Lookin' Fine '89. February 26th. One Summer Stop at The End of the Line

 Looks like this is a week of stability for at least the top six on the chart this week as nothing really changed even as we got some new entries lower down the chart but we'll get to those so as per usual lets dig into the top ten where for yet another week "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" by The Proclaimers rules the chart, its got really good sales that look like entrenching at number one for at least another week or so.

It held up over "Teardrops" by Womack & Womack at number two who couldn't quite bridge the margins, this was also true of "Kokomo" by The Beach Boys at number three, "You Got It" by Roy Orbison stuck to number four, "Tucker's Daughter" by Ian Moss holding on at number five and "Orinoco Flow" by Enya boring everyone silly at number six.

1927 bust their way into the top ten with "If I Could" up four places to number seven with "Kiss" by The Art of Noise feat. Tom Jones rising two places to number eight.

This leaves "Handle With Care" by The Traveling Wilburys stuck at number nine, they have a new single on the chart this week so we'll get to that especially as "Handle with Care" is showing signs of fading away naturally.

Finally to complete the top ten for this week is "Rock and Roll Music" by Mental As Anything which fell two places to number ten.

Gains

We're starting off on a great note because "Soul Revival" by Johnny Diesel & The Injectors jumped from 26 to 13 which is frankly awesome. Hopefully this song will make top ten in the next few weeks.

In more good news, "Real Gone Kid" by Deacon Blue continues to rise up from 32 to breaking into the top twenty at 19. 

There was a five place gain to 20 for "Fine Time" by New Order, this song has some pretty consistent momentum right now.

Fine Young Cannibals look to have a huge hit on their hands with "She Drives Me Crazy" leaping from it's debut of 42 all the way to 21. Again, I am okay with this as I like the song.

The gains are pretty awessome this week as it continues because "Buffalo Stance" by Neneh Cherry jumped 12 places to 25 and "You'll Never Know" by 1927 climbed from 34 to 27.

"Dumb Things" by Paul Kelly and the Coloured Girls got a nice boost from 44 to 36.

Re-Entries

Back at 47 is "Strokin'" by Clarence Clarity while "Armageddon It" by Def Leppard rebounded back onto the chart at 41. 

The last of the returns comes from Robert Palmer with "Early in the Morning" back at 26.

Losers 

Actually a surprising busy week in the losses category starting with "That's When I Think of You" by 1927 down nine to 40 and "Sweet Child O' Mine" by Guns 'n' Roses down nine to 48/

Bon Jovi's "Born to Be My Baby" took a 15 place hit to 45 while "Stand Up for Your Love Rights" got pushed back from 36 to 43 and "Last Frontier" by Jimmy Barnes slimped nine places to 40.

Thankfully the awful "Nobody's Perfect" by Mike + The Mechanics slumped from 29 to 35 and "Bring Me Some Water" by Melissa Etheridge slumped into a ten place drought to 34.

"Angel of Harlem" by U2 skidded 12 places to 32 while all momentum for "Copperhead Road" by Steve Earle vanished because it slipped from 23 to 30.

"Love Bites" by Def Leppard fell from 22 to 29 this week while "Every Rose has it's Thorn" by Poison got pricked down from 17 to 24. 

New Entries

What is this? Only three new entries this week? I'll take that so let's start with...

42, "One Summer" by Daryl Braithwaite

The third single from Daryl Braithwaite's 1988 album "Edge", a song that was inspired by the British TV drama serial called "One Summer" but even if you didn't know that, this song still works because it actually really does feel like an end of summer reminisce about the fun had during that summer, summer flings, going for a surf and promising to be there for mates even when the summer is over and even better the song just sounds like summer with the guitars and drums, might almost be one of the best songs I've heard covering 1989...nice!

39. "Stop" by Sam Brown

Alright, this song is from English singer/songwriter Sam Brown who originally released this song in 1988 however it tanked reaching only number 52 on the UK Official Charts so of course they re released it in 1989, it comes from Brown's debut album of the same name so how's the song.

It's fine...I guess? Sam Brown's vocals do a lot of heavy lifting here as she warns her partner to stop and rethink his actions before hurting her or to better coin it "breaking her heart" even if the rather elegant production doesn't do anywhere near enough to play up the drama here, this is a relationship on the edge of crumbling and yet it feels way too elegant for me. Decent song but could be better. 

