Top 5: Bands You Listened to in the '90s (Even if You Don't Want to Admit it!)

Yep, the title says it all. Let's just get started, shall we?

5. Prozzak

I never jumped aboard the Prozzak bandwagon, thankfully. I guess I was already ashamed that this group comes from my country; I couldn't very well enjoy their music. And really, if you were a fan of the Euro-inspired duo, you had to be a little bit shameless.

Their first album (I know, I couldn't believe they released more than one album!) came out in 1999. Hits such as Sucks to be you and Strange Disease helped the group achieve a shocking platinum status - meaning 1,00,000+ copies of the album were sold. Just stop and think about that for a sec - over one million people bought the Prozzak record. And this was in the days of Napster, so it's not like these songs were unavailable anywhere other than a music store.

Prozzak released another album in 2000, with "hits" like www.nevergetoveryou and Be As, which also went platinum. The group was even nominated for two Juno awards - which is the Canadian equivalent of a Grammy. No, seriously. They were.

Thankfully, Prozzak eventually faded into obscurity. They apparently released another album back in 2005, but much to my merriment, they never re-gained the same level of success. I'm not a heartless bitch; I don't take pleasure in other people's misfortunes (much). But I'm damn pleased that my ears were spared this time around.




Sucks to be you. I dare you to listen to this song and not get it stuck in your head for days on end. Go on. I dare you!



http://www.nevergetoveryou/. That this video has over a quarter of a million hits concerns me. What is wrong with people?! Also, that's not a real website. Way to lie, Prozzak. Or at least, way to be too cheap to make a tie-in website.

2. b4-4, 5ive & Other Shitty Boybands

But all boybands are shitty! you might be protesting. Well, yes and no. You're talking to a hardcore BSB fan here, so I can't completely agree with that statement without being a hypocrite. I bought into the boyband phenomenon pretty hard, but even I had to admit, there were a lot of terrible ripoffs. These were the ones who, inspired by my boys' success and desperate for a taste, got thrown together with a bunch of strangers with bland but not completely appalling looks and mediocre talent, given inoffensive but catchy music and cleverly choreographed dance routines. Sure, some groups achieved a minor hit or two, but none of them were ever long-lasting or outstandingly successful. Let's take a look, shall we?




One of b4-4's bigger hits, Go Go. WTF is up with the beginning? Though I'd probably scream like a bitch if I looked into the mirror and saw a member of b4-4 standing behind me.

For your amusement:




You're welcome. Also, I take back what I said about their songs being inoffensive. I'm not offended by this song, but good god. Way to be subtle, guys.

And before I wrap up on this monstrosity of a "band," I'll share with you an amusing anecdote. About two years ago, my friend dragged me on a singles cruise. (It was not my idea.) Some guy started chatting me up, and his friend buddy told me that he (the guy talking to me) was from b4-4. I kinda believed it, because the guy desperately trying to hit on me looked kinda like he could be related to the b4-4 guys, and they've faded into enough nothingness that it wasn't entirely impossible that a guy from b4-4 would voluntarily go on a singles cruise. True story.




5ive's When the Lights Go Out proves that not everything Simon Cowell touches turns to gold. They actually had quite the success in the UK, selling an impressive and, quite frankly, astounding 20,000,000 albums by 2001. Sadly for them, they never achieved any international success, as after a couple of semi-popular songs of theirs were released overseas, they were never heard from again. Thanks to Ed the Sock, I pronounce their name "Five ive." Ha.




O-Town. Truth be told, they weren't as bad as the aforementioned groups in this category. I never became a big fan, nor did I ever watch their show, but I liked one or two of their songs. Liquid Dreams is not one of them. It's a cringe-worthy song, not unlike b4-4's Get Down. I appreciate they're trying to be edgy (or, as edgy as boybands can get), but 5 20-something guys singing about wet dreams? That's just embarassing.

