Top Ten Best HIt Songs of 1994

So as I said on the worst list...1994 was a damn great year for the charts if you didn't look at the very top and that remains true. I had a hell of a time putting together this list in that there were so many damn great songs that deserved recognition such was the strength of pop, rock and even r'n'b and hip hop, Even more importantly it felt like the 90s in terms of the music finally woke up and finally found some sounds that didn't feel dated to the eighties and that can only be a good thing. 

Now just a reminder that "Zombie" by The Cranberries charted higher on the 1995 year end so I'll talk about that song when I get around to making a 1995 best hit songs list, now that I've cleared that up...let's get stuck into the ten best hit songs of 1994.

Number Ten

In 1993, this band released a cover of Carly Simon's 'You're So Vain" that really isn't all that good so imagine my shock and delight that they released this song...and it was better than I could have ever expected...

"Mountain" by Chocolate Starfish

For awhile this was my number one favourite hit of the year but ultimately that weird beeping noise in the back of the mix pushed this back to here for me but god, this song still hits like a hammer with the instrumentation feeling rugged yet comforting and the content hits hard too all about a relationship where one person wants the other to be their mountain and settle down but the other person isn't ready and really just wants to spend more time flowing like that river doing whatever it is they have a passion for rather than settling down and getting that sensible steady job like the partner asked them to get. I get the pathos...great song!

Number Nine.

Sp we're staying Australian and dealing with the first of two Aussie pop divas to make this list and maan...what a delight this song is...

"Chains" by Tina Arena

If you are looking for a powerhouse vocal performance from a woman in 1994 than look no further than this song from Tina Arena, this is an incredibly impassioned love song where Tina realizes that she is so in love with this guy that she is in metaphorical chains for him and this song makes use of it's dramatic swell so well that I almost felt like I was also tied in chains to this dude and Tina sells this song so well its convincing. 

Number Eight

Sometimes there's no denying that a pop song is this good....

"The Sign" by Ace of Base

I don't know what you want me to say about this song when the song's broad appeal is so dang obvious, that catchy hook that will be left stuck in your head for days on end especially given the hook is that ridiculously catchy and earwormy, it's pretty much what good pop music especially out of Sweden (one of the homes of great pop music) should be.

This song deals with someone that is seeing the sign that their relationship is finally done and it's time to find the strength inside to move on to hopefully something better and happier, I love the messaging of this song and it deserves its place as one of the best pop songs of the 90s

Number Seven

You all know I rather harsh on terrible cover versions of songs...well, this time around, here's a cover song that gets things right for a change.

"Ain't Nobody" by Jaki Graham

This is a cover that took the original by Chaka Khan (that was already great) and decided not to mess with it too much but added sosme more 90s big beat bounce and groove that Jaki Graham is effortlessly able to play to in order to sell this song to a newer generation. Now Jaki is definitely over singing on the hook a little but I kind of pin that down to selling the idea that nobody other than her lover could make her feel so good and happy. It's a cute song that I was happy to place on this list.

Number Six

Then there's the alternative, a relationship on the brink and one pushes the other out the door and the regret hits almost immediately...well we got a song about that in 1994...

"Stay (I Missed You)" by Lisa Loeb & Nine Tales

There's something about this jittery emotional song that hits all the right notes with me, Lisa Loeb delivers this song as though she's nervously trying to convince this person she knows she pushed away to come back into her orbit and she regrets what she did to push this person who was genuinely in with her away even though this lover had issues with her talking too much etc. I also love the simplicity of the production here, it's just a spare guitar, Loeb's voice and some restrained backing vocals, it's only not higher because...

Nnumber Five

I like hip hop when it's breezy, the samples are bright and colourfjul, having fun and laying down some bars, Trap drudge does nothing for me so when this song turned up on the year end list...I was thrilled

"Hip Hop Holiday" by 3 The Hard Way

The minute that flip of "Dreadlock Holiday" by 10cc gets going where they rap "We don't like hip hop...we love it!" just makes me smile combine that with that reggae breakdown that reminds me suspiciously of "Inoformer" by Snow and this might well be more of the more infectious hits of 1994. The group get verses off bragging about the rhymes and swagger they bring to their music. This is fun, funky and sure does feel like one hell of a breezy hip hop holiday. 

Number Four

I know people are going to be shocked that more of the "Seattle Sound" aka grunge is not featured more prominently on this list and I there's a part of me that wishes I did find room for Soundgarden amd others but if there was a song from the Seattle scene that hit...it was this one...

"Daughter" by Pearl Jam

I don't know what it is about this song that just works for me, is it Eddie's more restrained vocal delivery that just hits like a train when he does let loose into the middle eight of the song, the instrumentation especially that damn guitar riff that kicks so much arse but somehow I think it all boils down to the content of the song...it's about this poor child who has a learning disability and because not much was known about learning difficulties at the time...the kids that struggled at school due to ADHD were always pinned as the ones misbehaving so got 'beaten"

What is chilling about the ending of this song is the line "the shades go fown" and it's never expressly said what happened to the girl at the centre of this song although you can guess from what I said earlier. 

Number Three

I asked social media if this song was this artist's best work...the overwhelming response was yes.

Not like I am about to disagree.

"Confide in Me" by Kylie Minogue

There's not too many songs like "Confide In Me" that blend elements of western and eastern pop music so damn well like this, it just blows my mind how absolutely flawless this production is that swells and ebbs with Kylie's voice so damn well but let's not mince words here...Kylie is the star of the show here, it's her vocals that make this song the absolute power house it is as she urges this other person to share the problem they are facing with her reminding them that a problem is meant to be shared so others can help and support the person to fix it. This is just a great pop song and could have been my number one in a weaker year. 

Number Two

I am not shocked this is so high, the artist behind this song has a habit of making songs that get to the core of the matter in question and this song was no different...

"Streets Of Philadelphia" by Bruce Springsteen

This song can be summed up in one word: devastating, it comes from the first major film at the time called "Philadelphia" which was the first film to seriously tackle the AIDS issue on the silver screen and this song from Bruce Springsteen realizes the seriousness and really underlines the impact that the AIDs crisis had on people who had the virus at the time, citing the loneliness and social isolation of a man who is dying of AIDS face and the desperate search for connection with others.

Bruce just nails the complexity here, it's not even just social connection, it's the loss of identity and that production also provides that haunting atmosphere that just broke me. It's a haunting song that emotionally hits all the right notes...it's not number one though...what could that be?

Number One

Nothing else was ever going to be number one on this list, this number one pick was fate...it was meant to be. This song is special in ways that take my breath away and thus...

"Can You Feel the Love Tonight?" by Elton John

Nothing else felt right at number one...nothing...this song hits so hard and powerfully I just break down and sob like a baby to the point I couldn't imagine anything else topping this list, there's a magic to "Can You Feel the Love Tonight?" that I don't think anything else from 1994 can match from Elton's vocal delivery that's just warm and comforting and that orchestral in instrumentation that just sounds so full its overwhelming and maybe it just hits even harder given we are years removed from 1994 and the world hasn't exactly gotten better. 

It's the perfect song for one of the best Disney movies ever "The Lion King" (nothing beats it...outside of maybe Peter Pan) and maybe the perfect song that provides an escape from the troubles of the world as Elton sings to open the song "There's a calm surrender to the rush of dayWhen the heat of the rolling world can be turned away". Maybe it's just the ultimate comfort song for me alongside "Don't Dream It's Over" by Crowded House.but whatever the case it's the number one best hit song of 1994.

ARIA Singles Top 50 Chart Review: March 2nd.

 This feels like a really quiet week which I will take considering that Bruno Mars and Blackpink are likely to both make an impact on the chart in a big way next week however let's dive into this week's top ten where for a fifteenth week, it's "Man I Need" by Olivia Dean, it's dominant on sales and streaming but not yet on Youtube. 

What did shock and thrill me is the four place gain to number two for "Rein Me In" by Sam Fender and Olivia Dean thanks to major streaming gains but it was enough for "So Easy (To Fall in Love)" by Olivia Dean to be pushed back to number three, "Ordinary" by Alex Warren back to number four and "Where is My Husband" by Raye back to number five.

Sombr's katest top ten hit "Homewrecker" climbed  two places to number six thanks to streaming.  Taylor Swift's "The Fate of Ophelia" held steady at number seven which is interesting for reasons you'll see why later. 

"Raindance" by Dave and Tems rebounded one spot to number eight and Sombr's '12 to 12" returned to the top ten up two spots to number nine while "Golden" from K-Pop Demon Hunters also returned to the top ten up two spots to number ten. 

Losers

"Good Luck, Babe" bv Chappell Rean is  back on the cusp of leaving the chart (again) down fourteen spots to fifty. 

Bad Bunny's "Nuevayol" tumbled twenty places to forty six (Frankly I am surprised this song is still on the charts at all)

It will rebound in a couple of weeks time but "Aperture" by Harry Styles continues to fall in the mean time down ten places to thirty seven. 

Finally "Opalite" by Taylor Swift collapsed twelve places because an artificial boost via gaming the charts only nets rewards for so long and when there are other songs that do what this song is trying to do better,...yeah...

Drop Outs

Djo's "Back to beginning" returned to the On Replay Singles chart after it's ten week stint on the chaet thanks to virality. 

Long running hit "Yukon" by Justin Bieber took it's exit this week along with "Baile Involidable" by Bad Bunny ad "Sally, When the Wine Runs Out" by Role Model. 

Gains

So I am going to get to the big gain of the week in a moment but I do want to mention "Stateside" by Pink Pantheress which jumped six places to number eleven and looks likely to climb even higher in the weeks ahead thanks to the song being used by American ice skater Alysa Liu during her gold medal winning skate at the Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina.

However the biggest gain of the week is "IloveitIloveitIloveit" by Bella Kay up a massive twenty two spots to twenty,

"4 Raws" by EsDeeKid rebounded eight spots to thirty five and "I've Seen It" by Olivia Dean up eight to forty one. 

