thisispop

To a degree a Rogue poll, but then again maybe the LibDem Wheel of Misfortune http://www.wheelofmisfortune.co.uk/ is hitting home; along with a couple of points Clegg made in the third debate (on Immigration - see earlier post; and criticising David Cameron on not revealing what measures they would take if elected; then when the Tories did on Sunday, he accused them of being arrogant and presumptious on Monday, which is what others could say of Clegg and co saying they are the second most popular party in the polls) :lol:

You, really, really, really, don't understand economics do you if you think Brown's policies are more beneficial to the UK than Camerons plans. If the IMF come in to bail out the UK we are already completely f***ing screwed far more than a double dip recession ever will be. By doing nothing NOW, it will mean the following: Problems of National Debt 1. Interest Payments. The cost of paying interest on the government’s debt is very high. In 2008 Debt interest payments were £31 billion a year (est 2.5% of GDP). In 2009, they were £35 billion (similar to defence budget - 5.2% of GDP). Public sector debt interest payments is already the 4th highest department after social security, health and education. If nothing is done about it this year in an emergency budget by whoever takes power in June until the next annual budget - then Public Sector Debt interest payments will rise to 3rd place in 2011/12. 2. Higher Taxes in the future. By not taking action now, it will mean the amount we have to pay back in the future will increase, because we are doing nothing now, so that we have to pay a greater proportion in taxes back later. Whilst with interest rates being so low, it is logical to cut (pay back) the debt as soon as possible, and not wait for interest rates to rise, when we will have to pay more back. 3. Crowding out of private sector investment / spending. It is argued by virtually all Economists that if government borrowing increases, it will cause crowding out of the private sector. If the private sector buy bonds it means the private sector has less funds for private sector investment. Also, if borrowing increases, interest rates may rise. Higher interest rates also reduce private sector spending and investment. Furthermore, as is full evidence in the UK today, public sector workers are getting paid significantly more than their private sector counterparts, working in a more secure job environment, with superior final salary/early retirement pension schemes, and with significantly less productivity. Remember the private sector pays for the public sector via taxes. It goes without saying this is an unsustainable as well as very unhealthy business model. 4. The debt problem will only get worse as an ageing population places greater strain on the UK’s pension liabilities. Many Western OECD economies are facing an unwelcome population projection. As the baby boomer generation starts to retire (around 2016), the dependency ratio (number of people not working to number of people working) is forecast to rise. This ageing population is exacerbated by declining birth rates which is reducing the number of working age adults. Some countries are affected more than others. UK Dependency ratio is forecast to rise from: 0.34 to 0.65 by 2040. The government will be faced with higher spending commitments and lower tax receipts. If the government doesn't radically change policy, national debt is likely to increase. Furthermore, the government will not be borrowing to finance sustainable investment but making transfer payments which don't boost productivity. All the above lead to the following scenarios for Governments to use to resolve the problem: With prospect of higher spending and relatively lower tax receipts, the government may have to consider some politically unpopular policies. 1. Raise retirement age to reflect longer life spans. In 1950, average life expectancy was 75. It is now 86. But a higher retirement age will not be welcomed by people who have been planning and expecting to retire at 65. Governments may delay implementation of higher pension age for several years. 2. Higher tax rates. Increasing income tax to pay for an ageing population hardly inspires. The argument is higher tax rates will reduce productivity and deter people working. The impact of higher taxes on labour productivity is less than many claim, but, it would still be an unwelcome development 3. Cut spending. Making people pay for private health care and private nursing homes is one solution. But, it would inevitably require an extensive and unpopular means tested scheme to decide who can't afford. It won't please children seeing a fall in their inheritance levels. 