My Top 500 Songs (complete!!) (8 Viewers)

Loved M People around the Elegant Slumming era. I always think it was the reap-off OUR HEV had with Tom Jones at the end of Perfect Day when they tipped into parody.

Don't Look Any Further & especially, Renaissance, are the 2 greatest singles from this era, & album closer Melody Of Life is still fresh & atmospheric too.

Them getting a surprise Mercury win for it over all the indie faves brought me joy too.
 
Sardonicus said:
Loved M People around the Elegant Slumming era. I always think it was the reap-off OUR HEV had with Tom Jones at the end of Perfect Day when they tipped into parody.

Don't Look Any Further & especially, Renaissance, are the 2 greatest singles from this era, & album closer Melody Of Life is still fresh & atmospheric too.

Them getting a surprise Mercury win for it over all the indie faves brought me joy too.
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Oh their Don't Look Any Further cover was brilliant, although I mostly play the original these days.

Open Your Heart was another fave.
 
Agneeta said:
Oh their Don't Look Any Further cover was brilliant, although I mostly play the original these days.

Open Your Heart was another fave.
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All the singles from the first album were good too. Excited was a Long Wave Radio Atlantic 252 fave in 1993.

To give them credit, they also chose to pack it in at the right time when album 4 felt a bit tired & lifeless. The Greatest Hits from that time very much felt like a PROJECT OVER moment.
 
259 Sophie Ellis Bextor - Get Over You (2002)

Her fourth top 5 hit in a row, she was at a huge commercial peak, establishing her unlikely place as a beloved pop star. Probably my favourite from the Read My Lips project, the Almighty Remix is a thing of wonder.

Fond memories of this being on a mixtape when I worked at a Beefeater. The deputy manager had fabulously gay taste and it was endless SEB, Kylie and even Alizee :disco:



 
258 Massive Attack - Unfinished Sympathy (1991)

Very few songs fail to make the top 10, but go on to become one of the defining tracks of the decade. The extravagant use of an orchestra and Shara Nelson's lush vocal, come together creating a beautiful, earey soundscape, full of drama and pain. An early moment in the musical journey that became trip hop.

The video also iconic, with Shara wandering around the streets of LA, with all the gravitas of Nigella arriving at court.

Despite overplay from certain quarters, it still sounds fresh.

 
Agneeta said:
267 Madonna - Like A Prayer (1989)

Hold the presses, it's Moopy’s all time favourite song, way down at 267 (did you expect Madonna to be top 10?)

One of the defining songs of her career, of the era and probably in the context of gay music fandom. Pop, rock, gospel choirs, it's ecstatic, it's transcendent, it's spiritual, it's provactive, it's emotional... it's a lot.

I genuinely do consider this to be right up there :ken: , but do I listen to it an awful lot? Not really. It had two peaks for me - as an eight year old, coming back from swimming lessons and hearing it at no.1 on the charts, and then again when I was 21 and Madonna was having a genuine renaissance and I snapped up her back catalogue.

There's little to add that hasn't been said ad finem over the last 37 years(!). So sit back and enjoy a genuinely iconic piece of pop music. Glorious.

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TOO LOW
 
Early M People really were quite wonderful.

"Unfinished Sympathy" is one of those songs that cannot be over-praised. One of the greatest, most important, most influential songs of the modern era.
 
One Night In Heaven is my favourite Elegant Slumming track. I always remember Heather being rather hoarse when performing Up at the Smash Hits Poll Winners Party (if we ever do lockdown syncs again, these ceremonies would be amazing surely). Loved almost all the 90s disco throwbacks. I was pretty obsessed with M People for albums 2-3.5. Fresco was abysmal - only the bridges on Angel Street threatened to activate their previous form. Would love to know why Heather clearly hates them these days.
 
257 Helena Paparizou - Baby It's Over (2011)

Eurovision winner, disaster survivor, award winner... Helena has done it all. This was a simple dance bop from her Greatest Hits album. Huge in Greece, a genuine all time best seller. Curiously her only entry here, because I had a lot of time for her back in the day.

