Ghoulian

Interesting to see all the different directions rock was heading in at this point, several types of which appear here. 8 Department S Is Vic There? Only Top 40 for this UK new wave band whose title is based on a Monty Python sketch: a marvellously irreverent yet moody hit 8 The Clash The Magnificent Seven Quite a surprising but great track from them that verges on hip hop, with delightful nonsense stream of consciousness lyrics 7 Stray Cats Stray Cat Strut This missed the Top 10 unlike their last 2, but it's a really fab jazzy and swag filled number with very amusing feline lyrics 7 Echo And The Bunnymen Crocodiles 1st Top 40 after a miss for this Liverpool band: quite a frantic number with furious guitar strumming that builds very effectively 7 Quincy Jones Al No Corrida (I-No-Ko-Ree-Da) One of the best known songs from this US producer but actually a Chas Jankel cover: it's a great Spanish flavoured funk track 6 REO Speedwagon Keep On Loving You 1st hit for this US rock band who had been going since 1967: not pushing boundaries but a soft rock classic that I do enjoy 6 The Beat Drowning/All Out To Get You "Drowning" isn't bad but feels a little plodding and like it isn't quite getting into gear: the other side has a really good energy 5 Girlschool Hit And Run Only solo Top 40 after the EP with Mötorhead for the still active rock band: I like this but it somehow it doesn't quite hit 5 Whitesnake Don't Break My Heart Again Their 2nd Top 20 after a few Top 40 misses: it's a rousing rock song but feels quite standard for its genre and not so memorable 5 Eddy Grant Can't Get Enough Of You The previous hit "Do You Feel My Love" has more impact while this washes over a bit, though I really like the instrumental break 4 Madness Grey Day Already their 6th hit of the decade but my least favourite: it all feels a little grey in fact and seems to lack their usual punch 4 Freeez Flying High 1st Top 40 for this UK electronic group: the sax solo and chorus are good but it all feels a bit like a track that's waiting to kick in 3 Starsound Stars On 45 1st of these hit medleys: very inessential but at least this one has a standard song length and features some great '60s tracks 2 Barry Manilow Bermuda Triangle This has a tropical feel to it making it more upbeat than most of his hits, but it isn't good and the lyrics really are rather cheesy 1 The Gap Band Humpin' Aside from the unfortunate subject matter this really is an interminable 5 minutes of funk that seems to go absolutely nowhere 1981 Group 8: #432 25/04/1981 Tenpole Tudor The Swords Of A Thousand Men 6 73-37-22-10-{6}-6-9-16-16-38-45-68->12 #433 18/04/1981 Level 42 Love Games 38 58-48-{38}-39-45-68->6 #434 02/05/1981 Shakin' Stevens You Drive Me Crazy 2 39-5-{2}-2-2-2-7-10-16-28-40-59->12 #435 09/05/1981 Adam And The Ants Stand And Deliver 1 {1}-1-1-1-1-5-7-13-26-28-40-46-58-61-69->15 #436 02/05/1981 Sheena Easton When He Shines 12 42-27-23-{12}-19-24-33-64->8 #437 02/05/1981 Thin Lizzy Killers Live EP 19 46-28-24-{19}-27-31-62->7 #438 09/05/1981 Kim Wilde Chequered Love 4 32-9-{4}-4-5-18-26-44-56->9 #439 02/05/1981 The Human League The Sound Of The Crowd 12 53-34-27-15-{12}-18-21-30-52-58->10 #440 02/05/1981 The Teardrop Explodes Treason (It's Just A Story) 18 56-30-25-{18}-21-25-30-49->8 #441 02/05/1981 The Undertones It's Going To Happen! 18 61-36-29-21-{18}-22-32-57-71->9 #442 09/05/1981 Tottenham Hotspur F.A. Cup Final Squad Ossie's Dream (Spurs Are On Their Way To Wembley) 5 45-8-{5}-5-17-26-50-69->8 #443 09/05/1981 Kim Carnes Bette Davis Eyes 10 51-20-{10}-10-11-14-25-45-67->9 #444 16/05/1981 Toyah I Want To Be Free 8 37-13-9-{8}-10-11-14-24-30-49-67->11 #445 09/05/1981 Duran Duran Careless Memories 37 55-38-{37}-37-38-48-65->7 #446 09/05/1981 Smokey Robinson Being With You 1 63-39-23-7-3-{1}-1-2-5-8-27-39-55->13

All good - went for Kylie this time.

