the charts are stagnating again.

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No, I just know. Same as I knew that "Those Were The Days" was one of the half-dozen greatest number one singles when I was five.

(xpost, obv)

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Tuesday, 16 May 2006 09:27 (twenty years ago)

it's just a good middlepoint, that's why it's number 1 for so long. catchy enough for kids and sounds Nick Hornby soul enough for adults.

I can't even see how it's bigger than something like "Hey Ya".

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 16 May 2006 09:28 (twenty years ago)

Or rather, how it's supposed to be better, I didn't particularly like "Hey Ya" myself but it was about a thousand times catchier and more vital.

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 16 May 2006 09:28 (twenty years ago)

Who said it was supposed to be better?
"Hey Ya" didn't get to number one.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Tuesday, 16 May 2006 09:30 (twenty years ago)

Marcello, I think your senses were a bit sharper at five. "Crazy" isn't even in the same ballpark as "Those Were The Days".

― edward o (edwardo), Tuesday, 16 May 2006 09:30 (twenty years ago)

there are lots of songs like 'hung up' ('hey ya', 'sos'), they're kind of awesome for six weeks and then you get heartily sick of them -- that's pop, but ilx is where we talk about pop old music unendingly, there's a problem

and then two years later you remember you awesome they were, plus with added nostalgia value.

i do actually think 'crazy' is a genuine Song X! i think the production is crap BUT compared with the bluntian acoustica and britrock revival drivel which is getting all the attention at the moment, it's veritably neptunes-esque. and for the casual consumer (who are the ones who really drive Song Xs) that's what probably appeals.

also i don't think we can overlook cee-lo's voice, that really is amazing.

― The Lex (The Lex), Tuesday, 16 May 2006 09:32 (twenty years ago)

i must hear this song.

― the confusing situation Enrique currently endures (Enrique), Tuesday, 16 May 2006 09:33 (twenty years ago)

It'll be interesting to see what Tom has to say about it on Popular, circa 2073...

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Tuesday, 16 May 2006 09:40 (twenty years ago)

surely Cee-Lo's voice is the most Moby thing about 'Crazy'.

when people say this song is plodding, what do they mean? the tempo? it's 'Da Funk' speed so does 'Da Funk' plod too? 'Da Funk' sounds 'madder' i suppose, 'ironically'. but 'Crazy' is a SONG. it's not meant to be 'Hey Ya', and the backlash on that was pretty severe. 'Crazy's success is a huge surprise i think, despite what Ronan says being correct re catchiness/Hornby-approval).

DM does some nice stuff with the moody strings and choiri think, esp. changing ther notes around on Cee-Lo's second verse.

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Tuesday, 16 May 2006 09:45 (twenty years ago)

The backlash on "Hey Ya" wasn't on the dancefloors though, was it? Really, a backlash amongst music critics has very little to do with something becoming Song X (or maybe Song X has to have critical approval for it to hit all targets?).

Where does "Where Is The Love?" feature in all this?

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 16 May 2006 10:02 (twenty years ago)

least said, soonest mended.

― the confusing situation Enrique currently endures (Enrique), Tuesday, 16 May 2006 10:05 (twenty years ago)

"Where Is The Love?" - I'd be inclined to give that nought out of ten at the moment.

There's studium mass appeal and there's punctum mass appeal.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Tuesday, 16 May 2006 10:07 (twenty years ago)

it is a blight on the otherwise superb BEP discography.

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Tuesday, 16 May 2006 10:08 (twenty years ago)

i think the 'hey ya' backlash extended beyond critics. but anyway yes, being 'song x' isn't necessarily a good thing. the song x succeeding 'freak like me' was 'a little less covnersation'. 'you're beautiful' was song x last summer, in a bad way.

― the confusing situation Enrique currently endures (Enrique), Tuesday, 16 May 2006 10:09 (twenty years ago)

maybe this is why Liberty X have called their new single 'X'.

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Tuesday, 16 May 2006 10:09 (twenty years ago)

Song X is a good thing if you mean the Ornette Coleman/Pat Metheny album!

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Tuesday, 16 May 2006 10:10 (twenty years ago)

(X) Rearrange the whole game with my rugged sound
(X) Won't even say your own name when I come around
(X) Stay on top but remain from the underground
(X) to the Z and we all in the family

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 16 May 2006 10:10 (twenty years ago)

Does "Song X" literally just mean a song that is escapable? Or does it need more? Why wasn't "Crazy In Love" one? Or "Ignition Remix"? How close was "I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor"?

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 16 May 2006 10:13 (twenty years ago)

"Crazy in Love" was totally Song X, wasn't it?

― Action Tim Vision (noodle vague), Tuesday, 16 May 2006 10:22 (twenty years ago)

Only for a very brief momemt. I'm not convinced it's stood the test of time.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Tuesday, 16 May 2006 10:24 (twenty years ago)

'crazy in love' yes (and it's definitely stood the test of time - my friend robin played it at bank holiday lovelife and the room kind of exploded with joy). 'ignition' yes (though it's probably the worst r kelly single ever!). 'i bet you look wvs' haha certainly not.

Song Xs usually happen in the summer.

