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While the chat surrounding
last weeks chart would not have kept a coffee
morning going for very long, this weeks releases
look slightly more promising.
It's hard to think that A1 have
acheived anywhere near the sales seen by Spiller,
Robbie Williams or even Truesteppers of late but
history will say that 'Take On Me' was number one
for week ending Sunday 10th September. They
are not such a bad band and they do write their
own songs, so it is a little sad that they
triumph with a cover version of a song which
should never have been tampered with.
Some are already predicting it as
a one hit wonder along the lines of Stardust from
last year but aside from their nationality (French)
thats where the similarity ends. These guys
(Modjo) are straight from music college but look
to go straight to the top with 'Lady (Hear Me
Tonight)'. The title may not be familiar
but the record surely is as this has been well
played on both local and national stations across
the UK. With A1 looking vulnerable to a
takeover this should do the business and keep the
sequence of one week chart toppers going a week
longer. Will anyone make it to week two
ever again?
The last person who did was
Sonique, and she is back with her catchy 'Sky'
song this week. Significantly better than
her massive chart topper which made it to an
amazing THIRD week at the summit this should be
brightening up what is left of the summer on
radios everywhere! It's good, but still not
good enough to prize open my wallet and to let
the moths roam free once more.
He can play guitar like Pink Floyd
(check out his version of 'Wish You Were Here') ,
he sang a duet with Bono ('New Day') and now he's
back with a wrestler? It can only be Wyclef
Jean, formerly of The Fugees who returns with The
Rock this week on 'It Doesn't Matter'. This
may be one of the more humorous pairings to be
seen in the chart this year but at least WJ is
prepared to experiment - something many of his
contemporaries do not seem prepared to do.
Richard Blackwood has already been
dubbed as 'the UK answer to Will Smith' and this
catchy pop rap tune will do nothing to shake that
albatross from around his neck. It's not as
good as his debut effort, but '1,2,3,4 Get With
The Wicked' is a song which is bound to brighten
the charts. Already sitting in for Chris
Moyles on Radio One Richard is a clever funny man
whose career should be successful well into the
future. A top ten spot should be his on
Sunday.
N Sync look set to add to their
success with 'Its Gonna Be Me' which is out this
week. The video is worth watching for two
reasons. Firstly it is very clever and
secondly it takes your mind of what is a weak
watered down pop record. It's the third
track from the album and despite promises of
bonus remix tracks from top producers on the
single it does not really get my excitement going.
Modjo are not the only band this
week to be bolstered by Ibiza success.
Planet Perfecto originally made number 15 with 'Bullet
In The Gun' but thanks to summer success on the
continent it looks set for a remixed repackage
this week and may even improve on its original
chart placing.
'Unforgiveable Sinner' is the
fastest selling single in history...in Norway.
Well something has to be I guess and Lene Marlin
can but hope that the track with achieve similar
success here. 'Sitting Down Here' was
surprise top ten hit but this is slightly more
bland and could come from any number of singers
in the Suzanne Vega mould. It's pleasant
enough, but yet fails to really grab the listener.
Consistently one of the best
performers is Badly Drawn Boy, otherwise known as
Damon Gough. Original and challenging, 'Disillusion'
is easily the best single out this week.
The video features Gough parading round New York
as a human taxi, giving piggy backs to his fares.
Somehow I don't think even that super human
effort in one of the worlds toughest cities is
enough to achieve major hit status, but we can
but hope!
I could go on...but should I waste
my words on a rave version of 'Dear Jessie' (yes
- the Madonna song!) bu Rollergirl, the high
pitched squeak of Aaron Carter or the new solo
release by Kelle Bryan. I'm sorry to those
of you who are fans of those artists but these
typify the problems faced by the music charts
today. Roll on Richard Ashcroft and his
return to form - that will be our talking point
next week.
Thanks for viewing as they say!
Modjo should triumph unless Sonique can prove
herself as being above and beyond the label of
one hit wonder. I'll see you after the
sales have been counted and the results declared!
Have a good week.
JHME Music Correspondent
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