# Best of the Rest of the Top 40: 1992 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 10, 2015, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1992/714701 "2015-03-10T16:37:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**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:** [March 10, 2015, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1992/714701/1 "2015-03-10T16:37:12Z")
The year is now 1992, and this year marks a significant change in how the year-end chart was compiled. Up until now, each song that charted in the Hot 100 received points each week on a scale inversely related to its position in the chart (I.e. the #1 song got 100 points, the #2 song got 99 points, the #3 got 98 points, etc.) and at the end of the year those scores were used to create the chart. With Nielsen SoundScan now providing accurate-to-the unit sales figures, and newfangled computers to do the math for them, Billboard abandoned that system this year, and the year-end chart ever since has been compiled in the exact same way the weekly charts are, just over a period of 52 weeks instead of seven days. As I mentioned previously, this is when the number of songs that go to #1 drops off, so I didn’t have to go any further than #40, and we have 27 songs to vote on here. (Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” also reentered the year-end chart at #39 this year, having peaked at #2 after its reissue alongside the Wayne’s World soundtrack, but since it won the poll for 1976 I have disqualified it from this year’s poll.) What’s your favorite? Previous polls: [1956](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=744629) [1957](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=744819) [1958](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=744978) [1959](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=745151) [1960](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=745331) [1961](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=745525) [1962](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=745733) [1963](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=745956) [1964](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=746118) [1965](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=746342) [1966](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=746498) [1967](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=746735) [1968](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=746932) [1969](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=747152) [1970](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=747345) [1971](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=747517) [1972](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=747737) [1973](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=747976) [1974](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=748145) [1975](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=748360) [1976](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=748527) [1977](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=748653) [1978](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=748866) [1979](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=749060) [1980](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=749217) [1981](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=749398) [1982](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=749610) [1983](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=749795) [1984](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=749949) [1985](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=750154) [1986](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=750299) [1987](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=750488) [1988](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=750641) [1989](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=750845) [1990](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=751015) [1991](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=751202) Best #1 single polls: [1955-56](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=731649) [1957](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=731871) [1958](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=732021) [1959](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=732199)[1960](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=732526) [1961](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=732691) [1962](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=732872) [1963](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=733112) [1964](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=733297) [1965](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=733526) [1966](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=733750) [1967](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=733958) [1968](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=734168) [1969](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=734331) [1970](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=734535) [1971](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=734741) [1972](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=735107) [1973](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=735304) [1974](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=735502) [1975](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=735659) [1976](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=735871) [1977](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=736076) [1978](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=736316) [1979](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=736501) [1980](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=736705) [1981](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=736957) [1982](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=737099) [1983](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=737315) [1984](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=737488) [1985](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=737732) [1986](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=737957) [1987](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=738178) [1988](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=738403) [1989](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=738639) [1990](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=738829) [1991](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=739067) [1992](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=739360) [1993](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=739525) [1994](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=739880) [1995](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=740122) [1996](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=740302) [1997](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=740497) [1998](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=740709) [1999](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=740859) [2000](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=741047) [2001](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=741267) [2002](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=741450) [2003](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=741604) [2004](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=741730) [2005](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=741915) [2006](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=742069) [2007](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=742147) [2008](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=742282) [2009](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=742467) [2010](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=742676) [2011](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=742846) [2012](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=675664) [2013](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=710843) [2014](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=743899) [1950s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=743046) [1960s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=743240) [1970s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=743399) [1980s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=743597) [1990s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=743803) [2000s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=743981) [2010s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=744176) [All-time](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=744358) ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2015, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1992/714701/2 "2015-03-10T16:44:04Z")
Wow, some great songs, but it’s “November Rain” by a long shot. It’s one of the great songs of all time. “Under the Bridge” is an honorable, but distant second. We’re getting into the music that shaped my teenage years, so lots of nostalgia. ---
