"I think it's time that I mention I've got myself an obsession for the smell, for the touch (keep that scruff lookin' rough). I know I've got myself a habit but I've gotta have it now, don't care where, work it out..."
(Ok, so I know that this is an oh-so-current Ke$ha quote, but it totally fits my obsessive 90s music habit. Oh, and it's called "Boots & Boys." Perfect. How does Ke$ha do it, gettin' all inside my head like that? The girl is a mind reader. And for all you haters out there, listen to her song "Grow A Pear." I swear you'll change your mind, maybe even your religious beliefs. Any song with lines like, "But I just can't date a dude with a vag" earns points with me every time. Who's coming with me to her show in August at PNC? I promise I won't tell anyone.)
It's true. I'm so excited about the 90s that I can't contain myself any longer. I initially planned to write one blog post per week, but someone admitted to reading my blog (*insert shout out here!*) and it got me all pumped about writing another. So, in true 90s fashion, let's bust a move. (Yes, yes, I know. "Bust A Move" technically came out in 1989, BUT it won the Grammy in 1990, so think if it as creative license.)
First, as always, some fun facts about the next year in my line-up, 1994:
*I turned 9
*Nancy Kerrigan is beaten down in Detroit on orders from Tonya Harding's ex-husband (Does anyone else remember the 95.5 WPLJ parody of Joshua Kadison's "Jessie," where they sang, "Tonya paint a picture 'bout whackin' her on the kneeee...."?)
*Lorena Bobbit is found not guilty by reason of insanity...duh.
*The Church of England ordains the first female priests
*Apple releases the first Macintosh computers to us the PowerPC Microprocessors (this was a huge deal at the time)
*Schindler's List wins 7 Oscars
*Kurt Cobain is found dead in his home from suicide by shotgun (RIP, Kurt)
*Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman are murdered in LA, Bronco races ensue
*Woodstock '94 commences as the 25th Anniversary of the original Woodstock Festival
*George Forman becomes the oldest heavyweight champion in history (and then proceeds to lure us in further with grills)
*Justin Bieber is born, and I begin to feel extremely old.
Well, it seems 1994 was a tumultuous year, to say the least. Women taking each other out to be ice queens, OJ (not technically) murdering people, the death of grunge music altogether. (If you've never seen it, watch Nirvana's MTV Unplugged. It was filmed about 5 months before Kurt's death and may be the most moving performance I've ever seen. I have the DVD. Just ask.) But in all this sadness shines a little ray of 90s music delight. Here is the first Top Ten list of 1994:
1) "100% Pure Love" ~Crystal Waters: Released only as a single by house musician Crystal Waters, this may be her only US hit. The song only reached number 11 on the Billboard charts but won a Billboard Award for "Top-Selling Hot Dance Music Play Single." (That's an oddly specific award title.) The song was certified Gold and also spent time in the Top 20 on other lists like the Hot Dance Club Play chart, the US R&B chart, and the UK charts. It remains one of the longest charting singles in US history with 45 weeks on the Billboard Top 100. Imagine that.
This is another example of pure 90s nostalgia gold. I actually had forgotten all about this song until the radio gods decided to bless me and play it on the Sirius/XM 90s station on the way to work this morning. After I was through twirling from excitement (while driving my car, not safe. I don't suggest twirling and driving at the same time), I found that I remembered every single word and the dance moves that some friends and I had come up with in elementary school. Fourth grade was a magical time. I was also plagued with memories of using this song to torture a girl who went to school with us, by changing the words to "Back to the middle and around again, _____ is a pure lesbian..." (Names have been removed to protect anonymity.) Kids are cruel, and I was one of them. Of course I would never condone this kind of behavior now, but at the time it was the most clever tease we could come up with. Regardless, this song rocks and has since been added to my 90s must-have play list.
2) "The Sign" ~Ace of Base: Although technically released in 1993, "The Sign" became the #1 Song of 1994, according to Billboard Magazine's year-end charts. The song spent six weeks (nonconsecutively) at number 1 in the US and reached number 2 in the UK. Oddly enough, the song was actually on an album called Happy Nation all over the world except North America, where the album was called The Sign. (Did they think we could handle it over here, or were they trying to imply that we were not, in fact, a happy nation?)
