Jade sent The Radio Dept. - Every Time

Another artist I hadn't heard of before this contest, The Radio Dept. are a Swedish dreampop band, and this track appeared on their second album Pet Grief.

Jade's voting:

12 Dido - Take My Hand 

10 Scissor Sisters - It Can't Come Quickly Enough

8 M83 - Outro 

7 PJ Harvey - 66 Promises

6 Madonna - Amazing

5 Annie - Me Plus One

4 Goldfrapp - Beautiful 

3 Siobhan Donaghy - Don't Take Me Back

2 Saint Etienne - Milk Bottle Symphony

1 Ashley Tisdale - Overrated 

1 (86) Dido - Take My Hand (Julian_)

2 (74) Scissor Sisters - It Can't Come Quickly Enough

3 (59) M83 - Outro (uhsting)

3 (59) PJ Harvey - 66 Promises (Addy!)

5 (57) Madonna - Amazing (jimwatts)

6 (53) Same Difference feat. Alcazar - Karma Karma (Chez Wombat)

7 (52) The Radio Dept. - Every Time (Jade)

8 (49) Annie - Me Plus One (gooddelta)

9 (45) Ashley Tisdale - Overrated

10 (44) Saint Etienne - Milk Bottle Symphony

11 (41) Goldfrapp - Beautiful (Scene)

11 (41) Mis-Teeq - Just For You

13 (40) f(x) - Rude Love (Cody)

13 (40) Orianthi - Addicted To Love (Roba)

15 (37) Farrah Abraham - On My Own (Brer)

15 (37) Siobhan Donaghy - Don't Take Me Back

17 (23) Lisa Roxanne - Ex-Boyfriend (awardinary)

18 (17) Joe McElderry - If You Love Me (Mango)

19 (16) Alexander Rybak - Kiss And Tell (CowTzy)

Dido and the Scissor Sisters are now way ahead of the competition. With just a handful of votes left, can anyone catch them?

Thanks to the last few voters, glad to see Annie pick up a bit now.

I actually really thought that Joe song was a great little discovery, very Saturdays production so does sound very 2010/of its time. The Donkeyboy original of Ambitions was a decent track but Joe's cover was really not suited to him, one of the weirdest lead singles ever and completely derailed a career that had at least some potential at that point. The b-side definitely would have been a better choice.

Edited April 1Apr 1 by gooddelta

dandy* sent Saint Etienne - Milk Bottle Symphony

Fact: Saint Etienne are one of the best bands of the 90s, and I won't hear otherwise. I didn't like quite as much of their 2000s stuff but they have definitely continued to release some very interesting tracks.

This track is taken from their seventh album Tales From Turnpike House. It isn't up there with my favourites but it's still a good track.

dandy*'s voting:

12 Annie - Me Plus One (From Anniemal (2004)) - I can’t actually believe this wasn’t a single, I know it and love it very much! <3 <3

10 Siobhan Donaghy - Don't Take Me Back (B-Side to So You Say single (2007)) - great choice, another I know well but definitely was good enough to make the album

08 The Radio Dept. - Every Time (From Pet Grief (2006)) - Radio Dept are a big fave of mine so have to give them a medal <3

07 Scissor Sisters - It Can't Come Quickly Enough (From Scissor Sisters (2004)) - my fave from the album at the time, great choice. I almost sent Somewhere myself.

06 M83 - Outro (From Hurry Up We're Dreaming (2011)) - obvious but still great

05 Dido - Take My Hand (From No Angel (2001)) - again perhaps a touch too obvious, but definitely great and points worthy

04 PJ Harvey - 66 Promises (B-Side to Good Fortune single (2000)) - Peej! <3

03 Madonna - Amazing (From Music (2000)) - decent album track, but definitely a Beautiful Stranger retread

02 Goldfrapp - Beautiful (B-Side to Number 1 single (2005) and also appeared as a bonus track on the NA and Japanese editions of Supernature) - definitely could easily have been on the album.

01 f(x) - Rude Love (From 4 Walls (2015)) - never heard of these, but enjoyable!

1 (91) Dido - Take My Hand (Julian_)

2 (81) Scissor Sisters - It Can't Come Quickly Enough

3 (65) M83 - Outro (uhsting)

4 (63) PJ Harvey - 66 Promises (Addy!)

