26 May 1995 U.S. jazz vocalist John Larkin is here sharing his experience of having a severe stammer since childhood, how he used scat to manage it and give himself some confidence, and what lessons he feels others can learn from this. That part of 'Scatman' isn't up for discussion or analysis; after all, it's … Continue reading Scatman John – ‘Scatman’ →

21 April 1995 After Take That and East 17 had already released a few self-penned songs, here's Boyzone finally getting around to original material. 'Key To My Life' is their first non-cover single, and includes co-writing credits for Ronan, Stephen and Mikey. Suffice it to say that, on the evidence here, none of those three … Continue reading Boyzone – ‘Key To My Life’ →

31 March 1995 Gary Barlow understood being taken seriously as doing 'Back For Good' and no longer jumping around singing uptempo pop. Robbie Williams understood being taken seriously as jumping around singing uptempo pop and no longer doing 'Back For Good', or at least not seriously. This tells us a lot about the two personalities … Continue reading Take That – ‘Back For Good’ →

24 March 1995 Oh, I know why this went to number one, in Ireland and the UK. Put it this way, it wasn't because of the hi-NRG remix with just the chorus, or the version with the verses blanked, or even the version with cleaner words instead. The outlaw glamour of its smutty, sexually explicit … Continue reading The Outhere Brothers – ‘Don’t Stop (Wiggle Wiggle)’ →

20 January 1995 What is singing, and what is merely shouting in tune? So far, most of our power ballad divas have been fine singers - technically and in that unquantifiable sense of bringing a song to life. Bonnie Tyler gives 'Total Eclipse Of The Heart' its kitschy, wild-eyed fun. Whitney Houston, '80s edition, charmed … Continue reading Celine Dion – ‘Think Twice’ →