Were the 90's the most diverse decade of hit music ever?

[HarleyQuinn]

MFer, Venk, and I were in discussion in chat and decided the 90's may have been the most diverse era ever (touching on nearly everything from R&B to Gangsta Rap to Trip Hop to Ska Punk to Grunge to Celtic Music, etc.)

Hell, I'm pretty sure there was a hit that involved the "big band" style.

Thoughts? Examples?

 

[Haws Bah Gawd]

Re: Were the 90's the most diverse era of music ever?

"Big Bands" did become kind of a big deal for a short time. Squirrel Nut Zippers and Cherry Popping Daddies had a surge in popularity around 1998. Brian Setzer became a big deal too for a short time with "Rock This Town". I LOVED "Zoot Suit Riot".

 

[MFer]

Re: Were the 90's the most diverse era of music ever?

Yeah, there were a glut of different genres that got shine in the 90s. Early 90s you had grunge, gangsta rap, techno/house, and the last remnants of hair metal. Mid-90s had a lot of alternative acts, male and female R&B groups, country. Late 90s had bubblegum pop, shiny suit rap, the start of nu metal. 1999 alone had big bands and the Latin wave.

 

[Sesquipedaliantique]

Re: Were the 90's the most diverse era of music ever?

I don't even want to touch this generalisation. Any kind of music to have ever existed is still being performed today. Everything's a revival now and it's no genre is off limits. 90s indie bands had no interest in electronics. Idk, this seems a little off.

 

[HarleyQuinn]

Re: Were the 90's the most diverse era of music ever?

I generally meant hit wise but still have no idea what you just babbled about re: indie bands not being interested in electronics.

Did you miss Trip Hop (Massive Attack & Portishead)? Later mid to late 90s bands included Cibo Matto & Sneaker Pimps.

Radiohead was experimenting with electronica on OK Computer prior to the release of Kid A in 2000. Crystal Method had a #1 US Club hit in 1998. The Prodigy were well known in the mid-90's. Chemical Brothers even had a couple songs break the Top 40 US Dance charts prior to their explosion in the early 2000's.

 

[Sesquipedaliantique]

Re: Were the 90's the most diverse era of music ever?

Yeah, the late 90s were an incredibly open time w/r/t critically acclaimed music. When I think of THE 90s, I'm thinking of the first seven years, which is kind of reductive, but no more so than speaking of specific ten year period as its own era independent of everything that happened not long earlier/later.

I was using 'indie' to refer to a specific sound. It seems the term was more particular/less meaningless then. I like all those artists.