Jaz13music

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

Yeah those two big singles felt inescapable in 2011, I still find them both really irritating. Plus if you’ve got to remind everyone that you’re meant to be funny by calling yourself LMFAO, and then claiming how fun you are by repeatedly telling them they should ‘party’ to your music (also ‘Sorry For Party Rocking’) then there’s something going wrong!

Don’t Leave Me This Way is a quite good cover version, I like the energy and the vocals. I was always surprised it became the bestseller of the year though.

Wherever You Are is a very pretty song, and such a change for a charity record to not be a terrible cover version. I’m a sucker for a great people’s choir though.

When The Going Gets Tough is okay, yeah a bit predictable and of course the film helped its success, but I think it’s the best of the songs so far. However I did prefer many of his earlier hits. The Boyzone version was truly awful though.

I’ve never really liked The Lazy Song, it’s a bit boring, in fact it does feel lazy! I’ve always been amazed it reached number one, it just seemed to squeeze a week in between bigger hits.

Never Never would be my favourite in this group, another gorgeous Clarke song with great Feargal Sharkey vocals, a pity they didn’t do more stuff together. Thriller is still great, if a little overexposed, the video is wonderful of course. Other favourites would be Oblivious with its lovely indie pop, Right By Your Side a great change of direction for the Eurythmics and The Sun And The Rain. I’ve got a real soft spot for those Madness singles, it’s no wonder they’ve got so many best selling greatest hits albums!

OMG Cool For Cats was my first ever purchase too! That gorgeous pink vinyl!

Ah now I understand what you meant about ones that were yet to come @Jester! Such an insipid song, how did it win an Ivor Novello?!!

I can’t say I was ever a massive Example fan but ‘Changed…’ was decent enough.

Both brilliant songs, can’t be too upset!

Oh no, you’re never too old to party🪩🪅👯🍾🎉! 🤣

Yeah it certainly felt that, by this stage, George was keeping his best songs back for his impending solo career. Edge of Heaven was a bit meh.

Loca People is just a big dumb fun dance record, what’s not to like!