The History Of Pop part 22 aka I just know that something good is gonna happen

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Further World Cup shenanigans bring us Now 22 a day early, but the decision had been made anyway - a comfortable win for "Justified And Ancient" on Now 21, with "America: What Time Is Love" in second place, and Opus III and Shakespear's Sister trailing slightly behind. The question of which bit of Bohemian Rhapsody is best exercised you more, with some addlepates opting for witty variations on 'none of it', and other opinion falling about evenly between "Scaramouche! Scaramouche!" and the Waynes World bit.

Harder choices perhaps on this volume, with - unlike Now 21 - a lot of genuinely enormous and/or well-remembered hits. And - drum roll - the one and only appearance of CARTER USM in a Now poll. The compilers have adopted an eclectic strategy of breaking up the genre hits a bit, hence you get Nick Berry next to Snap. No UB40, no Phil, a first appearance for The That, but double Elton.


[Poll #669080]


EDIT: The En Vogue track is properly called "My Loving (Never Gonna Get It)", just in case that influences yr votes.

Comments

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

This music is from the summer before I went to University, and the first couple of weeks there. Very happy times, reflected by a few ticks for tracks that might not otherwise have deserved them.

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

I really really like the Abba-Esque EP, even though Andy Bell dressed as Freda (or was it the other one?) reminded me a lot of my Aunt. 'Take A Chance On Me' marks the last ever appearance in the hit parade from erstwhile lyrical genius MC KINK-EH :( :( :( farewell to the greatness.

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Should "Blue Room" win I would of course play the FULL SINGLE VERSION at the Pop and Poll Party.

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

"Very happy times, reflected by a few ticks for tracks that might not otherwise have deserved them."

Yes same here (except they were MISERABLE times for me saved only by the healing power of RAVE).

This doesn't quite explain why I have ticked both ANNIE LENNOX AND VANESSA WILLIAMS tho :/

[boyofbadgers.livejournal.com]

En Vogue, Orb and SL2 all terrific here and would have been shoo-ins for my favourite if they'd appeared in many of the other Now polls instead of this one.

Quite dramatic fall off in quality on the last third, esp given the Vanessa Williams is v.marginal in the any good at all stakes.

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

I secretly thought U-U-U-UTAH SAINTS would walk this - 'parently not!

Notice the looming appearance of Acid Jazz also.

[boyofbadgers.livejournal.com]

Acid Jazz = horrible then, horrible now. Apart from Apparently Nothing, which is excused on the grounds of actually having a hook.

[bengraham.livejournal.com]

eh eh, ba-day-er, ba-wa-da-da-day
em-ba-day-er, ba-day-er, ba-wa-da-da-day

After much Googling, I have been unable to find any actual lyrics for this masterpiece of our time. But I have been able to find it on my iTunes and am now dancing around the office like a loon, much to the amusement of my co-workers.

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

THE NEXT NOW WILL BE MY FIRST EVER NOW! This one would have been except I remember looking at the track listing in the shop and getting excited before discovering that I had RUN OUT OF POCKET MONEY.

Lately I keep getting torn between the r&b-pop I loved then and now, and the BOSHBOSHBOSH I loved then and now. As I was ticking the songs going down, I thought "oh OBVIOUSLY u-u-u-utah saints will be my favourite" and then "oh hang on no SL2 duh!" before En Vogue snuck in at the last minute.

Let's have some love for Vanessa Williams please, this song = maybe best powerballad ever!

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

I was going to pick the Usies, Die Snaps or the Slipmatt n' Limes but then I had an epiphany and realised that 'My Lovin' by En Vogue is the best slinky rnb track of the 90s - it even has flute!

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Midnight @ Teh Oasis has a hook too, but the original version is lots better.

& what of the CAT IN THE HAT?

[marnameow.livejournal.com]

This is the nostalgia-trippiest NOW so far if you're me. That was an *interesting* summer.

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

I think this is the first time I've had recourse to a None Of The Above option.

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

is 'don't you worry 'bout a thing' Acid Jazz? I didn't realise it was a Stevie Wonder cover until last week. It's brilliant though!

I loved the Brand New Heavies then and will defend most of their singles.

[boyofbadgers.livejournal.com]

I never understood the excitement abt FIIL. Both the NME and MM were all 'CURE IN TOP POP SHOCKER!' abt it at the time. This made 0 sense to me, the Cure having put out several grebt pop trax before then, all of which were far, far superior to FIIL. Which is kind of rub, really.

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

Also it has the best harmonies in the history of pop music: nevergonnagetit nevergonnagetit nevergonnagetit (woah woah woah WOAH!)

YOU WANTED THE BEST YOU GOT THE BEST

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

I am listening right now to "Something Good" again - IT IS COMPLETELY FLAWLESS.

[boyofbadgers.livejournal.com]

No love for My Lovin'?

[boyofbadgers.livejournal.com]

Jamiroquai = inexcusable smug cvnt.

Fair point abt M@TO, but I still don't like it much.

[jauntyalan.livejournal.com]

WHICH I HAVE

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

Yes exactly, I can never pin down the style they're trying on FIIL but I know it annoys me.

I'm also annoyed by CeCePeniston though so perhaps I'm just an grumpus.

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

ME TOOS

[barrysarll.livejournal.com]

I do like some En Vogue, but have no memory of that one at all, which I think has to count as a No. How does it go? I suppose it may just be that I don't know the title.

[jauntyalan.livejournal.com]

oh THAT's my lovin. i thort it was called never gonna get it! i will go back at once and TICK IT

[boyofbadgers.livejournal.com]

I haven't heard CCP for years, but in my head the chorus sounds amazing.