It's been an, erm, interesting, shall we say, year for music. We've not been able to escape Ed Sheeran and the top spot on the UK singles charts wasn't taken my a woman until all the way in August. So when iTunes released it's biggest albums of 2017 list, I have to admit that my expectations were less than inspired.
But the overwhelming presence in the Top 10 turned out to be a huge (and very welcome) curve ball. Now, That's What I Call Music!, aka the compilation album series that defined much of our musical intake throughout the 90s and early 00s, appeared four times. FOUR! Four separate entries for variations of something that everyone thought was dying out.
At number 4 was *Now , That's What I Call Music! 95 *from the end of 2016. A reference to that period of time when Clean Bandit's Rockabye was all anyone was allowed to listen too and Little Mix finally gave us a break up song that didn't make us want to crawl into bed and cry about what could have been. The *97 *album was at number 5 in the iTunes chart (Despacito as the first song, obvs). *96 *followed at number 6 and the annual *Now, Thats What I Call Christmas *album crept in at number eight. Solid performance there, right?
Make no mistake, there's something inherently nostalgic about compilation albums. Many millennials probably associate the *Now *series with the physical CDs we used to receive for birthdays and at Christmas back in the glory days. But their commercial, uncomplicated and inoffensive brilliance lives on, you guys. Long live the compilation.
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Remember eagerly scanning the track lists for your favourite artists, only to be mildly frustrated that a song you really liked was all the way over on CD 2? Remember trying to force yourself to like the track between the two you actually wanted to listen to so you wouldn't have to hit the skip button again? Remembering not being entirely sure that the numbers that followed the *Now! *album title actually meant anything? Those were the days.
Owning a Now, That's What I Call Music! album was like holding a little chunk of history. An audio reference with the ability to pin point a very specific period of time. Back when most of us were all listening to the same thing and chart music was actually 'cool'.
Of course, we all dipped our toes into the Ministry of Sound pool and were probably gifted a questionable Tim Westwood album once upon a Christmas. Shout out to the *Pure R&B *for introducing me to artists beyond Misteeq and Jamelia. But Now, That's What I Call Music! held a consistent presence. One that apparently has stretched all the way into 2017. And I'm actually really grateful.
Let's admit it. We all desperately long for the days before we had to learn to be adults and try to make decisions on our own. It might just be a small thing, but *Now *was the easy pleasing playlist that we didn't have to put together ourselves. One less thing to worry as they say, and that kind of novelty never dies out.
All The Celebrities Who Have Written Break Up Songs About Each Other
Celebrities who have written break up songs about each other
1 of 91. Justin Timberlake - 'Cry Me A River'
Who did singer-turned-IRL actor Justin Timberlake want to 'cry a river'? Apparently ex girlfriend Britney Spears! The pair broke up after it was rumoured Britney cheated on Justin with her choreographer, though this hasn't been confirmed.
2 of 92. Britney Spears - 'Everytime'
Britters bites back! Her 2003 pop hit was thought to have been a response to Justin Timberlake's 'Cry Me a River'. Although it's supposedly aimed at her ex boyfriend, it could have been a lot more... er... scathing. Case in point? Lyrics like 'I guess I need you, baby'...
3 of 93. Miley Cyrus - '7 Things '
Miley wanted the world to know there were (only?!) SEVEN things she hated about ex boyfriend Nick Jonas, after they broke up after two years of dating. She even wears his Diabetes necklace in the music video... #art
4 of 94. Taylor Swift - 'Forever and Always'
Another Jonas brother who has felt the wrath of a cutting song lyric... T-Swizzle wrote 'Forever & Always' about Joe Jonas after he broke up with her during a '25 second phone call'. OUCH.
5 of 95. Miley Cyrus - 'Wrecking Ball'
The very catchy 'I came in like a WRECKKKKING BALL!" was inspired by Liam Hemsworth, after they called off their engagement in 2014. The pair later kissed and made up and even got married in 2018, but this didn't last long as they announced their split again in September 2019.
6 of 96. Taylor Swift - 'Dear John '
Taylor named and shamed John Mayer after the pair dramatically split up when she was aged 19. In response, he told Rolling Stone 'it was a really, really lousy thing for her to do'.
7 of 97. Katy Perry - 'Wide Awake '
After Katy Perry and Russell Brand broke off their marriage 2012, the popstar released ultimate break-up song 'Wide Awake'. Russell told the press, "She's a young woman dealing with the break-up of the relationship, which is understandable...It's a nice song." Lol.
8 of 98. P!nk - 'So What'
Badass P!nk released the ultimate diss track 'So What' whilst separating husband Carey Hart. The pair are back together and have two adorable children together - Willow Sage and Jameson Moon Hart.
9 of 9Perrie Edwards - 'Shout Out To My Ex'
The Little Mix anthem was directed at ex-One Direction lad Zayn Malik, who Perrie was engaged to, before he apparently dumped her by text. Lines like 'hope she ain't fakin' it like she did, babe!' are thought to be directed at his current flame/supermodel Gigi Hadid. The plot thickens...
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This article originally appeared on The Debrief.