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Posted by: Jade 1st February 2019, 10:33 PM

Hi Countdowns & End of Year Charts forum

Long time no see I think it's been a good four or five years since I last posted in here. Although I do lurk in a lot of the EOY threads. Lemme get better at actually commenting in them. Anyway, it recently occurred to me that I miss writing, it's been a while since I've found an excuse to write at length consistently ever since graduating. So I thought I'd come up with a mammoth musical project to work on whenever I have some spare time, as I do love expressing thoughts about songs a lot and creating lists.

I want to rank my 40 favourite top 40 hits of every year since 1997 (not completely random, the year I was born of course thought that would be a large but not too ridiculous timespan) - that's a... lot of songs to comment on so we may be here for a while. But I'm adamant to complete this eventually! Then I can update it with a new top 40 every year. So not quite a Rollo sized top 1000 countdown but still a pretty ambitious project! But... I'm excited about it. So let's go, starting with my top 40 of 1997 very soon...

Posted by: coi 1st February 2019, 10:40 PM

Looking forward to this!

Posted by: Jade 1st February 2019, 10:46 PM

Ooh yay some hype <3 I appreciate it!

Posted by: Chez Wombat 1st February 2019, 11:07 PM

I'm going to find a lot to enjoy here I'm sure *.*

Posted by: sergejdordij98 1st February 2019, 11:11 PM

I'm excited for it!

Posted by: King Rollo 1st February 2019, 11:13 PM

Good luck with this. If my maths is correct,that's 880 songs. Hopefully there will be some Chemical Brothers in 1997.

Posted by: Jade 1st February 2019, 11:16 PM

Our taste does tend to have a fair bit of overlap so watch this space *.*


Yay, glad to hear it Serge!


Cheers Rollo, the completion of your large countdowns such as the top 1000 songs and BJSC winners have definitely been an inspiration. Not an unreasonable wish there...

(880 *_* what am I doing bring it on though tbh~)

Posted by: Doctor Blind 1st February 2019, 11:17 PM

HYPE.

I'm expecting a certain #22 hit from October '97 to feature here in the first Top 40, potentially/hopefully !

Posted by: Jade 1st February 2019, 11:27 PM

Omg all of this hype is making me smile, won't let you guys down!!

I see well... we'll see what happens #tease

Posted by: JosephAvery 1st February 2019, 11:38 PM

Can't wait for Trouble to appear in 2015 xx

Posted by: Jade 1st February 2019, 11:41 PM

!!! you utter troll xo

(it doesn't take a genius to figure out that there will be a lot of GA here when I get to the noughties so I'm glad you stumbled across this thread x BCYLM wishes though #flop)

Posted by: DalekTurret32 2nd February 2019, 12:08 AM

Looking forward to this

Posted by: Jade 2nd February 2019, 12:11 AM

Yay, very pleased to hear that Dalek! Also looking forward to your songs countdown kicking off soon *.* (I'm useless with albums lately )

Posted by: Jade 2nd February 2019, 01:22 PM

40. Janet Jackson - Got 'Til It's Gone (feat. Q-Tip & Joni Mitchell)
(chart-run: 6-9-8-12-21-29-37-48-63)

39. Chumbawamba - Tubthumping
(chart-run: 2-2-2-3-5-3-5-7-6-8-10-12-17-20-31-36-38-45-47-56)

38. Lamb - Gorecki
(chart-run: 30-58)

37. DJ Quicksilver - Bellissima
(chart-run: 6-7-4-4-5-9-10-10-11-14-20-19-26-33-39-53-75)

36. Todd Terry - Something Goin' On (feat. Martha Walsh and Jocelyn Brown)
(chart-run: 5-13-15-15-20-25-37-45-57-70)



My top 40 hits of 1997 kicks off with 'Got 'Til It's Gone' by Janet Jackson with further credits for Q-Tip and Joni Mitchell. I can confirm that Janet is not the only Jackson to make it into this top 40! But back to her. 'Got 'Til It's Gone' is such an interesting switch in sound for her, it's an alternative hip-hop song with trip-hop influences so it's easy to see why it'd be up my street. It's a pretty subtle and smooth song that relies on a sample of Joni Mitchell's 'Big Yellow Taxi'. Q-Tip is on top form as ever, cementing him as one of my favourite rappers of all-time. At #39 we have a more enduring hit in Chumbawamba's 'Tubthumping' (aka the "I get knocked down, but I get up again" song x) as that spent three weeks at #2 but is also well-known even now. The rock band wrote it while they were stuck in a rut and say that the beauty of it is that they had no idea how big it would be. It's easy to see why it was so massive (has sold over 800,000 copies and was nominated for a 'Best British Single' award at the 1998 BRITs) - because it's as catchy and in your face as one would assume a song called 'Tubthumping' would be. At #38 we have the most obscure song in this section by far as Lamb's 'Gorecki' managed just one week in the top 40 in 1997, at #30. My love for trip-hop is clearly already jumping out (and I'm always here for recommendations btw!) as that's exactly the genre that this falls under. It's incredibly relaxing and beautiful - with its tender vocals, standout instrumentation and lush sample of the second movement of Henryk Górecki's 'Third Symphony'. Chicane would later cover this song also, that reignited my love for the original a couple of years ago <3 This section then concludes with two top 5 dance hits! Firstly we have 'Bellissima' (feminine version of beautiful/gorgeous in Italian) by DJ Quicksilver who apparently has as many as three top 15 hits. This is the first instrumental to appear in the countdown! I happen to find it very euphoric but also soothing at the same time. It reminds me of Robert Miles' 'Children' in the sense that it would make a good final song on the dancefloor for a night out. There is a version of this that samples the famous "I have a dream" speech but I am yet to hear that one *_* Finally, we have the über infectious 'Something Goin' On' by Todd Terry, featuring both Martha Walsh and Jocelyn Brown on vocals! The lyrics make for a very feel-good experience and I am a sucker for that house production.

Posted by: ukchartstatsfan 2nd February 2019, 04:11 PM

Great start to this so far, Jade.

Posted by: sergejdordij98 2nd February 2019, 04:42 PM

Nice to see "Thumbthumping" in there, probably the only song I know by far in your top 40 songs of 1997!

Posted by: Jade 2nd February 2019, 07:11 PM

Thanks Mack *.*


THUMBthumping lmao *.* that's a better title tbh. But yesssss it's an absolute anthem <3

I have made the following playlist btw: https://open.spotify.com/user/jadegagaolly/playlist/6sx4UMpX5RT87n2N3zkdaB?si=NPVlW_JHRJal9Y_PvGxHtQ - it of course only has 5 songs in it so far (no spoilers!!) but I plan to add to it every time there's an update here, so if you fancy some discoveries / good choons then that exists x

Posted by: dandy* 2nd February 2019, 07:22 PM

I'll keep an eye on this... I have all of your first 5 on single so hoping our tastes will be similar! *.*

Lamb is absolutely essential, I tried to get that through in BJSC but it failed to qualify That Janet Jackson track is such a good pick too, love it and still listen to it regularly these days

Posted by: Bré 2nd February 2019, 09:33 PM

I shall try my best to keep an eye on this, I don't view this forum much but am of course v intrigued to see how this goes

'Bellissima' and 'Tubthumping' are great picks thus far I am sure I've heard 'Górecki' at least a couple of times but I don't really remember much about it, need to refamiliarise myself with it at some point. x

Posted by: Jade 2nd February 2019, 09:56 PM

Oh blimey, 5/5 so far is a very promising start *.* I am intrigued to see how many singles you will have bought from the entirety of my 1997 list

Today I learned that 'Gorecki' was entered to BJSC, oh wow *.* I'm so disappointed for you that it DNQed </3 it's an absolute stunner, surely it would do better these days?! I feel like left-field entries appear to be accepted a whole lot more than they used to be. The Janet Jackson song is indeed such a gem, it deserves to be one of her classics tbh! I love the fact that you still listen to it regularly, yessss <3


Yay, I appreciate your desire to follow this a lot *.* I'll make sure to nudge you every now and then if you forget x

I'm glad that you approve of both of those songs and you definitelyyyy need to relisten to 'Górecki' as I'm sure you would appreciate the cool instrumentation and whatnot x

~

Thanks everyone for the comments so far, this is so cool! This reply has nicely brought me to the end of page 1 ahead of batch 2, that will be up tomorrow

Posted by: danG 2nd February 2019, 10:31 PM

great idea!!

40 I'm familiar with the original Joni Mitchell song but don't recall how the Janet version went, other than the obvious sample.
39 incredibly catchy, haven't played it in a long while but i could probably sing along with it well lol
38 well i obviously much prefer the Chicane version, will have to give this one a re-listen too as it passed me by in BJSC and i never got round to revisiting it properly when Chicane's came out
37 this is great, very of its time for a dance tune but in the best possible way.
36 Not as keen on this as I really should be, I quite like it but it's not up with the other classics of the time.

hopefully the likes of Daft Punk, Dario G, Sash! and The Prodigy are nice and high!

DJ Quicksilver actually had four top 15 hits, although it's easy to miss the fourth one as it was under an alias - he is Watergate of 2000 #3 hit 'Heart of Asia'.

Posted by: Jade 2nd February 2019, 11:35 PM

Woo thanks Dan, glad that you like the idea!! Shall be very fun even if it takes 84 years

40. I have never actually heard the original before somehow, but just know the sample through other versions, like this one and even the Counting Crows feat. Vanessa Carlton version :') the song is used very effectively here though I think!
39. Yesss the chorus of 'Tubthumping' has got to be one of the most catchy that I've ever heard! I think everyone is just born knowing the words a la 'Bohemian Rhapsody' tbh
38. Haha yes it does not surprise me at all that you prefer the Chicane version, being a dance fan and all! Fair enough though, I was impressed by that version despite knowing and loving the original for years - so yay! Yessss you should do, not sure if it would be your thing or not but worth a try.
37. Quite, nineties dance is a blessing and then some <3
36. Aw I see, fair enough! For some reason I imagine that Snake would be a fan, I guess it's a house song and fairly funky

Those are all good shouts from the dance world! All will be revealed soon

And oh yes I feel a fool for omitting 'Heart of Asia' from his discography, I really like that song

Posted by: Liаm 3rd February 2019, 12:27 PM

Got 'Til It's Gone Great sample and such a smooth bop. It's not necessarily always one of my Janet faves, but I think I underrate it until I hear it.

Posted by: Jade 3rd February 2019, 12:51 PM

I definitely think I was guilty of the same in the past! Has taken me a few years to properly appreciate it, but it's now firmly a favourite

Posted by: Jade 3rd February 2019, 03:24 PM

35. Various Artists - Perfect Day
(chart-run: 1-1-2-2-3-3-1-4-10-14-16-23-25-49-56-58-59-61-71-73R(2)-68)

34. Blue Boy - Remember Me
(chart-run: 9-13-8-10-9-10-13-16-24-27-38-38-55)

33. Aphex Twin - Come To Daddy
(chart-run: 36-62)

32. Tori Amos - Professional Widow (It's Got To Be Big)
(chart-run: 2-1-2-8-17-28-32-44-56-66)

31. Sash! - Encore Une Fois
(chart-run: 2-4-4-5-6-9-9-14-15-20-33-38-48-52-72)



This section kicks off with the first inclusion of a #1 single so far! I always appreciate the charity sentiment behind Children In Need releases but the quality of the music itself can definitely fluctuate. But 'Perfect Day' is a gem in amongst that list of singles in my eyes. This 'various artists' project was originally a corporate film, created to showcase the BBC's diverse coverage of music artists. However, huge demand from the public ensured that this received the single treatment in the name of charity, in November of 1997. The song is originally by Lou Reed (RIP) from the band Velvet Underground (of THAT banana album cover fame) - he's actually back for this version too, leading the charge with the very first verse. But he's joined by a star-studded line-up too. From the likes of David Bowie to Tom Jones. What I love about this cover is the marriage of so much talent from different fields in the industry. You have the pop voices, soulful voices, operatic voices... a really inspiring line-up. My personal highlight from the ensemble is Heather Small's part, sang it *.* I don't feel like many charity singles that feature a group of different artists have been particularly enduring over the years. I never go back to the likes of the Helping Haiti or Artists For Grenfell releases for example, but this one I still do. It's very haunting. It was of course a huge success, selling over 1,500,000 copies. Next at #34 is a song that I shamefully discovered via the 2012 version by Daley featuring Jessie J *_* but to be fair it's one of Jessie's better releases. Blue Boy is a British DJ who built 'Remember Me' around samples of Marlena Shaw's 'Woman of the Ghetto'. The original is actually a rather serious song - it's about African-American maids raising white children for little pay. But this version is less soulful and more fun, with some dirty dance beats and a repetitive refrain. That scat-esque portion that rears its head a few times has got to be one of the most catchy parts of a song ever. Next at #33 is a song that feels so out of place as a top 40 hit! But I suppose this was a period where abrasive dance releases, such as those from The Prodigy, could smash. What an interesting time for the chart eh. Electronic producer Aphex Twin says himself that "...this little idea that I had, which was a joke, turned into something huge. It wasn't right at all." 'Come To Daddy' is an absolutely massive sounding record sonically, with in your face witchy beats and distorted vocals that make for one creepy but electrifying experience. The creepy factor also extends to lyrics that include "I want / I will eat your soul". I would not recommend the video for the faint hearted. This song was actually entered to the BJSC 'Halloween' spinoff. I can confirm that we still have a few more BJSC songs to come for 1997! But first, the next song to drop out at #32 is another number one hit following 'Perfect Day' earlier in this portion. This is 'Professional Widow' by Tori Amos, which showed up very early in the chart this year as a January release. This is another pretty loopy record in the countdown, with the lines "honey bring it close to my lips, yeah" and "it's gotta be big" repeated a hell of a lot. But it makes for a very catchy experience and the production elevates it too, where it is driven by the harpsichord. Lots of flourishes to be found there. The song to round off this section is 'Encore Une Fois' (French for 'one more time') by Sash! This was the German DJ group's first splash on the U.K. chart and the start of a very unlucky streak at that. Because Sash! would notch up a whopping five #2 singles without ever hitting the top here. Aw. This was a fantastic start to the aforementioned chart career anyway! The song slowly builds up to a particularly dramatic call of the title (by a German lady, omg what a fraud!11) which kicks off the chorus. Then the trance beats are significantly ramped up for said chorus which results in a very euphoric listen <3 a dancefloor stomper for sure. Shoutout to the Sash! featuring Stunt version from 2008 as well, which I think is even better.

Posted by: Bré 3rd February 2019, 04:39 PM

Yass at 'Come To Daddy' *.* still remember the first time I heard that on late night Radio 1 and being slightly mentally scarred by it but in the best way possible. And then that happening again when I saw the music video for it. Possibly one of the most creepy and twisted top 40 hits ever.

Really like that Tori Amos song as well (the Armand Van Helden remix anyway, I presume that's the version you mean, have never heard the original ~) and 'Encore Une Fois' is also a tune although I also actually prefer the 'Raindrops' version, probably because I heard that one before the original

I don't even remember the Daley/Jessie J version of 'Remember Me' lol (that title is making me think of the T.I./Mary J Blige song which is probably even more forgettable x).

Posted by: Jade 3rd February 2019, 04:49 PM

Woop woop, I remember that being a big fave for you in BJSC so I thought you may approve *.* gah, I can imagine listening to it for the first time at night must have been... quite the experience *_* and that video is truly... a thing. I think you could be right about that, also! What a weird but wonderful record.

Oh yes this is referring to the Armand Van Helden remix! I wasn't sure if he was credited or not but yes that's the one <3 and woo for you agreeing with me about the 'Raindrops' version, I also heard it before the original so maybe that's what it is for me too. A banger in either form anyway!

Lmao I'm not surprised, I think the only time I ever heard it was on Starz TV music channel or something 'Doncamatic' was ofc the best collab featuring Daley <3

Posted by: ukchartstatsfan 3rd February 2019, 05:07 PM

It was myself who entered 'Come To Daddy' on BJSC Halloween Spin-off. This music video featured on Channel 4's 100 Greatest Scariest Moments, I believe. Perfect Day one of the best songs from Children In Need, great cover. The Daley/Jessie J version of 'Remember Me' at the.time was all right. 'Professional Widow' such a tune. Sash! again heard the Raindrops version before the original that was a #9 hit in 2008 wasn't it? The original probably just edge it.

Great list so far, Jade.

Posted by: Jade 3rd February 2019, 05:21 PM

Ah yes I thought it was a Usfland entry back in the day! That was such a good choice for the spinoff *.* 'Come To Daddy' definitely sounds like a good fit for any kind of scary moments countdown and yay, I'm glad that you also think 'Perfect Day' is a Children In Need highlight! I tend to find the Comic Relief singles stronger on the whole but this was definitely a genius move for CIN. Yeah the 'Remember Me' cover was fine really, I wonder what happened to Daley, haven't heard his name in years! Yaaaay 'Professional Widow' appreciation <3 and that's the one, featuring Stunt aka Molly Smitten-Downes from Eurovision *_*

Thanks Mack!

Posted by: dandy* 3rd February 2019, 06:36 PM

10/10 bought so far!!!

Tori is one of my favourite ever artists so I'm always happy to see her included in anything, even if it is with something that's fundamentally about Armand Van Helden. But the highlight for me is Blueboy, that was one of the defining tracks of 1997 for me

Posted by: Good Old Days 3rd February 2019, 07:42 PM

No sure, if I will see any songs, which I like here.

Do I Dream ?

Posted by: Jade 3rd February 2019, 08:52 PM

10/10 is insane the pressure is on to keep up this 100% streak for another set of 5! I feel like I should really delve into more of Tori's stuff as I only know 'Professional Widow' and 'Cornflake Girl' oops. I really like both of them though! 'Blueboy' is a great choice of highlight, what a song <3


I'd like to think that I'm pretty open-minded when it comes to music! There will be plenty of pop over the years for instance. The group that a certain Heidi is in have a strong chance of making it in with multiple songs also So we shall see!! Haha.

Posted by: Jay ☆ 4th February 2019, 01:23 AM

1997 is the first year I started paying more attention to music, and began to listen to the Top 40 chart show! Great year to begin with, beyond the fact it's your birth year *.*

My favourites songs so far are Got 'Til It's Gone, Perfect Day, Professional Widow (It's Got To Be Big) and Encore Une Fois

Posted by: Jade 4th February 2019, 06:17 PM

Ooh what a great year to start listening to the chart, Spice Girls still at the height of popularity and whatnot for most of the year *.* my first year of properly listening to the chart was 2007 so yay for catching most of the 'Tangled Up' era in all its glory x

Pleased to see a handful of faves for you so far <3

Posted by: Jade 4th February 2019, 07:14 PM

30. The Prodigy - Smack My Bitch Up
(chart-run: 8-20-35-48-46-35-42-49-60-70)

29. The Age Of Love - The Age Of Love
(chart-run: 17-29-44-61)

28. Michael Jackson - Blood On The Dance Floor
(chart-run: 1-8-21-36-43-52-63-65-74)

27. Daft Punk - Around The World
(chart-run: 5-14-27-44-65)

26. DJ Shadow - High Noon
(chart-run: 22-53)



This segment begins with the third single from The Prodigy's classic 'The Fat of the Land' album. On the surface, the title 'Smack My Bitch Up' does seem rather controversial but The Prodigy have always claimed that it is misinterpreted. Instead of any kind of misogyny, the song is actually about "doing anything intensely" so I can roll with that. On the subject of misogyny, the wild accompanying video has also faced accusations of this, but has also been praised for flipping gender stereotypes on their head. So people were seemingly divided... but it was a success nonetheless as this single was another top 10 for the rave act. However, this was a bit of a decline from predecessors 'Firestarter' and 'Breathe' as they both hit the top spot. It has gained a cult following though, winning the accolade of 'third greatest dance song of all-time' by Mixmag readers. So all in all, not too shabby. It pretty much follows the exact same formula as the previous singles from this era with their signature LOUD ravey production, plus the repetition of the same couple of lines over and over again. In this case - "Change my pitch up, smack my bitch up". A winning formula tbh. At #29 we have another dance song, albeit one that is not quite as in-your-face as The Prodigy. This is The Age Of Love's self-titled song. The 'Jam & Spoon Watch Out For Stella Radio Edit' version to be precise, as the full 6 minute version is padded out with some rather jarring extra production. I discovered this song through BJSC after the nation Bøtanikkä entered it two years ago and it was love at first listen! This song was originally released in 1990 but did not make its first dent on the chart until 1997, due to a release called 'The Age of Love (The Remixes)' so I decided to allow it here. It has a bit of a legacy behind it as an early popular example of trance music. I love the genre (as seen by Sash! already appearing) so it's no surprise that I'm into this really. The fusion of trance and techno beats creates a really cool sound. The robotic vocals work well ahead of the production becoming more bouncy too. Finally, I like how the orchestral-esque additional vocal portions have been slotted in and played around with, often chopped up throughout.

Next, I promised earlier on that another Jackson was still to come, so here is none other than Michael with his last ever U.K. #1 single! A glorious way to bow out from that podium. When you forget that a dive from #1 to #8 happened of course. This song is about a psycho named Susie who seduces Michael but then plans to stab him with a knife... casual. The nature of the song results in a very frantic delivery from Jackson that I can't help but get swept up in. The production is so funky as well! It's not a particularly ground-breaking release from him but certainly a fun one with an enjoyable implementation of new jack swing - a fusion genre that was pioneered through an album by none other than his sister Janet the previous decade! Not fed up of dance music yet? Well, good, because at #27 we have legendary French duo Daft Punk with 'Around The World'. It's a song that is simple but effective for me. There's not much going on but I cannot resist those house grooves and the loopy vocals. A hypnotising combination for sure. The video is SO COOL as well *.* with each group of characters in it representing a different instrument of the song. This was their biggest hit until 'One More Time' came along in 2000. Rounding off this section might have been the song that Doctor Blind was hoping for earlier in the thread as it peaked at #22 - is this the one? I have been a big fan of DJ Shadow / UNKLE's work since Dandy recommended his / their music to me a couple of years ago. Instrumental hip-hop and trip hop is basically the dream combination really. This song captures my attention from the word go with a striking fusion of guitar and drums suddenly appearing early on. This feels like quite an in-your-face start but there are more mellow moments throughout too. The song only continues to get better as other classic DJ Shadow elements appear like spoken word vocals, synths and a variety of other instruments. A stunning wall of sound with rhythms to die for.

Posted by: Mack. 4th February 2019, 09:07 PM

Hi Jade.

'Smack My Bitch Up' the song is good but the music video was quite controversial. Thank you Botanikka for discovering 'The Age of Love'. 'Blood On The Dancefloor' I would say this is one of Michae's underrated songs rarely gets.radio play again this was genius from him. 'Around The World' another classic from Daft Punk, I wonder if 'One More Time' Will feature. Not too familiar with DJ Shadow sorry but sounds great.

Posted by: Jade 4th February 2019, 10:22 PM

Hey there Mack

I can definitely see why it was controversial, for so many reasons! But indeed such a banger *.* Woop woop, Addy does tend to deliver the goods in BJSC more often than not <3 and yeah I do think 'Blood On The Dancefloor' is pretty underrated, I only found out that it was a #1 single a few years ago definitely a bit of a forgotten gem for a chart topper, just shows how extensive and high quality his back catalogue is on the whole really. Yess, we shall have to see because 2000 is an absolutely amazing year for me, there's going to be so much competition to make it into that top 40, gah!! No worries, I didn't know anything of his until just two years ago as mentioned, thank gawd for Dandy. Glad you think it sounds great though!

Posted by: dandy* 4th February 2019, 10:30 PM

Yep I have all of those 5 too!

MJ is possibly the weak link there, I bought that one more out of routine than truly loving it. The other four are absolute classics though in my eyes *.*

Oh and that Around The World video you reference is quite possibly my favourite ever video. Yes it's been overtaken in terms of big budget affairs but the basic idea is just so simple and so darn watchable that I'd say it easily stands the test of time.


edit: Oh and for comparison purposes (and because you're featuring a lot of them), here are the #1s for me from the time:


175 05/01/97 Tori Amos "Professional Widow (It's Got To Be Big)"
176 12/01/97 Orbital "Satan (Live)"
177 26/01/97 White Town "Your Woman"
178 02/02/97 Blur "Beetlebum"
179 09/02/97 Placebo "Nancy Boy"
180 23/02/97 Blueboy "Remember Me"
181 02/03/97 The Source featuring Candi Staton "You Got The Love"
--- 16/03/97 Blueboy "Remember Me"
182 23/03/97 Monaco "What Do You Want From Me?"
183 30/03/97 Lamb "Gorecki"
184 06/04/97 The Chemical Brothers "Block Rockin' Beats"
185 13/04/97 Supergrass "Richard III"
186 20/04/97 Blur "Song 2"
187 04/05/97 Wannadies "Hit"
188 11/05/97 Daft Punk "Around The World"
189 25/05/97 Duran Duran "Out Of My Mind"
190 01/06/97 Radiohead "Paranoid Android"
191 06/07/97 Blur "On Your Own"
192 13/07/97 Oasis "D'You Know What I Mean?"
193 27/07/97 Massive Attack "Risingson"
194 10/08/97 Coolio featuring 40 Thevz "C U When U Get There"
195 17/08/97 Chumbawamba "Tubthumping"
196 31/08/97 Radiohead "Karma Police"
197 28/09/97 Blur "MOR"
198 05/10/97 Janet Jackson "Got 'Til It's Gone"
199 19/10/97 Propellerheads "On Her Majesty's Secret Service"
200 26/10/97 DJ Shadow "High Noon"
201 02/11/97 Depeche Mode "Useless"
202 16/11/97 Natalie Imbruglia "Torn"
203 30/11/97 Prodigy "Smack My Bitch Up"
204 07/12/97 Deep Dish "Stranded"
205 14/12/97 Janet Jackson "Together Again"
206 21/12/97 Björk "Bachelorette"


I can't imagine they'll all feature but you never know!

Posted by: danG 4th February 2019, 11:13 PM

35 wasn't keen on this, I probably would've rated it more if I was actually 'there' but it just sounds like most other charity collectives that we had more than enough of in 2009-10
34 there's not really a whole lot to this, surprised it had that much chart longevity
33 he's undeniably talented, but this one's basically unlistenable (and I'm not going to remind myself of the vid)
32 yay a song I like! clearly not what Tori wants to be known for but I love the groove and Armand's production here
31 big tune! and I prefer this to the Stunt version
30 yeah I like this too, not quite up with Breathe/Firestarter but another tune from them
29 yes! first heard it years ago when i was searching up for trance classics, took a while to hit me though as it wasn't what I was expecting
28 one of his more forgettable songs for me, a bit of a non-#1 too oops!
27 another iconic dance track! they've outdone themselves multiple times but it's a great tune despite how basic it sounds
26 not heard of this before but quite like it on a first listen

Posted by: Bré 5th February 2019, 12:18 AM

Yas at a first appearance for The Prodigy *.* it's pretty wild that a song with that title was able to fly and be a top 10 hit, obviously controversial but I've always heard the title is meant to be a reference to taking drugs - regardless, a great tune and I really love the video for it as well. 'The Age Of Love' is another good pick from BJSC of course and 'Around The World' is an all-time classic (and agreed with Dandy it's an all-time great music video as well), criminally short chart run for it!

'Blood On The Dance Floor' seems to have largely flown under the radar considering it was one of his #1s, I don't recall ever hearing it around the time he died. I think I've only ever heard it a small handful of times (mostly from your brother playing it in the car lmao xx) but it is a good track.

Posted by: sergejdordij98 5th February 2019, 03:19 PM

Hey Jade!
I think I don't remember the songs from #35-#31. But I do remember three songs from your next pack of songs and all of them are great!
"Smack My Bitch Up" is probably the definitive Prodigy song.
"Blood On The Dance Floor" is a classic that I always remember from MJ, because it's MJ, he is a legend.
And "One More Time" is amazing, Daft Punk are freaking awesome!

Posted by: Jade 5th February 2019, 08:32 PM

Blimey, 15/15?! I'm pleased that you bought MJ even though it wasn't quite as up to scratch as the others for you, this streak is just too cool *.*

The 'Around The World' video really is sublime I love the simple but effective approach. Much like another music video that has just come into my head - 'Star Guitar' by The Chemical Brothers. You can have all the budget in the world but I'd happily take something like these instead of style over substance <3

I can confirm that some of those #1s are still to come and some I've never heard before, there are definitely gaps in my musical knowledge!


Quite a mixed bag this time for you yay for the appreciation for some of those dance classics though, plus you checking out 'High Noon' and enjoying it!


*.* 'The Fat of the Land' era was just too good. That is something that my vinyl collection is desperately crying out for tbh, one day. I know right though?! The nineties truly were an interesting time. Also a druggy time, so that would make sense. This was the video that 'Bad Trip' reminded you of, right?

Some of these chart runs are a state! Poor brave Daft Punk and MJ. Still better than ACR though x But yeah, I think it would've taken me a long time to hear 'Blood On The Dance Floor' if not for my brother's obsession with pretty much every MJ song Ryan's impact for both of us *_*


Hey there Serge!

I'm glad that you're starting to recognise more songs now and liking them for that matter *.* three bangers right there.

Posted by: Jade 5th February 2019, 10:05 PM

25. Orbital - The Saint
(chart-run: 3-12-22-43-71-73-68)

24. Sash! - Ecuador (feat. Rodriguez)
(chart-run: 2-2-6-6-11-16-18-23-28-37-56-74)

23. Moby - James Bond Theme
(chart-run: 8-16-26-42-57-64-68-74R(2))

22. All Saints - I Know Where It's At
(chart-run: 4-6-9-17-26-36-45-75)

21. Rosie Gaines - Closer Than Close
(chart-run: 4-5-6-5-14-14-16-25-27-38-50-68)



We begin this section, which contains five songs that are all top 10 hits, with Orbital's #3 smash 'The Saint'! This is their highest peaking single along with 'Satan (Live)'. But, for some bizarre reason, this song has never made any of their studio albums. Boo! It was a soundtrack release for the 1997 espionage thriller film also titled 'The Saint'. Its B-side is called 'The Sinner', naturally. 'The Saint' is not an entirely original song from the duo, as it is in fact an updated version of Edwin Astley's 1960s incarnation. It takes the melody from that but gives it a classic Orbital twist with fantastic electronic elements added to it. This definitely feels like a suitable soundtrack song, I have never seen the film that accompanies it (or the TV series that Astley's version is in for that matter) but I could easily picture it slotting into a thriller, due to the rather exhilarating feel of it. I have only recently been getting into Orbital, with 'Tiny Foldable Cities' topping my personal chart last year, but their older material has proven to be just as good. You can't go wrong with a dance instrumental that features exciting toe-tapping rhythms really. Next up we have Sash!'s second and final appearance for 1997. 'Ecuador' was of course another #2 smash for Sash! as most of their singles were. This song, much like 'Encore Une Fois', features another German fraud contributing in a different language, DJ Adrian Rodriguez in Spanish this time I really enjoy what Sash! were going for with their sound most of the time, aka some kind of particular word/phrase being chanted before the instrumental hook of the song swiftly follows. However, I find this offering to be far less intense than 'Encore Une Fois' as the production here is instead a lot more breezy. Also... this is me so how could I not stan a dance song that features some Español?! What an utterly joyful experience.

Next is another trip to the movies in true electronic fashion, just like 'The Saint'. However, this is a bit more of a guilty pleasure! Moby takes the grandeur James Bond theme and transforms it into this fun version which really packs a punch. I must admit that the reason I discovered it was a little random. This was during dancing dog act Kate & Gin's audition for the 2008 series of Britain's Got Talent There was something in the water for that series as two of my BJSC entries were sourced from it too! I don't know if I was more captivated by the dog or the song in this case. It was the perfect blend tbh. But yeah... I'm a huge fan of Moby in general and it was interesting to see more of a light hearted side of him for this! Even if he admits that he prefers the original to his own version. Oops. Next I break up the mound of dance songs with a fantastic piece of pop/R&B from girlband All Saints! Time for another confession, I presumed that 'Never Ever' was their debut for years. But nope, this was actually the song that launched them into the chart. This was just effortlessly cool from them really. Before the days where their street cred would be torn to shreds by people outraged at them daring to cover Red Hot Chili Peppers. Well, I say this is cool but I've just seen a YouTube comment comparing Shaznay's rap to Bart Simpson and now I'm questioning everything tbh. In all seriousness, this is the first of many brilliant releases from All Saints. Although I may have a bit more of a soft spot for the William Orbit stuff... you'll have to wait and see where a certain #1 smash ends up in a few years. Now, of course, it's a dance song to wrap up this section but with a bit of girl power this time as American lady Rosie Gaines is at the helm. She is a one hit wonder (if you go by the top 20 definition) as she only ever had two other 'hits' - charting at #70 and #39 respectively. Not only is the pounding house production on this one excellent but Rosie's vocals are nothing to be sniffed at either! She demonstrates an impressive range throughout this song. The verses are where her vocals shine most as they contain longer notes for her to hit. But it's allll about that infectious snappy chorus too, tune!

Posted by: PeteFromLeeds 5th February 2019, 10:18 PM

Tubthunping is an anthem, it always strikes me that none of the other Chumbawamba songs I've heard sound remotely like it! It's a great song though, really catchy. I love a bit of Daft Punk as well, and Around the World is a great piece of music and one that's yet to be ruined by Kanye West at least

Posted by: sergejdordij98 5th February 2019, 10:22 PM

What a minute... Moby did a Version of the James Bond Theme?
I have to check it out soon!

Posted by: Jade 5th February 2019, 11:46 PM

I have shamefully never heard any other Chumbawamba songs despite liking 'Tubthumping' so much (an anthem indeed) - I should definitely change that. Glad to hear that you're a Daft Punk fan, they rarely put a foot wrong argh that shade!


He did indeed *.* you'll have to let me know what you think of it!

Posted by: Jay ☆ 6th February 2019, 02:44 AM

Faves from 21-30 include the Rosie Gaines (tune *.*), All Saints, Daft Punk and Michael Jackson songs It's been ages since I heard Blood on the Dance Floor - seems to be one of his more under-rated songs. I'm pretty certain it was the first song I ever heard by him!

Looking forward to the Top 20

Posted by: dandy* 6th February 2019, 04:43 PM

Ah we can't make it 20/20 I'm afraid! In fact I only bought the Rosie Gaines track out of that lot... The Saint is okay but I was never that fussed on film remakes, same for Moby's bond rework. Although my love for the Propellerheads 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service' kind of makes that comment a bit redundant. Sash! was good at the time but I think I already had it on a compilation and I hadn't succumbed to All Saints yet, I didn't get anything before their second album.

Posted by: JosephAvery 6th February 2019, 04:56 PM

I Know Where It's At *.* that was a huuuuge highlight both times I saw them live, it sounds so brilliant and fresh still!

Posted by: Mack. 6th February 2019, 05:28 PM

Hi Jade,

'The Saint' not one I'm familiar with, but listening to it sounds great. 'Ecuador' absolute tune from Sash!. 'James Bond Theme' also from Moby, a good rework of the Bond theme but the original still edges it. Not too familiar with Rosie or that All Saints track sorry.

Posted by: Good Old Days 6th February 2019, 05:58 PM

I dislike any dance/electronic tracks, so only "Tubthumping" and possibly MJ songs are OK for me.
Please, without "Torn". Very rare old pop hit, which I hate.

Posted by: Bré 6th February 2019, 08:32 PM

I don't think they have any other songs that are anything like that one, the rest of their discography is mostly anarchist punk

Posted by: dandy* 6th February 2019, 09:21 PM

Oh there was an album that accompanied the single with similar poppier sounds, Tumbthumper if I recall correctly... follow up single 'Amnesia' also made the charts albeit briefly.

edit: this is not recommending you listen btw!

Posted by: Jade 6th February 2019, 11:40 PM

Oops I've been super busy today but I'll try and get another one of these written soon.

I thought you might appreciate All Saints in particular *.* glad to see the Rosie Gaines stanning too x and aw, it's a shame that you never really hear it, I only do if I seek it out myself or my brother is playing MJ in the car, genuinely have never heard it on the radio or music channels even once D: Despite the #1 status, I totally agree that it's underrated. Oh wow I think mine was probably 'Thriller'! #commercialhoe

Yayyyyyy <3


Aw damn, I guess our streak hitting 20 was too good to be true! I shall make a revision of hoping that you will own at least one from each section then I see I see, I seem to just have a soft spot for those kind of songs haha. I'll let you off for Sash! then and for not feeling All Saints until their second album as that one contains some of their very best <3


Ooh I bet they'd be amazing live! I've always appreciated their harmonies. Glad that it's a favourite for you


Hey there Mack!

I'm glad that this countdown steered you in the direction of 'The Saint' and that you ended up enjoying it, yay *.* Indeed, 'Ecuador' is one of his absolute best <3 and, well, Moby agrees with you on that so fair enough I would definitely recommend 'Closer Than Close' as a fun dance tune!


poor brave dance/electronic songs! Lucky Chumbawamba + MJ escaping the wrath x
We shall see



This all sounds intriguing but terrifying. I think I'll stick to being knocked down and getting up again x

Posted by: Doctor Blind 9th February 2019, 12:57 PM

“Encore Une Fois” was the biggest floorfiller when I DJ-d for my sister's wedding. Loads of great stuff here like “Around The World”, “Remember Me”, “Closer Than Close” and of course “Smack My Bitch Up” which has a fantastic video. A great start Jade.

Is Bentley Rhythm Ace “Bentley's Gonna Sort You Out!” going to appear? Love that one.

Posted by: Jade 10th February 2019, 09:01 PM

I can really imagine 'Encore Une Fois' filling up dancefloors with ease so I approve of that choice for your sister's wedding *.* pleased to see you picking out a handful of highlights so far <3 and I have no idea what 'Bentley's Gonna Sort You Out!' is (my youthful years showing??) - perhaps I need to check that out

I have had a very busy week which explains this slowing down so much but I'm going to type up a new section tonight at last

Posted by: Jade 10th February 2019, 10:08 PM

20. Backstreet Boys - Everybody (Backstreet's Back)
(chart-run: 3-4-5-6-8-14-18-27-30-38-54)

19. Puff Daddy & Faith Evans - I'll Be Missing You (feat. 112)
(chart-run: 1-1-1-2-1-1-1-2-3-4-6-5-11-12-18-27-34-40-52-61-75)

18. Sandy B - Make The World Go Round
(chart-run: 35-51)

17. Tina Moore - Never Gonna Let You Go
(chart-run: 7-11-9-12-9-11-11-17-15-23-21-28-35-43-67)

16. The Notorious B.I.G. - Hypnotize
(chart-run: 10-32-46-61)



We (finally!) kick off the top 20 of 1997 with the best-selling boyband of all-time. I am not all that familiar with the Backstreet Boys' discography but I must say that 'Everybody (Backstreet's Back)' is a pop gem of the nineties. I feel like the production in particular sounds very of its time but this song as a whole will never die. It has become a tenuous Halloween classic due to mirroring the music video of Michael Jackson's 'Thriller', in the sense that it also acts as a parody of the horror film genre. Despite this Halloween link, the song itself is not scary at all. In fact, far from it! 'Everybody (Backstreet's Back)' is an utterly joyous song, with its thumping production and lyrics that urge us all to unite. It never fails to put me in a good mood and for that reason it has a special place in my heart. Speaking of songs that have a special place in my heart... I feel like a huge part of the reason that I have such a soft spot for 'I'll Be Missing You', at #19, is because it was at #1 on the day I was born. It had a marvellous stint at the top at that with 6 (non-consecutive) weeks up there. I've had many dodgy birthday #1s over the years but I was off to a good start here at least. This is one of the rare hip-hop songs that gets the seal of approval from Heart FM. I suppose it is a rap ballad though. 'I'll Be Missing You' is a tribute to American rapper The Notorious B.I.G. who was killed in March 1997. I am always sceptical of songs that rely heavily around interpolations (in this case it's 'Every Breath You Take' by The Police - which is a fantastic song in its own right) but I happen to think that this one works really well. The meaning of the original song (obsessions that occur with a lost lover) is flipped on its head and is turned into a touching tribute. I'm a big softie who enjoys this version a lot, Puff Daddy was B.I.G.'s former mentor and Faith was his wife so it all feels genuinely emotional and appropriate. Now let's switch up the tempo with a magnificent house tune from Sandy B! It's the exact kind of loopy dance that I'm a sucker for. So thanks Kisstory for introducing this minor hit to me one time. This is a highly infectious record with a dangerous chorus - as it'll get stuck in your head for the entire week! Just a really fun and catchy floorfiller with a seriously incredible bassline. 'Make The World Go Round' was released about four times and managed a new peak of #20 the following year!

We have a back-to-back of female dance top 40 hits but this next one is a lot more well known! 'Never Gonna Let You Go' by R&B singer Tina Moore was given the 2-step garage treatment in remix form by Kelly G, resulting in the famous version that became a top 10 hit back in 1997. Not going to lie, I've always found the mangled intro pretty jarring but thankfully it's only a tiny part of the song and then it becomes fabulous after we've got past that bit! The garage genre has always appealed to me a lot (I can't wait until we get to the year 2000 in this countdown) so this remix was already going to be off to a good start on that front. The song is pretty feel-good with the faithful lyrics, banging beats and fun other inclusions like beat-boxing and choppy segments. A divine old skool dance sound. Now let's finish off this section with some gangsta rap! The Notorious B.I.G. makes an appearance himself now after being referenced earlier for 'I'll Be Missing You'. I must confess that the first taste of 'Hypnotize' that I ever had was Blue's 'Fly By II' sampling 'Rise' by Herb Alpert, which 'Hypnotize' also borrows from so I already knew from this that the production was going to be a highlight of 'Hypnotize'. I can confirm that it sure is! Those smooth grooves from 'Rise' carry the song along just perfectly. As do The Notorious B.I.G.'s verses (that are littered with popular culture references) as his flow is as effortlessly impressive as ever. The hook (interpolated from Slick Rick's 'La Di Da Di') is one that results in instant head-bobbing too. This was his first U.K. top 10 hit and a #1 smash on the Billboard Hot 100. The Notorious B.I.G. was tragically shot dead just one week after this single was released.

Posted by: Bré 10th February 2019, 10:29 PM

'Everybody (Backstreet's Back)' is definitely an all-time classic boyband song *.* I think that and 'I Want It That Way' may be the only songs I have ever heard by BSB though.

Love the Biggie and Puff Daddy songs as well! I actually knew 'I'll Be Missing You' before 'Every Breath You Take' and I still always expect it to say 'missing' instead of 'watching' whenever I hear the latter lmao. Very tasteful sample usage anyway. And I think the sample is the only reason it got the Heart FM pass haha, similar to 'Gangsta's Paradise' with its Stevie Wonder sample. Although Heart is slowly lightening up a bit and playing a few more rap songs now (I've heard Flo Rida's 'Low' on there lol *_*).

Posted by: Jay ☆ 11th February 2019, 07:17 AM

Never Gonna Let You Go *.* That intro is kind of iconic even though it's annoying too One of the finest Garage songs ever.

I'll Be Missing You is so touching, such a great use of the sample. Such a classic!

Backstreet's Back... BOP! Not my favourite by BSB, but certainly up there. Remember this going down a storm at a school disco

Posted by: Doctor Blind 11th February 2019, 05:22 PM

“Make The World Go Round”!
That bassline was later sampled by Camisra on “Let Me Show You” which became a Top 10 hit (#5) in February 1998.

Can't deny the original though, and I also love “Never Gonna Let You Go” - yes the Kelly G remix was the big one and that was in the clubs from around 1995.

This is like listening to Kisstory on a night shift... !

Posted by: Jade 11th February 2019, 07:11 PM

I'm glad you agree with me on that one *.* oh wow, have you never heard 'Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)', 'As Long As You Love Me' or 'Larger Than Life'? ;o the latter in particular is a certified tune. But fair enough, I guess these two songs have seemingly eclipsed everything else they've done. Them being inspiration for 'The Ebay Song' though >>>

Yay *.* I am also another who heard 'I'll Be Missing You' first and would have 'missing' as the default expectation The Police hu? xo But yeah that's how you do a tribute song folks, very classy. Ooh that would actually make a lot of sense, never thought about that! I am so here for Heart FM playing 'Low'


Haha it is certainly a unique intro *_* otherwise 'Never Gonna Let You Go' is a highlight of the genre indeed <3

Quite <3 everything just falls into place perfectly with it. Can see why it did so well!

Yessss *.* what is your favourite of theirs? omg I'm sad that it never came on at a school disco when I was a kid now just DJ Casper and Las Ketchup x1000 x


Ooh yay Doctor Blind I'm glad someone appreciates my obscure Kisstory faves

I had no idea about the bassline of 'Make The World Go Round' being sampled in that song will make sure to check it out!

Posted by: Jade 11th February 2019, 08:21 PM

15. Spice Girls - Too Much
(chart-run: 1-1-3-9-19-30-42-51-36-41-53-59-64-62-53)

14. Blur - Song 2
(chart-run: 2-13-23-45-74)

13. Brainbug - Nightmare
(chart-run: 11-24-39-50-55)

12. Spice Girls - Who Do You Think You Are
(chart-run: 1-1-1-2-6-15-19-25-38-47-53-56-40-58-66)

11. The Verve - Bitter Sweet Symphony
(chart-run: 2-5-6-12-14-12-19-23-36-50-70-70R(17)-72)



We kick off the top 15 with the first of three appearances from the Spice Girls! 'Too Much' feels extremely nostalgic to me as a Spice fan, despite only being mere months old when it was released. This is because it is the opening song for 'Spice World' the movie and much of my childhood was spent wearing out my poor copy of the film. I was transfixed by these larger than life personalities and their music. However, I must confess that it took me years to properly appreciate 'Too Much'. It was their biggest grower for sure. But I definitely have positive feelings towards this more mature release from them nowadays. The production is so classy with its more R&B and doo-wop influences, compared to their usual in-your-face pop direction. Lots of fantastic sounds in amongst the fairly intricate production such as strings and brass instruments. But it also has the Spice stamp with bold lyrics in places that sound decidedly Geri. This was the group's sixth UK number one single in a row (the first act to ever achieve this!) and their second Christmas number one in a row too. Simply unstoppable! But they weren't the only phenomenon of the 90s UK music scene. Another one of these was the Britpop movement of the mid-1990s. Blur (and their rivalry with Oasis) played a huge part of this and here they are at #14. I must confess that I am a huge Oasis fan but Blur created some rather awesome music themselves. 'Song 2' is a short but snappy release from the group for sure. It's truly electrifying when the famous "Woohoo!" pops up in the chorus each time. The ramped up distorted bass serves as the perfect accompanying production too. It wouldn't surprise me if many people didn't know what this song was called but recognised the "woohoo!" part. Indeed it is called 'Song 2' though, a working title that stuck. On the whole 'Song 2' has a very Nirvana feel to it, which makes sense as it is often described as a parody of the grunge genre. A pretty marvellous one at that. In 1998 BBC Radio 1 listeners had already voted 'Song 2' as the 15th best track ever so it picked up its fans very quickly. Next up is 'Nightmare (Sinister Strings Radio Edit)' - the ONLY dance song of this section, oh my! I discovered this gem due to Dan sending it to the BJSC Halloween spinoff back in 2015. It picked up high points from me in that contest and went straight on my Halloween playlist! This is an instrumental trance song with prominent (sinister!) string production throughout. I adore the intense build-up of this! Especially when the speed increases more and more as we get close to the chorus. Then bam, we're hit with a magnificent creepy electronic drop. I've just discovered that Brainbug sadly passed away in 2016 but he leaves behind the legacy of this banger that was so close to hitting the top 10.

Now we have the second Spice Girls offering of this section! It's quite a contrast to 'Too Much' as it's one of their more vibrant songs. 'Perfect Day' wasn't the only charity release to appear in this 1997 countdown as 'Who Do You Think You Are' was released as a double-A side single with 'Mama' for Comic Relief. 'Mama' is a slow heartfelt tribute to all of the mothers out there, whereas 'Who Do You Think You Are' is the uptempo half of the single, with disco and euro-pop influences. It's so easy to get swept up in the fun of this song really! The theme of it is actually quite negative (about people getting trapped in the world of fame) but they manage to turn it into this euphoric party anthem with bold lyricism and other in-your-face components. I love the retro feel of the production, quickfire delivery of the swing it / shake it / move it / make it parts and Melanie C particularly shines on vocals as ever! This song would provide an absolutely iconic Brit Awards performance in 1997, the famous Geri Union Jack dress one! Rounding off this section is something quite a bit different to the bubblegum feel of this Spice Girls song. This is 'Bitter Sweet Symphony' by The Verve, which infamously samples Andrew Loog Oldham's orchestral cover of 'The Last Time' by The Rolling Stones... as there was some legal controversy surrounding this, resulting in Mick Jagger and Keith Richards being added to the songwriting credits. But away from all that drama, this song introduced me to the sample and what a stunner it is. I know the original as well but I feel like this version really polished the production and gave it this beautiful timeless feel. But the rest of the experience is a powerful one too. Richard Ashcroft sounds great as he appears to be singing about the conflict of following the path you want to follow and the one you are obliged to to follow. The iconic video is an homage to the wonderful 'Unfinished Sympathy' by Massive Attack, where Ashcroft walks down a busy path without changing anything at all, except where he is forced to stop for a moving car. Simple but effective. This feels like a modern classic for sure. But unfortunately it couldn't quite make my top 10 of 1997. Find out what did make it in the coming days!

Posted by: dandy* 11th February 2019, 08:32 PM

Owning less and less now that we're getting higher!

I didn't buy anything from the previous section - although I do adore the Sandy B track, so much that it features on my ultimate house music mixtape[/geek]

From the most recent section it's Song 2 that is my clear favourite - I bought that one on purple 7" and it's one of my favourite purchases ever! Also got the Verve and Brainbug too and both are great

You'll probably have gathered by now that pop wasn't really my thing back then, being about 17 and in the midst of the indie revival following Britpop meant that all us supposedly cool kids didn't really go near Spice Girls etc.

Posted by: danG 11th February 2019, 08:57 PM

from 25-11:
24 yes, such a tune and probably Sash's best ever. I even downloaded this on iTunes earlier in the decade.
21 quite enjoy this though it's all about the https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MotWFCBKlg version with BB Diamond on vox for me
20 one of the few boyband songs I actually enjoy, alongside their 'I Want It That Way'
19 this was #1 in the US when I was born, not a huge fave of mine but it's a nice tribute
18 good pick, only recently discovered it myself too, was already familiar with the bassline from 'Let Me Show You' but this sounds better
17 another tune - and interestingly the Spotify version seems to remove most of the vocal but I actually quite like it like that too
14 an indie banger! seems quite out of place amongst the rest of their discography though but it is one of their best
13 love this!! woo at it being a great discovery too, for me I discovered it from a trance compilation (I bought quite a few of those in 2010-11 before switching to Spotify in 2012!)
12 this is my fave of theirs actually, doesn't seem to be a popular opinion but I think it's aged better than Wannabe and Spice Up Your Life
11 one of my faves of the year too, an undeniable classic. hopefully 'The Drugs Don't Work' also features here - that's also amazing.

