The Ashton entry rank - #33

 

33 || Laura Critchley - What Do We Do - II

 

 

I genuinely adore this track, and it's really only down this low because I think I've sent better tracks. I don't really regret sending this as a couple of people did discover it. It's a shame her second album has basically died on it's arse because I loved the first.

The version of Quicksand entered (i.e. the video version) is the exact same as the album version! It still remains one of my favourite videos of the decade...

 

There's no timetable for the next album, but I'm beginning to think there may be a creative crisis afoot for reasons that will become clear when it actually comes out for reasons to do with my entry this month! You'll probably enjoy it - the songwriting half of La Roux, Ben Langmaid (he doesn't appear in any of the videos or anything) set up a female duo, War of Words, and gave them Panic, my entry this month. It was on Myspace for a couple of months, but just a couple of weeks ago War of Words' Myspace and Facebook pages were deleted and pretty much any traces of their existence disappeared, so I have a feeling they've realised they don't have as much stuff for the next album as they originally thought, and therefore probably don't want to give something as killer as Panic away to a duo that are unlikely to get any mainstream success :lol: So basically it was now or never for entering it before it gets found - if my theory's true, the follow-up's probably due within the next twelve months.

I always heard a slight difference in them for some reason.

 

 

I have plenty of patience, I waited forever for Gran Turismo 5 and will be waiting forever for Mutya Buena's second album :(

 

I haven't heard Panic yet, but if it's from the La Roux team then I probably will rather like it.

XIV onwards was a pretty $h!tty period for the contest as a whole tbh

Really? XIV aside, XII to XIX was pretty much a golden age for the contest I thought - fantastic entries all over the shop and a lot of variation, and cheap didn't tend to win out. Contrast that with the horrors of XIX to XXV, which had a couple of really good contests but where overall the rule seemed to be 'hot leak = winner, massively inspired entry = 2nd place'.

I joined in XIV so it can't have been that bad :P

 

Mercy Mercy :wub: I agree, should have won :kink:

 

For the record Don't Stop Looking is STILL my favourite entry of yours, and the highest peaking song on my personal chart based on BJSC exposure only (#4)

#90-86

 

090 || La Roux - Quicksand [Kopecka - XII]

 

 

I prefer the version entered to the version that made the actual album. This was a brilliantly inspired entry and well deserved first win for our alliance partners Kopecka.

089 || Agnes Carlson - On and On [Angelicland - XI]

 

 

Agnes :wub: Some sublime Scandipop here, the entered later Release Me remains her career and BJSC highlight though.

088 || Vincent - Miss Blue [FSR Rontvia - XII]

 

 

I'm gutted I never got to vote for the second of the two FSR Rontvian DNQ's as I was in the other heat. This track has such an incredible beat to it.

087 || La Roux - Bulletproof [Torchwood - XVI]

 

 

My favourite from the La Roux debut album [When is the next one due Tyron?] Such a good song to dance too

086 || Blänk feat. Young Ivy - I'm Going For Your Brother [FSR Rontvia - XVI]

 

 

Another FSR Rontvia entry now, you were warned this was full of them, and this time is the sensational I'm Going For Your Brother.

 

Love these five too :wub: Not sure what went wrong with Miss Blue, I guess I can understand Headhunted's DNQ what with all the hate, but I guess people just didn't take to Miss Blue which was a shame...I'm not going to blame it on the wrong semi as it should have been strong enough to qualify out of either if it was going to do so, it was just an unfortunate circumstance. I'm Going For Your Brother is definitely one of my favourites of mine :wub: I'd had something else confirmed at the time but switched at the very last minute to that after ONE listen ten minutes before the deadline. It just struck me as something incredibly special and I don't regret it for a minute, even if it did 'only' come 10th. I think it has a legacy bigger than that finishing position represents.

 

As for the non-Rontvian entries (:lol:), Quicksand and Bulletproof are both immense (La Roux :wub:) and On & On is decent enough but I've never loved it.

 

It was I Don't Know/TBO all over again!

 

It really was such a good era. Both of us are switching it up month to month and coming out with some genuinely amazing entries in the process [Lykke Li aside]

 

Might put up a lost of everything we've ever vetoed soon.

