I have just come across a magazine a listed in the blog title that I purchased in 1999.
It has a series of top 10 or 20 lists included in it that where obviously voted for by Channel 4 viewers and readers at the time.
Let’s see if you can guess these:
1.The best 20 songs of all time
I’ll post a new list each day to keep up the fun!
Wonderwall at number 1
No it is not.
No.20
Bo Rap number 1?
Yes it is
Where’s Angels?
The first list includes Elvis.
No more clues
Presumably Ain’t Got a Clue by The Lurkers is near the top.
Bubbling under at 21,007
Imagine or Bohemian Rhapsody at number 1.
Angels is probably up there too.
If it was a NME list, then Muse would probably lock out the top 5
Angels in No.3
Angels?? Honestly? Wow. And I thought Wonderwall was pushing it.
Is Headbutts by John Otway on the list?
Bubbling under at 200,007
If commercial radio is to be believed, then the most requested song is either:
Queen Another One Bites The Dust
Spandau Ballet Gold
Wham Club Tropicana
or
Abba Dancing Queen
(Abba must be on the list shirley, and if it’s any track it’s probably that one)
1. Bohemiam Rhapsody
3. Angels
20. Wonderwal
No.15 will completely surprise you.l
If Bo Rhap is 1, and Angles is 3, then a bloke singing about having no possessions must be at number 2?
Number 15: Lieutenant Pigeon – Mouldy Old Dough …
John Lennon Imagine is No.2.
The Commissioned Bird however failed to make the grade.
Flat of Angles is number 3? woah…
Hotel California, Sweet Child Of Mine and Candle In The Wind top 10
Number 15 Hey Jude..
Hey Jude is No.8.
None of he others though.
Yellow, Candle in the Wind…
Nope
To help speed it up.
2 artists have 2 entries
2 artists have 4 entries
Beatles probably have the 4 :
Hey Jude
She Loves You
I Want To Hold Your Hand
Strawberry Fields
Abba get 2:
Dancing Queen
Waterloo
SF is a bit uncivilian. It’ll be Let It Be.
Strawberry Fields No.9
Hey Jude No.8
Not the others though
No.4 feels like it was a fixed vote having just listened to it on Spotify!
1. Bho Rap
2. Imagine
3. Angels
8. Hey Jude
9. Strawberry Fields
20. Wonderwall
Think the Channell 4 viewer/reader demographic in 1999…
One of the artists with 2 and 4 entries are solo acts and are now dead.
Stairway To Heaven – does that get in?
Yes it does….No.6
1. Bho Rap
2. Imagine
3. Angels
6. Stairway To Heaven
8. Hey Jude
9. Strawberry Fields
20. Wonderwall
Guessing:
Johnny B Goode
Heartbreak Hotel
Jumping Jack Flash
Brown Sugar
Thriller
Let’s Dance
Parklife
Johnny B Goode? I’ll say it again, you’ll never make a civilian…
I used to be a civil servant.
UN-Civil servant. Apparently answering the phone saying “What the f**k do you want?” is not the done thing
…last time I call the Samaritans
Thriller is No.20.
Wonderwall is actually No.19
Prince – Kiss
George Michael – Faith
That Ocean Colour Scene song used for TFI Friday?
The last one will be about right for 1999, and that Get What You Give song by that wazzock in the Kangol
U2 One
Nirvana Smells Like Teen Spirit
Slade Cum On Feel The Noize
Status Quo Rockin All Over The World
(throw in enough names, one is bound to be right sooner or later)
Smells Like Teen Spirit is No.5
Richard Thompson 1952 Vincent Black Lightning
Oh you’re funny!
Shall we try Mahvishnu Orchestra while we’re at it?
Heavy Jelly?
Tintern Abbey?
15 is going to be something completely out of place like Black Sabbath Paranoid or Radiohead Creep
Continuing a Prince theme Waterfalls and Nothing Compares 2U might be in there.
Hang on a minute – Waterfalls isn’t a Prince song! I always thought it was.
Layla?
Now you’re getting it!
Bear in mind this in 1999, so we can probably expect a few annoying nineties radio records, like that fucking Spin Doctors single.
Ooh! How about Four Non Blondes?
….or Crash Test Dummies. Coming to the soundtrack of an episode of Scrubs near you.
Something tacky from Elvis, such as American Trilogy?
American Trilogy is No.4
That is crazy. All the great songs that Elvis has recorded and American Trilogy gets voted the 4th best song ever. Were the voting panel all on mind altering drugs???
I remember the radio one top three of all time (in 1999) being bitter suite symphony, smells like teen spirit and unfinished symphony of that helps?
Common People? Don’t look Back in Anger? Parklife? A Design For Life?
WRT Richard Thompson or whoever takes your fancy, it’s worth remembering that many of these Channel 4Top 100s were derived from a vote on a C4 shortlist. IIRC, the Top 100 albums shortlist only had 125 albums on it to choose from..
Alright Now
Your Song
Losing My Religion
Come Up And See Me
Wuthering Heights
Stayin’ Alive
I Heard It Through The Grapevine
No Woman, No Cry
Sledgehammer
In The Air Tonight
I’d have guessed Everybody Hurts before Losing My Religion.
Bitter sweet symphony
Unfinished sympathy
Dancin queen
Thriller
Candle in the wind
Unfinished Sympathy is No.10
Has nobody said Good Vibrations yet? Surely that will be there, and in the little summary Brian Wilson will be called a genius.
