Top 50 of 2000

30 to 21

30

Eminem - The Real Slim Shady

Artist link:Link to Top 50 of 20002 Link to Top 50 of 20028 Link to Top 50 of 200221 Link to Top 50 of 200448

Love him or loathe him, he knows how to make an impression. This year has seen the small fire that is Marshall Mathers turn into an inferno raging out of control (if you believe everything the tabloids have to say). The first release from the 2nd album showed that it was going to be bare knuckle fighting all over again. Lyrically he still towers over any other white rapper and he knows which samples to pick too. I've heard what I believe is known as the "Bootleg" mix, which has a rock sample instead of the Adams Family style harpsichord. Anyone know where I can my hands on it?

Jason M

No of votes: 5, Score: 24, Highest vote: 3rd

Eminem - The Real Slim Shady

29

Ronan Keating - Life's A Rollercoaster

The title must have just won over "Life's A Bitch and Then You Die", before the target audience was considered. A man of many talents, although I would say that he does appear to suffer from a touch of Connery's disease, apparent when he guested with Elton John at the recent Madison Square Garden concert. I can still hear it ringing in my ears.... "And can tell everybody, this is your shong, it made be quite shimple but, now that it'sh gone....."

Jason M

No of votes: 5, Score: 25, Highest vote: 3rd

Ronan Keating - Life's A Rollercoaster

28

Mansun - I Can Only Disappoint U

Over the years, a strong following has emerged for Mansun, which has ensured that they have managed to weather the storm through some troubled times. Of late, they have managed to produce some fine guitar pop songs of which this is an evident example. The heavier rock edge is a dim and distant memory, but fine pop craftsmanship is in art in itself and dodgy Prince spelling aside shows the following is only going to swell from here.

Jason M

No of votes: 5, Score: 28, Highest vote: 1st

Mansun - I Can Only Disappoint U

27

Limp Bizkit - Take A Look Around

Heavy riffing around the Mission Impossible theme? All sounds a bit tack, doesn't it? But Limp Bizkit wasn't all about iffy tv theme cover versions and movie tie-ins. The song itself only uses the M.I. theme as a start point for a thunderous rawk anthem with a strong rap crossover. Granted, they weren't the first to do it (full credit to the Prodigy for melding rock and rap years before), but this song was a kickstart to the American rock revival and Fred Durst ensured Limp Bizkit were surfing the new wave of American Heavy Metal.

Jason M

No of votes: 5, Score: 30, Highest vote: 3rd

Limp Bizkit - Take A Look Around

26

David Gray - Babylon

Artist link:Link to Top 50 of 200141

A song that came from 1998's "White Ladder" album, but thanks to lots of perseverence became part of his 2000 assault on the charts. This ensured David Gray became the latest in the line of coffee table heros. The song is chock full of well crafted, well mannered and well executed pop that is designed to make your speakers glow as your room is filled with warm and toasty sounds. Just what Mr and Ms ideal couple would have playing on a Sunday morning in bed with the papers.

Jason M

No of votes: 5, Score: 32, Highest vote: 3rd

David Gray - Babylon

25

Coldplay - Trouble

Artist link:Link to Top 50 of 20022 Link to Top 50 of 20003 Link to Top 50 of 20034 Link to Top 50 of 20056 Link to Top 50 of 20088 Link to Top 50 of 20059 Link to Top 50 of 200217 Link to Top 50 of 200024 Link to Top 50 of 200326 Link to Top 50 of 200845

The full title of this is "Look out, here comes trouble....". TV trailer manufacturers thought they'd struck gold with this song. Hardly a week could go by without some soap / drama being escorted onto our screens without this song giving forewarning of some seriously intense and sad shit going down. Needless to say, TV off, this song is truly heartbreaking, with Chris Martin's falsetto lending just the right level of eye watering to the mix. No other song this year has quite been able to bring on the Kleenex so effectively.

Jason M

No of votes: 5, Score: 32, Highest vote: 2nd

Coldplay - Trouble

24

Coldplay - Shiver

Artist link:Link to Top 50 of 20022 Link to Top 50 of 20003 Link to Top 50 of 20034 Link to Top 50 of 20056 Link to Top 50 of 20088 Link to Top 50 of 20059 Link to Top 50 of 200217 Link to Top 50 of 200025 Link to Top 50 of 200326 Link to Top 50 of 200845

Not quite where it all began, but the first single to be written from the sessions that resulted in Parachutes. Coldplay were then firmly ensconced on the Parlophone roster and ready to commence their stratospheric rise to stardom. Quite unlike anything else on the album, this song was pure and unashamed as the guitar assault tore it's way out of the stereo. But it was able to deliver the blows with the velvet glove too, Chris Martin making use of his versatile vocal range to add moments of fragility to the song. Enough to give anyone a case of goosebumps all over.

Jason M

No of votes: 5, Score: 36, Highest vote: 2nd

Coldplay - Shiver

23

Mint Royale featuring Lauren Laverne - Don't Falter

These days, if you've left a band, or are fed up of being in the one you are in, whilst you mull over what the hell to do next, you can keep the notes coming in by collaborating with someone else. So in a post-Kenickie fit of pique, this keeps the L Laverne profile high whilst she gets the solo album in the can. Some might argue this is better than anything Kenickie ever did, but I know this is the case, so I don't bother. Pure pop, pure brilliance, pure and simple every time.

Jason M

No of votes: 6, Score: 21, Highest vote: 4th

Mint Royale featuring Lauren Laverne - Don't Falter

22

Modjo - Lady (Hear Me Tonight)

What makes a crossover record? Hard to say (otherwise I'd have the patent drawn up by now), but quite often simplicity is the key. This song doesn't over-complicate things, there's only really the one guitar sample used all the way through, but the way the whole song is drawn together so tight you know it wouldn't come undone if you dragged it over a barbed wire fence. There is something about it that echoes how Stardust captured the crossover success before, but that just goes to prove how good it gets when the mix is right.

Jason M

No of votes: 6, Score: 29, Highest vote: 4th

Modjo - Lady (Hear Me Tonight)

21

Stephen Gately - New Beginning

"I've made up my mind, It's time for a new beginning". Maybe it's time for Stephen to appear from Ronan's shadow. And this poll shows he most definitely has a future - contrary to popular belief. GO ON YA GOOD T'ING! ;-).

Kat B

No of votes: 6, Score: 48, Highest vote: 1st

Stephen Gately - New Beginning

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Credits

Site designed by Jason "He Plays Music" Mansfield, 2001

Thanks go to the following people for assisting with getting together our comprehensive aide-memoire: Danny G, Ali H, Paul M, Kat B

A MASSIVE THANKS also to all those who slaved over a hot keyboard to produce the write ups: Kat B, Isaac H, Milly H

Any thoughts, comments on the site are welcomed, just mail me.