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Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2014 10:18:01 GMT -5
#544. Ne-Yo - Let Me Love You (Until You Learn To Love Yourself) 1 week at #1 in 2012 (#34 of 36 for '12)
#1? Really?
What a pointlessly clunky title. This song is really nothingy. There's no strong hooks. The production is generic by 2012 standards. It's one of those songs about how a girl will gain self-esteem once she finds a man to love her. Though, this one coming from the man's perspective. I will give credit to Ne-Yo as he comes off as a gentleman with good intentions here. But, I just don't think it's the right approach for someone to learn to love themselves.
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Flip
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Post by Flip on Jun 16, 2014 10:27:25 GMT -5
#549, #548, #545 and #544 are actually good songs imo
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Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2014 10:29:07 GMT -5
#543. Boyzone - You Needed Me 1 week at #1 in 1999 (#32 of 35 for '99)
Bland bland bland. Too monotonous. Covering Anne Murray is rather random. Interesting fact about Anne Murray: she's from my home province in Canada. lol
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Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2014 10:30:44 GMT -5
Forget You is awesome imo, the man meh it's ok, I liked it at first, but it really burned on me so glad to see it as a bottom-dweller on this chart, You're Beautiful is amazing, so :(. & Let Me Love You (Ne-Yo) was better after it came a hit, but its still not that great imo, so I fully understand its position. Out of those four, I easily prefer "You're Beautiful".
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Zeebz
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Post by Zeebz on Jun 16, 2014 10:42:51 GMT -5
I kind of like "You're Beautiful", even though the song concept is just bizarre. "Bonfire Heart" is better imo. I liked "Let Me Love You" for like two weeks and then it REALLY burned on me and I hated it. I tolerate it now though, however generic. Idk Boyzone so...
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Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2014 10:56:11 GMT -5
Mario's "Let Me Love You" >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Ne-Yo's though, Mario's is flawless.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2014 11:14:38 GMT -5
#542. Another Level - Freak Me 1 week at #1 in 1998 (#29 of 30 for '98)
This was a cover of the 1993 Silk hit, which went #1 in the US, but only went as high as #46 in the UK. My main problem is that Another Level's version sounds almost exactly the same as the original. Though the bridge is different. And not quite able to match the strong vocals on the "cause tonight baby I wanna get freaky with you" line. It's cool that the UK were finally able to find their own R&B boyband, but Blue would do it better. I'm not really a fan of either version of this song, though. Like "Nasty Girl", I guess I find it too raunchy. It doesn't come off as sexy to me. I find the line "let me lick you up and down til you say stop" more funny than anything.
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Lahey's Lucky Star
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Post by Lahey's Lucky Star on Jun 16, 2014 11:19:38 GMT -5
UGH at "You're Beautiful". Both annoying and a snoozefest.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2014 11:29:26 GMT -5
#541. Mariah Carey & Westlife - Against All Odds 2 weeks at #1 in 2000 (#39 of 42 for '00)
The first of Mariah's two UK #1's. If she could only have two, why does this have to be one of them? She's done these big ballads with a boyband before ("One Sweet Day" and "Thank God I Found You"), and this doesn't really do anything that those two didn't already accomplish. I don't like her songs that get all loud and shouty towards the end. This isn't the worst offender in that category, but it still gets to that point. Other than that, this is just another boring ballad cover song.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 17, 2014 9:11:24 GMT -5
#540. X Factor Finalists 2011 feat. JLS & One Direction - Wishing On A Star 1 week at #1 in 2011 (#30 of 30 for '11)
I have such fondness for 2011. It was the year when I really got into the UK charts. It might be why it's taken so long to finally eliminate a song from that year. But I can't let this one last any longer lol.
