NOW! That's What I Call A Tune! 78

It's been a while - and the character of this blog has changed - but I'm determined to finish my series featuring one track from each NOW! That's What I Call Music! album. 

The premise is that this will normally be the track that, on browsing the contents, I'd be inclined to play first: for novelty value, because it brings back particular memories or because it's a favourite. 

This week I've gone for the comic video genius that sees Peter Kay as Geraldine McQueen as Elaine Paige and Susan Boyle as Barbara Dickson. Filmed for Comic Relief in 2011, this is their take on the original video. Keep watching for the little comic details - and the big "reveal" as to whom the song is about:

And here, as a bonus, is that original video with the real Barbara Dickson and Elaine Paige:




Andrew

NOW! That's What I Call A Tune! 77

We may not (yet) be getting Plan B for the Economy - and Ben Drew is unlikely to be made Chancellor - but I can still feature him here. From NOW! That's What I Call Music! 77, here is Prayin':

Andrew

NOW! That's What I Call A Tune! 76

This week's act have charted 8 times - but with just 5 songs. Indeed, in terms of the Top 40, they have charted 5 times with 3 songs! This, their second (and fifth) Top 40 hit, has a wonderfully infectious, catchy chorus - Train with Hey, Soul Sister:

Andrew

NOW! That's What I Call A Tune! 75

Okay, okay, I've overlooked Florence + The Machine, Biffy Clyro and even Alicia Keys in my considerations for this entry but, well, I am unrepentant. I may not have followed Glee into a third and fourth series (although may well still get these on DVD in due course) but there is still something infectious about Don't Stop Believin'.

Altogether now: "Just a smalltown girl..."

...and here's a version by the original artists, Journey - the studio recording of this also featured on NOW! 75.

Andrew

NOW! That's What I Call A Tune! 74

Following recent appearances from Paolo Nutini and La Roux in this strand, I very almost chose them again this week (for "Pencil Full of Lead" and "Bulletproof", respectively. As it happens, the act I have gone for has also recently been one of my NOW! Tunes!: MIKA, this time with We Are Golden.

Note that I chose this before I had seen the (rather odd) video:

Andrew

NOW! That's What I Call A Tune! 73

Yazoo, Eurythmics, Pet Shop Boys, Hurts, Soft Cell, Erasure... There is something about Synthpop that seems to generate great duos.

This week's NOW! Tune! is from another: La Roux, with In For The Kill: 

Andrew

NOW! That's What I Call A Tune! 72

The Killers have featured on these pages before - including when they featured for an appearance on NOW! 60. But, on the basis that you can't have too much of a good thing, here they are again with Human:

I wasn't sure about this track when I first heard it - but it's definitely a Choon!

Andrew

NOW! That's What I Call A Tune! 70

Well, well, well, we've reached 70! I feel like I'm finally on the home stretch of what has been a bit of an epic undertaking. If you want to review progress in getting this far, click here - after today there's just 14 weeks to go and we'll be bang up to date! Wednesday's will never be the same again...

Anyway - all that aside - this week's tune is a bit of a one-hit-wonder from Sam Sparro. This peaked at No. 2 - his only other charting hit reached 44...

Andrew

NOW! That's What I Call A Tune! 69

This week's tune is from the new "Global Creative Director" of Blackberry, Alicia Keys...

...however, that is coincidental to her appearance here with the massive hit "No One":

Andrew

NOW! That's What I Call A Tune! 68

This isn't going to be popular (well certainly amongst certain quarters) but I don't care. My blog, my rules.

This week's post is Leona Lewis with Bleeding Love. It's a cheesefest which reminds me of a great week spent in Padstow with two very dear friends - this song seemed to follow us round! This is for them:

Andrew

NOW! That's What I Call A Tune! 67

I think I may be hitting a period (the late "noughties") when my interest in pop diminished - I know that I could barely identify the vast majority of the tracks on NOW! 67! Still, I suppose that made choosing this week's track easier, in a way!

Anyway, out of the limited choice I had, based on the criteria for this blog series, I've gone for Paolo Nutini singing about his New Shoes. I know the feeling, having recently got myself a lovely new pair in the sales!

Enjoy!:

Andrew

NOW! That's What I Call A Tune! 66

This week's tune has such an irresistible joie de vivre, I defy anyone not to like it!

Should I bend over, should I look older, just to be put on your shelf?...

Andrew

NOW! That's What I Call A Tune! 65

It's a New Year and some things haven't changed: I'm a day late in bringing you this week's NOW! That's What I Call A Tune...

There were a few acts and songs that I considered for this entry - some of which have been featured on these pages before. Scissor Sisters, The Fratellis, Christina Aguilera, Razorlight, Snow Patrol, Paolo Nutini, The Feeling, The Killers, Jamelia and Meat Loaf all staked a claim.

I could only, honestly, choose one track though - the sublime Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol. It was a bit of a surprise that I hadn't featured this song before but, better late than never!

What would you have chosen?:

Andrew

NOW! That's What I Call A Tune! 64

This weeks selection is from Sandi Thom whose career flickered briefly in mid- to late- 2000's but never really took off in the way that her first hit (which reached number 1 for a week in 2006) promised. Here is that hit, I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker (With Flowers in My Hair):

Andrew

NOW! That's What I Call A Tune! 63

Shock, horror, this week's entry in the NOW! That's What I Call A Tune! is on time...

The entry was going to be by Corinne Bailey Rae until I discovered, just before scheduling it, that I had previously featured the track here.

Instead, therefore, here are The Ordinary Boys with Boys Will Be Boys:

Andrew

NOW! That's What I Call A Tune! 62

Finally, up to date again! Fingers crossed I can keep normal service up each Wednesday from now until the end of the series in around 20 weeks!

Here are The Kaiser Chiefs with I Predict A Riot, their second release but first hit (initially only at No. 22 but  a subsequent reissue got to No.9 - and probably still their most well known song.

Andrew

NOW! That's What I Call A Tune! 61

The mid-2000's were, it seems a bit of a purple patch in terms of correlation between my musical tastes and that of the tracks in the Hit Parade (as it used to be called!). This is consistent with the general rule that I prefer the music of the even decades: 60's, 80's, 00's... Indeed, the chosen track has elements from two of those decades. Here are the Audio Bullys with Shot You Down featuring Nancy Sinatra:

Enjoy!

Andrew

NOW! That's What I Call A Tune! 60

NOW! 60 features a (relative) embarrassment of riches to select from but ultimately it had to be The Killers with Somebody Told Me:

Andrew

NOW! That's What I Call A Tune! 59

When I started reading the reading the track list for NOW! 59, I thought I would be hard pushed to see past track two: Maroon 5's She Will Be Loved. But then I saw Hoobastank with The Reason, and whilst the tune didn't come readily to mind, it was enough to trigger some deep memory and make it this week's today's selection:

Andrew

NOW! That's What I Call A Tune! 58

Oh dear, I'm 5 weeks behind on this series, so there will be a splurge of posts over the next few days while I catch up!

First up, NOW! 58 from July 2004 and I've chosen Anastacia with Left Outside Alone. Pure, unadulterated, 100% cheesy pop. Enjoy!

Andrew