I can't believe I almost totally forgot about this one. I was only reminded when it came up in an obituary on Steven 'Swells' Wells. Swells was a journalist for the NME back when I first started reading it in the late 80s. He was incredibly opinionated, shouty, frustrating to read and absolutely brilliant. Almost every UK music journalist since has, as my friend Mark Beaumont will readily admit, tried to emulate him. He sadly passed away this week after a fight against Hodgkin's lymphoma. You can read his final column for the Philadelphia Weekly here.
One of Swells' favourite things was winding people up. So, of course, when a pop song featuring helium vocals by two American teenagers and lyrics consisting of schoolyard insults was released, he would wax lyrical in the pages of the NME resulting in vitriolic letters from readers who were more interested in the likes of the Manic Street Preachers, Blur, Travis etc. I would sardonically proclaim its brilliance but as a matter of fact it's pure genius - and the fact that Celeste is incredibly cute doesn't hurt either! Swells and others managed to get D&C on the main stage at the Reading Festival where, despite being bottled with all kinds of unmentionables, they put on a great show by all accounts.
RIP Swells - Ooh stick you, your mama too and your daddy!
Bonus Clips: Their other charting single, 'U.G.L.Y."
... and getting bottled onstage at The Reading Festival 2000
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