June 15Jun 15 Lol a lot of the people I gave points to have given me nothing. GD is reliable as always though!
June 15Jun 15 Author Vote 15Herbs caused a very mild stir with his choice of entry, American singer Paula Cole's 'I Don't Want To Wait' - she certainly fits the bill for the contest as her only UK top 40 entry was 1997 #15 hit 'Where Have All The Cowboys Gone?' but this track which peaked at #43 the following year could arguably be considered to be her most well-known song these days, most likely thanks to being used as the theme song to Dawson's Creek which is a show I recognise the name of but could tell you absolutely nothing about. It has 114 million streams on Spotify compared to 34 million for her actual UK hit. Nonetheless, it doesn't seem to be benefiting too greatly from familiarity so far - it had a good start being in the initial top 3 but has had a gradual tumble since then and is currently in a surprisingly low 17th place. It was the first choice for ChrisJK as well but is only a little ahead of his replacement entry.On 13/06/2025 at 19:48, Herbs said:Woop woop. Herbs is ready to vote.First of all, I think I've listened to more than my yearly share of 80's music through this contest alone!Also, my song should win as it's clearly the best (how it was not vetoed I have no idea, but it will always hold a special place in my heart and I thought I'd be cheeky and send it!)Anyways, here are my votes:12pts Modern Talking - Atlantis Is Calling (S.O.S. For Love) (Scissor Sisters of the 80's?!)10pts Cicero - That Loving Feeling (Ear-worm and love the homoerotic nature of the video)8pts The Psychedelic Furs - Love My Way (This was the other song I knew before hand. Amazed it wasn't a hit!)7pts Annerley - Save Me (how have Steps never covered this?!)6pts Donna Lewis - Agenais (beauty in a song)5pts 2wo Third3 - Hear Me Calling (a bop)4pts Alphaville - Sounds Like A Melody (took a few listens but I like)3pts Freiheit - The Land Of Fantasy (defo a grower)2pts Chantay Savage - Betcha'll Never Find (bop)1pt Nu Shooz - Point Of No Return (took a few listens to click but a good pop song)Commiserations:00 The Icicle Works - Birds Fly (Whisper To A Scream)00 Army Of Lovers - Obsession1 85 Alphaville - Sounds Like A Melody [???]2 64 Army Of Lovers - Obsession [Addy!]3 54 The Icicle Works - Birds Fly (Whisper To A Scream) [???]4 54 The Psychedelic Furs - Love My Way [Severin]5 52 Annerley - Save Me [???]6 49 White Town - Undressed [Jester]7 48 Modern Talking - Atlantis Is Calling (S.O.S. For Love) [Dobbo]8 45 Cicero - That Loving Feeling [Mangø]9 41 Donna Lewis - Agenais [gooddelta]10 37 Classix Nouveaux - Never Never Comes [Ansel]11 36 The Vapors - News At Ten [Jade]12 34 Helen Reddy - Imagination [WoW73]13 34 Nu Shooz - Point Of No Return [???]14 29 Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - The Mercy Seat [Chez Wombat]15 28 Tracy Chapman - Give Me One Reason [???]16 27 Young MC - Know How [???]17 24 Paula Cole - I Don't Want To Wait [Herbs]18 23 Shocking Blue - Love Buzz [Scene]19 22 Mr. Oizo - Stunt [dandy*]20 21 Freiheit - The Land Of Fantasy [King Rollo]21 18 2wo Third3 - Hear Me Calling [ChrisJK]22 17 They Might Be Giants - Purple Toupee [???]23 12 Zager & Evans - Listen To The People [???]24 11 Chantay Savage - Betcha'll Never Find [???]25 5 Yo-Yo Ma and Bobby McFerrin - Stars [???]Alphaville slightly expand their lead again to 21 points as there's nothing for Army Of Lovers here. The Icicle Works stay in 3rd but are now tied in points with The Psychedelic Furs, climbing to 4th after they pick up a bronze medal here. Annerley hops into the top 5 for the first time, knocking White Town down two to 6th. (I laughed at that Steps comment - this Annerley song is from the same year as the last Steps album so maybe the cover is coming next time they reunite xx). Modern Talking are the latest to register a 12 pointer - that's now 14 different 12s from the first 15 voters! - pushing them back up 2 to 7th. Donna Lewis is back in the top 10 in place of The Vapors, while at the other end of the scoreboard Chantay Savage makes it to double figures leaving only Yo-Yo Ma and Bobby McFerrin below 10 points.
