Fifty Years Of Music – 1994

Fifty years ago, I made my first appeared on the Earth.  In celebration, we are going to take a look at the year-end Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for each year of my life and see what songs resonated with me at the time and if they continue to do so to this day.

We continue our look back at the music of my lifetime with 1994, the year I settled on a major, finished my second year of college, started my third year, and turned 20.   Only 57 songs on the Hot 100 remain familiar to me today, with 42 of them appearing in my collection in one way or another.

#97: Haddaway – What Is Love
iTunes stats: N/A

The debut single from the singer managed to make the year-end charts two years running despite peaking at #11 in the fall of 1993.

#95: General Public – I’ll Take You There
iTunes stats: N/A

Featured in the film Threesome, this cover of the classic by The Staple Singers reached #22 on the Hot 100.

#92: Melissa Etheridge – I’m the Only One
iTunes stats: 20 plays

The lead single from Etheridge’s fourth studio album, it was re-released following the success of Come to My Window and managed to surpass it, hitting #8.

#91: Bon Jovi – Always
iTunes stats: 2 plays

The requisite new song added to the greatest hits album, it became the band’s eleventh, and final, top ten hit, topping out at #4.

#89: The Four Seasons – December, 1963 (Oh What a Night)
iTunes stats: 27 plays

This remix spent 27 weeks on the chart, matching its original run across 1975 and 1976, and peaked at #14.

#85: Ini Kamoze – Here Comes the Hotstepper
iTunes stats: N/A

Spending two weeks at #1 in December of 1994, it was the only single from the Jamaican artist to break into the Top 40.

#82: Queen Latifah – U.N.I.T.Y.
iTunes stats: 21 plays

Confronting the disrespect of women in society and slurs against women in hip-hop culture, the song remains Latifah’s biggest pop hit, reaching #23.

#77: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers – Mary Jane’s Last Dance
iTunes stats: 32 plays

Petty’s first Top 20 hit since 1989, it topped out at #13 on the Hot 100 and topped the Album Rock Tracks chart for two weeks.

#76: Culture Beat – Mr. Vain
iTunes stats: 13 plays

The German group’s only single to chart in the US, it went to #17.

#72: Aerosmith – Amazing
iTunes stats: 17 plays

Featuring backing vocals from Don Henley, the track peaked at #3 on the Album Rock Tracks chart and #24 on the Hot 100.

#68: Aerosmith – Crazy
iTunes stats: 28 plays

Accompanied by a video featuring Alicia Silverstone and Liv Tyler, this last single from Get a Grip reached #17.

#65: 69 Boyz – Tootsee Roll
iTunes stats: 19 plays

The group’s debut single, it became the only one to crack the Top 30, topping out at #8.

#63: Real McCoy – Another Night
iTunes stats: 20 plays

The German group’s first single to chart in the US, it went all the way to #3, where it spent a record-setting eleven non-consecutive weeks.

#62: Snoop Doggy Dogg – What’s My Name?
iTunes stats: 57 plays

The first solo outing from the west coast rapper, it peaked at #8

#61: 2Pac – Keep Ya Head Up
iTunes stats: 19 plays

Focusing on black womanhood, the rap track reached #12.

#60: Jodeci – Cry for You
iTunes stats: 19 plays

Topping out at #15 on the Hot 100, the lead single from the group’s sophomore album sat atop both the R&B/Hip-Hop songs chart and the Billboard Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop airplay chart.

#59: Warren G – This D.J.
iTunes stats: 15 plays

The second single from the rapper’s debut album, it was his second straight top ten hit, going to #9.

#55: Domino – Getto Jam
iTunes stats: 15 plays

The rapper’s debut single became his one and only top ten hit, peaking at #7.

#54: Bruce Springsteen – Streets of Philadelphia
iTunes stats: N/A

Recorded for the soundtrack to Philadelphia, it reached #9, becoming Springsteen’s twelfth and final top ten hit.

#52: Snoop Doggy Dogg – Gin and Juice
iTunes stats: 49 plays

Nominated for a Grammy, the second solo single from Snoop went to #8.

#51: Gin Blossoms – Found Out About You
iTunes stats: 23 plays

Originally written in the mid-80s by the band’s former guitarist, it peaked at #25.

#50: Beck – Loser
iTunes stats: 16 plays

Beck’s first single to chart on any major chart, it reached #10 in April and was named one of the 500 best pop songs of all time by Billboard magazine.

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Yet Another Mix Tape Monday – Volume 14

33 years ago, during my sophomore year of high school, I put together the first of what would eventually 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.  Today, we revisit those mix tapes for the fourth time and see how, or if, the soundtrack of my youth still resonates in today’s digital world and how much has changed over the past four years.

