Singles of the 90's

Now that I've established a custom of starting reviewing from compilations, why break the tradition? This is one of the best CDs I have, with hits one after another.

#1 C'est la vie (Always 21) 10

This was about the best possible new song to start this compilation when I first listened to it. Very resemblant to AHAW, which of course doesn't bother me. "I get older every day / But I'll fight it till the end", it's funny how times change - on some of their earliest songs they said something about being young, now they're old already. In a way there's a pathetic atmosphere of denial and unhealthy worshipping of youth. Some of the lyrics caused something of a riot back then, hinting that the main character would accept almost any man at all, for not having to be alone: "With or without love, I'm gonna get man who can fulfil my dream / On the top of the world I don't wanna be alone / No, no, not me!" The reason of the row, however, must be that people don't want to admit that actually is the fact. Like I think Christina and Enrique sang, "Nobody wants to be lonely"... There are also very good mishearings: "I know you have a mother, yes I have seen her [...] I bet she wonders, "Who the hell?"

#2 The Sign 10

My first association now was to the film "Siqns" (Sickens) but traditionally this song is so much more. It's probably my all-time favourite of their works, never mind the religious connotations.

#3 Beautiful Life 10

Oh, these are all so good. This is one of the most danceable songs I know, as proven last Friday for example. This is also the song that comes into my mind when I remember the review I read somewhere for this collection that said "These songs are still great handbag-swingers in the new millennium". Maybe that was also a reference to the aging of the artists themselves, as well as their fans'. After all, I'm no longer 21 myself...

#4 Hallo Hallo 9

I'm almost glad this was inserted in this slot, so that the beginning of the CD wouldn't be too overpowering. Funny lyrics about a crush in a bus (though "bush" would rhyme better... (like "pupus in bushes"...)). Also already the second new track to feature the undying line "Easy come, easy go".

#5 Always Have, Always Will 10

My first contact to this was naturally when I got the Flowers album from Kati. She had listened to it before handing it over and commented, "The second track is SO you." And so did I like this from the very first listening.

#6 Love in December 9

Funny cheapish dance with interesting beat fills.

#7 All That She Wants 8½

"... and Ace of Base's pompous All That She Wants was roaming on the background..." When I first heard this, I was quite disappointed. Was this strangeness really their biggest hit? In time I've learnt to understand this to some extent but still it's not one of my favourites. But I still wonder why is she so desperate to get pregnant all over again...

#8 Living in Danger 9

After the modern start we're suddenly deep in their old style. One of my favourites in it.

#9 Everytime It Rains 8

"Everytime it rains, I get wet" - what deep philosophy! Not half bad a ballad, though.

#10 Don't Turn Around 8½

Was this their only hit not written by themselves? Nevertheless, it could hardly fit better to their old style. The plastic-sounding drums are just amazing. Well, all of it sounds pretty plastic. And another dominant phenomenon is that the old pieces sound quite hollow.

#11 Cruel Summer (Big Bonus Mix) 10

I'm not the slightest bit surprised that this remix was made by the people behind Aqua. One of all-time best covers and the second best Bananarama one. A problem is that in the chorus there's a strange guitary synth riff that I always tend to start following and forget the rest of the song.

#12 Happy Nation 7

One of those I've never understood. Famous for the political accusations it got when released.

#13 Lucky Love 10

I know someone who's going to get a fit from the scores I've given these two... This song's quite strongly linked to my childhood, although I didn't yet actively listen to any pop music back then. How could I resist the sunny sound, especially in the beginning?

#14 Never Gonna Say I'm Sorry (Extended Version) 9

Why on Earth did they ruin this characterful song with this vainly lenghtened version. Somehow it takes away much of the emotional power it would otherwise possess. In a way this is a scary song, could it be because of the video? The lyrics are also interesting, "I'm not normal, I know it, I don't care"

#15 Life Is a Flower 10

The first few times I heard this in the high school computer club I thought "What an annoying song!" but quite soon I came to my senses and started liking it. Those were about the same times I listened too much to One for Sorrow and Solid Harmonie's I'll Be There for You. And also the time when everyone seemed to spend a lot of time on the Altavista starting page... And all the good people like Widow-wife...

#16 Wheel of Fortune 7

So this was their first single. Why on Earth? It's strange, hollow and the lyrics are incomprehensible. The arrangement sounds so amateurish...