The Top Ten Best Hit Songs of 2002

I thought it might be fun to go back twenty years and look back on the music of 2002, this was the year of the female pop rock boom, suddenly the charts were being flooded with young women picking up guitars or playing piano with a heap more angst and attitude than the popular music scene had been used to in some time meanwhile hip/hop and R'n'B were picking up noticeably more success while rock...ugh, this was a rough year for the genre but I did manage to find some quality there that will appear on this list. 

2002 was also the last year before Australian Idol burst onto the scene in 2003 and created it's own brand of messiness on the charts. but anyway let's get stuck into this however quick reminder of the rules, for a song to make this list, it must have made the year end for 2002 or be a 2001 year end song that peaked higher on the 2002 year end. No abuse as this is my list, I am picking the songs I like from the 100 that made the 2002 year end list...got that? Good...let's goooo....

Number Ten

So as I said R 'n' B had a pretty good year in 2002 with there being plenty to choose from on the year end for 2002 but I certainly won't be picking the sloppily produced "Dilemma" by Nelly and Kelly Rowland or the forgettable "Foolish" by Ashanti but you know the R'n'B love song that did it well in 2002? It was this...

"U Got It Bad" by Usher.

Usher in the early 2000s was one of those R'n'B acts who could pull off the smooth, suave love songs like this one in his sleep and while his 2001 hit "U Remind Me" was decent, "U Got It Bad" is on another level with Usher being o incredibly attracted to this girl that's in the studio where he and others are trying to record Usher's third album but after an argument she left causing those working with Usher at the time booting Usher from the studio due to Usher's apparent attraction to this girl and he does sound like a lovesick puppy on the song. Throw in some great production thanks to Jermaine Dupri and Bryan Michael Cox and we get something smooth and rather sophisticated for an r'n'b love song.

Number Nine

In 2002, the charts took on a latin tinge with Las Ketchup going on to have their big hit "The Ketchup Song (Asjere)" but that wouldn't be all as stars like Enrique Iglesias would impact the charts this year but there was one other Latin star who got her big break this year with this song being the opening salvo from a remarkably successful album...

"Whenever, Wherever" by Shakira.

It's taken me some time and space for me to get past the ridiculousness of the line "Lucky that my breasts are small and humble...so you don't confuse them with mountains" line which nearly tips the song into outright ridiculousness however with that time, I've come to appreciate that "Whenever, Wherever" is genuinely a fantastic pop song that allows Shakira's charisma and personality to shine through something that we didn't see that often in the carefully managed world of 2000s pop starlets like Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera (both had songs on the year but won't making this list) as the production sounds big around her and that guitar intro that opens the song is genuinely one of the best moments in pop music of the year. Also check out "Laundry Service'...an under rated gem of an album.

Number Eight

Here's another such case of me needing time and space to grow up and in that time realize what a masterpiece this particular song is...although if you have heard what he has released in recent years then hearing when he was at his best in 2002 would be a thing to behold and hence...

"Lose Yourself" by Eminem

Eminem had multiple songs make the ARIA singles year end for 2002 but it was "Lose Yourself" the biggest hit of the year taken from the soundtrack of the movie "8 Mile" that was Eminem's best moment of the year, a song with a coursing rock edge thanks to the guitar and Eminem describing those moments just before going on stage where the chorus is this triumphant encouragement from Enimem to just forget the nerves, forget the want to vomit and just lose yourself in the music and the moment because this is the only opportunity you might ever have to nail it in your lifetime. It's Eminem's best single and a reminder of what Eminem is capable of.

Number Seven

The 2000s are full of actresses who would try their hand at making pop music...and I kind of feel like there's one actress who turned pop singer that doesn't get the attention her music probably deserved at the time, well that lack of attention changes today because yeah, it's time to pay attention to Jennifer Love Hewitt..

"Barenaked" by Jennifer Love Hewitt

I must stress that this is not Jennifer Love Hewitt's best song and when I get around to making a best hit songs list for 1999, you'll see why but "Barenaked" still does a lot right, that great piano that does enough to lend support to Jennifer Love Hewitt's voice and makes me believe that she's had that kind of dream where everyone is staring at her as she walks down the street naked with all her insecurities and worries on display for everyone including strangers to see, its an feeling that's she is too tired to hide from anymore.

This song and Jennifer Love Hewitt as a musician are extremely under rated. I might have more to say about Jennifer's music when I get around to covering 1999 but for now this song is a classic and well worth your time.

Number Six

Well she's coming up so let's get this party started, ehh?

"Get The Party Started" by Pink

This is the song that sparked my recent disappointment (see my "Worst Hit Songs of 2021" list) at Pink's ongoing drift into easy listening garbage that radio plays to death because it's ultimately safe but also isn't fun to listen to or suits Pink's personality. "Get the Party Started" was the opening salvo from Pink's second album "Missunderstood" which spawned two year end hits however "Get the Party Started" is just a banger from start to finish, the song was written by 4 Non Blondes frontwoman and well renowned songwriter Linda Perry but Pink owns the song where she's making it all about her arrival at this party and you'd better make sure you are up for the party because she sure as hell is. It's the sort of dance pop that 2002 really did need and Pink provided it. 

Number Five

Here's where the rock music starts showing up, the first of them from a band that were only just starting their run of success...

