All 4 1994: 6th March. Whatta Man Mountain, Get Better on Peace, Love & Harmony

Finally a reasonable week at hand here with some notable changes and new arrivals so let's get to the big story of the week...our new number one and yeah, I am not exactly thrilled about it because East 17 rose six places to take number one with "It's Alright", it's got a sizeable sales lead so it could be number one for awhile.

"Slave to the Music" by Twenty 4 Seven featuring Stay-C and Nance jumped to number two but that was basically on the weaknesses of the former number one "Give It Up" by Cur 'N' Move as it just lost a chunk of its sales momentum this week.

The same could be said for "Asshole" by Denis Leary which slipped two places to number four and it's now coming under threat from "Said I Loved You...But I Lied" by Michael Bolton up six places to number five because we apparently need shittty garbage like this in our top ten...grrr.

Than we have a new entry at number six wuth :Whatta Man" by Salt 'N' Pepa feat. En Vogue, I'll talk about the song's quality in the new entries but it's here through a decent sales week. Don't mind seeing it here in all honesty and it could be argued that Salt 'n' Pepa are merely replacing themselves in the top ten.

EYC's "Feelin' Alright" took advantage of the weaker songs below it to move up to number seven. 

The rest of the top ten is songs falling away naturally like "All For Love" by Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart and Sying which slipped four places to number eight while "Moving On Up" by M People slumped three places to number nine.

Sadly "Stay (Faraway, So Close!)" by U2 skiittered down five places to number ten. Would have liked this song to have a longer time in our top ten, it deserved much better than this. 

Losses

So we had a lot of songs move downward in large style this week with 1993 hit "Again" by Janet Jackson down ten to forty nine and "No Rain" by Blind Melon down from thirty six to forty eight. 

"The Key, The Secret" by Urban Cookie Collective tumbled six to forty seven while their other hit "Feels Like Heaven" slipped eight notches to twenty one, it might take some major effort to relight the fire for Take That and Lulu's "Relight My fire" which slipped nine to forty four and "Creep" by Radiohead wound up being one of the biggest losers of the week down twelve to forty five.

Also down twelve is "Rock and Roll Dreams come Through" by Mestloaf to forty

Finally "Boom! Shake the Room" by DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince slipped nine to twenty nine.

Gains

So the rise of "The Power of Love" by Celine Dion continues unabated, its up eleven spots to thirteen this week and seems to be plotting a course for the top ten.

"Sing Hallelujah" by Dr Alban rose broke into the top twenty this week up from twenty five to eighteen this week...guess we had to have some junk rise. 

Melodie MC's "Dum Da Dum" climbed twelve places to twenty five. wbile "One Night in Heaven" by M People got a decent eight place gain to 32 off it's debut last week.

New Entries

Four new entries this week beginning with...

50. "Mountain" by Chocolate Starfish

So doing these retrospective charts and I occasionally see a song I vaguely recognise, one that got played all the time on the radio at the time after it's release or in the background of some event I was at and that's kind of the case for this song from Australian rock band Chocolate Starfish (I hear the laughing overseas and all I can say is get your filthy minds out of the gutter...:)) with "Mountain" being the third single from their self titled album and yeah this one does click with its incredibly instrumental swell as the lyrics sound off about how he can't be what his partner wants him to be which is an immovable force or object like a mountain when he feels like a river.

Damn good song, worth checking out if you aren't familiar with it or don't listen to the radio.

43. "Peace, Love and Harmony" by Cut 'N' Move"

So the follow up to "Give It Up" is here and well, I am not a big fan of this at all, it's this standard eurodance and rap song that kind of feels a bit dime a dozen especially in 1994. I might like their cover of "Give It Up" but I am really not a fan of this especially when others just the previous week did it better. Next!

42. "Things Can Only Get Better" by D:Ream

This is a song from a North Ireland group called D:Ream with this song's inspration coming from a conversation that one of the band members was having with an office colleague and you know what? I do like this a fair bit, I like the passion and resolve that the hook is sung with and the swell of the backing vocals. Solid song, worth checking out.