The surprising one. I guess you’re talking about ‘AW friendly’ surprising, rather than WTF? surprising, so I’ll say Like a Rolling Stone.
Just had to check whether Coldplay had started infecting our ears by 1999, because the great unwashed like that sort of thing. They hadn’t, but I couldn’t name a song of theirs anyway, apart from Yellow or Vida something or other that Pet Shop Boys covered.
God Only Knows
My Way
Waterloo Sunset
The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
Wuthering Heights
Shaddap Ya Face (as I will doubtless be scolded for being too lazy to see if any of the above have been mentioned up the page)
So far we have:
1. Boh Rap
2. Imagine
3. Angels
4. American Trilogy
5. Smells Like Teen Spirit
6. Stairway To Heaven
8. Hey Jude
9. Strawberry Fields
10. Unfinished Sympathy
19. Wonderwall
20. Thriller
I’ll post the final list and ask the next question later today (6pm ish).
I’m enjoying this!
Bat Out Of Hell
Baker Street
Billie Jean?
I’m Not in Love by 10cc?
Something by the Spice Girls, surely? – Wannabe?
Careless Whisper by George Michael?
Billie Jean is No.16
I remember this surprisingly well. I guess it was my era: I was 16 at the time and just getting into music.
Robbie Williams did very well, as did Radiohead, if in recall correctly. It inspired my dad to buy a Radiohead album to try to be hip with the kids. I think he only ever listened to it once, but I loved it.
Three Lions
?
What of Whiney Houston
I e I eeee I will always love you-hoo
I Want To Know What Love Is
So 8 more to guess.
1. Boh Rap
2. Imagine
3. Angels
4. American Trilogy
5. Smells Like Teen Spirit
6. Stairway To Heaven
8. Hey Jude
9. Strawberry Fields
10. Unfinished Sympathy
16. Billie Jean
19. Wonderwall
20. Thriller
Capital Radio used to do a top 100 between Christmas and New Year voted by listeners and I’ve been trying to remember the regular suspects….
I’m sure Hotel California was in every year.. Born To Run perhaps? I think My Way used to make an appearance. The Frankie trilogy made an appearance in the 80s but but 1999 I cant believe they’d still be around. Did Blur make it in?
No Blur I’m afraid and no Hotel California.
Funny how millennium is always interpreted as the last 25 years out of a thousand.
(Cue YT-heavy post from KFD involving Hildegard of Bingen and various people with lutes)
Life on Mars?
Queen:
– We will Rock You
– We are the Champions
U2 – With or without you
Heroes?
Heart of glass?
Adam Lay-y Bounden?
None of the above
Beat it, the song I mean
No
Celine Dion- My heart will go on
Correct.
My Heart Will Go On is No.13
Flippin’ eck.
Must be two more by the Beatles
Yesterday?
A Day in the Life?
Here Comes The Sun?
Something?
Superstition surely?
Another Oasis – maybe Dont Look Back in Anger?
Any punk/new wave? – Teenage Kicks, Town Called Malice, God Save the Queen, London Calling?
And has anyone mentioned the Stones? Satisfaction maybe?
Correct with two more by The Beatles.
A Day In The Life is No.12
Yesterday is No.11
The Police – Every Breath You Take?
Dire Straits – Money for Nothing?
Only 5 left to get.
1. Bohemian Rhapsody
2. Imagine
3. Angels
4. American Trilogy
5. Smells Like Teen Spirit
6. Stairway To Heaven
8. Hey Jude
9. Strawberry Fields
10. Unfinished Sympathy
11. Yesterday
12. A Day In The Life
13. My Heart Will Go On
16. Billie Jean
19. Wonderwall
20. Thriller
Something by Madonna, maybe? Like a Virgin?
No thanks, I’ve just put one out.
Another Elvis, maybe? Heartbreak Hotel? Suspicious Minds?
Yes they are both there.
Heartbreak Hotel No.14
Suspicious Minds No.18
Three left to go”
1. Bohemian Rhapsody
2. Imagine
3. Angels
4. American Trilogy
5. Smells Like Teen Spirit
6. Stairway To Heaven
8. Hey Jude
9. Strawberry Fields
10. Unfinished Sympathy
11. Yesterday
12. A Day In The Life
13. My Heart Will Go On
14. Heartbreak hotel
16. Billie Jean
18. Suspicious Minds
19. Wonderwall
20. Thriller
Another Elvis tune?
Jailhouse Rock?
Love me Tender?
Blue Suede Shoes?
Can’t Help Falling in Love?
There is another Elvis tune but not one of those.
I’ll give the full list in 5 minutes
Hound Dog?
or In The Ghetto?
Neither of those
Here we are then with the three unidentified answers including the act.
1. Bohemian Rhapsody
2. Imagine
3. Angels
4. American Trilogy
5. Smells Like Teen Spirit
6. Stairway To Heaven
7. Millenium – Robbie Williams
8. Hey Jude
9. Strawberry Fields
10. Unfinished Sympathy
11. Yesterday
12. A Day In The Life
13. My Heart Will Go On
14. Heartbreak hotel
15. A Forest – The Cure
16. Billie Jean
17. The Wonder of You – Elvis Presley
18. Suspicious Minds
19. Wonderwall
20. Thriller
There were 80,000 voters delivering over 500,000 votes across 10 categories according to the magazine so I am imagining The Cure fan club may have hijacked this!
