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.

 

 

One of the most pointless efforts ever. Britney is little more than a fraud, a talentless waste of space that has sustained a music career on the strength of making a bit of a tit out of herself in the public eye - Yes, I can't abide the woman. There, done.

 

Madonna, who I still had a lot of time for in 2003 (not so in 2012), is totally anonymous sounding and frankly shouldn't have even bothered on what is principally a Britney song. Oh yeah, the song was crap too.

Edited July 6, 201213 yr by ScottyEm

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

 

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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....

 

 

The irony of this song is unbearable!

26TH JULY- SATISFACTION- Benny Benassi (1 wk)

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e5/Satisfaction.jpg

 

A song I couldn't stand at the time and one that I can't stand now. It's basically about getting your end away and the lyrics consisting of "Push me, and then just touch me, til i can get my satisfaction" it's not exactly challenging on any level. I suppose drugs/ drink might help with this- but really, why bother?

 

I couldn't disagree with you anymore here!

 

"Satisfaction" was so ridiculously ahead of its time, it should've been too underground to resonate with joe public. However, with a hook big enough to hand your coat up on (and it pains me to say, the horrible video) were enough to send it to No.2 (I remember Beyonce stopping it going to its rightful place and being a bit miffed - funny how I don't give 2 shits about the charts now!).

 

In 2012, "Satisfaction" can sit very comfortably with your average Guetta track to Afrojack in any set and not sound one bit out of place.

I had a bit of a love/hate with 2003, some amazing records but also some really crappy ones made it really high in the charts. In general it was the year dance music died in the charts.

 

Anyway, thumbs up for Rachel Stevens, DJ Sammy, Lumidee, Beyonce, Ultrabeat, Lisa Maffia, Kevin Lyttle and Mis-Teeq.

 

For 2004, so far I can say I enjoyed Christina Milian, Kelis and Jamelia. Hated D12 though

5TH JUNE- TRICK ME- Kelis (1 wk)

 

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Everything about this record SHOULD make me hate it, my lukewarm response to "Milkshake" the Reggae-lite elements of the track but I actually love it. Indeed this, and follow up "Millionaire" are a couple of my fave's from the year, I think what pulls the trick off here is Kelis herself and the fact that there is a story here, rather than just the slutfest that was "Milkshake"(though perhaps if that had not been such a hit then exposure for these hits would not have been so great).

 

"Trick Me" is one level typical Dallas Austin stuff, the wronged woman promising not to be fooled by her errant man again, but comes package with sassiness and a cocky stance that makes the message entirely believeable. It's also a very adult track, whilst "milkshake" abounds with new found sexual confidence and an adolescencent desire for sexual attention, this is Kelis further down the line, once she realises that she wasn't the sole focus of that attention, a leson leaned in more that one sense. At any rate it was onsiderably better than the Frankee record which prevented this from making the top

 

19TH JUNE- COME ON ENGLAND- 4-4-2 (1 Wk)

 

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God I hate football tracks, with the possible exception of "World In Motion", but then i'm not a big football fan. This "record" was played exclusively (to begin with) on TalkSport Radio and several DJ's are on backing vocals, the band themselves are session musicians who got together to perform this track which is a re-writing of the 1982 No 1 "Come On Eileen" by Dexy's Midnight Runners, and is in honour of the Euro 2004 championships.

 

Anyway not something I've listened to since it was released nor something I want to hear ever again thanks......

 

10th JULY- THE SHOW- Girls Aloud (1 wk)

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/34/The_Show_(Girls_Aloud_single)_coverart.jpg

 

OK so this is the song that turned me into a GA loon for the remainder of their tenure. Whilst I liked much of the first album "The Show" was to me, the best No 2 hit of 2004, a Xenomania classic packed with hooks and sassiness that lesser girl groups could only dream that. I recall in the summer of 2004 the group unveiled their new image (essentially they found fake tan, coloured contact lenses, backless dresses and a decent stylist) yes it was the moment that they really arrived, that the challenge to the Sugababes crown as the nations biggest girl band of the 00s really was set and this song meant I could only be in one camp.

 

It may not have the urban chic of say "Freak like Me" or "Round Round" but "The Show" is the electro pop response to it, the girls looking even better than ever before and proving that they were more "No Good Advice" than "Sound Of The Underground" thankfully, if pop went into a slight wilderness in the mid 00s then GA were the leading light of what remained. It would return of course by the end of the decade, but for a while they were the only ones doing successful pop with any kind of consistancy, a point worth remembering!

 

24TH JULY- SOME GIRLS- Rachel Stevens (1 wk)

 

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From a song by Girls Aloud to a song intended for them. Composer Richard X wrote the track with them in mind but was aapproached by Simon Fuller to write a song for either Halliwell or Stevens who were in the running to do that years Sport Relief" single and as it turned out Stevens got the gig and the song. For a song about oral sex and the perils of doing anything to become famous it's a curious choice for a charity single but Stevens played ignorant of the theme of the song and no-one seemed to care much.

