Song:What's Up?
Album:Bigger, Better, Faster, More!
What's Up? was a top twenty hit in 1993. It was the only hit single for 4 Non Blondes. Lead singer Linda Perry left to go solo soon after and they split up. 4 Non Blondes was formed in San Francisco in 1989. Guitarist Shaunna Hall and bassist Christa Hillhouse were roommates. They were in a band with drummer Wanda Day. After the band split up, they formed their own band. But they needed a singer. Shaunna was already familiar with Linda and they saw her at a club. They signed with Interscope in 1991 and Split Enz producer David Tickle produced the 1993 album Bigger, Better, Faster, More!. While recording the album, Wanda was replaced by Dawn Richardson. And Tickle was unhappy with Shaunna. So she was replaced in the album by Louis Metoyer. Roger Rocha was hired later. What's Up? reached #14 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the album was certified Platinum. Linda wrote What's Up? and several other songs on the album. The song should be called What's Going On?. But Linda knew she couldn't use that title so she called it What's Up?. After contributing songs to the soundtracks of Wayne's World II and Airheads, 4 Non Blondes started work on their second album. But it wasn't going well and Linda left to go solo and they split up. Linda has said in interviews that she thought the band was too slick and overproduced. Linda released a couple of albums on Interscope and she continues to record occasionally. But she has had great success as a songwriter and producer starting with Pink in 2000 and with many others. Wanda Day was in a 1992 accident and she died in 1997. Shaunna Hall currently works with George Clinton and Parliament/Funkadelic. Dawn Richardson has been in several bands and toured with Tracy Chapman. She teaches drums in San Francisco and has written several instructional books. Christa Hillhouse maintains the 4 Non Blondes website. Here's the video of What's Up? by 4 Non Blondes.
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