December 23, 2000

COMMENTARY ON THIS WEEK'S TOP 50:

Happy Holidays everyone!!  My chart is a couple of days early this week because I have some last minute preps for the big day on Monday.  There is some fairly interesting chart action this week so let me get right to it!

For the second time in her career, Rockell scores a #1 hit.  She first landed in the top spot back in 1998 with "In A Dream," and she returns this week with a freestyle version of Garth Brooks' smash "The Dance."  Incidentally, back in 1992-1993 when Garth charted on my Top 50 with the song, it stalled at #17.  In retrospect, as much as I listened to the song and loved it, it most definitely should have been a #1 smash, but I was young and probably didn't chart on taste alone. 

More excitement in the top 10 this week as Kina scores her first top 10 hit.  "Girl From the Gutter" not only takes the biggest point gainer award for the second consecutive week, but it also breaks Madonna's record for the biggest jump into the top 10.  "Girl.." moves seventeen places to #7 ("Music" moved #23 to #10 in its second chart week back in July).  The song is destined to become her first #1 hit.  The version I am charting is fueled by a remix by Hex Hector, although the original could stand on its own (see below for commentary on this year's music that charted fueled by a dance mix and not necessarily the original or radio version).  Kina will be facing much competition for the top spot next week as Rockell has a strong hold and songs by Nina Gordon, Tina Cousins, Destiny's Child, Madonna, and Da Buzz have hopes for the pole position.

Lara Fabian scores her second top 10 hit this year with "I Am Who I Am," which moves into the top 10 at #8.  Mikaila's first top 50 hit, "So in Love with Two," seems to have lost momentum and holds at #9 for a second week, although still gaining some points.  Kristine W's previous #1 smash "Lovin' You" manages to log another week in the top 10, but slips to #10.

Several records are pushed back by strong moves at the upper levels of the chart.  "Stronger" by Britney Spears takes a nosedive to #18 after a single week at #6 and a future that last week looked quite promising.  Billie Myers' second top 5 hit, "Am I Here Yet (Return to Sender)' plummets from #4 to #20.  Charlotte's first top 10 falls to #14 after a peak at #10 for a single week.  Macy Gray's "Still" bottoms out at #20 and tumbles to #34 this week.  This is truly an excellent song, but I lost interest in it fairly quickly.  Who knows??  Maybe I'll hear it again soon and my interest will be renewed.  Kylie Minogue and Robbie Williams just missed top 10 success and after a single week at #12, "Kids" falls to #24.  Focus on this song was lost mostly because of Minogue's solo material being of such interest.

On the other side of the coin, several records are poised to move into the top 10.  Gabrielle is after her third top 10 hit with "Sunshine," which inches close at #11 this week.  Kristine W's "Stronger" has gotten just that thanks to the ballad version of the song.  Originally slated to be released as a single (scrapped to promote "Lovin' You"), the ballad version is getting lots of airplay thanks to Napster and my cd burner.  Everything But the Girl is seeking a fourth top 10 hit with "Lullaby of Clubland."  They have already scored two other top 20 hits this year ("Five Fathoms.." hit #18 and "Temperamental" spent two weeks at #4 and is likely to finish the year in the top 20).  Erasure, not satisfied with a peak at #9, is getting close to the top 10 again with "Freedom," the first single from their LOVEBOAT project.

Elsewhere on the chart, several songs are making quite impressive moves.  Probably the most impressive this week is "Miss the Way" by Razor n Guido featuring dance vocalist Reina.  The song rockets from #34 to #23 in its third chart week.  It also takes the third place point gain award.  Second place point gain,  moving twelve notches up to #31 in its second chart week is Kylie Minogue's "Please Stay."  It has been a banner year for Ms. Minogue as she has a number one, a top 5, a top 10, and a top 15 under her belt already.  

Also impressive is a ten place move to #30 by Donna Summer's "The Power of One."  The song has already surpassed her last top 50, "Love is a Healer," which stalled at #23.  Before that, she went to #1 late in 1999 with "I Will Go With You (Con Te Partiro)."  Ms. Summer is currently working on a studio album, slated for release in April that should keep her going strong throughout 2001.

Debuting on the chart this week is the third single from Robbie Williams' sophomore album.  "Supreme" takes the top debut honor this week at #45.  Roxette also scores a tenth top 50 (second this year) with "Stars."  Thunderpuss and dance queen Jocelyn Enriquez team up for "So Fabulous, So Fierce" at #48.  Finally, at #49, one of the most successful new artists of 2000 scores a third top 10 hit with "You Make Me Sick."  Pink hit #12 early in 2000 with "There You Go," her debut single and went all the way to #4 with "Most Girls," which enjoyed a 22-week chart run and should rank among the year's top 20 hits.

SPECIAL COMMENTARY:

Many songs have charted on the Top 50 this year despite my not being thrilled with the radio/album/original version of the song.  Hex Hector, Thunderpuss, Junior Vasquez, and others have offered remixed versions of songs that I probably wouldn't have enjoyed otherwise (or at least not as much).  Here is a list of some songs that charted this year, fueled by a remix, but not necessarily successful thanks to a remixed version along:

Skin by Madonna, Mi Chico Latino by Geri Halliwell, Take a Picture by Filter, Sky Fits Heaven by Madonna, Breathe by Faith Hill, I Learned from the Best by Whitney Houston, Wish I Could Fly by Roxette, The One by Backstreet Boys, I Believe in Love by The Paula Cole Band, Never Be the Same Again by Mel C, I Will Love Again by Lara Fabian, I Turn to You by Christina Aguilera, Love One Another by Amber, Desert Rose by Sting featuring Cheb Mami, I'm Outta Love by Anastacia, I Turn to You by Mel C, I Want You To Need Me by Celine Dion, Rise by Gabrielle, Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme) by Mariah Carey, Same Script Different Cast by Whitney Houston and Deborah Cox, I Never Knew by Deborah Cox, Freedom by Erasure, Sky by Sonique, Your Child by Mary J Blige, Am I Here Yet (Return to Sender) by Billie Myers, Independent Women Part 1 by Destiny's Child, Can't Fight the Moonlight by Leann Rimes, I Am Who I Am by Lara Fabian, The Power of One by Donna Summer, Girl from the Gutter by Kina.

Some songs have been updated with a new mix or have been rerecorded by another artists and achieved success on the chart:

Don't Go 2000 by Yazoo, Situation 2000 by Yazoo, Give Me Tonight 2000 by Shannon, Show Me by Angel Clivilles, Use It Up Wear It Out 2000 by Pat N Mick, Touch Me (All Night Long) 2000 by Cathy Dennis, Only You 2000 by Yazoo, We Belong 2000 by Pat Benetar, Let the Music Play 2000 by Shannon, Vogue 2000 by Madonna, Love Will Save the Day 2000 by Whitney Houston, Robert DeNiro's Waiting 2000 by Bananarama, Kiss the Rain 2000 by Billie Myers, I Want That Man 2000 by Deborah Harry, Where is My Man 2000 by Eartha Kitt, Gonna Catch You by Lonnie Gordon, How Soon is Now by Snake River Conspiracy, The Dance by Rockell, Do That To Me One More Time by Amber, I Am Woman (from "Trick") by Jessica Williams.

All in all it has been quite an interesting year and the next two weeks will add the last bit of paint to complete the picture.  The 2000 year end chart will be posted on its own page sometime during the first week of the year, complete with commentary and chart tidbits.

Again, enjoy the holiday...be safe and most importantly be healthy...

Craig

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