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Trollheart's Chart Fifty
No, not me running down through the top fifty! Sure why would I want to do that, and why would you want me to? No, this is, as usual, something far more complicated and involved. I’ll be looking at the top forty/fifty/seventy-five/whatever the hell it is these days, choosing one single at random. I’ll write as much as I can about it (big surprise there, TH! Shut the hell up, you!) and telling you what I personally think of it. Then I’ll be going back fifty years in ten year segments, to check out what was at that place in the chart at this time ten years ago, twenty years ago, and so on, all the way back to the seventies, hence the “fifty” in the title. Neat, huh? What do you mean, no?
I’ll be looking at how the chart has changed - one single at a time - over the course of five decades, and each time I do a new selection I’ll mention how the one(s) I’ve already done are now doing at this point in time: have they slid down the chart, risen, got to number one, fallen out? Well, the point is to make it fun. What? No, for me. Not for you. You can all fuck off. Oh well, I suppose if you want to you can check the songs out with me. Nobody should take offence as my opinion is blah blah yadda yadda rhubarb rhubarb you know how it goes by now. Oh yeah, I've decided also that I'll check out the number one from each decade as well, so this year, 2012, 2002, 1992, 1982 and 1972. |
My first random spin gave me number 33, so what's there this week and what was there this week up to fifty years ago? Well, this week (or as close to it as I can get anyway) we have this:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...reaky_Girl.png Title: “Super Freaky Girl” Artist: Nicki Minaj Nationality: Trinidadian Genre: Hip-hop, Pop Rap Written by: Rick James, Alonzo Miller, Lukasz Gottwald, Aaron Joseph, Lauren Miller, Vaughan Oliver (Lyrics by Onilka Maraj/Nicki Minaj and Gamal Lewis/LunchMoney Lewis) Original release date: August 22 2022 Highest chart position (at time of writing): 10 (1 in the USA) Chart position (at time of writing): 33 Progress, if any, at time of writing: Descending From the album: N/A What do I know about this artist? Very little; I know her name and that she’s a rapper/pop artist and usually has pink hair, but other than that, nada. What do I think of this single? Okay, hands up anyone who thought I liked it? Huh? Oh, right. You just joined today. Well, you’ll learn once you get to know me. Look, it wasn’t as terrible as I had expected it to be, but let’s be honest here: the main thrust (ooer) or if you prefer the meat (double ooer) of the song is in the original: that instantly recognisable keyboard riff, the beat, it’s all James and then she’s spouting sexual not-quite-innuendos all over it. Yeah it’s okay and I can see how it was so popular, and you can’t fault the video (not that that should really factor into my decision, but this is the age of MTV, sort of). But really the only thing this song showed me was that I do actually know “Super Freak”, and it’s a cool song. This is okay but you know, meh. What have I learned about this single? Seems to have been very successful, taking her to number one in the US, in fact debuting at number one, though it didn’t do quite as well over here, as you can see. Still made the top ten. Just. It’s not from any album, as seems to be increasingly the norm these days with pop artists - probably due to the popularity of streaming sites: indeed, this was the highest-charting debut for a female solo rap singer (well, it says biggest debut, but I assume that’s what it means) on Spotify. It liberally samples Rick James’s 1981 hit “Super Freak” (which then proves she didn’t exactly go outof her way to title it, just adding a “y” and “girl” to the song) but I’m no fan of James so could not tell you how, if at all, it compares to the original. Some controversy apparently, if you care, about her being annoyed it was chosen as a pop rather than a rap single, which kind of seems like splitting hairs to me, but there you go. Then some sort of “Twitter battle” between her and some other rapper, Latte or Ladder or, no, Latto, that’s the one. As if I care. My rating: A- |
Yeah well my general view of the charts is that much of it is ****, but I'm always ready to give something a chance. It's hard to rate this song, as it's not really hers. She's just sort of piggy-backing on Rick James's melody, but I guess she does it well. Rap is not for me though, so while I'm initially averse to it, I understand too that I am outside my wheelhouse a considerable deal here, and I would not make judgements on it - other than a very surface one - in the same way I would not do with a jazz or rockabilly record. As ever, what's written here is my own impression of the song and my own personal opinion of it. Yours may of course vary.
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And going back 10 years….
