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Post by Whitneyfan on Jan 11, 2018 21:08:30 GMT 1
Actually I've just remembered this remix of 'Flava' that was on one of the Dance Zone albums. This should have been the single version and I would have given it 7.5/10
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Post by Whitneyfan on Jan 13, 2018 17:50:08 GMT 1
107. The Fugees - Ready Or Not (#1, 15 Sep 1996, 2 weeks) The chorus of this is based on a 1968 single by the Delfonics with the more of a mouthful title 'Ready Or Not Here I Come (Can't Hide From Love)'. It's another smooth-as-silk track from the refugees, and one which I can't undertsand why didn't enter at the top the previous week over that Peter Andre track - especially when he couldn't do it the last time with the vastly superior 'Mysterious Girl'. 9/10
108. Deep Blue Something - Breakfast At Tiffany's (#1, 29 Sep 1996, 1 week) I've still never seen the film, but this song is still as good today as it was back then. Surely it must feature on many of the best one hit wonders lists - if not then it should. I have to confess not to having heard a single other song by them, but I must do some day. 10/10
109. The Chemical Brothers - Setting Sun (#1, 6 Oct 1996, 1 week) We're getting towards the time of one week at number one wonders, and here is a band that I don't really know too much about. I really feel like I should think this is the best thing ever - experimental, ahead of it's time and featuring a vocal by Noel Gallagher. What's not to love? Except that it doesn't do anything much for me. I do feel though, with a few more listens and given a chance I could grow to appreciate it more, so that's why it's getting a 6/10
110. Boyzone - Words (#1, 13 Oct 1996, 1 week) Interesting that Boyzone's first number one single should be a cover of a song by a band which gave Take That their farewell chart topper a few months earlier. There are some classics that Boyzone, and Ronan Keating in particular should have left well alone ('Fairytale Of New York' springs immediately to mind) but this is quite a pleasant version really. The trouble is rating these covers is hard when you really love the song and they don't mess it up, even if it's not as good as the orginal. 7/10
111. Spice Girls - Say You'll Be There (#1, 20 Oct 1996, 2 weeks) The Girl Power promoters' second single and second number one. While not as insanely catchy and in your face as the debut, this was a pleasing follow-up and still a good little pop song. 8/10
112. Robson & Jerome - What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted/Saturday Night At The Movies/You'll Never Walk Alone (#1, 3 Nov 1996, 2 weeks) They really had to milk this! That's three singles at number one (equalling Gerry & the Pacemakers, Frankie Goes To Hollywood and Jive Bunny's record, but soon to be smashed by the Spice Girls), but they've managed to get seven songs into the mix. I suppose I'd better listen to all three then! 'What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted' is an absolute classic in its Jimmy Ruffin original version, but their vocals don't do it justice at all - and what's with the silly alternative ending? 5/10 They tackle another Drifters classic in 'Saturday Night At The Movies' and again leave you yearning for the original. 4/10 I mentioned Gerry & The Pacemakers earlier - well this was also their third single which reached number one, so whether this was intentional or not I don't know (or care) but it finishes off a triple A side which should have been done as a medley (if at all) so I could have saved myself 5 minutes just now! 4/10
113. The Prodigy - Breathe (#1, 17 Nov 1996, 2 weeks) And now for a track which is definitely not a karaoke cover of a sixties classic. This is best listened to when wasted so you can just go wild to it - or even when you're sober and you can just lose yourself in its madness. 9/10
114. Peter Andre - I Feel You (#1, 1 Dec 1996, 1 week) I don't know what I was doing the week this got to number one because the fact completely escaped me! I love a good ballad more than anybody but this would have been lucky to have made it as a Donny Osmond B-side. 'Flava' sounds magnificent compared to this, and it's a million miles from 'Mysterious Girl'! 4/10
115. Boyzone - A Different Beat (#1, 8 Dec 1996, 1 week) I'd forgotten this one too, but it's coming back to me now listening to the chanting noises in the chorus. It's not bad as far as boyband music goes and I wasn't totally looking forward to it ending like the last one. 7/10
116. Dunblane - Knockin' On Heaven's Door/Throw These Guns Away (#1, 15 Dec 1996, 1 week) Ah I can't possibly slag this off... it was recorded in memory of the 16 primary school children and their teacher who were murdered earlier that year, in an event which remains one of the most shocking in the U.K. in recent history. Obviously 'Knockin' On Heaven's Door' is the old Bob Dylan classic, which was also a hit that decade for Guns N' Roses, but featuring a new verse which mentions Dunblane. Mark Knopfler features on guitar too, and it's actually a very good version, which still brings tears to my eyes now. 8/10 (but 10/10 for the sentiment). 'Throw These Guns Away' is still as relevant today and should be played all day every day to Donald Trump, until he sits up and realises that guns should not be as readily available as buying a pint of milk. 7/10
117. Spice Girls - 2 Become 1 (#1, 22 Dec 1996, 3 weeks) It almost seemed wrong that Dunblane shouldn't be number one at Christmas in 1996, but The Spice Girls did put the release back by a week so the tribute single were guaranteed one week at the top at least. I love '2 Become 1' though and think it is one of the best pop ballads of the last 25 years, and definitely my favourite Spice Girls song bar none. 10/10
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Post by o on Jan 13, 2018 18:10:14 GMT 1
Chemical Brothers and Prodigy rock in that previous lot.