Posted by: Jade 11th February 2019, 10:36 PM

Oh my! maybe I'm too much of a mainstream hoe now, I count two #1 singles and two #2 singles in that runner-up section! I see anyway, well, I'm very pleased to see another fan of the Sandy B song in this thread as well as myself and Doctor Blind (edit: now Dan too!) *.* why did you not buy that one at the time out of curiosity? Ultimate house music mixtape omg!! That sounds potentially incredible *.* I fully embrace musical geekery in this thread. <3

'Song 2' on purple 7" sounds absolutely amazing, colour me extremely jealous!! and haha yes I have noticed that a lot of your favourites so far have either been dance or indie, I shall forgive you for the Spice Girls snubs, I'm sure Jay will make up for that if he continues to comment x


- Great pick of best Sash! song if I say so myself *.* he has such a consistently brilliant discography but I thiiiink I'd plump for 'Mysterious Times' as my ultimate favourite <3
- Wow, I had never heard that version of 'Closer Than Close' until now! I am usually pretty critical of most dance reworkings these days (hi Big Pineapple x) but that sounds like one of the better ones in recent times tbh.
- Glad that these BSB classics are boyband anomalies for you, I've made my feelings clear enough about 'Everybody' so far but 'I Want It That Way' is also pretty good, enjoyable cheese x
- Snap albeit on different sides of the pond then! Definitely one of the most touching tribute songs I've heard.
- Right I need to check out this 'Let Me Show You' song after two mentions in the thread now but I'm glad that you're enjoying Sandy B's banger *.*
- Oh yes I knew there was something off with the Spotify version, mess
- Yesss it is certainly an outlier with the more grunge sound for sure! Such a highlight for them <3
- Haha I thought you'd approve of the Brainbug inclusion *.* god bless trance compilations then so you could unleash it to us, was love at first listen!
- Ooh I definitely approve of your Spice favourite! Mine shall not appear until 1998 but that's a solid choice, it does get a bit predictable when people have 'Wannabe' as their fave (including my own mum, no shade xo) so it's interesting to hear some variation. It has aged pretty well indeed!
- Glad we have this song in common as a big favourite *.*

Goes without saying but thanks once again to everyone who has commented so far I love reading them, it's really motivating!

Posted by: Mack. 12th February 2019, 02:12 PM

Everybody (Backstreet's Back) an pop classic. Shame there isn't a boyband like them in the US now. 'I'll Be Missing You' a rap classic, one of my favourite hip-hop songs of all time. 'Make The World Go Around' that's a gem I haven't heard in a long time wow what a floorfiller. 'Never Gonna Let You Go' indeed echoing what Jay said, one of the finest gargage songs ever. 'Hypnotize' a hip-hop classic from Biggy this and 'Mo Money Mo Problems' from that year both songs that I would listen to anyday. 'Too Much and 'Who Do You Think You Are' both Spice Girl offerings good in their way, 'Too Much' because it sounded mature from them and is one of those great movie songs as well and 'Who Do You Think You Are' this was a fun track for Comic Relief and quite funny in the music videos with cameos from French and Saunders if I remember correctly. 'Song 2' that beginning legendary sounded very different from them but that chart run, thought that had been a sleeper hit surprised how quickly dropped down the chart. 'Nightmare again not familiar with this but this is probably underappreciated it just sounds great. 'Bitter Sweet Sympathy 'one of the great songs from 1997, this one of my favourites from that year, somehow now this is used in football as part of ITV's intro for England games, quite a personal song for me this. and also used for this:

Posted by: Jade 12th February 2019, 09:36 PM

I appreciate you sharing all of these thoughts Mack *.* the positivity towards 'Make The World Go Round' was great to read in particular, as bringing back forgotten gems was definitely one of my intentions with this, in amongst the familiar faces. You are correct about French and Saunders being involved with the Spice Girls' Comic Relief release btw, a parody of the video was created - featuring a comedic version of the girls called the Sugar Lumps, which involved them also I can't believe how ridiculously short the chart-run of 'Song 2' is as well... at least it has stood the test of time despite having such a fleeting presence in the chart!

Posted by: Bré 13th February 2019, 04:43 AM

Don't recognise any of those by the titles at least! ('As Long As You Love Me' just brings the Bieber song to mind). The eBay version is defo superior to the original of 'I Want It That Way' x (not so much the Slashstreet Boys version though xx)

Also a little late as I meant to reply last time I posted in here but forgot, but yes, 'Smack My Bitch Up' was the video that 'Bad Trip' seemed inspired by, I doubt it was just a coincidence since the song sounded a lot like The Prodigy as well.

~

'Bitter Sweet Symphony' and 'Song 2' are big faves from this section (I prefer 'The Drugs Don't Work' out of The Verve's pair of mega hits but I would probably pick 'Song 2' as my favourite Blur song). Brainbug was another great BJSC discovery as well. Can't say I'm a fan of either of those Spice Girls songs but of course I expect to see pretty much all of their singles making it into these lists!

Posted by: sergejdordij98 14th February 2019, 09:09 AM

So, heard that James Bond theme from Moby on Youtube, it's good! Really like it, even though nothing beats the original!
There are many songs I like from your #20-#11 section:
20. Backstreet Boys - Everybody (Backstreet's Back) What a classic song from the group!
19. Puff Daddy & Faith Evans - I'll Be Missing You (feat. 112) It uses the sample of The Police very good, also I hear this sometimes on the radio in my working station, so I'm happy about it!
16. The Notorious B.I.G. - Hypnotize What an amazing rap song!
14. Blur - Song 2 Seriously enjoying this song, it's great that it became a classic!
11. The Verve - Bitter Sweet Symphony Another great classic! (Fun Fact: I've heard a german rap song from 2018 recently, which uses a sample from this song!)

Posted by: Jade 14th February 2019, 06:07 PM

Ah okay then! I must admit that I thought of Bieber while I was typing that God bless Weird Al <3 I think that was the first parody of his that I ever heard, my young mind was blown. Oh yes, Slashstreet Boys not quite being as much of a moment as the artist name suggested. Also, I see, thought I'd remembered that correctly! Well slay at them taking inspiration from The Prodigy in both the musical and visual sense for this song as it worked sooo well, one of your best entries *.*

Hooray I'm pretty sure that 'Song 2' is my favourite Blur song as well so #nsync *.* ofc I much prefer Gorillaz as a Damon project but Blur did have their moments. That Halloween spinoff was quality in general tbh <3 and haha fair enough will Holler or Hollier make an appearance I wonder???


I'm pleased that you liked the Moby song Serge *.* I introduced it to Bray as well last weekend and he also liked it, I call that a success!

Yayyyy for you picking a decent handful of recent highlights there <3 I'll Be Missing You has definitely played on a station I've been listening to recently (called Gem) at work as well, this impact 21 years later *_* also I am intrigued for this German rap song

Posted by: coi 14th February 2019, 06:20 PM

Song 2 and Bitter Sweet Symphony are fantastic, glad they've finished quite high here!

I think he's referring to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMb_uu1ayyY!

Posted by: Jade 14th February 2019, 06:26 PM

Yaaaaaaay *.*

I'm shook at that song existing I wonder if Mick Jagger knows? xo

(I totally flopped at doing a new section yesterday but hopefully tonight after a Skype call and a run )

Posted by: sergejdordij98 14th February 2019, 07:52 PM

Yes, that's the one!

Posted by: Popchartfreak 14th February 2019, 08:12 PM

Hi jade, enjoying the rundown - Verve outside the top 10 though, wot!?

Highlights so far, Tubthumping, Blueboy, Perfect Day, Song 2 - which I under-rated at the time - and some others.

This is what I liked I the time (or at least 60 of 'em - I think my tastes are MOR than yours these days, but if you don't know any of the following maybe check them out - based on chart "sales" in my points system, and some did better total sales in later years (which are in brackets) but which I haven't sorted by as this was what I liked at the end of 1997, not what I like now, chart peak and wks on chart follow the chart position year-end. I am an unashamed fan of everything musically, so opera, Bally Sagoo, girl/boy bands, indie - check out Eels, Sneaker Pimps and Mansun if you don't know them! - dub, dance, r'n'b, rock.

Oh and dandy - wot no Sunny Came Home and Robyn!!

1 1 75 BITTERSWEET SYMPHONY Verve 1848950
2 1 74 TIME TO SAY GOODBYE Sarah Brightman/Andrea Bocelli 1734000
3 1 28 HALO Texas 1589050
4 1 33 TORN Natalie Imbruglia 1435250
5 1 23 PUT YOUR ARMS AROUND ME Texas 1292950
6 1 33 ALONE Bee Gees 1215500
7 1 41 WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME Monaco 1077450
8 1 25 SAY WHAT YOU WANT (+655550) Texas 1059400
9 1 20 PERFECT DAY Lou Reed & friends 1022100
10 1 21 LUCKY MAN Verve 1012900

11 2 25 WHERE DO YOU GO No Mercy 947750
12 1 39 6 UNDERGROUND Sneaker Pimps 923900
13 5 48 TUBTHUMPING Chumbawamba 920900
14 1 33 YOU GOT THE LOVE 97 Source/ Candi Staton 901950
15 2 18 BLACK EYED BOY Texas 880300
16 1 19 WHERE HAVE ALL THE COWBOYS GONE? Paula Cole 818950
17 1 22 DISCOTHEQUE U2 750850
18 2 21 EVERYBODY (BACKSTREET'S BACK) (1420750) Backstreet Boys 743750
19 1 14 A RED LETTER DAY Pet Shop Boys 740200
20 3 24 SPICE UP YOUR LIFE Spice Girls 731100

21 1 20 I WANT YOU (1082150) Savage Garden 716300
22 2 15 WHERE'S THE LOVE Hanson 714850
23 2 32 THE DRUGS DON'T WORK Verve 667400
24 7 40 STARING AT THE SUN U2 659100
25 3 19 DO YOU KNOW (WHAT IT TAKES) Robyn 608750
26 2 22 DON'T LET GO En Vogue 600100
27 1 18 LOVE IS ALL WE NEED Mary J. Blige 597200
28 6 24 YOU WERE MEANT FOR ME Jewel 583400
29 3 19 LAZY DAYS Robbie Williams 582800
30 2 14 SHOUT Ant & Dec 581600

31 2 13 EVERYTHING Mary J Blige 558900
32 1 18 SALVA MEA Faithless 545800
33 3 12 AVENGING ANGELS Space 516250
34 3 17 ALL I WANNA DO Dannii 515850
35 6 18 C U WHEN U GET THERE Coolio 507400
36 2 12 YOU SHOWED ME Lightning Seeds 476300
37 6 13 WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE Spice Girls 475000
38 3 19 YOU'RE THE ONE I LOVE Shola Ama 471850
39 3 18 A PRISONER OF THE PAST Prefab Sprout 464900
40 4 16 WALK ON BY Gabrielle 451950

41 4 10 ELEGANTLY WASTED INXS 444500
42 6 21 JUST FOR YOU M People 442450
43 5 19 MMMBOP Hanson 441450
44 4 13 WALTZING ALONG James 438800
45 5 15 I WILL COME TO YOU Hanson 429950
46 3 14 ASCENSION DON'T EVER WONDER Maxwell 422550
47 4 16 TUM BIN JIYA Bally Sagoo 415250
48 7 18 REMEMBER ME Blue Boy 415150
49 3 14 RAINCLOUD Lighthouse Family 409550
50 3 12 SUSANS HOUSE Eels 406600

51 2 8 TAXLOSS Mansun 405700
52 7 16 NIGHT NURSE Sly & Robbie/Simply Red 404550
53 3 15 IT'S NO GOOD Depeche Mode 402850
54 10 22 TOGETHER AGAIN Janet Jackson 393550
55 5 14 ONE HEADLIGHT Wallflowers 392650
56 3 10 PONY Ginuwine 391950
57 7 18 MOUTH Merril Bainbridge 379450
58 8 17 YOUR WOMAN White Town 377250
59 6 18 NEVER EVER All Saints 372400
60 7 19 ANGELS (1083650) Robbie Williams 371000

Posted by: Jade 14th February 2019, 09:21 PM

Hey there John

Thank you for commenting *.* it's so cool to see the likes of you and Dandy posting your charts from the time, sadly I won't have any of those until 2011 can confirm that a couple of the songs in that top 60 may or may not be in the next section...

Posted by: Jade 14th February 2019, 10:39 PM

10. Robbie Williams - Angels
(chart-run: 7-5-7-6-7-6-9-7-6-7-4-9-12-15-21-23-32-43-58-71-57R(36)-57-62-73-75R(5)-75R(3)-71R(41)

09. Bellini - Samba De Janeiro
(chart-run: 8-12-17-23-33-45-67)

08. Will Smith - Men In Black
(chart-run: 1-1-1-1-2-4-5-9-8-14-16-25-24-41-58-69)

07. The Chemical Brothers - Block Rockin' Beats
(chart-run: 1-8-20-34-53-67-69R(7)

06. White Town - Your Woman
(chart-run: 1-2-3-11-15-23-36-54-65)



Top 10 time! Kicking things off is none other than Robbie Williams. He had to appear here, with me being a former moderator of the Robbie forum and all! My parents are massive Robbie fans and I'd say this is probably the song I heard more than any other when growing up. Whether that was in the car or due to my dad requesting it at every party or wedding we've ever been to! Away from that nostalgic connection, I just find it to be a rather beautiful and timeless ballad from Robbie. The public often thinks of him as this outrageous entertainer but this was a refreshingly emotional offering from him away from all of that bravado. He really pulled it off. That chorus in particular is a stormer! I absolutely adore the long build up to the final chorus where the song features nothing but a guitar also. Robbie was apparently inspired to write the chorus when he and Guy Chambers were watching a water fountain. I'm sad that my Bratz water dispenser never inspired me to write a hit single tbh. This is a song adored by the masses, as it was voted best song of the past 25 years at the 2005 Brit Awards. In the same year us British folk also voted this as the song we most want played at our funeral! I can understand why, it tugs on the heart strings but is also euphoric at the same time, so doesn't tread the line of being horribly sad. Plus, 'Angels', of course. It'll always baffle me how this was never a #1 single but that longevity in the top 10 is of course nothing to be sniffed at! Next at #9 it's back to dance with the wonderful 'Samba De Janeiro' by German group Bellini. However, this song is not German at all (Sash! teas) as instead it's a latin house song. Yep, it's obvious why I love this one already! 'Samba De Janeiro' is an instant pick-me-up really with its highly energetic production and infectious repetitive hooks. So euphoric it hurts. If this seems unfamiliar on the surface then you may know it through popular culture. For instance, it was played every time a goal was scored in the Euro 2008 matches. It was also featured in a Simpsons episode called 'You Don't Have to Live Like a Referee'. Lastly, in case Cody is lurking, it was also featured in the Dance Dance Revolution series! Phew, it gets around a lot. 'Samba De Janeiro' heavily samples Airto Moreira's 1972 song 'Tombo In 7/4' so you may know it from there too. If you don't, then get on this joyful song right away! Next at #8 is an enormous guilty pleasure in the form of 'Men In Black' by Will Smith! I discovered this song (and the Spice Girls - who knew this would have such importance?) in a nineties themed leavers assembly at my school and was instantly hooked. I've always generally enjoyed Will Smith as a rapper and think this is his best moment. This did pretty well, spending four weeks at #1 in the UK and winning a Grammy award for Best Rap Solo Performance. My highlight, however, is the chorus courtesy of the uncredited Coko from the band SWV. It's so smooth and soulful! It is based around the song 'Forget Me Nots' by Patrice Rushen. I don't care much for the Men In Black movies (randomly, I've only seen the third one) but this as a song is a lot of fun.

Next up we have one of my absolute favourite electronic acts, The Chemical Brothers! Listening to this right now has got me ridiculously hyped to see them live for the first time, even if that moment will not be until November. Anyway, 'Block Rockin' Beats' is an absolute riot with its big beat and alternative rock influences. I love the funky bassline, thrilling LOUD instrumental chorus, drum sample and of course the minimal vocals. The Chemical Brothers are just absolutely ace at consistently producing exciting music. The Now! franchise acted as Mystic Meg with this one, as they included 'Block Rockin' Beats' on Now 36 prior to its release and predicted that it would be a #1 single in the booklet. Sadly it did not quite have the longevity of 'Men In Black' up there and tumbled to #8 the following week. But, something like this getting to #1 at all is incredible. We could only ever dream nowadays! Next is the third #1 single in a row (#commercialhoe *_*) and the final single of this section, 'Your Woman' by White Town. I must confess that I originally discovered this song through 'Never Be Your Woman' by Naughty Boy presents Emeli Sandé and Wiley back in 2010! I really liked this song and even own it on CD single. However, my teenage mind was blown when I figured out that this was the original. Gosh I love this so much! There's something haunting about both the alternative dance productions and the vocals. The silent film themed video works well too. Plus it reminds me so much of something Gorillaz would release - one of my favourite groups. Jyoti Prakash Mishra, the man behind the one man band White Town, explains that he wanted to write a song that had more than one perspective. From "being a gay guy in love with a straight man" to "being a member of an orthodox Trotskyist / Marxist movement." Well, however you want to take it, we have a fantastically eerie and hypnotic song here.

1997 will hopefully conclude tomorrow!

Posted by: sergejdordij98 15th February 2019, 08:36 AM

The first 3 songs (Angels, Samba De Janeiro and Men In Black) all of them are great songs!
Never know that "Angels" was released in 1997 though.
"Samba De Janeiro" is the main theme of carnivals in Brazil. Also it's a fun dance-y song!
And I wouldn't consider "Men In Black" a guilty pleasure. You know, it's a masterpiece compared to the theme song to the sequel of Men In Black.

Posted by: Jade 15th February 2019, 06:15 PM

Woop woop *.* and interesting, did you think 'Angels' was older or more recent than 1997?
'Samba De Janeiro' sounds extremely fitting for a carnival so I can definitely imagine that, how cool! It's so much fun indeed <3
Lmao you make a good point there *_*

(btw guys I was listening to the radio at work today (to a station called Gem) and they had a 'guess the year' segment and I knew it was 1997 from the first second of 'Never Gonna Let You Go' I feel like an expert of this year now haha!!)

Posted by: Jade 15th February 2019, 10:38 PM

05. Adam F - Circles
(chart-run: 20-36-62)

04. Olive - You're Not Alone
(chart-run: 1-1-3-6-15-18-27-37-44-54-57-64-69)

03. Oasis - D'You Know What I Mean?
(chart-run: 1-2-5-10-16-18-23-31-47-60-59-50-55-63-55-65-57-69)

02. Spice Girls - Spice Up Your Life
(chart-run: 1-2-3-4-10-20-24-29-34-37-29-37-50-59-65)

01. Dario G - Sunchyme
(chart-run: 2-3-2-3-5-6-10-15-21-34-43-58-65-60-54-62-59-65)



Starting off the top 5 is record producer and DJ Adam F with (mostly) instrumental top 20 scraper 'Circles'. You guys may or may not already know how much I love this because I decided to enter it to the BuzzJack Song Contest last year! It finished in 17th place in BJSC 104, not too shabby. I discovered this song while I was listening to an old chart on Mixcloud and it was truly love at first listen. This chart was supposed to be background music while I was writing an article during a news day at University, but this song was a rather large distraction and became an instant favourite! I came home and spammed it for the ENTIRE night. Then I played it on plug.dj and it went down well, so I thought you know what, let's go all 90s for BJSC. This is a Drum & Bass/Jungle song and what an exhilarating one at that! It starts off fairly calm, albeit with a bit of a bouncy beat, but then Adam shows that he's not messing around and chucks in this highly energetic production that is very typical of D&B music. There are very small vocal portions too for good measure, namely a woman saying the title and a man repeating the word "check", I believe. This whole package is highly up my street with its 3am Radio 1 vibes and has a really timeless feel to it. J'adore. Now it's time to go from one timeless electronic song to another. Except this one was a lot bigger, as it reached the top of the chart, plus it has a rather different vibe. Much like 'Never Be Your Woman', I actually discovered 'You're Not Alone' through a new version... that being by Tinchy Stryder! But I'd eventually stumble across the original and love absolutely everything about it. Firstly, it contains a mixture of trip-hop and breakbeat elements and if a fusion of those two genres doesn't scream me then I don't know what does tbh. I think the lady on vocals has a beautiful voice, the production is top notch and the lyrics are really powerful to me. Despite a generally dark feel, as trip-hop music often sounds, this actually puts me in a really good mood and gives me some inner strength. A song where everything from vocals to production to lyrics are just all perfect. This sounds ridiculously ahead of its time and I'm pleased that the British public rewarded it with a two week stay at the top. I will still never like olives though.

Taking the bronze position for 1997 is my second favourite band of all-time with an absolute gem from their discography. Oasis were INSANELY massive at the time, coming off the back of the highly successful '(What's The Story) Morning Glory?' era. The world was now eagerly anticipating their next move. I say this as if I was even alive at the time but c'mon, those first week sales for 'Be Here Now' were eye-wateringly huge. However, the album would soon tail off. I must admit that I'm not the biggest fan of the album myself (I actually wrote an in-depth analysis of it for a piece of my A Level English Language coursework *_*) - it's quite bloated. But THIS was a huge moment. What a way for them to come back, being so bold as to release an almost 8 minute single (but no-one cared because they were so big) where you have to wait 2 minutes for the drums to even come in. The production here is such a treat, particularly the guitar in the chorus and also the rather mangled guitar noises during the outro. Noel also said that the morse code in the background was inspired by 'Strawberry Fields Forever' which makes me a very happy Beatles fanatic. But it doesn't end there as the song references both 'The Fool On The Hill' and 'I Feel Fine' too <3 Then we get to the vocals and Liam owns it with his signature cool and confident delivery. It's nice to have a bit of Noel layered against his vocals during the chorus as well to give it more depth. The lyrics are fairly ambiguous, but this is a song that definitely makes me feel on top of the world, what a triumph! Taking the silver position is the Spice Girls with their third and final appearance for 1997 with the irresistible 'Spice Up Your Life'! What I love about this is how energetic and inclusive it is. The girls apparently all recorded the chorus together, instead of separate takes, which explains why it feels like such a manic and fun experience. I am a sucker for the latin influences, ridiculously catchy chorus and uplifting lyrics that unite us all around the world. So much fun!! The music video is one of their absolute best as well, being self aware about their crazy amount of sponsorships and featuring the girls controlling everything in a setting that looks dark and futuristic. Can't wait to spice up my life at Wembley in June <3 Now... it's time for my FAVOURITE song of 1997 Dario G receives the first of these crowns in my countdown with the absolutely glorious house beauty 'Sunchyme', taken from their debut album 'Sunmachine'. This is 4 minutes of unadulterated JOY I tell you. It makes me feel so warm and like everything's okay in the world while it's on. I clearly have a penchant for loopy dance songs based on samples (also see... my favourite song of all time... which we shall get to in 2001) as this is based on the also lovely 'Life in a Northern Town' by The Dream Academy. This takes that dream pop song and turns it into this stunning dance anthem. I just have no words for how brilliant this is. My #1 by miles, as much as I love the Spice Girls and Oasis. Such blissful production and equally soothing vocals. I must say that the video is an absolute gem as well, it depicts a tribe of African people having their bodies covered in paint to portray the animals of their land. The choreography is amazing too. Incredible. The only shame is that this never made #1. In fact... it wasn't even close. Not at all. This was behind the juggernaut 'Candle In The Wind' by Elton John and this top 2 has the record for biggest sales gap between a top two in the UK ever... oops well, this gets the last laugh as my #1 tbh.

Posted by: Jade 15th February 2019, 10:38 PM

recap ~ full 1997 top 40:

01. Dario G - Sunchyme
02. Spice Girls - Spice Up Your Life
03. Oasis - D'You Know What I Mean?
04. Olive - You're Not Alone
05. Adam F - Circles
06. White Town - Your Woman
07. The Chemical Brothers - Block Rockin' Beats
08. Will Smith - Men In Black
09. Bellini - Samba De Janeiro
10. Robbie Williams - Angels

11. The Verve - Bitter Sweet Symphony
12. Spice Girls - Who Do You Think You Are
13. Brainbug - Nightmare
14. Blur - Song 2
15. Spice Girls - Too Much
16. The Notorious B.I.G. - Hypnotize
17. Tina Moore - Never Gonna Let You Go
18. Sandy B - Make The World Go Round
19. Puff Daddy & Faith Evans - I'll Be Missing You (feat. 112)
20. Backstreet Boys - Everybody (Backstreet's Back)

21. Rosie Gaines - Closer Than Close
22. All Saints - I Know Where It's At
23. Moby - James Bond Theme
24. Sash! - Ecuador (feat. Rodriguez)
25. Orbital - The Saint
26. DJ Shadow - High Noon
27. Daft Punk - Around The World
28. Michael Jackson - Blood On The Dance Floor
29. The Age Of Love - The Age Of Love
30. The Prodigy - Smack My Bitch Up

31. Sash! - Encore Une Fois
32. Tori Amos - Professional Widow (It's Got To Be Big)
33. Aphex Twin - Come To Daddy
34. Blue Boy - Remember Me
35. Various Artists - Perfect Day
36. Todd Terry - Something Goin' On (feat. Martha Walsh and Jocelyn Brown)
37. DJ Quicksilver - Bellissima
38. Lamb - Gorecki
39. Chumbawamba - Tubthumping
40. Janet Jackson - Got 'Til It's Gone (feat. Q-Tip & Joni Mitchell)

Thanks for the overwhelming amount of support in the thread so far, much love 1998 commencing in the not too distant future

https://open.spotify.com/user/jadegagaolly/playlist/6sx4UMpX5RT87n2N3zkdaB?si=0o64G8lnTn6vLCQ_RtuguQ so far <3

Posted by: Riser 16th February 2019, 05:28 AM

Hi Jade! Decided to just do a full comment at the end, I won't know too many of these until it gets to the late 2000s. But 1997 was loaded with classics so what a year to start with *.*

01. Dario G - Sunchyme
02. Spice Girls - Spice Up Your Life This is probably my favorite Spice Girls song because it's so fast-paced and infectious, it's soooo hard to choose though!
04. Olive - You're Not Alone Did you know this song entered the chart in a record-breaking chart week as there were 20 new entries in the top 40? I learned that several years ago so not sure if the record still stands, but it probably does!
05. Adam F - Circles
06. White Town - Your Woman Ooh I just heard this a few days ago!! It's aged very well, doesn't sound like a #1 to me which makes it more awesome that it actually was one. Gorillaz is a great comparison! Plus, imagine if this song never existed and Naughty Boy couldn't sample it - would his breakthrough have ever happened?
08. Will Smith - Men In Black
10. Robbie Williams - Angels
11. The Verve - Bitter Sweet Symphony
14. Blur - Song 2
16. The Notorious B.I.G. - Hypnotize
19. Puff Daddy & Faith Evans - I'll Be Missing You (feat. 112)
20. Backstreet Boys - Everybody (Backstreet's Back) I've been wondering why this song was associated with Halloween Maybe I've somehow never seen the video, I'm glad you pointed it out!
39. Chumbawamba - Tubthumping
40. Janet Jackson - Got 'Til It's Gone (feat. Q-Tip & Joni Mitchell)

Awesome thread so far

Posted by: Jade 16th February 2019, 12:08 PM

Hey there Jordan!

I was hoping you'd stumble across this thread and enjoy it, as you always seem to appreciate the retro chart feature of my regular personal chart *.* fair enough at you not expecting to know many until the 2000s, I cannot wait to get into that decade as it's my ultimate favourite decade of music <3 it definitely benefits from me growing up during that time but so many amazing genres were thriving during this time, already excited to dive into 2000 for garage alone, for instance! Hooray for 1997 providing highlights anyway, I'm currently creating my 1998 list and this one was even harder to cut down so hopefully you can maybe find a few highlights there.

Fantastic choice of favourite Spice Girls song if I say so myself it is my second favourite of theirs but definitely the best Spice uptempo <3 I agree that it is so infectious, it was recorded in quite a manic way (they were in the middle of filming Spice World the movie at the same time and were constantly interrupted, I don't know how they did it!) so it feels so authentically fast-paced and fun. Also, I had no idea about that Olive fact I'm ashamed of myself for not noticing how many new entries were in the chart that week as I've been combing through the OCC archive section for this wow though, that's incredible, how phresh! Would love to know if that was beaten but I'd assume not.

The impact of you hearing 'Your Woman' so recently *.* some of the songs in this countdown have been following me around on the radio atm, namely 'I'll Be Missing You', 'Never Gonna Let You Go', 'Spice Up Your Life' and 'Everybody (Backstreet's Back)'! It hassss aged very well indeed and definitely feels like an unorthodox chart-topper <3 I wish this kind of alternative dance/trip-hop sound was still a chart force. Glad you see it, the vocals remind me so much of Damon's Gorillaz style and they often have quite alternative production. Oh my!! now there's a thought

Yeah I was confused about the Halloween connection in the past too but it all made sense when I saw the video. Still tenuous though yay for that being an educational tidbit anyway x

Thank you, glad you're enjoying it so far *.*

Posted by: King Rollo 16th February 2019, 02:09 PM

Hi Jade,here is my own top 20 from 1997. It was a very good year for music. Some of these are on your chart as well. As you've only included top 40 singles in your list,I've done the same so any non hits or album tracks from my top 1000 are not included here.

1. Radiohead - Paranoid Android
2. Depeche Mode - Home
3. Massive Attack - Risingson
4. The Orb - Toxygene
5. Olive - You're Not Alone
6. Eels - Susan's House
7. Radiohead - Karma Police
8. Prefab Sprout - A Prisoner Of The Past
9. The Chemical Brothers - Elektrobank
10. Pet Shop Boys - Somewhere
11. White Town - Your Woman
12. Republica - Ready To Go
13. The Chemical Brothers - Block Rockin' Beats
14. Daft Punk - Da Funk
15. Echo and the Bunnymen - Nothing Lasts Forever
16. Bentley Rhythm Ace - Bentley's Gonna Sort You Out!
17. The Source featuring Candi Staton - You Got The Love (remix)
18. Monaco - What Do You Want From Me?
19. The Future Sound Of London - We Have Explosive
20. DJ Quicksilver - Bellissima

The first 13 of those were all in my top 1000.

Posted by: dandy* 16th February 2019, 02:22 PM

Sunny Came Home was 1998 for me... but Robyn, well let's just say I didn't get at all on board until about 2005 onwards, her pop tracks from 97 were just not my thing at all.


Just catching up with your top 10 Jade - nice enough #1, I do still like that now. The real highs for me are White Town ( ), Chemical Brothers, Olive, Adam F and Oasis - the latter I went off for quite some time but I think it's aged rather well in the end.

Posted by: Jade 16th February 2019, 08:35 PM

Hi Rollo thank you for sharing your top 20 chart hits *.* pleased to see that we have a handful in common, almost a snap position for Olive! I'll make sure to check out the songs I don't know as there are quite a few of those.


Hooray for a good half of those being highs for you! I think I remember seeing 'D'You Know What I Mean?' as one of your 1997 #1s earlier in the thread, so wow at you going off it happy to hear that it's back in your good books nowadays though haha.

(also I can't believe how different Robyn's music used to be!!)

Posted by: danG 16th February 2019, 10:49 PM

I like the whole top 10 here actually, good picks. particularly Sunchyme - great to see that at #1, one of the best dance songs of the 90s.
You're Not Alone another choon. I also knew it from the Tinchy Stryder version first but that has dated badly whilst the original still sounds great.
Spice Up Your Life is one of the girls best, the Oasis song isn't but it's grown on me from having lots of Radio X airplay (my parents like to have it on).
Circles was a great find too, amazed it went that high in the chart although it was a lot easier in that climate.
Angels has suffered a bit from overplay over the years but it's a classic and would probably feature in my top 40 too.
Samba De Janeiro is a bit of a tune as well, the obvious comparison is Carnaval De Paris but I prefer Samba.
Men In Black was #1 on my birthday, not a bad song to be born to really but not one of my absolute faves of the era.

Posted by: Jade 16th February 2019, 10:57 PM

Ooh a 100% top 10 seal of approval, I like this *.* 'Sunchyme' really is an absolute gem, a huge compliment for both of us to call it one of the best dance songs of the 90s when 90s dance was of such a high standard Also, I agree that the Tinchy Stryder version of 'You're Not Alone' has not aged well, just sounds like a 2009 Starz TV fave really on the flip side, I still really enjoy the Naughty Boy version of 'Your Woman'. Your Spice opinions are slaying me in this thread so far *.* and yay for Radio X being good for that, my dad stans it also so I totally feel you

I'm so so happy that I stumbled across 'Circles', it says a lot when it's clambered its way into an all-time top 5 after just one year *.* yeah it's crazy that a D&B (almost) instrumental did that well but if 'Come To Daddy' was top 40 hit then anything was possible tbh 'Angels' definitely feels like Robbie's most overplayed song but it hasn't actually hindered my enjoyment of it at all, which is surprising as I feel like I complain about overplay a lot haha. A total classic indeed <3 Robbie may or may not have more to come for 1998 also and yeah, as much as I love 'Sunchyme' I'm definitely team Samba De Janeiro as well when it comes to that vs. Carnaval De Paris, soz Dario G and oh my, what an iconic birthday #1 *.*

Posted by: Bré 17th February 2019, 06:10 PM

Dario G is a fantastic choice for #1 one of the ultimate examples of songs I knew for ages before knowing what they actually were and being unable to figure out what they are because of not having any searchable lyrics haha. (And a 2 for 1 because I knew the original song it sampled as well, also without knowing what it was).

A little surprised at this Oasis song being so high actually, I didn't know you held that song in such high regard! Tis a good song but not exactly one of my biggest favourites from them. Olive and Adam F both great (Jadekissedonia impakt getting the latter as high as top 5, oh my) and yasss for The Chemical Brothers, Will Smith and King Robbie (community award when) in the top 10 as well!

White Town is probably my least fave song in this entire top 40 oops (sacrilege opinion probably I know but I just find it so boring in comparison to the Naughty Boy/Wiley version which I heard first). (edit: actually it's probably better than 'Too Much' I guess but still not something I'd ever listen to xx)

Posted by: PeteFromLeeds 20th February 2019, 10:20 PM

I was OBSESSED with Samba de Janeiro for a good year after I stumbled across it on a NOW album, great to see it here! Sunchyme is a great choice of #1 as well, such a melodic dance track!

Posted by: Jade 20th February 2019, 11:08 PM

I thought you might approve of this #1, yay a cracking start to those if I say so myself. Haha I see, I guess a lot of people must just think of it as that "hey ma ma ma" song and probably get pushed in the direction of the Black Eyed Peas or David Guetta song lol. I ashamedly had never heard the original of it until a couple of years ago! Oh my at that 2 for 1 x

Oh yes I've always been a huge fan of 'D'You Know What I Mean?', perhaps I haven't shown my love for it on the board very much fair enough, they do have hoard of classiques to choose from I suppose. We love Jadekissedonia impakt <3 Adam F truly smashing it here in such a short space of time. OMG THIS at community award, needs to happen ASAP.

I had remembered this opinion of yours unacceptable tbh!! But fair enough, that's like what happened to me with 'Don't Let Go (Love)', I heard the Little Mix performance before the original so the latter always feels like it lacks the same oomph. Poor brave 'Too Much' also xx


Oh YES Pete I'm so here for any Bellini love, what a banger God bless the Now albums. Why thank you, it is incredibly melodic and especially so for a song with barely any lyrics haha.

~

Oops sorry that this has been put on hold a bit, just struggling to find an appropriate moment where I'm feeling fit to write this up atm as I've had a pretty sleep deprived week so far. Hopefully the first section of 1998 will be up in the next couple of days x

Posted by: DalekTurret32 21st February 2019, 12:03 AM

So many gems in this 1997 countdown.

Posted by: Jade 22nd February 2019, 09:04 PM

Yay thanks Dalek!

Posted by: Chez Wombat 22nd February 2019, 09:24 PM

Sorry for not commenting up until now, but excellent choice of leader for '97, I think that would be my number 1 too *. Was one of the first 90s songs I really got into and it's always so joyous and puts me in a great mood, and I love the video too. I really rediscovered Life in a Northern Town this year too, the song it sampled, and it really is quite melancholy in comparison. Just goes to show how much a piece of music can be interpreted. White Town, Chemical Brothers, Robbie and Spice Girls are also great additions in the top 10, I usually join you in stanning Oasis, but I was never that keen on this one Just goes on a bit too long and doesn't go anywhere, a common problem with their songs from this album.

This would (roughly) be my top 10 of 1997:

01. Dario G - Sunchyme
02. The Verve - Bittersweet Symphony
03. Daft Punk - Around the World
04. Chemical Brothers - Block Rockin' Beats
05. Chumbawumba - Tubthumping
06. Sash! - Encore Une Fois
07. Blur - Song 2
08. Robbie Williams - Angels
09. Natalie Imbruglia - Torn
10. Spice Girls - Who Do You Think You Are

A lot of crossover here (omg I'm such a mainstream whore this year) *.

Posted by: Jade 22nd February 2019, 09:35 PM

Hey Chez

That's quite alright, a few of you have ended up commenting after I've posted the entire year which makes sense with there being more to talk about at once. Us sharing the same #1 is incredible, our crossover knows no bounds *.* it truly flipped the (lovely!) original on its head and turned it into the life-changing euphoric dance classic that we know and love. Great to see the entirety of your top 10 in my top 40 also, minus 'Torn', obviously because Ablisa cancelled Natalie xo nah in all seriousness that's a pretty solid song but not quite a massive fave. 'Who Do You Think You Are' is a welcome surprise in that line-up, don't think I knew you were a fan *.*

Ah I was actually wondering if you'd said you disliked 'D'You Know What I Mean?' before but I wasn't sure if I was confusing it for 'Go Let It Out'. That's a shame, although I of course agree with your sentiment concerning the album on the whole, the constant bloated songs were too much. This one was always a huge highlight to take away from it for me though at least <3

So mainstream oh my!!!! speaking of which... I'm currently writing my first section of 1998 and there's a #1 in there, oh my x

Posted by: Jade 22nd February 2019, 10:14 PM

40. Lucid - I Can't Help Myself
(chart-run: 7-13-20-26-37-46-56-64)

39. The Cardigans - My Favourite Game
(chart-run: 14-19-15-29-26-27-26-33-39-42-53-56-53-57-47-57-66-74)

38. Aqua - Turn Back Time
(chart-run: 1-3-7-14-20-27-37-43-62-68)

37. Fatboy Slim - The Rockafeller Skank
(chart-run: 6-12-15-21-27-31-35-44-56-73)

36. Faith Evans - Love Like This
(chart-run: 24-40-47-64)



Lucid just about creeps into this top 40 after I had to cut a LOT of songs out. Yes, 1998 may have been full of meandering R&B ballads that no-one asked for, but there was so much goodness in amongst all of those. 'I Can't Help Myself' is a wonderfully euphoric trance song. The vocalist has a lovely emotive tone that hits you just right as the drop is about to arrive. Then suddenly a wave of huge trance beats attack the song. What a drop. The song progresses from intense to joyful in a matter of moments as it switches from vocals to instrumental. This wouldn't sound that out of place in Sash!'s discography really. The follow-up, 'Crazy', is rather great too. Next up at #39 is a switch in sound with 'My Favourite Game'. Or should I say THAT advert song that I would not discover the actual name of for years, oops. I was shook when I heard the famous production accompanied by Nina's vocals for the first time. I just thought hey it's that woman from 'Your Love Alone Is Not Enough'! That really gives away my youthful years doesn't it? Oops. But yeah, it took me years to hear 'Lovefool' for the first time as well, I think I was somehow introduced to the Justin Bieber version first. I was then once again rather perplexed when I discovered that this was not a top 10 hit, what! Everything about this is so memorable. The alternative rock riff is exhilarating, the switch between fast verses to a soft bridge is a genius juxtaposition for creating tension AND the video is a spectacle, as Jonas Åkerlund often likes to deliver. The video actually has several alternative endings and would often be heavily censored, if not banned, on music channels due to fear that it was glamourising dangerous driving. Now at #38 we have an entirely different vibe once again! But perhaps not the vibe you'd immediately think of when seeing the name Aqua. The Danish group carved a rather cheesy bubblegum pop sound for themselves with the likes of 'Barbie Girl' and 'Doctor Jones'. But this was a rather impressive switch-up for them which showed some versatility. 'Turn Back Time' was yet another smash from their debut album here in the UK, a third #1 in a row. It was also featured in the movie 'Sliding Doors'. The song is a serious ballad from them which features a rather beautiful and vulnerable vocal performance from female vocalist Lene. It's, unsurprisingly, a reflective song that tugs on the heart strings. I definitely have a soft spot for it.

Once again I'm going to switch things up as we go from ballad to dance banger! As it's time for a bit of 'The Rockafeller Skank' at #37. This big beat song was Fatboy Slim's first top 10 hit in the United Kingdom. Good thing it wasn't his last, as this song features many samples and to get them approved he had to split all the royalties between the other artists. So he got nada. The most memorable parts of the song for me would have to be the irresistibly catchy "funk soul brother" hook throughout it, plus the weird but wonderful part where things grind to a halt and get a lil wild - imagine that being played on the radio now?! The surf guitar is also a rather cool element. A fabulous, bold song full of many sonic layers. Now let's finish off a diverse section with some R&B. This is the R&B of the 1990s that I do enjoy! Faith Evans decided to sample Chic's 'Chic Cheer' and in turn her own song here was heavily sampled by Fatman Scoop for 'Be Faithful'. I admittedly heard that version before this for sure. That was a #1 after all and this only managed #24 here. But hey, it was top 10 on the Billboard chart and received a Grammy nomination. I love the mix of old school disco production with her content but smooth delivery. I do like 'Be Faithful' a lot but this is a way better experience when you want chilled out music, as "50 DOLLAR BILL!!!!!!" and whatnot is not being shouted over it

Posted by: Doctor Blind 23rd February 2019, 08:13 PM

Some brilliant choices already for 1998, personal faves so far being “My Favourite Game” - just look at the chart run *.* - and “I Can't Help Myself” which is a trance CLASSIC.

Incidentally “The Rockafeller Skank” had a radio edit that took much of that mad bit out Jade so the bit you refer to didn't get played on the radio.

Posted by: Jade 23rd February 2019, 09:55 PM

Yay thanks Doctor Blind *.* indeed, The Cardigans may not have peaked as high as I would've expected but that is a rather cool chart run. 'I Can't Help Myself' is a stunner, probably one of those songs that would sound familiar to people but they might not be able to name the artist, I don't think poor brave Lucid even has a Wikipedia page.

Ahhhh that makes so much sense as I did think that might be a bit off-putting to the casual listener

Posted by: Mack. 26th February 2019, 03:27 PM

Great start to your 1998 countdown so far with those five, will comment more in depth later.

Posted by: Mack. 27th February 2019, 03:20 PM

From the Top10 of 1997, sorry only just got around to this:

01. Dario G - Sunchyme Fantastic #1 this
02. Spice Girls - Spice Up Your Life An unashamedly pop classic from them.
03. Oasis - D'You Know What I Mean? Shame bands didn't make things like this anymore
04. Olive - You're Not Alone Prefer this to the original to 'Never Be Your Woman' and the inferior Tinchy Stryder version.
05. Adam F - Circles Fantastic drum and bass track from back in the day.
06. White Town - Your Woman An ultimate one hit wonder this
07. The Chemical Brothers - Block Rockin' Beats- Great tune this from The Chemical Brothers, never tire of listening to this. I think the actor who plays Billy Mitchell in EastEnders is in the music video is one of the coppers if I'm not mistaken
08. Will Smith - Men In Black- One of my favourite songs of that year, it is quite an masterpiece this.
09. Bellini - Samba De Janeiro- Great choice this, tend to listen to it when it comes to the World Cup, European Football Championships. I see this as some sort of football anthem, although I know it isn't intended to be that way.
10. Robbie Williams - Angels- Absolute classic this from him, one of the best songs he did.


Great Top40 of 1997, Jade.

Posted by: Jade 28th February 2019, 09:35 PM

^ Thanks Mack for all of those positive comments, it's so cool that you enjoy listening to the entirety of that top 10 somehow did not clock that Billy Mitchell was in the Chem Bros video?! Need to re-watch that now have not forgotten about this btw, things are just so busy :'( hope to resume soon <3

Posted by: Mack. 4th March 2019, 03:35 PM

'I Can't Help Myself' haven't heard this in a long time but wow this is still a tune. 'My Favourite Game' always though this peaked in the Top10 but what a song this was them. 'Turn Back Time' different from them than 'Barbie Girl' and 'Doctor Jones'. Prefer this to 'Barbie Girl' sorry. 'Rockafeller Shank' from Fatboy Slim, what a blast from the past this is, 21 years since this was first released, makes me feel old, absolute genius from Fatboy Slim. 'Love Like This' that sample just incredible. A R&B smash from that year.

Posted by: dandy* 9th March 2019, 07:28 PM

I'm late to ninety eight!

However that Cardigans track is fantastic, I was gutted when it missed the top 10 at the time even though it ended up doing very well really and gave them their biggest era. The Rockefeller Skank is also a high point, it was the first Fatboy single I bought and it sounded so different at the time - the big beat era was great!

Posted by: Jade 9th March 2019, 07:53 PM

I hadn't heard 'I Can't Help Myself' in ages either until it cropped up at a recent Now plug session, was so great to hear it again and I'm glad that it's not just me who expected 'My Favourite Game' to have peaked higher, was such a shocking revelation! 'Barbie Girl' is a guilty pleasure but yeah 'Turn Back Time' is definitely their best <3 Fatboy Slim is indeed amazing, can't wait to get to his particularly epic stuff from 1999 <3 and v pleased to see the underrated 'Love Like This' getting some love from you, at first it was hard to get used to it away from 'Be Faithful' but Kisstory spam it so much that I'm so used to it as its own song now.


Hey Dandy, better late than never *.* it is a real shame that 'My Favourite Game' didn't peak higher indeed, it's such a signature song of theirs, as well as 'Lovefool' of course. But yes it's definitely stood the test of time despite this and was introduced to younger generations through the advert it was on, in my case. 'The Rockafeller Skank' is a great first Fatboy Slim track to have bought <3 I think 'Right Here Right Now' was the first one I instantly needed on my iPod haha. Big beat ftw *.*

Going to finally try and get the next section up later tonight after a run and catching up on the chart show, sorry again for such a long wait!!

Posted by: Jade 10th March 2019, 01:25 AM

35. Sham Rock - Tell Me Ma
(chart-run: 13-19-17-24-34-43-56-66-59-69-73)

34. Apollo 440 - Lost In Space (Theme)
(chart-run: 4-6-11-16-23-31-46-60-73)

33. Beastie Boys - Intergalactic
(chart-run: 5-11-14-27-39-50-65)

32. Robbie Williams - No Regrets
(chart-run: 4-14-19-18-16-22-28-37-40-40-41-54-65)

31. Chef - Chocolate Salty Balls
(chart-run: 2-1-3-4-9-13-18-20-27-26-33-46-48)



Right we're back in action now! Kicking off the second section for 1998 is Sham Rock with the delightful 'Tell Me Ma'. The pseudo-folk band took this song all the way to #13 in the UK chart but would remain one hit wonders forevermore. But it's okay when your one hit is this good tbh. I'm sure this would absolutely go OFF on the dance-floor of an Irish wedding but you needn't be Irish to embrace this in all its glory. It's the epitome of euphoric with an infectious high-energy beat, a ridiculously catchy chorus and sweet lyrics elsewhere like "she's as nice as apple pie". Also, did I mention that it's very Irish? It features lyrics such as "she is the belle of Belfast city" and incorporates traditional Irish instrumentation. 'Tell Me Ma' is actually a pop version of the children's song 'I'll Tell Me Ma'. Whoever decided to turn that children's song into this brilliant barn-stomper was a genius. Next up is the first of a very spacey back-to-back! At #34 we have 'Lost In Space (Theme)' by Apollo 440. The English electronic group put their spin on the 'Lost In Space' theme for the 1998 movie of the same name and got it all the way to the top 5 of the chart. I gather that soundtrack songs were a pretty big deal back in the 1990s as this was their biggest ever hit. I tend to enjoy sci-fi or action film soundtrack songs a lot as they are naturally quite exhilarating - this is no exception! It flips the original theme on its head and gives it super cool big beat production. I typically enjoy Apollo 440's style in general ('Stop The Rock' and 'Blackbeat' in particular are absolute tunes) so it's no surprise that I'd be into this, because they're doing their usual kind of thing really. Plus there are some small amusing vocal segments in amongst the thrilling instrumental that are thrown in for good measure. Last one to kill a bad guy buys the beer! Now we have the second space-themed song of two at #33 and this is 'Intergalactic' by the Beastie Boys! If this doesn't make you feel hyped then there's something wrong with you tbh. They attack those verses with the perfect amount of energy and the heavily vocoded hook is equally infectious. I'd consider this and '(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party)' as the songs I know best by the Beastie Boys. I love both but shamefully don't know that much of their other material. I really should delve deeper. This was the hip-hop group's biggest ever hit here as it's their only top 5 single! Aside from the song itself, I also appreciate the use of a hamster in the cover art and the action-packed video. 'Intergalactic' was well-received as it picked up a Grammy award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group, yay!

At #32 is Robbie's first appearance of THREE for 1998 with 'No Regrets', what a year it was for him! Robbie wrote this song about both his time in Take That and past relationships. I feel like he writes some of his best songs when he's channeling pain and this is no exception. The final thirty seconds or so in particular actually gives me chills a bit! "I guess the love we both had is officially... DEAD". What a great moment of tension, up there with Rocky Horror's "I'll make you shiver with antici...pation" tbh. Aside from the gripping lyrics, I also love the dreamy production duties and the use of Neil Tennant and Neil Hannon as backing vocalists - effective extra layers for sure. He would later go for a similar sound with 'She's Madonna' for the 'Rudebox' era, another one of his that I'm fond of. Lastly, you read #31 right and Chef really is closing this section! I must confess that I have somehow avoided ever seeing an episode of South Park before. But this is a huge guilty pleasure and I totally get what the UK was smoking when they allowed this to be a #1! Not quite the Christmas #1 though, the Spice Girls edged Chef there. Despite being a big Spice fan, I must confess that 'Goodbye' is one of my least favourite singles of theirs so I would have actually supported this in the race. God bless Chris Moyles and his airplay for this. Anyway, this song is absurd really but you know what, the innuendos are amusing and the production is actually really good?! I love how thumping and intense it is during the verses. Okay it sounds weird to describe 'Chocolate Salty Balls' as intense in any way but you know what, it is!! Then it becomes a whole lot of fun during the chorus and the production then goes wild. It reminds me of 'Macarena' in a way that it's a novelty song but is actually produced well. I enjoy Isaac Hayes' delivery here as the Chef character too, it's smooth in a Barry White kind of way. RIP Isaac. Idk... what an iconic comedic song. This is why the British charts are the best. All hail Chef.

