The History of Pop part 16 aka Tough like a ninja stinging like a bee

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Now 16 - second half of 1989, and my goodness there are some fantastic tracks here, even Sir Cliff's PWL-produced offering isn't bad. Beatle pastiches, Prince collaborators, mucky noises, THE REBEL MC!!!, corporate anthems, Joycean reveries, Smiths inspirations, and Daisy Agers - it was the best of times feat. the worst of times. And "introducing Cathy Dennis"!

Two last-minute votes sealed Neneh Cherry's victory in Now 15, with "Manchild", making her the first act to top two polls in a row. Consensus choice rather than tide of acclaim, though, with Soul II Soul, Transvision Vamp, and Kirsty MacColl close behind. You had least time for Cliff, the Ferry X The Mersey charity do, and poor old Jive Bunny. And the Pet Shop Boys beat the Cure in the end. Opinion divided on Paul Heaton's finest hour but the fella is somewhat of a fixture on later NOWs so we'll have plenty of time to discuss it.


[Poll #655470]


PS What the fvck is "Oh Well" by Oh Well???

Comments

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

My only CD acquisition over the festive period was a Best Of Bros, on which I made the disappointing discovery that they really weren't as good as I remembered - in my head, 'I Quit' and 'I Owe You Nothing' were both ace, but the evidence shows that only 'When Will I Be Famous' has aged at all well.

[boyofbadgers.livejournal.com]

Oh Well is a cover of the Fleetwood Mac song done in a dance '89 style. I remember it being quite good.

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Ah! ur-bosh!

[jeff-worrell.livejournal.com]

As threatened:

Just Keep Rockin'" was the last chant
I'm back, brand new round the mike stand
On stage I make it look easy
I'm the Rebel so run come follow me
Hard not soft, underground boss
Turn up the bass and the treble of course
Feel with the music and you wonder
Is he a Yankee? NO I'M A LONDONAH!!!

Also look out for me waxing lyrical about "Leave A Light On" on my LJ within the next day or three! [/plug]

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Tears For Fears - this is a great record, no? I remember it being seen as a bit gauche at the time that they were inspired by the Beatles.

Erasure - their best ever single.

SYDNEY YOUNGBLOOD!! This is an amazing record too.

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

Sydney Vampire is rub!

[jeff-worrell.livejournal.com]

Yes, this is an above-average NOW! for sure. Also, around this point they started issuing NOW! Dance compilations alongside the main NOW!s. I have a lot of these tracks on one of those (or some rival comp to NOW! Dance anyway).

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

yes I really like the Tears For Fears single, even today. Considering the other sh1te they released around this time ('Woman In Chains', 'Advice For The Young At Heart') it really stands out.

Why do you prefer 'Drama!' to 'Stop!' Tom? I've always felt the latter was slightly better, catchier etc.

I'm not sure about Sydney. One day at Assembly in school our Head Of Year played it to this in an attempt to be DOWN, commenting 'isn't this a lovely song/sentiment' etc.

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

Christ I hardly know any of these. And most of the ones I do know are rub viz Beautiful South/Sydney Vampire/WWW.

*hangs pop head in shame*

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

everyone should check out the sascha funke cover of 'when will i be famous?' - it is on bpitch control and is very banging indeed.

this is full of artists who i know are good things, but doing songs i have never even heard OF let alone heard before (debbie harry, de la soul, inner city, adeva, cathy dennis &c &c)

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

You really need to hear the De La Soul track Alex - it's probably their biggest hit and with good reason, it's gorgeous.

OMG cover of bros.

[thenipper.livejournal.com]

'Pump Up the Jam' & 'Street Tuff' = the two great pre-Madchester floorfillers of the UEA student disco in 1989.

I saw the 'Sowing the Seeds of Love' on Ver Hits the other day - it is the most ludicrously self-aggrandising video... ever.

'The Sensual World' single renders the two discs of 'Aerial' utterly redundant.