― The Lex (The Lex), Tuesday, 16 May 2006 10:27 (twenty years ago)

Amerie's "1 Thing" did the same trick better, perhaps. I don't know if the slight nausea and distaste you sometimes get for a song after gorging on it for a few weeks is the song's fault, really.

― Action Tim Vision (noodle vague), Tuesday, 16 May 2006 10:29 (twenty years ago)

Why wasn't "Crazy In Love" one? Or "Ignition Remix"?

they were both song x!

― the confusing situation Enrique currently endures (Enrique), Tuesday, 16 May 2006 10:35 (twenty years ago)

i think that nausea and distaste are part and parcel of Song Xs, which by definition will be overplayed and ubiquitous

('1 thing' is a Song X too)

― The Lex (The Lex), Tuesday, 16 May 2006 10:36 (twenty years ago)

'sos' is the current song x.

― the confusing situation Enrique currently endures (Enrique), Tuesday, 16 May 2006 10:36 (twenty years ago)

can we not just say BIG TUNE instead of Song X?

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Tuesday, 16 May 2006 10:38 (twenty years ago)

or how about BIGGEDY-BOMB TRACK?

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Tuesday, 16 May 2006 10:39 (twenty years ago)

Maybe a series of bomb noises at the start of its title?

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 16 May 2006 10:45 (twenty years ago)

"1 Thing" only got to #4 though. Is popularity not a part of Song Xiness?

And, alright, go on then: what was the last non cough cough "urban" Song X?

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 16 May 2006 10:45 (twenty years ago)

'crazy'

― The Lex (The Lex), Tuesday, 16 May 2006 10:46 (twenty years ago)

'Is this the way to Amarillo?'

― Jerry the Nipper (Jerrynipper), Tuesday, 16 May 2006 10:48 (twenty years ago)

Dom, what is this "only got to #4"? top five surely means popular?

Also don't some songs have a longer radio life/period of popularity that isn't reflected by chart position?

― permanent revolution (cis), Tuesday, 16 May 2006 11:03 (twenty years ago)

Yes, but "1 Thing" hasn't had that. "Crazy in Love" has.

― Raw Patrick (Raw Patrick), Tuesday, 16 May 2006 11:13 (twenty years ago)

Here are the 20 best number ones. I hope you find this list useful. Thx, bye.

1. Uptown Top-Ranking
2. Wuthering Heights
3. Sugar Baby Love
4. West-End Girls
5. You To Me Are Everything
6. Are Friends Electric?
7. Geno
8. You Really Got Me
9. Blockbuster
10.Everlasting Love
11. Hot Love
12. Jumping Jack Flash
13. Israelites
14. Rock Your Baby
15. Video Killed The Radio Star
16. Like A Prayer
17. Double Barrel
18. Dancing Queen
19. The Sun Aint Gonna Shine Anymore
20. Ashes To Ashes

― Dr.C, Tuesday, 16 May 2006 11:29 (twenty years ago)

"1 Thing" did have a proper chart run, didn't drop down to #18 in the second week, so it does qualify as a "proper hit single."

Dr C, we need to chat.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Tuesday, 16 May 2006 11:32 (twenty years ago)

Shall I call you on your 'mobile phone'?

― Dr.C, Tuesday, 16 May 2006 11:36 (twenty years ago)

Dr C, you've got email.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Tuesday, 16 May 2006 11:43 (twenty years ago)

What? No Ghost Town, Dr C?

― Venga (Venga), Tuesday, 16 May 2006 11:45 (twenty years ago)

Dr C, how could you leave Blu Cantrell & Sean Paul off your list?

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Tuesday, 16 May 2006 11:47 (twenty years ago)

Ghost Town is number 21!!

― Dr.C, Tuesday, 16 May 2006 11:53 (twenty years ago)

Replace Jumping Jack Flash with GT and that list is spot on. Maybe swap Rebel Rebel for Ashes To Ashes too though.

― Venga (Venga), Tuesday, 16 May 2006 11:55 (twenty years ago)

lex, what do you make of dr c's list? which is the made-up name?

― the confusing situation Enrique currently endures (Enrique), Tuesday, 16 May 2006 12:00 (twenty years ago)

Rebel Rebel wasn't a number one.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Tuesday, 16 May 2006 12:03 (twenty years ago)

No Baccara, No Credibility.

― Action Tim Vision (noodle vague), Tuesday, 16 May 2006 12:07 (twenty years ago)

jtn was otm, 'amarillo' was indeed a biggety-bomb track, but there have been non-urban ones since -- 'hung up' fo sho.

― the confusing situation Enrique currently endures (Enrique), Tuesday, 16 May 2006 12:11 (twenty years ago)

the last Song X before 'Crazy' = 'My Humps', like it or not

― zebedee (zebedee), Tuesday, 16 May 2006 12:13 (twenty years ago)

in a sense 'my humps' will always be song x.

― the confusing situation Enrique currently endures (Enrique), Tuesday, 16 May 2006 12:15 (twenty years ago)

Pussycat Dolls "Don't you wish your girlfriend etc" had to be one too

― Mark Co (Markco), Tuesday, 16 May 2006 12:17 (twenty years ago)

Disqualified for Jeffrey Archer reasons.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Tuesday, 16 May 2006 12:18 (twenty years ago)

which one?

― mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 16 May 2006 12:19 (twenty years ago)

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