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Post by Whitneyfan on Jan 13, 2018 18:28:53 GMT 1
118. Tori Amos - Professional Widow (It's Got To Be Big) (#1, 12 Jan 1997, 1 week) This stomping club banger is totally unrecognisable from the original version of 'Professional Widow', which features on Tori's 'Boys For Pele' album. At the time this came out clubbing was my favourite pastime, and this always went down a storm when it came on (even if it does sound like she's singing "He's got a big dick"!). 9.5/10
119. White Town - Your Woman (#1, 19 Jan 1997, 1 week) I've never been able to fathom what it's all about, a man singing "I could never be your woman" but what the hell it's a mighty fine song which came from nowhere and has lost none of its appeal over the years. Last year they released 'Your Woman 1917' which is a slowed down and more haunting version. The original is still the best though. 10/10
120. Blur - Beetlebum (#1, 26 Jan 1997, 1 week) Although I wasn't mad on this song at the time, and thought White Town should have got another week at the top, it has grown on me massively over the years and I'd say it's one of the best singles now. Totally different from their previous stuff, but better for it. 8/10
121. LL Cool J - Ain't Nobody (#1, 2 Feb 1997, 1 week) It seemed like everybody wanted to have a go at doing the Rufus & Chaka Khan classic, but nobody could better the original. This certainly isn't! It's standard rapping in the verses "complimented" by a karaoke-style old classic for the chorus - where both would sound rubbish without each other. I don't know how this became his only number one when he has done far better IMO. 5/10
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Post by raliverpool on Jan 13, 2018 20:23:31 GMT 1
1996 UK #1s
94. George Michael - Jesus To A Child (#1, 14 Jan 1996, 1 week) - A great emotional, mature, sad love song. One of his finest. 9/10
95. Babylon Zoo - Spaceman (#1, 21 Jan 1996, 5 weeks) - I don't know why other people bought it, but I bought the CD single purely for the Arthur Baker mix which Radio 1 played an edited version to death, and not the original video version:
Hence for the version I bought it for 10/10. For the Bowie tribute does the Smashing Pumpkins gone wrong original 6/10
96. Oasis - Don't Look Back In Anger (#1, 25 Feb 1996, 1 week) - One of the greatest British pop songs ever written. Like Slade meets The Beatles with a song equal to each acts very finest output 10/10
97. Take That - How Deep Is Your Love (#1, 3 Mar 1996, 3 weeks) - Covering the Bee Gees Saturday Night Fever ballad, with a very odd dark video that looked as if it had Robbie Williams as its director. 6/10
98. The Prodigy - Firestarter (#1, 24 Mar 1996, 3 weeks) - A truly energetic punk/rave/dance/rock track, that has aged remarkably well. 9/10
99. Mark Morrison - Return Of The Mack (#1, 14 Apr 1996, 2 weeks) - A decent R&B club banger, but the singer was a grade A A-hole who thought he was above the law for acts such as taking a firearm on an airliner; spraying mace in the face of a 15 year old in Leicester City Centre; convicted of armed robbery of an off licence; starting a brawl which resulted in the death of one innocent person; paying a lookalike to perform his court-appointed community service; twice being caught driving without a licence; convicted of bribing a policeman; arrested for kidnapping and car theft; and another arrest for assault in a nightclub in London. Despite being jailed since 1997 on seven separate occasions; the Guardian shamefully ran a sympathetic piece on him where he claimed all his numerous undoings were part of a conspiracy and because he was a Muslim. rather than because he is a total & utter scum of a human being. 3/10
100. George Michael - Fastlove (#1, 28 Apr 1996, 3 weeks) - Just brilliant; I loved the I'm Your Man 1996 version featuring Lisa Moorish as well on the CD single. 10/10
101. Gina G - Ooh Aah... Just A Little Bit (#1, 19 May 1996, 1 week) - For me most famous for the most appalling out of breath & off key performance by a British representative either side of Jemini at the ESC. Her career never really recovered despite the runaway nature of the dance pop tune. Still at least the UK learned their lesson for the following year. 6/10
