Noahspike

I wasn't reiterating your point. I was saying that she lied intentionally, something you're excusing her for. And fair enough, I'm just surprised how Tiffany is being let off the hook to such an extent.

She was told in the garden (by Daniella I think?) that David Bowie had in fact died and her immediate reaction was to tell everyone that she'd asked Angie if she was talking about David Gest, claiming Angie said she was. That is a lie and she made it intentionally in order to save face as she couldn't calm down, reflect and admit in that moment that she'd got it all wrong. I don't know why you and others are making so many excuses for her. If it was Jeremy or some other lad-type who behaved as Tiffany did I imagine there'd be a very different reaction. :P

You must have missed the bits where she had to be held back from aggressively confronting a clearly fragile and upset woman, blatantly lying to housemates that Angie specified 'David Gest' when asked to clarify, calling her an "old bitch" after realising she was in fact grieving for her ex-husband and she (Tiffany) had misunderstood, not to mention denying she was in the wrong for hours and continuing to act obnoxiously in Angie's presence... (And that's all from some clips I've seen so there's probably more. I'm not even watching the show but had to check out this episode!) Also, I agree with Froot that the escalating events were mostly down to a very stubborn defence mechanism on Tiffany's part.

^ Yeah, certainly in the US she had a pretty packed promo schedule for the first few weeks of release. It seems she very deliberately laid low for a bit in the UK after The BRITs performance (Graham being an exception), but by that stage she'd done quite a lot anyway. And I'd love to see her on Graham's show again too. She was absolutely hilarious the last time and the two of them seem to have a great chemistry together, as shown again by that recent special he hosted.

Ooh, I love your #1 album (and its write-up). Completely agree on how the record seamlessly borrows and updates the best elements of 80s pop/rock through a genuine passion for and understanding of the era. It definitely succeeds in having a timeless feel throughout, and I love that it's short and sweet because every track brings something uniquely valuable. The singles are generally my standouts (with three of them making my EOY top 100) but I've got such a soft spot for the storytelling in 'The Way It's Always Been' :wub:. Also great to see some 'Untangled Love' appreciation as I don't recall that being mentioned much by people as a highlight. Love the chorus. <3 'Communion' and 'FROOT' are also great shouts here ^_^. Haven't heard most of the others unfortunately.

Can't say I'm a fan of that winner but congrats all the same, Liam! Wonderful to see 'Habib Galbi' so close to the top! Its surprise victory back in April is my favourite BJSC moment of the year. :wub: Also great that Hushkanukia, Singerpurear, Kylienips, Mulgracia, ProJ and Espen nabbed top 10 finishes. :D As for 'TV', I'm absolutely chuffed it's been deemed the 14th best entry of the year! FAR higher than my expectations for it going into this. Thanks for all the votes, guys <3, especially Jordan for the 12!

