#hi-five

[sekaiichi-happy]

ME:I 2024, Hi-Five MV Teaser

[tha-wrecka-stow]

[magicmorningmeteora]

Hi-Five into Summer

After a spectacular debut single, ME:I returns with their second one.

Congratulations, ME:I!

[hit-song-showdown]

Year-End Poll #42: 1991

[Image description: a collage of photos of the 10 musicians and musical groups featured in this poll. In order from left to right, top to bottom: Bryan Adams, Color Me Badd, C+C Music Factory, Paula Abdul, Timmy T, EMF, Extreme, Hi-Five, Surface, Amy Grant. End description]

More information about this blog here

As I've stated in previous polls, the charts used to be mostly compiled from retail sales (ranging from physical media to sheet music). This data was gathered by Billboard sending out surveys or calling record stores directly. However, in 1991 Billboard began implementing Nielsen SoundScan and Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems (BDS). The technology first used to compile the country charts in 1990, which helped to give a more accurate picture of listening habits among country music fans. SoundScan and BDS was applied to the Hot 100 and the R&B charts in late 1991. This more objective method of music data collection will be instrumental in more country, hard rock, and rap albums reaching the top of the charts. Of course, there were still gaps in the data, as SoundScan was only able to work with stores with the technology to implement it, so sales from smaller retail venues might not have been tracked as accurately. Billboard has a more detailed article about the program here.

Speaking of rap, there is a moment in the genre's history that I would like to talk about as well. This happened in 1990, but I'm not going to let something trivial like the passage of time get in the way of me rambling about what I want. Miami bass is a subgenre of rap that grew out of (surprise) Miami, Florida. Musically, the sound is known for its heavy bass, electro and dance beat influences, kick drums, and high tempos. But the genre became rather infamous for its sexually explicit lyrics. One of the groups that came under fire for their lyrical content was 2 Live Crew.

In 1989, 2 Live crew released their third album As Nasty as They Wanna Be. A few polls ago, I talked about the creation of the Parental Advisory sticker, where the nature of explicit lyrics was brought all the way to the senate. But apparently, a parental advisory sticker wasn't considered enough for this album. In 1990, the album was ruled as obscene, making it the first album to be legally classified as such. Later that year, the members of 2 Live Crew were arrested for performing it. A record store owner in Florida was even arrested for selling the album to an undercover cop.

As horrible as this was, the news of the arrest made the controversy more of a matter of free speech in the eyes of the public. In 1992, Luke Records v. Navarro reached the Eleventh Circuit where the obscenity ruling was overturned. It's hard to imagine what the music landscape would look like today if that ruling went any other way, and I thought that it was an important moment to talk about as we see the evolution of music on these polls. There is a lot to this case that I couldn't get into, so I'm linking to a short MTV clip and a more detailed article about the arrest.

[culturalappreciator]

Throwback R&B Video of the Week

Hi-Five- Faithful (1993)

[rnbria]

Binder files: 2010 or 2011

[ljaesch]

On May 18, 1991, Hi-Five's "I Like the Way (The Kissing Game)" hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

[nepalsaysrawr]

Hi-5 from a paw

[chloesimaginationthings]

Doey from poppy playtime met someone like him!

[egophiliac]

missed the mark by (looks at calendar) uhhh. hm. but I really wanted to do something for the 5th anniversary! happy five years to these idiots 🎉

[sekaiichi-happy]

HI-FIVE 2024, ME:I

[tha-wrecka-stow]

[magicmorningmeteora]

ME:I (ミーアイ) ⊹ 'Hi-Five' MV Behind

[dekaohtoura]

Hi-Five - Never Should've Let You Go

[blankipur-blog]

I AM LA REVACHOLIÈRE.

I AM THE CITY.

BE VIGILANT.

I LOVE YOU.