16. Flo Rida – Good Feeling
1 week at #1 (entered 20^th November 2011, #1 8^th January) {02-03-04-05-06-07}-03-01-02-05-09-12-17-21-29-36-33-42-44-47-35-43-56-60-64-73-59R(6)-57-72 (29 weeks, 23 in 2012)
Kept off #1: N/A
Sales: 50,907
EOY: #47 (#48 in 2011)

Speaking of Mr Rida, Flo is here again with his other #1 of the year, 2011s Good Feeling which climbed to the top in its 8^th week in the chart at the start of the year, after beginning with a perfect sequence falling one place each week from its initial entry at #2.

Good Feeling is a strange song, in that it samples a song (Levels by Avicii) which itself was largely created from sampling another song (Something’s Got a Hold on Me by Etta James), even more so that Levels and Good Feeling were both a hit at the same time, Avicii entering the chart at #4 the week after Good Feeling entered at #2, meaning they were positioned next to each other on the chart, before both fell down over Christmas to rebound in the new year, Levels climbing back to #4 in the week Good Feeling hit the top.

This is the hardest song here to judge and rank, as it's hard to be positive about Good Feeling without giving a huge amount of praise to Avicii, who ultimately created the song it so heavily samples, and it’s Levels that becomes Good Feeling’s biggest help and biggest hindrance. As fine as I am with Flo, and as mainstream rappers of this era go I was typically more than happy to listen to his output, it’s elevated this high because of the track its based on, but why would you want to listen to Good Feeling when you could just listen to Levels? Flo’s parts are fine, but they’re not so good that they improve it. Swap them around in that week’s chart and Levels is easily top 10 here.

Edited August 4Aug 4 by RabbitFurCoat

Agree that Levels is better than Good Feeling but still Good Feeling is one of Flo Rida's best hits. Holiday company advert spam on UK TV using it as a soundtrack aside!

Edited August 3Aug 3 by TheSnake

Yeah Levels is my favourite Avicii singles and it feels that Good Feeling is unnecessary. I think I’d have it in a similar place as you.

Something’s Got A Hold In Me is fantastic though!

I never liked this, give me 'Levels' any day of any week.

"Good Feeling" is one of the rare occasions where I like a Flo Rida song, but it is mainly because of the "Levels" part. Decision is #12.

01. Rihanna - Diamonds (18)

04. Jessie J - Domino (28)

12 Flo Rida - Good Feeling (16)

14. will.i.am; Eva Simons - This Is Love (31)

16. Little Mix - Wings (20)

17. Tulisa - Young (29)

18. The Script, Will.I.Am - Hall Of Fame (19)

20. Cover Drive - Twilight (24)

21. Maroon 5;Wiz Khalifa - Payphone (32)

22. Rita Ora;Tinie Tempah - R.I.P. (30)

24. The Justice Collective – He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother (23)

25. Rita Ora - How We Do (Party) (26)

27. Ne-Yo - Let Me Love You (Until You Learn To Love Yourself) (27)

28. Olly Murs; Flo Rida - Troublemaker (17)

29. Gabrielle Aplin - The Power Of Love (21)

30. Wiley, Djo Feat. Ms. D - Heatwave (22)

31. One Direction - Little Things (25)

33. Chris Brown - Turn Up the Music (34)

34. James Arthur - Impossible (33)

35. Robbie Williams - Candy (36)

36. Gary Barlow & The Commonwealth Band - Sing (35)

15. Cheryl – Call My Name
1 week at #1 (entered 17^th June) 01-02-05-10-13-16-22-29-35-64-62-65-62-75 (14 weeks)
Kept off #1: Flo Rida - Whistle
Sales: 152,001
EOY: #34 (420,000)

After 18 months away from releasing music following two albums in the autumns of 2009 and 2010, to go with two number one singles and a couple of others going top 5, Call My Name was the first release for Cheryl after dropping the Cole from her name following her divorce from Ashley. 18 months can be a long time to be away in Pop, and there was no guarantees the public would still be as interested in Cheryl after some time away from the spotlight, but Call My Name duly delivered with the highest weekly sale of the year outside of the X-Factor winner and Christmas week, the only ‘normal’ #1 to top 150,000 in a week.

