Finalizing.
20 - "Such a Feeling," Bizarre Inc.
The second hit by this Britdance act is pretty basic techno house. It doesn't make me feel anything.
19 - "Cream," Prince and the New Power Generation
His second single with his new backing band was this strutting encouragement to take charge of life and not let anyone stop you. There's even a lyrical homage to T. Rex, which makes it even stranger that it was held to #15 here when it got a #1-#2 from the States and Canada. We rightfully let it rise.
18 - "Can't Stop This Thing We Started," Bryan Adams
The Vancouver star's second single of the 90s was the first one that revealed the level of Def Lepppardization producer "Mutt" Lange had done to him. The chorus, the mixing, and even Adams' intentional-or-not vocal adjustment to sound more like Joe Elliott left no doubt as to who was behind the board. This was a Can-Am #1-#2 that Britain kept out of the Top Ten. This time, they were right.
17 - "Good Vibrations," Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch featuring Loleatta Holloway
Before movie stardom, Mark Wahlberg was the link between Jimmy Osmond and Aaron Carter in the continuum of boy-band little brothers having hits. This self-identified hip-hop/house hybrid was another American #1 that the Brits kept out of the Top Ten, and my theory is that U.K. ravers were turned off by his anti-drug stance. They preferred shows with a great deal of intoxication.
16 - "Something Got Me Started," Simply Red
The Manchester blue-eyed/red-haired soul act's first hit of the 90s was this uptempo love song, with piano lines that may or may not have been influenced by house. A great little R&B dance tune, without any of the mush of much of their future material.
15 - "20th Century Boy," T. Rex
The 1973 glam classic returned to the charts after being used in a Levi's commercial starring Brad Pitt, fresh off his breakthrough role in Thelma and Louise. Whatever. There's never a bad excuse to listen to one of Marc Bolan's masterpieces.
14 - "I'll be Back," Arnee and the Terminaters
A novelty dance track that features an Arnold Schwarzenegger impersonator suggesting that the way to get ahead in life is by acting threatening and menacing. It would be more fun to sing along to if there weren't so many people in the world who take this message to heart. Sorry to sound like a downer, but that's my opinion. Also, the guy's Arnold voice is terrible. I can do a better one, and you probably can too.
13 - "Everybody's Free," Rozalla
The first and biggest hit for Zimbabwe-born Rozalla Miller was this tuneful, utopian Eurodance track. Top Ten here and in Canada, but only #37 in the U.S. That's their prerogative, I suppose.
12 - "Love...Thy Will Be Done," Martika
The California singer tried to shed her teen-pop image by turning to Prince, who co-wrote and produced this sultry surrender ballad. She does a pretty good vocal impression of her collaborator, and it was a deserving Triple Top Ten. But her reinvention would pay no further commercial dividends, unfortunately.
11 - "Gett Off," Prince and the New Power Generation
And here he is again, with the most sexually suggestive A-side he had released since he became a superstar. He quotes James Brown, boasts of his prowess and knowledge of a variety of positions, and just horndogs out for four minutes. It's a Michaelangelo of carnal funk-rock.
10 - "What Can You Do for Me," Utah Saints
Not from the mountainous Morman U.S. state, but rather Leeds, these guys scored their first of three Top Tens with this electronic dance track that features sampled vocals from Gwen Guthrie and Annie Lennox. It has a similar feel to the "stadium house" of The KLF, and that's always welcome to my ears.
9 - "Peace," Sabrina Johnston
The only hit for this American singer was this passionate slicemof gospel-disco. Okay song, but her belting is impressive.
8 - "Don't Cry," Guns n' Roses
This was the preview single from Use Your Illusion I, one of the two albums the band simultaneously released this month. It's a very good power ballad offering comfort to a former lover. But that weird thing he does on the held note at the end remains unintentionally hilarious.
7 - "Love to Hate You," Erasure
The twelfth Top Ten for Vince Clarke's third big band was this smart, snappy dance number about conflicting emotions. Andy Bell sells the drama as he always does, and there's some retro-sounding organ in there. I'm close to rating them as equals to the Pet Shop Boys.
6 - "Charly," The Prodigy
Before they were signed by Madonna and were lumped into the late-90s "electronica" hype, this Essex group had already produced a string of home hits, beginning with this techno-raver featuring samples from a popular educational cartoon from the 70s. More bright-sounding than the songs that would break them in America. No fires are started, and no bitches are being smacked up. But no ranting from the late great Keith Flint either.
5 - "Sunshine on a Rainy Day," Zoe
The first and biggest hit for Londoner Zoe Pollock was this bit of pop-rock-soul about the moments when life gets better. The kind of song that had it's moment until it's eventually usurped by another similar song.
4 - "Insanity," Oceanic
The first of three hits from this group from Wirral was this dance track about "dream tripping." It sounds like they studied a lot of S/A/W records, and they learned well from them. Catchy and disposable.
3 - "Let's Talk About Sex," Salt-N-Pepa
The fourth and final Top Five here for the New York rap trio was this frank, funky examination of how a natural, healthy part of life can be demonized and misused. The sass and smarts they brought to pop and hip-hop should not be underestimated. And even though she wasn't in the group name, do not forget Spinderella.
2 - "I'm Too Sexy," Right Said Fred
Fronted by London brothers Fred and Richard Fairbrass, this group scored a U.S. #1 and a Can-Brit #2 with this cheeky ode to one's own runway-quality good looks. Timeless silliness, and always fun to shake your little tush to.
1 - "(Everything I Do) I Do it for You," Bryan Adams
The drippy ballad from Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves was inescapable pretty much everywhere. In Britain, it spent an unprecedented 16 weeks at #1, clearly the brightest jewel in its Triple Crown. With this encouragement, he became a gooier version of Kenny Loggins for early-90s movie soundtracks.
Next time, it's Canada again. Be there.
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