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90s Music Hits
The 90s saw quite the change in music but not so much of an upheaval as let's say of previous decades. The 90s basically were a the result of a tidal wave of musical genres from the previous decades with the exception of the hip hop culture that introduced an unexpected continuation of the gangsta rap genre that emerged in the late 80s.
Other genres continued on with variations in pop and rock, gospel and R&B. New groups emerged and established groups continued, all taking advantage of the early rise of computers and the internet. The internet wasn't in full bloom as of the early to mid 90s but the momentum had gained with more fans being able to communicate with one another, share information and start fan clubs online. This revolution took most of the music industry unawares and conflict arose regarding the growing ability of files to be shared and gossip spreading about. However, the talent and power of the groups and musicians did not wane and a less competitive atmosphere was observed although there were certain rivalries here and there especially in the intense and growing field of the gangsta rappers whom everyone else tried to avoid but whose record sales continued to dominate and challenge.
The lighter side of music saw the expansion of classical music. New fans were found as the aversion to the lyrics of the violent and sexually oriented urban tunes found people flocking to traditional music with far less vulgarity. The violence was still there as one could argue a good opera has to have sex and violence in it to be opera. However, good taste did find solid ground and powerhouse legends such as Bruce Springsteen, Michael Jackson, Garth Brooks, met the rise of such groups as the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Green Day, Pearl Jam and more.
The Grunge movement gained ground as alternative bands began to make a new stand as well as those alternative bands of the 80s who had gone overlooked by the mainstream media such as The Smiths and the rise of new female performers like Canada's Alanis Morissette and the exceptional brilliance of Sarah McLachlan. Canada struck several times and Celine Dion rose to levels not seen in decades for a popular female singer.
Actually it was the women who kept music's home fires burning as they had to compete with the pugnacious and confrontational music of the guys but also maintain their own originality much like the great blues singers and gospel singers of yesteryear. McLachlan and others reached deep into their cultural roots pulling out melodic Celtic folklore and folk music that by far moved a new foundation of challenge to sing naturally and without the special effects.
The rise of the “Boy Bands” hit with such groups as the Backstreet Boys, Boyz II Men, Bell Biv Devoe, and more.
Major stars such as Johnny Gill and the ever popular Usher, Paula Abdul continued from her momentum from the very late 80s into her association with then talk show host Arsenio Hall who appeared in one of her music videos. Madonna continued to dominate the pack of pop female musicians continuing her controversial songs, costumes, and dance routines.
Mariah Carey took off as one of the most powerful singers in history. She was compared much to Whitney Houston whom many say even Celine Dion couldn't touch as both have topped the soundtrack charts. The R&B scene got to the point that it gave the rap industry a run for its money. Janet Jackson showed up with a series of videos and songs that threw the public for a loop. She stood on her own even with her older brother Michael still considered a boss of all bosses in the industry. Speaking of hip hop, it was Lauryn Hill who knocked down the barriers of that genre inspiring untold numbers of other women and musicians who saw that hip hop needn't follow the violence and vulgarity it had turned into. She helped to bring it back to what hip hop had originally been, fun dance music, often ballads of social and cultural emphasis.
Country music on the other hand found fertile ground in the 90s as with the advance of technologies for recording and broadcasting as well as the rise of the world wide web. Garth Brooks dominated the scene and gave quite a beating to the competition from other music genres. With the addition of other breakthrough artists like Trisha Yearwood and familiar performers like Clint Black, Country music held its own, broke new ground and established a new platform for future country artists to stand on. The rise of Shania Twain, LeAnn Rimes, and the notorious Dixie Chicks took the decade by storm and made Country and Country Western more powerful than ever.