VoR
Take it or leave it
Four songs took a clear lead this round, so let's have a clear-out as we get down to the NITTY GITTY.
In Walked Love
Penned by Dianne Warren and originally released two years earlier as the final (US) charting single for girl group Expose, In Walked Love was Louise's all-important second single following the top ten success of Light of my Life. She pushed this one hard in early 1996, there are loads of Youtube clips of her performing it on basically every light entertainment show going at the time. Sadly it didn't really connect, peaked at #17 and swiftly disappearing. It's a nice song, but even by her standards it's a bit FLUFFY. Another one she loves to wheel out live to this day though...
Undivided Love
Thankfully, our Lou bounced back from the disappointment of In Walked Love with her biggest hit to that point, the iconic Naked. Building on that renewed momentum, Undivided Love matched its #5 peak in August 1996 and pushed the album back into the top 20. This is a funky little number which features some rather... ahem... heavy lifting... from the ever-present but never-seen backing vocalists. The stylish b&w video nicely showcased Lou's dance skills and in my opinion is one of her best.
All That Matters
Ah, the controversial one! All That Matters was the third and final release from second album Woman In Me, and the fact that it got the nod over lost classics like Running Back For More and Shut Up & Kiss Me continues to chap the arses of the hardcore Lou fandom three decades later. Personally I think it's a nice little song on its own terms, but it's pretty much the definition of a #11 hit, which is of course what it became.
Super Love
The comeback single and noted PEACOCKS ANTHEM
. Louise has always been a huge Janet Jackson fan, famously winning approval from the lady herself with a live cover of Escapade during lockdown. This is probably the hardest she's leaned into that funky 80s Janet (and Jody Watley, thanks @Sheena) inspired sound to date, and it suits her very well. Alas her days of chart action are obviously over, but this is getting rinsed on Radio 2 at the mo, and it's another fine addition to her surprisingly rich post-comeback catalogue.
6th: In Walked Love
7th: Undivided Love
8th: Super Magic
9th: All That Matters
=10th: Beautiful Inside
=10th: Hurt
12th: Lead Me On
=13th: Light of My Life
=13th: One Kiss From Heaven
=15th: Pandora's Kiss
=15th: Stuck In The Middle With You
Now that we're into the iconic top five, you can vote to evict just ONE!
In Walked Love
Penned by Dianne Warren and originally released two years earlier as the final (US) charting single for girl group Expose, In Walked Love was Louise's all-important second single following the top ten success of Light of my Life. She pushed this one hard in early 1996, there are loads of Youtube clips of her performing it on basically every light entertainment show going at the time. Sadly it didn't really connect, peaked at #17 and swiftly disappearing. It's a nice song, but even by her standards it's a bit FLUFFY. Another one she loves to wheel out live to this day though...
Undivided Love
Thankfully, our Lou bounced back from the disappointment of In Walked Love with her biggest hit to that point, the iconic Naked. Building on that renewed momentum, Undivided Love matched its #5 peak in August 1996 and pushed the album back into the top 20. This is a funky little number which features some rather... ahem... heavy lifting... from the ever-present but never-seen backing vocalists. The stylish b&w video nicely showcased Lou's dance skills and in my opinion is one of her best.
All That Matters
Ah, the controversial one! All That Matters was the third and final release from second album Woman In Me, and the fact that it got the nod over lost classics like Running Back For More and Shut Up & Kiss Me continues to chap the arses of the hardcore Lou fandom three decades later. Personally I think it's a nice little song on its own terms, but it's pretty much the definition of a #11 hit, which is of course what it became.
Super Love
The comeback single and noted PEACOCKS ANTHEM
. Louise has always been a huge Janet Jackson fan, famously winning approval from the lady herself with a live cover of Escapade during lockdown. This is probably the hardest she's leaned into that funky 80s Janet (and Jody Watley, thanks @Sheena) inspired sound to date, and it suits her very well. Alas her days of chart action are obviously over, but this is getting rinsed on Radio 2 at the mo, and it's another fine addition to her surprisingly rich post-comeback catalogue.6th: In Walked Love
7th: Undivided Love
8th: Super Magic
9th: All That Matters
=10th: Beautiful Inside
=10th: Hurt
12th: Lead Me On
=13th: Light of My Life
=13th: One Kiss From Heaven
=15th: Pandora's Kiss
=15th: Stuck In The Middle With You
Now that we're into the iconic top five, you can vote to evict just ONE!