Today’s cider is another Sheppy’s one that Dad brought back from the West Country!
Sheppy’s 200 has a very light taste at first, almost watery, but it builds to a lovely sweetness after a few sips. Very nice cider.
Month: July 2018
Flying Saturday post!
Just a quick update today as I’m out for another one of those meals soon!
Having a lovely lazy Saturday not listening to a Now! compilation! Did some parkrun tourism this morning that I will post about more fully later this week, and then Geth and I did some shopping and went for a quick pub visit.
Looking forward to my evening out!
Music Review: Now! That’s What I Call Music #100
So. Three and a half months, ten and a half solid days of music listening, and 4,020 tracks later, here we are at Day 100, the final day of this Now! compilation marathon. Day 100 means that we have finally reached Now! #100, which has just been released today, 20th July 2018.
Here they are, then – the very last summer hits.
(Let’s take a minute to appreciate this awesome celebratory cover. On the top left, we have the pig that featured on the covers of Now! #3 to Now! #5 – well, it’s actually a much cuter version! On the top right, we have an airship with the logo that was used on the covers of Now! #3 to Now! #16. Love the fireworks too! Perfect cover for this special occasion.)
Track 1: Calvin Harris and Dua Lipa – One Kiss
This was number one for quite a few weeks, but it’s not my thing. I find the tune really irritating and a bit repetitive.
Track 2: George Ezra – Shotgun
I like the rhythm on this one.
Track 3: Clean Bandit and Demi Lovato – Solo
Good bit of pop – I quite like the tune. There’s some annoying vocal stuff going on in the chorus though.
Track 4: Ariana Grande – No Tears Left To Cry
Absolutely gorgeous pop tune – I really like this one.
Track 5: Anne-Marie – 2002
Hmm. I do like the clever interpolation on the chorus of a single line – ‘oops, I got 99 problems singing “bye, bye, bye”/hold up, if you wanna go and take a ride wit me/better hit me, baby, one more time‘ – that mixes up the hooks from Britney Spears’ …Baby One More Time, Jay-Z’s 99 Problems, NSYNC’s Bye Bye Bye, Dr Dre’s The Next Episode, Nelly’s Ride Wit Me and Britney Spears’ Oops!… I Did It Again. If you remember the turn of the millennium, it’s very evocative.
I can’t stand the theme, though – and the tune on the verses really annoys me!
Track 6: Jess Glynne – I’ll Be There
Extremely irritating, cloying tune. I don’t know why I always find Jess Glynne’s stuff so grating, but I do.
Track 7: Years & Years – If You’re Over Me
Great bouncy rhythm – this one’s quite fun.
Track 8: David Guetta and Sia – Flames
Annoying tune on the vocals – not keen.
Track 9: Post Malone – Better Now
Another irritating tune.
Track 10: Jonas Blue and Jack & Jack – Rise
I get this one stuck in my head a lot at the moment. I’m not sure why, ’cause the tune’s very uninspired.
Track 11: Liam Payne and J Balvin – Familiar
I really like this one – it’s got a great Latin feel to it.
Track 12: Banx & Ranx, Ella Eyre and Yxng Bane – Answerphone
Good solid pop tune – I love that singalong chorus.
Track 13: MO, Lotto Boyzz and Mr Eazi – Bad Vibe
Nice summery song – quite like this one.
Track 14: Tiësto, Dzeko, Preme and Post Malone – Jackie Chan
Repeated artist alert! We’ve already had Post Malone on track 9.
Ridiculous lyrics, annoying tune on the chorus. It’s got a good beat, though.
Track 15: M-22 and Medina – First Time
Another annoying tune, and the EDM backing track is painfully generic.
Track 16: 5 Seconds of Summer – Youngblood
Great epic rock track – the chorus is awesome. Really like this one.
Track 17: Bebe Rexha and Florida-Georgia Line – Meant To Be
Too country-tinged for me, and I really hate that chorus.
Track 18: Zedd, Maren Morris and Grey – The Middle
Yet another very irritating tune.
Track 19: Khalid and Normani – Love Lies
Beautiful tune – lovely and melancholy.
Track 20: Jax Jones, Mabel and Rich The Kid – Ring Ring
Great atmosphere – quite like this tune.
Track 21: Cheat Codes and Little Mix – Only You
Bit of a dull tune – not a fan of this one.
Track 22: Shawn Mendes – In My Blood
Again, I find the tune really annoying, and I don’t like the theme either.