#85 Fleur East | Sax UK | 3 | Ire | 5 | US | - | PC | 18 If ever there was a launch single so expertly engineered for chart success by capitalising on the unique appeal of a new signing, it’s Fleur East’s ‘Sax’. The song is almost laughably predictable and feels entirely contrived, bearing all the elements of the standout performance of ‘Uptown Funk’ that catapulted Fleur to an unprecedented level of cultural prominence while competing on The X Factor in 2014. A bold, brassy, beat-driven track with fast-paced, innuendo-filled verses and an enormous instrumental breakdown, it’s as if ‘Sax’ was constructed and fine-tuned by a team specifically envisioning her return performance on the show and nothing else, right down to the capacity for high-energy choreography and undemanding vocal requirements. It does exactly what it sets out to do, loudly announcing Fleur’s arrival as a popstar and setting itself up to be an irresistible party staple over the festive season, as realised by its impressive chart run to date. I briefly, half-heartedly, tried to resist the song when snippets first surfaced (as the whole thing just seemed too knowing) but I was completely won over by the big comeback performance for which it was so perfectly crafted, and I haven’t looked back since. 3JZ4pnNtyxQ Ho32Oh6b4jc #84 One Direction | Perfect UK | 2 | Ire | 1 | US | 10 | PC | 17 The penultimate single release from One Direction before their indeterminate hiatus, ‘Perfect’ bears striking melodic and instrumental similarities to Taylor Swift’s ‘Style’, and as the song progresses it becomes clear that those efforts are absolutely deliberate. A laid-back track about a fleeting romance, its subject matter provides an effective antithesis to that of the song it near-imitates, never more so than with the middle 8’s statement lyric; ‘If you’re looking for someone to write your break-up songs about/Baby I’m perfect’ - a line delivered impassively by the American superstar's former flame. Beyond its interesting context and formulation, however, 'Perfect' does manage to stand on its own as one of the group’s most accomplished and mature releases to date, demonstrating the artistic ground they’ve made from the fun but insubstantial fangirl pandering that defined their early years. #83 M.O | Preach UK | 51 | Ire | - | US | - | PC | 20 3eebMkv3LrY It’s inherently enjoyable to support underdogs but there’s a time when their inability to attain success and mainstream recognition for their efforts gets frustrating above all else. That time has long passed for M.O; A trio of stunners specialising in a 90s-rooted R&B and garage hybrid that's brought to life by a chemistry reminiscent of the best girl groups of yesteryear. The ladies just can’t seem to catch a well-deserved break, even with a hyped and radio-backed single as strong as ‘Preach’. The breezy jam showcases impressive harmonies and oozes an element of cool (well, aside from the ‘You say you wanna rock for me/But you don't know geology’ line) that can’t be manufactured, and the song’s video only serves to confirm that natural charisma and latent star power. An act I really hope can break through in 2016, but I fear their chances are running out. #82 Maroon 5 | Sugar UK | 7 | Ire | 5 | US | 2 | PC | 22 As an avid chart follower, I’ve found there’s something uniquely satisfying about watching a post-album single gradually emerge from the depths of iTunes and push through to become a lasting resident in the chart’s upper tiers, particularly when it single-handedly rescues a parent campaign and ends up outshining its pre-album predecessors despite lacking their fanbase support and artist-related hype. The third single from Maroon 5’s fifth album achieved all that and more, spending an incredible 11 weeks in the lower half of the UK top 10 and cementing itself as a signature track of the long-running band against the odds. While its smash hit status is still a little perplexing, it’s easy to understand why ‘Sugar’ caught on with the public at large - its catchy, upbeat sound combined with a viral-ready video forming a truly irresistible package. Aside from that visual component, there’s absolutely nothing innovative about the release (in fact many would say the song’s a blatant rip-off of Katy Perry’s ‘Birthday’). It’s simply enjoyable pure pop unashamedly catered to mainstream radio and mass consumption, and it does its job expertly. 09R8_2nJtjg 68Yuxh5IkZY #81 Years & Years | Border UK | - | Ire | - | US | - | PC | 6 The penultimate track on Years & Years' debut record, ‘Border’ is an undeniable highlight as 'Communion' reaches its final stages. Olly’s repeated promise in the pre-chorus; ‘I’ll bring you another rush’, is more than fulfilled when the gently pounding, serenely anthemic and beautifully melodic post-chorus (delayed chorus?) finally kicks in, which not only elevates the understated mid-tempo to something truly special but constitutes my favourite moment on the entire album. The track is a real hidden gem and I feel it's better left just as that, rather than given attention as a single down the line.

Thanks for the comments, guys. :D And Bal, I still haven't properly listened to Tove's stuff either but would highly recommend 'Borderline' (along with 'Ego' of course).

