The 90s: Rocking out in the Irony Age
Aswe know, the show-business circle of life (hakuna matata, Hollywood!)tends to travel in the same recent-history cycles – the ‘70s and early‘80s brought us looks back to the ‘50s (Grease, Stand By Me, Diner,etc.); the '80s took us back to the ‘60s (Dirty Dancing, cult-favoriteShag); and the ‘90s celebrated the ‘70s (Dazed and Confused, Crooklyn).Essentially, they’re all films for and by people nostalgic for a timethey were too young to truly experience, but old enough to remember.
Empire Records— 1995's episodic day-in-the-life of a ragtag crew of youngrecord-store employees, including Robin Tunney and a pre-Jerry MaguireRenée Zellweger — focused firmly on the present. The movie may havetanked at the box office, but its soundtrack prevailed (remember theirresistible thump and jangle of Edwyn Collin’s “A Girl Like You”?)with its intensely mid-‘90s collection of acts like the Cranberries,the Gin Blossoms, and Toad the Wet Sprocket. Did it hurt to haveAerosmith icon Steven Tyler’s daughter Liv, just beginning her actingcareer, dancing on a rooftop to The The’s “This Is the Day?” It did not!
In1997’s Good Will Hunting, filmmaker Gus Van Sant brought a much subtlersort of songcraft to the masses with acts like the Dandy Warhols, AlGreen, and the Waterboys, though the biggest impact by far came fromthe hushed, haunting compositions of his then-fellow Portland resident,the revered singer-songwriter Elliott Smith. To see the late Smith (hekilled himself in 2003) performing onstage at the Oscars alongsidefellow Best Song nominees Trisha Yearwood and Celine Dion was assurreal as his rendition of the film’s “Miss Misery” was stunning.
Hiphop received far fewer mainstream cinematic tributes than rock in the‘90s, but some of the best artists of the era finally got their due inlast year’s indie dramedy The Wackness, set in NYC circa 1994. In it,enterprising high schooler (Josh Peck) sells pot out of a Popsicle cartand reveres the sounds of the city’s rap royalty: the Notorious B.I.G.,Craig Mack, KRS One. Still, some rockers of past generations eek theirway in too: Mott the Hoople (“All the Young Dudes”), Donovan (“Seasonof the Witch”), and the Velvet Underground (“Sister Ray”). But nocultural moment exists in a vacuum, right? Rappers like the lateNotorious B.I.G. happily sampled from artists of the past, from MinnieRipperton to the Isley Brothers; no doubt they would appreciate thepresence of a few golden oldsters.
For Reference: Lisa Loeb,“Stay”; Me Phi Me, “Revival”; Elliott Smith, “Between the Bars”; TheWu-Tang Clan, “Tears”; Big Mountain, “Baby I You’re your Way”; Nas,“The World Is Yours”; Edwyn Collins, “A Girl Like You”; Evan Dando,“The Ballad of El Goodo”; The Gin Blossoms, “Til I Hear It From You.”
Extracredit viewing: Rushmore, Kids (specifically for Folk Implosion’s“Natural One”), Cruel Intentions (best use of the Verve’s “BittersweetSymphony” to incite a coke-y Sara Michelle Gellar character), Can’tHardly Wait, and the not-strictly-coming-of-agey but still crucialSwingers, Trainspotting, and Singles.
For discussion: Whenwe look back at this decade, say, 50 years from now, and the artiststhat defined it — from Nirvana and Pearl Jam to Mariah Carey and RKelly — which ones will ultimately stand the test of time?
Class is dismissed. Your homework? Check out some of the trackslisted above. And see how you fare on our final exam.
More on coming-of-age film soundtracks from EW University:
At the Hop:Mid-Century Nostalgia
Closerto Groovy: Cruising into the '70s
Totally‘80s: The Greed Decade Goes Pop
The1990s: Rocking Out in the Irony Age
TheIndie Aughties: "This song will change your life"
HappyAnachronisms: These soundtracks mix classic and contemporary hits
Final exam:Test your knowledge of teen angst anthems
Comments (1-23) of 23 Add your comment
Leah, your circle of life cycle is correct, but can actually be much more accurate: the decade year ending in “3″ officially kicks off the twenty year revival. In 1973, “American Graffitti” started the fifties cycle; in 1983, “The Big Chill” started the sixties cycle; in 1993, “Dazed and Confused” officially kicked off the seventies cycle. I’m at a loss to name a 2003 film that started the eighties cycle, though. Can any of you Popwatchers help?
