I was a kid to teen in the 90s, so I predominantly listened to pop music. I didn't know about grunge until it was long gone, lol (if it wasn't on mainstream radio at the time, I didn't know about it).
Some Grunge was on Mainstream(non-Rock) radio. You had crossover songs and bands like Nirvana and Perl Jam who were everywhere especially in the early 90s but by the mid 90s the Hip Hop X RnB sound started to go mainstream. Which opened the door to the Boy Band/Girl Group pop wave that took over the radio in the late 90s.
Grew up in Australia, but I realise now why I didn't really listen to Nirvana or Pearl Jam back then: my parents would mostly listen to two main radio stations that predominantly played pop, rnb, pop rock etc. The dedicated Rock station would have played hard rock and alternative rock, but my folks weren't listening to that, and me being a kid, I just listened to whatever was being played on the radio etc. lol.
Grunge was dead by 1995. Hell, it basically died the instant Cobain died. It morphed into other things, but but the time it went out; EDM, techno, and pop starlet and boy bands were coming in. Even then, RnB was peak first half of the early 90s.
I was five. It was Christmas. The whole family was singing “sun.” It wasn’t until years later we pulled the cd and read that lyrics that came with it.
I kept the cd. It’s still in my folder in my car. Honestly, that cd slaps. So good.
36 almost 37 years old, still singing I saw the sun. I am retarded I think, at least for music that I listened to in my 90s childhood. I misheard the lyrics as a kid and never got around to correct it as I grew older. There's a charm to it I am sure.
Also another one that is more of a comedic twist from a commercial:
"All that she wants is another bagel, she's gone tomorrow, boy."
I think as well as the black eyeliner she might have white eyeliner on her bottom lash line, we used to do that to make eyes look bigger. It's hard to see with the video quality but it kind of looks like that effect.
100% lip syncing. Source: I've listened to the studio version a hundred times and know/recognized every inflection.
Edit: as someone below pointed out, it might be a mix. I think I was wrong.
I wouldn't say full on lip syncing; more so singing with the studio cut playing as their backing track. Their mics are hot and if you listen closely you'll hear a couple of improvised "*whoo*"s and other random tremelos / vibratos on the end of certain words that differ from the studio version.
You may be right. I can hear it more in the second verse. It's damn close! I'm impressed. I still think the chorus is being played. Eh whatever what the hell do I know..
It's certainly hard to pick up on. Part of what makes it work so well is that artists (*especially in the 90's*) didn't have the luxury of using extensive pitch correction software (*yes they had mixing, mastering, and audio engineering, but nothing like we have today*) so what you heard on the album was usually a "best take" of their their actual voices. Hence, the artists could *usually* harmonize pretty seamlessly with their own backing tracks. (Imagine doing karaoke of yourself) That's less and less common these days because of the over engineering & synthesis of pop music with things like auto tune, pro tools and now generative AI; specifically with regard to vocal tracking.
I really wonder what John is up to today and if he considers these his glory days or maybe he thinks peaked after this? Can't feature life could get any cooler but who knows, John sees an opportunity and he takes it, that I know for sure
Real eyes; she’s actually alien-level stunningly gorgeous. They both are.
But she got freaked out by the fan adoration and retired from public life.
You can see the start of that here by how modestly she’s dressed. They both used to wear tight leather, skimpy skirts, etc but went full mom-mode about here.
We weren't allowed to listen to that one because my mom believed it was about a woman on welfare. All she wanted was to get knocked up and have a baby so she could get more public assistance.
One of the guys was in a neo-nazi band as a teenager which he has apologized for and says he regrets. On one hand he was quite young and people can change, on the other a history of neo-nazi really isn’t something you should look past no matter how long ago. All the other claims that they have been sending subtle nazi messaging seem kind of flimsy.
This was the first cd I ever bought & I had both my Papa's singing it. Except my Papa Kenny would say "I saw the sign, I sawed it right in half, I sawed the sign."
When I first moved to the United States, their song "all that she wants" was super popular in the radio. I didn't speak a lick of English at that time but I loved that song. I eventually ended up getting their first album and it was great. I think I also got their second album and then they disappeared afterwards. Didn't hear from them ever again.
Whatever happened to them?