Let me just say that this was the first CD I ever owned. 1994 was HUGE year for Ace of Base, as they also released "All That She Wants" and "Don't Turn Around" as well, and most people could not get enough of the slight ABBA ripoff. I distinctly remember driving to school in the morning with my friend Amy, the two of us begging her dad to turn up the radio when "The Sign" came on. Every. Single. Morning. I'm sure that if you were around for the release of this song, like me, then, like me, you still get totally pumped when you hear this song played. Ace of Base nearly defined our childhoods, making us all victims of crappy, Euro dance music...and happy to be a part of it.
3)"Whatta Man" ~Salt-n-Peppa with En Vogue: Off Salt-n-Peppa's fourth album, Very Necessary, and En Vogue's EP Runaway Love, "Whatta Man" was huge success for both groups. The song was a semi-cover of "What A Man" by Linda Lyndell, using the original (but re-recorded) chorus and replacing the verses with rap. "Whatta Man" peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was nominated for a Grammy for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group and an AMA for Favorite Soul/R&B Single.
Honestly, I had a hard time deciding whether to use this song or "Shoop." "Shoop" is still one of my all-time favorite rap songs, which I made damn sure I learned each and every word to, and was also released in 1994. There was, however, more information available on "Whatta Man," so I went with it. The song is all-around awesome and gave rap both a positive female presence and a positive spin. How many rap songs nowadays are "thank yous" to significant others for being great people? None, I tell you. None. (Well, except, I suppose, "Best I Ever Had" by Drake, but I'm not sure that "You da fuckin' best" counts as a very positive "thank you." Not that it's without it's merits, with lines like "sweatpants, hair tie, chillin with no makeup on. That's when you the prettiest." That's sweet...)
4) "Tootsee Roll" ~69 Boyz: Released from their debut album 199Quad as the first single, "Tootsee Roll" peaked at number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and took 27 weeks to reach that momentous point. The song sampled "Moments In Love" by Art of Noise and ranked number 9 on the Hot R&B Singles chart and number 1 on the Hot Rap Singles chart. The song was also ranked at number 73 on AOL Radio's "100 Worst Songs Ever."
Dear AOL: Again, I beg to differ. As an elementary school-aged child upon this song's release, I would like to say that, at the time, I considered this is best song ever. I'm not saying my nine-year-old brain was correct, I'm just saying...lay off. First off, anyone who states the year in the beginning of the song ("Yeah 1994, 69 Boyz backed up by Quad City DJs...") gets points. Second, this song was educational. How else would kids know when to go to the left, to the left, to the right, to the right, to the front, to the front, to the back, to the back? And lord, how would we ever know when to slide, baby, slide? Not to mention that the song forewarns us when they "feel a whoop comin' on." That's just practical safety. As a staple to all middle school and elementary school dances that year, I vote YES for "Tootsee Roll."
5) "Hero" ~Mariah Carey: Originally written by Mariah and Walter Afanasieff for Gloria Estefan, "Hero" was eventually recorded by Carey and released on her third studio album, Music Box. It peaked at number 1 on the Billboard charts and became Mariah's eighth chart-topper. The song faced many critiques and a few copyright/plagiarism lawsuits, but is still deemed by her fans as Mariah's "signature song" and is performed at almost every one of her shows. Carey also re-recorded and released the song as a mash-up with "Never Too Far" after the September 11th attacks.
This song holds a very special place in my heart, as I used it to make both of my parents cry. Not on purpose, mind you. At my 1994 dance recital, I was asked by the dance studio owner to sing "Hero" as part of the show. Maybe she saw my singing potential...or maybe she thought I was a terrible dancer and needed to do something else. Either way, I sang it by myself on stage at age 9 (yes, I have it on VHS somewhere) and, according to my mother, she and my father wept like babies. How sweet!
Personal agenda aside, despite the fact that this song leans a bit on the hokey side, it's a beautiful song with a good message, which I'm sure inspired Mariah fans everywhere. I remember hearing this song constantly this year, whether on the radio or on TV or for some inspiring message of some sort. The song struck a chord with America and encouraged Mariah's ever-rising fame.
6) "I Swear" ~All-4-One: Originally a country song (wait, what?? Was anyone else aware or this little tidbit?) recorded by John Michael Montgomery in 1994, All-4-One's version was released just a few months later. The song quickly flew to number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, where it rested for 11 consecutive weeks. The song was an exact replica of the original, with only one line changed. (All-4-One version: "And when just the two of us are there..." Country version: "And when there's silver in your hair..." I can understand the change. These were young guys. No one's woman was going gray yet.) The All-4-One version was eventually ranked number 78 on the Billboard's Top 100 Song in the 50-Year history of Billboard. (Geez!)
