ThePensmith

Mark Goodier for me. He was my host when I started listening to the top 40 way back in 1996, and for me, he still encapsulates what it is to be the perfect host for the show. Even when he ran down the top 10 with Greg James for Radio 1's 50th anniversary in 2017, he still had it. He had the tone just right; building excitement for running down the chart and unveiling the number one that week, but never selling himself at the expense of the records or mocking listener's tastes (something I feel particularly strongly about. It's a news show with music in essence and that's what you have to treat it as and why the editorial at Radio 1 has mostly got the style of the show catastrophically wrong since he left 20 years ago). After that I'd say Scott Mills, he's probably the closest in sound and style to Mark. Although I did have a soft spot for Jameela Jamil. Any lady who sings "All Of Me" by John Legend to a pizza with sincerity is my kinda girl.

Then that's just even worse. I wouldn't mind betting that this is a direct result of wanting to make time for album signings on release week before someone somewhere realised "Oh f*** but we can't". In which case, whoever did their contingency planning for this tour and album release needs a pay cut immediately!

Can I just interject and ask at this point - was the M&G sold with the ticket or separately? I just wondered cause when Blue did their tour last year, the M&Gs were sold as a seperate add on from the tickets from what I recall. Either way it's not looking like a good move on their part.

That's a massive con! So sorry to hear this Slayer. As Yobnedor has said if you paid via credit card absolutely go for a charge back. Looks especially bad when they've not even explained why!

Definitely got the right idea with support acts then, all from the same era which would make it a draw for casuals! I loved Chip (née Chipmunk) back in the day anyway so I'd be here for seeing him support them.

08.5 Rule The World 07.5 Colours 11.0 Glad You Came 09.0 All Time Low 08.0 Chasing The Sun 09.0 Heart Vacancy 10.0 Gold Forever 10.0 Lose My Mind 06.0 Lightning 06.0 We Own The Night 03.0 I Found You 01.0 Walks Like Rihanna 07.0 Warzone 04.5 Show Me Love (America) 07.0 Could This Be Love 06.5 Remember (Acoustic) 06.0 Glow In The Dark 05.0 Heartbreak Story

On balance, whilst "I Hate You When You're Drunk" absolutely wasn't single material (I genuinely don't see how that and "Die Of A Broken Heart" were even considered frontrunners when "Dancing On Cars" and "Go Ghost" were literally right there. It says it all that the latter in particular wasn't performed at the arenas or the summer shows), I cannot deny that on tour, "...Drunk" absolutely popped off. Especially at the "Na na na" bit. Idiot proof crowd interaction at its finest. Hopefully at least the crowd reaction to it has sweetened it for him because I do remember him being upset that people had taken it the wrong way when that wasn't the intention at all. With a year's distance, it's still an album of two halves for me. And again, I feel working with the same producer for the whole album is the reason for that. David Stewart and Jessica Agombar should have only been on board for a handful of tracks, not the whole album. Anyway, whenever we do get an album next I imagine it won't be until end of next year at the earliest. He seems pretty keen to start having a family with Amelia. That said, I'd be here for Murs Fest that he did on his wedding weekend as a thing, mind!

Oooh now this I'd actually be here for. I do recall from an interview JB did quite recently when he was promoting his kid's book that there's talk of possible summer shows next year so I wonder if it's this?

I saw the penultimate show of the summer tour dates in Colchester last night (it finishes tonight in Plymouth). Such a special night and he still absolutely kicks it: tEL1zC7dl6A J-9v_Idya7M xf0cofVYrRQ Meanwhile, in news that is not necessarily surprising, it would appear that he is no longer with EMI. If you search on their website under their artists, he's not listed there anymore. Given that they did the sum total of flap all once the album actually charted, picked the wrong singles and barely did any music videos from this era, this is sad but not surprising. That said, it was a joint release through his own ICYDK Ltd, which makes me wonder if it was just a licensing deal for distribution and retailing? I can say with a year's distance that I'm surprised he went with them. He should have gone with BMG. Hopefully it's where he goes on the next album whenever that might be. Also worth a look, this podcast he did with a good friend of mine talking about songwriting and how some of his biggest hits were crafted. So awesome to have an in depth interview like this just solely about the music: eznhFSpgzmc

