Singles Of The Year

SUNSET (BIRD OF PREY)

Fatboy Slim

STAN

Eminem

It’s been a fairly quiet year as far as really good singles go in my view. I know there’s been more than 40 Number One singles (one or two even managing a full two weeks at the top, fancy that) and a few bands have been consistently good, like JJ72 and Idlewild (and A1 have somehow made it big despite their records being heard by the public) but generally 2000’s been a bit of a rotter music-wise. All being well, 2001 should be more promising, but for now let’s revel in the glory of the two best singles of the year.

Finished revelling? Right then, this is why these are the best singles. Firstly, Fatboy Slim. Sunset is the best thing he’s ever done and how it didn’t even make the Top 5 is utterly beyond me. It’s dreamy, joyous, easy-going and, well, it’s just lovely. As for Stan, it’s… er… well… none of those things. What it is is the single that most deserved to hit the top this year without a single doubt. This is the perfect example of a story that’s been thought through and would you believe, even the video’s fantastic (it follows the lyrics to a tee and succeeds in adding to the experience). It’s as disturbing as hell, but hey, you can’t have everything. Where would you put it all anyway? So you see, there is hope for next year.

Album Of The Year

KID A

Radiohead

Sorry, but as far as I’m concerned, nothing else was in the running. It’s one of the most creative albums I’ve heard in a long time and I don’t mind telling you, it did my head in the first few times I heard it. Luckily, it’s an album that encourages repeated listens – unlike Ronan Keating’s – and every time you pop it back on you hear something you didn’t hear before, which is nice. The best thing about it is the amount of distance Radiohead have covered since OK Computer – the two albums are so wildly different that God only knows what the next one’s going to sound like (lucky God). Well, that’s me done for this year. It just remains for me to wish all my readers a merry Christmas and I hope you both have a Happy New Year!