life:and:lim

So you are probably going to think I'm crazy.  Especially those who are totally into a) eighties music or b) whiny-bastard "indie" music. But I maintain that some of the best pop music of the last three decades happened between the years of 1989 and 1993, culminating sometime in 1991 (with maybe a few hits before and after). 

Just think about it.  In 1989 you have the Bangles, Paula Abdul, and the dawning of the true golden age of R&B.  Now, I'm no expert on music, whether it be hip hop or alternative, but I think I can say with some certainty that the R&B in those days was pure, soulful, and oh so smooth, with nothing like it before or since.

In 1993, Dr. Dre exploded onto the scene with his west coast-flavored rap.  Not that that wasn't excellent in its own right, but it was, in a sense, the end of innocence, and music--both so-called "black music" and so-called "white music"--was never the same again.

I'm convinced that this era is so underrated because most fakers my age didn't even start listening to music until high school, or college.  But because I had an older brother who insisted on listening to KIIS FM and Power 106 ad nauseum (a totally absurd experience with your parents in the car, let me tell you), I was educated on music from quite an early age, like third grade. 

Anyway I remember these videos/songs with such fondness that I'm going to start a new weekly installment, each time re-introducing a you to a new handful of Early Nineties videos, straight from YouTube.  You're welcome.

This week!  Kickin it off with "Motownphilly" by Boyz II Men (1991)
Aww yeah..."Boyz II Men, ABC, BBD--The East Coast Family!"

And Paula Abdul, "Opposites Attract" (1990)
Sailing on the coattails of the movie, Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988), when mixing live-action and animation was all the rage, this video was so awesome.  I couldn't get enough of it when I was 9.

 

At the risk of further repelling any male readership--I've been digging through YouTube to see what great and favorite scenes I could find from the 2006 version of Jane Eyre.  I don't really want to give away all the good parts, but here's one scene I found especially delicious.  Mr. Rochester has officially ousted Mr. Darcy from the throne of "Wonderful English Heroes" in my book.  He's just so much more interesting, and flawed besides.  Can you hear the electricity crackle?  =D

Sorry, I don't really mean "hick" in a derogatory way.  But I was driving home from work and found the road totally congested with row upon row of gigantic SUVs/trucks, full of corn-fed looking dudes sporting cowboy hats.  And dudettes--I even saw one girl with leopard-print (or maybe cow-print) fur covering her seats and steering wheel.

I couldn't bear wondering anymore, so I just looked up who was playing at the amphitheatre today, and it was Toby Keith.  Makes sense.

But seriously, I thought we were in Silicon Valley.  Where do these people come from?  Sacramento?  Modesto?