5 (61) Annie - Me Plus One (gooddelta)

6 (60) Madonna - Amazing (jimwatts)

6 (60) The Radio Dept. - Every Time (Jade)

8 (53) Same Difference feat. Alcazar - Karma Karma (Chez Wombat)

9 (47) Siobhan Donaghy - Don't Take Me Back

10 (45) Ashley Tisdale - Overrated

11 (44) Saint Etienne - Milk Bottle Symphony (dandy*)

12 (43) Goldfrapp - Beautiful (Scene)

13 (41) f(x) - Rude Love (Cody)

13 (41) Mis-Teeq - Just For You

15 (40) Orianthi - Addicted To Love (Roba)

16 (37) Farrah Abraham - On My Own (Brer)

17 (23) Lisa Roxanne - Ex-Boyfriend (awardinary)

18 (17) Joe McElderry - If You Love Me (Mango)

19 (16) Alexander Rybak - Kiss And Tell (CowTzy)

Dido and the Scissors still way ahead of the pack but down the other end, my poor brave Joe McElderry fighting it out for bottom place :(

Lovely choice Jade, I must check out that album, that was a fantastic discovery.

Well now I've been unmasked... thank you for all the Radio Dept. points so far, especially 12s from Bré and Rich.

Thanks Jade and Dandy - two very interesting discoveries in your songs too!

Dobbo sent Scissor Sisters - It Can't Come Quickly Enough

Another fairly well known track now, and this is taken from their critically acclaimed eponymous debut album. I've played this album a LOT and this has always been one of my favourite tracks on it - hence awarding it my 12 points!

Dobbo's voting:

+12 Same Difference feat. Alcazar - Karma Karma

+10 Mis-Teeq - Just For You

+08 Alexander Rybak - Kiss And Tell

+07 f(x) - Rude Love

+06 Orianthi - Addicted To Love

+05 Farrah Abraham - On My Own

+04 Joe McElderry - If You Love Me

+03 Ashley Tisdale - Overrated

+02 Lisa Roxanne - Ex-Boyfriend

+01 Annie - Me Plus One

1 (91) Dido - Take My Hand (Julian_)

2 (81) Scissor Sisters - It Can't Come Quickly Enough (Dobbo)

3 (65) M83 - Outro (uhsting)

3 (65) Same Difference feat. Alcazar - Karma Karma (Chez Wombat)

5 (63) PJ Harvey - 66 Promises (Addy!)

6 (62) Annie - Me Plus One (gooddelta)

7 (60) Madonna - Amazing (jimwatts)

7 (60) The Radio Dept. - Every Time (Jade)

9 (51) Mis-Teeq - Just For You

10 (48) Ashley Tisdale - Overrated

10 (48) f(x) - Rude Love (Cody)

12 (47) Siobhan Donaghy - Don't Take Me Back

13 (46) Orianthi - Addicted To Love (Roba)

14 (44) Saint Etienne - Milk Bottle Symphony (dandy*)

15 (43) Goldfrapp - Beautiful (Scene)

16 (42) Farrah Abraham - On My Own (Brer)

17 (25) Lisa Roxanne - Ex-Boyfriend (awardinary)

18 (24) Alexander Rybak - Kiss And Tell (CowTzy)

19 (21) Joe McElderry - If You Love Me (Mango)

He couldn't vote for his own entry but neither did he give Dido any points so no change in the top two, but Dobbo's 12 points for Same Difference propels them back into the top three!

Along with Roba as Orianthi (I don't remember him telling me he was a Dido fan much, if at all when speaking to him ) I had dandy* as Siobhan & Cody as f(x). But everyone else I was kinda unsure on... gooddelta not sending Same Difference isn't surprising, but I would have guessed either them or Annie for him. Chez sending Same Difference is a huge curveball and I never ever EVER would have suspected that! LMAO.

Thanks Dandy for the 12 <3 Saint Etienne were 11th in my vote, I adore them although that song isn't necessarily a big fave of mine but still decent, I did consider sending Over The Border to this.

