Ghoulian

#64

Keep it up Kev!

Enjoyed the Steve Lacy song on 1st listen.

A spent half an hour trying to get my Nespresso machine to work today so this seems fitting.

Alex is terminally uninspiring and lacking in artistry unfortunately.

Went for Taio although he has much worse. Was between him and Ricky.

A recap for the first 10 countries: Country 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Albania Rona Nishliu - Suus (2012, 5th) Shkodra Electronique - Zjerm (2025, 8th) Jonida Maliqi - Ktheju Tokës (2019, 17th) Adrian Lulgjuraj and Bledar Sjeko - Identitet (2013, DNQ) Aurela Gaçe - Feel The Passion (2011, DNQ) Andorra Marian van de Wal - La Mirada Interior (2005, DNQ) Susanne Georgi - La Teva Decisió (Get A Life) (2009, DNQ) Anonymous - Salvem El Món (2007, DNQ) Gisela - Casanova (2008, DNQ) Jenny - Sense Tu (2006, DNQ) Armenia Aram MP3 - Not Alone (2014, 4th) Iveta Mukuchyan - LoveWave (2016, 7th) Brunette - Future Lover (2023, 14th) Artsvik - Fly With Me (2017, 18th) Ladaniva - Jako (2024, 8th) Australia Voyager - Promise (2023, 9th) Kate Miller-Heidke - Zero Gravity (2019, 9th) Dami Im - Sound Of Silence (2016, 2nd) Delta Goodrem - Eclipse (2026, 4th) Go-Jo - Milkshake Man (2025, DNQ) Austria George Nussbaumer - Weil's Da Guat Got (1996, 10th) Teya & Selena - Who The Hell Is Edgar? (2023, 15th) Udo Jürgens - Merci, Chérie (1966, 1st) Zoë - Loin d'Ici (2016, 13th) Conchita Wurst - Rise Like A Phoenix (2014, 1st) Azerbaijan Sabina Babayeva - When The Music Dies (2012, 4th) Efendi - Mata Hari (2021, 20th) Efendi - Cleopatra (2020) Chingiz - Truth (2019, 8th) Fahree featuring Ilkin Dovlatov - ÖzünlƏ (2024, DNQ) Belarus Pete Elfimov - Eyes That Never Lie (2009, DNQ) Anastasia Vinnikova - I Love Belarus (2011, DNQ) Koldun - Work Your Magic (2007, 6th) Alekseev - Forever (2018, DNQ) Uzari and Maimuna - Time (2015, DNQ) Belgium Urban Trad - Sanomi (2003, 2nd) Blanche - City Lights (2017, 4th) Vanessa Chinitor - Like The Wind (1999, 12th) Loïc Nottet - Rhythm Inside (2015, 4th) Jean Vallée - L'amour Ça Fait Chanter La Vie (1978, 2nd) Bosnia and Herzegovina Dino Merlin - Love In Rewind (2011, 6th) Dino and Béatrice - Putnici (1999, 7th) Regina - Bistra Voda (2009, 9th) Hari Mata Hari - Lejla (2006, 3rd) Vukašin Brajíc - Thunder and Lightning (2010, 17th) Bulgaria Poli Genova - If Love Was A Crime (2016, 4th) Elitsa and Stoyan - Water (2007, 5th) Dara - Bangaranga (2026, 1st) Siri Marinova - Love Unlimited (2012, DNQ) Elitsa and Stoyan - Samo Shampioni (2013, DNQ)

2 Poli Genova - If Love Was A Crime (2016, 4th) This will be high on my all time list so it’s tough to place it 2nd. The framework of it is quite a standard pop song (though with quite special and distinctive lyrics I think). But what really spices it up is the Bulgarian chant part in the chorus, the recurring riff and the beautiful performance. An absolute gem that, like quite a few of my favourites, ended up in 4th. 1 Elitsa and Stoyan - Water The first and more successful of their two appearances, and Bulgaria’s first final appearance giving them an excellent top 5 finish. This is utterly thrilling and electrifying, as well as being bold and different and ingenious. Aside from the signature drumming there’s the didgeridoo-like instrument, the throat singing, the scatting, the chant like repetition and the uncompromising folk style. Culturally it feels like such an all time great entry that on balance I had to put it 1st.

