BJSC 166

 

 

Echoberyl - Weird Boy

 

Hoping to come through with that momentum, and staying with the French, is a song from Paris-based electronic duo Echoberyl - reassuringly it has #darkwave #synthpop on its youtube tags. I discovered it in the Personal Charts forum courtesy of laurent pons for whom it went on to become a 9-week chart topper, but even early on in that run I'd established it as one of my favourite finds of the year so far!

Edited July 16, 2024Jul 16 by jimwatts

BJSC 166

 

Echoberyl - Weird Boy

 

Result: 16th

 

Points received: 176 | voters: 26

18 | Terra Avium

15 | Jadakissnia

13 | Aeroche

13 | Aesthetica

13 | Persephonia

10 | Fljótavík

9 | Cheiron

9 | Kluminican Republic

8 | Abeltesfayeton

8 | Neliönoir

7 | Altyr Muunilinst

7 | Kathaldazia

6 | Danæviia

6 | Séyetana

6 | Skall

4 | Cumulonimbia

4 | Hinterlandia

4 | Niceland

3 | Aelandor

3 | Land of DW

3 | Yobnedorica

2 | Ingermanlandia

2 | Singerpurear

1 | Bøtanikkä

1 | Lookylion

1 | Mothertopia

 

(SF2: 7th, 77)

 

The upward momentum continued with steady improvements again in finishing position, points and number of voters, in both the final and semi final. Nevertheless, this was an 8th contest in a row to qualify but fall short of the top 10, representing the entire second half of Bronzil participation to date. I thought this was one of my strongest entries, and it stands at #1 on my monthly personal chart, but if the next entry goes to plan - and it's in a similar lane - hopefully that'll have a little more pop crossover appeal.

 

Points given

18 | Persephonia | The Frozen Autumn - Is Everything Real?

15 | Lookylion | Debbii Dawson - Happy World

13 | Fljótavík | Real Life - Send Me An Angel

12 | Pagasa | Angel Olsen - Sister

11 | Cheiron | The Beaches - Blame Brett

10 | Danæviia | Tinlicker - Nowhere To Go (feat. Brian Molko)

9 | Land of DW | Dolores Forever - Go Fast Go Slow

8 | Thelonia | Remedy Club & sim0ne - Halo

7 | Jadakissnia | Them Are Us Too - Floor

6 | Mothertopia | Nell Mescal - Drive

5 | East Rukahavian | PRESSYES - Radio 5 (feat. Nature Swim)

4 | Scotland 2 | Candy Claws - Exploder Falls

3 | Kathaldazia | Cecile Believe - Blink Twice

2 | Neliönoir | ascendant vierge & TDJ - Illusion

1 | Jupiterdonia | Goldie Boutilier - Cowboy Gangster Politician

I just noticed they were in the most recent Halloween spin-off and I never realized it until now :lol:

BJSC 167

 

 

Jain - Nobody Knows

 

Now for the fourth artist I've entered who has previously made the UK Singles Top 100 (after I realised Metric had a minor hit with 'Monster Hospital' in 2006), Jain made #52 last year with her 2016 song 'Makeba', but this sounds very different. The French singer with Malagasy heritage and UAE / Congolese upbringing has given us an anthemic tune that keeps us on the synthwave path, and I thought Echoberyl would be hard to beat for my favourite recent entry, but I'm absolutely loving this and the accompanying video. N.B. Epilepsy warning contains flashing lights - as an alternative, the audio youtube link is

Late but 'Weird Boy' was such a huge favourite, thanks for sending it :wub: I wish it produced a top 10 result for you but top 20 is still nothing to be sniffed at of course.

 

Looking forward to hearing your new one as I do like 'Makeba' ^_^ boo at random.org forever separating us though -_-

Thanks Jade, delighted that 'Weird Boy' has become such a favourite for you *.* After Cody mentioned the last Halloween spin-off, I looked up 'Salome (Suffer Me)' and really like that too, very haunting and on theme for that contest! Hope we'll eventually be in the same semi final again soon - I'll give SF1 a listenthrough anyway and look forward to hearing your entry!