Hey Harry! Some great taste throughout this thread as I'd expect~ :D That's a solid #1 single (and #1 album - I've been really getting into HBHBHB lately <3) but I'm particularly happy to see 'She Ain't Me' at #2 because for me that sounded like a hit that never was. Loved it in BJSC and as Jordan said it's generally very underrated so I'm glad it made such an impression on you! Likewise, seeing 'The One' so high is pleasing as it wasn't very popular on Buzzjack when charting, but I was always a fan. For me it's a nicely simple, old-fashioned song and I was really pleasantly surprised to see it manage a few weeks in the top 40, as that's relatively rare for a post-album ballad single these days, especially from an act like Kodaline. Also like a lot of your artist picks for this year - HONNE and Zara would be current faves. :wub:

Yeah, 'In The Night' has been by far the most instant song I've heard from The Weeknd this era (but still haven't checked out the album). Great that you like so much here :D. Thanks for commenting! :hi: Ah no way </3! Bummer when you leave something out but I've been (overly) careful it hasn't happened to me over the last while by scanning through all the genre threads as well as some personal charts before finalising mine :lol:. Good to know you're a fan of the song too anyway. It's ridiculously catchy and I find her vocals to be quite similar to Rihanna's at times which is no bad thing~ I actually agree on the whininess and MJ thing re: 'In The Night' but for me the melody's so strong that I'm not bothered and it all works. Oh and just to give you a Weeknd update (/SNL), 'The Hills' has FINALLY clicked with me, having been indifferent to it for an eternity :cheer:. I'm thinking that must be a record considering how much I've heard it! Ooh I didn't know Twenty One Pilots are Ohioans, though I really should have guessed based on swag levels alone B-). And oop, I thought twins were supposed to be good at sharing~~~ :kink: Haha I kind of love that erratic 'Stitches' chart run, and what's more I've no idea which direction it's heading next month. :o /hype I sort of zoned out for the Taylor video after a while but it looked v pretty. Gah, please blast it when departing local woodland asap and you'll soon see the light :magic:. (If not, I'm afraid there's zero hope for you/your Tay-ste :() Yay, it'll be good to agree on a Selena single cos it's been a while! Thanks for the comments and yeah I'd definitely be up for that. :D At least I was on it as soon as I heard the song instead of trashing it then doing a 180°. :jump: (jk, what a bop though <3) Haha and there's yet more Troye songs bubbling under :o. And yep indeed! #josephspike / #noahseph :thinking: Hey Mango, thanks and happy new year to you too! :wave: Ah, 'Lush Life' is fairly new to me but made a massive impression from the off. And things are looking good for it to be a big UK hit anyway. :D Yeah, I love Troye's vocals - something very calming about his tone that works so well with the production throughout the album, particularly on 'WILD'. I think I prefer 'I'll Show You' to 'Sorry' overall (but it'd still be behind the other two singles), which obviously would be an unpopular opinion around here. I always feel like I should appreciate the latter more but it's missing something for me, whereas the production on 'I'll Show You' won me over from first listen. Yeah I agree re: 'Bang My Head' - one of those tracks that does the job for the time being but won't hold up too well. 'Titanium' is still my favourite of their collabs. <3 Unfortunate news today about Jack Garratt then :P! I like what (little) I've heard from him, but more so as background music. Wouldn't be very excited about him but I do think an album of his could potentially be great (again, in having quite a subtle appeal). Thanks for commenting!

