The History Of Pop Part 27 aka Life is demanding without understanding

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

There are many tracks on Now 27 which I simply can't remember, so many in fact that I should probably have let alexmacpherson write the blurb. It seems to be another wide mix, and some of the things I do remember probably represent blind alleys - Credit to the Nation's agit-rap, Prml Scrm "going rock", and so on. A squib of ambient from Deep Forest and Enigma, belated acknowledgement of US alt.rock with Smashing Pumpkins and (ahem) the Gin Blossoms, and I'm still guessing it's going to come down to a straight fight between Swedish reggae and US dancefloor mentalism.

Pet Shop Boys' "Go West" won Now 26 comfortably, the third PSB track to win and quite probably the last. DJ Jazzy Jeff came in third with a surprisingly low percentile score (though with 45 or so voters the number of 90%+ crowdpleasers is surely dropping), and then a trio of Radiohead, Culture Beat and Take That. REM's "The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight" is, scientifically, exactly as good as Meat Loaf. EVERY track got a vote. The Levellers got seven!


[Poll #681019]


Over to you...

Comments

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

I'm surprised 'Go West' won so decisively! It's good but pales next to PSB's best.

Even I don't remember half of these, and I owned this. 'Anything' is the best Culture Beat song though! And all of these great Gabrielle songs which keep popping up - why is the woman not praised to the skies? She made an amazing run of singles.

Also, TORI :)

I DID NOT VOTE FOR TORI!

[carsmilesteve.livejournal.com]

what you going to do about it, macpherson, eh? eh?

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

This is the only non-remix Tori I would vote for.

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

I always heard the cut lyric as "crack keeps an itchin", and thought Bobby G had an irritable arse.

Need my memory jogged on: Wendy Moten, EYC, Bitty McLean, Degrees Of Motion, Joe Roberts.

[carsmilesteve.livejournal.com]

also, in what parallel universe did the urban cookie collective have more than one single?

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

wendy moten = broadway-ish powerballad in dina c vein, better than 'the perfect year' but no 'don't be a stranger'

bitty mclean = the wayne wonder of '94 but not as good

eyc = vaguely irritating greasemeisters who tried to rap

[dubdobdee.livejournal.com]

i don't think i've ever voted for so many!

tranche 1. got a clean sweep except for "preposterous" and i only didn't tick that -- apposite tho it seemed -- in case it automatically nixed the other votes

[sbp.livejournal.com]

I don't think I've voted for so few, apart from last week.

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

Lexus did you hear Melissa Auf Der Maur's solo stuff?

No way is 'Anything' better than 'Mr Vain', or 'Adalante'!

I can't like 'Doop'. Although I suppose it's not really worse than the Richard Marx or Phil Collins songs here ('cept I don't remember those).

Remember kids, EYC stands for EXPRESS. YOURSELF. CLEARLY.

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

I find people not liking "Doop" more baffling than most of the bafflers we've had in Now polls.

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

I thought MADM's solo stuff was OK but a little characterless - paled next to the Courtney album released in the same year. MDMA > MADM

'Anything' is WAY better than 'Mr Vain'!

[boyofbadgers.livejournal.com]

OK, so this was my first year at university but who the hell are these people?

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

Aieee, Bjork is winning!

Surely the Mad Stuntman must take the cigar shaped cake here?

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

I would like the Mad Stuntman to win yes. It's all worryingly close.

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

I really don't want Ace of Base to win, I find that 'The Sign' gets many people confused between GOOD CATCHY (eg 'All That She Wants') and PRETERNATURALLY IRRITATING CATCHY (this one).

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

I prefer 'The Sign' to 'All That She Wants'. But then I think Ace Of Base actually peaked with LIFE IS A FLOWER.

[miss-newham.livejournal.com]

If I could get Yousendit to work, I'd send y'all the Mountain Goats' cover of 'The Sign' which includes lengthy lecture by the singer on why he loves Ace Of Base so much. But I can't. It's me 'n' hoshuteki's choon!

[dubdobdee.livejournal.com]

i can though! hang on!!

[jauntyalan.livejournal.com]

hang on, stevem NEVER DANCES ANYWAY

[jauntyalan.livejournal.com]

silly LJ, that was meant to be way up there ^ about doop

Next Prog:

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Br1tp0p (sort of)

Re: Next Prog:

[jauntyalan.livejournal.com]

b1rtp0p: act 1 "the warm up" shudders

Oh Dere

[jeff-worrell.livejournal.com]

Ha 1994 was the peak of my corny indie fuX0rdom by the looks of it (although I was already rebelling by this point, the revolution didn't fully happen until some time in 1995).

Evidence: of these I own only The Cranberries, Smashing Pumpkins and Shara Nelson (whose album I have because of the St Etienne connection).

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

Sweet Lullaby >>>> Return To Innocence

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Motion upheld.

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

Also, Degrees Of Motion ft Biti is ace.

Shiiiiiiiine on, let the rhythm of life grow stronger (light of lurrrve)
Shiiiiiiiiine on,
the love in my heart
the flame in the dark
so let the light of lurrrrrve
SHiiiiiiiiiiine on

Summat like that anyway

Also the Credit To the Nation song is k-good

My head hurts

HELLOWEEN!

[jel-bugle.livejournal.com]

Dubdobdee! Did you ever listen to "Keeper of the Seven Keys part 2" ? I remember saying you should on the "Challenge Mark S" thread on ILM from like years ago! If not, then I will make you a copy! It's one of the greatest albums of all time! They released part 3 last year! God bless German heavy metal bands.

I don't remember most of this week's selection.

Smashing Pumpkins rule!

I know its bad form to talk about upcoming Now polls...

[juror8.livejournal.com]

But if Dawn Penn doesn't win the Now 28 poll I will cry.

Total bafflement, once again

[dorsalstop.livejournal.com]

I hope it's only because you don't *remember* (though shame on you).
Capella - Move on baby (http://s14.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=34R4NLDX12PM92HZV6S521BAEL)
Culture Beat - Anything to Follow.

And that Right Said Fred tune is dead good too :-(

[miss-newham.livejournal.com]

And yet the RSF song remains LOST in the mists of time. I certainly don't remember it, and I own their video collection!