That is an absolutely ridiculous list, but I love it that A Forest is in there.
I’m flabbergasted. It’s 50% “fair enough” and 50% “eh??”.
I can’t believe Robbie Williams is in there twice.
And The Wonder Of You? Really? There’s about another 30 Elvis songs better than that.
There are 30 billion songs better than My Heart Will Go On. I just wrote one with my arse.
I suppose Millennium might have been a hit at the time of the poll and it’s called Millennium, so it naturally becomes the 7th best song of the last 1,000 years.
And where were those Cure fans when we needed them for Brexit, eh?
So on with the next category.
The Best Album of the Millenium – 20 to find.
Again 3-4 ‘of the time’ answers in there.
What’s the Story Morning Glory
OK Computer
Parklife
Sgt Peppers
Queen Greatest Hits
A Different Class
Graceland
The Bends
Take That Greatest Hits
Born in the USA
Thriller
Urban Hymns
I’ve Been Expecting You
What’s Going On
Revolver
Exile On Main Street
Revolver is No.3
Out of the blocks with a few big hits!
1. Sgt Pepper’s
2. Thriller
7. What’s The Story Morning Glory
10. The Bends
12. OK Computer
Of the time?
This’ll be fun.
Lenny Kravitz? Jamiroqai?
…..Gay Dad?
Neither of them.
Definitely Maybe
Parklife
Led Zep IV
None of those
Queens Greatest Hits
Abba Gold
No
Robbie Williams first album – Life Thru A Lens
Correct.
Life Thru a Lens in No.18
Oh for God’s sake. I’m going to get a time machine to go back to 1999 and educate a few people.
I lived through the 1990s and I don’t remember it being this depressing.
I can remember I pretty much kept my head down and waited the ’90s out, because it was this depressing.
I spent a substantial proportion of the decade obliterated. This thread explains why. The Corrs?!?
How many Pink Floyd? Dark Side and The Wall?
Rumours
Exodus
Dare
Bat Out of Hell
Just one by The Pink Floyd.
Dark Side Of The Moon is No.8
Pistols – Never Mind The Bollocks
Clash – London Calling
Def Leppard – Hysteria
Joy Division – Unknown Pleasures
Dire Straits – Brothers In Arms
Meat Loaf – Bat Out Of Hell
None of those
Johsua Tree or Rattle & Hum?
Stone Roses
White Album
Correct.
Joshua Tree No.17
White Album No.11
The Stone Roses No.6
Good start.
1. Sgt Pepper’s
2. Thriller
7. What’s The Story Morning Glory
8. Dark Side Of The Moon
10. The Bends
12. OK Computer
18. Life Thru A Lens
As with No.15 in the songs list I will be surprised if anyone gets No.19 in this list.
Belle & Sebastian then?
Horrible thought…. Marilyn Manson?
Something mad like Westlife, Boyz II Men, or Englebert Humperdink
or keeping with The Cure theme, Disintegration
Dummy
Play
Armed Forces
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Hotel California
Breakfast in America
Rio
Great as all those albums are, and I own them all, they did not make the list.
Blimey. This is a spiffing game!
Tubular Bells
The Bodyguard OST
Grease OST
Saturday Night Fever OST
No OSTs in the list
Macc Lads – Beer n Sex n Chips n Gravy
No.20,298
Dumpy’s Rust Nuts Live at West Runton Pavillion comes in at a respectable 300,009
That saves my next question then …
Trout Mask Replica
Free Jazz: A Collective Improvisation
AMMMUSIC 1966
Metal Machine Music
The Score
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
Grace
Debut
Screamadelica
For such a great list surprisingly none make it.
Considering it sold something like 300 million – Alanis Morrisette Jagged Little Pill
Afraid Not
That would be ironic
(makes no sense to use that word there does it?)
Sign O’ The Times
Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1814
Born In The USA
Ziggy Stardust
Heroes
No Bowie in the list…I know.
Never ever listened to any Janet Jackson….am I missing out with this one?
I have hardly heard it. I just recall a guy I worked with a lifetime ago thought it was the greatest thing ever.
I was going to day, “I bet there is no bowie”. I don’t think his stock was particularly high in 1999. Funny to think that now.
A Night at the Opera
Horses
Born to Run
Achtung Baby
No Bowie or Springsteen in the list.
And no to the other two as well.
Bowie was still a bit of a joke in 1999. That’s been forgotten…
Simply Red Stars
REM Automatic For The People
He shoots, he scores!
Automatic For The People No.20
Kings of the Wild Frontier
No, bubbling under at 2019
Dammit, I’ve used up all my brain cells.
I’ll refer the honourable member to artists in the songs list for inspiration!
Blue Lines?
I wish…but no.
Latest update:
1. Sgt Pepper’s
2. Thriller
7. What’s The Story Morning Glory
8. Dark Side Of The Moon
10. The Bends
12. OK Computer
18. Life Thru A Lens
20. Automatic For The People
Stars – Simply Red?
Bad – Michael J
Brothers in arms?
No….thankfully!
A Night at the Opera?
Led Zep 4?
Blue Lines?
Nevermind?
Paying attention to your clue here…
Nevermind is No.5
Nine down:
1. Sgt Pepper’s
2. Thriller
5. Nevermind
7. What’s The Story Morning Glory
8. Dark Side Of The Moon
10. The Bends
12. OK Computer
18. Life Thru A Lens
20. Automatic For The People
Numbers 4,9 14 and 19 might astound you!
