hooray for Lucas & Steve holding up well here, shame that us two were seemingly the only big fans of the song here as it limped in at the bottom end of the final!

 

if you've not heard their debut album, you may like, it is very Avicii inspired.

Ah I'd forgotten where it ended up - I guess the placing sort-of goes out the window when it's a song I've discovered! Definitely deserved better though. I'll make a note to give their album a listen as well - thanks Dan!

 

(my Top 3 are on the previous page for anyone who just sees this reply!)

How did Friday Night pass the veto????!!!! :o :o

How did Friday Night pass the veto????!!!! :o :o

 

I don't see any reason why it would be vetoed even if it had been entered today unless there's something I'm missing?

 

~

 

Interesting thread idea btw, though of course not going to be seeing any of my own songs appearing here as 13 points from Niceland remains a higher bar than I have ever achieved :kink: (so close with House Of Harm x)

I don't see any reason why it would be vetoed even if it had been entered today unless there's something I'm missing?

I probably overestimated Friday Night's popularity here. It was on like every single chart that I saw back in the days and it has got amazing viewership too. Shocked it didn't do as well internationally :o

Edited August 12, 20213 yr by uhsting

Spirit Cold :wub: To think that was just a backup choice after getting vetoed, one of my biggest surprise hits.

 

Nice to see two of my fave 90s winners in Saving Light and Hurricane!

'Young Again' is the sort of thing I shouldn't like but it is really addictive, has held up really well and is probably one of my favourites from that era of BJSC all told.

 

go drones club

 

(and go the song later on which is what I believe will be my one (?) appearance in this thread)

I probably overestimated Friday Night's popularity here. It was on like every single chart that I saw back in the days and it has got amazing viewership too. Shocked it didn't do as well internationally :o

Yeah it's popular but I wouldn't have considered it particularly veto-worthy! I don't remember it being on too many charts either - maybe my memory's just going? Thanks Jack!

 

Interesting thread idea btw, though of course not going to be seeing any of my own songs appearing here as 13 points from Niceland remains a higher bar than I have ever achieved :kink: (so close with House Of Harm x)

There's still a chance of you appearing as an honourable mention! ;) Thanks Bré, hope you enjoy following along!

 

Spirit Cold :wub: To think that was just a backup choice after getting vetoed, one of my biggest surprise hits.

 

Nice to see two of my fave 90s winners in Saving Light and Hurricane!

Glad it did so well for you, it's still a great song! Saving Light and Hurricane remain fab as well - two of the best songs to have won the contest. Thanks Jordan!

 

'Young Again' is the sort of thing I shouldn't like but it is really addictive, has held up really well and is probably one of my favourites from that era of BJSC all told.

 

go drones club

 

(and go the song later on which is what I believe will be my one (?) appearance in this thread)

Glad 'Young Again' still gets you - as you can see both that and Drones Club still hold up well for me. And yep - you'll be making an appearance with said song later on (I've still got the most recent 8 contests to go through so had to check but apparently I've not pointed you at all in those, the shame :o ) - thanks Iz!

BJSC 98-107

 

Niceland's Entries

 

BJSC 98: BANNERS - Someone To You 18th - 200 points

BJSC 99: Sofi Mkheyan - Hamadzayn Em 40th - 99 points

BJSC 100: culpriit - Driveway 42nd - 131 points

BJSC 101: Shanguy - La Louze 5th - 268 points

BJSC 102: Derrival - Found Out 27th - 153 points

BJSC 103: Keida & Tian Winter - We Are the West Indies DNQ - 25th in Semi - 29 points

BJSC 104: Built By Titan - Broken Love (ft. Starxs) 1st - 366 points

BJSC 105: One eskimO - Givin' Up (Violin Version) 37th - 84 points

BJSC 106: Hooverphonic - Romantic 6th - 224 points

BJSC 107: Suzi Island - Show Me the Way DNQ - 28th in Semi - 25 points

 

Well I think it's safe to say my second decade in the contest was by far my most successful one! We started off with future TikTok superstar BANNERS and Someone To You, by far my most successful entry off-site and did reasonably well here as well with a Top 20. We finished off 2017 with two relatively cheap wentries that I do regret a bit, and whilst culpriit got me into the Final of the centenary contest and thus points from a whole host of countries who haven't been seen since, after that I resolved to never send an artist from the USA again (which I'm still doing!)

