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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, 3 climbers, 1 non-movers & 22 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, 3 climbers (Brand New Heavies from 11 to 9,Clock from 12 to 11, and Tina Moore from 17 to 15), 1 non-mover(Verve at 20) and 22 going down.
Big fallers include Supergrass (18 to 30), Busta Rhymes (16 to 34) and Mansun (10 to 37).
1. Princess Diana tribute albumThe official tribute album will be on its own label, and includes stars suchas Annie Lennox, Peter Gabriel, George Michael and Macca.
The album will be released on December 1st.
Of this week’s highlights and lowlights…
36 Lalo Schifrin – Bullitt
Having only had one hit in his time, “Jaws” which made No.14 in 1976,Lalo Schifrin is back in the charts with another film theme tune, thatof the Steve McQueen classic, recently released on video for the first timein widescreen format ( http://www.festive.demon.co.uk/widelist.htm , plug, plug 🙂 and shots of the film were blended into an advert for theFiat Puma car, first shown in May or June this year on TV.
The advert featured a scene of McQueen driving around, but with the new FiatPuma superimposed on top of him, for want of a more complex description,and instantly became one of the best television adverts of the year – thoughthere’s never much competition…
30 (18) Supergrass – Late in the Day * !!!
Perhaps I should’ve made this ‘single of the week’ last week. However, thenit was getting bugger all airplay, but in the past week I’ve heard this quitea few times, most of them being on Saturday.
It has to be said that Supergrass‘s singles get much better with each release,and this one which starts as a slow ballad-like track seems to build-up toa mid-tempo tune, while in the video the band jump off on pogo sticks, andthe whole thing is possibly deserved of one of my Top 10 songs of 1997.
28 2K – Fuck The Millenium
Everyone’s entitled to their own opinion, I guess.
26 Rolf Harris – Sun Arise
This week 35 years ago, this song made No.3 in the UK charts. Many thingshave changed over the years except for the popularity of Rolf Harris, esp.nowadays when he has a TV series on BBC1, Animal Hospital.
Last in the Top 10 with a “cover” of Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” inFeb 93 (at No.7), Rolf’s biggest hit was a No.1 in November 69 with “TwoLittle Boys”, who had two little toys.
Quite why this song has been re-released is anyone’s guess, although someoneat work told me an album is due. You have been warned.
19 Smash Mouth – Walkin’ on the Sun *
First chart hit for Smash Mouth, and if you’ve been listening to the radiorecently but can’t quite remember this one – it’s the one that sounds like theDoors. Nuff said.
13 Jimmy Ray – Are You Jimmy Ray :O ===
Harry Connick Jr with a bigger quiff is how I’d describe this prat.
An endless chant of “Are you Jimmy Ray (or other variations of something-Ray)”followed by “Who wants to know?”, and you have a very dull record.
I heard him interviewed by Newcastle goddess Jayne Middlemiss recently, andshe asked him “*ARE* you Jimmy Ray?”, to which he replied, “Who wants to know?”Hmmm…
10 Ash – A Life Less Ordinary *
Theme tune to the new film from the writer/director/producer team behindShallow Grave and Trainspotting, A Life Less Ordinary stars Ewan MacGregoras a kidnapper taking Cameron Diaz as his hostage and keeping her captive.
Suddenly every man in Britain is jealous.
9 (11) Brand New Heavies – You’ve Got A Friend
And for the first time in their career the Brand New Heavies crack the Top 10,albeit with one of their least impressive releases.
This is a cover of the Carole King song, taken to No.4 by James Taylor inAugust 1971. However, it’s more of a slow reggae version which doesn’t seemto work, and I much prefer their last single which made No.21 before droppingout, “You Are The Universe” which is still getting a lot of radio airplay.
My favourite track by the band still remains as the speeded-up dance versionof “Back To Love” which made No.23 in June 94.
2 Aqua – Barbie Girl
First ever hit 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.
1 (NEW) Spice Girls – Spice Up Your Life *1st Week at No.1*
Second single release of the year for the Spice Girls, the last being Mamaback in March, although it wasn’t quite the Genesis song I remember. 🙂
It was inevitable that this would go straight in at No.1, although it wouldhave been a close call if they’d stuck to their original release date ofFriday, October 3rd, but the delay was well-timed, taking advantage of theeventual slump in sales of Elton John’s tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales,and allowing the girls to go to the top in the first week out.
This is their fourth single to go straight in at No.1, and the fifth No.1overall, making every hit a chart-topper. When will the bubble burst? Not fora while that’s for sure, as their new album, “Spiceworld” is released onNovember 3rd, and Boxing Day sees the release of their debut feature film.
