Now That's What I Call Stuart's Favourite Music 50 - Mike Oldfield (Moonlight Shadow)

If there's one musician who I can always count on to cheer me up with their music, it's Mike Oldfield.   

So, today's song is Moonlight Shadow.  Released in May 1983 as a single from the album Crisis, it spent 19 weeks in the UK Top 40 charts, peaking at an impressive number 4.

Also, another reason why I have picked this song today is because my daughter Kayleigh is working so hard to play it on her own on the keyboard.  Check the video out below of one of her attempts.

Now That's What I Call Stuart's Favourite Music 49 - Ace of Base (Life is a Flower)

There aren't many tunes from the 1990s that will make my list of favourite songs, but I can be pretty sure that anything by Ace of Base will make it! 

This is one of my favourite tracks from Ace of Base.  Released in April 1998, it went straight to Number 5 in the UK Charks in July.

A happy song, from a happy time.

Now That's What I Call Stuart's Favourite Music 48 - Erasure (Sometimes)

So here we are with my 48th track, and it's surprising that I've only had one Erasure song on the list so far considering how much of a fan I am of the synth-pop duo.  Well, here we are with track number two!

For me, 'Sometimes' is one of the defining synth songs of the mid to late 1980s.  It's amazing and deservedly sat in the UK charts for an impressive 23 weeks, peaking at Number 2 in December 1986, and only being beaten from the top spot by Europe's "The Final Countdown".

Guaranteed to cheer me up when I feel down (which is a lot these days, but hey ho),  

It does make me think back to a comment my son Kieran made a few weeks ago about how happy songs sounded in the 1980s compared to what is in the popular charts today.

"It's not the way you lead me by the hand into the bedroom

It's not the way you throw your clothes upon the bathroom floor

Been thinking about ya, I just couldn't wait to see

Fling my arms around ya as we fall in ecstasy"

You know the rest :)

Game Covers - Trashman (Commodore 64)

The object of the game is to empty all the bins from each road into the dustcart which is slowly moving up the road, returning the empty bin from where it was collected, before your bonus points reduce to zero.  If you step on the grass the bonus score will reduce rapidly, but you can increase it by completing tasks you are asked to do by householders (leave the house by holding the down key).  Your score is increased for each bin emptied. Some houses will have dogs in them, which will chase you if you step on the grass, and if they bite you, your injury will result in a limp, which will slow you down. The same effect will occur if you are knocked down by a bike. If you choose to go into the cafe or pub to collect valuable bonus points, beware of over-eating or drinking too much.  If your bonus score is reduced to zero you will be allowed two more attempts to improve.  Should you mis-judge crossing the road and are hit by a car the game will end. 

3D View (hold and move to rotate) New Tab (Full Screen)

Now That's What I Call Stuart's Favourite Music 47 - Sophie Ellis Bextor (Murder on the Dance Floor)

Today's track is a guilty pleasure of mine, but I am struggling to come to terms with the fact that it's now over 20 years old.  Sophie Ellis Bextor's Murder on the Dance Floor will always remind me of the time I met my wife Michelle.  It came out in December 2001 and remained in the charts for 23 weeks, peaking at an impressive number 2.  It was played on the radio quite regularly at the time Michelle and I started dating which is why I look back on this track with fond memories.

And guess who we named our daughter Sophie after?  :)

It's murder on the dance floor
You'd better not kill the groove
DJ, gonna burn this goddamn house right down.

Now That's What I Call Stuart's Favourite Music 46 - Pet Shop Boys (Integral)

Today's song is a fantastic track by the Pet Shop Boys from their 2006 'Fundamental' album.  To be honest, I only found out about this song a few years ago, which makes it unsurprising that it only reached 197 in the UK Singles Chart of that year.  

Obviously not one of their more popular tracks, but that doesn't mean it's not any good.  Far from it.

I love blaring this one out.