Posted by: Bré 10th March 2019, 01:46 AM

Omg what a flawless section there *.* I don't think I know the Apollo 440 song (although I need to hear more of their stuff in general) but the other 4 are great, especially 'Tell Me Ma' (a plug.dj anthem) and 'Intergalactic'. Also Chef the actual UK #1, goals.

Love Fatboy Slim and The Cardigans from the previous section as well, 'The Rockafeller Skank' is criminally low though xx

Posted by: Chez Wombat 10th March 2019, 10:31 AM

OMG Tell me Ma *.* I didn’t expect to see that! I unashamedly love it, think it’s the Irish melodies in it, it always gets me <3

Also love My Favourite Game ❤️

Posted by: Jade 10th March 2019, 03:42 PM

Why thank you *.* I did think you'd perhaps be a fan of this section haha. I'd definitely recommend the Apollo 440 song if you already know that you like some of their other stuff! Haha it was so iconic when 'Tell Me Ma' was played on plug that time (by... dhwe I'd like to say) - tune. Chef being a #1 is so amazing, I do love how eclectic our chart can be *.* I guess it's still the case from time to time when stuff like LadBaby can still get to #1 :')

Oops, sorry 'The Rockafeller Skank', that shall be made up for by a couple of his songs definitely being higher in 1999 xx


Haha <3 'Tell Me Ma' is just so much fun, you can't help but love it! I'm glad you're a fan too, the Irish melodies are indeed fantastic.

❤️ The Cardigans really had their moments.

Posted by: Mack. 11th March 2019, 03:53 PM

'Tell Me Ma' have to say I unashamedly like this. 'Lost In Space (Theme). haven't heard in this in a while but blimey this some tune from them. I entered 'Blackbeat' in BJSC once, that song was used as ITV F1's intro between 2000 and 2002. 'Intergalactic' it definitely makes me feel hyped, great tune this from them. 'No Regrets' not one that I'm familiar with Robbie to be honest. But this is good from him. 'Chocolate Salty Balls' well this was fun from Issac Hayes, funny as anything this.

Posted by: Jade 11th March 2019, 09:47 PM

Glad that you're appreciating another one of these sections Mack! 'Blackbeat' is one of your very best BJSC entries

Posted by: Jack 11th March 2019, 10:10 PM

In love with this idea

'Chocolate Salty Balls' always sounded hilarious to me as a kid, I don't even think I understood that it was naughty

Posted by: DalekTurret32 11th March 2019, 10:43 PM

I can imagine Tell Me Ma being used as a cheesy Eurovision entry.

Posted by: Jade 11th March 2019, 10:45 PM

Aww thank you Jack

Lmaooo oh childhood innocence. I don't think I discovered 'Chocolate Salty Balls' until I was a teenager so got the gist with that one pretty quickly, but the big one for me was the classic '2 Become 1' realisation when growing up *_* 'Who Let The Dogs Out?' was another childhood destroyer as well, but less lewd and more generally rude.


