Top 200 Songs of the 1990s, #20 - 11

Tomorrow, it all comes to an end. The top ten songs of the 1990s will be revealed and I'll be stuck trying to come up with something new to post here on It's My Kind of Scene. But, hey, that's tomorrow right? Today we've got ten amazing songs in their own right that have narrowly missed out on a place in the top 10. We're into the top 20 kids, let's get to it!

#20 - Doo Wop (That Thing) (1998)

by Lauryn Hill

"Guys, you know you'd better watch out... some girls are only about... that thing, that thing, that thing." It's a sad fact that a huge number of female solo artists peak commercially with their debut album and then fade away into some sort of musical limbo. Take Norah Jones and Alanis Morissette. Both were celebrated by critics for their amazing industry-changing debut albums. Grammy Awards were bestowed upon them and their CDs were selling like hotcakes. Even though their subsequent releases were just as good, if not better, it seemed like people didn't care about them any more. They had moved on to the next big female artist. Alanis' angry female-empowering rock was replaced by Britney's manufactured "let's solve our problems with a big bowl of strawberry ice-cream pop" and Norah Jones couldn't compete with the walking headline that was La Winehouse. You're probably wondering what I'm trying to get at here, so I'll just say, maybe Lauryn Hill gets it. That no matter what she releases, even after all this time, no one's really going to care like they did when she released The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (outstanding album name). Maybe she's better off having people appreciate her amazing debut rather than putting the effort in to replicate the success only to fail. Still, it would be nice to hear some new material. Until then, we've always got the goodness in the songs from her first and only album. Songs like 'Doo Wop (That Thing).' Wa-hey.... rant over.

#19 - All Is Full Of Love (1998)

by Bjork

Ok, the song is fantastic. A thing of beauty and in my opinion, the greatest song that Bjork has ever released. But how about that video? If you've ever wondered if robots can love, the answer is yes.

#18 - I Can't Make You Love Me (1991)

by Bonnie Raitt

Before you knock it, listen to the full song. And I mean listen to it. This is a classic right here. I've used a lot of words to describe some songs on the countdown; epic, amazing, awesome, awesomeness... I'm pretty sure I haven't used classic though, but it's the perfect word to describe 'I Can't Make You Love Me.' Maybe throw timeless in there for good measure. If you love music (and I don't mean 'doof-doof' fully sick beats, I mean MUSIC), you'll love this.

#17 - Emotion Sickness (1999)

by Silverchair

I really don't know what to say about it. Just like 'I Can't Make You Love Me' you should listen to the full track (if you've got a spare 6 and a half minutes). 'Emotion Sickness' is Silverchair's 'Bohemian Rhapsody.' No, it sounds nothing like it, but it's grand, over-the-top and feels like you're getting three songs for the price of one. It's also the opening track to Silverchair's third album, Neon Ballroom, and marked a dramatic departure from their previous releases. It's also (again, in my opinion) their best album.

#16 - Roads (1994)

by Portishead

Yeah, don't mind all the depressing songs. It's just that they're soooo good. Take 'Roads' for instance. If Beth Gibbons' vocals don't stir something in you then congratulations... you're not human.

#15 - Shimmer (1998)

by Fuel

"She says that love is for fools that fall behind," is up there with my favourite lyrics of all-time (hello future topic of discussion). Actually, the majority of 'Shimmer' is a lyrical gold-mine. It's also a fun singalong too, you know, when you're not paying attention to what you're singing about. Quintessential 90s rock is my best effort at describing it. What? That Lauryn Hill rant took a lot out of me.

#14 - Missing (1995)

by Everything But The Girl

The dance remix remains one of the greatest dance tracks of all-time. No, scratch that. One of the greatest songs of all-time, period. "And I miss you... like the deserts miss the rain." If you're assuming that I just put in some lyrics when I can't think of anything to write then.... you're assumptions are correct.

#13 - #1 Crush (1996)

by Garbage

A declaration of true love, or a twisted tale of obsession? Remember, this is Shirley Manson we're talking about, so I'd lean towards the latter. But that's why it's so good. '#1 Crush' is the love letter that most people would really like to write, but know that if they did, the person who gets it would probably freak out and put a restraining order out on them. The way Manson goes into some sort of guttural growl the last time she decries, "I would die for you," is half terrifying, half captivating, all amazing. Just like the rest of the song.

#12 - Lithium (1992)

by Nirvana

Powerful. And hey, Cobain can throw a line in like, "I'm so horny, that's ok, my willy's good," and not have the song become a joke. That's impressive.

#11 - No Aphrodisiac (1998)

by The Whitlams

The highest ranking song by an Australian artist on the countdown. With good reason. Tim Freedman wrote one of the greatest songs of his generation with 'No Aphrodisiac.' It would go on to top the JJJ Hottest 100 and win Song of the Year at the ARIAs. Somehow, it didn't make APRAs list of the Top 30 Australian songs... and yet, 'Truly, Madly, Deeply' did. W..T..F.

That's it for the penultimate edition of the countdown boys and girls. Check back real soon for the top 10 songs of the 1990s. Feel free to have a guess at what's going to be on there too!