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Billie Piper's reign at
the top lasted no longer than any of her May 2000
predecessors as Sonique came in to take the top
slot ahead of S Club 7 and Bon Jovi thus nudging
Miss Piper into fourth place. This weeks
top slot could well be hard fought, though once
again it is easy to see a change at the top.
Just as Gary Barlow and Mark Owen
enjoyed huge chart hits before fading into
obscurity it looks as though both Mikey Graham
and Stephen Gately look set to make good starts
to their career. Stephen has aimed higher
with an impressive marketing campaign, while the
likeable Mikey was left to rely upon touring
Britain's supermarkets (a move ultimately
cancelled following revelations of drug taking in
his younger life).
Stephen Gately walked away with
Smash Hits 'Hero of the Year 1999' award last
year and has made himself a name for being an
individual, and not just 20% of Ireland's biggest
export since U2. Backed with an impressive
cover of Art Garfunkel's 'Bright Eyes', 'New
Beginning' is a fine piece of music and one which
will chart high on the basic of its class, and
not just its singers reputation. I predict
he may follow Ronan with a solo number one,
though there are some impressive outsiders who
could steal his crown.
Sadly Mikey Graham is not likely
to be one of them. It's always good to see
band members doing what THEY want to do, and this
is no exception. It's not a bad song (entitled
'You're My Angel') but in these days where hype
is everything I fear he will lose out to some
more heavyweight rivals.
My favourite single of the week
has to be the Embrace boys who return with the
second single from the 'Drawn From Memory' album.
Full of horns and a fantastic melody 'Save Me'
has to be one of their finest efforts to date -
certainly the best since 'All You Good Good
People' back in 1997. Chart positions do
not always reflect the true quality of the song,
but you would like to think this might be one of
the exceptions, and that we might see this grace
the top ten on Sunday.
Following on from his massively
successful 'Still D.R.E' single comes Dr Dre
himself dualling with none other than Marshall
Mathers aka Slim Shady aka Eminem. Dre had
a huge part to play in Eminem's discovery and
rise to the top but her the young rapper pays his
dues by knocking out what is sure to be another
top ten success. Eminem himself can be
proud as his 'The Marshall Mathers Album'
entered the charts at number two last week.
This single is 'Forgot About Dre', and watch it
soar into the top ten.
Aqua also return to chart action
this week with 'Around The World'. Since
their first three singles went to the top they
have struggled to live up to their own success.
This should keep up their run of top ten hits,
though they would do well to watch out if they
don't want their fans to ebb away like other
European bands before them.
Famous for her distinctive hair,
Pink should score her debut hit this weekend with
the dance floor filler 'There You Go'. It's
a big hit in club land, though on radio it does
seem imminently forgettable. Others
who may grace the top forty include Big Country's
swan song ' 'Somebody Else', Dandy Warhol's
return to form 'Get Off', Buffalo G with 'We're
Really Saying Something' and Doves with 'Catch
The Sun'.
Before I close the column this
week I should mention the inexplicable return of
Five with 'Don't Wanna Lose You'. Despite
only making number 9 on its initial run it has
surged from No.74 to No.55 and back to No.40 in
the past three weeks! Despite clocking it's
12th week on the chart its chances of going
higher are actually rather good! Equally
look out for Lonestar who have climbed from No.36
to No.32 to No.30. to No.28 to No.26 - I tip it
to ultimately make the top ten, though don't
expect it to make it before Christmas at the rate
it is going!
Overall you can't claim that it is
a vintage week for releases, though my money
remains on Stephen Gately to make his mark on the
19th number one of the year - not bad considering
we are a month short of the half way mark.
Only Gabrielle, Fragma, All Saints and Westlife
have made it to two weeks - I don't think Sonique
will add her name to their hall of fame!
See you back here next week - don't
forget to click on the menu box to read my
exclusive interview with Sally from David Gedge's
current band Cinerama.
JHME Music Correspondent
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