Acclaimed Music Top 40 Songs from 1994 poll

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http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/northridge011714/n05_18011957.jpg
The 1994 Northridge earthquake occurred on January 17, at 4:30:55 a.m. PST and was centered in Reseda, a neighborhood in the north-central San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles, California.

Poll Results

OptionVotes
2 169 Beastie Boys - Sabotage 11
24 1034 Pavement - Gold Soundz 10
15 760 The Notorious B.I.G. =- Juicy 8
21 994 Massive Attack - Protection 7
16 789 Warren G - Regulate 6
19 922 Goldie - Inner City Life/Timeless (Part 1: Inner City Life) 5
35 1584 Nas - N. Y. State of Mind 4
34 1535 Hole - Doll Parts 3
25 1149 Supergrass - Caught by the Fuzz 3
38 1746 Stone Temple Pilots - Interstate Love Song 3
32 1497 The Prodigy - No Good (Start The Dance) 3
20 954 Weezer - Say It Ain't So 2
26 1163 Weezer - Undone - The Sweater Song 2
1 103 Oasis - Live Forever 2
14 741 Elastica - Connection 2
3 206 Blur - Girls and Boys 2
5 352 Jeff Buckley - Hallelujah 2
6 470 Nine Inch Nails - Closer 2
40 1825 The Cranberries - Zombie 2
9 536 Pavement - Cut Your Hair 2
10 566 TLC - Waterfalls 2
11 584 Soundgarden - Black Hole Sun 2
22 1009 Blur - This Is a Low 1
13 631 Jeff Buckley - Last Goodbye 1
36 1602 R.E.M. - What's the Frequency, Kenneth? 1
17 815 Edwyn Collins - A Girl Like You 1
33 1527 Tricky - Aftermath 1
31 1489 Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Red Right Hand 1
12 599 Weezer - Buddy Holly 1
23 1027 Nine Inch Nails - Hurt 1
7 471 Portishead - Sour Times 1
8 498 Oasis - Supersonic 1
29 1367 Jeff Buckley - Grace 0
39 1771 Oasis - Cigarettes and Alcohol 0
37 1730 Oasis - Whatever 0
4 325 Portishead - Glory Box 0
27 1218 Green Day - Longview 0
18 902 Green Day - Basket Case 0
30 1452 Blur - Parklife 0
28 1238 Veruca Salt - Seether 0


Bee OK, Thursday, 10 December 2015 02:11 (eight years ago) link

i was living in the Los Angeles area at the time and was actually up when that earthquake hit. it was MLK day, so that Sunday night i went to a rave and barely got home for the heart of Hollywood when it hit. i moved to San Francisco the next year but now back in the Los Angeles area.

Bee OK, Thursday, 10 December 2015 02:14 (eight years ago) link

so i even messed that up, here we go:

Acclaimed Music Top 30 Albums from 1994 poll

Bee OK, Thursday, 10 December 2015 02:20 (eight years ago) link

"Closer"

EveningStar (Sund4r), Thursday, 10 December 2015 02:21 (eight years ago) link

How often will I get to vote for an Edwyn Collins song?

So, that.

Austin, Thursday, 10 December 2015 02:23 (eight years ago) link

did we get all 40 two years in a row?

(will open link tomorrow to listen)

Bee OK, Thursday, 10 December 2015 03:01 (eight years ago) link

Yup!

Fetty Wap Is Strong In Here (cryptosicko), Thursday, 10 December 2015 03:03 (eight years ago) link

this is Warren G in a landslide, right?

The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 10 December 2015 03:27 (eight years ago) link

Likely, at least if I'm correct in assuming that everyone else is as dead sick by now of Oasis, Green Day and Weezer as I am.

Fetty Wap Is Strong In Here (cryptosicko), Thursday, 10 December 2015 03:34 (eight years ago) link

I voted for "Supersonic".

EZ Snappin, Thursday, 10 December 2015 03:35 (eight years ago) link

other than "Connection" and maybe "Doll Parts" there isn't a single track as exciting as "Regulate" or "NY State of Mind."

The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 10 December 2015 03:35 (eight years ago) link

If "Number One Blind" had been listed instead of "Seether," and "Miss World" instead of "Doll Parts," those are what I'd be deciding between.

Fetty Wap Is Strong In Here (cryptosicko), Thursday, 10 December 2015 03:43 (eight years ago) link

'exciting'

mookieproof, Thursday, 10 December 2015 03:45 (eight years ago) link

Protection.

that's not my post, Thursday, 10 December 2015 06:43 (eight years ago) link

Sabotage.

