Flashback Friday: 4 Non Blondes ‘What’s Up?’

This B101.7 Flashback Friday spotlight, we're asking 'What's Up?' 4 Non Blondes hit it big in 93 and have since gone away. 'What's Up,' goes down as one of the biggest one hit wonders of our time.

Lead vocalist Linda Perry penned the song, but never found the same success again. 'What's Up?' rolled up into the Top 15 in the U.S. and had even more success in several European countries, as it hit #1.

An odd fact, 'what's up?' is nowhere to be found in the song. Instead, the chorus is 'what's going on?' The word on the street from the cool kids (who should know), the band didn't want to confuse their original song to the Marvin Gaye classic 'What's Going On?' It's a 'Trivial Pursuit' question waiting to happen.

One thing I have noticed quite a bit on hugely popular songs of the past, but mostly forgotten today, the make conflicting lists. Meaning, the song will make lists of praise and some of ridicule. An example has VH1 ranking 'What's Up?' #96 on their list of the Top 100 Greatest One-Hit Wonders. The now defunct entertainment site Spinners.com, called it the #19 Worst Songs Ever. The site hosting that ranking doesn't even exist anymore. So, I'd say 4 Non Blondes get the last laugh there.

All you needs is a few seconds of the video and you will know exactly what time period it came from. Yep, you will spot the trademark flannel of grunge era style of the 90s. Well, except for lead singer Linda Perry, sporting a ridiculous top hat that shouldn't be praised or attached to any era of time. Maybe it was by design, so we would say, 'what's up?' Ah, brilliant.

4 Non Blondes 'What's Up?'

Listen to B101.7 Friday at 5pm for the Flashback Friday Spotlight with Greg Thomas. Get more flashbacks with the B101.7 Saturday Night Party (8pm-1am) with Louie Linguini.