My Top 500 Songs (complete!!)

Mariah's global-awakening moment. My first memory of her. Just adore the vocal - love her lower register so much and buckle up for the belting.
 
Forgetting "Independent Love Song" is possibly the most HOMOPHOBIC ACT the British public have committed yet
 
388 High Contrast - Remind Me (2017)

Drum n bass containing a lovely Aretha Franklin sample. High Contrast's dad used to manage Shakin Stevens.

 
386 Annie Lennox - No More I Loves You's (1995)

What a decadent moment in pop. Digging deep for her covers album Medusa, Lennox pulled out an obscure 1986 single by The Lover Speaks (by all accounts everyone involved was delighted by the project and they all have nice gardens and extensions).

An intriguing track even before she got her pale white mitts all over it. Lennox adds sophistication and quirkiness, while never allowing the tweeness to overplay it's part (this sentence was not A.I.) The video cemented it's camp status. NOBODY USED TO BE OFFENDED BY DRAG.

It also created a classic call and response:

Do-be-do-be-do-do-do....

 
385 Lana Del Rey - Ride (2012)

What's this about then? Riding.

A bleak and yet utterly romanticised nostalgic vision of Americana as seen by poor white trash. The clues that she was going marry a swamp boy were always there. Jarvis Cocker warned us about rich girl poverty fantasies, Lana took it as instructional.

Either way, it's about as gorgeous and provocative as she's been to my eyes and ears.

 
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384 Sophie Ellis Bextor - Hypnotized (2022)

Luck has seemingly always been on the side of Britain's favourite nepo baby. Whether it's remaining famous after doing nothing for most of a decade, then parading back into public consciousness by dancing about in her kitchen over lockdown, then getting a starring musical feature in a viral movie.

She quickly took advantage of the opportunities presented and dropped this absolute ice cold banger.

 
Ride is the ultimate Lana anthem. "Gorgeous" is exactly the descriptor I'd use, and I much prefer the simplicity to some of her more acclaimed verbal diahorrea moments.

It's very difficult to imagine anything like No More I Love You's being a hit now, and we're all the poorer for it. I hope it makes sense to you.
 
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Agneeta said:
*alert* after days of lurking @POP! has liked a song.
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Ride is my favorite Lana song - perhaps behind Cinnamon Girl some days. The Native American garb would’ve gotten her cancelled (again)had it not been released in 2012.

Eagerly awaiting the rest
 
POP! said:
Ride is my favorite Lana song - perhaps behind Cinnamon Girl some days. The Native American garb would’ve gotten her cancelled (again)had it not been released in 2012.

Eagerly awaiting the rest
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There are two Lana tracks remaining. I'm not a huge fan, but the good stuff is very very good.
 
NMILY is almost the last time Lennox truly had it (I'd argue I've Got A Life was her former performance levels briefly brought back from the dead). Medusa in general I like a lot. She needs a certain glint of menace and humour to her, which has largely been completely sapped out of her ever since.
 
383 Bjork - Big Time Sensuality (1993)

To my surprise the only appearance of Bjork on the top 500. I have a lot of love for stuff on all the first three albums. Play Dead just missed the cut off while Hyperballad and Joga were lower.

Anyway this is Bjork at her absolute most joyous, most euphoric. It really should be on every list of classic 90s dance, because it is a prime bop exuding pleasure and life.

THE HARDCOOORER AND THE GENTALL

 
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382 Deuce - On the Bible (1995)

The second and last appearance from Deuce. It sounds like what it is - an urgent pop emergency. Their last shot, the last chance to change pop history, so threw everything at it - religion, intense emotional sincerity, hi-nrg europop - it had it all.

It went top 20 and frankly it was all over. I've already discussed their influence on Steps, but the visually exciting video was clearly on the minds of Steps when Tragedy needed a visual.

 
381 Joe Smooth - Promised Land (1987)

By sharp contrast. An absolutely legendary spiritual house track. It really formed the path for house to become a movement of euphoria and joy. Apparently hit a nerve across Africa, which is amazing to think. Less so The Style Council covered it.

 
379 Sasha - Xpander (1999)

Fancy 10 minutes of some trance from the summer of 1999? Of course you do! Stick with it, the pay off is amazing. Best served at 2am.

