Poor "Disaster" :lol: but yay for another one of my winners "Ellipsis" getting some love! And woop woop for "Let Me Go" <3

Yay for the mentions for Wriggle and Saturn! Both I still love and am proud of entering! Thank you for including them and the nice words.

Hey, I send Australian artists sometimes too :P

 

Yeah, the Daniella Mason thing confuses me, even when 'Cover The Earth' was turned into a worship song because I never associated the lyrics with that even when I sent it :lol:

I...think I'll take that as a positive? :lol: I'm pleased to have an entry here anyway, I forgot you gave it that high. I still really like Time Again, it is indeed pretty different to what I usually send, but it did have that really nice 80s pop sound so I gave it a go, I'm glad I did given how well it finished!

 

Unrelated to this btw, but I'm really liking the Declan McKenna entry this month, I haven't actually heard anything by him before so wasn't sure what to expect, but I rather liked the psychedelic, Bowie-esque feel of the whole thing.

I LOVE Killing My Time, it's one I go back to very often.

20/30: Emma Blackery - Third Eye

(BJSC 115 - Lotunia - +13)

 

I feel as though Emma Blackery has released some more music I should be aware of, but nothing is coming to mind right now. I describe this sort of music as 'aggressive pop' which isn't a genre but I think it sums up tunes like this quite well. I remember when I pointed this that it isn't something I'd usually end up putting in my medals. It is nice though, definitely at the top end of songs by pop artists like her.

 

19/30: Patrick Martin - Stranger Nights

(BJSC 115 - Florina - +18)

 

This is, by all intents and purposes, very generic male-vocalled pop, but given that that sort of music is so much better than a lot of what gets sent to this contest it ended up topping my ranking. And as much as he looks like he's in pain throughout the music video I do like this song, particularly the harmonies in the bridge and the few (but not over-the-top) synths. I think it works very well and still sounds good today!

 

18/30: DJ Mehdi - Signatune

(BJSC 114 - Fljotavik - +13)

 

Another artist who has sadly passed away, this is one of the few instrumentals which has finished within my Top 3 and it really is one of the best to have made the Final of this contest. Whilst I still don’t really understand the concept of the music video, there’s no denying that the trackitself is great, very reminiscent of its time and bringing back a little bit of nostalgia.

 

17/30: Allday - In Motion (ft. Japanese Wallpaper)

(BJSC 113 - #00274E - +15)

 

Allday has had somewhat of a resurgence recently in my personal chart, which has almost certainly pulled this song up a few places in the ranking. I didn't point this at all in the semi-final, where it knocked my own song out on a tiebreak, then I had a resurgence and gave it 15 points in the Final, however my support wasn't enough to stop it from finishing a resounding last. This is a low-key track done in a really good way, with some fantastic instrumentation. Oh and the music video is... something.

 

16/30: Stand Atlantic - Lavender Bones

(BJSC 110 - Taahino - +15)

 

A quick reshuffle has pushed this down a few places, sorry Lindsey! I'd completely forgotten this song when it came to doing this ranking but I've come to grow in love with it again, it's one of those American-style rock songs that I very rarely give high points to but this is definitely one of the best ones, the music video really adds to it as well, putting the art of being different from the norm into the limelight.

(for reference, I'm on holiday at the moment so all the posts are pre-prepared - just in case it becomes obvious at some point!)

 

Poor "Disaster" :lol: but yay for another one of my winners "Ellipsis" getting some love! And woop woop for "Let Me Go" <3

You could say... it was a disaster :basil: But no that would be too harsh, it's still a good song but just probably wouldn't have made my Top 3 in most contests. Ellipsis most certainly would though so we can do a swap around there :lol: And Let Me Go still sounds fab as well - thanks Leww!

 

Yay for the mentions for Wriggle and Saturn! Both I still love and am proud of entering! Thank you for including them and the nice words.

No problem, thank you for introducing me to both! They both remain fantastic entries in my eyes. Thanks Patrick!

 

Hey, I send Australian artists sometimes too :P

 

Yeah, the Daniella Mason thing confuses me, even when 'Cover The Earth' was turned into a worship song because I never associated the lyrics with that even when I sent it :lol:

Yeah now I think about it I did know you had an affinity for Australian artists too but it was so engrained in my mind that this was a Holland-Oats entry that it surprised me a bit! Thanks Jordan ^_^

 

I...think I'll take that as a positive? :lol: I'm pleased to have an entry here anyway, I forgot you gave it that high. I still really like Time Again, it is indeed pretty different to what I usually send, but it did have that really nice 80s pop sound so I gave it a go, I'm glad I did given how well it finished!

