# Best #1 Modern/Alternative Rock Song of the Year: 1992 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 5, 2014, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-modern-alternative-rock-song-of-the-year-1992/703773 "2014-11-05T16:53:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-modern-alternative-rock-song-of-the-year-1992/703773/1 "2014-11-05T16:53:35Z")
Another not bad year, but they’re coming. The only really unfortunate thing about this list is “The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead” - as an XTC fan, I think this is their absolute worst song ever, and there were much better songs on _Nonsuch_. Still, a number of good choices. I noticed there is an indie chart on Billboard, but I’m not sure when they started doing that - I may combine some songs from the indie chart with the alternative chart in the future to better reflect the idea of “alternative”, but we’ll see. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-modern-alternative-rock-song-of-the-year-1992/703773/2 "2014-11-05T17:00:12Z")
I don’t know why, but I’ve always loved The Cure, so they get my vote here with _Friday I’m In Love_. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-modern-alternative-rock-song-of-the-year-1992/703773/3 "2014-11-05T17:01:39Z")
Chose Soul Asylum, as it was the only rock song on the list. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-modern-alternative-rock-song-of-the-year-1992/703773/4 "2014-11-05T17:09:52Z")
I never realized Friday I’m In Love was from 1992 - it sounds like something from ten years earlier, and they play it on classic rock radio all the time around here. I guess it’s one of the handful of exceptions to the “never ever play anything recorded after 1989” rule that “She Talks To Angels” and “Right Here, Right Now” fall under. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-modern-alternative-rock-song-of-the-year-1992/703773/5 "2014-11-05T17:11:15Z")
Lots of folks I recognize here, but none of the songs are my favorites from those artists. So, 10,000 Maniacs, I guess, but it’s not a particularly heart-felt vote. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-modern-alternative-rock-song-of-the-year-1992/703773/6 "2014-11-05T17:38:23Z")
Voted for U2’s Mysterious Ways last time, which was my tip of the hat in their direction. Hadn’t considered that One would also make the cut, which is their best song by miles, IMHO. But I can’t give them two votes in a row!! ;):smack: Love the Cure, so going with Friday… ---
**Author:** ![Eddie\_F](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/22d042/32.png) [@Eddie\_F](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eddie_F)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-modern-alternative-rock-song-of-the-year-1992/703773/7 "2014-11-05T17:59:40Z")
Lou Reed. Cracker. XTC. Faith No More. R.E.M. Suzanne Vega. Soul Asylum. Either of Peter Gabriel’s songs. U2’s “One”. Really, I could have voted for _any_ of those worthy contenders. Almost. Because Moz’s “Tomorrow” is one of the best songs on what I consider to be his absolute best solo LP, **Your Arsenal**. (And I must say that I am legitimately floored by the fact that Robert Smith & Co. are currently ahead of the competition, including the song that I thought would win this thing hands down, “One”.) ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-modern-alternative-rock-song-of-the-year-1992/703773/8 "2014-11-05T18:01:35Z")
I voted _Hit_. I loved the Sugarcubes once. Maybe I’ll give them another listen. Also _One_ has one vote, and I don’t want to spoil that. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-modern-alternative-rock-song-of-the-year-1992/703773/9 "2014-11-05T18:05:47Z")
> [@Eddie\_F](#): > > Lou Reed. Cracker. XTC. Faith No More. R.E.M. Suzanne Vega. Soul Asylum. Either of Peter Gabriel’s songs. U2’s “One”. Really, I could have voted for _any_ of those worthy contenders. > > Almost. > > Because Moz’s “Tomorrow” is one of the best songs on what I consider to be his absolute best solo LP, **Your Arsenal**. > > (And I must say that I am legitimately floored by the fact that Robert Smith & Co. are currently ahead of the competition, including the song that I thought would win this thing hands down, “One”.) “Tomorrow” for me, as well. I’m kind of surprised by The Cure’s placing here more because I kind of thought everything they did after _Disintegration_ was massively “meh”. ---
**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-modern-alternative-rock-song-of-the-year-1992/703773/10 "2014-11-05T18:15:05Z")
Morrissey is the obvious answer for me. Tomorrow is great and his solo career peaked two years later with “Vauxhall and I.” The Cure, U2 and Peter Gabriel were past their prime by this time. “Steam” is particularly egregious. I always thought “Edge of the Deep Green Sea” was the best track from the Cure’s “Wish.” ---
