The first Hindsight Awards article was so well-received that I have acquiesced to popular demand and have rushed another edition of the Hindsight Awards to the printing press. Of course, this is a web site, not a magazine or newspaper, there’s no need for a printing press. That was really stupid of me to send it off to the printing press. Instead, why don’t I just post this article electronically, as that makes way more sense. In fact, let’s do that right now!
My first thought was to randomly select any awards show (among the Oscars, Emmys, and Grammys) since 1985, and then do what I do, retroactively correct all of the mistakes. I numbered all the awards shows, found a random number generator on the web, and let fate decide what I would correct. The show which was randomly selected was the 2003 Emmys. I was salivating with vengeance as The West Wing’s victory for Outstanding Drama was sure to be sleeping with the fishes due to a historical correction of a Sopranos victory. But then I started thinking, and that is when all the trouble began. One problem with the Emmys is that the same shows are up for awards year after year after year. And while The Sopranos in general is superior to The West Wing, the real question for this incarnation of the Emmys is whether or not season 4 of The Sopranos, airing in 2002, was superior to the season of The West Wing from the same time frame.
In my memory, which admittedly is a bit of a blur at this point, I remember The Sopranos’ starting in the late 90’s, with the quality peaking in 2000 or 2001. I then started looking back at season 4 of The Sopranos, doing some research to help jog my memory. Unfortunately, the episode titles did little to refresh my memory. Even most of the episode descriptions offered little help. Paulie does something annoying, Christopher falls off the wagon, Tony is pissed about something. Everything vaguely applied to almost any episode of the show. My last hope was to see which season of The Sopranos contained my favorite episode, Pine Barrens. Because if season 4 contained Pine Barrens, I would be comfortable elevating it to Hindsight Awards victory. Alas, I discovered Pine Barrens was part of season 3.
This disappointment then led me to further troubling realizations. How exactly do I compare the nominees for Outstanding Music, Variety, or Comedy Series? David Letterman, Jay Leno, Conan O’Brien, Jon Stewart, and Saturday Night Live were the nominees 2002-2003? Again, I know how I would rank them in general. But I have little memory of the specific details of how David Letterman’s monologue stacked up against Jay Leno during that specific microcosm of time. Then there was Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series. How do I rate Larry David? Is he really acting in Curb Your Enthusiasm? He’s playing himself after all.
At that point, I gave up and bailed on the Emmys. Deciding to focus on the other awards shows instead, which are easier to compare the different nominees straight up. Random number generator then selected the 2003 Grammys, but I just wasn’t feeling that one. Norah Jones won everything that year, and truth be told, I really like Norah Jones. There wasn’t enough for me to complain about if I Hindsighted that one.
Back to the random number generator one more time, which selected the 1991 Oscars. But again, I ran into problems. None of the films that were nominated for Best Picture that year were that enjoyable to me. (Yes, even Goodfellas. Let’s just get this out of the way right now, I don’t like Goodfellas. Deal with it, America.)
This random number thing was not working out, and I threw my hands up in despair. Back to the drawing board as I began to think back on what awards really annoyed me, really stuck in my craw. And then, it finally hit me!
It’s time for the next correction of historical award show wrongs. The envelopes please!
Hindsight Awards: 1995 MTV Video Music Awards – September 7, 1995
Video of the Year
TLC, Waterfalls
Green Day, Basket Case
Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson , Scream
Weezer. Buddy Holly
This one has been annoying me for nearly 25 years. The Video of the Year went to TLC’s Waterfalls. TLC is nice and all, but let’s be honest, they’re not The Supremes or anything. As 1990’s all-female R&B bands go, frankly, I prefer En Vogue. Michael and Janet have great music, but this song would not be in my top 10 for either of them. Maybe not even top 20.