Back in February, Soundgarden was announced as a 2023 nominee for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  If they were to make it, they would be the fifth band featured on this cassette to receive the honor.  Aerosmith was elected in 2001, followed by Tthe Pretenders in 2005, Green Day in 2015, and Pearl Jam in 2017.

What does that mean?  Well, nothing, really, aside from some level of durability and commercial success.  I can’t think of anything less rock and roll than the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and trying to rank something as subjective as music.  In fact, I purposely avoided the museum during my trip to Cleveland back in 2019.  But, it seems to mean something to the artists themselves, so I guess, for today at least, we will celebrate the honor.

Volume 14 takes us into the early summer of 1994, following the end of my sophomore year of college.  The song selection continues to be  mostly alternative, with a little G-funk added for flavor.

Side A

Stone Temple Pilots – Big Empty
iTunes stats: 22 plays, most recently on 7/7/2022

This entry from The Crow soundtrack picked up an additional five listens over the past four years.

Aerosmith – Crazy
iTunes stats: 26 plays, most recently on 10/16/2020

Only a three-play increase for the final installment of the Alicia Silverstone video trilogy, now with extra Liv Tyler.

Soundgarden – Black Hole Sun
iTunes stats: 17 plays, most recently on 10/1/2021

Winner of the Best Hard Rock Performance Grammy and nominated for Best Rock Song, the band’s biggest commercial hit picked up just four plays over the past four years.

Green Day – Longview
iTunes stats: 22 plays, most recently on 10/10/2022

The “debut” that pushed Green Day into the mainstream, hitting #1 on the Alternative Songs chart, added eight new listens over these last four years.

Hole – Miss World
iTunes stats: 28 plays, most recently on 3/12/2022

Hitting #13 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart, the introduction of Courtney Love to a mainstream audience picked up six additional listens over the past four years.

Pearl Jam – Dissident
iTunes stats: 21 plays, most recently on 11/12/2019

Last heard prior to the pandemic, the song, which peaked at #3 on the Album Rock Tracks chart, saw just four listens over the previous four years.

Sarah McLachlan – Possession
iTunes stats: 14 plays, most recently on 6/7/2022

Inspired by letters written to McLachlan by two deranged fans, the 27th biggest hit of 1994 on the Alternative songs chart doubled its play total over the past four years.

Side B

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Another Mix Tape Monday – Volume 14

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 14 takes us into the early summer of 1994, following the end of my sophomore year of college.  The song selection continues to be  mostly alternative, with a little G-funk added for flavor.

Side A

Stone Temple Pilots – Big Empty

This entry from The Crow soundtrack picked up an additional 12 listens over the past 3 years.

iTunes Stats
2012 2015 2019
3 plays 5 plays 17 plays, most recently on 11/30/2018 

Aerosmith – Crazy

A 5 play increase for the final installment of the Alicia Silverstone video trilogy, now with extra Liv Tyler.

iTunes Stats
2012 2015 2019
11 plays 18 plays 23 plays, most recently on 11/19/2018 

Soundgarden – Black Hole Sun

Winner of the Best Hard Rock Performance Grammy and nominated for Best Rock Song, the band’s biggest commercial hit picked up 8 plays over the past 3 years.

iTunes Stats
2012 2015 2019
2 plays 5 plays 13 plays, most recently on 12/11/2018 

Green Day – Longview

The “debut” that pushed Green Day into the mainstream, hitting #1 on the Alternative Songs chart, doubled its number of listens over the last 3 years.

iTunes Stats
2012 2015 2019
3 plays 7 plays 14 plays, most recently on 8/25/2018 

Hole – Miss World

Hitting #13 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart, the introduction of Courtney Love to a mainstream audience picked up 8 additional listens over the past 3 years.

iTunes Stats
2012 2015 2019
9 plays 14 plays 22 plays, most recently on 8/20/2018 

Pearl Jam – Dissident

The song, which peaked at #3 on the Album Rock Tracks chart, more than doubled its listens over the previous 3 years.

iTunes Stats
2012 2015 2019
8 plays 8 plays 17 plays, most recently on 7/10/2018 

Sarah McLachlan – Possession

Inspired by letters written to McLachlan by two deranged fans, the 27th biggest hit of 1994 on the Alternative songs chart added a paltry 3 plays to its total over the past 3 years.

iTunes Stats
2012 2015 2019
1 plays 4 plays 7 plays, most recently on 12/6/2018 

Side B

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Most Watched Actors – The Late 1990s

Movie_Reel_22Many years ago, using the weekly TV guide that came with the Sunday Chicago Tribune, I started keeping track of all of the movies I had seen over the course of my lifetime. The guide would list the two main stars for each movie, and that is a tradition that I’ve carried on in my database ever since. So, given those guidelines, it is time to look at the most prolific actors that have starred in the movies that I have seen in the last half of the decade of the 1990s, corresponding with the end of college and the transition into adulthood and real life.