BJSC 167

 

Jain - Nobody Knows

 

Result: 13th

 

Points received: 186 | voters: 24

18 | East Rukahavian

13 | Altyr Muunilinst

13 | Cumulonimbia

12 | Greenfroze

11 | Herbilore

11 | Lookylion

10 | Jadakissnia

9 | Bøtanikkä

8 | Ajanaeda

8 | Kathaldazia

8 | Taahino

8 | The Spodic Empire

7 | Cheiron

7 | Summericia

6 | New Lexico

6 | Séyetana

6 | Singerpurear

4 | Ben's Sanctuary

4 | Kluminican Republic

4 | Skall

4 | Terra Avium

4 | Wholune

3 | Mothertopia

2 | Hinterlandia

 

(SF2: 4th, 85)

 

Another month-on-month improvement in position, but once again falling short of the top 10, this time by an agonising 3 points. The scoreboards during the final reveal placed Jain 1st after 24 votes (36 clear of 11th) and 2nd after 34 votes (35 clear of 11th), but that wasn't enough to avoid crashing down to 13th in the last 21 votes - all of which appeared to come in after 8pm on the deadline day, a few hours after the Odds & Predictions thread had already decided Jain had no chance of winning (I'm inclined to feel this wasn't entirely coincidental). This despite coming 4th in the semi, although this included a new record semi vote of 10 from a nation that gave zero in the final (as well as 6 from another). So next month comes the chance of a 10th consecutive entry to both qualify and miss the top 10 - has any nation done this before?

 

Points given

18 | Dobago | anna luna - house

15 | Zanmatony | Vitesse X - Eternal

13 | Lookylion | Aziya - crush (tom verlaine)

12 | Suedeonia | Beluga Lagoon - Aberlane Ghost Train

11 | Hinterlandia | BABii & Pholo - NECTA_pholo (V.5)

10 | Harmonica | ayokay - Leave With My Love

9 | Terra Avium | Kite - Losing (feat. Anna Von Hausswolff & Henric De La Cour)

8 | Kluminican Republic | Anish Kumar - Everything Blooms Around Her

7 | Kathaldazia | Kiss Facility - So Many Ways (feat. POiSON GiRL FRiEND)

6 | Cheiron | Sudan Archives - Selfish Soul

5 | Mothertopia | COY - Promises

4 | Séyetana | IRyS - Carbonated Love

3 | Fljótavík | Parannoul - A Lot Can Happen

2 | Jadakissnia | Soltera & Santiago Salazar - Got No Reason To Forgive

1 | Persephonia | Smiling - Devour

BJSC 168

 

 

Attractive Chaos - Words On A Letter

 

My latest attempt to reach across the BJSC nations comes courtesy of Franco-Italian band Attractive Chaos - so a third entry in a row with French roots! Described as "melodic metal" (think hard rock with smooth soaring female vocals, or just think Evanescence if you must), this six minute epic will soon be also a third entry in a row to top my personal chart, but will it break the cycle with a top 10 return for the first time in a year?

Edited September 22, 2024Sep 22 by jimwatts

Another month-on-month improvement in position, but once again falling short of the top 10, this time by an agonising 3 points. The scoreboards during the final reveal placed Jain 1st after 24 votes (36 clear of 11th) and 2nd after 34 votes (35 clear of 11th), but that wasn't enough to avoid crashing down to 13th in the last 21 votes - all of which appeared to come in after 8pm on the deadline day, a few hours after the Odds & Predictions thread had already decided Jain had no chance of winning (I'm inclined to feel this wasn't entirely coincidental). This despite coming 4th in the semi, although this included a new record semi vote of 10 from a nation that gave zero in the final (as well as 6 from another). So next month comes the chance of a 10th consecutive entry to both qualify and miss the top 10 - has any nation done this before?

