As you may or may not have seen, we here at Place to Be Nation having been running a tournament to determine the Greatest Song of the 90s. Because the 90s were so awesome, we decided to blow things out and have 640 song entered into the field. There are many genres and artists represented and thanks to the varied tastes of the Nation members, there has also been quite a bit of controversy surrounding some of the results. So, to help solve some of the injustices that have gone down, Justin Rozzero, Andrew Flanagan, Jason Greenhouse and Roger Morrissette hopped into a Facebook chat and hashed all of this out. After intense discussion, they have decided which songs they believe should advance on through the tournament, starting with Round One. Here is their transcript for your enjoyment!
Roger Morrissette
I’m fine with the songs that moved on in Group A. I did not vote for Green Day or Mariah and did vote for PM Dawn and Venga Boys. Group A illustrates my biggest beef with the whole contest…Hip hop getting ignored by PTBN! While massive, chart-topping hits Boombastic and Rump Shaker barely squeak in, Green Day’s 10th best song comes in second. It’s a joke. PM Dawn was one of my favorite groups back in 5th grade and their cellar-dwelling finish keeps me up at night.
JT Rozzero
I am also good either results here. If I could change anything I would have pushed the Venga Boys over Green Day mainly because of how iconic, and annoying, the song is. Everyone knows that beat! THE VENGA BUS IS COMING!
I am curious if the trend Roger mentioned continues as we go. Perhaps Green Day advanced because voters were unsure if they would get another chance to push them along?
Jason Greenhouse
I’m fine the results. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones received over 250 votes and deserved every last one of them. Green day is probably my least favorite band of all time and I tend to ignore their name whenever I see a song by them in the tournament. But, these goofs did deliver hit after hit in the 90s
Rump Shaker is one of the best one-hit wonders of all time, so I’m glad to see Wreckx-n-Effect advance. I’m along with Roger in that PM Dawn getting hosed here is a travesty. The hits that these guys pumped out take me back to the 6th and 7th grade. These guys had such a unique sound. Long live early 90s hip hop/soul and PM Dawn.
Andrew Flanagan
Embarrassing admission time: I have no idea what a “PM Dawn” is, and if I had ever heard this song before the tournament, I don’t remember it.
On a personal level, I’m sad to see “She Don’t Use Jelly” go, as that was in heavy rotation in my formative Beavis-and-Butthead-watching years. And I have a soft spot for “We Like to Party”, which gives me flashbacks to my freshman dorm. That said, I wouldn’t put either over five winners; not even over “Brain Stew”, which sucks.
JT Rozzero
OK, so that locks us in and we will stay with the five that advanced by the public vote.
OUR PICKS: The Impression That I Get, Brain Stew, Always Be My Baby, Boombastic, Rump Shaker
JT Rozzero
Now, shall we examine Group B? Again, the public did OK here except for one glaring screw up with Rosa Parks by OutKast. About 30 votes out of advancing, it seems to be quite underrated. I would easily slot it in over King Nothing by Metallica.
I like Sittin Up In My Room, but no issues with it not moving on. A Whole New World also is worthy of advancing, but wouldn’t be in my top five. Thoughts?
Jason Greenhouse
Silverchair not getting the votes they deserved beaks my heart.
Andrew Flanagan
Have the votes changed? I’m seeing Metallica at #6.
This is a tough group, and I can see the appeal of each of the winners. But these results seriously underrate how big a deal “A Whole New World” was at the time. I guess I can understand not wanting to vote for a Disney song, but it seems odd for a #1 song to get so few votes.
“Rosa Parks” getting bounced is a travesty. Aquemini was a big deal, and I can’t believe its hit single can’t get out of the first round. I think I’d bounce “Murder Was the Case” and “All That She Wants” (both artists have better songs in the tournament), and put in Disney and OutKast, if only for historical relevance. Leaving out Silverchair hurts, but this is a pretty loaded group.
