Image provided by: Texas A&M University
About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 18, 2000)
rsit AGGIELIFE iiesday, January 18, 2(XX) THE BATTALION Page 3 <i DCIUSA I'll ing 80 pore tlgl! 1999 brings new talent to spotlight while older trends become obsolete By Jeff Wolfshohl Photos by Kimber Huff he trends in music today are a reflection of society, and looking back at what music has dominated the pop charts of ’99, teens were in charge. Latin fever struck America with a vengeance. The first steam engine was Ricky Martin. His high-energy performance at the 1999 Grammy Awards earned him a standing ovation as well as viewers' attention. At the time, Martin was working on his first English-language album and his perfor mance at the awards gave him a respectable platform from which to leap. liis first single, '‘Livin' La Vida Loca," quickly climbed the charts and was heard on radio stations every other 10 minutes. According to Billboard maga/ine, Mar tin's self-titled album has sold more than sev en million copies, opening the door to other Latin artists. The single, “If You Had My Love", by Jennifer Lopez, had a chart performance that mimicked that of Ricky Martin's. The third contender for Latin artist ex traordinaire is Enrique Iglesias who has re leased two singles, “Alabao” and “Bailam- os” which have performed as strongly as Lopez’s and Martin’s. In addition to the the “Latin invasion,” there was also the resurrection ofbubble-gum music led by Britney Spears, the Backstreet Boys, and others who rushed to join the on slaught of teenage artists that broke onto the music charts. Though the college-educated person may be apprehensive about going to the store and purchasing that... Baby One Xfore Time CD, apparently many others arc not. According to Billboard magazine, the Backstreet Boys’ Millennium has sold more than II million copies followed closely by Britney Spears, who has sold 11 million copies. ‘N Sync’s debut album sold most of its nine million copies this year and Christina Aguilera's debut has garnered multi-platinum status in less than four months. Another trend in the music of'99 was to ward the apathetic, “I do it my way” rockers. Chris Rock, while hosting the 1999 MTV Music Video Awards, best described the atti tude that propels this genre when he com pared Kid Rock's presentation at the awards ceremony to that of a “ghetto pimp.” Music enthusiasts who were searching for an alternative to the “boy bands” received these roek bands with open arms. Speaking of alternatives, alternative music and other proven artists such as Will Smith and Missy "Misdemeanor” Elliot. did not have the same level of success as it had in the past. Recording artists re lied on the strength of older songs, hop ing to reach an equal or better level of success than the original. But alternative itself has undergone a dramatic change in its sound which has al lowed it to be categorized under pop or rock. Even so-called alternative bands, such as Blink 182, have been placed in the pop cat egory by fans who are still true to Nirvana and other “original” alternative bands that focused on rock more than pop. Elowever, because of its absence, there could be a resurgence of alternative music in the future, if the life cycle of alternative music follows that of the bubble-gum genre which has taught listeners that things that die always have a way of coming back. The “circle of life” of music also proved true for songs this year. Recording artists relied on the strength of older songs, hoping to reach an equal or better level of success than the original. The year 2000 will most likely see more covers,bs w ell as repeats and crossovers. Repeats have proven to be successful en deavors; radio listeners may be familiar with the process; a country artist w ill sing the same song of a pop artist (example: Alabama sang 1 “God Must Have Spent a Little More Time y on You." w hich was also recorded 'N Sync). I With crossovers, more non-pop artists 9 will hit the adult contemporary radio stations g| w'ith the same song, but perhaps with a bass- I line alteration (example: Shania Twain's I “Man. 1 Feel Like a Woman”). While there was not much art or creativi ty involved in the hits of 1999, perhaps in the year ahead a breakthrough artist w ill appear that will help musicians emerge from the for mulaic pop that dominated last year’s charts. But if the merciless "circle of life" of the music industry' holds true, in the year 2001 listeners will be singing "Backstreet's back, alright!” again. itney Houston found with Marijuana KA1LUA-KONA, Hawaii (AP)—Whitney Houston was caught OAK MAiBwith 15.2 grams of marijuana at an airport security checkpoint last 22S wELC0* vvee ' < bin boarded her departing flight before police arrived, a news- fpj m. pa per reported Sunday. The Tribune-Herald of Hilo. Hawaii said Ban airport security officer at Keahole-Kona In- Htemational Airport found the marijuana Tues- ■day after he asked the Grammy-winning singer Bto open her bag for inspection. ■ The bag was seized, but the singer walked ■ away when security officers tried to detain her, ■ Police Lt. Robert Hickcox said. I * Houston's United Airlines flight to San I Francisco departed 45 minutes before police I arrived, Hickcox said. Airport security officers, employed by a private company, can [ only arrest passengers for crimes related to airport security. The finn, Wackenhut of I lawaii, declined comment to the Associated Press on Sunday night. An answering service for I louston’s spokesperson, Carol Stone, HOUSTON said Stone was out of the country and could not immediately be reached for comment. A message left with her answering service was not immediately returned on Sunday night to The Associated Press. According to the newspaper, the Hawaii County Police Depart ment’s daily police bulletin noted 15.2 grams of marijuana was re covered at the airport on Tuesday, but did not identify a suspect. Police planned to refer the case to the Hawaii County pros ecutor’s office, a process that could take a month, Hickcox told the newspaper. Police declined to comment to the AP late Sunday. Officials at Arista Records, Elouston’s record label, could not be reached for com ment in either Los Angeles or New York on Sunday night. Possession of 15 grams of marijuana could lead to a drug charge of promotion of a detrimental drug, Hickcox said. The petty misde meanor is punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. Houston has sold millions of records is one of the world’s most successful recording artists. She has also starred in such films as The Bodyguard and Waiting to Exhale. She was nominated this month for four Grammy awards for her latest album, My Love is Your Love. Next Friday leads slow box office weekend LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Ice Cube comedy Next Friday topped the box office for the Martin Luther King Jr. hol iday weekend with $17 million in earn ings, according to industry estimates re leased Monday. Stuart Little was No. 2 for the Friday- through-Monday period with an estimate of$12.6 million in ticket sales. The Hurricane was in third place with $10.7 million, and Girl, Interrupted was fourth at $9.6 million. They moved into wide circulation after opening in limited release last month to be eligible for Oscar consideration. Next Friday opened Wednesday and was No. I despite playing in just 1,103 the aters, compared to 3,092 for Stuart Little. Next Friday earned about $4.8 million per day from Friday to Sunday. New Line Cinema estimated Monday’s pace would slip to about $2.5 million but had hopes for the film’s long-term success. “The original film stayed on the list of top 100 video rentals and sales for 100 weeks, so we knew we had a strong crossover audience for this picture, not just African-Americans,” David Tucker- man, New Line’s executive vice president for distribution, said Monday. Stuart Little has grossed nearly $110 million in five weeks. “We are getting a lot of repeat busi ness, and family groups,” Ed Russell, a spokesperson for Sony's Columbia Pic tures said. “We anticipate better than $ 140 million for the length of its run.” Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Monday at North American the aters, according to studios and Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc. Final figures were to be released Tuesdav. 1. Next Friday, $ 17 million. 2. Stuart Little, $12.6 million. 3. The Hurricane, $10.7 million. 4. Girl, Interrupted, $9.6 million. 5. The Green Mile, $8.7 million. 6. Galaxy Quest, $8 million. 7. The Talented Mr. Ripley, $7 million. 8. Supernova, $6.6 million. 9. Toy Story 2, $6.5 million. 