"In the End" by Linkin Park

While I didn't mind Linkin Park's lead single "One Step Closer", it was the fourth single from "Hybrid Theory" that hit me the hardest with it's lyrics connected to Chester Bennington growing up and how he was bullied as a youth and how in the end his bullies never really made much of an impact on him and now to him it doesn't even matter especially after he tried and could only get so far, What I love here is how Mike Shinoda's rapping on the verses counters nicely with the chorus sung by Chester Bennington because you can feel the frustration that Bennington is feeling.

For me though? This song connects in a lot of god damn ways, most of them too personal for me to want to go into or even reopen some pretty horrible memories that I've kind of kept tucked away and tried to forget even happened and in 2002, this song helped a lot....that's all I'll say.

Number Four

So in 2002, Silverchair released this song as a single and yeah, it was one of the best hit rock songs of the year...

"The Greatest View" by Silverchair

Silverchair, by this point, were becoming a staple on the Australian singles charts to the point that it was a surprise if a song of theirs wasn't on the charts however I will say that of any hit that Silverchair had, that "The Greatest View" is easily the most under rated mostly because that hook is a monster and Daniel Johns sound absolutely awesome here and it's a song that earns that massive hook. I also love how the intro makes it sound like the music is weaving through a maze while the lyrics about a groiup of people have different perceptions of the same problem as they made sure Johns didn't go back into the same mess as before but Johns is aware of what is going and is able to ensure he doesn't fall back himself knowing that people have got eyes on him.

Damn terrific song that when people are revisiting Silverchair's discography doesn't get enough attention and kudos.. Nice work.

Number Three

It honestly feels weird to be talking the start of this artist's career with her new album out right now however I couldn't ignore her debut single...a song I always have loved....

"Complicated" by Avril Lavigne

Yeah, it was this song and not "Sk8er Boi" that made the top ten, I'll get to why when I talk about "Sk8er Boi" a bit later but "Complicated" is the sort of pop rock jam that sold Avril Lavigne to me instantly especially with her attitude (I don't buy she was the anti Britney of the time, I tend to think Avril was filling a gap in the mainstream)" and that music video where Avril and her band are causing charos at a shopping mall but I just love how "Complicated" sounds like a sharper singer/songwriter cut with Avril expressing frustration with how this dude is acting and why he is making every damn thing seem bigger than it really is which I actually kind of get especially in 2002 with everything especially on the internet magnified to be ten times bigger than it really is.

Nine the less, "Complicated" is fantastic and worthy of a place on this list.

Number Two

So in 2002, there was a boom in singer songwriting women and while the world focussed on Avril Lavigne in 2002, there was another young woman making something of her own breakthrough and she is on this list...

"All You Wanted" by Michelle Branch

So while Avril Lavigne was taking up most of the attention, Michelle Branch was carving a name out for herself following the release of her other big 2002 hit "Everywhere" but it was the ballad "All You Wanted" that captivated me with lyrics dealing with somebody that Michelle has looked up to shutting her out despite him wanting somebody to look out and care for them in the same way they did for others and Michelle offering to help them if they want her to with the guitar and drums feeding into that feeling of isolation and yeah just lately this song hits pretty god damn effectively. Great song from "The Spirit Room", an album that really does stand up quite well.

So what beat it for the number one spot? Well before I reveal the number one, here's five honourable mentions...

"Escape" by Enrique Iglesias

Here's a song that plays toward latin that like other songs that actually made the top ten, I needed time to learn to appreciate but this is arguably one of Enrique Iglesias better singles. It's tight and catchy plus Enrique's personality shines. The thing is I like it rather than love it and liking it wasn't enough to get it into the top ten.

"Not Pretty Enough" by Kasey Chambers

Again another case of like rather than love but there's a warm country feel as Kasey Chambers questions whether's she pretty enough for this guy even though she is just as human as he is and has been waiting long enough for love to come her way. Good song.

"Sk8er Boi" by Avril Lavigne 

Yeah I like "Complicated" more than this song. "Sk8er Boi" is still a good song with Avril telling the story of how this girl rejected a skater boy who went on to become big with his rock band and winds up performing on MTV (which does date the song a bit considering MTV's turn toward absolute reality trash over music but that's another discussion point for another day) however the song is still all kinds of kick ass with the raging guitars and Avril slipping between story teller mode and potentially her being this girl that the guy is dating. It's good just not the best song on "Let Go"

"Love At First Sight" by Kylie Minogue

So the last two are the two where the cuts where a bit painful and this song's case was helped by me having a urge to go back and listen to some of Kylie's big hits lately thanks to my love of songs like "Shocked" and "Better The Devil You Know" but "Love at First Sight" might be up there as one of Kylie's defining songs of the 2000s, that hook is truly incredible and that opening line does hit hard, it's a terrific song from a singer that everyone apart from Australia and the UK severely under rated

"Don't Let Me Get Me" by Pink

This so nearly made the list instead of "Get the Party Started" mainly because "Don't Let Me Get Me" was a move toward a more forward thinking pop/rock sound that she would prove to something of a leader of later in the 2000s during the pop/rock boom. "Don't Let Me Get Me" is Pink's moment where she realizes that she herself doesn't want have her personality get swallowed up by her fame and success or be forced to change who she is. Just a damn shame that she's turned to easy listening nonsense when the time is right for her to return to the pop/rock she was so good at.

So with all that done, let's get to the number one...

