Ghoulian

10 Reynaert - Laissez Briller Le Soleil (1988, 18th) I’ve no idea why this one did so poorly. it’s a very heartfelt performance by both him and the backing singers, and quite a mesmerising song. 9 Dream Express - A Million In One, Two Three (1977, 7th) Moving to the chirpier end of the spectrum, this has rather a ‘60s Motown feel to it. It’s very tightly performed and a joyful, very catchy song. 8 Gustaph - Becuase Of You (2023, 7th, 2023) I remember this one suddenly becoming something of a fan favourite thanks to the live performances. It succeeds where a lot of soul songs in Eurovision have just ended up being boring thanks to the very effective switch up into a dance track. 7 Claude Lombard - Quand Tu Reviendras (1968, 7th) The only ‘60s entry to make my ranking and a real beauty. It’s a very slow number over a distant sounding orchestral accompaniment, and she delivers it with incredible beauty and vulnerability. 6 Witloof Bay - With Love Baby (2011, DNQ) I love a bit of close harmony and beatboxing, and this is really well done and so different from anything else in the contest. It’s amazing that every sound in the song is being made by the people on stage. Sadly it missed qualifying by just 1 point.

Fallen 2 places 🫤

The Cure 252k Janice STFU 224k Hate That I Made You Love Me 221k I Knew It, I Knew You 220k

Week 29: 1 1 Olivia Dean Man I Need 1,465,000 2,560,000 2 2 Sam Fender and Olivia Dean Rein Me In 1,356,000 2,040,000 3 3 Raye Where Is My Husband! 925,000 1,530,000 4 5 Alex Warren Ordinary 914,000 3,090,000 5 4 Dave featuring Tems Raindance 912,000 1,150,000 6 6 Olivia Dean So Easy (To Fall In Love) 840,000 1,220,000 7 7 Bella Kay Iloveitiloveitiloveit 821,000 8 9 Zara Larsson Lush Life 788,000 3,830,000 9 8 Huntr/x, Ejae, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami & KPop Demon Hunters Cast Golden 787,000 2,120,000 10 10 Taylor Swift The Fate Of Ophelia 778,000 1,520,000 11 11 PinkPantheress Stateside 711,000 840,000 12 12 Djo End Of Beginning 687,000 1,870,000 13 13 Olivia Dean Nice To Each Other 668,000 1,440,000 14 14 Tame Impala Dracula 644,000 780,000 15 15 Bruno Mars I Just Might 618,000 16 17 Sombr Homewrecker 612,000 17 16 Sombr 12 To 12 606,000 1,130,000 18 19 Zara Larsson Midnight Sun 564,000 660,000 19 18 Sienna Spiro Die On This Hill 563,000 730,000 20 20 Alex Warren Fever Dream 543,000 21 21 Harry Styles American Girls 535,000 22 22 Taylor Swift Opalite 525,000 940,000 23 23 Harry Styles Aperture 509,000 24 24 Dominic Fike Babydoll 502,000 1,240,000 25 27 Michael Jackson Billie Jean 500,000 4,020,000 26 26 Sombr Back To Friends 493,000 1,400,000 27 25 Disco Lines and Tinashe No Broke Boys 493,000 1,210,000 28 28 The Killers Mr Brightside 487,000 7,290,000 29 29 Milky Just The Way You Are 473,000 580,000 30 30 Ella Langley Choosin' Texas 470,000 510,000 31 31 Sabrina Carpenter Manchild 441,000 1,250,000 32 32 Fleetwood Mac Dreams 434,000 4,370,000 33 34 Goo Goo Dolls Iris 431,000 4,990,000 34 33 Ravyn Lenae Love Me Not 430,000 1,570,000 35 35 Dominic Fike White Keys 426,000 440,000 36 36 Benson Boone Beautiful Things 422,000 3,350,000 37 38 Chappell Roan Pink Pony Club 417,000 2,220,000 38 37 Olivia Dean The Hardest Part 416,000 1,140,000 39 39 Justin Bieber Daisies 408,000 910,000 40 40 Olivia Rodrigo Drop Dead 400,000 47 49 Michael Jackson Beat It 368,000 2,610,000 51 52 Myles Smith Stargazing 336,000 2,150,000 52 55 Noah Kahan Stick Season 334,000 3,590,000 62 64 Vance Joy Riptide 315,000 5,060,000 69 73 Michael Jackson Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough 296,000 2,000,000 72 77 Calvin Harris And Clementine Douglas Blessings 293,000 940,000 73 76 Michael Jackson Dirty Diana 292,000 1,420,000 82 83 Harry Styles Sign Of The Times 283,000 2,480,000 84 - Oasis Wonderwall 278,000 5,590,000 87 90 Malcolm Todd Earrings 273,000 300,000 91 99 Prospa & Cloonee Free Your Mind 270,000 93 - ANOTR featuring 54 Ultra Talk To You 268,000 - 98 Fleetwood Mac Go Your Own Way 253,000 2,640,000 - 100 Kehlani Folded 249,000 500,000

