gooddelta

Christmas 2009 was one of the most iconic charts of all time. I bought Killing In The Name that week and completely got wrapped up in the David vs Goliath narrative and was delighted X Factor didn't manage to get it yet again. I do like the song though. I worked in Asda at the time and putting out the newspapers each morning was one of my jobs and I remember it was all over every front page on the Monday morning, it was absolutely huge. But that's the same No.1 I would have chosen. Bad Romance is just epic, and Gaga still hasn't ever bettered it for me (although Shallow comes close). I was absolutely obsessed with it and it's still in my all-time top 20. It's such a big pop song and moment in pop culture in every way. Great ending, thanks Jim, really enjoyed following this countdown a lot! Here is my rank: Lady Gaga - Bad Romance Lady Gaga - Poker Face Cascada - Evacuate The Dancefloor Cheryl Cole - Fight For This Love Calvin Harris - I'm Not Alone Dizzee Rascal & Armand Van Helden - Bonkers La Roux - Bulletproof Lily Allen - The Fear Pixie Lott - Boys And Girls The Black Eyed Peas - Boom Boom Pow David Guetta feat. Kelly Rowland - When Love Takes Over The Black Eyed Peas - I Gotta Feeling Tinchy Stryder feat. Amelle - Never Leave You Rage Against The Machine - Killing In The Name Lady Gaga feat. Colby O'Donis - Just Dance Chipmunk - Oopsy Daisy Tinchy Stryder feat. N-Dubz - Number 1 Alexandra Burke feat. Flo Rida - Bad Boys Kelly Clarkson - My Life Would Suck Without You Peter Kay's Animated All Star Band - The Official BBC Children In Need Medley The Black Eyed Peas - Meet Me Halfway Pixie Lott - Mama Do (Uh Oh, Uh Oh) Flo Rida feat. Ke$ha - Right Round David Guetta feat. Akon - Sexy Chick Taio Cruz - Break Your Heart JLS - Beat Again JLS - Everybody In Love Jay-Z feat. Rihanna & Kanye West - Run This Town Dizzee Rascal - Holiday Alexandra Burke - Hallelujah Joe McElderry - The Climb Vanessa Jenkins and Bryn West feat. Sir Tom Jones and Robin Gibb - Barry Islands In The Stream X Factor Finalists 2009 - You Are Not Alone 2009 was a great year for me and the No.1s were solid. It's only the bottom three I'm really not keen on. And I actively like everything down to Right Round up to a point. Taio, JLS x2, Jay-Z and Holiday are a bit mid for me and Hallelujah I appreciate parts of, particularly the strength of Alexandra's vocal, but overall it leaves me a bit cold.

Talking of CBBC, before Verbalicious she was in a very poor BBC comedy which might as well have been for kids, All About Me with Jasper Carrott, Meera Syal and Nina Wadia. The Natalia lore never lets up. Don't Play Nice is a very memorable song, but not in a good way. She was definitely better as Natalia Kills, until X Factor NZ. Actually, actually, actually, ACTUALLY, she deserves last.

Voting Alison as it strikes the right balance of not being too well known like Right Beside You (which was in the top 75 of that year) but stands a chance of being a hit in the contest, plus it’s really good. Agree with Dandy that Tasmin would not probably he a hit, although it’s nice. Sleeping Satellite is in my top five of the early 90s probably.

Fleeting would have been an eight-headed dragon!

WIll just go for Mariah as it's getting boring seeing it in these.

Boys for me at this point.

All sound good, voted for Rasa though.

