The 1990s were a bit of a mad decade for music. We were ushered into it by the blooming of grunge, and the subgenre was basically washed out by the year 2000. Music lovers also got a heavy dose of Britpop, but that also faded by the next decade.
We were still gifted the excellence of memorable songs by many of those bands. Some of the groups have stayed relevant, such as Pearl Jam, and others have disappeared. The tracks below, though, will stay with us forever.
Some of these tunes were not meant to be hits, either. They were simply a few minutes of great sounds. Many have started, sadly, to be forgotten.
Five songs from the 1990s that deserve more love
Manic Street Preachers - "Die in the Summertime" (1994)
The Manics might be one of the best examples of any argument that the British have better musical tastes than Americans. They reached a level of success in the UK that they never did in the United States, but they were worthy of being well-loved and well-respected everywhere.
This song comes from one of the best albums of the 1990s, The Holy Bible. Like most of the other tracks, this tune is not for the faint-hearted. An old man wants to die while remembering happy childhood memories. If the song wasn't such a banger, one might be rightfully depressed. Instead, the track is exhilarating.
Suede - "Trash" (1996)
One could interpret this tune in many different ways, and every way would be worthy. According to vocalist Brett Anderson, the song is about being in the band. But as with many Suede tracks, there is an overriding narrative of belonging to a group of outsiders, and knowing that being so is just as wonderful as anything else.
Boo Radleys - "What's in the Box? (See Whatcha Got)" (1996)
From the fantastic album (though extremely difficult to find now) C'mon Kids, this song is just wall-to-wall speed. It serves as a perfect example of tracks from this album that the band attempted to change its sound quite a bit from its previous LP, Wake Up! Not that the previous album was bad because it wasn't; it was simply extremely poppy.
If you love feedback and buried vocals, this is the tune for you. The track is cathartic, brilliant, and loud.
Marilyn Manson - "1996" (1996)
This one might be a bit divisive. Marilyn Manson (Brian Warner) has been accused of multiple instances of abuse. This bit is about the band's music, though, and in 1996 on the album Antichrist Superstar, it was brilliant.
"1996" is a pure adrenaline rush that gets faster as the song goes along. It was aggressive and voluminous. The song is a perfect mix of industrial and metal and features all the best elements those genres produce.
Placebo - "You Don't Care About Us" (1998)
A common theme with Placebo's music, just as it is with Suede, is being an outsider but being OK with that. The slight difference with this track is that it transitions between sadness and rage, but the brilliant bass line propels everything forward.
This might not be a tune one will sing at a wedding, but perhaps in the party afeterward it will get people up and moving. As melancholy as the lyrics are, you will want to shake your butt to the music.