#321. LMC vs U2 - Take Me To The Clouds Above

2 weeks at #1 in 2004 (#16 of 29 for '04)

 

 

So this is a dance song that samples two 80's classics - "How Will I Know" by Whitney Houston and "With Or Without You" by U2; however only the latter is credited for their sample for some reason. I was confused at first as to why this was credited as "vs U2" and not "vs Whitney Houston". I didn't even notice the U2 sample at first. I like the feel-good atmosphere of this song, but there's just not a lot to this song.

The story behind that song is that LMC initially wanted to use Whitney's vocals, but Whitney (or her team) flat out refused to give them the clearance to sample them, so they had to make do with a session singer.

 

Same story with Freemasons' cover of Alanis' "Uninvited" as it was a popular remix long before its' release.

Busy day for me. Let me catch up. :P

 

#320. B*Witched - To You I Belong

1 week at #1 in 1998 (#19 of 30 for '98)

 

 

It's a little bit on the boring song, but it's a really lovely song. Simply about true love.

Edited August 1, 201410 yr by n4yr

#319. Mario Winans feat. P Diddy & Enya - I Don't Wanna Know

2 weeks at #1 in 2004 (#15 of 29 for '04)

 

 

This is my 12th birthday #1. On paper, this doesn't seem like a particularly memorable R&B hit from 2004. I don't mind it, though. I actually like the Enya sample in this, it's subtle but effective. This song is about catching his girlfriend cheating, and then wanting to be spared hearing the truth from her because it'd hurt too much. Meh to P Diddy's part as usual, though.

#318. DJ Casper - Cha Cha Slide (Part 2)

1 week at #1 in 2004 (#14 of 29 for '04)

 

 

"EVERYBODY CLAP YOUR HANDS!!" This is, of course, a school dance staple. This went #1 as a result from a campaign by Scott Mills. It's a song that gives dance move instructions, and it's hard to not want to do them when I listen to this. Though, it works way better in a school dance setting. It's like "Gym & Tonic", but way more entertaining than that. Though, I don't get what the "Charlie Brown" bit is about.

#317. Taio Cruz - Dynamite

1 week at #1 in 2010 (#16 of 34 for '10)

 

 

I've always seen as this as being the ultimate song that embodied everything about the 2009-2011 dance-pop overload. This song was everywhere and radio never let it go. At least that was the case over here. This song is full of obvious hooks like the repetition of words at the end of each line in the verses ("plans plans plans plans"; "brands brands brands brands", etc.) and "ayoo gotta let go". Lyrically derivative but pretty infectious. Still sick of its overexposure, though.

#316. 3 Of A Kind - Baby Cakes

1 week at #1 in 2004 (#13 of 29 for '04)

 

 

This uses an interpolation of "Please Don't Go" by KC And The Sunshine Band; also made popular by KWS in 1992... which just barely pre-dates this list! Needless to say this is a guilty pleasure of mine. It's full of sexual innuendos, and it's objectively terrible. But I get some sort of odd joy out it. This video though.....

Haha Baby Cakes, already an "old-school" classic in my mind, I just can't dislike it!

 

Still love Dynamite to this day, very few songs remind me of fresher's as much as that one.

 

And of course can't knock Cha Cha Slide either, CRISS CROSS.

#315. Pixie Lott - Mama Do (Uh Oh, Uh Oh)

1 week at #1 in 2009 (#19 of 32 for '09)

 

 

One of the few songs by Pixie Lott that I actually enjoy. It's about sneaking out of the house behind her parents' back to meet up with that boy that her parents don't approve of. The song is very simplistic, but I think its simplicity is what makes it effective, in a way.

#314. Miley Cyrus - Wrecking Ball

1 week at #1 in 2013 (#17 of 30 for '13)

 

 

I was totally caught off guard when I first heard this: a rather decent Miley Cyrus song in 2013.. but then the video came out and I was like NOPE. It completely ruined the song for me. And there's very few songs I can say that about. Trying to forget about the video, I think this is a pretty well written song. I actually spent a lot of time looking at the lyrics on this one. Partly because I wasn't really sure what the "wrecking ball" metaphor was about. I saw it at first as her way of admitting that it's her fault the relationship ended (she wrecked it like a wrecking ball)... but then the lyrics talk about trying to break down her (ex-)lover's emotional walls. Either way, the two of them got into a relationship they probably shouldn't have, and it all turned into one big mess. She wanted to get closer to him, but he wouldn't let her in. She's trying desperately to fix the pieces, but he doesn't care. Or something along those lines. The "Don’t you ever say I just walked away; I will always want you" line is interesting because it sounds like he's making up an excuse to blame it all on her; but she's trying to say that she kept trying. But anyway. The production is sort of "generic", but I think it works perfectly for this song. Probably would rank higher if it wasn't for the video.

