The end, my friend
20 - "Gotta Be You," 3T featuring Herbie
Taj, Taryll, and TJ Jackson, sons of Jackson 5 punchline Tito, were signed to their Uncle Michael's MJJ label, and they're debut album produced one American hit in "Anything." But they did much better in Europe, and in Britain in particular they scored five hits, the last of which was this bland bit of boy band pop produced by the then-masters of the genre, Swedes Max Martin and Denniz Pop. It is livened up a bit when rapper Herbie chimes in with a rhyme that drops the word "nymphomaniac," but still, it's your basic disposable radio fodder of the time.
19 - "Where Can I Find Love," Livin' Joy
The "European dance production team with African-American singer" template was one followed by many during the 90s, and this Italian group was another example. And an average one at that. I don't know if any of their four other hits are better, but my curiosity is not at all piqued.
18 - "Can We," SWV featuring Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliot
The New York trio whose name stands for Sisters With Voices had about as many hits here as they did at home, but while this one, featuring rhymes from Elliot, who was then known mainly for her behind the scenes work (she also co-wrote and co-produced the track), didn't hit the U.S. Top 40. It's a request for a booty call, which is probably why it ended up on the soundtrack of, uh, Booty Call. It's good for what it is, and Missy's appearance bumps it up even more.
17 - "Fired Up," Funky Green Dogs
This Miami house group, also known as Murk, had their biggest hit with this song. It has the stereotypical "boom-cha boom-cha" beat, and lyrics about the effect someone has on them. A little above average for the genre.
16 - "Free Me," Cast
More Britpop, this time from a Liverpool band who had 11 Top 40s in the second half of the 90s. Their sixth was this rocker about trying to be oneself, or something. Sounds a lot like Oasis, down to singer John Power's vocals. Not bad, but nothing special.
15 - "D.I.S.C.O." N-Trance
The Oldham duo of Dale Longworth and Kevin O'Toole had most of their 90s success with rap-laced covers of disco hits such as "Stayin' Alive," "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy," and this Europe-only 1980 hit by French duo Ottawan. The initials stand for different words in different verses, except for the O, which always stands for "Ohhhhhhh." Creative. The rap is about sex and stuff. My enjoyment of these guys seems to be proportional to how much I like the originals, so this one is meh.
14 - "North Country Boy," Charlatans
This band emerged in the baggy/Madchester days, but managed to fit in well in the era of Britpop. This was their second and last Top Five single, this pop rocker about not feeling you measure up to an old boyfriend or something like that. It's okay, but I give it a bit more love for a mention of "Itchy and Scratchy," which I shall assume is a Simpsons reference, whether it is or not.
13 - "Hit 'Em High," Monstars
This rap track features B-Real, Busta Rhymes, Coolio, LL Cool J, and Method Man, rapping as the Monstars, the villainous mutant basketball team that battles Warner Brothers cartoon characters and Michael Jordan in the movie Space Jam. The lyrics are kid-friendly but not dumbed down, and the beats are nice. I like it. But I've never seen Space Jam, and I don't intend to. I liked my Michael Jordan in real games, and I liked my Looney Tunes in their classic adventures. Any other iterations of either have been disappointing. But this is good, and weird enough to be this week's Uneasy Rider.
12 - "We Have Explosive," The Future Sound of London
Ever wonder who the second most famous Cobain in 90s music was? Well, that honor went to an Mancunian named Garry, who with Brian Dougans formed this electronic act. This was the highest-charting of their nine hits, peaking right here. It's good, hard techno that was used on the soundtrack of the second Mortal Kombat movie. Much more distinctive than a lot of the other dance stuff on this chart.
11 - "Sometimes," Brand New Heavies
This London jazz/funk group were pretty successful in the 90s, scoring thirteen Top 40s. This was the first with singer Siedah Garrett (best known as Michael Jackson's duet partner on "I Just Can't Stop Loving You"), who was in the group for one album only. Garrett gives a very good performance of a lyric about how trusting yourself is the best was to happiness. Solid, sophisticated funk.
