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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Losers

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

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

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

Gains

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

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

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

New Entries

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

46. "Get What You Give" by New Radicals

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

44. "Fly Away" by Lenny Kravitz

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

3. "Anthem for the Year 2000" by Silverchair

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Losers

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

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

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

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

Re-Entries

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

Gains

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

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

New Entries

Three new entries beginning with...

46. "Everlasting Night" by Danni Minogue

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

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

32. "Touch It" by Monifah

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Losers

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

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

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

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

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

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

Gains

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

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

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

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

Re Entries

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

New Entries

Just one new entry this week.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Losers

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

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

Gains

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

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

New Entries

Three new entries this week beginning wuth...

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

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

48. "Praise You" by Fatboy Slim

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

44. "Save Tonight" by Eagle Eye Cherry

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Losers

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

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

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

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

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

Re-Entries

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

Gains

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

New Entries

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

49. "This Kiss" by Faith Hill

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

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

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

34. "Heartbeat" by Steps

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

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

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

Damn near great pop song, check this out!

19. "Chocolate Salty Balls" by Chef

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

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

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

9. "Lullaby" by Shawn Mullins

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Losers

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

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

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

Gains

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

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

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

Re-Entries

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

New Entries

Five new entries beginning with

40. "Miami" by Will Smith

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

39. "Have You Ever?" by Brandy

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

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

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

34. "Big Big World" by Emilia

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Losers

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

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

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

Gains

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

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

Re- Entries

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

New Entries

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

45, "Slide" by Goo Goo Dolls

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Losers

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

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

Gains

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

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

Re-Entries

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

New Entries

Three new entries this week, beginning with...

48. "1999' by Prince

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

42. "Smoke" by Natalie Imbruglia

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

35. "Got The Feelin'" by Five 

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

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

Pretty Fly (For 1999): January 3rd I Want You Body Movin' That Thing to Doo Wop and Back

 Hello final year of the 20th century and we start out 1999 with a reasonable chunk of new arrivals and a bit of movement in our top ten so why don't we start there because we do have a bit of a duopoly going on with The Offspring at number one with "Pretty Fly (For A White Guy), this song has a decent sales margin over "Believe" by Cher which sits at number two for another week.

Then we have the cover of Gordon Lightfoot's "If You Could Read My Mind" by Stars on 54 which climbed four places to number three, it's likewise for the Spice Girls as "Goodbye" also crawled up four to number four this week.

Not the case for Jennifer Paige though as her former chart topper "Crush" slipped two to number five, it's similuar also for "Finally Found" by Honeyz down two to number six and "Rollercoaster" by B*Witched down two to number seven.

"Time of Your Life (Good Riddance)" by Green Day slipped two back to number eight.

We have two songs entering the top ten this week with the first of those being 'When You're Gone" by Bryan Adams and Mel C up two spots to number 9 while "Jackie" bv B.Z feat. Joanne got a five place gain to number ten (I have a feeling this song might be going to be a chart topper with how catchy it is).

Losers

Steve Dundon's owe to the Adelaide Crows going back to back in the AFL "It's the Crows Again" slipped seven spots to fifty. "Under the Bridge" by All Saints fell down twelve to forty two (it's a weird song that one, it uses the hook of the Red Hot Chili Peppers classic) and Lightbouse Family stimbled six spots to forty with "Raincloud".

SOAP's "Ladidi Ladida" got hit with some seven place ladida to thirty six while "Thank U" by Alanis Morrisette slid from twenty six to thirty three.

Spice Girls 1998 top ten smash "Viva Forever" tumbled from twenty four to sixteen while Five's "Everybody Get Up" utterly just sit down hard to go from nine to twenty one...ouch. 

Gains

We got a decently big amount of gains here with "When You Believe" by Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston rose ten places to twenty three. 

Mousse T. vs Hot 'n' Juicy continue to get spicy as "Horny '98" climbed seven spots to fourteen.

LCD are dancing up nine to fifteen with "Zorba's Dance" while people agree with Stardust as "Music Sounds Better With You" climbed eleven slots to seventeen. Pandora's "A Little Bit" jumped twelve slots to twenty six. George Michael's "Outside" also did the twelve spot drive up to thirty.

Hole's pretty great song "Malibu" got a huge leap from forty nine to thirty one. 

Re-Entries

Just one return with "If You Buy This Record Your Life WIll Be Better" by The Tamperer feat. Maya back at forty one.

New Entries

Three new entries this week and to start our travel through 1999, let's start with...

49. "Body Movin'" by Beastie Boys

So this is the follow up to the successful "Intergalactic", its the second single from Beastie Boys fifth album "Hello Nasty" and it sucks to say that we are off to a rough start in 1999 in the reviews because geezus christ, how mant times must the title of the song be repeated until it gets completely tiresome makes me want to throw things out the window and I lost interest in the song even with that nicely used sample of "Fydo" by The Byrds. The Beastie Boys are capable of so much better than THIS as they proved with "Intergalactic" in 1998. 

45. "Doo Woop (That Thing)" by Lauryn Hill

It kind of feels redundant to write about this song because dear god...this song comes from Hill's debut solo album "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill". The song's subject matter is a warning to African-American wen and women to be careful when they are caught in 'the struggle" especially guys who are into the rims of their car, shoes and their women while ladies are warned not to let "that thing" ruin their lives. Its definitely more conservative leaning but hey, that production and Lauryn Hill's voice make this song one that must be heard. Great song!

43. "I Want You Back" by *NSYNC

So we have a Max Martin written dance-pop song from an American boyband called *NSYNC, this being the lead single from their self titled debut album and really...it's pretty standard bpyband song about how this girl is all he ever wanted and needed in his life and now that she is gone, he wants her back but the production has this weird layer of creepiness, it just feels a bit too dark for a song all about trying to win back the affections of this girl who has clearly up and left for good reason. *NSYNC do have some nice moments of good harmonies but overall...not really a fan of this.

Yeah, that wraps up the week and "Doo Wop (That Thing)" by Lauryn Hill is absolutely running away with best of the week. "Body Movin'" by Beastie Boys nabs the worst for being an annoyance to my eardrums.