The Art of Muses

Music plays a big part in our lives. Certain music brings back the nostalgic feelings of years gone by and defines the character during the times of growing up. It acts as inspiration, brings sense to dramas, tragedy, comedy, romance and just lifts us when we are down.

Growing up as a teenager in the 1990s, here is a list of some of the memorable acts/songs that have left a deep mark in my memories.

2 Live Crew – As Nasty as they want to be (1989)

As a budding teenager, this is the first group that have really made used of sexually explicit lyrics to make music. One of their popular singles - The F*ck Shop, left a deep impact in my mind. Of course, being a teenager at that time, it was cool to be able to rap the lyrics to impressed mates around school.

EMF – Unbelievable (1990)

Unbelievably good, this song became one of the anthems of the 1990s. With all the mystery in the initials and the lack of information now found through the World Wide Web, speculation on what E.M.F. really meant was one of the hot topics.

Guns and Roses – Use your Illusions (1991)

Metallica – Black Album (1991)

Nirvana - Smell's like Teen Spirit (1991)

1991 was a good year for music, producing legendary performances by Metallica, Nirvana and Guns and Roses. All three of the above mentioned albums have been so widely played that I can almost hum to any one their songs with ease. Funnily it was more to the mid 90s when I started listening to some of the more popular tunes like Enter Sandman, Smells like Teen Spirit and Estranged. It’s been almost 20 years since the emergence of these albums and the mid 90s has seen a duplication of many similar sounding bands, the alternative rock movement for example. Some of these successes will not be replicated and after such a long time, it may be better to let has beens remain as has beens, so please do us a favour Axl, don’t come back…

Beyond – 繼續革命 (1992)

This was before the unfortunate incident which left this quartet as a trio. Ever since Wong Ka Kui passed on, the band has never been the same. True, some remember one or two songs after Ka Kui’s passing, but you imagine most of the records sold were more of a sympathy purchase. Most of Beyond’s old songs are still largely popular with the Cantonese speaking world with Paul still lending a hand to the underground movements in Hong Kong. Legendary band, legendary songs and I still remember singing their undisputed most renown song during one of my friends wedding back in 2005. Stuff made for legends, ‘nuff said.

Radiohead – Creep (1993)

The lead singer still insist to date that he doesn’t particularly enjoy the success this song has garnered throughout the years, but it will stick to me as the song that opened my eyes to the Brit pop and alternative movement (again in the mid 90s). Of course, it also reminded me on the dreadfulness of piracy as for years I assumed that the name of the band singing this song was Pablo Honey. I got a recap of this song in Sydney while watching a Vietnamese movie starring HKs Tony Leung, Cyclo and it’s moved on to become of my favourite karaoke songs that I try to belt out (rather pathetically) after a couple of Johnnie’s.

Green Day – Dookie (1994)

One of the albums of my high school years, this dog shit was rather good shit. I used to think that Billy Joel started an extra band just to expand his already wide musical credentials.

Oasis - What's the Story Morning Glory (1995)

I’d like to think of Oasis as the band that reconfirmed my belief in Brit pop. Although one or two of Blur’s songs are still rated highly in my book, Oasis stands up there next to the Beatles. Much of my college years were spent singing about Sally and how we should not put our life in the hands of a rock and roll band. Liam and Noel looked smug on the wall in my bedroom poster for a good couple of years.

Suede – Beautiful Ones (1996)

One of the songs that used to get the party going back in Sydney in the year 1999, its amazing how everyone used to thing they were beautiful. Yes, even us guys.

Ben Folds Five – Brick (1997)

This song brings back memories about time spent in a room during the Sydney years in Unilodge. Although the days spent in there were never as dark as the song, some of the experiences were. Still, I’ve got a copy of this single stuck somewhere back ‘home’. Thanks to the baughty noy.

Smashing Pumpkins – Adore (1998)

People still don’t believe it when I say I saw them in Sydney back in 98. Well, I did. And it was really good. Although not as good as I expected as they were touring to promote their new album Adore, so they didn’t get around singing more of that Mellon Collie stuff. Still, to see Billy in action with the rest of the crew was a once in the lifetime experience I’ll never forget.

Smash Mouth - All Star (1999)

One of the funny bands, Smash Mouth has never been one of my favourite bands, but the All Star song has always got a special place in my mind. For some reason memories of the Beach Club resurface – times when you’re young, dumb and time just stands still.