4. Immigration. Immigration of young workers will be one of the easiest solutions to the demographic time bomb. But, immigration is equally unpopular. Plus it has an adverse affect on the existing infrastructure so that it's benefits are to a degree neutralised to the extent that if it is not managed correctly with a monitoring of the skills and personal brought into the country it can have a detrimental impact. Negative impact on Exchange Rate * A rapid increase in national debt means the government have to borrow more from the private sector (which as already mentioned above is being squeezed by the burden of supporting an unsustainable public sector.) If markets have 100% confidence in the UK's ability to repay debt - foreigners will be happy to buy some of our debt (through buying bonds and gilts). * If markets start to worry borrowing is getting too high / unmanageable, then investors will not be keen to hold UK government bonds. They will invest abroad i.e. many sterling assets will be sold. This will reduce demand for sterling on foreign exchange markets and cause a depreciation. Basically when investing (especially in turbulent times) it makes sense to invest in the safest countries. If markets start to price in a risk of debt default, it will be more more difficult for that country to attract capital flows. This is exactly what has happened to Greece because they did not take action before it was too late leading to their credit rating being downgraded raising the cost of future government borrowing even further to near unacceptable levels; at the moment the markets are now putting pressure on Portugal & Spain; with the UK & Italy next in the line of fire. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/10097072.stm But here are the killer reasons why I'm changing my vote from Labour to the Conservatives at this election: Key fact 1: "Labour have doubled the debt. Having inherited a debt of just £351 billion, Labour have more than doubled this to £858 billion. On the Government’s own figures the debt is set to continue to soar to £1.4 trillion by 2015, meaning every person will owe £23,000 - the highest forecast in the EU with the exception of Greece (who now have the EU to bail them out), Portugal & Spain. (ONS, Public Sector Finances; and HM Treasury, Budget 2010)." Key fact 2: "Unemployment higher than in 1997. Unemployment and youth unemployment are both higher than in 1997, while the employment rate is lower than when Labour came to power. Whilst those skivving bast*rds on incapacity benefit have risen from 934K in 1997 to 2.6million under Labour in 2010" Key fact 3: "Competitiveness falling. Britain has fallen from 7th in 1997 to 13th in the World Economic Forum’s global competitiveness league table (World Economic Forum, Global Competitiveness Report 2009-2010, September 2009)." Key fact 4: " Police officer numbers are already being cut. Thirteen police forces have cut police officer numbers in the last five years (Home Affairs Select Committee, Police Service Strength, Fifth report of Session 2009-10, 19 January 2010). A leaked report for the Home Office, co-written by Mark Rowley, the Chief Constable of Surrey, has raised the prospect of 28,000 police officers being replaced by civilian workers to save money (The Daily Telegraph, 11 March 2010). And just four out of the 43 police forces in England and Wales say they plan to maintain current staffing levels (Home Affairs Select Committee, Police Service Strength, January 2010, Appendix A)." Key fact 5: "Total net migration to the UK, the difference between immigration and emigration, increased from 48,000 in 1997 to 163,000 in 2008. The 2008 figure was lower than the preceding years as a result of record emigration. The inflow of people coming to the UK actually increased despite the recession, from 574,000 in 2007 to 590,000 in 2008. This represents a continuation of the level of immigration seen since 2004 (Office of National Statistics, Long-Term International Migration Tables, 1991-latest, 2008 first release, table 2.06; Office of National Statistics, News Release: Emigration reaches record high in 2008, 26 November 2009)." P.S. to LibDem Clegg supporters - In the third and final debate your man was factually incorrect to state that the current net rate of EU citizens coming into this country was 80% in 2009. It was actually just 39% acoording to the Office of National Statistics. Therefore, making Cameron's figure of 600,000 mathematically correct. Which the LibDem leader accused Cameron of being incorrect about. But where did David Cameron get that figure from in the first place - well guess who: f-MVeAYQSN4

