16 Fading-From-Memory hits from those Now collections, via the AV Club Options

[themeparkexperie...]

Greatness:

Link

Inventory: 16 Fading-From-Memory Hits From The Now That's What I Call Music! Collection

Reviewed by Noel Murray
October 27th, 2006

1. Imajin, "Shorty (You Keep Playing With My Mind)" (from Now 1)

Ever since the Now That's What I Call Music! concept migrated from the UK to the U.S., the compilations have been loaded up with an equal measure of R&B, pop and rock hits by some of the industry's biggest names, and songs by up-and-comers who either never quite made it, or only had a few years in the sun. The boy band Imajin came and went quickly in 1999, but first, it left behind this slangy single, which slides Boyz II Men vocal harmonies over a fairly crackling house track. Now That's What I Call Music! filler-cuts run the gamut from total dreck to hooky one-hit wonders to forgotten gems. "Shorty" is one of the few gems—or near-gems, anyway—to show up on this list.



2. Ideal, "Get Gone" (from Now 3)

And here's some of the dreck. Ideal was another short-lived hip-hop boy band, and "Get Gone" is a by-the-book fast-talking slow-jam. It'd be perfect for sexing someone up, if only Ideal would stop blabbering for a minute and let listeners get their groove working.



3. Blessid Union Of Souls, "Hey Leonardo (She Likes Me For Me)" (from Now 3)

And here's a one-hit wonder—or it would be, if Ohio frat-rock journeymen Blessid Union Of Souls hadn't previously squeezed out another hit, the insufferable ballad "I Believe." The band's twangy Barenaked Ladies/Third Eye Blind rip-off "Hey Leonardo" is slightly more acceptable, if only because it's bound to spark some conversation years from now, along the lines of, "Hey, wasn't that song about Leonardo DiCaprio?" and "Who did that song again?"



4. Oleander, "Why I'm Here" (from Now 3)

One of the most useful things about the Now compilations from a pop-scholar perspective is how they catch go-nowhere bands between trends. The dour West Coast pop-punk outfit Oleander arrived too late for grunge and too early for emo, so on songs like the dark ballad "Why I'm Here," the band gamely struggles to justify its existence to major-label masters who can hear something marketable, but can't figure out who'd want to buy it.



5. soulDecision, "Faded" (from Now 5)


The bright-eyed Canadian lads in soulDecision also fall between the genre cracks: not quite a boy band, not quite Hanson, and not quite credible. Nevertheless, soulDecision took its stupid name and slogged joylessly and hooklessly through studio-rigged fare like "Faded," then eventually followed the title's lead.



6. Nine Days, "Absolutely (Story of a Girl)" (from Now 5)

Remember how in the days before Nirvana hit, "rock" meant hair-metal bands doing power ballads? Well, before The White Stripes and The Strokes briefly kicked alternative rock back to life, "rock" meant shoving smoothly funky rhythms beneath singsong vocals, then buffing them to a high sheen. "Absolutely" is another one of those songs that everyone will remember a decade from now, though almost no one will remember who recorded it.



7. City High, "What Would You Do" (from Now 7)


Socially conscious pop is all well and good, but it's rarely been handled more awkwardly than in "What Would You Do," a slick, bouncy song by Wyclef Jean protégée City High. With lines like "Me and my sister ran away so our daddy couldn't rape us," what can you say? It's got a good beat, and you can feel depressed to it.



8. American Hi-Fi, "Flavor Of The Weak" (from Now 7)

Ah, snotty, borderline misogynist pop-punk… will you ever go out of style? American Hi-Fi was briefly touted among the leaders of rock's next wave when it belted out "Flavor Of The Weak" in 2001, but it was just another shaggy young band with a few power chords at the ready and an eagerness to be packaged. Like a lot of other acts on this list, American Hi-Fi has hopped from label to label in its brief existence, with each new home certain that it can whip these dudes into shape for another hit.

9. Adema, "Giving In" (from Now 9)


Stumbling in with the last wave of nü-metal—and holding onto some of the goth fringes that would soon adorn Evanescence—the nondescript California band Adema was one of those outfits that sold a lot of records without leaving any lasting impression. Who can discern "Giving In" from the hundred other grinding, grunting dark-rock songs on the radio in 2001, in those heady days when we demanded our Nickelback?



10. Jade Anderson, "Sugarhigh" (from Now 10)


"He was a delicate morning rain / That fell to wash away my pain / And bring me warmth in return." With lyrics like that, why haven't we heard more from this flat-voiced, charisma-free pop-soul singer?



11. Lumidee, "Never Leave You (Uh Ooh, Uh Ooh!)" (from Now 14)


Speaking of flat-voiced, the flash-in-the-pan teeny-popper Lumidee delivers one of the most off-key vocals a minor hit single has ever contained on "Never Leave You (Uh Ooh, Uh Ooh!)." The song isn't much to write home about either: a minimalist bump-and-grinder, driven entirely by rhythm and a chant-along chorus, with no melody to distract from the singer's gyrations in the video.



