Tough Task... (Top 10 Singles)

Member Name: MichaelR

Product:	Top 10 Singles
Date:	24/09/01 (276 review reads)
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OK, this is going to be difficult...

I don't know if I can really choose ten singles that are my 'All-Time' favourites... it's just too difficult.

There are so many superb tunes that have been released over the years, how could anyone possibly choose just ten?

Well, I'll stop waffling now - I'm going to see what's on the top of my CD pile (I always put the most-listened to CD's at the top) and rummage through my record bags and see what I can find - the theory being that my favourite tracks should be the ones that I play most often. Logical? No?

WARNING: The reasons for my selections may be hard to follow, but they make sense to me. I hope I can adequately convey the reasons for my selections to everyone.

NUMBER 10
~~~~~~~~~

Artist - Cosmos
Title - Summer in Space
Label - Island Records

This is just a nice "feel good" track that still has a place in my record bag.

It's just a nice, uplifting, housey track that's worth slapping on to spread smiles across faces.

I can't really pick out anything that's outstanding about this track... I just like the fact that it makes me smile.

That's reason enough, isn't it?

NUMBER 9
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Artist - A.D.N.Y presents Leiva
Title - Something For The Soul
Label - Plastic City

Why? Because it is exactly what the title says it is. It's a nice piece of "electronica" - it uses some robotic voices, which are very difficult to make out, and some nice spacey effect, a very electric sounding synth, as well as a more traditional piano and some human (but still sythny) voices...

It's just classic electronica of a type that's becoming rare nowadays.

It uses simple samples and creates something complex from them, it is basically the same voices, effects, and notes on the piano all the way though - they
9;ve just been arranged in a very neat package that is beautifully simple yet interestingly complex...

I can't give an explanation beyond that. I just like it; I just think it's a great piece of music.

NUMBER 8
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Artist - Stetasonic
Title - Talkin' All That Jazz (Dim's respect for the old skool mix)
Label - Tommy Boy Music

Well, I have no idea why I chose this...

It's not a particularly outstanding hip-hop track, it's musically OK, the rapping is, well honestly below par, but the subject matter really struck a chord (I know that's a terrible pun) with me.

"Well here's how it started, heard you on the radio, talk about rap, say you don't like crap, about how we sample, give an example, think we'll let you get away with that? you criticise our method, of how we make records, you said it wasn't art, so now we're gonna rip you apart!

"Stop! Check it out my man! This is the music of a hip-hop band - Jazz - well you can call it that, but this jazz retains a new format - boy, well you misjudged us, speculated, created a fuss, you've made the same mistake most auctioneers have..."

For anyone who doesn't get the last line, auctioneers often underestimate the value of things...

I liked this track because it challenged people's perceptions of different genres, of what is art, of what talent is, of the worth of something that a person, or group of people worked hard to produce.

It also challenged those who criticise to do any better themselves, declaring that "talk is cheap, but like beauty talk is just skin deep".

I just liked the challenges it offered to all those nasty critics out there ("...of those who choose to judge but lack pizzazz..") - and it was also a nice example of how Urban Music is a form of poetry... plus it has a really funky saxophone in it! Hehe, y
eah, 'course I only chose it because of the saxophone - oh, and the fact that the guy in the next room during my first year at Uni would stick his head in the door and say "Yeah, jazz, later Katz!!!" in an amusing voice whenever I played it ;-)

NUMBER 7
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Artist - Art of Noise
Title - Metaforce
Label - Ummmm, I think it's ZTT Records. I can't find my vinyl copy though.

Why did I choose this?

Well, it doesn't have any deep messages for us. I just love it because it sends people psycho! Hehe

You can do lots of nice tricks with it too - if you're good. For people like me who have all the dexterity of a baby elephant and decks that are no good for scratching, it's probably best to slap on the Fatboy Slim CD from "Essential Millennium" and enjoy it how it SHOULD be played - and then have a think about how you're going to afford Technics SL1200's and how you're going to find enough practice time to get anywhere near that level!

It just chugs along very nicely and presents lots of opportunities to do silly things that end up sounding surprisingly good... and I'm sorry but, "Surrounded by flowers"???? Where did that come from? It works anyway...

You have no idea what I'm talking about do you? OK, I'll shut up now...

NUMBER 6
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Artist - Staind
Title - It's Been A While
Label - Not sure, I don't own a copy!

Probably only in here because I'm currently playing it (the MP3) a lot. It's just a shame that they had to bleep out all the "F" and "S" words when it was played on TOTP. I had hoped it would be played in its entirety during the late-night repeat, but they decided that it still had to be censored.

