Every Friday, I’m publishing my top ten songs from a single year and this week it’s the turn of 1995.
For previous top ten tunes, please click on the year: 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Eric Cantona’s Kung Fu Kick. I love this photo mainly for the spectators’ reactions. A lot are in shock, but one bloke is having the time of his life.
So, at the beginning of 1995, serial killer Fred West takes his own life in prison, French footballer Eric Cantona assaults a spectator when he is sent off whilst playing for Manchester United and he is banned from playing football for 8 months, the first female chief constable in the UK is appointed, Essex student Leah Betts, 18, dies after four days in a coma as a result of taking an ecstasy tablet, this sparks a media campaign against the drugs and its suppliers, Princes Diana gives a candid TV interview detailing her adultery, her depression, bulimia, the media and the future of the monarchy- it becomes the most watched current affairs programme on record, Rose West is found guilty of murdering 10 women and children including her 16-year-old daughter and her 10-year-old stepdaughter- she is sentenced to life imprisonment with a recommendation that she is never released, head teacher Philip Lawrence is stabbed death outside his school whilst trying to protect a pupil who was being attacked by a gang, race riots break out in Brixton, 168 people are killed and 680 are injured during a domestic terrorist attack on a federal building in Oklahoma, an earthquake in Japan kills 6,433 people, broker Nick Leeson loses $1.4billion which results in the collapse of the UK’s oldest investment banking firm (the klutz), an earthquake in Russia kills 2000 people, an unprecedented heatwave in the US kills at least 830 people (the majority of which were in Chicago), Isreali Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin is assassinated and OJ Simpson is found innocent.
The films Toy Story, Braveheart, the Usual Suspects and Heat are released and yours truly turns 19 years old. Aren’t I growing up?
So, here we are in the deepest, darkest “Brit Pop” era. I was going to say that only one act isn’t British this week, but then I remembered that Bjork wasn’t British either. We did kind of adopt her though, but I don’t think the Icelandic would ever let us claim her as one of us. Quite rightly. 1995 saw me hop on a plane and travel around Australia all by myself because -well- I quite I fancied it. It was one of the best experiences of my life. My obsession with music and seeing bands live continued on, so much so that yet again, I really struggled trying to narrow this list down to just 10 songs. Here they are, nevertheless, in no particular order.
WARNING: the first bit of the first song is a bit sweary- just in case you’re listening to the playlist near young ears.
1. Reverend Black Grape by Black Grape
2. Yes by McAlmont and Butler
3. The Universal by Blur
Blur winning 4 Brit awards in one night in 1995
4. Inbetweener by Sleeper
5. C’mon Billy by PJ Harvey
PJ Harvey giving very few fucks at Glastonbury Festival ’95. As I was there right at the front for this performance, I can confirm she was indeed fucking glorious.
6. Common People by Pulp
7. Isobel by Bjork
It’s just a suggestion from Bjork, not an instruction.
8. Human Nature by Madonna
9. Missing by Everything but the Girl
10. Never Forget by Take That (no, you sat with your best mate watching Take That perform on Top of the Pops for the first time without Robbie and cried throughout. Shut up)
Black Grape is a very close second, but I have to go for Pulp as my favourite, for so many reasons. So, pray tell me, which one is your top choice?
See you next week for 1996!
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Just Another Blog From a Woman 
Oh yes! A great year!
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Innit! So full of (mischievous) memories too haha x
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Lol!!!!! I was in the midst of uni… fun times!
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This is the first of this series where I feel very American. I recognize the artists, but not the songs. Well, except for Madonna of course. Will have to check them out so I feel like I belong again.
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Haha. It is a particularly British week. It won’t always be so British (I’ve now selected all the songs for all the future years now! That took me a while!)
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I am sure that took quite a while!
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All of these are so good….. but I will go with McAlmont & Butler’s Yes. I loved that song, and indeed, the album. Yes, I do feel better, Yes I feel alright… remains an anthem for me even after all these years.
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Yep me too. It’s such a stunning song. It never fails to cheer me up 😃
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I still listen to Black Grape in 2018 because Black Grape. I thought I was the only person who did! Also, yes that Blur track is mint but also had a mega soft spot for Yuko & Hiro from that L.P and always thought that should have been released as a single. Can also report Robbie was hot x
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I loved Black Grape! I probably preferred them to the Happy Monday’s (though I also loved them). Ah man you might be right about Yuko & Hiro you know. Oh 1995, the year that broke so many teenage girls’ hearts 😆
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I love that you describe the song as being sweary. For some reason that makes me giggle, and want to listen to it.
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Haha it’s very satisfyingly sweary. I definitely recommend giving it a listen (preferably at high volume).
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By a country mile, Pulp. Common People is one of if not the best pop songs
e v e r. Those lyrics! The crescendo in the music, the delivery, just awesome and in its own league.
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It’s perfection, isn’t it? It makes me so happy & never fails to take me back. I always loved Jarvis’s dance moves to it too.
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Everything but the Girl – one of my favourites. But as others have said – a good year
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It was, wasn’t it? I love Missing- very good choice.
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OMG, I am going to embarrass myself and admit to knowing very few in this roundup, apart from the obvious one Madonna. Where the hell was I? Umm, maybe I won’t add anymore 🙂
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Haha that’s absolutely fine Suzanne. I think as the years go by my taste became more and more niche. Let’s just say you were probably having too much fun?
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🙂 🙂
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This week my favourites are Take That (I love them), Pulp and Everything but the Girl. 🙂
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Aah good to see a vote for Take That!
