Pretty Fly (For 1999): 30th May Get Set and Swear to Kiss Me Again

 Let's dive straight into the week because really there isn't that much to talk about before hand, it's a pretty standard week here especially because remaining at number one is "No Sctubs" by TLC, this song has sales on lock at the moment and doesn't look to be under any threat.

That threat is not going to come from "We Like to Party (The Vengabus)" by The Vengaboys which held steady at number two this week but it is coming under pressure from "I Want it That Way" by Backstreet Boys which rose four places to number three. 

Geri Halliwell's "Look At Me" fell one slot to number four and "Why Don't You Get a Job" by The Offspring slipped one to number five.

New into the top ten this week is "Livin' La Vida Loca" by Ricky Martin which jumped five slots to number six and looks good to go even higher in the weeks ahead.

All this saw "Baby One More Time" by Britney Spears fall two places back to number seven, it's on its way out, we're due a second single from Britney in the next few weeks or so. 

Billie Piper's "Honey to the Bee" added no new bees by staying at number eight while Savage Garden's "The Animal Song" stumbled three spots to to number nine.

Finally "Thank Abba for the Music" by Steps, Tina Cousins, Cleopatra, B*Witched and Billie Piper remained at number ten.

Losers

So let's take a gander at what happened outside the top ten. "Put Your Hands Up" by The Black White Brothers is having a put your hands down nine to forty five this week. 

"This Kiss" by Faith Hill is on it's way out down from thirty five to forty one while N*Sync's "Tearin' Up My Heart" is being torn down six to thirty seven. 

:"That Din't Impress Me Much" by Shania Twain also took a sharp fall sliding eleven places to twenty three while Silverchair's "Ana's Song (Open Fire)" unfortunately fell seven places off it's debut to twenty one. 

Gains

Not much in the way of gains this week with ATB continuing to move up with "9 PM (Til I Come)" up nine to being on the cusp of the top ten at number eleven. 

"Right Here, Right Now" by Fatboy Slim did climb from thirty four to twenty eight while 4 The Cause's cover of "Stand by Me" continues to hang around like a bad bacterial infection climbing from forty two to thirty six this week. 

Re-Entries

Three songs re-entered this week with "Westside" by TQ at forty eight, "Every Me, Every You" by Placebo at forty nine and "All Torn Down" by The Living End at fifty.

New Entries

Three new entries this week, beginning with...

47. "Swear It Again" by Westlife

We starting in Ireland this week courtesy of brand new boy band Westlife and their debut single from their self titled debut album. This song did debut at number one in the UK so I was curious as to what this new five piece boy band could deliver and it turns out that this is a modest little piano based pop ballad with a really big hook that works for what it is and not really much more than that. 

The content of the song is actually interesting where the narrator is addressing rumours being put around that he is getting ready to up and leave his girlfriend/wife and is seeking to reassure her that he will stay with her and swear his love over and over again if that is what is takes. It's a cute song but probably not one that I am going to seek out.

39. "Get Set" by Taxiride

Heading back to a local acts and another band debuting on the charts this week, Taxiride are a four piece band that formed in Melbourne with this song from their debut album "Imaginate" so I was curious as to what could have made this song chart and yeah I think I get it because "Get Set" is one of the most vocal harmony infused pop rock songs to date where they are truly one of the best features of this song along with that driving groove and lyrics that are all about creating your own path, go getting and creating own hope for the future. Terrific song, definitely check this one out. 

14. "Kiss Me" by Sixpence None the Richer

Ending of the week with American Christian alt rock courtesy of Sixpence None the Richer and like both Westlife and Taxiride before them this week, "Kiss Me" Sixpence None the Richer's first single to hit the Australian charts. Now thuis is a bit of a breezy pop/rock song with those acoustic guitars and a keyboard playing fairly close to a sound like an accordion or concertina which is kind of impressive to me!. The content dives love song territory where the narrator just wants the person they are with to kiss them for the first time no matter where they are. It's a bit cloying for me but it's not a bad song just one I could get sick of  if it sticks around.

That wraps up the week and I am not going to give out a worst of thr week this week mostly because none of the new songs are that bad however I am going to give best of the week to "Get Set" by Taxirude because that song is absolutely awesome, 

Pretty Fly (For 1999): 23rd May. Sinner Look At Me Shimmer and have the Time Of Our Lives

So I haven't got much time to be wasted here today so let's skip the preamble and get straight into the top ten where for yet another week, it's "No Scrubs" by TLC at number one thanks to its continued strong margins on sales ahead of "We Like to Party (The Vengabus)" by The Vengaboys at number two.

However we do have a new entry at number three with the debut solo single from former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell called "Look at Me", I'll talk more about the song later, it's here probably mostly due to Spice Girls fans and curiosity factor.

It did help push "Why Don't You Get A Job" by The Offspring back to number four, this song has peaked and should be on the way out soon. 

Former number one "Baby, One More Time" by Britney Spears remained steady at number five, I expect this song's exit to be slow, graceful and steady.

Slipping two spots to number four is "The Animal Song" by Savage Garden while "I Want It That Way" by The Backstreet Boys slipped one off it's debut to number seven.

"Honey to The Bee" by Billie Piper climbed two slots to number eight thanks to some good sales while Monifah's vice like grip on number seven finally crumbled and it fell two to number nine 

The tribute to ABBA by Steps, Tina Cousins, Billie Piper, B*Witched and Cleopatra "Thank ABBA for the Music" jumped into the top ten up one spot to number ten. 

Losers

The big losses are plentiful this week with "Lullaby" by Shawn Mullins bidding adieu to his time on the chart down fourteen to fifty. "Girlfriend/Boyfriend" by Blackstreet slipped twelve to forty nine. 

I am perfectly fine with "Stay the Same" by Joey McIntyre sliding seven to forty seven..the song still sucks, even better is the horrendous cover of "Stand by Me" by 4 the Cause down from twenty eight to forty two. 

Sadly, "Save Tonight" by Eagle Eye Cherry fell ten placs to forty wich is a shame because that song is really good. "Enjoy Yourself" by A+ skidded down from thirty two to thirty nine. 

"This Kiss" by Faith Hill is getting a little cold down eight to thirty five while the public finally appear to be done with "No Matter What" by Boyzone as that collapsed out of the top ten to number twenty three. 

 In the anathema of bad songs taking losses this week joins Dru Hill with "How Deep is Your Love" down from thirteen to twenty one this week...thank goodness!

Gains

So we did have two decent gains this week with the most notable being the rise of "9pm (Til I Come)" by ATB moving up eleven to break into the top twenty at twenty snd Ilanda's "It's Our Time" found a second wind this week up from forty nine to thirty while

of someon

New Entries

Five new entries this week beginning with...

48. "Unforgivable Sinner"  by Lene Marlin

A Norweigan singer-songwriter begins our reviews this week with this being Lene Marlin's first song to hit the ARIA singles chart and I am stunned its even here at all because this song is a harrowing one that centres on the overriding shame and guilt that comrs from causing the death someone close along with the responsibility and regret that they have been saddled with for the rest of their lives and longing for forgiveness that may not ever come...all this is juxtaposed with production that is more acoustic but weirdly upbeat given the sombr and deeply unsettling nature of the content of the song. I like it, hope it sticks around.

45 "Shimmer"  by Fuel

Fuel is another first time entrant to the ARIA singles chart with this song being from the 1998 album "Sunburn" and again this is another song that really dives into emotional turmoil with the production to match this time...this song songs dark from the guitars that don't ever really hit the point of shredding but do their job and drums that keep a steady rhythm as the content dives into the narrator's ideal "perfect" relationship only to realize that that ideal relationship is just a long held illusion that will shimmer and fade away leaving him with nothing but the painful reality that this relationship he is in is nowhere near perfect and in fact he is watching something that was beautiful die in real time.. In short it's another pretty damn good song, check it out. 

