Here is a look at some interesting topics that have been steadily rising in the search logs over the last ten weeks. While not as popular as other recent risers, such as the XFL and the band Crazy Town, these subjects are steadily building their own strong followings online. The percentages given are the average week-to-week rise in searches over that period.
Oni (94%) is a new Playstation 2 action game inspired by Japanese anime. The characters are drawn in the same big-eyed style that has made cartoons like Dragonball and Sailor Moon so popular. The name Oni actually comes from the word in Japanese for mythical demons who appear like humans except that they have three eyes, big mouths, horns, and sharp nails. Hey, sounds like the Memphis Maniax offensive line.
Shabby Chic (46%) is a furniture line from designer Rachel Ashwell. The line features lots of big comfy sofas as well as accoutrements like table linens and throw pillows. Ashwell has written three books and has her own show on the new E!style network as well.
Could there be a heavy metal band more theatrical, more over-the-top, more agressive than Slipknot? Yes! They are called Mudvayne (30%). They come from Peoria, Illinois, proving that even the wildest music can play in Peoria, and they feature bizarre makeup instead of masks. Searches have risen gradually since their album was released in August, and this week they were more popular than better-known rockers Kid Rock and Papa Roach. Check out this fan site and purchase their CD L.D. 50 here.
Speedvision (45%) is a cable network dedicated to motor sports. The network's recent popularity could be related to the upcoming start of Nascar season, but it is now more popular online than at any time in the past.
(By the way, Lycos Sports is a great place to go for motor sports information.)
It must be college application time in Canada, because two of our biggest recent risers have been Halifax's Dalhousie University (41%) and the home-study school Athabasca University (59%). Athabasca is an interesting one; while it has campuses in Edmonton and Calgary, 80 percent of its students pursue home-study degrees through textbooks, CD-ROM, and Internet, and admission is open to anyone in the U.S., Canada, or Mexico.
Finally, city searches are escalating as people start to make travel plans for spring break. While the usual suspects are hot, like Daytona, Panama City, and Cancun, two unexpectedly hot 2001 travel destinations seem to be Galveston, Texas (48%) and Charleston, South Carolina (28%).
TOMORROW: Are XFL searchers and NFL searchers looking for the same things?