**Author:** ![Nema98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d2c977/32.png) [@Nema98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nema98)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2015, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1992/714701/3 "2015-03-10T17:06:49Z")
A boatload of good songs, unlike 1991 this is really hard to choose. I have a feeling many songs will at least get one vote. I know I won’t be voting for Guns N Roses nor Nirvana, but the hidden gems that have been forgotten. ---
**Author:** ![Art\_Rock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/art_rock/32/525_2.png) [@Art\_Rock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Art_Rock)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2015, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1992/714701/4 "2015-03-10T17:11:27Z")
Clapton for me, ahead of RHCP and Nirvana. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2015, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1992/714701/5 "2015-03-10T17:11:47Z")
I can’t not vote for Nirvana here, so there it goes. Don’t like most any of these songs. Prince would be my runner up. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2015, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1992/714701/6 "2015-03-10T17:13:41Z")
House of Pain and the semi-official Irish American Anthem Especially performed by these guys [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/pnETGmc3dhg/hqdefault.jpg "Amish Outlaws JUMP AROUND LIVE") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnETGmc3dhg) ---
**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:** [March 10, 2015, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1992/714701/7 "2015-03-10T17:15:25Z")
> [@kopek](#): > > House of Pain and the semi-official Irish American Anthem Hold on, I thought [“Shipping Up To Boston”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-64CaD8GXw) was the semi-official Irish-American anthem. ---
**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:** [March 10, 2015, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1992/714701/8 "2015-03-10T17:23:37Z")
I suspect the Nirvana song will win, but my vote was for the Chili Peppers. ---
**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:** [March 10, 2015, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1992/714701/9 "2015-03-10T17:52:12Z")
I was sorely tempted to vote for _Achy Breaky Heart_, just to annoy people. Instead I went with Nirvana in a close decision over RHCP. ---
**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:** [March 10, 2015, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1992/714701/10 "2015-03-10T18:01:09Z")
This will be a very tight decision once I have time to consider all the choices. There are far more good songs than I thought there would be. ---
**Author:** ![panamajack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2015, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1992/714701/11 "2015-03-10T18:18:21Z")
It’s almost unfair that _Smells Like Teen Spirit_ didn’t hit #1, because there’s a decent amount of competition underneath it. I’d have given it to _November Rain_ otherwise. ---
**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:** [March 10, 2015, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1992/714701/12 "2015-03-10T19:17:44Z")
Wow, _Jump around_ came out in 1992? I’d always thought of it as a mid-90s song. As others have already pointed out: this was a _very good_ year. I’d be inclined to vote for _Tears in Heaven_ but that song depresses me, which I guess is the point. _Smells Like Teen Spirit_ is the obvious choice but… no. Next, _November Rain_ (killer final solo) and _Under the Bridge_. Good songs but… Should I try the pop/soul road? _I Love your Smile_ was a pleasant, sunny number. A little bit too inconsequential, though. I’m tempted to vote for _My Lovin’ (You’re never Gonna Get It)_. I really liked it at the time (still do) although it was definitely not my type of music. But then, I remembered the effect that **Sophie B. Hawkins** ’ _Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover_ had on 18 year-old me. So, you’re telling me that a song can be hot without being too obvious? A little bit of subtlety, here? That’s… troubling. In a good way. ---
**Author:** ![SaharaTea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SaharaTea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaharaTea)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2015, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1992/714701/13 "2015-03-10T20:30:51Z")
> [@Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](#): > > But then, I remembered the effect that **Sophie B. Hawkins** ’ _Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover_ had on 18 year-old me. So, you’re telling me that a song can be hot without being too obvious? A little bit of subtlety, here? That’s… troubling. In a good way. Still one of my favorite songs of the 90s, and takes me right back to high school. Very sexy song. ---
**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:** [March 10, 2015, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1992/714701/14 "2015-03-10T20:49:05Z")
I had to go with Tears In Heaven for this one - even though I’ve never been a father, and I’ve been lucky enough that nobody close to me has died yet, and I don’t even believe in an afterlife, I can _feel_ Clapton’s grief like it was my own, and that’s what music is really all about - getting the listener to feel what you feel. Nirvana and GnR get honorable mentions in my book. ---
**Author:** ![Deeg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deeg/32/2955_2.png) [@Deeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deeg)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2015, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1992/714701/15 "2015-03-10T20:57:49Z")
Lot’s of choices for me and I’ll have to think about it. I’m shocked that one of the all-time great albums, U2’s _Achtung Baby_, with one of the all-time great songs (One) is not on here. ---
**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:** [March 10, 2015, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1992/714701/16 "2015-03-10T21:13:22Z")
> [@Deeg](#): > > Lot’s of choices for me and I’ll have to think about it. I’m shocked that one of the all-time great albums, U2’s _Achtung Baby_, with one of the all-time great songs (One) is not on here. “One” was #60 on the year-end chart, and so didn’t make this list. ---
**Author:** ![Nema98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d2c977/32.png) [@Nema98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nema98)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2015, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1992/714701/17 "2015-03-10T21:55:57Z")
Sophie B Hawkins got my vote, even as a 5 year old I knew there was something sexual and good about that song. Don Henley/Patty Smyth Technotronic En Vogue(The Credence Clearwater Revival of RnB, regarding the lawsuits against each other) Shanice Celine Dion(a great cover and one of few songs of hers I like) TLC Eric Clapton Red Hot Chili Peppers Tom Cochrane Mariah Carey Cece Peniston All good songs. As for Nirvana, I imagine some who voted for it and also did in the Alternative Number 1 poll also, HOW BORING! Culturally relevant song, but overrated and there were much better songs from that album and Nirvana in general. I was listening to “In Bloom” and it blows SLTP out the water. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2015, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1992/714701/18 "2015-03-10T22:02:02Z")
Ah, we’re in the heart of my high school years. Lots of nostalgic favorites. Went with Teen Spirit. Almost went with November Rain. Seventeen year old me would’ve probably voted for Tennessee. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2015, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1992/714701/19 "2015-03-10T23:41:14Z")
I picked Clapton, but as soon as I saw Nirvana on the poll options, I knew it was going to take it in a walk. ---
**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:** [March 11, 2015, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1992/714701/20 "2015-03-11T01:37:14Z")
I agree with **Nema98** on “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” It’s one of my least favorite Nirvana songs. Here is the \*long \*list of songs that I did consider: Tears in Heaven My Lovin’ (You’re Never Gonna Get It) Under the Bridge November Rain Remember the Time Finally Jump Around Diamonds and Pearls Damn I Wish I was Your Lover It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday Tennessee In a pretty major upset, “Finally” finishes higher than all the others in the world-famous **Ponch8 Music Rating System**. I wouldn’t be surprised if I end up being the only one to vote for it, but it kicks ass. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1992/714701.md?page=2)