28TH OCTOBER- GIRL I'M GONNA MISS YOU- Milli Vanilli (3 weeks)

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/fb/GirlImGonnaMissYou.jpg

 

Nowadays Pop has a good few pariah's- Jonathan King, Gary Glitter, Chris Brown for a while- but back in 1990 there was only one- Milli Vanilli. Yes they had just been sprung after winning grammy awards and had to hand them back when it was discovered (shock horror) that they DIDN'T actually sing on their records! The real villan of the piece was Frank Farian who got the project together recorded the tracks before realising that the singers he had used really weren't marketable. Step forward Fab Morvan and Rob Pilatus who were models and dancers that Farian spotted in the clubs of Munich in 1988, he asked them to front the records, they agreed, and the seeds of the destruction of Milli Vanilli were sown.

 

They first hit it big with 1988's "Girl You Know It's True" which made No 3 here before going one better with this track "Girl I'm Gonna Miss You", a piece of pleasing, if rather unremarkable, reggae lite piece of pop. Though Britain was duped it could have been worse, at least we never gave them a No 1 hit unlike the great USA where the band scored a hat-trick of chart toppers including this one, now pushing the controversy to one side and just focusing on the single I actually bought it at the time (there was only one No 2 hit of the last four No 2 hits of the decade which I didn't buy at the time and that's the one that I like the most now), and I recall it's three weeks at No 2- I never really giving a second thought to the fact that it would ever get to No 1, it just never seemed like a chart topper to me, but then with Jive Bunny's selling power in 1989 that was never really gonna be on the cards, you never hear them on the radio now, it's like Pop has tried to erase them from the collective memory, that's a shame, they are a cautionary tale and i'm sure a few acts both before them and after them have used pretty much the same deception.

 

An ill advised press conference where they "sang" live and an album with their genuine vocals on were both derided by the press and the public who never really forgave them, Pilatus being found dead of a drugs overdose in 98 reputedly he never really got over the incident either....

 

18TH NOVEMBER- ANOTHER DAY IN PARADISE- Phil Collins (1 week)

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/53/Phil_Collins_AnotherDayInParadise.jpg

 

It's a tricky one isn't it? On top of that you're never really gonna be thanked for it! Just how much should popstars attempt to be social commentators? This is another lesson in pop that subsequent popstars never learned, Madonna, George Michael, Simply Red to mention a few, and it's a curious truth that as as a rule of thumb the bigger the artist in terms of popularity or being further into their career they are, the more the concerns for the "common man" ring more hollow. It seems condescending really to be preaching to the public how we should all thinking and acting when you're rolling in money yourself- well that's the theory it would appear- "Another Day In Paradise" was the lead single from the phenomenal million selling "But Seriously" album, it's not a bad song if you strip Collins out of it, certainly it detailed a great social ill of the decade which had seen the problem of homelessness spiral ever upward, and so its placement on our rundown in the dying weeks of the decade is perhaps rather fitting (it was also the final No 1 single of the 80s in the US).

 

The accompanying black and white video is actually quite effective in communicated theme and it's not a song that I mind at all, that may be in part to the fact that it less heard or covered than "Against All Odds", hey I guess homeless doesn't really make for a cheery makeover, well unless you're Crystal Waters but ah I get ahead of myself!......

 

Urgh!!! -_- I also had 'Ten Good Reasons' on cassette. Not entirely sure why looking back because I far preferred listening to Kylie rather than Jason. I did like 'Too Many Broken Hearts' though. I guess I would've liked 'Sealed With A Kiss' as well at the time but unlike Kylie's 80s songs I still actually enjoy listening to, I never had the urge to listen to any of Jason Donovan's singles. Well, I guess there is one Jason Donovan single I don't mind if I had to listen it these days but that's still to come...

Is it When You Come Back To Me? :o

 

That was always my favourite Jason track!

