Ok, so we're halfway there with this selection. Hopefully there's stuff you'll love and stuff you may have forgotten about amongst the stuff you can't stand. And that's the beauty of music. Just because I'd prefer to my rub my whole body with a cheesegrater rather than listen to Coldplay doesn't mean I don't understand why many love them. Hmmmmm.....
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60
Victims, by Culture Club
Anyone who detests Matt Hancock deserves to be listened to, and whilst not their biggest hit by some way, I think this is their best. Huge production, beautifully arranged, this is mighty fine timeless 80's pop for the masses.
59
Dancing On My Own, by Robyn
Hugely popular with our DUCK followers on Twitter, and whilst I'm not a massive fan of this slice of Euro-cheese, that's more than good enough for us.
58
Sweet Harmony, by The Beloved
Again, probably not the band's most famous hit, but their best. This, the first single from the second album, is a bob-on mix of the melodic and the uplifting, and perfect sundown gear for a Med beach. Or Colywn Bay.
57
Jericho, by Simply Red
*Puts tin hat* Picture Book is a brilliant album. There, I've said it. Jericho is easily the stand out track off it, and for a short period of time Simply Red were brilliant. Anyone who witnessed them at the Viccy Hall after their debut album was released will attest to this. Hucknall's Motown-sodden vocals and socialist leanings are perfectly showcased in this cracker.
56
Someone, Somewhere (In Summertime,) by Simple Minds
Easily one of the best bands of the last 40 years, Jim Kerr and co are hugely underrated by many, possibly due to their stadium-rock phase which still surpassed the aural output of so many bands who were deemed to be cooler and 'in' at the time. Taken from the simply sublime New Gold Dream 81-82-83-84 elpee, this is a glorious piece of melodic new-wave and a slightly delicate diversion from previous stuff. At the time this was called a "shimmering masterpiece". Listen to it in 2022, and nothing's changed. The only thing that's changed is the title - the brackets were added for the single version, not for the album.
55
Say You'll Be There, by The Spice Girls
They had to be in really, didn't they? Say what you like about them - and please do - but they got folk talking about music, and that's never a bad thing. Manufactured to the hilt, forget Wannabe, this is easily their crowning moment. It's a brilliant pop song, absolutely perfect for them. The prototype Girls Aloud and Little Mix they may have been, and they may noty have the number of bangers the others have, but this is a good an example of the genre as there is.
54
I Can't Wait, by Nu Shooz
I wasn't going to put this in because of the spelling of the band's name. Utter shite. Luckily for New Shoes - as they were, er, called in the UK - this song is anything but a pile of faeces. Spin magazine summed it up perfectly......"You can listen to this record as many times as you want and still not have any strong impressions that human beings actually made it. In other words, it's the perfect disco record."
53
Wishing I Was Lucky, by Wet Wet Wet
Back in the 80's, every time I saw Marti Pellow's gurning, irritating smile on the telly I wanted to knock his teeth out. Luckily for Marti, I'm a lover not a fighter, and I'll own up - I really love this is a great example of mid-80's sugar. Their debut single, it ticks all the right boxes when it comes to singalong pop.
52
Beautiful, by Christine Aguilera
Every day is so wonderful
Then suddenly it's hard to breathe
Now and then I get insecure
From all the pain, I'm so ashamed
An apt title for this song. It really is a beautiful homage to insecurity and self-acceptance that ironically borders on perfection. It's only this low in the 100 as some will possibly see it as not a 'real' pop song. Whatever that means, I don't know. I do know this is an outstanding piece of music, with a world class vocal.
51
Love Comes Quickly, by Pet Shop Boys
Er, no, it wasn't named in recognition of my love life, before you ask! Rude lot. As you'll know, I adore PSB, and this is simply an example of what they do so well. Some achievement when you look at their immense back catalogue for this to be in here, but it's not the last time we'll be seeing/hearing from this lot in the top 100.....