the only way I can explain the chart placement of "U Can't Touch This" in relation to how it conquered culture from my pov is that it was mostly purchased by (or for) elementary schoolers
― da croupier, Friday, 25 May 2012 19:46 (twelve years ago) link
xp Good call, I'm sure it did have a lot to do with Pearl Jam.. but even with them, "Yellow Ledbetter" was kinda huge by 95/96 and that was a straight up b-side.
― billstevejim, Friday, 25 May 2012 19:47 (twelve years ago) link
it is kind of ominous that the Telecommunications Act of 1996 was passed that year, maybe that really did end up helping to kill off the vitality of alt-rock radio just as much as some predicted
― some dude, Friday, 25 May 2012 19:48 (twelve years ago) link
http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lnltp7RyiL1qdau1zo1_500.jpg
I blame these guys for not even tucking in their shirts
― da croupier, Friday, 25 May 2012 19:50 (twelve years ago) link
yeah or it somehow had more influence on song choice.... they probably figured out some marketing strategy where non-album tracks make the listener more likely to change the station before the next commercial break, or something
― billstevejim, Friday, 25 May 2012 19:51 (twelve years ago) link
as i mentioned in one of the other threads, 94-96 was a big time for songs that had been out for years suddenly bubbling up out of nowhere and becoming chart hits -- "Yellow Ledbetter," Cowboy Junkies' "Sweet Jane," Sublime's "Date Rape"
― some dude, Friday, 25 May 2012 19:52 (twelve years ago) link
1979
― Look at how funky he is! (jer.fairall), Friday, 25 May 2012 21:22 (twelve years ago) link
"Have you ever made out in dark hallways?" is one of my favorite lines to laugh at in music, so "Down".
― how's life, Friday, 25 May 2012 22:21 (twelve years ago) link
These threads are reminding me why I bailed on the radio around '94-ish.
― Trey Imaginary Songz (WmC), Friday, 25 May 2012 22:44 (twelve years ago) link
the only way I can explain the chart placement of "U Can't Touch This" in relation to how it conquered culture from my pov is that it was mostly purchased by (or for) elementary schoolers― da croupier, Friday, May 25, 2012 12:46 PM (2 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
― da croupier, Friday, May 25, 2012 12:46 PM (2 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
That defines my situation perfectly. I was in fourth grade when "UCTT" became a hit - every kid had the cassette single in my class. It was fun/catchy and parental approved.
― musicfanatic, Friday, 25 May 2012 22:53 (twelve years ago) link
I was 15/16 during '96 so this poll does contain nostalgic memories for me, even though I cringe over most of those choices now. Saying that, I did hear that "Standing in a Phone Booth blah blah blah" song a couple months back and I still liked it, so that.
― musicfanatic, Friday, 25 May 2012 22:57 (twelve years ago) link
― how's life, Friday, May 25, 2012 6:21 PM (1 hour ago) Bookmark
or, say, played a track from your record collection? it's your mix. congratulations!
― some dude, Saturday, 26 May 2012 00:01 (twelve years ago) link
to those of us who, haters that were & are, had always disliked R.E.M., this era was a vindication of the hateration we'd been nurturing since Chronic Town
― cosi fan whitford (underrated aerosmith bootlegs I have owned), Friday, May 25, 2012 9:24 AM Bookmark
haha, this is a hilarious revelation to me, because i was describing a certain popular indie rock band to a non-music geek friend and i was like "they kind of sound like REM". (to be fair, my vocab is somewhat limited in these matters.)
― The Reverend, Saturday, 26 May 2012 00:33 (twelve years ago) link
From this list I actively like "1979", "Pepper", and "What I Got" and voted for the latter. I liked "Down" at the time but haven't heard it since and suspect it's terrible. This year is notable as the first I started watching MTV (maybe around August or so?) and thus marks pretty much my first exposure to new music other than what the rap/r&b station played or what I picked up ambiently. So I know a lot more of these than in previous years.
― The Reverend, Saturday, 26 May 2012 00:37 (twelve years ago) link
― da croupier, Friday, May 25, 2012 12:46 PM Bookmark
It's because it was only released physically on 12" and not cassette or CD.
