Musings from Suburbia on a variety of everyday topics. I have realized that MANY times, it is "just me", but I always hold out hope that there are others out there who occasionally see things as I do.
Trying to recapture part of the soundtrack from my life during the 90's is my theme for the a-z challenge this year
Here we are! I had heard the hits by U2, but never looked much beyond those. Achtung Baby was released the fall after I graduated from college, and I was instantly in love. It was the first album of theirs that I actually owned, playing the CD on a seemingly endless loop. Are you ready?
Trying to recapture part of the soundtrack from my life during the 90's is my theme for the a-z challenge this year
Where was Alanis in the eighties, or at least earlier in the nineties, during my peak break up years? I was planning my wedding by the time she busted out her Jagged Little Pill. It was odd to be filled with an almost nostalgia for broken-hearted days. She just captured it all so completely - angst, hurt, anger and a healthy dose of crass.
Trying to recapture part of the soundtrack from my life during the 90's is my theme for the a-z challenge this year
Obviously many of you have your own soundtracks from your time spent in the nineties. Today I am going to throw in a couple of eXtras to help Kari, from A Graceful Life, celebrate her birthday today!
No Rain...Blind Melon, 1992
The music, the lyrics, the dancing bees...seriously. Of course I loved this song, mostly in the summer with the car windows down again. I am choosing this song for Kari because her writing is a super fun escape for me, she is always just a few keystrokes away, and I am hoping the dancing bees make her smile.
Buddy Holly...Weezer, 1994
Some retro fun, plus I am always a sucker for songs about quirky couples trying to make it work. I am choosing this song, but mainly this video, for Kari because of the nostalgia. A fantastic throwback to simpler times with respect for the characters who lived there.
Trying to recapture part of the soundtrack from my life during the 90's is my theme for the a-z challenge this year
Hey, so what's going on? Can you feel it? Feel what, you ask? I don't know exactly, although it is definitely something. I mean no disrespect, nor is this intended to judge Linda Perry's voice, but I never feel like I have to worry about how I sound when I sing along to this one. Just belt out those lyrics, in fact shout if that feels even better. I'll be here screaming from the top of my lungs...
Trying to recapture part of the soundtrack from my life during the 90's is my theme for the a-z challenge this year
Don't just stand there, let's get to it! It is interesting to think back on the evolution of Madonna and her ability to be current in various decades. She was hard to outgrow, if not for nostalgia alone. Go on - strike a pose!
Trying to recapture part of the soundtrack from my life during the 90's is my theme for the a-z challenge this year
Is there anything I can say to make you believe me on this one? Or to at least forgive me for the earworm? Back long before he was trying to get us to buy Command Strips, he was trying to convince us that the comfort of "Hammer pants" would make any visual "glamour don't" excusable.
Trying to recapture part of the soundtrack from my life during the 90's is my theme for the a-z challenge this year
The Spin Doctors were not exactly one hit wonders. I think it was more like three, at least for me. With their pockets full of kryptonite, quirky rhymes and upbeat tempos, they were certainly fun to have in the mix.
Trying to recapture part of the soundtrack from my life during the 90's is my theme for the a-z challenge this year
I admit that I was not a big fan of N'Sync, Brittney and their ilk. Truth be told though, I do believe they hold a special place in nineties music history...and the letter Q is tricky.
For some strange reason, we received a Backstreet Boys vhs tape with a kids' meal at Burger King in the late nineties. Have it your way, I want it that way - something like that. The video had a couple of songs at concerts, as well as some backstage footage. Of course the tape found its way into our son's viewing rotation amidst Bear and the Big Blue House and Blue's Clues.
Trying to recapture part of the soundtrack from my life during the 90's is my theme for the a-z challenge this year
I headed into the Under the Pink, Tori Amos concert armed with familiarity with one or two songs at best. It is not the music I remember the most, but more the awkward angles Tori was contorted into on her piano bench. I didn't know what a Cornflake Girl was exactly, but suspected I was looking at it. Her voice sure is beautiful though.
