Tunes Du Jour Presents 1990

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By 1990, pop music was as fragmented as ever, with the charts reflecting a mix of dancefloor anthems, alternative breakthroughs, and genre-defying oddities. Hip-hop’s mainstream ascent was well underway, electronic music was taking shape in new and exciting forms, and rock music was shifting toward something grittier. The year’s defining hits weren’t just about big hooks—they were about movement, whether physical, emotional, or cultural.

Dance music thrived in 1990, blurring the lines between house, hip-hop, and pop. Madonna’s “Vogue” channeled the underground ballroom culture into a global phenomenon, while Deee-Lite’s “Groove Is in the Heart” mixed funk, rap, and psychedelic whimsy into a club classic. Elsewhere, Snap! (“The Power”) and Black Box (“Everybody Everybody”) brought European dance music into the mainstream, and 808 State’s “Pacific (707)” hinted at a future where electronic beats would dominate pop music. Even hip-hop joined the party, with M.C. Hammer’s “U Can’t Touch This” and Digital Underground’s “The Humpty Dance” bringing humor and flamboyance to the genre.

Meanwhile, alternative rock was carving out a larger space. Jane’s Addiction’s “Been Caught Stealing” and Faith No More’s “Epic” merged funk, metal, and punk into something unpredictable. The UK’s Madchester scene, fueled by dance rhythms and psychedelic guitars, produced The Stone Roses’ “Fools Gold,” Happy Mondays’ “Step On,” and Primal Scream’s “Loaded,” while The Charlatans’ “The Only One I Know” signaled Britpop’s coming rise. Across the Atlantic, Tom Petty’s “Free Fallin’” offered a more traditional take on rock, while Aerosmith’s “Janie’s Got a Gun” tackled dark subject matter with arena-sized drama.

Elsewhere, pop and R&B pushed forward with innovation. En Vogue’s “Hold On” showcased impeccable vocal group harmonies, Lisa Stansfield’s “All Around the World” delivered a fresh take on blue-eyed soul, and George Michael’s “Freedom ’90” turned self-reinvention into an art form. Janet Jackson’s “Escapade” and Prince’s “Thieves in the Temple” kept their respective streaks of forward-thinking pop hits alive. And then there was Sinéad O’Connor’s “Nothing Compares 2 U”—a Prince-penned ballad that, in her hands, became one of the most emotionally raw performances of the era.

Yet 1990 also had space for the delightfully weird. They Might Be Giants’ “Birdhouse in Your Soul” was an offbeat yet catchy rock song that felt beamed in from another world, while Pet Shop Boys’ “So Hard” continued their sophisticated synth-pop explorations. Biz Markie’s “Just a Friend” made earnest goofiness into a virtue, and DNA’s remix of Suzanne Vega’s “Tom’s Diner” pioneered a new wave of genre-hopping, blending folk with electronic beats. Even the global phenomenon of “Lambada” proved that music was becoming more borderless. Whether through innovation, reinvention, or sheer force of personality, 1990’s music remains as compelling as ever.

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Your (Almost) Daily Playlist: 9-29-24

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Shortly after British rock band Suede released their debut album in the US in 1993, they encountered a trademark issue. An American lounge singer named Suzanne deBronkart had been performing under the name “Suede” since the 1980s and had already trademarked the name for musical performances in the US. She sued for trademark violation.

Two years later, the British band reluctantly agreed to use the name “The London Suede” for all their US releases and performances. This compromise allowed them to maintain their original name in other parts of the world while respecting the existing trademark in the United States.

This name change applied to all their album releases, merchandise, and concert promotions in the US throughout their career.

(The London) Suede’s Brett Anderson was born on this date in 1967. A handful of the band’s tracks are included on today’s playlist.

Tunes Du Jour Presents 1999

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As we look back on the musical landscape of 1999, it’s hard not to be struck by the sheer diversity and quality of singles that dominated the charts and airwaves. Straddling the end of one millennium and the dawn of another, this year produced an extraordinary array of hits that continue to resonate with listeners today.

Pop music was in full force, with young stars like Britney Spears and the Backstreet Boys delivering earworms that would define the era. Spears’ debut “…Baby One More Time” and the Boys’ “I Want It That Way” became instant classics, their catchy hooks and polished productions setting a new standard for pop perfection. Meanwhile, Latin pop exploded onto the mainstream scene with Ricky Martin’s irresistible “Livin’ la Vida Loca,” a song that seemed to capture the exuberant spirit of the times.

But 1999 wasn’t just about glossy pop. Hip-hop continued its ascent, with Jay-Z’s “Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)” showcasing the genre’s growing crossover appeal. Eminem burst onto the scene with “My Name Is,” his irreverent wordplay and controversial persona signaling a new direction for rap. R&B, too, had a strong showing, with TLC’s “No Scrubs” becoming an anthem of female empowerment and Lauryn Hill’s “Ex-Factor” demonstrating the genre’s capacity for emotional depth.

Rock music, far from being overshadowed, produced some of the year’s most enduring tracks. The Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Scar Tissue” showcased their evolving sound, while The Offspring’s “Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)” brought punk-pop humor to the masses. Alternative and indie acts like The Flaming Lips and Mercury Rev pushed boundaries with “Race for the Prize” and “Goddess on a Highway” respectively, proving that innovative songwriting could still find a place in the mainstream.

Electronic music also made significant inroads in 1999. Fatboy Slim’s “Praise You” and The Chemical Brothers’ “Hey Boy Hey Girl” brought big beat to the forefront, while Moby’s “Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad?” hinted at electronic music’s potential for emotional resonance. From the dancefloor-filling “Sing It Back” by Moloko to the avant-garde “Windowlicker” by Aphex Twin, electronic artists were expanding the sonic possibilities of popular music in exciting ways.

The singles of 1999 paint a picture of a music industry in flux, embracing new sounds and technologies while still celebrating the timeless art of the perfectly crafted pop song. It was a year that laid the groundwork for the musical landscape of the 21st century, producing hits that continue to inspire and entertain listeners a quarter-century later.

Tunes Du Jour Presents 1991

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The year 1991 was a remarkable one for music, as it saw the emergence of genres, styles, and stars that would shape the musical landscape for years to come. Today’s playlist consists of thirty of the songs that defined 1991.

We’ve got slick pop hooks and hip-hop beats, soulful ballads and dancefloor anthems, synth pop and alt rock, industrial angst and Prince.

In late September of 1991, a trio from Seattle released an album that soon became a phenomenon that transcended music and defined a generation. Its first hit single inaugurated a new wave of alternative rock that would dominate the 90s. That song peaked on the pop charts the following year, so look for it when Tunes Du Jour Presents 1992.

For now, take a trip down memory lane and enjoy the musical smorgasbord that was 1991. Thank you for reading, and stay tuned for more posts about music. 

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