All 4 1994: 23rd October. Closer Secrets and Compliments Whisper Your Name on Eighteen Strings

 Holy shit, this week is probably one of the last nuts weeks of 1994 that we'll get, a complete avalanche of new entries that we'll get to later but that didn't touch our number one so let's dive into the top ten where for a second week "I'll Make Love to You" by Boyz II Men kept hold of the number one spot, it kept a safe margin ahead of "Always" by Bon Jovi which jumped two spots to number two and seems to be the song that looks most likely to take the top spot next.

Then rising three places to number three for Silverchair is "Tomorrow", this song has momentum, I hope it can surpass "Always" but we'll have to see. 

All of this pushed "Confide in Me" by Kylie Minogue down to number four and it could be vulnerable to the new entry at number five from Madonna called "Secret", this song has good sales and could possibly move above Kylie next week.

The big loser out of all this was ?Endless Love" by Luther Vandross and Mariah Carey as it slipped three spots to number six however on the rise is "Chains" by Tina Arena which climbed two places to number seven. 

From there, the last three are songs on their way out with former chart topper "I Swear" by All-4-One slipped three to number eight, 'Swamp Thing" by The Grid also tumbled three to nine and "7 Seconds" by Youssou N'Dour and Neneh Cherry collapsed three spots to round out the top ten at number ten. 

Losers

"No Matter What You Do" by Olivia Newton-John slipped eight to number forty eight while it was similar for Cold Chisel's "Hands Out of My PocKet" which fell to forty two but that eally is it for the big losers.

Gains

No major gains either given all the new entries on the chart this week.  The biggest gain his week is "Voodoo People" by The Prodigy up four to twenty five.

Re-Entries

Culture Shock's "My Enemy" is unfortunately back at number forty one. 

New Entries

A ridiculous EIGHT new entries so I am going to endeavour to keep these reviiews short, let's begin with...

50. “Walkaway Lover” by Toni Pearen

So Toni Pearen is back on the charts after her breakthrough in 1993 with "In Your Room" and I have to be honest here, I do not like this, it sounds like generic eurodamce just with something of an Australian flavour and the production around Toni's vocals are a complete wash, "In Your Room" this ain't. I don't see this sticking around...Next. 

49. “(I Could Only) Whisper Your Name” by Harry Connick Jr

So American entertainer (best way to cover everything this guy does) is back with a brand new song and this one has a decent swagger to it thanks to those horns and this song has some insane change ups especially with that solo that wasn't great...bit ear piercing for my tastes but I do like that the song revolves around protecting this girl from rumour and innuendo while emphasising others will have their own opinions. Good song. 

47. “Yesterday, When I Was Mad” by Pet Shop Boys

So I haven't really liked any of the Pet Shop Boys singles so far in 1994 including the song from "Absolutely Fabulous" and yeah this song is actually decent, it's got the feel of the sort of sound I like coming from the Pet Shop Boys. There's more of a groove and texture to this that makes the song overall work better for me. Not going to be my favourite this week but it's fine. 

46. “Eighteen Strings” by Tinman

I wasn't sure what to expect coming into this song from English House producer Tinman and so I guess what we got did surprise me a little with that every nice electric guitar opening before making way for something that seems a little more standard house. The lyrics are definitely standard club and partying songs but I definitely do not hate this. Check it out if you are curious. 

45. “Compliments on Your Kiss’ by Red Dragon with Brian & Tony Gold

So we have another reggae song on the chart and this one mght be one of the worst I've heard yet with it's weirdly chipper and none too romantic beat as these guys mumble "Compliments girl on our kiss" like who even says that to a person they are in love with?. They then go on about this girl's body and done to death lyrics about how his heart skips a beat every time he sees her with the hook and verses repeated. Yeah this sucks...NEXT

44. “I Miss You” by Haddaway

So Haddaway return and I actually really like this a lot, this song is so much better than "What is Love?", a's a bit more somber and there's genuine warmth as the content focuses on an ended relationship where the narrator is realizing they are on their own now and life feels a lot harder without that other person in his or her life and they miss them enough to the point they want back into a relationship with that other person. Yeah, I'm taking this, it's good. Check it out. 

13. “Closer” by Nine Inch Nails

The second single from Nine Inch Nails album "The Downward Spiral" and this might be one of more unnerving songs I have covered this series, a song all about self loathing and obsession although I kind of get why some think it's a sex song...the lyrics do open the way for that kind of misinterpretation. The production relies on elements of funk and industrial rock but all up this song inbetween the vocal delivery where he sounds like he singing through clenched teeth the loathing and hatred is that bad...it's an unsettling song but still one that is really damn good. 