Re-Entries

Three returns this week with "Just Keep Watching" by Tate McRae back at forty four and "I Had some Help" by Post Malone and Morgan Wallen returning at thirty nine.

Finally back at number twenty seven is a 2002 song from Italian house music group Milky that originally peaked forty seven at the time, this time a remix with Mallgrab ensuring it returned to the chart,,,I don't see this lasting long on the chart but we'll have to see.

New Entries

Just the one new entry this week...

47. "White Keys" by Dominic Fike

Oh god, we're not giving Dominic Fike another hit again, are we? We've been lucky in that the new rules kept the terrible "Baby Doll" off the charts but we did get this and so I guess I do need to talk about in some capacity...and it meets my very low expectations of being alternative shlock that pop radio would accept as transgressive, who told Fike that his vocal delivery needed to be so inexecrably annoying to the point I had to turn the song off at multiple points? Also this bare bones production is unmitigated amounts of ass as that guitar sounds like it was in the middle of being fucking neutered. 

As for the content, its about a failed relationship and Fike musing on his early years geowing up in Florida and given how obnoxious he sounds on this sound, I don't blame the girl for leaving him because nooo, this song is not worth it. 

That was our week and geezus, I hope Bruno strikes in a big way to get ass like "White Keys" off the charts.

Pretty Fly (For 1999) February 28th Get What You Give Away in an Anthem for 2000

 So we have on the surface a pretty standard week here if you can call it that, three new entries and plenty of movement but remember last week that the showdown for the number one spot was on? That happened and we wound up with a brand new chart topper because Britney Spears did it as sales pushed "Baby, One More Time" to the top, this song has legs right now to be a long term chart topper. 

It pushed "Believe" by Cher back to number two as the numbers weighing in Britney's favour meant it couldn't hang on much longer. 

There's a new entry at number three coming from Silverchair with "Anthem for the Year 2000" having an impressive sales week to lodge itself this high although I would argue Silverchair arguably have the profile to do that. 

Rising on spot off the debut is "That Don't Impress Me Much" by Shania Twain at number four likewise for "Lullaby" by Shawn Mullins which jumped one to five although both those gains could be on the back of increasing weakness for the fading "Jackie" by BZ and Joanne.

What's not going away like an extremely virulent case chlamydia is "No Matter What" by Boyzone which remains stubbornly at number seven no matter how much spray and wipe I use to try to remove this godawful song from the chart.

That cannot be said for The Offspring's "Pretty Fly (For a White Guy" which slipped four places to number eight, its fading gracefully now. 

I am happy to see a one place gain for "Doo Wop (Dat Thing)" by Lauryn Hill to numner nine. I just wish itb wasn't at the expense of "How do I Deal" by Jennifer Love Hewitt down one to number ten. 

Losers

Celine Dion and R. Kelly need three busloads of angels to save "I'm Your Angel" exiting the chart, this week it slipped from forty two to forty nine.

Grinspoon are pushing all the wrong buttons as their EP "Pushing Buttons" slumped from thirty six to forty one. 

"Finally Found" by Honeyz is on its way out as it slipped ten spots to number thirty two while "From this Moment On" by Shania Twain slumped from twenty four to thirty one. 

Gains

We don't have that much in the way of big gains, unfortunately it seems more than enough people do want to touch Monifah's "Touch It" so that got an eight place boost to twenty four off of it's debut last week.

However it looks like some people want to go a long way together with "Praise You" by Fatboy Slim rising from it's debut of forty one to thirty five.

Will Smith's "Miami" is up eight to thirty six which is nice to see. I still like that song. 

New Entries

Three new entries and all some variation of rock this weekbeginning with....

46. "Get What You Give" by New Radicals

So New Radicals are an American pop/rock act with with song being their first to hit the ARIA singles chart and you know what? I actually really love this! It's a song about finding hope  and connection in a world that has become cold, cynical and corporate with the song reminding everyone that you only get back as much as you put into life. Throw in that guitar, the rather passionate delivery of the lyrics and you have a pretty damn great song, Check it out

44. "Fly Away" by Lenny Kravitz

The fourth single from Lenny Kravitz album "5" and boy, I wish I liked this more than I do especially as this song really is limited in soaring to any kind of great height by that production where thr guitars are choked that they cannot soar or fly away like Lenny Ktavitz wants to do and honestly, I'm not buying Kravitz's performance on the hook either, this song just isn't doing anything for me so I'm going to skop it more often than not. 

3. "Anthem for the Year 2000" by Silverchair

Lead single from "Neon Ballroom" and again, I am not feeling this song as much as I probably should, this has a pretty damn good hook and the instrumentation and production feel so by the numbers for a song that's aimed at rebelling against authority or even vaguely speaking truth to power (even if meant to be taken sarcastically) even Daniel Johns sounds less punchy and the song just lacks that punch that the best anthemic rock songs have. 

Best and worst fall out easily this week with "Get What You Give" by New Radicals the best this week. The worst going to "Fly Away" by Lenny Kravitz.

"Pop" Country Gone Haywire: Lee Brice's "Country Nowadays" is the height of entitled, privileged whining

There are moments where country music just nails the mood and strikes the right tone, I have examples of how great the genre can be on my best of 2026 playlist already (See Carter Faith and William Beckmann's collab from earlier this year and Emily Scott Robinson's beautiful new album "Appalachia" but every so often the genre hits a turd like in 2017 with "Body Like a Backroad" by Sam Hunt which unfortunately became a staple of the genre that year and this year it's Lee Brice's "Country Nowadays"

Firstly, let's do a little background on Lee Brice, he originally worked behind the scenes as a songwriter for Jason Aldean and even co wrote Garth Brooks song "More than a Memory" amd from there was signed to Curb Records in 2007 and has since released several albums and even collaborated with Carly Pearce on "Hope You're Happy Now".so yes, you can absolutely say that Brice was apart of the instigation of the worst period for mainstream country in years where all the male artists wanted to do was drink beer off the back of tailgates and leer at women although Brice was on the decidedly more tasteful side of the nonsense, he did have one or two songs I liked. '

All that brings me to his new song enttled "Country Nowadays" that he performed at the "alternate" Superbowl half time show much to the amusement of the internet, there already several Youtube Poops mocking this song and honestly I am not sure they go far enough to underline just how extraordinarily privileged this song comes across so I am going to breakdown the fundamentals of this song's lyrics (I am not going to discuss the actual music because I am not giving this song a click)

"I just wanna catch my fish, drive my truck, drink my beer
And not wake up to all this stuff I don't want to hear
Like the same kind of gun I hunt with, just killed another man
When the only thing mine ever shot was a deer from my deer stand"\

You can go catch your fish, drive your truck and drink beer, Lee, NOBODY is stopping you. Also if you don't want to wake up to the news of another school shooting in America, you can just not turn the TV on in the morning and avoid social media but the real reason you don't want to wake up to the news of another school shooting or another innocent person being murdered is that you don't want your thoughts on gun ownership and putting bullets through an animal challenged by people who actually want gun reform.

"I just want to grow my corn, feed my dogs, wear my boots

Not turn the TV on, sit and watch the evenin' news
And be told if I tell my own daughter that little boys ain't little girls
I'll be up the creek in hot water in this "cancel your ass" world"

Trans people simply existing do not stop Lee from growing vegetables and feeding his dog nor are anyone else's private parts or lack there of anyone's concern and shouldn't be in the news anyway...who cares if somebody wants a penis instead of a vagina..how does their decision affect Lee Brice or Fox News?.

As for complaining about "cancel culture" since when was Lee ever cancelled? Again, two of his biggest hits have been fairly  recent with "One of them Girls" and the collab with Carly Pearce that I mentioned earlier. Also if cancel culture was actually a fucking thing, Chris Brown wouldn't still be gaining hits and relevance on the charts to this fucking day. It looks pretty myopic and incredibly privileged for somebody like Lee Brice who has had a modicum of success on the charts to be whining about cancel culture.

" It ain't easy being country in this country nowadaysThe direction the fingers point when everything goes up in flames
Sayin' I'm some right-wing devil 'cause I was small town, Jеsus raised
It ain't easy being country in this country nowadays"

Oh wow, whining it's hard to be country nowadays when the genre is actually having the biggest boom in terms of success on the Hot 100 and around the world, there's actually never been a better time to be an artist making real country music eg: Ella Langley, Luke Combs etc not that Lee would know what actual drums are that aren't borrowed from a drum machine are. 

As for the religious implications here, can I suggest Lee go spend some more time with his bible and learn how to be humble because this entitled privileged whining in song form does not imply that he understands what God and Jesus meant by modesty and humility...yes, modesty is not just dress standards for women, they apply in terms of behaviour for everyone.

"I just wanna cut my grass, watch my gamе, say my prayers
Not get a picture of a flag up in flames as people cheer
Yeah, the same one my grandaddy fought for being stepped on like it's trash
And I'm a downright hateful monster if I back the blue and badge"

Okay, I do agree flag burning is not a good thing and it's something that peaceful protest should not resort to but again...nobody is stopping Lee Brice from praying, watching football or mowing his overgrown lawn that probably has more weeds than any actual realisation from Lee Brice that this privileged whining is just not going to cut it, he is free to do all that shit he names in this song but the real world is going to keep being the real fucking world..is Lee Brice even cognisant of the fact that ICE have murdered innocent people, that his president Donald Trump is in the Epstein files and as a result Trump is threatening to start a WAR with Iran...where's the song talking about the actual real shit that is happening, Lee?

As for support the police, he is free support whoever he wants just as long he is aware that people are allowed to disagree. We all face consequences for things we say and do, we are not free from the consequences of our free speech like so many entitled and privileged people seem to believe they are.

Final part of this shit show of a song is this:

"All I do is mind my business, live my life the best I can
Try to be a real good husband, a real good daddy, a real good man
But because I have my morals and a small town point of view
You assume that you don't like me means that I don't like you, too"

Minding his own business when he was complaining about trans people earlier in his own song? I would suggest none of that was minding his own business. Now I am not going to judge him as a husband or as a parent however morals do come into question when you sign up to perform as part of what is fairly blatantly a Donald Trump and Republican suppprting grift like Turning Point USA while Trump is still in the Epstein Files and may possibly  be deeply involved, eyeing bombing other countries and pushing US democracy to the brink of extinction, Lee may well have bigger issues to worry about that trans kids and school shootings in the news on his small town home TV. 

