It’s been a ‘train’ kind of week for various reasons and so this 1984 cracker from OMD has been a frequent earworm.
Love a silly train video! Especially a silly train video from the ’80s.
Tag: Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
Music Review: Now! That’s What I Call Music #103
It’s the annual summer Now! release – Now! 103 has been released today, 19th July 2019.
Let’s see which recent tracks have been included.
Track 1: Lil’ Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus – Old Town Road [Remix]
New Hits Friday review, plus video review.
I’ve still got a real soft spot for this comedy cowboy rap track, especially since Billy Ray Cyrus showed up on the chorus for this new version.
Track 2: Ed Sheeran, Chance The Rapper and PnB Rock – Cross Me
New Hits Friday review, plus video review.
This one’s a bit of a grower and a fairly frequent earworm.
Track 3: Billie Eilish – Bad Guy
This one, conversely, has got more annoying. I quite liked it when I first heard it, but I find it overplayed now.
Track 4: Avicii and Aloe Blacc – SOS
I’ve always quite liked these EDM-bluegrass tracks that Avicii did, and it’s nice if bittersweet that we’re getting the posthumous releases now.
Track 5: Katy Perry – Never Really Over
This is another one that I’m starting to find irritating after hearing it so often!
Track 6: Ariana Grande – Break Up With Your Girlfriend, I’m Bored
This was released back in February and was a fairly frequent earworm for me in the early spring, but I’ve not heard it in months so I’m a bit surprised the Now! compilers have held it over for this compilation. It’s another one that annoys me now.
Track 7: Meduza and Goodboys – Piece Of Your Heart
New Hits Friday review, plus video review.
It’s a very catchy chorus, so I can understand why it was such a big hit, but again I just find it really irritating now after months of radio play!
Track 8: Stormzy – Vossi Bop
I wasn’t sure at first, but I’ve really grown to like this atmospheric track!
Track 9: Shawn Mendes – If I Can’t Have You
I still quite like this tune! (I’m also endlessly confused by the lyric ‘I’m in Toronto and I got this view/But I might as well be in a hotel room’ – if he’s visiting Toronto, and he’s not in a hotel room, then where is he? Staying with a friend who has a really good view? Why is this not explained in the song?)
Track 10: Mark Ronson and Camila Cabello – Find U Again
New Hits Friday review, plus video review.
Still very fond of this pop track!
Track 11: Mabel – Mad Love
This is another song that has really grown on me.
Track 12: Sigala and Becky Hill – Wish You Well
New Hits Friday review, plus video review.
Again, I’m starting to get a bit weary of this one due to radio overplay.
Track 13: Pink and Cash Cash – Can We Pretend
Not a hit – it only got to number 88. The album got to number one, though.
It’s a good pop tune, if a little cheesy for my liking.
Track 14: Jess Glynne and Jax Jones – One Touch
New Hits Friday review, plus video review.
This one is really, really grating after a few listens! Not a fan at all.
Track 15: Zara Larsson – Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me
I quite like the upbeat backing track, but on the whole I find this one a bit forgettable.
Track 16: CamelPhat and Jake Bugg – Be Someone
Not a hit – it only got to number 59.
I’m a bit surprised to hear indie singer-songwriter Jake Bugg on one of CamelPhat’s dance tracks, but his voice actually works quite well here.
Track 17: Jax Jones, Martin Solveig and Madison Beer – All Day And Night
Repeated artist alert! We’ve already had Jax Jones on track 14.
New Hits Friday review, plus video review.
The hook is a bit annoying, but I still find this one very danceable.
Track 18: Martin Garrix, Macklemore and Patrick Stump – Summer Days
Another track that has really grown on me – great beat and great funk bassline.
Track 19: Little Mix – Bounce Back
It’s okay pop, but I find it a bit uninspired, and the Back To Life (However Do You Want Me) interpolation is slightly insipid.
Track 20: Jonas Blue and Theresa Rex – What I Like About You
This one is too cheesy for me and very forgettable.
Track 21: The Chainsmokers and 5 Seconds Of Summer – Who Do You Love?
I’m not keen on the tune, and that chorus is super annoying.
Track 22: Miley Cyrus – Mother’s Daughter
New Hits Friday review, plus video review.
I said when I first heard this that I thought it would become a frequent earworm, and it certainly has. It’s also become one of my favourite tracks in the chart at the moment.
Track 23: Jonas Brothers – Cool
It’s not really my thing, but at least it’s got a tune.
Track 24: 5 Seconds Of Summer – Easier
Repeated artist alert! We’ve already had 5 Seconds Of Summer on track 21.
I’ve not changed my opinion on this one – it’s still squeaky and annoying. It’s also a terrible earworm, which makes it even more irritating.
Track 25: Steel Banglez, AJ Tracey and Mostack – Fashion Week
I still find this one a bit repetitive.
Track 26: Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello – Señorita
Double repeated artist alert! We’ve already had Shawn Mendes on track 9 and Camila Cabello on track 10.
I’ve not been to dance class for a few weeks but I fully expect to hear this slow Latin-tinged track as cooldown music when I go back.
Track 27: Lewis Capaldi – Hold Me While You Wait
New Hits Friday review, plus video review.
Pretty tune as ever from Lewis Capaldi. Nice chillout music.
Track 28: Ariana Grande and Victoria Monét – Monopoly
Repeated artist alert! We’ve already had Ariana Grande on track 6.
