Wow, can't believe the positive reception here by both Gezza and Hitstatic for Compliments On Your Kiss. Maybe it's the fact I'm unable to listen to it with a nostalgic mindset but I think it's terrible!! Apart from the usual annoying rhythm that plagues 90% of reggae music, which plods on particularly laboriously in this song I might add, that vocalist in the verses sound like some bizarre hybrid of Shaggy and Bubbla Ranx or something equally as horrid. I was just about to say this surely must be the last reggae song we'll be seeing in this thread but having looked ahead I now see there's another awful one coming up in 1995, and one more reggae-influenced #2 in 1996. Sigh!!!

 

Confide In Me is - obviously - a fantastic classy affair. Sad that it took her 16 years to make another song as wonderfully majestic as this :cry: These are the kind of songs she should make more of, not that awful gay disco tat or whatever you want to call it.

 

On the 1994 discussion: from the perspective of someone who wasn't old enough to experience it at the time, for me it's the year the 1990s stepped up considerably and from 1995-1999 is an amazing time for the charts IMO thanks to the growth of alternative music and then the boom in pop and R&B at the end of the decade. I'm not sure why as in reality it's not that drastically different to 1993 in terms of styles, bar the further emergence of Britpop ready for its banner year in 1995. I suppose the odd hits that don't belong to any particular trend or scene can make the difference. Also, I guess these things are often coincidental - the way certain 'quality' acts just happen to decide to release their new material in this year or at similar times rather than a few months earlier in 1993 or whatever.

Edited October 22, 201113 yr by superbossanova

24TH SEPTEMBER- RHYTHM OF THE NIGHT- Corona (2 weeks)

 

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

 

"Rhtythm Of The Night" is probably considered a slightly cheesy dance song now, but I think to think of it in those terms is to undervalue it. It is emblamatic of where dance music was come 1994, its desire to be the dominating force on the charts matched only by boys with guitars certainly during 94-97 period, so in a way to acheive that it had to be anthemic, and Corona deliver this on every front. It took a re-release to achieve this, but the group eventually scored 3 top 10 hits in a row before the UK grew tired, but more importanlty than all this is that in 1994 the UK truly became open to the Euro market. Where previously we let the odd hit through we were, on the whole, very high handed with European music finding most of it beneath us, we had the imports that the holiday makers returning home made into hits but outside of this we weren't enormously interested.

 

For this factor we have consider the burgeoning package holiday industry, the early days of budget airlines and the growing importance of Ibiza as a holiday destination of choice for the youngsters of the day, and it really all started in 1994 evidenced in part by the docou-pop of "Girls And Boys" by Blur in this year. It meant. in short, more youngsters going to specific holiday destinations that catered for them and where they got greater exposure to music they had never heard before, I recall going on holiday back in 1988 (for example) to Yugoslavia (as was) and hearing in our complex nothing but UK music, but by 94 and in Cyprus, there was a lot of dance music that was good and I had never heard back in the UK.

 

So Corona is an example of just this, a truer democratisation of music that dance bought with it, most people could start to make music if they chose and there was a forum to get it to the public that didn't necessarily involve record companies and thousands of pounds worth of publicity. ROTN is VERY 1994 I make no pretence on that front, but it was a massive hit at the time, as ubiquitous as "Saturday Night" the record that denied it No 1, a n Italian paino dance track and has you humming it after just one listen, fantastic song I recommend it! :D

 

Edited October 24, 201113 yr by gezza76

8TH OCTOBER- ALWAYS- Bon Jovi (3 weeks)

 

http://www.chartstats.com/images/artwork/14118.jpg

 

I have a problem with Bon Jovi, "It's My Life" aside, I don't recall anything they sung post 1997, esentially because they seem to have just done the same song and unable to expand outside their, admittedly impressive, fan base. However we're in 1994 at the moment and "Always" is a song that seems to me to be unremarkable even within the genre, there are some tracks I quite like from them around this period "Someday I'll Be Saturday Night" and "Dry County" are really quite pleasing, the latter especially epic in scope, but "Always" seems to be like a parody of the genre, something Bryan Adams was doing some 12 months previously.