No, this comes down to Green Day and Weezer. It’s tough for me to pick against Green Day. Green Day’s album, Dookie (as well as Cracked Rear View by Hootie and the Blowfish) was the soundtrack of my life back then. As grunge bands go, I know that some people may prefer Stone Temple Pilots, Pearl Jam, or Nirvana, but for me it was Green Day and Smashing Pumpkins which resonated the most. Having said all that, this is an award for Best Video. Buddy Holly by Weezer was far and away the video of the year. We are so used to computer technology these days that maybe we no longer appreciate how unique of a video this was at the time. Splicing Weezer into the middle of a Happy Days episode was genius. Other than the special effects in Forrest Gump, this was probably the first time such effects were used to such an entertaining extent. A great song, the greatest video, an easy choice for the Hindsight Video of the Year.
Best Male Video
Tom Petty – You Don’t Know How It Feels
Chris Isaak – Somebody’s Crying
Elton John – Believe
Lucas – Lucas with the Lid Off
Tom Petty won this one originally, and I must admit while I remembered the song, I did not have immediate recall of the music video. That era seems so dominated by grunge that Tom Petty’s video got lost in the recesses of my mind.
I brought the video up on youtube, and it all came flooding back to me. I forgot about just how much airplay this song really did receive on MTV and VH1. Unfortunately for Tom, Somebody’s Crying happens to be my absolute favorite Chris Isaak song. Not to mention, some nice summer surfing music video vibe.
Elton John is a legend, but this is not a song that ends up being in any sort of top 20 ranking of his music. Lucas with the Lid Off was a song I totally loved back in the mid-90’s. When I listen to it now, maybe it doesn’t hold up as well I want it to. Strangely, I can’t find the video on youtube. I can only locate the audio of the song.
The winner of the Hindsight Award is: a complete cop out by me. Yes, I am declaring a tie between Tom Petty and Chris Isaak!
Best Female Video
Madonna – Take a Bow
Des’ree – You Gotta Be
PJ Harvey – Down by the Water
Annie Lennox – No More I Love You’s
Madonna won the original award.
Looking at this list of songs really takes me back to how much airplay Des’ree’s You Gotta Be received. I feel like I heard it everyday in 1994-95. But re-listening to all these songs reminded me of how much I liked Madonna’s Take A Bow. She has so many hit songs, that I feel like this song is almost forgotten about, lost among her plethora of hits. I honestly think this one would be in her top 5 favorite songs if I ranked them. Madonna won this award back then, and Hindsight declares she gets to retain her award. Kudos to the most famous child ever of Rochester Hills, Michigan.
Best Group Video
TLC – Waterfalls
Green Day – Basket Case
The Rolling Stones – Love Is Strong
Stone Temple Pilots – Interstate Love Song
TLC won the original award.
After my comments for Video of the Year, I pretty much have to give this award for Best Group Video to Green Day, right? They need something as a consolation prize after losing out to Weezer in the first category. There is one small problem though, among my group of friends back in my high school days, we absolutely loved Love Is Strong by The Rolling Stones. There was just something about that song. All these Generation X bands were great, but it felt like Mick and Keith kicked the door down and showed everyone what actual bona-fide rock superstars were like. Probably no one else even would rank this song in their top 40 Rolling Stones songs. Heck the band would not even do that, as they did not even put the song on Forty Licks, their greatest hits package. But when I burned a copy of Forty Licks to CD, I actually added Love Is Strong as the 41st track. Sorry Green Day, for me, this Hindsight Award has to go to The Rolling Stones.
Best New Artist in a Video
Hootie & the Blowfish – Hold My Hand
Jeff Buckley – Last Goodbye
Des’ree – You Gotta Be
Filter – Hey Man, Nice Shot
Portishead – Sour Times (Nobody Loves Me)
With a tip of the hat to Hey Man, Nice Shot, as I really dig that song, but this Hindsight Award sticks with the original winner of Hootie and the Blowfish. Love the whole album, it takes me back to a moment in time in my youth. Hold My Hand holds on to the victory
Best Metal/Hard Rock Video
White Zombie – More Human than Human
Green Day – Basket Case
Meat Puppets – We Don’t Exist
Stone Temple Pilots – Interstate Love Song
The original award went to White Zombie. Oh boy, here is Green Day again. I need to give them an award. They were the soundtrack to my high school life, after all. I’ve thrown them under the bus twice, I can’t possibly do it a third time, can I? I think I can, because when it comes to Metal and Hard Rock, White Zombie just feels like it should be the winner of that category. I had to listen to More Human Than Human (along with various Pantera songs) nearly every day in junior year of high school, since my one friend that had a car drove around listening to it all the time. White Zombie retains the Hindsight Award.
