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Music doesn't get much camper than Eurovision entrant Gina G |
Of course, the signs had been there since, well, probably the very beginning (especially if you look back through my personal countdowns for each year since 1979) - but for me, the music I liked and who I was weren't the same thing. Still, even I'm the first to admit this countdown is packed with camp classics and gay anthems. Speaking of coming out...
Number 25 "Fastlove" by George Michael
He was still in the closet, but George was finally released in a musical sense. It'd been four long years since we’d heard any new music from George Michael but in 1996, his legal wrangling with Sony Music finally behind him, he released the Older album through his new deal with Virgin Records. I wasn’t so fond of lead single “Jesus To A Child”, but “Fastlove”, which sampled Patrice Rushen’s “Forget Me Nots” long before Will Smith got his hands on it, was a return to form.
Number 24 "Keep The Music Strong" by Bizarre Inc
Bizarre Inc had been part of the rave scene back in the early '90s, with club classics like "Playing With Knives" and "I'm Gonna Get You", but in 1996, their singles had much more of an R&B/soul feel to them. "I'm Gonna Get You" featured vocalist Angie Brown was now part of the group and therefore performed both "Keep The Music Strong" and "Surprise" (number 46 on this list) - and thankfully both songs came with remixes to cater to the clubs. The Boots mix of "Keep The Music Strong" followed the Motiv8 high energy template, while the Dancing Divaz take on "Surprise" tended more towards house.
Number 23 "Love The Life (Peewee Ferris remix)" by Bass Culture featuring Gina G
With the runaway success of Gina G's debut solo single (which we'll get to in due course), this 1992 Bass Culture track was dusted off and given a remix courtesy of Peewee Ferris (who we saw back in Part 1). The new version of "Love The Life" was a vast improvement on the original, which sounded like a Cathy Dennis album track, but it didn't follow Gina's solo records into the chart.
Number 22 "Heaven" by Neuronic
A fact I'd forgotten about until just now is that Neuronic was essentially just Peach (who featured in Part 3) under a different name. One of three songs in my top 20 for 1996 called "Heaven", the tune also had a remix by, wait for it, Motiv8, which you can hear below.
Number 21 "Brighter Day (Motiv8 mix)" by Kelly Llorenna
She'd supplied the vocals for the eventual N-Trance smash "Set You Free", and in 1996, Kelly released the first of what would be a steady stream of solo releases over the next decade. I didn't think too much of the radio version of "Brighter Day" - and neither, it would seem, did anyone else, since the track only reached number 43 in the UK - but the obligatory Motiv8 mix (which there's a link to in the song title above) is what earns the song its spot here. Kelly would return to work with N-Trance in 1997 for more in their series of '70s disco updates.
Number 20 "Make It On My Own (Dancing Divaz remix)" by Alison Limerick
Back in Part 1, we saw that Incognito released a remix retrospective in 1996 and Alison Limerick was another artist whose back catalogue was revisited that year. From the aptly named album Club Classics, this new version on "Make It On My Own" made an already great song (which featured in my 1992 countdown) even better. Alison's debut single, "Where Love Lives" also got the Dancing Divaz treatment - and as a result that song became a long overdue UK top 10 hit. Even though I liked that update, I preferred the original in that instance.
Number 19 "Heaven" by Sarah Washington
Mentioned below
Number 18 "Don't Stop Movin'" by Livin' Joy
"Dreamer" had given them a big hit the previous year, and Italian dance act Livin' Joy struck while the iron was hot, landing another smash with this song and making it three from three with "Follow The Rules" (number 91 on this list).
Number 17 "Satellite" by The Beloved
I remember going to see The Beloved play Sydney's Metro Theatre in 1996 when I was incredibly ill, but I was a big fan of their album from that year, X, and, well, I'd paid for tickets so what was I going to do? "Satellite" was the lead single, and was followed by "Deliver Me" (number 55 on this list) and "Ease The Pressure" (number 115) - but none of them made too much chart impact. I just discovered, though, that Sarah Brightman released a cover version of "Deliver Me" in 1998, so that's something, I guess. OK, maybe not.
Number 16 "Everything" by Sarah Washington
She'd started her recording career with a cheesy handbag cover of "I Will Always Love You" in 1993, but by 1996, Sarah had progressed to releasing original vocal house anthems like this and "Heaven" (number 19 on this list). Both were only small chart hits in the UK, and I recall having to wait forever for "Heaven" to be given a local release in Australia, where it sank without a trace as well. The two tunes did, however, get plenty of club play.