 

Unrelated to this btw, but I'm really liking the Declan McKenna entry this month, I haven't actually heard anything by him before so wasn't sure what to expect, but I rather liked the psychedelic, Bowie-esque feel of the whole thing.

It definitely is a positive, I was typing those up at speed so sort-of forgot that I didn't really talk about the song itself! It must be one of those songs that takes a few listens to get re-used to as it is quite the earworm and has been going around in my head for the last few days. And thanks for the Humongous love - hopefully it can be a good anniversary result! Thanks Chez ^_^

 

I LOVE Killing My Time, it's one I go back to very often.

It is good isn't it - thanks Dobbo!

15/30: Tal - ADN

(BJSC 113 - Quintessa - +13)

 

This one's pretty interesting as it's quite different from Tal's other entry, and her other songs in general - in the sens that it's not just instantly into the beat, it builds up very gently into a chorus that, whilst being dance-poppy, is a lot more subdued than her other tracks. I like it a lot!

 

14/30: Van She - Strangers (Van She Tech Rework)

(BJSC 117 - Fljotavik - +15)

 

This feels like the sort of song only dandy* can get away with sending and still make the Final, I'm very grateful though as it brings back a whole load of nostalgia for the late 00s/early 10s dance-indie sound that was rife on free music sites like RCRD LBL. I would quite happily have listened to this on my old iPod all day long *.*

 

13/30: Say Lou Lou & Lindstrom - Games For Girls

(BJSC 114 - Aeroche - +15)

 

This is the big beneficiary of my impromptu re-shuffling, mainly because up until now it's been the best song I've never been able to remember. Fortunatly after copious listens I've finally been able to remember it, and it really is something different. Very funky in an electro sort-of way and something that deserves me going back to it a lot more.

 

12/30: Lene Lovich - Bird Song

(BJSC 117 - Singerpurear - +13)

 

One of the more bizarre songs to make my high points, in that it's a 1970s song by a very strange looking and sounding lady comparing her relationship to various little birds. I think that was the charm of the whole thing for me, along with the fact that it climbed into my Top 3 at the last minute in its contest. So here it is, in the top half of my ranking!

 

11/30: Cousn - Brain Ticker

(BJSC 116 - Utopia - +15)

 

The time of the year definitely helped this one to become a hit for me, as it was just before I went away on holiday and I used to always compile a dance playlist to listen to whilst away. This was of course a perfect song to go onto this playlist - whilst it's not a pristine dance song with a verse, chorus and drop, it's a song that could happily be found on any respectable compilation album without any issues. The repeated vocals get into your head as well!

10/30: Icarus - Man of the Land (ft. Real Lies)

(BJSC 111 - Fljotavik (I think?) - +18)

 

Ah, Real Lies and their many appearances in this contest. Their vocals come out best on this Icarus track though, probably mainly as I do have a bit of an affinity for Icarus and their subdued dance beats. The backing vocals in particular really elevate this track to a whole new level. I’d rather he didn’t call himself a devil though!

 

9/30: BONES UK - Pretty Waste

(BJSC 116 - Cadelicia - +13)

 

Will you want me when I’m old and dead? Who knows. I do know that this song is unique in this contest though, in sounding pretty much like a punchy indie song but with synths taking place of the guitars. Of course the angry-sounding voices just add to the ambiance and make a song which definitely deserves its place here.

 

8/30: for KING & COUNTRY - joy.

(BJSC 108 - Harmonica - +18)

 

I think this is the most recent time a Christian song has actually made the final of one of these, despite many more recent attempts to get another one in there! This one brings a very positive message, bringing joy to the world even in situations when things don’t seem to be going the way you expect. Which of course is something as a Christian I’m always striving to do even when it’s difficult.

 

7/30: Harold van Lennep - Liberation

(BJSC 108 - Tinnmark - +15)

 

If you had told me that a monologue by an evangelical preacher over a mid-2010s tropical house beat had been sent to BJSC, I would probably have predicted that it would finish last in the semi-final. But somehow it didn’t and was able to get my +15 here. It really is a beautiful song with some very well picked out vocals and of course the sax riff is fantastic as well.

 

for KING & COUNTRY modernised Christian music for me and glad to see joy. actually qualifying! I tried to send joy. in another song contest but ended up staying in the semi :(

A great pick from for KING & COUNTRY. That was a Christian song done very well indeed. Still remember from when I was hosting that particular contest that we had 4 Christian songs confirmed at one point!! 'Liberation' was pretty good too from what I remembered of it.