It wasn’t a huge, long lasting hit, end of year #34 feels relatively poor for a single that got such a high first week tally, but it did better than her previous chart topper Promise This. Having made her name through Reality TV in Popstars: The Rivals, before continuing the theme by being an X-Factor judge, it felt strange for her to move away from the release cycle so typical of that kind of act, kick off the campaign in late summer, one more single before the album release in the run up to Christmas and making sure to perform on all of the big TV shows, but in Call My Name they’d gone for a summer anthem and it proved popular.

It was produced by Calvin Harris, where he was now in his commercial peak and everything he touched turned to gold, and you can certainly tell his influence and production on this, and it’s better than a lot of his actual singles from this period. His work definitely elevates this from a decent pop song to something of a dancefloor filling banger, but Cheryl is good on this too and I enjoy her vocal more than I typically had done.  She may have had bigger and more famous hits, however this is comfortably my favourite Cheryl single. It definitely sounds like it was a hit in the era that it was, but without feeling particularly dated. It was another song to keep off Flo Rida’s Whistle, and thankful that it did.

I liked this and Promise This both well produced.

Whistle isn't good, I only liked the Can You Blow My cover that made the top 40 for a week.

Edited August 4Aug 4 by TheSnake

I like Call My Name, I agree it’s one of Cheryl’s best singles.

3 hours ago, DaTilt said:

"Good Feeling" is one of the rare occasions where I like a Flo Rida song, but it is mainly because of the "Levels" part. Decision is #12.

01. Rihanna - Diamonds (18)

04. Jessie J - Domino (28)

12 Flo Rida - Good Feeling (16)

14. will.i.am; Eva Simons - This Is Love (31)

16. Little Mix - Wings (20)

17. Tulisa - Young (29)

18. The Script, Will.I.Am - Hall Of Fame (19)

20. Cover Drive - Twilight (24)

21. Maroon 5;Wiz Khalifa - Payphone (32)

22. Rita Ora;Tinie Tempah - R.I.P. (30)

24. The Justice Collective – He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother (23)

25. Rita Ora - How We Do (Party) (26)

27. Ne-Yo - Let Me Love You (Until You Learn To Love Yourself) (27)

28. Olly Murs; Flo Rida - Troublemaker (17)

29. Gabrielle Aplin - The Power Of Love (21)

30. Wiley, Djo Feat. Ms. D - Heatwave (22)

31. One Direction - Little Things (25)

33. Chris Brown - Turn Up the Music (34)

34. James Arthur - Impossible (33)

35. Robbie Williams - Candy (36)

36. Gary Barlow & The Commonwealth Band - Sing (35)

I think having 11 of top 15s the same is pretty good going, even if it doesn't include the #1! My two main guesses of what someone would rank so low are both out soon...

1 minute ago, RabbitFurCoat said:

I think having 11 of top 15s the same is pretty good going, even if it doesn't include the #1! My two main guesses of what someone would rank so low are both out soon...

Twelve of my top 15 still remaining, including my top 6! I also think one of the two songs you’re talking about is in my top 6, I love it though I’m sure many will hate it!

I generally look upon Cheryl's solo career with disdain, but 'Call My Name' is an absolute banger and one of her few gems.

'Troublemaker' is my fave from the last three posted. Sure it's nothing too special but it's an enjoyable track from Olly nonetheless.

'Good Feeling' is alright and 'Call My Name' is pretty good too, would place it behind 'Fight For This Love' though. 'Under The Sun' was decent too but didn't like anything from her after that.

Call My Name is indeed a banger!