Also, not content with dominating the charts again, they’ve been making moreadverts – another one for Walkers crisps, with Gary Lineker, and they’vealso released their own Impulse fragrance, Spice, the advert for which makesthem look as if they’re walking naked down the street to the shouts of”Mel C, put ’em back on!”
As for the song, it’s a catchy affair and one worth turning the volume uploud to blast the cobwebs away, but hardly thought-provoking.
This is the fourth song in a row to go straight in at No.1 :
(* – my current favourites)
October 13th :
FUCK THE MILLENNIUM / ACID BRASS……………….2K (Blast First/Mute) NEVER EVER…………………………………….All Saints (London) BARBIE GIRL………………………………………Aqua (Universal) A LIFE LESS ORDINARY………………………………Ash (Infectious) HOSTAGE IN A FROCK………………………………Cecil (Parlophone) I GOT SOMEBODY ELSE……………….Changing Faces (Big Beat/Atlantic) ONLY WHEN I SLEEP……………………..The Corrs (143/Lava/Atlantic) LIE DETECTOR…………….David Devant & His Spirit Wife (Rhythm King) DIGITAL…………………………………..Goldie (Metalheadz/ffrr) TORN………………………………………Natalie Imbruglia (RCA) SUNSHINE……………Jay-Z feat. Foxy Brown & Babyface (Northwestside) SPILLER FROM RIO (DO IT EASY)………………..Laguna (Azuli/Positiva) PHENOMENON…………………………………….LL Cool J (Mercury) SLIMCEA GIRL………………………………………….Mono (Echo) BURNING WHEEL……………………………..Primal Scream (Creation) ARE YOU JIMMY RAY?……………………………..Jimmy Ray (Sony S2) QUINTESSENCE EP………………………………DJ Ron (Parousia/RCA) ARE U READY?………………………………….Salt’n’Pepa (London) COSMONAUT NO. 7…………………………………Scarfo (Deceptive) WALKIN’ ON THE SUN………………..Smash Mouth (Interscope/Universal) JUST CRUISIN’………………………………..Will Smith (Columbia) NUMBER ONE SONG IN HEAVEN……………………….Sparks (Roadrunner) SPICE UP YOUR LIFE…………………………….Spice Girls (Virgin) PREPARE TO LAND………………….The Supernaturals (Food/Parlophone) HAPPY………………………………………Travis (Independiente) STORM…………………………………………..Vanessa-Mae (EMI) CARRY ON ’97……………………………….Martha Wash (Delirious)
October 20th :
PARTY PEOPLE……………………………………911 (Ginga/Virgin) GET HIGHER……………………………….Black Grape (Radioactive) SHE COULD FLY…………………………………..Ether (Parlophone) BREATHING……………………………………..North & South (RCA) CHOOSE LIFE………………..PF Project feat. Ewan McGregor (Positiva) TRAFFIC………………………………………..Stereophonics (V2) ALWAYS THERE………………………………..UB40 (DEP Int./Virgin)
October 27th :
BENEDICTUS…………………………………….Brainbug (Positiva) C.L.E.O.P.A.T.R.A. (GONNA BLOW IT)…………………..Cleopatra (WEA) I NEED A MIRACLE…………………………………..Coco (Positiva) IF YOU WALK AWAY……………………………..Peter Cox (Chrysalis) ALL YOU GOOD GOOD PEOPLE [ri] (EP)…………………….Embrace (Hut) FREE…………….Robert Miles feat. Cathy Sledge (Deconstruction/RCA) JAMES BOND THEME [TOMORROW NEVER DIES]…………………..Moby (Mute) I CAN’T LIVE WIITHOUT YOU [rr]……………………Queen (Parlophone) SIMPLE SINCERITY………………………………….Radish (Mercury) BROWN PAPER BAG………………Reprazent feat. Roni Size (Talkin Loud) ANY OLD LOVE……………………..Ultra Nate (Strictly Rhythm/AM:PM) AJARE………………………………..Way Out West (Deconstruction)
November 2nd :
CHAMELEON (SHED YOUR SKIN) [internet]…………Trigger (Aegean/Virgin)
November 3rd :
I NEED…………………………………..Meredith Brooks (Capitol) WRONG NUMBER……………………………………The Cure (Fiction) RHINO RAYS……………………….Dawn Of The Replicants (East West) PUT YOUR ARMS AROUND ME…………………………….Texas (Mercury) [tba]………………………………………..Wireless (Chrysalis)
November 10th :
