The A to Z of Pop - D is for Celine, As In Dion.

"Oi. Yellow. Stop standing on my toes"

The A to Z of Pop

by Jo Michelmore

I have an interesting relationship with the letters of the alphabet. Some of them I don't like. There's probably some pseudo-psychological-past-lives-childhood-trauma reason I really don't think much of the letters G or U but the reason I don't like D is probably just dumb. The thing is, why should I like it? In all my (three) names, D doesn't appear once. I have no connection to D. D is average. Which is what inspired this week's letter. I could have mentioned a d-groovy, d-gorgeous D band that was mentioned to me (and then a song that was subsequently sung to me) when discussing this pop-phabet...

...but that wouldn't go with my D is average theme, because I like that song (and honestly, who doesn't?) Instead we'll look at someone else. Someone like this...

Even if you're not old enough to remember the 90s, you know how everyone talks about them like some kind of magical time filled with amazing music of every genre? Well, it wasn't all good. Example one: Dr Alban.

Ol' Darren Hayes. They'd probably have called him Dazza back in Logan. This will make no sense to anyone outside the Brisbane region. Go with it. He's spent so much of the last few years talking about his sexuality, moving to London and his thoughts on Katy Perry, but all any of us really want is for him to start singing about chica cherry cola again.

Which brings me to someone Dazza liked to hang out with for a bit there in the early parts of last decade. Ol' Delta. Well, she is old now. Where is she? Replaced by someone much shorter than herself on the judging panel on The (Australian) Voice, I think this song was the turning point in her current mysterious disappearance. What was she thinking? She's tall enough as it is. Don't stand up at a piano Delta, you look like gigantor.

I suppose that should bring me to another Australian, who has also done her time on talent show judging panels. Remember that thing I said about the 90s not being all awesome? Example number two: Dannii Minogue.

Let's end on something a little odd but this is my D-amn blog post so I'll make the alphabet do whatever I want. Anyway, I was reminded of this clip by some of my fellow bloggers the other day and this here blog post was a good excuse to watch it again. Yes, not C for Celine, it's D for Dion and Celine Dion is fucking amazing. You know it and if you don't, you haven't watched this clip yet.

The Candy Shop #16

 I Could Have Had It All, Rolling In The Deep

by Nayt Housman

Since this month at It's My Kind Of Scene we’re counting down the 90s best bands and I’ve been reminiscing lately in The Candy Shop; this week I look back at the one and only sport I have ever participated in, outside school: roller skating. I’m not talking those modern, fan dangled, in-line, wannabe skates either; I’m talking quads.


When I was in year seven I began artistic roller skating lessons to learn how to twirl and hold my leg up elegantly all while rolling gracefully around the roller rink. I sucked, though I didn’t care because every Saturday morning I’d be skating with my friends and dancing/skating to some of my favourite songs of the time. Here are my favourite six.


1. Confide In Me - Kylie Minogue

Ok Kylie, now I believe you! I was never quite convinced if I liked you until this moment. I’d imagine I was each one of your sexy femme fatale characters in the clip as I was rolling. If only I’d been allowed to wear Mum's makeup and tights, things could have been very different…


2. Groove Is In The Heart - Deee Lite

What ever happened to Deee-Lite? This song was (I’m sorry I have to) deeeliteful! Also it was a perfect tempo for skating and grooving while skating and being delightful grooving skaters.

3. Mr Vain - Culture Beat 

I know what I want and I want it now. I wanna skate! And I get what I want coz I’m Mr Vain.


4. Cotton Eye Joe - Rednex

If it hadn’t have been for Cotton Eye Joe, I’d not have known what a redneck was. See? Learning can be fun, especially while skating!


5. Total Eclipse Of The Heart - Nicki French

I dedicate this song to a girl named Cecilia Hinchliffe who would lip-synch the lyrics to me as we whirled around the roller rink. Nicki French was no Bonnie Tyler but turning this song into a dance number was pure genius!