JT Rozzero
Andy you are right, Metallica is in sixth place. I can get on board with swapping out Snoop for OutKast. Not sure how I feel about taking All That She Wants out… Roger and Jason, how do you vote? Ace of Base or Peebo and Regina?
Jason Greenhouse
I’m good with Ace of Base here. This song was huge and I’m not ashamed to say that I owned the cassette single. Also, it’s hard not to vote for anything from Alanis’ Jagged Little Pill album. So Head Over feet gets my vote as well.
JT Rozzero
So are you on board with replacing Snoop with OutKast here?
Jason Greenhouse
Yes! Snoop some better songs down the line in this tournament.
Roger Morrissette
No way Snoop shouldn’t move on. This song sprouted a movie and the soundtrack gave us Natural Born Killaz. I would replace Head Over Feet with Rosa Parks and call it a day. The same reason you are giving for bouncing Murder Was the Case applies to Head Over Feet (the artist has bigger hits).
If you are forcing me to choose between Rosa Parks and Murder Was the Case… I choose Snoop and it’s not particularly close.
JT Rozzero
I am OK with swapping out your cousin Alanis for OutKast. Jason and Andy agree?
Jason Greenhouse
I’m good
Andrew Flanagan
Yeah that works.
JT Rozzero
OUR PICKS: Creep, Say It Ain’t So, All That She Wants, Murder Was the Case, Rosa Parks
JT Rozzero
On to Group C! This is the first time I am really torn because I can’t totally justify what I want to advance, but I really want to cast my vote for Honey over … I don’t know… I guess Savage Garden? Tough pool. Rusted Root probably deserves a better fate too.
Jason Greenhouse
Honey is probably my favorite Mariah song. I made my point earlier how I feel about Green Day, but this was a huge hit for them. I’m a Tool fan, but I have no problem voting for Mariah over them here.
Andrew Flanagan
My conscience won’t allow me to vote against Tool, but I’d be on board with bumping Savage Garden for Mariah. I’m surprised Rusted Root came in last, but this is some tough competition.
Roger Morrissette
I voted for the top four and Rusted Root so I’m fine with bumping Savage Garden. On a side note, I was surprised All-4-One didn’t do better.
JT Rozzero
Should they be in our discussion of moving into the Top Five then? Which are we bumping Garden for? Should we discuss those three… Rusted Root, All-4-One and Mariah?
Jason Greenhouse
Mariah for Savage Garden (sorry, Andrew Riche)
Roger Morrissette
I would put Rusted Root in first, followed by All-4-One and then Mariah.
JT Rozzero
Andy, what is your final choice?
Andrew Flanagan
I like all three that Roger mentioned… but I’d go with Mariah
JT Rozzero
OUR PICKS: Basket Case, I Believe I Can Fly, Sober, Hey Man Nice Shot, Honey
JT Rozzero
Group D gets interesting here as DMX’s Party Up shockingly is in the fifth spot but there are at least three songs that deserve to be in over it with Let Me Clear My Throat, Escapade and I Gotta Man
I’m not too familiar with that AiC song but is that one that has to move on?
Jason Greenhouse
As our resident grunge and metal guy here, it brings a tear to my eye that AiC had such a strong showing.
It’s often overlooked in their collection of hits. I went with the top four, along with DJ Kool. DMX will make up for it later in the tournament. I am up for discussion to bump Snow for Positive K here
Andrew Flanagan
I’m torn. I love “I Got a Man”, but the lack of votes here has me questioning whether it was ever as popular as it is in my mind. I’d blame it on recency bias, but Snow got more than twice as many votes. Maybe the people are right on this one? I’m hoping one of you can talk me out of this.
JT Rozzero
I think they both belong in. They easily represent the 90s tremendously and that DMX song is good but not great.
Jason Greenhouse
I’m fine with Snow and Positive K and dumping DJ Kool. AiC, Biggie, Spice Girls, Snow, Positive K would be my five.
