 |
  |
| Julian rates every 21st century Top 40 hit, Starting in 2000 |
| Track this thread - Email this thread - Print this thread - Download this thread - Subscribe to this forum |
 17th March 2024, 11:14 PM
Post
#1
|
|
 BuzzJack Platinum Member
Joined: 20 April 2009
Posts: 8,561 User: 8,705 
   |
You may be aware that I've spent more than a year so far working on this in the 20th Century Retro forum, where I've so far reviewed every single that entered the Top 40 from the birth of the charts in 1952 to the end of 1970:
http://www.buzzjack.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=259820 It's been hard work getting through the 60s and into the 70s, and I feel like if I solely focus on the 70s at this stage I may become burned out with the project, so I need to mix it up. Therefore I am now going to start my 21st century edition of this, and the plan is to alternate between this and the 20th century thread covering a year at a time. Of course the early 2000s was one of the busiest periods in the chart's history, with somewhere in the region of 550-600 Top 40 hits in each year, so I'm fully expecting each year to take at least a couple of months even if I can manage 4 reviews each week or so. The format for my 20th Century reviews so far has been to divide each year into batches of 14 or 15 singles. I plan to do it differently here and do the reviews chart week by chart week, but with a minimum of 10 songs per week, so combining weeks where there were fewer than 10 new entries in the Top 40. I will score each hit and give a very brief commentary. I will aim to keep the average score in the 5-6 region and use the full range so: 7-10 great 4-6 decent 1-3 not for me Each day I’ll post a video of my track of the day plus any runners up that I give a 9. Only my very favourite hits of the year (3 maximum) will score a 10. I will review double or multiple A sides and EPs as 1, so effectively giving an average score. I also plan to review each song only once meaning that a remix of a previous hit won't be reviewed unless it's a completely different song. I plan to listen to any songs I'm not familiar with half a dozen times or so, though where a single has multiple versions I only plan to listen to 1 (probably the radio or main single version if it's clear what that is). I hope to avoid too much genre bias - I do tend to pivot a bit more towards indie than pop these days when it comes to 21st century songs, but I plan to give everything a fair hearing. Note that I'm not a music journalist or critic or historian on any level, but just a chart geek with a slightly bonkers compulsion to do this! I’ll be reviewing everything solely on musical merit, so there could be some cases where rather unsavoury artists receive good scores, and of course that won’t indicate support for any of their non musical actions. Comments will always be welcome, even if you strongly disagree with my ratings. And don't worry if you dip in and dip out of following the thread - occasional comments are good too! Follow Spotify playlist link below This post has been edited by Roba.: 27th March 2024, 10:41 PM |
 |
 
|
|
17th March 2024, 11:30 PM
Post
#2
|
|
|
BuzzJack Platinum Member
Joined: 20 April 2009
Posts: 8,561 User: 8,705
|
Blank post for my highlights
|
|
|
|
|
17th March 2024, 11:39 PM
Post
#3
|
|
 Rob aah
Joined: 3 July 2007
Posts: 38,318 User: 3,804
    |
Hype for our century side of things with these
|
|
|
|
|
18th March 2024, 12:10 PM
Post
#4
|
|
|
BuzzJack Legend
Joined: 18 July 2012
Posts: 22,856 User: 17,376
  |
I started 2000 buying a mini disc player, the best recordable format ever, such a shame it never took off, so I have all my off-radio recordings for the 2000's from the get go, pretty much, and my first-ever batch my strongest memory is for Andreas Johnson's Glorious so this may give me an excuse to dig out my mini-discs for a 24th anniversary review (!!!!!!!
 now that is a frightening thought, seems like 10 years ago not a quarter of a century)
|
|
|
|
|
18th March 2024, 01:06 PM
Post
#5
|
|
 Hello?