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...eTalkssong.jpg Title: “Little Talks” Artist: Of Monsters and Men Nationality: Icelandic Genre: Indie Rock Written by: Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir, Ragnar Þórhallsson Original release date: December 20 2011 Highest chart position: 12 (20 in USA) Progress, if any, at that time: Descending From the album: My Head is an Animal What do I know about this artist? Nothing other than I’ve heard the name What do I think of this single? It has a nice bouncy tempo and a sort of Celtic feel; certainly does not sound Icelandic - no Bjork or Sigur Ros here - and the dual vocal works very well. Not sure I would become a fan but this is pretty decent. What have I learned about this single? Not an awful lot really. Other than that it became the highest-charting single for a band from Iceland on the Billboard Hot 100 and seems to have received a lot of praise. Oh, also that it was their debut single. My rating: A |
Good luck with this thread, TH. I'm intrigued by your plan to look at a rather random collection of pop singles, and your process has already thrown up a small gem, imo - and that is the video for "Little Talks". The style of the video is a nice balance between strange and mildly amusing, with it's touch of old-style animated figures. When I open a thread called Ephemera Better Than You Expected, I'm going to steal your clip for my OP.
Pop charts the way they used to be: In Britain, there was just one weekly best-selling singles chart from the record industry. That one chart was accepted as definitive and used by every media source and pop tv program; the simply-calculated rankings were never doubted. But today things are more diverse aren't they? Popularity on Spotify, downloads, singles bought, YouTube hits - so I'm curious about what charts you're using, TH, and how (inter)national they may be. |
Since you didn't have the guts to go back sixty years, here are the number one and number 33 songs for November 3, 1962 respectively...
1. The Crystals- He's a Rebel. Phil Spector really exploded onto the scene with this gem. Pity he was a violent loony. 33. Roy Orbison- Working For the Man- This Roy Orbison classic actually peaks here. Guess they didn't like his rockers so much, not until Oh Pretty Woman anyway. . |
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Once I realised I could select any year, any week and see the full chart for that week, I thought this would be a cool thing to do. Also gives me a chance to listen to current chart music, something I haven't done since I had no choice and that was all I had access to. Quote:
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And what was occupying the number 33 slot twenty years ago on this week?
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...lyDrawnBoy.jpg Title: “You Were Right” Artist: Badly Drawn Boy Nationality: English Genre: Alt rock Written by: Badly Drawn Boy (Damon Michael Gough) Original release date: October 14 2002 Highest chart position: 9 Progress, if any, at that time: Descending From the album: Have You Fed the Fish? What do I know about this artist? Nothing other than I’ve heard the name What do I think of this single? Seems a little fractured, musically, to me: the chords keep descending and somehow don’t seem to match his singing, but hell, what do I know? Reminds me a little of The Lightning Seeds. Some nice orchestration, though it’s a little sporadic I feel. I also get a sense of early Divine Comedy from it, sort of Liberation/Promenade/Casanova era. It’s not really for me though. What have I learned about this single? That it was his highest-charting single (bit of a theme going on here), that the lyric was assembled from random phrases which recall his idols, and that it was highly acclaimed. My rating: B+ |
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Yeah, I might do my own random review of the Billboard charts from 1962-1971 if anyone happens to be interested- so there! :p: By the way, if the recent Billboard chart is any indication, I wouldn't hold too much stock in the recent charts. Taylor Swift owns the top ten songs on Billboard this week. When was the last time anyone here heard a Taylor Swift song on the radio? |
Slipping back to the twentieth century now, what was at number 33 on this week, thirty years ago in 1992? This.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...27t_Enough.jpg Title: “Sometimes Love Just Ain’t Enough” Artist: Patty Smyth/Don Henley Nationality: American Genre: Rock Written by: Patty Smyth, Glen Burtnick Original release date: August 1992 Highest chart position: 22 (2 in Ireland, 1 in USA) Progress, if any, at that time: Descending From the album: Patty Smyth What do I know about this artist? Not very much about Smyth, plenty about Henley, being a big Eagles fan and also a fan of his solo work. What do I think of this single? Love it and it brings back some really nice memories. The duet between the two works excellently and I like the acoustic guitars. What have I learned about this single? Well this is one I actually owned. I do love my ballads, and once Henley is involved, count me in. Seems it was the most successful single in Canada that year, and was a sort of reciprocation by Smyth for having worked on two of Henley’s albums. My rating: A+++ |
Another ten years back in time, to one of my favourite years, and forty years ago in 1982 the end of October saw this at number 33
https://i.discogs.com/C-32_yip1EnF0U...TYuanBlZw.jpeg Title: “Do it to the Music” Artist: Raw Silk Nationality: American Genre: Dance, Funk Written by: Bert Reid, Ron Dean Miller Original release date: All I can find is that it came out in 1982 Highest chart position: 18 (5 on the US Dance Chart) Progress, if any, at that time: Descending From the album: N/A What do I know about this artist? Absolutely nothing; think I may have heard the name somewhere but not sure. What do I think of this single? It’s a pleasant dance number which reminds me a little of the late seventies funk and soul from the likes of Earth Wind & Fire and Imagination. Funky. What have I learned about this single? Not a single (sorry) thing My rating: A https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-LLxuKz0k4 |
And finally, completing our first fifty-year journey back through the charts, what was at number 33 half a century ago (feel really old now!) on this week in 1972?