37. "End of the Line" by The Traveling Wilburys 

A brand new single from The Traveling Wilburys as "Handle With Care" begins its exit from the chart after a really impressive run although it's important to mention that "End of the Line" was originally released in 1988 before the band decided to make it the group's second single and the song features everybody in the group apart from Bob Dylan so what to make of the song?

Uhh...this is also pretty great, a song about not wasting a moment of life and not to sit around wondering what if because you never know when the end of the line for your life made come, be happy and take life as it comes but always live it to the full. I also really like how incredibly organic the song is with the guitars and the twang that made me think this was almost a country song. Yeah damn great, check this out!

It also means it's a tight go for best of the week, I think I'll give it to "The End of the Line" by The Traveling Wilburys only because I love the message of it. 

"Stop" by Sam Brown gets worst of the week but its really not a bad song. 

ARIA Singles Top 50 Top Ten/Chart Review: 21st February The Joker and The Queen's Boyfriend

I think it's time I state this honestly, the ARIA chart this week is BORING, we need a big shake up especially in the top ten, what you want proof? Okay, let's go to the top ten where returning for a ninth week at number one is "Cold Heart (PNAU Remix)" by Elton John and Dua Lipa because there are people not sick of this song yet somehow. It got enough sales and streaming this week.

It pushed "Stay" by The Kid Laroi and Justin Bieber back to number two on the back of decent enough sales. "Heat Waves" by Glass Animals resurged to return to number three somehow...ugh...come on people. let's not have this dominate another year again, please.

However it was enough to push back "abcdefu" by Gayle back to number as it looks like streaming might finally be done with this song...thank goodness.

Returning to number five si "Where Are You Now" by Lost Frequencies and Calum Scott thanks to boosts on streaming.

Also riving one place is "Shivers" by Ed Sheeran up to number six thanks to renewed strength on streaming although it might be because 'We Don't Talk About Bruno" by the Cast of Encanto slipped two places to number seven, it had a rough week on streaming, I expect this to rebound.

What might also rebound is "Bad Habits" by Ed Sheeran which remained sready at number eight but it could rebound next week thanks to a remix with rock group Bring Me The Horizo, believe it or not.

Climbing three spots to return to the top ten is "That's What I Want" by Lil Nas X at number nine and boy, am I happy to see it here.

Finally wrapping up our top ten is "Easy on Me" by Adele which slipped one place to number ten.

Gains

So I am mostly okay with "She's All I Wanna Be" by Tate McRae up eight to 20 and "Lost" by Frank Ocean up five to 17 and they were really our only major gains this week.

Losers

"Sacrifice" by The Weeknd slipped nine to 50 this week, bit worrying that people are sick of The Weeknd right now...might be time to give people a break.

"Light Switch" by Charlie Puth got knocked out eight places to 32 while "Say Nothing" by Flume feat. MAY-A fell eleven spots to 27/

"Fingers Crossed" by Lauren Spencer Smith crashed seven spots to 24 because the hype for it has died rather quickly.

Drop Outs

The drop outs are really not a surprise with long running hits "Drivers License" by Olivia Rodrigo and "Beggin'" by Maneskin fall out of the top 50 this week.

New Entries

Just the two new entries this week, starting with...

31. "Boyfriend" by Dove Cameron

So we have the lead single for Disney actress and singer Dove Cameron which comes from her debut EP. Cameron  was in The Descendants movies and honestly I was never really impressed by any of the songs she performed from those movies so maybe this time around she might impress me with a song that gained traction via Tik Tok? Well, I will say it does sound better and somewhat evil in the production with the dark and eerie production but the lyrics are where this song falls down a bit because this is a song where Dove is telling this girl that she could be a "better boyfriend than him" and that she'll steal this girl away from the guy and yet I am not seeing how and why this guy is such a bad boyfriend, what makes him so bad? It's not precisely awful but it's not all that good either, shame I think it's going to stick around though...next!

11. "The Joker and The Queen" by Ed Sheeran feat. Taylor Swift

Really, Ed...just really? You couldn't have gotten Taylor on a remix of "Overpass Graffiti" instead or even better released "Tides" as the next single? Anyway we were probably overdue an Ed Sheeran ballad and this one isn't too bad even if I do think it does sound like one of those songs ripe to fit as the opening music for some period drama. Taylor sounds good here on a love song where they both proclaim the other brings out the best in them. I guess I'll take it even if I think there are better singles on "="

"The Joker and The Queen" does take the best of the week. I am not going to worry about worst of the week more because the production on "Boyfriend" saves it from being completely awful.