Roger Morrissette
I’m 100% on board with Positive K replacing DMX here… In fact, that’s how I originally voted.
JT Rozzero
OUR PICKS: Down in a Hole, I Got a Man, Informer, Big Poppa, Wannabe
JT Rozzero
OK, we got some work to do in Group E… Off the bat I think Check Yo’Self and Slam have arguments. You’re Making Me High can be in the discussion. Funkdafied is in my heart forever, but I can’t justify that one… and American Woman? No idea.
Jason Greenhouse
Lots of goodies here. Right off the bat, I say we dump Blink 182 for Ice Cube. Onyx has my vote over The Cardigans. I’m on the fence with Joan Osborne and Da Brat.
JT Rozzero
Oh man, I think the Cardigans need to stay. That song is so 90s and it was on 90210, the quintessential 90s show!
Jason Greenhouse
What’s everyone’s thoughts on Smashing Pumpkins? They have about six songs in this tournament and IMO this ranks 5th or 6th.
Roger Morrissette
Now you’re talking Greeny! I think Nirvana, Blink, Cardigans and Joan have to stay. All massive hits. I would put Slam in over Zero. If you think back to that time, how can you bump Sticky Fingaz and Fredro? Cube has Today Was a Good Day as a shoe in. I’m sorry for the poor grammar and punctuation… I’m driving… That’s how much I believe in Onyx.
Jason Greenhouse
Adios, Cue Ball Billy! I’m going Nirvana, Cardigans, Onyx, Da Brat and Ice Cube.
Andrew Flanagan
I am way higher on Zero than you guys apparently, so I guess I’ll abstain on this one.
JT Rozzero
Andy, which song would you leave out?
Roger Morrissette
What’s your take on One of Us and Blink, Andy? We don’t believe in abstinence here at PTBN!
Jason Greenhouse
Tell that to Dan McGinn…
Roger Morrissette
Ouch.
Andrew Flanagan
Well said. I’d be OK with bumping Blink … I know it’s technically the same decade, but they feel like they belong to a different generation than the rest of these.
Jason Greenhouse
I completely agree with that!
JT Rozzero
So Cube or Onyx in for Blink? And are we leaving the Pumpkins? And are definitely leaving Lenny behind in this one?
Jason Greenhouse
Lenny has two hits that are locks later on.
Andrew Flanagan
I’d say Onyx … I don’t feel great about leaving Lenny out, but I can’t put it over anything above it.
Roger Morrissette
I’m a much bigger Blink 182 fan than you guys evidently. If they are getting bumped it better be for Onyx. I’m going Nirvana, Cardigans, Pumpkins, Osborne, Onyx.
JT Rozzero
I am up for knocking the Pumpkins out for Blink, Rog. Depends on Andy’s defense.
Roger Morrissette
My case for Blink – Influential band and one of their real big hits (along with All The Small Things and Adam’s Song). Coming of age tune for us 90s kids. Zero is maybe top five for the Pumpkins (Today, Disarm, Cherub Rock, Tonight Tonight, Bullet With Butterfly Wings all better IMO).
Andrew Flanagan
It’s partly just that I like that song a lot more. But my main argument against Blink 182 is that they got big in late ’99, so I don’t think of them as a 90s band.
Roger Morrissette
That’s a fair point Andy. I didn’t even look at the year. I do remember being in my early 20s and relating to that song. It’s a tough call… It is a 90s tune. What if I play the long version of Drown for you in the car on the way to Philly? Call it even?
JT Rozzero
Jay, what is your vote? I am with Roger here… I think Blink is 90s and shouldn’t be punished for breaking out at the tail end.
Jason Greenhouse
I’ll take Blink just because the Pumpkins will have their time to shine later on.
JT Rozzero
So it is written, so it is done
Andrew Flanagan
Where’s the “rage quit” button?
JT Rozzero
OUR PICKS: All Apologies, What’s My Age Again, Lovefool, One of Us, Slam