2ND DECEMBER- DON'T KNOW MUCH- Linda Rondstadt & Aaron Neville (2 weeks)

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/da/Linda_Ronstadt_Don't_Know_Much.jpg

 

it had been doing the rounds for about a decade but "Don't Know Much" finally made it big as the decade was closing, it's the only single (out of the last 4) that I didn't buy, and now it's probably my favourite out of them. Now first off we need to address his mole, if only because at the time my mother would never fail to mention it and express her displeasure! For me it's really a rather earnest ballad, I've always much preferred the more mature ballads of love that has stood the test of time rather than the more teenage-y love at first sight kinda thing. both Neville and Rondstadt had of course long been popstars established in their own right, and on this track both of their voices are expressive and clear, damn it i'm almost convinced they are a real couple!

 

It does somewhat surprise me that you don't really hear the song much nowadays- given some of the 80s hits that are truly awful but I suppose as the decade is more reknown for its power ballads this is rather understated, but it's charms are understated and undervalued....

 

16TH DECEMBER- WHEN YOU COME BACK TO ME- Jason Donovan (3 weeks)

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/65/Jasondonovanbacktome.jpg

 

What a fantastic way to end the decade- in a way it's enormously fitting, just as Abba (one of the supergroups of the 70s) ended that decade at No 2 so too do S/A/W, they have the final say of the decade they had dominated. "When You Come Back To Me" was Donovan's attempt at the festive top spot and although it peaked too early in December, it did return to the runner up spot for the first two weeks of the 90s, it's festive, kinda- there are references to "Presents" and a sprinking of sleigh bells, it's also one of the best produced records by S/A/W of 1989, ignor the uninspired key change and it's a very pleasant winter warmer indeed.

 

Donovan was of course the biggest star of 89 and had it not been for the phenomenally successful Yuletide offerings from Jive Bunny and Band Aid II nothing would have stopped Donovan seeing out the 80s as the nation's No 1, incidentally his voice actually sounds at his best on the track and not as "nasal" as on his other 89 hits. It's also a record which is devoid of the usual S/A/W vocal gimmickery which is only to its credit, in short it's the more mature approach and evolution of their songwriting that is shining here, and would be further evidenced by some 1990's offerings, the problem was that as they were maturing so were their fans, including me, and the demise was closer than anyone suspected.....

 

So there we have it- I finally did it!- Thanks to Hitstastic who has been keeping me from loneliness in this thread and to the other peeps who have posted- I hope you enjoyed my rantings and thoughts- there WILL be a 90s thread later in the year so keep 'em peeled.

 

In conclusion I like the early 80s more than I thought I would- more varied in the songs that appeared and quite frankly more interesting to comment on. i found 88 and 89 hard to talk about and that's the exact opposite of what I thought I would- perhaps as I was following the charts my objectivity got lost under my personal remembrances but it was a great decade filled with more exciting records and pop movements than the 00s could ever muster. There is something to be said for the wide range of records in the charts at the mo and my 80s are someone's 2010's I must remember that but the lack of "pop movements" is to lamented- it makes for fonder memories and focuses the mind on specific periods in pop......i'm rambling again...sorry.... :dance:

Thanks for this thread Gezza, its been a fantastic read even though I haven't been commenting :D I'm looking forward to the 90s one too! ^_^

Time to do my final catch up on 1989...

 

23RD SEPTEMBER- RIGHT HERE WAITING- Richard Marx (2 weeks)

 

At the time when 'Right Here Waiting' was #2, I was probably either loving Jive Bunny 'Swing The Mood', Black Box 'Ride On Time' or possibly Kylie 'Never Too Late' if that was still in the charts. :D I do like this track though but it was never a song I considered brilliant - even now with my more mature tastes, I appreciate this song more but I like it about as much as I did aged 7.

 

7TH OCTOBER- PUMP UP THE JAM- Technotronic Featuring Felly (2 weeks)

 

:dance:

 

Those thumping Eurobeats. :wub: The type of beat that went on to dominate my love for Europop and Eurodance in the early 90s. 'Pump Up The Jam' is a brilliant party track - that's just what it is hence the lack of thought provoking lyrics. Sometimes the lyrics aren't the most important part of the song, just a couple of tag lines to hold the song together. I actually thought Technotronic were great and even liked a couple of their hits from 1990.

