Top 10 WORST ROCK HITS of 1990! || The Rock Critic 

After hearing these songs, I'd like to cheer myself up by reminding myself that 1990 also gave us gems like Man in the Box, Cowboys From Hell, Painkiller and Holy Wars just to name a few.

to paraphrase Frank Zappa: Rock is not dead, it just smells funny.

Swingin' in the Arby's, swingin' by the bridge, swingin' to the mold in the back of my fridge...

Me: "Crash just posted a video! Imma send to my friends back at Church for music discussion from yesteryear!" Crash: 1:03:00 Me: "What do you mean I'm not allowed at Church anymore?!"

Kings of the Sun guy: YEAH!! Scott Stapp: SEX!!!

The lead singer, who wrote Cherry Pie, apparently hated it as much as the next guy. He absolutely detested that it was his legacy and that he became "the Cherry Pie guy", cause it wasn't initially his idea. Some producer wanted a hit and Cherry Pie was just the first thing that he came up with. It's kinda sad, cause he later said: "I could shoot myself in the head for writing that damn song".

This period between hair metal and grunge is kinda like that period between Elvis joining the army and The Beatles visiting the U.S. for the first time.

"CHONKEH!" is one of my new favourite Crashisms.

Hell, even Warrant themselves hated Cherry Pie. It was a last minute inclusion on the album at the behest of the record company. The record was finished and ready to go when the execs claimed it didn't have a lead single and told the band to write something upbeat and sexy that would get played on MTV. Hence half-assing the lyrics on a pizza box. It was a hack job meant solely to appease the labels. That it went on to such big chart success would become the bane of the group's existence. In Jani Lane's own words, "I could shoot myself in the head for writing that song."

46:05 “I can't help but feel like Fall Out Boy stole some inspiration from this" by Fall Out Boy

If there's a compilation of best The Rock Critic moments of all time, his description of that number one song must be there at all cost.

Crash: *explain cherry pie* Death metal fan: ...brutal

But if they can't write about how rock is dead, how will they avoid their responsibilities as journalists?

This is the longest and most elaborate promotion for tampons I've ever seen!

I cannot unsee Cherry Pie now.

“Have you ever heard of Little Feet?” Me: Only because of the JoJo’s stand. “If you do know them it’s probably because of JoJo’s” Oh

Hair Metal in 1990 was like Nu Metal in 2004, still around but everyone was admitting that it had become over saturated and annoying.

To be fair, Bryan Adams recorded a cover of Young Lust because he was the guy performing it at the 90's Berlin version of The Wall. Which leads to a bigger question: Roger, why did you pick Bryan Adams?

Nelson, just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. “This is something Katy Perry would write” Me, Who has listened to Katy Perry for a decade: Nah, I don’t think s- “Nah, even she has more dignity, this is more like Lucas Graham...” Me: Now we’re going... “Or Lewis Capaldi” Me: YES. IT SO IS.

That Nelson comparison to Rod & Todd Flanders was perfect.

Oh, I was saying "Nelson, Nelson. Where is Nelson?" Through the whole video. It is sad about Cherry Pie though. Yes, every word he said was correct. He really was pressured to write a song that record executives thought would be a hit. He actually really hated that song and struggled with depression the rest of his life because of it.

Honestly Crash, your description of “Cherry Pie” just gave me a new level of appreciation for the song. An ironic appreciation, but an appreciation nonetheless. Also, ZZ Top’s “Doubleback” holds a special place in my heart as the first ZZ Top song I ever heard. Yes, entirely because of BACK TO THE FUTURE PART III. As far back as I can remember, I’ve always loved the BACK TO THE FUTURE movies. In any case, I loved the video! (EDIT: This video did ruin “Cherry Pie” for my Older Sister, To The Point where she now calls it “Period Song”.)

Still after all this crap, the year 1990 did give us Rust in Peace, Ritual de lo Habitual, Cowboys from Hell and Facelift. So i just cannot think it's one of the worst years in music.

