No, don't take me back. The decade probably defines the most awkward moments of my life. (Braces, acne, low self-esteem...) But it was still a great time and is it just me or was pop music better back then? To try to wrap up a decade in one post would not do the 90s justice so we will be bringing these posts to you in an epic multi-part fashion. The featured songs of this 90s series will most likely be covers, remixes, or mash-ups. I hope you guys have fun with this as much as I do writing it. :)
Today, let's focus on 1990! Just to refresh your memory: Papa Bush was prez, the Cold War was still going on, we were in the midst of the S&L crisis, Windows 3.0 was released, and it was the year when Law & Order began, *ruff*.
DJ BC - Groovy Burnin'
To kick-off this 1990 party, we've got this Deee-liteful mash-up that takes "Groove Is in the Heart" and lays over vocals from the Doors to Salt-n-Pepa (whose "Push It" from 1989 barely misses our '90 tribute). Other "Groove Is in the Heart" mash-ups can be found here. (My personal favorite is the "Black Hole Sun" (1994) mash-up which is ironically comical.)
Pheugoo - Shut Your Eyes and Vogue (Madonna vs. Snow Patrol)
Madonna will not allow me to embed "Vogue" from Youtube so here's the link. According to the Wikipedia article for "Vogue", Bill Lamb from About.com (who is he?) commented that the song is "[p]ossibly the most perfect dance song Madonna, the most successful dance artist of all time, has ever recorded." This mash-up is worth listening to until the end just because the Snow Patrol's "Shut your eyes" line (2007) laid over Madonna's piano bridge is quite breath-taking.
Bell Biv Devoe - Poison (Million $ Mano Remix)
This "Poison" remix has got a whole sexy Baltimore twist to it. The New Edition spin-off's classic was recently featured in a little TV show all you Gleeks have probably seen...
The Lost Fingers - Pump Up the Jam
Technotronic's "Pump Up the Jam" is arguably from 1989 but was still popular and relevant in the states in 1990. It is an important song because it was the first house track that became so successful and mainstream over here in non-Euro-land. This gypsy cover is eccentric but still inviting to us who loved the original.
Other notable 1990 hits that haven't been but I wished were covered, remixed, or mashed-up include:
- Digital Underground - Humpty Dance
- En Vogue - Hold On
- Janet Jackson - Rhythm Nation
- Mariah Carey - Vision of Love
- Michael Bolton - How Am I Supposed to Live without You
- New Kids on the Block - Step by Step
- Paula Abdul - Opposites Attract
- Snap - The Power
- Vanilla Ice - Ice Ice Baby
What's your favorite 1990 tune?
I would say these are MUST-adds:
ReplyDeleteC + C Music Factory - Everybody Dance Now
MC Hammer - You Can't Touch This
Johnny Gill - Rub You the Right Way
I listened to these a lot on the radio:
Tony Toni Tone - Feels Good
UB40 - Way You Do The Things You Do
DNA feat Suzanne Vega - Tom's Diner
And I later learned to appreciate these:
Depeche Mode - Enjoy the Silence
Biz Markie - Just A Friend
Slick Rick - Children's Stories
So true! Good catch Seth! Add in your must-haves for 1991. I just posted a new entry. :)
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