He/Him
#soon! Part Un - The 60s-00s Girl Band Debut Breakthrough Rate
- Thread starter berserkboi
- Start date
she/her
I now get that song stuck in my head a lot.
He/Him
Also I got a little overeager to troll @soratami there in my last post -
I was actually wanting to give the hint for the next cut early as we are truly getting into the business end of the rate now!
- The average jumps into the 8s!!
- The next cut has at least 1 x 11
- It also has 10 x 10
Start panicking for your faves!!!
I was actually wanting to give the hint for the next cut early as we are truly getting into the business end of the rate now!
- The average jumps into the 8s!!
- The next cut has at least 1 x 11
- It also has 10 x 10
Start panicking for your faves!!!
Replying to @berserkboi's question from another thread here ('cause it's the relevant thread):
Funnily enough, I had never heard of The Nolans either until a couple of years ago. 'Gotta Pull Myself Together' was a big hit here, as it turned up in an annual chart video I compiled late last year (I think the Australian top 50 singles of 1981) at around #21. But I was born in '78 and didn't get into music properly until '87/'88... though I knew many of the big hits from that year, still, but not this one.
Their Oz singles chart history is as follows:
Gotta Pull Myself Together #3
I'm In the Mood For Dancing #43
Attention To Me #94
Chemistry #51
So, really they were one-hit wonders here.
Funnily enough, I had never heard of The Nolans either until a couple of years ago. 'Gotta Pull Myself Together' was a big hit here, as it turned up in an annual chart video I compiled late last year (I think the Australian top 50 singles of 1981) at around #21. But I was born in '78 and didn't get into music properly until '87/'88... though I knew many of the big hits from that year, still, but not this one.
Their Oz singles chart history is as follows:
Gotta Pull Myself Together #3
I'm In the Mood For Dancing #43
Attention To Me #94
Chemistry #51
So, really they were one-hit wonders here.
He/Him
Thanks for that insight!!
#13
(70s Bronze Medalist)
The Nolans – I’m In The Mood For Dancing
Average Score: 7.981
Highest Score: 11 x 1 (@SuperNerd) 10x 6 (@iheartpoptarts, @Trouble in Paradise, @DJHazey, @soratami, @Filippa, @Empty Shoebox)
Lowest Score: 3 x 1 (@kermit_the_frog)
Another rate discovery for @berserkboi bites the dust! The Nolans have surprisingly never been on my radar ever before! Not in Mauritius, not in Australia, not even my fascination with UK Pop brought them to my attention. This made I’m In The Mood For Dancing quite the fun number to discover with its hearty lyrics celebrating a good time and the charming sisters singing in their exuberant tone about their good mood.
The Nolans were always one of the highest placing 70s acts here, at any random point of the voting period. They were even soundly beating The Emotions for a few weeks - how shocking! The fun quality of the track does lend itself well to a discovery, so if many of you heard it for the first time like I did, I am not surprised you rated it highly. The ones who knew I’m In The Mood For Dancing before the rate probably have fond memories attached, as myself and a few others did with B*Witched and their nostalgia may have caused a higher score than usual, I would hazard a guess.
I’m In The Mood For Dancing was released in November 1979 (just making the cut off for inclusion here) and reached its peak of #3 in the UK charts in 1980. The girls had another top 40 hit prior to this track called Spirit, Body and Soul which did not qualify them for the rate. I’m In The Mood For Dancing was written by Ben Findon, Mike Myers and Bob Puzey, and featured lead vocals by Bernie Nolan. Although Coleen features in the video – she wasn’t part of the band yet, she became one soon after the song’s release as the girls changed their name from The Nolan Sisters to The Nolans.
I’m In The Mood For Dancing accomplished a rare feat for its time in reaching the top spot in Japan, something English songs seldom achieved then. This prompted The Nolans to record a version in Japanese which would be translated back to Dancing Sister(s). The girls would go on to have a further 2 #1 hits in Japan even when their luck turned in Europe. The Nolans are a family band of sisters, five of which Anne, Denise, Maureen, Linda & Bernie were regular guest performers on numerous TV shows in the UK, they also supported Frank Sinatra on his 1975 European tour. Between 1979 and 1982, they had seven UK hits, and in 1981 they won the Tokyo Music Festival with “Sexy Music”.
The girls have had various line-ups including the sisters and their own daughters with a few trying for a solo career over the years in various areas of the entertainment industry. Some of the girls did embark on a reunion tour in 2009 but the exclusion of others drew a rift between the girls. Bernie Nolan passed away in 2013 of a breast cancer resurgence (which led to the other sisters reconciling). When asked to tour again in 2014, Coleen stated it was still too soon.
What was PopJustice in the mood for when citing for The Nolans?