10. Any Given Sunday, $5.7 million. the Santana wins top honors at annual American Music Awards for latest album, Supernatural )j-1 In p Much/ft son 9/ tsmu odu ' 845 0584 LOS ANGELES (AP) - Carlos San tana’s band won best-album honors at Mon day’s American Music Awards for Super natural, a commercial comeback that put the rock guitar maestro on top of the charts for the first time in his 30-year career. Supernatural, mixing Santana’s searing instrumentals with vocals by such collab orators as Dave Matthews and Lauryn I lift, beat out two teen sensations, the Backstreet Boys’ Millennium and Britney Spears’... Baby One More Time. Santana took the stage to a standing ovation. After thanking his parents, sib lings and wife, he invited his producer, Clive Davis, to join him. “Your music has soared,” Davis told Santana. “To musicians everywhere, this is a special moment, be cause it’s this man.” Garth Brooks won for best country al bum for Double Live. “They say live albums never do any thing,” Brooks said. “Thank you once again for not listening to the rules.” DMX won for favorite rap-hip hop artist. “I wouldn’t have done this without Lord and savior Jesus Christ,” he said. Three awards were announced before the show. Red Hot Chili Peppers beat Kid Rock and Limp Bizkit for favorite alterna tive artist, and Phil Collins won for favorite adult contemporary artist over Cher and country star Shania Twain. Wild Wild West was the favorite soundtrack, beatingAustin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me- and Runaway Bride. Spears, Twain and soul singer Whitney Houston led the field with three nomina tions each. And all three were in the run ning for favorite pop-rock female artist at the 27th annual awards show, which aired on ABC from the Shrine Auditorium. Besides adult contemporary artist. Twain was nominated for favorite female country artist. Houston was nominated for (» Editor ditor itor ducer :er Enology Edit* unitofttieDepaitn* 1 ' :alion@otm3il.c(R# and national W* ifficefiouisareSif ion. First copy mmer. n.W 77843-1111 FAMILY OUTREACH VOLUNTEER PROGRAM Family Outreach invites you to help prevent child abuse and neglect in our community Please attend our new volunteer orientation: Monday, January 31 at 6:30pm, TDPRS Building 2400 Osborn, Bryan We offer professional training, supervision and support. No experience is required! Positions are now available in the following areas: In-home Counseling Administration (fundraising, general office, newsletters, etc.) Parent Education Volunteer Recruitment Community Education / Awareness Call Family Outreach of B/CS at 260-CARE for more information female artist and album for My Love Is Your Love in the soul-rhythm and blues categories. Besides pop-rock album, Spears also was up for favorite pop-rock new artist. Houston was departing for Europe on Monday night or Tuesday and did not plan on attending the show. Awards spokesman Paul Shefrin said her absence was unrelat ed to an incident in Hawaii last week, when airport security guards said they found about half an ounce of marijuana in her bag but she boarded her flight before police arrived. Besides pop album, the latest incarna tion of Santana’s band was nominated for Registration: January 17-28 1-5 pm 707 Texas Ave. Suite 210 Bldg. D favorite pop-rock band, duo or group. Oth er nominees in that category were the Backstreet Boys and ’N Sync. The pop- rock male artist nominees were Lenny Kravitz, Ricky Martin and Will Smith. The nominees were chosen by music industry representatives. The winners were decided by about 20,000 music fans nationwide. Besides awards in 20 regular cate gories, the show was to feature results of an Internet poll on listeners’ favorite musi cal artists for each decade from the ‘50s through the ‘80s. The show also included an Award of Merit for Gloria Estefan, who was honored with a musical tribute featuring ’N Sync. Past winners of the award, given in recog nition for American musical contributions, include Benny Goodman, Stevie Wonder, Loretta Lynn and Paul McCartney. Mariah Carey received an Award of Achievement for her “rare and distin guished accomplishments.” Michael Jack- son and Prince are the only previous win ners of that award. Performers scheduled to appear on the three-hour show included Carey, Kravitz, Christina Aguilera and Enrique Iglesias. Comedian Norm Macdonald was the host. English § econc * language clS 3 Conversational English Classes For student, staff, family • Beginning* inter mediate, advanced • Small group lessons Classes begin January 31 696-6583 w w w2 .cy-net .net/- letsta Ik p II 707 Texas Ave Campus Mobil Aggieland Alternator Auto & Mobil Service SUNDAY SPECIAL: OIL CHANGE FILTER & LUBE includes: Windshield • Tire Pressure Check • Washer Filled • Charging System Check • Brake Check • Transmission Check Sunday Price only $ 17.95 reg. $22.50 We Provide Auto Repairs, Maintenance, and State Inspections 815 University Dr. (Next to McDonald's) College Station, TX 77845 260-7272 Shop Hours: Mobil Hours: Mon.- Sat. 7:00 - 9:00 Sun. 8:00 - 9:00 Mon.- Sat. 8:00 - 6:00 Sun. 10:00- 4:00