3. The Moffatts

Ah, the original Jonas Brothers. When these guys came out, I wasn't really a fan - though I seemed to be in the minority. Lots of my friends loved them, even going as far as following them around concert to concert. One met them outside their van at a show and gave a Moffatt a lei, and made the cliched "You just got lei'd!" joke, but it turned into an internet rumour that they actually had sex. True story.

Like them or not, the Moffatts weren't terrible. Their songs were cute, they were cute (well, more so when they got older) and they played their own instruments. What more could a 13-year-old fangirl wish for? Not much, I tell ya.



Girl of My Dreams, one of their bigger hits. The Moffatts were moderately successful, selling a few million records worldwide with their first mainstream album, Chapter One: A New Beginning. Eventually they grew up, and their sound started to change. However, it wasn't long for this world - they split up in 2001.



Damn, that song is catchy. And damn, that one Moffatt is pretty hot. I feel a little dirty for saying that.

2. GooGoo Dolls

Placing the Dolls on this list may surprise you, as most (okay, all) of the groups I've mentioned thus far have been pretty crappy and not terribly successful. But it's hard to think about popular '90s music without thinking of the GooGoo Dolls.



Goo Goo Dolls - Iris
Uploaded by ttetrd. - See the latest featured music videos.


Thanks, Dailymotion. It's officially impossible to find this video on YouTube.

Anyway. The Dolls were quite successful, having several Top 40s hits, Grammy noms and many songs used in popular 90s movies. Really, what more sucess do you need than that? Also, fans of the Dolls, don't sweat, they've got a new album coming out early next year.

And, winner of this round's Top 5 is...

1. soulDecision

Hot damn, I loved this group. Trevor, the main singer, was a total hottie. Plus, their music was fun and sweet and - dare I say? - sexy. Well, on occasion. You'll be hard-pressed to find a copy of it, but originally in Faded, the lyrics go "When I get you all alone/I'm gonna take off all your clothes." I mean, come on. That's pretty hot to an inexperienced tween.



This was their biggest hit, and it's easy to see why - it's pretty damn catchy. They had other songs that were actually really good, like Ooh It's Kinda Crazy and Let's Do it Right. They only ever achieved a moderate success, selling around 1,000,00ish copies of their first album, but they were always a smash hit in my heart.

There you have it. This is probably the most fun I've ever had posting on my blog! I hope you enjoyed reading it.

One of These Things is Not Like The Other...

I present to you a link that was brought to my attention:

15 Literary Characters We'd Totally Sleep With.

Take a look at number three.

Logan Bruno, from the BSC.

Seriously? Seriously? Atticus Finch, Erik from The Phantom of the Opera, Jay Gatsby...and Logan Bruno? Some of the greatest and most influential literary characters of all time...and Logan Bruno?

Good grief.

WAR! What is it good for? (Or, Boy Meets World 6.12, Cutting the Cord)

No, your eyes aren't deceiving you. I'm actually a) updating so soon after my last post, and b) doing a BMW recap. Two-for-one, I know. I'll let it sink in a minute.

All better? Good. Without further rambling, here's a recap I randomly decided to do. My recapping skills are a little rusty, so please bear with me.

Episode Overview: Eric takes Amy to Lamaze class, since Alan is nowhere to be found. He rushes in late, admitting he sidetracked looking at Harleys. He confesses that he’s worried about having the new baby at this stage in his life because he doesn’t have the energy to keep up with it the way he did with his other children. Eric points out that playing baseball isn’t what makes Alan a great father: it’s that he’s always been there for his children. At another Lamaze class, Alan saves the day when one of the women goes into labour. He realizes he’s ready to take on this new baby, even though things will be a little different this time around.

Meanwhile, Shawn and Angela draw up a restraining order against Cory and Topanga, forbidding them to butt into their relationship (or lack thereof). They both go on dates for the first time since their break-up, and end up at the same restaurant. Shawn is miserable with his date until he sees Angela with hers, and he and Kelly (his date) even try to outdo Angela and Ron (her date) in a karaoke competition. However, when Kelly holds his hand, he freaks out and has to leave. He later confesses to Cory and Topanga that he’s scared he’ll never have a relationship like theirs because he might be incapable of loving someone. Cory tries to convince him otherwise, but Shawn doesn’t listen.

