Julian_

Madonna, but it’s a nice track.

Gabrielle’s “The Power Of Love” isn’t exciting at all and it’s quite one note in colour - I’d have it lower. “Heatwave” is nothing more than OK. I think the follow up “Can You Hear Me? (Ayayaya)” was better. Is agree “He Ain’t Heavy…” is tasteful as these things go, though not something I’d seek out. It’s quite fun looking back at how of the moment some of the stars that were asked to participate are, like Andy Brown of Lawson. “Twilight” does indeed feel incredibly random… it’s not bad.

My (very lopsided) verdict on Bosnia: Year Artist Song Language Final Points Semi Points 1993 Fazla "Sva bol svijeta" Bosnian 16 27 2 52 Top 10 1994 Alma and Dejan "Ostani kraj mene" Bosnian 15 39 No semi-finals An rather stiff and stilted, outdated and syrupy romantic duet 1995 Davor Popović "Dvadeset prvi vijek" Bosnian 19 14 This has a decent tune but overall it's also quite old fashioned in feel 1996 Amila Glamočak "Za našu ljubav" Bosnian 22 13 21 29 A very spirited and committed performance of a not so exciting song 1997 Alma Čardžić "Goodbye" Bosnian 18 22 No semi-finals A jolly song with some sweet group harmonies, but it's very twee 1999 Dino and Béatrice "Putnici" Bosnian, French 7 86 Top 10 2001 Nino "Hano" Bosnian, English 14 29 Quite a nice Middle Eastern flavour to this but the song is a little dull 2002 Maja "Na jastuku za dvoje" (На јастуку за двоје) Serbian, English 13 33 A power pop style pop rock song with an '80s feel: quite nice but doesn't stand out 2003 Mija Martina "Ne brini" Croatian, English 16 27 Quite a similar style to the previous year but unremarkable overall 2004 Deen "In the Disco" English 9 91 7 133 A strong Top 10 finish for this high camp: it is memorable but rather basic 2005 Feminnem "Call Me" English 14 79 Top 12 in 2004 final This feels like a "Chain Reaction" rip off: it isn't great 2006 Hari Mata Hari "Lejla" Bosnian 3 229 2 267 Top 10 2007 Marija Šestić "Rijeka bez imena" (Ријека без имена) Serbian 11 106 Top 10 in 2006 final Top 10 2008 Laka "Pokušaj" Bosnian 10 110 9 72 Top 10 2009 Regina "Bistra voda" Bosnian 9 106 3 125 Top 10 2010 Vukašin Brajić "Thunder and Lightning" English 17 51 8 59 Top 10 2011 Dino Merlin "Love in Rewind" English 6 125 5 109 Top 10 2012 Maya Sar "Korake ti znam" Bosnian 18 55 6 77 Top 10 2016 Dalal and Deen feat. Ana Rucner and Jala "Ljubav je" Bosnian Failed to qualify 11 104 Top 10

