My Random Music Blog: 2025

There was a lot going on in 1990 but if I had to pick one thing it's best remembered for I'd say it's the Soul II Soul beat. The best of these came from American producer Quincy Jones, not someone who you thing would be influenced by a collective from London but he clearly was here.

I can also see a Soul II Soul influence in "Got To Have Your Love" by Mantronix, a new sound for them having had hits with rap records previously. Further down the table we have "Walk On By" by Sybil which I do like, there are just better records.

Nellee Hooper was a member of Soul II Soul at the time and he produced "Nothing Compares 2 U" which is the only decent thing Sinead O'Connor has ever done.

For my top pick though it's in the world of new jack swing with "Juicy" by Wreckx-N-Effect. It's a cover of the record by Mtume which Notorious BIG also famously did a version of, but this is the best version for me.

In 2nd place we have the Adamski debut hit "N-R-G". He was already an established name in the rave scene and was one of the early British producers of techno music.

Completely different sound in 3rd place with Del Amitri debuting with "Nothing Ever Happens" which has got better with age. Some Birmingham reggae in 4th that's not UB40. And Why Not? were short lived and "The Face" was their biggest hit.

In 5th we have Deacon Blue with "Queen Of The New Year" where the only bad thing I can say about it is that it's not "Real Gone Kid". Similarly with Public Enemy in 8th with "Welcome To The Terrordome" which is solid Public Enemy but they've done better.

In 9th we have "Happenin All Over Again" which I fell should go in the guilty pleasure category because it's Stock Aitken & Waterman wanting to make a Donna Summer record but getting someone else to dress up as Donna Summer and sing it.

Stock Aitken & Waterman find themselves down the bottom via "Tears On My Pillow" by Kylie Minogue which I very much remember hating at the time and still haven't changed my mind.

At 2nd from bottom we have Rod Stewart doing one of his many shit covers. At the time I remember thinking he was an old duffer who needed to retire. Little did I know he'd still be going 35 years later.

I remember the silly lyrics of "you set my lips on fire" in "Instant Replay" by Yell! and also remember New Kids on the Block being uncool to like when they did "Hangin Tough".

Perhaps a surprise one 5th from bottom with "I Called You" by Lil Louis & the World given it's a house record, but I just find it irritating.

Going into mid-table territory we have Phil Collins drumming for Eric Clapton on "Bad Love" and Eric Clapton playing the guitar for Phil Collins with "I Wish It Would Rain". Both good records, but "Bad Love" edges it because of the tempo.

A solid start to the decade with music records getting at least 3 and the Top 2 both get 5.

Score: 57

Tuesday, 23 December 2025

UK Number 40s: Dua Lipa - These Walls (2024)

Dua Lipa made her Top 40 debut in 2016 and has clocked up a Top 40 hit every year between then and 2024 but she's yet to have one in 2025.

I also note that 2025 was the year she turned 30 so maybe she's over the hill now. She's still very much a celebrity though and given nobody listens to chart music anymore it won't make a difference to the general public.

Monday, 22 December 2025

UK Number 40s: Meghan Trainor ft T-Pain - Been Like This (2024)

Meghan Trainor has had both a number 1 and a number 40 and these could be the positions of her first and last Top 40 hits. She debuted in 2014 with chart topper "All About That Bass" and by 2018 she'd clocked up 6 Top 40 hits. A 4 year gap then followed before another 3 Top 40 hits came.

T-Pain made his debut in 2006 with "I'm Sprung" which is his only Top 40 hit to date on his own. By 2011 he'd clocked up 9 Top 40 hits but didn't return until 2019 when he was a credited artist on a remake of "I'm Sprung" by Tory Lanez titled "Jerry Sprunger". Then came this, his final Top 40 hit to date. I'm expecting his next to come around 2030.

Sunday, 21 December 2025

Top 30 in 1999 Reviewed: Week 51

Here's my weekly look at the Top 30 from 26 years ago. The plan is for these posts to go out at 17:30 on a Sunday.

Here is the Top 40 in full.

I've decided against repetition from previous weeks moving forward so will only feature the records I'm reviewing for the first time. I also won't repeat the reviews from the Top 20 in 1999 Reviewed posts.

Once again my opinions are inevitably going to differ from other people, but I'm not trying to convince anyone something is good or rubbish, I'm simply giving my opinion.

So this is the records new to the top 30 from this week in 1999 with my verdict on each record:

28. Beastie Boys - Alive

This was the 10th Top 40 hit for the Beastie Boys which made them the 6th rap act to make it to double figures in terms of Top 40 hits. Their music got better as time went on, it was questionable in the beginning but then records like this are what I call proper hip hop.

Verdict - Good

If we give the records which were good 1 point each and those which were OK half a point, the final score is 8/30, or 27%. Just one more week to go.

Thursday, 18 December 2025

January Charts: 1989

Here are the new entries ranked from best to worst:

1. Ten City - That's The Way Love Is

2. Marc Almond - Something's Gotten Hold Of My Heart ft Gene Pitney

3. Royal House - Yeah! Buddy

4. Roy Orbison - You Got It

5. Then Jerico - Big Area

6. Fine Young Cannibals - She Drives Me Crazy

7. The Stranglers - Grip '89 (Get A) Grip (On Yourself)

8. Rob Base And DJ E-Z Rock - Get On The Dance Floor

9. Mike And The Mechanics - The Living Years

10. New Model Army - Stupid Questions

11. Tone Loc - Wild Thing/Loc'ed After Dark

12. Will To Power - Baby I Love Your Way/Freebird

13. The Waterboys - Fisherman's Blues

14. Gary Moore - After The War

15. Simply Red - It's Only Love

16. Hue And Cry - Looking For Linda

17. Holly Johnson - Love Train

18. Roachford - Cuddly Toy

19. Robert Howard And Kym Mazelle - Wait!

20. Adeva - Respect

21. Sheena Easton - The Lover In Me

22. Level 42 - Tracie

23. The Darling Buds - Hit The Ground

24. Duran Duran - All She Wants Is

25. Brother Beyond - Be My Twin

26. Cookie Crew - Born This Way (Let's Dance)

27. Michael Ball - Love Changes Everything

28. Mica Paris And Will Downing - Where Is The Love?

29. Debbie Gibson - Lost In Your Eyes

30. Samantha Fox - I Only Wanna Be With You

I have very fond memories of pop music as a kid in 1989. By this point I was reading Smash Hits magazine and listening to and taping the Top 40 countdown on Radio 1 on a Sunday.