Kreen Akrore

African Night Flight Move On v Alabama Song

Ringo Starr, they used the guerrilla from the Cadbury's Milk Adds to drum instead. What was George Harrison's favourite sport?

(The) White Album

12 Aggro Santos ft Kimberley Wyatt – Candy 25 Alicia Keys – Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart 43 Biffy Clyro – Bubbles 13 Fyfe Dangerfield – She’s Always A Woman 51 Glee Cast - Beautiful 35 Kevin Rudolf – I Made It (Cash Money Heroes) 26 Lady Antebellum – Need You Now 64 Mika vs Red One – Kick Ass (We Are Young) 08 Pendulum – Watercolour 43 Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Bittersweet 05 Taio Cruz ft Ke$ha - Dirty Picture 54 Toni Braxton – Yesterday 26 Train – Hey Soul Sister 40 TV Rock ft Rudy - In The Air (Axwell Remix) Bonus #1: Will Roll Deep – Good Times be higher than Usher ft will.i.am - OMG in the chart? Yes Bonus #2: Will David Guetta ft Kid Cudi - Memories be higher than Selena Gomez & The Scene - Naturally in the chart? Yes Bonus #3: Will Jason Derulo – In My Head be higher than Jason Derulo – Ridin’ Solo in the chart? No

01. Roll Deep - Good Times 02. Usher ft. Will.I.Am - OMG 03. Plan B - She Said 04. Chipmunk ft. Esmee Denters - Until You Were Gone 05. Taio Cruz ft. Ke$ha - Dirty Picture 06. Diana Vickers - Once 07. Professor Green ft. Ed Drewett - I Need You Tonight 08. Pendulum - Watercolour 09. Scouting For Girls This Ain't A Love Song 10. Timbaland Feat. Justin Timberlake Carry Out Bonus questions: 1. (for 5 pts) Which song will be # 20 next week? (Artist name and song title needed!) - Justin Bieber ft. Ludacris - Baby 2. (for 3 pts) How many new/re/chart entries will be altogether in the top 40 next week? - 7 3. (for 2 pts) Which album will be higher next week: Adam Lambert – For Your Entertainment or Lady Antebellum – Need You Now? - Lady Antebellum – Need You Now

I've listened today to 20 songs of which 4 are 9.5 or higher. But unless you are going on holiday/are too busy, etc. I think I'm going to leave it to near the end to vote to decide my order with the pointage.

Because in retrospect I thought a lot of posters would not have the patience to listen to a 6 minute long track when there are 40 other songs to listen to in this no semi finals format. Plus, I hope my entry will have a similar impact to when I sent Cyndi Lauper (i.e. a positive prejudice shock factor = beforehand: this should be $h!t; listens: OMG this is rather good; etc).

It is incredible you get two classic #1's followed by a relative dud: How about some of these (not already mentioned): Gerry & The Pacemakers "You'll Never Walk Alone" 31 October 1963 4 The Beatles "She Loves You" 28 November 1963 2 The Beatles "I Want to Hold Your Hand" 12 December 1963 5 Dave Clark Five "Glad All Over" 16 January 1964 2 The Searchers "Needles and Pins" 30 January 1964 3 Dusty Springfield "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me" 28 April 1966 1 Manfred Mann "Pretty Flamingo" 5 May 1966 3 Rolling Stones "Paint It, Black" 26 May 1966 1 Frank Sinatra "Strangers in the Night" 2 June 1966 3 The Beatles "Paperback Writer" 23 June 1966 2 The Kinks "Sunny Afternoon" 7 July 1966 2 The Tremeloes "Silence Is Golden" 18 May 1967 3 Procol Harum "A Whiter Shade of Pale" 8 June 1967 6 The Beatles "All You Need Is Love" 19 July 1967 3 Elvis Presley "The Wonder of You (Live)" 1 August 1970 6 Smokey Robinson & The Miracles "The Tears of a Clown" 12 September 1970 1 Freda Payne "Band of Gold" 19 September 1970 6 Matthews' Southern Comfort "Woodstock" 31 October 1970 3 The Jimi Hendrix Experience "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" 21 November 1970 1 Dave Edmunds "I Hear You Knocking" 28 November 1970 6 John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John "You're the One That I Want" 17 June 1978 9 Commodores "Three Times a Lady" 19 August 1978 5 10cc "Dreadlock Holiday" 23 September 1978 1 John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John "Summer Nights" 30 September 1978 7 The Boomtown Rats "Rat Trap" 18 November 1978 2 Ian Dury & The Blockheads "Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick" 27 January 1979 1 Blondie "Heart of Glass 3 February 1979 4 The Bee Gees "Tragedy 3 March 1979 2 The Police "Don't Stand So Close to Me" 27 September 1980 4 Barbra Streisand "Woman in Love" 25 October 1980 3 Blondie "The Tide Is High" 15 November 1980 2 ABBA "Super Trouper" 29 November 1980 3 Duran Duran "The Reflex" 5 May 1984 4 Wham! "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" 2 June 1984 2 Frankie Goes to Hollywood "Two Tribes" 16 June 1984 9 George Michael "Careless Whisper" 18 August 1984 3 Michael Jackson "Black or White" 17 November 1991 2 George Michael & Elton John "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" 1 December 1991 2 Queen "Bohemian Rhapsody / These Are the Days of Our Lives" 15 December 1991 5 Take That "Back for Good" 2 April 1995 4 Oasis "Some Might Say" 30 April 1995 1 Livin' Joy "Dreamer" 7 May 1995 1 George Michael "Jesus to a Child" 14 January 1996 1 Babylon Zoo "Spaceman" 21 January 1996 5 Oasis "Don't Look Back in Anger" 25 February 1996 1

