Herbs

Voted

Britney sadly

I have 2 clear faves this round Going for Rick Waller

All I can say is you’re wrong 😜

How can a Woolworths exist without a music section?! That feels like some sort of crime has been committed Interestingly though my memory is that WW was more more expensive than HMV and had less to choose from

I hope the non- qualifiers will be ordered in how they performed in earlier rounds and not in this round?

Initially I think I’d say there was a 3 way battle for my top spot, but I listened back to all the songs a few times to get my final ranking :)

What should the prize be if you’re right?

If I was a guessing man I’d say Ting Tings is the one you liked & GA is the one you’re neutral on.

3 Leona Lewis Run #2s held off #1: None Sometimes I really miss the era of CD's. In case you don't know, I was born in 1985 and started getting properly into music around 97/98 (biggest Steps & B*Witched fan in my school - an honour I wore proudly!), I went through the era of cassette/CD singles, using my weekly pocket money from my nan to buy whatever took my fancy that week. Growing up in Milton Keynes meant regular visits to the huuuuge shopping centre and an over-excited Herbs browsing the stands in HMV (and occasionally Woolworths) considering what to buy. Sometimes I'd save my money up over a period of weeks so I could buy a full album! And when I moved into my late teens/adulthood I discovered I also liked buying compilations. When I heard about the concept of Radio 1 for the first time I was sold. I could hear an artist perform an acoustic version of their song, plus a cover of another artists' song. And I looooooooove an acoustic song at the best of times. And so we move to Leona Lewis. Her first post X Factor single 'Bleeding Love' was big. Seven weeks at number one big. And she went onto Jo Whiley's Live Lounge to perform a live version of the track, accompanied by a 14 piece band. The fact that barely anyone remembers this performance tells you how much of an impact her choice of cover had. Now I am a big Snow Patrol fan. And I adore their original version of 'Run'. But I think I have to say I prefer Leona's version (fire any daggers you want at me, I will die on that hill.....). When I first heard Leona's live cover, I cried. As apparently did everyone in the room at the time. Jo Whiley gave interviews saying that there were many wet faces in the room & after the performance people regularly phoned in asking for the performance to be repeated on the radio. Even Snow Patrol front man said that her version of his bands song took his breath away and he made a point about having a continual dislike for reality music shows. Initially there were no plans to release this song as a single, despite it's popularity. But somewhere down the line, this feeling changed and a studio version of the song was recorded ready for the next season of X Factor. The song was launched with a simply stunning, woodland themed video and it blew up all over again. It went straight to number one, knocking off that Take That song you have all shown your undying love for (lol). This felt like a poignant changeover at the top, as it was Gary Barlow who said to Simon Cowell that Leona was the best contestant X Factor had ever had and he had a responsibility to make the best record he can. I often wonder how big the sales would have been had her record label rush-released 'Run' in 2007. I expect first week sales would have been huge and it may have gotten more than 2 weeks at the top. At this point in her career, I think many people thought Leona would go on to have many more number one singles. 'Happy' almost made it the following year, but despite taking an early midweek lead over Black Eyed Peas, it eventually lost out to 'Meet Me Halfway' after both songs were performed on X Factor (an own goal if ever there was one). Leona had a few top 10 hits after but each saw decreased returns (the exception being her Christmas song 'One More Sleep'). Back to Live Lounge, I'd love to hear what your favourite live lounge performances are. Some of mine are as follows: Little Mix - I Will Wait Girls Aloud - With Every Heartbeat Birdy - Let Her Go Tom Odell - I Knew You Were Trouble Kodaline - Same Love Bastille - We Can't Stop

I mean, if this was the order I'd be telling you to get out of my head!