I still find this one pretty dull.
Track 29: Avicii – Heaven
Repeated artist alert! We’ve already had Avicii on track 4.
New Hits Friday review, plus video review.
This one’s a nice feelgood summery tune.
Track 30: David Guetta and Raye – Stay (Don’t Go Away)
Not a hit – it only got to number 41.
Nice atmospheric dance track with a slightly retro feel.
Track 31: Bastille – Joy
Not a hit – it only got to number 46. The album got to number four, though.
I find this tune a bit depressing, which I don’t think is the intention!
Track 32: Elton John and Taron Egerton – (I’m Gonna) Love Me Again
Not actually released as a single – this is from the Rocketman soundtrack album, which got to number five.
I’ve not seen the film, but this is a fairly straightforward semi-cover (I would call it pointless if it weren’t meant to be a close replica!).
Track 33: Kylie Minogue – New York City
Not actually released as a single – this is a bonus track from her recent compilation album Step Back In Time: The Definitive Collection, which got to number one.
The track has a great disco feel, and I love the spoken word intro.
Track 34: Ellie Goulding – Sixteen
I still find this one saccharine and irritating.
Track 35: OneRepublic – Rescue Me
Not a hit – it only got to number 52.
I really like the guitar on this one.
Track 36: Dominic Fike – 3 Nights
I do still like this, but I’m finding it to be a bit overplayed at the moment.
Track 37: Lighthouse Family – My Salvation
Not actually released as a single – this is from their recent album Blue Sky In My Head, which got to number three.
Great atmosphere on this track – I’m tempted to check out the album now!
Track 38: Emeli Sandé – Sparrow
Not a hit, and not released properly as a single, though it did get to number 53 on the official download charts.
It’s a pretty tune with nice tinkly instrumentals, but it’s a little slow for me.
Track 39: Sam Fender – Hypersonic Missiles
Not a hit – it only got to number 65.
I find the song a bit dull, but it’s good to see indie-ish stuff on here alongside the pop and rap tracks.
Track 40: Liam Gallagher – Shockwave
I’m still gutted that, other than this track and a brief appearance by Catfish & The Bottlemen, there has been absolutely no rock music in the charts in 2019. I’m really hoping this trend reverses itself at some point during the 2020s!
Track 41: James Arthur – Falling Like The Stars
New Hits Friday review, plus video review.
I can’t stand this one. It’s way too saccharine for me, and the lyrics contain James Arthur’s favourite ‘romantic trope’ about holding girls’ hair back while they vomit due to overconsumption of alcohol. I have very little patience for that kind of message.
Track 42: Westlife – Better Man
This one’s still too cheesy for me.
Track 43: Taron Egerton – Rocketman
Repeated artist alert! We’ve already had Taron Egerton on track 32.
Again, this one is from the Rocketman soundtrack and hasn’t been released as an actual single.
It’s another straightforward cover – Taron Egerton’s voice is sort of similar but not identical to Elton’s, which gives it a slight uncanny valley feel.
Track 44: Himesh Patel – Yesterday
Here’s another soundtrack song – this one is from the soundtrack to Yesterday, which got to number 40 in the album chart.
Like the Elton covers, this is arranged pretty identically to the Beatles original, which, as I understand it from reading about the film’s plot, is to be expected.
Track 45: Grandmaster Flash and Grandmaster Melle Mel – White Lines (Don’t Do It)
We’ve already had this track on Now! #3…because the Now! compilers are doing exactly the same thing as they did on the last compilation, and so the last few tracks are all bonus tracks that originally appeared on the third release back in 1984! Now! #3 is also being re-released today, on CD for the first time. I really need to start picking up these re-releases again – I got Now! #1 on CD last summer but haven’t bought Now! #2 yet.
Because the Now! company was posting Duran Duran pictures in order to tease the re-release on social media, I was hopeful that they’d include The Reflex as a bonus track, but sadly there was no love for it this time round – I’ll just have to enjoy the original White Lines (famously a DD cover a decade later) instead!
See my review on Now! #3 – track 10.
Track 46: Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark – Locomotion
Love OMD and I’m gutted I missed out on tickets for their upcoming tour!
See my review on Now! #3 – track 4.
Track 47: The Weather Girls – It’s Raining Men
Still a party classic!
See my review on Now! #3 – track 26.
Track 48: Nik Kershaw – I Won’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me
Not my favourite Nik Kershaw track, but still a good tune.
See my review on Now! #3 – track 2.
We’ll return to the world of Now! in the autumn for Now! #104 (and presumably a re-release of Now! #4!).
Music Review: Now! That’s What I Call Music #34
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.
Music Review: Now! That’s What I Call Music #25
Day 25, and today’s Now! compilation was released on 2nd August 1993.
Can you believe we’re quarter of the way through this Now! journey already? I certainly can.
Track 1: George Michael and Queen – Somebody To Love
It’s not really a cover when it’s your own song, right? George Michael’s vocals are great, but nothing beats the Queen original for me.
Track 2: 4 Non Blondes – What’s Up?
Great chant-along track – I’ve always liked this one.
Track 3: Tina Turner – I Don’t Wanna Fight
Nice tune, nice beat. Quite like this track.
Track 4: Ace Of Base – All That She Wants
Hands down the best track Ace Of Base ever did. Absolutely love this one!