I just like it - simple enough reason. It's not a song that I personally identify with - but you can tell that a lot of feeling
has been injected into it. It's a true work of art, not just another cash cow for some record company, and that's why I'm happy to see the track doing so well in the charts. It always makes me happy to see good music doing well in the mainstream arena.

It tells a story - a personal story - and I love songs that do that. This is someone singing about his life, sharing something of himself with the listener. I admire an artist who's willing to attempt that.

"And it's been a while, since I could hold my head up high.... "And it's a been a while since I can stand on my own two feet again.... "And everything I can remember, as f*cked up as it all may seem, the consequences that are entered, I stretched myself beyond my means."

I'd love to quote this whole song, it's such a, I don’t know, an honest admission of wrongdoing and an attempt to make a change of sorts, for the better.

That's how I took it anyway, someone looking inside himself deeply and seeing something wrong and attempting to change it.

You can take it a number of ways, that's what's great about music, but that's my interpretation anyway.


NUMBER 5
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Artist - Jondi & Spesh
Title - We Are Connected
Label - Dorigen

A lovely progressive track that I paid too much money for...

"Well I, I, first became aware of it Mandrake, during the physical act of love..."

<Booooowoooo-ooooooh-oooooh-ooh! >

Sorry, even people who have this on CD have probably never heard that bit, but it's how it starts on vinyl. It's a good track to start a progressive set with.

Anyway - I like this one because it has a very important message in it. Part of the way through, everything stops and a Steven Hawkings-like voice comes on:

"Walk with me through the Universe, and along the way, see how all of us a
re connected. Feast the eyes of your soul, on the love that abounds in all places at once, seemingly endless, like your own existence..."

I think it's a nice message to give, one that we could all learn from, and it sets a nice mood for the rest of a set. Music, especially a progressive track of this kind, does noticeably affect the mood of people - and that's why if I'm going to be stringing a few progressive house tracks together then I often like to start with this.

As a DJ, one tries to take people on a journey, and so the "Walk with me through the Universe" bit is something I particularly like.

NUMBER 4
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Artist - Jaimy & Kenny D
Title - Like a Bitch
Label - Wildlife (Black Hole Recordings)(Dutch)

One that most people have probably never even heard - let alone own.

Why this track? Well, I don't know really. It has a special kind of simplicity to it; the chugging lead-in followed by the simple, sharp effect before the cymbal joins the drums is very effective in building up energy. The simple riff that's laid on top shortly afterwards only adds to it, setting up the haunting, whispered, vocals:

"We have created the good, the bad, and the misunderstood, but we did not create mysteries like you, life can kick you, it ain't no joke, ain't nothing going up in smoke - life is always what it is, up and down, just like a bitch, music makes our soul strong, and keep on pumping all night long"

Not really a message there for everyone, but it says something to me. DJ's and hardened clubbers will identify with the lyrics; I don't think a further explanation is required.

Really though, I just like this track for its musical simplicity and its excellent lead in and lead out - which will mix nicely into something like the Stereo Dub of "Get Lost" by Eric Clapton (see John Digweed's "Communicate"
compilation) or anything that starts with a single, repeated effect.

NUMBER 3
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Artist - Delerium
Title - Silence (USA Only Promo)
Label - White

It's just THAT breakdown - sandwiched on either side by Sarah McLachlan's penetrating, cutting vocals that just make you close your eyes and loose yourself.

This track just really - well, it's what trance (my favourite genre of music) is all about. Totally giving your mind and body over to a piece of music, letting it shape your thoughts and move you, almost involuntarily. Not many "real" trance tracks have lyrics, and most that do aren't that good. This is just different though - the lyrics are SO powerful and overlay the tune so well.

"Heaven holds a sense of wonder, and I wanted to believe that I'd get caught up, when the rage in me subsides - DUM! - (Hands up) DUM! - **DUM!!!** (Eyes shut - hands still aloft) "In this white wave, I am sinking, in this silence, in this white wave, in this silence I believe. In this white wave, I am sinking, in this silence, in this white wave, in this silence I believe. I have seen it, in this white wave, you are silent, you are breathing, in this white wave I am free..."

All through that, the single notes from the breakdown are punctuating the lyrics and encouraging you to open your mind further to the lyrics, the breakdown jangles your spine, but the continuation along with the lyrics melt your brain.

And then the drums come back in; your mind is freed again.

It's a track I've never grown tired of. As far as dance music goes, it's my all time favourite.

Please don't confuse this with the popular remixes either (that actually charted) the Tiesto mix is nice, but it lost a lot of the power of the original - mainly due to the changing of the breakdown.

NUMBER 2
~~~~~~~~