32. "Time of Our Lives" by Marcia Hines

First of two Australian new entries this week and a nice change up from the dark subject matter we've been dealing with courtesy of Australian music legend Marcia Hines who brings some good old pop soul and she can sell this in her sleep with those vocals and the production is just bouncy and honestly just radiates the joy of meeting the guy she is done with being friends and wanting to be something more and them reciprocating. Fun song that is definitely a mood lifter. 

14. "Ana's Song (Open Fire)" by Silverchair

Trigger Warning: Discussions of mental health and eating disorders.

Second of the Australian new entries and the second single from Neon Ballroom for Silverchair and wow...this is one hits a real nerve because it's all about Daniel Johns battle with anorexia  which came about as a result of depression and anxiety with the lyrics a pretty confronting image of just how anorexia hit Johns with him admitting he'd eat enough to "stay awake", Ana being the shorthand for anorexia. This just in the content hits hard but it's Daniel himself whose vocal delivery is just raw and devastating, it cuts you to ribbons inside. The drums and guitars all go off and this song just punches so god damn hard, it's worth a listen. 

3. "Look at Me" by Geri Halliwell

So Geri Halliwell has left the Spice Girls and the realm of girl power for a solo career with this being her debut solo single, I will say she was not the strongest vocalist in the group but she does possess a lot of charisma and personality which does help to some degree, I say this because "Look At Me" is not really that good, the song plays for musical theatre that I guess kind of suits Geri to an extent given how her vocals have been produced here however the lyrics and content of the song strike me as odd, she pokes fun at being famous courtesy of being in one of the biggest pop groups of the 90s but she's still famous regardless?

This just doesn't hit in the way that I think those in the Geri Halliwell camp would have been hoping for. Curiosity got this song as high as this...I don't see it sticking around.

It's worst of the week. As for the best...ahh...that's going to "Ana's Song (Open Fire)" by Silverchair but man it was close. 

Pretty Fly (For 1999). 16th May. I Want to Run Dizzy That Way.

 So a pretty bog standard week here although it appears the top three has calmed somewhat so lets dive into the top ten where for yet another week, it's "No Scrubs" by TLC at the top as they held a nice lead on sales over "We Like to Party (The Vengabus)" by The Vengaboys at number two and "Why Don't You Get A Job" by The Offspring at number three.

From there, the bizarre run of "The Animal Song" by Savage Garden continues as it is up one to number four in a swap with " Baby One More time" by Britney Spears which fell back one to number five.

There's a new entry at number six courtesy of the Backstreet Boys with "I Want It That Way". More on this song in the new entries but you'd expect it'd be strong on sales given the current state of boy bands on the charts right now. 

"Touch It" by Monifah continues to cling to number serven for another week like a semi naked stripper dancing for their life.

Slipping two slots to number eight is "That Don't Impress Me Much" by Shania Twaiin while somehow back in the top ten is Boyzone's "No Matter What" because apparently Australia still love sloppy boybanad ballads...ugh.

Hanging in at number ten for another week is "Honey to the bee" by Billie Piper

Losers

"It's Our Time" by Ilanda dropped from forty one to forty nine proving that it's not their time to rise on the singles chart yet. 

"Put Your Hands Up" by The Black and White Brothers slipped eight places to forty two while "Lullaby" by Shawn Mullins is being lulled to move off the chart down eight to thirty eight. 

"This Kiss" by Faith Hill slumped eight to twenty seven...thankfully...it'll make the year end though while "Anthem For the Year 2000" by Silverchair dived from fiften to twenty two. 

New Radicals "Get What You Give" slump seven to twenty, bit annoyed about that fall if I am going to blunt...it's a great song and deserves top ten already.

The time is up for Five in the top ten as "Until the Time is Through" fell eight slots to seventeen while "Fly Away" by Lenny Kravitz slipped from nine to fifteen. 

Gains

So we do have some gains to go through, the biggest one being "Livin' La Vida Loca" by Ricky Martin rising from twenty five to twelve this week, it's flying toward the top ten.

Sadly, I am that thrilled with the sudden seven place rise for "How Deep is Your Love" by Dru Hill to thirteen. 

I am much happier with "9pm (Til I Come)" by atb up from thirty one to thirty eight while "Say It Once" by Ultra got a nice gain from forty seven to thirty three. 

Re-Entries

Just the one return this wee with "Lucky Me" by Bachelor Girl back at number forty three.

New Entries

Three new entries this week, let's start with...

50. "Dizzy" by The Goo Goo Dolls

So this is the latest single from "Dizzy Up the Girl" and given how much I loved both "Iris' and "Slide", maybe this one would also be good to great? Sadly no, and I think that comes back to the weird production around John Rzenik's vocals that make him sound rather thin and like there's no punch to what he is singing and that's a shame because the production here is not bad, the guitars are sharp and even though I wish the drums hit harder, they are okay. I think I'll pass on this song. 

48. "Run" by Collective Soul

So the latest single from Collective Soul and this might be one of this band's best, a song that ponders if life thats spinning on it's same axis ever truly gets better than what he is experiencing because right now he is bored with where life is taking him and now he just wants to run to see if he can find something in his life that might make that axis that his life ight now spin just a little differently.

This song hits like a damn freight train for me, I am not going to get into a lot of it for privacy reasons but yeah, I can relate to that feeling of life being on a loop and when those harmonies on the hook kick in...yeah...I'm crying ...might be best to move on but this is a damn great song and well worth your time. 

6. "I Want It That Way" by Backstreet Boys

The lead single from Backstreet Boys album "Millennium" and yeah, this probably one of the better boyband songs of the year given the gentle guitar opening and the boys sounding fantastic in the mix especially over that guitar that opens the song and then that drum beat that helps build into one of the more nonsensical choruses of the 1990s! Seriously, if you can make sense of that mangled chorus than you are doing better than me, at best I can decipher about that this song is about a long distance relationship that is slowly falling apart and he doesn't want that to happen because he is still in love with her. 

Also I love the harmoies on that final bridge, it's a nice touch for one of the most not straightforward boyband pop songs in awhile. 

It's not best of the week because that's going to Collective Soul for "Run"...that song hit a nerve with me. Worst of the week is going to "Dizzy" by The Goo Goo Dolls.. not really that bad but it's disappointing given how great "Slide" was. 

Pretty Fly (For 1999). 9th May. Every You Stay Livin' La Vida Loca on the Westside

We have a bit of a wild week at hand here where remarkably our top ten feels the calmest it has been in awhile so let's jump right into that where for a second week "No Scrubs" by TLC remains at number one. It's got a comfortable margin ahead of "We Like to Party (The Vengabus" by The Vengaboys which moved up one to number two this week given some renewed strength,

It pushed past "Why Don't You Get A Job" by The Offspring down one two number three. From there we have four songs remaining in their position from last week, those being "Baby, One More Time" by Britney Spears at number four "The Animal Song" by Savage Garden at number five, "That Don't Impress Me Much" by Shania Twain at number six and "Touch It by Monifah at number seven (I think "Touch It" is pretty much done, it's stalling out and will be on the downswing soon), 

"Until the Time is Through" by Five jumped one spot to number eight..glad to see this doing well, it got the better of "Fly Away" by Lenny Kravitz down one to number nine.

Finally we have a newer song into the top ten courtesy of "Honey to the Bee" by Billie Piper which climbed ten spots to number ten...I'm mostly okay with this for now. 

Losers

Jennifer Love Hewitt's "How Do I Deal?" is heading rapidly toward an exit from the top fifty down twelve to forty eight, "Praise You" by Fatboy Slim continues to underperform as it slipped six to forty. 

