Song 2 by Blur reached number two in the UK in 1997 and became the band’s most internationally recognized recording, its ‘Woo-hoo’ hook and two-minute noise-rock structure giving Blur their widest global commercial reach.
Song 2 (1997): Blur’s Two-Minute Alternative Rock Classic Read Post »
Bitter Sweet Symphony by The Verve reached number two in the UK in 1997 and became the defining song of British post-Britpop rock, though a Rolling Stones sample dispute stripped Richard Ashcroft of all royalties for over twenty years.
Bitter Sweet Symphony: The Verve’s Disputed Masterpiece Read Post »
Push by Matchbox Twenty reached number five on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1997 and topped the Mainstream Rock chart, establishing Rob Thomas as a major rock songwriter and driving their debut album to twelve times platinum in the United States.
Push (1997): Matchbox Twenty’s Breakthrough Rock Single Read Post »
Iris by Goo Goo Dolls held the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart at number one for eighteen consecutive weeks in 1998, written by John Rzeznik for the City of Angels film and built on an unconventional open guitar tuning that became inseparable from the song’s sound.
Iris (1998): Goo Goo Dolls’ Record-Breaking Rock Ballad Read Post »
Mr. Jones by Counting Crows reached the top five on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart in 1994, written by Adam Duritz about a real evening with his friend Marty Jones and the shared dream of fame that the song itself would eventually irony-deliver.
Mr. Jones (1993): Counting Crows’ Alt-Rock Breakthrough Read Post »
Hunger Strike by Temple of the Dog topped the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart in 1992, recorded by Chris Cornell as a tribute to Andrew Wood with an Eddie Vedder vocal contribution that became one of grunge’s defining moments.
Hunger Strike: Temple of the Dog’s 1991 Grunge Tribute Read Post »
Wicked Game by Chris Isaak reached number six on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1991 after David Lynch placed it in Wild at Heart, turning a forgotten 1989 album track into one of the most atmospheric pop hits of the decade.
Wicked Game: Chris Isaak’s 1990 Chart Breakthrough Read Post »
Plush by Stone Temple Pilots topped the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart in 1993 and won the Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance, proving the band belonged in the conversation with the era’s best despite early critical dismissal.
Plush: Stone Temple Pilots’ 1993 Grammy-Winning Hit Read Post »
Zombie by The Cranberries reached number one across Europe in 1994, written by Dolores O’Riordan as a direct response to the IRA Warrington bombings that killed two children in 1993.
Zombie (1994): The Cranberries’ Protest Rock Anthem Read Post »
Everlong by Foo Fighters topped the Billboard Modern Rock chart in 1997 and became Dave Grohl’s self-declared favorite Foo Fighters recording, driven by drop D guitar tuning and a Michel Gondry music video.
Everlong (1997): Foo Fighters’ Defining Rock Anthem Read Post »
Basket Case by Green Day topped the Billboard Alternative Airplay chart in 1994, written by Billie Joe Armstrong about his own anxiety and helping drive Dookie to over twenty million copies sold worldwide.
Basket Case (1994): Green Day’s Pop-Punk Breakthrough Read Post »
Shine by Collective Soul topped the US Mainstream Rock chart in 1993, starting as a self-released Georgia recording before Atlantic Records picked it up and turned it into a nationwide alternative rock hit.
Shine (1993): Collective Soul’s Alt-Rock Breakthrough Read Post »
