gooddelta

Post your odds and have your say on who will Q - 20 songs from each semi will go through to the final to join FSR Rontvia and FARC for a total of 42 finalists. AQs FSR Rontvia: Man/Woman/Chainsaw - Only Girl FARC: Snow Wife - YoYo Taahino: 3Quency - Once I Was A Good Girl Séyetana: VIOLENT VIRA - Saccharine Lentyll: bbno$ - 1-800 (feat. ironmouse) Herbilore: Francesca Michielin - FRANCESCA Mothertopia: JT - Girls Gone Wild Jadakissnia: Death Hags - Oublie Moi Harmonica: ARY - Running In A Dream Dalisska: Flora Fishbach - La Machiavela Zephyra Continuum: hannah bahng - MISUNDERSTOOD Land of DW: Euromasters - Amsterdam... Waar Lech Dat Dan? (Maastunnel Mix) The Spodic Empire: Marc Moon - Dubai Aeroche: DOVE & Kehina - CHROMA 009 KR36 Ojnoj: Absolutely - No Audience Aesthetica: f5ve - I Choose You East Rukahavian: LUNÈS - Hold on the moment Jupiterdonia: Marian Hill & Steve Davit - remember me Deandria: Blacky - Ööö Greenfroze: LEE CHANHYUK - Vivid LaLa Love A-Konohagakure: Sukatani - Tumbal Proyek Macromia: Ea Othilde - I'm Ready For Love Sandénia: notyourwife - Pretend We're Fine Pestolia: Sassy 009 - Enemy Scotland 2: bassvictim - 27a Pitfield St POPHub: Goodnight Louisa - Actor Pagasa: Danny Brown & underscores - Copycats Freidland: Dayglow - Close To You Thelonia: Mojave Grey - Mayday Flynnonda: KNIFE BRIDE - alone at the altar République d'Áskorza: Say Now - Can't Keep A Beat Bøtanikkä: AY YOLA - Homay WITHDRAWN Ajanaeda: Alessi Rose - Get Around Danæviia: Austra - Fallen Cloud Neliönoir: Rakky Ripper - Las Cosas De Antes Kathaldazia: XRUSTALIC - 892SICK N DNTN: XG - GALA Elëdan: Amaia - Aralar Zanmatony: Steven Wilson - Drive Home Fljótavík: Tori Amos - Spark Kluminican Republic: Mall Grab & Real Lies - Ripples In The Timeline Altyr Muunilinst: Metteson - Hunger Skall: Oneohtrix Point Never - Rodl Glide Terra Avium: ANOTHER; COUNTRY $$$$ - TETHER Summericia: Markus Schulz - Destiny (feat. Delacey) Utopia: Daniel Avery & Ellie - Haze Yehesi: Evangelía - Vále Persephonia: Boko Yout - DEMOLITION MAN Aelandor: Saltillo - A Hair On The Head Of John The Baptist New Lexico: Eli - Like A Girl Lookylion: Chandler Leighton - Say Less Dobago: Clara Cuvé - 4 am Baleghde: Bob Moses - Time Of Your Life Cheiron: INJI - TEEN ANGST Trifoski: Valgur - Máscara De Niña Sovarasma: paco te quiero - qué más da Bronzil: The Hellp - Live Forever Cumulonimbia: Narciss - Ludmilla Hendinia: Iris Caltwait - Alchemy (Living Is Not For The Heart) Cor Lupus: Jerry Heil - Earth (Dradada)