If it's any reassurance, I remember reading on a Cracked article that even the lead singer of Warrant hates Cherry Pie and its resounding chart success as well, so you aren't alone. Also, I know about Little Feat thanks to anime, but not through JoJo - it's because the volume 3 DVD for Cromartie High School references one of their album covers.

Aw. I like the Hooters. :( "And We Danced" is an eternal bop.

I often feel sorry for the severely overlooked Grebo genre. Starting out in the late 80's the sound was incredible, a punky, dirty style that wouldn't look out of place on a Wax Trax roster. More than anything else it was a DIY sound that although alternative was very fun. Bands like Pop Will Eat Itself, Jesus Jones, Gaye Bykers On Acid and The Wonder Stuff were really making waves in the rock genre, then grunge came along in 91' and killed it almost stone dead. :/

Alternative had already been making its way in since at least '87 when REM, Cure, New Order had their first big hits. 1990, aside from Depeche Mode (though they're only borderline rock), Faith No More and Jane's Addiction was a bit of a slight lull before the big shift of 1991.

The analogy between good music and fine dining vs popular music and mc Donald's is dead on!

Something I wonder is how in the hell did Cherry Pie in spite of its lyrics ended up becoming a stripper Anthem. But then again, Buckcherry are the patron saints of making music for strippers.

Considering the style of Hair Metal being released around this time, the genre should've had a subgenre named Hair Pop. I know, very easy joke, but it's kinda true.

"Red wedding, shark week..." Interesting euphemism ideas.

Man, if you hate Kings of the Sun for being a poor-man's AC/DC, you would HATE the band Airbourne

There was an Alarm tribute band I saw once, called, no kidding, "False Alarm"..!

I always felt like cherry pie's lyrics were that graphic on purpose. "popping the cherry" is associated with bloodshed because guys apparently don't know how to not rupture the hymen, so I took it as him fetishising that he took someones virginity. and I fidn that really creepy. so glad to know someone else hates it too

McDonald's is a EXCELLENT establishment, how dare you take Grimace's name in vein 😤😤 (Looking amazing btw keep it up)

At least we had Facelift by Alice In Chains for 1990

Ok. People in my audience and people who know me personally know that for a guy in his 20's, I'm kind of a hair metal junkie. One of my most popular videos is about bands of the genre that came out with albums around this time that went nowhere. I even made a countdown about a very niche band most people would view as C or D tier for the 4th of July (Danger Danger). I was a MAJOR stan for the shit when I was in high school, and it's still stuff I dig. Pretty much all the hair bands mentioned in this video are bands I'll come to bat for (with the exception of Bonham, never really cared for them as much). That said, I don't disagree that the choice songs here aren't their best material. Warrant have great material on their first 3 albums. I don't even dislike "Cherry Pie", but pretty much everything else on that album blows it out the water (R.I.P. to Jani Lane). It really is a testament to what happens when major labels have too much influence over you. Enuff Znuff I don't think are horrible either, their guitarist was pretty cool (R.I.P. to him too), though I agree the singer's voice was my least favorite aspect of the band. Nelson... eh, I always found them to be ok, but not breathtaking. Same with 80's Kiss (though Creatures of the Night is my favorite album of theirs). You had Cinderella in your honorable mentions, I never liked their third album because it was way too stripped down compared to the first two, and that's similar to how I feel about Faster Pussycat as well. I'm perfectly ok with people not liking hair metal, but I feel a lot of the time the hate gets a bit overblown. I hope I'm not sounding too fanboyish at all, as I did enjoy this video. P.S. Poison? No U.

Gonna talk about Joan Jett and covers and not mention that her biggest hit was a cover

The darkness writes better glam rock than a lot of the bands in the era.

Thanks Crash, I now know what NOT to take to a Christmas Potluck at work.

