Considering the album came out in the year 2000 and now it’s nearly 2002 this opinion may have come late. But better late than never that’s what I always say.

As an avid dance fan, I went armed with my Xmas music voucher in my town of Bury St Edmunds. I came out with this album, Now Dance 2001. Although not original I thought It’d suit my tastes of music down to the ground. With 43 tracks and a wide variety of tunes, this album looked to be right up my street and it didn’t disappoint.

Anyway here is my attempt to describe the songs on the album, with probably the lowest amount of musical knowledge in the world. Oh well its worth a try…

CD 1 (THE POP SIDE)

1 – SPICE GRILS – HOLLER
2 – BRITNEY SPEARS – OOPS I DID IT AGAIN
3 – MODJO – LADY (HEAR ME TONIGHT)
4 – SPILLER – GROOVEJET
5 – MADISON AVENUE – WHO THE HELL ARE YOU
6 – FATBOY SLIM – BIRD OF PRAY
7 – AZZIDO DA BASS – DOOMS NIGHT
8 – ARCHITECTS – BODY GROOVE
9 – BOMFUNK MC’S – FREESTYLER
10 – ROBBIE WILLIAMS – ROCK DJ
11 – KYLIE MINOGUE – ON A NIGHT LIKE THIS
12 – SONIQUE – IT FEELS DO GOOD
13 – MOLOKO – THE TIME IS NOW
14 – MOBY (KELIS) – HONEY
15 – GRACE JONES VS FUNKSTAR DELUXE – PULL UP TO MY BUMPER
16 – MADISON AVENUE – DON’T CALL ME BABY
17 – GERI HALLIWELL – BAG IT UP
18 – TOM JONES & MOUSSE T – SEX BOMB
19 – TRUE STEPPERS – OUT OF YOUR MIND
20 – MELANIE B – TELL ME
21 – BILLIE PIPER – SOMETHING DEEP INSIDE

1 – SPICE GIRL – HOLLER * *

It’s the Spice Girl attempt at being street and although it appealed for a while, its sales sunk like a lead dingy. The R’n’B theme got mixed with pop and it didn’t work all too well. A pitiful two stars from me.

2 – BRITNEY SPEARS – OOPS I DID IT AGAIN * * *

More of a poppy tune for a dance album but apart from the awful – ‘I love you!’ - bit in the middle you can’t say that you never sung along to it. Or was that just me...?

3 – MODJO – LADY (HEAR ME TONIGHT) * * *

I have to say that I wasn’t keen on this record than maybe I should have been. It displayed all the classics of a great song but it didn’t do it for me. Although since it isn’t on every 5 minutes on the radio it is rising in my estimation…

4 – SPILLER – GROOVEJET * * * * *

Just a fantastic record! With a tune you could dance along to and lyrics you could sing along to it was always bound for stardom. Lyrics sung by the brilliant Sophie Ellis Bextor added a bit if class but the track was enough to make it a hit. As soon as you hear those first few chords you have to get up and dance around. Go on admit it, we all have!

5 – MADISON AVENUE – WHO THE HELL ARE YOU * * *

The follow up to the smash ‘Don’t call me baby’ wasn’t as good, but it had a charm which made us maybe mumble along to. Not bad but a bit boring and not as fun as the first song.

6 – FATBOY SLIM – SUNSET (BIRD OF PRAY) * * *

I’ve never really been a fan of Mr Cook and to be honest this song didn’t really do it for me. However, it’s not too bad and pleases most dance fans. Actually this video and the beginning is quite disturbing.

7 – AZZIDO DA BASS – DOOMS NIGHT * * *

This is quite an obscure song. Looking at the title you may say, you’ve never heard of this song but put it on and you’ll know you have. It’s an instrumental with some rather bizarre – and only French inspired – keyboards riffs. Wouldn’t be out of place in a ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind’.

8 – ARCHITECHS – BODY GROOVE * * *

Normally I’d give this song four or possibly 5 stars but unfortunately this album only features a rather poor remix. I love the original – the ‘Architechs and Nene bit at the beginning is great – but since the radio version isn’t on I cant rate it highly

9 – BOMFUNK MC’S – FREESTYLER * * * * *

I predicted this song to be big a long time before it came out as I had heard it as a number 1 in several other countries. And I wasn’t wrong. It got to number 2 and became only the 2nd Finnish act to get into the top 10 – after Darude which was released a few weeks before. I love this song. You can’t help but sing along and just have fun when it’s on the radio. Fantastic!

10 ROBBIE WILLIAMS – ROCK DJ

You will notice I haven’t given this awful thing they call a ‘song’. Am I the only one to think he can’t sing to save his life! His voice is so lifeless and gravelly. Macy Gray gets away with her trademark growl but Robbie, sorry!

