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Dominator’s Voting List – The Best and Worst of 1997
Time to vote!Please send votes for the following to : vote@festive.demon.co.uk
All votes must correspond with singles released or anything else that happenedin 1997 only.
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 : 14 new entries, 1 climbers, 2 non-movers & 23 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…
14 new entries this week, 1 climber (Oasis from 40 to 39),2 non-movers (Natalie Imbruglia at 2, and one other), and 23 going down.
Big fallers include Peter Andre (6 to 22), Embrace (8 to 26), Michael Bolton(14 to 30) and Bee Gees (18 to 38).
1. Spice Girls go it alone.
The feisty five sacked their manager, Simon Fuller, after last Thursday’sMTV awards in a plan apparently masterminded by Geri Halliwell, aka GingerSpice (even though her hair isn’t really that colour at all), as they felttheir manager was taking too much of their profit and that they wanted morecontrol.
However, whether this goes to plan we will have to see, as Fuller brought themthe team who wrote all their hits, as well as getting them their advertisingcampaigns for crisps, cola, cameras and a fragrance. They said they’ve hadenough of working every day for the last two years and want more time tothemselves.
It was alleged that Simon Fuller split from his girlfriend in order to spendmore time with Emma Bunton, aka Baby Spice, but all involved have denied this,and one possibility of the man to take over may be Oliver Smallman, managerof Louise and Eternal.
2. East 17 member quits
Tony Mortimer has quit East 17. Other details of the case are not known asI type, but this has been rather overshadowed by the conviction and releaseof British au-pair Louise Woodward.
Of this week’s highlights and lowlights…
38 (18) Bee Gees – Still Waters (Run Deep)
Not quite walking out of the charts…yet 🙂
24 Peter Cox – If You Walk Away
Second solo single from the ex-Go West singer and thankfully a biggerhit this time round, but it has received zero airplay whenever I’ve beenlistening.
13 Jon Bon Jovi – Janie, Don’t Take Your Love To Town
Not quite as good as Kenny Rogers “Ruby” version 🙂
10 Texas – Put Your Arms Around Me *
Fourth single from their “White On Blonde” album, and another Top 10 hit.However, now that Chris Evans has split from his producer-girlfriend Suzi Aplin,how long before Chris and lead singer Sharleen Spiteri become the next showbizcouple…?
8 Moby – James Bond Theme
The 007 theme jazzed up. Very average.
7 Gary Barlow – Open Road * !!!
Fourth single from the ex-Take That’s lead singer and unlike his fellowex-TT’s he’s scored a Top 10 hit with each single post the band’s split.
This new one is the title track from the album, and is quite a jaunty pop songthat sounds perhaps less in-depth than it actually is.
6 PF Project featuring Ewan McGregor – Choose Life
Dance track accompanied by the opening monologue from Ewan McGregor as usedin the film, Trainspotting, which was originally added from a worn VHS tape,but Ewan like it so much he let them use it direct from the film.
3 Barbara Streisand and Celine Dion – Tell Him :O ===
Puke-a-rama.
2 (2) Natalie Imbruglia – Torn *
Not quite making No.1 this week although it had been thought it might,this is the debut single for the ex-Neighbours star where she played BethBrennan, then with long hair, who left the show after her character marriedBrad Willis.
She quit to start a singing career, and it’s taken about three years, but thefirst results has struck a No.2 hit instantly, even though it was originallydue out two weeks ago. Perhaps a good thing they did put it back, probablybecause the Spice Girls put their record back to the same week. They could’vehad a No.1 if they hadn’t reckoned with a force stronger than the Spice Girls,namely Aqua.
1 (1) Aqua – Barbie Girl *3rd Week at No.1*
First ever hit, and this week knocking the Spice Girls off their perch aftera week, for this weird band with a black-haired girl as ‘Barbie’, thepopular young girls doll, singing an endless chanting chorus of :
Yes, it’s catchy, but so is impetigo.