Losing everything just before the top half is Sarah Whatmore. Sarah appeared in the first series of “Pop Idol”, reaching the final 50. After the public didn’t vote her through to the final 10 Simon Cowell stepped in and signed her anyway. This reached #6 in September 2002, and the follow up “Automatic” reached #11. 6th: Sarah Whatmore - When I Lost You 12/29 votes (41%) 7th: George Michael - Flawless (Go To The City) 10/28 votes (36%) 8th: 50 Cent - 21 Questions 10/26 votes (34%) 9th: Geraldine - Once Upon A Christmas Song 14/27 votes (52%) 10th: Brian Kennedy & Peter Corry - George Best - A Tribute 13/29 votes (45%)

Bow wowing out of the contest is Lil’ Bow Wow, now known just as Bow Wow. He was only 13 when this was recorded, and it was his only huge solo hit, reaching #6 in April 2001. He did also reach the Top 10 featuring on JoJo’s “Baby It’s You”. 9th: Lil’ Bow Wow - Bow Wow (That’s My Name) 13/30 votes (43%) 10th: Lostprophets - Rooftops (A Liberation Broadcast) 23/33 votes (70%)

It’s Train for me - a beautiful ballad with lovely imagery.

Served up on a plate in your restaurant is the Mousse T. This was a #9 hit in August 2004, the German DJ’s 3rd Top 10 hit after “Horny” and “Sex Bomb”. British singer Emma Lanford provided the vocals on this and some other Mousse T singles, and they were the only time she graced the charts. 3rd: Mousse T featuring Emma Lanford - Is It ‘Cos I’m Cool? 17/31 votes (55%) 4th: Charlotte Church - Call My Name 12/30 votes (30%) 5th: Eve featuring Alicia Keys - Gangsta Lovin’ 12/26 votes (46%) 6th: Esmée Denters - Outta Here 11/28 votes (39%) 7th: Five - Don’t Wanna Let You Go (12/27 votes (44%) 8th: The Script - We Cry 8/28 votes (29%) 9th: Nickelback - Rockstar 11/31 votes (35%) 10th: Orson - Bright Idea 8/27 votes (30%)

Well at least you didn’t flounce out of the rest of the season like me. 😝

Congratulations Dobbo! And bad luck Jim. Well done Dan on the hosting - I really enjoyed the mixture of stuff in this one. Thanks all for giving me another Top 10 finish.

I haven’t re-checked the list but from memory there isn’t anything like as much really embarrassing stuff as in 2005. Last place is certainly fair. I would have had Nelly higher - it’s definitely not a favourite but I like the way the chorus gently repeats the “over and over” like when you have a thought stuck in your head. I prefer it to “My Place” and “Dilemma” actually, though only in a 6/10 sort of way.

I like “Say You’ll Be There” but it wouldn’t be anywhere near #3 for me, and “2 Become 1” is my favourite of the trio from this year. “Breathe”, “Fastlove” and “Ready Or Not” are probably my favourites so far.

The way I think of it is - say you and I both have very eclectic music taste and listen to huge amounts of obscure stuff, but there’s very little in common between us. Then during the year we both host a couple of parties where we play a few tracks like “Mr Brightside” to get in the mood. Then imagine there are thousands more like us listening to plenty of weird and wonderful stuff and only occasionally putting on something mainstream. Add up everything that we’ve all listened to and what is the most popular track? It’s “Mr Brightside” of course. Not because any of us are obsessively listening to it but because it’s one of the few common tracks that many people with very different taste will put on occasionally.

You are correct.

