24 July 2014 Here's the last of Cheryl's four solo Irish chart-toppers. And Girls Aloud only had one! You people. Suffice it to say, 'Crazy Stupid Love' hasn't matured into a Xenomania-level banger like fine wine ageing in the cellar. The percussion and saxophone come across as a lazy mash-up of generic 'Latino' R&B-pop with … Continue reading Cheryl ft. Tinie Tempah – ‘Crazy Stupid Love’
The Moody Blues – ‘Question’
29 May 1970 Remember 'Spaceman' by Babylon Zoo, that '90s chart-topper from a jeans ad that used its catchy electronica opening, only for the track itself to be a stodgy rocker? I wonder if 'Question' by The Moody Blues' gave the music punters of 1970 a similar bout of buyer's remorse. Its opening verses of … Continue reading The Moody Blues – ‘Question’
Ariana Grande ft. Iggy Azalea – ‘Problem’
3 July 2014 In June 2014 Iggy Azalea, a white Australian who rapped in an American accent, was at number one and two on the US charts with her first two singles to appear on the Billboard Hot 100, the first time this had happened for any act since The Beatles hit America in 1964. … Continue reading Ariana Grande ft. Iggy Azalea – ‘Problem’
Norman Greenbaum – ‘Spirit In The Sky’
22 May 1970 I'm surprised to listen attentively to the original 'Spirit In The Sky' and find myself feeling a little disappointed. Okay, obviously the scuzzy minimalist riff is pure gold and the stompy clap-along beat is great fun: no issues there. And I'm already familiar with the buzz-killing Jesus namecheck, making this the first … Continue reading Norman Greenbaum – ‘Spirit In The Sky’
5 Seconds Of Summer – ‘Don’t Stop’
19 June 2014 I recall 5 Seconds Of Summer having a fandom, but even at the time their chart hits didn't make an impression on me. I couldn't name any of the four band members either. All credit to them for their success, but the vibe of McBusted-for-1D-fans is hard to dispel. 'Don't Stop' combines … Continue reading 5 Seconds Of Summer – ‘Don’t Stop’
Dana – ‘All Kinds Of Everything’
20 March 1970 The 1970 episode of Reeling In The Years shows Dana's celebratory post-Eurovision homecoming, which includes a meeting with Ireland's then-president, an elderly Éamon de Valera. Dana went on to try to emulate Dev by becoming a fundamentalist Catholic, then an Irish presidential candidate, and finally an American citizen. Still, Dana could claim … Continue reading Dana – ‘All Kinds Of Everything’
Ella Henderson – ‘Ghost’
12 June 2014 A moment of chart history: when 'Ghost' by Ella Henderson re-took the Irish top spot on 10 July 2014 it became our first number one under new IRMA rules that include streaming figures as well as sales and downloads. So, a chart-topping single in Ireland could now swell an artist's coffers by … Continue reading Ella Henderson – ‘Ghost’
Sam Smith – ‘Stay With Me’
22 May 2014 The last time we had a high-profile copyright claim at number one in Ireland, with 'Blurred Lines', the song was problematic and the ruling was controversial. Thankfully, 'Stay With Me' as a song is an improvement in terms of quality and taste, while the inadvertent similarity of its chorus hook to that … Continue reading Sam Smith – ‘Stay With Me’
Lee Marvin – ‘Wand’rin’ Star’
6 March 1970 You may remember a great Simpsons bit where Homer and Bart sit the family down to watch violent shoot-'em-up western Paint Your Wagon, only to discover to their horror that it's actually rootin'-tootin' comedy musical western Paint Your Wagon. I already knew that, which is why I've never watched it. I've heard … Continue reading Lee Marvin – ‘Wand’rin’ Star’
Calvin Harris – ‘Summer’
1 May 2014 No featured vocalist this time around: 'Summer' is the only one of Calvin Harris's eight Irish number one singles on which he's solo. This is also true of his first and best hit, 'Acceptable In The '80s', so I'm cool with this. The problem with 'Summer' isn't the lack of a guest … Continue reading Calvin Harris – ‘Summer’