This isn't escapism from Lee Brice, this is just privileged shitlord material that doesn't have the good sense to have some balance and acknowledge that there are real problems in the US and the world that need to be dealt with such as the pedophiles in positions of power (which is wild Lee doesn't acknowledge that given he has kids) and when we have this sort of worthless art in country, it actually hurts the genre and those artists in country trying to speak truth to power.

Fuck this song.

ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart Review: 23rd February

So there have been some shifts on the chart this week that I did not see coming and some of them on the absolutely amazing side but let's set sail with the top ten because remaining at number one for a fourteenh week, it's "Man I Need" by Olivia Dean at number one, it's got massive streaming margins ahead of "So Easy (Tio Fall In Love)" also by Olivia Dean, she's still a dominant presence in the top ten right now.

Holding steady at number three is "Ordinary" by Alex Warren. Streaming and sales are mostly done with this song but Youtube is not letting this song go away. Rebounding one spot to number four is "Where is My Husband" by Raye (a song I am kind of sick of at this point, I wouldn't mind if it started to lose some traction)

Rising two to number five off the back of a sales boost is "Opalite" by Taylor Swift, we'll see how long the sales boost and traction from the video hold up because streaming is dine for this song, what's getting ready to move past it is "Rein Me In" by Sam Fender and Olivia Dean which climbed eight places to reach a new peak of number six, it pushed "The Fate of Ophelia" by Taylor Swift back one to number seven.

"Homewrecker" by Sombr is the second new arrival to our top ten rising ten spots off its debut to number eight, this song is looking to be absolutely huge in the next few weeks. 

Holding steady at number nine is "Raindance" by Dave and Tems, tbe fact this song is still doing great on streaming is impressive to me. Finally in no surprise to anyone, "DtMF" by Bad Bunny fell six places to number six...I would be surprised if this song doesn't leave quickly.

Losers

"Yukon" bty Justin Bieber couldn't make much of it's return so it slipped thirteen places to fifty this week. 

"Baile Involidable" by Bad Bunny slipped seven places to number forty one while "Aperture" by Harry Styles contiinues to free fall down seven to twenty seven. 

Drop Outs

 Six drop outs this week and I am not complaining about any of these being gone with long running hits like "Espresso" by Sabrina Carpenter, "I Had Some Help" by Post Malone and Morgan Wallen, "Gabriela" by Katseye and "Just Keep Watching" by Tate McRae gone

Also gone are "Fame is a Gun" by Addison Rae and "The Days (Notion Remix)" by Chrystal. Massive net win here!

 

Gaiuns

Not much in the way of gains outside the two already mentioned in the top ten. The biggest gain unfortunately comes from "Die On this Hill" by Sienna Spiro up six to twenty two sadly.

Re-Entries

Two returns this week, Ed Sheeran in the country at the moment meant that "Sapphire" returned at forty seven while "I've Seen It" by Olivia Dean made it's return for the third time at fifty. 

New Entries

Four new entries this week, lets start with...

45. "Sally, When the Wine Runs Out" by Role Model

So this finally turns up in the top 50, for those who are unaware, Role Model is a former rapper turned singer/songwriter hailing from the USA with this song released as a single in February last year and having some viral traction without ever really breaking through in Australia, this song got some renewed interest this past week thanks to Robert Irwin playing the role of Sally at Role Model's appearance at Laneway Festival in Perth and yeah this song has something of a charm that would net an audience over on Triple J with it's electric guitars and stompy bassAnother  as Role Model tells Sally that he'll buy her couple of drinks but begs her not to fall in love with him or to leave when the wine runs out only for him to realize that he is catching feelings for her. 

Definitely a cute summer song that I wouldn't mind sticking around. 

42. "IloveitIloveitIloveit" by Bella Kay

Another new name on the charts this week in the form of nineteen year old Bella Kay, an American singer who was born in Texas but is now living in Florida with this song coming from her yet to be named second album and I am not sure how to feel about this one especially given the themes running in the lyrics where she is acknowledging that she is in a toxic and possibly abusive relationship but she loves it because the drama associated with such a horrifically bad relationship is giving her validation and a visceral thrill from all the drama of it even though she knows it's bad for her...now that 

Also this song feels very bare bones in the production with just an acoustic guitar and some backing vocals supporting Bella. I want to like this because we do need more guitar driven songs on the charts...check this out if you are curious but I am not going to be surprised if the content of this song gets some pushback. 

39. "Midnight Sun" by Zara Larsson

Oh I am not surprised to see this here what with the revisit Australia and the rest of the world seems to be giving Zara Larsson's music amidst this bizarre obsession with 2016 (2016 was a terrible year for the world in general), "Lush Life" would be in the top ten of this chart if it were not for ARIA"s new rules and with this song being the title track from Zara's album last year that was generally well recieved, I was curious.

Well turns out that Zara is playing into the Pink Pantheress lane of pop music with more than a few glances at Charli XCX's notes and that dtop into the chorus does feel very computer music but it's not terrible and I have heard worse. Decent song...that's about all I have to say about this one

33. "Be By You" by Luke Combs

So I cannot be the only one feeling a sense of trepidation over this new Luke Combs album that's coming next month, right? The singles for this album have at best been underwhelming to outright mediocre so I went into this song with some very limited expectations given the disappointment of the past singles nad much to my very welcome surprise, Combs swings back toward neo traditional country with this ballad dedicated to his wife and how he wants to spend every moment he can with her and their three children.

It's a pretty sweet love song that definitely works for Valentines Day hence why it chaeted. 

It's also tbe best song of the week. As for the worst...nothiing outright terrible here and I actually like all four to some degree...I think I am going to go with "IloveitIloveitIloveit" by Bella Kay mostly because I do think the lack of pushback on some of the themes expressed in the song just don't sit well. 

Pretty Fly (For 1999): 21st February. Everlasting Touch Night Don't Impress Me Much

No horses were actually harmed in the making of this week's look back on the charts of 1999.

Yippee yo kiyay! We are down for a showdown for the number one at high noon...Cher riding the horse "Believe" hangs on to the number one spot this week but it's a margins game becasuse Britney Spears riding "...Baby, One More Time" is making a play cantering up two spotss to number two and is within a short half head of the number one spot. 

"Jackie" with BZ and Joanne riding her held steady at number three but it's coming under pressure which won't be coming from The Offspring all riding "Pretty Fly (For A White Guy)" as it bucked two positions to number four. A new entry rides into town at number five thanks to Shania Twain riding "That Don't Impress Me Much"...more on this new filly later but she racked up an impressive pedigree in sales.

It;'s just as well Shawn Mullins isn't singing to put his horse "Lullaby" to sleep as it trotted up a cautious one spot to number six. 

The next three are bucking and are seeking pastures at the Past Hits Retirement home with Boyzone on "No Matter What" down two to number seven, "When You're Gone" by Bryan Adams and Melanie C tossing it's head around so much it's down two to number eight and "How Do I Deal" didn't like what it was seeing and walked back one spot taking it's rider Jennifer Love Hewitt with it. 

Lauryn Hill has entered the top ten showdown ring with :"Doo Wop (Dat Thing)" up eagerly observing up one spot to number ten.

Losers

Smash Mouth apparently are tired of the charts because "Can't Get Enough of You Baby" slipped from thirty seven to forty three. 

People are not convinced anymore by Stardust's "The Music Sounds Better with You" so it's taken a six place stumble to thirty seven. 

Jennifer Paige's former chart topper "Crush" got crushed nine places to twenty nine while Honeyz might be losing their grip with "Finally Found" down from sixteen to twenty two. 

"Goodbye" by Spice Girls is beginning it's goodbye as it slipped seven to seventeen. 

Re-Entries

So I am reasonably happy with the return of "Miami" by Will Smith at number forty six. 

Gains

Wish I could be that nice about our two big gains this week though. When the best of them is "Have You Ever" by Brandy up nine to fifteen...that's not a good sign.

The other big gain is "This Kiss" by Faith Hill up ten to number twelve. 

New Entries

Three new entries beginning with...

46. "Everlasting Night" by Danni Minogue

So this song was the theme for the 1999 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and you know what? Apart from the title being blasted into your head harder than an a nail being hit into wood by a hammer but for what it's worth, this is a pretty fun disco track that calls upon the late seventies in sound so yeah, it's a little dated but it somewhat works in the song's favour.

What doesn't work in the song's favour is how low Danni sounds on the verses in the mix. it just takes away from the song but at least it's not...

32. "Touch It" by Monifah

Oh god, this song is just levels of creepy and that synth that sounds like a dying cow passing it's final fart before death does not help things especially as the mood of the song is supposed to be all about Monifah showing this guy what he is doing to her wrong in the bedroom...yet this song has all the sexual appeal of spending a night at the cheapest brothel in the world. i

This song is just yikes all over and no amount of Monifah cooing over it saves it. 

5.  That Don't Impress Me Much" by Shania Twain

So we are ending off the week with some Shania Twain and I'll be honest here, I don't care for Shania's ballads "From this Moment On" is definitely a weddidng song and wil end up walking so many people down the aisle but it stripped one feature that I think is the key tit Shania;'s songs working...her charisma, she can sell songs like "If You're Not in it (For Love)" with a cheeky wink etc and thankfully this song gives us back the charismatic Shania because this song is Shania wanting a man who is himself and can keep her warm ar night, being a rocket scientist or having delusions that he is Brad Pitt is not going to impress her at all. Great song. Check this out

It easily takes best of the week. The worst also falls out easily...it's "Touch It" by Monifah.

ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart Review 16th February

 We got a Spanish influx this week thanks to Bad Bunny and his performance at the Superbowl and as a result we mght see some interesting times ahead on the chart especially if Bad Bunny can challenge in the weeks ahead. although he isn't challenging Olviia Dean right now as "Man I Need" comfortably holds number one with bumper streaming. 

It held up over her second top ten hit "So Easy (To Fall In Love)" which remained at number two but it may well start coming under heat from songs below it in the weeks ahead. 

Why is "Ordinary" by Alex Warren back up two slots to number three? Australia, I thought we came to a mutual understanding that we were just going to let this song fade away gracefully? Hmph!

A new arrival in the top ten this week at number four, it's "DtMF" by Bad Bunny, now I will talk about this song later but it's here thanks to insane streaming following that Superbowl performan ce...there's a whole load of discourse going on right now that I kind of really don't want to get into because it involves a whole lot of stupid. 

The above did have the affect of pushing "Where is My Husband" by Raye back two places to number five and "The Fate of Ophelia" by Taylor Swift also back two to number six.

Taylor also has one of the biggest gains of the week with "Opalite" up twenty spots to number seven but that was due to the release of the music video on streaming services Spotify and Apple Music. I doubt it's going to stick around and I honestly hope it doesn't. 

Sombr's new single is one we'll get to in the new entries however "12 to 12" is down two spots to number eight. "Raindance" by Dave and Tems remains steady at number nine. Finally "Golden" from K-Pop Demon Hunters slipped two spots to be on the cusp of leaving the top ten at number ten.

Losers

So it was a rough week for a few older songs like "I Had Some Help" by Post Malone feat. Morgan Wallen which collapsed eight spots to number forty six,. 

It was a rough week for Tate McRae with "Tit for Tat" down seven to forty three and "Sports Car" down nine to forty two. 

EsdeeKid's "4 Raws" got rawdogged down ten to forty while Olivia Dean's "Let Alone the One You Love" slipped seven to thirty six. Fred Again's "Victory Lap" with Skepta annd Plaqueboy Max slipped seven to thirty three,

"I Run" by HVN and Kaitlyn Aragon has not quite caught on in the same way so it's down ten to thirty two. 

"The Great Divide" by Noah Kahan had the biggest fall of the week down twelve to twenty seven...I do expect this song to recover though,

The fall of "Aperture" by Harry Styles continues, this week down eight to twenty. 

Drop Outs

So we have some big ones in this category with "APT" by Rose and Bruno Mars and "Messy by Lola Young again departing.

More recent arrivals "Sleepless in a Hotel Room" by Luke Combs, "Folded" by Kehlani and "Chanel" by Tyla also took their exits.

Gains

Some of these gains just don't make any sense at all like "Good Luck, Babe!" by Chappell Roan up eight to thirty six and "Dracula" by Tame Impala up ten to twenty two although in the latter's case, it got a remix with Jennie so that explais that. 

Re-Entries

And that befuddlement remains because our one return is "Yukon" by Justin Bieber at  number thirty seven. HIs Grammys performance can't have been that good especiially when this song is one of the more underwhelming cuts on "SWAG"

New entries

We have four new entries this week with three of them being from Bad Bunny, let's begin with

34. "Baile Involidable" by Bad Bunny

So parsing my way through these Bad Bunny songs is going to be tough given I do not speak a word of Spanish but this is one of my favourites from the album with it's thumping dancefloor ready grooves and Bad Bunny rapping about a past love who clearly left her mark on him. the relationship fleeting but beautiful and that no one compares to her and he realizes he was the one who so stupidly threw that good thing away. Good song. Glad that's it is here. 

25. "Nuevayol" by Bad Bunny

One of the songs that explores one of the biggest themes of the album from Bad Bunny and it's a song that vividly celebrates Latin American culture especially Bad Bunny's home of Puerto Rico in New York City and how the latino/latinx culture plays out in a city like New York. It's definitely a fun jam even it's in political subtext (fighting for immigrants and against modertnisation). I just wish I liked this as much as "Baile Involidable" but I do appreciate what it's going for. 

18. "Homewrecker by Sombr

Was not expecting a brand new Sombr song but from everything I have been seeing on social media, people have ebeen rushing to praise this song even people I respect so what did we get? Yeah, this is a great song even if yet again its about a relationship gone wrong except this time the morality is framed as him having cheated on her which actually makes the song even more interesting. I just wish the hook didn't sound so weird but otherwise, I'm taking this. 

4. "DtMF" by Bad Bunny

Now to end the week with the album title track and this one is actualy a really sad and kind of profound track where Bad Bunny regrets not taking more photos of special moments in his life especially moments with family and friends who have died. It's also a rather sweet celebration of Puerto Rican culture but definitely more restrained. Sweet song and Benito, keep celebrating Latino/latinx cuture loud and proud. 

That ends our week on a somber note. I'm scrapping worst of the week because nothing here is worth that. I'm giving a tie for best of the week to "DtMF" by Bad Bunny and "Homewrecker" by Sombr. Fuck ICE.

Pretty Fly (For 1999): 14th February. Ooga-Chaka Indeed.

Look, I am going to take a slower week here given the past couple of weeks and given that I'm so far behind in list content right now, I'm gonna take this so let's not waste any more time and dive straight into our top where the top three didn't channge with "Believe: by Cher holding the number one spot ahead of "Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)" by The Offspring at number two and "Jackie" by BZ feat. Joanne at number three.

As I said last week, the obvious challenger for the number one slot is "...Baby, One More Time" by Britney Spears which moved up three slots to number four, it's got rising momentun behind this and is looking the closest threat to Cher.

"No Matter What" by Boyzone continues hang at number five like a malaodorous dwarf fart while "When You're Gone" by Bryan Adams and Mel C is finally beginning it's descent down the charts down two number six. "Lullaby" by Shawn Mullins climbs one spot to number seven because people love trashy sleazy songs where the singer comes off sounding like a horny sleazebag. 

What I am happy to see is "How Do I Deal" by Jennifer Love Hewitt rising three spots to number eight this week. Still a damn great song. 

Finally, we have two songs that are at the end of their run in the top ten with "Got the Feelin'" by Five down three to number nine and "Goodbye" by Spice Girls waving goodbye to the top ten down one to number ten.

Losers

The charts are sadly about to become less sexually excited because "Horny '98" by Mousse T. vs Hot 'n' Heavy is down seven bad sex positions to number fifty. 

It's a definitely been a hard knock life for Jay-Z on the chart with "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)" down from forty nine to forty two while it seems Ultinaate Kaos are giving people what they want...an impending exit from the chart as "Anything You Want (I Got It)" slumped hard from thirty four to forty eight. 

Monica's "The First Night" got an eight place shove down to forty seven while U2's "Sweetest Thing" is seeing it's chart life turn sour down seven spots to forty three. I still love the elephant in the music video...just saying. 

Seems Australia is no longer able to read minds because former top five smash "If You Could Read My Mind" by Stars on 54 hit a nine place brainfade to thirty eight. Grinspoon's "Pushing Balloons" is actually popping balloons now down seven to thirty five.

Seems the big diva collab between Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey has the problem of people not believing this song because "When You Believe" did a faith u-turn is now down nine to thirty two. 

FInally seems some disagree with Stardust's debating point "The Music Sounds Better With You" as that slipped from twenty five to thirty one.

Gains

Let's start off with the new entries from last week that saw continued traction because we did see the excellent "Praise You" by Fat Boy Slim up eleven to thirty nine and "Save Tonight" by Eagle Eyed Cherry saving it's time on the chart up ten to thirty four. 

I say this because wooow...the rest of our gains are kind of...tragic..."Body Movin'" by Beastie Boys seems to have found a part of Australia that gets jiggling to this song somehow so it moved up eight to twenty nine. 

Faith Hill's ode to getting face sucked "This Kiss" is unfortunately our biggest gain this week because it got tonsil hockeyed up from forty one to twenty two!.

Maybe considering the last two gains "Have You Ever" by Brandy gets a pass, it climbed nine to twenty four. 

Re Entries

The song that has been bouncing on and off the chart and asks the important question of what she's going to look like with a chimney on her is back at  number forty six...yes, it's "If You Buy This Record, Your Life Will be better" by The Tamperer feat. Maya.

New Entries

Just one new entry this week.

33. "Dancing Baby (Ooga Chaka)" by Trubble

Oh really? Come on...ya all really want to hear a flipped sample of "Hooked on a Feeling" by Blue Swede, a giggling baby saying "Dancing baby" at points through out the song and the UK group Trubble with a front woman who is doing her best to try to deliver the lyrics with energy but who is listening to the words being rapped here? I get can't past the hilarious stupid vocal delivery of "Ooga Chaka" and that giggling baby just makes ne want to slap someone so no this is obnoxious and frankly one of the stupidest things I have seen on the chart in years.

No best or worst this week because we only had one song but geezus...for the love of all things good music...don't make stupid shlock like this a hit. 

ARIA Singles Top 50 Chart Review: 9th February

 So look, the Grammys happened this week and it kind of explains a lot of what happened here. Olivia Dean now has a duopoly at the very pointy end of the chart with "Man I Need" holding strong at number onem, it's not giving up it's streaming lead any time soon, the margins were a little too much for Dean's other major smash "So Easy (To Fall in Love)" which jumped two spots to number two thanks to gains on streaming. 

Raye's "Where Is My Husband" remains steady at number three while "The Fate of Ophelia" by Taylor Swift rebounded one spot to number foour. 

Alex Warren also rebounded but just five places up to number five, I am ready for this song to disappear. Sombr's got "Homewrecker" coming to the chart soon but for now "12 to 12" continues to hang on in the top ten up three spots to six (it's original peak).

The virality of "End of Beginning" by Djo is beginning to fade so it's down one to number seven. "Golden" from K-Pop Demon Hunter remains at number eight. 

"Raindance" by Dave and Tems  returns to the top ten up two to number nine while "No Broke Boys" bu Disco Lines and Tinashe slumped three places to number ten...please we can end this song's time on the chart sooner rather than later. 

