We’re still having a wander round Edinburgh’s Old Town on Burns Night 2016!
(Coordinates 55°94’98.1″N, 3°18’74.8″W.)
I’ve always felt that these ones brighten up Hunter Square a bit. They’re surprisingly intact given it’s such a popular nightspot!
Update May 2022: added coordinates.
Day 36 brings us to Now! #36, which was released on 24th March 1997.
Let’s see what would have been in my headphones on the plane to Malta.
Track 1: Spice Girls – Mama
So I guess every Now! compilation is going to feature a Spice Girls track for a few albums? Okay then.
Mama wasn’t my favourite at the time – it was just a bit slow for me – and I’m not keen now either. I’ve always preferred their more upbeat stuff.
Track 2: Texas – Say What You Want
Liked it at the time, find the tune a bit annoying now.
Track 3: Bee Gees – Alone
Nice classic-sounding track from the Bee Gees – lovely tune.
Track 4: The Beautiful South – Don’t Marry Her
Nice guitar intro, but I’m not hugely keen on the rest of the track.
Track 5: No Doubt – Don’t Speak
Gorgeous song – beautiful tune, lovely theme. A classic.
Track 6: White Town – Your Woman
Great track – I absolutely love those spiky instrumental hooks.
Track 7: Blue Boy – Remember Me
Oh, it’s this one! Interesting lines, quite like the vocal.
Track 8: Jamiroquai – Virtual Insanity
Loved it then, still quite like it now. At the time I couldn’t stop watching the classic video, which isn’t quite as impressive nowadays as it was twenty-two years ago but is still pretty cool.
Track 9: Robert Miles and Maria Nayler – One And One
Nice tune, but the vocals are a bit annoying.
Track 10: George Michael – Spinning The Wheel
I’ve always liked this one – lovely tune, great beat.
Track 11: Mark Morrison – Horny
Messy, irritating song. Not a fan of this at all.
Track 12: Peter Andre – Natural
Generic tune, annoying vocals. Not keen.
Track 13: Damage – Love Guaranteed
More cheesy pop-by-numbers – there’s nothing original or interesting about this.
Track 14: Eternal – Don’t You Love Me
Nice intro, great atmosphere, good instrumentals. Quite like this one.
Track 15: Gabrielle – Walk On By
Awesome atmosphere, really interesting track. Good stuff.
Track 16: Kavana – I Can Make You Feel Good
Kavana was a bit of a Smash Hits darling at the time, but I was never much of a fan. This is okay though – nice solid pop song.
Track 17: East 17 – Hey Child
Nice harmony on the vocals, and the tune is pleasant, but it’s a bit slow for me.
Track 18: Boyzone – A Different Beat
One of the better Boyzone tracks – really like the tune on the chorus.
Track 19: Backstreet Boys – Anywhere For You
Saccharine and dull. Not a fan.
Track 20: 911 – The Day We Find Love
Slow dull ballad from 911. They definitely did better songs, from what I remember.
Track 21: U2 – Discothèque
It’s a bit messy, but it’s also quite refreshingly different at this point, what with the slightly harder rock guitars.
Track 22: The Prodigy – Breathe
Great danceable track, great vocals. Really like this one.
Track 23: The Chemical Brothers – Block Rockin’ Beats
Liked it at the time, find the tune annoying and repetitive now.
Track 24: Placebo – Nancy Boy
Love this one! Great guitar intro, great tune, awesome lyrics. Another classic.
Track 25: Monaco – What Do You Want From Me?
Oh, it’s this one! Great tune, good atmosphere, really like this track.
Track 26: Sheryl Crow – Everyday Is A Winding Road
Another Sheryl Crow song where I can’t get past the annoying tune. Also, the word(s) in the title should be ‘every day‘, not ‘everyday‘.
Track 27: Blur – Beetlebum
It’s not the kind of song I’d typically like, but I’m quite fond of this one – happily nodding away here.
Track 28: James – She’s A Star
Nice tune, nice atmosphere. Quite like this one.
Track 29: Mansun – Wide Open Space
Interesting tune, good atmosphere, good stuff.
Track 30: Cast – Free Me
Dull, repetitive tune. Not keen on this one.
Track 31: Space – Dark Clouds
I quite like the instrumentals and atmosphere, but the tune’s pretty boring.
Track 32: Cathy Dennis – Waterloo Sunset
Guitar-driven cover of the Kinks classic. It’s quite a nice version, but it doesn’t change much from the original.
Track 33: The Divine Comedy – Everybody Knows (Except You)
Sweet upbeat tune, quite like this one.