Joined: 8 March 2006
Posts: 83,060 User: 116
       |
Ah good to see this Julian, and I look forward to following it. I'm sure I've forgotten many of these despite never missing any chart live between 2000-2003.
|
|
|
|
|
18th March 2024, 01:10 PM
Post
#6
|
|
|
Baby Reindeer
Joined: 9 March 2008
Posts: 13,328 User: 5,567
  |
I will be following this for sure.
|
|
|
|
|
20th March 2024, 05:37 PM
Post
#7
|
|
|
BuzzJack Platinum Member
Joined: 20 April 2009
Posts: 8,561 User: 8,705
|
And so I was 15 at this point. I had followed the charts from ‘94-‘97 but then stopped until now. I think it was by coincidence I had Radio 1 on for the first chart of January 2000, and began listening every week from then. If not for that I probably wouldn’t be here now.
The New Year charts were always quite slow moving in this period, but particularly this year: not sure if that was because everyone had expected the world to implode at midnight on 31/12/1999. It didn’t. This first group covers the first 3 chart weeks of the year: #1 08/01/2000 *NSync And Gloria Estefan Music Of My Heart 34 {34}-38-52->3 #2 15/01/2000 Pet Shop Boys You Only Tell Me You Love Me When You're Drunk 8 {8}-17-35-59->4 #3 15/01/2000 Choo Choo Project Hazin' And Phazin' 21 {21}-36-56->3 #4 15/01/2000 Nas Nastradamus 24 {24}-34-50->3 #5 15/01/2000 Dark Star Graceadelica 25 {25}-43-71->3 #6 22/01/2000 Manic Street Preachers The Masses Against The Classes 1 {1}-4-20-39-57-73-70R(5)->7 #7 22/01/2000 Donell Jones U Know What's Up 2 {2}-2-5-8-15-23-28-40-44-52-67->11 #8 22/01/2000 Scooch More Than I Needed To Know 5 {5}-14-30-43-62->5 #9 22/01/2000 Point Break Stand Tough 7 {7}-18-34-49-67->5 #10 22/01/2000 Bob Marley Vs Funkstar De Luxe Rainbow Country 11 {11}-21-35-48-61-70->6 #11 22/01/2000 Justin Let It Be Me 15 {15}-26-43-71->4 #12 22/01/2000 Missy 'Misdemeanor' Elliott Hot Boyz 18 {18}-29-47->3 #13 22/01/2000 Eddie Amador Rise 19 {19}-39-63->3 |
|
|
|
|
20th March 2024, 06:15 PM
Post
#8
|
|
|
Rob aah
Joined: 3 July 2007
Posts: 38,318 User: 3,804
|
Doesn't look like an particularly vintage first bunch here. Says it all when Scooch is amongst those I do know (along with Manics, Bob and maybe Donell).
|
|
|
|
|
20th March 2024, 07:29 PM
Post
#9
|
|
|
Say that hiss with your chest, and...
Joined: 24 May 2016
Posts: 18,472 User: 23,308
    |
I do vaguely recall the Manics' song but I don't remember the Donell Jones #2 hit at all.
I long assumed Scooch were a one-hit wonder with Flying The Flag, didn't know they had chart hits in 2000 QUOTE #10 22/01/2000 Bob Marley Vs Funkstar De Luxe Rainbow Country 11 {11}-21-35-48-61-70->6 'Sun is Shining' was brilliant from them but this follow-up I find a bit boring 
This post has been edited by TheSnake: 20th March 2024, 07:47 PM |
|
|
|
|
21st March 2024, 10:13 AM
Post
#10
|
|
|
BuzzJack Legend
Joined: 18 July 2012
Posts: 22,856 User: 17,376
|
I turned 42 in early 2000 and already fairly mature for a chart fan, just back from a Millennium family do in Mansfield, so these seem still fresh (time does that as you get older), that said I didnt bother recording Scooch, Choo Choo, Nas, NSync/Gloria, Justin, and Eddie Amador, and the only one I charted was NSync for one week at 75, so my comments should mercifully be a lot shorter than my 70's reminiscences as I can just group them together, say I don't remember them, and didn't rate them at the time from the one or two plays they got on chart shows - I was still listening to Radio 1 then so presumably not much airplay either
The rest I liked or loved...tbc |
|
|
|
|
21st March 2024, 11:16 AM
Post
#11
|
|
|
With Kristina in heart
Joined: 28 March 2017
Posts: 3,818 User: 28,104
  |
More Than I Needed To Know was # 1 in my chart.
|
|
|
|
|
22nd March 2024, 09:35 AM
Post
#12
|
|
|
BuzzJack Platinum Member
Joined: 20 April 2009
Posts: 8,561 User: 8,705
|
I’m not expecting most of my top picks to be so obscure, but this is thoroughly recommended if you enjoy moody and deep guitar music.
