Which music artist defined the 90's?

[studfeet]

Elvis ruled the 50s
The Beatles ruled the 60s
Elton John ruled the 70s
Michael Jackson ruled the 80s

Who ruled the 90s?

 

[chicago]

hard to pick one, there was a lot of big stars in multiple genres

whitney madonna janet

biggie 2pac snoop

pearl jam rhcp nirvana

 

[The Internet]

There was no one artist that dominated the decade. In rock, you'd have to give it to Kurt Corbain since he offed himself so immediately, and was so imitated. In hip hop, Biggie or Tupac. Then you had the electronic dance music scene, which was a big part of the sound of the 90s. The Beastie Boys straddled all of that pretty well. Every album they put out during the 90s was a bit of an "event".

For me, personally, it would be someone like Bjork, or Jeff Buckley, something like that, but not necessarily for the greater culture at large.

Everybody had "Doggystyle". Beck's "Odelay" was huge, you couldn't go out without hearing those songs. The three Beasties albums from the 90s were heard everywhere. Wu Tang Clan, and "Ready To Die". In the early part of the decade, Janes Addiction and Red Hot Chili Peppers were gigantic,but then quickly imploded. In the later half of the decade, Radiohead was something alot of people were listening to.

 

[lostphilosopher]

To avoid just repeating what chicago and The Internet said, I'm just going to say I agree with both of them.


"Come as you are, as you were, as I want you to be, as a friend, as a friend, as an known enemy." - Nirvana (Cobain)

 

[BritishSteel]

Here in England, it was bands like Oasis, The Verve, Pulp, and the Manic Street Preachers who really defined our musical decade, at least in the mainstream. The Manics were probably my personal favourite, simply because of how well-written their songs were, and how awesome their visual imagery was.

Going a little bit more towards the heavier side of things, I'd say Pantera, Marilyn Manson, and Slipknot were all pretty definitive. Pantera carried on the 80s metal legacy, albeit to a far heavier and brutal degree than previously. Manson made rock and roll genuinely dangerous and shock-inducing again, and when Slipknot came onto the scene, masks and all, that was something isn't easily forgotten. Watch the music video for 'Wait and Bleed', and you'll see what I mean.

 

[chicago]

Reading BritishSteel's response reminded me of Massive Attack. Only recently got into them, but wished I had much sooner. Thanks for that perspective and for also including other genres. Hopefully, it inspires more folk to chime in because I think it could lead to some interesting finds for us melophiles. 😀

 

[Bohemianne]

The sounds of Nirvana, Oasis, Soundgarden, Radiohead, RHCP... Tool, HIM, NIN, Metallica, Behemoth...

 

[Tenebrae]

To me, the band who sums best the spirit of the time would be The Offspring I don't think anyone in particular "ruled" the era though