My number one pick though isn't really connected to those memories. I do remember "That's the Way Love Is" by Ten City at the time but it wasn't until I had it on a rave compilation that it really made an impact on me. It's also one of those dance records where I even think the vocals are good.

My number two pick on the other hand is very much connected to those memories. The moment Gene Pitney sang "and a feeling unknown took my heart..." had the biggest impact on me the way he sang it. Incidentally years later the same person who got me into rave got me into Gene Pitney as well.

More rave in 3rd place with Todd Terry under the alias Royal House with "Yeah! Buddy". Then in 4th we have "You Got It" by Roy Orbison which charted just after he'd passed away, a fact I remember well from the time.

Then Jerico could of only worked in the 80s and "Big Area" was a record I loved at the time. Equally I loved the strange singing of Roland Gift of the Fine Young Cannibals on "She Dives Me Crazy" and this was also when I learned what a cannibal was.

Next up is an old punk record by The Stranglers making the Top 40 for the first time. Then we have some hip house from Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock with "Get On The Dancefloor" which is one of the good examples of the genre.

Mike & the Mechanics may have been considered old mans music even in 1989, but my young boy self liked it.

Down the bottom of the table we have Samantha Fox with "I Only Wanna Be With You". Even my young self could see this was a joke record and even at primary school people would take the piss out of her.

Debbie Gibson was one of those singers I couldn't stand and the only positive thing I can say about "Lost In Your Eyes" is that it's not as bad as Samantha Fox. "Where Is The Love" by Mica Paris and Will Downing is another record that's always irritated me.

I don't think I had any idea who Andrew Lloyd Webber was at the time or if I even knew there was such a thing as musicals but what I do remember was how bad "Love Changes Everything" by Michael Ball was.

Overall though I like most records in this batch so some of the lower places is simply due to the competition. We therefore end up with a decent score.

Score: 52

Now we've reached the end of the decade lets take a look at the table:

The 80s were at their best at the start, middle and end. The 60s and 70s each have a year better than the best 80s year but then the 80s have 2 in the Top 4. 7 of the Top 9 years either end with 0, 5 or 9 with the only post-Beatles year end with one of these numbers and not being in the Top 9 is 1975.

The interesting question is how will 1990, 1995 and 1999 do?

Tuesday, 16 December 2025

UK Number 40s: Nicki Minaj - FTCU (2024)

In early 2010 there was a Top 40 hit called "Bedrock" by Young Money, the only Top 40 hit to date for said group. What's significant was that 2 of it's members were yet to have a Top 40 hit of their own accord but would both make their respective Top 40 debuts later in the year. Furthermore both artists would clock up Top 40 hits every year between 2010 and 2024.

The artists in question were Nicki Minaj and Drake. The only other artists who can claim to of done the same is Calvin Harris.

This record was released at the end of 2023 and initially charted outside the Top 40 but scraped in at the start of 2024. Whilst it along with 2 other singles released at the same time ensured Nicki Minaj would clock up another year of consecutive hits. However she's yet to have one in 2025 but both Drake and Calvin Harris have.

Still if this is the end of her UK Top 40 career then 14 years and 46 Top 40 hits is a pretty respectable chart record even if you might struggle to name any of the 46.

Monday, 15 December 2025

UK Number 40s: Headie One - 50s (2023)

We're in an era where pretty much every number 40 seems to come from a rapper. This one is no exception. Headie One made his Top 40 debut at the start of 2019 with fellow UK rapper Dave with "18Hunna".

The majority of his Top 40 hits to date have been collaborations. This was his 13th Top 40 hit but only his 2nd on his own. Generally speaking his chart positions have depended on the profile of who he's collaborated with.

Sunday, 14 December 2025

Top 30 in 1999 Reviewed: Week 50

Here's my weekly look at the Top 30 from 26 years ago. The plan is for these posts to go out at 17:30 on a Sunday.

28. Leftfield/Roots Manuva - Dusted

This was the final Top 40 hit to date for Leftfield and the first Top 40 hit for Roots Manuva. I guess you could call this the 20th century handing over to the 21st century. Not a bad record but it's nothing special.

Verdict - OK

22. Salt-N-Pepa - The Brick Track Versus Gitty Up

Salt-N-Pepa finished the 20th century as the rap act with the most Top 40 hits with 14. However this would be their final Top 40 hit to date and quite a number of rap acts have since overtaken them. Like the other 13 Salt-N-Pepa hits this is shit.

Verdict - Rubbish

21. A*Teens - Super Trouper

This was the 2nd Top 40 hit for Swedish group A*Teens and their 2nd Abba cover. I do recall Abba being celebrated a lot around this time and we also had the 90s version of Abba in Steps clocking up the hits. This is the last thing we needed.

Verdict - Rubbish

If we give the records which were good 1 point each and those which were OK half a point, the final score is 8.5/30, or 28%. It's not likely to get much better.

Friday, 12 December 2025

Dutch Top 40 1995: Week 50

These were the new entries in the Dutch Top 40 that never made the UK Top 40:

Double Vision - All Right

To recap, Double Vision were a Spanish Eurodance act who had a big hit in Holland in 1995 with their debut "Knockin". This was the not so successful follow up which was their 2nd and final Top 40 hit in Holland. It's nowhere near as catchy.