― The Reverend, Saturday, 26 May 2012 00:41 (twelve years ago) link
yeah i don't think MC Hammer mind a lack of physical singles sales giving him a deceptively low Hot 100 peak when the flipside of that is he sold 10 million fucking copies of that album
― some dude, Saturday, 26 May 2012 01:00 (twelve years ago) link
Ohh man deez songz sux This pole reminds me why I killed myself durung the 90s
― billstevejim, Saturday, 26 May 2012 07:08 (twelve years ago) link
man see u
― The Reverend, Saturday, 26 May 2012 07:30 (twelve years ago) link
I feel like the right answer is surely "1979" but I'm far more tempted to vote for "Pepper" or "...Phone Booth..."
(man all these years and I never knew what that Dishwalla song was called or who it was by)
― instant coffee happening between us (a passing spacecadet), Saturday, 26 May 2012 07:58 (twelve years ago) link
"Electrolite" has an awesome Spike Jonze-directed video with the band upside down, attached to balls & chains, and growing in size.
― LimbsKing, Saturday, 26 May 2012 12:22 (twelve years ago) link
"1979" is nice but i've never quite understood the fuss over it, it's like my 10th favorite Pumpkins hit (and 3rd or 4th favorite Mellon Collie single, depending on whether "Muzzle" counts)
― some dude, Saturday, 26 May 2012 12:29 (twelve years ago) link
1979 is a great pop tune, and certainly stands above the rest of this lot, but not so much that it should offend someone deeply if we didn't all do pisstake votes for Down.
― how's life, Saturday, 26 May 2012 12:33 (twelve years ago) link
while I scatter my spit, I dream of juice
― some dude, Saturday, 26 May 2012 12:47 (twelve years ago) link
"Down" was a weird buzzkill to me because the preceding 311 single, "Don't Stay Home," was such a pleasant little pop song, the first time I heard it I thought it was They Might Be Giants' follow-up to "Snail Shell"
― some dude, Saturday, 26 May 2012 12:50 (twelve years ago) link
the rock/alt sections of my top 100 singles of '96:
Top 100 Singles of 1996:
...
― some dude, Friday, 25 May 2012
you make top 100 lists? what a nerd.
― we gotta move these refrigerators (CaptainLorax), Saturday, 26 May 2012 20:14 (twelve years ago) link
oh fuck i've been outed as a nerd, please don't tell my parents
― some dude, Saturday, 26 May 2012 20:18 (twelve years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWn12lQgO3s
― Brony! Broni! Broné! (Phil D.), Saturday, 26 May 2012 21:33 (twelve years ago) link
Wonderwall duh....
― The GeirBot (Geir Hongro), Saturday, 26 May 2012 23:00 (twelve years ago) link
Eels, "Novocaine for the Soul" - forgettable
― skip, Friday, May 25, 2012 12:11 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
ban
― rock the swagon and g.o.a.t. it (Whiney G. Weingarten), Saturday, 26 May 2012 23:16 (twelve years ago) link
eels all the way
― rock the swagon and g.o.a.t. it (Whiney G. Weingarten), Saturday, 26 May 2012 23:17 (twelve years ago) link
― some dude, Saturday, May 26
It probably has something to do with your personal preference for more upbeat stuff. Some people are more likely to find themselves involved with slow jams or mellow trippy stuff or nostalgia inducing shit or subtle yet emotionally-charged music delivered by a familiar, melancholic voice...
The simple 'different strokes for different folks' philosophy makes the publication of self-ingratiating top 100 lists read as attempts at seeking approval from others, or even worse, vainglory for the sake of boasting one's "well-bred" taste to others. But of course it can't all be about that. Finding people that share your musical interests can be rewarding. For instance, when you get a bunch of like-minded people together to poll their favorite songs, your choices get to shine among choices from people preinclined to agree with you (to some extent). And with all that support comes inspiration to listen and criticize more songs to the point where making top # lists could become an enjoyable hobby.
