Interesting turn out of events. 🍿

Oh mine is doing better than I anticipated I thought it would crash and burn!

Not surprised I’m doing crap. Even I don’t like my entry. Thanks for the votes to the kind few of you though.

11. King Rollo – 10cc – Une Nuit A’Paris

He may have surprised people in the Retro contest, but here it is Rollo who sends the long experimental 70s rock you'd expect him to send. 10cc and Godley and Creme's earlier work of course are one of the innovators of art and avant-garde pop and this mini opera like tale is the opener to their 1975 album The Original Soundtrack, providing the sort of narrative and experimentation that is reminiscent of Bohemian Rhapsody. Originally 20 minutes long and initially thrown almost anything instrumentally before sticking with piano bass and drums, telling the increasingly sinister tale of a murder, Creme has said that musically they tried to stretch themselves by setting up a new musical problem and then trying to solve it, the type of experimentation he and Godley would become famous for.

On 02/09/2026 at 21:32, King Rollo said:

Thanks to Chez for hosting this edition. I liked many of the entries and Cher, Morgana, Thunder Bae and Lisa Mitchell all just miss out on points from me. This is my vote:

12pts Natalia Lafourcade - Azul

10 O Future - I Forgive You

8 Indiana - Smoking Gun

7 Hmltd - Stained

6 The Real Group - Chili Con Carne

5 Daniela Lalita - Pisoteo

4 Ane Brun - Don't Run And Hide

3 Ae Mak - Let's Do It

2 Army of Lovers - Israelism

1 Black Boboi - Red Mind

46; O FUTURE – I Forgive You

42; Ane Brun - Don't Run And Hide

37; Natalia Lafourcade – Azul (Chez Wombat)

36; Daniela Lalita – Pisoteo

33; HMLTD – Stained (Jaz13Music)

33; Army of Lovers – Israelism (Mango)

32; 10cc - Une Nuit A Paris (King Rollo)

29; Mary Ocher (feat. Your Government) – Sympathize

25; Suki Waterhouse – Back In Love

24; Ashnikko – Liquid

24; Ennaria – UGLY

22; Nadah El Shazly – Ghorzetein (uhsting)

21; QT – Hey QT (Dobbo)

21; Lido Pimienta – Marea

20; Cher - You Better Sit Down Kids

20; JMSN - Soft Spot

20; Purity Ring – imanocean

16; Mulaa Joans – Members Only (DaTilt)

15; Ruusut - Yhen Toisen

15; Goldielocks – Provocateur

13; Janet Jackson - What About (vibe)

13; CHARLOT - Time Travelling (WoW73)

13; Morgana - Fix Your Heart For Free

11; Thunder Bae – ARCHANGEL (Jade)

11; The Real Group – Chili Con Carne

09; My Brightest Diamond – Pressure

08; FiFi ZHANG and dazegxd - Fallen Angel

08; Indiana – Smoking Gun

07; Diet Cig – Scene Sick (Scene)

07; Black Boboi – Red Mind

04; Lisa Mitchell – Coin Laundry

03; Æ MAK – Let’s Do It

Rollo has got off to a good start here, though he does help out his competitors a bit, with another generous 12, he makes it so close to being a top 2 of Terra Avium former artists x

And everyone is now off zero hurrah!

not rollo ragebaiting bré

12. Julian - My Brightest Diamond – Pressure

Julian sent this cut from the project of singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Shara Nova, previously collaborating with the like of Sufjan Stevens, Bon Iver, Colin Stetson and the Decemberists, an intimite song packed with chamber instruments that builds and veers through her powerful voice, there's a little bit of early Florence about it, accompanied by an interpretive dance video where she channels her inner Tilda Swinton, it's a great song and deserves to be doing better x

On 03/09/2026 at 10:28, Julian_ said:

Thank you for hosting!

12 10cc - Une Nuit A Paris

10 Black Boboi - Red Mind

8 Natalia Lafourcade - Azul

7 Nadah El Shazly - Ghorzetein

6 Mary Ocher (feat. Your Government) - Sympathize

5 Ane Brun - Don't Run And Hide

4 O FUTURE - I Forgive You

3  HMLTD - Stained

2 Daniela Lalita - Pisoteo

1  FiFi ZHANG and dazegxd - Fallen Angel

50; O FUTURE – I Forgive You

47; Ane Brun - Don't Run And Hide

45; Natalia Lafourcade – Azul (Chez Wombat)

44; 10cc - Une Nuit A Paris (King Rollo)

38; Daniela Lalita – Pisoteo

36; HMLTD – Stained (Jaz13Music)

35; Mary Ocher (feat. Your Government) – Sympathize

33; Army of Lovers – Israelism (Mango)

29; Nadah El Shazly – Ghorzetein (uhsting)

25; Suki Waterhouse – Back In Love

24; Ashnikko – Liquid

24; Ennaria – UGLY

21; QT – Hey QT (Dobbo)

21; Lido Pimienta – Marea

20; Cher - You Better Sit Down Kids

20; JMSN - Soft Spot

20; Purity Ring – imanocean

17; Black Boboi – Red Mind

16; Mulaa Joans – Members Only (DaTilt)