Track 5: Gabrielle – Dreams
Gorgeous introspective classic – absolutely lovely song.
Track 6: Lena Fiagbe – You Come From Earth
‘Not on Spotify’ Type 2: YouTube Pause (TM).
Pretty tune, but a bit slow for me.
Track 7: REM – Everybody Hurts
Everybody hurts, and everybody except me absolutely loves this song. It’s alright, it’s just really overplayed.
Track 8: New Order – Regret
One of my favourite New Order tracks – absolutely beautiful tune. That guitar riff is just gorgeous.
Track 9: Freddie Mercury – Living On My Own
Love the synth line, if not the daft yodeling at the start. Great atmosphere.
Track 10: Gloria Gaynor – I Will Survive
’70s classic back in the charts. I remember them always playing the video on Top of the Pops at the time, I guess because Gloria Gaynor wasn’t available to come back and perform it.
Track 11: Inner Circle – Sweat (A La La La La Long)
I’ve always liked this daft track, though I probably shouldn’t. Great singalong chorus.
Track 12: Chaka Demus & Pliers – Tease Me
Not hugely keen on the tune – it’s a bit dull for me.
Track 13: Louchie Lou & Michie One – Shout
Laidback cover of the Isley Brothers classic. Because I knew this one first, I actually always find the original (and the Lulu version, which gets played more often) a bit frenetic.
Track 14: Shabba Ranks and Maxi Priest – Housecall
Nice head-nodder once it gets going.
Track 15: Duran Duran – Come Undone
Yup, I still love Duran Duran, even though they’ve gone all grown-up on me with their ’90s stuff. This track has a wonderful, brooding atmosphere all the way through, with lovely guitar lines and a gorgeous tune on the chorus.
Track 16: Paul Weller – Sunflower
Paul Weller’s gone solo and therefore dull. I had to listen to a lot of his ’90s stuff on family car journeys and I’m not a fan.
Track 17: Kingmaker – Ten Years Asleep
Good danceable beat, but the tune’s a bit boring.
Track 18: 2 Unlimited – Tribal Dance
Another solid dance track from 2 Unlimited – good stuff.
Track 19: Robin S – Luv 4 Luv
A bit too similar to Show Me Love for me, but it’s okay.
Track 20: Sybil – When I’m Good And Ready
Bit generic – not a fan of this one.
Track 21: Dannii Minogue – This Is It
I’ve always loved this cover of the Melba Moore classic – pure solid feelgood pop, can’t fault it.
Track 22: The Time Frequency – The Ultimate High
Good upbeat dance track – like this one.
Track 23: Jon Secada – Do You Really Want Me
Good head-nodder, nice tune.
Track 24: Kim Wilde – If I Can’t Have You
Happily flashing back here to three weeks ago, when I saw Kim Wilde perform this live with the whole audience bellowing along. Was it really three weeks ago? My all-encompassing work project has made my sense of time a bit squiffy.
Great singalong track, love it.
Track 25: East 17 – West End Girls
‘Not on Spotify’ Type 2: YouTube Pause (TM).
Questionable cover of the Pet Shop Boys classic. The original is one of my favourite songs of all time, so I was never going to be impressed by this.
Track 26: Joey Lawrence – Nothin’ My Love Can’t Fix
‘Not on Spotify’ Type 2: YouTube Pause (TM).
I had a poster of Joey Lawrence (who was mostly an actor) at the time. I never watched any of his shows, I think I just liked the poster.
Anyway, the track. It’s pretty generic, but it’s an okay pop song once it gets to the chorus. He should probably have stuck to acting, though.
Track 27: Efua – Somewhere
‘Not on Spotify’ Type 2: YouTube Pause (TM).
Interesting spoken word verses, okay backing track. Quite like this one.
Track 28: Sade – No Ordinary Love
Lovely vocals, but a bit slow for me.
Track 29: Richard Darbyshire – This I Swear
Dull tune, saccharine vocals. Not keen on this one, though the sax solo does improve it a bit.
Track 30: Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark – Dream Of Me
Typically lovely synth from OMD – good stuff.
Track 31: D:Ream – U R The Best Thing
Great upbeat dance-pop, really like this one.
Track 32: Juliet Roberts – Caught In The Middle
Another nice upbeat track – happily nodding along here.
Track 33: Oui 3 – Break From The Old Routine
Not enough melody for me, but the rap’s okay.
Track 34: Utah Saints – I Want You
Nice beat, but there’s a bit too much going on with the track for me.
Track 35: Jesus Jones – Zeroes And Ones
Geth: ‘We’ve definitely hit critical greebo.’
Good upbeat head-nodder for me, good end to the compilation.
Music Review: Now! That’s What I Call Music #20
Day 20’s Now! compilation was released on 18th November 1991.
I doubt any of the following tracks will be as pleasing as my pompom dress, but let’s have a listen anyway.
Track 1: Vic Reeves and The Wonder Stuff – Dizzy
Big Wonder Stuff fan – have seen them fairly often – so I really like this cover of the Tommy Roe classic that they did with Vic Reeves. There’s enough folky instrumentals here to make it quite different from the original – good stuff.
Track 2: Belinda Carlisle – Live Your Life Be Free
Vocals are a bit overblown here for my liking, but I do like the track, especially the rockier edge.
