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DetailsReleased: 2nd April 2012

Origin: United Kingdom

Label: Sony Music Entertainment / EMI / Universal

Format: Double CD, Digital MP3 Download

Duration: 2:33:18 (153 minutes 18 seconds)

Tracks: 42

#1’s: 9

Chart Peak: #1 (11 weeks)

Sales: TBC (2x Platinum)

Tracklisting1. Gotye feat. Kimbra – Somebody That I Used To Know 4:07 {1}

2. Coldplay – Paradise 4:19 {1}

3. Ed Sheeran – Lego House 3:03 {5}

4. Emeli Sandé – Next To Me 3:16 {2}

5. Kelly Clarkson – Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You) 3:42 {8}

6. Jessie J – Domino 3:20 {1}

7. David Guetta feat. Sia – Titanium 4:05 {1}

8. Flo Rida – Good Feeling 4:07 {1}

9. Katy Perry – The One That Got Away 3:48 {18}

10. Labrinth – Last Time 4:23 {4}

11. Rizzle Kicks – Mama Do The Hump 3:37 {2}

12. Olly Murs – Dance With Me Tonight 3:23 {1}

13. Pixie Lott – Kiss The Stars 3:15 {8}

14. One Direction – One Thing 3:17 {9}

15. Marcus Collins – Seven Nation Army 2:58 {9}

16. Florence + The Machine – Shake It Out 3:36 {12}

17. Drake feat. Rihanna – Take Care 4:37 {9}

18. Lana Del Rey – Born To Die 4:45 {9}

19. Little Mix – Cannonball 3:25 {1}

20. JLS – Proud 4:02 {6}

21. Military Wives Choir, Gareth Malone & The London Metropolitan Orchestra – Wherever You Are 2:52 {1}

22. LMFAO – Sexy And I Know It 3:21 {5}

23. Flo Rida feat. Sia – Wild Ones 3:55 {4}

24. Lady Gaga – Marry The Night 4:25 {16}

25. Avicii – Levels 3:21 {4}

26. Pitbull feat. Chris Brown – International Love 3:48 {10}

27. Lloyd feat. Andre 3000 & Lil Wayne – Dedication To My Ex (Miss That) 3:56 {3}

28. Sean Paul – She Doesn’t Mind 3:49 {2}

29. Taio Cruz – Troublemaker 3:15 {3}

30. Alexandra Burke feat. Erick Morillo – Elephant 3:49 {3}

31. Swedish House Mafia vs. Knife Party – Antidote 2:56 {4}

32. Rizzle Kicks – When I Was A Youngster 2:56 {8}

33. Stooshe feat. Travie McCoy – Love Me 3:05 {5}

34. Gym Class Heroes feat. Neon Hitch – Get Yourself Back Home 3:42 {9}

35. Rihanna – You Da One 3:20 {16}

36. Tinchy Stryder feat. Pixie Lott – Bright Lights (Good Life) 3:26 {7}

37. Cover Drive – Twilight 3:27 {1}

38. Alyssa Reid feat. Jump Smokers – Alone Again 3:19 {2}

39. Jessie J – Who You Are 3:50 {8}

40. Chiddy Bang – Ray Charles 3:44 {13}

41. will.i.am feat. Mick Jagger / Jennifer Lopez – T.H.E. (The Hardest Ever) 4:08 {3}

42. Dappy feat. Brian May – Rockstar 3:40 {2}

 

Key

Tracks highlighted red were official UK #1’s.

Tracks with an asterisk (*) next to their title have also been included in special releases from the series.

The track duration has been highlighted cyan.

Bracketed numbers refer to highest chart position reached.

Miscellaneous FactsTrack Most Weeks At #1: Gotye feat. Kimbra – Somebody That I Used To Know (5 weeks)

Lowest Charting Track: Katy Perry – The One That Got Away {18}

Longest Song: Lana Del Rey – Take Care 4:45

Shortest Song: Military Wives Choir, Gareth Malone & The London Metropolitan Orchestra – Wherever You Are 2:52

Edited Tracks: Unknown

Unedited Tracks: Unknown

Inlay Mistakes: None

Other Facts: None

On This Day In HistoryNo music news to report for 2nd April 2012.Other ResourcesOfficial Now Music Website

Wikipedia

Polyhex

Brandt Animation Archive

Now 81 Rate

Andrew's ReviewNow That’s What I Call Music! 81 or Now 81 was the first of three volumes released in 2012. This one came out in the Springtime and featured 42 tracks with 9 UK #1 singles. On this occasion, we would be given access for the first time to some iconic artists like Drake (as a lead artist), Little Mix, Avicii, Stooshe and Cover Drive.