 

It would have been in with a shot in the cheapest contest of all time. XIV was utterly dire

 

XIV onwards was a pretty $h!tty period for the contest as a whole tbh

 

It did seem to be :lol:

 

I agree, but I don't think that Lykke Li was a bad entry, I'm glad that I got around to sending something indie again, it does probably represent about 5% of my music taste, so it makes sense that I send them 5% of the time. Likewise, male artists probably make up 30% of the music I listen to at least, so that quota REALLY needs to be upped again, starting with this month!

 

I'd love to see that list!

 

I don't think that XV-XX were at all bad, they're some of my favourite contests actually - namely XV, XVII, XIX (aside from the overhyped winner) and XX. I did think that XIV was the beginning of the end though, and that's where all the arguments intensified and I stepped down as mod afterwards, I realistically couldn't have stayed in a mod position of a contest that I'd thought was going down the toilet.

#85-81

 

085 || Beautiful Small Machines - Robots In Love [FSR Rontvia - XVII]

 

 

This is a stunning track.

 

 

084 || Caroline Jönsson - By My Side [FSR Rontvia - XXII]

 

 

From Robots in love to a sweeping Scandipop epic, it's another Rontvian entry next.

 

 

083 || Dolly Rockers - Boys Will Be Boys [Lorikeet - XXI]

 

 

The Ashtonise Debut victory that never was. Ta for that Theo, you c**t.

 

 

082 || Ro Danishei & Simon Curtist - Michelle [Kopecka - XXXI]

 

 

What a fantastic track this is! Such a brilliant track and I love the addition of Simon Curtis.

 

 

081 || Kid Sister - Right Hand Hi [united States Of Jack - XIX]

 

 

It actually kills me to put a track that has over 100 plays on my iTunes this low :(

Robots In Love 85TH?! BELOW Michelle and By My Side?!

 

God Phil, if you're going to loon over Rontvia at LEAST get Rontvia 101 looning down cold! :drama:

Really? XIV aside, XII to XIX was pretty much a golden age for the contest I thought - fantastic entries all over the shop and a lot of variation, and cheap didn't tend to win out. Contrast that with the horrors of XIX to XXV, which had a couple of really good contests but where overall the rule seemed to be 'hot leak = winner, massively inspired entry = 2nd place'.

More the massive and constant arguments that plagued the contest from then on rather than the entries

 

 

For the record Don't Stop Looking is STILL my favourite entry of yours, and the highest peaking song on my personal chart based on BJSC exposure only (#4)

:wub:

 

 

Love these five too :wub: Not sure what went wrong with Miss Blue, I guess I can understand Headhunted's DNQ what with all the hate, but I guess people just didn't take to Miss Blue which was a shame...I'm not going to blame it on the wrong semi as it should have been strong enough to qualify out of either if it was going to do so, it was just an unfortunate circumstance. I'm Going For Your Brother is definitely one of my favourites of mine :wub: I'd had something else confirmed at the time but switched at the very last minute to that after ONE listen ten minutes before the deadline. It just struck me as something incredibly special and I don't regret it for a minute, even if it did 'only' come 10th. I think it has a legacy bigger than that finishing position represents.

 

As for the non-Rontvian entries (:lol:), Quicksand and Bulletproof are both immense (La Roux :wub:) and On & On is decent enough but I've never loved it.

It did seem to be :lol:

 

I agree, but I don't think that Lykke Li was a bad entry, I'm glad that I got around to sending something indie again, it does probably represent about 5% of my music taste, so it makes sense that I send them 5% of the time. Likewise, male artists probably make up 30% of the music I listen to at least, so that quota REALLY needs to be upped again, starting with this month!

 

I'd love to see that list!

 

I don't think that XV-XX were at all bad, they're some of my favourite contests actually - namely XV, XVII, XIX (aside from the overhyped winner) and XX. I did think that XIV was the beginning of the end though, and that's where all the arguments intensified and I stepped down as mod afterwards, I realistically couldn't have stayed in a mod position of a contest that I'd thought was going down the toilet.

I have no idea why Miss Blue failed, it was criminal. XII was criminal full stop. RBW couldn't even make the top20 :cry:

 

That was one hell of a listen :heehee:

 

I just hate it lol :lol: I'm not really that into that style of music.

 

We've vetoed Nicole Scherzinger - Cold twice now so it might be a necessity.

 

Like I said above it's the arguments rather than the entries. I loved XX, such a brilliant contest and Butterflies and Music Everywhere was one HELL of a top5 combo.

