Clearly, I’ve always known good music. Here I am, playing the bass clarinet, circa 1990. No, it’s not a saxophone. Yes, my pants are tight-rolled.Mark said it doesn’t count as “knowing the words” if I can only say things like “play on, playa” and “hey-ah, hey-ah, hey-AHHH” in rhythm.
Whatev. You know I’m down with Dre.
What? You didn’t? Huh. Well, as a little party favor for our 30th birthday party slash reunion, Smitty and I decided to make mix tapes. On CDs.
I was all for a mix of top hits from 1978 and 1979. But Smitty overruled me and said songs from 1997 (the year we graduated) would be better.
That was until she discovered ’97 was the year of both MMMBop and the Spice Girls. It was also before I discovered that that catchy ditty, “Mouth,” is actually a dirty song.
However, we persevered. Because for our friends, only the best.
And by “the best,” I mean lots of cream cheese and pop tunes from the late 90s.
Now that I’ve whipped you into a frenzy of curiosity, I’ll reveal the songs that made Saturday’s playlist. Don’t even tell me these don’t take you back. Back all the way to . . . 1997.
- No Diggity (Blackstreet & Dr. Dre)
- You Make Me Wanna… (Usher)
- I’ll Be Missing You (Puffy Daddy & Faith Evans)
- Return of the Mack (Mark Morrison)
- How Bizarre (OMC)
- MMMBop (Hanson)
- Where Do You Go (No Mercy)
- The Impression That I Get (The Mighty Mighty Bosstones)
- B*tch (Meredith Brooks)
- Criminal (Fiona Apple)
- The Freshmen (The Verve Pipe)
- Semi-Charmed Life (Third Eye Blind)
- If You Could Only See (Tonic)
- One Headlight (The Wallflowers)
- All For You (Sister Hazel)
- Building a Mystery (Sarah McLachlan)
- Secret Garden (Bruce Springsteen)
After we put together this tape CD – but before I realized I’d exhausted my iTunes budget – we looked up top songs of 1978. Just for kicks.
Because when you get to the ripe old age of 30, that’s what you do on a Friday night for kicks.
It was a good year for music. But what I found later that night was that the real year for good tunes was 1989. As I said to Mark, “Your brother is so lucky! He graduated in the year that has all my favorite songs!”
Because I’m pretty sure my brother-in-law jammed to Paula Abdul, Tiffany and yes, New Kids on the Block.
Not really. But maybe Big Mama can appreciate this list, as she, too, apparently came of age in that wonderful musical year.
In case you aren’t as familiar with the sounds of ’89, here are my top 20 faves (in no particular order, because I’m writing this late at night and I have no brain power left for that sort of thing). And yes, I am cheating and linking this up to OhAmanda’s Top Ten Tuesday.
- Look Away (Chicago)
- My Prerogative (Bobby Brown)
- Straight Up (Paula Abdul)
- Miss You Much (Janet Jackson)
- Girl You Know Its True (Milli Vanilli)
- Right Here Waiting (Richard Marx)
- Lost In Your Eyes (Debbie Gibson)
- The Look (Roxette)
- I’ll Be There For You (Bon Jovi)
- You Got It (The Right Stuff) (New Kids On The Block)
- Eternal Flame (The Bangles)
- Wild Thing (Tone Loc)
- When I See You Smile (Bad English)
- If I Could Turn Back Time (Cher)
- Buffalo Stance (Neneh Cherry)
- Bust A Move (Young M.C.)
- Love Shack (B-52’s)
- Cherish (Madonna)
- Heaven (Warrant)
- She Drives Me Crazy (Fine Young Cannibals)
What’s your favorite year for music?
1997 was THE year for music for me. (See blog posts on Hanson obsession.) I can sing all those songs you listed, easily.
Sadly the only years I know anything about pop music from are 1997-2000. The rest is a big blank. Now I'm all, bring on the showtunes!
No diggity. No doubt.
You're gonna make us mix CDs of your top 20 1989 hits too, right? Pretty please?? ;)
OK, you totally lost me with the 1997 hits. I was married and out of college and not paying much attention to music, except for "One Headlight" by the Wallflowers, which I totally loved!
Thank you, thank you for moving on to the best music ever made. 1989-1990 was my senior year of high school! All those songs bring back memories of school dances, first love, college prep anxiety….You know, I can enjoy it more now, 20 years removed from it!
I'd have to agree with you…89 was an AWESOME year for music! Every song you listed I can sing by heart. Oh, those were the days! I owned every Chicago tape when I was in High School. Wish I still had those babies. They would be worth a mint today! LOL I would've done just about anything to have gone to the Bon Jovi concert last May also! :(
Your list brings back so many memories! I loved the music of the 80's. I'll put it on, on On Demand, & the girls & I will dance around. So much fun!
Oh my goodness!!! So hilarious. It's funny that you hardly hear any of these songs anymore. How quickly fame passes, right?
And I'm loving the tight-rolled pants. Hate to admit it, but I did it too! :) Thanks for a look into the past. :)
1989…I was in 8th grade…I remember recording those songs off of Casey Kasem's weekly top 40 and making a mix tape. Ah, the world before Itunes…
I LOVE THIS! 97 was MY year for a lot of reasons but my sis is 11 years older than me and she raised me with a solid diet of the B52s–Love Shack is a major fav! Thanks for the flashback!
I looked at your first list and the only name I even recognized was Bruce Springsteen!
Then I looked at the second list, which was much more familiar (graduated in 1988). (Although I think I would have been just as comfortable with a 1978 list!)
Great post – thanks!
I can't believe Verve Pipe and Sister Hazel aren't still in your car collection!
Well, I graduated in 96, so my list is not that much more distinguised. I think Better Than Ezra made a few appearances. And I loved- wait… LURRRRVED them.
You all are funny – I guess I SHOULD HAVE made 1989 mix tapes instead of the 1997 ones! ;)
OMG. I, too, should say one of those mid-90s years. And I must admit I like a lot of the songs on your '97 mix tape (I still call them mix tapes, too – I know). But that list of the hits of '89? Well, I almost wet myself with excitement. Look away? I'll be there for you? Heaven? I close my eyes and suddenly I'm back in 9th grade, rocking The Perm That Wouldn't Die and slow dancing in the cafeteria. Good times. Good times.
You MUST tell me how the party went! I'm chewing my arm off imagining how much fun you all had without me!
happy belated birthday! sounds like a blast!
i loved your list of songs. man… i just realized that 1997 was a long time ago, even though it seems like it was just a couple years ago…