30 Songs From The 90s That Will Make You Wonder What The Hell Happened To Music

By Travis Valenti

As I stare out the window from my desk at work and admire the towering silver structure that sits directly in front of me, just dwarfing the mere 20 floors that I had to ride up this morning, and while perhaps you are doing the same, I think of how we are all in the middle of an epidemic. A music epidemic. During a time where “artists” such as Justin Bieber, One Direction, Kanye West, and Miley Cyrus are controlling the airwaves, it’s refreshing to hear music that reminds you of growing up. Music that existed during a time where your popularity didn’t depend on how well you twerked, or how outrageous it was to spit on your own fans from a hotel balcony, or the fact that you impregnated a woman who was famous for being famous, who just so happened to make a sex tape with something called a Ray J.

No, I’m talking about a time where alternative rock was at its best, and where grunge changed everything you knew about music. A time where musicians were talented enough to play their own instruments, and write their own lyrics. Lyrics that actually made you think. Lyrics that had real life messages, or told a fascinating story. Lyrics that made you stop to ponder the meaning of what you were hearing. These were the songs that will last the test of time, and define the generation that grew up in the 90’s.

I once saw a quote from Slash regarding the music of today, and I would say that he is right on point.

“Their little one hit career is fueled by obsessive musically illiterate teenage girls, and their songs, which have recycled lyrics and shallow meaning, specifically account for that. This is the same reason why One Direction practically IS the new Justin Bieber, because their songs too are meaningless and repetitive and meant to be for teenage girls. True musicians who put effort into their music careers don’t get enough recognition because stupid fake bullshit like this does. It’s really sad.”

Honestly, who knows if this quote is in fact directly from Slash, but it would be difficult to argue against this statement.

So here’s a present from me to you. Another 30 songs from the 90’s that will truly make you wonder, “what the hell happened to music?!”

1. Nirvana – “Smells Like Teen Spirit”

2. The Verve Pipe – “The Freshmen”

3. Pearl Jam – “Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town”

4. Better Than Ezra – “Good”

5. Dave Matthews Band – “Crash Into Me”

6. Rage Against the Machine – “Bulls on Parade”

7. Red Hot Chili Peppers – “Under the Bridge”

8. Foo Fighters – “Everlong”

9. Radiohead – “Creep”

10. Stone Temple Pilots – “Plush”