 

From some of your other tracks mentioned Chromeo was good and 'She's So Keroscene' was awesome too. 'Saturn' was stunning too even if I did hear it a year later in the TBO.

Edited August 25, 20213 yr by Roba~

Liberation is a fantastic track. We need Tinnmark back in the comp!

6/30: Shallou - Count On (ft. colin)

(BJSC 116 - Budtar - +18)

 

Why would you give yourself the stage name colin? Anyway, I’d become a fan of shallou after hearing ‘Count On’ which made my EOY, and I was excited to hear more from him. BJSC gave a perfect excuse to do so as this song made its appearance here, and I wasn’t disappointed. Whilst it’s completely different to the song I mentioned previously it’s just as good, and has a drop with enough substance to make it powerful but subdued enough to not ruin the rest of the song.

 

5/30: Marnik - Up & Down

(BJSC 114 - Séyetana - +18)

 

It’s still a travesty that this didn’t win its contest. Another song with a music video which is so gripping and bizarre that I can’t simultaneously watch it and write a commentary. Add that to a song which is incredibly catchy and still manages to sort-of put a political message in there makes a fantastic entry.

 

4/30: White Lies - Tokyo

(BJSC 111 - FARC - +13)

 

I still think it’s quite fantastic that this one (and if I remember correctly it won TBO as well?), Buzzjack breaking its own stereotypes for a few contests at least. There isn’t actually too much to say about this one other that the fact it’s a very solid indie track with good vocals. The music video is… bizarre, so much so that b confused it in my head with another music video in which a man castrates himself so I’ve got no idea what that one is!

BJSC 108-117

 

Top 3 - Finalists (alphabetical order)

 

(Commentaries for these songs will come during the final ranking!)

 

Hawa Boussim - Koregore

(BJSC 113 - Lotunia - +18)

 

 

LP - Girls Go Wild

(BJSC 109 - Flynnonda - +18)

 

 

Rat City - Kind of Love (ft. Isak Heim)

(BJSC 112 - Tinnmark - +18)

 

for KING & COUNTRY modernised Christian music for me and glad to see joy. actually qualifying! I tried to send joy. in another song contest but ended up staying in the semi :(

That's a shame, although very happy it made the final here so I could give it top score! Thanks Jack ^_^

 

A great pick from for KING & COUNTRY. That was a Christian song done very well indeed. Still remember from when I was hosting that particular contest that we had 4 Christian songs confirmed at one point!! 'Liberation' was pretty good too from what I remembered of it.

 

From some of your other tracks mentioned Chromeo was good and 'She's So Keroscene' was awesome too. 'Saturn' was stunning too even if I did hear it a year later in the TBO.

Yes - a Top 2 of joy and Liberation in that contest was a Top 2 I was very happy to point! All those other songs are of course great - thanks Rob!

 

Liberation is a fantastic track. We need Tinnmark back in the comp!

Indeed - so many food countries could do with a resurgence! Thanks Dobbo ^_^

BJSC 118-127

 

Niceland's Entries

 

BJSC 118: Lola Marsh - Echoes - 13th - 191pts

BJSC 119: Adriano Cintra - Animal (feat. Camila Siqueira) DNQ - 28th in Semi - 24 points

BJSC 120: DJ Outlaw - Bahrain Unite (feat. Flipperachi, May Alqasim, Mohammed Janahi, Rashid Hanthal & The Mystro) DNQ - 26th in Semi - 1 point

BJSC 121: Inhaler - Ice Cream Sundae DNQ - 21st in Semi - 39 points

BJSC 122: Duo Teslar - Basement Groove DNQ - 20th in Semi - 53 points

BJSC 123: Formation - A Friend DNQ - 27th in Semi - 28 points

BJSC 124: Boston Manor - Welcome to the Neighbourhood (LeBrock Remix) 8th - 222 points

BJSC 125: Bat For Lashes - Horse & I DNQ - 22nd in Semi - 46 points

BJSC 126: Ozzwald - Lost DNQ - 30th in Semi - 13 points

BJSC 127: The Sweet Serenades - City Lights 38th - 110 points

 

BJSC 118 was a good start at least, with Israeli band Lola Marsh getting me a rare Top 15 hit. From there until the end of the year we went considerably downhill – after my preferred entry was stolen in BJSC 119, I sought revenge by sending the most bizarre song I could think of in the form of Brazilian madman Adriano Cintra, which duly came last. I still wasn’t in my right mind when I followed that up with Bahrain Unite, a song which somehow I hoped would garner enough ironic points to make the final, which it… erm… didn’t.