Next week might be another quiet week so we'll have to see when the chart updates on Friday at 5pm AEDST

Lookin' Fine '89: 19th February. Baby I Love Your Soul Revival Left To My Dumb Things

Another week of frenetic turnover on the singles chart, it's almost exhausting to keep up with if I am going to be bluntly honest and it's not even just the pile of new entries but we also have some  big news right at the very top of the top ten so let's start because we have a brand new number one, the first for this group that being "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" by The Proclaimers, now this is strong on sales right now and honestly it's not even a surprise that it got here given the momentum it's had.

"Teardrops" by Womack & Womack held on to number two but it's sales were never going to match the new number one but were enough to cause "Kokomo" by The Beach Boys to fall back two places to number three. Good.

It also may fall further as "You Got It" by Roy Orbison rose one place to number four and it looks pretty good to rise further in the weeks ahead, the same goes for "Tuckers Daughter" by Ian Moss up three places to number five. 

Enya's "Orinoco Flow" continues to bore the charts to tears by rising three places to number six somehow. Sigh,'

This meant a three place drop to number seven for "Especially for You" by Kylie Minogue and Jason Donavan because it's not able to hold up on sales anymore, the same goes for "Rock and Roll Music" by  Mental As Anything down two spots to number eight

Down two places to nunber nine is "Handle with Care"  by Traveling Wilburys because it's also fading gradually.

Finally holding onto it's place in the top ten is "Kiss" by Art of Noise feat. Tom Jones at number ten.

Gains

Some good news right off the bat with "Orange Crush" by R.E.M which leapt from 22 to 15 this week, conversely "Like the Way I Do" by Melissa Etheridge climbed all the way from 31 to 18 this week...oh well you win some you lose some.

"Love Bites" by Def Leppard climbed six places to 22 while "Fine Time" New Order continues to do well as it rose twelve spots to 25. 

"Real Gone Kid" by Deacon Blue showed it's on its way to being a real gone hit as it got a six place boost to 32. 

The gain I am most pleased about though is "Buffalo Stance" by Neneh Cherry climbing eleven spots to 37. Please make this a hit...please...

Re-Entries

Just the one re-entry and it comes from Rick Astley with "She Wants to Dance With Me" back at number 48.

Losers

So there were some sudden surprise drops this week with "Nothing Can Divide Us" by Jason Donavan slipping from 29 to 47, 1988 hit "Don't Worry, Be Happy" by Bobby McFerrin plunging from 20 to 46!

On the subject of 1988 hits taking their sweet damn time leaving, "Simply Irresistible" by Robert Palmer slipped from 36 to 43. 

"Sweet Child O' Mine" by Guns 'n' Roses soured six places to 39 while "Stand Up for Your Love Rights" by Yazz took an eleven place seat drop to 37 while "Bring Me Some Water" by Melissa Etheridge slipped from 19 to 24. 

New Entries

There's eight new entries this week, starting with...

49. "Left to My Own Devices" by Pet Shop Boys

We're starting this week with the second single from the Pet Shop Boys 1988 album "Introspective" and is a song written from the perspective of somebody who is alone and doing whatever the fuck they want, now as an introvert who struggles with being around other people, I can relate to this kind of song a bit and it does help the song sounds like something straight out of the new wave movement of the early 80s. I kind of dig this, it's a good pure pop song that in a way connects for the introverts of the world.

44. "Dumb Things" by Paul Kelly and The Coloured Girls

Okay, so we've got a new single from Paul Kelly and The Coloured Girls here, "Dumb Things" is the second single from the album "Under The Sun" and yeah, this is just an insanely good ska rock song where guy dreams that his friends are coming to his defence and wakes up to realize they aren't and that he has done some really hilariously dumb shit like losing his shirt and pawning his rings, hope this becomes a hit for Paul Kelly because it definitely deserves to be one.

42. "She Drives Me Crazy" by Fine Young Cannibals

Well okay so here we have a British pop rock band from Birmingham, Fine Young Cannibals with this song being released in 1988 and included on the band's 1989 album "The Raw & The Cooked" and oh good lord, this song is an absolute pop/rock sugar rush, yeah the hushed vocals are a bit annoying but they kind of work for what the song is, it's him being driven crazy by this woman so the slightly more hushed, nervous delivery on the verses works before song jumps into the chorus and oh what a chorus it is, catchy and will take every opportunity to get stuck in your head, this is an earworm song if I've ever heaed one. 