Number One

So I am well aware that this artist is considered a one hit wonder but I've never really been against putting artists who are deemed one hit wonders high up on my best list when the songs have been deserving and in this case, this is a song that is deserving of the number one slot and given we're in the midst of a 2000s revival, I think it might be time to look at this particular artist again and sooo

"A Thousand Miles" by Vanessa Carlton

In 2002, this was the little piano love drenched song that could from at the time a relative American no name, Vanessa Carlton that comes across as sincere as it's basically pop's answer to The Proclaimers "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" where Carlton sings about missing a loved one so much so she'd walk a long distance just to be with that person, she is missing and it's a sentiment that I think is really sweet and sincere made all the more so by the strings kicking in on the back half of the song. Yes, I've made jokes abut the ridiculousness of the accompanying music video but I do genuinely love this song and it's only gotten better as time has gone on.

"A Thousand Miles" by Vanessa Carlton the best hit song of 2002.

ARIA Top Fifty Top Ten/Chart Review: 28th February. Little Numb Nail Tech Bug

So this week felt busier than I actually expected mostly thanks to impacts courtesy of the Superbowl and our two new entries most of which struck lower down the chart but anyway let's get stuck into our somewhat stale top ten where "Cold Heart (PNAU Remix)" by Elton John and Dua Lipa retook the number one spot mostly because it's still got some sales and streaming which thankfully meant it kept "Heatwaves" by Glass Animals back as it rebounded back to number two (time for this to be gone...honestly).

It did push "Stay" by The Kid Laroi feat. Justin Bieber back one spot to number three even though streaming is still propping it up a bit.

"abcdefu" by Gayle remains stuck at number four. I don't see this song rising any higher unless there is a major streaming surge for it soon. 

Rising three places off the back of a remix with rock group Bring Me the Horizion is "Bad Habits" by Ed Sheeran at number five, it did enough to push "Where Are You Now" by Lost Frequencies feat. Calum Scott back one spot to number six, "Shivers" by Ed Sheeran to number seven and "We Don't Talk About Bruno" by The Cast of Encanto back to number eight.

The last songs in the top ten come from Lil Nas X wuth "That's What I Want" holding steady at number nine and "Industry Baby" feat. Jack Harlow climbing two places at number ten.

Gains

As I expected "Boyfriend" by Dove Cameron gained 16 places to 15 this week because it looks like this is becoming a thing on the charts but other than that it's pretty damn quiet on the gains front

Re-Entries

Three returns this week with "Drivers License" by Olivia Rodrigo back at number 49 while the Superbowl half time performance caused two of Eminem's biggest hits to return with "Lose Yourself" back at 46 and "Without Me" at 44.

 Losers

Let's go through the songs that lost six places or more this week, there's not that many of them though with "The Joker and The Queen" by Ed Sheeran feat.Taylor Swift slipping nine places to 20 off it's debut last week but that is really about it which kind of says a lot about how slow the charts are right now./

Drop Outs

Now given the Eminem songs will drop out next week, I fully expect some of these might return as New Music Friday was pretty quiet on the singles front yesterday but none the less, we did get some big songs dropping out with "Meet Me At Our Spot" by The Anxiety gone along with "Montero (Call Me By Your Name)" by Lil Nas X and unfortunately "I Hate U" by SZA.

Not a good week for The Weeknd with "Sacrifice" leaving along with "Moth to a Flame" with Swedish House Mafia.

New Entries

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

48. "Numb Little Bug" by Em Beihold

Once again, we are talking Tik Tok virality with this song coming from Los Angeles based singer/songwriter Em Beihold who had released an EP via Republic Records in 2020 but "Numb Little Bug" being the first song of hers that has caught traction and...well, it's for good reason because this song is actually pretty good for what it is which is essentially a jittery song about being on medication to the point where she's just numb to it and general everyday life is getting to her but in spite of how tired of everythng she is, she's still perservering on in the hope that there's something better in the future...boy, given the last couple of years, this song encapsulates a lot of what I have been feeling...definitely a good song, check this out.

36. "Nail Tech" by Jack Harlow     

So here's the first single for Jack Harlow this year...a release I was curious about given how good he was on Lil Nas X's "Industry Baby" and well...it's fine...I guess...you can tell the song has been inspired by "Industry Baby" in the production with that opening where you can tell that Jack Harlow has been taking hints from Lil Nas X and "Industry Baby" but mostly because this song feels like a victory lap with those horns and that percussion while Jack Harlow raps about his guns, lifestyle and cars etc. I don't know/.I don't think this is that bad but it could be better,

No worst of the week this week as I don't think either song is that bad but best of the week is going to "Numb Little Bug" by Em beihold because yeah, that song hits a nerve for me.

Next week...we'll have to see but it looks like being quiet however we'll find out on Friday at 5pm AEDST.                                               

Lookin' Fine '89. February 26th. One Summer Stop at The End of the Line

 Looks like this is a week of stability for at least the top six on the chart this week as nothing really changed even as we got some new entries lower down the chart but we'll get to those so as per usual lets dig into the top ten where for yet another week "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" by The Proclaimers rules the chart, its got really good sales that look like entrenching at number one for at least another week or so.

It held up over "Teardrops" by Womack & Womack at number two who couldn't quite bridge the margins, this was also true of "Kokomo" by The Beach Boys at number three, "You Got It" by Roy Orbison stuck to number four, "Tucker's Daughter" by Ian Moss holding on at number five and "Orinoco Flow" by Enya boring everyone silly at number six.

1927 bust their way into the top ten with "If I Could" up four places to number seven with "Kiss" by The Art of Noise feat. Tom Jones rising two places to number eight.

This leaves "Handle With Care" by The Traveling Wilburys stuck at number nine, they have a new single on the chart this week so we'll get to that especially as "Handle with Care" is showing signs of fading away naturally.

Finally to complete the top ten for this week is "Rock and Roll Music" by Mental As Anything which fell two places to number ten.

Gains

We're starting off on a great note because "Soul Revival" by Johnny Diesel & The Injectors jumped from 26 to 13 which is frankly awesome. Hopefully this song will make top ten in the next few weeks.

In more good news, "Real Gone Kid" by Deacon Blue continues to rise up from 32 to breaking into the top twenty at 19. 

There was a five place gain to 20 for "Fine Time" by New Order, this song has some pretty consistent momentum right now.

Fine Young Cannibals look to have a huge hit on their hands with "She Drives Me Crazy" leaping from it's debut of 42 all the way to 21. Again, I am okay with this as I like the song.

The gains are pretty awessome this week as it continues because "Buffalo Stance" by Neneh Cherry jumped 12 places to 25 and "You'll Never Know" by 1927 climbed from 34 to 27.

"Dumb Things" by Paul Kelly and the Coloured Girls got a nice boost from 44 to 36.

Re-Entries

Back at 47 is "Strokin'" by Clarence Clarity while "Armageddon It" by Def Leppard rebounded back onto the chart at 41. 

The last of the returns comes from Robert Palmer with "Early in the Morning" back at 26.

Losers 

Actually a surprising busy week in the losses category starting with "That's When I Think of You" by 1927 down nine to 40 and "Sweet Child O' Mine" by Guns 'n' Roses down nine to 48/

Bon Jovi's "Born to Be My Baby" took a 15 place hit to 45 while "Stand Up for Your Love Rights" got pushed back from 36 to 43 and "Last Frontier" by Jimmy Barnes slimped nine places to 40.

Thankfully the awful "Nobody's Perfect" by Mike + The Mechanics slumped from 29 to 35 and "Bring Me Some Water" by Melissa Etheridge slumped into a ten place drought to 34.

"Angel of Harlem" by U2 skidded 12 places to 32 while all momentum for "Copperhead Road" by Steve Earle vanished because it slipped from 23 to 30.

"Love Bites" by Def Leppard fell from 22 to 29 this week while "Every Rose has it's Thorn" by Poison got pricked down from 17 to 24. 

New Entries

What is this? Only three new entries this week? I'll take that so let's start with...

42, "One Summer" by Daryl Braithwaite

The third single from Daryl Braithwaite's 1988 album "Edge", a song that was inspired by the British TV drama serial called "One Summer" but even if you didn't know that, this song still works because it actually really does feel like an end of summer reminisce about the fun had during that summer, summer flings, going for a surf and promising to be there for mates even when the summer is over and even better the song just sounds like summer with the guitars and drums, might almost be one of the best songs I've heard covering 1989...nice!

39. "Stop" by Sam Brown

Alright, this song is from English singer/songwriter Sam Brown who originally released this song in 1988 however it tanked reaching only number 52 on the UK Official Charts so of course they re released it in 1989, it comes from Brown's debut album of the same name so how's the song.

It's fine...I guess? Sam Brown's vocals do a lot of heavy lifting here as she warns her partner to stop and rethink his actions before hurting her or to better coin it "breaking her heart" even if the rather elegant production doesn't do anywhere near enough to play up the drama here, this is a relationship on the edge of crumbling and yet it feels way too elegant for me. Decent song but could be better. 

37. "End of the Line" by The Traveling Wilburys 

A brand new single from The Traveling Wilburys as "Handle With Care" begins its exit from the chart after a really impressive run although it's important to mention that "End of the Line" was originally released in 1988 before the band decided to make it the group's second single and the song features everybody in the group apart from Bob Dylan so what to make of the song?

Uhh...this is also pretty great, a song about not wasting a moment of life and not to sit around wondering what if because you never know when the end of the line for your life made come, be happy and take life as it comes but always live it to the full. I also really like how incredibly organic the song is with the guitars and the twang that made me think this was almost a country song. Yeah damn great, check this out!

It also means it's a tight go for best of the week, I think I'll give it to "The End of the Line" by The Traveling Wilburys only because I love the message of it. 

"Stop" by Sam Brown gets worst of the week but its really not a bad song. 

ARIA Singles Top 50 Top Ten/Chart Review: 21st February The Joker and The Queen's Boyfriend

I think it's time I state this honestly, the ARIA chart this week is BORING, we need a big shake up especially in the top ten, what you want proof? Okay, let's go to the top ten where returning for a ninth week at number one is "Cold Heart (PNAU Remix)" by Elton John and Dua Lipa because there are people not sick of this song yet somehow. It got enough sales and streaming this week.

It pushed "Stay" by The Kid Laroi and Justin Bieber back to number two on the back of decent enough sales. "Heat Waves" by Glass Animals resurged to return to number three somehow...ugh...come on people. let's not have this dominate another year again, please.

However it was enough to push back "abcdefu" by Gayle back to number as it looks like streaming might finally be done with this song...thank goodness.

Returning to number five si "Where Are You Now" by Lost Frequencies and Calum Scott thanks to boosts on streaming.