 

The only absent #1 from this era was the charity single Wishing On A Star by The X Factor Finalists 2011 featuring JLS & One Direction. The latter group, although an artist on this volume, did have one of their other hits omitted, which peaked higher too. There were also omissions from Redlight, Leona Lewis, The Wanted, Alex Day, Jason Derulo, Beyoncé, The Saturdays, Bruno Mars and others too.

 

For one time only in the series, there was music from Gotye, Marcus Collins, Military Wives, Lloyd and Alyssa Reid.

 

Artwork Rating: 6/10 Good

Bubbles, bubbles and more bubbles. That’s the theme chosen to envelop the logo on this volume. It’s not the worst idea they’ve ever had, but it’s a little basic too. I think the sheer number of bubbles depicted is an overload which spoils the skyline. It’s clear it’s a Spring volume by the grassy meadows and daisies growing plentifully beneath a bright sunshine. The logo is a dark orange colour bordering on red.

 

Disc 1 Favourite: Rizzle Kicks – Mama Do The Hump

This catchy chorus in this song caught my attention immediately upon release and it always lifts my spirits each time I hear it. Sadly, Rizzle Kicks never topped this single for me and quickly faded out of existence after a disappointing second era. Shoutouts for David Guetta featuring Sia and also Coldplay too.

 

Disc 2 Favourite: Avicii – Levels

The song that got me into Avicii. Granted, he featured on the previous volume with Leona Lewis, but this song was when I started paying attention. What grieves me was the timing of this single and Flo Rida’s #1 single of this time, both of which contain the same chorus. Nonetheless, Avicii was a star in the making and his name was about to get worldwide attention.

 

Disc 3 Tracklist:

(A concept of what a third disc might look like if other hits from the era were used)

 

1. The X Factor Finalists 2011 feat. JLS & One Direction – Wishing On A Star 3:29 {1}

2. One Direction – Gotta Be You 4:05 {3}

3. Bruno Mars – It Will Rain 4:17 {14}

4. Leona Lewis – Hurts 3:40 {8}

5. Rebecca Ferguson – Nothing’s Real But Love 2:56 {10}

6. Emeli Sandé feat. Naughty Boy – Daddy 3:08 {21}

7. The Wanted – Warzone 3:38 {21}

8. The Saturdays – My Heart Takes Over 3:44 {15}

9. JLS – Do You Feel What I Feel? 3:12 {16}

10. Jason Derulo – Fight For You 4:02 {15}

11. Taio Cruz feat. Flo Rida – Hangover 4:04 {27}

12. Kelly Rowland feat. The Wavs – Down For Whatever 3:53 {6}

13. Redlight – Get Out My Head 2:34 {18}

14. Utah Saints vs. Drumsound & Bassline Smith – What Can You Do For Me 3:25 {28}

15. Madeon – Icarus 3:34 {22}

16. Skrillex & The Doors – Breakn’ A Sweat 5:01 {32}

17. Sway – Still Speedin’ 3:00 {19}

18. Example – Midnight Run 4:00 {30}

19. Alex Day – Forever Yours 2:48 {4}

20. Ed Sheeran – Drunk 3:20 {9}

21. T-Pain feat. Wiz Khalifa & Lily Allen – 5 O’Clock 4:41 {6}

22. Rihanna feat. Jay-Z – Talk That Talk 3:29 {25}

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Total time: 1:20:00

 

Overall Rating: 6/10 Good

Ok, perhaps not the best of volumes, especially considering some of the omissions that could have made the cut with the available space, but there are a few songs scattered across both discs that ought to stand the test of time. I think this volume gives a little too much pop music and not enough from the other genres. There could certainly have been some improvements to the cover and to the overall compilation, but what it is isn’t bad, it’s just about ok I’d say.

 

Andrew's Best 5 (as of April 2018)

1. Rizzle Kicks – Mama Do The Hump

2. David Guetta feat. Sia – Titanium

3. Avicii – Levels

4. LMFAO – Sexy And I Know It

5. Coldplay – Paradise

 

Andrew's Worst 5 (as of April 2018)

1. Lana Del Rey – Born To Die

2. JLS – Proud

3. Jessie J – Who You Are

4. Drake feat. Rihanna – Take Care

5. will.i.am feat. Mick Jagger / Jennifer Lopez – T.H.E. (The Hardest Ever)

Other OmissionsJay-Z & Kanye West – N****s In Paris {10}

Nirvana – Smells Like Teen Spirit {11}

Matt Redman & LZ7 – Twenty Seven Million {12}

Beyoncé – Love On Top {13}

Lil Wayne feat. Bruno Mars – Mirrors {17}

James Vincent McMorrow – Higher Love {21}

Coldplay – Charlie Brown {22}

Arctic Monkeys – R U Mine {23}

En Vogue – Don’t Let Go (Love) {23}

You Me At Six – The Swarm {23}

Cher Lloyd – Want You Back {25}

Jason Derulo – Breathing {25}

Amy Winehouse – Our Day Will Come {29}

Michael Kiwanuka – Home Again {29}

James Morrison feat. Jessie J – Up {30}

Skepta – Hold On {31}

Slow Moving Millie – Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want {31}

