Unbelievably, these incredible, and incredibly famous songs ALSO MISSED the UK Top 10.
Madonna - Take A Bow (16)
- Spectacularly ending a long run of Top 10 singles, it was unbelievably one of her BIGGEST US #1 SINGLES that did it. I'll never understand how this stunning Babyface ballad missed Top 10. It's homophobic!
Whitney Houston - Step By Step (13)
- A song written by Annie Lennox and sung by Whitney Houston with stunning vocal delivery ... what could go wrong. Only the people of the UK, that's all.
Mariah Carey - Emotions (17)
- Seventeen are you JOKING. Are you REAL? This powerhouse vocal delivery with insane full pelt vocals AND WHISTLE NOTES didn't go Top TEN? No words. *whistles profanities at the sky*
Dream - He Loves You Not (17)
- Also peaking at #17 is this fantastic slice of pop akin to Christina Aquilera with those insane drum patterns. It features the iconic line "you can flut your pretty eyes" (flutter -> flut = wild genius). Sadly not enough for the UK to care enough to be kind.
Cathy Dennis - Too Many Walls (17)
- ALSO NUMBER 17. Granted: Cathy's voice isn't the most belting or powerful of any of the solo ladies kicking around in the 90s. However this ballad is gorgeous, her vocals are vulnerable and almost perfect. Plus she was colouring in her hair with felt tip pens! Give the woman another Top 10, UK!
Erasure - Chains Of Love (11)
- How the F*CK was this song not Top 10 for one of the UK's most successful, joyful and triumphant duos in history? This song is catchy beyond words and SHIP OF FOOLS HAD JUST REACHED #6. I MEAN WHAT WERE YOU ALL DOING?!
Saint Etienne - He's On The Phone (11)
- Probably the most sure that the label had ever been that yes, finally Saint Etienne would have a Top 10 smash with the Motiv 8 (tick) remix of a camp as hell song (tick) bizarrely featuring Etienne Daho (tick) at a time where the charts were camp, weird and LOVED a Motiv8 remix. NUMBER F*CKING ELEVEN HOW DARE YOU.
Wannadies You & Me Song (18)
- Stop for a second. Try to cope that the song EVERY SINGLE TEEN was singing after 'Romeo & Juliet' by Baz Luhrmann peaked at #18 in the charts. Disgraceful! It's an incredible song. Super twee, but utterly forgivable as this Scandinavian band proved in other moments like 'Hit' and 'Might Be Stars' that they can also punch and turn up the distortion. A gorgeous song that deserved more.
PSB - Being Boring (20)
- One of the PSB's most understated and beautiful moments released as a single. Admittedly it's not the sure-fire hit that 'So Hard' undoubtedly was and is, but it's a stunning song and at a point in time when the band had just had TEN consecutive Top 10 singles, this should not have been the one to break that chain.
Eternal - Crazy (15)
- OK, the song is not a classic. But I STAN this song. And it deserved to be Top 10 for these reasons: 1) It gave all the members their own solo moment which is the only time in Eternal History this was allowed so for God's sake it should have been encouraged. 2) Louise's "this is why!" announcement into the first verse. Amazing. 3) That "WOOOO!" is so forced I live for it. 4) It was ETERNAL. They deserved every single from that album to be Top 10. Even 'So Good'. Which I also STAN.
Unbelievably, these incredible, and incredibly famous songs MISSED the UK Top 10.
Janet Jackson - Rhythm Nation (22 - like WTF)
- Not even TOP TWENTY (!!) for one of the most iconic songs of all time!! Unacceptable. That 'Black Cat' is the only top 15 single from 'Rhythm Nation' is utterly insane to me. And I imagine Janet is still furious to this day.
Girls Aloud - Untouchable (11)
- Ending their Top 10 run is truly one of the fan favourite songs. Girls Aloud fans still tweet about that to this day. As they should. How did that happen?
Kylie Minogue - Get Outta My Way (12)
- I'm really fucking sorry: this song and video are GLORIOUS and I fail to accept that this deserved to stall outside the Top 10. How DARE.
Deuce - Call It Love (11)
- Endlessly enjoyable pop song from cult, fabulous UK kitsch pop band Deuce. Only one of their songs went Top 10 and this one TRULY deserved a Top 10 placing. JX even remixed it for God's sake.
Goldfrapp - Ride A White Horse (15)
- Fantastic single from 'Supernature' that probably only missed Top 10 as it was preceded by 'Number 1' which I think is one of their weakest singles, especially given the previous was 'Ooh La La' and they had THIS in the wings.
All Saint - Chick Fit (failed to chart)
- NOT EVEN TOP 40 for one of All Saints' strongest songs. I'm LIVID. I'm STILL LIVID. Quoted as due to being cancelled as a physical single, and rift between band and label, but still this track is so under-exposed and deserved to be a smash.
Pointer Sisters - Dare Me (17)
- Undeniably cool slice of power funk pop from one of music's strongest girl groups. They didn't fare well at all in the UK charts and this is one example of them being unjustly outside the Top 10. (#17!!)
Cranberries - Linger (14)
- Timeless song from one of Ireland's finest bands and voices. #14 hit for the band, just below the peak position of #13 achieved by multiple other Cranberries songs, but was adored by all.
Paula Cole - I Don't Want To Wait (43)
- Again stalled OUTSIDE Top 40 for the THEME FROM 'Dawson's Creek' ... WHAT. It blows my mind that 'Where Have All The Cowboys Gone?' came out of nowhere and went Top 15, and this which was EVERYWHERE did not. I love WHATCG by the way, and I'm glad this incredible artist got ONE song justly noted.
Pulp - This Is Hardore (12)
- I read that this song missing Top 10 gave Jarvis depression and I totally understand. It's a bond theme that never was, and is a masterpiece from the mind of a truly bonkers and original songwriter. MAJESTY.
Wishing you all a fantastic start to 2019. Thank you for all your love, support and energy on the tours last year, my band and I had so much fun. I'm not going to be touring as such this year so that there's enough studio time to finish ALBUM FOUR.
I'll be DJing regularly in NYC, so keep an eye on the TOUR DATES page for updates.
In the meantime, Make Me Believe In Hope is hitting the streets very soon on January 18th! The pre-orders are almost all gone now, grab your copies at http://store.brightlightx2.com while there are still some copies left.
Also if you live in or around New York City, there's a pop up shop happening on Saturday 19th January where I'll be selling and signing copies of the LP and 2xCD editions, as well as some back catalogue you might be missing - some stock not available on line as it's old tour stock!
Thanks again for everything, see you soon!
Rod x