Fall 2023

 

Fall 2023

We live in unique times nearing the Fall of 2023. Debates, questions about life, and a love of justice abound in the Universe. I have learned a lot of things in the course of numerous decades of living my life on Earth, and I will continue to learn more about life's mysteries too. We have the most virulent political polarization in America in a long time. The Trumpism movement has caused historical revisionism in Florida schools, refused to allow black representation in the state of Alabama, and supports a fascist racist like Donald Trump include far-right Republicans. Trumpism won't go away even if Trump loses the 2024 election. That is why education is important to stand up for human rights. The many people at Trump rallies should feel shame for allying with a person who hated democratic values. Many people in the MAGA crowd try to justify their bigotry by saying that they are against woke people. The word woke has been perverted, and its actual meaning is to just believe that every human born on this Earth is created equal and deserves dignity, respect, and justice without exception. Many people exploit topics like Critical Race Theory, gender identity, education, and other issues in order to not allow a real discussion on the economy, climate change, investments in rebuilding communities, health care, and other important issues. While Bidenomics has a way to go, the economy now is a whole lot stronger than during the Trump years. Now, we have 13.2 million jobs added during the Biden term, we have a lower than 4 percent unemployment rate, inflation has declined since last year, and GDP has increased. Even the stock market has increased, and the Federal Reserve no longer expects a recession this year. The economy is strong, but we have some work to do to make it better, especially in the midst of economic inequality and poverty in urban plus rural areas of the United States of America. We still have a high cost of housing and food in America, and consumer debt is nearing record-high levels. We have labor workers legitimately striking in Hollywood and auto workers having issues. Interest rates can be higher for a longer time, and the record heat can damage the economy in farms and prices. Student loan payments return in the Fall, and many kids and adults struggle to pay down their student loan debt. Therefore, we have to be about our business to promote progressive economic policies that will literally save human lives. 

In our generation, we have to realize how serious the Trump indictments are in American history and world history. There has been no President and no elected official in American history that has been accused of anything close to the scale that Donald Trump has been charged with. If Biden wins re-election in 2024, then there is a higher than 70 percent chance of Trump being convicted in just one federal case. Currently, former President Trump faces four indictments (3 federal indictments and one state indictment) along with being charged with 91 counts. This reality is unprecedented. Regardless of what far-right people say, this prosecution is not a "witch hunt" but a defense of our democracy. Biden didn't indict Trump. Trump and others were indicted by the American grand jury system after seeing conclusive evidence of corruption by Trump and his allies. This is because Trump knew the election was not a fraud, and he used illegal tactics including using fake electors in trying to steal the 2020 election. He criticized Mike Pence for refusing to cover up for Trump involving the 2020 election. Donald Trump has been treated with kid gloves and special privileges that other defendants have never been given. He only has one mug shot being publicly released. Trump has threatened witnesses and was in legal trouble for decades from his Trump University scandals to allegations of housing discrimination. 

We reject the 2021 insurrection against the U.S. Capitol. The reality is that the resentments of the working class have nothing to do with wokeism. Again, being woke is the belief that every human born on this Earth deserves freedom, justice, and equality without exception. It has to do with the massive economic inequality of income and wealth and other systems of oppression harming human beings. The myth expressed by the moderates and MAGA extremists is that the left and the right have gotten more extreme. The reality is that progressives have hardly moved and the far right is more far right now than even during the days of the Reagan Presidency. There was a time of the massive liberal Republicans during the 1960's (and decades prior to the 1960's too). That day is over. For example, thirty years ago, Bill Clinton was a centrist as he passed welfare reform, promoted being tough on crime policies, and compromised with Republicans on many issues. 

Trump moved the GOP even further right by inciting an insurrection, promoting a Muslim travel ban, and denying that he lost the 2020 election (when Trump knows that view is a total lie). Many people who claim to be left are really center-left or centrists. Even the 1956 Republican Platform (which wanted to protect Social Security, provide asylum for refugees, extend the minimum wage, promote union, have equal pay for equal work regardless of sex, provide federal assistance to low-income communities, etc.) is much more progressive than the 2020 Republican Platform.  We should remind people that liberals and progressives caused the Voting Rights Act to pass, created Social Security (that lifted millions of elderly Americans out of poverty), created the Civil Rights Act, gave women the right to vote, promoted environmental laws, created Medicare, helped to end legal segregation, and advanced the movement against police brutality. Far-right conservatives opposed these blessings for decades. Reagan called Medicare a socialist plot to ruin seniors, and JFK gave a speech at Madison Square Garden to support Medicare legislation (which is found in Youtube). 

There is much news about our time. The NLRB issued a ruling that will force employers to recognize unions in the workplace if bosses commit unfair labor practices during a union election. The myth promoted is that no one wants to work anymore. The reality is that people don't want to be paid unlivable wages. If we want more jobs to exist in a moral society, people should be paid livable wages with benefits. Wealth inequality is real, and it's a global crisis. People worth less than $10,000 or 53% of the world's adult population hold 1.2% of the world's assets. People worth over $1 million or 1.1% of the world's adult population have 46% of the world's wealth. Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos is reportedly concerned that if they give a fair deal to writers and actions in America, then that will set a precedent for writers/actors in other territories to ask for fair deals. In 2022 alone, Lowe's spent over $14 billion on stock buybacks. That is enough money to give one of its 301,000 U.S. employees a $47,000 bonus. These buybacks don't create jobs, they don't increase wages, they don't grow the economy, and they make corporate executives richer. 

People want fairness in society which is why autoworkers have voted to strike if the Big Three carmakers don't agree with a fair deal. We see a resurrection of labor rights strikes in America. They are striking for economic justice while CEOs have record payments. Actors, writers, nurses, hotel housekeepers, journalists, teachers, machinists, and other workers have left their jobs in the past few months. These strikes have to do with everybody, regardless of whether someone works or not. These striking workers are fighting for more economic fairness and justice in American society. What they do will benefit us in the future, so we have to show solidarity with these courageous heroes. What we learned from Nixon and Trump is that the executive branch of government can never have omnipotent powers. There are checks and balances for a reason as we desire democracy and the rule of law to be superior to authoritarianism and fascism. The GOP Party has been in chaos in them supporting Trump unconditionally in the majority. The recent GOP 2023 Debate mentioned Trump tons of times, but they mention nothing about lowering drug prices and health care costs for Americans. Now, it's time to show the journey of understanding the diverse experiences of humanity in many fields. 

 

  

The History of Rock and Pop Music Part 5: The Rock and Pop Renaissance of the 1990’s  

I'm an older Millennial (born in 1983), so I always have had a fondness of the 1990's. The 1990's saw the end of the Cold War and the expansion and technological and musical developments. It was a time when historic shows and movies existed (like Roc, Martin, Moesha, Living Single, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Malcolm X, Seinfeld, Living Single, etc.), and the discussion of race plus other social issues were more out in public. The rock and pop music of the 1990's saw a golden age of groups relying on the past and present to establish hits. The pop music culture especially saw a golden age. Many musical trends saw soul, funk, and jazz being fused to form new jack swing, neo-soul, hip-hop soul, and g-funk. Rock music saw peak level alternative music along with punk rock, ska punk, and nu-metal. Artists like Pearl Jam, Nirvana, R.E.M., Red Hot Chili Peppers, No Doubt, Goo Goo Dolls, Stone Temple Pilots, 4 Non Blondes, Beck, Sublime, Creed, and other rock groups have shown diverse sounds with the same goal of promoting musical expression in being personal. R&B music saw another Golden Age of some of the best music in human history from the 1990's. I can go down the list. Artists like Toni Braxton, Whitney Houston, Babyface, Zhane, Brownstone, TLC, Soul 2 Soul, Boyz 2 Men, Blackstreet, Aaliyah, En Vogue, Monica, Zhane, Lauryn Hill, 702, Mariah Carey, and other R&B icons shown out to display musical excellence. Norah Jones, Sarah McLachlan, Alanis Morissette, Tori Amos, Dionne Farris, Dionne Farris, Meshell Ndegeocello, Jewel, Natalie Merchant, Gabrielle, and Sheryl Crow saw the growth of women artists (of every color) promoting their styles.  This is great, because women have every to tell the world their own stories on their own terms. 

Hip hop in the 1990's saw an expansion of power with corporations taking a more vested interest in the art form. Artists like Tupac Shakur, Public Enemy, Queen Latifah, Salt n Pepa, Master P, the Hot Boyz, The Ghetto Boys, Canibus, LL Cool J, Ice T, Dr. Dre, Eminem, Coolio, The Fugees, Nas, the Notorious B.I.G., Lil Kim, and other hip hop musicians were highly influential during the 1990's. The hip hop of the early to mid 1990's was different than the hip hop of the late 1990's, but they were similar in how they wanted to show multifaceted stories of the human experience. The 1990's was a decade when individuality in music was celebrated in a passionate fashion, and the experience of human life (filled with joy, imperfections, pain, and triumphs) was eloquently displayed in a myriad of musical genres as well (including gospel music with Kurt Franklin, Yolanda Adams, BeBe and CeCe Winans, the Mississippi Mass Choir, etc.).  There was the further popularity of electronic music and house plus techno music throughout the 1990's. Music from Corona (in the Rhythm of the Night), Deborah Cox (in Sentimental), and Foo Fighters (Flying) always has a resonance with people. The third-wave ska and wing revival was known along with the merging of pop with country (shown by artists like Garth Brooks and Shania Twain). The internet helped to expand music during the 1990's along with digital technology. By the end of the 1990's, we saw the teenage pop group expand with artists like the Backstreet Boys, NSYNC, 98 Degrees, The Spice Girls, Hanson, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, etc. My childhood existed during the 1990's as I was 7 in 1990 and 16 in 1999. To me, the 1990's was a special decade with some of the most impactful, greatest music of all time. 

