Which of these three songs best represents the 90s?

[muon2]

As a thirty-something for most of that decade I mostly listened to a mix of 80's and 90's alternative rock. Of the the three in the OP, Soundgarden was most indicative of the three. I would tend to pull with BRTD for Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirit, but the other song out of Seattle that even more typified that decade in that style was Pearl Jam's Even Flow. Nirvana set the grunge style, but Pearl Jam did as much as any group to bring it into the mainstream.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Well I was around and conscious for all of that decade... there is no single 90s sound, because I think the 90s might be one of the most fragmented decades.

But if I had to pick some songs at random that instantly remind me of certain periods...

1990-91: Groove is in the Heart/I've Been Thinking About You
1992-93: Rhythm is a Dancer/Two Princes/All That She Wants
1994-95: It's Alright/Mmm mmm Mmm Mmm
1996-97: Anything Oasis (but that also goes into 95)/Anything Spice Girls/Barbie Girl
1998-99: Iris/ I Don't Wanna Miss a Thing/Waiting for Tonight

[nclib]

Option 3 for the poll, though the top 3 quintessential 1990s are (in no particular order):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DSSxpeLpxk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBA4fM-u1jE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ggJS0p-QQc

[retromike22]

Option 3 for the poll, though the top 3 quintessential 1990s are (in no particular order):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DSSxpeLpxk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBA4fM-u1jE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ggJS0p-QQc

That is the first time I have ever heard of any of those songs.

[Alcon]

"Semi-Charmed Life" is probably more representative of the 1990s than any song I can think of offhand.  Doot doot doot!  Also, meth.

Option 3 for the poll, though the top 3 quintessential 1990s are (in no particular order):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DSSxpeLpxk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBA4fM-u1jE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ggJS0p-QQc

That is the first time I have ever heard of any of those songs.

The second two are pretty obscure singles (at least relative to some of the bands' other songs), but "Santa Monica" got some pretty serious radio play.

[Paul Kemp]

Definitely worth mentioning.

[Franknburger]

A few

notable

omissions.

Hip-hop and techno have definitely been novelties, and shaped the music of the 90s (especially the early 90s). IMO, they should have been included in the poll.
Alternative rock (or however you want to label what the Smashing Pumpkins are doing), OTOH, has already been around in the 1980s. Deserves a footnote, but representing the 90s?

[Potatoe]

Write in for "How Bizarre"

[they don't love you like i love you]

If you want a Smashing Pumpkins song, try either "Tonight, Tonight" or "Bullet With Butterfly Wings".

[they don't love you like i love you]

Not sure what you mean?

Those were just two of their most well known songs from the era. And "1979". All certainly bigger than the one linked.

[Oldiesfreak1854]

Anyone who doesn't answer with this is just wrong.

[they don't love you like i love you]

Not sure what you mean?

Those were just two of their most well known songs from the era. And "1979". All certainly bigger than the one linked.

"Bigger" as defined how and by whom?

The ones I refer to were higher on the charts. Which of course we all know says very little (or rather absolutely nothing) in regards to quality but most certainly does in how memorable of the era they are. A song doesn't even necessarily have to be good at all to qualify in fact.

[they don't love you like i love you]

Anyone who doesn't answer with this is just wrong.

That was popular for only about a year and not representative of any style of the 90s. It's just that its popular was quite intense and seeping into pop culture for awhile. Actually if that existed while the internet was more universal like now it would've lasted even shorter because it would've been played out even faster (think the Harlem Shake.)

[Citizen (The) Doctor]

If you want a Smashing Pumpkins song, try either "Tonight, Tonight" or "Bullet With Butterfly Wings".

If there's a Smashing Pumpkins song that has endured, it is "Today". Of all of the songs either that or "1979" get the most airplay today on stations.

If we're going to remember the late 90s, we also have to remember early post-grunge, as much as people want to forget about it (Creed anyone? ).

Lastly, if we're going to cover alt rock, the lack of this is rather blatant.

[morgieb]

If you want a Smashing Pumpkins song, try either "Tonight, Tonight" or "Bullet With Butterfly Wings".

If there's a Smashing Pumpkins song that has endured, it is "Today". Of all of the songs either that or "1979" get the most airplay today on stations.

If we're going to remember the late 90s, we also have to remember early post-grunge, as much as people want to forget about it (Creed anyone? ).

Lastly, if we're going to cover alt rock, the lack of this is rather blatant.

Nu metal > post-grunge in terms of late 90's significance.

Both genres should be killed with fire, btw.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

I think this one wins for the 80s.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYH8DsU2WCk

[Franknburger]

Anyone who doesn't answer with this is just wrong.

That was popular for only about a year and not representative of any style of the 90s. It's just that its popular was quite intense and seeping into pop culture for awhile.

Oh, there was this gem as well. In general, Latin American music became quite popular during the 90s, though I don't think it is most representative for that period.

If we're going to remember the late 90s, we also have to remember early post-grunge, as much as people want to forget about it (Creed anyone? ).

Lastly, if we're going to cover alt rock, the lack of this is rather blatant.

Nu metal > post-grunge in terms of late 90's significance.

Both genres should be killed with fire, btw.

Instead of atl rock, I would rather include Radiohead with Brit Pop. Definitely made its way into Germany, and is actually quite representative for the mid / late 90s here. For the US, I don't know, though.

[Supersonic]

For me, none of them really.