Dearly beloved… we are gathered here today to celebrate this thing called life..
I hear this while sitting at the pool, and think:
- I know every word to this song
- I burned up the gym floor in middle school dancing to this song (wearing ankle pegged stonewashed jeans)
- I would scream like a Beiber-loving tween if Prince walked up to me
And a goofy smile comes to my face. Then I see two 10-year-olds look at each other and say: “Omigod. What IS this song??”
A solid musical collection
WHAT?! How can they not know… oh no… I’m sounding really old. I have just realized I am stuck in a musical time warp. I turn to my Ipod for proof of any solid recent music. Not much. But I am swimming in Pearl Jam, Live, Blues Traveler, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Counting Crows. And a few solid songs from my Time Life discs called “Livin’ In The 90’s”. (Rico Suave, anyone?)
For some reason my musical progression in life stopped around 2000. But why? Do we only connect to music at certain times? When we reach our 30’s, is our musical heart already full? (Is it something to do with kids – because we have to listen to annoying children’s tunes all the time and can’t stay current with the top 40 charts?) Sure, I listen to new music and like it. But I always seem to turn back to my comfort music.
When I hear Beyonce’s “Single Ladies” (which is a fantastic tune), I can’t remember anything in my life linked with that song. There’s no gut reaction. When I hear “Use Somebody” by Kings of Leon I don’t say, “Oh, that’s when we….” Nope. Nothing. Even with artists that have spanned the generations. I love old school Madonna and Beastie Boys. But their newer stuff doesn’t hold that same pull for me.
Who are those young kids?
So for my husband’s 40th birthday party last week, we kind of used the theme “Party like we’re 25 again”. I started making a list of all the great songs we listened to in our twenties and it turned into this nostalgic jam session at our computer.
Just hear the beginning notes of “Alive” by Pearl Jam and I’m instantly transported to a college bar (wearing a flannel shirt, of course) I hear Dave Matthews, and I’m hanging out at the house I live at in Royal Oak with two other friends, talking about politics, life and possibilities. Rob Base and DJ EZ Rock “It Takes Two” brings me to a house party where I rapped while standing on a couch (I know you’re sad you missed that) Fiona Apple’s “Criminal” takes me to Chicago, where friends and I celebrated a promotion.
I thought that maybe I was the only crazy one. But I just went to a birthday party for a friend turning 60 and the DJ was spinning only classic rock. My parents are still partial to Chuck Berry. My oldest sister still dreamily recounts the time she met the band Dead Milkmen and talked her way backstage at a Depeche Mode Concert.
So, I thought, being trapped in the 90’s isn’t so bad. If I start pulling out old flannel shirts, well, that’s when you’ll have to stop me.
Tell me… what era are YOU stuck in?
Bonus feature:
Here’s my 90’s playlist: how did I do?
Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For, One – U2
Into The Great Wide Open, Learning to Fly – Tom Petty
Walk on the Ocean – Toad the Wet Sprocket
Interstate Love Song – Stone Temple Pilots
Up the Junction – Squeeze
Two Princes, Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong – Spin Doctors
Baby Got Back – Sir Mix-a-lot
Crazy – Seal
Possession – Sarah McLachlan
Give It Away – Red Hot Chili Peppers
Jeremy, Alive – Pearl Jam
Smells Like Teen Spirit – Nirvana
You Get What You Give – New Radicals
All Over You – Live
Jump – Kris Kross
Right Here, Right Now – Jesus Jones
Closer To Fine – Indigo Girls
Bed Of Roses – Indians
Time, Hold My Hand – Hootie & the Blowfish
When I Come Around, Welcome to Paradise – Green Day
Found Out About You, Hey Jealousy – Gin Blossoms
Freedom – George Michael
Criminal – Fiona Apple
Unbelievable – EMF
Tripping Billies – Dave Matthews
Round Here – Counting Crows
Closer to Free – BoDeans
100 Years, But Anyway – Blues Traveler
So What’cha Want – Beastie Boys
You Oughta Know, All I Really Want – Alanis Morissette
Gangsta’s Paradise – Coolio
Whoomp! – Tag Team
Christy McDonald 
No you are NOT the only one stuck in the 90s. My car was a 98 before it died and my replacement car is a 95. So you are not alone and all those songs you posted bring me back to the roller rink when I was in high school.
When our version of POP seemed fun and the rap was actually cool and we could all relate to it. I was big into New Kids on the Block when I was a kid but I could NOT go and see them today.