 

28TH OCTOBER- GIRL I'M GONNA MISS YOU- Milli Vanilli (3 weeks)

 

One of the biggest cons in pop music but WHAT a con it was. :D It's a shame that it had such a negative impact on one of the members that led to his death by overdose. Thing is, I thought Milli Vanilli released two brilliant pop songs in 'Girl You Know It's True' and this track. Interesting to note how it was up against Jive Bunny yet came so close to #1 but Lisa Stansfield overtook them. Although I must admit imo 'All Around The World' is a far superior song so in this case the better song got to #1 that week in 1989.

 

18TH NOVEMBER- ANOTHER DAY IN PARADISE- Phil Collins (1 week)

 

I vaguely remember this from the time. Iirc, I did see the video on TOTP but other that it wasn't a song I was really interested in listening to. That said, I'd much rather listen to the Phil Collins original rather than the Brandy & Ray J cover from 2001. Oh, and LMFAO blatantly ripped off the melody in 'Party Rock Anthem'. I even made my own mash up of the songs in honour of their supposed "plagiarism". :D

 

2ND DECEMBER- DON'T KNOW MUCH- Linda Rondstadt & Aaron Neville (2 weeks)

 

If there's one thing I rememeber about 'Don't Know Much', it's the fact it was ALWAYS being played on Atlantic 252 which was a radio station I absolutely loved when I was young. However, I do think this is now regarded as a guilty pleasure rather than an 80s classic hence the reason why this hardly ever gets any airplay these days. In fact, Keith Lemon did a semi-parody of Aaron Neville on Let's Dance For Comic Relief earlier this year when he was on the judging panel. I just remember this silly moment between him and the female presenter and he did his best rendition of "i don't know much but i know i love you, let me be all i neeeed to knnnnooooww". The crowd responded with laughter. Says it all. :lol:

 

16TH DECEMBER- WHEN YOU COME BACK TO ME- Jason Donovan (3 weeks)

 

Referring back to Dandy's earlier comment:

 

Is it When You Come Back To Me? :o

 

That was always my favourite Jason track!

 

It sure was. :D

 

My sister bought this on 7" and loved the song. Then again, she also bought 'Can't Shake The Feeling' by Big Fun at the same time which whilst I would've liked it at the time, Big Fun would definitely be categorised in my "guilty pleasures" folder - the type of song I'd be embarrassed to hear these days. However, with 'When You Come Back To Me' there's a genuinely good pop song here. This and 'Too Many Broken Hearts' being the only Jason Donovan songs I liked from 1989. All the more bizarre then that my parents bought me 'Ten Good Reasons' on cassette. Quite why I don't know. Maybe because I liked watching Neighbours. They put 2 + 2 together and got 13. :D

29TH AUGUST- WHAT HAVE I DONE TO DESERVE THIS?- Pet Shop Boys & Dusty Springfield ( 2 weeks)

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/5d/WHIDTDTCD.jpg

 

From Spagna who was never going to get an Ivor Novello Award to PSB who had only just recieved one for "West End Girls" when this track was released. It was during their "imperial" phase when they claimed a hat trick of No 1 singles in just 10 months, that "What Have I Done To Deserve This" was unleashed, it seems almost like a crime was committed against it in not reaching No 1. Springfield is on glorious form in this tale of ungrateful lovers who realise what they have lost, and whilst I love 80s PSB it's Dusty who is the star here, and cleverly I suspect that was always the plan from the boys.

 

The last minute or so of the song are clearly the best with Springfield almost ad libbing over the track, the steeliness of Tennant's vocals contrast with the warm of Springfield's, it's the contrast that grabs in this, the best no 2 of 1987 yet....

 

I have been popping in and out of the thread, but I just had to say this song is SUPERB (as is Spanga that came before it!)

24TH OCTOBER- CROCKETT'S THEME- Jan Hammer (1 week)

 

I was fascinated by this when I was 11! Major trip down memory lane. 87 was the year I started Secondary School and the year I really got into music....

23RD APRIL- LOVE CHANGES (EVERYTHING)- Climie Fisher (1 week)

 

Now this is forgotten gem IMHO. I admit that, at the time, I didn't really care for the song, but years later in the 90s I kinda rediscovered it, and now it's one of my faves from 88. I suppose this appeals to my romantic side (I know- I surprised myself there), a song of love lost through growing up/ moving away/ life in general etc, only to be found again is kind of romantic I think, or certainly much more real than meeting at 14 and falling in love and staying together forever as Astley would have it (though both are obviously possible).

