Jaz13music

Yeah Take My Breath Away is excellent. I have a special attachment to it as well because it was the ‘first dance’ song at my wedding! Your top 2 are the same as mine, but in which order?

I meant their chart runs, not a comment on the songs qualities! 🤣

Choosin’ Texas is going to be another Rein Me In isn’t it!

Apologies if someone’s already mentioned this, but is Wonderwall the biggest selling (not streaming) UK non number one, or is it still Moves Like Jagger.

On The Floor is certainly catchy with that sample, it’s not my favourite of this year but I definitely enjoy it.

I didn’t really like The Final Countdown at the time, I’m much happier to hear it nowadays. Fun synth stadium rock that certainly isn’t taking itself too seriously. If I remember the ‘86 number ones correctly I love all your top 3 songs, I’m now just wondering if you’ll put them in the same order as me?!

Billy Joel with another of his great run of singles. One of Howard Jones most underrated songs. Jump is a great euphoric stadium synth rock. Politics Of Dancing is really unique sounding My Ever Changing Moods is probably my favourite of these, a lovely jazzy summery sound. Get Out Of Your Lazy Bed is also jazzy, but this time more uptempo and energetic. I have a bit of a soft spot for Joanna too, with its lovely lilting melody.

Yeah I agree, I’d put Nicole 5th of the remaining ones. That doesn’t mean I don’t like it though, a really catchy song that I’m happy to hear out in the real world. My 2 favourites are still yet to come!

Bonnie 😢

I’ve always enjoyed Chain Reaction, a great later career high point for Diana. More proof of the Bee Gees fantastic song writing though

I really like Price Tag, more now than when it was released I think. It has an infectious energy and a good message.

Yeah there’s some great songs here. Soul Train’s gorgeous jazz, Radio Gaga’s giant stadium rock, Street Dance’s groundbreaking sounds. Let The Music Play has great energy. I’ve always loved Somebody’s Watching Me and it’s quirky vocals, though it is a bit overplayed each halloween nowadays. 99 Red Balloons would be my favourite of these, though I agree with the many saying the original in German is best. Wouldn’t It Be Good is an excellent pop song. I also have a soft spot for Michael Caine and Madness’s career pivot to more ‘serious’ sounds and subjects. They have a single coming up in ‘85 that wasn’t as successful but that I absolutely love, we’ll get to that eventually I suppose.

Give Me Everything is a big dumb fun song, still enjoyable. My biggest favourites are still to come, I wonder if you’re picking the same top 3 as me?!!

Oh no, I’ve just read that Party Rock Anthem’s vocalist Lauren Bennett has died aged only 37. So sad. RIP 😢.

Papa Don’t Preach was the song I was thinking of when I thought there was one of my favourite Madonna number ones still to come. Excellent story telling and emotive vocals wrapped up in great pop song. I think it marked the moment it became obvious she was heading for a long lasting commercially successful, but also critically acclaimed, career.

I quite like Kesha, she had her sound with the autotune and the energy, but this wouldn’t be a favourite of hers. Read All About It is a bit Eminem/Rihanna lite, though I do like Emeli’s vocals on this.

Oh Hometown Glory is my favourite Adele single too! Great minds and all that.

Not quite reaching the heights of the last group, in fact there’s a few I had to miss off the 5 I chose in that section that would beat these. Still great songs though! The Style Council - My Ever Changing Moods Sade - Your Love Is King The Special AKA - Nelson Mandela Thompson Twins - You Take Me Up Scritti Politti - Wood Beez (Pray Like Aretha Franklin)

Another great group, what a start to ‘84. Killing Moon would also be my favourite, fantastic, moody and also cinematic! Break My Stride is fun and unusual. Heaven is indeed lovely. What Difference.. is great, though not among my favourite Smiths early songs, it has a meatier sound that I liked them using. I think it’s often forgotten, among their jangle pop reputation, how heavy their sound could get. They were my absolute favourite band as a teenager, and there’s loads of of fantastic stuff to come from them. Holiday is great and obviously important, but like you it’s not one of my favourite Madonna songs. Hyperactive is a perfect title for that song, very quirky and unique

Sorry, I won’t be able to make the listen though tonight (I’m at the Rugby League Magic Weekend) x

A lovely George ballad, beautifully sung if not quite my favourite of his. I suspect 7th would be roughly where I would put it too.

Here’s another estimated rolling chart of the 40 best sellers for the 12 months to the end of June ‘26 (Q2). As always thanks to Julian for his excellent sales data, and any corrections or comments are very welcome! Olivia Dean ~ Man I Need 2.440m Huntr/x ~ Golden 2.070m Alex Warren ~ Ordinary 1.924m Sam Fender and Olivia Dean ~ Rein Me In 1.910m Raye ~ Where Is My Husband! 1.470m Taylor Swift ~ The Fate Of Ophelia 1.470m Olivia Dean ~ Nice To Each Other 1.365m Disco Lines and Tinashe ~ No Broke Boys 1.180m Olivia Dean ~ So Easy (To Fall In Love) 1.160m Dave ~ Raindance (feat. Tems) 1.110m Sabrina Carpenter ~ Manchild 1.100m Sombr ~ 12 to 12 1.090m Sombr ~ Back To Friends 1.068m Ravyn Lenae ~ Love Me Not 1.022m Chappell Roan ~ Pink Pony Club 0.930m Taylor Swift ~ Opalite 0.900m Sombr ~ Undressed 0.895m Benson Boone ~ Beautiful Things 0.870m Justin Bieber ~ Daises 0.870m Killers ~ Mr Brightside 0.790m Goo Goo Dolls ~ Iris 0.790m Fleetwood Mac ~ Dreams 0.770m Zara Larsson ~ Lush Life 0.769m Bella Kay ~ iloveitiloveitiloveit 0.763m PinkPantheress ~ Stateside 0.750m Teddy Swims ~ Lose Control 0.740m Tame Impala ~ Dracula 0.710m Djo ~ End Of Beginning 0.703m Sienna Spiro ~ Die On This Hill 0.690m Fleetwood Mac ~ Everywhere 0.650m Dominic Fike ~ Babydoll 0.640m Myles Smith ~ Stargazing 0.620m Zara Larsson ~ Midnight Sun 0.590m Olivia Dean ~ Dive 0.577m Bruno Mars ~ I Just Might 0.575m Michael Jackson ~ Billie Jean 0.546m Sombr ~ Homewrecker 0.545m Olivia Dean ~ A Couple Minutes 0.540m Olivia Dean ~ Baby Steps 0.500m Hozier ~ Too Sweet 0.500m Of note, Ordinary finally loosens its iron grip at the top of these rolling charts, having been ahead since the end of Q3 in ‘25. Of course it’s Olivia Dean who takes over at the top with Man I Need, ‘selling’ amazingly close to 2.5 million in just 12 months. Her fantastically successful last 12 months also gives her a total of 7 songs in this top 40.

I’m not a fan of this, nor Olly with his cheeky chappie, ‘bit of a lad’ persona, same as Robbie Williams. This one is a poor attempt at a 50s throwback.

Rock Me Amadeus isn’t one of my favourites of the year but it certainly feels unique and stands out from the crowd, which a lot of the ‘86 number ones do to be fair! A very eclectic bunch.

Next single from the album, the brilliant Pin Up Boys out this week!