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...ngle_cover.jpg Title: “Mama Weer All Crazee Now” Artist: Slade Nationality: English Genre: Rock Written by: Noddy Holder, Jim Lea Original release date: August 25 1972 Highest chart position: 1 Progress, if any, at that time: Descending From the album: Slayed? What do I know about this artist? Ah, Slade! They may not have been the greatest band but they sure were honest, and who doesn’t know “Merry Christmas Everybody”, by which the band have attained immortality and everyone knows Noddy’s joyous yell “It’s CHRISSSSSSST-MAAAAASSS!” But back in the day Slade were the original “bovver boys” (bovver being a phonetic way to write bother, meaning they were trouble) and did in fact attract the feared skinhead crowd. They certainly had a mass of hits, six of which went to the top and seventeen of which were top twenty singles, and are fondly remembered by many rock artists as an influence. What do I think of this single? Ah it’s Slade, it’s mad, it’s basic, it’s honest, it’s fun. How can you not like it! Good old seventies. As was said of probably many bands, we shall not see their like again. What have I learned about this single? It was Slade’s first number one, quickly followed by the classic “Cum On Feel the Noize” (no I don’t know why they wrote everything phonetically like that; maybe they were afraid their fans couldn’t spell? Probably a marketing ploy though) and started their idea of writing the audience into the songs by providing lines they could sing along with at the concerts. Originally supposed to have been titled “My, My, Weer All Crazee Now”, it was changed when, at a listening session, the producer thought he heard “Mama” and Noddy and the lads thought, much better. And so a legend was born. My rating: A+++ |
Of course it was a marketing ploy, you twit! :D
Great band though. |
Okay, before we go any further let’s do this. What is at the very top of the chart now, (when this was written; could be different now, if so, suck it) and what was it like going back fifty years?
https://as1.ftcdn.net/v2/jpg/00/52/6...DFvaWmwjF1.jpg Right now, we have this, spending its second and possibly moving into its third week at the top. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped..._Anti-Hero.png Title: “Anti-hero” Artist: Taylor Swift Nationality: American Genre: Pop Rock/Synth-pop Written by: Taylor Swift, Jack Antonoff Original release date: October 21 2022 Progress to the top: Straight in Weeks spent at number one: to date: 2 From the album: Midnights What do I know about this artist? I’ve heard about her of course; the one song I did hear surprised me as I quite liked it, but I am probably the last person on Earth unfamiliar with her song catalogue, and that surely includes as-yet-undiscovered tribes in the Peruvian rain forests. What do I think of this single? It’s a lot better than I had expected it to be, to be fair. This is the second Taylor Swift song I’ve listened to and I’ve been pretty impressed both times. Not saying I’d become a fan but this is not bad and I can see why it did so well. What have I learned about this single? I’ve learned it smashed all records, becoming the biggest download debut on Spotify. I’ve learned both her album and single debuted at number one on both sides of the water, and that she surpassed Miley Cyrus as being previously the only female artist to achieve this. The song seems to be less the vacuous pop song about how great the singer is, or about her fans (disclaimer: I have no idea if Taylor Swift sings about these things or if her lyrics are deeper and more meaningful - I’m thinking Ariana Grande’s “Break Up With Your Boyfriend - I’m Bored” as an example, but I don’t know if she’s like that) and more about examining her own life and the things she doesn’t like about it, or that she has had to struggle with. On the face of it, just reading about it, it seems to be a pretty brave and personal song. My rating: A+ |
Does she still have the ten top songs?
