I have been buying the "Now" CD's for as long as I can remember. When I was younger I often recieved them as birthday or christmas presents because of my love of music.
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About The CD
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Now 68 was released to the public on Monday 19th November 2007.
The CD's proper name is "Now That's What I Call Music" but it is often just shortened to Now.
There are 3 Now CD's released every year, one around easter time, one in the summer and one in mid November.
Now 68 is a 2 disc compilation CD which has 44 tracks in total on it. Each disc contains 22 songs on them sung by different artists and pop groups.
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The Cover
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The front cover of Now 68 is really bright, bold and colourful. It is a really simplistic design, and the use of colour on the cover is really eyecatching.
Now Thats What I Call Music 68 is written in bright red lettering with a green and yellow outline. The name of the CD takes up most of the front cover. Around the lettering and the rest of the cover there are brightly coloured shapes which look like sweets. There are colourful striped candy canes and oval shaped shapes which look like those hum-bug sweets.
I think that the front cover is really festive and christmasy looking because of the bright coloured candy which are printed on it.
The back cover of the Cd isn't as nice and colourful as the front cover. The back cover is mainly dark navy blue in colour, and has 2 track listings (one for each CD) printed in white lettering. 44 top Chart Hits is written in bright yellow lettering on the top of the back cover.
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The Songs
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Now 68 has a wide range of songs on it from different artists and pop groups, I will explain a little about the songs on the CD.
DISC 1
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01 ~ BLEEDING LOVE - LEONNA LEWIS
"Keep bleeding, Keep, keep bleeding love, I keep bleeding, I keep, keep bleeding love"
Bleeding love is a great song, it is a fairly slow song which speeds up a little bit at the chorus. It is almost like a ballad but has a faster tempo. This song is one of my many favourites in the CD. (5/5)
02 ~ RULE THE WORLD - TAKE THAT
"Yeah you and me we can ride on a star, If you stay with me girl"
Rule the world isn't one of my favourite songs on the CD partly because im not a fan of take that. This song has a mid beat tempo which is maintained through-out the whole song and its like a love song. (2/5)
03 ~ 2 HEARTS - KYLIE MINOGUE
"Two of hearts, 2 hearts that beat as one"
I really dislike this song, it isnt one of Kylies best, it is quite an upbeat song with lots of instrumental breaks. It sounds more like a dance song from the early 80's and has a lot of repetitive lyrics and instrumentals throughout. (0/5)
04 ~ VALERIE - AMY WINEHOUSE & MARK RONSON
"Well sometimes I go out by myself, And I look across the border"
I'm not a fan of Amy Winehouse but I do quite like this song. Its fairly upbeat and has alot of drum and bass throughout, its quite a wee catchy song which you can easily sing along to. (4/5)
05 ~ ABOUT YOU NOW - SUGARBABES
"Can we bring yesterday back around, 'cause I know how I feel about you now"
this is a great pop song which is really upbeat and dancy. Its the sort of song you would find yourself dancing away to in a nightclub on a friday or saturday night. Great song (5/5)
06 ~ STRONGER - KAYNE WEST
"I need you to hurry up now, cause I can't wait much longer"
Stronger starts off with a punk style intro, this song is a rap song with a mid beat tempo, and has few fu*k and sh%t words in the chorus, this isnt really my kind of song because im not a fan of rap music. This version of stronger was a Daft Punk song before kayne Wset re-released it. (0/5)
07 ~ HOT STUFF - CRAIG DAVID
"But if your feeling the groove, You know what you
gotta do"
This is a fairly upbeat song with a good beat,halfway through the song it reminds me of "lets Dance by the pop group 5ive" Its a good song and Craig David has a great voice. (3/5)
08 ~ BEAUTIFUL GIRLS - SEAN KINGSTON
"You're way too beautiful girl, That's why it'll never work, You'll have me suicidal, suicidal"
What can I say about this song, apart from I LOVE IT, Beautiful girls is a reggae style song with an upbeat tempo. This song has a really catchy tune and lyrics. (5/5)
09 ~ NO YOU HANG UP - SHAYNE WARD
"We got that you hang up no you hang up kinda love"
This is a fairly good song, it has quite a slow tempo but its not like a ballad its more like a slow tempo r&b love song which speeds up a little at the chorus then slows down a little again. (4/5)
10 ~ THE WAY I ARE - TIMBALAND KERI HILSON
"Oh, baby it's alright now you ain't gotta flaunt for me, Even if we go dutch you can still touch my love it's free"
This song has a really dance r&b tempo and tune to it. Although the lyrics don't really make sense, but apart from tha its a good song. (4/5)
11 ~ GIMME MORE - BRITNEY SPEARS
"Feels like the crowd is saying, Gimme, Gimme more, Gimme, More "
This song is just like the other songs Brotney has sung in the past, it has the same style of beat and tempo, and the lyrics are very repetitive through out. Quite a boring song (0/5)
12 ~ SHUT UP AND DRIVE - RHIANNA
"Shut up and drive, drive, drive, drive"
This is a really catchy upbeat song, its like a rock style song and it has really good lyrics. This song is so more upbeat and catchier than Umberella. (4/5)
13 ~ SEXY! NO NO NO - GIRLS ALOUD
"Whisper honey? No, no, no , You're delicious? Hell no!"