Also riving one place is "Shivers" by Ed Sheeran up to number six thanks to renewed strength on streaming although it might be because 'We Don't Talk About Bruno" by the Cast of Encanto slipped two places to number seven, it had a rough week on streaming, I expect this to rebound.

What might also rebound is "Bad Habits" by Ed Sheeran which remained sready at number eight but it could rebound next week thanks to a remix with rock group Bring Me The Horizo, believe it or not.

Climbing three spots to return to the top ten is "That's What I Want" by Lil Nas X at number nine and boy, am I happy to see it here.

Finally wrapping up our top ten is "Easy on Me" by Adele which slipped one place to number ten.

Gains

So I am mostly okay with "She's All I Wanna Be" by Tate McRae up eight to 20 and "Lost" by Frank Ocean up five to 17 and they were really our only major gains this week.

Losers

"Sacrifice" by The Weeknd slipped nine to 50 this week, bit worrying that people are sick of The Weeknd right now...might be time to give people a break.

"Light Switch" by Charlie Puth got knocked out eight places to 32 while "Say Nothing" by Flume feat. MAY-A fell eleven spots to 27/

"Fingers Crossed" by Lauren Spencer Smith crashed seven spots to 24 because the hype for it has died rather quickly.

Drop Outs

The drop outs are really not a surprise with long running hits "Drivers License" by Olivia Rodrigo and "Beggin'" by Maneskin fall out of the top 50 this week.

New Entries

Just the two new entries this week, starting with...

31. "Boyfriend" by Dove Cameron

So we have the lead single for Disney actress and singer Dove Cameron which comes from her debut EP. Cameron  was in The Descendants movies and honestly I was never really impressed by any of the songs she performed from those movies so maybe this time around she might impress me with a song that gained traction via Tik Tok? Well, I will say it does sound better and somewhat evil in the production with the dark and eerie production but the lyrics are where this song falls down a bit because this is a song where Dove is telling this girl that she could be a "better boyfriend than him" and that she'll steal this girl away from the guy and yet I am not seeing how and why this guy is such a bad boyfriend, what makes him so bad? It's not precisely awful but it's not all that good either, shame I think it's going to stick around though...next!

11. "The Joker and The Queen" by Ed Sheeran feat. Taylor Swift

Really, Ed...just really? You couldn't have gotten Taylor on a remix of "Overpass Graffiti" instead or even better released "Tides" as the next single? Anyway we were probably overdue an Ed Sheeran ballad and this one isn't too bad even if I do think it does sound like one of those songs ripe to fit as the opening music for some period drama. Taylor sounds good here on a love song where they both proclaim the other brings out the best in them. I guess I'll take it even if I think there are better singles on "="

"The Joker and The Queen" does take the best of the week. I am not going to worry about worst of the week more because the production on "Boyfriend" saves it from being completely awful.

Next week might be another quiet week so we'll have to see when the chart updates on Friday at 5pm AEDST

Lookin' Fine '89: 19th February. Baby I Love Your Soul Revival Left To My Dumb Things

Another week of frenetic turnover on the singles chart, it's almost exhausting to keep up with if I am going to be bluntly honest and it's not even just the pile of new entries but we also have some  big news right at the very top of the top ten so let's start because we have a brand new number one, the first for this group that being "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" by The Proclaimers, now this is strong on sales right now and honestly it's not even a surprise that it got here given the momentum it's had.

"Teardrops" by Womack & Womack held on to number two but it's sales were never going to match the new number one but were enough to cause "Kokomo" by The Beach Boys to fall back two places to number three. Good.

It also may fall further as "You Got It" by Roy Orbison rose one place to number four and it looks pretty good to rise further in the weeks ahead, the same goes for "Tuckers Daughter" by Ian Moss up three places to number five. 

Enya's "Orinoco Flow" continues to bore the charts to tears by rising three places to number six somehow. Sigh,'

This meant a three place drop to number seven for "Especially for You" by Kylie Minogue and Jason Donavan because it's not able to hold up on sales anymore, the same goes for "Rock and Roll Music" by  Mental As Anything down two spots to number eight

Down two places to nunber nine is "Handle with Care"  by Traveling Wilburys because it's also fading gradually.

Finally holding onto it's place in the top ten is "Kiss" by Art of Noise feat. Tom Jones at number ten.

Gains

Some good news right off the bat with "Orange Crush" by R.E.M which leapt from 22 to 15 this week, conversely "Like the Way I Do" by Melissa Etheridge climbed all the way from 31 to 18 this week...oh well you win some you lose some.

"Love Bites" by Def Leppard climbed six places to 22 while "Fine Time" New Order continues to do well as it rose twelve spots to 25. 

"Real Gone Kid" by Deacon Blue showed it's on its way to being a real gone hit as it got a six place boost to 32. 

The gain I am most pleased about though is "Buffalo Stance" by Neneh Cherry climbing eleven spots to 37. Please make this a hit...please...

Re-Entries

Just the one re-entry and it comes from Rick Astley with "She Wants to Dance With Me" back at number 48.

Losers

So there were some sudden surprise drops this week with "Nothing Can Divide Us" by Jason Donavan slipping from 29 to 47, 1988 hit "Don't Worry, Be Happy" by Bobby McFerrin plunging from 20 to 46!

On the subject of 1988 hits taking their sweet damn time leaving, "Simply Irresistible" by Robert Palmer slipped from 36 to 43. 