#313. Tinchy Stryder feat. Amelle Berrabah - Never Leave You

1 week at #1 in 2009 (#18 of 32 for '09)

 

 

Initially this comes off as a simple love song about two people that have gotten back together and promise to never leave each other. But I believe this song is more about his then-recent mainstream success, and it's a dedication to his fans that he will never leave them, and he still loves them as he did before, and he's not going to sell out, or whatever. Amelle may be my least favourite member to ever be in the Sugababes, but she does a decent job here.

#312. George Michael - Fastlove

3 weeks at #1 in 1996 (#16 of 24 for '96)

 

 

It's a song about wanting casual sex, and he's not interested any commitment. Lol. I prefer the dancier version of this one. I like the "forget me nots" bits.

#311. DJ Ötzi - Hey Baby (Uhh, Ahh)

1 week at #1 in 2001 (#15 of 30 for '01)

 

 

Lol. I can't help it. The "heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeey heey baby uhhh ahhh"'s get stuck in my head everytime. Especially with the background chanting.

#310. Girls Aloud - I'll Stand By You

2 weeks at #1 in 2004 (#12 of 29 for '04)

 

 

Girls Aloud are one of my most listened to artists, but the more I listen to this song, the more I find it one of their dullest singles. This is a cover of The Pretenders song, and was released as the 2004 Children In Need single. One of their dullest videos as well. Like, I don't hate this, but they have better ballads, and so many other singles I'd rather be #1's than this.

Edited August 2, 201410 yr by n4yr

#309. Baz Luhrmann - Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)

1 week at #1 in 1999 (#18 of 35 for '99)

 

 

This barely classifies as a song, so how do I rank this? It's more like an essay with background music. This is one of the most bizarre things to go to #1. However, this essay actually gives some pretty decent advice, especially for anyone at my age. And it uses humour well. But really, how often am I going to listen to this out of choice? Not that often.

 

#308. Justin Timberlake - Mirrors

3 weeks at #1 in 2013 (#16 of 30 for '13)

 

 

Definitely don't care for the 8 minute album version (that 3 minute outro just doesn't go anywhere... like what's the point?) I like this because it reminds me of the old JT I used to like and this has been the only single since his 2013 comeback that I've really liked. I believe JT said this is about his grandfather who cheated and how he and his wife worked through it and stayed together. And how it made them realize just how truly in love they are. Makes the "Yesterday is history; Tomorrow's a mystery" lyric make more sense. Though the lyrics are a bit non specific. lol I thought he said "pocketful of soap"; but it's "pocket full of soul".. the latter makes more sense!

Edited August 2, 201410 yr by n4yr

#307. McFly - All About You

1 week at #1 in 2005 (#11 of 25 for '05)

 

 

I don't know, there's just something about the simplicity of this that I like.

#306. Busted - Thunderbirds / 3 AM

2 weeks at #1 in 2004 (#11 of 29 for '04)

 

 

Their only #1 that I sort of like. It's fun. There's not much else to say about it.

#305. East 17 - Stay Another Day

5 weeks at #1 in 1994 / 1995 (#6 of 15 for '94)

 

 

The Christmas song that isn't really a Christmas song but kind of is a Christmas song. There's a certain simplicity to this song (though that simplicity makes it a bit boring.) And it sort of drags on towards the end. But I can be a sucker for ballads like this sometimes. It does sound better listening to it in December, rather than August, though. I wish "It's Alright" went #1 as well, I love that one!

 

They look so awkward in those fur coats in the video. :lol:

Edited August 4, 201410 yr by n4yr

#304. Robbie Williams - Radio

1 week at #1 in 2004 (#10 of 29 for '04)

 

 

Ok, I've talked about "Candy" not making a lot of sense, and I'll talk more about some of his other #1's that don't make a lot of sense. And here we have "Radio"; which doesn't make a lot of sense. So I've listened to this song many times, I'm still at a loss as to what it's even about. It's clearly some sort of commentary of current music, though. I feel like it's about his paranoia over his own longevity in the music industry. And that someone new will steal his thunder at some point... I don't know. It feels kind of forgettable in his discography, but I like it.

Edited August 4, 201410 yr by n4yr