8 Dark Star Graceadelica 1st of 2 Top 40s for this intriguing band and it's a wonderful 6 minute foray into neo-psychedelic rock with great poetic lyrics 8 Pet Shop Boys You Only Tell Me You Love Me When You're Drunk Quite a subtle track without a big hook or chorus, but lovingly produced and with a beautiful melancholy running through it 7 Manic Street Preachers The Masses Against The Classes 845th #1: their standard anti establishment subject matter in a bracing powerhouse of a song that's heavy by their standards 7 Scooch More Than I Needed To Know You might think it was Steps if you didn't know, but I think this is a first rate pop song with strong lyrics and good production 6 Donell Jones U Know What's Up This has a really good tune and a smoothness that I like, and Lisa's rap is really good, but overall it feels quite unremarkable 6 Point Break Stand Tough This boy band's biggest hit and much more enjoyable than you might expect with a rocky edge and a nice grittiness about it 5 Missy 'Misdemeanor' Elliott Hot Boyz This lacks the catchy hook of some of her future hits that will make them big hits but it's enjoyable with an infectious rhythm 5 Choo Choo Project Hazin' And Phazin' I can certainly see this working brilliantly in a club with its steady build and mesmerising riff, but not so much for home listening 4 Eddie Amador Rise Bigger of 2 hits for this US DJ; I'm not keen on the street preacher section but like the sung chorus and the track's pretty good 3 Bob Marley Vs Funkstar De Luxe Rainbow Country An attempt by this producer to re-create the magic of "Sun Is Shining", and it's pleasant to listen to but mainly thanks to Bob 3 Nas Nastradamus I know he's regarded as one of the greatest ever rappers but I find the chorus and beat to this plodding and I can't get into it 2 *NSync And Gloria Estefan Music Of My Heart A film title track giving Gloria her last hit, but there isn't very much of her and it's a drippy song with whiny boyband vocals 1 Justin Let It Be Me Last hit for this Scottish singer with a Jackson 5 style Everly Brothers cover complete with panpipes: cheesy and fairly ghastly 2000 Week 4: #14 29/01/2000 Britney Spears Born To Make You Happy 1 {1}-2-4-6-9-15-24-30-36-46-54-68->12 #15 29/01/2000 Scanty Sandwich Because Of You 3 {3}-7-16-23-35-47-71-72->8 #16 29/01/2000 Des Mitchell (Welcome) To The Dance 5 {5}-13-21-29-46->5 #17 29/01/2000 Hi-Gate Pitchin' (In Every Direction) 6 {6}-12-19-28-47-71->6 #18 29/01/2000 Nu Generation In Your Arms (Rescue Me) 8 {8}-10-15-17-27-35-53-74->8 #19 29/01/2000 Sting Featuring Cheb Mami Desert Rose 15 {15}-21-22-27-36-51->6 #20 29/01/2000 Super Furry Animals Do Or Die 20 {20}-42->2 #21 29/01/2000 New Vision (Just) Me And You 23 {23}-51->2 #22 29/01/2000 Roger Sanchez Featurng Cooly's Hot Box I Never Knew 24 {24}-53->2 #23 29/01/2000 Space Manoeuvres Stage One 25 {25}-58->2 #24 29/01/2000 The Brand New Heavies Apparently Nothing 32 {32}-71->2 This post has been edited by JulianT: 22nd March 2024, 09:42 AM |
|
|
|
|
22nd March 2024, 10:12 AM
Post
#13
|
|
|
Hello?
Joined: 8 March 2006
Posts: 83,060 User: 116
|
Nice start, the PSB song is in my top five of theirs, it's so underrated and beautiful. Interestingly I think they had the highest new entry on the first top 40 of the decade, with this going in at No.8, and also the lowest new entry of the last with that Christmas EP at No.40.