102. Baddiel & Skinner & The Lightning Seeds - Three Lions (#1, 26 May 1996, 1 week) (30 Jun 1996, 1 week) - The best football song ever. Perfectly summing up the old John Cleese quote "Its not the failure that gets me ... its the hope" for what it is like to be a football supporter. 10/10
103. The Fugees - Killing Me Softly (#1, 2 Jun 1996, 4 weeks) (7 Jul 1996, 1 week) - One of the best cover versions of all time. Lauryn Hill really had a sublime voice. 10/10
104. Gary Barlow - Forever Love (#1, 14 Jul 1996, 1 week) - A midtempo ballad that was a bit too AC for my liking. Kind of a like a 1990s version of Christoper Cross instead of a wannabe George Michael. 7/10
105. Spice Girls - Wannabe (#1, 21 Jul 1996, 7 weeks) - A brilliant catchy pop song. How can you not feel the energy. "Zig a zig aah" 9/10
106. Peter Andre - Flava (#1, 8 Sep 1996, 1 week) - This is really a quite unremarkable R&b pop lite record. How did it manage to get to #1. 3/10
107. The Fugees - Ready Or Not (#1, 15 Sep 1996, 2 weeks) - Based on the Delfonics track and sampling Enya, this was not as good as their previous single. 7/10
108. Deep Blue Something - Breakfast At Tiffany's (#1, 29 Sep 1996, 1 week) - A bit of a one hit wonder. But I was never a fan of this track. Alas their follow up "Dinner at Pat Butcher's" was not a success (joke). 5/10
109. The Chemical Brothers - Setting Sun (#1, 6 Oct 1996, 1 week) - Now this was the 1996 Zeitgeist. The experimental dance duo inspired by The Beatles' Tomorrow Never Knows" on this Big beat psychedelic dance wig out and featuring Oasis' Noel Gallagher. Add to that the video of a bewildered woman at a rave .... wow. Why isn't chart music this good anymore. 10/10
110. Boyzone - Words (#1, 13 Oct 1996, 1 week) - Dull but adequate cover of the Bee Gees standard which adds nothing to the original other than to the Brothers Gibb's bank account. 4/10
111. Spice Girls - Say You'll Be There (#1, 20 Oct 1996, 2 weeks) - Personally, this was the best of their three 1996 singles. Helped by their best video hugely inspired by the 1965 film Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! Mel C's ad libs really make this track a ... 10/10
112. Robson & Jerome - What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted/Saturday Night At The Movies/You'll Never Walk Alone (#1, 3 Nov 1996, 2 weeks) - Please make this stop. Actually this was the least offensive of their three singles. 2/10
113. The Prodigy - Breathe (#1, 17 Nov 1996, 2 weeks) - A great track, but not quite as good as their previous effort. 8/10
114. Peter Andre - I Feel You (#1, 1 Dec 1996, 1 week) - Complete insipid drivel 1/10
115. Boyzone - A Different Beat (#1, 8 Dec 1996, 1 week) - This is not as bad as it could have been. 5/10
116. Dunblane - Knockin' On Heaven's Door/Throw These Guns Away (#1, 15 Dec 1996, 1 week) - Look I admire the message. Mark Knopfler's guitar is very tastefully done. But vocally this suffocates under its good intentions via its overwrought Jon Bon Jovi esque vocals. 4/10
117. Spice Girls - 2 Become 1 (#1, 22 Dec 1996, 3 weeks) - A marvellous Xmas #1 with a good safe sex message. 10/10
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Post by Earl Purple on Jan 13, 2018 20:50:27 GMT 1
I'm way behind in here. Rednex had a drinking song get to my top 20 only a couple of years ago.
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Post by Earl Purple on Jan 13, 2018 20:51:32 GMT 1
119. White Town - Your Woman (#1, 19 Jan 1997, 1 week)
I've never been able to fathom what it's all about, a man singing "I could never be your woman" but what the hell it's a mighty fine song which came from nowhere and has lost none of its appeal over the years. Last year they released 'Your Woman 1917' which is a slowed down and more haunting version. The original is still the best though. 10/10
This song sampled a 1920s song called My Woman so expect this to feature in another certain topic sometime soon.
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Post by Earl Purple on Jan 13, 2018 21:01:38 GMT 1
113. The Prodigy - Breathe (#1, 17 Nov 1996, 2 weeks) - A great track, but not quite as good as their previous effort. 8/10
Not a big fan of this but it was far better than the #1 on either side of it.
