the Best Songs of the 1990's... there's a LOT here and a LOT to choose from. These songs are just touchstones in my brain as one growing up and trying just to live life growing up through everything. All of these songs helped me survive being a gay in a world that still wasn't ready for it.
Fiona Apple "Never is a Promise"
Fiona is one of the greatest singer-songwriters of all time. This song written by herself at 15 years old, is the window entrance into her world. Beautifully tragic and gorgeous.
Indigo Girls "Mystery"
Amy Ray and Emily Saliers. So many wonderful songs. They were at their complete artistic peak on Swamp Ophelia and "Mystery" was the crown jewel from all of those songs. Lyrical and musical perfection.
Sheryl Crow "The Difficult Kind"
Sheryl has tried a LOT. And sitting there on her third album is the masterpiece that is "The Difficult Kind" with one of the most perfect bridges ever written and ever sung.
Alice in Chains "Rooster"
Layne Stayley was one of the most beautiful men. And this song is so incredibly deep. He's a perfect vocalist.
Fleetwood Mac "Silver Springs"
Technically released in 1977, this release was LIVE in 1997 twenty years later. No one expected the knives and daggers to come out though- and Stevie turned to her left and UNLEASHED the power on Lindsey. Unforgettable.
Janet "Anytime, Any Place"
Janet's Rhythm Nation, Janet, and The Velvet Rope was the great triumverate of 1990's. The greatest streak of albums in terms of musical genius and creativity- only comparable to Stevie Wonder's Innervisons, Fulfillingnesses First Finale, and Songs in the Key of Life. "Anytime, Anyplace" is perfection.
Madonna "Deeper and Deeper"
People kept saying, "Madonna- make a fucking disco album!!!" So, she DID. Erotica was the pinnacle of her powers and still reigns today as her very best album in terms of songwriting, singing, and musical perfection. "Bad Girl" is on fire. But, "Deeper and Deeper" is the ultimate in terms of killing it with musicality.
Janet "I Get Lonely"
People just don't get how unbelievably incredible Janet is as a songwriter and vocalist. She does all her arrangements and background vocals and "I Get Lonely" is probably the best example of her artistry. Simply breathtaking.
Joni Mitchell "The Magdalene Laundries"
Joni REALLY came back with Night Ride Home. Her next album, Turbulent Indigo, caught more attention because she was done and fucking pissed off. "The Magdelene Laundries" is heartbreaking.
"Peg O'Connell died today...
She was a cheeky girl- a flirt-
They just stuffed her in a hole!
Surely to God you'd think at least some bells should ring....
One day I'm going to die here too
And they'll plant me in the dirt...
Like some lame bulb-
That never blooms...
Come any spring..."
Prince "Diamonds and Pearls"
He's so perfect that it's hard to select stuff that he's done as better or more deserving of praise. His chord progressions and vocals on "Diamonds and Pearls" are so warm and enchanting I just can't believe it.
The Grapes of Wrath "I Can't Find My Home"
So incredibly talented. This song is crushing.
Tracy Chapman "Smoke and Ashes"
Tracy is a beautiful gorgeous person, artist, singer... In my opinion, this is her best song.
Nancy Griffith "These Days in an Open Book"
Good lord. This is a song of joy. SONG. OF. JOY.
So sad she's gone now....
Linda Ronstadt "Feels Like Home"
The Greatest Vocalist of All Time. Refused to wait on label shit/arguments to release Trio II, released Feels Like Home containing most of the tracks as Linda only. The title song is earth-shattering.
The Innocence Mission "Umbrella"
All of The Innocence Mission's albums are complete perfection. The title song from Umbrella is Karen Peris's shattered body, mind, and soul after a car accident and the only thing she can come back to is her boyfriend/husband to dance with around the room with her seeing herself going by in the mirror with her happy face.
Madonna - "Something to Remember"
My favorite Madonna song.
Fiona Apple "Never is a Promise"
Fiona is one of the greatest singer-songwriters of all time. This song written by herself at 15 years old, is the window entrance into her world. Beautifully tragic and gorgeous.
Click to viewIndigo Girls "Mystery"
Amy Ray and Emily Saliers. So many wonderful songs. They were at their complete artistic peak on Swamp Ophelia and "Mystery" was the crown jewel from all of those songs. Lyrical and musical perfection.
Sheryl Crow "The Difficult Kind"
Sheryl has tried a LOT. And sitting there on her third album is the masterpiece that is "The Difficult Kind" with one of the most perfect bridges ever written and ever sung.
Alice in Chains "Rooster"
Layne Stayley was one of the most beautiful men. And this song is so incredibly deep. He's a perfect vocalist.
Fleetwood Mac "Silver Springs"
Technically released in 1977, this release was LIVE in 1997 twenty years later. No one expected the knives and daggers to come out though- and Stevie turned to her left and UNLEASHED the power on Lindsey. Unforgettable.
Janet "Anytime, Any Place"
Janet's Rhythm Nation, Janet, and The Velvet Rope was the great triumverate of 1990's. The greatest streak of albums in terms of musical genius and creativity- only comparable to Stevie Wonder's Innervisons, Fulfillingnesses First Finale, and Songs in the Key of Life. "Anytime, Anyplace" is perfection.
Madonna "Deeper and Deeper"
People kept saying, "Madonna- make a fucking disco album!!!" So, she DID. Erotica was the pinnacle of her powers and still reigns today as her very best album in terms of songwriting, singing, and musical perfection. "Bad Girl" is on fire. But, "Deeper and Deeper" is the ultimate in terms of killing it with musicality.
Janet "I Get Lonely"
People just don't get how unbelievably incredible Janet is as a songwriter and vocalist. She does all her arrangements and background vocals and "I Get Lonely" is probably the best example of her artistry. Simply breathtaking.
Joni Mitchell "The Magdalene Laundries"
Joni REALLY came back with Night Ride Home. Her next album, Turbulent Indigo, caught more attention because she was done and fucking pissed off. "The Magdelene Laundries" is heartbreaking.
"Peg O'Connell died today...
She was a cheeky girl- a flirt-
They just stuffed her in a hole!
Surely to God you'd think at least some bells should ring....
One day I'm going to die here too
And they'll plant me in the dirt...
Like some lame bulb-
That never blooms...
Come any spring..."
Prince "Diamonds and Pearls"
He's so perfect that it's hard to select stuff that he's done as better or more deserving of praise. His chord progressions and vocals on "Diamonds and Pearls" are so warm and enchanting I just can't believe it.
The Grapes of Wrath "I Can't Find My Home"
So incredibly talented. This song is crushing.
Tracy Chapman "Smoke and Ashes"
Tracy is a beautiful gorgeous person, artist, singer... In my opinion, this is her best song.
Nancy Griffith "These Days in an Open Book"
Good lord. This is a song of joy. SONG. OF. JOY.
So sad she's gone now....
Linda Ronstadt "Feels Like Home"
The Greatest Vocalist of All Time. Refused to wait on label shit/arguments to release Trio II, released Feels Like Home containing most of the tracks as Linda only. The title song is earth-shattering.
The Innocence Mission "Umbrella"
All of The Innocence Mission's albums are complete perfection. The title song from Umbrella is Karen Peris's shattered body, mind, and soul after a car accident and the only thing she can come back to is her boyfriend/husband to dance with around the room with her seeing herself going by in the mirror with her happy face.
Madonna - "Something to Remember"
My favorite Madonna song.