Here are the runners-up from all Earlie Award contests going back to 1988:

2007: Joss Stone - Tell Me ‘Bout It
2006: The Charlatans - Blackened Blue Eyes
2005: Interpol - Evil
2004: JoJo - Leave (Get Out)
2003: Evanescence - Bring Me To Life
2002: Sarah Harmer - Weakened State
2001: Delerium - Daylight
2000: Sinead O’Connor - Jealous
1999: Alanis Morrisette - Joining You
1998: All Saints - Under The Bridge
1997: The Offspring - All I Want
1996: Radiohead - Street Spirit
1995: Portishead - Sour Times
1994: Sheryl Crow - Leaving Las Vegas
1993: Duran Duran - Come Undone
1992: Mariah Carey - Make It Happen
1991: Mariah Carey - Someday
1990: Madonna - Vogue
1989: Milli Vanilli - Baby Don’t Forget My Number
1988: John Cougar Mellencamp - Cherry Bomb

Clearly before 1995 I was smoking something illegal. Or perhaps that was when I started.