Hey Bob (Scik Mouthy), Thursday, 10 December 2015 07:23 (eight years ago) link

This is much better than the previous two years imo.

Could go for Closer, or Sour Times, or Regulate, or Protection, or No Good.

the joke should be over once the kid is eaten. (chap), Thursday, 10 December 2015 10:10 (eight years ago) link

I want to vote for "Creep".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpYeekQkAdc for Gaz Coombes? (The Reverend), Thursday, 10 December 2015 10:17 (eight years ago) link

regulate

canoon fooder (dog latin), Thursday, 10 December 2015 11:44 (eight years ago) link

it was all a dream, i used to read word up magazine

welltris (crüt), Thursday, 10 December 2015 12:22 (eight years ago) link

Last Goodbye.

"kiss me, please kiss me, but kiss me out of desire, baby, not consolation"..... i can soooo relate. </3

Lee626, Thursday, 10 December 2015 12:28 (eight years ago) link

Gold Soundz

Marty8501 (Marty Innerlogic), Thursday, 10 December 2015 12:29 (eight years ago) link

Toughest one yet - went for Say It Ain't So but could easily have picked Live Forever or Juicy (or Protection or Inner City Life or Aftermath).

Gavin, Leeds, Thursday, 10 December 2015 12:45 (eight years ago) link

Good list. The only one I see offhand that doesn't belong is "Zombie". Too much Oasis, as well, but I'll stand behind those first two albums.

"Aftermath" seems like such a weirdly random song to pick from Maxinquaye. It's very good but no more so than most of the other tracks. But I guess I don't really have a sense of the impact of any of the songs in isolation.

Some Pizza Grudge From Twenty Years Ago (Old Lunch), Thursday, 10 December 2015 13:14 (eight years ago) link

Weezer's blue album was the first CD I ever bought with my own money. Gawd I played the heck out of it. Voted "Sabotage" though, because c'mon.

Sam Weller, Thursday, 10 December 2015 14:25 (eight years ago) link

had to go with The Prodigy but there are a ton of fantastic songs here

you're breaking the NAP (DJP), Thursday, 10 December 2015 15:34 (eight years ago) link

Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis.

Mr. Snrub, Thursday, 10 December 2015 18:42 (eight years ago) link

This is too fucking difficult. Easier to say what I wouldn't vote for, but choosing between what's left over... christ!

Turrican, Thursday, 10 December 2015 19:38 (eight years ago) link

this is quite a lot stronger a list to me than 1993

ciderpress, Thursday, 10 December 2015 19:41 (eight years ago) link

i share ilx's hate of 'zombie' but it seems to have outlasted all of its peers in real world popularity unfortunately, i hear it freaking everywhere i go still

ciderpress, Thursday, 10 December 2015 19:47 (eight years ago) link

It's definitely the most fun song on this list to do a piss-takey impression of, so that's something.

the joke should be over once the kid is eaten. (chap), Thursday, 10 December 2015 19:49 (eight years ago) link

Oh, wow, yeah. It never occurred to me but that should totally be a karaoke staple. Along with "What's Up?".

Some Pizza Grudge From Twenty Years Ago (Old Lunch), Thursday, 10 December 2015 19:51 (eight years ago) link

All of these deserve a vote:

2 169 Beastie Boys - Sabotage
4 325 Portishead - Glory Box
5 352 Jeff Buckley - Hallelujah
6 470 Nine Inch Nails - Closer
7 471 Portishead - Sour Times
10 566 TLC - Waterfalls
11 584 Soundgarden - Black Hole Sun
15 760 The Notorious B.I.G. =- Juicy
16 789 Warren G - Regulate
17 815 Edwyn Collins - A Girl Like You
18 902 Green Day - Basket Case
19 922 Goldie - Inner City Life/Timeless (Part 1: Inner City Life)
20 954 Weezer - Say It Ain't So
21 994 Massive Attack - Protection
22 1009 Blur - This Is a Low
23 1027 Nine Inch Nails - Hurt
27 1218 Green Day - Longview
32 1497 The Prodigy - No Good (Start The Dance)
33 1527 Tricky - Aftermath
34 1535 Hole - Doll Parts
35 1584 Nas - N. Y. State of Mind
36 1602 R.E.M. - What's the Frequency, Kenneth?
38 1746 Stone Temple Pilots - Interstate Love Song

you're breaking the NAP (DJP), Thursday, 10 December 2015 19:54 (eight years ago) link

this is the best year polled yet!