At the end of the episode, the gang, minus Shawn, is hanging around the student union, laughing together. Shawn sees them, all happy together, and leaves.

The Good:

• This is the karaoke episode! Cory and Topanga sing “War” at the end of the episode, and it’s hilarious.



Hahaha! I wish we could have seen this side of them more often. Especially Topanga. I know it's just Danielle Fishel breaking character, but it's nice to see Topanga let loose every once in while!

• I love Eric filling in for Alan in Amy’s Lamaze class. He’s so sweet.

• I also love that Eric answers the door by saying “Come!”

• Alan visiting Eric at the apartment. Gotta love it.

• “Middle-east crisis.” Ha.

• Jack’s step-dad went through a mid-life crisis too. He bought a Ferrari. He also smashed it up.

Oh, Jack's rich step-father.

• I always like it, even though it’s rare, when the adults come to the kids for advice in the later episodes. It’s nice getting to see the kids dispense some words of wisdom instead of the other way around. I also like seeing the adults interact with the “non-regulars” like Jack, Rachel and Angela. As you get older, your relationship with your parents changes, as does your relationship with your friends’ parents, and it’s cool seeing that depicted on TV instead of having it just be kids vs. adults.

• Rider Strong has a great singing voice. It’s so cute!

The Bad:

• Angela really annoys me in this episode. I think it’s partially because she has the same expression throughout. Maybe that’s just her character, but I found it especially off-putting. She’s very monotone, and I think I only like her when she isn’t.

• Shawn is so frustrating! Get over Angela already, she’s not that great. To be honest, I never thought they were that good together. And in the previous episode, he told Angela he doesn’t want to be with her, but in this one, he desperately wants to be with her and can’t even sit up at the dinner table during his date because he misses Angela so much. What do you want, Shawn??

• “Cory, for the first time, I’ve realized how different we really are.” Not only is that a bad, cheesy line, it’s completely untrue.

• This is really shallow, but I hate the bows in Angela’s hair at the end. They look ridiculous.

The Ugly:

• Overall, I just can’t get on board with the Shawn-Angela thing. I know that that’s practically sacrilegious in the Boy Meets World universe, but I think they could have found a better match for Shawn. He needs someone stable, who will put up with his flightiness and who is strong-willed enough to deal with his problems. I don’t think Angela was strong enough for him – especially when you consider that we find out in the next season that her mother abandoned her when she was young. She has enough of her own issues to deal with; she can’t really help Shawn through his the way he needs.

• I know that he’s in love with her, and I can relate because I know what it’s like to be so in love with someone that it takes over you, but it bothers me how he does such a 360 from the last episode, where he wasn’t sure if he should be with Angela. Ahh. I don’t mind the “will-they-won’t-they” of sitcomery, but I really don’t like it when it goes back and forth every episode. (This was one of Gossip Girl’s biggest faults in the second season, but that’s beside the point.) Luckily, I think they give it a rest for a while after this episode.

Thoughts About the Episode:

• On the whole, pretty solid. It was great and refreshing to have a non-Cory/Topanga and non-Eric centred plot/side plot, like most episodes. Alan’s side plot was pretty interesting, but not one of their best – after all, how many of the preteens watching can relate to going through a mid-life crisis?

• I also like the point Shawn brings up: he’s afraid he’ll never have a relationship because he thinks he may be incapable of loving someone. This is a very real feeling and they did a great job capturing the issue.

Random Things About the Episode:

From TV.com:

The title is an idiom meaning being separated from something that has become familiar and comfortable. The phrase fits both storylines in this episode. Shawn is having trouble cutting the cord on his relationship with Angela, and Amy and Alan, soon to have a baby, will literally cut the cord.

Thanks for the insight, TV.com! Alan could be cutting the cord from his hang-ups about what parenting should be. Or something.

