MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : SMASH HITS – 17.7.1996

Just gone solo from Take That, Robbie Williams is the cover star of this week’d edition of Smash Hits, declaring that he is going to be the biggest star in the world.

Smash Hits takes it to the British public to see who is their favourite between Robbie Williams and Gary Barlow, with Gary edging 6-4.

But you had the chance to make your voice heard, with a phone poll to vote for your favourite.

By now, there is an Oasis column, giving you all the news from Planet Gallagher.

Smash Hits was granted an audience with Glenn from Glenn and Chris, who had a hit with Diamond Lights. By 1996, he was the manager of the England football team, and gives Smash Hits his opinions on the best young English players there is.

One of the players mentioned was Jamie Redknapp, and his future wife Louise had a party to celebrate the release of her debut album, attended by David Baddiel and Ant from Ant and Dec.

In rivalries news, Crush (featuring Donna Air) have gone to war with Shampoo.

This is followed by a dodgy interview. Nothing wrong with the content, it was an interview with the band Dodgy.

Smash Hits treats us to a double page feature on ads we’d love to see, featuring tour favourite pop stars.

Toni Braxton is interviewed, revealing that she doesn’t drink because she got sick the last time she drank.

In part four of a five part series of interviews with Boyzone, this week, it is Stephen Gately.

In song lyrics posters, there was one for Born Slippy by Underworld. It wasn’t all shouting “Lager Lager Lager”

In bandwatch, Smash Hits keeps us up to date with your favourite bands such as Oasis, Pulp and Boyzone.

Oasis are currently resting ahead of Knebworth and Loch Lomond gigs

Boyzone’s website is reviewed, described as “Not the best to look at, and it could be faster”

There is a full page profile of Dogstar, Keanu Reeves band, described as looking like Let Loose.

In reviews, Shampoo are awarded Best Album.

Talking of Shampoo, they take questions from a biscuit tin, revealing that Crush’s new single is the worst song they heard on the radio that week.

Linford Christie is interviewed ahead of the Olympics, revealing that he isn’t related to Agatha Christie.

THE FRIDAY FIVE – 2.8.2018

1. Vampire Weekend ft Danielle Haim – Son Of A Preacher Man
2. Miles Kane – Cry On My Guitar
3. Lewis Capaldi – Tough
4. Paul Weller – Movin On
5. Paul McCartney – Come On To Me

This week, saw International Yorkshire Day, so to celebrate, here’s a chart for you to belatedly celebrate.

FIVE SONGS BY ARTISTS FROM YORKSHIRE

1. Pulp – A Little Soul
2. Def Leppard – When Love And Hate Collide
3. Embrace – You’re Not Alone
4. Human League – Tell Me When
5. Kiki Dee – Star

THE FRIDAY FIVE – 28.7.2017

1. Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott – Here I Go Again
2. Starsailor – All This Life
3. Chainsmokers – Young
4. Paul Weller – Woo Se Mama
5. The Cribs- Rainbow Ridge

This Tuesday, is International Yorkshire Day. So, to celebreate, here’s a chart of songs by Yorkshire acts. Ay up.

FIVE SONGS BY YORKSHIRE ACTS

1. Embrace – You’re Not Alone
2. Pulp – A Little Soul
3. Heaven 17 – Temptation
4. Shed Seven – Disco Down
5. Kaiser Chiefs – Modern Way

PS : Still looking for a Standing ticket for Ryan Adams at Ulster Hall in September. Face Value only. Do get in touch.

THE FRIDAY FIVE – 21.4.2017

1. Paramore – Hard Times
2. Kasabian – Bless This Acid House
3. Prince – Deliverance
4. Camens – Boys Will Stray
5. Spoon – Hot Thoughts

Today is Robert Smiths’s birthday, and it’s his favourite day of the week. It’s the first time it’s fallen on a Friday since 2006, and won’t happen again until 2023, so he had better enjoy it.

To celebrate, here’s a The Cure Top Five

FIVE SONGS BY THE CURE

1. Friday I’m In Love
2. Lullaby
3. Hot Hot Hot
4. Close To Me
5. In Between Days

This Sunday, is St George’s Day, so time to lie back and think of England with some themed playlists for you

FIVE SONGS BY SINGERS CALLED GEORGE OR BANDS WITH SOMEONE CALLED GEORGE

1. Wham! – Freedom
2. One Night Only – Say You Don’t Want It
3. George Baker Selection – Little Green Bag
4. George Ezra – Blame It On Me
5. The Beatles – While My Guitar Gently Weeps

FIVE SONGS BY ACTS FROM ENGLAND

1. Pulp – A Little Soul
2. Depeche Mode – Enjoy The Silence
3. Cast – Finetime
4. The Beautiful South – Ole Red Eyes Is Back
5. Duran Duran – Ordinary World

Gig news, Paramore are coming to Belfast. The downside is, i’m already going to see The 1975 that night. If their marketing team had any brains, they could get them to do a gig at the bar of a South Belfast hotel and call it “PARAMORE AT THE PARADOR”

No doubt you all saw May’s big announcement on Tuesday morning. Brian that is, not Theresa. “Queen” are coming to The Odyssey in November. I’m not a big fan of him as a solo artist (apart from What Do You Want From Me?) but Adam Lambert is a capable vocalist and Queen + Adam Lambert looked decent at their BBC New Year’s Eve concert in 2014/2015. However, £74? For £74, i’m expecting Freddie Mercury and John Deacon on stage, and David Bowie to make a guest appearance on Under Pressure.