What an absolutely idiotic ruling re: signed CD singles. Do the OCC have any idea what they're doing, when they're the ones who were trumpeting it's revival just shy of two years ago (https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/cd-single-sales-surge-in-the-uk-as-ed-sheeran-abba-coldplay-and-more-return-to-the-format__34089) and are basically killing off the incentive to do them stone dead? Why should other artists who were doing them - Leigh-Anne for one, Craig David for another as he did one for "Who You Are" with MNEK - suffer just because of Lewis Capaldi? It's just not fair.

Didn't want to link to The S*n so sharing this here: I mean I know it's only one single but I'm so here for this regardless! Loved *NSYNC and I still do.

That quadrant of #1s from 2000 - All Saints, Madge, LeAnn Rimes, DC. Runs rings around almost all the rest of that list. I also now have a strong urge to watch Coyote Ugly. #hellnoh2o

Don't let's not even get started with how much McFly trash their old eras. Room On The 3rd Floor is 20 next year, and whilst in my head I know what I'd like to see, the reality will probably be quite different 🤣

It was always credited as Tinchy Stryder featuring N-Dubz when it came out, wasn't it? It's funny actually cause I had "Number 1" on again quite recently, it's still a great track, no surprises it's their bestseller. I'm seeing Tinchy in October as it happens cause he's just been announced as support act for JLS for their new tour. PS Glad you had a nice time meeting them yesterday Slayer!

Do you think we'll get a TV performance anywhere anytime soon? Strictly's gonna be back on in a month's time so I'm thinking launch show might be a springboard if they go for it.

Of course the Hate Mail will want to try and portray Simon Fuller as the innocent party in all of this (multimillionaires etc). When - let's call a spade a spade - Hannah is absolutely in the right here. He can't still treat them like it's 25 years ago in terms of their renumeration. I call planted bulls*** from 19 on this.

Her latest newsletter that went out yesterday confirms that an as yet unnamed venue in London has been booked for Saturday 13th April next year, with tickets going on sale end of September. I imagine that's when we'll be getting pre-orders etc!

As I said on the Hannah book thread, it's patently obvious to me that the issue here is neither her or the rest of the band. It's Simon Fuller. Of course we'll just have to wait a few more months to see what the book brings but my gut feeling is that he's at the centre of what's happened here since Paul died. And I agree with you Slayer, it's not nice for the rest of the band to have to be answering questions about articles from "sources" when they're wanting to focus on the tour and promote a single which obviously has a really personal meaning to them all. (Although side note, I was legit expecting a Highgate mum PR rep from 19 Management to come storming in a la Liquid News when Craig started asking about it)

Not strictly true what their first album lost to, because it didn't actually peak at #2 until February 2003, after "Year 3000" came out, and then again after "Sleeping With The Light On" came out in late August 2003. On both occasions, they were stopped by Justin Timberlake ("Justified") and Eva Cassidy ("American Tune").

Also confirmed as "Record Of The Week" at Radio 2 all next week as well!

15 years, wow. I remember watching their first TV performance in the dresses from the video - forget what the show was called now. Some short lived thing sponsored by a phone company, because 2008 🤣 I so wish they'd just get back and do just one more tour and the greatest hits on vinyl, that's all I'd need. I'm sure Rochelle can take five minutes away from being a shampoo and M&S #bossqueen for that.

Full digital EP out today:

Olly got married weekend before last to Amelia, pictures are in Hello magazine this week:

I saw her yesterday at Flackstock, the festival in memory of Caroline Flack that's now in its second year. The performance of "Together Again" was such a special one, thought I'd share it here: kXskHaXiKrk She also did "Super Magic" and "Stay": DZuDNDni2cw 6X_enyEblKE

Tinchy Stryder has been confirmed as support act today: rAnTpgIlu5c