Track 34: Alisha’s Attic – Indestructible
Interesting instrumentals (nice to hear a bit of synth!) but it’s a little slow for my liking.
Track 35: Ant & Dec – Shout
Bizarrely serious-sounding song for Ant & Dec, with dodgy ‘homage’ to Tears For Fears’ Shout during the chorus. The only saving grace is Erasure’s Andy Bell on backing vocals (though I’ve no idea what he was doing there).
Track 36: The Source and Candi Staton – You Got The Love
We’ve had this one already, on Now! #19! Do they think nobody was listening back then?
Grr. See the link for my review.
Track 37: Sash! – Encore Une Fois
I adored this one at the time, but I don’t think it’s aged that well, and I find it a bit so-so nowadays.
Track 38: DJ Quicksilver – Bellissima
Loved it then, still quite like it now – great tune.
Track 39: BBE – Flash
‘Not on Spotify’ Type 2: YouTube Pause (TM).
Like the hooks, but it’s pretty repetitive.
Track 40: Amen! – Passion
Really like the instrumental hook, but I don’t like the vocals at all!
Veggie pasta bolognaise is one of my longstanding favourites, but I don’t make it as often as I used to, largely because I’ve developed so many other favourites that have become go-tos as well.
It’s nice and simple, just like all the pasta dishes I do. Put some chopped carrots on to boil for twenty-five minutes; ten minutes in, start boiling some pasta in another pot. Meanwhile, start frying some chopped onions and tomatoes in Fry Light. Once the onions and tomatoes have reduced down sufficiently, add a bag of Quorn mince to the frying pan, and stir-fry until it’s browned.
For the sauce, I make my standard pasta sauce: passata, tomato puree, lemon juice, ground black pepper, dried basil, dried oregano, hot chili powder and Very Lazy chopped garlic, all to taste.
Once everything’s cooked, drain the pasta and carrots and mix them with the onions, tomatoes, Quorn mince and passata sauce in a large pot. Shower with grated parmesan (30g per person for a Slimming World Healthy Extra A) to serve.
Day 35 equals Now! #35, which takes us to 18th November 1996.
Let’s listen to some tracks by people who were probably better dressed, even if it was the sartorially-challenged ’90s.
Track 1: Spice Girls – Say You’ll Be There
The eagerly-awaited (by me, anyway) follow-up to Wannabe. With hindsight, this song’s actually pretty poor, with a dull tune and generic theme; however, it’s quite hard to separate it from the nostalgia for me, so I still have a soft spot for it.
Track 2: George Michael – Fastlove
Lovely atmosphere, great vocal hooks – really like this one.
Track 3: Peter Andre – Flava
The instrumentals are quite fun, but the vocals are pretty annoying, and that rap is super generic.
Track 4: East 17 and Gabrielle – If You Ever
Really like the intro, and it’s got a lovely tune and atmosphere.
Track 5: Deep Blue Something – Breakfast At Tiffany’s
Loved it then, love it now. This one was a youth club classic during my first year of high school. Great theme, great lyrics, lovely tune.
Track 6: Pet Shop Boys – Se A Vida É (That’s The Way Life Is)
I’ve always liked this one – a nice slower track with a feelgood atmosphere.
Track 7: Babybird – You’re Gorgeous
Found it annoying at the time, really quite like it now. Love the theme and the instrumentals.
Track 8: The Beautiful South – Rotterdam
This one, on the other hand, I’ve never stopped finding annoying. It’s that irritating chorus.
Track 9: Dodgy – If You’re Thinking Of Me
This is Dodgy’s slow, dull one. I don’t think I even enjoyed it when I saw it live.
Track 10: Crowded House – Don’t Dream It’s Over
Crowded House’s late ’80s classic, back in the charts – I’m not sure why, but I’m not complaining. Lovely tune.
Track 11: The Bluetones – Marblehead Johnson
Oh, it’s this one! Great guitar hook, nice tune.
Track 12: Ocean Colour Scene – The Riverboat Song
An all-time favourite! Absolute anthem, epic energy, great lyrics, wonderful guitar riff. I adore this one.
Track 13: Sheryl Crow – If It Makes You Happy
I’ve always found this one annoying – not keen on the tune.
Track 14: Garbage and Tricky – Milk
Great atmosphere – really like this track.
Track 15: Neneh Cherry – Woman
Nice epic intro, awesome atmosphere all the way through. Good stuff.
Track 16: Lighthouse Family – Goodbye Heartbreak
Nice to hear some saxophone at this late stage! The rest of the track is a little dull, although the ‘I don’t need you now‘ bit has quite a good singalong aspect.
