22 July 2000 One thing that jumps out at me from 'The Real Slim Shady' is how defensive and chippy it is. How many other Slim Shadies were out there, exactly? If he's dissing other white rappers, does he mean Mark McCabe and our blessed 'Maniac 2000'? Confusingly, he then quotes approvingly the Discovery Channel … Continue reading Eminem – ‘The Real Slim Shady’ →

15 July 2000 Gregg Alexander's single transferable song evokes the early '00s as much as bootcut jeans and frosted tips. After his own 'You Get What You Give' in 1999 as the New Radicals, it pops up again (and again) in 'Inner Smile' by Texas, 'The Game Of Love' by Santana featuring Michelle Branch, 'Murder … Continue reading Ronan Keating – ‘Life Is A Rollercoaster’ →

10 June 2000 Not long before this, in 1998, we had a wave of Irish pop girls at number one: a group of them as B*Witched on the fantastic 'C'est La Vie' and a solo one in Kerri Ann on the alright 'Irreplaceable'. So, Samantha Mumba at number one in 2000 with her debut single … Continue reading Samantha Mumba – ‘Gotta Tell You’ →

13 May 2000 As I write this, today's schedule on the Discovery Channel consists mostly of Wheeler Dealers, Alaskan Bush People, and UFO Witness. But hey, whatever turns you on! The funky, radio-friendly goofiness of its zero-entendre chorus is what ensured global one-hit wonder status for 'The Bad Touch'. Its verses are just tiring, laboured, … Continue reading Bloodhound Gang – ‘The Bad Touch’ →

4 March 2000 Dare I suggest that, since it was recorded in Clontarf Cricket Club, 'Maniac 2000' is a West Brit? Best not. To be fair, cricket in Ireland is played and watched by plenty of solid Irish citizens. Also, 'Maniac 2000' had barely topped our charts before Ireland elevated it to the pantheon of … Continue reading Mark McCabe – ‘Maniac 2000’ →

26 February 2000 Our previous number one, Gabrielle's 'Rise', featured the sort of inspirational content now more associated with social media. We've seen a similar shift to Instagram with this number one's theme of literal travel as metaphorical journey of 'authentic' spiritual self-realisation. Alex Garland's The Beach, visualised by Danny Boyle's film adaptation, was a … Continue reading All Saints – ‘Pure Shores’ →

19 February 2000 If Bob Dylan's fans called him 'Judas' for playing an electric guitar, what must they call him for approving samples and interpolations of him in chart pop songs? I've never been a Dylan fan, I don't like the dirge of 'Knockin' On Heaven's Door' in any version, and I've never been partial … Continue reading Gabrielle – ‘Rise’ →

12 February 2000 I never had Noel Gallagher down as a fellow student and fan of 19th century American poetry. Here's the first verse of 'A Bag Of Tools' by Robert Lee Sharpe: Isn't it strange That princes and kings, And clowns that caper In sawdust rings, And common people Like you and me Are … Continue reading Oasis – ‘Go Let It Out’ →

5 February 2000 Delerium are two Canadian guys, but the lead vocal on 'Silence' is a woman's voice. Since there's no 'ft' or other billing on the single cover (above) apart from the B-side remixers Fade, who happen to be two American guys, I wonder who the actual singer on the main event is. Turns … Continue reading Delerium – ‘Silence’ →

22 January 2000 Our first new number one of the 2000s has a title more fitting to the 1950s. And still to come from Britney: 'I'm A Slave 4 U'; 'Overprotected'; 'I'm Not A Girl, Not Yet A Woman'; 'Toxic'. Scant retort comes from 'Stronger', with its clunky callback to the fatal loneliness of '...Baby … Continue reading Britney Spears – ‘Born To Make You Happy’ →