Jaz13music

Yeah Sing is dreadful, not something I’ll choose to hear again after this I’m afraid. Barlow’s solo output has been generally terrible really.

I’m agreeing with your top choice, Wood Beez is excellent forward thinking pop music. Ain’t Nobody is classy funk that I like and admire, but don’t quite love. Nelson Mandela is a fantastic song in its own right, but the power of its message was a rallying cry for change that’s easy to underestimate with the passage of time. You Take Me Up is one of my favourite Thomson Twins singles, literally uplifting pop. People Are People is musically typically great Depeche Mode, though I agree not one of their very best with awkward lyrics. I also have a soft spot for Glad It’s All Over, though the medley it was paired with is awful

Yes Candy is very poor and just irritating. Not sure if I’d put it last, I’ll wait to see what else is to come.

Excellent introduction @RabbitFurCoat, I’m really looking forward to your countdown. Also consider me now very intrigued by your lowest ranked song, that’s even worse than all the other objectionable stuff you mentioned!

So I had the same top 2 but the other way round! We Found Love is my favourite Rihanna and my favourite Calvin song. A wonderful energetic banger with the ultimate of build and release, fantastic pop and club music. Those stabbing keyboards harking back to the piano of peak house music days. I love it! Someone Like You is gorgeous of course, great emotive vocal performance though also restrained just enough. I also prefer that Brits performance, the emotion and the emphasis change in the chorus, absolutely jaw dropping though, even now. Fantastic thread @Paddington James, really enjoyed your countdown and commentary and loved joining in. I’m so glad you enjoyed it too. I only hope I can get somewhere close to it in 2013, you’ve set a high bar. Particularly enjoyed your view from Australia! Here’s my ranking: We Found Love (feat. Calvin Harris) — Rihanna Someone Like You — Adele Price Tag (feat. B.o.B) — Jessie J Promises — Nero Glad You Came — The Wanted Loca People (What the F**k!) — Sak Noel Louder (feat. Sian Evans) — DJ Fresh Don't Go (feat. Josh Kumra) — Wretch 32 Read All About It (feat. Emeli Sandé) — Professor Green When We Collide — Matt Cardle Grenade — Bruno Mars What's My Name? (feat. Drake) — Rihanna Give Me Everything (feat. Ne-Yo, Afrojack & Nayer) — Pitbull Changed the Way You Kiss Me — Example On the Floor (feat. Pitbull) — Jennifer Lopez Don't Hold Your Breath — Nicole Scherzinger Heart Skips a Beat (feat. Rizzle Kicks) — Olly Murs What Makes You Beautiful — One Direction Swagger Jagger — Cher Lloyd Wherever You Are — Military Wives, Gareth Malone & London Symphony Orchestra We R Who We R — Kesha No Regrets — Dappy All About Tonight — Pixie Lott Party Rock Anthem (feat. Lauren Bennett & GoonRock) — LMFAO The Lazy Song — Bruno Mars Cannonball — Little Mix Dance With Me Tonight — Olly Murs Stay Awake — Example She Makes Me Wanna (feat. Dev) — JLS Don't Wanna Go Home — Jason Derulo Wishing on a Star - X Factor Finalists

Another really good set of songs and I agree with your choices at the top too! Renegades Of Funk is definitely outstanding, I love a lot of the rap records of this era when you can see the rapid evolution of the genre. Dance Halls Days is quirky and excellent. Gorgeous is the right description of Your Love Is King, I hear a lot of Sade in what Olivia Dean is currently getting so much success with. It’s Raining Men is undeniable isn’t it. Robert De Nero’s Waiting is close to being my favourite Bananarama single, brilliant pop music with a message.

The Caterpillar- The Cure The Pointer Sisters - Automatic Duran Duran - The Reflex New Order - Thieves Like Us Cocteau Twins - Pearly-Dewdrops' Drops Tie Breaker Depeche Mode - People Are People

Johnny Hates Jazz’s founder and keyboardist/drummer Calvin Hayes died this week aged 63. 😢

Thank you Rollo for a fab countdown and your excellent commentary. I really enjoyed reading and contributing. Here’s my ranking of the 20:- The Sun Always Shines on T.V. – Aha West End Girls – Pet Shop Boys Papa Don't Preach – Madonna Take My Breath Away – Berlin Reet Petite – Jackie Wilson Caravan of Love – The Housemartins Chain Reaction – Diana Ross A Different Corner – George Michael The Final Countdown – Europe Spirit in the Sky – Doctor and the Medics True Blue – Madonna Don't Leave Me This Way - The Communards with Sarah Jane Morris Rock Me Amadeus – Falco When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going – Billy Ocean The Edge of Heaven – Wham! I Want to Wake Up With You – Boris Gardiner The Chicken Song – Spitting Image The Lady in Red – Chris de Burgh Every Loser Wins – Nick Berry Living Doll – Cliff Richard & The Young Ones ft. Hank Marvin

I entirely agree with your top 2 and the order, indeed they were well ahead of all the other songs. West End Girls is a fabulous song, moody synth magnificence, I love the ‘ticking clock’ like rhythm too, Neil’s talk/rap was great. What a calling card it was, and a US number one too! However the PSBs would have even better songs to come, so….. I also choose The Sun Always Shines On TV as my number one. I’ve always thought it is comfortably the best Aha song, though I do love Take on Me. That fantastic intro sets the scene with that anticipatory build to the explosion of sound. Talk about throwing everything but the kitchen sink at a song. Coming full circle, in many ways the intro to the PSBs It’s A Sin mimicked it. A gorgeous song with brilliant passionate vocals from Morton. You’re right, dramatic is certainly the word to use, a powerful wonderful song, a deserved number one!

Great song, if not quite as good as the other one left to come, Rihanna could hardly do any wrong at this stage. And yes, your top 2 are the same as mine! Thank you for this, very interesting! LMFAO at number one for 17 weeks in total! I’ve just noticed, isn’t it weird that Moves Like Jagger was a massive selling non number one of 2011 in both Australia and the UK?! Which were the songs that blocked it in Australia?

A lot less number ones than over here that year. Which ones were at the top longest, and do you know which were the end of year best sellers in Australia? Really looking forward to your top 3, my favourite 2 are still to come, will they be in the same order as yours?!

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?!!