5. “Secret” by Madonna

Finally the biggest new entry of the week courtesy of Madonna, taken from her album "Bedtime Stories" and I will say I do like this one. Madonna sounds great here, low and deliberately confessional delivery that works great for her and the production playing up the mystery of this secret that's been hidden. Yeah, you know what? I'll take this too. 

That ends an honestly beyond long week and I am buggered but the worst of the week falls out easily "Compliments on Your Kiss" by Red Dragon, Brian and Toni Gold is awful and nets the weeks lowest honour.

As for the best, we have some contenders but I think this belongs to Haddaway for "I Miss You". 

ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart Review: 20th October

 So the recedation of the Taylor Swift album bomb dominates the news on the AEIA singles chart this week, we got two new entries including another new song from that Olivia Dean album however before we get to that, let's dive into the top ten which is dominated by Taylor Swift still but to a lesser extent, of course "The Fate of Ophelia" by Taylor Swift kept the number one spot, it's safe for now if that streaming doesn't continue to slide and it finally got sales to boost it's margin. 

"Opalite" remains at number two but it's facing an even tougher predicament as it doesn't have sales but streaming is starting to slide and could face threats to it's position from two songs that both rose ten spots this week to retake their positions in the top ten with "Man I Need" by Olivia Dean at nnumber three and "Golden" from K-Pop Demon Hunters at number four, both songs look strong right now and with the surge for Olivia Dean lately...I am certain "Man I Need" will get a good push soon to take number one.

The rest of the top ten are Taylor Swift album cuts with "Elizabeth Taylor" down two to number five likewise for "Father Figure" to number six, "The Life of a Showgirl" featuring Sabrina Carpenter slipped one to number seven, the ode to Travis Kelce's penis "Wood" has started to go flaccid with the public down three to number eight, surprising "Wi$h Li$t" remained steady at nnumber nine amd "Actually Romantic" slipped two to number ten.

Gains'

Honestly the gains outside the top ten are generally just one to six place gains however we did see continued traction for Olivia Dean songs with "So Easy (To Fall in Love)" up seven to twenty two and "Baby Steps" up five to forty one

Losers

So we'll begin with the Taylor Swift album cuts that fell back..."Honey" fell five to seventeen, "Eldest Daughter" stumbled five to fifteen, "Ruin the Friendship" is ruined three spots to fourteen and "CANCELLED!" was the biggest faller of the lot down six to thirteen. 

Other than that K-Pop Demon Hunters also saw a six place loss to twenty eight for "How it's Done"

Drop outs

Two songs fell off this week with 'The Days (Notion Remix)" by Chrystal and Notion and the big drop out this week is "That's So True" by Gracie Abrams...honestly good riddance to both as I really do not like either song. 

New Entries

Two new entries this week, let's begin with...

49. "Let Alone the One You Love" by Olivia Dean

It really is beginning to feel like a slow album bomb with one or two songs from "The Art of Loving" debuting each week and honestly given the album is pretty good I am okay with that and yeah agaun, this one feels like pure warm neo soul that makes "Lose Control" look liike unbreakably stiff cardboard. this is such a warm, cosy neo soul song that Olvia Dean just sounds incredible over, it reminds me a lot of Etta James although Olvia's vocals aren't quite as strong as that. The content here though isn't as cosy and warm, its about an abusive relationship where he is trying to keep her small and under his thumb and she doesn't understand why he is treating somebody he is supposed to love like this and wants to end the relationship understandably. Altogether great song but if you are triggered by talk of an abusive power struggle situation than tread carefully.

47. "Eyes Closed" by Jisoo & Zayn

I was dreading this...Jisoo is the member of Blackpink whose solo work has impressed me the least and Zayn continues to be the guy most known for quitting One Direction and not doing anything all that remarkable musically since leaving said band so these two collaborating was something that didn't raise a lot of interest but we did get this as a result of their collaboration and wow...this song is not only musically underweight but the overprocessing on the vocals over some of the most sterile production I've heard on a song this year. This is just generic and really bland nothingness.