I can relate to some songs but not to all of them but you are right about the 90s and nostalgia. and you are not alone.
Jamie, I hope your ’95 vehicle has a solid soundtrack… and lives forever!
Anything from The Specials reminds me of college and hanging at Geddes Park. Such fantastic memories and great friends!!!
Thanks for reading Nikki… sometimes I wonder, are the songs so great? Or just the memories that go along with them?
Very good look back at what had to have been the greatest decade. The music was spot on. For us it was playing basket ball on a 9’6″ rim(phi Slamma Jamma II) and listening to Pearl Jam, before ticket master. Man “10” was the best. STP before heroin. The tiebacks to what “we” grew up with was great.
The ipod contains the very same songs under the name “Do not ask”.
I think i just recently donated my silver tabs that were tappered.haha.
Thanks for the look back at a time that was truly fun. Im off to watch “Vision Quest” and try to wrestle some random stranger.
Dan – my tunes are listed under “guilty pleasures”. I think I might steal “Do not ask”! Thanks for the read, and hope you listened to some “jock jams” while playing ball!
I’m 42 and am proud to say I’ve kept up with the latest music. I do a Guilty Pleasures post every Friday (www.foodandwinehedonist.com) and I think I’ve hit 70s, 80s, and now – but no 90s. I guess I’m not letting myself believe that anything from the 90s could be considered bad enough to be a guilty pleasure. Oh wait, just remembered Hootie and the Blowfish. Never mind.
Hold myyyyy haaaand…. Good luck getting that song out of your head the rest of the day. Thanks for checking out my blog – I’ll be stopping by yours for Guilty Pleasures!
In the fall of 1990 I went to a MC Hammer concert. Vanilla Ice was the opener. Ice ice baby! I saw Sheryl Crow while in college too. I love going back to the 90’s!!!
An MC Hammer / Vanilla Ice combo?? My head is spinning with all that 90’s rap. I hope you did the running man, Judy.
I don’t think my body would let me do the running man any more!! I can still see those baggy Hammer pants as he flies across the stage…..
When songs from the 90’s come on and I start singing, my kids look at me like I’m nuts! We were on vacation last week and lots of oldies came on. I turned it up and started singing. My 12yr old said ‘what is that you are listening too?’
I agree with you except I’m trapped in the 70s to late 80s, a result of being older. My 10-year old daughter stares at me over some of the songs that come up on ’70s on 7′ and there are a few that she considers – say some KC and The Sunshine band – of being a music parody. I do buy your theory that we stop injesting music (my modern term) around 30 or becoming a parent. As for modern music, if it’s not on Radio Disney, i don’t hear it.
I think being trapped in the 70s/80s is much better than being trapped in the Selena Gomez song vault. Thanks for the read as always, Fred!!
(BTW readers, if you want to follow a funny guy on Twitter, Fred’s your man @Fredontv )
Great list. I thought of the James song “Laid” which was played all over university campuses when i was there and was in American Pie movie as well. One hit wonder!
My favorite one hit wonder from the 90’s… “You Get What You Give” New Radicals..
Thanks for the add Brendan!
My 2 & 5 yr olds favorite songs (other than anything by Lady Gaga) are “Ice Ice Baby” and “Cant Touch This”. Dreading the day when they figure out dads Ipod playlist is not cool.
Should you ever teach the 2 & 5 year old the running man, I should like to see video of it immediately!! Yo, check it. (trying to go all Vanilla Ice on you)
Christy… great blog and something I thought about recently as I attended my 20 Year H.S. Reunion and a friend gave me the Top-100 chart hites from 87-91 (500 songs!) and it’s an amazing collection that rockets me back to h.s.
I think everyone likes “their music” because it’s anchored to amazing memories.
However, I have a feeling that 10 or 15 years from now when my kids are all in college and beyond, I’m gonna have some strong feelings (and tears in my eyes) if someone fires up some High School Musical, Jonas Brothers, or Hannah Montana because those songs will be tied to my young kids dancing in basement, at a Daddy Daughter Dance, or begging me to add it to my iPod so they can listen to it in the car.
Just my two cents. Loved this entry.
I hear you Don.. I think I will always relate to Katy Perry’s “Firework” because my daughter did a dance to it. And she sings it all the time. I bet your 500 song list rocks!
