1990s Popular Music

1990s Popular Music

Day 61: Introduction • 1990 is remembered as the year rock ‘n’ roll was reborn. • Two main cultural trends for youth: rap and metal. • Sinead O’Connor – mainstay of alternative music, Nothing Compares to You

Day 62: Seattle, From Sub Pop to Superstars • Sub Pop Records • Signed Soundgarden, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, and Smashing Pumpkins • Nirvana’s Nevermind album announced alternative music to the mainstream with a vengeance

Nirvana Were aided by MTV’s decision to push their video of Smells Like Teen Spirit to an anthem for teens – was a defining moment in rock history Nevermind album sold 3 million copies in 4 months, released by Geffen Records Grew up in Aberdeen, Washington

“The Gold Rush” • Soundgarden started the Seattle “gold rush” when they signed to A&M in 1988. A slew of major labels descended upon Seattle in search of the next big thing. • Pearl Jam with Jeremy • Alice in Chains with Man in the Box

Kurt Cobain’s Suicide • Lived “two lives” • Married to Courtney Love (lead singer of Hole) • Had daughter Frances Bean • April 8, 1994 body discovered • Instead of committing suicide, he could have looked for help.

Sonic Youth Used unconventional things to bend otherwise standard pop songs completely out of shape – became their trademark Signed to DGC in late 80s Had a female bassist who also sang lead vocals Superstar

R.E.M. Enjoyed success at a pace they could handle without compromising their artistic or personal integrity Their album Murmur (1983) was selected as album of the year by Rolling Stone magazine over Thriller Involved in environmental causes, animal rights, and antinuclear campaigns Losing My Religion

Day 63: Lollapalooza • Lollapalooza Festival in 1991 – brought together rap, metal, and alternative music • Organized by Perry Farrell (leader of Jane’s Addiction) • The 7-act, 21-city Lallapalooza tour played to a total of 430,000 people and grossed $10 million • Also focused on political messages

Lollapalooza Festival 1992 • Doubled its audience attendance (800,000) and money ($19 million) • Featured a second stage for lesser-known acts

Red Hot Chili Peppers Combined early hip hop sources with heavy metal Lead singer, Anthony Kiedis, hovered between rapping and singing Early skateboard-culture heroes, early pioneers of the mosh-pit marriage of funk, rap, and thrash Under the Bridge

Pearl Jam Sound Garden More dissonant with irregular tempos and time signatures Chris Cornell, lead singer Black Hole Sun • A safer blend of heavy metal and psychedelic rock • Eddie Vedder, lead singer

Alternative Nation • By 1993, Lollapalooza was so successful that other artists starting developing other festivals…the biggest of these was ‘Alternative Nation’

Soul Asylum Their video for Runaway Train featured listings of missing children Led to a performance at the White House as President Clinton signed the youth service bill

Country Music • Garth Brooks • Top Pop Album Artist and Top Country Album Artist for 1991, 1992, & 1993 • NBC’s Garth Brooks special beat out Michael Jackson’s • Brooks’ caused a shake-up in Nashville because he merged many styles into his music and used theater smoke, pyrotechnics, and sophisticated lighting effects in his arena shows. • “Garth Bashing” • We Shall Be Free: written in response to Rodney King beating and supports gay rights, raised $1 million

Ellen “Shania” Twain Country-pop superstar Born in Ontario, Canada Both of her parents were killed in a car crash in her early twenties, turned to music to support her family Her album, The Woman in Me, went 12x’s platinum without a tour Album, Come On Over, sold 34 million copies worldwide, the most ever by a female

Faith Hill Country-pop star Hit superstardom with Breathe (1999) Married to another country superstar, Tim McGraw

Day 64: The Search for the Next Big Thing • In the 90s, the music industry still invested in one superstar. The major labels risked millions of dollars in search of that one artist or group who would make it worth their while. • That leads to the belief that a single artist who can sell 40 million units is worth more than 40 artists who each sell 1 million units. • The plus is that they spend a lot less money on marketing and promoting one artist versus 40 artists.

Mariah Carey Combined incredible talent and potential for follow through with the best business plan on the planet 5-octave range, signed to Columbia Records 1990 – Won Grammys for Best New Artist & Best Pop Vocal Performance Was biracial – mother was a white NY opera singer, father was a black Venezuelan Love Takes Time

Superstars Cash In on New Record Company Contracts • Janet Jackson - $30 million w/ Virgin Records • Aerosmith - $30 million w/ Columbia Records • Motley Crue - $25 million w/ Elektra Records • ZZ Top - $30 million w/ RCA • Rolling Stones - $40 million w/ Virgin • Madonna, Michael Jackson, & Prince - $60 million • R.E.M. - $80 million w/ Warner

New Record Company Contracts • Record company mergers – Record companies were being sold for 20-30 times their earnings. • Artists realized the value of catalogue sales. • Record companies were exploiting their rights to artists.