Worst of the week easily Best of the week goes to Olivia Dean (again) for "Let Alone the One You Love"

All 4 1994: October 16th. Love, Steam and Standing Strong Ain't Here Anymore

 Ahh,1994 continues to be a wild and fascinating year especially with the shifts in the top ten because we do have a new number one with "I'll Make Love to You" by Boyz II Men taking the top spot, this song has some insane momentum behind it, it crushed it's opposition on sales.

Former number one "Confide In Me" by Kylie Minogue slipped back to number two as it couldn't match Boyz II Men on sheer weight of numbers.

"Endless Love" by Luther Vandross and Mariah Carey remained at number three while much to my annoyance "Always" by Bon Jovi climbed four spots to number four. this song has legs unfortunately so look for another ridiculously sappy song to get to number one. 

All-4 -One slipped one spot to number five with "I Swear", I am not sure why this song is sticking around so much...utterly sick of it at this point. Anyway, "Swamp Thing" by The Grid remains stuck at number six. 

Sliding two places to number seven is "7 Seconds" by Youssou N'Dour & Neneh Cherry. this song has peaked and now appears to be on the downswing so it should continue to fall gracefully. 

Silverchair's "Tomorrow" climbed one spot to number eight and "Chains" by Tina Arena climbed one to number nine in good news for Australian music. 

Finally wrapping up the top ten is "Love is All Around" by Wet Wet Wet down three to number ten. 

Losers

The losers this week are songs pretty much on the downswing anyway with "Heaven 'n' Hell" by Salt 'n' Pepa down eleven to forty seven while "Absolutely Fabulous" by Absolutely Fabulous.

"Black Hole Sun" by Soundgarden sld further toward the back hole on the charts as it tumbled from twenty four to thirty one while "Baby, I Love Your Way" by Big Mountain slipped seven to thirty and "100% Pure Love" by Crystal Waters fell from fifteen to twenty one.

Gains

"Come Out and Play" by The Offspring really is coming out to play on the chart as it tagged it's way up from twenty one to sixteen. 

Not happy that the pretty ordinary "Gimme" by Boom Crash Opera which climbed ten places to twenty two while "Voodoo People" by The Prodigy climbed from forty one to twenty nine. 

"Red Light Avenue" by James Reyne was green lighted to climb eight spots to thirty five while Roachford's "Lay Your Love on Me" climbed from forty two to thirty seven. 

Unfortunately "Ain't Nobody (Loves Me Better)" by K.W.S and Gwen Dickey rose six places to forty three. 

Re Entries

Just one return this week with Kulcha's "Don't Be Shy" back at forty nine. 

New Entries

Three new songs this week beginning with...

41. “Standing Strong” by Wendy Matthews

Starting with some new Wendy Matthews music is always a good start to the week's new entry reviews and yeah, this song is the lead single from the album "The Witness Tree" and yeah, this song is excellent, the gentle piano and guitar build up and Wendy's vocals are impressive here. The song's lyrics are somewhat interesting too, a promise made by one lover to another about lifting them up and putting them on more solid footing, tack on one hell of a hook and you have a great song. Check this out!

38. “Love Ain’t Here Anymore” by Take That

So I have become somewhat a defender of Take That, I still think "Pray" is a really damn good pop song and this one is also decent except it's not as upbeat here, it's a song about a couple realizing that there's just no love in the relationship anymore and communication is breaking down. It's got this really nice gentle swell and those vocal harmonies on the hook are a excellent touch. Nice song, definitely well worth a listen.

19. “Steam” by East 17

East 17's latest single winds up the week and honestly...I don't care for this much, sure the production has a bit of fite and spark to it but dear god why do the members of East 17 sound like THAT in the mix? Like come on when you have production that's selling attitude and you are giving it the "Oooh steam!"...it gets a bit deflating to listen to and the rapping isn't anything all that impressive. Yeah, I'll stick to Take That.

It's easily the worst of the week with best of the week going to "Standing Strong" by Wendy Matthews

All 4 1994: October 9th Goodnight Voodoo Girl (Ain't Nobody Loves People Better)

So a reasonable week at hand here. Some new entries and some interesting moves within the top ten too so let's get to that where for another week "Confide In Me" by Kylie Minogue remains at number one for another week but it's now got a challenger right behind it courtesy of the four place rise to number two for "I'll Make Love to You" by Boyz II Men, it's got traction and it's comng for that number one spot. 

'Down one to number three is "Endless Love" by Luther Vandross and Mariah Carey while "I Swear" by All-4-One rebounded one to number four and "7 Seconds" by Youssou N'Dour & Neneh Cherry slipped two spots to number five. 

