This is another cider I had while gaming at UKGE last weekend.
Thatchers Katy.
I first had Thatchers Katy about a year ago, when Geth and I went round for dinner with my old next-door neighbours at my parents’ place. They had one in because their daughter is called Katy. I can’t remember how much of a cider drinker Katy is (she tends to be on spirits whenever I see her) but it must be pretty cool to have a cider with the same name as you.
It’s a nice apple-y cider, a bit tastier than regular Thatchers. Good stuff.
Day 58, and Now! #58, which was released on 26th July 2004.
This is how the world looked in July 2004. I imagine that dusk in the South of France has probably always been that enticing and beautiful. I often miss my late teenage goth style, which is something I’ve not really been able to replicate properly in later years.
Let’s see what would have been blaring out on the promenade.
Track 1: Rachel Stevens – Some Girls
Good atmosphere, good head-nodder. Quite like this one.
Track 2: The Shapeshifters – Lola’s Theme
Quite like the ’70s retro tinge and the way the instrumentals work together, but it’s a bit repetitive.
Track 3: Anastacia – Left Outside Alone
Good track – really like the power vocals and the lyrics in this one.
Track 4: Kelis – Trick Me
Oh, it’s this one! Great beat, very danceable.
Track 5: Jamelia – See It In A Boy’s Eyes
Some interesting instrumentals, but the tune’s very generic.
Track 6: Eamon – F**k It (I Don’t Want You Back)
Repetitive, bitter breakup song that was everywhere in the early part of the year…
Track 7: Frankee – FURB (F U Right Back)
…and then this answer song was released with exactly the same tune. It was later revealed that she wasn’t actually his ex-girlfriend and the whole thing had been made up to sell more records. Anyway, both tracks are awful.
Track 8: Christina Milian – Dip It Low
Irritating vocals, boring tune.
Track 9: Outkast – Hey Ya!
Great, classic singalong track! Still love this one.
Track 10: The Black Eyed Peas – Hey Mama
Great atmosphere, good beat. Quite like this track.
Track 11: Scissor Sisters – Laura
Great tune, probably the best song Scissor Sisters ever did. That recurring instrumental is stunning.
Track 12: George Michael and The Ones – Flawless (Go To The City)
Semi-cover of the 2001 track Flawless (see Now! #50 for review of the original) with George Michael singing over the top. This version is better, to be honest.
Track 13: Narcotic Thrust – I Like It
Quite like the tune on this dance track.
Track 14: Beverley Knight – Come As You Are
Nice classic retro tinge on the bassline, but the vocal line’s not really doing anything for me.
Track 15: Joss Stone – Super Duper Love
Cover of a ’70s song by Sugar Billy, though this version is a lot more well-known. It’s a nice feelgood song and a nice tune.
Track 16: Keane – Everybody’s Changing
Cheesy soft rock, a bit cringeworthy. The tune’s okay, I suppose.
Track 17: Franz Ferdinand – The Dark Of The Matinée
I always quite liked this one – good stompy ’00s festival rock. Super bonus points for the bit in the lyrics about Terry Wogan (RIP).
Track 18: Razorlight – Golden Touch
Another great festival track – love the tune and the atmosphere on this.
Track 19: The Rasmus – In The Shadows
A song long detested by alternative music fans because it’s kind of fake and cheesy, but I have to admit I have a bit of a nostalgic fondness for it.
Track 20: Gladiator and Izzy – Now We Are Free
Like the operatic vocals, but the trance is very uninspired.
Track 21: Britney Spears – Everytime
‘Every time’, Britney. ‘Every time’. There’s no such word as ‘everytime’!
The track is a boring slow ballad, and it’s probably pretty clear by now that I’m not keen on those.
Track 22: Kylie Minogue – Chocolate
This one’s a bit slow for me, and there’s not really anything interesting going on.
Track 23: Girls Aloud – The Show
Great electro backing track, very danceable – really solid piece of pop.
Track 24: McFly – 5 Colours In Her Hair
A really cringeworthy bit of trying-to-be-alternative pop-pop-punk. You just know that the ‘five colours in her hair’ were from hair mascara (anyone else remember that awful late ’90s/early ’00s trend? I only just chucked out all of mine earlier this year!).
Track 25: Sugababes – In The Middle
The vocals are a little irritating on this one, and the tune’s a bit repetitive.