 
378 Walker Brothers - The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore (1966)

For a period of time often celebrated as colourful, a lot of the music was particularly morose or melancholic at best. Naturally I'm all over it. Shockingly, I believe the oldest song on the list, and the only 1960s track. Shocking as I love 60s music, particularly this form of dramatic baroque pop.

Also absent is Scott Walker's It's Raining Today, which I also adore and have posted below. It's trippy space age schmaltz.



 
377 Fleetwood Mac - Big Love (1987)

For a band so associated with the 1970s, their 1980s hits do incredible business. This one less so, which is perverse. Although perhaps Lindsey Buckingham as a lead isn't quite the draw.

Anyway more from these messy legends later.

 
Agneeta said:
Have you done Funky does ABBA yet?
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Agneeta said:
378 Walker Brothers - The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore (1966)

For a period of time often celebrated as colourful, a lot of the music was particularly morose or melancholic at best. Naturally I'm all over it. Shockingly, I believe the oldest song on the list, and the only 1960s track. Shocking as I love 60s music, particularly this form of dramatic baroque pop.

Also absent is Scott Walker's It's Raining Today, which I also adore and have posted below. It's trippy space age schmaltz.



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X-Files 90s cultural artefact :disco:
 
376 MGMT - Kids (2008)

More famous than the #16 UK peak suggests, with a highly recognisable keyboard rift.

Apparently they got into a legal dispute with Nicolas Sarkozy over this song. Litigious bunch these French Presidents. If you're reading this Macron, I love your work and your wife/ mother is absolutely fine.

 
375 iiO - Rapture (2001)

Vocalist Nadia Ali, is possibly the only artist of Pakistani heritage on the list, so good for her, and worth noting for future ASFMs.

Anyway this is trance meets disco, with a liberal dollop of vocoder mixed in. I was 21, had two jobs, fucked everyone I could, was partying every weekend and taking every recreational drug I possibly could. Good times!

 
Agneeta said:
375 iiO - Rapture (2001)

Vocalist Nadia Ali, is possibly the only artist of Pakistani heritage on the list, so good for her, and worth noting for future ASFMs.

Anyway this is trance meets disco, with a liberal dollop of vocoder mixed in. I was 21, had two jobs, fucked everyone I could, was partying every weekend and taking every recreational drug I possibly could. Good times!

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For some reason I always pair this song with "Stereo Love" - also a BOPANGER (that's a BOP and a BANGER if you're wondering)
 
374 Susanne Sundfor - Delirious (2015)

Ten Love Songs, her fourth album was self produced and was in that sense bare bones scandipop. This was my main takeaway from the classic album which soared against the odds to #78 on the UK charts. I know she has her fans on here, where I first became aware of her. Thank you Mopsy.

It is of course absolutely stunning.

I hope you've got a safety net
Cos I'm gonna push you over edge

 
Agneeta said:
377 Fleetwood Mac - Big Love (1987)

For a band so associated with the 1970s, their 1980s hits do incredible business. This one less so, which is perverse. Although perhaps Lindsey Buckingham as a lead isn't quite the draw.

Anyway more from these messy legends later.

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Yeah why has this not translated over time as well as the other big hitters? It’s majestic. Some great remixes too.
 
373 Agnes - I Trance (2019)

Speaking of offbeat Scandinavian divas, hold on tight for our queen. In fact, tie down your furniture, alert your neighbours, and send your goodbyes to your nearest and dearest, because there is a literal disco pop explosion incoming and you're all going to be affected.

If you haven't yet, DO play the live version mixed with Limelight, I've posted below. It stopped gay time and now we're left with Kim Petras (evil) and an ironic Jess Glynne revival.



 
370 Depeche Mode - Enjoy The Silence (1990)

I must stop at this absolutely legendary song. Depressed Mode are definitely up there for me. Mad that I didn't discover them until the Ultra album. By that stage they were on to their grinding industrial heroin stage, here they were still on all their 80s synths miserablist golden period.

Stealing a quote here, but I can't get past it coming from a "pristine and lush yet punishing musical environment", which is a perfect summary of peak Mode.

The video is also a treat, with Dave Gahan dressed as a King, holding a deckchair wandering around empty, atmospheric landscapes, all seemingly filmed on home video. Iconic.

 
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I do really like Depeche Mode (& have the Ultra album on vinyl, although it's been a long time since I gave it a spin) but I've never done a deep dive on them. Maybe I should do a deep dive.

Enjoy The Silence is of course a career highlight both visually & musically.
 
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