Jaz13music

Twist & Shout was an okay cover version, at least adding something new to the song, but I agree Tease Me was my favourite of theirs.

Kissing The Pink was the great revelation from the listen through, I sort of remembered it once it was played. A really quirky song I especially like the military style drums and whistling, and a great message. Beat It is excellent of course particularly the guitar solo. Words is lovely. Celtic Soul Brothers is great, I’ve had a soft spot for Dexys throughout their very varied career. The rest I have to agree are a bit poor. But I can’t believe you don’t like Snot Rap! Also ‘flaccid’ is such a great description for a weak song, I’m gonna use that myself in future.

I do like Stay Another Day, one of the quite rare good but not novelty Christmas Number Ones. But I absolutely do agree that ‘Deep’ is fantastic! Also agree with others, keep doing what you’re doing, your personal subjective views are what I really enjoy to read!

Love Is All Around was a bad cover of an actually really good 60s pop song. Overblown and pompous but of course massive mainly due to the film exposure, as were many of the 90s biggest songs. I’ll wait to see what is yet to come (I don’t want to spoil your countdown) but there’s a good chance it would be in last place for me too.

Of course I love Blue Monday! New Order are one of my favourite bands and this is their ‘calling card’, though there are many others of theirs I love more (maybe overplay is a factor). Visions In Blue is another great Ultravox single, they were so consistent! Let’s Dance was Bowie (yet again) reinventing himself. A great song and, if nothing else, finally another US number 1! Don’t Talk To Me About Love is perhaps my favourite here, a really lovely song. Altered Images had some fantastic early singles. I’m actually quite a fan of Is There Something….especially the intro, I love it when bands go all in with a big sound, in this case to grab their (well deserved) 1st number 1. Nick Heyward and Paul Weller both launching careers outside their original bands. Style Council would have much better songs but I like Nick’s pleasant single.

Killing In The Name is a song I absolutely loved on its initial release on their brilliant debut album. Powerful musically and lyrically it was one of my favourites of ‘93, as you mentioned I even remember the day it was played on the chart rundown uncensored by Bruno Brookes, thinking ‘they’re surely not gonna do this are they!?’ (someone obviously didn’t do their research properly). So what a joy it was to see the resurgence in 2009 albeit as in response to the X Factor domination and homogeny. I like to think at least some of its sales came from people who loved the song too, rather than just a protest vote. Also great to see a rock song at number one again. Bad Romance is definitely my favourite Gaga song nowadays, but it wasn’t always the case. Grown to love it more over the years, but imagine if the extra songs on Fame Monster hadn’t happened and we never heard it? I think it’s rare for a ‘deluxe’ version (often in other artists hands they are songs rejected for the main album) to be so brilliant. Fantastic work Jim, really enjoyed reading your commentaries and listening through the songs again. I’m very nervous having to follow you for 2013 but honoured to be asked to have a go, thanks @Julian_! Hope I can do it some justice! Since you asked, my list goes something like this:- Rage Against The Machine - Killing In The Name Lady Gaga - Bad Romance Lily Allen - The Fear La Roux - Bulletproof Dizzee Rascal & Armand Van Helden - Bonkers Jay-Z feat. Rihanna & Kanye West - Run This Town Lady Gaga - Poker Face Calvin Harris - I'm Not Alone The Black Eyed Peas - Boom Boom Pow Dizzee Rascal - Holiday Tinchy Stryder feat. N-Dubz - Number 1 Lady Gaga feat. Colby O'Donis - Just Dance JLS - Beat Again The Black Eyed Peas - Meet Me Halfway Cheryl Cole - Fight For This Love Kelly Clarkson - My Life Would Suck Without You Cascada - Evacuate The Dancefloor The Black Eyed Peas - I Gotta Feeling David Guetta feat. Kelly Rowland - When Love Takes Over JLS - Everybody In Love David Guetta feat. Akon - Sexy Chick Pixie Lott - Mama Do (Uh Oh, Uh Oh) Peter Kay's Animated All Star Band - The Official BBC Children In Need Medley Flo Rida feat. Ke$ha - Right Round Alexandra Burke feat. Flo Rida - Bad Boys Taio Cruz - Break Your Heart Pixie Lott - Boys And Girls Tinchy Stryder feat. Amelle - Never Leave You Alexandra Burke - Hallelujah Chipmunk - Oopsy Daisy Joe McElderry - The Climb Vanessa Jenkins and Bryn West feat. Sir Tom Jones and Robin Gibb - Barry Islands In TheStream X Factor Finalists 2009 - You Are Not Alone

The Human League - (Keep Feeling) Fascination Fun Boy Three - Our Lips Are Sealed The Police - Every Breath You Take Robert Wyatt - Shipbuilding Heaven 17 - Temptation

I appreciate Sexy Chick but it wouldn’t be among my Guetta favourites. Just Dance was a great introduction and I still enjoy it but the best was/is yet to come.