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Not on the official chart website, which gives the current top ten as
10. "Calm Down" by Rema 9. "Rocket Science" by Clavish ft. D-Block Europe 8. "Hide and Seek" by Stormzy 7. "Rich Flex" by Drake and 21 Savage 6. "Psycho" by Anne Marie and Aitch 5. "Messy in Heaven" by Venbee and Goddard 4. "Miss You" by Oliver Tree and Robin Schultz 3. "Made You Look" by Meghan Trainor 2. "Unholy" by Sam Smith and Kim Petras and yes, she's still there, for the sixth week running it would seem. |
But what was number one ten years ago, you say? Well, I say. Maybe you say, I don’t know. But I do. Say, that is. And at the top spot at the end of October 2012 was
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped..._Beautiful.jpg Title: “Beneath Your Beautiful” Artist: Labrinth featuring Emeli Sande Nationality: British (English and Scottish) Genre: R&B Written by: Timothy McKenzie (Labrinth), Adele, Emeli Sande, Mike Posner Original release date: October 18 2012 Progress to the top: Hmm, very confusing. Says it was released in 2011 and only got to no. 200, but then contradicts that, saying it was released in 2012 and seems to have made a very quick rise to the top. Well, looking at the chart I can see it was 85 the previous week, so it actually barrelled up the chart leaping an enormous 84 places in one week! And then it only stayed there one week, already dropping to number 2 the very next week. Ah, the fickle chart single buyers! Weeks spent at number one: 1 From the album: Electronic Earth by Labrinth and also Our Version of Events (as a bonus track) by Sande What do I know about this artist? Nuffin What do I think of this single? A gorgeous soft love ballad with a kind of bittersweet feel and some really nice orchestration. Very nice indeed. What have I learned about this single? Like a proper grammar Nazi, I wondered if there was an apostrophe missing, or if this was somehow a sort of “beneath your beauty” idea. Seems it’s the former, and it’s done on purpose to annoy people like me, so **** that guy. I wonder if he actually knew he was making a mistake, deliberate or not, and whether he just then used this “I don’t care/I did it on purpose” to cover his lack of knowledge of English grammar? Either way, he’s a prick. No, scratch that: he’s having a laugh now that I’ve listened to the song. It is “let me see beneath your beautiful/beneath your mask”. It’s the possessive, so he’s writing it correctly, but just ****ing people around. All right then, he’s not a prick, I take that back. My rating: A++ |
Keeping in the twenty-first century - just - what were the sheep buying and sending to number one in 2002? You wot mate?
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...aven_Cover.jpg Title: “Heaven” Artist: DJ Sammy and Yanou featuring Do Nationality: Spanish/German/Dutch Genre: Dance Written by: Bryan Adams, Jim Vallance Original release date: November 21 2001 Progress to the top: Seems to have been a re-entry in November, having originally charted at the end of August. Barely though: it got to 92 and fell to 96 the next week. Then it began a slow climb in October, though again nothing much. 76 dropping to 91 where it held for two weeks and then clawed its way up to 84 the next week and then for some reason rocketed to number 1 the week after that. Weird. And again, after all that hard slog, spent one week at number one. Weeks spent at number one: 1, I just told you! From the album: Heaven What do I know about this artist? Nada What do I think of this single? Well it’s a dance cover of Bryan Adams’s ballad off his classic smash album Reckless, and I guess it’s interesting to see how he danced it up. It’s not too bad to be honest; didn’t change that much of the song but just put a eurodance/trance beat behind it. The vocalist (called Do, apparently) does a very good job, and yeah, it’s not bad. Is it number one material? ****ed if I know, but someone thought so, and so it is. What have I learned about this single? Not too much, though I see Adams performed it live with Do, so he must have been happy with the result. Jim Vallance was not available for comment. My rating: A https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-aPT0IEfT0 |
Going back into the previous century (oh yeah I sure do feel old duh) to check out what was perched at the top of the charts in 1992:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...l_cassette.jpg Title: “End of the Road” Artist: Boys II Men Nationality: American Genre: R&B Written by: Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, Antonio “LA” Reid, Daryl Simmons Original release date: June 30 1992 Progress to the top: Entered chart at 36, took eight weeks to slowly climb until it got to number 2 on October 17 and spent two weeks there before moving onto the top spot, which it held for three weeks. Its progress back down the chart was slow, showing the song remained very popular even after it had dropped from the top spot. It took three weeks to drop out of the top ten, and five to drop out of the top forty. Weeks spent at number one: 3 From the album: Boomerang soundtrack (also on reissue of their Cooleyhighharmony album) What do I know about this artist? Another boyband, what’s to know? What do I think of this single?It’s a decent ballad, with a lot of soul and the kind of 60s/70s doo-wop sound that you might get from the likes of Smokey and his ilk. It’s a really nice song, and I guess that’s one thing you can say about boybands, that they write - or at least record - good ballads. To their credit, this is written by members of the band. I could do without the formulaic spoken part though, these seldom work unless you’re the great Barry White, and then he only ever used that as an introduction. What have I learned about this single? I’ve learned it was even more successful in the USA (not surprisingly) where it spent a massive 13 weeks at number one, the record at the time for a chart-topping single. It was released as part of the soundtrack to the movie Boomerang (no, I never heard of it and don’t know what it is about, nor do I care) but due to its phenomenal success, having not been on the album Cooleyhighharmony, it was included on the reissue of that album later that year. My rating: A+ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDKO6XYXioc |
