30
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Alien Ant Farm - Smooth Criminal
Anyone who takes the piss out of Michael Jackson is a friend of mine. Anyone who does it and actually produces a good song is a miracle worker (ok, ok I have to hand it to you Michael, Smooth Criminal wasn't one of your worst). Forget any of AAF's other songs, they're crap, but Smooth Criminal is just a really cool pop song that makes you want to get up, dance, do some of Michael's 'cool' moves and make a pratt of yourself when you're drunk. Maybe I am a closet Jacko fan....maybe I just like this funky tune. Oh, and another video plug - it's a good'un, see if you can spot all of Jacko's masterpieces they're ripping it out of.
Milly H
No of votes: 6, Score:
37, Highest vote: 4th
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29
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Zero 7 - Destiny
As sure as Judith Chalmers will be wining and dining on the French Riviera this holiday season, Destiny, by it's very name, will appear on countless variations of the 'The very best of now that's what I call easy chilled
ambient Ibiza' theme. Thus stripping it of its individual merits as a melancholy slice of subtle guitar and warm vocals carried along with a sensual beat. Possibly works better as an excellent album track rather than a single.
Paul H
No of votes: 6, Score:
37, Highest vote: 2nd
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28
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U2 - Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of
Artist link: 7  20  22  40
For some reason I was sure that I'd heard Bono wrote this song for his wife when he forgot their anniversary. So, I've checked the web to confirm this, and there is no mention of it. In fact, it would probably be the most inappropriate song for the occasion - whilst the gospel in it would provide the ideal backdrop for a romantic gesture, crooning to your wife "you gotta stand up straight, carry your own weight" is likely to see you getting meals for one for quite some time. Not one for the "lurrrrve" slot then on your local radio station.
Jason M
No of votes: 6, Score:
37, Highest vote: 1st
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27
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Travis - Sing
Artist link:18
Right, let's get this out of the way. It's a very logical continuation on from The Man Who. Yes, we are all keen to see bands move on and try new directions, but you can quite often come a cropper trying the "same, only more so" strategy (can't we Blur?). Travis have taken their songwriting, tweaked it a little here and there, cranked the handle and lo! Out pops a banjo. Whilst he isn't exactly waxing lyrical (it's right up there with "Turn" for sheer repetitive ingenuity), Fran is about as heartfelt and soulful as we've heard him.
Jason M
No of votes: 6, Score:
38, Highest vote: 3rd
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26
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Roger Sanchez - Another Chance
As we all know by now, you can come a cropper in making a half decent song simply by trying to be too clever. This sounds so ridiculously easy that you are kicking yourself for not coming up with the loop first. There is a trace of a voice sample in there somewhere, which automatically makes me think of Daft Punk, but no matter, it's got bags of thumping bass and will no doubt conjure up memories of summer for most. Dangerously infectious.
Jason M
No of votes: 6, Score:
38, Highest vote: 2nd
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24
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Atomic Kitten - Whole Again
Pregnancy. What a way to provide a career change. You'd have to say that aside from Jordan, the only woman less fortunate would be Kerry Katona, who manage to coincide her morning sickness with the imminent release of this single. Wisely she decided to save us the joy of watching her trying to keep it all down on the live TV performances, so Jenny Frost stepped in. Like the All Saints "Never Ever" 2 years further down the line, it was pop, pure, uncomplicated and sweet enough to make your dentist wince. And Kerry? Well, she's laughing all the way to the bank - its her voice on the single, so she gets the royalties.
Jason M
No of votes: 7, Score:
24, Highest vote: 1st
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23
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Missy Elliot - Get Ur Freak On
Missy "Miss-demeanour" Elliot shed her big inflatable suit and got all loved oop for "Miss E... So Addictive". "Get Ur Freak On" had an Indian Drum and Bass, got to number 1 and was sampled and re-mixed about 1,000,000,000 times. "Spit it out, in your face" was probably the best (and some said most evocative) lyric of the year.
Paul M
No of votes: 7, Score:
30, Highest vote: 1st
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22
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U2 - Elevation
Artist link:7 20 28 40
If "Beautiful Day" was a reaffirmation of U2's intention to rediscover old form, then Elevation was their cue to give the stadium crowds something to punch their fists in the air to. If you've seen the video, I think you'd agree that shockwaves eminating from the speakers Matrix style is spot on for illustrating the ferocity of the song. Kind of ironic then, that the song should find itself to be rather overqualified for the Tomb Raider film, with the song stretching every sinew whilst the film proved to be as exciting as a vase of carnations.
Jason M
No of votes: 7, Score:
36, Highest vote: 2nd
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21
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Outkast - Ms Jackson
Artist link: 5
The video had a nodding dog (no not David Gray but labradors with loose necks), and it was also the catchiest tune of year. What nice furry trousers that man was wearing. Apparently it was addressed to Erika Badu's mum, but who cares? A genuine honest-to-god global smash, which makes it sound like "Armageddon" starring Bruce Willis, except it was better than that, and wasn't a film.
Paul M
No of votes: 7, Score:
39, Highest vote: 1st
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Thanks go to the following people for assisting with getting together our comprehensive aide-memoire: Danny G, Paul M, Kat B, Caz T
A MASSIVE THANKS also to all those who slaved over a hot keyboard to produce the write ups: Danny G, Paul H, Paul M, Kat B, Andrew S, Angela T, Isaac H, Milly H, P Shoo, Dan Mc, James B, Ana L, Derek K, Harley R
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