Look at Sade starting to flop in the votes. She has the most gorgeous vocal in the whole competition and this is by far her best song sent.

The votes just do not make sense with members voting her low or last yet Sam Smith first 😂😂🫢🤦‍♂️

Even the 80’s artists supporters doing her dirty!

Soulless BJ

‘Is It A Crime’ if she goes , YES!!!

10 hours ago, -Jay- said:

(This post I've written does stem from a couple of things you've written @Julian_ but I do intend this to be a general post, not specifically aimed towards you!)

When it comes to all of the artists in The Pop Factor, I'm personally trying to disregard dated production as being a drawback (in terms of how they come across to me during a 2026 listen). I mean, most songs sound like a product of their time and I tend to appreciate that aspect about older music - the throwback can be a big part of the song's charm.

If the building blocks of the song are well-constructed, catchy and enjoyable, then it wouldn't matter hugely to me if it's from 1993 or 2026.

For example, with Leona's Outta My Head - I recall there being the odd few comments about its dated production and how 2000s it sounded (seemingly intended as a negative) but... well, it is from 2009 after all! So I'd embrace that and focus on what the song makes me feel otherwise.

I guess we all have our personal ways of interacting with music so I'm not saying my approach is the right and only way. This also isn't to say that I enjoy every sound from every decade of course. There's particular 80s hits I don't gel much with. But then there'll be a song like this Bananarama song, where I find that there's something extra to it which overrides that it is immediately identifiable as SAW and thoroughly 80s.

9 hours ago, -Jay- said:

With that said, the Jayrusalem votes are in! (lol x)

01 Bananarama - Love in the First Degree

02 Texas - Black Eyed Boy

03 Years & Years - Sanctify

04 Fontaines D.C. - Marianne

05 Depeche Mode - Precious

06 Ultravox - All Stood Still

07 iamamiwhoami - t

08 Sade - By Your Side

09 New Order - Crystal

I actually enjoyed listening through to this category, definitely the strongest showing from the groups so far.

I'm sorry to New Order for being ranked last for me twice in a row, but out of the four songs that they've sent so far, this is my second favourite! My only criticism really is that it went on a touch long for my liking, I'd probably vibe with a Radio Edit x

Oh and shout out to Fontaines D.C., really liked this and the previous entry from them! Am I becoming a fan? x

So eloquent as always 🥰… also doing absolutely nothing to convince me you’re not behind Bananarama! 🤭🤣

1 New Order

2 Fontaines D.C.

3 Years & Years

4 Texas

5 iamamiwhoami

6 Ultravox

7 Depeche Mode

8 Bananarama

9 Sade

'Marianne' took a few listens to properly click with me but it is getting up there among my Fontaines faves now - but it gets them pipped to my #1 spot for the first time anyway by a fantastic discovery from New Order (at least I think it's a discovery, didn't sound familiar) Y&Y and Texas each having my favourite songs that I know of by them as I said before (I was mildly worried to relisten to 'Sanctify' after a few people said it didn't hold up well but it's still as good as I remember!) I didn't vote for 't' when it was in BJSC but it was sounding very good now (mind, in the same contest I also didn't vote for London Grammar's 'Wasting My Young Years' which is now an 11/10 song for me so I don't know what I was on then x). Ultravox's is one I discovered from the 80s listenthroughs, not one of their best for me but still a bop. Depeche Mode feels far too low but it's a strong round and not their most distinctive song for me on a first listen. Bananarama is fun for a SAW song, I think again this song is strong enough that it'd place higher for me if it was in either of the other categories but the groups are too stacked for me for them to compete. Sorry to vibe, I've enjoyed all of the other Sade picks so far but this one was quite a snoozer :'(

CMON people i am genuinely inquiring how Sade is boring / snooze fest but Sam Smith and Damien Rice are not???

🤨🤨🤨🤨😮

I would have accepted if Pearls didnt do well !! But ‘By Your Side’ !!!!

More jumping on the bandwagon if you ask me. Like in the other thread when Marina was picking up low votes her fans came out to save her.

Votes should be sent by PM or Microsoft Form 🙏

If it makes you feel better I did say the Sam Smith song this round was a snoozefest as well. x

10 minutes ago, vibe said:

CMON people i am genuinely inquiring how Sade is boring / snooze fest but Sam Smith and Damien Rice are not???

🤨🤨🤨🤨😮

I would have accepted if Pearls didnt do well !! But ‘By Your Side’ !!!!

More jumping on the bandwagon if you ask me. Like in the other thread when Marina was picking up low votes her fans came out to save her.

Votes should be sent by PM or Microsoft Form 🙏

I honestly think Sade are just suffering from a seemingly strong round for the Groups. Their song isn’t bad by any means but I can see why the other songs would appeal to the forum more - generally speaking.

I hope people aren’t voting tactically though as I do love the public voting: it’s fun to get some kind of gage on song popularity and feedback.

Yes, if the voting was by PM, the thread would be dead for a week, just people saying they've voted. There is usually some private voting in the later rounds.

18 minutes ago, vibe said:

CMON people i am genuinely inquiring how Sade is boring / snooze fest but Sam Smith and Damien Rice are not???

🤨🤨🤨🤨😮

I would have accepted if Pearls didnt do well !! But ‘By Your Side’ !!!!

More jumping on the bandwagon if you ask me. Like in the other thread when Marina was picking up low votes her fans came out to save her.