Track 3: U2 – The Fly
Urgh, the ’90s, when U2 got boring. Dull tune, repetitive vocals, no fun anymore.
Track 4: Pet Shop Boys – Where The Streets Have No Name (I Can’t Take My Eyes Off You)
And speaking of U2…being a synthpop nut, I do actually prefer this cover to the original. Sorry, Bono & Co.
Track 5: Erasure – Love To Hate You
Another solid synth track from Erasure – gotta love that I Will Survive sampling. This is a good example of a sample from a classic tune being used in a track that actually suits it.
Track 6: Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark – Sailing On The Seven Seas
I’m a huge fan of OMD’s stuff, and this is a good solid track, even though it’s not quite as synthy as their earlier work. Great chant-along vocals.
Track 7: Simply Red – Something Got Me Started
I know I said before that the ’80s are my favourite Simply Red era, but this is definitely my favourite individual song of theirs. Great instrumentals, wonderful atmosphere on the vocals, nice upbeat tempo, and that sax-into-piano solo is mega. Love it.
Track 8: Lisa Stansfield – Change
Dreary vocals, boring backing track. Not a fan of this one.
Track 9: Zoë – Sunshine On A Rainy Day
Something about the vocal annoys me here. I’m not keen on the tune either.
Track 10: Salt-N-Pepa – Let’s Talk About Sex
This was a favourite for kids in my class to sing loudly in my primary school playground in 1991, probably because it was risque and hence kind of rebellious in the thinking of a six-year-old.
I think it was also popularised by the ‘Let’s Talk About Juice’ version in the Fruit-Tella advert (was it Fruit-Tella? Let me google that a minute. Um, googling was inconclusive, but it did tell me that it was definitely Fruit-Tella that did the ‘I’m Too Juicy’ takeoff of Right Said Fred’s I’m Too Sexy, so I’m fairly sure they must have done this one too).
I will probably end up doing a whole post soon about how advertising doesn’t work in this respect. I remember pretty much every TV advert shown during my ’90s childhood, but I can hardly ever remember what the exact product was that they were advertising.
Track 11: Color Me Badd – I Wanna Sex You Up
Bit of a repetitive one, but I’ve got a bit of a soft spot for it due to it being another one that was used in Britain’s Got The Pop Factor.
Track 12: Kenny Thomas – Best Of You
It’s a nice upbeat tempo, but I find the song a bit dull.
Track 13: Prince and The New Power Generation – Gett Off
Prince is another artist who really went downhill in the ’90s as far as I’m concerned. Not enough melody or joy for me here.
Track 14: Rozalla – Faith (In The Power Of Love)
Nice upbeat dance track, and that sax solo is lovely. Some really interesting instrumentals here.
Track 15: 2 Unlimited – Get Ready For This
‘Not on Spotify’ Type 2: YouTube Pause (TM).
Absolute classic dance track from childhood – played at every birthday party in the early ’90s, often during pass-the-parcel in order to ramp the adrenaline up.
Track 16: Moby – Go
Nice epic atmosphere, though the track is a bit repetitive.
Track 17: The Justified Ancients Of Mu Mu – It’s Grim Up North [Part 1]
‘Not on Spotify’ Type 2: YouTube Pause (TM).
This is another alias of the KLF, incidentally. Good brooding dance track, really like this one. That Jerusalem sampling is inspired.
Track 18: PM Dawn – Set Adrift On Memory Bliss
Okay a cappella intro, but then we’re straight into the misplaced sampling of Spandau Ballet’s True with awful spoken word and cacophonic clashing vocals over the top. Just terrible.
Track 19: Paul Young – Don’t Dream (It’s Over)
Utterly pointless cover of the Crowded House classic from a whole five years earlier. Why did people even buy covers like this? Surely the original was still available to buy on an album in the record shops!
Track 20: Enya – Caribbean Blue
Beautiful chillout track from Enya – lovely stuff.
Track 21: Julian Lennon – Saltwater
Really nice instrumentals, though the vocals are pretty dull.
Track 22: Paula Abdul – Rush Rush
Nice tune, but it’s a bit slow for me. Interesting violin solo, though!
Track 23: Jason Donovan – Any Dream Will Do
This was too cheesy for me even as a six-year-old, though lots of my classmates loved it, which meant we had to sing it in music class a lot. Blurgh.
Track 24: Cathy Dennis – Too Many Walls
Again, solid pop, but I’d prefer it if it were a bit more upbeat.
Track 25: Alison Moyet – This House
Obligatory ‘going to see this artist soon!’ squee. Well, if you can count next February as ‘soon’…
Beautiful slow ballad with an epic, dramatic atmosphere and gorgeous lyrics. Hope she plays this one when I go see her!
Track 26: Marc Cohn – Walking In Memphis
Classic, beautiful song – absolutely love this one.
(I even have a real soft spot for the later Cher cover, though that one really is pointless – it’s just this version with Cher’s vocals on top. Anyway, I won’t get ahead of myself in case it features later.)
Track 27: Glass Tiger – My Town
Cheesy pop-rock, pretty generic. Not a fan.
Track 28: Scorpions – Wind Of Change
Lovely epic atmosphere, great rock ballad.
Track 29: INXS – Shining Star
Nice interesting track from INXS – great vocals, good build to the song, nice sax towards the end.
