I didn't plagiarize anybody, but I did borrow a theme idea from myself.
On June 26, 2006, a puzzle of mine ran in the NYT with the theme '80s fads. (It was chosen as one of "Will Shortz's Favorite Puzzles," which I point out only for context -- the context being that I want to brag.) Since that was just about 10 years, I figured -- hey, why not a '90s fads puzzle? Devoid of a decent answer, I decided to make such a puzzle. I always liked the idea of a crossword puzzle sequel, anyway. In fact, I would love it if I could keep going with this theme every decade, but I think it will end here. The '00s don't feel like a "thing" in the same way as the other decades.
With a theme this broad, the key is finding the right mix of theme answers. I wanted fads from different categories, which I think I achieved (toys, TV/hair, apparel, and music), and from different cultures, which I didn't quite achieve, because there isn't a hip-hop fad. Being that hip-hop was a huge part of the '90s, this is a nontrivial omission. But I just couldn't get a distinctly '90s hip-hop fad to fit in the grid (OVERALLSWITHONESTRAPUNDONE is way too long). I tried.
Actually, at one point I had HAMMERPANTS in the grid, but I deleted it when I realized that MC Hammer's first big album Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em wasn't technically released in the '90s. Except it was. I got confused because I saw somewhere that MC Hammer performed his megahit single "U Can't Touch This" on the Arsenio Hall Show in 1989, and he did, but it was a "sneak peek" before the studio version was released on his album in January of 1990. So it's legit '90s after all! (Some might say 2 legit.) But by the time I realized this, my puzzle had already been accepted. Oh well, c'est la vie... And by the way, today MC Hammer is a bit of a joke (because of things like this video), but the dude was hot back in the day. I have distinct memories of kids trying to copy his dance moves on the playground in middle school. I was never much of a dancer, but I bet I could still rap all of "U Can't Touch This" if you got me started.
My, my music hits me so hard, makes me say "Oh, my lord"...
Somewhat interestingly I never partook in any of the fads I used in this puzzle. I never owned a Tamagotchi pet (I think real pets are a waste of time, never mind fake ones); I never sported "The Rachel" hairstyle (I wasn't a huge Friends fan, although I used to watch it on occasion); despite kinda being a wannabe grunge kid (almost by default, I grew up near Seattle) I never owned a pair of Dr. Martens; and I didn't even know who sang "Macarena" until I wrote the clue for this puzzle. I did, however, once read the English translation of the lyrics. They don't make much sense. I'm not sure if something is lost in translation, or if it's just a nonsensical song. But being that "Macanera" was named by VH1 the "greatest one-hit wonder" of all-time, I'm leaning toward the latter. Here is the English translation of my favorite verse:
Well, I think this post has more or less run its course. Let's end with a few parting shots.
On June 26, 2006, a puzzle of mine ran in the NYT with the theme '80s fads. (It was chosen as one of "Will Shortz's Favorite Puzzles," which I point out only for context -- the context being that I want to brag.) Since that was just about 10 years, I figured -- hey, why not a '90s fads puzzle? Devoid of a decent answer, I decided to make such a puzzle. I always liked the idea of a crossword puzzle sequel, anyway. In fact, I would love it if I could keep going with this theme every decade, but I think it will end here. The '00s don't feel like a "thing" in the same way as the other decades.
[Can you name each of the '90s music artists below?]
With a theme this broad, the key is finding the right mix of theme answers. I wanted fads from different categories, which I think I achieved (toys, TV/hair, apparel, and music), and from different cultures, which I didn't quite achieve, because there isn't a hip-hop fad. Being that hip-hop was a huge part of the '90s, this is a nontrivial omission. But I just couldn't get a distinctly '90s hip-hop fad to fit in the grid (OVERALLSWITHONESTRAPUNDONE is way too long). I tried.
