#251. Take That - Babe

1 week at #1 in 1993 (#9 of 15 for '93)

 

 

Another ballad that I'm a sucker for. And the song a certain blob spoiled from being the Christmas #1. Not a lot to say on this one. I guess I just find this a pretty emotional song.

 

#250. Black Eyed Peas - I Gotta Feeling

2 weeks at #1 in 2009 (#14 of 32 for '09)

 

 

I don't even know how I feel about this song anymore. This was THE party song of 2009. Inescapable is an understatement. It was everywhere that summer. And it hogged up the top spot on the US charts for 14 weeks, and in Canada for 16 weeks. It was the biggest hit of the digital single era for quite a while. It was fun, energetic, catchy, infectious, dance-able; all those things. But 5 years later; it just isn't the party jam that it used to be. And it feels a bit forgotten now, despite how huge it was. This song starts off with repeating the chorus 4 times, and this takes up 1:30, and makes it feel like the song is taking forever to start. Then it jumps into them basically shouting short choppy phrases about partying at you. And that's really what the entire song is. Mixed with David Gutta copying his own "da da da da da da" beat from "Love Is Gone".

#249. Beyoncé - If I Were A Boy

1 week at #1 in 2008 (#7 of 20 for '08)

 

 

I've had a complete turn around with this song recently. I used to HATE this. It just dragged on and on and on and on. But when I really looked at the lyrics, I started to appreciate this more for its message. About the gender roles in relationships. She's putting herself into shoes of the boy, and is questioning why he's being selfish, taking her for granted, not listening to what she wants, etc. And then she switches back to herself in the bridge, tells the man to get lost, and switches up the pronouns in the final chorus. She sings the chorus (and the bridge) with real force. But she's being aggressive for a reason: she's pissed off, obviously, but she's also being strong and refusing to back down on her stance on this matter. It's a female empowerment anthem, which Bey does a lot of, but I like this one because it takes an interesting approach. That said, there's like five of her other songs I'd rather be a #1 than this.

 

#248. Orson - No Tomorrow

1 week at #1 in 2006 (#13 of 24 for '06)

 

 

I'm not that big on this so-called "landfill indie" era. But I do like this. It's a shame that this has the record for lowest weekly #1 sales. I don't really have a lot to say on this lol.

#247. Mariah Carey - Without You

4 weeks at #1 in 1994 (#4 of 15 for '94)

 

 

I'm not the biggest Mariah fan, but this is one of her highlights for me. I mostly prefer her uptempos like "Fantasy", "Honey", "Always Be My Baby", "Heartbreaker", etc. I find her ballads to be pretty dull. This one and "My All" are her only two ballads that have really connected with me. And this isn't even an original song. Normally I'd find this too shouty, but it works for me for some reason. But if Mariah can only have two UK #1's, I'm cool with this being one of the two (same can't be said for the other, though.)

 

#246. Elton John - Are You Ready For Love? (Remix)

1 week at #1 in 2003 (#12 of 22 for '03)

 

 

I don't even know what to do with this. This originally peaked at #42 in 1979 for Elton. It was remixed in 2003, and it managed to go #1. It's hardly "from" my lifetime, but since it was remixed, and didn't go #1 the first time around, I'll go with it. The remix is very middle of the road, but it does make the track sound a bit more modern, in the same was as "A Little Less Conversation." The Elton track itself is great, as is most of his discography.

#245. Rihanna feat. Drake - What's My Name

1 week at #1 in 2011 (#14 of 30 for '11)

 

 

I find this to be one of her more underrated songs. I just really love the production in this for some reason. The percussion beat and everything. The "oh na na"'s get stuck in your head. Drake's rap is overly long though, and feels out of place at the beginning of the song. And then he never returns. But we get the infamous "The square root of 69 is 8-somethin' right?" line.

Edited August 15, 201410 yr by n4yr

#244. Olly Murs - Dance With Me Tonight

1 week at #1 in 2011 (#13 of 30 for '11)

 

 

I love the funky throwback vibe of this song.

Edited August 15, 201410 yr by n4yr

#243. Flo Rida feat. Ke$ha - Right Round

1 week at #1 in 2009 (#13 of 32 for '09)

 

 

My favourite of Flo Rida's #1's, not counting his features. I was surprised "Low" wasn't a UK #1 considering how massive it was in North America. So Dr Luke was becoming a much sought-after producer in this dance pop explosion, and "Right Round" was another big hit for him. And this was the song that introduced the world to Ke$ha. Though her name was removed from the crediting in the US. Back in 2009, I used to think that Ke$ha was the random girl that Flo Rida dances with during the chorus in the video. So I was pretty surprised when I saw the "Tik Tok" video lol. Oh "Tik Tok"; there's another massive North American hit that didn't become a UK #1. Anyway, like most Flo Rida songs, I don't really pay attention to whatever he's rapping about, and the only part that stands out are the hooks. But those hooks are really infectious; well of course they are, it samples that Dead Or Alive song. I wish Ke$ha did more in this song, though. Her part of the hook is good, but she feels underused. But no one knew who she was at the time, so that's understandable.

