well you can get married by “Elvis” (an impersonator) if you go to Las Vagas - my parents even had such a mock wedding (they’d already married a good 20 years before) when we went there, if that makes it make a bit more sense. :P

BJSC 118-127

 

Medallist Ranking

 

30/30: Spinifex Gum & Marliya Choir - Sisters

(BJSC 120 - FSR Rontvia - +15)

 

This song is interesting as it has a very catchy first verse, which immediately grips you and I think is the main reason it got such high marks from me. Unfortunately the chorus doesn't seem to live up to the promise of the verse, which when put up against the best of the best here really does show. Again, not a bad song by any means though!

 

29/30: Goodluck - Hop On Hop Off

(BJSC 125 - Aelandor - +15)

 

This song is a bit different to how I remember it, mainly thanks to the fuzzy Blamma Blamma-esque bass which I quite like, and is probably what elevated it into my Top 3 in the contest itself. What brings it down for me is that the song is all about a woman who wants to sleep with lots of men, which isn't really something I support I have to say!

 

28/30: Covenant - Dead Stars

(BJSC 118 - Summericia - +15)

 

A song I have to say I had sort-of forgotten in between pointing it and going through my Top 3s here. It's another of the late 00s songs in the 80s style, and I really like the deep voice of the singer and the electronic beats are still pretty nice as well, even if it isn't as memorable as some of the other songs in this group (I think the 'chorus' just being the vocals over a simple drum beat might let it down a little bit)

 

27/30: Alides Hidding - Hollywood Seven

(BJSC 120 - Tartford - +18)

 

This song stands out like a sore thumb from everything else I pointed in this set of 10 contests, it's intriguingly different (I believe it's a cover of a Jon English song but from around the same time as the original) and the story in the track is rather haunting but the arrangement is really good hence why it got my top marks in this contest! Again I haven't heard this at all since this contest (although I might actually have heard a version of this song in a pub last night! Or maybe I was just imagining it?)

 

26/30: Noisestorm - Crab Rave

(BJSC 121 - Dobago - +15)

 

I don't tend to give instrumentals so many points, but somehow this one managed to get my +15! It's still a very good song and I really like the Caribbean-steel-drum vibe throughout, although I definitely think I would enjoy it more if there was a bit more of the crab-clicking that there is at the start throughout the song. The music video is pretty good though!

 

Yay I finally appear :D that was very much a screw it & send it entry but it ended up doing pretty well.

well you can get married by “Elvis” (an impersonator) if you go to Las Vagas - my parents even had such a mock wedding (they’d already married a good 20 years before) when we went there, if that makes it make a bit more sense. :P

Ah okay that does make it make more sense, I had absolutely no idea that was a thing :lol: Thanks Dan! (and thanks Jack as well for the post on the previous page!)

BJSC 118-127

 

Medallist Ranking

 

 

25/30: Mallrat - Charlie

(BJSC 122 - Kluminican Republic - +13)

 

Mallrat doesn’t seem to have the best luck in this contest with two very good DNQs, but this one did manage to qualify (and actually did quite well if I remember correctly!) This takes a while to get into as quite a slow song but definitely a grower and I really should have given it some more time to climb on me. It’s also amazingly the lowest +13 as all of the bottom 5 were 15s or 18s!

 

24/30: Montaigne - Love Might Be Found (Volcano)

(BJSC 124 - Unovia - +13)

 

I had a look at the results from this contest and this came last?! Surprised me, even if there was a deduction in there somewhere. When I first heard this I hadn’t heard any of the Eurovision entries so didn’t know Montaigne was in there. I gave it my full points in the semi as it was different from a lot of the female-vocalled pop songs, bringing a bit more raw energy into it. I never became full-on obsessed with this song but it’s still a good one!