"Swamp Thing" by The Grid also rebounded one to number six while "Love is All Around" by Wet Wet Wet slipped three to number seven.

Now we have three new songs into our top ten for the first time this week beginning with "Always" by Bon Jovi climbing eight spots to number eight while "Tomorrow" by Silverchair bounced up from twenty six to number nine and finally. "Chains" by Tina Arena is up three spots to number ten. 

Losers

So "Shine" by Collective Soul slipped eight spots to forty eight while "I Like to Move It" by Reel 2 Real feat. The Mad Stuntman skidded down eleven places to forty seven and "Disarm" by The Smashing Pumpkins slipped eight to forty five, 

"American Life in the Summertime" by Francis Dunnery fell seven to thirty nine while "Dreams" by The Cranberries slumped eight to thirty eight. 

"Hands Out of My Pocket" by Cold Chisel tumbled eight spots to twenty nine, "Baby, I Love Your Way" by Big Mountain slid eight to twenty three. 

Gains

Most of the big gains this week are in the top ten but we did see an eight place gain for "Fantastic Voyage" by Coolio to thirty seven while "No Matter What You Do" by Olivia Newton-John up seven to thirty five. 

Up seven to twenty seven to twenty seven is "Fly Girl" by Kulcha.

New Entries

Four new entries this week, beginning with...

50. "Post Moronic" by Def FX

So I literally cannot find any info about what Def FX song charted so I am going to leave this open for now. 

49. "Ain't Nobody (Loves Me Better)" by K.W.S and Gwen Dickey

Okay...no...we have Jaki Graham's cover of this Chaka Khan song as the definitive cover of this song, we don't need a version from the group that made that god awful cover of KC and the Sunshine Band's "Please Don't Go" in 1992 but at least unlike that god awful cover this one does seem to actually have a pulse and a a decent melody even if Gwen Dickey sounds absolutely smothered in the mix, I'll be sticking with the Jaki Graham cover. 

41. "Voodoo People" by The Prodigy 

I really don't know what to say about this one, it comes from The Prodigy's second album "Music For the Jilted Generation" and well, I like the production, the groove there is awesome but those vocals are incredibly difficult to adjust to. This song is fine but I am not sure I am ever going to come back to it. That's all. 

30. "Goodnight Girl '94" by Wet Wet Wet

This was a song released in 1991 and of course Wet Wet Wet are trying to take advantage of the success of "Love is All Around" and honestly, this is a whole lot of sappy nothing lyrically over sparse piano anf guitar with some percussion thrown in. It's a pretty vague nothing of a love song with this dude saying he won't tell anyone about his goodnight girl. I'll forget this in no timee.

Yeah, bit of a rough week but I guess "Ain't Nobody (Loves Me Better" by K.W.S and Gwen Dickey gets worst of the week with "Voodoo People" by The Prodigy getting best of the week.

ARIA Singles Top 50 Chart Review: 13th October. :

 Well...here we go, time for the Taylor Swift show this week and trust me, it's going to be more of a show here on the blog than any kind of show that was actually on Taylor's album"The Life of a Showgirl" but we'll get to that. Let's start with the top ten where to nobody's surprise...it's all Taylor Swift with "The Fate of Ophelia" at number one, it's pretty much the same across the top ten with enormous streaming.

"Opalite" at number two, "Elizabeth Taylor" debuts at number three, "Father Figure" jumps in at number four, "Wood" knocks at number five, the title track "The Life of a Showgirl" featuring Sabrina Carpenter dances in at number six, "CANCELLED!" stamps itself at number seven, "Actually Romantic" irritates at number eight (more on this song in the new entries but safe to say it being this high is infuriating), "Wi$h Li$t" cashes in at number nine and "Eldest Daughter" at number ten. 

Taylor actually has the top twelve with "Ruin the Friendship' at eleven and "Honey" at number twelve. 

Gains

There are no gains to be spoken of this week, thanks Taylor.

Re-Entries

One return this week surrpisingly enough with Teddy Swims at forty five with "Bad Dreams" thanks to his performance at the NRL Grand Final giving this song a sales push.