That’s an excellent top 2, and what a wonderful year for number 1s 1987 was! I like nearly all, and love many of them. At the time I seem to remember the Bee Gees resurgence didn’t get the critical acclaim their 70s disco peak had, by now they had become more successful as songwriters for other artists like for Chain Reaction. But I always felt You Win Again was a fantastic song, as you say the drums the synths, the great harmonies and uplifting chorus. It was a joy to see them chart topping again. It’s A Sin is one of those wonderful songs I love when an artist decides to go ‘all in’, with massive production, huge sound and the lyrical subject. Though to be fair, they had always managed to tackle big issues. The PSBs were at the peak of their powers and could do no wrong in my eyes, even such a brilliant song was only my 3rd favourite of theirs that year! Thanks for hosting Jester, I’ve really enjoyed reading your commentary and listening along to the songs as you announced them. My order would go something like:- M/A/R/R/S - Pump up the Volume Pet Shop Boys - Always on My Mind Steve 'Silk' Hurley - Jack Your Body Pet Shop Boys - It's a Sin The Bee Gees - You Win Again T'Pau - China in Your Hand Ben E. King - Stand by Me Whitney Houston - I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me) Madonna - La Isla Bonita Aretha Franklin & George Michael - I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) Jackie Wilson - Reet Petite Mel and Kim - Respectable Los Lobos - La Bamba The Firm - Star Trekkin' Michael Jackson - I Just Can't Stop Loving You Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up Starship - Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now Madonna - Who's That Girl Boy George - Everything I Own Ferry Aid - Let It Be

Great song, full of joy, upbeat and exuberant. One of Whitney’s very best singles along with those of her 1999 resurgence.

Poker Face was initially my favourite Gaga, the earworm hooks the brilliant production the lyrics etc. However I eventually grew to love another even more …

Yes, hearing it at seemingly every celebration, sporting event etc etc ever since has dulled its effect. I have a funny relationship with it, still liking but not really needing to hear it again. For me it always has been inferior to Boom Boom Pow though.

Is Blancmange a 9 or even a 10 for you, it’s not showing the score properly on my phone? It’s indeed excellent a break from their previous quirky stuff, very dramatic. Another great section overall , my favourite is Rip It Up, fantastically catchy disco inflected pop from the true indie Postcard label based in Glasgow in the early 80s. Huge influence on the later indie jangle bands especially The Smiths. They had loads of other singles I love, but sadly no further top 40 singles (I think). Lead singer Edwin Collins would have much greater solo success of course. I’ve added ‘What Prescence?!’ below as an example if anyone wants a listen. Another wonderful song. Total Eclipse is an undeniable power ballad, I have to admit I didn’t really like it at the time but have grown to love it and Jim Steinman songs in general since then. Big Country had a very distinct sound standing out from the crowd with their melodic rock. The Stranglers and Soft Cell songs were both less successful commercially than their predecessors but both still great. I’d forgotten about Drop The Pilot but I agree it’s really lovely. I like Soweto but Mclaren had songs I prefer, and were pushing more boundaries both before, and especially after, this.

Love ‘I’m Not Alone’, I think in general I prefer the Calvin singles without the collaborations.

Bonkers is great, Dizzee and Armand throwing everything at the wall and seeing what sticks. Completely over the top and brilliant, I love it when artists go ‘all in’ like this!

Ooo yes, Suspect Device and especially Alternative Ulster are fantastic singles.

Sweet Dreams is obviously brilliant and I agree Genetic Engineering is a bit of a lost OMD gem. Africa probably suffers from overplaying for me. I actually prefer Hold The Line and their next hit anyway. Tunnel Of Love is great but the next hit is my absolute favourite Fun Boy Three single. I think my favourite from the group though would be Love On Your Side. I just love the uptempo pop feel contrasting with the darker lyrics and all the little added percussion notes scattered throughout. Excellent stuff.

Voting… done!

Bulletproof is fantastic, always has been my favourite La Roux single. Love the debut album too.

Can’t wait!

Bonnie Tyler - Total Eclipse Of The Heart Orange Juice - Rip It Up Altered Images - Don't Talk To Me About Love New Order - Blue Monday David Bowie - Let's Dance

Great 80s power ballad, wouldn’t be one of my favourites of ‘87 but then again the level is so high. Looking forward to your top 3

The Fear is Lily’s best song. Those gorgeous synths!

Sorted now. Thanks Jim

I’m doing something wrong. Getting a weird user name etc!?