1996

Films Per Actor Per Year
Name Films
Gil Bellows 3
Alyssa Milano 3
Bill Pullman 3
Liv Tyler 3

A four way tie that covers a lot of bad movies, most of which I don’t even remember.  Gil Bellows starts things off with Miami Rhapsody, Love And A .45, and Black Day Blue Night.  Alyssa Milano made her case by doffing her top in Poison Ivy II: Lily, Deadly Sins, and the cult classic Embrace of the Vampire.  Bill Pullman shows up thanks to legitimate big screen blockbusters in Independence Day, Sibling Rivalry, and While You Were Sleeping.  Rounding things out is Liv Tyler, who appeared in That Thing You Do!, Stealing Beauty, and Heavy.

1997

Films Per Actor Per Year
Name Films
Patricia Arquette 3
John Cusack 3

The number of leaders is cut in half, as Patricia Arquette appeared in the classics Daddy, Lost Highway, and Flirting With Disaster.  John Cusack plied his wares in City Hall, the tremendous Grosse Pointe Blank, and The Grifters.

1998

Films Per Actor Per Year
Name Films
Jennifer Aniston 3

The Friends star makes her move to the big screen with starring roles in The Object Of My Affection, Picture Perfect, and Dream For An Insomniac.

1999

Films Per Actor Per Year
Name Films
Janeane Garofalo 4
Gwyneth Paltrow 4

A strange pairing, with comic Janeane Garofalo starring in Sweethearts, Mystery Men, Larger Than Life, and The Matchmaker.  Meanwhile, the glamorous Gwyneth Paltrow appeared in A Perfect Murder, Shakespeare In Love, Great Expectations, and Hush.

2000

Films Per Actor Per Year
Name Films
Maria Ford 5
Tori Spelling 5

As we wrap things up, your first question is probably who the hell is Maria Ford?  If you were perusing the late night offerings on Cinemax back at the turn of the century, you might be very familiar with her body of work.  Tori Spelling, however, was a constant presence on Lifetime, appearing in Death Of A Cheeleader, Coed Call Girl, Deadly Pursuits, Mother, May I Sleep With Danger?, and Perpetrators Of The Crime.

iTunes Top 200: #96 – 118

itunes_image3 years ago, we first counted down the then Top 100 songs in my iTunes library. Since that time, I’ve successfully managed to migrate my music collection to a new PC with the stats intact. So, I figured it was time to take another look, expanding out the field to the top 200 songs, based on number of plays as of January 1, 2016.

Today, we finish off the final grouping of songs tied for 118th place with 19 plays apiece and start the first group of songs tied for 96th place with 20 plays since late 2007.

#118: The Beatles – Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
iTunes stats: 19 plays, most recently on 12/16/2015
Previous ranking: #96

Recorded for the White Album in 1968, the song didn’t chart in the US until 1976.

#118: Afroman – Because I Got High
iTunes stats: 19 plays, most recently on 9/7/2015
Previous ranking: Unranked

A goofy song picked up off the scrap heap by Kevin Smith for inclusion on the Jay And Silent Bob Strike Back soundtrack.

#118: Aerosmith – Crazy
iTunes stats: 19 plays, most recently on 9/27/2015
Previous ranking: Unranked

The third and final entry of the band’s Alicia Silverstone video trilogy, also featuring a teenage Liv Tyler.

#96: 10,000 Maniacs – These Are Days
iTunes stats: 20 plays, most recently on 11/6/2015
Previous ranking: #76

The song hit number one on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart in November 1992.

#96: Young MC – Bust A Move
iTunes stats: 20 plays, most recently on 11/23/2013
Previous ranking: #70

This Grammy winning hit also appeared on Volume 1 of my mix tapes.

#96: Van Halen – Jump
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Mix Tape Monday Revisited – Volume 14

Between 1989, my sophomore year of high school, and 1995, my fourth year of college, I put together 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. Three years ago, we looked back at all 20 volumes and which of my “favorite” songs I still listened to. Today, we revisit those mix tapes and see how things have changed in the last 3 years.

Volume 14 takes us into the early summer of 1994, following the end of my sophomore year of college.  The song selection continues to be  mostly alternative, with a little G-funk added for flavor.

Side A

Stone Temple Pilots – Big Empty

This entry from The Crow soundtrack picked up a paltry 2 additional listens and hasn’t been heard in well over 2 years.

2012 iTunes stats: 3 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 5 plays, most recently on 3/23/2013

Aerosmith – Crazy

A healthy 7 play increase for the final installment of the Alicia Silverstone video trilogy, now with extra Liv Tyler.

2012 iTunes stats: 11 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 18 plays, most recently on 12/18/2014

Soundgarden – Black Hole Sun

The big hit for Soundgarden more than doubled its number of plays over the past 3 years.

