Alanis Morissette. Image: Wikimedia Commons.
Autumn is America’s favorite season and for good reason. Besides the gorgeous hues of the fall leaves and relief from summer’s heat, humans are wired to welcome this season for more primal reasons—like love.
Fall is mating season my friends, and as such, many of us sense the need to get romantic. According to Terri Orbuch, a sociologist and psychologist at University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research, there is a basic human drive behind his urge to settle down. “We know that winter is approaching and it will be more difficult, or challenging, to find a mate during the winter.” So if someone gets on your case for daydreaming about that special someone, smack the hater down with #becausebiology.
And millennials know the '90s were the best decade for music in our lifetime (arguably, best decade EVER). But it’s easy to forget just how many un-freakin-believably kick-butt-love tunes were packed into that 10 years. Let’s rehash the '90s for the autumn lover.
'90s Songs For The Autumn Lover:
"Give Me One Reason," Tracy Chapman
“This youthful heart can love you, and give you what you need.” For those of us sans traditional notions of youth, Chapman gives us the “youthful heart.” Rock on, Tracy.
“But I’m too old to go chasing you around, wasting my precious energy.”
Just in case you were thinking of, you know, lowering your standards, Chapman kicks back with the self-respect.
"Strong Enough," Sheryl Crow
Dedicated romantics, unite! The song is a personal favorite of Crow’s, primarily because of its unornamented simplicity. The forlornness fits in with the serious mood of fall, but Crow never goes all-out desperate, so the song retains a quality of tender hope.
"November Rain," Guns N’ Roses
Anthemic? Check. Epic in length? Check. Fall month in the title? Check. Love conquers all by the end?
You better believe it.
"Set You Free," Planet Soul
It’s amazing how well this track stands up against the test of time. And I did say these were '90s songs to pump you up, so it would be remiss of me not to include a techno track.
Plus, it’s hard not to feel invincible with this:
“I can be your dreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeam.”
'90s Songs For the Autumn Go-Getter:
"All I Really Want," Alanis Morissette
The oft-overlooked gem of Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill album, "All I Really Want" is a declaration of female empowerment. “And all I really want is some justice,” you say? Welcome to the world of Alanis.
"Can’t Nobody Hold Me Down," Puff Daddy & Mase
Some songs need no explanation. See:
“Can’t nobody take me pride
Uh uh
Can’t nobody hold me down
Oh no
I got to keep on movin’”
"Fly Away," Lenny Kravitz
This was my jam in high school, during the days when one week in the tiny fishbowl of a small campus seemed to take on qualities of eternity. Perhaps there are days at your place of employment that have acquired a similar feel? Feel the Kravitz catharsis: “I want to get away. I want to fly away. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.”
"Semi-Charmed Life," Third Eye Blind
I am an unrepentant Third Eye Blind devotee, so if you’re one of the 3eb haters, please allow for true fangirl devotion. “I want something else/to get me through this/semi-charmed kind of life.” Autumn’s the time to get out, and get serious about achieving that “something else.”
"(Whoomp) There It Is!," Tag Team
If you need an explanation for this one, well…just take a listen. You’ll see.
