I loved Flip Reverse it but I was only 11 years old at the time and thought I was cool, so hopefully I'll be forgiven as I'm finding it awful listening to it now

 

Blue weren't great, their first album was good and I bought it and I liked 'One Love' but by 2003 I was over them, as were many of my friends who were girls who'd moved onto Busted during 2003; they would then switch to McFly in 2004/2005. Year 7 kids, so fickle though they did keep up their obession with Calvin Goldspink for the entire of S Club 8's duration

Edited June 11, 201213 yr by justinthomas92

22ND NOVEMBER- ME AGAINST THE MUSIC- Britney Spears Featuring Madonna (1 wk)

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/01/Me_against_music.jpg

 

This is rather a mess I'm afraid. Whether it was intended to boost either Madonna's or Britney's standing in the world of charts is unclear (the answer is probably both) after slight downturns in both of their appeal since the early 00s. "Me Against The Music" is an ambitious record, designed to bring together two of the biggest female artists of the time and perhaps symbolise the presentation of Madonna's protege, her chosen successor in the field of female pop, if so she clearly thought twice about it afterwards. In many ways the video is just a continuation of THAT kiss from the MTV awards of that year, the stars continue to flirt their way through it and ALMOST kiss at the end but its all titilation for two steadfast heterosexual ladies.

 

Music here is almost secondary, indeed it could only really end up like that, the stars and the baggage are far too big for the record to really be up to much and it ends up sounding too busy, too keen to be on trend, and too superficial to really stand for anything other than an ego massage for both sides. Wasted opportunity here.

 

I agree about Me Against the Music to be honest. It was Britney and Madonna it should've been spectacular but it's horribly average

29TH NOVEMBER- JUMP- Girls Aloud (1 wk)

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a6/Jump1.jpg

 

So here we are back with GA, this time with the first official "cover" of their career, the Pointer Sisters 1984 hit "Jump" zapped up Zenomania style for the film "Love Actually". Only it isn't really, their version isn't used in the film it's actually the Original PS version through fear that the group weren't internationally that well know thus far. In the original masterplan the next single was going to be "Some Kind Of Miracle" (one of my fave's) but this is what we got.

 

Much better than the awful covers that were to marr their later career ("See The Day", "I Think We're Alone Now" and "I'll Stand By You" I'm looking at you) but it still isn;t more than passable. The song does get updated for 2003 and the production is everything you'd expect from Xenomania but beyond that it's rather pedestrian sad to say. The girls however are predictably amazingly easy on the eye.....

 

6TH DECEMBER- I'M YOUR MAN- Shane Richie (1 wk)

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e6/Shane_Richie_I'm_Your_Man.JPG

 

Like some kind of pariah of the Saturday evening TV scedulers Richie has had a kind of rebirth. By the end of the 90s he was thought of as a has been, staple daytime TV show fodder of yesterday (yes "Win, Lose or Draw" I'm looking at You) or the "TV personality" that you hoped to forget (remember the DAZ ads?). His casting in Eastenders as Alfie Moon in 2002 was generallly deemed a success and his star status subsequently ascended, enough so it would appear, to be chosen to sing the Children In Need Single for 2003, a cover of the Wham! 1985 No 1 hit "I'm Your Man".

 

There's a great irony here, for Richie to play such a charasmatic character in a soap yet to inject absolutely nothing into this version is a sad sight to see, he's taken his lead role in "Don't forget the Lyrics" too seriously, this is painful Karaoke of the worst pub variety, yes it's that souless. There isn't any redeeming feature I'm afraid, just be thankful that early distribution problems with "Leave Right Now" were resolved in time to allow it to sail past this otherwise this would be another nail in the coffin of British pop.

 

 

13TH DECEMBER- SHUT UP- Black Eyed Peas (1 wk)

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a1/Black_Eyed_Peas_-_Shut_Up_-_CD_cover.jpg

 

Now where do I start with the Black Eyed Peas. Things you need to know about my relationship with BEP's 1) I HATE THEM (I know that's strong but it's fitting) 2) the only songs I can vaguely stomach are probably "Meet Me Halfway" and "Just Can't Get Enough" and if VERY drunk then "I Gotta Feeling".

 

With this in mind I'll begin, I didn't mind "Where Is The Love" when it first charted, catchy enough number it just stayed at the top too long and sapped all my liking for it out, but THIS is the song that turned me against them, annoying earworm that burrows in and despite yourself you find it going through your head. They smack of desperation in my book, trying far too hard to be cool, there is little doubt that Fergie has a good set of lungs on her, but the records are just so VERY........ANNOYING or annoying and BAD.

 

Thankfully for all concerned I'll never have to review another of their records so let's be thankful for that! Oh and the worst offender from them? well I'll submit "My Humps" and "The Time (Dirty Bit)" and leave it at that....

