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decided to do a little validation of the values in the Google Sheet for posterity's sake and indeed the poster higher up in the sheet got there first, their request reached Google's servers 132 milliseconds before the second one. -
There's often a couple of 'definitely not alternative' artists on the list; and the winner hasn't often gone to the most commercial looking artists anyway. Would have hoped for Gorillaz but with their history with the award wouldn't have expected them there.
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'Twilight' was also the song I was expecting to appear a fair bit lower and defend; for me it'd be in the top... maybe not 5 because I think there are at least 5 number ones this year that are undeniably better than it but top 10. Very happy with that placement for it as I expect few people would have it so high given how forgotten it was. Also enjoyed 'Sparks' and a couple of other tracks off their album as well (though 'Lick Ya Down' is indeed terrible and after such a bad first impression it's a wonder that I latched onto them at all), I think I must have been one of a very few who actually bought that. Definitely also had Amanda in my signature at some point during 2012. Main reason I got into Cover Drive was at this point my pop instincts were still very much following Rihanna, Alexis Jordan, that kinda pop-RnB-lite thing and the Caribbean sound helped, 'Twilight' especially has a few really good instrumental flourishes that hold up well today, the best of theirs, though that beach bar description is very apt, probably what it was for most. A number one I'm glad... somehow... got to the top spot and one I still have a big soft spot for these days, still surprises me it ever managed it though. The rest to appear lately are very much... don't mind, that's not a bad charity single from Justice Collective and a worthy cause but as you say there is a limit to how good these kind of things can be to listen to for entertainment purposes.
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Congratulations Harve, it's always a rare treat to have your 18 winning but though I kinda called it, amazing to see it happening with 7 others alongside me giving it the top marks and enough to win comfortably; utterly beautiful track and will go down as an excellent winner, long overdue after loving 'Pyrrhic' for years and of course Skall have had a few close calls that I wish had won over the years so great to see this one break through. Thanks for the great hosting all the way through Addy, unfortunate for me that I didn't do very well (undeserved, my song is still incredible) but I will aim to convince more people to pay attention to my song next contest x
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As always: Discussing current actually happening policy announcements >>> reliving the past. 20% cut on business rates for hospitality from next April announced this morning as Burnham's quickfire turns to helping out pubs and restaurants. The places people want to see in their communities, so far paid for by taxing those we don't want, e.g. vape shops, more. Excellent strategy.
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It's like these people weren't consciously aware of anything for the last decade given they resort to such old trite lines.
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Bus cap definitely being reduced to £2 got reported on today, starting from January excellent news. As I've said on it before, you need to encourage the use of public transport because it drives economic activity in other areas and eases the car burden on commercial centres. also Ed Miliband has one of the most impressive careers of any parliamentarian currently sitting in the house and has numerous great moments far more important than his election loss, I've not been banging on about him doing a stellar job at energy for the last 2 years for nothing - and the right-wing rags' seething hatred of him only confirms how right I am. they're also briefing about how Miatta Fahnbulleh called for net zero target to be accelerated, as if that's a bad thing.
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3 songs that I had almost completely forgotten about, 'R.I.P' I remember slightly more than the others because it's... okay, and Rita Ora has had more success in the intervening years though its Tinie feature is pointless and it is a bit flat as a pop song. 'This Is Love' and 'Young' I had completely memory-holed though and even now remembering them I have to agree that they're inoffensive but completely bland, not really many more stronger feelings than that, though I sort of remember hating 'Young' at the time just for being a bad example of a female pop song, not a hatred that has survived the years due to its falling into complete irrelevance. There's ... okay breakdowns very typical of the era on both but no reason to seek these out over the more accomplished and interesting examples of those styles. I think I prefer N-Dubz and Dappy to Tulisa's output honestly, at least they had an... identity with their songs. Had forgotten Tulisa had a real round of promotion for a year as well, those Spotify streams are telling.
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Very pleased that both Rayner and Haigh are back in, both of their previous departures from cabinet felt like they were media laser-focusing against powerful left-wing figures in the party, can't double jeopardy them now. Miatta hopefully is a decent replacement for Ed at energy, we'll see. Good in that Burnham's first round of policies, VAT from energy bills and possibly also business rates, as well as a floated returning the bus cap to £2 seem designed to be small quick wins that give people positive first impressions of his admin, something the Starmer administration spectacularly failed at.
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Miliband in as Foreign Sec, Mahmood stays at Home. We'll take that.
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That definitely smells like either Miliband or Mahmood would have made a lot of people angry so he went for the compromise. I don't know much about him beyond his brief stint as defence secretary but perhaps indicative of Burnham wanting to keep himself and himself alone as the main government personality.
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Burnham now in. Big policies he's talked up so far include ending rough sleeping, raising the personal allowance and otherwise tackling the cost of living. Sounds like he wants to make a big impact and have a clear dividing line from the past, a little bit 'just do good things and don't do bad things so far' but so far so okay. Great Cabinet changes so far, Reeves, Reed, Lammy, Kyle, Kendall all out is excellent, Labour Right smarmy talk-downers for the most part. One I was quite sad to see was James Timpson gone from prison ministers, the first announced this morning, though perhaps there's significant enough overhaul to that part of government that he'd now prefer to be on the outside.
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