MUSC 1800: Popular MusicMetal, 90s Mainstream
Dr. Matthew C. SaundersLakeland Community College
C-1078
Stuck in the 90s• Economy
• Politics
• Foreign affairs
Important Trends in 1990s Popular Music• New Technology
• Strong local music scenes on the rise
• Greater diversity within and among styles
Looking like a rock star…
• Movement away from “glitz” and “glam” styles of presentation
• Conscious avoidance of anything that might appear less than casual.
• Echo of the larger culture
Big Idea:
• In 1985, rock had dominated the pop charts for 30 years, and began to wane in importance as hip-hop rose and country regained some of its earlier status.
Heavy Metal (ca. 1970-1995)• Origins
• Appeal
• Commercial success
Heavy Metal Examples
• Black Sabbath– “Iron Man,” 1970
• Motley Crue– “Shout at the Devil,” 1983
• Metallica– “Master of Puppets,” 1986
• AC/DC– “Thunderstruck,” 1990
Through the 90s with Dr. Saunders• The Red Hot Chili Peppers:
– “Give it Away,” 1991• Guns’n’Roses:
– “November Rain,” (Use Your Illusion, 1992)• Weezer:
– “Buddy Holly,” 1994• Alanis Morisette,
– “You Oughta Know,” 1995• Los Del Rio:
– “Macarena,” 1996• Fastball:
– “The Way,” 1997• Barenaked Ladies:
– “One Week,” 1998
Alternative Rock in the Mainstream
• Jane’s Addiction– “Mountain Song,” 1989
• R.E.M.– “Shiny Happy People,” 1990
• Sonic Youth – “Kool Thing,” 1990 (live 1993)
• Beck– “Loser,” 1993
• No Doubt – “Just a Girl,” 1995
Grunge• Another “back to basics” rock movement• Seattle-based, mid-to-late 1980s• National success after 1991
Grunge
• Important grunge artists:– Nirvana (lead singer Kurt Cobain): “
Smells Like Teen Spirit,” 1991• Live, Reading, 1992: “Territorial Pissings”
– Pearl Jam (lead singer Eddie Vedder): “Black,” 1991 (live, 1992)
– Soundgarden: “Black Hole Sun,” 1994
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