SO AS WE’RE all looking ahead to 2014, it seems like a good time to look back and reflect.
But don’t worry, DailyEdge.ie aren’t going to make you soul search or tell you what to give up in the New Year. We’re just going to remind you of what pop culture we were enjoying in January back in the day. We’re nice like that.
2004
In January 2004, you were listening to…
Will Young’s song Leave Right Now. Remember him? He was the first ever winner of the UK TV programme Pop Idol, which went on to spawn the X Factor we know and just about tolerate today.
Will Young was knocked off the number one pedestal by Kelis towards the end of January 2004, with her mega-hit Milkshake. Does that seem like less or more than 10 years ago? We can’t decide.
In January 2004, you were watching…
Along Came Polly was out in the cinemas, featuring Ben Stiller and Jennifer Aniston. Jen played a kooky, ferret-toting manic pixie dream girl, while Stiller was an uptight actuary. Can you see where this is going?
The Butterfly Effect, Ashton Kutcher’s time-shifting, head-wrecking blockbuster. Arguably stole its underlying premise from a Simpsons episode, but that’s a discussion for another day.
1994
In January 1994, you were listening to…
1994 kicked off musically with Babe by Take That. We don’t mean to offend former superfans (and we know you guys are lurking out there, always watching) but this song is no Back For Good, is it?
Take That were knocked off their perch by decidedly more bad boys, East 17, with their song It’s Alright. Ah, East 17. Who would have thought your oversized beanies would be back from 1994 to be in fashion in 2014 again?
Bryan Adams, alongside Rod Stewart. With the power of Sting. Hope you all regret letting this get to number one. Shocking.
In January 1994, you were watching…
We hate to break it to you nostalgia fiends, but the past wasn’t always better. January 1994 was a bit of a dark time for film releases. Remember The Air Up There? Or maybe Cabin Boy? Or perhaps Car 54, Where Are You? No, neither do we.
Good news overall though, because Ace Ventura: Pet Detective came out in early February and the biggest grosser of the year in total was The Lion King. Great saves after a disappointing start.
TV fared slightly better, with the Liverpool-set soap Brookside featuring a groundbreaking lesbian kiss between two characters in January 1994.
1984
In January 1984, you were listening to…
For the first half of January, Only You by Flying Pickets was riding high in the charts. What would it take these days for an a capella group to sell that much? Whatever it is, we want it to happen. 1984 truly was a golden year for music, and it started off well too.
Despite its festive theme, Pipes of Peace by Paul McCartney topped the charts in Ireland in mid- to late-January. Don’t know about you, but Paul is a hot contender for me for favourite Beatle.
In January 1984, you were watching…
The Living Planet by David Attenborough was first broadcast in January 1984. We’ve got a lot of love for this man and these episodes are as fresh and interesting as they were 20 years ago.
