Archives – Series – Focus Group 1999  
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10. SHANKS AND BIGFOOT – “Sweet Like Chocolate”
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— 29 Nov 1999 Tom Comment

Average: 5.93 Controversy: 2.95
PB: There are no bad records about chocolate except “Chocolate Girl”. 10
TE: Orchestral cyberskank, the freshest dance number one this year. 9
IS: Rather sickly. 5
JM: Childish nursery rhyme for the luvdup.[…]

9. STEPS – “Love’s Got A Hold On My Heart”
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— 29 Nov 1999 Tom Comment

Average: 6.09 Controversy: 2.74
KA: Brilliantly infectious and utterly uplifting. I still think having a band member sharing his name with a hard drug is asking for trouble. 9
KG: It’s steptacular! I’m looking forward to pantomimes when t[…]

8. TLC – “Unpretty”
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— 29 Nov 1999 Tom Comment

Average: 6.11 Controversy: 2.88
PL: They keep pumping out the PHAT tracks! 9
NW: Possibly TLC’s all time worst single, but still not that bad. Self-esteem and body image are intruiging topics for a pop song, but “Unpretty” barely ma[…]

7. TRICKY – “For Real”
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— 29 Nov 1999 Tom Comment

Average: 6.45 Controversy: 2.5
FS: One of my favourite singles of the year – Tricky’s at his best when he’s at his poppiest. 9
KG: Enjoyable drums, quite well-paced, and, dammit, well-constructed record. 8[…]

6. MADONNA – “Beautiful Stranger”
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— 29 Nov 1999 Tom Comment

Average: 6.6 Controversy: 2.56
NW: A summer song that slowly insinuates itself into your head, this is the sound of Madonna not trying too hard. The neo-sixties vibe to the song feels fresh rather than deliberately kitsch or retro: do call it a comeb[…]

5. MR OIZO – “Flat Beat”
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— 29 Nov 1999 Tom 3 comments

Average: 6.7 Controversy: 2.47
JM: Record of the year, or at least record of the list. Morse code dance tune. 10
GE: Loved the record and the idea that a piece of minimal techno could get played and bought purely on the strength of an advert. There w[…]

4. BASEMENT JAXX – “Rendez-Vu”
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— 29 Nov 1999 Tom Comment

Average: 6.95 Controversy: 1.92
PL: Didn’t like the Jaxx when I first heard them. Now I think they may be the best dance act to come along in ages. Pure dance genius! 10
PB: There are no bad records that a) use Vocoders and b) Go “dum-dum[…]

3. BRITNEY SPEARS – “…Baby One More Time”
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— 29 Nov 1999 Tom Comment

BRITNEY SPEARS – Baby One More Time
Average: 7.59 Controversy: 2.57
NW: Single of the year. No, stop laughing. Of all the pop acts to come out this year, it’s Britney that manages to get under the skin the most. There’s something di[…]

2. THE AUTEURS – “The Rubettes”
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— 29 Nov 1999 Tom Comment

Average: 7.88 Controversy: 1.71
KG: Glorious. He says “darnce”. Where have all the lovely records like this gone? 10
GE: Travis should be made to clean Mr.Haines’ boots for a year. 8
NW: Glam style Cliff Jones would kill for. 8
TE: […]

1. EMINEM – “My Name Is…”
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— 29 Nov 1999 Tom Comment

Average: 8.02 Controversy: 1.51
JM: Shouting and swearing – excellent (though not as good as “Guilty Conscience”) 10
TE: If Tex Avery made a hip-hop record it wouldn’t sound too far off this. “Wanna copy me and do exactl[…]

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