(* – my current favourites)
November 3rd :
NEVER EVER…………………………………….All Saints (London) MELO MELO……………………………………..Baby Birkin (Dishy) LITTLE DARLING……………………………………Bambino (Broken) OPEN ROAD……………………………………….Gary Barlow (RCA) KILLER CURE………………………..The Beekeepers (Beggars Banquet) THE HUNCHBACK OF SAN FRANCISCO…………………Perry Blake (Polydor) TRIBAL NIGHTS……………………………….Blue Bamboo (Avantura) HEAVEN IS A PLACE ON ……………………Blue Dream (Academy Street) LET’S START THE DANCE [rm]…………………………..Bohannon (NEC) JANIE, DON’T TAKE YOUR LOVE TO TOWN……..Jon Bon Jovi (Jambco/Mercury) GROOVE ME…………………….Booker T & Tuff Jam (Junior Boy’s Own) I NEED…………………………………..Meredith Brooks (Capitol) FEED IT………………………………….The Candyskins (Ultimate) I’M SO LONELY………………………………………Cast (Polydor) THIS STRENGTH……………………………….Guy Chadwick (Setanta) TELL ME………………………………………Cath Coffey (Island) I HEAR A NEW WORLD………………………….Edwyn Collins (Setanta) MEA CULPA BLUES (IT’S MY FAULT)………….Colouring Lesson (Deceptive) WRONG NUMBER……………………………………The Cure (Fiction) MY DREAM…………………………………………Darlesia (Eye-Q) THE SOUND [rm]……………………………..De Donatis III (Upbeat) DEEPER (EP) [ri]……………………………..Delirious? (Furious?) EVERYDAY………………………..Devox feat. Angie B. Stone (Arista) LOST & FOUND……………………………………D*Note (Dorado/VC) BEST GOT BETTER……………………………..Dub Pistols (Concrete) NON-STOP OPERATION……………………………Dust Junkys (Polydor) JOY & PAIN…………………………………..Eternity (Mastercuts) OH BOY………………………………Fabulous Baker Boys (Multiply) DON’T LEAVE [ri]………………………………..Faithless (Cheeky) BARRIO GROOVES (EP): BARRIO GORRVES / C’MON / FUNKY / TELL ME / LATIN THING / NO. 2 TRAIN………………………..Freddy Fresh (Harthouse) EVERY TIME I FALL……………………………..Gina G (Eternal/WEA) SHIPWRECKED………………………………………Genesis (Virgin) POND…………………………………….God’s Boyfriend (Trade 2) SUNSET EYES……………………………………..High Coin (Dishy) DON’T DIE JUST YET…………………………..David Holmes (Go.Beat) YOU SEXY THING…………………………………Hot Chocolate (EMI) ESCAPES………………………Victor Imbrez (Greenlight/Hooj Choons) HEY GIRL…………………………………….Billy Joel (Columbia) JUNGLE BROTHERS………………….The Jungle Brothers (Gee Street/V2) INKANYEZI NEZAZI………………………Ladysmith Black Mambazo (A&M) IT’S MY PARTY…………………………….Jody Lee (Academy Street) STAND UP [rm]…………………………………..Love Tribe (AM:PM) SMELLAS LIKE WHITE TRASH……………………….Marilyn Manson (UFO) SHE’S LOOKING FOR ME………………….The Montrose Avenue (Columbia) FUNKIN’ DOWN THE TRACK………………………..Mr. S. Oliver (Fresh) THE TOON ARMY STOMP…………..Mungo Jerry & The Mungo Mags (RP Media) YOU CAN’T UNEAT THE APPLE…………………My Life Story (Parlophone) WOMAN OF IRELAND……………………………….Mike Oldfield (WEA) SOUTH CENTRAL……………………….One Minute Silence (Big Cat/V2) CHOOSE LIFE………………..PF Project feat. Ewan McGregor (Positiva) WE ARE ONE………………………………………….DJ Q (Filter) DON’T STOP……………………………Queen Nadine (Academy Street) KILLER……………………………………………..Rare (Arctic) FALLING DOWN…………………………………Redwood (Almo Sounds) EARTHBOUND / READ MY MIND……………Conner Reeves (Wildstar/Telstar) MOUTH…………………………………………Rochelle (Almighty) BIENVENUE……………………………………..Celvin