Yet another very strong bunch - this group is notable because very unusually there isn’t a single weak track that I can put in the 1-3 zone. “Dancing In The Dark” is obviously over-exposed yet still brilliant, but it’s beaten by the era defining “Smalltown Boy”. 9 Bronski Beat Smalltown Boy An incredibly emotive and heartbreaking piece of storytelling coupled with beautiful vocals and production 9 Bruce Springsteen Dancing In The Dark A US #2 behind "The Reflex" and one of his most commercial songs, but also a very powerful piece of writing 8 The Smiths Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now Their 1st Top 10 and a lovely tenderly delivered piece of storytelling about the transient nature of happiness 8 Siouxsie And The Banshees Dazzle A sparkling song indeed with beautiful swooping strings, powerful production and punchy reverbed vocals 8 Sister Sledge Thinking Of You A very classy and soulful Nile Rodgers produced track; perhaps their very best despite it missing the Top 10 7 Wham! Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go 535th #1: it's bubblegum pop but an extremely energetic and arresting song with a fun throwback bassline 7 Sade When Am I Gonna Make A Living A bouncy and optimistic track about facing adversity: very different from their debut hit but also really strong 6 The Style Council Groovin' (You're The Best Thing/Big Boss Groove) "You're The Best Thing" is a delightful track: I'm a little less keen on the other very politically focussed side 6 Madness One Better Day The lowest peaking of their 19 hits so far, but it's an interesting and understated song about homelessness 6 David Sylvian Red Guitar His 1st entirely solo hit: it's very well done and has many atmospheric elements but doesn't quite fully hit 5 Helen Terry Love Lies Lost Only solo hit for this UK singer whose backing vocals were on some Culture Club hits: it's a nice jolly number 5 Spandau Ballet Only When You Leave A 3rd straight Top 3 but they've certainly lost their edge as this is an enjoyable but quite standard pop song 5 Elton John Sad Songs (Say So Much) After some career highlight singles in 1983 this lead hit is only pleasant unfortunately, and not memorable 4 Howard Jones Pearl In The Shell Another successful hit for him but I don't enjoy this one so much, especially the falsetto parts in the chorus 4 Ozzy Osbourne So Tired Not a bad track by any means: I just find it quite ordinaary and don't think it brings anything different from him 1984 Group 11: #1411 02/06/1984 Michael Jackson Farewell My Summer Love 7 45-26-15-8-{7}-8-16-20-29-37-48-60->12 #1412 26/05/1984 Bananarama Rough Justice 23 63-44-29-{23}-26-42-69->7 #1413 26/05/1984 Rod Stewart Infatuation 27 45-42-30-{27}-30-39-60->7 #1414 26/05/1984 The Art Company Susanna 12 65-43-31-20-{12}-13-22-30-35-46-68->11 #1415 02/06/1984 Nick Heyward Love All Day 31 61-37-{31}-31-37-51->6 #1416 02/06/1984 Change Change Of Heart 17 58-39-26-19-{17}-19-27-31-45-60->10 #1417 16/06/1984 Frankie Goes To Hollywood Two Tribes 1 {1}-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-3-5-9-13-17-29-34-42-54-63-65-73R(2)->21 #1418 16/06/1984 Nik Kershaw I Won't Let The Sun Go Down On Me {1984} 2 18-4-{2}-3-4-7-9-17-27-33-38-47-52->13 #1419 09/06/1984 Scritti Politti Absolute 17 43-33-22-19-{17}-24-32-39-47->9 #1420 19/11/1983 Grandmaster And Melle Mel White Lines (Don't Do It) 7 60-63-75-74R(10)-59-52-53-52-49-57-55-56-58-55-52-56-52-48-51-52-46-36-21-12-10-9-8-{7}-7-10-9-10-13-18-20-23-31-39-41-52-55-75R(4)-73R(6)->43 #1421 16/06/1984 Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark Talking Loud And Clear 11 39-23-15-{11}-15-16-24-34-50-70->10 #1422 16/06/1984 Elvis Costello I Wanna Be Loved/Turning The Town Red 25 40-29-{25}-27-37-46->6 #1423 23/06/1984 The Pointer Sisters Jump (For My Love) 6 24-{6}-6-7-9-11-23-24-40-52->10 #1424 23/06/1984 Lionel Richie Stuck On You 12 34-18-{12}-17-18-27-33-34-39-35-53-60->12

I avoid NOTA so I went for PinkPantheress and Victony but I wasn’t particularly impressed by anything in either week.

