Jaz13music

I’ve admitted before that I’m not a great fan of Bruno but this would be one of his better number ones

Relax would definitely be a 10 for me. An incredibly exciting groundbreaking sonic explosion, announcing the true arrival of the wonderful ZTT label. What a wonderful year they, Trevor Horn and FGTH would have. T shirt mission statements, fantastic videos, the whole package was brilliant and this was the just the start. There’s a lot of other great songs here too. Here Comes The Rain again is one of the Eurythmics best, really moody perfect synth pop. King Of Pain is one of my favourite Police singles, fantastic melody and harmonies. Wishful Thinking was indeed beautiful, while being perfectly understated. Love Is A Wonderful Colour is great, if not quite as brilliant as Birds Fly.

I love Reet Petite, what a great Christmas having both this and the Housemartins having a turn at the top. I agree, one of the very best uptempo 50s songs, it sounds way ahead of its time. The brass section is fantastic!

No Regrets is something I can take or leave, it’s nothing outstanding. I feel much the same about most of the output from the N-Dubz sphere (‘Number 1’ excepted of course)

Ah, now we’re into the good stuff! I was a big Housemartins fan during their short time as a band, and saw them live a couple of times. They made excellent pop with political themes and it was great to see them reach number one. They had a kind of tradition of putting an a capella cover version on their 12 inch singles and as part of radio sessions but I think this was the only one that became an A side. It has lovely positive pre Christmas vibes and great vocals, all the band could sing pretty well in their own right. Edit: I forgot to mention my little anecdote about the Housemartins. During their early days the original line up of the band slept on my friends bedroom floor after a local gig to save on accommodation costs!

RIP Village People frontman Victor Willis died aged 74. Trump associations with YMCA aside, he was a real icon. 😢. Maybe go for Go West for a tribute song on Sunday?

Heart Skips A Beat is pleasant enough but not outstanding. I just don’t think I ever really got Olly, he felt like a cut price Bruno Mars at times. I do think this is better than his other 2011 number one though, which I really don’t like.

Wow thanks! I’ve now got some reading to do to catch up with you, though I’m not surprised you ran out of steam for a bit, that’s a huge undertaking!

Have you covered ‘79 yet in any of your threads? I think, if pushed, I’d say that was my favourite year for music. It was like a coming together of the best of many genres, like punk, disco, new wave, synth etc in one brilliant concoction that felt like a blast of innovation. It was also the year I first bought records with my ‘own’ money and started making detailed chart records (though I had followed the charts before then). I suppose it’s a nostalgic period for me.

I really like Promises, I’d definitely have it a bit higher in the rankings. A treat to see dubstep getting some exposure.

I can’t say I like The Lady In Red, but I perhaps don’t hate it as much as many, though it’s a bit saccharine for me. Into the top 10 and I’ve now got a feeling yours is going to be (almost) the same as mine.

I really like Louder, great dubstep influence at the top of the charts and great vocals.

Had to make tough choices from this fantastic group of songs, I ended up with a shortlist of 20! Anyway here’s my 5 Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Relax The Police - King Of Pain Echo And The Bunnymen - The Killing Moon Nik Kershaw - Wouldn't It Be Good Nena - 99 Red Balloons

So in an alternate (non ACR) universe, we could be talking about Man I Need being the song that is threatening the longest number one record then?!

Sorry it’s a bit late but I wondered if you mind me recommending something for you @Iz様 🌟 (if you haven’t already heard of it). Since you’re a big Owl City (and maybe Postal Service) fan like me, I thought you might also like This Is Lorelei, the fantastic solo project of ‘Water from Your Eyes' Nate Amos, as I think they share a lot of similarities. I only remembered now as there’s a new album (The Singer In My Band) that’s just been announced. Anyway this is my current favourite song…

I do like the pure pop (1) direction they took for the debut single, even if they did copy the intro of ‘Summer Nights’. Though I can see even then they (Cowell) were aiming for an American market with it. Also, reading all the comments as the countdown goes on, I’m getting the feeling that I’m definitely in the minority that really doesn’t like ‘Moves Like Jagger’ at all. Pretty much every song that stopped it reaching number one is better than it!

