Blue (2000-2005 & 2009-present)

Simon Webbe, Lee Ryan, Duncan James and Antony Costa are: Blue. The boys found in 2001 and rose to fame pretty much pronto with All Rise. Late in 2004, Elton John, with whom they were working together from 2004, suggested to split and focus on their respective solo careers.
Boys grown into men, they announced earlier this year they would reunite and are will be representing the UK in this year's Eurovision Song Contest in Germany.

Blue - All Rise (2001)
NZ#1, BE#2, SWE#3, NOR#3, AUS#3, UK#4, DK#4, FR#14, IRL#15, AT#15, DE#19, CH#22, NL#70



Blue - Too Close (2001)
NZ1#, UK#1, AUS#5, BE#6, IRL#17, NOR#19, SWE#41, DE#66, AT#72



Blue -If You Come Back (2001)
UK#1, NZ#5, BE#9, IRL#13, SWE#13, AUS#19, DE#48, AT#49, CH#71



Blue - Fly By II (2002)
UK#6, NZ#9, IRL#16, BE#23, AUS#26, SWE#33, DE#45, NL#58, AT#65, CH#65



Blue - One Love (2002)
UK#3, IRL#4, NZ#5, DK#7, IT#9, SWE#21, BE#24, AUS#36, FR#36, NL#39, CH#44, AT#53, DE#54,



Blue & Elton John - Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word (2002)
UK#1, NL#1, SWE#2, NOR#2, BE#3, IRL#3, CH#3, DE#4, AT#4, IT#4, DK#5, NZ#5,FR#6, AUS#43



Blue - U Make Me Wanna (2003)
UK#4, IRL#5, DE#6, CH#9, AT#10, IT#19, NZ#20, NL#28



Blue - Guilty (2003)
DK#1, UK#2, IRL#4, IT#6, NZ#14, SWE#16, NL#17, DE#19, BE#19, AT#20, CH#22, AUS#29, FR#37



Blue & Stevie Wonder and Angie Stone - Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours (2003)
DK#7, UK#11, NL#11, IT#11, IRL#17, NZ#22, DE#29, AUS#31, AT#35, SWE#36, BE#38, CH#53



Blue - Breathe Easy (2004)
IT#1, UK#4, IRL#4, DE#7, AT#7, CH#8, NL#13, FR#15, NZ#29



Blue - Bubblin (2004)
IT#3, CH#8, UK#9, FR#13, IRL#21, NL#21, AT#27, DE#34



Blue - Curtain Falls (2004)
IT#2, UK#4, DE#8, IR#10, CH#13, AT#16, FR#18



Blue & Kool and the Gang ad Lil' Kim - Get Down On It (2005)
DE#29, CH#35, AT#41, IRL#47



Blue - I Can (2011) - Promo Video for the UK Eurovision Entry 2011in Germany

Enrique Iglesias - Sad Eyes - Kupper Mix (2002)

Everyone seems to think Enrique Igleasias, son of Julio Iglesias, is this fluffy little vocalist, but there's more:

Back in September 2000, Enrique decided to cover Bruce Springsteen's 'Sad Eyes', which apart from scoring #8 in the US Dance Charts and #34 in the official US Billboard Charts, went largey ignored. But this is why I love remixes - HQ2, an Australian DJ outfit gave it a once over and the tune appeared on dancefloors. Eric Kupper did the same in the US.

But the question is, why did Enrique Iglesias' handlers ditch the gem of a music video to the track, featuring a naked Enrique cavorting with a stripper who dances around a pole that extends from between his legs? Can't they see this is art? The video for Enrique's cover of Bruce Springsteen's Sad Eyes randomly surfaced on David LaChapelle's website (I told you: art!) and has begun to make the rounds, with responses from somewhere between OMG and WTF.
Mr. Iglesias' phallic fantasy begins with an ode to the loneliness of fame, watching a video of himself performing, then flips channels to a phone sex ad, and he is drawn in sexy trance towards the glowing screen. He then goes cruising for hosin a fancy car and finds the sex ad lady (played by porn star Cassidey, says Tabloid Prodigy ), who is a sad but lighthearted whore who comes to his home and dances the 10-foot steel pole that stands erect between his legs. But wait! Was it all a dream? A possibly-jacking-off Enrique alone in bed with a nudie magazine featuring a trashy picture of sex ad lady. All in all: an indisputable cinematic triumph for the son of Julio Iglesias, rife with pathos and cleavage.