THE DELICIOUS EP…………………….The Catherine Wheel (Chrysalis) DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER………David McAlmont con David Arnold (East West) NAKED & SACRED…………………….Maria Nayler (Deconstruction/RCA) HELP THE AGED……………………………………….Pulp (Island) NO SURPRISES………………………………..Radiohead (Parlophone) CRY………………………………………The Sundays (Parlophone)
November 17th :
PERFECT DAY……………………………..[Children In Need ’97] (-) ON MY OWN [ri]……………………………………….Peach (Mute) DON’T CRY FOR ME…………………..Lisa Stansfield (Big Life/Arista)
December 1st :
SLAM DUNK DA FUNK………………………………………Five (RCA) [tba]……………………………………………Hanson (Mercury)
December 8th :
BEAUTIFUL NIGHT…………………………Paul McCartney (Parlophone)
December 15th :
TIE YOUR MOTHER DOWN [rr]………………………..Queen (Parlophone)
Other forthcoming releasesOCTOBER
WATER RIDE……………………………………………16B (Eye-Q) ANGEL EYES………………………………….Abbacadabra (Almighty) JOY & PAIN……………Addams & Gee feat. Antonia Lucas (Steppin’ Out) [tba]………………………………….Shola Ama (Freakstreet/WEA) MY DESIRE [rm]…………………………………………Amira (VC) LONELY……………………………………..Peter Andre (Mushroom) BLUE FEAR…………………………………Armin (Xtravaganza/Edel) HEY AZ…………………………………………AZ feat. SWV (EMI) AIN’T NO NEED TO HIDE……………………………Sandy B (Champion) TO BE FREE (APPLETREE)…………………Erykah Badu (Kedor/Universal) REACH INSIDE…………………………………..Bah Samba (Estereo) STEPPIN’ THROUGH TIME………………………..Philip Bailey (A-Dept) OPEN ROAD……………………………………….Gary Barlow (RCA) FOUNDATIONS ’97……………………..Beat Foundation (Skinnymalinky) DEAD WEIGHT…………………………………………Beck (Geffen) GO THE DISTANCE…………………………..Michael Bolton (Columbia) JANIE, DON’T TAKE YOUR LOVE TO TOWN……..Jon Bon Jovi (Jambco/Mercury) YARDCORE………………………….Born Jamericans (Delicious Vinyl) ON THE RUN / GROVETRAIN………………………………de Bos (Jive) SOUL BEAT RUNNA [rm]……………………………..Boymerang (Regal) DROP DEAD GORGEOUS / ECHO BEACH…………….Boys Of A New Age (Klone) GET READY TO BOUNCE………………..Brooklyn Bounce (Club Tools/Edel) REMEMBER………………………………………….B.T. (Perfecto) BUTTERFLY………………………………….Mariah Carey (Columbia) TELLIN’ STORIES…………………….The Charlatans (Beggars Banquet) LAYLA [rm]……………………………………….Chica (Planet 3) AMNESIA…………………………………………Chumbawamba (EMI) HEAVEN’S GOT TO BE …………………………Le Click (Logic/Arista) U SEXY THING / MEGAMIX……………….Clock (Power Station/Universal) I’M LEAVIN’ U (GOTTA GO, GOTTA GO)……………………Bootsy Collins …………………………………feat. MC Lyte (Black Culture/WEA) REMINDING ME (OF SEF)………….Common feat. Chantay Savage (Columbia) ESTA E LA VIDA…………………………………..El Cubana (Fresh) GABRIEL………………………Roy Davis Jr. feat. Peven Everett (XL) STRANDED………………………………..Deep Dish (Deconstruction) [tba]……………………………………….Delirious? (Furious?) SUMMER SMASH………………………………………Denim (EMIdisc) EVERYDAY………………………………Devox feat. Angie B (Arista) MAGIC………………………………………….D’Influence (Echo) LOST & FOUND……………………………………D*Note (Dorado/VC) [tba]…………………………………………Howard Donald (RCA) HERE COMES THE BIG RUSH……………………………Echobelly (Epic) DON’T LET IT GET YOU DOWN……………….Echo & The Bunnymen (London) FAVOURITE SHIRTS (BOY MEETS GIRL)……………E-motion (Universal/MCA) EPIDEMIC [rm]……………………………Exit EEE (Tripoli Trax/XL) OH BOY………………………………Fabulous Baker Boys (Multiply) PARADISE & DREAMS………………………….Force & Styles (Diverse) ADVENTURES IN FREESTYLES EP…………………Freestylers (Freskanova) [tba]………………………………………..Frosted (Roadrunner) I SURRENDER………………………………..Rosie Gaines (Big Bang) LET THE