Despite being one of the most successful and recognisable artists of her generation, Tina Turner never achieved a UK Number 1 single as a solo artist. She had more than 40 singles reach the UK Top 75, including 11 Top 10 hits, but the top spot always eluded her. Her highest-charting solo singles peaked at Number 3.

Travis Scott

has more than 40 UK Top 75 singles but has never reached No. 1, so he fits the clue perfectly.

The Glee Cast

The Glee Cast actually fits the clue statistically, as they had more than 40 UK Top 75 singles without ever reaching No. 1. However, since T was already given as the letter, the answer should also begin with T, and as the “The” prefix doesn’t count, The Glee Cast would fall under G.

A song that became associated with a so-called 'curse' because of events that coincided with its success.

Umbrella became one of Rihanna’s biggest hits, spending 10 consecutive weeks at #1 on the UK Singles Chart in 2007. Its unusually long reign happened to coincide with a period of exceptionally heavy rain and severe flooding across the UK.

The coincidence did not go unnoticed, and the British media jokingly began referring to a 'Rihanna Curse', suggesting that the song’s continued success was somehow responsible for the bad weather. Similar coincidences were later reported in other countries as the song reached #1 there.

Unforgettable

The only connection I could find is the so-called 'Kardashian curse', a pop-culture/media joke suggesting that men who date members of the Kardashian/Jenner family tend to experience problems in their careers or personal lives afterwards. French Montana, who previously dated Khloé Kardashian, was once asked about the supposed curse and dismissed the idea, pointing to his own success, including having a major hit like 'Unforgettable', as evidence against it. So, if this was the connection intended, 'Unforgettable' was actually used as an argument against the supposed curse rather than becoming associated with one because of events surrounding its success.

Unchained Melody

Song was closely linked to the film Ghost, so I can understand the association with something supernatural, but there are not any actual 'curse' associated with the song or with events that coincided with its success, which is the specific condition in the clue.

U Sure Do?

The song did become a major hit after its re-release, reaching #4 in the UK, but I couldn't find any events surrounding its success that led to it becoming associated with a curse.

That was one of the ones that came to me pretty instantly! ☔️

damn it. Should have gotten that one.

The Zutons released the original version of Valerie in 2006, and it reached #9 on the UK Singles Chart. The song was inspired by Valerie Star, an American friend of the band's Dave McCabe, who was unable to come and visit him because she had run into legal trouble in the US.

A year later, Mark Ronson released a new version featuring Amy Winehouse. It became even more successful than the original, peaking at #2 on the UK Singles Chart

Vindaloo

It did reach #2 on the UK Singles Chart, but that was the original Fat Les version. The title refers to the dish vindaloo, rather than a friend of the songwriter who had been in trouble with the law, and there wasn’t another artist’s version that reached #2 the following year.

Oh Riser 😂

Yay for 3/3 on the last trio of answers. All fairly easy.

Only 4 letters left!

Leaderboard after V:

Bollocks, really wanted to beat @Mangø , hope he gets the next four wrong! 🤭 (At least I'm winning on WWF!)

OMG if the misspelling of Laurence costs me a win! I’m definitely not getting maximum points for the last lot

I have no idea who’s won yet, I’ve only just counted up to V. But I do know that some upcoming clue looked like an easy one, yet quite a few people still got it wrong because they didn’t read it carefully enough. xD

2 minutes ago, dandy* said:

OMG if the misspelling of Laurence costs me a win! I’m definitely not getting maximum points for the last lot

I'm just praying I can hold onto top 10! 😬

Just now, nine¾ said:

I have no idea who’s won yet, I’ve only just counted up to V. But I do know that some upcoming clue looked like an easy one, yet quite a few people still got it wrong because they didn’t read it carefully enough. xD

Bollocks, bet that is me! 🤣

1 hour ago, nine¾ said:

I have no idea who’s won yet, I’ve only just counted up to V. But I do know that some upcoming clue looked like an easy one, yet quite a few people still got it wrong because they didn’t read it carefully enough. xD

I’ve just looked at the questions again and I’m definitely one of those people - it’s Y isn’t it?!

1 hour ago, Dan17F1 said:

I’ve just looked at the questions again and I’m definitely one of those people - it’s Y isn’t it?!

That question tripped me up at first too and I went with the obvious answer you probably went for, before I re-read the question and changed my answer

2 hours ago, Spiceboy said:

Bollocks, really wanted to beat @Mangø , hope he gets the next four wrong! 🤭 (At least I'm winning on WWF!)

Well one of us is definitely gonna be disappointed at the end of this 😦 (and by one of us I mean you!)

Oh dear, I can only think of one answer for Y so not sure whether I've missed the 'obvious incorrect answer' or fallen for the trap!

I mean, I can no longer remember what I submitted apart from the answer for X, so it could well be me too. 😂

I will be one of the people who got Y wrong I assume, but I didn't want to leave it blank in case it was just a poorly worded clue

I was beginning to wonder if Tina Turner was going to be marked a wrong answer as she only clears 40 top 75 hits if you count the ones with Ike which you previously commented you consider to be a separate act rather than a collaboration! So in that sense Travis Scott is really the only actually correct answer there

(Polyhex does list 41 entries excluding the Ike songs but a couple of those are just digital era re-entries so it's only 39 distinct hits)

Oh I'm glad I've already fallen from the (joint) top as I've definitely made a silly mistake for the Y one and realise what the actual answer is now, oops. 😭

Note to self: proof-read your spelling of artist names and double check the wording of questions rather than hurriedly submitting...!

No comment on Y cause i don’t want to seem cocky but i'm pretty sure i'm right there

I wrongly assumed that 'Vindaloo' is the only noteworthy #2 that starts with V, didn't even attempt to think of another answer!