Week 29: 1 1 Olivia Dean The Art Of Loving 412,000 690,000 2 2 Michael Jackson The Essential 387,000 2,490,000 3 3 Harry Styles Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally. 358,000 4 4 Fleetwood Mac 50 Years: Don't Stop 237,000 2,070,000 5 5 The Weeknd Highlights 197,000 1,780,000 6 7 Olivia Rodrigo You Seem Pretty Sad For A Girl So In Love 189,000 7 6 Ed Sheeran +-=÷x (Tour Collection) 187,000 700,000 8 8 Alex Warren You'll Be Alright Kid (Chapter 1) 173,000 480,000 9 9 Sabrina Carpenter Man's Best Friend 170,000 480,000 10 10 Noah Kahan The Great Divide 158,000 11 11 Oasis Time Flies... 1994-2009 153,000 2,560,000 12 12 Linkin Park Papercuts 149,000 540,000 13 13 Noah Kahan Stick Season 145,000 870,000 14 14 Sabrina Carpenter Short n' Sweet 141,000 1,030,000 15 15 ABBA Gold 138,000 6,280,000 16 16 Elton John Diamonds 135,000 2,060,000 17 17 Fleetwood Mac Rumours 134,000 3,690,000 18 18 Michael Jackson Thriller 133,000 4,880,000 19 19 BTS Arirang 128,000 20 22 Oasis (What's The Story) Morning Glory 124,000 5,740,000 21 21 Taylor Swift The Life Of A Showgirl 124,000 760,000 22 20 Raye This Music May Contain Hope 124,000 23 23 Drake Iceman 119,000 24 25 Michael Jackson Bad 118,000 4,570,000 25 24 Tate McRae So Close To What 116,000 370,000 26 26 Arctic Monkeys AM 113,000 2,440,000 27 27 Eminem Curtain Call: The Hits 110,000 3,640,000 28 28 Olivia Rodrigo Sour 108,000 1,360,000 29 29 Olivia Rodrigo Guts 106,000 800,000 30 30 Sombr I Barely Know Her 105,000 200,000 31 31 Pitbull Greatest Hits 104,000 730,000 32 32 50 Cent Best Of 50 Cent 99,000 860,000 33 33 Maroon 5 Singles 99,000 1,090,000 34 34 Queen Greatest Hits 92,000 3,300,000 35 35 Calvin Harris 96 Months 90,000 320,000 36 36 Red Hot Chili Peppers Greatest Hits 88,000 2,400,000 37 37 Katy Perry Teenage Dream 88,000 2,120,000 38 38 Billie Eilish Hit Me Hard And Soft 85,000 680,000 39 39 Oasis Definitely Maybe 84,000 3,100,000 40 40 Bruno Mars Doo-Wops & Hooligans 83,000 2,510,000 47 48 Green Day Greatest Hits: God's Favorite Band 78,000 820,000 62 64 Avicii Avicii Forever 71,000 140,000 71 87 Katy Perry The Ones That Got The Plays 65,000 73 77 Madonna Finally Enough Love - #1s Remixed 65,000 360,000 74 75 The Cure Greatest Hits 65,000 1,280,000 94 - Madonna Confessions II 56,000 97 98 The Rolling Stones Forty Licks 55,000 1,430,000 - 100 Sam Smith In The Lonely Hour 54,000 3,180,000

