Billboard Hot 100 Top Ten 11/24/1990

"People used to argue about 'Ice Ice Baby' the way they argue about Taylor Swift today."

Not exactly. Van Winkle was clearly a doofus almost from the get-go. Remember his explanation of how "IIB" was completely different from "Under Pressure"?

― something of an astrological coup (tipsy mothra)

"People" meaning Chuck Eddy. He's a people. But Chuck was mostly a one-man fan club at the time (I liked, and still like, "Ice Ice Baby," but a little goes a long way), so you're probably closer to right.

like, i've never seen anyone respond to a "freedom" mix-up with a variation on "lol oh, it's the wham song, i'll just go ahead and sing this even bigger hit that's only six years older." it's always "excuse me, i have no idea what's even happening right now this song...what is this song..."

they should have named it freedom 2.0 because it's like the earlier version become immediately outdated

I'm sorry I didn't pick the week in October when Nelson was on the chart.

i don't think i've heard the entirety of Freedom in either incarnation

WHAT

what do we think about "Praying For Time," George's attempt to get some "Another Day in Paradise" cred for singing a five-minute ballad about the homeless? The production choices help: the guitar, the Plastic Ono Band echo, THE RICH DECLAH THEMSELVES POOO-AHHH, the organ.

In retrospect he made a serious mistake not allowing Sony to release his dance trash like "Too Funky" and "Happy." By the time he got to Older that's how he sounded.

listening to freedom '90 now; tomorrow i'll listen to don't let the sun go down on me '91

whoa i just blacked out for a second and when i came to steve harwell was singing this song instead of george michael, weird

I thought "Too Funky" was a pretty big hit?

Top ten

One of my favourites that year (not this one--maybe '92). The Mrs. Robinson record (and better than the Lemonheads' "Mrs. Robinson" cover, which was pretty good itself).

That's my point -- the songs are good and he still had a public willing to hear house-infused fast shit.

"From a Distance" is pretty, and I like it even better now having heard Christgau's reading of it, but I still gotta vote "Knockin' Boots."

"Too Funky" was basically my identity for months and months after it came out.

"groove is in the heart" would prob be in my top 20 singles of all time.

i've never really understood the revisionist love for "ice ice baby" -- i've always found it plodding and dull, not even much of a novelty song.

I love "Praying For Time". I could care less about the lyrical content, though. It's just so lush sounding. Brooding. His ballads were always the best.

"i flow like a harpoon daily and nightly"

Btw Nick Batt from DNA (remixers of Tom's Diner) is a bit of a celebrity in synth-geek circles nowadays due to his intricately detailed video reviews on Sonicstate.com

For some reason, I kinda see 1990 as a bit of a "nothing" year in comparison to 1989 and 1991, which were both phenomenal years for music.

Although having said that, Violator and Behaviour were both out in '90. But I dunno, even with that in mind, there's still something about 1990 which doesn't feel as monumental as the year before or the year after.

Yeah, 1989 in pop music might be my own personal Jesus.

xp!!!

Actually, I just realized "Don't Wanna Fall In Love" (aka the greatest pop song from that era up until the release of Janet's "If") wasn't released until 1990 so I might have to rethink that stance somewhat.

Tom's Diner, Dee-Lite, Soho: is this before ir after LaTour's People are Still Having Sex

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

'Cause my style's like a chemical spill
Feasible rhymes that you can vision and feel
Conducted and formed, This is a hell of a concept

the use of the word "feasible" is all the more hilarious considering it follows a description of Ice and Shay in a shootout with "dope fiends"

a shootout near a traffic jam no less ("Jumped in my car, slammed on the gas/Bumper to bumper, the avenue's packed")