The year 1994

May 11th, 2024

I was twenty then, and living in New York City. That is all I need to say to explain the symbolic meaning of that year. But there is more to that year than just being young and being in a place where all opportunities were just within easy reach. I didn't take those opportunities, but they were there. Maybe too many of them to concentrate on just a few important ones, especially when — being twenty — I was sure I would stay twenty for the rest of my life. And that I will have those opportunities coming my way forever.

A lot of things happened that year. My personality was shaped and formed that year. Well, the fundamentals at least. Unfortunately, those fundamentals I took for my life from that year were mostly wrong and bad for me and, within the next twenty years, they were threatening to destroy my life. No matter — I am here now, and I cannot change the past. I try not to dwell on those things, but sometimes the vivid remembrance of those days in 1994 comes back to me. Then, I know I have to concentrate on the good that came from that year and not on the bad to keep the right balance of emotions. And the best thing that came from me being aware of what was happening in 1994 was the formation of my taste in music.

When I look at the albums that were published in 1994 — and yes, in 1994 we were listening to (and buying) physical CDs — I cannot help feeling lucky and privileged by how spoiled by the amazing choices I had:

“Ill Communication” by Beastie Boys

“MTV Unplugged” by Nirvana

“Vitalogy” by Pearl Jam

“Blue Album” by Weezer

“Welcome to Sky Valley” by Kyuss

“Smash” by The Offspring

“The Downward Spiral” by Nine Inch Nails

“Superunknown” by Soundgarden

“Dookie” by Green Day

“Jar of Flies” by Alice in Chains

“Illmatic” by Nas

“Music for the Jilted Generation” by Prodigy

“Dummy” by Portishead

Every single one of those albums is a stone-cold classic even today. And I hope one day to give a proper treatment to the whole of year 1994 in my life.