Not the last continental Helen to appear on the list. Helen of Troy Forum NOW!

 
256 Amber - This Is Your Night (1996)

Easily up there with the best Eurodance of the 1990s, but by 1996 it was all over except the stragglers. Didn't even chart in the UK and barely crept into most international top 10s. Curiously it was big in the US, where Eurodance arrived late.

A shimmering, glossy, euphoric song, full of affirmative IT WILL BE OK vibes. It absolutely stands tall among the classics of the genre, time has been very kind to it.

 
Agneeta said:
257 Helena Paparizou - Baby It's Over (2011)

Eurovision winner, disaster survivor, award winner... Helena has done it all. This was a simple dance bop from her Greatest Hits album. Huge in Greece, a genuine all time best seller. Curiously her only entry here, because I had a lot of time for her back in the day.

Not the last continental Helen to appear on the list. Helen of Troy Forum NOW!

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Omg I forgot all about this, what a banger! :disco:
 
255 Roxy Music - More Than This (1982)

The second appearance of the gorgeous More Than This, and in a rare twist I prefer the version by a problematic man. Roxy Music have pleasured me with a lot of delightful music, which is a tough listen sometimes, knowing his grotty politics.

Not one of their biggest hits at the time, it's now far and away their most streamed, I presume due to a confluence of circumstances such as soundtracks, covers and the greatest mystery of all to this 45 year old - Tik Tok trends. It absolutely deserves a revival.

 
I had always liked Bryan Ferry thanks to a best of my parents had. I laterly got really into More Than This due to it being on the 200 Cigarettes soundtrack. Same Old Scene seems to pop up when I'm out and about too.

Amber is a mad woman (won't make a sees red joke), clearly driven to her limit by her old record label, but what a talent she proved to be on subsequent albums. The eurodance was ditched, but Sexual is her best song anyway. Those Real McCunts really done her over, but This Is Your Night and the Hani remix of One More Night are incredible (the later a stepping stone to her more sophisticated range on the next albums). Eurodance-wise, I also like the Love Inc-like Can You Feel The Love. She hates Colour of Love, but I don't hear any other singles here frankly. She seems to have stopped sounding completely unhinged on social media, but has since retired performing live due to a perfectly reasonable hissy fit over a fog request issue at her last PA, so I'm sure she's doing fine. The bitch can sing live very well though - I imagine the sensitivity comes from the record label frustrations that must still linger over her (ie, unpaid advances and royalties).
 
254 Prospa - Ecstacy (Over & Over) (2020)

Bit of electro, bit of breakbeat... why not?

Another one of many underrated ASFM entries.

 
253 Sugababes - About You Now (2007)

Onto to their third line-up, their fifth album and an impressive sixth and final no.1. A huge pop blast, utterly irresistible, like an adult nursery rhyme set to music. They won't appear again on this list, although if I really worked hard I reckon I could push Flatline over line in the future.

 
252 Röyksopp - 49 Percent (2005)

The second of five appearances for Röyksopp here. I should save my praise for higher up, but should also express consistently, how much I love Röyksopp. I love Röyksopp.

 
251 Missy Elliott - 4 My People (2001)

Let me very clear, this specifically for the Basement Jaxx remix. That is not to deny the pleasure I get from Missy overall, but the Missy discovers recreational drugs era was absolutely for me. A slick polished remix, and an unsubtle ode to the pleasure of MDMA, very much caught my attention at a time when I was very much enjoying the same thing regularly.

I wanna dance with you... and lick your face.