I would SO be here for this *.* move over Jedward.

~~~

(writing a new section right now yay!)

Posted by: Jade 11th March 2019, 11:41 PM

30. Aerosmith - I Don't Want To Miss A Thing
(chart-run: 12-14-8-7-4-4-5-7-8-9-8-11-14-20-24-27-24-35-45-62)

29. Faithless - God Is A DJ
(chart-run: 6-14-18-20-27-35-47-73)

28. Jamiroquai - Deeper Underground
(chart-run: 1-5-9-15-21-25-31-39-47-61-74)

27. Cher - Believe
(chart-run: 1-1-1-1-1-1-1-2-4-3-4-7-14-21-23-28-29-30-35-38-37-48-62-61-68-72-59R(2)-61)

26. Robbie Williams - Millennium
(chart-run: 1-2-6-9-13-21-26-32-36-43-42-54-64-72-65-46-43-51-61-70-74R(49))



Time for my taste to get a bit Heart FM now! Because that is actually how I discovered 'I Don't Want To Miss A Thing' back in the day. For some reason I thought this song was a #1 hit in the UK so I was a bit shocked to be reminded that it 'only' got to #4! It's okay though, there are plenty of #1 hits stuffed into this section. I think my ultimate favourite Aerosmith song is 'Dream On' but I do have a real soft spot for this as well. It's a pretty epic ballad and has that unmistakeable Steven Tyler stamp to it. I suppose the lyrical content is a bit cheesy really but it also has this powerful feel to it - the kind of timeless quality that will ensure that it's played at all kinds of events forevermore. But especially soundtracking slow dances. Dianne Warren has a knack for writing a good dramatic song! This is yet another 90s hit song from a film, this time Armageddon. The critics were mixed as the song was nominated for both an Academy Award for Best Original Song and a Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Original Song! I'd say #29 is powerful as well but in a different way. 'God Is A DJ' is a progressive house song released by British group Faithless. I of course think that 'Insomnia' is their magnum opus but this is another really strong release from them! Lyrics such as "this is my church, this is where I heal my hurts" are so soothing and inviting, you really feel part of something as a listener. It's like raves are a religion and life is the party. I mean, I'm hardly the raving type, but I am a huge fan of this kind of music! The concept is wonderfully executed, it feels both wholesome and cool instead of preachy and OTT. Then they kill it on production duties as ever. Next is the first of three #1 hits in a row! Although, as much as I enjoy 'Deeper Underground', it always feels weird that this is the Jamiroquai song that is a #1 single. I'd say the likes of 'Canned Heat' and 'Virtual Insanity' feel better remembered. But oh, of course, it was the nineties and this was a soundtrack song so it was bound to do really well in this case the film was Godzilla. The song itself is a funky electronic song from the British band and it was so instant for me! I fell in love with the bassline in particular, that riff is so multi-dimensional which gives it a truly epic feel. The distorted guitar in particular really elevates it. Then, away from the standout production, Jay Kay has a really distinctive voice which really helps to sell it. Then that video is SO extra but I can't help but love it! Jamiroquai don't feel like an act that I particularly rave about all that often but they have so many gems in their singles discography when I sit and think about it. This, Space Cowboy, Virtual Insanity, Canned Heat... I feel bad for ever being like "what on Earth is this?!" when they performed on X Factor when I was very young

Now it's time for the biggest hit of 1998 (just look at all those shiny weeks at #1 *.*) and a rare song that me and Bray have a differing opinion on! I find the success of this song to be such a triumph, imagine having your biggest hit over 30 years into your career and at the age of 52 at that, g'won Cher! She actually has a Guinness World Record for the 'oldest female solo artist to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart' unsurprisingly. This was a departure from Cher's previous rock influenced pop music, because now we had a total dance-pop shift from her. It was a bold reinvention for sure but she pulled it off and then some! I enjoy 'Believe' just for how feel-good it is. I am obviously in a happy relationship, so cannot relate to the painful break-up part, but it's about empowerment after all of that and I am definitely down with that feeling. The use of the vocoder can be a bit hit-or-miss for my taste (remember that year of X Factor where everyone was done dirty with that? poor Gamu), but I don't actually mind it here that much. I can understand why it might be for others though as it's a very prominent feature. Cher and the Beastie Boys slaying those vocoder hooks so far! This is a truly iconic dance song and a fun gay anthem for a new generation. Also, side-note, I really enjoyed Ella Henderson's stripped back take on this song on X Factor too. Lastly is Robbie's second of three appearances for 1998! I was shook when I found out that this was released in 1998 and not 2000. 'Millennium' was Robbie's first UK #1 and also became his first ever Billboard Hot 100 appearance over in the states. This song has such a simple structure in terms of production as it's comprised of just two chords. The noticeable production features are a re-recorded sample of 'You Only Live Twice' from the James Bond franchise and a hip-hop type beat alongside it. I was not surprised in the slightest when I found out that the string section was related to the Bond films, as I always thought it sounded like it was from one of the movies anyway. It was a very grandeur choice of sample but there are some quintessentially Robbie lyrics here that bring it back down to Earth! Noticeably "come and have a go if you think you're hard enough" and "get up and see the sarcasm in my eyes". A high quality cheeky but classy effort from Robbie. He definitely needs to do an actual Bond theme one day!

Posted by: Jade 14th March 2019, 07:33 PM

JAMIROQUAI ROUND at music quiz night tonight, this was a sign!! *.*

Posted by: sergejdordij98 14th March 2019, 09:54 PM

Hi Jade!
Sorry, that I couldn't comment on your chart, once again I was busy with work, school, making my own chart and many things.
How let's see how 1997 ended on your Year-End List.
Wow, I only know one song from your top 5, yay!
"Spice Up Your Life" is such a fun song from the group, though "Wannabe" is still my favourite Spice Girls song, this is a close second.
Also, there was a competition, when I listened to a radio station where I was working on Thursday that not only played 90s music the whole day, but the whole day they gave away tickets to the Spice Girls reunion concert, I would've called there and grab them... If I wasn't busy with my work and the drivers license (when I failed). But hey, in 10 days I get another chance at the drivers license!
From the first songs of 1998, I know "The Rockafeller Skank", "Chocolate Salty Balls", "I Don't Want To Miss A Thing", "God Is A DJ" and of course, "Believe".
All of them are great songs!

Posted by: Mack. 18th March 2019, 04:49 PM

'I Don't Want To Miss A Thing' one of the classic movie tracks this. 'God Is A DJ' this pure genius from Faithless. 'Deeper Underground' this from Jamiroquai, I think this may have been better than the actual Godzilla film. 'Believe' from Cher, although I know this was autotuned quite a bit this was one of the most defining #1s of the 90s. I can't see another #1 from anyone else who would turn 52 years old ever again. 'Millennium', classic from Robbie.

Posted by: Jade 28th March 2019, 11:35 PM

SORRY for being such a flop going through a pretty big life change right now (new job x) so I've been busier than usual, will try and bang out a new section tomorrow though <3

Hey Serge

- No worries whatsoever, sorry that I've taken a whopping 2 weeks to reply to this I totally relate to the being busy with work thing!! I've neglected my chart for 3 weeks so I haven't related to that business lately, but getting back on track now
- Yess 'Spice Up Your Life' is an absolute bundle of joy it will be a LIFE highlight for me to see them perform that live in June ahhhh!! Fair enough at 'Wannabe' being your favourite haha, a common one but it is pretty infectious so why not tbh. Also that radio station sounds heavenly!!! 90s music all day and Spice competitions? Yes please! How did the driving license go this time? ;o hope you had better news than when you last commented here!
- Yay for you listing quite a handful of faves from 1998 so far, stay tuned for more


Hey Mack

- Yesss it really is such a classic movie song! I have never seen Armageddon in my life but I managed to recall that it was from that movie in a music quiz ages ago, so it has impact from somewhere and omg yesss at 'God Is A DJ', isn't it just?! <3 and oh yes I've never seen Godzilla either but most people seem to dislike the movie in the YouTube comments of that song, mess :') great tune though! 'Believe' really has cemented itself as a modern classic / gay anthem, what a re-invention for Cher! Yeah I find it hard to ever imagine that either, the 90s were wild. Slay us Robbie *.*

Posted by: sergejdordij98 29th March 2019, 10:44 PM

Sorry to disappoint, but I failed again for the fourth time. Now I had to pass the writing test once again, before I can drive again.

Posted by: Jade 29th March 2019, 10:51 PM

Oh no Serge, I'm sorry to hear that </3 wishing you all the luck in the world for both of these tests next time!

Posted by: Jade 30th March 2019, 12:55 AM

25. Madonna - Ray Of Light
(chart-run: 2-8-12-13-22-33-40-49-59-75R(2))

24. The Tamperer Featuring Maya - Feel It
(chart-run: 3-4-3-5-2-1-4-5-11-21-30-42-42-54-62-61-68)

23. Green Day - Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)
(chart-run: 11-20-31-52-75)

22. Madonna - Drowned World/Substitute For Love
(chart-run: 10-27-40-50-66)

21. Massive Attack - Angel
(chart-run: 30-60)



Right, time to get back in action! Kicking off this section is the two-time Grammy Award winning record 'Ray Of Light' by the queen of pop Madonna. This is the first of three songs to appear for her in 1998, all of which are taken from the triumphant album of the same name as this song. This is very different from the other more slow singles from the campaign, but they do all happen to share one incredible ingredient - a large helping hand from William Orbit on production duties! Which has me sold from the word go, as he's one of my favourite producers of all time. What can I say, his beats are a treat to the ears. Although they're less ambient here than usual. Instead, we have fast paced swirling production throughout that really drives this song. Madonna's vocals compliment this production style so well as they feel very frantic! She seems like such a free spirit on this stomping single. She gave birth to her daughter Lourdes just a couple of years before this era kicked off but came back fighting to retain her crown as queen of the charts. This did pretty well, peaking at #2, although deserved a way better chart run than it had! From one club smash to another, next we have #1 hit 'Feel It' by Italian group The Tamperer Featuring Maya! This is built around a sample of 'Can You Feel It' by The Jacksons, after it was noticed that crowds would go wild in Ibiza whenever that song came on. So now it was time to take that thumping recognisable production and turn it into a full fat 90s dance banger! The song has a notable kooky lyric in "What's she gonna look like with a chimney on her?" which is taken from from Urban Discharge's song 'Drop a House'. I always thought it was such a random lyric but it clicked way more when I understood the context of that song! This is such a quick pick me up (it's a little under 3 minutes so the quick part is heavily emphasised here!) with the breeziness of The Jacksons' input and the super catchy hook swiftly becoming lodged in your brain. I feel like the vocalist really attacks the lyrics too which helps the whole package to stand out further. Now at #23 is a song that charted very early in 1998 - 'Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)' by Green Day, a band I generally like a lot. Billie Joe Armstrong actually wrote this song out of anger when his girlfriend at the time moved to Ecuador. This was back in 1990 however... the song took a while to see the light of day as they didn't feel like it would fit on an album yet, until 'Nimrod' came along and it was tweaked for that. Despite Billie's intention when writing this, 'Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)' actually garnered a legacy for being a popular graduation/prom song, as the lyrics can certainly be fitting in these scenarios too. The song feels happy and sad at the same time, the whole good riddance thing mixed with a celebration of a chapter that is coming to an end. I feel like the addition of strings was a gorgeous touch (naturally!) and really play to the more emotional side of the song. I'm glad this didn't come on at my prom tbh as I think it would hit me in the feels too much!! Instead we got 'Blurred Lines'. About five times. But I can happily listen to this gem from Green Day as long as I'm not actually saying goodbye to something when listening to it, as I hate goodbyes enough as it is. Although... I am currently leaving my job. Gah. Time to swiftly move on to the next song then...!

Now it's time to return to Madge! I must admit that I've only known 'Drowned World/Substitute For Love' for a measly few years, thanks to Craig introducing it to me on plug.dj, but I loved it so much (and kept coming back to it) that it's already a part of my top 40 songs for 1998. This is such an eloquently written song that feels very autobiographical, as she is reflecting on her journey and career to date. Madonna had recently starred in Evita and I feel like being immersed in such a musical style definitely influenced her enunciation on this song. Which is a good thing, she sounds brilliant here. Also, the production is wondrous and even quite trip-hop-esque in places - yes please! She fused soulful and gentle vocals with beautiful electronic production so well during this era. This scraped the top 10 here but went to #1 in Spain so they won the battle of taste! Speaking of trip-hop... now it's time for the glorious Massive Attack *.* 'Angel' is taken from their classic album 'Mezzanine', which I am eagerly anticipating the 20 year anniversary re-release for! Although it keeps getting pushed back... mess. Gimme those coloured records now! Anyway, back to this song, it's very simple (with limited lyrics) but so intense at the same time. Perhaps because the production is so slow... it feels like it's continually trying to build to something. It features vocals from Horace Andy, who initially refused to say the word "hell" in the song as a religious man. So the song was changed from the vision of its original form. It is a staple on their tours so I guess I'd better go to one of those one day so I can hear it in all its live glory! There may or may not be a certain other Massive Attack song still to come for 1998...

Posted by: sergejdordij98 30th March 2019, 01:34 AM

Really like "Ray Of Light", it is so good!
And yeah, "Good Riddance" is a definition of a perfect graduation song.
Also... wait, you're currently leaving your job? Hope you'll find another job real fast!

Posted by: Jade 30th March 2019, 01:45 AM

Hey there Serge

I'm pleased that you're into 'Ray Of Light', it really stands out in her discography <3 and it's amazing how 'Good Riddance' just took on a completely different meaning, but yes, it's easy to see why. As for the job situation, it's good news, I'm leaving my current role for a better one in the same company *.* (it was fun to be a lil dramatic)

Posted by: Bré 30th March 2019, 04:36 PM

'Feel It' might be the song I have heard (at least a bit of) the most times in my life tbh as it's been my dad's ringtone for as long as I can remember, so I can never hear it without thinking my dad needs to answer his phone bop tho ~

Posted by: Jade 30th March 2019, 10:12 PM

Iconic ringtone *.* my mum's was always Magnetic Man & Katy B - 'Perfect Stranger' back in the day so our parents know a banger when they hear one tbh

Posted by: Mack. 2nd April 2019, 02:18 PM

Catching up on this:

'Ray Of Light' an incredible tune from Madonna, one of the memorable music videos from 1998, I would say. 'Feel It' not one I have heard in a while but really like the sample in this. 'Good Riddance (Time of Your Life') from Green Day this song would probably be featured in every wedding or graduation in real life. Absolutely love this song. 'Drowned World/ Substitute of Love' another tune from 'The Ray of Light' era from Madonna, forgot how good her 'Ray of Light' era was. 'Angel' from Massive Attack so this is the love love love me song been bugging for a few months where that bit comes from.

Posted by: Jade 9th April 2019, 08:04 PM

Hey Mack, thanks for being a regular commenter as ever

The 'Ray Of Light' music video is very memorable indeed but does hurt my eyes a bit with the fast movement fair enough at you not hearing 'Feel It' in a while, I haven't on the radio but I did actually hear it out on Christmas Eve at the pub, mashed up with 'Can You Feel It?' *.* that sample is so banging. Yeah 'Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)' is the first song to come in my head when I think of farewell ceremonies in particular, perhaps 'High School Musical' from HSM 3 being next in line what a tune.

The 'Ray Of Light' era was truly producing gem after gem the biggest of all still to come and omg I'm happy to have helped out with the 'Angel' lightbulb moment!

Going to type out a new section now

Posted by: Jade 9th April 2019, 10:20 PM

20. Bryan Adams - When You're Gone (feat. Melanie C)
(chart-run: 3-6-8-7-6-6-6-7-5-7-11-15-22-32-36-42-50-57-65)

19. Lovestation - Teardrops
(chart-run: 14-15-22-26-28-48)

18. Ace Of Base - Life Is A Flower
(chart-run: 5-7-5-9-12-19-27-34-43-53-69)

17. The All Seeing I - Beat Goes On
(chart-run: 11-16-15-23-30-42-62)

16. Robbie Williams - Let Me Entertain You
(chart-run: 3-6-6-10-16-26-35-50-55-53-68-69)



Time to kick off the top 20 of 1998! We start with Bryan Adams who was responsible for Melanie C's first hit outside of the Spice Girls. She'd soon have a radical makeover when kicking off her own excellent 'Northern Star' era - sporting a short blonde hairstyle - but in this video she is still recognisably Sporty Spice. Especially when doing a handstand against a door! It's a simple but stand-out video really as the two of them are in a house with never-ending cool rooms. Melanie C wasn't originally who Bryan had in mind for this collaboration however! That was actually Sheryl Crow... but he never heard back from her. Thankfully he bumped into Mel in a hotel lift in LA and her version was born instead. Melanie has always been my favourite Spice Girl vocally and she really shines on this! I also love both the drums and guitars in the instrumental. I think the lyrics have a special place in my heart because they can so easily be connected to the harder parts of a long distance relationship. But despite this, the song is actually quite feel-good with its soaring sing-a-long chorus. A fun bit of pop-rock! Next up is a little gem that I discovered on Kisstory quite a few years ago. This is Lovestation's take on Womack & Womack's 'Teardrops'. They turn this soulful classic into a blissful UK garage song *.* that seems like a strange word to describe garage music, which is usually glorious chaos, but this is indeed more chilled than your typical garage offering. I really like the original song and I think this does a good job of transforming it into something else, with wonderful production flourishes and choppiness. The music video is pretty basic (a white background while cutting to different people dancing in front of it) and reminded me so much of the one for Artful Dodger's 'Movin Too Fast' - so there was clearly a formula in the air for late 90s garage videos! Lovestation quickly disappeared from the top 40, after a re-issue of 'Teardops' in 2000 funnily enough, but at least their short lived career did give us this beauty. Next up is a bit of a surprise even to me, because generally I am not a fan of Ace of Base (yep, the big hits 'The Sign' and 'All That She Wants' have never clicked with me) but I've always been drawn to this song for some reason. The whole package just feels so soothing I think. The calming vocals, production and lyrics are just trying their best to relax you and give you hope and I like that. "Carry on smiling and the world will smile at you" in particular is a cute lyric. However, what on EARTH is that video?! I have to listen to the song alone because the vid is too much of a cheesefest (okay the lyrics are cheesy but they work) in a tacky way that does not compliment the song. Those green screens have aged HORRIBLY. But I guess that is just a general theme of 90s videos. Apparently a more expensive video of this was canned by the label because it was "too dark" for a happy song. I'm definitely intrigued by this alternative visual.

So 'Teardrops' earlier isn't the only 90s reworking of a song to appear here! As 'Beat Goes On' by All Seeing I is a remixed cover of the original by Sonny & Cher. The song begins with some instantly striking production that reminds me of Girls Aloud's 'Sound of the Underground' quite a bit. The production continues to be a massive highlight throughout as it incorporates trip-trop and breakbeat elements. So cool. The vocals are pretty nonchalant and mesh with the production with ease. They're super repetitive and choppy as well which also gets the thumbs up from me. This is nothing like their Tony Christie collab 'Walk Like A Panther' (their biggest hit, beating this by one position at #10) - the existence of that is pretty fun tbh but this is way more up my street. Such a catchy and hypnotic song. Also, fun fact, Dean Honer from this (now-disbanded) group fronts I Monster, behind the excellent song 'Daydream In Blue' *.* he clearly has a thing for the letter I. Lastly, much like 'Angels', we have a Robbie song that didn't reach #1 but is regarded as one of his signature songs. It's crazy that this was as late as the fifth single in the campaign! But I guess they could get away with that because it was such a ready-made smash. 'Let Me Entertain You' never fails to get me feeling hyped and the audiences at his concerts seem to agree! He often opens his shows with this song and it's easy to see why. I think this suits Robbie's larger than life showmanship to a T! A super bold song with an equally striking video, as he dons make-up similar to that of the band KISS. I absolutely love the production of the song as well, the brass instruments towards the end and the general drum track are brilliant! When Robbie's good, he's great.

Posted by: DalekTurret32 9th April 2019, 11:16 PM

God Is A DJ: Bb Bb Bb Bb C Ab Ab F, Bb Bb Bb Bb C Ab Ab Ab (x2)
F F F F Ab Eb Eb C, F F F F Ab Eb Eb Eb (x2)

Angel is such a tense trip-hop track. I can imagine it being used in a dark sci-fi film.

Posted by: Mack. 10th April 2019, 02:27 PM

'When You're Gone' from Bryan Adams/Mel C wow what a tune this is from them, this finished 19th in my Top100 of the 90s. Just worked very well. An unlikely collaboration. 'Teardrops' quite a cover this is. Would say this is underrated. Haven't heard this in a long time. 'Life Is A Flower' one of the strange music videos of 1998. Sounded different from them. 'Beat Goes On' yet another song which I recognize from the beat to it. 5 weeks in the Top40 doesn't do it justice though. 'Let Me Entertain You' yet another classic from Robbie Williams, One of his signature songs, more memorable than 'Millennium' I know that sounds a bit strange but it could be. This is such a tune from him.

Posted by: gooddelta 21st April 2019, 08:41 PM

Love this thread Jade and have been following it! 1998 is still my favourite overall year for music and you've picked some great songs so far! What a trio to kick off the top 20, When You're Gone is an iconic solo Spice single (I like duets where both singers sing the whole thing together), Teardrops was a great cover and Life Is A Flower has always been my go to track if I need cheering up, just such an insanely happy song. Other faves include Believe (honestly was the song that got me properly into pop music), Ray Of Light and I Don't Want To Miss A Thing is legendary too.

Posted by: Jade 30th April 2019, 09:24 PM

Really sorry for the long gaps lately I appreciate those who are still sticking with this! We will get there eventually. Going to bang out a new section now before bed!

'tense' is a very good word to describe 'Angel', amazing vibes right there


Ooh it's cool that 'When You're Gone' finished so high in your 90s top 100! That feels like a bit of a forgotten gem so I appreciate any positive recognition nowadays. An unlikely collab for sure, says it all that it happened due to a chance meeting in a lift 'Teardrops' definitely feels underrated indeed, deserved to be a top 5 smash at the very least, I wouldn't have ever come across it if it wasn't for Kisstory the 'Life Is A Flower' music video is... a choice :') really ruins the experience for me oops, definitely a song to be listened to in isolation. Yeah it really was something different from them, a lot more chilled than the usual in-your-face bubblegum dance-pop! The 'Beat Goes On' production is very memorably indeed, kinda reminds me of 'Sound of the Underground' as mentioned in the commentary! Quite, deserved to be so much bigger </3 woo 'Let Me Entertain You' is such a moment from Robbie, definitely the song that seems to sum up what he's all about the best. I agree that it's more memorable than 'Millennium', as much as I like that too!


Ooh hello there Rich very happy to hear that you have been following things so far! I'd actually say that 1999 is my favourite year for 90s music (watch this space *.*) but 1998 is definitely up there, so a good overall pick, the quality of my top 10 that is to come is insane if I say so myself!! I'm glad that you approve of some songs that have popped up so far! I also like duets of this type in general, nowadays collaborations seem to be all about a quick guest verse 'Life Is A Flower' is an amazing choice as an instant pick-me-up song, I'd definitely use it for that purpose too, very happy indeed and soothing <3

Posted by: Jade 30th April 2019, 10:38 PM

15. Spice Girls - Stop
(chart-run: 2-4-7-11-12-17-29-36-53-52-55-58-57-59-70-69R(2)-52)

14. Doolally - Straight From The Heart
(chart-run: 20-31-44-56-68-75-70R(2)-66-63-68)

13. Lauryn Hill - Doo Wop (That Thing)
(chart-run: 3-6-10-13-24-44-55)

12. Eagle-Eye Cherry - Save Tonight
(chart-run: 6-6-6-7-8-10-11-14-18-26-36-48-59)

11. MJ Cole - Sincere
(chart-run: 38-50)



I'm currently revisiting the music videos for this 1998 section and it has been perfect timing on this front when it comes to the Spice Girls. This is because their catalogue of music videos has been re-uploaded in wonderful 4K quality very recently! It genuinely makes a world of difference. However, this 'Stop' music video is currently unlisted, so they need to sort that out. I feel like 'Stop's unfortunate legacy is the fact that it ended the girls' very impressive string of consecutive number one singles. This would have been their 7th chart-topper in a row but Run-D.M.C. vs. Jason Nevins had something to say about this and ultimately blocked them. Sadly, no amount of 'Stop To The Top' campaigning has actually led to this single eventually topping the chart. I must admit that 'It's Like That' is actually my preferred song of the two (spoiler - that is still to come!) but I happen to like 'Stop' more than a sizeable chunk of Spice Girls #1s so it's a shame that it didn't quite get that gold medal at any point. But it was of course a success, this was no kind of 'Headlines (Friendship Never Ends)' type of underperformance now!! 'Stop' feels quite different for a Spice song, mainly due to its clear motown influences. It'd slot far more naturally into the discography of The Supremes for instance. But they give it a good go and create an infectious experience with a chorus that easily gets lodged in your brain, uplifting brass instruments and even a fun dance routine in the music video. The girls excel at creating memorable pop moments and this is a shining example. I cannot wait to hear this live at Wembley in a little less than two months now ahhh!! Next up is the wonderfully bouncy 'Straight From The Heart' by Doolally, a garage duo who would later become Shanks & Bigfoot of 'Sweet Like Chocolate' fame! This initially peaked at #20 in 1998, hence its inclusion, but would later go on to re-peak at #9 following the success of 'Sweet Like Chocolate' - so I'm glad that it did get to be a top 10 hit in the end. You can easily tell that this duo is the same as Shanks & Bigfoot as the formula for 'Straight From The Heart' is very similar to that of 'Sweet Like Chocolate'! Here we have similar bubbly garage production, sugary sweet lyrics and even Sharon Woolf on vocals once again! This is yet another song I discovered through Kisstory back in the day and I'm very happy to have found it, t'was love at first listen as a 'Sweet Like Chocolate' super fan. At #13 I have chosen Fugees legend Lauryn Hill with her debut solo single 'Doo Wop (That Thing)', which was actually the first debut single to reach #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 during its first week of charting! This song has it all really and I'm already hooked a few seconds in due to the harmonisation! The lyrics are great and she sings them with such a convincing attitude. Personal favourite lyrics include the simple but effective "How you gonna win when you ain't right within?" and also the following words to always live by: "Don't be a hard rock when you really are a gem" - I feel like this particularly speaks to me as I'm named after a semi-precious gemstone, after all. This is a storming R&B song that was really making a statement and feels ahead of its time, that production still sounds really fresh now. This is somehow only the first time I've ever seen the video too, props to the interesting concept of a split-screen video depicting two different eras simultaneously. Great stuff.

Next, the Cherry family is not short of talent by any means. You have musical legend Neneh Cherry, her daughter Mabel who is also carving out her own career in recent times and here we have Neneh's half brother Eagle-Eye Cherry with the fabulous 'Save Tonight', the track that he is best known for. This song is about having one more night with your love and cherishing it, ahead of having to leave. Definitely a relatable experience for me in a long-distance set-up. This alternative-rock triumph is full of heart, electrifying instrumentation and a stormer of a chorus. In fact, Eagle-Eye himself thought the chorus was too good and wondered if he had actually inadvertently ripped off the riff from another musician stay humble kids. But seriously, fair enough, it is a terrific song after all. Now, time to round off with an artist who's still got it 20 years later! MJ Cole recently scored a multi-week #1 in my personal chart with his stunning Freya Ridings collaboration 'Waking Up'. As much as I love this song, it was quite the departure for him sonically as his roots are very much in the world of garage. Here we have an utter garage CLASSIC *.* it scored a lowly peak of #38 in 1998 but thankfully re-charted a lot higher in 2000, at #13, following the release of his top 10 single 'Crazy Love'. This song sounds very late-night radio 1 with its garage elements and low-key vibes. It's a calming effort that always puts me in a positive mood. <3 That beat is just hypnotising and the vocalists Nova Casper and Jay Dee smash it. Utterly blissful with hooks aplenty.

Posted by: sergejdordij98 1st May 2019, 07:25 PM

"Let Me Entertain You" is a essential Robbie Williams song and I like it! (Fun fact: I heard this song first, when I heard that a german TV channel's Slogan was based on this song. Instead of "Let Me Entertain You" it's "We Love To Entertain You")
Wonderful to See another Spice Girls song on these and I also like "Doo-Wop" and "Save Tonight" (The latter of which is also played a lot on those vintage radio stations still!)
Great picks Jade!

Posted by: Mack. 14th May 2019, 03:23 PM

A great 15-11 there with 'Stop' which really should have been a Spice Girls #1.

Posted by: Jade 25th July 2019, 08:54 AM

^ Thanks so much for those comments <3 'Stop' would've indeed been another fabulous #1 in their discography. It was such a fun highlight on tour

Right I'm settled in as Ariana mod now and my BJSC national thread is back up to date, next up - resuming this soon I've got quite a busy weekend as I'm travelling to Watford, plus I need to edit a video that has a lot of footage and need to make a personal chart (late as per usual ), so I won't promise anything this weekend but hopefully next week as I really do want to complete this. Maybe at the weekend if I can get those other internet bits done on Friday but we'll see. Top 10 time, hype *.* apologies for the long delay.

Posted by: sergejdordij98 25th July 2019, 09:14 AM

It's ok, Jade.
Just take your time. We'll be waiting!

Posted by: Jade 25th July 2019, 09:21 AM

I appreciate the patience so much! We will eventually get to the 2000s

Posted by: Jade 12th August 2019, 10:53 PM

So that original plan didn't quite happen but it's back now! ploughed through this even with a throbbing headache, awful timing but worth it x

10. David Morales Presents The Face - Needin' U
(chart-run: 8-17-24-32-40-44-56-72)

09. Brandy And Monica - The Boy Is Mine
(chart-run: 2-3-9-10-11-9-8-13-13-13-17-16-15-16-23-26-30-39-47-65)

08. Sash! - Mysterious Times (feat. Tina Cousins)
(chart-run: 2-5-6-11-16-20-22-32-43-55-67-59)

07. Run-DMC vs. Jason Nevins - It's Like That
(chart-run: 1-1-1-1-1-1-2-5-13-17-23-26-35-36-48-66)

06. Cornershop - Brimful of Asha
(chart-run: 1-3-6-8-15-17-18-20-25-41-58-69)



Beginning the top 10 is almost four minutes of pure house goodness *.* if you were too young to remember this at the time (I was only 1 oops) then you may recognise 'Needin' U' from Radio 1's One Hit Wonders of the Millennium show. "1998? Millennium?" I hear you say, well, that's because this got a re-release in 2001 that was a bit different! The original right here features pumping dance production and vocals that largely consist of the title being looped over and over again. The 2001 version, that charted a little lower at #11, was branded 'Needin U II' and featured further vocals from British singer Juliet Roberts. Otherwise, David Morales was the genius behind this song, although he chose to release this under the pseudonym David Morales Presents The Face. I feel like this has aged like a fine wine and will always be a loopy dance staple for me, in both of its forms! It puts me in a good mood with its similar carnival vibes to 'Samba De Janeiro'. It's a shame that the video for it is pretty inessential though, however a reminder of more carefree times. Next a genre shift from house to R&B! Although this song would later get a dance revival thanks to 99 Souls. This is of course 'The Boy Is Mine' by Brandy And Monica! This modern classic passed me by for a while until it was used on the first season of Glee as a duet between Santana and Mercedes. The song instantly clicked with me, as it was the perfect duet between these characters - their voices suited it so well. Unsurprisingly, the song is about two women who are fighting over a boy! Brandy impressively contributed to the lyrics at just 17 years old. However, she did not think that the song would work solo. Inspired by Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson's duet 'The Girl Is Mine', she then enlisted Monica for the song too. The press had a field day with the whole shebang and pitted the two of them as rivals. The media attention likely contributed to its huge success in the US. It stayed atop the Billboard Hot 100 for a staggering consecutive 13 weeks. It was also only the second song ever to leap from outside the top 20 to number 1. This followed 'Can't Buy Me Love' by The Beatles. Finally, they did it for the ladies as this was the first collaboration between two solo females to go to #1 since 'No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)' by Barbara Streisand and Donna Summer way back in 1979. It had to settle for #2 here in the UK but still an impressive result! I adore how smooth their vocals are on this song (I was quite relieved about how they sounded after thinking the same about the Glee version) - despite the subject matter it's a chilled sounding song for the most part. Which makes it highly effective when the smaller doses of sass do worm their way in. The vocal runs are a particular highlight! An essential inclusion in any R&B playlist. Now it's back to dance courtesy of German Sash! teaming up with British Tina Cousins! This was the fourth Sash! single to reach #2, sadly STILL no #1 hit for them. This was one of the last Sash! hits I remember being introduced to and it caught me by surprise. When I thought of Sash!, I thought of in-your-face floorfillers like 'Encore Une Fois' and 'Ecuador' so this was a lot more mellow than I was expecting. I suppose brash, pounding beats wouldn't have suited Tina Cousins' dreamy vocals very well, the more low-key than usual trance production does the job perfectly. A production and vocal match made in heaven! I can get lost in this pondering, timeless beauty so easily <3 I am hyped to hear Sash!'s hits in a live setting as they're part of the 'We Love The 90s' concert line-up that I'm going to in December *.*

Next we have some genre-blending! Who's ready for some Hip House? *.* 'It's Like That' was originally a song released by hip-hop group Run-DMC back in 1983 - about social and political problems in the area that the group lived in. But it has positive undertones in amongst all of that, as the group wanted people to put prejudice aside and believe in themselves. G'won. This song then resurfaced in the 90s with a little help from Jason Nevins! He stuck some seriously infectious house production on the song (some of the beats really remind me of those in 'You See The Trouble With Me' by Black Legend by the way) and a monster hit was born. It is one of the biggest selling songs of all-time with 5 million copies sold worldwide. In the UK it's also famous for blocking 'Stop' by Spice Girls from the #1 spot, thus ending their monster string of chart toppers. This song is ridiculously catchy and elevated by the dance influences. What a fantastic team-up! The video is quite fun too with the dance crews battling it out. Now, just missing out on the top 5 is another #1 single and genre-blending moment! Cornershop are an alternative-rock group who originally released 'Brimful of Asha' in 1997. The song is about the history of film culture in India and more specifically, playback singer Asha Bhosle. I really enjoy following along the cultural references in the lyrics. Norman Cook (aka Fatboy Slim) loved the song so much that he wanted to put his spin on it. So he did just that and soon this became a smash! I can't resist the constant stream of hooks coupled with production from a reliably excellent dance producer. What a tune. Also, that young girl in the video who is excitedly bopping along to vinyl is who I aim to be tbh.

1998 concludes next time

Posted by: jakewild 12th August 2019, 11:00 PM

i stan 'stop' but i will always have a grievance towards it cos it ruined their #1 streak!

Posted by: jakewild 12th August 2019, 11:06 PM

also i never realised the boy is mine was so big?? i've like heard it enough in my life to recognise but only rly reconnected with it since the girl is mine..

also i do remember bey and brandy approved the release of the song and brandy agreed to rerecord her part, yer monica wouldn't.... who she think she is ?

Posted by: Bré 13th August 2019, 03:17 AM

The suspense for this section xx

I'm not really familiar with the original of 'The Boy Is Mine' but I have a feeling I'd struggle to get into it due to knowing the 99 Souls version better already, the rest of those are all great though ofc, especially 'Brimful Of Asha'

Posted by: sergejdordij98 13th August 2019, 06:09 AM

Ah, "The Boy Is Mine" and "It's Like That", 2 of the best songs of the year 1998!
I think "The Boy Is Mine" is much better than "The Girl Is Mine" in my opinion and I like that 99 Souls gave this song a revival in 2015!
Can't wait for the top 5!

Posted by: Jade 13th August 2019, 03:00 PM

It is pretty frustrating </3 although 'Headlines (Friendship Never Ends)' did even more damage by ruining the top 10 streak


Yep, although it was more of a monster hit in the US really. Still an impressive run here though! I'm glad that the 99 Souls song made you revisit it and omg I didn't know about that Monica anecdote wharra cow xx


I know right, says it all that I mentioned seeing the Spice Girls "in two months" in the previous section and it's been 2 months SINCE I've seen them now oh wow at the original 'The Boy Is Mine' passing you by so much (then again, it was the same for me until Glee came along), would indeed sound a bit weird to hear the original in all its R&B glory after being used to a dance version mashed-up with another song! (The Brade 4Music memories of that version though *.*) Glad you approve of so much of this section anyway 'Brimful Of Asha' is an absolute tune of life!


Pleased to hear that you think so highly of both of those too, Serge! I prefer the original 'The Boy Is Mine' too, but the 99 Souls version is still fun, they definitely didn't ruin it or anything like most dance remakes nowadays. Quite an inspired mash-up actually! Yay, will try and not keep you guys waiting too much longer for that

Posted by: Peral-Turret32 14th August 2019, 09:58 AM

Sincere, Straight From The Heart, Needin' U, Brimful Of Asha and It's Like That. Really good songs.
I remember hearing Stop in an episode of Miranda.

Posted by: danG 14th August 2019, 11:21 AM

Needin' U deserved a bit more chart recognition, I love a good piano riff in a house track.
I must say I prefer the 99 Souls reworking a lot but the original is one of the best of the 90s RnB trend.
Mysterious Times isn't up with my absolute faves of Sash but still rather good.
I wish we had more hip-hop/house crossovers these days, It's Like That does both very well and it having been such a massive #1 is pleasing.
Brimful of Asha is a big tune too, one of the best Fatboy Slim was involved with.

My other faves of your top 20 so far would have to be Let Me Entertain You, Sincere, Save Tonight.

Posted by: Jade 25th August 2019, 09:15 PM

Ooh I'm glad that you have picked out a good handful of highlights *.* Miranda was iconic!


Yeah 'Needin U' deserved to be a big top 5 smash with a lot of longevity in that area! I totally agree with you about piano house, how glorious
Ahh okay, interesting that you and Bray both have that opinion! But you are into your dance quite a lot so I'm not too surprised glad you like the original too.
I suppose Sash! does have a lot of good songs so I'll accept it not being an absolute fave x
Me too!! Such a genius meeting of worlds. That to come back into fashion in the 2020s please it's indeed great how much 'It's Like That' caught on *.*
Yassss Norman's remix was simply genius *.*

Thanks everyone for the comments on the previous section!! Going to get the top 5 done tonight god bless the bank holiday.

Posted by: Jade 26th August 2019, 12:01 AM

05. Baddiel, Skinner & The Lightning Seeds - Three Lions '98
(chart-run: 1-1-1-4-18-32-28-30-37-55-55-59-72)

04. Massive Attack - Teardrop
(chart-run: 10-24-35-37-59-74)

03. Stardust - Music Sounds Better With You
(chart-run: 2-2-4-8-9-12-13-19-23-20-21-23-30-35-38-45-63-68-62-51-51-50-63)

02. Madonna - Frozen
(chart-run: 1-3-5-6-13-13-18-22-34-44-60-64-68)

01. Spice Girls - Viva Forever
(chart-run: 1-1-3-8-8-14-21-28-38-47-50-53-61)



We're at the final hurdle of 1998 now... 6 months later... but we got there and that's all that matters! Kicking off this section is football anthem 'Three Lions '98'. There's nothing wrong with the original but I have always preferred this version. Not just because Robbie's in the video! I know the British have self-deprecating humour, very evident in the original with "30 years of hurt" and similar negative lines, but I like that the lyrics are uplifting in this version and the vocals pack more of a punch. It makes me feel far more pumped when it does come to events like the Euros and World Cup. Speaking of which... last year is certainly the year when I was most invested in the World Cup. I watched every England match, rooting for us and not quite believing what was happening, then I ended up watching every single match for each nation. It was one bit of escapism that kept me going during the tough months of post-Uni / pre-full-time work life. Coupled with a heatwave. Good times. "It's coming home" was THE ultimate meme of that World Cup, more than ever before, I couldn't go a single day without hearing it for a while. I was living for it. What a line! There's something so spectacular about Three Lions '98 opening with the crowd chanting "it's coming home!", it just instantly makes me feel warm and united. Then the song continues to do that for the whole duration. Especially during the chorus with the repetition of that glorious euphoric line and the production suddenly ramping up! The song was the unofficial football anthem of 1998 but eclipsed the success of the real one - '(How Does It Feel to Be) On Top of the World?' by England United. I can totally see why! The original went to #1 in 1996, this version also got there in 1998 and we catapulted 'Three Lions' back to where it belonged again, at the top of the chart, last summer in amongst all the madness. It was a time to be proud of the country (a rare feeling these days tbh) and this song will always remind me of that time. So, while I've been a fan of 'Three Lions '98' for years and years, it's risen in my affections even more thanks to the great memories of 2018. So, what is the most important change to have occurred in these past 20 years? Well, this song references Gareth Southgate missing a penalty against Germany. But, by the time this song returned to #1 last year, Gareth Southgate had aided us to the semi-finals and helped the sales of waistcoats. A turnaround if ever I've seen one! The next song triggers me slightly as Massive Attack's 20th anniversary 'Mezzanine' vinyl has been delayed more times than 'Three Lions' became a chart topper!! But 'Teardrop' is just so good that I'll let that slide. For now. I discovered this song in such a weird way, we were made to watch the music video in a Humanities lesson about abortion! The music video depicts a plastic foetus singing inside a womb, so yeah. I've always found the video to be a bit creepy tbh. But the song itself is gorgeous. From the drum pattern emulating a heartbeat to Elizabeth Fraser's chilling vocals. Fun fact, Madonna was originally in talks to be the vocalist for this song! Which makes total sense while she was in 'Ray Of Light' mode, which features trip-hop songs itself. But, two of the band members wanted Fraser instead as they felt that her voice was more melancholic. So Madonna was outvoted and disappointed! Poor hen. But I'm glad we did get Elizabeth in the end as she does the song so much justice. She also wrote the lyrics and said the death of her friend Jeff Buckley was part of the inspiration behind the stunning words. 'Teadrop' is Massive Attack's only top 10 hit in the UK. It would later be covered by The Collective but this version failed to replicate the success of the original. For me this is Massive Attack's best song (although Paradise Circus is up there too) as it makes me feel so soothed. What a gem. Next, we have a song that has finally been uploaded to streaming platforms!! This is the wondrous 'Music Sounds Better With You' by French house band Stardust. This was the only single released by Stardust, although member Thomas Bangalter is also part of the group Daft Punk. There's something so simple but effective about this song. The romantic, hopeful, loopy lyrics have a magical irresistible quality to them. Plus the house grooves are on fire. So up my street it hurts! I'm immensely happy that the official video was finally uploaded to YouTube a couple of months ago too as it's also a draw. Mainly because I'm a well documented chart geek and it features a fictional chart, where Stardust continue to rise each time. Plus the boy creating the plane as escapism, then losing it, only to be given it back by Stardust was a cute plot. If only the song had reached #1 here like it did in the fictional chart from the music video.

Now, just missing out on the top spot is the masterpiece known as 'Frozen' by Madonna, taken from her best ever album 'Ray Of Light'. I recently delved into her entire discography so I can definitely confirm that it's my favourite record of hers. Mixing Madonna and William Orbit together was such a genius move. Orbit is one of my favourite producers due to his timeless ambient sound. Madonna now had 'Evita' vocal training in the bag and could really sell this chilling song with her voice. The semantics of the song are nothing complex, as the title suggests it's about a cold person. These lyrics, coupled with icy chilled beats, haunting strings and Madonna acting as a witchy character in the video (who is a shapeshifter! how cool) all come together so perfectly. This was something so different in her career but Madge has never been afraid to take risks. In fact, her inspiration for the video was watching the one for 'Come To Daddy' by Aphex Twin!! This was a different direction that paid off at the time and will forever, as the song feels so timeless. This was a #1 hit here in the UK, so I'm pleased that the British public got it so right with this one. What a song, what an era. Okay, so finally, time for my #1 of 1998! Spice Girls narrowly missed out to Dario G in 1997 but this time it's all theirs. Especially as 'Viva Forever' is my locked in 3rd favourite song of all-time (we'll get to the top two in the noughties...) - this song is a huge deal to me! I was introduced to it through my dad who always had a soft spot for the moving ballad, to the point where it made him cry occasionally! Lo and behold, I would follow in his footsteps and also end up loving it. I was a huge Spice Girls fan and loved them for their larger than life personalities and eccentric pop songs. But in amongst all of that, there was this one gem in there that was different to so much of their output. In the best kind of way! Here we have a latin flavoured ballad (it had my heart from the word go due to my Spanish roots really) that feels so sincere in its emotion. I'm genuinely moved by every word. It helps that they deliver the lyrics with such beauty. From Emma's gentle vocals on the chorus to Mel B's haunting deep outro. Throw the strings in there too and I'm just overwhelmed by everything!! It's a tale of life, love, goodbyes... so much packed into one song. 'Viva Forever' has my heart and this was solidified forever after seeing them live at Wembley Stadium back in June. Seeing them perform it live all those years after it was released was even more of a goosebumps moment than I was hoping for <3 I must admit that I'm less keen on the stop-motion animation video as it's always been a tad creepy! But props to the effort as it took longer to make than Spiceworld The Movie. Lmao. But yeah, as for the song, it's hard to sum up how much I love it, especially at almost 1am, but it gives me chills every single time and I think that does the talking. It's so special. Thankfully the UK took it under their wing, as they did with every Spice release. My brother gets the honour of it being his birthday #1! Lucky thing. The song was barely promoted but Geri had left the group by the time the song was finally released, so it was riding off the hype of that a bit. The sad thing is that Geri was apparently the one who contributed the most to the writing. So it was the best feeling to see her reunited with the girls 20 years later, performing this live, after not being around for its original release. A stunner.

Posted by: Jade 26th August 2019, 12:07 AM

recap ~ full 1998 top 40:

01. Spice Girls - Viva Forever
02. Madonna - Frozen
03. Stardust - Music Sounds Better With You
04. Massive Attack - Teardrop
05. Baddiel, Skinner & The Lightning Seeds - Three Lions '98
06. Cornershop - Brimful of Asha (Norman Cook Remix)
07. Run-DMC vs. Jason Nevins - It's Like That
08. Sash! - Mysterious Times (feat. Tina Cousins)
09. Brandy And Monica - The Boy Is Mine
10. David Morales Presents The Face - Needin' U

11. MJ Cole - Sincere
12. Eagle-Eye Cherry - Save Tonight
13. Lauryn Hill - Doo Wop (That Thing)
14. Doolally - Straight From The Heart
15. Spice Girls - Stop
16. Robbie Williams - Let Me Entertain You
17. The All Seeing I - Beat Goes On
18. Ace Of Base - Life Is A Flower
19. Lovestation - Teardrops
20. Bryan Adams - When You're Gone (feat. Melanie C)

21. Massive Attack - Angel
22. Madonna - Drowned World/Substitute For Love
23. Green Day - Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)
24. The Tamperer Featuring Maya - Feel It
25. Madonna - Ray Of Light
26. Robbie Williams - Millennium
27. Cher - Believe
28. Jamiroquai - Deeper Underground
29. Faithless - God Is A DJ
30. Aerosmith - I Don't Want To Miss A Thing

31. Chef - Chocolate Salty Balls
32. Robbie Williams - No Regrets
33. Beastie Boys - Intergalactic
34. Apollo 440 - Lost In Space (Theme)
35. Sham Rock - Tell Me Ma
36. Faith Evans - Love Like This
37. Fatboy Slim - The Rockafeller Skank
38. Aqua - Turn Back Time
39. The Cardigans - My Favourite Game
40. Lucid - I Can't Help Myself

Thank you so much everyone for your patience, I shall aim to not quite take 6 months + 4 days to complete 1999 I'm excited to dive into that year next as it was a cracking year for chart music I've continued to update my playlist of all these song so far, so here it is with 1997 + 1998 at the moment:

Posted by: Riser 26th August 2019, 04:04 AM

1998 faves!

01. Spice Girls - Viva Forever
02. Madonna - Frozen This is one of those songs I wish I was old enough to appreciate its amazing chart debut at the time. The public showed outstanding taste that week
06. Cornershop - Brimful of Asha (Norman Cook Remix)
09. Brandy And Monica - The Boy Is Mine
11. MJ Cole - Sincere Oh wow, when I listened to 'Waking Up' I had no idea MJ Cole had already been around for two decades
12. Eagle-Eye Cherry - Save Tonight
13. Lauryn Hill - Doo Wop (That Thing)
16. Robbie Williams - Let Me Entertain You
22. Madonna - Drowned World/Substitute For Love
23. Green Day - Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)
24. The Tamperer Featuring Maya - Feel It
25. Madonna - Ray Of Light
26. Robbie Williams - Millennium This was my first discovery of Robbie due to the song being on Now 2. It remains one of my faves from him <3
27. Cher - Believe
30. Aerosmith - I Don't Want To Miss A Thing My absolute favorite song for most of my childhood Probably not the most definitive Aerosmith song since it's so pop, but still a classique, such is the power of Diane Warren. I'll never get over her knack for writing so many successful ballads. That said, I've yet to see the movie this is from!
33. Beastie Boys - Intergalactic
37. Fatboy Slim - The Rockafeller Skank

Especially looking forward to '99 after hearing a few of the classic charts on Mixcloud!

Posted by: sergejdordij98 26th August 2019, 05:21 AM

Of course, the Spice Girls would be #1!
I also like "Frozen" and that Massive Attack track from it!
Great list all around!
Can't wait to party like it's 1999 (Do you get the reference?)!

Posted by: coi 26th August 2019, 07:49 AM

What a brilliant top five for 1998!

Three Lions is a really well made anthem to get the country united behind our national football team and we saw the impact that had again in last year’s World Cup! The lyrics do indeed capture the nation’s humour too, it’s 53 years of hurt (and obviously that will increase by default because there’s no tournament this year) now!

Teardrop is great too, will forever be my second favourite Massive Attack song though behind the incredible Unfinished Sympathy. I remember the cover of Teardrop for Children in Need too, had a decent group of stars on it but it definitely wasn’t as good as the original.

Music Sounds Better With You is probably the only one of the five I don’t love, mainly because I’ve heard it so much over the years I’ve started to tire of it. Unlucky it didn’t get to number one though, denied by Boyzone’s No Matter What both weeks! (Although I have seen the latter performed live so there’s that)

Frozen is probably my favourite Madonna song actually, the production is amazing and her vocals suit it very well!

And what a fantastic choice of number one for 1998, Viva Forever is my favourite Spice Girls song and seeing it live earlier this year really was a moment to remember!

Posted by: Jade 26th August 2019, 02:07 PM

Hey there Jordan

- Aw I get you, I wish I had been older than 1 (!) when 'Frozen' was out at the time Indeed they did
- Oh yes MJ Cole has very much been a thing for a while! I was so surprised by the sound of 'Waking Up' because I was used to his garage hits. Would recommend both 'Sincere' and his 2000 hit 'Crazy Love' as they're both fab.
- Ooh that's a fabulous way to have discovered Robbie *.* I'm trying to think what my first Robbie song would've been and it must've been 'Angels' as it's such a big favourite for my parents. I'm glad that it's a favourite of his for you too!
- Oh wow, your absolute childhood fave, that's a big deal I think my favourite song growing up was probably something like 'Sk8er Boi' Yeah Dianne Warren really has the knack for crafting high quality ballads a lot of the time. I've never seen Armageddon either haha.

Yay 1999 is going to be such an exciting one Mixcloud is a godsend

Thank you for commenting <3


Hey there Serge

- Haha I'm just that predictable aren't I the rest of the top 5 were worthy competitors but it couldn't be anything else but 'Viva Forever' <3
- Ooh yay, up with those ambient tunes *.*
- Yay thank you! Same, bring on 1999 soon, I definitely get the reference too!

Thank you for commenting <3


Hey there coi

- Why thank you! I found this year particularly hard to order on the whole but I'm sure that top 5 is nailed on forever now.
- Yeah, there are many football anthems out there but nothing gets me/the nation pumped quite as much as 'Three Lions' *.* I love how much of a thing it was last summer. Haha yes, good old British humour. Blimey!! I do hope we can stop the years of hurt during my lifetime
- Ooh 'Unfinished Sympathy' is a great pick for your favourite Massive Attack song, what a classic. I'm always shocked when I remember how old that is! Very ahead of its time. Lool that cover, I remember really liking it at the time but I re-listened to it recently and it sounded pretty naff oops. It was impressive that they got Ed Sheeran on it! Of course his star back then wasn't quite as big as it is now though.
- Aw it's a shame that 'Music Sounds Better With You' has been ruined for you due to overplay D: Ooh I forgot that it was Boyzone who denied it the #1 spot, thanks for the reminder! Oh my at you hearing it live was that at an actual Boyzone concert or a festival type thing?
- Yay snap favourite Madonna song then <3 totally agree, what a perfect package.
- Yesssssss!! Not only a snap favourite Madge song but Spice Girls too *.* I'm glad you got the opportunity to experience it live also! What a beautiful moment.

Thank you for commenting <3

Posted by: coi 26th August 2019, 02:56 PM

At least the World Cup last year showed really encouraging signs for England, the future does at least look promising that the team will make it further in the tournament next time. Euro 2020 will be an interesting one to watch as an indication of how the next World Cup might go for us since all four semi-finalists in 2018 were European.

Most of the artists in The Collective were fairly big names in 2011! It surprises me how low that peaked really, maybe it's because the public knew it wasn't that good!

No Matter What kept Mysterious Times off the top spot as well! It was at a concert for their 20th anniversary tour six years ago, not one I volunteered to go to and not the best concert I've ever been to either! Wasn't too bad though.

And yay for us having the same favourite song for Madonna and Spice Girls!

I still have the lists for my favourite top 40 hits in the years since 2000 and I'll refer to those when you eventually get that far in this thread but for now I did put together my ten favourites from 1998 at least, it would look like this:

1. Energy 52 - Cafe Del Mar '98
2. Manic Street Preachers - If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next
3. Radiohead - No Surprises
4. Aerosmith - I Don't Want To Miss A Thing (which I noticed appeared in your chart earlier as well!)
5. Manic Street Preachers - The Everlasting
6. Spice Girls - Viva Forever
7. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones - The Impression That I Get
8. Celine Dion - My Heart Will Go On
9. Baddiel, Skinner & The Lightning Seeds - Three Lions '98
10. Massive Attack - Teardrop

It's Like That and Millennium (and of course Frozen) are other faves from your chart that wouldn't have been far off my top ten as well.

Posted by: Bré 26th August 2019, 02:59 PM

They thought it would never happen x (oh my at Stardust being finally added to Spotify just in time for you to add it to your playlist from this thread, that explains the delay tbh xx)

That's a really flawless top 4 there, all absolute classics! The top 3 in particular would probably all be very near the top of my list of fave hits of 1998 if I were to put one together as well, 'Frozen' quite possibly at #1 I think 'Three Lions' is a classic as well ofc especially after last year but hard disagree on the '98 version being better, I'm far too used to the original version that that one just sounds wrong to my ears oops (but then I guess you weren't able to include the original in one of these countdowns anyway so yay for the re-release allowing it to be mentioned at all )

Some very interesting Madonna fun facts there - I can kind of picture Madonna singing 'Teardrop' actually. And oh MY at the impact of 'Come To Daddy' x

Posted by: Polly Planturret 26th August 2019, 03:06 PM

I just wanna go back!
Back to 1999!


Predicting Red Alert, You Don't Know Me, My Name Is, Scar Tissue, Cassius 1999 and a Moby song for that countdown.

Posted by: Chez Wombat 26th August 2019, 03:55 PM

Fantastic top 5 for 1998, I think all of those would be quite high in my own list as well. I learned that Madonna fact about Teardrop from my 1001 song bucket list book recently! I'm quite glad she wasn't the vocalist, the vocals we do have on it are so heavenly. Got a lot of love for Music Sounds Better With You too, YES at that finally being on Spotify *. I think I do prefer the original Three Lions lyrically, but I do think the 1998 one has better production behind it.

My top 10 of 1998 I think would be:

01. Manic Street Preachers - If You Tolerate This, Your Children Will Be Next
02. Stardust - Music Sounds Better With You
03. Massive Attack - Teardrop
04. Spice Girls - Viva Forever
05. The Lighthouse Family - High
06. Aerosmith - I Don't Wanna Miss a Thing
07. Sham Rock - Tell Me Ma
08. Eagle Eye Cherry - Save Tonight
09. Radiohead - No Surprises
10. B*Witched - C'est la Vie ()

The Manics seem the one big omission between out lists here, you heard that one? ;o

Posted by: coi 26th August 2019, 04:10 PM

Wow at the similarities between our top tens!! Glad you’ve also included the Manics and Radiohead in there!

Posted by: King Rollo 26th August 2019, 05:19 PM

Viva Forever is certainly the best song the Spice Girls recorded. Here are my top 20 hits from 1998. As with 1997,I'm only including top 40 singles,no album tracks or flop singles.

1. Binary Finary -1998 (Matt Darey mix)
2. Massive Attack - Teardrop
3. Energy 52 - Cafe Del Mar (Three 'N One mix)
4. Radiohead - No Surprises
5. Faithless - God Is A DJ
6. Massive Attack - Angel
7. Madonna - Frozen
8. Faithless - Take The Long Way Home (the album version is much better)
9. Pulp - This Is Hardcore
10. Rest Assured - Treat Infamy
11. Eels - Last Stop This Town
12. Air - Sexy Boy
13. BT - Flaming June
14. Lucid - I Can't Help Myself
15. Air - All I Need
16. Depeche Mode - Only When I Lose Myself
17. Manic Street Preachers - If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next
18. Paul Van Dyk - For An Angel
19. Air - Kelly Watch The Stars
20.Da Hool - Meet Her At The Love Parade

Posted by: danG 26th August 2019, 06:16 PM

Not a big Spice Girls fan but Viva Forever is their best slow song, good to see it well ahead of Stop anyhow though I prefer your numbers 2-4!
Frozen is definitely one of Madonna's best too, outstanding production particularly.
Music Sounds Better With You, I absolutely love! Great to see that it's finally on Spotify now too.
Teardrop is a beauty, their best song by some way for me though Unfished Sympathy is great too.
Not keen on Three Lions in any version sadly though especially after all its overexposure last year but otherwise a great top ten!

Posted by: LewisGT 27th August 2019, 05:10 PM

Lots of songs to love in your 1998 countdown.

Although the moment in the 3 Lions 98 video where it shows the back on the German's team shirts and one has Klinsmann on the back and the rest of them have 'Kuntz' is a brilliant moment, I do think the original is the much better song. It doesn't sound right hearing 3 Lions without Alan Hanson declaring that he think's "it's bad news for the English game". I was at the match where we beat Croatia earlier in the year and the whole crowd stayed behind blasting this out for like 15 mins afterwards. Iconic moment

I have a special place in my heart for Brimful of Asha seeming that it was #1 when I was born. It's also an amazing tune too though tbh

My other favourites you've chosen are Believe, The Rockafeller Skank & The Boy Is Mine.

Posted by: Jade 29th August 2019, 06:59 PM

- This is true! Us advancing so far was such a surreal moment but also a promising one. Fingers crossed, I look forward to the Euros next year! Plus the Olympics a good year for televised sport for sure.
- I've just looked up the list of artists on The Collective as I could only remember Tulisa and Ed Sheeran off the top of my head, but yeah you're right, that list is VERY 2011 but in a good way at the time. These poor brave charity songs like that and SuBo/Geraldine McQueen - 'I Know Him So Well' flopping that year! But yeah neither were vintage charity songs at all (sorry Geraldine) so I'm not exactly sad about the floppage
- Oh blimey, 'No Matter What' was such a juggernaut poor 'Mysterious Times', that would've been such a great first #1 for Sash! and ahhh I see well at least it wasn't too bad then haha!
- Hooray, I approve of our tastes matching there *.* also thanks for sharing your own list! 'My Heart Will Go On' wouldn't have been too far off mine.


I know right *_* whoops, I can only hope that 1999 gets completed quicker! Trying to at least stick to a goal of one section a week, that should be manageable enough I think. Oh yes that Stardust timing was just perfect! Now for 'Perfect Day' and 'Chocolate Salty Balls' to miraculously get added please xx why yes, that was the real reason

Aw yay I'm glad that you approve of my top 4/especially top 3! 'Frozen' would be an excellent choice of #1. I really need to get 'Ray Of Light' on vinyl and force you to listen to it with me one day as it really is such a high quality album on the whole. Fair enough at you preferring the original 'Three Lions', it is great in any form tbh. Like you, I was exposed to the version I prefer a lot more than the original, this is because in year... 5 I'd like to say? at school, we had a "going for goals" themed assembly featuring the likes of Shayne Ward - 'That's My Goal', Spandau Ballet - 'Gold' and of course... 'Three Lions '98'! I heard it over and over again during the rehearsals for that and it always stuck with me. Anyway yes, the original pre-dates my birth a bit so hooray for '98 allowing it to be here in some capacity.

Haha I'm glad you enjoyed the Madonna facts *.* I could too, especially with what she was releasing herself at the time. IKR?! I couldn't believe it when I read that!


Omg... so much this! Had enough of adulting, back to being 1 with these great tunes please x
Some interesting predictions there I'm going to try and put the list together tonight so... coming soon!


Why thank you Chez, it's cool that these songs at the very top are appealing to a wide range of people here! Oh yes I remember you telling me about that bucket list on plug once, I followed the Spotify playlist and still need to get round to it eventually cool that it's full of fun facts anyway! Yeah, I could picture Madonna on it but the original is just so perfect that I wouldn't want it to be touched. Omg I cannot tell you how happy I am about Stardust being on Spotify!! So many scrobbles on my last.fm of a fake by 'Lushlife' on there which was the actual song but uploaded by a randomer Ah okay, I definitely agree about the production being stronger!

Thank you for sharing your list! Living for 'C'est la Vie' being there when I saw Spice Girls a few months ago at Wembley, they played lots of songs before they arrived on stage to warm the crowd up and that got the best reaction for sure! Also, I do like the Manics song but it's never fully clicked with me enough to properly love it I feel like that and 'The Drugs Don't Work' for 1997 are the biggest omissions so far based on what my taste is usually like, but yeah I definitely like them both. I can definitely promise that 'Your Love Alone Is Not Enough' will make an appearance for them to make up for it also multiple people have mentioned that Radiohead song now and I don't know it so I'll have to check that out ASAP!!


A perfect choice of favourite Spice Girls song there Rollo! It does seem to have a lot of fans here on BuzzJack. Thanks for sharing your list, excellent to see a couple from my top 10 in there and 'I Can't Help Myself' stands out too, a bit forgotten but excellent. I'm not too familiar with the Binary Finary song, maybe only heard it a couple of times years ago, will need to revisit that.


I 100% agree that 'Viva Forever' is their best slower song, I'm not the biggest fan of Spice ballads really compared to their uptempos ('Goodbye' is probably my least favourite of their singles for instance) but this was a massive notable exception! Yeah, I do love a bit of 'Stop' but 'Viva Forever' is leagues ahead ah, 2-4 being more to your taste definitely makes sense, especially 'Music Sounds Better With You'! It being on Spotify has been incredible <3 if only 'Toca's Miracle' could get the same treatment for its 20th anniversary next year, alas that looks like more of an uphill battle with the whole vocals saga ah well.

Yeah 'Teardrop' really stands out for me as Massive Attack's best too, what an absolute classic <3 'Unfinished Sympathy' is a good shout too though, as I said to coi above it always blows my mind when I remember how old that is.

Aw it's a shame you're not really into 'Three Lions' (true about it being exposed a lot last year ) but can't complain at a glowing review otherwise, yaaaay!!


Yay Lewis that's fantastic to hear!

Oh yes that moment in the 'Three Lions 98' video is rather amusing fair enough, quite a few of you have now said they prefer the original now any '98 lovers here?? I feel like Rich (gooddelta) is a fan at least. Oh wow that must've been an amazing atmosphere!! **

Ooh what a brilliant birthday number 1 <3 kinda forgot you were younger than me! I do like my birthday #1 'I'll Be Missing You' a lot, as seen in my 1997 countdown, but I do think you got the better one haha. An amazing tune for sure!! Excited to get into more Fatboy Slim stuff in 1999

Woo some classics right there.

~

Thanks everyone! going to try and start putting my 1999 list together tonight, with the aim of kicking it off at the weekend.

Posted by: dandy* 29th August 2019, 07:59 PM

Great to see this being continued Jade and I very much look forward to 1999...

For comparison, these were my number 1s during 1998:

207 11/01/98 BT "Flaming June”
208 18/01/98 Wildchild "Renegade Master"
209 25/01/98 Radiohead "No Surprises" (3 weeks)
210 15/02/98 The Chemical Brothers "The Private Psychedelic Reel" (2 weeks)
211 01/03/98 Cornershop "Brimful Of Asha" (2 n/c weeks)
212 08/03/98 Madonna "Frozen"
213 22/03/98 Run DMC vs Jason Nevins "It's Like That" (3 weeks)
214 12/04/98 All Seeing I "Beat Goes On" (2 weeks)
214 26/04/98 The Dandy Warhols "Not If You Were The Last Junkie On Earth"
215 03/05/98 Garbage "Push It"
216 10/05/98 Tori Amos "Spark" (2 weeks)
217 24/05/98 Massive Attack "Tear Drop"
218 31/05/98 The Smashing Pumpkins "Ava Adore"
219 07/06/98 Shawn Colvin "Sunny Came Home"
220 14/06/98 Super Furry Animals “Ice Hockey Hair”
221 21/06/98 Fatboy Slim "The Rockafeller Skank" (2 weeks)
222 05/07/98 Beastie Boys "Intergalactic"
223 12/07/98 Paul Van Dyk "For An Angel" (2 weeks)
224 26/07/98 Energy 52 "Cafe Del Mar 98" (4 weeks)
225 23/08/98 Stardust "Music Sounds Better With You" (3 n/c weeks)
226 06/09/98 Madonna "Drowned World / Substitute For Love"
227 20/09/98 Sheryl Crow "My Favourite Mistake"
228 27/09/98 The Divine Comedy "Generation Sex"
229 04/10/98 The Beautiful South "Perfect 10"
230 11/10/98 Placebo "You Don't Care About Us / 20th Century Boy"
231 18/10/98 The Cardigans "My Favourite Game" (2 weeks)
232 01/11/98 Alanis Morissette "Thank U"
233 08/11/98 Cher "Believe" (3 weeks)
234 29/11/98 The Divine Comedy "The Certainty Of Chance" (3 weeks)
235 20/12/98 Air "All I Need" (2 weeks)

So there's a fair bit of crossover again

Obviously I love the ones we have in common (Stardust in particular remains a huge fave of mine) but I also bought/love these from your list:

Robbie Williams - No Regrets... definitely one of his best, love the use of Neil Tennant and The Divine Comedy and I think it's held up very well too.
Apollo 440 - Lost in Space... I had a phase of liking them, Krupa and Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Dub were also faves at the time (although I doubt they sound great today, not heard them for a loooooong time)
Faithless - God is a DJ... they have a handful of classics and this is definitely one of them!
Jamiroquai - Deeper Underground... I do like this but I didn't love it as much as their earlier work. Virtual Insanity still remains my fave of theirs, closely followed by Too Young to Die
Madonna - Ray of Light... absolutely essential, I have no idea what beat it to #1 in my chart but I'm pretty certain it shouldn't have! Up there with her very best tracks.
Green Day - Good Riddance... lovely. Showed a different side to them and I was quite surprised it was them at the time.
Massive Attack - Angel... good but my least favourite track on Mezzanine believe it or not!
The Tamperer - Feel It... such an anthem back then - WHAT'S SHE GONNA LOOK LIKE WITH A CHIMNEY ON HER! The chart geek in me loved seeing it inch ever closer to #1 over the weeks.
Bryan & Mel - When You're Gone... guilty pleasure alert! A staple song at weddings and other family style parties!
Lovestation - Teardrops... bought this one, a decent update on a classic song
Spice Girls - Stop... this was my favourite of theirs to date, really fun and a bit different. A shame it was the one to break their run but It's Like That was definitely the better option!
Lauryn Hill - Doo Wop... FAB track. Her album has grown on me over the years and I can totally appreciate why she was hyped back then. Follow up Ex Factor was even better
Eagle-Eye Cherry - Save Tonight... a commercial radio staple! But a good one!
MJ Cole - Sincere... love the inclusion of this, it's a great track and did really well for me too. Probably my favourite track to come out of that garage era.
David Morales - Needin' U... I was expecting this to be a huge #1 at the time as it was so popular and hyped among those of us who went clubbing - it packed the dance floor straight away - and was majorly hyped in all the Mixmag style mags too. I still don't get why it didn't really translate into sales. Still love it now.
Sash! - Mysterious Times... I did definitely buy this as Sash! was a fave but I don't care for it quite as much these days
Brandy & Monica - The Boy is Mine... Hated this at first! But it won me over and can now see it as a breath of fresh air from that era.
3 Lions 98... I never bought this as I already had the 96 version. Was great to have it as an anthem though, we used to blast it out in the sixth form block during the cup!
Spice Girls - Viva Forever... I didn't mind this one, my girlfriend of the time loved it so I found myself having to listen to it rather a lot!

Great inclusions again - very few I don't care for.

Posted by: Jade 30th August 2019, 08:45 AM

Hi Dandy,

I'm pleased that you're continuing to follow this! Thanks for sharing your own charts - looks like I really need to revisit the Energy 52 song as all of you guys seem to love it but it's one that I've only heard a few times. If a 90s song wasn't on a Now album, a retro chart I've listened to or on Kisstory then I probably haven't heard it that much over the years, this is an example of that. Brilliant that we have a lot of crossover for the most part anyway *.* really enjoyed reading all of those comments too! Some replies (better make this quick as I'm at work #rebel):

- 'Virtual Insanity' is a solid Jamiroquai favourite! I think mine is the infectious 'Canned Heat'
- I've never heard 'When You're Gone' at a wedding or family party before but now I want to I do have memories of hearing it a lot in Spanish taxis though
- 'Stop' definitely did feel a bit different for the girls with its Motown influences! A shame that it broke their streak indeed, but like you I can't complain about what the competition was!
- Ooh that's high praise for 'Sincere' *.* it's definitely up there as one of my garage favourites too! Excited to delve into more garage music in 2000 in particular.
- If only 'Needin' U' had been a #1 in 1998 or during its re-release sounds like some incredible memories anyway, never heard it clubbing before (in my limited experience!!) but I bet it would indeed sound incredible out and about.
- Loving that '3 Lions' anecdote, I have memories associated with it being blasted out during sixth form too! During the 2014 World Cup #justsixthformthings

1999 list is now complete. The quality of the top 10 for it is out of this world

Posted by: Jade 1st September 2019, 04:51 PM

40. Apollo 440 - Stop The Rock
(chart-run: 10-18-27-37-45-57)

39. Bran Van 3000 - Drinking In L.A.
(chart-run: 3-4-8-14-20-29-34-42-49-58-72)

38. Destiny's Child - Bills Bills Bills
(chart-run: 6-12-14-22-27-32-40-54-74)

37. S Club 7 - Bring It All Back
(chart-run: 1-2-5-5-6-11-16-18-24-28-34-42-56-65-72)

36. Backstreet Boys - Larger Than Life
(chart-run: 5-10-17-26-31-39-46-58-69-56-56-63-64-73)



Let's get started! At #40, Apollo 440 are back for their second appearance of the 90s so far. Once again they land in the 31-40 region, as 'Lost In Space' wound up at #34 in my 1998 countdown. This position feels more satisfying as '40' is in the British group's name, of course. I may not remember anything about 1999, but I do still have really early childhood memories of this, because at the arcades (at... Butlins I'd like to say?), there was a machine that looped this over and over again. I wouldn't discover what this repetitive "stop the rock, can't stop the rock" song was for many years (a poor effort on my behalf, such easy lyrics to Google) but a love for this was born during that holiday and it's held up well over the years. Once again I'm a huge fan of Apollo 440's signature style of electronic and breakbeat sounds. The production is very slick. The lyrics are ridiculously catchy as well. Then the general vocal style is robotic and futuristic a la Daft Punk. The whole package results in a thrilling song that wouldn't sound out of place in an action film. The electric intro gives me similar vibes to the action-packed 'My Favourite Game' by The Cardigans actually. I'd say that stereotypically this should appeal to straight ladz due to featuring on Fifa 2000 and including lyrics about not wanting to stop the rock. However, I feel like lyrics elsewhere such as "dancing like Madonna, into the groove" mellow the song a lot. Then there are serious Beach Boys-esque vox singing the "bum bum b-bum, bum b-bum bum" part which add to the fun. So yeah, 'Stop The Rock' doesn't take itself too seriously at all and should be enjoyed by everyone! Seriously though, almost every top comment on YouTube was about Fifa 2000, so it has really earned itself a legacy for that. Next up at #39 is 'Drinking In L.A.' by Bran Van 3000, another song that I discovered in a random way. As I'm sure a lot of you know, I used to be a diehard fan of the show Glee for most of the time it was on air. This was to the point where I would often scour eBay for Glee merchandise. One item that kept popping up was the album 'Glee' by Bran Van 3000. Eventually, after seeing it on eBay so many times, I became curious about what this album actually was. So I looked it up and was intrigued to find out that it actually spawned a hit single. I checked out 'Drinking In L.A.' and the rest was history. So thanks Glee for that one. The song failed to crack the U.S. charts but it eventually made the top 3 in the U.K. after featuring in an advert for Rolling Rock beer. So as for the song, it somehow manages to be cheesy and cool at the same time. I'm here for it. It's pretty whacky for its genre and this is further confirmed by the colourful video featuring daft costumes. What I gather is that this song is about feeling like you should have certain things accomplished by a certain age. "So I ask you... what the hell am I doing drinking in L.A. at 26?" speaks for itself really. This is a theme that feels so relevant to me right now as I live through my 20s and feel all kind of pressures. Am I out there buying my first house or getting pregnant? No, I'm writing out a countdown section on BuzzJack, and you know what, I'm okay with that, especially when listening to this soothing song. A lot of people in the YouTube comments say that this song is the perfect listen at night-time so I should really try that at some point. Anyway, back to the contents of it, I enjoy the range of vocals in 'Drinking In L.A.'. In the verses there are muffled male vocals, but the chorus shines the spotlight on crystal clear female vocals delivering a killer chorus. The production appeals to me a lot as well as it's a trip-hop style of electronic beats, guitars and piano. Perfect! Next up at #38 is 'Bills, Bills, Bills' by Destiny's Child. This year seemed to be all about the female anthems regarding lousy men, with 'No Scrubs' by TLC also being a huge hit in 1999. But we'll get to that one later! Funnily enough, 'Bills, Bills, Bills' is another song in a row that I discovered because of Glee! But this time it was actually due to being covered on the show, by the Dalton Academy Warblers in season 2. So yeah, my first taste of this was a male version! But I'd eventually check out the Destiny's Child original and did not regret this decision. It was a huge break-through for the group as it became their first US #1! It was during a time where the group had four members and not one of them was Michelle yet. It's a really sassy and playful R&B song - one of the best that DC ever released in my opinion. I think the lyrical highlight has to be "do you pay my automo-bills?" I also love how dramatic the end of the chorus is with the brief pauses between every single word during "I don't think you do. So you and me are through." A song that has definitely stood the test of time 20 years on I think! The video feels very 90s though. From the salon setting to the matching shiny outfits! Fun fact, Beyoncé's mum made the outfits for them and the video was actually dedicated to her. Aww.

Okay, fans of cheesy pop, the rest of this section is definitely for you! At #37 we have S Club 7 with 'Bring It All Back'. This was the group's debut single and raced to the top of the UK chart immediately. This is the first of many chart-toppers to appear for 1999! What can I say, this song is just pure unadulterated joy. I adore the hopeful lyrics and ultra catchy chorus. It gets my toes tapping and that's always a good thing. Plus THAT key-change gives Westlife a run for their money! The video is equally as fun too with a quintessentially 90s dance routine throughout. 'Bring It All Back' received two videos, with one catering to the US market, however this song failed to crack their chart. It's okay though, because 'Never Had A Dream Come True' would go on to be a huge hit there somehow instead! Back to 'Bring It All Back', something that stands out vocally about this is that it's the only S Club 7 single where all four female members are on lead vocals. We have the typical Jo notes as ever but the sharing of vocals is very much noticeable to me. So it was nice for others to get the chance to shine straight away too. This shall forever be an instant pick-me-up and if you disagree then you have no soul tbh! Lastly, at #36, Backstreet's back () as there's no way I could snub 'Larger Than Life'! The group were back to the funky bangers with this one, following 'I Want It That Way'. However, this didn't perform quite as well as that, it was a top 5 here but somehow only reached #25 in the US?! I can't quite believe that, wow! This song is an exhilarating moment in their discography, from the word go we get an excitable "yeaaaaaah!" and the rest of the song follows suit. It's a high octane sing-a-long single for sure. The formula reminds me of 'Everybody (Backstreet's Back)' a lot which is why I think this appeals to me so much. Another banger just like that! Some names who are still big in the music industry were involved with this, notably Max Martin in the production and Joseph Kahn for the video. The visuals were so funny to watch, it reminds me of A1's 'Take On Me' in the sense that it must've been so cool and futuristic to see at the time, but 20 years later it's pretty naff. The video was record-breaking though, as it received a Guinness World Record for being the 14th most expensive video ever, with it costing over 2 million dollars to make. Wow! This was a song for the fans that has held up well all these years later.

Posted by: coi 1st September 2019, 05:05 PM

Good start, I also had to hear Stop The Rock quite a bit as a kid but that actually was as a result of owning FIFA 2000 You couldn't escape it when playing that because back then they had a really limited soundtrack! Not heard it that much since. Larger Than Life is definitely my favourite from that section, when I first heard it I could immediately tell it was a Backstreet Boys song! It might even be my favourite single of theirs as well as it hasn't suffered the overplay of Everybody (Backstreet's Back) and I Want It That Way, though of course the latter is still a tune despite that. Looking forward to the rest of this!

Posted by: Bré 2nd September 2019, 04:42 PM

A few there that I only know from the Now! sessions and don't really remember, I think I do remember thinking the Bran Van 3000 song was a little strange though (and not sure if it was in a good way or not oops xx). Another great Apollo 440 song anyway and 'Bring It All Back' is one of the better S Club songs as well!

Lol at the backstory of how you first heard the Bran Van 3000 song *_* that reminds me of how I first heard of Arctic Monkeys, I saw their name near the top of an alphabetical list of artists on some lyrics website and thought it sounded like a weird name and was surprised to later find out they were actually a popular band who I knew several songs by

Also did not know Joseph Kahn's career went back that far, I only know his name via Taylor Swift. #educational

Posted by: Jade 4th September 2019, 09:52 AM

I'm glad that you think this has started off well! The only way is up too *.* I wasn't really exposed to FIFA games until the mid-noughties I'd say (that's when my brother got into them), so I had no idea that the soundtrack was so limited back in the day, interesting! 'Stop The Rock' is a great song to have been in that small pool of songs then. But yeah I've never really heard it at all since childhood either unless I've specifically gone out of my way to listen to it. Hooray for 'Larger Than Life' appreciation, the Backstreet Boys could definitely deliver a banger or two when they wanted to *.* A great choice for favourite BSB song too, I'm really torn between that and 'Everybody (Backstreet's Back)' for mine. Good point about lack of overplay for this one, I don't think I've ever heard it on the radio or music channels or anything. Whereas 'I Want It That Way' and 'Everybody' have been played a lot as you say, especially as the latter is inexplicably considered a Halloween song solely down to the video I suppose. Thank you!


The Now sessions were fab for education about random forgotten late 90s/early noughties hits! Justin being the most iconic of course. I do recall you thinking that 'Drinking In L.A.' was a bit weird as well but also can't remember if it was in a good or bad way we shall see the next time I put the playlist for this on while you're round mine. Woo I had remembered that you were a fan of 'Bring It All Back' actually, yessss *.* and you can never go wrong with Apollo 440.

Haha :') it's great when you discover songs in the most random ways as those memories tend to stick. Oh yes I remember you telling me about that Arctic Monkeys story before!! Love that indeed that strangely named band may be a bit of a big deal!

Ah well there you go! I was surprised when I found that out at some point as well, much more familiar with Max Martin being a 90s name too. Mainly due to Britney. We stan fun facts.

Posted by: dandy* 5th September 2019, 02:32 PM

Bran Van 3000 is definitely my highlight from that bunch. Loved that track, was so weird when it made the charts as it was quite obscure before the advert feature.

Posted by: ThePensmith 7th September 2019, 03:47 PM

Oooh some good choices so far Jade, especially S Club 7, Destiny's Child and Bran Van 3000 (all of which, as you know, I featured on my blog series about the charts of 1999 recently!)

I look forward to seeing what your other choices are. I loved your 1998 choices as well! I didn't start compiling my own personal charts until January 1999 when I was 9/10 - but that was a great year for music as well, especially pop. It was when All Saints, Five and Steps had launched, and also when B*Witched and Billie Piper came out with their first few number ones as well. But I also loved The Corrs ('Talk on Corners' one of my all time favourite albums) and Robbie Williams' second album 'I've Been Expecting You' was a favourite of mine too.

Posted by: Jade 21st September 2019, 11:55 PM

Hey guys, I've just been on holiday and have a BJSC contest to co-host, but I aim to resume this after that's done!

I had a feeling that you'd be a fan *.* Hooray for adverts being good for something in this case!


Why thank you Alex *.* your blog series about 1999 has been fabulous. Always here for thoughts on such a superb year!

Stay tuned to see what else I'm loving from 1999! Lots of top quality pop and dance in particular still to come. Good to see that you're complimentary of the 1998 picks too! I'm so jealous that you started your personal chart so young, I was only 13 when I started mine but wish I had been even younger sounds like a pretty exciting time for the UK pop scene when you launched yours anyway! That Robbie album is great, I've grown up with so much of his music thanks to my parents.

Posted by: Mack. 24th September 2019, 01:12 PM

Catching up with this, what a great start to 1999 there, Jade.

Posted by: Jade 10th February 2020, 01:33 PM

A very belated thank you, Mack!

Tonight I am finally going to continue

Posted by: Jade 10th February 2020, 10:58 PM

35. Moloko - Sing It Back
(chart-run: 4-9-13-21-26-40-44-54-69)

34. Shania Twain - Man! I Feel Like A Woman!
(chart-run: 3-3-6-10-15-18-19-25-29-32-36-46-45-46-48-50-58-67)

33. Britney Spears - (You Drive Me) Crazy
(chart-run: 5-6-8-12-18-20-29-32-37-44-56)

32. Ricky Martin - Livin' La Vida Loca
(chart-run: 1-1-1-2-3-5-7-10-13-19-24-28-41-48-53-61-67)

31. Eminem - My Name Is
(chart-run: 2-3-3-11-16-23-30-39-49-58-60-68R(5))



Right let's jump right back into it! Kicking off this 1999 section are Moloko with one of their signature hits. The duo, consisting of vocalist Róisín Murphy and producer Mark Brydon, initially saw their record 'Sing It Back' limping into the U.K. chart at an underwhelming #45 position. However, the song got a facelift courtesy of DJ Boris Dlugosch (who beat off competition from big name Todd Terry who also had a go at remixing it) and gave Moloko their first ever top 5 hit! 'Sing It Back' is a house record with über funky production and accompanying vocals from Róisín that fit like a glove. The whole song is very melodic and fun, but I must say that the highlight of the whole experience for me is the middle 8 when the production goes a bit wild - the guitar there was a welcome addition! Róisín takes centre stage in the music video, wearing a metallic flapper dress that wouldn't look out of place in Lady Gaga's wardrobe during 'The Fame' era. She dances the night away whilst the editor has fun with some psychedelic effects. The whole package is a carefree delight that is always in demand as it's been featured on over 100 compilations! Next we move away from house music and instead go a little more country which is surprising to say, as country music isn't always my cup of tea, but Shania Twain served a country-pop (with elements of rock) banger back in 1999! 'Man! I Feel Like A Woman!' was the EIGHTH single (that is... insane) from her iconic 'Come On Over' album. I was shocked to learn that this Grammy Award winning single only charted at #23 in the U.S., but we were good to it over here in the U.K. - as it peaked at #3, matching 'That Don't Impress Me Much' as her highest charting single. Shania invites us into this empowering feminism anthem with her "let's go girls!" opening. The song continues to be as euphoric throughout, with a killer hook and even a guitar solo to boot. The music video flips the visuals of Robert Palmer's 'Addicted To Love' and 'Simply Irresistible' on their head, as we witness role-reversal with Shania confidently doing her thing at the front, while the male backing dancers are the ones with the blank stares. An essential for any feel-good pop playlist. Let's keep this moving with some more upbeat female pop! This time from the princess of pop herself. Britney was definitely keeping up momentum for her debut era, as '(You Drive Me) Crazy' became the third top 5 single in a row from it over here in the U.K.! It scraped the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 also. The title '(You Drive Me) Crazy' could be interpreted in one of two ways, but on this occasion Britney is singing about someone driving her crazy in a good way - as she's crazy in love. There's no soppy ballad to be found here however, as '(You Drive Me) Crazy' is a high-octane stomper with quintessentially late 90s Max Martin involvement. Britney really plays to her strengths in the video as she unleashes a highly choreographed dance routine. She actually said that she hoped that this video would take her to the next level! Well, we can safely say that Britney was going to be sticking around for a while. The uniform concept, that went down a storm in the '...Baby One More Time' video, was back for the occasion, as Britney wanted to play a dorky waitress in the '(You Drive Me) Crazy' video. Actors Melissa Joan Hart and Adrian Grenier made a cameo in the video as the song featured on the soundtrack for 'Drive Me Crazy'.

Now it's time for two male artists to round off this section! First we have 'Livin' La Vida Loca' which is easily the biggest hit of the bunch, spending multiple weeks at #1 in both the United Kingdom and United States. In fact, this was big to the point where it is generally seen as the song that started the Latin-pop explosion in English-speaking markets at the time - helping the likes of Enrique Iglesias and Shakira to break through easier. As a partial Spaniard myself, I'm sad that I was too young to remember this explosion of Latin pop, but it was cool that there was a second wave back in 2017 with the likes of 'Despacito' and 'Mi Gente' at least. Now... let's give ROSALÍA a top 40 hit please. Anyway, 'Livin' La Vida Loca' is such a guilty pleasure, I can't help but get swept up in the madness of this pop song - with its dynamic instrumentation and vocal performance. I guess a song about living the crazy life was always going to be a wild ride. It is also at this moment when I realise that at #33 we have a song with 'Crazy' in the title, followed by one with 'Loca' in #32. That was unintentional I swear!! But yeah, it's easy to see why this was so massive. Ricky would later appear in an episode of Glee called 'The Spanish Teacher' which I like to pretend never happened, except his duet of 'La Isla Bonita' with Naya Rivera, that can stay. Finishing off this #35 - #31 section is an artist who is still getting #1 hits in the year 2020! A remarkable career trajectory. However, the bold 'My Name Is' had to settle for a #2 peak. This was Eminem's introduction to the chart. From the word go, the world quickly knew who Slim Shady was, as the name is an integral part to the hook of 'My Name Is' - plus, if that wasn't enough, the accompanying album is called The Slim Shady LP. We found out that Slim Shady is an attention-grabbing flamboyant character, dressing up as the likes of Marilyn Manson and Bill Clinton in the video. He also likes an expletive or two... okay several of those. I must admit that it's strange for me to listen to the uncensored version as I'm so used to the lyrics of the censored one! You mean... it's "I just drank a fifth of vodka, dare me to drive?" and not "kool aid"? I'd say that the most appealing part of 'My Name Is' for me is the fat bassline that commands all attention. The chorus is pretty straight-forward and addictive. It's one of his colourful and comical Slim Shady songs that definitely isn't to be taken seriously. He exaggeratedly packs several themes into this one song but the main take away is that this Eminem guy has landed. Turns out that he was here to stay.

Posted by: Mack. 10th February 2020, 11:12 PM

Great to see this back, Jade.

'Bring It Back' wow that was a great tune from them. The next three, I would unashamedly play them anytime, probably was nodding my head to them when Top of the Pops in that year, I was only 5.

'My Name Is' the song that introduced to Eminem and Slim Shady. As you saying is one of his colourful Slim Shady songs. I certainly didn't see him having a 21 year career.

Posted by: Jade 10th February 2020, 11:26 PM

Hey there Mack!

Aww, thank you, this was paused for way longer than I was expecting, but now feels like the right time to bring it back. Will try my best to write-up a new post at least once a week, maybe increasing to 2 or 3 once my other BuzzJack commitments have calmed down!

Glad that you're a 'Bring It Back' fan! That, 'The Time Is Now' and 'Forever More' are their holy trinity for me. Fantastic that you are already associating some of these songs with childhood memories (e.g. TOTP) - I was only 2 at this time, so I don't expect any memories to flood back for at least a couple more years

Indeed, definitely one of his more light-hearted songs in amongst the likes of 'Stan' and 'When I'm Gone' in his singles discography. 21 years in the business is so impressive, I can probably count on one hand acts from the start of the millennium that are still relevant to some degree in the chart (Eminem, P!nk, Coldplay etc.) so well done to him!

Posted by: Bré 10th February 2020, 11:42 PM

It returns at last x (watch you finish this before I finish my 2019 EOY x)

I like 4 of these 5 songs (I don't remember the Britney song, have probably heard it but I couldn't hum it x) so a strong return particularly 'My Name Is'. 'Sing It Back' is probably Moloko's best song for me as well.

also this

Posted by: Jade 10th February 2020, 11:55 PM

Indeed, they thought the day would never come oh yes of course your EOY, make sure to continue that eventually too!

Hooray, 4/5 is fine by me *.* I'm pretty sure that '(You Drive Me) Crazy' is on my treadmill playlist so hopefully it comes on at some point while we're both running. Alternatively, I can play you the updated playlist for this countdown, although probably after a few more updates with only 5 new songs at the moment A good choice of favourite Moloko song! It's a shame that you weren't quite feeling Singerpurear's Moloko BJSC entry, but at least we were on the same page with the Club Bizarre one oops x

ROSALÍA's 84 Award show performances have gotta count for something right :cheeseblock:

Posted by: DalekTurret32 11th February 2020, 05:05 PM

I listened to the Come On Over album last year. It was cheesy at points, but it was a pretty good album, and Man I Feel Like A Woman is one of my faves from that LP.
The other four are also really good.

I might be doing a Top 10 Favourite UK Hits Of 1999 sometime in the Spring, but that is depending on if I get my 2019 EOY countdown complete.

Posted by: Jade 11th February 2020, 06:12 PM

Ooh cool, I haven't listened to the whole album before but can of course appreciate how much of a phenomenon it must've been! Pleased to hear that 'Man...' is amongst your favourites on the album anyway also, I'm interested in seeing that countdown - what a year 1999 was!

Posted by: Sergej 11th February 2020, 06:59 PM

Let's see how many I'll like from this section,
"Livin La Vida Loca" is amazing, one of best latin songs in my opinion.
Glad to see "My Name Is" there too, as the start of Eminem's career.

Posted by: dandy* 11th February 2020, 07:01 PM

Moloko is definitely my pick from that bunch, Roísín is just heavenly

I can see the merit in the other tracks but none are things I'd listen to today, although I did like and buy the Eminem one at the time.

Posted by: Jade 11th February 2020, 07:33 PM

Hey there Sergej

Glad that there's a big favourite for you here in 'Livin La Vida Loca'! Definitely one of the most memorable Latin hits of all-time.

Yes I just had to find some room for 'My Name Is'! A strong start to his career, I think 1999 - 2002 were his peak years for me.

Thank you for commenting <3


I thought that Moloko could potentially be a popular choice *.* Roísín has a great voice, I don't know that much of her solo stuff but 'You Know Me Better' is a gem!

Fair enough! Hopefully there'll be more that you still appreciate nowadays in the next section.

Thank you for commenting <3

Posted by: PeteFromLeeds 11th February 2020, 10:17 PM

We used to sing Bring It All Back in primary school so very fond memories of that one, I still know most of the lyrics *.* Livin La Vida Loca is another brilliant track from Ricky although not my absolute favourite I have to admit!

Posted by: Jade 11th February 2020, 10:26 PM

Yesss 'Bring It All Back' really reminds me of primary school too! As does 'Reach' - one of the ultimate school disco anthems.

Ooh what is your favourite Ricky song? I feel like I don't know much of his music aside from the really obvious ones

Posted by: PeteFromLeeds 11th February 2020, 10:32 PM

I owned two of his albums at one point! (courtesy of charity shops), 'The Cup of Life' was always my favourite but there are a few good songs on Sound Loaded as well, I think I liked If You Ever Saw Her and One Night Man as well.

And we also sang Reach, my primary school must have been big S Club 7 fans

Posted by: Jade 11th February 2020, 10:39 PM

I see! I was definitely partial to a charity shop trawl for CDs too, but never quite picked up a Ricky album, so I'm afraid that my knowledge is pretty bad for anything that wasn't one of his top 10 hits oops. I'll have to check out 'The Cup of Life' at the very least anyway!

Amazing, I had to sing 'Never Had A Dream Come True' for my leaver's assembly so maybe all schools tried to push S Club 7 on us

Posted by: LewisGT 11th February 2020, 10:41 PM

Love to see 'My Name Is' here. Possibly still my favourite Eminem song, it's certainly one of the first songs I knew every lyric to which probably isn't a good thing

There's so many versions of that song though that I never know which version to sing until half way through the song, Even the video labelled "Dirty Version" on YouTube is still heavily censored. Most of which are understandable but I do wonder why they still change 'Violence' to 'Primus' when most of the f-bombs remain.


Livin' La Vida Loca is a bit of a guilty-jam too

Posted by: Jade 11th February 2020, 10:48 PM

Ooh that would be a good pick of favourite Eminem song! Mine is still to come for a future year but this is definitely up there. Lmao, I'm still trying to get my head around the lyrics due to all of the different versions that you mention I love that all of the top comments on that censored music video (that I revisited for this countdown) are "listening to Eminem censored is like _________" memes

Yessss I am here for 'Livin' La Vida Loca' getting so much love in this thread

Posted by: dan.G 11th February 2020, 11:07 PM

Sing It Back is probably at least in my top 20 for that year, easily their best song.
My Name Is also one of Eminem's best efforts of his early career.
As for Livin La Vida Loca fun song but funnily enough I heard the Shrek version of that before the original. Was quite the discovery to learn it was a 'real' song and not one they made up for the film.

Posted by: Jade 11th February 2020, 11:22 PM

Ooh glad to hear that you hold 'Sing It Back' in such high regard! There's a lot more dance to come

Good to see more positive words about 'My Name Is'! Moloko praise was expected, but on BuzzJack I wasn't expecting so much praise about Eminem and Ricky over the likes of Britney and Shania pop hoes where you hiding!

Omg the Shrek version of 'Living La Vida Loca' was a distant memory so thanks for reminding me of that !! I think I would've heard the original first, just because I was only 3 when I first went to Spain and continually went back there every year for well over a decade - I imagine I must've heard that there as a little kid at least.

Posted by: Jade 17th February 2020, 10:45 PM

30. Jamiroquai - Canned Heat
(chart-run: 4-10-14-21-28-41-45-53-65-68)

29. Eiffel 65 - Blue (Da Ba Dee)
(chart-run: 1-1-1-3-4-6-8-12-18-21-21-30-30-36-28-29-34-41-51-68-72)

28. DJ Luck & MC Neat - A Little Bit of Luck
(chart-run: 18-17-14-11-12-9-9-10-10-16-21-35-46-53-61)

27. Paul Johnson - Get Get Down
(chart-run: 5-9-15-24-34-47-60-67)

26. TLC - No Scrubs
(chart-run: 7-13-8-6-9-3-5-5-9-12-12-16-22-29-38-37-44-60-69)



Time to get deeper into 1999 courtesy of Jamiroquai! This is their second appearance of the 90s, following the #28 position for 'Deeper Underground' in my 1998 countdown. So 'Canned Heat' finishes a little lower than that did in its respective year, but still, this position is nothing to be sniffed at as 1999 is the strongest year I've faced so far. 'Canned Heat' is a disco song that feels as timeless as some of its predecessors from the same genre back in the 70s. The pulsating production is incredibly funky and every bit as intricate as 'Deeper Underground'. The whole package is euphoric and infectious, from the aforementioned production to lyrics such as "nothing left for me to do but dance off these bad times I'm going through" and finally Jay Kay dancing through walls in the video. I do like the song a lot but I cannot confirm a reaction quite that strong! I've known of 'Canned Heat' for many years, but I fell in love with it all over again when watching Dancing On Ice winner Jake Quickenden skating to it during the 2018 series. Perhaps the song reaches its absolute potential when being danced to. I suppose that makes sense when the chorus mentions the word dance quite a bit. 'Canned Heat' peaked at #4, giving Jamiroquai their third top 5 hit to date. Next, it's 1999, so of course this countdown contains some euro-dance! The biggest euro-dance hit of the year in fact. 'Blue (Da Ba Dee)' was the second best selling song of 1999 in the United Kingdom, only eclipsed by a certain Britney song that may be coming up later... Eiffel 65 are an Italian music group who had this song up their sleeve in 1998, but it would not take off until the following year. It actually didn't reach its #6 peak in the United States until as late as January 2000! But yes, when it did take off, it was quite clearly a phenomenon. It became only the third single to date to chart in the U.K. top 40 purely based on import sales. So, what was all the fuss about? Well, an autotuned nonsensical hook pretty much. But a ridiculously catchy one at that! It's guaranteed to be stuck in my head for the rest of the night. Or week. Or year. Or decade. The song came about after the introductory piano hook was born. The other components then worked around that. The inspiration for the subject matter was apparently how a person chooses their lifestyle. The word blue was just picked at random. But they took that colour and ran with it, even down to blue aliens in the video who are being chased by members of Eiffel 65. The 90s truly was a wild time. What can I say, this song is super joyful, fun, well-produced with its trance elements and piano hook and... way too catchy for its own good. It's a shame that the magic wasn't quite replicated with the follow-up 'Move Your Body'. Next up it's more dance but instead quite a different flavour, as we dive into the amazing world of UK garage! 'A Little Bit of Luck' was the debut hit for Kisstory favourites DJ Luck & MC Neat. They squeezed this out just before the millennium and it would eventually climb to a peak of #9. The garage legends provided us with this gloriously repetitive tune that is suitable for any dance floor. Especially when the main hook is "with a little bit of luck, we can make it through the night" - an ode to any messy night out. The bassline, with its dark edge, is such a draw and I also love the drum rhythms too. The often choppy vocals are so standout, especially when they speed up for the "holler with the rinsin' sound, holler with the mixin' sound" part. Class!

Not fed up of dance music yet? Well, good! As I have a fabulous house tune for you now. This is one hit wonder Paul Johnson with 'Get Get Down'! Perhaps a song that a lot of people could recognise but not necessarily name the artist that is behind it. Well, Johnson is the mastermind, first DJing at the young age of 13. He actually appears in the video for 'Get Get Down' where he is wheelchair bound. Elsewhere in the video, set on a beach, a girl can continuously be seen dancing which compliments the feel-good vibes of the song. I also appreciate the fun touch of stones being made into a person and dancing in a stop-motion fashion. The song is 6 minutes of loopy glory - one could say that the lyrics are easy to follow. The production sounds massive also, all-in-all it's such a glowing representation of the house genre and is guaranteed to give you a good time. I'm happy that Johnson was able to share his gift with the world despite such massive set-backs earlier in life. What a tune! Finally, we move away from dance for the final song. Instead it's an R&B classic from girl-group TLC! 'No Scrubs' was big in the U.K. with its #3 peak, however, it was truly HUGE in the United States. It ranked as the 2nd biggest song of 1999 according to Billboard's EOY chart that year, only behind the juggernaut 'Believe' by Cher. 'No Scrubs' was band member Chilli's time to shine, as this was the first time that she took sole lead vocals on a TLC single. The song is of course spliced with signature luscious harmonies from the band members elsewhere. Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes (RIP) also contributed a self-written rap for the song. This often gets omitted in radio edits. 'No Scrubs' is another 90s girl-group anthem about lousy men, much like 'Bills Bills Bills' which appeared earlier in the countdown. The line "hanging out the passenger's side of his best friend's ride, trying to holler at me" is particularly iconic and vents their frustration about the "scrub" in question perfectly. 'No Scrubs' is an ideal mix of both smooth and sassy and has held up incredibly well over the years. The video... not so much, despite being marketed as futuristic at the time. It is still watchable and stylistically mirrors Michael & Janet's legendary 'Scream' video - but everything really does scream quintessentially 90s! There's a dodgy dance routine, shiny outfits, dated back-drops... the list goes on. But yeah, it's a fantastic timeless R&B record that has certainly cemented itself as one of TLC's signature songs.

Posted by: coi 17th February 2020, 11:17 PM

Down, down, down, down, down
Get, get down, down, down, down, down
Get, get down, down, down, down, down
Get, get down, down, down, down, down
Get, get down, down, down, down, down
Get, get down, down, down, down, down
Get, get down, down, down, down, down

Get, get down, down, down, down
Down, down, down, down
Down, down, down, down
Down, down, down, down
Down, down, down, down
Down, down, down, down

Down, down, down, down
Down, down, down, down
Down, down, down, down
Down, down, down, down
Down...down...down...down...down

Down, down, down, down
Down, down, down, down
Down, down, down, down
Down, down, down, down
Down, down, down, down
Down, down, down, down
Down, down, down, down
Down, down, down, down

Down, down, down, down
Down, down, down, down
Down, down, down, down
Down, down, down, down
Down...down...down...down...down (woo)

Down, down, down, down
Down, down, down, down
Down, down, down, down
Down, down, down, down
Down, down, down, down
Down, down, down, down
Down, down, down, down
Down, down, down, down

Down, down, down, down
Down, down, down, down
Down, down, down, down
Down, down, down, down
Down...down...down...down...down (woo)

Down, down, down, down
Down, down, down, down
Down, down, down, down
Down, down, down, down
Down, down, down, down
Down, down, down, down
Down, down, down, down
Down, down, down, down

Down, down, down, down
Down, down, down, down
Down, down, down, down
Down, down, down, down
Down...down...down...down...down


Easily the best lyrics to a song in 1999. A great tune too, possibly my favourite song from that section, it's between that and Eiffel 65's infectiously catchy smash! Sing It Back, Livin' La Vida Loca and My Name Is are all good from the last section as well, crazy to think Eminem's been relevant for such a long time now and still showing no signs of stopping!

Posted by: dan.G 17th February 2020, 11:39 PM

Canned Heat's probably one of their best songs although the least essential in that section
Get Get Down is a bit of a tune even with the ridiculous number of 'down's there are in the lyrics!
A Little Bit Of Luck is one of the best from that era of garage too
Blue and No Scrubs are easily two of the most iconic songs of that year and both also great

Posted by: Jade 18th February 2020, 08:51 AM

Those lyrics *.* such beautiful poetry in fact this section in general features lyrical quality, not forgetting:

I'm blue da ba dee da ba daa
Da ba dee da ba daa, da ba dee da ba daa, da ba dee da ba daa
Da ba dee da ba daa, da ba dee da ba daa, da ba dee da ba daa

I'm glad that you're a fan of both and also picked out a few highlights from the previous section. Eminem's longevity is so impressive, hats off to him for being relevant for over 20 years now, will be interesting to see how long he can keep up scoring hits in the future too.

Thank you for commenting <3


Yess 'Canned Heat' has always been such a standout in the Jamiroquai discography *.* I thought you'd approve of this section more, knowing that there was a few dance songs in the line-up - it's pleasing to see that you've highlighted them all, plus 'No Scrubs' too

Thank you for commenting <3

Posted by: LewisGT 18th February 2020, 01:45 PM

A Little Bit Of Luck is one of my all-time favourite songs. It's so atmospheric and brooding; I've always thought it would be perfect mood music to soundtrack a montage in a heist film. At least it does in the idea for a movie I've had

Blue (Da Ba Dee) & No Scrubs are two song I always enjoy too. Although, they're not ones of which I go out of my way to listen.

Posted by: Jade 18th February 2020, 02:10 PM

Ooh it's good to hear that you're such a big fan also I totally get what you're saying! I mentioned in the commentary that the production has a dark edge to it (and your choices of atmospheric and brooding as adjectives are definitely fitting) - it could potentially soundtrack that scenario very well, which feels weird to say about a UK garage song I'm pleased that 'Blue (Da Ba Dee)' and 'No Scrubs' are getting quite a bit of love in here already, classics

Posted by: dandy* 19th February 2020, 04:04 PM

Love all 5 of those choices Jade - and bought them all too!

Jamiroquai have some really good songs (admittedly amongst some dross) and Canned Heat is definitely a whole lot of fun. My favourites from them are Virtual Insanity and Too Young To Die though.

No Scrubs is a classic, I really liked the follow ups also although I didn't really care for much else on the album.

1999 was a great year for dance and you've listed two songs there that I was so impatient to get that I actually paid for the import CD singles just to have them early - Eiffel 65 and Paul Johnson are the two! Get Down is often overlooked these days but it really was huge among clubbers back then - and of course Blue is just cheesetastic *.*

Posted by: PeteFromLeeds 19th February 2020, 08:04 PM

Get Get Down is a tune! A real grower for me and insanely catchy after a few listens. Blue (Da Ba Dee) is fantastic as well *.* I discovered it from a Gogos video on Youtube back in the day, I feel so old

Posted by: Chez Wombat 19th February 2020, 09:17 PM

Great to see this back! (going for a 2040 finish? ) 1999 was a great year for cheesy pop and dance and it was the first year I really remember music from at the time. Have a lot of love for Livin' La Vida Loca.

Blue (Da Ba Dee) has remained a real favourite, it is ever so infectious and I always loved getting the lyrics wrong, I think three year old me thought it was 'Apple Deer, Apple Dine' for a long time x

Posted by: Jade 19th February 2020, 09:44 PM

Ooh a clean sweep! How pleasing to hear that, Dandy *.*

I've never delved further into Jamiroquai's discography before but perhaps I shouldn't and just cherish the gems I do know from them such as... 'Virtual Insanity' - that's a great pick of favourite in particular from you. Girl-group albums have a good track record for me in general but I must admit that I've never listened to a TLC album in full before I've always wanted to but have not quite got around to it yet. Interesting to hear your thoughts anyway, I really liked 'Unpretty' from that era in addition to 'No Scrubs'

Tell me about it - so much great dance on the way I love that you went to the length of getting the import singles! Worth it tbh, two absolute tunes right there. Aww, 'Get Get Down' should definitely be acknowledged more these days! At least 'Blue (Da Ba Dee)' still feels very well known, cheesetastic as you say - school disco classic

thank you for commenting <3


Hooray for some more 'Get Get Down' and 'Blue (Da Ba Dee)' love *.* possibly two of the catchiest songs of the entire 1999 countdown. Aw haha, I love making unexpected musical discoveries from videos *.* and also PowerPoint presentations set to music, which I will be coming to much later in 1999...

thank you for commenting <3


Thank you Chez! I'm ever so pleased that people are still interested in this, I know the gap was a silly length but I feel refreshed now and confident that I can keep up with this for real. Maybe. Alternatively... 2040 oh yes a year full of S Club 7, Steps and Vengaboys truly brought the cheese *.* and it has to be one of my favourite years ever for dance. Interesting to hear that it's the first year that you can properly remember music from! I have vague memories of some songs during 2000 to 2002, I think it was probably 2003 where I started actively paying proper attention to music around me. I'm glad that 'Blue (Da Ba Dee)' has held up so well for you lmao at 'Apple Deer, Apple Dine'!! "I'm blue, if I'm green I would die" etc. x

thank you for commenting <3

Posted by: Mack. 19th February 2020, 10:49 PM

A terrific five songs there, 'No Scrubs' a R&B classic from TLC this was. Eiffel 65 with Blue well I've never tired of it it's a guilty pleasure of mine. 'Canned Heat' that's one I haven't heard in a while, sounds great 'A Little Bit of Luck' the best from the garage scene from that year Get Get Down that is catchy as anything.

Posted by: Jade 19th February 2020, 11:04 PM

Pleased to see such glowing praise for this section, Mack! I feel like I don't hear 'Canned Heat' much either, so making the accompanying playlist for this countdown shall ensure that it won't be the case anymore. Also, yes, 'Blue (Da Ba Dee)' shall never get old *.*

thank you for commenting <3

Posted by: Jade 24th February 2020, 10:50 PM

25. Terrorvision - Tequila (Mint Royale Shot)
(chart-run: 2-6-11-18-27-39-54-71-67-68)

24. Geri Halliwell - Mi Chico Latino
(chart-run: 1-3-7-11-16-23-30-38-49-66-56-61-71)

23. Cuban Boys - Cognoscenti vs. Intelligentsia
(chart-run: 4-7-9-13-28-42-66-64R(2)-58)

22. Artful Dodger - Re-Rewind (The Crowd Say Bo Selecta) (feat. Craig David)
(chart-run: 2-2-6-5-3-2-3-7-11-17-21-29-34-52-60-62-64)

21. Basement Jaxx - Rendez-Vu
(chart-run: 4-8-15-26-34-44-58-71)



Kicking off this section of top 20 near-misses is Terrorvision! They are behind one of many dance songs in this portion. However, 'Tequila' wasn't a dance song in its original form as Terrorvision are a rock band. Instead, it was transformed into one by DJ Mint Royale who remixed it. This version would prove to be a hit after being championed by Zoë Ball on Radio 1. It went down so well that their original single choice of 'Day After Day' was scrapped in favour of this. A wise move as 'Tequila' charted as high as #2. Mint Royale would have to wait another 9 years for that elusive #1 hit! Sadly Terrorvision never quite got there. Anyway, I feel like the genre blending of rock and dance feels quite rare so it is always refreshing to hear 'Tequila' all these years later. The Mint Royale treatment really gives the original record that extra oomph. It's a feel-good song for sure that I can happily sing along to despite never experiencing a drop of tequila in my life. The video is suitably chaotic as well with dodgy dancing and maracas for good measure. It's funny that this song should come up in my countdown now - as just the other day a poll on this very forum was created related to it. This is 'which 'Tequila' is better?' - aka Terrorvision or the new Europa single featuring RAYE. Of course it had to be the Terrorvision song, my 25th favourite hit single of 1999. Next up we take a quick breather from dance music and instead move over to the pop world! It's been a little while since we heard from the Spice Girls in this countdown, but that stops now with a solo Spice smash. This is my favourite Geri Halliwell song 'Mi Chico Latino'! Geri's debut hit 'Look At Me' infamously peaked at #2. Many ideas for the follow-up single were thrown around to get that elusive #1 - 'Lift Me Up' and 'Bag It Up' for instance. Geri suggested 'Mi Chico Latino' however as she felt it would appeal to her fans more, following the slightly left-field direction of 'Look At Me'. She chose well as it did shoot to number one and the other songs in contention would become chart-toppers too. What a lovely position to be in eh! Geri had written 'Mi Chico Latino' back in 1998 but it hadn't quite seen the light of day yet. Keeping hold of it was a great move though as the Latin-pop craze would explode the following year, so she could impeccably time the release of this to coincide with that! As previously touched upon, 'Viva Forever' was my #1 song of 1998, so it doesn't come as much of a surprise that a fellow Latin-pop Spice release appeals to me too. Of course it doesn't quite touch that masterpiece, but I'm here for this breezy Spanglish release from Geri nevertheless. The melody gives me serious 'La Isla Bonita' vibes and I love the Latin flavours to the production too - from flamenco guitar to castanets. Such a summery song, a feeling only amplified by the video, filmed in the lovely looking island of Sardinia. Great little pop tune. Right, now the rest of this section is dedicated to dance music! So, the year is 2003 or so and a very young me is fascinated when my dad shows me the 'Hamster Dance' website for the first time. I was currently in a massive Hamtaro phase so that probably explains why that happened. This was quite possibly the first meme I was ever introduced to? A strong start. Anyway, this website contained rows of animated hamster GIFs and a song would play in the background - a sped-up sample of Roger Miller's 'Whistle Stop'. Aka the inspiration behind #23 song 'Cognoscenti vs. Intelligentsia'! As this featured an unofficial soundalike sampled loop of that song also. So this actual #4 hit single, with its silly looped yodelling chipmunk vocals, will always remind me of the Hamster dance meme - as I'm sure it does for many others. Even the official video features a live-action hamster singing along. I love that this actually made a huge splash on the chart! It was supported by John Peel and Jo Whiley on BBC Radio 1. The release of it was timed with the Christmas #1 race of 1999 but sadly that honour would go to Westlife that year instead. Boo! What can I say, this is even more of a nonsensical guilty pleasure than the Eiffel 65 song earlier and has more of a nostalgia element for me. TUNE.

The penultimate song for this section is a UK garage classic! In fact, it was so influential that it inspired the name of a certain popular TV show. This is of course 'Re-Rewind (The Crowd Say Bo Selecta)'! Both dance group Artful Dodger and R&B singer Craig David would experience huge chart success with this song, as it hit the #2 spot. The phrase 'Bo selecta' means either "good song" or "good DJ", so this is an ode to all those top notch DJs out there. The video is very literal as there are DJs and actions that rewind. This is such a euphoric garage hit! It's hard not to feel hyped as a result of Craig David's parts. The production sounds massive also. I'm a sucker for all the typical garage elements. I was lucky enough to hear this live when I saw Craig David back in 2017 in Birmingham and it was every bit as iconic as hoped. Finally, we round off this section with quite possibly my favourite dance act of all-time, the wonderful Basement Jaxx! I already had the opportunity to write about this song back in the Autumn months, as part of my Basement Jaxx - The Singles rate in the dance forum, but why not do it again. Quirky house tune 'Rendez-Vu' just misses out on a position in the top 20 here. It's a little idiosyncratic amongst Basement Jaxx's discography, as it contains the unusual features of vocals edited to an unrecognisable extent and also a guitar being a prominent feature of the production. Both elements that I can appreciate, particularly the guitar when it goes wild during its solo! I find this song to be so much fun and one of many sing-a-long moments in their discography, as the lyrics are simple and standout. I also find that there's a dark edge to the production, which makes it all the more interesting and fitting for its action packed music video. The concept is up there with the hamster music video from earlier though in the weird stakes - as this video turns out to be the dream of a dog! Why not. 'Rendez-Vu' is Basement Jaxx's biggest hit in terms of peak as it charted at #4. However, it does not feel like one of their signature songs despite this. One of their hits that I would consider one of those may just be on the way later in this 1999 countdown...

Posted by: Jade 24th February 2020, 11:26 PM

Posted by: Bré 25th February 2020, 02:57 AM

It was iconic finding out for the first time that the hamster dance song was an actual hit single *.* good stuff there from Basement Jaxx and Artful Dodger too (and the trio of dance classiques from Paul Johnson, DJ Luck & MC Neat and Eiffel 65 as well).

Posted by: Jade 25th February 2020, 08:53 AM

Yesss what a revelation that was *.* glad that you're enjoying all of those dance hits so far! Plenty more to come.

thank you for commenting <3

Posted by: PeteFromLeeds 26th February 2020, 08:59 PM

Rendez Vu isn't sounding familiar, surprised as I thought I knew most Basement Jaxx songs! Sounding pretty decent anyway.

I also had no idea that the Hampsterdance Song was a sample The Cuban Boys version is sounding nice too!

Posted by: Jade 26th February 2020, 09:14 PM

Ooh okay! I'm not all that surprised, as it's never a song of theirs that you really hear these days despite its impressive peak. The likes of 'Red Alert', 'Where's Your Head At?' and 'Romeo' seem to soak up the plays. I don't think I ever heard it until I listened through my mum's copy of their singles collection for the first time! Glad your impression of it was decent anyway. Also pleased that this could provide Hampsterdance trivia, an important area tbh hooray for that approval, what a tune!!

Thanks for commenting <3

Posted by: LewisGT 1st March 2020, 07:40 PM

Re-Rewind is a song that I now adore since I began to listen to Kisstory. It's a toss-up between that and Fill Me In for my favourite Craig David song but I would say FMI just about has the advantage.

Posted by: Jade 4th March 2020, 11:13 AM

Ooh yay! Kisstory has certainly boosted my love of some of the songs that have appeared so far. 'Fill Me In' is a fab choice of favourite, that and 'Re-Rewind' would be my top 2 as well I think, although I'm unsure of which order - will have to think about it more when I compile my 2000 list soon!

