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Saturday Nostalgia Post: One Hit Wonder Edition
90s One Hit Wonders That Are Worth Revisting
Monie Love
Why you know her: “It’s a Shame (My Sister),” ca. 1991
Why she’s worth checking out: Before making her debut on this side of the pond, Love had long been a respected figure in the British hip-hop scene. Her feminist, positive rap message made her a pioneer. Though her records are uneven, her debut Down to Earth deserves a listen for its early Native Tongues sound. On her second album, In a Word or 2, Monie worked with the legendary Marley Marl — and the song “Born to B.R.E.E.D.” was produced by none other than his purple majesty, Prince.
Sir Mix-a-Lot
Why you know him: “Baby Got Back,” the ubiquitous big booty anthem
Why he’s worth checking out: No, really. The Seattle-based Sir Mix-a-Lot has a lot going for him other than his ode to buns. Before landing on every VH1 show as a talking head, Mix-a-Lot co-founded a record label and helped carve a niche in the scene for Northwestern rappers. “Posse on Broadway” and Mix-a-Lot’s cover of “Iron Man” both have that je ne sais quoi novelty characteristic, but both are also interesting songs in their own right. Take another look.
Screaming Trees
Why you know them: “Nearly Lost You,” ca. 1992
Why they’re worth checking out: The Screaming Trees were among the grunge forefathers that got lost in the Nirvana avalanche. Their sound is more psychedelic than sludgy, and their major label debut Sweet Oblivion has interesting touches of garage rock. It’s worth digging it out of the Soundgarden/Alice in Chains box and giving it another listen
Digable Planets
Why you know them: “Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat),” ca. 1994
Why they’re worth checking out: The Planets infused old-school hip-hop with the laid-back chill of jazz, a sound that influenced people like the Fugees and even Talib Kweli.
Blind Melon
Why you know them: “No Rain,” ca. 1993
Why they’re worth checking out: Though the slow whine of “No Rain” — and its bumblebee girl video — may have driven you crazy from repeat listening in the ’90s, Blind Melon’s self-titled debut album actually has a lot more interesting stuff to offer. Try the rolling car ode “Galaxie” and the quieter, almost pretty “Change.” (Both music videos are just as full of edge-of-grunge weirdness as “No Rain,” too.)
Meshell Ndegeocello
Why you know her: “Wild Night,” ca. 1994
Why they’re worth checking out: Ndegeocello came up in the D.C. go-go circuit, but adapted the beat to a slowed-down, honeyed version of the music. Try out “If That’s Your Boyfriend (He Wasn’t Last Night)” and “Who Is He and What Is He to Youeels
Why you know them: “Novacaine for the Soul,” ca. 1996
Why they’re worth checking out: The band’s power-pop stylings mixed with frontman E’s tongue-in-cheek lyrics rub some people the wrong way, but we found much redeeming in the eels, particularly in their debut album Beautiful Freak, like the always-satisfying “Your Lucky Day in Hell.”
Luscious Jackson
Why you know them: “Naked Eye,” ca. 1997
Why they’re worth checking out: Beastie Boy friends and label mates Luscious Jackson have a sound that’s cool, dark, and hip-hop-influenced. Their debut EP In Search of Manny is the band before its sound got a little slicker and more pop-centric. It’s a slacker record from those heady days when the Beastie Boys were caught between careers in hip-hop and punk rock. If you give it a spin, you won’t be sorry.
One hit wonder discussions are always fun :) but the lack of Jennifer Paige is killing me -__-
lol I really love this song tho.
Edited at 2012-01-28 11:30 pm (UTC)
at work my boss randomly mentioned the phrase "I wish" and I started singing this and she was just mystified
she's a 40-something year old Japanese women so perfectly understandable but still LAWLZ
is that my life is pretty plain
i like watching the puddles
gather rain
i like this song and video.
And smh at the shade thrown at Soundgarden.
Also, there was a while in the late 90s when pop music was really good. I remember at one point "Sex and Candy", "Flagpole Sitta", "Semi-charmed kind of Life", "Criminal" & "Building a Mystery" were all on top-40 radio together...maybe '98...and it was just a really good crop of music.
Edited at 2012-01-28 11:35 pm (UTC)