And forty years back, in 1982, this was on top.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...To_Hurt_Me.jpg Title: “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?” Artist: Culture Club Nationality: English Genre: New Wave/Blue-Eyed Soul/Reggae Written by: Roy Hay, Boy George, Mikey Craig, Jon Moss Original release date: September 6 1982 Progress to the top: Entering the chart at 66 on September 18, it moved a massive chunk the next week, hanging just outside the top 30 and the next week another huge jump to 15. After an appearance on Top of the Pops it leaped into the top three, getting to number two the next week and then number one, where it spent three weeks before slowly falling back down the chart. Weeks spent at number one: 3 From the album: Kissing to Be Clever What do I know about this artist? I don’t know all that much about Culture Club, other than what I saw on the telly (and sneered at, and kind of still do to some extent) but I watched Boy George on the TV show The Apprentice and he was very engaging. What do I think of this single? Never really liked it, or them. It’s a sort of bump’n’grind ballad with a somewhat annoying sense of reggae in it. What have I learned about this single? Not much. It was their third single, the first two having failed to chart, and said to have been their last chance to get a record deal. Of course, after this it was all roses for the band as they took the eighties by storm. My rating: B+ |
All the way back fifty years, and November 1972 saw this single top the charts.
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/fjiTOXHd7kQ/hqdefault.jpg Title: “Mouldy Old Dough” Artist: Lieutenant Pigeon Nationality: English Genre: Pub Rock Written by: Nigel Fletcher, Rob Woodward Original release date: February 1972 Progress to the top: Although a complete flop on its initial release, second time round was the charm and it entered the chart at 38 on September 16, moving into the top 20 the next week and then to the number 3 and then 2 spot, until the next week it reached the top and remained there for four weeks. Weeks spent at number one: 4 From the album: Mouldy Old Music What do I know about this artist? Nothing What do I think of this single? One of the old quirks of the seventies, an instrumental single with one or two sung lines; a real oddity but somehow catchy. What have I learned about this single? That one of the band members’ mothers played the piano on it, that it was only successful after flopping by way of a Belgian TV show, whose popularity pushed the song into the Belgian charts and had the UK label give it another go, whereupon it raced to number one. It says the title refers to a jazz phrase “vo-de-o-do”, though it does not say what this means. My rating: A |
So back to the chart proper we go, and while of course now it’s Christmas time, at least chartwise, I’m going back a month because otherwise every fucking other record is a Christmas one, and that’s not what this is about. Plus I’m out of sickbags. So, this time the RNG brings me a number even lower than 33, this being 38.
And this year, a month ago, we find this at that position. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...Influence.jpeg Title: “Under the Influence” Artist: Chris Brown Nationality: American Genre: R&B/Pop Written by: Ayoola Oladapo Agboola, Chris Brown, David Adedeji Adeleke, Tiffany McKie Original release date: September 6 2022 Highest chart position (at time of writing): 7 (UK) 14 (USA) *** Chart position (at time of writing): 38 Progress, if any, at time of writing: Descending From the album: Indigo What do I know about this artist? Not much; some link to Whitney Houston I think, something about domestic violence? Not my kind of music though I have heard the name. Oh I see it wasn't Whitney Houston, it was Rihanna. Leave me alone: I'm old and to quote Mr. Hall, out of touch. If | was ever in touch, that is. What do I think of this single? You know, it’s not terrible. I could do, as ever, without the autotune (Trademark Registered to Hell Music Plc.) but it’s a slow, grinding sort of almost ballad with a measured beat and not a terrible amount of boasting or preening. Don’t quite get the Codeine aspect to be honest; he does mention Robitussin at the beginning (who would have ever thought a cough bottle for kids would feature in a chart single?) but other than that, kind of a standard bump’n’grind love song. Wouldn’t be completely averse to hearing it again. Surprisingly decent. What have I learned about this single? That it’s about having sex under the influence of Codeine, which if you ask me is a strange drug to choose. I know it’s addictive but was he just bored of writing about snorting coke or shooting heroin? Apparently it was what’s called a “sleeper hit”, having been initially recorded for release on the expanded version of his album in 2019, but then going viral for some reason and thereafter entering the charts. It made Brown the first r&b artist in history to have over fifty hits in the top forty, it says here. My rating: A https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfxyk1glEq4 *** Got higher (no pun intended) in the dance charts or something, but I'm only taking the mainstream ones into account here. |
And so going back 10 years, what was residing at number 38 in 2012?