 

23/30: Matt Maeson - Hallucinogenics (SeeB Remix)

(BJSC 126 - Tartford - +15)

 

The original of this had a small stint in the UK charts last year if I remember correctly! SeeB absolutely make this song though, turning quite a dull song (with lyrics which once again I’m not really a fan of) into a dance song that really is worth listening to, that drop really is something.

 

22/30: St Lucia - China Shop

(BJSC 126 - Kluminican Republic - +18)

 

I couldn’t separate China Shop and Hallucinogenics when they were both in the contest together and that pretty much remains the case now, although this one finishes up just on top. It’s a really fun indie track, the sort that often passes Buzzjack by so I was very happy to see this one do so well. It’s just so fun and if I’d played it a bit more I’d almost certainly have become obsessed!

 

21/30: NOISY - Put a Record On

(BJSC 127 - Wholune - +18)

 

I’m assuming the woman in the music video isn’t the vocalist? Another Sky confused me enough, I’m hoping I’ve got the right end of the stick with this one at least. Again I was delighted that a song of this ilk was able to make the final but at the same time it never lived up to the promise I gave it my top marks for (mainly as the verses are still a tad underwhelming for me as good as the chorus is) and in fact it’s actually lower than my +13 or +15 from this contest.

 

(And I've now run out of pre-prepared posts so the next set will probably be on Saturday!)

Yay I finally appear :D that was very much a screw it & send it entry but it ended up doing pretty well.

Yep, and it's become the entry of yours I've pointed the highest! Remains a solid track. Thanks Dobbo!

BJSC 118-127

 

Medallist Ranking

 

20/30: Digitalism - Pogo (Shinichi Fljósawa Re-Edit)

(BJSC 119 - Fljotavik - +15)

 

Now Shinichi Fljosawa isn't actually a person, and I don't think I realised this until I was doing this ranking and couldn't find the clip - the remix was actually by Shinichi Osawa and was shorter so presumably dandy* did something with this to make it a bit longer? I do still really like it though, like the Van She track it harks back to the late 00s free-music-online era for me, I still love the way this track thumps of that nostalgia

 

19/30: Little Green Cars - My Love Took Me Down To The River To Silence Me

(BJSC 125 - Greenfroze - +13)

 

Almost definitely the longest-named track to appear in this ranking, I'd completely forgotten this track when it came round to doing this ranking but thankfully that meant I got to fall in love with it all over again, it's a sound I rarely hear in BJSC (and actually one I rarely hear anywhere else either) but it's done incredibly well and despite not being an earworm-y track it was the one I had in my head after doing this ranking.

 

18/30: Kah-Lo - Exit Sign

(BJSC 120 - Scherzland - +13)

 

I remember being disappointed when I first heard this song as it wasn't as fun as her appearances with Riton, although clearly I'd gotten over that by the time this contest came along as I gave it a big fat +13. Whilst it's not her best it's still rather good and very easy to dance along to. And apparently she released music 2 months ago I had no idea about! :o

 

17/30: Colton Dixon - Miracles

(BJSC 122 - Oslol - +15)

 

Is this the most recent worship song to make a BJSC final? I'm trying to think. Anyway it's done incredibly well, not by any means a traditional Christian worship piece but I think the contemporary pop feel to it does work in a good way. It's very catchy as well!

 

16/30: Toy-Box - Tarzan & Jane

(BJSC 127 - Greenfroze - +13)

 

This song is quite something and absolutely not what I'd usually vote for but it's just so wacky, bizarre and catchy that I couldn't help myself giving it my high points. In fact I've had it in my head this last week for no apparent reason whatsoever except for the fact it is that much of an earworm. Thanks to that it's moved up a couple of place since I did my initial ranking as well.

BJSC 118-127

 

Medallist Ranking

 

15/30: Gareth Emery & NASH - Lost In Yesterday (ft. Linney)

(BJSC 121 - Altyr Muunilinst - +18)

 

The second appearance for Gareth Emery here, it's no Saving Light but still a very decent effort. It has a very nice piano first verse which could happily have continued throughout the song in its own right but then it builds up into a very decent, if a tad standard, drop. I don't listen to too much Gareth but as long as people keep sending him I'll probably keep pointing him.

