20
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Feeder - Just The Way I'm Feeling
Artist link: 34
Am I the only one wondering where Feeder came from in 2003? Feeder have been quiet (or perhaps just overlooked) since their last appearance in the top 50 singles back in 2001 with the distinctly lively "Buck Rogers". Back again, then, and firmly implanted in the collective consciousness with this example of their slower, more melodic side. The instantly recognisable guitar intro ("Love in, love out, find the feeling") builds to the life affirming chorus, very singalong friendly. So sweet, so see you again, guys, in 2005. Guaranteed best answer of 2003 to the question "Why did you do that?"
Isaac H
No of votes: 13, Score:
80, Highest vote: 1st
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19
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Kings of Leon - Molly's Chambers
Artist link: 1 20  40
Rock music this year has been a right old melting pot of styles, so with the antipodean bands ably displaying their AC/DC influences, it's not so surprising that Tennessee's Kings of Leon have gone for something a bit more redneck. And it's not just in the music either - there is some serious facial hair on display too. If they were to remake the Dukes of Hazzard this year, this would be the band to do the soundtrack. And at 2m15s, that's just about enough time for a decent car-chase where Rosco P Coltrane will inevitably end up nosediving into some swamp. Yee-hah!
Jason M
No of votes: 14, Score:
74, Highest vote: 2nd
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18
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Junior Senior - Move Your Feet
Like Crazy In Love, the hook at the front of Move Your Feet delivers such an adrenaline surge that you are committed to dancing from the very first note, until someone d-d-disobeys orders and stops the beat. Junior Senior burst out of Denmark in 2003 looking like an odd couple of fanzine writers who had met in the kitchen at a party where, under the sink, they had the good fortune to discover the master tapes to the aborted collaboration between Toni Basil and the Miami Sound Machine. Twenty-five vodka red bulls later they laced this dumb old floor-filler with a disco spirituality and had retired to a safe distance to watch it get under our skins and start the next wave of parties from the inside.
Danny G
No of votes: 14, Score:
77, Highest vote: 1st
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17
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Dido - White Flag
Artist link:7 19
Every now and then you hear something in a song that once you've heard it, you'll never be able to ignore. About every 10 seconds in White Flag pretty much throughout the song, there is a sound that to me comes across as a toy cash register going "ker-ching!" I'd like to think that it's a not-so-subtle hint about the rate at which the parent album "Life For Rent" has been flying out of the shops. After all, it IS the best selling album of 2003. The song itself continues along the very successful vein that "Here With Me" and "Thank You" went before - this time it's very earnest moment of admission that in spite of a failed romance that they ain't over it yet. Maybe she should try speed dating.......
Jason M
No of votes: 15, Score:
66, Highest vote: 1st
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16
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Electric Six - Gay Bar
Artist link: 22
Are you polysexual? Not many people are, but most would be happy to sing along with the Abraham Lincoln dressed loon that is Dick Valentine whether they were or not. Personally, I'd sooner not be at the video shoot, but Mr Valentine and co. have neatly sidestepped the problems associated with being a 'funny' or worse 'quirky' (and don't no-one say 'zany') band by producing fantastic, catchy songs that just happen to make the corners of your mouth move upwards relative to the rest of your face. The lyrics are delivered with sufficient irony to let blokes sing along without
danger of 'confusion' and the guitars have enough verve to make you think you're listening to Stiff Little Fingers. All I have to do now is suppress a shudder whenever I see a peppermill or butternut squash. And as for that image of the hamster running along the tube...
P Shoo
No of votes: 15, Score:
74, Highest vote: 1st
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15
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Gary Jules - Mad World
I first heard this whilst watching Donnie Darko, and I loved it even then. It wasn't exactly cheerful (alright, so it rivalled Radiohead at times for 'music to kill yourself by'), but Gary Jules' Stipe-ean warbling brought a lump to the throat and a tear to the eye. A far cry from the 80's synth drums of the original, this cover of the Tears For Fears song rightfully claimed it's place as the 2003 Christmas Number One, pissing all over Pop Idols and Fame Academies alike. And let's face it, anything to save us from another Bob The Builder record...
Angela T
No of votes: 15, Score:
87, Highest vote: 1st
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14
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Christina Aguilera - Beautiful
Artist link: 32
So you think she dresses like a cross between a hooker, a bag lady and a fitness instructor? When she opens her mouth though your thoughts about the car crash wardrobe fall away because the girl can really sing. I mean really! Beautiful is simply arranged so that the quality of Aguilera's voice comes straight at you in all its glory. Her wonderfully rich and throaty voice is perfect for expressing the introspective self-doubt then self-affirmation in the lyrics of Beautiful. At its heart, Beautiful is just that and Aguilera couldn't have come up with a better response to those Britney lovers who constantly criticise what she looks like.
Karen G
No of votes: 15, Score:
91, Highest vote: 1st
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13
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The Darkness - Growing On Me
Artist link:2
‘Growing…’ was The Darkness’ third single, reaching a healthy number 11 in the charts. It was a strong indication that heads were starting to turn in the band’s direction. Employing an obvious classic rock vibe and bringing the guitar solo back into mainstream public attention, The Darkness were often considered as a novelty act. After all, the excesses of the 80s rock scene had become laughable to some, and anything that slightly whiffed of such tendencies were to be treated with similar scorn. However, The Darkness were soon to prove the critics wrong and in retrospect, the sensation generated by this single, compounded by subsequent tours and positive media interest laid the foundations for The Darkness’ justifiable success in late 2003.
Liza H
No of votes: 15, Score:
102, Highest vote: 2nd
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12
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50 Cent - In Da Club
When you've got a fat recording deal, Eminem and Dr. Dre behind you, you're probably doing alright. In Da Club did much more than alright in 2003, dominating radio airplay, getting sampled by many a wannabe, and selling the album "Get Rich or Die Trying" by the bucketload. Even with his lyrical skills and street pedigree, the one thing you can't ignore about 50 Cent's debut appearance on the scene is that it's a solid tune. Heavy strings kick off a track with a fearless attitude, all with a darn catchy chorus line too. And we need never hear Stevie Wonder on our birthdays ever again.
Dan Mc
No of votes: 16, Score:
80, Highest vote: 2nd
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11
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Red Hot Chili Peppers - Can't Stop
Artist link: 4  15 28 34
Drawing on the inspiration of Erwin Wurm, my personal video of the year award goes to this single, taken from the acclaimed album ‘By the Way’. The less acclaimed 48 year old Austrian artist makes his living exhibiting photos of people in bizarre and often dangerous positions with inanimate objects. Yet more proof that this ungracefully ageing bare-chested American funk rock band remain relevant to today’s viewers, and erm... just a little bit strange. Brilliant nonsense to jump up and down and gesticulate wildly to, and my number two if only for the last line of the song: - “Can't stop the spirits when they need you. This life is more than just a read thru.” Smashing.
Isaac H
No of votes: 16, Score:
84, Highest vote: 1st
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Thanks go to the following people for assisting with getting together our comprehensive aide-memoire: Danny G, Kat B, Caz T, Isaac H
A MASSIVE THANKS also to all those who slaved over a hot keyboard to produce the write ups: Danny G, Caz T, Paul M, Kat B, Andrew S, Angela T, Isaac H, P Shoo, Liza H, Dan Mc, Kevin B, Harley R, Karen G