 

In fairness, Jupiterdonia were 4th in the 34 votes scoreboard (only 5 points behind you) and ended up falling all the way to 16th and they were near the top of the odds! (I'd say the common thread is just later voters tending to be less pop leaning, although tbf the Jain song is kind of straddling the pop/'alternative' divide, not too often you'd see a song getting high points from both Altyr Muunilinst and Cumulonimbia I'd imagine. I guess it must have ended up being a little bit too hit or miss with both crowds to quite be a winner contender. Although having said that, the gap between 1st and 13th was only 51 points anyway which seems abnormally close even for a contest with a low scoring winner...)

 

Exiting the realms of speculation to something I can actually quantify :magic: 10 qualifiers in a row all missing the top 10 has happened 4 times before - don't let Cody see this but Cor Lupus did it as many as 12 times in a row (133-144). République d'Áskorza have done 11 in a row (138-148) and Greenfroze and Taahino have both done exactly 10 in a row (122-131 and 78-87 respectively).

 

edit: and actually while I'm number crunching I thought I'd check the statistacs on closeness between 1st and 13th, in percentage terms this was the 4th closest margin ever between those positions. The closest ever was BJSC 108 where 1st got 270 points and 13th got 228 (84.4%).

BJSC 168

 

Attractive Chaos - Words On A Letter

 

Result: 38th

 

Points received: 109 | voters: 13

18 | Danæviia

18 | The Spodic Empire

11 | Eastovka

11 | Lookylion

8 | Aelandor

7 | Dobago

7 | Land of DW

7 | Suedeonia

5 | Cheiron

5 | Niceland

5 | Séyetana

4 | Ajanaeda

3 | Kathaldazia

 

(SF2: 15th, 54)

 

It is indeed a 10th entry in a row to both qualify and miss the top 10. If a miss is as good as a mile, this certainly took advantage, barely escaping the bottom 3, and returning the lowest number of Bronzil voters in a final yet. Perhaps the polarising make-up of the semis which led to much discourse over pop and non-pop votes didn't help as it was widely shunned by alt and pop blocs alike, but in reality this was always an outsider. On a positive note, this was my first entry to receive multiple golds in a final since Picture Parlour in BJSC 156!

 

Points given

18 | Séyetana | Pixel Grip - Stamina

15 | Danæviia | Talking To Shadows - Valentina

13 | Fljótavík | No Mana - Solarpunk

12 | Lookylion | Lady Blackbird - Whatever His Name

11 | The Spodic Empire | DragonForce - Through The Fire And Flames

10 | Land of DW | Musta Hanhi - SANON KAIKKI OK (K Henkka Remix)

9 | Kluminican Republic | Leftwing : Kody & Raphi - Delirious

8 | FARC | Last Night On Earth - Sleeping Pills

7 | Harmonica | Blondfire - True Confessions

6 | Sandénia | Cassie Henderson - Seconds To Midnight (11:59)

5 | Greenfroze | tuki. - HYURURIRAPAPPA

4 | Aeroche | Active Child - Johnny Belinda

3 | Jadakissnia | TEMMIS - ICE 579

2 | Sovarasma | N.Y.P.D. - 冷氣機滴水

1 | Kathaldazia | benzii - beine spüren

BJSC 169

 

 

No - Drive Faster

 

Going back to the personal chart archives for a song I charted at #31 for June, but I thought it had potential to grow, and once I saw the visuals I was convinced to send it. Only 5,252 Spotify streams at the last count, which maybe saved some veto research on the artist name :D but a descriptor of "minimal synth / post-punk" is all the recommendation you need!