Rontvian update after 184 finals: 1. République d'Áskorza 663 (+11) 2. Altyr Muunilinst 615 3. Aeroche 570 (+15) 4. Hendinia 485 (+1) 5. Danæviia 465 (+13) 6. Cor Lupus 427 (+3) 7. FARC 416 8. Summericia 414 9. Kluminican Republic 370 10. New Lexico 370 11. Fljótavík 345 12. Bøtanikkä 335 (+6) 13. Quintessa 317 14. Ojnoj 290 (+18) 15. Séyetana 290 (+9) 16. Ramrynia 286 17. Jadakissnia 251 18. Greenfroze 248 19. Kathaldazia 239 20. Land of DW 235 21. Tartford 234 22. Numayania 231 23. Qärenfanghoney 227 24. Lookylion 220 25. Terra Avium 214 26. Hushkanukia 209 27. Zanmatony 200 28. Espen 198 29. Unovia 197 30. Dobago 193 31. Cumulonimbia 188 32. Persephonia 181 33. Skall 179 34. Trifoski 178 35. St. Burbia 176 36. Yehesi 175 (+12) 37. Elëdan 174 38. (The Actual Republic of) Bellamia 173 39. #00274E 168 40. Jupiterdonia 166 41. Vülkyria 158 42. Bhangra 156 43. Helgon 156 44. Kylienips 156 45. Thelonia 151 46. Singerpurear 147 47. D'yermak'er 145 48. Cadelicia 143 49. Daehun 139 50. Oslol 137 51. Lotunia 136 52. Caerfyrddia 128 53. Wholune 122 54. Mdiče 120 55. Tinnmark 119 56. Utopia 114 57. Mulgracia 114 58. Harmonica 109 59. Sovarasma/Why So Sirius 107 (+5) 60. N DNTN 107 61. Suedeonia 105 62. Ultraviolenceland 104 63. Aelandor 102 64. East Rukahavian 100 65. Rolloland 98 66. United States of Jack 97 67. Herzebania 90 68. Neliönoir 89 69. Aquafina 88 70. Beaverdonia 85 71. Pupok 83 72. Holland-Oats 80 73. POPHub 79 74. Xanaga 76 75. The Spodic Empire 73 76. Kyriatine/Baleghde 79 (+8) 77. Torchwood 71 78. Eastovka/A-Konohagakure 70 (+10) 79. Bignia-Zaragovina 70 80. Batidas 69 81. Niceland 68 82. Scotland 2 67 83. Sangria 67 84. Angelicland 65 85. PRoJ 64 86. Republic of Adonia 63 87. Pestolia 61 88. Isconia 59 89. Bronzil 60 (+2) 90. Ben's Sanctuary 58 91. Aesthetica 56 92. B.a.N.G 56 93. Deandria 53 94. N-Lazone 52 95. Ajanaeda 50 96. Dalisska 49 97. Kingdom of Shadow 49 98. Sandebörg 48 99. Yuxhaaq 48 100. Avalonia 45 101. Medhelnia 45 102. Taahino 43 103. Kingdom of Horanius 43 104. Florina 43 105. Nonsuch 43 106. Quotosibb 42 107. Zechonia 42 108. Ingermanlandia 41 109. Triangledonia 40 110. Desbuanda 39 111. Scherzland 38 112. Flynnonda 38 113. Cheiron 37 114. FNT Nickodonia 36 115. Land of Jack 36 116. Sandénia 34 117. Lorikeet 31 118. Simondly 29 119. Buzzjack Mountain 28 120. Sergeistan 27 121. Lotopialand 26 122. M.K.L. 25 123. Abeltesfayeton 24 124. Yobnedorica 21 125. Cowtermont 21 126. Triodopolis 21 127. Rivandia 20 128. UnoShake 20 129. Varakë 19 130. Ethanola 19 131. Tapatilandia 19 132. Pagasa 17 133. Macromia 17 134. Brechtoria 17 135. Greenland 17 136. Azure 16 137. Järkangel 16 138. Liechenstaan 15 139. Juranabaijan 14 140. Cascadia 14 141. Alteria 13 142. Joedonia 13 143. Mothertopia 13 144. Hinterlandia 13 145. Euphoriffith 12 146. Farahtyn 12 147. Umiiruka 12 148. Bokia 11 149. Frandoot 11 150. Phlumptopia 11 151. Zaminton 11 152. Britmasu 10 153. Conoria 9 154. Arcodesia 9 155. Fervorosia 9 156. New Caprica 9 157. Faztickle 8 158. Frahliso 8 159. Jayrusalem 8 160. Lievant 8 161. Palmyra 8 162. Tyronosaurusland 8 163. Freidland 7 (+7) 164. Astoria 7 165. PoisonVine Bay 7 166. Herbilore 6 167. Aprogonia 6 168. Jamora 6 169. New Alba 6 170. Priceville 6 171. Budtar 5 172. Jukianië 5 173. Ennea 4 (+4) 174. Enty 3 175. Spila 3 176. Camdonia 2 177. Inner Massivia 2 178. Llewandia 2 179. ChrIseland 1 With our would be 18 going out in the semis along with us, it opened up an opportunity for somebody else and Ojnoj snatched that gold medal with a great, catchy little soul-pop track, as they move up to 14th in our all-time rank! Aeroche settle for silver for the infectious Perfume, while Danæviia’s piano showcase takes our bronze medal. Both countries are in our all-time top five. It’s a good month for pop in our vote, and Yehesi had one of the most dramatic pop entries, taking 12 points and rising to 36th in the all-time list while hosts République d'Áskorza sent a Swedish language pop banger, grab 11 points and nicely extend their lead on top of our table as Altyr Muunilinst fail to score. The other big news of the month is two new entries, as Freidland and Ennea score Rontvian final points for the first time, meaning we have now voted for 179 unique countries!

