gooddelta

The physical CD singles should be released on Christmas week! Alexa plus Kylie's devoted fanbase and a cause worth fighting for (she never had a Christmas No.1) would be quite a force.

Is it Amazon's 'chosen one' this year or are there likely to be others pushed ahead of it? I suppose it should be the main one, it's quite a coup compared to the usual kind of C-tier artist they commission.

Giving it its one and only vote I expect... Shine! One of my favourite songs of 2000, and cancelled at the last minute for a single release in the UK leaving Vanessa as a one-hit wonder (when it probably would have gone top 20 here). Albeit the lyrics never made any sense to me at all until I discovered that every mention of Shine in the song was originally 'die' but the label told her to change it. Which doesn't surprise me because 'everyone you see, everyone you know is gonna die' isn't the most uplifiting thing to listen to. But it makes sense in the context it was written, about a friend's suicide.

And then listen to Red Light by Sophie and the Giants, just for a giggle

I've heard Semi 1 now and on how it sounds alone, this is easily one of the top 20 of the semi (one of my clear favourites there, in fact), so if it does DNQ as the predictions suggest, then I suppose it's due to AI marking down. I presume this entry is what the big listenthrough discourse was about last night.

Maybe it's ok that some things are up in the air, to give the impression that life goes on, even if the cameras stop rolling. Presumably Andrew and Holly's affair is exposed and that will be the end of their marriage, something or other will happen with the Linwells, no idea what else. The sad thing is that I don't really care how any of the current storylines wrap up, whereas I was very invested in it three years ago. The 2022 finale was indeed wonderful, one of the best wrap ups I can remember for any show as there was a lot of fan service and nostalgia but it felt very warm and there was still a look to the future and younger cast too.

Could be a BJSC first too, as I think Headache had an AI vocal delivery only as I recall but was otherwise made by producer Vegyn and the lyrics were not made with AI. Their new album is solid - I expected them to be recycled this time! Your entry is the most convincing song I’ve heard yet made by AI, I would have had no idea - it’s a really lovely soundscape.

Both strong but going for 7 Days.

I actually bought this on the first week, when it debuted at No.12 and before it was everywhere, I always loved it! Obviously the overplay and ubiquity became tedious but it's a still a good song for me. Agreed that considering the undertone of the lyrics, it's strange that it became a big love standard and wedding song. I guess people just hear what they want to hear but the verses suggest a different tale indeed.

Fair! It would have worked just as well.

That was her only hit.

Yes, that's as far as the episode list goes up to on Amazon. Hopefully something (anything?) interesting and gripping will happen to close out the show in the next month. Maybe there will be lots of stories left hanging in the air this time.

It also occurred to me that both Eva Cassidy and Norah Jones were eligible for this, there are several big album artists who are singles chart 'one hit wonders'.

I also was anticipating Vanessa Amorosi, Lena and Andreas Johnson! And Janelle Monae.

Btw, the link for Sanna Nielsen goes to Lamb.

I must have considered half of these artists ha. Many of my all-time faves in here...hoping my entry won't be as easily identified as it usually is, but we'll see.

Agreed that the U2 song isn't that great. Desire, Beautiful Day and Vertigo I like from their No.1s (and Take Me To The Clouds Above if you count it), but certainly they had more classics that didn't get to the top. I really like that Elton song, I wonder how it would have done on its own merits alone - low top 10 maybe, it's a very classy single but there's nothing to suggest it would have been a huge hit judging by his other peaks around this time. At least we were spared from seeing Candle In The Wind over and over again on TOTP as they actually played this more instead! To the delight of the 1% of buyers who purchased the single for this song (and those of us with functioning ears).

Also the live performance is SO good, sharing as the final minute in particular is magic.

Must admit that I looked at some of Google Translate's take (particularly 'rumbling buckets' and thought 'what?' and assumed it was an Estonian turn of phrase!). Off the top of my head I'm not too sure if there have been any Estonian language entries, as Kerli's entries were all in English. No doubt Brer will know the answer. I look forward to hearing yours next time around!

