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A-ha - I've Been Losing You
A "grunty" kickoff for the Norwegian
trio's 2nd album. Following the massive success of their debut album
'Hunting High & Low', Morten & the lads get a bit rockier
with this catchy number. |
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A-Teens - Upside Down (Bouncing Off The Ceiling)
A debut album of Abba covers could have condemned these kids to 'one
album wonder' status. However, their all-original followup breathes
fresh air into the quartet's Nordic pop sound. |
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Backstreet Boys - Everybody (Backstreet's Back)
The song that really cracked America for the BSB.
Although major stars in Europe and 'down under', the lads had struggled
in the US until this harder-
edged Cheiron track & 'horror' video. |
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Blur - Country House
The famous 'BritPop Battle of 1995' - Blur v Oasis. The rival bands released
the first singles from their new albums on the same day, creating
a classic showdown. Blur won, getting to No.1 with this song. Ironically,
it's a track the band would now rather forget, calling it "too commercial"! |
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Five
for Fighting
- 100 Years
A kick-ass followup to their breakout hit Superman.
Starts as a simple Piano ballad, then cranks up a gear with Ondrasik's
trademark falsetto-style voice. Have loved this song since I saw the
band perform it live in NY's Union Square after camp a few years ago. |
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E-Type
feat. Nana Hedin
- Life
Swedish Eurodance king E-type teams up
once again with Nana for this uplifting killer dance track, produced
by Max Martin and his mates Rami & Kristian Lundin. Lead single
from his 2001 smash CD, Euro IV Ever. |
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Cyndi Lauper - Time After Time
Proving she was no 1 hit wonder, Cyndi's followup to 'Girls just wanna...
was this haunting ballad. It was her first US #1 single, and has been
covered by over 50 artists, including a duet version which featured
in the 1992 movie 'Strictly Ballroom'. |
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Linkin
Park - In the End
Great nu-metal/rap track sandwiched between
a chilled out Piano melody. Chester's rock voice and Mike's rapping
(complete with vododer effects) battle it off for supremacy, before
blending together leading up to the chorus. Shame they take such long
breaks between albums ;-) |
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Duran Duran - New Moon On Monday
The 2nd single from Duran's third album, 'Seven & the Ragged Tiger'.
Brooding vocals from LeBon, tight bass work from John & great synth arrangements from Nick make this
Duran's classiest song. (For some reason tho, LeBon claims to hate it?!) |
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Eminem - The Real Slim Shady
Clever lyrics and a brilliant sense of timing have helped make young Marshall
one of music's top talents... Unfortunately too often overshadowed by the media hype and
criticism of the lyrical content that seems to follow him everywhere... |
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Jason Donovan - When You Come Back To Me
Former aussie soap star Jason with another
successful SAW track. This track to hit the Christmas market, and
its seasonal lyrics helped the song to a UK Christmas Top 3 placing
in 1989. |
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Kate Bush - Wuthering Heights
A fantastic mad song about a mad Yorkshire
chap named Heathcliff inspired by the classic mad novel by Emily Bronte.
A bizarre swooping melody sung by a mad english woman wearing mad
flowing dresses, this song was a surprise smash. |
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Kylie Minogue - Better The Devil You Know
One of the Aussie diva's last true S/A/W
moments, and generally accepted as one of the Hit Factory's best songs.
Sucessfully covered by Waterman's quintet Steps in 1999, although
you just can't beat the original ;-) |
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Manic Street Preachers - If You Tolerate This (Your Children Will Be Next)
Regrouping in 1988 after the unsolved mysterious disappearance of former guitarist/lyricist
Richey Edwards, the trio returned with this classic song inspired by the Spanish Civil War. |
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'NSync - Bye Bye Bye
The Cheiron-produced track that shot "the
other boys from Orlando" to superstar status.
Its success helped their 2nd album 'No Strings Attached' break the
first week sales record previously held by their rivals the Backstreet
Boys. |
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Pet Shop Boys - Suburbia
Described by the boys as an "epic
of mad dogs & hooligans", this song was inspired by a film
of the same name about youths running rampant in LA.
With a background of barking dogs, the track is meant to convey "the
full horror of suburban life". |
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Scooch - More Than I Needed To Know
The second release from Mike Stock & Matt Aitken's "Steps-lite"
group, who sadly didn't achieve the UK success they deserved.
Stock/Aitken's finest pop track since splitting from the Pete Waterman and the Hit Factory. |
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Britney
Spears - Oops!... I Did It Again
Following up multi-million-selling Baby
One More Time was always gonig to be difficult, but Cheiron maestros
Max Martin & Rami managed to create this slice of pop genius -
kindof a 'Baby 2'. (BTW - That's Max Martin's voice in the spoken
segement in the middle...) |
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Steps - Last Thing On My Mind
Dubbed "Abba-on-Speed" by Pete
Waterman, this Banarama cover was an instant hit for the quintet proving
they were no novelty one-hit-wonder. (Their linedancing debut single
"5,6,7,8" spent over 3 months in the UK Top 20). |
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Take That - Back For Good
This song was the Thatter's biggest hit,
even making a dent in the US charts. Robbie Williams (who?!) was fired
shortly after this release, and the group released just two more singles
before splitting in 1996. |
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Tears For Fears - Sowing The Seeds Of Love
After a 3 year absence, Kurt & Roland
finally returned with this Beatlesesque mini-epic.
However tensions between the pair over the lead vocals spot led to
their parting in the early 90's. |
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Tina Cousins - Forever
Another track from Waterman's post-Stock/Aitken
team (Topham/Twigg/ Ellington).
Tina, a former model, had a handful of small UK and European hits
with her anthemic Euro-techno-trance-pop songs, before being welcomed
with open arms by the Aussies. |