The Early 1990's Music

During the 1990's, music was changing. By January 1990, Phil Collins's song of Another Day in Paradise was his seventh United States number-one single. Collins was part of the group of Genesis. The song talked about the issue of homelessness from his fourth solo album called But Seriously. That album was number one in both America and the UK being 4 times platinum in America. The American rock singer and songwriter goes in the pop direction with his first U.S. hit of the song How Am I Supposed to Live Without You. It was the number 3 song in UK. This song is from his 6th album of Soul Provider, and it would exist to be 6 times platinum. I remember the song of Opposites Attract from Paula Abdul (who is from San Fernando, California. She is a Sephardi Jewish American). This song is related to her singers called The Wild Pair. Her album of Forever Your Girl went 7 times platinum in America. The debut album of the Black Crowes (from Marietta, Georgia) rock group is called Shake Your Money Maker. The album sold over 5 million copies in America. By March 1990, Janet Jackson had the second of four #1 US singles from her fourth album Rhythm Nation 1814 with the song "Escapade" #17 UK. The up tempo song is Jackson's sixth consecutive #1 single on the US Hot R&B/Hip Hop chart. The album goes on to sell over twelve million copies worldwide. I remember that song very well when I was in elementary school. Gloria Estefan had the son of Here We Are in the same time. Her album back then was Cuts Both Ways. Gloria Estefan took a year to recover after being critically injured with a fractured spine when a semi collides with her tour bus during a snowstorm in Pennsylvania. By March 1990, Biz Markie had Just a Friend and Alannah Myles had the song of Black Velvet (being a homage of Elvis Presley). New York singer songwriter Taylor Dayne has her sixth US Top Ten single in a row and first US #1 with "Love Will Lead You Back" written by Diane Warren. The song is from Dayne's second album Can't Fight Fate which charts at #25 US and goes double Platinum. It would be Dayne's only #1 hit. This was in April 1990. 

In the same time, the Dublin, Ireland singer songwriter Sinead O'Connor hits #1 in the US and UK with the single "Nothing Compares 2 U", a song written by Prince. The video for the song with closeups of O'Connors face is an MTV hit. The track is from her second album I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got #1 US and UK. When I was a child, there was the Manchester, England singer, songwriter Lisa Stansfield's second single as a solo artist "All Around The World" hits #1 in both the US and UK. The song is from her first solo album Affection #2 UK, #9 US. Stansfield began her career after winning the television competition Search For A Star. This was in April 1990. The Toronto, Canada singer Jane Child had the popular song Don't Wanna Fall in Love at the same time. By April of 1990, Long Island, New York hip hop group Public Enemy release their third album Fear of A Black Planet and the album reached #10 US, #4 UK on Def Jam. The critically acclaimed album is propelled by the singles "Fight The Power" and "Welcome To The Terror dome" and eventually reaches Platinum status. Public Enemy, Paris, Arrested Development, and other groups were part of the new school movement of conscious hip-hop artists talking about real social and political issues (like opposing racism, resisting police brutality, disagreeing with economic exploitation, and wanting real change in society). By May of 1990, Madonna had the song of Vogue. It popularized the house-style dance style of voguing to mainstream America. The song's stylish black & white video inspired by the 1920's and 1930's is a big hit on MTV. The song is from the soundtrack album I'm Breathless, #2 US and UK. Voguing is not new, and it wasn't invented by Madonna. It was invented by Black and Latino people in the drag, ballroom, and LGBTQIA2S+ communities. Josephine Baker and Grace Jones did that style of dancing too. By 1990, Madonna evolved to show more controversial music videos. An alternative rock band from Hollywood California named Concrete Blonde had the album of Bloodletting. Ice Cube (formerly of N.W.A.) had his debut solo debut album Amerikkka's Most Wanted which charts at #19 US, #6 US R&B. The album's title track hits #1 US Rap and #76 UK. Ice Cube would go on to release ten albums alongside developing a successful acting career. That was in May of 1990. Former New Edition members Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins and Ronnie DeVoe, performing as Bel Biv DeVoe, hit #3 US, #19 UK with "Poison." The song is the title track from their debut album which hits #5 US, #35 UK on the way to going 4X Platinum in the US. The album's second single "Do Me!" also hits #3 US. That was in June 1990. In that same time, the California vocal trio Wilson Phillips made up of sisters Carnie and Wendy Wilson, daughters of Beach Boy Brian Wilson, together with Chynna Phillips daughter of John and Michelle Phillips, hit #1 US, #6 UK with their debut single "Hold On." Their self-titled debut album hits #2 US, #7 UK. The Swedish duo Roxette with the song of It Must Have Been Love and MC Hammer had the song of Can't Touch This in June 1990. MC Hammer had a pop rap style that was controversial to some back then, but it is more respected now. Mc Hammer had dance moves, baggy pants, and an energy that inspired audiences. Lightning Seeds was a rock band with the song of Pure and New Kids on the Block (a Boston young band) had the song of Step by Step. The Belleville, Illinois band of Uncle Tupelo had their debut album called No Depression in June 1990. The group had promoted the alternative country genre, or a mix of country and alternative rock called Americana. The Oakland, California R&B iconic group of En Vogue released the song of Hold On. The song is from the group's debut album Born To Sing #21 US, #3 US R&B and #23 UK which goes Platinum in the US. The album produces three US #1 R&B singles. En Vogue helped to make R&B in the 1990's what it is. Hold On was number one in the U.S. at Billboard and Number one in U.S. R&B music. En Vogue were truly born to sing indeed. Pantera, Depeche Mode, and Soup Dragon released songs. 

By August of 1990, the Long Island, New York singer-songwriter Mariah Carey hit #1 US, #7 UK with her first single "Vision Of Love." The song is from her self-titled debut album which went to #1 US, #6 UK, going on to sell 15 million copies worldwide. Three more songs from the album also reach #1 US. Mariah Carey is another legend of music. Her parents were Afro-Venezuelan and white. The German Eurodance group called Snap! had the song of The Power with U.S. rapper Turbo B and singer Penny Ford. It was a very popular song of their World Power album selling over 1 million copies worldwide. Stevie Ray Vaughan was tragically killed in a helicopter crash after a concert at Alpine Valley Music Theater in Troy, Wisconsin. Alice in Chains had their debut album Facelift as they promoted metal and grunge music. Jon Bon Jovi had his album of Blaze of Glory along with bans of Nelson and Faith No More. Show Me Heaven is a famous song done by Maria McKee. Los Angeles based singer songwriter James Ingram tops the US charts with "I Don't Have The Heart" from his third album It's Real. Ingram had previously found success with duets including "Baby, Come To Me" #1 US with Patti Austin and "Somewhere Out There" #2 US with Linda Ronstadt. The Charlatans had their debut album called Some Friendly. The song of Close to You was made by London reggae vocalist Maxi Priest. The track is from Priest's fifth album Bonafide which charts at #11 UK, #47 US. Priest had previously reached #5 UK in 1988 with his cover of the 1970 Cat Stevens hit "Wild World." By November of 1990, Vanilla Ice had his song of Ice Ice Baby. Alias, Warrant, and Stevie B had music. The ode to disco happened with the New York City house/techno group Dee-Lite hit #4 US, #2 UK, #1 US Dance with their debut single "Groove Is In The Heart" helped by heavy rotation for the song's colorful video on MTV. The song of Groove in Your Heart is from the group's debut album World Clique #20 US, #14 UK which goes Gold. The 1990's celebrated disco and 1970's culture in general. London, England production team DNA remix folk singer-songwriter Suzanne Vega's 1982 song "Tom's Diner" and have a surprise hit, reaching #2 UK and #5 US. The upbeat remix also charts in the Top Ten in both the Hip Hop and Modern Rock charts in the US.

By January of 1991, Madonna's Justify My Love song was popular. It came out in late 1990 and caused controversy over the contents of the video (filled with sadomasochism, voyeurism, cross-dressing, and bisexuality). Back then, America was much more conservative, so even MTV once banned the music video of Justify My Love. This song was part of Madonna's ninth American number-one single and number 2 in the UK. By May of the same year, her Truth or Dare movie was released documenting her 1990 tour. The UK metal band of Iron Maiden had music. The popular song of C&C Music Factory of Gonna Make You Sweat was a number one hit in America (when I was in elementary school, I remember that song on the radio and on TV vividly). It had vocals from Martha Wash, a very underrated singer with an outstanding voice. The song had the rapper Freedom Williams on it. The dance song was part of their first album going 5 times platinum in America. Janet Jackson in that time of early 1991 had her fifth US #1 single with "Love Will Never Do (Without You)" the seventh single from her 1989 #1 album Rhythm Nation 1814. In March Jackson signed a deal with Virgin Records for over $30 million, making her the highest-paid recording artist at the time. Music from Chris Iaak and The KLF had songs going onward in society. In March of 1991, Long Island, New York singer Mariah Carey had her third US #1 single in a row with "Someday" from her self-titled debut album. She would repeat at #1 again in May with "I Don't Want To Cry" making it four #1 singles from her debut album. The album is the best-selling of the year in the US. Mariah Carey was an icon from the start of her career, to be honest. She is one of the best vocalists of our generation period. By March of 1991, the Nielsen Soundscan was introduced. This was done to promote a more accurate method of collecting music sales data from over 14,000 stores in America. Before, data was collected by phone surveys of records retailers which was subject to error and potential fraud. Billboard began using the data in the November 1991 charts. Sacramento, California rock band Tesla released a live acoustic album Five Man Acoustical Jam #12 US, featuring cover songs and acoustic versions of their own songs. Tesla's cover of "Signs", a #3 US hit in 1970 for Canadian group Five Man Electrical Band, hits #8 US. This was in April 1991. 