Track 23: MU4 – You Can’t Hurry Love
Now, this is an interesting way to end the first disc! MU4 won a competition on Good Morning Britain to appear on this Now! compilation. The competition winners were asked to cover the Phil Collins classic, which was the very first song on a Now! compilation – track 1 on Now! #1 back in 1983.
I do like the harmonies on this cover, and the retro feel remains intact, which is great. Obviously I’ll always prefer the original, but this version is not bad.
Track 24: UB40 – Red Red Wine
Okay.
Disc two of this special Now! compilation is not full of new hits, like it usually would be. Instead, it features favourite pop songs that have appeared on Now! compilations throughout the years. As you know if you’re one of the intrepid souls who have been following my Now! marathon right from the start, I don’t usually like it when songs are included that have already been featured on previous entries in the series. However, seeing as this is a special celebration album, I’ll let it slide today!
Red Red Wine first appeared as track 3 on Now! #1 in November 1983. See the link for my review.
Incidentally, seeing as both track 1 and track 3 of Now! #1 have been honoured on this compilation, I wouldn’t have minded a wee shout-out to track 2! The second half of my Now! marathon has not had any Duran Duran for me to love.
Track 25: Phil Collins – Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now)
Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now) first appeared as track 8 on Now! #3 in July 1984. See the link for my review.
Phil Collins is getting a good look-in on this celebratory Now! entry!
Track 26: Bon Jovi – Livin’ On A Prayer
Livin’ On A Prayer first appeared as track 25 on Now! #9 in March 1987. See the link for my review.
I’m not sure how I feel about the ’80s being represented on this disc by a reggae track, a ballad and a hairmetal song. Just one synthpop or New Romantic track would have made me a very happy girl.
Track 27: Wet Wet Wet – Love Is All Around
Love Is All Around first appeared as track 1 on Now! #28 in August 1994. See the link for my review.
Interesting to see this one again after recent discussion of Drake equalling the second-place number one longevity record!
Track 28: Spice Girls – Wannabe
Wannabe first appeared as track 1 on Now! #34 in August 1996. See the link for my review.
I think eleven-year-old me would have been thrilled to find out the Spice Girls would be featuring on Now! #100, so thirty-three-year-old me will try not to roll her eyes too much!
Track 29: Oasis – Wonderwall
Wonderwall first appeared as track 24 on Now! #34 in August 1996. See the link for my review.
That’s two tracks for Now! #34, which is interesting! Really, though, Wonderwall should have appeared on a Now! compilation earlier, as it had been released about a year before it made its appearance.
Track 30: Robbie Williams – Angels
Angels first appeared as track 7 on Now! #39 in April 1998. See the link for my review.
Another favourite childhood artist that I would thoroughly have wanted to receive this honour back in the day!
Track 31: Cher – Believe
Believe first appeared as track 3 on Now! #42 in March 1999. See the link for my review.
Good to see Cher on here, though I’ll always prefer her ’80s stuff. (Yes, I know that’s the case with most decade-spanning artists.)
Track 32: Britney Spears – …Baby One More Time
…Baby One More Time first appeared as track 1 on Now! #44 in November 1999. See the link for my review.
Well, it would have been wrong if we hadn’t had at least one of the songs featured in Anne-Marie’s 2002 interpolation on track 5!
In my opinion, the ’90s selection on this disc has been a little more representative than the ’80s selection (it helps that twice as many were included), but it’s a shame that there was absolutely nothing from the early ’90s – a bit of classic dance like 2 Unlimited or Snap! wouldn’t have gone amiss.
Track 33: S Club 7 – Reach
Reach first appeared as track 2 on Now! #46 in July 2000. See the link for my review.
Track 34: Destiny’s Child – Survivor
Survivor first appeared as track 13 on Now! #49 in July 2001. See the link for my review.
Track 35: Kylie Minogue – Can’t Get You Out Of My Head
Can’t Get You Out Of My Head first appeared as track 1 on Now! #50 in November 2001. See the link for my review.
Track 36: Justin Timberlake – Cry Me A River
Cry Me A River first appeared as track 3 on Now! #55 in July 2003. See the link for my review.
Track 37: James Blunt – You’re Beautiful
You’re Beautiful first appeared as track 1 on Now! #61 in July 2005. See the link for my review.
Track 38: Shakira and Wyclef Jean – Hips Don’t Lie
Hips Don’t Lie first appeared as track 2 on Now! #65 in November 2006. See the link for my review.
Another one we’ve been recently discussing due to its interpolation in Dimelo!