Charly Lownoise & Mental Theo - This Christmas

Although Charly Lownoise & Mental Theo were in their prime chart wise their attempt and making a Christmas record with vocals from a Tom Jones soundalike didn't do so well only making number 19 making it their lowest charting Dutch Top 40 hit of the 90s. It also never made it's way into DJ sets at the raves here to my knowledge and I understand why. I never heard this myself until YouTube became thing, but despite that it still gives me nostalgia for 1995 and I put it only Christmas party playlists.

Thursday, 11 December 2025

January Charts: 1988

Here are the new entries ranked from best to worst:

1. Jack 'N' Chill - The Jack That House Built

2. Public Enemy - Bring The Noise

3. INXS - New Sensation

4. Depeche Mode - Behind The Wheel

5. Deacon Blue - Dignity

6. The Stranglers - All Day And All Of The Night

7. Two Men, A Drum Machine And A Trumpet - Tired Of Getting Pushed Around

8. Terence Trent D'Arby - Sign Your Name

9. Luther Vandross - Give Me The Reason

10. Billy Idol - Hot In The City

11. Bourgeois Tagg - I Don't Mind At All

12. The Screaming Blue Messiahs - I Wanna Be A Flintstone

13. Sharpe And Numan - No More Lies

14. Joyce Sims - Come Into My Life

15. Motley Crue - You're All I Need

16. Black - Paradise

17. Eddy Grant - Gimme Hope Jo'anna

18. Jermaine Stewart - Say It Again

19. The Fall - Victoria

20. Lloyd Cole And The Commotions - Jennifer She Said

21. AC/DC - Heatseeker

22. Robert Plant - Heaven Knows

23. Elton John - Candle In The Wind (Live)

24. T'Pau - Valentine

25. George Michael - Father Figure

26. Aztec Camera - How Men Are

27. All About Eve - Wild Hearted Woman

28. Bananarama - I Can't Help It

29. Kylie Minogue - I Should Be So Lucky

30. The Beatmasters - Rok Da House ft The Cookie Crew

31. Sinead O'Connor - Mandinka

32. Sweet Tee - I Got Da Feelin'/It's Like That Y'All

33. Debbie Gibson - Shake Your Love

34. Taylor Dayne - Tell It To My Heart

35. Tiffany - I Think We're Alone Now

Well this was a tough batch to get through. 35 records when the most we've had previously is 28. I certainly remember several of these charting the first time but to be honest it's not really given me the nostalgia I thought it would.

The top record this month is one I have fond memories of from Now 11. "The Jack That House Built" by Jack 'N' Chill was an acid house record, not something I knew anything about at the time but perhaps even back then there were signs I'd go on to be a raver.

Another acid house record was "I'm Tired Of Getting Pushed Around" by Two Men, A Drum Machine And A Trumpet which was also on Now 11 which I liked but not to the same extent. The "Two Men" were the Fine Young Cannibals members who weren't Roland Gift.

There was also what was said to be the first hip house record in the charts in "Rok Da House" by The Beatmasters ft The Cookie Crew, also on Now 11. That ones not so good, more to do with the rapping and The Cookie Crew themselves have said they don't particularly like it.

Similarly on an actual rap record I find the voice of Sweet Tee irritating on both of the tunes on her double a-side which finds itself near the bottom. Public Enemy on the other hand have an excellent record in "Bring the Noise" which comes in 2nd.

The bottom 3 records really are the worst of the worst from around this time. Even my young self couldn't stand Tiffany, Taylor Dayne or Debbie Gibson at the time. The order I've put them in more or less reflects how many times I've heard them since 1988, Tiffany gets played all the time, Taylor Dayne gets played often enough but fortunately you don't really hear the Debbie Gibson record anymore.

Back to the top and in 3rd place we have the INXS debut "New Sensation" and they were very much a band I was into as a kid. Depeche Mode on the other hand never made a big impression on me until later on in life and "Behind The Wheel" is an excellent record.

Deacon Blue made their debut with "Dignity", certainly a record I've known since the late 80s but it wasn't until "Real Gone Kid" later on in the year that they had a real impact on me. Take nothing away from "Dignity" though, a great record.

The Stranglers did a great cover of "All Day And All Of The Night" and I'm pretty sure this was the first version of this record that I'd heard.

Being the late 80s we inevitably have Stock Aitken & Waterman records. There's the Kylie Minogue debut "I Should Be So Lucky" which even my young self thought was a bit naff. Then we have "I Can't Help It" by Bananarama which was the final Top 40 hit them before Siobhan left the group. Again even my young self wasn't a fan.

As I was discovering music for the first time there are certain cheesy pop records I'll always like as a result. Not in this batch though, the records near the top would have got their higher scores regardless.

Score: 41

Tuesday, 9 December 2025

UK Number 40s: Juice Wrld - In My Head (2022)

Juice Wrld was a rapper who's had a more successful chart career since he died than when he was alive. He died in December 2019 just after turning 21. At this point he had 3 Top 40 hits to his name that reached 10, 39 and 33 respectively. Then a month after his death he topped the charts in collaboration with Eminem with "Godzilla".

This was his 10th posthumous Top 40 hit. He had finished recording it by August 2019 but didn't get released until 3 years later.

Whether we'll see future hits from Juice Wrld remains to be seen. Given his young age when he died there's only going to be so much of his work that exists that the general public are yet to hear.

Monday, 8 December 2025

UK Number 40s: Lil Nas X - Star Walkin (2022)

Lil Nas X topped the charts with his Top 40 debut "Old Town Road" in 2019. Depending on what criteria you want to use it could be said that was the biggest Billy Ray Cyrus hit as he featured on it, though not credited.

This was Top 40 hit number 7 for Lil Nas X and was the theme to the 2022 League of Legends World Championship. What's that? I hear you ask. It's an esports tournament, so basically a video game competition. Quite how popular esports are I don't know, but it didn't really seem to help this record for chart success.

