34

No Rain
Blind Melon
1992

I really could’ve put this one higher. Truly one of the all-time songs of great joy. Instantly recognizable from the moment of that opening guitar that provides immediate happiness of what you're about to hear for the next three or so minutes. 

As I said last week, this song and Ain’t Nuthin But a G Thang comprised the soundtrack to many Redondo Beach excursions in the summer of ‘92. The melody is gold; Shannon Hoon was fantastic and was gone too soon (fun fact:  he was a backing vocalist on the GnR Use Your Illusion albums, including Don’t Cry). The guitar work in this one is excellent and the solo is perfect. 

And that video!  Everyone remembers the Bee Girl, so much so that Pearl Jam did their own song about her years after the fact.  Here we are 30 years later, and if you say “Bee Girl” you know exactly what I’m talking about. This song and the video are timeless, and I could easily make a case for this inside the top 25. 

Other Songs Considered:
No, but Change is really good