Day 49, and Now! #49, which was released on 30th July 2001.
Time for some summer hits!
Track 1: Robbie Williams – Eternity
This was a double A-side with The Road To Mandalay, which is a much better song, so I wish they’d included that one instead. This track is a slow ballad, so it’s a bit dull for my liking.
Track 2: Gabrielle – Out Of Reach
I’ve always found the tune on this really annoying. Not keen.
Track 3: Atomic Kitten – Eternal Flame
Fairly pointless cover of the Bangles classic, with upbeat instrumentals in the background, which are just generic and don’t improve anything.
Track 4: Blue – All Rise
One of those ubiquitous teenage party tracks. Loved it at the time, still quite like it now – the lyrics are quite cute.
Track 5: S Club 7 – Don’t Stop Movin’
More irritating cheese from S Club 7. There’s just no edge to it at all – not my thing.
Track 6: Geri Halliwell – It’s Raining Men
Utterly pointless cover of the Weather Girls song, released as part of the Bridget Jones’ Diary soundtrack. There’s nothing different from the original at all.
Track 7: Ronan Keating – Lovin’ Each Day
Irritating vocals, irritating tune. Not keen on this one.
Track 8: Stereophonics – Have A Nice Day
Another dull, drone-y one from Stereophonics. Not a fan.
Track 9: Wheatus – Teenage Dirtbag
Absolutely loved it as an awkward teenager, obviously. Still have a soft spot for this one.
Track 10: Blink-182 – The Rock Show
Another bit of pop-punk that I loved as a teenager – happily singing along right now!
Track 11: U2 – Elevation
Loved it at the time, loved the Tomb Raider tie-in video, loved the performance on Top of the Pops. Still quite like the track.
Track 12: Outkast – Ms Jackson
Always really liked this odd song! Great tune.
Track 13: Destiny’s Child – Survivor
Classic pop track with a great singalong chorus – good stuff.
Track 14: Hear’Say – The Way To Your Love
Nauseatingly saccharine, uninspired pop tune. Nothing special here.
Track 15: Backstreet Boys – More Than That
More cheesy, generic pop. Utterly dull and forgettable.
Track 16: Britney Spears – Don’t Let Me Be The Last To Know
Boring ballad with irritating jarring melodies between vocals and instrumentals – not my thing at all.
Track 17: Marti Pellow – Close To You
Another dull ballad. Can we get an upbeat track soon?
Track 18: Dido – Thank You
The beautiful, melancholy verses (sampled so brilliantly on Eminem’s Stan) are a stunning piece of music. When the chorus shows up and switches to major key and an irritating tune, it ruins the song completely. This has always really annoyed me.
Track 19: Zero 7 – Destiny
Chillout track with a boring tune. Not a fan.
Track 20: Radiohead – Pyramid Song
Pretty tune, great melancholy atmosphere, but it’s a little slow for me.
Track 21: Eddy Grant – Electric Avenue [Ringbang Remix]
‘Not on Spotify’ Type 2: YouTube Pause (TM).
‘Remix’ of the 1982 classic with some drum ‘n’ bass beats at the start and some motorbike noises over the top. Other than that, it’s pretty much identical to the original version, which is a classic ’80s record, so I won’t moan.
Track 22: Gorillaz – 19-2000
Oh, it’s this one! Quite like the beepy instrumentals and the tune – good stuff.
Track 23: DJ Pied Piper and The Masters Of Ceremonies – Do You Really Like It?
Unbearably irritating chorus, probably one of the worst so far on this Now! marathon.
Track 24: Mis-Teeq – All I Want
Good atmosphere, great chorus, but the track is a little frantic and messy.
Track 25: Roger Sanchez – Another Chance
I’ve always found this tune a bit annoying, but the beat is quite danceable.
Track 26: Basement Jaxx – Romeo
Good head-nodder – quite like this one.
Track 27: Da Hool – Meet Her At The Love Parade
Irritating squeaky hook on the intro, then it launches into some generic drum lines before bringing back the squeaky hook and getting very repetitive. Not my thing.
Track 28: Ian Van Dahl – Castles In The Sky
Highly annoying trance track – never been keen on this one.
Track 29: Fragma – You Are Alive
‘Not on Spotify’ Type 2: YouTube Pause (TM).
Good atmosphere, but the tune’s pretty boring.
Track 30: Steps – Here And Now
Cheesy, annoying tune – not one of Steps’ best.
Track 31: A*Teens – Upside Down
Formerly just an Abba tribute band, this lot started doing original tracks with an Abba-sounding tinge on their second album. This song is pretty awful – very generic pop with no edge.
Track 32: Bellefire – Perfect Bliss
Nice tune, but the vocals are too saccharine for me.
Track 33: Texas – I Don’t Want A Lover [2001 Mix]
‘Not on Spotify’ Type 2: YouTube Pause (TM).
‘Remix’ of the 1989 track, which is basically the original track with some annoying ‘wub’ bits over the top. As with Electric Avenue, I’m not going to complain (but give me the original version any day).
Track 34: Boris Dlugosch and Róisín Murphy – Never Enough
Once it actually gets out of the drum intro, it’s quite a good tune with some interesting instrumentals.
Track 35: Janet Jackson – All For You
Good beat, good tune – quite like this one.
Track 36: Eve – Who’s That Girl
Good singalong chorus, happily nodding along.
Track 37: Nelly and City Spud – Ride Wit Me
Classic tune, always liked this one – great chorus.
Track 38: Sisqó – Dance For Me
Spanish guitar on the intro, which is always a plus in my book. The rest of the track’s got a good atmosphere, but the vocals are pretty irritating.
Track 39: Aaron Soul – Ring, Ring, Ring
Good vocals, okay tune, but there’s not really anything interesting going on here.
Track 40: Damage – So What If I…?
Fairly uninspired tune, very forgettable.
Track 41: Melanie B – Lullaby
Cheesy track about Melanie B’s then-baby daughter. It’s far too saccharine for me.