Robots In Love 85TH?! BELOW Michelle and By My Side?!

 

God Phil, if you're going to loon over Rontvia at LEAST get Rontvia 101 looning down cold! :drama:

I just don't listen to it as much as some of the others.

 

If you want Rontvia looning in action just look at Smack Me.

The Ashton entry rank - #32

 

32 || Sugababes - Whatever Makes You Happy

 

 

One of my all time favourite Sugababes albums tracks, this was entered to commemorate Keisha Buchanan's contribution to the Sugababes and mourn the loss of the remaining shred of credibility my favourite band had. RIP SUGABABES. [Although 4.0's new track sounds AMAZING - It would be vetoed so don't ever bother people]

#85-81

 

085 || Beautiful Small Machines - Robots In Love [FSR Rontvia - XVII]

 

 

This is a stunning track.

084 || Caroline Jönsson - By My Side [FSR Rontvia - XXII]

 

 

From Robots in love to a sweeping Scandipop epic, it's another Rontvian entry next.

083 || Dolly Rockers - Boys Will Be Boys [Lorikeet - XXI]

 

 

The Ashtonise Debut victory that never was. Ta for that Theo, you c**t.

082 || Ro Danishei & Simon Curtist - Michelle [Kopecka - XXXI]

 

 

What a fantastic track this is! Such a brilliant track and I love the addition of Simon Curtis.

081 || Kid Sister - Right Hand Hi [united States Of Jack - XIX]

 

 

It actually kills me to put a track that has over 100 plays on my iTunes this low :(

 

Robots In Love was probably my greatest winner in a way, very original, charming and gorgeous :wub: Also managed to win Unknown Pleasures a month or two later on CHC so it definitely had widespread appeal. Not sure that Livvi Franc would have done very well on there! I guess By My Side is one of my more forgotten entries (even I forget about it sometimes) but I do love it when it comes on shuffle, it's quite powerful. I know there was some resentment at it going top five at the time though, as some people would rather see 'token cheap song' in there as opposed to 'token formulaic Scandipop song'.

 

Never thought that much of Right Hand Hi, Boys Will Be Boys shouldn't have won (although it was decent) and Michelle was great for about a week when I also thought that her album was the greatest thing sicne sliced bread, but it wore off me incredibly quickly.

 

Robots In Love 85TH?! BELOW Michelle and By My Side?!

 

God Phil, if you're going to loon over Rontvia at LEAST get Rontvia 101 looning down cold! :drama:

 

Each to their own.

 

Remember your EOY chart last year, where truly STUNNING year defining tracks were trailing in behind Justin Beiber's Baby :(

I'll pick this up again tomorrow and see if i can get through the remaining 80 and 32 tracks.

More the massive and constant arguments that plagued the contest from then on rather than the entries

 

I have no idea why Miss Blue failed, it was criminal. XII was criminal full stop. RBW couldn't even make the top20 :cry:

 

That was one hell of a listen :heehee:

 

I just hate it lol :lol: I'm not really that into that style of music.

 

We've vetoed Nicole Scherzinger - Cold twice now so it might be a necessity.

 

Like I said above it's the arguments rather than the entries. I loved XX, such a brilliant contest and Butterflies and Music Everywhere was one HELL of a top5 combo.

 

Which were a direct reaction to the absolute joke that was XIV. And not forgetting the rule of letting ESC NF songs in, I don't know quite why it caused SUCH a stir.

 

It was, I just recall being mesmerised by her glorious voice and the combination of the perfect rap and beautiful backing track. There's something I find very entrancing about northern Sweden, the whole song/video just had a very sudden and instant impact on me. Their album on the whole was very good actually, I must dig it out again, Shirt Off was great too!

 

When I pm'd you about it, you said it was ok but would need a few more listens. Shame that turned to hate :drama: I don't regret my decision to send it though (obviously - it won!).

 

It would be good for transparency I think.

 

Indeed, Rontvia AND Ashton in the top five together happens incredibly rarely, about as often as Norway and Iceland hold down the top 2 in ESC!

 

I just don't listen to it as much as some of the others.

 

If you want Rontvia looning in action just look at Smack Me.

 

Gaga and the like have made Smack Me's production sound prehistoric now :( I still love the melody/hook/lyrics but it's crying out for a 2011 makeover!

