Louise 'Stuck In The Middle With You'

Chart Peak: 4

YouTube

Originally a Top 10 hit for Stealer's Wheel in 1973, 'Stuck In The Middle With You' was immortalised by Quentin Tarrantino {sic} when he featured it in his smash-hit movie "Reservoir Dogs"... Louise gave the track her own sensational treatment in 2001 - which earner her a huge No 4 hit in September

I suppose you could say this single was sort of emblematic of the way Louise, and many other female pop stars of the era, had to try and appeal to both the teen-girl and lad-mag markets more or less simultaneously. You'd imagine that not many of her younger fans would have seen the infamous scene in the film where the original of this song appears - but they might have heard about it, or at least been subconsciously familiar with the song. It's hard to think what they'd have made of the video, which is a sort of lapdancing pastiche of the torture scene - or is she supposed to be torturing him by lapdancing?

It's tempting to suggest that just making him listen to this record is torture enough, and indeed a YouTube commenter already has. That's arguably unfair, because this isn't terrible, but it's not really any good either. It was the new track on her Greatest Hits and seems to reflect the minimum possible investment of effort from any of the people involved.

Also appearing on: Now 32, 33, 34, 35, 38, 39, 46, 47, 56
Available on: The Best Of Top Of The Pops 2000-2006