This is a typical Girls Aloud song, it has a catchy tune and lyrics to it. The song starts off really slow at the begining and has hardly any tune, but once the chorus starts the tempo really speeds up and turns this song into a really dancy pop song. (3/5)
14 ~ WITH EVERY HEARTBEAT - KLEERUP ROBYN
"And it hurts with every heartbeat, It hurts with every heartbeat"
This is a really great tune with clear lyrics, a great voice and a good tune throughout the whole song. Great upbeat dance tune. (5/5)
15 ~ TIRED OF BEING SORRY - ENRIQUE IGLASIAS
"Maybe you were right, But baby I was lonely"
This is a fairly slow ballad type song, which shows off Enriques powerful voice. The lyrics and tune is really good although I dont think this song is as good as his previous song the ping pong song. (3/5)
16 ~ SONG 4 MUTYA - GROOVE ALMADA
"Sat there with some new girl, what is this? (Don't panic, panic, Mutya don't drive erratic)"
This song has an 80's style disco beat to it, its fairly upbeat and hass good lyrics. Not one of my favourite songs but nevertheless its still quite good. (3/5)
17 ~ LIKE THIS, LIKE THAT - SHARON PHILLIPS
"Does he do it like this (does he do it like),"
This is probably one of the worst songs on this compilation CD because I dont like the lyrics and tune. It is a fairly ubeat song but the lyrics are pretty bad. (0/5)
18 ~ LET ME THINK ABOUT IT - FREDDE LE GRANDE IDA CORR
"You Say You Wan't Me, You Say You Need Me"
This song starts off with an upbeat instrumental then the tompo speeds up when the vocals start. i think that this is a fab dance tune with great lyrics, voive and beat. (5/5)
19 ~ I FOUND YOU - MAX C AXWELL
"I never really had a love... 'til I found you, Sent from heaven up above... and it's so true"
This is a mid tempo song with a fairly good beat to it. Its more like a pop song than a dance tune. Not one of my favourite songs but its fairly good" (3/5)
20 ~ THE CREEPS - FREAKS
"I think We've got it, get on the dance"
This song starts of with a fast beat intro with alot of bass, which continues throughout the whole song alongside the lyrics. i think that this song is great because it has a great beat and tune to it. (4/5)
21 ~ WAITING 4 - PETER GELDERBLOM
"Waiting for... , Standing in line, To see the show tonight"
This song is from the typical house style genre of music, with a midtempo beat. Peter Gelderblom has used the lyrics from " By the way by the red hot chilli peppers in this song. (3/5)
22 ~ LOVE IS GONE - DAVID GUETTA
"It's a hard time, Love is gone, It's a hard time, Got to find the reason"
This is another upbeat dance song with good lyrics and a catchy tune to it. Its one of those songs in which its only the chorus that is catchy. There is also alot of instrumental pauses throughout this song and not many lyrics. (3/5)
DISC 2
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01 ~ HEY THERE DELILAH - THE PLAIN WHITE T'S
"Hey there Delilah, Don't you worry about the distance,"
This is a great song, it has a fairly mid beat tempo to it. it is an acoustic love song and the lyrics are really lovely. I had never heard of the plain white tee's untill I bought this CD. (4/5)
02 ~ 1973 - JAMES BLUNT
"I will always be in a club with you in 1973, Singing "Here we go again."