 

Following on from "The Show" ordinarily I'd be luke warm but I have to say I LOVE this track too! Fair enough it leans heavily on 70s galm music coupled with a healthy dollop of Goldfrapp for fun but it has a tune which refuses not to let go until you're singing along and along with "Sweet Dreams" shows she had the right people choosing her tracks at the start of her career anyway. In her later singles only "I said never again" is a shining example of a good choice of single but that also has 70s suzi quatro-esque leanings. Anyway if nothing else it's been a fine example of eye candy in today's choices.

 

 

21ST AUGUST- CAN'T STAND ME NOW- The Libertines (1 wk)

 

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Even by the time we reach the commercial zenith of the Libertines Doherty was already more famous for his drug use and having a criminal record than the records he had made warranted. Being indie darlings since the release of their first album in 2002 sales had underwhelmed and by 2004 they were back with what would become their second and final album "The Libertines" which would make No 1.

 

Detailing the increasingly love-hate relationship between the frontmen Doherty and Barat there is nothing special about the track, but then I've never been a fan of the Doherty, a man who has thrown away any talent he may have had very early in his career and there isn't much to redeem him in my eyes. Normally I can see a good indie tune like most (and being 18-21 through the Britpop era has left an impression on me) but this song leaves me cold, the chorus ius catchy enough, but there is something quite amateur here. Perhaps the appeal lies there, in terms of the rawness of the music, but if that's so I've seen raw emotion done better.

 

11TH SEPTEMBER- LEAVE (GET OUT)- Jojo (1 wk)

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/54/JoJo_-_Leave_(Get_Out)_-_Not_That_Kinda_Girl.jpg

 

Dear oh Dear, I quite like this rather embarrassingly. She's only 14 here and she now, apparently, dislikes the pop sound of her debut era. With a Britney-esque debut video set in a school, she shows rather less flesh than Spears did and perhaps that cost her a No 1?

 

Anyway it's a piece of R-N-B lite pop that bobbles along with Jojo singing about being done wrong by her no good boyfriend (maybe he didn't meet her after school) but anyway if you ignore the fact that a 14 yr old is singing it then it's quite a decent little pop tune, certainly for 2004. More urbanised music was to folllow in the latter part of the decade but nothing to rival this chart position wise. Pleasing but it won't be winning an Ivor Novello.

 

I loved Leave. Everyone at school did at the time I seem to remember

1ST APRIL- THE TIME IS NOW- Moloko (1 wk)

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/1f/Moloko-the-time-is-now.jpg

 

As the Foo Fighters sang "I got another confession to make", this kinda passed me by at the time, but over the years I have come to LOVE this song. Sublime, sophisticated piece of pop, full of longing and latent desire with a lush piece of orchestration bubbling beneath the surface which erupts at regular intervals, serving only to re-inforce its lyrical theme. The overplayed "Sing It Back" from 1999 was probably a victim of timing, I recall it being played for a good 2 months before it bacame available and had it been released a month earlier I'm convinced it would probably gone to No 1, but not to worry I get to review this song instead.

 

Murphy's vocals are touch helium- esque on this but it's all so beautifully delivered we can glaze over that, in fact it reflects the songs emotional core to a tee, fragile, filled with thrill and excitement. Themes of carpe diem, emotional exhaustion, and obsession abound, it's a song that attempts to leap through the boundaries of ordinary everyday life and almost describe something ethereal, the emotional static that exists before the declaration of love before all is known. Now that all sounds rather grand I grant you but this is really a very rich song in meaning as well as in production, I recommend it without hesitation.

 

 

I agree that this is a record that has aged brilliantly, it sounds even better now than at the time. It's not even their greatest record either, I refer to "Forever More" one of the greatest dance hits of the decade and a victim of changing pop fashions. It deserved to be massive in 2003, 9 years on it's still utterly brilliant.

25TH SEPTEMBER- LOVE MACHINE- Girls Aloud (2 wks)

 

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Popular thought is that "Love Machine" is one of the best GA records they ever released, I don't think I'd go that far, in my opinion this is a kind of blueprint for what would become "Biology" just 12 months later. It is one of Xenomania's "busier" productions with an infectious beat and rousing chorus but for me it tries just a touch too much, like being instructed to have fun when you're not really in the mood, I'm not sure that Xenomania's own description of the record as "The Smiths colliding with the Sweet" is really appropriate or true.

 

Anyway they were still in their imperial phase, when everything they did turned into chart gold, back in 2004 and I can see why "Love Machine" is a fan favourite but it is too messy and unfocused to be able to hold any real affection in my heart sadly, the girls tease and flirt through the track but it's one of those flirtations that you know is only to get a drink out of you before you're promptly dropped. Bad girls!

 

 

Yeah never was too keen on 'Love Machine' I thought it was a bit too silly. I do like 90% of what they've released though take out Jump, Long Hot Summer, I Think Were Alone Now and Walk This Way with you got a damn near perfect discography

9TH OCTOBER- I HOPE YOU DANCE- Ronan Keating (1 wk)

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/84/Ronanihopeyoudance.jpg

 

Now this was for charity (Breast Cancer Fund) so well done Ronan, but on EVERY other level this is WRONG. One suspects at his house during 2000-2004 he had a list of US Country Chart toppers which he would cover and release onto us poor souls for the first half of the naoughties. This particular "treat" was first recorded and released by lee anne Womack in 2000 but barely scrapped the top 40 here, clearly Ronan one of the few to take note of the song.

