These should have been out a while ago. A recent Wordpress bug has made them miss their scheduled posting time:(

80. Body Language – Mandy vs. Booka Shade

I’m not sure that this track is going to stand the test of time, but it certainly speaks for a place in time back in 2005. In a way, this track captures the essence of the culture that loved it so much, and will forever stir the memories in many of the dance floors of this decade.

79. Quality Control – Jurassic 5

Jurassic 5 sneaked in the decade with their 2000 album Quality Control . The title track has stood the test of time as a quality hip hop track.

78. Dancehall Places – Mint Royale

From Mint Royale’s 2006 album, Dancehall Places the title track deserves a place in the top 100 as my favourite track the artist put out this decade, with its soaring melodies, and haunting vocals, all sliced together with an unparalleled mastery. Superb.

77. Oh My God (It Still Means a Lot to Me) – The Wooden Sky

This late entry from The Wooden Sky, Oh My God (It Still Means a Lot to Me), from the 2009 album, If I Don’t Come Home You’ll Know I’m Gone, carries so much emotion, and beauty, that it’s difficult to pass this one over, even though it hasn’t had a long evaluation period. I fell in love with this tune the instant I heard it. I am confident I will still love this tune well into the next decade and beyond.

76. Elektro – Outwork Ft Mr. Gee

Elektro by Outwork Ft Mr. Gee hit the dance floors in 2006, and was often played by many of the big time DJs, because, quick frankly, it does an awesome job at getting you dancing! This track is too fun, and gets me every time it comes up on iTunes… such a wicked beat! That’s Elektro for you!

75. Get Busy – Sean Paul

Bringing Jamaican Dance Hall to the rest of us, Sean Paul claimed his place in the decade with the very dancable (specially if you are willing to embarrass yourself!), and sexy track, Get Busy. As a matter of fact, Sean Paul was named the top selling Reggae artist of the decade, by Billboard.

74. Swimming Places – Julian Jabre

Julian Jabre unleashed an masterpiece early in his career that is well worthy of the top 100. The instrumental track has an elegant beauty that can some how follow your from your candle lit dinner to the dance floor on a steamy Saturday night. The single was released in the UK in 2006 on Defected Records.

73. Rock DJ – Robbie Williams

Robbie Williams deserves this nod in the top 100. His unique, and strangely daring take on pop music has certainly had an influence on the direction of pop today. His 2000 track, Rock DJ, from the album Sing When You’re Winning still makes me dance about and sing along. Pop at its best!

72. Candy – Paulo Nutini

Beautiful, passionate and romantic. This sweet song, by Paulo Nutini came out 2006, and then has a re-release in 2009. This song has the ability to put you in a warm and safe place when you are feeling down and out. Beautiful.

71. With Every Heartbeat – Robyn

Robyn’s 2008 favourite is so easy to listen to, even though you can so clearly feel the pain in Robyn’s voice as she sings that “it hurts with every heartbeat”. The strings in this song combine with the gentle beats and Robyn’s sweet vocals beautifully. A must on everyone’s “just got dumped” playlist.

The Best of the Decade

• Best Tunes of the Decade 90-81
• Best Tunes of the Decade 100-91

Earlier this week I posted about some great songs that are all about love, specially for Valentine’s Day. Today, also for Valentine’s Day, I have some songs that speak to the other side of the coin: lust!

Lust (Eric Krupper Remix) – DJ Alain Vinet

This remix does nothing to hide what it is about. The title says it all: Lust, plain and simple. I’m not sure about the history of this song, it’s a little difficult to tract down. I know that Max Graham is some how involved, and that DJ Alain Vinet, from Montreal Canada, created the original, and New York DJ, Eric Krupper, gave it a thick, sexy, thumping feel with his remix.

The beat in this song is sexy for sure, though you’ll have to forgive it for some cheese, particularly the electric guitar solo in the middle. If you can get over the vague cheesiness of this track, you’ll find the lusty lyrics mix well with the sexy beat. I couldn’t find the lyrics to this track anywhere, so I thought I’d do a little transcribing… they are to sexy to not have them floating about the intertubes somewhere!

Things I’d like to do to you
I think about night and day
Feeling I get when I do
Is more that anyone can say

You know when I get close to you
I feel my mind drifting away
Like some kind of Voodoo
You get me where I want to stay

Yes you got what I need
Waiting is a waste of time
Let me be your fantasy
Like I want you to be mine

Fantasizing about you
Each and every day and night
What am I gonna do
I fear I’m gonna lose my mind

I feel something in my soul
When I look into your eyes
Sometimes its even painful
You’ve got me kind of hypnotized

The time that’s most magical
Is when I’m laying by your side
I lose all sense of control
You really make me want to ride

Some Candy Talking – The Jesus and Mary Chain

The Jesus and Mary Chain’s dreamy style in their 1986 track, Some Candy Talking, gives the song a light and playful feel, despite the powerful lyrics. I posted a different version of this song last year, Chris Whitley’s version of Some Candy Talking is more raw and visceral than the original version by The Jesus and Mary Chain (Really, go get Chris Whitley’s version!). I’m not saying this version isn’t good, it is, and it is sexy and dreamy. Chris Whitley’s version, with it’s raw emotion, is just a little better, in my humble opinion.

Back in the 80s, when this song was released, a radio DJ in the UK horribly misinterpreted the meaning of this song, which led to it being pulled from radio air play. It was thought that the song was about heroin, but clearly it’s about lovin’. It’s not about sweet, sensitive love making though. “Candy Talking” is really a euphemism for raw, dirty, animalistic sex.

I Just Want to Make Love to You – Etta James

This classic song is interesting, as it was originally written from a male perspective by Willie Dixon for Muddy Waters in 1954. Seven years later, Etta James recorded the song for her debut album At Last. At the time, and still even now, it’s a little funny to hear a female voice belting out lyrics such as:

I don’t want you to wash my clothes
I don’t want you to keep my home
I don’t want your money too
I just want to make love to you

But it works! Etta James cover of I Just Want to Make Love to You is powerfully sensual, and sexy.

Get Busy – Sean Paul

I have always had a soft spot for this track Sean Paul has a unique sexiness to him that has the power to draw out the sexiness in the ladies, including myself. The uptempo dancehall track is perfect for pre-lovin’ dancing to get each other all riled up before finding a private spot to take care of business. As Sean Paul says: Get Busy!

Sean Paul, and his people, released a new site last month that is focuses on building a community of Reggae and Dance Hall Lovers. Check it out if you’re into that sort of thing.

Over and Over – Hot Chip

While Hot Chip was doing the interview circuit in the promotion of their popular album The Warning they mentioned something about their track Over & Over show all the critics that say Hot Chip are too chill that Hot Chip can, in fact, rock out. This has led various analysis about the internet about the song Over and Over being about the repetition in dance music. It’s not. It’s about sex. The repetitive action of lovin’:

Over and over and over and over and over
Like a monkey with a miniature cymbal
The joy of repetition really is in you
Under and under and under and under and under
The smell of repetition really is on you
And when i feel this way i really am with you

Yeah, it’s about sexy time; a good old fashion romp in the hay!

Enjoy your Valentine’s Day everyone!