MUSC 1800: Popular MusicMetal, 90s Mainstream

Dr. Matthew C. SaundersLakeland Community College

C-1078

Stuck in the 90s• Economy

• Politics

• Foreign affairs

Important Trends in 1990s Popular Music• New Technology

• Strong local music scenes on the rise

• Greater diversity within and among styles

Looking like a rock star…

• Movement away from “glitz” and “glam” styles of presentation

• Conscious avoidance of anything that might appear less than casual.

• Echo of the larger culture

Big Idea:

• In 1985, rock had dominated the pop charts for 30 years, and began to wane in importance as hip-hop rose and country regained some of its earlier status.

Heavy Metal (ca. 1970-1995)• Origins

• Appeal

• Commercial success

Heavy Metal Examples

• Black Sabbath– “Iron Man,” 1970

• Motley Crue– “Shout at the Devil,” 1983

• Metallica– “Master of Puppets,” 1986

• AC/DC– “Thunderstruck,” 1990

Through the 90s with Dr. Saunders• The Red Hot Chili Peppers:

– “Give it Away,” 1991• Guns’n’Roses:

– “November Rain,” (Use Your Illusion, 1992)• Weezer:

– “Buddy Holly,” 1994• Alanis Morisette,

– “You Oughta Know,” 1995• Los Del Rio:

– “Macarena,” 1996• Fastball:

– “The Way,” 1997• Barenaked Ladies:

– “One Week,” 1998

Alternative Rock in the Mainstream

• Jane’s Addiction– “Mountain Song,” 1989

• R.E.M.– “Shiny Happy People,” 1990

• Sonic Youth – “Kool Thing,” 1990 (live 1993)

• Beck– “Loser,” 1993

• No Doubt – “Just a Girl,” 1995

Grunge• Another “back to basics” rock movement• Seattle-based, mid-to-late 1980s• National success after 1991

Grunge

• Important grunge artists:– Nirvana (lead singer Kurt Cobain): “

Smells Like Teen Spirit,” 1991• Live, Reading, 1992: “Territorial Pissings”

– Pearl Jam (lead singer Eddie Vedder): “Black,” 1991 (live, 1992)

– Soundgarden: “Black Hole Sun,” 1994