British/American dance pop group Londonbeat hit #1 in the US, #2 UK with the single "I've Been Thinking About You". The retro/soul style single is from the band's second album In The Blood which reaches #21 US, #34 UK. This is the group's only Top Ten single (in April 1991). I remember Amy Grant with the song Baby, Baby before that was popular in April 1991. Amy Grant was from Nashville, Tennessee who sang contemporary Christian pop music. Amy Grant had the album of Heart in Motion. That album went 5 times platinum. By May of 1991, the Compton, California hip hop group of N.W.A. had their 2nd and final album of N___z4Life that hit number one in America. The original member of Ice Cube had already left the group (over financial issues. Ice Cube accused Jerry Heller of promoting faulty music contracts. Heller denied this allegation to his death), and Dr. Dre would soon leave to promote the album's release to form Death Row Records. The Sydney, Australia rock group the Divinyls hit #4 US, #10 UK with the provocative single "I Touch Myself". The song is from the band's self-titled fourth album which charts at #15 US, #59 UK. The band would release only one more album in 1996 before calling it quits (in May of 1991). Cher by May of 1991 had her number one UK hit of The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss) from the film Mermaids. The song is a cover of Betty Everett's 1964 hit of the same name. It reached number six in America. "Kiss Them For Me", an ode to Hollywood actress Jayne Mansfield, becomes the first and only US Top 40 single for veteran UK group Siouxsie And The Banshees at #23 US, #32 UK. The song also hits #1 US Alternative and #8 US Dance. The track is from the band's ninth studio album Superstition. Extreme was a rock group from Malden, Massachusetts with a hit too called More than Words. Oklahoma City, OK R&B band Color Me Bad hit #1 UK, #2 US with their first single "I Wanna Sex You Up" from the film New Jack City. The song is from their debut album CMB which produces two more US #1 singles, charting at #3 in both the US and UK and going triple Platinum in the US (Ice Cube promoted the group in June of 1991). Alternative rock legends of R.E.M. had their song of Losing My Religion. The group is from Athens, Georgia, and the song is part of their 7th album called Out of Time. It tops American and UK charts going 4 times Platinum. R.E.M. would be the spokesperson for tons of alternative bands talking about social issues and the philosophies of living life. 

Right Here, Right Now is an anthem of the 1990's done by the Bradford-On-Avon, England alternative rock band Jesus Jones. The song was a worldwide hit single being #2 in the US and #31 in the UK. The song focuses on current events of the time like perestroika and the fall of the Berlin Wall. The song is from the band's second album Doubt #1 UK #25 US. The soundtrack of the movie Robinhood: Prince of Thieves had the song of Everything I Do I Do It for You by Bryan Adams from July of 1991. It was seven weeks at Number One in America and 16 weeks atop the UK singles charts. Bristol, UK band Massive Attack released their debut album Blue Lines which charts at #13 UK. The album pioneers a mix of hip-hop and electronica now referred to as "trip hop" and proved popular in the club scene and on college radio. The band would record four more albums including two UK #1's. Massive Attack was like the Linkin Park of the early 1990's. Metallica released their 5th self-titled album by August of 1991. Grunge and more rock bands increased their influence with Pearl Jam's debut album by August 1991 and New York City rock band Spin Doctors debut albums. California Latino American hip hop group Cypress Hill released their self-titled debut album #31 US, #81 UK. The album's double-sided lead single hits #1 on the US Rap chart. The album goes double Platinum in the US and Gold in the UK. This was in August of 1991. Alternative bands like Blur and Toad The Wet Sprocket existed with music. Blur's music started the 90's Brit-Pop movement. The third album, Ropin' The Wind, by Oklahoma country singer Garth Brooks enters the US charts at #1 with advance shipments of four million copies. This is the first country album to debut at #1 on the Billboard 200 album chart. The album goes 10X Platinum in the US. Garth Brooks started the new generation of new-school country musicians with a country mixed with a large audience (filled with country, rock, and pop fans). The Philadelphia R&B group of Boyz II Men have their first single of Motownphilly.  The song is from the group's debut album CooleyHighHarmony #3 US, #7 UK. The album generated four US Top Five hits including "End Of The Road" which tops both the US and UK singles charts. 

Aberdeen, Washington rock group Nirvana released their second album Nevermind and it was a Suprise hit, with the album reaching #1 US and #7UK in January 1992. The album would go on to sell over 30 million copies, driving alternative rock and "grunge" into the mainstream. Seattle, Washington grunge band Soundgarden released their third album Badmotorfinger and reach #39 in both the US and UK. The band receives MTV play for "Rusty Cage" and "Outshined", but MTV bans the video for "Jesus Christ Pose." The album eventually goes double Platinum. Veteran blues guitarist, singer, songwriter Bonnie Raitt has her first and only US Top Ten hit with the single "Something To Talk About" #5 US. The song is from Raitt's eleventh album Luck Of The Draw which hits #2 US and went on to sell over seven million copies. I remember that song Something to Talk About as a child. Los Angeles hard rock band Guns N' Roses released their third and fourth albums Use Your Illusion l and ll. The albums chart at #2 and #1 respectively in both the US and UK. Both albums go 7X Platinum in the US. The single "November Rain" hits #3 US, #4 UK. By October 1991, Ice Cube released his 2nd solo album of Death Certificate. It sold over 1 million copies in America being the 2nd highest album in America. The single of Steady Mobbin' was number 3 in the Rap charts and Number 30 in the R&B charts. Cube around this time had his acting debut in the classic, successful movie Boyz 'n The Hood, which was directed by the late, great John Singleton. Dorchester, Massachusetts hip hop group Marky Mark & The Funky Bunch hit #1 US, #14 UK with their debut single "Good Vibrations". The song is from their debut album Music For The People which also contains the #10 US single Wildside. After two LP's Mark Wahlberg moves on to acting. By that time in October 1991, East Orange, New Jersey hip hop trio Naughty By Nature have a US Top Ten hit single with "O.P.P." #6 US, #35 US which samples the 1970 Jackson Five hit "ABC". The song is from the group's self-titled debut album which hits #16 US and goes Platinum. The group of Naughty by Nature had previously recorded as The New Style. Prince had The Power Generation as his new band. He had a hit song called Cream. By November of 1991, Freddie Mercury passed away from complications relating to AIDS. Two days before his passing, Mercury told the press about his AIDS diagnosis. His vocals would be released on Queen's last album of Made in Heaven being released in 1995. 

 

Dublin, Ireland rock band U2 reveal a new direction on their seventh album Achtung Baby! #1 US, #2 UK. Working with producers Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois, the group reinvents their sound by with EDM and industrial influences. Six singles are released including Top Ten hits "One" and "Mysterious Ways." Jersey City, New Jersey hip hop duo PM Dawn top the US charts with the single "Set Adrift On Memory Bliss" #3 UK. The hypnotic song is built on a sample of Spandau Ballet's 1983 hit "True." The song is from the group's debut album which charts at #48 US and #8 UK. PM Dawn merged hip hop with R&B style. By November of 1991, hip-hop artist and songwriter Tupac Shakur released his debut album 2Pacalypse Now on Interscope Records. With lyrics focusing on social issues such as poverty, police brutality, and racism the album peaks at #64 US and #13 US R&B/Hip Hop on it's way to going Gold. This was the beginning of Tupac's extensive, complex, and influential life as the most influential hip hop artist in human history. By December 1991, Michael Jackson would make history again. By this time, Michael Jackson was an icon of music. He signed with Sony for a record $65 million in March. He has the hit of Black and White being number one in America and in the UK. It was Michael Jackson's 12th US #1 single as a solo artist and is from his eighth album Dangerous which sells 32 million copies and hits #1 in both the US and UK. Black and White was a song that opposed racial prejudice and wanted respect and harmony to be the order of the day among the human family. 

By January 1992, the grunge anthem of Smells like Teen Spirit by Nirvana took the world by storm. Nirvana combined alternative and grunge music elements together. It was shown heavily on MTV. The London alternative duo of Shakespear Sisters had the hit of Stay. The duo is comprised of former Banarama singer Siobhan Fahey and American Marcella Detroit. I remember the song from Shanice called I Love Your Smile. Shanice was based in Los Angeles, and she was a singer and songwriter. The song "I Love Your Smile" was  #2 in both the US and UK. The song is from her second album Inner Child which goes Gold in the US and charts at #83 US, #24 UK. Shanice would win a Grammy for Best Female R&B Performance for this song. Right Said Fred by February 1992 had the song of I'm Too Sexy. The Los Angeles rock band Mr. Big had the song of To Be With You. By March 1992, Vanessa Williams had a major comeback with the song Save the Best for Last. Vanessa Williams has been an actress, singer, and former Miss America winner for years. The song Save the Best for Last was from her 2nd album called The Comfort Zone which went triple platinum in America. The songs from that album like The Comfort Zone and Work (its music video featured Vanessa Williams dancing along with other dancers like the actress Elise Neal) represent her versatile legacy as an artist. More music came from White Zombie and Bruce Springsteen. Veteran UK singer/songwriter and guitarist Eric Clapton has the biggest single of his career with the acoustic ballad "Tears In Heaven" #2 US, #5 UK. The song was written for the film Rush and is included on Clapton's Unplugged album. The lyrics are influenced by the death of his 4-year-old son Conor.