... Just remembers the ultimate example of this scenario: Chuck Berry - My Ding A Ling. To think he wrote: Johnny B. Goode; Roll Over Beethoven; Rock and Roll Music; Sweet Little Sixteen; Memphis, Tennessee; No Particular Place To Go; Carol; Promised Land & You Never Can Tell.

Awful #1s (as opposed to mediocre) :thinking: apart from the obvious Stevie Wonder and Billy Joel entries already mentioned ...... Paul McCartney post Beatles: Wings' Mull of Kintyre compared to the likes of Band On The Run; Live & Let Die; My Love; Listen To What The Man Said; Jet; and the far superior B-side of MOK (Girls School) ... Paul's first solo #1 (with Stevie Wonder) Ebony & Ivory is an utter embarrassment (I will however defend Pipes Of Peace to high heaven as it was the right song, with the right sentiment at the right time) compared to No More Lonely Nights; Coming Up; Another Day; Take It Away & Waterfalls. Or should I mention that the seminal children's song We All Stand Together is Paul's 2nd best selling post Beatles single behind MOK, as it sold over 750K, but was stuck behind Band Aid & Wham!'s epic 1984 Xmas singles.

I'm going to stop it here tonight at this point. I'll look to post the Final Top 20 tomorrow evening from around 19:30 Hours. Anyway these are the Top 20 songs in alphabetical order: Anastacia - Left Outside Alone Arctic Monkeys - I Bet You Look Good On The Dance Floor Beyonce ft Jay-Z – Crazy In Love Britney Spears - Toxic Christina Aguilera – Beautiful Girls Aloud – Call The Shots Kelly Clarkson - Since U Been Gone Killers - Mr Brightside Kylie Minogue - Can’t Get You Out Of My Head Lady GaGa – Bad Romance Lady GaGa – Poker Face Leona Lewis – Bleeding Love Leona Lewis - Run MGMT - Kids P!nk – Just Like A Pill Rihanna - Disturbia Rihanna ft. Jay-Z – Umbrella Robyn ft. Kleerup – With Every Heartbeat Snow Patrol - Run Sugababes – About You Now Please feel free to predict the Top 5/10 finishers....

23 60 54 93 89 t.A.T.u – All The Things She Said 185 Pm3ULRyiQ58 22 19 26 14 30 Killers - Somebody Told Me 186 21 20 15 49 X Amy Winehouse - Rehab 190 Up to a new peak is the second highest song that was not in last year's Top 50, nor is a new (2009) song - that is produced by the legend that is Trevor Horn; up next to minor fallers from the Killers; and the Award winning record that started a retro-soul bandwagon by an artist before she turned into the female Pete Doherty.

26 82 17 27 21 Madonna - Hung Up 180 QIJP6i4eBFk 25 25 84 74 71 Spiller ft. Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Groovejet (If This Ain't Love) 180 24 22 111 22 X Pink - Who Knew 182 Up next are three more Buzzjack favourites: Her Madgesty, the Queen of Pop graces the Top 50 with the Abba ((Gimme Gimme Gimme) A Man After Midnight) sampling dance floor anthem produced by Stuart Price (see Kylie's next single); the track that (hilariously - or was it a curse sent by Sir Alex Ferguson (re: Star Stories :lol:)) stopped Victoria Beckham having a solo #1 hit single is a non mover at #25; and Pink's second most popular single on this countdown falls just 2 places.

29 X X X X Lily Allen – The Fear 170 28 X X X X Kelly Clarkson – My Life Would Suck Without You 173 o9WKkrB1u2U 27 11 4 12 3 Shakira – Whenever Wherever 176 Next up comes two 2009 UK chart topping singles by artists who have benefited from having songs covered on Glee - from last year's Best Female at the BRITs & the original American Idol winner respectively; and Columbia's second most famous export falls out of the Top 20 for the very first time.