Track 26: Busted – Air Hostess
Bad clangy guitars, cheesy vocals, uninspired tune. Not a fan of this one.
Track 27: O-Zone – Dragostea Din Tea
This daft Eurodance track was everywhere in summer 2004 and later became the subject of a meme. I’ve always really liked the tune!
Track 28: Blue – Bubblin’
Good beat, but the tune is really dull.
Track 29: V – Blood Sweat And Tears
Highly generic, bland song. Utterly forgettable.
Track 30: 2 Play, Raghav and Naila Boss – It Can’t Be Right
‘Not on Spotify’ Type 2: YouTube Pause (TM).
Quite like the tune, and it’s nice and upbeat.
Track 31: Nina Sky and Jabba – Move Ya Body
Good head-nodder, happily chair-dancing here.
Track 32: Fatman Scoop and The Crooklyn Clan – It Takes Scoop
Cover of the 1988 song It Takes Two, which is possibly one of the most covered/sampled tracks of all time (and was already a mishmash of samples itself). I’m not familiar enough with the 1988 song to ascertain the differences, but this version’s a bit messy for me, though it’s got a good beat.
Track 33: Kanye West – Through The Wire
I like the retro tinge on the sung vocals in the background, but the main rap is not really my thing.
Track 34: NERD – Maybe
There are some interesting lines going on here, but the beat’s a bit jarring and the tune’s not doing it for me.
Track 35: Estelle – 1980
‘Not on Spotify’ Type 2: YouTube Pause (TM).
This song would be a lot better if it actually sounded like it was made in 1980. Still, it’s an okay track.
Track 36: Jay Sean and Rishi Rich Project – Eyes On You
Really like the piano instrumentals, and the tune’s quite nice too.
Track 37: VS – Call U Sexy
Love the sample of Imagination’s Body Talk, but the rest of the track is pretty boring.
Track 38: Joe – Ride Wit U
Not enough melody for my liking, and the backing track’s really one-note and dull.
Track 39: Gabrielle – Stay The Same
Too slow and too bland for me.
Track 40: Ronan Keating and LeAnn Rimes – Last Thing On My Mind
Boring ballad, which, to be honest, I kind of expected from these two.
Track 41: Kristian Leontiou – Story Of My Life
Nice atmosphere, nice tune, but again it’s too slow for me.
Track 42: Atomic Kitten – Someone Like Me
Really like the piano on this. The tune’s quite nice too.
It’s the final one of the three red phone boxes that line the Grassmarket:
Red phone box, Grassmarket, Edinburgh, 25th January 2016.
Like most phone boxes in the centre of Edinburgh, it’s mainly used as a useful advertising space for club nights and so on, but the box itself is still in good condition.
Day 57 brings us to Now! #57, which came out on 5th April 2004.
This is the way the world looked in April 2004, or at least the bit that was me and the wee bro (clearly not quite as wee as he once was) silhouetted against central Manhattan. I am very behind on furnishing trends and that lampshade looks pretty futuristic to me even now, fourteen years later.
We’re really getting into the mid-’00s now. Bring on the pop-punk and anthemic festival rock!
Track 1: Britney Spears – Toxic
Great danceable song – really good piece of pop.
Track 2: Kelis – Milkshake
Good atmosphere, good beat. I’ve always really liked this one.
Track 3: Jamelia – Thank You
The tune’s a bit generic and forgettable for me.
Track 4: Kylie Minogue – Red Blooded Woman
Good atmosphere, love the instrumentals on this. Great tune too.
Track 5: Justin Timberlake – I’m Lovin’ It
‘Not on Spotify’ Type 2: YouTube Pause (TM).
Irritating hooks, messy lines, jarring beat. Not keen on this one.
Track 6: Enrique Iglesias and Kelis – Not In Love
Repeated artist alert! We already had Kelis, only four tracks ago.
The track’s got a good beat, and I like the Spanish-tinged guitar and the way the vocals blend together. Nice tune, although the chorus does slightly rip off Night Games by Graham Bonnet.
Track 7: The Black Eyed Peas – Shut Up
I love this one – probably my all-time favourite Black Eyed Peas track (and there’s some stiff competition from their 2009-2010 era). In my second year at uni, there was someone in the flat next door who played this on a loop for several weeks, and I still never got sick of it. Just a gorgeous piece of music.
