An Ode to 1994

I was in 6th grade in 1994. Middle School. I remember this time as a time when everyone was trying to fit in with some group in some fashion. It was a very typical middle school experience. Everyone wanted to be popular and accepted by a peer group. If I visually transport myself back to that time I see JNCO jeans, wallet chains, pants sagging (been around for awhile), Starter jackets, the latest Nike shoes and clothes, Silvertab jeans, etc. - clothes communicated a lot about you in middle school and still do. It was really the first time that I remember commercialism. It is also the first time I remember alternative rock music. My previous posts have been predominantly about rap/hip-hop, but in 1994 I quickly realized that the music scene was branching out in many, many different paths and doing it in a commercially successful way. I remember going to basketball practice and wanting to have the latest Nike shoes and gear, but then going home, throwing on my rollerblades and wanting to be like the skaters I saw on the X Games. There was something for everyone, and the music was no different. I remember this as being a time that radio stations started to rotate the music of the 90s heavily. Fort Wayne had an alternative station at the time (102.3?) and it was always on in my room. I would often try to make mixtapes on a blank Maxell if I caught songs at the right time.

I have said this often, but 1994 needs its on SiriusXM station, Pandora station, whatever streaming service exists - you need a 1994 station. I've always had an inkling that it was a huge year, but when I did the research - it truly was. I will list some of those albums below, but the list could go on much longer. I simply picked the albums that I listened to and STILL DO. I want you to pay attention to a keyword in there - ALBUM. If you remember my CD investment rule - the disc had to have at least three songs that I liked in order for me to drop some hard-earned coin on it.

Personal favorite 1994 releases:

• Green Day - Dookie
• Nine Inch Nails - The Downward Spiral
• Soundgarden - Superunknown
• Offspring - Smash
• Nas - Illmatic
• Live - Throwing Copper
• Weezer - Weezer
• Beastie Boys - Ill Communication
• Warren G - Regulate...G Funk Era
• Hootie and the Blowfish - Cracked Rearview 
• Coolio - It Takes a Thief
• Jeff Buckley - Grace
• Rusted Root - When I Woke
• Blues Traveler - Four
• Notorious B.I.G. - Ready to Die
• Dave Matthews Band - Under the Table and Dreaming 
• Korn - Korn
• Tom Petty - Wildflowers
• TLC - Crazy/Sexy/Cool
• Bush - Sixteen Stone

The list could really go on and on. It's amazing how commercially successful and diverse the small selection I posted above was and continues to be. I can also remember the artwork of these albums - you will be able to as well. Just do a simple Google search and you'll definitely have some "aha" moments. These are classics. It proves that there really was something for everyone in 1994. This is when I remember the tree of music really growing its branches. It was also the same for the kids in my school. 

Extra treat: How many people remember that Microsoft sent out Weezer's Buddy Holly music video as part of their Windows 95 package. I remember watching that video all the time on the Gateway 2000s at my school 😁.