12. Sarah Connor, "Bounce" (from Now 15)


If nothing else, the sole U.S. hit by German pop idol Sarah Connor will stand as a snapshot of the early '00s, from the overly busy, synthetic production to 21st-century-specific lines like "I called your pager / and your two-way viber / no response." Can Good Charlotte's "Hold On"—from the same Now comp—make the same claim?



13. Eamon, "I Don't Want You Back" (from Now 15)

The good people at Now dropped the "Fuck It" from the title of Eamon's foul-mouthed kiss-off anthem, which would seem more like an offense against art if the song hadn't become a hit by bleeping its spiteful lyrics at every turn. Anybody out there eagerly awaiting Eamon's sophomore effort?



14. Three Days Grace, "I Hate Everything About You" (from Now 15)

Between American Hi-Fi, Eamon, and the featureless Canuck-rock act Three Days Grace, it wouldn't be too hard to build an entire Now compilation out of songs by whiny, pissed-off ex-lovers. Let's put them all in one place and let them have it out. A real "Battle Of The Assholes."



15. Omarion, "O" (from Now 18)

Hollywood bit player and B2K alum Omarion graduated to adulthood quickly with the first single from his debut solo album. The sensual "O" is one long dirty joke, as Omarion describes orgasms—his own, his lovers'—in a nasal voice, with coy double-entendre lyrics like "Girl, I'm just glad you came." Indeed.



16. Frickin' A, "Jessie's Girl" (from Now 18)

Following in the footsteps of The Ataris' missing-the-point pop-punk cover of Don Henley's "The Boys Of Summer" (available on Now 14), the little snots in Frickin' A revamped Rick Springfield's "Jessie's Girl," picking up the tempo and adding neo-new-wave synthesizer fills. Like the worst of Now, it's pop history rewritten by the creatively bankrupt.

[The Good Dr Bill]

haha, I remember when Imajin was featured on the first NOW. Even at the time, I knew that it was a fairly bizarre inclusion.

"Bounce" is one of the worst songs of the millenium.

[Agrimorfee]

I'm an old fart...I only HEARD OF #13.

Tells you the difference between the pop of the 2000s compared to the pop of the '70s that K-Tel kindly compilated for us way back when.

[Twilight]

That City Hitgh song is great. Claudette Ortiz (?) is a great vocalist. Lumidee song is good, if a bit dated.... Lumidee became worthless when Nina Sky arrived. They're like TWO LUMIDEES.

[feisty]

This is the only good list ever.

[robble]

5. soulDecision, "Faded" (from Now 5)


The bright-eyed Canadian lads in soulDecision also fall between the genre cracks: not quite a boy band, not quite Hanson, and not quite credible. Nevertheless, soulDecision took its stupid name and slogged joylessly and hooklessly through studio-rigged fare like "Faded," then eventually followed the title's lead.




This song will live on forever, if only because it serves as the soundtrack to one of the Libby Hoeller videos.

[Mantana]

Eamon doesn't belong on this list. Of course he was going to be a one-hit wonder. And the song was supposed to be a joke.

[6ome 9irl]

Lumidee! And I did have a guilty pleasure for 'Faded.'

My sister has all these. She's outgrown this shit but feels the need to still collect them. Now 23 is what they are on these days and have to say, it's been a good year, I like half of it at least.

2. Nelly Furtado featuring Timbaland : "Promiscuous"
3. The Pussycat Dolls featuring Snoop Dogg : "Buttons"
4. Justin Timberlake featuring Timbaland : "SexyBack"
5. Christina Aguilera : "Ain't No Other Man"
7. Cherish featuring Sean Paul of the YoungBloodZ : "Do It to It"
8. Kelis featuring Too $hort : "Bossy"
9. Chingy featuring Tyrese : "Pullin' Me Back"
11. Ne-Yo : "Sexy Love"

[The Good Dr Bill]

1. London Bridge Fergie

terrible

2. Promiscuous Nelly Furtado

grew on me considerably, still wish chorus wasn't quite so dumb 'coz rest of song is virtually perfect

3. Buttonz The Pussycat Dolls

better than "Beep," worse than the first two, pretty cool

4. SexyBack Justin Timberlake Featuring Timbaland

Song of 2006

5. Ain't No Other Man Christina Aguilera

First thing I've liked of hers since "What a Girl Wants"

6. Deja Vu Jay-Z; Beyoncé

Song already seems totally lost to time, weak CIL retread but compelling nonethtless

7. Do It To It Cherish

Fun while it lasted

8. Bossy Featuring Too $hort Kelis featuring Too $hort

Also grew on me, glad to see Kelis is still allowed one hit per album

9. Pullin' Me Back Chingy

Sounds almost exactly like "One Call Away," except slightly worse

10. S.E.X. Lyfe Jennings, LaLa Brown

Heard once, wasn't impressed

11. Sexy Love Ne-Yo

"So Sick" was good, now I wish this guy would just go away (see also: Chris Brown/"Run It!")