Enrique Miguel Iglesias Preysler, better known as Enrique Iglesias, started his musical career on Mexican label Fonovisa. This helped turn him into one of the most popular artists in Latin America and in the Hispanic or Latino market in the US, and the biggest seller of Spanish language albums for a number of years. Before the turn of the millennium, he made a crossover into the mainstream English language market, signing a deal with Universal Music Group for an unprecedented US$48 million to release his Spanish albums (and Interscope to release the English versions). Last year he parted with Interscope and signed with Universal Republic.

Enrique Iglesias - Sad Eyes (Eric Kupper Remix)
CH#43



Lyrics:

Every day here you come walking
I hold my tongue, I don't do much talking
You say you're happy and you're doin' fine
Well go ahead, baby, I got plenty of time
Sad eyes never lie
Sad eyes never lie

Well for a while I've been watching you steady
Ain't gonna move 'til you're good and ready
You show up and then you shy away
But I know pretty soon you'll be walkin' this way
Sad eyes never lie
Sad eyes never lie

Baby don't you know I don't care
Don't you know that I've been there
Well if something in the air feels a little unkind
Don't worry darling, it'll slip your mind

I know you think you'd never be mine
Well that's okay, baby, I don't mine
that shy smile's sweet, that's a fact
Go ahead, I don't mind the act
Here you come all dressed up for a date
Well one more step and it'll be too late
Blue blue ribbon in you hair
Like you're so sure I'll be standing there
Sad eyes never lie
Sad eyes never lie
Sad eyes never lie
Sad eyes never lie

Jamiroquai - Space Cowboy - Morales Remix (2002)

Jamiroquai - Space Cowboy - David Morales Remix (2002)
US#1, UK#17, FR#22, CH#28


Lyrics:

Everything is good
And brown
Oh I'm here again
With a sunshine smile upon my face
My friends
Are close at hand
And all my inhibitions
Have disappeared without a trace
I'm glad
I found
Somebody who I can rely on.

This is the return
Of the space cowboy
Inter-planetary
Good vibe zone
At the speed of Cheeba
We'll go deeper
Maybe I'll have to get high
Just to get by.

Everything is good
And green
Oh, I'm red again
And I don't suppose I'm coming down
I can see clearly now,
High in the sky
A man with psychedelic picture frames
Of happiness to shade
His eyes
He's glad
That the found
Somebody who
He can rely on

Tarkan 'Şımarık' (1997) - Holly Valance 'Kiss Kiss' (2002)

Tarkan (Tevetoğlu) was born 17 Oct 1972 in Alzey, West Germany, and raised in Turkey. In 1997 Sezen Aksu, one of the very established musicians and composers in Turkey, wrote Şımarık (English: Spoiled) for him, which should become famous and make it's rounds very fast in countries with high Turkish population, home and abroad. But it was Australian Holly Valance's version Kiss Kiss, which should take it to world fame.

Tarkan - Şımarık (1999)
BE#1, NOR#2, CH#3, NL#3, FR#3, SWE#3, DE#6, AT#14



Lyrics:

Takmis koluna elin adamini
Beni orta yerimden catlatiyor
Agzinda sakizi sisirip sisirip
Arsiz arsiz patlatiyor

Belki de bu yüzden vuruldum
Sahibin olamadim ya
Sigar mi erkeklige seni simarik
Degisti mi bu dünya

Cekmis kasina gözüne sürme
Dudaklar kipkirmizi kiritiyor
Bi de karsima gecmis utanmasi yok
Inadima inadima sirityor

Biz boyle mi gorduk babamizdan
Ele gune rezil olduk
Yeni adet gelmis eski koye vah
Dostlar mahvolduk

Seni gidi findikkiran
Yilani deliginden cikaran
Kaderim puskullu belam
Yakalarsam

