The 90's Billboard #1s Rate: 1990-1994 - AND WE ARE DONE
- Thread starter Ironheade
- Start date
ohnostalgia
Staff member
She/her
Kriss Kross going out so early is a travesty.
she/her
I'd help you revive it, but I only go to the theatre about once a year.
londonrain
Staff member
Oh no! Boo to this elimination. Casio Geoffrey really wrecked this for them, didn’t he? *hugs @iheartpoptarts*
Weak was the song I was referring to here:
I’m puzzled by @Mina making a PYT reference, though. That’s not even the same song.
Weak was the song I was referring to here:
I discovered this song only a few years ago and I still listen to it pretty regularly. I was being harsh with my faves or I would have given this at least a 9. I agree that the production is awful, though.
I’m puzzled by @Mina making a PYT reference, though. That’s not even the same song.
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she/her
I kind of love the production but maybe I'm just used to it!
londonrain
Staff member
Also, if we are going to start eliminating R&B gems, then it is time for me to say this:
GET LOST, JUSTIFY MY LOVE, YOU TUNELESS TRASH HEAP OF A SONG.
Thank you.
GET LOST, JUSTIFY MY LOVE, YOU TUNELESS TRASH HEAP OF A SONG.
Thank you.
Not that I disagree with you about this one, but this is the rate that will probably end forum friendships.
londonrain
Staff member
Justify My Love Is the complete antithesis of Weak. It’s all ambience and production and that video, but in terms of the actual melody and vocals... there’s nothing there at all.
I basically treat it as background music for the video.
I basically treat it as background music for the video.
he/him
*waves hello but it’s jazzhands*
he/him
*gives the middle finger but it’s jazzhands*
she/her
he/him
Catching up with eliminations but was Can't Help Falling in Love really eliminated without one single word about the most important cover of the song? PJ, I thought I knew you.
she/her
I like the part where the little dog walks by.
With all the filth left Justify My Love shouldn't be gone for a long time
He/Him
Ha! Queen of Shade!
This is one some of you guys feared for the fate of. Looks like you were right, unfortunately.
Oh, hey? It didn't rate a zero from @Spiral ! That has to mean something, right?
67. More Than Words - Extreme
Average: 5.886
Highest score: 4 x 10 (@GimmeWork , @phoenix123 , @Filippa , @Petty Mayonnaise )
Lowest score: 1 x 0 (@soratami )
Weeks at #1: 1 Hot 100
Year-End Hot 100: #7 (1991)
I think you've already heard enough about the hollowing-out and wimpification of hair metal in my Nelson and Mr. Big writeups, so I won't repeat myself. But even in these dying days of a genre, there were bright spots: the down-and-dirty traditionalist heavy metal of Skid Row was one, the expertly trashy Hollywood gutter sleeez of LA Guns was another. And then there was a band who sort of bridged the gap between hair metal and the alternative metal explosion that was to come, with their strong funk influences, fondness for social commentary and willingness to experiment (would Warrant ever do a Sinatra-influenced piano-jazz tune?), enlivened by a neoclassical-inspired lead guitarist who provides some truly world-class solos. The band in question was Extreme. And while Pornograffiti, their big breakthrough album, has a fair amount of filler, it ultimately ends up far more rewarding than your typical pop-metal disc of the time. But they were struck by the eternal curse of the hard rock band: the “our only pop hit was a ballad” curse. (Both of Extreme's pop hits, in fact – the other one, “Hole Hearted”, is rather good too, as it happens.) I suppose the opening shot of the video, panning over an amp that crackles with static before getting turned off, could serve as a reasonable metaphor for what had happened to the genre... but the fact remains, “More Than Words” is a pretty good song, really. Almost certainly my favourite to go thus far, in fact.
