"The Waiting" served as the lead single from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' album "Hard Promises," released in 1981. It achieved moderate success, peaking at number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. Additionally, it reached the top spot on the magazine's new Rock Tracks chart, where it remained for six consecutive weeks during the summer of 1981.
Tom Petty revealed that the song took a while to write, drawing inspiration from a line he heard from either Roger McGuinn or Janis Joplin. The chorus came quickly, but crafting the rest of the song proved challenging. It encapsulates the uncertainty of waiting for dreams to come true, yet Petty viewed it as an optimistic anthem.
Tom Petty's performance of "The Waiting" during a tour with The Replacements in 1989 sparked introspection within the band. Frontman Paul Westerberg observed the crowd's enthusiastic response to the song's "yeah-yeah-yeah" part and concluded that he and his bandmates didn't possess the qualities required for mainstream success in popular music.
Record World lauded Tom Petty's vocal delivery on "The Waiting," noting that the guitars conveyed a sense of passion and energy, creating a vibrant atmosphere that could uplift even the most cynical listener. The song marked a pinnacle in what Rolling Stone senior writer David Fricke described as the Heartbreakers' "golden twang" era.
TOM PETTY - FREE FALLIN’
Released: October 27, 1989
Charted: US: #7 UK: #59
"Free Fallin'" is the opening track from Tom Petty's debut solo album, “Full Moon Fever”. Co-written with Jeff Lynne, who also contributed backing vocals and bass guitar, the song was composed and recorded in just two days. It became the first track completed for the album.
In the creative process behind "Free Fallin'," Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne simplified their approach, focusing on three basic chords. Lynne's suggestion to strip away complexity led to Petty spontaneously singing the iconic opening lines. Lynne coined the title, while Petty experimented to find the ideal vocal delivery for the phrase.
Along with Jeff Lynne, the other creative driver on the album was Mike Campbell, guitarist in Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers. During the making of the album with Lynne, Campbell found renewed inspiration. Lynne's innovative approach revitalized their studio sessions, breaking away from the band's previous struggles. Campbell described Lynne's method as dynamic and efficient, with each session resulting in a completed track within hours. Lynne's mastery of production and arrangement techniques left a lasting impression on Campbell and Petty, making the project an exhilarating learning experience akin to musical college.
"Free Fallin'" offers insight into Los Angeles culture, referencing specific locations like Reseda, Mulholland, and Ventura Boulevard, while also exploring themes of casual exploitation and detachment. Tom Petty's outsider perspective, as a transplant from Gainesville, Florida, lent authenticity to his portrayal of LA life.
The Julien Temple-directed music video, featuring skateboarding and appearances by legendary skater Mark "Gator" Rogowski, showcased action sports before they gained mainstream popularity demonstrating Petty's knack for capturing cultural shifts ahead of their time.
"Free Fallin'" is celebrated as one of Tom Petty's finest compositions, earning high praise from Billboard, Rolling Stone, and WatchMojo, which rank it among Petty's greatest songs.
CUTTING CREW - (I JUST) DIED IN YOUR ARMS
Publicació: 25 de juliol de 1986
Llistes: Regne Unit: #4 EUA: #1 (2 setmanes)
"(I Just) Died in Your Arms" és el primer senzill de Cutting Crew, llançat al juliol de 1986 des del seu àlbum "Broadcast". La cançó, escrita pel líder Nick Van Eede i produïda per Terry Brown, John Jansen i la banda, es va convertir en el seu èxit més gran, arribant al número u als Estats Units, Canadà, Noruega i Finlàndia, i al top cinc a diversos altres països, inclosos el Regne Unit i Alemanya.
Nick Van Eede va treure inspiració d'una relació real per "(I Just) Died in Your Arms". Va revelar que la cançó va ser escrita sobre la seva parella, que també és la mare de la seva filla. Després d'estar separats durant un any, es van tornar a reunir una nit, cosa que va inspirar la cançó. Van Eede va escriure les lletres bàsiques en una hora a la matinada següent i va completar la maqueta en tres dies.
Nick Van Eede va compartir la seva experiència amb Siren Records, una subsidiària de Virgin Records, durant la dècada de 1980. Malgrat estar signats amb Siren, que formava part de Virgin, Cutting Crew sempre es van sentir una mica aïllats. Tot i això, Virgin va invertir molt en la banda durant la dècada dels 80, portant-los a Nova York per a les gravacions inicials i a Austràlia per a les filmacions dels vídeos. El seu punt d'inflexió va arribar amb el llançament de "(I Just) Died in Your Arms", que va donar a Virgin Records el seu primer número u als Estats Units. Tot i això, a mesura que les tendències musicals van canviar a principis de la dècada dels 90, el focus de l'empresa va canviar i Cutting Crew van quedar marginats.