 

2018 started out VERY well. After not having any idea of what to send, I took a punt at Shanguy and somehow ended up with a Top 5. That was followed up with a not-too-shabby Top 30 for Canadian indie band Derrival, probably about as high as a song of its type can get in BJSC. My look then took a turn for the worse as my assumption that the catchiness of We Are The West Indies would send it soaring straight into the final was proven wrong (although it did allow me to add Antigua and Barbuda to my Nationalities list *.* ). I would have sent Aliens by Emilie Adams to the next contest, but unfortunately Jerick got there a contest too early, which led to me having to send Built By Titan's 'Broken Love' - which didn't do too badly all in all, only winning by a landslide.

 

I used my AQ wisely for the next contest to sneak an old One Eskimo piece into the Final, where it came second-last to the other AQ (picking up an +18 on the way though!). And whilst Hooverphonic seem to have morphed into Buzzjack enemies now, I was very happy to take my third Top 10 of the year with their mellow indie track. So I tried similar the next contest, but unfortunately the fantastic Suzi Island remained unappreciated by the Buzzjack masses.

BJSC 98-107

 

Honourable Mentions

 

Alex Cameron - Runnin' Outta Luck (Fljotavik - 99 - +5)

 

The perfect example of a song which grew on me significantly after the contest, this ended up being a Top 10 in my own chart and made its way into my EOY as well! An incredibly funky indie piece which certainly deserves its recognition here, even if just for the slightly creepy music video!

 

Phlake - IKEA Episodes (Palmyra - 100 - DNQ (+10))

 

Oh who doesn't love a Lukas Graham sound-alike singing about walking around IKEA? They're even from Denmark, so authentic *.* (for Lukas Graham I mean, I know IKEA isn't Danish!) I was absolutely obsessed with this for quite a while, a rare long-runner in my Personal Chart and it's an absolute disgrace this didn't make the final!

 

HUMAN - HIGHER (Tinnmark - 104 - +12)

 

HUMAN is actually Daniel Adams-Ray of 'Somewhere in Stockholm' fame, although this is a completely different style to that and much more punchier! In fact this led me to discovering his next track 'ROBOT' which I absolutely adored and ended up appearing near the top of my EOY. I'd give it a listen if you haven't but this one is great as well!

 

I'm From Barcelona - We're From Barcelona (Tartford - 106 - DNQ (+8))

 

Guess where they're from? Yep, that's right - Sweden. I'm sure I'd heard this song somewhere before but brought back so much nostalgia for the good old indie music of the 00s and I fell in love. It finished last in the Final, although its story wasn't over as it inexplicably made the Top 10 of Rejects later in the year, the joys of the old system!

 

Tessa Violet - Crush (Azure - 107 - +9)

 

A perfect example of a grower, this one was way outside my points on first listen but soared all the way up to +9 on second go, and it didn't stop after that, becoming one of my favourite BJSC discoveries of the year. It's just so infectiously catchy in a way many pop songs try and fail to do.

 

FUR - If You Know That I'm Lonely (Suedeonia - 107 - +10)

 

I really like these guys as well, they have a real 60s look and feel to them and this song really does epitomise that. Also indie making the final of BJSC is always something to be wildly celebrated!