Rotane (NEC) THE LATEST CRAZE…………………………………Showgirls (Poppy) REALTIME EP……………………….Spacetime Continuum (Astralwerks) TELL HIM………………………Barbra Streisand & Celine Dion (Epic) BASIC TONAL REMAKE………………………………..Surgeon (Arista) FREE BEAT……………………………………..DJ Suv (Full Cycle) STRONGHOLD…………………………..Technical Itch (Moving Shadow) PUT YOUR ARMS AROUND ME…………………………….Texas (Mercury) GRADUATE…………………………………Third Eye Blind (Elektra) CHAMELEON (SHED YOUR SKIN) [internet]…………Trigger (Aegean/Virgin) THE OUTER LIMITS………………………………….Twister (Flying) ALWAYS THERE………………………………..UB40 (DEP Int./Virgin) YOU AND ME SONG [2nd ri]……………………The Wannadies (Indolent) TRY MY LOVE……………………………Lalomie Washburn (Soulciety) [tba]………………………………………..Wireless (Chrysalis) CHASE………………………………..Wreckage Inc. (Wall Of Sound)
November 10th :
INVISIBLE MAN………………………………………..980 (Motown) THE SPEED OF THE SOUND OF LONELINESS……………Alabama 3 (Elemental) HEAD OVER HEELS – ALL CRIED OUT………………….Allure (Crave/Epic) APPLE TREE (TO BE FREE)…………….Erykah Badu (Kedor/Universal-MCA) BENEDICTUS / NIGHTMARE [rm]……………………..Brainbug (Positiva) FEELIN’ INSIDE…………………………………..Bobby Brown (MCA) THE DELICIOUS EP…………………….The Catherine Wheel (Chrysalis) I’M LEAVIN’ U (GOTTA GO, GOTTA GO)……………………Bootsy Collins …………………………………feat. MC Lyte (Black Culture/WEA) RHINO RAYS (EP)…………………..Dawn Of The Replicants (East West) TURN AROUND……………………..FAB! (Break Records 2000/Peermusic) FIRM BIZ………………….The Firm [Nas, Foxy Brown & AZ] (Columbia) I WILL COME TO YOU………………………………..Hanson (Mercury) YOU WERE MEANT FOR ME [ri]…………………………Jewel (Atlantic) SHINDO………………………………….Jon The Dentist (Additive) YOUR SUCKING FUNNY DAY…………………….Lambchop (City Slang/EfA) ALANE…………………………………………..Was Madiko (Epic) PRIVILEGE……………………………………….Mainstream (Nude) DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER………..David McAlmont & David Arnold (East West) NAKED & SACRED…………………….Maria Nayler (Deconstruction/RCA) BETTER DAY………………………………..Ocean Colour Scene (MCA) OVER…………………………………………Portishead (Go.Beat) HELP THE AGED……………………………………….Pulp (Island) NO SURPRISES………………………………..Radiohead (Parlophone) ARE U READY?………………………………….Salt’n’Pepa (London) CRY………………………………………The Sundays (Parlophone) DEMONS………………………………Super Furry Animals (Creation) DISCONNECTED………………………………………..Tin Star (V2)
November 17th :
I WONDER IF HEAVEN’S GOT A GHETTO……….2pac feat. Maxee (Amaru/Jive) WHO’S LOVING MY BABY…………………….Shola Ama (Freakstreet/WEA) MISSING YOU……………………………..Mary J. Blige (Uptown/MCA) BUTTERFLY………………………………….Mariah Carey (Columbia) WINDOW……………………………………Confucius Says (Koch UK) DAMN I WANNA BE YOUR LOVER……………………..En Vogue (East West) I CAN’T HELP MYSELF………………………………Lucid (Delirious) FREEDOM………….Robert Miles feat. Kathy Sledge (Deconstruction/RCA) SUNDAY MORNING…………………………No Doubt (Traume/Interscope) ON MY OWN [ri]……………………………………….Peach (Mute) SMACK MY BITCH UP / NO MAN ARMY…………………….The Prodigy (XL) IT’S GREAT WHEN WE’RE TOGETHER……………..Finlay Quaye (Haiku/Epic) WAY OUT………………………………………….Santa Cruz (MCA) DON’T CRY FOR ME…………………..Lisa Stansfield (Big Life/Arista) PERFECT DAY………………….v.a. [Children In Need ’97] (Chrysalis)