Track 30: Roxette – Joyride
Another great upbeat bit of pop-rock from Roxette – great stuff.
Track 31: James – Sit Down
A classic bit of ’90s indie. When I saw them at Beautiful Days in 2009 they actually finished with this one, which is apparently not at all usual, because being their biggest hit it’s the one they’re sick of. I do like it, though.
Track 32: Voice Of The Beehive – I Think I Love You
Really like those guitar instrumentals, and the atmosphere is great. This is probably the best version of the Partridge Family track as far as I’m concerned – it’s so different and so interesting.
Track 33: Slade – Radio Wall Of Sound
‘Not on Spotify’ Type 1: lazy tribute version substitute.
Slade’s earlier stuff is amazing to me, but this track is a bit rock-by-numbers, though I do like that singalong chorus.
Track 34: Monty Python – Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life
Not sure why this classic Life of Brian soundtrack song was back in the charts, but here it is. Pleasant diversion, but it’s a bit ‘novelty’ for me.
Track 35: Don McLean – American Pie
Often back in the charts since its original 1971 release, this is a great classic to end on! Beautiful lyrics, lovely tune, absolutely worth its eight-minute-plus running time.
Music Review: Now! That’s What I Call Music #8
Day 8’s Now! compilation was released on 24th November 1986.
Let’s move onto the music.
Track 1: Duran Duran – Notorious
Yup, I still love Duran Duran. I also wish the Now! compilers would start putting their tracks later in the mix. I appreciate the need to start with a great tune, but sometimes it’s nice to save the best for last!
The song is one of my favourites (and not just for that Sparkle Motion bit in Donnie Darko that everyone always brings up). I love the ‘no-no-notorious’ hook, the way the verses build, the funk guitar – great track.
Track 2: Pet Shop Boys – Suburbia
Another great track from Pet Shop Boys – absolutely beautiful chorus and synth line.
Track 3: Aerosmith and Run DMC – Walk This Way
Bit overplayed these days, but still a classic, although I have to say I prefer the original version that Aerosmith did themselves.
Track 4: The Communards and Sarah Jane Morris – Don’t Leave Me This Way
A childhood favourite and one of the first pop songs I learnt to sing along to! I guess when you’re a toddler it’s easier to hit those high notes.
I discovered while Richard Coles was competing on Strictly last year that he’s responsible for the longest piano solo of the ’80s, which occurs in the middle of this song. Plus points!
Track 5: Swing Out Sister – Breakout
Nice and upbeat, but there’s something about the vocal that annoys me.
Track 6: Steve Winwood – Higher Love
Charming song, always liked this one. Great instrumentals, and I love that singalong chorus.
Track 7: Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark – (Forever) Live And Die
A bit slower than usual for OMD, but still a lovely tune.
Track 8: Genesis – In Too Deep
Nice epic instrumentals building throughout the song – really like this one.
Track 9: Cameo – Word Up
Another classic. There have been a lot of pointless ’90s, ’00s and ’10s covers in an attempt to replicate the greatness of this song, but nothing has come close to the original.
Track 10: Grace Jones – I’m Not Perfect (But I’m Perfect For You)
I do like Grace Jones, and I really like the atmosphere of this track, especially during the verses.
Track 11: Mel & Kim – Showing Out (Get Fresh At The Weekend)
I’ve got a huge soft spot for Mel & Kim, and I really like this one, even though every time it pops up on Vintage TV Geth complains that they never show Respectable, which he apparently remembers as being a much bigger hit.
Track 12: Jermaine Stewart – We Don’t Have To Take Our Clothes Off
I love this one! I never actually heard it until 2011, when it re-entered the charts after being featured in a Dairy Milk TV advert. Great pop track.
Track 13: Jaki Graham – Step Right Up
Probably the best out of the Jaki Graham tracks that the Now! compilers have chosen recently. Nice upbeat track with a catchy chorus.
Track 14: Janet Jackson – What Have You Done For Me Lately?
Quite a fun tune, but the lyrics annoy me.
Track 15: The Human League – Human
I really like this lovely, introspective track – a bit of a departure from the Human League’s earlier stuff, but really nice.
Track 16: Boris Gardiner – I Want To Wake Up With You
Bit cheesy for my liking, though I like the reggae beat.
Track 17: Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush – Don’t Give Up
‘Not on Spotify’ Type 2: YouTube Pause (TM).
Lovely duet, lovely tune. Really like this one.
Track 18: The Housemartins – Think For A Minute
I don’t think the Housemartins did a bad tune, and this is gorgeous as usual.
Track 19: Madness – (Waiting For) The Ghost Train
‘Not on Spotify’ Type 2: YouTube Pause (TM).
Madness turn their hand to ‘spooky’. Another one for the Hallowe’en playlist!
Track 20: Status Quo – In The Army Now
I really like the atmosphere of this one, and I’m not the biggest Status Quo fan. Great track.
Track 21: Huey Lewis & The News – Stuck With You
A bit daft and cheesy, but it’s a nice head-nodder.
Track 22: Big Country – One Great Thing
This is a better Big Country track than has been included on Now! compilations so far. Nice chant-along chorus.
Track 23: Billy Bragg – Greetings To The New Brunette
I like Billy Bragg’s stuff, though I wouldn’t necessarily add it to a typical ’80s party playlist. It’s more for post-party listening circa 4am. This one’s got a nice tune and awesome lyrics.
