Released:2nd April 2012 Origin:United Kingdom Label:Sony Music Entertainment / EMI / Universal Format:Double CD, Digital MP3 Download Duration:2:33:18 (153 minutes 18 seconds) Tracks:42 #1s:9 Chart Peak:#1 (11 weeks) Sales:TBC (2x Platinum)
Tracklisting
1. Gotye feat. Kimbra Somebody That I Used To Know4:07{1} 2. Coldplay Paradise4:19{1} 3. Ed Sheeran Lego House 3:03{5} 4. Emeli Sandι Next To Me 3:16{2} 5. Kelly Clarkson Stronger (What Doesnt Kill You) 3:42{8} 6. Jessie J Domino3:20{1} 7. David Guetta feat. Sia Titanium4:05{1} 8. Flo Rida Good Feeling4:07{1} 9. Katy Perry The One That Got Away 3:48{18} 10. Labrinth Last Time 4:23{4} 11. Rizzle Kicks Mama Do The Hump 3:37{2} 12. Olly Murs Dance With Me Tonight3:23{1} 13. Pixie Lott Kiss The Stars 3:15{8} 14. One Direction One Thing 3:17{9} 15. Marcus Collins Seven Nation Army 2:58{9} 16. Florence + The Machine Shake It Out 3:36{12} 17. Drake feat. Rihanna Take Care 4:37{9} 18. Lana Del Rey Born To Die 4:45{9} 19. Little Mix Cannonball3:25{1} 20. JLS Proud 4:02{6} 21. Military Wives Choir, Gareth Malone & The London Metropolitan Orchestra Wherever You Are2:52{1} 22. LMFAO Sexy And I Know It 3:21{5} 23. Flo Rida feat. Sia Wild Ones 3:55{4} 24. Lady Gaga Marry The Night 4:25{16} 25. Avicii Levels 3:21{4} 26. Pitbull feat. Chris Brown International Love 3:48{10} 27. Lloyd feat. Andre 3000 & Lil Wayne Dedication To My Ex (Miss That) 3:56{3} 28. Sean Paul She Doesnt Mind 3:49{2} 29. Taio Cruz Troublemaker 3:15{3} 30. Alexandra Burke feat. Erick Morillo Elephant 3:49{3} 31. Swedish House Mafia vs. Knife Party Antidote 2:56{4} 32. Rizzle Kicks When I Was A Youngster 2:56{8} 33. Stooshe feat. Travie McCoy Love Me 3:05{5} 34. Gym Class Heroes feat. Neon Hitch Get Yourself Back Home 3:42{9} 35. Rihanna You Da One 3:20{16} 36. Tinchy Stryder feat. Pixie Lott Bright Lights (Good Life) 3:26{7} 37. Cover Drive Twilight3:27{1} 38. Alyssa Reid feat. Jump Smokers Alone Again 3:19{2} 39. Jessie J Who You Are 3:50{8} 40. Chiddy Bang Ray Charles 3:44{13} 41. will.i.am feat. Mick Jagger / Jennifer Lopez T.H.E. (The Hardest Ever) 4:08{3} 42. Dappy feat. Brian May Rockstar 3:40{2}
Key Tracks highlighted red were official UK #1s. Tracks with an asterisk (*) next to their title have also been included in special releases from the series. The track duration has been highlighted cyan. Bracketed numbers refer to highest chart position reached.
Miscellaneous Facts
Track Most Weeks At #1:Gotye feat. Kimbra Somebody That I Used To Know (5 weeks) Lowest Charting Track:Katy Perry The One That Got Away {18} Longest Song:Lana Del Rey Take Care 4:45 Shortest Song:Military Wives Choir, Gareth Malone & The London Metropolitan Orchestra Wherever You Are 2:52 Edited Tracks:Unknown Unedited Tracks:Unknown Inlay Mistakes:None Other Facts:None
Now Thats What I Call Music! 81 or Now 81 was the first of three volumes released in 2012. This one came out in the Springtime and featured 42 tracks with 9 UK #1 singles. On this occasion, we would be given access for the first time to some iconic artists like Drake (as a lead artist), Little Mix, Avicii, Stooshe and Cover Drive.
The only absent #1 from this era was the charity single Wishing On A Star by The X Factor Finalists 2011 featuring JLS & One Direction. The latter group, although an artist on this volume, did have one of their other hits omitted, which peaked higher too. There were also omissions from Redlight, Leona Lewis, The Wanted, Alex Day, Jason Derulo, Beyoncι, The Saturdays, Bruno Mars and others too.
