2003: The Good Old Days? - November

We're only 2 months into our lookback at 2003 and already it's looking like it was the year of pop music. One could argue it's all pop because it's the pop charts but what I'm talking about is boy bands, girl groups, former members of said groups and singers from reality shows have a huge presence in the charts. Alex Parks (Fame Academy), Atomic Kitten, Blazin Squad, Blue, Busted, David Sneddon (Fame Academy), Girls Aloud (Popstars: The Rivals), Javine (Popstars: The Rivals), Kelly Clarkson (American Idol), Kym Marsh (Popstars), Lemar (Fame Academy), Liberty X (Popstars), Mark Owen, Matt Goss, Mel C, Phixx (Popstars: The Rivals), Robbie Williams, Ronan Keating and Westlife all have new entries this month plus others (e.g. Britney Spears & Madonna) who can only really be considered as pop. The collective score for all these records is zero.

This brings us onto the worst record which goes to Alex Parks with "Maybe That's What It Takes". The only time I ever watched Fame Academy was the final show of the final series which Alex Parks won. One of my housemates at the time was impressed and bought her album and played it repeatedly. I thought it was a pile of crap personally.

The dance music of the month had a few sub genres such as house, trance and techno represented by a solitary record. However the only decent ones were "Born Slippy Nuxx" by Underworld and "Twist" by Goldfrapp whilst I thought "Stand Back" by Linus Loves was OK.

Rap wise we have Mark Ronson when he was good (well made a good record) with "Ooh Wee". There was also "Into You" by Fabolous which featured Tamia on the single version as opposed to Ashanti on the album version which didn't really make any difference truth be told and is a good record.

Speaking of Ashanti she had a record of her own in the Top 40 with "Rain On Me" which gets full marks. Outkast get full marks with "Hey Ya!" even if I did think what the fuck when I first heard it. Then there's full marks to R Kelly with the double a-side "Step In The Name Of Love / Thoia Thong".

One has to look at dancehall to find the best record which goes to Elephant Man with "Pon De River Pon De Bank". I bought the album and if anything I like the way I have no idea what he's saying on any of the records. Another Jamaican dancehall record is "Bounce Along" by Wayne Wonder and once again I own the album.

Pet Shop Boys had a new entry with "Miracles", not a popular one amongst fans but I like it. Dave Gahan from Depeche Mode has a solo hit with "Bottle Living" which is OK. Speaking of Depeche Mode, we have a cover of "Personal Jesus" by Johnny Cash but it's all about the other side of this double a-side "Hurt" which is excellent.

Here's a list of the records with the best on top, worst at the bottom and the good ones in green, OK ones in amber and rubbish ones in red (and in no particular order):

Score: 19%

Here's a look at the chart:

Again not great but it is the best November we've had so far.