Zar-Unity (7) thinks The Nolans are worthy of his favourite score - Wow, pretty catchy and clever lyrics! Great voices! Tech: 4 Taste: 3 = 7 points. Kermit_The_Frog (3) taps into his Bea Arthur persona for this one - I simply cannot be objective about this song - this is the music that “basic” as an adjective was invented for. Barely competent at any component of being a popstar, they get a bonus point for giving us “Jim Carson’s Dressing Room” and another bonus point for “how many different names can we give Colleen in the CBB thread”. Disclaimer: it is entirely possible that neither Linda nor Colleen was even in The Nolans at this point in their career. And as I type that, Colleen appears in the video struggling with stepping back and forward in time to music, making her “hardly a dancer” sisters look like Oti Mabuse in comparison.
ComeOnGloria (8.8) is more fond of it than his predecessors - Just so catchy! Saviodxl (8.9) rates this his favourite of the 70s - Best breakthrough of their decade! I'm in the mood too! Spillett (9) agrees with the sentiment - (oh yes... you'd have to dance to this if it came on.) Filippa (10) isn’t such a villain after all - I didn’t know the group, didn’t know the song but I instantly loved it. This is such a lovely happy pop song. An Irish band? I’m glad I listened to it.
Trouble In Paradise (10) thinks this song fits his mood perfectly - I have a soft spot for straight ahead disco songs about dance and romance with fun piping backing vocals and this one does it perfectly. Empty Shoebox (10) is a big fan! - I love the disco era. You can tell that by the fact that I haven't even marked this song down for the unnecessary key change. Sprockrooster (5) is not here for the more questionable vocals - A bit screechy at times.
Londonrain (6) only has one word for it! - A bop. DominoDancing (8) thinks the opposite of Empty Shoebox, hello #EmptyDominoBox - Super, super catchy. The key changes really make it work and keep this from becoming too repetitive. Iheartpoptarts (10) finally reaches into her OhNostalgia too - Happy and fun and at least two of them look a lot like old pictures of my Mom.
Ufint (8.5) thinks this hits all the right spots! - Lovely sound and lead vocals are awesome. Unnameable (8) feels no shame dancing to this still!- still worth dancing to. DJHazey (10) thinks there is more to it than first meets the eye - Such a feel good tune here, with varied vocal registers and runs throughout keeping me guessing. Not just the basic bop it probably seems like at first glance.
So, out of Baccara & The Emotions - who do you think should take the 70s crown?
#soon!
So that's what inspired the Chemistry Girls Aloud cover!
Does @ohnoitisnathan's insights into the chart positions of The Nolans mean that we rated the wrong song?
He/Him
We'll fix that in part 2 if that's the case ;)
It's going to be t.A.T.u. isn't it? The 0 they got must have hurt their average.
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Deleted member 29256
londonrain
Staff member
No. Both I’m In The Mood For Dancing and Gotta Pull Myself Together were released in 1981 in Australia as far as I can tell, so I’m In The Mood For Dancing is still their breakthrough, since it hit the UK top 20 in 1980.
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Deleted member 3416
All these #soon mentions makes me think Sugababes will win this rate. Either that or MKS have hired @berserkboi for promotional purposes while they remain in limbo.
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Deleted member 26234
Looking up Coleen Nolan I completely understand your argument. She seems to be a quite silly attention-seeker.
He/Him
And another 3rd Place finish of a decade is decided!!!
It goes to!
#12
90s Bronze Medalist
Wilson Phillips – Hold On
Average Score: 8.015
Highest Score: 11 x 1 (@ComeOnGloria) 10 x 10 (@Mvnl, @SuperNerd, @ufint, @tylerc904, @unnameable, @DJHazey, @Trouble in Paradise, @Remorque, @ohnostalgia, @Filippa)
Lowest Score: 3.5 x 2 (@Untouchable Ace, @Aester) 2 x1 (@iheartpoptarts)
It goes to!
#12
90s Bronze Medalist
Wilson Phillips – Hold On
Average Score: 8.015
Highest Score: 11 x 1 (@ComeOnGloria) 10 x 10 (@Mvnl, @SuperNerd, @ufint, @tylerc904, @unnameable, @DJHazey, @Trouble in Paradise, @Remorque, @ohnostalgia, @Filippa)
Lowest Score: 3.5 x 2 (@Untouchable Ace, @Aester) 2 x1 (@iheartpoptarts)
So Wilson Phillips best their position in the 90s rate here by one with a #12 finish in the girl band rate! I made my thoughts clear about Hold On then and @DJHazey wasn’t particularly pleased with me. He should be happy to know however that Hold On has grown on me since, not by much but the song is certainly worth over a 7 to me now - which it got when I rated this song list. My trouble with it remains that it does not leave much of an impact on me, still a great sentiment but I don’t connect for whatever reason.
