Songs of the Year
Songs of the Year: 1991
Oh well, whatever, Nevermind.
Grunge is here: flannel, Seattle, brooding, loud guitars, overly earnest male singers.
But you wouldn’t know it from looking at the year-end Billboard chart. Bryan Adams’ ubiquitous Robin Hood / Waking up the Neighbours mega single (Everything I Do) I Do It For You was the big winner of the year, topping the charts for 7 weeks and eventually selling 15 million copies worldwide. A number that probably equals the entirety of every single released by all the grunge acts combined. Also topping the charts were Color Me Badd, C+C Music Factory, Paula Abdul and Timmy T. Boyz II Men broke through with Motownphilly, Ted Nugent had a No. 3 hit (as Damn Yankees) with High Enough, Mariah Carey, Madonna, Bette Midler, Janet Jackson and Amy Grant also produced monster hits. If you’re looking for alternative, REM had a couple big time singles with Losing My Religion and Shiny Happy People.
Pretty much status quo.
THE RULES: It’s a simple concept. We pick five of our favorite songs that made the Billboard Top 100 (established in 1958) during any time that year. We also select five “wildcards” that can be any songs released as a single or on an album or EP that year. Finally, we also pick our “worst” song of the year, just for fun.
We started in 1958 and we’re going until we run out of years.
Standings So Far …
Birdhouse in My Soul, Jason’s pick, crushed metal faves Epic and Man in the Box. Joe still hasn’t gotten over the results. Look for Jason to pick up another easy win this week when he pits his college rock favorite against Joe’s grunge classic and Kramzer’s deep cut from a one-off band fronted by a guy who looks eerily similar to Joe’s pick.
Joe: 16
Jason: 13.5
Kramzer: 9.5
Vote
Which Was the Best Song of 1991?
- Girlfriend by Matthew Sweet (53%, 111 Votes)
- Outshined by Soundgarden (35%, 74 Votes)
- All Night Thing by Temple of the Dog (12%, 25 Votes)
Total Voters: 210
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1. Richard Thompson – 1952 Vincent Black Lightning https://youtu.be/5yw2yKNLEPc
2. This Picture – Naked Rain https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NMb75EnOVc
3. Seal – Crazy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Fc67yQsPqQ
4. Matthew Sweet – Girlfriend https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n12OBlcHx9E
5. Nirvana – Smells Like Teen Spirit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTWKbfoikeg
6. R.E.M. – Losing My Religion https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwtdhWltSIg
7. Donna Summer – When Love Cries https://youtu.be/Sq5fvkN3hQs
8. Jellyfish – Now She Knows She’s Wrong https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8fwwYc-HbU
9. Sarah McLachlan – Back Door Man https://youtu.be/4T3bkGLr2ek
10. Bee Gees – Secret Love https://youtu.be/iVseOSFTGAw
My favorite songs of 1991:
Rank-Title-Artist
1. UNTIL THE END OF THE WORLD – U2
2. LAST PLANE OUT – TOY MATINEE
3. DISAPPEAR – INXS
4. MAN IN THE BOX – ALICE IN CHAINS
5. LITTLE WING – CONCRETE BLONDE
5. I LIKE THE WAY (THE KISSING GAME) – HI-FIVE
6. REMEMBER MY NAME – TOY MATINEE
7. KISS THEM FOR ME – SIOUXSIE & THE BANSHEES
8. JUST ANOTHER DREAM – CATHY DENNIS
9. SOMEDAY – MARIAH CAREY
10. IT AIN’T OVER ‘TIL IT’S OVER – LENNY KRAVITZ
11. RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW – JESUS JONES
12. SHADOWTIME – SIOUXSIE & THE BANSHEES
13. UNBELIEVEABLE – EMF
14. TEMPTATION – CORINA
15. EMOTIONS – MARIAH CAREY
16. WALKING IN MEMPHIS – MARC COHN
17. SO EASY – CANDYSKINS
18. THE PROMISE OF A NEW DAY – PAULA ABDUL
19. HOLE HEARTED – EXTREME
20. LOSING MY RELIGION – R.E.M.
21. HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH – FIXX
22. HIGH ENOUGH – DAMN YANKEES
23. IF I COULD DO IT OVER AGAIN – ANIMAL LOGIC
24. BABY BABY – AMY GRANT
25. SILENT LUCIDITY – QUEENSRYCHE
26. ENTER SANDMAN – METALLICA
27. BLACK OR WHITE – MICHAEL JACKSON
28. HOME FOR BETTER DAYS – DILLINGER
29. LOVE WILL NEVER DO – JANET JACKSON
30. MERCY MERCY ME (THE ECOLOGY)/I WANT YOU – ROBERT PALMER
31. AFTER THE RAIN – NELSON
32. SHE TALKS TO ANGELS – BLACK CROWES
33. NOW THAT WE FOUND LOVE – HEAVY D. & THE BOYZ
34. BITTER TEARS – INXS
35. JOYRIDE – ROXETTE
36. LETTER TO MEMPHIS – PIXIES
37. SATURDAY NIGHT’S ALRIGHT FOR FIGHTING – THE WHO
38. I’M NOT IN LOVE – WILL TO POWER
39. UNTIL SHE COMES – PSYCHEDELIC FURS
40. OBVIOUS SONG – JOE JACKSON