Of the three songs left 1 made me cry the first time I heard it 1 is a song that brings me a lot of joy (with a slight tinge of sadness) 1 is just an epic song and gave the artist a thoroughly deserved number one

Sorry + Erasure

This is hard because obviously there are the bonafide hits from long time established artists But there are also some beautiful songs in there - I’m looking at you Ruel, Conan Gray, Rosalia & The Chicks

And so is anyone surprised with my top 3? And who will rank number one from the final 3? Girls Aloud vs The Ting Tings vs Leona Lewis

And in news that Paddington James will like, here is my number 4! 4 Pink So What #2s held off #1: Geraldine - The Winner's Song Those of a certain age will remember Pink's RnB infused debut album. And we liked it. But we weren't prepared for what was to follow. Follow up album Misunderstood marked Pink as a popstar with an edge. Here was a cool singer who could flit between emotive ballads and out and out rock/pop songs. She'd hit the top spot previously with 'Lady Marmalade' and the tune that is 'Just Like A Pill' (back in the day that was a great treadmill song for me). Numerous hit singles and albums followed, but it would take six years for Pink to return to the top spot. 'So What' hits you with an almighty empowered punch. Some people labelled the chorus as child like and bratty. Those people are wrong! The video famously featured the antagonist of the songs lyrics. At the time Pink had separated from husband Carey Hart, putting the response to this event into her music. Carey returned the favour by appearing in the music video. What a legend. Considering how big Pink is, it's a shame she is stuck at three number ones. But I will always remember an interview she did right before 'What About Us' was released. Pink told the interviewer that her record label, upon her turning 30, had sat her down and told her she was too old to be a singles artist now. They would have to promote her as an albums artist and move away from chasing hits. Having none of it, Pink smashed the charts once more with her return, proving that age is nothing but a number....

5 Estelle ft Kayne West American Boy #2s held off #1: Flo Rida ft T-Pain - Low, Sam Sparro - Black & Gold Next up is London born R'n'B singer Estelle with her one and only number one single 'American Boy'. In fact it's one of only five top 40 hits she's had in her career and her sole top 10 appearance. Which seems mad considering how big of a hit this actually was & how much critical acclaim she'd received up to the point American Boy was released. Estelle's debut album had been released four years prior, featuring top 20 singles 'Free' and '1980'. Her semi-successful debut led to her receiving Best Newcomer at the MOBO awards. I remember the buzz that was around her at the time, with many predicting her follow up would do well. Skip to four years later and this song came out. Featuring an appearance from the absolute bell-end that is Kanye West, the song had a rather odd entrance to the charts. It entered at #72 and then disappeared the following week. Yet one week later, the song achieved a rare feat of re-entering straight to number one. There it remained for four weeks. It was so big that it held off some cracking songs from number one. Flo Rida's 'Low' has been keeping people checking their ability to bend their knees since, errm, 2008. And Sam Sparro's 'Black & Gold' is just an excellent demonstration of a great pop song. But neither could budge Estelle from the top. I love this song for it's chorus, sung many a times in clubs & at home. It's such a shame to me that she has barely dented the charts since.

So I should be good to do my #5 post today What do people want to see come up? What do people think I’ll put as number five?

I’ll let you off for the last sentence!

Has anyone seen Mothers Pride - I kind of want to watch it but the trailer makes me think I’ll find some of the characters annoying/frustrating

Yeah I always felt the treatment of Duffy fit the tired trope of raise a female artist up with the intention of knocking them back down (I’ll actually be referring to that trope in a future reveal!) Agree on Halo - I’m sure that’s actually one of her biggest sellers and would have challenged for my top spot had it been a number one

Just re-listened to my song and oh how I adore it (was always going to be my save me song) Fully expect 0 votes but here’s hoping for more

Damn - but I try so hard to impress you

I'm use to my faves going out early - but I need people to explain why they don't like Torn On The Platform vs other songs

