Due to my all-encompassing work project, Geth and I didn’t get to enjoy the bank holiday last Monday, so we arranged to take a day in lieu and go for a day trip today instead.
The weather has been a bit strange over the last month – rather than having a spring, we’ve basically gone straight from winter to summer, but I’m not complaining.
We had a lovely walk along the seafront and climbed right up to the replica self-sinking gun on the cliff.
1987 replica of 1887 gun. You know me and 1980s stuff!
According to the plaque, the original gun was tested in 1887, and did work in terms of being able to sink back into its foundation after being fired, but because it took far too long (eight hours) to prep, it was never actually used. This replica was installed in 1987 for the 100th anniversary.
On the beach at South Shields. After such a long winter, it was so nice to feel the sand under my feet!
We then walked back to the seafront and had lunch and a couple of pints in the Sanddancer, which is the best place to go in South Shields when it’s not Great North Run day (on GNR day, because it’s the first pub you get to after collecting your goodie bag, it’s absolutely rammed, so you’re better off going to another pub a bit further down the seafront).
After that, we went back to Newcastle, did a bit of shopping in town and went for another couple of pints. A perfect ‘bank holiday’!
Day 34 brings us to Now! #34, which came out on 12th August 1996.
This is the way the world looked in August 1996 (actually July – we seem to be short of photos again for 1996). Sunlounger, Walkman and speakers, dodgy cycling shorts ‘n’ swimsuit combo – a perfect late 20th century summer’s day.
Let’s hear those summer hits!
Track 1: Spice Girls – Wannabe
At eleven, I was exactly the right age for the Spice Girls, and from the moment this first song of theirs came out, I adored them. I bought every single and every album in HMV on the day they came out, I had every single Spice magazine (still do), I had the limited edition Spice Girls Impulse body spray. I was a huge fan, to put it mildly, and I remember carefully writing down the lyrics of this song and editing it over the course of several months, trying to work out what they were saying (I’ve mentioned before that I’m no good with being able to hear lyrics, and a lot of it was so nonsensical that there were endless arguments in the playground about what the words were – it was only when the album came out in December, complete with lyric insert, that I was able to confirm them properly).
Nowadays, I find this first track pretty cringeworthy – they did much better songs later on. I still remember how much I loved it at the time, though, the summer I moved from primary school to high school. Interesting times.
Track 2: Robbie Williams – Freedom
Pointless cover of the George Michael track. Although Robbie was my favourite member of Take That and I was gutted when he left, I find his solo stuff can be a bit hit and miss, and this cover doesn’t add anything to the original.
Track 3: Peter Andre and Bubbler Ranx – Mysterious Girl
Quite liked it at the time – nowadays I see it as a ‘so-bad-it’s-hilarious’ classic.
Track 4: Dodgy – Good Enough
I was never hugely keen on this one, though I quite enjoyed it when we saw them live at Beautiful Days in 2013.
Track 5: Ocean Colour Scene – The Day We Caught The Train
I adore Ocean Colour Scene (they were my favourite band for quite a while in my teens) and this is an absolute classic – great tune, great instrumentals, great lyrics.
Track 6: Larry Mullen Jr and Adam Clayton – Theme From Mission: Impossible
‘Not on Spotify’ Type 2: YouTube Pause (TM).
The two less famous members of U2 taking on the Mission: Impossible theme for the film version. It’s perhaps slightly rockier than the original, but not hugely different. I’ll give it a pass, though, ’cause you wouldn’t want a classic theme like this to be changed too much.
Track 7: Underworld – Born Slippy
Really liked it at the time, find it dated and annoying now.
Track 8: JX – There’s Nothing I Won’t Do
Quite like the tune on this dance track, but the vocals annoy me.
Track 9: Gina G – Ooh Aah (Just A Little Bit)
The UK’s Eurovision entry for 1996. Loved it at the time, find it irritating now. I’m finding that’s a bit of a theme with 1996. I must not have been hugely discerning at eleven.
Track 10: Pianoman – Blurred
Nice piano lines, as you might expect – the rest of the track is a bit messy, especially the misplaced sample from Blur’s Girls And Boys.
Track 11: Livin’ Joy – Don’t Stop Movin’
Oh, it’s this one. The vocals are at least interesting, but I find the style irritating and a bit generic.
Track 12: Louise – Naked
Finally a decent one from Louise – great solid pop track.
Track 13: Mark Morrison – Return Of The Mack
Classic tune, quite like this one. It’s been sample-covered horribly by at least two different ’10s artists, but I’m sure we’ll get to those later.
Track 14: 2Pac and Dr Dre – California Love
Really like this one! Great song, love that chorus.
Track 15: Pato Banton – Groovin’
Dull tune, dull vocals, not keen.
Track 16: Reel 2 Real – Jazz It Up
Quite a funky danceable beat, but it’s a bit of a dull tune.
Track 17: Maxi Priest and Shaggy – That Girl
Nice jaunty vocals, but that sample of Booker T & The MGs’ Green Onions is super repetitive.
Track 18: Los Del Mar – Macarena
No, that’s not a typo. Los Del Mar were basically a tribute band that only existed in order to cover Macarena by Los Del Rio (who were themselves little more than a one-hit wonder). Maybe the Now! compilers couldn’t get the rights to the original.
The cover is pretty pointless – it’s pretty much note for note the River Fe-Mix version of the original.
Track 19: Umboza – Sunshine
Another misplaced sample, this time Bamboléo by the Gipsy Kings. The rest of the track is fairly generic.
Track 20: Josh Wink – Higher State Of Consciousness
We’ve had this already, on Now! #32, which was only a couple of compilations ago! That’s just lazy.
Urgh. See the link for my review.
Track 21: Todd Terry, Martha Wash and Jocelyn Brown – Keep On Jumpin’
Messy semi-cover of the ’70s hit, with samples and random lines all over the place. It’s pretty awful.
Track 22: Robert Miles – Children
I’ve always loved this one! Gorgeous electro tune.
Track 23: George Michael – Jesus To A Child
Lovely, melancholy song from George Michael. Beautiful tune.
Track 24: Oasis – Wonderwall
A little late to the party for the Now! compilers, as this was more of a late 1995 hit, but it’s a classic, probably the best song Oasis did in my opinion, and so still very welcome.
Track 25: The Bluetones – Slight Return
Oh, it’s this one! Pleasant tune, happily nodding along right now.
Track 26: Paul Weller – Peacock Suit
Dull tune, very dad-rock. Not keen.
Track 27: Bon Jovi – Hey God
I normally like Bon Jovi, but I find this one a bit uninspired.
Track 28: Bryan Adams – The Only Thing That Looks Good On Me Is You
Found it annoying at the time, just find it a bit so-so now.
Track 29: Belinda Carlisle – In Too Deep
Nice instrumentals, but the vocal is pretty dull.
Track 30: Suggs – Cecelia
Loved this reggae-tinged cover of the Simon & Garfunkel classic at the time, still love it now! Great track.
Track 31: Blur – Charmless Man
I’ve always found the tune to this one a bit annoying. Not my favourite Blur track.
Track 32: Suede – Trash
Good head-nodder from Suede – really like this one. Great singalong chorus too.
Track 33: Joan Osborne – One Of Us
That old-timey American traditional rhyme at the start is super annoying, but the song itself is an absolute classic – great tune.
Track 34: Crowded House – Instinct
Nice tune, really like this one.
Track 35: Lighthouse Family – Ocean Drive
Feelgood track with an awesome singalong chorus. Lovely.
Track 36: Tina Turner – On Silent Wings
Dull tune, dull ballad. Not a fan of this one.
Track 37: Everything But The Girl – Wrong
Good beat, but I’m not keen on the tune.
Track 38: OMC – How Bizarre
I’d forgotten about this one! Pleasant, jaunty track, really like it.
Track 39: Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark – Walking On The Milky Way
Lovely tune, really interesting track.
Track 40: Space – Female Of The Species
Loved it at the time, love it now. I remember endless arguments in the back of the car about whether the lyric was ‘more deadlier‘, which was what it sounded like, or the grammatically correct ‘more deadly‘. I think I argued for the latter position, just because I couldn’t believe a professional band would write such a horrendously wrong sentence (ah, childhood innocence). A quick google just now tells me it was indeed the latter, but it really does sound like the former.
Track 41: Cast – Walkaway
Nice tune, but a bit slow for me.
Track 42: Boyzone – Coming Home Now
Liked it at the time, find the tune pretty irritating now.
Day 33’s Now! compilation was released on 18th March 1996.
This is how the world looked in March 1996 (actually April), or at least it did if you were skiing. I hated the feel of cagoules and have never worn them as an adult.
On with the music!
Track 1: Queen – Too Much Love Will Kill You
We’ve already had the Brian May solo version on Now! #23, but as I said in that review, I marginally prefer the version with the full band. Beautiful track.
Track 2: Oasis – Don’t Look Back In Anger
Classic Britpop anthem. At the time, my brother made up a full set of comedy actions to go with the lyrics that he would perform every time this song came on, and so I can’t unsee that whenever I hear it. Like most Oasis tracks, it hasn’t aged that well, but it’s still a nice tune.
Track 3: Babylon Zoo – Spaceman
Loved this at the time, still quite like it now. Really interesting rock song, played at every school disco circa 1995-1996.
Track 4: Supergrass – Going Out
Quite like the instrumental hook, but the vocals are pretty annoying.
Track 5: Pulp – Disco 2000
Another classic from Pulp. The lyrics are just brilliant, although I do wonder how dated the concept of ‘let’s all meet up in the year 2000‘ must seem nowadays to those unfortunate souls who are too young to remember the 20th century.
Track 6: Cher – One By One
Nice epic guitar on the intro, nice tune. Quite like this one. Still rocking the sax solo too!
Track 7: Meat Loaf – Not A Dry Eye In The House
Not my favourite Meat Loaf track, but still a solid rock ballad.
Track 8: Enya – Anywhere Is
Great tune from Enya – loved it then, love it now.
Track 9: The Connells – ’74-’75
I’ve always adored this one – it’s another track that we had on a Top Gear compilation. Gorgeous, wistful tune.
Track 10: Boyzone – Father And Son
I’ve never been hugely keen on this cover of the Cat Stevens classic. At the time, it was just too slow for me; nowadays, I find it inferior to the original.
Track 11: Blur – The Universal
Love the way the track builds to that epic anthemic chorus. Great stuff.
Track 12: Paul Weller – Out Of The Sinking
Another one off Stanley Road that I hated at the time. It still annoys me purely due to to bringing back memories of being stuck in a backseat with no escape, but I can appreciate the musicality now. Sort of.
Track 13: Cast – Sandstorm
Oh, it’s this one! Great tune, love the vocal line on the verses.
Track 14: Mike & The Mechanics – All I Need Is A Miracle
Great tune – there’s something a bit ’80s throwback about it, which is no bad thing.
Track 15: Status Quo and Beach Boys – Fun, Fun, Fun
Semi-cover of the ’60s classic. Not sure that Status Quo’s signature guitar lines were really needed on this song, but it’s at least different.
Track 16: Terrorvision – Perseverance
Another one I’d sort of forgotten about. I like the upbeat vocals on the verses, and that singalong chorus is great.
Track 17: Lush – Ladykillers
Great song – great vocals, nice guitar line, really danceable.
Track 18: Levellers – Just The One
Great singalong tune, great theme, reminds me of hearing this played live at every Beautiful Days festival I went to between 2009 and 2013.
Track 19: Radiohead – Street Spirit (Fade Out)
Gorgeous, melancholy track. Beautiful.
Track 20: Oasis – Live Forever
We have a repeated artist on the same Now! compilation, which as I’ve explained before is a DJing/compiling no-no! Not impressed.
I’ve always found the tune on this one a bit annoying.
Track 21: Lighthouse Family – Lifted
Found the tune irritating at the time, still find it irritating now. There are much better Lighthouse Family songs.
Track 22: Eternal – Good Thing
Dull tune, dull beat. Not keen on this one.
Track 23: Etta James – I Just Want To Make Love To You
Classic ’60s cover of the Muddy Waters track, back in the chart for 1996 due to the infamous Diet Coke advert. Great tune.
Track 24: Simply Red – Never Never Love
Oh, it’s this one. Found it annoying at the time, find it dull now.
Track 25: Gabrielle – Give Me A Little More Time
Never been hugely keen on this one as I find the tune a bit generic.
Track 26: East 17 – Thunder
Great piano intro, great atmosphere. The verses are a bit saccharine, but in general I really like this one.
Track 27: Luniz – I Got 5 On It
Always quite liked this one – it’s got a good atmosphere.
Track 28: Kaliphz and Prince Naseem – Walk Like A Champion
‘Not on Spotify’ Type 2: YouTube Pause (TM).
Found this annoying at the time, find it more annoying now. Not a fan of this at all.
Track 29: Shaggy and Grand Puba – Why You Treat Me So Bad
Really don’t like the tune, and the track is pretty messy. Not keen.
Track 30: Baby D – So Pure
‘Not on Spotify’ Type 2: YouTube Pause (TM).
Fairly generic dance track, irritating vocals.
Track 31: Gat Decor – Passion (Do You Want It Right Now)
Another dull dance track – nothing special at all.
Track 32: Gusto – Disco’s Revenge
Quite like the instrumental hook, but the vocals are pretty irritating and messy.
Track 33: Ken Doh – I Need A Lover Tonight
Not enough melody for me – just uninteresting and repetitive. Not keen.
Track 34: Ace Of Base – Beautiful Life
Lovely piano intro, great atmosphere. Really nice track.
Track 35: Louise – In Walked Love
Revoltingly saccharine. Don’t like this at all.
Track 36: Dubstar – Not So Manic Now
Really like this one – lovely tune, lovely vocals.
Track 37: Saint Etienne – He’s On The Phone
Another one that we had on a Top Gear compilation. I absolutely love this one – it’s a great tune with a gorgeous atmosphere.
Track 38: Dreadzone – Little Britain
Dreadzone were a favourite at Beautiful Days around the time that Geth and I were going regularly, as they played there so often. This one’s a great, upbeat danceable track with interesting orchestral-tinged hooks.
Track 39: Goldbug – Whole Lotta Love
‘Not on Spotify’ Type 2: YouTube Pause (TM).
Female-vocal-led cover of the Led Zeppelin classic – other than the incorporation of the Pearl & Dean theme, it’s fairly uninspired.
Well, it feels like I’ve been talking about it forever, but the Sunderland City 10k finally rolled around today.
The Run Sunderland event always gives out nice, weighty medals – I much prefer them to the Great Run offerings, which are always a bit generic and uninspired.
We got up at stupid o’clock, set out at still stupid o’clock, met our friends Sean and Ed on the Metro, and arrived at Keel Square in Sunderland in plenty of time to drop off our bag in the baggage area and make our way to the starting pen. After the usual ridiculous mass warm-up shenanigans (I’ve given up trying to follow those – there’s never any space in the crowd and it’s not something I’d do for a normal run anyway), we were off, a lot more promptly than last year.
I went off far too fast – an opening kilometre of 6:01 mins, when I should have been aiming more for a steady 6:55 or so – but although I ended up paying for my too-speedy start a bit in the second half, I did settle down over the course of the race, and I came in at 1:09:56, just snatching the sub-1:10:00 I’d been aiming for. That’s a 7:29 min 10k PB, and I was thrilled, obviously! It did require a pretty epic sprint finish at the end, when I spotted the gun time on the board and realised I was in with a chance.
After meeting back up with Geth and Sean, we went for breakfast at Caffé Nero while waiting for Ed to finish the half marathon, then met back up with Ed, got back on the Metro, and went for a few pints once back in Newcastle. Then Geth and I went home and ordered pizza. Perfect race day, really.
Looking forward to the next one! Only two weeks to go.
Day 32, and Now! #32, which was released on 13th November 1995.
This is how the world looked in November 1995 (actually October, yadda yadda), or at least the small bit of the world that was me looking sulky next to a piano. I made those earrings myself out of a kit, and only got round to chucking them out a couple of months ago.
Let’s listen to some songs by people who probably didn’t have to make their own earrings.
Track 1: Queen – Heaven For Everyone
Lovely track, gorgeous tune.
Track 2: Meat Loaf – I’d Lie For You (And That’s The Truth)
Another great rock ballad from Meat Loaf. Really like this one! I remember him promoting it on Blue Peter.
Track 3: Simply Red – Fairground
Didn’t like this one at the time, but I do now. Great tune.
Track 4: U2 – Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me
Really like this offering from the Batman Forever soundtrack – it’s got a great atmosphere.
Track 5: Tina Turner – Goldeneye
I do love a James Bond theme song, and this one is really solid. Awesome tune.
Track 6: Cher – Walking In Memphis
I mentioned in my review of the Marc Cohn original on Now! #20 that the Cher version was entirely pointless (unless you think the sole change of having vocals by Cher makes it worthwhile), and I stand by that, but it’s still a great track.
Track 7: The Beautiful South – Pretenders To The Throne
Lovely tune, like the piano.
Track 8: Louise – Light Of My Life
Louise Redknapp (or Nurding, as she was then) starting her post-Eternal solo career. Unfortunately this is a super dull ballad, although the tune on the chorus is alright.
Track 9: Jimmy Nail – Big River
Found it boring at the time, find it boring now.
Track 10: Sacred Spirit – Yeha-Noha (Wishes Of Happiness And Prosperity)
I’m not a huge chillout fan, but this one is quite nice.
Track 11: Radiohead – Lucky
Loathed it at the time, mixed on it now. Pretty, melancholy tune on the verses, but the chorus ruins it a bit.
Track 12: Pulp – Sorted For Es And Wizz
Love this one! Great tune, great lyrics. This was a favourite among friends when we lived in Southampton, due to the ‘in a field in Hampshire’ bit.
Track 13: Blur – Country House
Loved it at the time, love it now. Absolute classic, great singalong track.
Track 14: Cast – Alright
Found the tune annoying at the time, kind of so-so about it now. It’s just sort of…okay.
Track 15: Oasis – Roll With It
I can’t actually remember whether I wanted this one or Blur’s Country House to be number one during that particular chart battle, ’cause I liked them both. With hindsight, though, the best song definitely won – this offering from Oasis is a bit uninspired.
Track 16: McAlmont & Butler – Yes
I’ve always adored this one – we had it on a Top Gear compilation. Beautiful tune.
Track 17: Paul Weller – Broken Stones
Mum and Dad had the Stanley Road album, so this was a regular feature of car journeys, and I absolutely loathed it at the time – it was far too serious and boring. I’m still not a huge fan, but I can appreciate the tune a bit more nowadays.