I think I'm gonna fly for a while ✈ ✈

 

Some really iconic entries from around this time, especially Runnin' Outta Luck, Friday Night, We're from Barcelona and IKEA Episodes

 

A bit surprised Someone To You is relatively low here as BJSC has a track record of giving a lot of points to upbeat and catchy songs (*ahem* Goliath *ahem*). However, glad that they have broken through TikTok. La Louze is another great song here and deserves to be in the top 5. Broken Love is probably one of the best songs of 2018 in my opinion. It has an oriental sound and it is super catchy. Great to hear that it won by a landslide! I'm interested in the backstory of Hooverphonic becoming BJSC enemies though :huh: (is it just the Love Shine A Light incident?)

 

I would have sent Aliens by Emilie Adams to the next contest, but unfortunately Jerick got there a contest too early, which led to me having to send Built By Titan's 'Broken Love'

Also wanted to send Emilie Adams to the next contest and had the entry sent an edition early. Are you telling me there is a chance? :kink:

Edited August 13, 20213 yr by uhsting

ooh yay for double Danæviia in the top 10, I forgot you rated Saving Light so highly!

the video certainly helped carry across the emotion of the song I feel for a few people, though we'll never know if that would've made the difference between the song winning or not. IIRC it wasn't considered the favourite to win, that being Muna who finished in 2nd, so maybe.

BJSC 98-107

 

Medallist Ranking

 

30/30: Burak Yeter x Ryan Riback - GO 2.0

(BJSC 99 - Hendinia - +13)

 

It feels really strange ranking this last as I really loved it at the time, and it doesn't sound bad at all now either. I guess I was just into dance a lot more back then! It's quite a generic dance-pop track with a quite fun drop, still done in a good way although doesn't hold up as well as the songs above it!

 

29/30: Ali & Cheetah - Don't Speak

(BJSC 102 - Quintessa - +18)

 

The first +18 to take the chop, there's nothing bad at all about this song and it remains a pretty funky pop song, particularly for K-pop standards (I assume they're K-pop? When I type them into Google all I get it this lovely artwork). It just doesn't stick out in a way that so many of the others do! It remains Quintessa's only +18 from me, although not their last medallist.

 

28/30: Mason - Fashion Killa (ft. Stefflon Don)

(BJSC 98 - Pupok - +18)

 

MURDA DENDIGGADIGGADIGGADURDA *.* I feel like I've done a yo-yo on this song as well, as I adored it when it was entered, then when I was doing this ranking initially I could hardly finish it - the Jacksons sample can sound quite jarring can't it? - but I'm quite digging it again now! I guess the standard of this set of 30 songs is the main reason I can't afford to put it any higher

 

27/30: Serena - Safari

(BJSC 104 - Hushkanukia - +15)

 

One of the last dance-pop songs I pointed in this contest, this has something different to it in the form of it's very funky distorted-vocalled drop. Is she comparing her dance moves to a safari though? I'd be a disappointed if I'd paid for a safari and all I saw was her and her boyfriend!

 

26/30: Kelli-Leigh - Do You Wanna Be Loved Like This?

(BJSC 106 - Oslol - +13)

 

Why is she hiding men in her car boot? That can't be a very good pastime. Try flower arranging instead. Anyway, this is pure pop that by all accounts I shouldn't be into but it really does have a catchy hook that I remember having in my head for quite a time! Couldn't quite break my Top 25 here though.

I think I'm gonna fly for a while ✈ ✈

 

Some really iconic entries from around this time, especially Runnin' Outta Luck, Friday Night, We're from Barcelona and IKEA Episodes

So many tunes from that era! All iconic enough to still be quite firmly in my head to this day. And of course Hurricane is fab :wub: Thanks Seven!

 

A bit surprised Someone To You is relatively low here as BJSC has a track record of giving a lot of points to upbeat and catchy songs (*ahem* Goliath *ahem*). However, glad that they have broken through TikTok. La Louze is another great song here and deserves to be in the top 5. Broken Love is probably one of the best songs of 2018 in my opinion. It has an oriental sound and it is super catchy. Great to hear that it won by a landslide! I'm interested in the backstory of Hooverphonic becoming BJSC enemies though :huh: (is it just the Love Shine A Light incident?)