Track 24: Cutting Crew – (I Just) Died In Your Arms
A favourite from back during my first flush of ’80s nostalgia in the early ’00s – I played it over and over. I was lucky enough to see Cutting Crew play back in November, and the crowd naturally went absolutely nuts for this one. I think that was the point that Geth and I decided we were no longer going to be stuck in the upper gallery at the Sage, where the party is decidedly not happening. Apart from anything else, you can’t take drinks into the upper levels! This decision turned out to be a good one on Monday night, when we went to the Kim Wilde gig and enjoyed a much more high-energy atmosphere down on the floor.
Speaking of Kim Wilde…
Track 25: Kim Wilde – You Keep Me Hangin’ On
Is it another excuse to post the slightly blurry video I took of Kim Wilde performing this song on Monday night? I think it is!
I like most stuff that Kim Wilde has done, but this is my absolute favourite track of hers. Stunning cover of the ’60s classic that brings it storming into 1986 – amazing epic atmosphere.
Track 26: It Bites – Calling All The Heroes
Good pop track, though the messed up beat at the start annoys me a bit. Great singalong chorus.
Track 27: Doctor & The Medics and Roy Wood – Waterloo
Utterly daft cover. Sadly, I’m going to have to class it as a ‘pointless ’80s cover’, as it’s just not different enough from the Abba version.
Track 28: Debbie Harry – French Kissin’ In The USA
Okay song, but this has never come close to her Blondie classics for me.
Track 29: Robert Palmer – I Didn’t Mean To Turn You On
I really like Robert Palmer’s stuff, and this one is great – awesome instrumentals throughout.
Incidentally, it’s interesting in today’s climate to hear a song of this theme from a male singer.
Track 30: Paul Hardcastle – The Wizard
More interesting sampling from Paul Hardcastle. Some great bits of tune on this track.
Track 31: Gwen Guthrie – (They Long To Be) Close To You
Nice gentle cover of the Carpenters track. Not at all a pointless cover – it’s very different.
Track 32: Nick Berry – Every Loser Wins
Really dislike this one, sorry. Cheesy ballad that I believe was released as an Eastenders tie-in. Not a fan.
Music Review: Now! That’s What I Call Music #4
Day 4, and today’s Now! compilation was released on 26th November 1984 (just one day after the recording of the original Do They Know It’s Christmas? by Band Aid, fact fans).
I wonder what the Now! compilers have in store for me today?
Track 1: Paul McCartney – No More Lonely Nights [Special Dance Mix]
I couldn’t find the dance mix, so I’m reviewing the original. Nice tune, but a bit slow for my liking.
Track 2: Giorgio Moroder and Philip Oakey – Together In Electric Dreams
Another one of Geth’s DJing favourites. Great synthpop, love this one. That chorus!
Track 3: Bronski Beat – Why?
Great dance track, really like this one, especially the trumpet instrumentals.
Track 4: Limahl – Neverending Story
Hey, it’s Limahl’s one good solo song that I was talking about the other day! (Well, I say solo – it’s actually a duet with Beth Anderson, but she never gets credited.) Love the ethereal vocals, great tune.
Track 5: Nick Heyward – Warning Sign
I like the guitar instrumentals. Most of the song is a bit pedestrian, but it does step up towards the end. Also, is that a rap at about two-thirds of the way in? You almost never hear that in pop of this era. Interesting.
Track 6: John Waite – Missing You
A favourite. Nice intensity on the chorus, great guitar line.
Track 7: Michael Jackson – Farewell My Summer Love
Bit saccharine for my liking. I prefer Michael Jackson’s stuff when it has a bit of edge.
Track 8: Lionel Richie – Hello
I think most people know this one for the so-bad-it’s-hilarious video, which features Geth’s least favourite trope, that of the icky student-professor relationship. The song is extremely cheesy, but is also in the realm of so-bad-it’s-good for me, and I actually quite like it in a serious way when I’m in the right mood.
True fact: one time in Southampton, a couple of random guys serenaded me on the street with this song. I could not stop laughing, which I’m not sure was the desired effect.
Track 9: Culture Club – The War Song
Argh, it’s another example from the ‘annoying’ end of Culture Club’s back catalogue! I do like some of their stuff…I just can’t think of any examples at the moment.
I forgot to mention during the Karma Chameleon review the other day that that song gets bonus points for inspiring the Lothian Buses ‘Karma Chameleon’ no. 26 bus, which was one of my favourite stories of 2017. It goes to Edinburgh Zoo, is painted in red, gold and green, and says ‘we come and go’ on the back! I am in love. I never go to zoos ’cause I always think the animals look sad, but I gotta get myself on that bus sometime when I’m in Edinburgh.
Um, back to The War Song. ‘War is stupid, and people are stupid‘, and in all honesty I find these lyrics irritatingly stupid too. Sorry.
Track 10: Elton John – Passengers
I quite like this bouncy song when I’m in the right mood, especially the chanting on the chorus.
Track 11: Julian Lennon – Too Late For Goodbyes
Nice upbeat track, though it’s more of a ‘background’ one for me.
Track 12: The Style Council – Shout To The Top!
I’m not usually that keen on the Style Council, but this one’s actually all right – I like the strings on the intro and the slightly urgent atmosphere.
Track 13: Thompson Twins – Doctor! Doctor!