Really enjoying this thread, Jord! I either find myself agreeing with you on songs' merits and reasons for how they were received commercially, or else learning new things about the context behind single releases that I hadn't followed. It's great to get an American's insights into US radio politics, instances of trend-chasing etc, especially as I haven't been very up-to-date with the US music scene over the last while. Your approach/writing style is really refreshing and interesting to read so keep up the good work! Think my favourite of your recaps so far have been those for Kelly and Miguel - completely spot-on for both. I'm forever willing Kelly on because she's such a great personality and has a solid legacy but the new material left a lot to be desired, especially 'Heartbeat Song' which just felt so amateur, particularly lyrically as you said. I was still happy to see it return her to relevance in the UK (those consistent three-place falls omg :wub:), even when I couldn't get behind the song, so I can only imagine how awesome it'd be for her to smash with something deserving! Ah well. Also really liked what you said about Miguel failing to make an impression with the superb 'Coffee' in a year where R&B has influenced some of the biggest chart hits. Commercially-speaking, he'd be smarter to modernise/adapt his musical sensibilities with the use of different producers and try to appeal across genres, but I love that he hasn't done that because he's an absolute expert at his niche. (And late, but yes I certainly approve your use of 'triumphant' for the song! *.*) Largely agree with your take on Meghan too - I'm intrigued to see how she fares both music-wise and commerically with her second era as my instincts tell me the success of her sound is down to being in the right place at the right time (appropriate Olly reference :magic:) and she's not in it for the long haul. Also never knew you were THAT big a Pitbull fan :o. I definitely admire how he 'owns' his ridiculousness, as you say, but he's too hit-and-miss for me to like on any non-ironic level I think :/. Would always be up for being won over though. :D

Hey Joseph, I've been popping (originally wrote 'pooping' until I previewed post :')) in here since you started, so apologies for only commenting now! Great job so far on the commentaries for each countdown as well as the lovely presentation - all the effort's really paying off. :D Going WAAAY back here, I love your top two albums and enjoyed reading your thoughts on them. Troye's one's relatively new to me so different songs are still clicking with each listen-through, including 'YOUTH', which I found quite jarring for a while. Not a bad song on that album though - such an impressive debut. Also glad to hear Olly's vocals were good when you saw Years & Years live, as that's been the main thing stopping me from looking into getting tickets for their shows :unsure:! Saw them on Graham Norton on NYE performing 'Shine' and could barely understand him, even though I know every word! :/ Of the last section, it's great to see 'Lighthouse' so high here as to me it seemed to have been a bit written off on the site after it flopped, with people saying it was a good tribute to Simone but an ill-advised single etc. I don't know, I always considered it near-perfect in terms of being both genuinely heartfelt and a strong song on its own merits, so was a bit bemused to see it do so poorly commercially. I really respect them for creating/releasing that song, and unfortunately it's a fitting final single with the context behind their split. -_- Really like 'Wildest Dreams' and 'Let It Go' too, the latter possibly being my favourite installment of that much-used song title at this stage, even more so than Alexandra Burke's underrated bop *.* B-)

I really thought 'Mowgli's Road' would divide opinion too much to be this high :o. Nice to be proven wrong though! Would slightly prefer it to 'Oh No!' as the winner but that'd also make a fitting #1 so who cares really. Excellent work, Buzzjack (and Joe for hosting). :cheer:

Want~ #1 Mowgli's Road #2 Oh No! #3 I'm A Ruin #4 Radioactive #5 Hollywood Think (having not looked at the rating thread so I'm probably way off. I previously would have called 'Froot' as the winner)~ #1 Oh No! #2 I'm A Ruin #3 Hollywood #4 Radioactive #5 Mowgli's Road

Based on my Facebook timeline, this show's been getting hype (in Ireland at least) like nothing I've ever seen before. :o I saw the first two episodes when I was back home and loved it. Utterly incredible story that leaves you with so many questions and wanting to see how everything turned out. Really have to get around to watching the rest!

Gah, there goes my would-be 11. :( Flawless commentary by the way. :wub:

My friend was interested in this so we watched two episodes the other day and weren't quite sure what to make of it. The overall concept is intriguing but the storyline and main characters fell into several clichés and weren't exactly gripping. Would be up for continuing the series though to see if it picks up, especially as it seems to have got good reviews.