41. "Take Me To Your Heart" by Rick Astley

Well it seems timely to talk about a new Rick Astley song given a previous single of his re entered the chart this week but anyway we have this song from the album "Hold Me In Your Arms" and...well its definitely a Stock Aitken and Waterman song right to the very bones with that production but I don't see this working here as I don't know the sound feels very thin and Rick sounds like he has been put behind that somewhat washed out 80s synth and that chorus isn't anything I'm going to remember, I am going to forget this in record time.

35. "Where Did I Go Wrong" by UB40

So UB40 had that big hit in 1985 with the Pretenders Chrissie Hynde courtesy of a cover of Cher and Sonny's "I Got You Babe" so of course we'd get a new single and dear god, it sounds like ass with that annoying flute loop with lyrics that question why this woman no longer feels in love with the guy and he wonders if it's his fault, well when the production is as crappy as this and the lyrics which have him failing to understand just why the girl doesn't want to be with him and refusing to let her go because she'll be gone for good...dude, that line says everything about you, let her go and move on. As for the song...ugh...it sucks.

34. "You'll Never Know" by 1927

Given the insane amount of success that 1927 have had in 1988 and in 1989, I was curious to see where they would go with their third single from "Ish" and turns out it's a pop rock banget that kind of pulls from hair metal to come degree for its soaring chorus in a song that talks about an indecisive woman and he is getting frustrated because she can't make a decision and that she'll never know what they have unless she makes up her mind. It's a solid song with a fantastic guitar solo right at the very end. Worth checking out if you are curious but I do think "That's When I Think of You" and "If I Could" are better...just saying.

33. "Baby I Love Your Way/Free Bird" by Will to Power

Well it wouldn't be one of these blogs if I wasn't talking about some cover or in this case two covers because of course this American dance pop act Will to Power had to put them into a medley with "Baby I Love Your Way" being a Peter Frampton song released in 1976 and "Free Bird" by Lynyrd Skynyrd released in 1975 and wow...they did a job on "Baby I Love Your Way" alright  because Will to Power have made the song sound so limp and gutless, the female vocallist on the song whimpers her way through the verses before ending the chorus by screaming "I LOVE YOUR WAAAAAAAYYYY" and she sounds terrible, the synths sound completely washed out here...this is utter unnecessary trash...NEXT!

26. "Soul Revival" by Johnny Diesel & The Injectors

Oh good...ending with a new song from Johnny Diesel aka Mark Lizotte, "Soul Revival" released as the second single from the band's debut self titled album and this song is the rock energy boost I need, I love the driving energy through this song and Johnny Diesel just cutting loose in a song about finding yourself at the end of a bad relationship, trying to find who you are again after losing part of yourself to the relationship. I think a song like this short circuits my critical faculties a bit but I can't deny how cathartic and righteously determined he is to break free.

"Soul Revival" is getting best of the week here for Johnny Diesel and the Injectors. I think honourable mention will go to "Dumb Things" by Paul Kelly and the Coloured Girls.

As for the worst, well dishonourable mention goes to "Where Did I Go Wrong" by UB40. "Baby, I Love Your Way/Freebird" by Will to Power just runs away with the worst of the week, it's not even a contest in that regard.

ARIA Top 50 Singles Top Ten/ Chart Review: 14th February She's All The Moon Wanna Be so Say Nothing

 We've got a pretty interesting week as the year begins to shake out the year's trends even if the 2021 hits refuse to be done with their chart runs and I begin to wonder why new music isn't breaking onto the charts as it used to but anyway let's get to the top ten because it's not that interesting this week at least at the very top with "Stay" by The Kid Laroi featuring Justin Bieber for a seventeenth week and really it's a weak number one, its streaming is slowing and sales haven't been a thing for this song for weeks now. 

However it held up over "Cold Heart (PNAU Remix)" by Elton John and Dua Lipa which remained at number two, "abcdefu" by Gayle stuck at number three and "Heat Waves" by Glass Animals of all whose streaming is weak regardless.

What is gaining momentum is "We Don't Talk About Bruno" by the Cast of Encanto which climbed one to number five, it finally has some serious traction on streaming and will make a play for number one in the weeks ahead at this rate.

It pushed "Where Are You Now" by Lost Frequencies and Calum Scott down to number six.

Both of Ed Sheeran's songs held their position this week with "Shivers" at number seven and "Bad Habits" at number eight.

"Easy on Me" by Adele made its return to the top ten up three places to number nine forcing "Industry Baby" by Lil Nas X feat. Jack Harlow back to number ten  but I expect that while this song might fall out, another Lil Nas X song might replace it in the weeks ahead ("That's What I Want" is at number 12 this week and is gaining momentum for a top ten push...that I would welcome)

Gains

Depressingly, "Pushing P" by Gunna and Future feat Young Thug climbed two spots to break into the top twenty at number 19. 