15; Ruusut - Yhen Toisen

15; Goldielocks – Provocateur

13; Janet Jackson - What About (vibe)

13; CHARLOT - Time Travelling (WoW73)

13; Morgana - Fix Your Heart For Free

11; Thunder Bae – ARCHANGEL (Jade)

11; The Real Group – Chili Con Carne

09; My Brightest Diamond – Pressure (Julian_)

09; FiFi ZHANG and dazegxd - Fallen Angel

08; Indiana – Smoking Gun

07; Diet Cig – Scene Sick (Scene)

04; Lisa Mitchell – Coin Laundry

03; Æ MAK – Let’s Do It

Julian bolsters a lot of the competitors to make the lead still narrow, as well as putting 10cc back in spitting distance.

Thanks to all who have given points to 10cc so far, especially Dobbo for the 12. When this theme came up, I immediately thought of them and this particular song is such a good example of early art pop.

We should all channel our inner Tilda Swinton

yassssss finally some points

Janet too low

13. matto - Mary Ocher (feat. Your Government) – Sympathize

matto sent a furious, distinctively brilliant example of the genre with the Russian-born artist who immigrated to Israell in 1991 at the height of the Gulf War, first to a kibbutz in Negev and several months later to Tel Aviv where she grew up and lived until the age of 20. Exposed to political instability from young age and having experiences growing up a migrant in a xenophobic environment, it has informed her work (and certainly not in favour of the regimes that run both those countries, I should add x) this song is taken from the 2024 album Your Guide to Revolution", a sister release to another album that year, it was released along with a text called A Guide to Radical Living - A no nonsense guide to living comfortably with just enough: Why wealth needs poverty and how not to play along". This song tackles the trivialisation of civilian deaths by cynical politicians attempting to sway public opinion, it's tribal drums and percussion accompanied with her bare vocals give a raw feel that only makes the emotion clearer.

On 03/09/2026 at 14:37, matto said:

Hi, thanks for hosting and sharing music. Here's how I voted:

12 - Nadah El Shazly - Ghorzetein

10 - Black Boboi - Red Mind

8 - O FUTURE - I Forgive You

7 - Indiana - Smoking Gun

6 - Daniela Lalita - Pisoteo

5 - Stained - HMLTD

4 - JMSN - Soft Spot

3 - My Brightest Diamond - Pressure

2 - Ane Brun - Don't Run And Hide

1 - Morgana - Fix Your Heart For Free

58; O FUTURE – I Forgive You

49; Ane Brun - Don't Run And Hide

45; Natalia Lafourcade – Azul (Chez Wombat)

44; 10cc - Une Nuit A Paris (King Rollo)

44; Daniela Lalita – Pisoteo

41; Nadah El Shazly – Ghorzetein (uhsting)

41; HMLTD – Stained (Jaz13Music)

35; Mary Ocher (feat. Your Government) – Sympathize (matto)

33; Army of Lovers – Israelism (Mango)

27; Black Boboi – Red Mind

25; Suki Waterhouse – Back In Love

24; Ashnikko – Liquid

24; Ennaria – UGLY

24; JMSN - Soft Spot

21; QT – Hey QT (Dobbo)

21; Lido Pimienta – Marea

20; Cher - You Better Sit Down Kids

20; Purity Ring – imanocean

16; Mulaa Joans – Members Only (DaTilt)

15; Ruusut - Yhen Toisen

15; Goldielocks – Provocateur

15; Indiana – Smoking Gun

14; Morgana - Fix Your Heart For Free

13; Janet Jackson - What About (vibe)

13; CHARLOT - Time Travelling (WoW73)

12; My Brightest Diamond – Pressure (Julian_)

11; Thunder Bae – ARCHANGEL (Jade)

11; The Real Group – Chili Con Carne

09; FiFi ZHANG and dazegxd - Fallen Angel

07; Diet Cig – Scene Sick (Scene)

04; Lisa Mitchell – Coin Laundry

03; Æ MAK – Let’s Do It

matto has been hanging around the top end and gives points to a lot of those ahead of him, notably allowing O Future to take a slightly more comfortable lead.

10CC was one of the more memorable entries here, nice one Rollo.

Julian's is great and deserves much more.

Good pick from Mattias and definitely fit the brief, catchy and quirky x

omggggg another 12 thanks matto x

14. AllStarbySmashMouth - FiFi ZHANG and dazegxd - Fallen Angel

A collaboration between Shanghai-based singer and DJ who creates music from her bedroom, FiFi Zhang with one of the main DJs of the early digicore scene, dazegxd, who contributed to the 2020s Jungle revival. This is taken from her album where she collaborates with various artists in a tribute to 90s anime and fashion, The result is as you'd imagine ambient, dreamy soundscape with some trance and different chord progressions throughout. It hasn't found a lot of fans so far sadly.