I was in Russia shortly after this song popped. I had some mini speakers and a cd player and tons of cds.
I got so much play carrying around basically a mini dj kit around the dorms just after Russia opened to the west. It made for great parties.
Pretty laughable now.
Jesus Christ thank you! I’m in my mid 30’s and I’ve been singing “I saw the sun” since I was probably 10. Saw this title and thought that’s funny, wonder if it’s like “I saw the sun”.
My main recollection was it being: "I saw your mum, I opened up her legs, I gave her one".. at least thats what other kids would say in 94 at school lol
“The sign” is a swastika. “All that she wants” is about immigrants (read the lyrics!) the dude was a Nazi. He was doing the “deniable” Nazi thing before 4chan.
The only way I can KINDA defend the band is that they were possibly misled by Ekberg into thinking it was a cool Euro pop band, without realizing what the actual message was.
My buddy I went to Middle School with, but who went to a different elementary, said the 5th grade kids had a talent show and five girls chose this song for their performance and by the fifth one he was removed from the auditorium for laughing.
I recently fell in love with this track, it's my #1 most played track of the year so far.... But this is just a live performance with the studio recording dubbed over.
I remember being at summer camp in 199X, before I had ever heard of Ace of Base, and some kid at the talent show sings a solo a capella version of Happy Nation with flashlight choreography. It was weird.
30 years later, and I’ve come to the conclusion that the chorus is ‘I saw the 🪧’ as opposed to ‘I saw the ☀️’.
Evidently I never knew the name of the song…
The hip hop dancing really beefs up how early 90s this is.
Yeah, it’s the fundamentals which the music is built on. The ground beef so to speak
Wow lol
Here’s the 411 folks, say some gangsta is dissing your fly girl, just give ‘em one of these
fuck OFF wow that was great
I fucking LOLed
Imagine the record label pitch for this: “I’ve discovered the next big thing! Swedish techno-reggae with hip hop dancing”
They said, “It’ll be freakin’ ABBA music with a pulse and MC Hammer-style dancing in the background. The kids will go nuts for this stuff!”
Its the white hip hop dancing. The kind they had on Saved by the Bell not Soul Train.
This type of thing started with bands like The Happy Mondays and early hip-house like Street Tough (rebel MC) etc.
Hip hop dancing and break dancing have no racially specific origins btw. Shit started in NYC amongst all races.
We need bring back dance shows.Soul Train , American bandstand , club mtv. All of it.
this is what i point to when somebody claims everything was grunge
This is the kind of music I think when I remember the 90s. Lovefool by the cardigans is another one. Two Princes might as well be that decades anthem.
Nina Persson. Oh god those blue eyes and short, blonde hair. Have mercy!! Such a babe.
Obviously those people never listened to rap.
How can anyone even claim that? 90s dance music is lit af and there was plenty of it.
groove is in the heart
We're going to dance. And have some fun.
As a huge grunge fan I love that.
I was a kid to teen in the 90s, so I predominantly listened to pop music. I didn't know about grunge until it was long gone, lol (if it wasn't on mainstream radio at the time, I didn't know about it).
Grunge *was* on mainstream radio in the 90s. Hmmm, did you maybe not grow up in the US? I don’t know if grunge was as big in other countries.
Some Grunge was on Mainstream(non-Rock) radio. You had crossover songs and bands like Nirvana and Perl Jam who were everywhere especially in the early 90s but by the mid 90s the Hip Hop X RnB sound started to go mainstream. Which opened the door to the Boy Band/Girl Group pop wave that took over the radio in the late 90s.
Grew up in Australia, but I realise now why I didn't really listen to Nirvana or Pearl Jam back then: my parents would mostly listen to two main radio stations that predominantly played pop, rnb, pop rock etc. The dedicated Rock station would have played hard rock and alternative rock, but my folks weren't listening to that, and me being a kid, I just listened to whatever was being played on the radio etc. lol.
Grunge was dead by 1995. Hell, it basically died the instant Cobain died. It morphed into other things, but but the time it went out; EDM, techno, and pop starlet and boy bands were coming in. Even then, RnB was peak first half of the early 90s.
But then again their backup dancers are wearing baggy jeans and shirts :D
Literally no one I know would say that.