The biggest gain of the week is "Lost" by Frank Ocean which jumped 11 spots to number 22 which is kind of awesome however that's really it in terms of significant gains. 

Losers

So we start at 50 with "Drivers License" by Olivia Rodrigo slipping 12 spots, I would expect this song to be gone for good next week but we'll see.

"Montero (Call Me by Your Name)" by Lil Nas X is being called back 11 places to 47. 

"Moth to a Flame" by Swedish House Mafia and The Weeknd slipped six places to 43 while "Sactifice" by The Weeknd fell nine to 41. 

"On My Knees" by Rufus Du Sol is almost living up to its title on the chart as it slipped six to 35 while "Happier Than Ever" by Billie Eilish fell seven to 29.

Drop Outs

Not at all surprised by any of these even if the exit of "Elephant (Triple J Like A Version)" by The Wiggles is on the disappointing side, it took with it "Love Tonight" by Shouse and "Without You" by The Kid Laroi featuring Miley Cyrus

New Entries

Three new entries this week beginning with...

36. "To The Moon" by Jnr Choi

Dealing with a song that got Tik Tok virality which got this a streaming presence courtesy of Gambian singer, songwriter and model Jnr Choi, he is currently based in London and well I hate saying this but "To The Moon" just isn't all that good even with the sample of that Bruno Mars song "Talking to The Moon" (which also had it's viral moment last year) but Choi's voicals are buried deep in the mix that you can barely understand what he is singing and that's probably a good thing considering the lyrics to this are nothing to write home about either especially that line about this girl being so fine, he just might gave her 'wood' (nice bit of penis slang, dude), throw in the rattling drill production that's nowhere near close to interesting and it's just a slog of a song. NEXT!

28. "She's All I Wanna Be"  by Tate McRae

Kind of surprised to see Tate McRae back on the ARIA singles chart especially given that most of her singles before this and after "You Broke Me First" have done pretty much nothing on the charts until this one and...this song isn't bad, yeah Tate McRae still hasn't got much of a vocal presence behind the microphone, she's not all that impressive but I like how this moves toward a more guitar driven pop sound rather than pop trap that McRae tried on "You Broke Me First", as for the lyrics they play toward Tate's boyfriend hiding his attraction to another girl who is pretty much everything that McRae isn't and McRae wants to be so to keep her man, it's good rather than great, I'll take it though.

16. "Say Nothing" by Flume feat. MAY-A

Flume with the highest debut of the week with this song featuring Sydney based singer songwriter Mary Cummings aka MAY-A and I am not a fan of this at all, for a start what's with that beeping electronic noise under MAY-A's vocals? Then you have the drums that are mixed somewhat louder than MAY-A?. Also for a summer song, this feels like a dank, dark winter song with the trap elements that slide in for the verses. Yeah...not a fan of this...pass.

And that ends a pretty rough week but the best and worst fall out easily with the best going to Tate McRae for "She's All I Wanna Be", that song is likely to grow on me a bit in the weeks ahead. As for the worst..it's going to "To The Moon" by Junior Choi because "Say Nothing" while bad is more forgettable than anything else.

Next week, Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift collab might have a bit to say but we'll find out when the chart updates on Friday at 5pm AEDST.

Lookin' Fine '89. February 12th. Put the Buffalo in Sex and Armageddon It

We might have got a week off the almost near frantic turn over on the chart last week but holy hell it's back this week at the lower end of the chart, nothing new debuted high enough to worry the top ten but still, it's wild just how much turn over there is this week, let's get to our top ten though where for yet another week, it's "Kokomo" by The Beach Boys at number one but's hold on number one is looking shaky as sales margins closed this week.

It's a good sign for "Teardrops" by Womack & Womack which remained steady at number two this week and "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" by The Proclaimers which also climbed one place to number three and looks like being more of a chance to challenge for number one than "Teardrops" but we'll have to see.

It did push "Especially for You" by Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan back to number four as it continues to weaken, it's coming under pressure from "You Got It" by Roy Orbison which climbed one spot to number five and looks like rising higher in the weeks ahead.

Unfortunately it meant that "Rock and Roll Music" by Mental As Anything got pushed back to number six this week, those sales are on the decline for it. 

Roy Orbison's supergroup The Traveling Wilburys stayed steady at number seven with "Handle With Care" while "Tucker's Daughter" by Ian Moss climbed one place to number eight.