Also wanted to send Emilie Adams to the next contest and had the entry sent an edition early. Are you telling me there is a chance? :kink:

'Relatively low' is quite a relative statement - I'd happily take a Top 20 given my recent form in the contest! I did think it would be a hit, and in the terms I'd gotten used to I guess it was even if not a smash. Yeah I was just referring to the Love Shine A Light incident for Hooverphonic, their Eurovision trck made the Top 40 in the Multichart so they must still have some fans! And as for this conotest, who knows :kink: Thanks Jack!

 

ooh yay for double Danæviia in the top 10, I forgot you rated Saving Light so highly!

the video certainly helped carry across the emotion of the song I feel for a few people, though we'll never know if that would've made the difference between the song winning or not. IIRC it wasn't considered the favourite to win, that being Muna who finished in 2nd, so maybe.

Yeah who knows, I'm not sure I would have rated it so highly without the video but I do love the song as well and the video gave the song itself so much more meaning - can't even remember how the MUNA song went whoops! Thanks Dan :D

Nice to see Safari here! I can imagine it blew up in the end in particular the Eurovision fans! Such a decent song!

Friday Night qualifying is one of my personal most memorable BJSC moments ever. It was down to 1 song left from a BLOODBATH and it was about the last song I thought would qualify yet it did just that. Didn't even mind losing my absolutely "nailed on qualifier" (Grace Mitchell - Now for those wondering) and then it goes and finishes in the top 20 to make us all question why we thought it was a no-hoper in the first place. Love it.

 

Don't Speak is the best song of its kind I've ever heard.

 

I'm raking my brains trying to remember if you've ever medalled me in the past? Don't want to cheat and look at my thread as I'd rather wait and be surprised here but I think maybe 2 entries of mine (Q-Benjamin - BUT & Wow/Flutter - Hot) you did point relatively highly.

BJSC 98-107

 

Medallist Ranking

 

25/30: Catherine McGrath - Good Goodbyes

(BJSC 107 - Ultraviolenceland - +18)

 

McGrath is a lovely surname isn't it. Anyway, this is a lovely country song from an artist I think has been sent to BJSC a couple of times? This is my favourite one anywhere, quite a fun upbeat chorus which really brings the song together. The fact it isn't any higher is purely down to the fact there are so many standout songs from this section and this one is just a bit lower than those above it.

 

24/30: Hollyn - Alone (ft. TRU)

(BJSC 99 - Harmonica - +15)

 

I believe the version sent omitted the feature from TRU, but given has since sadly passed away I thought I would include it here just of respect. This is another of the rare-ish occasions in which a Christian song has managed to make its way into the Final, and whilst this was quite apart from the other Hollyn songs I had heard before this (presumably she had mellowed a bit since this?) it is still a great song, bringing the worlds of worship and contemporary pop together.

 

23/30: Joshua Micah - Who Says?

(BJSC 101 - Harmonica - +18)

 

Two Harmonica songs in a row here! I think Joshua Micah is also a Christian artist, although this song isn't Christian in itself, just a fab feel-good dance-y-pop song with a foot-tapping drop. Mr. Micah does unfortunately have the dubious honour of being the lowest ranked male-vocalled song in this countdown but it is of course still a fab song. He seems to have morphed into creating spoken-word videos on YouTube nowadays instead of releasing songs!

 

22/30: Emilie Adams - ALIENS

(BJSC 103 - Tinnmark - +15)

 

I've already mentioned this song a few times in this thread, namely thanks to the fact I was planning on sending it myself. This brings back some nostalgia for the female-fronted acts of the late 00s and early 10s, with a raw indie-rock sound that compliments her dark voice really well. And contrary to popular belief, she's not singing about opening the barbecues! Another one I haven't really gone back to too much, although like all the others I'm enjoying it quite a lot giving it a play now.