Losers

Now you may have noticed that there was no mention of Harry Styles song "Aperture' in that top ten, that is because the song tumbled ten spots to twelve...this song is NOT going to stick around, its losing momentum on streaming. Another single is going to have to come if they are going to save this album cycle at this rate. 

"I Run" by HVN and Kaitlyn Aragon down seven to twenty one while :"Victory Lap" by Fred Again, Skepta and PlaqueboyMax down ten slots to twenty six. 

"The Days (Notion Remix)" by Chrystal slipped eight spots to forty two while "Fame is a Gun" by Addison Rae slumped eight to forty seven.

Finally the biggest loser of the week is Tyla's "Chanel" which is on the way out down twelve to fifty

Drop Outs

Drop outs were "Dancing 2" by Keli Holiday and 'Phantoms" by EsdeeKid and Rico Ace

Gains

Look, I am going to pin the thirteen place gain to thirty four for "Manchild" by Sabrina Carpenter to a boost after the Grammys because otherwise I am bewildered at the massive gain for this song...I am done with it!

Outside of that, there no other major gains this week although "Rein Me In" by Sam Fender and Olivia Dean is up four places to sixteen. 

Re-Entries

Grannys also likely responsible for the return of Lola Young's "Messy" at forty five

New Entries

One new entry this week, let's dive into...

15. "The Great Divide" by Noah Kahan

Okay, Noah Kahan is somebody I respect more than I like. "Stick Season" is okay and I do think he is a better collaborator than anything he has done solo so I haf low expectations for this song which is the lead single from his upcoming album and yeah, this might be the first song from Kahan that I actually like but it's mostly for the subject matter of the song where he is with this person who is desperately trying to find relief and escape from trouble be it an addiction or family trouble but in a reckless way and Kahan's there as the helpless passenger trying to remind this person that they have so much stil to live for without doing all the reckless things they are doing eg: getting married, finding joy in the mundane little moments. I do like that this song sounds like it could push into heartland rock if it wanted to as well. I'll take this. 

That wraps our week. No best or worst this week as we only had the one song. Nrxt week...Sombr and a shit tonne of Bad Bunny...

Pretty Fly (For 1999): 7th February You Instant Save Praise Moment Tonight

There's less and more to say about this week, our top four in the top ten didn't move at all but we have a song that's climbed into the top ten and looks like being a challenger for the top spot...oh, let's just get to it because for yet another week, it's "Believe' by Cher at number one, she's got sales on lock...right now but that's likely to change. 

At numbet two os "Pretty Fly (For A White Guy)" by The Offspring remains at number two, "Jackie" by BZ featuring Joanne stalled at number three and "When You're Gone" by Bryan Adams feat Mel C glued to number four. 

Rising one spot to number five is unfortunately "No Matter What" by Boyzone because of course people like gooey say nothing garbage while for some reason the still incredibly amateur "Got The Feelin'" jumped one spot to six for Five.

However done of the above is set to shake Cher's "Believe" for number one so here is Cher's nearest competitor, rising from the debut of twenty to number seven is "...Baby One More Time" by Britney Spears...folks, this song has a head of steam like I've not seen before, there are some weaker songs above it that should be damn worried.

Gaining one spot to number eight is "Lullaby" by Shawn Mullins, I sure hope this isn't going to stick around because ugh..

What is not sticking around is "Goodbye" by Spice Girls down four to number nine while rising into the top ten for the first time is "A Little Bit" by Pandora up two spots to nnumber ten. 

Losers

Metallica's "Turn the Page" is about to reach the end of its chart run down nine to fifty this week, outside of that, there's not much in the way of big time losers this week with songs dropping mostly one to four places if they dropped at all. 

Maybe :"Have You Ever" by Brandy taking a tumble from twenty six to thirty three and "Habds: by Jewel sliding from twenty seven to thirty two.

Gains

Big big gain for Emilia's "Big Big World" as it jumped ten spots to twenty two while "Got The Life" by Korn jumped fourteen to twenty six.

Finally much to my annoyance "This Kiss" by Faith Hill climbed eght to forty one.

New Entries

Three new entries this week beginning wuth...

49. "Instant Moments" by R.O.O.S

Starting with a Dutch trance group and holy hell, I cannot even begin to tell you all the ways I found this a punish to listen to, its remarkably unyielding in how obnoxious it sounds and honesty makes me think of monkeys playing hurdy gurdys and not doing it very well...next! 

48. "Praise You" by Fatboy Slim

So the third single from Fatboy Slim's album "You've Come Along Way" with this song featuring nine samples ranging from Isaac Hayes to Camille Yarbrough whose vocals were sampled here and I have to say I think enjoy this a lot, there's this positive uplifting vbe this song radiates in its production and in its lyrical sentitment where he has to praise his baby like he should, it's cute but fuck, it feels very Twitter stan lingo come early! Great song.

44. "Save Tonight" by Eagle Eye Cherry

So we're ending this week off with this lead off single from a Swedish singer who goes by the stage name of Eagle Eyed Cherry and honestly? I think this song is pretty damn cute, it's a more soulful song thanks to Eagle Eyed Cherry's delivery but the production has some bounce and swell to it that I appreciate, it also helps that Eagle Eyed Cherry has some solid charisma that can make the lyrics feel a bit less clingy because this song is about a desperate last minute night of sex before the relationship finishes for real the next morning. 

It's a good song but not the best of the week, that's going to "Praise You" by Fatboy Slim.

The worst falls out easily as well, R.O.O.S is getting that for "Instant Moment"

 

ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart Review: 2nd February

 So let's rip and tear into this week on the ARIA singles chart because yeah, we finally saw some real change in the top ten just not at number one where for yet another week, Olivia Dean's "Man I Need" ruled the roost, it's got streaming on board hard where it got boosted alongside its sales thanks to the impact of Triple J's Hottest 100 ( a common story for a lot of what we saw on the chart this week).

It held up over a new entry at number two...yep, it's "Aperture" by Harry Styles which had a strong start on sales and streaming but tumbled backwards during the week, we'll discuss why in the new entries a bit later. 

"Where is My Husband" by Raye held firm at number three while "So Easy (To Fall in Love)" by Olivia Dean rebounded two spots to number four. 

Songs like "The Fate of Ophelia" by Taylor Swift suffered a three place fall to number five as it did not benefit from placement on the Hottest 100, the same applies to "End of Beginning" by Djo which slipped two places to number six. 

"No Broke Boys" by Disco Lines and Tinashe climbed two spots to number seven thanks to it's placement in the top ten of the Hottest 100 while "Golden" by K-Pop Demon Hunters slumped three places to number eight.

"12 to 12" by Sombr got a two place rebound back into the top ten up to number nine. It's really obvious what made the Hottest 100 and what wasn't shortlisted or voted in just by what gained or lost this week)

Finally "Ordinary" by Alex Warren slipped three places to number ten and at this point, I have to kind of hope people are done with this song.

Losers

It was a rough week for EsDeeKid with "Phantom" featuring Rico Ace down ten to fifty while "4 Raws" slumped ten to thirty one. 

Luke Combs suffered continued losses with "Sleepless in a Hotel Room" slumping thirteen spots to forty four. 

Finally "Opalite" by Taylor Swift could do with a boost from a music video sometime soon because it's down seven to twenty two. 

Drop Outs

You won't find me complaining too hard about the drop outs this week because we finally saw the permanent exit of "Beautiful Things" by Benson Boone to the On Replay singles chart. Good fucking riddance.

Also gone are "Soda Pop" from K-Pop Demon Hunters and "Messy" by Lola Young, both have had very good runs on the chart...I'm fine with them both being gone.

The only one I am bit unhappy about is the exit of "Plastic Cigarette" by Zach Bryan

Gains

Again these big gains were fuelled by Hottest 100 so we had "Rein Me In" by Sam Fender and Olivia Dean up nine to break the top twenty at twenty! I am so happy to see this becoming a genuine hit.

"Victory Lap" by Fred, Again, Skepta and Plaqueboy Max up eleven spots to sixteen.

Re-Entries

Two returns this week with neither song being all that good, "Fame is a Gun" by Addison Rae back at thirty nine and "Dracula" by Tame Impala somehow back at twenty six.

New Entries

Two new entries this week, starting with...

24. "Dancing 2" by Keli Holiday

So Keli Holiday is actually just a psuedo name for Adam Hyde who is one half of Australian electronic duo Peking Duk with this song written about his unexpected connection and love...radio star Abbie Chatfield and yeah, I am going to lie I like it...A LOT, it's a song that just hits in all the right places even if I think there's some Gang of Youths "Angel in Real Time" vibes going here but it works to the song's favour because Holiday is absolutely selling the shit out of this song, he has found that connection and joy in his life and it's felt in the way the strings played high and happy singing the praises of love found. Pretty good song...hope it sticks around. 

2. "Aperture" by Harry Styles

So the big new single from Harry Styles, the first from his new album "Kiss All The Time. Disco Occasionally" (horribly clunky and honestly terrible album title) and I will admit some curiosity...I was hoping Harry would lean back into the more rock sound from his self titled debut but instead what we got was a electronic song that honestly is incredibly underwhelming in a number of ways, for one thing, where's a defiantly memorable melody to this, it's full of buzzy noises that just lead to nothing....what is Kid Harpoon doing on the production here? Then there's the writing which again, it's giving nothing memorable for me to grip onto or a reason to go back to this song.

If Harry wants to make electronic music, can he actually work with producers who understand electronica? Maybe Calvin Harris or someone becauxe this song does not work for me whatsoever.

Yeah, easy worst of the week for "Aperture" by Harry Styles. Best of the week is easily going to "Dancing 2" by Keli Holiday. I hope "Aperture" does not stick around, that song is really disappointing coming from Harry. Next week...I suspect Noah Kahan but otherwise we could be in for a quiet week...oh wait...the Grammys are on on Monday afternoon.

Pretty Fly (For 1999): January 31st. How Do I Kiss Chocolate Salty Balls One More Time?

