BLack & White is one of his better 90's songs. Regarding th relaive weak field of #1's in 1991 this is #5 for me, only beaten by Chesney from the reveals.

Black Or White is a great video and decent upbeat pop song. I like the intent too, but it's not in the same league as the best stuff off the previous 3 albums, and not near the top 5 of 1991 chart-toppers for me.

"Dizzy" would be near the top for me. I wouldn't even think it was a novelty record if I didn't know Vic Reeves was a comedian.

George Michael/Elton John is decent enough but wouldn't trouble the top of the table.

Can't say I've ever thought much of "The One And Only" but over the years it's become a so bad it's enjoyable sort of record.

Can't stand the Cher record, would be near the bottom. It didn't help that her previous Top 40 hit was "Just Like Jesse James" which I liked and was completely different.

"Black Or White" is a decent song, my only issue was the over the top Michael Jackson videos where you had to sit through 5 minutes of rubbish to get to the actual song.

I think “Black Or White” would be 6th for me, not that close to the 5 I love but comfortably beating everything else. It’s a well thought out and produced song and a bit different from everything else he did.

7 Queen - These Are The Days Of Our Lives

5 weeks in December 1991 / January 1992: {1}-1-1-1-1-2-4-10-16-13-21-36-53-55->14

Kept off #1: Diana Ross - When You Tell Me That You Love Me; The KLF feat. Tammy Wynette - Justified And Ancient (2 weeks [1 in 1992]); The Prodigy - Everybody In The Place EP [in 1992]

#2 in EOY 1991

Weekly sales at #1: 330k; 263k; 123k; [46k; 44k]

On 24 November 1991 Freddie Mercury, lead singer of Queen, passed away at the age of 45. The previous day he had released a statement confirming that he had AIDS, an illness from which he had suffered through much of the previous decade. Following his passing and many tributes which brought much of their music back into prominence, the band re-released their seminal masterpiece 'Bohemian Rhapsody' which had been their first UK #1 for 9 weeks spanning 1975 and 1976, as a double A-side with a track from their last studio album Innuendo which had been released earlier in 1991, and of which the title track had become their only other UK #1 in Freddie's lifetime credited just to Queen (there had also been 'Under Pressure' alongside David Bowie in 1981). The new single gathered the highest weekly sale of 1991 to enter the chart as the band's fourth UK #1, and stayed there into the early weeks of 1992. It made 'Bohemian Rhapsody' the first song to become Christmas #1 for the same act twice, and its total of 14 weeks at UK #1 have only been exceeded five times in chart history (including one earlier in 1991, and another this year).

I've explained in the opening post that I haven't included 'Bohemian Rhapsody' in these ratings, as it would prefer to count it only once or twice in the 70s rather than four times in total. It also means that instead of an unsatisfactory average rating between two songs, one of which I would rate considerably higher than the other, I can rate the song from the double A-side that was new to 1991 on its own. Therefore #7 in the countdown is where I have placed 'These Are The Days Of Our Lives'.

The song was written by Queen drummer Roger Taylor, reminiscing on the past, and acutely aware of Freddie's illness - he had met his future bandmate when they were teenagers. The first chorus is a wistful "those were the days", but then in the second chorus they're in the present, as per the song title, albeit still mourning "the swiftness of time". If it had been sung by anyone else, it may have come across a little schlocky - however from the vocals of Freddie, especially in the knowledge of his declining health, and particularly by the time of the single's posthumous release, the gravitas is unavoidable. The video was filmed six months before his death and is endearing, although his frail condition makes it a tough watch, as he nevertheless embellishes his performance with flamboyant arm movements. It's hard to dissociate the song from the sadness in the loss of such a talented musical icon, but when I really try: it's a nice song with Freddie very much the showman, a lovely lyrical sentiment and an emotive guitar solo, though nonetheless a shadow of some of Queen's former glories. For me their previous single, 'The Show Must Go On', which re-entered the Top 40 following Freddie's passing, has more of a lasting vitality, with the powerful vocals and defiance of starting one's own mortality in the face. We could also extend the discussion to the aforementioned UK #1 from earlier in 1991, but that of course will be covered in time.

Diana returned to #2 on its second week at the top which was also the Christmas chart. It was followed by another KLF single, this time an unlikely pairing with country legend Tammy Wynette on board. Kudos to Bill Drummond and Jimmy Cauty for persuading her to sing about them driving an ice cream van, and "they said 'Tammy, stand by the JAMMs'!" in reference to their Ancients of Mu Mu folklore, although I still prefer their three earlier singles from The White Room album - one of which is still to be revealed here. The final song the Queen double A-side held off from The Prodigy may be covered when we come to 1992, but suffice to say it's an electronic riot to the senses.

Not a fan of this Queen song - pretty boring to me + it denied two great songs the #1 - both "Justified & Ancients" and "Everybody In the Place" are brilliant. The Queen song is in the lower midfield for me.

I like These Are The Days Of Our Lives, it’s pretty, wistful and nostalgic, and one of my dad’s favourite songs. I’d have it a little higher I think.

The KLF and Prodigy number twos are fantastic though

Edited 14 hours ago14 hr by Jaz13music

I’ve shared this before but my mum bought the double A side on cassette at the time and it had a stylish plain black sleeve, and I was fascinated and played it over and over. I grew to love “These Are The Days Of Our Lives” and perhaps find it hard to appraise it objectively now, but to me it’s incredibly sincere and moving. It would be in my top 5.

I'm not too crazy on 'Shoop Shoop Song' either. It's fun but not really a Cher highlight for me. Would find her 1998-2001 stuff to be my fave era of hers!

'Black Or White' is great though and would rank decently amongst MJ's discography for me and the video is enjoyable also.

'These Are The Days Of Our Lives' I've always liked too. An delicate track to say the least but also leaves me feeling pretty warm too.

Two good songs, I think I'd have Black and White higher, it has quite the funky bassline and I remember it very well from the time. The face shift video technique still looks quite good to say how far tech has moved on in 35 years. The Queen song is very stirring indeed.

'Black Or White' is solid and I appreciate the message but there are more interesting moments in that crazily long Dangerous singles run for me, especially 'Who Is It' which is so underrated. I was only aware of the abridged version of the video for a long time, so didn't see the controversial crotch grabbing, window smashing scenes for years. I can see his intention, embodying the instincts of the panther, but also understand why people were turned off by the self indulgence. The morphing scenes stand up well though!

'Justified & Ancient' and 'Everybody In The Place' are two more fantastic #2s! So a shame they were blocked, but I do like 'These Are The Days Of Our Lives', so at least they weren't prevented by something awful. I agree with you that the context of Freddie's illness gives extra weight to the song.

Not a fan