Track 39: Take That – Rule The World
Rule The World first appeared as track 2 on Now! #68 in November 2007. See the link for my review.
Track 40: Coldplay – Viva La Vida
Viva La Vida first appeared as track 24 on Now! #71 in November 2008. See the link for my review.
Track 41: Katy Perry – I Kissed A Girl
I Kissed A Girl first appeared as track 2 on Now! #71 in November 2008. See the link for my review.
Now! #71 getting a double look-in as well!
Very representative selection from the ’00s overall – songs from every part of the decade and lots of different genres.
Track 42: Ed Sheeran – Sing
Sing first appeared as track 2 on Now! #88 in July 2014. See the link for my review.
Mind the six-year jump there, Now! compilers! Could have done with fewer ’00s tracks to make room for some more from the ’10s!
Track 43: Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars – Uptown Funk
Uptown Funk first appeared as track 1 on Now! #90 in March 2015. See the link for my review.
My favourite track on this celebratory disc – absolutely deserves to be on here.
Track 44: Justin Bieber – Love Yourself
Love Yourself first appeared as track 2 on Now! #93 in March 2016. See the link for my review.
I’m not sure how I feel about a celebration of thirty-five years and a hundred compilation albums worth of pop music being ended on a Justin Bieber track. They could at least have gone with Sorry, his one good track, which was released around the same time.
Short and sweet from the ’10s, but at least it was more representative than the ’80s selection.
Final note: So, that’s it from me and my Now! marathon, then – well, until Now! #101 comes out in the autumn. I’ll post some stats from the whole thing at some point over the weekend as well, ’cause I love my stats – but other than that, I’m looking forward to having my music listening time back to myself again!
It’s been an interesting few months, and as a pop music geek, it’s really consolidated for me what I already felt about the way chart music has evolved during the course of my lifetime. I’ll always prefer the ’80s stuff, I’ll always cringe when the ’90s stuff reminds me of my childhood, I’ll always think most of the ’00s stuff is really tacky, and I’ll always wish most of the ’10s stuff weren’t such poor quality and so generic.
On many days – especially days when the music was especially terrible and boring – it’s the daily picture feature that has been the most fun. It’s been fascinating and terrifying at the same time to watch my life flash by, season by season.
Finally, surprisingly, after all that, I appreciate the institution of Now! That’s What I Call Music more than ever. I’m actually already looking forward to the next one.
Phone Box Thursday: Claypath, Durham
Back to Durham today for a couple of phone boxes in the centre of town.
(Coordinates 54°77’76.2″N, 1°57’47.4″W.)
Bit of a blurry photo today, I’m afraid, as we were in a hurry to get back to the train station and I could only take a photo from a distance. Next time I’m in Durham I’ll try and remember to take one from close up!
Update August 2022: added coordinates.
Update May 2023: finally took a non-blurry picture, but it’s down to a single phone box now!
Music Review: Now! That’s What I Call Music #99
Day 99 brings us to Now! #99, which was released on 23rd March 2018.
I’m starting to get a little suspicious that some of the tracks on these latest Now! compilations weren’t actually hits at all. I know that a) the charts change so rapidly that there too many songs to remember and b) most chart music these days is so generic that it all blurs into one, but my memory is pretty good, and given that all of these songs are supposed to have been in the charts just a few months ago, I’m surprised that there are so many song titles I don’t recognise. I will have to do some research as we go through them.
We’ve finally reached the current year, 2018! Let’s see what pop music has come to these days.
Track 1: Rudimental, Jess Glynne, Macklemore and Dan Caplen – These Days
Now I know I’m nearly at the end of this long Now! marathon – this track is still currently (as of today, 19th July 2018) in the Top 40. We’re so close to the end!
I find the tune pretty irritating and the theme a bit awkward, but there’s some good stuff going on with the lyrics.
Track 2: Dua Lipa – IDGAF
Another tune that really annoys me.
Track 3: Portugal The Man – Feel It Still
Great tune, great danceable beat, and a lyric like ‘let me kick it like it’s 1986 now‘ is always going to go down well with me. Love this one.
Track 4: Justin Timberlake and Chris Stapleton – Say Something
I really like this tune – it builds very nicely.
Track 5: Taylor Swift – Ready For It?
Good atmosphere, but the tune is very forgettable.
Track 6: Marshmello and Anne-Marie – Friends
This one is insidiously catchy and was stuck in my head for weeks earlier this year. I’m not a fan of the tune or the theme, so it wasn’t pleasant.
