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Comment by paganel | Hacker News Reader

> It's any music that wasn't played on pop stations

Not sure about the US but in the early to mid-1990s MTV Europe was playing groups like Nirvana or Soundgarden in heavy rotation, all day, it was glorious. I was telling my SO just yesterday how interesting those times were, when a 13-old kid like I was back then could have a video like "Black Hole Sun" playing in the background on television at 12 in the afternoon while doing homework, just before going to school (we were studying in the afternoon).

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mbBbFH9fAg

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For some reason I still remember vividly where I was when I first saw that video (with the melting Barbie doll on the barbecue). My family had just moved to a new house—quickly on account of an eviction—and it was a hot summer day. I had a grape Welch's soda and we had just got the cable hooked up.

Random story that's apropos of nothing, but to this day, when I hear that song, it still transports me to that time and place. I never really drank grape soda. Not before and not since. Not sure why I had it that day. But damn if I don't taste it when Black Hole sun is playing.

I was in a college dorm sitting in a smallish room with about a dozen chairs and a TV mounted in a corner near the ceiling. Our high school drum line was at the campus as a camp to practice for the upcoming marching season. It was a hot day and we were all tired and sweaty from practice. Like you, hearing the song always sparks that memory.

The song’s namesake sculpture is located in a park a couple blocks from my home: https://goo.gl/maps/AbD9P8iQFRFhN5f86

Coincidentally, Bruce and Brandon Lee are buried in a cemetery next door to this park.

The Sound Garden is another sculpture in another Seattle park.

>> It's any music that wasn't played on pop stations

> Not sure about the US but in the early to mid-1990s MTV Europe was playing groups like Nirvana or Soundgarden in heavy rotation, all day, it was glorious.

I was a bit too young and didn't have cable back then to see for myself, but my understanding was MTV in the US played a lot of alternative rock in that time period, too. Those bands even set the fashion trends for a time (e.g. flannel, and lots of it).

Where I grew up, there were basically three radio stations teenagers listened too: one "pop" station that played the stuff in this list, and two contemporary rock stations that played the rock and alternative music that was omitted from this list.

I don't even remember if we had to wait until 10PM for uncensored version of Smack my bitch up in my non English speaking European country or if they didn't care and played it whenever

God I miss this. Thanks for reminding me :)

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