For a james blunt song this is fairly upbeat compared to the other songs he has previously released. But his voice is great and you cant fail to love his songs. (5/5)
03 ~ DREAM CATCH ME - NEWTON FAULKNER
"Dream catch me when I fall, Or else I won't come back at all"
This is a great song with great lyrics which are easy to follow and relate to. It is a fairly mid beat accoustic song. (4/5)
04 ~ WORRIED ABOUT RAY - THE HOOSIERS
" I'm treading on my tippy toes, my tippy toes, im painfully so worried about Ray"
This is one of thoose annoying upbeat catchy songs with funny lyrics throughout. Its a bit like Grace Kelly by Mika, really annoying but catchy and fun to sing at the same time. (4/5)
05 ~ SHES SO LOVELY - SCOUTING FOR GIRLS
" love the way she fills her clothes, she looks just like them girls in vogue"
This song starts off with a short piano insrtumental and then the lyrics start. This is another really happy catchy song with an upbeat tempo. the only problem I have with this song is that the lyrics tend to be tp repetitive. (4/5)
06 ~ 1234 - FEIST
" One, two , three, four, tell me that you love me more"
I am certain that i have heard this song on an advert on tv for an apple ipod, I thought this song sounded wierd when i first listened to it, but it has grew on me over the past day or two. (3/5)
07 ~ IN THE AIR TONIGHT - PHIL COLLINS
"I can feel it coming in the air tonight, oh Lord"
I thought that putting this song on this Cd was rather wierd considering all the other songs were up to date and new. I think that this song is on it because of the cadburys advert. I think that this is a rather sad rock song with a good beat to it and lots of drums. A classic great song even although its an oldie on a trendy CD (5/5)
08 ~ WHEN YOURE GONE - AVRIL LAVIGNE
" When youre gone the pieces of my heart are missing you"
A upbeat pop song which is just like the other songs which Avril had released, it has a similar beat to Girlfriend. This is probably the only song of Avrils that i have heard her singing the whole way through without any instrumentals or pauses. (5/5)
09 ~ THE HEART NEVER LIES - MCFLY
"Another year over, and we're still together"
This song has quite sad lyrics, its a midtempo love song, and the McFky boys sing it great. (5/5)
10 ~ MR ROCK AND ROLL - AMY MCDONALD
"And theyll meet one day, far away and say, I wish I knew you, I wish I knew you before"
This songs great its a really happy song with a midtempo beat. It reminds me slightly of the Sandi Thom song I wish I was a punk Rocker, because it has a similar beat and tune to it. (5/5)
11~ HOLD ON - KT TUNSTALL
"Hold on to what you've been given lately. Hold on 'cause the world will turn if you're ready or not."