Ocagina dustum yavru
Kucagina dustum yavru
Sicagina dustum yavru
El aman

Seni gidi findikkiran
Yilani deliginden cikaran
Kaderim puskullu belam
Yakalarsam

English translation:

she goes arms linked with a man
and drives me crazy by doing so
she has chewing gum in her mouth
insolently chewing it, making bubbles burst
Maybe that is why I am so fond of you
because I did not become your owner
Can a man stand that, you spoilt girl?
Did the world change like this?
Eyes painted black
coquettish with glaring red lips
she stands up to me defying me
and grins at me insolently
Did we learn it this way from our fathers?
We have been looking like fools to everyone
New customs have entered the old village
Friends, we are in a fix.
You are a nutcracker
pulling a snake from its hole
my big disgrace
when I get hold of you ... (kiss, kiss)
I'm seeking protection with you, babe
I'm lying in your lap, babe
I'm burning in your fire, babe
Have mercy!

Holly Valance - Kiss Kiss (2002)
AUS#1, UK#1, IRL#2, IT#3, HUN#3, TWN#6, FIN#7, GRE#11, AT#11, JPN#11, SWE#12, DE#14, NZ#17, CH#19, DK#20, NL#24, US#27, FR#50



Lyrics:

when you look at me
tell me what you see?
this is what you get
it's the way i am
when i look at you
i wanna be i wanna be
somewhere close to heaven
with neanderthal man
don't go
i know you wanna touch me
here there and everywhere
sparks fly when we are together
you cant deny the facts of life

you dont have to act like a snob
try your moves in the back of a car
dont you know that we can go far
cause tonight youre gonna get my
(mwaa) (mwaa)
kiss kiss

you can be mine
baby whats you starsign
wont you take a step
into the lions den
i can here my conscience calling me
calling me
say im gonna be a bad girl again
why dont you come on over
we cant leave this all undone
got the devil on my shoulder
theres no place for you to run

you dont have to act like a snob
try your moves in the back of a car
dont you know that we can go far
cause tonight im gonna get my
(mwaa)(mwaa)

If you forget
ill remind you
if youre paranoid
im behind you
you lose your head
ill find you
givin you my kiss

if you forget
ill remind you
if youre paranoid
im behind you
you lose your head
ill find you
kiss kiss

you dont have to act like a snob
try your moves in the back of a car
dont you know that we can go far
cause tonight youre gonna get my
(mwaa)(mwaa)

You dont have to act like a snob
try your moves in the back of a car
dont you know that we can go far
cause tonight your gonna get my
(mwaa)(mwaa)
Dont play the games that you play
you know that i wont run away
why are you askin me to stay
cause tonight im gonna give you my
(mwaa)(mwaa)

Westbam & Nena - Oldschool Baby (2002)

Maximilian Lenz, a.k.a. Westbam, was born 1965 in Münster, Germany. His synonym is a homage to Afrika Bambaataa, thus "Westphalia Bambaataa". He started his career as a DJ in 1983 in his birth city Münster. In 1984 he moved to Berlin where he released his first record called '17 - This Is Not a Boris Becker Song'. Westbam played at the first Love Parade in 1989 at Ku'damm Berlin. Around that time, the DJ culture made a breakthrough in Germany. After several records he released his first album named The Cabinet. In 1991, he organised the first Mayday rave in Berlin. With over 5000 people, it was the biggest techno party in Germany at the time. Since then, Mayday has been vital to the German techno scene. Westbam is still an organiser of the party, and he is also a part of Members of Mayday, the producer of the Mayday-Anthems.
In 1993, he played a number of rave events in the United Kingdom including Obsession Passion at the Sanctuary in Milton Keynes.