6. "Whatta Man"  by Salt 'N' Pepa feat. En Vogue

Well no wonder this song charted so high, a collab between two girl groups that could be almighty interesting and what we got was this pretty sweet, fun song about praising the guys in their lives that are apparently incredibly good providers and lovers and while I'd love for the hook to be something a little more than that one line, I love the beat and groove of this to the point that it feels like nit picking on the hook, this is a damn good song.

Yeah, "Whatta Man" by Salt 'n' Pepa feat. En Vogue gets bet of the week. It was close though because "Mountain" by Chocolate Starfish hits like a train for me.

As for worst, I guess that has to go to Cut 'N' Move for "Peace, Love and Harmony" although its really not that bad...just a sound and style that I need a break from for a bit.

ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart Review: 3rd March.

This week surprised me so much not just that we have a returning number one but that we had something resembling a major album bomb from Tate McRae for "So Close To What?" and somehow it had a bigger impact on the chart than The Weeknd's "Hurrry Up Tomorrow"

So let's not delay any further and get to the top ten where Tate McRae does impact just not right at the rop where "APT" by Rose and Bruno Mars returns to number one despite not really ruling in any channel other than maybe having some sales.

It held out "Luther" which remained at number two this week despite having some incredible streaming ahead of 'Messy" by Lola Young which rebounded one place to number three although that might have been because "Not Like Us" by Kendrick Lamar fell three places to number four as the momentum from the Superbowl performance fell away

Staying at number five is "That's So True" by Gracie Abrams as it clings to what streaming it has. ( honestly wish this song was gone sooner because I am done with it.

Regaining one spot to number six is "Birds of a Feather" by Billie Eilish although it probably regained traction thanks to the weaknesses of  "Die with a Smile" by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars which slipped back to number seven.

Rising one place to number eight this week is "Pink Pony Club" by Chappell Roan, its just steady at the moment, like it's settling for a long run in the top ten. 

Then we have the first sign of the Tate McRae album bomb with "Sports Car" returning to the top ten up sixteen to number nine. It's a new peak for this song after debuting at number ten.

Finally still clinging to the top ten like poo is "Beautiful Things" by Benson Boone at number ten, can we just get rid of this song now please.

Losers

Not really a lot of big losers this week with "The Door" by Teddy Swims down eight to forty three while "I Love You, I'm Sorry" by Gracie Abrams fell seven to forty one and "Indigo" by Sam Barber feat. Avery Anna lost most of it's boost last week down six to forty two. 

The biggest loser this week was Sabrina Carpenter's "Please Please Please" which slipped fifteen places to thirty two this week and while on Sabrina Carpenter, "Busy Woman" tumbled nine to thirty one and former chart topper "Taste" slipped seven to twenty three. 

Finally "TV Off" by Kendrick Lamar fell seven to nineteen. '

Gains

So I have already mentioned the biggest gain of the week in the top ten with "Sports Car" by Tate McRae up sixteen to number nine. \

Outside of that though, there's really not much with "Nokia" by Drake up eight to twenty being the other considerable gain. 

Re Entries

Four re entries this week headlined by the returns Tate McRae's "2 Hands" at forty and "It's Ok, I'm Ok" at thirty seven.

Also saw "Dreams" by Fleetwood Mac back at forty eight and "Chihiro" by Billie Eilish at number forty five. 

Drop Outs

So we saw some longstanding hits leave like "Stick Season" by Noah Kahan, "Stargazing"  by Myles Smith, "Where the Wild Things are" by Luke Combs and "Humble" by Kendrick Lamar.

We also lost SZA tracks like "BMF" and "30 for 30"  feat. Kendrick Lamar.