12. Unfaithful Rihanna

terrible, unfortunately

13. Too Little Too Late JoJo

above average, nothing inspirational. I liked "Not That Kind of Girl" a lot.

14. I Can't Hate You Anymore Nick Lachey

Heard once, don't really remember

15. These Walls Teddy Geiger

Not heard

16. A Public Affair Jessica Simpson

Heard once, sounded like a nice enough disco-pop tune.

[Mitchell]

Pfft. single discs still.

[Music Saves]

How the hell long has this been going on in England? And how often do they put these double discs out? I don't know a lot of it, but what I do know is a whole lot better than the US counterpart...again.
Disc: 1
1. Crazy - Gnarls Barkley
2. Maneater (Radio Version) - Nelly Furtado
3. From Paris To Berlin (Radio Edit) - Infernal
4. Voodoo Child - Rogue Traders
5. Don't Stop Me Now - McFly
6. Who Knew - P!nk
7. I Wish I Was A Punk Rocker (With Flowers In My Hair) - Sandi Thom
8. She Moves In Her Own Way (Radio Version) - The Kooks
9. Fill My Little World (Radio Version) - The Feeling
10. Is It Any Wonder? - Keane
11. You're All I Have (Radio Edit) - Snow Patrol
12. In The Morning - Razorlight
13. Bright Idea (Radio Edit) - Orson
14. Valerie - The Zutons
15. Bang Bang You're Dead - Dirty Pretty Things
16. Monster - The Automatic
17. Faster Kill Pussycat - Oakenfold Featuring Brittany Murphy
18. Stoned In Love (Radio Edit) - Chicane Featuring Tom Jones
19. Country Girl - Primal Scream
20. Who Says You Can't Go Home (Radio Edit) - Bon Jovi
21. Up All Night - Matt Willis
22. Dance, Dance (Album Version (Edited)) - Fall Out Boy

Disc: 2
1. Smile (Radio Edit) - Lily Allen
2. SOS (Radio Edit) - Rihanna
3. Pump It (Radio Edit) - Black Eyed Peas
4. Buttonz (UK Edit Version) - The Pussycat Dolls Featuring Snoop Dogg
5. So Sick - Ne-Yo
6. Touch It (UK Radio Edit) - Busta Rhymes
7. Say I (Clean) - Christina Milian Featuring Young Jeezy
8. Mas Que Nada (Radio Edit) - Sergio Mendes Featuring Black Eyed Peas
9. Nine2five - The Ordinary Boys Vs. Lady Sovereign
10. Red Dress (Radio Edit) - Sugababes
11. Somebody's Watching Me - BeatFreakz
12. First Time (Radio Version) - Sunblock Featuring Robin Beck
13. World, Hold On (Children Of The Sky) - Bob Sinclar Featuring Steve Edwards
14. Tell Me Why - Supermode
15. Horny As A Dandy (Mousse T's Radio Mix) - Mousse T vs Dandy Warhols
16. Sensitivity (Radio Edit) - The Shapeshifters & Chic
17. Piece Of My Heart (Radio Edit) - Beverley Knight
18. You Give Me Something (Eg Version) - James Morrison
19. Who Am I - Will Young
20. All Over Again (Single Edit) - Ronan Keating And Kate Rusby
21. Whole Lotta History - Girls Aloud

[Mitchell]

Usually 2 or 3 a year. Started in 1983.

Disc one

1. Phil Collins : "You Can't Hurry Love"
2. Duran Duran : "Is There Something I Should Know"
3. UB40 : "Red Red Wine"
4. Limahl : "Only For Love"
5. Heaven 17 : "Temptation"
6. KC & The Sunshine Band : "Give It Up"
7. Malcolm McLaren : "Double Dutch"
8. Bonnie Tyler : "Total Eclipse Of The Heart"
9. Culture Club : "Karma Chameleon"
10. Men Without Hats : "Safety Dance"
11. Kajagoogoo : "Too Shy"
12. Mike Oldfield : "Moonlight Shadow"
13. Men At Work : "Down Under"
14. Rock Steady Crew : "(Hey You) The Rock Steady Crew"
15. Rod Stewart : "Baby Jane"
16. Paul Young : "Wherever I Lay My Hat"

