So in spite of my 'hate campaign' (!) 'Maschio' is actually my 2nd favourite winner of the year so far, it's just that I still haven't voted for any of them which is not great at the halfway mark of the year oops! As I posted the other day I'm just not super thrilled about the meta of so many of this year's winners being artists who had recent and imo better songs making the top 10, I gave a few points to 'Mon Amour' but this one ended up ranked 24th for me. What can ya do though, shall look forward to a new République d'Áskorza hosting! (even if our delegation may have to be acting in exile now after their controversial public statements 😿 )

We were this close to actually having my favourite winner since Fat Dog but alas not quite, still very happy to see the great result for 'Underground', it's slapped more every time I've listened to it and has been stuck in my head a lot for the last couple of weeks - a little relieved that the winning margin was more than 2 points as I'd have kicked myself for not going all the way and giving it my 18 otherwise! Actually it is a really good top 10 overall for me as the winner was the only song that didn't at least get a commiseration from me, voted for 6/10 of them including my 18, I don't think I would have predicted She Past Away coming as high as 8th so yay for that *.* also great and better than I'd have guessed results for yeule and Kumo 99 + fab to see both of the oceanic dance instrumentals making the top 10, Atlantic Ocean pulled ahead as my preferred one of the two over the course of the contest but they're both still great. And 'POP GIRL' was my biggest grower of the contest even though it didn't quite make my votes, nice justice for Lexie after 2 previous undeserved DNQs and cool for Yehesi to get their first top 10 hit in over 8 years (since MUNA in BJSC 92!)

A couple more faves just outside the top 10 too, good showings there for Greenfroze and FARC, plus a nice top 20 for Zanmatony and a pretty decent result in the end for Herbilore after floundering at the bottom for way too long during the reveal. Quite disappointing for Why So Sirius though which I thought could be a dark horse for the win, also far too low for Jadakissnia and Cumulonimbia </3 + Scotland 2 deserved better too but their position before deduction is probably about what I'd have predicted.

Am genuinely really happy to finally be able to cross 30th off as a unique position - I actually would have had one already from my very early contests if tiebreak rules were always standardised as they are now as Penguin Prison in BJSC 29 would have been 30th instead of 31st using today's tiebreaks so that position being missing for me has long been uniquely frustrating especially as I have a ton of 29th and 31st place finishes. Only 40th to go for me to have the clean sweep of the entire top 42 position geeking aside, another unremarkable result for me but I didn't have particularly high expectations so I'll take it, not bottom 10 yay.

(and it appears my singular medal position from Pestolia in the final came after they didn't vote for me at all in the semi? everything else from the semi spreadsheet with regard to my song and their votes seems to make sense so maybe just a big grower there x)

Thanks for the hosting Addy

HOLY SHIT I GOT SECOND PLACE THIS IS AMAZING THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR VOTING AESTHETICA!!!!

Congrats Silas, a deserved win 💖

(+)

Happy to be back on not only the Top 10 but also the Top 5 and 3. Didn't realize it's been three years since I was there after sending Kohta Imafuku! Hence, thanks to all who have voted for us, even if we have to go as 'shameless' as recycling a former winner.

I feel like this is the strongest final in my 2025 catalogue. I genuinely want to put all my top 5/8 straight to my top 40 weekly chart!

Totally delighted with both Macromia and Greenfroze doing something that Eastovka/A-Konohagakure would never be able to. Not even I would expect that a random J-Pop classic, which blew up four years ago because of the Ace Attorney fandom, almost finished in the Top 10! Will that make us return to our Anisong/J-Pop roots once again this year? Who knows?

Also pleased to see Danæviia and Terra Avium in the Top 10, as well as Zanmatony in the Top 20, especially after the underwhelming results from Viva l'Opera a couple of contests ago. Good to see Trifoski finishing high, too.

Finally, thanks to @Addy! for the hosting! Your last 2 hostings totally smelt like good-luck charms to me.

Thank you who enjoyed that taste of "Crème Brûlée". I saw a couple of you gave me medal worthy points and I want to thank you those in particular but thank you to any who gave points to the song. It is such a total bop! I did fully expect to be in bottom half so I am fine with that, just glad I Q'd to be honest with you all.

Congrats to Silas for winning and Great hosting from Addy!

Now that I'm out of work and can properly respond: thank you so much to everyone who connected with "Underground" enough to give it any points at all. I don't go into this expecting anything anymore because my entries can be so hit-or-miss with the crowd. So to have an entry that resonated enough with so many of you that I was only 8(!!!) points away from a win is absolutely mind-blowing to me. And @Brer saying my entry is one of his favorites of the contest is another wonderful personal accomplishment for me because I know you're not always very into my entries! So getting a friend's stamp of approval feels kinda nice 😅 @Silas A major congratulations to you on the victory! I really enjoyed your entry and I'm honored to be second fiddle to you! Excited to see what you bring for the next contest.