Sunday, 7 December 2025

Top 30 in 1999 Reviewed: Week 49

Here's my weekly look at the Top 30 from 26 years ago. The plan is for these posts to go out at 17:30 on a Sunday.

30. Lustral - Everytime

More trance music from 1999. This was the only Top 40 hit for Lustral but they were the same people as The Space Brothers. This one is trance with a breakbeat and I do like a bit of breakbeat. That's what makes this record really.

Verdict - Good

27. Gouryella - Walhalla

The 2nd and final Top 40 hit to date for Gouryella which was one of many aliases of Ferry Corsten. I will admit this one is a bit on the cheesy side and probably inspired some pretty dreadful trance records that came out in the 21st century. I like it though, I guess this is the way to make it.

Verdict - Good

If we give the records which were good 1 point each and those which were OK half a point, the final score is 10/30, or 33%. Not long to go now.

Friday, 5 December 2025

Dutch Top 40 1995: Week 49

These were the new entries in the Dutch Top 40 that never made the UK Top 40:

Paul Elstak - Don't Leave Me Alone

Although this record never topped the Dutch Top 40 it gives a good indication of how big happy hardcore was in the Dutch charts at the time. Most records entered the Top 40 and climbed their way up but this entered at number 10 in it's first week. It was the 4th Top 40 hit of the year for Paul Elstak, all Top 10s and this and "Love You More" were both number 2s.

Dune - Can't Stop Raving

A reminder it wasn't just the Dutch who were pumping out happy hardcore hits, the Germans were at it too. This is the record I'm most likely to think of when I hear the name Dune. It featured on lots of tapes well into the late 90s and I have a memory of listening to this on a Vinylgroover tape whilst driving up the A1.

Army Of Lovers - Give My Life

From a UK Top 40 perspective Army Of Lovers are a Swedish one hit wonder with their only hit being "Crucified" in 1992. They made it to 3 Top 40 hits in Holland with this being the last one of them. This was the record where band member La Camilla returned to the group. It would be short lived though as they broke up the following year. Until the reunion of course.

Frans Bauer - Verloren

I'll be honest, these male Dutch pop singers singing in Dutch are starting to merge into one now. It inevitably happens when you get much of the same thing.

Thursday, 4 December 2025

January Charts: 1987

Here are the new entries ranked from best to worst:

1. Steve 'Silk' Hurley - Jack Your Body

2. The Blow Monkeys - It Doesn't Have To Be This Way

3. UB40 - Rat In Mi Kitchen

4. China Crisis - Best Kept Secret

5. Billy Ocean - Love Is Forever

6. Mental As Anything - Live It Up

7. George Michael And Aretha Franklin - I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)

8. The Christians - Forgotten Town

9. Eric Clapton - Behind The Mask

10. Julian Cope - Trampoline

11. Sam Moore And Lou Reed - Soul Man

12. The Mission - Wasteland

13. Rosie Vela - Magic Smile

14. Siouxsie And The Banshees - This Wheel's On Fire

15. The Bangles - Walking Down Your Street

16. Swing Out Sister - Surrender

17. Europe - Rock The Night

18. The Style Council - It Didn't Matter

19. Timbuk 3 - The Future's So Bright I Gotta Wear Shades

20. Carly Simon - Coming Around Again

21. Dead Or Alive - Something In My House

22. Pepsi And Shirlie - Heartache

23. Man 2 Man Meets Man Parrish - Male Stripper

24. Michael Crawford And Sarah Brightman - The Music Of The Night/Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again

25. Jets - Crush On You

There have been a few years so far that have started out really good but than the crap has come in subsequent weeks to ultimately bring the score down. This time it's been the opposite, it was looking bleak to begin with but got better.

1987 was the first year I properly remember music and the charts but that was part way through the year so this pre-dates that. Saying that, I'm sure I remember "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" by George Michael & Aretha Franklin being a new record and that nostalgia helps it into a respectable position.

Wham! had broken up in 1986 and backing singers Pepsi & Shirlie kicked off their brief Top 40 career with "Heartache". You can tell why it was brief. We also had Dee C Lee, the woman Pepsi replaced in Wham! as part of The Style Council showing why they're not so fondly remembered either.

The clear winner is Steve 'Silk' Hurley with "Jack Your Body" which was the first house number one. I gave it a score of 4 rather than 5 though because house was yet to fully develop as a genre and there would be better house records that would follow.

Nothing screams 80s to me more than synth pop but I wouldn't class any of these records synth pop. It was by no means finished as a genre, there were Pet Shop Boys number ones still to come for example but even they jumped on the acid house bandwagon at the end of the decade.

We do however have several records that have what I would call that 80s sound. One such example is 2nd placed "It Doesn't Have To Be This Way" by The Blow Monkeys which has been retrospectively classified as sophisti pop and there can be many debates as to what does or doesn't fit that description.

UB40 had arguably their best known original hit with "Rat In Mi Kitchen" proving they were more than just a reggae covers band. China Crisis is very much that 80s sound. Billy Ocean does a ballad but does it well.

In the British Hit Singles book one band name that stood out to me was Mental As Anything. Once I had the ability to listen to anything on the internet I gave their 1 Top 40 hit a listen and realised I knew it all along.

Down the bottom we have "Crush On You" by The Jets. I like freestyle music and appreciate some of it is a bit cheesy but this is too much. To me it's not a million miles away from Five Star who had the worst Jan 1986 record.

Finishing 2nd from bottom for the 2nd year in a row is Sarah Brightman with more crap from an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical. This sort of music really isn't my thing, I find it quite painful to listen to.

Finishing 3rd bottom is "Male Stripper" by Man 2 Man Meets Man Parrish which I just find cringeworthy and over the top.

After initially thinking we may be on for the lowest score yet we end up with one that's respectable.