 

The next year started with two near-misses with Inhaler and Duo Teslar, before a punt at Formation didn’t pay off. My next punt definitely did though – I loved Welcome to the Neighbourhood as soon as I heard it and was delighted the rest of the board reciprocated. It’s my most recent Top 10 to date. I tried to build on this with a more popular artist in Bat For Lashes, however that plan failed, as did my attempt to send Ozzwald who I know absolutely nothing about. However I did finish with another qualifier! I had hoped it would be safely in but it was predicted to DNQ and ended up a surprise qualifier so I’m happy with the result there.

For a thread where you've been using the word 'bizarre' so liberally you kind of dropped the ball not using it for 'Bahrain Unite' :kink:

BJSC 118-127

 

Honourable Mentions

Marianas Trench - Echoes Of You (feat. Roger Joseph Manning Jr.) (Trifoski - 119 - +12)

 

Again, not really heard this since the contest but it impressed me so much that I thought I'd give it a bit more love here. Almost a Eurovision-y sounding chorus, it gre on me during and after the chorus.

 

Gabrielle Aplin - Kintsugi (Hushkanukia - 119 - +10)

 

Not the sort of song I'd usually be into but I love the puchy-dotty-ness of the vocals (that makes no sense but it does to me!) plus the random high pitched squeals of 'Kintsugi!' throughout.

 

Sabrina Carpenter - Thumbs (Ultraviolenceland - 120 - +12)

 

I couldn't really not mention this one, obviously as an anniversary entry that had been my Personal #1 3 years prior I couldn't really put it in my high points but it remains Sabrina's best song by quite a massive distance.

 

Cerrone - Supernature (Singerpurear - 121 - +11)

 

I wish I could send a Top 10 hit to BJSC and get away with it! After *a certain entry* had been sent this came not long after, and my interest was piqued enough to become a big fan of this track of his as well.

 

Cory Asbury - Reckless Love (ft. Tori Kelly) (Sandénia - 122 - +DNQ (+10))

 

Well I couldn't pass a Christian song by without mentioning it could I? I remember at the time thinking it was a very popular song to make it through the veto but I guess it didn'tt matter as it DNQd, I still like it very much though.

 

Twinnie - Type of Girl (Altyr Muunilinst - 122 - +7)

 

One of the best indie-pop tracks of its time, I liked this one because, whilst it was a song about her not being a traditional girl, at the same time it wasn't one of those 'I'm not going to do anything of you you silly man, you better bow down to me as if I was your littl personal god' which we seem to get too much. Another gem from the contest which ended up making my Top 40!

 

Boy in Space - Caroline (TARO Bellamia - 122 - +5)

 

Another massive grower from BJSC 122, the chorus on this is just so catchy and stuck around for a long timme afterwards.

 

SACHI - Enchanté (ft. Naika) (FSR Rontvia - 124 - +12)

 

Looking at my medalists from BJSC 124, this could definitely have been in there! A fabulous dance song with a little bit of French stuck in there to make it even more endearing.

 

Only Sun - NHS70 (Suedeonia - 124 - +8)

 

I knew this song way before its appearance in here but still delighted it made the Final, of course during lockdown it was going to do a lot better (it was originally released for the 70th anniversary of the NHS, hence NHS70) but Only Sun are a fantastic indie band which deserve a lot of love.

 

joan - Love Me Better (Flynnonda - 125 - +2)

 

For some reason joan isn't an old lady, but actually two young men (I can't figure out where the name comes from, the duo are called Alan and Steven so it's not an amalgomation of those). This was definitely a grower as well and my favourite of a few of their songs I've gone on to like.

 

Koala - Loose Change (Why So Sirius - 126 - +12)

A song with a story that makes absolutely no sense (they went to America and got married by Elvis then went to a party with him?) but the funky chorus more than makes up for that.

 

Ball Park Music - Day & Age (Holland-Oats - 127 - +DNQ (+10))

This is one of my absolute favourite discoveries from BJSC and deserved so much more from this contest! A really good guitar opening which is lovely and mellow before continually building up to a fantastic finale. This would definitely have been in my Top 3 had it qualified (I should have given it a +12 as well and it I had it would be in the Final :cry:)

 

For a thread where you've been using the word 'bizarre' so liberally you kind of dropped the ball not using it for 'Bahrain Unite' :kink:

:lol: I didn't even realise I'd been using it so much until you pointed it out, writing a lot of words very quickly seems to mean that I've defaulted to using the same ones! And yes granted Bahrain Unite was... let's say a very particular taste :kink: Thanks Bré!

A song with a story that makes absolutely no sense (they went to America and got married by Elvis then went to a party with him?) but the funky chorus more than makes up for that.

Haha I love this :lol:

 

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