gooddelta

Agreed that P!nk was a surprise No.1, although looking at that week it beat Busted (not sure I was expecting them to get to No.1 with their debut, No.3 seemed about right), Eminem's Cleanin' Out My Closet (was more expected from this perhaps?) and the outgoing Atomic Kitten who I don't think were expected to last for a fourth week. So I can't really remember what I expected to be No.1 that week!

Been great fun and nostalgia to follow along, thanks Rob! Afrer some deliberation, I think my top 10 for 2002 would be: Heaven Sound Of The Underground Lose Yourself If You're Not The One Just A Little More Than A Woman Round Round The Tide Is High (Get The Feeling) The Ketchup Song (Asereje) Just Like A Pill Without Me and Freak Like Me just outside.

Definitely the number one I'd have predicted, knowing Roba. It's a great song, no arguments there. Good (and unusual) for her to get a No.1 from such a memorable era after the first two singles missed out.

Rather flopping with my Evanescence-inspired number, oops.

My favourite cover of all-time, easily my favourite No.1 of 2002, and with 12 weeks at No.1 in my chart in 2002. I first heard Heaven in late summer 2002 and splashed out quite a sum for the import single, on which I found the beautiful Candlelight Mix, which I loved just as much as the original in a different way, such a tender and beautiful tone to Do's voice and sparkling piano playing. This is the version I learnt in my keyboard lessons originally, but I found it too hard as Yanou used notes all over the scale, including a very high intro. So I switched to learning the Bryan Adams original, and then had to play that in my music class live in front of the group (luckily I managed that without messing up, it's way easier to play). But DJ Sammy and Yanou's production really worked so well on the main version, transforming an MOR rock ballad into a really wonderful dance track, 80s Eurodance covers were everywhere in 2002 but this was absolutely and by far the best one. It was a really clever choice of song (the original wasn't much of a hit here, unlike many of the other 80s covers that year) and the production has so many special flourishes throughout. The middle eight with the guitar is so special. Do's voice elevates it so much though. I remember starting year 11 in the September by raving about this song to everyone, so much so that a girl I knew (and showed the song to) sung the Candlelight mix as part of another group music project in an assembly, way before it received a UK release, so it was all over my school very early. I remember the single finally coming out the same week as Madonna's Bond theme and Craig David's lead single but still kept the faith it would be a UK No.1, and was delighted it followed through. Great to see it so high here Rob!

Still missing Q and X. I'm on 22 S's now.

Fortunately I'm able to listen to music at work which helps (and is where I do 80% of my music listening each week as on my commute I tend to watch the soaps 😂), so really this playlist is just background noise until something stops me in my tracks and I make a mental note to add it to my playlist of songs to check again. Tbf, Midnight Sun was one such song when I first heard it!

Anastacia.

Snow Patrol is probably the one I'd be least likely to play from choice, all are good though.

Orson, a bit of a slog of a song for me.

LSL - cool debut from her. Samantha’s is a lovely ballad though.

Not public per se, apart from the gathered music fans at the pub. But nothing on any scale. I think it’s just seen as a low key fun thing for the site.

MGMT, a classic. And I'm not much a fan of Robbie and Kylie's.

The guy who runs the site chooses the list. And then they hold an event (often in a pub, with invited pop fans/forum members) to eliminate songs one by one until they vote on a winner at the end.

Yes, I have a folder saved of just over 20 countries' NMF playlists that I check each week and skim through them (it ends up being about 1,000 tracks weekly so I can't listen to even half of them in full even if I wanted to). Occasionally as I'm skimming through something really catches my ear (like Korku) and I'll save it to another playlist to properly listen, and this particular song ended up staying with me and getting repeat plays. I don't find all my BJSC entries this way, but since I don't really keep an eye on blogs anymore I would say that maybe 50% come from this method. Other times I have found my entries through YouTube recommendations - I think Voryva was for example. NADA and f*** IT were from Popjustice NMF, Loss Is Not Infinite was on NMF UK, Indian Spirits was from an old 90s German compilation CD, so a bit of a mix.