Week 30: 1 1 Olivia Dean Man I Need 1,505,000 2,600,000 2 2 Sam Fender and Olivia Dean Rein Me In 1,400,000 2,080,000 3 3 Raye Where Is My Husband! 946,000 1,550,000 4 4 Alex Warren Ordinary 940,000 3,120,000 5 5 Dave featuring Tems Raindance 930,000 1,170,000 6 6 Olivia Dean So Easy (To Fall In Love) 859,000 1,230,000 7 7 Bella Kay Iloveitiloveitiloveit 840,000 8 8 Zara Larsson Lush Life 808,000 3,850,000 9 9 Huntr/x, Ejae, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami & KPop Demon Hunters Cast Golden 806,000 2,140,000 10 10 Taylor Swift The Fate Of Ophelia 794,000 1,540,000 11 11 PinkPantheress Stateside 724,000 850,000 12 12 Djo End Of Beginning 699,000 1,880,000 13 13 Olivia Dean Nice To Each Other 684,000 1,460,000 14 14 Tame Impala Dracula 662,000 800,000 15 15 Bruno Mars I Just Might 635,000 16 16 Sombr Homewrecker 634,000 17 17 Sombr 12 To 12 620,000 1,150,000 18 18 Zara Larsson Midnight Sun 587,000 690,000 19 19 Sienna Spiro Die On This Hill 578,000 750,000 20 20 Alex Warren Fever Dream 560,000 21 21 Harry Styles American Girls 555,000 22 22 Taylor Swift Opalite 536,000 950,000 23 25 Michael Jackson Billie Jean 522,000 4,040,000 24 24 Dominic Fike Babydoll 516,000 1,260,000 25 23 Harry Styles Aperture 515,000 26 28 The Killers Mr Brightside 508,000 7,310,000 27 26 Sombr Back To Friends 505,000 1,420,000 28 27 Disco Lines and Tinashe No Broke Boys 503,000 1,230,000 29 30 Ella Langley Choosin' Texas 496,000 530,000 30 29 Milky Just The Way You Are 485,000 590,000 31 31 Sabrina Carpenter Manchild 453,000 1,260,000 32 32 Fleetwood Mac Dreams 449,000 4,380,000 33 33 Goo Goo Dolls Iris 446,000 5,010,000 34 34 Ravyn Lenae Love Me Not 442,000 1,580,000 35 36 Benson Boone Beautiful Things 437,000 3,370,000 36 35 Dominic Fike White Keys 436,000 450,000 37 37 Chappell Roan Pink Pony Club 430,000 2,240,000 38 38 Olivia Dean The Hardest Part 426,000 1,150,000 39 39 Justin Bieber Daisies 421,000 920,000 40 40 Olivia Rodrigo Drop Dead 420,000 45 47 Michael Jackson Beat It 386,000 2,630,000 59 62 Vance Joy Riptide 328,000 5,070,000 70 72 Calvin Harris And Clementine Douglas Blessings 304,000 950,000 73 84 Oasis Wonderwall 302,000 5,620,000 75 77 Sam Fender Seventeen Going Under 300,000 2,950,000 79 93 ANOTR featuring 54 Ultra Talk To You 297,000 80 82 Harry Styles Sign Of The Times 297,000 2,490,000 83 91 Prospa & Cloonee Free Your Mind 295,000 86 87 Malcolm Todd Earrings 289,000 320,000 96 - Olivia Rodrigo The Cure 274,000 100 - Journey Don't Stop Believin' 263,000 4,560,000 - 100 Sabrina Carpenter House Tour 261,000 500,000 - 98 Olivia Dean I've Seen It 261,000 410,000