Many congrats Silas, sadly this entry wasn't my cup of tea unlike your last winner but cool to see one of the OG nations still racking up the wins.

Pretty good top 10 overall, voted for 6 in total (and Aesthetica 2nd is great to see, what a stomper that was!)

As I mentioned tongue-in-cheek right at the start it looked for all intents and purposes like nothing would stop 2 Eivissa from getting my 18 with it being one of my all time fave 90s tracks BUT Land of DW went and served quite probably my fave BJSC entry since Scotland 2's Jumping Gargoyle's, I've had that on repeat this past week. So many thanks for an all time top 10 discovery 🙏

This contest is also an ultra-rare occasion where I gave my semi-final winner less points in the final, courtesy of it being shuffled down by the AQ track and 2 songs from the opposite semi as well as Dopamine Chaser & SINNER (poor guy not only losing the French Open yesterday but his anthem missing the top 20 in this by fractions) both growing to a greater extent.

Not too many grumbles from me about these results with the exception of Aeroche down in 39th, what happened there? Would have got even more points from me in literally every other contest this year too :/

Great contest Addy, you did brilliant as always 🙌

15 hours ago, Harve said:

The exceedingly rare Zanmatory-Skall silver medal swap 😭

Even rarer was the Gold medal swap with @danG Danæviia in the SAME contest! How often does someone exchange their gold AND silvers in the same month!

What a great selection of chilled trance music on offer this month, including the beautiful piece by @CowTzy A-Konohagakure, who if I had given just a few more points to may have finished higher than 3rd!

10 hours ago, CowTzy said:

Also pleased to see Danæviia and Terra Avium in the Top 10, as well as Zanmatony in the Top 20, especially after the underwhelming results from Viva l'Opera a couple of contests ago.

Not sure what underwhelming results are being referred to here... 🤔

Not the best result but I do tend to be a fairly good judge these days of knowing when it’s going to happen and I definitely felt a lack of hype here. So I knew to take the last minute top 5 predictions with a pinch of salt. I guess in a world where Annalisa/Debbii/Rebecca have won, it’s good to prove that sending an artist with past success isn’t actually a guaranteed route to an easy top 10 or anything.

I think I just must be a bit “off centre” with CATTY, as I think Joyride sounded much more polished and better produced than her last 2 entries. But it is a bit more jarring, and all over the place as a song so I can get why that would miss.

Happy for Phil to get another win under his belt, and another song I voted for winning is always nice too! Loved your hosting Addy, considering it was billed as “just a recycled idea”, you really brought a lot of fresh life into it and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

For what it's worth I did actually say during the listenthroughs that I didn't think 'Joyride' sounded like one that would do that well so yeah it's not like picking an artist with multiple recent hits is a 100% guarantee of getting another big hit (the same could also be said for TDJ missing the top 10 this time). Still always going to be side-eyeing anyone attempting it though. x

7 hours ago, RobBot said:

Not the best result but I do tend to be a fairly good judge these days of knowing when it’s going to happen and I definitely felt a lack of hype here. So I knew to take the last minute top 5 predictions with a pinch of salt. I guess in a world where Annalisa/Debbii/Rebecca have won, it’s good to prove that sending an artist with past success isn’t actually a guaranteed route to an easy top 10 or anything.

I think I just must be a bit “off centre” with CATTY, as I think Joyride sounded much more polished and better produced than her last 2 entries. But it is a bit more jarring, and all over the place as a song so I can get why that would miss.

Happy for Phil to get another win under his belt, and another song I voted for winning is always nice too! Loved your hosting Addy, considering it was billed as “just a recycled idea”, you really brought a lot of fresh life into it and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

WOW

Very late to the party, some friends stayed at my place for a couple of days.

Congrats Phil, solid winner, 'Maschio' didn't make my votes in the final in the end, but it was in the 16-20 region.

Thanks Addy for the great hosting + thanks Everyone voting for ANNE KAFFEEKANNE, I'm very happy that my 2024 obsession found some new fans!

i forgor💀 my comms:

A-Konohagakure
Persephonia
Cumulonimbia
Baleghde

POPHub would like issue a formal apology to Aesthetica, as had we had listened to Underground a few more times before voting, it very likely would have earned our 18 points

1 hour ago, calxyum said:

POPHub would like issue a formal apology to Aesthetica, as had we had listened to Underground a few more times before voting, it very likely would have earned our 18 points

You can make it up to us by giving us your gold medal position in the next contest!!

