'Cause sometimes
I said sometimes I hear my voice
And it's been here
Silent all these years
This was initially a B-side of Amos' debut solo single, Me And a Gun. The decision to release it in the UK came after Radio One named it "Song Of The Week." It was Amos' first chart entry in the UK. Amos reveals that writing the song was a slow, evolving process and that the light piano riff during the verses came first. This "bumble bee piano tinkle," as she calls it, is one of the more emblematic and recognizable parts of the song. Lyrically, Amos was inspired by reading Hans Christian Andersen's Little Mermaid story to her little niece, Cody.
It's the loneliness thats the killer
So you want
To be free
To live your life
The way you want to be...
This was the first of several big hits for Seal between 1990 and 1995 - the others included "Crazy", "A Prayer For The Dying" and "Kiss From A Rose". Seal first came to public attention as vocalist on the Adamski single Killer in 1990 which eventually reached number one in 1990 in the UK. Seal subsequently released his début album, self-titled Seal, in 1991 and his own rendition of Killer performed well in the charts.
...Hear this voice from deep inside
It's the call of your heart
Close your eyes and your will find
The passage out of the dark...
Crazy World was the eleventh studio album released by the German heavy metal band Scorpions. The album was a hit, propelled in large part by the massive success of the ballad Wind of Change which mused on the socio-political changes that were occurring in Eastern Europe and in other parts of the world at the end of the Cold War. Send Me an Angel is a power ballad which, along with Wind of Change, became the album's signature track.
...Come on get some In Martika's kitchen baby
You bring the noise and I'll bring the smile...
Martika's Kitchen was the second single and title track released from Martika's 1991 album of the same name. The single, written and produced by Prince,[1] failed to be a success in America although the vibrant and colourful video helped the song be a bigger hit in the UK.
'... I can't wait
Am I wasting my time while
you make up your mind...'
Stevie Nicks is best known for her work with Fleetwood Mac as well as having an extensive solo career. She has been noted for her ethereal visual style and symbolic lyrics. I Can't Wait is probably one of her best high-energy vocal performances.
"To understand this song, you sort of have to let yourself go a little crazy. Love is blind, it never works out, but you just have to have it. I think this was about the most exciting song that I had ever heard. My friend, Rick,...brought over this track with this incredible percussion thing, and gave it to me asking me if I would listen to it and consider writing a song for it. I listened ... once, and ... the second Rick left, I ran in my little recording studio and wrote 'I Can't Wait.' It took all night, and I think it is all about how electric I felt about this music. And that night, ... Rick and I went into a big studio and recorded it. I sang it only once, and have never sung it since in the studio. Some vocals are magic and simply not able to beat. So I let go of it, as new to me as it was; but you know, now when I hear it on the radio, this incredible feeling comes over me, like something really incredible is about to happen." Stevie Nicks (from the liner notes of TimeSpace)
'...anyone who ever held you
would tell you the way i'm feeling
anyone who ever wanted you
would try to tell you what i feel inside...'
Stars was the second single to be taken from Simply Red's 1991 Stars album and was one of the songs that helped Stars to become the only UK album ever to be the biggest seller two years running (1991 & 1992). Stars mixed Hucknall's anti-Thatcherite political lyrics with an easy-listening lounge-jazz sound.
'Spending my time
Watching the days go by
Feeling so small
I stare at the wall
Hoping that you think of me too...'
In the early 90s, Roxette, a Swedish pop-rock duo, stood among the top bands in worldwide sales and notoriety, brandishing a simple yet effective blend of pop with a slight edge and occasional hints of dance. Although many critics considered their music to be lightweight there was a time in 1991 when Roxette could command an arena filled with tens of thousands of fans across the globe. This track, from their hugely successful Joyride album, is an evocative, acoustic guitar based, romantic ballad.
'... Sunburst. The morning moar. The light of God. The heart of youth. I look around me. My eyes find their rest on this garden the flower of the west.
Runrigs music is often described as a blend of folk and rock music, with the lyrics focusing upon locations, history, politics and people that are unique to Scotland. Flower of the West was one of the tracks included on their The Big Wheel album which was launched in front of 50,000 fans at the historic Midsummer Night's concert at Balloch Country Park, Loch Lomond.
..."it's not about races
Just places
Faces
Where your blood comes from
It's where your space is
I've seen the bright get duller
I'm not gonna spend my life being a colour"
Black or White is the lead single from Michael Jackson's Dangerous album and was released in November 1991. The song is a mix of rock and dance-pop which was written, composed, and arranged by Jackson (with the rap lyrics by Bill Bottrell), as a song that promotes racial harmony. The original video generated much controversy concerning the last four and has been labelled as one of the "Most Controversial Music Videos" of all time.
"It's late in the evening; she's wondering what clothes to wear.
She puts on her make-up and brushes her long blonde hair..."
Although Clapton has varied his musical style throughout his career, it has always remained grounded in the blues; despite this focus, he is credited as an innovator in a wide variety of genres.
The 'live' version of Wonderful Tonight entered the UK charts in #Nov'91 although the original was included on Clapton's 1977 album Slowhand and released as a single the following year. Clapton wrote the song (September '76) about Pattie Boyd while waiting for her to get ready to attend Paul and Linda McCartney's annual Buddy Holly party.
"One night, we were going out but I couldn't decide what to wear. Eric had been ready for hours and was waiting patiently, fiddling with his guitar. He was so sweet, at least, in the early days. When I finally got downstairs and asked, "Do I look all right?" he played me what he'd written:
It's late in the evening; she's wondering what clothes to wear. She puts on her makeup and brushes her long blonde hair.
And then she asks me, "Do I look all right?" And I say, "Yes, you look wonderful tonight."
For years it tore at me... Wonderful Tonight was the most poignant reminder of all that was good in our relationship, and when things went wrong it was torture to hear it." Patty Boyd from her autobiography Wonderful Today.
"... we shine like a burning star, we're falling from the sky tonight..."
Entering the UK charts at no 1 at the beginning of November this song emerged from U2's 1991 album Achtung Baby and was released as the album's first single. The song was a departure from the traditional sound that had characterised U2 in the 1980's. It introducd a more abrasive sound, as the song featured hip-hop and industrial beats, distorted vocals, and an elaborate guitar solo.
It's a cold, cold feeling on a real lazy wind that blows all the way through you and the autumn begins...
Chris Rea released his top selling album Auberge in 1991.Winter Song did not appear on the initial album release; it was released as a stand-alone single in November 1991, and was included on some subsequent CD issues.
This site follows a self-indulgent, retrospective and nostalgic journey exploring the musical influences which have permeated the background of a not so very important life.
The songs themselves are not necessarily representative of the greatest hits of their day but are simply a personal selection from those remembered.