 

Don't get me wrong I can see the appeal of the track, but it was just a non event for me, it did have a curious chart run 5-3-2-3-4-3-2-2-4, that fall in the middle due to the high debut of Take That's "Sure" and the rise of Pato Banton to No 1, but nevertheless it is a testement to the ongoing appeal that the song had back in 1994. Then again AOR balladeering always was popular at radio, you pays your money and you makes your choice, needless to say it's a song that I never bought.

 

24TH SEPTEMBER- RHYTHM OF THE NIGHT- Corona (2 weeks)

 

The first of two tracks I really liked at the time. That said, my brother in law at this time was a DJ at his local community centre and was getting loads of promo CDs. In fact, he got a promo CD of Whigfield 'Saturday Night' before it got released in the UK. It was quite impressive that the song shot to no. 1 not long afterwards. Every 13 year old loved 'Saturday Night' (or so it seemed anyways) so nobody else was able to come close to Whigfield in terms of popularity amongst young teenagers. Alas, those that tried were just as great imo. I really like 'Rhythm Of The Night' especially the UK radio edit which is the version performed on TOTP. The video version lacked something - it sounded more like a demo that hadn't been completed. The UK radio mix just added those finishing touches. Yes, it sounds much more Eurodance and I supposed it is a dated sound now in 2011 but it adds to its charm. This is Eurodance at its finest. The extra oomph! in the bassline also rises the UK mix above the original version imo. All in all, a brilliant dance track and one I enjoy listening to today.

 

8TH OCTOBER- ALWAYS- Bon Jovi (3 weeks)

 

Sorry Gezza but my view of 'Always' by Bon Jovi is the complete opposite of your opinion. :P For me, 'Always' is a brilliant rock ballad. I will agree that post-1997 Bon Jovi went so MOR their later material slipped and skidded across the road to the other side of blandsville. However, still in the mid 90s Bon Jovi had the ability to release some great tracks. My sister in law bought 'Crossroads - The Greatest Hits' but then again she's a rock chick and loves this type of music. :D My eldest brother in 1995 bought one of their lesser known singles 'This Ain't A Love Song' which I also liked, but it doesn't come close to 'Always' imo.

Rhythm Of The Night will always remind me of clinging on for dear life on the Speedway every lunch when the fair came to town near my school. Who needed food when you could spend your dinner money on more fun things like riding on ill put together machines operated by people who looked like they were on day release!

Rhythm Of The Night is easily one of my fave dance songs of all time - and possibly the best #2 of 94 for me (well, Kylie comes close!)

I'm Heartened to see such general love for ROTN- I recall going to my first night club when it was riding high in the charts- the Ritzy in Northampton, with a carpet your shoes stuck too! Ah the 90s.....

Like What Is Love? one year earlier, Rhythm of the Night is a song that really lifts itself during the chorus. The verses come and go by insignificantly, delivered with very little connection, slightly feeling like they're mumbled, and with almost nothing but that drumbeat underlying the track - then as soon as the chorus hits, the singer's vocal springs to life, the catchy synths come in to create that addictive groove and the general feeling is one more of uplifting euphoria. Undoubtedly it's a well-crafted eurodance track but somehow I find it a little boring personally - perhaps because my mind is thinking every time I hear it that it'd much prefer to be listening to the DeBarge song of the same name instead :D Though I'm sure once the chorus hit in the club setting it would have been a moment.

 

The vocalist on this track was different to the other songs by Corona, which easily sets it apart. The likes of Baby Baby and Try Me Out suffer from a frankly annoying singer who turns them into boring eurodance songs compared to the distinctive vocals of the singer on this track. That's a shame.

 

Always is absolute predictable dirge, obviously. I'm not sure Bon Jovi have ever made a song I actually like.

Edited October 23, 201113 yr by superbossanova

Always is absolute predictable dirge, obviously. I'm not sure Bon Jovi have ever made a song I actually like.

Hear, hear that man! :D

19TH NOVEMBER- ANOTHER NIGHT- (M.C Sar) & The Real McCoy (1 week)

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/0c/Another_Night_single.jpg

 

Why oh why is this not more famous? Everything about "Another Night" is cheesy europop but fantastic europop at that. Less remembered than Corona, and a better record for that in my opinion, the same female/ male back and forth that recalls Culture Beat with a beat seemingly borrowed (or at least very close) to Snap!'s "Rhythm Is A Dancer", that piano floats above the beat adding a cheeky air to the whole thing and seems almost as perfect as Europop could be.