Good to see a high score for Scooch, they had a brace of really very good pop songs in their short tenure but were completely overshadowed by Steps of course. More Than I Needed To Know is one I still listen to fondly now. I have a soft spot for U Know What's Up, it was very big at the time but rarely heard now. This post has been edited by gooddelta: 22nd March 2024, 10:14 AM |
|
|
|
|
22nd March 2024, 10:22 AM
Post
#14
|
|
|
BuzzJack Legend
Joined: 18 July 2012
Posts: 22,856 User: 17,376
|
I think I'll use your rating system to translate my chart positions for tracks (10 for a number 1, 9 for top 10, 8 for top 20 etc) for a quick comparison..
Dark Star was an 8 for me too, I really liked it, one I'd like to hear again as it gets zero plays anywhere. Pet Shop Boys an obvious 10 for me, bought the CD single, bought the album and one of my favourite PSB ballads, touching, emotional, sad and a lyric that is real for lots of folk, and takes me back to the Millenium period. Masses Among The Classes isn't one of my top fave Manics tracks but it's a 9 for me. Seen PSB's in concert oodles of times, and Manics just the once. Donell Jones is one I remember well, pleasant smooth soul and is more of an 8 for me, Point Break a 7 but I have to admit I've forgotten how it goes, so I'd need a reminder. so here goes (pause for 2 mins)... and yes I like it, it's good. Imagine if New Kids On The Block had done something with decent banging production and more Backstreet Boys' Everybody is style. Hot Boyz went top 10 for me, but had a very short run, so I'll drop it to 8. Rainbow Country an easy 9 for me, not quite up to Sun Is Shining, but the song is a good one and I like the remix/reworking. So, first impression for me on 2000 is I either like them a lot or not at all - NSync/Gloria would be a 2, and I'm playing Scooch out of curiosity now. Yes, very Steps. I think that it was obviously a blatant copy made me less than inclined to give any credence to it. Still a meh for me, sorry! Worth a 2 though, it's not awful. |
|
|
|
|
22nd March 2024, 10:33 AM
Post
#15
|
|
|
Rob aah
Joined: 3 July 2007
Posts: 38,318 User: 3,804
|
Just given some a listen. Dark Star is indeed an intriguing entry but kinda loses me at points but certainly some interest bits in there.
Pet Shop Boys track is pretty good as is the Donell Jones song which I knew I heard before but as far as songs of that ilk go it's decent. 'Let It Be Me' is a worthy bottom ranker though. Not keen at all on that and sounds like he wants to MJ lol! |
|
|
|
|
22nd March 2024, 10:47 AM
Post
#16
|
|
|
BuzzJack Legend
Joined: 4 November 2013
Posts: 30,552 User: 20,053
   |
I wonder if that former Buzzjack member darkstar79 was inspired by this band's name.
|
|
|
|
|
23rd March 2024, 12:07 PM
Post
#17
|
|
|
🔥🚀🔥
Joined: 30 August 2010
Posts: 74,596 User: 11,746
       |
ooh yay I'll try and follow this as I'm still unfamiliar with a lot of the early 00s minor hits:
Batch 1 Rank: Great: #8 22/01/2000 Scooch More Than I Needed To Know 5 {5}-14-30-43-62->5 [one of the best pop songs of the early 00s and out-Steps pretty much all of Steps] #7 22/01/2000 Donell Jones U Know What's Up 2 {2}-2-5-8-15-23-28-40-44-52-67->11 [very smooth RnB, one of the finest of its genre for the time period] Good: #5 15/01/2000 Dark Star Graceadelica 25 {25}-43-71->3 [certainly one of the more interesting selections here though ultimately I'd have to give it a few more listens before I remember how it goes] #9 22/01/2000 Point Break Stand Tough 7 {7}-18-34-49-67->5 [well this was a lot better than I was expecting for our first