When voting first started, Hold On found itself around the mid-20s finish, which I thought was quite adequate but @ComeOnGloria came in and bestowed his 11, which took it up close to the top 10 and it never truly fell very far off that from that point on. The many 10s certainly helped it but the low scores from voters who failed to make a strong connection did ground it a fair bit too. All the ingredients are in Hold On for greatness - solid vocals, great harmonies that work together beautifully, lovely instrumental that build solidly but it just seems void of genuineness and leaves me a little cold.
Hold On is certainly a number that schools most of the others on the song list in how to do a successful debut! It made #1 in the US upon release and finished as the best selling single of 1990. Billboard considers it to be #15 of 100 Greatest Girl Group Songs Of All Time (they swapped placements with Heatwave, as you would recall Heatwave was #12 on that list and finished #15 in this rate grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr). Hold On also got to #2 in Australia & #6 in the UK. Many (myself included) came to know Hold On due to its pivotal appearance during the climax of Bridesmaids – which also led to a bit of resurgence for Wilson Phillips.
Wilson Phillips is made up of the daughters of some members of The Mamas & The Papas – Chynna Phillips is the daughter of John & Michelle Phillips and Carnie & Wendy Wilson are Brian Wilson’s (from the Beach Boys) daughters (hence the band name). They grew up together and developed their song writing & unique harmonising styles from an early age. The girls first signed with SBK Records in 1989 and released the debut album in 1990. Hold On was its first single. The album was incredibly successful, selling over 10 million copies (probably the biggest parent album of any band here, until potentially we get to Spice) and housing another two #1 singles on the Billboard Charts. At the time, the trio were the best-selling female group. After a second album, Chynna announced plans to embark on a solo career, which saw the disbandment of Wilson Phillips for a few years. They have since had two reunions, one in 2004 and another in 2010 for a Christmas album. Stay tuned for more!
Let’s see if PopJustice has very different things to say about Wilson Phillips since the first 90s rate!
DJHazey (10) is still as enamoured with the girls here as he was back then - "Don't you know? Things can change, things'll go your way, if you hoooooooold on" Enough said. Unnameable (10) agrees! – I love their use of harmony and this song is timeless. Ufint (10) does too! That’s 3 x 10s already!! - So yeah, I didn’t even hear this until after I’d heard DWV’s “Chick Fil-A” parody around 50 times. It felt weird listening to the original after this, but I mean it’s timeless and just awesome. Besides, it being in “Bridesmaids”, one of the greatest comedies of all time definitely elevates it to a 10.
Iheartpoptarts (2) hasn’t grown to love this anymore since the last time, and may I say, a very controversial opinion will come up #soon! - No more of this adult contemporary business mmmkay thanks bye. DominoDancing (6.5) pits the Hold Ons against each other and finds this the winner - I guess I like this better than En Vogue's Hold On, but it is very, very MOR. UntouchableAce (3.5) is team #UntouchablePopTarts - Brides Maids has only made me think of this as a parody.
Empty Shoebox (8) finds my rate to plateau the same way @Ironheade ’s did (also, check out his amazing write-up for Hold On) - Eagle eyed among you may notice that this is the same score that I gave this song in the 90's number ones rate. Is it because I'm lazy? If it was, I wouldn't admit to it. I gave it an eight because that's where I think it falls compared to the tens and zeroes in this rate. There's not much that I can really say about this song. The lyrics are good, the harmonies are good, but never anything more. As a package, it all works, but It never feels like it excels in any particular aspect.
Trouble In Paradise (10) has always loved this one - I loved this song before Bridesmaids and love it even more now. Filippa (10) is still out of rate villain persona, that’s about 3 x 10s from her in the last 4 eliminations, let’s forget the zero! - Harmonies, harmonies, harmonies – yes, still love this song! ComeOnGloria (11) only has one thing to say about the reason for the 11! - Those harmonies! Fabulous!!
Riiiiiiiii (8.4) has a refreshing point of reference for this (in the sense I didn’t know it) - Empowering discovery! Can you believe I only knew this one from Willam & Detox’s Chow Down at Chick-fil-A cover? Kermit_The_Frog (9) is having similar emotions he did with The Saturdays - I feel like I should despise this song (too saccharine, too “self-empowerment anthem”, too easy listening). Yet I can’t - it’s THAT good… Carnie Wilson being body-shamed into wearing a trenchcoat while lazing on the beach though? Unacceptable. Zar-Unity (7) is still cursing these songs with his favourite score - A well crafted pop song with some touching lyrics. Tech: 4 Taste: 3 = 7 points
So, the 90s showdown is between All Saints and Spice Girls?
How fitting!
Back when I was a teenager, you were either into one or the other
(or both - as it should be!).
Which team are you behind?
#soon!
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Deleted member 3416
Out of the two songs the Spice Girls should be winning the 90's section.
He/Him
Oooh! Also!
What do you all think is the song we will lose before the top 10 is here? Only one elimination to go til then!!
I have a feeling it'll be t.A.T.u. but I hope not. Actually I thought they had been eliminated and that the "duplicates" title was a reference to them being a pair.