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what would be 'classic' 90's music?
Posted: Jun 12, 2008 in Culture, Music, TV and Celebrities
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A while back i was having lunch with some guys on the road and the restaurant we were is was playing a 60's radio station. Some how we got to talking about how is a few decades when there are 'oldies' 90's and early 2000 music stations. What artist and song would they play?
I said 'N Sync would be a staple - having grow up in the time frame their songs "I want you back" Tearin' up my Heart" and "Bye Bye Bye" were on the radio a lot.
But My co worker disagreed with me and said 'Nsync was not a group enough people would remember.
So I thought I would as you guys - what songs and/or artist do you think they would play? (years from now as 'Classics" from 1990 to 2000)
I think:
- 'N Sync (Bye Bye Bye, Pop, I want you back.)
- Britney Spears (Baby one more time, Opps I did it again, Stronger)
- Christina Aguilera ( What a girl wants, Geenie in a Bottle, Dirty)
- Backstreet Boys (Everybody, Quit playing games, Show me the meaning, Larger than life)
Just to name a few.
I think that's one group but I would always go with the mid-90s alternative rock. Like X103 in it's early years.....Nirvana, Weezer, Everclear, Silverchair, 311, Live, Counting Crows, Soundgarden, Green Day (before they sucked), The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Blues Traveler, Collective Soul to name a few.
Other bands that were 90s but don't really fit in that category: Hootie and the Blowfish, Blink 182, Smash Mouth, Sugar Ray....
There was a lot of good stuff back then
Those are all pop music artists and in my opinion their music is pretty disposable. You'll see those groups on VH1 specials covering the 90's and possibly on some pop / dance music stations in the future, but they don't have the influential, lasting power of the 60's musicians you hear on the radio like The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, etc.
Unlike the 60's, the most popular music of the 90's 00's hasn't been revolutionary, memorable music for the most part.
It's really a tough call, but the groups that I think will be considered the most important from the 90's and will still be heard on the radio (if there still is radio) decades ahead of us include:
Nirvana
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Radiohead
Smashing Pumpkins
Green Day
Weezer
The Flaming Lips
Pavement
Sublime
Beck
The Pixies
Elliott Smith
And for Hip-hop I'd say:
Wu-Tang Clan
De La Soul
Beastie Boys
Common
2Pac
NWA
Dr. Dre / Snoop
Public Enemy
Eric B. & Rakim
DJ Shadow
I'm sure I'm missing some. Plus, I didn't include some of my faves of the 90's that have never been all that popular, such as Neutral Milk Hotel. Also, these are mostly rock / hip-hop artists, not covering genres such as electronic, country, punk, metal, etc.
I agree with what Ben said.
Boyz II Men owned the 90's.....when they came on at the 8th grade dance....it's curtains!
Motownphilly's back again.
OMG Ben you totally sound like this other guy that I work with. hehe. He swear no one today has the staying power of say Elvis or the Beatles. But I think that is unfair to say that now. Since I am sure Elvis and them had their critics back in the day too. Of course not EVERYONE can be the next music legend. But Mariah Carey is closing in on Elvis and the Beatles records for most number 1 singles, which unlike record sale (becuase not everyone had a record player back them) is a good example of a Modern day music legend in the making.
And music a all about taste really and personally I like the newer beats and the energy they have over the old classics - and remakes are awesome. I do own a Beatles CD but I have not imported it into my iPod and I have nothing from Elvis. So you have to factor in that as older generations die off some (even if only a small percentage) of the love for those artist will go down too. I mean I listen to them rarely and they are my favorites. And I don't see the aging rapper want to be's jamming to some Elvis tunes. j/k.
My co-worker quizzes me when we go into places were older music is playing - i usually don't know the answer and just respond - is that guy dead?
Jane's Addiction Mother Love Bone Digital Underground Soundgarden Pixies Sunny Day Real Estate Sugar Primus The Offspring The Posies Green River Mudhoney The Melvins Pearl Jam Stone Temple Pilots Blur The Verve Everclear Faith No More Rage Against The Machine