This Week:

2002- Will Young- Anything Is Possible

2003- Gareth Gates ft The Kumars- Spirit In The Sky

Original

Doctor and the Medics Version

2008- OneRepublic- Stop And Stare

Commentary will follow on a later date.

This Week:

2004- Wolfman ft Pete Doherty- For Lovers

'For Lovers' was the debut single for Wolfman which featured Pete Doherty. This would go on and peak at #7 in the UK. This is one that I'm not that familiar with, can't really vaguely remember this when this came out but it sounds all right.

2005- Jem- They

'They' was the debut single for Welsh singer Jem from her debut album 'Finally Woken'. This would go on and peak at #6 in the UK which become her most successful single to date. This was one on the playlist when this came out from Jem, I can remember my sister getting annoyed when this come on the radio or on The Hits Channel and do another version with the empathis on 'Sorry'. The music video is interesting to say the least.

2007- Ash- You Can't Have It All

'You Can't Have It All' was the first single from Ash's fifth studio album 'Twilight of the Innocents'. This would on and peak at #16 in the UK again this is another one that I don't remember hearing this when it came out, I do apologize. This would Ash's second-last UK Top 40 hit to date. This is quite an good discovery this from Ash.

This Week:

2003- D-Side- Speechless

'Speechless' was the second single from D-Side's debut studio album 'Stronger Together'. This would go on and peak at #9 in the UK, this is one that I'm not that famailar with, not one that I would go out of the way to listen to again though. Apparently one of the band members went on to present Channel 5's morning kids TV show 'Milkshake!'

2008- Alphabeat- Fascination

'Fascination' was the first UK single for Alphabeat from their self-titled debut album. This would go on and peak at #6 in the UK their highest ever charting single. When this came out, this was one that I would switch over when I heard it, as I did it annoying but gradually I did like it.

2008- Girls Aloud- Can't Speak French

French Version:

'Can't Speak French' was the third single from Girls Aloud's fourth studio album 'Tangled Up'. This would go on and peak at #9 in the UK becoming their 18th straight UK Top 10 in a row. I can remember when this reach its peak, Radio 1 played the French version of this. I quite liked this from Girls Aloud, it isn't one that I've heard for an while.

This Week:

2001- Starsailor- Good Souls

'Good Souls' was the second single from Starsailor's debut stuio album 'Love Is Here'. This would go on and peak at #12 in the UK. Another one that again I wasn't familiar with when this came out, this sounds brilliant from Starsailor, maybe this didn't get the recognition that it deserved although I could be wrong there.

2005- Maximo Park- Graffiti

'Graffiti' was the third single from Maximo Park's first studio album 'A Certain Trigger'. This would go on and peak at #15 in the UK becoming their second highest peaking charting single to date. This is one that I can't say I'm that familiar with, but this sounds all right from them.

2009- Girls Aloud- Untouchable

'Untouchable' was the third single from Girls Aloud's fifth studio album 'Out of Control'. This would go on and peak at #11 in the UK which would break their quite remarkable run of 20 straight UK Top 10 hits in a row. This I remember for it stopping the remarkable run and also I was quite the fan of this when it came out, I was quite gutted when this did miss out on the Top 10. Might be wrong here it I would say this is one of Girls Aloud underrated songs.

This Week:

2000- Shaft- Mambo Italiano

Original Version:

Dean Martin's Version:

'Mambo Italiano' was the follow-up from Shaft from their hit the previous year (Mucho Mambo)'. This was an cover of the 1955 song from Rosemary Clooney. This version from Shaft would go on and peak at #12 in the UK. This is one that I haven't heard for quite a while, it sounds OK from them.

2000- Watergate- Heart of Asia

Original:

'Heart of Asia' was the debut single from German/Turkish DJ Quicksliver aka Watergate. This was an remix of the 1983 instrumental single 'Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence by Ryuichi Sakamoto'. This would go on and peak at #3 in the UK, this probably one of the best trance songs ever produced.