Track 18: Suggs – I’m Only Sleeping
I always liked this cover of the Beatles song – lovely tune, great atmosphere.
Speaking of Beatles covers…
Track 19: The Smokin’ Mojo Filters – Come Together
‘Not on Spotify’ Type 2: YouTube Pause (TM).
This one’s actually a semi-cover, ’cause Paul McCartney was involved in this supergroup. Fairly uninspired cover, turning the song into dull ’90s soft rock.
Track 20: Coolio and LV – Gangsta’s Paradise
Loved it then, love it now! Absolutely brilliant atmosphere, great tune.
Track 21: Shaggy – Boombastic
Annoying chorus alert! Never been that keen on this one.
Track 22: N-Trance and Ricardo Da Force – Stayin’ Alive
‘Cover’ of the Bee Gees classic that basically takes the original backing track and adds rapping over the top. I shouldn’t like it, but I do.
Track 23: Donna Summer – I Feel Love [Rollo and Sister Bliss Monster Mix]
Remix of the classic 1978 hit, turning it into a ’90s-standard dance track. It’s a bit messy, and I’m not hugely keen, especially since I like the original so much.
Track 24: Berri – Sunshine After The Rain
Really liked this one at the time, but I find it pretty irritating now.
Track 25: Corona – Try Me Out
I’d forgotten about this one. Super irritating chorus!
Track 26: The Original – I Luv U Baby
Oh, it’s this one! Really quite like this tune.
Track 27: Everything But The Girl – Missing
I’ve never been keen on this one – there’s something nauseatingly depressing about it.
Track 28: Eternal – Power Of A Woman
The vocals on the chorus give me a headache, and the tune is super generic. Not a fan at all.
Track 29: Soul II Soul – I Care
Most of the tune is quite dull, but the chorus is nice.
Track 30: Outhere Brothers – La La La Hey Hey
Dull, forgettable, unmelodic track – nothing good here at all.
Track 31: Whigfield – Big Time
Daft yodeling hook throughout, but at least this one is interesting.
Track 32: Alex Party – Wrap Me Up
Dull, repetitive dance track, not keen. I think 1995 is probably around the point at which I should leave the imaginary ’90s nightclub.
Track 33: Josh Wink – Higher State Of Consciousness
Messy track, not enough melody. Getting my coat, going home for an early night.
Track 34: Wildchild – Renegade Master
Oh, wait, I’ll hang about for one more! I really like this one – classic track. A few years ago, Geth had a student who wrote a hilariously bad essay with an intro about a ‘renegade cyclist’, so ever since then I’ve switched the lyrics in my head, which makes it even better.
Track 35: Goldie – Inner City Life
And we’re back to dull chillout dance. Not keen at all.
Track 36: The Human League – Don’t You Want Me [Red Jerry 7 Inch Remix]
‘Not on Spotify’ Type 2: YouTube Pause (TM).
Remix of the classic 1981 song. I love the original and this is really taking a sledgehammer to everything that’s good about it. Just awful.
Track 37: Candy Girls – Fee Fi Fo Fum
This starts off as an okay dance track, but the vocals are terrible.
Track 38: Happy Clappers – I Believe
‘Not on Spotify’ Type 2: YouTube Pause (TM).
Super annoying vocal ticks at the start. I’ve downed my pint of Strongbow and am definitely leaving the club this time.
Track 39: Wild Colour – Dreams
Interesting clangy bit and a good electro line, but jarred together the track just becomes a mess. I’m doing up the buttons on my vintage ’80s trenchcoat.
Track 40: E’Voke – Runaway
The irritating vocals start up on this track just as I sweep through the door of the imaginary ’90s nightclub. I’m in the taxi. I’m done.
One thing I’m really looking forward to about race season starting again is pre-race evenings in (the first one being tonight, given that the Sunderland 10k is tomorrow!). Because we have to run optimally the next day, we can’t do anything fun or weekend-y like drinking alcohol or staying up late or leaving the house, so instead we watch ‘running TV’ (i.e. road running, athletics and triathlon events I’ve recorded off the TV) and running films (Run Fatboy Run is Geth’s favourite, Chariots Of Fire is mine). Then we get a nice early night. Rock ‘n’ roll!
Then the following evening, after the race, we do it all again, except this time with booze and takeaway. I think I’m looking forward to that more, to be honest.
Tonight’s viewing will be the Great Birmingham 10k that I recorded off the TV last Sunday, followed by Chariots of Fire (we’ve watched Run Fatboy Run the last few times, so it’s time for a change). I should probably see about procuring some different running films, though, as we’ve got a lot of races coming up this year!
Day 31 takes us to 31st July 1995 with the Now! compilations.