Week 30: 1 1 Olivia Dean The Art Of Loving 420,000 700,000 2 2 Michael Jackson The Essential 403,000 2,500,000 3 3 Harry Styles Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally. 363,000 4 4 Fleetwood Mac 50 Years: Don't Stop 244,000 2,070,000 5 6 Olivia Rodrigo You Seem Pretty Sad For A Girl So In Love 204,000 6 5 The Weeknd Highlights 203,000 1,790,000 7 7 Ed Sheeran +-=÷x (Tour Collection) 193,000 710,000 8 8 Alex Warren You'll Be Alright Kid (Chapter 1) 178,000 480,000 9 9 Sabrina Carpenter Man's Best Friend 174,000 480,000 10 10 Noah Kahan The Great Divide 165,000 11 11 Oasis Time Flies... 1994-2009 159,000 2,570,000 12 12 Linkin Park Papercuts 154,000 550,000 13 13 Noah Kahan Stick Season 149,000 870,000 14 14 Sabrina Carpenter Short n' Sweet 144,000 1,040,000 15 15 ABBA Gold 142,000 6,280,000 16 16 Elton John Diamonds 140,000 2,070,000 17 18 Michael Jackson Thriller 138,000 4,890,000 18 17 Fleetwood Mac Rumours 138,000 3,690,000 19 19 BTS Arirang 131,000 20 20 Oasis (What's The Story) Morning Glory 129,000 5,740,000 21 21 Taylor Swift The Life Of A Showgirl 126,000 770,000 22 22 Raye This Music May Contain Hope 125,000 23 23 Drake Iceman 124,000 24 24 Michael Jackson Bad 122,000 4,570,000 25 25 Tate McRae So Close To What 118,000 380,000 26 26 Arctic Monkeys AM 116,000 2,440,000 27 27 Eminem Curtain Call: The Hits 113,000 3,650,000 28 28 Olivia Rodrigo Sour 111,000 1,360,000 29 29 Olivia Rodrigo Guts 110,000 810,000 30 31 Pitbull Greatest Hits 108,000 730,000 31 30 Sombr I Barely Know Her 107,000 200,000 32 32 50 Cent Best Of 50 Cent 102,000 870,000 33 33 Maroon 5 Singles 102,000 1,090,000 34 34 Queen Greatest Hits 95,000 3,300,000 35 35 Calvin Harris 96 Months 93,000 330,000 36 37 Katy Perry Teenage Dream 91,000 2,120,000 37 36 Red Hot Chili Peppers Greatest Hits 91,000 2,400,000 38 38 Billie Eilish Hit Me Hard And Soft 87,000 680,000 39 39 Oasis Definitely Maybe 87,000 3,100,000 40 40 Bruno Mars Doo-Wops & Hooligans 87,000 2,520,000 48 49 Lady Gaga The Fame 79,000 3,670,000 58 59 Britney Spears The Singles Collection 74,000 790,000 61 62 Avicii Avicii Forever 73,000 140,000 65 71 Katy Perry The Ones That Got The Plays 72,000 71 73 Madonna Finally Enough Love - #1s Remixed 67,000 370,000 73 74 The Cure Greatest Hits 67,000 1,290,000 87 94 Madonna Confessions II 61,000

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

“S2” is my personal favourite but probably not the most competitive. “Ahai” is catchy and would probably attract pop votes.

I went for “Devour” but I’m probably not the target audience for this selection.

Country 9: Bosnia & Herzegovina Bosnia & Herzegovina joined the contest in 1993 right after the break up of Yugoslavia. They competed for 20 years until 2012, missing a couple of the earlier years due to relegation. Then after a few years out they returned in 2016, before disappearing indefinitely. That means there are 19 entries in total. For me there is a huge contrast between the first and second half of their entries. Especially in the early years the songs were quite dated and the performances quite stiff. But they really came into their own in the second decade and entered some really interesting and varied songs with ethnic elements. The introduction of the semifinals seemed to induce them to up their game, and they had a 100% qualification rate until their one off return in 2016 when they finished 11th in the semi.

“Dai Dai” isn’t exactly brilliant but I can pretend it’s “Waka Waka”. Go Shakira and Burna!

Denial 😅

“Let Me Love You…” is my favourite of the last few, although it’s no more than pleasant and doesn’t come anywhere near “Closer”. “Little Things” is alright - beyond “Night Changes” there’s very little from 1D that I’d actively want to listen to. “How We Do” is pretty ghastly and grating for me actually. “RIP” would be comfortably above it.

Abroad this weekend - may be able to tune in for some! Two Tribes Smalltown Boy White Lines (Don’t Do It) Time After Time Dancing In The Dark