SUNSHINE……………………………Gerideau (Phuture Trax) DANGEROUS MINDZ………………………..The Gravediggaz (Gee Street) BEAUTIFUL……………………………….Groove Control (Extatique) NO TIME…………………………………………..Guya Reg (ffrr) I SAW THE LIGHT………………………..Terry Hall (Southsea Bubble) ULTRAFUNKULA………………………………Armand van Helden (ffrr) CALIFORNIA DREAMING……………………………..High Jinx (Rumour) THE CROWN…………………………………………Hooch (Eternal) [tba]……………………………………….Steven Houghton (RCA) MAGIC ORGASM………………………………..House Heroes (Twisted) [tba]……………………………………………..Huggy Bear (-) STEP INTO MY WORLD [rm]……………………..Hurricane #1 (Creation) SEARCHING………………………………………….InXS (Mercury) CRY ME A RIVER…………………………………….Jai (M&G/Wired) [tba]……………………………………..James (Fontana/Mercury) L’OMBELICO DEL MONDO………………………….Jovanotti (Diffusion) HAPPINESS…………………….Kamasutra feat. Stefan Frank (Sony S=B3) THE SESSION…………………………..Kings Of Tomorrow (Groove On) AS (UNTIL THE DAY) [rm]………………………..The Knowledge (ffrr) CRUSH ON YOU [rm]………………………Lil’ Kim (Big Beat/Atlantic) FEEL SO GOOD………………………………………..Mase (Arista) TO BE IN LOVE…………………………….Masters At Work (MAW/A&M) YOU SHOULD BE MINE…………………………Brian McKnight (Mercury) SANTA MARIA………………………..DJ Milano (All Around The World) EVERYTHING I WANTED…………………….Dannii Minogue (Eternal/WEA) ORIENT CITY………………………………Vincent de Moor (Deal-XL) WE CAN GET DOWN…………………………………….Myron (Island) BEACHBALL [rm]……………………..Nalin & Kane (Urban/Hooj Choons) I WAS MADE FOR LOVING YOU…..Nomadic Motion feat. Soraya (Steppin’ Out) SWEET TEARS / RUNAWAY [rm] / BLACK GOLD OF THE SUN…………………. ……………………………………..Nuyorican Soul (Talkin Loud) TOMORROW………………………………….Ocean Colour Scene (MCA) MIRACLE [2nd ri–rm]…………………………………..Olive (RCA) BACK ON EARTH…………………………………Ozzy Osbourne (Epic) ATOMIC……………………Party Animals (Mokum/Deep Blue/Roadrunner) TRYIN’ TIMES……….Courtney Pine feat. Jhelisa Anderson (Talkin Loud) WALKING ON THE MOON [rm]…………………………..The Police (A&M) LA BOUCLE……………………………….Le Pompidou (Pro-Zak Trax) RHYTHM OF THE NIGHT……………………Powerhouse (3 Beat/Satellite) BETTER DAY……………………………………….Presence (Pagan) ECHO DEK………………………………….Primal Scream (Creation) IT’S BEEN A LONG TIME…………………………….Rakim (Universal) READ MY MIND……………………….Conner Reeves (Wildstar/Telstar) AVENUES…………Refugee Camp Allstars feat. Pras (Ruffhouse/Columbia) THE MIGHTY HIGH………………………Revival 3000 (Hi-Life/Polydor) MMMBOP – TRUE BLUE……………………………..The Smurfs (EMI TV) SUMMERTIME SUMMERTIME…………………………..So So Def All-Stars …………………………………feat. Corina (So So Def/Columbia) PLEASUREDOME…………………………………Soul II Soul (Island) SING A SONG………………………Byron Stingily (Nervous/Manifesto) WHY…………………………………………….Sybil (Coalition) SOUL FREAK / DROP & ROLL………………..Three’n’One (Low Sense/ffrr) UP JUNPS THE BOOGIE……………………Timbaland & Magoo (East West) ALRIGHT / SECRET DE LOGIC………………….Tour De Force (East West) [tba]…………………………………..Triple A [Jimmy Cauty] (-) YOU MAKE ME WANNA ……………………………Usher (LaFace/Arista) I WON’T LET YOU DO THAT TO ME…………………Luther Vandross (Epic) HYPERSLEEP REMIXES…………………………………..Voyager (R&S) DON’T GIVE UP…………….Michelle Weeks (Definity/Ministry Of Sound) THE VISION………………………………………..Yum Yum (Sperm) TOPAZ / PLATINUM LANDSCAPE…………………………Zanzibar (Whoop) MAGIC OF THE NIGHT……………………………………Zico (Chase)
NOVEMBER :