So far I have PBs of 26th for Nuggets and 29th for Unknown Pleasures, so let’s see what I can do this time. (I have only entered each of them once!) @Jaz13music might like to give this a go too.

5 Elitsa and Stoyan - Samo Shampioni (2013, DNQ) The second appearance for this duo and it was a real shame this didn’t make it through. The track has such a distinctive and authentic sound to it and the drumming is absolutely marvellous. 4 Siri Marinova - Love Unlimited (2012, DNQ) It was an even bigger shame the previous year that this missed out on qualifying on a tiebreak. The vocal performance does start off a little shaky but finds its groove. It’s a really strong dance track but it’s also emotionally powerful. 3 Dara - Bangaranga (2026, 1st) On first listen I was impressed by this but also found it a little bitty and wasn’t sure if the different sections came together. However I’ve grown to like it a lot and I was delighted that it won for them. The different parts do mean that it rewards repeat listens and remains exciting to revisit.

The New Helvetians have voted. For us Semi 2 has some big highlights but Semi 1 has more strength in depth, and we had to make some very painful cuts.

I’d thought maybe “Fast Car” might be in the old #4s as well but it was the year before. Those 3 are all great, especially “One Day Like This” which I agree is one of the best songs ever written, this century at any rate. “Sweet Nothing” is good but I considerably prefer “Spectrum” which has incredible power.

Week 32: 1 1 Olivia Dean Man I Need 1,581,000 2,680,000 2 2 Sam Fender and Olivia Dean Rein Me In 1,491,000 2,180,000 3 4 Alex Warren Ordinary 990,000 3,170,000 4 3 Raye Where Is My Husband! 985,000 1,590,000 5 5 Dave featuring Tems Raindance 962,000 1,200,000 6 6 Olivia Dean So Easy (To Fall In Love) 894,000 1,270,000 7 7 Bella Kay Iloveitiloveitiloveit 876,000 8 8 Zara Larsson Lush Life 844,000 3,880,000 9 9 Huntr/x, Ejae, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami & KPop Demon Hunters Cast Golden 841,000 2,170,000 10 10 Taylor Swift The Fate Of Ophelia 826,000 1,570,000 11 11 PinkPantheress Stateside 750,000 880,000 12 12 Olivia Dean Nice To Each Other 719,000 1,490,000 13 13 Djo End Of Beginning 719,000 1,900,000 14 14 Tame Impala Dracula 694,000 830,000 15 15 Sombr Homewrecker 675,000 16 16 Bruno Mars I Just Might 666,000 17 17 Sombr 12 To 12 648,000 1,170,000 18 18 Zara Larsson Midnight Sun 627,000 730,000 19 19 Sienna Spiro Die On This Hill 609,000 780,000 20 20 Alex Warren Fever Dream 590,000 21 21 Harry Styles American Girls 590,000 22 22 Michael Jackson Billie Jean 565,000 4,080,000 23 23 Taylor Swift Opalite 554,000 960,000 24 27 Ella Langley Choosin' Texas 549,000 580,000 25 25 The Killers Mr Brightside 545,000 7,350,000 26 24 Dominic Fike Babydoll 542,000 1,280,000 27 26 Harry Styles Aperture 531,000 28 28 Sombr Back To Friends 528,000 1,440,000 29 29 Disco Lines and Tinashe No Broke Boys 524,000 1,250,000 30 30 Milky Just The Way You Are 506,000 620,000 31 31 Fleetwood Mac Dreams 478,000 4,410,000 32 33 Goo Goo Dolls Iris 474,000 5,040,000 33 32 Sabrina Carpenter Manchild 474,000 1,280,000 34 35 Benson Boone Beautiful Things 465,000 3,400,000 35 34 Ravyn Lenae Love Me Not 465,000 1,600,000 36 36 Dominic Fike White Keys 456,000 470,000 37 38 Olivia Rodrigo Drop Dead 455,000 38 37 Chappell Roan Pink Pony Club 454,000 2,260,000 39 39 Olivia Dean The Hardest Part 445,000 1,170,000 40 40 Justin Bieber Daisies 445,000 950,000 42 43 Michael Jackson Beat It 416,000 2,660,000 49 51 Myles Smith Stargazing 372,000 2,180,000 60 67 ANOTR featuring 54 Ultra Talk To You 345,000 62 69 Prospa & Cloonee Free Your Mind 341,000 65 68 Oasis Wonderwall 337,000 5,650,000 74 81 Malcolm Todd Earrings 321,000 350,000 75 78 Harry Styles Sign Of The Times 320,000 2,510,000 82 90 Olivia Rodrigo The Cure 314,000 92 - Ariana Grande Hate That I Made You Love Me 298,000 - 100 Harry Styles As It Was 281,000 3,610,000