 

The Ashton entry rank - #32

 

32 || Sugababes - Whatever Makes You Happy

 

 

One of my all time favourite Sugababes albums tracks, this was entered to commemorate Keisha Buchanan's contribution to the Sugababes and mourn the loss of the remaining shred of credibility my favourite band had. RIP SUGABABES. [Although 4.0's new track sounds AMAZING - It would be vetoed so don't ever bother people]

 

It speaks volumes that Sugababes have been entered more times than I can remember, but only ever by Ashton :lol: Let alone vetoed, surely outright banned if not sent by Ashton? :o As outrageous as somebody but Numayania sending Alcazar, or Rontvia sending Sheelah!

Each to their own.

 

Remember your EOY chart last year, where truly STUNNING year defining tracks were trailing in behind Justin Beiber's Baby :(

There weren't THAT many behind Baby! :lol: I'm still of the opinion that Robots In Love is easily amongst the top three winners - although I haven't gotten around to deciding where it is in my overall top 101 of the 00s. Definitely the top half...

There weren't THAT many behind Baby! :lol: I'm still of the opinion that Robots In Love is easily amongst the top three winners - although I haven't gotten around to deciding where it is in my overall top 101 of the 00s. Definitely the top half...

 

I do recall seeing so many bonafide 2010 classics SO low down in your EOY chart though considering how much you'd looned over some during the year :o

 

Why 101 exactly? Because it was the only one not on Spotify? :kink:

 

I do recall seeing so many bonafide 2010 classics SO low down in your EOY chart though considering how much you'd looned over some during the year :o

 

Why 101 exactly? Because it was the only one not on Spotify? :kink:

It's now gone up to 102 with Sound of Arrows finally getting ported onto Spotify by myself, so it'd be top 103 :lol: I didn't want to leave off The 411 - Dumb!

 

There wasn't much lower than Baby that I properly looned over. Well, maybe Preeya - Dirty Kissin' :kink: But stuff looked very low down when it wasn't - anything from 99 upwards was a genuine spectacular 9.5/10 moment, so it looked like I didn't like stuff as much when I loved it dearly :lol: Ordering the top 50 was painful - anything above the 80s feels like it should be in my top 30!

It's now gone up to 102 with Sound of Arrows finally getting ported onto Spotify by myself, so it'd be top 103 :lol: I didn't want to leave off The 411 - Dumb!

 

There wasn't much lower than Baby that I properly looned over. Well, maybe Preeya - Dirty Kissin' :kink: But stuff looked very low down when it wasn't - anything from 99 upwards was a genuine spectacular 9.5/10 moment, so it looked like I didn't like stuff as much when I loved it dearly :lol: Ordering the top 50 was painful - anything above the 80s feels like it should be in my top 30!

 

:lol: God forbid! I never really got into The 411 (apologies Aled! Who appears not to be taking part this month? :o)

 

You must have loved 2010 a lot more than I did, 44 and upwards were my absolute essentials of the year. Below that was great but not life enhancing. I have 21 life enhancing tracks so far in 2011, and we're not quite halfway through the year, so beating that total looks promising, especially with the arrival of Gaga's new album! I think it came through in your commentary more than anything that you were lavishing great praise on songs that finished 172nd or whatever...I doubt I could think of much to say about my #100 of any given EOY chart, let any lower down than that!

One of my all time favourite Sugababes albums tracks, this was entered to commemorate Keisha Buchanan's contribution to the Sugababes and mourn the loss of the remaining shred of credibility my favourite band had. RIP SUGABABES. [Although 4.0's new track sounds AMAZING - It would be vetoed so don't ever bother people]

 

Haha I'm already plotting to get Tom and Martin to allow it with me just to p*** you off :lol:

Robots In Love was probably my greatest winner in a way, very original, charming and gorgeous :wub: Also managed to win Unknown Pleasures a month or two later on CHC so it definitely had widespread appeal.

 

I entered Robots In Love over at NSC too. It qualified from it's semi. Although it came 22nd in the Final (and turned out it came 9th in it's semi)

 

Although if I remember correctly there was one or two people who were really happy with the discovery so I guess it was worth it then. :)

Haha I'm already plotting to get Tom and Martin to allow it with me just to p*** you off :lol:

 

News to me :kink: Did a sample leak btw? Much excite (though not as much as the GA comeback or BTW)