Jaz13music

That’s a brilliant list! Here’s my top 40 (one song for each artist) I have a lot of overlaps with you. Once In a Lifetime — Talking Heads Don't You Want Me — The Human League Under Pressure (feat. David Bowie) — Queen Ghost Town — The Specials The Model — Kraftwerk Souvenir — Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Wordy Rappinghood — Tom Tom Club Stand and Deliver — Adam & The Ants O Superman — Laurie Anderson Rapture — Blondie One of Us — ABBA Everything's Gone Green — New Order Funeral Pyre — The Jam Start Me Up — The Rolling Stones Tainted Love — Soft Cell Vienna — Ultravox Reward — The Teardrop Explodes Can You Feel It — The Jacksons Happy Birthday — Stevie Wonder Fade to Grey — Visage I Could Be Happy — Altered Images One In Ten — UB40 Invisible Sun — The Police Woman — John Lennon Just Can't Get Enough — Depeche Mode It's My Party — Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin Good Year For the Roses — Elvis Costello & The Attractions Einstein a Go-Go — Landscape It Must Be Love — Madness Hold On Tight — Electric Light Orchestra Labelled With Love — Squeeze Chant No. 1 (I Don't Need This Pressure On) — Spandau Ballet Under Your Thumb — Godley & Creme Body Talk — Imagination Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl) — Haircut 100 In the Air Tonight — Phil Collins The Land of Make Believe — Bucks Fizz Girls on Film — Duran Duran Will You? — Hazel O’Connor Quiet Life — Japan ‘You may find yourself’ realising that Once In A Lifetime is the probably the greatest pop song ever made!

FGTH’s The Power Of Love is a great song and I thought Gabrielle’s version was nice enough if a bit flat and lacking the emotion of the original. As you’re approaching half way in your countdown, I took a sneaky peek at the remaining songs. There were some really great number ones in 2012, at least 10 I would rate highly are still to come, including one world beater that seems to get better year on year.

Oasis maybe? Definitely Maybe to What’s The Story.

A very consistent group, I’m going to have to do a lot of agreeing with you this time! Smalltown Boy is also my favourite, fantastic lyrics, vocals and music. Dancing.. is Bruce at his most accessible but is still great with its driving rhythm. Heaven Knows… is musically pretty but quite dark lyrically as the Smiths songs often were. I was/am still a massive fan, I bought pretty much everything they released in their short time together, this wouldn’t be among my absolute favourites but is still great. Dazzle is gorgeous. I agree Thinking Of You is one of the very best Sister Sledge songs, shame it wasn’t a huge hit, maybe a bit too understated for the GP? Wake Me Up.. is ubiquitous of course, but still brings a smile with its joyous music. You’re The Best Thing is a lovely laidback groove. One Better Day is one of the best ‘serious’ Madness songs, but they were becoming less successful seemingly with each release by now

Wor$t Girl is definitely one of the albums of the year, so this is exciting

Also I expect Olivia Dean and Raye will be in with a chance from the commercially successful releases too

Heatwave would be very appropriate for this summer! A goodish song, and though as others have mentioned, it’s no Wearing My Rolex, it gave the Godfather of Grime a well deserved number one so I’m very glad of that!

I’ll say it yet again, the wonderful Dove Ellis’ Blizzard album will win! Mary In The Junkyard is a great shout too Jade! Also Boards Of Canada, My New Band Believe and maybe Loathe (if it’s in the qualifying period)

He Ain’t Heavy… is definitely one of the better charity cover versions of this era, and it helps that the original song is also great.

RIP Bill Oddie. Wildlife presenter, broadcaster, comedian, writer, conservationist and sometimes songwriter, musician and pop star, died aged 85. One of my heroes. An absolute legend 😢

I too couldn’t remember Twilight until I listened again, but it’s actually not bad if not very memorable either. I wonder why it had the big opening week sales, was it just massive promotional tactics?

My latest favourite album, wonderful indie modern soul! Edit: Wasn’t really sure which genre to put it under (I’m rubbish at that sort of thing), please move if there’s something more appropriate!

Prince - When Doves Cry Echo And The Bunnymen - Seven Seas George Michael - Careless Whisper The Smiths - William, It Was Really Nothing Malcolm McLaren - Madam Butterfly (Un Bel Di Vedremo)

I’m afraid I’m going to be away for the 9th and 16th of August sessions too, so I guess I’ll be joining you all again in ‘85? Anyway just to say thanks for all your hard work in running this and the listen throughs. I’ve been really enjoying it since I got involved, with some lovely nostalgia and some new discoveries thrown in there too!

I agree I’d have How We Do as the middle of the three Rita Ora number ones in 2012, not unpleasant but not memorable either, though having her first 3 singles reaching number one is certainly good going. As you say, some of her later singles were better (I always maintain that Anywhere would have made a great Christmas number one). I find Little Things a bit boring I’m afraid, I much prefer 1Ds uptempo songs. I listened to it earlier today and still can’t recall how it goes now. Hope you have a great time at your festival @RabbitFurCoat, which one are you going to?

Slightly less to love here, topped by ‘Dancing…’ which is fantastic, definitely one of Ultravox’s best. Love Wars is lovely soulful music Break Machine with another rap song ahead of its time, if not quite as good as Street Dance. I have a soft spot for Let’s Hear It For the Boy’s upbeat pop.

I really can’t find anything much to like in Let Me Love You, it just seems to blend in with loads of songs from that era. I guess your ranking of it will be about the same as mine in the end.

My brother has gone into Nottingham to get a copy for me. Thanks so much @dandy*!

Domino is nice enough and uplifting, if a little overplayed at the time

Brilliant, thanks! I’ll give them a call

Incredible that Rein Me In will already be the birthday number one of 2026 for a third of us all, and there’s more to come! At this rate it could even be a half before it’s finished, there’s no end in sight yet!?

I couldn’t really remember Young, but on listening again it’s actually okay. A bit ‘of it’s time’ and doesn’t stand out much, but it’s energetic and I quite like Tulisa’s vocals

Hard to argue with One Love’s great message. Pearly Dewdrop’s Drop might be my favourite of these, gorgeous! The Reflex is one of the best DD songs, especially the intro I absolutely love, maybe the rest of the song doesn’t live up to it but it has a chaotic charm Footloose has lots of energy. Thieves Like Us is excellent, like pretty much every early New Order single I have a real soft spot for Automatic’s exuberant pop. Hand In Glove is good but not quite as good as the Smith’s original debut single. And ‘Weird Al’ is a genius in my eyes!

R.I.P. isn’t great, another pop-rap combination that was certainly wearing thin by this stage. Not memorable at all, after listening through this morning, I’ve forgotten it again!