Gabriele Susanne Kerner, a.k.a. Nena, was born in 1960 in Hagen, Germany. Nena's stagename is derived from her family nickname, based on the Spanish word 'nena' slang for 'niña', or 'little girl', at the age of three, while on a vacation to Spain with her parents. Her musical career began in the summer of 1979 when guitarist Rainer Kitzmann offered her a position as the lead singer in his band, The Stripes. The group had a minor hit with the song 'Ecstasy', but never achieved mainstream success, and soon disbanded.
In 1981 Nena and her then-boyfriend Rolf Brendel moved to (West)Berlin, where they met Carlo Karges, Uwe Fahrenkrog-Petersen and Jürgen Dehmel. Together they formed the band Nena. In 1982 they released their first single, 'Nur geträumt' (Only dreamt), which became an instant hit in Germany.
Nena rose to international fame in 1983 with the New German Wave song '99 Luftballons', re-recorded in English as '99 Red Balloons'.
With the re-recording and subsequent release of some of her old songs, her career re-emerged in 2002. In 2007, she co-founded the school 'Neue Schule Hamburg'.

Talking of school: in 2002 at the time of the re-launch of her career, Nena met Westbam, whom was by now the most influential DJ in the German metropolis. Together they recorded Oldschool Baby.

Westbam & Nena - Oldschool Baby (2002)
DE#21


Westbam & Nena: "Old School, Baby" by Petidragon

Lyrics:

We are the oldschool
That’s the new
We stay right here
As we come through

We are the high
That’s the low
We keep it clear
At every show

Oldschool, baby

We are the future
That’s the past
We are the moment
Here to last

We are the old
That’s the down
We were the newschool
Ancient crown

Oldschool, baby

Wir sind die Zukunft
Der Vergangenheit
Wir sind der Augenblick
Der immer bleibt

Wir sind ganz anders
Aber nicht so
Wir keepen’s echt
Bei jeder Show

Oldschool, baby

Wir sind die Oldschool
That’s ganz neu
Wir kommen von Wegenweit
Linien treu

Wir bleiben hier
Und gehn zu dir
Wir sind die neue
Oldschool, baby

K.I.S.S. - Because I'm A Girl (2002)

For some reason the pictures of the horrific events in Japan today made me think first of this...

K.I.S.S. - a South Korean pop trio - not to be confused with Kiss, the NYC hard rock formation of the 1970s - shot to instant worldwide fame for the video to a song which orginally only captured the attention of it's audience regionally. However, someone posted the heart-wrenching 8 minute love tragedy on the internet and it began to take it's run around the world. The video tells the story of... - oh, watch it yourself...

There are now many versions of the song created after Kiss's original Korean version:
English version: 'Because I'm a Girl' by Jini (Kiss member)
Mandarin version: 'Mei You Ni De Mei Yi Tian' (没有你的每一天 'Days Without You') by Jill Xu Jie Er
Cantonese version: 'Yi Chong Zhi' (野种子 'Wild Seed') by Bobo Chan
Tagalog (Philippines) version: 'Kung Alam Mo Lang' by Roxanne Barcelo
Vietnamese version: 'Nỗi đau muộn màng' by Ưng Đại Vệ
2 Portuguese versions: 'Se você disser que sim' by Francielle and
'Por que tocou meu coração?' by Calcinha Preta
Japanese version: 'Onna Da Kara' by Azuki
Turkish version: 'Görmez Olsun' by Grup Boys Anılar
Spanish version: 'Because I'm A Girl' by Shenia

Kiss - Because I'm A Girl (2002)
KOR#1, PHP#3



Lyrics:

도대체 알수가 없어 남자들의 마음
Do-dae-che Ar-su-ga Eobs-eo Nam-ja-deur-ui Ma-eum
원할땐 언제고 다주니 이젠 떠난데
Won-har-ttaen Eon-je-go Da-ju-ni I-jen Tteo-nan-de
이런적 처음이라고
I-reon-jeog Cheo-eum-i-ra-go
너는 특별하다는 그 말을 믿었어
Neo-neun Teug-byeor-ha-da-neun Geu Mar-eur Mid-eoss-eo

내겐 행복이었어
Nae-gen Haeng-bog-i-eoss-eo
말을 하지 그랬어 내가 싫어 졌다고
Mar-eur Ha-ji Geu-raess-eo Nae-ga Sirh-eo Jyeoss-da-go
눈치가 없는 난 늘 보채기만 했어
Nun-chi-ga Eobs-neun Nan Neur Bo-chae-gi-man Haess-eo
너를 욕하면서도 많이 그리울꺼야
Neo-reur Yog-ha-myeon-seo-do Manh-i Geu-ri-ur-kkeo-ya
사랑이 전부인 나는 여자이니까
Sa-rang-i Jeon-bu-in Na-neun Yeo-ja-i-ni-kka