Demi Lovato – Skyscraper {32}

M83 – Midnight City {34}

Glee Cast – Rumour Has It / Someone Like You {35}

Professor Green – Never Be A Right Time {35}

Rio feat. U-Jean – Turn This Club Around {36}

Madonna feat. Nicki Minaj & MIA – Give Me All Your Luvin’ {37}

Etta James – At Last {39}

Tyga – Rack City {39}

Nadia Ali – Rapture {40}

Snow Patrol – This Isn’t Everything You Are {40}

Artwork is poor looking but that tracklist is fire :wub:

 

Lana Del Rey 'Born To Die' was my choice from CD one, and Avicii's 'Levels' from the other CD!!!

Went with 'Last Time' by Labrinth for Disc 1, really liked it at the time and still sounds great. I like the robotic voice and the orchestral production.

 

Went with 'Levels' by Avicii for Disc 2, also really liked it at the time and still sounds great today. I like the buildups and use of the Etta James sample. Antidote is great from disc 2 too!

 

'The Swarm' by You Me At Six on the omissions :wub: , absolutely love that song, one of the last proper rock hits to make the chart :( . It definitely outshines the later 'Drown' by Bring Me The Horizon for me, but that one is still great imo.

 

'Get Out My Head' and 'Breakin A Sweat' I adored at the time. Avicii's Rapture remix too, another omission, is incredible, definitely better than the (still good) original for me.

Edited April 23, 20187 yr by The Snake 🐍

Some great tracks on here. Here's my Top 5:-

 

1) Coldplay - Paradise

2) Avicii - Levels

3) David Guetta feat. Sia - Titanium

4) Lloyd feat. Andre 3000 - Dedication To My Ex

5) Flo Rida feat. Sia - Wild Ones

not a vintage edition by any means but some disc 1 has some great highlights *.*

 

CD1

01 Gotye feat. Kimbra – Somebody That I Used To Know [FAVE]

02 Drake feat. Rihanna – Take Care

03 Rizzle Kicks – Mama Do The Hump

04 Lana Del Rey – Born To Die

05 Florence + The Machine – Shake It Out

 

CD2

01 Avicii – Levels [FAVE]

02 Lloyd feat. Andre 3000 & Lil Wayne – Dedication To My Ex (Miss That)

03 Swedish House Mafia vs. Knife Party – Antidote

04 Lady Gaga – Marry The Night

05 Taio Cruz – Troublemaker

 

Disc One

1. Coldplay – Paradise 4:19 {1}

2. Drake feat. Rihanna – Take Care 4:37 {9}

3. Katy Perry – The One That Got Away 3:48 {18}

4. David Guetta feat. Sia – Titanium 4:05 {1}

5. Gotye feat. Kimbra – Somebody That I Used To Know 4:07 {1}

6. Florence + The Machine – Shake It Out 3:36 {12}

7. Flo Rida – Good Feeling 4:07 {1}

8. Kelly Clarkson – Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You) 3:42 {8}

 

Disc Two

1. Flo Rida feat. Sia – Wild Ones 3:55 {4}

2. Avicii – Levels 3:21 {4}

3. Rihanna – You Da One 3:20 {16}

4. Lady Gaga – Marry The Night 4:25 {16}

 

Artwork: 7/10

Bubbles are fun but they don't stand out too much

 

Overall: 8/10

Whilst this isn't much of a standout Now album for most, it's one of the first which I actually owned myself and played non-stop for about a year. Disc one is far better than Disc two as obvious by my Top 8 which I adore :wub: Paradise & Take Care have become all-time favourites from each artist involved for me and have/will stand the test of time. Wild Ones is a song I know all the lyrics too and I can comfortably say I can sing/rap the entire thing, and Levels is such an iconic dance song from an iconic dance legend :heart:

 

I would've liked N****s in Paris, Love On Top, Charlie Brown, Midnight City, Drunk, and Talk That Talk to be included but it's not hard to see why they aren't here - very much a label/artist issue than Now purposely avoiding them I think.

 

 

 

My top 5 are:

1. Rizzle Kicks - Mama Do The Hump

2. LMFAO - Sexy And I Know It

3. Drake feat Rihanna - Take Care

4. Flo Rida - Good Feeling

5. will.i.am feat Mick Jagger / Jennifer Lopez - T.H.E. ( The Hardest Ever)

 

7/10

Lana Del Rey - Born To Die

Jessie J - Who You Are

7/10