We have two songs making their first appearances in the top ten this week and I am not all that thrilled about either with "Orinoco Flow" by Enya up three to number nine because boring shlock like this somehow has a place in the top ten when it shouldn't while Art of Noise's cover of Prince's "Kiss" feat. Tom Jones rose four places to number ten because when the quality is questionable you got to shoot into the top ten...ugh...

Gains

One song into the top twenty this week with "Angel of Harlem" by U2 up from 22 to 18 this week while "Orange Crush" by R.E.M climbed six places to 22 (nice to see!).

Happy to see "Copperhead Road" by Steve Earle rise five spots to 25 but head scratchingly people like "Like the Way I Do" by Melissa Etheridge which jumped from 48 to 31 somehow...really?

The awful "Nobody's Perfect" by Mike + the Mechanics climbed from 49 to 31 however on a better note "Last Frontier" by Jimmy Barnes climbed nine spots to 35 off it's debut last week.

New Order's having a "Fine Time" up nine to 37 with their latest single.

Re - Entries

There is one return to speak of this week with "Welcome to the Jungle" by Guns 'n' Roses back at 46

Losers

"Til I Love You" by Barbra Streisand and Don Johnson gets us started with the fallers this week as it stumbled ten places to 47. 

It wasn't a good week for 1927 as "That's When I Think of You" fell from 34 to 42 and "If I Could" fell out of the top ten down five to number 11.

"As Long as You Follow" by Fleetwood Mac is down five places to 35 and "Bad Medicine" by Bon Jovi swallowed a heap of bad medicine to slip from 32 to 39. 

Turns out "Sweet Child O' Mine" has gone sour on the chart for Guns 'n' Roses as it went south nine places to 33. 

The love has stopped being groovy for Phil Collins as "A Groovy Kind of Love" slipped from 17 to 23.

New Entries

Six new entries this week, starting with...

50. "Armaggedon It" by Def Leppard

The latest single from Def Leppard's album "Hysteria" with vocal delivery being described as "T Rex meets Eddie Cochran plus backing vocals" which kind of got me a little worried but as it turns out it's your pretty standard 80s hair metal song even if I think this particular brand of sound is getting rather washed out. It's fine enough even if I think the vocals really don't do much for me and I'm going to forget this in record time. 

49. "Let's Put The X in Sex" by KISS 

Ohh yes some shallow penetration into the bottom part of the top 50 with this song by Kiss that talks about putting the X in sex..not thrusting the X into sex but putting the x there even though the x is already there...okay bad sex jokes aside and the song starting out with Gene Simmons whispering 'Let's put the x in sex', this isn't all that good even with the cheeky vibe mostly because Simmons sounds like he got shot out of a cannon or just recently had sex before recording this song...also why does this sound more like a Bon Jovi song? Maybe somebody should have put the Kiss back in Kiss before they decided to want to put the X back in sex especially when they haven't hit first base yet and nobody is moist off this shit...next!

48. " Buffalo Stance" by Neneh Cherry

Well this is a song I was looking forward to covering, it comes from Swedish singer Neneh Cherry and is from her debut album "Raw Like Sushi" and I got to say this song absolutely earns it's swagger with the use of the sample and Cherry's attitude making it absolutely believeable that the buffalo stance is an attitude needed in order to surive in the inner city and elsewhere and yeah, I definitely believe it with Cherry's rapped verses and that sung hook which sounds absolutely excellent so yeah this is a damn great song, check it out.

45. "Missing You" by Chris De Burgh

Oh look the dude who recorded the boring "Lady In Red" is back with a new single from the album called "Flying Colours" and well...this song really is as bland as your white cotton bed sheets, its a pretty stereotypical love song where he has everything he needs except her and he misses her. I mean really this is pretty formulaic and not very interesting...at least Kiss had the benefit of hinting at sex...this is just a bland whisp of a song...next!

41. "Early in the Morning" by Robert Palmer

So Robert Palmer's "She Makes My Day" is actually a really solid song that I don't mind all that much which made me curious to hear how he would follow it up with this being a cover of a 1982 song from The Gap Band  and honestly I am not sure how I feel about this cover because while the vocal delivery sounds flat and like Palmer was recording this early in the morning, I do like the driving energy the production has courtesy of those synths and drums so I guess this one is a bit take it or leave it and in most cases I'd probably leave it.