 

The song is strong melodically and sung with a grittyness that still convinces to this day, but therein lies the bonus of writing your own stuff. Indeed Climie was no stranger to the charts having written "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" for George Michael & Aretha Franklin in 1987 and post Climie Fisher (they only lasted for 2 albums) he helped to launch Astley's post S/A/W career with 1991's "Cry For Help" along with producing many hits throughout the 90s, Fisher sadly died of Bowel Cancer in 99.

 

It was a brief time spent as popstars but I think they left a good legacy and "Love Changes (Everything" will always have a special place in my affections.....

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this! Its like my childhood in one song - my sister had it on cassette single and I kept nicking it.

 

Never realised he had passed away :(

28TH MAY- GOT TO BE CERTAIN- Kylie Minogue (3 Weeks)

 

Now in 1988 I was a Kylie Loon i can't deny it, but it was her next record that did that not "Got To Be Certain". This seems like a paler version of her debut "I Should Be So Lucky", quite hollow and empty. Orginally written for, and recorded by Mandy Smith in 1987 this was another typical S/A/W composition, and even back in 1988 this was my least favourite single from her debut album. The positioning of Minogue by S/A/W as some kind of Doris Day for the late 80s was starting to take shape, a song about abstinence and coyness was entirely in keeping with the 50s image of wholesomeness that they were pushing in 88/89, and in a time when sex could kill it was a successful campaign by them.

 

Whilst ISBSL was insanely catchy this track seems like treading water from Minogue, but with "Neighbours" gripping the nation in 88 the daily exposure meant that nothing could stop the ascent of her star.....

 

I used to worship Kylie back in 88/89 - my sister said my room was a Kylie shrine as I had everything on the walls from Smash Hits!

 

GTBC is a great song actually but the outfit in the video is dire.

3RD SEPTEMBER- THE HARDER I TRY- Brother Beyond (2 weeks)

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/45/The_harder_i_try.jpg

 

Though I own many a No 2 on vinyl prior to this song (mostly picked up at record faires), this is the first one that I bought at the time, it would have been "The Locomotion" but I opted for the album instead- probably due to her wink on the front cover. Brother Beyond were, for about 6 months, positioned as rivals to Bros, and fans were branded "youndies", needless to say in the title of their next hit (almost) "They Weren't No Competition". The band had been struggling away having a couple of minor hits without threatening the top 50 before EMI won a charity auction for Young Variety Club Of Great Britain- the prize? The services of Stock Aitken Waterman of course, the hottest producers in the land. EMI decided that Brother Beyond could benefit the most from their services and Waterman, having met the group before, agreed, the result was S/A/W biggest "soul" dig and the most obvous ape of the motown brand.

 

Sampling "This Ole Heart Of Mine" in the intro the whole affair has a motown vibe to it, it certainly turned the trick for the band and provided them with their biggest UK hit. Though 3 top 20 hits followed only the S/A/W penned follow up "He Ain't No Competition" made the top 10 and the band fizzled out in the early 90s when the hits dried up, but Nathan Moore (lead singer) went on to perform in 90s boyband Worlds Apart, and Bassist Eg White proved the most successful ex member going on to write many hits including of course "Leave Right Now" for Will Young.

 

As a song I quite like "The Harder I Try", catchy, upbeat, and actually not your typical S/A/W composition, the usual Hi-NRG backing track slowed down to a more mature sound. Indeed it defeats the argument that they only made one kind of single, and whilst they had never had success previously in the "boyband" arena, this proved the catalyst for them to produce acts like Yell! and Big Fun....decide for yourself if that was a good thing!.....

 

I fancied Nathan from Brother Beyond SO MUCH. Another one I had on cassette.