 

27TH DECEMBER- CHRISTMAS TIME (DON'T LET THE BELLS END)- The Darkness (1 wk)

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f5/The_Darkness_Christmas.jpg

 

In one of the most famous battles for the Xmas No 1 spot, this is the song that spent all week at No 1 only to be beaten by Saturday Sales of Gary Jules's version of "Mad World". In truth kudos to teh band for coming up with something original and trying to write a "proper" Christmas single (with the forthcoming charity/ X Factor onslaught of the remainder of the decade they should be thanked for that) and it isn't a song that I dislike to be honest.

 

Trouble is I was in teh corner of "Mad World" that Christmas and so was rather chuffed when it triumphed, but this was clearly The Darkness's shot at the big time- would they have gone to other greater things had they scored the Xmas chart topper for 2003? It's speculation of course, but I have a theory that some bands have a moment when they could be catapulted into the arena of a major act and I think that this was the moment for the Darkness.

 

Not that the track is much to write home about, in some ways just an apeing of much that has gone before, but psychologically this could have made all the difference. Once the moment had passed and they had failed inevitable splits/ drugs/ crashing chart fortunes meant that the end was in sight but it NEARLY all paid off.

 

 

Finally the end of 2003!! I never thought I'd make it!

2003 had a lot of number two's didn't it?

 

The Black Eyed Peas - I too have a love/hate relationship with them but 'Shut Up' falls in the former - I love it and at the time had the CD Single on constant repeat on a portable CD player at school. I envy kids with Ipod at school now, a lot easier to make music listening more secretive.

 

The Darkness - I bought the single if only to feel involvement in the Xmas Chart Battle but I don't think I ever actually liked the song I just preferred it to 'Mad World' which is dreadfully dull

 

Roll on 2004, my personal favourite year for music ever

24TH JANUARY 2004- MILKSHAKE- Kelis (4 wks)

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/2d/Kelis_milkshake.jpg

 

So we enter the final year of this thread with "Milkshake". In my life it marks an important time- after 5 years living in Brighton I decided it was time to head back to the Midlands at the age of 28. I recall at the time it was hard to find someone who disliked the song (possibly because it was January and there scant all else around until you liked Michelle MacManus whoo was at No 1, but this track for me has always failed to get under my skin. I don't dislike it, the production is very Neptune Brothers which I loved in 2002 but two years on was past its sell by date I fancy. The video which was, suggestive shall we say, helped no doubt to propel an average urban record to the dizzying heights of No 2 but there is also no doubt that by the end of those 4 weeks at No 2 I liked it considerably more than I did at the beginning.

 

I confess i'm not an expert on this kind of music, and it's far from the worst of its genre but this has never been more than so so for me sadly, I forgive her though the fabulosity of "Lil Star".

 

21ST FEBRUARY- SHE BELIEVES (IN ME)- Ronan Keating (1 wk)

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f9/Ronan-shebelievesinme.jpg

 

First recorded by Kenny Rogers in 1978, there was many a country hit that proved rich pickings for Boyzone back in the 90s. Keating hadn't done badly since the split recording some genuinely good original pop hits "Lovin Each Day" and "Life Is A Rollercoaster" to name a couple but since 2002 he'd pretty much been turning out the same old rehashed turgid pop that appealed to an ever decreasing selection of females and housewives. This is just dull, thankfully in the low sales climate of 2004 his fanbase was enough to artificially create the impression of still dedicated fanbase but it's clear he has run out of ideas.

 

Not only that but he's chosing increasingly poor songs, where once it was Cat Stevens and Tracey Chapman it's now Kenny Rogers.....that Boyzone reunion becomes his only option now, after an obligatory GH album obviously.....

 

Gezza, no doing 2005 - 2009 then? :(

Gezza, no doing 2005 - 2009 then? :(

Maybe, I said final year only because the thread is titled 2000-2004 but I may do a final one to round up the final 5 year period, although that would include the evil "Rockstar", actually there is far worse than that in there, and also some corkers....decisions, decisions..............

6TH MARCH- THANK YOU- Jamelia (1 wk)

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/58/Jamelia_-_Thank_You_(CD_1).jpg

 

Crowning off what was a remarkable return to chart form Jamelia was one of 2004's stars thanks to one song "Superstar" which was a surprise hit with legs back in late 2003. Prior to that her fame rested on a solitary top 10 hit in 2000 "Money" but suddelnly we were interested in her again 4 years down the line. There are some Jamelia records which are great ("Something about you" and "Beware Of The Dog" in particular) but "Thank You" seems a bit too paperthin.

 

Concerning her real life tale of domestic violence it's obviously got gravitas subject wise but there is no sense of that tunewise, a nice engaging pop tune but she could easily be singing about the weather to be fair. Her star would soon pass and in retrospect she's little more than a footnote.

 

24TH APRIL- MY BAND- D-12 (2 Wks)

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/d7/D12_-_My_Band_-_CD_cover.jpg

 

I rather like this track simply because it has a sense of fun which is missing in much of the music that hails from the genre. Essentially "My Band" parodies not only Eminem's own music but also other rap videos like "In Da Club" and pokes fun at the idea that D-12 is little more than Eminem's band all wrapped up in a nice little hook.

