The video for this part of the countdown is right here : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfDAfa7lSL4&list=PL8C2p97n8SmX5qmS8asB7YWWuu2GCDq_o&index=10&t=0s
120 - I can't wait - Nu Shooz
This is such a simple song. With its DX-7 bass opening and the chirpy synths, you'd think this was the first number 1 hit after humanity was overrun with robot overlords. This epitomises the 'single' as an entity because I can't for the life of me tell you what the song is about - the whole overshadows the meaning (if there is one). It's probably about the run-up to Christmas? Whatever, it's utterly joyful.
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| This might or might not be Nu Shooz in what might or might not be new shoes. |
119 - Everything Counts - Depeche Mode
There's a theme here I think - the synths on this song are like none I'd ever heard before. They were dark, industrial and took up most of the sonic space leaving just a tiny bit for Dave to fit his vocal in. The lyrics are a bit dodgy mind - 'The turning point of a career, in Korea, feeling insincere'. You can't have everything I suppose. The 'it's a competitive world' bit almost ruins the song but for some reason, it doesn't and I can't work out why it doesn't - because it should. But it doesn't. Comments on why it should but doesn't, welcome below.
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| Very upset at the length of the queue at the post office |
118 - What have I don't to deserve this? - Pet Shop Boys feat. Dusty Springfield
Read any published top 40 chart (whichever one you want to listen to these days) and you'll see that most of the songs in it are 'someone featuring someone' or two or more people who are not in a group together, collaborating. For example, in today's top 20 you have the following :
#2 - Meduza Feat. Goodboys
#6 - Avicii Feat. Aloe Blacc
#8 - Russ Feat. Tion Wayne
#9 - Marshmello Feat. CHVRCHES
#11 - Dave Feat. Burna Boy
#12 - Wiley Feat. Idris Elba
#14 - Jax Jones & Martin Solveig & Madison Beer
#16 - Calvin Harris & Rag'n'Bone man
#17 - Steel Banglez Feat. AJ Tracey
#20 - Lauv & Troye Sivan
That's 50% of the top 20!! Point being, back in the 80s it also happened but like, once in a blue moon and when it did, it was someone featuring a living legend like Aretha Franklin, David Bowie and Mick Jagger, Diana Ross and Lionel Richie, Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney, Kylie and Jason - and this one, Pet Shop Boys and Dusty Springfield. More synths, yes, but with a wonderful story, a great vocal performance from one of my least favourite 'singers', Neil Tennant and a superb vocal performance from the queen of vocal performances. The correct spelling of the lyrics in the bridge is: 'How'm'I gonna get through?'. Two apostrophes in the same word, like the word couldn't've. I think.
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| Take two bottles into the shower? No? Well, you should. |
I saw Carol Decker supporting Nik Kershaw and Go West a few years ago and she nearly broke the sound system with her voice. China in your hand, Secret Garden and Valentine are all songs built on her powerful pipes but this song really allows her to shine (the chorus at least) and make you feel a little bit scared. If this is how she sings, you definitely don't want to get on the wrong side of her. The 'rap' again, shouldn't work but it does but it shouldn't etc.
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| She's giving you 'the look'. What did you do?? |
I'm sure there's a clever musical construct which explains why the intro to this song grabs you by the bits you don't want to get grabbed by, but it's probably in some kind of mordant harmonic diminished seventh key that doesn't exist or something. The energy that this song has just drags you along and you can't escape. Not that you'd want to - only the slightly chilled out middle 32 gives you a moment to breathe and you can hear Phil getting rather upset about society by the last chorus and he almost makes you want to go out and vote for something or someone. The video is weirdly wonderful too.
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| Genesis before giving Spitting Image the go ahead to make puppets of them |
115 - Wherever I lay my hat - Paul Young
I didn't fall in love with this song until a good few years down the line. I always thought it lacked the key elements that a single should have - but it still went in at number one and stayed there for a good while. It was the album 'No Parlez' that I loved. I saw Paul Young do the whole album live last year and it was unbelievable. 'Behind your smile', 'Oh Women', 'Ku Ku Kurama' and 'Come back and Stay' were a main part of my soundtrack to the summer of '83. I discovered the delicacies of this song later, and yes, it has more soul than Marvin Gaye's version. That high note in the outro - chilling.
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| "Do you have a copy of Fly Fishing by Paul Young?" |
I loved all the synth bass heavy songs around in 1985-1988. It underpinned most of Madonna's hits at the time and hooked me in to this ditty. From the video, I guess it's from a movie of the time that I've never seen or heard of. I completely forgot about this song until about ten years after it was released when I saw the album in my local library. I loaned it and fell in love with all the other stuff on there too. Luther's voice is like no other. He can tell you exactly how he's feeling through the way he sings, never mind what he's singing about. One of music's true legends.
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| Luther's brand of silk jammies never took off. He's not very happy about it either. |
As a song, it probably wouldn't be in a top 200 but as a single, it's terrific. This is what singles should sound like - almost like a 'how to' guide. It was meant to be recorded by Janet Jackson, and that would have been a mistake - even when she was singing 'Nasty' and 'Black Cat' and being fabulous, she never got near Whitney. Only Mariah got near Whitney. It was written by the duo behind 'Waiting for a star to fall', a song which features a lot higher up in this count down. Good that they kept that one for themselves!
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| You'd think she'd look more scared after being sucked into a kaleidoscope |
Yeah - this is a good song. We should probably move on though...
111 - Hot Water - Level 42
Due to lack of funds as a 9 year old, there were certain songs I had to try and 'catch' on the radio and press play/record as they came on. (There's a song in my 1990s count down (to come later) that I was so desperate to have on tape, I left my C120 recording then set off for school and hoped that when I got home, I'd caught it). On the Sunday chart show, they would often skip songs to get to the top 20. I must have missed the week this song got to #18 as I never managed to get it on tape at the time and didn't buy anything other than Duran Duran albums in 1984. Then 1999 rolls around, Level 42 release a greatest hits album, I've got a cheeky £9.99 in the bank and I rediscover this song all over again. Mark King's twangy percussive bass lines propped up most of their songs but this is so energetic and attention grabbing, I can't believe it didn't go top 10.
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| All the other blokes in your dad's darts team. |
That's it for this installment but if you fancy a 'laugh' then you could always buy my book
'The Worst Pop Lyrics in the World Ever'
off of Amazon here : https://www.amazon.co.uk/Worst-Pop-Lyrics-World-Ever/dp/1530279186/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1545671900&sr=1-12