Track 8: 2 Play and Raghav – So Confused
‘Not on Spotify’ Type 2: YouTube Pause (TM).
Quite like this tune, and the Latin-tinged instrumentals are nice.
Track 9: Beenie Man and Ms Thing – Dude
I shouldn’t like it, ’cause it’s really repetitive, but there’s something I find quite feelgood and endearing about it.
Track 10: Peter Andre and Bubbler Ranx – Mysterious Girl
We’ve already had this one, on Now! #34! This must have been around the time Peter Andre got famous again by going on I’m A Celebrity. It’s still no excuse!
As ever, see the link for my review.
Track 11: DJ Casper – Cha Cha Slide
Slow to get going, not enough melody. It’s basically spoken dance instructions with some repetitive instrumentals in the background.
Track 12: Girls Aloud – Jump
Utterly pointless cover of the Pointer Sisters classic. There’s nothing new here at all.
Track 13: Boogie Pimps – Somebody To Love
Electro cover of the Jefferson Airplane song. It’s quite nice and atmospheric.
Track 14: Atomic Kitten and Kool & The Gang – Ladies’ Night
Track 16: Sophie Ellis-Bextor – I Won’t Change You
Irritating theme, bland tune. Not a fan of this.
Track 17: Scissor Sisters – Comfortably Numb
Danceable cover of the Pink Floyd track. Quite like this one.
Track 18: Deepest Blue – Give It Away
Dull tune, dull beat. It’s so boring I can’t even concentrate on it.
Track 19: LMC and U2 – Take Me To The Clouds Above
Dance cover of Whitney Houston’s How Will I Know? that also samples With Or Without You, hence the U2 involvement. Proof that no matter how many classic songs you bastardise in your terrible ’00s dance track, it will still be terrible.
Track 20: Special D – Come With Me
Dance track with a pleasant bleepy tune and interesting vocals. Very danceable.
Track 21: Ultrabeat – Feelin’ Fine
It’s a bit saccharine, but there’s something slightly retro about the vocals that I quite like.
Track 22: Motorcycle – As The Rush Comes
Great beat, great atmosphere. The vocals are a bit lacking, but it’s otherwise a good track.
Track 23: Ferry Corsten – Rock Your Body Rock
Not sure about the vocoder on the vocals, but I quite like the backing track – it sounds a bit like video game music.
Track 24: Will Young – Leave Right Now
I’ve always found the tune on this one really irritating.
Track 25: Katie Melua – The Closest Thing To Crazy
Actively disliked it at the time, still actively dislike it now. Annoying and depressing.
Track 26: Norah Jones – Sunrise
Nice tune, but it’s a bit slow and acoustic-y for me.
Track 27: Blue – Breathe Easy
It’s got a nice epic feeling about it, though the tune’s a bit boring.
Track 28: Ozzy Osbourne and Kelly Osbourne – Changes
‘Not on Spotify’ Type 2: YouTube Pause (TM).
Appallingly cheesy semi-cover of the ’70s Black Sabbath song, with the lyrics altered to reflect the Osbournes’ father-daughter relationship. I still laugh every time I remember this song coming on in big Bennets*, Edinburgh, and the consequent furious pub ranting of a mate of a mate who was a Black Sabbath fan.
*Not to be confused with wee Bennets, Edinburgh. Big Bennets is in Tollcross, wee Bennets is in Morningside.
Track 29: Blink-182 – I Miss You
It’s the lead track off the infamous album where Blink-182 grew up and went serious. This one’s okay, but my favourite track from that album is All Of This, a duet with the Cure’s Robert Smith. Worth checking out.
Track 30: Busted – Who’s David
Generic tune, offputting jealousy theme in the lyrics. Not keen.
Track 31: Fountains Of Wayne – Stacy’s Mom
I adore this hilarious track. It’s not even a guilty pleasure, I just love it. Brilliant stuff.
Track 32: Franz Ferdinand – Take Me Out
Great, classic piece of ’00s rock. Love the intro, love the way the main song kicks in.
Track 33: Alistair Griffin – Bring It On
Bland, uninspired tune, boring acoustic-y instrumentals. Not my thing at all.
Track 34: Sugababes – Too Lost In You
Gorgeous track. It’s one of those ones that’s been turned into a Christmas song in recent years – it was on the Love Actually soundtrack and the film features heavily in the video, hence the music channels always adding it to their Christmas playlists – but the song’s lovely to listen to any time of year.
