50. Wallflowers - "One Headlight"
Courtesy Interscope
This band, led by Bob Dylan's son Jakob, spent over a year on the pop singles chart with this quiet masterpiece. Jakob Dylan's vocals have an alluring world weariness that could at times be a dead ringer for Tom Petty.
49. Stereo MC's - "Connected"
Courtesy Island
Stereo MC's became one of the most successful of British hip-hop acts. "Connected" is propelled along by a catchy, but downbeat, atmospheric brand of hip hop. It is distinguished from much of early 90s hip hop by being constructed entirely without samples.
48. Amy Grant - "Baby Baby"
Courtesy A&M
Amy Grant spent the 80s as one of the most successful of Christian pop singers, but it was not until 1991 that she enjoyed a major crossover into the pop mainstream. "Baby Baby" is a delightful celebration of love between life partners.
47. Various Artists - "ESPN Presents the Jock Jam"
Courtesy Tommy Boy
This medley will win no prizes for art, but it welds together some of the most popular songs used at sporting events and was nearly inescapable in 1997. Kicking off with the immortal "Are you ready to rumble..." this pop culture artifact is sure to get your blood pumping with snippets from such tracks as "Whoomp! There It Is," "It Takes Two," "YMCA" and "Pump Up the Jam."
46. TLC - "Waterfalls"
Courtesy LaFace
Slinky, gently insistent backing horns and guitar combine with smooth, languid vocals to create an instant r&b classic on TLC's "Waterfalls." Beyond its audio appeal, the song is a disturbing commentary on street violence and its impact on the lives of young black men.
45. Beck - "Loser"
Courtesy DGC
If any major pop hit from 1994 could be described as coming from left field, it would be Beck's "Loser." It's a bit like welding a killer self-deprecating chorus to Dylan's "Subterranean Homesick Blues." In the years to come Beck would prove "Loser" was just a tiny peek at his well of creativity.
44. Blind Melon - "No Rain"
Courtesy Capitol
The upbeat feel of Blind Melon's biggest hit "No Rain" stands in contrast to the band's own tragic history. Lead vocalist Shannon Hoon fought battles against drug addiction through much of the early 90s and would be dead by late 1995 at the age of 28. Although many remember the "dancing bee girl" fondly from the video for "No Rain," the genesis of the song is darker. It was written out of the efforts of bassist Brad Smith to cope with the struggles of his girlfriend with clinical depression.
43. Deborah Cox - "Nobody's Supposed to Be Here"
Courtesy Arista
This song is a gorgeous R&B ballad, but revved up with a club mix, it is one of the top dance hits of the decade. Record industry execs intended Deborah Cox to be the next Whitney Houston. That didn't quite work, but she did contribute this timeless smash.
42. Seal - "A Kiss From a Rose"
Courtesy Warner Bros.
This was another single saved from obscurity by its inclusion on a movie soundtrack. "A Kiss From a Rose" was featured as the love them in the Batman Forever film. Seal's perfectly balanced, acrobatic, romantic vocals make this otherwise simply pleasant song a work of art.
41. Counting Crows - "Mr. Jones"
Courtesy Geffen
The voice of Counting Crows' lead vocalist Adam Duritz is a magnificent instrument. "Mr. Jones" introduced music fans to Duritz' amazing facility at storytelling within the context of a song. Just try to sing along on "Mr. Jones" and after you finish gasping for breath, you realize just how phenomenal this performance is.