~~~

Don't worry guys I haven't slipped back into my old ways with this I've been trying to stick to Mondays for writing a new section, but was busy both this Monday and Tuesday so that's thrown me off a bit, will try and find the time to do a new one later in the week! If not then next Monday for sure.

Posted by: Jade 9th March 2020, 10:29 PM

20. Madonna - Beautiful Stranger
(chart-run: 2-4-8-10-10-14-18-21-21-21-25-33-40-48-59-72)

19. Christina Aguilera - Genie In A Bottle
(chart-run: 1-1-2-3-9-16-19-19-27-34-40-38-28-30-35-43-61-68-72)

18. Groove Armada - At the River
(chart-run: 19-29-35-40-61)

17. Smash Mouth - All Star
(chart-run: 24-34-41-60-75)

16. DJ Jurgen Presents Alice Deejay - Better Off Alone
(chart-run: 4-3-2-2-2-5-8-12-15-17-23-29-37-42-58-72)



Back now after that brief one week break! See, I'm a changed woman who is sticking to this for real. Kicking off the top 20 of 1999 is pop legend Madonna! Three hits in my 1998 countdown clearly wasn't enough, she had to sneak in one more fantastic single for the late 90s. This time it's the wonderful 'Beautiful Stranger' which was released as a single for the movie Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me. It actually didn't get a full release in the U.S. but still cracked the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100 nevertheless purely based on airplay! In the U.K. it was of course one of Madonna's many #2 hits. S Club 7 beat her in that chart battle with 'Bring It All Back'. I would've favoured S Club 7 in the past (and they did still make this top 40) mainly due to the fact that I wasn't massively familiar with 'Beautiful Stranger' compared to that for a while. But I slowly got to know this beauty more and more and it was actually the Madonna discography rate last year on BuzzJack that made it completely click with me. Now I'm totally on board! I've made my feelings clear on the 'Ray Of Light' era by now (easily my favourite Madonna album) and this song was essentially a continuation of that sound. Madge teamed up with William Orbit once again and he worked his magic some more. He provided the ambient but wobbly electronic beats, plus there's a lot of psychedelic sounding instrumentation woven in elsewhere. The flute is always the most notable aspect for me. I can't get over how Beatles-esque some of it sounds! 'Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds' and 'Strawberry Fields Forever' come to mind in terms of similar sounding instrumentation. It's like the 60s and 90s collide for this song and I'm totally here for it. Madonna sounds vocally strong here as she is still riding on that Evita vocal training. She sounds sweet and playful on this occasion as she reels off the lovestruck lyrics. She's equally playful in the video too! Mike Myers, in character as Austin Powers, is warned not to fall in love with Madge, but he can't help himself as she struts her stuff. Definitely a memorable video in her back catalogue despite her not doing a whole lot apart from dancing! It's a shame that 'Beautiful Stranger' doesn't feature on any of her studio albums but at least it's been selected on multiple compilations of hers, a gem that will still live on! Next up is the only #1 hit of this bunch. Christina Aguilera sang the lyrics "you gotta make a big impression" on this smash 'Genie In A Bottle' and that's exactly what she did! She'd been wanting to release her debut album for over 5 years at this point (with an ambition to do so by the time she completed high school) after she found fame on The New Mickey Mouse Club as a child star, however, she'd have to wait a bit longer than that. She had a bit of a break-through after being chosen to sing 'Reflection' for the Disney film Mulan. This put her in good stead to release her proper debut single. At just 18 years old, Xtina unleashed 'Genie In A Bottle' on the world and it proved very popular - as not only a U.K. #1, but also a 5-week chart topper in the U.S. Here she sings about self-respect in a package of genie-related metaphors. Much like 'Beautiful Stranger', I also find this to be a very playful song. It's a ludicrously catchy pop offering, with hooks galore, plus Christina sounds great. I find that she can over-sing at times but she has perfect control of her voice here. She ranges from talk-singing to saving a bit of belting towards the end. I can definitely see why this is one of her signature songs! I feel like she was still looking for her identity in the video but the dancing was fun and thematically on point. Time for something completely different next! As we move from pop to an entirely electronic single. This is 'At the River' by Groove Armada! I was introduced to this song through the M&S adverts that it featured in, so it'll always be synonymous with those for me. It would take me a few years to realise what the song exactly was though! I remember being shocked to find out that it was Groove Armada, as I was so used to their music being upbeat - thanks to tracks like 'Superstylin', 'Song 4 Mutya' and 'Get Down'. So that was a fun surprise. This was originally released in 1997 but didn't chart until 1999, after it was played by Radio 1. However, the playlist committee there actually believed that it was too slow for radio! It was thanks to producers and listeners that it forced its way to airplay. It charted at a respectable #19. 'At the River' is chill-out heaven for me! It's so easy to get lost in the dreamy lyrics of the song it samples (the vintage 'Old Cape Cod' by Patti Page - a song they discovered from a 1950s compilation album found in a bargain bin!) - plus the production provides the most amazing layers. The electronic elements are a treat to my ears, naturally, plus the trombone gives it more character. God bless you M&S advert!

So... you thought the meme songs would end with the Hamster Dance one? Well, think again! 'All Star' may be the lowest peaking song here (at #24) but its lasting impact transcends that. Plus it was a top 5 smash in the United States! I wrongly assumed that this song was released in the early 2000s for years, due to being so synonymous with the first Shrek movie (featuring Mike Myers of 'Beautiful Stranger' music video fame earlier, these connections oh my) - that came out in 2001. But nope, this traces back to 1999 and was featured in an entirely different movie first - Mystery Men. The music video for 'All Star' actually features cast members from that movie. If only it had a Shrek themed music video. I have a huge amount of nostalgia for 'All Star' as the first two Shrek movies were a big part of my childhood. It's an effective song for making you feel pumped for sure, especially thanks to the fast delivery of the bridge and the euphoric release of the chorus. The instantly recognisable SOMEBODY- opening lets us know that this anthem has landed with defiance. It's a song that gets lodged in my brain with ease and I am never mad when this happens. It shall forever trigger happy childhood feelings. Also memes. Rounding off this section is one of many classic dance songs from 1999! 'Better Off Alone' originally started out as an instrumental, but the "do you think you're better off alone?" hook was organically added in time, inspired by a break-up. Fuse these straightforward lyrics and the very melodic trance production together and you have one infectious song. The words are very repetitive, but they still pack an emotional punch nevertheless. There's something quite haunting about the main hook being a question to the audience that isn't explored much further. The production of course does the talking too and is a timeless essential for any dancefloor with taste! A total hands in the air moment. I was lucky enough to hear this live as part of a 'We Love The 90s' concert live last year and it was utterly blissful, everyone went wild for it. A very unifying song. It was a hit in various places around the world so its appeal knows no bounds. It charted as high as #2 here in the United Kingdom and was a top 30 hit in the States. We shall not speak of the David Guetta butchering of it. However, MC Smally, an iconic child rapper who samples it in a very amateur fashion for 'MC Smally That's My Name' can stay.

Posted by: Mack. 9th March 2020, 10:39 PM

All ten all great songs in their own way. Sorry more in depth comment will follow, Jade.

Posted by: Jade 9th March 2020, 10:48 PM

Ooh a clean sweep, fantastic! Looking forward to it

Posted by: PeteFromLeeds 11th March 2020, 07:57 PM

I used to hate At The River because it was long and slow and nothing like the rest of the album But I do quite enjoy it now, and I am indeed fond of sand dunes and salty air *.* Better Off Alone is decent and of course has been sampled in many a great tune, Genie In A Bottle has its merits as well (in fact my housemates have been singing it a lot recently which seems fairly random but sure!)

Posted by: Jade 11th March 2020, 08:05 PM

Oops I guess being surprised that 'At the River' was by Groove Armada is even more justified if it sounds nothing like the rest of the accompanying album then! I should really check it out at some point as I love their stuff in general. Glad the song grew on you over time anyway! Fabulous imagery alert right there *.* Apparently even Lindsay Lohan has sampled 'Better Off Alone', the impact! Ooh your housemates have taste, 'Genie In A Bottle' confirmed eternal sing-a-long classic x

thank you for commenting <3

Posted by: Jade 16th March 2020, 10:57 PM

15. Sixpence None the Richer - Kiss Me
(chart-run: 4-5-8-10-14-18-26-28-32-40-49-66)

14. ATB - 9 PM (Till I Come)
(chart-run: 1-1-2-3-5-6-12-14-21-31-38-42-51-59-75)

13. Five - Keep On Movin'
(chart-run: 1-3-6-8-13-16-21-24-20-19-19-24-31-41-54-60-63)

12. The Chemical Brothers - Hey Boy Hey Girl
(chart-run: 3-6-10-16-27-31-36-47-58-62)

11. Chicane - Saltwater (feat. Maire Brennan)
(chart-run: 6-9-13-18-23-37-40-47-69-75)



Kicking off the top 15 is 'Kiss Me' by Sixpence None The Richer! A lot of dance music features in the rest of the top 15, but for now, here is one of the singles that breaks that up a bit. 'Kiss Me' is instead an irresistible pop-rock earworm. It's not quite as in-your-face as a lot of catchy songs are though. This is a very cute and delicate offering. But that chorus is oh so memorable! Even the melody of the production can get lodged in my brain - especially when the harmonica comes out. The innocence of 'Kiss Me' is very endearing to me. It's a simple, breezy song about love that is totally elevated by the beautiful imagery present in the lyrics. The chorus in particular is so dreamy! The verses do paint a picture effectively too though, very nice story-telling. The video is pretty simple but the outdoor setting in dark lighting really suits the song well. Finally, I must add that the vocalist has a really graceful delivery which further adds to the charm of 'Kiss Me'. I shall confess now that this is all I know of Sixpence None The Richer, but the band apparently had one further top 20 hit with a cover of 'There She Goes' by La's! So their shelf life in the chart was very short as that was about it. But they did a great job of their 15 minutes of fame as they'll forever have this nostalgic top 5 hit to their name. Today I found out that this charted as high as #2 in the U.S. also, wow! That's good going. Next up is a song that my boss was surprised that I knew! Let's get into that story first. So, said boss received a text that was signed off with ATB and asked us what that meant. Soon someone replied that it stood for "all the best" and he replied that it just reminded him of "ATB who had that big hit in the 90s, what was it called?". Everyone else on my team was scratching their heads but, of course, I had to pipe up with the song title. My boss was very surprised that I had heard of this song. First he said "were you even born when it was released?" and yes, I was 2. But of course I was too young to recall it at the time. Welcome to the land of my music knowledge, colleagues. So... that happened. Boo that no-one else in close proximity could recall the title! I'll let them off because '9PM' isn't actually mentioned in the song at all. Instead, the part in brackets is repeated a lot by vocalist Yolanda Rivera. It's a standout line for sure, but what really made me fall for this song is the production! That wobbly trance instrumental hook is just glorious. It rightfully provided ATB with a debut mega hit - as '9 PM (Till I Come)' not only went to #1, but had import demand prior to that AND became the 5th best selling single of the year in the U.K. The German producer would score further hits but not quite to the scale of this groovy, hypnotic monster smash. The next song, another brief departure from dance music, is incredibly nostalgic for me! This is because in primary school (year 5 specifically!) my year were presenting an assembly that included the use of this song. All of the girls had to do a cheerleading routine to it! I remember the rehearsals for that being an absolute blast so I'll always associate 'Keep On Movin' with those happy memories. My parents actually have that routine recorded on an old video camera somewhere... 9-year-old Jade loving life with her blue pom poms forever immortalised. Anyway! The 1990s was home to many a boyband hit, but I think this one may just eclipse all the others that the decade had to offer! It's one of those songs that just instantly lifts my spirits in a heartbeat. Away from the childhood memories, it's such a joyful song with a really positive message. I can't help but feel motivated by the happy-go-lucky lyrics delivered in the form of a storming pop song. I dare you to not crack a smile to this. 'Keep On Movin' is a cheesy boyband hit done right I tell thee! The video feels very 90s with the boyband moves and colourful back-drop, although at least they weren't trying to be futuristic with it, so it hasn't aged that badly. This was Five's first #1 hit, what a great song to achieve that with!

Now it's time to round off with two very different electronic songs! At #12 it's The Chemical Brothers with one of their signature hits - 'Hey Boy Hey Girl'. I had the absolute pleasure of seeing these guys live in November of last year and wow, what a night that was. 'Hey Boy Hey Girl' was one of my highlights of the concert, especially as they spent a while building the song up, so when that first drop arrived, the atmosphere was truly insane! The studio version is a masterclass in building nevertheless. That trance-influenced big beat production is insanely good, it sounds massive and I love how it has this dark, foreboding feel to it. I suppose a skeleton themed video fit well with that in mind. The lyrics are incredibly repetitive as they continuously focus on a sample of 'The Roof Is on Fire' by Rock Master Scott & the Dynamic Three. But hey, I'm a sucker for loopy dance so of course I'm into this. It's bold and brimming with personality. Acts like The Chemical Brothers and The Prodigy really stood out from the crowd when looking back at the 90s. Just missing out on a place in the top 10 is the stunning 'Saltwater' by Chicane! I have the BJSC 90s vs. 00s spin-off on this website to thank for really kicking my love of this up a notch. Once upon a time I presumed it was an Enya song, although I guess I was close enough as the vocalist is Enya's sister! Plus it incorporates a Clannad song, a band that both of the girls were part of. I eventually found out what the song truly was and never looked back. Here we have some spectacular trance goodness that fuses both relaxation and euphoria. I love when a song achieves that difficult balance! The video strikes a similar tone, as it flicks between surfing scenes and the madness of a nightclub. I find these transitions really satisfying mainly due to the colours - the blue/green sea turning into the blue/green lights in the club? Very aesthetically pleasing. As for the song itself, the ambient production mixed with echoey vocals is so chilling. Chicane truly created something magical here! This is thankfully included amongst his list of 4 top 10 hits.

Top 10 next week!

Posted by: Bré 16th March 2020, 11:26 PM

I spy a coi fave *.*

Posted by: Jade 16th March 2020, 11:32 PM

ngl I did think of coi as I was about to dive into that 'Kiss Me' commentary. Passing comment on plug.dj impact!

Posted by: coi 16th March 2020, 11:35 PM

Burn it. Fortunately some much better selections just above it, especially ATB's classic tune!

Posted by: Jade 16th March 2020, 11:44 PM

glad I was redeemed elsewhere. As are you for loving the ATB song <3

Posted by: dan.G 17th March 2020, 12:03 AM

22. Artful Dodger - Re-Rewind (The Crowd Say Bo Selecta) (feat. Craig David)
one of the very best garage tracks, not a genre I'm as fond of as a few others in dance but this is a great track.

19. Christina Aguilera - Genie In A Bottle
I don't think she ever bettered this, it's definitely one of the year's best pop songs.

17. Smash Mouth - All Star
not a song I choose to play very often but the memes have made me appreciate it more.

16. DJ Jurgen Presents Alice Deejay - Better Off Alone
yes what an anthem! would be firmly in my top 5 of the year I think.

15. Sixpence None the Richer - Kiss Me
this is a rather sweet song, I quite like it more than I really should for this sort of song.

14. ATB - 9 PM (Till I Come)
great to see another big trance anthem here! would've been great to have lived through that time, as a big trance fan who only discovered these bangers long after trance was dead as a chart force.

13. Five - Keep On Movin'
this is surprisingly good for a boyband song actually, not a huge fave but I like it.

12. The Chemical Brothers - Hey Boy Hey Girl
another great dance anthem. no surprise this is one of their most remembered hits, it's up with their best.

11. Chicane - Saltwater (feat. Maire Brennan)
love this, and I've also grown to appreciate it more recently. I've put on the 10 minute version a couple of times too and he doesn't waste any time on it.

Posted by: Jade 17th March 2020, 09:56 AM

Hey Dan

#22 - Ooh okay I wasn't aware that you weren't massively fond of garage music compared to other dance genres! Well, I'm glad that you appreciate 'Re-rewind', there'll be some more garage on the way so I'll be interested to see if you're a fan of any of those tracks remaining.

#19 - I think 'Dirrrty' is still my Christina favourite but 'Genie In A Bottle' is definitely up there and an ultimate pop highlight of the year as you say. One more of those to come, otherwise the top 10 is packed full of dance haha, it had to be for 1999 *_*

#17 - God bless the memes *.*

#16 - Ooh top 5 of the year is very high praise! If some of you guys post your own top 10s/20s/40s etc. of the year again, after I'm done counting down 1999, then I'll be very interested to see them. What a year *.*

#15 - Yay I'm glad that you like the Sixpence None The Richer song, I hope coi is the only radical 'Kiss Me' troll

#14 - We're definitely united with a love of trance <3 I think the 90s is my second favourite decade for music after the 00s (very excited to be kicking that off soon) so I often wonder what it would've been like to live through the decade properly. Trance to make a comeback one day please x

#13 - Ooh at this point I've noticed that you've said something positive about the entire last section, yay! Boyband hits can be hit or miss but this is definitely one of the best, I also quite liked 'Let's Dance' from Five too but they never topped this.

#12 - Yeah 'Hey Boy Hey Girl' is incredibly memorable they have such a great back catalogue even to this day!

#11 - Oh yes I would happily listen to the 10 minute version too, can't get enough of 'Saltwater'

Thank you for commenting <3

Posted by: PeteFromLeeds 17th March 2020, 03:42 PM

Hey Boy Hey Girl - now that takes me back! My dad used to play that a lot so I've become a big fan as well. 9PM (Till I Come) is a tune as well, and I'm playing Saltwater as well - another great one by Chicane!

Posted by: Jade 17th March 2020, 04:13 PM

Ooh great taste there from your dad *.* + Chicane rarely disappoints glad that you enjoyed the triple whammy of dance!

thank you for commenting <3

Posted by: Mack. 19th March 2020, 03:52 PM

'Keep On Movin' probably my favourite song that Five would still listen to this anytime. 'Saltwater' I remember this from some random reason being featured as background music on Channel 4 Racing back in the day. 'Hey Boy, Hey Girl' and '9PM (Till I Come, 'Kiss Me' all classics.

What a half of dozen songs there, Jade.

Posted by: Jade 19th March 2020, 09:37 PM

Hey there Mack

Hooray, snap favourite Five song then *.* I was not aware that 'Saltwater' was background music for Channel 4 Racing but that's cool! Once again praise for all 5 songs, yay, our taste is aligning a lot for the 90s so far! Hopefully it stays that way for the noughties too.

Thank you for commenting <3

Posted by: Mack. 20th March 2020, 03:08 PM

Saltwater, I just remember being featured as background.music when the horse came into the winners enclosure in a big race in the early 00s on Channel 4 Racing.

Posted by: Jade 23rd March 2020, 11:08 PM

10. Britney Spears - ...Baby One More Time
(chart-run: 1-1-2-3-3-4-6-7-11-15-17-19-21-24-27-25-27-31-46-60-64-63)

09. Fatboy Slim - Praise You
(chart-run: 1-4-9-13-18-23-25-34-49-61-66-72)

08. Armand Van Helden - You Don't Know Me (feat. Duane Harden)
(chart-run: 1-2-7-13-20-27-32-35-39-45-74-72R(4))

07. Shaft - (Mucho Mambo) Sway
(chart-run: 2-3-6-9-12-17-23-28-37-48-62-69)

06. Wamdue Project - King of My Castle
(chart-run: 1-2-3-6-14-16-13-17-23-33-46-58-47-49-70-74R(3))



Kicking off the top 10 is the second and final 1999 appearance for the princess of pop, Britney Spears! Here she is with '...Baby One More Time' which was the first CD single I ever bought. This was second hand at a car-boot sale at some point in the noughties! My interest in music was growing more and more by the day and Britney was a familiar name to me. So I picked up the single, took it up to my room and played it over and over again. I recall making up a dance routine to it as well! All these years later '...Baby One More Time' is still a song that I can happily hear over and over again. I've actually got it on loop as I'm typing this! At just 16 years old, Britney was ready to make her mark as a fully fledged pop star. She got it just right with a bonafide smash penned by Max Martin! He also produced it with the help of Rami. It's hard to imagine that such a ready-made hit was turned down by the Backstreet Boys, TLC and 5ive before it got into Britney's hands! But this was the case. Now it feels strange to imagine anyone else but Britney singing it! Well, perhaps Darius as well with that infamous audition of his. But yes, back to Britney. Her vocal style quickly appeared to be unique - raspy but sweet, if a little nasally too. She put her stamp on this song about a teenage romance, where she wanted the guy back, just perfectly. She was the driving force behind the video too. The original idea was actually a cartoon video, but Britney swayed it in the direction of a real life school setting instead (the same one that features in Grease) with her famous school-girl outfit and choreography in the hallway. She felt that this setting was relatable for her own age and fellow younger demographic. The memorable video went down a storm and is considered iconic today. It became the first female music video from the 90s to be Vevo certified on YouTube, so its impact lives on! The whole package is a masterclass in launching a pop-star. The song itself contains multiple addictive hooks, the video was a talking point, Britney herself was so well-received as a star... the song instantly shot to #1 in the U.K. (and EVERY European country it charted in!!) with humongous sales, enough to be the biggest hit of the year here. That gave Britney the honour of being the final performer of the 90s on Top of the Pops, during their end of year show. Here we have an effortlessly striking and triumphant debut that set Britney up for a very successful career in pop. She would reshape the sound of pop music for the late 1990s and become one of the most famous faces in the world - and she wasn't even an adult yet! Impressive. I've recently picked up the accompanying '...Baby One More Time' album on pink swirl vinyl and look forward to hearing this record on my turntable soon. I have been listening to Britney more than ever lately as a comforting act in memory of Tyler, a friend to all. This one's for him. <3 Next we have another #1 with a memorable video, but we dip into the world of dance now instead of pop! It was Fatboy Slim's first #1 single under this pseudonym, as mastermind Norman Cook had been on the scene for a while before this point. 'Praise You' is an uplifting Big Beat chart topper that relies on a few samples, the most prominent one being the opening of 'Take Yo' Praise' by Camille Yarbrough. The "I have to celebrate you baby, I have to praise you like I should" lyrics are incredibly warm. The production takes us on a real journey - it feels soothing initially but explodes into an exciting, funky experience as we delve deeper into the song. The accompanying video is simple but effective for sure! The shoestring budget (well... $800, but that's nothing in the world of music videos!) is evident, as an authentic flash-mob takes place in public without permission! The amateurish dancing is very endearing and unifying, making it a perfect fit for the song. In such an isolated world right now, it's a real pick-me-up to watch this video. It was rightfully recognised at the MTV VMAs in 1999. So... another dance #1 you say? Well, okay then! Next up it's Armand Van Helden with a little help from Duane Harden on vocals with 'You Don't Know Me'. Here we have another sample-heavy and funky smash, but with far less of an outright positive feel to it. Instead, Harden is quite scathing to the subject of the song, stating "you don't understand me, so why do you judge my life?" - it's all rather sassy and soulful, but he turns the negativity into a positive too - where he takes control of his own life and destiny with lyrics such as "I've decided I gotta be strong". You go Duane! It was indeed him who wrote the lyrics, solo at that. Helden came up with the production first and the lyrics were the secondary addition. They merged together to provide a popular passionate floor-filler! The garage house song dislodged The Offspring from the top spot here in the U.K. and showed that dance was alive and kicking as a chart force in 1999, as well as many other hits that year, two of which are coming up right now...

This section is entirely comprised of #1 singles except one - it was Shaft who had to settle for the #2 position instead with '(Mucho Mambo) Sway'! The public's taste was clearly on point this year when it came to chart music, just look at all of these top 2 hits featuring so high for 1999. Okay, so on paper a high-pitched dance version of 'Sway' sounds like a recipe for disaster - potentially very tacky, right? Well, this version instead smashes it out of the park! It is all about that glorious beat, which sounds overwhelmingly massive and instantly makes me want to get up and shake my cares away. The vocals are surprisingly addictive too. This is another big beat song, much like 'Praise You' earlier, so I clearly have an affinity for this electronic music genre. '(Mucho Mambo) Sway' of course has latin influences as well which is often a recipe for success in my world too. This was Shaft's debut so they very quickly found success. It was harder to maintain though, with their output being on the gimmicky side, but they'll always have this gem in their repertoire, so it's all good. What an infectious reworking! Rounding off this section is one more dance song for good measure and that is 'King of My Castle' by Wamdue Project! This is an alias of producer Chris Brann, with Gaelle Adisson featuring on vocals. This is an incredibly groovy and squelchy house song with vocals that hook you in from the word go. The inspiration behind the song is actually Sigmund Freud's theory of the unconscious - hooray, my A Level Psychology lessons have proven useful for something. Some of Freud's own words on the topic translate to "the ego is not king of its own castle" so there we go, the lyrics are pretty self explanatory now. But, one memorable aspect of the song is what a certain lyric is. I was under the impression that the famous lyric was "must be the reason why I'm free in my trapped soul" or something along those lines, but google is saying "I'm free in my threshole" First of all... thresHOLE??? Surely not, someone fire whoever put that on LyricFind. Whatever it is, it's not as good as alternative suggestions from YouTube commenters, such as "Must be the reason I put beef in my casserole" - bet they wish they thought of that one eh. The song actually has two music videos, one is pretty standard miming to the song, while the other features footage from the anime film Ghost in the Shell. I decided to go for the basic video as the embed because it briefly features a black cat and my own loveable black feline Sparky is sitting next to me right now, so I fear I'll get evils if I don't rally behind her kind. Erm, yes, so 'King of My Castle' was another dance chart topper in 1999. A follow-up top 40 scrape materialised in the form of 'You're The Reason' but that was about it.

1999 concludes next week!

Posted by: DalekTurret32 23rd March 2020, 11:53 PM

I have Praise You and You Don't Know Me on CD single. Speaking of the latter, I also have 2 Future 4 U on triple vinyl, except my copy bought from a vintage shop has one of the discs missing (still bought it anyway as it was pretty rare and I could think of getting the missing disc off of Discogs)

Posted by: Jade 24th March 2020, 08:39 AM

Ooh nice! I think I just have both via Now albums but do have a couple of 'Right Here Right Now' related records in terms of Fatboy Slim, Record Store Day are obsessed with that song Oh it's so annoying when a disc is missing!! That happened to me too with 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' second hand, I've always made sure to triple check a second hand vinyl I'm interested in ever since

Thank you for commenting <3

Posted by: Mack. 24th March 2020, 09:56 AM

....Baby One More Time probably one of the greatest debuts by a female artist. 'Praise You', a classic with that iconic music video, 'You Don't Know Me' a fantastic tune, (Mucho Mambo) Sway another song which I couldn't tire of. 'King of My Castle' what a tune this was. Still sounds great today. All still great to listen to.

Posted by: Jade 24th March 2020, 10:05 AM

Hey there Mack

Yes, when I think of iconic debuts '...Baby One More Time' always pops into my head straight away! A modern classic for sure. I'm glad that you're a fan of the 'Praise You' video too, it's so simple but effective, knowing that they didn't have permission to be carrying out the dance there adds an amusing layer to it too. I'm also pleased that all of these dance songs are still sounding great for you today, 1999 kept on delivering with the high quality electronic music.

Thank you for commenting <3

Posted by: PeteFromLeeds 28th March 2020, 04:37 PM

Some more fab dance tunes in this section! King Of My Castle is one of the most memorable of its genre, and Sway really brings out the summer-y vibes which are great for being stuck indoors but oh well. Praise You is one of many brill songs from Fatboy Slim also.

Posted by: Jade 28th March 2020, 05:21 PM

Hey there Pete

Thank you! Looking forward to unveiling some more dance picks in the top 5 in just a couple of days. Yeah 'King Of My Castle' is extremely memorable - an enduring one hit wonder for sure (well, by definition of only one top 20 hit anyway). Omg revisiting 'Sway' recently has been a treat, trying to surround myself with as much uplifting music as possible during these difficult times! But yeah, shame about the lack of outdoors Fatboy Slim is such a legend

Thank you for commenting <3

Posted by: Jade 30th March 2020, 09:50 PM

05. Mr Oizo - Flat Beat
(chart-run: 1-1-2-8-17-19-27-41-50-51-53-51-70-62R(6)-60)

04. Shanks & Bigfoot - Sweet Like Chocolate
(chart-run: 1-1-2-5-8-11-18-22-26-33-37-38-44-55-73-66R(4))

03. Baz Luhrmann - Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)
(chart-run: 1-3-7-12-23-29-37-48-55-51-50-54-66-68-71-65)

02. Basement Jaxx - Red Alert
(chart-run: 5-6-10-12-20-23-33-35-49-74)

01. Fatboy Slim - Right Here, Right Now
(chart-run: 2-4-9-18-31-37-43-52-55-65)



Right, let's do this for the final time in the 90s kicking off this 1999 section, as the first in a string of 3 #1 hits, is 'Flat Beat' by Mr Oizo! I remember discovering this whole package on a 4Music '90s dance' countdown when I was younger. I was quickly fixated. I'm so glad that I experienced the song for the first time alongside its music video as it truly reaches its full potential with that. The video features legendary puppet Flat Eric who represents some of us home workers right now tbh. In the office he can be seen rocking out to the song over the phone, tapping on the keyboard with no monitor (!) and holding a sausage amongst other things. A true hero. He featured in a number of Levi's adverts and proved so popular that he was the star of the 'Flat Beat' video. This was a genius move as the song became an instant chart topper. It's pretty much an instrumental (save for a small talking portion) which is unique for a #1 and said production is flying the flag for the electro house genre. The wobbly instrumental of this song, that is repeated oh so much, is divine. That bassline really is a treat for the ears. It only took Mr Oizo two hours to make it apparently! Well, it took me just a few minutes to fall in love with the utterly fabulous combination of addictive loopy house and the iconic Flat Eric. What a start to the top 5 this is! Next we go from one cute video to another. Or creepy if you're not into animated videos with slightly dodgy lip-synching. But hey, you cannot deny the adorable swaying chocolate ants I tell thee! The star of the video is the pink-haired protagonist whose entire world is made out of chocolate. No this is not some Willy Wonka movie, instead, it's the visuals for Shanks & Bigfoot's 'Sweet Like Chocolate'! They previously appeared in this countdown for 1998 under former name 'Doolally'. This was for 'Straight From The Heart'. They were back here, with the same vocalist Sharon Woolf, to give us a monster hit. 'Sweet Like Chocolate' was originally released in 1998 as a promotional single, with just 1000 vinyl pressings and nothing else. It was promoted to official single status the following year and became the eighth best-selling single of 1999. Not bad going! Here we have a sugary sweet song with lyrics such as "you bring me so much joy". Aww. Woolf has a very cutesy vocal style, so she suits the words. The vocals also mesh well with the bouncy production. It's all very light and dreamy. The UK garage stamp helps it to stand out too. The beat is seriously infectious. I have sort of experienced this live as The xx included it in a mash-up during their 2017 tour. That was a highlight of the night for sure! So we've already dived into an instrumental #1... how about another unique chart-topper now? Next is spoken-word hit 'Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)' by Australian film director Baz Luhrmann. This mixes Luhrmann's remixed version of 'Everybody's Free (To Feel Good)' by Rozalla and the words from a 1997 speech by Mary Schmich that took off via viral email (!) - thankfully Luhrmann was able to use it despite having a very short deadline. The speech dispenses advice about how to live a happier life and includes a line about wearing sunscreen, hence the title of the song. I guess the 2020 version would be about washing hands eh. I've always found the lyrics extremely soothing but it did just freak me out a bit to realise that this is the first time I've listened to the song as a 22-year-old - so I'm an age mentioned in the song now! However, the line in question is "The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives" so that's pretty comforting actually. I shall hold on to this advice - not stressing about certain societal pressures and instead caring about the things that really matter. Like family and... sunscreen. I must say that the downtempo production is as equally soothing too. What a gorgeous package. I remember hearing this for the first time in school as part of a presentation and I immediately fell in love. It's such a special experience every time I choose to listen to it. Its impact lives on, as Radio 1 choose to play it once in a while and it receives an iTunes boost every time! I guess it has a certain charm to it that the nation grabs on to. What an idiosyncratic #1 single. It feels crazy to me that something I treasure as much as this song isn't #1 here but what can I say, 1999 was strong...

