the way I got jumpscared by the giant baby running during Kill Tone 😭

19 minutes ago, Cody Buckley said:

the way I got jumpscared by the giant baby running during Kill Tone 😭

The most cursed visuals 😭

Enjoyed listening through your montage of entries! Think that's the first time I heard your two winning songs, and I gave both a Spotify play too - I'm sure you're aware Cascada covered 'A Neverending Dream', and I immediately recognised the song from television adverts for their album, but the X-Perience original sounds a lot better.

Coincidentally, Adam F - Circles popped up at #20 in the rundown on the TOTP 1997 repeat just now.

Interesting pattern of EOY finishes for complete years: 5-11-5-10-13-10-18-10-16... this year for a top 10 return at least then?

2 hours ago, jimwatts said:

Enjoyed listening through your montage of entries! Think that's the first time I heard your two winning songs, and I gave both a Spotify play too - I'm sure you're aware Cascada covered 'A Neverending Dream', and I immediately recognised the song from television adverts for their album, but the X-Perience original sounds a lot better.

Coincidentally, Adam F - Circles popped up at #20 in the rundown on the TOTP 1997 repeat just now.

Interesting pattern of EOY finishes for complete years: 5-11-5-10-13-10-18-10-16... this year for a top 10 return at least then?

Aw yay I'm glad you enjoyed the video! It was good fun to put together. Yeah I was educated about the Cascada version of 'A Neverending Dream' at the time of sending the original and I've decided to be blissfully unaware of what it sounds like to this day happy to live in a universe of only being familiar with the X-Perience version haha.

Yesss I noticed 'Circles' in the countdown today too 🥰 I actually discovered it from listening to an old 1997 chart uploaded to Mixcloud and ended up not being able to take it off repeat.

Let's hope for a top 10 return this year indeed 🙏 it feels surreal to be top 2 in the EOY right now.

BJSC 173 Results

Kraftwerk - Europe Endless

4th place | 232 points

Kraftwerk received mixed predictions throughout the course of the contest but picked up more hype at the final stage. The pioneering German electronic band did us proud with Jadakissnia's strongest result of the year points-wise, finishing 4th in the final with 232 points. We spent 9 years chasing a 4th place finish but have now added two more to the tally in both BJSC 172 and 173. Kraftwerk scored 10 more points than previous entry 'Spring Nostalgia' by Vioflesh and both outperformed our first 2025 choice, 'choke enough' by Oklou (which finished 10th), so this year is proving quite remarkable with an upward trajectory each time points-wise. This is the third time we've experienced three top 10 finishes in a row (following Rompasso - 'Ignis' (1st), Active Child - 'All Eyes On You' (3rd) and Ross From Friends - 'Epiphany' (7th) in 2019, then Sadness - 'I want to be with you' (2nd), Twin Tribes - 'Monolith' (4th) and Them Are Us Too - 'Floor' (7th) in 2024) but we've never had 4 back-to-back top 10s before, so the pressure is on next contest. 'Europe Endless' is our 16th top 5 finish in BJSC and 32nd top 10. This 100th anniversary entry dwarfed the performance of our 50th pick, 'Ageispolis' by Aphex Twin, which finished 23rd in 2020. 'Europe Endless' also placed 4th in the semi final, with 74 points, which feels correct when celebrating 10 years since joining in BJSC 74. Finally, a YTD update revealed that we are currently sitting at 2nd place for 2025, only behind Kluminican Republic. We can't believe how this year is playing out for Jadakissnia so far but we're thrilled that our choices are connecting. Thank you for all of the support!

This month's winning song was 'Twist The Knife' by Rebecca Black after she previously fell short. We didn't vote for the winner on this occasion but are pleased for Ajanaeda on their debut victory nevertheless, a huge congratulations to them! Our top points were up for grabs after huge semi 2 favourite Night In Athens DNQed. That final gold medal instead went to Elëdan, who had sent my favourite entry in semi final 1. Their hypnotic, whispery choice 'Everything Is As It Should Be' by Ohota hoovered up many 18 points and finished just behind my own nation, in an impressive 5th. The campaign for their unique 4th place starts now! Macromia provided a semi 1 standout that grew on us even more by the final. This silver medal was 'Volta' by Boogie Belgique which proved to be a surprise smash in the final, earning the nation a top 10 result early on in their BJSC history. 'Volta' finished in 7th place. Our bronze went to Kathaldazia, who appear to be a mainstay in our votes, especially with abrasive techno. 'No Money' by Nuxx Vomica missed out on a top 20 position by just 1 point, settling for 21st.