Have 1,969k

Week 32: 1 1 Olivia Dean The Art Of Loving 438,000 720,000 2 2 Michael Jackson The Essential 431,000 2,530,000 3 3 Harry Styles Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally. 371,000 4 4 Fleetwood Mac 50 Years: Don't Stop 259,000 2,090,000 5 5 Olivia Rodrigo You Seem Pretty Sad For A Girl So In Love 230,000 6 6 The Weeknd Highlights 217,000 1,800,000 7 7 Ed Sheeran +-=÷x (Tour Collection) 206,000 720,000 8 8 Alex Warren You'll Be Alright Kid (Chapter 1) 187,000 490,000 9 9 Sabrina Carpenter Man's Best Friend 182,000 490,000 10 10 Noah Kahan The Great Divide 178,000 11 11 Oasis Time Flies... 1994-2009 170,000 2,580,000 12 12 Linkin Park Papercuts 164,000 560,000 13 13 Noah Kahan Stick Season 157,000 880,000 14 14 ABBA Gold 151,000 6,290,000 15 15 Sabrina Carpenter Short n' Sweet 150,000 1,040,000 16 16 Elton John Diamonds 149,000 2,080,000 17 17 Michael Jackson Thriller 148,000 4,900,000 18 18 Fleetwood Mac Rumours 146,000 3,700,000 19 20 Oasis (What's The Story) Morning Glory 137,000 5,750,000 20 19 BTS Arirang 137,000 21 21 Drake Iceman 132,000 22 23 Michael Jackson Bad 131,000 4,580,000 23 22 Taylor Swift The Life Of A Showgirl 130,000 770,000 24 24 Raye This Music May Contain Hope 129,000 25 25 Tate McRae So Close To What 124,000 380,000 26 26 Arctic Monkeys AM 123,000 2,450,000 27 27 Eminem Curtain Call: The Hits 120,000 3,650,000 28 28 Olivia Rodrigo Sour 118,000 1,370,000 29 29 Olivia Rodrigo Guts 116,000 810,000 30 30 Pitbull Greatest Hits 116,000 740,000 31 31 Sombr I Barely Know Her 112,000 200,000 32 32 Maroon 5 Singles 109,000 1,100,000 33 33 50 Cent Best Of 50 Cent 108,000 870,000 34 35 Calvin Harris 96 Months 101,000 330,000 35 34 Queen Greatest Hits 100,000 3,310,000 36 36 Katy Perry Teenage Dream 98,000 2,130,000 37 37 Red Hot Chili Peppers Greatest Hits 97,000 2,410,000 38 38 Bruno Mars Doo-Wops & Hooligans 94,000 2,520,000 39 39 Oasis Definitely Maybe 93,000 3,110,000 40 41 Post Malone The Diamond Collection 92,000 590,000 45 47 Green Day Greatest Hits: God's Favorite Band 86,000 830,000 48 54 Katy Perry The Ones That Got The Plays 85,000 72 73 The Cure Greatest Hits 72,000 1,290,000 81 85 Madonna Confessions II 67,000 93 - Luke Combs The Way I Am 63,000 98 100 Ella Langley Dandelion 61,000 - 99 Nirvana Nirvana 60,000 1,620,000

