The Sign

New York Magazine has a great column, Nostalgia Fact-Check, that revisits old pop culture "classics" to see if they stand the test of time. I just read all of them in one go.

On Ace of Base's "The Sign":

Once we rocked out to it, in various living rooms and bedrooms and, yep, religiously affiliated coming-of-age ceremonies. And then, quickly, we developed pop-music consciousness, and felt shame. Years later, we got over our hang-ups, and started taking pop music seriously. And now we can all look back and realize, with a deep sigh of relief, that we appreciate “The Sign,” and are nostalgic for it, unironically.

So true. That song is dope. The rest of the album, eh. Like, "All That She Wants":

I distinctly recall thinking this song was about a woman who wanted “another baby,” as in a human baby, and was planning on stealing it from the narrator. It’s been at least a few years since I realized this is actually about a woman looking for a "baby," as in a romantic partner, but that ominous original interpretation hangs heavily.

Good god, me too.

I also recommend the bits on Ally McBeal (holy shit, I am now the age that she was when the show first started), Heathers, and Adam Sandler.