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

“One Love / People Get Ready” is one of those songs my parents played to me when I was about 5. There was no way I was ever going to forget something so profoundly joyful. Listening to the original 1977 track I think he definitely gave it much more gravitas by working it in the way he did. 9 Bob Marley And The Wailers One Love/People Get Ready A mashup of his faster original with Curtis Mayfield's "People Get Ready": an utterly joyous arresting single 8 Cocteau Twins Pearly-Dewdrops' Drops 1st hit for this Scottish band who won't make the Top 40 again this decade, with a beautiful ethereal track 8 Duran Duran The Reflex 534th#1: my birth chart topper and much better than their previous one; it's a storming and captivating track 8 Kenny Loggins Footloose A US #1 with more than 1 billion Spotify streams: it's a brilliantly written song with a catchy rockabilly flavour 7 New Order Thieves Like Us Another excellent single from them: this has interesting well delivered lyrics and very effective thick production 7 The Pointer Sisters Automatic Their highest peaker even though their best known hits are to come: it's a very strong and well produced song 7 Echo And The Bunnymen Silver This isn't quite "The Killing Moon" but it's very good, with a rich orchestral accompaniment and intriguing lyrics 6 Sandie Shaw Hand In Glove Her last Top 40 and first since 1969: an enjoyable Morrissey penned song in his usual punchy, driving style 6 Jocelyn Brown Somebody Else's Guy 1st hit for this US singer: it's an excellent performance and a strong and soulful self written post disco song 6 The Human League The Lebanon A disappointing #11 lead after 6 straight Top 10s: it's a good synth song with unusually political lyrics for them 5 Belle And The Devotions Love Games 7th place for this at Eurovision and the group's hit: this is very much a Supremes throwback but it is nicely done 5 Billy Joel The Longest Time A nice barbershop feel to this but I think the song itself isn't anything too special, and it breaks his big hit run 4 'Weird Al' Yankovic Eat It Only Top 40 for this US comedy musician: it is a genuinely funny parody though doesn't bear that many listens 3 The Flying Pickets When You're Young And In Love Their 2nd and last Top 40 covering a '60s song this time: this is a little dull and doesn't work like "Only You" 2 Julio Iglesias And Willie Nelson To All The Girls I've Loved Before Julio's last Top 40 for a while and Willie's only one: this moribund track doesn't represent the latter too well 1984 Group 9: 82 14/04/1984 Jeffrey Osborne Stay With Me Tonight 18 75-45-43-38-24-{18}-19-25-38-47-72->11 #1383 05/05/1984 Deniece Williams Let's Hear It For The Boy 2 41-18-8-3-{2}-2-9-16-26-38-51-62-75R(2)->13 #1384 12/05/1984 Marillion Assassing 22 23-{22}-32-41-55->5 #1385 05/05/1984 Terri Wells I'll Be Around 17 46-28-{17}-18-24-35-48->7 #1386 12/05/1984 Break Machine Breakdance Party 9 32-16-{9}-13-20-30-37-54-65R(2)-74->10 #1387 28/04/1984 Womack And Womack Love Wars 14 61-50-35-25-{14}-16-23-29-42-61->10 #1388 28/04/1984 Roland Rat Superstar! Love Me Tender 32 67-45-38-{32}-36-57-65->7 #1389 21/04/1984 Hazell Dean Searchin' (I Gotta Find A Man) 6 54-45-49-40-28-13-8-{6}-12-15-24-34-44-53-65->15 #1390 19/05/1984 Ultravox Dancing With Tears In My Eyes 3 29-10-6-{3}-6-14-23-39-56-72-74R(2)->11 #1391 19/05/1984 Status Quo Going Down Town Tonight 20 30-23-{20}-27-35-51->6 #1392 05/05/1984 Alvin Stardust I Feel Like Buddy Holly 7 60-42-31-17-{7}-11-16-18-34-44-59->11 #1393 12/05/1984 Everything But The Girl Each And Every One 28 49-33-{28}-31-32-44-62->7 #1394 21/04/1984 Evelyn Thomas High Energy 5 67-73-53-51-36-26-11-9-{5}-9-14-23-25-37-40-53-73->17 #1395 21/04/1984 Marilyn You Don't Love Me 40 59-56-54-44-{40}-40-60->7