Track 7: Bruno Mars and Cardi B – Finesse
I do like that early ’90s feel (which, judging by the style of the video, is deliberate). Like the callback to Walk This Way too.
Track 8: Sigala and Paloma Faith – Lullaby
Another annoying tune, but it’s got a good beat.
Track 9: Craig David and Bastille – I Know You
I really like the rhythm, but I find the song a bit cheesy.
Track 10: Jason Derulo and French Montana – Tiptoe
Good solid danceable pop song – really like this one.
Track 11: Jax Jones and Ina Wroldsen – Breathe
Good beat, good tune – quite like this track.
Track 12: George Ezra – Paradise
I really like George Ezra’s stuff – it’s so different to the generic EDM-hip-hop-pop lyrically-vapid tuneless mush that makes up the bulk of the charts these days. This is an upbeat feelgood song with great lyrics and an awesome chant-along bit near the end.
Track 13: Kylie Minogue – Dancing
There is something indescribably comforting about the fact that, thirty years after I Should Be So Lucky became the favourite song of every girl in my nursery school class, Kylie Minogue is still featuring on Now! compilations. I feel warm and fuzzy inside.
I really like the guitar on this one – it’s a nice, pretty tune with a retro feel.
Track 14: Camila Cabello – Never Be The Same
Pretty tune, but it’s a little slow for me.
Track 15: Mabel and Notes – Fine Line
I quite like the tinkly instrumentals on this one, and it’s a good tune.
Track 16: Sigrid – Strangers
It’s got a good rhythm, but the tune annoys me.
Track 17: Paloma Faith – Guilty
Repeated artist alert! We’ve already had Paloma Faith on track 8.
As I explained in the intro, there have been a few tracks on Now! compilations recently I’ve not recognised, including this one. Looking it up, I now know why. This wasn’t actually a hit – not in the UK or anywhere else. As such, I’m not sure why it’s been included!
It’s got a great atmosphere and a nice classic feel, though.
Track 18: Pink – Beautiful Trauma
I find this one a bit depressing, though the tune is very pretty.
Track 19: James Arthur – Naked
Too slow for me, and I don’t like the tune.
Track 20: Tom Walker – Leave A Light On
Again it’s a little too slow for me, but it’s got a good epic atmosphere.
Track 21: Calum Scott – You Are The Reason
Another one that wasn’t a hit – it only got to number 43!
This one’s too slow for me, and the tune’s very depressing.
Track 22: Sam Smith – One Last Song
I quite like the retro-sounding instrumentals on this track.
Track 23: Stormzy and MNEK – Blinded By Your Grace [Part II]
Good tune – quite like this one.
Track 24: Post Malone and Ty Dolla Sign – Psycho
Interesting instrumentals, but I don’t like the tune – it’s very repetitive.
Track 25: Blocboy JB and Drake – Look Alive
Not enough melody for me.
Track 26: Khalid – Location
Another non-hit – this only got to number 67!
Great atmosphere and classic feel – quite like this one.
Track 27: NF – Let You Down
I can’t stand this track – the tune and the high-pitched vocals are so irritating.
Track 28: Ramz – Barking
Great track! Endearing theme, interesting tune. Big fan of this one.
Track 29: J Hus – Bouff Daddy
Good atmosphere, but the tune’s boring.
Track 30: Cliq and Alika – Wavey
Also not a hit – this one only got to number 44!
It’s got a good rhythm, but I could do with some more melody.
Track 31: Dave and Mostack – No Words
Nice tune, but the rap’s too messy for me.
Track 32: B Young – Jumanji
It’s got an okay beat, but the tune’s very uninspired.
Track 33: Raye and Mr Eazi – Decline
It’s based heavily around an interpolation of 2002 hit Always On Time by Ja Rule and Ashanti. I just find it very unoriginal.
Track 34: Notes and Mabel – My Lover
Double repeated artist alert! We’ve already had both Notes and Mabel on track 15.
This tune really irritates me.
Track 35: Rak-Su, Wyclef Jean and Naughty Boy – Dimelo
This is an interesting one. It was the X Factor winner’s single for 2017, and for the last couple of years the X Factor winner’s single has not been featured on the spring Now! compilation like it used to be – both Louisa Johnson’s Forever Young and Matt Terry’s When Christmas Comes Around were left out, the latter presumably partly because nobody wants to hear an explicitly Christmas-themed song in the spring. Part of this, I believe, is because of the X Factor‘s decline in popularity recently, but it’s meant we’ve not been following an interesting change. Louisa Johnson’s winner’s single was a cover as usual – Forever Young was originally a Bob Dylan song – but Matt Terry’s When Christmas Comes Around was an original song (written by Ed Sheeran), which was a first for the X Factor since Shayne Ward’s That’s My Goal, and signalled an interesting move away from its irritating karaoke format. This move towards original songs continued in the 2017 competition, with many of the contestants (notably Rak-Su and Grace Davies) performing tracks they had written themselves.
