My Festive 50 from 1992

I was going to put the top 20 of my Festive 50 from 1991 next but it seemed mildly embarrassing. (It had ‘Size of a Cow’ by The Wonder Stuff at no. 18!) So, let’s move onto my top 20 from 1992. Madchester is now long gone and there’s a fair amount of what could be considered American alternative rock in the list. This is not surprising, considering I was living in the US at the time. No. 6 on this is, I think, one of the great pop songs of the 1990s.

1. Sweetness Follows – R.E.M.
2. 36D – The Beautiful South
3. People Get Real – St. Etienne
4. One – U2
5. The Act we Act – Sugar
6. My Lovin’ (You’re Never Gonna Get It) – En Vogue
7. Man on the Moon – R.E.M.
8. Tennessee – Arrested Development
9. Winona – Drop Nineteens
10. Helpless – Sugar
11. Old Red Eyes is Back – The Beautiful South
12. Motorcycle Emptiness – Manic Street Preachers
13. Next Lover – James
14. Ignoreland – R.E.M.
15. Join Our Club – St. Etienne
16. People Everyday – Arrested Development
17. Friday I’m in Love – The Cure
18. Born of Frustration – James
19. Lithium – Nirvana
20. Blue Eyes – The Wedding Present

Festive 50s

Back in the 1990s (it seems so long ago), my siblings and I used to compile our own Festive 50s, inspired by the concept on John Peel’s radio show, in which we’d make a list of our 50 favourite songs of the year. Amazingly, I have actually kept the lists I made, which span the years 1990 to 1998. I guess they provide an interesting insight into changing musical tastes across the decade. By way of an example, here’s my Top 10 from 1990:

1.Perfume – Paris Angels
2. Kinky Afro – Happy Mondays
3. Come Home – James
4. My Rising Star – Northside
5. She Comes in the Fall – Inspiral Carpets
6. Kiss and Make Up – St. Etienne
7. How was it for You – James
8. Dennis and Lois – Happy Mondays
9. There She Goes – The Las
10. All Together Now – The Farm.

Obviously this was from when Madchester was at its height. I still think my choice of no. 1 is a great song.

I may put up more of these lists later.