10 - "To Live and Die in L.A.," Makaveli
Makaveli was apparently the nom de rap that Tupac Shakur was going to begin recording under for the rest of his career, but that career, and his life, was cut short after he was shot in Las Vegas in September of 1996. His one completed Makaveli album was released two months later, and it produced this single, a laid back tribute to his adopted hometown, his friends and colleagues, with some criticism of the justice system and then-governor Pete Wilson thrown in. Obviously, his premature death has added to his legend, but there is no doubt that the guy could write and rhyme like no other, and is truly one of the best the hip-hop genre has seen or will ever see.
9 - "Encore Une Fois," Sash!
More electronic stuff, this time from a German team that began a string of ten U.K. Top 40s from now until 2000 with this techno house tune featuring French lyrics (the title means "One More Time" Is it ironic that I much prefer an electronic dance song called "One More Time" (in English) by a French group (Daft Punk)? Someone go ask Alanis for me.
8 - "Block Rockin' Beats," The Chemical Brothers
The Manchester duo of Ed Simons and Tom Rowlands were one of the big stars of the late 90s "electronica" boom, and the second of their two #1s was this big-beated, rockish track that melds hip hop and techno in a very entertaining way. This is the good stuff.
7 - "Bellissima," DJ Quicksilver
More techno dance stuff, this time from a guy born in Turkey and raised in Germany. More instrumental noodling with computers and such, but kind of charming in a "Popcorn" sort of way. But really, I had no idea how dominant this stuff was on the British pop chart at the time.
6 - "Mama/Who Do You Think You Are," The Spice Girls
The fourth straight #1 for the ladies was a double-sided hit. The A was a midtempo ballad about how we grow to appreciate our mothers as we age. Bonus points for that Talking Heads sample. The B is perfectly fine disco about conceit. They weren't geniuses, but the formula worked.
5 - "It's No Good," Depeche Mode
The eleventh of their thirteen Top Tens was this rumbly synth-goth tune about waiting for a lover to realize their life sucks without you. Fits right in with the best of their 80s output. I'm happy to say this doesn't live up to its title.
4 - "Underwater Love," Smoke City
This London group's only hit combines trip-hop and bossa nova into a catchy concoction that reminds me that there could be real artful pop done with all those machines. Another welcome new discovery.
3 - "Don't Speak," No Doubt
The smash ballad that made Gwen Stefani and company superstars would become the band's only U.K. charttopper. Written by Stefani and her brother Eric about Gwen's breakup with bassist Tony Kanal, it's one of the great heartbreak-breakup ballads in all of pop. And the video, which depicts the media focusing way more on Gwen than the rest of the band, was self-aware to say the least, as this issue was reportedly bringing the group to the brink of disbanding at the time.
2 - "Richard III," Supergrass
This Oxfordshire trio found themselves square in the middle of the Britpop wave when they emerged, and their debut album, I Should Coco, was a huge U.K. #1. It didn't do much in the States, but one of their videos caught the eye of Steven Spielberg, who offered to create a television sitcom about the band in the style of The Monkees (or for you kids, think maybe Flight of the Conchords). The band declined, opting to instead focus on their second album, whose first single, an urgent rocker that has nothing to do with royalty or Shakespeare, became the last of their two #2 singles. These guys didn't quite get lifted to the heights the Blur and Oasis did, but they unquestionably had their shining moments, and this is one.
And on top of old Blighty a mere 19 years ago was...
1 - "I Believe I Can Fly," R. Kelly
The only British charttopper from the (alleged) urine-and-underage-girl enthusiast was this inspirational ballad from Space Jam. Well-produced and nicely performed, but it now seems like the aural equivalent of one of those self-esteem-raising memes that get posted on Facebook all the time. Makes you feel good for a minute, but then you move on and resume your misery. And Mr. Kelly's history doesn't help
Another down. Haven't done much on Twitter lately, but I'm up to two followers, so it's a growing concern. I will be back to it, and to find out when, look me up @MrBGlovehead. Otherwise, watch this space for my next communication. Aloha.
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