 

I recall listening to the charts at this time and being surprised by the fact that it reached this high, looking at the charts for the week it rose from 7-2 the tracks it leapt over had all been around for quite some time (Whigfield, Bon Jovi, Michelle Gayle, R Kelly) so I suppose the fact that it was a relatively new hit was enough to propel it into the upper eschalons of the chart. Anyway this is all good fun provided you don't take it all too seriously!

 

 

 

 

Another Night - I agree it is an over looked gem. I still listen to it on and off now!

3RD DECEMBER- LOVE SPREADS- The Stone Roses (1 week)

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/d0/Lovesprods.jpg

 

Some bands reach mythical status through music alone, others through what they don't release. What I mean is that by not outstaying welcome you can be a much reverred act than had you released 5 or 6 albums and gone downhill. The Stone Roses debut album had seen the light day of 1989 and been hailed a classic by many music critics and often now cited as a major influence on the prevailing Britpop movement, but it took the band 5 years to finally make a follow up set, and in the intervening years the "Legend" grew. Perhaps it was all these factors which led to the second album underwhelming many, but it surely contributed to this track, the first single to be taken from it, debuting at No 2.

 

"Love Spreads" is exactly what you would expect from a Stone Roses single, it isn't going to win over any new fans and so in one sense it is preaching to the converted, the trouble was by 1994 they were looking rather old hat in comparison to the likes of Suede. Blur & Oasis who all released landmark albums that same year. I don't mind a bit of the roses, "I Wanna Be Adored" is I think one of their best tracks, although the amount of praise heeped on them is disproportionate, indeed such was the negative feedback from the album it ultimately caused the band to disband and Brown embarked on a solo career. News that they are reforming will of course delight fans but it remains to be seen if they can reach out beyond that base, in conclusion this is bringing nothing new to the table, if it's your bag you'll love it, for me, OK but nothing special.

 

Edited October 25, 201113 yr by gezza76

19TH NOVEMBER- ANOTHER NIGHT- (M.C Sar) & The Real McCoy (1 week)

 

Loved this at the time. Iirc, I saw this on The Chart Show as an "exclusive" and bought this from Woolworths on the week of its release. Remember listening to the top 40 and actually being disappointed at its #17 entry. I wanted it to be higher. Alas, a fortnight later it was #2 kept off the top spot by Baby D? Whilst 'Let Me Be Your Fantasy' is considered a dance anthem, I always preferred this less "in yer face" slightly cheesey Eurodance track much more. Typically of my 13 year old self, the same day when I bought 'Another Night', I also bought 'Baby Come Back' by Pato Banton. :D

 

"b-b-bye-b-b-bye-bye-b-b-bye-bye-bye-bye..."

 

3RD DECEMBER- LOVE SPREADS- The Stone Roses (1 week)

 

In 1994 I had already discovered Red Rose Rock FM which was the radio station I tended to listen to in the evening or Saturday afternoons. It was Red Rose Rock FM where I heard this track for the first time. What I liked about this station was they played the UK Top 20 on Saturday mornings but I'm guessing based on midweek sales. So I heard this on the Saturday morning then it entered officially at #2 the following day. They also did the "non stop top 20" and I actually have a top 20 from around this particular week recorded on a blank cassette. :D Actually thinking about it, it was a couple of weeks later as East 17 were #1 with 'Stay Another Day' - possibly the week before Xmas chart. Anyways, 'Love Spreads' for me at the time was just your typical rock song. It didn't interest me whatsoever at the time. It's also a song I've not heard for an absolute age. Yet I still hear tracks like 'Fools Good' quite regularly.

Another Night is a GREAT slice of dance pop, I still really love it even now. I was so gutted when it didn't reach #1, I do recall they managed a top 10 album off the back of that and the other singles though so they must have done comparatively well for an act from the genre.

 

Love Spreads was okay, I liked it at the time but didn't love it. Guess they were always likely to underwhelm after the amazing quality of the material on their debut album.