Episode Grade: A-. Mostly filler, but still a great episode with lots of funny and touching moments.

Quote:

As a bonus, I picked two. The first one is more on the delivery of the lines, so I urge you to go watch it for yourself, but it's still pretty funny:

Jack: So are you still getting the Harley? 'Cause I was thinking of borrowing it.
Alan: Sorry, Jack. You can borrow my station wagon.
Jack: (sarcastically) Yeah, that's great. Women are really gonna love that.

And, the winner for best quote of the episode goes to....

Eric: I'd do anything for [the baby] little Eric. Or, if it's a girl, Eric the Girl.

And that's all she wrote, folks! I hope you enjoyed recap #3. I'm going to try to do another recap soon, and also try to perhaps pick an episode from the earlier seasons. But I make no promises!

Top 5: Shows Cancelled Before Their Time

I can guarantee you won't agree with my list, since there are a couple of admittedly...suspect choices. But this is my blog, dammit, so I'll pick the shows I liked.

5. Odd Man Out, 1999-2000. It didn't make it one full season, so I can understand if you don't know what the hell show this is. Not to mention that it was a TGIF show. No, it wasn't the best show around. It was pretty cheesy with questionable acting. But you know what? It was actually pretty funny. I have an episode on tape somewhere, and it still makes me laugh. It wasn't particularly dignified, as far as shows go, but it was still enjoyable, and could have been semi-decent if given a chance.





4. What About Brian, April 2006-May 2007. I really enjoyed the fresh take of this show, which focused on the single Brian surrounded by his coupley friends. At the time I had a boyfriend, but I had had enough experience being in Brian's situation, so I could totally understand. The show was funny and bittersweet, with enjoyable characters and a good cast. Too bad it never really took off. Sorry, Brian.




3. Breaker High, 1997-1998. Like Odd Man Out, Breaker High isn't what I'd call the best of television. It was cheesy, unrealistic, inconsistent and had some pretty bad acting (not to mention cheap produciton values). But it was still enjoyable. I was the target audiences to producers were reaching out to, and I ate it up with a spoon. It was funny and sweet and fun with likeable characters and juicy enough love triangles to keep tuning in week after week. Plus, it launched th career of the sexy Ryan Gosling (aka Sean Hanlon, one of my childhood crushes), so it wasn't all bad! I was pretty heartbroken when I found out the show got the axe. The show wasn't particularly clever or ground-breaking, but I still loved it.

2. Pushing Daisies, 2007-2009. To this day, I still can't figure out what exactly went wrong. How and why this show got cancelled still remains a mystery. It was funny, fresh, sweet, clever, unique -take your pick. It was also a treat to look at. There were musical numbers, dammit! And unlike the other shows on my list thus far, it was respected by critics and has even won a few awards (including best supporting actress - congrats, Kristin Chenoweth!). It just goes to show you how desperate the networks get for a hit - since Pushing Daisies wasn't their biggest show, they gave it the axe. Pathetic, ABC. Luckily both seasons are on DVD, and the show now boasts something of a cult following, but that still won't bring it back. Le sigh.

1. Veronica Mars, 2004-2007. Ahh, V-Mars. One of my favourite shows, ever. So sassy, so sexy, so funny, so clever. Pretty much the greatest show of all time, I really don't have too much to say. Veronica was one of the most realistic and interesting female characters to grace the silver screen in a long time: she was smart and strong, but had definite flaws. And there's Logan. Sexy, sexy Logan. He started out as a loathesome jackass, but ended up a fan favourite. We got to see him transform into a man, who -yes - had a lot of flaws, but was loveable and vulnerable. Add them to a whole list of great characters, add in fantastic writing, great music and incredibly clever storylines and mysteries (almost too clever, as it took me a few viewings of a few episodes to really understand it. Maybe I'm just dumb...) and you've got Veronica Mars. Cancelled way before its time. I still miss Logan sometimes. (And by sometimes, I mean every day.)