The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 10 December 2015 19:55 (eight years ago) link

Em C G D/F#

*stomps on a distortion pedal with one foot, and drops a boulder on the other*

AAAOWWW! AAAAOWWW! AAAAOWWWW! AAAAAOWWW!

Turrican, Thursday, 10 December 2015 19:59 (eight years ago) link

btw, important poll: https://twitter.com/djperry1973/status/675045315435737091

you're breaking the NAP (DJP), Thursday, 10 December 2015 20:12 (eight years ago) link

done

The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 10 December 2015 20:13 (eight years ago) link

Wow though one. It's between both Portisheads, both NINs, and "Connection" for me.

LeRooLeRoo, Thursday, 10 December 2015 22:14 (eight years ago) link

Huh now I know which year I started paying attention to music. The first albums I owned were crap bootlegs of Dookie and Monster that I bought off a dodgy guy on Henry Street.

a cruet of destiny (seandalai), Thursday, 10 December 2015 22:41 (eight years ago) link

I heard "Regulate" on the radio the other day. It still strikes me as pure camp, just like it did at the time. 1. "Cut Your Hair," 2. "Doll Parts." Great year, but I must have liked other stuff.

clemenza, Friday, 11 December 2015 04:43 (eight years ago) link

ended up voting for Nas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpYeekQkAdc for Gaz Coombes? (The Reverend), Friday, 11 December 2015 07:33 (eight years ago) link

his song hasn't been run into the ground by nostalgia radio like some of the others

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpYeekQkAdc for Gaz Coombes? (The Reverend), Friday, 11 December 2015 07:33 (eight years ago) link

true. regulate is great, but i still hear it all the time.

canoon fooder (dog latin), Friday, 11 December 2015 09:01 (eight years ago) link

Voted "Live Forever" for how I felt about it at the time. Oasis were good for the first two albums and their b-sides.

the future is now, Friday, 11 December 2015 15:01 (eight years ago) link

Tempted to vote for "This Is A Low" or one of the non-"Hallelujah" Buckley songs because they still have the ability to tap directly into my (mostly) latent adolescent melancholy.

Some Pizza Grudge From Twenty Years Ago (Old Lunch), Friday, 11 December 2015 15:26 (eight years ago) link

I never really got that into Blur otherwise, but relistening to Parklife just now I'm reminded that this is quite a good album, and consistently so.

Some Pizza Grudge From Twenty Years Ago (Old Lunch), Friday, 11 December 2015 16:02 (eight years ago) link

it is. although their various members are currently doing their best to quash any positive memories i have of having been a fan of their music.

canoon fooder (dog latin), Friday, 11 December 2015 16:20 (eight years ago) link

"Interstate Love Song" because I heard it for the first time last week. great song

flappy bird, Friday, 11 December 2015 16:22 (eight years ago) link

Just looked up TLC to see what happened and apparently in January 2015 they launched a Kickstarter campaign for a fifth & final album. The best-selling American female group of all time. Strange that many relatively obscure acts from the 70s needn't resort to begging but they do...

Adam J Duncan, Sunday, 13 December 2015 05:19 (eight years ago) link

Hallelujah. Over played? Only because it's amazing and everyone knows it

octobeard, Sunday, 13 December 2015 05:33 (eight years ago) link

I think the first time I ever heard Alleluia was Jason Castro singing it on American Idol

you're breaking the NAP (DJP), Sunday, 13 December 2015 16:51 (eight years ago) link

Strange that many relatively obscure acts from the 70s needn't resort to begging but they do...

TBF, they did make a public declaration regarding their lack of pride re: begging.

Some Pizza Grudge From Twenty Years Ago (Old Lunch), Sunday, 13 December 2015 17:00 (eight years ago) link

Also, three Jeff Buckley songs on the list but not "Lover, You Should've Come Over", wtf....