November 24th :
SHOOTING STAR / BABY CAN I HOLD YOU TONIGHT…………Boyzone (Polydor) TOMORROW NEVER DIES………………………………Sheryl Crow (A&M) THE NIGHT THE EARTH CRIED……………….The Gravediggaz (Gee Street) FEELING GOOD………Half & Herb feat. Nina Simone (Killer Bee/Planet 3) HIGH TIMES……………………………………Jamiroquai (Sony S2) WHAT YOU SAY………………………………..Lightning Seeds (Epic) FANTASY ISLAND……………………………..M People (M People/BMG)
December 1st :
THE PRIVATE PSYCHEDELIC REEL…………………………………….. ………………………The Chemical Brothers (Freestyle Dust/Virgin) SLAM DUNK DA FUNK………………………………………Five (RCA) SAY EH-OH………………………………Teletubbies (BBC Worldwide) LUCKY MAN…………………………………………The Verve (Hut)
December 8th :
BEAUTIFUL NIGHT…………………………Paul McCartney (Parlophone) WALKING ON THE MOON [rm] – ROXANNE [rm Puff Daddy]……The Police (A&M) TOO MUCH……………………………………..Spice Girls (Virgin)
December 15th :
TIE YOUR MOTHER DOWN [rr]………………………..Queen (Parlophone)
December 29th :
AMNESIA…………………………………………Chumbawamba (EMI) FEEL SO GOOD………………………………………..Mase (Arista)
February 2nd :
MY STAR…………………………………………….Ian Brown (-)
Other forthcoming releasesNOVEMBER :
NO DOUBT……………………………………….702 (Biv10/Motown) 101………………………………………………Afrowax (white) FEELIN’ YOU [US imp]……………………………….Ali (Island US) RUNNING SONG……………………………Ambersunshower (Gee Street) FUNK MUSIC…………………………….Dave Angel (Fourth&Broadway) DON’T SAY / SHINE/BAD GIRL/LET ME KNOW….Jon B (550 Music/Yab Yum/Epic) LONG TIME NO SEE……………………Chico de Barge (Kedor/Universal) FROM THE DIZZY HEIGHTS OF LOVE………………….The Beatnik (Cheeky) OFF THE ROCKS……………………………Beatnuts (Relativity/Epic) BIZZI’S PARTY………………………Bizzi (Rhythm Series/Parlophone) BACHELORETTE……………………………..Bjork (One Little Indian) DANCE (TO THAT THING)……………………….Black Magic (Diffusion) CRAZY FOR YOU……………………………Blonde Ambition (Energise) NO OTHER LOVE…………………………Blue Amazon (Jackpot/Sony S3) GET DOWN GET FUNKY…………………………………Blue Max (Heat) I’M AFRAID OF AMERCANS……………………………David Bowie (RCA) CAN’T LET HER GO………………………………Boyz II Men (Motown) LOVE PEACE & GREASE……………………………….B.T. (East West) 20 HZ…………………………………………….Capricorn (R&S) RUN TO YOU…………………………..Joi Cardwell (Activ/Eightball) [tba]…………………………………….Paul Carrack (Ark21/EMI) SHOW ME HEAVEN [rm]……………………………..Chimera (Neoteric) SWING LOW SWEET CHARIOT [rm]…….Club Artists United (Fat Boy/Nervous) I’VE JUST SEEN A FACE……………………….Holly Cole (Parlophone) [tba]………………………………………….Coolio (Tommy Boy) SLEEP ON THELEFT SIDE…………………………..Cornershop (Wiiija) CHINESE BURN…………………………………….Curve (Universal) THE HORN (LE TREN)……………………………..DJ Dero (Manifesto) SEASON / KEEP STEPPIN’……………………………….Desert (Glow) MANKIND / MUSIC FIRST…………………..DJ Die & DJ Suv (Full Cycle) PERSONAL DEFECTS EP………………………….Digital Monkeys (Quad) THE PURVGEYOR……………………….Divine Intervention (Koolworld) BRIGHT LIGHTS………………………………….Tanya Donelly (4AD) LOVETHING………………………………………….Down Low (ZYX) FIVE STEPS……………..Dru Hill (Island Black Music/Fourth&Broadway) WHAT WOULD WE DO?