Wow, congrats DaTilt! I completely overlooked that in the odds, apologies. Other than that I don't think my odds were horrendous, I called the hits for Pagasa and Yehesi, Bøtanikkä, Bronzil and Hendinia all within a couple of places. Aeroche was a real surprise, 15th?? After winning the semi? It sounded so in keeping with what has done well here recently too. Very nice to see a first time winner, from such a new nation too, didn't take long for Zephyra to win and that's a commanding lead. Congrats Pagasa on claiming the second they should have had the other month this time, and Cody - for once I underpredicted Cor Lupus in the odds! Fab to see Ennea top ten in their first final! I did have Danæviia and Elëdan predicted higher, the latter underperformed a bit compared to what I expected based on the listenthrough reaction but obviously has still done well for a piece like that. Ojnoj was comfortably my favourite after Herbilore went out, shame that couldn't make the top 20. I wasn't as engaged with this final as usual after the DNQ, which is probably partly why my odds were so off with the winner. But it's really nice to see several nations do better than usual. Thanks for the very swift and easy to follow hosting Phil!

Aeroche semi winner isn’t surprising to me (or Yehesi either actually) but their position currently is, looks like it will hopefully pick up later.

Ooh at the semi results being revealed as we go! Some people must have had a major glow up (and vice versa).

I'm Not Alone is so good, I think I love it even more now than I did then (and I liked it a lot then). Such warm synths and Calvin sounds really good on it, that style of dance was also a breath of fresh air for the charts and the top spot. I've become a bit desensitised to I Gotta Feeling over the years, can't deny what a banger it is though and I loved it at the time, but I cannot go anywhere without hearing it, even 17 years on. I suppose it pretty much is THE definitive party anthem of the last 20 years. Poker Face <3 I did like Just Dance but it peaked at something like No.7 in my chart, this was where my Gaga love really began, such a great track, although it sounds quite primitive these days in comparison to some of the productions she has had since. Despite that it's still hugely enjoyable. Sexy Chick is catchy but I definitely never seek it out to listen to. A very corny number that hasn't aged too well lyrically.

Oh yes, I meant that the Thunderbugs album was only released on MiniDisc format in the UK (as I bought it when it was released so didn't know about the import CD then). Glad it finally surfaced on streaming a few years ago too.