I just remembered I really like this one (great synth line!), so maybe I was a bit hasty in writing off the Thompson Twins during yesterday’s review. Another one that was used well in The Doctor Who Years, which was kind of an obvious choice if you think about it.
Track 14: Heaven 17 – Sunset Now
Typically nice pop from Heaven 17, though I prefer their more synth-y stuff.
Track 15: Kane Gang – Respect Yourself
I’m a big fan of this one, largely because the video was filmed in central Newcastle, and as I only moved to Newcastle in 2015 (and had never been here in my life until Geth and I came to househunt a month before we were due to move), I find it fascinating to see what the Quayside looked like in the mid-’80s before it was de-industrialised and gentrified. Quite like the song too.
Track 16: Tina Turner – Private Dancer
I can’t put my finger on why, but I’ve never really liked this one, even though it does have a couple of nice sax solos.
Track 17: Queen – It’s A Hard Life
Not my favourite Queen song, but I can’t say they ever did a bad song – it’s still a good chair-swayer.
Track 18: Status Quo – The Wanderer
I quite like the jauntiness of this one. It might even make my list of ‘songs I’d dance to at a wedding reception’ – if I’d had a lot of cider.
Track 19: Big Country – East Of Eden
Probably one of the best Big Country songs in my opinion. Great tune and atmosphere.
Track 20: U2 – Pride (In The Name Of Love)
Most of the song is a bit dull, but I do quite like the chorus.
Track 21: Feargal Sharkey – Listen To Your Father
Not only is this song not on Spotify, but there’s no tribute version either, so I couldn’t be lazy this time – I had to pause the playlist and hit up YouTube. So inconvenient.
As for the song, I quite like this one – nice uptempo track and instrumentals, even if the lyrics are a little irritating.
Track 22: Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark – Tesla Girls
Awesome uptempo synthpop. OMD delivering the goods as usual.
Track 23: Kim Wilde – The Second Time
Great piece of pop! It’s everything I love about the ’80s – great bassline and instrumentals, epic atmosphere, strong lyrics. It’s begging to be played on vinyl on my dad’s old sound system, rather than digitally through my tinny laptop earphones.
Incidentally, I’m going to see Kim Wilde at the Sage Gateshead tomorrow! I’M SO EXCITED. Watch out for my review of the gig on Tuesday.
Track 24: Nik Kershaw – Human Racing
A bit slow and dull for me, and there’s something I’m not keen on in the tune. Nice lyrics though.
Track 25: Ray Parker Jr – Ghostbusters
How can you not love this one? The ultimate party song.
I also have many happy memories of playing it on Lego Rock Band. Now that I live in a detached house, I have got to break out those Rock Band drums again. It’s just a case of finding the time!
Track 26: UB40 – If It Happens Again
Another good chair-swayer, but again this one’s a bit more ‘background’ for me.
Track 27: Pointer Sisters – Jump (For My Love)
It’s an okay party song, but I’ve always been a bit ‘meh’ about this one.
Track 28: Level 42 – Hot Water
Good danceable song, great instrumentals.
Track 29: Eurythmics – Sex Crime (Nineteen Eighty-Four)
I really like Eurythmics, and this one’s a great dance song with chantable lyrics. It vastly improves what has been a relatively poor second disc so far.
Track 30: Rockwell – Somebody’s Watching Me
I LOVE this song. Great sing-along track, great for Hallowe’en playlists, great for parties. Awesome video too.
Track 31: Malcolm McLaren – Madam Butterfly
Quite a nice chillout track until the spoken word kicks in. Is there an instrumental version of this?
Track 32: Eugene Wilde – Gotta Get You Home Tonight
Fairly typical ’80s soul. Nice tune, if a bit slow.
Music Review: Now! That’s What I Call Music #3
It’s day 3 of the Now! reviews!
Now! #3 was released on 23rd July 1984, so hopefully its summer release means that there won’t be any Christmas music on this one.
Review time!
Track 1: Duran Duran – The Reflex
What was it I said yesterday? Yeah. Insert daily ‘I love Duran Duran’ statement here. This one, as ever, is brilliant from start to finish – the backing vocals, the slightly mad lyrics, the chant-along bits on the chorus. Love it.
Track 2: Nik Kershaw – I Won’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me
I find this one a bit repetitive. Not Nik Kershaw’s most exciting song.
Track 3: Sister Sledge – Thinking Of You
Not hugely keen on the disco stuff that was still kicking about in the ’80s anyway, and this one’s not even danceable in my opinion.
Track 4: Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark – Locomotion
Love me some OMD. This one’s a bit bouncier and dafter than their usual stuff, but that’s no bad thing.
Track 5: Ultravox – Dancing With Tears In My Eyes
Good song – that short guitar intro is great, as is the tune in general – but the nuclear-war-themed video is really depressing!
Track 6: Howard Jones – Pearl In The Shell
Nice upbeat intro, nice synth line, nice vocals, and I do love a sax solo! Fairly standard Howard Jones.
Track 7: Blancmange – Don’t Tell Me
Great synthpop track – and I would expect no less from Blancmange.
Track 8: Phil Collins – Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now)
Boring ballad. Westlife and Mariah Carey did an even worse version of this in 1999, a pointless ’90s cover* if ever there was one.