6.  Things That Make You Go Hmmm... - C + C Music Factory

To this day I’m proud to say I can still keep up with the “giveittome giveittome giveittome giveittome giveittome giveittome” part of this song and I’ve never met anyone who can match me (although I’ve never actually challenged anyone). Hmmmm… I wonder if it sounds even better when I do it on wheels? Who wants to come skating?


I love how whenever I hear one of these songs now, I’m immediately reverted to 12 years old, slightly pudgy and not quite gender distinguishable but possibly the happiest I ever was as a pre-teen, because when I was skating, I was a secret superhero and my power was being able to roll on built-in wheels while dancing.

It's All Coming Back To Me Now - A Love Letter To...1990.

This guy and his pants. Popular in 1990. It was a strange year.

Stop. Hammer Birthday Time

by Jo Michelmore

There’s someone I know, who I really like, who happens to be having a really special day today and how lucky is she, because her special day just happens to fall on Thursday. That is, vintage Thursday! Yeah! I know, right? Jealous? Yeah you are. Tonight, I celebrate my friend’s birthday with a whole bunch of vintage goodness from the year she was born. 1990. What an impressive year. Pre Nirvana, pre Gaga, pre American/Australian/Ukranian Idol, pre iphone, pre facebook, pre dub step, pre ipod, pre youtube. Pre internet!!!! Imagine, you had to actually purchase CD’s from shops back then and no one yet knew how to copy a CD. If you liked something, it was because you liked it on the radio, or at a club, on the TV, or someone told someone about a great band somewhere. Damn, how did music ever exist before, like, 2000? I was there and even I can’t remember.

Bust A Move 

by Young MC 

 

A confession. You know how everyone’s got one rap song they know all the words to and can recite at any moment? Some people who were alive in the early 90’s know all of Ice Ice Baby, some of the peeps of the early 00’s know Eminem, but start Young MC and you can’t stop me. Every. Single. Word. I also have a similar hairstyle of the girl who appears in the clip AND have been known to wear a scarf in my hair. I always liked that girl.

Groove Is In The Heart

by Deee-Lite

 

Oh, that thing about knowing all the lyrics to things? Yeah, this one too. She also has a short hairstyle and wears scarves. What? Oh and who doesn’t love Bootsy Collins? Huh? Damn this is a crap clip though.

Opposites Attract 

by Paula Abdul and MC Skat Cat

 

So, before she was hosting things on reality TV shows, she was singing with a cartoon character. How is it possible this ever happened? This whole thing screams early 90’s, it’s embarrassing. The thing that’s in common with Paula and MC Skat Cat? Um, he doesn’t exist so you have nothing in common Paula!!!!! Oh 1990 was weird.

U Can’t Touch This

by MC Hammer

 

This had to be included because anyone who was over the age of five in 1990 has said the words “you can’t touch this” at some point in their lives. Also, MC Hammer was setting pant fashion trends in 1990 that need to be appreciated. Also, I may have been known to attempt and smash out the Hammer dance at various occasions in my life.  

Hold On
by Wilson Phillips

 

I wanted to include this one for all the readers of Ellie’s age and younger, because I’m going to educate you all on fashion. You may not be aware of it yet, but everything you’re wearing now has been worn before and it was worn much, much worse. The vests, the high waisted double denim, the ill-fitting jackets, they’ve all been worn before, sometimes a little better but mostly a little worse. If the fashion doesn’t interest you, hold on until the 2:48 mark and appreciate the girl vocal breakdown. It’s awesome.

Joey
by Concrete Blonde

 

Come on, you didn’t expect me to not include this, right? I mean, hello; Joey? That’s me! Duh. I have had this song serenaded to me a bazillion times. Secretly I love it.

If Wishes Came True 

by Sweet Sensation

 

Oh look! It’s Destiny’s Child before Destiny’s Child….except not. Crap pop at its best. The 90’s had so much of it and it started here. This had to be included.

