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Perhaps with the notable exception of the inimitable
seventies Music For Pleasure catalogue, NOW!,
the most successful UK compilation series of the last
20 years has been burned to Digital Versatile Disc with
the launch of NOW! 2001 - The DVD.
Out on the 10th of December to cash in on the crazy
xmas spending habits of teenagers and parents everywhere,
Now! 2001 DVD adds a crisp visual dimension to the pure-pop
roster of boy and girl talent that is dominating the
UK scene at the moment.
And if you're expecting some dry, cynical slights to
this genre from this quarter, forget it.
 This
is pure, uncomplicated pop we're talking about. It was
never meant to break down barriers, it was never meant
for the tragic untimely death, it was never meant to
hold court on the bar room table as the subject of a
million cantankerous debates. So take it as it is for
heaven's sake. Afterall, you alternative types never
stop pontificating over the golden era of Music For
Pleasure - so why should this be any different?
In 20 years time pure pop articles of this nature are
going to be key actants in your kitsch-sure record collection;
so why wait 20 years to enjoy it, you old toad?
As you would expect from any disc with the NOW! moniker,
the line-up is a veritable 'who's who' of bright young
stars and icons: Geri Halliwell, S Club 7, Blue,
Atomic Kitten, Hear'Say, Gorillaz, Gabrielle, Fragma,
Coldplay, Ronan Keating, Nelly, Britney Spears, Steps,
Emma Bunton, Robbie Williams, Victoria Beckham.
Well you weren't expecting Elf Power or Stereolab now,
where you?
Although it might have been more aesthetically pleasing
(and more conceptually sound) to have had a broader
selection of popular talent included (and arguably,
how the NOW! roster was previously compiled) it's simple
to understand the logistics: the only popular artists
making lavish promotional vehicles these days ARE people
like Williams and Britney. That's not to say however,
we couldn't have had the likes of Destiny's Child, Basment
Jaxx, Sophie Ellis Bextor, Travis, Kylie and maybe even
Limp Bizkit gracing this digital showreel. It was, afterall,
the knowing deft touch of the vintage NOW! series that
was able to slice through the demographics of yesteryears
chart and bring them all so neatly together. What's
more, it was arguably this very paucity of combinations
that ultimately wrenched open the rich sprawling, markets
of the early and middle 90s. And what's good for the
goose is often good for the gander.
And being a DVD there's also a range of exclusive extras
to stir up those good vibes: behind the scenes footage
for Geri, Robbie, Victoria Beckham, Ronan Keating, Emma
Bunton and Blue, as well as picture galleries for Gorillaz,
Atomic Kitten, S Club 7, Steps, Gabrielle, Nelly and
Hear'say.
Oh yes, it's also in glorious surround sound which is
rather nice.
As a fully conceived retrospective of 2001 it has faults,
but as a fluffy pop-corn celebration of feel-good boy/girl
dynamism it's near note perfect.
A little tweaking to the set-lists (perhaps Kylie for
Victoria Beckham, Westlife for Ronan Keating, Travis
for Coldplay) and a little further calibration of the
digital extras and this may just be the kind of stocking-filler
your kid sister is going to love.
Track Listing:
Geri Halliwell - It's Raining Men
S Club 7 - Don't Stop Movin'
Blue - All Rise
Atomic Kitten - Whole Again
Hear'Say - Pure & Simple
Gorillaz - Clint Eastwood
Gabrielle - Out Of Reach
Fragma - You Are Alive
Coldplay - Don't Panic
Ronan Keating - Lovin' Each Day
Nelly - Ride With Me
Britney Spears - Don't Let Me Be The Last
Steps - Hear And Now
Emma Bunton - What Took You So Long
Robbie Williams - Supreme
Victoria Beckham - Not Such An Innocent Girl
CLIPS/STREAMS
Britney
Spears - Don't Let Me Be The Last Clip1 [REAL MEDIA]
Britney
Spears - Don't Let Me Be The Last Clip2 [REAL MEDIA]
Britney
Spears - Don't Let Me Be The Last Clip3 [REAL MEDIA]
Britney
Spears - Don't Let Me Be The Last Clip1 [WINDOWS
MEDIA]
Britney
Spears - Don't Let Me Be The Last Clip2 [WINDOWS
MEDIA]
Britney
Spears - Don't Let Me Be The Last Clip3 [WINDOWS
MEDIA]
Coldplay
- Don't Panic Clip1 [REAL MEDIA]
Coldplay
- Don't Panic Clip2 [REAL MEDIA]
Coldplay
- Don't Panic Clip3 [REAL MEDIA]
Coldplay
- Don't Panic Clip1 [WINDOWS MEDIA]
Coldplay
- Don't Panic Clip2 [WINDOWS MEDIA]
Coldplay
- Don't Panic Clip3 [WINDOWS MEDIA]
Gabrielle
- Out Of Reach Clip1 [REAL MEDIA]
Gabrielle
- Out Of Reach Clip2 [REAL MEDIA]
Gabrielle
- Out Of Reach Clip3 [REAL MEDIA]
Gabrielle
- Out Of Reach Clip1 [WINDOWS MEDIA]
Gabrielle
- Out Of Reach Clip2 [WINDOWS MEDIA]
Gabrielle
- Out Of Reach Clip3 [WINDOWS MEDIA]
Gorillaz
- Clint Eastwood Clip1 [REAL MEDIA]
Gorillaz
- Clint Eastwood Clip2 [REAL MEDIA]
Gorillaz
- Clint Eastwood Clip3 [REAL MEDIA]
Gorillaz
- Clint Eastwood Clip1 [WINDOWS MEDIA]
Gorillaz
- Clint Eastwood Clip2 [WINDOWS MEDIA]
Gorillaz
- Clint Eastwood Clip3 [WINDOWS MEDIA]
Nelly
- Ride With Me Clip1 [REAL MEDIA]
Nelly
- Ride With Me Clip2 [REAL MEDIA]
Nelly
- Ride With Me Clip3 [REAL MEDIA]
Nelly
- Ride With Me Clip1 [WINDOWS MEDIA]
Nelly
- Ride With Me Clip1 [WINDOWS MEDIA]
Nelly
- Ride With Me Clip1 [WINDOWS MEDIA]
BUY
HERE
Pimply skateboard Bob for Crud Magazine© 2001
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