I know it's a tough choice, but I'll go with Collective Soul's "Shine." Tail end of the grunge era, beginning of the time when alternative became more popular. Also the lyrics and music and video show how the 90's (economically, culturally) was in a stark contrast to the carefree "me" 80's. The 90's are what I call the "sobering" decade.

Song: "Semi Charmed Life" by Third Eye Blind

Everytime I hear that song, the first thing that pops into my Head is the 90's, it just sounds so much like the 90's Anthem to me or something

Video: "The World I Know" by Collective Soul

No Explination Really

I think the video I would pick would be 'Estranged' by Guns N Roses. It comes from the Illusions album in 1991, but this video was released in late 92/early 93. I think it symbolizes the overindulgence of the 1990's.

Thats really something that is impossible to pinpoint...the 1990s had a lot of diverse songs/videos from many diverse artists and all of them could easily define the 90s, it all depends on who you are talking to....

Try asking yourself a question like that pertaining to the 80s, its impossible to tell really...just as its equally as hard to decide an epitomizing song of the 60s and one for the 70s. Everyone will say something different, and thats what makes music so incredible, it appeals to different people in different ways and keeps the conversation alive...

Baby

Hmmm . . . Music is such a personal thing but I'll give it a go . . .

Song Sit down - James

Video Earth song - Michael Jackson

Song: Smells Like Teen Spirit ~ Nirvana
This is truly the 90s anthem if there were one.

Video: Enter Sandman ~ Metallica

Collective Soul's self-titled album just has that sound that shouts out "Mid-90s" from a distance.
And anything Nirvana would shout out early-90s from a distance.  ::)

As for video... couldn't really say.

song:: the world I know by collective soul I remember that I hav2 videos I remember of the 1990's

video one was Iris By the GOO GOO Dolls (it was the soundtrack of city of angels)

video two was 3AM by matchbox 20

I plan to post a list of the "Top 50 Epitomizers of the 1990s". It's basically prepared and plan to post it soon.

hTWKbfoikeg

If there's one song that epitomizes the 1990s this would be it.  :)

I plan to post a list of the "Top 50 Epitomizers of the 1990s". It's basically prepared and plan to post it soon.


I'm on the edge of my seat

hTWKbfoikeg

If there's one song that epitomizes the 1990s this would be it.  :)


For the early 90s, this is basically what you are looking for. But for the 90s in general, not so much. No less than three quarters of the decade was still to come by the time this came out. And remember Nirvana was only around for the first half.

TOP 50 NINETIES EPITOMIZERS

Main criteria: The rankings of these songs are NOT solely based upon the then-popularity of the tracks/artists but also how the songs/artists have been perceived in retrospect… and of course the main ingredient, how they resemble the “feel and atmosphere” of the 90s (they are the epitomizers after all).

A few additional rules have been put into place for this list. In particular:

1. This list excludes television themes and such unless they have substantial notability beyond their mediums.
2. Note that this list only has one song per musical act.
3. While I've tried to keep the list as "United States 90s" as possible I've also considered the influence from culture in places such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the UK. 

The List:

50. Janet Jackson - Together Again
49. S Club 7 - Bring It All Back
48. Babybird - You're Gorgeous
47. Green Day - Time Of Your Life
46. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Under The Bridge
45. Temple Of The Dog - Say Hello 2 Heaven
44. Crash Test Dummies - Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm
43. Vengaboys - We Like To Party
42. Backstreet Boys - Everybody (Backstreet's Back)
41. Right Said Fred - I'm Too Sexy

40. The Prodigy - Firestarter
39. Vanilla Ice - Ice Ice Baby
38. Days Of The New - Touch, Peel And Stand
37. Babylon Zoo - Spaceman
36. Fool's Garden - Lemon Tree
35. OMC - How Bizarre
34. Britney Spears - Baby One More Time
33. Live - Lightning Crashes
32. Radiohead - Paranoid Android
31. Tasmin Archer - Sleeping Satellite

30. Boyzone - No Matter What
29. Faith No More - Last Cup Of Sorrow
28. Blind Melon - No Rain
27. Sheryl Crow - Everyday Is A Winding Road
26. Celine Dion - My Heart Will Go On
25. Snap - Rhythm Is A Dancer
24. The Verve - Bitter Sweet Symphony
23. Blur - Song 2
22. Strike - U Sure Do
21. Aqua - Barbie Girl

20. Marcy Playground - Sex And Candy
19. Chumbawamba - Tubthumping
18. MC Hammer - U Can't Touch This
17. Pearl Jam - Jeremy
16. Rage Against The Machine - Killing In The Name
15. Lenny Kravitz - Are You Gonna Go My Way
14. No Doubt - Don't Speak
13. Warren G - Regulate
12. Alice In Chains - Grind
11. Stone Temple Pilots - Plush

10. Hanson - MMMBop
9. Oasis - Wonderwall
8. TLC - Waterfalls
7. Smashing Pumpkins - Tonight, Tonight
6. Spice Girls - Wannabe
5. Soundgarden - Black Hole Sun
4. Coolio - Gangsta's Paradise
3. Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit
2. Notorious B.I.G. - Juicy
1. Los Del Rio - Macarena

Jewel - You Were Meant For Me

Jewel - You Were Meant For Me


Really? It sounds like a cliche television soap/drama song.