 

By this time I suspect he knew he was running on empty and the top 10 hits were about to come to a shuddering halt leaving little option for him other than a Boyzone reunion which was still 4 years away, but a GH set was ready for Christmas and a re-recorded version of "Father And Son" but we'll come to that later. So more of the same anodyne balladry than flew down the charts after its first week, somebody should have been telling him to STOP by now!

 

23RD OCTOBER- I BELIEVE MY HEART- Duncan James & Keedie (1 wk)

 

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I suppose in a way you have to at least acknowledge that Duncan James tried something a bit left field as a first solo effort after the break up of Blue. This pairing with the freshly discovered Keedie Babb (yes she's from the West Midlands- how fitting) on this musical number from the (then) new Lloyd Webber musical "The Woman In White" is suitably far from the urban lite pop that Blue had peddled since 2001, tragically it's completely forgettable and bland. The musical itself was one of Lloyd Webber's worst performing ones lasting only 19 months in the west end so that should be the warning sign that this is going nowhere.

 

Yes the musical is based on the Wilkie Collins classic novel, but really that's as interesting as this gets, James barely manages to keep up with Keedie who clearly has her eyes on some role, and though she was much touted as a new Lesley Garrett, she never quite pulled it off and was last seen auditioning for X Factor under her married name Keedie Green.

 

30TH OCTOBER- THE LOVE OF RICHARD NIXON- Manic Street Preachers (1 wk)

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/fd/TheLoveOfRichardNixon.jpg

 

By 2004 the Manics were in a quandry I rather think. Though they were around pre Britpop it was during that explosion that the band found there biggest period (in terms of sales and praise) and scored a couple of No 1 singles in just 18 months. That was all now behind them, and in truth they were only playing to the die hards, trouble is (though not for them) the collapse in sales that occured between 2004-07 made it much easier for fanbase acts to score big chart hits whilst shifting 20k a week (this opened with a sale of just 18k).

 

Onto the song at any rate, and to be honest I had to remind myself how it went, completely bypassing me, and I suspect the greater majority of the record buying public at this time, it's a lament to many things, a reappraisal of Richard Nixon (obviously) and also an expression of the band's regret that they were never viewed as well as Radiohead. In interviews Wire commented that they were as seen as Nixon to Radiohead's Kennedy, the band who had to try the hardest to get any noticed and compete.

 

In any eventuality, this is a little self indulgent for my tastes, and it's hard to bring myself to care about their plight, certainly by 2004 anyway, it's chart trajectory of 2-22-45-75 is probably an accurate reflection of how much it sung into the national consciousness, but that's the problem which the music you make falls on deaf ears, they had a good choon left in them but we'd pretty much stopped listening.

 

God, even the #2s in 2004 were dire :lol: Only one song I'd genuinely want to listen to again so far and that's D12, and even that's basically a parody.

 

2000's were generally brilliant, 2001 a mixed bag and 2003 a few good ones but mostly dross. There's only one year I'd say the #2s were in general better than the #1s and that's 2002...no Will/Gareth or other Pop Idol singers cluttering things up and a ton of forgotten classics. I'm waiting for a more credible band to cover the likes of 'Caught In The Middle' and 'One Step Closer' and finally give them the recognition they deserve!

God, even the #2s in 2004 were dire :lol: Only one song I'd genuinely want to listen to again so far and that's D12, and even that's basically a parody.

 

2000's were generally brilliant, 2001 a mixed bag and 2003 a few good ones but mostly dross. There's only one year I'd say the #2s were in general better than the #1s and that's 2002...no Will/Gareth or other Pop Idol singers cluttering things up and a ton of forgotten classics. I'm waiting for a more credible band to cover the likes of 'Caught In The Middle' and 'One Step Closer' and finally give them the recognition they deserve!

OH YES! I thought I was the only one likely to have this thought :lol:

13TH NOVEMBER- LOSE MY BREATH- Destiny's Child (4 wks)

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b1/Love_My_Breath_single_cover.jpg

 

You have to wonder exactly what was the point of this particular reunion as Beyonce and Rowland had launched successful solo careers so there wasn't exactly a NEED. However they had promised to return after their haitus in 2001 hence the album title "Destiny Fulfilled" and this lead single showed they had lost none of the sassyness that had made them a big player in the charts of the early noughties, in actual fact it's a final hurrah for the band who all seemed to rapidly lose interest in the project as soon as 2005 came round with the final singles "Girl" and "Soldier" doing the business of honouring their promotional duties in respect of the album, then it was full steam ahead with the solo careers.

 

But what of the actual song, well the regimentated almost military feel of the beat plus the vocal delivery seems to imply steely resolve that if the guy can't "keep up" then he's a goner *gulp*, yes we've come a long way from the days of "girls just wanna have fun" and "Borderline" my friends. It isn't as though I dislike the song but I've never really cared for DC, thematically they seem to be a one trick pony, like a rerun of a Sex And The City episode but it doesn't compare badly to the rest of 2004.