For one time only in the series, there was music from Gotye, Marcus Collins, Military Wives, Lloyd and Alyssa Reid.
Artwork Rating: 6/10 Good Bubbles, bubbles and more bubbles. Thats the theme chosen to envelop the logo on this volume. Its not the worst idea theyve ever had, but its a little basic too. I think the sheer number of bubbles depicted is an overload which spoils the skyline. Its clear its a Spring volume by the grassy meadows and daisies growing plentifully beneath a bright sunshine. The logo is a dark orange colour bordering on red.
Disc 1 Favourite: Rizzle Kicks Mama Do The Hump This catchy chorus in this song caught my attention immediately upon release and it always lifts my spirits each time I hear it. Sadly, Rizzle Kicks never topped this single for me and quickly faded out of existence after a disappointing second era. Shoutouts for David Guetta featuring Sia and also Coldplay too.
Disc 2 Favourite: Avicii Levels The song that got me into Avicii. Granted, he featured on the previous volume with Leona Lewis, but this song was when I started paying attention. What grieves me was the timing of this single and Flo Ridas #1 single of this time, both of which contain the same chorus. Nonetheless, Avicii was a star in the making and his name was about to get worldwide attention.
Disc 3 Tracklist: (A concept of what a third disc might look like if other hits from the era were used)
1. The X Factor Finalists 2011 feat. JLS & One Direction Wishing On A Star3:29{1} 2. One Direction Gotta Be You 4:05{3} 3. Bruno Mars It Will Rain 4:17{14} 4. Leona Lewis Hurts 3:40{8} 5. Rebecca Ferguson Nothings Real But Love 2:56{10} 6. Emeli Sandι feat. Naughty Boy Daddy 3:08{21} 7. The Wanted Warzone 3:38{21} 8. The Saturdays My Heart Takes Over 3:44{15} 9. JLS Do You Feel What I Feel? 3:12{16} 10. Jason Derulo Fight For You 4:02{15} 11. Taio Cruz feat. Flo Rida Hangover 4:04{27} 12. Kelly Rowland feat. The Wavs Down For Whatever 3:53{6} 13. Redlight Get Out My Head 2:34{18} 14. Utah Saints vs. Drumsound & Bassline Smith What Can You Do For Me 3:25{28} 15. Madeon Icarus 3:34{22} 16. Skrillex & The Doors Breakn A Sweat 5:01{32} 17. Sway Still Speedin 3:00{19} 18. Example Midnight Run 4:00{30} 19. Alex Day Forever Yours 2:48{4} 20. Ed Sheeran Drunk 3:20{9} 21. T-Pain feat. Wiz Khalifa & Lily Allen 5 OClock 4:41{6} 22. Rihanna feat. Jay-Z Talk That Talk 3:29{25} ---------- Total time: 1:20:00
Overall Rating: 6/10 Good Ok, perhaps not the best of volumes, especially considering some of the omissions that could have made the cut with the available space, but there are a few songs scattered across both discs that ought to stand the test of time. I think this volume gives a little too much pop music and not enough from the other genres. There could certainly have been some improvements to the cover and to the overall compilation, but what it is isnt bad, its just about ok Id say.
Andrew's Best 5 (as of April 2018) 1. Rizzle Kicks Mama Do The Hump 2. David Guetta feat. Sia Titanium 3. Avicii Levels 4. LMFAO Sexy And I Know It 5. Coldplay Paradise
Andrew's Worst 5 (as of April 2018) 1. Lana Del Rey Born To Die 2. JLS Proud 3. Jessie J Who You Are 4. Drake feat. Rihanna Take Care 5. will.i.am feat. Mick Jagger / Jennifer Lopez T.H.E. (The Hardest Ever)
Posted by: ⚅⚄⚃⚂b 22nd April 2018, 10:11 PM
Other Omissions
Jay-Z & Kanye West N****s In Paris {10} Nirvana Smells Like Teen Spirit {11} Matt Redman & LZ7 Twenty Seven Million {12} Beyoncι Love On Top {13} Lil Wayne feat. Bruno Mars Mirrors {17} James Vincent McMorrow Higher Love {21} Coldplay Charlie Brown {22} Arctic Monkeys R U Mine {23} En Vogue Dont Let Go (Love) {23} You Me At Six The Swarm {23} Cher Lloyd Want You Back {25} Jason Derulo Breathing {25} Amy Winehouse Our Day Will Come {29} Michael Kiwanuka Home Again {29} James Morrison feat. Jessie J Up {30} Skepta Hold On {31} Slow Moving Millie Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want {31} Demi Lovato Skyscraper {32} M83 Midnight City {34} Glee Cast Rumour Has It / Someone Like You {35} Professor Green Never Be A Right Time {35} Rio feat. U-Jean Turn This Club Around {36} Madonna feat. Nicki Minaj & MIA Give Me All Your Luvin {37} Etta James At Last {39} Tyga Rack City {39} Nadia Ali Rapture {40} Snow Patrol This Isnt Everything You Are {40}
Posted by: ‘ʎpp∀ 23rd April 2018, 03:21 AM
Artwork is poor looking but that tracklist is fire
Lana Del Rey 'Born To Die' was my choice from CD one, and Avicii's 'Levels' from the other CD!!!