2012 iTunes stats: 2 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 5 plays, most recently on 8/29/2014

Green Day – Longview

The “debut” that pushed Green Day into the mainstream more than doubled its number of listens over the last 3 years.

2012 iTunes stats: 3 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 7 plays, most recently on 6/4/2015

Hole – Miss World

The introduction of Courtney Love to a mainstream audience picked up 5 additional listens over the past 3 years.

2012 iTunes stats: 9 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 14 plays, most recently on 12/15/2014

Pearl Jam – Dissident

The latest from Pearl Jam has not been heard once in over 3 years.

2012 iTunes stats: 8 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 8 plays, most recently on 3/19/2012

Sarah McLachlan – Possession

The first hit for Sarah McLachlan quadrupled its paltry total over the past 3 years.

2012 iTunes stats: 1 play

2015 iTunes stats: 4 plays, most recently on 11/20/2014

Side B

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Mix Tape Monday – May 2001

After my tape deck crapped out in 1997, I was stuck listening to either the radio or full albums in whatever order the artist intended.  That all changed in 2001, when the new-fangled MP3 technology got combined with my new CD burner.

This CD was burned in May of 2001 and features new music from Weezer, The Go-Go’s, and American Hi-Fi, along with older songs that interested me at the time for one reason or another.

The Five Blobs – Beware Of The Blob

This old 50s tune was re-popularized by the new midday show on WCKG hosted by Buzz Kilman and Wendy Snyder.

iTunes stats: 3 plays, most recently on 5/11/2012

The Ramones – Spider-Man Theme

The seminal punk band covered the theme from the 60s Spider-Man cartoon for a mid-90s compilation.

iTunes stats: 1 play, on 7/30/2012

American Hi-Fi – Flavor Of The Week

The one hit from the band that has seemingly become the touring band for Miley Cyrus.

iTunes stats: 5 plays, most recently on 6/13/2012

Smoking Popes – I Need You Around

The local alt band had a hit with this tune from the Clueless soundtrack.

iTunes stats: 6 plays, most recently on 8/9/2011

Len – Steal My Sunshine

Another one hit wonder, this tune was originally included on the Go soundtrack.

iTunes stats: 7 plays, most recently on 8/19/2011

Jodeci – Lately

The unplugged version of the old Stevie Wonder hit from technically the first band I ever saw perform live.

iTunes stats: 12 plays, most recently on 9/21/2012

Isaac Hayes – Theme From Shaft

The song was back in vogue in 2001 thanks to the Shaft remake the previous year and Hayes increased profile thanks to his role as Chef on South Park.

iTunes stats: 10 plays, most recently on 7/16/2012

Snap! – Rhythm Is A Dancer

I’ve always been fond of this early 90s dance hit.

iTunes stats: 2 plays, most recently on 7/16/2012

Mallrats Clip

Funny stuff from the mind of Kevin Smith which I have never imported into iTunes.

Wheatus – Teenage Dirtbag

The minor hit from the Loser soundtrack was a massive hit in Australia, becoming the #2 selling single of 2000.

iTunes stats: 5 plays, most recently on 12/1/2010

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Mix Tape Monday – Volume 14

Between 1989, my sophomore year of high school, and 1995, my fourth year of college, I put together 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. I thought it would be a fun exercise to look back at all 20 volumes and which of my “favorite” songs I still listen to today.

Volume 14 takes us into the early summer of 1994, following the end of my sophomore year of college.  The song selection continues to be  mostly alternative, with a little G-funk added for flavor.

Side A

Stone Temple Pilots – Big Empty

The entry from The Crow soundtrack was taped off the radio, from what I’m guessing was the new Rock 103.5.

iTunes stats: 3 plays, most recently on 10/2/2010

Aerosmith – Crazy

The final installment of the Alicia Silverstone video trilogy, now with extra Liv Tyler, was taped off the CD.

iTunes stats: 11 plays, most recently on 3/30/2012

Soundgarden – Black Hole Sun

The big hit for Soundgarden was taped off the CD.

iTunes stats: 2 plays, most recently on 3/17/2012

Green Day – Longview

The “debut” that pushed Green Day into the mainstream was taped off the radio, specifically Q101.

iTunes stats: 3 plays, most recently on 3/30/2011

Hole – Miss World

The introduction of Courtney Love to a mainstream audience was taped off the radio, again from Q101.

iTunes stats: 9 plays, most recently on 5/3/2012

Pearl Jam – Dissident

The latest from Pearl Jam was taped off the CD.

iTunes stats: 8 plays, most recently on 3/19/2012

Sarah McLachlan – Possession

The first hit for Sarah McLachlan was taped off what must have been a cassingle.

iTunes stats: 1 play, on 3/31/2012

Side B

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