Saturday, February 22, 2014

Q101: 1996

How did we get here?


1996 (Or, the year Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness dominated airwaves and described life)


5. “Popular” – Nada Surf

Being attractive is the most important thing there is / If you wanna catch the biggest fish in your pond / You have to be as attractive as possible / Make sure to keep your hair spotless and clean / Wash it at least every two weeks / Once every two weeks


Fun fact: Except for the chorus, the lyrics from this song are taken from a teen advice book from the ‘60s.  That adds to the sarcastic, quirky nature of this song.  Who knew that Nada Surf would give us such words of wisdom for the high school scene?  Date insurance – that IS a novel idea.  So how can I acquire this insurance?


4. “Counting Blue Cars” – Dishwalla

Tell me all your thoughts on God / 'Cause I’d really like to meet her / And ask her why we're who we are


Remember when people thought Dishwalla was gonna be huge?  God.  Female?  Whaaaaaat?  Blasphemy!  Mind.  Blown.  I wonder if Kevin Smith used this song as inspiration to cast Alanis Morissette as God in Dogma.  I never knew the name of this song for the longest time.  I didn’t know what to search for in order to download it.  Apparently it never occurred to me to search for the lyrics.  I was at the mercy of the DJ every time it came on the radio.  Pleeeease, say the name of this song.  For whatever reason, this song has just steadily moved up my charts over the years to finally stake its claim in my 1996 top 5.  Maybe I’m intrigued by the fact that we don’t really know who or what God is and it could really be anything.  I think “Counting Blue Cars” was cemented in my top 5 when it was featured in an episode of How I Met Your Mother (one of my favorite shows).  Ted, as a mysterious college radio DJ named Doctor X, claims to have “discovered” this song and released it to the masses.   


3. “1979” – The Smashing Pumpkins

And we don't know just where our bones will rest / To dust I guess / Forgotten and absorbed into the earth below


Among many Smashing Pumpkins songs I enjoy, this one probably tops the list.  Billy Corgan has got that loud-soft voice thing down pat.  I just love the way this song flows.  I’m not a music critic though.  However, Chicago-based internet publication Pitchfork Media said "'1979' was Billy Corgan asking, 'You know this feeling?' and the second you heard that guitar line the immediate answer was, 'I do-- tell me more.'"  Yeah, that about sums it up.  P.S.  I realize I went with a lot of chalk this year (3 of my top 5 being in Q101’s top 10). I don’t really have to defend that, do I?


2. “Wonderwall” – Oasis

And all the roads we have to walk are winding / And all the lights that lead us there are blinding / There are many things that I would like to say to you / But I don't know how


It doesn’t get much better than this.  I probably have an unhealthy obsession with this song.  In fact, I have an ongoing game (with myself) to get this song played whenever I’m out listening to live music and the group is taking requests.  I was successful in my mission this past fall when we went to a bar with dueling pianos during our vacation at Walt Disney World.  Last month, some co-workers and I were on a business trip to visit a client in Nashville.  Nashville – lots of live music downtown but also the headquarters of country music.  This was going to be tough.  On our first night out, the entertainment was a husband and wife couple covering pop songs and doing some original material.  They were pretty young, but I still couldn’t get past my thoughts of the Will Ferrell SNL skit and bring myself to submit a request.  We ate at an Irish pub the second night.  Based on the music being played and the looks of the group, I had serious doubts.  However, I rationalized that Oasis is from England and, well, that’s pretty close to Ireland.  I was actually going to chicken out but those in the group convinced our waitress to deliver the request.  I eyed the bass player when he received the request.  He shook his head and I detected a hint of disappointment in his expression.  How could someone request THAT song here?  Oh well, I had figured as much.  Just as we were getting up to leave, the lead singer acknowledged the request.  “I just want to let whoever requested this Oasis song know that none of us know it, but we’d be happy to try any other requests you’ve got.”  Slightly blushing, hoping not to be exposed, I made a dash for the door.  On the third and final night, we ate at a barbeque joint and, not surprisingly, the band was covering country songs.  I’m a country fan and I enjoyed their contribution but it wasn’t “Wonderwall.”  Then I heard a rock song sneak its way in there and I felt a surge of hope.  When the lead singer was making his way from table to table to solicit tips, I took a stab.  “I don’t suppose there’s any chance you know how to play Wonderwall by Oasis, is there?”  “Of course I do.  Anybody who knows anything about playing guitar knows that song.”  (Nudging the tip jar towards me)  “We’ll play it.”  SUCCESS!  I was in such a good mood that I even let my co-worker Leah draw a stick figure man with a penis on my cheek.  The only weird look I got was from some guy in the candy shop we visited afterwards.  In closing, I suppose if you were ever going to get me on stage to do karaoke (after several shots of liquid courage), this song would be your bait.  Because after allllllllllll, this song is my wonderwallllllllllllllllll.  *Ahem*  Sorry, just warmin’ up.


1. “Machinehead” – Bush

Got a machinehead / Better than the rest / Green to red / Machinehead


I had to chuckle to myself when Mandie commented that Bush songs make her feel feelings even though none of us really understand what they’re talking about.  My brother, who isn’t really a big alternative fan, likes to give me grief whenever a Bush song comes on.  “[Insert lyric here] What does that even mean?”  I don’t know.  I don’t care. I just like it. Okay?  But I never have figured out what Gavin Rossdale is saying in the background at around the 3-minute mark of the song.  I remember sitting on my uncle’s couch seeing the music video for “Machinehead” for the first time and thinking, yes, this video fits the song perfectly.   The instantly recognizable guitar parts always give me goose bumps.  It almost makes me want to go outside and run…at a million miles an hour.  I can do this.  Breathe in, breathe out.

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