20 November 2008 As happened in 2007, the last three Irish number one singles of 2008 are all associated with The X Factor, at that time a UK show not broadcast by any of the Irish TV channels. Reminder: there have only ever been five Irish number ones from Irish TV talent show winners ever, … Continue reading Leona Lewis – ‘Run’ →

30 October 2008 I was still living abroad in 2008. In my absence the people of Ireland put to the top of the Irish charts a British single from a British TV show celebrating the British military for the British poppy-wearing remembrance day. Somebody talk me through the collective national thought process behind that, if … Continue reading The X Factor Finalists – ‘Hero’ →

16 October 2008 While swooning over Leona Lewis's marvellous 'Bleeding Love' I mentioned the '00s trend for rock bands to leech attention and relevancy through ironic or condescending covers of contemporary chart pop hits. Here's one that became a chart hit itself. (We'll also soon see reprisals, where X Factor alumni cover indie favourites to … Continue reading The Saw Doctors – ‘About You Now’ →

2 October 2008 Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit, and I wouldn't rank it much higher as a form of pop song either. The snarky "na-na-na-na na-na-na..." that starts off Pink's 'So What', and is repeated several times in the verses, wearies me fast. So does a chorus of "So what / I'm still … Continue reading Pink – ‘So What’ →

18 September 2008 Those of you following Irish Number Ones on the socials (@irishnumberones) will know 'Mr Brightside'-Watch, my weekly bemusement at how The Killers' most famous track is still in the Irish singles chart but without ever having got higher than no. 42 in Ireland. I mention it here because (a) talking helps me … Continue reading Kings Of Leon – ‘Sex On Fire’ →

21 August 2008 There's something irresistibly exuberant and positive about a young woman singing "I kissed a girl and I liked it!" as the chorus of a smash-hit number one single. Also, experimentation and fluidity are natural and valuable parts of any person's sexuality. How unfortunate, then, that here it's all immediately qualified, even undermined, … Continue reading Katy Perry – ‘I Kissed A Girl’ →

24 July 2008 "George W. Bush music" is what a friend of mine once called Kid Rock's 'All Summer Long'. I must admit, that's a great quip. The record? No so great. If you had forgotten 'All Summer Long'—and apologies for reminding you—its load-bearing parts are the guitar riff from 'Sweet Home Alabama' and the … Continue reading Kid Rock – ‘All Summer Long’ →

10 July 2008 A second Eurodance number one of the year, and a second by Basshunter to boot: you people of Ireland 2008 really were determined to give it one last Celtic Tiger fling before the bad times rolled in. (Already by this point, people in my then-domicile of Paris were asking me concerned questions … Continue reading Basshunter – ‘All I Ever Wanted’ →

26 June 2008 'On Wings' completes a remarkable two-part Irish chart statistic, 15 years after 'This Time' / 'Life Without You' also topped our charts. It means Limerick's Chris and Leanne Moore are the only mother and daughter to each have an Irish number one single. (The Moores' closest challengers, Neneh Cherry and Mabel, have … Continue reading Leanne Moore – ‘On Wings’ →