Glorious charts, this is the era that the iconic Now 44 sourced a lot of its material from. I was so obsessed with Blue (Da Ba Dee) that I was one of the import buyers, I think it was about £6 but I had to have it, and it had lots of remixes and the instrumental. I do remember thinking that was a competitive week with S Club 7, Shania and Britney all releasing, yet it easily held them all at bay. I really liked Burning Down The House and the Reload era too, The Cardigans worked really well with Tom Jones and that was a cool choice of lead single for the project. I bought The Launch too, which also topped my fledgling personal chart at the time. I still love that, what an era for the Eurohit! Mambo No.5 is of course a classic too, while We're Going to Ibiza was a memorable No.1 also, although its CGI video looks absolutely primitive now. Such an amazing era, we really were gearing up for to party for the millennium in style weren't we. Aside from those, it was good to see Kelle Bryan doing Higher Than Heaven, such uplifting pop gospel that was covered by Australian Popstars winners Bardot on their debut album. Kelle deserved a bigger solo career than that. Nice song from Bowie too in Thursday's Child and I didn't mind that Sting song Brand New Day. Shame there was no play for Fragma's Toca Me, although we know what legacy that ended up having. I forgot to comment the other week but must pay my respect to Thunderbugs. I've always been absolutely obsessed with that song and it ended up in my top ten of the year, such gorgeously wistful and melancholy pop verses paired with a Belinda Carlisle style power chorus. It must be the first song that ever made me feel nostalgic, due to the lyrics, which as I was only 12 was quite a feat. They must have had a lot of hype behind them to open with that strong sale, I guess I must have heard it on The Box a lot as remember the video vividly. Also, Jane the lead singer was such a charismatic frontwoman who used to remind me of Courteney Cox. This band were absolutely robbed of a longer career. I ended up getting their album on MiniDisc, which is the only physical format it was released in! Also, Moving by Supergrass is a song I've come to appreciate so much more over the years, the intro and verses are gorgeous, Nerina Pallot did a lovely cover of it last year.

The Feeling. That was a really strong Elton song!

Your Body.

Oh nice lead! Definitely Madonna's most hit sounding song in a long time, and I'd have said the same even without Sabrina on it although that undoubtedly helps its cause. Great use of sample and as mentioned above, it's true to the style of some of her early 90s hits so feels like a nod to that.

Bot activity has to be responsible for some of these. Why are thousands of people in the same week flocking to buy the same AI songs, where are they even hearing about these 'artists' and how? Surely not just the visibility of being in the iTunes chart. It's even more suspicious in the iTunes album chart where all sorts of rubbish is turning up, often multiple entries by the same artist in consecutive positions. Even worse is the 'cash-ins' already appearing; AI has already eaten itself it seems. E.g. there is now an album on iTunes not just by Eddie Dalton but also by Eddie Dalton Music. It doesn't surprise me, what's to stop anyone from doing it I guess, if the 'artists' aren't copyrighted. Prompt: 'Make an album based on Eddie Dalton'. Easy money if people are stupid enough to waste their money on it, if these indeed are legit purchases.

Haha thank you. It's finally happened, I've become one of those posters who can't scroll back a few posts

Chemical Brothers No.1? What did I miss!? That song has always felt way bigger than its top 50 peak.

Got to agree here, countries you are voting for should always be in there as a bare minimum as this is a core detail on every host's scoreboard, usually the first thing mentioned on each line. So makes it infinitely easier to input data and saves time and energy, meaning hosts can give you a better show. Sending only a list of artists or song titles (as I received multiple times in 180) means a host has to crosscheck 15 times the artist or song with the country to input the data. Until such a time that we have Google sheet voting as standard, while hosts collect votes via PM I think country names in the vote are absolutely 100% a must have.

On Heart Breakfast with Jamie and Amanda?

This arrived today! It has the full version and not the edit of Rein Me In, must be the first compilation to include that. Also the full version of the Holly Humberstone song that appears as a radio edit on Now 123. Quite impressive to fit the full version of Rein Me In on when each disc has 25 songs, but shows how short so many of the others are. JJ next to Loreen is nice sequencing, I see what they did there. Germany's naff but boppy Eurovision entry for this year from Sarah Engels on here too. Nice to have Alex and Bruno's songs too, and Take That even though it wasn't a hit. Quite surprised Lush Life is on here, even despite its revival I can't really remember Bravo ever repeating songs that have been on previous volumes, unless in a different remix. One thing I will repeat again is that this cost about £22, so way more expensive than Now, so they undoubtedly have more budget to play with.

Giving Delta a nose ahead with my vote, hopefully she can Eclipse the competition. Also went for J.Lo (fun throwback) and Gnarls Barkley, which is from a superb comeback album, I recommend it. Freya and Take That decent but far from my favourite songs from them.

Yes extremely strong episode on all counts. I've been watching EastEnders since 1995 and remember Nigel's first stint so well, it just makes it even sadder. One of the best characters ever, a soap rarity of an extremely likable person. Weirdly I realised I was standing next to Paul Bradley at Stansted the other week in the security queue. I regret not commending him on his outstanding performance, but then he probably just wanted some space before his holiday!