BJSC131 - Let's All Pray For This World (UNKLE Reconstruction) by Perry Farrell

 

Perry Farrell is best known as the lead singer of the American alternative rock band Jane's Addiction. He has also been part of the groups Porno For Pyros and Satellite Party. His stage name is a play on the word 'peripheral'. 'Let's All Pray For This World' is a song from his 2019 solo album 'Kind Heaven' but we are entering a 2020 remix by UNKLE who have already represented Rolloland with one of their own songs in BJSC118.

 

BJSC132 - I Hold You by Clann

 

Clann is the Canadian producer Sebastian McKinnon. 'I Hold You' is from his 2017 album, 'Seelie', and features vocals from another Canadian, Charlotte Loseth, who records her own music under the name Sea Oleena. Sebastian is also a film maker and is currently making a feature film which will use music from the album but for the moment the only video we can offer to illustrate the song is this unofficial one featuring Icelandic landscapes.

 

BJSC133 - Diamond Veins by French 79 featuring Sarah Rebecca

 

French 79 is the project of Simon Henner who is from Marseille. This is his second appearance in the BJSC, having finished 27th in the 114th contest, representing Quintessa. 'Diamond Veins' is from French 79's first album, 'Olympic', released in 2016 and features vocals by the American singer Sarah Rebecca who is making her debut in the contest.

 

AMAZING choice Rollo.

Thanks, an approval from Aeroche is greatly valued. :P

BJSC134 - Moon (And It Went Like) by Kid Francescoli

 

Kid Francescoli is the project of Mathieu Hocine who, like our entrant from the last contest, is from Marseille. It was not our intention to choose two artists who knew each other in consecutive contests but our original entry by Steven Wilson was vetoed and as we are trying to break our national record for consecutive qualifiers, we thought that this was the most likely out of the potentials that we have at the moment to do that. Moon (And It Went Like) is from Kid Francescoli's second album 'Play Me Again', released in 2017, and features vocals by the American singer Julia Minkin.

 

BJSC135 - Modern Fears (Pilotpriest Come True Version) by Electric Youth

 

Electric Youth are a Canadian duo, Bronwyn Griffin and Austin Garrick, who came together musically in 2011 but were already a couple well before that. This is their third BJSC appearance, having represented Palmyra in the 39th contest (finishing 11th) and Numayania in the 53rd contest (failing to qualify for the final). Both of those appearances were as the featured act. This is the second time this year we have entered a Canadian song from a film but unlike the Clann song, this time the film has been completed and released. It's called 'Come True' and the video features scenes from it with Electric Youth also appearing as silhouettes on monitor screens. 'Modern Fears' first appeared as a bonus track on the deluxe edition of Electric Youth's 2014 album 'Innerworld'. The song we are entering is a remixed version from this year with a lusher, more cinematic sound to it to suit the film it features in. Pilotpriest is the alias of Anthony Scott Burns who also wrote and directed the film.

 

BJSC136 - Run Run Run by Yeah But No

 

I don't know much about Yeah But No. A google search just brings up Vicky Pollard. I can tell you that they are are a duo made up of Douglas Greed and Fabian Kuss and that they are based in Berlin so I'm assuming that they are German. 'Run Run Run' is taken from their second album 'Demons' released in 2019.

 

BJSC137 - Monsters by All India Radio

 

All India Radio are an Australian group led by their only constant member, Martin Kennedy. They were formed in 1998 and have released 26 albums. 'Monsters' is taken from their 17th album, 'Space', released in 2018. Yes, that's right, they have already put out another nine albums since then! It features vocals from Leona Gray who also wrote the lyrics. She does not appear in the video. The woman who does is the model and actress, Annaliese McGuire.

 

BJSC138 - Supper's Ready by Genesis

 

Supper's Ready is taken from Genesis' fourth album, 'Foxtrot', released in 1972 while Peter Gabriel was their lead singer. It's the longest and oldest song that Rolloland has entered into the BJSC. If you were following my all time top 1000 songs countdown, you might remember that Supper's Ready was placed as high as number 2. Genesis are currently on their final tour and are set to have a top 10 album on Friday with 'The Last Domino', a collection of their most popular songs.

