As if we’d ever forget it.
“These are the sounds of America — our wide-ranging history and culture. The National Recording Registry is our evolving nation’s playlist.”
Now this is some pleasant news, no? Of course, it’s never been hard to find, given the existence of YouTube and The Internet Archive (archive.org), but the Library of Congress? That’s special.
Incidentally, the archive.org page gives you the option to play the sound in WebAmp – which is literally WinAmp, rebuilt entirely for the web. Epic stuff.
The full announcement of this year’s inductees can be found on the Library’s news page here, or watch their video above.
The 2025 class of inductees includes Tracy Chapman’s self-titled debut album, Celine Dion’s 1997 single “My Heart Will Go On” from the blockbuster film “Titanic,” Roy Rogers and Dale Evans’ classic “Happy Trails,” Miles Davis’ jazz fusion album “Bitches Brew,” Charley Pride’s groundbreaking “Kiss an Angel Good Mornin,’” Vicente Fernandez’s enduring ranchera song “El Rey,” Freddy Fender’s breakthrough song “Before the Next Teardrop Falls” and the Steve Miller Band’s “Fly Like an Eagle.”
If you need a reminder of just how that classic Windows 95 jam sounds, tap the video below.
The truly epic part, though, which you may not have known, is that the Windows 95 startup sound was made by none other than Brian Eno.
In Eno’s words: “It was very funny when I got the job, ’cause they sent me a long letter and it said, ‘the piece of music should be inspirational, sexy, driving, provocative, nostalgic, sentimental…’
“It went on and on – there were about 150 adjectives. And then at the bottom, it said, ‘…and not more than 3.8 seconds long’.” 😂
Oh, by the way, the launch of Windows 95 was the event that gave us former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer getting absolutely wild on stage. ↓
At least he was more into it than Bill Gates, that absolute dork…
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