BJSC 169

 

No - Drive Faster

 

Result: 29th

 

Points received: 135 | voters: 16

18 | Jadakissnia

18 | Suedeonia

13 | Pestolia

12 | Cheiron

12 | Zanmatony

10 | Danæviia

9 | Jupiterdonia

9 | Séyetana

7 | Hinterlandia

6 | Terra Avium

5 | Aelandor

5 | Eastovka

4 | Kathaldazia

4 | Land of DW

2 | Persephonia

1 | Conoria

 

(SF2: 20th, 41)

 

A better result in the final this time while still receiving two golds, but the journey there was bittersweet as it came 20th in its semi with by far my lowest qualifying score, and the same two big supporters provided 24 of those 41 points at the direct expense of one of them in Jadakissnia, who finished 2 points behind in 21st. I am lucky that my own qualifying streak is intact, top 10 drought notwithstanding, and might never have a better chance of completing a full house within a calendar year next contest!

 

Points given

18 | Neliönoir | Ela Minus - BROKEN

15 | Kathaldazia | Izzy Camina - Seraphim

13 | Cor Lupus | Baby Jane - Cemetery Date

12 | Terra Avium | Father John Misty - Screamland

11 | Greenfroze | Patty Gurdy - Brighter Days Come

10 | Danæviia | Klangphonics & Anna Metko - Ghost (Find Me Again)

9 | Kluminican Republic | Suki Waterhouse - Model, Actress, Whatever

8 | Land of DW | BENNETT - Lullaby

7 | Ben's Sanctuary | Blank & Jones - Beyond Time

6 | Fljótavík | Djrum - Broken Glass Arch

5 | Scotland 2 | Geordie Greep - Blues

4 | Aelandor | The Dreadnoughts - Joli Rouge

3 | Séyetana | Godspeed You! Black Emperor - BABYS IN A THUNDERCLOUD

2 | Cadelicia | Caribou - Broke My Heart

1 | Hushkanukia | twocolors & ÁSDÍS - Gravity

Your entry last contest deserved a lot better than 29th! Underrated gem. :heart:

Your entry last contest deserved a lot better than 29th! Underrated gem. :heart:

Very kind of you to say so, thank you Scene ^_^ You've supported several of my entries in a row now, and I hope you get that big breakthrough hit soon!

Very kind of you to say so, thank you Scene ^_^ You've supported several of my entries in a row now, and I hope you get that big breakthrough hit soon!

 

Well you seem to have fabulous taste. B-) thank you - I have a song in mind for 170 and it is quite different to my previous ones so will be interesting to see how it does. :lol:

BJSC 170

 

 

Anthony McCaffrey - The Dark

 

Finishing the year with some vocal trance and a suitable theme for this time of year in the northern hemisphere - also the first song I've sent to have less than 1,000 Spotify streams at time of writing! A producer in his spare time, NE Scotland-based Anthony McCaffrey has brought a mesmerising female vocal to this track which I hope you'll love as much as I do.

BJSC 170

 

Anthony McCaffrey - The Dark

 

Result: DNQ

 

(SF2: 24th, 46)

 

So the full house within a calendar year didn't happen. The qualification streak is over at 12, and the qualification streak without a top 10 is over at 11 - only the third such streak to get that far and one short of the record - meaning the wait for a third top 10 hit goes on into 2025. I suppose with so much at stake, it was a risk to send a completely unknown artist to this contest, and it nearly paid off as it landed within 4 points of qualification from an impressive 12 voters - the joint 5th most of its semi final! Nevertheless, the points total from the previous 9 finals was just about enough to hold a top 20 spot on the EOY for a second year, albeit ultimately a drop to 19th and slightly fewer points than last year, and we'll go again in BJSC 171 with everything starting afresh.

 

Points given

18 | Land of DW | Kalte Liebe - Tränen Stillen Keinen Durst

15 | Cumulonimbia | Social Order - Miss You

13 | Singerpurear | Jackson Sisters - I Believe In Miracles

12 | Zanmatony | RIKKI - SUTEKI DA NE (Isn't It Wonderful?)

