I have heard the single of the year and it is...

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Wayne Wonder 'You Make My Life Complete' on the SARS riddim.

The SARS riddim is a Diwali clone with less complex claps and a compressed tabla hit, also there's a quiet sample of a holy man saying "hiiiuuuum" in the background.

The beat is complimented by beautiful sparkly, twinkly, cheesy, school disco keyboard lines that snake like they're being charmed by the holy man saying "hiiiiiyuuuum", all mysterious and JAMAICAN.

The vocal is flat and almost emotionless but that is too harsh because the idea is that it is august, the summer is reaching its humid twilight denoument. You're winding down with a beautiful girl in a late night bar on a Spanish holiday resort and for those endless 3 minutes you and she are in love. "You've got me hypnotised/In your warm embrace". It's summer romance and lust and guilt and longing and foreboding loneliness even though the author's girl is always there for him, all wrapped in that beautiful understated melody and locust-click drums.

What is yours?

sean g, Thursday, 7 August 2003 16:04 (twenty-two years ago)

the sharkie major remix of "i luv u" for all the obvious and not so obvious reasons.

strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Thursday, 7 August 2003 16:20 (twenty-two years ago)

Four-way tie with no clear leader of the pack at the moment.

t.A.T.u., 'All The Things She Said'
Dizzee Rascal, 'I Luv U'
Yeah Yeah Yeahs, 'Date With The Night'
Girls Aloud, 'No Good Advice'

All of them are pretty much flawless pop singles, in terms of sound and lyrics and importance and rush-of-music-joy-ecstasy and everything. If it wasn't for Jay-Z, Beyoncé would surely be in that list as well.

The Lex (The Lex), Thursday, 7 August 2003 16:29 (twenty-two years ago)

rotten year for singles so far.
still, fat lady etc.

piscesboy, Thursday, 7 August 2003 16:40 (twenty-two years ago)

If it wasn't for Jay-Z, Beyoncé would surely be in that list as well.

madness.

i'm starting to worry that 'move your feet' might end up my single of the year.

pete b. (pete b.), Thursday, 7 August 2003 16:44 (twenty-two years ago)

today...

get busy - sean paul

disco stu (disco stu), Thursday, 7 August 2003 16:56 (twenty-two years ago)

janes addiction - just because - pretty good album too, and this single is the aural equivalent of getting fisted by dave navarro while perry sprays his love all over your face. and damn, i like it

Bob Shaw (Bob Shaw), Thursday, 7 August 2003 17:19 (twenty-two years ago)

TMI!

Ben Williams, Thursday, 7 August 2003 17:21 (twenty-two years ago)

so boring, but either "not gonna get us" or "move your feet," with sean paul, wayne wonder, girls aloud, dizzee close behind.

still havn't heard T.Raumschmiere's "mostertruckdriver," tho.

scott pl. (scott pl.), Thursday, 7 August 2003 17:25 (twenty-two years ago)

Kardinal Offishall - Belly Dancer. This record is just so intense and unrelenting and thrilling; hearing it is like being strapped into some huge, dangerous, out-of-control vehicle with lots of wheels and grills and tinted glass. And Kardinal Offishall's just yelling over it at the top of his lungs because he knows he won the lottery with this beat and he'll probably never get another one this good again.

Tom Breihan (Tom Breihan), Thursday, 7 August 2003 17:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Jane's Addiction - "Just Because"

Evan (Evan), Thursday, 7 August 2003 18:56 (twenty-two years ago)

K-Os - "Superstarr pt 0" unless it's Evanescence - "Bring Me to Life".

sundar subramanian (sundar), Thursday, 7 August 2003 19:07 (twenty-two years ago)

"Gay Bar" by the Electric Six

Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 7 August 2003 19:38 (twenty-two years ago)

my first half 03 answer was "like glue", i think i stand by it. other contenders: "fuck u sign", joe budden feat ll cool j and dutchess - "focus" (or was this last year?), kanye west - "thru the wire", junior boys - "birthday", se(e?)ed - "release" (and the cure riddim in general, thanks to Adam for turning me onto that one), maybe this wayne wonder thing when it finished downloading

mitch lastnamewithheld (mitchlnw), Thursday, 7 August 2003 20:30 (twenty-two years ago)

Jay-Z w/ Panjabi MC, without a shadow of a doubt

#2: Cral Craig remix of Angola, the bass on that one will destroy your home.

david day (winslow), Thursday, 7 August 2003 20:55 (twenty-two years ago)

like the craig remix, fave single of the year? yeesh it's a toughey.