A clue, No.16 is a part greatest hits/part new tracks effort.
History? – MJ
and
queen is dead?
joshua tree?
astral weeks?
the stone roses ?
the man is on fire!
HIStory isn indeed the album referred to above
No.16
Joshua Tree No.17
And the greatest album ever made at No.6…The Stones Roses
Sex Pistols Great Rock n Roll Swindle
(meets the specification, but probably not)
Abbey Road?
Yes!
No.15
Appetite For Destruction
?
I wish, but no
So now we are here.
1. Sgt Pepper’s
2. Thriller
5. Nevermind
7. What’s The Story Morning Glory
8. Dark Side Of The Moon
10. The Bends
12. OK Computer
15. Abbey road
16. HIStory
17. The Joshua Tree
18. Life Thru A Lens
20. Automatic For The People
Focus on the time and place will get you more…
Surely not Be Here Now?
Spice girls – spice?
White Album
Revolver
Pet Sounds
Parallel Lines
The Ego Has Landed?
I’ve Been Expecting You?
I’ve Been Expecting You is No.9
I said that yesterday!!!
LesterTheNightfly says
01/02/2021 at 19:05
Urban Hymns
I’ve Been Expecting You
What’s Going On
Revolver
Exile On Main Street
Fat Boy Slim?
Bridge Over Troubled Water?
Purple Rain?
1999?
Baby One More Time by Britney Spears?
Holy Bible? or maybe Everything Must Go. Manics fans often vote in these things.
The Fat (or was it Phat) of the Land
The first Eminem Album
Only four more to go!
1. Sgt Pepper’s
2. Thriller
3. Revolver
5. Nevermind
6. The Stone Roses
7. What’s The Story Morning Glory
8. Dark Side Of The Moon
9. I’ve Been Expecting You
10. The Bends
11. The White Album
12. OK Computer
15. Abbey road
16. HIStory
17. The Joshua Tree
18. Life Thru A Lens
20. Automatic For The People
What an incredibly white list, unless you count Jacko. Even Rolling Stone could manage the odd token rapper (though only multi-platinum ones, of course)
Yeah I was just talking about that with a friend of mine I shared this with. You would get at least a couple of hip hop and jazz if you did this poll today!
A Different Class Maybe? Or as it’s 1999 and looking at some of what’s already been voted for, Performance and Cocktails by the Stereophonics.
Great albums both but not on the list.
Blue Lines? Has anyone mentioned that yet?
They have and I’m afraid it is not on the list
Too black. too strong.
Too black. Too strong.
Parklife?
Afraid not.
Come On Over by Shania Twain
By Request by Boyzone
The Man Who by Travis
None of those I’m afraid.
The Queen Is Dead
Astral Weeks
Graceland
Astral Weeks? Bwahahaha!
I think a copy of The Ladybird Book of Civilians is in order…
Oh not Urban Hymns. Please no.
I reckon you’ve found number 4…
Number twos more like. Dreary tosh.
No not Urban Hymns
The times I’ve said that
Back in black
Bat out of Hell
Tubular bells
Rumours
None of those either
Legend?
Not in the list.
Slippery When Wet?
Don’t suppose Syd Barrett’s Macap Laughs makes the 20 …
Neither of those are there.
The remaining four comprise of two groups and two solo artists.
Pet Sounds?
No not Pet Sounds.
Manic Street Preachers – This is my Truth, Tell me Yours?
The Corrs – Talk on Corners
Congratulations!
The Corrs Talk on Corners is No.14
Oy veyyy…
Oi @uncle-wheaty
Give Moose his due⬆️⬆️
I was actually reacting to this ^. The Duke wins the goldfish.
Bloody hell.
Three more left…
1. Sgt Pepper’s
2. Thriller
3. Revolver
5. Nevermind
6. The Stone Roses
7. What’s The Story Morning Glory
8. Dark Side Of The Moon
9. I’ve Been Expecting You
10. The Bends
11. The White Album
12. OK Computer
14. Talk on Corners
15. Abbey road
16. HIStory
17. The Joshua Tree
18. Life Thru A Lens
20. Automatic For The People
That missing number 4 is really annoying me……..
Band On The Run??
Songs In The Key of Life?
Wait, is it Dylan? Blood on the Tracks or Blonde on Blonde?
Good suggestions but not correct.
As with yesterday I’ll complete and remaining gaps at 6pm.
Something by Genesis or Phil Colons?
Nothing Genesis related.
All Saints by All Saints?
Good guess but no.
Has anyone suggested Definitely Maybe yet? This is the 90s after all…
They have and it isn’t there.
Celine Dion – Falling into You?
Afraid not.
Michael Jackson – Dangerous?
Robson & Jerome – Robson & Jerome?
Neither of those.
Two solo artists and one group left.
That Texas album that was everywhere for six months.
No Texas albums have troubled the list.
Kylie Minogue – Kylie
Surely not White Ladder by David Grey?
Oh please let the number 4 not be David Gray….. for the love of God…..
It certainly is an appalling thought, Mr Cowslip…
No David Gray you’ll be pleased to hear!
Nickleback? Limp Bizkit?
Got to be something else tacky from the jumpsuit Elvis period. A live album, such as Aloha From Hawaii (or whatever it was called) would fit the bill.
Is the right answer!
No.4 is Elvis Presley – Aloha From Hawaii Via Satellite
…..what in the name of Satan’s portion?