…………………………………..D.S.K. (Fresh) [tba]……………………………………Dubstar (Food/Parlophone) RAIN / SOMETIMES / IN MY ARMS………………………..Erasure (Mute) [tba]………………………………………….Feline (Chrysalis) SOLID SESSION…………………………………Format #1 (Brothers) LOVE IS LIKE OXYGENE……………………………Freebass (Freeflow) ADVENTURES IN FREESTYLE EP………………….Freestylers (Freskanova) AMERICA (I LOVE AMERICA) [rm]………………..Full Intention (Stress) GOT FUNK………………………….The Funkjunkies (Strictly Rhythm) EXIT EXIT / INNER SANCTUM……………………..Funky Flirts (Hectic) THE RIGHT WAY………………………………..Eric Gadd (Hevi Floe) IT’S MY LIFE……………………………………..Gigabyte (Spore) THE GROOVE…………………………Global Communication (Dedicated) STEPPING STONE…………………………..G Love & Special Sauce (-) STOMP…………………………………..God’s Property (Universal) [tba]…………………………………………Green Day (Reprise) [tba]…………………………….Robson Green & Jerome Flynn (RCA) ENTROPY……………………………………..G.T.B. (Yum Yum/Epic) I BELIEVE [2nd rm]……………………….Happy Clappers (Coalition) [tba]…………………..Jools Holland & his R&B Orchestra (Coaltion) GET RUFF……………………………………………Hotbox (Amen) SURE SHOT…………………………………..House Builders (Spore) WORD IS LOVE…………………………….Steve ‘Silk’ Hurley (Silk) SCREAM………………………………………Invisible (Excession) FOOLING WITH MY LOVE [US imp]…………………Gisele Jackson (Waako) HOW COULD YOU DO THAT………………………………Joshua (Hectic) HAPPINESS……..Kamasutra feat. Stefan Frank ou Jocelyn Brown (Sony S3) OBSESSION………………………………………..Lange (Additive) DOCTRAIN…………………………………….The Levellers (China) [tba]…………………………Lighthouse Family (Wild Card/Polydor) LET’S GO ROUND AGAIN………………………….Louise (1st Ave./EMI) AIN’T THAT JUST THE WAY……………Lutricia McNeal (Wildstar/Telstar) CIRCUSCLOWN………………………..Mega ‘Lo Mania (No Respect/Edel) DID IT AGAIN…………………………Kylie Minogue (Deconstruction) BACKSTABBERS…………………………………..Mark Morrison (WEA) SUNSHINE…………………………..Dr. Motte & Westbam (Low Spirit) WE CAN GET DOWN…………………………………….Myron (Island) GIVE IT TO ME……………………………..Non-Alains (Un-Disputed) GOODBYE…………………………………Northern Uproar (Heavenly) SKY’S THE LIMIT / KICK THE DOOR / GOING BACK TO CALI……………….. …………………………………The Notorious B.I.G. (Puff Daddy) DON’T PUSH IT………………………………….Nu Vision (Downboy) THE EQUINOX………………………….Organized Konfusion (Priority) BEST BIT…………………………………….Beth Orton (Heavenly) ADDICTED TO LOVE [rm]…………………………..Robert Palmer (EMI) KEEP YOUR LOVE…………………………………Partizan (Kartoonz) PEACE TRAIN……………………………….Dolly Parton (Universal) FALL DOWN……………………………..Michael Procter (Soul-furic) SPACE JAM…………………………………Quad City DJs (Atlantic) I CAN’T LIVE WIITHOUT YOU [rr]……………………Queen (Parlophone) IT’S BEEN A LONG TIME…………………………….Rakim (Universal) MAKES ME WANNA DANCE……………Rhythm Alliance (Positive Vibrations) ENTER THE SCENE…………..Rhythm Masters vs. DJ Supreme (Distinctive) THE CHANT………………………………………R.I.P. (Satellite) INSECURITY (HOW COULD I)……………………….Roachford (Columbia) AFTER 12, BEFORE 6……………………….Sam Salter (LaFace/Arista) FEEL FREE………………………………………..Seafield (Limbo) DEEPER…………………………………………Serious Danger (-) (I THOUGHT IT