With Bottom Feeders we take a look at the songs on the Billboard Hot 100 that only got a little love. It’s an A-Z look at songs that charted no higher than #41 in the decade. Take a listen, enjoy and comment. And don’t forget, information on the top 40, airplay and bubbling under charts are on pages 2 and 3.
Section 1: The Ass End
RTZ
”Face the Music” 1991, #49 (10 weeks) (download)
”All You’ve Got” 1992, #56 (8 weeks) (download)
I kind of forgot about Brad Delp and Barry Goudreau’s band while they weren’t in Boston. Return to Zero formed in 1989 and only lasted until Delp decided to go back to Boston in 1994. The only studio record while they were together was a self-titled disc which sounded like very typical 80’s artists trying to sound relevant in the 90s. Both of these are pretty cheesy tunes but ”All You’ve Got” is still kind of catchy.
Ruffneck featuring Yavahn
”Everybody Be Somebody” 1996, #82 (7 weeks) (download)
While I like Yavahn’s voice, this trio of New Jersey DJ’s/Producers put together a relatively boring song here.
RuPaul
”Supermodel (You Better Work)” 1993, #45 (20 weeks) (download)
”Snapshot” 1996, #95 (5 weeks) (download)
At 17, I guess I kind of thought ”Supermodel” was simply a joke as I’d never really been exposed to drag queens at that point in my life and I surely didn’t think RuPaul would have the successful career he has or would have become an international gay icon. However, I’ve still never listened to a RuPaul record nor watched anything he’s been a part of. And I surely didn’t know he was on Walker, Texas Ranger!
Rusted Root
”Send Me On My Way” 1995, #72 (7 weeks) (download)
”Send Me On My Way” is one of those tracks that simply transcends genres and while it’s not like it’s played everyday, everywhere, the vibe of the track allows it to be utilized for shows, commercials and muzak channels in department stores everywhere. Although world music has never been my cup of tea, it’s pretty hard to not like this tune.
Jimmy Ryser
”Same Old Look” 1990, #78 (7 weeks) (download)
The only thing I really know about Jimmy Ryser is that he’s appeared on numerous John Mellencamp records over the years either singing or playing guitar on most but even violin now and again.
RZA
”Wu-Wear: The Garment Renaissance” 1996, #60 (12 weeks) (download)
Here’s another song from the High School High soundtrack which was clearly light years better than the movie itself.
I’m a huge fan of the Wu-Tang and although I’ve never really liked RZA as a rapper, there’s no doubt he’s one of the greatest beat masters in the universe. I mean, the dudes uses doorbells in this. Doorbells.
Raphael Saadiq & Q-Tip
”Get Involved” 1999, #67 (8 weeks) (download)
”Get Involved” is one of my favorite hip-hop songs of the entire series. It doesn’t hurt that Raphael Saadiq is one of the smoothest cats around and Q-Tip is one of the greatest rappers of all time. Thankfully the result of their collaboration lived up to the hype surrounding it.
Sadat X
”Hang Em High” 1996, #98 (2 weeks) (download)
Although Sadat’s Wild Cowboys album wasn’t that great, it generated ”Hang ”Em High” which, thanks to his pretty unique voice, sounded a lot like previous Brand Nubian tunes.
Sade
”Kiss of Life” 1993, #78 (11 weeks) (download)
Fast song, slow song, major hit, minor hit, no hit at all — it doesn’t matter. The sexy voice of Sade is made for wine sipping, foot rubs and gettin’ some.
Safire
”Made Up My Mind” 1991, #82 (6 weeks) (download)
I didn’t mind the weak voice of Sa-Fire in the 80s because the music fit right in but in the 90s she sticks out like a sore thumb which makes her voice even harder to listen to. If you want to dig into Sa-Fire music, go back to 1989.
Sagat
”(Funk Dat)” 1994, #63 (17 weeks) (download)
”(Funk Dat)” or ”What Is It? (Fuk Dat)” is quite possibly one of the worst songs ever made. Seriously, anyone could have made this goddamn tune. Although, it did generate a ton of questions in high school that started with the words, ”Why Is It…”
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