gooddelta

Rontvian update after 186 finals: 1. République d'Áskorza 663 2. Altyr Muunilinst 624 3. Aeroche 588 (+8) 4. Hendinia 490 (+2) 5. Danæviia 472 (+7) 6. Cor Lupus 434 7. FARC 421 (+5) 8. Summericia 419 9. Kluminican Republic 370 10. New Lexico 370 11. Bøtanikkä 348 12. Fljótavík 345 13. Quintessa 317 14. Ojnoj 290 15. Séyetana 290 16. Ramrynia 286 17. Jadakissnia 251 18. Greenfroze 248 19. Land of DW 246 (+11) 20. Kathaldazia 239 21. Tartford 234 22. Numayania 231 23. Qärenfanghoney 227 24. Lookylion 226 (+6) 25. Terra Avium 215 26. Hushkanukia 209 27. Zanmatony 208 28. Espen 198 29. Skall 197 (+18) 30. Unovia 197 31. Dobago 193 32. Cumulonimbia 188 33. Persephonia 181 34. Trifoski 178 35. St. Burbia 176 36. Yehesi 175 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. Sovarasma/Why So Sirius 123 (+4) 54. Wholune 122 55. Mdiče 120 56. Tinnmark 119 57. Utopia 114 58. Mulgracia 114 59. Harmonica 109 60. N DNTN 107 61. Suedeonia 105 62. Ultraviolenceland 104 63. Aelandor 102 64. The Spodic Empire 100 (+9) 65. East Rukahavian 100 66. Rolloland 98 67. United States of Jack 97 68. Neliönoir 93 69. Herzebania 90 70. Aquafina 88 71. Beaverdonia 85 72. Pupok 83 73. Scotland 2 82 74. Kyriatine/Baleghde 81 75. Holland-Oats 80 76. POPHub 79 77. Xanaga 76 78. Torchwood 71 79. Eastovka/A-Konohagakure 70 80. Bignia-Zaragovina 70 81. Batidas 69 82. Niceland 68 83. Sangria 67 84. Angelicland 65 85. PRoJ 64 86. Republic of Adonia 63 87. Bronzil 61 (+1) 88. Pestolia 61 89. Isconia 59 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. Cheiron 40 (+3) 110. Triangledonia 40 111. Desbuanda 39 112. Scherzland 38 113. Flynnonda 38 114. FNT Nickodonia 36 115. Land of Jack 36 116. Sandénia 34 117. Herbilore 32 (+15) 118. Lorikeet 31 119. Simondly 29 120. Buzzjack Mountain 28 121. Sergeistan 27 122. Lotopialand 26 123. M.K.L. 25 124. Juranabaijan 24 (+10) 125. Abeltesfayeton 24 126. Yobnedorica 21 127. Cowtermont 21 128. Triodopolis 21 129. Rivandia 20 130. UnoShake 20 131. Freidland 19 (+12) 132. Varakë 19 133. Ethanola 19 134. Tapatilandia 19 135. Pagasa 17 136. Macromia 17 137. Brechtoria 17 138. Greenland 17 139. Azure 16 140. Järkangel 16 141. Liechenstaan 15 142. Cascadia 14 143. New Helvetica 13 (+13) 144. Alteria 13 145. Joedonia 13 146. Mothertopia 13 147. Hinterlandia 13 148. Euphoriffith 12 149. Farahtyn 12 150. Umiiruka 12 151. Bokia 11 152. Frandoot 11 153. Phlumptopia 11 154. Zaminton 11 155. Ennea 10 156. Britmasu 10 157. Conoria 9 158. Arcodesia 9 159. Fervorosia 9 160. New Caprica 9 161. Faztickle 8 162. Frahliso 8 163. Jayrusalem 8 164. Lievant 8 165. Palmyra 8 166. Tyronosaurusland 8 167. Astoria 7 168. PoisonVine Bay 7 169. Aprogonia 6 170. Jamora 6 171. New Alba 6 172. Priceville 6 173. Budtar 5 174. Jukianië 5 175. Enty 3 176. Spila 3 177. Camdonia 2 178. Inner Massivia 2 179. Llewandia 2 180. ChrIseland 1 The stunning harp piece from Skall eases to our gold medal this month, an otherworldly moment that deserved full support, as Skall move up into the top 30 on our leaderboard. We were also impressed by our silver medallist Herbilore's Anne Hathaway, and the debuting New Helvetica, who immediately sit on our podium at the first opportunity with a beautiful piece of storytelling. Freidland’s already iconic entry Red Card was well-timed for World Cup season, and is awarded with 12 points, while yet another brilliant entry this year from Land of DW sees them score 11 points. Four nations in our all-time top 10 score this month, with third placed Aeroche leading the way with 8 points. Danæviia get 7, Hendinia take 2, and FARC get 5, which is enough to lift them back to 7th place past the absent Summericia. Finally, Bronzil’s Baby Jane follows a commiseration and 1 point scored from her last two entries with… another 1 point; she is certainly consistent.

Skall, what a beauty, would be such a fantastic winner, and not one I'd ever dreamt could ever do it as I said in that other thread, but easily my favourite here.

Freidland definitely deserved higher but techno like that won't be to everyone's tastes so I never thought it was quite in the mix to win, but did hope it would be top ten.

Another legendary one from The Kiffness too:

Could still go about 15 ways but I imagine Elëdan are about to have a nice time.

The same song which is clearly alt catnip is missing from a large number of the alt votes. Not too hard to work out which one is about to have a mega rise later.

Where is the pop bloc this month exactly?

Deep Blue (something) for 1996.

Also interesting to see the two sides of the Rod Stewart single both appearing on the same album. And T-Rex on the main album unlike 1972, I wonder if the licensing for them freed up at some point between the main and Extra 1972 albums, as it seems odd they weren't on the main album for that year. Not sure I've ever seen My Sweet Lord on any compilation.

I doubt anyone will be racking 1971 next to 1991 at home so is fine by me. What are your highlights from the tracklist? For me there seems to be a lot of strong classics on here, nice to see the UK Eurovision song on here, I guess the winner might be on the Extra as it went top ten in the UK. A good half of the songs I don't know so lots to discover.

That is quite a closing duo of songs That looks very comprehensive tbf, My Sweet Lord is the only missing No.1.

Thanks for running once more Jade, Biology would have been my preferred winner but an undeniable top two of course. What You Waiting For was such a fantastic song, like Biology so unusual in its structure. Why do all the cool songs stall at No.4. Toxic is a classic but definitely not my Britney favourite, or actually in my top five. Still, I can't argue with it winning, it's a standout pop single.

The Baby Jane song feels on the same level as the prior couple to me which came 10th. Nevertheless, the hype is here for it so it looks like it's coming for a big improvement. RontBet is shortening Skall odds to 6/1 (third favourite after joint Hendinia and Bronzil) and lengthening poor Yehesi out to 12/1 due to the votes they'll be missing.

Daz robbed. Heart, imagination, colour and fun. All things that can't be said about the cover of Somethin' Stupid, which gets my vote again.

Will go with Will this time as it's close with others and Grace was way better despite peaking much lower.

Domino I did like more at the time than I do now, and it is one of Jessie's stronger efforts. I wouldn't skip it if it came on now but probably wouldn't actively play it. Young definitely isn't a favourite, would be bottom ten for me I'm sure. Found it quite an average example of club pop that was simply a success due to Tulisa's profile at the time and not due to the song being anything spectacular.

Good luck hearing a boombox playing a ballad over 82,500 screaming football fans.

Skall is amazing, I just didn't dare to dream hard enough. Go on pop bloc, vote for it, you know you want to.

Nice, I've actually been lucky enough to see her so many times live in the last few years that it doesn't feel as essential for me to rush to get tickets, however the fact she is finally coming to my hometown Brighton is amazing. I no longer live there but tempted to go back for a night just to see her in the Dome <3 Hope the demand is there to sell out venues like that and The Palladium, they're not small.

Honestly this is my favourite Taylor single since the 1989 era. I'm still addicted to it, it's just so gorgeous to listen to. It has such a fragility and nostalgia to it that chimed so beautifully with the film.

Even so, I would say 1 is harsh when it's an improvement on the last release, aside from perhaps a few missing dance songs they may not have had any control over. I know people hand out 1-star reviews to make a point when they're unhappy, most people leave either 1 or 5-star reviews on restaurants for example, and that's fair enough if you truly hate something, but this while it has some bad spots is by no means a 1. We could have had 40 fillers and no hits, for example. But we got two No.1s by major stars and a lot of nice songs on Disc 1 especially. There aren't enough casual consumers reviewing these albums on iTunes anymore to offer balance, so we just end up with every new Now release getting a terrible average score. This really can't help the optics and must be putting people off buying them. They haven't released many true 1-star albums imo although for lack of imagination the recent Power Ballads spin-off would be (although more for 100% repeated songs from the series and not the quality of the actual songs featured on it).

That's a great buy. I finally got hold of Now 19 last year for £25 secondhand and felt like that was a bargain! In other news, my iTunes review for Now 124 is finally live and has dragged the average rating up from 1 to 2.5 stars. Anyone with an iTunes account, do feel free to add your own reviews if you feel it is worth more than 1 (which objectively it is if you compare the tracklist to the charts and what they had at their disposal to include), and let's try and keep this series going, at least until the Yearbooks are done!

It's not in the top 50 airplay chart anymore. If anything I haven't heard Rein Me In that much on the radio while it's been No.1, I heard it far more last year when it was first released or in the lower end of the top ten and actually playlisted by the major stations. I would wager that the fact it is not overplayed on radio is helping keep its streaming profile so high as people like it and are still seeking it out.

Now 42 was the first I bought and I remember picking it up in Little Chef (!) the day before official release. I was obsessed with it, but then even more addicted to Now 43, which at the time was the only place to get the radio edit of Better Off Alone by Alice Deejay (the CD single had only club mixes). That remains my favourite compilation ever, summer 1999 was just magic for music to my tastes. I have never missed buying a Now album on its week of release since. It has certainly helped to diversify my music taste over the years, and listen to things that were out of my usual wheelhouse. Even today I still find the odd discovery on there, although I can't remember the last time I found something I really love. More than anything I really have appreciated having a reliable, affordable way to get many of the year's biggest hits without having to shell out loads of money for all the CD singles or, later, downloads. While the winter editions tend to be the largest selling and often contain the bigger hits, traditionally I have often most enjoyed the summer editions, full of dance hits and Eurohits, and just feel good music. Now 43, Now 46, Now 49, Now 52 and Now 55 was an incredible run, and Now 64 and Now 70 were amazing too. More recently, Now 115 if we ignore Lewis Capaldi and David Kushner had my three favourite songs of the year in the opening five tracks in Miracle, Tattoo and Padam Padam <3 And was just a strong album overall.

I think the George/Wham! licensing stipulation has changed more recently than 2019 though. Obviously the Queen Disc 1, Track 1 stipulation is decades old at this point, but George seems to only be in the last five years, since Jenny left. Rihanna was very prolific in those years Ashley was compiling, so I think if he had the license then he probably wanted to make sure she was on there.