Track 9: Frankie Goes To Hollywood – Two Tribes
Great party song! Another nuclear-war-themed video that I find tough to watch despite its cleverness, because the Reagan and Gorbachev impersonators are really ‘uncanny valley’. I guess we know what was on everyone’s minds in 1984. This is the reason I decided to illustrate these posts with family photos rather than current events of the time.
Track 10: Grandmaster Flash and Grandmaster Melle Mel – White Lines (Don’t Do It)
A good head-nodder, with a great vocal, but not really my kind of thing. I do quite like the fact that ostensibly anti-drug songs were a big thing in the ’80s (especially in comparison to the endless, boring and crass drug references in modern-day chart music), though I’m not sure how tongue-in-cheek this song’s message was.
Track 11: The Specials – Nelson Mandela
Another one that was used to good effect in Britain’s Got The Pop Factor. This one always makes me think of the time in 1989 when my parents took me to the ‘Free Nelson Mandela’ march on Glasgow Green (I still have the badge).
Track 12: Womack & Womack – Love Wars
I wasn’t familiar with this one, but I like the atmosphere of the verse, before the chorus gets a bit haphazard.
Track 13: The Style Council – You’re The Best Thing
I find this one pretty dull, and the chorus annoys me for some reason.
Track 14: Bob Marley & The Wailers – One Love/People Get Ready
Classic sway-in-your-chair track. Love this one!
Track 15: Bronski Beat – Smalltown Boy
Wonderful synthpop – that stunning intro! A favourite, and also a regular feature of Geth’s DJ setlists.
Track 16: Queen – I Want To Break Free
I’m not going to call this one a ‘guilty pleasure’, ’cause I don’t feel guilty about loving it at all. Everything about it is awesome, from the epic intro to the Coronation Street homage in the video.
Track 17: Cyndi Lauper – Time After Time
Now this is a good ballad – nothing dreary about this one. Beautiful tune, lovely instrumentals.
Track 18: Alison Moyet – Love Resurrection
This one reminds me of long car journeys as a kid with my dad’s Alison Moyet CD on the car stereo (I found out last Christmas that my brother vehemently hated that CD, but I really quite liked it). I love Yazoo – as I mentioned yesterday, Only You is my all-time favourite song. I’m not quite as keen on Moyet’s solo material, but it’s still good stuff.
Also, nowadays whenever I hear the lyric ‘show me one direction, I will not question again‘, I always think of One Direction. Thanks, 21st century, for ruining things yet again.
Track 19: The Bluebells – Young At Heart
Another song (following Relax yesterday) that was re-released in 1993 and hence ended up on my Greatest Hits Of 1993 compilation! Maybe it was 1993 that was the first true era of ’80s nostalgia. I don’t blame people for wanting to get going with that as early as possible.
Track 20: Bananarama – Robert De Niro’s Waiting
I quite like this one, but then I’ve never come across a Bananarama track I didn’t like. I remember knowing the title of this song for ages before I actually heard it, ’cause it’s mentioned in the blurb for Love In The First Degree on Now! #10 (we’ll get to that a week from today).
Track 21: Propaganda – Dr Mabuse
I wasn’t familiar with this one, but I like its dark, epic atmosphere and lyrics.
Track 22: Tina Turner – What’s Love Got To Do With It
Not my favourite Tina Turner song, but I do like the epic vocals on the chorus and the snatches of synth during the bridge.
Track 23: The Flying Pickets – When You’re Young And In Love
It’s no Only You, but still a nice a cappella cover.
Track 24: Wham! – Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go
A classic! A perfect party tune, and then there’s the colourful video, which was one of those videos that really defined the ’80s, with the neon clothing and the Katharine Hamnett t-shirts (appropriately, I’m wearing her more recent Choose Love design today!)
Track 25: Thompson Twins – You Take Me Up
The harmonica instrumental annoys me, and I usually like harmonica. I’m not a huge Thompson Twins fan anyway, but I’m really not keen on this one.
Track 26: The Weather Girls – It’s Raining Men
We’re at a wedding reception, and I’m on the dancefloor again! You can’t go wrong with this fabulous party track.
There have been various pointless ’90s and ’00s covers of this one. I’ll forgive them, as it’s always a banger no matter who covers it, but the original is far and away the best.
Track 27: Gary Glitter – Dance Me Up
Um, I’m quite surprised that I’m actually able to stream Gary Glitter on Spotify given what we know about him now, but I’m guessing he doesn’t actually get any of the streaming royalties. Um, right? I should probably look into that.
The song itself isn’t much to write home about, certainly not compared to his early ’70s glam rock stuff.
Track 28: The Art Company – Susanna
The Art Company, in contrast, haven’t put their stuff on Spotify, so I’ve done the uber-lazy ‘tribute version on the playlist’ for this review.
It’s a good song, actually. Maybe I’d better give the actual Art Company version another listen sometime!
Track 29: Madness – One Better Day
Bit of a slow one for Madness! Nice tune though.
Track 30: David Sylvian – Red Guitar
I was only previously familiar with David Sylvian’s stuff with Japan, not any of his solo tracks. This one’s a bit dull, but the instrumentals are nice.
*In my terminology (and, I imagine, that of quite a few other people), a ‘pointless cover’ is one that doesn’t change enough things from the original track to make it worth recording a new version, and is hence just a shameless cash-in. The ’90s were absolutely terrible for this, but it’s happened frequently in other decades as well.