Groups like Def Leppard, L7, and the Pavement released their own albums during the Spring of 1992 as well. Wish was the UK alternative band The Cure's 9th album. It was number one in America and number 2 in the UK. The album was their best-selling album going platinum. Friday I'm in Love was one of their singles. Annie Lennox had her debut album of Diva. She is from Scotland and was in the group of the Eurythmics. Her singles on it were Why, Walking on Broken Glass, etc. The 1992 parody film of Wayne's World celebrated rock music. KWS was a group with the cover of KC and The Sunshine Band hit of Please Don't go. The Oakland, California based vocal R&B group En Vogue released their song of My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It). It had harmonies and classic sounds from their 3 times platinum album of Funky Diva.  This was in May of 1992. En Vogue placed a huge foundation for future R&B groups from SWV to Brownstone to outline their music to the globe. Los Angeles funk rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers break into the mainstream with the ballad "Under The Bridge" #2 US, #13 UK. The song is the second single from their smash album Blood Sugar Sex Magik which reaches #3 US, #25 UK and goes 7X Platinum in the US. The Atlanta-based hip hop duo of Kris Kross had the hit of Jump working with hip hop artist and producer Jermaine Dupre. The song was recorded in 1991. It's found in their album of Totally Krossed Out. The Lemonheads, Sophie B, and more artists expressed themselves. Sir Mx a Lot had the July 1992 song of Baby Got Back. That song was a reflection of an ode to the phenotype of curvy women, especially of black women. The conscious hip hop group of Arrested Development had their hit of Tennessee. Their debut album 3 Years, 2 Days In The Life Of charting at #7 US, #3 UK and going 4X Platinum in the US. Billy Ray Cyrus had the song of Achy Breaky Heart, and he was from Kentucky. Medgadeth and Sonic Youth shown music. By August of 1992, Boyz II Men solidified their iconic status with their song of End of the Road. It was number one in America and in the UK. August 1992 saw the rise of TLC in the mainstream arena. TLC is an R&B group with T-Boz from Iowa, Left Eye from Philadelphia, and Chili from Georgia. All of them moved to live in Atlanta. Baby Baby Baby was a  hit #2 US, #1 US R&B with their second single "Baby-Baby-Baby". It is the group's second consecutive Top Ten hit from their debut album Ooooooohhh...On The TLC Tip which goes 4X Platinum in the US. The song would be the #5 best seller in the US for 1992. Also, TLC was a group that had swag from New Jack Swing as its music was a mixture of R&B and hip hop. 

The Frankfurt, Germany Eurodance group Snap! hit #1 UK and #5 US with the club hit "Rhythm Is A Dancer." The dance favorite is from the groups second album The Madman's Return which goes Top Ten in the UK, but only reaches #121 in the US. Kennesaw, Georgia hard rock band Jackyl released their self-titled debut album on Geffen Records. The album reaches #76 US and eventually goes Platinum. The band's debut single is "The Lumberjack" a song featuring the novelty of a chainsaw solo. By September of 1992, we witnessed groups like The Shamen, Screaming Trees, Sloan, House of Pain (with Jump Around), Patty Smyth, Don Henley, Stone Temple Pilots, and Bobby Brown showing their songs and albums. By October of 1992, Madonna released her fifth album of Erotica. The music video of Erotica was filled with free expression, sexual acts, nudity, and celebrity guests (from Kane to Naomi Campbell).  She also released her photo book called Sex being filled with nudity, erotica, and romantic images. Madonna was born to be expressive and controversial, to be honest. Deeper and Deeper and Erotica were singles part of the albums. The theme song for the American television show The Heights hits #1 US. The song, "How Do You Talk To An Angel", features actor Jamie Walters as lead singer with other cast members singing back up. The series is canceled one week after the song hits #1. By November 1992, American R&B singer Whitney Houston has her tenth US #1 single with "I Will Always Love You." The song is from the film soundtrack for The Bodyguard, Houston's first major acting role. The song is a cover of Dolly Parton's 1974 #1 US Country hit. Houston's version goes on to sell over 8 million copies in the US. Whitney Houston had a one-in-a-lifetime singing voice. She is the greatest vocalist of our generation and among the top 5 greatest vocalists of all time (along with Mahalia, Donna, Aretha, and other human beings). Los Angeles rock band Rage Against The Machine released their debut album on Epic Records. Mixing rap vocals, heavy metal, and politics, the album charts at #45 US and #17 UK. The album's lead single "Killing In The Name" gets strong rock radio play and the LP goes 3X Platinum. 

New York singer songwriter Mary J. Blige scores her first US Top Ten hit with the single "Real Love" #2 US, #1 US R&B. It is the second single from her debut album What's The 411? which reaches #6 US and goes Triple Platinum. The first single "You Remind Me" also goes to #1 on the US R&B chart. This was in December of 1992. 1992 was the year when the 1990's established itself as its own decade. It was the start of a new wave of music that defended the golden age of the 1990's in terms of music and culture. Like TLC, Mary J. Blige came out to embrace a new jack swing style mixing R&B and hip hop. She would go on to show anthems about the struggles and joy of women indeed. 

By 1993, music had changed massively. We saw hip-hop, new jack swing, R&B, rock, and other forms of music dominating the charts. By January of 1993, we saw the growth of the Washington D.C. R&B vocal group Shai hit #2 US with their debut single "If I Ever Fall In Love." The song is from their debut album of the same name which goes Triple Platinum. The album contains two other US Top Ten singles "Baby I'm Yours" and "Comforter" both of which reach #10 US. The Harlem, New York City new jack swing group of Wreckx-N-Effect had their hit. Their music was produced by new jack swing innovator Teddy Riley, brother of group member Markell Riley. London post-punk veterans called "The The" had #2 UK hit with their fourth album Dusk. Founded by Matt Johnson guitars and vocals, the group's members change often with Johnson as the only constant member. The album's lead single "Dogs of Lust" hits #24 UK and #2 on the US Modern Rock chart. Rhode Island alternative band Belly released their debut album Star which charts at #59 US, #2 UK, selling over half a million copies in the US. The single "Feed The Tree" reached #95 US and #1 US Modern Rock. Singer Tanya Donelly had previously been in Throwing Muses and The Breeders. By February of 1993, Radiohead had their debut album called Pablo Hony on EMI. The group were from the UK. By February of 1993, Tupac Shakur released his 2nd album called Strictly for My N______ on Interscope Records. The album was about his experiences, politics, the streets, and other issues. The album charts at #4 R&B/Hip Hop and #24 US Billboard 200 on it's way to going to US Platinum. The singles "I Get Around" and "Keep Ya Head Up" hit #11 and #12 respectively in the US. This was a new era in Tupac Shakur's life after being beaten by the police, showing movies, and a growth of his popularity. Amherst, Massachusetts alternative rock band Dinosaur Jr. released their fifth album Where You Been and reached #50 US, #10 UK. The video for the album's lead single "Start Choppin'" does well on MTV and the song hits #3 on the US Modern Rock chart and #20 UK. There was the song "Informer" which was done by the artist Snow. When I was in the 4th grade of elementary school, I remember that song very well. It was popular in March of 1993. The artist's real name is Darrin O'Brien, and he is from Toronto, Canada. His album was platinum in America. 

1993 saw the album of The Chronic reached triple platinum in America (it was released in late 1992). By this time, former N.W.A. rapper Dr. Dre teamed with Snoop Doggy Dogg and hits #2 US with "Nuthin' But A "G" Thing" UK #31, #1 US R&B/Hip Hop. The song is from Dre's debut album The Chronic which reaches #3 US, #43 UK. By 1993, there was a transition in hip hop when more hardcore hip hop and g-funk replaced more of the conscious hip hop of the 1980's and early 1990's. The music of hip-hop became slightly less serious and more laid back. Rock groups like Depeche Mode and Suede were showing their music in 1993 too. American rocker Lenny Kravitz had the album of Are You Donna Go My Way. It was double platinum in America and platinum in the UK. Get A Grip is the eleventh studio album from Boston rock veterans Aerosmith and becomes the band's first #1 album in the US, #2 UK. The album includes three US Top Twenty singles including "Cryin'" #12 US, #17 UK and "Crazy" #17 US. The album sells over twenty million copies worldwide. Athens, Georgia rock band R.E.M. released their eighth album Automatic For The People and hit #2 US, #1 UK. The album contains two of the bands' best known songs "Everybody Hurts" and "Man On The Moon." The album goes 4X Platinum in the US and 7X Platinum in the UK. The group of Silk from Atlanta had the album of Lose Control going double platinum in America. The group had the single Freak Me, and the co-producer and co-writer of much of the album was new jack swing artist Keith Sweat. Rock groups like LA-based Tool and Queens NYC band Anthrax had their albums released. Anthrax worked with Public Enemy before. 

Janet Jackson's fifth album Janet. debuts at #1 and the album's lead single "That's The Way Love Goes" also hits #1 US, #2 UK. Jackson wrote all lyrics for this album, along with co-producing and cowriting all arrangements. The album goes 6X Platinum and generates six Top Ten singles in the US. By 1993, Janet Jackson was already a legend. With that album, it solidified her status as an icon of R&B music. This was in May of 1993.