Heyyyyy B-) Nice climb for 'Adventure of A Lifetime'! It's grown on me a lot over the last month too - the instrumental's such an earworm :music:. Will have to check out the album asap as I've only heard good things~ Oops @ me charting 'Stressed Out' higher than you and thereby proving myself to be the superior fan. (worry) :unsure: (jk :D my brother introduced it to me a few weeks ago and twas instant love, particularly the line: 'I wish I didn't have to rhyme every time I sing' (WHICH DOESN'T RHYME WITH THE PREVIOUS LINE!!!11!), simple as it is. <3) I also heard 'Hide Away' on the same playlist of my brother's and liked it v much. Her voice has quite a uniquely infectious quality but I'd imagine it could get grating over the course of an album/EP, idk. Think I prefer 'Sit Still, Look Pretty' but this one's just as catchy. Delighted to see Adele's 'When We Were Young' debut :D. Some of the lyrics are so effective and the whole thing has such a classic feel to it, even more so than 'Hello', in my mind anyway. Have you been hearing it on radio much/at all? 'One Call Away' is another one I encountered over Christmas and I don't think I've ever heard more predictable lyrics! So many times throughout the song I guessed what was coming, and the whole thing just plods along, so yeah, can't say I'm a fan. Haven't heard anything from Charlie thus far that justifies his position/success, which is a shame. :/ All in all though, lots of gr8 stuff here as usual! ^_^

This is awesome: Q24vr-nwpbI It's not like it was for an insignificant point in the match either, which makes it all the more impressive! Jack Sock's mah nu fave. B-)

Pesky Hushkanukia swiping another victory from Eves. :angry: Nah, I of course can completely get behind that #1 and actually prefer it to 'TV' (*Noahstalgia spoiler* OMG :o). That top three is utterly flaw-free in fact. :wub: I also really like 'Miracle', 'Distant Past', 'Unbroken' and 'St. Patrick' so it's a v nice list so far~ (Love the fact you're revealing your 11-50 after your top 10 lol. Who needs a climax when you can have a good countdown *.*)

A vlogger releasing a single with Conor Maynard called 'I'm Famous'. This is gonna be quite an uphill battle for me.

Can't complain with that top 10! In an ideal world I'd swap out 'Blue' and 'Hollywood' for 'Lies' and 'Power & Control', but the former two are still deserving of their places and the latter two finished high enough. Completely agree. I haven't heard 'Happy' in a while but I always interpreted it as having (what sounds like) a whole additional chorus that comes in towards the end. A beautifully captivating song structurally/lyrically/melodically and everything else. <3