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Post by Laurence on Jan 15, 2018 0:06:52 GMT 1
The One And Only is one of those songs whose reputation seems to have improved over the years. It is indeed a decent enough pop song, but that doesn't make up for keeping Sit Down off the top. Well the band James themselves described "Sit Down" as their musical albatross, which is why for 1999-2000 gigs they played it as their opening number to get it out of the way. With Singer/lyricist Tim Booth comparing it to "I Just Called To Say I Love You" lamenting why the Great British public did not love the band's favourite song "Sometimes" more instead (I completely agree with him on this matter as I find the 1991 hit remake "Sit Down" annoying to listen to; whilst "Sometimes" now sounds like a track that should have spent 9 weeks at #1). As for "The One & Only" ... it was the first song Nik Kershaw wrote after being dumped from his record contract with MCA. As far as defiant FU songs go, there have been few better written in the history of pop! It probably helps explain why when in 2011 when Tim Booth was promoting his third album Low Life, he was asked about his mixed feelings about his band's biggest hit on BBC6 Music Radcliffe & Maconie Show and his thoughts about it stalling at UK #2, he said that he genuinely thinks "The One & Only" is a better song and deserved to be more successful! Seen James three times recently (only got into them in last couple of years) and heard virtually all their top 40 hits at one or more of their shows including ‘Sometimes’ at each of the shows but NEVER ‘Sit Down’ which surprised me so thanks for that info. That said ‘Sit Down’ is an absolutely brilliant emotionally fulfilling song IMO.
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Post by Whitneyfan on Jan 17, 2018 21:26:44 GMT 1
122. U2 - Discotheque (#1, 9 Feb 1997, 1 week) I must admit I much prefer when U2 are doing big sing-along anthems like 'Sunday Bloody Sunday' and 'I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For', because as innovative as this maybe, it is seriously lacking in any sort of a melody. It's probably my least favourite single of theirs ever.. I couldn't wait for it to finish, I am sorry to say. 3.5/10
123. No Doubt - Don't Speak (#1, 16 Feb 1997, 3 weeks) Finally we have a song which spent more than a week at number one - and what a song! This was many people's first introduction to the voice of Gwen Stefani, and I was hooked straight away. It's just a fantastically heartfelt rock song which never sounds old to me. 10/10
124. Spice Girls - Mama/Who Do You Think You Are (#1, 9 Mar 1997, 3 weeks) A record breaking fourth number one single for the Spice Girls, which makes four number one singles or five number one songs (depending on how you look at it), all from their 'Spice' album. 'Mama' was released in time for mother's day and is one of their best ballads. It's a long time since I heard it but it still sounds lovely, even now. 9/10 'Who Do You Think You Are' is a more in-yer-face upbeat pop song, which I remember getting played a lot in the clubs I went to in 1997. You forget now just how good they were for a while, and I think this is exactly the sort of thing today's music needs to shake some life into the charts. 9/10
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Post by Whitneyfan on Jan 17, 2018 21:28:49 GMT 1
Well the band James themselves described "Sit Down" as their musical albatross, which is why for 1999-2000 gigs they played it as their opening number to get it out of the way. With Singer/lyricist Tim Booth comparing it to "I Just Called To Say I Love You" lamenting why the Great British public did not love the band's favourite song "Sometimes" more instead (I completely agree with him on this matter as I find the 1991 hit remake "Sit Down" annoying to listen to; whilst "Sometimes" now sounds like a track that should have spent 9 weeks at #1). As for "The One & Only" ... it was the first song Nik Kershaw wrote after being dumped from his record contract with MCA. As far as defiant FU songs go, there have been few better written in the history of pop! It probably helps explain why when in 2011 when Tim Booth was promoting his third album Low Life, he was asked about his mixed feelings about his band's biggest hit on BBC6 Music Radcliffe & Maconie Show and his thoughts about it stalling at UK #2, he said that he genuinely thinks "The One & Only" is a better song and deserved to be more successful! Seen James three times recently (only got into them in last couple of years) and heard virtually all their top 40 hits at one or more of their shows including ‘Sometimes’ at each of the shows but NEVER ‘Sit Down’ which surprised me so thanks for that info. That said ‘Sit Down’ is an absolutely brilliant emotionally fulfilling song IMO. I'd be gutted if I went to see James and they didn't do 'Sit Down'. It may have been overplayed over the years but it is one of the most anthemic sing-along pop/rock classics ever IMO, and exactly the sort of song that was made for concerts and festivals.
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Post by o on Jan 18, 2018 14:16:32 GMT 1
Blur and White Town, nice.
