Top Ten Best Selling Songs in Austria in 1994
1994: the hype around ballads and eurodance doesn't stop. Also soundtrack songs become more and more important to the charts, and being prominently featured in a successful film is often tied with big success for the song as well.
An absolutely wonderful cover. Her voice is... or was extremely strong and full in sound.
I am sure my writing about this song was confusing in the past: I always ranked this highly among 90s songs but then frequently said that Nilsson's version is better. Both renditions are a 5 out of 5. Nilsson just has an extra plus because his vocals are so damn expressive. Carey gives a flawless, crystal clear singing performance.
Peak position: 1
Having spent 8 weeks on top of the charts, the dramatic ballad was also the biggest number 1 hit of the year, tied with "All For Love" by Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart & Sting, and "I Swear" by All-4-One.
From the soundtrack of "Four Weddings and a Funeral". A very nice classic love ballad of the 90s that is nice to listen to on the radio, but again, I don't actively listen to it.
Peak position: 1
From the soundtrack of the movie "The Three Musketeers". Three of the greatest musicians of their time teaming up for a song that may be a love song but that sounds like much more, having that rock vibe to it that makes it sound edgy and cool.
Peak position: 1
Having spent 8 weeks on top of the charts, the rock ballad was also the biggest number 1 hit of the year, tied with "Without You" by Mariah Carey, and "I Swear" by All-4-One.
I find it sad how even in 1994 there was still rock in the charts, while the 2010s has 0% rock, and 100% crap.
From the soundtrack of the HIV and LGBTQ+ themed drama "Philadelphia". The PERFECT song for a PERFECT movie. Especially because both works, in their own way, are very intelligent pieces of art that belong to the best the decade has brought to us. Bruce Springsteen's poetry is delivered with such a casual naturalness that even I, who never has been there, can imagine walking through the streets of Philadelphia, and observing the people go by. It was a strong year for movie soundtracks, but this song rughtfully took the Oscar home. Also watch this damn movie! It's one of the really great ones!
Peak position: 1
A classic RnB/soul ballad, but it doesn't please me that much. I think it's a mix of the overall tone/melody and the vocal delivery that makes it come off as more cheesy than emotive or catchy to me. I can understand people like it, as there is nothing wrong with it except for my own subjective taste.
Peak position: 1
Having spent 8 weeks on top of the charts, the RnB song was the biggest number 1 hit of the year, tied with "All For Love" by Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart & Sting, and "Without You" by Mariah Carey.
The German in this song are just nonsensical phrases.
The whole lyrics are:
"One, two - police / three, four - grenadier / five, six - old witch / seven, eight - good night" and "yes yes yes, what is going on, what is this? "
That being said... you know I love this style of music, and this, in all its simplistic and silly nature is a true 90s techno banger.
Haha, this is funny!
Peak position: 1
And here they are, the most famous country band in Austria: Rednex! And I can already promise it won't be the last time you'll see them. Although "Cotton Eye Joe" became their signature song over the years, probably because it was their first hit single, it was actually the least successful of their four number 1 hits. Needless to say, those who followed me for some time know that last year I re-disvovered this Swedish country group, and their "Sex & Violins" album very likely became my most played within the last 365 days.
Peak position: 1
Very much on the acid trance side of eurodance - and may I say, its beat and the timbre of the vocals are one of the absolute greatest that this genre has ever brought to us. This is electrifying, it's shockingly tempting to go all wild to.
Peak position: 1
It's Ace of Base. The ABBA of dancehall inspired 90s pop music. I don't think they have any bad song, they are always a pleasure! I really wished they would have continued to be this successful as they wear when they released this album. They could have had even greater impact, their follow up album is fantastic too!
By the way: I know you might think it's hypocritical when I compare ABBA to Ace of Base, when I once said I hate that every German artist gets compared to Rammstein. But before you think that: it's specificalky Ace of Base I compare, because both are Swedish pop bands whose members are two women and two men with outstanding international success who mixed pop and one of the foremost styles of their generation (disco / dancehall) and made timeless classics out of it. I still think comparing Rednex to ABBA is just as inappropriate as comparing The BossHoss to Rammstein (I'm looking at you, AllMusic). But you can as well compare Eisbrecher or Unheilig to Rammstein, as ...more
Peak position: 3
I must admit, I have first heard this song while making this list. This has vanished from the radio.
All I can say is: ARE YOU CRAZY!? BRING THIS SONG BACK!
This is one of the greatest tunes that has been on these lists - the soft and melodic but still urban beat, the vocal delivery by Neneh Cherry (I still need to find a proper term to describe the singing style of female vocalists in the 90s), how well the different languages work with each other and this heavenly violin at the end - this is the kind of vibe only the 90s had, and that I wish was there too today.
This and All For Love are probably my favorites on this list. This song just sounds very unique to me.
Peak position: 3