 

29TH OCTOBER- JE NE SAIS PAS POURQUOI- Kylie Minogue (3 weeks)

 

 

I saw the Showgirl Tour in 2004, one of the most interesting aspects of that greatest hits tour for me was how Kylie treated her very early hits. Whilst "The Locomotion" "I should Be So Lucky" were turned into camp kitsch affairs and "Got To Be Certain" nothing more than an interlude half sung track, "Je Ne Sais Pas Pourquoi" however still sounded fresh in a new stripped down Ballad version. I suspect it's Kylie favourite of her 1988 hits considering her treatment of it and it's mine too, a much more mature track, in theme not much different from "Better The Devil You Know", it's a bit of sophisticated pop a la 88. Kylie's vocal is actually less canary like than on previous singles and the production not so VERY 1988 if that makes sense, there is some genuine emotion in the vocal as well, although she was an actress so I can't be sure. At any rate it was a hint that there might be more longevity to her career than just one album's worth of goodies.

 

Kylie's transformation into Doris Day continues in the video set in 50s/60s France, and it's a comprehensive pop package that I don't think it was topped by her until the aforementioned track in 1990, and the one that has aged the best of her 80s hits. Originally planned as a double A Side with "Made In Heaven" it performed so well on it's own that the planned flip never happened (The Video for "Made In Heaven" is I assure you awful in any eventuality) and was also intended as Kylie's Xmas single for 1988 until S/A/W thought of the idea of THAT Kylie/Jason Duet.....

 

 

Classic Kylie and this really did deserve to be #1 imo.

 

19TH NOVEMBER- STAND UP FOR YOUR LOVE RIGHTS- Yazz (1 week)

 

http://www.chartstats.com/images/artwork/10144.jpg

Famous for once being George Michael's hairdresser Yasmin Evans was first catapulted to fame as lead vocalist on Coldcut's top 10 hit "Doctorin The House" before spending those 5 weeks at No 1 with "The Only Way Is Up" and was, by November 1988, a big star appearing at that year's Smash Hits Poll Winners Party, pretty much as big as the BRITS in the late 80s.

 

"Stand Up For Your Love Rights" is a song that borrows from the then, newly emerging Acid House scene, and its a song that didn't interest me much at the time (well it wasn't S/A/W for a start) but it's still listenable, and again hasn't aged that badly. She'd dropped the Plastic population by now (who never really existed in reality) and struck out on her own, but only one more top 10 hit was to come, "Fine Time" in 1989" before the hits started to dwindle. Yazz actually found christianity in the 90s and relocated to Spain.....

 

I was a huge YAzz fan as well in the late 80s and played her album alot on my ghetto blaster/hi fi!

7TH JANUARY 1989- THE CRACKERS INTERNATIONAL E.P- Erasure ( 3 weeks)

 

So here we are, it's 1989 the final year of our countdown and I became a teenager! There was no tumultuous transformation a la Harry Enfield's "Kevin"- in truth I had little to rebel about certainly in relation to the charts, Beloved Kylie was at No 1 with "Especially For You" and this was No 2, Erasure had run up 8 straight top 20 hits and had become chart regulars in the intervening 3 years since we met them last in 86. The most famous track from the EP is of course "Stop", an engaging Hi-NRG romp of a song that was by now their stock in trade and would become the biggest hit of their career until they finally got that chart topper in 1992.

 

I recall being rather partial to a bit of Erasure back in the late 80s even buying the "Drama" single in 1989 (the year when I went single buying crazy), Bell on fine camp form in the video flouncing around in no particular fashion. Having been released over the christmas period the song had already spent a month in the top 10 before it moved into the runners up spot, but sales wise it was spent and did little trouble S/A/W's golden couple at No 1.

 

This isn't "Sometimes" though- that has a great narrative and curiosity about it, this is much more flat out pop, but then in 1989 that's what you needed to make it big....

 

I haven't heard this in YEARS!! I has this on vinyl single too. Memory overload!

1ST JULY- BATDANCE- Prince (1 week)

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/67/Prince_Batdance.jpg

 

I'm no Prince fan as you may know, but this is a MESS of a record even by his standards. A record which never really seems to be sure of what it plans to be, screaming guitars over a funky dance beat is always going to be hard to pull off and Prince gives it his best shot, and I suppose I must give some kudos to him for doing something experimental for his "Batman" soundtrack, but other than that "Batdance" is overly long and meandering and without that link to that summer's big movie release I supect this would probably have debuted at No 8 then fallen down the charts. The track does have a deep funk feel about it, and the production is very good, but as a stand alone track it has too many hats on, the varying tempo's/ parts of the song just detract from each other and the end you're left wandering just what that was all about, i don't know anything more about the film nor really what the song is about.

