# Best of the Rest of the Top 40: 1996 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 18, 2015, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1996/715302 "2015-03-18T16:23:13Z")\ **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 18, 2015, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1996/715302/1 "2015-03-18T16:23:13Z")
Alright, time for things to start getting good again. The year is now 1996, and in contrast to the last few charts, I’d say we have some really good ones here, and a surprising amount of alternative in the Top 40. There are several double-A-sides in this list, giving us a total of 34 songs for this poll. What’s your favorite? - denotes one half of a double A-side 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) [1992](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=751368) [1993](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=751517) [1994](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=751667) [1995](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=751834) 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:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2015, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1996/715302/2 "2015-03-18T16:53:48Z")
Lot of good stuff produced in 1996…including my son. 😉 I voted for You Oughta Know, but there were a half dozen others I could have picked. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2015, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1996/715302/3 "2015-03-18T16:58:25Z")
I went with “Til I Hear It from You” (I’m a sucker for Empire Records), but agree–there were a lot of other great tracks I could have gone with. ---
**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 18, 2015, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1996/715302/4 "2015-03-18T18:49:07Z")
Hey, several worthy contenders here. Still, my choice was easily made: \*\*Everything But the Girl \*\*'s _Missing_ is quite simply one of the most beautiful songs of the decade. I don’t know whether this entry refers to the original song or the (even better) remix but I’m happy with both. **Alanis Morrissette** ’s _You Oughta Know_ is a close second with _Ironic_ tied with **Tracy Chapman** ’s _Give Me One Reason_ a bit further behind. Even _Breakfast At Tiffany’s_ is pleasant enough. _I Love You Always Forever_ wins the 1996est Song of the Year Award. Interestingly, 1996 also boasts (?) one of the most annoying song of the decade: **Joan Osborne** ’s _One Of Us_. Anemic guitar motif, grating voice, stupid lyrics, soulless singing, the works. ---
**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 18, 2015, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1996/715302/5 "2015-03-18T19:07:42Z")
As much as I never thought I’d say this, I had to go with Celine Dion on this one, because anything written by Jim Steinman more or less wins by default. ([Meat Loaf’s version is better, though](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8xTZIOAPhs).) ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2015, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1996/715302/6 "2015-03-18T20:03:58Z")
Another vote for EBTG. I’ve always liked Tracey Thorn’s voice, and _Missing_, particularly the remix, is a fine showcase for it. ---
**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 18, 2015, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1996/715302/7 "2015-03-18T20:05:08Z")
There may be a historic feat this year, once I make my decision: the same artist may win my vote for best song AND for the song that is dead-ass last. “You Oughta Know” is awesome, while “You Learn” is horrible. ---
**Author:** ![panamajack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2015, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1996/715302/8 "2015-03-18T20:18:21Z")
What about _Breakfast at Tiffany’s_? ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2015, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1996/715302/9 "2015-03-18T20:20:41Z")
> [@panamajack](#): > > What about _Breakfast at Tiffany’s_? I think I remember the film. Come on - someone had to do it. ---
**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 18, 2015, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1996/715302/10 "2015-03-18T20:33:44Z")
Dishwalla got my vote, but I loved that Coolio song way back when. Goo Goo Dolls and Deep Blue Something were also in consideration. The Natalie Merchant song was pretty good, too. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2015, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1996/715302/11 "2015-03-18T20:35:17Z")
Yeah, 1996 wasn’t a bad year on the radio, even down in central Appalachia. The Gin Blossoms finally had enough good stuff out there that they overcame the loathing I had for them due to “Hey Jealousy.” Even some of the more poppy stuff like “Where Do You Go” and “I Love You Always Forever” is pretty decent. Jewel had her one good song. Alanis had one really good song (“You Oughta Know”, of course), and a coupla duds that got a lot of airplay too, even if they were like raiaiaian on your wedding day. And I’ll get stuff thrown at me for this, but while I didn’t think much of “One of Us” at the time, it’s grown on me over the years. And I might vote for that song as a stand-in for everything on the _Relish_ album that isn’t here, especially “Right Hand Man” and her cover of Dylan’s “Man in the Long Black Coat.” Tracy Chapman and Dishwallah had good songs. And I’m gonna have to look up “Missing” on YouTube at home (can’t get to it from work) because surely I heard it back at the time, but it’s not ringing any bells. Anyhow, undecided multiple ways for right now. ---