As such, this winner’s single from Rak-Su is self-written – an upbeat Latin-tinged hip-hop track with great lyrics and a clever interpolation of Wyclef Jean’s lines from Hips Don’t Lie – and as a result it’s the only X Factor winner’s single I’ve ever liked. It’s a great track. It’s just a shame we had to put up with years of awful pointless cover versions to get to this stage.
(I should note that, despite the above essay, I’ve never actually watched the X Factor. My interest in this stuff is purely from a chart geek perspective.)
Track 36: G-Eazy and Halsey – Him And I
Pretty tune, quite like this one.
Track 37: Sza and Calvin Harris – The Weekend
Another non-hit! This only got to number 55.
I’m not hugely keen on the tune on this one, but it’s got a good retro-sounding beat.
Track 38: Hailee Steinfeld, Alesso, Florida-Georgia Line and Watt – Let Me Go
Another generic, irritating tune.
Track 39: 5 Seconds Of Summer – Want You Back
Nice tune, but the verse is too slow and cheesy for me. The chorus is good though – and I love that rock guitar.
Track 40: Demi Lovato – Tell Me You Love Me
Yet another one that wasn’t a hit – this one only got to number 85!
It’s got a good atmosphere though – really like those instrumentals. The tune’s nice, but it’s a bit slow for me.
Track 41: Maroon 5 – Wait
And another non-hit – number 79 for this song.
Not keen on this tune – it’s pretty generic.
Track 42: James Bay – Wild Love
This one’s too slow for me. Nice tune though.
Track 43: Rag ‘N’ Bone Man – As You Are
The complete opposite of a hit. This didn’t chart at all!
I like the instrumentals at the start, but again it’s not upbeat enough for my liking.
Track 44: U2 – You’re The Best Thing About Me
This one, meanwhile, only got to number 92.
It’s nice to hear some rock music, but the tune’s a bit dull. It’s got a good retro-sounding instrumental in the middle though.
Track 45: Oasis – Live Forever
This wasn’t actually back in the charts this year (so it’s yet another non-hit, although of course it was a hit on its original release in 1994), but there was an increased awareness of it due to Liam Gallagher performing it at the Brits in tribute to the Manchester Arena bombing victims.
One more thing: I just want to add a quick note about all the non-hits that have littered this playlist. While I’ve only just noticed it with this one, I suspect non-hits have been a thing for quite a few Now! compilations leading up to this, as there have been quite a few instances where I’m surprised I recognise so few of the tracks (as I mentioned in the intro, while it is tough to remember hundreds of generic songs, I have followed the charts religiously this decade and have a good memory).
I’m not sure how I feel about this. I can sort of understand it in a way, as 95% of chart music in the late ’10s is woefully, utterly dire. It’s awful – the worst quality it has ever been in my lifetime. Most of it is completely generic, uninspired and half-arsed, and so I have a bit of sympathy for the Now! compilers deciding to include songs that they think are good but didn’t trouble the charts for whatever reason, rather than yet another terrible identical-sounding EDM track that somehow managed to get to number 24 for a few weeks.
At the same time, what I’ve always liked about the Now! compilations is that they do reflect the most popular music of the time – good and bad. I feel that including songs that weren’t hits, that weren’t soundtracking people’s lives by being played on the radio and on TV shows and at sports events – well, it kind of takes away from the status of these albums as cultural artefacts of the time. I’m a little sad about that. We’ll see what tomorrow brings with the release of the 100th entry in this long music marathon.
2018 Ciders #40: Sheppy’s Classic Draught Cider
On visiting my parents’ house recently, I found that Dad had collected a whole load of different Sheppy’s ciders while on a trip to the West Country. Expect to see lots of them reviewed here over the next few weeks!
Sheppy’s Classic Draught has what I would consider a perfect medium taste. It’s also very refreshing without being too watery-tasting – absolutely perfect for summer.
Music Review: Now! That’s What I Call Music #98
Day 98 takes us to Now! #98, which came out on 17th November 2017.
The following are not likely to be played at goth clubs, but let’s see what the party season songs were for this most recent Christmas period.