Nothing Compares 2 U
by Sinead O'Connor

 

This is the song that was number one when my fabulous friend was born. It was by Prince, originally, but Sinead took it and made it hers. She also has about as much hair as my friend probably did when she was born. This is not much.

Ride On Time
by Black Box

 

This song was apparentley so good it was released once in 1989 and again in 1990 and I’m going to finish with this one, because this song is the epitome of crap dance music of the early 90’s. It’s also a little birthday present for my beautiful friend and for anyone who presses play. Chances are, you hear it once, you’ll be singing it for days….”wah-oh, wah-oh, gonna get up, gonna get up, gonna get up, you ride on time, cause you ride on time…..” You're welcome.

It's All Coming Back To Me Now - Needs More Cowbell

NEEDS MORE COWBELL

by Jo Michelmore

I did a post on the whistling. Then I did a post on the clap. Then a friend reminded me of another feature in songs that should be celebrated. The cowbell. Who doesn’t love the cowbell? Probably Swiss cows, actually. The cowbell stops them from easily running away, doesn’t it? Would you like a giant bell hung around your neck? Maybe, whatever you're into, I suggest not. Anyway, I digress. The cowbell is really nothing on its own, but put it in the right place and it takes an average song and makes it magic. So, this week, as a special request, I feature: the cowbell!

Hey Ladies - Beastie Boys, 1989

Classic Beastie Boys, this song is nothing without the cowbell. Nothing. It’s so instantly recognisable and the, “hey ladies!” followed by the chang chang chang is like an instant time machine to 1989. The clip? Beastie Boys being the Beastie Boys. It’s also a classic, featuring everything you want in a Beastie Boys clip; scuba divers, bad ‘70s suits, martial arts, hairdryers, palm trees and a girl’s body painted like a clock (long before Gotye and Kimbra even knew what body paint was). Most importantly, it features two arms poked through a wall, playing a cowbell. Excellent.


Go Your Own Way - Fleetwood Mac, 1976

 

The ultimate break up song, one of Fleetwood Mac’s best, was written by Lindsey Buckingham for Stevie Nicks, about their own break up. At the time it was recorded, the marriage of other Fleetwood Mac members John and Christine McVie was also ending. They all took a lot of drugs too. Was it the combination of all these things that made it such a great song? Maybe. Or maybe it was the cowbell. Probably the cowbell, yes. Huh?
   

Stuck In The Middle With You - Stealers Wheels, 1972

 

For those of you who are concentrating, you’ll notice a little pattern. This song was featured last week, in the clapping post. It was also stuck in my head for about three days after I listened to it. You know what else? Not only does it feature clapping it features the cowbell. If songs were judged only on their cowbell and clapping features, this could be the greatest song of all time.


Play That Funky Music - Wild Cherry, 1976

 

See, the funny part about this song is that it was played by a bunch of very un-funky, unattractive white boys. Weird. Its bass line is admittedly phenomenal though and it’s been sampled a bazillion* times. (*Not exact number) Anyway, beside all that, it’s got cowbell, which I wouldn’t necessarily describe as a funky instrument. Or maybe I would. Would I?


Pets - Porno For Pyros, 1993

 

You know how I said that Beastie Boys song was like an instant time machine to 1989? This one is an instant time machine to 1993. After Jane’s Addiction split, two of the members formed Porno For Pyros, and this song was their debut single. The ‘indie’ kids of the time (who were then called the ‘alternative’ kids) loved this song, like reeeeeallly loved this song. Perry Farrell was like a pied piper leading the alternative kids away from the mainstream, man, with a weird little orange clip, some laid back guitar riffs, lyrics about aliens taking over the world and keeping humans as pets and of course, the cowbell. Perfect.


