ARIA Top 50 Top Ten/Chart Review: 7th March. Adding Youtube All For Us

 So the big story this week really isn't on the chart but a change that has been long in coming with ARIA announcing this week that they are finally going to be factoring in Youtube when they put together the weekly charts with that change beginning this week so I was kind of curious to see if the change would shake up our very stale top ten...and really, it kind of did but only ensured that we have another new/old number one in the form of "Hrat Waves" by Glass Animals a year after it first went to number one and it got there thanks to streaming.

However right behind it is "Stay" by The Kid Laroi and Justin Bieber which returned to number two on the back of both streaming and some Youtube.

The big surprise this week was the continued resurgence for "Bad Habits" by Ed Sheeran as it rose two places to number three. I guess that rock version with Bring Me The Horizion is holding up nicely for him.

All of this sent "Cold Heart (PNAU Remix)" by Elton John and Dua Lipa down three to number four as it had a rough week on sales and streaming but Youtube kept it stable enough so it didn't freefall. 

It also pushed "abcdefu" by GAYLE down one despite it being a sales leader, those streams or Youtube aren't holding up.

Staying steady at number six is "Where Are You Now" by Lost Frequencies and Calum Scott which has sales, steady streaming but Youtube isn't quite on board with this yet.

The Youtube leader lies at number seven with "We Don't Talk About Bruno" by The Cast of Encanto, I say this because while it's got sales still, it's falling back on streaming so ARIA adding Youtube this week came at the right time for it.

All of this pushed "Shivers" by Ed Sheeran back to number eight because it's showing signs of weakness all over.

Which might well be good news for the future for "That's What I Want" by Little Nas X which remained steady at number nine, it's still growing on streaming but needs sales and Youtube to get on board.

Also holding steady is "Industry Baby" by Lil Nas X feat. Jack Harlow at number ten and is pretty much now just waiting to be unseated.

Gains

Much to my surprise there was a six place gain for "Save Your Tears" by The Weeknd back up to 15 somehow while "Blinding Lights" also by The Weeknd climbed ten places to number 33

Breaking into the top 20 is a song from the soundtrack of "Encanto" with "Surface Pressure" by Jessica Darrow up four to 19.

One of the biggest gains of the week belonged to Jack Harlow with "Nail Tech" up fourteen places off it's debut last week to 22...I can see this becoming a hit.

The other debutant from last week "Numb Little Bug" by Em Beihold climbed twelve places to 36

Losers

Most of our big losers come lower down the chart with "The Joker and The Queen" by Ed Sheeran feat. Taylor Swift the biggest loser of the week plunging twenty places to number 40.

"The Family Madrigal" by The Cast of Encanto slipped six to 41 while "Light Switch" by Charlie Puth slumped six places to 39.

"On My Knees" by Rufus Du Sol slipped seven places to 46

Drop Out

Just the one drop out this week with "Lose Yourself" by Eminem leaving as expected.

New Entries

Just the one new entry this week so let's dive into...

49. "All For Us" by Labrinth feat Zendaya

 Well it's been awhile since Labrinth has seen the inside of the the top 50 on the Australian chart, last time this British singer songwriter was on the charts was in 2015 when "Jealous" peaked at number 18 so up until now it's been a quiet stretch for him as far as chart success goes. Well it turns out this song is from the soundtrack for hit TV series "Euphoria" and I expect more songs from it to chart so what's this like...I'm sorry I'm not a fan as this feels so overproduced that it actively distracts from Labrinth and Zendaya's talents as singers especially those synths, it almost feels like you need to hope that both shout the lyrics in order for you to hear them especially as the synths are almost way too loud so yeah I hope there is better from the Euphoria sound track coming because this ain't it.

That's a wrap for this week...next week potentially...more Euphoria songs, Camila Cabello's collab with Ed Sheeran and 5 Seconds of Summer but we'll have to see when the chart updates at 5pm AEDST

Lookin' Fine '89. 5th March. What I Am in The Living Years

So this week was a busy one especially in the top ten which is absolute chaos so let's get through all of that nonsense beginning with one of the few calm things this week.. "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" by The Proclaimers spending another week at number one and right now its sitting pretty comfortable.

Although moving up three places to number two is "Tucker's Daughter" by Ian Moss! Now I was not expecting this but it's got some nice sales traction with it, it dragged "You Got It" by Roy Orbison up one spot to number three. I am pretty happy about that.

It pushed "Teardrops" by Womack & Womack back two places to number four and likewise for "Kokomo" by The Beach Boys back to number five. 

Staying where it is like the boring piece of annoyance it is is "Orinoco Flow" by Enya at number six. 

Now here's where the chaos hits because rising from 21 to number seven is "She Drives Me Crazy" by Fune Young Cannibals, I expected this to be a hit but I didn't expect it to move up this quick. Might need to keep an eye on it as a player for the top spot soon.

Then there's the sudden and pretty surprising two place resurgence for "Rock and Roll Music" by Mental As Anything up two to number eight on the back of sales.

All this meant "Kiss" by The Art of Noise feat. Tom Jones fell one spot to number nine and "If I Could" by 1927 stumbled three places to complete the top ten at number ten.

Gains

So I already mentioned "She Drives Me Crazy" by Fine Young Cannibals leaping into the top ten but the news is still pretty good outside of the top ten with "End of The Line" by The Traveling Wildburys leaping twenty places to 16!

"You'll Never Know" by by 1927 jumped eight places to break into the top twenty at 19 however it unfortunately brought the awful "Where Did I Go Wrong" by UB40 up eleven to 20...geezus.

"Armaggeddon It" by Def Leppard climbed from 41 to 34 somehow.

Re-Entries

Two 1988 hits returned with "Don't Worry, Be Happy" by Bobby McFerrin back at 41 and "Groovy Kind of Love" by Phil Collins in at 47

Losers

So let's do what we normally and begin at the bottom of the chart because "Nobody's Perfect" by Mike + The Mechanics slipped fifteen places to 50 this week...thank goodness...more on Mike + The Mechanics in the new entries.

"Don't Walk Away" by Toni Childs slipped ten to 43 while "Early in the Morning" by Robert Palmer slipped nine places to 35.

Poison's "Every Rose Has It's Thorn" slipped eight to 32 while "Don't Need Love" by Johnny Diesel and The Injectors fell seven to 30.

Unfortunately "Orange Crush" by R.E.M lost all of its momentum to tumble from 15 to 29 this week...ouch.  "Put a Little Love in Your Heart" by Annie Lennox and Al Green slipped eleven to 28 while "I Want Yiur Love" by Tranvision Vamp fell from 18 to 25.

Finally down five to 14 is "Handle with Care" by The Traveling Wilburys.

New Entries

Five new entries this week, let's begin with...

49. "The Music Goes Round My Head" by The Saints

We're starting this week with a cover of The Easybeats 1967 song "The Music Goes Round My Head", a song written by legendary song writers Harry Vanda and George Young.

Now it's worth pointing out the original probably isn't the best Easybeats song in terms of the production but you can tell that lyrically the song is a catchy one so what The Saints do to improve on it? Well yeah it's definitely a nice upfate on the song opting for somewhat cleaner rock instrumentals over the bubblegum pop sound the Easybeats used. It's still as catchy as hell and worth checking out if you are interested.

45. "The Living Years" by Mike + The Mechanics

Brand new single from Mike + The Mechanics and I got to be honsst given how much I dislike "Nobody's Perfect", I was dreading this one...only to discover this one is excellent? Yeah, I am not kidding here, the production is on point and the choral vocals that back up or more effectively sing the chorus are incredibly powerful especially when you realize that the song is written from the perspective of a son who hasn't had the best relationship with his father and then realizes that he has a stronger connection to his dad than he ever realized only that the moment of realization has come too late, his father has died and all that stuff the son wanted to say to his father, he can't and now regrets not saying what he needed to when his father was alive, it's a sad song with one hell of a powerful message, nice way to get back on track for Mike + The Mechanics after a bad previous single.

44. "Tell That Girl to Shut Up" by Tranvsion Vamp

New single from Transvision Vamp following up the success of "I Want Your Love" and "Baby, I Don't Care" and turns out this song is a cover of Holly and The Italians 1979 original so does the Transvision Vamp improve on the Holly and the Italians version? 

In this case, no...on the original, the guitars are angrier and Holly is delivering the lyrics with a little bite and some intensity but on the Transvision Vamp version, it's just flat, there's no anger or frustration there in wanting this girl to just shut up, there's about as much intensity in this as when my sister wants to break wind..yeah, I am skipping this...time to move on.

40. "What I Am" by Edie Brickell & New Bohemians

Alright, let's see if we can get some quality here, in this case this song comes from Texan alternative rock jam band group Edie Brickell with this song coming from the group's debut album "Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars" and unfortunately, this song is one of those that's trying to say a lot without really conveying much at all and really doesn't resonate with me at all not helped by Edie Brickell's vocal delivery which really does get annoying at points, sure the pruduction is good with the guitars and keyboard sounding nice but man alive I just don't care for this at all. Next.

23. "Belfast Child" by Simple Minds.

We're ending this week's reviews of the new entries on a sombre note courtesy of this new single from Simple Minds which is taken from the EP "Ballad of the Streets" with this song in particular inspired by a traditional Irish folk song called "She Moved Through the Fair" which Simple Minds frontman Jim Kerr heard while watching a memorial service for the 12 people sadly killed after an IRA bombing in Enniskillen during a Remembrance Day service and the images that were shown during that service made Kerr feel ill before in the second part of the song, he tries to connect and relate with the people of Northern Ireland, he doesn't have any answers to the horrible scenes bu like them is asking questions, it's an incredibly haunting song and when the guitars come in...it makes it a moving and really touching song.

And yeah, of course "Belfast Child" is getting best of the week but I'm making it a tie because "The Living Years" by Mike + The Mechanics is also excellent. Two very emotional songs in different ways

As for the worst, yeah, it's going to "Tell That Girl to Shut Up" by Tranvision Vamp because that really was not good at all.

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.