18 December 2014 I wonder if 'Uptown Funk' brought a wry smile to Maria Walsh and Carole Nelson of Zrazy. They were the duo behind 'Ooh, Ahh, Paul McGrath', that enjoyable Irish-chart-topping post-Italia-'90 bop which featured a terrace chant based on 'Oops Upside Your Head' by The Gap Band, who didn't have a writing credit, … Continue reading Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars – ‘Uptown Funk’
Tag: 2014
HomeTown – ‘Where I Belong’
4 December 2014 I often encounter folks who were Westlife and One Direction ultras in their youth, but are any of you HomeTown fans of yore? I must admit, I don't remember them. Yes, boybands were still a going concern this deep into the '10s, with later 1D pushing the format towards post-Britrock stylings such … Continue reading HomeTown – ‘Where I Belong’
Band Aid 30 – ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas? (2014)’
20 November 2014 Let's first jump forward to Band Aid 40 in 2024. It won't be featuring here in its own right, since it didn't get to number one in Ireland or the UK. Okay, it was just a mash-up of Band Aids 1, 20 and 30, harshly omitting Band Aid II, so there was … Continue reading Band Aid 30 – ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas? (2014)’
Ed Sheeran – ‘Thinking Out Loud’
30 October 2014 Married people: is Ed Sheeran part of your story? Perhaps one of his songs accompanied your proposal; Sheeran himself talks about how seven people proposed to their partners during one of his concerts, and how popping the question is now a regular occurrence during live performances of 'Thinking Out Loud'. Or maybe … Continue reading Ed Sheeran – ‘Thinking Out Loud’
Meghan Trainor – ‘All About That Bass’
2 October 2014 Body image is a complex and sensitive subject, and I don't have any expertise or insight to share on the matter. I have the impression that many people with personal experience regarding body image issues have found 'All About That Bass' helpful and many other people haven't. I'll confine my remarks to … Continue reading Meghan Trainor – ‘All About That Bass’
The Script – ‘Superheroes’
4 September 2014 I've just listened to 'Superheroes' by The Script. Which of you is going to write an uplifting anthem about how strong and courageous I am for putting myself through this? 'Superheroes' is essentially another spin at the formula of their previous chart-topper, 'Hall Of Fame'. Like that track, it's U2-aping anthemic arena-pop … Continue reading The Script – ‘Superheroes’
Milky Chance – ‘Stolen Dance’
14 August 2014 Viral hit? Top of the charts in Ireland and across Europe? Really? Okay, on re-listening to 'Stolen Dance' it's slightly familiar to me. Still, though: there's no killer hook or memorable lyric or catchy chorus here at all. Lead Milky Chancer Clemens Rehbein picks some basic jazzy shapes on the ol' Tanglewood … Continue reading Milky Chance – ‘Stolen Dance’
Cheryl ft. Tinie Tempah – ‘Crazy Stupid Love’
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’
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’
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’