11 | Cadelicia | Sara Landry & Shlømo - Play With Me

10 | Cheiron | CMAT - Where Are Your Kids Tonight? (feat. John Grant)

9 | Cor Lupus | No Mana & SOFI - Digital Friends

8 | Jadakissnia | Madeline Goldstein - 1996 Expectations

7 | Trifoski | Ugly - Icy Windy Sky

6 | POPHub | Becca Hatch - Think Of You

5 | Kathaldazia | Mona Yim - Baby Dragon

4 | Rolloland | Weather Systems - Untouchable Part 3

3 | Aeroche | Leftfield - Full Way Round (Ewan McVicar Remix) (feat. Grian Chatten)

2 | Taahino | Chrissy Chlapecka - My Only Dream Is To Be Loved

1 | Utopia | Blankenberge - New Rules

Points given in 2024 (2023 in brackets)

 

01 01 83 (97) Kathaldazia

02 16 69 (25) Danæviia

03 02 65 (86) Jadakissnia

04 17 63 (24) Land of DW

05 04 53 (49) Terra Avium

06 38 43 (12) Fljótavík

07 07 42 (40) Persephonia

08 25 40 (17) Lookylion

09 13 39 (29) Zanmatony

10 25 35 (17) Cor Lupus

11 22 33 (20) Hendinia

12 24 32 (18) Singerpurear

12 NE 32 (0) Abeltesfayeton

14 25 31 (17) Neliönoir

15 25 29 (17) Cumulonimbia

16 45 27 (8) Séyetana

16 NE 27 (0) Cheiron

18 21 26 (21) Kluminican Republic

18 41 26 (11) Cadelicia

20 13 25 (29) Pestolia

21 06 23 (42) Dobago

22 23 22 (19) Suedeonia

23 19 20 (22) Aeroche

23 49 20 (6) Utopia

23 65 20 (1) Greenfroze

26 08 19 (39) FARC

26 49 19 (6) Trifoski

28 36 17 (13) Aelandor

28 38 17 (12) Harmonica

30 29 15 (16) Skall

30 NE 15 (0) Herbilore

32 NE 13 (0) Mulgracia

33 05 12 (44) Rolloland

33 43 12 (9) Eastovka

33 47 12 (7) Thelonia

33 49 12 (6) Conoria

33 53 12 (5) POPHub

33 59 12 (3) Pagasa

33 NE 12 (0) Mothertopia

40 10 11 (34) The Spodic Empire

40 29 11 (16) Sovarasma

40 38 11 (12) Tartford

40 NE 11 (0) Hinterlandia

44 03 9 (51) Scotland 2

44 36 9 (13) Ingermanlandia

46 12 8 (32) Summericia

46 NE 8 (0) Ben's Sanctuary

48 NE 7 (0) Freidland

49 NE 6 (0) Sandénia

50 08 5 (39) Bøtanikkä

50 18 5 (23) East Rukahavian

50 32 5 (15) Jupiterdonia

53 NE 3 (0) Ajanaeda

54 19 2 (22) FSR Rontvia

54 53 2 (5) Taahino

54 NE 2 (0) Yobnedorica

57 NE 1 (0) Hushkanukia

 

XX 11 0 (33) Quintessa

XX 15 0 (27) Wholune

XX 29 0 (16) Beaverdonia

XX 32 0 (15) Florina

XX 32 0 (15) St. Burbia

XX 35 0 (14) Altyr Muunilinst

XX 42 0 (10) Lotunia

XX 43 0 (9) D'yermak'er

XX 45 0 (8) Kylienips

XX 47 0 (7) New Lexico

XX 49 0 (6) Aesthetica

XX 53 0 (5) Elëdan

XX 53 0 (5) République d'Áskorza

XX 57 0 (4) Buzzjack Mountain

XX 57 0 (4) Oslol

XX 59 0 (3) Rep Of Adonia

XX 59 0 (3) Yehesi

XX 62 0 (2) Niceland

XX 62 0 (2) Pupok

XX 62 0 (2) Ramrynia

XX 65 0 (1) Maple Ridge

Points received in 2024 (2023 in brackets)