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251-300

251 Missy Elliot - 4 My People
252 Royksopp - 49 Percent
253 Sugababes - About You Now
254 Prospa - Ecstacy (Over & Over)
255 Roxy Music - More Than This
256 Amber - This Is Your Night
257 Helena Paparizou - Baby It's Over
258 Massive Attack - Unfinished Sympathy
259 Sophie Ellis Bextor - Get Over You
260 M People - Moving On Up

261 Ofra Haza - Im Nin Alu
262 Rihanna - S&M
263 Margaret Berger - I Feed You My Love
264 Cornelia Jakobs - Hold Me Closer
265 Journey - Don’t Stop Believin'
266 Cyndi Lauper - Into the Nightlife
267 Madonna - Like A Prayer
268 Faithless - We Come 1
269 Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart Again
270 Edward Maya - Stereo Love

271 George Michael - Spinning the Wheel
272 Spice Girls - Wannabe
273 Solange - Losing You
274 Celine Dion - Pour que tu m'aimes encore
275 Celine Dion - A New Day Has Come
276 Dua Lipa - Don't Start Now
277 La Roux - Bulletproof
278 Sonique - It Feels So Good
279 Cher - Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)
280 Calvin Harris - I'm Not Alone

281 Tori Amos - Professional Widow
282 Guru Josh Project - Infinity
283 M83 - Midnight City
284 Mel & Kim - Respectable
285 2 Unlimited - The Real Thing
286 Alicia Keyes - No One
287 Keiino - Spirit in the Sky
288 Captain Hollywood Project - More & More
289 Madonna - Celebration
290 Amy Winehouse - Rehab

291 Bananarama - Look On the Floor (Hypnotic Tango)
292 Chaka Khan - I Feel For You
293 En Vogue - Don't Let Go (Love)
294 Amy Winehouse - Back to Black
295 Bloc Party - The Prayer
296 Blondie - Call Me
297 Cappella - U & Me
298 Rihanna - Where Have You Been
299 Whigfield - Think Of You
300 Zombie Nation - Kernkraft 400
 
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Coming up the songs between 600 and 501 that just missed.

Many thanks to the handful of posters who have made this worthwhile! I honestly thought I'd be yelling into the abyss!
 
As promised, a special mid way treat for those kind souls who have remained dedicated to the cause, all in one post, the songs that landed between 501 and 600.

501 Britney Spears - Till The World Ends
502 Britney Spears - Baby One More Time
503 LIZ - Cloudbusting
504 Taylor Dayne - Tell It To My Heart
505 Kylie Minogue - Wow
506 Jennifer Lopez - Dance Again
507 Bananarama - Love Is the First Degree
508 Spice Girls - 2 Become 1
509 Wham - Last Christmas
510 Steps - Here and Now

511 Carly Rae Jepsen - Cut To The Feeling
512 Carly Rae Jepsen - I Didn't Just Come Here To Dance
513 Jessie Ware - The Kill
514 Kylie Minogue - Too Much
515 Lady Gaga - Stupid Love
516 Post Malone - Circles
517 ABBA - The Name of the Game
518 Faith Hill - There You'll Be
519 Elton John and Kiki Dee - Don't Go Breaking My Heart
520 Mylene Farmer - Souviens-Toi Du Jour

521 Bananarama - I Want You Back
522 Stacey Q - Two of Hearts
523 Visage - Fade to Grey
524 Daft Punk - Get Lucky
525 Nelly Furtado - Maneater
526 Lena Philipsson - Lena Anthem
527 Sophie Ellis Bextor - If You Go
528 Loreen - My Heart Is Refusing Me
529 Toto - Africa
530 Yazz - The Only Way Is Up

531 Heart - Alone
532 Bonnie Tyler - Total Eclipse of the Heart
533 Moby - Go
534 Human League - Together In Electric Dreams
535 Lady Gaga - Alejandro
536 ATeens - Closer To Perfection
537 Calvin Harris - I Need Your Love
538 Gabrielle - Shine
539 Harry Styles - As It Was
540 Pandora - Don't You Know

541 St Vincent - Fast Slow Disco
542 Weezer - Buddy Holly
543 Scooter - Nessaja
544 London Boys - Requiem
545 Bjork - Play Dead
546 Avicii - I Could Be The One
547 Elton John - Your Song
548 Adele - Rolling In the Deep
549 Girls Aloud - On the Metro
550 Daphni - Sizzling

