20 years ago, during my sophomore year of high school, I put together the first of what would become a nearly 20 volume collection of mix tapes, containing my favorite songs that I had gathered either from the radio, a cassette tape, or (eventually) CD. We last looked back at all 20 volumes three years ago to see which of my “favorite” songs still resonated in today’s digital world. Today, we revisit those mix tapes and see how, or if, things have changed in the past 3 years.
Volume 10 covers the spring and summer of 1993, following my freshman year of college, and features the top rap and alternative hits of the summer, along with some pop and the last remnants of hair metal.
Side A
Pearl Jam – Black
Hitting #3 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Tracks chart despite the band’s refusal to release it as an official single, the song was only listened to 5 times in the past 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 5 plays | 6 plays | 11 plays, most recently on 5/1/2018 |
Def Leppard – Two Steps Behind
The big hit from Arnold Schwarzenegger’s bomb Last Action Hero, originally recorded from The Blaze during a nightly song battle, garnered 10 additional listens over the last 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 5 plays | 7 plays | 17 plays, most recently on 7/13/2018 |
UB40 – Can’t Help Falling In Love
After going unheard for 3 years, the track, featured on the Sliver soundtrack, doubled its plays over the past 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 8 plays | 8 plays | 16 plays, most recently on 10/29/2018 |
Aerosmith – Cryin’
The first installment of Alicia Silverstone’s video trilogy, which finished as the 60th biggest single of 1993, picked up 10 new plays over the past 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 4 plays | 6 plays | 16 plays, most recently on 10/3/2018 |
TLC – Get It Up
The cover of the The Time hit, created for the Poetic Justice soundtrack, finally picked up some listens over the past 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 0 plays | 0 plays | 4 plays, most recently on 7/31/2018 |
4 Non Blondes – What’s Up?
The 50th biggest single of 1993 picked up a small increase of 3 listens for the ubiquitous debut from 4 Non Blondes.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 9 plays | 16 plays | 19 plays, most recently on 11/5/2018 |
Tag Team – Whoomp! (There It Is)
The unofficial theme to the Bulls third straight NBA championship, who showed up for 90s night at the game I attended in February 2015, added 30 new listens over the past 3 years, thanks to its use by the Cubs when someone hits a home run.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 8 plays | 13 plays | 43 plays, most recently on 9/1/2018 |
Side B
Onyx – Slam
Originally acquired from (I assume) B96, the tune, which peaked at #4 on the Billboard charts, picked up 9 new listens.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 11 plays | 12 plays | 21 plays, most recently on 8/6/2018 |
Radiohead – Creep
Failing to gain traction in its initial release in 1992, the first hit for the soon to be superstars, which made it to #2 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart, garnered 3 additional listens over the past 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 7 plays | 10 plays | 17 plays, most recently on 11/2/2018 |
DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince – Boom! (Shake The Room)
Billboard’s 75th biggest hit of 1993 added 5 new plays in the last 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 5 plays | 10 plays | 15 plays, most recently on 5/1/2018 |
Vince Neil – Forever
The solo hit for the former Mötley Crüe frontman increased by 6 listens over the past 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 play | 5 plays | 11 plays, most recently on 12/6/2018 |
Tony! Toni! Toné! – If I Had No Loot
The feel good song, which hit #7 on the Billboard charts, more than doubled its number of plays over the past 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 6 plays | 13 plays | 21 plays, most recently on 8/17/2018 |
Jodeci – Lately
The live acoustic cover of the Stevie Wonder hit from MTV Unplugged, which became the 15th biggest release of 1993, picked up 6 new listens over the last 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 11 plays | 13 plays | 19 plays, most recently on 12/18/2018 |
REM – Everybody Hurts
Hitting #21 on the Alternative Songs chart, this magnum opus of sadness doubled its total number of listens over the past 3 years.
| 2012 | 2015 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 5 plays | 6 plays | 12 plays, most recently on 12/20/2018 |