yes, Michael's popularity remained undiminished in the UK and Europa through the 1990. From Wikipedia:
Older was a huge commercial success, especially in the European markets. In the UK the album was largely anticipated, and debuted at No. 1 with an impressive 281,000 copies, becoming one of the biggest debuts ever in British history (it currently ranks as the 23rd fastest-selling album in the UK). It is also Virgin's fastest-selling album of all time. It became Michael's biggest-selling album in his homeland, achieving over 1.8 million copies sold, and receiving a 6× Platinum certification by the BPI on 5 December 1997. In the UK, it spent a total of 147 weeks inside the top 200, 99 of them on the top 75, and 35 of them on the top 10 (including 23 consecutive weeks). In all, Older currently sits as the 97th best-selling album of all time in the United Kingdom.
I've mentioned the blinkered way popularity and success is weighed in US music media before. It's either hyper-focused on US stats only without considering the outside world (like here) or myopically assuming stats are US-specific when they are in fact global (in the case of Spotify streaming numbers).
xps
― big movers, hot steppers + long shaker intros (breastcrawl), Saturday, 1 October 2022 20:58 (one year ago) link
You guys gave it fastlove!
― Malevolent Arugula (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 1 October 2022 21:04 (one year ago) link
The Thurston reaction has strong "dad cheated on mom" energy, almost three decades as the premier hipster/indie couple blown up because he had a midlife crisis like an average upper-middle class white dude.
― papal hotwife (milo z), Saturday, 1 October 2022 21:11 (one year ago) link
when I was living in western Massachusetts during the 00s I never heard a single flattering story from people who had an encounter with Thurston.
― Western® with Bacon Flavor, Saturday, 1 October 2022 21:21 (one year ago) link
Makin’ the scene
― "Cool ranch dressing!" (morrisp), Saturday, 1 October 2022 21:39 (one year ago) link
And when I was living in Western Massachusetts in the late ‘90s-late’00s, I only heard flattering stories from people who encountered Thurston and Kim. Maybe it was the circles I was traveling in, but they were always kind, generous, and patient, frequently performing at a small non-profit community arts center, and donating their time, work, and money to help keep it afloat.xp
― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Saturday, 1 October 2022 21:45 (one year ago) link
Being from Bethel, CT, I can vouch that Thurston’s background is very hoist toity.
― sweating like Cathy *aaaack* (Boring, Maryland), Saturday, 1 October 2022 22:00 (one year ago) link
I would encounter his brother Gene every once in a while, he was nice. Although he told me unprompted once that he turned Thurston on to all the cool stuff.
― sweating like Cathy *aaaack* (Boring, Maryland), Saturday, 1 October 2022 22:02 (one year ago) link
*hoity
― sweating like Cathy *aaaack* (Boring, Maryland), Saturday, 1 October 2022 22:04 (one year ago) link
I catsat for Coco once.
― No purposes. Sounds. (Sund4r), Saturday, 1 October 2022 22:13 (one year ago) link
xxxxp yeah, I don't doubt it. I just remembered buying an Excepter LP from Thurston at some record fair in Easthampton. He also did a "Psychic Hearts" show and he was selling people vinyl copies of that for like $5 or so which seemed chill.
― Western® with Bacon Flavor, Saturday, 1 October 2022 22:15 (one year ago) link
Her cat is on a raw diet. It was expensive.
― No purposes. Sounds. (Sund4r), Saturday, 1 October 2022 22:17 (one year ago) link
Please keep the Gordon-Moore anecdotes coming. This is gold.
What kind of raw diet? Not pricey kangaroo meat like Ira Glass' dog I hope?
― The Ghost Club, Saturday, 1 October 2022 22:22 (one year ago) link
Thurston continues to support young musicians and artists and writers, as does Kim.
― broccoli rabe thomas (the table is the table), Saturday, 1 October 2022 22:24 (one year ago) link
Just raw beef but he had strange cravings for mango and pumpkin.
― No purposes. Sounds. (Sund4r), Saturday, 1 October 2022 22:29 (one year ago) link
(My cat is actually like that tbh.)
Supporting young musicians and artists and writers?
― Malevolent Arugula (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 1 October 2022 22:32 (one year ago) link
cats love pumpkin ime
― ꙮ (map), Saturday, 1 October 2022 22:33 (one year ago) link
My cat likes mushrooms. Cats are weird.
― The Ghost Club, Saturday, 1 October 2022 22:35 (one year ago) link
Several young students of music and writing would probably say yes.
― No purposes. Sounds. (Sund4r), Saturday, 1 October 2022 22:46 (one year ago) link
I think Alfred was asking about your cat supporting young musicians and artists and writers.
― The Ghost Club, Saturday, 1 October 2022 22:48 (one year ago) link
Haha I just fed him some mushroom and he gobbled it up.
― No purposes. Sounds. (Sund4r), Saturday, 1 October 2022 22:50 (one year ago) link
And a good-hearted cat they are too.
― Malevolent Arugula (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 1 October 2022 22:50 (one year ago) link
Oh I know. My cat is very vocal and supportive during virtual lessons.xps
― No purposes. Sounds. (Sund4r), Saturday, 1 October 2022 22:51 (one year ago) link
it seems like some of the musicians in this band sonic youth are pretty cool
― Karl Malone, Saturday, 1 October 2022 23:45 (one year ago) link
I try not to get too worked up by what gets considered a one-hit wonder, but I am a little surprised to see Arrested Development show up on Pitchfork's list of the best one hit wonders of the 90s. A flash in the pan? yes. But certainly not a one hit wonder, when People Everyday and Mr Wendal charted at around the same high ranking spots.