June 15Jun 15 I should be higher! Thanks for the podium finishes to the two that gave me them - Chris, sorry I took your first choice!
June 15Jun 15 Author Vote 16jimwatts saw fit to give us a bit of diversity in the contest with a hip-hop entry and the only one by a one hit wonder from outside the UK - American rapper Young MC fits the bill in his home nation where his one big hit is 1989's 'Bust A Move' which hit #7 (it also made him an Australian one hit wonder where it got all the way to #1 but he had no other top 40 hits). 'Bust A Move' only got to #73 in the UK with two later singles charting higher but none cracking the top 40. The song here, 'Know How', was actually released just before 'Bust A Move' in 1988 and didn't chart at all in the US but did get to #95 here. It's been performing reasonably well for a hip-hop entry, having spent some time in the top 15 and currently just outside it.On 13/06/2025 at 22:56, jimwatts said:Somehow I've ended up sending a rapped entry to my last 3 contests other than BJSC (also UP and CB!) Here are my votes:+12 Mr. Oizo - Stunt+10 Classix Nouveaux - Never Never Comes+8 Helen Reddy - Imagination+7 Alphaville - Sounds Like A Melody+6 Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - The Mercy Seat+5 The Psychedelic Furs - Love My Way+4 White Town - Undressed+3 The Icicle Works - Birds Fly (Whisper To A Scream)+2 Army Of Lovers - Obsession+1 Shocking Blue - Love BuzzThey Might Be Giants and The Vapors just miss out.1 92 Alphaville - Sounds Like A Melody [???]2 66 Army Of Lovers - Obsession [Addy!]3 59 The Psychedelic Furs - Love My Way [Severin]4 57 The Icicle Works - Birds Fly (Whisper To A Scream) [???]5 53 White Town - Undressed [Jester]6 52 Annerley - Save Me [???]7 48 Modern Talking - Atlantis Is Calling (S.O.S. For Love) [Dobbo]8 47 Classix Nouveaux - Never Never Comes [Ansel]9 45 Cicero - That Loving Feeling [Mangø]10 42 Helen Reddy - Imagination [WoW73]11 41 Donna Lewis - Agenais [gooddelta]12 36 The Vapors - News At Ten [Jade]13 35 Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - The Mercy Seat [Chez Wombat]14 34 Nu Shooz - Point Of No Return [???]15 34 Mr. Oizo - Stunt [dandy*]16 28 Tracy Chapman - Give Me One Reason [???]17 27 Young MC - Know How [jimwatts]18 24 Shocking Blue - Love Buzz [Scene]19 24 Paula Cole - I Don't Want To Wait [Herbs]20 21 Freiheit - The Land Of Fantasy [King Rollo]21 18 2wo Third3 - Hear Me Calling [ChrisJK]22 17 They Might Be Giants - Purple Toupee [???]23 12 Zager & Evans - Listen To The People [???]24 11 Chantay Savage - Betcha'll Never Find [???]25 5 Yo-Yo Ma and Bobby McFerrin - Stars [???]Alphaville continue to race ahead and now near the triple figure mark, expanding their lead over Army Of Lovers to 26 points. The Psychedelic Furs now knock The Icicle Works off the podium as they swap over in 3rd and 4th, while White Town still can't be held down as he's back in the top 5 again jumping back ahead of Annerley. Helen Reddy is back in the top 10 again, once again knocking out Donna Lewis. And we have yet another new 12 this time for Mr. Oizo who rises 4 places to 15th as a result. A silver here is also good for Classix Nouveaux rising 2 places to 8th.
June 15Jun 15 Thanks for introducing me to a Young MC song that hasn't been tainted by Mr Schue rapping
June 15Jun 15 Oh I really thought jimwatts was behind alphaville…now I’m more curious finding out who’s behind it!!!Also would love for them to win, they were actually my favorite overall, but I’m just so loyal to Tracy I couldn’t punish her but give 12!!!
June 15Jun 15 Thank you dandy* (almost a points swap!) and Severin for silver and bronze scores, and Scene and Ansel for the other points!I've enjoyed 'Know How' for years, but knew deep down it wouldn't have all that many fans here.