Lee626, Sunday, 13 December 2015 17:07 (eight years ago) link

Hallelujah. Over played? Only because it's amazing and everyone knows it

Afaik, I've never heard it tbh.

boring alt-reality reverend (The Reverend), Sunday, 13 December 2015 18:53 (eight years ago) link

I'm not being snarky. Just thought this was an amazing list:

TV Shows featuring "Hallelujah":

House, M.D.
Falcon Beach
The L Word
The O.C. (Jeff Buckley version twice, Imogen Heap version once)
The West Wing
Hollyoaks
Scrubs
Without a Trace
Cold Case
Criminal Minds
ER
The Shield
Nip/Tuck
Crossing Jordan
Drama and Nicole
Rescue Me
LAX
Roswell
Ugly Betty
Numb3rs
Nearly Famous
NBC’s Dateline (during the episode covering the Virginia Tech Massacre)

pplains, Sunday, 13 December 2015 19:09 (eight years ago) link

NBC’s Dateline (during the episode covering the Virginia Tech Massacre)

awful lol

denies the existence of dark matter (difficult listening hour), Sunday, 13 December 2015 19:46 (eight years ago) link

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

System, Monday, 14 December 2015 00:01 (eight years ago) link

We could poll best/worst use of "Hallelujah" in a TV show

Lee626, Monday, 14 December 2015 02:32 (eight years ago) link

If you think you can somehow beat putting the lyrics "Remember when I moved in you / and the holy dove was moving, too" over some sort of memorium to the most people killed by one gunman in US history, go right ahead.

pplains, Monday, 14 December 2015 03:13 (eight years ago) link

Hallelujah is the new Imagine

Lee626, Monday, 14 December 2015 03:17 (eight years ago) link

^^ It's a shame Paul McCartney won't be alive the day after he dies. Would love to see his expression.

pplains, Monday, 14 December 2015 03:22 (eight years ago) link

I'm not being snarky. Just thought this was an amazing list:

― pplains, Sunday, December 13, 2015 11:09 AM Bookmark

I don't even owwwwwwn a tellervizhion.

boring alt-reality reverend (The Reverend), Monday, 14 December 2015 03:59 (eight years ago) link

There are probably five songs on Crooked Rain Crooked Rain that would have topped this list for me, but "Cut Your Hair" and "Gold Soundz" are not among them, so I voted for "Undone" -- such a weird thing to be popular (more crooked in some ways than Pavement themselves) and it never ceases to sound strange to me all these years later. "Sabotage" will win I guess and has a good case.

Guayaquil (eephus!), Monday, 14 December 2015 04:10 (eight years ago) link

ilx knows what's up with the 213

thom yorke state of mind (voodoo chili), Monday, 14 December 2015 04:23 (eight years ago) link

"Hallelujah" probably never needs to be covered again. I quite happily enjoyed the Buckley version for years (a cover of a cover), but every rendition after his makes me run screaming. It can be so plodding and maudlin. It's like when people play "Where Did You Sleep Last Night," but by copying the Nirvana Unplugged version precisely. Shouldn't be attempted.

Sam Weller, Monday, 14 December 2015 13:30 (eight years ago) link

gold soundz v juicy... going with juicy!

that youtube supercut is great btw :)

niels, Monday, 14 December 2015 15:48 (eight years ago) link

Monday Morning Shower Thought: So how come Left-Eye Lisa hasn't vanished from the video?

pplains, Monday, 14 December 2015 16:39 (eight years ago) link

Waiting for the 1995 poll so I can vote for "Bullet with Butterfly Wings." Wish I could vote for "When I Come Around," too.

flappy bird, Monday, 14 December 2015 18:54 (eight years ago) link

Finally decided to vote for Supergrass since there has been so much love for Gaza recently on this board. =)

Bee OK, Monday, 14 December 2015 19:45 (eight years ago) link

Gaza = Gaz (auto correct)

Bee OK, Monday, 14 December 2015 19:49 (eight years ago) link

The song I most associate with this year is totally Longview

Hammer Smashed Bagels, Monday, 14 December 2015 20:45 (eight years ago) link

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

System, Tuesday, 15 December 2015 00:01 (eight years ago) link

Ignore Pavement and it's an unimpeachable top 5.

Ballistic: ILX vs. Sever (Eric H.), Tuesday, 15 December 2015 00:24 (eight years ago) link

I'm the only person who voted for "Hurt?" Dayum.

Loud guitars shit all over "Bette Davis Eyes" (NYCNative), Tuesday, 15 December 2015 00:26 (eight years ago) link

Has everybody just forgotten "waterfalls"? is it like the "hey Jude" of the 90z?

lute bro (brimstead), Tuesday, 15 December 2015 00:30 (eight years ago) link

Thank god Pavement didn't win.

