King Rollo

I didn't know the song before the contest. I didn't think I'd like anything by an artist from one of the well known talent shows so I went hunting for something else. Thanks to all those who have given points to 'Chameleon Life' so far, especially Chris for the 12.

Round 1: 18 Life, Disco Stomp, This Town, Hello, Status Quo Round 2: 36 White 3 in 10: 1 Jenny From The Block

Thanks. 39 on round 2 for both of us again today. Round 1: 30 Circus Games, Lobo Round 2: 39 💥 3 in 10: 3 Talk Of The Town, I Go To Sleep, 2000 Miles

Thanks to all those who voted for The Idle Race and well done to all the qualifiers.

It was difficult to choose between Left To My Own Devices and What Have I Done To Deserve This. Left To My Own Devices is my favourite Pet Shop Boys song and it does have recent form, finishing 2nd in the Trevor Horn Rate, so I decided to go with it. Going into the semi-finals, I thought I would need both songs as we were told we needed ten in total but it turned out that only applied to those who went into the Golden Wagner round. I wish I hadn't used Always On My Mind in the first round but I didn't know then which acts had been sent by everyone else so I wanted to play it safe at the start. Anyway, I'm glad that the Pet Shop Boys still have a chance.

Thanks RobBot for saving the Pet Shop Boys. 😃

No Self Control is one of my favourite songs from Peter Gabriel. With Phil Collins on drums and Kate Bush on backing vocals, that's quite a supergroup on that one. Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime is a timeless gem so I agree that they should be the top 2. Next, I would put I'm Alive. ELO had the same 7 member line-up from 1975 to 1979 but Jeff Lynne has just fired the two cello players by sending them letters in the post so they are now down to five and I'm Alive is a bit of a transition from the orchestral pop of the 70s to the synthpop of 1981's Time album. Louis Clark's orchestra can still be heard on the song but not quite as prominent.

It looks like question 9 decided it, then. Thanks Mack for organising this.

Round 1: 33 Lynsey De Paul, BB King Round 2: 39 💥 3 in 10: 0 Couldn't remember any of them

15th - 21st July 1965 31. He's Got No Love - The Searchers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDk5LBckE9I There's a hint of the early 90s Britpop sound from the guitars on this one which was the first top 40 hit by The Searchers that they wrote themselves. 33. With These Hands - Tom Jones https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wv_13iTwpE A cover of an Eddie Fisher song from 1953 which showcases his vocal abilities but he's only 25 and I'd like to see him going back to the more contemporary sound of his number 1 single, 'It's Not Unusual'. 34. Cry To Me - The Pretty Things https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVk18F2chbM This will the last of the band's three top 40 hits and it has the same raw, blues rock sound to it, maybe not commercial enough to keep them in the charts for any longer. They will, however, keep going well into the 21st Century. 35. The Ballad Of Spotty Muldoon - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDQQTvnTnlY Just a month after 'Goodbye-ee' comes another novelty song from Peter Cook. This one, about someone with spots on his face, is not quite as bad but maybe not the right subject for humour as plenty of teenagers at the time might have been suffering from the same affliction. 38. Catch Us If You Can - The Dave Clark Five https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKw9AYPeCz8 After some lower charting singles, this one will return the group to the top 5. I've always found the "mmm"s to be irritating but I like the chorus and the harmonica solo. Record of the week : 23. I Can't Help Myself - The Four Tops Formed in 1953, The Four Tops did not have their first US hit single until 1964 and this will be their first UK hit. It's just so joyous and catchy and there's a fine lead vocal from Levi Stubbs. It will go no higher than this position but a re-issue will make the top 10 in 1970. The single will also top the Billboard chart.

In a lot of song contests I take part in, my entry is fairly obvious but not this time it seems.

Round 1: 30 Call, the year, Dodgy Round 2: 33 Either 'Drowning' artist, Loeb 3 in 10: 3 Pray, Sure, A Million Love Songs

It was a very good start today and I'm picking three of the first five songs that were played. Electric Light Orchestra - I'm Alive The Korgis - Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime Peter Gabriel - No Self Control Queen - Play The Game Olivia Newton-John And Electric Light Orchestra - Xanadu No room for Joy Division. Tiebreak - A Forest

Messages would be my favourite, just, followed by Funky Town, We Are Glass and You'll Always Find Me In The Kitchen At Parties

It's A Sin played in the background just now on BBC1 Wimbledon coverage while showing Jannik Sinner's career stats. The timing!