Score: 40

We're 10 years old

Well that soon went. 10 years ago I was a 30 something obsessed with music who had stopped liking modern music and stopped following the charts but fascinated by the history of the charts.

I wanted to explore more into the history of the charts and came up with the idea of also picking a record of the year for every year. Then I thought I should find somewhere to document this so decided on a blog. Then I thought I could write other things across the music spectrum too hence the name My Random Music Blog.

Now I'm a 40 something still obsessed with music, still fascinated by the history of the charts and have got back to vaguely following them though can't be doing with the music in them. I know that Taylor Swift is currently at number one but have never heard the song in my life and would like to keep it that way.

Over the last 10 years I've spent countless hours writing posts and doing my research. I've come up with several ideas of themes to my posts, some a series that would take a few weeks and some that would take a few years.

The longest running of these is the UK number 40s which I started back in 2019 and in theory this could go on for as long as the charts are around. By the end of the year I will reach the end of 2024 after which I will stop because there's still the possibility of newer number 40s climbing the charts.

Moving forward I'm going to take a different approach. Instead of a certain series of posts falling on a certain day I'm going to move quicker with a theme of posts and try and incorporate more "random" posts. The latter has been somewhat lacking because I come up with an idea of a one off post but am too busy with the regular posts and end up either forgetting it or going off the idea.

The next new series of posts I'm going to do is revisit the record of the year. In the last 10 years I've learned more of the music but my tastes change over time too. Singling out one record is tough. I might be in the mood for some banging techno or might want something more ambient. There will be records that have grown on me and others that I'm now sick to death of.

Then again maybe I got it right 10 years ago. I'm yet to do the revisiting so don't know how different it will be but I can guarantee some will be different. Also being as long as 10 years ago I've since forgotten what some of them are and I'm not going to look back at what I picked until I've made my pick this time.

Tuesday, 2 December 2025

UK Number 40s: Central Cee - LA Leakers Freestyle (2022)

By the time you read this Central Cee could either have clocked up over 50 Top 40 hits or he may not have added to his current total at all. It took him just 3 years and 11 months to clock up his first 30 Top 40 hits. The only other chart acts to reach that milestone quicker at the time of writing was Elvis Presley in 3 years and 9 months and Glee Cast in 1 year and 10 months. The former ended up with more Top 40 hits than anyone else whereas Glee Cast had no further hits.

This was the 14th Top 40 hit for Central Cee and is pretty much what it says on the tin. It was a freestyle that Central Cee did that was recorded and made the Top 40. Given the nature of this record it was unlikely to trouble the top of the charts.

Monday, 1 December 2025

UK Number 40s: D-Block Europe - Man in the Mirror (2022)

For many years AC/DC held the record for most Top 40 hits without a Top 10. This ended in 2012 when they finally scored a Top 10 and the record went to Super Furry Animals and Thunder who both still hold that record at the time of writing with 18.

They did look like sitting ducks with D-Block Europe quickly clocking up lower charting Top 40 hits. Then when they reached their 18th Top 40 hit they finally made the Top 10.

This was Top 40 hit number 23 which sees them back in more familiar territory. Although credited to D-Block Europe it's actually a solo effort from D-Block Europe member Young Adz.

Sunday, 30 November 2025

Top 30 in 1999 Reviewed: Week 48

Here's my weekly look at the Top 30 from 26 years ago. The plan is for these posts to go out at 17:30 on a Sunday.

27. The Lightning Seeds - Life's Too Short

Dance music was so big in 1999 that it seemed like everyone was jumping on the bandwagon. This included The Lightning Seeds with this record, a departure from their more guitar orientated sound from a couple of years earlier. It's actually a decent record and was their final Top 40 hit to date.

Verdict - Good

If we give the records which were good 1 point each and those which were OK half a point, the final score is 10.5/30, or 35%. I feel I was right in predicting the last week that was above 50% would be the last one.

Friday, 28 November 2025

Dutch Top 40 1995: Week 48

These were the new entries in the Dutch Top 40 that never made the UK Top 40:

Andre Van Duin - De Buurtsuper

As we head towards the end of the year one of my observations of the Dutch Top 40 in 1995 is the sheer quantity of novelty records. I know we have our fair share in the UK but it feels like the Dutch had many more. Here's another example, it's from a comedian in Dutch but you can tell from the lack of proper singing that it's a novelty record.

Extince - Spraakwater

We've had all sorts in the Dutch Top 40 in 1995, from happy hardcore to Eurodance, from novelty records to carnival music. One thing we're yet to have is Dutch hip hop, until now. This was the Dutch Top 40 debut for Extince and his biggest hit. Given rap has a lot to do with lyrics it's going to be extra difficult to score a hit in Dutch outside of Holland.

T-Spoon - A Part Of My Life

One thing I've learnt about T-Spoon is that you don't really know what way the record is going to go. This is very much going in the Eurodance direction, almost bordering on happy hardcore but being a bit too soft. Perhaps a bit more predictable is the male rapped verse and female sung chorus.

Thursday, 27 November 2025

January Charts: 1986

Here are the new entries ranked from best to worst:

1. Dire Straits - Walk Of Life

2. James Brown - Living In America

3. Feargal Sharkey - You Little Thief

4. The Alarm - Spirit Of '76

5. Billy Ocean - When The Going Gets Tough (The Tough Get Going)

6. Kurtis Blow - If I Ruled The World

7. King - Torture

8. Belouis Some - Imagination

9. Fine Young Cannibals - Suspicious Minds

10. Latin Quarter - Radio Africa

11. Talk Talk - Life's What You Make It

12. Double - The Captain Of Her Heart

13. Clannad - In A Lifetime ft Bono

14. Grace Jones - Pull Up To The Bumper/La Vie En Rose

15. AC/DC - Shake Your Foundations

16. Ruby Turner - If You're Ready (Come Go With Me) ft Jonathan Butler

17. Audrey Hall - One Dance Won't Do

18. Lloyd Cole And The Commotions - Cut Me Down

19. Arcadia - The Promise

20. Diana Ross - Chain Reaction

21. Nana Mouskouri - Only Love

22. Eurythmics - It's All Right (Baby's Coming Back)

23. Su Pollard - Starting Together

24. Whitney Houston - How Will I Know

25. Madonna - Borderline

26. Sarah Brightman And Steve Harley - The Phantom Of The Opera

27. Five Star - System Addict

January is widely regarded as the most depressing month of the year, a time when the days are short, the weather is cold and we're broke after Christmas. A significant number of these records feel like they reflect that January mood.