Tweenies again

Sticking with Anastacia.

I prefer Darude, have always loved Feel The Beat and its slow breakdown in the middle!

Rontvian update after 177 finals: 1. République d'Áskorza 650 (+5) 2. Altyr Muunilinst 602 3. Aeroche 525 (+15) 4. Hendinia 465 5. Danæviia 441 (+10) 6. FARC 397 (+11) 7. Cor Lupus 394 8. Summericia 392 (+18) 9. Kluminican Republic 350 (+12) 10. New Lexico 350 11. Bøtanikkä 329 12. Quintessa 317 13. Fljótavík 314 (+8) 14. Ramrynia 286 15. Séyetana 262 16. Ojnoj 251 17. Tartford 234 18. Numayania 231 19. Jadakissnia 229 20. Kathaldazia 228 21. Qärenfanghoney 227 22. Greenfroze 218 23. Terra Avium 211 24. Lookylion 211 25. Hushkanukia 209 26. Land of DW 205 27. Espen 198 28. Unovia 197 29. Dobago 193 30. Cumulonimbia 182 31. Trifoski 178 32. St. Burbia 176 33. (The Actual Republic of) Bellamia 173 34. #00274E 168 35. Persephonia 166 36. Yehesi 163 37. Zanmatony 159 (+2) 38. Vülkyria 158 39. Jupiterdonia 156 40. Bhangra 156 41. Helgon 156 42. Kylienips 156 43. Elëdan 155 (+3) 44. Skall 155 (+13) 45. Thelonia 151 46. Singerpurear 147 47. D'yermak'er 145 48. Cadelicia 143 49. Daehun 139 50. Oslol 137 51. Lotunia 136 (+4) 52. Caerfyrddia 128 53. Mdiče 120 54. Tinnmark 119 55. Utopia 114 56. Mulgracia 114 57. N DNTN 107 58. Suedeonia 105 59. Ultraviolenceland 104 60. Wholune 104 61. Harmonica 100 62. Aelandor 100 63. East Rukahavian 100 64. Rolloland 98 65. United States of Jack 97 66. Herzebania 90 67. Aquafina 88 68. Beaverdonia 85 69. Pupok 83 70. Sovarasma/Why So Sirius 89 71. Holland-Oats 80 72. Neliönoir 76 (+9) 73. Xanaga 76 74. Torchwood 71 75. Bignia-Zaragovina 70 76. Batidas 69 77. Niceland 68 78. Sangria 67 79. Kyriatine/Baleghde 65 80. Angelicland 65 81. POPHub 64 (+1) 82. PRoJ 64 83. Republic of Adonia 63 84. Pestolia 61 (+6) 85. Isconia 59 86. Aesthetica 56 87. B.a.N.G 56 88. The Spodic Empire 53 89. N-Lazone 52 90. Ajanaeda 50 (+7) 91. Ben's Sanctuary 50 92. Eastovka/A-Konohagakure 49 93. Kingdom of Shadow 49 94. Sandebörg 48 95. Yuxhaaq 48 96. Avalonia 45 97. Medhelnia 45 98. Kingdom of Horanius 43 99. Florina 43 100. Nonsuch 43 101. Quotosibb 42 102. Zechonia 42 103. Ingermanlandia 41 104. Triangledonia 40 105. Desbuanda 39 106. Scherzland 38 107. Flynnonda 38 108. Scotland 2 37 109. Taahino 36 110. Bronzil 36 111. FNT Nickodonia 36 112. Land of Jack 36 113. Deandria 35 114. Sandénia 34 115. Lorikeet 31 116. Dalisska 29 117. Simondly 29 118. Buzzjack Mountain 28 119. Sergeistan 27 120. Lotopialand 26 121. M.K.L. 25 122. Abeltesfayeton 24 123. Yobnedorica 21 124. Cowtermont 21 125. Triodopolis 21 126. Rivandia 20 127. UnoShake 20 128. Varakë 19 129. Ethanola 19 130. Tapatilandia 19 131. Macromia 17 132. Brechtoria 17 133. Greenland 17 134. Azure 16 135. Järkangel 16 136. Cheiron 15 137. Liechenstaan 15 138. Cascadia 14 139. Alteria 13 140. Joedonia 13 141. Euphoriffith 12 142. Farahtyn 12 143. Umiiruka 12 144. Hinterlandia 13 145. Bokia 11 146. Frandoot 11 147. Phlumptopia 11 148. Zaminton 11 149. Britmasu 10 150. Juranabaijan 10 151. Conoria 9 152. Arcodesia 9 153. Fervorosia 9 154. New Caprica 9 155. Faztickle 8 156. Frahliso 8 157. Jayrusalem 8 158. Lievant 8 159. Palmyra 8 160. Tyronosaurusland 8 161. Astoria 7 162. PoisonVine Bay 7 163. Pagasa 6 164. Aprogonia 6 165. Jamora 6 166. New Alba 6 167. Priceville 6 168. Budtar 5 169. Jukianië 5 170. Enty 3 171. Spila 3 172. Camdonia 2 173. Inner Massivia 2 174. Llewandia 2 175. Herbilore 1 176. ChrIseland 1 It’s a big month for many of my favourite countries, but none moreso than Summericia, whose perfect pop offering sees them score the gold medal although they remain in 8th overall. Aeroche run them a close second, and add 15 more points to their tally for their rave banger, while there are also notable points for top ten nations Kluminican Republic (+12), FARC (+11) and Danæviia (+10), a couple of who climb a place on the overall rankings. Skall are sandwiched in between the big hitters with 13 points and a bronze medal. Leaders République d'Áskorza add five more points to their tally as they move away once more from Altyr Muunilinst.