This is how the world looked in July 1995. It was a long hot summer in France for us that year, and so the world looked like a pretty Breton holiday home, and we looked like mid-’90s holidaymakers, surprisingly enough. Check out the plastic dummy around my neck – this was the ultimate accessory in 1995. You wore it to class and annoyed the teachers by sucking it all through the lesson. And yes, I still have it.
Let’s have a listen to the summer hits of that year.
Track 1: Wet Wet Wet – Don’t Want To Forgive Me Now
Quite like this tune, until it gets to the annoying chorus.
Track 2: Edwyn Collins – A Girl Like You
Loved it at the time, love it now. Absolutely classic track with a great atmosphere.
Track 3: Pulp – Common People
The other kids in my primary school class considered this to be ‘my’ song ’cause I was always singing along to it. Great tune, brilliant lyrics, still love it after all these years.
Track 4: Supergrass – Alright
I’ve always found this one pretty annoying – annoying tune, annoying lyrics, annoying theme, annoying video. Not a fan.
Track 5: Shaggy – In The Summertime
Reggae-tinged cover of the Mungo Jerry classic with Shaggy rapping over the top. It’s an interesting cover, and I quite like it.
Track 6: Ini Kamoze – Here Comes The Hotstepper
Oh, it’s this one! Bit of a sample mishmash, but it’s a classic track – happily nodding along here.
Track 7: Dana Dawson – 3 Is Family
Fairly generic pop track – nothing special here.
Track 8: Jam & Spoon and Plavka – Right In The Night (Fall In Love With Music)
Fantastic Russian-tinged atmospheric dance track. Really like this one.
Track 9: East 17 – Hold My Body Tight
Irritating chorus – wasn’t keen then, not keen now. I remember I had a tween girl magazine at the time that showed you how to play this on recorder, which must have been wonderful for parents everywhere.
Track 10: Boyzone – Key To My Life
Loved it then, find it nauseatingly saccharine now. Strange how that happens!
Track 11: Seal – Kiss From A Rose
This one, on the other hand, I’ve not lost any love for – it’s an absolutely beautiful track. Gorgeous tune, lovely vocals, just stunning.
Track 12: Kirsty MacColl – Days
We’ve had this already, on Now! 15! I’m still irritated about this kind of track repetition.
See the link for my review.
Track 13: The Human League – One Man In My Heart
The synth is nice, but the vocals are a little irritating (I’ve never found Susan Sulley and Joanne Catherall to be particularly great singers, and so this female-vocal-led track is a little weak because of it).
Track 14: Portishead – Sour Times
Great atmosphere on this track – really like this one.
Track 15: Oasis – Some Might Say
Great lyrics, though I don’t love the tune as much as I did at the time.
Track 16: Weezer – Buddy Holly
Great track! This was a favourite in rock clubs a few years later in the early ’00s.
Track 17: Del Amitri – Roll To Me
I find the vocals a bit irritating and cheesy – not a fan of this one.
Track 18: EMF and Reeves & Mortimer – I’m A Believer
Fun, raucous cover of the Monkees song. Great track.
Track 19: Duran Duran, Grandmaster Melle Mel, Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five – White Lines (Don’t Do It)
Semi-cover of the ’80s original (see Now! #3 post for review of original), featuring the original artists. Slightly sacreligiously, I prefer it to the original, but then I do love Duran Duran. Great tune.
Track 20: Jimmy Somerville – Hurt So Good
Reggae-tinged cover of the ’70s song. Nice feelgood track, quite like this one.
Track 21: Outhere Brothers – Boom Boom Boom
Classic song, great danceable track. Good stuff.
Track 22: MN8 – I’ve Got A Little Something For You
Oh, it’s this one! I’ve not heard or thought about this track in a long time. I do like that vocal hook.
Track 23: Montell Jordan – This Is How We Do It
I’m getting a bit of déja vu here, ’cause the ‘this is how we do it‘ vocal hook is actually really similar to the ‘I’ve got a little something for you‘ hook from the previous song. I never noticed that at the time, but maybe I would have done if I’d owned Now! #31.
Track 24: D:Ream – Shoot Me With Your Love
‘Not on Spotify’ Type 2: YouTube Pause (TM).
This one’s a bit too repetitive for me.
Track 25: Baby D – (Everybody’s Got To Learn Sometime) I Need Your Loving
Chillout dance cover of the Korgis classic. I’m not hugely keen on this.
Track 26: Jinny – Keep Warm
Generic dance track – nothing exciting about this one.
Track 27: Livin’ Joy – Dreamer
Another one I’ve not thought about in a long time. Good tune.
Track 28: Whigfield – Think Of You
The tune is a bit repetitive, but it’s got a good beat.
Track 29: Clock – Whoomph! (There It Is)
Liked it at the time, find the vocals pretty irritating now, though that synth line is great.
