Chez Wombat

I quite like Love Is All Around, I'd have hated it had I been around at the time I'm sure, but it's gradiose, epic sound is still quite striking and at least it's going big. Not a huge loss though. I do really like Stay Another Day though, would probably be in my top 10, I can't knock a band hailing from my neck of the woods anyway but that's a really tender and heartfelt ballad about a tragic loss and the harmonies and sleigh bells work really well, I like that it's become something of a Christmas classic that is not about Christmas at all, though I can see that a lot of it's lasting appeal these days is confined to the UK. I'm interested to see what comes out on top, 1994 wasn't a classic year for number 1s for me and most of my favourites are quite unlikely ones given my usual taste.

Still missing two sets of votes, I’m planning to prep this evening with results tomorrow, so I will still accept with a smaller deduction until then.

Don't Play Nice wasn't good, but it was at least naff in a memorable way which lifted it above some others which were just so nothing-y.

The Killing in the Name-The Climb battle was the first properly publicised chart battle I was following the charts for (I sadly was too young for the Battle of Britpop) and it's still one of my favourite chart memories. I downloaded it at the time and I was really rooting for it, especially at a time when X Factor just felt so full of itself and they released possibly the blandest winners song yet. I remember so clearly at the time I was watching the midweeks intensely and towards the end of the week, Rage felt like it was tapering off and reality would set in but then there was a late surge which bought some hope and hearing it announced was just amazing. I do think it's a real cultural moment of both the changing state of music consumption, a comment on how social media was becoming the ultimate influencer and also an affirmation that the charts could never be predicted forever, I know X Factor resumed as usual at the top of the charts next year, but it felt like a dent in Cowell's armour given he'd made a career of polluting the charts with rubbish. But I do like the song on it's own as well, I think it's original meaning still resonates a lot to this day and while I think most would associate it with this campaign, it's still aged really well. But I can understand that a number 1 is more appropriately for a 2009 song and Bad Romance is a fantastic pick, I think it's her magnum opus that will never be topped, it's got all the extravagance, drama, hooks and iconic aesthetics in one neat package and it still holds up amazingly today (Abracadabra called back to it brilliantly recently) I do still quite like Poker Face but it has been tainted by overplay and never fully recovered (same with I Gotta Feeling) and Just Dance and Sexy Bitch/Chick are quite distinctly of their time, but like most of the list, I can appreciate them in a time capsule way. Thank you for this Jim, the commentaries have been excellent and it's been great revisit a year that was really nostalgic to me, extremely pleased these will be continuing as well. My own top 10 for 2009 (roughly): La Roux - Bulletproof Rage Against The Machine - Killing in the Name Calvin Harris - I'm Not Alone Lady Gaga - Bad Romance Dizzee Rascal vs Armand Van Helden - Bonkers Lily Allen - The Fear David Guetta feat. Kelly Rowland - When Love Takes Over Black Eyed Peas - Boom Boom Pow Lady Gaga - Poker Face Cheryl - Fight For This Love

The comment on the Golders Green attack was...misjudged to say the least, that was easy bait for the media to jump on him, but I'm still hoping they can get a good result on Thursday as gosh, I need one party to have hope with.

Just over 24 hours left for the following (and I ask you what better way to spend your bank holiday than listening to an online song contest?) @Addy! @Bror @CowTzy @dhwe @Herbs @Roba. @Suedehead2 @seven. @TheSnake (and Severin if you're able to, but given the post above, no pressure x)

The Human League - (Keep Feeling) Fascination Heaven 17 - Temptation Fun Boy Three - Our Lips Are Sealed Bob Marley And The Wailers - Buffalo Soldier The Police - Every Breath You Take Yazoo, The Creatures and Tears For Fears just missing out

Congrats DaTilt! I did actually comment on the listenthrough that it sounded like it would do quite well, but I did not see it having that big a landslide so late in the game, very well done on a first time victory so soon into your time here. I didn't vote for this one, but it wasn't far off, a strong pop entry. Ooft, just one away from the unique position of 11th, the teasing x I won't sniff at a top 10 placing though (thanks to seven and dhwe for propping me up there in that last section there or I might have been much lower!), especially given I was only 12th in the semi, thank you all for voting, she was one of my favourite discoveries of last year so I'm pleased she dropped this one randomly so I can send an up to date entry, would highly recommend Switcheroo to those that made a good discovery out of this x Very pleased to see Model/Actriz 2nd, although would've loved to see it win (at least it wasn't close), and Ennea getting a first top 10 with their first time in the final is wonderful to see too with a great song, otherwise a lot of my votes were outside of the top 10 but pleased to see a few of my big pointers in the 11-20 section. A lot of that bottom section were really quite hard done by though, Deandria in particular and it was nice to rediscover Polo & Pan after it was in Club Bizarre a while back. Thanks Phil for the very speedy and efficient hosting!

While top 10 would be lovely, I'm actually hoping I can come 11th here as it would finally be a unique position after what feels like years x

Cinderella finished 4th a year ago, so I did sense this one from Model/Actriz may do well too. Not sure if it can hold on to win, but would be wonderful if so x Thank you to dandy & Doctor Blind for the generous scores <3

That second parrot was another time the new site's stupid PM system won't delete an image x Ooh 12th in the semi, that can taper my expectations for this!

