dandy*

Twist and Shout is one of the two #1s I mentioned that I really dislike so very glad to see that it is out! Come On You Reds is kinda better than it has any right to be... I'd never choose to play it but it is significantly better than any other football club song I can think of (not counting England tracks)

When I logged on and saw the number of notifications I assumed that Human League must have won - but I'm glad to see it wasn't a runaway winner like some were predicting. I can't remember if I mentioned in the thread but I actually really struggled with 1981... when Chez sent it through my initial reaction was great because I assumed that there would be lots from that era that I liked, but when I trawled through albums released that year I was finding that I didn't really like anything on them aside from the singles, or the things I did like (such as OMD's Architecture & Morality album) seemed to have tracks that didn't work as well as stand alone ones outside of the album experience. I also spent ages searching for underrated 1981 tracks/albums etc but that just seemed to bring up lots of US rock albums... so in the end I just gave up and sent the only album track I could find that I thought would work in the contest. It's obviously nice to have won, but I'm also conscious that some people felt that it was too well known so feeling a little awkward about it 🫣 For me, nearly all the selections I enjoyed the most were in the earlier years - those of you who got those did amazingly well and I'd have loved to see one of them win instead <3 Thanks Chez for choosing an interesting theme that clearly appealed to a lot of people given the record number of participants! I definitely found it more difficult to think of tracks in this style but it did generate a really interesting mix of entries.

I know the topic has moved on a bit but I am genuinely astonished to learn that none of the Spice Girls have managed a top 3 album before 😲

Oh it should be subjective, much more interesting to see how you rank them rather than list what you think other people may want to see ☺️

Ooooh now that one is way too low! I don’t like them in general but that’s definitely one of their best

Love is All Around is okay for what it is, but not something I’d ever seek out - same evaluation I’d give the other mammoth film soundtrack hits from the first half of the 90s. I wouldn’t rank it last (there’s two songs I despise in 1994) but I doubt I’d put it much higher than about 13th

I did hope for better than the 30s with it, but can’t really grumble at an underperformance after the good luck I’ve had over the past year 🍀

OMG I’m so chuffed with that! ☺️ I didn’t know that we were so close to leading until Brer posted the update last contest - to which I immediately wished I’d spent longer finding something that I thought would do well… I’d completely forgotten that I’d got no points from the equivalent contests last year so was expecting Blacksquare to have pulled back ahead following his much better result this contest. What a lovely surprise, it’s really cheered me up today at a point where I was feeling a bit down about being stuck in the house with constant nursing duties whilst Mr D* recovers

I have a clear number one for 1994 so it will be interesting to see if you do as well… my second fave is a total guilty pleasure that I suspect would be quite low on most lists

Right Beside You is amazing (as is Alison Moyet) - I’ve had the Sophie track on my potentials list before but I assumed it would be a veto, but maybe not! (I do like the Tasmin track too but it wouldn’t be a hit I don’t think)

Well done DaTilt - always great to see a first time winner and it was with a song I liked too. I thought it sounded like something that would do really well (partly because it was more pop than I would normally like but I still liked it!) so I'm chuffed for you that it did so well. Ah so Wasia Project didn't manage anywhere near my hoped 23rd then! 😂 I knew they were being overpredicted so not at all sad though, I imagine it was a song that most people liked but not many people actually loved. I liked the feel of it more than anything else, it just had a sort of sombre elegance to it. Great to see my 18 make the top 10, well done Terra Avium. And, of course, great to see Ennea getting top 10 with their first qualifier!

Kinda surprised at how decent the FLJ odds as this was one of those sporadic entries I choose to aim at finally getting the elusive 23rd spot. I’m not sure what I expect to win this month, there doesn’t seem to be an obvious choice to me so I’m expecting it to be a tight contest.

Hmmm. I've watched both episodes so far and I'm not sure I'm on board with it. It has flashes of potential but for me it has constantly grim undertones to it. My thoughts but does contain a couple of spoilers so... It's 2026 and I'm not sure I'm here for a drama about LGBTQ+ characters being subservient to straight thugs. Each episode has a 'shocking' moment that sort of comes pretty much out of nowhere and at the moment I feel it's just style over substance with things shoehorned in. The sex scene in episode one was just grim and incredibly uncomfortable to watch. But it's the attack at the end of the second episode that has really irritated me, introducing a self assured gay character just to have him beaten to a pulp seemingly just to further a plot dynamic between two other characters can f*ck right off. It wasn't even a scene to highlight the types of attacks that gay people had to endure, it was an attack all about the character attacking him.

It’s essentially the Facebook model of verification, ie just making more money. I’m not sure people definitely have to pay on Spotify at the moment but it does seem as though the world is heading that way.

Hmm I was at a conference not that long ago where they were saying the tech world believes the future for people in the arts world was to pay for a premium badge to prove they are real - and it would be like AI is seen as the supermarket basic range whilst artists would pay to be viewed as an authentic and better brand. This feels a little bit like that path. If they can verify real artists then they in theory can just instead remove AI slop from their platform. It made me feel a bit sick and I got quite annoyed with them. It’s just tech people inventing money yet again.

My first reaction is also too many comedians - they’re not individually bad choices but they’re all standard go to panel show guests so don’t really feel like unique attractions. Still lots of interesting names outside of those though, particularly love the idea of Miranda (comedian I know but not the same as the others), Michael, James (both to be fair), Richard, Julie, Amol and Joanne

I really want to be as on board as everyone else seems to be for this but I’m currently just finding it merely okay. I think the production is better than the song. I’ll see if it grows more but I can’t see me returning to this much at the moment

I absolutely LOVE that!! Loving her choice of collaborators for the remixes on this project so far as well, all so on point

Yeah the single is unfortunately instantly forgettable 😢

Sounds like COADF2 is going to be quite house music inspired then from the first couple of tracks - will wait and see what the full thing is like but immediate thoughts are it needs a hook somewhere, feels more progressive in tone than the peak 90s era house hits with strong vocals and tunes

Ooooo… now I’m not sure what is still to come but I really liked the Fear and I’d imagine I’d put it top 5

Apologies everyone but I won't be voting in the semis - messaged Phil about it last night to let him know but Mr D* managed to break his ankle and leg yesterday so we've been in hospital until this afternoon and I haven't had chance to listen to everything properly - and am far too knackered to rush listen now before the deadline. Seems fairer to me not to vote in either than to rush votes that won't be well considered. Sorry everyone - will definitely vote properly in the final

I always thought it was 48 hours so that people left with the same travel issues as the time they arrived? Could be wrong though

Oh wow, not on board with all the Harrison dislike in this thread. He and his sister are our favourites! I don't think he's really that miserable either, it's almost like a persona and he clearly smirks at some of the things he says and does, plus I just find them a wonderfully contrasting set of siblings that still clearly have a lot of love for each other really.