Few people realize just how different the music across the pond is from that we listen to in America, that the Hot 100 doesn't exist in the UK, and that its equivalent to our singles chart doesn't just feature a whole bunch of American artists with even more One Direction and Ellie Goulding tracks. Music Times is looking back at the last five decades of music, and at the no. 1 hits on April 2 every ten years on the spot, going back to 1975. The ultimate contest, of course, is which country has better taste. Last month the win went to the UK in the best-of-five showdown. This month features Wiz Khalifa, Jason Derulo, Mariah Carey and more in the field.
1975: "Whispering Grass" by Windsor Davies & Dan Estelle (UK) vs. "Thank God I'm A Country Boy" by John Denver (U.S.)
We've already seen in previous installments of this intercontinental singles competition that the UK can often land a comedic single on top of the charts (as it did with "Is This The Way to Amarillo"). Prior to that smash, however, comedic duo Don Estelle and Windsor Davies managed to top the charts for three weeks in 1975 with "Whispering Grass," a pop single dating back to the '40s. The original is comedic enough, with its themes of the "whispering grass" telling secrets to the trees, who blab to the bird and the bees and everything in between. What makes this rendition more of a hoot is Davies and his bass-register voice, adding interjections such as "I will not have gossip in this jungle!" It's a fun piece of sentimentality, but we're not going to give it the nod over John Denver and his "Thank God I'm A Country Boy," a song that makes us long for the days where Denver was considered a country boy, without any obnoxious fanfare. Interestingly, the version of this song was from the live album An Evening With John Denver, as the song wasn't released as a studio single.
ROUND ONE: United States
1985: "19" by Paul Hardcastle (UK) vs. "Everybody Wants to Rule The World" by Tears for Fears (U.S.)
This case more than any other on this list demonstrates an unusual trend. Just as was the case during 1975, the American no. 1 single consists of a great many more words than its alternate across the pond. This round is perhaps even more interesting as it features one British act (Paul Hardcastle) representing its homeland, while another (Tears For Fears) was tops in the United States. If this competition were based strictly on popularity, "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" would be the easy winner, as one of the biggest singles to come of the '80s new wave scene. However, Hardcastle's "19" is arguably among the greatest electronic performances of that decade. Even if you rule out all of the music involved, "19" serves as proof that electronic or dance music can do more than just provide a party...it can make a political statement as well. The song explores the aftereffects of the Vietnam War, from the damage taken on the ground and the post-traumatic stress syndrome suffered by veterans after the war. The title refers to the average age of combatants during the war.
ROUND TWO: United Kingdom
1995: "Unchained Melody/White Cliffs of Dover" by Robson & Jerome (UK) vs. "Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman?" by Bryan Ferry
Robson Green and Jerome Flynn first found fame as actors on the show Soldier Soldier, a popular military drama in the UK during the '90s. For some reason, the characters they played ended up singing a version of "Unchained Melody"—a popular '50s song-drew the attention of viewers, who called into the ITV inquiring about where they might find it on shelves. Simon Cowell, working the UK music circuit far before his days as a reality TV show judge, convinced the pair to come together as Robson & Jerome and record a studio version of the track. It was a smash hit, being packaged as a medley with "White Cliffs of Dover" and topping the charts for seven weeks during 1995. It would later end up that both actors had received help with tough notes in-studio, causing a minor scandal. Still, better to have someone else do it right than offer up a bit of tripe such as Bryan Ferry's last no. 1 single, "Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman?" No, the Spanish guitar doesn't help this song put us in the mood.
ROUND THREE: United Kingdom
2005: "Axel F" by Crazy Frog (UK) vs. "We Belong Together" by Mariah Carey (U.S.)
Remember how during 1985 we were praising Paul Hardcastle for bringing an important message into electronic message with "19"? Twenty years later, almost to the day, the song "Axel F" by Crazy Frog was at no. 1. Harold Faltermeyer had a no. 1 smash with the track the world over when it was featured in the Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack, so what was it doing back at no. 1 in the UK more than 20 years later? Crazy Frog, an electronic "act" marketed by ringtone-provider (remember those?) Jamba!, which mainly consisted of taking preexisting tracks and filling them with noises reminiscent of the Despicable Me minions, had remixed "Axel F" and taken it to no. 1 across almost all of Europe. Literally, an act so obnoxious that it began its career under the title "The Annoying Thing," was at no. 1 in the UK. We don't even need to justify Mariah Carey's "We Belong Together" as the no. 1 in this case, aside from noting that Crazy Frog was the other competitor. It's only a five-round competition, but if we ever needed a tiebreaker, this would be it.
ROUND FOUR: United States
2015: "Want To Want Me" by Jason Derulo (UK) vs. "See You Again" by Wiz Khalifa
The United States has gone back to Wiz Khalifa and his tribute track to Paul Walker from the Furious 7 soundtrack, "See You Again," while the UK is opting for an American artist this time, as Jason Derulo tries to win us over with his lead single "Want To Want Me." It's interesting to consider this song alongside hits from other decades as Derulo's new single definitely throws it back to the '80s with its synth-happy bounce. That's the opposite attitude coming from Khalifa and his R&B star collaborator, Charlie Puth, who are obviously taking a more somber tone when considering the death of a comrade. Derulo hasn't let us down with this one but we're going to stick with the homeland's choice for no. 1, finding its more touching subject matter a nice change of direction (or maybe we're just still mad about Crazy Frog).
ROUND FIVE, MATCH: United States
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