Es van crear dos vídeos musicals per "(I Just) Died in Your Arms". La versió nord-americana utilitzava talls artístics fragmentats amb una model, intercalats amb escenes de la banda actuant directament davant la càmera. En contrast, la versió del Regne Unit es va filmar en un estudi, mostrant la banda tant en color com en blanc i negre.
CUTTING CREW - (I JUST) DIED IN YOUR ARMS
Released: July 25, 1986
Charted: UK: #4 US: #1 (2 weeks)
"(I Just) Died in Your Arms" is the debut single by Cutting Crew, released in July 1986 from their album "Broadcast." The song, written by frontman Nick Van Eede and produced by Terry Brown, John Jansen, and the band, became their biggest hit, reaching number one in the United States, Canada, Norway, and Finland, and the top five in several other countries including the UK and Germany.
Nick Van Eede drew inspiration from a real relationship for "(I Just) Died in Your Arms." He revealed that the song was written about his girlfriend, who is also the mother of his daughter. After being apart for a year, they got back together for one night, which sparked the inspiration for the song. Van Eede wrote the basic lyrics within an hour the morning after and completed the demo within three days.
Nick Van Eede shared his experience with Siren Records, a subsidiary of Virgin Records, during the 1980s. Despite being signed to Siren, which was part of Virgin, Cutting Crew always felt somewhat on the outside. Nonetheless, Virgin invested heavily in the band during the 1980s, flying them to New York for initial recordings and to Australia for video shoots. Their breakthrough came with the release of "(I Just) Died in Your Arms," which gave Virgin Records their first US number one. However, as musical trends shifted in the early 1990s, the company's focus changed, and Cutting Crew felt sidelined.
Two music videos were created for "(I Just) Died in Your Arms." The North American version employed artistic fragmented shots featuring a model, interspersed with scenes of the band performing directly to the camera. In contrast, the UK version was filmed in a studio, showcasing the band both in color and in black and white.
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NIRVANA - SMELLS LIKE TEEN SPIRIT
Publicació: 10 de setembre de 1991
Llistes: EUA: #6 Regne Unit: #7
"Smells Like Teen Spirit" és el tema inicial i el senzill principal del segon àlbum, "Nevermind" (1991). El seu èxit inesperat va propulsar el disc al capdavant de diverses llistes d'àlbums a principis de 1992, marcant l'arribada al mainstream del grunge. La cançó es va convertir en el major èxit de Nirvana, assolint alts llocs a nivell mundial el 1991 i el 1992, arribant al número u a Bèlgica, França, Nova Zelanda i Espanya.
"Smells Like Teen Spirit" va néixer del menyspreu de Kurt Cobain per l'apatia i la conformitat que percebia en la seva generació i en ell mateix. La lletra incloent l'iconic "Oh well, whatever, nevermind," reflecteix aquest sentiment de desconnexió. Krist Novoselic va destacar el menyspreu de Cobain pel mainstream i la crítica de la cançó a la conformitat.
Kurt Cobain va escriure "Smells Like Teen Spirit" per a Nirvana, amb l'objectiu de crear la cançó pop definitiva i prenent inspiració de The Pixies. El títol va sorgir de Kathleen Hanna de Bikini Kill, que va pintar amb aerosol "Kurt Smells Like Teen Spirit" a la paret de l'habitació de Cobain. La intenció de Hanna era insinuar que Cobain feia olor del desodorant Teen Spirit, que portava la seva ex-nòvia Tobi Vail. Cobain va malinterpretar inicialment la referència, pensant que era un reconeixement del seu esperit rebel. L'èxit de la cançó va provocar un augment de les vendes del desodorant Teen Spirit, tot i que no es menciona a la lletra.
El vídeo musical va ser un gran èxit a MTV, presentant un concepte de "Rally de l'infern" gravat als estudis de Culver City a Califòrnia. Dirigit per Samuel Bayer, va mostrar una escena d'institut amb extras reclutats d'un espectacle de Nirvana al The Roxy Theater. La gravació va durar al voltant de 12 hores, amb participants frustrats que finalment van destrossar el plató en una autèntica explosió capturada en la pel·lícula. Inspirat en pel·lícules com "Rock And Roll High School" i "Over the Edge", els elements surrealistes del vídeo es van millorar durant l'edició, amb la interpretació frustrada de Kurt Cobain afegint un clímax intens. Les animadores, originalment destinades a ser noies amb sobrepès, van ser reclutades d'un club de striptease local, afegint un gir poc convencional al vídeo.