11 – KYLIE MINOGUE – ON A NIGHT LIKE THIS * * *

This song has grown on me as I’ve had it on this album. It very poppy and I think it is much better than the number 1 Spinning around – although ‘Cant get you out of my head’ is much better. Not bad. Falls under the wont turn over category.

12 – SONIQUE – FEELS SO GOOD * * * *

I got sucked into the hysteria surrounding this song. I wasn’t keen at first because I didn’t really like it the first time it came out, but with time I really liked it and really deserved a number 1 spot – shame she isn’t doing any more music.

13 – MOLOKO – THE TIME IS NOW * * * *

I actually prefer the second song from Moloko to the first one ‘Sing it back’. The distinctive voice of Roisin Murphy enhanced a great track into a star one.

14 – MOBY (KELIS) – HONEY *

No! I respect the original instrumental but Kelis’s voice behind it meant it never gelled together. They never recorded the track in the same country let alone the same room. Disappointing.

15 – GRACE JONES VS FUNKSTAR DELUXE * *

This is usually a track I miss but I have to say digging up an old Grace Jones track and putting a beat behind it may be a good idea but it didn’t work in theory. Then again it was never going to be as big as Ms Jones’s hair – or ego for that matter!

16 – MADISON AVENUE – DON’T CALL ME BABY * * * * *

I have to say that I really liked this song. No not in 2000 but in 1999 when it first came out and reached a pitiful 35 in the charts. For ages I wanted it to be released for ages and when it did it went to the top – who liked it first? Although it may be a feminist tune it is still fantastic with a danceable tune, disco element and singable lyrics. A sure fire hit – even if it took a second release to do it!

17 – GERI HALLIWELL – BAG IT UP *

Enough said!

18 – TOM JONES – MOOSE T – SEX BOMB *

Horny was a great track. This isn’t!

19 – TRUE STEPPERS – OUT OF YOUR MIND * * *

Oh come on it wasn’t that bad was it? Although I will admit that Spiller was the better track and deserved the number one, this wasn’t all that bad and better than the previous song from True Steppers. Vikki Beckham and Dane Bowers did well and worked well together but they did work the vocoder into overdrive.

20 – MELANIE B – TELL ME * * *

Another Spice Girl offering and probably the best of the 4 tracks. I liked the R’n’B flavour and she did sing it well. Not bad but like Kylie goes into the wont turn over pile.

21 – BILLIE PIPER – SOMETHING DEEP INSIDE * *

Billie – because we want to – Piper never did anything for me and this track didn’t change a thing. Ironic that it’s at the bottom of CD1…

So there is the first part of my op. Oi! Stop groaning! Hope you like what I’ve written so far and your not falling asleep at the computer…

CD2 (THE PARTY SIDE)

1 – STORM –TIME TO BURN
2 – DARUDE – SANDSTORM
3 – YORK – O.T.B
4 – DELERIUM – SILENCE
5 – PLANET PERFECTO – BULLET IN THE GUN 2000
6 – ELEMENT FOUR – BIG BROTHER THEME
7 – FRAGMA – TOCAS MIRACLE
8 – ANGELIC – IT’S MY TURN
9 – AUROURA – ORDINARY WORLD
10 – ALICE DEEJAY – THE LONELY ONE
11 – MELANIE C – I TURN TO YOU
12 – SUREAL – YOU TAKE MY BREATH AWAY
13 – FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD – THE POWER OF LOVE
14 – CRW – LOVIN’
15 – LOCK ‘N’ LOAD – BLOW YA MIND
16 – MARC ET CLAUDE – I NEED YOUR LOVING
17 – WATERGATE – MERRY CHRISTMAS MR LAWRENCE
18 – PAUL VAN DYK – TELL ME WHY
19 – BASEMENT JAXX – BINGO BANGO
20 – SCOTT AND LEON – YOU USED TO HOLD ME
21 – K-CI & JOJO – TELL ME IT’S REAL
22 – TRU FAITH – FREAK LIKE ME

1 - STORM – TIME TO BURN * * * * *

It’s a tradition that instrumentals fail to do well but this great track proves them wrong. Apart from the whispering repeating of ‘It’s time to burn’ this song never fails to get me tapping my foot or actually up and ‘swinging my hips’ – Urghh! What a sight!

2 – DARUDE – SANDSTORM * * * * *

The instrumental revival of 2000 brought this brilliant track from Darude from Finland. It had no words but still reached number 3 and gets the mantle of my favourite track on this album. When it’s on you can’t help but turn it up loud and get dancing!

3 – YORK – O.T.B * * * *

I never knew Chris Rea could be good. This track from York reached number 4, as it was the ultimate summer anthem. The aptly named title, O.T.B (on the beach) meant you had to mumble the words to. Just a great song.

