'Cause it's a bittersweet symphony, this life

Huge music success doesn't mean a band will become rich and stay together, which is the case for The Verve.The Verve is an alternative rock band that formed in 1989, at the turn of the decade. However the band didn't get commercial success until 8 years later when their album Urban Hymns broke through, becoming one of the best-selling albums in British history. Their single off the album "Bitter Sweet Symphony" sky-rocketed on the charts, hitting number 12 in the U.S. They won two Brit awards and were nominated for a Grammy. Soon after their international hit, the band broke up, claiming internal conflicts.

So with this big rock ballad, what could go wrong? Well, they were sued. The song uses four bars of the Rolling Stone Classic "The Last Time." The band claims they got permission to use it. The deal was to have a 50/50 split of the money. However, the representative of the Stone's claimed too much of the song was used, and 100 percent royalties were sent to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. Not just the music, but also the lyrics were credited to the Rolling Stones. Lead vocalist and writer Richard Ashcroft says the song is the best Rolling Stone hit written in decades. Keith Richards was quoted saying that the business was the lawyer's, and that the verve deserved credit.

After saying they would never reunite, the band got back together in 2007. After releasing an album and going back on tour, the band slit again in 2009. The band says that they will never get back together. The legacy of "Bitter Sweet Symphony" lives on. It was included on soundtracks for movies like Cruel Intentions, and other famous bands and singers, like Oasis, famously covered the songs.

Information courtesy of Wikipedia: Bitter Sweet Symphony
                                                        The Verve

Yo, it's about that time to bring forth the rhythm and the rhyme

Many have seen the great films of Mark Wahlberg, whether it be a dramatic or comedic film. However, many don't know where Wahlberg got his start. Mark's brother Donnie was already in the pop music spotlight with his band New Kids On The Block, he helped Mark get into the business too. In 1991, Mark Wahlberg's hip-hop group Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch released "Good Vibrations" on their debut album Music for the People. "Good Vibrations" peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and also went number one in Switzerland and Sweden. It went on to get platinum status. Their follow-up song "Wildslide" did have commercial success, receiving gold status, but Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch are still considered  one-hit wonders. The album itself was certified platinum.

 Mark Wahlberg, being the front man of the band, received a high amount of attention from the media. In the video for "Good Vibrations," Wahlberg appears shirtless throughout. Many advertising companies marketed Mark Wahlberg because of this. He made a living through advertisement for a short time after the initial success of the song. In 1993 he dropped his stage name and Wahlberg started his acting career. He first movie, Renaissance Man, came out in 1993. He didn't get the attention of critics until The Basketball Diaries. He starred with Leonardo DiCaprio.

What's the future like for Marky Mark and the Funky Punch? Mark Wahlberg has put the Bunch behind him. He says he's grown up and he couldn't play forever. However, "Good Vibrations" still lives in the hearts of the fans. "Good Vibrations" landed at number 20 on VH1's 40 Greatest One-Hit Wonders of the 90's.

Information and picture courtesy of: Wikipedia: Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch
                                                                            Mark Wahlberg
                                                                            Good Vibrations