Week 42: 1 1 Alex Warren Ordinary 1,829,000 2 2 Lola Young Messy 1,310,000 1,490,000 3 4 Chappell Roan Pink Pony Club 1,222,000 1,670,000 4 3 Rosé and Bruno Mars APT. 1,218,000 1,570,000 5 5 Gracie Abrams That's So True 1,059,000 1,500,000 6 6 Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars Die With A Smile 994,000 1,630,000 7 7 Benson Boone Beautiful Things 989,000 2,780,000 8 8 Ravyn Lenae Love Me Not 968,000 980,000 9 9 Chrystal The Days 902,000 1,070,000 10 10 Billie Eilish Birds Of A Feather 890,000 2,110,000 11 11 Chappell Roan Good Luck, Babe! 873,000 2,070,000 12 12 Teddy Swims Lose Control 831,000 2,660,000 13 13 Huntr/x, Ejae, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami & KPop Demon Hunters Cast Golden 831,000 14 14 Sabrina Carpenter Espresso 773,000 2,520,000 15 15 Gigi Perez Sailor Song 763,000 1,360,000 16 16 Sabrina Carpenter Taste 753,000 1,550,000 17 17 Teddy Swims Bad Dreams 748,000 990,000 18 18 Teddy Swims The Door 723,000 1,390,000 19 19 Myles Smith Nice To Meet You 715,000 820,000 20 20 Tate McRae Sports Car 715,000 21 21 Sombr Undressed 711,000 22 23 Sombr Back To Friends 709,000 23 22 Myles Smith Stargazing 698,000 1,710,000 24 24 Shaboozey A Bar Song (Tipsy) 678,000 2,010,000 25 25 WizTheMc & Bees & Honey Show Me Love 671,000 26 26 Hozier Too Sweet 647,000 2,100,000 27 27 Alex Warren Carry You Home 644,000 940,000 28 28 Sabrina Carpenter Manchild 638,000 29 29 Noah Kahan Stick Season 626,000 3,150,000 30 30 Ed Sheeran Azizam 605,000 31 31 Goo Goo Dolls Iris 601,000 4,410,000 32 32 The Killers Mr Brightside 595,000 6,660,000 33 34 Fleetwood Mac Dreams 585,000 3,810,000 34 33 Sonny Fodera, Jazzy & D.O.D. Somedays 583,000 1,060,000 35 35 Sabrina Carpenter Please Please Please 561,000 1,700,000 36 36 Kendrick Lamar Not Like Us 555,000 1,170,000 37 38 MK featuring Chrystal Dior 551,000 38 37 Lady Gaga Abracadabra 546,000 39 39 Calvin Harris And Clementine Douglas Blessings 544,000 40 54 Olivia Dean Man I Need 538,000 43 49 Olivia Dean Nice To Each Other 514,000 48 55 Disco Lines & Tinashe No Broke Boys 499,000 57 61 Saja Boys, Andrew Choi Neckwav, Danny Chung, Kevin Woo, samUIL Lee & KPop Demon Hunters Cast Soda Pop 471,000 62 65 Sam Fender & Olivia Dean Rein Me In 450,000 67 74 Saja Boys, Andrew Choi Neckwav, Danny Chung, Kevin Woo, samUIL Lee & KPop Demon Hunters Cast Your Idol 434,000 92 95 Justin Bieber Daisies 380,000 95 99 Fred Again…, Skepta and PlaqueBoyMax Victory Lap 373,000

23/10: 1 1 The fate of Ophelia (1) 2 6 Man I need (1) 3 12 Golden (1) 4 2 Opalite (2) 5 15 Where is my husband! (4) 6 3 Elizabeth Taylor (3) 7 16 Ordinary (1) 8 4 Father figure (4) 9 5 The life of a showgirl (5) 10 17 Soda pop (4) 11 7 Actually romantic (7) 12 11 Wi$h li$t (11) 13 9 Wood (9) 14 18 Nice to each other (5) 15 23 So easy (11) 16 19 No broke boys (3) 17 10 Cancelled! (10) 18 8 Eldest daughter (8) 19 21 12 to 12 (8) 20 20 Your idol (7) 21 13 Ruin the friendship (13) 22 24 Back to friends (7) 23 14 Honey (14) 24 25 Tears (3) 25 28 How it’s done (13) 26 31 Rein me in (7) 27 22 Tit for tat (7) 28 32 What it sounds like (18) 29 26 Love me not (2) 30 30 Pink pony club (2) 31 29 Undressed (4) 32 27 Manchild (1) 33 34 Beautiful things (1) 34 33 When did you get hot? (9) 35 35 Takedown (22) 36 36 Lose control (2) 37 38 Baby steps (37) 38 37 Daisies (2) 39 39 Let alone the one you love (31) 40 40 Iris (3) 41 42 Sapphire (8) 42 41 Something in the heavens (3) 43 50 Dreams (22) 44 49 Free (28) 45 44 Messy (1) 46 45 Victory lap (5) 47 43 Eternity (5) 48 - Mr Brightside (10) 49 46 Dior (2) 50 - Blessings (5)