It's just a song I personally associate with the 90s. My whole family used to be into Jewel back then. It holds some Billboard Hot 100 achievements too despite never actually reaching #1.

It's just a song I personally associate with the 90s. My whole family used to be into Jewel back then. It holds some Billboard Hot 100 achievements too despite never actually reaching #1.


Fair enough. I was just meaning that IMO it doesn't "scream" 90s and could sound like a different decade.

"Jeremy" always pop in my head when I think of the '90s ( at least, the early '90s)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MS91knuzoOA

I plan to post a list of the "Top 50 Epitomizers of the 1990s". It's basically prepared and plan to post it soon.


with videos too?

hTWKbfoikeg

If there's one song that epitomizes the 1990s this would be it.  :)


good song.

with videos too?


I did a top 50 list on the first page of this thread but if you want the video for the number one...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiBYM6g8Tck

TOP 50 NINETIES EPITOMIZERS

Main criteria: The rankings of these songs are NOT solely based upon the then-popularity of the tracks/artists but also how the songs/artists have been perceived in retrospect… and of course the main ingredient, how they resemble the “feel and atmosphere” of the 90s (they are the epitomizers after all).

A few additional rules have been put into place for this list. In particular:

1. This list excludes television themes and such unless they have substantial notability beyond their mediums.
2. Note that this list only has one song per musical act.
3. While I've tried to keep the list as "United States 90s" as possible I've also considered the influence from culture in places such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the UK. 

The List:

50. Janet Jackson - Together Again
49. S Club 7 - Bring It All Back
48. Babybird - You're Gorgeous
47. Green Day - Time Of Your Life
46. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Under The Bridge
45. Temple Of The Dog - Say Hello 2 Heaven
44. Crash Test Dummies - Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm
43. Vengaboys - We Like To Party
42. Backstreet Boys - Everybody (Backstreet's Back)
41. Right Said Fred - I'm Too Sexy

40. The Prodigy - Firestarter
39. Vanilla Ice - Ice Ice Baby
38. Days Of The New - Touch, Peel And Stand
37. Babylon Zoo - Spaceman
36. Fool's Garden - Lemon Tree
35. OMC - How Bizarre
34. Britney Spears - Baby One More Time
33. Live - Lightning Crashes
32. Radiohead - Paranoid Android
31. Tasmin Archer - Sleeping Satellite

30. Boyzone - No Matter What
29. Faith No More - Last Cup Of Sorrow
28. Blind Melon - No Rain
27. Sheryl Crow - Everyday Is A Winding Road
26. Celine Dion - My Heart Will Go On
25. Snap - Rhythm Is A Dancer
24. The Verve - Bitter Sweet Symphony
23. Blur - Song 2
22. Strike - U Sure Do
21. Aqua - Barbie Girl

20. Marcy Playground - Sex And Candy
19. Chumbawamba - Tubthumping
18. MC Hammer - U Can't Touch This
17. Pearl Jam - Jeremy
16. Rage Against The Machine - Killing In The Name
15. Lenny Kravitz - Are You Gonna Go My Way
14. No Doubt - Don't Speak
13. Warren G - Regulate
12. Alice In Chains - Grind
11. Stone Temple Pilots - Plush

10. Hanson - MMMBop
9. Oasis - Wonderwall
8. TLC - Waterfalls
7. Smashing Pumpkins - Tonight, Tonight
6. Spice Girls - Wannabe
5. Soundgarden - Black Hole Sun
4. Coolio - Gangsta's Paradise
3. Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit
2. Notorious B.I.G. - Juicy
1. Los Del Rio - Macarena


No What is Love by Haddaway? That's probably the Euro Dance anthem of the decade.

R&B was also really popular in the 90s, so anything by Boyz II Men, R. Kelly, En Vogue, Blackstreet etc. really evokes 90s-ness in a big way I think.

No What is Love by Haddaway? That's probably the Euro Dance anthem of the decade.

R&B was also really popular in the 90s, so anything by Boyz II Men, R. Kelly, En Vogue, Blackstreet etc. really evokes 90s-ness in a big way I think.


You do have a point and the 11-50 spots are quite flexible. I confidently stand by the top 10 though especially number one. As for Haddaway, Rhythm Is A Dancer by Snap was popular too and charted better overall, at least in the United States.

I did a top 50 list on the first page of this thread but if you want the video for the number one...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiBYM6g8Tck


corny song but I loved the dance. ;D

corny song but I loved the dance. ;D


Everything about the Macerena was corny.  I got tired of it after a year.

The entire Space Jam soundtrack.

Everything about the Macerena was corny.  I got tired of it after a year.


what made it such a dance craze?

what made it such a dance craze?


I actually have no idea why it was such a dance craze? I just know that after a year I found it to be highly over-rated.