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October 25, 2009
UK Chart Singles 25 October 2009
Here are my short reviews of the official Top 10 Chart Singles in the UK this week. If you want to listen on Spotify - here is the link
This is my 4th week, and I'm starting to get used to the songs. This is due to the cumulative effect of remembering tracks that have endured through the weeks, with a only few new entries. And I've also been watching the music channels on Sky.
1. Cheryl Cole - Fight For This Love 5/10 new entry | 1 week in chart
There was never any doubt that this would go straight in at Number One. Cole got massive viewing figures on the X-Factor on TV last weekdnd, and an endorsement from Simon Cowell. Also, it is quite a catchy song. I like the heavy percussion bass section in the middle (at 2:45). I'm not sure where she has found her slightly urban/London accent from.
2. Alexandra Burke - Bad Boys (feat. Flo Rida) 5/10 down 1 | 2 weeks in chart
Burke's first single since the appalling, but massively selling Hallelujah last Christmas. The X-Factor winner has taken her time and come back with a completely different kind of song, a crowd friendly disco inspired feel of a song. Flo Rida gives a short, and largely ignorable rap in the middle just to give the song a more modern feel.
I think it's just OK, still.
3. Chipmunk - Oopsy Daisy 4/10 non mover | 3 weeks in chart
English incoherent rapping, with metaphors based on baseball (baseball love/three strikes/home run) for some weird reason. The female vocal is OK and has grown on me, but I could do without the rap.
4. Robbie Williams - Bodies 4/10 down 2 | 2 weeks in chart
I don't like Robbie Williams songs in general, and this is no exception.
Mostly it's the lyrics. from what I have made out so far, they just seem like random gibberish on a religion theme. Then it's the delivery, Robbie's odd singing/not singing verses, and sweeping chorus where he almost, but not quite, sings. Is that chorus the same as the Millennium one?
Truely terrible.
5. Whitney Houston - Million Dollar Bill 5/10 up 9 | 3 weeks in chart
Didn't realise this was lower in the chart last week. I guess it was the appearance on X-Factor (which I didn't see) which has pushed it up. This is the third X-Factor related track in the top 5. Whitney has lost a lot of her trademark sound, her vocal is a lot less piercing. This is not a bad thing in my opinion, but nevertheless, without that, she is just another identikit vocalist. It sounds a bit old fashioned in a disco'ey 1970s way - a bit boring.
6. Taio Cruz - Break Your Heart 7/10 down 2 | 6 weeks in chart
Definitely my favourite track in the Top 10. This one is really catchy and has some staying power. Quite a clever lyric too, so all round a great song.
7. The Black Eyed Peas - I Gotta Feeling 6/10 down 1 | 20 weeks in chart
I'm getting to like this once more as the weeks go by - it took me a long time to get "Where is the Love?" as well. This is a fun song, with a feel good lyric. Something you'd definitely want to play before going out partying. just realised that it's been in the chart for 20 weeks - seriously, it's not that good.
8. Jay-Z - Empire State Of Mind 5/10 (feat. Alicia Keys) down 3 | 6 weeks in chart
Rapping terribly dull, Alicia Keys singing section screechy and annoying. She is so talented this is a waste, like that James Bond theme last year which did her no favours.
9. Michael Bublé - Haven't Met You Yet 5/10 non mover | 2 weeks in chart
I'm not a huge Bublé fan, I'm not even a big fan of this song, but it's nice to see something a bit more traditional in the chart for a change. I guess this sounds a bit patronising - but the song isn't the strongest. I am suspecting the Terry Wogan and Radio 2 effect here.
10. Young Soul Rebels - I Got Soul new entry - 1 week in chart
Billed as an "Urban soul super group", this is a charity single along the same lines as Band Aid with new artists including Pixie Lott, N-Dubz, tinchy Stryder and Chipmunk. Unfortunately, Spotify have removed this song, so I only heard it once. Sounded enough like the original to me to make no difference. Charity singles are rarely good, this is no exception.
If you played me any of these, I can now identify the track, and artist. Four weeks ago when I started doing this that was impossible - I don't think I'd have gotten one.
Posted by se71 at 06:55 PM | Comments (0)
October 18, 2009
UK Chart Singles 18 October 2009
Another week, another chart...
Listen on Spotify
1. Alexandra Burke - Bad Boys (feat. Flo Rida) 5/10 new entry | 1 weeks in chart
Burke's first single since the appalling, but massively selling Hallelujah last Christmas. The X-Factor wiiner has taken her time and come back with a completely different kind of song, a crowd friendly disco inspired feel of a song. Flo Rida gives a short, and largely ignorable rap in the middle just to give the song a more modern feel.
Give me a week or two to hear this more, but so far it seems just OK.
2. Robbie Williams - Bodies 4/10 new entry | 1 weeks in chart
Apparently if you make a new record, when you've spent a couple of years off, they call it a comeback these days. So Robbie is back. I should probably say here that I've hated his past records, so the chances of me liking this were slim. And lo, it came to pass, that I hate this song - a lot.
Mostly it's the lyrics. from what I have made out so far, they just seem like random gibberish on a religion theme. Then it's the delivery, Robbie's odd singing/not singing verses, and sweeping chorus where he almost, but not quite, sings. Is that chorus the same as the Millennium one?
Truely aweful.
3. Chipmunk - Oopsy Daisy 4/10 down 2 | 2 weeks in chart
English incoherent rapping, with metaphors based on baseball (three strikes/home run) for some weird reason. The female vocal is OK, but it's all a bit dull.
4. Taio Cruz - Break Your Heart 7/10 non-mover | 5 weeks in chart
This one has grown on me a lot. Nice melody, a bit throw away but pleasant to listen to. Quite a clever lyric.
5. Jay-Z - Empire State Of Mind 5/10 (feat. Alicia Keys) down 2 | 5 weeks in chart
Rapping terribly dull, Alicia Keys singing section screechy and annoying. She is so talented this is a waste, like that James Bond theme last year which did her no favours.
6. The Black Eyed Peas - I Gotta Feeling 6/10 up 2 | 19 weeks in chart
I'm getting to like this once more as the weeks go by - it took me a long time to get "Where is the Love?" as well. It's a fun song, with a feel good lyric. Something you'd definitely want to play before going out partying.
7. Shakira - She Wolf 6/10 non-mover | 6 weeks in chart
The voice manipulation is a bit rubbish and unnecessary as Shakira has a very distinctive vocal sound already. Not a bad song though - grows on you. Agree with a comment I read about the wolf howl - a very half hearted effort. The video has to be seen to be believed - that girl is bendy.
8. The Saturdays - Forever Is Over down 6 | 2 weeks in chart
Still not available on Spotify - review to follow maybe, but had a quick listen to a 30s preview and wasn't that impressed.
9. Michael Bublé - Haven't Met You Yet 5/10 new entry | 1 weeks in chart
This new entry is a breath of fresh air. I'm not a huge Bublé fan, I'm not even a big fan of this song, but it's nice to see something a bit more traditional in the chart for a change. I guess this sounds a bit patronising - but the song isn't the strongest. Is he the housewife's choice? I am suspecting the Terry Wogan effect here.
10. David Guetta - Sexy Chick (feat. Akon) 3/10 down 5 | 10 weeks in chart
Average dance sound - vocoder vocals. Lamenting the days when songs with derogarory terms about girls in the lyrics wouldn't get on the radio. This is lazy writing. But have discovered that I was listening to the album version last week - the single uses 'chick' instead of 'bitch', even though they deliberately mispronounce it to rhyme with 'bitch'. Why can't they just write one song - have some integrity, and take the radio ban
Posted by se71 at 06:44 PM | Comments (0)
October 13, 2009
Library Fines
The "worrying statistics" that books borrowed have fallen by 41% over the last ten years is not something that surprises me. I'm one of those people who has stopped going.
The Guardian further asks the question: "Yes, I am thinking about how LoveFilm or Amazon work. What is it about their way of doing things that generates such popularity, wide usage, such customer delight and satisfaction?"
It is obvious to me why - no fines.
I keep trying to use the library, but inevitably I am either away from home at the weekend, or for some other reason forget to renew my books. Then, when I do go back, I pay several pounds per book in fines. If you are also encouraging children, taking back a bag full of late books is a scary proposition. Best not bothering with the constant worry of "When are the books due back" and just get a few second hand ones from Oxfam. We have busy lives - libraries are hard to get to with their obscurely planned opening times (ours closes at 3pm on Saturdays - what is the point of that?). I really want to use the library, but it's a real effort to get there when it is open, and a missed visit means losing money, so why put myself through the pain?
What is wrong with the business model Lovefilm follow? They let me keep a film or two at home at all times, and only allow me to get a new one when I take the old one back? There are no fines, no worries, and I always have something I want at home.