 So we have what might rank as one of the busiest weeks of 1999 so far with SEVEN new entries and a pile of movement on the chart which let's face it is always going to happen when there are seven new songs on the chart, 

Let's start with our top ten because at least the number one is stable for now that being "Believe" by Cher which is stable on sales right now and holding foirm against "Pretty Fly (For A White Guy)" by The Offspring at number two. 

"Jackie" by B.Z feat.Joanne climbed three spots to number three., this song's rebound has to be seen to be believed this pont. It got past "When You're Gone" by Bryan Adams and Mel C which held strong at nnumber four and "Goodbye" by Spice Girls down two spots to number five, it's chart run looks to be done at this point so we can probably expect to see this gracefully exit the top fifty over the weeks ahead.'

Much to my annoyance "No Matter What" by Boyzone is up one to number six and the amateur hour "Got the Feelin'" by Five is iup three to number seven...we really need the Backstreet Boys back.

It was a rough week for "Finally Found" by Honeyz as it stumbled three spots to number eight and it could stumble further because we do have a new entry at number nine courtesy of "Lullaby" by Shawn Mullins, I will talk about this song later but this has groundswell and traction behind it on sales so it could move toward the top spot over the weeks ahead.

What's going the other way is "From This Moment On" by Shania Twain which slipped two spots to number ten. 

Losers

"I'm Your Angel" is down nine spots to forty five for Celine Dion and R.Kelly...it's in desperate need of an angel to lift it back up the chart. 

"Horny '98" by Mousse T vs Hot 'n' Juicy has been well and truly satiated by it's chart run so it's down ten spots to forty two

Metallica's "Turn the Page" is starting to close the book on it's time in the top fifty as it utterly collapsed from twenty seven to forty one while 'Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)" by Jay-Z slumped seven places to thirty eight.

"I Don't Want to Miss A Thing" by Aerosmith got a thirteen place skid down to thirty seven while "Music Soounds Better with You" by Stardust slipped from twenty two to twenty nine

Ultimate Kaos stumbled twelve places to thirty two with "Anything You Want (I've Got It)" 

Re-Entries

Just the one new entry this week with "If You Buy this Record, Your Life will be Better" by The Tamperer feat. Maya back at forty because WHAT SHE GONNA LOOK LIKE WITH A CHIMNEY ON HER?

Gains

Two debuts from last week that got decent gains this week with "Have You Ever?" by Brandy rising from thirty nine to twenty six and "To You I Belong" by B*Wtched up ten to twenty five,, 

New Entries

Seven new entries this week, unfortunately beginning with...

49. "This Kiss" by Faith Hill

We're starting off the week with some country and why the hell not? That's at least what I thought until I heard this song which yeah okay, it sounds country enough in the instrumentation but dear god, what the hell is with these lyrics? She starts out going on how she doesn't want her heart broken on the first verse and this guy coming along and doting on her the next and then describing this guy's kiss as "centrifugal motion" which doesn't even begin to make sense in terms of 'love' or kissing. Second verse references an imaginary conversation between Snow White and Cinderella wbich would even have Walt Disney having fucking coniptions on the floor so no...this song is complete fucking ass not helped by how not lovestruck Faith Hill sounds.. Skip it!

47. "I Don't Like The Drugs (But The Drugs Like Me)" by Marilyn Manson

I was dreading writing about this song mostly because of how controversial (that's putting it nicely) Marilyn Manson is and yeah this sounds like a weird ass semi pop concession of a song from Manson, this just sounds incredibly messy even coming from him. This doesn't work at all for me, it just sounds like more nightmare fuel to add to a bonfire somewhere. Next!

34. "Heartbeat" by Steps

The breakout group of 1998 are back on the charts out of the UK alongside Five with this being the latest single off their debut album which somehow got paired with a godawful cover of Bee Gees "Tragedy" which is a shame because this song is pretty damn good with some more restrained instrumentation that allows the girls vocals to shine here and it sounds good. I do wish the vocals were a bit louder in the mix but hey after the last two songs, I'll take this, good song. 

20. "...Baby One More Time" by Britney Spears

One of a couple of new faces on the chart this week, this one coming from Britney Spears who is a teenager hailing from the state of Louisiana, USA with this song being her big break out single and holy hell, there is going to be something crook with the public if this song is not absolutely massive...a ridiculous catchy hook, instrumentation that actually supports Britney Spears rather than working against her and yeah that piano lick at the start...daaamn. As for the lyrics, well..it's pretty much a song where Britney just wants her ex boyfriend to call her one last time and just wanting a sign he'll return. 

Damn near great pop song, check this out!

19. "Chocolate Salty Balls" by Chef

So now we're getting characters from South Park netting charting hits on the singles chart with this one coming from the character Chef which is voiced by the late singer, songwriter, composer and actor Isaac Hayes and let's put this bluntly, this is NOT a song for children because this is as hilariously adult as it gets with Chef describing a recipe for 'chocolate salty balls' in the verses before he sings "Ooh...suck on my chocolate salty balls...just stick them in your mouth and suck 'em" which cracked me up, it also helps that the song has a pretty terrific funk groove and melody reminiscent of 70s funk. Damn good adult fun even if the novelty this may wear off. I'll suck on those balls any darn day!

13. "How Do i Deal?" by Jennifer Love Hewitt

So what I forgot to mention with Britney is that she she emerged from Disney, well...I say that because Jennifer Love Hewitt started out with Disney via Kids Incorporated before going on to appear on the hit TV show Party of Five and now she has this song for the soundtrack of the film "I Know what You Did Last Summer" and...I just love this song, its a pop rock banger where Hewitt is dealing with this ridiculously complicated relationship and yet she barely knows what she wants, how she feels or whether she can trust herself  when she's got not just him but everyone else telling her what she should do. Definitely check this one out.

9. "Lullaby" by Shawn Mullins

Ending off with a song from American newcomer Shawn Mullins and I am going to say this right off the bat, this song sounds weird coming from a guy given the subject material is about a woman who is tired of living the high life among the Hollywood elite and just wants a release and an espcape from all the glitz,glamour and pressure of being within those circles for awhile. I think this song would sound better coming from a woman than from a guy who isn't living within that realm and whose vocal delivery coming off as sleazy rather than actually telling the story. At least the guitar solo in the middle eight is decent.

That ends our week and the best and worst fall out easily with the worst going to 'This Kiss" by Faith Hill. Best is going to "...Baby One More Time" by Britney Spears, it just beat out "How do I deal" by Jennifer Love Hewitt. 

ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart Review: 26th January

Pretty standard week here with a bit of movement but for once it's nice to see some good songs getting boosts for a change and the charts don't feel anywhere near as stale as they did in 2025. Next week we have that new Harry Styles song and whatever impact the Hottest 100 has on the chart but let's focus on this week and begin with our top ten where a favourite for number one "Man I Need" by Olivia Dean remains at number one and will face a threat from Harry Styles next week given "Aperture" will have monstrous streaming and it already has sales. 

That means there is no possible way that "The Fate of Ophelia" by Taylor Swift can return to number one especially now that attention is being moved from this song to "Opalite" which was anointed as the second single from the album.

Rising three spots to number three this week is "Where is My Husband?" by Raye which really is just consistent across the board at this point, it pushed past "End of Beginning" by Djo to number four. "Golden" from K-Pop Demon Hunters to number five and "So Easy (To Fall In Love)" by Olivia Dean to number six. 

Former long running number one "Ordinary" by Alex Warren remained steady at number seven this week while "Raindance" by Dave and Tems gained two places to number eight, this song is gaining massive traction on streaming right now. 

Falling back one slot is "No Broke Boys" by Disco Lines and Tinashe to number nine, its basically still in the top ten on streaming fumes alone.

New to the top ten this week is "I Just Might" by Bruno Mars which climbed one spot to number ten and will hopefully continue to make upward progress in the weeks ahead...I really like that song. 

Losers.

As I somewhat expected "Sleepless in a Hotel Room" by Luke Combs was the biggest loser this week down ten spots to thirty one. 

"Chanel" by Tyla might be flaming out eatly down seven to thirty four while "Rit for Tat" by Tate McRae slipped eight to forty four and "Gabriela" by Katseye slumped eight to forty five. 

Drop Outs

Not really complaining about the drop outs this week despite them both being Australian with "Dracula" by Tame Impala and "Think About Us" by Sonny Fodera, D.O.D and Poppy Baskcomb taking their exits , 

Gains

I am mixed on our gains this week mostly because I am flabberghasted "Die on this Hill" by Sienna Spiro was the biggest gainer this week up ten spots to crack the top twenty at ninteen, the song actively gets worse with every single listen. 

Also "Sports Car" by Tate McRae up seven to thirtyb five because of course people have to have a slice of forgettable music on the chart, 

At least "Choosin' Texas" by Ella Langley got a six place boost up to twenty four which is good ro see. 

New Entries

Two new entries this week beginning with...

43. "Plastic Cigarette" by Zach Bryan

So I've not heard the new Zach Bryan album yet...finding room to hear a whole 25 track album is just not a thing right now for me but we do have the song that has picked up the most traction of anything from it and the fact it's this one and not "Bad News" came as something of a shock to me especially given the controversy around that particular song but hey, I'll take this song with it's sparse guitar and drums and Zac Bryan crooning about personal accountability and letting go of someone or something that was providing him with comfort, I take this...good song...it's better than...

20. "Stateside" by Pink Pantheress feat. Zara Larsson

I've honestly been surprised at how much Pink Pantheress has struggled to follow up the success of "Boy's a Liar" and so it wasn't a surprise to me that this song needed...Zara Larsson as a feature as Zara is experiencing something of a viral moment herself with "Lush Life" taking off and honestly I really do not like the weird ass thudding production that doesn't compliment either Pink Pantheress or Zara Larsson here and also this just sounds like left over Charli XCX during her brat era. Zara's version feels tacted on as hell as well. I'm skipping this.