Hello! It's wonderful to have you all with us for BJSC 180, for this celebratory contest that marks 18 years since BJSC began. We have been there since the very start alongside Republique d'Askorza and it's a pleasure to be able to host for the first time since 2014 after Luukered by SADU became our ninth win in BJSC 179, expertly hosted by Jadakissnia. Let's get underway with this month's semi-finals, including the two auto-qualifiers from FSR Rontvia and FARC that you will have the opportunity to vote for in the final, should you wish to! AQ: FSR Rontvia: Man/Woman/Chainsaw - Only Girl FARC: Snow Wife - YoYo Taahino: 3Quency - Once I Was A Good Girl Séyetana: VIOLENT VIRA - Saccharine Lentyll: bbno$ - 1-800 (feat. ironmouse) Herbilore: Francesca Michielin - FRANCESCA Mothertopia: JT - Girls Gone Wild Jadakissnia: Death Hags - Oublie Moi Harmonica: ARY - Running In A Dream Dalisska: Flora Fishbach - La Machiavela Zephyra Continuum: hannah bahng - MISUNDERSTOOD Land of DW: Euromasters - Amsterdam... Waar Lech Dat Dan? (Maastunnel Mix) The Spodic Empire: Marc Moon - Dubai Aeroche: DOVE & Kehina - CHROMA 009 KR36 Ojnoj: Absolutely - No Audience Aesthetica: f5ve - I Choose You STROBE WARNING East Rukahavian: LUNÈS - Hold on the moment Jupiterdonia: Marian Hill & Steve Davit - remember me Deandria: Blacky - Ööö Greenfroze: LEE CHANHYUK - Vivid LaLa Love A-Konohagakure: Sukatani - Tumbal Proyek Macromia: Ea Othilde - I'm Ready For Love Sandénia: notyourwife - Pretend We're Fine Pestolia: Sassy 009 - Enemy Scotland 2: bassvictim - 27a Pitfield St POPHub: Goodnight Louisa - Actor Pagasa: Danny Brown & underscores - Copycats Freidland: Dayglow - Close To You Thelonia: Mojave Grey - Mayday Flynnonda: KNIFE BRIDE - alone at the altar République d'Áskorza: Say Now - Can't Keep A Beat Bøtanikkä: AY YOLA - Homay WITHDRAWN, DO NOT VOTE FOR Ajanaeda: Alessi Rose - Get Around Danæviia: Austra - Fallen Cloud Neliönoir: Rakky Ripper - Las Cosas De Antes STROBE WARNING Kathaldazia: XRUSTALIC - 892SICK N DNTN: XG - GALA Elëdan: Amaia - Aralar Zanmatony: Steven Wilson - Drive Home Fljótavík: Tori Amos - Spark Kluminican Republic: Mall Grab & Real Lies - Ripples In The Timeline Altyr Muunilinst: Metteson - Hunger Skall: Oneohtrix Point Never - Rodl Glide Terra Avium: ANOTHER; COUNTRY $$$$ - TETHER STROBE WARNING Summericia: Markus Schulz - Destiny (feat. Delacey) Utopia: Daniel Avery & Ellie - Haze Yehesi: Evangelía - Vále Persephonia: Boko Yout - DEMOLITION MAN STROBE WARNING Aelandor: Saltillo - A Hair On The Head Of John The Baptist New Lexico: Eli - Like A Girl Lookylion: Chandler Leighton - Say Less Dobago: Clara Cuvé - 4 am Baleghde: Bob Moses - Time Of Your Life Cheiron: INJI - TEEN ANGST Trifoski: Valgur - Máscara De Niña Sovarasma: paco te quiero - qué más da Bronzil: The Hellp - Live Forever Cumulonimbia: Narciss - Ludmilla Hendinia: Iris Caltwait - Alchemy (Living Is Not For The Heart) Cor Lupus: Jerry Heil - Earth (Dradada) Please rank your 10 favourite songs from your semi using the Eurovison 12 point scoring system (12 points for your favourite, then 10, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 for your 10th favourite). FSR Rontvia and FARC are required as AQs to vote in both semis. Please send your votes to me (gooddelta) via PM. Do not share your votes with other participants. Votes for both semis must be submitted before 2pm GMT on Saturday 6th December with semi-final results set to follow later that evening, where 20 songs from each semi-final will progress to a 42-song final with FSR Rontvia and FARC. No further votes will be accepted past this point and nations who fail to vote will have their score deducted by 33%. Listenthroughs will be held during the week - if somebody is able to volunteer to host these then I would be very appreciative as am busy on quite a few evenings this week due to travelling for work. Votes received: Semi-Final 1: Thelonia Pestolia Zephyra Continuum A-Konohagakure Deandria POPHub Ojnoj Harmonica Dalisska Land Of DW Mothertopia Freidland Séyetana Lentyll Aesthetica Aeroche FSR Rontvia Flynnonda Herbilore Taahino Jadakissnia Sandénia Greenfroze Jupiterdonia The Spodic Empire Scotland 2 République d'Áskorza Macromia FARC East Rukahavian (30/31) No votes received from: Pagasa Semi-Final 2: Cheiron Lookylion Ajanaeda Dobago Altyr Muunilinst Cumulonimbia Sovarasma Persephonia Neliönoir Kathaldazia Fljótavík FSR Rontvia Elëdan N DNTN Kluminican Republic Utopia Bronzil Trifoski Zanmatony Danæviia Yehesi Cor Lupus Skall FARC Terra Avium Hendinia Summericia Aelandor (28/30) No votes received from: New Lexico Baleghde Spotify playlists: Semi-Final 1: Semi-Final 2: YouTube Playlists Semi-Final 1: Semi-Final 2:

There are no more vetoes, you will all be pleased to hear. So semis will launch some time tonight!