2011 was one of my favourite series of X Factor. I liked so many acts that year. Even Janet for a few weeks! I get excited to see Amelia, Misha B, and of course Little Mix to show up. (1:26 - 1:44 <3). Putting that aside, does this do anything that the other 3 X Factor charity singles didn't do? No, it doesn't. So it loses points there. And then there's the infamous “JLS 1D!!” line. Which is utter cringe. Talk about roping in two hot acts of the moment to make a record sell more. And they literally don't even add anything to the song; besides everyone singing the final chorus in an odd fashion. That final chorus really doesn't flow with the rest of the song. By this point, these collective charity singles were becoming too tedious. This song has been covered enough times already; most notably by cleverly-named The Cover Girls.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 17, 2014 9:43:17 GMT -5
#539. The Outhere Brothers - Don't Stop (Wiggle Wiggle) 1 week at #1 in 1995 (#17 of 17 for '95)Ugh the Outhere Brothers . Up to this point in time, I don't think there was ever a #1 that was this straightforward when it came to sexual lyrics. There's nothing subtle about this - he wants oral sex. Though, the radio edit omits all of the dirty lyrics (and it's what's linked here.) The uncensored version; while, like I said before, I'm not against dirty lyrics necessarily, it's just that this is too much for me. It also doesn't help that the chorus (which is basically just yelling) is rather annoying after a while. First time I've seen that video..
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Flip
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Post by Flip on Jun 17, 2014 9:58:25 GMT -5
^ How did that reach number one. :x
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Post by Deleted on Jun 17, 2014 10:04:15 GMT -5
#538. The Black Eyed Peas - The Time (Dirty Bit) 1 week at #1 in 2010 (#32 of 34 for '10)
This is such a mess of a song. Such an annoying transition from the Dirty Dancing sampled chorus to the grating stuttering of "YOU-YOU-YOU" "DIRTY BIT!" *insert beat breakdown* Enough to give me a headache. And then comes the rap verses; which turns out to be yet another dance-pop song in 2010 about partying in a club. Not without excessive auto-tune and a Mick Jagger reference, of course. Though, Appl's "Yeah, it's gotta be the apple, I'm the Mac daddy y'all; Haters better step back, ladies, download your app" part is kinda funny.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 17, 2014 10:53:16 GMT -5
#537. DJ Pied Piper & The Masters Of Ceremonies - Do You Really Like It? 1 week at #1 in 2001 (#28 of 30 for '01)
No, I don't really like it. I try to like the production, but the “We're lovin' it lovin' it lovin' it; We're lovin' it like that” ruins the song for me. It's pretty irritating. Most of this song is pretty irritating, actually.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 17, 2014 11:36:11 GMT -5
#536. Jimmy Nail - Ain't No Doubt 3 weeks at #1 in 1992 (#8 of 8 for '92)
Well I'm glad I wasn't born a month later, otherwise I'd have this as my birthday #1! The spoken word verses are okay, and Sylvia Mason-James' parts (the uncredited woman that sings the bridge) are good, but that chorus. Ugh, it is just horrendous. The song tells a story about how Jimmy can see through her lies and knows she's cheating and he's done with her. There's just something about this song that doesn't feel authentic. It's like he's trying too hard to sell this story, and trying too hard to be serious.
And with that, each year has now lost a song. '92 having the advantage of just 8 songs since my birth, though. "Deeply Dippy" would be much lower than "Ain't No Doubt", to be fair.
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surfy
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Post by surfy on Jun 17, 2014 16:17:51 GMT -5
Forget You is this low :( That song's amazing imo The Man was okay to me at first, but I hate it now! So glad to see it this low! You're Beautiful is also an okay song, but sad to see it this low! Let Me Love You got on my nerves, but idk if I'd put it this low... One of The Black Eye Peas' weakest songs, but yet I still love it Oh the innocent 1D, how I miss them!!!! :'( Great list so far!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 18, 2014 3:48:43 GMT -5
It's interesting to see what songs became number 1 in U.K. that were also decent hits in the U.S. Some of them suprise me!