Sorry - was 47 down from 46.

“Earth Eater” though I guess the other is possible as she’s American. This is sounding pretty special. 😮

“Honeybee” is gorgeous and my favourite of the 2 weeks by a long way. From the other week I like “Material Lover” and “Freakin’ Out” so gave them both a vote.

Robbie & Nicole’s soulless cash in.

15 Ishtar - O Julissi (2008, DNQ) I love the folky traditional feel to this and the live instruments: it’s utterly charming. 14 Pierre Rapsat - Judy Et Cie (1976, 8th) This reminds me of “Hotel California” which funnily was released earlier the same year: it’s quite a striking song and performance. 13 Hooverphonic - The Wrong Place (2021, 19th) Again this isn’t as good as some of their ‘90s trip hop material but it still has a sultry elegance and stands out from the rest of the field. 12th Fud Leclerc - Messieurs Les Noyés De La Seine (1956) From the very first Eurovision when they didn’t even reveal any results beyond the winner, this is surprisingly engaging and interesting for the time, and a dramatic performance. 11 Philippe Lafontaine - Macédomienne (12th, 1990) This is quite a mesmerising song and performance, and I really enjoy the almost ritualistic and haunting feel to the part when the backing singers hum.

Oh meant to vote for “Ain’t Nobody” in the tiebreak.

Out hiking today so probably won’t make it! Queen 👶 The Cure 🐛 Propaganda 👨‍⚕️ Bob Marley 🧡 Ultravox 😭