Blackstreet's underwhelming "Girlfriend/Boyfriend" with Janet Jackson broke up hardcore diving from sixten to thirty three. 

"Smile 'N' Shine" by Pandora is frowning and starting to hide as it slipped nine slots to thirty one., it's a similar case for "You Don't Know Me" by Armand Van Helden and Duane Harden down nine to twenty four and Brandy's "Have You Ever' down eight to twenry two.

"This Kiss" by Faith Hill felt the kiss of the downswing by the Australian public so it crumbled from eleven to nineteen.

Gains

I am not exactly wild with excitement about our gains this week even though we did see New Radicals finally get a good ten place push thirteen, I'll mostly tolerate the "Thank ABBA for the Music" by Steps, Tina Cousins. B*Witched, Cleopatra and Billie up ten to sixteen and also the six place gain to eighteen for "Protect Your Mind (Braveheart" by DJ Sakin and Friends 

The rest though...yeesh..."Put Your Hands Up" by The Black and White Brothers climbed eight to thirty four because somehow that sound is attractive and the less good Fatboy Slim song "Right Here, Right Now" got a nine place boost to thirty seven,,,blergh,

New Entries

Six new entries this week beginning with...

50. "Westside" by TQ

So ws begin our week with the debut single from Terence Quailes who performs under the name of TQ, he is an R'n"B singer from out of the USA and he does desdicate this song to deceased rappers Tupac Shakur and Eazy-E and hails rappers from his native California and a love letter to the culture of California (which might feel weird to some in 2026) but I do like this, it's got a lot of easy charm and the song does sound well produced with the guitar and piano. I just wish we heard more personality from TQ himself here. Good song but I want to hear more. 

47. "Say It Once" by Ultra

So here have the second single and follow to debut single "Say You Do" from British pop group Ultra, it turns out that this song "Say It Once" is a choppy but pretty catchy breezy pop love song that's kind of charming in how god damn basic it is especially in the lyrics department where he wants this girl to quit being quiet and express her love for him that night because tomorrow is likely going to be too late, in other words he wants her to confirm she loves him before he decides to move on from her the next day and honestly that sentiment can feel a bit pushy to me. Good song though. 

46. "Every You Every Me" by Placebo

Now we dive headfirst into something that might look like a dysfunctional relationship courtesy of this song by UK band Placebo, this is just some solid indie rock with the vocals reminiscent of Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins, I do like the melody that's provided by the guitars even if does feel a bit like it's chugging. The content of the song is pretty good here, a toxic relationship where it's clear that what is going on between the pair of them is destructive, toxic and will do incredible amounts of harm to both emotionally and mentally., there's a break up in the works here but the song never gets that far. It's decent but I am not sure it sticks in the head. 

44/ "Awful" by Hole

The latest single from Hole's album "Celebrity Skin" which dives deep into the commodification of fame and how modern media is corrupting the hearts and minds of teenage girls around the world which is quite dark lyrically and the lyrics do have a good standpoint however the vocal production on this song is absolute crap, Courtney Love's vocals are buried behind the guitar and drums which drives me absolutely insane, it doesn't sound good and makes me question if the mic in the studio was working when they recorded the song. 

43. "Stay The Same" by Joey McIntyre

Debut solo single from former member of New Kids on the Block Joey McIntyre and dear god, this is the epitome of bland mush where he doesn't want this girl to change or be anyone else, he just wants her to stay the same like tastes and ideals don't change as someone evolves and grows into their own identity, there's just something very icky and cloying about this song that is just incredibly offputing for me so yeah I'd probably move on from this as quickly as I can. 

25. "Livin' La Vida Loca" by Ricky Martin

Considering the insane 1998 Ricky Martin had, I am surprised it took him this long to follow up "Maria" but it's here now and damn this is just one hell of a great Latin pop song! Ricky Martin's charisma could sell communal pooping positively! Throw in the insanely good sounding horns and lyrics all about hiw crazy this girl is and how she's living the crazy life and wants him to join in...I'm fairly certain that if I didn't have hang ups about public nakedness that I would want to take my clothes off and go dancing in the rain with Ricky and this girl. Great song!

It's the best of the week here too. Not going to ignore a god damn geeat pop song. Worst of the week goes to whatever "Stay the Same" by Joey McIntyre is. 

Pretty Fly (For 1999): 2nd May. Blame It on Millennium Bleeding Love Here Right Now, Lucky Me!

So we have quite the week in front of us with most of all of the new entries in the bottom half of the top fifty and the usual array of movement that we may as well get started straight away with the top ten where we have a new number one that being "No Scrubs" by TLC which moved up three slots to take the top spot, it's sales are excellent and I can see this being a stable number one for the time being. 

It held off "Why Don't You Get a Job?" by The Offspring at number two and "We Like to Party (The Vengabus)" by The Vengaboys at number three, both songs just couldn't go with "No Scrubs". 

Former number one "Baby, One More Time" by Britney Spears slipped back to number four with the bottom having fallen out of sales at this point, to the point it's going to come under pressure from the constantly yo yoing "The Animal Song" by Savage Garden which yo yoed back up one to number five, it was rnough to move past "That Don't Impress Me Much" by Shania Twain which slipped one to number six.

"Touch It" by Monifah continues to be annoyance refusing to move from number seven however it could come under pressure from the new arrival to the top ten this week courtesy of "Fly Away" by Lenny Kravitz up from thirteen to number eight.

"Until the Time is Through" by Five remains at number nine and "Anthme for the Year 2000" by Silverchair fell two slots to number ten. GG

Losers

It's all tearing down for The Living End with "All Torn Down" sliding from twenty six to forty one this week. 

Looks like the public aren't feeling "End of the Line" by Honeyz as it dipped ten to thirty five which is a shame as I really like that song still. "Lullaby" by Shawn Mullins dived from eighteen to thirty one. 

Gains

We have more big gains than losers this week beginning with "Honey to the Bee" by BIllie Piper up thirteen slots to twenty, this song is definitely catchy so I am not surprised to see this up off it's debut. 

Also up off it's debut last week is 4 the Cause with their cover of "Stand by Me" unfortunately up eight to twenty nine. 

"Last to Know" by Human Nature scored a ten place rebound to thirty two...delighted about this one while "Save Tonight" by Eagle Eyed Cherry is up eight to thirty three.

"9pm (Til I Come)" by atb gained nine slots to thirty seven this week in more pleasing news.

Really the only gain I am not thrilled about gaining is that of "Put Your Hands Up" by Black and White Brothers up eight to forty two...really, people? Come on, we can do better than this. 

New Entries

Six entries this week, beginning with...

50. "Love Lies Bleeding" by Sonic Animation

We're starting the week with an Australian dance and techno group called Sonic Animation and I'll give this song credit for actually being somewhat interesting and less repetitive with it's instrumentation and pretty solid base groove even if the lyrics are not anything to write home about, the content being about feeling ecstasy and desire  which makes sense for a song that would fit right in on the dancefloor. This song is fine enough but it's nothing I am going to come back to. 

49. "Millennium" by Robbie Williams

Time again to talk about the most successful solo member of Take That that being Robbie Williams and his new song that given we're heading to the new millennium because of course we had to have a song about it only this time Williams is taking inspiration from James Bond themes more specifically "You Only Live Twice" and satirically explores the jet set lifestyle and reflecting on the anticipation of the year 2000 within cuture and how generations going forward may lose some traditions which is actually not a bad tangent for this sort of song however I do think where the issue with this song is in how weirdly elegant the production is for a song about the future especially in the more orchestral arrangements...

Then again, it could be a case of past meeting future or something? Who knows? The song is pretty good, check it out if you are curious. 