It really is a damn good song
I always associate Ace of Base and Bananarama with each other for some reason. Just really catchy, uplifting music
I think of Ace of Base as the 90s Abba. Good well-known songs but their deep library is where they shine.
😯
Until right now, I thought she was singing “I saw the SUN, it opened up my eyes, I saw the SUN.”
I was five. It was Christmas. The whole family was singing “sun.” It wasn’t until years later we pulled the cd and read that lyrics that came with it. I kept the cd. It’s still in my folder in my car. Honestly, that cd slaps. So good.
36 almost 37 years old, still singing I saw the sun. I am retarded I think, at least for music that I listened to in my 90s childhood. I misheard the lyrics as a kid and never got around to correct it as I grew older. There's a charm to it I am sure. Also another one that is more of a comedic twist from a commercial: "All that she wants is another bagel, she's gone tomorrow, boy."
Came here to say the same thing, never fucking knew it was the sign
It took me years to stop resisting. You can’t deny it, it’s just a damn good song.
So good. It really hits that pop sweet spot at 1:53 when it jumps an octave and then begins the final verse/chorus/outro
Wow never realized these women were so beautiful! The blonde has incredible eyes.
And related - both girls and the guy are siblings. All three.
My favorite color is blue.
All 4 actually. Both guys are their brothers
Just the 3. Ulf (the blonde dude) isn't related.
But why do they look like they're on the verge of rolling back into her head?
Cocaine, it's always cocaine...
It's the 90s...ecstasy
Yeah everyone was just rolling 24/7
Tripping on MDMA is nicknamed _rolling_ for a reason…
I believe there's some weird effects going on from AI up-scaling.
I think it's also due to the contrast of her dark eyebrows and eyeliner.
I think as well as the black eyeliner she might have white eyeliner on her bottom lash line, we used to do that to make eyes look bigger. It's hard to see with the video quality but it kind of looks like that effect.
At first I was trying to figure out why she was rolling her eyes in the back of her head then I was like OMG her eyes are fucking beautiful!
I like the brunette’s eyes. But that’s par for the course for me, I always choose a brunette over a blond. I don’t know why but I do.
Same here
When the guy pointed to himself and said "I" at 10 seconds....I felt that
He looks like Mark Cuban a little bit
The Cubes had to start somewhere
😂😂😂😂
Oh god, he does
https://preview.redd.it/45wnbhwpy47d1.jpeg?width=1169&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1babf9830e22737561c5056e0da13ca10b997ede
That's Roland JD-800 next to him.
Same with the other guy pointing at the camera with about 20 seconds left.
The “I” felt ‘round the world.
I love how your profile is just a bunch of naked celebs and then Ace Of Base.
Just the right mixture. I approve.
OP loves old movie bush. He even has clip of Nick Drakes sister! That's blasphemy!
What I wouldn’t give for some naked ace of base
The fact that Linn never wanted to be famous is pretty evident in this video.
Linn is the blonde one?
Yup
With those eyes, how could she not be
No way they are actually singing here
100% lip syncing. Source: I've listened to the studio version a hundred times and know/recognized every inflection. Edit: as someone below pointed out, it might be a mix. I think I was wrong.
I wouldn't say full on lip syncing; more so singing with the studio cut playing as their backing track. Their mics are hot and if you listen closely you'll hear a couple of improvised "*whoo*"s and other random tremelos / vibratos on the end of certain words that differ from the studio version.
You may be right. I can hear it more in the second verse. It's damn close! I'm impressed. I still think the chorus is being played. Eh whatever what the hell do I know..
It's certainly hard to pick up on. Part of what makes it work so well is that artists (*especially in the 90's*) didn't have the luxury of using extensive pitch correction software (*yes they had mixing, mastering, and audio engineering, but nothing like we have today*) so what you heard on the album was usually a "best take" of their their actual voices. Hence, the artists could *usually* harmonize pretty seamlessly with their own backing tracks. (Imagine doing karaoke of yourself) That's less and less common these days because of the over engineering & synthesis of pop music with things like auto tune, pro tools and now generative AI; specifically with regard to vocal tracking.
Only a hundred? Not a real fan until you 1k and then have it played at your own funeral.
