5 June 1964 The urban myth that a young pre-fame Rod Stewart played the harmonica on Millie's 'My Boy Lollipop' got an unexpected second wind in 2016 when it was repeated in an interview by Millie herself. For what it's worth, Rod says a session player called Pete Hogman played it, Hogman says he himself … Continue reading Millie – ‘My Boy Lollipop’ →

18 June 2009 In France everything is political. The '00s wave of French superstar DJs, with their rive droite nightclub bling lifestyle, were generally suspected to be on the conservative centre-right, at least by association. Sure enough, David Guetta played fundraising gigs for Nicolas Sarkozy's victorious 2007 presidential campaign - in Irish terms, imagine him … Continue reading David Guetta ft. Kelly Rowland – ‘When Love Takes Over’ →

11 June 2009 Is this the first Irish number one single from a computer game? I'm casting around for reasons why a 2007 song from an unknown Australian punk-pop act topped our charts in 2009 and I see it was featured on FIFA 09. I'm not a gamer, so I don't know if it even … Continue reading The Veronicas – ‘Untouched’ →

29 May 1964 Here's the other half of Ireland's only joint number one single, along with Eileen Reid and The Cadets' 'Fallen Star'. I see Dickie Rock's group have here dropped the word 'Showband' from their name and are going by The Miamis, perhaps to seem like a proper '60s outfit. The only version of … Continue reading Dickie Rock and The Miamis – ‘I’m Yours’ →

7 May 2009 Tinchy Stryder's 'Number 1' isn't Ireland's first number one single with 'number 1' in the title: that'd be Zig and Zag's 1990 Christmas number one 'Christmas No. 1'. More acts should try this sort of nominative determinism. Granted, fall short of topping the charts ('Number One' by X Factor finalist Tabby only … Continue reading Tinchy Stryder ft. N-Dubz – ‘Number 1’ →

22 May 1964 No prizes for guessing which Liverpool four-piece pop group the Irish record-buying public of 1964 loved most. That's right, it's The Searchers, here with their third Irish number one in only nine months and our eighth chart-topping single from a Merseyside act in a year. Their version of 'Don't Throw Your Love … Continue reading The Searchers – ‘Don’t Throw Your Love Away’ →

23 April 2009 The Pride-Is-Protest artwork and the intersectional feminist lyrics really show Eminem's creative and personal development as - ha ha! Just kidding! I did a '00s bantz! 'We Made You' is more of the exact same sexism, misogyny and homophobia as the rest of his useless, rotten, craven chart-topping output. It's all targeted … Continue reading Eminem – ‘We Made You’ →

29 May 1964 Here's the first Irish number one single by an Irish woman. You'd think that Irish pop-cultural landmark would be more widely known and recognised, but prior to this I really only knew Eileen Reid from her TV appearances in the '80s and after, some of which were religious in subject. The only … Continue reading Eileen Reid and The Cadets – ‘Fallen Star’ →

8 May 1964 Not quite nepo-baby level, but it's sure handy if in 1964 you're in a pop group looking for a hit, your sister's boyfriend is Paul McCartney, and he's even sharing a room with you in your family home. That's how Peter Asher, brother of actress and then-Beatle-partner Jane, gets an unused Lennon-McCartney … Continue reading Peter and Gordon – ‘A World Without Love’ →

17 April 1964 I'll be honest: I thought we'd be seeing more Beatles number ones than this. Anyway, it's mid-1964 and Ireland gets only its second Fab Four chart-topper. For comparison, in America 'Can't Buy Me Love' was the third number one in a row by The Beatles, after 'She Loves You' and 'I Want … Continue reading The Beatles – ‘Can’t Buy Me Love’ →