Track 17: Pulp – Something Changed
Nice tune, nice instrumentals, great epic chorus. Lovely track.
Track 18: Cast – Flying
Oh, it’s this one. Found it a bit dreary at the time, still do now. Just not keen on the tune.
Track 19: Suede – Beautiful Ones
Good upbeat track, great tune, great lyrics. Another solid song from Suede.
Track 20: Belinda Carlisle – Always Breaking My Heart
Nice guitar intro, nice classic-sounding track, great chorus. Really like this one.
Track 21: Dina Carroll – Escaping
Interesting chillout bit at the start, nice beat during the verses. Not a typical Dina Carroll ballad, which is a welcome relief.
Track 22: Boyzone – Words
Introspective cover of the Bee Gees classic. Lovely tune, great atmosphere.
Track 23: Eternal – Someday
Fairly paint-by-numbers ballad that was released to tie in with Disney’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame film. As such, it’s very musical-theatre-sounding.
Track 24: Backstreet Boys – I’ll Never Break Your Heart
Far too saccharine for me, and also now a Christmas-associated song thanks to the music channels (the video‘s set in a ski lodge, which I guess is why it gets put on the Christmas playlists).
Track 25: Damage – Love II Love
Oh, it’s this one. Never been keen on this – the chorus is repetitive and irritating.
Track 26: Clock – Oh What A Night
Fairly pointless cover of the Four Seasons classic. The main addition is the rap over the top. It’s not horrible, but it’s not great.
Obligatory ‘I hate pointless ’90s covers’ rant: this was the version that introduced me to this song.
Track 27: Louise – Undivided Love
Good beat, but it’s a pretty generic pop tune.
Track 28: Ant & Dec – When I Fall In Love
Ant & Dec, now having changed their name from PJ & Duncan (see Now! #31 review for discussion of why), try their hand at a ballad (well, it’s a ballad until the chant-along chorus kicks in, anyway). Horrific!
Track 29: 911 – Don’t Make Me Wait
Great, interesting piano intro. It leads into a fairly generic and cheesy pop track, though.
Track 30: Strike – My Love Is For Real
I quite like the verses on this dance track – there’s a bit of edge there – but the tune is pretty uninspired.
Track 31: Faithless – Insomnia
Classic dance track, great epic atmosphere, wonderful electro hook.
Track 32: BBE – Seven Days And One Week
Oh, it’s this one. I think I liked this more at the time than I do now – it’s a bit repetitive.
Track 33: Stretch ‘N’ Vern – I’m Alive
Loved it at the time, forgot about it for over twenty years, can’t say I’m too keen on it now. The backing track is great, but the rap’s fairly awful. I quite like the Boogie Wonderland sample though.
Track 34: Healy & Amos – Stamp!
I think I’m back in the imaginary ’90s nightclub that plays nothing but dance, although to be fair 1996 isn’t quite as bad as 1995 was. This one has some interesting lines, but it’s a bit messy for my liking.
Track 35: Livin’ Joy – Follow The Rules
Another very generic dance track – nothing special here.
Track 36: Wildchild – Jump To My Beat
Very messy track with irritating lines. Don’t like this at all.
Track 37: Underworld – Pearl’s Girl
Dull lines, very little melody, messy track. The beat’s quite good though.
Track 38: Space – Neighbourhood
Great atmosphere, great instrumentals, really nice track.
Track 39: Björk – Possibly Maybe
Not keen on the experimental-sounding instrumentals – they’re giving me a headache – but the vocal is nice when I can hear it over the top.
Track 40: Shed Seven – Chasing Rainbows
One of my friends had a poster of Shed Seven on the wall even though she didn’t really like them. I think she’d got it free when they were supporting someone else. That sort of sums up Shed Seven for me – they weren’t really a band that anybody actually liked.
The track itself is dull, slow and very forgettable.
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.
We had a lovely walk along the seafront and climbed right up to the replica self-sinking gun on the cliff.
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.
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.
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.
Another rough cider from the Thatchers Stan line.
It’s a bit drier than the Cheddar Valley from the same line that I had a few weeks ago, but it’s still a very nice rough that tastes of summer. Highly appropriate for a warm May day!
Day 33’s Now! compilation was released on 18th March 1996.
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.
Track 40: Technohead – I Wanna Be A Hippy
Loved it at the time, fairly irritated by it now.
Well, it feels like I’ve been talking about it forever, but the Sunderland City 10k finally rolled around today.
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.
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.
Let’s hope 1996 is an improvement.