551 Lady A - Need You Now
552 Diana King - Shy Guy
553 Faithless - Salva Mea
554 Rock Steady Crew - (Hey You) The Rock Steady Crew
555 Lady Gaga - 911
556 Madonna - Die Another Day
557 ATeens - Mamma Mia
558 Steps - I Will Love Again
559 Girls Aloud - Girl Overboard
560 Liberty X - Just A Little

561 Sugababes - Push the Button
562 TLC - No Scrubs
563 U96 - Heaven
564 ABBA - Head Over Heels
565 Ace of Base - Young and Proud
566 CHVRCHES - Get Out
567 Des'ree - You Gotta Be
568 Earth Wind and Fine - September
569 Fiction Factory - (Feels Like Heaven)
570 Beyonce - Sweet Dreams

571 Brandy - What About Us
572 Neneh Cherry - Buffalo Stance
573 Chicane - Poppiholla
574 Kate Bush - Cloudbusting
575 Lykke Li - I Follow Rivers
576 Betty Who - Some Kinda Wonderful
577 Sash! - Just Around The Hill
578 Kristine W - Feel What You Want
579 Deep Dish - Say Hello
580 Eurythmics - Here Comes The Rain Again

581 LeAnn Rimes - The Story
582 Spice Girls - Who Do You Think You Are
583 Steps - The Slightest Touch
584 Christine and the Queens - Tilted
585 Daya - Insomnia
586 TLC - Waterfalls
587 Girls Aloud - The Loving Kind
588 Britney Spears - Overprotected
589 Siohban Donaghy - Medevac
590 Mr Probz - Waves

591 Agnes - One Last Time
592 Dada Life - Kick Out The Epic Motherfucker
593 Deep Forest - Sweet Lullaby
594 Goldfrapp - A&E
595 Jason Donovan - Too Many Broken Hearts
596 Marcella Detroit - I Believe
597 Cardigans - My Favourite Game
598 Black Eyed Peas - Meet Me Halfway
599 Breeze vs Lost Witness - Rise Again
600 Blair St Clair - Now Or Never
 
I enjoyed all forms of M People. I think I came of musical age as they transitioned into MOR (I am a Search for the Hero car ad kind of Millennial girly), so I never felt a sense of loss over what they had been.
 
Salva Mea didn't even make the BUBBLING UNDER chart??!! Ag :nononono:

Lovely to see the London Boys make an appearance though. It was 30 years ago last week that they both were killed in a car crash :(
 
Ignore me - it's at 553. I'm properly ill, standing outside half the day at the most unwelcoming school I've been to so far yesterday has made me 10 times worse.

Kristine W is a Mr S fave & I love it too.
 
249 Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)
250 Pet Shop Boys - It's A Sin (1987)

Two songs that easily deserve their own posts, let alone topics, but somehow they landed together and it made sense to pair them up.

Both absolute pillars of 80s synth pop, intelligent pop bangers, focused on subject matters rarely touched by pop music so brazenly - could easily be played together, yet they approach the subject matter from different angles.

Neil is emotional, Annie is cold/ authorative. Sin is theatrical, Dreams is hypnotic/ observational, PSB dwells on shame, Eurythmics focus on power. Yet with queer and androgynous imagery they're closer in my mind than they probably knew.

Both have astonishing legacies and after lives. You must wonder if the biggest hits of the last 10 years will ever touch popular culture the way these two have (they won't).



 
248 Leona Lewis - Bleeding Love (2007)

Cowell's second biggest achievement and his biggest hit prior to streaming. I suspect it was the very evil Gary Barlow's words to Cowell on the X-Factor not to waste her, that led her to such a brilliant pop ballad. Ironically she went on to hold Take That off the top for many weeks.