Could we see a spreadsheet of everyone's scores in the final pls? 🙏

		TOTAL	Bøtanikkä	Baleghde	Pestolia	Hushkanukia	Mothertopia	Lookylion	Cheiron	Greenfroze	Land Of DW	POPHub	Jadakissnia	FSR Rontvia	East Rukahavian	Ajanaeda	Ojnoj	Ben’s Sanctuary	Dobago	Taahino	Altyr Muunilinst	Nelionoir	Yehesi	Seyetana	Terra Avium	Flynnonda	Aeroche	Kluminican Republic	Aesthetica	Danæviia	Cumulonimbia	Macromia	Sandenia	Trifoski	FARC	Herbilore	Bronzil	Hendinia	Republique D’Askorza	Kylienips	Why So Sirius	Skall	Cor Lupus	The Spodic Empire	Persephonia	Kathaldazia	Zanmatony	Lotunia	Jupiterdonia	A-Konohagakure	Scotland 2	Aelandor
1	République d'Áskorza - Annalisa - Maschio	237	12	18			15	5	13	15			1	18	7	18	10				10		12				2	15	10	9		6	8					7			11	9	5				1
2	Aesthetica - f5ve - Underground	230	5	7			3			6	5	2				13		11	13				10	13		6						15	9	18		12	7						15		15	4		15	18	3	5
3	A-Konohagakure - Nora En Pure - Memories	228	10	1	12				6	4	12	9		4			7	18	10		9			4	15	12	8			15	4	11		3									13	13		10	11					7
4	Danæviia - Ummet Ozcan - Ocean's Voice	221	8	10	7							1	15		15			2	5			4		12	18	13		10	8			1					10			6				9	5	15	18			11		18
5	Neliönoir - yeule - Evangelic Girl Is A Gun	217			11		18					12	13		4	12				5	1			5	8		7		9		12			10	18		8		3		15		7		2	13			12		12
6	Terra Avium - Atlantic Ocean - Waterfall	213	18		4			18			3		6	2				8	4			8				4	11			12	13						18			15		18		11	8	8	10			12		2
7	Trifoski - Kumo 99 - Dopamine Chaser	205			18						8	8	10		13				12			13	1	18	12	11					10						1				18	10	1		9					10	9	13
8	FSR Rontvia - She Past Away - Inziva	198	2		13				7				18		2				9			10		3	10	2				13	6			8	10		13			5		12		18	18	6					3	10
9	Yehesi - Lexie Liu - POP GIRL	191				7	4		15	8		18				10	4	9		3	7							4	18				12	4	3	7		4	18		4		8					2	11		11
10	Mothertopia - SASAMI - Slugger	186		3		3		12								15	15			9	11		8				12	12	12							11	11	18	8	7								4	2		13
11	Greenfroze - Yōko Oginome - Dancing Hero (Eat You Up) (Dear Pop Singer Version)	180	9	5	6		2	9			6					11	2		6					15							1	13		15		2	12		11		5	8		10	1			13		18
12	Kathaldazia - TDJ & Clara Kimera - On And On (You Lie)	178	7	8						5		15	11									12			4	5	18	2		11	15		11		11		15	2					3				2	3	8		10
13	FARC - Ikkimel & Robbensohn - BIKINI GRELL	176	1						10	7	7	6		5	8				8		2	2	13	8	1		13	8		8			13					15	10		9	4		7	10						1
14	POPHub - YEJI - Air	168		12		15		13		12						7	6	5			5		4			3						12		6		8		10			2		18	3				12	15
15	Lotunia - VICTORIA - IN BETWEEN	168		9			9				10			7		6	12	3					3			10			7				1			15			13	18	8			12					9	5		11
16	Hushkanukia - Sorana - DON'T SEND ME FLOWERS	167		6			12	6	9	11				13		3	13			13	3		11									9	5			13	9			4			2	8			3	11	3
17	Altyr Muunilinst - PUNCHBAG - You Used To Be So Sexy	166					11			1					3	1	18			6							10	6	11		7		15		13	1	6	13			13	6						6	4		15
18	Zanmatony - Solarstone - Seven Cities (Solar Stone’s Atlantis Mix)	166	13		9							5		8	1		9	6	2						11			11		18	9									8		15		15	3				5	13		5
19	Lookylion - Beks - Melodrama	157	6	13		13				13	9	7					3	4		8	18						1	7							6		2	12		10	12	2	10						1
20	Bøtanikkä - 2 Eivissa - Oh La La La	149				4	7	15			4			3		2		13	15	1						8	15	18		4	3				4											9	9		13	2
21	Why So Sirius - M¥SS KETA - SINNER	147	15						4	3	18	13	3	10					11			6		6					4				3					9	15						11	5	7				4
22	Taahino - Sophie Powers - move with me	143		4	1	11		1			15	11	8			5			1		13	1	9	7	3				13	1			2	12					4	13			4				4
23	Herbilore - Keaton Henson - Even	129											9									9		2	13	9					8			7						9	7	5		5	7	7	12	10			6	4
24	Skall - Avalon Emerson - Don’t Be Seen With Me	128			8		10						12			8		1				11			7			1			11		4		9		3									12	15				8	8
25	Land of DW - TIM PLVNK - ANNE KAFFEEKANNE	128	11		3		5		12	9				12					18				18	1				9		10		7															13
26	Scotland 2 - Caroline - Total Euphoria	124			10								2									18		9	6						18			13			5				6	13		4	13	1						6
27	Ojnoj - Kylie Cantrall - Denim	121		2		18	8	8	3											18	6		6						15				7			9		5					11					5
28	Jadakissnia - EQ - B.S.A.S. (Si Alguna Vez Te Sentis Sola De Noche)	120			2						13	3		1	18							15			9				3						1							7			12	18					18
29	Hendinia - CATTY - Joyride	119		15		9		2		2					6		11			10	8		2					5				18		2	8	5			6		10
30	Séyetana - Hot Milk - Insubordinate Ingerland	117				2					1			9	10		8			12						15		3	2			10	10					3									8			9		15
31	Persephonia - Kikagaku Moyo - Cardboard Pile	116			15								7	11	5							7		11	5							4		5						12		3		6				1		8	7	9
32	Kluminican Republic - HoneyLuv - Dancehall	116	4					11	8					15						2						1	9			3		5	18		12			8									5	8	7
33	Macromia - Nao Toyama - Tomoshibi No Manimani	115			5	5				18						9			3					10		7								9			4				3				6			18		15		3
34	Bronzil - Cult Of Venus - Algorithm	115				8	1		18		11					4	1			15		3										2		1				11				11				3			6	6	2	12
35	Cumulonimbia - Elphi - clover	111				12					2	10	4							11		5			2					6				11	7	6			12	11				2	4	2				4
36	Flynnonda - David Archuleta - Crème Brulée	110				10	6		11	10							5				15								1			8				18		1	1	2			12					9				1
37	Baleghde - CamelPhat & Massano - Oblivion (feat. Nu-La)	104							1			4						10					15			18	3		5	5					2				7				6			11			10	7
38	Ajanaeda - Banshee - I’m a never forgive kinda girl	98				1	13	4	2				5		11					7	12		5				5				2		6			10		6	2									7
39	Aeroche - PS1 & Adam Griffin - Late Night Lover	88	3					3	5					6	9			7	7									13		2					15	3			5				9							1
40	Cor Lupus - Jodie Harsh - Kiss It Better	82						10							12			12		4			7				6		6	7	5	3			5					3	1	1
41	New Lexico - DE SOFFER - Waste No Time	67		11		6		7										15			4						4									4			9					1			6