Disc two

1. New Edition : "Candy Girl"
2. Kajagoogoo : "Big Apple"
3. Tina Turner : "Let's Stay Together"
4. Human League : "(Keep Feeling) Fascination"
5. Howard Jones : "New Song"
6. UB40 : "Please Don't Make Me Cry"
7. Peabo Bryson & Roberta Flack : "Tonight I Celebrate My Love"
8. Tracey Ullman : "They Don't Know"
9. Will Powers : "Kissing With Confidence"
10. Genesis : "That's All"
11. The Cure : "Love Cats"
12. Simple Minds : "Waterfront"
13. Madness : "The Sun And The Rain"
14. Culture Club : "Victims"

First one I owned was 18 (1990)

Disc one

1. The Beautiful South : "A Little Time"
2. The Steve Miller Band : "The Joker"
3. Elton John : "Sacrifice"
4. Roxette : "It Must Have Been Love"
5. Phil Collins : "Something Happened On The Way To Heaven"
6. Wilson Phillips : "Hold On"
7. Sinead O'Conner : "Nothing Compares 2 U"
8. The Righteous Brothers : "Unchained Melody"
9. Belinda Carlisle : "(We Want) The Same Thing"
10. Status Quo : "Anniversary Waltz (Part 1)"
11. INXS : "Suicide Blonde"
12. Public Image Ltd. : "Don't Ask Me"
13. Talk Talk : "It's My Life"
14. The La's : "There She Goes"
15. Tina Turner : "Be Tender With Me Baby"
16. Robert Palmer And UB40 : "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight"

Disc two

1. Pet Shop Boys : "So Hard"
2. Bass-O-Matic : "Fascinating Rhythm"
3. Soul II Soul (Vocal: Kym Mazelle) : "Missing You"
4. DNA featuring Suzanne Vega : "Tom's Diner"
5. Sting : "An Englishman In New York"
6. The Cure : "Close To Me"
7. Neneh Cherry : "I've Got You Under My Skin"
8. Blue Pearl : "Little Brother"
9. Kylie Minogue : "Step Back In Time"
10. Kim Appleby : "Don't Worry"
11. Technotronic : "Megamix"
12. Bombalurina : "Itsy Witsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini"
13. Betty Boo : "Where Are You Baby"
14. The Adventures Of Stevie V : "Dirty Cash (Money Talks)"
15. MC Hammer : "Have You Seen Her"
16. Jimmy Somerville : "To Love Somebody"


Have fond memories of 29, 32 and 36. Which ever number you pick you're bound to find at least one dynamite track.

Now 65 is out in a month.

Disc One

1. Madonna - "Jump"
2. Justin Timberlake - "SexyBack"
3. Nelly Furtado feat. Timbaland - "Promiscuous"
4. Girls Aloud - "Something Kinda Oooh"
5. Snow Patrol - "Chasing Cars"
6. Pink - "U + Ur Hand"
7. The Killers - "When You Were Young"
8. Kelis Feat. Nas - "Blindfold Me"
9. Lil' Chris - "Checkin' It Out"
10. Fratellis - "Chelsea Dagger"
11. Lily Allen - "LDN"
12. Amy Winehouse - "Rehab"
13. Jamelia - "Something About You"
14. Fergie feat. Will.I.Am "Fergalicious"
15. Paris Hilton - "Stars Are Blind"
16. Cascada - "Everytime We Touch"
17. BeatFreakz - "SuperFreak"
18. Bodyrox feat. Luciana - "Yeah Yeah"
19. Infernal - "Self Control"
20. Robbie Williams - "Rudebox"
21. Rihanna - "Unfaithful"
22. Ne-Yo - "Sexy Love"
23. Take That - "Patience"

Disc Two

1. Scissor Sisters - "I Don't Feel Like Dancin'"
2. Shakira - "Hips Don't Lie"
3. All Saints - "Rock Steady"
4. David Guetta vs. The Egg - "Love Don't Let Me Go (Walking Away)"
5. Bob Sinclar feat. Cutee B - "Rock This Party (Everybody Dance Now)"
6. Fedde Le Grand - "Put Your Hands Up For Detroit"
7. Beyoncé feat. Jay-Z - "Deja Vu"
8. Evanescence - "Call Me When You’re A Sober"
9. The Pussycat Dolls - "I Don't Need A Man"
10. Cast Of High School Musical - "Breaking Free"
11. Ordinary Boys - Lonely At The Top"
12. The Feeling - "Never Be Lonely"
13. Gnarls Barkley - "Smiley Faces"
14. Lemar - "It's Not That Easy"
15. Simon Webbe - "Coming Around Again"
16. George Michael feat. Mutya Buena - "This Is Not Real Love"
17. Meat Loaf feat. Marion Raven - "It's All Coming Back To Me Now"
18. P Diddy feat. Nicole Scherzinger - "Come To Me"
19. Paolo Nutini - "Last Request"
20. James Morrison - "Wonderful World"