Throwback Thursday 24.11.16

Our playlist well delve into the depths of 1991...

Today marks 25 years to the day since the death of Queen singer Freddie Mercury at the age of just 45, from an Aids related illness. In honour of the frontman, this week's playlist will venture back to 1991.

Queen - Innuendo

Innuendo is the fourteenth studio album by the British rock band Queen, released on 5 February 1991. It was the last album the band recorded in Freddie's lifetime as he died just nine months later with bronchial pneumonia.

R.E.M - Losing My Religion

The song was released as the first single from the group's 1991 album Out of Time. R.E.M. guitarist, Peter Buck, wrote the main riff and chorus to the song on a mandolin while watching television one day. Singer, Michael Stipe told Q that "Losing My Religion" is about "someone who pines for someone else. It's unrequited love, what have you."

Michael Jackson - Black or White

The award winning singer definitely faced his share of criticism and controversy during his life-long career. Whether it was sexual allegations or abuse of power, Whacko Jacko was a tainted household name. In the mid 80s Michael's skin began to become noticeably paler. The change gained widespread media coverage, including rumours that he might have been bleaching his skin. Several years later he came out with Black or White in an attempt at "a rock 'n' roll dance song about racial harmony" it drew more attention to the singer's skin bleaching.

The Simpsons - Do the Bartman

It's strange to think back to a point where not only was America's favourite family dominating the small screen, they were smashing it on the charts too. It was performed by The Simpsons cast member Nancy Cartwright,the voice of Bart Simpson, (yes, Bart is voiced by a woman), with backing vocals from Michael Jackson. While the song was never officially released as a single in the States, it did top the charts in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway, and the UK.

Salt -N- Pepa - Let's Talk About Sex

This Billboard topping track earned its place with it's approach to safe sex. The song talks about safe sex, the positive and negative sides of sex and the censorship around that time in American mainstream media.

Vanilla Ice - Ice Ice Baby

Ice Ice Baby is a hip hop song written by American rapper Vanilla Ice and DJ Earthquake based on the bassline of Under Pressure by Queen and David Bowie, who did not initially receive songwriting credit or royalties until after it had become a hit. It went on to become the first hip hop single to top the Billboard charts and is still a popular anthem for any playlist.