Have no big recognition of "About You Now" - too standard - would have preferred "Let Me Think About It" and "Valerie" in here - unfortunately both were denied

"Give It 2 Me" is another great Timbaland production - he could not do wrong at that time.

I remember reading at the time in one of the entertainment sections of the newspaper that they mentioned About You Now was intended for Kelly Clarkson's third album, but when she didn't want to follow up Breakaway with another pop album it was left open for another artist to take and that was the Sugababes.

Not sure how true that is though, I can see it though.

8 Kaiser Chiefs Ruby

#2s kept off #1: none

 

The Kaiser Chiefs first exploded onto the indie scene in 2005, with the release of their mega successful debut album Employment. The band found instant acclaim, nominated for that year’s Mercury Prize before scooping 3 BRITs and an Ivor Novello the following year. The band also impacted the charts, reaching #2 in the albums, and scoring 4 top 20 singles (Oh My God [#6] and I Predict A Riot [#9] being the most successful).

By the early months of 2007, the Kaiser Chiefs were ready to launch their second era and, in early February, released lead single Ruby: it seemed a trend in the mid-00s for musicians to name tracks after women (Jenny Don’t Be Hasty, Laura, Mary, Valerie, Sheila etc). The song was produced by the Chiefs’ familiar producer Stephen Street and lyrically tells the story of a girl the protagonist is infatuated with but also intimidated by. Lead singer Ricky Wilson described Ruby at the time as a “super cool, totally unapproachable girl”, though drummer Nick Hodgson later revealed the song to be about his black Labrador!!

The song proved a smash hit for the band. Upon download release, the song landed at 33 in the Monday midweeks, before soaring to 6 on the Wednesday and debuting at 2 on the official Sunday chart – immediately giving the Kaiser Chiefs their biggest hit to date. The song would stall at #2 in its second week of release, before ascending to #1 once CD singles were released. Ruby finished the year as the 10^th biggest-selling single and also became the band’s biggest hit in the US, peaking at 7 on the Billboard Triple A chart.

Time has really made me enjoy this song. At the time, radio overplay and general indie fatigue made it difficult to appreciate it so I’m happy it somehow found its way onto my 00s playlist! There’s something very commanding about it (and most of the Kaiser tracks I’ve heard) – from the opening guitar riff that immediately catches your attention, to Ricky Wilson’s baritone vocal delivery. The song admittedly doesn’t have the frantic appeal of I Predict A Riot and Everyday I Love You Less And Less, but nonetheless still possesses that anthemic quality. I’m definitely more a fan of the verses than the chorus, which has always reminded me of Take That’s Patience (ah-ah-ah-ah) and seems a bit too bland. Not my favourite Kaiser Chiefs song but definitely worthy of being among the top half here.

A trip down Buzzjack memory lane:

Sunday chart show:

Sunday chart predictions:

I think Kaiser Chiefs were at a point here (like Scissor Sisters) where they had built up so much goodwill with the previous era that as long as they released something pretty good they had a solid shot at No.1. And while I don't care for Ruby very much compared to pretty much all of the singles from their debut, I do like the verses a lot too. The chorus irritates me but I can see why it helped make it a hit, it's one of those repeated and simple earworm hooks that indie clubs and radio alike loved (like Chelsea Dagger). I'd probably rank it around 11/12 I guess but we'll see at the end. I did feel for my friend Ruby though, her name associated with this chorus forever more!

'Ruby' is a tune!

I loved kaiser's prior to Ruby, 2 chart-toppers for me, and Ruby was an obvious biggie at the time - I dont rate it as much as at least 5 or 10 of their singles but it is good, and one of the best number ones of the year.

'Ruby' annoys the living SHIT out of me.

Shame as I did like all the debut album's singles and a few others since.

I do like 'Ruby' by Kaiser Chiefs and it holds up well even today.

However, my favourite from the Kaiser Chiefs has to be 'Everyday I Love You Less and Less'

On 02/01/2026 at 23:03, DaTilt said:

"Give It 2 Me" is another great Timbaland production - he could not do wrong at that time.

I preferred Madonna - Give It 2 Me!

7 Timbaland feat. Keri Hilson and D.O.E. The Way I Are

#2s kept off #1: Foundations (Kate Nash)

 

After first single Give It To Me successfully used Nelly & Justin’s star power to launch his Shock Value era, Timbaland switched tack and used the second single as a launch pad for one of his lesser-known proteges.