June 15Jun 15 Author Vote 17AH Gold's entry comes from American group Nu Shooz from the difficult to define 'freestyle' scene. They're best known for 1986 UK #2 hit 'I Can't Wait' (later sampled in Mann's 'Buzzin' as I always feel obligated to mention) and are represented here by the follow-up single 'Point Of No Return' which peaked at #48 and is not to be confused with the song of the same name from around the same time by another freestyle act Exposé. Exposé's track was previously sent to a retro themed edition of the Pop Forum Song Contest where it came 4th, Nu Shooz got off to a similarly strong start being in the initial top 5 but have cooled off a bit and are now in 14th place.On 13/06/2025 at 23:58, AH Gold said:12 The Psychedelic Furs - Love My Way10 The Vapors - News At Ten08 White Town - Undressed07 Modern Talking - Atlantis Is Calling (S.O.S. For Love)06 Helen Reddy - Imagination05 Alphaville - Sounds Like A Melody04 Zager & Evans - Listen To The People03 The Icicle Works - Birds Fly (WhisperTo A Scream02 Cicero - That Loving Feeling01 Donna Lewis - Agenais1 97 Alphaville - Sounds Like A Melody [???]2 71 The Psychedelic Furs - Love My Way [Severin]3 66 Army Of Lovers - Obsession [Addy!]4 61 White Town - Undressed [Jester]5 60 The Icicle Works - Birds Fly (Whisper To A Scream) [???]6 55 Modern Talking - Atlantis Is Calling (S.O.S. For Love) [Dobbo]7 52 Annerley - Save Me [???]8 48 Helen Reddy - Imagination [WoW73]9 47 Cicero - That Loving Feeling [Mangø]10 47 Classix Nouveaux - Never Never Comes [Ansel]11 46 The Vapors - News At Ten [Jade]12 42 Donna Lewis - Agenais [gooddelta]13 35 Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - The Mercy Seat [Chez Wombat]14 34 Nu Shooz - Point Of No Return [AH Gold]15 34 Mr. Oizo - Stunt [dandy*]16 28 Tracy Chapman - Give Me One Reason [???]17 27 Young MC - Know How [jimwatts]18 24 Shocking Blue - Love Buzz [Scene]19 24 Paula Cole - I Don't Want To Wait [Herbs]20 21 Freiheit - The Land Of Fantasy [King Rollo]21 18 2wo Third3 - Hear Me Calling [ChrisJK]22 17 They Might Be Giants - Purple Toupee [???]23 16 Zager & Evans - Listen To The People [???]24 11 Blobbay Savage - Betcha'll Never Find [???]25 5 Blob-Blob Ma and Blobby McFerrin - Stars [???]More points for Alphaville and nothing for Army Of Lovers... but the gap between the top 2 remains at 26 points as we actually have a new runner-up, former leaders The Psychedelic Furs become the second act to have 2 12s and work their way back into 2nd place, 5 points ahead of Army Of Lovers. Can the late voters favour them to overcome that lead? White Town is up a place again to 4th, swapping with The Icicle Works. Also good news here for Helen Reddy who's up 2 to 8th.
June 15Jun 15 4 minutes ago, Herbs said:I should be higher! Thanks for the podium finishes to the two that gave me them - Chris, sorry I took your first choice!That's okay.It would appear I wouldn't have done much better with it anyway!! 😂
June 15Jun 15 Just now, Addy! said:Oh I really thought jimwatts was behind alphaville…now I’m more curious finding out who’s behind it!!!Also would love for them to win, they were actually my favorite overall, but I’m just so loyal to Tracy I couldn’t punish her but give 12!!!I'd certainly be here for them winning - I think the previous best result for one of my recycles is the Otha song you sent to BJSC that finished 5th (but I certainly can't take credit for either of those!)