Week 42: 1 2 Taylor Swift The Life Of A Showgirl 471,000 2 1 Sabrina Carpenter Short n' Sweet 461,000 830,000 3 3 Ed Sheeran +-=÷x (Tour Collection) 339,000 440,000 4 4 Oasis Time Flies... 1994-2009 321,000 2,350,000 5 5 Fleetwood Mac 50 Years: Don't Stop 291,000 1,760,000 6 6 The Weeknd The Highlights 274,000 1,510,000 7 7 Oasis (What's The Story) Morning Glory 256,000 5,560,000 8 8 Chappell Roan The Rise And Fall Of A Midwest Princess 229,000 530,000 9 9 Sam Fender People Watching 227,000 10 10 Alex Warren You'll Be Alright Kid (Chapter 1) 227,000 250,000 11 11 Elton John Diamonds 224,000 1,880,000 12 12 Billie Eilish Hit Me Hard And Soft 211,000 560,000 13 13 SZA SOS 210,000 690,000 14 14 Charli XCX Brat 208,000 500,000 15 16 Sabrina Carpenter Man's Best Friend 206,000 16 15 Noah Kahan Stick Season 203,000 670,000 17 18 Michael Jackson The Essential 199,000 2,040,000 18 17 Tate McRae So Close To What 198,000 19 19 ABBA Gold: Greatest Hits 195,000 6,100,000 20 20 Fleetwood Mac Rumours 185,000 3,500,000 21 21 Arctic Monkeys AM 182,000 2,280,000 22 22 Taylor Swift The Tortured Poets Department 180,000 960,000 23 23 Oasis Definitely Maybe 180,000 2,980,000 24 24 Eminem Curtain Call: The Hits 178,000 3,490,000 25 25 Linkin Park Papercuts 176,000 350,000 26 27 Olivia Rodrigo Guts 168,000 660,000 27 26 Lady Gaga Mayhem 168,000 28 28 Olivia Rodrigo Sour 163,000 1,210,000 29 29 Gracie Abrams The Secret Of Us 159,000 300,000 30 30 Central Cee Can't Rush Greatness 148,000 31 31 Calvin Harris 96 Months 138,000 210,000 32 32 Queen Greatest Hits 136,000 3,180,000 33 33 Post Malone The Diamond Collection 135,000 470,000 34 34 Benson Boone Fireworks & Rollerblades 133,000 260,000 35 35 Ariana Grande Eternal Sunshine 133,000 320,000 36 36 Pitbull Greatest Hits 131,000 600,000 37 37 Ed Sheeran ÷ 129,000 4,460,000 38 38 Billy Joel Piano Man: The Very Best Of Billy Joel 129,000 1,670,000 39 39 Fontaines D.C. Romance 125,000 240,000 40 41 Maroon 5 Singles 121,000 960,000 68 90 Olivia Dean The Art Of Loving 95,000 71 74 Ed Sheeran Play 94,000

I think transparency is really important - and already can be a little lacking from the OCC in some areas. Therefore I’ve always been against having multiple levels of ACR: at least with one level everyone who really wants to understand what’s going on can. Maybe 2 levels would be just about OK before the whole thing became too hard to track. But what purpose would double ACR really serve? It might turn a #50 hit into a #45 hit here and there but wouldn’t affect much above that. I suppose another question is how much of a leg up does a fresh song deserve if it’s struggling to even make the Spotify Top 200 say? Even now a song on SCR at #40 might be around #100 in the level playing field chart. A song at #100 on SCR would be waaaay down on a level playing field, maybe even #4-500. The existing system does actually do a lot more for that type of song than many realise.

Went with the pointless and bland Kittens cover.

10th: Lostprophets - Rooftops (A Liberation Broadcast) 23/33 votes (70%)

Good selection now: I do rather like the Sarah Whatmore track but that it is.

Deemed not without flaws is George Michael’s remake of the track by The Ones. It was the 4th single from his #1 album “Patience” and reached #8 in July 2004. He would have more hits to come but this was his last Top 10 single. 7th: George Michael - Flawless (Go To The City) 10/28 votes (36%) 8th: 50 Cent - 21 Questions 10/26 votes (34%) 9th: Geraldine - Once Upon A Christmas Song 14/27 votes (52%) 10th: Brian Kennedy & Peter Corry - George Best - A Tribute 13/29 votes (45%)

Burned by the flame is Charlotte Church. Following up the #2 hit “Crazy Chick” this reached #10 in October 2005. However the child opera star’s window of pop chart success proved brief and she wouldn’t reach the Top 10 again after this. 4th: Charlotte Church - Call My Name 12/30 votes (30%) 5th: Eve featuring Alicia Keys - Gangsta Lovin’ 12/26 votes (46%) 6th: Esmée Denters - Outta Here 11/28 votes (39%) 7th: Five - Don’t Wanna Let You Go (12/27 votes (44%) 8th: The Script - We Cry 8/28 votes (29%) 9th: Nickelback - Rockstar 11/31 votes (35%) 10th: Orson - Bright Idea 8/27 votes (30%)