Another staple of school dances (you know, when you would seek out your crush and dance fingertip-to-shoulder style, arms stretched out as far as you could go to avoid the ever-lurking residual cooties of early childhhod), "I Swear" still makes me smile, especially the baritone part (sexy!). We may not have ever heard from All-4-One after this song, but they occupy a special place in all our school-dance memories.
7) "Shine" ~Collective Soul: As the lead single from their debut album, Hints, Allegations, And Things Left Unsaid, "Shine" became Collective Soul's signature song and a major staple of 90s alt rock. While it only peaked at number 11 on the Billboard charts, it won a Billboard Award for Top Rock Track and became the #1 Album Rock Song of 1994. The song was written by the band's guitarist, Ed Roland, who noted that the chorus was prayer-like in a time of heavy grunge music. The song has been covered by many, including Dolly Parton, who won a Grammy for her re-recording of the song in 2001. (Dolly's my girl.)
I agree with Ed Roland. Collective Soul came about at the perfect time, shining a bit of light (pun semi-intended) onto what had become the sad, depressing world of grunge music. I also think Collective Soul is timeless. I'm sure kids today who have never heard this song could listen to it and love it, stacking it up against all their current "music." (Quotes? Yes. Let's be fair. It's not all real music anymore, is it?) The song is proof of the staying power of no-strings-attached good rock.
8) "Because The Night" ~10,000 Maniacs: This song's original version was written by Patti Smith and Bruce Springsteen. Springsteen had recorded a version for Darkness on the Edge of Town, but was unhappy with it. Patti Smith was next door in the studio recording her album, Easter and was handed Springsteen's recording by Jimmy Iovine, who was working with both artists at the time. Years later, 10,000 Maniacs recorded a live version of the song (with some new twists on the lyrics) for their MTV Unplugged session and the song began to gain considerable airplay, which shocked the band. The live version eventually reached number 11 on the Billboard charts, making it the first time 10,000 Maniacs ever broke into the Top 40.
Now, I love Patti Smith and I love-love Bruce Springsteen (it's a Jersey thing); however, this version is still my favorite. Natalie Merchant's voice gets me every time. It's so...unique and relaxing. If you haven't heard the other two versions of this song, I suggest you take a listen. They're very different, especially the Boss version, but I believe you'll find the 10,000 Maniacs version most attractive.
9) "Linger" ~The Cranberries: Although originally released in February 1993, this song was re-released in January of 1994, which was the start of its popularity. "Linger" was The Cranberries's first major hit and eventually worked its way up to number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Written by two members of the band, Noel Hogan and Dolores O'Riordan, the song is about O'Riordan's first serious kiss.
The Cranberries seriously rock. This song and "Zombie" were two of my favorites in the 90s, and still are today. I always imagined "Linger" to be a really awesome wedding song---but first I'll have to find someone who agrees with me on that one to marry. The song refers a lot to "the guy" being with another girl but how Dolores is still "wrapped around [his] finger" regardless, so I think the sentiment remains. I remember desperately trying to learn the words to this song and being constantly thwarted by Dolores's thick, Irish accent. Much like a 90s version of Adele. I love the music but can't figure out what she's saying half the time. (Thank the heavens for Google.)
10) "Loser" ~Beck: Considering this song was an almost-mistake, it surprisingly reached number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and became Beck's first single to place on a major chart. (You know, because only good music charts...sigh.) Beck began writing the song in his not-so-lucky days as a near-homeless musician who had recently return to LA after striking out in NYC. While working meager jobs, Beck played small venues at night around the LA music scene. When people would stop listening to him play and talk amongst themselves, Beck would start randomly singing made-up ridiculous songs (like "Loser") to grab the audience's attention. Thus, "Loser" was born and Beck became epic.
I'm not going to pretend I'm a huge Beck fan, because I'm not. I don't dislike him at all, I just never really got into much of his music. "Loser," however, is a song everyone knows, even if they're unsure of who's singing it (especially thanks to shows like Glee who have resurrected songs like this from the dead). The song is still cool in my book, and it put hip-hop, folk, and blues all into the same song. Nothin' like a little rapping to get the cool kids to listen to your folk music. Good call, Beck.
Well guys, there you have it. The first half of the 1990s had been encapsulated forever in Top 10 form. I'm sure the music will only get better and more nonsensical as the decade churns on. Drop a comment if you're cool, and I'll start gearing up for 1995!
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