King Rollo

1st Rosalia - Reliquia 2 Lisa - Akeboshi (明け星) 3 FKA twigs - Stereo Boy 4 Lily Allen - 22 5 Delta Goodrem - Eclipse 6 Nelly Furtado - Try 7 Kelly Clarkson - Haunted 8 Chappell Roan - After Midnight 9 Kesha - Red Flag 🚩 I think the top 3 are the best songs so far by those three artists.

Round 1: 30 Sun, the year, What's Up (that's not the first time I answered 'What's Going On', I must remember it's called What's Up) Round 2: 24 REM or David Gray, Strong Enough (not Love Enough), the year, Captain & Tennille 3 in 10: 3 Chance, Wonderland, In A Big Country

3rd - 9th March 1966 18. I Can't Let Go - The Hollies https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3aUcorSCpk This will reach number 2 but it's not one I've heard that often. The guitar part on the intro is very similar to the start of Rat Trap by the Boomtown Rats. After that, there are some good vocal harmonies and a persistent rhythm to the song. It's a cover of an Evie Sands track from 1965. 28. Shapes Of Things - The Yardbirds https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlifbs-dpIs An early example of psychedelic rock, this will go on to influence what will come later in the 60s. Jeff Beck's guitar solo is the highlight. It will be the group's fourth consecutive top 3 single. 34. Dedicated Follower Of Fashion - The Kinks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfNc9tg128k A change of direction for The Kinks with less of the guitar riffs and more towards a whimsical music hall type of sound with lyrics about one person trying to keep up with the rapidly changing London fashion scene. It would normally be a contender for ROTW. 35. I'll Never Quite Get Over You - Billy Fury https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RxTJtFy3Wk There's some lush orchestration here along with the piano and a stirring vocal from Billy. 38. Flowers On The Wall - The Statler Brothers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AW7FOgJcidI An enjoyable up-tempo country song with a good contribution from the banjo. I always like the banjo as a musical instrument. It will be their only hit. 40. May Each Day - Andy Williams https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biepdSFVQKs This is from 1963 but could just as easily be from 1953. In his defence, he sings it very well with a warm, clear vocal. Record of the week : 26. The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore - The Walker Brothers Even on a week that has some quality, there's no doubt that this is the one. I'd put it up with 'You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' as the best single of the 60s up to this point. That expansive production with the deep drums, tambourines, trumpets, tubular bells, guitars and backing singers is just magical and then you've got Scott Walker's towering lead vocal, 10 out of 10. It's a cover of a Frankie Valli song from 1965 and will spend four weeks at number 1.

There are 50 songs so you just need to give scores to the other 16.

Yes please.

Hi Gary, you need to give a score to every song for your vote to count, thanks.

Thanks, and well done everyone on getting 39 on round 2 today. Round 1: 36 The Road (I thought it was The Line but that was The Traveling Wilburys) Round 2: 39 💥 3 in 10: 3 Whole Lotta History, Sound Of The Underground, I'll Stand By You We all picked different Girls Aloud songs

Round 1: 36 Cilla Black (should have got that but came up with 'It's My World' and couldn't think of the other one) Round 2: 39 💥 3 in 10: 2 Rhinestone Cowboy, Wichita Lineman

I have voted. It was a good quality batch of songs.

Round 1: 36 Promises Round 2: 30 Big Scary Animal, the year 3 in 10: 3 Cold As Ice, Waiting For A Girl Like You, I Want To Know What Love Is

AFC Bournemouth 2-2 Brentford Everton 2-0 Burnley Leeds United 2-1 Sunderland Wolverhampton Wanderers 0-2 Liverpool Aston Villa 1-1 Chelsea Brighton & Hove Albion 0-2 Arsenal Fulham 2-1 West Ham United Manchester City 3-0 Nottingham Forest Newcastle United 1-1 Manchester United Tottenham 1-1 Crystal Palace

I've confirmed a song from a year ending in 9. It was an easier task than some of the ones others have been given. It might come as a surprise that I didn't pick a song from the 20th Century.

You gave two 18 and two 17 scores so I've corrected the scores for your bottom 16.

Thanks for doing the Spotify playlist, DaTilt. I've added it to the opening post.

Well done John on today's 39 and glad you got back home before all that flight disruption, if you had to stop in Dubai. Round 1: 27 Barry Blue, En Vogue, The Four Tops Round 2: 33 Transvision Vamp, Louise 3 in 10: 3 Pipes Of Peace, Goodnight Tonight, Once Upon A Long Ago

It's interesting that Shawn Mendes gets eliminated with a single when we were all asked to submit album tracks for that round.