#242. Beyoncé & Shakira - Beautiful Liar

3 weeks at #1 in 2007 (#9 of 17 for '07)

 

 

I like this too much. Oh well. I find it pretty catchy and I like the juxtapositions between the two. The same boy screwed them both over, and their mutual hatred of him brings the two girls together. The calling out of "Beyoncé Beyoncé Shakira Shakira" is annoying, though.

#241. Daniel Bedingfield - Never Gonna Leave Your Side

1 week at #1 in 2003 (#11 of 22 for '03)

 

 

It doesn't have the same emotional pull that his other ballad that went #1 has, but it still works. But this is a bit more on the sappy side of things.

#240. Take That feat. Lulu - Relight My Fire

2 weeks at #1 in 1993 (#8 of 15 for '93)

 

 

It's a catchy inoffensive tune. Lulu is one unexpected featuring here, and her parts are what really elevate this song.

#239. Rudimental feat. Ella Eyre - Waiting All Night

1 week at #1 in 2013 (#12 of 30 for '13)

 

 

The production is really great, I love how Rudimental mixes drum n bass with brass instruments, and Ella Eyre provides great vocals. But I've always found this too repetitive and go-nowhere. And that's the only major downside here.

#238. DJ Sammy & Yanou feat. Do - Heaven

1 week at #1 in 2002 (#17 of 29 for '02)

 

 

I believe this is what trance music is. These dance songs that have a high BPM, and are like taking ecstasy when you listen to them. "The Logical Song" is another example, but luckily this doesn't have Scooter's annoying noises in it. I don't think this type of dance music was much of a trend, but it sort of picks up where the dance music dominance of 1996-2000-ish time period ended. Yanou went on to become a member of Cascada, which is probably why Cascada songs sort of sounds like this. Even the vocalists don't sound vastly different. The original by Bryan Adams somehow only managed to peak at #38. This is a very uplifting song, and the fast paced production enhances that.

Edited August 16, 201410 yr by n4yr

#237. Ne-Yo - So Sick

1 week at #1 in 2006 (#12 of 24 for '06)

 

 

I used to really love this song back in 2006. It's aboyt how after a break-up, the last thing you want to hear are love songs; but when you do hear a love song (and it describes your situation perfectly); you just can't not listen to it. It's something simple that just about anybody can relate to. The production sounds really dated and bland in 2014, but I still really like this even if it's utterly forgotten about.

#236. Blur - Beetlebum

1 week at #1 in 1997 (#10 of 24 for '97)

 

 

This song is about heroin addiction and the lead singer (Damon Albarn)'s experiences associated with that. I love the choppy guitar riff throughout this song. It's a bit overly long, but I'm not too fussed about that. This had one awful top 40 chart run of 1-7-29-OUT. But, this is why I love the UK charts. It allows songs like this to go #1 when they otherwise would have no chance.

#235. Mr Blobby - Mr Blobby

3 weeks at #1 in 1993 (#7 of 15 for '93)

 

 

What can I say? I crack up every time I listen to this. It's just so absurd. When it comes to novelty songs, I tend to go back and forth on my love and dislike of them. But this one I just can't dislike. I just love how this was a Christmas #1. I don't know why, but I find the inclusion of the following amusing. The Christmas bells. The children choir sections. Blobby giving those muffled electronic sounds of his own name. The spoofs of "Rhythm Is A Dancer", Shakespeare's Sister's "Stay" and Robert Palmer's "Addicted To Love" music videos. Blobby's clumsiness wrecking everything in the video. Half the references in the video are lost on me, but I still find them funny.

#234. Mika - Grace Kelly

5 weeks at #1 in 2007 (#8 of 17 for '07)

 

 

I'll never forget the "WTF" face I had when I first heard this song; though I was 14 at the time and easily amused. The video didn't exactly help matters; light sticks and all. I quickly found this sort of irritating, but I've grown to appreciate it recently. This is Mika introducing us to his zany personality. This song is about how his record label was trying to make him fit into a certain pop mould, and he didn't want any part of that. He just wanted to do his own thing; and I can admire that spirit from any artist. He questions why he can't get the approval he seeks. And the song lists off various things he could be, and sings them all in the various voices that he can do.

#233. John Newman - Love Me Again

1 week at #1 in 2013 (#11 of 30 for '13)

 

 

This song starts off so dramatically. That piano at the beginning is so shrill. In fact this whole song is pretty dramatic; and that's what I like the most about it. This is about John admitting he screwed up in this relationship, he feels really remorseful for what he did (going as far as to compare himself to devils and demons), and is mustering up the courage to ask for second chance. I have no idea what John did (and that's probably not that important), but the lyrics and tone of this song clearly show his guilt over it. I really like the dubsteppy breakdown in this too.

#232. All Saints - Bootie Call

1 week at #1 in 1998 (#15 of 30 for '98)

 

 

What I like is the production. The snoring, or whatever that noise that is, is.. odd. But it makes the song unique. Their vocals are smooth on this, and this is their attempt at making a sexy song. But there's just something that doesn't quite work to sell it as such. Maybe I can't take the phrase "bootie call" seriously enough, I don't know. The "bring it on bring it on now" parts are really catchy, though.