After a slight dip we’re back with another wonderful group here. I’ve decided to dust off my 10 paddle for the first time this year: I may be biased as it was #3 in my birth week and feels appropriate for a Caesarean. But “The Caterpillar” is a wonderful discovery here,’and very different in style from “The Love Cats”. And I can’t give the thrilling “Dr Mabuse” lower than 9 either. 10 Queen I Want To Break Free Incredible vocal and instrumental performances and a unique song with a sense of repressed energy releasing 9 The Cure The Caterpillar Another animal themed hit for them: this is utterly charming and I love the effect it creates of many feet scuttling 9 Propaganda Dr Mabuse 1st hit for this German synth pop band, and an exciting and terrifying track with relentless, driving production 8 Phil Collins Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now) This has not 1 but 2 subsequent awful chart topping covers, but it remains a great and emotionally intense song 8 The Psychedelic Furs Heaven 1st of only a couple of Top 40s for this UK band: this has a really lovely sound world and is beautifully performed 8 The S.O.S. Band Just Be Good To Me 1st Top 40 for this US band: there will be a later version which will elevate the track but this is really great too 7 Nik Kershaw Dancing Girls A really grown up song here which has all the exuberance of good pop but sophisticated writing and production 7 Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark Locomotion Most of their hits so far have been stunning, and this jollier track with steel drums is not up there but very good 6 Shannon Give Me Tonight A good follow up to "Let The Music Play" with a dramatic chorus and plenty of synth, but not quite as compelling 6 Cliff Richard Baby You're Dynamite This one definitely goes in Cliff's good pile: it's still in his standard radio friendly lane but a very well written song 5 Blancmange Don't Tell Me Their 3rd Top 10: it has all their usual features but somehow doesn't quite manage to draw me in like earlier hits 5 The Bluebells I'm Falling 1st Top 40 for this Scottish new wave group: it's quite a nice song but lacks anything to make it really exciting 4 Cameo She's Strange 1st hit for this US band: this starts off sounding mysterious and intriguing but becomes a standard funk track 3 Kool And The Gang (When You Say You Love Somebody) In The Heart Hot on the heels of the "Joanna" success this is their 6th Top 10 hit, but it's nothing new and rather forgettable 2 The Gap Band Someday They're back after a few Top 40 misses: this is a very repetitive slice of RnB with none of their original charm 1984 Group 8: #1367 21/04/1984 Echo And The Bunnymen Silver 30 32-{30}-30-39-57->5 #1368 21/04/1984 Bob Marley And The Wailers One Love/People Get Ready 5 35-22-9-6-{5}-6-12-24-34-47-65->11 #1369 07/04/1984 Julio Iglesias And Willie Nelson To All The Girls I've Loved Before 17 48-47-36-35-24-{17}-21-31-49-67->10 #1370 21/04/1984 The Flying Pickets When You're Young And In Love 7 37-13-{7}-7-10-16-32-53->8 #1371 14/04/1984 The Pointer Sisters Automatic 2 59-38-20-5-4-{2}-2-4-14-24-32-48-62-66-71->15 #1372 21/04/1984 Jocelyn Brown Somebody Else's Guy 13 40-31-25-16-{13}-20-27-42-50->9 #1373 28/04/1984 Duran Duran The Reflex 1 5-{1}-1-1-1-3-4-19-27-35-40-53-61-66->14 #1374 28/04/1984 New Order Thieves Like Us 18 21-{18}-22-38-59->5 #1375 21/04/1984 Sandie Shaw Hand In Glove 27 44-36-{27}-31-43->5 #1376 28/04/1984 Cocteau Twins Pearly-Dewdrops' Drops 29 38-{29}-30-35-69->5 #1377 21/04/1984 Belle And The Devotions Love Games 11 48-39-21-12-{11}-24-46-69->8 #1378 07/04/1984 'Weird Al' Yankovic Eat It 36 62-49-42-40-{36}-47-62->7 #1379 05/05/1984 The Human League The Lebanon 11 19-{11}-12-22-36-48-75R(2)->7 #1380 28/04/1984 Kenny Loggins Footloose 6 53-28-9-{6}-7-14-21-32-43-73->10 #1381 28/04/1984 Billy Joel The Longest Time 25 46-33-{25}-27-35-47-51-67->8

Pretty good results in this on the whole. I’d have had “Turn Off The Light” a fair bit higher - I really like its folky charm. But the top few are all great. I’m not a Britney fan but “Toxic” is hands down her best work and one of the best pop songs of the decade. I think Jim must have just missed a 1 from his score. Thanks Jade again!

Oh “Payphone” is horrid - might even be my last place come to think of it. I actually think James Arthur is quite talented but “Inpossible” is at best unnecessary.

Aww I’m not fussed about football but “Wonderwall” having a chance of #1 next week after 30 years of hurt is something I’d have certainly got behind.

20 Laura Tesoro - What’s The Pressure (2016, 10th) A clever and fun retro style dance pop track, although I don’t think it has that much replay value. 19 Sennek - A Matter Of Time (2018, DNQ) The sort of thing that often struggles to qualify but it’s a really nice and spirited piece of indie pop. 18 Jacques Zegers - Avanti La Vie (1984, 5th) I like his deep and husky voice, and with the backing group there’s a ritual chant quality to it. 17 Mustii - Before The Party’s Over (2024, DNQ) This deserved better - it has a dark intensity to it and builds very well, and he throws everything at it. 16 Mélanie Cohl - Dis Oui (1998, 6th) She was only 16 and this is a very fine performance of a strong song, rewarded with a very good result.