Triple Flo Rida (sort of!) I can't actually recall what his rent-a-rap on 'Troublemaker' sounds like as I'd become so used to hearing the Heart FM radio version, but the rest of the song is pretty beige (here were 3 rather average songs to hold 'Locked Out Of Heaven' to #2 for a week each). 'Good Feeling' is no match for 'Levels' but it at least has some energy, although its 2-3-4-5-6-7 run overshadows just about anything else of interest to it. 'Whistle' we really could have done without though, so kudos to Cheryl for keeping that from #1.

As for 'Call My Name' itself, "you've got me confused by the way I change" - really the best adjective there? I think the production is a bit Calvin on autopilot too, but it's fine, Cheryl would certainly have worse #1s in a couple of years.

I don't feel the early Cheryl songs that much, "Call My Name" is a nice step upwards from these (my favourite from her to come in 2014: "I Don't Care"). Decision is #15.

01. Rihanna - Diamonds (18)

04. Jessie J - Domino (28)

12 Flo Rida - Good Feeling (16)

14. will.i.am; Eva Simons - This Is Love (31)

15. Cheryl Cole - Call My Name (15)

16. Little Mix - Wings (20)

17. Tulisa - Young (29)

18. The Script, Will.I.Am - Hall Of Fame (19)

20. Cover Drive - Twilight (24)

21. Maroon 5;Wiz Khalifa - Payphone (32)

22. Rita Ora;Tinie Tempah - R.I.P. (30)

24. The Justice Collective – He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother (23)

25. Rita Ora - How We Do (Party) (26)

27. Ne-Yo - Let Me Love You (Until You Learn To Love Yourself) (27)

28. Olly Murs; Flo Rida - Troublemaker (17)

29. Gabrielle Aplin - The Power Of Love (21)

30. Wiley, Djo Feat. Ms. D - Heatwave (22)

31. One Direction - Little Things (25)

33. Chris Brown - Turn Up the Music (34)

34. James Arthur - Impossible (33)

35. Robbie Williams - Candy (36)

36. Gary Barlow & The Commonwealth Band - Sing (35)

I guess we will have nice overlap in the Top 10. However, still waiting for my #32. 😁

I agree that 'Good Feeling' is outshone by the superb 'Levels' which has only grown in my affections over the years.

I remember those impressive first week sales for 'Call My Name' but had forgotten its placement in the EOY, would've expected it higher too. I don't think I cared for it that much when it was released (I remember being more of a fan of 'Screw You' feat. Wretch 32 from that era, a planned single until the GA reunion happened) but it was enjoyable when I last heard it, has held up a lot better than several other Cheryl hits. She did the lord's work blocking 'Whistle' also.

Calvin Harris was a smart choice of collaborator and there was another big star hidden in this Cheryl album, as the album track 'Ghetto Baby' was written by Lana Del Rey! An unexpected Lana connection much like David Sneddon being a writer on her own 'National Anthem', although it does sound very her.

Troublemaker os a middling Olly track for me, it's OK, not his best nor his worst, but it really doesnt compare to Up, Moves, Heart Skips A Beat, Please Dont Let Me Go, Army Of Two (the biggest of these and many others that were much bigger for me than Troublemaker). So it would likely rank short of the 20, I reckon. Good Feelin' is much better, thanks to the sampling, the one and only Flo-Rida lead act track to break my top 10, easily his best track and deserving of being this high, though Low and Club Cant Handle Me are pretty good too. I probably shouldnt mention that Levels peaked top 20 of the two Etta James-sampling tracks, a bit lower, oops! I did give her a credit though, quite rightly!

Cheryl, meh. Just played it again as I barely remember it and I'm not that impressed on first re-listen. I didn't bother to chart it at the time, but I see several fans, so playing it a second time to see what I'm missing: the intro is annoying, but at least interesting before the backing track kicks in. The verse is OK, builds nicely but the chorus is a bit samey and lets it down, sort of We Found Love-ish Vol. 2 but not as good. I don't hate it, but I wouldnt put it top 20 either.