Groups like New Order and Primus expressed their rock sound. One dance song What is Love was shown by Trinidadian singer Nestor Haddaway. That song was one of those songs that defined the 1990's as a great decade. By the summer of 1993, groups like Flaming Lips, H-Town, and Cypress Hill came about. Icelandic singer, and songwriter Bjork releases her self titled debut album which works its way to #3 UK and #61 US. The album has since gone Platinum in the US and Double Platinum in the UK. The singles "Play Dead", "Big Time Sensuality" and "Violently Happy" all chart in the UK Top Twenty. New York City R&B trio SWV (Sisters with Voices) had the hit song of Weak being number one in America. Their debut album was in July 1993 called It's About Time going triple platinum in America.  Severn, Maryland singer Toni Braxton's self-titled debut album is released and goes on to hit #1 US, #4 UK, selling over 12 million copies worldwide. Braxton is signed to LaFace Records by producers L.A. Reid and Babyface who write most of the songs. The album has three Top Ten singles including "Breathe Again" #3 US, #2 UK. Toni Braxon is a legend with sultry voice and a powerful legacy. Atlanta, Georgia hip hop duo Tag Team spend seven weeks at #2 US, #1 US R&B with their debut single "Whoomp! (There It Is)". The single goes on to sell over four million copies, making Tag Team one of the biggest catchy songs of the 90's. The song is still played at US sporting events to this day. Smashing Pumpkins from Chicago had their 2nd album of Siamese Dream. The Proclaimers and Cracker had albums released too. A more hardcore group of Onyx from Queens, NYC had the single Slam. 

The German eurodance group Culture Beat had the number hit in America with the song Mr. Vain. Dance/house music was very popular in 1993. I remember that song. There was the production by Vain." With production by Torsten Fenslau, lead vocals by Tania Evans and rapping by Jay Supreme the song is a worldwide hit, reaching #1 in fifteen countries. The single sells over eleven million copies worldwide. Rock groups of The Breeders and Soul Asylum enjoyed showing their songs in the world. American singer Mariah Carey has her seventh US #1 single with "Dreamlover" #9 UK. With lyrics by Carey, the song uses a sample from the 1972 song "Blind Alley" by The Emotions. It is the lead single from Carey's third album Music Box #1 US and UK, which sells over 28 million copies worldwide. This was in September of 1993. By September, Counting Crows had their debut album called August and Everything After and James had their alternative rock album called Laid. Xscape, an R&B vocal group from Atlanta, Georgia hit #2 US, #1 US R&B, #49 UK with their first single "Just Kickin' It". The song is from their first album Hummin' Comin' At 'Cha which charts at #17 and goes Platinum in the US. The group is discovered and produced by Jermaine Dupri. The members of Xscape back then were very young. They were teenagers and young adults back then. Pearl Jam made their second album of Vs. Grunge stars Nirvana play the Sony Music Studios in NYC for a recording of MTV Unplugged. Rather than covering their hits, the band plays lesser known cuts and covers from David Bowie, Leadbelly and The Meat Puppets among others. The concert is later released as both a DVD and a #1 album by November 1993. Wu Tang Clan had their debut album of Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). It caused an increase of East Coast hip-hop music being triple platinum. West Coast rapper and Dr. Dre protégé Snoop Doggy Dogg released his first album Doggystyle which debut's at #1 US and reached #12 UK. The album's sound is influenced by the Parliament-Funkadelic funk sound. Two singles "What's My Name" and "Gin and Juice" hit #8 in the US. The album sells over 11 million worldwide, and it was heavily criticized by C. Delores Tucker. Ice Cube had his fourth album of Lethal Injection by December of 1993. Meatloaf had his comeback album in 1993 along with the song I'll Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That).

1994 was a turning point in music. In early 1994, I was in the 5th grade, and in late 1994, I was in the 6th grade at my first year of middle school. In January 1994, the Maryland singer Tori Amos had the 2nd album called Under the Pink with singles like Pretty Good Years. She said that she can see music in colors. Green Day had their debut album, and they were from the Berkeley, California punk scene. Their singles include Longview and When I Come Around. Their album sold over 20 million copies worldwide. The EP of Jar of Flys was shown by Alice in Chains (a Seattle grunge band). Groups like Meat Puppets and The Cranberries released music. New York City hip hop group Salt-N-Pepa teamed with R&B vocal group En Vogue for the single "Whatta Man" #3 US, #1 US Rap, #7 UK. The track is from Salt-N-Pepa's fourth album Very Necessary #4 US which goes 5X Platinum. The song is a cover of the 1968 song "What A Man" recorded by Linda Lyndell for Stax/Volt. This was in February of 1994. Salt-N-Pepa is a groundbreaking hip-hop all-women's group since 1985 that helped to break down barriers for other women MCs in the modern generation. Salt-N-Pepa, JJ Fad, and the group Sequence are the hip hop women groups have set up a great foundation in music. After achieving fame with French language songs, Quebec singer Celine Dion switches to English in 1990 and has her first US #1 hit with the single "The Power Of Love" #4 UK. The song is from Dion's third English language album The Colour Of My Love #1 UK, #4 US. The album goes Platinum in the US and UK. Celine Dion is known for making powerful ballads and go into other genres too. Stockton, California alternative, indie rock band Pavement released their second album Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain and reached the US Top 200 Albums for the first time at #121 and #15 UK. Cleveland, Ohio industrial, alternative band Nine Inch Nails released their second album The Downward Spiral, and chart at #2 US, #9 UK. By March of 1994, the Division Bell, #1 US and UK, is the fourteenth studio album from UK progressive rock band Pink Floyd. It was the second album recorded without founding member Roger Waters. The album, which sells over seven million copies, is followed by a world tour and an extended ten-year hiatus. By March 1994, there was the song of The Sign from the Gothenburg, Sweden group of Ace of Base. I heard of that song and the group in 1994. The Sign was a number one hit in America and number 2 in the UK. The song is the title track from the band's US #1 debut album. The album had previously been released in Europe as Happy Nation. The album would sell over 21 million copies worldwide. Superunknown, the fourth album from Seattle grunge pioneers Soundgarden, enters the US Top 200 Albums at #1 and hits #4 UK. The single "Black Hole Sun" receives steady MTV play and hits #2 US Alternative and #12 UK. The album goes 5X Platinum in the US. On April 8, 1994, Kurt Cobain died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound in his Seattle home. The singer-songwriter had struggled with depression, heroin addiction, and chronic health problems for several years. Cobain was 27 years old at the time of his suicide. The death of Kurt Cobain represented the end of an era, as he was the spokesperson for the grunge musical and cultural revolution. R Kelly (the convicted pedophile) had his first solo hit in America with a song.  The song is included on Kelly's second album 12 Play which goes 6X Platinum. The album's second single "Your Body's Callin'" hits #13 US, #2 US R&B. I don't agree with what R Kelly did. This is just for historical reference. 

Blur and Live had music and albums. By April of 1994, Winnipeg, Manitoba alternative band Crash Test Dummies hit it big with their single "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm" which reached #4 US, #2 UK. The song is from the band's second album God Shuffled His Feet which charts at #9 US and #2 UK and goes Double Platinum in the US. Recorded as a one-off hip hop/sampling experiment by Los Angeles folk artist Beck, the song "Loser" is released by independent label Bong Load. The song spread from local college radio to commercial radio and MTV, eventually reaching #10 US, #15 UK and leading to a major label deal with DGC. Scottish pop group Wet Wet Wet spent fifteen weeks at #1 in the UK with their cover of The Troggs 1967 hit "Love Is All Around". The single hits #1 in fourteen countries, but only reaches #41 in the US. Recorded for the film Four Weddings And A Funeral, the song is the band's third UK #1. By May of 1994, After changing his name to an unpronounceable symbol, the artist formerly known as Prince scored his first UK #1 hit with the single "The Most Beautiful Girl In The World" #3 US. The song is from his seventeenth album The Gold Experience #6 US, #4 UK. During this time, Prince wanted control over his masters which helped other artists in the future to control their musical publishing, masters, and other forms of revenues. California R&B group All-4-One hit US #1 for eleven weeks with their single "I Swear" #2 UK. The song is a cover of the 1993 #1US Country hit for John Michael Mongomery. It is the second single from All-4-One's self-titled debut album which reaches #7 US and goes 4X Platinum. With production from The Cars Rick Ocasek, Los Angeles band Weezer released their self-titled debut album. The videos for the singles "Undone - The Sweater Song" and "Buddy Holly" both get heavy MTV and alternative radio exposure pushing album sales to 3X Platinum in the US. Madonna had the song of I'll Remember. By July 1994, Long Beach, California rapper Warren G scores a hit with his debut single "Regulate", a collaboration with Nate Dogg, #2 US, #1 US Rap, #5 UK. The track is included on his debut album Regulate...G Funk Era which reached #2 US and went Triple Platinum. G funk took over hip-hop for many years. Groups like NOFX and The Prodigy showed punk music and electronic music. In August 1994, Woodstock '94 is held to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the original 1969 festival. Performers from the original festival such as Santana and Country Joe McDonald play along with current artists Metallica, NIN, Blind Melon, Green Day and others. The event is marred by rain and mud and has been nicknamed "mudstock." Anaheim, California native Jeff Buckley releases his debut album Grace. It would be Buckley's only album, as he drowned in 1997. Ten years later his cover of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" would be released as a single and reach #2 UK. Buckley is the son of 60's singer-songwriter Tim Buckley. Oasis had their debut album in 1994 too. Lisa Loeb had her song of Stay (I Missed You). 

