Just a quick update tonight, because I’ve arrived in Edinburgh for bridesmaid dress shopping for my friend Lisa’s wedding tomorrow!
After parkrun this morning, I left Geth in the house (our friend Lewis had shown up for an all-day gaming session so don’t worry, Geth won’t be lonely) and went to catch the (delayed) train. It’s lovely weather and it’s so nice to be back home, even if just for a day! I will be vanishing like pixie dust back to Newcastle tomorrow evening.
Day 38 takes us to 17th November 1997 with our Now! compilation marathon.
Let’s see what was tearing up the charts at the time.
Track 1: Chumbawamba – Tubthumping
The ultimate in singalong classics, and a feature of every school disco and a lot of post-school discos in subsequent years. Brilliant track. Also, this album version that I’ve found on Spotify has a Brassed Off sample at the start, which makes it even better.
Track 2: Spice Girls – Spice Up Your Life
One of my favourites from the Spice Girls – really like this upbeat, danceable song.
Track 3: Hanson – Where’s The Love
Considering that I played Hanson’s Middle Of Nowhere album non-stop for about a year, the fact that I couldn’t remember this song shows you how forgettable it is. I sort of remember it now I’m listening to it again, but I doubt it’ll stick in my brain long.
Track 4: Boyzone – Picture Of You
I’ve never really liked this one – the tune has always annoyed me.
Track 5: Backstreet Boys – As Long As You Love Me
It should be too saccharine for me, but I’ve got a bit of a soft spot for it, largely because I always liked the video.
Track 6: Eternal – Angel Of Mine
Absolutely beautiful tune – love this one.
Fun fact: American singer Monica did a completely pointless cover of this that sounds pretty much identical, which was a huge hit in the US, so that’s the version that most people across the pond know.
Track 7: Lighthouse Family – Raincloud
Great, interesting instrumentals, but the tune on the vocals is a bit dull.
Track 8: Janet Jackson – Got ‘Til It’s Gone
Love that Big Yellow Taxi sample…but in all honesty, nowadays it just makes me want to listen to Big Yellow Taxi instead. I remember my dad getting similarly frustrated whenever it came on the radio at the time, ’cause you can’t improve on the original Joni Mitchell track.
Track 9: The Brand New Heavies – You’ve Got A Friend
Dull cover of the Carole King song (which was pretty dull to begin with) with an irritating funk bit over the top.
Track 10: All Saints – I Know Where It’s At
I quite like most of All Saints’ stuff, but this one’s got an annoying tune. Not keen.
Track 11: Louise – Arms Around The World
Interesting Eastern-tinged instrumentals in the intro, and a nice synth riff running through the verses. Shame the vocals are so generic.
Track 12: Gala – Freed From Desire
It’s not the kind of thing I normally like, but I’ve always quite enjoyed this one – I like the atmosphere.
Track 13: Sash! and La Trec – Stay
Great electro lines, but the vocals are a bit overblown.
Track 14: Dario G – Sunchyme
Love this electro track – lovely feelgood tune. Only just realised right now that the sample is Life In A Northern Town – but it’s done really well, so I won’t moan.
Track 15: Tina Moore – Never Gonna Let You Go
Horrendous nails-down-a-blackboard vocal opening! Then the rest of the track is repetitive and irritating. Not keen at all.
Track 16: Hot Chocolate – You Sexy Thing
We’ve had this one already, on Now! #9. I’m keeping an eye on you, Now! compilers! I’m guessing this was back in the charts due to The Full Monty.
As ever, see the link for my review.
Track 17: N-Trance and Rod Stewart – Da Ya Think I’m Sexy
Slightly messy semi-cover of the 1978 classic. There are far too many vocal lines going on, but somehow it works.
Track 18: LL Cool J – Phenomenon
Good head-nodder, quite like this one.
Track 19: 911 – Party People…Friday Night
I’ve always quite liked this one, if only for the jaunty days-of-the-week bit in the chorus (I have a similar soft spot for 7 Days by Craig David, but I’m sure we’ll get to that later).
Track 20: Ricky Martin – María
I started studying Spanish the year after this, so I was a huge fan of Ricky Martin and had all his albums. This one is a great, danceable, Latin-flavoured track, an early indicator of the Latin pop craze that would characterise the turn of the millennium.
Speaking of which…
Track 21: Bellini – Samba De Janeiro
…here’s another. Absolutely classic trumpet line, great dance track.
Track 22: DJ Quicksilver – Free
Oh, it’s this one! Really like the electro lines on this – great tune.
Track 23: Wet Wet Wet – Yesterday
‘Not on Spotify’ Type 2: YouTube Pause (TM).
Utterly pointless cover of the Beatles classic. There is nothing different about this version at all except for an irritating country-tinged twangy guitar instrumental in the middle.
Track 24: George Michael – You Have Been Loved
Lovely tune, but it’s a bit slow for me.