Posted by: The Snake 🐍 23rd April 2018, 11:11 AM
Went with 'Last Time' by Labrinth for Disc 1, really liked it at the time and still sounds great. I like the robotic voice and the orchestral production.
Went with 'Levels' by Avicii for Disc 2, also really liked it at the time and still sounds great today. I like the buildups and use of the Etta James sample. Antidote is great from disc 2 too!
'The Swarm' by You Me At Six on the omissions , absolutely love that song, one of the last proper rock hits to make the chart . It definitely outshines the later 'Drown' by Bring Me The Horizon for me, but that one is still great imo.
'Get Out My Head' and 'Breakin A Sweat' I adored at the time. Avicii's Rapture remix too, another omission, is incredible, definitely better than the (still good) original for me.
Posted by: gavindeejay 23rd April 2018, 12:55 PM
Some great tracks on here. Here's my Top 5:-
1) Coldplay - Paradise 2) Avicii - Levels 3) David Guetta feat. Sia - Titanium 4) Lloyd feat. Andre 3000 - Dedication To My Ex 5) Flo Rida feat. Sia - Wild Ones
Posted by: SevenSeize 30th April 2018, 07:22 PM
not a vintage edition by any means but some disc 1 has some great highlights *.*
CD1 01 Gotye feat. Kimbra Somebody That I Used To Know [FAVE] 02 Drake feat. Rihanna Take Care 03 Rizzle Kicks Mama Do The Hump 04 Lana Del Rey Born To Die 05 Florence + The Machine Shake It Out
CD2 01 Avicii Levels [FAVE] 02 Lloyd feat. Andre 3000 & Lil Wayne Dedication To My Ex (Miss That) 03 Swedish House Mafia vs. Knife Party Antidote 04 Lady Gaga Marry The Night 05 Taio Cruz Troublemaker
Posted by: Dexton 14th May 2018, 11:48 AM
Disc One 1. Coldplay Paradise 4:19 {1} 2. Drake feat. Rihanna Take Care 4:37 {9} 3. Katy Perry The One That Got Away 3:48 {18} 4. David Guetta feat. Sia Titanium 4:05 {1} 5. Gotye feat. Kimbra Somebody That I Used To Know 4:07 {1} 6. Florence + The Machine Shake It Out 3:36 {12} 7. Flo Rida Good Feeling 4:07 {1} 8. Kelly Clarkson Stronger (What Doesnt Kill You) 3:42 {8}
Disc Two 1. Flo Rida feat. Sia Wild Ones 3:55 {4} 2. Avicii Levels 3:21 {4} 3. Rihanna You Da One 3:20 {16} 4. Lady Gaga Marry The Night 4:25 {16}
Artwork: 7/10 Bubbles are fun but they don't stand out too much
Overall: 8/10 Whilst this isn't much of a standout Now album for most, it's one of the first which I actually owned myself and played non-stop for about a year. Disc one is far better than Disc two as obvious by my Top 8 which I adore Paradise & Take Care have become all-time favourites from each artist involved for me and have/will stand the test of time. Wild Ones is a song I know all the lyrics too and I can comfortably say I can sing/rap the entire thing, and Levels is such an iconic dance song from an iconic dance legend
I would've liked N****s in Paris, Love On Top, Charlie Brown, Midnight City, Drunk, and Talk That Talk to be included but it's not hard to see why they aren't here - very much a label/artist issue than Now purposely avoiding them I think.
Posted by: IdentFan101 3rd July 2023, 07:43 AM
My top 5 are: 1. Rizzle Kicks - Mama Do The Hump 2. LMFAO - Sexy And I Know It 3. Drake feat Rihanna - Take Care 4. Flo Rida - Good Feeling 5. will.i.am feat Mick Jagger / Jennifer Lopez - T.H.E. ( The Hardest Ever)
Posted by: Mike Sugafan 8th July 2023, 11:14 AM
7/10 Lana Del Rey - Born To Die Jessie J - Who You Are 7/10