48. "Blame It on the Weatherman" by B*Witched

Staying in the UK and we have the fourth single from B*Witched and I think I might like this better than any of their previous three singles more because yeah...this is pretty close to great with the storm sound effects, the gentle guitar and the girls harmonies on the hook. The song is about blaming the weatherman for the end of a relationship and using the horrible weather outside as justification for blaming the break up on the poor weatherman!

But yeah, I just love how this sounds and how the song builds and the vocals stacking on top of each other, this song is well worth yout time, check it out. 

46. "Right Here, Right Now" by Fatboy Slim

So we have the follow up to "Praise You" from Fatboy Slim and unfortunately I am not much of a fan of this at all, sure I get the instrumental appeal but that breathy voice going "Right here/..ight now" hits the wall of being incredibly annoying, it's somewhat lucky that the instrumentation is somewhat memorable because otherwise I'd say this is annoyingly forgettable rather than annoying and mediocre. Next!

45. "It's Our Time" by Ilanda

Yeah we're finishing with Australians this week beginning with vocal harmony and dance group Ilanda's newest song "It's Our Time" and well...this song is good old fun time with the gleaming funk keys and a pretty solid groove to match that feels reminiscent of what CDB were able to do in the mid 90s although I will say the countdown in the middle of the song is somewhat a bit unnecesaary and doesn't really fit in with the smooth vibe of the song. It's not bad overall. 

43. "Lucky Me" by Bachelor Girl

Wrapping up the week with the latest single from Bachelor Girl, a pop rock song where this woman has everything she could want in life such as a nice house, car etc but is bemoaning the lack of compassion and love within their community where people have put material things above loving other people and demonstrating care and compasion towards others (somethig that has only been deomonstrated more and more in the 2020s) and Tania Doko's vocal delivery does well to communicate how fed up she is with the dynamic at play here, in short another pretty great song that deserves your attention

That conpletes our week and wow, best and worst do not fall out easy here. I think I am going to give worst of the week to "Right Here, Right Now" by Fatboy Slim, it's the song I care least about of our new arrivals.

As for the best, it's a tight go but I am going to give it to "Lucky Me" by Bachelor Girl mostly because i think the lyrics hit hard and play well for introspection.

Pretty Fly (For 1999): 25th April Protect Angel Bee of Mine and Thank 9pm

This week is going to be a long especially in terms of the new entries...there's seven of those this week however let's start with the top ten where "Baby, One More Time" by Britney Spears remains at number one but its sales are starting to slow a bit and it could find itself vulnerable. 

The challengers are beckoning too with "Why Don't You Get a Job?" by The Offspring which climbed one spot to number two, "We Like to Party (The Vengabus)" by The Vengaboys jumped three spots to number three and "No Scrubs" by TLC  which looks to have the better momentum of the three challengers as it skidattled up four spots to number four.

Of course all this could be because "That Don't Impress Me Much" by Shania Twain crashed three spots to number five and "The Animal Song" by Savage Garden down two to number sx. 

"Touch It" by Monifah remained unmoved by the chaos above it stuck at nnumber seven. "Anthem for the Year 2000" by Silverchair down thre to number eight.

What I was surprised to see was "Until the Time is Through" by Five up two into the top ten at number nine. "This Kiss" by Faith Hill slid one to number ten and thankfully looks to be done in the top ten.

Losers

So as you can imagine this week is messy so lets begin with "Heartbeat/Tragedy" by Steps which just utterly collapsed from nineteen to forty five. Former top ten hit "Jackie" by BZ and Joanne slumped from thirty to forty four.

"Last to Know" by Human Nature slipped eight to forty two while Pandora's "A Little Bit" slipped eleven to forty. 

Sadly Jennifer Love Hewitt's "How Do I Deal?" is not getting all the answers down from twenty two to thirty six. and in the loss I am surprised by,.."Changes" by 2pac lost all it's momentum to slide from number twelve to thirty five. 

"Doo Wop (That Thing)" by Lauryn Hill slumped ten slots to thirty four.

Gains

We did get some gains this week with the biggest gain of the week belonging to Eminem's "Hi! My Name Is" climing twenty spots to twenty one. "Every Morning" by Sugar Ray jumped eight to twenty three. 

Korn's "Freak On A Leash" found some more freak to gain eight spots to twenty three while The Living End are tearing up the charts with "All Torn Down" up ten to twenty six.  

New Entries

A nassuve seven new entries this week, beginning with...

50. "Put Your Hands Up" by The Black  and White Brothers

So the Black and White Brothers are an electronic duo hailing from Switzerland with this being the first snng to hit the ARIA singles chart and I'm sorry, I fucking hate this, the vocals are just nasal with nothing more than the lame "Put your hands up in the air" refrain that gets incrementally more annoying every time it is said by that neutered dog whistle of a voice over that bassline, 

We can do better than THIS! Come on..

48. "9pm (Til I Come)" by ATB

So we head to Germany for this song from DJ and producer ATB and mercifully this one doesn't hit the infernal annoyance the previous song does by actually having a dang solid guitar loop that winds up pretty catchy and the female vocals actually fit the song nicely, throw in the bassline and the song is actually pretty dang good for what is an electronic song with not much in the way of lyrics. 

Yeah, check this out, this is pretty good. 

37. "Stand by Me" by 4 the Cause

So we go from dance to r'n'b with 4 The Caause, an Illinois group that later moved to Germany and well this is exactly what you are thinking this is...a cover of Ben E. King's "Stand by Me" amd well. this is something of a mess, the hook is singing with other members repeating by rapping which hits the right point of being annoying and taking the emotion out of the song that King so carefully crafted, it sounds like a Glee performance...oh wait...Glee did this song somewhat better.  This is obnoxious...next!

33. "Honey to the Bee" by Billie Piper

Stepping back into the UK pop scene with this new song from Billie Piper who is actually involved with the next two new entries however "Honey to the Bee" is the latest single from Piper's album entitiled "Honey to the B" and you know what" If there's anything to be said about this song is that Billie does have some pipes, she sounds better on this song than she did on "Because I Want To" (that song is still incredibly obnoxious) but especially on softer songs like this one she sounds really good.

Also this song overall this song is a pretty damn good pop song even if the chorus doesn't quite pop in the way the bridge build suggest its going to and it helps that Piper is a commanding presence. The content is your standard pining love song where she's trying to convince this guy that he is meant for her that she's his honey to his bee. It's cute. Don't mind this overall. 

29. "Thank ABBA For The Music" by Steps, Tina Cousins, Cleopatra, B*Witched and Billie Piper

So this is a strange one, a bunch of established artists and groups like Steps, Tina Cousins and Cleopatra got together at rhe Brit Awards in February to perform a medley of ABBA songs beginning with "Take a Chance on Me", "Dancing Queen", "Mamma Mia" and "Thank You for the Music", now I will say they did stick wth melodies and there were no hackneyed changes apart from changing "you" to "ABBA" in "Tbank You for the Music".

However the issue with this song is the balance here, eleven women to two guys (Lee and H from Steps) and the lack of baritone that the guys could have provided is missing in the medley here. Don't get me wrong, the ladies all sound amazing and the harmonies on point. It's fine enough...nice tribute that just misses in one spot.

28. "Angel of Mine" by Monica

Swinging back to R'n'B with this song from Monica which was recorded by Eternal in 1997 and then re recorded by Monica for her second album "The Boy is Mine" and really, there's not much to say about this song. it's a pretty standard love song where Monica has found her soulmate and describes that meeting that soul mate ande' that instant pyrrhic feeling of an instant connection with that someone special over piano anf strings. Its sweet and cloying but I am not going to remember this song long term. 