 

Whilst it's hardly innovative the track is so charmingly self deprecating that it's difficult not to enter into the spirit of it and generally it's a winner from everyone concerned. Yes I surprised myself here!

 

Love both Thank You and My Band. We had Jamelia's album as I recall my sister loved her but other than the singles there was nothing that good to be honest, and except for Thank You and See It in a Boys Eyes I wasn't crazy on the singles either.

8TH MAY- AIR HOSTESS- Busted (1 wk)

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/2c/Bustedairhostess.jpg

 

"...And now the end is near" sang Sinatra once, I doubt he was singing about the end of Busted but indeed they were at the end of the road. One final Hurrah! was to come with the double A-Side "Thunderbirds/ 3 AM" in August 2004 but this is the last we'll see of them. It's pretty much Busted by numbers, typically shouty boys with guitars they were one of the most consistant bands of the 2002-04 period in terms of chart positions if not in terms of quality. I'm actually rather fond of their final A Side and the superb "Sleeping With The Lights On" but the rest tends to al sound the same.

 

Famed at the time for the line "I messed my pants as we flew over the France" it's by far the most interesting thing about the song which is sung by a band that almost seems bored with putting the same song out themselves. I suppose the appeal was rather in apeing US bands like Good Charlotte but in a safe "non threatening" way, but don't worry if you case you missed them they were already handing the baton to Busted Mk II, known as McFly. Having supported them on tour this track is actually co-written by Tom Fletcher of the latter band- ah just one big happy family.

 

15TH MAY- DIP IT LOW- Christina Milian (1 wk)

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/04/Christina_Milian-dip_it_low.jpg

 

I'd almost forgotten about this song, can't say I'm sad about that having been reminded of it. Milian co-wrote Jennifer Lopez's "Play" and sang backing vocals on it coming to the attention of Def Jam records who signed her and produced a string of hits in 2002, and "Dip It Low" marked her return to the charts with a second album. The song itself is moderately engaging in a kinda pleasent but forgettable way, and much more interesting is that it's the song that became the bane of the singers life.

 

Co-writer and producer Poli Paul sampled a 1983 called "La Serina" without getting consent but, so Milian claimed, had assured her that "Dip It Low" contained no samples. She was sued by the original writers who were awarded significant compensation, and as Milian had spent $30,000 defending herself she in turn sued Paul, who then sued Universal music and Def Jam for failing to get the necessary clearance. All in all a mess. And for this!

 

16TH AUGUST- PRETTY GREEN EYES- Ultrabeat (2 wks)

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/1e/Ultrabeat-PrettyGreenEyes.jpg

 

OMG guilty pleasure time! Along with Benny Benassi, the video for "Pretty Green Eyes" pretty much the mould for how dance music videos would be for the remainder of the video, very sexual featuring scantily clad woman and a lot of gyrating (Eric Prydz would perfect this just 12 months later) and who recalls "scouse house"? a very brief dance sub genre taking in this band and acts like Angel City and Dana Rayne, a kind of happy hardcore that became the rage for 6 months. It should be noted that these acts were not necessarily from Liverpool but the genre of music was particularly popular in the north west.

 

Anyway I digress, yes "Pretty Green Eyes" is at the tackier end of dance music there is no denying but it's a little corker in my opinion, real care free music, and it's a much version of the song than the original by Force & Styles from 1997 which is a bit too hardcore for my personal taste. I make no claim that the record is a musical milestone, or that it is profound, it's just good oldskool dance music that I still pop on from time to time.

 

Oh good LORD! Takes me back to being a 19 year old stooodent at a uni VERY close to Liverpool, funnily enough (Ultrabeat were unsurprisingly massive at this neck of the woods)! I was a resident DJ at the uni and this was just about the only dance track I could gat away with playing. I love house music, which by 2003 was dead on its arse, so after one to many bevvies I defaulted to this sort of vacuous dance music that got churned out by records label All Around The World.

 

In 2012, this sounds terribly dated but a song that makes me pine for my uni days soo painfully bad, it can drive me to tears.

25TH OCTOBER- TURN ME ON- Kevin Lyttle (2 wks)

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e2/Turnmeoncover.JPG

 

Dear readers,

 

I have horrible flashbacks to Chaka Demus & Pliers and Bitty McLean, and this is not a good thing. He appears to be singing about doing his thing with his ladies, apparently this isn't dancehall or reggae but Soca music (originating in Trinidad & Tobago) but it all sounds pretty similar to my philistine ears.

 

Anyway needless to say I hated this song at the time, and I hate it now, only a guest rap by Sean Paul could have made me hate it more though I can't deny it did stick around in the charts for much longer than most of the other top 10 hits of the time so it had a lasting appeal to some. Sorry I've not been very positive today about the tracks I've reviewed, trouble is that the remainder of 2003 doesn't have that much to offer me....

 

 

100% agree. A truly horrific track which, unfortunately, was hogging the upper end of the Top 40 when I began my 2 year DJ stint. I played it 2 weeks solid and then pretended I "couldn't find it"... even after 17 requests. Utter shit.