Nobody: Not even God himself: Crash: *M E N S T U R A T I O N*

The Hooters were mostly Cindy Laupers back up band.

New Crash video and the launch of Disney+ in the same day, hell yeah

There is a pretty fun film from 2012 called Vinyl that is based on the comeback of the Alarm in the early 2000s.. well worth checking out.

At least Bryan Adams was covering Young Lust as part of Roger Waters’ staging of The Wall in Berlin. I couldn’t forgive him if he had just covered it for his own record.

“And then all of a sudden, the album’s called 'Cherry Pie,' the record’s called 'Cherry Pie,' I’m doing cherry pie eating contests, the single’s 'Cherry Pie' - right? If I’m lying, I’m dying. And my legacy is 'Cherry Pie,' everything about me is 'Cherry Pie,' I’m the 'Cherry Pie' guy. I could shoot myself in the %#$@ing head for writing that song.” - Jani Lane of Warrant, on Cherry Pie. A couple years later, he checked himself into a San Fernando Valley Comfort Inn and drank himself to death. Cherry Pie killed him.

“Yeah!” 🤨 “Yeah!” 🙄 “Yeah!” 😤 “Yes, Daddy!” 😆

To be fair, Jani Lane hated this song too. The album was completed but the record company forced them to write a song that would be a "Single." Despite that, I still love the shit out of this track because I mean, come on. It's so stupid. Also, I like Warrant. Thanks high school.

Rally's seasoned fries were bomb. Been years since I had them but back in the day that was my jam.

Cherry Pie is gonna be on there isn't it?

The emotional whiplash I got after seeing Nelson Mandela get freed and then have to go to the shitty songs was very taxing.

1:02:36 I can't not burst into laughter when Crash looks at the camera like that...

Dag dude, I feel there’s some irony in an intro dunking on “edgelords” made by a dude in a denim vest with buttons and what-not over a Misfits shirt.

Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap could be done with a quiet but creepy acoustic cover and I think that would be interesting...

"Dirty Deeds (done with sheep) Dirty Deeds (Done with sheep)"

i chose not to be born until january 1991 because the music of 1990 was just that repugnant.

I almost pissed myself laughing about halfway into #1.

Thanks crash, you have ruined cherry pie forever.... the song and the food

Dude, you're so underrated, and your knowledge of Rock is incredible. Keep up the awesome work Crash!

Wasn't expecting how... nasty that last one was. I'm more or less used to songs about sex, so that part wasn't bothering me aside from the questionable places the act was happening in. But then Crash started to describe why the song was called Cherry Pie. Yikes.

The best thing that cheers me up about this video is seeing Transgender Dysphoria Blues on your wall

It shows how young you are when you don't give Limozeen, Taranchula, or, to a lesser extent, Bigg Nife their due.

I got an idea: The Worst Rock Hits of 1997, or maybe The Best Rock Hits of 1997.

I found your channel through ARTV, your highly underrated.

I just KNEW this list would have something from KISS’ no makeup years, and was dreading it the whole time as a sucker for KISS’ music (to the point of having a four foot tall Dynasty poster/wall curtain from the 90s).

To be honest, that was one of the least charitable descriptions of cherry pie I've ever heard. Lol. Like, yeah, cherry pie is red and full of goop, but unlike what you're describing it as, it...you know...tastes good? I'm sorry, but if you make a cherry pie right, it's not just going to collapse into a soggy red mess. And even if it does, it still tastes like cherries. TL;DR: I get where you were coming from, and it IS a terrible metaphor for pussy, but don't insult cherry pie like that. Lol

I'm curious as to what "Biscuit's in the House" by Biscuit was like all of a sudden

So 1990 was basically the 80s on life support - or trying to die but can't no matter how hard it tries. IMO, the late 2000s-super early 2010s (I'd say like 2008 to 2010-ish?) were similar years, all that butt-rock that was dominating the rock charts and FM radio at the time... I mean stuff like that is always there, but then it was a LOT more showing. Look 'em up and you'll see what I'm talking about, dark times haha. Also I lost it at 1:03:00. Great list as always Crash!