Track 35: VS – Love You Like Mad
Twee instrumentals, annoying vocals. Not for me.
Track 36: Joss Stone – Fell In Love With A Boy
Quite like this soul track – it’s a bit different to what was generally going on in the charts at the time.
Track 37: FYA and Smujji – Must Be Love
Quite like the atmosphere on the intro, but I’m not keen on the rap, and the sung sections are very generic-sounding.
Track 38: NERD – She Wants To Move
Good head-nodder – I’ve always quite liked this one.
Track 39: Jamie Cullum – Frontin’ [Live]
I’m not hugely keen on most of Jamie Cullum’s laid-back lounge-y jazz stuff – it’s not exciting enough for me. I don’t like live versions either.
Track 40: Keane – Somewhere Only We Know
Overplayed, irritatingly twee tune. I actually prefer the Lily Allen cover that was done for the John Lewis Christmas advert a few years back.
I had this one as a ‘swap’ or something over UKGE weekend. I forget exactly – I was busy gaming at the time!
M&S Berry Cider.
As you might expect from the packaging, it’s very fruity and sweet. Probably more of an autumn cider, but it was perfectly refreshing even in June. There are nicer berry ciders out there, but I’d be happy to pick this up again if I were in M&S.
Day 56 equals Now! #56, which was released on 17th November 2003.
This is how the world looked in November 2003 (actually October). The champagne was to celebrate finally passing my driving test on the sixth attempt. I had about five pairs of those ridiculously baggy jeans in various colours – I am so glad they disappeared with the ’00s. Probably should have bleached my roots before putting on that red dye, too.
Let’s see what would have been played at the club I went out to later that night (spoiler: none of the following, ’cause I’m pretty sure I went to Opium rock club, which didn’t play a lot of chart music).
Track 1: The Black Eyed Peas – Where Is The Love?
I quite like the Black Eyed Peas, but I’ve always found the chorus on this one a bit irritating.
Track 2: Rachel Stevens – Sweet Dreams My LA Ex
Good head-nodder, good atmosphere. Quite like this track.
Track 3: Kylie Minogue – Slow
Great synth instrumentals, good atmosphere, though the tune’s a little repetitive.
Track 4: Blue – Guilty
Slow, cheesy, boring ballad. Not my thing.
Track 5: Fatman Scoop and The Crooklyn Clan – Be Faithful
Good bit of chant-along hip-hop. Could do without the generic sung vocals though.
Track 6: Beyoncé and Jay-Z – Crazy In Love
This one was everywhere in 2003, especially on holiday in Zante that summer. I still quite like the tune, but that’s probably more nostalgia than anything else.
Track 7: Sugababes – Hole In The Head
Great pop tune – really like this one.
Track 8: Liberty X – Jumpin’
Good beat, but the vocals are annoying.
Track 9: Jamelia – Superstar
It did get a bit overplayed at the time, but it’s a good tune.
Track 10: Lumidee – Never Leave You (Uh Oooh, Uh Oooh)
Irritating vocals, irritating tune, irritating drum beat in the background. Not a fan of this.
Track 11: Stacie Orrico – Stuck
Nice guitar in the background, but the vocals give me a headache.
Track 12: Lemar – Dance (With U)
Like the retro tinge, and it’s got a nice beat.
Track 13: Javine – Surrender (Your Love)
Great instrumentals – love that trumpet – but the tune’s pretty boring.
Track 14: Emma Bunton – Maybe
Good uptempo song, interesting vocals – good track.
Track 15: S Club 8 – Sundown
If you ignore the kiddie vocals, it’s quite a good danceable tune.
Track 16: Ultrabeat – Pretty Green Eyes
Love the backing track on this dance hit, but the vocals are a bit cheesy (even if they do have good taste in eye colour!).
Track 17: Sophie Ellis-Bextor – Mixed Up World
Great danceable beat, but it’s a bit messy in general, and the tune’s pretty generic.
Track 18: Phixx – Hold On Me
Quite like the electro lines, but the vocals are pretty cheesy.
Track 19: D-Side – Invisible
Bland tune, saccharine vocals and really creepy lyrics. Not keen.
Track 20: Louise – Pandora’s Kiss
‘Not on Spotify’ Type 2: YouTube Pause (TM).