June 15Jun 15 Author Vote 18awardinary sent 'Betcha'll Never Find', a non-charting 1993 single by American R&B singer Chantay Savage who would have her greatest success in the UK 3 years later with her version of Gloria Gaynor's 'I Will Survive' which peaked at #12. Chantay was in the initial top 10 but has been struggling since then and is second in line for the wooden spoon as it stands.On 14/06/2025 at 00:43, awardinary said:+12 Modern Talking – Atlantis Is Calling (S.O.S. For Love)+10 Cicero – That Loving Feeling+8 Army Of Lovers – Obsession+7 Freiheit – The Land Of Fantasy+6 Nu Shooz – Point Of No Return+5 Annerley – Save Me+4 Young MC – Know How+3 Paula Cole – I Don't Want To Wait+2 Helen Reddy – Imagination+1 The Icicle Works – Birds Fly (Whisper To A Scream)1 97 Alphaville - Sounds Like A Melody [???]2 74 Army Of Lovers - Obsession [Addy!]3 71 The Psychedelic Furs - Love My Way [Severin]4 67 Modern Talking - Atlantis Is Calling (S.O.S. For Love) [Dobbo]5 61 The Icicle Works - Birds Fly (Whisper To A Scream) [???]6 61 White Town - Undressed [Jester]7 57 Cicero - That Loving Feeling [Mangø]8 57 Annerley - Save Me [???]9 50 Helen Reddy - Imagination [WoW73]10 47 Classix Nouveaux - Never Never Comes [Ansel]11 46 The Vapors - News At Ten [Jade]12 42 Donna Lewis - Agenais [gooddelta]13 40 Nu Shooz - Point Of No Return [AH Gold]14 35 Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - The Mercy Seat [Chez Wombat]15 34 Mr. Oizo - Stunt [dandy*]16 31 Young MC - Know How [jimwatts]17 28 Freiheit - The Land Of Fantasy [King Rollo]18 28 Tracy Chapman - Give Me One Reason [???]19 27 Paula Cole - I Don't Want To Wait [Herbs]20 24 Blobbing Pink - Love Buzz [Scene]21 18 2wo 8lob3 - Hear Me Calling [ChrisJK]22 17 They Might Be Blobbies - Purple Toupee [???]23 16 Blobber & Evans - Listen To The People [???]24 11 Blobbay Savage - Betcha'll Never Find [awardinary]25 5 Blob-Blob Ma and Blobby McFerrin - Stars [???]Nothing for Alphaville here, also nothing for The Psychedelic Furs though and a medal to Army Of Lovers allowing them to retake 2nd place, 23 points off the lead. Modern Talking collect a second 12 in relatively quick succession placing them back in the top 5, up 2 to 4th. The Icicle Works hold in 5th, treading water ahead of White Town who drops to 6th. A silver here for Cicero pushes him up 2 places to 7th.
June 15Jun 15 No arguments at the current runaway leader, how Alphaville are a one-hit wonder in this country (with Forever Young not even being one, let alone anything else) is a mystery.
June 15Jun 15 They Might Be Blobbies on the scoreboard Thanks Wardy for points! Edited June 15Jun 15 by jimwatts
June 15Jun 15 Author Vote 19Suedehead2's entrant is another British post-punk/new wave act The Icicle Works. Their only UK top 40 single was 1983's #15 peaking 'Love Is A Wonderful Colour', but they had several further minor hits throughout the 80s and into early 1990. The entry here is 'Birds Fly (Whisper To A Scream)' which was their first UK top 100 entry, initially peaking at #90 in 1983 but getting to #53 with a re-release the following year following the success of their bigger hit. This isn't the first time Suedey has sent The Icicle Works to a song contest as he sent another of their minor hits 'Understanding Jane' to BJSC, that fell some way short of qualifying for the final but they've been received much more warmly here, having been in the lead at one point and remaining as top 5 contenders since, currently in 5th place.On 14/06/2025 at 14:07, Suedehead2 said:Here are my votesThanks for running this!1 100 Alphaville - Sounds Like A Melody [???]2 81 The Psychedelic Furs - Love My Way [Severin]3 79 Army Of Lovers - Obsession [Addy!]4 67 Modern Talking - Atlantis Is Calling (S.O.S. For Love) [Dobbo]5 65 Cicero - That Loving Feeling [Mangø]6 61 The Icicle Works - Birds Fly (Whisper To A Scream) [Suedehead2]7 61 White Town - Undressed [Jester]8 57 Annerley - Save Me [???]9 54 Helen Reddy - Imagination [WoW73]10 53 Classix Nouveaux - Never Never Comes [Ansel]11 47 Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - The Mercy Seat [Chez Wombat]12 46 The Vapors - News At Ten [Jade]13 42 Donna Lewis - Agenais [gooddelta]14 40 Nu Shooz - Point Of No Return [AH Gold]15 34 Mr. Blobzo - Stunt [dandy*]16 31 Young BlobB - Know How [jimwatts]17 30 Tracy Blobman - Give Me One Reason [???]18 28 Blobheit - The Land Of Fantasy [King Rollo]19 27 Paula Blob - I Don't Want To Wait [Herbs]20 25 2wo 8lob3 - Hear Me Calling [ChrisJK]21 24 Blobbing Pink - Love Buzz [Scene]22 17 Blobber & Evans - Listen To The People [???]23 17 They Might Be Blobbies - Purple Toupee [???]24 11 Blobbay Savage - Betcha'll Never Find [awardinary]25 5 Blob-Blob Ma and Blobby McFerrin - Stars [???]Alphaville become the first to reach 100 points, just about. But it's another medal here for The Psychedelic Furs which puts them once again in the silver medal position and now cutting the gap to 19 points. Army Of Lovers also outscore Alphaville here but nonetheless drop into the bronze position. Modern Talking hold in 4th, while a medal position here for Cicero pushes him into the top 5 for the first time, up 2 places to 5th. He knocks Suede's own entry The Icicle Works back down to 6th. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds get their second 12 and rally closer to the top 10, up 3 to 11th.Nothing at all unusual is happening to the scoreboard.
