Nineteen ninety-four was a curious year for No. 1 songs because of the polar dichotomy between what was popular on the radio and what was popular in people’s CD players. The No. 1 songs were generally quite soft, performed by artists such as Boyz II Men, Celine Dion, All-4-One, Lisa Loeb, Ace of Base, Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart and Sting. The No. 1 albums, conversely, were more edgy and subversive, performed by Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Snoop Doggy Dogg, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, Pantera and Beastie Boys.

The very best music of the year, we feel, existed in the space between these extremes, in the music that defied genre and hit big somewhat inexplicably, such as “Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm” by Crash Test Dummies, and “Return To Innocence” by Enigma. Songs like these are brilliant and would not be popular today, because they’re kind of weird. But 1994 was a year that embraced and celebrated that which was safely on-trend, wildly out-of-the-box, and anything in the middle.

A particular act that emerged in 1994 we’d be remiss not to focus on is the October Project. A precursor to Evanescence, this group merged tremendous songwriting with gorgeous arrangements, haunting vocal performances and intricate instrumental performances, to create one-of-a-kind music that was the best of the decade. The first of their two full-length albums hit in 1994, spawning a few mild Alternative radio hits and a cult following. Their best song was “Bury My Lovely,” but their eponymous debut album was a masterpiece from start to finish, and we highly encourage anyone to give it a listen.

Here were our favorite songs from 1994. Enjoy this playlist if you so choose!

1. “Bury My Lovely” October Project
2. “I Want You” Juliet Roberts
3. “Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm” Crash Test Dummies
4. “Circle Of Life” Elton John
5. “Return To Innocence” Enigma
6. “100% Pure Love” Crystal Waters
7. “Sleeping In My Car” Roxette
8. “Prayer For The Dying” Seal
9. “Lucky One” Amy Grant
10. “Choose” Color Me Badd
11. “All I Wanna Do” Sheryl Crow
12. “The Power Of Love” Celine Dion
13. “Something’s Always Wrong” Toad the Wet Sprocket
14. “Stay (I Missed You)” Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories
15. “Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)” US3
16. “All About Soul” Billy Joel
17. “Turn The Beat Around” Gloria Estefan
18. “True Love” Elton John & Kiki Dee
19. “Willing To Forgive” Aretha Franklin
20. “The Sweetest Days” Vanessa Williams
21. “If You Go” Jon Secada
22. “Never Should’ve Let You Go” Hi-Five
23. “You Gotta Be” Des’ree
24. “The Sign” Ace Of Base
25. “I Miss You” Aaron Hall
26. “Can You Feel The Love Tonight” Elton John
27. “Zombie” The Cranberries
28. “Living In Danger” Ace Of Base
29. “Mary Jane’s Last Dance” Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
30. “Come To My Window” Melissa Etheridge
31. “I Wouldn’t Normally Do This Kind Of Thing” Pet Shop Boys
32. “As Long As I Can Dream” Exposé
33. “Back & Forth” Aaliyah
34. “Misled” Celine Dion
35. “Creep” TLC
36. “When We Dance” Sting
37. “Stay” Eternal
38. “Least Complicated” Indigo Girls
39. “Sweet Lullaby” Deep Forest
40. “In Walked Love” Exposé
41. “Moving On Up” M People
42. “None Of Your Business” Salt-N-Pepa
43. “Anything” SWV
44. “Another Night” Real McCoy
45. “Will You Be There (In The Morning)” Heart
46. “Cannonball” The Breeders
47. “I’ll Stand By You” The Pretenders
48. “New Age Girl” Deadeye Dick
49. “Anytime You Need A Friend” Mariah Carey
50. “I Got You Babe” Cher w/ Beavis & Butt-head
51. “I Can See Clearly Now” Jimmy Cliff
52. “Don’t Turn Around” Ace Of Base
53. “Good Enough” Sarah McLachlan
54. “Rock And Roll Dreams Come Through” Meat Loaf
55. “Wild Night” John Mellencamp & Me’shell NdegéOcello
56. “You Better Wait” Steve Perry
57. “Without You” Mariah Carey
58. “Right Beside You” Sophie B. Hawkins
59. “Funkdafied” Da Brat
60. “Sending My Love” Zhané
61. “I’m In The Mood” CeCe Peniston
62. “How Many Ways” Toni Braxton
63. “The Most Beautiful Girl In The World” Prince
64. “Beautiful In My Eyes” Joshua Kadison
65. “All For Love” Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart & Sting
66. “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” Elton John & RuPaul
67. “Endless Love” Luther Vandross & Mariah Carey
68. “Headline News” “Weird Al” Yankovic
69. “Love Sneakin’ Up On You” Bonnie Raitt
70. “Dream On Dreamer” Brand New Heavies
71. “Sukiyaki” 4 P.M.
72. “Body & Soul” Anita Baker
73. “I’ll Remember” Madonna
74. “Until I Fall Away” Gin Blossoms
75. “Can We Talk” Tevin Campbell
76. “Higher Ground” UB40
77. “Understanding” Xscape
78. “Never Keeping Secrets” Babyface
79. “Possession” Sarah McLachlan
80. “Always” Erasure
81. “Sentimental” Kenny G
82. “Take It Back” Pink Floyd
83. “Secret” Madonna
84. “I Swear” All-4-One
85. “Cry For You” Jodeci
86. “Groove Thang” Zhané
87. “You Want This” Janet Jackson
88. “You Mean The World To Me” Toni Braxton
89. “Always” Bon Jovi
90. “Now And Forever” Richard Marx
91. “Something In Common” Bobby Brown w/ Whitney Houston
92. “December, 1963 (Oh, What A Night)” Four Seasons
93. “Mr. Jones” Counting Crows
94. “Crazy” Aerosmith
95. “Always In My Heart” Tevin Campbell
96. “Hey Santa!” Carnie & Wendy Wilson
97. “Stroke You Up” Changing Faces
98. “You” Bonnie Raitt
99. “Everyday” Phil Collins
100. “Queen Of The Night” Whitney Houston

– John