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!
- “Bury My Lovely” October Project
- “I Want You” Juliet Roberts
- “Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm” Crash Test Dummies
- “Circle Of Life” Elton John
- “Return To Innocence” Enigma
- “100% Pure Love” Crystal Waters
- “Sleeping In My Car” Roxette
- “Prayer For The Dying” Seal
- “Lucky One” Amy Grant
- “Choose” Color Me Badd
- “All I Wanna Do” Sheryl Crow
- “The Power Of Love” Celine Dion
- “Something’s Always Wrong” Toad the Wet Sprocket
- “Stay (I Missed You)” Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories
- “Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)” US3
- “All About Soul” Billy Joel
- “Turn The Beat Around” Gloria Estefan
- “True Love” Elton John & Kiki Dee
- “Willing To Forgive” Aretha Franklin
- “The Sweetest Days” Vanessa Williams
- “If You Go” Jon Secada
- “Never Should’ve Let You Go” Hi-Five
- “You Gotta Be” Des’ree
- “The Sign” Ace Of Base
- “I Miss You” Aaron Hall
- “Can You Feel The Love Tonight” Elton John
- “Zombie” The Cranberries
- “Living In Danger” Ace Of Base
- “Mary Jane’s Last Dance” Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
- “Come To My Window” Melissa Etheridge
- “I Wouldn’t Normally Do This Kind Of Thing” Pet Shop Boys
- “As Long As I Can Dream” Exposé
- “Back & Forth” Aaliyah
- “Misled” Celine Dion
- “Creep” TLC
- “When We Dance” Sting
- “Stay” Eternal
- “Least Complicated” Indigo Girls
- “Sweet Lullaby” Deep Forest
- “In Walked Love” Exposé
- “Moving On Up” M People
- “None Of Your Business” Salt-N-Pepa
- “Anything” SWV
- “Another Night” Real McCoy
- “Will You Be There (In The Morning)” Heart
- “Cannonball” The Breeders
- “I’ll Stand By You” The Pretenders
- “New Age Girl” Deadeye Dick
- “Anytime You Need A Friend” Mariah Carey
- “I Got You Babe” Cher w/ Beavis & Butt-head
- “I Can See Clearly Now” Jimmy Cliff
- “Don’t Turn Around” Ace Of Base
- “Good Enough” Sarah McLachlan
- “Rock And Roll Dreams Come Through” Meat Loaf
- “Wild Night” John Mellencamp & Me’shell NdegéOcello
- “You Better Wait” Steve Perry
- “Without You” Mariah Carey
- “Right Beside You” Sophie B. Hawkins
- “Funkdafied” Da Brat
- “Sending My Love” Zhané
- “I’m In The Mood” CeCe Peniston
- “How Many Ways” Toni Braxton
- “The Most Beautiful Girl In The World” Prince
- “Beautiful In My Eyes” Joshua Kadison
- “All For Love” Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart & Sting
- “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” Elton John & RuPaul
- “Endless Love” Luther Vandross & Mariah Carey
- “Headline News” “Weird Al” Yankovic
- “Love Sneakin’ Up On You” Bonnie Raitt
- “Dream On Dreamer” Brand New Heavies
- “Sukiyaki” 4 P.M.
- “Body & Soul” Anita Baker
- “I’ll Remember” Madonna
- “Until I Fall Away” Gin Blossoms
- “Can We Talk” Tevin Campbell
- “Higher Ground” UB40
- “Understanding” Xscape
- “Never Keeping Secrets” Babyface
- “Possession” Sarah McLachlan
- “Always” Erasure
- “Sentimental” Kenny G
- “Take It Back” Pink Floyd
- “Secret” Madonna
- “I Swear” All-4-One
- “Cry For You” Jodeci
- “Groove Thang” Zhané
- “You Want This” Janet Jackson
- “You Mean The World To Me” Toni Braxton
- “Always” Bon Jovi
- “Now And Forever” Richard Marx
- “Something In Common” Bobby Brown w/ Whitney Houston
- “December, 1963 (Oh, What A Night)” Four Seasons
- “Mr. Jones” Counting Crows
- “Crazy” Aerosmith
- “Always In My Heart” Tevin Campbell
- “Hey Santa!” Carnie & Wendy Wilson
- “Stroke You Up” Changing Faces
- “You” Bonnie Raitt
- “Everyday” Phil Collins
- “Queen Of The Night” Whitney Houston
– John