Thank you to Kluminican Republic for your enjoyable and very colourful hospitality.

These were our BJSC 173 final votes in full:

18 ✦ Elëdan ✦ Ohota - Everything Is As It Should Be

15 ✦ Macromia ✦ Boogie Belgique - Volta

13 ✦ Kathaldazia ✦ Nuxx Vomica - No Money

12 ✦ Fljótavík ✦ Julia-Sophie - telephone

11 ✦ Neliönoir ✦ Ninajirachi - All I Am

10 ✦ Cumulonimbia ✦ Regularfantasy - So Sweet (Spriitzz Radio Edit)

09 ✦ Singerpurear ✦ Split Enz - I Got You

08 ✦ Summericia ✦ David Holmes - It's Over, If We Run Out Of Love (feat. Raven Violet)

07 ✦ The Spodic Empire ✦ Elsiane - The Motive

06 ✦ Bøtanikkä ✦ Sam Quealy - Watch Me Now (Queen Of The Night)

05 ✦ Trifoski ✦ Safe Mind - 6' Pole

04 ✦ Danæviia ✦ Simian Mobile Disco - Hustler

03 ✦ Aesthetica ✦ Six Sex & Bbynito - Ahhhhhh

02 ✦ Persephonia ✦ Ghais Guevara - 4L

01 ✦ Aeroche ✦ ABSOLUTE. - Stuck In Love

Thank you to these nations for the following points in BJSC 173:

18 - Cumulonimbia + East Rukahavian - just noticed that's two golds in a row from East Ruk - yay Mack!

15 - FARC, Pestolia, Scotland 2, Terra Avium + Trifoski

13 - Fljótavík

12 - Bronzil + Kylienips

10 - Elëdan + Persephonia

9 - Neliönoir + Séyetana

7 - Altyr Muunilinst + Danæviia

6 - Kluminican Republic + République D’Askorza

5 - Eastovka + Skall

4 - Cheiron

2 - Singerpurear + Summericia

1 - Aeroche + Bøtanikkä

Next we're hoping to send an entry described as dark alt pop so watch this space...

BJSC 174

goneMUNE - AMNESIA

The red carpet has been rolled out in Ajanaeda for BJSC 174, following their first ever victory. Jadakissnia decided to select dark alt pop artist goneMUNE for this occasion with 'AMNESIA'. We're almost certain that they're our first artist from Singapore in all these years of competing, so that's pretty cool. 'AMNESIA' introduces the world to their cyborg persona Averdonia and explores themes of loneliness, grief and resilience - all with a back drop of darkwave-style synths to boot. A music video for this song now exists but we think the visualiser fits the vibe of it better.

It was announced today that we qualified for the BJSC 174 final 🖤 this news means that we extend our Q streak back up to 5 in a row - following Madeline Goldstein, Oklou, Vioflesh and Kraftwerk. Random.org has placed us in slot #18 for this grand final.

We lost the following favourites from the semis:

semi 1 votes:

01 DOBAGO • Victor Ruiz & Wehbba - Silo

11th POPHUB • MICYVID X IVV.LMTD - TURBO BUNNIES

12th KATHALDAZIA • trillosta - Eternal Echoes

^ such a strong semi that near-misses had to be highlighted too!

would-be semi 2 votes:

10 UTOPIA • Relay Tapes - Violets 😭

05 FLJÓTAVÍK • DJ Koze - Wie Schön Du Bist (feat. arnim & The Düsseldorf Düsterboys)

01  FLYNNONDA • Nemahsis - i wanna be your right hand

we are currently in national mourning for Utopia.