Track 30: Bobby Brown – Humpin’ Around
Nice intro, but the rest of the track is pretty generic.
Track 31: PJ & Duncan – Stuck On U
Around this time I had a mate who was utterly obsessed with PJ & Duncan (or Ant & Dec, as they became when the Byker Grove producers threatened to sue or whatever it was), so we constantly ended up watching their afternoon TV show (imaginatively titled The Ant & Dec Show) and listening to their album. Amazingly, I’ve still got a soft spot for their daft songs. This one actually has quite a good atmosphere.
Track 32: Love City Groove – Love City Groove
‘Not on Spotify’ Type 2: YouTube Pause (TM).
It always annoyed me at the time that the artist title was the same as the song. I mean, that’s just asking to end up as a one-hit wonder.
Appropriately for today, this was the UK’s Eurovision entry for 1995. The track itself is not my thing at all – the rap verses are super irritating, and the chorus annoys me just as much as it did at the time.
Track 33: Ladysmith Black Mambazo and China Black – Swing Low Sweet Chariot
Irritatingly, there is what sounds like a sports stadium crowd in the background throughout the track, so I’m guessing this was recorded as the England rugby team song for the Rugby World Cup ’95. Not keen at all.
Track 34: Soul II Soul – Love Enuff
Pleasant tune, but it’s a bit dull.
Track 35: Junior Vasquez – Get Your Hands Off My Man
Not enough melody for me, but it’s got a good beat.
Track 36: Shiva – Freedom
Overblown vocals, boring tune. Not keen.
Track 37: Billie Ray Martin – Your Loving Arms
Great electro instrumentals, annoying vocals. Might try and track down an instrumental version.
Track 38: Deuce – I Need You
Great dance beat, but the tune is a bit dull.
Track 39: JX – Son Of A Gun
Oh, it’s this one! I like the vocal hook, but it’s a bit repetitive.
Track 40: Hyperlogic – Only Me
That sample of U2’s New Year’s Day is great, and as a dance tune it’s fab, but I could do without those vocals, and the track does get a bit messy in the middle.
My busy work period is finished! Unfortunately, it’s taking my brain a while to adjust to the fact that I don’t have to be doing ALL THE THINGS RIGHT NOW and so I reckon it’ll be next week before I can properly relax.
It is nice to have a day off for the first time in a month, though!
Day 30 takes us to Now! #30, which was released on 10th April 1995.
This is how the world looked in April 1995. There seems to be a bit of a theme of photos from halfway up hills and in woods and on beaches lately. Those things have obviously not changed in appearance, but my T-shirt collection has – not sure I could pull off bright yellow these days.
On with the tunes!
Track 1: Freak Power – Turn On, Tune In, Cop Out
It’s starting to get to the point with some of these where I’m a bit like ‘oh! I haven’t even thought about this song for more than twenty years’, and all these incredibly vague memories sort of flash through my mind for a second. This must be what getting old feels like.
The track is still great – love that tune on the chorus.
Track 2: Janet Jackson – Whoops Now
Slightly ’60s-tinged, jaunty track – another one I haven’t thought about for a long time. The chorus is a little repetitive, but it’s a nice tune.
Track 3: Boyzone – Love Me For A Reason
Yup, I had this album. Boyzone showed up just at the right point when Take That were coming to the end of their original run, giving tween girls everywhere a new favourite band. Pretty much every girl in my primary school class loved this song.
To adult ears, it’s kind of cheesy, and while I’ve never heard the original ’70s version, I’m guessing the cover probably doesn’t add much.
Track 4: Cher, Chrissie Hynde, Neneh Cherry and Eric Clapton – Love Can Build A Bridge
‘Not on Spotify’ Type 2: YouTube Pause (TM).
Absolutely loved this one at the time, still like it now. It was the Comic Relief song for 1995, back when Comic Relief songs were still good. Love the tune, really like the way the vocals are shared throughout the song.
Track 5: East 17 – Stay Another Day
This track’s status as the Christmas number one for 1994, its festive bells toward the end, its snowy video and its ubiquity on the music channels during December all mean that this is very firmly considered a Christmas song nowadays, so it feels highly out of place in May. I’ve always loved it, though, and remember being wowed by it when I first saw it performed on Top of the Pops in late 1994.
Track 6: Mike & The Mechanics – Over My Shoulder
This one was the ‘played all the time on the ferry’ track of summer 1995, so it just takes me straight back to being on a cross-channel voyage. Great song, love the tune.
Track 7: Jimmy Nail – Crocodile Shoes
Super annoying chorus – never been keen on this one.
Track 8: Scarlet – Independent Love Song
Nice tune, nice atmosphere, but a bit slow, and the chorus is kind of overblown.