Number 15 "Se A Vida E (That's The Way Life Is)" by Pet Shop Boys
Previously featured here
Number 14 "Let's Push It" by The Nightcrawlers featuring John Reid
It wasn't their biggest hit, but this was my favourite track by The Nightcrawlers, with John Reid once again on vocal duty. John did share the spotlight with Alysha Warren, though, on another of the act's 1996 singles, "Keep On Pushing Our Love" (number 82 on this list), but by then, interest in the group had all but dried up. John then shifted his attention to work as a songwriter, co-writing "A Moment Like This", which both Kelly Clarkson and Leona Lewis recorded as their winner's single from American Idol and The X Factor respectively. In 2011, he resurrected The Nightcrawlers brand and teamed up with Taio Cruz for "Cryin' Over You" - not that anyone noticed.
Number 13 "Beautiful Life" by Ace Of Base
They'd been the biggest thing in pop a couple of years earlier, but Ace Of Base struggled with their second album, The Bridge. Despite landing their first number 1 back at home in Sweden with lead single "Lucky Love", the track and album didn't perform anywhere near as well in the rest of the world. Things improved with "Beautiful Life", which is my favourite single by the group, but it became obvious they weren't going to rival ABBA's hit rate.
Number 12 "This I Swear / Heaven" by Kim Wilde
Meanwhile, Kim Wilde had been struggling with her albums for years - and even I wasn't a massive fan of 1996's Now & Forever. I did, however, enjoy this double A-side single, which teamed ballad "This I Swear" with the more club-friendly "Heaven" - a track which became even more dance floor-ready thanks to a remix by Matt Darey. Not even the release of a cover version - a ploy that'd worked in 1986 and 1993 - helped Kim's chart fortunes, with her remake of Evelyn "Champagne" King's "Shame" (number 111 on this list) tanking. Shortly after, Kim left her music career behind for motherhood and a new job as a garden designer - and wouldn't return with a new studio album for a decade.
Number 11 "There's Nothing I Won't Do" by JX
Another year, another JX single - and this was my favourite of the four annually occurring releases that Jake Williams released. A big number 4 hit in the UK, it only reached number 26 in Australia.
Number 10 "I Belong To You" by Gina G
Mentioned below
Number 9 "Everybody" by Worlds Apart
Previously featured here
Number 8 "Your Love" by Inner City
Once one of the hottest dance acts in the UK, Inner City hadn't ventured into the top 40 there for three years before this single peaked at number 28. Another track, "Do Me Right" (number 143 on this list), also surfaced in 1996, but when it missed the top 40 as well, the group disappeared until 1999.
Number 7 "Right Here, Right Now" by The Flood
It's amazing the things I've discovered while doing this blog. Turns out one half of pop duo The Flood when on to become trance act The Thrillseekers (biggest hit: "Synaesthesia (Fly Away)" in 1999). Steve Helstrip has even posted this clip by his former group on YouTube and even mentioned in the comments that "Right Here Right Now" stalled at number 41. Actually, it didn't even crack the top 75.
Number 6 "I Give It All To You / I Imagine (Motiv8 mix)" by Mary Kiani
Confession time: I had a singing lesson with Mary Kiani earlier this year. Now living in Sydney, the Scottish singer (and former vocalist for The Time Frequency) teaches out of her inner city home and I was given a session as a birthday present. Back in 1996, she was one of Motiv8's biggest customers, with four of her solo singles all getting the magic makeover, including "I Imagine". For the single release, that song was paired with ballad "I Give It All To You", which, if released on its own, would not make this list.
Number 5 "Pride" by Johnna
As I mentioned at the start , 1996 was the year I came out to my family, so it was kind of nice timing for former Boy Krazy member Johnna Lee Cummings to release what is possible the most gay friendly track on this list (although my number 1 gives it a good run for its money). Produced by none other than Motiv8, the song wasn't a chart hit, but got a hammering in many of the clubs I found myself that year.
Number 4 "Wannabe" by Spice Girls
Previously featured here and mentioned in Part 3
Number 3 "Just Can't Get Enough" by Transformer 2
Nothing to do with songs by either Depeche Mode or The Black Eyed Peas, this "Just Can't Get Enough" was a piano house anthem brought to the world by the Positiva label after doing the rounds since 1993 in one form or another. The vocalist for the track was Asli Tanriverdi.