It was a close contest between the Top 2 for the best record but I decided "Walk Of Life" by Dire Straits just about pips it. It's the first record that springs to mind when I hear the name Dire Sraits and I love that intro.

Just missing out was James Brown with "Living In America". Surprisingly this was his only UK Top 10 hit. It was also the only one of his UK Top 40 hits that he didn't write himself but he's on good form performing it.

In 3rd place we have "You Little Thief" by Feargal Sharkey which was the lesser known follow up to his chart topper "A Good Heart" and musically at least is one of the more uplifting records this month.

The Alarm are ever reliable with "Spirit Of 76" and although "When The Going Gets Tough (The Tough Get Going)" by Billy Ocean is overplayed I still find it a fun record to listen to.

Rap music first hit the UK Top 40 in 1979 but it never really got going in terms of consistent hits until 1986. The first of these was "If I Ruled The World" by Kurtis Blow who'd previously had the 2nd rap Top 40 hit in 1979 with "Christmas Rapping".

Down the bottom of the table we have Five Star with "System Addict". They had quite a sizeable number of Top 40 hits in a short period and all the ones I've heard are really cheesy and rubbish.

Just above we have "The Phantom Of The Opera" by Sarah Brightman & Steve Harley which is just your typical musical record that I don't like.

Madonna and Whitney Houston are also examples of crap from the 80s and find themselves near the bottom as a result.

We have TV theme "Starting Together" down near the bottom too but to it's credit it's supposed to be a rubbish record.

1976 goes down in history as the year music lost its way and whilst 1986 wasn't as bad there was definitely a blip thanks to the rubbish records bringing down the score.

Score: 39

Tuesday, 25 November 2025

UK Number 40s: Post Malone - Lemon Tree (2022)

It would seem the reason we have so much rap in the Top 40 is the sheer quantity of rappers who clock up a lot of Top 40 hits in a short space of time. Drake plus a number of British rappers are the most obvious culprits, but there are others such as Post Malone. This was Top 40 hit number 19 which came 5 years after his Top 40 debut.

He topped the charts with his 2nd Top 40 hit "Rock Star" and has topped the charts since, so another artists to score a number 1 and a number 40.

This charted as a result of his album "Twelve Carat Toothache" being released with "Cooped Up" and "I Like You (A Happier Song)" being the higher charting tracks.

Whether you'd call this a rap record or not is debatable. It was possible a stepping stone to him doing country music a couple of years later.

Monday, 24 November 2025

UK Number 40s: Fredo - Flowers And The Snow (2021)

Fredo is another artist who's had both a number 1 and a number 40. He's also one of several examples of British rappers who clocked up a large number of Top 40 hits in a short space of time. This was Top 40 hit number 16 which came 3 years after his Top 40 debut in 2018.

Of those 16 Top 40 hits only 3 of them made the Top 10, 2 of which were collaborations with Dave. He's also had a significant number of charting singles that never made the Top 40. This is therefore familiar chart territory for him.

Sunday, 23 November 2025

Top 30 in 1999 Reviewed: Week 47

Here's my weekly look at the Top 30 from 26 years ago. The plan is for these posts to go out at 17:30 on a Sunday.

27. Beck - Sexx Laws

My assessment of Beck's Top 40 career is that he started with "Loser" and then everything he did since all sounds the same. This undoubtedly follows the Beck formula but it's actually a bit more interesting than his other record(s) and I actually don't mind this.

Verdict - OK

24. Puff Daddy ft Mario Winans - Best Friend

With this record Puff Daddy became just the 5th rap act to reach double figures for Top 40 hits after Salt-N-Pepa, 2Pac, LL Cool J and Busta Rhymes. This was the Top 40 debut for Mario Winans with his only other Top 40 hit being the 2004 chart topper "I Don't Wanna Know" which also featured Puff Daddy. It's a rather boring record.

Verdict - Rubbish

23. Suede - Can't Get Enough

After charting high with pretty much every record they released during the heights of Britpop, Suede were charting in the lower reaches now the Britpop era was over. This record was produced by Steve Osborne, the man who worked extensively with Paul Oakenfold in the 90s. It's still a pretty dull record though.

Verdict - Rubbish

22. Primal Scream - Swastika Eyes

Primal Scream were back with another album. They made a point of changing their sound with each album, so with dance music as big as it had ever been in 1999 they made a dance record. Makes a lot of sense and they've done a pretty good job with this record.

Verdict - Good

If we give the records which were good 1 point each and those which were OK half a point, the final score is 11/30, or 37%. We stay the same.

Friday, 21 November 2025

Dutch Top 40 1995: Week 47

These were the new entries in the Dutch Top 40 that never made the UK Top 40:

Linda, Roos en Jessica - Ademnood

I guess you could say this is the band Kylie Minogue could have been in if she was Dutch. In Holland there is a soap called "Goede tijden, slechte tijden" which had characters called Linda, Roos and Jessica who released as string of singles in the late 90s beginning with this. It was the Christmas number one of 1995, a fact I'm keen to point out to people. The actress who played Roos sadly passed away a few years later but the actresses who play Linda and Jessica are still on it, though they did leave and come back.

