April 2, 1994
- STAYED AT #1:7 Weeks
In The Alternative Number Ones, I'm reviewing every #1 single in the history of the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks/Alternative Songs, starting with the moment that the chart launched in 1988. This column is a companion piece to The Number Ones, and it's for members only. Thank you to everyone who's helping to keep Stereogum afloat.
Well, look who's still around. The Billboard Modern Rock chart launched in 1988, not long after the Smiths broke up and Morrissey went solo. Solo Morrissey was one of the defining acts of the chart's early years, even though he didn't score a #1 hit until "Tomorrow" in 1992. In those early years, Morrissey might as well have been the personification of alt-rock radio -- the arch British singer who writes proudly insular laments about his alienation from the world. If you were a singer like that, you probably did pretty well on alt-rock radio once upon a time.
Right around the time that "Tomorrow" reached #1, the chart went through a sea change, replacing arch British singers with the American fuzz-guitar acts who had a different approach to their alienation from the world. But in spring 1994, the high grunge era, Morrissey still reigned supreme over the Modern Rock chart. Morrissey's "The More You Ignore Me, The Closer I Get" was the biggest song on American alt-rock radio on the day that Kurt Cobain's body was discovered. It was #1 when Pearl Jam sued Ticketmaster. It was #1 when Parklife and Smash and the Blue Album came out. In this most '90s of '90s moments, Morrissey was still doing the misanthropy pantomime routine, and American alt-rock radio programmers were still on board. I think that goes to show a couple of different things. One is that history changes more gradually than we remember. Alt-rock radio didn't fully shift overnight; it's just got a twisty continuum. It also goes to show that Morrissey came out with the right song at the right time. He needed a hit, and he got one.