Bror

I am disgusted at this poll result, you should all be ashamed of yourselves x

As I said in my post 'Stateside' absolutely feels like a Zara song to me! (Maybe it helps that it blew up in the context of a wider moment for Zara's career in general but I do think she adds a lot to it)

Pagasa were the new Republic of Adonia x

Republic of Adonia is @Math!, the original king of sleeping through deadlines x

I would be down for just vetoing Cherry Bomb every time she's attempted out of pure stubbornness but honestly the justification for not letting her in last time was a little bit flimsy and this song had even less going against it so... she can have her moment and be straight back on the shadowban list if it does well x (could say similarly for Chloe Qisha too except that's more that she keeps being entered despite her songs neither being any good or doing well - we'll see if either of those changes this time, fourth time's the charm for her to not be ranked in my bottom 2 perhaps!!) 'You First' is a great pick of anniversary Paramore entry (a lot more inspired than the one you went for as your 50th as much as I love 'Monster' too). There are a couple of other songs I've heard but I don't remember too well as ever. Hello to Persephonia alumnus Dawn Richard being successfully recycled after nearly 12 years (I think she was vetoed a couple of times in the mean time - and technically it's the third time she's been in the contest as Danity Kane were sent once in the very early days). Intrigued to hear what she's up to these days x Do feel like I am risking making it a 50/50 DNQ year with this entry but I think it's long overdue I sent a song in this style to the main contest. I think it's a second contest in a row with a new nationality for me, Morocco this time (I will update my list of nationalities eventually), and a new language as well in Tamazight (may or may not be the first ever entry in that language). No mentions of this artist on BuzzJack before so hopefully new to everyone, although it does have a relatively high stream count (a few million each on Spotify and YouTube, nowhere near as much as 'Snap' though x).

Definitely some food for thought here - as one of those pesky alt invaders in here and also someone who partakes in more than my fair share of shitposting I should probably be more wary of my tone in here as I definitely don't want to come across like I'm sneering at the pop fans (idk to what extent I'm being called out here but given ElectroBoy's response to my post last week I'm guessing it's not none). Obviously my taste is my taste so the more alt acts have an advantage when it comes to my rankings but everyone is valid and I do try to highlight the positives where I can even from artists who are not so much my cup of tea. And to that end... it was great to hear 'Blue Moon' again in this which really solidified it as one of Zara's highlights for me! Looking back at the list of her other entries I'd be lying if I said there was much else that I am that into but I think that is in part because some of her biggest hits are also some of her best songs for me (just... not 'Symphony' or 'Ain't My Fault' oops) and ofc they didn't get played in case Zara did make a deeper run. 'Midnight Sun' is absolutely one of the best not only pop songs but hit songs in general of the last few years for me, and I also love 'Lush Life', 'Don't Worry Bout Me' and 'Stateside' (not her song but she made it her song) and even have a soft spot for 'On My Love' which was a little maligned on the forum iirc. Also have to mention 'Uncover' which I came across back in the day and very vaguely considered sending it to BJSC believe it or not... but obvious missed the opportunity and it went on to be a winner for Batidas instead x (I will say though the overall results of this round are still pretty clearly skewed in the more pro-pop direction - unfortunate for Texas to be out from another judge decision that went against the ranking, but Fontaines D.C. were only barely spared from being directly out there and New Order scraped into the safe zone too while the top 5 is all very firmly in the pop camp, it can't be that 'Alt Factor' if Darin is consistently doing this well. I'm sure we'll see more of a reckoning for the invaders in the next round or two x)

Oop I meant to give a heads up before you made these but Julian included a Spotify link in his submission and it's a different version to the one you included ~ Should be this one: Will knock together some YouTube playlists in a bit (and check the links in the OP are all working) x

A fun and surprising stat for this contest (that I was holding off on acknowledging in case any of the vetoed nations withdrew)... Every single country that appeared in BJSC 189 is also in this contest - and that's only the second time that has ever happened, with the one previous time being BJSCs 6 & 7 (!!!) It's fairly commonplace for there to be contests where every eligible country from the previous contest enters again, but that has somehow never coincided with the less common occurrence of a contest that has no banned countries between BJSC 7 and now.

Welcome Spiceland from Persephonia Sneaking in one more new country for the year we love to see it. (now manifesting maggotsforbrains to find this section in the new year xo)

I am truly confused as to who out there is choosing to send Darin to this if it's not Rob being forced into sending another solo man due to being late to confirm again ddd. Him actually getting further than Zara (twice!) is camp x

Great write-up Rich - sorry for my harshness on the least streamed pick hehe but yes, you definitely redeemed yourself in my eyes at least going out on a relative high for me with another more recent pick which was more to my tastes. I've enjoyed the education about their discog along the way even if I've not been crazy about all of the actual songs ('Black Eyed Boy' aside, that is still brill). And that coursework write-up is iconic I've now got to the same stage as I did with ROSALÍA last time around, which has been my aim since securing a spot in the live shows, so pleased to have not been undone by a themed round. Will see if history repeats itself now... (last time I flamed out in 10th place sending my personal favourite song from her, I may or may not be about to do the same in the third live show now).

Guys I already leaked that I'm Adele x

Rob you- I'm starting to doubt I even know who my own artist is.

A mixed week of fortunes for Texas (the state vs. the band) x Don't get why this was the song that knocked them out really - a bit of a shame I won't get to hear what other big hits they had that I don't recognise by name but then magically turns out I did know them after all! (I think the original 'Mr Haze' was yet another of those lol) Fontaines surviving though <3 but a much tougher crowd here than in the Dance forum where this remix was quite an emphatic Club Bizarre winner!

I'm out already tho x

The way it would be deadlock now

#comeback

Well... I keep thinking Texas are overperforming, now for the first time they are underperforming for me, no way they should be in that bottom 3. (I will need them to be out though )

They were both bad lbr

How does Bananarama do so much better than Zara Larsson with those song choices? I am confuse 80s act plot armour I fear. (Speaking of, yay 4 the Bush x)

Oh gag! Did not expect that. Wasn't that keen on 'Puss Puss' myself but I thought it'd be pop hoe catnip (see what I did there) enough to be safe. 'Midnight Sun' never getting to be played </3 (Somewhat poetic that after Zara pinched Robyn's spot, it's the return of Robyn that sinks her again hehe)

Dance floor kween Adele

I can't see me not being bottom 3 at least so my only hope is someone got cooked even harder than me and the judges are nice x (I think it's joever though)

1 Fontaines D.C. 2 New Order 3 Adele 4 Kate Bush 5 Depeche Mode 6 Sam Smith 7 Texas 8 Sam Fender 9 MARINA 10 Zara Larsson 11 Sophie Ellis-Bextor 12 Bananarama 13 Darin I think I'm cooked in this round and it'll be a shame as it's not a great bunch (I don't particularly like any of the bottom 5, although 'Radioactive' is slightly better than I remember it being). The top 4 are very good though, including a good discovery from Kate! And this version of 'Just Can't Get Enough', despite not being that different, I think is actually quite an improvement on the original which is probably my least favourite of the Mode's big hits. Admittedly the 10 minutes of pounding beats in that New Order remix was a bit full on for a foggy Monday morning commute xx (but that along with Fontaines are both songs I've given high points to in song contests before - New Order were in a BJSC Movies spinoff and Fontaines in Club Bizarre - and both still megabangers) I haven't marked Sam Fender down for not fitting the theme, I just have always thought it's an overrated song anyway oop (but still way ahead of the 5 below it).