Great that “Honeybee” and Bonnie have entered!

“Turn Up The Music” is very meh if not offensive musically. Agree with the consensus that “Sing” lacks all the charm of “Wherever You Are”.

Post 2000: Year Artist Song Language Final Points Semi Points Notes 2000 Nathalie Sorce "Envie de vivre" French 24 2 No semi-finals Ouch at last place for this - it sounds very 1990s though 2002 Sergio and the Ladies "Sister" English 13 33 No semi-finals This is so terrible it's almost good, and I appreciate the dad dancing 2003 Urban Trad "Sanomi" Imaginary 2 165 No semi-finals Top 20 2004 Xandee "1 Life" English 22 7 Top 11 in 2003 contest An energetic dance pop number with a nice drum beat but there's nothing really special about it 2005 Nuno Resende "Le Grand Soir" French Failed to qualify 22 29 Quite a boring and old fashioned power ballad style song 2006 Kate Ryan "Je t'adore" English Failed to qualify 12 69 One that was unlucky to miss when the semifinals were brutal: nicely done but standard dance pop 2007 The KMG's "Love Power" English Failed to qualify 26 14 A nice idea to venture into soul but it doesn't really land and the live vocals are not immaculate 2008 Ishtar "O Julissi" Imaginary Failed to qualify 17 16 Top 20 2009 Copycat "Copycat" English Failed to qualify 17 1 An Elvis tribute act that doesn't take itself seriously but feels very local pop karaoke 2010 Tom Dice "Me and My Guitar" English 6 143 1 167 A nice radio friendly guitar ballad that did very well, but nothing exciting 2011 Witloof Bay "With Love Baby" English Failed to qualify 11 53 Top 20 2012 Iris "Would You?" English Failed to qualify 17 16 This is very 2013 Roberto Bellarosa "Love Kills" English 12 71 5 75 A serviceable upbeat number that did well, but it's average really 2014 Axel Hirsoux "Mother" English Failed to qualify 14 28 I'm sure his mother was very proud but really this is very turgid 2015 Loïc Nottet "Rhythm Inside" English 4 217 2 149 Top 20 2016 Laura Tesoro "What's the Pressure" English 10 181 3 274 Top 20 2017 Blanche "City Lights" English 4 363 4 165 Top 20 2018 Sennek "A Matter of Time" English Failed to qualify 12 91 Top 20 2019 Eliot "Wake Up" English Failed to qualify 13 70 He was only 18 and the song has a nice chorus, but there isn't a huge amount to it 2020 Hooverphonic "Release Me" English Contest cancelled Hooverphonic were great back in the 1990s: this one is nice but not really special 2021 Hooverphonic "The Wrong Place" English 19 74 9 117 Top 20 2022 Jérémie Makiese "Miss You" English 19 64 8 151 A more successful soul effort than 2007 but still not a very distinctive one 2023 Gustaph "Because of You" English 7 182 8 90 Top 20 2024 Mustii "Before the Party's Over" English Failed to qualify 13 18 Top 20 2025 Red Sebastian "Strobe Lights" English Failed to qualify 14 23 The fans enjoyed this: it's a strong performance but quite falsetto heavy and I don't love the song 2026 Essyla "Dancing on the Ice" English 21 36 10 91 This just scraped through which seems about right, though it has some nice features

I can see why it did well but it doesn’t do a whole lot for me.

Surprised the VS dirge is still only attracting 6 votes!

“1 Thing” is brilliant - a unique sounding and timeless record. Sorry I haven’t commented so much on this one - less to be enthused about in this edition but this is fab.