NOW 57 - Spring ‘04: David Manero

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So, where were you in 2004?

The pop charts were as fast moving as Dame Kelly Holmes in Athens and every week brought another selection of shiny pop hits. 29 tracks topped the charts across the twelve months as pop buyers rushed to purchase the newest CD singles from their latest favourites. And unless you were the sparring, fall-out potty mouthed pair Eamon or Frankee , it was generally a one week reign at No.1! Phew!

The airwaves and TV reigned supreme in making and breaking the big hits of the year. Reality was biting all over the place; Chris Moyles and Terry Wogan were having breakfast with us daily whilst championing their own brands of hit makers such as Jungle champion Peter Andre (again!) and Katie Melua on the Beeb, whilst ITV was delivering a second slice of star making with Pop Idol. Michelle? Sam and Mark? And let’s not forget Fame Academy’s Alex and Alistair (you may already have)! The Svengali spotlight was shining brightly - if briefly - on plenty of 15 minute pop stars in 2004.

Britney was back with Toxic (and lots of left over wedding cake), Pharrell was producing just about everyone. Cover versions (and the instruction manual Cha Cha Slide!) were filling the dancefloor, Love Actually was delivering hits for Girls Aloud and Sugababes and both Keane and Snow Patrol opened their accounts with some mobile phone waving anthems that we’d hear again in different forms over the years!

Franz Ferdinand and Scissor Sisters too! Huge hits and even huger (is that even a word?) albums indicated that 2004 was a year of contrasts, contradictions, pace and change. Music was bristling but it was never boring! Oh, and don't forget your NOW ringtones people!

Join Radio 2 producer David Manero and I as we head back to the noughties to explore NOW57; the hits, the misses and everything else in between.

And find out why Kelly, Ozzy and DJ Casper probably won't be returning our (Nokia 3310) phone calls.

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