This lot were on a lot of coffee tables and middle class dinner parties in the 90s (and just been mentioned in a work call) … The Coors
A band named after bland beer?
Prefer Bud and the Budvars meself
Two left to get – both highly popular artists in 1999.
1. Sgt Pepper’s
2. Thriller
3. Revolver
4. Aloha From Hawaii Via Satellite
5. Nevermind
6. The Stone Roses
7. What’s The Story Morning Glory
8. Dark Side Of The Moon
9. I’ve Been Expecting You
10. The Bends
11. The White Album
12. OK Computer
14. Talk on Corners
15. Abbey road
16. HIStory
17. The Joshua Tree
18. Life Thru A Lens
20. Automatic For The People
A Take That album?
No Take That.
Steps – Spectacular?
Something by Whitney Houston? “Whitney”?
Partially correct.
No,19 is Steps but not that album.
Well it must be “Step One”, then.
Correct. Only No.13 left to get now.
Isn’t it called “ Steptacular” ?
Also Talk on Corners shoulda been Talk on Corrners.
Let’s just reflect on this – when asked “what was the best LP of the last 1,000 years?” people responded “Well it’s got to Steps – Step One”.
One left to get before 6pm!
1. Sgt Pepper’s
2. Thriller
3. Revolver
4. Aloha From Hawaii Via Satellite
5. Nevermind
6. The Stone Roses
7. What’s The Story Morning Glory
8. Dark Side Of The Moon
9. I’ve Been Expecting You
10. The Bends
11. The White Album
12. OK Computer
14. Talk on Corners
15. Abbey road
16. HIStory
17. The Joshua Tree
18. Life Thru A Lens
19. Step One
20. Automatic For The People
I’m still reeling from that Elvis album at number four. This is like a parallel universe 1999 where I wasn’t there.
I’ve never even heard of Aloha From Hawaii as far as I’m aware. And I like Elvis as much as the next guy. Was there some weird Elvis revival in 1999 I didn’t know about?
Was that the one with A Little Less Conversation on it?
Neither have I – I just remember seeing the album cover many a time (initially pictured on the inner sleeve of one of my dad’s Elvis compilations), and it was the only one from that era whose title I could remember.
I’ll say it for everyone else.
FUCKING STEPS!!!
Yes, I think you speak for all of us, Moosey.
Don’t tell me it’s “Ricky Martin” by Ricky Martin…
It had better not be “Christina Aguilera” by Christina Aguilera…
Not Ricky or Christina.
Steps!
Somebody listened to that album all the way through?
Somebody who wasn’t in Steps?
Them even?
WHAT??
Goerge Michael? Whitney Huston? Patrik Fitzgerald?
None of them.
Has anyone suggested The Cranberries No Need to Argue?
or Travis The Man Who?
They haven’t but it is not in the list.
So here is the list with No.13 included:
1. Sgt Pepper’s
2. Thriller
3. Revolver
4. Aloha From Hawaii Via Satellite
5. Nevermind
6. The Stone Roses
7. What’s The Story Morning Glory
8. Dark Side Of The Moon
9. I’ve Been Expecting You
10. The Bends
11. The White Album
12. OK Computer
13. Ray of Light – Madonna
14. Talk on Corners
15. Abbey road
16. HIStory
17. The Joshua Tree
18. Life Thru A Lens
19. Step One
20. Automatic For The People
Next list to follow shortly.
The eight other lists are:
Best Male Vocalist
Best Female Vocalist
Best Band
Best Songwriter
Best Jazz Performer
Best Classical Composer
Best Classical Piece
Most Influential Musician
I’ll go with the best band next, then you can choose (if you can still be bothered!)
So ‘The Best Band of The Millenium’ is?
Best classical composer?
On this evidence, whoever wrote the theme to Triangle.
Must say, this is a wizard wheeze to bag several hampers. It’s an Afterword wetdream. List, list, list, and we get to complain mightily about everyone else’s awful taste. Keep em coming I say.
Ah but Moose, that wasn’t written by one person, it was a three piece.
Oh god. I’ve just seen Best Jazz Performer. It’s probably Timmy Mallett.
I’ll say it again…..
STEPS!
Heads Up – Timmy is not in the list.
Bubbling under at 1,200,097
No Timmy – no justice.
Free the Wacaday One!
Best Band:
Beatles
Stones
Led Zep
The Monkees
Steps
The Glitter Band
Good start and nice to see the influence of the first two lists having an immediate impact!
1. The Beatles
3. The Rolling Stones
15. Led Zeppelin
16. Steps
I mean….. Surely the beatles….?
Best band
Nirvana. Oasis. And, presumably, Steps?
Oh Jesus, the Steps suggestion was a gag, but I have just seen your post above.
I am guessing best male vocalist will be H and female vocalist Faye Tozer.
No it doesn’t get that bad!
Steps already in the list.
Oasis No.5
Nirvana No.6
Six down already.
1. The Beatles
3. The Rolling Stones
5. Oasis
6. Nirvana
15. Led Zeppelin
16. Steps
This thread has peaked with that list. To be honest I thought they may have been at 5,6,7,8..
That made me chuckle Dave
The Who
The Jam
Madness
ELO
Pet Shop Boys
None of those bands are included!!!!
Bee Gees
Abba
Take That
Dantalian’s Chariot
Abba are in there at No.11.
The other three failed to make the cut.
No Chariot? No way! Todally bogus!
