# Best #1 Modern/Alternative Rock Song of the Year: 1994 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 10, 2014, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-modern-alternative-rock-song-of-the-year-1994/704208 "2014-11-10T02:26:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2014, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-modern-alternative-rock-song-of-the-year-1994/704208/21 "2014-11-10T18:22:25Z")
> [@SaharaTea](#): > > If there was a poll for **worst** song of the 90s, I would choose Crash Test Dummies in a heartbeat. That song makes me want to stab someone repeatedly. …and I apologize, I think I accidentally voted for it. I was aiming for \*Loser \*and missed. I will carry that shame with me to the grave. ---
**Author:** ![SirRay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@SirRay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SirRay)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2014, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-modern-alternative-rock-song-of-the-year-1994/704208/22 "2014-11-10T19:10:04Z")
Dang, another time my favorite song off an album (Dookie) fizzled out before hitting #1 - in this case, “Welcome to Paradise”, topped at #7. Yea, “Basket Case” was OK, but when “Longview” came on the radio it usually put me into a semi-coma (which, considering the song is about intense boredom, possibly meant it worked) So, I went with Nirvana “About a Girl”, even if that was the unplugged version, with Live “Selling the Drama” getting my second vote (Wait, we DON’T use Instant Runoff Voting on this board?). BTW, Who is this guy with his 1994 list ([Playlist Research](http://www.playlistresearch.com/1990s/1994modern.htm)) - his top 1994 Modern Rock list with STP, Soundgarden, and NIN is a lot closer to my ideal list of songs at the time… ---
**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 10, 2014, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-modern-alternative-rock-song-of-the-year-1994/704208/23 "2014-11-10T19:53:08Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > I think that your description was PERFECT! I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t missing out on some _other_ Dadaist rap from this list. I was half frightened you’d report back that there’s a perfectly lucid interpretation of the lyrics. 🙂 ETA: And “Longview” almost sells itself on the bass line alone. I’m not a huge fan of Green Day, but that song belongs up there. ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2014, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-modern-alternative-rock-song-of-the-year-1994/704208/24 "2014-11-10T19:53:52Z")
Hmmm… tough choice here. I went with Live over Offspring, primarily because I think Live is the better band overall. The two songs individually are so different, it’s pretty much impossible to choose between them on their own merits. Since both songs are well under 5% from other voters, at least I’m consistent in avoiding the crowds. 🙂 ---
**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 10, 2014, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-modern-alternative-rock-song-of-the-year-1994/704208/25 "2014-11-10T19:56:07Z")
Some good stuff there. Went with Basket Case by Green Day, but it was toss-up with 3 or 4 others. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2014, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-modern-alternative-rock-song-of-the-year-1994/704208/26 "2014-11-10T20:23:54Z")
Had to go with “Zombie” by the Cranberries. Best anti-violence song evah! The sheer emotional intensity of the vocals really carries the message. You could sing it today about the followers of ISIS and it would still be spot on … But you see, it’s not me, it’s not my family. In your head, in your head they are fighting, With their tanks and their bombs, And their bombs and their guns. In your head, in your head, they are crying… ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2014, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-modern-alternative-rock-song-of-the-year-1994/704208/27 "2014-11-10T23:06:02Z")
I like “All Apologies” best. ---
**Author:** ![Nema98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d2c977/32.png) [@Nema98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nema98)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2014, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-modern-alternative-rock-song-of-the-year-1994/704208/28 "2014-11-11T00:51:17Z")
I cast my vote for the Gin Blossoms, and except the songs I don’t recall, all the ones I know I like or tolerate. None that I hate, just few that I don’t remember or recognize. I sneak peeked on Wikipedia and the next polls are very tough for me to vote since I will like many other songs. But it depends on one’s views. I do feel that many of these artists had better songs, but that is beside the point. Both this list and the regular Hot 100 symbolize the different types of mainstream music popular in the 1990’s. So yeah the Gin Blossoms got my vote. ---
**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 11, 2014, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-modern-alternative-rock-song-of-the-year-1994/704208/29 "2014-11-11T16:48:42Z")
This was the toughest choice in quite a few years…there were about 7 songs that were in consideration, but in the end I went with _Basket Case_. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2014, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-modern-alternative-rock-song-of-the-year-1994/704208/30 "2014-11-11T17:16:23Z")
Man, there’s a lot of good songs there. I chose “Daughter” but could easily choose any number of other songs. “Loser,” “What’s The Frequency, Kenneth,” “Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm” and “Come Out and Play” are all wonderful. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2014, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-modern-alternative-rock-song-of-the-year-1994/704208/31 "2014-11-12T16:07:45Z")
I agree, lots of good choices. I picked “What’s the Frequency, Kenneth,” but it was like rolling a dodecahedral die. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-modern-alternative-rock-song-of-the-year-1994/704208.md?page=1)