Track 25: The Verve – The Drugs Don’t Work
Depressing in a bad way. I’ve never been keen on this one.
Track 26: Oasis – Stand By Me
This track has a really irritating chord change sequence in the chorus that messes up the time signature in an infuriating way. It’s been driving me nuts for over twenty years, and as such, I’m not a fan of this song.
Example of a song that messes up the time signature in a nice, pleasant way: Golden Brown by the Stranglers. I think I’ll go listen to that once this compilation is done.
Track 27: Embrace – All You Good Good People
Nice tune, but I’m not keen on the vocals, as they sound kind of droning.
Track 28: Faithless – Don’t Leave
I really liked this one at the time ’cause I had it on the A Life Less Ordinary soundtrack. It’s still a good tune.
Track 29: Radiohead – Karma Police
Great tune, but I’m not hugely keen on the theme.
Track 30: Moby – James Bond Theme
I have often said throughout this Now! marathon that I love a James Bond theme. This is slightly different, as instead of being a new song released for a James Bond film, it’s an electro cover of the main theme. It’s okay, but you shouldn’t really mess with a classic.
Track 31: PF Project and Ewan McGregor – Choose Life
Dance track with Ewan McGregor’s ‘choose life‘ monologue from Trainspotting over the top of it. The track itself is pretty awful, so the monologue is the only bit that’s of interest.
Track 32: Robbie Williams – Lazy Days
Annoying dregs-of-Britpop tune. Not keen on this one.
Track 33: Ash – A Life Less Ordinary
Another one that’s (obviously) off the A Life Less Ordinary soundtrack. Great chorus, but the verses are pretty boring.
Track 34: Texas – Black Eyed Boy
Great beat, great tune. One of my favourite Texas tracks.
Track 35: Meredith Brooks – Bitch
Loved it at the time, makes me cringe a bit now, mainly because my friends and I all loved to adapt the lyrics when literally bitching about other girls at school. Growing up is a good thing.
Track 36: Jon Bon Jovi – Janie, Don’t Take Your Love To Town
Irritating tune, not a fan of this one.
Track 37: Ocean Colour Scene – Better Day
Lovely tune, great atmosphere – a longtime favourite.
Track 38: Cast – I’m So Lonely
Dreary, depressing tune. Not keen.
Track 39: Conner Reeves – Earthbound
‘Not on Spotify’ Type 2: YouTube Pause (TM).
The vocals are far too saccharine for me, but the tune’s quite nice.
Track 40: Peter Andre – Lonely
Another slow, cheesy tune. Blurgh.
Also, while Cast (see above) are so lonely, Peter Andre is just lonely full stop. I’m pretty sure this was deliberate on the part of the Now! compilers…
Track 41: Boyz II Men – Four Seasons Of Loneliness
…especially now that Boyz II Men have both of them beat by being lonely all year round. It shouldn’t be a competition, guys!
The piano instrumental on this one’s quite nice, but in general it’s yet another ballad that’s too slow and too saccharine for my liking.
I hate cleaning, but as I didn’t have time to do it during my month-long busy work period, the house was a pigsty by the end of last week. What’s more, we’ve got people in the house who aren’t us at various points over the next few weeks, so today I just gritted my teeth and got on with it. The house is clean and tidy now, and I feel so much better for it.
Generally, clutter and mess really depress me, so in an ideal world I would just clean the house once a week in order to keep on top of it and keep my surroundings pleasant and comforting. However, sometimes there just isn’t the time, and as a result my mood drops, often without me realising why.
Having cleaned, I feel so much better tonight than I have done all week! I’d feel even better if the house was properly finished in terms of the piles of boxes that are still unpacked, but that’s still a few months away. One step at a time.
Day 37, and Now! #37, released 14th July 1997.
Let’s have a listen to some artists who have almost certainly never played live in the Outer Hebrides.
Track 1: Hanson – MMMBop
Loved Hanson at the time, as did all my friends – my walls were covered in their posters! Nowadays I find this one pretty cringeworthy though.
Track 2: Eternal and Bebe Winans – I Wanna Be The Only One
I’ve always quite liked this one – the chorus is great.
Track 3: The Cardigans – Lovefool
A huge favourite! Loved it then, love it now. Gorgeous tune.
Track 4: No Doubt – Just A Girl
Another great tune from No Doubt – great beat, great instrumentals.
Track 5: Sash! and Rodriguez – Ecuador
I adored this at the time and played it over and over. It’s still my favourite Sash! track.
Track 6: No Mercy – Where Do You Go
I’d totally forgotten about this one. It’s quite a good dance track, through I’m not hugely keen on the chorus reference to ’60s hit Where Do You Go To (My Lovely), which I find to be a super irritating song!
Track 7: Spice Girls – Who Do You Think You Are
This was a double A-side with Mama, and this is undoubtedly the better song in my opinion. It was the Comic Relief single for 1997, and it had a dance to go with it, which was the absolute best thing a song could have at the time. Great tune.