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Oh yes. They did so many great songs. 🙂
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Braveheart represents all it to to me to be great. God I LOVE that movie
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Me too! It’s so good and so very brutal!
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Dammit, 1995 you say… I thought those tracks weren’t that long ago!! Same with the media and news of the year round ups. I’m so not getting on with this time flying past thing. Ever tried doing a date of birth poll on BUYB and then doing a year special on the bloggers from those dates lol.
Good track choices as ever Hayley
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I’ve been wondering what I’ll do after I finally finish this. As I love music from all eras, I could do lists from years pre-1976. I’ll have to see how I feel come September (when I predict I’ll finish this). These posts are kind of exhausting ha. Or at the very least I could do a post just you 🙂
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There you go…now you have at least one idea thrown in for September lol. I think you’re doing a great job with these, but I can see there is a lot of work and research involved. Mind you targeting a blogger(s) year of birth could be a fabulous way of getting to know more about them too. My great birthday guess what is I share the same day (NOT YEAR LOL) as Bram Stoker….I find that really cool 😂
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That’s really cool! What year is your birth year if you don’t mind my asking. I’m assuming it’s probably only a year before mine? 😉
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Crumbs no, you’re ‘76 (year not age!!) if your start year post in this sequence is right. I’m a shade older 🤕
We won the World Cup the year before and last year was a crippling birthday 😳
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You are the same age as my cousin who we threw a big party for last year. I could easily do a top Ten Tunes for that year x
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I sat in a dark room thinking “No” then popped off to the pub! Thing is I don’t feel old yet 😳 what’s the top ten you’d use x
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Well you might have to wait & see 😉, but it is such a strong year for music. The Beatles, The Kinks, Aretha, Pink Floyd & the Monkees would all be in there.
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Pink Floyd are on my all time must listen collection. Even one of my book characters comes from them…Emily….definitely NOT Boris…he’s a looney 😂
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Haha glad it’s Emily. And it’s See Emily Play that I’d have in my 1967 list.
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It’s quite fascinating really, Hendrix, Stones, ones you mentioned… psychedelic hippy era, Kinks, Grateful Dead, Doors, Tull, The Who, Byrds…so many classic bands. #awesome lol
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Yes the Doors & the Who too! Such a strong era for music.
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Too right, Stones too, I looked at bands from that year and was blown away. So many influences on later decades. See what you’ve got me researching instead of doing posts for the A to Z lol
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Haha I’m so sorry!
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Since it’s you, I shall let you off 😜
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Phew!
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I can’t believe I missed this yesterday! I like being one of the first few commenters. There were a couple artists in this weeks list that I’m not familiar with. If I had to pick one song though, I too would go with Pulp, but to be honest, it’s because I liked the Common People version that included William Shatner. You must know that one too, right?
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Haha. Yes. Now why didn’t I add that to my Best Cover Versions post?! I want to guess which artists you hadn’t heard of….I’m going to go with Sleeper and McAlmont & Butler…Black Grape too? Am I right?
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Yes, you are absolutely correct!
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God I’m good 😄
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Maybe you, me, and Steve should collaborate on some sort of blogging music project. All three of our heads are full of so much musical knowledge of the last few decades.
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Stuffed full of music indeed. Am sure he’d probably be up for that.
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Maybe for my Music Monday this week, I’ll just share a list of all the bands I’ve seen live in my lifetime. I bet your list would be pretty extensive and interesting. I bet we might have some in common. Hey! I have an idea. How about if on the same day we both do a post listing all the bands we’ve seen live and link to each other?
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Oh yes, shall we do that? My God I’ve got to try and remember now?! I haven’t really seen any bands since birthing a child, so mine are all predated 2010. Let’s get a date together!
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Ok, not tomorrow but how about the following Monday. I may not be able to remember all of mine either
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Ok great. Following Monday it will be. There will be lots of obscure British artists there. As well as bigger acts. Can’t wait to see yours!
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Mine will be filled with some obscure American alternative rock bands but I bet I’ll have a few classics that will surprise you
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Ooh excellent!
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Great social history lesson, great music , my favourite Comon People and Isobel but overall best for that year Oasis Wonderwall
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Thanks Willow. I thought you’d like Isobel. Wonderwall brings back a lot of good memories too 👍🏻
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Mostly that middle son of mine bobbing around like one of the Gallaher brothers!
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Excellent!
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Lol 😀😀
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This one needs some listening. As an American (and perhaps a musically ignorant one) I don’t know anyone but Madonna and Bjork! I’m so ashamed. I read the post on Friday and had hoped to listen to it all by now. But, here’s the problem–I listened, but I don’t have a favorite yet. I need to live with them for a little while and see who emerges. I do like the weird Madonna one, it is a different take on her previous stuff, sort of. So in the interim, we’ll go with the familiar. But, thank you for introducing me to some new (maybe?) friends.
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Oh you are wonderful Angela. I so appreciate someone taking so much time to listen to music that means a lot to me. Some of it is very British sounding, so I will totally understand if it’s not your cup of tea. I always felt that Human Nature is one of Madonna’s most underrated tracks. I hope you make some new musical friends through this post x
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Pulp of course!!!!
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Of course! It has to be really, doesn’t it? Such a classic.
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Really is – though what is sad is the last time I heard it was when I was listening to radio 2! 🙄 made me feel old
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Ah. Yes. That seems to be happening more & more these (hearing songs from my youth on Radio 2).
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McAlmont & Butler one of the best records ever! Sleeper – another of the best records ever! The rest I can take or leave…but then…Neeeeeeever forget where your comin’ from!
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