GATW: UKT40 July 18, 1998 Part One

Summer 1998.  Around this time, DVDs were introduced in Britain, with one of the first releases being Jumanji.  Who knew that in less than twenty years, the DVD format would be at death's door, and the world would be anticipating a new Jumanji movie starring a then-current member of the World Wrestling Federation's Nation of Domination.  And what was dominating the U.K. music scene?  Well...

40 - "Stranded," Lutricia McNeal 

American soul singer McNeal had most of her success in Europe, and the biggest of her four U.K. hits was this slick take-me-back tune.  Good song, very good voice.

39 - "Carnaval de Paris," Dario G 

This DJ from Crewe had seven hits, the second being this fun combination of samba, French music, and a musical theme similar to "My Darling Clementine," with some bagpipes thrown in.  It was inspired by that summer's World Cup in France.  Though the tournament was now over, it's influence lingered over this chart in more ways, as we shall see.

38 - "Say it Once," Ultra

This Buckinghamshire group may have played instrumentsome,  but they were still a boy band, as indicated by this bland effort.  Yes, bad rapping with an English accent is still bad rapping.

37 - "Vindaloo," Fat Les

This "band" was formed by Blur bassist Alex James, artist Damien Hirst, and comedian Keith Allen (father of future pop star Lily).  Together they created this unofficial anthem for England's 1998 World Cup effort, a nonsensical football chant featuring references to the titular curry dish, cheese, and knitting, as well as a boast that their team will do at least the minimum to win their games ("We're gonna score one more than you!")  In spite of this inspiration, England would crash out in the second round after Argentina was able to score one more than them in a penalty shootout. The song retains its strange charms, however, and gets this week's Uneasy Rider.

36 - "This is How We Party," S.O.A.P.

Malaysian-born Danish sisters Heidi and Saseline Sorenson had a few dance-pop hits at home, but their biggest success elsewhere came with this middling party jam.  Boy band material sung by girls, nothing more.

35 - "You'll Never Walk Alone," The 3 Tenors

In July of 1990, on the eve of the World Cup final, opera stars Jose Carreras, Placido Domingo, and Luciano Pavarotti performed a concert at the Baths of Caracalla in Rome to raise money to fight leukemia, which Carreras had recently recovered from.  The event was seen by millions around the world, and a recording of the show became the best-selling classical album of all time.  The success of the concert prompted them to repeat the performance at the following two World Cups, first in 1994 st Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, then four years later in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.  The finale of the latter performance was this Rodgers and Hammerstein number from the musical Carousel which has since become the anthem of Liverpool FC.  It's a powerful, emotional song about overcoming adversity, but I wasn't sure what to make of this version, so I asked the opinion of my wife, who is not only a classically trained soprano but also someone for whom this song holds great meaning.  She thought it didn't work at all, as it wasn't written to be a showcase for voices like theirs.  And my opinion?  Yeah, what she said.  But I will give it an Uneasy Rider too.

34 - "Pavane," Wimbledon Choral Society 
More World Cup-related classical, in the form of an amateur choir from the section of London best known for tennis performing a piece by French composer Gabriel Faure that was used as a theme for BBC 's coverage of the tournament.   The lyrics are overheated poetry about the trials of romance, with imagery of "running dogs," and "tyrants of our hearts."  Of course, it sounds prettier in French.  Still, it gets the week's third Uneasy Rider.   I can do that.

33 - "Lost in Space," Lighthouse Family

The duo's fourth of five Top Tens was this bit of midtempo soul about needing someone.  It exists.

32 - "Three Lions '98," Baldiel and Skinner and the Lightning Seeds

An update of the collaboration's '96 #1, this time including references to that year's penalty heartbreak against Germany, and to the draw in Italy that clinched their appearance in France '98.  It went to #1 again, but I've already told you what happened in the tournament.

31 - "The Rockafeller Skank," Fatboy Slim

The first of what would be six Top Tens for ex-Housemartin Norman Cook was this combination of sampled beats, surf-style guitar, and a snatch of rap about "the funk soul brother."  There's was about a year where this song was ubiquitous in films and TV commercials, but removed from that, it holds up as an electronic masterpiece.

30 - "Angel," Massive Attack 

Seven years after "Unfinished Sympathy," the Bristol trip-hop trio had their eighth hit with this spacey track about a force that seems to bring love but might in fact be something more menacing.   Hauntingly fantastic.

29 - "How Do I Live," LeAnn Rimes

The Mississippi-born country-pop star got her first British Top Ten with this Diane Warren-penned treacle.  She's better than this.  But it was massive, so nuts to me.

28 - "Tell Me," Billie Myers

Coventry singer Myers debuted with "Kiss the Rain," which was a hit in both the U.K. and the U.S.  Her second, and unfortunately final, hit was this Indian-flavored ode to passionate sex.  It's pretty damn good, and evidence that she deserved a bigger career.

27 - "Intergalactic," Beastie Boys

The Boys' biggest Brit hit was this fun brag rhyme.  The beats are terrific, and my favorite line is probably "I'll stir fry you in my wok."  Among their best.

26 - "Dance the Night Away," The Mavericks 

This Miami band, led by Cuban-American singer Raul Malo, scored 6 Top 40 country singles, but they scored a surprise Top 5 here with this Latin-tinged number about being newly unattached and enjoying that freedom.  Very cool.

25 - "Rendez-Vous '98," Jean-Michel Jarre featuring Apollo 440

Another World Cup tie-in was this team-up between Jarre, best known for "Oxygene" and massive outdoor concerts, and a Liverpool electronic group.  It's a dance track that contains crowd noise and a bit of "La Marseillaise."  Very good, as these things go.

24 - "The Heart's Lone Desire," Matthew Marsden

From Walsall, Marsden is an actor whose credits include Black Hawk Down and the second Transformers movie.  He also had a couple hit songs, the first and biggest being this dance-rocker about how we are compelled to find a romantic partner.  It was much better than I imagined.

23 - "Can't Let Her Go," Boyz II Men

The Philly harmonizers' tenth and last U.K. hit was this uptempo track about a lady theyes can't live without.  I like it, probably because they have too many ballad hits for my taste.

22 - "I Think I'm Paranoid," Garbage

This group formed when three American producer/musicians (including Butch Vig, the man behind the boards on Nirvana's Nevermind) recruited Scottish singer Shirley Manson, formerly of the band's Goodbye Mr. McKenzie and Angelfish.  Their third of five Top Tens here was this dark rock tune about a relationship that seems to have an S&M tinge to it.  Good, but probably near the bottom of their singles to me.  I still tend to go for their early singles "Vow" and "Queer."

21 - "Life," Des'ree
London soul singer Desiree Weeks had her biggest success in the States with the 1994 Top Five "You Gotta Be."  She didn't hit the Top Ten at home, however, until this slick pop ditty about joyfully dealing with fears and superstitions which includes references to walking under ladders, hot air ballooning, and bungee jumping.  Apparently, respondents to a BBC poll once voted it the worst pop lyric ever.  It is a bit cheesy in places, but I'm ultimately charmed.  There are many worse offenders.

In Part Two:  randiness, eternal life, and repuposed Kenny and Dolly.