Repetitive tune, irritating backing track. When the guitar kicks in on the chorus, though, it gets a bit better.
Track 21: Girls Aloud – Life Got Cold
Some more nice guitar – lovely tune.
Track 22: Atomic Kitten – If You Come To Me
Not keen on the vocals, and the tune’s pretty bland.
Track 23: Elton John – Are You Ready For Love
’70s classic back in the charts due to a re-release and TV advert. Not complaining – it’s a welcome break from all the poor quality early ’00s pop!
Track 24: Justin Timberlake – Rock Your Body
It’s fairly standard Justin Timberlake, with a danceable beat and irritating falsetto all over the place. It’s okay, sort of.
Track 25: Robbie Williams – Something Beautiful
Like the backing instrumentals, but the tune’s not interesting enough for me.
Track 26: Nickelback – Someday
There are only two Nickelback tracks that are in any way listenable, and both of those are due to reasons outwith the song. This is not one of these two.
Track 27: Busted – Sleeping With The Light On
Irritating and cheesy – not keen on this one.
Track 28: Mark Owen – Four Minute Warning
Mark Owen coming back out of nowhere about eight years after Take That split up. This is a great track and I wish he’d done more solo stuff.
Track 29: Amy Studt – Under The Thumb
Irritating vocals, bland tune. At least it’s got some good guitar in the background though.
Track 30: Texas and Kardinal Offishall – Carnival Girl
Quite like the carnival-music-themed intro, but then it just launches into boring soft rock with misplaced rapping over the top.
Track 31: 50 Cent and Nate Dogg – 21 Questions
Don’t really like the way the lines mix together on this one, and it’s a bit repetitive.
Track 32: Ashanti – Rock Wit U (Awww Baby)
Boring, generic song, very forgettable.
Track 33: Joe Budden – Pump It Up
Quite like the backing track, and it’s got a good beat. This one’s okay.
Track 34: Jaimeson – Complete
‘Not on Spotify’ Type 2: YouTube Pause (TM).
Very bland tune, nothing interesting going on here at all.
Track 36: Angel City and Lara McAllen – Love Me Right (Oh Sheila)
Extremely ’90s dance sounding cover of the ’80s song. It’s not bad, actually.
Track 37: Richard X and Kelis – Finest Dreams
Good atmosphere, good beat – happily nodding along.
Track 38: Rishi Rich Project, Jay Sean and Juggy D – Dance With You
Some interesting lines, but the main vocal is very dull.
Track 39: UB40 and The United Colours Of Sound – Swing Low
You know it’s a Rugby World Cup year when somebody does a dodgy cover of Swing Low, Sweet Chariot. At least UB40’s reggae stylings sort of suit the song.
Track 40: Starsailor – Silence Is Easy
Boring, forgettable soft rock. Not a fan.
Track 41: Stereophonics – Maybe Tomorrow
Interesting instrumentals, but the vocals are as drone-y and boring as ever.
Track 42: Daniel Bedingfield – Never Gonna Leave Your Side
Super saccharine, slow and bland. Not my kind of thing.
Track 43: Michael Andrews and Gary Jules – Mad World
Slow, melancholy cover of the Tears For Fears classic, and the Christmas number one for 2003 (BUT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE DARKNESS AND I’M STILL ANGRY ABOUT THAT ahem). It’s beautiful, because the Tears For Fears original is also beautiful. I’ll always prefer the original version, but this one is lovely too.
It’s been a great few weekends travelling and seeing friends, but I’m enjoying getting back to normal – it was back to work today, and other than the Blaydon Race this upcoming Saturday, I’m going to be enjoying a quiet few weeks – which means I’ll finally be able to get cracking on the house again!
Maybe by the end of June I’ll have broken the back of it. Maybe? I just have to hope nothing else gets in the way work-wise – you never know when you’re a freelancer!
Day 55 brings us to Now! #55, which came out on 21st July 2003.
This is the way the world looked in July 2003. That balcony’s not changed much, but I don’t remember the last time we used those wine glasses (and those clothes are now definitely living in my keepsakes boxes rather than my wardrobe!). It’s also been a while since I was that blonde – it has been attempted a couple more times since then, but I’ve got fairly lazy with hair dyeing lately. I’m saving that particular energy up for when I eventually go grey and have to start doing something about it.
Time for another round of summer hits!