13/8: 1 1 Rein me in (1) 2 3 Man I need (1) 3 2 Dai dai (2) 4 14 Hate that I made you love me (1) 5 - Petal (5) 6 4 Choosin’ Texas (4) 7 6 Ordinary (1) 8 5 Stupid song (2) 9 9 Movin’ to the sun (9) 10 7 Talk to you (5) 11 8 Free your mind (8) 12 12 Homewrecker (10) 13 10 Billie Jean (1) 14 15 Where is my husband! (3) 15 26 Great expectation (15) 16 13 The cure (3) 17 32 On 2nite (17) 18 16 I knew it, I knew you (1) 19 17 Mr Brightside (10) 20 11 Midnight sun (8) 21 27 So easy (5) 22 - Kiss me (22) 23 21 Lush life (3) 24 24 IloveitIloveitIloveit (2) 25 22 Material lover (22) 26 25 Boston (25) 27 23 Golden (1) 28 20 American girls (1) 29 30 Animal (30) 30 18 Wonderwall (2) 31 19 Drop dead (1) 32 - Like I do (32) 33 31 Raindance (2) 34 33 The fate of Ophelia (1) 35 36 Earrings (26) 36 39 Nice to each other (5) 37 29 Dracula (4) 38 35 Die on this hill (12) 39 - Oh well (39) 40 40 Dreams (22) 41 - Stay (41) 42 38 Fever dream (4) 43 45 Bloodstream (43) 44 37 Beat it (3) 45 - Big feelings (45) 46 43 Iris (3) 47 44 Beautiful things (1) 48 34 Beauty and a beat (5) 49 - Freak (49) 50 28 I just might (7)

Yep Craig David - what an extraordinarily naff sophomore lead after such a brilliant debut.

All good stuff since we lost Katy. “Spectrum” is the best so far for me too. A great and one of a kind coming together of styles. “Gangban Style” has a brilliant driving energy and the words are wonderfully woven into the rhythm. “Beneath Your Beautiful” I’ve always found slightly unsatisfying, with the slightly puzzling lyrics. It is good though. I think I prefer “Louder” to “Hot Right Now” but they’re both good, exciting records.

10 Mariana Popova - Let Me Cry (2006, DNQ) This has excellent vocals and it’s a nice early example of what they would be able to do, with Eastern European vibes in the accompaniment. 9 Poli Genova - Na Inat (2011, DNQ) She would be back - I can see why this didn’t land but it’s a punchy and slightly rocky number. 8 Deep Zone and Balthazar - DJ, Take Me Away (2008, DNQ) This is really interesting, not so much for the song itself but for the dubstep flavoured track which seems incredibly bold and ahead of the curve. 7 Kristian Kostov - Beautiful Mess (2017, 2nd) He did a great job with this and I was thrilled to see them get such a brilliant result, though it’s not as adventurous as the tracks to come. 6 Equinox - Bones (2018, 14th) Great singing on this and it’s an atmospheric, sensual and soulful song.

Just this beauty in Bop Idol III so far.