 

14/30: Chilli ft. Carrapicho - Tic Tic Tac

(BJSC 127 - Botanikka - +15)

 

DO YOU REALLY WANNA KNOW 'BOUT THE BOY FROM BISSAU? (apparently it's actually 'the show' but I like my version better :P). This is a really fun dance track, the samba influence from the Carrapicho original really shines through with some fabulous Caribbean steel drums added in to make a real earworm. The blue hair is certainly a choice but I'd be willing to forgive her (given how prevalent coloured hair was in the athletics medallists this year maybe she'd consider trialling for the Paris Olympics?)

 

13/30: MUNA - Stayaway

(BJSC 124 - African Grey - +18)

 

Who are African Grey? Why did they appear for one contest, forget to vote and then fall into the abyss? I guess we'll never know (unless I do a quick search of the Registration thread to find out it's the equally mysterious 'sorryislayed'). This is one of those songs in which the first two verses are incredibly well put together (with that fantastic deep voice) that it did enough to make up for the chorus and bridge to not be as good.

 

12/30: Younger Brother - Shine

(BJSC 126 - Rolloland - +13)

 

Ah yes I remember, this is the one where the official video is so far down the Youtube results that a lot of us didn't realise it existed! The video is worth watching though if only for the weirdness, where a woman appears to sew together a man who's body has been inexplicably strewn across a forest but with no bleeding. It's the traditional 'high-pitched-voiced man' which seems to do quite well in this contest but the song is very good as well, I particularly enjoy the continuation of the vocals throughout the verse building towards a chorus which is almost as good.

 

11/30: Croatia Squad - Ven Pa Ca

(BJSC 118 - Danaeviia - +18)

 

Guess where Croatia Squad's from? That's right, Switzerland. And the lyrics to this song are in Spanish which is even more confusing (although his real name is Alejandro Torres which sounds considerably more Spanish than Swiss so that may explain things to some extent). I think the mix of a bass-heavy drop with a very Spanish salsa-y sounding verse was what made me like this song, it still sounds very nice now.

BJSC 118-127

 

Medallist Ranking

 

10/30: Shanguy - Toukassé

(BJSC 121 - Ramrynia - +13)

 

SHANGUY appear to have acquired a woman since I entered them here with 'La Louze' (or maybe she was there all the time but just didn't bother singing before?) This doesn't compete with the former but is still a pretty nice track, the brass in the post-chorus bringing it up quite a lot for me.

 

 

9/30: Celestal - Old School Romance (ft. Rachel Pearl & Grynn)

(BJSC 124 - Kluminican Republic - +15)

 

Ah yes, the old 'woman gets in a bath and re-emerges in a completely different part of the world' trick. And what's the goldfish got to do with, well, the price of fish? Anyway, putting aside my gripes with the music video this is a fantastic song, I love the twangy guitar throughout, it really gives it an edge that a lot of dance songs don't have. It doesn't try to morph into a more 'trendy' sound either which means it's a pleasure to listen to from start to end.

 

8/30: Dubdogz & Bhaskar - Infinity

(BJSC 123 - Daehun - +13)

 

Daehun taking a trip to Brazil wasn't what I was expecting but it certainly halped them get another high-pointer from myself ;) As much as I can't abide watching someone drink a raw egg (I still crease a little when those parts come up in the video) the song is very good, the repeated lines in the chorus produce a real nostalgic sound, with the new verses adding a different layer as well.

 

7/30: HAARM - Better Friend

(BJSC 125 - Rolloland - +18)

 

I remember this peaked in the low 40s in my Personal Chart when it was originally released, and I really wish I'd charted it higher back then. Thankfully I got another chance to redeem it here and I took it with both hands. This is such an emotional song, taking on the voice of someone who's friend has killed themselves. I still love this song and am very glad HAARM had the guts to make it.