14. Katy Perry – Part of Me
1 week at #1 (entered 25^th March) 01-04-06-13-21-24-16-20-24-37-53-63R(8)-72-73 (14 weeks)
Kept off #1: Sean Paul – She Doesn’t Mind
Sales: 79,079
EOY: #55

It had been almost four years since Katy Perry first broke through with I Kissed A Girl, and she had become one of the biggest acts in the world during that time, with 2 UK #1s and 6 other top 3 credits to her name. Her third album Teenage Dream was the 15^th biggest seller of 2010 and 25^th biggest seller of 2011. To keep her in the spotlight until her next album, it was decided a re-issue was needed with some extra tracks and remixes, which was scheduled in March 2012, with the lead single being Part of Me, which helped it have another strong year, just sneaking into the top 50 once more.

Part of Me had been recorded as a demo as a potential track to include on the original version of Teenage Dream, so had been floating around in leaked copies for some time before it was recorded fully and a released proper. As was typical, it had been sent to radio and music channels over a month before release, and a brand new song by an act as big as Katy always had a good chance of reaching the top, and it would edge out Sean Paul’s She Doesn’t Mind in its first of three weeks at #2, but drop down the chart much more quickly. This was her third UK number one, and would go onto have a couple more later on.

Katy Perry feels like a kind of opposite to Rihanna for me, where her songs have held up really well. Her great songs still sound great and the ones in the tier below still sound decent, and that’s where I’d consider Part of Me – it doesn’t touch the pop genius of a Firework or Hot N Cold, or even a Roar or Last Friday Night, but still a good pop song with a great catchy chorus. It’s definitely one that climbed my rankings as I listened to the songs and is a very enjoyable listen. She’s the other act from this countdown that I’ve seen live. I drifted from my friends in the rush of the crowd as Jeremy Corbyn spoke on the Pyramid stage at Glastonbury in 2017, and without phone signal had a late afternoon/early evening to myself, and it felt a fairly good choice to watch Katy who was playing before The National, and thoroughly enjoyed watching her rattle through her hits.

I really like this Katy era much more than her earlier ones. My stand-out songs from her are "Fireworks" and "Dark Horse". "Part Of Me" is also very catchy and I have it placed similar to you. Decision is #13.

01. Rihanna - Diamonds (18)

04. Jessie J - Domino (28)

12 Flo Rida - Good Feeling (16)

13. Katy Perry - Part Of Me (14)

14. will.i.am; Eva Simons - This Is Love (31)

15. Cheryl Cole - Call My Name (15)

16. Little Mix - Wings (20)

17. Tulisa - Young (29)

18. The Script, Will.I.Am - Hall Of Fame (19)

20. Cover Drive - Twilight (24)

21. Maroon 5;Wiz Khalifa - Payphone (32)

22. Rita Ora;Tinie Tempah - R.I.P. (30)

24. The Justice Collective – He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother (23)

25. Rita Ora - How We Do (Party) (26)

27. Ne-Yo - Let Me Love You (Until You Learn To Love Yourself) (27)

28. Olly Murs; Flo Rida - Troublemaker (17)

29. Gabrielle Aplin - The Power Of Love (21)

30. Wiley, Djo Feat. Ms. D - Heatwave (22)

31. One Direction - Little Things (25)

33. Chris Brown - Turn Up the Music (34)

34. James Arthur - Impossible (33)

35. Robbie Williams - Candy (36)

36. Gary Barlow & The Commonwealth Band - Sing (35)

We might share 8 songs in the Top 10. Positions open are 2, 3 ,5-11, 19, 23, 26 and 32 from my side.

‘Diamonds’ is my big favourite of the recent songs but strangely I’m not quite sure why, I just sorta vibe with its sound, it could have not existed and I’d be just fine with it.

‘Call My Name’ and ‘Part Of Me’ are similarly inessential and I suspect it’s my Rihanna bias. Never really thought ‘Part Of Me’ escaped the demo feeling tbh

very fun Glastonbury anecdote, I can barely imagine Corbyn and Perry in the same sentence lol