 

 

Oddly, for an indie kid, if I had to listen to one now it would definitely be Another Night! http://www.moopy.org.uk/forums/images/icons/disco.gif

Alas, a fortnight later it was #2 kept off the top spot by Baby D? Whilst 'Let Me Be Your Fantasy' is consider a dance anthem, I always preferred this less "in yer face" slightly cheesey Eurodance track much more. Typically of my 13 year old self, the same day when I bought 'Another Night', I also bought 'Baby Come Back' by Pato Banton. :D

 

"b-b-bye-b-b-bye-bye-b-b-bye-bye-bye-bye..."

You're the author of your own misfortune then as it was kept out by Pato Banton in his fourth week! :D :lol:

You're the author of your own misfortune then as it was kept out by Pato Banton in his fourth week! :D :lol:

 

I should never have bought that Pato Banton song!!! :drama: :P

 

At least that would've been a brilliant top 2 for me at the time. So judging from your post, that means I bought 'Baby Come Back' the week after it first topped the UK charts - the same week when 'Another Night' entered at #17. :D

As reluctant as I was to join in the lovefest in this thread for Rhythm Of The Night, I have no such problems doing so for Another Night. Indeed, for me this is perhaps the best eurodance song of all so I'm pleased at the glowing reception it's getting from the other contributors here. While it's perhaps not as musically proficient as Snap! or Corona, what it lacks in that department it certainly more than makes up for in charm and from the moment those opening piano notes come in I'm absolutely hooked. Even the tacky male vocal, which sounds awful on paper, somehow manages to sound good - perhaps because it actually adds to the narrative of the track rather than being as shoe-horned as it feels on their subsequent singles. Ultimately, however, my love for Another Night is probably a reflection of the fact that I only need a sweet-voiced female and a relatively catchy tune to make me happy musically - ah well, nothing wrong with being easily pleased, is there? :D

 

I think Love Spreads is okay. Actually, lyrically and musically it's good. I think the biggest criticism you can throw at it is that the arrangement feels a little pretentious which is never a good idea in commercial terms - something that might not have been as much of a suicide if it wasn't for the fact that, as Gezza said, anybody but the diehards Stone Roses fans had probably all flocked over to Suede or Blur or whatever in the long time they were away. Anyway, I don't particularly care too much for The Stone Roses who are perhaps a bit too before my time and I think Ian Brown has put together an excellent solo career so neither do I care too much they didn't go on further. For me their best track was Waterfall, by the way - which I do admittedly think is pretty smashing though.

Another Night is a GREAT slice of dance pop, I still really love it even now. I was so gutted when it didn't reach #1, I do recall they managed a top 10 album off the back of that and the other singles though so they must have done comparatively well for an act from the genre.

Not to mention their rather bizarre massive US success - which seemed to outdo pretty much every other act of that type over there. Five Billboard Hot 100 hits, four of which reached the top 30 and two of which made the top 3!!! Indeed, Another Night was the 6th biggest hit of 1995 there :o Looking rather out of place up in that top 10 too.

17TH DECEMBER- ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU- Mariah Carey (3 weeks)

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/9d/Mariah-carey-all-i-want-for-christmas-is-you-1994.jpg

 

Here's Mariah's pension fund. There isn't much you can add about AIWFCIY really, it's become a regular fixture on the Xmas chart since those nasty dowloads were allowed to chart seperately back in 2007, and it has kinda spoilt it. In the context of 1994 it rounded off an excellent year for Carey who scored her first chart topper and collected a further 3 top 10 hits, and she outsold every other female, yes she had truly cracked the UK market and she stood no better chance of claiming the festive spot than she did in this particular year. Sleigh bells, check, nostalgic 50's feel to track, check, assorted christmas paraphanalia, check, yes it's all here and hell why shouldn't it have been a No 1.

 

Of course history records that East 17 denied her, but in 1994 my relatives moved down from Scotland to our little town in Northants so it was the first Xmas I spent with friends in my hometown (instead of going to Scotland) and as a consequence I did the round of Christmas parties etc for teh first time, so it will always hold a special place in my heart, back in 94 that is. Carey is, naturally, on good vocal form, just like in 1992, a straight delivery really is all that is required to prove her point and a pop tune that bounces with cheer and optimism is a joy to hear.

 

If only the Mariah of 1994 could have lasted after 98 I think we'd all have been happier.

 

So there we have it the first half of the decade done- as the bells went on 1st January 1995 I was still 18, Uni would await that September and some serious drinking would be taking place :lol: