4 July 2013 Avicii's sudden and tragic death in 2018 overshadows 'Wake Me Up' for me now. The immense fame and pressure that came with gargantuan worldwide hits like this had their impact on his wellbeing, and the song's lyrics carry an unavoidable resonance. I wasn't a fan of the track at the time. Its … Continue reading Avicii – ‘Wake Me Up’
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Real McCoy – ‘Quick Joey Small (Run Joey Run)’
11 January 1969 Another year in '60s Ireland, another Irish showband with a cover version at the top of the charts. But wait! This Irish showband sounds like they're actually living in the '60s! And the record isn't altogether bad! Though the clumsy title suggests some sort of plaintive country ballad about a Wild West … Continue reading Real McCoy – ‘Quick Joey Small (Run Joey Run)’
Robin Thicke ft. T.I. and Pharrell – ‘Blurred Lines’
16 May 2013 [Content warning: sexual aggression; sexual assault.] Hashtags: that was my immediate reaction while I first encountered 'Blurred Lines'. It was a Sunday morning, I had a music TV channel on while eating breakfast and reading the papers, and the video started. Those full-screen hashtags of artist and track title had caught my … Continue reading Robin Thicke ft. T.I. and Pharrell – ‘Blurred Lines’
The Scaffold – ‘Lily The Pink’
21 December 1968 McCartneys at number one in Ireland in 1968: Paul one, Mike one. Paul surely bears some moral culpability for 'Lily The Pink', though; Sgt Pepper evidently opened a market gap for tuba-farting English music-hall retro whimsy. English pop music never really ditched its end-of-the-pier variety show impulses. Robbie Williams eked a solo … Continue reading The Scaffold – ‘Lily The Pink’
Daft Punk ft. Pharrell Williams – ‘Get Lucky’
25 April 2013 When I moved to Paris in early 2005, I expected my music-writing hustle for the folks back home to feature mostly Daft Punk, Air and other internationally-renowned notables of "le French touch". This did not turn out to be the case. For one thing, Daft Punk and Air were of little interest … Continue reading Daft Punk ft. Pharrell Williams – ‘Get Lucky’
Hugo Montenegro and His Orchestra and Chorus – ‘The Good, The Bad And The Ugly’
23 November 1968 Ah-oo-ah-oo-aah! Wah wah waah! Yes, it's the most iconic Western movie theme of all, at number one in Ireland and the UK - but as a cover version. Okay, maybe my rendition of Ennio Morricone's classic lacks a certain something. This one by US bandleader Hugo Montenegro—an American James Last, if you … Continue reading Hugo Montenegro and His Orchestra and Chorus – ‘The Good, The Bad And The Ugly’
Bastille – ‘Pompeii’
11 April 2013 'Pompous' is an easy reach here, I know, but it seems this track really is about being petrified in cataclysmic clouds of Vesuvian ash and lava as a metaphor for some vague romantic angst. Hang on now. Those unfortunate enough to be made statues by the neighbourhood volcano were most likely not … Continue reading Bastille – ‘Pompeii’
Pink ft. Nate Ruess – ‘Just Give Me A Reason’
4 April 2013 I don't remember the video for 'Just Give Me A Reason' being so weird and ugly: murky sets; Pink on a bed beside a giant teddy bear with scary glowing eyes; Nate Ruess looking like US comedian John Mulaney. We've had Nate Ruess at number one in Ireland before, as the lead … Continue reading Pink ft. Nate Ruess – ‘Just Give Me A Reason’
The Tremeloes – ‘My Little Lady’
9 November 1968 Factoid fans and '90s kids love The Tremeloes. They're the band that auditioned for Decca Records on the same day as The Beatles; guess which one Decca signed. This late-'60s line-up of The Tremeloes features co-lead-vocalist Chip Hawkes, father of the one and only Chesney. Chip replaced Brian Poole, father of Karen … Continue reading The Tremeloes – ‘My Little Lady’
Mary Hopkin – ‘Those Were The Days’
12 October 1968 It's been a while, here in 2024, since we've had a newly-hatched TV talent show winner at number one in the charts. Those of you who soldiered through the '00s and caught trench foot in the 2009 rage against the machine will recall that these used to be ten a penny, or … Continue reading Mary Hopkin – ‘Those Were The Days’
