Revisiting songs and lyrics of a decade
The Nineties as a musical era started late and ended early — kicked in by the scritchy-scratch power chords of "Smells Like Teen Spirit," ushered out by the doomy piano intro of ". . . Hit Me Baby One More Time." Anti-pop defeated by pop — full circle, all apologies.
You've heard the story.
— Rolling Stone on the music of the '90s.
While I was listening to Rimes to repeat for the umpteenth time, a thought occurred to me. I have already talked about what the nineties music was to me, but sheer number of music that was present at that time sometimes hides away the true gems I hold dear. Perhaps, today, I will list down what I feel are the greatest songs, and small excerpts of their lyrics of the nineties. The dearth of male artists is unavoidable; fruity songs by boy bands do not qualify as good lyrics. So, apologies if your favourites are excluded.
So take the photographs, and still frames in your mind
Hang it on a shelf in good health and good time
Tattoos of memories and dead skin on trial
For what it's worth it was worth all the while
It's something unpredictable, but in the end is right,
I hope you had the time of your life.
Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)
— Green Day
Green Day's sound is often compared to the first wave punk rock bands; this was written to distinguish it from the rock of the '90s. The song speaks of the "still frames in your mind" — something the selfie generation may never even stop to ponder on.
Is she perverted like me?
Would she go down on you in a theater?
Does she speak eloquently
And would she have your baby?
I'm sure she'd make a really excellent mother
You Oughta Know
— Alanis Morissette
The ultimate breakup song of the generation, a stark outburst followed by love lost and dreams shaken. Alanis was in a rage on the dejection, something Adele re-addressed decades later — soft in tone, but the words as blunt as Morissette.
Sorry I never told you
All I wanted to say
And now it's too late to hold you
'Cause you've flown away
So far away.
One Sweet Day
—Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men
Remnants of a time when Mariah was…mmm…Mariah and spirituality was okay in mainstream music. Spirituality is also to be found in other songs —
Well I've never prayed
But tonight I'm on my knees yeah
I need to hear some sounds that recognize the pain in me, yeah
I let the melody shine,
Let it cleanse my mind,
I feel free now
But the airwaves are clean and there's nobody singing to me now
Bittersweet Symphony
—The Verve
Little precious has a natural obsession
For temptation but he just can't see
She gives him loving that his body can't handle
But all he can say is "Baby, it's good to me."
One day he goes and takes a glimpse in the mirror
But he doesn't recognize his own face
His health is fading and he doesn't know why
Three letters took him to his final resting place
Y'all don't hear me
Waterfalls
— TLC
Perhaps the most misunderstood lyrics of the decade; while for years this was a song for the dance floor, TLC describes a mother-son relationship, and the perils of their time with such brilliant use of metaphors — drugs, HIV, et al. Poetry at its finest.
Oh, baby, baby
The reason I breathe is you
Boy, you got me blinded
Oh, pretty baby,
There's nothing that I wouldn't do
It's not the way I planned it
...Baby One More Time
— Britney Spears
Guilty pleasure!
Drove up to Hillside Manor sometime after two a.m.
And talked a little while about the year
I guess the winter makes you laugh a little slower,
Makes you talk a little lower about the things you could not show her
And it's been a long December and there's reason to believe
Maybe this year will be better than the last
A Long December
— Counting Crows
Adam Duritz, the lead singer, could not have said it better: It's all about looking back…and seeing changes happening, and for once…looking forward and thinking, ya know, things are gonna change for the better…- 'maybe this year will be better than the last.'
Don't believe in fear
Don't believe in faith
Don't believe in anything
That you can't break
Stupid Girl
— Garbage
The oft repeated chorus just hammered one thought and only. Garbage claimed they "take pop music and make it as horrible sounding as we can." Maybe we need some more of this Garbage.
There's no escape from love
Once a gentle breeze
Weaves it's spell upon your heart
No matter what you think
It won't be too long
Til your are in my arms
Underneath the starlight, starlight
We'll be lost in the rhythm, so right
Feel it steal your heart tonight.
Can't Fight the Moonlight
— LeAnn Rimes
She stole the hearts with her re-rendition of Blue, but it was the moonlight that we could not fight.
There's far too much to take in here
More to find than can ever be found
But the sun rolling high
Through the sapphire sky
Keeps great and small on the endless round
It's the circle of life
And it moves us all
Through despair and hope
Through faith and love
Till we find our place
On the path unwinding
In the circle
The circle of life
Lion King Sound Track
— Elton John
Reminiscent of a childhood spent in innocence, The Lion King was the Disney movie, Elton John the iconic songster teaching us how life comes to a full circle.
...people believe that they're
Gonna get away for the summer
But you and I, we live and die
The world's still spinning round
We don't know why...
...Some day you will find me
Caught beneath the landslide
In a champagne supernova in the sky
Some day you will find me
Caught beneath the landslide
In a champagne supernova...
Champagne Supernova
— Oasis
We were high and quite often. There is one certainty in life, no matter how cool it sounded,
Champagne Supernova is one trip we don't want to visit.
I get knocked down, but I get up again
You are never gonna keep me down
I get knocked down, but I get up again
You are never gonna keep me down
I get knocked down, but I get up again
You are never gonna keep me down
I get knocked down, but I get up again
You are never gonna keep me down
Tubthumping
— Chumbawamba
Nonsensical…and we love it!
Photo: Collected