The bottom falls out on record companies • 1996 Record sales flat-lined (plateaued) • They were chasing hit singles rather than building long-term careers. • They focused on new technologies, instead of music. • Baby boomers completed the replacement of their black vinyl collections. • Failed to recognize the potential of “urban music.” • Relied on a handful of superstars.

Electronic Dance Music • Electronica – a catch-all phrase that included everything from hip hop, dance pop remixes, and r&b-flavored dance music to sounds of acid house, techno, and others that came from England and Europe. • Frankie Knuckles – DJ from Chicago, Move Your Body • British Club Culture – Americans began to import British club songs • Pump Up The Volume • Summer of 1988 became known as “Second Summer of Love” • Rave: all night events with crowds of up to 20,000 people located in aircraft hangers, abandoned warehouses, and open fields

US Electonica The Prodigy The Chemical Brothers Big Beat: rave-meets-rock ‘n’ roll hybrid sound Setting Sun • Signed to Elektra Records • Played at rock festivals • Firestarter

Moby Born Richard Melville Hall, became a radical Christian and a vegan activist The first techno producer to become a full-fledged pop celebrity Tried to blend into his surroundings All 18 tracks on Play album were licenses for use in films, tv shows, and advertisements before the album peaked on the charts We Are All Made of Stars

Day 65: The Year(s) of the Woman • 1996 was the Year of the Woman, the 6 best-selling albums of the year were by women or woman-fronted groups • 1997 women took 5 of the 6 top spots • All different genres of music are represented (pop/dance, alternative/pop rock, folk rock, country, and hip hop. • Many of the women came from Canada.

Sarah McLachlan Canadian singer-songwriter started with her debut album in 1989, Touch Founded the Lilith Fair in 1996 as a self-described “Celebration of Women in Music” (featured only female-led acts) Angel

Lilith Fair • Most successful concert tour of 1997. • Ran in the summers of 1997, 1998, and 1999 as a multi-city, multi-date event featuring dozens of artists on multiple stages. • A spectacular showcase for women. • One dollar from every ticket sold was donated to a charity – donated $700,000 in 1997. • Sarah McLachlan was the only artist to perform every date.

Celine Dion Youngest of 14 children and born in Canada, started performing at her parents night club at the age of five Released French and English albums Sang title song for Beauty and the Beast and hit song from Titanic My Heart Will Go On

Lauryn Hill Started out as an actress Wrote poetry, played basketball, ran track, was a cheerleader, and homecoming queen Signed to Columbia Records as part of the group The Fugee’s Solo career began in 1998, combined big-band jazz, soul, rap, reggae, and hip hop into its own hybrid Doo Wop (That Thing)

Rage Rock & Woodstock ‘99 • Rage Rockers included Korn, Limp Bizkit, and Kid Rock. All came from white working-class and mostly southern backgrounds. Combined elements of rock and rap in their music. • Rage Against the Machine: added directed rage into their music • Woodstock ‘99 – Staged at Griffis Air Force Base in Rome, NY • A lot of violence in the mosh pit • There were a lot of bonfires and rioting fans.

Day 66: Teen Pop (Boy Bands & Teen Queens) • The Orlando/Disney Connection • Mickey Mouse Club (1993) started careers of Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Justin Timberlake, and JC Chasez • Lou Pearlman managed the Backstreet Boys and ‘N Sync • Auditions for Star Search and a Southern Baptist upbringing are themes that run through many of these artists’ backgrounds. As well as an intense work ethic and rigorous sense of discipline.

Backstreet Boys Started in 1993, signed to Mercury Records Signed to Jive Records in 1994 and became big stars in Europe Album,Millenium(1999), sold 1.1 million units in the first week. Tour for the album sold out all 53 dates (765,000 tickets) 2000 album titled Black and Blue

‘N Sync 1st album, ‘N Sync, sold more than 11x’s platinum and remained on the charts for more than 2 years 2nd album, No Strings Attached, sold 2.4 million copies in 1st week 3rd album, Celebrity, projected a more mature and musically diverse image Made over $90 million on their 2001 tour

Britney Spears Burst onto the charts in late 1998, signed w/ Jive Records 1st album, Baby One More Time, was certified 13x’s platinum Started performing at age 5, career was thoroughly mapped out Oops!...I Did It Again