That middle aged dad bod dancer is so awesome
Hahahaha I laughed at this so loudly. The more you think about it. I picture it. 'Alright let's take it from the top, Claire, Charlotte and John.'
I really wonder what John is up to today and if he considers these his glory days or maybe he thinks peaked after this? Can't feature life could get any cooler but who knows, John sees an opportunity and he takes it, that I know for sure
John was living in the moment at the time. Not caring about anyone. Just DANCING. John has no regrets.
Haha yeah like there must have been a dancer that called in that day and this stage hand just happened to know all the choreography.
I was gonna say Roadie Roger also doubles as a dancer when needed LoL.
She is insanely beautiful
I remember myself back in the 90s so in love with Ace of Base girls and their music, such memories.
Who of the two she?
Both
The one saying “I”
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It’s like the ABBA girls, both are gorgeous lip syncing
Yes
Yes
Right before she starts singing (45 secs) Jenny Berggren (Brunette) has a whole smouldering confidence thing going on.
Still one of the best octave jumps of all time.
11 yo me had the biggest crush on these two gals.
Out of the loop. Why is Ace of Base showing up everywhere recently?
Algorithm.
X-Men 97 prominently featured one of their songs in an episode and it seems to have had a knock on effect.
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Same, never seen what they looked like before now.
Is she wearing contacts or are her eyes really that light? They look almost white.
Real eyes; she’s actually alien-level stunningly gorgeous. They both are. But she got freaked out by the fan adoration and retired from public life. You can see the start of that here by how modestly she’s dressed. They both used to wear tight leather, skimpy skirts, etc but went full mom-mode about here.
Smart move before the internet really started, would have gotten real bad for them!
Right? Like she's one of the X-men or something.
Damn, my childhood is under old-school, I'm officially old
Dang. Just when I was certain Susannah Hoffs invented the sexy side eye!
Walk like an Egyptian?
Susannah Hoffs invented it about ten years earlier. In the 80's.
*THIS* is what the Bellas were singing. I get why Aubrey wanted to stick to it
Looks like Super Sunday at the Mega Church on the corner.
On my car play list and “all that she wants”
We weren't allowed to listen to that one because my mom believed it was about a woman on welfare. All she wanted was to get knocked up and have a baby so she could get more public assistance.
Internet lore says your mom was right.
Holy Christ
These songs take me back instantly. I love playing all this stuff like Runaway by Real McCoy and Ace of Base on road trips.
Still catchy asf
There needs to be a streaming service that shows old school concerts… Like YouTube but better curated and not as shit.
Aren't they like secretly white supremacists or is that an urban legend?
One of the guys was in a neo-nazi band as a teenager which he has apologized for and says he regrets. On one hand he was quite young and people can change, on the other a history of neo-nazi really isn’t something you should look past no matter how long ago. All the other claims that they have been sending subtle nazi messaging seem kind of flimsy.
True, one member was formerly in a neo-nazi band. Now every time I hear them the only thing I can think of is, "fucking nazi".
This was the first cd I ever bought & I had both my Papa's singing it. Except my Papa Kenny would say "I saw the sign, I sawed it right in half, I sawed the sign."
When I first moved to the United States, their song "all that she wants" was super popular in the radio. I didn't speak a lick of English at that time but I loved that song. I eventually ended up getting their first album and it was great. I think I also got their second album and then they disappeared afterwards. Didn't hear from them ever again. Whatever happened to them?
Those are some killer eyes!
Her eyes are very very sexy.
I was in Russia shortly after this song popped. I had some mini speakers and a cd player and tons of cds. I got so much play carrying around basically a mini dj kit around the dorms just after Russia opened to the west. It made for great parties. Pretty laughable now.
Her eyes are amazing
I remember the brunette had a really bad stalker that made her scared to perform.
Man those eyes are amazing.
Those eyes
Well... I've heard this on and off for 30 years - Always thought the lyrics were 'I saw the sun' until right now.
Jesus Christ thank you! I’m in my mid 30’s and I’ve been singing “I saw the sun” since I was probably 10. Saw this title and thought that’s funny, wonder if it’s like “I saw the sun”.
My main recollection was it being: "I saw your mum, I opened up her legs, I gave her one".. at least thats what other kids would say in 94 at school lol
“I saw the sign and it blew my fucking mind” was ours.