Libraries need to be more friendly, more open. If I have to pay £3 to return a tatty paperback a few days late, I am not going to be predisposed to borrowing anything again.
Posted by se71 at 09:02 AM | Comments (2)
October 11, 2009
UK Chart Singles 11 Oct 2009
Week two of my experiment to rate the UK singles chart.
If you want to play along, either tune your radio to a popular music channel, or download Spotify and click below to load up the playlist of this week's Top 9.
11h October 2009 - Top 9 Singles.
I'm currently missing one song - again!
1. Oopsy Daisy - Chipmunk
Straight into No 1. This is, I think, fairly common these days.
Once again, not my kind of song. Boring, utterly forgettable.
2. Forever is Over - The Saturdays
Not available on Spotify - review to follow, but had a quick listen to a 30s preview and wasn't that impressed.
3. Jay-Z - Empire State of Mind - 3/10
Rapping terribly dull, Alicia Keys singing section screechy and annoying. She is so talented this is a waste, like that James Bond theme last year which did her no favours.
4. Break your Heart - Taio Cruz - 7/10
This one has grown on me a lot. Nice melody, a bit throw away but pleasant to listen to. Quite a clever lyric.
5. David Guetta - Sexy Chick - 3/10
Average dance sound - vocoder vocals. Lamenting the days when songs with derogarory terms about girls in the lyrics wouldn't get on the radio. This is lazy writing. But have discovered that I was listening to the album version last week - the single uses 'chick' instead of 'bitch', even though they deliberately mispronounce it to rhyme with 'bitch'. Why can't they just write one song - have some integrity, and take the radio ban.
6. The Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition - 6/10
1980s sound, like a U2 guitar riff at the start, sounds OK. Decent vocal. Probably the only traditional song in the top 10. But again so bland it's slipping away already.
7. Shakira - She Wolf - 6/10
The voice manipulation is a bit rubbish and unnecessary as Shakira has a very distinctive vocal sound already. Not a bad song though - grows on you. Agree with a comment I read about the wolf howl - a very half hearted effort. The video has to be seen to be believed - that girl is bendy.
8. Black Eyed Peas - I Gotta Feeling - 4/10
Very average - even after 4 listens, I can't rememeber any of it. It's a fun song though, with a feel good lyric.
9. Pitbull - Hotel Room Service - 3/10
Terrible song - toneless singing in the chorus, tasteless lyrics, boring rapping, beeping in the background that I could create in 5 minutes. Have also stolen their main riff "Hotel, Motel, Holiday Inn" line from Rappers Delight by the Sugar Hill Gang. Was watching MTV Hits last night, and they refused to show the video as it was too explicit - what idiots Pitbull are.
The best thing to say about it is that it has quite a nice 15 second instrumental coda at the end.
10. Jay-Z - Run This Town - 4/10
As with New York, this song has some boring rapping, and an annoying female vocal - this time Rihanna
The whole...
Female vocal chorus which has a tune
male rapping over background verse
repeat
...is a tired formula - no one is listening to the rapping, just waiting for the singing. This is how several of today's top 10 are structured, and I just don't understand it. It has to do with the massive egos of the rappers themselves, but their lack of respect for their own abilities, and their less than average writing skills. Go and listen to some Eminem or Beastie Boys, or NWA or Grandmaster Flash - real lyrical rapping about real stuff that engages the audience.
Comments welcome, email me at robert@se71.org if you have problems with the site. See you next week.
Posted by se71 at 08:41 AM | Comments (0)
October 07, 2009
UK Chart Singles 04 Oct 2009
As I said in my last post, I'm going to write some reviews for the songs in the UK Singles charts.
If you want to play along, either tune your radio to a popular music channel, or download Spotify and click below to load up the playlist of this week's Top 9.
4th October 2009 - Top 9 Singles.
I'm currently missing Dizzee Rascal's entry at No. 10 - Bad Dizzee!
Before I started I had heard two of these songs on the radio, and seen one video. I've now listened through about 5 times. See the end for my conclusions.
1. Break your Heart - Taio Cruz - 7/10
Not bad, fairly nice melody, a bit throw away but pleasant to listen to.
2. Jay-Z - Empire State of Mind - 3/10
Rapping terribly dull, Alicia Keys singing section screechy and annoying. She is so talented this is a waste, like that James Bond theme last year which did her no favours.
3. David Guetta - Sexy bitch - 3/10
Average dance sound - vocoder vocals. Lamenting the days when songs with bitch and whore in the lyrics wouldn't get on the radio. This is lazy writing.
4. Shakira - She Wolf - 6/10
More rubbish voice manipulation - unnecessary as Shakira has a very distinctive voice already. Not a bad song though - grows on you. The video has to be seen to be believed - that girl is bendy.
5. Black Eyed Peas - I Gotta Feeling - 4/10
Very average - even after 4 listens, I can't rememeber any of it.
6. Jay-Z - Run This Town - 4/10
As with New York, currently at number 3, this song has some boring rapping, and an annoying female vocal - this time Rihanna (should have stayed under her umbrella)
7. The Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition - 6/10
1980s sound, like a U2 guitar riff at the start, sounds OK. Decent vocal. Probably the only traditional song in the top 10. But again so bland it's slipping away already.
8. Pixie Lott - Boys and Girls - 5/10
Nothing terribly wrong with this song, but nothing memorable or good either.
9. Pitbull - Hotel Room Service - 3/10
Terrible song - toneless singing in the chorus, tasteless lyrics, boring rapping, beeping in the background that I could create in 5 minutes. Have also stolen their main riff "Hotel, Motel, Holiday Inn" line from Rappers Delight by the Sugar Hill Gang. Quite a nice 15 second instrumental coda at the end.
Overall, I'm not that impressed. There is nothing here that I would consider buying - but I'm not terribly surprised by that revelation :-) I'm disappointed by the lyrics, and I'm astonished that people are buying Jay-Z songs - they suck in so many ways.
On the positive side Taio Cruz at No 1 is a catchy song I'm liking more and more, and I woke up with it in my head this morning. Good lyrics, nice voice. Surprised by the old skool euro dance sound though. And Shakira is also quite good, spoilt by bad production.
Comments welcome, email me at robert@se71.org if you have problems with the site. See you next week.
Posted by se71 at 10:43 AM | Comments (0)
UK Chart Singles
Much has already been written about teenagers' obsession with the UK singles chart during the 1970s and 80s. I was one of those people who carried a transistor radio with me to lunch at school on a Tuesday (against the rules) so that I'd be first to know who was the new Number 1 that week.
I think our nation's love affair with pop singles has waned over the years, I know mine has. This is borne out by sales being much lower than they were. You could get to Number one in 2006 with 30,000 sales in a week - I can't find any figures right now, but it used to be a lot more.
But though physical sales have decreased, there is some hope with downloads now included in the totals, and sales are rising again.
But, I don't want to talk about sales particularly, I want to talk about quality. Are the songs in the charts actually any good? And am I even qualified to answer that question?
For many years, I've been completely oblivious of who was No. 1. Listening to Radio 1 is torture - Sara Cox, Ferne & Reggie, Chris Moyles - all talk complete rubbish in my opinion, and have me wanting to punch them after only a few seconds. "Top of the Pops" got cancelled, and since then I am only tangentially aware of what music is in the charts.
But with Spotify I realised I have a new chance to listen to what's new. Spotify allows you to listen for free to most music, and to create playlists. So I did one for this weeks charts.
I'm currently missing Dizzee Rascal's entry at No. 10 - but have the complete Top 9. That's enough for now, perhaps I'll extend it to the Top 20 in future weeks - these are 10 new tracks to me, but next week, some will remain in the charts, and so I can extend my reach.
So far so good. But as I said above, what is my opinion worth? Are singles just for kids? Am I too old to give any kind of judgement? The answer is yes, and no. 'Yes' because my opinion is worth as much as anyone elses - it is all subjective after all. 'Yes' because I have been interested in music throughout my life and have around 40 years of experience to draw on when judging originality. 'Yes' because I have never been scared of new genres, and I like to think I can have a stab at rating jungle/garage/rap as well as dance or pop music. But 'No' because I do come from a time when swearing, violence and misogyny in lyrics would have meant a ban of the song, and I find it difficult to get over that in what is meant to be entertainment aimed at children. And 'No' because I'm not out there in the clubs dancing to this stuff - that does make a big difference, because from what I can tell initially, the charts don't have a hell of a lot of introspective folk ballads.
So I'm going to have a stab at it, giving each song a fair chance, as casually listening to something once isn't good enough to form an opinion. I may also change my opinion of some songs as the weeks go by - this is just what happens with new music as you assimilate it and either grow to like or loathe it.
My next post will be a critique of the top 9 singles in the UK this week. I'd really welcome your input too - tell me I'm wrong, or right!
Posted by se71 at 09:50 AM | Comments (0)