I am definitely complaining that "CN Towe" by PartyNextDoor and Drake and "Gimme A Hug" by Drake are gone along with "I'm The Problem" by Morgan Wallen and "Dreamin"  by Dom Dolla feat. Daya.

New entries

So we did get an album bomb for Tate McRae's "So Close to What?" so apart from the top 20 and the best or worst, we had "BloodonmyHands" feat Flo Milli at forty seven (pretty close to worst of the week, this isn't good), "Miss Possessive" at thirty four, "Dear God" at twenty six 

Now that's out of the way, we've got four new entries to deal with but we're not starting with Tate McRae because...

44. "Die Trying" by PartyNextDoor, Drake and Yebba

And here I was thinking that I was done dealing with songs from that already forgotten PartyNextDoor and Drake project however this is probably one of the better songs from that project even if Yebba is just backing vocals but at least Drake is putting aside his shitty misogyny and is trying to be genuine here in his attempt to find love...let's just hope he can keep the misogyny to a minimum

33. "Purple Lace Bra" by Tate McRae

One of the biggest issues I have with Tate McRae is that she has a very limited vocal range and has very little charisma or personality that she can use in her music mercifully she actually got a pretty good sultry R'n'B jam out of it because yeah I like this especially when McRae switches to cooing on the chorus that reminds me a lot of Ariana Grande on "Positions". I'll take it. 

17. "I Know Love" by Tate McRae feat, The Kid Laroi

Oh xome on this is just Tate McRae and The Kid Laroi taking their flirting into the recording studio and it sounds embarrassing as all hell with Tate going on about she knows love when it hits. Now I actually like the hook but god damn, this song has very little substance otherwise especially when The Kid Laroi does his whiny yelping like a love sick puppy best.

13. "Revolving Door" by Tate McRae

Kind of stunned this is being pushed as a single especially as I just don't think it's better than "Purple Lace Bra" especially when the song exposes a lot of the issues around Tate's lack of charisma or actual personality. I kind of wish her song writing had more oomph or substance which again is a very real problem with this song.

So yeah...that was our week. Giving best to "Purple Lace Bra" by Tate McRse and the worst to "Revolving Door" also by Tate McRae although that hook only just saved "I Know Love"

Next week...who knows?

All 4 1994: 27th February. Cornflake Girl Without Anything Sings Hallelujah to Heaven

 Ahh...so this one is going to be a little late, blame my procrastination but hey a week like this one will do it to you where Cut 'N' Move's "Give It Up" remains at number one for another week. it's actually starting to look shaky and when we look further down the chart, you'll see why

The challenge for the top spot certainly isn't going to come from "Asshole" by Denis Leary which returned to number two ahead of "Slave to the Music" by Twenty 4 Seven feat. Stay-C and Nance down to number three whose challenge looks to have come to end.

The sane can be said for "All For Love" by Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart at number four and "Stay (Faraway. So Close!)" by U2 remains at number five. 

M People's "Moving On Up" stalls at number six however the challenger for number one comes from our first of two new arrivals to the top ten with "It's Alright" by East 17 climbing from twenty five to seven, this has a massive amount of momentum and could make a play for the top as early as next week.

What's not making a play is "Shoop" by Salt 'n' Pepa which slipped one to number eight and "Hero" by Mariah Carey which lost some of it's regained traction down to number nine.

Finally rounding out our top ten is the second of the new arrivals to the top which is "Feelin' Alright" b EYC which rose one...Blergh but I'll take it over that god damn awful Michael Bolton song.

Losses

Like we normally do let's look at the big losers, down nine to fifty is "Let's Get It On" by Peter Andre as his funky junky slips away. 

"Green Limousine" by The Badloves is running out of petrol down eight places to forty four. The same goes for Caligula's "Tears of a Clown" which slumped eight to forty two. 

"The Key. The Secret" by Urban Cookie Collective is increasingly starting to look like it lost the key and the secret to chart success as the song slipped from thirty five to forty one.