Well, this. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...shgolddust.jpg Title: “Gold Dust” Artist: DJ Fresh Nationality: English Genre: Drum and Bass Written by: Dan Stein Original release date: December 2 2012 (re-re-release) Highest chart position (at time of writing): 22 (UK) Chart position (at time of writing): 38 Progress, if any, at time of writing: Rising From the album: Kryptonite What do I know about this artist? Not a thing What do I think of this single? Meh, it’s all right I suppose. Somebody is wetting themselves on the Wiki page about the skipping video that accompanies it, like "OMG THIS IS AMAZING U HAVE 2 SEE IT!” Bollocks. It’s interesting, it’s skilful but I wouldn’t go mad about it. Decent enough tune but no more than that. I suppose the video makes it more than it is. Not my thing at all. What have I learned about this single? Like a lot of dance music (to use a probably inappropriate term) it’s seen release in various versions, the first being in 2008 and then a re-release in 2010, with this being a remix. My rating: B https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNuUgbUzM8U |
And further back we go, into the very edges of the twenty-first century. In 2002 this was at number 38.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped.../Poor_leno.jpg Title: “Poor Leno” Artist: Röyksopp Nationality: Norwegian Genre: Electronica, Progressive House Written by: Svein Berge, Torbjørn Brundtland, Erlend Øye Original release date: December 3 2001 Highest chart position (at time of writing): 38 Chart position (at time of writing): 38 Progress, if any, at time of writing: None; new entry and its highest position anyway From the album: Melody A.M. What do I know about this artist? Nothing What do I think of this single? It’s okay. Has a nice beat to it though the singing is a little drony and the video that accompanies it and tells the story is somewhat upsetting. What have I learned about this single? Very little. It was used in some videogame (SSX 3). It was originally released in 2001 where it did even more poorly, getting only to 59. Didn’t exactly set the charts alight the second time either, entering at 38, and going no further. Not sure why they bothered to be honest. My rating: B https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4px0qQrG5E |
So off to another century we go, and into the depths of 1992, where this was hoping to get higher than 38.
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/tGgAA...bj7/s-l500.jpg Title: “Who Can Make Me Feel Good?” Artist: Bassheads Nationality: English Genre: House Written by: Eamonn Anthony Deery Original release date: Dunno; I can only find the year. It was that important, yeah. Highest chart position (at time of writing): 38 Chart position (at time of writing): 38 Progress, if any, at time of writing: None; new entry and that’s as far as it got From the album: N/A What do I know about this artist? British House duo who pissed Roger and Dave off when they used samples from “Is There Anybody Out There?” as well as others like Afrika Bambatta and, um, The Osmonds. Though not on this single. Seems like they had a few very very minor hits, this being one of their last, and then broke up. Not exactly a stellar career then. What do I think of this single? Not a lot. I decided to take a listen to the one they got in trouble with Floyd on, their remix of “Is There Anybody Out There?” and I quite liked what I heard. It was nine minutes and change so I didn’t listen to it all, but I certainly liked it more than I like this one. Very harsh, pounding House-style piano with some woman singing (possibly sampled) in a quite high-pitched tone which really does nothing for me at all. What have I learned about this single? Nothing at all. My rating: C+ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gq_dHQ-PPE4 |
Back to my favourite decade then, 1982 saw this at 38 - ah now ye’re talkin’!
