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Thank you to NetGalley for the audio version of this book for review.
I spent most of the ’90s raising babies and driving them to and from appointments, that means I spent a lot of time car dancing. It was the wave of nostalgia that caused me to request this title. I miss my babies being little. I miss the time we spent singing and dancing in the car. I miss their little arms wrapped around my neck, the smell of their hair, the giggles… This book brought it all back along with a few laughs and a new appreciation for songs I’d listened to but never really heard before. If you get the chance to listen to this book, and I hope you do, I hope it brings back warm feelings for you too.
BOOK DETAILS
Title: 60 Songs That Explain the ’90s
Author: Rob Harvilla
Narrator: Rob Harvilla
Publisher: Twelve
Publication Date: 14 November 2023
Genre: Music History and Criticism
Format: Audiobook
Listening Time: 9 hours and 6 minutes
ABOUT THE BOOK (from the book)
A companion to the #1 music podcast on Spotify, this book takes readers through the greatest hits that define a weirdly undefinable decade.
The 1990s were a chaotic and gritty and utterly magical time for music, a confounding barrage of genres and lifestyles and superstars, from grunge to hip-hop, from sumptuous R&B to rambunctious ska-punk, from Axl to Kurt to Missy to Santana to Tupac to Britney. In 60 Songs That Explain the ’90s, The Ringer music critic Rob Harvilla reimagines all the earwormy, iconic hits Gen Xers pine for with vivid historical storytelling, sharp critical analysis, rampant loopiness, and wryly personal ruminations on the most bizarre, joyous, and inescapable songs from a decade we both regret entirely and miss desperately.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rob Harvilla is the host of the podcast 60 Songs That Explain the ’90s and a senior staff writer at The Ringer; he’s been a professional rock critic for 20-plus years with stops at the Village Voice, SPIN, Deadspin, and various other alt-weeklies that generally no longer exist.
Keep up with Rob Harvilla on Instagram and X {formerly known as Twitter}. You can also listen to his podcast here.
BOOK REVIEW
Narration
Harvilla’s narration was witty and on point. The flow was relaxing when necessary and pumped when the song demanded.
Overall
Admittedly, my favorite musical genre is 80’s R&B, but I do have a fondness for 90’s music. My kids were born and raised in the 90’s, so there are a lot of memories attached to some of the songs, so this was a fun and nostalgic trip down memory lane for me.
The analysis of The Dixie Chicks’ “Goodbye, Earl” was insightful and touched on points I hadn’t thought of before {even though I rocked out to the song every time it played on the radio}, namely, that the song is less about the unaliving of Earl and more about the drop everything and be there for a friend in need kind of support offered by Mary Anne.
The narrator’s voice was appropriately sarcastic and wistful when needed. There were also hints of embarrassment when he rattled off NSFW song titles.
I’d recommend this audiobook (and this book definitely works better as an audiobook) to anyone with an appreciation for music history and pop culture. Side note, while most of the songs talked about were recorded in the 90s, there are some call backs to past musical icons and hits.
IT’S YOUR TURN
Have you read this book? What are your thoughts? Let’s discuss in the comments below. If you haven’t, feel free to purchase the book using the link below.
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