1 1 The Vaccines - Headphones Baby (CR: 1-1) 2 2 Bella Poarch - Build A Bitch (CR: 1-2-2-2) 3 3 Olivia Rodrigo - Good 4 U (CR: 1-3-3) 4 5 Conor Maynard - Crowded Room (CR: 37-48-51-43-19-14-9-7-8-5-4-1-1-1-2-3-5-4) 5 NE Agnes - 24 Hours 6 NE Tones And I - Won't Sleep 7 6 Imanbek & Cher Lloyd - Baddest (CR: 3-4-5-5-6-7) 8 4 Surf Curse - Freaks (CR: 4-8) 9 7 Martin Garrix ft Bono & The Edge - We Are The People (CR: 7-9) 10 8 Cheryl - Sexy Den A Mutha (CR: 2-3-4-8-10) 11 10 Jake Bugg - Lost (CR: 2-3-4-6-10-11) 12 11 Anton Ewald - DeLorean (CR: 3-6-6-6-7-11-12) 13 9 Lukas Graham - Happy For You (CR: 9-13) 14 NE Leon Bridges - Motorbike 15 NE Will Young - Elizabeth Taylor 16 12 Katy Perry - Electric (CR: 8-12-16) 17 14 Keiino - Summer Of My Life (CR: 14-17) 18 17 Bebe Rexha ft Lil Uzi Vert - Die For A Man (CR: 1-3-3-5-7-8-10-10-12-17-18) 19 13 Emily Barker ft Frank Turner - Bound For Home (CR: 9-13-19) 20 15 Rain Radio & DJ Craig Gorman - Talk About (CR: 15-20) 21 20 Bebe Rexha - Sabotage (CR: 7-5-6-6-8-2-3-5-5-5-7-6-7-9-11-12-13-16-20-21) 22 16 Coldplay - Higher Power (CR: 1-2-5-5-7-10-16-22) 23 NE The Rasmus - Bones 24 19 Pink - All I Know So Far (CR: 4-7-8-11-19-24) 25 21 The Kid Laroi & Miley Cyrus - Without You (CR: 1-1-2-4-7-9-11-13-21-25) 26 25 Winona Oak - Old Insecurities (CR: 38-44-47-30-21-13-14-18-25-26) 27 18 Elton John and Years & Years - It's A Sin (CR: 18-27) 28 24 Hayley Kiyoko - Found My Friends (CR: 2-2-3-5-9-11-12-15-24-28) 29 23 DJ Khaled ft Post Malone, Megan Thee Stallion, Lil Baby & DaBaby - I Did It (CR: 8-9-14-23-29) 30 NE OneRepublic - Run 31 27 Slayyyter - Over This! (CR: 21-22-27-31) 32 NE Anne-Marie & Niall Horan - Our Song 33 22 Leftwing & Kody ft Hexe - Gold (CR: 22-33) 34 30 Mark Knight & Beverley Knight ft London Community Gospel Choir - Everything's Gonna Be Alright (CR: 14-14-15-20-30-34) 35 29 Jack Wins & Joe Stone - Light Up My Life (CR: 17-29-35) 36 26 Marina - Ancient Dreams In A Modern Land (CR: 26-36) 37 32 Rina Sawayama & Elton John - Chosen Family (CR: 1-2-4-4-6-8-12-18-20-24-32-37) 38 33 Ben Platt - Imagine (CR: 1-1-1-3-3-4-6-9-11-14-19-21-23-25-33-38) 39 28 Jay B ft Sokodomo - Switch It Up (CR: 28-39) 40 35 Cassadee Pope ft Karen Fairchild & Lindsay Ell - What The Stars See (CR: 6-10-15-19-23-35-40) 41 41 The Veronicas ft Allday - The Life of the Party (CR: 1-2-3-5-8-9-11-15-19-25-30-41-41) 42 NE Erasure - Secrets 43 31 Texas - Mr Haze (CR: 19-31-43) 44 34 Manic Street Preachers - Orwellian (CR: 34-44) 45 40 Paul Anka & Olivia Newton-John - Put Your Head On My Shoulder (CR: 16-22-28-40-45) 46 46 Rag N Bone Man - Crossfire (CR: 10-12-15-20-24-29-32-46-46) 47 NE The Magician ft Two Another - Hippies 48 36 Kid Brunswick - When You Were Young (CR: 36-48) 49 61 Hybrid Minds ft Grace Grundy - Bad To Me (CR: 48-61-49) 50 NE Sam Fischer - Simple