27. "Protect Your Mind (Braveheart)" by DJ Sakin & Friends

We're ending the week with a song from a Turkish-German trance project DJ Sakin and friends. It's pretty much a love song that's centre focussed onsomeone who has found their "Braveheart", a warrior, who is willing able to fight for love, truth and justice and that this guy is her one true brave heart but I will say that I do like this form of trance where it blends in instrumentation from other countries like the Scotland's bagpipes and a bit of pan flute to make the song sound really evocative and majestic, it sounds almost unique!. Nice song, check it out if you are curious. 

That was our week, a long one but the worst of the week falls out easily...whatever the hell "Put Your Hands Up" by The Black and White Brothers was. I have no desire to hear that song again.

best of the week is a little harder but I am going to give it to ATB for "9pm (Til I Come)"

Pretty Fly (For 1999): 18th April. My name is Blackstreet

Bit of a slower week this week which allowed for something of a reset across the chart this week but as normal for the chart right now, there's no change at the top with Britney Spears maintaining her sttanglehold on the number one spot with "Baby, One More Time" however there are some challengers looming on the horizon.

That won't be "Thar Don't Impress Me Much" by Shania Twain as this has pretty much peaked at this point but it's hanging onto number two for grim death this week, it does open up an opportunity for "Wby Don't You Get A Job" by The Offspring at number three to move past it and contend for the number one slot in the weeks ahead.

The yoyo chart performance of "The Animal Song" by Savage Garden continues, this week it's up four to number four this week, it pushed past "Anthem for the year 2000" by Silverchair which slipped back one place to number five.

"We Like to Party (The Vengabus)" by The Vengaboys remains lodged at number six while "Touch It" by Monifah slipped two slots back to number seven. 

RIsing three to number eight is "No Scrubs" by TLC which is in a great position to make a play for higher spots on the chart, it's got the best momentum of anything here.

The final two songs in the top ten are pretty well done but remained in their slots from last week with "This Kiss" by Faith Hill at number nine and "No Matter What" by Boyzone at number ten...thank god, they'll be gone soon. 

Losers

Let's move on with iour losers here and we begin with "Nothing Really Matters" by Madoona down from forty two to forty nine...this song has pretty much been a none starter. 

"When You're Gone" by Bryan Adams and Mel C is also pretty much completely done this week down sx to forty,

"Last to Know" by Human Nature slumped nine spots to thirty four this week. Bit of a shame with this song because it's a damn good song. 

Former top five hit "Jackie" by BZ and Joanne slipped ten spots to thirty this week as people have realized that they can get Jackie off their minds.

Re Entries

Just the one return this week which came for "Got the Life" by Korn which returned at number forty eight.

Gains 

Only one major gain this week with "Enjoy Youtself" by A+ up ten spots to twenty six. 

New Entries

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

41. "Hi! My Name Is" by Eminem

The second single from The Slim Shady LP coming from Eminem who is otherwise knwn as Marshall Mathers III and hails from Missouri, this song features a rather well used sample of Labi Siffre's 1975 song "I Got The..." and togerther producer Dr Dre, Eminem has made an utterly hilarious song where in the first verse he asks kids if they like violence and if they want to see him put nine inch nails through each of his eyelids before saying he has to get his head straight as he cannot figure out which Spice Girl he wants to impregnate!

There's also some really interesting and thoughtful reflections on growing up that I appreciate a lot and the bars here do connect...this is a pretty damn good song. Check it out.

21. "Girlfriend/Boyfriend" by Blackstreet feat. Janet Jackson

Ending this week with a pretty clunky song from American R'n'B group Blackstreet bringing on pop legend in her own right, Janet Jackson and I have to be honest here...I hate this, yeah the interplay is nice but Janet sounds like she is fighting through the layers of production just to be heard here especially with that percussion that's slathered at the front of the mix. It's just not satisfying enough to warrant any more attention. I'm going to forget this exists.

It's worst of the week with the best of the week going to "My Name is" by Eminem. 

 

Pretty Fly (For 1999) 11th April. Tearin' Up Electricity Til Time Is Through for No Scrub

 We have a LONG week here...seven new entries and the top ten continues to be whatever it is mostly because the top two didn't change with "Baby, One More Time" by Britney Spears keeping the number one slot ahead of "That Don't Impress Me Much" by Shania Twain at number two.

However a new player for the top is emerging in the firm of "Why Don't You Get a Job" by The Offspring which jumped from eleven to number three, this has momentum on it's side big time as it blasted past "Anthem for the Year 2000" by Silverchair which slipped one to number four, 

"Touch It" by Monifah continues to climb much to my disgust, it's back up one spot to number five this week. 

The Vengabus has stalled! "We Like to Party (The Vengabus)" by Vengaboys is stuck in neutral at number six and is facing a threat from "Changes" by 2Pac which climbed two spots to number seven.

The rest of the top ten took dips this week with "The Animal Song" by Savage Garden down three to number eight, "This Kiss" by Faith Hill down two to number nine and finally "No Matter What" by Boyzone sliding five spots to number ten.

Losers

"Big Big World" by Emilia took a big big dump down eleven to be on the cusp of leaving the chart at number fifty. 

Chef's "Chocolate Salty Balls" have hit their used by date so they down ten slots to forty three wbile people have realized that "Nothing Really Matters" by Madonna doesn't really matter so it dived seven to forty two. 

Nobody's got the feeling with Five as "Got the Feelin'" just utterly collapsed from twenty eight to forty one. 

"Whiskey in the Jar" by Metallica is nearly three quarters empty in the chart jar as it dived nine spots to forty. 

People are tired of hearing about "Miami" from Will Smith clearlly as it skidattled eleven to thity eight. 

"When You're Gone" by Bryan Adams and Mel C is done as it slipped nine to thirty four while "How Do I Deal" by Jennifer Love Hewitt slipped nine to twenty six. 

Gains

We didn't have all that many major gains with the biggest gain of the week belonging to "Smile 'n' Shine" rising, smiling and shining all the way from forty seven to twenty nine. 

Honeyz follow up "End of the Line" rose six to twenty four.

Re-Entries

Just the one return with George Michael and Mary J. Blige collab "As" back at forty nine.

New Entries

Seven new entries this week, beginning with...

46. "Cigarettes Will Kill You" by Ben Lee

So I am going to be honest here...i am not a huge Bwn Lee fan, his voice can come off a little abrasive but here it does kind of work for the song especially wuth that repettive piano loop and Ben sliding closer to grunge in his vocal tone. The thing that is probably the most interesting about this song is the content where Lee frames the song around toxic relationships throough the lense of having a cigarette and how too much of a toxic habit will eventually kill you much like how a toxic relationship kills the people within it. Good song. 

39. "Electricity" by Something for Kate

Keeping the Australian flavour going, we have the latest for Something for Kate and this song is pretty dang great! I love the lyrics that focus on the breaking the limits of what humans can do in terms of wishing to move faster and find more energy and speed rather than be constrained being human, I guess it's more a thought of being more than a human being with superpowers? I also love the energy in the production that just radiates from the guitarwork here. Damn brilliant song, check it out!. 

33. "Freak On A Leash" by Korn

Was not expecting Korn, of all bands, to show up on the charts but here we are. "Freak on a Leash" is a single from the album 'Follow the Leader" and yeah, this is about as nu metal as it gets. I am not really a fan of distortion in music generally but it works fine here for what it is and the lyrics from Jonathan Davis that go into not allowing others comments and opinions to shape who he is or what he can be in the world. It's not really to my taste but hey, if nu metal and crunchy guitars that shred are your thing than check this out.