Losers

Nearly everything that's not Taylor Swift lost in the double digits this apart from from one song that only lost two places so I am going to focus on that one song instead of killing my hands by going through the entire chart so that one song is "So Easy (To Fall in Love)" by Olivia Dean which slipped two to twenty nine...this song would have hit the top twenty this week if not for the Taylor Swift album bomb. Sigh, 

Drop outs

There were thirteen drop outs this week and most of these will return as the Taylor Swift album bomb dies off over the weeks ahead. 

Well, I don't expect "Nobody's Son" and "House Tour" both by Sabrina Carpenter to return but I'd like to see 'Folded" by Kehlani and "Lady Lady" by Olivia Dean come back, both are good songs.

'Jealous Type" by Doja Cat just continues to suffer from Doja's album and itself just having no traction whatsoever. 

We also lost long running hits like "Mystical Magical" by Benson Boone, "Eternity" by Alex Warren, "Messy" by Lola oung, "Sailor Song" by Gigi Perez, "What I Want" by Morgan Wallen and Tate McRae, "Sapphire" by Ed Sheeran (this song still weirds me out with that eyes exploding line) and "Yukon" by Justin Bieber,

Also gone is "Strategy" by Twice because I am surprised anyone remembers that song.

New Entries

So I am not left pulling my hair out by saying the same things about the Taylor Swift songs, I am only going to review rhe songs from the album that wind up being the best and the worst but I will give some general thoughts on 'The Life of A Showgirl" just quickly, fair to say as somebody who liked her last couple of studio albums spanning back to 2019's "Lover", this album left me feeling flat, disappointed and just tired, previous albums saw Taylor's songwriting mature and take on an understanding of why she is the way she is and she got out of her own way with the songwriting instead on "The Life of a Showgirl", Taylor cannot stop spewing immature, cloistered in her own shell garbage and including a song about her boyfriend's privates just adds to the cringe factor that makes returning to this album in any compacity impossible because the immaturity on display is not the kind that makes the album fun at all. 

Anyway let's dive into the new entries we will be discussing as we have already gone through where the Taylor Swift songs landed on the chart but we aren't starting with Taylor Swift because...

46. "Baby Steps" by Olivia Dean

There is a part of me glad we got this song from Olivia Dean this week so it wasn't all just Taylor Swift in the new entries because this song is one of my favourites from "The Art of Loving" where Olivia is taking the first slow "baby" steps out of a broken relationship and learning how to live independent of anyone else including a man and while I am not a huge fan of the stuttered chorus but I do love how 70s soul this sould with it's gentle guitar and piano. I dig this and if you haven't checked out Olivia's album you really should.

8. "CANCELLED!" by Taylor Swift

The rest from here is all Taylor Swift and I wanted to write about the two tracks I feel are symbolic of the problems with this album which are of coursr Taylor's own song writing to the complete mess that the production is thus proving conclusively that Jack Antonoff was never the problem because this album produced by Max Martin and Shellback and it's some of the limpest production to date where the build up on this song amounts to nothing all while Taylor is singing some of her most childish lyrics of her career about how she likes all her friends cancelled and cloaked in gucci and scandal. It's juvenile, immature and you cannot have any fun to this because of the limp ass production. Next!

7. "Actually Romantic" by Taylor Swift

Or perhaps I shouldn't have said "Next' because this is the song where Taylor spectacularly misses the point of  Charli XCX's "Sympathy is a Knife" and comes out looking absolutely insane. "Sympathy is a Knife" is about Charli's own insecurities and anxieties yet here's Taylor going "Ooh aren't you obsessed with me...well that's all a bit romantic to me really" like way to absolutely miss the point of the song you are pissed at, Taylor! Throw in the bland production from Max Martin and Shellback and this song is one of the worst on the worst album of Taylor Swift's illustrious career.

1. "The Fate of Ophelia" by Taylor Swift

So this is the best song on "The Life of a Showgirl" and it's honestly by some margin to me because this is where Taylor actually does show her song writing chops when she's writing about her own issues but rather other people whose lives aren't interconnected with hers and she isn't eating her own tail, this time exploring Ophelia, a tragic figure from Shakespeare's Hamlet and how she lost her agency and pledging herself to an honest and loyal soul mate, its a bit of a twee track but on the trainwreck that is "The Life of a Showgirl", it's one of the better songs...go figure.

However best of tthe week goes to "Baby Steps" by Olivia Dean, as for the worst...ughh...honestly,. "Actually Romantic" by Taylor Swift gets it because it beyond missed the point. 

ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart Review: October 6th

 So I am going to enjoy this week as much as I can because yeah...next week is the Taylor Swift album bomb and it's not going to be pretty at all (nor are my thoughts on that particular album but that can wait) and it none the less will cut a swathe through the top ten next week however we do have this week's top ten to dive into first so let's do that, shall we?

For yet another week "Golden" from K-Pop Demon Hunters remains at number one probably for it's final week as it lost ground on sales and streaming, it will obviously get wiped from number one next week but it's still decently strong.

It held up over "Man I Need" by Olivia Dean at number two which seems the most likely to take number one post Taylor Swift album bomb. The rest of the top five held steady as well with "Ordinary' by Alex Warren at number three, "No Broke Boys" by Disco Lines and Tinashe at number four and "Soda Pop" from K-Pop Demon Hunters at number five.

New entry at number six wth "Tit For Tat" by Tate McRae, now we'll talk about this song's quality later but it's here thanks to some terrific streaming through the week, I am not sure this is going to stick around so high though however it did push "12 to 12" by Sombr back one to seven, "Your Idol" from K-Pop Demon Hunters down one to nunmber eight and "Back to Friends" by Sombr to number nine.

Completing the top ten rising six places to number ten off the back of a boost thanks to the release of the album is "Nice to Each Other" by Olivia Dean...we have more Olivia Dean to talk about later.

Gains

As far as gains go outside the top ten, we did see a huge fifteen place come for "Where is My Husband?" by RAYE to sxteen this week. This song has hit written all over it but other than that no other major gains. 

Losers.

It was a rough week for Sabrina Carpenter with "House Tour" down sixteen to forty six while "Tears" is proving to be something of a disappointment as it slipped nine to twenty one. 

"Sapphire" by Ed Sheeran slumped nine to forty eight.

Drop Outs.

Three drop outs this week with Chappell Roan seeing the exits of both "Good Luck Babe!" and "The Subway" while Sabrina Carpenter's "Go Go Juice' also took it's exit.

New Entries

Three new entries this week. 

41. "Lady Lady" by Olivia Dean

I guess I didn't realize that Olivia Dean had gotten this big, she has four songs on the chart right now including two new songs from her new album "The Art of Loving" and Olivia has been a breath of fresh air on the charts in 2025. This song being the first of two new Olivia Dean songs on the chart and well...this is probably the weaker of the two songs, it's still damn good...it's just the instrument feels kind of oily and the lyrics play to Olivia getting used to changes in her life. It's fine but when the next song exists, it's definitely a weaker cut from the album.

27. "So Easy (To Fall In Love)" by Olivia Dean

Now this is more like it! A smoother jazzy cut where Olivia Dean muses on how easy it is to fall in love and be attracted to somebody and how happy she'd be walking with a man she loves through Central Park, it's a blissful. cozy song that makes me want to curl up by a warm fire with this on repeat. This will play well for Valentines Day and even over the Christmas period. Gorgeous song, check it out!

6. "Tit for Tat" by Tate McRae

I don't think it's any secret that I am not a fan of Tate McRae, her voice generally does nothing for me at all and I still have a pretty big intolerance for "You Broke Me First" but I was curious about this song as I am about most songs that debut in the top ten as top ten debuts have been rare this year and well...this isn't as bad as McRae's previous hits mostly because of that cool, watery production that better supports Tate's voice, it sounds nice even though Tate is telling a guy she is done with him after seeing the way he behaved but she doesn't really go into a lot of detail other than hinting at cheating which makes the song lose some of its pathos for me. Decent song.

No worst of the week again this week because I actually don't mind all three of them however the best of thr week is easy with "So Easy (To Fall in Love)" by Olivia Dean.

Next week...we have to deal with Taylor Swift and The Life of a Showgirl album bomb...it's about to get very messy. 

All 4 1994: 2nd October Always Lay Your Fantastic Voyage On Me

 We have one hell of a fascinating  week at hand here mostly because the top spot isn't one percent certain for next week but anyway lets get to the top ten where "Confide in Me" by Kylie Minogue spent a third week at number one...again, it's future at number one is looking shaky as it lost its sales margin. 

Right behind it, up four places to number two is "Endless Love" by Luther Vandross and Mariah Carey, this song has a head of steam going and looks set to make a play for the top spot next week. The same could be true of "7 Seconds" by Youssou N'Dour and Neneh Cherry up one spot to number three while "Love Is All Around" by Wet Wet Wet got something of a second wind up one to number four. 