 

21/30: Elodie, Michele Bravi & Guè Pequeno - Nero Bali

(BJSC 106 - Cadelicia - +15)

 

I can't unhear the words 'men in Gaza' in the chorus of this song. Anyway, we're back to fun Euro-pop for this one, plus the compulsory random rap verse that seems to be added on so often for this song, although it's still sounding really fab now, the two main singers complement each other really well. Where did they shoot the video though? A supermarket? A garden centre? The swimming pool at Centre Parcs? I guess we'll never know.

Nice to see Safari here! I can imagine it blew up in the end in particular the Eurovision fans! Such a decent song!

Glad you're a fan - I can't actually remember how well it did in the end - just looked it up and it finished 8th so yes, must have been popular! Thanks Jack ^_^

 

Friday Night qualifying is one of my personal most memorable BJSC moments ever. It was down to 1 song left from a BLOODBATH and it was about the last song I thought would qualify yet it did just that. Didn't even mind losing my absolutely "nailed on qualifier" (Grace Mitchell - Now for those wondering) and then it goes and finishes in the top 20 to make us all question why we thought it was a no-hoper in the first place. Love it.

 

Don't Speak is the best song of its kind I've ever heard.

 

I'm raking my brains trying to remember if you've ever medalled me in the past? Don't want to cheat and look at my thread as I'd rather wait and be surprised here but I think maybe 2 entries of mine (Q-Benjamin - BUT & Wow/Flutter - Hot) you did point relatively highly.

Friday Night was a real grower from when I first heard it to when I pointed it to much later when it topped my Personal Chart (I think the only other song to have done that for me after a contest was Ball Park Music - Day & Age!) I can confirm you will be making an appearance here (although if you want to be surprised I won't hint at which song it is ;) ) Thanks Dobbo!

BJSC 98-107

 

Medallist Ranking

 

20/30: Tunde Olaniran - Namesake

(BJSC 103 - Jupiterdonia - +13)

 

 

BABATUNDE BABABABATUNDE etc. This isn't the sort of music I'd be into in general and is the first song I remember growing significantly on me during the final, climbing from 8th to 3rd on second listen. It's just so incredibly punchy and fresh-sounding and it's actually quite difficult writing a commentary whilst listening to it, it's just so gripping!

 

19/30: R3hab - Icarus

(BJSC 100 - Cowtermont - +13)

 

This one's interesting as I knew it before BJSC (it actually went Top 10 in my Personal Chart) but, as with a lot of songs in 2016, I don't really remember anything other than the mouse-in-a-washing-machine chorus that defines the song. The verses are ok although the chorus is still what drags it up for me. It appears R3hab is still releasing music as prolifically as he was back then, although I've not been so consistent in listening to it!

 

18/30: EZI - DaNcing in a RoOm

(BJSC 105 - Jupiterdonia - +15)

 

The first medallist from the contest hosted by yours truly! This still sounds very good, whilst the verses are ok, the chorus really brings it up for me - a very funky beat but at the same time incredibly laid back in a way which just makes you want to lean back and relax whilst it's on.

 

17/30: Ria Mae - Bend

(BJSC 104 - Singerpurear - +13)

 

I have to say didn't recognise this artist and song when it came round to doing this ranking, but when I began listening it all came back to me, particularly the reason I gave it so many points. A fab sounding pop song with synths in all the right places, a lot more energetic than the usual masses of synth-pop that get roped into this contest, with a simple but strong chorus as well. The music video is great too, very sophisticated, like a more excited version of Christine and the Queens.

 

16/30: Metroplane - Word of Mouth (ft. Bree Runway)

(BJSC 103 - New Lexico - +18)

 

One of very few +18s to actually win the thing, it's still the highest of the medallists from 103 so that wouldn't have changed the tie-break however there's a good chance I could have pointed Freya if the contest was held now to keep this off the top! It's very catchy dance with a very clever idea in using vocals as the backing chords, it really does add another level to the song.

I remember Word Of Mouth just sneaking into my final point position on my last listen which I am eternally grateful for to prevent what would have the worst winner since I joined (sorry Freya!) I actually enjoy it much more now so really it should have got a lot more from me!