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Post by Whitneyfan on Jan 18, 2018 19:09:23 GMT 1
125. The Chemical Brothers - Block Rockin' Beats (#1, 30 Mar 1997, 1 week) I would probably love this if I was on a night out and on something, but sat at home on my computer I am struggling to see the appeal if I'm honest. It's one of those records designed to make you totally lose yourself, and if I were in that frame of mind I would love it so I won't be too harsh with my rating 5/10
126. R. Kelly - I Believe I Can Fly (#1, 6 Apr 1997, 3 weeks) This has the unusual chart run of 2-5 then all the way back up to #1 in its third week. R. Kelly had been responsible for some cool grooves and club bangers in the mid-nineties before making a massive impression with this sing-along ballad, which I think is up there with some of the best soul anthems of all-time. 10/10
127. Michael Jackson - Blood On The Dancefloor (#1, 27 Apr 1997, 1 week) Just when I thought he hadn't finsihed releasing singles from the HIStory album, Jacko went and released the 'Blood On the Dancefloor' album which featured remixes of songs from HIStory, plus a few new tracks including this one. Even though it was one of his number one singles, it's probably one of his least remembered. It's actually quite refreshing to listen to it now as it's one that I rarely go back to, but it's not one of his finest - although some of the album tracks like 'Ghosts' and 'Morphine' were amazing. 7/10
128. Gary Barlow - Love Won't Wait (#1, 4 May 1997, 1 week) I'm guessing that this got to number one purely because it had Gary Barlow's name on it, because it sounds like a Gareth Gates album track. I had completely forgotten how it went before I put it on so didn't have a clue what to expect, but I just thank goodness he got back with Take That again as his solo career was not in the least bit memorable. 4.5/10
129. Olive - You're Not Alone (#1, 11 May 1997, 2 weeks) This is more like it. I had liked this club banger a year earlier when it was originally released, but it took a remix to get it noticed and reach the chart summit. It still sounds great and fresh when I hear it now. 8.5/10
130. Eternal Featuring BeBe Winans - I Wanna Be The Only One (#1, 25 May 1997, 1 week) Before the Spice Girls we had my favourite nineties girlband in the shape of Eternal. I don't know why this was their only chart topper because they had some right bangers before this. Sadly though, the only way was down for them after this as their star soon faded, but I am still holding out hope for a massive comeback! On this bright and cheery tune they enlisted the help of gospel singer BeBe Winans. 9.5/10
131. Hanson - MMMBop (#1, 1 Jun 1997, 3 weeks) I don't care if this is cheesy boyband fare, it's a bloody fantastic record. It's one of those songs that just makes me smile whenever I hear it, and it just screams nineties pop. 10/10
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Post by Whitneyfan on Jan 18, 2018 21:55:30 GMT 1
132. Puff Daddy & Faith Evans Featuring 112 - I'll Be Missing You (#1, 22 Jun 1997, 3 weeks) (20 Jul 1997, 3 weeks) Tribute song to Notorious B.I.G. who was shot dead earlier that year, this also gained momentum after Diana's death in August. It was only Oasis who stopped this from having a 7 week straight run at the top, but it still sold an impressive amount of copies all the same. Based on The Police's number one 'Every Breath You Take' and one of the few rap remakes of songs which is just as good as the original IMO. 10/10
133. Oasis - D'You Know What I Mean? (#1, 13 Jul 1997, 1 week) In my humble opinion this isn't as good as anything on the 'Morning Glory' album, but that's not to say that I don't like it. That was just such a good album that almost anything they released after it would sound poor in comparison. In fact I need to dig 'Be Here Now' out again because it's one I never seem to play anymore. 7.5/10
134. Will Smith - Men In Black (#1, 10 Aug 1997, 4 weeks) Another number one which "borrows" from Patrice Rushen's 'Forget Me Nots', this was Will Smith's second chart topper after 'Boom! Shake The Room' with DJ Jazzy Jeff in '93. At the time I owned Will's 'Big Willie Style' album and quite enjoyed it, and this song has aged better than I'd imagined it would have as it's very much 'of it's time'.. but still enjoyable. 8/10
135. The Verve - The Drugs Don't Work(#1, 7 Sep 1997, 1 week) This was lucky to sneak a week in at number one as recent events were to bring about a colossal selling record the following week. Anyhow, back to this one and it's Richard Ashcroft's only chart topper to date, and as far as I'm concerned miles better than their previous number two hit which most people seem to prefer. 9/10
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Post by o on Jan 19, 2018 18:08:57 GMT 1
Harsh on the Chems there!