DON’T THINK ABOUT IT……………………………Adeva (Distinctive) 101………………………………………………Afrowax (white) FROM THE DIZZY HEIGHTS OF LOVE………………….The Beatnik (Cheeky) BACHELORETTE……………………………..Bjork (One Little Indian) I’MN AFRAID OF AMERCANS…………………………..David Bowie (RCA) CAN’T LET HER GO………………………………Boyz II Men (Motown) ANGEL BREAK MY HEART……………………Toni Braxton (LaFace/Arista) [tba]…………………………………….Paul Carrack (Ark21/EMI) I’M SO LONELY………………………………………Cast (Polydor) I’VE JUST SEEN A FACE……………………….Holly Cole (Parlophone) [tba]………………………………………….Coolio (Tommy Boy) ROCCO……………………………………Death In Vegas (Concrete) THE HORN (LE TREN)……………………………..DJ Dero (Manifesto) [tba]………………………………………….Celine Dion (Epic) DESTINO (DESTINY)……………….Dizzy feat. Luvain (East West Dance) R.I.P. GROOVE [rm]……………….Double 99 feat. Top Cat (Satellite) [tba]……………………………………Dubstar (Food/Parlophone) DON’T LEAVE [ri]………………………………..Faithless (Cheeky) [tba]………………………………………….Feline (Chrysalis) GOT FUNK………………………….The Funkjunkies (Strictly Rhythm) [tba]…………………………….Robson Green & Jerome Flynn (RCA) SCREAM………………………………………Invisible (Excession) FOOLING WITH MY LOVE [US imp]…………………Gisele Jackson (Waako) HIGH TIMES……………………………………Jamiroquai (Sony S2) [tba]…………………………Lighthouse Family (Wild Card/Polydor) REAL HEAVY SCIENCE………………………..Mad Doctor X (Freskanova) BACKSTABBERS…………………………………..Mark Morrison (WEA) ROCK THE FUNKY BEAT………………..Natural Born Chillers (East West) GOODBYE…………………………………Northern Uproar (Heavenly) ADDICTED TO LOVE [rm]…………………………..Robert Palmer (EMI) FALL DOWN [US imp]………………………Michael Procter (Soulfuric) SMACK MY BITCH UP…………………………………The Prodigy (XL) [tba]……………………………………Finlay Quaye (Haiku/Epic) INSECURITY (HOW COULD I)……………………….Roachford (Columbia) BULLIT…………………………………Lalo Schiffrin (Warner esp) I THINK I’M IN LOVE……………………….Spiritualized (Dedicated) IF GOD WILL SEND HIS ANGELS…………………………….U2 (Island) ZEITGEIST EP………………………………………..v.a. (Stress) LUCKY MAN…………………………………………The Verve (Hut) EVERYTHING SHE WANTS ’97………………………………Wham! (Epic) [tba]……………………………………….The Woolpackers (RCA) HOT SHOT ’97……………………………..Karen Young (Distinctive)
DECEMBER :
[tba]……………………………..The Beta Band (Regal/Parlophone) MYSTICAL EXPERIENCE / EXPERIENCIA RELIGIOSA…………Boyzone (Polydor) 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) ANGELS…………………………………Robbie Williams (Chrysalis)
JANUARY :
[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)
The Verve remain at No.1 with “Urban Hymns”, while the other new entries inthe Top 10 are M-People (Fresco, 2), Sleeper (Pleased To Meet You, 7),and a repackaged version of “Snap” comes in the forms of The Jam (The VeryBest Of, 9), which is a better effort than the 19-track best-of released afew years ago.
Elsewhere there are new entries for Green Day (Nimrod, 11), Status Quo(Whatever You Want – The Very Best of, 13), Roachford (Feel, 19), LondonSymphony Orchestra/Lawrence Foster (Paul McCartney’s Standing Stone, 34),and LL Cool J (Phenomenon, 37).
43. Space – Female of the Species
Space were one of the best bands to emerge last year, coming to the forewith this, their second single, “Female of the Species” which made No.14 inJune.
After this came two songs featuring in the new British film, “Shooting Fish”,Me And You Vs. The World (No.9, Sep 96) and a re-released Neighbourhood(No.11, Nov 96 – which made No.56 first time round in April), and followedthis year by Dark Clouds (No.11, February 1997).
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.