forgotten boyband entry] #2 15/01/2000 Pet Shop Boys You Only Tell Me You Love Me When You're Drunk 8 {8}-17-35-59->4 [quite nice actually, was expecting something with a bit more energy to it but this works too] Okay: #10 22/01/2000 Bob Marley Vs Funkstar De Luxe Rainbow Country 11 {11}-21-35-48-61-70->6 [seems a bit pointless when Sun Is Shining exists] #6 22/01/2000 Manic Street Preachers The Masses Against The Classes 1 {1}-4-20-39-57-73-70R(5)->7 [Manic Street Preachers gonna manic street preach I guess] #13 22/01/2000 Eddie Amador Rise 19 {19}-39-63->3 [has a bit more to it than the Choo Choo song but another forgettable club-oriented song that I'd guess only charted so high cos of the very dry January release schedule] Meh: #12 22/01/2000 Missy 'Misdemeanor' Elliott Hot Boyz 18 {18}-29-47->3 [hmm she's had better] #3 15/01/2000 Choo Choo Project Hazin' And Phazin' 21 {21}-36-56->3 [not a great representative of dance to be the genre's first 'hit' of the 00s, doesn't seem to go anywhere] #4 15/01/2000 Nas Nastradamus 24 {24}-34-50->3 [rapping's alright but the chorus lets it down] Crap: #1 08/01/2000 *NSync And Gloria Estefan Music Of My Heart 34 {34}-38-52->3 [what a drab start to the 21st century] #11 22/01/2000 Justin Let It Be Me 15 {15}-26-43-71->4 [dear lord what is this the X factor losers single?] |
|
|
|
|
23rd March 2024, 12:13 PM
Post
#18
|
|
|
BuzzJack Platinum Member
Joined: 20 April 2009
Posts: 8,561 User: 8,705
|
Yay thanks for all the comments! Hoping to get the dance-tastic second batch posted today.
This post has been edited by JulianT: 23rd March 2024, 12:23 PM |
|
|
|
|
24th March 2024, 01:29 PM
Post
#19
|
|
|
BuzzJack Platinum Member
Joined: 20 April 2009
Posts: 8,561 User: 8,705
|
Amazing how many short lived dance hits there were around this time, especially entering in the lower regions. I wonder if many of these singles were being bought by DJs rather than the general public. Here we have 8 of 11 dance songs (counting Nu Generation which could be played in a club). My top highlight isn’t any of the dance tracks though but this incredible East meets West from Sting and Cheb Mami.
9 Sting Featuring Cheb Mami Desert Rose If Sting has a finer solo song I have not heard it: I love the Arabic fusion style and the emotional intensity of the track is fantastic 8 Hi-Gate Pitchin' (In Every Direction) Judge Jules and Paul Masterson here with a belting club track: the way the hook builds and then goes up an octave is masterful 7 Space Manoeuvres Stage One One of the recording names of DJ John Graham: this track has a lovely futuristic and ethereal feel to it and a good tune 6 Scanty Sandwich Because Of You Only hit for DJ Richard Marshall and I love the instrumental sections: the hook, while inspired, does grate slightly after a while 6 Britney Spears Born To Make You Happy 846th #1: this doesn't quite have the impact of her first 3 hits but it's very pretty and the heartbreak does come across 5 Des Mitchell (Welcome) To The Dance Only hit for this DJ though he will be involved with "Heart Of Asia": a rousing club tune but not as memorable as those above 5 Nu Generation In Your Arms (Rescue Me) A decent cover of the Fontella Bass classic with some enjoyable elements such as the rapped intro and guitar accompaniment 4 New Vision (Just) Me And You The only hit with this artist credit that I can't find any information about: a fairly decent but long and unremarkable house track 3 Super Furry Animals Do Or Die Their 12th Top 40 hit and last single from the "Guerilla" album: it's very short and feels more like an