True, but also that was the fourth single from an established album so many may not have even expected it to get to No.1 at all. I think the real test was the next lead single but they flunked it with Jesse Hold On. The gap between first and second eras was too long for a pop band in the 90s - they should have released a summer tide over single as people were fickle. Plus the whole Irish jig sound felt tired by late 1999 I think when Europop and boybands ruled the day by this point. The girlband peak was over by then, the likes of Precious, Thunderbugs and Hepburn had top ten singles but All Saints and Spice Girls were on a break. I just think it was bad timing and not the right song and that hastened the decline. Not that I Shall Be There or Jump Down would have done any better as a lead single. They needed something different, but what that was I'm not sure.

Madonna - Frozen Rank: 9.5/10 Reason: Ok I lied about four 10/10s, I have to separate them somehow and I do prefer a couple of other Madonna singles to this, including one from the same album, but at the same time it's hard to see how this song could be bettered. The 1980s superstar had gone through a bit of a commercial downturn during a lot of the 90s, despite starting strong with the huge Vogue. She had initially started the decade amping up the sex appeal before settling down into R&B and pop ballad sounds for a lot of the 90s, although this did give her some US success, such as the beautiful Take A Bow, which got to No.1 there but missed the top ten here. Immediately prior to this era she starred in movie Evita, and the soundtrack album had notable success but still didn't produce another No.1 single in the UK, although Don't Cry For Me Argentina did well around Christmas 1996. Also becoming a mother to Lourdes in late 1996, Madonna would spend the next period of her life connecting with her daughter and working with English producer William Orbit on what turned out to be the seminal Ray Of Light album - an electronic and dance influenced album that ended up becoming considered one of her finest bodies of work, and whose influence you can clearly hear in many of today's stars, like JADE, Caroline Polachek, FKA Twigs, and Addison Rae. It was a beautiful, ambient album with future classics including title track Ray Of Light, Drowned World / Substitute For Love, The Power Of Good-Bye (my personal favourite - spellbinding song) and album tracks like Sky Fits Heaven. But first out of the gate was lead single Frozen, which in its album version was a string drenched six minute epic, and an awesome reintroduction to Madonna that reminded us all why she was still a superstar. With a beautifully delicate vocal delivery, throbbing synths and an ethereal feel, it felt like nothing else she had ever released - more restrained but stunning, almost other-worldy and really quite an abstract kind of piece for a megastar to release as a lead single? But the chorus was as melodic as you would come to expect from Madonna and the song went straight to No.1 as her first UK chart topper in eight years, while the album became one of the biggest of the year. It went to No.1 in several other countries too, plus No.2 in the US and Germany, and No.5 in Australia, but its legacy was in the influence it had for years to come. At the time the media said Madonna had been revitalised as a kind of 'earth mother' figure, and she certainly had an intriguing, enchanting look during 1998. The beautiful and mysterious video sees her as a shapeshifting figure shrouded in darkness and blue lighting, and she appeared in similar outfits to promote the song including, bizarrely, on the National Lottery Draw show in the UK a week or so before the single was released. TOTP could never get such an exclusive, it seems...

Yes I really wish both songs had got to the top, what a tough battle some weeks in 1998 had (considering on other occasions we got the likes of Spacedust getting there with a low sale). Ah amazing. I beat it 100% in that week between Christmas and New Year 1998 although it took me, funnily enough, 64 hours to complete as the length of game time was stated. On the second run through I did it in 16! It did get pretty frustrating towards the end with Gruntilda's quiz! Yes loved the DKC SNES games too! For sure, it was a moment that they had two such political singles go to the top, considering their second chart topper in 2000 too. Haha yes it was good fun, the only British sitcom I really even remember being on Nickelodeon as it was mostly US imports. Lucy Punch was in it and would go on to bigger things in the great Motherland/Amandaland. Oh for sure, isn't that weird, I can't think of another act who opened that strongly only to be gone within another year. That's fair and good point you make about the third single being a ballad, I guess it became an established formula for success to change things up after the big lead single and then consolidate it with another big pop moment second and then a ballad. I think Frozen was voted Buzzjack's favourite song of all-time in a recent poll, although I prefer other Madonna songs to it too, but it's in my top five of hers. Zero! Is that just the remix, or the original too? What about it makes it a zero in your eyes would you say? I think The Everlasting is just as good yeah, I listen to that all the time, massively underrated. Maybe it was just a bit subtle for the time it was released and just got lost among all the pop vying for the top in the Christmas rush. Had it been left to January it could have gone top ten but I suppose it was released then to help sell the album during the Christmas period.

Indeed Aelandor are in now and are absolutely welcome to join, taking us up to a round 60 countries and an AQ for FARC!

Thanks everyone, this is closed now. 59 entries then which means two semis of 29 songs and only an AQ for me. It's great to have so many returning nations and a new country along for this contest as it's the first I've hosted in a long time. I will hand over to the mods for their final veto checks as we have had a few countries changing entries in the last few hours, and if I get the go ahead before tomorrow evening I'll try and get semis up in the evening, but if not it will be Monday as I'm not around on Sunday. Stay tuned, it's a strong lineup.