Track 1: R Kelly – Ignition [Remix]
I’ve not thought about this one for a while. It was a big summer hit and was played in all the clubs in Zante when I was there with my mates. I still quite like the tune.
Track 2: 50 Cent – In Da Club
A classic. Love this one – it still gets stuck in my head every time it’s my birthday.
Track 3: Justin Timberlake – Cry Me A River
Nice tune, great epic atmosphere. Awesome track.
Track 4: Wayne Wonder – No Letting Go
Oh, it’s this one. The tune’s pretty dull, but it’s got some good instrumentals going on.
Track 5: Javine – Real Things
Nice epic blaring intro, quite like it.
Track 6: Kym Marsh – Come On Over
Very bland tune – not my kind of thing.
Track 7: Girls Aloud – No Good Advice
The tune and lyrics on this are really poor quality and awkward. It sounds like it was written by a twelve-year-old. Just awful.
Track 8: t.A.T.u – Not Gonna Get Us
Dull, repetitive follow-up to All The Things She Said. Should have been a one-hit wonder.
Track 9: S Club 8 – Fool No More
So after S Club 7 changed their name to S Club (see yesterday’s review), S Club Juniors then went and changed their name to S Club 8, presumably ’cause they weren’t so junior anymore. Confused? I certainly am.
This track is a dance track, but the vocals still sound pretty kiddie to me.
Track 10: Fast Food Rockers – Fast Food Song
We used to sing this daft kids’ song in the church hall at Girl Guides meetings back in the mid-’90s. I have no idea why anyone thought it would make a good pop song. Really makes me hungry though.
Track 11: XTM, DJ Chucky and Annia – Fly On The Wings Of Love
Highly irritating vocals, cheesy tune, dodgy misplaced pan pipe instrumentals over a trance beat. Appalling track.
Track 12: Lisa Scott-Lee – Lately
Uninspired vocals, bland tune. Not keen on this.
Track 13: One True Voice – Shakespeare’s (Way With) Words
‘Not on Spotify’ Type 2: YouTube Pause (TM).
Too saccharine for me, but I suppose the tune’s alright.
Track 14: Bhangra Knights and Husan – Husan
Good tune, good beat – quite like this one.
Track 15: Tomcraft – Loneliness
Good head-nodder, very danceable. I remember this being number one for quite a few weeks.
Track 16: Tiga and Jake Shears – Hot In Herre
Fairly pointless cover of the Nelly track, which was only a year old itself at this point (see Now! #52). Jake Shears’ voice doesn’t suit the track at all, and all the fun is missing from the original.
Track 17: Lisa Maffia – All Over
There’s some interesting lines, but the track’s a bit messy in general. I could do without the two rappers shouting over each other.
Track 18: Benny Benassi and The Biz – Satisfaction
The track’s tuneless and repetitive, but the video‘s a dubious classic (I was NOT a fan of the awful hiking-boots-with-stiletto-heels trend it encouraged, which has unfortunately made a few reappearances in the intervening time).
Track 19: Deepest Blue – Deepest Blue
Boring tune, uninspired dance beat.
Track 20: DJ Sammy – Sunlight
Good beat, but the tune’s very irritating.
Track 21: Plummet – Damaged
Interesting lines, but there’s not enough of a solid tune for me.
Track 22: Paul van Dyk and Hemstock & Jennings – Nothing But You
Generic dance track. The vocals are quite nice, but it’s nothing special.
Track 23: Scooter – The Night
The high-pitched vocals on the chorus give me a headache, but the rest of the track’s quite danceable if it’s post-2am.
Bland acoustic-y track with an annoying chorus, not to my liking.
Track 27: Amy Studt – Misfit
Nice vocals, but the tune’s not interesting enough for me.
Track 28: The Thrills – Big Sur
It’s nice that the mid-’00s festival stalwart bands are starting to make appearances. My mate Gemma absolutely loved this lot.
The track’s a nice retro-sounding soft rock tune. Love that Monkees reference.
Track 29: Coldplay – God Put A Smile Upon Your Face
Nice atmosphere – this one’s got an okay tune.
Track 30: Appleton – Everything Eventually
Slow to start (as befits the title). The vocal intro is nice, but after that it gets a bit generic.
Track 31: David Sneddon – Don’t Let Go
Boring slow tune – not keen.