Track 1: Camila Cabello and Young Thug – Havana
Good solid pop tune – love the Latin feel. Really nice song.
Track 2: Post Malone and 21 Savage – Rockstar
There are some interesting instrumentals going on, but it’s got quite a depressing feel.
Track 3: Sam Smith – Too Good At Goodbyes
Too slow and ballad-y for me.
Track 4: Pink – What About Us
It’s an okay song with an important theme, but I find it a bit depressing.
Track 5: Dua Lipa – New Rules
Absolutely wonderful track, gorgeous instrumentals, great tune, clever lyrics and vocals. The video is immense too.
Track 6: Ed Sheeran – Galway Girl
Inspired by the Irish folk classic of the same name, but nowhere near as good. Still a nice upbeat song though.
Track 7: Charlie Puth – How Long
I really like this one – great atmosphere, awesome tune, retro feel.
Track 8: CNCO and Little Mix – Reggaetón Lento
Very danceable Latin-tinged pop – good stuff.
Track 9: J Balvin and Willy William – Mi Gente
More great Latin pop (Despacito really kicked off a trend in 2017). I remember dancing to all of these in Zumba class. This one’s got an awesome atmosphere and a really interesting rhythm.
Track 10: Justin Bieber and BloodPop – Friends
I really like the bassline, but the tune’s pretty uninspired.
Track 11: Zayn and Sia – Dusk Till Dawn
Nice epic chorus, but on the whole the tune’s a bit generic.
Track 12: Katy Perry and Nicki Minaj – Swish Swish
Great beat, but agin the tune’s not very exciting.
Track 13: Demi Lovato – Sorry Not Sorry
This tune really irritates me.
Track 14: Stefflon Don and French Montana – Hurtin’ Me
Another one where I just don’t like the tune. I also find the theme irritating.
Track 15: Louis Tomlinson, Bebe Rexha and Digital Farm Animals – Back To You
Yet another annoying tune!
Track 16: Khalid – Young Dumb And Broke
I quite like this one – it’s got an interesting rhythm and an endearing theme.
Track 17: Maroon 5 and Sza – What Lovers Do
Nice feelgood song – the vocals are a little irritating, but I quite like the tune.
Track 18: Jason Derulo – If I’m Lucky
Good atmosphere, but the tune’s very generic.
Track 19: Clean Bandit and Julia Michaels – I Miss You
Again, I just don’t find this tune very interesting.
Track 20: Alma – Chasing Highs
Uninspired and depressing.
Track 21: Zedd and Liam Payne – Get Low
Another very bland tune.
Track 22: Charli XCX – Boys
Great track! Fun theme, interesting instrumentals. The celebrity-filled video is great too.
Track 23: Rita Ora – Anywhere
It’s got a good beat, but it’s another bland tune.
Track 24: Marshmello and Khalid – Silence
Repeated artist alert! We’ve already had Khalid on track 16.
This is a lovely tune though.
Track 25: Avicii and Rita Ora – Lonely Together
Repeated artist alert! We’ve already had Rita Ora on track 23.
I find the tune on this really irritating, but the backing track is great.
Track 26: James Hype and Kelli-Leigh – More Than Friends
Generic-sounding dance cover of En Vogue’s ’90s classic Don’t Let Go. The original song is beautiful. This track is anything but.
Track 27: Yungen and Yxng Bane – Bestie
That chorus is incredibly annoying.
Track 28: Mabel and Kojo Funds – Finders Keepers
So is the chorus on this one.
Track 29: Chris Brown – Questions
This is the second hit in the space of eighteen months that interpolates Kevin Lyttle’s 2003 classic Turn Me On, after Cheat Codes and Dante Klein’s Let Me Hold You (Turn Me On) in 2016. I think it’s fairly poorly done, and I love the original so I find all these poor imitations pretty irritating.
Track 30: Craig David – Heartline
Dull and generic.
Track 31: Selena Gomez and Marshmello – Wolves
Repeated artist alert! We’ve already had Marshmello on track 24.
I quite like the tune on this one, though.
Track 32: MK – 17
Another really irritating tune.
Track 33: Axwell & Ingrosso – More Than You Know
I like the guitar at the start, and the tune’s okay if a bit generic.
Track 34: Liam Payne – Bedroom Floor
Repeated artist alert! We’ve already had Liam Payne on track 21.
It’s another fairly generic tune, but I remember I had the chart on in the background last year, and this was playing and got to the lyric ‘but your clothes say different on my bedroom floor‘. Geth interjected crossly, ‘Stop stealing her clothes then!’ It really cracked me up and is all I can think about when I hear this song now.