It s also worst of the week with the best of the week go to ":Plastic Cigarette" by Zach Bryan

Pretty Fly (For 1999): January 24th. Have You Ever BelongTo Big Big Miami

So we have quite the crazy week here with a change at number one that has felt like it's been coming for awhile and a slew of new entries anyway let's start with the top ten where as I mentioned we do have a new number one with "Believe" by Cher taking the top spot, it finally got the better of sales and it was enough to push "Pretty Fly (For A White Guy)" by The Offspring back to number two.

"Goodbye" by the Spice Girls remains at number three but I question how long they'll stay there as the song is weakening and there's stronger songs behind it like "When You're Gone" by Bryan Adams and Mel C which climbed two spots to number four, it pushed Honeyz back one spot to number five with "Finally Found".

Rebounding five places to number six is "Jackie" by B.Z feat Joanne which I didn't think would happen. Also unfortunately rising is "No Matter What" by Boyzone which climbed one place to number seven even though the song is ass. 

"From This Moment On" by Shania Twain slipped one spot to number eight while "Crush" by Jennifer Paige finally looks to be on the way out down four spots to number nine and finally "Got the Feelin'" by Five tumbled one spot to number ten. 

Losers

"Sway" by Bic Runga swayed down nine places to forty nine while "Viva Forever" by Spice Girls is on the way out of the top fifty down twelve to forty seven. 

Barenaked Ladies hilarious "One Week" dived ten spots to forty one while "Save The Day" by The Living End (more on them in the new entries) down seven to thirty seven, 

Biggest loser of the week was B*Witched with former chart topper "Rollercoaster" dipping down from thirteen to twenty nine. Stars on 52 took a nine slide to twenty one with their cover of "If You Could Read My Mind"

Gains

Hole continue to gain hard with "Celebrity Skin" being on the cusp of the top ten up nine to number eleven this week. 

The public have finally figured out "Doo Wop (That Thing)" is great so it's one of the biggest gains of the week up from thirty two to number sixteen. 

Ultimate Kao jumped seven to twenty with "Anything You Want (I've Got It)".

Re-Entries

Just one return with "Freak Me" by Another Level back at fifty.

New Entries

Five new entries beginning with

40. "Miami" by Will Smith

The latest single from Will Smith's album "Big Willie Style" with this song sampling The Whispers "And The Beat Goes On" which is a song that I really do not care for but anyway I do like how the sample is flipped and Will Smith has enough easy charisma to come up with a song that sounds like a tourist's utimate guide to life in Miami, Florida, it sounds like a heck load of fun. Honestly dig this a fair bit, check it out. 

39. "Have You Ever?" by Brandy

The second single from American singer Brandy's second album "Never Say Never" with this song being written in part by Diane Warren. Brandy does have a really nice vocal delivery on the song, it's somewhat understated at points but it does have a punch to it as she's asking if this other person has ever loved someone so much that they can't sleep at night however where the problem lies is the production which feels like it misses some swell and grandiosity to counter Brandy's somewhat more understated but emotional delivery. It's not bad but could be better.

35. "To You I Belong" by B*Witched

Irish girl group B*Witched begin 1999 with this song as the latest single from their smash debut album with this song being a bit of a step down from the heavy pop of "C'est La Vie" and "Rollercoaster" in that this one is a ballad where the girls sing that they'll only belong to this one guy no matter the weather or the situation hence ending the chorus with the song's title over some nice fiddle and strings. It's oretty, check it out if yiu are curious just don't go in expecting "Rollercoaster" vibes. 

34. "Big Big World" by Emilia

Ending off our string of female ballads with this song from Swedish singer Emilia and dear god, for a song that is going for Emilia being "a big big girl in a big big world" and her missing this guy a lot, this song just feels limp and pathetic as Emilia sings about being this big girl in a big world in this small small voice that drives me absolutely insane and it does feel liks she is convincing herself that she will be fine if hea leaves her over that limp piano. Ugh, can't stand this song. Moving on.  

12. "All Torn Down" by The Living End. 

Emding off the week with some Aussie punk from The Living End, this song is the third single from the band's self titled album and while I think there can be some criticism at how one note the prpduction can sound, I do like how it builds into the chorus and the guitar solo in the middle eight of the song was nice. As for the content, it's about the rapid development and building projects in the band's home city of Melbourne and how little regard was given to historic sites and parks so yeah this does hit hard. Good song, definitely worth checking out,

However best of the week is going to Will Smith for "Miami", I am giving worst of the week to "Big Big World"  by Emilia.

ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart Review: January 19th.

We have quite the interesting week here, four new entries as 2026 gets going in earnest but where it's not really getting going is in the top ten where for a ninth week, "Man I Need" by Olivia Dean sits pretty at number one. It's still a streaming behemoth and sales remain decent. Youtube really isn't much of a factor at this point.

"The Fate of Ophelia" by Taylor Swift is is hanging on at number two even as it's streaming and sales are falling away, it's being thratened by stronger songs around it more than posing a threat to our current number one, that threat is coming from "End Of Beginning" by Djo up one to number three, it's got streaming on side and it looks a strong player to take the number one. 

It finally pushed "Golden" by K-Pop Demon Hunters back one spot to number four, it's going to slowly move down which is a shame because I am sick to death of it. 

Hopefully it will mean "So Easy (To Fall in Love" by Olivia Dean can continue it's rise, it climbed two spots up to number five. Raye's "Where Is my Husband" fell back one place to number six and "Ordinary" by Alex Warren slipped back to number seven. 

"No Broke Boys" by Disco Lines and Tinashe remains at number eight and "12 to 12" by Sombr is glued to number nine for another week. 

Rising eight off it's debut to number ten is "Raindance" by Dave feat. Tems.

Losers

So a bunch of older hits lost ground big time this week which is nice to see so let's begin with "Soda Pop" from K-Pop Demon Hunters going flat down eleven to forty six. 

"Espresso" by Sabrina Carpenter fnally going cold down twelve to forty five. "Manchild" by Sabrina Carpenter is giving up down thirteen to forty three. 

"APT" by Rose and Bruno Mars slumped twelve to thirty eight. 

Drop Outs

Glad to see "Internet Girl" by Katseye gone along with "Mystical Magaical" by Benson Boone and "What it Sounds" like from K-Pop Demon Hunters.Also taking it's exit is "I've Seen It" by Olivia Dean. 

Gains

Already mentioned "Raindance" by Dave and Tems entering the top ten but that wasn't the biggest gain of the week that belonged to "Choosin' Texas" by Ella Langley as it jumped sixteen places off it's debut to thirty while in great news "Rein Me In" by Sam Fender and Olivia Dean climbed nine spots to thirty one (My hope is that this song just rules 2026). 

The only other major gain is EsDeeKid's "4 Raws" bouncing up six spot to twenty two.

New Entries

Four new entries this week beginning with...

48. "Think About Us" by Sonny Fodera, D.O.D and Poppy Baskcomb

Yay for Australian artist in the top 50 for a change, its nice to see Sonny Fodera here and "Somedays" is still a terrific song that keeps getting better with every subsequent listen, I also say this because I don't think this song is as good as "Somedays" mostly because the production feels more jarring, blocky and leaves me feeling that the synthetic nature of the production takes away from the impact of the lyrics which is asking this other person that when he or she is touching another man or woman are they thinking about the relationship they have with the singer which reminds me way too much of that Morgan Wallen song "Think About Me" so...nooo. 

29. "Die on This Hill" by Sienna Spiro

Sienna Spiro is a British singer-songwriter that had a break out year in the UK in 2025, now she's landed her first song on the Australian charts and sadly I don't really care for this at at all, it's this sparse piano ballad where Spiro sings about her partner being stubborn and all "I don't give a fuck" but can't let the relationship go because "letting go would feel worse" which cannot be more of a god damn toxic ass sentiment, she KNOWS the relationship is not healthy but is staying in it for what reason? The sex is good? Yeah no...ew.  

19. "Sleepless in a Hotel Room" by Luke Combs

Just me or are the singles for this upcoming new album from Luke Combs been kind of a let down? "Back in the Saddle" was okay as was "Giving Her Away" and now we've got this and...yeah again, it's fine but it just kind of falls flat for me. Combs is alone on tour, unable to sleep and is missing his wife, it's a sweet sentiment but the issue here is that the production is missing something...it feels less homespun and cold (which I admit is probably the point given the subject matter of the song) but why does it feel like Combs voice has a filter on it? It sounds strange considering Combs has one of the best belting voices in country.

11. "I Just Might" by Bruno Mars

Finally, we have to deal with Bruno Mars first solo lead single since 2016. "I Just Might" is the lead single for Msrs new album "The Romantic" out late next month and while this does feel very safe coming from Bruno Mars, it does feel like a good bridge from the sound of Silk Sonic to whatever Bruno has in store on "The Romantic" and this is just pure silly pop fun that Bruno does best. The production is tight, funky and Bruno sounds like he is having a good time.

It's running away with the best of the week. Worst of the week goes to "Die on this Hill" by Sienna Spiro. 

Pretty Fly (For 1999) 17th January. Hard Slide Life.

 So this week is somewhat quieter than usual but we did get a pile of movement in our top ten just not right at the very top where of course "Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)" by The Offspring continues to rule the number one spot on the chart but again the margins are really close because right behind it at number two is "Believe" by Cher, if things keep going "Believe" can take the top spot next week!.

What's not going to get close to top spot is "Goodbye" by Spice Girls despite the fact it climbed one spot to number three, it's not as strong on sales as the top two and it may well have peaked even as it surged past "Finally Found" by Honeyz down one to numnber four, it's also pretty much done and should gradually make its way out.

Remaining in their positions from last week are "Crush" by Jennifer Paige, "When You're Gone" by Bryan Adams feat. Mel C and "From This Moment On" by Shania Twain. 

Rising one spot to number eight is "No Matter What" by Boyzone because people love their sloppy boy group ballads, speaking of boy groups, Five's "Got the Feelin'" has rocketed into the top ten from it's debut of thirty five last week all the way to number nine..I will say it's catchy even if I think other parts of the song are amateur. 

Finally also arriving in the top ten is the pretty decent "A Little Bit" by Pandora which jumped four spots to wrap up the top ten at number four. 