Keri Hilson first made a dent on the music scene in the mid-00s, when she joined The Clutch, an American songwriting collective. Together, they wrote hits such as Omarion’s Ice Box, Ciara’s Like A Boy and the Pussycat Dolls’ Wait a Minute. Their biggest hit however would become the Britney classic, Gimme More. In 2006, Keri was introduced to Timbaland, who swiftly signed her to his Mosley Music Group. It was at this point Keri made her recording debut, appearing on tracks by P. Diddy and Lloyd Banks. Alongside this, Keri was also writing and recording tracks for Timbaland’s upcoming Shock Value. In the end, she more than left her mark on the album, featuring on four of the tracks and eventually two of the singles.

The first of these singles was The Way I Are, which served as a follow-up to Give It To Me in July 2007. Produced by Timbaland and Danja, the song quickly built momentum, entering the top 20 a whole month prior to CD release, ascending 18-6-4-3 before climbing to #1 on downloads alone. The song spent two weeks at #1, beating Give It To Me’s run at the top in the process. It also prevented Kate Nash from scoring a #1 with Foundations – blocking her for two of the five weeks she spent stuck at #2! To add insult to injury, the first of those two weeks was by a sales difference of just 16 copies! The Way I Are also did wonders for Timbaland’s Shock Value which, upon release three months prior, spent two weeks at #10 before falling down. In its 16^th week on the chart, in the midst of The Way I Are gaining traction, the album vaulted from 17 to 5 before reaching a peak of #2! A slow burner indeed.

I’ve really grown to enjoy this song over time! The production, needless to say, is fire! Its futuristic qualities are very reminiscent of Timbaland’s work on Justin’s FutureSex/LoveSounds album, I’m thinking Sexyback and My Love specifically, but at the same time distinct enough to not feel like a cheap copy. I also love the gender role reversal in the lyrics, with Keri playing the role of the wealthy girlfriend to Timbaland’s broke boy, at one point suggesting he can strip for her in order to earn some cash! Even Timbaland's parts are really good here, and I've never really been a fan of him as a vocalist. All in all, it's a surefire banger that delivers on all accounts and I'd probably go as far to say this is my favourite ever Timbaland-led song.

A trip down Buzzjack memory lane:

Sales thread:

The better of his #1's so good to see that come out top and was especially pleased it held Kate Nash off at the time. Though I did hear 'Foundations' the other week and didn't quite hate it like back then.

I didn't really like The Way I Are at the time, mainly because it was grammatically incorrect and it annoyed me. 🤣

I do really quite like the song now though. It's one I do always enjoy hearing when it comes on.

Thats a very good song very well produced and sung! @fans for hilson !

Classic, hypnotic production. Also one I regularly hear used in people's Instagram stories etc.

'Ruby' is fine but not a huge favourite... however now we're talking with 'The Way I Are' I was obsessed with this when it came out, it was released during my final year of primary school and our teachers wanted us to brainstorm songs to use in our leavers' assembly, so I suggested this just because it was my favourite song at the time... not at all thinking about how "baby if you strip, you could get a tip" was entirely inappropriate for us 10/11 year olds to dance to 💀!!! I think the more wholesome 'Sun Goes Down' by David Jordan was chosen in the end

Questionable grammar indeed, but musically it has held up well for me, with its addictive synth loop and great chemistry between Keri and Timbaland.

The Way I Are is fab, great dance track, cool and insistent, big fave of mine at the time and since, and a recent cover version underlined how good it still is. A contender for top track in this list (bearing in mind I cant remember what's left to come!) 😄

Does anyone think 'The Way I Are' sounds more 2010s than 2000s?

I wasn't as passionate about The Way I Are as I was Give It To Me, but it's a good track and certainly sounds like the bigger hit (and so it was). Nice introduction to the great Keri Hilson too.

Foundations though was one of my favourites of the year, if I'd known the gap was going to be that small I'd have bought 17 copies of it myself that week.

21 hours ago, Paddington James said:

I didn't really like The Way I Are at the time, mainly because it was grammatically incorrect and it annoyed me. 🤣

I do really quite like the song now though. It's one I do always enjoy hearing when it comes on.

This was my take on it as well, it took me AGES to get past it!! But I did eventually get past it and I still really like it now, I think the production is incredibly catchy.

I always really liked the grammatical error aspect and saw it as an integral part of the charm of the lyrics. “The Way I Are” would probably be Top 3 for me.

Like others I think “Ruby” is good but not up with their debut’s singles.