"Relax '93" by Frankie goes to Hollywood slipped nine to thirty eight whlle "All That She Wants" by Ace of Base was one of the biggest losers of the week down eleven to thirty two. 

The audio torture that is "Somebody Dance With Me" by DJ BoBo also took a nine place slide to thirty one. 

Biggest disappointment of this week was the seven place slide to thirty for Soundgarden's "Spoonman"...come on the song is excellent! however not going to complain that "Dirty Dawg" by NKOTB dipped seven to twenty seven.

Finally "Boom! Shake the Room" by DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince seems to be on it's way out naturally down seven to twenty. 

Gains

The gains are a bit easier this week because apart from the big gain into the top ten for "It's Alright" by East 17. We also got a decent nine place gain for Celine Dion's cover of "The Power of Love" 

Also unfortunately got an eight place gain for the increasingly corny "Now and Forever" by Richard Maex up to  sixteen for some inexplicable reason. 

Re Entries

One re entry this week courtesy of DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince with "I'm Looking Fpr the One (To Be With Me)" back at forty eight. 

New Entries

Six new entries this week...yeah...it's a busy one...beginning with...

47. "Without You" by Mariah Carey

Oh great...we're starting off with a cover of a song that I really cringe at everytime I hear it mostly because it sounds so god damn overwrought and clingy like this person who has had enough and wants out of the relationship is somehow responsible for living this partner's life...it's icky so yeah that's my feelings on Harry Nilsson's 1972 hit that Mariah Carey is covering here and yeah, the same issues I had with the original show here because my god the overwrought singing these guilt trippy lyrics just makes me cringe, Mariah has a great voice but my god, there were far better songs she could have covered instead of this cloying, icky song. Next!

40. "One Night in Heaven" by M People

So we have the follow up to "Moving On Up" and unfortunately...it's not as good as that song. Sure the lead vocals are great but that weird nineties dance groove doesn't sound like somebody being taken to heaven in one night for as much as the vocals try to sell it. I don't know...I like the hook but this song is not doing a lot for me. That's all. 

37. "Dum Da Dum" by Melodie MC

Alright, a Swedish MC going by the name Melodie MC sampling "Feel That Beat" by 2 Static and I don't know but I dig this a bit!. The melody is punchy and has this tendency ro get stuck in your head a fair bit along with that hook. Melodie MC can certainly flow even if I am not convinced his bars are all that good just empty bragging and flexing but you know what? I'll take this, it's a cool dance rap jam. 

26. "Cornflake Girl" by Tori Amos

Lead single from Tori Amos second studio album entitled "Under the Pink" and yeah, holy hell, this is a damn great song! I love the piano and now it adds to the song where Amos has said the inspiration was derived from conversations with a friend about female genital mutilation in Africa and how often it was the closest fenale family member doing the operation and the betrayal to the victim of the operation. Amos said those who did this were called "Cornflake Girls" and yeah it hits...terrific song!

25. "Sing Hallelujah!" by Dr Alban

Another big beat dance rap song that unlike "Dum Da Dum" lacks the punch from Dr Alban in the rapping especiallhy when the verses seem so short and derivative, theyfeel like empty words for partying, the best parts of this song are the female vocals on the hook which at least have harmonies but when the handclaps come in I was about done with this song. Yeah, not a fan...next! 

14. "Anything" by Culture Beat.

Kind of surprised this one debuted so high but I guess after having a decent sized hit, this German Eurodance act had to roll the dice again with this third single from "Serenity" and honestly of the big beat songs that dropped this week...this is one I don't mind even if that melody doesn't change much and the vocals on the hook seem way too low in the mix but the rapping has punch and flow which I like plus the guy has some charisma...I don't mind this. 

However best of the Week is going to Tori Amos for "Cornflake Girl"...what can I say,,,I love it. 

As for the worsr...nothing to egregious this week but I'm giving it to "Sing Hallelujah" by Dr Alban for just not having much to it at all.