Let's Here it for the Class of 91!

So last blog, I went through the top ten songs of 1990, up this week is 1991.  The year that I graduated high school, yeah I know, I'm an old fart, but at least I still got most of my memories!  As with last week this list is from digitaldreamdoor.com. So here we go!

Number 10-Black and White by Michael Jackson

So you've got the "King of Pop" with Slash playing guitar, plus a "groundbreaking" video for the time.  I never was a huge fan of Michael Jackson's, but I cannot deny the influence he had on pop culture and music.  All accusations aside, he was a great performer, and he is an icon still to this day.

Number 9-November Rain by Guns and Roses

What a great band, I didn't appreciate them back when they were popular.  Axel seemed like and ass, and well, he still is.  Rumors are swirling that some sort of G'n'R reunion with Slash, and possibly other members are all over the place.  One great big money grab.  I probably won't pony up the money for tickets, but plenty will.

Number 8-Alive by Pearl Jam

This is my favorite Pearl Jam song, I love the opening guitar line.  Pearl Jam is still going strong, and have survived the ever changing music scene.  I can't say that I was a huge fan of the band, but they had some great songs.

Number 7-Come as You Are by Nirvana

Seattle ruled 1991.  Kurt Cobain spoke to millions of fans with his music.  I didn't get it then, I really still don't get it now.  It's a shame that just three years later he was gone.

Number 6-Enter Sandmand by Metallica

1991, the year Metallica went mainstream.  This song was the first single released from the "Black Album".  They always had a loyal following, but this song and video brought them a whole new audience.

Number 5-Under the Bridge by Red Hot Chili Peppers

Probably the first Chili Peppers' song that I actually liked.  It was so different from their other songs.  I actually like the band.  I love Flea's bass playing.  Plus this song led to a great Weird Al parody!

Number 4-Jeremy by Pearl Jam

Pearl Jam notches two songs in the top ten of 91.  Good song, with an interesting story behind it (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremy_%28song%29).  What can I say about it, they are still relevant today.

Number 3-One by U2

Though not my favorite song titled "One"(see Metallica), but this is the first U2 song that I really liked.  It sounded to me than their other hits.

Number 2- Losing My Religion

I got my first job right around graduation at a grocery store.  One of the cashiers was really into REM.  I really only knew of their song, "Stand".  Back in 91 I didn't only not like REM, but I pretty much loathed them.  As I've gotten older I have learned to like some of their music.

and the Number 1 song of 1991, what else could it be but.....


Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana

The song that launched Nirvana and grunge into the mainstream.  This song pretty much killed off the hair metal era.  Maybe that was the reason I wasn't a fan.  From the opening riff you can get hooked, the music to this song was good.  For some reason I just couldn't become one of the crowd and like Nirvana.  Wikipedia has a good article on the song here.


So there it is.  I can't say the music wasn't bad.  The great song about this list is that most songs were "musically" driven.  Even the Michael Jackson song had great guitar parts in it.  91 was a totally different year musically than 90 was.  It seemed things were changing for the better, then came 1992.  Which I will delve into next week, looking at the top ten, it is not terrible, but it's not as solid as 91, but probably better than 90.

Oh Where oh Where Can My Baby Be?

Not until I started looking up information on this song, did I find that the original version was by Wayne Cochran who co-wrote it with Joe Carpenter, Randall Hoyal and Bobby McGlon.  According to Wikipedia it was released in 1961.  I always thought that the original was by J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers.  I guess you learn something new everyday.  The J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers is the one I heard on oldies radio when I was a kid in the 80's.  I loved the song. It was poppy and catchy, kind of a song you might get up and dance too.  I don't know when I realized this happy-go-lucky tune was actually about a car crash, wait, a car crash?  Not only a car crash, but a crash that ends up with the death of his girlfriend?   All this tragedy wrapped up in a bubble gum pop tune.  I don't know what it was about the 60's but this isn't the only tragic song set to an upbeat.  There are plenty others that I may blog about in the future. 

I linked the original and the second version on here as well as my favorite version by Pearl Jam.  Now I'm not saying that I'm a huge Pearl Jam fan, actually I'm far from it.  I liked some of their songs, but to date I've never owned a Pearl Jam album.  When they made a cover of  "Last Kiss", in my opinion, they made it a tad more "emotional".  The emotions behind the song comes out a little more, when there isn't a poppy beat behind the lyrics.  My band, The Restless Kind, even covered the Pearl Jam version.  We loved playing it and got a good reaction. 

All in all, I guess  you have to get through the music to find the meaning of the song.  Sometimes we only hear the music, we lose the song.  It also works both ways, some great music accompanies some very nonsensical lyrics.