 

In August of 1994, Chicago, Illinois native Shawntae Harris is noticed at a rap competition sponsored by MTV's Yo! MTV Raps and is signed by Jermaine Dupri's So So Def label. Performing as Da Brat her debut single "Funkdafied" hits #6 US and #1 US Rap. The album of the same name hit #11 US and went Platinum. Da Brat is known for her rapid-fire lyrical delivery. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania worldbeat band Rusted Root released their major label debut album When I Woke and chart at #51 US. The song "Send Me On My Way" is released as a single and reached #72 US. The track "Ecstasy" is also popular. The album goes to US Platinum. Blues Traveler is a Princeton, New Jersey blues rock jam band with their album of Four. By September 1994, the Brooklyn, New York City rapper The Notorious B.I.G. released his debut album Ready To Die on Bad Boy Records #15 US. The album features the singles "Big Poppa" #6 US, #1 US Rap and "Juicy" #27 US, #3 US Rap. The album goes 6X Platinum in the US and elevates B.I.G. to the top of East Coast hip hop. After the album, The Notorious B.I.G. was the top leader of hip hop on the East Coast indeed. By this time, Tupac and the Notorious B.I.G. were great friends and hung out across America. Veruca Salt released music, and alternative rock band R.E.M. released their album Monster in September 1994. The album had a harder rock sound. The album debuts at #1 US and #1 UK and goes 4X Platinum in the US. Lead single "What's The Frequency, Kenneth?" hits #21 US, #1 US Alternative and #9 UK. Midwestern singer Sheryl Crow had her hit of All I Wanna Do. She was once a backup singer with Michael Jackson. Charlottesville, Virginia group The Dave Matthews Band released their debut album Under The Table And Dreaming which charts at #11 US and eventually sold six million copies. The album's lead single "What Would You Say" (#11 US Alternative) features John Popper on harmonica.

By September 1994, Boyz II Men made another comeback with their hit I'll Make Love to You celebrating a love to woman. The song is the lead single from the group's third album which charts at #1 US, #17 UK and goes 12X Platinum in the US. The second single "On Bended Knee" also hits US #1. Queensryche and Pearl Jam released albums too. When Can I See You was a sentimental song by Babyface. Babyface is one of the best songwriters and producers of all time. The song is from his third album For The Cool In You #16 US, which went Triple Platinum on his own record label LaFace. By December 1994, Veteran Jamaican reggae artist Ina Kamoze scored a #1 US single with "Here Comes The Hotstepper" #4 UK. The song includes multiple samples including a vocal line from the 1965 Cannibal & The Headhunters hit "Land Of A Thousand Dances." London, England band Bush released their grunge-inspired debut album Sixteen Stone which hit #4 US, but only #42 at home. The album generated five US Alternative Top Five singles including "Glycerine" and "Comedown" both #1 US Alternative. The album goes 6X Platinum in the US. 

The Mid to Late 1990's

By 1995, new songs dominated the scene of music.  By January 1995, the song of I'm The Only One came out by Melissa Etheridge. She is from Leavenworth, Kansas. This was part of her fourth album Yes, I Am. We have musicians like Rednex, Hootie and the Blowfish showing Hold My Hand, and PJ Harvey having the album of To Bring You My Love. Hootie and the Blowfish is from the city of Columbia, South Carolina. Their debut album was Cracked Rearview Mirror which was the best-selling album of 1995 selling over 21 million copies. By February 1995, Madonna scored her eleventh #1 single in the US with "Take A Bow." The song is the second single from her sixth studio album Bedtime Stories #3 US, #2 UK. The album's lead single "Secret" reached #3 US, #5 UK. The album went Triple Platinum in the US and sold eight million copies worldwide. When the show Moesha came out in 1995, the singer Brandy was already a household name in America plus beyond. By March 1995, the California singer, songwriter, and actress Brandy scored the second of three US Top Ten hits with the single "Baby" #4 US. The song is from her self-titled debut album which also features the singles "I Wanna Be Down" #6 US and "Brokenhearted" #9 US. The album went Double Platinum in the US. From this moment on, Brandy with Moesha and other music would be one of the greats of R&B music (along with her other counterparts of Monica and Aaliyah). During the same time, the Stockbridge, Georgia rock band Collective Soul found continued commercial success with their self-titled second album, which goes Triple Platinum in the US. The album contains two US Modern Rock Top Ten hits "December" #2 and "The World I Know" #6. Elastica made their self-titled debut album by March of 1995 too. One tragedy was the March 1995 death of the Texas singer Selena. She already had her fourth US Latin #1 single in a row with "Fotos y Recuerdos" a reworking of The Pretenders' "Back On The Chain Gang." In March Yolanda Saldivar, the manager of the Selena fan club and fashion boutiques, shoots Selena to death following a business dispute. Selena was a Latina-American superstar who inspired future artists like Jennifer Lopez and Shakira. Wu-Tang Clan member Ol' Dirty Bastard releases his debut solo album Return To The 36 Chambers and hits #7 US, #2 US R&B/Hip-Hop. The album generated two US Rap Hot Singles including "Shimmy Shimmy Ya" and "Brooklyn Zoo". The album went US Platinum.

One of the most popular R&B and dance songs of all time would come out called This is How We Do It by April of 1995 done by LA singer, and songwriter Montell Jordan. The song was number one in America and number 11 in the UK. The single was from Def Jam Records. The song is the title track from Jordan's debut album which charts at #12 US and goes Platinum. The album's second single "Somethin' 4 The Honeyz" hits #21 US. The fourth album from UK alternative band The Boo Radleys hits #1 UK but fails to chart in the US. The album generates the UK #1 single "Wake Up Boo!" along with the #25 UK single "It's Lulu." This would be the band's commercial peak, though they would release two more albums. White Zombie made music too. On April 1995, the California hip hop artist Tupac Shakur has a #1 album Me Against The World and a US Top Ten single with "Dear Mama" #9 US, #1 US Rap, all while serving time in prison for a crime that he said that he is innocent of to his dying day. A video is made without the imprisoned Tupac, instead featuring his mother Afeni, the subject of the song. Tupac Shakur would go on to new heights and become the most influential hip hop artist of all time. The alternative bands of Everclear and Blesid Union of Souls made many songs and albums. The former lead singer and guitarist for UK band The Jam, Paul Weller, hits #1 UK with his third solo album Stanley Road. The album produces four UK Top 20 singles including "The Changingman" #7 UK and "You Do Something To Me" #9 UK. The album goes 4X UK Platinum. Canadian singer songwriter Bryan Adams has his fourth US #1 single with "Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman." The song is included on the soundtrack album for the Johnny Depp film Don Juan DeMarco. The song receives an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song. 

By June of 1995, there is a song that represented a R&B and hip-hop prominent collaboration. The song is "I'll Be There For You/You're All I Need To Get By" is a remix of Method Man's track "All I Need" mixed with the Motown song "You're All I Need To Get By" (done by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell). The song, with choruses and backing vocals by Mary J. Blige, hits #3 US, #1 US R&B. Around the same time, the American brother/sister superstars Michael and Janet Jackson teamed up for the single "Scream" which charts at #5 US, #3 UK. The song was written and produced by the Jacksons with the team of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. The video for the song costs $7 Million and is one of the most expensive ever produced. The song Scream is about Michael Jackson being supported by Janet Jackson over many allegations and controversies. It's about a younger sister and an older brother playing, being angry, and showing their talents to the world (in the midst of the media's obsession with them). The second album from Icelandic singer-songwriter Bjork is one of her most successful, reaching #2 UK, #32 US and going Platinum in both countries. The album spawns three UK Top Ten singles including "Army Of Me" #10, "Hyperballad" #8 and "It's Oh So Quiet" #4. The Chemical Brothers, an electronic music duo from Manchester, England, released their debut album Exit Planet Dust which breaks into the UK Top Ten at #9. The duo of Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons had previously been known as the Dust Brothers. The album went Platinum in the UK. In July 1995, the Notorious B.I.G. was at the crown top of East Coast hip hop. Brooklyn, New York rapper Biggie Smalls a.k.a. The Notorious B.I.G. hits #2 US, #34 UK with the remix single "One More Chance/Stay With Me." Produced by Sean Puffy Combs, the song features additional vocals from Faith Evans and Mary J. Blige, it sold over a million copies. The remix music video had tons of hip-hop and R&B icons from Heavy D to Aaliyah. Elliot Smith and Supergrass released music. By August 1995, the former drummer for Nirvana, Dave Grohl, wrote the songs, played all the instruments and sings all vocals for the self-titled debut album for the Foo Fighters which charts at #23 US, #3 UK on it's way to going to US Platinum. After recording the album, Grohl recruited band members to tour. By August 1995, TLC released the song of Waterfalls. I remember that song vividly as I watched it a lot on Splash TV back in 1995. The song is about promoting the lesson that dangerous choices can lead to death literally, and people should be careful to create positive choices in life. Atlanta, Georgia R&B, hip hop group TLC hit #1 in the US with the single "Waterfalls" #6 UK. It is the second #1 single from their album CrazySexyCool which sells 21 million copies worldwide. In July the band declared bankruptcy in a bid to renegotiate their recording contract. Yet, TLC will bounce back, make more music, and be the premier new jack swing hip hop/R&B group that inspired the world with their messages. 