2003- Kym Marsh- Cry

'Cry' was the debut solo single from former Hear'say's Kym Marsh from her debut album 'Standing Tall'. This would go on and peak at #2 in the UK which would her highest charting single. Her two other singles 'Come On Over' would peak at #10 and her final single 'Sentimental' would peak at #35 in the UK. This is again one that I haven't heard for a while but this sounds all right from Kym.

This Week:

2001- Emma Bunton- What Took You So Long?

'What Took You So Long?' was the debut solo single from Emma Bunton which was taken from her debut solo album 'A Girl Like Me'. This would go on and peak at #1 in the UK where it stay at #1 for two weeks, this would be her only solo UK #1. This was one that I was quite the fan of when this came out from Emma.

2003- Girls Aloud- No Good Advice

That Coronation Street Episode:

'No Good Advice' was the follow-up to Girls Aloud's Popstars: The Rivals winners single 'Sound of the Underground'. This was the second single from their debut album 'Sound of the Underground'. This would go on and peak at #2 in the UK. Bizarrely I remember this from being played on the background in an scene on Coronation Street. This is an great follow-up single from Girls Aloud.

2005- Tony Christie ft Peter Kay- (Is This The Way To) Amarillo

Tony Christie Original Version:

Neil Sedaka Version:

That Santa Version (Be Warned):

The World Cup Version:

(Is This The Way To) Amarillo was an charity single which had Peter Kay miming the song, be warned the original music video does include Jimmy Savile. This charity single would go on and peak at #1 in the UK where it would stay there for seven weeks. It originally peaked at #18 in the UK in 1971, there have benn another versions from Neil Sedaka. Trying to cash in on it was even an (Is This The Way To) Santa's Grotto from Santa which somehow charted at #31 in the UK in Christmas 2005. The following year, Tony Christie would re-record it and use it for an World Cup version (Is This The Way To) The World Cup that version would peak at #8 in the UK.

All three Kym Marsh's singles were # 1 hits in my chart.

Last selection is great. I like all Amarillo versions, even about Santa's Grotto.

Edited May 22May 22 by Last Dreamer

Many thanks for commenting @Last Dreamer, very much appreciated.

6 minutes ago, Mack said:

Many thanks for commenting @Last Dreamer, very much appreciated.

"Can't Speak French" and "No Good Advice" also were fantastic choices, But both were praised so much in my countdowns that's why I didn't any comment here. Also I wish to refresh "All-time top 100 girl groups songs" and do "upgraded 2.0" version in the end of 2025. The previous version was compiled in 2020 year. Based on those things which I did in last 5 years possibly you will see even more low-known groups than in already obscure previous countdown.

This Week:

2003- Room 5 ft Oliver Cheatham- Make Luv

Sampled:

The Lynx Advert:

Top Of The Pops Performance:

'Make Luv' was from Italian music producer Room 5 which featured Oliver Cheatham which sampled his 1983 hit 'Get Down Saturday Night'. This would go on and peak at #1 in the UK where it would stay for four weeks. This is an great tune from Room 5 & Oliver Cheatham.

2005- Rob Thomas- Lonely No More

Sampled by:

Top Of The Pops Performance:

'Lonely No More' was the first single from Rob Thomas' debut album '...Something To Be'. This would go on and peak at #11 int he UK, in the US this would fare better by peaking at #6 in the Billboard Hot 100. This is probably one of my favourite songs of all time, one that I could never get tired of. This would be sampled by Rixton on their 2014 UK #1 hit 'Me and My Broken Heart'. Last year 'Lonely No More' would come 15th in my End of Year chart.

2007- Snow Patrol- Signal Fire

'Signal Fire' was on the soundtrack to 'Spider-Man 3' released by Snow Patrol. This would go on and peak at #4 in the UK becoming Snow Patrol's highest charting single. This is one that I thought was okay from Snow Patrol, I didn't find this spectacular, it wasn't an patch on 'Run' or the very overplayed 'Chasing Cars'. It's one that I don't really listen to now.