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Post by Whitneyfan on Jan 21, 2018 13:31:29 GMT 1
136. Elton John - Candle In The Wind 1997/Something About The Way You Look Tonight (#1, 14 Sep 1997, 5 weeks) The biggest selling single of all-time. It's hard to imagine now, but there was a time when it was easier to get hold of a lock of Duncan Goodhew's hair than it was to get a copy of this single! And if you can remember how long it felt Bryan Adams being #1 for 16 weeks then spare a thought for the poor Canadians who had to live with this as top of their charts for a total of 46 weeks!! Anyway, let's start with 'Candle In The Wind' and if it were the original tribute to Marilyn Monroe it would get a 10/10, no question. Princess Diana was a woman who was loved by the nation... she literally went from being slagged off by the press one day to being described as 'England's Rose' the next - a description which stuck, and was used in the first line of this new version of the song by Elton John when he sung it at her funeral. I don't really know what to say about this version, in that it's very much a moment in time which doesn't have the same effect when listening to it over 20 years after the event. It's like watching an old wedding video... anyway, I'm going to give it 7.5/10 It's hard to know how well 'Something About The Way You Look Tonight' would have done had it been released as a stand-alone single, if Diana had decided to walk back that night. It is one of my favourite nineties songs by him though, and one of his more touching of his later ballads. I never really got the whole 'Lady In Red' similarity thing, other than they shared a couple of words from the Oxford English Dictionary. 9.5/10
137. Spice Girls - Spice Up Your Life (#1, 19 Oct 1997, 1 week) Those Spice Girls were really on a roll with their fifth number one in a row, and a 100% chart record, with no signs of slowing down. At the time I felt this was a bit weaker than their previous singles but in retrospect it a perfect in-yer-face pop song for the first single from the second album. 8/10
138. Aqua - Barbie Girl (#1, 26 Oct 1997, 4 weeks) Did this really stop Natalie Imbruglia's classic 'Torn' from a 3-week number one spell? I'm supposed to think this is absolute trash and give it 0/10, but I just can't help but find it totally infectious. 9/10 *hides under a large rock*
139. Various Artists - Perfect Day (#1, 23 Nov 1997, 2 weeks) (4 Jan 1998, 1 week) BBC Children In Need version of the Lou Reed classic, which features the likes of David Bowie, Heather Small, Tom Jones, Gabrielle and many others, including Lou himself. I still think Kirsty MacColl & Evan Dando's from 2 years earlier is my favourite version, but I do still like this one. 9/10
140. Teletubbies - Teletubbies Say Eh-Oh! (#1, 7 Dec 1997, 2 weeks) Oh for the love of God, what were we on as a nation? I am really embarrassed just listening to this now, and anybody downstairs who might hear me will be wondering what the hell I've taken now!! 1/10
141. Spice Girls - Too Much (#1, 21 Dec 1997, 2 weeks) It comes to something when the Spice Girls sound grown-up, but after listening to that Teletubbies nursery rhyme this sounds really mature. To be fair, it is one of their maturer sounding songs anyway and a deserved second Christmas number one in a row for them, although their run of non-stop chart toppers was about to come to an end. But as for this, I love it. 9/10
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vya
Member
Posts: 8,776
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Post by vya on Jan 21, 2018 15:39:10 GMT 1
"Barbie Girl" is an intelligent and witty slice of pop music, as well as insanely catchy. Yeah, and better than "Torn"....
