1994: THE GREATEST 100 SONGS (#100-1)- Conclusion. THE PLAYLIST IS NOW UPLOADED IN FULL.

Caffe´Latte´presents

1994

THE 100 GREATEST SONGS

MCMXCIV

1994 saw the election of Nelson Mandela as President of South Africa. Thousands died in the Rwandan Massacre. There was a ceasefire in Northern Ireland. Conflict also raged in Sarajevo and Chechnya. O.J. Simpson was arrested. Pete Sampras won Wimbledon. Brazil won the World Cup. The Winter Olympics were held in Lillehammer, Norway.

 ‘Schindler’s List’ won the Oscar. Other hit films included ‘Quiz Show’, ‘Pulp Fiction’ and ‘Forrest Gump’. TV series “Friends” and “ER” debuted. The Channel Tunnel opened between France and England.

 

This retrospective on the music of 1994 highlights the best of the music released during that year; a period that saw the world shocked by the death of Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain and the celebration of Woodstock ’94.

Listen to all the songs on the Spotify playlist:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3BVBzpW9k3KChVhOCvVn81?si=85d85c262bc44f83&pt=55c5af12511bac5074bfbdf0094ad993

 

1

 

CONFIDE IN ME

Kylie Minogue

 

Kylie Minogue felt frustrated as an artist after years with the PWL team of Mike Stock, Pete Waterman and Matt Aitken. She was languishing as a brand and it was time to branch out and evolve. The Australian signed with the UK’s Deconstruction label in 1993.

“Confide In Me” was written by Steve Anderson and Dave Seaman. The two produced the track as Brothers In Rhythm.  Sonically, the song was a radical departure for Minogue and kickstarted the second phase of her recording career. The single topped the Australian chart and peaked at #2 in the UK.

 

2

 

7 SECONDS

Youssou N’Dour & Neneh Cherry

 

Sung in French, Wolof and English, “7 Seconds” brought together Senegalese recording artist Youssou N’Dour and Swedish singer Neneh Cherry. It is one of the most unique sonic collaborations and remains timeless.

 

3

 

CIRCLE OF LIFE

Elton John

The original ‘The Lion King’ film opens with a stirring version of “Circle Of Life” featuring Lebo M.’s Zulu introduction and Carmen Twillie. Elton John’s solo recording is also included on the motion picture soundtrack.

 

4

 

CRASH! BOOM! BANG!

Roxette

 

In 1994, Swedish duo Roxette unleashed its fifth studio album. The title track was the disc’s highlight, a ballad as tender as predecessors such as “It Must Have Been Love” and “Spending My Time”.  

 

5

 

CAN YOU FEEL THE LOVE TONIGHT

Elton John

 

Disney was enjoying a resurgence in the early 1990s with its animated classics ‘Beauty And The Beast’ and ‘Aladdin’. This continued with ‘The Lion King’. Scored by Hans Zimmer, the songs were composed by Elton John and Tim Rice. “Can You Feel The Love Tonight” won the Best Original Song Academy Award.

 

6

 

THE MAN WHO SOLD THE WORLD

{MTV Unplugged Version}

Nirvana

Recorded on November 18. 1993 in New York, this cover of a David Bowie song from 1970 finds the grunge band and its charismatic but troubled lead vocalist Kurt Cobain in its rawest form. By April 5, 1994, he was one of rock music’s tragic casualties.

 

7

 

HALLELUJAH

Jeff Buckley

Arguably the definitive version of Leonard Cohen’s much-covered composition, this interpretation was included on the 1994 album ‘Grace’. Finally, the world had been introduced to the talented musician Jeff Buckley. Tragically, the 30 year old drowned on May 27, 1997 in the Mississippi River before his potential could be fully realized.  

 

8

 

WATER RUNS DRY

Boyz II Men

 

After record-breaking success with “End Of the Road”, Boyz II Men continued scoring massive chart domination with more Babyface compositions: “I’ll Make Love To You” and “Water Runs Dry”.

9

 

CANTALOOP (FLIP FANTASIA)

Us3

 

Us3 formed in 1992 in London. “Cantaloop” was built around samples on the Blue Note label. It was principally based on Herbie Hancock’s “Cantaloupe Island”.

 

10

 

SWAMP THING

The Grid

 

Dave Ball of The Grid was already a music legend thanks to his synth-pop cover of “Tainted Love” as half of Soft Cell. He formed the duo The Grid with Richard Norris in 1988. “Swamp Thing” featured Roger Dinsdale performing on banjo.