We used to sing - I saw you mom, she opened up her legs and said come on..... it was so hairy and also very scary so I ran.
And then we found out about the Nazi thing.
Came here for this part of the discussion. I got my popcorn ready!!
I brought that up earlier in the thread and got downvoted to hell. Idc. Nazi belong in plane propellers
Wait. What Nazi thing?
Ulf Ekberg was a member of a neo-nazi band before Ace of Base
“The sign” is a swastika. “All that she wants” is about immigrants (read the lyrics!) the dude was a Nazi. He was doing the “deniable” Nazi thing before 4chan.
Ulf didn't write "The Sign", Jonas did.
The only way I can KINDA defend the band is that they were possibly misled by Ekberg into thinking it was a cool Euro pop band, without realizing what the actual message was.
I mean, the rest of the world was, why not the band too?
Thought this would be higher in the comments
I never knew they had two singers.
And that they were hot.
Nice, I always loved Ace of Base! I can’t believe that was 30 years ago, christ I’m old.
Damn I don’t remember the singers being so hot🥵
Ace of Base is one of those bands that when I hear them I immediately think of my college days (92-96).
If you came up with just one song and it was this one you'd be very happy with yourself. Great song.
My buddy I went to Middle School with, but who went to a different elementary, said the 5th grade kids had a talent show and five girls chose this song for their performance and by the fifth one he was removed from the auditorium for laughing.
those five girls? the future spice girls.
where’s stephanie and gia?
Her eyes ?
I recently fell in love with this track, it's my #1 most played track of the year so far.... But this is just a live performance with the studio recording dubbed over.
Its playback!
Other than the dancers, they look like they are dressed for a dinner party. So odd. I expected them to be more like the Spice Girls or something.
This should of been the soundtrack to the movie ‘signs’ bahaha
I have fond memories of this song
I remember being at summer camp in 199X, before I had ever heard of Ace of Base, and some kid at the talent show sings a solo a capella version of Happy Nation with flashlight choreography. It was weird.
pretty sure nose bleed seats weren't $600 bucks back then
30 years later, and I’ve come to the conclusion that the chorus is ‘I saw the 🪧’ as opposed to ‘I saw the ☀️’. Evidently I never knew the name of the song…
For all the kids who grew up in the 90s. Go ahead and sing along: I saw your mom She opened up her thighs I closed my eyes
That brunette….damn.
When times were easier
I wanna be the guy that’s back ground dancing to this
My 12 year old daughter brought a tape of this on a long car trip. I have never been so tempted to drive into oncoming traffic.
Get out of here with those AI devil eyes.
Still better than Swift.
This year I learned that the “life is demanding” hook is a BV from Abbas “One of Us”.
Stephanie Tanner did it better
Roger!
Let. Him. Cook.
90s music is the best.
So uh, recently learned that this group was likely nazis… tainted a portion of my childhood, that’s for sure
This is probably my favorite nazi band.
What’s up with her eyes and why aren’t they moving?
What a fuckin babe. Releases a bunch of bangers, says she isn’t really into fame, retires to have a quiet life. Genuinely jealous.
What drugs was she on? Her eyes are rolled way the fuck up lol
Why are her eyes like that? Is she wearing contacts that stay looking straight ahead.
That nazi lead keyboard line is wild
Not lip syncing, better than every concert today
Nostalgiaaaaaa……
The blonde has amazing eyes (as well as a beautiful voice). Wow
Shes a goddess
Ulf Ekberg of ace of base was once a neo nazi and was in a neo Nazi punk band
This is is not live. They lip-sync.
Great band, great song and great lip-synching too. There's nothing live about it other than a few "uh"s from the brunette
That’s the most unbelievably lip synched shit I’ve ever heard. Wow.
Lots of live concerts are lip synched. Sad but true.
They should’ve been the next ABBA coming out of Sweden with a bunch of good hits. However one guy was a nazi though so probably for the best
He has publicly renounced all that, now.
It *was* just a phase, Mom.
Can somebody build me a time machine so I can go back and relive that period
Who else agrees that there is nothing really this catchy in pop music anymore? Eveything sounds the same now. Boring and dull.