• No one to match Cliff
• Catching 'em young
• Snooty Sophie
• Super strike
• 'We are the world'
• Galle Road-take me home!
• 

No one to match Cliff

Sir Cliff Richard has been cited as the UK's chart artiste of the millennium. The 59-year-old singer has had a No:1 song in every decade since the UK pop chart was first compiled in 1952. Cliff is to embark on a very special concert tour in the next month joined by special guest star Hank Marvin of Shadows fame culminating in a gala concert on New Year's eve in London.

While Cliff has had a No: l over the last four decades, he has yet to score one in the current decade which ends on December 31, 2000. Rumour has it that Cliff will release a Christmas single next month. If radio stations act fairly towards him and he does manage airplay, he could have a No: l by the end of this year.

Santana fans are thrilled with the group's success in taking the No:l spot on the US singles chart last week. The Latin-rock group had to wait 33 years to achieve that goal. The long wait was rewarded with the song 'Smooth' which features Rob Thomas on vocals. Santana's success follows a revival in Latin music in the US and the rest of the world. The band's current album 'Supernatural' was also a recent chart topper on the albums' chart. 'Smooth' is featured on the album along with several other very good tracks. Santana is fronted by 57- year-old Carlos Santana.

The two biggest previous recordings as singles for Santana were 'Evil Ways' which peaked at No: 9 in 1970 and 'Black Magic Woman' which peaked at No: 4 also in 1970.

Keep on Moving' by Five is the new No: 1 song in the UK this week. It gives the 5 guys of Five their very first No: 1 in the UK. The song is a sharp contrast from their previous releases which were taken from the debut album ' 5ive'. ' Keep On Moving' places Five in a more mature atmosphere. While doing so they do not seem to have isolated themselves. Instead Five apper to struck the right chords in an already crowded scene and taken the No: 1 singles crown this week. Five comprises Sean Conlon, Richard Neville, Abs Breen, Jason Brown and Scott Robinson. They were brought together by the father and son team Bob and Chris Herbert.

Recently Mariah Carey notched up her 14th No: 1 in the US with the song 'Heartbreaker'. That song has now crossed the Atlantic and entered the UK singles chart at No: 5. The song is taken from Mariah's new album 'Rainbow'. The new single 'Heartbreaker' is very similar to an earlier hit of hers called 'Fantasy'. Unfortunately Mariah Carey does not seem to want to sing as it appears from the current single. She virtually hums and swallows her words which tend to get lost in the irritating rap narration of Jay Z. It is indeed sad to note a good voice losing out as her new raunchy look appears to take centre stage in her music. Let's hope it is corrected with the next few releases.

It's the turn of Diana Ross to swirl in on the scene. She checks into the UK chart this week at No: 9 with ' Not Over You Yet.' The old stars like Cher and Tina Turner and now Diana Ross are changing tactics to sell their music. Diana's days of soul seem to have vanished with the current single ' Not Over You Yet'. The single with a disco-ish flavour and a retinue of dancers ensures Diana Ross a place in the club scene - radio and single and album sales.

The release of the single comes a month after Diana Ross was arrested while leaving London's Heathrow airport. Her new album titled 'Every Day Is A New Day' is due shortly.

Six years ago when Neneh Cherry released Buddy X the song failed to attract any attention. Infact it only peaked at No: 35 with just three weeks of chart life. Now thanks to an updated dance beat from the Dreamteam Neneh Cherry's old song is back in the chart at No: 15. The original in 1993, the remix is a major improvement and appealing too. Neneh Cherry is the daughter of jazz saxaphonist Don Cherry and half brother of Eagle Eye Cherry.

As Tom Jones sees a revival in his career, a ITV special was held in England recently where fans young and old from stage and screen and the music scene gathered to honour the Welsh singer .

The music industry across the globe has seen a 4% drop in sales, the only exception being Europe. The continent recorded an increase in sales by 2%.

More Mirror Magazine

Return to Mirror MagazineContents