Artist - Ash
Title - Angel Interce
ptor
Label - Infectious Records

"Oooooooh-OOOOoooooh-ahhhhhhhhh!"

<Cue guitars>

You can feel the energy in this track right from the outset.

I'm not sure if I can really explain why I love this one so much... it comes from one of my favourite Albums - "1977".

I guess because I identify with the lyrics - the feelings conveyed in the vocals are feelings that I can make my own. I hope that makes sense. Almost throughout - this track brings the emotions inside of me to the outside, and then filters them back into me.

"I stayed in last night, I wasn't feeling alright, I knew it couldn't last, I started thinking of you... oh, and I wished, we could be dancing in the dark, really slow"

It's almost like someone sat down and wrote those words just for me - things that I've done, felt, and wished often in my life. Things that don't feel good at the time, but that are good to feel. Things that show you're human.

"Oh, it's good to know, tomorrow you are coming home. I feel heaven in you"

Feelings of, relief? Elation? I don't know. Good feelings, feelings that make you realise that some feelings (those above) are worth enduring.

I just love this song because it says a lot about my feelings towards someone.

The lyrics sit perfectly on top of the drums and guitars... there are no real highs or lows in the track, I like that about it infact, it clashes different emotions without ever significantly changing tempo or rhythm or ever really having any dramatic moments. There is a bit of what almost might be described as a "breakdown" before "Angel Interceptor, Apollo 21", and a big, big crashing in of guitars after "well tomorrow, you're coming HOME!" that really does add something to the power of that line - but that's the only real moment where there is a change of em
phasis on anything that is being conveyed.

It's a good change though, it emphasises that the good is better than the bad - that it's well worth it.

NUMBER 1
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Artist - Fleetwood Mac
Title - Dreams
Label - Gentoo/Welsh Witch

Well, I surprised myself with this one. Thinking about it though, it has to be my number one.

Why? Well, it's the most emotional song that I have ever heard - I cannot listen to it without crying. "Have you any dreams you'd like to sell? Dreams of loneliness... Like a heartbeat... drive you mad..." Listening to those few lines leaves me with tears streaming down my face...

Music, to me, is really the ultimate expression of emotions - that's why I despise soulless, cheesy, cr*p churned out by "artists" who've never written a song in their life and deliver no meaning, no messages, no sorrow or joy, through their music.

"Dreams" just has absolutely everything - on first take, it is an extremely sad song "Now here you go again, you say you want your freedom, well who am I to keep you down? ... But listen carefully to the sound, of your loneliness, like a heartbeat, drives you mad..."

Those few lines can make you feel terrible, especially if you are grieving over the end of a relationship. However, the song also offers hope for the future:

"Say... women... they will come and they will go. When the rain washes you clean, you'll know"

I love the contrasting emotions of this song - the clash of what can only be described as feelings of mourning - encouraging you to indulge in feeling sorry for yourself and assuring you that these emotions are OK - and the feelings of hope - encouraging you to look ahead and reassuring you that everything will be OK.

It's just beautifully sung too - the vocals cut through into your soul and send shivers down your spine. It&#
39;s a very beautiful song as well as a very emotional one.

Well, anyway, that concludes my Top Ten. I hope everyone was able to make sense of at least some of what I was saying.

Comments (even if they are along the lines of “What the hell are you talking about???”) will be gratefully received…

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