gooddelta

True, I guess labels are still reeling from the early 00s when they failed to react quickly enough to the threat of downloads and Napster and Limewire etc hurt them so much, so they want to be on the front foot with AI, whatever that looks like. Creativity and originality be damned!

I think this topic is only going to get louder, we've already got a song in the top three based on an AI creation so it surely won't be long before one hits No.1. I wonder how long before an entirely AI created and recorded track does really well. Obviously there was that Stromae 'cover' that charted, but it didn't massively take off here. AI songs have done well in other countries, there's one that would have got to No.1 in Sweden a few months ago but the charts compiler there banned it from charting. Anyway, this major step with Suno and record labels, as reported in Music Week today, feels like it could have a giant impact going forward. I'm surprised labels are playing ball with Suno, it still feels to me like it is going to damage them in the long run if AI music becomes more prevalent, surely, even if they and their artists are getting some sort of cut? Suno rolls out new generation of...Suno rolls out new generation of AI music models with War...I suppose it's a good thing that Suno is trying to be more ethical, but to what ends? Surely all creativity is lost. The quote from the CEO, “We started Suno because we believed more people should be able to experience the joy of making music,” is so curious to me, as you are not actually making music, you are just feeding prompts? It can be fun for a laugh, but when real artists are using it and releasing music made with prompts, I question the joy in that, for them and consumers.

Cliff doing Sign Of The Times... Christmas No.1 right there, go on Alexa, pick it up. The version of Spirit In The Sky is completely lifeless, doesn't feel like it has any gusto and almost like the lyrics are just being read out.

I am part of your fan club too once more. I think/hope you will Q and I would also suggest that Sovarasma, The Spodic Empire, Bronzil, Aelandor and Danæviia will too. Semi 2 looks to be unpredictable to say the least, as I couldn't begin to predict who will go out instead.

Animals is strong, I'd rank it around the same area I guess or maybe a touch higher, was cool to see an instrumental at No.1 like that. There was a song I really loved by him from the following year called Helicopter, and more recently Bizarre with Madonna, a great dance artist.

Loving the effort and results so far, a LOT of effort was required from you here.

Six of my seven Semi 2 favourites predicted out oop. Those results would be a hard watch. I don't take anything for granted after the quadruple DNQ this year so always happy to be in the Q mix. Some great stuff in Semi 1 and kind of feels like 27 songs or so realistically fighting for 20 spots.

I can live with Fastlove as an opener, it was at least a huge hit and No.1. Older was not a good start to Yearbook 1997. I would lead with Spice Girls but guess they will be track 2.

I'd like to challenge myself, but probably not a good idea to go too obscure. Mulling it over but excited!

Well done whoever got that, I didn't think about the album chart either. Wasn't convinced Billen Ted was right as wasn't sure when he was added to the credit, or if he'd always been there since it charted, but couldn't think of anything better.

Didn’t even consider anyone other than ATB, as it was the first I thought of and seemed to fit. Thanks for the green light!

The Ashe song is really strong, great climb. I agree, we need a song to climb and climb and not just stall at 150,000 to 200,000 a day like so many songs keep doing recently. Gaining momentum quickly is an alien concept to 2026, maybe it will get to No.1 after Christmas.

A toss up between Natalie Imbruglia and Take That. Have gone for the latter for roping in the iconic Paddy 'Michael Patrick' Kelly.

M2M's seminal 2000 hit Don't Say You Love Me (as seen on the TOTP repeats last week) was also from the first Pokémon movie.

Fantastic song, it was like a bolt from the blue and so original sounding when I first heard it. I feel like Hey Brother is more overplayed these days personally, I hear that a lot more now. If you ever get the chance to go to the Avicii Experience in Stockholm, I very highly recommend that. It makes the story and creation of this song (and many of his others) feel even more amazing. The high sales were crazy, it felt like the peak of the download boom before it quickly tailed off.

Numb/Encore as it's been around the block so much and I do find that Venga song quite fun.

There was certainly some fascinating depth to these questions, amazing job @nine¾ . I didn't Google search but did scroll through my iTunes library a few times just to remind myself of which artists started with certain letters 😂 I feel like I learnt a lot of chart facts that have always stayed with me in the Guinness Hit Singles books and also this brilliant tome.

The P!nk track, was never that wild on it personally.

Wouldn't be mad to lose Ne-Yo this time.

Yass well done Uhsting! Very strong entry and glad it’s one I voted for. Well done Leww and Matto too, I didn’t call any of them as contenders but they all make sense and are strong entries. Oh I’m delighted with 8th, thanks Cow for the last minute prop up and to all the other voters, to get an acapella song top ten is amazing and it’s the first time I’ve ever sent one to anything. Thanks very much Chez for an inspired theme that threw up some great entries and a very art pop winner!

Thanks @AllStarBySmashMouth and @Herbs for the spicy 12s, and @Spice Boy not far off too! And all the other voters who have mostly given high points. Was fully expecting many zeroes, I just didn’t know if I would actually get any points to go along with those so it has been very nice to see ❤️

I went to Sweden earlier in the year and in a secondhand shop got a compilation from 2001, Absolute Music 38. I had the album on in the car a couple of months ago and it was mostly contemporary hits but this was on there too and stopped me in my tracks. It appears to be a 2001 re-recording of an acapella song that originated in the 80s and is now very famous among choirs who agree it is super hard to sing. I love it and I knew I had to send it somewhere. But wasn't sure where it would fit, but this 'weird and wonderful' theme seemed to fit perfectly. Glad some people enjoyed it like I do, it's such an earworm.

This song was another beauty from Ane Brun, nice pick Nine.

10CC was one of the more memorable entries here, nice one Rollo. Julian's is great and deserves much more.