Stone Roses
Dire Straits
Boyzone
Westlife
Spice Girls
Could you perhaps start new threads for each category – just make it clear they are continuations of this one.
You are clearly feeling the zeitgeist of 1999!
No.13 The Stone Roses
No.12 Boyzone
The other three no.
Other bands that were huge in the 1990s.
U2
REM
(The) Verve
The Janet Street Porters – sorry – Manic Street Preachers
Ocean Coloured Scene
plus some old school rock acts such as:
Def Leppard
AC/DC
Iron Maiden
Hopefully TMFTL by JQW as three more fall!
U2 No.4
REM No.10
Manic Street Preachers No.9
Ocean Scene of Colour, please.
No!
The Cure
The Clash
Kula Shaker
Genesis
Unfortunately not.
The Smiths
The Doors
REM
B*witched
Here are the current standings:
1. The Beatles
3. The Rolling Stones
4. U2
5. Oasis
6. Nirvana
9. Manic Street Preachers
10. REM
11. ABBA
12. Boyzone
13. The Stone Roses
15. Led Zeppelin
16. Steps
8 more to go!
Radiohead?
Correct.
Radiohead are apparently the No.7 band of the last millennium…who knew!
Pink Floyd, of course.
And The Pink Floyd are the 17th best band of the last millennium.
The Pink Floyd were better than Pink Floyd.
They were indeed.
I like a bit of pedantry!
Only six left now…
1. The Beatles
3. The Rolling Stones
4. U2
5. Oasis
6. Nirvana
7. Radiohead
9. Manic Street Preachers
10. REM
11. ABBA
12. Boyzone
13. The Stone Roses
15. Led Zeppelin
16. Steps
17. The Pink Floyd
Boyzone are 5 better than Floyd? Well I’ll be jiggered, I never knew that.
Welcome to the alternate reality occupied by 80,000 Channel 4 viewers in 1999!
The point is, STEPS are better than Pink Floyd.
Or…..anybody
INXS
?
In 1989 maybe, in 1999 no chance.
Blur
Yes, Blue were the 18th best band since JC entered the world.
JC is not Julian Cope btw!
You’ve let it slip that Blue are on the list. I assume they are at 14, ahead of those no-marks Led Zeppelin.
The utterly dreadful Qu**n, perhaps?
Yes, your favourite band ever?
No.2
Four left now…it will get harder! (I’ll leave the reply open for Moose)
1. The Beatles
2. Queen
3. The Rolling Stones
4. U2
5. Oasis
6. Nirvana
7. Radiohead
9. Manic Street Preachers
10. REM
11. ABBA
12. Boyzone
13. The Stone Roses
15. Led Zeppelin
16. Steps
17. The Pink Floyd
18.Blur
The remaining four represent very different genres and decades!
If Boyzone are in there, how about the identikit minus a couple of years Westlife
No, they were so early 1990s daddyo.
Take That
Then remaining acts are from the 1970s-1990s.
Fleetwood Mac
(Very) outside bets:
Uriah Heep
Hawkwind
None of those acts.
Eagles?
Fans of certain solo artists may have voted for their favourite’s former group, of course. So is one entry The Jacksons? And could Wham! be another?
Well worked out!
The Jackson 5 are No.8
I preferred The Jacksons to The Jackson 5.
…alright, I’ll stop there.
Also, I would have thought The Smiths would be in there. I see Rigid already nominated them but you didn’t say no, so are The Smiths in the top 20?
They are indeed at No.20
Slade?
Simply Red?
The Corrs
The Cure
Texas
Backstreet Boys
The John Coltrane Quartet [a bit of a long shot, this one, I know]
And that completes the set!
Backstreet Boys are No.19
The Corrs are No.14
So the final list of the 20 best bands of the last Millenium is:
1. The Beatles
2. Queen
3. The Rolling Stones
4. U2
5. Oasis
6. Nirvana
7. Radiohead
8. The Jackson 5
9. Manic Street Preachers
10. REM
11. ABBA
12. Boyzone
13. The Stone Roses
14. The Corrs
15. Led Zeppelin
16. Steps
17. The Pink Floyd
18.Blur
19. Backstreet Boys
20. The Smiths
Backstreet Boys are better than The Smiths… for some reason this amuses me.
Some bands are better than others….
Backstreet Lads Club?
Steps are better than Pink Floyd
If anyone is still interested in finding out more feel free to pick one of the following lists to explore:
Best Male Vocalist
Best Female Vocalist
Best Band
Best Songwriter
Best Jazz Performer
Best Classical Composer
Best Classical Piece
Most Influential Musician
First guess for the winners:
Elvis
Annie Lennox
(above)
Stock Aitken and Waterman
Kenny G
Bach
1812 Overture
Elvis
Elvis is best male vocalist.
All the others are incorrect.
Annie Lennox won the Best Female whatever at the Brit awards every year for about fifteen years.
Best male vocalist – I’ll try to scoop up a few obvious ones:
Elvis
Robbie Williams
Liam Gallagher
Damon Albarn
Paul McCartney
John Lennon
George Michael
Freddie Mercury
Michael Stipe
Michael Jackson
Frank Sidebottom
You have certainly got a few there!
1. Elvis Presley
2. Robbie Williams
3. Michael Jackson
5. George Michael
6. Freddie Mercury
8. John Lennon
12. Michael Stipe
The rest are not on the list.