"Sweet Child O' Mine" by Guns 'n' Roses soured six places to 39 while "Stand Up for Your Love Rights" by Yazz took an eleven place seat drop to 37 while "Bring Me Some Water" by Melissa Etheridge slipped from 19 to 24. 

New Entries

There's eight new entries this week, starting with...

49. "Left to My Own Devices" by Pet Shop Boys

We're starting this week with the second single from the Pet Shop Boys 1988 album "Introspective" and is a song written from the perspective of somebody who is alone and doing whatever the fuck they want, now as an introvert who struggles with being around other people, I can relate to this kind of song a bit and it does help the song sounds like something straight out of the new wave movement of the early 80s. I kind of dig this, it's a good pure pop song that in a way connects for the introverts of the world.

44. "Dumb Things" by Paul Kelly and The Coloured Girls

Okay, so we've got a new single from Paul Kelly and The Coloured Girls here, "Dumb Things" is the second single from the album "Under The Sun" and yeah, this is just an insanely good ska rock song where guy dreams that his friends are coming to his defence and wakes up to realize they aren't and that he has done some really hilariously dumb shit like losing his shirt and pawning his rings, hope this becomes a hit for Paul Kelly because it definitely deserves to be one.

42. "She Drives Me Crazy" by Fine Young Cannibals

Well okay so here we have a British pop rock band from Birmingham, Fine Young Cannibals with this song being released in 1988 and included on the band's 1989 album "The Raw & The Cooked" and oh good lord, this song is an absolute pop/rock sugar rush, yeah the hushed vocals are a bit annoying but they kind of work for what the song is, it's him being driven crazy by this woman so the slightly more hushed, nervous delivery on the verses works before song jumps into the chorus and oh what a chorus it is, catchy and will take every opportunity to get stuck in your head, this is an earworm song if I've ever heaed one. 

41. "Take Me To Your Heart" by Rick Astley

Well it seems timely to talk about a new Rick Astley song given a previous single of his re entered the chart this week but anyway we have this song from the album "Hold Me In Your Arms" and...well its definitely a Stock Aitken and Waterman song right to the very bones with that production but I don't see this working here as I don't know the sound feels very thin and Rick sounds like he has been put behind that somewhat washed out 80s synth and that chorus isn't anything I'm going to remember, I am going to forget this in record time.

35. "Where Did I Go Wrong" by UB40

So UB40 had that big hit in 1985 with the Pretenders Chrissie Hynde courtesy of a cover of Cher and Sonny's "I Got You Babe" so of course we'd get a new single and dear god, it sounds like ass with that annoying flute loop with lyrics that question why this woman no longer feels in love with the guy and he wonders if it's his fault, well when the production is as crappy as this and the lyrics which have him failing to understand just why the girl doesn't want to be with him and refusing to let her go because she'll be gone for good...dude, that line says everything about you, let her go and move on. As for the song...ugh...it sucks.

34. "You'll Never Know" by 1927

Given the insane amount of success that 1927 have had in 1988 and in 1989, I was curious to see where they would go with their third single from "Ish" and turns out it's a pop rock banget that kind of pulls from hair metal to come degree for its soaring chorus in a song that talks about an indecisive woman and he is getting frustrated because she can't make a decision and that she'll never know what they have unless she makes up her mind. It's a solid song with a fantastic guitar solo right at the very end. Worth checking out if you are curious but I do think "That's When I Think of You" and "If I Could" are better...just saying.

33. "Baby I Love Your Way/Free Bird" by Will to Power

Well it wouldn't be one of these blogs if I wasn't talking about some cover or in this case two covers because of course this American dance pop act Will to Power had to put them into a medley with "Baby I Love Your Way" being a Peter Frampton song released in 1976 and "Free Bird" by Lynyrd Skynyrd released in 1975 and wow...they did a job on "Baby I Love Your Way" alright  because Will to Power have made the song sound so limp and gutless, the female vocallist on the song whimpers her way through the verses before ending the chorus by screaming "I LOVE YOUR WAAAAAAAYYYY" and she sounds terrible, the synths sound completely washed out here...this is utter unnecessary trash...NEXT!

26. "Soul Revival" by Johnny Diesel & The Injectors

Oh good...ending with a new song from Johnny Diesel aka Mark Lizotte, "Soul Revival" released as the second single from the band's debut self titled album and this song is the rock energy boost I need, I love the driving energy through this song and Johnny Diesel just cutting loose in a song about finding yourself at the end of a bad relationship, trying to find who you are again after losing part of yourself to the relationship. I think a song like this short circuits my critical faculties a bit but I can't deny how cathartic and righteously determined he is to break free.

"Soul Revival" is getting best of the week here for Johnny Diesel and the Injectors. I think honourable mention will go to "Dumb Things" by Paul Kelly and the Coloured Girls.

As for the worst, well dishonourable mention goes to "Where Did I Go Wrong" by UB40. "Baby, I Love Your Way/Freebird" by Will to Power just runs away with the worst of the week, it's not even a contest in that regard.

ARIA Top 50 Singles Top Ten/ Chart Review: 14th February She's All The Moon Wanna Be so Say Nothing

 We've got a pretty interesting week as the year begins to shake out the year's trends even if the 2021 hits refuse to be done with their chart runs and I begin to wonder why new music isn't breaking onto the charts as it used to but anyway let's get to the top ten because it's not that interesting this week at least at the very top with "Stay" by The Kid Laroi featuring Justin Bieber for a seventeenth week and really it's a weak number one, its streaming is slowing and sales haven't been a thing for this song for weeks now. 

However it held up over "Cold Heart (PNAU Remix)" by Elton John and Dua Lipa which remained at number two, "abcdefu" by Gayle stuck at number three and "Heat Waves" by Glass Animals of all whose streaming is weak regardless.

What is gaining momentum is "We Don't Talk About Bruno" by the Cast of Encanto which climbed one to number five, it finally has some serious traction on streaming and will make a play for number one in the weeks ahead at this rate.

It pushed "Where Are You Now" by Lost Frequencies and Calum Scott down to number six.

Both of Ed Sheeran's songs held their position this week with "Shivers" at number seven and "Bad Habits" at number eight.

"Easy on Me" by Adele made its return to the top ten up three places to number nine forcing "Industry Baby" by Lil Nas X feat. Jack Harlow back to number ten  but I expect that while this song might fall out, another Lil Nas X song might replace it in the weeks ahead ("That's What I Want" is at number 12 this week and is gaining momentum for a top ten push...that I would welcome)

Gains

Depressingly, "Pushing P" by Gunna and Future feat Young Thug climbed two spots to break into the top twenty at number 19. 

The biggest gain of the week is "Lost" by Frank Ocean which jumped 11 spots to number 22 which is kind of awesome however that's really it in terms of significant gains. 

Losers

So we start at 50 with "Drivers License" by Olivia Rodrigo slipping 12 spots, I would expect this song to be gone for good next week but we'll see.

"Montero (Call Me by Your Name)" by Lil Nas X is being called back 11 places to 47. 

"Moth to a Flame" by Swedish House Mafia and The Weeknd slipped six places to 43 while "Sactifice" by The Weeknd fell nine to 41. 

"On My Knees" by Rufus Du Sol is almost living up to its title on the chart as it slipped six to 35 while "Happier Than Ever" by Billie Eilish fell seven to 29.

Drop Outs

Not at all surprised by any of these even if the exit of "Elephant (Triple J Like A Version)" by The Wiggles is on the disappointing side, it took with it "Love Tonight" by Shouse and "Without You" by The Kid Laroi featuring Miley Cyrus

New Entries

Three new entries this week beginning with...

36. "To The Moon" by Jnr Choi

Dealing with a song that got Tik Tok virality which got this a streaming presence courtesy of Gambian singer, songwriter and model Jnr Choi, he is currently based in London and well I hate saying this but "To The Moon" just isn't all that good even with the sample of that Bruno Mars song "Talking to The Moon" (which also had it's viral moment last year) but Choi's voicals are buried deep in the mix that you can barely understand what he is singing and that's probably a good thing considering the lyrics to this are nothing to write home about either especially that line about this girl being so fine, he just might gave her 'wood' (nice bit of penis slang, dude), throw in the rattling drill production that's nowhere near close to interesting and it's just a slog of a song. NEXT!

28. "She's All I Wanna Be"  by Tate McRae

Kind of surprised to see Tate McRae back on the ARIA singles chart especially given that most of her singles before this and after "You Broke Me First" have done pretty much nothing on the charts until this one and...this song isn't bad, yeah Tate McRae still hasn't got much of a vocal presence behind the microphone, she's not all that impressive but I like how this moves toward a more guitar driven pop sound rather than pop trap that McRae tried on "You Broke Me First", as for the lyrics they play toward Tate's boyfriend hiding his attraction to another girl who is pretty much everything that McRae isn't and McRae wants to be so to keep her man, it's good rather than great, I'll take it though.

16. "Say Nothing" by Flume feat. MAY-A

Flume with the highest debut of the week with this song featuring Sydney based singer songwriter Mary Cummings aka MAY-A and I am not a fan of this at all, for a start what's with that beeping electronic noise under MAY-A's vocals? Then you have the drums that are mixed somewhat louder than MAY-A?. Also for a summer song, this feels like a dank, dark winter song with the trap elements that slide in for the verses. Yeah...not a fan of this...pass.

And that ends a pretty rough week but the best and worst fall out easily with the best going to Tate McRae for "She's All I Wanna Be", that song is likely to grow on me a bit in the weeks ahead. As for the worst..it's going to "To The Moon" by Junior Choi because "Say Nothing" while bad is more forgettable than anything else.

Next week, Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift collab might have a bit to say but we'll find out when the chart updates on Friday at 5pm AEDST.

Lookin' Fine '89. February 12th. Put the Buffalo in Sex and Armageddon It

We might have got a week off the almost near frantic turn over on the chart last week but holy hell it's back this week at the lower end of the chart, nothing new debuted high enough to worry the top ten but still, it's wild just how much turn over there is this week, let's get to our top ten though where for yet another week, it's "Kokomo" by The Beach Boys at number one but's hold on number one is looking shaky as sales margins closed this week.

It's a good sign for "Teardrops" by Womack & Womack which remained steady at number two this week and "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" by The Proclaimers which also climbed one place to number three and looks like being more of a chance to challenge for number one than "Teardrops" but we'll have to see.

It did push "Especially for You" by Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan back to number four as it continues to weaken, it's coming under pressure from "You Got It" by Roy Orbison which climbed one spot to number five and looks like rising higher in the weeks ahead.