Kt tunstalls style of music doesnt appeal to me, I find it too ballady and slow, and most of the lyrics are repetitive. (0/5)
12 ~ TRANQUILIZE - THE KILLERS
"I got this feeling that they're gonna break down the door, I got this feeling they they're gonna come back for more"
This is like a rock song with alot of drums and guitars the whole way through.. I feel like the Killers are shouting this song rather than singing it. (1/5)
13 ~ IT MEANS NOTHING - STEREOPHONICS
"Are you proud or just ashamed? It means nothing, It means nothing"
The Stereophonics are just great, all of their songs are really good and this song has a midbeat to it and a great tune and lyrics. (4/5)
14 ~ YOUNG FOLKS - PETER BJORN
"And we don't care about the young folks, Talking about the young style"
This is a really sweet song with sweet lyrics, its mid tempo and the singer has a lovely voice. (4/5)
15 ~ UNINVITED - BAILEY TZUKE FREEMASONS
"You have experienced love like mine before, But this is not allowed"
This is another song I had never heard of until I bought this CD. Its a pop style mid tempo song with an average beat and tune. Im not too keen in this song, but im sure if i listen to it more it will grow on me. (2/5)
16 ~ BIG GIRL YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL - MIKA
"You take your girl and multiply her by four, Now a whole lotta woman needs a whole lot more"
Mika has to be one of the most annoying artists about at the moment and his songs are so silly and annoying. The first time you hear one of his songs it sticks in your head and you cant stop yourself singing it.. Big Girl has really wierd lyrics and a wierd tune to it, and only Mika could pull it iff singing it. I love this song now and I am often singing it unaware. (5/5)
17 ~ TEARS DRY ON THEIR OWN - AMY WINEHOUSE
"And perspective pushes thru, I'll be some next man's other woman soon"
Im not a huge fan of Amy Winehouse but some of her songs I can listen to. This song isnt like her others its more like a happy upbeat pop song rather than a sad song which she usually sings. I really didnt expect Amy to sing a song like this. Its an ok song. (3/5)
18 ~ DO IT WELL - JENNIFER LOPEZ
"Loving everything you do 'cause you do it well, Don't know what you got me thinkin'"
Jenifer lopez sings this song really well, her voice is great and the lyrics and beat of the song are really good too. Its like a mid beat pop song. (3/5)
19 ~ BIG GIRLS DONT CRY - FERGIE
"It's time to be a big girl now, And big girls don't cry "
Fergies voice is really great in this song, it really stands out because the song is like a ballad and mas mimimal use of instruments throughout. (5/5)
20 ~ DON'T MATTER - AKON
"Nobody wanna see us together but it don't matter no (Cause I got you babe)"
This song isnt Akons usual syle because it is rather slow almost like a ballad with a pop tempo and beat to it. Its a great song and Akon should sing more songs like this because I didnt realise his voice was as good untill I heard this song. (5/5)
21 ~ BABY LOVE ~ NICOLE SCHERZINGER
"You are my baby love, my baby love, You make the sun come up (Oh boy, oh boy)"
This is a really slow ballad style song, Nicoles vocals arent really good, I dont think they are as strong vocally as other artists on this CD. (2/5)
22 ~ HOME - WESTLIFE
"But trying is the only way to know, And I wanna come back home"
I dont know why the producers of Now put this song as the very last on the double CD because it is a fantastic love song. The Westlife boys sure know how to sing a powerful ballad. (5/5)
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My Verdict
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I bought this CD from Woolworths on Monday and I have listened to it loads of times. The best thing about this Cd is that it has a wide range of music styles from different artists and groups. I think that CD 1 is the best one because I like more of the songs on it than CD 2.
This CD is great value for money because it only cost me £12.97. i think that it was fantastic value for money because some CD's I have bought have cost me about £10 and they only have about 10 songs on them.
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About Now Music CD's
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The Now CD's have been on sale since 1983, which was 2 years before I was born. When the Now compilations were firstly released they were sold as double cassettes or vinyl LP's. Nowadays the Now compilations are only sold as CD's or as digital downloads, such as i-tunes etc.
The most popular and successful Now compilation was Now 57 because it sold 350,000 CD's in its first week, and it outsold Dido's album life For Rent.
The Now Compilation CD's are made and produced by Polygram, EMI and Virgin Records.
As well as the Now CD's there are also a variety of spin off compilations from NOW. Theese are ~:
NOW DANCE
NOW SUMMER
NOW CHRISTMAS
NOW SMASH HITS
NOW KARAOKE
NOW ~ THE MILLENIUM EDITION
NOW LATINO
NOW PARTY HITS
NOW BALLADS
NOW RAP
NOW ALTERNATE
NOW COUNTRY
NOW LOVE
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Recomendation
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This CD is great and I highly reccommend it because of all the different styles of music and artists which are featured on this CD. Its great value for money and nearly all of the songs are great.
Number of Tracks ~ 5/5
Value for money ~ 5/5
Quality of tracks ~ 5/5
Cover design ~ 5/5
Thanks for reading
:o) Lisa x
© just.bcoz
2007
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02.01.2008 02:44
Wow, excellent review, well done. You covered everything. I like your taste in music as well
25.12.2007 12:47
Great Review, Very detailed, NOW albums are a must have for me every year. Have not got this one yet though.
14.12.2007 03:32
Great informative review with induvidual breakdown of songs, very nice