BJSC 174 Results

goneMUNE - AMNESIA

25th place | 153 points

Our top 10 streak had to come to an end at some point but we're glad that goneMUNE got to be part of an excellent final nevertheless! 'AMNESIA' finished in 25th place with 153 points. This is the fourth time that we've landed in this position, following: 'Sentient' by Perturbator and Hayley Stewart all the way back in BJSC 84, plus more recent picks in Joanie's 'Kerosene' and 'Kill Tone' by Odd Nosdam. 25th is now our joint most common position, along with: 2nd, 3rd, 8th, 12th, 17th and 26th. I wonder what will finally break this tie... 2nd would be lovely! It was also revealed that we placed 7th in semi final 1, with 76 points - not bad at all. The latest YTD update shows that we're riding high in 3rd, so 2025 remains a success story so far.

The majority of BuzzJack really said "thank you for the music" to Debbii Dawson as she took the crown with ABBA-esque 'You Killed The Music'. This is the second winner in a row that didn't quite make our votes, but we're excited to fly back to Bøtanikkä for sure. Congrats once again! Our own favourite this time was courtesy of long term allies Persephonia, who unleashed the excellent gothic doom track 'At Races' by Messa. This finished in a respectable 16th place. Jadakissnia's silver medal went to Model/Actriz, whose 'Cinderella' was a big pre-contest favourite, but somehow became even more loveable within BJSC 174. Stream Pirouette. We passed on the 4th place baton from the last two editions to Scotland 2 this time, who were rewarded greatly for this standout choice. Our podium was rounded off with the ever reliable Minuit Machine. Their darkwave delight 'Hold Me' finished in a solid 14th place for Aeroche. Jadakissnia alumnus Hante. was formerly a member of Minuit Machine but departed the project before this song was released.

Thank you to Ajanaeda for your infectious, enthusiastic hosting.

These were our BJSC 174 final votes in full:

18 PERSEPHONIA • Messa - At Races

15 SCOTLAND 2 • Model/Actriz - Cinderella

13 AEROCHE • Minuit Machine - Hold Me

12 CUMULONIMBIA • Litku Klemetti - Tour De France

11 TERRA AVIUM • KASHIWA Daisuke - Ice

10 SÉYETANA • Igorrr - ADHD

09 KLUMINICAN REPUBLIC • Orbital & Tilda Swinton - Deepest

08 WHY SO SIRIUS • Xina Mora & Metrika - 666 (Demonio)

07 PALMYRA • ESSIRAY - LOVE TYPE

06 THELONIA • Deep Thrills - Truth Before Dare

05 MACROMIA • Jadu Heart - U

04 BRONZIL • MØ - Keep Møving

03 COR LUPUS • Momma - I Want You (Fever)

02 SKALL • Burial - Boy Sent From Above

01 NELIÖNOIR • DEBBY FRIDAY - 1/17

Thank you to these nations for the following points in BJSC 174:

15 - Pestolia

13 - Bronzil + Kylienips

11 - Cumulonimbia

9 - Aelandor + Scotland 2

8 - Herbilore, Land of DW + Terra Avium

7 - Persephonia

6 - Dobago + East Rukahavian

5 - Aesthetica, Danæviia, Elëdan, Kathaldazia, Neliönoir + Séyetana

4 - Aeroche + Cheiron

1 - Singerpurear + Utopia

Next time we're going for something that has been described as electronic, indie sleaze and glitch pop, bring it on <3

BJSC 175

EQ - B.S.A.S. (Si Alguna Vez Te Sentís Sola De Noche)

Our Equestria Airways flight recently landed in Bøtanikkä following their win in the previous contest. EQ is an exciting collaborative project between Argentinian electronic acts Estratosfera and Qiri. I stumbled across 'B.S.A.S. (Si Alguna Vez Te Sentís Sola De Noche)' on YouTube and immediately fell in love with the cacophony of electronic, pop and indie sleaze sounds, that do not let you breathe for one moment.

On Friday it was announced that we have qualified for the BJSC 175 final so thanks to all who voted 💗 this outcome means our Q streak is back up to 6 in a row. The final line-up has been revealed and we are situated in slot #13, so let's hope this position won't be too unlucky...

We lost the following favourites from semi final 1:

05 Elëdan - Quelza - Automated Assistance Programs

02 Jupiterdonia - La Luna - When The Morning Comes

thank you to these nations for the discoveries. <3