― MarkoP, Tuesday, 4 October 2022 15:04 (one year ago) link
Yeah, a one-hit wonder with three Top 10 hits...
― hi hole im dad (Whiney G. Weingarten), Tuesday, 4 October 2022 15:08 (one year ago) link
Which one is their one hit? Mr. Wendel and People Everyday have more Spotify streams than Tennessee.
― “uhh”—like, this is an insane oatmeal raisin cookie “uhh” (President Keyes), Tuesday, 4 October 2022 15:17 (one year ago) link
in the US:
"Tennessee" peaked at #6"People Everyday" peaked at #8"Mr. Wendal" peaked at #6
in the UK:
"Tennessee" did not chart"People Everyday" peaked at #2"Mr. Wendal" peaked at #4
― a superficial sheeb of intelligence (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Tuesday, 4 October 2022 15:20 (one year ago) link
wait, incorrect, "Tennessee" hit #18 in the UK, looked at wrong source
― a superficial sheeb of intelligence (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Tuesday, 4 October 2022 15:21 (one year ago) link
arrested development is a one-album wonder, different thing
― comedy khadafi (voodoo chili), Tuesday, 4 October 2022 15:34 (one year ago) link
The list feels pretty... noncomprehensive, but I guess it's just meant to be a smattering of "favorites."
― Linkin Bio (morrisp), Tuesday, 4 October 2022 15:59 (one year ago) link
Tom Green. Everyone's favorite.
― “uhh”—like, this is an insane oatmeal raisin cookie “uhh” (President Keyes), Tuesday, 4 October 2022 16:00 (one year ago) link
Arrested Development were also terrible
― boxedjoy, Tuesday, 4 October 2022 16:05 (one year ago) link
ban
― hi hole im dad (Whiney G. Weingarten), Tuesday, 4 October 2022 16:06 (one year ago) link
yeah they became terrible but that first album is very classic imo
― ミ💙🅟 🅛 🅤 🅡 🅜 🅑💙彡 (Austin), Tuesday, 4 October 2022 16:47 (one year ago) link
Today I learned that not only are they still around, they've released NINE albums since 2001.
― a superficial sheeb of intelligence (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Tuesday, 4 October 2022 16:51 (one year ago) link
This is a jam:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEaS0_phG8o
― Malevolent Arugula (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 4 October 2022 16:53 (one year ago) link
I seem to remember the Squirrel Nut Zippers' Hot being more of a one album wonder than Hell being a one hit wonder too. I see only Hell charted but "Put a Lid on it" and "Got My Own Thing Now" seemed like they got plenty airplay too -- it could have just been a local radio thing or that I'm confusing the ubiquity of the 90s swing revival with the one CD I bought from it though.
― BrianB, Wednesday, 5 October 2022 13:41 (one year ago) link
i only ever heard "hell" which was on vh1 every five minutes. love that song tho
― flamenco drop (BradNelson), Wednesday, 5 October 2022 15:19 (one year ago) link
My gf showed me the p4k 90s songs list the other day. I ctrl-f'd "Missy" and was very pleased.
In 2008 when I was a 20yo college radio DJ my station started holding regular 1990s dance parties. The top 25 of this list includes many of the songs I was most excited to play out, including their #1. My first thought is "Wow I really knew what was up," but the reality is probably just that this list was assembled by a bunch of 30something former college radio DJs with similar taste lol
For a look at how things have changed (or not), here is a playlist I made last year when I was trying to assemble a top 10 for each decade. I am a lot less high on either the boom bap or the shiny suit era hip hop than I used to be, but Nas will always have a place in my HOF https://open.spotify.com/playlist/32xQXPJ3kT1y0u9mEdKlS5?si=wlWHLakoRByn8dOA3-bhVg&utm_source=copy-link
― Sonned by a comedy podcast after a dairy network beef (bernard snowy), Wednesday, 5 October 2022 15:59 (one year ago) link
https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/the-best-grunge-albums-of-the-90s/
ok so, afghan whigs, sonic youth, and pj harvey are grunge
― comedy khadafi (voodoo chili), Thursday, 6 October 2022 17:43 (one year ago) link
I feel like the Whigs are at least defensible but not those other two.
― a superficial sheeb of intelligence (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Thursday, 6 October 2022 17:47 (one year ago) link
Dirty is at least grunge-adjacent/informed, no?
― Linkin Bio (morrisp), Thursday, 6 October 2022 17:54 (one year ago) link
Best Grunge was made in the 80s
― “uhh”—like, this is an insane oatmeal raisin cookie “uhh” (President Keyes), Thursday, 6 October 2022 18:02 (one year ago) link
idk, for some reason I always associated Experimental Jetset more with grunge than Dirty.
― a superficial sheeb of intelligence (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Thursday, 6 October 2022 18:46 (one year ago) link
Neither of them really sound "grunge" to my ears, but the former is just some weird association I've always held.
― a superficial sheeb of intelligence (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Thursday, 6 October 2022 18:47 (one year ago) link
If Dirty and Gish are grunge, then Come’s Eleven: Eleven sure as fuck is and needs to be there
Also, no Gits? Love Battery? What a basic list
― beamish13, Thursday, 6 October 2022 19:12 (one year ago) link
“Best grunge was made in the 80’s”
I’d probably say so, given the work of Band of Susans and Live Skull
― beamish13, Thursday, 6 October 2022 19:13 (one year ago) link
Hardly think of those as grunge bands. Capital-G grunge in the '80s was, unfortunately, the likes of Green River or Mother Love Bone.
― The Ghost Club, Thursday, 6 October 2022 19:19 (one year ago) link