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Post by Rocky on Jun 18, 2014 4:42:43 GMT -5
I fucking loathe "The Time", should have been last tbh.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 18, 2014 11:00:51 GMT -5
#535. Blazin' Squad - Crossroads 1 week at #1 in 2002 (#28 of 29 for '02)
So we already had Another Level take an urban US #1 and make it into UK a #1; and then Blue (who we'll see later) did it in 2001. And now we have Blazin' Squad taking on Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. Starting you career with a cover song is a bit odd since it doesn't allow you to create your own identity. Except, well, this isn't really a cover song. It's more of a sample. They keep the chorus, but add in new verses, and attempt to replicate the hyper-speed rapping. Despite that, this still doesn't sound that different from the original. Of course keeping in the "bone bone bone..." part just sounds stupid. The Bone Thugs version deals with mourning a loved one's death and questioning the meaning of life and faith and the afterlife and all that. Blazin' Squad's version is about dealing with the bad decisions you make in life, and uses faith as a coping mechanism of sorts. The message is a bit garbled, though. At the beginning it talks about being patient in life and seizing your dreams (which kind of contradict each other), and going after fame, and then it talks about killing someone and even dealing with haters. It's so all over the place. If only "Flip Reverse" went #1 instead.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 18, 2014 11:49:09 GMT -5
#534. Will Young - Anything Is Possible / Evergreen 3 weeks at #1 in 2002 (#27 of 29 for '02)
Alright, time to deal with this one.
So here it is. The biggest selling song of the century so far. Like most of the biggest selling songs of any decade, this is an event single. 60's was The Beatles, 70's was Scottish hometown glory, 80's was the first major charity single, 90's was Diana, and the 2000's was reality TV. Apt, as that was a storm that took over pop culture in the new millennium. At least it did over here; I'm just assuming the UK was no different. It's no surprise that Simon Fuller, Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh, Pete Waterman, etc were the masterminds behind these TV talent shows. They were the ones behind most "manufactured" pop in the last 2 decades in the first place. So it all begins with Popstars, which was more like a documentary, but I'll talk more about that later. Pop Idol, though, became a whole different beast. Reality TV was still very much in its infancy in 2001. There were so many roads yet to be crossed. People were still wondering "what could they possible do next?" Something as simple as a singing competition where the public (WE) get to decide the outcome was something truly fascinating at the time. Being the first time, curiosity and unpredictability must have been major factors, but it wouldn't have worked without the talent to back it up. I've never watched Pop Idol, but I will say that Will and Gareth had the talent and the potential. I'll talk about Gareth when we get to his million-seller. But with Will, who seemed to basically be a second-rate Robbie Williams, I will give credit that he lasted quite a while. Who would've thought he'd have a top 10 hit as late as 2011? From my understanding, this series was a close race between the two, and that's only going to bring in more interest. The final result becomes a huge spectacle.
Now that the back story out of the way, let's get to the single itself. “Anything Is Possible” was an original song written for the winner. What's interesting about it is that it lacks a strong melody or hook. You'd think you'd want that in an event single (not that it matters since it sold so much anyway). It has the usual corny lyrics. It's supposed to be an uplifting song, but the chorus is sung so mellow and subdued that it doesn't really work. The way he sings it doesn't really match the lyrics. It's about how someone's love makes them feel sky high. But can also be used to be about achieving one's biggest dream and feeling sky high. And then throw in a key change for the final chorus. Which sets the formula for practically every winner's single afterwards. Being the first winner is always going to be a big deal, and so this went on to debut with a staggering 1.108 mil copies in its first week. All in all, "Anything Is Possible" sounds like a boring Westlife song. Incidentally, “Evergreen” is a Westlife song. Will's rendition of it... is basically the same song as “Anything Is Possible”, but at least it has a stronger chorus. Neither of these are tracks I'd actively want to listen to, though. And they both fail the simple task of being memorable. Which is not desirable for an event single.
But what's interesting is that most of these original songs used for TV talent show winners are just as boring as the cover songs. "All This Time" and "Angels Brought Me Here" by Guy Sebastian are no different. "A Moment Like This" sticks with you a bit more, but I think Kelly is a major factor in that one. I have no recollection whatsoever on how Clay Aiken, Fantasia, Taylor Hicks' winners singles go (I'm only using them as examples because they're US #1's.) "Inside Your Heaven" is okay.