Having found a fraternity that will fuel your common desire to quantify musical subjectivity, you may focus towards the music that predominates your forum. You might also start borrowing opinions from the group mentality; so much so and your musical subjectivity will get hijacked. Some groups are big enough to form a society in which their music taste gets shoved down other people's throats - often in a self-aggrandizing fashion not unlike Pitchfork.
As far as ILX goes, if there are any music here they seem to be doing a good job at keeping their subjectively to appropriate threads. Although, broad-set polls can reveal approval-seeking music lovers and vainglorious critics alike, the latter more likely to engross themselves in some form of group snobbery.
― we gotta move these refrigerators (CaptainLorax), Saturday, 26 May 2012 23:22 (twelve years ago) link
oops
"As far as ILX goes, if there are any music *frats* here..."
― we gotta move these refrigerators (CaptainLorax), Saturday, 26 May 2012 23:24 (twelve years ago) link
"...the latter *are* more likely..."
― we gotta move these refrigerators (CaptainLorax), Saturday, 26 May 2012 23:25 (twelve years ago) link
The simple 'different strokes for different folks' philosophy makes the publication of self-ingratiating top 100 lists read as attempts at seeking approval from others, or even worse, vainglory for the sake of boasting one's "well-bred" taste to others.
i doubt some dude is riding for Goldfinger singles to seek approval from others
― rock the swagon and g.o.a.t. it (Whiney G. Weingarten), Saturday, 26 May 2012 23:31 (twelve years ago) link
psychology never reveals something 100% one way or another
― we gotta move these refrigerators (CaptainLorax), Saturday, 26 May 2012 23:34 (twelve years ago) link
captainderizer
― some dude, Saturday, 26 May 2012 23:46 (twelve years ago) link
http://images.hhv.de/catalog/detail_big/00093/93414_1.jpg
I know someone who used to wear this on occasion and if you look really quickly it looks like it says dishwalla.
― billstevejim, Saturday, 26 May 2012 23:47 (twelve years ago) link
xxpost I'd like to hear more about this..."psychology" you speak of. Sounds fascinating, and well within the bounds of this particular discussion.
― Quiet Desperation, LLC (Deric W. Haircare), Saturday, 26 May 2012 23:47 (twelve years ago) link
Damn, this whole time I thought I was writing top 100 lists out of boredom.
― billstevejim, Saturday, 26 May 2012 23:48 (twelve years ago) link
really cracking up picturing a hardcore dj shadow fan getting super indignant that people think he's into dishwalla
― some dude, Saturday, 26 May 2012 23:49 (twelve years ago) link
xpif it was boring you wouldn't do it all the time
― we gotta move these refrigerators (CaptainLorax), Saturday, 26 May 2012 23:50 (twelve years ago) link
nono I do it to kill boredom. Or at least thats what I thought until today.
― billstevejim, Saturday, 26 May 2012 23:51 (twelve years ago) link
you do things 'out of boredom' to entertain yourself or occupy your time, not to be more bored, you pompous dingbat
xpost
― some dude, Saturday, 26 May 2012 23:52 (twelve years ago) link
making top 100 lists is hardly in the same vein as crossword puzzles and suduko
― we gotta move these refrigerators (CaptainLorax), Saturday, 26 May 2012 23:55 (twelve years ago) link
plus, people don't go around posting their solved suduko puzzles
it would be if people posted their completed sudokos to the internet all proud
(lol)
― rock the swagon and g.o.a.t. it (Whiney G. Weingarten), Saturday, 26 May 2012 23:56 (twelve years ago) link
why not.. i think it's fun. sudoko is fun too. both are good ways to kill time at lame office jobs.
― billstevejim, Saturday, 26 May 2012 23:56 (twelve years ago) link
theres no law that says you have to publicly display a top 100 list.
― billstevejim, Saturday, 26 May 2012 23:57 (twelve years ago) link
i don't post my stupid lists to ilx much because yeah i hate to come off all 'look at me!' but since i had just done one relevant to this thread the other day, and people were doing similar 'other good songs from this year that didn't hit #1' lists on the other threads in this serious, i said what the hell, why not risk the scorn of the world's dumbest armchair psychologist.
― some dude, Saturday, 26 May 2012 23:58 (twelve years ago) link
serious=series