NOW That’s What I Call Music! 2017
UNIVERSAL MUSIC, Rs 395
NOW That’s What I Call Music!, referred to as the NOW series, dates back to 1983 when the first compilation series started in the UK. Since then it has become one of the most sought-after and awaited compilation albums around. Introduced to the U.S. in 1998, the series expanded into Asia in 1995.
The latest collection has songs that you have probably been listening to for months on TV and radio, so their inclusion here is a bonus for your non-stop party. That’s right; this 18 track album is a must-have for any party. If you have downloaded this music from a website and not paid for it, you can still buy this set and support the work of these artists.
This album does not disappoint when you have the likes of Justin Bieber with his massive hit Sorry, to lover boy Shawn Mendes’ lyrics on Treat You Better, to Ariana Grande with Into You and Selena Gomez with Kill Em With Kindness. The cool whistle on the Selena track is so neat you just cannot help joining in. We move to the EDM bit that everyone loves with Mike Posner sharing space on this disc with the pulsating I Took A Pill In Ibiza spinning and giving you head full of music to kickstart the EDM party. If you programme the CD, set the next track to DJ Snake, who takes on the reins from Posner for Middle, another master blaster that begins on a slow note but progresses into a great beat. Perfect Strangers, a pop-based piece from English DJ Jonas Blue (feat. JP Cooper) is a punchy piece with a good set of vocals. The album ends with Tiesto’s Summer Nights (feat. John Legend).
The series is known to have the best selected chart hits without discriminating between genres. The latter half of the disc boasts of songs that seem to be present more for the names of the artists than the popularity of the songs — the mushy Something In The Way You Move (Ellie Goulding), My Old Man (Outlandish), Rise (Katy Perry) and the very cheeky Here (Alessia Cara). You also have a bit of hip-hop with Desiigner on the funky Panda. Other favorites include Cake By The Ocean (DNCE) and the swinging electro-pop styled Cool Girl (Tove Lo).
If you are not the kind to download any of the hits here on your phone or laptop, then go right out and buy this collection of songs. You’ll love it, even though there are a few that don’t make the cut.
Verus Ferreira is a music journalist for over three decades. He is the author of The Great Music Quiz Book and The Great Rock Music Quiz Book and the founder of Musicunplugged.in