By August 1995, the UK singer songwriter Seal goes to #1 US, #4 UK with the single "Kiss From A Rose" after the song is featured in the Batman Forever movie. Seal wrote the song eight years earlier, but reworked it with producer Trevor Horn for his second album. The album goes 2X Platinum in the UK and 4X Platinum in the US. A group called Garbage made their album. Dundalk, Ireland pop/folk family band The Corrs released their debut album Forgiven, Not Forgotten and climbed to #2 UK. The album was produced by Canadian producer and musician David Foster and released on Atlantic Records. The album goes on to sell over three million copies worldwide. Cleveland, Ohio hip hop group Bone Thugs-n-Harmony hit #1 US with their second album E. 1999 Eternal. The album went 9X Platinum in the US and contains the single "Tha Crossroads" which sold over two million copies and hits #1 US in 1996. Shaggy had Boombastic in August of 1995 too as part of reggae music. Shaggy continues to make music to this day. Grateful Dead lead guitarist and founder Jerry Garcia died of a heart attack after a long struggle with drug addiction. The Grateful Dead formed in 1965 in California's San Francisco Bay area performing a mix of folk, country and psychedelic rock and pioneering the "jam band" ethos. On September 7, 1964, influential West Coast hip hop artist Eric Lynn Wright (Eazy-E) passed away from the AIDS-induced pneumonia. He was 30 years. He was a member of N.W.A. and had his own solo career too. He was a producer who helped to promote Bone, Black Eyed Peas, and other artists. He wanted to work hard on his companies, build technological devices, and made a final note to his fans, made amends to Ice Cube, and he married his girlfriend. By September 1995, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum opened in Cleveland, Ohio. It was designed by architect I.M. Pei.  The RRHOF Foundation was established in 1983 and several cities were considered for the hall's permanent home, but Cleveland civic boosters raised $65 million. By this time, after hitting #3 US in 1994 with his single "Fantastic Voyage", California rapper Coolio teams up with R&B singer L.V. for the single "Gangsta's Paradise" which hits #1 in both the US and UK. The song was created for the film Dangerous Minds and is on the soundtrack album. Smashing Pumpkins, Alice in Chains, Pulp, Oasis, and Take That made many songs and albums. American singer Whitney Houston has her eleventh US #1 single with "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)" #11 UK. The song is from the film Waiting To Exhale in which Houston plays the lead role. Produced by Kenneth Babyface Edmonds the soundtrack also features Toni Braxton, Brandy, TLC and Mary J. Blige among others This was in November 1995. By December of 1995, veteran hip hop artist L Cool J teamed with Philadelphia R&B vocal group Boyz ll Men on the single "Hey Lover" which charts at #3 US, #17 UK. The song is from Cool J's sixth album Mr. Smith which became Double Platinum in the US. During this time in December 1995, Boyz ll Men also collaborated with Mariah Carey on her eleventh US #1 single "One Sweet Day" #6 UK. The song is included on Carey's fifth album Fantasy, whose title track had hit #1 US in October. The album goes 8X Platinum in the US and sells over 20 million copies worldwide. One Sweet Day was one of the greatest songs of all time not just in the 1990's.

1996 saw hip-hop tragedies, dance crazes, R&B classics, rock comebacks, and pop anthems. In January of 1996, the Buffalo, New York alternative rock band Goo Goo Dolls find their first chart success after switching to a more pop sound with the single "Name" #5 US. The song is from the band's fifth album on Metal Blade Records. With the success of "Name" the album goes US Double Platinum. Around this time, the surviving members of The Beatles - George Harrison, Ringo Starr, and Paul McCartney add vocals and instrumentation to a John Lennon home demo and release the single "Free As A Bird". Produced by ELO and Traveling Wilbury member Jeff Lynne, the song hits #2 UK and #6 US. Groups like Babylon Zoo and Deep Blue Something (with their song Breakfast at Tiffany's) had unique music. One 1990's anthem was Joan Osborne's One of Us. She was from Louisville, Kentucky. Missing had the song Everything But The Girl. The dance group La Bouche had the song of Be My Lover. I remember that song as a child. The lead singers of the group are Lane McCray and the late legend Melanie Thorton. The song is from their Platinum debut album Sweet Dreams. The title track also reached #13 US, #3 US Hot Dance Club Tracks. One of the most emotional songs from R&B singer Mary J. Blige came out called "Non Gon' Cry." from the Waiting to Exhale soundtrack. The soundtrack was number one in the USA with Whitney Houston, TLC, Brandy, Patti Labelle, Toni Braxton, and other legends. That single was one of the best songs in Mary J. Blige's career. The debut album from New York City group Fun Lovin' Criminals entitled Come Find Yourself hits #7 in the UK, but only #144 US. The single "Scooby Snacks", featuring audio snips from Quentin Tarantino films, reaches #22 UK and #14 US Alternative. The album goes Platinum in the UK. By February 1996, after some success in Canada with two dance pop album's, Alanis Morissette moved to a more rock-oriented sound for her third album Jagged Little Pill. Released in June 1995, the album spends 12 weeks at US #1 driven by three US Top Ten singles. The album sells over 33 million copies worldwide, one of the best-selling ever.

One of the best songs from Brandy was Sittin' Up in My Room from March 1996. That song was also part of the Waiting to Exhale soundtrack. I remember that song too. Gin Blossom and The Cranberries released music by this time. Charlottesville, Virginia's Dave Matthews Band find their greatest career success with their second studio album Crash #2 US and 7X Platinum US. With a following built on touring, the album features some of their best known songs including "Crash Into Me", "Too Much" and "So Much To Say." Firestarter was the song from the band The Prodigy. Los Angeles band Rage Against The Machine debuted at #1 US with their second album Evil Empire #4 UK. The album's lead single "Bulls On Parade" hits #8 UK, #11 US Alternative. The album, named after President Ronald Reagan's term for the Soviet Union, goes Triple Platinum. This was in April of 1996. Rock artists like The Wallflowers and Ani DiFranco released albums. By June 1996, the South Orange, New Jersey hip hop trio The Fugees hit #1 UK with their cover of Roberta Flack's 1973 hit "Killing Me Softly." The track is from the group's second album The Score which hits #1 US and #2 UK, going on to sell 18 million copies worldwide. It would be the group's final album. The Score from The Fugees was one of the greatest albums in hip-hop and music history. Los Angeles band Metallica moved away from their thrash metal roots on their sixth album Load #1 US and UK. The shift to a more conventional hard rock sound alienates many fans and the album sells ten million fewer copies than their previous album, but still goes 5X Platinum in the US. KISS made their Alive Worldwide tour starting in Tiger Stadium in Detroit. By June 1996, Jay Z released his debut album called Reasonable Doubt. Jay Z worked with Kane and Jaz O before he made his album years prior to 1996, but this was the time when it started for Jay Z on a different level. He is from Brooklyn, New York City. The album went platinum in America. Cleveland, Ohio singer-songwriter Tracy Chapman has her first US Top Ten hit since her 1988 debut with "Give Me One Reason" #3 US. It would be the most best-selling song of her career. Structured as a traditional 12-bar blues song, it is included in Chapman's 1995 album New Beginning, which reaches #4 US and goes 5X Platinum. Nada Surf and Primitive Radio Gods made music too. The all-women pop group from the UK named Spice Girls released their debut single "Wannabe." The song is an immediate #1 hit in the UK, where it is followed by two more chart-toppers in 1996 including "2 Become 1." In a departure from his debut album, the hip-hop artist Nas moves to a mainstream sound with elaborate production for his second album It Was Written. The album charts at #1 US and goes Double Platinum. The album includes the #1 US Rap hit single "Street Dreams" #22 US Top 100. It would be Nas' most successful release. Nas released the album on July 2, 1996. 

By July 1996, New York City Fiona Apple released her debut album called Tidal. It became triple platinum in America. Sublime had the song of What I Got in America. By August of 1996, Tupac Shakur's double A-Side single "How Do You Want It / California Love" hits #1 US, #6 UK. The song is from his 5X Platinum album All Eyez On Me #1 US, #32 UK. On September 2 Pac died in Las Vegas from wounds suffered in a drive-by shooting six days earlier. Tupac's passing happened when I just started the 8th grade of middle school. I remember that time very well. With all of the research in our time, we pretty much who murdered Tupac Shakur and why. The FBI and the intelligence community monitored Tupac because of his links to black revolutionaries like Afeni Shakur. The Southside Crips murdered Tupac Shakur in a jealous rage after one of their members (i.e. Orlando Anderson) was beaten by Tupac and Death Row members in Las Vegas. By August 1996, the Spanish dance-pop duo Los Del Rio had a worldwide hit with the English language remix of their song "Macarena" #1 US, #2 UK. The song and it's video sparked an international dance craze. By 1997 the single had sales of 11 million and today is considered the biggest one-hit wonder of all time. Burlington, Vermont jam band Phish held their first festival - The Clifford Ball for two days in Plattsburgh, New York attracting 70,000 fans. The performance is recorded on video and later released as a DVD. The band has since held a total of ten festivals in various locations. Manchester band Oasis, at the height of their popularity, held a two-night concert at Knebworth, England with 125,000 fans attending each night. Both shows sold out in minutes, with 2.5 million people requesting tickets. The shows are the largest outdoor concert ever held in the UK.

The famous dance group of Quad City DJ's, a Jacksonville, Florida group, hit #3 US with the dance track "C'mon N' Ride It (The Train)." The track is based on a sample from Barry White's 1974 film theme for Together Brothers. Both the song and the group's debut album Get On Up And Dance, sold over a million copies. Jamiroquai, a funk and acid jazz group from London, released their third album Travelling Without Moving #2 UK and charted for the first time in the US at #24. The album produces three UK Top Ten hits and three US Dance Top Ten hits including "Virtual Insanity". The album sold 8 million copies. This was in August 1996. The Swedish band The Cardigans has music. Donna Lewis from Wales had the hit I Love You Always Forever and the band Kula Shaker had their music. By October 1996, the Orlando, Florida alternative rock band Matchbox 20 released their debut album Yourself Or Someone Like You and find major success, reaching #5 US. Five singles are released from the album including "3AM" which hits #1 US Alternative. The album goes 12X Platinum in the US. The controversial artist Marilyn Manson had his 2nd album Antichrist Superstar by October 1996. In November 1996, the end of the new jack swing era comes with a band with 2 hits of No Diggity from Blackstreet and Pony from Maryland R&B singer Ginuwine. West coast rapper Snoop Dogg has his second #1 album in a row with the release of The Doggfather #15 UK. The single "Snoop's Upside Ya Head" samples the Gap Band and hits #12 UK and #5 US Rap. The album goes US Double Platinum. This was in November of 1996. By December of 1996, No Doubt released their album of Tragic Kingdom. Tragic Kingdom hits #1 US. Sales are driven by the success of the singles "Just A Girl" #3 UK, #23 US and the album's third single "Don't Speak" which reached #1 UK, #2 US Alternative. The album sells 16 million copies worldwide.

