Apr 01 | This week in 1991

#1 at KUKQ/Phoenix: “Losing My Religion” by R.E.M., the group’s biggest hit and the #1 song of 1991 on many year-end alternative radio charts. The title is an old Southern expression meaning to lose self-control, or to get angry. It has nothing to do with religion.

Ditto for the song at #2,  Enigma’s “Sadeness (Part I)” — despite the Gregorian chants. At #3 is “I Touch Myself” by the Divinyls and yes, that’s what she’s singing about.

Among other cool songs on the Newstuff Alternative Music Survey:

  • Material Issue’s “Valerie Loves Me” (#6), first (and biggest) hit for the Chicago power pop band;
  • Jesus Jones with “International Bright Young Thing” (#8), follow-up to their #1 smash “Right Here Right Now“;
  • A-ha with “Crying In The Rain” (#9), a cover of the Everly Brothers’ 1962 hit;
  • Sisters Of Mercy’s “Detonation Boulevard” (#13), featuring typical Lou Reed-like vocals from Andrew Eldritch;
  • Sonic Youth’s “Dirty Boots” (#25), whose video prominently features a girl wearing a Nirvana t-shirt — half a year before their breakthrough album Nevermind was released;
  • Hoodoo Gurus with “Miss Freelove ’69” (#37), a quasi-psychedelic throwback.

A trio of fish bands are on the chart:

Other food-related band names include:

Truly alternative.

VIEW CHART

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