**Author:** ![Nema98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d2c977/32.png) [@Nema98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nema98)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2015, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1996/715302/12 "2015-03-18T21:32:50Z")
If there was a thread about songs you like by artists you don’t care about, Celine Dion’s “It’s All Coming Back To Me Now” would be a fine example. Great song, her voice really kicks ass, and the bridge buildup and chorus are very good. That same year Celine hit #1 with “Because You Loved Me”, which I would argue is her signature song, NOT the “Titanic” soundtrack. While the #1 song has been played to death, “It’s All Coming Back To Me Now” has been relegated sadly to the music dustbin. Same case with Coolio, “1 2 3 4” is more enjoyable than the iconic, yet played to death “Gangsta s Paradise”. Gin Blossoms, Natalie Merchant, Tracy Chapman, Quad City DJs, Donna Lewis, Keith Sweat, Everything But the Girl, and Brandy could have gotten my vote. I will say in regards to Everything But the Girl that “I Will Follow You” is better in my eyes to “Missing”. Alanis would have gotten my vote had “Head Over Feet” been here, but it never charted on the Hot 100, and those two songs I don’t like much. Eric Clapton had a good comeback and that is a good song, but I won’t vote for it. Same case with La Bouche, but it was fun not good. Dishwalla got my love in the Alternative #1 poll a few months back, and I won’t vote for the same song on these polls. Hate Joan Osborne. Celine Dion wins this election! ---
**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 18, 2015, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1996/715302/13 "2015-03-18T21:36:16Z")
Gotta be _You Oughta Know_. I’m not the biggest Alanis fan, but that song takes me back to 1996. ---
**Author:** ![panamajack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2015, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1996/715302/14 "2015-03-18T22:22:22Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > I think I remember the film. Well, that’s one thing we got. I’m surprised that I almost voted for “You Oughta Know”, because I didn’t really like it back then. I also thought the Refreshments might have been on here, but it looks like they never made it off the Rock charts. ---
**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 19, 2015, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1996/715302/15 "2015-03-19T01:01:32Z")
> [@Ponch8](#): > > There may be a historic feat this year, once I make my decision: the same artist may win my vote for best song AND for the song that is dead-ass last. “You Oughta Know” is awesome, while “You Learn” is horrible. I’ve made my decision, and this is indeed what happened. “You Oughta Know” is best, and “You Learn” is dead-ass last. Honorable mentions go to “Give Me One Reason,” “I Love You Always Forever,” and “Missing.” Dishonorable mentions go to the following pieces of shit: “Counting Blue Cars,” “One of Us,” and “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” ---
**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:** [March 19, 2015, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1996/715302/16 "2015-03-19T06:30:43Z")
Mmm, no other Natalie Merchant fans, I take it… ---
**Author:** ![tripthicket](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripthicket/32/297_2.png) [@tripthicket](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tripthicket)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2015, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1996/715302/17 "2015-03-19T06:37:42Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Mmm, no other Natalie Merchant fans, I take it… Wellll… ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2015, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1996/715302/18 "2015-03-19T12:40:24Z")
There are entirely too many good songs on this list. Eventually I settled on “Follow You Down” because it made me inordinately happy to see Gin Blossoms listed. Twice, even! ---
**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:** [March 19, 2015, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1996/715302/19 "2015-03-19T13:39:38Z")
A good year! I went with Natalie Merchant – love her, love that whole _Tigerlily_ album – but Alanis’ “You Oughta Know” and that song “Where Do You Go?” (never knew the band’s name until now) were close behind. ---
**Author:** ![SaharaTea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SaharaTea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaharaTea)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2015, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1996/715302/20 "2015-03-19T13:45:25Z")
I’m really surprised Alanis Morrissette’s “You Oughta Know” did not hit #1. I went with “Missing” by EBTG. Fond memories of listening to that song in my college dorm room while mooning over the guy of the month. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1996/715302.md?page=2)