So, 'Red Alert' may have been popular enough on here to win the Basement Jaxx - 'The Singles' rate I hosted lasted last year, but unfortunately it has to settle for a silver medal in this countdown. I presumed that this song was from the noughties for years, because as a kid I danced to it at school as part of a club and the music for that was generally quite contemporary, so I lumped this in with the rest of the teacher's picks. I was therefore shocked to discover that it was actually a 90s hit! I suppose that's testament to how fresh it still is. Basement Jaxx released this as the lead single for their 'Remedy' album and it was a success - scoring a top 5 chart placing, being certified gold and having a lasting legacy as one of the duo's signature songs. 'Red Alert' certainly stands out from the crowd! It oozes personality and chaotic energy. From lyrics about a catastrophe to a sudden ear-piercing scream. You just can't forget the experience. It's stuck with me over the years and has turned into a firm favourite. It's such a pick-me-up floor-filler, from the funky house production to the "music keeps on playing on and on" hook. Everything might be messy right now but at least we've got the music. The "no no no..." background vocals are such an earworm moment too. The video is equally as manic as the song (well, the UK one, it has two videos apparently) as a meteor turns everyone in a diner into raving zombies. Casual as ever with Basement Jaxx. 'The Singles' is quite possibly my favourite greatest hits compilation ever. So there's a lot of quality songs on there. However, this stomper is the best of the best where their output is concerned. There was one man standing in their way however when it comes to this countdown... congratulations to Fatboy Slim who claims my favourite top 40 hit of 1999! We have already seen him in the top 10 with 'Praise You' but he's back for further glory. I guess it's hard to deny the crown to a song that I own on vinyl twice in different forms. The annual Record Store Day event is as obsessed with the song as me okay! 'Right Here, Right Now' was another hit that I discovered via school, this time it was because one of my teachers was so into it that she'd soundtrack EVERY serious PowerPoint with it for dramatic effect I wasn't complaining though! I fell in love and rummaged through every CD in the house as I wanted it on my iPod ASAP. My urgency mirrored that of the song itself I suppose. Thankfully my parents did actually own a dance compilation with it on. I knew their taste in 90s dance wouldn't let me down! This song merges both big beat and trip hop sounds so of course I was going to love it. The latter influence really impacts the intensity. The production is so hypnotic and gives me this warm, fuzzy feeling every time. The "right here, right now" sampled lyrics are as equally dramatic as the production so it all fits together like the perfect puzzle. The very scientifically inaccurate video is super cool as well, as the action-packed vibe intensifies even further with sea creatures swimming and humans running. It evidently has a real rip-roaring quality for me and I'm happy to try and keep up with it for the rest of my life. What a beaut of a dance record. Shame that Westlife kept it off #1 though. Yet another reason to give it the #1 spot here to make up for that madness.

We have reached the end of the 1990s! come back soon as we survive the Y2K bug ~

Posted by: Jade 30th March 2020, 09:50 PM

recap ~ full 1999 top 40:

01. Fatboy Slim - Right Here, Right Now
02. Basement Jaxx - Red Alert
03. Baz Luhrmann - Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)
04. Shanks & Bigfoot - Sweet Like Chocolate
05. Mr Oizo - Flat Beat
06. Wamdue Project - King of My Castle
07. Shaft - (Mucho Mambo) Sway
08. Armand Van Helden - You Don't Know Me (feat. Duane Harden)
09. Fatboy Slim - Praise You
10. Britney Spears - ...Baby One More Time

11. Chicane - Saltwater (feat. Maire Brennan)
12. The Chemical Brothers - Hey Boy Hey Girl
13. Five - Keep On Movin'
14. ATB - 9 PM (Till I Come)
15. Sixpence None the Richer - Kiss Me
16. DJ Jurgen Presents Alice Deejay - Better Off Alone
17. Smash Mouth - All Star
18. Groove Armada - At the River
19. Christina Aguilera - Genie In A Bottle
20. Madonna - Beautiful Stranger

21. Basement Jaxx - Rendez-Vu
22. Artful Dodger - Re-Rewind (The Crowd Say Bo Selecta) (feat. Craig David)
23. Cuban Boys - Cognoscenti vs. Intelligentsia
24. Geri Halliwell - Mi Chico Latino
25. Terrorvision - Tequila (Mint Royale Shot)
26. TLC - No Scrubs
27. Paul Johnson - Get Get Down
28. DJ Luck & MC Neat - A Little Bit of Luck
29. Eiffel 65 - Blue (Da Ba Dee)
30. Jamiroquai - Canned Heat

31. Eminem - My Name Is
32. Ricky Martin - Livin' La Vida Loca
33. Britney Spears - (You Drive Me) Crazy
34. Shania Twain - Man! I Feel Like A Woman!
35. Moloko - Sing It Back
36. Backstreet Boys - Larger Than Life
37. S Club 7 - Bring It All Back
38. Destiny's Child - Bills Bills Bills
39. Bran Van 3000 - Drinking In L.A.
40. Apollo 440 - Stop The Rock

(so sorry that this year started in September and finished in March, at least the top 35 was delivered in regular intervals)

the playleest continues to expand:

Posted by: Bré 30th March 2020, 10:04 PM

A fabulous top 10 <3 I think among those the only ones that I wouldn't consider to be all-time favourite tier songs are 'Red Alert', 'You Don't Know Me' and '...Baby One More Time' (and I do still really like at least the first two, ...BOMT I'm not really personally as big a fan of as the rest but I do acknowledge it as a classic obvz). But then 11th-13th are all all-time faves as well. x

Stanning Baz Luhrmann being as high as #3, wouldn't have expected that!

Posted by: dan.G 31st March 2020, 07:20 AM

Great top 10 here, RHRN has to be Fatboy's absolute best track and Red Alert is up with BJ's best too.
Sway, King Of My Castle, You Don't Know Me and Flat Beat are faves of the year too.

Posted by: Toilet Rollo 31st March 2020, 02:04 PM

These are my top 20 favourite singles that made the top 40 that year. Five of them are on your list as well. It was a great year for chart hits and I had to leave many good songs out. Moby prevents the Chemical Brothers having a clean sweep of the top 3.

1. Chemical Brothers - Hey Boy Hey Girl
2. Chemical Brothers - Out Of Control
3. Moby - Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad?
4. Chemical Brothers - Let Forever Be
5. UNKLE featuring Ian Brown - Be There
6. William Orbit - Barber's Adagio For Strings
7. System F - Out Of The Blue
8. Humate - Love Stimulation
9. Supergrass - Moving
10. Solar Stone - Seven Cities
11. Groove Armada - At The River
12. Underworld - Push Upstairs
13. Fatboy Slim - Right Here Right Now
14. Travis - Writing To Reach You
15. Chicane featuring Maire Brennan - Saltwater
16. The Cardigans - Erase/Rewind
17. Pet Shop Boys - New York City Boy
18. Baz Luhrmann - Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)
19. Mario Piu - Communication (Somebody Answer The Phone)
20. Bryan Adams - Cloud Number 9

Posted by: Chez Wombat 31st March 2020, 04:33 PM

An excellent winner, that would probably be my top pick too, it's so hypnotising and dramatic and has one of my favourite intros ever. Bloody Westlife keeping two of the best dance songs of the year off the top spot x

Some great stuff in the rest of the top 10, like I said, 1999 was a great year for dance-pop. This would be (a very rough version of) my top 10 of the year:

01. Fatboy Slim - Right Here Right Now
02. William Orbit - Barber's Adagio For Strings
03. Chemical Brothers - Hey Boy Hey Girl
04. Eiffel 65 - Blue (Da Ba Dee)
05. Alice Deejay - Better Off Alone
06. Blur - Tender
07. Foo Fighters - Learn to Fly
08. ATB - 9PM ('Til I Come)
09. Ricky Martin - Livin' La Vida Loca
10. Lou Bega - Mambo No. 5 ()

Rollo's post made me realise, are you counting William Orbit as 2000 or when it was first released? If not consider me shocked it's not here!

Posted by: Jade 1st April 2020, 05:55 PM

Why thank you <3 Wow that's a lot of all-time faves *.* I guess I gravitate towards pure pop music more so I can understand you singling out '...Baby One More Time' as less good than the others, at least I know you're also a big fan of 'Toxic' x (stay tuned for 2004 omg xo)

I clearly haven't displayed my love for 'Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)' enough on here well there you go, right up there as one of my faves of its respective year

thank you for commenting <3


Yay thanks Dan! I wholeheartedly agree with both of those statements (although 'Red Alert' is my outright fave as well of course). Excellent taste there!

thank you for commenting <3


Great to see that we had a decent amount of crossover - most importantly my #1 is in your top 20 and your #1 is also in my top 20! Chemical Brothers killing it *.* Moby so high too - he may make an appearance in 2000, watch this space...

thank you for commenting <3


Thanks Chez *.* how amazing that we have a snap #1 for this year. Hypnotising and dramatic sums it up perfectly cannae deal with Westlife, it wasn't even one of their more memorable songs either I like the look of your top 10 in general, 'Tender' and 'Mambo No.5' () wouldn't have been too far off for me. I'm not sure if I know the Foo Fighters song! As for William Orbit, I find it difficult to listen to that song in any form ever since the original classical piece was played at my great grandad's funeral, otherwise yes I can understand why it may seem like a notable omission!

thank you for commenting <3

Posted by: Mack. 2nd April 2020, 10:06 PM

A fantastic winner in 'Right Here Right Now '. Terrific tune. 'Red Alert' great tune from Basement Jaxx, wow that is a classic.

Baz Luhrmann it may be that it will always climb into the iTunes Top 100 every time it is played in Radio 1. Definitely sends a message there for me.

'Sweet Like Chocolate ' the vocals and production are just pure magic. Less said that Tulisas version the better.

'Flat Beat' always enjoyed this in 1999 and now. Flat Eric made it me for in this song.

Posted by: Riser 3rd April 2020, 02:27 AM

Hi Jade! Here are my faves from your faves!

01. Fatboy Slim - Right Here, Right Now
03. Baz Luhrmann - Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen) I'll never be able to wrap my head around this being a #1 single. The power of Chris Moyles I guess! I do love it though, how could you not? So unique and full of good advice. I did think Baz wrote the speech himself so I'm surprised to learn that's not the case!
09. Fatboy Slim - Praise You
10. Britney Spears - ...Baby One More Time
15. Sixpence None the Richer - Kiss Me This is such a perfect late-90s radio song, it certainly was all over the radio here at the time. Just a great-sounding, well-written song - simple but not too simple, and her vocals and the instrumentation are both so calming
16. DJ Jurgen Presents Alice Deejay - Better Off Alone
17. Smash Mouth - All Star Oh wow, I'm definitely disappointed to see this only peaked at #24 in the UK. But it's certainly made up for that with how well it's remembered now! Not sure if you know any other Smash Mouth songs (besides I'm A Believer surely), but they have a handful of other catchy tunes if you ever get curious!
19. Christina Aguilera - Genie In A Bottle
20. Madonna - Beautiful Stranger
23. Cuban Boys - Cognoscenti vs. Intelligentsia Whaaaaat, add me to the list of those who never realized this was the origin of the Hampster Dance I've always wondered how that never made the charts, so that sort of explains it. This song sounds all right, but I guess I'm just too accustomed to the Hampster Dance, so I'll be sticking with that one
24. Geri Halliwell - Mi Chico Latino So none of the Spices had any sort of solo success here. This was the only solo Spice single I knew growing up because it was on a compilation that I got as a random prize inside a cereal box *_*
26. TLC - No Scrubs
28. DJ Luck & MC Neat - A Little Bit of Luck Just discovered this a day or two ago listening to a March 2000 chart show on Mixcloud! That shows what a great run it had, debuting in '99 and still charting the following March. That impressive post-Christmas climb to the top 10! Kind of like Pump It Up or Baby Shark nowadays Anyway great garage tune, and I got some Showtek - Booyah vibes from it too
29. Eiffel 65 - Blue (Da Ba Dee)
31. Eminem - My Name Is
32. Ricky Martin - Livin' La Vida Loca
33. Britney Spears - (You Drive Me) Crazy This might actually be my favorite single from Britney's debut. Baby One More Time is obviously the pop masterpiece to end all pop masterpieces, but I like how this sounded more mature for her, but still appropriate, without going overboard like I'm A Slave 4 U.
34. Shania Twain - Man! I Feel Like A Woman!
36. Backstreet Boys - Larger Than Life Yeah, I have no idea how this only peaked at #25 in the US. It sure felt like it was everywhere at the time, plus with the album being absolutely massive. Baffling!
38. Destiny's Child - Bills Bills Bills

Well done, looking forward to 2000!

Posted by: Mack. 6th April 2020, 09:47 PM

Really looking forward to 2000, enjoying this series of countdowns, Jade.

Posted by: Jade 🐠 10th April 2020, 10:19 AM

Hey there Mack

Glad you were a fan of my whole top 5! I love that the Radio 1 plays of Baz Luhrmann always result in a surge, I think it's due another one now tbh.

I have listened to the Tulisa version of 'Sweet Like Chocolate' once and never again, definitely a pointless remake

Flat Eric a true icon

Thanks for commenting <3


Hey there Jordan

- Yeah 'Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)' really was such an idiosyncratic #1! I'm glad that people rallied behind it in such a way and that it still gets a good reaction over 20 years later. Apologies for shattering the illusion that Baz wrote the speech I love that the actual speech went viral 'via email' The advice is so soothing <3
- Totally agree with what you said about 'Kiss Me'! Very wide-appealing and timeless with its charming simplicity
- Yeah 'All Star' feels way more well known than its peak here would suggest thanks to its Shrek connection and of course the life it has taken on as a meme! I think the 'I'm A Believer' cover is the only other Smash Mouth song I know so I'll definitely have to check out more.
- I think 'Cognoscenti vs. Intelligentsia' actually piggy-backed off the back of the Hampster Dance! I was so used to the Hampster Dance version back in the day but they're about equal in my affections now after hearing 'Cognoscenti vs. Intelligentsia' quite a lot over the years!
- A shame that the Spice Girls never experienced solo success in the US! Winning a compilation in a cereal box though - brilliant
- Woah what a coincidence with the Mixcloud discovery I've been listening to quite a few 2008 and 2010 charts while working from home! But worked through a lot of 90s ones in the past so I might've heard that one too. Indeed a very impressive run for 'A Little Bit Of Luck' anyway! Will have to listen out for 'Booyah' vibes
- '(You Drive Me) Crazy' is a brilliant choice of favourite from Britney's debut! This and the title track are way out in front for me compared to everything else that era - such pop perfection. The 'Stop!' remix totally elevated it <3 It was definitely a step in the right direction as a single.
- I wonder what went wrong with 'Larger Than Life' if it was everywhere! Madness

Thank you for commenting <3


Thanks so much Mack I think I'll kick it off after Teams has concluded as balancing that and Club Bizarre alone has been quite time consuming on top of working!

Posted by: LewisGT 10th April 2020, 12:12 PM

All Star is an all-time classic. I can't believe how low it peaked in the UK. If only Shrek was released a couple of years earlier.

Baby One More Time, King Of My Castle and The Fatboy Slim songs are great too

Posted by: Jade 🐠 10th April 2020, 12:15 PM

I know right? 'All Star' feels way more tied to Shrek now than the actual movie in its music video!

Pleased that you're a fan of all of those too

Thanks for commenting <3

Posted by: gooddelta 13th April 2020, 01:58 PM

Hi Jade, really enjoying following this, 1999 was such an incredible year and you've picked some great songs from it:

01. Fatboy Slim - Right Here, Right Now
02. Basement Jaxx - Red Alert Solid top two, British dance music was really on form this year
03. Baz Luhrmann - Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen) I'll always adore this, so unique
04. Shanks & Bigfoot - Sweet Like Chocolate
05. Mr Oizo - Flat Beat
06. Wamdue Project - King of My Castle
07. Shaft - (Mucho Mambo) Sway
08. Armand Van Helden - You Don't Know Me (feat. Duane Harden)
09. Fatboy Slim - Praise You
10. Britney Spears - ...Baby One More Time
11. Chicane - Saltwater (feat. Maire Brennan)
12. The Chemical Brothers - Hey Boy Hey Girl
13. Five - Keep On Movin'
14. ATB - 9 PM (Till I Come) The song that got me into dance music <3 My ears were wowed when I first heard this on the Virgin Megastore listening post, incredible track
15. Sixpence None the Richer - Kiss Me
16. DJ Jurgen Presents Alice Deejay - Better Off Alone My favourite song of 1999, I adore everything about it
17. Smash Mouth - All Star
18. Groove Armada - At the River Such a chilled, relaxing song, all of their major singles sound so different from one another
19. Christina Aguilera - Genie In A Bottle
20. Madonna - Beautiful Stranger
21. Basement Jaxx - Rendez-Vu I actually prefer this to Red Alert, quite a strange song vocally but I adore it
22. Artful Dodger - Re-Rewind (The Crowd Say Bo Selecta) (feat. Craig David)
23. Cuban Boys - Cognoscenti vs. Intelligentsia
24. Geri Halliwell - Mi Chico Latino
25. Terrorvision - Tequila (Mint Royale Shot)
26. TLC - No Scrubs
27. Paul Johnson - Get Get Down
28. DJ Luck & MC Neat - A Little Bit of Luck
29. Eiffel 65 - Blue (Da Ba Dee)
30. Jamiroquai - Canned Heat
31. Eminem - My Name Is I remember the first time I heard this in a 50p shop on the radio, it stood out so much, didn't realise he'd still be a big thing over 20 years later though!
32. Ricky Martin - Livin' La Vida Loca
33. Britney Spears - (You Drive Me) Crazy
34. Shania Twain - Man! I Feel Like A Woman!
35. Moloko - Sing It Back
36. Backstreet Boys - Larger Than Life
37. S Club 7 - Bring It All Back
38. Destiny's Child - Bills Bills Bills
39. Bran Van 3000 - Drinking In L.A.
40. Apollo 440 - Stop The Rock

Wow, amazing list, I like all of them!

Posted by: AH Gold 29th April 2020, 01:51 AM

A bit late to the party here, but what a great thread!

From your 1997 Top 40, Professional Widow, Encore Une Fois, The Age Of Love, Never Gonna Let You Go, Nightmare, Your Woman & Sunchyme would also be in mine.

From your 1998 Top 40, I Can’t Help Myself , Intergalactic, Believe, Ray Of Light, Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life), Life Is A Flower, Straight From The Heart, Mysterious Times, It’s Like That, Music Sounds Better With You & Frozen would all be in my Top 40 too.

And from your 1999 Top 40, Drinking In L.A, My Name Is, A Little Bit Of Luck, Cognoscenti vs. Intelligentsia, Beautiful Stranger, At The River, Better Off Alone, 9pm (Till I Come), Saltwater, Flat Beat & Sweet Like Chocolate.

In fact, I bought them all at the time, which makes me feel very old

I'm looking forward to 2000 and beyond

Posted by: Popchartfreak 29th April 2020, 12:25 PM

Hi Jade, I won;t go through every track, I'll just by way of comparison list the number of each top 40 that got a "silver" record in my charts (or "sales" of 250,000)

1997: 17
1998: 20
1999: 15

Pretty good crossover appeal I think I've a few more US/UK/poprock tracks than yours (most notably the absent Texas), and less dance overall, but most of the biggies are present and correct

Posted by: Jade 🐠 29th April 2020, 12:45 PM

Haven't forgotten about this btw, still waiting for Teams to conclude, I think we're on the final task now so will hopefully continue next week!

Hey there Rich

I recall you mentioning 1999 as a strong year in the past so I'm pleased that you have shared your opinions on it here *.* glad you approve of my picks so much too!

- British dance music really was incredible that year a lot of standout hits!
- Yeah I don't think I've come across anything like 'Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)' before, it's in a lane of its own, genius!
- Oh wow, what an introduction to a love of dance music I think my equivalent would've been 'Toca's Miracle' but years after it was actually released! Virgin Megastore, what a throwback *.* the last time I remember going there was to buy a Sims game rated 12, when I was slightly younger (rebel), so yeah a while ago!
- Haha yes was waiting for your 'Better Off Alone' appreciation I feel so lucky to have witnessed that live last year, what a moment!
- 'At The River' is just blissful yeah I agree with that comment, I was definitely shocked to discover that this was by them!
- 'Rendez-vu' has really crept up on me over the past couple of years, feels underrated despite its peak, so I'm glad you are so fond of it!
- 50p shop *.* yeah Eminem's longevity has been insane!

Thank you for commenting <3


Hey there AH Gold

No worries, better late than never, still here in time to experience the whole of the noughties + 2010s *.* glad you're enjoying the thread

Wow so many highlights there <3 with a particular fondess for 'I Can't Help Myself' I see, I just had to sneak that in *.*

Sorry for making you feel old but what a time to have properly lived through *.*

Yay, thank you for commenting <3


Hey there John

Haha fair enough, I guess 120 songs would be quite a lot to comment on at once

Ooh that crossover is not bad at all looking forward to seeing what it will be like in the noughties. Texas passed me by a bit, need to delve into their discography more at some point, or at least revisit Now albums with their stuff on it!

Thank you for commenting <3

Posted by: Jade 4th May 2020, 09:26 AM

Aiming to bring this back tonight

I discovered Fiona Apple's only top 40 single 'Fast As You Can' about two weeks ago and love it so that can be #41 for 1999

Posted by: Jade 4th May 2020, 10:47 PM

40. *NSYNC - Bye Bye Bye
(chart-run: 3-8-11-20-28-37-44-58)

39. Daft Punk - One More Time
(chart-run: 2-7-13-19-28-29-22-26-35-46-59-70)

38. Marc et Claude - I Need Your Lovin' (Like The Sunshine)
(chart-run: 12-20-27-39-50-63-73)

37. Moloko - The Time Is Now
(chart-run: 2-4-11-16-25-38-36-44-58-75)

36. LeAnn Rimes - Can't Fight The Moonlight
(chart-run: 1-2-3-5-6-7-8-11-15-19-26-31-37-43-61-64-74)



It turns out that I intentionally delayed this until May, just so I could reference the it's gonna be May *NSYNC meme, as I knew they were kicking this off. Only kidding, I love a meme as much as the next person but I was genuinely too swamped for a while. Now I'm back, ready and pleased that this did happen to coincide with the month of May. It isn't the song referenced in the meme that is making an appearance though - instead 'Bye Bye Bye' has the honour of kicking off the entire 2000s part of this countdown! I wasn't too familiar with the group while growing up - of course Justin Timblerlake was a huge star in his own right during my childhood, but *NSYNC's music was a little before my time. I did happen to come across 'Bye Bye Bye' during my primary school years though! Rewind back to year 5 - we had an exciting games day, where everyone was encouraged to bring a game into school. This could either be a board game or one accompanying a console. My friend brought in an American Idol game for the Game Boy Advance and I got 'Bye Bye Bye' during some kind of song selection. The rest is history! It has stuck with me during all of these years as *NSYNC's defining song. It could've been a completely different scenario though. It was originally written for 5ive with the chorus in rap form! I'm so glad that those plans didn't end up working out and it instead became this pop juggernaut. It was released as the first single from the iconic album 'No Strings Attached' and was said to be written about the end of a romantic relationship. However, it has also been reported that it's actually about the group's separation from their manager Lou Pearlman too. This would tie into the music video really well as they're being controlled as puppets on strings. Those visuals are so striking! Definitely the ultimate *NSYNC music video moment that sticks in my mind. Here we have an absolute monster of a lead single. The chorus is ludicrously catchy but the song is equally as production driven, as the electronic elements have a real kick to them in addition to some strong drums. I was shocked to find out that 'Bye Bye Bye' has a higher peak in the UK compared to the US, as it reached #3 here but #4 there! However, the accompanying album was of course a mammoth success story. What an introduction to that era and to this first 2000s section! Next it's the return of French electronic duo Daft Punk after they previously appeared with 'Around The World'. Honestly this feels too low but 2000 was an extremely competitive year! It's full of familiar favourites and underrated gems. This definitely falls into the former category as I've heard 'One More Time' a lot over the years. I'll never get bored of it though! It's a French house song with all the right ingredients. Firstly, it's very loopy which is always a winner for me. Then I think the auto-tuned effect is utilised to perfection on the vocals provided by Romanthony. They're so heavily edited but I never really think about that fact. Instead they're just so effortlessly warm. Also the lyrics are an utter joy! "One more time we're gonna celebrate" is fine by me. Finally, the song builds up so well. Daft Punk cut to the chase with an instantly energetic single, but then it ends up slowing down for a little while, before then launching us back to the original tempo. What an incredible ride that is! The accompanying video is pretty outlandish as it portrays cartoon aliens performing. Why not! It doesn't quite impress me as much as the 'Around The World' video (not a lot does tbh) but this is definitely another standout moment for them in terms of visuals. 'One More Time' was a #2 hit in the UK and remained their highest charting single until 'Get Lucky' was released a whopping 13 years later! Now we move on to a song that gives me serious warm fuzzy feelings. This is 'I Need Your Lovin' (Like the Sunshine)' by German duo Marc et Claude. The two joined forces while German trance music was thriving. This is easily the lowest peaking song to appear so far for 2000, off the back of two top 3 hits, but it was the duo's ultimate moment in the spotlight. I'm pretty sure I discovered this beauty from Now 46 - an edition of the compilation that was absolutely bursting with dance music. I fell in love straight away with the soothing vocal delivery, romantic lyrics and electronic production. The song slowly draws us in with the softer features but takes on a life of its own when those trance beats hit hard. The record actually samples 'Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime' by The Korgis and would not be the last song to do so. This single has been pure bliss for me for years but I've only just watched the music video for the first time. It felt like a constant magnetic force, as it begins with a guy dreaming about public displays of affection with a girl, but then he wakes up and keeps running until he finds said girl right at the end. What is it with trance songs and running videos? Well, the visuals do suit this song I think. A very dreamy dance offering.

At #37 the time is now for Moloko to return! 2000 saw the release of the electronic duo's third album 'Things to Make and Do' and this was the lead single taken from it. 'The Time Is Now' was rewarded with instant success as it achieved a #2 peak in the UK. This was a new personal best, as 'Sing It Back' settled for a peak of #4 for them. 'The Time Is Now' is a love song that is driven by plucky, flamenco-style strings and coupled with electronic production. The structure is very reminiscent to that of 'Rendez-vu' by Basement Jaxx which could only ever be a good thing for me. This alternative dance moment has a really urgent and anthemic feel to it, especially when coupled with Róisín's dramatic hair-blowing in the video. The strings are charging full speed ahead from the word go but we wait a little while until the piano also joins them. That playing sounds stunning when it does hit. Yaeji would later sample this song in her own record 'Last Breath' and I think she did a great job with it too. I've been listening to 'The Time Is Now' today in preparation for this commentary as I think I'd actually heard 'Last Breath' more recently prior to that. I've really enjoyed this reintroduction - what an incredibly fresh song 20 years later. Lastly, it is revealed that this section has pop music bookends as LeAnn Rimes is the closer today! 'Can't Fight The Moonlight' is a Diane Warren penned single taken from the movie Coyote Ugly. I was first introduced to the song while flipping through the music channels at my grandma's house in the late 2000s. She had Freeview so the only options were 4Music and Viva. This was playing on one of them and I instantly fell in love. 'Can't Fight The Moonlight' is such a sassy and catchy pop song. It is about an undeniable attraction so the passion is there in boatloads too. A really interesting element to it is also numerous key changes! The excitement really ramps up at the end both vocally and in the production. Speaking of vocals, I can't believe LeAnn was only 17 years old here - her vocal talent was definitely beyond her years! This song is quite Britney sounding actually so it makes sense that I've always been so fond of it when Britney has been a lifelong favourite too. She's still to come later! But first, LeAnn has her time to shine with the first #1 single to drop out. It sold over 500k copies in the United Kingdom and actually became the best-selling single of 2001 in Australia! Way to go.

Posted by: Hauspital* 4th May 2020, 11:28 PM

Omg imma follow the 2000s closely (cus i'll actually know the songs moreso from here )

*NSYNC has some TUNES and this is one of their best!

Also major love for 'One More Time', a true timeless classic Still influential to today's music!

Posted by: coi 4th May 2020, 11:32 PM

What a great start to 2000!

Five strong tunes there, my favourite of those being Bye Bye Bye which I'm glad was able to grab a place in your top 40! Can't Fight The Moonlight is a classic pop tune as well, I was also surprised to find she was only 17 when she recorded it!

Posted by: Bré 5th May 2020, 04:13 AM

A pretty decent section of songs to kick off the millennium, 'One More Time' easily the best of them for me (though I would have predicted you to rank it much higher than #39!)

I don't think I ever clocked that Yaeji's 'Last Breath' was a sample of 'The Time Is Now' ;o #education

Posted by: dan-G 5th May 2020, 06:49 AM

One More Time such a classic, it just about made my top 1000 'best sellers' of the 2010s too despite its release date. the rest of that section is also great - 'The Time Is Now' is enjoying a mini-resurgence in my chart too as EDX has very recently done cover version.

Posted by: Jade 5th May 2020, 07:52 AM

Hey there Bal

Nice to see you in here! The power of the noughties *.* a bit of a wait until Gaga but I'm sure there'll be plenty of other favourites in the mean time. Glad to see you picking out a couple of highlights already - *NSYNC seemed to pick up where Backstreet Boys left off in terms of boyband bangers! 'One More Time' is indeed timeless and influential <3 I'd very much welcome new music from Daft Punk, it was mean that a new era was falsely teased recently

thank you for commenting <3


Pleased that the noughties are off to a strong start for you *.* it was brutal cutting this top 40 down so yeah, good on *NSYNC managing to scrape in! I really couldn't bring myself to leave that out. Glad it wasn't just me who was surprised about LeAnn's age, it's just dawned on me that she would've only been 14 when 'How Do I Live?' was released also?! wow

thank you for commenting <3


Why thank you *.* I did think 'One More Time' would be your favourite from that section, tune! Yeah the position does seem a bit low oops but it was genuinely so competitive so I was relieved that it didn't get completely cut out while I was ranking all my favourites.

Ooh well there you go it's the 'You're my last breath, you're a breath of fresh air to me' part that's from the first verse in 'The Time Is Now'!

thank you for commenting <3


Hooray for the unanimous 'One More Time' appreciation so far *.* amazing that it was impactful enough to place in the 2010s countdown! I wasn't aware of this new version of 'The Time Is Now' so thanks for bringing it to my attention ;o -makes mental note to catch up on personal charts-

thank you for commenting <3

Posted by: Chez Wombat 5th May 2020, 11:58 AM

I thought One More Time would be a little higher as well D: Pleased to see it here though, probably one of my all time favourite songs. Can never resist that opening synth line Also a big fan of Can't Fight the Moonlight, not often I'm really into a song like that, but it's got a great build to it, that chorus just takes you by surprise every time *. The Time is Now is great too, I always remember it from an advert that I think was from football or cars, can't remember which!

Posted by: Jade 5th May 2020, 12:23 PM

Apologies there were several songs that I'd rate 9/10 that I didn't have room to fit in, so it was just a bloodbath! But yes, it would've felt so wrong to have no 'One More Time' at all as I do love it, glad I found room Wow an all-time favourite for you is high praise! Looking forward to seeing the rest of your own list of favourite 2000 chart hits when I'm done with the year, if you're continuing with those. The opening synth line is so striking *.* it's the same with 'Around The World' for me too, the opening of Dua's 'Break My Heart' reminds me of it a bit, so no wonder I'm so fond of that right now. I'm pretty sure I knew you were a fan of 'One More Time' but 'Can't Fight The Moonlight' is pretty unexpected, I definitely approve of that *.* the chorus is definitely the highlight, especially when laden with key changes <3 and ooh I don't think I remember that advert so I'll have to trawl through YouTube later after work to see if I recognise it

thank you for commenting <3

Posted by: coi 5th May 2020, 12:43 PM

I remember that advert too, I think https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVJwiG2RaCg might be it!

Posted by: Chez Wombat 5th May 2020, 12:57 PM

Ooh yes, that's it, a combination of both of them then

Posted by: Mack. 11th May 2020, 10:10 PM

A fantastic start there, Jade to your 2000 countdown.

Posted by: Jade 11th May 2020, 10:30 PM

^ Thanks Mack!

35. Delerium - Silence (feat. Sarah McLachlan)
(chart-run: 3-4-6-7-11-13-21-28-31-37-44-45-41-47-59-62)

34. Artful Dodger and Robbie Craig - Woman Trouble (feat. Craig David)
(chart-run: 6-7-14-19-25-35-36-45-59-66)

33. Melanie C - I Turn To You
(chart-run: 1-4-5-8-15-24-30-36-34-48-55-55)

32. Chicane - Don't Give Up (feat. Bryan Adams)
(chart-run: 1-3-5-7-16-25-37-47-44-52-56-72-65-72)

31. Basement Jaxx - Bingo Bango
(chart-run: 13-30-44-64)



Today we have a very dance-heavy section! Firstly, two acts from Canada join forces. This is electronic group Delerium with vocalist Sarah McLachlan, for trance classic 'Silence'. It has been hailed as one of the best of all-time for its genre and I can definitely see why. The original version of 'Silence' is pretty ambient but the more well-known versions, such as the Airscape and Tiësto remixes, propel it into much more of an uptempo song. The version I'm most familiar with is the Airscape remix as that was included on Now 47, so it's the version I've stuck with over the years, but I do appreciate this beauty in any form. Sarah sounds extremely emotive and passionate on the record and the trance production from the remixes matches her oomph, so it was an effective transformation for me. 'Silence' features running in the video, much like 'I Need Your Lovin' (Like The Sunshine)' in the previous section, so this trance trope continues. I suppose the thrill of running is a good match with the genre. The dramatic chorus is my favourite part of the song but I love the lyrical imagery and delivery throughout. All elements fit each other like a glove to provide a stunning, classy, dance smash. Next at #34 is another electronic collaboration courtesy of Artful Dodger, Robbie Craig and Craig David! I'm very familiar with Artful Dodger and Craig David, but don't know all that much about Robbie Craig. Turns out he's been a member of East 17 since 2014! Well then. Back to 'Woman Trouble' and I think the quickfire "I feel fantastic, bombastic, ecstatically astounded..." hook has got to be the highlight of the song for me! It's such a thrilling moment. Craig David is the perfect partner for UK Garage music as ever while Robbie Craig offers something a little different, as his soulful vocal runs shine. I feel like 'Woman Trouble' has always been in the shadow of previous Artful Dodger and Craig David team-up 'Re-Rewind (The Crowd Say Bo Selecta)' in terms of long-term impact but this is almost as good as that for me! They clearly work well as a team. I couldn't find a video for 'Woman Trouble' but YouTube comments seem to indicate that it got removed? Also it was apparently taken down from Spotify but does seem to be there now, so that's good timing for me! I wonder what that is all about - perhaps the 20th anniversary prompted it? Whatever reason, I hope it is here to stay for good. UK Garage is a particularly exciting avenue of electronic music for me but this takes the biscuit with its infectious, chaotic vocal energy and relentlessly bouncy production. At #33 it's Melanie C with 'I Turn To You', the next #1 single to drop out! It's so crazy to me that 'I Turn To You' was as late as the 4th single from 'Northern Star'. But there we go! The album version of the song was sent off for remixes and Melanie said that she fell in love with the Hex Hector remix and knew it would be a hit. It was released at the height of summer (around the time of my 3rd birthday that August actually) and was coupled with a video shot in Ibiza, so the uplifting dance song had all the right ingredients to smash at the perfect time. 2000 was Melanie's time to shine with her solo Spice work, as she even experienced more #1s than Geri that year. She really brought the quality here vocally, lyrically and melodically. There's a mix of drama and feel-good factor as she begins sentences with statements such as "when my insides are racked with anxiety..." but rounds them off with "...you have the touch that will quiet me". The Hex Hector remix was a winner as he brought a bit of a 'Ray Of Light' dancefloor stomper feel to the song, with squelchy electronic beats mixed with haunting strings. Definitely one of the best solo Spice singles to exist. Melanie features again later too so she was clearly on a roll this year!

Now we transition from one chart-topper to another! Melanie C and Bryan Adams have collaborated in the past but I promise them being next to each other here was just a coincidence. Trance music was absolutely thriving in 2000 so this is another song to be plucked from the genre in this section. 'Don't Give Up' followed 'Saltwater' as the second single from Chicane's album 'Behind the Sun' - what a 1-2 punch that was! This single is similarly dreamy and layered like 'Saltwater' but instead features male vocals. I can still recognise Bryan's voice but it has admittedly gone through a lot of audio processing! So he sounds more robotic than usual. The vocals match up well to a similarly cold and futuristic video. Vocals aside, the message is more positive as it contains a straightforward chorus about taking control and following your heart. I am a sucker for Chicane's production so I could get lost for hours with those beats whirling around in my brain. Another fantastic collaboration in this section. Finally, Basement Jaxx are back to round off tonight's writing! 'Bingo Bango' was the fourth and final single to be taken from 'Remedy' and received a more modest peak than the rest of this section - with a debut of #13. It only spent one further week in the top 40 also, how criminal! Despite its peak, it placed 2nd in the Basement Jaxx 'The Singles' rate I hosted on here last year, so at least it is not underrated on BuzzJack! 'Bingo Bango' is a very loopy house song so it's guaranteed to be stuck in your head quite easily. It contains a lot of Latin flavour to it with trumpets that are reminiscent of a carnival feel. The video matches this euphoric feeling perfectly well with a lot of dancing and carnival outfits. It's not the most high budget affair, as it contains pretty basic split-screen and picture-on-picture effects and simple contents, but it's a refreshingly down to Earth moment from the duo. The mixing of cultures on display is such warm and united imagery too. Away from the visuals, the instrumentation on this single is divine, I already touched upon the brass but the piano playing is such a highlight too. This is another energetic and fun release from 'Remedy' that deserved a top 10 peak at the very least.

Posted by: Doctor Blind 12th May 2020, 08:10 AM

Great to see Delerium's “Silence” (Airscape remix) here, it was the remix that propelled it into the UK Top 10, having chart briefly in its original ambient form the previous year - there was so much great trance in the charts in 1999 and 2000 and this one topped my personal chart, only to be deposed by the hard trance of Zombie Nation's “Kernkraft 400” (German for nuclear power). It also gave a boost to fellow Canadian singer Sarah McLachlan though she sadly was unable to capitalise on it and remains massively underrated. I remember “World On Fire” being played a lot on radio and TV in 2004 but it failed to make the Top 40. : (

Posted by: dan-G 12th May 2020, 10:05 AM

great to see Silence and Don't Give Up here particularly but these are all great again. I grew up on the Tiësto remix of Silence however so that is my fave version, I'm not too familiar with the Airscape remix.

Posted by: Jade 12th May 2020, 10:30 AM

Hey there Doctor B

Glad to see you in here again! I presumed that it was the Airscape Remix that resulted in 'Silence's chart career, due to it being featured on Now 47, but I was obviously too young to remember at the time and wasn't 100% sure, so thanks for the confirmation 1999 and 2000 really were such good years for trance <3 excellent choice of back-to-back chart-toppers there, 'Kernkraft 400' will certainly be making an appearance here later on <3 Sarah's solo stuff is definitely underrated by the sounds of it, I think I only know 'Angel' and her Toy Story 2 song 'When She Loved Me', that always made me emotional as a kid

thank you for commenting <3


Hey there Dan

Pleased to see you bigging up the trance hits too *.* I see! The Tiësto remix is pretty fab too so no complaints here.

thank you for commenting <3

Posted by: Mack. 13th May 2020, 12:09 PM

'Silence' sounding fantastic. What a tune that is. 'Woman Trouble' another solid tune not one I listen to often but still sounds great. 'I Turn To You' probably my favourite solo single out of the Spice Girls from Mel C sounds terrific. 'Don't Give Up' what a great #1 that was from Chicane/Bryan Adams. Basement Jaxx with 'Bingo Bango' that is an brilliant track indeed from them, shame that missed out on the Top 10.

Posted by: Jade 13th May 2020, 12:34 PM

Hey there Mack

Yay another clean sweep - your taste is amazing! I feel like I don't listen to 'Woman Trouble' enough even though I love it so much, I guess it doesn't often pop up in throwback playlists, that's changing now that it's in the accompanying playlist for this countdown though! 'I Turn To You' is a brilliant choice for your favourite Spice single <3 and yeah 'Bingo Bango' feels like a Basement Jaxx staple, deserved way more than 2 weeks in the chart!

Thank you for commenting <3

Posted by: Jade 18th May 2020, 09:49 PM

30. Craig David - Fill Me In
(chart-run: 1-2-2-3-7-13-16-20-27-36-45-47-56-72)

29. Aaliyah - Try Again
(chart-run: 5-10-12-18-24-28-38-39-50-61-63-75R(3)

28. Coldplay - Trouble
(chart-run: 10-18-19-26-39-48-66-71-72)

27. Element Four - Big Brother UK TV Theme
(chart-run: 4-8-9-15-26-38-55-73-74-63R(39)-75)

26. Madison Avenue - Don't Call Me Baby
(chart-run: 1-2-5-10-17-20-23-32-41-56-60-70)



Kicking off the top 30 is Craig David with 'Fill Me In'! This is another UK #1 single to drop out. The chart that featured its #1 debut was a memorable one - as the entire top 6 comprised of new entries! Joining Craig up there was also Sweet Female Attitude, Richard Ashcroft, Steps, Bloodhound Gang and Lock 'N' Load! Craig would swiftly be toppled from the #1 spot by Fragma, but at least he got his moment in the sun after previously settling for #2 with Artful Dodger on 'Re-Rewind (The Crowd Say Bo Selecta)'. I recently found out that 'Fill Me In' also received a delayed release in the U.S. and managed to chart as high as #15 on the Billboard Hot 100, wow! This was Craig's first solo hit following the aforementioned Artful Dodger collaboration so he started off on the right foot. He was just 18 years old at the time and his youthful years are evident by the subject matter of the song! 'Fill Me In' is about Craig sneaking out to meet up with the girl next door but her parents being suspicious of what they're getting up to. Rookie errors such as being dressed in white but later black, plus leaving money on the TV (when televisions were big enough to be used for that purpose! shoutout to the brick phones in this video too) - are detailed in the lyrics. Craig is even seen climbing through the window to get to this girl in the video. Two young lovers on a mission! I'm so happy that Craig opted for a blend of 2-step garage and smooth R&B for his solo stardom as this sound suits him so well. The lyrics are a rush, I adore the production here and his flow is effortlessly cool too!

Now we transition from one R&B song to another. But female vocals instead of male this time. This is the late, great, Aaliyah with 'Try Again'. Unlike 'Fill Me In', this was not a UK #1 - settling for #5 here, however it did reach #1 in the United States! It was apparently the first ever Billboard Hot 100 #1 to get there based solely on the strength of its airplay. Queen of radio! 'Try Again' came about due to Aaliyah acting in the film 'Romeo Must Die' and serving as executive producer on the accompanying soundtrack too. She contributed to four songs and 'Try Again' was chosen as the lead single. It would later appear on international versions of her eponymous album in addition to this. 'Try Again' is one of Aaliyah's legendary team-ups with Timbaland. He produced the record and also provides the opening hook: "it's been a long time, we shouldn't have left you, without a dope beat to step to" - an interpolation of 'I Know You Got Soul' by Eric B. & Rakim. What an earworm that is! Timbland's production offering here sounds wonderfully fuzzy and squelchy, borrowing from acid house features. So that's pretty interesting on an R&B record. Aaliyah compliments this sound beautifully with her oh-so-smooth vocals. She's one of my favourite R&B voices ever - such a shame that her talent was taken away so quickly. She owns the video as the centre of attention - where she's dripping in diamonds, tackling some choreography and even climbing a wall at one point. It all feels gloriously late-90s/early 00s. 'Try Again' was initially written to be inspirational but the concept was soon flipped to be more about love. However, the chorus line "and if at first you don't succeed, dust yourself off and try again" does feel really inspirational to me nonetheless. This single is an instant pick-me-up for sure.

Next, the chart peaks continue to descend while the quality ascends! Coldplay scraped a second top 10 hit from their massively successful debut era 'Parachutes' - as 'Trouble' peaked at #10. Its position in my countdown may seem a little low, but Coldplay fans do not fret as they still have more to come for 2000 alone. It feels exciting to be able to incorporate them into my countdown now as they're one of my favourite bands. 'Trouble' was written about tension in the band at the time, as Chris Martin felt he was misbehaving towards other members. He described it as "behaving badly towards someone you really love". Therefore, the song is very reflective. 'Trouble' is both a melancholic and chilled listen for me at the same time. I feel like the production helps to inject more of the latter feeling. Those piano rhythms are just heavenly. Chris really stuns with his falsetto as ever too. 'Trouble' could've had an even wider reach, but the band turned down offers for it to be used as part of multiple campaigns - namely a multi-million (!) Euro offer from Diet Coke and Gap, plus for the soundtrack of 2001 film 'Driven'. This actually doesn't surprise me all that much as I remember the group initially refusing to let Glee cover their songs. However, they were kinder after Chris' then-wife Gwyneth Paltrow appeared on the show. 'Trouble' has two videos aimed at different markets but for once it's actually the US version that I'm more familiar with! I feel like alternative videos can often be inessential, but this one set in a dreamy animated world, with the band attached to it, is really quite pretty. A lovely package. 'Parachutes' is the only Coldplay album I own on vinyl currently so I need to change that! But what a good start to that collection eh. Plus a great start to their appearances in this countdown - those will be popping up for years.

Okay, this next song choice seems a little silly but I have already selected 'Chocolate Salty Balls' and a song inspired by 'The Hampster Dance' so nothing is off limits. Sadly, just like 'Chocolate Salty Balls', we have another song that is not available on Spotify at last and this isn't even the only one for 2000! Grr. Anyway, the song I'm talking about is... yes... 'Big Brother UK TV Theme' by Element Four! This was a genuine top 5 single with somewhat decent longevity so it's not just me who loves this okay. Rewind back to 2000 and you will find the launch of Big Brother UK which took the nation by storm. I was of course way too young to remember this but I did retrospectively watch as much of the 2000 series as I could find on YouTube back in the day! Mainly because I was intrigued about the Nasty Nick controversy. But yes, back in 2000 Big Brother was straightforward social experimentation with no ViaCom stars or tweets from the public. It was lapped up quickly as an eye-watering 10 million people were estimated to have watched the final. Crazy figures for Channel 4! The first year of Big Brother that I remember watching was 2007 - the year that spawned another questionable top 40 hit in 'Barbie Girl' by Samanda. I watched on and off for years, with my interest eventually waning. But my love for the theme never died. 2000 not only launched the show but 'Big Brother UK TV Theme' as a single! The masterminds behind this one are actual (insert Jameela) Paul Oakenfold with the help of Andy Gray. What can I say, those dramatic, throbbing trance beats are killer and all the little vocal portions add a bit more flavour to it too. Oh how I wish it was on Spotify. There's a version by 'Big Mouth' on there but it's not the exact same. Ah well, at least there's YouTube and we genuinely have a dance compilation somewhere in the house that contains this. One of the best TV themes ever? I think so!!

Thankfully, I am rounding off this section with a song that is very much on Spotify, yay! If you thought Aaliyah was the only one serving choreography then you were wrong. As we are treated to some moves in this next video. It isn't quite as slick as the 'Try Again' video, as Madison Avenue lady looks quite washed out and has an annoying strand of hair that has escaped onto her face. But at least her vocals were great! The straight to the point delivery and lyrics compliment a very infectious house bassline so well. This element to the production is actually a sample based on 'Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now' by McFadden & Whitehead. 'Don't Call Me Baby' was originally released in 1999, but only managed to peak at #30. It subsequently re-entered the top 75 several times and prompted a re-release. Now they were talking as it became a #1 hit in the United Kingdom this time! It dislodged Britney's massive 'Oops!... I Did It Again' from the top which is no mean feat. This happened in 2000 so that's why I associate it a lot more with this year. I remember discovering this song, as well as 'Flat Beat' earlier and several others, on a 4Music 90s dance show (I guess they must have classed this as 90s due to its original release date - fair enough) as a kid and I truly have that to thank for kicking my love of dance music up a notch. God bless 90s and early 00s dance.

Posted by: Bré 18th May 2020, 10:18 PM

Lol @ the Big Brother theme appearing x (it is kind of a tune though, seems a little random that they went to Paul Oakenfold to make the theme music for the series but why not )

for Madison Avenue, Coldplay and Craig David from this section ~

Posted by: Jade 18th May 2020, 11:01 PM

it does stick out like a sore thumb but an undeniable bop tbh! I'm not quite sure how they wound up choosing Paul and friend but it was a genius move *.*

Yay x

thank you for commenting <3

Posted by: dan-G 19th May 2020, 03:39 PM

Don't Call Me Baby big fave of mine for that year.
Try Again and Fill Me In are both great RnB picks too.
Big Brother UK TV Theme isn't a big trance classic for me though, it's decent for what it is but it probably would've only made the lower half of the top 40 if it weren't attached to BB.

Posted by: Dexton 19th May 2020, 03:42 PM

Honestly never considered the Big Brother theme as a trance song until now

Posted by: Jade 21st May 2020, 11:09 PM

Hey there Dan

Yay 2000 was really delivering with the dance #1s, so many more to come glad the R&B is appealing to you too!

Aw that's a shame I genuinely think it's such a bop away from the show haha. But yeah you're right, the tag of a massively popular programme would've done wonders!

Thank you for commenting <3


Hey there Dexton

Looool it does look a bit ridiculous written out but there you go *_* gotta love the diversity of the chart back then

Thank you for commenting <3

Posted by: Mack. 23rd May 2020, 11:29 AM

Don't Call Me Baby, a classic that is. Big Brother Theme is iconic and decent for what it is. 'Fill Me In' a great #1 for Craig David, one I listen to now and again. Try Again a good R&B pick from the much missed Aaliyah. And 'Trouble' from Coldplay another favourite of mine.

Posted by: Jade 24th May 2020, 09:42 PM

Hey there Mack

Glad you're enjoying this section! How I wish Aaliyah was still around making music.

Thank you for commenting <3

Posted by: Jade 25th May 2020, 10:22 PM

25. Gabrielle - Rise
(chart-run: 1-1-2-2-7-12-14-19-25-29-45-57-51-54-62)

24. Darude - Sandstorm
(chart-run: 3-3-5-9-9-11-11-16-18-19-25-26-36-47-54)

23. Robbie Williams - Rock DJ
(chart-run: 1-2-3-4-6-11-14-20-23-28-34-42-50-70-70-75-71-72R(2)-66-60)

22. Britney Spears - Stronger
(chart-run: 7-11-14-10-14-26-38-48-57-62)

21. Mary Mary - Shackles (Praise You)
(chart-run: 5-8-6-10-12-20-23-27-31-36-40-49)



Beginning today's section is Gabrielle with 'Rise'. The English singer had to wait 7 years to top the chart again, after 'Dreams' got to #1 in 1993, but she did it in style! This is because 'Rise' is one of the small handful of 2000 chart toppers to stay there for more than a week - it achieved two consecutive weeks at the summit. 'Rise' was off to a good start from the word go as it received Bob Dylan's rare seal of approval. The song samples 'Knockin' on Heaven's Door' and Dylan liked the demo of 'Rise' so much that he allowed her to sample it for free. What a result! 'Rise' reminds me of 'Try Again' from the previous section in ways, as it's carried by smooth vocals and dabbles between the themes of love and inspiration lyrically. Gabrielle proclaims that she's "ready to rise again" after watching aspects of her life crumble in the past. Therefore it's an anthem for strength. Her previous chart topper 'Dreams' had a bit of an upbeat kick to it, but 'Rise' is very much a slower pop/R&B moment. The accompanying video sees Gabrielle spectating a boxing match, sporting shades due to her ptosis. 'Rise' topped the chart in January of 2000 so the nation was clearly starting the year off on a strong note.