Yep, “Right Here, Right Now” by Jesus Jones totally takes me back to freshman year in college. It’s amazing how songs can have such an emotional effect on a person; there are some songs that make me feel melancholy (not because something bad happened, I think it’s because it reminds me of a time that is now several years ago). I love “Groove is in the Heart” by Deee-Lite (gotta remember the extra e!), too; it’s one of the few songs that I just don’t get sick of hearing.
Those were the days, huh Laura? I too am a fan of Deee-Lite and they remind me of Black Box and their awesome tune “Strike it Up!”.
I’m the same way and I’m 31. I’m stuck too, especially in music. But my musical progression has not really stopped. It’s slowing down tho. Today’s music does not have that “vibe” like 90’s music has. 90’s music is all I ever listen to anymore but with a little bit of today’s music mixed in as well. My clothing style has not really changed that much either since the 90’s. I still wear flannel, Converse, Vans, Levi’s, etc. Hell, I still wear the same watch (Timex Indiglo Ironman) everyday since I got it back in 1993. I was 13 at the time. Yea, I guess I’m pretty stuck. But the 90’s was an awesome decade. Here are some of my favorite bands from the 90’s (to many to list):
Nirvana
Pearl Jam
Jane’s Addiction
Bush
Red Hot Chilli Peppers
Smashing Pumpkins
Tool
NIN
Soundgarden
Alice in Chains
REM
Weezer
Oasis
The Offsping
Stone Temple Pilots
Rage Against The Machine
Pantera
Korn
Foo Fighters
Marilyn Manson
Blur
No Doubt
Primus
Green Jelly
The Cranberries
Live
Collective Soul
Cold
Blind Melon
Candlebox
Stephen – you are a rock star for remembering The Offspring!! I had that disc! Too true about the 90’s vibe – wear your Vans with pride! Thanks for reading –
Talking about The Offspring. They are going to put out a new album early next year. So yay!
Did you have to put on your men’s Levi’s (that you sewed to make tapered legs) to make this awesome list? Or your Steve Madden chunky heeled shoes?
Having just rewatched an Ally McBeal rerun (thanks, DirectTV!), I’d add a little Vonda Shepard to that mix. Remember the episode where she hallucinates Barry Mannilow in the bathroom stall? I loved that.
*Sigh* Hi, I’m Christy. I did taper mens jeans myself with a needle and thread. And wore them. Thanks for the Vonda Shepard reset! Ally McBeal clearly was the best tv. Ever.
I heard “Joy and Pain”, can’t remember who sings it on the radio the other day and I was all “OMG!!!!” and turned it up loud, with my kids in the car. They were horrified and my 12 YO daughter said it sounded like gospel music. I still rock out constantly to The Beastie Boys, Prince (Baby, I’m a Star), REM, YAZ, Madonna, The Cranberries, the list goes on and on….I do find that I like some of the new stuff that the kids these days like too. And I of course am always happy to flaunt my awesome dance moves for my kids. 🙂
Barb, nothing wrong with flaunting your cool moves – your kids should feel lucky to have such a hip mom. “Sunshiiiiine.. and rain!” (just singing along) Thanks for the read!
Aforementioned big sister, and former college DJ, Trish checking in…..a little late to the party, but couldn’t find the right words to tell my little sis how RIGHT she is. The music we love during our own “coming of age” will always be the best, fondest remembered. It freezes moments in time “when we were fab”, and will always make us feel like the rock stars we are…..deep down. And PS, scamming backstage to the 1987 Black Celebration Depeche concert at Pine Knob on my sketchy Catholic college radio station credentials had to be about the best coup EVER. Only topped, maybe, years later during the “Rewind Tour” featuring Boy George, Human League and Howard Jones……I became visible verclemt when Howard introduced his 10 year old son Osheen on stage…..and talked my way backstage. I had announcd his birth back in the 80s on my own radio show. Oh yes, when we were FAB……….
Still FAB, Trishie… Wow, the “Rewind Tour”? That’s a show. I’m sure Ho Jo appreciated the birth announcement shout out.
This is brilliant.
Jake – I gotta hang out with you more often. Thanks for making a girl’s day!
Pingback: Things I Make: Mix Tapes « Kaleidoscopic Raygun
Christy- I’ve been thinking about this blog entry for weeks. I referenced you in my latest blog entry, in fact. http://kaleidoscopicraygun.com
Don – I’m flattered and thanks for the link! “We’re allll in thiiss togeeeether..” Just singing a little HS Musical for you.