In hindsight I probably should have given Yehesi my 18 as Pop Girl has gone OFF in my house post-contest.

I'm sure Tim would have appreciated another 18, though I think yours was well spent Despite some varying results, I've had exactly one 18 in each of the last 4 contests (Bøtanikkä, Oslol, Jupiterdonia, Cheiron) which is quite neat!

On 08/06/2025 at 16:46, Brer said:

Sorry for a bit of a delay but here's the final scoreboard with tiebreaks and deductions - I have a few points totals slightly different to Addy's but they don't affect positions any further, I had to dig a bit to find the discrepancies as I don't have Addy's spreadsheet to cross reference!

For posterity I have Yehesi and Cor Lupus 4 and 1 points higher respectively, and POPHub and Flynnonda 4 and 1 points lower respectively - the Yehesi/POPHub discrepancy looks to definitely be from Kluminican Republic's votes (will just be Addy's spreadsheet mistakenly giving their 4 to POPHub instead of Yehesi), while the Cor Lupus/Flynnonda one could be one of two things as it appeared in the scoreboard after the pair of votes from Kylienips and Why So Sirius, so either Addy's spreadsheet has them swapped over in Kylienips' votes (should be 3 to Cor Lupus and 2 to Flynnonda) or has mistakenly given Why So Sirius' 1 to Flynnonda instead of Cor Lupus.

(Cody you'd better be thankful for my investigative journalism to give you 1 extra point xox)

I meant to respond to this but last night it was super late, I cross referenced and indeed I gave Klumzee 4 points to POPHub instead of Yehesi, and I messed up Kylienips’s 2 and 3 votes (Cor Lupus and Flynnonda).

Thank you @Brer

On 19/06/2025 at 10:54, Scene said:

In hindsight I probably should have given Yehesi my 18 as Pop Girl has gone OFF in my house post-contest.

Oh yes gurl, vote for ha in Best Of at the end of the year instead to make up for it