Best Song of 1994

As we publish this episode in 2024, it has been 30 YEARS since 1994. THIRTY. YEARS. How did that happen? That said, 1994 was a great year for music. In the days right before the inventions of Napster and the iPod, radio, MTV, VH1, record stores, and CD clubs still had an iron grip on what most Americans listened to. It was a diverse mix of genres and artists, with dance hits, grunge bands, rap, r’n’b, alternative rock, adult-contemporary ballads, and even some folk-pop indie darlings piercing through the noise and topping the charts. Now, continuing our series of looking back at songs from 20, 30, and 40 years ago, the Great Pop Culture Debate wants to determine: what WAS the best song of 1994?

Join host Eric Rezsnyak and GPCD panelists Gary Jackson, Joelle Boedecker, and Kate Racculia they discuss 16 of the most iconic songs from 1994, narrowing them down until they make their final decision!

To listen to Round 1, showing how we got to the Sweet 16 down from the Top 32, become a Patreon supporter of the podcast today to access the exclusive Part 1 episode.

The Round 2 Match-Ups:

Match-Up 1: “Shoop” by Salt-N-Pepa (1) vs. “Black Hole Sun” by Soundgarden (4)

Match-Up 2: “All I Wanna Do” by Sheryl Crow (3) vs. “Stay (I Missed You)” by Lisa Loeb (2)

Match-Up 3: “Loser” by Beck (1) vs. “Come to My Window” by Melissa Etheridge (4)

Match-Up 4: “I’d Do Anything for Love” by Meat Loaf (6) vs. “Only Wanna Be With You” by Hootie & the Blowfish (2)

Match-Up 5: “Linger” by Cranberries (1) vs. “Crazy” by Aerosmith (4)

Match-Up 6: “Basket Case” by Green Day (3) vs. “Whatta Man” by Salt-N-Pepa & En Vogue (2)

Match-Up 7: “All That She Wants” by Ace of Base (1) vs. “Interstate Love Song” by Stone Temple Pilots (5)

Match-Up 8: “Gin & Juice” by Snoop Doggy Dogg (3) vs. “The Sign” by Ace of Base (2)

Need a playlist of all the nominated songs (plus a few additional ones suggested by the panel)? Here you go!

Want to play along at home?

Download the listener bracket here and see if your picks match up with ours!

Have a say in future episodes!

Finally, if you want to have a say in what episodes we tackle next, vote in our Topic Polls! And we would love to have you pick your faves in the polls currently open for your votes!