Ever since BBC Four had a night of programming dedicated to Depeche Mode, i’m been rediscovering how brilliant they are. There’ll be a Belfast gig this year, date to be announced, so I might pop along to see them.

Ryan Adams update. Still looking for a ticket for his Ulster Hall gig.

THE FRIDAY FIVE – 5.8.2016

1. Biffy Clyro – Howl
2. Tegan and Sara – Faint Of Heart
3. Sophie Ellis-Bextor – Come With Us
4. Two Door Cinema Club – Bad Decisions
5. ABC – The Flames Of Desire

Last Monday, was International Yorkshire Day. I went to Yorkshire once, it were alright.

FIVE SONGS BY ACTS FROM YORKSHIRE

1. Pulp – A Little Soul
2. Embrace – You’re Not Alone
3. Shed Seven – She Left Me On Friday
4. Kiki Dee – Star
5. Kaiser Chiefs – Modern Way

This Wednesday, is Duran Duran Appreciation Day. In other words, it’s just another day for me. I’d appreciate them a lot more if they’d come and do a gig in Belfast.

Here’s a Duran Duran Top five. It wasn’t easy trying to pick five. In fact, it was about as easy as a nuclear war.

FIVE SONGS BY DURAN DURAN

1. Wildboys
2. Hungry Like The Wolf
3. Ordinary World
4. Serious
5. Save A Prayer

THE FRIDAY FIVE – 31.7.2015

1. Chemical Brothers – Go
2. Sunset Sons – She Wants
3. Hidden Cities ft Tim Halperin – Hungry Like The Wolf
4. New Order – Restless
5. Andreya Trian – Gold

Tomorrow, is International Yorkshire Day. So, to celebrate, here’s a musical chart from Yorkshire’s musical output.

FIVE SONGS BY ACTS FROM YORKSHIRE

1. Pulp – A Little Soul
2. Kaiser Chiefs – Oh My God
3. Kiki Dee – Star
4. Def Leppard – When Love And Hate Collide
5. Human League – Tell Me When

THE FRIDAY FIVE – 9.1.2015

1. James Bay – Hold Back The River
2. Ellie Goulding – Love Me Like You Do
3. Charli XCX ft Rita Ora – Doing It
4. Imagine Dragons – Gold
5. Pulp – Disco 2000

50 YEARS OF TOP OF THE POPS : SEP 19 – SEP 25

Our first birthday this week, is Bill Medley, 74 this week.

I once performed karaoke and sang “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling” then mixed into “Time Of My Life” …….. it was a Bill Medley Medley.

When Mrs Creme gave birth to a boy, she laughed out loud so much, she called him Lol. Not really, she called him Lawrence and he just shortened his name.

Looks like you’re going to Get Lucky this week, as it’s Nile Rodgers birthday.

Jarvis Cocker wants to meet up in the Year 2000. There’s someone who appears later this week who might be able to help him.

Dan Gillespie-Sales from The Feeling turned 35 this week.

THIS!!!!! is the definitive version of “Here I Go Again”

Getting ready to Rawwkkkk!!! now

Joan Jett loves Rock n Roll.

This week just rocks ……. ultimate rawwkkkk gawwwdddd …… Chesney Hawkes.

Incidentally, i’ve checked the UK Census. Chesney Hawkes is indeed, the one and only Chesney Hawkes. Chesney Hawkes faded into obscurity after this song, but his mole appeared in the Austin Powers movie “Goldmember”

Chesney Hawkes dad was in The Tremeloes, as was Brian Poole, who is Alisha’s Attic’s dad.

Ironically, Alisha’s Attic live in Alicia Keys attic.

Now that we’re talking about 60s pop stars, Gerry Marsden owns a Chinese restaurant in Liverpool called You’ll Never Wok Alone.

Will Smith’s auntie and uncle in Bel Air let him out to do TOTP in 1998.

Andy Williams died two years ago this week. He’s a Ska tribute.

The Boss is now officially an OAP, but still very much in charge.

But you may be surprised by the first Springsteen song performed on the show.

(WARNING: Clip contains Jimmy Savile)

And finally, Billie Piper turned 32 this week. Let’s take a trip in the Pop Tardis to when she was a pop star (see what I did there?)

But that wasn’t her first TV appearance ……. that came in an ad campaign for Smash Hits.

THE FRIDAY FIVE – 1.8.2014

1. Sheppard – Say Geronimo
2. George Ezra – Cassy O
3. Black Rivers – The Ship
4. Royal Blood – Come On Over
5. Kaiser Chiefs – My Life

If you haven’t noticed, it’s International Yorkshire Day today. So to celebrate, here’s a chart for you. It’s very Sheffield centric.

FIVE SONGS BY ACTS FROM YORKSHIRE

1. Heaven 17 – Temptation
2. Arctic Monkeys – Do I Wanna Know?
3. Pulp – A Little Soul
4. Def Leppard – When Love And Hate Collide
5. Kiki Dee- Star

THE FRIDAY FIVE – 2.8.2013

1. Haim – The Wire
2. Franz Ferdinand – Right Action
3. Chvrches – Gun
4. James Blunt – Bonfire Heart
5. Blur – Tender

Yesterday, was International Yorkshire Day, so that sounds like a good excuse for a chart. The original draft of the chart was Sheffield centric (ie – Five songs by Sheffield acts) so hopefully Sheffield will go rogue and gain independence so I can give them their own chart.

FIVE SONGS BY ACTS FROM YORKSHIRE

1. Heaven 17 – Temptation
2. Kiki Dee – Star
3. Pulp – Disco 2000
4. Embrace – You’re Not Alone
5. Kaiser Chiefs – Ruby