EZ Snappin, Tuesday, 15 December 2015 00:46 (eight years ago) link

jesus, glory box 0? if i'd voted i'd probably have voted for it

roughest.contoured.silks (imago), Tuesday, 15 December 2015 00:58 (eight years ago) link

I had the "Regulate" cassingle. it was just the same song on both sides so I kept playing it over and over again.

also didn't know anything about street lyrics and thought "regulators" at the beginning was referring to the sneakers (of which I had a pair)

Hammer Smashed Bagels, Tuesday, 15 December 2015 01:00 (eight years ago) link

are the 3 votes for supergrass all troll votes because of gaz suddenly becoming the new drummer from gay dad?

billstevejim, Tuesday, 15 December 2015 01:02 (eight years ago) link

prolly would've voted "Last Goodbye" but would have strongly considered "Sabotage" "Juicy" or "Black Hole Sun."

billstevejim, Tuesday, 15 December 2015 01:03 (eight years ago) link

also fuck "Gold Soundz"

billstevejim, Tuesday, 15 December 2015 01:04 (eight years ago) link

did it kill your mom or

lute bro (brimstead), Tuesday, 15 December 2015 01:08 (eight years ago) link

nope, love that Supergrass song and voted for it.

several xposts

Bee OK, Tuesday, 15 December 2015 01:55 (eight years ago) link

you've blackened our name, you should be ashamed

lute bro (brimstead), Tuesday, 15 December 2015 02:00 (eight years ago) link

Gold Soundz just isn't that good.

skip, Tuesday, 15 December 2015 02:22 (eight years ago) link

lol at brimstead

Bee OK, Tuesday, 15 December 2015 02:35 (eight years ago) link

Didn't gold soundz top some pfork best of the nineties list?

niels, Tuesday, 15 December 2015 07:41 (eight years ago) link

debuting in 2nd place is the sleeper-hit 'gold soundz'; as in hit me, I just fell asleep.

The Once-ler, Tuesday, 15 December 2015 13:02 (eight years ago) link

it's an all right song, but the idea that is somehow sums up the era is crazy.

skip, Tuesday, 15 December 2015 15:04 (eight years ago) link

2 169 Beastie Boys - Sabotage 11
24 1034 Pavement - Gold Soundz 10
15 760 The Notorious B.I.G. =- Juicy 8

ILM has officially turned into a white nerd frat

you're breaking the NAP (DJP), Tuesday, 15 December 2015 15:22 (eight years ago) link

I think you might be overestimating the average frat dude's familiarity with Pavement.

Some Pizza Grudge From Twenty Years Ago (Old Lunch), Tuesday, 15 December 2015 15:25 (eight years ago) link

hence "nerd"

you're breaking the NAP (DJP), Tuesday, 15 December 2015 15:28 (eight years ago) link

i am surprised that zombie got a single vote, astonished that it got 2

Karl Malone, Tuesday, 15 December 2015 15:33 (eight years ago) link

ILM has officially turned into a white nerd frat

― you're breaking the NAP (DJP), Tuesday, December 15, 2015 9:22 AM Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Hey, welcome to ILM. Have you read the FAQ yet?

pplains, Tuesday, 15 December 2015 16:00 (eight years ago) link

I didn't even notice the 'Zombie' votes. Outrageous! As punishment, the complete lyrics to 'I Just Shot John Lennon':

It was a fearful night of December 8th
He was returning home from the studio late
He had perceptively known that it wouldn't be nice
Because in 1980, he paid the price
John Lennon died
With a Smith and Wesson 38
John Lennon's life was no longer a debate
He should have stayed at home
He should have never cared
The man who took his life declared:
He said, "I just shot John Lennon,
I just shot John Lennon"
What a sad and sorry and sickening sight
What a sad and sorry and sickening night.

Some Pizza Grudge From Twenty Years Ago (Old Lunch), Tuesday, 15 December 2015 16:06 (eight years ago) link

I've heard a lot about frat nerds but never actually encountered any. I mean, the pukka bead and polo combo I occasionally saw was pretty dorky but I bet those dudes still would've mashed me for saying so.

Some Pizza Grudge From Twenty Years Ago (Old Lunch), Tuesday, 15 December 2015 16:08 (eight years ago) link

I shared an apartment with frat nerds for a couple of years; one was an Irish fiddler and the other would have been all over that top three. I also sang with a frat nerd in college who probably would have swapped Pavement with Warren G.

you're breaking the NAP (DJP), Tuesday, 15 December 2015 16:31 (eight years ago) link


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