Good 1992 Vibrations: 12th January. Black or White rules roost as The KLF get "Justified & Ancient"

Well we're into the first chart week of the new year and it's actually a lot more interesting than I had expected mostly because there's some challengers to a song that has been number one since mid December 1991 with that song being "Black Or White" by Michael Jackson which had enough sales to maintain itself at number one.

It's nearest challenger remains "Cream" by Prince and The New Power Generation which climbed one spot to number two this week while also posing a solid challenge is "Let's Talk about Sex" by Salt-N-Pepa whch clinbed one place to number three although it can be argued the reason why both these songs gained is that former number one "I'm Too Sexy" by Right Said Fred suffered a two place fall to number four. 

Then we have The Rockmelons collaboration with Deni Hines for a very early 90s cover of Bill Withers classic 'Ain't No Sunshine" which climbed two places to number five, 

The highest new entry of the week is at number six with "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on:Me" by George Michael and Elton John, more on this song later but it's certainly got the ingredients to be big with good sales. 

It pushed 'When Something Is Wrong with my baby" by Jimmy Barnes and John Farnham back one place to number seven.as it fades naturally.

All this meant that "Mysterious Ways" by U2 fell three places to number eight and is vulnerable to "All 4 Love" by Colour Me Bad up two places to hit the top ten at number nine. Dear god...I can only hope "Mysterious Ways" hangs on for grim death.

However in good news, "Come to Me" by Diesel rose two places to number ten, this song is really damn solid. Check it out.

Gains

So we had a few big gainers this week, most notably Seattle grunge band Nirvana with "Smells Like Teen Spirit" rising twenty places to 13, this is headed for the top ten...just watch.

Big Audio Dynamite II look headed for another hit with "The Globe" rising from 43 to 31 while Rozalla's "Everybody's Free (To Feel Good" jumped from 39 to 25...got a feeling that this one might make a top ten push at some stage but we'll see.

Roxette's "Spending My Time" climbed from 29 to 17 while Julian Lennon's "Saltwater" continues to rise, this week up 12 places to 16.

Re Entries

Just the one return with MC Hammer's pretty terrible "2 Legit 2 Quit" somehow back at number 44.

Losers

We have a lengthy list of losers this week folks so I'm starting at the bottom and working my way up. 

Dropping eight places to 49 is "Can't Stop This Thing We Started" by Bryan Adams (This song is a guilty pleasure for me so kind of sad to see it on the way out)

"I Gotcha" by Jiumy Barnes is losing it's grip on its place in the top 50 as it tumbles nine spots to 45 while Maybe Dolls plunged eight places to 43 with "Nervous Kid".

A song I absolutely dislike also took a big hit that being "Break in the Weather" by Jenny Morris which collapsed from 26 to 41...not sad to see this as Jenny has done better.

The Wonder Stuff's Australian Tour Souveneir EP called "Caught In My Shadow" slipped seven places to number 38 while "Good Vibrations" by Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch feat. Loleatta Holloway slipped nine spots to 29 (More on Marky Mark and his Funky Bunch in the new entries)

Another 1991 hit taking a fall was "Live Your Life Be Free" by Belinda Carlisle which dropped eight places to 27 while PM Dawn's "Set Adrift on Memory Bliss" tumbled from 15 to 22.

Metallica skidded from 14 to 21 with "The Unforgiven" while Tomislav Ivcic's anti war song and top ten hit "Stop the War in Croatia" took a twelve place hit to to number 20. while the other top ten hit to fall hard was Robbie Nevil's "Just Like You" which dropped nine places to 18. 

New Entries

Number 47: "How Can I Keep from Singing" by Enya

So I feel I need to say this, Enya's music is the epitome of background noise filler, it's the sort of music you put on when curing insomnia so how is this latest single from her 1991 album "Shepherd Moons"...honestly its more of the same background filler noise, Enya sounds nice on the song but the longer the song went the more I was convinced it doesn't belong on the ARIA singles chart. Fast forward!

Number 46: "Finally" by Ce Ce Peniston

Well okay, this is a bit of a wake up call after having to listen to that sleepy Enya song and it comes from an American former beauty queen turned singer and actress so I was kind of interested to hear song and yeah, it's fine...it's got a pop sensibility to it that makes the song work really well,and the lyrics describing somebody finally finding that person to love are cute...it's decent without being great...I'll still take it.

Number 40: "Justified & Ancient" by The KLF 

So The KLF are a British electronic hip hop act formed in 1987 and otherwise known as Justified Ancients of the Mu Mu and many other names. Its a pretty sample heavy song that uses country singer Tammy Wynette very well, she sounds GREAT here. and the harmonies around the hook are gorgeous. You know what? I dig this, its a bit oddball but hey, its a damn good song...hope it's a hit. 

Number 37: "Martika's Kitchen" by Martika

Alright so we've got a pop cut from one of the break out stars of the late 80s and honestly why does this song feel like a tamer version of Katy Perry's 2017 disaster "Bon Appetit" feat. Migos?. Especially as Martika proclaims "The oven is hot" and I almost get the sense she's calling her vagina a kitchen...look, I know it's probably not but the song leaves me with no choice but to make that interpretation! 

The song is trying to go for this sexy vibe that just doesn't work when Martika is singing like a silly seventeen year old girl who is reading Cleo or Cosmopolitan's sealed section full of dicks for the first time. Look, there are worse sex songs out there but yeah I don't have any desire to go back to this.

Number 33: "Wildside" by Marky Mark and The Funky Bunch

Ohh boy, I don't even know where ti start with this one, Mark Wahlberg and his "Funky Bunch" got a hit back in 1991 with "Good Vibrations" mostly due to Loleatta Holloway being an incredible vocalist so for their follow up they sample Lou Reed's "Walk on The Wild Side" (speeding up the tempo) to deliver a "Hey kids, don't take drugs: message in spite of the song they are sampling referencing oral sex! There's no real fire or passion that you would need to resonate or hit hard with teenagers who might be vulnerable to the pressure of taking drugs. 

"Wildside" is just sloppily put together and I do think they could have found a less cringey sample to make the song hit hard but ehh.

Number 6: "Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me" by Elton John and George Michael

This song is originally a Elton John song that was written by Elton John and his co writer at the time Bernie Taupin, recorded and released in 1974, peaking at number 13 on the Kent Music Report and didn't make the year end list for that year which is weird so in 1991, Elton John brought George Michael on board for a live version of the song which the pair had first performed together at the 1985 Live Aid concerts. 

I'll be hoenst and say this isn't my favourite Elton John however this is still really damn god and Elton John and George Michael sound fantastic together...I love that the hook builds and builds into that chorus and that piano line is gorgeous. 

However it's only getting honourable mention because best of the week is going to "Justified & Ancient" by The KLF.

The worst of the week is going to Martika for "Martika's Kitchen" because that song is just cringe. Dishonourable mention to "Wildside" by Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch for messing up something that might have worked with a better choice of sample.