Glad you enjoyed it so much. Definitely do download it, I did too as I'm worried it will just be up for a year or something as they are so obscure indeed. The Summericia 17 votes with such a high score thing seems quite unique to me. You sometimes see niche genre songs doing that and mopping up all the 18s, but not usually pop. This song seemed very widely accessible and catchy to me but maybe that early Katy vibe is an acquired taste these days. I'm glad it got enough big support to finish in the top five. I've just never seen anything like it before where a pop entry gets seven 18s but only 10 other votes!

I am shocked! A rock song that I found on New Music Friday Türkiye which has under 100 YouTube views and under 4,000 Spotify streams is not what I would exactly call a recipe for a hit, so I'm astonished it came 2nd, even despite odds as high as 4th, I thought they were a bit generous. Thank you SO much for all the votes (including Scotland 2 at the end there) and especially all the 18s, that's amazing. I don't mind the way it was revealed @dandy*, I expected to fall further and delighted that I hung on for an 11th silver medal; our sixth since we last won and our fifth in just over three years. I'm not sure niche foreign lanugage songs like this are ever going to be the key to a win but that really wasn't the aim with a song like this, so it makes the result even more amazing. Quite a progression up from 6th in the semi too, thank you to the voters from the other semi for the bump! Neliönoir is a great winner, brilliant song and high up my vote and just continuing a spectacular year they are having. Great to see my two favourites in fourth and third, I'd heard Space Cadet before but didn't really think about it for BJSC, great ravey entry though and a deserved top three return for Aeroche! And Roba pulling another inspired pop discovery out for Summericia, I'd never heard that track or artist before. Ajanaeda and Fljótavík 5th and 6th means that my predicted clear top five in the odds all came in the top six, although not the right order, and the only song I vastly underpredicted was my own. Glad Skall did well in the end as that was a clear third favourite of mine but I wasn't sure how it would do. Thanks so much dandy* for very slick hosting and a really enjoyable contest with lots of great entries!

Congrats blacksquare!!! I should have seen it coming for sure, it’s a great song and a deserving winner. What a year.

Thank you for the 18 Brer, so soon after the last. I’ve found my Turkish rock niche.

Thanks Wardy ❤️

Oh my, a much needed points injection, thanks so much Dan! Five 18s