“Careless Whisper” is perilously close to a 10: it’s one of not a huge number of ballads that you’d expect to hear on a late night Mellow Magic local radio show that I love. 9 George Michael Careless Whisper 537th #1: his 1st solo hit but still co-written by Andrew, and an exquisite saxophone aided heartbreak ballad 8 Miami Sound Machine Dr Beat 1st hit for this Latin American group with lead vocals from Gloria Estefan, and a timeless dance-pop song 8 David Sylvian The Ink In The Well A very moody and bluesey track with intriguing lyrics and instrumental parts: I've found this a real grower 7 Tears For Fears Mothers Talk A rather stark and harsh sounding track that sounds quite different from most of their hits, but I really like it 7 A Flock Of Seagulls The More You Live, The More You Love The lead from their 3rd album and their last Top 40: this has a lovely warmth and wistful feel to the performance 6 Elton John Passengers This borrows from a South African piece from the 1960s and I like the whistled riff: it's an interesting track 6 AC/DC Nervous Shakedown I like the big dramatic riff at the start: otherwise it's a fairly standard song in their style but pretty enjoyable 5 Tracey Ullman Sunglasses Her last Top 40 and another cover; this time a Skeeter Davis song: it's not bad with her usual rich production 5 The Pointer Sisters I Need You This doesn't have anything like the impact of their last couple of big hits, but it's still a nice and well sung track 4 Iron Maiden 2 Minutes To Midnight After a stong run of hits I find that this is back to their more standard sounding songs, which all blend into one 4 Howard Jones Like To Get To Know You Well He's back in the Top 5 with this: it's an unremarkable hit for me though and not interesting like his 1st couple 3 Trevor Walters Stuck On You A cover of the Lionel Richie song that was a hit only last month: I find this version very slightly more interesting 3 The S.O.S. Band Just The Way You Like It A rather weak follow up to "Just Be Good To Me": this is one of those rather long and repetitive soul tracks 2 Rod Stewart Some Guys Have All The Luck Originally a 1973 soul song, but this version is quite limp and removes everything that had been soulful about it 2 Band Of Gold Love Songs Are Back Again (Medley) Only hit for this Dutch group, with a curious medley of soul ballad chunks that doesn't make a satisfying listen 1984 Group 15: #1469 25/08/1984 Stevie Wonder I Just Called To Say I Love You 1 3-2-{1}-1-1-1-1-1-2-4-9-14-19-25-28-34-35-34-21-23-24-49-70-73-67R(47)-64->26 #1470 25/08/1984 Spandau Ballet I'll Fly For You 9 23-11-{9}-12-15-26-36-46-64->9 #1471 11/08/1984 Break Machine Are You Ready 27 51-44-40-29-{27}-31-52-66->8 #1472 25/08/1984 Ray Parker Jr Ghostbusters 2 56-18-6-3-{2}-2-2-4-8-14-19-27-32-46-46-43-33-15-7-6-8-7-16-20-26-32-35-31-50-60-71->31 #1473 18/08/1984 Alphaville Big In Japan 8 71-43-22-11-9-{8}-9-14-23-31-38-58-64->13 #1474 01/09/1984 The Smiths William, It Was Really Nothing 17 23-{17}-21-38-43-59->6 #1475 01/09/1984 Depeche Mode Master And Servant 9 24-12-11-{9}-14-24-33-50-69->9 #1476 01/09/1984 Malcolm McLaren Madam Butterfly (Un Bel Di Vedremo) 13 32-15-{13}-13-18-23-31-46-66->9 #1477 25/08/1984 Bucks Fizz Talking In Your Sleep 15 66-34-21-{15}-16-23-35-49-73->9 #1478 01/09/1984 Level 42 Hot Water 18 37-26-19-{18}-21-27-32-45-58->9 #1479 01/09/1984 Heaven 17 Sunset Now 24 39-28-{24}-31-44-60->6 #1480 11/08/1984 Michael Jackson Girl You're So Together 33 62-50-41-40-{33}-37-50-67->8 08/09/1984 Sister Sledge Lost In Music {1984} 4 32-14-7-{4}-5-11-17-24-31-36-50-57->12 25/08/1984 Kraftwerk Tour De France {1984} 24 47-41-37-28-{24}-28-37-44-57-73-73->11 #1481 08/09/1984 The Jacksons Torture 26 38-{26}-26-30-41-65->6 #1482 01/09/1984 Aztec Camera All I Need Is Everything/Jump 34 61-39-{34}-37-42-67->6

I liked your 186 entry but I love your 187 entry, so looking forward to the post on that!

I think for this there aren’t any criteria beyond what is set out in the OP. So the style can be whatever and doesn’t have to be what you’d normally think of as singer songwriter type music. Dandy* correct me if I’m wrong.

And the one that politely waited its turn for 39 years.

Edit: just realised what I wrote was a potential spoiler oops.