38. "Real Gone Kid" by Deacon Blue

Highest new entry of the week belongs to a Scottish pop rock band and was written about a performance by Maria McKee that vocalist Ricky Ross saw once with the song being a tribute to McKee with "Real Gone Kid" referencing McKee's onstage performances. The song is the lead single from the album of the same name and I mostly like this! Yeah, it's nice to get a break from 80s synths for a nice pop rock song lead by a keyboard with some nice interplay between the vvocallists. Definitely would love to see this one become a hit, check it out!

However it's not getting best of the week because that's going to "Buffalo Stance" by Neneh Cherry...that song packs a punch. As for the worst, that's going to Kiss for "Let's Put the X in Sex" for being a blatant Bon Jovi knock off.  

ARIA Singles Chart Top 50 Top Ten/ Chart Review: 7th February

 So this was actually a pretty husy week even despite just one new entry this week and I was kind of expecting a slow week given there doesn't really appear to be too many big releases set to shake up the chart any time soon but anyway there were some shifts in the top ten just not at the very top where for a sixteenth week, "Stay" by The Kid Laroi and Justin Bieber holds the number one spot thanks to streaming because sales have dropped this song lately.

"Cold Heart (PNAU Remix)" by Elton John and Dua Lipa held steady at number two while a song that was touted for a run at number one "abcdefu" by Gayle seems like it's run at the top is done...yeah it's got sales but streaming isn't anywhere near what it should be for a run at the top spot. 

Then there's the stubborn hold of "Heat Waves" by Glass Animals at number...can this song just magically somehow fuck off already?

Then there's the seven place gain for "Where Are You Now" by Lost Frequencies feat. Calium Scott...apparently people like this song enough for it to be a top five hit...uhh okay...

Streaming gains helped "We Don't Talk About Bruno" by The Cast of Encanto move up five places to number six, I suspext this is heading for the number one spot but we'll see.

Then we have "Shivers" and "Bad Habits" both by Ed Sheeran holding their places at seven and eight respectively. Ed's got a new single on the way from "=" called "The Joker and The Queen" with rumours that Taylor Swift is featured on a remix of the song.

Anyway all of that pushed "Industry Baby" by Lil Nas X feat. Jack Harlow down three places to number nine.

Joining the top ten for the first time and I am pissed to see this song here, "Down Under" by Luude feat Colin Hay up ro number ten. Why are we making this atrocious remix of a great song a thing?

Gains

The gains this week are on the disappointing side for one thing I am not sure why anyone wants junk like "Pushin' P" by Gunna anf Future feat Young Thug up fifteen spots to 21, seriously?

"Light Switch" by Charlie Puth is into the top twenty up four places to 20 but it also dragged "The Motto" by Tiesto feat. Ava Max up six to 25.

At least, "Lost" by Frank Ocean rose eight to 33 and "Oh My God" by Adele rebounded eight to 35. 

Re-Entries

The only re-entry this week is "Without You" by The Kid Laroi with Miley Cyrus at 50.

Losers

Not too mad that "Need to Know" by Doja Cat fell six places to 46 however The Wiggles did fall off their big debut hard as expected this week with "Elephant (Triple J Like A Version)" down a whopping thirty eight spots to 48 and I am really disappointed about that one!

:"Drivers License" by Olivia Rodrigo fell ten to 38, "Montero (Call Me By Your Name)" by Lil Nas X slipped seven places to 36 and "On My Knees" by Rufus Du Sol down seven to 29. 

"Happier Than Ever" by Billie Eilish slipped six to 22. 

There were two songs that fell out of the top ten with "Good 4 U" by Olivia Rodrigo down five to 14 and "Do It To It" by Acraze feat. Cherish down five to 11.

Drop outs.

Just the two drop outs this week with "I Am Woman" by Emmy Meli and "Lots of Nothing" by Spacey Jane (Yes, I am disappointed by that latter drop out)

New Entries

Just the one new entry this week, let's look at...

44. "The Family Madrigal" by The Cast of Encanto

It was only a matter of time before we got another song from Encanto turn up on the chart and honestly I've become mostly ambivalent toward songs from Encanto mostly because they are fine but without the context of the film, they make very little sense even if they are catchy enough to catch on and this song kind of has the same issues as "We Don't Talk About Bruno" in terms of it having any kind of context outside the film but the song acts as an introduction to the Madrigal family who are the basis of the film. Again, it's catchy but I'm not sure I'll be coming back to it.