Number 2 "Show Me" by Dana Dawson
Possibly no song on this list demonstrated more the difference a Motiv8 mix could make. The third single from Dana's Black Butterfly album was a pretty pop tune with quite a subdued feel (hear it by clicking the link in the title) - until the ubiquitous remixers got their hands on it and turned it into a high energy romp (below). I like both versions, but the remix definitely pushed "Show Me" up these rankings. Dana's fourth and final single from the album was "How I Wanna Be Loved" (number 97 on this list).
Number 1 "Ooh Aah... Just A Little Bit" by Gina G
Not since "Hold Me Now", Ireland's winning song by Johnny Logan in 1987, had a Eurovision entry grabbed my attention - but that all changed with Australian-born Gina G's 1996 contender. A number hit in the UK despite not winning the song contest, "Ooh Aah..." also went on to be a success in the US, where Eurovision entries hardly ever charted.
Given Gina's local connection, Australia also got behind the track and, for me, it was the best song of the year - only fitting, really, since it was co-written and produced by Steve Rodway, the man otherwise known as Motiv8.
Despite what most people probably think, Gina was no one-hit wonder, either. Follow-up "I Belong To You" (number 10 on this list) was another top 10 entry in the UK and one of six singles taken from debut album Fresh!
My top 200 for 1996 in full:
1 OOH
AAH...JUST A LITTLE BIT Gina G
2 SHOW
ME / MOTIV8 MIX Dana Dawson
3 JUST
CAN'T GET ENOUGH Transformer 2
4 WANNABE
/ MOTIV8 MIX Spice Girls
5 PRIDE
Johnna
6 I
GIVE IT ALL TO YOU / I IMAGINE / MOTIV8 MIX Mary Kiani
7 RIGHT
HERE, RIGHT NOW The Flood
8 YOUR
LOVE Inner City
9 EVERYBODY
Worlds Apart
10 I BELONG TO YOU Gina G
11 THERE'S NOTHING I WON'T DO JX
12 THIS I SWEAR / HEAVEN / MATT DAREY MIX Kim Wilde
13 BEAUTIFUL LIFE Ace Of Base
14 LET'S PUSH IT / MOTIV8 MIX The Nightcrawlers featuring John
Reid
15 SE A VIDA E (THAT'S THE WAY LIFE IS) Pet Shop Boys
16 EVERYTHING Sarah Washington
17 SATELLITE The Beloved
18 DON'T STOP MOVIN' Livin' Joy
19 HEAVEN Sarah Washington
20 MAKE IT ON MY OWN (DANCING DIVAZ REMIX) Alison Limerick
21 BRIGHTER DAY / MOTIV8 MIX Kelly Llorenna
22 HEAVEN / MOTIV8 MIX Neuronic
23 LOVE THE LIFE (PEE WEE FERRIS REMIX) Bass Culture featuring
Gina G
24 KEEP THE MUSIC STRONG / SOUND MODULATORS MIX Bizarre Inc
25 FASTLOVE George Michael
26 VIRTUAL INSANITY Jamiroquai
27 READY TO GO Republica
28 FORBIDDEN CITY Electronic
29 STANDING HERE ALL ALONE Michelle
30 THE LOVER THAT YOU ARE Pulse featuring Antoinette Roberson
31 DON'T GO (DANCING DIVAZ REMIX) Awesome 3 featuring Julie
McDermott
32 YOU LIFT ME UP / HI LUX MIX Rebekah Ryan
33 ON MY OWN Peach
34 SAY YOU'LL BE THERE Spice Girls
35 WHEN I FALL IN LOVE Ant & Dec
36 GOT MYSELF TOGETHER The Bucketheads
37 SO PURE Baby D
38 NOT SO MANIC NOW Dubstar
39 LOVING YOU MORE (REMIX) BT featuring Vincent Covello
40 STARS (MOTIV8 / WAY OUT WEST REMIXES) Dubstar
41 UN-BREAK MY HEART / DAVID MORALES MIX Toni Braxton
42 STUPID GIRL Garbage
43 GOOD DAY / MOTIV8 MIX Sean Maguire
44 JELLYHEAD / MOTIV8 MIX Crush