I correctly guessed The Radio Dept. being Jade's entry (and a pretty comfortable 12 for me, excellent dream pop vibes) <3

The Saint Etienne song was my biggest grower on second listen, it was in my bottom 5 at first but ended up sneaking 1 point, liking it more than their song that won the other Throwback contest (so of course it's not doing nearly as well oop).

edit: thanks Dobbo for a few more points and a great entry from you as well!

Tafty sent Ashley Tisdale - Overrated

Not an artist I'm overly familiar with if I'm being honest, Ashley Tisdale is perhaps best known for starring in the High School Musical movies. She has also released three albums and this track is from her second one.

Tafty's voting:

12 Points: Orianthi - Addicted To Love

10 Points: Same Difference & Alcazar - Karma Karma

08 Points: M83 - Outro

07 Points: Siobhan Donaghy - Don’t Take Me Back

06 Points: Annie - Me Plus One

05 Points: Madonna - Amazing

04 Points: f(x) - Rude Love

03 Points: Goldfrapp - Beautiful

02 Points: Joe McElderry - If You Love Me

01 Point: The Radio Dept. - Every Time

1 (91) Dido - Take My Hand (Julian_)

2 (81) Scissor Sisters - It Can't Come Quickly Enough (Dobbo)

3 (75) Same Difference feat. Alcazar - Karma Karma (Chez Wombat)

4 (73) M83 - Outro (uhsting)

5 (68) Annie - Me Plus One (gooddelta)

6 (65) Madonna - Amazing (jimwatts)

7 (63) PJ Harvey - 66 Promises (Addy!)

8 (61) The Radio Dept. - Every Time (Jade)

9 (58) Orianthi - Addicted To Love (Roba)

10 (54) Siobhan Donaghy - Don't Take Me Back

11 (52) f(x) - Rude Love (Cody)

12 (51) Mis-Teeq - Just For You

13 (48) Ashley Tisdale - Overrated (Tafty)

14 (46) Goldfrapp - Beautiful (Scene)

15 (44) Saint Etienne - Milk Bottle Symphony (dandy*)

16 (42) Farrah Abraham - On My Own (Brer)

17 (25) Lisa Roxanne - Ex-Boyfriend (awardinary)

18 (24) Alexander Rybak - Kiss And Tell (CowTzy)

19 (23) Joe McElderry - If You Love Me (Mango)

No points awarded to the top two but Tafty's 10 points to Same Difference means they edge ever closer to that top two...

Just two more votes to go, can Dido hold on?

So I’m Siobhan or mis-teeq!

Both great acts

Oof thanks for the (possibly brief) lift to the top 10 Jon *.* (also I am a fan of Dido too haha).

Herbs sent Siobhan Donaghy - Don't Take Me Back

This was the B-side to the single 'So You Say', the second single from Siobhan's second album Ghosts, and it narrowly missed the top 75 in 2007.

Herbs's voting:

Quite a diverse set of songs! Never thought I'd give Joe McElderry points in a competition but here we are. Also pretty sure I know who sent Same Difference as there is a youtube video with their username against it!

Here are my votes:

12pts f(x) - Rude Love

10pts Joe McElderry - If You Love Me

8pts Same Difference feat. Alcazar - Karma Karma

7pts Scissor Sisters - It Can't Come Quickly Enough

6pts Madonna - Amazing

5pts M83 - Outro

4pts Dido - Take My Hand

3pts Annie - Me Plus One

2pts Alexander Rybak - Kiss And Tell

1pt Orianthi - Addicted To Love

1 (95) Dido - Take My Hand (Julian_)

2 (88) Scissor Sisters - It Can't Come Quickly Enough (Dobbo)

3 (83) Same Difference feat. Alcazar - Karma Karma (Chez Wombat)

4 (78) M83 - Outro (uhsting)

5 (71) Annie - Me Plus One (gooddelta)

5 (71) Madonna - Amazing (jimwatts)

7 (64) f(x) - Rude Love (Cody)

8 (63) PJ Harvey - 66 Promises (Addy!)