I remember Better Friend, My Love Took Me Down To The River To Silence Me and China Shop when I first joined BJSC. They are definitely great songs back at the time when I first heard about them :D

Ven Pa Ca is still a major bop particularly in the summer, it has well over 100 plays for me.

 

Yesterday is of course a tune I really love as well, I'd love to Gareth Emery again at some point but as he's had three top 5s now he's likely to get vetoed. Tic Tic Tac is a fave of that contest too and I also gave decent points to Exit Sign, Toukasse and Infinity.

BJSC 118-127

 

Medallist Ranking

 

6/30: Offf - Loudness War

(BJSC 119 - Tinnmark - +13)

 

Let's conveniently ignore the awful band name here and focus on the song itself, which is again a real nostalgia hit with the repeated robotic vocals of both genders and the bass, the likes of which I can only remember hearing in Blamma Blamma's 'Carry Me Home' (I sent it to UP a few years ago if you're wondering what on earth that is). Nothing really like it has been sent before or since and the novelty made it one of the songs I've enjoyed the most in recent times!

 

5/30: LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER - Desperado Vespa

(BJSC 123 - Aelandor - +18)

 

Sometimes a song you think has absolutely no chance of reaching the Final makes it in and you're completely shocked, and this was one of those so I was very happy to give it my +18 (although there's still a song from that contest still to go). The shouty vocals and aggressive synths (can synths be aggressive? I couldn't think of a better word) made this a favourite of mine, plus the wacky music video only adds to its charm. And after re-discovering this song, I've found his new song 'Stupid Me' which is very nice as well ^_^

 

4/30: Gemini Rising, Tensnake & Fiora - Speed of Sound

(BJSC 118 - Scherzland - +13)

 

Turning away from the alternative scene for a second now for what I can only describe as a fusion of modern synth and a retro disco sound that really hits the mark with me. So much so that it was pretty high in my End Of Year chart by, well, the end of the year! This lot should definitely collaborate together again, it's been two years since anything new has popped up on their Youtube channel.

BJSC 108-117

 

Top 3 - Finalists (alphabetical order)

 

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

 

Cerrone - The Impact

(BJSC 119 - Espen - +18)

 

 

CYNEMA - Radio Love

(BJSC 122 - Vulkyria - +18)

 

 

Zuzu - Skin & Bone

(BJSC 123 - Utopia - +15)

 

I remember Better Friend, My Love Took Me Down To The River To Silence Me and China Shop when I first joined BJSC. They are definitely great songs back at the time when I first heard about them :D

Ah so we're coming into the era where you were first around then! (I should haven worked that out as I'd mentioned Koala already :P) Glad you've enjoyed all these songs though, thanks Jack!

 

Ven Pa Ca is still a major bop particularly in the summer, it has well over 100 plays for me.

 

Yesterday is of course a tune I really love as well, I'd love to Gareth Emery again at some point but as he's had three top 5s now he's likely to get vetoed. Tic Tic Tac is a fave of that contest too and I also gave decent points to Exit Sign, Toukasse and Infinity.

Glad you'd like all these - yeah I can see Mr. Emery getting vetoed nowadays but he's certainly had his fair share of success! Thanks Dan ^_^

BJSC 118-127

 

Niceland's Entries

 

BJSC 128: Roosevelt - Sign 13th - 222 points

BJSC 129: The Whip - Movement DNQ - 25th in Semi - 43 points

BJSC 130: SOLON - Sideways 36th - 126 points

BJSC 131: Luz - the author DNQ - 24th in Semi - 44 points

BJSC 132: Videoclub - Euphories 38th - 113 points

BJSC 133: Amongst Wolves - Rabbit Hole DNQ - 29th in Semi - 34 points

BJSC 134: Schiller x Alphaville - Summer In Berlin 14th - 223 points

BJSC 135: KOKOKO! - Zala Mayele DNQ - 27th in Semi - 35 points

BJSC 136: Stereo Honey - The Bay 17th - 175 points

BJSC 137: Declan McKenna - Humongous (Anniversary Entry) 9th - 233 points

 