Fashionably early!

@Harve Sounds intriguing although nothing has come through on the confirmations sheet for you so far.

Let's give a huge welcome back to our 8th returning nation, the freshly renamed Lentyll - great to have you with us again @AllStarBySmashMouth 🥳

We are still on 56 as of now, which would be 27 songs per semi and two AQs, but we are still missing a few countries who have routinely been known to confirm late, although this is very late now so not sure if they're just not entering. 75 minutes to go if you want to be in!

I like both a lot but would be more likely to listen to How You Remind Me. For how big it was here at the time, I never hear the City High track anywhere anymore.

Getting to the business end of 1998 where I was fully obsessed with the music in the charts, especially Believe. I got the cassette single for Christmas and then bought Hits ‘99 on CD with money I got for Christmas to own the song on that format too but up to that point I was just listening to the radio to hear it as much as possible, an iconic single and I love that it grew in sales as more people heard it. It must have been rather surprising at the time that it beat Outside as I fully remember the mass amount of hype around that, especially the video - such a shame it wasn’t released a week earlier as it would have been a great No.1 I love that the top four had an average age over 40 - the 1980s (or older in terms of Cher) legends all coming out strong on the same week. The Sweetest Thing is a great single by U2, I very fondly remember that and the accompanying Best Of album. Not quite as keen on the Culture Club song but it was nice to see them top five again. And Thank U is absolutely wonderful indeed, my favourite Alanis song which is no mean feat considering all the classics on the previous album. Happy memories of hearing all of these on the radio on the way to do Christmas shopping that year. That Kele Le Roc song is so lovely too, the single version is slightly pitched up compared to the album version that is on Spotify, so I hope to see that added one day. The second week debuts were less to my taste. I always found this Another Level song a complete bore, and the Pras song wasn’t a great follow up either. Would You is fun though - this song seemed to soundtrack every fashion type TV show for the next five years at least. It’s a shame they didn’t play Tell Me Ma by Sham Rock which arrived in the top 20!

Let's add this 2004 'checkout ladies at Asda's night out' gem to the 'now available on Spotify' pile. What a week

Under 60 is still low compared to a few years back. Imagine trying to get out of the semi in BJSC 100 where we had 87 entries!

Mr Brightside, as I've got no qualms with it going early here, a GOOD song, but not the second coming that it's treated as.

Business didn't do a lot for me as far as Eminem singles go, so have gone for that.

Keane, but it was a welcome swerve for them at the time.

After an absence of two contests, we welcome back the wonderful Utopia as the seventh returning nation for 180! 🎉 A few of our regulars are still AWOL but you still have until 11.59pm tonight!

Yeah it's good but in many cases to me Play is weaker versions of material he's done before. Where the album excelled for me was Azizam, Sapphire and Symmetry, where he used musical influences he hadn't before but applied his usual ear for a great pop melody to them. I just checked all the new tracks and agree that Crashing is the main one that feels like it should have been on the new album (great songwriters and production for a b-side - I did buy the single earlier in the year so knew it already), but I also enjoyed and added Lights Out to my playlist, and a few of the other new songs are probably good for another listen. It doesn't feel like any huge hits were left off the original album anyway. I actually think Subtract got a very hard time, that was one of my top five albums of 2023. Weird that he got only one proper hit off it, Curtains was great!

Oh yes I knew I had heard Crashing from somewhere else, I remember thinking that if the b-sides were that strong then the album would be amazing, but it was just a case of a great b-side. Anyone know if this deluxe has been released on CD? I can only find mention of a limited vinyl (which I'm not spending out for).

Ha, well that was definitely a moment in (Chico) time. What a bizarre song to get to No.1, it sounds like something a Pontins entertainer might perform in front of holidaymaking kids for a laugh. A fortnight at UK No.1, good for him! I always liked him on X Factor, he was quite a personality and I also remember being shocked at the microphone in water thing. But it's not my cup of tea so would be below Sandi and Leona for me, but 'go Chico, go Chico, go' is a bit of an earworm. Poor Madonna being knocked off with Sorry by Chico and then her Hard Candy album in 2008 by Scooter. Different times...

So these four songs left, for me, are 10/10 tracks and some of my all-time favourite singles ever released: All Saints - Never Ever Cher - Believe Madonna - Frozen Spice Girls - Viva Forever I'm pretty busy this weekend but will get to them bit by bit over the coming week! Thanks for staying with me and for all the comments and interaction, it has been very fun to reminisce on my favourite musical year.

To this day it's my favourite game and one I am delighted to be able to play again more easily now it's on the Nintendo Switch online library. Completely charming, with great music.