 

The Video is however a saving grace, visually stunning and quite dark in tone it adequently reflects the new troubled "Batman" that was being unveiled in the film. I concede that as an artist he was visually interesting and creative (esentially in our 80s popstars) though musically very messy. This could have been worse but it could have been SOOOOO much better....

 

Another memory associated with my sister - she had the 12" of this and played in when it was dark too see who she could scare with the screaming bit in it :lol:

 

8TH JULY- SONG FOR WHOEVER- The Beautiful South (1 week)

 

http://www.chartstats.com/images/artwork/10541.jpg

 

Loved this, and still do. I recall being at school when this was about and loving the line about loving you from the bottom of my pencil case. Who knew how big they would become!

 

5TH AUGUST- WOULDN'T CHANGE A THING- Kylie Minogue (2 weeks)

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/60/Kylie-Minogue-Wouldnt-Change-A-Thing1.jpg

 

Good choice of single though I admit I forgot this got to #2!

 

16TH SEPTEMBER- EVERYDAY (I LOVE YOU MORE)- Jason Donovan (1 week)

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/16/Every_day_(I_love_you_more).jpg

 

Just listened to this for the first time in probably 20 years and it is utter crap!

 

7TH OCTOBER- PUMP UP THE JAM- Technotronic Featuring Felly (2 weeks)

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/bb/TechnotronicPumpUpTheJam7InchSingleCover.jpg

 

AMAZE! Like this more now than I did then!

After thinking about it I've decided my 10 favourite No 2 hits of the decade are:

 

UPSIDE DOWN- Diana Ross

ANTMUSIC- Adam & The Ants

AIN'T NO PLEASING YOU- Chas N Dave

HEARTBREAKER- Dionne Warwick

THEY DON'T KNOW- Tracey Ullman

EVERYTHING SHE WANTS- Wham!

TAKE ON ME- A-Ha!

YOU KEEP ME HANGIN ON- Kim Wilde

WHAT HAVE I DONE TO DESERVE THIS?- Pet Shop Boys & Dusty Springfield

JE NE SAIS PAS POURQUOI- Kylie Minogue

 

19TH AUGUST- FRENCH KISS- Lil Louis (1 week)

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/76/French_Kiss.jpg

 

Following on from the emergence of dance music as a commercial force Chicago Born DJ Louis Sims was responsible for "French Kiss"- imagine a 1989 version of "Je T'Aime Moi Non Plus" and you're probably there. Apparently this is now considered a dance classic but as a 13 yr old this song bored me- I suspect it may have fallen foul of my dislike for instrumentals, but I do remember this being a rather raunchy controversial song, though clearly by the late 80s Radio One had realised banning was completely pointless after FGTH and George Michael and I recall it having no problems being played weekly on the chart show (though perhaps not it's full 8 minute version).

 

I realise that without such records as this some of the great dance records fo the 90s may not have been possible, but really the attraction of "French Kiss" escapes me, it seems to be a record that attracted due to its depiction of a female "enjoying" herself, I'm not even sure HOW you would dance to this and I've never heard it being played anywhere out and about (though obviously I wasn't going clubbing in 1989) so really its puling power is somewhat beyond me.....

 

 

Hey, just to say this has been a bloody brilliant thread! Well written, observed, keeping things objective but still putting enough personal opinion to make it humorous.

 

Now for me, this is perhaps my favourite "number 2" of all time (joke aside). I LOVE house music but the house music of the late 80s and very early 90s is a time I cherish the most (I would've been 5 years old at the time so I would later rediscover this...). The synth is hypnotic, even the way the hi-hats swing is sexy so it's inevitable we get that breakdown.... and that noise... But no, I haven't a scooby-doo how to dance to it either (but would give it a damn good try!). Incidentally, the other "number 2" I would put on par with this is Kylie "Better The Devil You Know". Not just a gay classic, but a timeless pop classic.

Edited January 17, 201213 yr by ScottyEm

Hey, just to say this has been a bloody brilliant thread! Well written, observed, keeping things objective but still putting enough personal opinion to make it humorous.

Ah thanks very much for your kind comments!