album bonus track 3 Roger Sanchez Featurng Cooly's Hot Box I Never Knew Interesting that this and New Vision entered back to back as the production is quite similar: find the chorus to this a little dull 2 The Brand New Heavies Apparently Nothing Last hit for this group: the original is a classic and this cover adds apparently nothing; the vocals sound lifeless in comparison 2000 Week 5: #25 05/02/2000 Gabrielle Rise 1 {1}-1-2-2-7-12-14-19-25-29-45-57-51-54-62->15 #26 05/02/2000 R.E.M. The Great Beyond 3 {3}-5-7-12-24-34-38-47-56-75->10 #27 05/02/2000 Andreas Johnson Glorious 4 {4}-7-9-13-25-37-42-50-53-64-72->11 #28 05/02/2000 Lyte Funkie Ones Girl On TV 6 {6}-11-14-20-26-42-59-60-65->9 #29 05/02/2000 Daphne And Celeste Ooh Stick You! 8 {8}-13-13-14-12-22-22-29-35-46-57-60->12 #30 05/02/2000 Mint Royale Featuring Lauren Laverne Don't Falter 15 {15}-25-37-57->4 #31 05/02/2000 The Notorious B.I.G. Featuring Puff Daddy The Notorious B.I.G. 16 {16}-26-36-50-75->5 #32 05/02/2000 Aurora Hear You Calling {2000} 17 {17}-34-42-69->4 #33 05/02/2000 The Space Brothers Shine 2000 18 {18}-36-46-74->4 #34 05/02/2000 Adam Rickitt Best Thing 25 {25}-45-63->3 #35 05/02/2000 Eurythmics 17 Again 27 {27}-44-52-67->4 #36 05/02/2000 David Bowie Survive 28 {28}-59->2 #37 05/02/2000 Star fighter Apache 31 {31}-50-66->3 #38 05/02/2000 Fred And Roxy Something For The Weekend 36 {36}-57->2 #39 05/02/2000 Utah Saints Love Song 37 {37}-66->2 #40 05/02/2000 Sundance Won't Let This Feeling Go 40 {40}-73->2 This post has been edited by JulianT: 25th March 2024, 11:20 PM |
|
|
|
|
24th March 2024, 01:49 PM
Post
#20
|
|
|
🔥🚀🔥
Joined: 30 August 2010
Posts: 74,596 User: 11,746
|
Batch 2 Rank:
Great: #17 29/01/2000 Hi-Gate Pitchin' (In Every Direction) 6 {6}-12-19-28-47-71->6 [this is a bit more like it though I'm taking the album version without the pointless vocal, bring back hard house!] #15 29/01/2000 Scanty Sandwich Because Of You 3 {3}-7-16-23-35-47-71-72->8 [it's quite the banger, bring back big beat!] #19 29/01/2000 Sting Featuring Cheb Mami Desert Rose 15 {15}-21-22-27-36-51->6 [I hadn't heard this before as Sting's solo career isn't something I've wanted to seek out lol, but it's actually very inspired WD] Good: #23 29/01/2000 Space Manoeuvres Stage One 25 {25}-58->2 [quite interesting but probably not one I'll go back to much, I'll rank it above Des anyhow just for being a bit different by standards of trance hits] #16 29/01/2000 Des Mitchell (Welcome) To The Dance 5 {5}-13-21-29-46->5 [quite standard trance fare, I quite enjoy it but #5 feels unusually high peak] #18 29/01/2000 Nu Generation In Your Arms (Rescue Me) 8 {8}-10-15-17-27-35-53-74->8 [easily the weaker of the two big beat throwback sample tracks although I do enjoy the sample here I wish they took out the 'rap'] Okay: #20 29/01/2000 Super Furry Animals Do Or Die 20 {20}-42->2 [it's quite fun I guess] #22 29/01/2000 Roger Sanchez Featurng Cooly's Hot Box I Never Knew 24 {24}-53->2 [well this is a little better but still lacking much excitement] #21 29/01/2000 New Vision (Just) Me And You 23 {23}-51->2 [this one really needed a radio edit] Meh: #14 29/01/2000 Britney Spears Born To Make You Happy 1 {1}-2-4-6-9-15-24-30-36-46-54-68->12 [this falls a bit flat and is easily the weakest of her #1s] #24 29/01/2000 The Brand New Heavies Apparently Nothing 32 {32}-71->2 [hadn't heard of this before or the original version, well it's just there I guess] |
|
|
|
|
| Time is now: 27th April 2024, 02:55 PM |
Copyright © 2006 - 2024 BuzzJack.com
About | Contact | Advertise | Privacy Policy | Terms of Service