45 DISCO 2000 / MOTIV8 MIX Pulp
46 SURPRISE / DANCING DIVAZ MIX Bizarre Inc
47 NAKASAKI EP (I NEED A LOVER TONIGHT) Ken Doh
48 WRONG Everything But The Girl
49 ROCK ME GENTLY Erasure
50 LOVE IS EVERYWHERE Caught In The Act
51 GOODBYE HEARTBREAK Lighthouse Family
52 STAY WITH ME TONIGHT Human League
53 EVERYBODY (MOVE YOUR BODY) Diva
54 LE VOIE; LE SOLEIL Subliminal Cuts
55 DELIVER ME The Beloved
56 DON'T LET GO (LOVE) En Vogue
57 WISHES Human Nature
58 I GOT THE VIBRATION (A POSITIVE VIBRATION) Black Box
59 KEEP ON JUMPIN' Lisa Marie Experience
60 HIDE-A-WAY Nu-Soul featuring Kelli Rich
61 IN THE EVENING Sheryl Lee Ralph
62 I WANT YOU Savage Garden
63 COSMIC GIRL Jamiroquai
64 ONE BY ONE (JUNIOR VASQUEZ MIX) Cher
65 ONE AND ONE Robert Miles featuring Maria Nayler
66 MY LOVE IS FOR REAL Strike
67 2 BECOME 1 Spice Girls
68 ANYTHING 3T
69 LIFTED Lighthouse Family
70 HOT SHOT (NEVER NEVER GONNA LOSE CONTROL) Barbara Tucker
71 YOU SPIN ME ROUND (LIKE A RECORD) 96 Dead Or Alive
72 THIS IS YOUR NIGHT Amber
73 I DON'T WANNA BE A STAR Corona
74 BREATHE The Prodigy
75 SO IN LOVE WITH YOU Duke
76 DON'T PULL YOUR LOVE Sean Maguire
77 NO SURRENDER Deuce
78 LOVE SENSATION 911
79 CRAZY CHANCE Kavana
80 ANYMORE Sarah Cracknell
81 6 UNDERGROUND Sneaker Pimps
82 KEEP ON PUSHING OUR LOVE The Nightcrawlers featuring John Reid
& Alysha Warren
83 DON'T MAKE ME WAIT 911
84 IN TOO DEEP Belinda Carlisle
85 WHERE DO YOU GO No Mercy
86 JUST A GIRL No Doubt
87 DESIRE Nu Colours
88 DO WATCHA DO Hyper Go Go and Adeva
89 WHO DO U LOVE Deborah Cox
90 GIVE ME A LITTLE MORE TIME Gabrielle
91 FOLLOW THE RULES Livin’ Joy
92 YOU & ME SONG The Wannadies
93 ALWAYS BREAKING MY HEART Belinda Carlisle
94 BABY, DON'T CHA LEAVE ME THIS WAY Royal T
95 I FEEL IT DJ Darren Briais vs DJ Peewee Ferris
96 IS THIS A DREAM (REMIX) Love Decade
97 HOW I WANNA BE LOVED Dana Dawson
98 JUMP TO MY LOVE / ALWAYS THERE (REMIX) Incognito
99 OCEAN DRIVE Lighthouse Family
100 REACH 96 Judy Cheeks
101 HIGH 96 Hyper Go-Go
102 TELLIN’ EVERYBODY Human Nature
103 THAT'S THE WAY LOVE IS Volcano with Sam Cartright
104 BRING ME LOVE Andrea Mendez
105 CAN'T HELP IT Happy Clappers
106 IF YOU EVER East 17 featuring Gabrielle
107 KILLING ME SOFTLY The Fugees
108 A DIFFERENT BEAT Boyzone
109 GOLDFINGER Ash
110 HOW DEEP IS YOUR LOVE Take That
111 SHAME Kim Wilde
112 SOMEDAY Eternal
113 DO WHAT YOU FEEL Johnna
114 UNREAL
Dreamworld
115 OVER AND OVER Puff Johnson
116 READY OR NOT Lightning Seeds
117 EASE THE PRESSURE The Beloved
118 DISCO'S REVENGE Gusto
119 SUGAR IS SWEETER CJ Bolland
120 FIRESTARTER The Prodigy
121 WHERE LOVE LIVES (DANCING DIVAZ REMIX) Alison Limerick
122 JUST A LITTLE BIT OF LOVE / HI LUX MIX Rebekah Ryan
123 NAKED Louise
124 GOOD THING Eternal
125 ESCAPING / MIND, BODY & SOUL Dina Carroll
126 DESIGNING HEAVEN / MOTIV8 MIX Heaven 17
127 HALLO SPACEBOY (PET SHOP BOYS MIX) David Bowie
128 TURN YOUR LOVE AROUND Tony Di Bart
129 1,2,3,4 (SUMPIN' NEW) Coolio
130 BLURRED Pianoman
131 CHILDREN Robert Miles
132 ELECTRONIC PLEASURE N-Trance
133 BROTHERS & SISTERS 2 Funky 2 featuring Kathryn Dion