It's time for a completely different vibe now as 'Sandstorm' by Darude is up next at #24! This single may not have topped the chart but it has earned itself a bit of a legacy as a meme. Specifically as a response when people are asking what the name of a song is. The meme blew up so much that YouTube incorporated it as an April Fools Day prank! Back in 2015, it would come up with "did you mean: Darude - Sandstorm' for all music video queries for the day. Iconic. 'Sandstorm' was Finnish DJ Darude's first single, taken from debut album 'Before the Storm'. He quickly rose to fame with the help of MP3.com, as that site attracted 'Sandstorm' a worldwide following. He went on to have two further top 40 hits ('Feel The Beat' and 'Out Of Control (Back For More)') but 'Sandstorm' would remain his signature song by far. It's an exhilarating trance instrumental that is inspired by the synthesizer used to create the song - as when started up it displays the text 'sand storm'. Unfortunately, when questioned, it turns out that Darude has never experienced a sand storm. Once again, we have a trance song that utilises the theme of a running video! This time two armed security guards chase a woman with a briefcase. One of the security guards turns on the other and escapes with briefcase woman on a boat. Of course Darude experiences the whole ordeal from chase to boat. Why not.

Now we swiftly return to a #1 single! Just a one week stint at the top this time but it was the fourth best-selling single of the year nevertheless. This is Robbie Williams with 'Rock DJ'! The music video for the chart-topper may claim at the end that "no Robbie's were harmed in the making of this video" but that is NOT the case for my eyes! I can't believe I just relived it. The disturbing ripping of flesh remains as traumatising as ever. 2000s kids deserve a medal for surviving this gory visual ordeal tbh. Okay, perhaps it's not the worst thing ever, but the video was certainly controversial! Music channels nowadays tend to skip from Robbie in his underwear to him as a skeleton, repeating previous footage in place of the skin stripping. Probably for the best. The video takes place in a roller disco where he is trying to get the attention of the female DJ. The location and energy feels quite appropriate for such a fun, upbeat song. The pop production is pounding, with guitars thrown in there for added oomph towards the end, plus the chorus is an absolute earworm. In fact 'Rock DJ' is full of hooks - including an interpolation of 'Can I Kick It?' by A Tribe Called Quest. The song has such a satisfying build up. Lines such as "it's time to move your body" ensure a feel-good party classic. I'll forgive Robbie for the gruesome video as the song is certainly a triumph amongst his discography at least.

Next is the lowest charting single of this bunch but still a top 10 hit - 'Stronger' by Britney Spears! It peaked at #7 here in the United Kingdom but settled for a frustrating #11 in the United States. It was the third single to be released from her sophomore album 'Oops!...I Did It Again' after the title track and 'Lucky'. I can confirm that one of those two is still to come in the countdown. Britney worked with dream team Max Martin and Rami on the song and Joseph Kahn on the video. 'Stronger' is attention-grabbing from the word go with a foghorn synth to kick off proceedings. It continues with a heavy dance beat throughout. The lyrics are empowering as they depict a woman who is tired of her cheating boyfriend and is ready to move on. I love the call-back to Britney's debut hit '...Baby One More Time' with the lyric "my loneliness ain't killing me no more" - what a pleasing conclusion to that saga. I do enjoy this song a fair amount in isolation but the visuals really help it totally spring to life for me. The chairography is just epic. An impressive homage to Janet Jackson. Another highlight of the song is the breathy build-up to the final chorus, perfect tension! It's not an *ultimate* Britney highlight for me but still good enough to make #22 for 2000. I have so much time for a lot of her singles discography. Shoutout to the Glee version of 'Stronger' too as Kevin McHale tackled it pretty well!

Rounding off this section is possibly one of the most joyful chart hits ever? It certainly never fails to put me in a good mood! This is top 5 hit 'Shackles (Praise You)' by Mary Mary. It also charted at #28 on the Billboard Hot 100. This is an upbeat song that fuses both R&B and gospel influences. It received criticism for straying away from traditional gospel music. Mary Mary hit back by saying that the song is universal and that the lyrics are undeniably gospel. Indeed they seem to incorporate God's love setting you free. The lyrics do not feel explicitly religious though so it's easy to enjoy no matter what your beliefs may be. The feeling of freedom is personified through the euphoric monster of a chorus in particular. The instrumental is really punchy too and the girls kill it on vocals. To top it all off, the video features a lot of dancing and Mary Mary looking incredibly happy, so the feel-good factor is only amplified further. 'Shackles (Praise You)' samples Tupac's song 'Hit Em Up' but has come full circle now in the sampling stakes. Its impact is still felt now as Stormzy decided to sample 'Shackles (Praise You)' in his song 'Rainfall' - this received exposure as part of his Brit Awards 2020 medley.

Posted by: PeteFromLeeds 30th May 2020, 12:20 PM

So many tunes in here! Bingo Bango brings back so many memories, a really brilliant song Trouble, Don't Call Me Baby, Sandstorm and Shackles as well!

Posted by: Jade 31st May 2020, 12:06 PM

Hey Pete

I know right, what a year 2000 was excited to get into the top 20 tomorrow! Glad to hear that you associate 'Bingo Bango' (and all those songs!) in such a positive way.

thank you for commenting <3

Posted by: Jade 1st June 2020, 10:57 PM

20. Dr. Dre - Forgot About Dre (feat. Eminem)
(chart-run: 7-13-13-16-26-37-50-63-75)

19. Sweet Female Attitude - Flowers
(chart-run: 2-4-8-9-10-17-21-27-39-49-68-72-62R(407))

18. All Saints - Black Coffee
(chart-run: 1-3-7-9-22-33-37-43-40-43-41-52-47-51-66-73-71R(4)-69R(2))

17. B-15 Project - Girls Like Us (feat. Crissy D & Lady G)
(chart-run: 7-12-19-33-47-62-58-58-69R(2)-55)

16. Bomfunk MC's - Freestyler
(chart-run: 2-4-4-6-7-9-16-20-26-29-33-54)



Kicking off today's countdown is a rap collaboration courtesy of Dr Dre and Eminem! This may have been released in 2000 but is actually taken from the Dr Dre album '2001'. It was the second single released from the record after 'Still D.R.E', so another one that incorporates his name. This one is particularly narcissistic as it pretty much exists as a reminder of how much of a legend he is in his field. I mean... the credentials are right there in the song, so fair enough. This includes reeling off names such as Ice Cube and Snoop Dogg, whom he had an influence on. The song also served the purpose of hitting back at critics (one example in the lyrics is because he "turned pop") and he certainly does that in a confident manner. Eminem joins the ride for some seriously chaotic verses and an earworm of a chorus. This team-up hit #25 in the U.S. and #7 in the U.K. chart, although didn't have the greatest longevity. Still, its legacy lives on through Kisstory as that radio station's insistence on spamming it is what made it properly click for me! The main draw in my opinion is the killer bouncy electronic sounds that loop throughout the whole song. Then, if that wasn't enough, guitar elements make for quite an epic portion later on! For me, 'Forget About Dre' is very unforgettable, although the Hittman song that gets exposure at the end of the video... yeah, that one is perhaps less of a classic.

Next up is a song that has witnessed a recent revival! Sugababes tackled a respectable cover of it last year and Nathan Dawe recently made the chart with a... pretty tacky and questionable version. But at #19 we have the original and best version of 'Flowers' by Sweet Female Attitude! 20 years ago the dance act first unleashed this song on our eardrums as their debut single and it made an impressive #2 in the chart! I guess it's not too much of a surprise as UK Garage music was absolutely thriving at the time. In fact, this is not even the only garage song to make this section! It is often mentioned in lists of best UK Garage songs - with the likes of The Guardian, Mixmag and NME taking this approach. Deservedly so! The lyrics demonstrate the singer's devotion to her love interest, as she will bring him flowers in the pouring rain just to make his day and defiantly admits that she's here to stay. So this flips a sad scenario into more of a positive one. That, coupled with the UK Garage grooves, make for a very feel-good dancefloor stomper. I particularly love the stuttery conclusions to the choruses. The video is a fairly straightforward affair as the Mancunian double act are in a packed club singing the song. That's pretty much it. Although there are some rather poor floral graphics added in for the fun of it. Now, can we have no more rap covers of this please?

All Saints are back at #18 after previously featuring in the 1997 portion of this countdown with 'I Know Where It's At'! Now, for 2000, they appear with two songs. What a smashing year it was for their output. 'Black Coffee' was the group's fifth and final UK #1 single. They were only the second girl-group ever, after the Spice Girls of course, to achieve five number 1 singles in the U.K. Wow! 'Black Coffee' was originally supposed to be released by a lady named Kirsty Bertarelli, as she wrote it and everything, but way more excitement was garnered by the prospect of an All Saints version. So that is exactly what happened. Bertarelli made thousands from royalties so I'm sure she's doing just fine. 'Black Coffee' is the only All Saints single that does not involve Shaznay Lewis on writing as a result. It's a sad love song, as it's about love at first sight but also disharmony that later arises in the relationship. I guess the beauty of music is that we can interpret a song in our own way. For me, I tend to forget about any animosity suggested and just treat it as a relaxing song. This is largely helped by William Orbit's stunning ambient production style. But also it's easy to take "I wouldn't wanna be anywhere else but here" and run away with it as a comforting lyric about living in the present. I guess it's harder to do that when watching the video, as it features a lot of frozen shots that include some of a couple arguing. But yes, in a standalone scenario I can easily get lost in all of its heavenly glory. On top of the production, All Saints just have the most wondrous harmonies. That's a huge part of their appeal for me. I was introduced to this single on SingStar as a kid so I found it very easy for the chorus to get lodged in my brain too when singing it all the time. I also feel that it was a trailblazing moment for experimental girl-group music as the structure is a bit unusual. Speaking of which... can we just talk about THAT ending? *.* as it's a song that peaks right at the final hurdle. I do love the ambience but wow, that sudden kick of explosive production right at the end, rounded off finally by some underwater sounding harmonies, is genius. What a song! The Saint & Sinners era was such a treat. Well, in terms of music, because the group were unfortunately fighting behind the scenes at around that period. Thankfully time heals, so they reunited and gifted us with some further projects.

At #17 we have another tune that peaked at #7 like 'Forgot About Dre' earlier! This time it's 'Girls Like Us' by B-15 Project with vocals from Crissy D and Lady G. Hearing this so soon after 'Flowers' is really making me realise how similar the two are. I guess it's easy to compare when they're both UK Garage songs with exclusively female vocals. But the stuttered bits in the chorus here are really reminiscent of that song too. I guess what gave this the edge was the extra feel-good factor. Plus it has an iconic rap from Lady G on it - there's not much information on the featured singers but I'm pretty sure it's her. Yeah, that really adds another exciting layer to the song. A slight gripe I have with this single is that it's called 'Girls Like Us' when it definitely says "girls like this" in the chorus. So I wonder what that's about. Another niggle is the video as it goes over my head each time. Girls just seem to be giving each other evils and laughing at one another... until it closes with two guys thinking of this whole scenario the entire time. Yeah I don't know, it just doesn't quite fit the vibes of the song that well for me. Even a basic club video would've done the job! Well, these things aside, this song is always an instant pick-me-up for me and one of the finest tunes to come out of the UK Garage world. It's a shame that both Sweet Female Attitude and B-15 Project seemed to fade into obscurity.

Finally, we round off this section with an absolute classic! 'Freestyler' by Bomfunk MC's spent 6 weeks in the top 10 which is the most of any song in this section. It had to settle for a #2 peak but it can certainly boast staying power. Bomfunk MC's are a Finnish hip-hop group so this impacting the U.K. chart (and many other charts around the world) is a rather cool feat considering that nationality. The group may adopt a hip-hop style but this is more of a breakbeat song. I think this was the first exposure I had to this kind of music! It has a massive bassline running through it and the chorus is so infectious. Gotta love the rhymes here like "microphone" and "dome", plus "Celine Dion" and "Karma Chameleon". It just really doesn't take itself seriously at all and is a fantastic song for feeling pumped thanks to its frantic nature. This music video is much better than the last in this section thankfully. It features a young boy on a train who is able to control the flow of time on other humans. The device he uses for this? Oh, on his MiniDisc. Honestly, why not! He makes the most of these newfound powers and just vibes with them - controlling dancing and the movements of escalators, looking quite pleased with himself. Bomfunk MC's apparently went on to have another top 40 hit - in fact it peaked as high as #11?! Well, I can safely say that I haven't heard that before. But this one is an enduring classic.

Posted by: Bré 2nd June 2020, 01:09 PM

for Bomfunk MC's, Sweet Female Attitude (much as Nathan Dawe is trying to taint the memory of that song x) and Dr. Dre from that section. 2000 a weirdly prolific year for Finnish dance classics with both 'Sandstorm' and 'Freestyler'

Don't think I know the B-15 Project song unless it's another one that I heard once in a plug.dj Now! listenthrough and since forgot about - Googling the lyrics to try and jog my memory hasn't helped much as the top result transcribes the lyrics as just '[Instrumental] [Weird lyrics]' !

Posted by: Chez Wombat 2nd June 2020, 07:32 PM

Freestyler is a banger Did you see they did a new 2019 video for it? It was pretty much exactly the same so I'm not sure what the point was but at least the song got attention!

Have a lot of love for Flowers and Black Coffee as well <3

Posted by: dan-G 2nd June 2020, 07:50 PM

Sandstorm is way too low here though! one of my absolute faves of the 00s.
really like Flowers too,
Freestyler and Girls Like Us two other good dance tracks
from the non-dance I think Shackles may be my fave of the last 10

Posted by: PeteFromLeeds 6th June 2020, 07:59 PM

Not sure if I remember Freestyler! Giving a listen now, almost certain this was in an NMTBJ (was it one of yours?) nice track though! I wish the rap in the charts now was more like this.

Posted by: Jade 6th June 2020, 10:17 PM

Hey there Bray

Glad you picked out as many as 3/5 from that one! Don't get me started on the Nathan Dawe song it's amusing when Rob hypes the rap up on Skype and all but I'm finding it hard to ironically stan otherwise. Just why x Oh yes of course that Finnish dance connection is right there well then, that is very cool *.*

Yeah the B-15 Project song would definitely have been played at a Now plug session as those compilations was how I discovered it Now 46 to be exact, one of my favourite editions and it's full to the brim with dance hits OMG at that top lyrical result !!! that's hilarious didn't come across that haha.

thank you for commenting <3


Hey there Chez

Ooh yes I did correctly remember that you were a 'Freestyler' fan *.* (I think from it being played on plug.dj before or something) - I have not seen the 2019 video for this I am now intrigued so will have to check it out lmao at it being virtually the same though :') much creativity. x

Woo, both of those songs still sound so fresh *.*

thank you for commenting <3


Hey there Dan

Ahhhh the ordering for 2000 was the most brutal so far </3 'Sandstorm' is indeed a classic though *.* glad you like 'Flowers' too, I'd have been shocked otherwise! The quality of dance is really jumping out this year - still more to come too and ooh cool, 'Shackles' is such a feel-good fave <3

thank you for commenting <3


Hey there Pete

I don't think I've included 'Freestyler' in one of my own NMTBJ rounds but I do think you're right about it being in somebody's! Good to hear that you're a fan anyway. Oh I would live for something like this in the charts again one day. Here's hoping!

thank you for commenting <3

Posted by: Sergej 7th June 2020, 10:36 AM

Hi there Jade!
Been a long time since I've commented here!
Here are some of my favourites in your 1999 chart, since my last comment:
01. Fatboy Slim - Right Here, Right Now
05. Mr Oizo - Flat Beat
06. Wamdue Project - King of My Castle
09. Fatboy Slim - Praise You
12. The Chemical Brothers - Hey Boy Hey Girl
15. Sixpence None the Richer - Kiss Me
17. Smash Mouth - All Star
19. Christina Aguilera - Genie In A Bottle
26. TLC - No Scrubs
And here are some of my favourites in your 2000 chart:
16. Bomfunk MC's - Freestyler
20. Dr. Dre - Forgot About Dre (feat. Eminem)
22. Britney Spears - Stronger
23. Robbie Williams - Rock DJ
24. Darude - Sandstorm
28. Coldplay - Trouble
29. Aaliyah - Try Again
30. Craig David - Fill Me In
36. LeAnn Rimes - Can't Fight The Moonlight
39. Daft Punk - One More Time
Great selection of songs!

Posted by: LewisGT 7th June 2020, 11:48 AM

Oops I've fallen behind a bit

Fill Me In My favourite Craig David track. I'm also going to have to write a paragraph about it for my "R&B/Hip-Hop #1's" thread and I think you've put almost everything I was going to write

Rock DJ is one of Robbie's best I think (I'd probably rank it 3rd or 4th behind Radio, Angels and maybe Candy). The video is certainly something!

Shackles (Praise You) is a song I've always enjoyed and my appreciation of it has only grown since 'Rainfall' which was my favourite track from Stormzy's latest album.

Forgot About Dre is certainly a classic and my favourite song you've included from 2000 so far. It's mad how good of a streak Dre was on with this, Still D.R.E. & The Next Episode being released consecutively. Memorable is a very apt word to describe it; it's one of those songs where I've seemed to have memorised every word without even thinking about it.

One More Time, Try Again, Sandstorm & Flowers are all really good tunes too

Posted by: Jade 7th June 2020, 01:36 PM

Hey there Sergej

Great to have you back in here commenting again! Ooh lots of highlights to see - especially impressive to have 10 for 2000 so far when the top 15 is yet to be revealed *.*

thank you for commenting <3


Hey there Lewis

No worries, welcome back to the thread 'Fill Me In' is an excellent choice of favourite Craig David song! Away from the collabs I think it'd be my favourite of his too. Looking forward to seeing the commentary for that in your thread (sorry for the unintentional crossover with your own thoughts though ) - I have been following along but need to comment more! Glad you also think that 'Rock DJ' is a Robbie highlight *.* and 'Angels' would definitely be up there for me too (as seen in the 1997 part of this ) - the video a very memorable moment in his back catalogue for sure, if not for the best reasons :')

Pleased to see so much appreciation for 'Shackles (Praise You)' so far! I haven't heard that Stormzy album yet but did get exposure of 'Rainfall' thanks to the BRITS as mentioned - what a genius use of a sample *.* yay for 'Forgot About Dre' love too shall see if any of the top 15 ends up topping it for you! Omg 'The Next Episode' too, what a tune! That's interesting, I think I'd probably be able to recite every word too, aided by Kisstory's spamming of it

Yay for some dance favourites for you too

thank you for commenting <3

Posted by: Mack. 7th June 2020, 11:45 PM

Freestyler what a tune that is, Forgot About Dre some classic rap there with Dr Dre/Eminem. 'Flowers' the far superior version to Nathan Dawe's which is terrible.

at your 25-21. Particular favourites of mine which appeared in My Top 100 Songs of the 00s I did a few years back in 'Sandstorm ' what a tune that is and also 'Rock DJ' I would unashamedly listen to this any day.

Posted by: Jade 8th June 2020, 05:06 PM

Hey there Mack

Glad you're continuing to enjoy so many of these hits! The Nathan Dawe version of 'Flowers' is truly naff :') can't believe how high it's charting right now! Ooh yes that countdown of yours sounds familiar - hooray for 'Sandstorm' featuring *.* I will happily play 'Rock DJ' all these years later too

thank you for commenting <3

~~~

top 15 of 2000 kicking off later tonight

Posted by: Jade 8th June 2020, 10:26 PM

15. Oasis - Go Let It Out
(chart-run: 1-4-17-38-55-59-54-44-56-67-52R(2)-74)

14. David Gray - Babylon
(chart-run: 5-9-14-15-19-24-28-33-33-42-53-64)

13. Artful Dodger & Romina Johnson - Movin' Too Fast
(chart-run: 2-4-7-12-19-25-32-36-43-60-68-64R(4))

12. Britney Spears - Oops!...I Did It Again
(chart-run: 1-2-3-6-9-16-18-20-27-34-38-46-49-55)

11. Modjo - Lady (Hear Me Tonight)
(chart-run: 1-1-3-5-10-17-19-19-26-36-40-45-57-61-65-54-53-57-69-74)



Oasis, like All Saints in the previous section, are another group who are now back in my countdown after previously appearing in the 1997 part of it! Although with less members this time - as guitarist Bonehead and bassist Guigsy were out of the band, with just Alan White accompanying the Gallagher brothers here. Oasis reached an impressive #3 for my 1997 favourites with 'D'You Know What I Mean?' and now return as my 15th favourite chart hit of 2000 with 'Go Let It Out'. This was the single that kicked off the 'Standing on the Shoulder of Giants' era. The band could not put a foot wrong as this was yet another #1 single for them. Noel Gallagher was the writer behind this hit and confessed to thinking that 'Go Let It Out' was "head and shoulders" above any other songs he had written during this time, and "up there with some of the best things I've ever done." - high praise for a group who already had a string of signature songs by this point. 'Go Let It Out' appears to be a social commentary about the class system. It points out that rich people (such as "princes and kings") would be nowhere without the working class. My favourite lyric is probably "ordinary people that are like you and me, we're the keepers of their destiny" as it feels quite unifying and powerful. Really the world could rebel at any minute if it truly wanted to. This anger about the system feels really relevant to the protests currently happening around the world actually, albeit a different issue to racism. Away from the lyrics, it's unmistakably Liam who takes on vocals here. I personally think that it's a really triumphant moment for him vocally. His snarling tone matches up to the frustration of the lyrical content well. The production of the song is a massive highlight too - a particularly euphoric moment is the "pick up the bass" line followed by a seriously killer bassline. There are pretty psychedelic moments to the production that are reminiscent of 'Strawberry Fields Forever' by The Beatles also. In fact, it's no coincidence that I've always thought that, as Noel stated that this song was "the closest we came to sounding like a modern day Beatles". The accompanying video is fairly simple but also gave me psychedelic Beatles feelings too - as the bus Liam is travelling on, coupled with rainbow filters in places, reminded me of the gloriously terrible 'Magical Mystery Tour' movie. Hey at least the accompanying album was good. 'Go Let It Out' is easily my favourite single to come from the 'Standing on the Shoulder of Giants' era and a general Oasis highlight of the 2000s too. Nothing will top Oasis' 90s material, they churned out so many classics during that period, but they still took some strong stabs at continuing the magic throughout the noughties. Still patiently waiting for fresh music of course.

Now we depart from the Oasis bus and join David Gray in the train station that he's hanging around at here. 'Babylon' by Lady Gaga may be on everyone's lips right now, including my own, but it's time to briefly exit Chromatica and focus on Gray's biggest ever hit of the same name. 'Babylon' was originally released in 1999 but it took a re-release in 2000 for it to reach its eventual #5 peak. It even charted at #57 in the U.S. too. 'Babylon' is taken from his monstrously massive fourth album 'White Ladder' which was riding high in both the EOY charts for 2000 and 2001. In fact it was within the top 5 best selling albums of the entire 2000s decade here. Wow. The nation took to 'Babylon' and I can definitely see why. It's a folktronica song so that is a unique but welcomed piece of genre blending for a chart hit. This song makes me feel like I'm floating on air or something as it personifies freedom - with lyrics such as "let go of your heart, let go of your head and feel it now". It seems to be about leaving behind fear and doubt for maximum fulfilment. It's certainly a journey of emotions throughout. The soothing vocals, plus gentle strokes of guitar and ambient electronic elements, only add to the feeling of relaxation. The delivery of the bridge and chorus in particular are so satisfying. The video features pretty normal locations - from the train station, to a newsagents, to a club. But such simplicity is really heightened right now when sights of this kind have been pretty alien for a while, in the midst of a global pandemic. This song holds a particularly special place in my heart due to positive quiz night memories. At our local pub, back when they hosted a music quiz, my team had tied with another so it was taken to a tiebreak. The quiz master would play a few seconds of a song and the first to slap their hand down and name it would win. So, in comes that intro and my hand was straight down after about a second. David Gray, I have you to thank for securing the jackpot that week.

Next up is one of the first singles I ever owned on vinyl! Rewind back to my 17th birthday on 4th August 2014 and my parents kindly gifted me a record player that year. They started off my collection with a Clean Bandit vinyl and some records from the Now! That's What I Call Music franchise. However, this brand new exciting collection would still build up that day, as I popped into a charity shop that was next to the location of my birthday meal. In here I picked up 'Scandalous' by Mis-teeq on vinyl and also... the song at #13 for 2000... 'Movin' Too Fast' by Artful Dodger & Romina Johnson! I've recently been working my way through my entire record collection alphabetically so this already came up pretty quickly. I got to that vinyl while Bray was staying with me so we listened to it together. I hope he didn't mind me putting him through various versions of the same song in a row in all fairness - what a TUNE! A 2000 section would apparently not be complete without a UK Garage hit so here we go. This was another #2 peaking single for Artful Dodger after 'Re-Rewind (The Crowd Say Bo Selecta)' - how frustrating - but it was a massive improvement on the original just by Romina Johnson, that didn't make much of a dent in 1999. But bring on a new millennium and a fresh team-up and voila, it fared much better this time. This is more subdued compared to the in-your-face nature of 'Re-Rewind (The Crowd Say Bo Selecta)' but still every bit as catchy for me. Plus I enjoy the added twinkly element to the production in addition to the essential UK Garage ingredients. 'Movin Too Fast' is unsurprisingly about not wanting to rush into taking things further. "Gotta sit back, relax" is a lyric I'll happily take on board right now. Earlier I mentioned that 'Flowers' had been covered by Sugababes for the DJ Spoony 'Garage Classical' album. Well, 'Movin' Too Fast' appears on there too so 2000 was clearly a point of reference! It's Paloma Faith who tackles this and I quite enjoy her voice on it too. The video for 'Movin' Too Fast' is pretty basic, with singing, dancing and a backing band all in front of a plain background, but at least Romina featured in it, after 'Movin' Too Fast' was originally just her song and all.

At #12 we have Britney Spears' second and final appearance of 2000! The pop princess is back with the lead single from her sophomore album 'Oops!...I Did It Again'. I have been revisiting each song for this countdown anyway but this one is extra fresh in my mind. This is because the Britney AF hosted a listening session of this album yesterday and I attended! So it's great timing for this to come up when I've had a complete refresh of what the whole era was about. Every artist worries about the sophomore slump but Britney got it just right and bagged herself another #1 hit in the U.K. with this lead single. I remember being shocked to learn that 'Oops!...I Did It Again' 'only' peaked at #9 in the U.S. but the performance of the accompanying album well and truly made up for that at least. Britney was now 18 years old by this point and wasn't afraid to state that "I'm not that innocent". This era felt like a really natural progression from teen-pop star to adulthood. She stayed in a safe lane sonically, with Max Martin still a driving force, but the whole record was a bit more mature thematically, without pushing it too far. 'Oops!...I Did It Again' really feels like a '...Baby One More Time' moment all over again - it was a ready made smash hit with a punchy chorus, Max Martin and Rami Yacoub involvement, the ellipsis title was there once more, it plays to the endearing strengths of her voice and the video was iconic again. It generally has the same aura of a perfectly aligned launchpad - this time for a new era. 'Oops!...I Did It Again' is about a female who views love as a game, but the lover thinks it's a serious relationship. Hence the 'Oops!'. I guess it was different of Britney to put herself in the shoes of a player, as it so often seems to be from a guy's perspective in music. I already mentioned that this song generally seemed like quite safe territory for Britney, but something wildly different about 'Oops!...' is a spoken word middle 8 referencing the film Titanic! It's so random but quotable. The accompanying album has spoken word parts in boatloads though, so this definitely isn't an isolated moment. Britney herself was the mastermind behind the video concept - everything from the space theme to the red outfit was requested by her. That red latex bodysuit is truly one of her most standout costumes! Plus I used to recreate that hairstyle sometimes when I used to wear it straight. The space theme really clicked too. She kills the dance moves as ever and would do so for the VMAs mash-up of this song and '(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction' also. My favourite recent fact that I've found out about this song is that it was nominated for a Kids Choice Award - for 'favourite song' - but lost out to 'Who Let The Dogs Out?'. Wow. Poor Brit failed to win any of her 4 VMA nominations either, but at least the aforementioned performance was hailed, as all of hers seem to be... minus the messy 'Gimme More' year. Yeah let's forget about that one.

Just missing out on a spot in the top 10, but instead rounding off this section on a glorious high, is 'Lady (Hear Me Tonight)' by Modjo! The dance duo achieved the rare 2000 feat of producing a #1 single that spent more than a singular week at the top - this time 2. It became a chart topper in September of that year, so it feels like the music video would've been keeping the vibes of summer alive amongst collective groans of children returning back to school. It features three teenagers getting up to typical summer activities such as going for drives and attending some kind of county fair / festival type affair. A random aesthetic point that I really appreciate is the sky often looking beautiful with its clear blue state - this is made even better when one of the kids in the video is in front of it playing a blue guitar! Anyway, away from that, the kids find themselves in tough situations (like being hit by a bottle when performing and their car breaking down) - but the finale really exudes joy with them all taking in a cliff view of the city. I could really absorb the feeling of appreciating a moment together. 'Lady (Hear Me Tonight)' is such an warm song itself! The lyrics are seriously romantic with lines such as "can't you see you're my delight?" and "I won't get you out of my mind" - so it's pretty easy to sense the feel-good factor. I love the loopy nature of the song too and those glorious French House grooves. The song actually contains a guitar sample of 'Soup for One' by Chic, so that adds a fun disco flavour to it too. Modjo would later have a #12 follow-up hit 'Chillin' the following year, but the next single 'What I Mean' failed to crack the top 40 and then they tailed off. At least their biggest hit feels really well remembered to this day.

Posted by: JosephStyles 9th June 2020, 08:36 PM

Oops! is such a classic!! It stands up so well now, and the spoken word section *_*

I love Black Coffee too, such a sophisticated track

Posted by: Jay* 9th June 2020, 08:40 PM

Oops! is my favourite from your 11-15 section (probably not a surprise ) but I really like the Modjo and Artful Dodger songs too - dance classics!

Posted by: Jade 12th June 2020, 10:39 PM

Hey there Joseph

Ahhh tell me about it! Definitely one of Britney's most enduring hits <3 the spoken word section was such a whacky but genius move *_*

Glad that you're a fan of 'Black Coffee' too - definitely up there with All Saints' very best!

thank you for commenting <3


Hey there Jay

Haha, yes, with you being a Britney mod I would've had a slight suspicion yay, I still hear both of them a lot nowadays <3

thank you for commenting <3

Posted by: Mack. 13th June 2020, 10:24 PM

Movin' Too Fast my favourite from your 15-11 section. The female vocalist sounds like Whitney Houston to me but could be just me that thinks. Great song that.I really like Modjo, classic dance track that. Oops... Some classic Britney there. Great tracks from Oasis and David Gray.

Posted by: Jade 15th June 2020, 09:35 AM

Hey there Mack

Cool to hear that you're a big 'Movin' Too Fast' fan! I'll have to listen out for the Whitney comparison next time 'Oops!' is definitely up there as a Britney classic <3

thank you for commenting <3

~~~

top 10 begins tonight

Posted by: dan-G 15th June 2020, 10:43 AM

Lady (Hear Me Tonight), a classic! one of the few songs here I knew from a very young age as it was on some random compilation of party songs I had.
Movin Too Fast is great too, it's narrowly my fave of theirs over Rewind for how smooth it is.

Posted by: Jade 15th June 2020, 03:25 PM

Hey there Dan

Yesss 'Lady (Hear Me Tonight)' is a song I can remember from a young age too - not quite in 2000 but maybe a couple of years later. I think it was on some kind of compilation in our house too - perhaps a #1s one. Its impact *.* yay, 'Movin Too Fast' was a completely different direction in terms of energy but a welcomed one <3

thank you for commenting <3

Posted by: PeteFromLeeds 15th June 2020, 06:49 PM

Lady (Hear Me Tonight) is a real blast to the start of my life *.* Definitely a song I remember being around all the time when I was younger!

Posted by: Jade 15th June 2020, 07:25 PM

Hey there Pete

How cool that a few of us have now said we associate it with the early years of our lives *.* what a tune!

thank you for commenting <3 and getting me to a new page! Time to get cracking with the top 10 ;o

Posted by: Jade 15th June 2020, 10:56 PM

10. Sugababes - Overload
(chart-run: 6-9-9-15-21-28-35-53)

09. Coldplay - Yellow
(chart-run: 4-11-18-21-25-29-31-34-39-44-61)

08. Moby - Porcelain
(chart-run: 5-13-23-36-55-61)

07. Fragma - Toca's Miracle
(chart-run: 1-1-2-4-10-11-17-24-33-36-36-39-51-66-72-58R(2)-52-29R(399))

06. Melanie C - Never Be The Same Again (feat. Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes)
(chart-run: 1-2-7-9-11-14-17-26-31-38-42-54-67-75-70R(3)-74)



Time to kick off my top 10 favourite hits of the year 2000! Two recent events have lead up to this moment well. Firstly, my mum put on the first instalment of this 20th anniversary 'Big Brother: Best Shows Ever' series on E4 over dinner today. They began with the iconic Nasty Nick drama from series 1... set in the year 2000! So that has acted as an effective time machine to really get me in the new millennium mood. Then, more specific to the #10 song, I watched Keisha Buchanan's YouTube video about life as the 'black Sugababe' only yesterday! So there we go, this series of events have been a perfect path in the run up to this latest section. Sugababes make their first appearance in my countdown now and I'm sure there will be plenty more to come as they're one of my favourite girl groups. 'Overload' was their debut single, featuring founding members Keisha Buchanan, Mutya Buena and Siobhán Donaghy. The girls were only about 15 years old when this song was released. So, as you can imagine, the lyrical content is age appropriate. It's about a teenage girl's crush on a boy and the difficulties that come with this particular situation. However, the execution of this subject matter is pretty mature. In fact, the critics went wild for this song and the accompanying album. This project and Siobhán's 'Ghosts' record are the ones that particularly stand out in my mind as their critically acclaimed work. Their soulful harmonies were on point here - I think the material from Sugababes 2.0 was generally the strongest, but the 1.0 line-up definitely had the best vocal talent. Aside from the vocals, the production is generally a smooth blend of pop, R&B, hip-hop and electronic elements. But there are some surprisingly off-kilter moments in the mix for a debut girl-group single. I guess it was like 'Sound of the Underground' in that it was something a bit different and exciting, except without the reality show tag. I was a bit late to the party and only discovered 'Overload' during my GCSE years due to my friend being a huge Sugababes fan. My knowledge prior to then was 'Angels With Dirty Faces' onwards. I instantly fell in love with this song and that has not changed one bit. It still sounds incredibly fresh for a 2000 release. This charted at an impressive #6 for the girls and was nominated for a Brit Award back then. Away from the song, the video is pretty simple - plotless and the girls alternating in front of a white background. I guess these close up shots helped us to remember their faces quickly. Until the line-up would already change a year later that is!

Next up at #9 is 'Yellow' by Coldplay! This one is very nostalgic for me as it reminds me of a Haven holiday where I played this song over and over again on their Guitar Hero machine. I was transfixed by the combination and it has continued to be my signature Guitar Hero song. It really does have a killer riff. This is Coldplay's highest song for me in 2000 after 'Trouble' appeared earlier. 'Shiver' was their debut single here in the U.K., reaching a modest #35, but it was 'Yellow' that really changed everything. It quickly became the group's first top 5 hit and helped to elevate the sales of accompanying album 'Parachutes'. It made a mark in the U.S. too, where it was instead chosen as their debut single, charting at #48. The meaning behind 'Yellow' seems to have various stories, so who knows which one is sincere, but all in all it's a devotional and romantic song - with "for you" mentioned a lot. It feels melancholic yet upbeat at the same time... I felt the same way about 'Trouble' too earlier, so clearly Coldplay had a knack for striking the balance. I can easily get lost in this beautiful song anyway. The video is equally intense with a young Chris Martin staring into my soul while walking across a beach in slow motion. They went for the minimalistic approach here for sure. The song is pretty hypnotic so I can see why they didn't want many distractions. The video was originally supposed to contain more of the band, but the funeral of bandmate Will Champion's mother occurred on the same day as filming, so it was decided that just Chris would appear. It was hoped that the day was going to be much nicer in terms of weather, but in the end the miserable outcome really matched the sombre tone behind-the-scenes and fed into the melancholic aspect of the song. 'Yellow' feels like a pretty timeless song for me that I imagine I'll still be loving for years to come. A Coldplay classic for sure. One day I simply must hear this live if they ever return to conventional touring.

So, if the 'Yellow' music video wasn't intimate enough, then 'Porcelain' at #8 truly takes the biscuit with a close-up eye being the focal point! It actually had two music videos but this is the one that I'm familiar with. Honestly something about watching that eye blinking makes me feel slightly uneasy. But hey at least the song is great. Moby was less keen at first though - he brushed 'Porcelain' off as average and couldn't imagine people wanting to listen to it. He thought his own vocals were weak and that the production was mushy. However, his manager would convince him to put it on the album 'Play' and release it as a single. Thank goodness that ended up working out! Turns out that a lot of people wanted to listen to this as it charted as high as #5. Its popularity was somewhat attributed to its use in the film 'The Beach'. Let's just say that film will be relevant once more in this countdown a little later. 'Porcelain' is such a dreamy song. The production is so relaxing with its combination of piano, string samples and electronic elements. Those piano rhythms are particularly heavenly. I find Moby's vocal performance haunting too. Pilar Basso also contributes vocals to this song. Those extra layers make it all the more enjoyable - what a stunning soundscape. 'Porcelain' is lyrically quite sad as it's about the break-up of a relationship. More specifically it focuses on a relationship where you're in love with someone but feel like you shouldn't be with them. So the haunting vocals feel very appropriate. This is a staple on my chill-out playlist and will stay on there forever.

So, earlier I mentioned that this year featured the first song that I could actually remember at the time. We've now reached that point! At #7 we have the excellent 'Toca's Miracle' by Fragma. At the time I would repeat the "I need a miracle" line around the house and this is even documented in home videos. I suspect I was singing this phonetically though, as I'm sure the word "miracle" was not yet in my vocabulary at age 3. Young me was already forming a solid taste in music as 'Toca's Miracle' is this high up in my 2000 list! I wish this song was still as widely available as it was back then though. 'Toca's Miracle' is sadly no longer on streaming services and was also really hard to find on YouTube - I had to watch the Top of the Pops performance. Thankfully I actually have this song on my laptop as Colm sent me a PM link to a dance compilation he made, as I loved the tracklist sequencing. So I am able to add it to my Spotify playlist via a local file! But yeah, the song is slowly being erased from the world, even Kisstory play the inferior 2008 remix now this is all down to label issues as Coco Star, the vocalist, apparently never received royalties for this massive hit. This is another #1 single in 2000 that spent more than a week at the top of the chart. It is a mash-up of Coco Star's 'I Need a Miracle' with Fragma's 'Toca Me' instrumental. The two worked stupendously well together and the nation fell in love. I adore the bouncy trance production and general energy of this song. Clearly little me was fixated on the lyrics too and I still find them to be hugely singalong. The music video was a bit random as it showed an indoor futsal game and I can't say this song makes me think of sports at all. But hey, the music video is slowly being wiped out anyway. SUCH a shame about all of the issues surrounding this song as it's an enormous favourite for me. Other Fragma hits are available to stream, including the original 'Toca Me', as the German group were not one hit wonders.

Just missing out on a spot in the top 5 is Melanie C! She has appeared twice previously - with 'When You're Gone' for 1998 and once before in 2000 with 'I Turn To You'. Now it's time for her best song in my eyes - 'Never Be The Same Again'. In fact, this is my favourite solo Spice Girls song full-stop. It was actually a year ago today since I saw the Spice Girls! Solo moments weren't a particular priority though. Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes' rap is a huge draw for me so I think this would feel incomplete live anyway. Her flow and lyrics are so standout, it really doesn't feel like a phoned in appearance whatsoever. It was nice to see the two of them united in the video doing tai chi too. Anyway, for years I wrongly presumed that 'Never Be The Same Again' was Melanie's debut single (well, following the Bryan Adams collab) as it seems like such an obvious smash hit. But no... it came THIRD in the campaign after 'Goin' Down' and the title track from 'Northern Star'! Wow. I guess both of those songs showed different sides of Melanie - the former was very unexpected in sound, a bit edgy, then 'Northern Star' was a ballad that showed off her vocal talent. So those happened and then the #1s appeared as the third and fourth singles. 'Never Be The Same Again' beat 'The Time Is Now' by Moloko to #1 - a song that also appeared in my countdown earlier. Melanie was truly smashing it in 2000. 'Never Be The Same Again' seems to be about taking the plunge from a friendship to a relationship. This song feels so relatable as I remember how overwhelming that was for me, but worth it. This song is backed with R&B-infused electropop production and Melanie's voice fits it like a glove. I do love the in-your-face fun pop that the Spice Girls gave us, but this chilled, sophisticated direction from Melanie was very much welcomed. The video really compliments the song well too, it appears to be set in Iceland (can't get much more chill than that <3) and the tai chi scenes in particular feel quite de-stressing. She smashed this!

2000 concludes next week

Posted by: Bré 16th June 2020, 04:59 PM

Coldplay, Moby and Fragma is a great run of three <3

We can only hope Fragma may one day be added to streaming - maybe for its 25th anniversary? Lel ~

Posted by: Jade 19th June 2020, 08:06 AM

Hey there Bray

Yay *.* and fingers crossed, it seems like an uphill battle so far but I shall live in hope that some kind of arrangement materialises for the 25th anniversary in more positive news, Pop Activism seem to be working on getting the 'Big Brother UK Theme' by Elementfour on streaming platforms, so that's a different 2000 gap coming to be filled at least I should send them a list of all the gaps in this countdown (although I already know that 'Perfect Day' and ofc 'Toca's Miracle' are proving to be a massive challenge, for the former they'd need permission from EVERYONE involved who knows about the 'Chocolate Salty Balls' situation though xo)

thank you for commenting <3

Posted by: Popchartfreak 19th June 2020, 04:09 PM

Hi Jade

Well, the following tracks on your list made my Year-End top 40 for 2000: (12/35, or about 1 in 3)

Never Be The Same Again
Toca's Miracle
Yellow
Overload
Oops I Did It Again
Shackles
Rock DJ
Sandstorm
Rise
Try Again
The Time Is Now
Bye Bye Bye

and my 100: (19/35 I love or over half)

Porcelain
Babylon
Black Coffee
Stronger
Silence
I Need Your Lovin'
One More Time

While the ones I'd list as most in need of being top 5 are (excluding Texas, I know that's not gonna happen, and a few lesser hits ):

It Feels So Good
Smooth
Life Is A Rollercoaster
Dancing In The Moonlight
Sky
Don't Tell me
Pure Shores
Beautiful Day
Groovejet
Kids

any of the above will be very welcome

Posted by: Jade 20th June 2020, 04:29 PM

Hey there John

Good to see a decent amount of crossover again! Especially 'Never Be The Same Again', with that being the highest placing track so far

Can confirm that some of the songs on that list will feature in my top 5, stay tuned to see which ones...

thank you for commenting <3

Posted by: DalekTurret32 21st June 2020, 11:32 PM

You may not be able to get it on Discogs, but you can get the 12" and CD single of Toca's Miracle from eBay.
Also, judging from that Beach reference in the text, I'm guessing Pure Shores will pop up in the Top 5.

Posted by: Jade 22nd June 2020, 03:31 PM

Hey there Dalek

Hooray for 'Toca's Miracle' being preserved in physical form. I definitely have a copy of Now 45 somewhere so I do have it via that.

Regarding the second comment... you may be on to something there...

thank you for commenting <3

Top 5 tonight

Posted by: Jade 22nd June 2020, 11:36 PM

05. Eminem - Stan (feat. Dido)
(chart-run: 1-2-3-2-5-10-12-18-22-22-26-30-30-38-54-68-74R(3))

04. Zombie Nation - Kernkraft 400
(chart-run: 2-2-5-7-12-15-23-30-39-47-64-69-72-71-7)

03. Sonique - It Feels So Good
(chart-run: 1-1-1-2-4-10-17-17-22-26-27-32-32-36-41-62-75)

02. Spiller - Groovejet (If This Ain't Love) (feat. Sophie Ellis-Bextor)
(chart-run: 1-2-3-6-12-17-20-27-36-37-40-39-48-64-59-55-56-54-49-46-42-43-50-66)

01. All Saints - Pure Shores
(chart-run: 1-1-2-3-7-9-12-18-26-32-40-41-50-66-74-69)



Now it's time for my five favourite songs of 2000! This section contains 4 chart toppers and a #2 hit, so some pretty massive singles to close the year on. Kicking off this top 5 is a song that was so impactful that the semantics behind the title were added to the Oxford English Dictionary. Quite a big deal indeed. This is 'Stan' by Eminem, featuring vocals by Dido in the chorus, sampled from her own song 'Thank You'. This sample source would become a hit in its own right following this gigantic springboard. Dido wrote the song about depression, including losing her house, so it feels appropriately dark as a chorus, considering the subject matter of the rest of the song. The title revolves around a crazed Eminem fan named Stan who becomes increasingly more obsessive throughout the song. He's been writing letters to his idol and feels more and more frustrated when he continues to not receive a reply. He even takes it out on his girlfriend - played by Dido in the video. The music video in question, directed by Dr. Dre and Philip G. Atwell, is a literal re-telling of the storyline. Stan's journey ends with him drunk driving, including his girlfriend in the boot, recording one last message to Eminem. He loses control just after the realisation that he won't be able to actually get the tape out to Eminem. This results in the death of himself and his girlfriend. The song finishes with Eminem replying to Stan's letter at last, feeling concerned about his welfare, until he realises that the crazed fan on the news was Stan himself. That whole storyline gives me chills every time! So, 'stan' means an obsessive fan in popular culture today, all thanks to this. It was recorded 20 years ago and retains such a legacy. It's a really intense hip-hop song that was released as the third single from 'The Marshall Mathers LP'. This was a second 'serious' single on the trot as it followed 'The Way I Am'. However, it was the comedic 'The Real Slim Shady' that lead the era and became his first ever #1 single in 2000. Eminem rounded off the year with a 2nd #1 in the bag. Now, in 2020, he is still scoring #1 hits. That is some seriously impressive longevity! I think 'Stan' was probably the first Eminem song I was ever introduced to. I vividly remember watching it on the music channels for the first time (censored, probably for the best for my young eyes) and being fixated by the entire package. Eminem was definitely a gateway to me appreciating hip-hop music more. This still remains one of his best songs for me, perhaps even his absolute best. The story-telling is still gripping every single time for me even though I must've heard it way over 100 times. The sample fits like a glove. The beat is hard-hitting and the rain noises at the beginning help to make it all the more atmospheric. The tension is immaculate. It genuinely inspired terminology in society. My hat truly goes off to him for this masterpiece. The video is one of his best too - although commenters aren't happy that it's censored on YouTube! He's often known for his nonsensical songs but this was refreshingly emotional with a lot of depth to it. Although definitely not as deep as Bob The Builder's 'Can We Fix It?' that blocked it from Christmas #1.

Next we move away from the moody feel of 'Stan' and hit the club instead with a full-fat banger! At #4 we have the brilliant 'Kernkraft 400' by Zombie Nation. This is the one #2 hit in this section amongst a sea of #1s. The song that kept it off the top? Well, that was the Mariah Carey and Westlife version of 'Against All Odds', for not one but two weeks. Oh that one stings. It did not need to be a chart topper to gain a legacy though! It is commonly used as a chant in stadiums for different sports games. That's pretty neat for an instrumental. It does have a pretty distinctive melody though that proved popular here in the U.K. It scraped a #99 position on the Billboard Hot 100 also. Well, I say it's an instrumental, but it does have one minimal repetitive line. This is the mention of the artist "Zombie Nation" - so it's easy to see why people may confuse the artist name for the title of the song instead. Zombie Nation is German and 'Kernkraft 400' translates to 'Nuclear Energy 400'. Therefore, it makes sense that the music video is inside a nuclear plant room. I can never decide if the video is creepy or charming. The eccentric presenter is a bit hands on with the two scantily clad models. But a microwave is genuinely a focal point at the same time. So god knows. It's all a bit random. But either way the song is an absolute stomper! It's a highly energetic electronic song that still sounds really standout. It interpolates a song (called 'Stardust') taken from a 1980s video game (which in turn samples another song) and I can definitely hear the vibrant retro gaming sound to it. The sample was initially not granted but Zombie Nation apparently paid an undisclosed amount to David Whittaker, the man behind 'Stardust', to borrow the melody. Well, thank goodness they came to some kind of agreement as that addictive melody, coupled with bouncy production, is such a necessity in any 2000s dance playlist. It was originally released in 1999 actually but it took a year for 'Kernkraft 400' to properly take off.

Top 3 time now! It is apt that 'It Feels So Good' by Sonique should place 3rd here as the song also finished 3rd on the U.K. best-sellers end-of-year list for 2000. Guess how many weeks she spent at #1? Yep - also 3! That was phenomenal by 2000 standards with most songs only spending one week atop the chart. 'It Feels So Good' was initially released in 1998 but limped into the chart at #24. However, a D.J. in the United States picked up the song later on in 2000 and this kicked off its second wave of popularity. Sonique even managed to chart at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100! What a monster hit she had on her hands. With the likes of 'Stan' and 'Kernkraft 400' it was an instant love for me. However, 'It Feels So Good' was a bit of a slow burner in my affections! I merely liked this for years. But that like eventually turned into love and now it's a firm favourite. That trance production is flawless! The mix of electronic beats and strings are a dream. The production doesn't even peak until right at the end either. On the final chorus the electronic elements become a bit more manic. Sonique, formerly of S'Express fame, compliments that production wonderfully with her soulful vocals. That soaring chorus is so euphoric! I guess it was hard not to be when the song is called 'It Feels So Good' and mentions "taking me higher". It truly does take you to another place. I love the dramatic nature of the verses evolving into such a free chorus. The song was written about a guy who believed that Sonique only liked him for his success and not who he truly was. So this was a response - that his love DOES feel so good. The music video features Sonique working in what appears to be a café and having a daydream with delusions of grandeur; she's singing in front of a crowd on stage. Well, this song truly did propel her to new heights on stages in the U.K.! This is her signature song but she did continue having hits with the likes of 'Sky' and 'I Put A Spell On You'.