27. "Tearin' Up My Heart" by NSync

The firsr of two boy band songs to appear in the new entries this week with this one being the second single from NSync's debut album and I actually like this one more than "I Want You Back" more because the hook feels catchy and there's a resonance to the lyrics about where he is confused by this relationship which he knows is in trouble but he is unsure about whether to stay or go and it's slowly tearing him apart while she's witholding a decision on the relationship. It's a solid enough song that's got a better foundaton than "I Want You Back" so I'll take it.

22. "Strong Enough" by Cher

The follow up to "Believe" has arrived and sadly i am not really as much of a fan of this as I would like to be, the production feels way too elegant in some ways for a woman saying she's strong enough to move on without a deadbeat man who is sleeping with another woman in her life. At least, "Believe" worked for the dancefloor, this one feels more like an empowerment anthem that sounds scarcely believeable., not buying it. 

15. "Until the Time is Through" by Five

The latest single from Five and I think this one might be the best of the singles so far, it's less brash or abrasive as "If Ya Gettin' Down" and there's no forced rapping to be seen here, it's a gorgeous ballad wheree the group for a change sound great and there's none of that ridiculous rapping that has made them sound awful on previous singles but this hits the spot for its earnestness even if the idea of a couple staying together forever is a bit over reaching to some degree, still this is pretty cute. 

11. "No Scrubs" by TL,

We fimish off the week with the latest single from American R'n'B group TLC and they are back with a message for all those lazy blancmage men who are sponging off them, they are done with "scrubs" llke them and they won't tolerate getting with a guy who doesn't have a bit of cash to flash in his wallet and all three ladies can sell the attitude convincingly however Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes really is the best part of this song with her rap verse, it's punchy and nails the point. I also love the strings on this song. Good song, check it out.

That wraps our week and what a long week it is. Worst of the week is going to "Strong Enough" by Cher...it's the weakest of the songs here. Best is going to "Electricity" by Something for Kate. I really did like that song. 

Pretty Fly (For 1999). 4th April. End of the Line so Smile 'n' Shine!

 Kind of an abortive week at hand here, we've only got the two new entries to deal with but there has been a bunch of movement on the chart this week just not in our top three so let's get to our top ten where for yet another week it's "...Baby One More Time" by Britney Spears riding steady at number one and continues to hold off "That Don't Impress Me Much" by Shania Twain at number two and "Anthem for the Year 2000" by Silverchair at number three.

Now where things get interesting is outside of that top three because back up to number four is "The Animal Song" by Savage Garden which rebounded one spot this week, it was followed by "No Matter What" by Boyzone which unfortunately continued it's rebound from last week up one to number five.

However the worst news inside our top ten is the rebound from number ten to number six for "Touch It" by Monifah...ugh...really?

At least all of that had the benefit of pushing "This Kiss" by Faith Hill down three to number seven while jumping ten slots into the top ten is "We Lke to Party (The Vengabus)" by The Vengaboys to nimber eight...definitely wasn't expecting this song to do so well but hey, the hook is catchy even if the constant refrain of "Weliketoparty" is annoying.

Then we have two other new arrivals to our top ten with 2pac's "Changes" jumping from forty two to number nine, another great song and I do love the sample use while "Heartbeat" by Steps is also into the top ten up five to number ten. 

Losers

Alright so let's deal with the big fallers this week and we start with Korn's "Got This Life" which slipped nine spots to forty three while "Pretty Fly (For a White Guy" by The Offspring is heading toward jumping off the chart cliff at speed down from twenty eight to forty two. 

Now for the fall I am absolutely delighted about which is that "DooDah!" by Cartoons slipped ten spots to forty one this week. I cannot wait to see the back of this song. 

"Believe" by Cher is also headed for the exit after a wonderful run down from twenty one to thirty eight. 

Human Nature's "Last to Know" slipped nien to number twenty three which is kind of sad because it's a really good cover. 

Re-Entries

One return this week with "Enjoy Yourself" by A+ returning at number twenty nine

Gains

So we havr quite a few good gains outside of our top ten, let's start with Dru Hill's "How Deep Is Your Love" up from thirty six to eighteen this week. 

"You Don't Know Me" by Armand Van Helden feat. Duane Harden had a nice ten place gain to nineteen.  

Will Smith's "Miami" has been having a weird chart run, this week, it's up thirteen to twenty seven while "Every Morning" by Sugar Ray up twelve to thirty two.

"What It's LIke" by Everlast got a nice boost from forty seven to thirty four and "Praise You" by Fatboy Slim is up six to thirty six

New Entries

Two new entries, starting with...

47. "Smile 'n' Shine" by Pandora

So both new entries today are follow ups to previously successful songs, this one for Swedish singer Pandora was originally released in 1997 and is only just charting now in Australia and honestly? I'd be surprised if this one takes off as much as "A Little BIt" did given this song isn't quite as catchy as that song was and this song doesn't work to Pandora's strengths as a vocallist either. I don't know. It's that bad but it's not a song that I am willingly going to go back to either. 

30. "End of the Line' by Honeyz

We finally got the follow to Honeyz hit "Finally Found" and I think I might like this one a lot more than "Finally Found", there's just more to this song in the production and the group sound great with the harmonies as they beg this guy to make up his mind about the relationship either tell her to leave or show that he wants her to stay because the relationship has hit the end of line line and he needs to be a big boy and make a decision. Unfortunately i don't see this being as big as "Finally Found",,,that song has a really good hook but it would be nice if it sticks around. Check it out.

Yeah, it's also the best of the week. The worst of the week is going to "Smile 'n' Shine" by Pandora...it just doesn't work for me like her previous single did.

Pretty Fly (For 1999) 28th March: Last to Know Me So Why Don't You Get A Job?

 So this is the kind of week where its just as expected, there's this weird stability about the top four of the top ten and the new arrivals to the chart are more or less what is expected including one new debut in our top ten which we will get too but let's begin at the very top where Britney Spears still reigns courtesy of "Baby, One More Time", it's a comfortable number one at this point ahead of "That Don't Impress Me Much" by Shania Twain stuck at number two, "Anthem for the Year 2000" by Silverchair at number three and "This Kiss" by Faith Hill mercifully remaining glued to number four (frankly if this song climbs any fucking higher the temptation to scream will be too fucking great)

Then we have two songs rebounding after losses last week with "The Animal Song" by Savage Garden up one to number six and "No Matter What" by Boyzone somehow up three spots to number six...yeah, I am getting annoyed with how much the latter is sticking around. 

"Lullaby" by Shawn Mullins continues to be rocked to sleep at number seven while "Have You Ever" by Brandy climbs three places to number eight.

Now we get to our new entry at number nine and one I am going to have something to say about a bit later in this blog, it's "Why Don't You Get a Job" by The Offspring. This song has a huge chance of climbing higher in the weeks ahead so we will have to keep a watch on this song.

Finally in pleasing news. Monifah's "Touch It" slipped five spots to number ten. Good riddance to bad rubbish!

Losers

Nobody's moving to "Body Movin'" by Beastie Boys so that swan dived ten spots to forty eight this week while "Goodbye" by Spice Girls is heading toward the exit down from thirty nine to forty six.

Will Smith's "Miami" slipped eight to forty this week. Kind of sad this song wasn't  bigger...it's actually a pretty good song.

Dru Hill is finding out the public's love of "How Deep is Your Love" is not very deep so it's down twelve to thirty six while Madonna's "Nothing Really Matters" doesn't seem to care it fell ten to thirty two.

Former number one and this year's blog retrospective anthem "Pretty Fly (For A White Guy)" by The Offspring is on its way out as it tumbled from thirteen to twenty eight but we do have that new Offspring song to talk about. 

Gains

Our small group of gains are actually decent...I guess...Green Day's "Time of Your Life (Good Riddance)" climbed nine spots to thirty nine and apparently people can't get enough of Chef's "Chocolate Salty Balls" so that's up six to thirty.