모든걸 쉽게 다주면 금방 싫증내는게
Mo-deun-geor Swib-ge Da-ju-myeon Geum-bang Sirh-jeung-nae-neun-ge
남자라 들었어 틀린말 같진 않아
Nam-ja-ra Deur-eoss-eo Teur-rin-mar Gat-jin Anh-a
다시는 속지 않으리 마음 먹어 보지만
Da-si-neun Sog-ji Anh-eu-ri Ma-eum Meog-eo Bo-ji-man
또 다시 사랑에 무너지는게 여자야
Tto Da-si Sa-rang-e Mu-neo-ji-neun-ge Yeo-ja-ya

말을 하지 그랬어 내가 싫어 졌다고
Mar-eur Ha-ji Geu-raess-eo Nae-ga Sirh-eo Jyeoss-da-go
눈치가 없는 난 늘 보채기만 했어
Nun-chi-ga Eobs-neun Nan Neur Bo-chae-gi-man Haess-eo
너를 욕하면서도 많이 그리울꺼야
Neo-reur Yog-ha-myeon-seo-do Manh-i Geu-ri-ur-kkeo-ya
사랑이 전부인 나는 여자이니까
Sa-rang-i Jeon-bu-in Na-neun Yeo-ja-i-ni-kka

사랑을 위해서라면 모든 다 할수 있는
Sa-rang-eur Wi-hae-seo-ra-myeon Mo-deun Da Har-su Iss-neun
여자의 착한 본능을 이용하지는 말아줘
Yeo-ja-ui Chag-han Bon-neung-eur I-yong-ha-ji-neun Mar-a-jwo

한여자로 태어나 사랑받고 사는게
Han-yeo-ja-ro Tae-eo-na Sa-rang-bad-go Sa-neun-ge
이렇게 힘들고 어려울줄 몰랐어
I-reoh-ge Him-deur-go Eo-ryeo-ur-jur Mor-rass-eo
너를 욕하면서도 많이 그리울꺼야
Neo-reur Yog-ha-myeon-seo-do Manh-i Geu-ri-ur-kkeo-ya
사랑이 전부인 나는 여자 이니까
Sa-rang-i Jeon-bu-in Na-neun Yeo-ja I-ni-kka
너를 욕하면서도 많이 그리울꺼야
Neo-reur Yog-ha-myeon-seo-do Manh-i Geu-ri-ur-kkeo-ya
사랑이 전부인 나는 여자 이니까.
Sa-rang-i Jeon-bu-in Na-neun Yeo-ja I-ni-kka.

Kurtis Mantronik / Mantronix

Now, how is this for internationalism...
Kurtis el Khaleel (Arabic: خليل‎), a.k.a. Kurtis Mantronik, was born 1965 in Jamaica to a Syrian father and a Jamaican mother, emigrated to Canada with his family at age 7, before eventually settling in NYC in 1980.

The same decade saw him leading the group Mantronix. The 7" vinyl of 'Got to Have Your Love'? graces my record shelves that to this very day. It reached UK#4.

Mantronix feat. Wondress - Gotta Have Your Love (1990)



Kurtis now lives in the UK and DJs, remixes and produces tracks generally attributed to the genres hip-hop, electro funk, house & techno. He has worked with recording artists such as Kylie Minogue, The Chemical Brothers, Fatboy Slim and Michael Gray.
In 2002 he remixed 'Gotta Have You Love' for and with Liberty X, whom participated in - but did not win - the 2001 run of ITV's 'Popstars'. The version shot straight to UK#2, AUS#4 & FRA#10 in it's first week.

Liberty X - Gotta Have Your Love (2002)



He also released several singles in his own name. 'How Did You Know?' went on to become my Tune of the Year 2003, coming with vocals courtesy Mim. Way ahead of its commercial release the track made its flying rounds on the club scene, known as '77 Strings' without the vocals, which had been added later.

Kurtis Mantronik feat. Chamonix - How Did You Know? (2003)