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In the last chart of 1996, I posted my Top 50 singles of the year, picking out the Top 10 first. During 1997, I’ll be going through the list one by one. I’ve finished the Top 10, and have now moved onto the rest.
This week : 16 new entries, 1 climbers, 2 non-movers & 21 downers
It’s goodbye to :
And hello to :
(* – my current favourites)
(!!! – Single Of The Week!!!)
(:O === the current all-time hate that makes even my smilie want to hurl!)
( (R) – Repeat., ie. a re-release)
A brief analysis on the current chart situation…
16 new entries this week, and two singles dropping like a stone: Sneaker Pimpsdown from 9 to 24, and Marilyn Manson down from 18 to 38.
Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli were the only climber going back from 4 to 3,and Eternal stay at 2, but are Hanson still No.1 ?
Anyone who watched The Cook Report (ITV, Tues 3rd June, 8.30pm) will haveseen part one of a two-part special investigation into chart-rigging and anexplanation and admission of just how the chart is easily rigged by the bigrecord companies.
They attempted to hype a single into the chart themselves, promoting DebbieCurrie’s (daughter of Tory MP Edwina Currie) debut single, a cover of “You CanDo Magic”.
It didn’t quite work out though as it debuted at No.108 last week, and is notdestined to climb any higher, as it only sold 1000 copies and 800 of them werebought by Cook’s own chart-buying organisation.
However, the best line was from a man giving out info on how to rig the chartsby saying that you have to be careful though because, “You don’t want Roger Cookon your back do you…” 🙂
Part 2 of the investigation can be seen on Tuesday 10th June, 8.30pm, ITV.
Of the new entries this week…
13 Wet Wet Wet – Strange *
The second single from their latest album, “10” (since they’ve been togetherfor 10 years) is more of a poppy effort than their No.3 hit, “If I Never SeeYou Again”, but no worse for that, and just as singalongable…
7 Red Hot Chili Peppers – Love Rollercoaster *
The Red Hot Chili Peppers had two singles out last year. “Aeroplane” madeNo.11 in February, while “My Friends” only made No.78 in July.
This latest song is taken from the film of the year, “Beavis and ButtheadDo America”, which needs no explanation, and is a top tune.
The other track on this single is another song from the film. In the film,it’s sung by environmentally-friendly teacher Mr. Van Driesen, but on thesoundtrack it’s the original Engelbert Humperdinck singing, “Lesbian Seagull”.
1 Hanson – Mmmbop :O === *2nd Week at No.1*
Although only released a week ago this catchy tune has been played on radiostations endlessly for the past 6 weeks…and therein lies the problem.
I really liked it at first, and thought it was part-Sheryl Crow/part-CyndiLauper, then found out it was three brothers from America, namely Isaac, aged16 (guitar), Taylor, 13 (keyboard and vocals), and Zach, 11 (drums).
After the first week or two of hearing it, it has been played to deathENDLESSLY on every station all day, and I’m now completely sick of it.
This is now the 5th single in a row to go straight in at No.1, the list lookinglike this :
(* – my current favourites)
June 2nd :
IF YOU REALLY WANNA KNOW…………………………Ether (Parlophone)
June 9th :
TOYS…………………………………………..Posh (Rhythm King)
June 16th :
NOTHING LOST FOREVER………………………..Echo & The Bunnymen (-)
June 30th :
I CONFESS………………………………………Posh (Rhythm King)
July 7th :
SO HELP ME GIRL………………………………….Gary Barlow (RCA) D’YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN…………………………….Oasis (Creation)
Other forthcoming releasesJUNE
TOO HANDSOME TO BE HOMELESS………………………..Baby Bird (Echo) SOMEPLACE, SOMEWHERE……………………….The Hormones (Banana/V2) KISS YOU ALL OVER………………………………..No Mercy (Arista) [tba]……………………………………………Oasis (Creation) [tba]………………………………..Strangelove (Food/Parlophone) [tba]……………………………………………Subcircus (Echo) WANTED……………………………White Town (Brilliant!/Chrysalis)
JULY
[tba] EP……………………………………..Embrace (Hut/Virgin) KISS YOU ALL OVER………………………………..No Mercy (Arista) KARMA POLICE………………………………..Radiohead (Parlophone) MOFO………………………………………….U2 & Underworld (-) WANTED……………………………White Town (Brilliant!/Chrysalis) URGE………………………………The Wildhearts (Round/East West)
In this week’s Top 10 there’s three new entries for Bob Dylan (The Best Of, 8),Sarah Brightman (Timeless, 3) and Wu-Tang Clan (Wu-Tang Forever, 1).
How they can call the Bob Dylan album, “The Best of..” I’ll never know. Where’s“Subterranean Homesick Blues” ?
Elsewhere in the Top 40, there’s new entries for Fear Factory (Remanufacture – Cloning Technology, 22) and Steve Winwood (Junction Seven, 32).
24. Garbage – Milk
Although they had their biggest hit last year in March with “Stupid Girl”at No.4, I preferred this one which made No.10 in November.
Both tracks were taken from their eponymous album, “Garbage”, and Shirlie, thelead singer, somehow ended up in FHM’s Top 100 Sexiest Women in the World…
The end bit :
Well, that’s it for now. If you want to be added to the list, just mailme at Charts Request to tell me, but please specify whether you want the music charts and/or the widescreen video and laserdisc lists.
Bye for now,
Dominator
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.