Ghoulian

She did do this cover very well and authentically, but it would only just scrape #10 here for me. Speaking of #10 her follow up single, “Love And Understanding”, peaked there and was one of her very best.

I feel like this too. I think mine was a strong indie track but not something that was going to wow anyone. I’m still very new to this contest though.

Herbifloored us!

Thanks for all the votes! I must admit I couldn’t bear to watch the video (though did after I knew the result haha). When I saw we were up against Aesthetica I wasn’t confident at all as I thought that’s the kind of thing that does well even if it’s not so much to my taste. We lost: 6 A-Konohagakure: still very much a novice with this genre but this sounded like a really lovely one to me 2 Kluminican Republic: I thought this was really fun and didn’t deserve to be a streak ender Glad that none of the late votes cost anyone a place but sad particularly for Pegasa as well as A-Konohagakure. That’s a rough one for Kathaldazia too - really enjoyed the song.

7th isn’t too shabby I suppose. Congratulations to the top few and thanks for a hugely enjoyable quiz @nine¾ !

Aww I’d put “The One And Only” a little higher for being straightforwardly joyous. Chesney comes across well too, making self deprecating jokes about people only wanting to hear him for the one song. I think at the time he apologised to James and said yours is the better song.

“Need U (100%) is very good, though his later #1 is the one I really have a soft spot for. “Get Up (Rattle)” is quite fun really. I don’t think I’d have it as high as 13th, but definitely nowhere near 31st.

I haven’t followed any of these shows recently but would still like to go on one some day. Not sure which recent episode this was but Frankie is my best uni friend. https://www.harboroughmail.co.uk/news/people/meet-the-market-harborough-quiz-queen-in-the-finals-of-channel-4-music-show-8959104?fbclid=IwZnRzaAUSBuxwZG9mBWZkaWQWUORWeG5ajceV1QTmSzniDLgj1qnCz2V4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR7d1o_ivjdbPjGv2FcDRSRoEBWnMyrvilgo8nj7FGA1A_cSwoxNXIUORli7_w_aem_Nvk78UVRoAP3ttF3fYF6ow

Well it is trip hop…

Moving to Pink this time.

Ne-Yo: quite nice but fairly bland.

“Great Expectation” would at least be #3 unadjusted now that “Dai Dai” has fallen away, with “Choosin’ Texas” still stuck at #4.

WIMH doing a “Price Tag” and spending multiple weeks at #40 on its way out

“Don’t Shut Me Down” 🥰 To think that its sales would be challenging for #1 today!

Really enjoyed 15 on 1st listen and giving it all a 2nd spin now. One question - is there actually any difference between this and Unknown Pleasures? A lot of the songs could just as well fit into that, and I’m wondering whether to prioritise the more Nuggetsy ones in my votes - where the guitars are more the focal point.

“Stargazer”

I really need to try and get back to my 1970s reviews which stalled in 1972. I’ve already given “Starman” a 10 but “Life On Mars?” is coming up in 1973. I’m don’t know if I can persuade others to cover them with me like with the ‘80s: that decade is of course a much easier sell for group projects. Until then I don’t feel ready to do any meaningful lists but yours is of course brilliant, and it’s nice that you’ve found room for 1 obscure song. I don’t think “Cargo Culte” is even all that well known within Serge Gainsbourg’s discography, but it is beautiful and I ranked it either 2nd or 3rd in the ‘70s retro contest I think. The Rainbow track got my 12 in that and good to see one of the best heavy rock tracks ever represented here with “Layla”.

No “We Are Young” definitely isn’t a solo hit so it’s fine to score it wrong. I was just pleased I found something that sort of fit with the right letter!

I know Nate Reuss doesn’t really fit but I thought it was still quite a neat answer as his #1 hit with Fun is basically a duet with Janelle Monae, and then his second highest charting hit is the duet with Pink.

There probably hasn’t been a band named after you here before. 😉

A fair assessment of “We Can’t Stop” I think. The raunchiness is a bit cringeworthy looking back but I guess she had to find a way to transition from teenage to adult star. “Animals” would probably be top 10 for me - a great track and perhaps the last instrumental #1 depending on how you define it.

We have voted from our third successive Semi 1. A few nations going in very surprising directions this month. Overall it wasn’t as to our taste as last month’s Semi 1 which was painful to cut down to 10, but there was still plenty we enjoyed to fill the votes.

The last group doesn’t follow the usual pattern of being considerably weaker than the rest of the year this time. In fact it’s probably the most iconic Christmas in chart history, with 2 of the biggest records ever and huge sales continuing further down the chart. The best record isn’t a Christmas one though as Tears For Fears come through with another huge classic, and they aren’t done yet. 9 Tears For Fears Shout Perhaps one of the most powerful choruses of the decade, and a hugely arresting record about venting 8 Wham! Last Christmas/Everything She Wants "Everything She Wants" is a very atmospheric record and the other is a very fine festive heartbreak piece 8 Band Aid Do They Know It's Christmas? 543rd #1 and one of the biggest selling singles ever: a brilliantly written all star collaboration for the ages 8 Sal Solo San Damiano (Heart And Soul) Only solo Top 40 for this Classix Nouveaux singer, and a beautiful track about embracing Catholicism 7 Smiley Culture Police Officer Only Top 40 for this UK reggae artist: it's a great bouncy and humorous record with unique storytelling 7 Foreigner I Want To Know What Love Is 544th #1: this is one of my favourite soft rock ballads in existence: there's a real power and euphoria to it 7 Queen Thank God It's Christmas Not one of the best known Christmas classics but I think there's a beautiful warmth to the production 6 Gary Glitter Another Rock And Roll Christmas This doesn't have huge amounts of depth but it's a very effective, energetic and catchy Christmas song 6 Paul Young Everything Must Change 5 weeks at #9 for this: it's another track with nice production and a very warm feel, sincerely delivered 6 The Stranglers No Mercy They're into a period of mostly small hits now, but this is another good song with nice backing vocals 5 Bronski Beat It Ain't Necessarily So Surprising they're covering a "Porgy And Bess" song but it is a very nice jazzy version with a clarinet solo 5 The Toy Dolls Nellie The Elephant Only hit for this UK band with a more fun than might be expected punk rock cover of the children's song 4 Grandmaster Melle Mel And The Furious Five Step Off (Part 1) Their last and least interesting Top 40 hit, sampling the '70s track "For The Love Of Money" by the O'Jays 3 Alvin Stardust So Near To Christmas His last Top 40: there's a sweetness to this but overall it's quite a forgettable and slushy festive number 2 Council Collective Soul Deep (Part 1) Only hit for this group put together to make a charity song for striking miners: the song does little for me

Freddie’s parents were Indian though. 🙃

There’s certainly likely to come a point when Olivia re-overtakes in the weekly chart, but I feel like it will probably be too late for this year’s year end.