4 Non Blondes - What's Up? (1993)

"What's Up" is one of my all-time favorite one-hit wonders. In March 1993 it was pulled as a single in an abridged version for radio from 4 Non Blondes' only album, Bigger, Better, Faster, More that was released the previous October.

The single climbed to #14 on the Hot 100 and finished the year at #50 on Billboard's year-end chart. It was composed by the quartet's controversial lead singer, the full-throated Linda Perry, and completely overwhelmed every other track on the loud, eleven-song set. The album hit #13 on Billboard's top 200 album chart.

Like most people, I thought the song was called "What's Going On?" because that line was sung repeatedly throughout the record. Its actual title is never mentioned.

"What's Up?" has been called a "massive neo-hippie anthem" by AllMusic's Tom Demalon. It appears to be about Perry's search for meaning in life as the opening lines suggest, "25 years and my life is still, tryin’ to get up that great big hill of hope, for a destination."

The original quartet was all female, but by the time the album was released the lineup featured Perry on vocals, acoustic and electric guitar with Roger Rocha as a second guitarist. The rhythm section consisted of Christa Hillhouse on bass and backing vocals along with drummer Dawn Richardson.

The group ended abruptly before a second album was completed due to the usual personal issues and creative differences. Perry was unhappy with their debut album because she believed it leaned too much in a pop direction. Also, tensions arose with Perry's bandmates because she is an outspoken lesbian, but Hilllhouse and Richardson didn't feel as comfortable discussing their sexuality as their lead singer was.

The group didn't last long, but they made a big splash quickly with a great single that you can still hear today on radio stations that play 90s rock.

4 Non Blondes reunited once in 2014 for a fundraiser and earlier this year they appeared at the BottleRock Napa Valley music festival.

Perry has managed to maintain a career in the industry mostly due to the success of "What's Up?" She has written songs for Christine Aquilera, Gwen Stefani, and Pink. She has also become a producer and started two record labels.

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