# So, the best rock song of the 90's... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 14, 2002, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-best-rock-song-of-the-90s/142662 "2002-12-14T01:26:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![digitalskeeza](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@digitalskeeza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digitalskeeza)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2002, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-best-rock-song-of-the-90s/142662/21 "2002-12-15T04:57:20Z")
Yuck. _Under the Bridge_ makes me feel like sitting under a bridge and shooting heroin. _Smells_ hands down. ---
**Author:** ![Hodge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Hodge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hodge)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2002, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-best-rock-song-of-the-90s/142662/22 "2002-12-15T05:19:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TridCloudwalker \* > **As far as I’m concerned, Radiohead is making the best and most original music out there today, and they are my favorite band to date. However, I don’t think I would consider them "rock"** No, I think you have your cutoff date set a little too early. I think _Kid A_ was the seismic shift that took **Radiohead** out of the “rock” category (whatever that is). As inventive, complex, and technically stunning as _OK Computer_ is, I think it still falls well within the bounds of rock music. Even in their experiments with unconventional song structures and studio production techniques you can still hear echos of their influences in such bands as **Led Zeppelin** , **Pink Floyd** and **The Beatles** > [@](#): > > \*\*I’m still going to stand up for my original choice of Smells Like Teen Spirit. True, it was not Nirvana’s best song, nor was it my favorite, but it single handedly changed the face of music for the 90’s. Not to mention touched and spoke to a good portion of the youth of the time. If that doesn’t classify it as the best song of the 90’s, I dont know what does. \*\* I agree with you completely and think our disagreement is just a matter of quibbling over definitions. I picked _Paranoid Android_ strictly on what I believe is its artistic merit. I just chose not to include popularity and influence in my definition of “best”. With regard to **The Red Hot Chili Peppers** , I think _Give it Away_ was their one really kick-ass single of the decade. If you want to discuss influential music, this one presaged the rap-metal wave of the late 90s. ---
**Author:** ![d\_redguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5fc32e/32.png) [@d\_redguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/d_redguy)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2002, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-best-rock-song-of-the-90s/142662/23 "2002-12-15T06:20:28Z")
Gotta go with **Hodge** on this one. The g/f (now wife) turned me on to _OK Computer_, and I haven’t looked back… I understand the draw of _Smells Like Teen Spirit_, but I always preferred Foo Fighters, myself. **Hodge** - I see you live in Ontario, what do you think of The Hip? _Nautical Disaster_ or _Grace, Too_ could be on my list as well… ---
**Author:** ![fizgig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f04885/32.png) [@fizgig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fizgig)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2002, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-best-rock-song-of-the-90s/142662/24 "2002-12-15T06:55:28Z")
I think _Flagpole Sitta_ was just a blip on the radar. I actually had to go look it up. I had no idea it was held in such high regard by some. As far as _Under the Bridge_, good song, but I’d say it’s even trumped by a few tracks off of Green Day’s _Dookie_ album, or Alanis Morisette’s _Jagged Little Pill_ for generational anthem status. _Smells Like Teen Spirit_ immediately came to mind when I saw the thread title. Hands down, there is no other. ---
**Author:** ![Already\_in\_Use](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@Already\_in\_Use](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Already_in_Use)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2002, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-best-rock-song-of-the-90s/142662/25 "2002-12-15T09:14:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lobsang \* > \*\*If it’s the best rock song of the 90s how come I’ve never heard of it? > > Parhaps that’s because saying ‘best rock song of the 90s’ is like saying ‘best moon-landing of the 70s’ \*\* Now there’s a good sig line. I think the best rock song of the '90s is, um… How about “The Alternative Polka” by “Weird Al” Yankovic? ---
**Author:** ![Hodge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Hodge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hodge)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2002, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-best-rock-song-of-the-90s/142662/26 "2002-12-15T15:58:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by d\_redguy \* > \*\ ***Hodge** - I see you live in Ontario, what do you think of The Hip? _Nautical Disaster_ or _Grace, Too_ could be on my list as well… \*\* Big _Hip_ fan, here. _Road Apples_ stayed in my CD carousel for months after its release. I think they lost it somewhere around _Trouble at the Henhouse_ and, despite the occasional great single, they still haven’t fully recovered :(. Anyway, _Grace, Too_ is a classic, but my heart still lies with _Little Bones_. