Category: 90ies

Songs of the 1990’s

The Other Salvation Army

On 6 July 2022

In 1991, 90ies, Must-See-Video, Swanky Sweden

Many people the world over have a hard time telling Switzerland and Sweden apart. Sure, they’re both small countries in Europe with excellent quality-of-life, they both start with “Sw”, they’re both really bad when it comes to saving people’s life in a pandemic thanks to their high number of vaccine refusers and people in both countries talk some weird Germanic dialect. But one of them has something the other does not:

From A like Abba to Z as in ZZAJ Sweden has continuously exported a wide variety of pop music over the years. Some were one-hit wonders, some were brilliant, and some were just way ahead of their time.

Which to me is the only possible explanation why the complete works of the “Army of Lovers” gets so little spotlight these days.

Boy Bands? Girl Power!

By vanElden

On 5 July 2022

In 1996, 90ies, Girl Power Tuesday, Must-See-Video

While one might argue that the original concept of “Boy Bands” probably dates as far back as the 19th century Barbershop Quartets, in the 1960s the concept took on a new facet, when “The Monkees” were drafted – as opposed to bands who formed themselves. This turned out to be quite a lucrative formula and so over time other bands were created with the specific goal of luring in the cash of teenage girls, most famously The New Kids on The Block, Take That, Backstreet Boys, ‘N Sync, or in newer times, One Direction. However, when two English blokes tried to apply the concept to a female band back in 1994 everything turned out a bit different.

They found their five members easily enough, having received hundreds of applications and only one of them was replaced by the time the group was ready to start recording. But… being the ambitious talents they were, the girls soon became frustrated with their management’s unwillingness to take on their ideas and parted ways, in order to full-fill their own artistic visions.

The principle would be applied more than once over the span of their career, not least when it came to the video of “Wannabe”, their first single. While considered flawed in several ways (“lighting!”, “old guys!”, “nipples!?!”) by Virgin, their new marketing channel, the Spice Girls insisted they did not want to do a re-shoot, and the commercial success would most definitely prove them right.

Organic Robotic Love

By vanElden

On 30 June 2022

In 1997, 1999, 90ies, Around The World, Must-See-Video

Originally released on her 1997 album “Homogenic”, Björk re-released “All Is Full Of Love” as a single in 1999, accompanied by a video (with a slightly different version) that featured what was back then certainly the most stunning computer animation that had ever been seen outside of lab demos. I remember being completely wowed when it first flickered across my screen. It would go on to be presented in art exhibitions and even was on display in New York City’s Museum of Modern Arts.

The song was written as an ode to spring, as Björk had spent a rough six winter months in the Icelandic mountains and was very glad to hear birds sing again on a cold April morning walk. And Chris Cunningham, having been approached by Björk to film the video, took up the theme of procreation for the video, ingeniously finding a way to make it quite explicit, yet in a way that would not incite censor’s wrath.

When Music Videos were News-Worthy

By vanElden

On 27 June 2022

In 1991, 90ies, Must-See-Video

November 11th, 1991 marked the 15th birthday of a close friend of mine. But that’s not what I remember the day for. What stood out that day was the news on the telly, specifically 10vor10, which back then was a fairly new addition to the Swiss news scene, outfitted with an extraordinary permission to experiment a bit. And so they did:

As one of a select few television channels in the world DRS (as the channel was called back then) was allowed to broadcast Michael Jackson’s newest video: “Black or White”. It would be featuring mind-numbing “morphing” technology on faces – something a room full of computers had been working on for months, as the presenter, Walter “index finger of the nation” Eggenberger, was proud to inform us. Sure, it wasn’t the moon-landing, but it was presented in a similar way and including the introduction it took up more than half of the 30 minutes the programme was allotted.

So we sat. And we watched. And we saw Macaulay – you might never have heard that name, but he is the sole reason for any of your friends – well, these days probably: your uncles – being called Kevin. Branding a pristine Gibson’s guitar. And then there were Tess Harper, John Goodman, Tyra Banks!

We were properly impressed at the time.

Yes, you do have to watch it to the end. And no, we did not understand those last four minutes either.