32 151 47 91 33 Sugababes – Freak Like Me 166 a5o4GPnV0t0 31 55 176 105 X Beyoncé - Irreplaceable 167 30 48 35 35 81 Girls Aloud – Sound Of The Underground 170 Another three songs spending their maximum number of years on the countdown (all with their highest finish to date). The Sugababes 2.0 first single rebounds 119 places from last year's blip (a great Glastonbury Festival live clip IMHO); Beyonce continues to climb for the 3rd straight year to hit a chart peak; as does Girls Aloud's excellent debut single (hopefully the most talented member of One True Voice can finally enjoy a UK#1 hit single on the next Dizzee Rascal single).

35 6 46 130 62 Girls Aloud - Biology 160 34 21 37 21 31 Green Day - Boulevard Of Broken Dreams 161 33 153 11 38 29 Gwen Stefani - What You Waiting For? 163 9VEXv0lh4x4 Three songs spending their 5th straight year on the countdown ....... A biggish drop from the Top 10 for Girls Aloud Chemistry hit single; a fall of 13 places for the seminal American Idiot single; and a massive climb of 120 places (perhaps as it was "ripping off" the early 1980s before it as the vogue thing to do, and the video's a bit proto GaGa-ish) for the No Doubt singer.

38 18 100 X X Kelly Clarkson - Behind These Hazel Eyes 153 37 33 31 59 39 Sugababes – Hole In The Head 153 36 59 42 48 42 All Saints - Pure Shores 153 C9yfLq_IFfw Kelly Clarkson epic Breakaway track falls 20 places from last year; the Sugababes drift just 4 places downwards from last year; and All Saints classic #1 from 2000 climbs 23 places to bow out with a peak position.

41 7 X X X Lady GaGa - Just Dance 129 40 X X X X Lady GaGa – Paparazzi 134 l3R3KqrJAI4 39 8 2 X X Nelly Furtado – Say It Right 150 Now could this be significant with regards to the top end of the countdown?????? Two songs by the biggest artist in pop right now ..... her breakthrough single falls a monster 34 places from last year's debut; and the wonderful Paparazzi debuts at #40; whilst Woah (at) Nelly's fall in two years for this Timbaland produced track.

44 14 39 129 X Girls Aloud - Something Kinda Oooh 110 43 177 114 137 45 Aaliyah - Try Again 121 Soi4gMF181k 42 88 X X X Katy Perry - Hot N Cold 124 A 30 place falls sees the first of four Girls Aloud songs in the Top 50; a 144 place climb to a new peak for the late great Aaliyah on an early Timbaland classic; and Katy Perry's much better follow up (IMHO) to I Kissed A Girl climbs an impressive 46 places.

47 53 121 67 149 Riva ft Dannii Minogue - Who Do You Love Now? 103 46 41 28 23 14 Sugababes - Push The Button 109 45 X X X X Little Boots – Remedy 110 2RByodt2ORk (Obviously) Simon Cowell least favourite judge on X-Factor climbs 6 places in reaching the Top 50 for the first time; the second of five appearances in the Final 50 for the first three versions of the Sugababes sees a 5 place fall; and a debut for Blackpool's Victoria Hesketh whom I really wish the very best of luck in the future, as the backlash she suffered due to her Record Company/PR completely mucking up her debut album release(s) is amongst the worst I've witnessed in nearly 30 years of following music.

Now I'm into the songs that made the 2010 Record Of The Decade Final. Any points ties were split by their respective averages in their Record Of The Year Games. 50 50 50 117 70 Sugababes - Overload 86 49 167 57 44 X Linkin Park - In The End 98 bbMZY3NkZok 48 27 14 8 X Nelly Furtado - Maneater 98 The Sugababes (1.0) debut single finishes at #50 for the third year running; the epic rock track from Hybrid Theory climbs a massive 118 places; and Nelly's comeback single from her last English speaking album (Loose) falls for the 3rd year running.

53 31 X X X Take That - Rule The World 52 62 X 120 X Take That - Patience lyvUVDONuR4 51 15 X X X Coldplay - Viva La Vida ..... And finishing things off with three songs I really think should have made the Top 50 ..... the song that is (spookily) being played on Radio 2 right now that never made #1 (thanks to Bleeding Love); the comeback single from the Robbie-free man-band; and Coldplay's first ever #1 hit single.