Track 35: Duke Dumont, Gorgon City and Naations – Real Life
Another boring tune that sounds like every other dance track this decade.
Track 36: CamelPhat and Elderbrook – Cola
Really squicky theme – to put it bluntly, it’s blatantly a song about spiking someone’s drink. It’s a shame, ’cause it would be a good track if it weren’t for that.
Track 37: Lil’ Uzi Vert – XO Tour Llif3
Some interesting instrumentals going on, but the tune’s very bland.
Track 38: Big Shaq – Man’s Not Hot
Very funny hip-hop parody, and it’s got a good rhythm to boot. Really like this.
Track 39: Chris & Kem – Little Bit Leave It
Apparently these dudes were on Love Island or something. I’m not sure why someone allowed them to release a song – it’s extremely grating.
Track 40: Cardi B – Bodak Yellow
I find this one extremely depressing.
Track 41: Logic, Alessia Cara and Khalid – 1-800-273-8255
Repeated artist mega alert! We’ve already had Khalid on both track 16 and track 24. Give someone else a chance!
This one’s got a nice tune, but it’s too slow for me.
Track 42: Paloma Faith – Crybaby
I like the rhythm, but the tune’s very dull.
Track 43: The Script – Rain
The tune’s okay except for that annoying chorus.
Track 44: Rag ‘N’ Bone Man – Grace (We All Try)
The tune’s quite interesting, but again it’s too slow for me.
Track 45: Liam Gallagher – Wall Of Glass
Very refreshing to hear some actual rock music – it’s something different, finally.
Track 46: The Killers – The Man
Love the retro disco sound on this one. Great stuff.
Cheesecake
I believe it was in New York City in 2004 that cheesecake became my favourite dessert. This would make sense, as New York is of course famous for its cheesecake. My brother Malcolm and I would go out at night to the street vendors that were selling it and bring it back to our hotel room. Later that year, Dad found a recipe online, and for the last fourteen years he’s been able to make a pretty good New York style cheesecake himself. I have it every year for my birthday.
Probably the best non-New York style cheesecake I’ve tried is at Artisan Cheesecakes in Edinburgh:
I keep meaning to go back when I’m in Edinburgh but have not got round to it yet. Being on Slimming World kind of gets in the way of being free to stuff your face with cheesecake, so I have to plan for it. Maybe later this year.
I’ve got a lot of meals out to go to this week, so am sticking to my current strategy of ‘skip the starter so I can have cheesecake at the end’. As such, I’ll probably have a cheesecake roundup for you next week.
Music Review: Now! That’s What I Call Music #97
Day 97 equals Now! #97, which was released on 21st July 2017.
Last year’s summer hits were pretty good from what I remember. Let’s have a listen.
Track 1: Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee and Justin Bieber – Despacito
Gorgeous Latin summer tune, deservedly one of the biggest hits of the year.
Track 2: DJ Khaled, Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance The Rapper and Lil’ Wayne – I’m The One
Repeated artist alert! We’ve only just had Justin Bieber on track 1.
This is an extremely irritating track with too many rappers on it, none of whom contribute anything good.
Track 3: Calvin Harris, Pharrell Williams, Katy Perry and Big Sean – Feels
Great funk rhythm, great tune. Really like this one.
Track 4: Jonas Blue and William Singe – Mama
This tune really irritates me.
Track 5: Clean Bandit and Zara Larsson – Symphony
Gorgeous instrumentals – quite like this track.
Track 6: Little Mix and Stormzy – Power
This is one that was used in Zumba class last year – I love the vocals.
Track 7: Liam Payne and Quavo – Strip That Down
Repeated artist alert! We’ve already had Quavo on track 2.
I really like the rhythm on this one – it’s very danceable.
Track 8: The Chainsmokers and Coldplay – Something Just Like This
I find this tune insanely irritating, and the theme’s horribly twee.
Track 9: David Guetta and Justin Bieber – 2U
Repeated artist mega alert! We’ve already had Justin Bieber on both track 1 and track 2. Nobody needs that much Bieber on a Now! compilation!
This one’s a dull, forgettable tune.
Track 10: Harry Styles – Sign Of The Times
I really like the classic feel to this – there’s something about it that reminds me of the slower dramatic examples of glam rock.
Track 11: Shawn Mendes – There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back
Cheesy and annoying.
Track 12: Rita Ora – Your Song
I really like this one – great tune, great electro lines.