On 03/09/2026 at 17:35, AllStarBySmashMouth said:

12; The Real Group - Chili Con Carne

10; 10cc - Une Nuit A Paris

08; QT - Hey QT

07; Ruusut - Yhen Toisen

06; Ennaria - UGLY

05; Army of Lovers - Israelism

04; Purity Ring - imanocean

03; HMLTD - Stained

02; Nadah El Shazly - Ghorzetein

01; JMSN - Soft Spot

Apologies that Indiana - Smoking Gun didn't make it in my votes despite mentioning it in a post (oopsie). Thank you to the person that came across / remembered the song though!

58; O FUTURE – I Forgive You

54; 10cc - Une Nuit A Paris (King Rollo)

49; Ane Brun - Don't Run And Hide

45; Natalia Lafourcade – Azul (Chez Wombat)

44; Daniela Lalita – Pisoteo

44; HMLTD – Stained (Jaz13Music)

43; Nadah El Shazly – Ghorzetein (uhsting)

38; Army of Lovers – Israelism (Mango)

35; Mary Ocher (feat. Your Government) – Sympathize (matto)

30; Ennaria – UGLY

29; QT – Hey QT (Dobbo)

27; Black Boboi – Red Mind

25; Suki Waterhouse – Back In Love

25; JMSN - Soft Spot

24; Purity Ring – imanocean

24; Ashnikko – Liquid

23; The Real Group – Chili Con Carne

22; Ruusut - Yhen Toisen

21; Lido Pimienta – Marea

20; Cher - You Better Sit Down Kids

16; Mulaa Joans – Members Only (DaTilt)

15; Goldielocks – Provocateur

15; Indiana – Smoking Gun

14; Morgana - Fix Your Heart For Free

13; Janet Jackson - What About (vibe)

13; CHARLOT - Time Travelling (WoW73)

12; My Brightest Diamond – Pressure (Julian_)

11; Thunder Bae – ARCHANGEL (Jade)

09; FiFi ZHANG and dazegxd - Fallen Angel (AllStarbySmashMouth)

07; Diet Cig – Scene Sick (Scene)

Nothing for O Future makes 10cc reach closer.

Just glad to be off zero tbh! Results going the way I expect

And lol Mango really did reveal their act in the competition thread!

15. jimwatts - Purity Ring - imanocean

Jim sends the Canadian electronic act who were all the blogpop rage back in the early 2010s and indeed have had past BJSC success. This ethereal, dreamy acoustic-based track comes from their fourth album, a concept album imitating a soundtrack for a fictional role-playing game, inspired by video games including The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Metaphor: ReFantazio, Final Fantasy X, Final Fantasy VI, and Nier: Automata. Guessing this is where the player's at the water x

On 03/09/2026 at 20:22, jimwatts said:

imjustabodyholdingwatermakingheat

twelvelidopimientamarea

ten10ccunenuitaparis

eighttherealgroupchiliconcarne

sevenmaryochersympathize

sixthunderbaearchangel

fivegoldielocksprovocateur

fourruusutyhentoisen

threeqtheyqt

twolisamitchellcoinlaundry

onejmsnsoftspot

commiserationsindianaanddietcig

thanksandbyex

64; 10cc - Une Nuit A Paris (King Rollo)

58; O FUTURE – I Forgive You

49; Ane Brun - Don't Run And Hide

45; Natalia Lafourcade – Azul (Chez Wombat)

44; Daniela Lalita – Pisoteo

44; HMLTD – Stained (Jaz13Music)

43; Nadah El Shazly – Ghorzetein (uhsting)

42; Mary Ocher (feat. Your Government) – Sympathize (matto)

38; Army of Lovers – Israelism (Mango)

33; Lido Pimienta – Marea

32; QT – Hey QT (Dobbo)

31; The Real Group – Chili Con Carne

30; Ennaria – UGLY

27; Black Boboi – Red Mind

26; JMSN - Soft Spot

26; Ruusut - Yhen Toisen

25; Suki Waterhouse – Back In Love

24; Purity Ring – imanocean (Jimwatts)

24; Ashnikko – Liquid

20; Cher - You Better Sit Down Kids

20; Goldielocks – Provocateur

17; Thunder Bae – ARCHANGEL (Jade)

16; Mulaa Joans – Members Only (DaTilt)

15; Indiana – Smoking Gun

14; Morgana - Fix Your Heart For Free

13; Janet Jackson - What About (vibe)

13; CHARLOT - Time Travelling (WoW73)

12; My Brightest Diamond – Pressure (Julian_)

09; FiFi ZHANG and dazegxd - Fallen Angel (AllStarbySmashMouth)

07; Diet Cig – Scene Sick (Scene)

06; Lisa Mitchell – Coin Laundry

03; Æ MAK – Let’s Do It

thankyoujim10cchavetakenoveromgcantheyholdonmaybebutitwillbealongwaituntilallthevotesarerevealedhaveyoustoppedreadingyet

Haha, a unique vote presentation there. Thanks for 7 points too!

My OCD.

Thanks to Julian for the 12 points, Jim for the 10 and Allstar for the 10. I'm not expecting to hold on to the lead but very happy (and surprised) to see 10cc top of the scoreboard at this point.