The one gain that absolutely sucks an unbelieveable amount of ass is "DooDah!" by Cartoons which climbed from it's debut of forty seven last week to number thirty one this week and no, that is not good news. 

Re-Entries

We do have the one re-entry this week courtesy of Jennifer Paige's "Crush" which came back at number fifty. Don't mind because while it was a hit in 1998, it's a damn great song. 

New Entries

Four new entries this week beginning with...

47. "What It's Like" by Everlast

So Whitey Ford aka Everlast is an American, singer, rapper and songwriter, he was also a member of House of Pain but given what this song about, I will not be making comment on House of Pain's "Jump Around" here but focus on what "What It's Like" is about with its strong focus on people having empathy for those doing it tough and to not judge somebody going through a nightmare like being homeless through no fault of their own and I do like the pretty damn solid guitar lick and how the song is able to weave three stories in to send it's message. Good song, check it out if you are curious. 

29. "You Don't Know Me" by Armand Van Helden feat. Duane Harden

So two Americans team up here with pruducer Armand Van Helden teaming up with vocallist Duane Harden for what is actually a pretty good slice of New York house music with a somewhat glossy touch that kind of works in the song's favour in bringing the city club vibe to the song which feels somewhat appropriate given the song is about overcoming others judgements and reminding them the individual is something more than just superficial perceptions by others. Check it out if you are curious.

14. "Last to Know" by Human Nature

So this is the only pop song we're covering this week and it comes from Australia's own Human Nature and it's a cover of a song from 90s r'n'b group Color Me Badd (the band I tore apart for the atrocious "I Adore Mi Amor" back during Good 1992 Vibrations) and while the original felt a little too bare bones, Human Nature amp up the pop with some spare guitar, some keyboards and harmonies to question why they are the last find out why their partner isn't giving them the affection they should because they are giving that affection to another person. It's not better than "Cruel" (that song is a high water mark for Human Nature to me) but its certainly good, give it a spin. 

9. "Why Don't You Get A Job" by The Offspring. 

We run out the week with The Offspring's follow up to "Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)" and I am going to say this, this song can be a bit obnoxiious thanks to that vocal delivery but again just like with "Pretty Fky (For A White Guy)", "Why Don't You Get A Job?" is a hilarious repudiation of those who sit around at home spending other people's momey without ever actually earning a dollar themselves. One poor dude has to lose his gold digging girlfriend "in the worst kind of way" with the response being that he should stop handing over his hard earned on the hook. Goofy ass song but well worth checking out.

Nothing that really warrants worst of the week so I am nixing that for this week however as for best of the week? Tight go but I think I am going to give to "Last to Know" by Human Nature...yeah it's a cover but I'm a sucker for boyband harmonies. 

Pretty Fly (For 1999) 21st March. Every Morning As a DooDah Doodah

 So I am going to skip the preamble again this week mostly because I do have a bit to do in real life and I still have three year ebd lists that I need to write and get out however it's also a good thing that the top ten didn't change all that much with "...Baby, One More Time" by Britney Spears remaining a dominant number one.

"That Don't Impress Me Much" by Shania Twain just cannot bridge the gap and remains at number two, similar applies for the next four songs, those being "Anthem for the Year 2000" by Silverchair, "This Kiss" by Faith Hill at number four. "Touch It" by Monifah at number five and "The Animal Song" by Savage Garden at number six. 

The movement happens in the lower half of the top ren with "Lullaby" by Shawn Mullins up two slots to seven, it helped push "Jackie" by BZ and Joanne back one slot to number eight.

"No Matter What" by Boyzone rebounded done spot to number nine while "Doo Wop (Dat Thing" by Lauryn Hill slipped two places to number ten. 

Losers

"Tender" by Blur is feeling a bit tender this week after getting bashed ten slots to forty two. 

People have stopped sticking Chef's "Chocolate Salty Balls" in their mouthes and sucking them so it's down from twenty nine to thirty six. 

Emilia's "Big Big World" is actually becoming smaller, smaller as it shrunk eight to thirty one/

Five's "Got the Feelin'" has lost some feeling down ten slots to twenty nine. 

Gains

Thrilled to see "Changes" by 2Pac up eight slots to twelve this week. The party is kicking into gear for The Vengaboys as 'We Like to Party (The Vengabus)" climbed twenty two spots to fourteen.

"Fly Away" is unfortunately taking off for Lenny Kravitz up eight to eighteen while Dru Hill's "How Deep is Your Love" is realizing the love for that song is truly deep up ten to twenty four. 

The New Radicals are getting what they give with "Get What You Give" rising from forty one to twenty e

Finally Propellerheads "Crash!" jumped from forty nine to forty one. 

New Entries

Three new entries this week beginning withh...

47. "DooDah!" by Caetoons

First up is a Danish band called Cartoons and...oh dear god... this is basically a dance version of "Campdown Races" just with vocals going "Everybody sung this song, doo dah doo dah". Its Eurodance trash that is the epitome of annoying and obnoxious as hell, it's even missing the fiddle or banjo that could have given this song some country vibes, instead it's just chintzy and somewhat crappy attempt at Eurodance. Skip it!.

45. "As" by George Michael and Mary J. Blige

So this is a collaboration that I was not expecting on any kind of level, ome of the biggest pop acts of the 80s and 90s collaborating with American r'n'b star Mary J. Blige, I was interested in how this would turn out and rurns out its a smoother r'n'b love song with prominent finger snaps with George and Mary trading verses on the song, I actually really like this as they both sound awesome and there's some decent chemistry here. My only nitpick is the lack of harmonies on the hook and it can feel like it's being shouted at me which is not something I tend to like in music but otherwise good song!

43. 'Every Morning" by Sugar Ray

Third single from the album "14:59" and this on the surface sounds like some of the most breezy pop rock ever with that guitar riff that is at least memorable and the vocal delivery sounds light almost to a level comedic but these lyrics are dark, it's about this girl cheating on him and all that happens when somebody commits infidelity and when there is a temptation to cheat. I actually don't mind this, I do like the guitar lick and the vocal delivery here. I've heard worse in this vein

So that means best of the week is awkward but Ill give the edge to "Every Morning" by Sugar Ray. Worst of the week is not so hard...that's going to "Doo Dah!" by Cartoons...I hope that song does not become a thing because geezus fucking christ. 

Pretty Fly (For 1999): March 14th. Enjoy Tender Shazam Changes

Let's not waste any time here and jump straight into things beginning wth our top ten and nothing really changed with our top two with "...Baby, One More Time" by Britney Spears holding station at number one ahead of "That Don't Impress Me Much" by Shania Twain holding steady ar number two,

Rebounding two positions is Silverchair's "Anthem for the year 2000" to number three while "This Kiss" continues it's inexecrable run up three to number four. 

Speaking up inexecrable runs, Monifah's "Touch It" climbed twelve spots this week to number five because that's what the charts need...not. 

All this caused "The Animal Song" by Savage Garden to slide three to number six while "Jackie" by BZ and Joanne recovered one spot to number seven. 

"Doo Wop (Dat Thing)" by Lauryn Hill jumped two places to number eight. Finally, 'Lullaby" by Shawn Mullins stumbled three spots to number nine and "No Matter What" by Botzone fell one to number ten. 

Losers

The hits of 1998 are making their way out slowly but surely with "Hands" by Jewel losing it's grip down nine to fifty.

"Finally Found" by Honeyz is slowly finding it's way to the exit down eight spots to forty seven while "Time Of Your Life (Good Riddance" by Green Day has had the time of it's life on the chart but it fell ten spots to forty four.