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...reIGoAgain.jpg Title: “Here I Go Again” Artist: Whitesnake Nationality: English Genre: Hard Rock, Blues Rock Written by: David Coverdale, Bernie Marsden Original release date: October 1982 Highest chart position (at time of writing): 34 (re-released in 1987 and hit number 1 in the US and 9 in the UK) Chart position (at time of writing): 38 Progress, if any, at time of writing: Rising From the album: Saints & Sinners What do I know about this artist? Ah, Whitesnake! Many was the night I listened to Live.. In the Heart of the City, Lovehunter, Come an’ Get It or Slide it in! Good times, good times. One of the premier British hair metal bands of the 1980s, then Coverdale had to get all up himself and that was that. Marsden slays though. What do I think of this single? Love it. It’s a classic power ballad with real punch, and who doesn’t remember Coverdale’s uber-sexy wife in the video? Ah. Might just have to go watch it just one more time. For research, you understand, of course. What have I learned about this single? Nothing I didn’t really know already. I knew it was re-released five years later and was far more successful, with for some reason the word “hobo” in the chorus being changed to “drifter”, and I always wondered if it was because the word was being mistaken for “homo”? Seems odd, but there you go. Great song, and Coverdale could really belt the tunes out back then. Still, despite the sexy video I have to say I prefer the original: there’s more honesty, more soul and aching need in this one, whereas the ‘87 version is polished to the nines and you get more of the confident swagger, whereas here he seems much more down to earth. Oh well, whichever version you prefer, it’s a killer song, the likes of which we will probably never hear again. My rating: A+++ |
Which takes us all the way back to 1972, when another hair metal legend was creeping up the chart but currently at number 38.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...ig-Wam_Bam.jpg Title: “Wig-Wam Bam” Artist: The Sweet Nationality: English Genre: Glam Rock Written by: Nicki Chinn, Mike Chapman Original release date: September 1 1972 Highest chart position (at time of writing): 4 Chart position (at time of writing): 38 Progress, if any, at time of writing: Descending From the album: The Sweet What do I know about this artist? One of the big glam rock bands of the 1970s, Sweet all but formed the soundtrack to that era, with hits such as “Fox on the Run”, “Ballroom Blitz” and “BlockBuster”, also heard on the TV series Life on Mars. What do I think of this single? It’s not their best, and as the genre says above, a bit more bubblegum pop than glam rock, or anything rock really, and the lyric would certainly have had a lot of SJWs flying to Twitter and Facebook in protest, but hey, it was the seventies, there was no harm meant, and I doubt many Native Americans took offence. Fun, remember that? No? It was quite big in the seventies. What have I learned about this single? It was apparently the first single The Sweet released on which they actually played their instruments, having had a backing band prior to this, and is actually based on the poem Hiawatha by Longfellow, so I guess it’s not just appropriating Native American culture (unless you accept/assume Longfellow was doing that anyway). It was also the first song on which the bass player joined in on the singing, a style the band would adopt after this. Seen, too, as their first real glam rock single, though I wouldnt’t personally call it glam rock. Or any rock. My rating: A- |
And so to the top of the charts over fifty years again.
It makes little sense for me to stay in the one year and keep going back to the same years, so I’m stepping back one, which means we now check out what was at number one in 2021, 2011, 2001, 1991, 1981 and 1971. And we begin with a year ago (well, technically two, as we’re now in 2023, but you know what I mean). https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...Easy_on_Me.png Title: “Easy On Me” Artist: Adele Nationality: English Genre: Pop Written by: Adele Adkins, Greg Kurstin Original release date: October 15 2021 Progress to the top: Came straight in at number one. Oddly enough, after spending seven weeks at the top it then dropped to number 2 for two weeks and then fell dramatically to 28, then 38 and then made a dramatic resurgence in the second week of the new year, taking the number one spot again, this time for one week before slowly falling back out. It took almost half of the rest of the year - five months - to fall out of the top forty and yet remained in the overall top 100 until June. Weeks spent at number one: 7 From the album: 30 What do I know about this artist? Not a damn thing. I’ve heard her name all over the place but I have never heard one single song from her. What do I think of this single? Decent enough piano ballad, but I have to say I don’t like her voice. This is the first time I’ve heard it (no, really) and it’s a bit too harsh and raw for my tastes. The song has a kind of country feel, but I also get the clear impression of the idea that it’s not her fault what happened, which is perhaps not really the sort of thing you want your kid hearing - no real attempt to take responsibility or the blame, and I can’t really hear any apology here, just excuses. Meh. For my first encounter with Adele, have to say, not impressed much. What have I learned about this single? Apparently a plea to her son to forgive her for the breakup of her marriage. My rating: B https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3ASj1L6_sY[/youtube] |