Track 9: Simple Minds – She’s A River
Great, epic-sounding rock song. Really like this one.
Track 10: The Boo Radleys – Wake Up Boo!
I think the tune and theme to this one are pretty annoying, but I still find myself nodding along to it.
Track 11: The Human League – Tell Me When
Good to see the Human League back in the charts, with a great bit of synthpop. Lovely tune.
Track 12: M People – Sight For Sore Eyes
Great danceable track – really like this tune.
Track 13: Sting – This Cowboy Song
The instrumentals are nice, but there’s nothing special about the song.
Track 14: Shut Up And Dance – Save It Till The Mourning After
‘Sampling’ of Duran Duran’s Save A Prayer where they’ve just taken the backing track and chorus and added a horrible misplaced rap over the top. I’m also not sure why, in the title, they’ve changed ‘morning’ to ‘mourning’.
However, no matter how messy the sampling, I love Duran Duran, and Save A Prayer is one of my favourites, so I’m just going to enjoy the sample and ignore everything else.
Track 15: R Kelly – Bump ‘N’ Grind
The vocal gymnastics at the start are pretty anthemic, but once the track gets going it’s messy, dull and irritating, not my cup of tea at all.
Track 16: Eternal – Oh Baby I…
Fairly generic-sounding ballad. Not keen.
Track 17: Massive Attack and Tracey Thorn – Protection
Too slow for me, and I find the tune pretty dull.
Track 18: Portishead – Glory Box
Great hook, great tune, classic track.
Track 19: Oasis – Whatever
Nice violin instrumentals, awesome tune. It’s another one I hadn’t thought about for a while.
This was everywhere in 1995. It’s actually a really annoying song, but it certainly has a lot of memories attached to it.
Track 21: Alex Party – Don’t Give Me Your Life
Oh, it’s this one! Another one I’d forgotten about. Loved it at the time, find that chorus a little annoying nowadays.
Track 22: Strike – U Sure Do
And…oh, it’s this one! I’ve got a feeling this is going to start happening a lot. Found the tune annoying at the time, find it quite nice and nostalgic now.
Track 23: Kenny Dope and The Bucketheads – The Bomb! (These Sounds Fall Into My Mind)
Absolute classic – great party tune with an awesome singalong chorus.
Track 24: Nightcrawlers – Push The Feeling On
I find this one pretty repetitive, but I do like the instrumental hooks.
Track 25: Tin Tin Out – Always (Something There To Remind Me)
Electro dance cover of the ’60s classic. The instrumentals are too messy for my liking, unfortunately.
Track 26: Corona – Baby Baby
Great dance track, great atmosphere – really like this one.
Absolutely classic dance track – that chorus is epic.
Track 29: JX – You Belong To Me
Ten dance tracks in a row, and we’re most definitely back in the imaginary ’90s nightclub. This one’s got a nice atmosphere around the vocals, but it’s a bit generic otherwise.
Track 30: Perfecto Allstars – Reach Up (Papa’s Got A Brand New Pigbag)
Cover/sampling/remix (the line is becoming a bit blurred with these dance producers) of the Pigbag song with some messy drums over the top at the start and some irritating dance vocals cutting in thereafter. Really not keen on all the messing with classic tracks that started happening during this period.
Track 31: Rednex – Cotton Eye Joe
Daft novelty country/linedance/electro dance track. I loved it at the time, but it’s become super overplayed in the intervening years.
Track 32: Deuce – Call It Love
Great piano intro, great atmosphere. Really like this one.
Track 33: 2 Unlimited – Here I Go
The tune to the vocals is nice, but it’s pretty generic otherwise.
Track 34: MC Sar & The Real McCoy – Run Away
‘Not on Spotify’ Type 2: YouTube Pause (TM).
Great bassline, great atmosphere. Good stuff.
Track 35: Nicki French – Total Eclipse Of The Heart
Dance cover of the Bonnie Tyler classic. The vocals are very far from the original standard, and the dance beat is a bit wishy-washy. It’s different enough not to be pointless, but it’s pretty poor.
Track 36: Sean Maguire – Suddenly
Irritating tune, irritating vocals. I remember Smash Hits being obsessed with this guy, but his stuff’s hugely forgettable.
Track 37: Bobby Brown – Two Can Play That Game
I really liked this one at the time, and I still quite like it now – great tune. Shame it’s by Bobby Brown.
Track 38: Ultimate Kaos – Hoochie Booty
More creepy kiddie vocals about sex from Ultimate Kaos. Please go away.
Track 39: Pato Banton and Ranking Roger – Bubbling Hot
Like that saxophone in the background, as well as the reggae instrumentals. Nice jaunty song.
Track 40: Mica Paris – One
Slow, soulful cover of the U2 song. The vocals are a bit overblown, but I quite like it.
