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.