WAS) YOU…………………………Sex-O-Sonique (ffrr) [tba]………………………………….The Shirehorses (East West) [tba]……………………………………Paul Simon (Warner Bros.) ROMEO & ME………………………………….Sleeper (Indolent/RCA) JUST CRUISIN’………………………………..Will Smith (Columbia) THE WAVE………………………………………….Sosa (Additive) FORGIVEN (I FEEL YOUR LOVE)……………The Space Brothers (Manifesto) I THINK I’M IN LOVE……………………….Spiritualized (Dedicated) JUMP……………………………………………..Edwin Starr (-) STORM………………………………………………….Storm (-) EVERYDAY I FALL APART……………………..Superstar (Camp Fabulous) I LOVE MY RADIO [rm]……………………………..Taffy (President) START AGAIN……………………………..Teenage Fanclub (Creation) IT’S OVER LOVE…………..Todd Terry pres. Shannon (Manifesto/Mercury) BLOWPIPE………………………………………Thursday Club (R&S) 14 HOURS TO SAVE THE EARTH…………………………Tomski (Firefly) LA LA LA…………………………….Tranquility Bass (Astralwerks) IF GOD WILL SEND HIS ANGELS…………………………….U2 (Island) OPEN YOUR MIND………………………………..U.S.U.R.A. (Malarky) ZEITGEIST EP………………………………………..v.a. (Stress) TITTY TWISTER…………………………………….Viper (Paradise) READY…………………………………..Bruce Wayne (Logic/Arista) [tba]………………………………..Paul Weller (Go!Discs/Island) ALANE…………………………………………………Wes (Epic) EVERYTHING SHE WANTS ’97………………………………Wham! (Epic) ENDLESS NAME……………………………..The Wildhearts (Mushroom) LINE DANCE PARTY……………………………..The Woolpackers (RCA) CALL ON ME…………………………………Johnny X (Higher State) HOT SHOT ’97……………………………..Karen Young (Distinctive)
DECEMBER :
[tba]……………………………..The Beta Band (Regal/Parlophone) [tba]…………………………………….Goldie (Metalheadz/ffrr) [tba]……………………………………..James (Fontana/Mercury) ALL ROUND THE WORLD……………………………….Oasis (Creation) WE HAVE ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD…..Iggy Pop (Wall Of Sound/East West) [tba]…………………………………………Jimmy Ray (Sony S2) TOO MUCH……………………………………..Spice Girls (Virgin) DREAMS…………………………Smokin’ Beats feat. Lyn Eden (AM:PM) I FEEL LOVE……………………………………..Vanessa-Mae (EMI) ANGLES…………………………………Robbie Williams (Chrysalis)
JANUARY :
ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT…………………………Peter Andre (Mushroom) [tba]………………………………Faith Evans (Puff Daddy/Arista) [tba]……………………………………..Photek (Science/Virgin) SOME DAY……………………………………..Roachford (Columbia) [tba]……………………………………………The Smiles (A&M)
MARCH :
NAKED WITHOUT YOU……………………………..Roachford (Columbia)
In this week’s Top 10 there are new entries for Spice Girls (Spiceworld, 1),Enya (Best of: Paint The Sky With Stars, 4) and Queen (Queen Rocks, 7).
Elsewhere in the Top 40 are new entries from Aqua (Aquarium, 14),The Shirehorses (The World Album in the World…Ever!, 22), andThe Cure (Galore – The Singles 1987-1997, 37).
46. Suede – Trash
Making No.3 in July last year, this became Suede‘s biggest hit to date, andtheir album, Coming Up, also spawned four other top ten singles: BeautifulOnes, Saturday Night, Lazy and Film Star.
The end bit :
Well, that’s it for now. If you want to be added to the WidescreenVideo and Laserdisc lists, just mail me atCharts Request to tell me.
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.