"Slide" by Goo Goo Dolls lived up to its name sliding nine to thirty eight while "Body Movin'" by Beastie Boys slipped seven to thirty seven. Meanwhile Spice Girls continue their "Goodbye" tour down ten to thirty five. 

The biggest story though is that Cher's "Believe" collapsed out of the top ten down seven to eleven this week. 

Gains

So I already mentioned the big gain for "Touch it" by Monifah and outside that we only saw one or two other big gains...just a shame most of them aren't on the good side, "Fly Away" by Lenny Kravitz flew smoothly from forty three to twenty six. 

I guess points to "We Like to Party (The Vengabus)" by The Vengaboys which climbed nine to thiry six. 

New Entries

Five new entries this week, beginning with...

46. "Shazam!" by Spiderbait

Always nice to start the week's reviews with an Aussie act, this is the lead single from Spiderbait's lead single from their fourth album "Grand Slam" and its a fucking slapping banger of a song that doesn't let up from start to finish with it's fuzzy guitars, drums and handclaps which makes senses when it's considered that the song is about smiling and breaking free of feelings of being overwhelmed by dancing and smiling. Damn good song, nice to kick things off on a positive note. 

32. "Tender" by Blur

Another lead single this time from British band Blur, I was curious given how abrasive yet catchy "Song 2" was but turns out that this song is about the break up of Damn Albarn's relationship and all ip is a pretty vulnerable song that really hits some bittersweet notes especiallt with the gospel touches aroound the song and the interplay between Albarna dn Graham Coxon, Again, this is another pretty good song that is worth your time. 

31. "Enjoy Yourself" by A+

Switching from rock to hip hop for these next two songs and the first song we're dealing with is from American rapper going by the name A+ and this song sampling "A Fifth of Beethoven" by Walter Murphy which was a prettry sizeable Billboard Hot 100 hit in 1976 with the content of the song being about having fun and living it up while they are young...its fine enough if you want some dumb party music. Check it out. 

20. "Changes" by 2Pac

So this might be bit a more complex but bare with me here, this song was recorded in 1992 before being remixed and released for 2pace's Greatest hits record in 1998 with the remix including a US r&b group called Talent who somehow don't get a featuring vredit on this but anyway I do love the cleverly flipped sample of 1986 hit "The Way It Is" by Bruce Hornsby and The Range as 2pac raps about the struggles of African American communities where police brutality, racism, poverty etc are prevalent and 2pac urges unty and personal responsibility while urging change in how black communities in the USA view and treat each other. It's an incredibly emotional song and my god it hits hardl. Check this out!

15. "Nothing Really Matters" by Madonna

The final single from Madonna's successful "Ray of Light" album and I have to be honest here I am not really all that impressed with Madonna's vocals fighting through layers of effects but she does sound good here, strident as she sings about finding fufillment and joy in motherhood and love rather than in her fame and public image. If it weren't for some of the more more egregious effects, this is also pretty good,

That was our week and wow, I am nixing worst of the week here because nothing here is worthy of that slot however "Changes" by 2pac is getting best of the week because yeah that song hitsin a way nothing else here does, 

Pretty Fly (for 1999): How Deep is Your Vengabus, Animal?

 So we have a relatively busy week at hand here with changes in our top ten including a new entry breaking through rather high and another that song unfortunately broke into the top ten (much to my annoyance). but anyway let's jump straight into the top ten where "...Baby, One More Time" by Britney Spears remains solid at number one for another week thanks to another excellent week on sales.

The sales were good enough to hold off something of a charge from "That Don't Impress Me Much" by Shania Twain which jumped two spots to number two this week on the back of sales. 

New entry at number three from Savage Garden courtesy of "The Animal Song" which I will talk about the quality of the song later but this did some nice numbers which dod help to push "Believe" by Cher back two spots to number four and "Anthem for the Year 2000" by Silverchait back two spots to number five. 

Shawn Mullins saw "Lullaby" fall back one spot to number six and howled "Eveeerrryything's gonna be alright"

Now I am less than thrilled about the four place gain for "This Kiss" by Faith Hill.to number seven...come on, we can do better but it saw the rest of our top ten fall with "Jackie" by BZ and Joanne down two spots to number eight, "No Matter What" by Boyzone down two to number nine and "Doo Woop (Dat Thing)" by Lauryn Hill down one to number ten. 

Losers

It was a pretty soul crushing week for a lot of older songs with the lack of faith hitting Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston's "When You Believe:" ten spots to fifty. 

The night is proving not to be so everlasting for Danni Minogue on the charts as "Everlasting Night" slumped six spots to forty eight.

B*Witched stumbled from thirty three to forty six as its chart run is seemingly being cut short. 

Former chart topper "Crush" by Jennifer Paige is finally being crushed down eight to forty two while "Finally Found" by Honeyz slipped from thirty two to thirty nine. 

*NSYNC want their place in the top twenty back as "I Want You Back' tumbled ten spots to twenty six. 

Gains

Our gains are a mixed bag because on one hand I am thrilled tnat "Get What You Give" by New Radicals got a nice eleven place boost to thirty five however we unfortunately saw the creepiness that is "Touch It" by Monifah jump from twenty four to seventeen. 

New Entries

Five new entries beginning with....

49. "Crash" by Propellerheads.

Propellerheads are an English electronic duo who first firmed in 1995 with this song coming from an EP called "Extended Play" (imaginative naming...not) and really this is just an instrumental reworking of "At the Sign of the Swinging Cymbal"  but hey, it's pretty good., worth checking out if you are curious.

45. "We Like to Party! (The Vengabus)" by The Vengaboys

Time to turn our attention to Dutch Eurodance mixed group The Vengaboys who are making their debubt on the Australian charts with this song and honestly this song is hilarious in some ways especially with that horn that does sound like a bus on the way and is about to reach the station but come 0n the voice ad nauseum saying "We like to party" is kind of forced at this point however I do like the vocals on the verses and the song does make use of it's goofiness in a way that's endearing. Cute wau to introduce the group. 

32. "How Deep Is Your Love" by Dru Hill

So I was getting ready for this to be a god awful cover of the Bee Gees song of the same name but turns out American r'n'b group Dru Hill pulled out a pretty decent r'n'b song if the song didn't place the damn percussion at the front of the mix and bury the vocals to the point they are barely audible The content of this song is this guy is messing with a woman who also has other men on the side and she's left him questioning how deep her love is for him...it's pretty generic and when the the mixing is this ass, I think we can skip this safely.

14. "Whiskey in the Jar" by Metallica

So Metallica have tjurned to covering Thin Lizzy's "Whiskey in the Jar" which tells the story of an outlaw robbing a government or military official only for his wife to go behind his back to report him to authorities and take the money for herself. Now this cover is done well by Metallica, the band sounds great and James Hetfield certainly tells the story with a lot of fire in his belly, I like this. Check it out. 

3. "The Animal Song" by Savage Garden

So the latest single for Savage Garden's latest album "Affirmation" and a song that was written for the soundtrack of film called "The Other Sister" and honestly this is a song that doesn't leave me with much to say because yeah, there's some nice harmonies here and Darren Hayes mostly sounds really good. it's a song that delves into how someone with mental health and how someone dealing with depression etc finds it difficult tp express emotions and how to deal with a colourful and confusing rules with rules that stifle a person's personality. I get what this song is going for but I do think this song is somewhat forgettable even with the subject matter, it just doesn't quite hit hard enough for me. 

That leaves us with a weird week as a wbole. Worst of the week is going to "How Deep Is Your Love" by Dru Hill for that botch job on the mixing. Best of the week is tougher because there weren't that many stand outs...I'll give it to "Whiskey in the Jar" by Metallica but The Vengaboys in their Vengabus were close.

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.