And that wraps up the week, next week could be an interesting one so we'll see when the chart updates on Friday at 5pm AEDST

Lookin' Fine '89. 5th February. LIke The Way I Do Fine Time at the Last Frontier

 So we've got plenty of movement on the chart this week including two songs that I reviewed last week breaking into the top ten so let's not waste anymore time and get past the boring bit because for yet another week, it's unfortunately "Kokomo" by the Beach Boys spending yet another week at number because Australia still likes unedifying dross at the top of their charts.

"Teardrops" bv Womack & Womack appears to be it's closest competition as it rose one spot to number two and I'd like it to challenge from number one sooner rather than later.

What isn't going to challenge for the top is "Especially for You" by Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan as it finally got pushed back to number three and it's under pressure there because The Proclaimers continued their rise this week with "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" up three spots to number four and I fully expect the battles in the weeks ahead to get interesting. 

Then there's the one slot gain for "Rock and Roll Music" by Mental as Anything up to number five this week as it took advantage of the weakening of "If I Could" by 1927 which slipped one to number six.

Also weakening is "Handle with Care" by The Traveling Wilburys which skidded three spots to number seven.

Then we have first of two songs breaking into the top ten off their debuts last week with "You Got It" by Roy Orbison jumping ten places to number eight while "Tucker's Daughter" by Ian Moss had one of the biggest gains of the week rising from 37 to number nine this week and I am fine with both of these songs being here.

FInally falling one place this week is "She Makes My Day" by Robert Palmer to number ten.

Gains

So I already mentioned the gains for both Roy Orbison and Ian Moss this week, well...unfortunately "Orinoco Flow" by Enya for some reason is up from 20 to number 12 this week.

In much better news, "Orange Crush"  by R.E.M is up ten places to 28 and "Copperhead Road" by Steve Earle jumped 14 to hit 30 which is nice to see.\

"That's When I Think of You" by 1927 climbed from 41 to 34 while "As Long as You Follow" by Fleetwood Mac got a ten place jump to 35 and Rick Astley still has his dancing partner as "She Wants to Dance with Me" is up from 50 to 42. 

Losers

Well it's a busy one this week beginning with "Nobody's Perfect" by Mike + the Mechanics which thankfully fell to 49 off it's debut...thank goodness, that song still blows.

Then there's "Smooth Criminal" by Michael Jackson which dipped from 35 to 41...oh come on, this song deserves so much better than this, Australia.

One of the big hits of 1988, "Simply Irresistible" by Robert Palmer tumbled eleven spots to 40 while "When a Man Loves a  Woman" by Jimmy Barnes took a twelve place hit to 39.

"Cat Among the Pigeons" by Bros slid ten spots to 36 because people seem to have forgotten that song exists.

"Don't Need Love" by Diesel & The Injectors tumbled from 15 to 21 as it begins to fade naturally and finally, "Don't Worry, Be Happy" by Bobby McFerrin fell sx to 19

New Entries

Three new entries this week beginning with...

48. "LIke The Way I Do" by Melissa Etheridge

So this is the second single from Melissa Etheridge's self titled album released in 1988 and well given I'm a little mixed on Melissa Etheridge at best, I was wary of this and yeah while I get the anger at her lover hooking up with somebody else, I can't help but feel like there's a lack of anger or rage especially as it honestly feels a little by the numbers. Melissa's delivery has some passion but my god it kind of reads as jealousy given her ex lover has likely moved on so it gives this song a rather awkward vibe that I am not sure I want to revisit.

46. "Fine Time" by New Order

Next off the rank is the lead single from New Order's album "Technique" and was apparently inspired by one of the members having his car towed and remembering that he had to pay the fine. I will say this is a typically cheeky and fun New Order song that's got a pretty damn solid groove. It's not really my thing but objectively it's a pretty solid dance song even if the bleating lamb at the end does feel a little out of place. Check it out if you are curious...

44. "Last Frontier" by Jimmy Barnes 

Okay, so this seems rather random given "Freight Train Heart" was released in 1987 especially following a cover, kind of thought the roll out for that paerticular album was done but we got this and its pretty good. Yeah, it's got that tpical Jimmy Barnes vocals alone with same coursing rock energy that is so typical of Jimmy Barnes songs but what really solid the song for me was that guitar solo, it sounded fabulous as Barnes sings about people struggling to find hope and freedom as they struggle tto achieve whatever their dreams are its actually pretty intensely sad song.

And it's getting the best of the week...I genuinely enjoyed it. As for the worst? Ehh...nothing too bad this week but it's going to "Like the Way I Do" by Melissa Etheridge for just feeling awkward and kind of icky