Great work, always enjoyable, thanks Julian! My top 40 (with one song per artist) Billie Jean — Michael Jackson Blue Monday — New Order Rip It Up — Orange Juice Club Tropicana — Wham! This Charming Man — The Smiths Love on Your Side — Thompson Twins Our Lips Are Sealed — Fun Boy Three Dear Prudence — Siouxsie & The Banshees Double Dutch — Malcolm McLaren The Story of the Blues (Part 1) — Pete Wylie & The Mighty WAH! Give It Up — KC and the Sunshine Band The Lovecats — The Cure Every Breath You Take — The Police Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) — Eurythmics Total Eclipse of the Heart — Bonnie Tyler Nobody's Diary — Yazoo Down Under — Men At Work Never Never — The Assembly Long Hot Summer — The Style Council Wings of a Dove — Madness Karma Chameleon — Culture Club Oblivious — Aztec Camera Change — Tears for Fears 1999 — Prince Shipbuilding — Robert Wyatt The Crown (Part 1) — Gary Byrd & The G.B. Experience The Cutter — Echo & The Bunnymen The Last Film — Kissing the Pink Mama — Genesis Owner of a Lonely Heart — Yes Waterfront — Simple Minds 2000 Miles — Pretenders Too Shy — Kajagoogoo Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home) — Paul Young Pipes of Peace — Paul McCartney Let's Dance — David Bowie Everything Counts — Depeche Mode Red Red Wine — UB40 Islands In The Stream — Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers Uptown Girl — Billy Joel

Yeah, True Blue is good but a bit one dimensional, almost throwaway compared to Madonna’s best. I think your ranking is about where I’d put it too. She certainly had some brilliant songs though too, in fact there might be one coming on the horizon….

We’re definitely scraping the barrel now at the end of the year, I don’t envy you having to listen to some of those again Julian. And yet in the midst of it all, as you say, there’s a genuinely great Christmas song in 2000 Miles. Victims is gorgeous, one of Culture Club’s best. I’ve also got a real soft spot for Pipes of Peace, a typically positive lovely ‘Paul’ type song.

Stay awake is one of the songs I couldn’t recall being at number one. It’s okay but not very memorable, though I do like the dubstep influence.

Late to the party again! Sorry I missed the first two Jade, but at least it means I didn’t have to score ‘Kiss Kiss’, I’d have been very conflicted about that one! 10 Girls Aloud - Biology 08 Sugababes - Red Dress 09 Gwen Stefani - What You Waiting For? 07 The Pussycat Dolls - Don't Cha (feat. Busta Rhymes) 08 Charlotte Church - Crazy Chick 10 Britney Spears - Toxic 05 Ashlee Simpson - Boyfriend 08 P!nk - Trouble 06 t.A.T.u. - All About Us 09 Rachel Stevens - Some Girls 03 Atomic Kitten - The Tide Is High (Get The Feeling) 04 Louise - Pandora's Kiss 04 Dannii Minogue & The Soul Seekerz - Perfection 06 Mis-teeq - Can't Get It Back 05 Lindsay Lohan - Over 06 Nelly Furtado - Turn Off the Light 07 Ciara - Goodies (feat. Petey Pablo) 11 Amerie - 1 Thing 07 Rihanna - Pon De Replay Giving the 11 to Amerie’s wonderful chaotic clattering R&B anthem, still sounds like the future.

I can’t say I’m a fan of Pixie’s number ones, they weren’t very memorable or inspiring. Mid list seems about right.

For some reason I’ve always imagined that the first two versions were very similar, but listening to them together now, the original sounds less polished and darker, and so generally better. The Gareth version is the least of the three. Great song either way though. Out of interest, have there been any other songs getting to number one in more than two completely different versions, aside from the ones I can remember, Unchained Melody and obviously Band Aid?

I remember Cher standing out among the other identikit ‘Factor’ alumni, but I couldn’t recall Swagger Jagger before listening again, which is never a good sign. The verse is actually good though and has a certain energy, but the chorus is awful, so maybe 19th will be about right for me too. I’ll wait to see what else is to come.

Some fantastic songs here. I agree This Charming Man was a brilliant statement song by The Smiths, possibly my favourite of their initial singles. As regards to Owner Of A Lonely Heart I’ll just say again that Trevor Horn is a genius! And I’ll be saying it much more in ‘84 of course. Hold Me Now is indeed beautiful, more pop leaning than some of their early singles. What Is Love and That’s All are both great but I don’t quite love them as much as their predecessors. My other favourites would be Waterfront with its propulsive rhythm, and the lovely country balladry of Islands In The Stream