‘We Are Live’ N°23 – Vintage 90s Music Videos

How well do you know your music? Let’s find out with a quiz that accompanies this week playlist.

The subjects du jour are : The Mock Turtles, Kula Shaker, a-ha, Ben Folds Five, Paul Weller, Wet Wet Wet, Ned’s Atomic Dustbin, Supergrass, Alannah Myles, Inspiral Carpets, George Michael, Elton John, Bon Jovi

They are the performers of twelve “live” music videos that were ranked in various charts, this week (10/52) BUT … in the Nineties 90s.

1. Ned’s Atomic Dustbin’s “Happy” is famous for what unique feature?

• A Dual bass guitars
• B Triple lead vocals
• C A flute solo

2. What was notable about Supergrass’s “Going Out”?

• A It was the first rock song played in space
• B The band disbanded after its release
• C The mature piano riff

3. “Black Velvet” by Alannah Myles pays homage to which music legend?

• A Elvis Presley
• B Johnny Cash
• C Janis Joplin

4. Which notable feature does “I Want You” by Inspiral Carpets have?

• A Mark E. Smith’s distinctive vocals
• B A hidden track at the end
• C An homage to The Beatles

5. What is a defining fact about the duet version of “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me”?

• A It was recorded in one take
• B Elton John played guitar
• C It revitalized careers

6. What tone shift occurs in Bon Jovi’s “These Days”?

• A Jazz-funk
• B Darker themes
• C Classical elements

7. What style does Adam Ant’s “Room at the Top” exemplify?

• A Grunge metal
• B Minneapolis sound
• C Glam punk

8. What makes “Watching Windows” by Roni Size & Reprazent notable?

• A First drum and bass track to win a Grammy
• B Won the Mercury Prize
• C Features a 10-minute instrumental

9. What unconventional element is in Soundgarden’s “Spoonman”?

• A Trumpet chorus
• B Spoons played by Artis
• C Kazoo solo in the intro

10. Which visual reference is in Depeche Mode’s “Enjoy the Silence” music video?

• A Star Wars
• B Game of Thrones
• C The Little Prince

11. What is the central theme of Pop Will Eat Itself’s “Ich Bin Ein Auslander”?

• A Anti-war protest
• B Industrialization
• C Anti-xenophobia

12. What unique visual element appears in The Cranberries’ “I Can’t Be With You” video?

• A Dolores in 1920s attire
• B Animated backdrop
• C A circus theme

For TWELVE “Look Ma, No Mike!” – Vintage 90s Music Videos – week 10/52 – click here

Tracklist

1 . The Mock Turtles – Can You Dig It? Featured on the 1990 album “Turtle Soup”. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Facebook  The Mock Turtles took their name from a character in Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. The Mock Turtle is a creature who describes himself as “the thing mock turtle soup is made from.”

2 . Kula Shaker – Hush Featured on the 1997 album “K2”. Lyrics >> More by the same : Official Site  After a trip to India where they met a holy man named Raja Ram, Kula Shaker’s frontman Crispian Mills adopted a spiritual name, Krishna Kantha Das, meaning “servant of the one who has a blackish throat”.

3 . a-ha – Early Morning Featured on the 1990 album “East of the Sun, West of the Moon”. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site

4 . Ben Folds Five – Battle Of Who Could Care Less Featured on the 1997 album “Whatever and Ever Amen4”. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site   “Battle Of Who Could Care Less” is a song written by Ben Folds as a critique of the slacker culture that he encountered in his hometown of North Carolina.

5 . Paul Weller – Out Of The Sinking Featured on the 995 album “Stanley Road”. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site  Paul Weller is that he once threw a tantrum at a charity concert for children with cancer because he didn’t like the sound system. He stormed off the stage after playing only two songs. He later apologized and donated £10,000 to the charity.

6 . Wet Wet Wet – Hold Back The River Featured on the 1988 album “The Memphis Sessions”. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site

7 . Ned’s Atomic Dustbin – Happy Featured on the 1991 album “God Fodder”. Lyrics >> More by the same : Official Site  Ned’s Atomic Dustbin took their name from an episode of radio comedy programme “The Goon Show.”

8 . Supergrass – Going Out Featured on the 1996 album “In It For The Money“. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site  Supergrass split in 2001 and so, never released their almost finished album “Release the Drones.”

9 . Alannah Myles – Black Velvet Featured on the 1989 album “Alannah Myles“. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site  Alannah Myles was born on Christmas Day

10 . Inspiral Carpets – I Want You (w/ Mark E. Smith) Featured on the 1994 album “Devil Hopping”. Lyrics >> More by the same : Instagram  Inspiral Carpets once had a young roadie named Noel Gallagher who auditioned to be their singer but was rejected

11 . George Michael, Elton John – Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me Featured on the 1991 album “Duets (Elton John album)”. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Twitter  The music video for “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me” by George Michael and Elton John shows them performing live at Wembley Arena in London on 23 March 99.

12 . Bon Jovi – These Days Featured on the 1995 album “These Days”. Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site  Jon Bon Jovi owns a restaurant where the menus have no prices. The customers are not obliged to pay and if they want to, they pay according to their means.

And the correct answers (in case you missed one or two) are:

1. Dual bass guitars mark “Happy” as distinct. Mat Cheslin and Alex Griffin rock bass lines together, blending grunge and alternative tones seamlessly. This sound contributed significantly to the band’s identity.

2. “Going Out” complexifies Supergrass’s soundscape with a piano riff. A mature departure from teenage punk anthems, it foreshadowed the band’s evolving Britpop legacy.

3. “Black Velvet” celebrates Elvis Presley. Christopher Ward penned the song while en route to Memphis, encapsulating Presley’s enduring legacy through Myles’ powerful ode.

4. Mark E. Smith’s involvement in “I Want You” stands out. His collaboration with Inspiral Carpets combined Madchester and post-punk sonics, punctuating the single with his signature style.

5. The duet version of “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me” reiterated Elton and George’s iconic status, taking global charts by storm. Its release marked a significant revival for both artists.

6. “These Days” dives into darker subject matter. Themes of social alienation and emotional struggle reflect the 90s zeitgeist, resonating deeply with grunge-influenced audiences.

7. Adam Ant embraced the Minneapolis sound with “Room at the Top.” This dance-rock fusion combined his signature flair with André Cymone’s savvy production, yielding new wave appeal.

8. “Watching Windows” by Roni Size & Reprazent is tied to their Mercury Prize. This accolade linked drum and bass to mainstream acclaim, enhancing the genre’s profile significantly.

9. “Spoonman” by Soundgarden features live spoon percussion. Artis the Spoonman became immortalized in this Grammy-winning track, melding grunge with organic instrumentation.

10. Depeche Mode’s video for “Enjoy the Silence” nods to “The Little Prince.” Dave Gahan’s king strolls with majestic nonchalance, wielding a deck chair through symbolic landscapes.

11. “Ich Bin Ein Auslander” by Pop Will Eat Itself tackles xenophobia. The song critiques anti-immigrant sentiment, echoing sociopolitical themes amidst pounding industrial beats.

12. In “I Can’t Be With You,” Dolores donned 1920s garb. The video’s nostalgic imagery, shot partly at Copped Hall, melds haunting visuals with O’Riordan’s poignant vocals.

For THE FULL ‘ARE WE LIVE?’ COLLECTION click here