134 OH YEAH Ash
135 MAKE THE WORLD GO ROUND Sandy B
136 CHAINS (U.S. REMIXES) Tina Arena
137 A NIGHT TO REMEMBER 911
138 FOR YOU Electronic
139 CHANGE Daphne
140 BRIGHTEST STAR Drizabone
141 NEVER GONNA SAY I’M SORRY Ace Of Base
142 STRANGER IN MOSCOW / REMIX Michael Jackson
143 INSOMNIA Faithless
144 I'M ALIVE Stretch 'n' Vern
145 DO ME RIGHT Inner City
146 LET THE MUSIC PLAY / MOTIV8 MIX Mary Kiani
147 U FOUND OUT The Handbaggers
148 I WANT TO LOVE Whigfield
149 CLOSER TO FREE Bodeans
150 I LIVE FOR YOU Chynna Phillips
151 MINT CAR The Cure
152 NO ONE CAN LOVE YOU MORE THAN ME Hannah Jones
153 SPINNING THE WHEEL / FORTHRIGHT MIX George Michael
154 SITTIN’ UP IN MY ROOM Brandy
155 SKIN ON SKIN Grace
156 FORGIVEN NOT FORGOTTEN The Corrs
157 THE NIGHTTRAIN Kadoc
158 DO U STILL? East 17
159 GOOD ENOUGH Dodgy
160 AIN'T NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP Paula Abdul
161 YOU'RE MAKING ME HIGH / DAVID MORALES MIX Toni Braxton
162 SOMETIMES I MISS YOU, SO MUCH (DEDICATED TO THE CHRIST
CONSCIOUSNESS) PM Dawn
163 GOT IT GOIN' ON Human Nature
164 THE RIGHT TIME The Corrs
165 SEXY EYES Whigfield
166 ARE YOU GONNA BE THERE Up Yer Ronson
167 GET DOWN (YOU'RE THE ONE FOR ME) Backstreet Boys
168 LOVE TO LOVE YOU The Corrs
169 THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT US Michael Jackson
170 SUNSHINE ON A RAINY DAY Hard Pressed Productions featuring
Aletia Bourne
171 WE'VE GOT IT GOIN' ON Backstreet Boys
172 SENTIMENTAL Deborah Cox
173 SPACEMAN Babylon Zoo
174 TAPE LOOP Morcheeba
175 GOT TO GIVE IT UP Aaliyah
176 I
NEED YOU 3T
177 UNDIVIDED LOVE Louise
178 DO IT FOR LOVE 4Mandu
179 WHAM BAM Candy Girls featuring Sweet Pussy Pauline
180 CRY
INDIA Umboza
181 C’MON ’N RIDE IT (THE TRAIN) Quad City DJs
182 FOUND LOVE Double Dee featuring Dany
183 PEOPLE GET HIGH Boxcar
184 FORGET ABOUT THE WORLD Gabrielle
185 ONE MORE CHANCE Madonna
186 SKY HIGH Voices featuring 'Individual'
187 SHOULD I EVER (FALL IN LOVE) The Nightcrawlers featuring John
Reid
188 ONLY HUMAN / RUN TO YOU Dina Carroll
189 OFFSHORE Chicane
190 COUNT ON ME Whitney Houston featuring CeCe Winans
191 IN WALKED LOVE Louise
192 LOVING EVERY MINUTE Lighthouse Family
193 EVEN WHEN I’M SLEEPING Leonardo’s Bride
194 WOMAN Neneh Cherry
195 NO DIGGITY Blackstreet
196 MILK
Garbage featuring Tricky
197 SPECIAL KIND OF LOVER Nu Colours
198 IT'S WHAT'S UPFRONT THAT COUNTS Yosh presents Lovedeejay Akemi
199 GIV ME LUV Alcatraz
200 NOBODY'S BUSINESS H2O featuring Billie
That's it for 1996. As usual, I'll pop back to the hits of 1988 with my ARIA chart recap on Wednesday and stay tuned for my 1997 countdown in coming weeks.
MY YEAR-END CHARTS
I'm confused. Where is Donna Lewis "I Love You Always Forever"?
ReplyDeleteI never liked that song, I'm afraid!
DeleteDamn I really enjoyed 'I love you always forever' as a child. Catchy pop song. Also I really liked 'Jesus to a Child'. I understand it's not everyone's cup of tea but it's a very emotional, touching song to his former lover whom passed away from aids. George was terrific in making such meaningful ballads
ReplyDelete