Track 32: Ronan Keating – The Long Goodbye
Like the piano intro, but the rest of the track’s too saccharine for me.
Track 33: Darius – Incredible (What I Meant To Say)
Irritating tune that sounds like pretty much everything else. Utterly forgettable.
Track 34: Feeder – Just The Way I’m Feeling
LOVED this track at the time and bought the single – it’s still a great tune. I must have gone to see Feeder about three times that year, as they played the Glasgow Barrowlands a lot at the time.
Track 35: Sinéad Quinn – What You Need Is
Love the rock-edged instrumentals – this is quite a good track.
Track 36: Melanie C – On The Horizon
Boring, irritating tune. I don’t find Melanie C’s second solo album anywhere near as good as her first.
Track 37: Emma Bunton – Free Me
I find the tune really irritating, and it’s too slow.
Track 38: S Club – Say Goodbye
Slow and saccharine. You might have guessed I’m not a fan.
Track 39: Sugababes – Shape
Love the Sting sample – great atmosphere on this one.
Track 40: Jay-Z and Pharrell Williams – Excuse Me Miss
Some interesting lines going on here – quite like it, but it could do with a bit more melody.
Track 41: Mariah Carey and Cam’Ron – Boy (I Need You)
Boring, messy, irritating. Next, please.
Track 42: Ja Rule and Ashanti – Mesmerise
Urgh. Uninspired, repetitive tune, and the rap is awful. Not my cup of tea at all.
I used to drink a lot of Stella Cidre – when Geth and I lived in Southampton, our local Sainsbury’s often had it on offer. To be honest, Sainsbury’s probably do still often put it on offer, but as my drinking has massively reduced since I joined Slimming World, it’s been a very long time since the days when I would buy a whole box of cider to drink over the course of a weekend. As such, this cider is now a very occasional treat.
Stella Cidre.
It’s got a lovely sweet taste, just the right level for an apple cider. It’s a real favourite, and now I’ve been reminded of it, I may start drinking it more often again. Not a whole box at once though! Those days are behind me.
Day 54, and Now! #54, which was released on 14th April 2003.
This is how the world looked in April 2003. No pictures of people this month, so you can have some nice scenery courtesy of one of Mum and Dad’s weekend trips away.
I don’t want to jinx things, but I’ve got a vague memory that this was the year when chart music started to improve a bit and became more rock-oriented.
Track 1: t.A.T.u – All The Things She Said
Loved it at the time and bought the single. It’s still a great tune, but there are obvious issues with the creepy male-gaze manufacturing of a couple of faux-lesbian Russian schoolgirls. I remember the Top of the Pops performance – the BBC refused to show a same-sex kiss on stage at 7pm and cut to an opposite-sex couple kissing in the crowd instead. We’ve come a long way since the early ’00s.
Track 2: Justin Timberlake – Like I Love You
I like the stop-start guitar at the beginning, but the tune to the vocals annoys me.
Track 3: Nelly and Kelly Rowland – Dilemma
One of my first-year uni flatmates was obsessed with this song and played it over and over. As such, I’m amazed I still quite like it.
Track 4: Richard X and Liberty X – Being Nobody
Dodgy pointless cover of Chaka Khan’s Ain’t Nobody with an irritating ’00s backing track. I strongly advise listening to the original instead.
Track 5: Room 5 and Oliver Cheatham – Make Luv
Classic dance track, good head-nodder, though it’s a little repetitive.
Track 6: Junior Senior – Move Your Feet
I’ve always found the chorus on this one highly irritating, but the song reminds me of my friend Sarah (who loved it at the time) so it’s not all bad.
Track 7: Girls Aloud – Sound Of The Underground
Still really like this one – great atmosphere, classic pop track.
Track 8: Busted – Year 3000
Yup, it’s awful (although the sanitised Jonas Brothers cover was even more awful). I remember the looks of horror on everyone’s faces when the DJ decided it would be a good idea to play this in Studio 24 (Edinburgh’s biggest rock club at the time). It only happened once, probably due to complaints.
Track 9: Melanie C – Here It Comes Again
The tune’s a bit bland, but I like the instrumentals.
Track 10: Sinéad Quinn – I Can’t Break Down
Great Spanish guitar, great atmosphere. Quite like this one.
Track 11: Darius – Rushes
Irritating vocals, but the tune on the chorus is okay.