Well, 'Groovejet (If This Ain't Love)' may have won a chart battle, but it must settle for #2 here! Producer Spiller, with help from Sophie Ellis-Bextor on vocals, was up against Truesteppers featuring Dane Bowers and Victoria Beckham's 'Out Of Your Mind' - Posh Spice's first musical foray outside of the Spice Girls. This was a BIG deal. But it was Spiller and Sophie who grabbed that top spot and eventually became the 8th best-selling single of the year. I am a big Spice Girls fan of course but I'm firmly team 'Groovejet (If This Ain't Love)' if it wasn't obvious enough! They gave the world some serious summer shimmer with this funky, laidback and romantic dance team-up. Its origin was just Spiller's instrumental, but he wanted a vocalist on top of the track in the end, fearing that the repetitive instrumental wouldn't click enough with the public. So, he approached 21-year-old Sophie from rock band theaudience and the rest is history. She wrote the lyrics (with a little help from Rob Davis) and provided a charming vocal performance. It turns out that she would be the star out of the two of them. Spiller followed up the dainty and beautiful 'Groovejet (If This Ain't Love)' with... an absolute racket called 'Cry Baby'! Honestly, what was he thinking? Sophie stayed in her lane of disco-tinged charm and it really paid off. Well, at least the both of them have created a legacy with this song, thanks to the aforementioned chart battle and also the fact that it was the first song ever to be played on an iPod - a prototype specifically! Now that is pretty cool. Both Spiller and Sophie appear in the video. They are eventually brought together in a club where the former dances in a very goofy fashion. What a lush song, I love the house grooves and all the little flashes of strings and percussion. Sophie's vocals fit in beautifully. It's another 'Toca's Miracle' situation where the track and vocals feel like they were meant to be together all along. I was too young to remember the summer of 2000 but what an amazing soundtrack it must've had with the likes of this and 'Lady (Hear Me Tonight)' repping the house genre. Both still feel fresh now.

So... now time for the big reveal. For 1997 it was Dario G. Then 1998 was Spice Girls. For 1999 I chose Fatboy Slim. Now... it's All Saints! Wow, I've just noticed that an unintentional pattern is forming. This is me alternating between dance producers and girl-groups so far! Watch this space for a dance #1 for 2001. Anyway, All Saints are back after appearing not too long ago with 'Black Coffee'. 'Pure Shores' is the crown jewel of their whole discography for me. The rest of the country seemed to love it too as it was the 2nd best-selling single of 2000 here and spent 2 weeks at #1. Band member Shaznay Lewis wrote the song about finding a place to relax. These magnetising lyrics found a home under the production of William Orbit. He was a perfect fit for All Saints just like he was for Madonna. He turned this relaxing vision into the most beautiful ambient pop soundscape. All of the layers create a harmonious underwater atmosphere. That includes All Saints' dreamy vocals too. 'Pure Shores' does get a little dramatic during the middle 8 but swiftly returns to a chill-out sound for a satisfying climax. 'Black Coffee' had a seriously explosive coda but I think the middle 8 taking more of that turn was far more effective for this song when it's generally more peaceful. In fact this was revealed as one of the most relaxing songs ever according to a study carried out in the past. 'Pure Shores' was used for the Leonardo DiCaprio movie 'The Beach' (fun fact, a colleague during my work experience at Your Cat magazine gave me this on DVD along with a couple of others, during a clearout, but I still need to watch it!!) and this can be spotted in the music video. Scenes of the girls are spliced with ones from the movie. They work quite effectively as All Saints are on a beach themselves. The night vision effects are particularly memorable. They make me think of an experience outside of the norm. So, being on land, what we're used to, verses the underwater feeling of this song. Then couple that with vision that looks unorthodox. It's quite an exciting collision for me anyway! The girls truly smashed it out of the park with this one. Their warm harmonies were made for William Orbit's ambient style. I'm pleased that this sound was such a winner for the public as I truly treasure these William Orbit projects too. This and 'Black Coffee' really steered them in the right direction for the critics too. What a song! Within my top 10 of all-time. It's enchanting, hypnotic, beautiful... everyone involved played a blinder. The vocals, lyrics and production all feel so connected in this relaxing underwater world. I love being immersed in this.

That's a wrap 2001 begins in the not too distant future x

Posted by: Jade 22nd June 2020, 11:37 PM

recap ~ full 2000 top 40:

01. All Saints - Pure Shores
02. Spiller - Groovejet (If This Ain't Love) (feat. Sophie Ellis-Bextor)
03. Sonique - It Feels So Good
04. Zombie Nation - Kernkraft 400
05. Eminem - Stan (feat. Dido)
06. Melanie C - Never Be The Same Again (feat. Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes)
07. Fragma - Toca's Miracle
08. Moby - Porcelain
09. Coldplay - Yellow
10. Sugababes - Overload

11. Modjo - Lady (Hear Me Tonight)
12. Britney Spears - Oops!...I Did It Again
13. Artful Dodger & Romina Johnson - Movin' Too Fast
14. David Gray - Babylon
15. Oasis - Go Let It Out
16. Bomfunk MC's - Freestyler
17. B-15 Project - Girls Like Us (feat. Crissy D & Lady G)
18. All Saints - Black Coffee
19. Sweet Female Attitude - Flowers
20. Dr. Dre - Forgot About Dre (feat. Eminem)

21. Mary Mary - Shackles (Praise You)
22. Britney Spears - Stronger
23. Robbie Williams - Rock DJ
24. Darude - Sandstorm
25. Gabrielle - Rise
26. Madison Avenue - Don't Call Me Baby
27. Element Four - Big Brother UK TV Theme
28. Coldplay - Trouble
29. Aaliyah - Try Again
30. Craig David - Fill Me In

31. Basement Jaxx - Bingo Bango
32. Chicane - Don't Give Up (feat. Bryan Adams)
33. Melanie C - I Turn To You
34. Artful Dodger and Robbie Craig - Woman Trouble (feat. Craig David)
35. Delerium - Silence (feat. Sarah McLachlan)
36. LeAnn Rimes - Can't Fight The Moonlight
37. Moloko - The Time Is Now
38. Marc et Claude - I Need Your Lovin' (Like The Sunshine)
39. Daft Punk - One More Time
40. *NSYNC - Bye Bye Bye

~~~

playlist so far (1997 - 2000):



Hope you guys are still enjoying! My enthusiasm for this project has been at an all-time high since I designated a certain day for it *.*

Feel free to share your own 2000 favourites x

(impact of these songs since they appeared in this countdown: Pop Activism are working on getting 'Big Brother UK Theme' back on Spotify, thanks to a recent revival of interest in Big Brother, due to a 20th anniversary special on E4. Also an advert with a different version of 'I Need Your Lovin' (Like The Sunshine)' has resurfaced again on TV!)

Posted by: Bré 23rd June 2020, 12:54 AM

I am at least a moderately big fan of all of those top 5 so a great section to end on! I'm not really a massive fan of All Saints in general but 'Pure Shores' is certainly an undeniable song from them. And I think I did know it before but I kind of associate 'Kernkraft 400' with you (re-)introducing it to me on plug.dj iirc, eternally grateful as it's definitely one of the best dance songs of its era <3

The #1 of 2001 will be pretty obvious of course... Mambo No. 5 by Bob The Builder xx

Posted by: Doctor Blind 23rd June 2020, 05:55 AM

Five absolute classics there to round out 2000, they were actually playing “Kernkraft 400” on 6Music yesterday afternoon and it was quite the unexpected joy to hear it on the radio again.

“Stan” takes me back to playing Resident Evil after school as it was always on Radio 1 that December, and “Pure Shores” was a brilliant comeback from a group that was sadly to drift apart and never quite recapture the magic, but not before they scored a surprise number 1 with the equally brilliant “Black Coffee”. I also really enjoyed “Groovejet (If This Ain't Love)” and “It Feels So Good” which bookended the summer that year - although the song of the summer for me that year was “Freestyler” which was played to death when I was out in Austria in August for a family holiday.

A bit sad that “Don't Falter” by Mint Royale and the lovely Lauren Laverne didn't quite make your list, one of the most joyful and upbeat songs of 2000.

Looking very much forward to 2001!

Posted by: Chez Wombat 23rd June 2020, 04:34 PM

An excellent top 10, the top 2 especially are real year-defining songs. My other favourites from your top 10 are Stan (a beautiful and haunting song indeed, the parent album is on my current bucket list project, I'm not sure I'm ready x), Porcelain ( beautiful) and, naturally, Yellow (I genuinely can't decide between this and Trouble for my favourites from Parachutes, changes every day, but they're both wonderful)

As is customary, an estimate of my own 2000 top 10:

01. Daft Punk - One More Time
02. U2 - Beautiful Day
03. Moby - Porcelain
04. Bomfunk MCs - Freestyler
05. Coldplay - Trouble/Yellow
06. Darude - Sandstorm
07. All Saints - Pure Shores
08. Toploader - Dancing in the Moonlight
09. The Bloodhound Gang - The Bad Touch
10. Blink-182 - All The Small Things

Most of which are here so yay! Have you heard Beautiful Day? It's my favourite U2 song <3

Posted by: Popchartfreak 23rd June 2020, 04:36 PM

What an amazing top 3!

Love Stan too actually, but a bit lower down in my affections than top 10.

Posted by: King Rollo 23rd June 2020, 06:01 PM

Pure Shores is very good and it made my shortlist of 27 songs but it misses out on my top 20 chart hits from 2000. My no.1 from Angelic is best heard in its 12 inch mix. The radio edit is far too short at just three minutes in length. It's My Turn is one of many dance anthems in my top 20.

1. Angelic - It's My Turn
2. Doves - The Man Who Told Everything
3. JJ72 - Oxygen
4. Sureal - You Take My Breath Away
5. Marc et Claude - I Need Your Lovin' (Like The Sunshine)
6. Eminem - Stan
7. Ralph Fridge - Angel
8. Moby - Porcelain
9. Daft Punk - One More Time
10. Doves - The Cedar Room
11. Armand Van Helden - Koochy
12. Zombie Nation - Kernkraft 400
13. Aurora - Ordinary World
14. York - On The Beach
15. Chicane featuring Bryan Adams - Don't Give Up
16. Moby - Natural Blues
17. Storm - Time To Burn
18. Air - Playground Love
19. Darude - Sandstorm
20. Azzido Da Bass - Dooms Night

Posted by: Jade 29th June 2020, 08:15 PM

Hey there Bray

It feels like you've often commented on being a fan of a couple/few songs in each section for 2000, so hooray for a clean sweep right at the end *.* All Saints aren't really up there with the likes of Spice Girls, Girls Aloud, Little Mix and Sugababes as my ultimate favourite girl-groups, but they certainly had a few songs that grabbed my attention, with 'Pure Shores' being the best of the best x ooh I usually have a strangely strong memory when it comes to random plug.dj moments but I'd forgotten that I re-introduced you to 'Kernkraft 400' on there! Well, I am pleased with my past self now. What a TUNE *.* + you're definitely on to something with that 2001 #1 guess xo

thank you for commenting <3


Hey there Doctor B

I'm very pleased that this entire top 5 seems to be going down well! Always great to be on the same musical wavelength as others - these classics deserve all the love <3 I applaud 6Music for playing 'Kernkraft 400' even now *.* my highlight of working at HMV was that blasting through the store thanks to a random compilation!

Oh wow *.* I was sadly too young to have such memories - when I think of remembering Eminem songs on Radio 1 after school, it's more like 'Not Afraid' and 'Love The Way You Lie' a whole 10 years later It's a shame that there was so much fall-out behind-the-scenes with All Saints, but they definitely played a blinder with William Orbit with both 'Pure Shores' and 'Black Coffee' <3 good on them for ironing out their differences and still making music now! Ooft all of those dance tunes during the summer sound glorious <3

I am ashamedly not that familiar with 'Don't Falter' so I'm going to have to remind myself of that one

Yay! going to put my list together tonight for 2001

thank you for commenting <3


Hey there Chez

Glad that you approve of the top 10 <3 I'm intrigued to see your thoughts on that Eminem album! I had a feeling you'd appreciate the 'Yellow' inclusion

Great top 10 there yourself! I do know 'Beautiful Day' - I believe I was introduced to it through Singstar I do like it, this year was just brutal, the fact that the likes of 'Don't Tell Me' by Madonna and 'You See The Trouble With Me' by Black Legend didn't make the cut still bothers me

thank you for commenting <3


Hey there John

Yay! I was pleased to see that whole top 3 on your list of songs that you hoped would make it in my top 5 glad that you're a fan of 'Stan' too! That one generally seems to be well regarded on BuzzJack for a rap song. Maybe Dido has something to do with it

thank you for commenting <3


Hey there Rollo

I'm glad that you're a fan of 'Pure Shores' even if it couldn't quite make your top 20! That Angelic song is great, there was some painful dance omissions for me for this year, the York song being another one I count 7 of my top 40 in your top 20 so not bad at all

thank you for commenting <3

Posted by: Mack. 29th June 2020, 11:43 PM

A fantastic Top 40 hits from 2000 there Jade. A worthy winner in All Saints, a classic that is. Looking forward to 2001.

Posted by: coi 30th June 2020, 09:42 AM

Another good selection of tracks from 2000 here, great that Fill Me In and Sandstorm made it in and your top ten is great, especially pleased to see Yellow, Porcelain, Stan and Kernkraft 400 in there!

My fave top 40 hits from 2000:

1. Darude - Sandstorm
2. Coldplay - Shiver (great to see two singles from Parachutes made it in your countdown but this will always be my fave!)
3. Eminem feat. Dido - Stan
4. Muse - Muscle Museum
5. Manic Street Preachers - The Masses Against The Classes
6. Coldplay - Yellow
7. Moby - Porcelain
8. Idlewild - Actually It's Darkness
9. Craig David - Fill Me In
10. Blink-182 - All The Small Things

Posted by: Jade 1st July 2020, 10:48 AM

Hey there Mack

Glad that you enjoyed the 2000 selection and that you're looking forward to 2001 - aiming to kick it off next Monday 'Pure Shores' really is a classic

thank you for commenting <3


Hey there coi

Ooh yay, I'm glad you enjoyed the 2000 choices too! Craig David did pretty well to feature here twice with 'Woman Trouble' and 'Fill Me In', '7 Days' also wasn't far off either. 2000 was a terrific year in his career. 'Sandstorm' is a massive dance classic of course quite a lot more dance to come for 2001 *.*

Your own top 10 looks pretty good too - I count half that made my top 40 and 3 of those in my top 10, yesss *.* 'Shiver' and 'The Masses Against The Classes' were probably closest to making it out of those that I didn't include. Poor 'Shiver' overshadowed by 'Yellow' and 'Trouble' in my affections and in the charts it is lovely in its own right though. 'Parachutes' is a fantastic album in general - had to be the first one of theirs I owned on vinyl.

Thank you for commenting <3

Posted by: Riser 3rd July 2020, 02:07 PM

Hello Jade! 2000, what a year, a frantic one chart-wise with so many #1s, quick turnover and short chart runs, but considering the amount of classics we're left with it was probably for the best!

01. All Saints - Pure Shores Can't argue with this #1 at all, would be right up there for me too! Thrilled it was such a smash hit for them and William Orbit's productions in general have aged so well, haven't they!?
02. Spiller - Groovejet (If This Ain't Love) (feat. Sophie Ellis-Bextor)
03. Sonique - It Feels So Good Yup, remember this fondly from 2000, it's on Now 4 here which I'm having a craving to play now! Another song that still conjures the same energy and beauty 20 years later, or 22 even if you count the original release! I don't believe I've heard any other Sonique songs though
04. Zombie Nation - Kernkraft 400
05. Eminem - Stan (feat. Dido) The impakt Eminem has had on internet fan culture just from the song title alone *_* Yay for this giving Dido a big career boost too!
07. Fragma - Toca's Miracle
08. Moby - Porcelain
09. Coldplay - Yellow
12. Britney Spears - Oops!...I Did It Again
14. David Gray - Babylon
18. All Saints - Black Coffee A shame that this seems to live in Pure Shores' shadow at times when it's also one of their best! It did get its deserved week at #1 though 👍
19. Sweet Female Attitude - Flowers
20. Dr. Dre - Forgot About Dre (feat. Eminem)
22. Britney Spears - Stronger
23. Robbie Williams - Rock DJ
24. Darude - Sandstorm Will there ever be another trance classic as big as this? I think not!
25. Gabrielle - Rise
26. Madison Avenue - Don't Call Me Baby
28. Coldplay - Trouble
29. Aaliyah - Try Again Speaking of amazing production, Timbaland absolutely smashed it here, as did Aaliyah of course! Has a great legacy of being her first and only #1 in the US and her first top 10 in the UK. I actually just watched the 2000 VMAs last Friday and she won Best Female Video with this, over the likes of Britney and Christina! Sadly it was one of her last ever award show appearances, a true talent taken from us too soon </3
30. Craig David - Fill Me In
36. LeAnn Rimes - Can't Fight The Moonlight
40. *NSYNC - Bye Bye Bye

Well, I already know one song that has a chance of appearing in 2001 () but I look forward to finding out the other 39!

Posted by: PeteFromLeeds 3rd July 2020, 06:28 PM

Playing Pure Shores now, I definitely recognise it but don't think I'd linked it to being that song before! It is indeed very nice, takes me back to the music of the 00s.

Groovejet, Zombie Nation, Toca's Miracle and Yellow are all great as well!

Posted by: Jade 6th July 2020, 08:47 AM

2001 begins tonight

Hey there Jordan

Yes 2000 is such a crazy year to look back on! It says it all that I'd get excited when a #1 single had more than one week at the top when writing commentary but you're right, this year really did spawn so many classics, making it the toughest year so far to narrow down to just 40 for me!

#1 - I'm pleased that 'Pure Shores' is a big favourite from this year for you too it seems rightfully loved on BuzzJack. Yes, not only was it a #1 hit but one of the top best-sellers of the year - so glad that it connected with the public so much *.* The production really hasn't aged a day - same goes for his Madonna stuff!
#3 - How cool that you have fond memories of this from 2000 *.* I do vaguely remember this when I was growing up so it must've continued to gain plays for some years to come. Decided to check out that Now 4 track list and I see that quite a few from this countdown are on that edition - 'Larger Than Life' opening it <3 'I Feels So Good' is such an enduring classic as you say! It feels a bit crazy that it didn't make that much of an impression initially but at least it got there eventually. I think 'Sky' was quite a big hit in the U.K. as well, that's pretty good too although 'It Feels So Good' does massively overshadow it for me. I think 'I Put A Spell On You' went top 20 also!
#4 - I know right! I forget what life was like before stan Twitter exploded into the force it is now G'won Dido, of course going on to have massive albums!
#18 - Yeah 'Black Coffee' really does live in the shadow of 'Pure Shores'! It's weird to say that about a song that also hit #1, but 'Pure Shores' was just SUCH a force that it was going to be hard for this to get the same look in. It's brilliant in its own right of course - All Saints + William Orbit = dream team <3
#29 - Speaking of dream-teams... yes, that is certainly the case for Aaliyah + Timbaland too <3 the production of 'Try Again' feels so unique for an R&B song. I'm glad that it paid off so much chart-wise. Oh wow, that's awesome that you took a trip down memory lane with the VMAs *.* great for her that she managed to pip two huge stars to the win! It's so tragic that she left this Earth so young and in such a terrible way. Her legacy shall always live on

you might be on to something there this site knows me too well x

thank you for commenting <3


Hey there Pete

Oh wow well, I'm glad that this countdown could help put 2 + 2 together for you as 'Pure Shores' must be known by all *.* glad you like it! Good to see a handful of other picks from my top 10 too.

thank you for commenting <3

Posted by: Jade 6th July 2020, 10:19 PM

40. PPK - ResuRection
(chart-run: 3-6-8-12-11-11-19-25-34-32-32-43-60-62-71)

39. Shaggy - It Wasn't Me (feat. Rik Rok)
(chart-run: 1-2-3-2-2-2-2-5-8-10-13-15-22-24-32-39-49-58-73-70)

38. Missy Elliott - Get Ur Freak On
(chart-run: 4-5-9-12-13-19-29-37-46-55-68)

37. Linkin Park - In The End
(chart-run: 8-13-13-23-28-31-42-61-73)

36. Destiny's Child - Survivor
(chart-run: 1-2-7-9-12-20-23-35-42-50-56-64-71)



Kicking off 2001 is a dance instrumental! This is PPK with 'ResuRection'. I definitely remember discovering this through the Now! That's What I Call Music series after having no prior knowledge of it, despite being a top 3 hit. This was on Now 51, the first of the albums released in 2002, as 'ResuRection' did not chart until right at the end of 2001. It made a very strong first impression on me and I've continued to revisit it over the years. PPK are a Russian group and hit the jackpot with their debut single. Unfortunately, their follow-up only made it to #39 so their chart career faded very quickly. But at least their biggest hit was pretty huge. It was the 70th best-selling single of 2001. 'ResuRection' is a trance instrumental that revolves around very calming beeps. I would usually associate bleeps and bloops with chaos, however, I think the way this song builds has an ambient effect. The chorus is quite fast-paced but the verses don't have the same extra production layers when the pretty beeps are introduced. Elsewhere, other cool parts of the song include trance squelches, brief harmonious vocals at the start and a small spoken-word portion at the end. These vocal parts are so minimal that I'd still think of it as an instrumental. I presume the spoken part at the end is in Russian. The music video is centred around a rocket launch so those are some pretty cool visuals. This doesn't really feel like one of the most well-known dance songs these days. It took me until about 2014 to listen to the relevant Now album for the first time, so that was a long time to be deprived of it. However, this archived gem has really aged well. I've had it on loop while writing this and it's a pleasure to have rediscovered it once again. I'm glad I managed to squeeze it in at #40 despite a lot of strong competition once again.

At #39 is a song that I was far more familiar with throughout my childhood! It's a pretty lewd song, but it was always the clean version that I came across on the music channels. I remember seeing it a lot on 4Music in the late noughties during programmes about #1 hits or best-sellers of the 2000s. So you could say this was pretty successful. It's the first chart-topper to pop up for 2001. As aforementioned in the introductory 2001 blurb, Shaggy achieved the best-selling single of 2001 with 'It Wasn't Me', with a little help from Rik Rok. He had previous chart-toppers in the U.K., 'Boombastic' in 1995 for example is another signature hit of his, but this was his first in the United States. The song is about advising a friend to say "it wasn't me" when they get caught cheating. That is a pretty... questionable message, but I don't really think this is a song to be taken seriously at all. Well, except the fact that the "Shaggy defense" was actually coined and compared to R. Kelly's legal defence strategy. R. Kelly's problematic behaviour far eclipses this song though. The advice is addressed as making "no sense at all" by the end of the song for starters! Plus the video is just peak ridiculous, with Rik Rok escaping by jumping on a truck, plus three women being on to him at the end and appearing powerful, making him look the fool. Shaggy's team really needs to upload the video in better quality, it was so fuzzy that I couldn't even read what the messages said in it! So much drama caused by the love interest having a spare key. What can I say, the song is stupendously catchy and memorable. To the point where it's a bit of a meme. Rik Rok provides a really smooth vocal performance too. Shaggy's delivery is somewhat endearing also even if his advice is bad. 'It Wasn't Me' was originally not pencilled in as a single which seems baffling in retrospect! It took a positive reception after a random radio play for the decision to be made. Well, that turned out to be a very good plan, as not only was 'It Wasn't Me' an eye-watering seller in 2001, but a force to be reckoned with over the entire 2000s too! I'd say I enjoyed this more when I was younger, but it's still such an earworm that it deserved a place here.

Next we have an iconic hip-hop song! 'Get Ur Freak On' was Missy Elliott's first top 10 single as a lead artist in the U.K. after it reached #4 here. She of course featured on Mel B's #1 'I Want You Back' first. It also hit the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, at #7. This definitely feels like one of her signature songs alongside 'Work It'. She teamed up with Timbaland for this single. Like 'Try Again with Aaliyah earlier, this is another Timbaland creation that has aged so well. The production is incredibly appealing to me as it heavily revolves around Bhangra elements. I absolutely love this sound and look forward to covering the Bhangra invasion of 2003 soon! But, back to 2001 and these two hit-makers have provided an absolute banger for Missy's repertoire. She said that the song can be interpreted in any way, whether that's through dancing or in the bedroom. The opening Japanese line actually translates to "Everyone start dancing together wildly now. Let's make some noise, let's make some noise." - so that, alongside some energetic choreography in the video and Missy's explanation, certainly make it ideal for dancing. Also it could work on a Halloween playlist. Such versatility! Missy delivers a fierce performance as ever. She's equally as iconic in the video too - she swings from a chandelier people!! The video actually features multiple celebrity cameos including Ludacris, Eve and Timbaland himself. The whole package is a whole lot of fun. It had ALREADY been sampled in another song by the end of 2001 - this was in 'Ugly' by Bubba Sparxxx, which I discovered during Radio 1's 'One Hit Wonders' show. Unfortunately that won't be making it, but the original by the legendary Missy certainly deserved a spot. I hope Kisstory continue to spam it forever!

Speaking of signature songs... it's time for 'In The End' by Linkin Park! Now is really good timing for this to appear in my countdown as it has just reached 1 billion views on YouTube. What a fantastic milestone. 'In The End' is a hard-hitting nu metal / rap-rock song, so very different from the dance, R&B and hip-hop seen in this section so far. The meaning of the song is open to interpretation, but the most commonly stated one is that it's about lead singer Chester Bennington's struggles growing up and how he was picked on. It's of course so eerie to listen to now, as Chester tragically committed suicide in 2017, so any song about him struggling feels natural to connect to that. He gives it his all on that epic chorus with his usual angsty delivery. You can really feel the pain. Mike Shinoda is also prominent on the song and really attacks his raps. I'm generally a fan of the rock and rap worlds colliding so I love their style. The instrumentation is a real highlight on this too, those guitars are towering and the piano loops are really chilling. It all comes together as a very powerful experience. The music video is simple but effective, as the group are mostly just rocking out but the scenery is like a fantasy world for the most part, so that does the talking. 'In The End' charted at #8 for them and re-entered at #14 in 2017, following Chester's passing. It did feel really fitting as a tribute. It's their second highest peak here, as 'What I've Done' would later reach #6. In the U.S. it was even bigger as it peaked as high as #2. Nu-metal doesn't sound like the biggest commercial force ever but this did have huge crossover appeal.

Rounding off this section is a #1 hit! 'Survivor' by Destiny's Child did have to settle for the #2 position in the U.S. though. This is because the mammoth 'All For You' by Janet Jackson would not budge from the top of the chart over there. Beyoncé was inspired to write 'Survivor' after a radio station compared the line-up changes of the group to the game show 'Survivor'. She wanted to turn this shady comment into the motivational anthem that we all know today. It's empowering to hear Beyoncé singing lines such as "even in my years to come I'm still gon' be here" because here we are, 19 years later and she's just been a part of the #1 hit 'Savage' with Megan Thee Stallion in the U.S. We love to see that staying power materialising! Some other lines did not go down well though, such as "You thought I wouldn't sell without you, sold nine million" - as former band members LeToya Luckett and LaTavia Roberson filed a lawsuit over it, stating that this violated a previous agreement that prevented either party from insulting the other. The drama of it all! The line-up at the time of this song was of course Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. Even the usually under-utilised Michelle got the chance to shine on this one with a very dramatic section! 'Survivor' is such a pick-me-up and has aged really well in their singles catalogue. I'm clearly a sucker for 00s R&B going by this section so far! I love the production, those strings compliment the determination of the delivery really well. The video is a memorable one from them too, as the trio are survivors living on an uninhabited island. Of course, as this is a girl-group music video, it isn't too long before it evolves into a dance break. What a triumph this was, 6th in an unbroken run of 12 top 10 singles!

Posted by: Bré 6th July 2020, 10:47 PM

Beginning where 2000 left off quality wise as I like all 5 of these songs again! (Not really as familiar with 'ResuRection' as the rest but I'm sure it is a song that I do like a lot whenever I hear it)

Interesting to note that not one but two of these songs have been sampled in recent big reggaetón hits (Anuel AA's 'China' sampling 'It Wasn't Me' and Bad Bunny's 'Safaera' sampling 'Get Ur Freak On')

Posted by: Chez Wombat 6th July 2020, 10:58 PM

In The End All of Linkin Park's songs are pretty hard to listen to these days after what happened, but they're still great songs and this represents their style very well. I wouldn't rank it as my big favourite (that would be Numb or Breaking the Habit) but it's up there.

Posted by: Mack. 11th July 2020, 08:33 PM

Blimey, what a start this is. All five great songs sounds poignant listening to 'In The End' after the passing of Chester. ResuRection what a tune that is, It Wasn't Me this is a guilty pleasure of mine, it's a classic in my view wouldn't tire of hearing this. Get Ur Freak On the best song Missy Elliott did, this is a fantastic hip hop tune. And Survivor, sheer brilliance from Destiny's Child, shame there isn't a group like them in the UK Charts.

Posted by: Jade 13th July 2020, 09:59 AM

Hey there Bray

Hooray, I'm pleased to have started off on such a strong note for you *.* yeah 'ResuRection' has definitely been played on plug.dj before a few times and does sound like something you'd enjoy as a beepy instrumental. Oh wow that is a very fun fact! The impact of these classiques x

thank you for commenting <3


Hey there Chez

Yeah I totally get what you mean it's so easy to connect all of these hard-hitting lyrics and vocal performances to Chester's real life struggles. But, as you say, they're fantastic songs and have really stood the test of time. 'Numb' is a great mention too <3

thank you for commenting <3


Hey there Mack

Continuing to really enjoy the amount of crossover we have with these noughties hits! I agree with all of your comments pretty much. The UK Charts really are lacking in girl-groups, let alone in the R&B lane, with Little Mix mostly catering to pop audiences.

thank you for commenting <3

Posted by: Jade 13th July 2020, 10:52 PM

35. Zero 7 - Destiny
(chart-run: 30-46-55)

34. Safri Duo - Played-A-Live (The Bongo Song)
(chart-run: 6-11-14-19-27-33-43-66-73)

33. Nelly Furtado - I'm Like A Bird
(chart-run: 5-6-8-9-9-11-14-19-21-29-30-36-38-43-61-69)

32. Jakatta - American Dream
(chart-run: 3-8-13-18-20-25-35-36-49-56-66-65-63-73R(2))

31. Eddy Grant - Electric Avenue (Ringbang Remix)
(chart-run: 5-11-15-19-28-33-37-46-55-70-71R(2)-72)



The previous section concluded with a song that features on one of my favourite Now! That's What I Call Music albums - Now 49 - and this one begins with another that made it on to that track list! However, we take a bit of a dive in terms of chart position. 'Survivor' of course hit #1 but the single that kicks off this section only peaked at #30. It feels so much bigger than that! Possibly due to its use in different forms of media. Just in the world of film alone it features on three soundtracks: Blue Crush, Obsessed and Raising Hell. This is Zero 7's 'Destiny'. They are a British duo comprising of Henry Binns and Sam Hardaker. However, they enlisted help from two female vocalists for 'Destiny'. These were superstar Sia for the verses and the less well-known name Sophie Barker for the chorus. I must confess that I thought the same vocalist sang the entire song for years, oops! That feels strange as Sia's voice is so distinctive. I suppose that is a testament to how well this entire package flows from one element to another. I must've been too lost in it for years to notice the difference. Plus I've only just watched the music video for the first time! There are clearly two different ladies in it. Back when Sia was comfortable with her face appearing in music videos. It was a pretty LQ upload on YouTube, but I got the sense that there wasn't a whole lot of plot. It was more ~vibey~ with the two girls on separate hoops in the air, plus some trippy colouring. This must have been the song that introduced me to Sia. My grandparents had a copy of Now 49 in their house and I would play it over and over again while making up dance routines to some of the more upbeat songs! I'm pretty sure I was unaware of other early Sia songs and 'Titanium' wouldn't come along until 2011. So there we go - what an introduction! This is an absolutely stunning effort from all involved of course. I adore the trip-hop features in the production. They help to create a really ambient atmosphere just seconds into the song. Then Sia takes charge with her chilled verse. As aforementioned, we switch to Sophie for the chorus and she certainly has a dreamy voice to match the romantic lyrics. Lines such as "Even though we're miles apart, we are each other's destiny" are so full of hope. Plus a scenario I can relate to in a way, with the distance thing. This specific situation is about two lonely hearts whose paths in life will eventually lead them to each other though. What a beautiful start to this section! It's criminal that this only spent a single week in the top 40. This was Zero 7's only top 40 hit actually but we of course know what happened to Sia!

Next up we have a song that I only discovered about 5 years ago despite being a top 10 hit! This was thanks to Radio 1's 'One Hit Wonders of the Millennium' show as they kindly featured 'Played-A-Live (The Bongo Song)' by Safri Duo in amongst their hours of programming. It clicked with me straight away and I suddenly wondered where it had been all my life! Safri Duo, from Denmark, had this monster hit on their hands around Europe. It peaked at #6 here in the U.K. but actually topped charts in the likes of their home country and Switzerland. As aforementioned, I was too young to remember this at the time, but it must bring back memories for those into the Olympics or Eurovision! It featured prominently in the opening ceremony for the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. Yup, 2000, so we were a bit late to this it seems. The Eurovision Song Contest in 2001 was held in Copenhagen so both Safri Duo and Aqua were chosen as relevant talent to perform as the interval acts. Finally, FIFA fans may remember this from the FIFA Football 2003 soundtrack. 'Played-A-Live (The Bongo Song)' really got around it seems! It is a fully instrumental track largely comprising of thundering drum parts. Keyboard elements are also incorporated. Generally there is a real tribal feel to it thanks to the drums. Plus there is some excellent tension displayed throughout as we wait for the striking percussion to reappear each time. It sounds perfect for summer so I can see why it would've soundtracked the Olympics during those months. The music video features the duo demonstrating their relentless drumming. It cuts between that and scientists observing their actions through a microscope. Why not. Sadly, like Zero 7, these guys could only manage one top 40 hit. But hey, at least they did it in style by reaching the top 10!

At #33 we have the biggest hit of this section so far! Canadian star Nelly Furtado really experienced a slam dunk with her debut single. Firstly, it saw commercial success both in the U.K. and the U.S. as it charted in the top 5 here and top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. In addition to this, she swiftly became a Grammy winner as 'I'm Like A Bird' resulted in a win for 'Best Female Pop Vocal Performance'! This was the first time that a debut single had this accolade since Mariah Carey a decade earlier. What a promising start for Nelly! I'm pretty sure I discovered this song through car journeys growing up as it's very radio friendly. I recall Little Mix performing it on X Factor 2011 too and that reigniting my love for the original. Here we have a really straight-forward and soulful pop song from Nelly. We were still about 5 years away from her musical coupling with Timbaland beats. The melodic chorus really appealed to me from a young age. It personifies freedom and relentlessness. The CGI heavy visuals complimented this theme well as Nelly is at one with nature. She involves herself with casual activities such as floating and causing a bug to change colour. The video concludes with her falling into a crowd. This mass-gathering of people made me feel slightly uncomfortable which is a true testament to the times we're living in now! That is just feeling alien. But this song will be timeless no matter what the state of the world may be. These feelings present in the song such as love, freedom and feeling lost are all so relatable. Nelly would of course be a hit-maker for the rest of the decade.

Now it's time for the highest peaking song of the whole section. 'American Dream' was the first of three top 10 hits for Jakatta under this Dave Lee alias (another popular one of his is Joey Negro) and was the only one of these to peak in the top 5, at #3. This is one of those songs that I had been aware of for years but it took me forever to discover what it was actually called. This was sent to the very first BJSC spin-off that I was a part of on this forum (none other than 00s dance!) but I made the connection before then at least. Here we have an unusual dance song as its time signature is not common for the genre. 'American Dream' is a progressive house song that incorporates an entrancing loopy electronic and percussive melody and the most stunning piano when the song grinds to a halt. It has a general hypnotic feel to it but that emotion morphs into more of a haunting sound, with the meeting of said piano and an underwater atmosphere, before returning to business as usual for the final minute and a half. The minimal lyrics are somewhat lustful though so they feed into the more hypnotic side of things. It's all very relaxing anyway. 'American Dream' samples two Thomas Newman pieces from the film 'American Beauty' and a spoken-word sample of 'Two of Hearts' by Stacey Q. So it feels cinematic for a reason. The accompanying music video appears to depict turning violence into peace, as a lady calmly walks through an argumentative crowd. Once again a mass-gathering in a music video! I liked this generally ambient direction for Dave Lee.

Now it's time to round off this section with a noughties update of a classic! Sadly this is the first song for 2001 to not be available on Spotify. Even the original is only available in misspelled form. What a mess. Well, this was a Now 49 song and that album is sitting in the house somewhere, so I can access it that way in high quality. This is of course the Ringbang remix of Eddy Grant's 'Electric Avenue'! The original is from 1983 and hit the #2 spot on both sides of the pond. It took the success of 'Billie Jean' by Michael Jackson for MTV to incorporate more racial diversity on their network, after David Bowie had been complaining about their lack of black artists for a while. Eddy was one of these singers who experienced their music video airing on MTV in the aftermath of 'Billie Jean's popularity - and this translated to its chart position. It feels crazy to be writing this but there we go. There's still progress to be made with these issues but at least we've come a long way since that blatant racism. The music video complimented a hard-hitting song about the 1981 Brixton riot, caused by unemployment, racism and poverty. I've always really appreciated the lyrics as they're great storytelling of a bad situation. The remix is faithful to the lyrics, but kicks the song up a notch with its house production. It is called the 'ringbang' remix as Eddy pioneered this rhythmic genre. The original is more of a funk song with suitably 80s synths. But this 2001 version is unmistakably dance through and through. So I've always preferred the remix as the execution is more to my taste, as much as I love a good synth. It essentially takes the original and adds more oomph which suits the chaotic nature of the subject matter well. The chorus is such an earworm, I can distinctively remember it being stuck in my head quite a lot as a small child and that is still the case nowadays. This remix was a success all over again in the U.K. as it got to #5 here.

Posted by: Mack. 18th July 2020, 11:53 AM

Another fantastic five there, Jade. I certainly didn't see Nelly Furtado go down the R&B route after 'I'm Like A Bird'. A great remix in 'Electric Avenue' loved this and the original. 'Destiny' another great discovery there. 'American Dream' what a fantastic tune that is still sounding fresh today. Played-A-Live (The Bongo Song) yes I remember this from FIFA, and when it was released.

Posted by: Jade 20th July 2020, 09:34 AM

Hey there Mack

Brilliant to see that you're liking all of those! I do love 'I'm Like A Bird' of course but Nelly pulled off the Timbaland-produced direction very well later on, definitely more of her to come

thank you for commenting <3

Posted by: Jade 20th July 2020, 10:56 PM

30. The Ones - Flawless
(chart-run: 7-12-15-25-34-34-48-60-68-74R(2)-70-71)

29. Blue - All Rise
(chart-run: 4-6-8-10-8-13-13-19-23-27-33-44-59)

28. Gorillaz - Clint Eastwood (Ed Case/Sweetie Irie Refix)
(chart-run: 4-5-6-4-5-6-9-9-12-14-14-23-25-39-49-59-65)

27. Ian Van Dahl - Castles In The Sky
(chart-run: 5-5-6-3-4-7-8-11-16-21-27-34-40-47-61-71)

26. Stereophonics - Have A Nice Day
(chart-run: 5-12-20-28-39-50-54-55-58)



Kicking off this week's small selection of hits is 'Flawless' by The Ones! It had a lot to live up to with that title but thankfully it delivers time and time again. According to YouTube comments, it appears to be largely seen as a forgotten song that people have returned to years later. Well, thanks to its inclusion on the landmark 50th edition of the U.K. Now! That's What I Call Music compilation, plus decent Kisstory airplay, I've never allowed it to leave my life. However, it unknowingly entered my eardrums way earlier than I thought. This is because George Michael sampled it on his own 'Flawless (Go To The City)' later on in 2004 and this was a hit in its own right. Yes, it did come out after, but I discovered it before the original 'Flawless' as my mum used to spam the relevant album in the car. My mind was blown when I discovered that the George song contained a sample. This single by The Ones felt a little naked for a while as the George version allows his vocals to keep us company pretty much throughout. But 'Flawless' is heavily instrumental, with the "just like perfection, like no other, flawless, absolutely flawless" line repeated here and there, plus an extra verse thrown in for good measure. It took some getting used to but now I love both versions in their own right. 'Flawless' isn't entirely original anyway - as that borrows from 'Keep On Dancin' by Gary Gang and 'Wordy Rappinghood' by the Tom Tom Club. It makes sense that this samples songs from the 70s and 80s as it has a real throwback disco feel to it. That glittering funky house production is definitely the biggest draw for me and carries the song with ease. The vocals are welcome too though! The titular line ramps up the feel-good factor and the random verse that begins: "Naturally your entrance is grand..." camps it up a bit with its effortless glamour. As for the video, that is certainly as camp as Christmas! The band release their inhibitions through dancing in metallic costumes and it's a joy to watch. The visuals are pretty spacey in general. Unfortunately, band member Nashom Wooden passed away as recently as March this year due to complications from a suspected case of Covid-19, how tragic Wooden, who would perform as a drag queen under the stage name Mona Foot, leaves behind an amazing legacy - such as being cited by The New York Times as a likely inspiration for the show RuPaul's Drag Race - as he hosted a weekly drag competition in New York back in the day and had RuPaul as a mentor. Wow! Of course he was a part of the absolute banger 'Flawless' too. The Ones managed an impressive #7 peak with this song but that was their only dent on the top 40. This seems to only be on Spotify via a 7 minute version, but honestly, it's so great that there's no complaints from me here!

Next at #29 is... quite possibly the first boyband hit that I was ever exposed to? Now! That's What I Call Music 49 continued to shape my early music taste it seems. Blue were the brand new British boyband success story of 2001 and stuck around for a little while. They notched up quite a few #1 hits, however, surprisingly 'All Rise' wasn't part of this line-up. It had to settle for #4. But this was still amazing for a debut and it's one of their signature songs for sure. They churned out quite a few good songs during the first couple of years of their career, but fizzled out for me a bit with their later singles. 'Curtain Falls' remains one of the most baffling choices for a Now! That's What I Call Music album opener for example (this was for Now 59 in 2004). But, they had a pretty good redemption arc for my ears with their Eurovision comeback 'I Can' in 2011 and proved to be one of our success stories in the contest for the 2010s. You'll have to wait until 2002 to find out what their finest moment is for me but 'All Rise' feels right as my solid second favourite of their hits. Lyrically it takes a courtroom setting and uses it as a metaphor for the relationship problems that are described in the song. I quite like this somewhat sophisticated concept for a boyband hit but this song also contains their most iconically awful lyric. This is when Simon Webbe asks: "Step in my house, you find that your stuff is gone, but in reality to whom does the stuff belong?". Seriously deep stuff. Away from that questionable portion of the song, my favourite part is of course the punchy chorus that is backed with memorable harmonica sounds. It was Stargate behind the R&B production and they would continue to work with Blue on future singles too. The video isn't anything to shout about really as it's one of those basic warehouse-types complete with dodgy boyband moves. It was definitely up to the song to do the talking but thankfully it did just that.

Now I get to introduce one of my favourite musical acts to the countdown at #28! This is virtual band Gorillaz. 'Clint Eastwood' is taken from their debut studio album 'Gorillaz' and became a hit with the remix treatment. The original song is much slower and is executed in a trip-hop fashion. The remix is a LOT faster with its UK garage make-over. This Ed Case/Sweetie Irie Refix version, the more commercial iteration, is definitely the one I was introduced to first thanks to Now! That's What I Call Music 48 - it was quite high up on the Disc 1 track list and even featured in the accompanying advert for the compilation, so I presumed it was quite a big hit. Indeed it was, peaking at #4 and spending an impressive 8 weeks in the top 10. In my mind this song was very energetic. So, I got the shock of my life when I heard the original for the first time! It's a completely different vibe to this popular remix. But I love both of them in their own way. There is a 'Clint Eastwood' to suit whatever mood. Ed Case is the DJ who spruced up the production with his UK garage magic. Sweetie Irie is the MC on this version who replaces Del the Funky Homosapien from the original. His flow is a lot faster to suit the remix. A common denominator on both versions is Damon Albarn's distinctive voice on the chorus - giving it that Gorillaz stamp. His contribution is such an earworm in this sped-up version. 'Clint Eastwood' is named after the actor due to the song's similarity to the theme music of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly in original form. The music video, in colourful animated Gorillaz fashion as ever, pays tribute to 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly' too. People seem to take away a lot of different meanings from this song but a popular one is that we spend too much time thinking about things that aren't important, instead of opening our eyes to see what's going on around us. Still a powerful concept to this day. 2001 produced not one but two Gorillaz remixes that were chart hits! Stay tuned for the other one.

The penultimate song in this section is the one with the highest peak! Plus another long-running top 10 hit. This is the #3 smash 'Castles In The Sky' by Ian Van Dahl. I was shocked to learn that they had as many as 6 top 40 hits! I would struggle to hum 5 of those. But 'Castles In The Sky' is their signature song and has an unforgettable chorus. Ian Van Dahl were a Belgian act who provided a fusion of eurodance music with trance elements. 'Castles In The Sky' feels both dreamy and deep. The title alone conjures up some delightful imagery. But, delve deeper into the song and all of its questions and suddenly it's not as floaty as a dance song called 'Castles In The Sky' may seem. There are several interpretations but generally there's a sense of questioning life and our goals. Hard-hitting lyrics are putty for equally stomping production when it comes to dance music. This is most definitely a floorfiller. The video doesn't explore the lyrical content too much but does present a futuristic Matrix-esque aesthetic which is pretty cool. I suppose it was reflective of the times as the movie came out in 1999 and the creation of 'Castles In The Sky' was just a year later. It just took a little while to get going. There was some controversy with their videos in general as a lady called Cindy Mertens would mime over the actual singer's vocals (Marsha) for their visuals. Marsha would eventually leave the project after feeling betrayed. Oops. Not only was this a success in the U.K. but actually scraped onto the Billboard Hot 100 at #91! As aforementioned, Ian Van Dahl did have a string of 6 hits and this continued until 2004. However, a whole 3 of them were not only top 40 hits but top 10 hits! Wow. Pretty decent longevity for a noughties dance act.

Rounding off this section is one of those songs that took me absolutely years to figure out the name of! Which seems silly as it was on the aforementioned Now! That's What I Call Music 49 album that I treasured when little. Well, originally I didn't think too much of this song so made no effort to remember much about it. But, eventually, I picked up on the "ba, ba da, ba ba ba da da" refrain, due to its use in an advert I believe? That soon became lodged in my brain like never before. I was certain that I knew this song but couldn't remember how. My iPod didn't have too much storage so I only had my Now 49 essentials cherrypicked on there, omitting this song because it didn't make much of an impression on me in the past. SoundHound and Shazam weren't really a thing at this point. Google was no use as I could only search for "ba, ba da, ba ba ba da da" but one day... my mystery was finally solved! I was watching a YouTube video and the uploader had this song as their outro music. Now I DID know what SoundHound was so my prayers were answered. I would later be annoyed at myself when realising it was on Now 49 all this time but yes, now it had clicked with me thanks to that devilishly catchy part. I reintroduced myself to the whole song and it would soon become an ultimate soothing anthem for me. The "ba, ba da, ba ba ba da da" refrain is so breezy, the guitars are relaxing and the title of the song is comforting too. So these components make it a great chill-out song. The record was inspired by a conversation between the members of Stereophonics and their taxi driver, who rounded off the conversation with "that'll be seven bucks, have a nice day" and also unintentionally provided material for other lines too. The band would later top this song for me in 2005 but this remains a strong second from everything I know of theirs. A big thumbs down to the potato quality music video I just watched for this though. 'Have A Nice Day' reached #5 in the U.K. and is one of 11 top 5 hits for them!

Posted by: Popchartfreak 21st July 2020, 04:47 PM

Hi jade, Shaggy just missed my year-end Top 100, Missy Elliott comfortably inside the 100, Linkin Park & Destiny's Child top 50.

Zero 7 top 100, Nelly Furtado top 20, Flawless top 30, All Rise top 40, and Gorillaz top 100, so building up nicely without mentioning 19 of my top 20 from 2001

So some hoping to see soon....?

Murder On The Dancefloor
Someone To Call My Lover
Crying At The Discoteque
Crystal
Imitation Of Life
He Loves U Not
The Dark Is Rising
Starlight
Can't Get You Out Of My Head
What Took You So Long?

Let's Dance
Juxtaposed with U
Right On!
Family Affair
Butterfly

No pressure, as long as most of them are in there it's fine....

Posted by: PeteFromLeeds 21st July 2020, 08:34 PM

Ahh the era of charity shop CDs! Love loads of these - ResuRection, Played a-Live, Electric Avenue, Castles In the Sky, Clint Eastwood (didn't realise that was Sweetie Irie on the remix though ). Loving all the nostalgia here.

Posted by: Mack. 22nd July 2020, 11:02 AM

'Flawless' an amazing tune indeed, a great song loved the George Michael version when he sampled this in 2004. 'All Rise' a good song from Blue, one that I still come back and listen to. 'Clint Eastwood' an fantastic music video this was from Gorillaz. 'Castles In The Sky' a slightly unusual chart run in 2001 with it not reaching its peak til its fourth week in the chart. 'Have A Nice Day' great song from Stereophonics, this, 'Handbags and Gladrags' and 'Dakota' probably in my Top 3 of Stereophonics songs.

Posted by: Jade 22nd July 2020, 01:01 PM

Hey there John

Glad to see that we share appreciation for quite a lot of these songs so far when I've only revealed 15!

Can confirm that some of those are on the way

thank you for commenting <3


Hey there Pete

Ah gotta love charity shop bargains *.* I'm pleased that you're enjoying so many of these 2001 songs so far! I wrongly presumed that the vocalist on that Gorillaz remix was Ed Case for years, when he's in fact the DJ, so I get you *_* this really does feel so nostalgic and will only become moreso *.*

thank you for commenting <3


Hey there Mack

I'm glad that you like both versions of 'Flawless'! I feel like 2004 is going to be a ridiculously tough year but we'll see if 'Flawless (Go To The City)' makes it too - I do really like that. Gorillaz are such an amazing act when it comes to music videos, so much to take away from them *.* omg yes I love that run for 'Castles In The Sky'! This section featured quite a few long-running top 10s - although those other two did peak in their first week. Great Stereophonics top 3, I think mine is the same!

thank you for commenting <3

Posted by: Bré 23rd July 2020, 01:54 PM

Continuing to approve of nearly all of these 2001 picks, 'American Dream' is the only one I'm not too keen on from the last 2 sections!

I think I knew the remix of 'Clint Eastwood' before the original version too but I do prefer the original - both versions are great for their own purposes though.