Trying to recapture part of the soundtrack from my life during the 90's is my theme for the a-z challenge this year
One word...FUN! We had a toddler in the house by the time Stunt was in our CD player. The song Who Needs Sleep may have resonated best with us, but as far as dancing around the family room was concerned, this one stayed on the playlist for years.
Trying to recapture part of the soundtrack from my life during the 90's is my theme for the a-z challenge this year
One of the few good things about having my heart broken in the spring of 1990? Sinead O'Connor - I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got. There were plenty of songs to choose from if you wanted to be moved. If misery was what you were looking to capture though, this was one of the finest places to look. Oh, how she sang the way I felt...
Trying to recapture part of the soundtrack from my life during the 90's is my theme for the a-z challenge this year
Was it mostly seventy degrees and sunny back in the nineties? Because so many of these songs find me driving around with the car windows down. And where was I always going? Some hits are just simply fun, and I believe this to be one of them.
Trying to recapture part of the soundtrack from my life during the 90's is my theme for the a-z challenge this year
Sure I knew who David Byrne was back in 1994. He was the man in the suit, singer for the Talking Heads. I had just started dating this guy, who happened to later become my husband, and he had tickets to see David Byrne. Not too shabby of a second date. I had some minor concerns about not being familiar with any of Byrne's solo stuff, but maybe not having to squash the desire to sing along would not be a bad thing.
It was a fantastic show, as was the show in 2008 that I pretended my husband was dragging me to. I had not heard any of the new material since most of the cds in my van at that time were kid requested. Not only was the music catchy as usual, but they did this kind of performance art stuff to go along with it. People sort of dancing around with and on rolling office chairs is what I remember the most.
One of the things this challenge is showing me is how many concerts we went to in the nineties. Thankfully, David Byrne is on the schedule once again for this August. The cd came free with each ticket purchased, so I have actually heard the songs this time. (I hope that doesn't spoil anything.)
Trying to recapture part of the soundtrack from my life during the 90's is my theme for the a-z challenge this year
Let's go tothe tape, shall we? Of course I am referring to the mix tape, as once again that is where I met today's group. Someone included Strange Fire and Closer to Fine for my cassette listening pleasure. I had never heard of the band or their music, but was an instant fan. Of course the two songs were not on the same album, so I had to scrape together the college funds to buy both Indigo Girls and Strange Fire. Those were the gateway cassettes, as others followed of course.
I loved the intertwining of their voices, often catchy beats, and lyrics worth pondering. Their music was relaxing when I wanted it to be, or a boisterous sing along if that more suited my mood. This song was by far my favorite on the Rites of Passage album.
Trying to recapture part of the soundtrack from my life during the 90's is my theme for the a-z challenge this year
Melissa was there to usher out the eighties, by name as well as in her Brave and Crazy way. The early nineties certainly did a huge favor to anyone feeling alone in heartbreak, and Melissa Etheridge was a powerhouse with both her voice and words. Her hits lingered on my CD player. While the album, Never Enough, in 1992 was never really on my radar, Yes I Am in 1993 brought her back in full force.
This song could made me feel badass while singing through those breakup tears. The only one, indeed. It was also an exercise in how long one could sing without taking a break...that chorus!!! Crank up the volume, as that is the only way to listen to her...
Trying to recapture part of the soundtrack from my life during the 90's is my theme for the a-z challenge this year
I liked Hootie and the Blowfish, and not just in a guilty pleasure kind of way. Cracked Rear View had some incredible sing-along songs. I mean Darius has a voice that is fun to listen to, but we all know I am typically in it for pretending I have a singing voice too. I can almost feel the warmth of summer just hearing this...and I almost feel twenty-five again!
Trying to recapture part of the soundtrack from my life during the 90's is my theme for the a-z challenge this year
My husband and I started dating in 1994, and he made me a mix tape - as one does. I think the intent behind that particular creation was more to ease me into his musical tastes, rather than to profess his undying love. The cassette introduced me to several new bands, including Everything But the Girl. (I believe Gepetto, by Belly was on the song list as well, but this one definitely wins out for the letter g.) Not every tune had me asking to borrow the CD like Everything But the Girl did. It is funny how after twenty-two years of marriage, I do still find myself wondering from time to time if, in fact, he will ever get me. Most of the time, however, I have to admit that he really does.