4 – DELERIUM – SILENCE * * * * *

This closely follows Darude as my fave song on the album. Although rather trancey the gothic and beautiful voice of Sarah McLauchlan made the song brilliant. You just can’t help but crank up the volume and annoy the neighbours!

5 – PLANET PERFECTO – BULLET IN THE GUN 2000 * *

Oh its another year but as we head towards 2002 we haven’t heard the ‘Bullet in the gun 2001’ yet. Every year there always seems to be a new version of this song on the radio. And each time it doesn’t get any better.

6 – ELEMENT FOUR – BIG BROTHER THEME * * * * *

Yet another instrumental, the fantastic theme to the equally fantastic program ‘Big Brother’ is another tune at the top of my list of faves on this album. Another trancey tune it is probably my third favourite on the album.

7 – FRAGMA – TOCAS MIRACLE * * * *

It seems very odd that I and my brother owned both the original two tracks. Toca Me by Fragma and I need a miracle by Coco got mixed together and made this ‘Tocas miracle’. A sure-fire number one ensued (as well as a funny video in which none of the women could kick a ball properly). I liked it and never got tired of hearing it. Funny how illegal pirates can make a good record?

8 – ANGELIC – IT’S MY TURN * * *

I’m not sure but I think this is Judge Jules’s wife so it was bound to be released. Not bad but a bit of a bland tune. It’s nothing special but not too bad.

9 – AURORA – ORDINARY WORLD * * *

I didn’t really like the original but I prefer this version – any Duran Duran fans needn’t leave a comment. By having a woman sing it, they transformed the song. However, it got a little boring when they kept plugging it on the radio, so I lost interest.

10 – ALICE DEEJAY – THE LONELY ONE * *

It’s fair to say that Alice Deejay have gone down the road the Vengaboys went. Like the late Vengaboys (Ha Ha) had a good first dance single and so did Alice Deejay. Better off alone was one of my fave tunes of 1999 but has since then lost the plot. This song tried to regain ground but I usually turn it over if it comes on. By the way have you noticed that the other 2 – non singers – keep changing in each song?

11 - MELANIE C – I TURN TO YOU * *

Oh yes, another Spice Girl. After her R’n’B, rock and pop she turned to dance – or rather insane trance. Supporting some rather drastic hair extensions which Sharon from Eastenders ones look sane. The song wasn’t too bad to be fair but it wasn’t good either. I preferred ‘Never be the same again’.

12 – SUREAL – YOU TAKE MY BREATH AWAY * * *

This gets lyrics sung by the woman who was with 'Urban Cookie Collective' I quite like this song and it quite catchy.

13 – FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD – THE POWER OF LOVE *

An old song being re-mastered. Enough said really!

14 – CRW – LOVIN’ * * *

This is a tune which you know but you dont know who its by. Not bad but not great either. A good club tune to chill out too as its a little slower than the rest.

15 – LOCK ‘N’ LOAD – BLOW YA MIND * * * *

Despite the ‘fake audience’ in the middle this song has the get up factor and can’t help but turn up the volume. The repetitive lyrics are said in quick succession and although it’s a song that would have been better if it was released in 1997, I still like it. The best song of the 2nd half of the CD.

16 – MARC ET CLAUDE – I NEED YOUR LOVING *

Marc Et Claude – or rather Marc Romboy – released this song again in another remix. Originally done by ‘Baby D’ – I think – it doesn’t do anything for me as I put it down as a slow dance tune.

17 – WATERGATE – MERRY CHRISTMAS MR. LAWRENCE * * *

We have all heard of Japanese music and its traditional chimes and this song featured it all as well as a nice beat behind. Rather good.

18 – PAUL VAN DYK – TELL ME WHY * * * *

I actually rather liked this song. I was never a keen St Etienne fan but their vocals and input made them popular again. A great sing mixed by a great DJ.

19 – BASEMENT JAXX – BINGO BANGO * * *

I am a big fan of the Jaxx boys and although this song isn’t as good as some of their previous songs but it is still a positive and up beat tune.

20 – SCOTT AND LEON – YOU USED TO HOLD ME * *

This a more of an R'n'B song which only seems to be making up the numbers as we reach the end of the album.

21 – K-CI & JOJO – TELL ME IT’S REAL * *

This song falls onto the annoying pile. The song was plugged several times on Vibe FM so by the time I got this album I was sick of it! Another song with a vocoder overload.

22 – TRU FAITH FT DUB CONSPIRACY * *

The last song on the album is rarely played as I usually turn the CD off by the time I get to the end of the album. Another song which you know but don’t know who it’s by.

So there you go. It may be a year late but if you can get hold of this album on the cheap buy it. If it’s not there, there is another Now Dance album for the 2001 songs. Called Now Dance 2002, I own it and would have written about it but the category isn’t up yet. If you like this op (and you can tell me in a comment) I’ll write another…

Thanks!

SOLEX/OLLIE