Essential Songs 2008 - Various Artists

...his song classed as an essential listen? "Coming Down" is dire. Just because he won a TV show when he was pitched against even more mediocre soap stars does not make him good listening.

"Erase/Rewind" by The Cardigans, "Northern Sky" by Nick Drake and "When Will I See Your Face Again" by Jamie Scott are not terrible tracks but they just didn't have a place on here and are instantly forgettable. ... more

I bought this CD for my daughter for Christmas as she had asked, and I thought it would be full of the songs that were currently in the charts, or those that were hot predictions for 2008. That is what the title lead me to believe anyway. Admittedly, some of the songs are bang up to date, but some of them are a good few years old. Whilst this is a negative point for my 7 year old, for me, this turns it into a pretty listenable CD. Rather than do a boring track by track review, I have tried to put the songs into groups.

It opens up with come back kings Take That and "Rule The World". I am openly a massive fan and saw them recently, so this gets a big thumbs up from me. This song is from the soundtrack to the film "Stardust" and is beatifully written and performed. To me, it also shows that they can move with the times. Another comeback track is "Real Girl" by Mutya Buena, proving she has what it takes to break free from The Sugababes and go it alone.

Recent hit, "Valerie" by Amy Winehouse is included, but without the Midas touch of Mark Ronson, the more acoustic version of the track falls flat. "Apologize" is a welcome inclusion, although the fact that Timbaland (I want my finger in every pie) takes the credit for a track which is built on an excellent vocal performance irritates me more than it should.

Two of the most overrated bands in 2007 for me were Razorlight and The Feeling. I find their music listenable, but they are nowhere near the genius that a lot of the music press claim. "Somewhere Else" is a good sing a long song and nothing more really, whilst "Sewn" makes me press the forward button.

Someone I expect we will hear a lot of in 2008, is Kate Nash, and her hit "Foundations" is included, which if we are looking at the most commercial tracks of 2007, then this would be a dead cert. Personally, I quite like her music as long as she does not play up her accent too much as she did recently on the New Years Eve Hootenanny. I would make the same comment about The Twang who are also included here.

2007 was great for Mika, and I think he will go from strength to strength in 2008, especially since he proved he can do ballads, and not just high energy novelty songs."Happy Ending" is one of the highlights for me.

Someone who disappointed me in 2007 was James Morrison. I thought his first 2 singles were amazing, and then I saw him live and was upset at how bland and uninteresting he was. His contribution on here is "The Pieces Don't Fit Anymore" is still a gorgeous song, but it has just lost it's magic for me.

Some surprise inclusions are "Makes Me Wonder" by Maroon 5 and "Dakota" by The Stereophonics. I don't say this because I dislike them, in fact I saw them both live in November and thought they were fab, but I am sure these songs would not have made it onto many people's Top 20 of 2008. The same goes for tracks from Paolo Nuttini and Amy MacDonald. With the older tracks, I was more than pleasantly surprised to find "The Reason" by Hoobastank included. This is a track evokes so much emotion in me, the lyrics always get me.

On the back of that, the older, more classic tracks are really my favourite part of the CD. Shed Seven's"Chasing Rainbows" is a required listen. New Radicals "Get What You Give" never seems to age, and always makes me sing along. I actually let out a whoop when I realised that "Drops Of Jupiter" by Train was also included. This is in my Top 10 songs of all time. I am so glad that a new audience will get to hear it's brilliance. Other classics include "Changingman" by Paul Weller and "High" by The Lighthouse Family, whilst personally I would included Weller's "Broken Stones" instead, and would not have ever allowed his collaboration with Gabrielle on "Why" to be included, it is terrible.

"Stand By Me" would not have been my Oasis song of choice, but it is probably mellow enough to attract the younger listener. Other less recent tracks include contributions from Keane, Travis, the brilliant Feeder,The Killers, Embrace, The Cure, Ian Brown, The Cranberries, Dodgy, Aztec Camera, Elton John and the anthemic "Sit Down" by James.

My husband and I did most of our dating in 1995/96, and this CD brought back a lot of memories through the music from then. "Walk Away" by Cast and "Day We Caught The Train" by Ocean Colour Scene capture that time brilliantly.

Low points for me are Nelly Furtado with "Say It Right". I just cannot bear this woman. Her voice and crooked smile drive me mad!! Moving onto Richard Fleeshman. Why is his song classed as an essential listen? "Coming Down" is dire. Just because he won a TV show when he was pitched against even more mediocre soap stars does not make him good listening.

"Erase/Rewind" by The Cardigans, "Northern Sky" by Nick Drake and "When Will I See Your Face Again" by Jamie Scott are not terrible tracks but they just didn't have a place on here and are instantly forgettable.

So, to sum it up, my perception of the title was wrong, The majority of these songs are not recent chart hits but are essential music for 2008, and I hope they get the audience they deserve. 

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