Daveportivo's Cultural Evaluation Facility

Music, Politics, Flim, Books and TV all shall be reviewed within.

140. Ice Ice Baby - Vanilla Ice

(SBK 1990, Vanilla Ice)

Wow I genuinely didn't expect the Ice to produce his own music, all credit to him them, especially if he saw the genius in pinching the riff from Under Pressure. But then he is more deadly than a poison mushroom, and he does rock the mike like and vandal and of course you should never mess with him because he has been known to Wax a chump Like a Candle.



139. Mambo No. 5 - Lou Bega
(RCA 1999, Goar B)

Seriously who would have thought that of all the labels Lou would have been on New York's ice cool RCA. God it shows the impact of the Strokes. Regardless yes it silly, yes it's a cover, but who cares the summer of 1999 just wouldn't have been the same without this track.



138. U Don't Know Me - Armand Van Helden
(Armed 1999, Armand Van Helden)

Dance became huge in the last few years of the nineties mainly lead by the awesome Daft Punk but when it came to unstoppable culb bangers none was bigger than the first of Armand's many super hits.



137. Let Me Entertain You - Robbie Williams
(Chrysalis 1997, Guy Chambers)

The 90s were very much the decade of Robbie Williams he was Britian's biggest pop star and as much as there was to roll your eyes at when it came to Robbie, no one could ever deny his hits or his incredible live performances. I was at Live 8 and as much as I hate to say it he was better than Pink Floyd.



136. Torn - Natalie Imbruglia
(RCA 1997, Phil Thornalley)

In the 90s pop completely sucked dick it was cringe inducing and cheesey beyond belief. Thankfully a few smart cookies like miss Imbruglia realized that covers were the way to go and in Torn she picked the perfect song for the pop make over.



135. Brown Paper Bag - Roni Size
(Talkin' Loud 1997, Roni Size)

Roni Size will likely go down as a footnote in history if he's remembered at all but back in 1997 drum and bass behind Mr. Size monster Brown Papper Bag had a temporary mainstream run. Granted Size was more Jazzstep than classic D'n'B but this song was far more influencial than it's given credit for. Would Dub-step be the same without this track.



134. Firestarter - The Prodigy
(XL 1996, Liam Howlett)

While Fat Of The Land was little more than a few great songs cobbled together around sum bland filler the awesomeness of singles like Firestarter cannot be denied. Undoubtably one dimension but could there have been a more glorious site than old Flinty on top of the pops? I think not.



133. Lucky - Radiohead
(Parlophone 1997, Nigel Godrich)

It was only a matter of time wasn't but the first Radiohead single has arrived and it's the gorgeous Lucky. Never have the lines "pull me out of the air crash" sounded so tragically romantic.



132. 9pm Until I Come - ATB
(Kontor 1998, Andre Tanneberger)

Another creation of Dance's mainstream revival, and I'm not shamed to admit I bought this single. You know you've created an eternal cheese classic when both Welling and Bromley play this game before there matches. When non league football takes notice you've made it!



131. U Can't Touch This - MC Hammer
(Capitol 1990, MC Hammer)

Stop! Yes stop hating on this song, honestly when this was release 19 years ago did MC Hammer seriously think this track would still be getting rotations in clubs (yes I know I need to go to better clubs but seriously you try getting a club to play Panda Bear). Regardless this is fromage of the greatest vintage.



130. Waterfalls - TLC
(Laface 1995, Organized Noise)

So pop was horrid in the nineties but a few acts had the right idea and none was better than TLC led by the fiesty Lisa Left Eye Lopez they stormed up the charts with some irresistable tracks that suprised in both their succes and their undeniable quality.



129. If You Tolerate This - Manic Street Preachers
(Epic 1998, Dave Eringa)

Ah the Manics who else could right a song about the Spanish Civil War and make it a top ten hit but then again who else could right a song set in a library and nearly top the charts.



128. Poison - Prodigy
(XL 1995, Liam Howlett)

I'm going to have to dedicate the 200-100 section the official Prodigy wing of the top 200, another huge banger from ...Jilted Generation raw primal and groovy as fuck.



127. Virtual Insanity - Jamiroquai
(Sony Soho Square 1996, Jay Kay)

It's a tragic loss, don't get me wrong I don't exactly want Jay Kay on my TV every other day but he was a great pop star who made some great funky pop tracks. It was a little on the cheesey side but he knew it and he was a star without pretence. A killer track with a true landmark video.



126. Nothing Else Matters - Metallica
(Elektra 1992, Metallica & Bob Rock)

Ah that riff, not the one that makes you jump, or pump your fist in the air but the one that makes you sway, put your arm around your best mate and bellow your lungs out. Just like this insane Germany crowd did at Rock Am Ring enjoy.



125. One - U2
(Island 1992, Brian Eno)

From Metallica's biggest ballad to the band that have copyrighted the term ballad. We may mock it but One is a tender songwriting moment, and it shows that Bono's is at his most powerful on albums that lack the pretence and hype up the fun factor. Go on try to hate it, you can't.



124. Novocaine For The Soul - Eels
(Dreamworks 1997, Eels)

It was all getting a bit too stadium rock and bit to serious so lets go back to one of those alternative gems that summarize the 90s sound so well, step for Eels with a healthy dose of Novocaine For The Soul.



123. Freak On A Leash - Korn
(Epic 1999, Steve Thompson & Toby Wright)

Well as many of you may know I have nothing but distain for Korn but they did at one time get the world to fall in love with them. A combination of bouncy mosh pit monsters and big old anthems like Freak On A Leash have ensured Korn can lazily go through live playing live and never have to worry about money again.



122. Loser - Beck
(DGC 1993, Beck)

Beck decided to fuck subtly and lay it all on the line in this gorgeously ironic slice of Alternapop. The entire 90s scene in the US can is encapsulated in the pharse "I'm A Loser Baby / So Why Don't You Kill Me".



121. Bitter Sweet Symphony - The Verve
(Hut 1997, Youth)

Do I even need to write anything for this track. Probably not, enjoy.


1 comments:

a great find for panda fanatic!
my roommate and i LOVE this bag
hkpanda.freetzi.com

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This is your one stop shop of pop culture reviews I most specialize in Music, Politics & Film. I occasionally delve into TV reviews. I've got a Politics MA and a War Studies BA, I'm taking a year out before starting a Phd so when it comes to History and Politics I'm pretty well versed but I tend to keep this blog fun rather than serious.

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