Actually, at one point I had HAMMERPANTS in the grid, but I deleted it when I realized that MC Hammer's first big album Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em wasn't technically released in the '90s. Except it was. I got confused because I saw somewhere that MC Hammer performed his megahit single "U Can't Touch This" on the Arsenio Hall Show in 1989, and he did, but it was a "sneak peek" before the studio version was released on his album in January of 1990. So it's legit '90s after all! (Some might say 2 legit.) But by the time I realized this, my puzzle had already been accepted. Oh well, c'est la vie... And by the way, today MC Hammer is a bit of a joke (because of things like this video), but the dude was hot back in the day. I have distinct memories of kids trying to copy his dance moves on the playground in middle school. I was never much of a dancer, but I bet I could still rap all of "U Can't Touch This" if you got me started.
My, my music hits me so hard, makes me say "Oh, my lord"...
Somewhat interestingly I never partook in any of the fads I used in this puzzle. I never owned a Tamagotchi pet (I think real pets are a waste of time, never mind fake ones); I never sported "The Rachel" hairstyle (I wasn't a huge Friends fan, although I used to watch it on occasion); despite kinda being a wannabe grunge kid (almost by default, I grew up near Seattle) I never owned a pair of Dr. Martens; and I didn't even know who sang "Macarena" until I wrote the clue for this puzzle. I did, however, once read the English translation of the lyrics. They don't make much sense. I'm not sure if something is lost in translation, or if it's just a nonsensical song. But being that "Macanera" was named by VH1 the "greatest one-hit wonder" of all-time, I'm leaning toward the latter. Here is the English translation of my favorite verse:
Macarena has a boyfriend who's called...I like how it's repeated once. The listeners really need to understand Macarena's relationship with Vitorino and how she was catting around on him with two friends while he was taking an oath as a conscript (?). I'm glad that Los del Rios drove this point home with a second telling.
who's called the last name Vitorino,
and while he was taking his oath as a conscript
she was giving it to two friends ...Aaay!
(repeat once)
Well, I think this post has more or less run its course. Let's end with a few parting shots.
- Does 14-Across have an inaccuracy in the clue? I think the Wham-O toy is stylized Slip'N Slide without a space between the apostrophe and the N. (This is how I submitted it.) On the product page, this is how it is written in the heading and in the logo on its box. However below this it says Slip ‘N Slide® with a space before the apostrophe, so I'm not sure.
- My original clue for FIVE0 explicitly referenced the remade version of the show, as the original show was Hawaii Five-O with the letter O, not the number 0, at the end. The remake uses the number 0. It's not a big deal, but since the original is the much more well-known show, I wanted to make it clear that it was not the one being referenced. I imagine most solvers will get the correct answer without giving it much thought.
- I was aiming for a Wednesday puzzle because this is a day I need to complete "the cycle," but Will Shortz wanted it to be a Monday, and he's the decider.
- The good thing about a making a puzzle like this is that even if it's not very good, a certain segment of the population will like it anyway because it reminds them of the good old days. It's like how Jimmy Fallon isn't really funny, put he does skits that make Gen-Xers feel nostalgic, so his show is popular. (I particularly enjoyed this one.)
- Finally, a few fads that didn't make the cut:
The aforementioned Hammer pants...
If those aren't your bag, how about Zubaz pants...
Or maybe Umbro shorts...
They go great with a Hypercolor t-shirts...
And some Reebok Pump sneakers...
While rockin' a high top fade in overalls with one strap undone...
Or a Starter jacket (we called them "bombers" for some reason)...
Beanie Babies anybody...
No -- how about some Pogs...
Or Sega Genesis (it's 16-bit!)...
We can play NHLPA Hockey '93; I'll knock your ass out with Bob Probert!
Finally, you really should buy my word-nerdy baseball book: Urban Shocker All-Stars: The 100 Greatest Baseball Names Ever. It's been getting a lot of great publicity lately! By which I mean I was contacted by a local radio producer about possibly going on a show sometime in the next few weeks to talk about. It hasn't happened yet, and might not ever, but, hey, fingers crossed! ... Right?
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