Losers

Billie's "Girlfriend" is on the precipice of leaving the top fifty as it skidattled thirteen spots down to fifty. 

S.O.A.P's "Ladidi Ladida" continues to suffer losses down eleven to forty three. "Sway' by Bic Runga sayed down seven to forty. 

The Living End's "Save the Day" might need to start trying to save it's chart position as it crumpled eight to thirty.

Gains

So outside of Five's "Got the Feelin'" having that enormous gain into the top ten, *NSYNC continues to rise up the chart with "I Want You Back" as it climbed nine spots to fifteen.

Hole is putting on "Celebrity Skin" rather than shedding it as it climbed from forty nine to twenty four this week. 

Re- Entries

Two returns this week with "Second Solution" by The Living End back at forty nine while "Would You..." by Touch and Go came back at forty eight.

New Entries

Two new entries this woek, lets begin with...

45, "Slide" by Goo Goo Dolls

Time for the follow up to the Goo Goo Doll's massve smash hit from 1998 in 'Iris" (it's a fine song, it just doesn't grab me like it does to others) and I am probably going to get push back for saying this but I really like "Slide" more than "Iris", there's an intense energy coming from John Rzenik's vocals that really hits a chord with me and I like how the production has his vocals front and centre rather than buried behind the guitars and drums 

As for the content, it's fine too, the lyrics delve into a story from Rzenik's own childhood where a teenage girl gets pregnsnt and is forced to confront difficult life changing decisions...should she get an abortion or keep the child and get married which actually explains why Rzenik sounds so damn intense on this song. It's a great song, check it out. 

36. "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)" by Jay-Z

We end the week with the chart debut of American rapper Jay-Z courtesy of a song that samples "It's a Hard Knock Life" from the musical "Annie' for the hook and I have to be honest here, I don't like how the sample sounds here with the kids voices mutilated to sound like chipmunks to the point I get annoyed with the song and have to turn it off which is a shame because it's a song where Jay-Z details his come up and all the set backs he has had just to get to the point of having a charting hit.

In other words, its not terrible but I am not coming back to it, it's the "worst" of the week.

"Slide" by the Goo Goo Dolls takes best of the week. 

ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart Review: 12th January

 So 2026 is finally starting to gain some rhythm and with that new Bruno Mars single coming next week, we're about to see some movement at the top which is good because yet again...the very top of the chart remains unchanged with "Man I Need" by Olivia Dean remaining at number one for yet another week, 

It held strong on streaming over both "The Fate of Ophelia" by Taylor Swift at number and "Golden" from K-Pop Demon Hunters even though both are nowing pretty much done on streaming at this point. 

This means "End of Beginning" by Djo looks to be the competitor for number one as it jumped ten spots to number four and is one of the biggest gainers of the week, it's got a strong presence on streaming and really just needs another push to get it to number one. Now bare in mind, it's only on the chart because of going viral and will only chart for a further eight weeks so if it's going to get that number one, it had better make it's move soon. 

Rising one place to number five is "Where is my Husband?" by RAYE although that could be due to "Ordinary' by" Alex Warren finally weakening enough to slip two places to number six. 

The second of Olivia Dean's three songs in the top ten "So Easy (To Fall in Love)" remains steady at number seen while "No Broke Boys" by Disco Lines and Tinashe slumped three spots to number eight while Sombr's "12 to 12" slipped one to number nine.

Also down one is "Nice to Each Other" by Olvia Dean to number ten which rounds out our top ten. 

Losers

"Dracula" by Tame Impala finally looks to be on the way out down ten to forty seven while Tate McRae's "Tit for Tat" down ten to thirty eight while "Die with a Smile" slumped eight to thirty seven for Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars. 

K-Pop Demon Hunters also took a hit with "Soda Pop" down nine to thirty five. . 

Drop Outs

So we lost four songs this week with K-Pop Demon Hunters seeing the exits of "Your Idol" and "How It's Done", they took "Bad Dreams" by Teddy Swims and "Too Sweet" by Hozier with them. 

Gains

So I mentioned Djo having the biggest gain the week up ten to number four but we also saw "Sports Car" by Tate McRae up eight to thirty six and "Baby Steps" by Olivia Dean also up eight to twenty five.

Re-Entries

Just one return which is "I've Seen It' by Olivia Dean at number fifty.

 New Entries

Three new entries this week, starting with...

46. "Choosin' Texas" by Ella Langley

I was not expecting to see tong here but I guess it's cross over was inevitable given how much it has blown up in the US with it being at number five at the Billboard Hot 100 but anyway Ella Langley is a American country artist who has seen some success in the US mostly due to collabs with fellow country artist Riley Green however this is Langley's big breakout hit that was in part co written and produced with fellow country stat Miranda Lambert and well...if neo traditional country found a way to break into the mainstream this is certainly the way to do it with a steel guitar driving song about a couple where she's from Tennessee and he is from Texas, they go and visit Texas and suddenly he realizes that his heart belongs in Texas and she realizes that she cannot deny him being where his heart belongs and that while she is heart broken, she understands that his first love is home which is in Texas. Damn good song, chec it out. 

45. "Internet Girl" by Katseye

Another round with Katseye and look...I still have pretty vehement dislike of "Gabriela" and I was dreading the release of this single and it turned out that going into this with a lot of trepidation might have been the best way to go because this wound up being akin to audio torture to listen to, it just sounds incredibly unpleasant from start to finish with the obnoxious delivery of "Haven't you heard? I'm the internet girl" to that overtly processed "Eat zucchini" which reminded me in the worst way of Onision's "I'm a Banana"! This is one of the worst songs I have heard in some time and I will be very glad when it leaves the charts. 

18. "Raindance" by Dave feat. Tems.

Look, I have a feeling this going to become a huge hit given it's rise on streaming and the subject matter so nothing I say here is going to matter even if I actually don't mind the song and think it's kind of sweet even with Dave brand name dropping on the first verse but the sentiments he expressed toward this girl are incredibly cute however the start of the show on this song is Tems, she sells that hook so hard that she made me believe that she is so desperately in love with this guy and when you combine it with the Afrobeat production...I get why people are liking this.

However it's not best of the week, that's going to "Choosin' Texas" by Ella Langley. Worst of the week allso no contest with that going to "Internet Girl" by Kateye.

Pretty Fly (For 1999): 10th January. Got The 1999 Smoke Feelin

 So it's a pretty standard week for the chart, a few changes here and there but nothing too remarkable which is probably the apt way to describe our top two within the top ten right now where "Pretty Fly (For A White Guy)" by The Offspring holds sway at number one just ahead of "Believe" by Cher at number two, these two songs are just duking it out for the top spot, it's not all that close. 

The Honeyz "Finally Found" their way ip three spots to number three while "Goodbye" by Spice Girls remains at number four and "Crush" by Jennifer Paige at number five.

Rising three to number six is "When You're Gone" by Bryan Adams feat. Mel C, this has some decent traction and could go higher which I am happy about as it's a good song.

Rising four places to number seven is Shania Twain's love ballad tailor made for weddings "From This Moment On", this song is kind of bland but I get it. 

Taking a five place fall this week was Stars on 54's cover of "If You Could Read My Mind" which tumbled to number eight this week. Rising three to hit the top ten at number nine is Boyzone's awful "No Matter What"...the sooner this is gone from the top ten the better.

Finally "Jackie" by BZ feat. Joanne remains at number ten. 

Losers

This is just more of 1998's music falling away like "Raincloud" by Lighthouse Family which slipped ten to forty, "Treat Me Good" by Bachelor Girl down nine to forty six, "Thank U" by Alanis Morrisette continuing to stumble down twelve to forty five.

"Outside" by George Michael got pushed back nine spots to thirty nine,  "Viva Forever" by Spice Girls skidded from twenty four to thirty one while "Music Sounds Better With You" by Stardust stumbled nine to twenty six and "Horny '98" by Mousse T. vs Hot 'n' Juicy slipped thirteen spots to twenty seven.

Gains

So we got some decent gains this week. I wish I could be all that excited about some of these especially as *NSync's "I Want You Back" threw itself up nineteen to twenty four and "Body Movin'" by Beastie Boys lived up to it's name and moved up from forty nine to thirty four.

In better news, "Malibu" by Hole climbed from thirty four to eighteen (yeah, it's a cool song...I dig it) and "A Little Bit" by Pandora which leaped twelve spots to fourteen. 

Re-Entries

Two returns this week with "Celebrity Skin" by Hole back at forty nine and "The First Night" by Monica at number thirty. 

New Entries

Three new entries this week, beginning with...

48. "1999' by Prince

We're starting with a bit of a cheat code here because this was originally released in 1983 and peaked on the Kent Music Report charts at number two and hit the year end at number sixteen. It was re released to coincide with the year 1999 and well... this song insight into a fever dream Prince may well had been having with surreal lyrics about swearing it was Judgement day, sky being purple and people running everywhere and looking for destruction despite not even caring. It's a shockingly dark song over some of the most fun pop production I've heard in awhile, Great song. 

42. "Smoke" by Natalie Imbruglia

Fourth and final single from Natalie Imbruglia's album Left of the Middle and it's easily Imbruglia's most vulnerable song to date as the song delves into emotional pain stemming from either family issues or other personal trauma, it's not defined as to who the song is about but Imbruglia is able to bring this pain nto her performance and for me it works especially over the piano and strings...good song. 

35. "Got The Feelin'" by Five 

British boyband Five return to the charts with their latest single amd this one is less raucous than "Everybody Get Up" and less trying to hook up like on "When the Lights Go Out" but for as chill as this song is trying to be, maaan, I am not impressed by the boys rapping, it sounds amateur and just really unconvincing especially as it's just lyrics about getting down with the band to party if you got the feeling. Skip this. 

Yeah...that was our week and "Got the Feelin'" by Five nets worst of the week. I know this is cheating but "1999" by Prince gets best of the week...it's definitely unfair but it is better than "Smoke" by Natalie Imbruglia.