Back in time we go again then, to see what was topping the chart in 2011. Oh look, it's yer wan.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...Found_Love.png Title: “We Found Love” Artist: Rihanna featuring Calvin Harris Nationality: Barbadian (and Scottish) Genre: Electro-House, Dance Pop Written by: Calvin Harris Original release date: September 22 2011 Progress to the top: Came straight in, but after spending three weeks at number one made a very slow drop to 3 and then 2, then experienced a resurgence and again took the number one spot for another three weeks. Dropped over four weeks to number 10 and then returned to number 5 a week after that, starting to drop then, almost leaving the top 40 on February 24 but yet again rallied and came back to the number 26 spot by March. After that it sort of bounced up and down a little but the highest it got was 39 on May 5, after which it began its slow retreat out of the top 100, falling finally to the bottom on August 18 2012. Weeks spent at number one: 3 (6 non-consecutive) From the album: Talk That Talk What do I know about this artist? Very little. I’ve heard that song about the parasol and I know she was involved in various things but again she’s way outside my wheelhouse. What do I think of this single? Meh. It’s pretty empty. As most reviewers have pointed out, it’s basically the one line repeated, and it gets tiresome. The house beat is enough to make you either want to get high and dance your brains out or dash those brains out on a wall. I know which I’d choose. No, it’s not the first. Hey, I admit it can be seen as catchy, infectious. But then, so is Covid. What have I learned about this single? That it was written by Calvin Harris, who was pretty much unknown outside of his home shores, but that this made him a household name. Possibly the first time she teamed up with anyone. Or not. Don’t care. My rating: C+ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tg00YEETFzg |
Ten years prior to that, and we were bothered with this at number one.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...8SClub7%29.jpg Title: “Have You Ever” Artist: S Club 7 Nationality: English Genre: Pop Written by: Cathy Dennis, Andrew Frampton, Chris Braide Original release date: November 17 2001 Progress to the top: Straight in, then a pretty standard slip down the charts till by January of 2002 it was outside the top 40, after which it continued on a fairly predictable slide - with the odd bump - to the bottom, exiting the chart at the beginning of March. Weeks spent at number one: 1 From the album: Sunshine What do I know about this artist? Created by the same guy who made the Spice Girls, Simon Fuller, they became another franchise and helped in the general slide towards mediocrity that is pop music today. What do I think of this single? Christ on toast! It’s a basic sugary ballad with nothing new or original about it. I feel like I put on about three pounds just listening to the damn thing. Bet it only got to number one because of the charity thing. Also, did not hear any children’s voices (see below). What have I learned about this single? Song was played on, though not written for, the BBC charity programme Children in Need, and apparently features the voices of kids from a whole lot of schools across Britain. Meh. My rating: B- |
Falling back into the twentieth century, when words like Al Quaeda. social distancing and Donald Trump were all but unknown... Ah! Good times!
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...k_or_White.png Title: “Black or White” Artist: Michael Jackson Nationality: American Genre: Pop Rock/Hip-hop Written by: Michael Jackson, Bill Bottrell Original release date: November 11 1991 Progress to the top: Came straight in but had a pretty rapid drop. Gone from the top 10 by Christmas and out of the chart by the end of January. Weeks spent at number one: 2 From the album: Dangerous What do I know about this artist? You jest! You jape! What do I think of this single? I was never a huge fan of Jackson, but even I have to admit he had some great songs. This wasn’t quite up there with “Billy Jean”, “Earth Song”, “Thriller” or “Bad”, but it’s certainly better than some of the dross he would come out with towards the end of his career/life. Has a great message in it, even if he was kind of stymying that message by his determination to change his skin pigment, and no I don’t believe it was some complaint he had. What have I learned about this single? Not really all that much. More about the need or desire for Jackson to leave the Quincy Jones days behind and move into a rockier idea, and about the controversy with his video, the seemingly wanton violence at the end which he addressed by turning it against racial slurs. Talk about turning a negative into a positive. My rating: A+ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTFE8cirkdQ |
Quote:
I find this song kinda silly. The first part of the chorus sounds like a sexual as seen on tv ad. |
Back another ten years, and this was at the top.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped..._Pressure.jpeg Title: “Under Pressure” Artist: Queen and David Bowie Nationality: English Genre: Pop, Rock Written by: Freddie Mercury, Roger Taylor, Brian May, David Bowie, John Deacon Original release date: October 25 1981 Progress to the top: Two weeks after release it entered the top 10 at number 8 and hit number one the next week, spending two weeks there before sliding fairly quickly down. By January it was out of the top forty, and fell off the chart two weeks later. Weeks spent at number one: 2 From the album: Hot Space (Queen) What do I know about this artist? Know both of them very well; who doesn’t? This was the first and only time Bowie duetted with Queen and the only time Queen teamed up with another star, so far as I know. What do I think of this single? Always liked this one, both as a Bowie fan and as a Queen one. Hypnotic bassline, both singers at the very top of their game, a powerful and poignant song, the more now that its two vocalists have both passed on. What have I learned about this single? Not much I didn’t already know. Bowie and Queen were recording at the same studio, met up and decided to work a few songs together, this being the best of them. Sampled later, without permission from either, by Vanilla Ice, which put him in the spotlight for probably the only time in his life due to a major lawsuit which he lost. Well how could he not? Sandwiched in between two of Bowie’s last great albums, Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) and Let’s Dance, after which he virtually vanished from the charts, and bridging an uncomfortable gap for Queen after the somewhat embarrassing soundtrack to the movie Flash Gordon (which nevertheless gave them a big hit) and their comeback in 1984 with A Kind of Magic. My rating: A+++ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a01QQZyl-_I[/youtube] |
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