#90 Tove Styrke | Ego UK | - | Ire | - | US | - | PC | 13 A February encounter with ‘Ego’, as well as reggae-tinged jam ‘Borderline', was my very belated introduction to Tove Styrke - a name I’d seen continually cropping up on blogs and forums for months (years?) beforehand. The song’s twinkling production and breezy, conversational delivery of home truths to a lover immersed in his own hype enabled me to instantly understand Tove’s, whose refreshingly direct lyrical approach strykes (eh?!) a real chord throughout. Also making a big impression was the video, which features the stunning Swede larking around the streets of Tokyo, engaging in all the fun and vibrancy of the city rather than letting her relationship woes get the better of her. A truly captivating package all-round. LXWGqEzORRU hRK7PVJFbS8 #89 Kendrick Lamar | King Kunta UK | 56 | Ire | 47 | US | 58 | PC | 15 ‘King Kunta’ served as the third official single of Kendrick Lamar’s critically acclaimed third album; ‘To Pimp A Butterfly’ - the hotly anticipated follow-up to his breakout record that so infamously lost out on a 'Best Rap Album' Grammy to Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ debut (...and I’ve only just noticed the significance of my own ordering here, apols Kenny x). Relentless funk-infused verses, an effortless groove and that iconic chorus opener of ‘Bitch, where you when I was walkin’?’ enabled the track be an effective access point to the rapper’s much-revered material for otherwise casual observers like myself. #88 Macklemore & Ryan Lewis ft. Eric Nally, Melle Mel, Kool Moe Dee & Grandmaster Caz | Downtown UK | 11 | Ire | 2 | US | 12 | PC | 20 JGhoLcsr8GA Wait, is that Alexandra Burke on the left?! One of the biggest breakout acts of 2013, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis made a triumphant comeback over the summer with 'Downtown'; a prolonged, disjointed, everything-but-the-kitchen-sink-sounding hot mess of a lead single which features the contributions of three hip hop veterans along with a wildly theatrical, Freddie Mercury-esque vocalist on hook duties. I really didn’t know what to make of the track at first. It bears striking similarities to ‘Uptown Funk’ and pays homage to the act’s own ‘Thrift Shop’ in more ways than one, but ultimately the ridiculous package in its entirety sounds like nothing else out there, and it only took a couple of bemused listens for me to appreciate it properly in all of its outlandish glory. Macklemore’s unique charisma shines throughout in typically flamboyant verses filled with witty wordplay – a personal favourite being the ‘tiramisu’/’tearing my suit’ rhyme…or really just the fact the word ‘tiramisu’ got a mention at all in a hit song! #87 Tinie Tempah ft. Jess Glynne | Not Letting Go UK | 1 | Ire | 8 | US | - | PC | 21 Tinie Tempah buoyed himself up from terminal commercial decline by nabbing two more #1 hits during the year to add to his impressive tally, both of which have made it into this countdown. As well as his featuring role for KDA, which he had the privilege of sharing with the undisputed queen of the UK dance scene and ultimate goddess of life and love and light Katy B, his own track ‘Not Letting Go’ (featuring a subpar pasty ginger pretender to Her hallowed throne~) shot straight to the top spot upon release. It proved a fitting soundtrack to the summer months, with light, upbeat production and lovestruck verses complemented wonderfully by the addition of Jess’ distinctive lilt over an irresistible beat. Not something to which I’ll likely return much in the future, but a nicely enjoyable of-the-moment bop that did all it needed to do. nsDwItoNlLc aE2drlA8vf8 #86 Tori Kelly | Should've Been Us UK | 198 | Ire | - | US | 51 | PC | 25 Having been impressed by her angelic touch on the chorus of Professor Green’s 2010-belonging 2014 hit ‘Lullaby’, Tori Kelly was a name I was casually anticipating for a while until her bland and trend-chasing launch single ‘Nobody Love’ killed that off for a bit. Faith was swiftly restored upon hearing follow-up ‘Should’ve Been Us’; an emotion-packed mid-tempo R&B belter with near-rapped verses and a powerful chorus bemoaning a failed relationship/what could have been (an aspect that instantly put me in mind of ‘Rolling In The Deep’). Alas, the song didn’t give her the big commercial breakthrough she needs, though a standout vocal performance at the VMAs did help it (just about) become her biggest US hit to date. Despite everything she has going for her; undeniable talent and beauty along with accessible, radio-friendly material, I’ve always found it hard to place her in the current market and haven't been surprised to see her attain only moderate success thus far, much as I’d like her to prove me wrong. Her act strikes me as being more suited to a decade or so ago and lacking an all-important USP, but I’m hopeful she can work that all out and return in 2016 stronger than ever.

Well your soul isn't gonna be saved for another while yet (:o) but you're very welcome to pop in here and feign interest in the meantime. :bounce: I shall of course play 'Habib Galbi' at your funeral and I'll even read my glowing noahstalgic review of it in your eulogy. :D (And you can play it at your own damn wedding, I'm busy) Hey Josh! Yeah 'Itch' is another one with a big, impactful chorus moment that they seem to specialise in. Been listening to the album a lot recently and I'd forgotten just how good it is - nothing approaching a weak track on there so it's a real shame it didn't get more attention. -_- Thanks to both of you for the comments!

Gah, I love this. The added/new chorus that kicks in at 2:08 works so well. Kind of wish she smiled a bit in the video though as the song's so joyous and she's such a stunner, but I'm just nitpicking - the whole thing's flawless. <3