Global Hits 2003

This collection from Universal gathers up seemingly every impossibly catchy, danceable moment from 2003 and compiles them on one continuously mixed CD. If you are any kind of a fan of European dance-pop, Global Hits 2003 is a must. It features the Daniel Bedingfield breakthrough "Gotta Get Thru This," Mad'House's strangely addictive reversion of the Material Girl's "Like a Prayer," and DJ Sammy's ubiquitous "Heaven," not to mention harder-edged dancefloor material like "It Just Won't Do" from Tim Deluxe and Sam Obernik. While collections like this always contain a few stinkers, Global Hits 2003 is just about flawless, and definitely will keep your party dancing. However, it's also sort of a bittersweet record. Despite the unstoppable grooves and sunny hooks contained herein, Global Hits 2003 is terminal. It is chained to the year it chronicles, and the more memorable its songs, the less welcome they'll be on the dancefloors of 2004 and beyond. Europop is a fickle friend, always asking, "What have you done for me lately?" Nevertheless, Global Hits 2003 will serve as the ultimate museum piece for all those fun nights at the club that you can't remember.