Music to my Years: 1990

So now we enter a new decade which also saw the start of lots of new things for me. It was the year I turned 19. We lost my Uncle Martin, my mum’s brother in this year at the young age of 39. I was devastated. I felt guilt on so many levels and one of the things which upset me was that I told him off for trying to help me with a huge jigsaw just the Christmas before. I often wonder how life might have been different had he still been here. He was such a good man. I can remember nearly not going when the cars turned up to take us to the Crematorium. But I am so glad I did.

In this year I started a job which was to form me and my work ethic. My first proper job. At Hambro Countrywide Relocation – and my main account was BT and the relocation of their staff around the country. Daron and I continued our relationship. Margaret Thatcher resigned and it was the first time I ever saw my father cry!

As I am now a radio presenter on Radio Ninesprings, and I will be sharing my Top 10 all week and sharing 1 track from the list each day, Monday to Friday, on my show from 3pm. Plus, there is now a compilation show on Sunday’s at 6pm.

So, from the year I was born taking me right up to 2021, I am going to be sharing my top 10 chart songs from the year in question.

10. Groove is in the Heart by Deee-Lite

As we get into the ’90s, my memories become a bit clearer. I can remember absolutely loving this track. It was very different to what I normally went for and I loved dancing to it when my friends and I went clubbing. I would play it quite a lot in my car too.

The song reached number 2 here in the UK and was placed second because of a rule made during the ’80s which sorted out any ‘ties’ in record sales. The single with sales that had increased the most from the previous week would go ahead of the other. This controversially gave “The Joker” by the Steve Miller Band the top place. However, Deee-Lite’s record company complained and the rule, of which this song had been the only victim, was scrapped and joint positions were once again allowed. In time it showed that the 2,595 panel sales had actually been rounded up, with chart compilers Gallup later releasing the data that showed that the Steve Miller Band hit was indeed a fraction ahead (selling about eight copies more than Deee-Lite).

9. Obvious Child by Paul Simon

Back in 1986, Paul Simon had released the fantastic ‘Graceland’ album which he wrote after his second and final split from Carrie Fisher. It was experimental, different and I loved it. However, rewinding back to MTMY and 1986, I chose other songs which I preferred. BUT he has made it this time! I remember loving this so much at the time but, over the years, it has become one of those ‘forgotten’ tracks.

I absolutely love the drums on this track which performed by Brazilian drumming collective Olodum in a live recording. It echoes many of his Graceland tracks. The lyrics explore mortality and aging and reached number 15 in the UK.

8. Love Shack by The B52s

It is funny how some particular songs can hold so many memories. This is one of those. The first time was playing it so much in the car as I drove along with Daron. Then, Daron and I with friends Sarah and Richard and Pat and Sam were at Thorpe Park one day and noticed that they had a recording booth for visitors to go and put a track together. We chose this song – and the girls sang the female vocals and the boys sang the male. It didn’t sound great and I no longer have the version but it is a great story.

An even better story, however, is that the day before Ross and I went on our first date (a quick coffee which turned into a 4 hour chat ((story of our lives!))) I had organised an end of show party for the Pantomime we had been involved in and was how we met. He left his MC job at a wrestling show early to get to the party, promising me a karaoke duet. We chose this very tune. It seemed to go on forever on stage but we were both impressed with the job the other did!

Considered the band’s signature tune, it reached number 2 in the UK.

7. It Must Have Been Love by Roxette

The Pretty Woman soundtrack was something pretty much everyone owned during 1990. I saw the film at the cinema and it was fantastic (I still get caught up watching it if I turn over and find it on!) and I loved the music. I nearly wore the tape out when I played it in my car and I can remember sitting parked one day waiting for one of my sisters and just playing it over and over.

I have said previously that I don’t think Roxette ever had a bad song and this is more evidence. Originally it had the words (Christmas for the Broken Hearted) also in the title when it was released in 1987 and this was omitted when it was included in Pretty Woman. It reached number one in the US and number 3 in the UK.

6. Hole Hearted by Extreme

Most people love More Than Words but I prefer this one. The harmonies are fab and it hasn’t been played continuously unlike their more successful hit.

It reached number 12 in the UK and came from the fab album Pornograffitti which I remember having and absolutely loving!

5. Hold On by Wilson Phillips

I don’t think I have ever got tired of this song. I loved the album too and I can remember when it came out when I was working on the record counter at Boots. I was put it on all of the time and I just loved their harmonies. I listen back now to some of their tracks and I realise that this without doubt their best song by a mile! So much positivity. It reached number 1 in the USA and number 6 in the UK. The group consisted of Carnie and Wendy Wilson, the daughters of Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys, and Chynna Phillips, the daughter of John and Michelle Phillips of the Mamas & the Papas.

4. Blaze of Glory by Jon Bon Jovi

I had a complete obsession with the film Young Guns II – mainly because it fed my obsession of Christian Slater whom I absolutely loved at the time! I used to scenes from it every morning when I left for work and then I would play the soundtrack in the car on the way to work!

This is the singers first single away from his group and the album it comes from includes songs from and inspired by the movie in question. If you have never heard it, then do check it out. It is great!

3. Angel by The Eurythmics

This song was inspired by the death of Annie Lennox’s aunt, as she sings about a woman who has killed herself and now has “gone to meet her maker”. The music video features Annie and Dave taking part in a seance and running through a burning house, and was not shown at all on MTV – supposedly due to several scenes depicting the occult.

The song is on the album ‘ We Too Are One’ which I had – and loved. It was the band’s final single for almost a decade (discounting the re-release of two older singles the following year) and I can remember thinking at the time that it felt like the beginning of the end for them. It only reached number 23 in the UK but I think it is a gorgeous song, even now.

2. Disappear by INXS

INXS continued to be a huge influence on my life at this time and I loved the album X which was their release after the success of Kick. The song was written by Michael Hutchence and Jon Farriss – the drummer from INXS and my second most fanciable male in the group!

It peaked at number eight in the US and was to be their seventh and final top ten single. Here in the UK it only reached 21. It still stands up tall today and sounds incredible to me.

1. King of Wishful Thinking by Go West

How fitting that my favourite groups in order are also this on my chart this week. This group – as the world and his wife probably know by now – are my favourite of all time and, in this song, they were back to their incredible best and, aside from We Close Our Eyes, is probably the track they are best known for.

Originally, I went to see Pretty Woman at the cinema JUST so I could hear their music in the film (the same reason I saw White Men Can’t Jump!) and, I absolutely loved the fact that it kicked in as Richard Gere drove the Lotus Esprit down a hill away from a party.

Everything about it – the lyrics, the music, the production – is fantastic. If I could only take one song with me, it would be this and it is one of the tracks I would like played at my funeral. That hasn’t changed since it’s release! It reached number 8 in the US, number 3 in Canada and only got to number 18 here in the UK.