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by fizgig \* > **or Alanis Morisette’s _Jagged Little Pill_ for generational anthem status** Hmmm, _You Oughta Know_ may also be a good candidate. I think that song got regular radio play for a solid 3 or 4 years after its release. In fact, that entire damn album got driven into the ground before the radio stations were through with it. ---
**Author:** ![fizgig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f04885/32.png) [@fizgig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fizgig)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2002, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-best-rock-song-of-the-90s/142662/27 "2002-12-15T16:53:22Z")
Ooh, _Road Apples_ has so many great tracks on it. I don’t get why so many people think _Fully Completely_ is their best album when RA is out there. _Music @ Work_ was pretty good, but I bought the newest one right when it came out and listened to it only once. Disappointing. I guess this is a hijack since I’m no Canadian, so I can’t make any comments on how popular any of the Hip’s songs were though. It’s strange how I’m the only one I know in the lower 48 who listens to them. ---
**Author:** ![whitetho](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whitetho/32/1059_2.png) [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2002, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-best-rock-song-of-the-90s/142662/28 "2002-12-15T19:42:25Z")
_Right here, Right Now_ by Jesus Jones (1991) ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2002, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-best-rock-song-of-the-90s/142662/29 "2002-12-15T20:24:28Z")
pssst, Harvey Danger got some airplay with a remake of the **beat’s** “save it for later”. My vote for best Rock song of the 90s: **Plowed** by sponge. ---
**Author:** ![fallapart](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fallapart/32/3018_2.png) [@fallapart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fallapart)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2002, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-best-rock-song-of-the-90s/142662/30 "2002-12-15T20:52:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ludovic \* > **pssst, Harvey Danger got some airplay with a remake of the beat’s “save it for later”.** True, they also had another song off their first album that got some radio play, if memory serves it was “Carlotta Valdez” and then off their second album they had “sad, sweet heart of the rodeo.” And i wouldn’t say “flaggpolesitta” was a small blip on the radar…it was on the first instalment of “NOW” later renamed “Now thats what I call music” It’s to bad so many people just thought of them as OHWs, they had some really good songs…and now they broke up ☹ ---
**Author:** ![d\_redguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5fc32e/32.png) [@d\_redguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/d_redguy)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-best-rock-song-of-the-90s/142662/31 "2002-12-16T02:52:23Z")
_originally posted bu fizgig:_ > [@](#): > > I guess this is a hijack since I’m no Canadian, so I can’t make any comments on how popular any of the Hip’s songs were though. It’s strange how I’m the only one I know in the lower 48 who listens to them. Well, I’m in the States, and I love 'em! Of course I’m originally from Buffalo, NY (some people claim that Buffalo may as well be Canada) I got my nick at a Hip concert, Another Roadside Attraction Tour. My friends had lost me for the day, and were yelling,“Anyone seen a little redguy?!” They knew I had to be burnt to a crisp. “Little Bones” came into it that night, too: Friend1 (shouting): **$2.50 for a redguy!!** Friend2 (also shouting): **And a Buck and a Half for his ear!!** ---
**Author:** ![Kyomara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8edcca/32.png) [@Kyomara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyomara)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-best-rock-song-of-the-90s/142662/32 "2002-12-16T06:17:27Z")
Here’s a question though: Perhaps Nirvana’s _Smells Like Teen Spirit_ changed the face of poular music in the 90’s. But can anyone name a single follower of Nirvana that didn’t make you want to wretch? I hold that Nirvana (through no fault of their own, mind you) actually changed the face of popular music for the worse. ---