Thank you all and especially Jade, Sabre and AllStar for the medals so far, nice start x Oh my at that start for Ennea

Well I've got to give support to My Happy Ending x 07 Girls Aloud - Wake Me Up 05 Britney Spears - My Prerogative 05 Rachel Stevens - More, More, More 10 Beyoncé - Crazy In Love (feat. Jay-Z) 08 Natasha Bedingfield - These Words 11 Avril Lavigne - My Happy Ending 05 Ashlee Simpson - Pieces Of Me 10 Sugababes - Freak Like Me 07 JoJo - Leave (Get Out) 06 The 411 - Dumb 06 Jennifer Lopez - Play 07 Ashanti - Only U 04 Christina Aguilera - What a Girl Wants 03 Christina Milian - Whatever U Want (feat. Joe Budden) 06 Nina Sky - Move Ya Body (feat. Jabba) 06 Dannii Minogue vs. Flower Power - You Won't Forget About Me 05 Verbalicious - Don't Play Nice 04 P!nk - Don't Let Me Get Me 04 Kim-Lian - Teenage Superstar 09 Anastacia - Left Outside Alone 04 Lucie Silvas - Breathe In 08 Kylie Minogue - Better the Devil You Know

Great top 3, It's a Sin would be very high up my own ranking too, wonderful sense of drama and turned out to gain a lot of new meaning over time. You Win Again is one of my favourites from the Bee Gees as well, great that they could still bring out a classic fairly late into their career. I do like 3rd and 4th as well - Whitney's one is overplayed, but it has a pretty undeniable sense of joy and Starship is one of those much maligned songs I've always quite liked, it's very quintessential cheesy 80s. Thanks for this Jester! I think my top 10 would look like this: MARRS - Pump Up The Volume Pet Shop Boys - It's a Sin Ben E King - Stand By Me Pet Shop Boys - Always On My Mind Bee Gees - You Win Again Madonna - La Isla Bonita Steve 'Silk' Hurley - Jack Your Body Starship - Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now T'Pau - China In Your Hand Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up (why not x)

Just hoping to not underperform as I always do when I'm hyped as a contender! Top 20 would be great seeing as I haven't made it yet this year x

That is a properly stacked cast there, as I suspected given how big the first one was, particularly looking forward to Miranda Hart (kind of intrigued to see how well she does in her natural persona), James Blunt, Joe Lycett and Michael Sheen.

Ooft, you're really going through my favourites now, Bulletproof and I'm Not Alone would be in my top 5, the former was a very refreshing sound in a year quite dominated by that club-dance pop sound, In For The Kill I can get is an acquired taste due to the vocals but Bulletproof is a winner, amazing synths and wonderful delivery throughout. I'm Not Alone really did help shape the sound of the time, not the least Chris Brown ripping it off as mentioned, as well as really open the door to Calvin the dance megastar. It was so huge at the time and it's still one of my favourites, great atmospheric build and his own vocals are indeed always the best. Bonkers was a highlight from Dizzee's elite era, before he went way too mainstream and generic with his next few, amazing production which works so well with Dizzee's flow, I saw him perform it live at the Summertime Ball (yeah I used to actually be interested in that x) and he absolutely stole the show.

Yeah, I think I'm going to extend, I've taken on some additional work recently which is eating into my time, I'll extend until Monday 4th May, and ideally I'll try and prep the day after and present results Wednesday. Sorry, this timing has turned out to not be the best for hosting!

08 \\ Jupiterdonia \\ Miynt - The Strangest Game 05 \\ Cumulonimbia \\ Arooj Aftab - Raat Ki Rani 01 \\ FARC \\ Mercy Girl - Heaven Sorry to N DNTN and Herbilore that almost got points but didn't, although it wouldn't have made a difference and FARC did in the end just sneak in and that didn't get through either sooo yeah!

Aww, Cumulonimbia also got points, another subtle beauty </3

Phew, thank you all, this final is still colourful x Some great qualifiers (and Model/Actriz from the other semi woop), though Jupiterdonia was my 8 pointer, definitely a case of being too subtle </3

Zutomayo was a real standout, thought it might be too subtle to go through but glad to see it!

Kenny Everett - Snot Rap* Bonnie Tyler - Total Eclipse Of The Heart Blancmange - Waves New Order - Blue Monday Michael Jackson - Beat It Kissing The Pink - Last Film Last Film was a really good discovery, Words and Let's Dance just missed out (forgive me old man etc.)

My big favourites from this year are still to come in the top 10 so great stuff, The Fear is a great start to the top 10, brilliantly incisive lyrics that have held up excellently and the production and desolate feel still sounds great. I do quite enjoy Fight For This Love, I got a bit annoyed with her at the time with the whole 'Nation's Sweetheart' thing, but that one does have a very catchy chorus and quite nice production. Her success was impressive, but not a lot of her songs have aged that well. When Love Takes Over was one of Guetta's best from around the time, I quite like both of his number 1s and the other one has held up pretty well, but this one does have a great euphoric chorus as well and I'm always up for a Coldplay rip-off x I didn't rate Run This Town much at the time, but it's held up very well, has a great menacing riff and powerful delivery throughout.

I have a horrible feeling I'll be a shock DNQ, but hopefully not x There were several songs I could've pointed in my semi that I couldn't, so I hope there wasn't too close a gap for the qualifiers.