**Author:** ![SirRay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@SirRay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SirRay)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-modern-alternative-rock-song-of-the-year-1992/703773/11 "2014-11-05T18:16:00Z")
I voted for Mysterious Ways, simply because it’s here and I voted for something else in the 1991 poll. That indie chart mentioned above - would it include bands such as Material Issue and the like? ---
**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-modern-alternative-rock-song-of-the-year-1992/703773/12 "2014-11-05T18:22:27Z")
> [@SirRay](#): > > I voted for Mysterious Ways, simply because it’s here and I voted for something else in the 1991 poll. > > That indie chart mentioned above - would it include bands such as Material Issue and the like? Yes. Material Issue’s highest charting song was “Valerie Loves Me” which reached #3 on the Modern Rock charts in 1991. God, I haven’t thought about that song in 20 years. I really liked it. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-modern-alternative-rock-song-of-the-year-1992/703773/13 "2014-11-05T18:29:10Z")
What’s Good? Life’s good, but not fair at all. I dunno, that song will always make me cry. I’m tearing up right now about it, and it’s not even on. ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-modern-alternative-rock-song-of-the-year-1992/703773/14 "2014-11-05T18:39:13Z")
I’m going with “Drive” because\* Automatic for the People\* was hands down my favorite album of that year, plus it still gives me chills when the electric guitar comes in on that song. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-modern-alternative-rock-song-of-the-year-1992/703773/15 "2014-11-05T19:03:22Z")
Yet again, R.E.M. releases one of the worst songs on a great album as the lead single. So, no go for “Drive.” I was torn between 10,000 Maniacs and U2. While I was happy to get a second shot at “Mysterious Ways” — their last great song, IMHO – I decided to go with the Maniacs. Love those guys, and much of Nathalie Merchant’s solo work as well. ---
**Author:** ![Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/les_espaces_du_sommeil/32/308_2.png) [@Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Les_Espaces_Du_Sommeil)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-modern-alternative-rock-song-of-the-year-1992/703773/16 "2014-11-05T19:40:32Z")
A very strong year. I voted for **The Sugarcubes** ’s \*Hit \* because I was totally fascinated by that song that seemed to come out of nowhere. A year later **Björk** would go solo and release _Debut_, an album that I listened to in bed every night before sleeping. I could have chosen _Drive_. It’s my favourite R.E.M. song but it won’t need my vote to do well in this poll. _High, Digging in the Dirt_ and _Midlife Crisis_ were excellent songs, too. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-modern-alternative-rock-song-of-the-year-1992/703773/17 "2014-11-05T19:46:03Z")
Lots of good stuff here, if it wasn’t Maniacs, it’d be Sugarcubes. I’m afraid I’m much more an 80’s Cure fan than a 90’s one ---
**Author:** ![Eddie\_F](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/22d042/32.png) [@Eddie\_F](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eddie_F)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-modern-alternative-rock-song-of-the-year-1992/703773/18 "2014-11-05T19:54:20Z")
> [@woodstockbirdybird](#): > > “Tomorrow” for me, as well. I’m kind of surprised by The Cure’s placing here more because I kind of thought everything they did after _Disintegration_ was massively “meh”. It’s like you can read my mind. **Bloodflowers** is a fan favorite, ofttimes ranked right up there with **Pornography** , **The Head on the Door** , and **Disintegration** , but it’s not as good as all that, so far as I’m concerned. And to me, “Friday I’m in Love” feels like it’s trying too hard to be considered of a piece with the material on **Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me** , but to me it sort of falls flat. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-modern-alternative-rock-song-of-the-year-1992/703773/19 "2014-11-05T22:03:44Z")
Teen Angst. If only because for once there was a modern rock band that could play it for laughs and realized just how ridiculous taking it seriously actually is. Which isn’t to say that others songs on this list aren’t great - they are - but Cracker was a welcome splash of cold water on solemn faces. ---
**Author:** ![Nema98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d2c977/32.png) [@Nema98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nema98)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-modern-alternative-rock-song-of-the-year-1992/703773/20 "2014-11-05T22:39:35Z")
Surprised pleasantly that six others also voted for the 10,000 Maniacs. Loved Natalie Merchant. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-modern-alternative-rock-song-of-the-year-1992/703773.md?page=2)