Over to Estonia for penultimate 2025 entry After a solid but mixed year for results (but all finalists...so far) FSR Rontvia has confirmed our first ever Estonian entrant (and song in the Estonian language) in the form of Luukered by SADU. According to the band, SADU was "born from the desire to create music that highlights courage, strength, vulnerability and tenderness, as well as themes that resonate and provoke thought". The group is led by Sandra Sillamaa (vocals, whistles, jaw harp, bagpipes) and Sofia-Liis Liiv (vocals, violin), with music brought to life in collaboration with producer Fredi. It blends musical elements from folk, pop, and world music. Luukered was released in June and is taken from the group's debt album PROBLEEMID PARADIISIS. It is about betrayal, trust, and things we usually keep quiet. Ricardo Delta explained the entry choice: "We were on the lookout for something unique and ear catching with the hallmarks of a Rontvian entry and landed on this wonderful folk inspired piece by talented Estonian band SADU. Estonian is a really beautiful language, very soft and easy on the ear and we have enjoyed getting to know more about it through this actually quite biting tale of betrayal, which has very hooky verses and chorus, beautiful instrumentation and even a clubby electro instrumental middle eight. We're addicted to it here in FSR Rontvia where it has already topped the charts, and we hope you like it too." Luukered's lyrics: Miks see tüli majja toodi See pole minu mehe moodi Tema pole iial kõrvalt pannud Alati vaid truudust vandund Mina ikka pikalt unistasin Teda üle teiste eelistasin Lootsin ükskord sõrmus sõrmes Nüüd käin ringi kurbus põues Mõtsin teda saab usaldada Tal’ aga meeldib tuuseldada Rääkis aina ilusaid asju Samal ajal läks aga teise kaissu Vahi aga vahi tal luukered kapis Mina ei hakka koristama Kui nüüd tuleb välja talle meeldib Ämbreid mööda kolistada Kes selle supi kokku keetis Õhtu võõras voodis veetis See pole kindlalt minu peiu See on talle täitsa võõras neiu Nüüd aga kuulen linna peal Neid olla nähtud siin ja seal Väidab see oli kogemata Oleks võind olla olemata Anud, et võtaks tagasi Kui tema voodis selgeks magasid Mul pole küll sul rohkem anda Võta see sitt nüüd enda kanda Vahi aga vahi sul luukеred kapis Mina ei hakka koristama Kui nüüd tuleb välja sullе meeldib Ämbreid mööda kolistada Oi kuis mul ei meeldi Seda lugu vesta Sinu masti mehe Musta pesu pesta Teadku parem kõik nüüd Millega oli tegu Tia kas naerda-nutta Aga see on elu Varem oleks võinud Ennast süüdistada Enda hella südant Katki küünistada Kaotusi on kaks nüüd Taevas jõudu anna Kuna teele jäi sul Mu parim sõbranna With the English translation according to Google, although consult MattoTranslate (@matto) for accuracy: Why was this quarrel brought into the house This is not like my husband He has never put it aside He has always sworn loyalty I always dreamed of him I preferred him over others I once hoped for a ring on my finger Now I walk around in sadness I thought I could trust him But he likes to flirt He always said nice things At the same time, he went to someone else's hug Watch out, watch out, he has skeletons in the closet I won't start cleaning If it comes out now, he likes Rumbling buckets Who cooked this soup He spent the evening in a strange bed This is definitely not my fiancé This is a completely strange girl for him Now I hear in the city They have been seen here and there He claims it was by accident It could have been without being Watch out, watch out, you have skeletons in the closet I won't start cleaning If it comes out now, you like Rumbling buckets to rattle Oh, how I don't like Telling this story Your suit man Washing dirty laundry I'd better know everything now What was it about Tia, whether to laugh or cry But that's life Earlier, I could have Blamed myself My tender heart Clawed to break There are two losses now Heaven give me strength Because you got in the way My best friend

Yes, I should have said it stopped some decent songs from early 2005 getting to slightly higher and more deserving peaks than the one-week wonder Elvis singles. Only U was a bit robbed imo - it was a contemporary song and it would have been nice for Ashanti to have a solo No.1, and a No.1 of any kind not associated with R Kelly. But the Manics song had extremely low sales at No.2 on their week and I think might have set the all-time record low for No.1 (by some distance) if it had got there. When it also dived to No.26 the following week it at least gave us the strange quirk of firstly, both of the top two collapsing out of the top 10 (and Elvis one place away from them both dropping out of the top 20), and also the fact that the following Manics single - Your Love Alone Is Not Enough in 2007 - acted in the exact opposite way, going 26-2 in its first two weeks.

Melanie C, although I like I Try.

McFly I didn't mind Girl On TV, as cheesy as it was lyrically.

Guess I'll go for Bryan Adams then as I have always had a major soft spot for Love Doesn't Have To Hurt, was nice to see Jenny Frost on the lead vocal for once. Interestingly it was written by Susanna Hoffs and Billy Steinberg, maybe it was given to them as a favour for covering Eternal Flame.

I did think of you when I submitted this, and wondered if you had heard of the band. It’s my first ever entry from an Estonian act, I’ve been ticking off a few more languages and countries I haven’t used before this year for nothing more than my own entertainment but this one really caught my ear.