Nakatomi - Free

This is a happy hardcore version of the Deniece Williams record of the same name. It was one that I heard on many tapes back in the day. Whilst this never made the UK Top 40, Nakatomi did make the UK Top 40 in 2002 with "Children Of The Night" years after it first came out. Nakatomi have just 3 records to their name, all of which made the Dutch Top 40. However once the happy hardcore scene had died down in Holland they moved onto their next project, The Vengaboys.

Thursday, 20 November 2025

January Charts: 1985

Here are the new entries ranked from best to worst:

1. Big Sound Authority - This House (Is Where Your Love Stands)

2. Prince - 1999/Little Red Corvette

3. George Benson - 20/20

4. King - Love And Pride

5. The Commodores - Nightshift

6. Chicago - You're The Inspiration

7. Phil Collins - Sussudio

8. James Ingram And Michael McDonald - Yah Mo Be There

9. Bryan Adams - Run To You

10. The Colour Field - Thinking Of You

11. Cashmere - Can I

12. Limit - Say Yeah

13. Don Henley - The Boys Of Summer

14. Billy Ocean - Loverboy

15. Big Country - Just A Shadow

16. Chaka Khan - This Is My Night

17. Kirsty MacColl - A New England

18. The Pointer Sisters - Neutron Dance

19. Pat Benatar - We Belong

The best word to describe this batch of records is solid. Whilst it was riding high in the charts this month unfortunately the record "Solid" doesn't make the cut because it was released the last week of 1984, otherwise it would have come near the top of the table.

It's probably the tightest its ever been. The truth be told I like the mid-table records all equally. We have a clear winner though with "This House (Is Where Your Love Stands)" by Big Sound Authority. It was a relatively minor hit and their only hit but is simply a great piece of 80s pop.

A clear 2nd place is the more successful return of "1999" by Prince to the charts. Ordinarily I wouldn't include it, but it was double a-side with "Little Red Corvette" which made the Top 40 for the first time and is the better tune.

Staying with the funk we have "20/20" by George Benson in 3rd place which I'm surprised to learn only got to number 29. There's the Top 40 debut and biggest hit for King with "Love & Pride". In addition to Prince and King being on this list there were also Top 40 hits for Queen and Princess later on in the year.

Motown continues to be present in the Top 40 with a comeback by The Commodores minus Lionel Richie for one final Top 40 hit with "Nightshift". Then we have something the 80s is best known for, a power ballad which comes from Chicago with "You're The Inspiration".

Is the Chicago better than the Big Country record down in 15th? Only marginally, that's how tight the table is. The Chaka Khan and Kirsty MacColl records are alright and it's the lack of rubbish records that put them this far down the table.

The Pointer Sisters are an example of 80s cheese that's just irritating. However with "Neutron Dance" it's not especially cheesy but that just means it's rubbish without being particularly catchy.

At the bottom though we have Pat Benetar with "We Belong". She was only 2nd bottom with "Love Is A Battlefield" the last year but record is even worse and it's bottom placing is well deserved.

If we had more truly great records then this might have been the best January, but it still scores well.

Score: 55

Tuesday, 18 November 2025

UK Number 40s: KSI ft Jay1 & Deno - Gang Gang (2021)

Once upon a time if you liked a record enough to have in your collection so you can listen to it anytime you want, you'd go to the record shop and pay £3.99 for a CD. If it was popular enough to chart then thousands of people would do the same which in turn would give the artist thousands of pounds for their effort in theory.

Nowadays you just need to go onto YouTube to listen and not pay a penny. The solution KSI had to this problem is to first and foremost be a YouTube star and then make music on the side. One would therefore assume he made more money for YouTube streams of this video than several higher charting singles did.

He made his Top 40 debut in 2015 with "Lamborghini" and didn't return to the Top 40 again until the end of 2019. Between then and this single he clocked up 13 Top 40 hits.

He had 2 other hits out around the same time, "Holiday" that made number 2 and "No Time" that made 24. Had this been 20 years earlier it would have more likely been an album track than a CD single.

Monday, 17 November 2025

UK Number 40s: D-Block Europe & Lil Pino - Kevin McCallister (2021)

D-Block Europe are one of those chart acts who have many more Top 40 hits than you'd expect. At the time of writing at least they're not exactly a household name. They may have had further Top 40 hits between me writing this and you reading it. It was the end of 2018 when they made their Top 40 debut and this was Top 40 hit number 16 for them. The only acts to score more Top 40 hits during that time period were Drake and Dave.

Perhaps one of the reasons they hadn't become household name is that none of those hits made the Top 10. The lower reaches of the Top 40 was almost where you'd expect them to be. Or even outside the Top 40, at the time of writing there's not much difference between the number of charting singles that made the Top 40 vs those that didn't.

This won't be the last time we'll be featuring D-Block Europe in these posts, more on that when the time comes.

Sunday, 16 November 2025

Top 30 in 1999 Reviewed: Week 46

Here's my weekly look at the Top 30 from 26 years ago. The plan is for these posts to go out at 17:30 on a Sunday.

30. Madison Avenue - Don't Call Me Baby

This was a chart topper in the year 2000 but originally charted in 1999. I remember this in 1999 and was quite baffled why it returned to the charts more successfully the following year as there were so many better dance records that could have done the same. I don't mind it though.

Verdict - OK

28. Marc Anthony - I Need To Know

Marc Anthony is best known in the UK as the musician who was once married to Jennifer Lopez. I'd guess many would struggle to name one of his records though. This was his only solo effort in the Top 40. It's a Latin pop record and based on this I don't think we've been missing out on his lack of chart success in the UK.

Verdict - Rubbish

If we give the records which were good 1 point each and those which were OK half a point, the final score is 11/30, or 37%. Can we get to 50% one more time?

