Most of the hits on this album exist in that deep, wasted, brain expanse that recalls movie quotes from 2002, what I wore to my eighth-grade dance, and now songs by Ace of Base. That brain expanse has held on to this album the way it could never hold on to mathematic equations or friends' birthdays. I don't think Ace of Base's The Sign was my first CD, but it truly was one of my most coveted.
My vague memory is that my dad heard "The Sign" on the radio and thought it was cool so he bought me the CD. Shall we say the song "opened up his eyes" and he "saw the sign"? Maybe. I remember wanting to listen to it for this shared experience with Dad and being proud he was cool, and hip, and listening to new music.
I can see myself in the back of my bus, headed off to middle school, feeling all of these jams as they played through my headset. Now, as an Elder, I know "All That She Wants" was way over my head. There are two interpretations I've read on the internets. The first is that she's a promiscuous woman who wants another "baby," as in the cute term for a boy-toy. The other interpretation is that she wants a man (or "stud-ball") to sleep with her so she can get pregnant with a cutie-little-baby and collect on welfare. Now, as an Elder, I think I see the deeper sadness to this song that I wasn't ready to explore at nine years old. Now, I see how ominous the lines "just lying on the beach and having fun / She's going to get you," are. Now, I feel bad for this narrative and wish I was as naive as young me who just liked to groove to the Euro-pop sounds.
I remember dramatically singing, and acting out, "Don't Turn Around." Everything about this song was quintessential for a nine-year-old who romanticized the world around her. Sad lyrics? Check. Heartache? Check. A weird moment where a man's voice sing-talks? Check and check.
"The Sign" is still doing the right things for me. Step into the light, ya know? I get why '90s Jim thought this was neat. I think 2022 me gets it too, but not in a way I want to listen to every day. I think it is a credit to the vocalists, the sound quality of their voices, that does something interesting overall.
On a re-listen of this album (because I couldn't really remember every song), I am happily reminded of how much flute takes over. Or is it whistling? Sometimes it's both, maybe? I'm sure Pop flutists were very popular in the '90s thanks to Kenny G. I feel like these flute moments really swirl me into a '90s tizzy of nostalgia. It's not that I want more of it in my life—oh God no—I just think it hypnotized me as a kid and now as an adult.
Overall, this album didn't do much beyond its hits. The other songs were annoying at best. Regardless, I am grateful for this swirly, flutey, ride-down '90s nostalgia and a reminder that my Dad is pretty cool.
3 out of 5 Kenny Gs
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