In January of 1998 I began teaching a couple of new film courses. Like my Hitchcock class, I wanted to focus my second one at College of Du Page (COD) on one of my favorite directors: Woody Allen. He had seemed, at the time, to have overcome the scandal with Mia Farrow and her adopted daughter Soon Yi Previn by getting several Oscar nominations in the 90s and Oscar wins for actresses Dianne Wiest and Mira Sorvino. Still a much-respected filmmaker, the course I developed on his work filled immediately.
It's interesting that out of those songs, "The Way" seems to be the one played the most on the radio stations I encounter. Would never have expected that.
That Natalie Imbruglia album is all-around good. "Smoke" is probably my standout track, but the whole thing is burned into my brain.
There's a few from '98. but if I have to pick just one, it's The New radicals' 'You Get What You Give.' It felt like it was everywhere, and in my case, it kinda was. I took a temporary assignment in Memphis that year, and no matter where i was along the way, it seemed to play. Down I-5...across the desert...on the West Memphis bridge as I drove into TN for the first time...
Also, glad to see some deeper cuts from Fastball's "All The Pain Money Can Buy." I love "Out Of My Head," a song I just listened to not two hours ago, but that album is solid from start to finish. Highly recommend "Fire Escape," which I believe was the second single off the album but did not have the "lightning in a bottle" pop-rock zeitgeist moment that "The Way" did.
With pretty much every entry in this series of memoirs, I have lots of thoughts, which I need to sit down and type at some point. But I had to make a comment about "Debbie" from The B-52's. I was a college radio DJ at the time and that was just about the only place I can recall hearing that song, which is crazy because The B-52's were ubiquitous in pop culture for so long and then just became an afterthought by the end of the '90s. But "Debbie" is such a banger and was a really great add to their greatest hits album. Other than my college radio buds, I've never seen anyone else reference the song, until now!
You spoke to Cher. My podcasting dream— along with speaking to Madge, whose biography I’m now reading.
This whole list speaks to me. I’d add in 4 Nonblondes’ “What’s Up?” and En Vogue’s “Free Your Mind” and “Give Him Something He Can Feel,” both acts inciting tidal shifts in popular culture through music. I’ll save my grunge thoughts for another time ☺️
It's interesting that out of those songs, "The Way" seems to be the one played the most on the radio stations I encounter. Would never have expected that.
That Natalie Imbruglia album is all-around good. "Smoke" is probably my standout track, but the whole thing is burned into my brain.
Yes I need to revisit the whole Imbruglia album again!
I remember playing "Debbie" all the time and being bummed out that it wasn't another hit for them. Great series btw! 😀
Thanks Mark! Yeah, big fan of Debbie.
There's a few from '98. but if I have to pick just one, it's The New radicals' 'You Get What You Give.' It felt like it was everywhere, and in my case, it kinda was. I took a temporary assignment in Memphis that year, and no matter where i was along the way, it seemed to play. Down I-5...across the desert...on the West Memphis bridge as I drove into TN for the first time...
Yeah I really like that song too. I think it fell between years and ended up missing both of my Top Tens.
Also, glad to see some deeper cuts from Fastball's "All The Pain Money Can Buy." I love "Out Of My Head," a song I just listened to not two hours ago, but that album is solid from start to finish. Highly recommend "Fire Escape," which I believe was the second single off the album but did not have the "lightning in a bottle" pop-rock zeitgeist moment that "The Way" did.
Right. Fire Escape is also great. Fastball has a new album out this year. Who knew?!
With pretty much every entry in this series of memoirs, I have lots of thoughts, which I need to sit down and type at some point. But I had to make a comment about "Debbie" from The B-52's. I was a college radio DJ at the time and that was just about the only place I can recall hearing that song, which is crazy because The B-52's were ubiquitous in pop culture for so long and then just became an afterthought by the end of the '90s. But "Debbie" is such a banger and was a really great add to their greatest hits album. Other than my college radio buds, I've never seen anyone else reference the song, until now!
Love this series!
Thanks Matt! I do remember the video playing regularly at my gym but you’re right, nowhere else! Great song.
You spoke to Cher. My podcasting dream— along with speaking to Madge, whose biography I’m now reading.
This whole list speaks to me. I’d add in 4 Nonblondes’ “What’s Up?” and En Vogue’s “Free Your Mind” and “Give Him Something He Can Feel,” both acts inciting tidal shifts in popular culture through music. I’ll save my grunge thoughts for another time ☺️
Yes! Great choices! Haven't had the Madonna talk yet but there's still time!
We need to send those vibes out to the Universe.
〰️🙏🏻〰️🙏🏻〰️🙏🏻〰️