CauliWobbles

On October 27th, 1998 – a group of brave individuals decided to do the unthinkable. To look at music that encapsulated the American Human. A set of music so diverse and entertaining that it embodies the very “Melting Pot” that is the United states. over the next 9 years, there would be 24 more installments of the music that defined the NOW of our lives. Through Terrorist attacks, presidential blowjobs and the creation of the iphone, this was the America of our time. This WAS NOW[That’s what I call music]

Album: Now! That’s what I call music Vol2 (US)

Release Date: 07/27/1999

Color: Red Background with Gold Letter

Theme: Loony Tunes Closing Credits

ARTIST: Britney Spears

SONG: ….Baby One more time

PEAK BILLBOARD POSITION:  #1

THEN! SCORE:   10,000

NOW! SCORE :  10

COMMENTS: LAWD-  this song launched a thousand ships.  School Girl britney was on the scene and she was SOMETHING.  This song is, and forever shall be, a hit.  One of the most significant songs of my childhood and one of britney’s best overall-  it launched us into a Britney/XTina arms race that made every 8-17 year old male on the planet squeal

ARTIST: New Radicals

SONG: You Get What You Give

PEAK BILLBOARD POSITION:  #36

THEN! SCORE:   6.8

NOW! SCORE :  8.8

COMMENTS: I am a big fan of this song.  I remember it mostly at the time for starting “beef” with Marilyn Manson  and that it was on the UK version NOW:That’s what I Call Music volume 43 which I had because I was cool and went to Europe and bought it and only knew like 3 songs off of it.  I listen to it every time it comes on even if the message of optimistic youth rebellion seems less fun now.

ARTIST: Robbie Williams

SONG: Millenium

PEAK BILLBOARD POSITION:  #72

THEN! SCORE:   3

NOW! SCORE :  2

COMMENTS: Robbie Williams was MASSIVE in the UK – like way, way bigger than you would think – he even ownede a castle on MTV Cribs!.  This song played into the Y2K hype of the time and  doesn’t age quite as well now.  England can keep him along with their crumpets

ARTIST: Semisonic

SONG: Closing Time

PEAK BILLBOARD POSITION:  N/A

THEN! SCORE:   6.5

NOW! SCORE :  7.1

COMMENTS: Aside from learning that the song is about having a child instead of drinking, not much has changed for me with this song.  Its very listenable to and can still provide context after a long night.  Good then, Good now

ARTIST: U2

SONG: Sweetest Thing

PEAK BILLBOARD POSITION:  #63

THEN! SCORE:   6

NOW! SCORE :  8

COMMENTS: This song was probably always on the higher end I just don’t remember listening to much at the time as U2 was still a “Dad Band” to me.  Great Song-  plays at weddings, shopping malls and commercials for No-Sugar added frozen yogurt

ARTIST: Sheryl Crow

SONG: My Favorite Mistake

PEAK BILLBOARD POSITION:  #20

THEN! SCORE:   4

NOW! SCORE :  4

COMMENTS: I’ve never listened to a Sheryl Crow album but all of her songs are tolerable enough, especially her earlier stuff before she turned into a walking sunscreen commercial.  I wonder what Lance Armstrong’s favorite mistake was?  Systematically intimidating teamates for years or conning the American People into thinking he was the scion of the human spirit.

ARTIST: Fatboy Slim

SONG: Praise You

PEAK BILLBOARD POSITION:  #36

THEN! SCORE:   7

NOW! SCORE :  7

COMMENTS:  Another song enhanced it’s plays on MTV by it’s culty  music video-  this song is plenty good on repeat listens even being as repetative as Fatboy Slim songs are.  Fatboy Slim is also an A+++ Name that does not get enough credit

ARTIST: Garbage

SONG: I think I’m Paranoid

PEAK BILLBOARD POSITION:  N/A

THEN! SCORE:   3

NOW! SCORE :  2

COMMENTS: FUN FACT: Garbage’s drumm er is named “Butch VIG”  which I’m sure plays well with the lesbian crowd.  I’m not sure who this song plays particularly well with.  More washed out and less clean than some of Garbage’s other hits, this one is ok but could definitely be grating for some listeners

ARTIST: Cake

SONG: Never There

PEAK BILLBOARD POSITION:  #78

THEN! SCORE:   4

NOW! SCORE :  4.3

COMMENTS: I would wager that I like Cake’s work far more than the average American. I might even like Cake more than actual cake (except Ice Cream cake). I can understand how the style does not appeal to some and this is not even an above average Cake song.