I once had a first kiss after a first date in Hammersmith tube station as 'French Kiss' by Lil Louis was pumping out of the nearby Tapas Bar, and fell into a mise-en-abyme of infinite self-reference. It was a bit awkward.

Wendy and Lisa deserve more love.

[carsmilesteve.livejournal.com]

fell into a what now?

then jericho probably don't deserve any more love, but it didn't stop me voting for them (again)

[carsmilesteve.livejournal.com]

OOH! there is AN NEW VERSION of pump up that jam somewhat controversially called (according to chart show tv anyway) pump up the volume...

pete and i did see the video on sunday.

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

I just started thinking of the 'Pump Up The Jam' vocal over the 'Pump Up The Volume' and YES IT WOULD WORK.

[dorsalstop.livejournal.com]

1. I really can't think of anything worse than "Simply The Best" on any of the Now comps.
2. Shockingly, the Cliff one is not too bad this time round. I even ticked it!
3. Anyone remember Fresh4? It's a pretty straight version of the song, but over the funky drummer beat (of course). If Ian Brown had thought of this, he wouldn't have had to go through the trouble of writing ALL THOSE lyrics for 'Fools Gold'.

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Ah the era of the funky drummer beat.

Now 17 is baggymania!

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

I'd love a YSI of the Wendy & Lisa if anyone can provide one.

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

I'd forgotten this Cliff song. My initial reaction was/is it's VERY BAD AND WRONG, but perhaps I'm being too harsh. Maybe it's the best thing S.A.W. did for him? (Not saying a great deal still).

Could've told you sooooooo

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

Also WHERE ARE HALO JAMES?

Maybe they're on the next one, or not at all?

3x YSI

[dorsalstop.livejournal.com]

Oh Well - Not well: http://s41.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=10A6JVT1IMGX40YG50SBLWY8KR (because stevem asked for it)
Brother Beyond - Drive On: http://s65.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0Z2WA8PPVW7511B6TW3FY223SN (because i am the 1x voter)
Fresh4 ft Lizz E - Wishing on a Star: http://s65.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3DNZ2HUFPM5QI0AO0VTOBGPHZW (because i felt like it and it's quite good and her last name starts with an E)

Re: 3x YSI

[dubdobdee.livejournal.com]

i am not stevem!!

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

purely from memory, the lyrics to Redhead Kingpin - HOW SAD AM I?

Do the right thing
not talking about a black or white thing
cos that would cause conflict
and make this hit legit
but your definition of legit
is illegitimate
and confusing now the redhead one was sent
to make things clearer
cos in about a year or two
what you'll do is take a look up in the mirror
and what you'll see is the image of hate
that you shared upon your others, your sisters and your brothers
now your mama tried to bring you up a little better than that
the same way you loved her she loved you right back
i asked my man Victor what he used to do for fun
he said he learned to shoot a gun before the age of 21
crime and abortion all kinds of mind distortion
this is very important with just a little caution
of what you can do just a clue and it's true yo
don't wanna brand new sweater
make your life better and do the right thang

chorus blah blah...

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

he sounded a lot like Guru/Gang Starr actually

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

It's a great song but I'm a bit surprised at the extent to which Technotronic is walking this.

[jeff-worrell.livejournal.com]

Also, Kate Bush scoring less than 50% at present is an outrage. "The Sensual World" >>>>> an certain former NOW! poll winner.

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

Is 'Simply The Best' really that bad?

Unfortunately it makes me think of Chrif Eubank. So maybe.

Was Mutt Lange involved in it at all?

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

The thing about Simply The Best is that despite everything, despite cliche and The Office and all that, it STILL crops up regularly in the world of corporate powerpoint presentations. As an inhabitant of that world I have to vote it down.

[byebyepride.livejournal.com]

Somewhere I have written evidence of teenage Tom digging 'Do The Right Thing'. Definitely mentioned in same breath = Pure by the Lightning Seeds. Possibly also mentioned in the same letter: Carter USM's Rubbidge.

[jel-bugle.livejournal.com]

Richard Marx RoXoR

[dorsalstop.livejournal.com]

Sorry, my YSIs will appear tonight!