 

 

11 BLACK HOLE SUN Soundgarden

12 TAKE A BOW Madonna

13 PARKLIFE Blur

14 ALL I WANNA DO Sheryl Crow

15 IT’S ALRIGHT East 17

16 DREAM WORLD ABBA

17 100% PURE LOVE Crystal Waters

18 ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS Absolutely Fabulous

19 TURN THE BEAT AROUND Gloria Estefan

20 WHEN CAN I SEE YOU Babyface

 

21 SORRENTO MOON Tina Arena

22 DO YOU WANNA GET FUNKY C+C Music Factory

23 ON BENDED KNEE Boyz II Men

24 LITTLE CHILD Des’ree

25 MEET THE FLINTSTONES The B-52’s

26 GIRLS AND BOYS Blur

27 CHAINS Tina Arena

28 REGULATE Warren G & Nate Dogg

29 DANGEROUS GAME Kylie Minogue

30 I’LL MAKE LOVE TO YOU Boyz II Men

 

31 WHEN I COME AROUND Green Day

32 THE POWER OF LOVE Celine Dion

33 SO MUCH IN LOVE All-4-One   

34 SO REAL Jeff Buckley

35 CORNFLAKE GIRL Tori Amos

36 THE PERFECT YEAR Dina Carroll

37 BACK TO LOVE The Brand New Heavies

38 STRONG ENOUGH Sheryl Crow

39 AIN’T NOBODY Jaki Graham

40 WHAT’S MY NAME Snoop Dogg

 

41 ANOTHER NIGHT MC Sar & The Real McCoy

42 YOUR LOVING ARMS Billie Ray Martin

43 IF I ONLY KNEW Tom Jones

44 CLOSER Nine Inch Nails

45 ALWAYS Bon Jovi

46 COME OUT AND PLAY The Offspring

47 STAY ANOTHER DAY East 17

48 I’LL REMEMBER Madonna

49 FOR THE COOL IN YOU Babyface

50 THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL IN THE WORLD Prince

 

51 DOOP Doop

52 YOU GOTTA BE Des’ree   

53 YOU DON’T LOVE ME (NO NO NO) Dawn Penn

54 LOVE IS ALL AROUND Wet Wet Wet.

55 BIZARRE LOVE TRIANGLE Frente!

56 COMA Max Sharam

57 ANYTIME YOU NEED A FRIEND Mariah Carey   

58 BABY COME BACK Pato Banton

59 THINGS CAN ONLY GET BETTER D:Ream

    60 THE REAL THING Tony Di Bart

 

61 WILD NIGHT John Mellencamp & Meshell Ndegocello

    62 FANTASTIC VOYAGE Coolio

63 BACK AND FORTH Aaliyah

64 LONGVIEW Green Day

65 I SWEAR All-4-One

66 NO RAIN Blind Melon

    67 SABOTAGE Beastie Boys

68 MR. JONES Counting Crows

69 I’LL STAND BY YOU The Pretenders

70 LONELY SYMPHONY (WE WILL BE FREE)

Frances Ruffelle

 

71 HERE’S JOHNNY Hocus Pocus

72 LOVE THE ONE YOU’RE WITH Luther Vandross

73 EVERYTHING CHANGES Take That

74 WALKAWAY LOVER Toni Pearon

75 GIN AND JUICE Snoop Dogg

   76 ENDLESS LOVE Luther Vandross & Mariah Carey

     77 SCATMAN (SKI-BA-BOP-BA-DOP-BOP) Scatman John

    78 COME TO MY WINDOW Melissa Etheridge 

79 SIGHT FOR SORE EYES M People

80 RIGHT IN THE NIGHT Jam & Spoon

 

81 THE RHYTHM OF THE NIGHT Corona

     82 TOMORROW Silverchair

83 STEAM East 17

84 LET ME BE YOUR FANTASY Baby D

    85 SATURDAY NIGHT Whigfield

86 GROOVE THANG Zhané

87 MY EVERYTHING Jennifer Brown

88 ROCK AND ROLL DREAMS COME THROUGH Meat Loaf

89 HERE COMES THE HOTSTEPPER Ini Kamoze

90 LAST GOODBYE Jeff Buckley

 

91 SHINE Collective Soul

92 GIMME Boom Crash Opera

93 I WANNA BE DOWN Brandy

94 BUMP N’ GRIND R. Kelly

95 STAY (I MISSED YOU) Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories

96 SING HALLELUJAH! Dr. Alban

 97 GIVE IT UP Cut ‘N’ Move

98 FEEL LIKE MAKING LOVE Pauline Henry

99 I GO TO WORK US3

100 CAN WE TALK Tevin Campbell

 

HONOURABLE MENTION:

Our retrospectives don’t usually include seasonal recordings, but this1994 releases deserve a special tribute-

*** ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU Mariah Carey