**Author:** ![SmileyDeath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb8c5e/32.png) [@SmileyDeath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmileyDeath)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-best-rock-song-of-the-90s/142662/33 "2002-12-16T07:16:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by A wizard song for thee \* > \*\*_cough_"SmellslikeTeenSpirit"_cough_ \*\* What the hell is so great about that song? Pretty much all their lyrics are garbled or mumbled. ---
**Author:** ![meyer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ccd318/32.png) [@meyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/meyer)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-best-rock-song-of-the-90s/142662/34 "2002-12-16T07:23:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SmileyDeath \* > \*\*What the hell is so great about that song? Pretty much all their lyrics are garbled or mumbled. \*\* Spoken like one who wasn’t there. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-best-rock-song-of-the-90s/142662/35 "2002-12-16T08:16:56Z")
meyer, good catch. SmileyDeath mentioned in another thread that he/she is 14, making him/her 4 at the time of the release 😉 ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-best-rock-song-of-the-90s/142662/36 "2002-12-16T12:56:22Z")
oh dear. i don’t even know this song of which you speak… i don’t think it was that big over here. i think the concensus on this side of the atlantic would be with the SMLT brigade. although Blur’s Song 2 would be high up on my list. ---
**Author:** ![gex\_gex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/94ad74/32.png) [@gex\_gex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gex_gex)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-best-rock-song-of-the-90s/142662/37 "2002-12-16T13:31:24Z")
> [@](#): > > _originally posted by Smiley Death_What the hell is so great about that song? Pretty much all their lyrics are garbled or mumbled. What are you talking about? It is a scientific fact that the greatest songs in the history of music have garbled or mumbled lyrics. Let me throw a few names out at you - R.E.M., Pearl Jam, Radiohead… see what I mean? It is impossible to understand what they’re saying (hint: it’s not ‘coney jahwayka’) and therin lies the brilliance. Now this carries over into _the_ teen anthem of all time, (despite it not being Nirvana’s best song). But in addition to the mumbled lyrics about mullatos and mosquitos, we have a ferocious unforgettable riff, a pummelling drum attack that instantly elevated Dave Grohl to legend status and one of the best choruses ever written. Not to mention the eerie two note guitar sequence echoing through the verses and Kurt Cobain’s brilliantly versatile voice swooping from apathetic drone to anthemic scream. It was as huge as rock and as throwaway and dirty as punk. And best of all, it confined hair-metal to the category of musical joke, where it has stayed ever since. I was seven years old when I first heard this song. I saw the video on TV, and I knew it was special. I got hold of the album, made a tape of it and listened to it for hours. I tried to write my own grunge song, which consisted of a lot of screaming. I’m very glad I’ve lost the lyrics to that, incidentally. But the best rock songs of the nineties? For me, I’m thinking I’ll have to mention Nirvana, Pavement, Sonic Youth, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Radiohead, Beastie Boys (Sabotage, anyone?), Green Day, Smashing Pumpkins and Beck. I couldn’t confine it to any individual songs, though. And I’m sure I’ll think of some more, too. ---
**Author:** ![Squirebob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Squirebob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squirebob)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-best-rock-song-of-the-90s/142662/38 "2002-12-16T13:49:28Z")
I would go for _Under The Bridge_, but i also really love _Good Riddance (Time of your life) by Greenday_ by Greenday just touches me I dont know why ---
**Author:** ![Fingolfin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eada6e/32.png) [@Fingolfin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fingolfin)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-best-rock-song-of-the-90s/142662/39 "2002-12-16T14:30:04Z")
**Fingolfin’s Top 5 Songs of the 90s** _**1. Closer- NIN 2. 1979- Smashing Pumpkins 3. Bulls on Parade- Rage Against the Machine 4. Sweetness- Jimmy Eat World 5. With Arms Wide Open- Creed**_ [_Ducks for cover_] ---
**Author:** ![obo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ba8739/32.png) [@obo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obo)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2002, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-best-rock-song-of-the-90s/142662/40 "2002-12-16T14:35:13Z")
mmmmm “Sex Type Thing” by The Stone Temple pilots? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-best-rock-song-of-the-90s/142662.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-the-best-rock-song-of-the-90s/142662.md?page=3)