Track 8: Ultra Naté – Free
Annoyed by it at the time, still find the chorus a bit irritating now.
Track 9: Rosie Gaines – Closer Than Close
Oh, it’s this one! The backing track is dull, but there’s something I find quite endearing about the vocals.
Track 10: George Michael – Star People
Quite like the instrumentals, but it’s a boring tune.
Track 11: En Vogue – Don’t Let Go (Love)
Absolutely beautiful song – love this one.
Track 12: Shola Ama – You Might Need Somebody
Originally an ’80s track, but this is the version everybody knows. I’ve never been that keen on this tune – I don’t like the chorus.
Track 13: Coolio and 40 Thevz – C U When U Get There
I like the sample from Pachelbel’s Canon in D, even when it goes a bit electro and odd. The rap’s a bit generic, though.
Track 14: Warren G and Ron Isley – Smokin’ Me Out
‘Not on Spotify’ Type 2: YouTube Pause (TM).
Nice atmosphere on the intro, but I find the rest of the track a bit messy.
Track 15: R Kelly – I Believe I Can Fly
Quite liked it at the time, find it massively overplayed and irritating now.
Track 16: Damage – Wonderful Tonight
Soul-tinged cover of the Eric Clapton classic, generally a bit uninspired. Not different enough to be worthwhile in my opinion (even if they do change the blonde subject of the song into a brunette!).
Obligatory ‘I hate pointless ’90s covers’ rant: this was the first version of this song I ever heard. I still can’t believe that.
Track 17: 911 – The Journey
Slow, dull ballad. Not keen on this one.
Track 18: Boyzone – Isn’t It A Wonder
This one’s far too saccharine for me, I’m afraid.
Track 19: Backstreet Boys – Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)
I suggested this song the other day when Geth and I were in the pub trying to come up with songs that had ‘game‘ in the title for a boardgame-themed playlist. I wouldn’t actually put it in a playlist, though, ’cause it’s cheesy and irritating.
Track 20: N-Tyce – Hey DJ! (Play That Song)
I quite like the backing track, but the vocals are super annoying.
Track 21: Foxy Brown and Jay-Z – I’ll Be
The rap is good, but there’s not enough of a tune for me.
Track 22: Wet Wet Wet – If I Never See You Again
Slow beat, slightly irritating tune, but at least it’s got a nice classic edge to it.
Track 23: U2 – Staring At The Sun
Nice atmosphere, but again, the tune is slow and dull.
Track 24: The Verve – Bitter Sweet Symphony
Overplayed at the time, irritating now, and of course it’s not helped by that infuriating video.
Track 25: The Seahorses – Love Is The Law
Really like the guitar intro and the melody – great tune.
Track 26: Ocean Colour Scene – Hundred Mile High City
Another rock classic from OCS, with a slightly ’60s tinge about it. Awesome track.
Track 27: Robbie Williams – Old Before I Die
I like the theme, but I’m not hugely keen on the tune.
Track 28: Cast – Guiding Star
Oh, it’s this one. I’ve always found the vocal hook super annoying – not a fan.
Track 29: Paul McCartney – Young Boy
Nice upbeat track, like the tune. Good stuff.
Track 30: Sheryl Crow – A Change Would Do You Good
The ‘change’ here for me is that I actually quite like this one, which is a first for the Sheryl Crow tracks that have been on Now! compilations so far. Nice beat and atmosphere on the verses.
Track 31: Radiohead – Paranoid Android
Nice tune on the instrumentals, but the vocal line is depressing (and not in a good way).
Track 32: Texas – Halo
Lovely tune, apart from the chorus, which annoys me.
Track 33: Supergrass – Sun Hits The Sky
And this one’s vice versa – irritating, repetitive tune on the verses, but the chorus is all right.
Track 34: James – Waltzing Along
Great track – love the melody on this one, and the atmosphere’s really nice too.
Track 35: Blur – On Your Own
Great beat, interesting instrumentals, but once the vocal is added to the mix it becomes a bit messy.
Track 36: Fun Lovin’ Criminals – Scooby Snacks
I’ve always really liked this one! Great singalong track.
Track 37: Orbital – The Saint
Electronica cover of the theme tune to The Saint. It’s as random as it sounds.
Track 38: Brainbug – Nightmare
Great spiky electro dance, really like this one.
Track 39: The Course – Ain’t Nobody
Messy dance cover of the Chaka Khan classic. It’s pretty atrocious.
Track 40: Todd Terry, Martha Wash and Jocelyn Brown – Something Going On
Oh, it’s this one! Generic beat to start off, but the vocals are quite nice.
Track 41: Diddy – Give Me Love
No, it’s not the hip-hop act – he was known as ‘Puff Daddy’ at the time. ’90s Diddy was a dance producer, and I reckon he should probably have sued when Puff Daddy decided to change his name.
The track is a pretty generic dance offering, very forgettable.
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.
