#158. Five - Keep On Movin'

1 week at #1 in 1999 (#7 of 35 for '99)

 

 

Yeah, this being so high is a bit random. It's a simple upbeat song about getting through life's downs. It's hard for me to find anything I dislike about this. I noticed that this song doesn't really have much of a transition between the verses, the pre-chorus, the chorus, etc. It's like one long chorus. I kind of like that for some reason.

#157. Duke Dumont feat. A*M*E - Need U (100%)

2 weeks at #1 in 2013 (#5 of 30 for '13)

 

 

I love the quirkiness of this song. All the clapping and the "mmmmmmmmmm mmmmmmmmmm"'s.

 

#156. Duke Dumont feat. Jax Jones - I Got U

1 week at #1 in 2014 (#3 of 16 for '14)

 

 

Yeah, I pretty much like his two #1's equally. (I don't really know how I feel about "Won't Look Back" yet, though.) I love the steel drums. I love the background "oooooh"'s and the "yeah's(?)" (I have no idea what's being said.) The Whitney sample (cover?) works flawlessly. "Clap your hands y'all it's alright" is a great hook. And the song is so summery.

Edited September 1, 201410 yr by n4yr

#155. Nicole Scherzinger - Don't Hold Your Breath

1 week at #1 in 2011 (#8 of 30 for '11)

 

 

Nicole's solo career has been non-existent on this side of the Atlantic. I was very shocked when "Poison" went top 3 at the end of 2010. I loved "Poison", though, so I was happy she was finding success somewhere. And then she goes all the way to #1 the following year with this; dethroning Adele for a week even. "Don't Hold Your Breath" is full of determination and she's firm in her stance. She's completely and utterly done with this relationship, and that's final.

#154. Madison Avenue - Don't Call Me Baby

1 week at #1 in 2000 (#14 of 42 for '00)

 

 

I love this bassline synth (the "do duh do" parts.) It has a very disco-y and funky vibe. That riff is what makes this song. Madison Avenue were an Australian dance act, and this blew up there in late 1999. But it was "Who The Hell Are You" that went #1 there instead of this. No matter, because "Who The Hell Are You" is basically the same song. "Don't Call Me Baby" originally peaked at #30 in the UK in late 1999, but was re-released and went in at #1 a few months later. Anyway, I just love the sassiness of the line "don't call me baby".

Edited September 2, 201410 yr by n4yr

#153. Culture Beat - Mr Vain

4 weeks at #1 in 1993 (#6 of 15 for '93)

 

 

It's very similar to "Rhythm Is A Dancer". It even has a similar rap section added. But I love all these early 90's Eurodance songs. If only I got to rank "What Is Love" and "Rhythm Of The Night" as well.

#152. Céline Dion - Think Twice

7 weeks at #1 in 1995 (#5 of 17 for '95)

 

 

Celine was one of the big divas of the 90's. She was easily capable of getting big hits in the US at this point in time. Which is what makes the #95 peak of this song in the US so baffling (though it went top 20 in her homeland: Canada.) In the UK, however, this was huge and became a million seller. It sure took its time getting to the top spot (I think it even holds the record for longest climb to #1), and then it stayed there forever once it got there. This might actually be my second favourite Celine single after "It's All Coming Back", though she's not one of my favourites, and I'm not familiar with all of her singles. But, I think this is just a well written and interesting song. And this one isn't cheesy or anything. There's also that one big note, which always catches me off guard.

Edited September 2, 201410 yr by n4yr

#151. Kanye West - Stronger

2 weeks at #1 in 2007 (#5 of 17 for '07)

 

 

I generally can't stand Kanye West, but this song was always a jam. The production is on point, and the Daft Punk sample works amazingly well, and the chorus is very catchy. Lyrically, this is just the same old stuff Kanye always raps about - sex, haters, and inflating his own ego. I remember at the time, that this was the first Kanye song I ever really liked. I despised "Gold Digger" (and I still do.)

Edited September 2, 201410 yr by n4yr

The longest climb to number 1 is a debatable topic as technically it would be Jackie Wilson's Reet Petite. But if you're referring to in one single chart run then yes, I can't think of anything which took longer than 16 weeks...

I dont think any other song was still number 1 in its 22nd week either, like Think Twice, certainly not at the time.

#150. Simply Red - Fairground

4 weeks at #1 in 1995 (#4 of 17 for '95)

 

 

So before following UK charts, "If You Don't Know Me By Now" and "Holding Back The Years" were the only two Simply Red songs I knew. And they both put me to sleep. I didn't have much of an opinion on this group because of it. So hearing this type of a song coming from them surprised me. But in a good way. This samples "Give It Up" by The Goodmen, and that sample is mainly why I like this.

#149. Shakira feat. Wyclef Jean - Hips Don't Lie

5 weeks at #1 in 2006 (#7 of 24 for '06)

 

 

This is about as bad as a Sean Paul song with my lack of being able to decipher the lyrics. Shakira's verse is one garbled mess. Though Wyclef's parts aren't much better. And oddly, Wyclef gets two verses in this song and Shakira gets only one. But, it's a really catchy song and the Latin American style instrumental really sets it apart. "Shakira Shakira!"