I’m sometimes sceptical about classical crossover hits but “Chi Mai” is one of the best ever. 9 Ennio Morricone Chi Mai (Theme From 'The Life And Times Of David Lloyd George') Only chart hit for this influential Italian film music composer, and this is an incredibly beautiful, sad but calming piece of music 8 Public Image Ltd Flowers Of Romance A delightfully discombobulated track which feels like a fever dream, with the relentless beat the only thing that keeps it in place 8 Spandau Ballet Musclebound/Glow A great double A: "Musclebound" is unusual with a testosterone fuelled military feel while "Glow" is more typical synth-pop 7 John Lennon Watching The Wheels This is a lovely, heartfelt and personal track from John about having taken a break from music, up with his best solo material 7 Graham Bonnet Night Games Only solo Top 40 for this UK rock singer: he sang with Rainbow and this is very much in that style and a really powerful track 6 Keith Marshall Only Crying Only hit for this UK singer: it's not the most striking of songs but a really sweet and slightly folky number intimately performed 6 Bad Manners Just A Feeling A fun ska track: I enjoy the wind solos and relentless call and response chorus, though it may not bear too many repeat plays 5 Dire Straits Skateaway This is quite similar to "Romeo And Juliet" in that it's all about the storytelling, and nice but nowhere near as compelling as that 5 David Bowie Up The Hill Backwards This is enjoyable and has an interesting irregular rhythm, but overall I find it one of his less compelling and dramatic tracks 4 Shalamar Make That Move A disco track that feels like it's harking back to the period that's ended rather than looking forward, but this has a decent hook 4 Light Of The World I'm So Happy/Time Their last appearance: "Time" has a catchy spoken hook to it and I'd give that a 6 on its own, but the other track is a moribund 2 3 Saxon And The Bands Played On Their last 3 missed the Top 40 but they're back with their highest peak: this is very standard for its genre to me and not distinctive 2 Sugar Minott Good Thing Going Only Top 40 for this Jamaican reggae singer: it's quite a well remembered song but not for me, as I find it laboured and plodding 1 Children Of Tansley School My Mum Is One In A Million The same writer as "…Grandma" and a similar idea, but that had a certain cuteness while this is abysmal with poorly aged lyrics 1981 Group 7: #417 11/04/1981 Barry Manilow Bermuda Triangle 15 51-26-23-26-{15}-19-30-42-61->9 #418 04/04/1981 Eddy Grant Can't Get Enough Of You 13 73-44-28-22-18-{13}-18-24-35-73->10 #419 11/04/1981 Whitesnake Don't Break My Heart Again 17 41-29-25-25-{17}-21-31-52-71->9 #420 11/04/1981 Girlschool Hit And Run 32 52-33-35-{32}-41-62->6 #421 18/04/1981 Echo And The Bunnymen Crocodiles 37 {37}-37-44-68->4 #422 11/04/1981 Quincy Jones Al No Corrida (I-No-Ko-Ree-Da) 14 64-39-29-27-24-16-{14}-22-26-50->10 #423 04/04/1981 Department S Is Vic There? 22 74-45-40-30-28-29-{22}-26-33-39->10 #424 18/04/1981 Starsound Stars On 45 2 45-17-3-{2}-3-3-3-7-13-24-36-41-65-64->14 #425 25/04/1981 Madness Grey Day 4 20-5-6-{4}-8-15-27-42-63-65->10 #426 18/04/1981 The Beat Drowning/All Out To Get You 22 53-28-{22}-31-26-25-31-32->8 #427 11/04/1981 The Gap Band Humpin' 36 67-43-{36}-36-52-67->6 #428 11/04/1981 REO Speedwagon Keep On Loving You 7 63-41-39-29-21-{7}-7-8-14-20-29-51-64-74->14 #429 25/04/1981 Stray Cats Stray Cat Strut 11 68-31-26-14-{11}-14-20-27-55-66->10 #430 25/04/1981 The Clash The Magnificent Seven 34 54-{34}-38-51-69->5 #431 18/04/1981 Freeez Flying High 35 56-45-{35}-42-57->5

Tied 😮

Edited my votes in. Hoping to make the first part today but can’t make it all sadly.

Yep agree almost completely - “Yeah!” might have pipped “Everytime” and “Mad World” in mine but not by much and I agree with the Top 2. Not a Britney fan but those back to back chart toppers really were her finest hour and a world removed from the schoolgirl style of her first couple of albums.