June 15Jun 15 Chantay getting no love at all in this event. I thought it would appeal more when I found it.
June 15Jun 15 Author Vote 20Bjork sent the legendary American folk singer Tracy Chapman with her 1995 single 'Give Me One Reason'. Over in her home nation this is actually surprisingly her highest charting single, reaching #3 on the US Hot 100 while 'Fast Car' could only manage #6. The latter is of course her one big UK hit, originally hitting #5 in 1988 although not peaking until 2011 after a performance on Britain's Got Talent by some guy propelled it to #4. 'Give Me One Reason' could only manage #95 here and its parent album somehow didn't chart at all despite two of her previous albums getting to #1 here, curious how that happened. It's not been lighting up the scoreboard here earlier having been in the lower half of most of the scoreboards, currently in 17th.On 14/06/2025 at 16:26, Bjork said:these are the votes of the Danish jury :)+12 Nu Shooz - point of no return+10 White Town - Undressed+8 Paula Cole - I don't wanna wait+7 Psychodelic Furs - Love my way+6 Classix Noveaux - never never comes+5 Vapors - News at Ten+4 Icicle works - Birds fly+3 Alphaville - Sounds like a melody+2 They Might Be Giants - Purple toupee+1 Shocking Blue - Love buzz1 103 Alphaville - Sounds Like A Melody [???]2 88 The Psychedelic Furs - Love My Way [Severin]3 79 Army Of Lovers - Obsession [Addy!]4 71 White Town - Undressed [Jester]5 67 Modern Talking - Atlantis Is Calling (S.O.S. For Love) [Dobbo]6 65 The Icicle Works - Birds Fly (Whisper To A Scream) [Suedehead2]7 65 Cicero - That Loving Feeling [Mangø]8 59 Classix Nouveaux - Never Never Comes [Ansel]9 57 Annerley - Save Me [???]10 54 Helen Blobby - Imagination [WoW73]11 52 Nu Blobz - Point Of No Return [AH Gold]12 51 The Blobbors - News At Ten [Jade]13 47 Nick Blob & The Bad Blobs - The Mercy Seat [Chez Wombat]14 42 Blobby Lewis - Agenais [gooddelta]15 35 Paula Blob - I Don't Want To Wait [Herbs]16 34 Mr. Blobzo - Stunt [dandy*]17 31 Young BlobB - Know How [jimwatts]18 30 Tracy Blobman - Give Me One Reason [Bjork]19 28 Blobheit - The Land Of Fantasy [King Rollo]20 25 Blobbing Pink - Love Buzz [Scene]21 25 2wo 8lob3 - Hear Me Calling [ChrisJK]22 19 They Might Be Blobbies - Purple Toupee [???]23 17 Blobber & Evans - Listen To The People [???]24 11 Blobbay Savage - Betcha'll Never Find [awardinary]25 5 Blob-Blob Ma and Blobby McFerrin - Stars [???]Alphaville keep racking up points but The Psychedelic Furs outpace them again and the gap reduces to 15 points, could they be slowly but surely clawing back victory? Army Of Lovers are unmoved in 3rd while White Town has another resurgence to the top 5, up 3 places to 4th, knocking Modern Talking down a place, while Cicero drops 2 to 7th. Nu Shooz are the latest to register a first 12, they move back closer to top 10 contention again with a 14-11 climb.
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