Oh God, THAT'S that one song from that Weird Al Polka medley on Off The Deep End?

That Elvis song makes me think of the Lincoln Lover play from American Dad

Fun fact: My computers teacher is actually related to the Nelson twins. They're his cousins and he's met them a few times.

the "mcdonalds principle" is probably my favorite concept you've ever introduced me to lol

At least 1990 gave us Facelift, which is one of my fave AIC albums lmao

I have to admit that I enjoy 90% of those “literally who?” hair metal bands with one or two hits in 1989 or 1990

I was hoping for a Princess Bride reference: 'It's only mostly dead'

So happy to see you mention The Alarm. I enjoyed them immensely.

If anything has come close to replacing rock in terms of mainstream popularity, it's definitely hip hop, or at least this current wave of hip hop. I can throw a rock anywhere on my college campus and hit someone who's bumping to whatever fifteen-minutes-of-fame rapper that the trap scene has shat out.

OML, I 100% agree with the whole "The modern charts is like McDonalds" statement! I just subscribed!

This video is so damn good. Thoughtful and thorough, and I can say this with the utmost certainty, as I was alive to witness all of this.

Well done, Crash. I enjoyed every minute of that. Live your passion.

I only know about two of these songs because they were featured on some of those really bad VH1 top 100 lists from back in the day. Actually, here's a good idea for a future livestream: doing a rundown of VH1's Top 100 Hard Rock Songs. There are some pretty questionable picks and placements on there (especially in the bottom rungs), and watching a bunch of rock stars and comedians trying to talk up some of the more forgettable candidates would be adorable if it wasn't so embarrassing.

It's incredible how someone doesn't get the other cherry comparison this badly. It's honestly astonishing.

That Strong Bad comment had me laughing out loud and I didn't even realize it. Good job, my friend, and good video! Also, as a big AFI fan, yay for having the Sing the Sorrow cover on your backdrop. And, Great Job! for all the Tim & Eric references.

Well done again my man. Great video. The time spent making videos like these really shows, and is highly entertaining.

Great video Crash. Hope you do more worst rock songs of different years

The Hooters weren't one-hit wonders though, And We Danced and All You Zombies were decently big pop hits in the mid 80s

You made my day! Cracking up and enjoying your channel!!

Crash you sure lost some weight! Love your videos bro, been watching since your GDR series. It got me through really tough times and I'm happy to see you're looking well. Again love the vids, keep on rocking in the free world!

In regards to Cherry Pie, the band, esp the singer songwriter of this were not to at fault. The record was done, was called Uncle Tom's Cabin, the label didnt hear a $hit song, so they told them to come back with one, Jani indeed wrote the words on the back of a pizza box, wrote the music in 20 mins, band recorded it in one take and turned it in, and the company renamed the album, made it a huge hit, and the singer eventually went into a deep depression about the was him and the band's career was ruined by the cherry pie song, he ended up over dosing.

the rock critic: poison sucks me: awwwww :(

"Poison sucks" you are being way to nice.

Just found your channel now. Glad i did, really enjoyed the video, looking forward to more

I can't help feel like Bonham song would fit over that bit of Twilight!

I swear I thought "Forever" was going to be the Kiss song on this list. I'm stunned... and happy. I love "Forever".

This is how I feel about the Hot Country Songs charts. Look at one from like 1994, a time when I was listening to country radio literally every day, and I'm like "...I don't remember ANY of this."

Best non makeup kiss song is... Unholy No one change my mind

You make it sound like little feat is the ONLY musick reference In jojo

Man's gotta eat some burgers. He's so slender now holy shit.

1:04:24 This must have been an interesting store visit for you

Never saw a guy so freaked about period sex, TBH.