 

BJSC139 - D7-D5 by Blanck Mass

 

Blanck Mass is the solo project of Benjamin John Power who was previously part of an electonic music duo called f*** Buttons. He is making his second appearance in the BJSC, having finished in 10th place for Trifoski a year ago. D7-D5 was released as a single in 2016. Rolloland has never had three DNQ's in a row so we are hoping that this entry will have enough support to qualify for the final.

 

I'm still a little sad that All India Radio DNQed (especially as it would have been in if we'd changed the 20 qualifiers per semi rule a couple of months earlier but ah well) - I'm really liking this new single from them as well so thank you for the artist discovery!

 

 

'D7-D5' is great as well of course, thinking and hoping it should do quite well.

Yes, I like the ambient soundscapes on that one.

BJSC140 - Orphan Girl by Nicola O'Haire

 

Nicola O'Haire is from Ballinrobe in County Mayo and Orphan Girl is her debut single. She is the third Irish act to represent Rolloland. After its release last month, the single shot to number 1 on the Irish iTunes chart. The song was written in 2012 by Brendan Graham who has written two Eurovision Song Contest winners as well as 'You Raise Me Up'. Ireland's Great Famine lasted from 1845 - 1852. About 1 million people died with another million emigrating. Earl Grey, the British Secretary of State for the Colonies, came up with an idea to relocate orphan girls from overcrowded Irish workhouses to the other side of the world where they would help to settle the new Australian colony, making up for a shortage of serving staff. Over 4000 girls made the arduous journey. It is estimated that today, up to 2 million Australians owe their heritage to these orphan girls. This song is the story of one of them.

 

 

 

As I discussed at the close of yesterday’s listenthrough, she sounds like I imagine Susan Boyle sounded as a teenager.

That thought had not occurred to me. I do like the way she enunciates every word of the lyrics.

BJSC141 - Fab Tool by Carpenter Brut featuring David Eugene Edwards

 

Carpenter Brut is a darksynth artist from Poitiers, France. His real name is Franck Hueso. He has already represented Summericia in BJSC93 which was the contest just before Rolloland made its first appearance. He finished 22nd with his song 'Turbo Killer'. 'Fab Tool' is a single from 2020 and features vocals from the American David Eugene Edwards who also contributed to the lyrics. He is the lead singer, songwriter and musician from the American alternative country band Wovenhand.

 

BJSC142 - Proper Jack Froster by Big Big Train

 

Bournemouth band Big Big Train are representing Rolloland for the second time in the main contest. They previously appeared in the 122nd edition where they failed to qualify from their semi-final. 'Proper Jack Froster' is from their 14th album 'Welcome To The Planet' which came out less than a month ago although it had already been released as a single in December. The song was written by bass guitarist Greg Spawton and is about his childhood growing up in the Midlands in the 70s. It comes with this wonderful animated video. Lead vocals here are by David Longdon who died in an accident after the album was completed. Big Big Train's manager recently announced that after speaking to David's family, they have decided to carry on as a group.

 

 

 

Big Big Train have qualified for the final! Thanks to all those who voted for the song. Here is a reaction to the song from my favourite youtuber Doug Helvering. He's a music teacher and classical composer and does a lot of these videos, listening to classic rock and prog rock songs that he hasn't heard before and commenting on them.

 

BJSC143 - Never Let Me Down Again by Depeche Mode

 

This month Rolloland is celebrating its 50th anniversary so we are sending one of our favourite groups, Depeche Mode. Never Let Me Down Again is taken from their sixth album, Music For The Masses, released in 1987. The single reached number 22 in the UK. The song is one of just a few of the group's 80s songs that they still play live in concert, usually being kept back for the encore performance and extended to about double the length of the single version.