 

1999 and the Pop Explosion

1999 was the end of the 1990's filled with music influenced by techno, hip hop, electronic, R&B, soul, neo-soul, jazz, gospel, rock fusion, and other genres. By January 1999, the London, England DJ and producer Fatboy Slim (a.k.a. Norman Cook) has his first #1 UK solo single with "Praise You." The hit video for the single features guerilla-style videography of flash mob dancers outside a theatre. The song is from Slim's second album You've Come A Long Way, Baby #1 UK. At the same time, the Swedish singer Eagle-Eye Cherry has a hit with his single "Save Tonight" reaching #5 US and #6 UK more than a year and a half after its initial release. Cherry is the son of jazz trumpeter Don Cherry and the half-brother of singer Neneh Cherry. In 1998 and in early 1999, Britney Spears was a superstar in the pop industry. The McComb, Mississippi actor, and singer Britney Spears, a former cast member of The Mickey Mouse Club, hit's #1 in the US and UK with her debut single "...Baby One More Time." The song is the title track from her debut album which hits #1 US, #2 UK and sold 25 million copies worldwide. The Orange County, California alternative rock band Lit found success with their second album A Place in the Sun which went platinum in America. By February 1999, the rapper Eminem (Marshall Mathers) had his major label debut album The Slim Shady LP #2 US, #10 UK. Produced by Dr. Dre and others, the album goes 4X Platinum in the US and multi- Platinum UK. The album's lead single "My Name Is" hits #36 US and #2 UK. In February 1999, there was the third album from Silkk The Shocker (Vyshonn Miller) a New Orleans, Louisiana rapper debuts at US #1. The single "It Ain't My Fault Pt. 2", featuring labelmate Mystikal, reach #18 US Hot 100 and #1 US Rap. The album is the second in a row to reach US Platinum for The Shocker. Blondie and NYSNC released music. 

By April 1999, after declaring bankruptcy at the height of their success in 1995, Atlanta R&B/hip hop group TLC are back with their third album Fanmail #1 US, #7 UK. The album produces two US #1 singles "No Scrubs" #3 UK and "Unpretty" #6 UK. The album goes 6X US Platinum and sells 14 million copies worldwide. Sugar Ray has the song Every Morning, Buckcherry had its debut album and the Dublin, Ireland woman band of B*Witched had the hit "C'est La Vie." By May 1999, Kiss was the song from the Christian Rock band Sixpence None the Richer from New Braunfels, Texas. The group breaks into the US Top 100 at #2 with their single "Kiss Me" #4 UK. The song is from the group's self-titled third album which goes to US Platinum. The group's cover of The La's song "There She Goes" hits #32 US, #14 UK.

Latin music star Ricky Martin, who began his music career at age 12 in the Puerto Rican boy band Menudo, hits #1 in both the US and UK with the single "Livin' La Vida Loca". The song is from Martin's self-titled fifth studio album which charts at #1 US, #2 UK and sells 15 million copies worldwide. Ricky Martin's music was shown everywhere. By May of 1999, Backstreet Boys released the Millennium album. It would be 13 X platinum in America and sell over 24 million copies worldwide. Jacksonville, Florida nu metal, rap rock band Limp Bizkit hit #1 US with their second album Significant Other #10 UK. The album features two of the band's biggest hits "Nookie" #3 US Alternative and "Re-Arranged" #1 US Alternative. The album goes 7X Platinum in the US. By June 1999, the Pioneering digital peer-to-peer file-sharing application Napster debuted. The software allowed users to easily share MP3 audio files across the internet. The company ran into legal issues related to copyright infringement initiated by major record labels and was later forced into bankruptcy. Napster was gone, but Napster gave birth to future streaming services (after CD sales drop in the 21st century) like Spotify. Other services like Limewire and Gnutella followed too. Bronx, New York City singer and actor Jennifer Lopez hits #1 US, #4 UK with her first single "If You Had My Love." The song is from her debut album On The 6 which charts at #8 US, #14 UK and goes US Triple Platinum. The second single "Waiting For Tonight" also goes Top Ten in both the US and UK. Canadian country singer Shania Twain has another crossover pop hit with her single "That Don't Impress Me Much" #7 US, #3 UK. It is the third US/UK Top Ten hit from her third album Come On Over which goes 2X Diamond in the US and sells over 23 million copies worldwide. 98 Degrees, from Los Angeles, released their song of The Hardest Thing. Groups like Slipknot and Pearl Jam released music and albums. Blink 182 had music.

By July 1999, the Houston, Texas girl group Destiny's Child have their first US #1 hit with the single "Bills, Bills, Bills" #6 UK. The song is the lead single from the group's second album The Writing's On The Wall #5 US, #10 UK. The album's third single "Say My Name" also hits #1 US in early 2000. The album goes 8X Platinum in the US. Destiny's Child by the end of the 1990's were already iconic and outstanding with their impact on R&B culture. Macy Gray had the song of I Try and Christina Aguilera had the song of Genie in a Bottle. By July of 1999, there was the Woodstock '99 was held in Rome, New York 100 miles away from the original site. MTV provided live coverage and headliners included Rage Against The Machine, Limp Bizkit, Metallica, DMX, and many others. 400,000 attended, but the festival is marred by vandalism and violence. LFO had the single Summer Girls and Smash Mouth had the song All-Star. 

 

In August 1999, Las Vegas, Nevada R&B girl group 702, named after the Vegas area code, hit #4 US, #22 UK with their single "Where My Girls At?" The song is from the group's self titled second album on the Motown label which charts at #34 US and goes Platinum. I heard that song everywhere in 1999. Canadian singer-songwriter Tal Bachman has a hit with his debut single "She's So High" charting at #14 US, #30 UK. Bachman is the son of former Guess Who and Bachman-Turner Overdrive co-founder Randy Bachman. The single is from Bachman's self-titled debut album #124 US. David Bowie had the album of Hours. Ben Harper, Enrique Iglesias, and Eiffel 65 had hit songs. On October 1999, New York singer Mariah Carey has her 14th US #1 single with "Heartbreaker" #5 UK which features Brooklyn rapper Jay Z (Shawn Carter). The track is from Carey's seventh album Rainbow which charts at #2 US, #8 UK, and sells eight million copies worldwide. The first Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival is held in Indio, California over two days. The event featured almost 80 acts with headliners Beck, Tool, and Rage Against The Machine. Attendance was well below expectations at 20,000 per day, causing the concert promoters to take an $850,000 loss on the event. This was in October of 1999. Scar Tissue was a hit song from LA band Red Hot Chili Peppers. Smooth was a song by Santana and Rob Thomas. P Diddy had the song of Satisfy You with R. Kelly. The song is from Combs' second album Forever which charts at #2 US and #9 UK. The album went Platinum in the US. The hit song of Mambo No. 5 came from Munich, West Germany singer Lou Bega. Marc Anthony had the song of I Need to Know and Jessica Simpson had the song of I Wanna Love You Forever. Signed to New Orleans label Cash Money Records at the age of 12, Lil Wayne (Dwayne Michael Carter Jr.) released his solo debut album Tha Block Is Hot at age 17 and charted at #3 US. The album's title track charts at #24 US Rap and the album went Platinum in the US. This was in November of 1999. 

Epilogue

The 1990's was the time when most of my childhood existed. I witnessed shows like A Different World, Moesha, The Wayans Brother, The Parent Hood, The Simpsons, Martin, Living Single, Mighty Max, Power Rangers, and Batman: The Animated series during that time period. It was a time of massive cultural explosion internationally. We saw the end of the Cold War back then along with musical and technological developments from the cloning of sheep, the Human Genome Project, gene therapy trials, lithium-ion batteries, Microsoft Word, and the expansion of the Internet. This post-Cold War decade saw music that was lively and diverse. Music dealt with the individual, honest, and complex human experience. From Gangsta's Paradise from Coolio ft. LV to Baby from Mariah Carey, human emotions were shown in a raw fashion. The youth worldwide loved to listen to grunge, hip hop, Eurodance, rock, country, gospel, funk, jazz and house music. Teen R&B and pop cultural musicians expanded with artists like Aaliyah, Brandy, Monica, Britney Spears, 98 Degrees, etc. Grunge acts like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Stone Temple Pilot were very popular along with alternative rock acts like R.E.M., Red Hot Chili Peppers, Creed, Everclear, Bush, etc. The 1990's saw hip hop become more resilient, debated, and grown to the next level with Salt-n-Pepa, Dr. Dre, Snoop, Tupac, the Notorious B.I.G., Nas, Jay Z, Outkast, Wu-Tang Clan, The Fugees, etc. Punk Rock saw a resurgence with Blink-182, Green Day, No Doubt, Goldfinger, etc. We saw rave and EDM with Moby and Bjork. Garth Brooks, Shania Twain, etc. represented country music. By the end of the decades, groups like Spice Girls, Destiny's Child, Christina Aguilera, En Vogue, Dru Hill, Mya, Whitney Houston, etc. were on the top of their games expressing lyrics about the value of love. Sorrow in music existed in the 1990's with very talented artists passing away like Freddie Mercury, Kurt Cobain, Selena, Eazy-E, Tupac Shakur, and the Notorious B.I.G. The strength of the 1990's was that it focused on excellence, individuality, and a carefree attitude about unapologetic self-expression. The 1990's wasn't all roses as hurricanes, racial tensions, church bombings, mass shootings, and other terrible occurrences did exist back then. Yet, the 1990's did have many positive joys like fair representation of black Americans on TV shows, diverse musical genres being respected, and a sense of optimism about the future. Later, we will see the music of the 21st century on an in-depth level. 

By Timothy