It's been two years since I first doing this series, I hope you have enjoyed this as much as I have enjoyed doing this. Just want to say an massive thanks to the posters who have commented on this throughout the two years:

@awardinary

@Roba.

@Dobbo

@jimwatts

@May Day Pole Dancer

@Yobnedor

@Last Dreamer

@Brer

@Julian_

@Jester

@CowTzy

@Scene

@TheSnake

@Jade

Not a patch on Hero by Chad Kroeger from the first Spiderman soundtrack!

16 minutes ago, TheSnake said:

Not a patch on Hero by Chad Kroeger from the first Spiderman soundtrack!

Indeed, not a patch at all on 'Hero' by Chad Kroeger/Josey Scott from the first Spiderman film.

Hero was a great track.

I'd forgotten that Rixton sampled that Rob Thomas song.

5 minutes ago, gooddelta said:

Hero was a great track.

I'd forgotten that Rixton sampled that Rob Thomas song.

Rixton was one of those where did that come from #1s if I remember correctly.

That Room 5 sing got old quick. Glad it’s not heard much now!

This Week:

2005- Max Graham vs Yes- Owner of A Lonely Heart

Original:

This was an remix of Yes' song 'Owner of A Lonely Heart' done by Max Graham. This would go on and peak at #9 in the UK becoming Max Graham's only UK hit, The music video as you'll see hasn't aged well, although this was an song that particularly liked and still to, probably in the very minority of here, who might think that. The original by Yes peaked at #28 in the UK and was a #1 in the US.

2007- Mika- Love Today

'Love Today' was the second single from Mika's debut album 'Life in Cartoon Motion'. This would go on and peak at #6 in the UK. This was interesting particularly in the Mack household as it turned out to be my Dad's favourite song for some reason he particularly liked the 'Shock me, shock me' bit in this song not quite sure why, but hey ho.

2007- Mika- Grace Kelly

I apologize for those not a fan of Mika but it is 'Grace Kelly' the lead single from his debut album. This would go on and peak at #1 in the UK where it would stay there for five weeks This is all right from Mika, it's tolerable in parts. For some strange reason when I saw this on the Radio 1 playlist before hearing it, I thought it would an style of 'The Real Slim Shady' by Eminem but 'Grace Kelly'. How very wrong I was. I remember this also for it appearing on an episode of EastEnders.

'Grace Kelly' is a fabulous pop song and still MIKA's best for me *.*

it was fun to find out many years later that Mae Muller was the young girl in the video

I like some of the singles from “Life In Cartoon Motion” much more than others. “Grace Kelly” is one of the ones I like and “Love Today” isn’t.

I’m not convinced the “Owner Of A Lonely Heart” cover added that much to it, but I love the original.

21 hours ago, Jade said:

'Grace Kelly' is a fabulous pop song and still MIKA's best for me *.*

it was fun to find out many years later that Mae Muller was the young girl in the video

Hi @Jade

I did like 'Grace Kelly' when it first came out it just seemed to be a bit overplayed for my liking. for me it would be 'Happy Ending' that was Mika's best. Thanks for the info regarding Mae Muller being the young girl in the video, didn't know that until now.

Thanks for commenting, much appreciated. 🙂

21 hours ago, Julian_ said:

I like some of the singles from “Life In Cartoon Motion” much more than others. “Grace Kelly” is one of the ones I like and “Love Today” isn’t.

I’m not convinced the “Owner Of A Lonely Heart” cover added that much to it, but I love the original.

Hi @Julian_

Same here I also liked some of the singles from the album as well. 'Grace Kelly' again I did like it when it first came out but it got a bit too overplayed for my liking. 'Love Today', Mika my dog particularly liked this when I played this to her last year.

As for 'Owner of A Lonely Heart', yes the original from Yes is an classic, this cover I just quite liked this, although the music video with the schoolboys and the woman hasn't aged well particularly.

Thanks for commenting, much appreciated, 🙂