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Post by raliverpool on Jan 21, 2018 16:39:12 GMT 1
118. Tori Amos - Professional Widow (It's Got To Be Big) (#1, 12 Jan 1997, 1 week) - A great Armand Van Helden club banging remix of the original. I bought this on CD single. 10/10
119. White Town - Your Woman (#1, 19 Jan 1997, 1 week) - A great one hit wonder and use of a sample. I bought this too. 10/10
120. Blur - Beetlebum (#1, 26 Jan 1997, 1 week) - At the time this was a superior piece of one up man ship on Oasis, as this showed they could channel The Beatles (circa 1968 White Album) as well as their Manchester rivals. Plus it was a great change of musical direction. I bought this CD single as well. 10/10
121. LL Cool J - Ain't Nobody (#1, 2 Feb 1997, 1 week) - Pointless, forgettable cover of the 1980s soul classic. 4/10
122. U2 - Discotheque (#1, 9 Feb 1997, 1 week) - Perhaps the oddest single in the Irish band's career. A mish mash of their Achtung Baby/Zooropa sound with a catchy tune that does not quite nail it, until the outro. Yet the video was probably their most entertaining, almost Duran Duran like. I bought the album Pop. 7/10
123. No Doubt - Don't Speak (#1, 16 Feb 1997, 3 weeks) - The best number one of the year. Just a sensational track ... very Fleetwood Mac in a post grunge era. 10/10
124. Spice Girls - Mama/Who Do You Think You Are (#1, 9 Mar 1997, 3 weeks) - A tale of two sides. "Mama" was a mawkish treaclefest wanting me to grab a sickbag. 4/10. Yet the other-side was Wham! fantastique. 9/10
125. The Chemical Brothers - Block Rockin' Beats (#1, 30 Mar 1997, 1 week) - Similar to the Prodigy, their second consecutive #1 was not quite as good as their first, but still a very good club banger. 8/10
126. R. Kelly - I Believe I Can Fly (#1, 6 Apr 1997, 3 weeks) - "Tonight Matthew I Robert Kelly of Chicago am going to be Sam Cooke ...." In some respects you've got to admire what it tried to achieve. But this is far too cheesy U-S-A proto X-Factor winning single for my liking with the musical mushiness, and the OTT choir. 5/10
127. Michael Jackson - Blood On The Dancefloor (#1, 27 Apr 1997, 1 week) - Perhaps the least MJ like single of his Epic records career. A cracking tune, and I love the chorus & hook, plus the video features a then non famous J-Lo. 7/10
128. Gary Barlow - Love Won't Wait (#1, 4 May 1997, 1 week) - A decent song, which Cliff Richard had already rejected, because of whom had co-written it for him. Still a decent tune, but not as good as the original demo (which is better than 95% of her material released on her last 3 studio albums....) 7/10
129. Olive - You're Not Alone (#1, 11 May 1997, 2 weeks) - A fairly dark club pop track, which deserved to top the charts. 9/10
130. Eternal Featuring BeBe Winans - I Wanna Be The Only One (#1, 25 May 1997, 1 week) - Their best single. A pity the British answer to En Vogue suffered similar issues & allegations which proved to be their undoing with regards to alleged bullying/diva antics by the Bennetts siblings. 8/10
131. Hanson - MMMBop (#1, 1 Jun 1997, 3 weeks) - This track seems to be loved by a lot of people. But I hate it. This has to be one of the most irritating records ever made. 2/10
132. Puff Daddy & Faith Evans Featuring 112 - I'll Be Missing You (#1, 22 Jun 1997, 3 weeks) (20 Jul 1997, 3 weeks) - A great remake/remodel, but this is basically the Police 1983 Global #1 smash hit given a 1990s hiphop makeover. 8/10
133. Oasis - D'You Know What I Mean? (#1, 13 Jul 1997, 1 week) - You can here the Cocaine in this mix. Very Led Zeppelin like. But it was apparent the rot was setting in. 8/10
134. Will Smith - Men In Black (#1, 10 Aug 1997, 4 weeks) - Again this is basically the Patrice Rushen 1982 original given the Fresh Prince Of Bel Air makeover. A great video though. It has aged better than Boom! Shake The Room IMHO. 7/10
135. The Verve - The Drugs Don't Work (#1, 7 Sep 1997, 1 week) - Richard Ashcroft's second single in a row where he got taken to the cleaners for ripping off another song. Unlike "The Last Time" he was not left feeling "Bittersweet" with losing all his songwriting & publishing royalties for the track, as unlike "The Strolling Bones" Crowded House's Neil Finn has a reputation for being one of the nicest men in the music industry. As this was lyrically inspired by The Verve's singer's Dad with terminal cancer, the New Zealand legend agreed to take just a 25% cut of the publishing for it ripping off my #1 song of the 1980s "Better Be Home Soon" (& now the defacto New Zealand national anthem*), but split that 25% 50:50 between two cancer charities of his & Richard Ashcroft choosing in their respective countries. 10/10
136. Elton John - Candle In The Wind 1997/Something About The Way You Look Tonight (#1, 14 Sep 1997, 5 weeks) - Ironic the original ode to a dead peroxide blonde was my least favourite Elton John track. So you can imagine what I thought of this 1997 remake to the patron Saint to Newspaper tabloid editors. Still it is fitting that a woman whom I still regard as the most overrated person of the 20th Century should have that song performed at her funeral.0/10 (*In contrast when New Zealand's greatest (mountaineer, explorer, and philanthropist) Edmund Hillary died, he had already asked New Zealand's greater singer/songwriter to perform "Better Be Home" at his funeral!) I think Something About The Way You Look Tonight was his best single of the 1990s. 9/10