Track 13: Olly Murs and Louisa Johnson – Unpredictable
Excruciatingly boring tune.
Track 14: Bruno Mars – That’s What I Like
Great rhythm, great lyrics. Good stuff.
Track 15: Jason Derulo, Nicki Minaj and Ty Dolla Sign – Swalla
I love this one! It’s really danceable, and the vocals are awesome.
Track 16: Katy Perry and Migos – Bon Appétit
Repeated artist alert! We’ve already had Katy Perry on track 3.
This tune is highly dull and generic. I’m starting to wonder how all these half-arsed attempts at tunes are becoming hits.
Track 17: Nick Jonas, Anne-Marie and Mike Posner – Remember I Told You
Another track that’s so boring I can’t concentrate on it.
Track 18: Lady Gaga – The Cure
A slower track from Lady Gaga, but I like the dramatic feel. Would have been even better if the lyrics had been about the Cure as in the band though!
Track 19: Camila Cabello – Crying In The Club
Love the atmosphere of this one, and the interpolation of the melody from Christina Aguilera’s Genie In A Bottle is done really well.
Track 20: Niall Horan – Slow Hands
The theme irritates me, and I can’t get on with the rhythm.
Track 21: Miley Cyrus – Malibu
Pretty tune – I find some of the lyrics a bit grating, but it’s got a nice summery feel.
Track 22: Ariana Grande – One Last Time
Originally released in 2014, back in the charts to raise money after the Manchester Arena attack. It’s a gorgeous tune, but I find the theme uncomfortable.
Track 23: French Montana and Swae Lee – Unforgettable
Good beat, but I’m not keen on the tune.
Track 24: Sigala and Ella Eyre – Came Here For Love
Another tune that I find really irritating.
Track 25: Maggie Lindemann – Pretty Girl [Cheat Codes X Cade Remix]
Annoying tune, but the theme is the real issue here – cloying and vomit-inducingly smug.
Track 26: The Weeknd – Rockin’
Forgettable and dull.
Track 27: Little Mix and Machine Gun Kelly – No More Sad Songs
Repeated artist alert! We’ve already had Little Mix on track 6.
Another annoying tune.
Track 28: Jax Jones, Demi Lovato and Stefflon Don – Instruction
I really like this one – great beat, great theme.
Track 29: Cheat Codes and Demi Lovato – No Promises
Repeated artist alert! We’ve only just had Demi Lovato on track 28.
Again, I don’t like the tune.
Track 30: Disciples – On My Mind
Great track – good tune, very danceable.
Track 31: J Hus – Did You See
Interesting track – I like the lyrics.
Track 32: Kendrick Lamar – Humble
Another interesting song – there’s some great lines here. I quite like this one.
Track 33: Future – Mask Off
I really like the melancholy tune on the backing track – it’s gorgeous.
Track 34: Kygo and Ellie Goulding – First Time
Twee, saccharine and bland.
Track 35: Martin Garrix and Troye Sivan – There For You
Another tune I just can’t get into.
Track 36: Rudimental and James Arthur – Sun Comes Up
Generic, annoying tune.
Track 37: Hailee Steinfeld – Most Girls
It’s a bit cheesy, but I quite like this one.
Track 38: Selena Gomez – Bad Liar
Good retro sound, even better retro video.
Track 39: Neiked and Mimi – Call Me
Nice feelgood tune, but the vocals are really irritating.
Track 40: Raye – The Line
Nothing exciting about this one.
Track 41: Fifth Harmony and Gucci Mane – Down
Repetitive and dull.
Track 42: Haim – Want You Back
Again, I just can’t get excited about this tune. I do like the retro tinge on the instrumentals though.
Track 43: JP Cooper – Passport Home
Too slow for me, and the theme’s very cheesy.
Track 44: Take That – Giants
Another boring tune.
Track 45: Artists For Grenfell – Bridge Over Troubled Water
Charity cover of the Simon & Garfunkel classic to raise money for the victims of the Grenfell fire. There’s some interesting stuff in this version, especially the added rap by Stormzy at the start.
My new(ish) toy
I spent most of today buried in my Kindle. I got it from Mum and Dad for Christmas but it’s only this last week that I’ve actually loaded it up with ebooks and started using it. There are a few odd things that it keeps doing without asking, and it’s not got a very good system for turning itself on and off, but it makes reading so easy that I’m a total convert after one day of use.
This is very good news for my poor, groaning bookshelves, as well as for the limited amount of space in the house.