The 44 Best Songs Of 1994 According To "Now That's What I Call Music!"

Oasis! Blur! Whigfield! The songs we loved, 20 years on.

1994 was quite a year in pop music...

Here are the best 44 songs taken from the 3 "Now That's What I Call Music!" albums (27, 28, 29) released that year. Let's start with the Best of British from 1994...

"Cigarettes & Alcohol" by Oasis

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The fourth single from Definitely, Maybe. Maybe.

"Parklife" by Blur featuring Phil Daniels

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Remember that whole Blur vs Oasis who will get Number 1 thing? Yeah, that wasn't this song.

"Rocks" by Primal Scream

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Their highest charting single to date (Number 7), this saw them branded 'dance traitors' by the NME. BRB, starting a band called "Dance Traitors".

"Love Is All Around" by Wet Wet Wet

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Feel it in your fingers, feel it in your toes, and hear it every time you turned on a TV or radio during 1994. Overplayed then, good bit of nostalgia now.

"Things Can Only Get Better" by D:Ream

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Things only got better for the keyboard player, Brian Cox, who went on some juicy Hollywood... oh no, wait. It's the other Brian Cox. The science one. Yay.

Female musicians in 1994 made some classics...

"Stay (I Missed You)" by Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories

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Fun fact: The video was directed by Ethan Hawke, and shot in a single take. Have that, Scorsese!

"Confide in Me" by Kylie Minogue

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Fun fact: Kylie is 18 feet tall, she just stands very far away.

"I'll Stand By You" by The Pretenders

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Fun fact: Girls Aloud recorded this as a charity single in 2004. Who are Girls Aloud, you ask? No idea.

"The Power of Love" by Celine Dion

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There have been 18 different songs called "The Power of Love". This is one of them.

"Right Beside You" by Sophie B. Hawkins

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Well someone discovered the blue filter.

Grunge wasn't a thing in 1994, according to the Now albums. But we did get some rock music...

"Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm" by Crash Test Dummies

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Fun fact: Singer Brad Roberts is also a Canadian National Gurning Champion.

"What's the Frequency, Kenneth?" by R.E.M.

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Mindblowing fact: The frequency is 4.5hz. You're welcome.

"Zombie" by The Cranberries

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Actual fact: The song was written about two young boys who died in an IRA bombing.

“Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through" by Meat Loaf

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Yes, that is Angelina Jolie. No, she can't explain what is going on here.

"Inside" by Stiltskin

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Fun fact: This song was written for a Levis 501 advert, and then the band were drafted in to sing it later.

We also had major reggae revival in '94...

"Shine" by Aswad

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Aswad have been around since the '70s, and have released a whopping 21 albums.

"Baby Come Back" by Pato Banton

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This song features Robin and Ali Campbell from legendary Brit-reggae outfit UB40.

"Twist & Shout" by Chaka Demus & Pliers

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Pliers got his nickname due to looking like another reggae singer, Pinchers.

"Sweets for My Sweet" by C.J. Lewis

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I wish someone would give me sweets. Sigh.

"Baby, I Love Your Way" by Big Mountain

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A reggae cover of the Peter Frampton classic, this song has been the number one most played non-current hit song worldwide on radio for 18 consecutive years. Which must have made Peter Frampton a lot of money. Big Mountain, not so much.

Hip Hop was overlooked, but R&B featured heavily in the Now albums from '94...

"Whatta Man" by Salt-N-Pepa with En Vogue

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Keep an eye out for Tupac, and Treach from Naughty by Nature, who make cameos.

"She's Got That Vibe" by R. Kelly

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She might well have 'that vibe', but has she got ID?

"Just a Step from Heaven” by Eternal

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Eternal broke up in 2000, making it a poor band name choice in hindsight.

"I Swear" by All-4-One

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Fun fact: All-4-One went on to major buiness success by marketing a range of universal remote controls in the '00s.

"Sweetness" by Michelle Gayle

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Fun fact: My weakness is hummus.

"Come Baby Come" by K7

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Also big in '94: Misogyny.

The Brits had more to contribute to 1994...

"Midnight at the Oasis" by The Brand New Heavies

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Fun fact: You can send a camel to bed, but you can't make it sleep.

"Moving on Up" by M People

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The meaning of the 'M' in 'M People' is not interesting enough to warrant a fact.

"It's Alright" by East 17

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Singer Brian Harvey was sacked from the band after appearing to endorse recreational drug use on national radio. Not cool, Brian. But it does explain the hat.

"Sure" by Take That

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For some reason this video has a 3 and a half minute intro about babysitting. Skip to the half-way point to see '90s fashion-hilarity.

"The Real Thing" by Tony Di Bart

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Tony was searching for 'the real thing', but clearly should have been searching for a decent tailor. And a choreographer.

"Crazy For You" by Let Loose

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Lead singer Richie is on Twitter but say he doesn't 'get it'. Send him a tweet!

The dance scene in 1994 featured a lot of insane European acts. Thanks Europe!

"Another Night" by MC Sar & The Real McCoy

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Fun fact: The video for this song was based on drugs.

"The Rhythm of the Night" by Corona

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Yup, drugs.

"U & Me" by Cappella

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See also: Drugs.

"I Like to Move It" by Reel 2 Real feat. The Mad Stuntman

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Theory: He likes to move it because drugs.

"Return to Innocence" by Enigma

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TIL that Enigma are a German band. I did not know that. Learning is fun!

"Carry Me Home" by Gloworm

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Fun fact: At night, Gloworm can be seen from up to two miles away.

And there was this gem of a song, which deserves it's own category...

"7 Seconds" by Youssou N'Dour feat. Neneh Cherry

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N'Dour is a Senegalese musician, described by Rolling Stone as, "perhaps the most famous singer alive" in Senegal and much of Africa. He has served as Senegal's Minister of Tourism and Culture since April 2012.

And finally. 1994 wouldn't have been half the year it was without some 'novelty' songs...

"The Sign" by Ace of Base

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Fun fact: 'The sign' of the title is one for a Motorway services off the M25.

"Swamp Thing" by The Grid

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Roger Dinsdale, the folk musician who wrote the banjo part for this track, sadly took his own life in 2009. An accomplished artist, some of his other work is on YouTube and is definitely worth a listen. RIP.

"Trouble" by Shampoo

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Essex. That is all.

"Doop" by Doop

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When the band and the song have the same title, that is all you need to know.

And by far the most 1994 song of 1994...

"Saturday Night" by Whigfield

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She's on Twitter, and looks amazing for 43. Must be all the dancing.