Chez Wombat

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!

Fugitive of the Judoon - So I was so happy to have an episode I properly enjoyed from this era for once, however a lot of it rests on mystery and intrigue for the timeless child arc which turned out to be...rubbish, so in retrospect I don't know if it holds up as well, but I do give credit that this is easily the best threat, intrigue and build-up in the series, I particualrly love the Lighthouse scenes, some beautiful shots there. Flatline - Close between this and Mummy... but this just takes it for my favourite of S8, I think the threat is really well done and creepy and it allows for Clara to show some autonomy. Boom - Having Moffat back after so long was quite refreshing, this had a great concept and I think initially really builds up that brilliant sense of suspense and testing the Doctor and Ruby, he still got a bit caught up in himself with the conclusion though, the parent power bit was sickly x Oxygen - Classic Doctor Who space horror episode that works really well and ends with real consequences for the Doctor, haven't revisited it in a while but its one of the best of the season. The Power of the Doctor - This special was a total mess with just about everything thrown at the wall and not everything sticking, yet it felt appropriate for Chibnall and I do respect that he knew what his strengths were after the Timeless Child disaster. It's a lot of fun, the Master dancing to Rasputin with the Dalek and Cyberman looking at each other in disbelief is iconic, the multiple Doctors and the companions support group at the end is a great touch and the regeneration scene honestly made me quite sad that Jodie didn't get better writing as it was really well done, a grand old mess x (original companion William Russell as Ian showing up aged 97 is absolutely amazing too, was his last appearance before his death </3) The Pandorica Opens/The Big Bang - This was...a lot but I did enjoy the scope and did set the tone for the timey wimey arc that was to come, it definitely felt like the new showrunner had arrived. Dark Water/Death in Heaven - Love the first part, Missy is brilliant, sadly second part doesn't really deliver for me, the threat just really dissipates and the graveyard scene goes on and on, I never liked Danny Pink either so him having such a big part made me lose interest. Village of the Angels - The best part of Flux and one I thought could've been even better if not part of that mess. It was really refreshing having the angels back, and they are still really terrifying. I did like the story of the missing girl too, they all added up to give a really effective psychological horror, and a very intriguing cliffhanger, just a shame it was completely undone next episode! Extremis - I think the monks three parter being such a let down has dulled this one and made me blank it from my memory a bit, I do need to revisit it as I do think the monks were really scary at first and it certainly set things up well. Gridlock - I for one am pleased to see this so high up, I think it's a really great and more thorough exploration of the characters and features of New Earth than was done before, it's social commentary has held up well. 73 Yards - Unquestionably the best of Gatwa's era, as a psychological study of one's greatest fears coming true and taking over your life, it's incredibly powerful, the gradual isolation of Ruby and her having no idea why with even her own mother regarding her with total contempt is chilling, and how she learns to live with it adds a surprisingly hopeful touch, I did find the politician plot at the end a bit silly for such a hard-hitting episode and a lot of it seems to hinge on the mystery of Ruby which turned out to be nothing, but as a stand-alone somewhat metaphorical experience, it's amazing, Calum shush xx Face The Raven - The heartbreaking conclusion of this was somewhat robbed by that convoluted conclusion to Hell Bent, but still really good. I love the gothic aesthetic and the build-up to that moment is great. The Day of the Doctor - Aww, this'd be in my top 10, I love everything about this - I think it got the tone just right, Tennant and Smith obviously have brilliant chemistry, John Hurt was an amazing choice for the War Doctor and there's so many chills moments like Tom Baker's cameo and the TARDIS moment, and it's cool they went with a less obvious choice of villain. A mix of fun sci-fi and timey wimey stuff which works well, as a long-time fan, it was everything I loved about the show. The Well - The correct top 2 for Gatwa's era, though I'd have them the other way round. The Midnight creature is still absolutely chilling and I love that it had it get away again, the mind games on the crew and the use of Rose Ayling-Ellis' character was great, I don't think it necessarily needed to exist, but it's one of those rare cases where more of the same isn't too bad. The Impossible Planet/The Satan Pit - The original Doctor Who space horror and one of the earliest episodes I remember loving, the Ood are terrifying when corrupted and the tension is built really slowly and I agree that the characters are really developed so you're quite sad to see them go, rather than the total cannon fodder we sometimes get. I think the devil is still very scary too and the conversation tense, this one really set the standard for future space episodes and I can see why.