Track 12: Appleton – Don’t Worry
Slow, dull acoustic-y ballad with an annoying tune. Not keen.
Track 13: Atomic Kitten – Love Doesn’t Have To Hurt
Cheesy, generic song. Not a fan of this one.
Track 14: Blue – U Make Me Wanna
Great atmosphere, great instrumentals, but the vocals are pretty irritating.
Track 15: Jay-Z and Beyoncé – ’03 Bonnie And Clyde
‘Not on Spotify’ Type 2: YouTube Pause (TM).
Love the guitar on this track – awesome theme, great song.
Track 16: Jaimeson and Angel Blu – True
Quite interesting for a dance track – like the atmosphere.
Track 17: Zoe Birkett – Treat Me Like A Lady
Generic tune, pretty bland really.
Track 18: S Club – Alive
S Club 7, now calling themselves S Club due to one of them having left. The music is as irritating as ever.
Track 19: One True Voice – Sacred Trust
Repetitive, uninspired song – this one’s very dull.
Track 20: Kym Marsh – Cry
Appallingly saccharine, twee song. Don’t like this one at all!
Track 21: Ainslie Henderson – Keep Me A Secret
Boring and generic. We’re really getting into the nadir of the talent show era now.
Track 22: Daniel Bedingfield – If You’re Not The One
Awful track – whiny tune, hugely problematic stalker-y theme. It really creeps me out.
Track 23: David Sneddon – Stop Living The Lie
Nice tune, but the vocals leave a lot to be desired.
Track 24: Robbie Williams – Feel
Lovely tune, great atmosphere.
Track 25: Oasis – Songbird
It’s better than other Oasis tracks of this era, but it’s still a bit drone-y.
Track 26: Turin Brakes – Painkiller
Good bit of soft rock – quite like this one.
Track 27: Coldplay – Clocks
The piano instrumental is nice, but I find the rest of the track pretty dull.
Track 28: Lulu and Ronan Keating – We’ve Got Tonight
Painfully bland cheesy ballad. Not my thing.
Track 29: Sugababes – Stronger
Nice atmosphere, good tune. Quite like this track.
Track 30: Beenie Man – Street Life
Good head-nodder, but the tune’s a bit boring.
Track 31: Cam’Ron, Juelz Santana, Freekey Zeekey and Toya – Hey Ma
Oh, it’s this one. Repetitive and tuneless, but I suppose it’s got a good beat.
Track 32: Nelly and Justin Timberlake – Work It
Double repeated artist alert! We’ve already had both Nelly and Justin Timberlake on this Now! compilation.
The track’s okay, but there’s a bit too much going on.
Track 33: Panjabi MC – Mundian To Bach Ke
Absolute classic – brilliant piece of bhangra. Love this tune.
Track 34: Scooter – Weekend!
More daft rave from Scooter, with some insanely irritating chipmunk-tuned vocals in the middle. The rest of the track’s quite danceable.
Track 35: DJ Sammy – The Boys Of Summer
Awful trance cover of the Don Henley classic. Not a fan.
Track 36: Divine Inspiration – The Way (Put Your Hand In My Hand)
More trance. This has got quite a good atmosphere, though.
Track 37: Queen and DJ Vanguard – Flash
‘Not on Spotify’ Type 2: YouTube Pause (TM).
Semi-cover of the 1980 classic with lots of repetitive hi-hat over the top. It kind of loses the epic atmosphere of the original.
Track 38: Erasure – Solsbury Hill
Good to see Erasure back in the charts for the ’00s, especially as they sound exactly like they did in the ’80s. This is a nice synthpop cover of the Peter Gabriel song.
Track 39: The Mock Turtles – Can You Dig It? [Fatboy Slim and Simon Thornton 2003 Remix]
Nice feelgood soft rock song, quite like this one.
Track 40: Counting Crows and Vanessa Carlton – Big Yellow Taxi
Pointless cover of the Joni Mitchell classic, but it’s a good song whoever does it (well, maybe I wouldn’t be saying that if it were one of DJ Sammy’s trance covers, but you know what I mean).
Track 41: Richard Ashcroft – Science Of Silence
Dull, drone-y track, but it’s at least more upbeat than most of Richard Ashcroft’s stuff.
Track 42: Massive Attack and Sinéad O’Connor – Special Cases
Love the slightly spooky atmosphere on this one – great track.