ARTIST: 98 Degrees

SONG: Because of You

PEAK BILLBOARD POSITION:  #3

THEN! SCORE:   4

NOW! SCORE :  2

COMMENTS: 98 Desgrees was a new, more manly option for Boy-band haters who were boy-band curious.  This song feels like it was written by an FBS Boy-band-  semi tolerable but not good.

ARTIST: Spice Girls

SONG: Goodbye

PEAK BILLBOARD POSITION:  #11

THEN! SCORE:   3

NOW! SCORE :  2

COMMENTS: This song marked the end of a Spice run not seen since the days of the Silk Road.  It was clear the girls were becoming Spice Women and ready to do heir own things (Bang their football playing husbands, Hang out with Howie Mandell).  The song itself is a Meh, and is more important for it’s overtones.

ARTIST: Blackstreet & Mýa featuring Mase & Blinky Blink

SONG:  Take Me There

PEAK BILLBOARD POSITION:   #14

THEN! SCORE:   7

NOW! SCORE :  3

COMMENTS: First off-  shout out to the hoodrats spelling out RUGRATS and Ma$e rapping about Chucky getting scared, that is worth some points.  The song is noootttt great but a fun bit of nostalgia

ARTIST: R. Kelly

SONG: When A Woman’s Fed Up

PEAK BILLBOARD POSITION: #22 

THEN! SCORE:   N/R

NOW! SCORE :  YIKES!

COMMENTS: Are we really doing this?  When one of R Kelly’s  ‘women’ were fed up it likely had to do with algebra class or the latest BSB release.  YIKES!

ARTIST: Everclear

SONG: Father of Mine

PEAK BILLBOARD POSITION:  #70

THEN! SCORE:   6

NOW! SCORE :  6

COMMENTS: MORE EVERCLEAR is never a BAD thing, right!?  This tale about a deadbeat father is still a good one

ARTIST: Sublime

SONG: What I Got

PEAK BILLBOARD POSITION: N/A 

THEN! SCORE:   9

NOW! SCORE :  8

COMMENTS: This was the first CD I remember owning which I got from my brother.  This whole CD was very good and sublime was a very distinct vibe, embodied most by this song.  Even if the Radiostations beat this album to death a little or you had a very overly enthusiastic “sublime” friend it’s still a good listen whenever you here it, especially if the weather is over 65 degrees.

ARTIST: Backstreet Boys

SONG: I’ll Never Break Your Heart

PEAK BILLBOARD POSITION: #35 

THEN! SCORE:   3

NOW! SCORE :  2

COMMENTS: You know a BSB song ain’t great when it’s pushed to the back half of the NOW Album tracklist and didn’t even break the Top 25 Billboard.  They can’t all make the girls go crazy right?  (Although I’m sure this one still did at the time)

ARTIST: Jay-Z

SONG: Hard Knock Life (The Ghetto Anthem)

PEAK BILLBOARD POSITION: #15

THEN! SCORE:   7

NOW! SCORE :  10

COMMENTS: The King is here to take his reign.  This song is classic Jigga and beat with the “Annie” hook is excellent. Jay-z calls out the bandwagoners who “Didn’t really appreciate”  his greatness until the 2nd albm droppedand   If Jay-z wasn’t quite on the throne yet he was about to ascend and hold onto it for a while so there were many bandwagoners to address

ARTIST: Baz Luhrmann

SONG: Everybody’s Free (To Wear Sunscreen)

PEAK BILLBOARD POSITION: #45

THEN! SCORE:   6

NOW! SCORE :  2

COMMENTS: This is another one of those Millenium plays where people wanted to embrace the moment as something much bigger than it was.  Lets record the Romeo + Juliet guy giving a graduation speech.  I’m gonna release Harrison’s Butkers speech over the instrumentals from “G’s Up, Ho’s Down” to capture 2025 America.  This is retrospectively dumb.