#148. S Club 7 - Bring It All Back

1 week at #1 in 1999 (#6 of 35 for '99)

 

 

This is my seventh birthday #1 (my birthday was on a Sunday that year, so this #1 was revealed on my actual birthday too!). This was their debut single, and the theme song to their TV show. This is like the definition of cheesy. But I like cheesy sometimes. This song is very over-the-top joyous upbeat. But it goes with the message, I guess. It's a great pop song, albeit a tad childish. The chorus is really infectious, and it's hard to resist singing along with it. "DON'T STOP NEVER GIVE UP.." And I like the key change for some reason.

Edited September 3, 201410 yr by n4yr

#147. Robbie Williams - Eternity / The Road To Mandalay

2 weeks at #1 in 2001 (#10 of 30 for '01)

 

 

"Eternity" was written about Geri Halliwell. From what I understand, Geri developed an eating disorder after leaving the Spice Girls, and hit a low where she nearly died, and Robbie, who had been a friend of hers, was there to help her. It puts "and I hope you find your freedom" into context. But this song can be interpreted in many ways. Someone close to you going through any of life's struggles. It's a very emotional song and a well written ballad. I like the "youth is wasted on the young" lyric. "The Road To Mandalay" is like a poem. It's about things not being as satisfying as originally thought to be.

#146. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Wanz - Thrift Shop

1 week at #1 in 2013 (#4 of 30 for '13)

 

 

I love the saxophone loop. Is this where the latest trend of horns in songs started? This song is full of quotable lyrics. I see this song as taking a jab at the all those rap songs about having a lavish lifestyle: the luxury cars, the expensive clothes, the bling, etc. And this song is making a statement advocating thrifty spending, and trying to make it look cool. Macklemore is completely comfortable and confident wearing anything, and it's shown in the video too. He's even wearing his grandpa's clothes. But what makes this song work is that it doesn't take itself too seriously. It's quite humorous and fun.

#145. Spice Girls - Too Much

2 weeks at #1 in 1997 (#8 of 24 for '97)

 

 

This song always makes me think of their movie (probably because of the music video). Mel C really shines in this one. She leads the song into the chorus twice, and then does the middle 8. All of her parts really elevate this song. She stops this song from being too sluggish. Though I do like this subdued melancholy production. Geri's solo sounds flat, though. The chorus "too much of something is bad enough... too much of nothing is just as tough" is awkwardly and simplistically worded, but at the same time, confusing and sort of vague. (Something of what? Nothing of what?) Their lover satisfies them, but they want something more than what he offers.

#144. Black Eyed Peas - Boom Boom Pow

2 weeks at #1 in 2009 (#9 of 32 for '09)

 

 

This is my 17th birthday #1. I started following pop music in late 2005. It started when I decided to watch some music videos on TV out of random curiosity. One of the first videos I saw was "My Humps." Keeping in mind that I was 13 at the time and easily amused, so it easily became my favourite song of the moment. I liked all the Black Eyed Peas' singles at the time. And then when Fergie went solo the year after, I was enjoying all of her solo stuff as well. So when they decided to reform and make their big comeback in 2009, I was definitely intrigued. I first heard "Boom Boom Pow" on the radio, and I remembering thinking "wtf is this?" I was not expecting a song like this, to say the least. This is such a bizarre song. But that's exactly why I like it. It doesn't have a conventional song structure. Is there even really a chorus in this? It's a song that's sort of about itself, essentially. It's about pop music becoming more electronic, and what the future of music holds (hence the usage of "3008" and the excessive auto-tune.) Speaking of "3008", this song came out in 2009, so 3009 would've made more sense. But of course, that doesn't rhyme with "3000 and late", so it wouldn't work. Which makes that part feel rather lazy, and it kind of irritated me at the time. Also, "beats so big I'm stepping on leprechauns" is one weird lyric.

#143. Daniel Bedingfield - Gotta Get Thru This

3 weeks at #1 in 2001 / 2002 (#9 of 30 for '01)

 

 

"Baw baw baw baw." I love this bouncy beat. It's about trying to move on from one love to another. I like the part where he sings really fast from the "When your love is fallin' like the rain.." bit. It's like he's panicking, which goes with the song. And I like the repetition of the phrase "gotta get thru this." It's like he's saying it over and over again to try to convince himself that he can get thru this.

Edited September 4, 201410 yr by n4yr

#142. Aqua - Barbie Girl

4 weeks at #1 in 1997 (#7 of 24 for '97)

 

 

This sold 1.8 million copies. At least I like a song that sold so much. This is a novelty song, but unlike other novelty hits, I don't find this to be stupid or childish, and it never gets old for me. Though, it almost isn't a novelty song because of the message. It was written as a social commentary about the Barbie doll brand. It uses sarcasm to show the impossible perfectionism that Barbie dolls try to promote. But everything else about this is novelty. The video being a big part of that. As well as Rene Dif, who does the male vocals in the funny voice (which reminds me of the B-52's). The song isn't the same without him. Also the hooks in this song like "come on Barbie let's go party", "oooh woah-oh oooh woah-oh", and "ah ah ah yeah" are all made to be annoying, but they get stuck in your head because of it.

#141. Melanie C - I Turn To You

1 week at #1 in 2000 (#13 of 42 for '00)

 

 

Mel C was always my favourite Spice Girl. I think I prefer the single version of this more than the album version. It gives the song more life. But I still like the album version too. It's pretty euphoric. It's a very personal song either way.