 

01 01 75 (72) Jadakissnia

02 18 59 (28) Danæviia

03 02 58 (54) Kathaldazia

04 21 45 (24) Aeroche

05 19 44 (27) Cumulonimbia

05 31 44 (19) Eastovka

07 43 43 (13) Lookylion

08 17 41 (30) Suedeonia

09 04 39 (46) Terra Avium

10 11 37 (37) Land of DW

10 NE 37 (0) Cheiron

12 13 36 (34) Zanmatony

12 26 36 (20) Altyr Muunilinst

14 09 33 (38) Abeltesfayeton

15 31 32 (19) Bøtanikkä

16 52 29 (10) Séyetana

16 NE 29 (0) Herbilore

18 06 28 (43) Persephonia

18 12 28 (35) Niceland

18 52 28 (10) Dobago

18 57 28 (9) The Spodic Empire

22 16 27 (32) Ingermanlandia

23 04 26 (46) Aelandor

23 64 26 (4) Singerpurear

25 38 25 (16) Summericia

25 41 25 (15) Pestolia

25 59 25 (8) Taahino

28 20 24 (25) East Rukahavian

28 21 24 (24) Kluminican Republic

28 21 24 (24) Wholune

28 47 24 (12) FARC

32 07 22 (40) Neliönoir

33 NE 20 (0) Ajanaeda

34 NE 18 (0) Mulgracia

35 26 17 (20) Trifoski

36 15 16 (33) Skall

36 38 16 (16) Scotland 2

38 13 15 (34) Cor Lupus

38 26 15 (20) Thelonia

38 36 15 (17) Cadelicia

38 NE 15 (0) Freidland

38 NE 15 (0) Kylienips

38 NE 15 (0) Rep Of Adonia

44 03 13 (47) Jupiterdonia

44 52 13 (10) Aesthetica

44 NE 13 (0) Hinterlandia

47 33 12 (18) Greenfroze

48 25 11 (22) Fljótavík

49 21 9 (24) Harmonica

50 NE 8 (0) Elëdan

51 26 7 (20) Quintessa

52 09 6 (38) Rolloland

52 50 6 (11) Tartford

52 NE 6 (0) Holland-Oats

52 NE 6 (0) Mothertopia

52 NE 6 (0) New Lexico

57 52 5 (10) Sovarasma

58 66 4 (3) Ben's Sanctuary

59 52 3 (10) Yobnedorica

60 59 2 (8) Varakë

61 07 1 (40) Utopia

61 26 1 (20) FSR Rontvia

61 38 1 (16) Conoria

61 43 1 (13) Hendinia

61 69 1 (2) Freedonia

 

XX 33 0 (18) Florina

XX 33 0 (18) N-Lazone

XX 36 0 (17) St. Burbia

XX 42 0 (14) Ultraviolenceland

XX 43 0 (13) Buzzjack Mountain

XX 43 0 (13) Pagasa

XX 47 0 (12) D'yermak'er

XX 47 0 (12) Maple Ridge

XX 50 0 (11) The Actual Republic of Bellamia

XX 57 0 (9) Beaverdonia

XX 59 0 (8) Kyriatine

XX 62 0 (7) POPHub

XX 63 0 (5) Pupok

XX 64 0 (4) République d'Áskorza

XX 66 0 (3) Aquafina

XX 66 0 (3) Flynnonda

XX 69 0 (2) Ramrynia

XX 71 0 (1) Ojnoj

XX 71 0 (1) Yehesi

 

Descending points by nation for 2023 are here

Interesting stats, although not a banner points swap year for us.

 

There were a few near misses on my side I think and I also would have given The Dark 6 or 7 points if it had made the final so it was a shame I didn't get the chance.