And our final set of entries bring us up to the present day! A good start with Roosevelt which I remember geniunely being surprised at it doing so well as I'd been starting to go off it as the contest progressed. On the other hand, I was confident of doing well with my next entry, Movement, which did the opposite. And again, SOLON was a track I didn't have too much faith in either (the only one of my qualifiers where I didn't think 'that sounds like a qualifier' beforehand) but still made the final.

 

Coming into the new year I sent my Personal #1 at the time in Luz as I didn't have much better to send! It didn't do awfully either, racking up a healthy number of points in its semi but sadly not qualifying. French indie-pop outfit Videoclub did however, although rather luckily as almost no-one from the other semi voted for it in the final giving it a rather low position. My first attempt at sending Christian music didn't qualify either, but I'm still happy I gave it a shot (and I'm hoping to give it another shot soon!), but then I discovered Summer in Berlin which I was convinced was a potential winner - as much as 14th is good for a serial DNQer I was hoping it could have gotten a little higher! Boosted by my success, I tried to branch out with Congolese band KOKOKO and their afro-electro sound. It DNQ'd but with two +12s so again somewhat of a success, before I had another go at indie - deliberately racking my brains to remember a song I liked by a high-pitched vocallist paid off with another Top 20 - and then our anniversary entry has now gotten us a rare Top 10 placing :o Thanks everyone!

BJSC 118-127

 

Honourable Mentions

 

Suad - Faces (POPHub - 128 - +10)

+10 feels like a low mark for this, but it was a massive climb from my first listen where it only just scraped the Top 25. Of course it then continued to grow and would have been an easy +18 if the contest were held now, even making my EOY Top 100! A rare guitar-y track that has a real depth to it, so much better than the likes of Billie or Olivia :P

 

LANKS & Yorke - KING (Sovarasma - 132 - +DNQ (+12))

Aaand now we go onto a load of songs which I really wish had made the final but didn't! I enjoy the drop in this one most, it's done incredibly well and the vocals are very good also. Sadly Buzzjack didn't agree and I gave it over half its points.

 

ABDA - Gold (Zanmatony - 134 - +DNQ (+12))

The opposite was true for Indonesian pop star ABDA, who was predicted to qualify but just about missed out. I enjoyed the screechy chorus in this one, plus the slightly alternative touch to the track as well.

 

The Knocks - R U HIGH? (ft. Mallrat) (Holland-Oats - 134 - +DNQ (+10))

This has become one of my songs of the summer, so much so I've almost forgotten I discovered it from BJSC! A second DNQ for the lovely Mallrat unfortunately, this is a great dance song and one that never really tired on me either.

 

Matt Simons - Better Tomorrow (Disco Mix) (Mosquetania - 136 - +DNQ (+10))

And we finish off our Honourable mentions with an incredibly funky version of a Matt Simons song which really does work so well with the composition it has. I genuinely think this would probably have overtaken Rat City for my top points in the final, and could have challenged for one of the songs of the year as well. Sadly it was never given that chance :(

Tic Tic Tac :cheer:

 

Looking fwd to the last section of rankings :wub:

Really enjoyed KING and I'm glad you did too :D I think that song is probably my most favourite song in 2020. The dark and unsettling vibe sets the tone well and the drop at the end was truly spectacular. Sad it didn't do well here :(

still think R U High should have qualified

Sad to see that Matt would have scored so high with you but never got the chance :( It's a great song, happy that you like it as much as I do and I agree with everything you wrote about it! <3

 

Excited to see this final batch which is the only 10-contest span in which I participated in all of them since the start of this countdown :lol: