Smint

Why such a big fall for Perry Como's version of 'It's Beginning to Look a Lot like Christmas' I wonder? Not that it would change my life but seems strange when this is the biggest week for Christmas songs.

Although the Lib Dems have, perhaps inevitably, gone quiet about re-joining the EU, they have more progressive policies than the main two parties about trans rights, asylum and disability. They get absolutely no coverage in the press - partly due to the lack of interest in the leader (although the last one, arguably two) had more negative than reactions than positives. But I think it's mainly because the media is even more partisan than 10 years or so ago. Hope they get shed loads of seats off the Tories in their preferred areas.

Massive jump for Fatboy Slim - surprised as not had hits for years (and doubt that Rita Ora thing would have helped his voting) but well deserved!

Yes like everybody was surprised that 'Groovejet' wasn't over a million if 'Murder' was as that felt more iconic but not being on streaming platforms hurt it.

Anyway the system that is used to elect the Democratic and Republican nominees in the most convoluted, complicated BONKERS system ever. What with caucuses, primaries, some states having delegates proportionally and some being winner takes all, plus the infamous superdelegates. And that's just selecting the candidates - the actual election makes the UK's FPTP be a beacon of fairness - still ridiculous that Hillary Clinton can get more than 3 million votes more than Trump and not be president in 2016.

Great write ups. Nikki Haley does come over as a good communicator and refreshing to see a woman do well in the Republican base but her rhetoric against immigrants, Palestinians, trans people etc etc is hideous and she is just as much a danger as all the other ones. Her recent denial of slavery being a factor in the US Civil War was pretty low.

I like to do weights about four days a week including 2 sessions with a Personal Trainer. I'm reluctant to do free weights and they gym I go to is such, I'm unlikely to fined a buddy so the trainer means I can try deadlifts and benchpresses. I also like to do the odd spin class at the gym and 5km Parkrun. I used to be able to do 5k in 25.5 mins but gone up to over 31 since Covid (don't run anything like as much as I did a few years back). Big thing would be to lose body fat too - I love sweet stuff and carbs generally too much but feel like I'm in the zone for it and after a family dinner on Sunday have a good month of no sweet treats, crisps and really reduce bread.

Surprised that Madonna doesn't rack up big streams considering how huge she was for a good 20 years or so from her debut and how much her songs were on the radio. Is it an older woman not being appreciated thing?

Oh love me some Noah and the Whale - I saw them just before they became big at the Camden Crawl festival. They were absolutely awesome. '5 Years Time' and 'Shape of My Heart' (not a Backstreet Boys cover but even better) are my favourite two but all their albums are worth a listen. Was pleasantly surprised they got a second big hit after nothing from their second album took off.

Yes heard about ending the EOY even earlier this year which annoyed me as I love following the rolling EOY chart videos on You Tube and watching new records inch their way up (sad I know!) In a way this list is better than the UK one in terms of being less stale, due to the fact that it only counts "sales" for a song if it's in the charts and the recurrence rules excludes vast majority of very old songs, apart from some very successful tracks like 'Cruel Summer' and the Christmas songs. Quality wise on the other hand.... :P

Genuinely am surprised by those who say that Trump will definitely win the next election considering he lost badly in 2020 and he's even more insane and proven to be a criminal. Yes a few polls have him ahead over Biden but that can be just mid term blues - it's not Starmer level of lead over Sunak. I predict that Labour will win but on a low turnout and throughout the campaign he won't offer any concessions to the left and does crap like praise Thatcher, go anti trans etc etc...the right wing press will attack but not full force as they know Sunak is a dud. Braverman or Badenoch to take over the Conservatives afterwards but they are warming the seat for Farage sadly. Immigration and anti asylum rhetoric will be normalised with far right figures such as Douglas Murray (who is already there), Tommy Robinson, Katie Hopkins etc being normalised in right wing media. Trans people will have a terrible year too but not quite as demonised as asylum seekers. The cost of living crisis will still be horrific but like the climate change will be pretty much ignored by the media despite being the elephant in the room.

dp

Loved loved loved "A Grand Don't Come For Free' by The Streets all the way through. Would have given him a few points if I remembered him.

Don't you have to be born in Northern Ireland or have an Irish grandparent? I've never actually been to either Northern Ireland or Ireland and no relatives so zilch chance for me.

Yes this feels like a much truer representation of the year, even despite two of my faves (Jvke and Lizzie) being lower. Just more current. Feels wrong not having Kenya or Billie top 40. Thanks for posting.

I love Leonard Cohen's electronic 'I'm Your Man' album from 1988 and 'Everybody Knows' is one of the best ever songs never to make the top 40. I really need to listen to more Aphex Twin music. He has such a great reputation.

I genuinely find the first charts of the year more interesting as the tracks that were pushed down due to Christmas in December sound fresh again. Plus loads of new ones coming through to check out - Teddy Swims, Weeknd, JID/21, Central Cee. Nice to see Hozier and Sophie back in top 50 - not so keen on Kanye. But no-one seems cancellable nowadays.

It's all pathetic isn't it? I'm going to have to get my new passport tomorrow - and it's going to be a shitty black/blue one (mind you we could have had that colour if we really wanted to whilst we were in the EU, another complete lie). But it means waits for ages at airports where other EU members can seal through. But our Government and Opposition won't say the truth about how bad Brexit was all these years on.

I really thought that all of the second album Lewis Capaldi singles were dreadful, especially 'Pointless'. Shame as loved 'Before You Go' and 'Hold me When You Wait' and although I didn't personally love it, 'Bruises' was really interesting. Such a shame the deterioration in quality.

Lol. Just realised Prada is at 4 on Apple (without Christmas) and ready for New Year defrosting......

Dunno. Think her star has faded somewhat with '30'

Anyway, can't remember if Boxing Day streams are still completely dominated by Christmas songs or do we have to wait one more day? Whatever, soon we'll have normal songs back in the Spotify top 50 and interesting to see what new ones emerge.

Oh all this ancient, boomer easy listening playlist crap is so tedious - Bobby Helms, Brenda Lee, Dean Martin, Ronettes..all of them bore me senseless. Hope Ariana can go top 10 officially and Sam does get no.1. Let's hear it for the young ones!

Wow thought both Gary and Lewis would be way higher - not that I voted for them. Liked both 'Attention' and 'How Long' from Charlie Puth.

Twitter is an absolute cesspit - I would say that it would be great if people just moved to Threads but Meta has it's own problems (like shadowbanning pro Palestinian content). Just hope offline people are a bit more sympathetic.