Adam Beyer-Ignition Key (Speedy J Remix), menacing as hell and yet pretty spiritual beneath all the snapping and growling.

Ronan (Ronan), Thursday, 7 August 2003 20:57 (twenty-two years ago)

evelsong. king of woolworths.

no reason. just is wonderful.

onwards,
m.e

mark e (mark e), Thursday, 7 August 2003 21:01 (twenty-two years ago)

lumidee 'never let you do' remix

nnnh oh oh nnnh nnnh oh (James Blount), Thursday, 7 August 2003 21:09 (twenty-two years ago)

i always forget about ignition key, its great. (nb. don't drive to it tho. i tried)

mitch lastnamewithheld (mitchlnw), Thursday, 7 August 2003 21:11 (twenty-two years ago)

Because I am a sap it is the Black Eyed Peas / Timberlake song.

I only heard "Like Glue" for the first time yesterday. I heard it on the radio though and was hugely grateful cos at least now there's one fantastic song of '03 that I heard first in the car.

Tom (Groke), Thursday, 7 August 2003 21:42 (twenty-two years ago)

where is sterling anyway?

nnnh oh oh nnnh nnnh oh (James Blount), Thursday, 7 August 2003 21:43 (twenty-two years ago)

Hey Mitch - do you know if the The Cure/"Close To Me" is a straight rip of the dancehall-ish cover of "Close To Me" Baggsmen (a rather good Aussie band) did last year or is it something else entirely?

Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Thursday, 7 August 2003 22:57 (twenty-two years ago)

Good Charlotte, "The Young And The Hopeless". Though I don't think they're calling it a single even though they made a video.

Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Friday, 8 August 2003 00:18 (twenty-two years ago)

if they released the cut to radio it counts - there are very few major lable rock singles actually released as singles anymore.

nnnh oh oh nnnh nnnh oh (James Blount), Friday, 8 August 2003 00:39 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm gonna say it counts since they made a video for it and put it on MTV. MTV gotta equal the same exposure as radio.

Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Friday, 8 August 2003 00:41 (twenty-two years ago)

yeah, if they released a video it definitely counts

nnnh oh oh nnnh nnnh oh (James Blount), Friday, 8 August 2003 00:47 (twenty-two years ago)

...and a stinkin' bag of tepid crap it is.

Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 8 August 2003 01:16 (twenty-two years ago)

All You Need Is Hate/Mr Blue Sky.

Because I'm predictable.

William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Friday, 8 August 2003 08:54 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm with Alex in NYC on this one unless either "Move Your Feet" or Elephant Man's "Fuck U Sign" overtake it, which either could. I'm also feeling David Day on the Jay-Z/Punjabi MC track.

M Matos (M Matos), Friday, 8 August 2003 09:16 (twenty-two years ago)

sorry tim, couldn't tell ya. (you know, i don't think i've actually heard the original "close to me").

mitch lastnamewithheld (mitchlnw), Friday, 8 August 2003 09:23 (twenty-two years ago)

i'll do a list later. (cue gasps of delight)

Ronan (Ronan), Friday, 8 August 2003 09:24 (twenty-two years ago)

Possibly "Gay Bar", maybe Elbow's "Fallen Angel". The Lex is OTM with the Jay-Z/Beyonce thing. This will all inevitably change. Stupid inconstancy of time.

person#0 (person#0), Friday, 8 August 2003 09:50 (twenty-two years ago)

gotta be 'I Luv U' still

stevem (blueski), Friday, 8 August 2003 10:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Sertab Erener's "Every Way That I Can" or Dannii Minogue's "Don't Wanna Lose This Feeling".

edward o (edwardo), Friday, 8 August 2003 10:15 (twenty-two years ago)

"It's Ova" Phi Life Cypher. I'm still not completely sure if it was a single though, but, fuck me, it's great.

Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Friday, 8 August 2003 10:49 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm not sure if it was released in 02 or 03, but Punjabi Hit Squad's 'Hai Hai' still gets me with every listen.

CNWB, Friday, 8 August 2003 10:51 (twenty-two years ago)

"Get Busy"!

But maybe "Scandalous" for most irresistible dancefloor/headphones action...

Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Friday, 8 August 2003 11:00 (twenty-two years ago)

"No letting go"-Wayne Wonder

Michael B, Friday, 8 August 2003 11:01 (twenty-two years ago)

Good calls from Tim and Michael B, "No Letting Go" is like having your ears cleaned out, right from the first amazing "wowoooooowoooooo-oh" at the start all the way through.

"Get Busy" is beyond comment, I can't remember a hiphop (in whatever sense) song having such a "danger! danger!" dalek like siren quality to it, like Flylife or something, what a floorfiller, I'd love to hear some dance DJs finish sets with it.

Honorable mentions; !!!-Me and Giuliani (was my favourite for ages), Lacquer-Behind (deserves to have been top ten, this years "at night" in terms of perfect pop house), Linus Loves-The Terrace (music for dogs to bob their heads to, that bassline!).


Loads more singles I love obviously, but those spring to mind. I always forget a few key ones mind you.

Ronan (Ronan), Friday, 8 August 2003 12:03 (twenty-two years ago)

This year has just been stupid great for singles. My other favorite: Baby feat. Clipse - What Happened to that Boy? Quiet, bleepy, and sorta minimalist, but suffused with this amazing edge and menace. And it just sounds so sharp and clear and crisp.

Tom Breihan (Tom Breihan), Friday, 8 August 2003 12:28 (twenty-two years ago)

f*ck the people, by The Kills is pretty great.

chr1sb0y (chr1sb0y), Friday, 8 August 2003 13:58 (twenty-two years ago)

..."Jam on It" by Newcleus. Wait, this isn't 1983, is it? Damn.

Kate Silver (Kate Silver), Friday, 8 August 2003 17:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Am i the only person who prefers the Beenie Man version of Sign Riddim, "My Dickie"? The one where he follows the "Work It" pattern

sean g, Friday, 8 August 2003 17:11 (twenty-two years ago)

Freeway f/ Peedi Crakk - "Flipside"
i lost my shit over this song the day the album was released, and was overjoyed when they released it as a single. it's like every other Just Blaze beat times ten.

Al (sitcom), Friday, 8 August 2003 17:17 (twenty-two years ago)

Hell yeah. Good call Al

sean g, Friday, 8 August 2003 17:19 (twenty-two years ago)

When I first heard "My Dickie" I thought it was 100000x better and listened to it straight for a week, which kinda drained the novelty from it AND "Fuck U Sign".. I'm relistening now and.. hmmm... My Dickie is it.

Mitch, you should really hear "CLose to Me", it's one of like two Cure songs I like

My favorites very ILM consensus, "Me and Giuliani...", "Seed 2.0", "Belly Dancer", "Like Glue", "Beware of the Boys", "No Letting Go"... (in about that order)

Sonny A. (Keiko), Friday, 8 August 2003 17:30 (twenty-two years ago)

OH MY GOD THERE'S A CURE RIDDIM???????????????????

Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 8 August 2003 17:57 (twenty-two years ago)

"Move Your Feet" "Danger! High Voltage" and "So Gone" are battling it out for me right now

chris herrington (chris herrington), Friday, 8 August 2003 18:47 (twenty-two years ago)

OH MY GOD THERE'S A CURE RIDDIM???????????????????

I was wondering about that.

Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 8 August 2003 20:19 (twenty-two years ago)

still early so i prdict "Brand New Day" Dizzee Rascal will pack a wallup when it land.

thomas de'aguirre (biteylove), Friday, 8 August 2003 22:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Should "Get Busy" and "Like Glue" be excluded because they came out in 2002 (on the LP)???

