Today is the birthday of Ben Folds. A handful of his tunes are included on today’s playlist.
Tunes Du Jour Presents 1997
Music in 1997 was a true reflection of the decade’s diversity and boundary-pushing spirit. From the era’s biggest mainstream pop acts to the underground scenes bubbling up, the hits of ’97 showcased an exciting range of styles and genres commingling.
On the one hand, you had the unstoppable rise of wildly popular all-female groups like the Spice Girls with their debut smash “Wannabe” and the soaring vocals of Whitney Houston on “Step by Step.” At the same time, 1997 was also the year that brought the world jarring yet brilliant alt-rock statements like Radiohead’s sci-fi epic “Paranoid Android” and the dark, literary narratives of acts like Nick Cave.
Hip-hop continued evolving in dozens of directions, from the stunning lyricism of Notorious B.I.G.’s “Hypnotize” to the early flashes of what would become the dominant sound of the 2000s with Missy Elliott’s groundbreaking “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly).” The year’s electronic/dance highlights came in all tempos and styles, whether the gritty yet blissful big beat of The Prodigy’s “Firestarter” or the sleek Daft Punk groover “Around the World.”
While teenager pop captured the mainstream with acts like Hanson’s “MMMBop,” the alternative/indie realm gifted 1997 with timeless gems spanning rockist earnestness (Ben Folds Five), fuzz-pop dreaminess (The Cardigans’ “Lovefool”), and idiosyncratic lo-fi (Elliot Smith, Yo La Tengo). It was an era of strange but beautiful hybrids, like the trip-hop soul of Erykah Badu’s “On & On.”
Looking back at 1997’s musical landscape, you’re struck by not just the sheer quality of the output, but the vibrant plurality of styles. It was a moment when the underground and the overground were engaged in an intriguing conversation, shaping what came next.
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Your (Almost) Daily Playlist: 3-29-24
Peretz Bernstein was born on this date in 1959. He took the word peripheral and used that as the basis for his stage name, Perry Farrell. Some of Farrell’s work with Jane’s Addiction and Porno For Pyros is included on today’s playlist.
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Your (Almost) Daily Playlist: 6-13-23
My favorite Weezer song is “Buddy Holly,” from their 1994 album titled Weezer, not to be confused with their 2001 album titled Weezer, their 2008 album titled Weezer, their 2016 album titled Weezer, or either of their 2019 albums titled Weezer. My second favorite Weezer song is “Hash Pipe,” from their 2001 album titled Weezer, not to be confused with their 1994 album titled Weezer, their 2008 album titled Weezer, their 2016 album titled Weezer, or either of their 2019 albums titled Weezer. In third place I’d probably put “Island in the Sun,” also from their 2001 album titled Weezer, not to be confused with their 1994 album titled Weezer, their 2008 album titled Weezer, their 2016 album titled Weezer, or either of their 2019 albums titled Weezer. Next for me would be “Beverly Hills,” from an album not titled Weezer, which I find confusing.
Weezer’s Rivers Cuomo was born on this date in 1950 and has never been the governor of New York. To celebrate a handful of Weezer songs are on today’s playlist. Oddly, I didn’t include any of the favorites I mentioned, which is the most confusing part of this post.
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