Trying to recapture part of the soundtrack from my life during the 90's is my theme for the a-z challenge this year
This. Song. Oh my goodness! Not only was I a huge 10,000 Maniacs fan, but I dare say these lyrics have meant more to me than any others. I was in my early twenties, faced with a need to move forward. This song helped me realize that I was not unique in having regrets, and I basically needed to get over myself. I still need to hear it every now and then.
Trying to recapture part of the soundtrack from my life during the 90's is my theme for the a-z challenge this year
There are plenty of songs that did not exist in my own personal collection of music, but were perhaps heard even more often than those that did. The radio, a bar, a wedding reception...the beat was bound to unleash itself. The groove waits quietly and motionless in some secluded lobe of my brain, but then just try to deny those first three words and four beats...go ahead, try! Now get your Friday on...
Trying to recapture part of the soundtrack from my life during the 90's is my theme for the a-z challenge this year
We don't have to let it linger, but we do have to take a moment to remember Dolores. Everyone Else is Doing it, So Why Can't We? came out when I was still a bit awash in the angst of eighties music, so it fit right in with my catalog. I could give the illusion of being current, while still rooted in the comfort, or discomfort, of the previous decade. This song was a much needed glimpse of hope and reminder to dream.
Trying to recapture part of the soundtrack from my life during the 90's is my theme for the a-z challenge this year
My range of musical interests felt pretty wide and diverse, until I met my husband. Most of the albums he had in his vast collection were either completely new to me, or were only familiar for the mainstream radio hits they contained.
One of the first concerts we attended together was Peter Gabriel's WOMAD (World of Music and Dance) tour in Saratoga in 1994. He was/is a huge Peter Gabriel fan, and I liked the few songs I knew off the album So, (despite the confusion the song and video Sledgehammer caused). I also knew Solsbury Hill because such knowledge was required in bars my senior year of college.
The weather was beautiful for that outdoor concert, and we saw some cool acts during the day on the various stages. Later, on the main stage, I was introduced (not literally) to Midnight Oil and Live, then truly dazzled by Peter Gabriel. So was joined by Us, and here is my favorite from that album.
Breakfast at Tiffany's...Deep Blue Something, 1993
Trying to recapture part of the soundtrack from my life during the 90's is my theme for the a-z challenge this year
Did I have the CD? Yes. Did I ever listen to any other songs on it? I do not believe so. No doubt the lyrics lured me in, as they so often do. I also thought the name of the band was cool. A fantastic one hit wonder that came at the perfect time as I was trying to figure out what kind of music to listen to.
Trying to recapture part of the soundtrack from my life during the 90's is my theme for the a-z challenge this year
I seem to be having trouble these days finding the discipline to sit down and blog - or to stop eating candy and cookies. The most logical quick fix for the writing obviously is to embrace the a-z challenge, because if blogging once a week is difficult, doing so every day should be a breeze! We know that I am a creature of habit though, and this is how I have chosen to cope with the past six Aprils, so here we go! My themes have typically had some sort of music basis with the likes of movie soundtracks, angsty eighties, sappy seventies. I was reluctant to delve into the nineties...until now. The decade started with huge heartbreak, moved on to college graduation, then floundering to find some purpose in my world, another relationship that was bound to work out until the moment it was destined to go down in flames. By the mid-nineties I was engaged, got married, had my first child and closed out the decade pregnant with my second child. No way could any particular style of music define that decade for me, but maybe it will be fun to try to reconstruct some of what was blasting out of my car's CD player. As I settled into the mid-nineties, I was also happy to listen to less angst (less of the ex-boyfriend's Grateful Dead for at least a little while) and find something more fresh. My husband and I saw Dave Matthews Band twice, and I was newly pregnant each time (this may explain why we didn't go to any more of their shows). Watching the string player was absolutely mesmerizing! I was a huge fan of Under the Table and Dreaming, as well as So Much to Say off of the album Crash. However, as the band's following grew to epic numbers, my interest waned and stayed rooted with the classic CD I initially fell for. Here is one of my favorites...
