Just a Random Lyrics Quiz: '90s Edition

Answer: "Champagne Supernova" by Oasis

"Champagne Supernova" was a single released off of Oasis' very successful 1995 album "What's the Story, Morning Glory?" The song was a number one single in the US, on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks charts; another single off of the same album, "Wonderwall" achieved the same position on the same chart. On the overall Billboard Hot 100 track, "Champagne Supernova" placed more modestly, at number 20.

The song lends its name to a real supernova that was discovered in 2003; the supernova is properly named SN 2003fg, but is nicknamed Champagne Supernova.

Answer: "Basket Case" by Green Day

"Basket Case" was one of several hit singles for Green Day in 1994, from their album "Dookie". Some of the other singles were "Longview", "When I Come Around", and "Welcome to Paradise". "Basket Case" reached number one on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks chart and also did well on various other worldwide charts.

The song also earned Green Day a Grammy nomination in 1995, for Best Rock Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group. The song's video was nominated for several MTV Video Music Awards.

Answer: "Iris" by the Goo Goo Dolls

In addition to the "City of Angels" soundtrack, the song was also on the Goo Goo Dolls' album "Dizzy Up the Girl" (1998). It's one of their most successful singles ever, reaching number one on several charts including Billboard Hot 100 Airplay, Billboard Modern Rock Tracks, Canadian Singles Chart, and Australian Singles chart, and placed in the top ten on several more charts. The song earned Grammy nominations: Record of the Year, Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group, and Song of the Year (for Johnny Rzeznik as the writer).

"Uninvited" by Alanis Morissette and "Angels" by Sarah McLachlan were also hit singles from the "City of Angels" soundtrack.

Answer: "I Want You Back" by 'N Sync

"I Want You Back" was 'N Sync's first single, from their self-titled album. Both the song and album were first released in Germany in 1996 and not in the US until 1998. It never hit number one on any chart (the highest it was placed was number two on the Canadian Singles chart) but gained the band a lot of popularity.

It did win a Best New Dance Clip at the Billboard Awards in 1998; they won Best New Artist Clip the same year.

Answer: "Don't Speak" by No Doubt

"Don't Speak" was a 1996 single for No Doubt, from their 1995 album "Tragic Kingdom", the band's third full album. It was nominated for two Grammys, Song of the Year and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. It was number one on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart for 16 weeks, which set a record at the time (broken in 1998 by the song "Iris" by the Goo Goo Dolls). "Don't Speak" was mainly written by singer Gwen Stefani about her break up with Tony Kanal, another member of No Doubt.

They'd been together for seven years.

Answer: "You Were Meant for Me" by Jewel

"You Were Meant for Me" was the second single from Jewel's first album, "Pieces of You" (1995), after "Who Will Save Your Soul?". "You Were Meant for Me" was a number two single in the US on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and reached number one on the Adult Contemporary Chart.

The initial video for the song was produced by Sean Penn, but when the version of the song proved to be unpopular, it was pulled and re-recorded, with a new video filmed. The new video won Best Female Video at the MTV Video Music Awards in 1997.

Answer: "My Own Worst Enemy" by Lit

The song is from Lit's second album, "A Place in the Sun" (1999), and was the lead single from that album. It peaked only at number 51 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, but did quite well on other charts, including number one for 11 weeks on the US Modern Rock Tracks chart and number one on Billboard's Alternative Songs chart.

Answer: "Unsent" by Alanis Morissette

"Unsent", a 1999 single from Morissette's 1998 album "Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie", is unusual is that it doesn't have a chorus or any recurring lines or parts. In addition to the (partial) verse included in the question, which was the song's last verse, the lyrics also consist of letters to Matthew, Jonathan, Terrance and Marcus.

The song's music video plays like a subtitled movie, with scenes with each of the guys. The video was directed by Alanis herself.

Answer: "The Sign" by Ace of Base

"The Sign" was a 1993 international hit sing for Swedish pop band Ace of Base, my personal first favourite band. It was a single released from the album which was also called "The Sign" in North America, but titled "Happy Nation" in Europe. The song was number two in the UK in 1993, but spent six weeks in the number one slot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the US.

It was also number one in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and several other countries around the world. It was also named as the number one song of the year 1994 by Billboard.

Answer: "Get Down (You're the One for Me)" by Backstreet Boys

"Get Down" was the song that made nine-year old me fall in love with the Backstreet Boys. It was the third single released from the 1996 internationl debut album, simply titled "Backstreet Boys", though was the first released in some countries. It didn't reach number one in any country, but was in the top ten in several countries, including Canada, the Netherlands and Germany.

In the US, the band's debut album was not released until 1997 and contained a combination of tracks from the international "Backstreet Boys" album, including "Get Down", and the international "Backstreet's Back" album (also released 1997).

The Backstreet Boys were wildly popular around the world into the early 21st century and more recently have been trying to make a comeback of sorts, including by going on an 'NKOTBSB' tour with the New Kids on the Block.