70:
Gz And Hustlas – Snoop Dogg Feat Nancy Fletcher
Something that has never dawned on me with this song, and I’ve obviously listened to this song a lot, given that it’s been in the top 40 a few times… Nancy is the dude talking at the beginning. I mean, I’m assuming so, since the only vocals aside from Snoop on the actual song are a tiny bit of backing vocals on a bit of the chorus. So yeah, it just be the dude at the beginning! Pretty generous “featuring” since he’s only speaking for like 30 seconds. SEE HOW IT’S DONE, BIEBER!
Rather excitingly, for some of this post we have a guest Critic…
Sol Says: I don’t like it.
69:
New Sensation – INXS
I really love this song. I think it’s one of INXS strongest. Based on the video, I assume it came out shortly after Sledgehammer by Peter Gabriel. The third single from Kick, which is yet another in a long list of amazing albums that weren’t number 1. Kick charted at… NUMBER 9. Shocking, really. Fairly sure we all generally consider that album to be a classic. It’s had umpteen releases and special editions, it’s highly regarded by critics, and has Never Tear Us Apart, Mystify, and Need You Tonight on it. It’s essentially pop royalty. Fucking number 9!
Sol Says: This sounds like Billy Ray Cyrus. Is it? Yeah, I like it.
68:
Bye Bye Blackbird – Joe Cocker
Originally from 1926, Bye Bye Blackbird is a great tune. Joe Cocker recorded it for his debut album, With A Little Help From My Friends, in 1969. His voice couldn’t be anymore perfect for it. I mean, his voice couldn’t be any more perfect generally. If you’ve never tried out some Joe ****er, be sure you do!
Sol Says: 2 out of 10. What are you doing?
67:
Sometimes – Erasure
Pop doesn’t get much better than how Erasure do it. Catchy, simple, pop. Perfection. I often wonder how little budget they had to make this video. The special effects used bring into question even using the phrase “Special effects”. If you watch closely, when he’s supposed to be walking along the edge of the building, you see him fall off. I’m fairly sure this isn’t conjecture, but his is how all gay couples do their washing.
Sol Says: Why are you asking me these questions? 9 out of 10.
66:
Youth – Daughter
Last year’s number 12! Such a great song. I still love it and still compare it to Lanterns On The Lake’s Through The Cellar Door. It’s the feeling it gives me when the drums kick in. That change in tempo and aggression. Such a sublime piece of music. Elena Tonra’s vocals, are as always, world class. She’s so crystal clear all the time. *chef kiss* As I’ve said before… If Kate Nash would reign her fucking ‘Mockney’ in a little bit, this is how good she’d sound.
Sol Says: 9 out of 10. I like the drums.
65:
Sussudio – Phil Collins
Who the fuck is called Sussudio. I mean, is she just called Sue, and he’s extending it with poetic licence. There’s a good chance that it’s not even her name and just a word that Phil Collins uses in the same way that I say Huzzah! There’s even lyrical proof to back this up! Come with me as we take a shallow dive into the lyrics of Sussudio. “I feel so good if I just say the word”. Now, he didn’t sing, “If I just say her name”, it’s “If I just say the word”. PROOVED!
Sol Says about 3 seconds after it started: I like the beat! Funky! 9 out of 10. No, 10 out of 10.
64:
Shine A Light (Flight Facilities Remix LIVE) – The C90s, Emma Louise, George Maple, Katie Noonan, Kurt Kristen, Reggie Watts, Flight Facilities, Own Eyes, Surahn and Touch Sensitive
As well as having to write about Despacito twice this year, I’m also going to have to write about this twice as well. This, however, is all on me. Nothing to do with Sol. The C90s’ Shine A Light was first brought to my attention, like probably anyone else who knows this song (who I didn’t force it upon for I am a prolific musical rapist… Got to be a better way to phrase that…) Where we were… Oh yes, it was first brought to my attention by playing GTA V! The GTA games have long been a great source of music. The soundtracks are so perfectly chosen. This however, wasn’t one of the tracks on the radio stations, it was used for the narrative, after you get drugged by your son and you end up freefalling from the sky for almost the whole duration of the standard song. It’s a great bit of storytelling, music use, and gameplay! The live version we have here was the end of a show where several performers were on the bill and they all came back on stage to sing this with the band. Great performance, great song, great vocals. Reggie Watts is probably the only one you’ve heard of!
Sol Says: I’ve heard this before. I like the beat. Probably like a 7 out of 10.
63:
Two Headed Boy – Neutral Milk Hotel
Slightly worried about what Sol might say here…
Sol Says: I know this song. It’s Two Headed Boy. Yep. I like it. 8 out of 10.
Hey, not bad! I like this song, too. You might not have noticed this, but it’s the name I use! No shit, right! I’m a big lover of this song and the album it’s lifted from, In the Aeroplane Over the Sea. Lyrically, albums don’t get any better. The whole album is watertight when it comes to brilliant, insightful, cleverly constructed lyrics. Musically, it’s both experimental and tightly performed. It can sound sloppy at times, and well structured at others. It’s such an amazing piece of work. I say this every time I talk about this song and yet I bet no one who reads this has ever stopped to give it a try. You’re not going to like it on your first time through. You’re going to wonder what the fuck you’re listening to. Give it another listen, lose yourself in the lyrics. Listen to what he’s actually saying. It’s so insanely poignant at times, and remember “I’ll be laughing with everyone I see, can’t believe how strange it is to be anything at all”.
62:
Let’s Face The Music And Dance – Nat King Cole
*dances* I love me some Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers! This is a classic, obviously. I don’t really have much to say about it, it’s just perfect. It’s how well his voice fits the tone of the song. So fucking amazing.
Sol Says: I swear I’ve heard you listen to this. Have you? Classic! 10 out of 10.
Chris: ♥
61:
I’m So Humble – The Lonely Island
Taken from the brilliant “Never Stop Never Stopping” film by The Lonely Island guys, this is a brilliantly perfect song for mocking pop music and the people that sing it. I love a parody. My biggest thing with songs that are funny is that they also need to be well written, well performed songs. The Lonely Island have mastered this craft. See also Flight Of The Conchords, Stephen Lynch and Ylvis.
Sol Says: 2 out of 10.