Friday, 14 November 2025

Dutch Top 40 1995: Week 46

These were the new entries in the Dutch Top 40 that never made the UK Top 40:

De Smurfen - Knutsel Komt Zo

In 1996 The Smurfs returned to the UK Top 40 for the first time since the 70s. Just before that at the end of 1995 they bid farewell to the Dutch Top 40. This final hit from them is their own version of another record that was still in the Dutch Top 40 this week - "Het Busje Komt Zo" by Hollenboer which as a reminder is a novelty record about a bus sung in Dutch.

Alejandro Sanz - La Fuerza Del Corazon

I'm seeing conflicting information about Alejandro Sanz. When you look at his discography on his Wikipedia page I count 19 number ones in his native Spain which made me think has anyone had more? Then I looked at the list of artists with a Spanish number one and that list states he only had 4. Anyway this is about the Dutch charts so I refrained digging any further. His Dutch chart record doesn't even feature on his Wikipedia page but this was his only Dutch Top 40 hit as main artist and this only made 31 so barely worth mentioning.

Vanessa - Lidia

Cast your mind back to earlier on in the year you may remember Vanessa did a duet with Northern Irish musician David McWilliams with "Candlelight". To recap, she's a Dutch singer whose real name is Cornelia. This would be her final Dutch Top 40 hit after a 14 year run.

Thursday, 13 November 2025

January Charts: 1984

Here are the new entries ranked from best to worst:

1. The Alarm - Where Were You Hiding When The Storm Broke

2. Break Machine - Street Dance

3. Nik Kershaw - Wouldn't It Be Good

4. Whitesnake - Give Me More Time

5. Joe Fagin - That's Livin' Alright (From 'Auf Wiedersehen Pet')

6. John Lennon - Nobody Told Me

7. Echo & The Bunnymen - The Killing Moon

8. Simple Minds - Speed Your Love To Me

9. Fiction Factory - (Feels Like) Heaven

10. China Crisis - Wishful Thinking

11. Big Country - Wonderland

12. Wang Chung - Dance Hall Days

13. Thomas Dolby - Hyperactive!

14. Matthew Wilder - Break My Stride

15. Cyndi Lauper - Girls Just Want To Have Fun

16. The Manhattan Transfer - Spice Of Life

17. Re-Flex - The Politics Of Dancing

18. The Smiths - What Difference Does It Make

19. ABC - SOS

20. Juan Martin - Love Theme from 'The Thorn Birds'

21. The Police - King Of Pain

22. Musical Youth - Sixteen

23. Rick Springfield - Human Touch

24. Shaky And Bonnie - A Rockin' Good Way

25. Eurythmics - Here Comes The Rain Again

26. Pat Benatar - Love Is A Battlefield

27. Madonna - Holiday

It now seems to be taking more effort to get through each batch of records. Not so much the quantity, more the songs are getting longer so its taking longer.

We have a clear winner this time with "Where Were You Hiding When The Storm Broke" by The Alarm. I first came across this around 15 years ago and have regularly played it since and I just have to sing along to the backing vocals in the chorus.

Comfortably in 2nd place we have "Street Dance" by Break Machine which as you may have guessed is a breakdancing record which appeared to be all the rage around this time.

An 80s synth pop anthem in 3rd place with "Wouldn't It Be Good" by Nik Kershaw. Then we have a more obscure Whitesnake record in "Give Me More Time" which I got to like via the Top of the Pops reruns.

In 5th we have the "Auf Weidersehn Pet" theme which I've known for as long as I've known the programme. I have to say though working on a building site in the German winter whilst staying in a cabin with a bunch of other builders isn't my idea of living alright.

John Lennon has a posthumous hit with "Nobody Told Me" which is better than his more obvious solo hits. When I hear the name Echo & the Bunnymen I think boring music on TFI Friday in the 90s but it turns out they had some good records in the 80s with "The Killing Moon" being one of them.

At the other end of the table we have the debut Top 40 hit for Madonna with "Holiday". I've hated it as long as I've known it which is the majority of my living memory.

Just above Madonna is Pat Benatar with "Love Is A Battlefield". It's just always irritated me. Then above that we have "Here Comes The Rain Again" by Eurythmics. I've tried to like them and think Dave Stewart is a very talented musician but I have to concede I find most of their records rubbish.

The Police had their final original hit with "King Of Pain". It's not a bad record but it does nothing for me and just tells me they'd run out of ideas by this point. Likewise with Musical Youth with their final Top 40 hit "Sixteen".

I think the best way to describe this batch overall is solid if unspectacular.

Score: 47

Tuesday, 11 November 2025

UK Number 40s: Roddy Ricch - Late At Night (2021)

Roddy Ricch is an American rapper who made his Top 40 debut in March 2019 with "How It Is". In April 2020 he topped the charts with his 4th Top 40 hit "Rockstar". Then came this, his 5th Top 40 hit which only made number 40.

It was the lead single from his second album "Live Life Fast" which was yet to be released at the time. The main difference between this and is chart topper was that his chart topper was a collaboration with Dababy whereas this was on his own. That said he managed to reach number 2 with his first record on his own, "The Box".

Once again it would seem this only made number 40 because the sheer quantity of rap in the Top 40 meant we'd inevitably get rap records in the lower reaches.

Monday, 10 November 2025

UK Number 40s: Lil Tjay & Polo G & Fivio Foreign - Headshot (2021)

The question I always have for a number 40 record is why did it only make number 40? Is it an artist of yesteryear clinging on to their chart career? Is it someone yet to reach the peak of their popularity? Is it something quite niche?

This is a record by 3 rappers. The week this entered the Top 40 at it's number 40 peak, Lil Tjay was at number 9 with his debut single "Calling My Phone" which had peaked at number 2. Polo G was at number 7 with his debut single "Patience" which had peaked at number 3. Fivio Foreign was making his Top 40 debut.

All new artists then, but given how recent this was we still don't know whether any of them are yet to reach the peak of their popularity. A logical reason for this number 40 placing is that the sheer quantity of rap in the Top 40 meant we would inevitably get rap records in the lower reaches.