Yikes that ended up being longer than I thought.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 18, 2014 12:06:04 GMT -5
#533. Bruno Mars - The Lazy Song 1 week at #1 in 2011 (#29 of 30 for '11)And onto a song that doesn't require nearly as much review. This is by far my least favourite Bruno Mars single. Cringe-worthy is an understatement. Lyrics such as "throw my hand in my pants", "chillin' in my Snuggie", "Teach me how to Dougie", that bizarre "Oh my God, this is great!" and "I'll just strut in my birthday suit" are just
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Lahey's Lucky Star
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Post by Lahey's Lucky Star on Jun 18, 2014 12:08:17 GMT -5
I bet your fave Bruno Mars single is my least.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 18, 2014 12:32:05 GMT -5
#532. Robson & Jerome - Unchained Melody 7 weeks at #1 in 1995 (#16 of 17 for '95)
My third birthday #1. This sold about a million more than I would've liked. There's really nothing interesting about this version. Yeah it's bland karaoke, and yeah there's not much else to say about it. It's one of the most covered songs ever, which only makes it more forgettable. Same faults as the other Robson & Jerome single from earlier in this list.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 18, 2014 12:55:11 GMT -5
#531. Manchester United Football Club - Come On You Reds 2 weeks at #1 in 1994 (#13 of 15 for '94)
lol... probably higher than it should be. This is basically a sing-a-long-song you'd sing at a bar after you've had a bit too much to drink. It makes the song catchy, at least. But, it's still a pretty terrible record. But it's hilarious just how bad it is.
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surfy
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Post by surfy on Jun 18, 2014 15:27:20 GMT -5
I like Lazy Song, but I see how it would be annoying to others. Don't know many of these!
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Lahey's Lucky Star
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Post by Lahey's Lucky Star on Jun 18, 2014 18:08:02 GMT -5
#531. Manchester United Football Club - Come On You Reds 2 weeks at #1 in 1994 (#13 of 15 for '94)lol... probably higher than it should be. This is basically a sing-a-long-song you'd sing at a bar after you've had a bit too much to drink. It makes the song catchy, at least. But, it's still a pretty terrible record. But it's hilarious just how bad it is. OH. MY. GOD.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 19, 2014 9:11:10 GMT -5
#530. Geri Halliwell - Lift Me Up 1 week at #1 in 1999 (#31 of 35 for '99)I don't usually care about vocals that much, but Geri's voice seems especially flat and off key in this song. She was never the greatest vocalist, though. The song itself is really sluggish and monotonous. It doesn't really go anywhere til the key change, which was probably why they added it in the first place. I prefer camp Geri over whatever this is. “Look At Me” and “Ride It” are my probably my two favourite singles of hers, and of course they're 2 of her songs that didn't go #1. Wtf at this video though Sorry Ginger Spice
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Post by Deleted on Jun 19, 2014 9:30:19 GMT -5
#529. Westlife - Queen Of My Heart 1 week at #1 in 2001 (#27 of 30 for '01)
This song sounds like "Lean On Me" mixed with "Mull Of Kintyre." I think there might even be bagpipes in this. The melody is just too common. And the expression "you know you are the queen of my heart" is just too cheesy.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 19, 2014 10:23:02 GMT -5
#528. Will Young - Light My Fire 2 weeks at #1 in 2002 (#26 of 29 for '02)
This is my tenth birthday #1. Of course it was. So Will Young's second single was a stripped down cover of The Dorrs classic, which he sang on Pop Idol at some point. It's disappointing that his first single after winning the show was a cover song. And then his 3rd single ("The Long And Winding Road") was yet another cover song as well. But in 2002 there was no way this wasn't going straight to #1. It's better than his winner's single, at least. But it's too stripped down. To the point where there's nothing interesting left in the song. It's a song about passionate sex but there's just something about Will's version that doesn't feel that sexy. By the end of the song, he sounds more desperate for sex than anything.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 19, 2014 10:43:01 GMT -5
#527. Hear'Say - The Way To Your Love 1 week at #1 in 2001 (#26 of 30 for '01)
What a complete nothing of a song. It sounds like a Backstreet Boys or Britney or S Club 7 reject. Oh, Wikipedia says it was produced by Stargate. Now it makes sense. I seem to remember 2001 being the year when all those Max Martin-y type songs were on the way out, so this sounds a bit dated by this point. There's really only one on hook "every day every night"; and it's not even that strong of a hook. These lyrics.. yikes. Very lazy and uninspired.
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