The main charm of “More Than Words” lies in how simple it is; “To Be With You” futzed around a bit too much, adding a bassline and percussion and overindulging a little on the slick studio production, but here, it's just two guys singing, one guitar, and plenty of emotion to make it work, a good antidote to the overglossed power ballads that were the order of the day; the sentiment, that of wanting your loved one to show that they love you rather than just saying it (or demonstrate it with wailing high notes and overproduced music, rather), is actually quite apropos for such surroundings. And while I kinda prefer to hear Nuno Bettencourt doing this on his guitar, the acoustic playing here is well-done for how basic it is, which has to be some sort of testament to his skills as a player, and it compliments a strong vocal melody very well. The only real problem that I can see comes with the vocals. Now Gary Cherone often sounded a little out-of-place on the hard rockers, too polite and not quite having the attitude to get them across (and let's not even mention his disastrous stint in Van Halen!); a song like “More Than Words” is a more comfortable venue for him, especially as he slides into a willowy falsetto on the chorus, but even here he sounds a bit too diffident for my liking, with Nuno's gutsier voice often elbowing him out of the way. But it's only a small ding, as the harmonies between the two are really quite excellent, and they play off eah other nicely. I could only give it a 7.5 in the end – as I find the song's simplicity charming sometimes, and perhaps a little too simple other times, particularly in the chording and guitar melodies – but nevertheless, among hair ballads, “More Than Words” is pretty much in the top flight.
Empty Shoebox (2) - This is too whiny for their voices to make it anything other than awful.
Mina (2) - Extreme is....two bland guys and an acoustic guitar? (Yeah, this really is EXTREME. Darkthrone hew?)
DJHazey (3) - With a name like "Extreme" I expected a bop. Oh wait at me remembering this chorus, even it's still dirge. (Hey, they got somethin' right.)
iheartpoptarts (5) - I dislike this less than I should because Westlife. (We do not invoke the name of The Irish Band in these hallowed halls!)
ohnoitsnathan (3) - No. (Seems you took the principle of "what would you say if I took those words away" to heart!)
WowWowWowWow (5) - I don't really know. (Hey, you too!)
japanbonustrack (4) - Not my cup of tea, it's not bad but I don't like it.
Hudweiser (6) - My boyfriend adores this. I prefer the mash-up with Warrant’s Heaven from Rock of Ages. (As if the Monster Ballads commercial didn't get "Heaven" stuck in my head effectively enough...)
Sprockrooster (6) - This is way too overkilled in the shopping malls. I think Lady in Red is played more, but this is definitely second. (Dutch shopping malls sound pretty awesome if they play this all the time! Not sure about the musical Satan that is "Lady in Red", though...)
mung_bean (7) - Sounds very corny, but it also seems like the kind of song you’d sing along to if it came on the radio. (This is what we call: the Power Ballad Sweet Spot.)
Rooneyboy (5) - Nice enough but nothing special.
berserkboi (8.25) - This has a special place in my heart as it is one of my friend’s wedding songs but beyond that it is pleasant but not the most memorable number here… (How many of these songs were wedding songs for one of the commentariat or someone they knew, anyway? Seems like quite a lot, or is that just me?)
londonrain (9) - A master class in two-part harmonies, and one of the songs that got me into arranging music. No pop cover of this has ever quite captures the simple gorgeousness of Nuno and Gary’s voices on this together. (Those harmonies on the second verse really are pretty awesome, aren't they?)
GimmeWork (10) - This is one of the best songs of the decade. Classic!
Filippa (10) - I love this song. A guitar, a beautiful voice and such harmonies. A perfect love song. The guy with the guitar is hot by the way. (I am not jealous of his hair whatsoever. Absolutely not. Don't even suggest it.)
"Why, hello there."
Oh, hey? It didn't rate a zero from @Spiral ! That has to mean something, right?
67. More Than Words - Extreme
Average: 5.886
Highest score: 4 x 10 (@GimmeWork , @phoenix123 , @Filippa , @Petty Mayonnaise )
Lowest score: 1 x 0 (@soratami )
Weeks at #1: 1 Hot 100
Year-End Hot 100: #7 (1991)
I think you've already heard enough about the hollowing-out and wimpification of hair metal in my Nelson and Mr. Big writeups, so I won't repeat myself. But even in these dying days of a genre, there were bright spots: the down-and-dirty traditionalist heavy metal of Skid Row was one, the expertly trashy Hollywood gutter sleeez of LA Guns was another. And then there was a band who sort of bridged the gap between hair metal and the alternative metal explosion that was to come, with their strong funk influences, fondness for social commentary and willingness to experiment (would Warrant ever do a Sinatra-influenced piano-jazz tune?), enlivened by a neoclassical-inspired lead guitarist who provides some truly world-class solos. The band in question was Extreme. And while Pornograffiti, their big breakthrough album, has a fair amount of filler, it ultimately ends up far more rewarding than your typical pop-metal disc of the time. But they were struck by the eternal curse of the hard rock band: the “our only pop hit was a ballad” curse. (Both of Extreme's pop hits, in fact – the other one, “Hole Hearted”, is rather good too, as it happens.) I suppose the opening shot of the video, panning over an amp that crackles with static before getting turned off, could serve as a reasonable metaphor for what had happened to the genre... but the fact remains, “More Than Words” is a pretty good song, really. Almost certainly my favourite to go thus far, in fact.