Mariah Carey ruled the 90’s from a pop to r&b and even started the pop singer with a guest rapper on records. She did define the 90’s and on.
What about the soundtrack to “The Crow” with songs by the Cure, among others? It remains one of my fave soundtracks 15 years later.
The 80s retro cycle started five years early, by Mark’s reckoning, with The Wedding Singer in 1998.
Armageddon is that 90s?
http://tvdonewright.com/2009/07/02/tv-tonight-friday-july-3rd-2009/
Thanks Brian. I knew someone here would know. That damn Adam Sandler! How dare he mess with the established time line!
good call on The Crow snarf!
SINGLES should be featured…
Singles is a good one.
Let’s also not forget Clueless.
“Rolling with homies”
Singles is good.
Let’s also not forget Clueless…rolling with the homies.
None. The last person who will stand the test of time is Michael Jackson. I don’t like most of his music but it broke out of then ormal packaging of music and defined itself as a whole new kind of music. When you mention Nirvana or Pealr Jam they are part of an era not a part of history. Grundge was not as influential as the me generation likes to think. Nirvana influnced other bands that came out in that two year era but nothing beyond that. If you look back the bands that stood the test of time influenced other performers. I am ashamed of the music we turn out these days. Rap music used to tell a story now it’s just crap. R&B used to have soul now it’s nothing more then overrate tripe and what passes for rock music is the absolute worst. It wasn’t too long ago that great artist were turining otu memorable music but now we are stuck with John Mayer and Maroon 5. If you want to hear a guy play guitar and sing go to the myspace page for Matt Andersen. It has samples of his music.
I think you meant “Baby, I Love Your Way”, not “You’re Your Way”.
You’ve compiled some great movies and songs but what about the urban influences of the 90s? Juice, New Jack City… both had pretty great soundtracks…(Naughty By Nature’s “Uptown Anthem”) I mean how can we forget Color Me Badd’s “I Wanna Sex You Up”??!!
“The Crow” did indeed have a great soundtrack, but does it really qualify as a “coming of age” movie? For that matter, does “Clueless”?
Whatever, the Pulp Fiction soundtrack was the biggest thing with me and my friends.
Big mistake to not include Singles…it had much more of an impact than Empire Records (esp mudhoney’s overblown).
I love the Crow soundtrack (as well as Lost Highway), but they aren’t really Coming-of-Age. I would have included Natural Born Killers soundtrack (not your traditional “coming-of-age” movie, but hey, not everyone graduates and looks/doesn’t look for a job. some take a different route.
Baz Lurman’s Romeo and Juliette had a great sound track – lots of Radiohead. Especially the song ‘Talk Show Host’
I’m so glad you mentioned Bittersweet Symphony in Cruel Intentions. That was the first movie soundtrack I owned and I watched that movie over and over, just to get to the point where the violins start and Kathryn gets hers.
Mariah Carey will absolutely go down in history as defining an entire decade (90’s) and finding success beyond the 90’s that matched and or exceeded her earlier success….only four female singers from the 80’s, 90’s and 00’s have been able to do that! Mariah, Madonaa, Janet and Whitney….
Clerks, American Pie, Varsity Blues, to name a few of those missed.
no love for “Singles?” I STILL listen to that soundtrack. That movie does not get the attention it deserves.
I’m a soundtrack fiend…Karyn Rachtman basically laid my musical groundwork. Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction were very important to me….but in terms of teen oriented, coming of age movies, I’d say Romeo+Juliet and Clueless had the greatest impact on me…still on my iPod today! Also Trainspotting and Good Will Hunting were pretty big for me. Reality Bites is OK, but not really MY generation.
OH and…slipping in under the radar in 1999 – GO.
Your list is very 90-95, Gen X skewing. What about us early vanguard millennials, dang it?!