Best R&B Video
TLC – “Waterfalls”
Boyz II Men – “Water Runs Dry”
Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson – “Scream”
Jade – “5-4-3-2 (Yo! Time Is Up)”
Montell Jordan – “This Is How We Do It”
TLC won the original award, and it’s time for them to give it back. Because there is one video here that I love. It’s one of my absolute favorite throwback jams. It’s new for ’94! Montell Jordan trounces the field for this Hindsight Award. One of the most lopsided Hindsight victories ever once the votes were tallied.
Best Rap Video
Dr. Dre – “Keep Their Heads Ringin'”
Brandy (featuring MC Lyte, Queen Latifah and Yo-Yo) – “I Wanna Be Down”
Da Bush Babees – “Remember We”
Craig Mack – “Flava in Ya Ear”
Public Enemy – “Give It Up”
Rappin’ 4-Tay (featuring The Spinners) – “I’ll Be Around”
Dr, Dre won the original award. I’m not sure where this would rank on most people’s list of favorite Dr. Dre songs, but once again due to high school memories, it ranks very highly for me. It’s a song that takes me back to a moment in time and leaves me with some happy nostalgia. Dr. Dre retains the Hindsight Award. Ring Ding Dong!
Best Alternative Video
Weezer – Buddy Holly
The Cranberries – Zombie
Green Day – Basket Case
Hole – Doll Parts
Stone Temple Pilots – Interstate Love Song
Basket Case totally feels like the song I would have been listening to on 89X. (Shout out to 88.7, Windsor/Detroit. CIMX, 89X, Detroit’s New Music Alternative). A very popular high school era radio station.
Finally, Green Day trumps Weezer (the original victor). Hindsight Award goes to Green Day!
Best Video from a Film
Seal – “Kiss from a Rose” (from Batman Forever)
Bryan Adams – “Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?” (from Don Juan DeMarco)
Jim Carrey – “Cuban Pete” (from The Mask)
U2 – “Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me” (from Batman Forever)
Urge Overkill – “Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon” (from Pulp Fiction)
Seal won the original award. I can’t deny that Kiss From A Rose was a massive hit that probably deserves to win.
Anyone that knows me knows that U2 is probably my favorite band of all time, but Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me is definitely not making any list of my favorite U2 songs. (Although it was unexpectedly awesome as an encore to their June 26, 2011 Spartan Stadium show in East Lansing, Michigan.) And Urge Overkill, wow that song really transports me back to viewing Pulp Fiction. Talk about movie and music melding together. But I fricking love Cuban Pete by Jim Carrey!! No joking, love that fricking song. Hindsight Award goes to Jim Carrey. He’s the king of the rhumba beat!
Viewer’s Choice
TLC – Waterfalls
Green Day – Basket Case
Hootie & the Blowfish – Hold My Hand
Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson – Scream
Live – Lightning Crashes
R.E.M. – What’s the Frequency, Kenneth?
The Viewer’s Choice award was voted on my MTV viewers, I believe they had to call a 1-800 number, or perhaps even a 1-976 number. To re-enact this scenario, I asked the three people who happened to be nearby as I was typing this, which of the nominated songs happened to be their favorite? They answered, and the Hindsight results are as follows.
We have a three-way tie for the Viewer’s Choice Hindsight edition!
Green Day, Hootie, and Live all are in first place with one vote each. A little love for Lightning Crashes to end this edition of the Hindsight Awards.
Congratulations to all of our Hindsight Award Winners. I’ll see you next time when I correct more historical errors!
– MTR
You can follow MTR on Twitter and let him know what you think.