I’m going to have to stop reading this thread as it is doing damage to my blood pressure…. Number one okay, fair enough, I can allow that… but number two… what???
Lennon in there but nil points for Macca?
Thumbs not aloft for that surprising omission.
This was the orthodoxy in the 80s and 90s – Lennon the sainted hero, McCartney the cheesy Frog Chorus hitmaker.
See also Bowie – or “that old berk in the silly overcoat” as he was known pretty much between Let’s Dance and Glastonbury.
Am I the only person in the world who rather likes those two rascals in the Dancing in the Street video?
With the sound off they are comic genius, like The Dangerous Brothers.
With the sound on they are the nadir of human civilisation.
No Frank? That’s bobbins. You know it is. It really is.
Robbie Williams is the Sheffield United of pop.
Top of the league one season, bottom of the pile the next.
Oh lets keep this running, its fun.
Male vocalist –
Kurt Cobain
Robert Plant
Mick Jagger
Bono
Thom Yorke
Ian Brown
Lee from Steps
I hasten to add that I think that may be the worst roll call of greatest male vocalists ever, which gives me some confidence that at least some of them must be on the list.
You’ve got a few more:
Kurt Cobain No.10
Bono No.14
Thom Yorke No.9
Ian Brown No.18
I will have a go at Classical composer as well because I am intrigued
Beethoven
Mozart
Bach
Rachmaninov
Tchaikovsky
Elgar
John Williams
Paul McCartney
Mike Oldfield
Mussorgsky (or possibly Emerson Lake and Palmer)
Vivaldi
Not surprisingly you have a few there!
1. Mozart
2. Beethoven
3. Bach
4. Tchaikovsky
5. Vivaldi
6. Elgar
11. Rakhmaninov
13. John Williams
I assume that’s J.S. Bach, not C.P.E. Bach, Johannes Bach, J.M. Bach or J.C. Bach.
They were rather a musical family, the Bachs…
Yes J.S.Bach
Not forgetting their robotic cousin with a penchant for sunglasses and a leather jacket… Al B. Bach.
Current best male vocalist list. Nine more to get.
1. Elvis Presley
2. Robbie Williams
3. Michael Jackson
5. George Michael
6. Freddie Mercury
8. John Lennon
9. Thom Yorke
10. Kurt Cobain
12. Michael Stipe
14. Bono
18. Ian Brown
Whoever is below 18….. oucheroonie!
The Jam weren’t in best band, but does Paul Weller make the vocalist list?
He does!
Paul Weller is No.19.
Not quite as good as Ian Brown.
That’s unfortunate.
Tom Jones
David Bowie
Holly Johnson
David Bowie is No.7
Seven more to go.
1. Elvis Presley
2. Robbie Williams
3. Michael Jackson
5. George Michael
6. Freddie Mercury
7. David Bowie
8. John Lennon
9. Thom Yorke
10. Kurt Cobain
12. Michael Stipe
14. Bono
18. Ian Brown
19. Paul Weller
Oh god, poor Paul Weller. Not as good as Foghorn Icke.
Prince?
Bruce Springsteen?
Stevie Wonder?
None of them.
Robert Smith, possibly?
Not in the list.
Mick Jagger
Boy George
Not in the list
Sir Elton John
Sir Clifford of Richard
Elton John is No.13
Cliff is not in the list.
Bob Marley
The still sprightly Gerry Rafferty
Liam Gallagher
None of them
Sir Eric of Clapton
Sir Van the Man of Hyndford Street
Nope
Sir Roderick of Stewart
Rod the Mod is excluded from the list.
Morrissey
Gary Barlow
Phil Collins
H from Steps
Big Elt
Afraid not.
Six more to go. I’ll publish this list at 7pm.
1. Elvis Presley
2. Robbie Williams
3. Michael Jackson
5. George Michael
6. Freddie Mercury
7. David Bowie
8. John Lennon
9. Thom Yorke
10. Kurt Cobain
12. Michael Stip
13. Elton John
14. Bono
18. Ian Brown
19. Paul Weller
The remaining names include a couple of nailed on classic singers and a few ‘of the time’
Art Garfunkel
No, he wrote all the songs you know!
Sting
Little Richard
Joe Cocker
Roger Daltrey
Bing Crosby
Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra is No.4
Five left, one of which is shocking!
1. Elvis Presley
2. Robbie Williams
3. Michael Jackson
4. Frank Sinatra
5. George Michael
6. Freddie Mercury
7. David Bowie
8. John Lennon
9. Thom Yorke
10. Kurt Cobain
12. Michael Stip
13. Elton John
14. Bono
18. Ian Brown
19. Paul Weller
What could be more shocking than Ian Brown? Ringo perhaps?
That Stip character stands out like a sore thumb
John Lydon
Seeing as Robin Williams banked the runner-up spot, and following the trend that “all the best stuff is in the past 10 years” how about Ronan Keating putting in appearance
Robin Williams?
Goooooooooooooooooood morning Knutsford!
Ronan Keating is indeed in the list.
No.16
Marvin Gaye
Tom Jones
Otis Redding
Marvin Gaye is No.11
Oh, a bit of diversity! Pat yourselves on the back, 1999 people….
Daniel O’Donnell.
I’m now saying anything to get out of this nineties nightmare. Bring forth the minellium, bug or no bug!
