John_Squire

Alexandra best, Shayne worst.

Something more Christmassy would be more apt than RATM, but I'm happy if it gets the #1 (which it won't) People shouldn't be so defensive about the X-Factor, etc. The show itself IS good, and produces good singers (though never good first singles for the winners - Shayne's, Leona's and Leon's being crap, Alexandra's being the best and her version of Hallelujah isn't brilliant, just OK). What's a pile of crap is that it's practically guaranteed the #1 Christmas (and New Year) single spot. The only way the X-Factor winner wouldn't get the Xmas #1 is if a massive charity single was out - like Band Aid 20 and I'm not even sure if that would stop the winner nowadays, X-Factor seems a hell of a lot more popular than it did five years ago. Simon Cowell associated acts being practically guaranteed success is no more cynical or depressing than any big marketing machine driving a new act into the market, then ruthlessly dropping them. Think of the many boy- and girl-groups in the late 90s/early 00s who had a hit or two the were dropped. Hell, even go as far back as the Monkees for manufactured acts with 'instant' success. The major problem I have with the winners is that the show doesn't seem to try hard enough. Each and every year they produce a lukewarm ballad, inferior to the original version if it's a cover. (Not sure if Shayne's was a cover but it was awful anyway) 'Hallelujah' is a brilliant song, yet Alexandra's, though quite good, wasn't the best version in the charts last Christmas. Now we have a cover of an alright song which, in my opinion, is just another lukewarm ballad. Joe seems like a nice guy but he won't have a major mainstream pop career for long if his team give him songs like 'The Climb' all the time. Simon, Louis, and whoever else runs the show obviously have contacts with great songwriters. Diane Warren? Xenomania? Cathy Dennis? If they have acts like George Michael and Macca performing it surely can't be too hard to get great stars to write the bloody winning song! How hard would it be to craft an original, possibly up- or at least mid-tempo, or even Christmassy song? If the winner's song is picked long before the final, to make it fair, etc, then they could stop being so f***ing complacent! Does Simon actually enjoy listening to the music that the winners produce? If the argument is that it would take too long to do, or that it may not suit the winner's voice, then: produce more than one new song. Not hard! You've got a whole year! Additionally: $h!t videos! If you watch the show, you've seen their original audition and the 'journey' to the final loads of times, if not, there's Youtube! Make a half decent video even if it's a bit cliched, not simple standing interspersed with old footage!!!

'Innocent' is probably my favourite single of theirs for a while. Certainly the best since Superman. They've gone downhill a bit I guess (though tbh the 2001-3 period had some stinkers amongst the good songs, whereas 2005 was damn good) but didn't deserve to flop as badly with this album.

Whacked a vote on the Boyle column :) The Fame? Really? It's got good songs yes, but it sort of melts into itself, with the tracks becoming samey and boring. I'd probably give it 6/10 maximum.

^ True, but X-Factor and Novelty singles still sell lots of physicals, and more places stock them than usually sell singles too. Does anyone have a breakdown of all the downloads/physicals sold by X-Factor winners?

^ No, it went top 10 :S i'll get it 'cos I don't have Melting Pot.

Smiths :wub: :wub: supremacy of all the indie bands Teardrop explodes - julian cope right? isn't he welsh? heard not much of them echo & the bunnymen - again not heard much but like what I have joy division/new order - like some of no, need to hear more jd

the thing is re: walsh and cowell, picking pretty boys, well, shayne (their latest flame) ain't all that nice. Ugly guys, hit songs: Lemmy (the obvious one) Lou Reed (not ugly but heroin washed him out so much) David Bowie Elton John Janis Joplin

16 Michael Jackson – The Way You Make Me Feel 2 The Streets – When You Wasn’t Famous 5 Morrissey – You Have Killed Me 6 Andy Abraham - Hang Up 27 David Gray – Alibi 12 Editors – All Sparks 19 Depeche Mode – Suffer Well 7 The Kooks – Naïve 10 Prince/Tamar feat. Prince – Black Sweat/Beautiful, Loved & Blessed 22 Jet - I Only Like You When I'm High BONUS QUESTIONS: 1)Will Michael Jackson be top ten? no 2)Where will Kelly Clarkson - Walk Away currently be on the chart? 40 3)Will Madonna - sorry still be top 20? yes just imo #20 (each question worth 2 points)

Shirley Bassey - in 1999 also making her 62 I believe. and umm lemme think yeah tina turner in 2004 she was 64/65 Winifred Atwell?? born 1914 I don't know if she had a hit in the 70s Esther Ofarim? as in Cinderella Rockafella (hell no she was only 27 ignore that) Gracie fields? vera Lynn? Scratch all this as I didnt read page 1 and was too late anyway

I STILL haven't got Folklore. I kept dithering as I was in and out of :wub: with the singles and I never got round toit. I'll get both together...

It's good but not their best.

1 (1) Where Do You Go To My Lovely – Peter Sarstedt :wub: :wub: 2 (2) I Heard It Through The Grapevine – Marvin Gaye - good song 15 (11) (If Paradise Is) Half As Nice – Amen Corner - welsh!!!!! 21 (19) Windmills Of Your Mind – Noel Harrison :wub: :wub: thomas crown affair 22 (22) Boom Bang-A-Bang - Lulu :lol: not bad song actually 28 (40) Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da - Marmalade - bit nauseating lol 31 (38) Lily The Pink – The Scaffold - :lol: novelty crap but not awful 34 (24) Albatross – Fleetwood Mac - sainsbury's love it 36 (New) Everyday People – Sly and the Family Stone - like it 37 (New) Pinball Wizard – The Who - like this too 39 (New) The Israelites – Desmond Dekker and the Aces :wub:

100k ABSOLUTE MAXIMUM I'd say just under 20k this past week, could be just over. 12-15 this week 10+ the next week and theres your 50k and about 25k more depending when it's deleted.

Love it :wub: Great that it's gone up to #2