Q101: 1995

How did we get here?

1995 (Or, the year that way too many good songs had to be left off the list)

5. “Hurt” – Nine Inch Nails

What have I become? / My sweetest friend / Everyone I know / Goes away in the end

Another top-5 finish for Nine Inch Nails.  1995 might very well be my favorite year of the ‘90s for the countdowns, so that’s saying something.  I’ll always associate this song with not getting accepted into the College of Business at the University of Illinois because I thought they would make an exception for me.  I had the grades and I had a winning application.  What I didn’t have was 1 measly prerequisite computer class and the admissions office wouldn’t budge.  I was hurt and figured my life was ruined.  I lay flat on my back, played this song, and focused on the pain – the only thing that was real.  I wonder how different my life would be today if I had gone away to college at U of I.  I also wonder if Johnny Cash ever dreamed in a million years that he would cover a NIN song.  Yep, didn’t see that one coming.

4. “Plowed” – Sponge

Will I wake up / Is it a dream I made up / No I guess it's reality

Ah, Sponge.  Your typical grunge group.  For the longest time, I believed the title of this song to be “Human Wreckage.”  In fact, I even still have the track listing for the custom CD I created that lists the song as such.  I knew “Human Wreckage” and I knew “Molly (16 Candles).”  I enjoyed both songs, so I was quite excited when I read about a song called “Plowed” by Sponge.  You see, my friend Tom and I always shared a “rule of 3.”  In order to buy a CD, we had to know and like 3 songs off of it.  As I excited as I was about the new song, I was just as disappointed to discover that “Plowed” was “Human Wreckage” (well, technically the other way around).  Alas, there would be no Rotting Piñata album for me.

3. “Comedown” – Bush

Who was there to take your place / No one knows never will / Mostly me but mostly you / What do you say do you do when it all comes down

Sixteen Stone was the first album I ever owned.  Technically, it’s tied with Sheryl Crow’s Tuesday Night Music Club but I’ve sort of blocked that from memory.  If Dookie wasn’t playing on my stereo, there was a good chance Sixteen Stone was.  Hearing “Comedown” always puts me in a good mood and I don’t want to come back down from this cloud, this cloud, this cloud…

2. “Nothingman” – Pearl Jam

Walks on his own / With thoughts he can't help thinking / Future's above / But in the past he's slow and sinking / Caught a bolt of lightning / Cursed the day he let it go

This turned out to be the only Pearl Jam song to crack a top 5.  Their place as one of my favorite groups holds firm so I’m pleased they were able to get a little recognition.  As much I enjoy Eddie Vedder’s wild screaming on their more up-tempo offerings, I prefer their “softer” stuff a little more.  The lyrics definitely hit home here.  I’ve walked on my own for most of my life and I can’t help but feel a little cursed sometimes.  The song always put me in a reflective state.

1. “When I Come Around” – Green Day

You may find out that your self-doubt means nothing was ever there / You can’t go forcing something if it’s just not right

Green Day tops the list in back-to-back years!  I might go so far as to say that THIS is my favorite song of all-time.  For a guy afraid of commitment, that’s a pretty bold statement.  At the very least, “When I Come Around” is on my Mount Rushmore of songs.  I’ve already mentioned how often I played Dookie back then.  If I needed to unwind after a rough day or get pumped up for soccer or bowling, “When I Come Around” was my go to.   Even now if I’m out and about and this song happens to randomly come on, you’ll see me crack a smile regardless of my prevailing mood.  I have but one negative memory of this song.  In high school, I took a public speaking course for college credit.  One of the assignments was to perform a demonstration in front of the class.  Another group performed this song.  I still struggle to get that noise and the singer’s voice out of my head.  The teacher, an older woman who didn’t know any better, complimented the boys on a “nice job.”  I fought back the rage at hearing my favorite song butchered.  Promise me you’ll never attempt to perform this song in karaoke or one of those band-imitation video games unless you’re going to nail it.  That is, if you want to remain friends.