Chez Wombat

Well done Scene! Great to see a new winner and with a song I voted for albeit just about, was a great song to revisit and First Aid Kit are a wonderful group that deserved to win all those years ago with Emmylou so it's nice to see them get that long awaited one. Oops that was not the best end for me and 37th isn't even a unique position, aww x Seems I got extremely lucky with that semi draw, but of course, a song this experimental just being in the final is an achievement, whether it enchanted or traumatised you, you are very welcome x Great to see Spodic Empire, Dalisska and Eledan make the top 10 (hooray for one ambient experimental track managing it!), I wouldn't have called that for most of them. Decent positions for a lot of my votes, but Cumulonimbia second last is definitely not cool (glad I at least got it through the semi oops x) Thanks Dan for a brilliant hosting job as always x

Niche fans come through *.

Last for Baleghde the honour x

DAVID BORING would be a hell of a winner x (though Cheiron would be a nice one too, I already knew it well but it would be justice for Emmylou x)

Aw, I really like Singin' In The Rain, certainly looks out of place these days if you didn't know the context at the time, but a real indicator of how powerful downloads (and reality TV) had become that songs could just be resurrected without the need for a formal re-release (Also, George Sampson's 32 now, if anyone wants to feel old x)

That's a way to get off 0 for sure! Thanks so much to Dobbo and Mack (and the further points since!) <3 My predictions were a bit all over the place (AI slop aside x), hoping to land somewhere resembling a happy medium x

There are a few names I did consider here, but thought they might be disallowed for being not pop enough, very pleased to see them here as though I do love their well known stuff, it'd be cool to explore a bit further x

I'm pleased to confirm that following applications your new Lounge Mods are matto and Jack! Many congrats and welcome (back in the former's case) to the team! 🥳

Haha, that was the one I was referring to! I just remember some people liked it for some reason x Alexandra was a good singer and her back catalogue suffered a bit from generic material (and, as it turns out, subtle racism :/) but I really do detest that version of Hallelujah, it offends me more than the other winners singles as the originals weren't all that anyway so there wasn't much to ruin, but Hallelujah is one of the most distinctive, complex songs of all time and to just turn it into a generic winners story with a key change is sacrilege. The one good thing about it is it got Jeff Buckley's beautiful version a higher peak and a distinctive Christmas chart battle in the download era. I grew up with Shrek so I also like Rufus Wainwright's version

The way I was considering entering but had to think about it and then they all filled out within 24 hours No worries, I'm still not certain of an artist I could try, I'll try to follow from the sidelines x

Blancmange - Living On The Ceiling Clannad - Theme From 'Harry's Game' Duran Duran - Rio A Flock Of Seagulls - Wishing (If I Had A Photograph Of You) Whitesnake - Here I Go Again I love Our House and A Winter's Tale but I do want to shout out Clannad and Flock of Seagulls for being really good discoveries. Tiebreak: Tears For Fears - Mad World

2008 was a bit of a transitional year for me, I was still at school and still listening to the charts, though musically, I really tired of a lot of 2008's hits due to them constantly being on the radio, was perhaps the year where I started to gain more of a liking for the smaller hits and those just outside the mainstream. I didn't mind All Summer Long at the time, but it was always quite a random hit, I guess he was on the fringes of success before and this one succeeded due to the time of year and being so radio-friendly and at the right time of year. I don't listen to it these days, it relies way too heavily on the samples which highlights how little he can give himself. Not to mention a pretty awful person these days x The X Factor charity covers were the nadir of Reality TV domination, was Cowell shamelessly flexing and adding a charity element to be extra manipulative. All of them are awful, although in this case, the original Hero wasn't that good anyway. The only redeeming thing is realising I have the ability to remember and name all the contestants singing in them as it was pretty much household TV at that time so remember it very well x There is one song I here I particularly despise, I hope it's not too much higher for you x

We'll send out some complimentary ear defenders to those that want them x (I don't know if my song's the one being referred to, but it definitely traumatised a few anonymous people at the listenthrough, I've never been more honoured *.*) (Also voted, SF2 had some wonderful stuff x)

Addison Rae - Headphones On (Though I am equally fine with Aquamarine) Lily Allen - Ruminating CMAT - Euro Country

A real shame to see Jump Around just miss out, a hip hop classic and could've made it had I given it a few more points x The Pretender is also a great Foo Fighters song. Great to see the vast majority of my favourites make it through, wasn't certain my 30 would without my help!