The main charm of “More Than Words” lies in how simple it is; “To Be With You” futzed around a bit too much, adding a bassline and percussion and overindulging a little on the slick studio production, but here, it's just two guys singing, one guitar, and plenty of emotion to make it work, a good antidote to the overglossed power ballads that were the order of the day; the sentiment, that of wanting your loved one to show that they love you rather than just saying it (or demonstrate it with wailing high notes and overproduced music, rather), is actually quite apropos for such surroundings. And while I kinda prefer to hear Nuno Bettencourt doing this on his guitar, the acoustic playing here is well-done for how basic it is, which has to be some sort of testament to his skills as a player, and it compliments a strong vocal melody very well. The only real problem that I can see comes with the vocals. Now Gary Cherone often sounded a little out-of-place on the hard rockers, too polite and not quite having the attitude to get them across (and let's not even mention his disastrous stint in Van Halen!); a song like “More Than Words” is a more comfortable venue for him, especially as he slides into a willowy falsetto on the chorus, but even here he sounds a bit too diffident for my liking, with Nuno's gutsier voice often elbowing him out of the way. But it's only a small ding, as the harmonies between the two are really quite excellent, and they play off eah other nicely. I could only give it a 7.5 in the end – as I find the song's simplicity charming sometimes, and perhaps a little too simple other times, particularly in the chording and guitar melodies – but nevertheless, among hair ballads, “More Than Words” is pretty much in the top flight.
Empty Shoebox (2) - This is too whiny for their voices to make it anything other than awful.
Mina (2) - Extreme is....two bland guys and an acoustic guitar? (Yeah, this really is EXTREME. Darkthrone hew?)
DJHazey (3) - With a name like "Extreme" I expected a bop. Oh wait at me remembering this chorus, even it's still dirge. (Hey, they got somethin' right.)
iheartpoptarts (5) - I dislike this less than I should because Westlife. (We do not invoke the name of The Irish Band in these hallowed halls!)
ohnoitsnathan (3) - No. (Seems you took the principle of "what would you say if I took those words away" to heart!)
WowWowWowWow (5) - I don't really know. (Hey, you too!)
japanbonustrack (4) - Not my cup of tea, it's not bad but I don't like it.
Hudweiser (6) - My boyfriend adores this. I prefer the mash-up with Warrant’s Heaven from Rock of Ages. (As if the Monster Ballads commercial didn't get "Heaven" stuck in my head effectively enough...)
Sprockrooster (6) - This is way too overkilled in the shopping malls. I think Lady in Red is played more, but this is definitely second. (Dutch shopping malls sound pretty awesome if they play this all the time! Not sure about the musical Satan that is "Lady in Red", though...)
mung_bean (7) - Sounds very corny, but it also seems like the kind of song you’d sing along to if it came on the radio. (This is what we call: the Power Ballad Sweet Spot.)
Rooneyboy (5) - Nice enough but nothing special.
berserkboi (8.25) - This has a special place in my heart as it is one of my friend’s wedding songs but beyond that it is pleasant but not the most memorable number here… (How many of these songs were wedding songs for one of the commentariat or someone they knew, anyway? Seems like quite a lot, or is that just me?)
londonrain (9) - A master class in two-part harmonies, and one of the songs that got me into arranging music. No pop cover of this has ever quite captures the simple gorgeousness of Nuno and Gary’s voices on this together. (Those harmonies on the second verse really are pretty awesome, aren't they?)
GimmeWork (10) - This is one of the best songs of the decade. Classic!
Filippa (10) - I love this song. A guitar, a beautiful voice and such harmonies. A perfect love song. The guy with the guitar is hot by the way. (I am not jealous of his hair whatsoever. Absolutely not. Don't even suggest it.)
"Why, hello there."
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WHAT THE HELL YOU GUYS?
I adore this song.
I adore this song.
He/Him
We have come to the first song that @londonrain gave a higher score than me on (at least I think so) Watch out hell! The floodgates are opening and the Mariah wars are only a matter of time!!
I didn't like it much on release, it felt a bit too sparse and flat, but I grew to really like it. Still prefer the fantastic Hole Hearted though.