Groove Is In The Heart - Deee-Lite, 1990

 

It was just a little dance song, but this one made an impact. Probably the only song most who know the name ‘Deee-Lite’ would know, it had a whole bunch of samples, a’70’s inspired bright, bright clip, a lot of tambourine, Bootsy Collins and just at the right time, a cowbell break. A whole feature of the cowbell! Brilliant. It also has the ability to get stuck in one’s head. Just warning you.

Top 200 Songs of the 1990s, #40 - 31

Wa-hey... only four to go. We've come a long, long way together... through the hard times and the good. So let's celebrate and praise the 90s a little bit more. Just like we should. Six artists are making their grand debuts on the countdown today and only one of them will be seen again. Try to guess who it's going to be. It's top 40 time kids. Let's get to it!

#40 - One (1992)

by U2

Legendary. Epic. Perfect. Single words, not the same. Accurate descriptions of U2's greatest contribution to music in the 1990s. I loved Mary J Blige belting the shizzle out of this, but U2 manage to create something magical with the original version. Rolling Stone placed 'One' at #36 on the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time chart. That's a huge achievement.

#39 - Unfinished Sympathy (1991)

by Massive Attack

When you think that we're likely to never hear dance music as deep as this ever again it's easy to feel a little depressed. 'Unfinished Sympathy' is regarded as one of the most important pieces in the development of trip-hop as a serious genre (as it should be). As insanely amazing as it is, Massive Attack would manage one song that's even better...

#38 - Cigarettes Will Kill You (1998)

by Ben Lee

I still can't believe Claire Danes dated Mr Lee. That has nothing to do with anything though. Sorry. Debuting with 'Cigarettes Will Kill You' was the perfect move. It was embraced by alternative radio throughout the world. Shame that Ben had nothing good to follow it up with. What can I say, I'm really not a fan of his later works. 'Gamble Everything For Love' excluded.

#37 - Nothing Else Matters (1992)

by Metallica

Guitar intro. It gets me every time. Sets the tone for the brilliance that is to come. Oh yes, it's quite the brilliant. You can't really call 'Nothing Else Matters' heavy metal, but it's my favourite song by a heavy metal band.

#36 - Colourblind (1999)

by Counting Crows

Um... Cruel Intentions soundtrack. How amazing do you want to be? This would have to be one of the saddest songs in ever, but somehow the movie managed to make it something beautiful rather than bawl your eyes out-ish. Not that there's anything wrong with a bawl your eyes out-ish song every now and then. Gosh, I'm ever so manly.

#35 - Rearview Mirror (1993)

by Pearl Jam

'Rearview Mirror' topped the It's My Kind of Scene Pearl Jam countdown earlier this year. But it's not the top Pearl Jam song in this one. My logic doesn't resemble your earth logic, so just go with it. If you want a quick rundown of 'Rearview Mirror' go look at the Pearl Jam countdown. Pimping my other articles... priceless.

#34 - Groove Is In The Heart (1990)

by Deee-Lite

Does this bring a huge smile to your face? It does whenever I hear it. 100% pure unadulterated fun. How hard is it to believe that this was released 20 years ago? Try to imagine something as retro-cool as this being released today and actually working.

#33 - Fun For Me (1995)

by Moloko

"I dreamt that the boogie man went down on Mr Spock." I challenge you to find better lyrics.

#32 - Push It (1998)

by Garbage

Garbage set the bar pretty high for themselves with their debut, self-titled album in 1995. With the release of 'Push It,' the first single from their sophomore set Version 2.0, they managed to set it even higher. Manson's delivery of, "P-p-p-push it," is essentially the coolest line in any song. This would definitely be the most sexual song on today's ten if it wasn't for...

#31 - Closer (1994)

by Nine Inch Nails

Opening a song with the lyrics, "you let me violate you. You let me desecrate you. You let me penetrate you," is kind of a no-no. Unless you're going to follow it up soon after with a choice chorus that contains the line, "I want to f**k you like an animal." 'Closer' is the song that would make trashy pop stars blush. You should feel a little dirty each and every time you hear this... in a good way.