Leona here is of course brilliant. Every Christmas we are reminded that she only just missed the glue factory in the end. The critical reviews of the X-Factor factory line are justified as are the recent failures or humiliations of the rotten men on the judging panel.

Leona deserves a comeback.

 
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244 ABBA - Angeleyes (1979)
245 ABBA - The Visitors (1981)

Loving how some of these fall. Two ABBA songs without a video. Angeleyes was a double A with the far funkier Voulez Vous and reached no.3, while The Visitors was a US only release reaching no.63.

Only two years apart they couldn't be more different. Angeleyes is ABBA at their most ABBA, cute, irresistible, harmony driven pop music. So charming in fact it's become one of their most popular streaming tracks, I imagine due to teenage girls on TikTok. It appears on the disco charged Voulez Vous album.

The Visitors is ABBA on the cusp of new wave, certainly early 80s electronica. The track is about the fear of being a political dissedent, taken from the album of the same name, often described as their adult album. Bjorn and Benny are surprisingly political to this day, most recently objecting to Trump playing their songs at rallies.

Both songs do share the distinction of appearing on More ABBA Gold, which is the ABBA compilation for when you're ready to dive in without arm bands.



 
243 Mariah Carey - Obsessed (2009)

A ridiculous chart flop, despite it being so very well known. Mariah made a viral hit, before that was a thing.

It's a brilliant hook laden pop track, full of fun quotable jabs at Eminem. I love the line "Got you all fired up with your Napoleonic complex". More pop songs to reference short French men please (@Dark Carnival).

It's camp, it's gay as hell and she's absolutely spot on.

And I was like...

 
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242 Cardigans - Lovefool (1996)

Speaking of top tier pop, another track which absolutely stands tall in the memories of 90s kids. With elements of disco pop and a splash of rock, the dead pan delivery is epitome of 90s pop irony.

The Cardigans of course have far more interesting, serious songs than this, but I love that they have a track to pay their phone bills. Originally it barely made a dent on the charts, which I could not believe at the time, it went on to go stratosphic when tagged onto Romeo+Juliet (a great soundtrack). I watched it recently while teaching an English class. It's still a glorious, beautiful, full colour reading of the play.

 
straightorbroken said:
I had always liked Bryan Ferry thanks to a best of my parents had. I laterly got really into More Than This due to it being on the 200 Cigarettes soundtrack. Same Old Scene seems to pop up when I'm out and about too.

Amber is a mad woman (won't make a sees red joke), clearly driven to her limit by her old record label, but what a talent she proved to be on subsequent albums. The eurodance was ditched, but Sexual is her best song anyway. Those Real McCunts really done her over, but This Is Your Night and the Hani remix of One More Night are incredible (the later a stepping stone to her more sophisticated range on the next albums). Eurodance-wise, I also like the Love Inc-like Can You Feel The Love. She hates Colour of Love, but I don't hear any other singles here frankly. She seems to have stopped sounding completely unhinged on social media, but has since retired performing live due to a perfectly reasonable hissy fit over a fog request issue at her last PA, so I'm sure she's doing fine. The bitch can sing live very well though - I imagine the sensitivity comes from the record label frustrations that must still linger over her (ie, unpaid advances and royalties).
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I had no idea Amber was so interesting...!
 
Jesus. So many here.

Sonikku. When drenched in 90s dance and 80s sparkle, I'm powerless. Don't Wanna Dance With You and Wonky are my other faves.

ABBA. The Visitors album is... a monument. Angeleyes is so easybreasy, the vocals just shower you.

Cardigans. I favour the Todd Terry remix via my obsession with the Ibiza Uncovered compilation, but the original song and video really capture the era of pop fandom - and the bonus is that as an adult you listen to those fabulously morbid and hopeless lyrics.

Mariah. I wish she would work more with some of the collaborators such as Danja who gave her these massive wins again. Just realised I've got this track mixed up with Migrate, but they're of the same vein (and syringe). Pissed Mariah harvests the gems.
 
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