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AGGIELIFE
iiesday, January 18, 2(XX)
THE BATTALION
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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
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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
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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
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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
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We Provide Auto Repairs, Maintenance, and State Inspections
815 University Dr.
(Next to McDonald's)
College Station, TX 77845
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Shop Hours:
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