Here is the final list of the GREATEST MALE SINGERS OF THE MILLENIUM (this is awful…)
1. Elvis Presley
2. Robbie Williams
3. Michael Jackson
4. Frank Sinatra
5. George Michael
6. Freddie Mercury
7. David Bowie
8. John Lennon
9. Thom Yorke
10. Kurt Cobain
11. Marvin Gaye
12. Michael Stip
13. Elton John
14. Bono
15. Bob Dylan
16. Ronan Keating
17. Bryan Adams
18. Ian Brown
19. Paul Weller
20. Will Smith (FFS!!!)
..
I say we put Paul Weller on suicide watch.
“You’re not as good a singer as Ian Brown, but a better …er…singer… than…Will Smith….OOOFF, ‘kinnell, you’ve got a decent punch for a skinny bloke….”
The best songwriter list is a nice eclectic mix.
Fancy a go at that?
I’ll avoid the obvious by giving you the top 3.
1. John Lennon
2. Paul McCartney
3. Bob Dylan
Over to you. Most answers are single writers but one is a double act.
I’m assuming the double is Robbie and Guy.
No. They are from a bit further back in time.
Robbie and Guy are not in the list.
Sadly neither is Justtin Currie…what did they know!
Samantha Fox
Afraid not
She peaked at 36.
36DD, as I recall
Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller
Carol King
Leonard Cohen
Paul Simon
Cole Porter
No women in the list unfoutunately.
You got two.
Lieber and Stoller were the double act No.5
Cole Porter is No.9
Jeez – Carole King, Kate Bush, Joni Mitchell, Nina Simone – don’t call us, we’ll call you, love.
Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus
Baccharach and David (or maybe just Burt on his own) ?
Burt on his own is No.12
Elvis Costello
No
Holland Dozier Holland
Stock Aitken & Waterman
No
So … taking the album, band and Male vocalist list as a reference:
Kurt Cobain
Is Gary Barlow in there as well
Kurt Cobain is No.10.
Gary Barlow is not in the list – his stock was quite low in 1999 if I recall correctly.
David Bowie?
Freddie Mercury, Brian May et al?
Elton?
All three are correct.
Elton John is No.7
David Bowie is No.13
Freddie Mercury is No.15
Chuck Berry
Paul Simon
Smokey Robinson
Paul Simon is No.14
Van Morrison
Prince
Michael Jackson
George Michael
George Michael is No.11
Prince is No.19
The list so far…
1. John Lennon
2. Paul McCartney
3. Bob Dylan
5. Leiber and Stoller
7. Elton John
9. Cole Porter
10. Kurt Cobain
11. George Michael
12. Burt Bacharach
13. David Bowie
14. Paul Simon
15. Freddie Mercury
19. Prince
Seven more to go.
Weller?
Not Noel Gallagher surely?
Going back – George Gershwin? Irving Berlin?
You’ve got another three!
Paul Weller is No.20
George Gershwin is No.16
Noel Gallagher is No.6
Four more to go.
1. John Lennon
2. Paul McCartney
3. Bob Dylan
5. Leiber and Stoller
6. Noel Gallagher
7. Elton John
9. Cole Porter
10. Kurt Cobain
11. George Michael
12. Burt Bacharach
13. David Bowie
14. Paul Simon
15. Freddie Mercury
16. George Gershwin
19. Prince
20. Paul Weller
Phil Collins
Pete Townsend
Afraid not.
Ray Davies
Ian Dury
Shockingly no.
Yeah, cos Ray Davies isn’t a patch on Noel Gallagher is he?? What is wrong with you 1999 people!!!
I was going to say Mick Jagger, but I guess he would have to have been the double act with Keith and that’s already taken…….
Sting ?
What about Musicals and Musical Theatre.
Gilbert and Sullivan
Leonard Bernstein
George Gerschwin
Stephen Sondheim
Andrew Lloyd Webber
Another one down!
Andrew Lloyd Webber is No.18
Is his mate Tim Rice there too?
No.
Obviously just writing lyrics doesn’t qualify you as a song writer, hence no Bernie Taupin!
Two left to go – both highly popular in 1999!
1. John Lennon
2. Paul McCartney
3. Bob Dylan
5. Leiber and Stoller
6. Noel Gallagher
7. Elton John
9. Cole Porter
10. Kurt Cobain
11. George Michael
12. Burt Bacharach
13. David Bowie
14. Paul Simon
15. Freddie Mercury
16. George Gershwin
18. Andrew Lloyd Webber
19. Prince
20. Paul Weller
Michael Stipe? No probably not.
Eminem?
Fatboy Slim?
(although he didn’t really “write”, more borrowed)
Right I am sure are as bored with this as I am now.
The two missing greatest songwriters on the Milleniium were…
Robbie Willams and Thom Yorke.
Who knew!
If you want to know more the magazine is widely available on eBay.
Thanks for a nice few days of fun for list anoraks.
The best female vocalist was Madonna and the most influential musician of all time was Robbie Williams.
(no it was John Lennon).
Bravo Wheaty. Never mind discussions on yer Trump, Brexit and Covid (TMFTL) – More of this sort of thing…
I’ve just found a copy of Q’s 100 greatest album covers from early 2000s!!
Want another go in a new thread?
Yes!
Happy to oblige.
Watch out for a new thread tomorrow.
Bring it on – nothing says entertainment like shouting (in text) the names of albums only to be told “No, it’s not on the list”
It would have been more remarkable if you’d found a Q magazine from the early 2000s without a big list in it.
True that, as I have been heaving them into the recycling bin.