Evan (Evan), Saturday, 9 August 2003 21:32 (twenty-two years ago)

finch - letters to you

gygax! (gygax!), Saturday, 9 August 2003 22:56 (twenty-two years ago)

Evan - surely not if the singles were released this year

Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Saturday, 9 August 2003 23:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh.

Evan (Evan), Saturday, 9 August 2003 23:27 (twenty-two years ago)

The single of the year is Avril Lavigne's "I'm With You" and I feel no need to explain why. (My critical faculty is shot to pieces recently, what little of it I had originally, that is.)

David. (Cozen), Saturday, 9 August 2003 23:28 (twenty-two years ago)

david possibly otm.

but ronan's "get busy" = "fly life" is REALLY otm.

strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Sunday, 10 August 2003 01:05 (twenty-two years ago)

first thing that popped in my head:
focus 'having your fun' (original + 4 hero rmx)
out since early 03 and still getting me dancing...

heywood jablomi (heywood), Sunday, 10 August 2003 03:01 (twenty-two years ago)

Man, if "Jus A Rascal" comes out this year that will go to No.1 and Rascal will be on TV all screw face and it will be SINGLE OF THE MILLENIUM. Failing this, I have changed for "Like Glue".

sean g, Sunday, 10 August 2003 03:04 (twenty-two years ago)

Beg to differ with someone who posted here ... this has been quite a good year for singles. "Get Busy," yes, but there've been other obvious ones: "In Da Club," "P.I.M.P.," "Danger! High Voltage!," "Beware of the Boys," "Cameltoe," "Beer For My Horses," "Shake Ya Tailfeather." Plus, this has been the best year for rock radio singles in a quite a few, with that Jane's song, "Bring Me to Life," Chevelle's "Send the Pain Below," Korn's "Did My Time" and especially Metallica's "St. Anger." And indie rock has offered quite a few that in another life might taken off: NP's "The Laws Have Changed," Eels' "Sunday Morning," SFA's "Liberty Belle, any of several tracks off the Grandaddy record.

So all in all, not a bad 2003 so far.

Chris O'Connor, Sunday, 10 August 2003 09:33 (twenty-two years ago)

Depends on my mood, sometimes it's 'Isnasakenai Douji - Sticklebrick', sometimes 'Catnip - Romance is the Panther' but over the past month I've been playing 'Mark Ronson - Ooh Wee' and 'DM + Jemini ft Cee-Lo - What you Sittin On' more than anything else.

nick.K (nick.K), Sunday, 10 August 2003 10:56 (twenty-two years ago)

Outkast - Ghettomusick

Simon H., Sunday, 10 August 2003 12:10 (twenty-two years ago)

"No Good Advice"
"Hai Hai"
"a.d.i.d.a.s"
"Get Busy"
Lumidee (forgot its name, the current one)
"Danger High Voltage"
"In Da Club"
"Gossip Folks"

Wow, I'm such a ILM line toe-er looking at that list.

Nick H, Sunday, 10 August 2003 13:52 (twenty-two years ago)

i just realized today that lumidee's "uh oh" is completely wonderful, i played it about 4 times back to back in the car

mitch lastnamewithheld (mitchlnw), Sunday, 10 August 2003 15:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Well, this question's been answered. I just downloaded the new Outkast two-sider "Ghettomusick/She Lives in My Lap." Wow ... !! Alternately eccentric, fucked-up, funky, hilarious and brilliant. The latter is awesome -- features a weird-ass soprano by Andre 3000. Has me salivating for the record now.

Chris O'Connor, Monday, 11 August 2003 05:57 (twenty-two years ago)

Except Dre's changed his mind and his side of the single is going to be Hey Ya!, which is a to pop number all the same. Single of the year: how could it be anything other than I Luv You, really now.

JoB (JoB), Monday, 11 August 2003 11:47 (twenty-two years ago)

top pop number

JoB (JoB), Monday, 11 August 2003 11:48 (twenty-two years ago)


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