"Smells Like Teen Spirit" va tenir un paper fonamental en encendre la bogeria pel grunge, caracteritzada per guitarres fortes, lletres plenes d'angoixa i una estètica distintiva amb camises de flanela. Originàries del Nord-oest, bandes de grunge com Pearl Jam i Soundgarden van ser fortament influïdes per l'àlbum innovador de Nirvana "Nevermind". Tot i que Kurt Cobain inicialment va menystenir el terme "grunge" com a una etiqueta sense sentit, el seu baixista Krist Novoselic el va descriure com un so de guitarra cru i orgànic que definia el gènere.
"Smells Like Teen Spirit" va marcar un punt d'inflexió per al gènere musical "alternatiu", que tradicionalment implicava manca de popularitat mainstream. L'èxit de la cançó va portar a una redefinició de "alternatiu", ja que el va catapultar al mainstream. Per preservar el terme "alternatiu" per a artistes menys mainstream, la indústria va adoptar "rock modern" com a etiqueta de format de ràdio. "Alternatiu" es va convertir llavors en una categoria més àmplia que abarcava la música fora del pop o el country, amb Nirvana convertint-se en emblemàtics de bandes "alternatives clàssiques".
NIRVANA - SMELLS LIKE TEEN SPIRIT
Released: September 10, 1991
Charted: US: #6 UK: #7
"Smells Like Teen Spirit" is the opening track and lead single from the second album, “Nevermind” (1991). Its unexpected success propelled the record to the top of several album charts in early 1992, marking the mainstream arrival of grunge. The song became Nirvana's biggest hit, charting high worldwide in 1991 and 1992, reaching number one in Belgium, France, New Zealand, and Spain.
"Smells Like Teen Spirit" was born from Kurt Cobain's disdain for the apathy and conformity he perceived in his generation and himself. The song's lyrics, including the iconic "Oh well, whatever, nevermind," reflect this sentiment of detachment. Krist Novoselic emphasized Cobain's disdain for the mainstream and the song's critique of conformity.
Kurt Cobain wrote "Smells Like Teen Spirit" for Nirvana, aiming to create the ultimate pop song and drawing inspiration from The Pixies. The title came from Kathleen Hanna of Bikini Kill, who spray-painted "Kurt Smells Like Teen Spirit" on Cobain's bedroom wall. Hanna's intention was to imply that Cobain was marked with the scent of Teen Spirit deodorant, which his ex-girlfriend Tobi Vail wore. Cobain initially misunderstood the reference, thinking it was a nod to his rebellious spirit. The song's success led to a surge in sales of Teen Spirit deodorant, despite it not being mentioned in the lyrics.
The music video was a major hit on MTV, featuring a "Pep Rally from Hell" concept shot at Culver City Studios in California. Directed by Samuel Bayer, it depicted a high school scene with extras recruited from a Nirvana show at The Roxy Theater. The shoot lasted around 12 hours, with frustrated participants eventually smashing up the set in a genuine outburst captured on film. Inspired by films like "Rock And Roll High School" and "Over the Edge," the video's surreal elements were enhanced during editing, with Kurt Cobain's frustrated performance adding an intense climax. The cheerleaders, originally intended to be overweight, were recruited from a local strip club, adding an unconventional twist to the video.
Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" played a pivotal role in igniting the grunge craze, characterized by loud guitars, angst-ridden lyrics, and a distinct flannel-clad aesthetic. Originating from the Northwest, grunge bands like Pearl Jam and Soundgarden were heavily influenced by Nirvana's groundbreaking album "Nevermind." While Kurt Cobain initially dismissed the term "grunge" as a meaningless label, their bass player Krist Novoselic described it as a raw, organic guitar sound that defined the genre.
"Smells Like Teen Spirit" marked a turning point for the "alternative" music genre, which traditionally implied lack of mainstream popularity. The song's success led to a redefinition of "alternative," as it was embraced by the mainstream. To preserve the term "alternative" for less mainstream acts, the industry adopted "modern rock" as a radio format label. "Alternative" then became a broader category encompassing music outside of pop or country, with Nirvana becoming emblematic of "classic alternative" bands.
