Best Grunge and Alternative One-Hit Wonders of the ’90s
Grunge isn’t a genre really known for its one-hit wonders, but there are certainly some great grunge and alternative rock one-hit wonders of the ’90s. – Author: Scarlett Hunter, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones photo via YOYO YOSEF and Hellcat Records
Grunge isn’t a genre of music really known for its one-hit wonders, but there are certainly some great grunge and alternative rock one-hit wonders of the ’90s. Sure, the blockbuster bands of the movements had albums jam-packed with radio hits. Bands such as Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden had plenty of chart-topping grunge anthems, and music fans in the 1990s loved every single one of them.
But, the 1990s still had plenty of cool, one-hit wonders that struck a chord for their time and became an important part of the musical landscape. Even if these bands didn’t have multiple No. 1 hits, they sure made a name for themselves with their biggest career hit. In honor of those special songs, Audio Ink Radio presents its tally of the best grunge and alternative rock one-hit wonders of the ’90s.
Top Grunge and Alternative Rock One-Hit Wonders
Fastball, “The Way”
Fastball snagged a chart-topper in “The Way,” a breezy alternative rock song that sounds like a summer love song but is actually about an elderly couple who went missing in their van. As Songfacts notes, the song, which dropped in January of 1998, is about a real-life story of Lela and Raymond Howard, an elderly couple from Salado, Texas, who made their way to the annual Pioneer Day festival but didn’t come back. Regardless of the subject matter, it made Fastball a popular band in the late-1990s. They had other hits, but none of those topped “The Way.”
Mighty Mighty Bosstones, “The Impression That I Get”
Who says all the rock music from the 1990s was sad and introspective? Mighty Mighty Bosstones had a fun hit with “The Impression That I Get”, packed with their ska punk charisma and charm. The guys went on to have a successful career, and they still have lots of fans, but they’ll always be known for “The Impression That I Get,” and there’s nothing wrong with that.
Seven Mary Three, “Cumbersome”
Seven Mary Three released “Cumbersome” in 1995, off their debut album, “American Standard.” The track took off, and alternative rock stations were soon spinning the track hour upon hour. The group has continued to make music over the years, and they’ve had success past “Cumbersome,” but nothing quite as big.
Spacehog, “In the Meantime”
It’s special to hit it big with your very first single, and that’s what Spacehog did with “In the Meantime.” The atmospheric alternative rock number shot up the charts in 1995, and it’s still a gold on alternative radio.
The Verve, “Bittersweet Symphony”
The Verse hit it big with “Bittersweet Symphony” in 1997, and the track really ruled the airwaves during the latter half of the decade. The instrumental backing to the song was sampled from a symphonic version of The Rolling Stones song “The Last Time,” so they had to pay the price for using it, but it’s still a great song. “The Last Time” was recorded in 1965 by the Andrew Oldham Orchestra and arranged by David Whitaker.
Now, go outside of the grunge and alternative rock of the decade and check out Audio Ink Radio’s picks for the best one-hit wonders of the 1990s that are in different genres.
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