Unfortunately it meant that "Rock and Roll Music" by Mental As Anything got pushed back to number six this week, those sales are on the decline for it. 

Roy Orbison's supergroup The Traveling Wilburys stayed steady at number seven with "Handle With Care" while "Tucker's Daughter" by Ian Moss climbed one place to number eight.

We have two songs making their first appearances in the top ten this week and I am not all that thrilled about either with "Orinoco Flow" by Enya up three to number nine because boring shlock like this somehow has a place in the top ten when it shouldn't while Art of Noise's cover of Prince's "Kiss" feat. Tom Jones rose four places to number ten because when the quality is questionable you got to shoot into the top ten...ugh...

Gains

One song into the top twenty this week with "Angel of Harlem" by U2 up from 22 to 18 this week while "Orange Crush" by R.E.M climbed six places to 22 (nice to see!).

Happy to see "Copperhead Road" by Steve Earle rise five spots to 25 but head scratchingly people like "Like the Way I Do" by Melissa Etheridge which jumped from 48 to 31 somehow...really?

The awful "Nobody's Perfect" by Mike + the Mechanics climbed from 49 to 31 however on a better note "Last Frontier" by Jimmy Barnes climbed nine spots to 35 off it's debut last week.

New Order's having a "Fine Time" up nine to 37 with their latest single.

Re - Entries

There is one return to speak of this week with "Welcome to the Jungle" by Guns 'n' Roses back at 46

Losers

"Til I Love You" by Barbra Streisand and Don Johnson gets us started with the fallers this week as it stumbled ten places to 47. 

It wasn't a good week for 1927 as "That's When I Think of You" fell from 34 to 42 and "If I Could" fell out of the top ten down five to number 11.

"As Long as You Follow" by Fleetwood Mac is down five places to 35 and "Bad Medicine" by Bon Jovi swallowed a heap of bad medicine to slip from 32 to 39. 

Turns out "Sweet Child O' Mine" has gone sour on the chart for Guns 'n' Roses as it went south nine places to 33. 

The love has stopped being groovy for Phil Collins as "A Groovy Kind of Love" slipped from 17 to 23.

New Entries

Six new entries this week, starting with...

50. "Armaggedon It" by Def Leppard

The latest single from Def Leppard's album "Hysteria" with vocal delivery being described as "T Rex meets Eddie Cochran plus backing vocals" which kind of got me a little worried but as it turns out it's your pretty standard 80s hair metal song even if I think this particular brand of sound is getting rather washed out. It's fine enough even if I think the vocals really don't do much for me and I'm going to forget this in record time. 

49. "Let's Put The X in Sex" by KISS 

Ohh yes some shallow penetration into the bottom part of the top 50 with this song by Kiss that talks about putting the X in sex..not thrusting the X into sex but putting the x there even though the x is already there...okay bad sex jokes aside and the song starting out with Gene Simmons whispering 'Let's put the x in sex', this isn't all that good even with the cheeky vibe mostly because Simmons sounds like he got shot out of a cannon or just recently had sex before recording this song...also why does this sound more like a Bon Jovi song? Maybe somebody should have put the Kiss back in Kiss before they decided to want to put the X back in sex especially when they haven't hit first base yet and nobody is moist off this shit...next!

48. " Buffalo Stance" by Neneh Cherry

Well this is a song I was looking forward to covering, it comes from Swedish singer Neneh Cherry and is from her debut album "Raw Like Sushi" and I got to say this song absolutely earns it's swagger with the use of the sample and Cherry's attitude making it absolutely believeable that the buffalo stance is an attitude needed in order to surive in the inner city and elsewhere and yeah, I definitely believe it with Cherry's rapped verses and that sung hook which sounds absolutely excellent so yeah this is a damn great song, check it out.

45. "Missing You" by Chris De Burgh

Oh look the dude who recorded the boring "Lady In Red" is back with a new single from the album called "Flying Colours" and well...this song really is as bland as your white cotton bed sheets, its a pretty stereotypical love song where he has everything he needs except her and he misses her. I mean really this is pretty formulaic and not very interesting...at least Kiss had the benefit of hinting at sex...this is just a bland whisp of a song...next!

41. "Early in the Morning" by Robert Palmer

So Robert Palmer's "She Makes My Day" is actually a really solid song that I don't mind all that much which made me curious to hear how he would follow it up with this being a cover of a 1982 song from The Gap Band  and honestly I am not sure how I feel about this cover because while the vocal delivery sounds flat and like Palmer was recording this early in the morning, I do like the driving energy the production has courtesy of those synths and drums so I guess this one is a bit take it or leave it and in most cases I'd probably leave it.

38. "Real Gone Kid" by Deacon Blue

Highest new entry of the week belongs to a Scottish pop rock band and was written about a performance by Maria McKee that vocalist Ricky Ross saw once with the song being a tribute to McKee with "Real Gone Kid" referencing McKee's onstage performances. The song is the lead single from the album of the same name and I mostly like this! Yeah, it's nice to get a break from 80s synths for a nice pop rock song lead by a keyboard with some nice interplay between the vvocallists. Definitely would love to see this one become a hit, check it out!

However it's not getting best of the week because that's going to "Buffalo Stance" by Neneh Cherry...that song packs a punch. As for the worst, that's going to Kiss for "Let's Put the X in Sex" for being a blatant Bon Jovi knock off.