137. Spice Girls - Spice Up Your Life (#1, 19 Oct 1997, 1 week) - Quite frankly I was grateful this knocked that Diana Death disc off the top of the charts. Never mind the tune is not that special, 7/10
138. Aqua - Barbie Girl (#1, 26 Oct 1997, 4 weeks) - Too many people missed the irony of this track. Why this gets stick when "Mmm Bop" does not I just don't know. 9/10
139. Various Artists - Perfect Day (#1, 23 Nov 1997, 2 weeks) (4 Jan 1998, 1 week) - A very well made track. But I have to agree with its composer that Duran Duran's 1995 cover remains the definitive version. Still miles better than the one stinker on Kirsty MacColl's Galore Best Of. 9/10
140. Teletubbies - Teletubbies Say Eh-Oh! (#1, 7 Dec 1997, 2 weeks) - Replicating the success of Mr Blobby, but this track just completely lacks the brassneck of that Seasonal chart topper. Still preferable to listen to than Mmm Bop & Candle In The Wind 97 3/10
141. Spice Girls - Too Much (#1, 21 Dec 1997, 2 weeks) - Probably Mel C's best showcase within the band. A decent effort, but it is no "2 Become 1". 8/10
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Post by Whitneyfan on Jan 21, 2018 20:47:51 GMT 1
142. All Saints - Never Ever (#1, 11 Jan 1998, 1 week) A bit of an afterthought number one for the girlband of the late nineties it was cooler to like, as it had been hanging around the top six since late November. Now though it sounds like a surefire number one hit. I'd say this is definitely the best thing they did. 9/10
143. Oasis - All Around The World (#1, 18 Jan 1998, 1 week) At 9 minutes 38 seconds this is the longest single to ever make number one. To be honest it could be half as long and sound just as good, it just seems to drag on even though I do like it. 7.5/10
144. Usher - You Make Me Wanna... (#1, 25 Jan 1998, 1 week) Another one week wonder and, although not his debut, this was the single which introduced most of us to R&B star Usher. This doesn't sound like much of a number one single to me now, and obviously he went on to do much better. To me it doesn't have much of a tune though. 6/10
145. Aqua - Doctor Jones (#1, 1 Feb 1998, 2 weeks) Proving they were no one hit wonders, Aqua managed a second number one smash a few months after their first with a similar sounding tune to the first. Saying that, it's just as infectious and you can't help but move to it. 7.5/10
146. Celine Dion - My Heart Will Go On (#1, 15 Feb 1998, 1 week) (8 Mar 1998, 1 week) I don't know why but I remembered this being number one for much longer. It's another of those marmite tracks which people loved to slag off at the time, but I have to say it's one of those rare songs which totally blew me away on the very first listen. I still think it's a masterpiece to this day. 10/10
147. Cornershop - Brimful Of Asha (#1, 22 Feb 1998, 1 week) Originally a number 60 smash a year earlier, it was the Norman Cook remix that gave it a new lease of life and made it go straight to number one on re-issue. It's the version you still hear today when it's played on the radio too, and why not as it's such a great little indie club tune. 9/10
148. Madonna - Frozen (#1, 1 Mar 1998, 1 week) Just when we thought Madge's chart topping days were long behind her, she came back with an absolute corking ballad which managed to be both dead cool and totally different to everything else in the charts at the same time. Even better was the 'Ray Of Light' album which put her firmly back on trend again. It's still one of her biggest ballads to this day. 10/10
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Post by Whitneyfan on Jan 23, 2018 19:35:56 GMT 1
149. Run-D.M.C. vs Jason Nevins - It's Like That (#1, 15 Mar 1998, 6 weeks) Dating all the way back to 1983 this was one of the earliest hip-hop singles. It was given a new lease of life by American producer Jason Nevins in 1997 and shot to #1 upon it's UK release after previously charting on import sales. It must have been gutting for the Spice Girls that this was the only record which prevented them from having ten number ones with all of their initial ten singles, but that doesn't take away from how great this sounded then and still does now and is surely one of the best hip-hop tracks ever. 9.5/10
150. Boyzone - All That I Need (#1, 26 Apr 1998, 1 week) I've heard worse, but it's very syrupy and typical late nineties boyband balladry. It sounds too forgettable though to be a number one IMHO. 6.5/10
151. All Saints - Under The Bridge/Lady Marmalade (#1, 3 May 1998, 1 week) (17 May 1998, 1 week) Well the originals of both of these songs are obviously classics in very different genres. 'Under The Bridge' has altered quite a bit from the Red Hot Chili Peppers' original and it's actually quite a nice mix of the song. 7.5/10 Neither track is as good as Madge's legendary 'Ray Of Light' which it kept off the top, but I won't let that cloud my judgement! 'Lady Marmalade' is also more soulful and mellow than LaBelle's version, which I definitely prefer but I still like this quite a bit too. 8/10
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