All-4-One slumped two places to number five with "I Swear" as it begins its graceful descent while "I'll Make Love to You" by Boyz II Men climbed one spot to number six.

"Swamp Thing" by The Grid had the biggest fall inside the top ten down four places to number seven while "Stay (I Missed You)" by Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories  remained at number eight. 

Returning to the top ten is "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" by Elton John rising three places to number nine..YAY! 

Finally "Rockin' For Myself" by Motiv 8 feat. Angie Brown slipped back one spot to number ten. 

Losers

Some long term songs that have stuck around longer than you might expect are finally getting the death rattle with "Hey D.J" by Lighter Shade of Brown down fifteen to fifty this week and "Don't Turn Around" by Ace of Base down eleven spots to forty nine. 

Similar case for "Letitgo" by Prince which tumbled eleven to forty eight and "Shine' by Collective  Soul which skidded from twenty seven all the way down to forty (it does have a year end spot wrapped up though)

Francis Dunnery's "American Life In the Summertime" slipped seven to thirty two while "Hands Out of My Pocket" by Cold Chisel is seeing it's hands sliding back into a pocket as it slumped eight places to twenty one. 

Gains

Some decent sized gains this week, let's start with the unchained seven place movement to number thirteen for "Chains" by Tina Arena, this song is potentially heading for a stint in the top ten which I wouldn't nind. 

However I do mind that "Gimme" by Boom Crash Opera got a huge boost up from forty two to twenty nine...why? 

At least Babyface's "When I Can See You" got a good ten place boost to thirty nine. 

New Entries

Six new entries this week beginning with....

46. "Lay Your Love on Me" by Roachford

So Roachford is back wtth yet another single straight out of his own somewhat acoustic r'n'b and you know what? I might like this song even more than "Only to Be With You"! This song seems to have this nervy tension about it with Roachford urging this girl to lay all her love on him especially as it's hit a point in their relationship where the talking isn't enough anymore and he wants something more from the relationship only she isn't sure. The only issue I have is were the handclaps really necessary? Otherwise great song!. 

45. "Fantastic Voyage" by Coolio

Third single from Coolio with thhis one sampling 1980s "Fantastic Voyage" by Lakeside and yeah, this groove goes off! I love it however that sumptuous groove and melody belies tbat this song is actually about the dream of escaping urban black poverty and dreaming of a place where his kids can play without the fear of a drive by shooting. All up it's actually a pretty sad song but yeah, I think this one is worth a listen, check it out. 

43. "Red Light Avenue" by James Reyne

The lead single from James Reyne's album "The Whiff of Bedlam" and another pretty damn good song this week although I will say this ballad is a strange choice of lead single as this song's content is dark, this is about somebody doing anything they can to make ends eg: selling out be it through prostitution, drugs or even a child selling candy...yeah this is a sad one but ultimately  I think it's one of James Reyne's best, check it out. 

42. "No Matter What You Do" by Olivia Newton-John

Ahh the return of Olivia Newton-John to the charts with this pretty standard "I love you and will stand by you no matter what you do" track because that's just pretty much what this sosng is and that weirdly trying to be hip for 1994 production is doing nothing for me whatsoever. Pass. 

26. "Tomorrow" by Silverchair

Now we have a debut from three Newcastle teenagers courtesy of this song from the EP also titled "Tomorrow" and well...this is as grungey as anything you'll hear out of Seattle from Soundgarden or Nirvana especially wirh the vocals from Silverchair's frontman Daniel Johns but those guitars just help drive the song home, as for the content, it appears to be a conversation between a very wealthy man and a man who is doing it tough, Damn good song but I think it's going to have a fight to be the best of the week. 

16. "Always" by Bon Jovi

Ending this week with more rock, this time from American band Bon Jovi except this is more of a piano ballad with some of the most dramatic and ridiculous language I have ever heard from this band. "This Romeo was bleeding but you can't see his blood"...what the hell is that even supposed to mean? That's all before we get to the hook where Jon Bon Jovi shrieks in the most nasal tone possible "Annndddd IIIII WILL LOVE YOU BAYBEEE FOR ALLLLWAAAYS", talk about clingy and over dramatic! 

That ends the week on a bit of a sour note but yes "Always" by Bon Jovi is getting worst of the week. Best however is tougher because wow, four of the six are damn great songs, I am going to give it to "Red Light Avenue" by James Reyne...just ahead of Silverchair and Coolio