Okay, here's some more ChatGPT observations:
Songs that seem overvalued relative to the usual 90s canon
Not "bad"—just songs where this particular list is giving them considerably more love than the normal cultural hierarchy would.
1. Tubthumping — #7
This remains the funniest one.
But I'm increasingly convinced the placement makes sense for this group. It's an extraordinarily effective pop song: weird verses, huge chorus, unusual vocal textures, repetition, and that accordion/piano combination.
It's gone from "novelty one-hit wonder" to "wait, this song is actually fantastic."
2. Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm — #8
This might be the clearest 90s nostalgia reappraisal on the whole list.
It's an odd little song that shouldn't have become a gigantic radio hit, and yet it did. The list is basically saying its weirdness has aged well.
3. Runaround — #12
This one is especially interesting because Blues Traveler doesn't usually occupy the same critical space as R.E.M., Nirvana, Depeche Mode, etc.
But Runaround is an absolutely killer piece of 90s radio songwriting. The harmonica is instantly identifiable, the groove is infectious, and the chorus is huge.
4. Right Here Right Now — #23
This is one of the biggest "cult classic" elevations.
It has five votes, but its relatively modest score per vote tells you something: lots of people included it, but didn't necessarily put it extremely high.
