Endgame.
20 - “Parklife,” Blur
The Britpop leading lights scored their third, and possibly defining, Top Ten, with this jangly pop-rocker about the small pleasures of middle-class English life. Actor Phil Daniels’ charming Cockney delivery on the verses imprints this on your mind and ears.
19 - “Rollercoaster,” Grid
The fourth hit by the duo of David Ball and Richard Norris was this throbbing techno-house track. A fun ride, as the title suggests.
18 - “Stay (I Missed You),” Lisa Loeb and Nine Stories
The hit that broke singer-songwriter Loeb when neighbors Ethan Hawke got it included on the soundtrack of his film Reality Bites. Impossibly catchy folk-pop about a relationship at a crossroads. It was denied a Triple Crown by Britain, but no shame in a 1-1-6 from an act that hadn’t even signed to a label yet.
17 - “What’s Up,” DJ Miko
Italian DJ Monier Gagliardo teams up with British singer Louise Gard for a techno cover of 4 Non Blondes recent hit rock ballad about young adult disillusionment. It actually works just as well, if not a little better, in this setting.
16 - “I Swear,” All-4-One
The cover of a sappy ballad ordinates by country singer John Michael Montgomery gave this California vocal quartet their biggest hit. It came up one spot on this chart of a Triple Crown. Cheers, mates.
15 - “Right Beside You,” Sophie B. Hawkins
The New York singer had her biggest hit here with this breathy, lusty dance track. Not quite as good as the amazing “Damn I Wish I was Your Lover,” but it would be a top moment for most.
14 - “Searching,” China Black
The first and biggest hit fo r this duo named for the ethnicities of members Simon Fung and Errol Reid was this pop-reggae love song. A little better than what UB40 were putting out around this time.
13 - “Hey Now (Girls Just Want to Have Fun),” Cyndi Lauper
The Noo Yawk legend picked up her first Top Five here in ten years with a new version of her breakout smash, giving it a reggae spin and incorporating parts of the 1974 Redbone hit “Come and Get Your Love.” Maybe not a great idea in theory, but it turned out pretty well. She’s, well, having fun.
12 - “Regulate,” Warren G. and Nate Dogg
From Long Beach, California, rapper Warren Griffin and singer Nathaniel Hale has their biggest smash with this smooth tale of robbery, murder, and sex. It all goes down smooth thanks to a groove borrowed in large part from Michael McDonald’s “I Keep Forgettin’.” This is “G-Funk,” take it or leave it. I find it hard to resist.
11 - “Crazy for You,” Let Loose
Another boy band. This one’s biggest hit was this danceable tune about lusting after a model.
Catchier than most, with some nice rock guitar. I’m slightly unbalanced for it.
10 - “Incredible,” M-Beat
The big hit for this group featuring reggae DJ Paul “General” Levy was this example of the “jungle” genre, which is like techno mixed with dub at a very high BPM rate. I’m not sure I’d be willing to take the right drugs for me to get it.
9 - “What’s the Frequency Kenneth,” R.E.M.
The Georgia boys’ third Top Ten was this rocker about modern immersion in media. The title was taken from a 1986 incident when CBS News anchor Dan Rather was mugged outside his apartment by two men, one of whom repeatedly asked him, “Kenneth, what is the frequency.” Great song, and the origin of the title combined with Michael Stipe’s usual inscrutable lyrics, make it an Uneasy Rider.
8 - “Compliments on Your Kiss,” Red Dragon with Brian and Tony Gold
These Jamaicans had their biggest moment with this dancehall love song. Earwormy goodness.
7 - “7 Seconds,” Youssou N’Dour and Neneh Cherry
Senegalese singer N’Dour was a superstar in Africa, and had gotten into Western ears with collaborations with Peter Gabriel, when he picked up a Top Five here teaming up with Cherry on an ethereal track about the innocent ignorance of children at birth. N’Dour sings in English, French, and his native Wolof language, but their is no barrier. The message is clear throughout.
6 - “I’ll Make Love to You,” Boyz II Men
The Philly harmonizers’ seduction ballad was denied the Triple Crown by the Brits, who held it to #5. It would have been a worthy crown-wearer, but oh well.
5 - “Rhythm of the Night,” Corona
This Italian act, fronted by Brazilian model Olga Maria de Souza, has their one big international hit
with some joyful Eurodance noise. More distinctive than most of its peers.
4 - “Confide in Me,” Kylie Minogue
A change of direction gave Kylie her sixteenth Top Ten in the form of this dark, trip-hoppy rocker about inviting someone to share their secrets. Surprisingly not jarring. Under the North American radar, she was as versatile and musically adaptable as Madonna. Who knew?
3 - “Endless Love,” Mariah Carey and Luther Vandross
Two superstars cover two other superstars. It was too soon afterward not to invite pale comparison, but still, hard to be against any Luther delivery system.
2 - “Love is All Around,” Wet Wet Wet
The Scottish pop group covered a 1967 hit by The Troggs for a British romcom called Four Weddings and a Funeral. The film became a massive hit, and the competent but unremarkable cover rocketed into the stratosphere, staying at #1 for a whopping 15 weeks. This would have been 16, which would have tied it with another movie ballad, “Everything I Do, I Do it For You,” but sadly, it fell just short. I would have been rooting for it, because it doesn’t take much to be preferable to the moment Bryan Adams turned to shit.
And the song that may have been Mr. Adams favourite at least for that week was...
1 - “Saturday Night,” Whigfield
Danish singer Sannie Carlson took her stage name from that of her piano teacher, and came out of the box debuting at #1 here with a song she recorded while working as a model in Italy. Her voice is girly-squeaky, and the lyrics are just standard stuff about dancing and flirting, but they combine with some top-drawer Eurodance beats to make something pretty damn great. I’m not completely immune to the charms of fluffy dance music, you know.
Another done. Britain again next time. See you soon.
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