Let's Update Nature's Best: 2003-2004
Part Two of this ongoing series provides the next batch of tracks to consider ...
Last week we looked at the first nine tracks to consider as additions to APRA’s Top 1000 Kiwi Songs Of All Time list from 2001; I reckon its time to update it.
But first:
2001-2002 Reconsidered:
Based on the poll results on last weeks post, there were a couple of songs that you all thought should shift. Fully half of voters thought Nesian Mystik’s “It’s On” should be lower, so I’ve adjusted it to #89 (from #69); meanwhile half of you thought Blindspott’s “Phlex” should be higher, so I’ve popped it at #69 (from #89).
An even number of votes thought The Datsuns’ “In Love” (originally #102) should have been higher and shouldn’t’ve made the list, so I’m going to leave it there. I’ve also left Goodshirt’s “Sophie” where it is (#19) after even numbers of votes said it should be higher and that it should be lower.
Lastly, 80% of voters felt that Anika Moa’s “Youthful” should be lower on the list, so I’ve popped it at #42 (down from #33). I still feel it should be in the Top 50.
And with that business done, let’s look at 2003-2004!
> Scribe - "Not Many"
To this day, Scribe’s The Crusader stands as one of the great hip-hop albums produced in this country, debuting at #1 and staying on the albums chart for thirty weeks, and winning Album Of The Year and Best Male Solo Artist at the Aotearoa Music Awards in 2004. “Stand Up” won Single Of The Year at those awards, but “Not Many” is the most memorable track, and if you don’t believe me say ‘not many’ to a random person and see how quickly they reply ‘if any’. I’m feeling #27 for this one.
> Goldenhorse - "Maybe Tomorrow"
Goldenhorse’s signature track peaked at #10 on the singles chart, and was nominated for Single Of The Year at the Aotearoa Music Awards 2004 and the 2003 Silver Scroll Award. I know its a memorable track, and certainly worthy of commemoration, but I’m feeling a #72 for this one (and I worry thats too high).
> Elemeno P - "Verona"
As the years go on, I’ve started to believe that Love & Disrespect - the debut album from Elemeno P, from which “Verona” emerged - might be one of the greatest rock albums this country has ever seen. Love And Disrespect also spawned “Nirvana”, “Fast Times In Tahoe” and “Every Day’s A Saturday”, but “Verona” is far and away the most memorable track. Rock worth celebrating is in short supply so I think “Verona” should slot in at #67.
> Katchafire - "Get Away"
> Katchafire - "Giddy Up"
Okay, so “Giddy Up” is the more Katchafire-ish track here, as well as the more commercially successful, but I think “Get Away” is the single best song the group have ever produced - a breezy reggae track with deceptively poignant lyrics that describe the lower-middle class struggle. I don’t think both songs need to go on there, so I’m going to put “Get Away” at #41, and leave “Giddy Up” off.
> Mareko - "Stop, Drop and Roll (ft Deceptikonz)"
I gave this one a lot - A LOT - of thought because it is one of the catchiest hip-hop songs to come out in the wake of Dawn Raid Entertainments dominance of the charts and radio in the 2000s. That said, this is a list of songs, not record labels; DRE would be at the top of that list. But I can’t justify adding Mareko to this one. Sorry, Mareko.
> Fast Crew - "I Got"
“I Got” was everywhere for a while in 2004, and it popped up in my research enough that I had to consider it.
That doesn’t mean its good though.
> Brooke Fraser - "Arithmetic"
I know Brooke Fraser has been through the media wringer in the past few weeks, peaking with the highest selling solo Kiwi concert held at Spark Arena, but almost immediately drawing criticism for thanking a known sexual deviant. But I firmly believe that shouldn’t play into her standing on this list. Fraser’s debut album What To Do With Daylight was a revelation when it was released in 2004, spawning 5 singles that charted inside the Top 20, peaking at #1 on the albums chart, and winning a slew of awards.
One of the keys to that album is how quickly it draws you in with the opening bars of “Arithmetic”, its opening song and itself a Single Of The Year nominee at the Aotearoa Music Awards in 2005. I’m placing this one at #51, which seems right to me - Fraser is a great songwriter but I don’t know if she has the longevity of a Top 50 song on this list.
> Steriogram - "Walkie Talkie Man"
The original ‘Gram signed to Capitol Records in the USA and saw massive success after this track featured in one of those old iPod ‘silhouette’ commercials. Steriogram always struggled for respect at home though, especially after parting ways with Capitol following the release of debut full length Schmack! I always thought they deserved better. And I reckon the international success of “Walkie Talkie Man” is deserving of #83.
> Evermore - "It"s Too Late"
Conversely, Evermore are a band who - I think - probably got too much coverage, mostly because the Feilding band, made of brothers Jon, Peter and Dann Hume, succeeded in Australia before they succeeded here. The group’s best album was 2004’s Dreams, which spawned this single and garnered five nominations at the ARIA Music Awards in Australia. They didn’t really hit here until the release of the untenable “Light Surrounding You” in 2007, and I don’t think that belongs on this list. Sadly, I have to conclude we should leave them off entirely.
> The Black Seeds - "So True"
> The Black Seeds - "Sort It Out"
Another case where I put the more logical choice ahead of my own preference. I think “Sort It Out” is one of the best and funkiest songs to come out of the Wellington reggae-dub scene. 2004’s On The Sun is the high point for the group, in my opinion at least, but there’s no way I can place it on this list ahead of “So True”, a gorgeous little reggae-esque track that is among the most famous songs of the era. “Sort It Out” misses out, and I’ve got “So True” at #59.
> Kora - "Politician"
Enigmatic rockers Kora have made a career of spanning genres, from heavy rock to dubstep, but I don’t believe they have written a song as good as “Politician” in all the years since it arrived on their EP Volume. I don’t think Kora’s influence necessitates any higher placement than #102 … but I do think it should be there.
> P-Money - "Stop The Music (ft Scribe)"
One of the biggest surprises as I was researching this list was how little critical acclaim P-Money had gathered over the course of his career - by operating in the background as a producer and writer, following a successful career as a competitive DJ, he has kind of flown under the radar. Yet his fingerprints are all over music from this time, including Scribe’s “Not Many”, the first song on this batch of tracks. P-Money deserves recognition; I’ve popped his song “Stop The Music” at #77, but honestly, I feel like it could be a bit higher.
Alright, a further nine tracks added to the list, taking us to 117 songs total. I’ve updated the playlist in case you want to have a listen through:
Thanks for reading - and thanks for giving me the leeway to do something as ridiculous, but for this guy as fun, as this.
Ka kite anō,
Chris