50 singles have made it to the final. Which one will be crowned as the forum's favourite number 8 single? When you post your vote, please give 50 points to your favourite down to 1 point for your least favourite. Please put your favourite at the top of your list. You must give a score to each song for your vote to count. You have two weeks to vote. The finalists: The Supremes - You Keep Me Hangin' On Shocking Blue – Venus Stealers Wheel - Stuck In The Middle With You The Beatles – Yesterday Thin Lizzy – The Boys Are Back In Town Eagles – Hotel California Plastic Bertrand – Ça Plane Pour Moi Dire Straits - Sultans Of Swing Sister Sledge – We Are Family Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark – Enola Gay Visage - Fade To Grey Depeche Mode – Just Can't Get Enough Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five - The Message Michael Jackson – Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' Bananarama – Cruel Summer Eurythmics – Here Comes The Rain Again Rufus and Chaka Khan - Ain't Nobody Katrina and the Waves - Walking On Sunshine Bananarama – Venus Pet Shop Boys – Suburbia Black – Wonderful Life Pet Shop Boys – Rent Michael Jackson – Smooth Criminal The Stone Roses - Fools Gold / What The World Is Waiting For The Smiths – This Charming Man The Beloved – Sweet Harmony Meat Loaf - Bat Out Of Hell McAlmont & Butler - Yes Radiohead – Karma Police The Prodigy – Smack My Bitch Up Len - Steal My Sunshine Mary J Blige - Family Affair Linkin Park – In the End Avril Lavigne – Sk8er Boi XTM & DJ Chucky presents Annia - Fly On The Wings Of Love Muse – Time Is Running Out Evanescence – Going Under Blink 182 - I Miss You Green Day – Wake Me Up When September Ends The Veronicas – Untouched Robyn – Dancing On My Own Lady Gaga – Judas Nero – Guilt Amy Winehouse – Back To Black Kelly Clarkson – Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You) Pink - Try Arctic Monkeys – Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High? Kygo featuring Conrad Sewell - Firestone Kylie Minogue - Padam Padam Oasis - Live Forever Closing date - Sunday 15th March Spotify playlist:

This would be my ranking of these number 1s: 01 Tubeway Army - Are Friends Electric? 02 Art Garfunkel - Bright Eyes 03 Gary Numan - Cars 04 The Buggles - Video Killed the Radio Star 05 Pink Floyd - Another Brick in the Wall Part II 06 The Boomtown Rats - I Don’t Like Mondays 07 Ian Dury and the Blockheads - Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick 08 Blondie - Heart of Glass 09 The Police - Message in a Bottle 10 Village People - YMCA 11 The Police - Walking on the Moon 12 Cliff Richard - We Don’t Talk Anymore 13 Blondie - Sunday Girl 14 Bee Gees - Tragedy 15 Gloria Gaynor - I Will Survive 16 Dr Hook - When You’re in Love with a Beautiful Woman 17 Anita Ward - Ring My Bell 18 Lena Martell - One Day at a Time The main difference is I've put Bright Eyes a lot higher. I didn't rate it that much in 1979 but I've come to appreciate it a lot more as I've got older. I've ranked I Will Survive a lot lower than you. Apart from those two songs, we're mainly in agreement over where these should be ranked.

'Are Friends Electric?' was the talk of the school playground the morning after it was first performed on Top Of The Pops. We'd never heard or seen anything like it. As well as those chunky synths, it was the resonant guitar sounds. I'll sort out my own order to put these songs in tomorrow.

24th February - 2nd March 1966 15. Backstage - Gene Pitney https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwPGRBBTmpo Quite a high new entry position for Gene and the single will reach the top 5. It's another good one with plenty of drama both in his vocal and the string section. 30. What Now My Love - Sonny and Cher https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfydxSLLbPs The second cover of this 1961 song to chart after Shirley Bassey's in 1962. I like the production and I'm assuming it's the Wrecking Crew playing the instruments but, as usual with these two, the vocals are a bit ropey. 33. Blue River - Elvis Presley https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuYnhf7IPMw Another old song, this time from 1963. It's up-tempo with the interaction between the drums and guitars being the highlight. 36. Jenny Take A Ride - Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20Gih1iuS4k A fast paced song which is a hybrid of rock'n'roll and rhythm and blues. I enjoyed it. 38. Trouble Is My Middle Name - The Four Pennies https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JG867J1GJH8 The last of the group's five top 40 hits is a cover of a Bobby Vinton song from 1962. It was OK but not one I'll want to listen to again. 39. You Don't Love Me - Gary Walker https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNqd6MvtKRc One of the Walker Brothers covers a Willie Cobbs song from 1960. I like the edgy guitar sound he comes up with here. Dawn Penn's version is the one I'm most familiar with. Record of the week : 40. Lightnin' Strikes - Lou Christie What a good pop song this is with its build up from the verse to the bridge and then to the fabulous chorus sung in falsetto. I also the like the use of the saxophone, tubular bells and backing singers. It will be the first top 40 hit for the American singer, peaking at number 11 and going all the way to number 1 in his homeland.

Go! by Marillion would fit the alphabetical theme.

17 please

So these are the 25 singles to qualify for the final, in chronological order: You Keep Me Hangin' On Stuck In The Middle With You Hotel California Sultans Of Swing We Are Family Fade To Grey Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' Here Comes The Rain Again Walking On Sunshine Venus (Bananarama) Suburbia This Charming Man Sweet Harmony In The End Fly On The Wings Of Love Time Is Running Out Going Under Wake Me Up When September Ends Untouched Dancing On My Own Back To Black Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You) Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High? Padam Padam Live Forever The final will start on Monday.

26. Blur - There's No Other Way 218pts Writers - Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James, Dave Rowntree Top points - Uls2000 24, marcinjaro 24, Jester 24 From 1991, this was Blur's first top 40 hit. Their next five singles all peaked from 24 to 32 before they finally got going in 1994. The single in 25th place has a score of 221 points.

27. Whitney Houston - Greatest Love Of All 216pts Writers - Michael Messer, Linda Creed Top points - DarrenJ77 25, vibe 23, Yog1963 21, AaronTM 21 The Greatest Love Of All was first recorded by George Benson in 1977 and was the theme to the film 'The Greatest', a biopic of Muhammad Ali. Whitney Houston's version gave her a third US number 1 single.