Votes should be sent by PM or Microsoft Form 🙏

I mean for me personally, I found Pearls really boring and then this one following on from it just didn't inspire me further with her / them. I did like their first 2 entries though and rated those higher. I think they will make it through this round tbf and then a fresh listen for the next song. ❤️

I also agree with comments that part of the fun is the interaction of the voting so a private would ruin that. I do see your argument though as there will be no doubt some voting tactically but then that's the nature of the game, everyone is in the same boat. 🫂

Edited Sunday at 13:393 days by Spiceboy

I love “By Your Side” and hope it doesn’t send Sade out, but at the same time I can see why it’s the sort of thing that might struggle here. Slower songs tend to be a harder sell on Buzzjack in general, plus this one is more of a grower and fewer people already know it than the Sam and Damien songs. It’s a shame but there isn’t a conspiracy and I don’t think it’s tactical.

Discussion in the groups thread

Yeah I don’t think it’s tactical. I mean everyone coming on yesterday afternoon and voting Tom Grennan at the bottom looked a tad suss, but I think that was just timing! in general everyone listens to the songs and votes accordingly.

It’s frustrating when you see you act getting low/ bottom rankings - and I guess it’s difficult not to feel overly invested/ involved.

Re my own feelings about Sade, most of their songs so far I’ve found to be kind of boring - it might just be that type of music. But then I’m not a massive rice lover either, and I find Sam hit and miss.

Just depends on the song!

Edited Sunday at 14:063 days by ElectroBoy

No sour grapes here people.

I will not accept that they should leave this early however 🫢🫢🤣!

1. Sade - By Your Side - wow, it felt like I was discovering this song all over again. Such a beautiful song and the lead singer sounds amazing on it. (weirdly elements of the verses remind me of 'No One' by Alicia Keys)

2. Texas - Black Eyed Boy - superb choice, can see why so many people are giving it high scores.

3. Bananarama - Love In The First Degree - felt like I was re-discovering this one too. Solid choice for the girls. The chorus is supreme pop

4. Years & Years - Sanctify - liked this choice. A powerful chorus and good vocals from Olly

5. Depeche Mode - Precious - I like the build up in this song, although I did want a more elevated chorus.

6. Fontaines D.C - Marianne - at first I was confused about all the high rankings for this song (preferred their last entry and still do). It grew on me over multiple listens though

7. New Order - Crystal - liked on first listen, didnt really develop from there though for me

8. Ultravox - All Stood Still - wasnt sure what to make of this, still not sure tbh

9. iamamiwhoami - t - sadly my least fave entry for this artist. And I really wanted to like it

3 minutes ago, Herbs said:

1. Sade - By Your Side - wow, it felt like I was discovering this song all over again. Such a beautiful song and the lead singer sounds amazing on it. (weirdly elements of the verses remind me of 'No One' by Alicia Keys)

2. Texas - Black Eyed Boy - superb choice, can see why so many people are giving it high scores.

3. Bananarama - Love In The First Degree - felt like I was re-discovering this one too. Solid choice for the girls. The chorus is supreme pop

4. Years & Years - Sanctify - liked this choice. A powerful chorus and good vocals from Olly

5. Depeche Mode - Precious - I like the build up in this song, although I did want a more elevated chorus.

6. Fontaines D.C - Marianne - at first I was confused about all the high rankings for this song (preferred their last entry and still do). It grew on me over multiple listens though

7. New Order - Crystal - liked on first listen, didnt really develop from there though for me

8. Ultravox - All Stood Still - wasnt sure what to make of this, still not sure tbh

9. iamamiwhoami - t - sadly my least fave entry for this artist. And I really wanted to like it

Oh @vibe will be delighted 🤩 🤣🤭

As somebody whose act was voted out in Round 1 of Season 1(!) I therefore quickly experienced how it felt to see a bunch of low scores and I did end up feeling a bit gutted about it. I understand/empathise (and at this point, I imagine pretty much all of us have experienced “bad rounds” - we’re all in the same boat at some point or other 🫂).

I’m sure we all send songs that we like, with the hope each time that voters respond well! Sadly some songs have to end up coming in last place. Personally I try to focus on thinking this way: somebody who places my act in 8th/9th in this round, that doesn’t necessarily mean that they disliked it. Also, placing a song last in one category, also doesn’t mean that it’s definitely in their bottom 3 songs from all 27 songs. Somebody could prefer their 9th placed female song to the 3rd placed male song!

I don’t think anybody is collectively trying to save or remove particular artists. I’d imagine that would be quite hard to pull off.

I’m really liking Sade so far and I’m glad they’re in the contest! Not every act is my cup of tea but it’s interesting to hear stuff I don’t usually gravitate to. For some reason I had no interest to check out Fontaines D.C after so many years, but I’m now glad to realise that they have some tracks I’m liking!

(Sorry, another essay from me x)

01 Depeche Mode - Precious

02 Texas - Black Eyed Boy

03 New Order - Crystal

04 Bananarama - Love in the First Degree

05 Fontaines D.C. - Marianne

06 Sade - By Your Side

07 Ultravox - All Stood Still

08 Years & Years - Sanctify

09 iamamiwhoami - t

That’s a lot of emotion for safe.

1 Years & Years

2 iamamiwhoami

3 Texas

4 Sade

5 Depeche Mode

6 Fontaines D.C

7 Bananarama

8 New Order

9 Ultravox

1st Depeche Mode - Precious

2nd Ultravox - All Stood Still

3rd New Order - Crystal

4th Fontaines D.C. - Marianne

5th Sade - By Your Side

6th Texas - Black Eyed Boy

7th Bananarama - Love In the First Degree

8th iamamiwhoami - t

9th Years & Years - Sanctify