YOUR DEFINITIVE PARAGRAPH ON THE 1990'S

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Imagine an old news reel from the 50's as an enthusiastic narrator speaks over footage of a dam being built, concrete being poured... "The Hoover Dam! A marvel of American engineering and know-how. That "Can do!" spirit drives these workers for months on end as they endeavor to realize the boldest engineering vision in the history of hydroelectric power! 4,000,000 tons of concrete will be poured over the course of seven years, 15,000 men will be involved in the construction..." Etc.

Now, say you had to write a similarly enthusiastic and informative newsreel about rock music from the 1990's.

"The 1990's! A spectacular era for American rock musicians! ...

Your viewers are not rock fans. They are uninformed. They've never heard of My Bloody Valentine. The term "alternative" means nothing. What would you write? How would you do it?

I ask because I need to write an expository segment on 90's rock for a movie -- and it has to be accessible to viewers who know nothing of the decade and who, perhaps, have no real grasp on American rock in general. Any suggestions, one-liners, complete essays, reference suggestions would be helpful. This isn't really an editorial piece. It's gotta be a little more "History Channel." But feel free to be as opinionated as you want.

I'm not looking for someone else to write the thing, but I want input and opinion from people who know their stuff. What must be included? What are the relevant definitions?

Thanks.

― Butler (Butler), Sunday, 25 September 2005 15:20 (twenty years ago)

Warning: expect about 500 sarcastic posts.

― Rockist_Scientist (RSLaRue), Sunday, 25 September 2005 15:24 (twenty years ago)

DISTORTION IS IN.
BEING TORTURED AND ANGUISED IS IN.
SPANDEX PANTS ARE OUT.
INDIE ROCK PEAKS.

roffle @ xpost

― Ian John50n (orion), Sunday, 25 September 2005 15:25 (twenty years ago)

Looking forward to it.

― Butler (Butler), Sunday, 25 September 2005 15:26 (twenty years ago)

You're underestimating, Rockist.

"The central rock figure of the decade, whose band's commercial peak was during 1995 and 1996, had much on his mind."

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 25 September 2005 15:28 (twenty years ago)

"central rock figure of the decade" my ass.

― Ian John50n (orion), Sunday, 25 September 2005 15:36 (twenty years ago)

all Billy-Corgan-is-an-ass stories also welcome!

― Butler (Butler), Sunday, 25 September 2005 15:38 (twenty years ago)

Ian, please to note I am attempting the tone of voice asked for in opening post, thus my line being in quotes.

Anyway, I'd love to have that outfit regardless.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 25 September 2005 15:38 (twenty years ago)

It seemed to start with promise, but it never fulfilled that promise. Quickly, it became as brown as I always imagine the 70s were. Still, it was the decade of my 20's and it will probably be about the best decade I shall ever know.

― Coffe Cup Half Full, Sunday, 25 September 2005 15:42 (twenty years ago)

some topix f0r consideration:

corporate gangstas, from MC Hammer to Mr Diddy to Jay-Z, CEO

the grunge hangover: how Kurt Cobain paved the way for Darius Rucker

how TV commercials became the new rock videos

Garth Brooks and the surbanization of country music

kidz bop: boy bands britney and the spectre of the sexualized child

― m coleman (lovebug starski), Sunday, 25 September 2005 16:04 (twenty years ago)

"bill clinton played the saxophone"

― mookieproof (mookieproof), Sunday, 25 September 2005 16:07 (twenty years ago)

hey didn't you know that got him elected?

― m coleman (lovebug starski), Sunday, 25 September 2005 16:10 (twenty years ago)

As England's newest hitmakers The Fall won America's hearts and charts, classic rock radio mainstays The Sexy Pistols reformed at Woodstock 4 to personally deliver on their promise to get rid of hippies! Nobody sued Biz Markie for anything, and U.S. Poet Laureate David Berman declared March National "Blue Arrangements" Appreciation Month, giving session musician and clever person Stevie Malkmus the confidence to start his Silver Jews side project Pavement, whose all-star charity single "Two States" finally delivered a workable solution to the crisis in the Middle East. Bob Dylan released his best album since Blood on the Tracks -- twice! And every Thursday night, Americans huddled together before the electric hearth to watch the wildly popular heartwarming family sitcom "Everybody Loves Eric B"

That's how I remember it, anyway.

― A|ex P@reene (Pareene), Sunday, 25 September 2005 17:07 (twenty years ago)

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