Christina Aguilera Large vocal range and power Recorded Reflection for Disney soundtrack to Mulan Won Best New Artist Grammy in 2000 First single was Genie in a Bottle went straight to #1 Beautiful Took on alter ego, Xtina, for 2nd album, Stripped

Day 67: The Year of Latin Music • 1999 Popular Music Charts had hits from Christina Aguilera, Marc Anthony, Gloria Estefan, Enrique Iglesias, Jennifer Lopez, Ricky Martin, and Santana • 2000 – Latin Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (off-shoot of the Grammy’s) had its own separate prime-time telecast of the Latin Grammys

Ricky Martin At the age of 12, he was already a star as a member of Menudo Was an actor on soap operas and on Broadway 1999 he released his first English-language album Livin’ La Vida Loca

Santana Superstar of the 1960s who was a master guitar player Released a hit album, Supernatural, with Arista Records in June 1999 – contained half vintage Santana and half collaborations Smooth

Jennifer Lopez Started out as an actress In 1999, she turned her attention to music to record On the 6 with Epic Records Dance/pop style with Latin flavor Jenny From the Block

Shakira Born in Barranquilla, Columbia First became a pop superstar throughout Latin America, performing rock-oriented songs in Spanish Signed to Sony Records (in Columbia) at the age of 13 Was influenced by Aerosmith, Nirvana, and Tom Petty Her performance on MTV Unplugged was the channel’s first ever Spanish-speaking cablecast Wherever, Whenever

What is Latin Music? • The late 90s Latin boom showcased the diversity of artists and music that make up the Latin music category. • Latin music has been defined as music made by Latinos for Latinos, but was in Latino? • Latino is an umbrella term referring to people of Latin American descent who live permanently in the US. • The use of the term Latino in music has more to do with social relations and ethnic backgrounds, than it does with a particular music tradition or style of music.

Day 68: Black Music at the Base • Hip hop doo wop or Hip hop soul – hip hop vocal style which focused on harmonies • Signature sound for writers/producers like P. Diddy, L.A. Reid, & Babyface • Toni Braxton • 1993 self-titled album sold 8x’s platinum, generating 5 hits • Un-break My Heart

TLC Discovered by L.A. Reid’s writer/producer wife Pebbles and signed to LaFace in 1991 Had a pop/rap/hip hop sound 2nd album CrazySexyCool(1994) sold about 11 million copies Waterfalls

Boyz II Men The top-selling smooth r&b group of the decade Went from Philadelphia’s Creative and Performing High School to Motown Records Motownphillywas 1st single off their debut album, Cooleyhighharmony 2nd album, Boyz II Men II (1994) established them as the premier r&b harmony group of the 90s, went on to sell 17 million copies and became Motown’s best-selling album ever

Destiny’s Child Formed in Houston, TX in 1990, took 7 years to get signed to Columbia Records Say My Name The original group self-destructed. Their 3rd album, Survivor, showcased the new group and produced the hit Bootylicious

R. Kelly Writer, producer, performer, and pro basketball player Raised in South Side Chicago, saw music and sports as a way out of poverty Wrote and produced music for big name artists I Believe I Can Fly The World’s Greatest at Winter Olympics

Sean “Puffy” Combs One of the first moguls (successful artist playing roles of writer, producer, label head, and performer) Career was plagued by tragedy in the 90s, Presided over Bad Boy Entertainment empire by 1997 First album, No Way Out, was certified 7x’s platinum Best known for sampling in creating his songs I’ll Be Missing You and Bad Boy for Life

Master P. Real name is Percy Miller Wanted to build “the profile of a business man, not a gangsta.” In 1988, P had built the No Limit record store into a label and a multimedia empire, earning $56 million a year. His artists called themselves the No Limit Army Signed Snoop Dogg in 1998 Also became an actor-writer-producer-director, and author, and a sports agent Has No Limit Records, No Limit Films, No Limit Sports Enterprises, No Limit clothing line (Soldier Gear) and a multimillion dollar deal with Converse

Rap Goes National • The new era of hip hop was not confined to New York and LA, moved to Mid-West and “Dirty South” • No Limits and Cash Money Label in New Orleans. The LaFace Label and So SoDef in Atlanta (Def Jam also opened a branch there). In LA, Dr. Dre launched Aftermath. In NYC, Jay-Z launched Roc-A-Fella, and DMX launched Ruff-Ryders. • Hip hop artists began to operate like extended social groups (posses, crews) • Bad Boy as “The Family,” Master P had “No Limit Army,” Snoop Dogg had “ThaDogg Pound,” and Wu-Tang Clan was a “Clan.” • PMRC was still “watching” rap for lyric content

1990s Popular Music