9 (61) The Radio Dept. - Every Time (Jade)

10 (59) Orianthi - Addicted To Love (Roba)

11 (54) Siobhan Donaghy - Don't Take Me Back (Herbs)

12 (51) Mis-Teeq - Just For You

13 (48) Ashley Tisdale - Overrated (Tafty)

14 (46) Goldfrapp - Beautiful (Scene)

15 (44) Saint Etienne - Milk Bottle Symphony (dandy*)

16 (42) Farrah Abraham - On My Own (Brer)

17 (33) Joe McElderry - If You Love Me (Mango)

18 (26) Alexander Rybak - Kiss And Tell (CowTzy)

19 (25) Lisa Roxanne - Ex-Boyfriend (awardinary)

Thank you Herbs for the 10 points, hopefully ensuring that I don't embarrass myself by finishing last!

The top 3 are now separated by 12 points and there are only one more set of votes to come - from lewistgreen - and if he awards Same Difference his 12 points and none for Dido then we could have a tie-break at the top

Equally his votes could award Scissor Sisters the win!

So who is going to be crowned champion - Julian (with Dido), Dobbo (with Scissor Sisters) or Chez Wombat (with Same Difference)?

All will be revealed very shortly...

Thanks Herbs! An exciting finish at the top

I've never finished 5th in a song contest here, so I guess that would be the aim!

Well this is nail biting - I know Lewis said he enjoyed “Take My Hand” in the listenthrough so hopefully that’s a positive sign!

Finally, one more correct guess haha. I was reasonably sure on Siobhan being Herbs just because I thought other acts in the lineup Dandy was more likely to send (PJ Harvey, Saint Etienne, Madonna, The Radio Dept) and could only see one of those two sending her.

I have always adored that Siobhan track and would have sent it to BJSC if it could avoid a veto (but as they have a forum..,)

lewistgreen sent Mis-teeq - Just For You

Before Alesha Dixon had a solo career and then became a TV talent show judge, she was in Mis-teeq, who released two albums before they disbanded. This track is taken from their second album Eye Candy.

lewistgreen's voting:

+12 Dido - Take My Hand

+10 Annie - Me Plus One

+08 Scissor Sisters - It Can't Come Quickly Enough

+07 Farrah Abraham - On My Own

+06 M83 - Outro

+05 The Radio Dept. - Every Time

+04 Ashley Tisdale - Overrated

+03 Goldfrapp - Beautiful

+02 Madonna - Amazing

+01 f(x) - Rude Love

And there we have it! Dido is Lewis's 12-pointer, sealing victory for Julian!

1 (107) Dido - Take My Hand (Julian_) 🏆

2 (96) Scissor Sisters - It Can't Come Quickly Enough (Dobbo)

3 (84) M83 - Outro (uhsting)

4 (83) Same Difference feat. Alcazar - Karma Karma (Chez Wombat)

5 (81) Annie - Me Plus One (gooddelta)

6 (73) Madonna - Amazing (jimwatts)

7 (66) The Radio Dept. - Every Time (Jade)

8 (65) f(x) - Rude Love (Cody)

9 (63) PJ Harvey - 66 Promises (Addy!)

10 (59) Orianthi - Addicted To Love (Roba)

11 (54) Siobhan Donaghy - Don't Take Me Back (Herbs)

12 (52) Ashley Tisdale - Overrated (Tafty)

13 (51) Mis-Teeq - Just For You (lewistgreen)

14 (49) Goldfrapp - Beautiful (Scene) (higher number of votes than Brer)

15 (49) Farrah Abraham - On My Own (Brer)

16 (44) Saint Etienne - Milk Bottle Symphony (dandy*)

17 (33) Joe McElderry - If You Love Me (Mango)

18 (26) Alexander Rybak - Kiss And Tell (CowTzy)

19 (25) Lisa Roxanne - Ex-Boyfriend (awardinary)

Some may argue that Dido and the Scissor Sisters were more well known than the others as they were from huge selling albums and there's no doubt that helped their cause - I deliberately went for a lesser known song - but they were perfectly legitimate entries as per the rules so well done to both Julian and Dobbo, both excellent songs!

Thanks to everyone that took part in this and I think we can all agree we made some great discoveries collectively

Congrats again to Julian for the win and we'll look forward to him hosting Bop Idol 4 in due course!

Edited April 1Apr 1 by Mangø

Fine with whoever wins out of those 3!