200 ESSENTIAL 90s SONGS: #130-121. More: next week.

Caffe` Latte` presents…

200

 ESSENTIAL SONGS

 of the  

1990s

Many new sub-genres were launched during the 1990s as hybrids of various styles were fused to create innovative new sounds. Females infiltrated the once misogynistic world of rap as it evolved into hip-hop. New Jack Swing gave way to New Jill Swing. Grunge exploded around the world. The music industry grappled with dwindling sales and the threat of piracy. Here are the 200 songs that mattered most -in terms of lasting impact, influence and enduring quality- in the final decade of the previous millennium.

130

EVERLONG Foo Fighters

When Kurt Cobain died in 1994, Nirvana ceased to exist. Drummer Dave Grohl formed The Foo Fighters that same year. "Everlong" was released in 1997 and made the UK Top 20. The post-grunge alternative rock track was included on the band's 'The Colour and the Shape' album. 

129

GOOD RIDDANCE (TIME OF YOUR LIFE) Green Day

Green Day never sounded as 'pop' as on its reflective track "Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)". The 1997 single peaked in the Top 10 of the British and Australian charts. It served to farewell the hit TV comedy series 'Seinfeld' in 1998.

128

IRONIC Alanis Morissette

Canadian Alanis Morissette co-wrote "Ironic" with Glen Ballard. It served as one of the key tracks on her best seller 'Jagged Little Pill'. The album's sales paved the way for many of the subsequent female singer/ songwriters during the decade. The clever lyrics helped make the single a Top 10 hit in America, Canada, Europe and Australia in 1996. 

127

IT WAS A GOOD DAY Ice Cube

By 1993, rap had made significant inroads towards a wider audience. Gangsta rapper Ice Cube dropped "It Was A Good Day" that year. It was lifted off his 'The Predator' album and charted well in the US and UK. It is considered one of the fundamental hip hop songs.

126

MISS SARAJEVO Passengers

Songs such as "Miss Sarajevo" are a rarity. Its fragile beauty was the result of a unique collaboration between Irish rock group U2, producer Brian Eno and guest vocalist Luciano Pavarotti. These diverse worlds came together as a side project named Passengers to create one of the most sublime sonic moments of the decade.

125

ENCORE UNE FOIS Sash!

For a time in the 1990s, Sash! influenced the dance music scene. The act's key hit was "Encore Une Fois", issued in 1997. The single peaked at #2 in Europe and the UK and topped the American Dance Chart.

124

LAID James

British group James dealt with sex and relationships on "Laid", a single released in 1993 and the title track of its contemporaneous parent album. Musically, the song fuses alternative rock with Britpop.

123

7 SECONDS Neneh Cherry & Youssou N'Dour

Bringing together afropop, world music and trip hop, the aural brilliance of "7 Seconds" is a shining example of a masterful fusion of styles. Released in 1994, the duet -by Swedish born dance / hip hop artist Neneh Cherry and Senegalese exponent of mbalax Youssou N'Dour- reached the Top 3 in Europe, Britain and Australia. 

122

METAL MICKEY Suede

Reviving the sounds of David Bowie and The Smiths, Suede- fronted by lead singer Brett Anderson -became a neo-glam version of 90s Britpop. "Metal Mickey", lifted off the eponymously titled 1993 album, reached the UK Top 20 and broke the band in Australia and Sweden.

121

GLORY BOX Portishead

Portishead crafted the beautiful track "Glory Box" by using elements of trip hop, alternative / indie rock and electronica. The track charted well in the UK and Europe during 1995. Lead vocalist Beth Gibbons adds drama to the track.

1990s