Julian_

1 Bicep 2 Kiesza (funny there’s a cover of “Hideaway” here too) 3 Sigma

Definitely “Supreme” of these two, which I do still like a lot though I agree it wouldn’t do brilliantly in a Robbie #4 rate.

I went for “Do Something” this time - I guess the retro production is quite good but I don’t think it comes together as an enjoyable listen.

Doing much better than falling apart to half time are Fall Out Boy. “Dance Dance” was their second consecutive #8 peak, following hot on the heels of “Sugar We’re Goin’ Down”, and both songs had good chart runs. They would have a couple of even bigger hits to come though. 3rd: Fall Out Boy - Dance Dance 15/30 votes (50%) 4th: Robbie Williams - Come Undone 12/32 votes (38%) 5th: Razorlight - Wire To Wire 21/31 votes (68%) 6th: Ordinary Boys - I Luv U 14/32 votes (44%) 7th: Abs - What You Got 12/31 votes (39%) 8th: N Dubz - I Need You 11/28 votes (39%) 9th: 50 Cent - Just A Lil’ Bit 10/31 votes (32%) 10th: Ronan Keating - I Hope You Dance 14/27 votes (52%)

Mariah has been shaken off just before the top half. This double A side was her 38th top 40 hit, and she’s crossed the 40 mark since. It reached #9 in October 2005 and was the third Top 10 hit from “The Emancipation Of Mimi”.

Going down in Round 2 is Emma. This Petula Clark cover was the official 2006 Children In Need single, and reached #3 in November. It was the last of her 9 solo Top 40 hits. 9th: Emma Bunton - Downtown 12/31 votes (39%) 10th: JoJo featuring Bow Wow - Baby It’s You 9/33 votes (27%)

1 A-ha - Hunting High and Low (love the desperation and agony of this: it’s a great performance) 2 CHVRCHES - Final Girl (a really dramatic and striking track that’s quite hard hitting lyrically) 3 The Saturdays - Work (Phil Tan Radio Mix) (a bit of a gem with a really addictive beat) 4 Pet Shop Boys - Domino Dancing (great synths, but slightly inconsequential for me) 5 WALK THE MOON - Tightrope (sort of ‘00 landfill indie a bit too late, but a cute little tune) 6 Fifth Harmony - The Life (this has the distinctive late ‘10s production which I don’t care for)

5 Love Me Not 4 Back To Friends 3 Pink Pony Club 2 Undressed 1 Blessings -1 Azizam -2 Family Matters -3 Just Keep Watching -4 Ordinary -5 Bloodline

1 James Blake - The Wilhelm Scream (just mesmerising) 2 Bob Dylan - Positively 4th Street (more fantastic storytelling, intimately performed) 3 Elton John & Dua Lipa - Cold Heart (PNAU Remix) (this should never have worked but it really did and brought the old songs back to life) 4 Damiano David - The First Time (love the energy to this and his performance is polished as ever) 5 Charlie Puth feat. Kehlani - Done For Me (not bad at all, with nice slightly retro production) 6 Enrique Iglesias feat. Ludacris & DJ Frank E - Tonight (I’m f***in’ You) (excuse me - I don’t mean to be rude)

1 Avril Lavigne - When You’re Gone (might be my favourite Avril song: she delivers it with so much feeling) 2 SASAMI feat. Clairo - In Love With a Memory (this has a lovely dance style feel with some amazing electronic production) 3 Addison Rae - Fame is a Gun (another very strong single, still with the dreamy feel but with a bit more punch to it) 4 Mary J. Blige - I’m Goin’ Down (a cover but the vocals are extraordinary) 5 Rina Sawayama - Send My Love to John (this has a slightly country vibe to it - I do like it) 6 Ellie Goulding - Love Me Like You Do (it is a tune but we’re back to commercial Ellie now) 7 Christina Aguilera feat. Lil’ Kim - Can’t Hold Us Down (a strong lyrical message but musically I’ve always found this a little bland)

Any more votes? @dandy* @Chez Wombat @Scene @Riser @!!!

And the big moment has arrived! So SOY beating Mr B quite comfortably to 11 x platinum, but the latter will get to 12 x first.

1 Went for Addison - another really strong track. 2 Marina 3 JADE - not a bad effort at all covering this

Wow Foo Fighters, Madonna, Neneh Cherry and U2 covers all in the same week!

I like some of the singles from “Life In Cartoon Motion” much more than others. “Grace Kelly” is one of the ones I like and “Love Today” isn’t. I’m not convinced the “Owner Of A Lonely Heart” cover added that much to it, but I love the original.

Tori by a mile for me 😝

I think David Gray’s version counts as this century really - I know “White Ladder” was first released independently in 1998 but its proper commercial release was 2000. Anyway, Hoosiers I guess.

^ I don’t actually - I can see it went 5x platinum in 2013 so presumably if it keeps getting streaming points it will reach 6x before too long.

“Discotheque” might well be my favourite Lithuanian entry: brilliantly effective in every way and still sounds great. I still have a bit of a soft spot for “Something” by Andrius Pojavis from 2013 as I went to that contest. It’s a very basic song but has a simple charm to it. “Tavo Akys” was also a highlight for me with a great moody energy, though I understand why those who want uplifting pop from Eurovision abhorred it.

^ Fixed Forgot to mention that Paul Simon’s “Ultimate Collection” and “Hypersonic Missiles” dropped out this week to make for Sleep Token and a re-entry for “OK Computer”.

Being told to get out (LEAVE) right now is JoJo and her rapping assistant Bow Wow. For both of them it was a 2nd Top 10 hit, reaching #8 in November 2004. JoJo was aged a mere 13 at the time, and Bow Bow 17. 10th: JoJo featuring Bow Wow - Baby It’s You 9/33 votes (27%)

Breaking free from the survivor are High School Musical. The series had a few hits across the first three films but this was the biggest, reaching #9 in September 2006. It features the main characters, played by Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens, realising they can pursue their dreams. 7th: Cast Of High School Musical - Breaking Free 8/31 votes (26%) 8th: George Michael - Freeek! 11/32 votes (34%) 9th: Geraldine - The Winner’s Song 13/30 votes (43%) 10th: Peter Andre - Insania 13/33 (39%)

Not as far as I’m aware. I did correct “Luther” down by a few k as it wasn’t making sense that it had fallen behind “Hot To Go”, but then I realised I’d made a mistake and given it too much in an earlier week.

I see myself as a right of centre libertarian but I tend to have nuanced views in all things and rarely see issues as black and white. I believe in government being a safety net but not controlling too much beyond that, and that people are at their best when they’re given freedom. I feel like the traditional left and right is almost going out of the window now - everything’s becoming much more about the somewheres vs the anywheres. While I’m very much an anywhere by background I recognise that this comes from my middle class privilege. I do think it’s important to listen to the somewheres more.

Well that was dramatic - we saw a considerable lead for Fall Out Boy come undone at the last minute, ending the possibility of an all Robbie final. Between 1997 and 2005 Robbie had a run of 21 straight Top 10 hits. He has also had 7 #4 peaking hits, of which this was the 6th in April 2003. 4th: Robbie Williams - Come Undone 12/32 votes (38%) 5th: Razorlight - Wire To Wire 21/31 votes (68%) 6th: Ordinary Boys - I Luv U 14/32 votes (44%) 7th: Abs - What You Got 12/31 votes (39%) 8th: N Dubz - I Need You 11/28 votes (39%) 9th: 50 Cent - Just A Lil’ Bit 10/31 votes (32%) 10th: Ronan Keating - I Hope You Dance 14/27 votes (52%)