Chez Wombat

Some great shouts in that section, I did at first think Sky Full of Stars was a bit too sellout-y, especially coming after the incredible Midnight, but the sheer euphoria of it all has wormed it's way into my affections like most of their songs. Blank Space, Crying For No Reason and Let It Go also all amongst my favourite pop hits at the time, Frozen contributed to my Postgrad dissertation so it always brings back memories of that x From what I remember is still to come, this almost exactly mirrors my favourites so take me falling behind as a compliment! I think my favourite to drop out is Ghost, she's become a bit more of an anonymous dance vocalist since then, but her debut era was way better than someone that didn't make the X Factor finals had any right to be.

Seems I'm eligible for the household energy payment...I mean I'm grateful and it's a nice thing to do, but prices are just ridiculous here that I'm pretty sure it'll be a drop in the ocean of what I have to pay for winter overall. Not a bad budget, some good things like getting rid of the standing price on gas, but feels a bit minimal and not really got a whole lot to shout about, I do appreciate they're prioritising help rather than the doom and gloom message we got last time.

If I were green, I would die I have a potential AQ here so I could sound something very out there as I have with my last few, but think I'll just stick with what I have as I don't want to let this go unsent (and I've gotta get nearer that Q record!). It's fitting for the current season x (it's got less than 1000 views on YouTube so assuming it's still quite under the radar, but it does sound like the sort of thing that at least someone on here would've spotted and want to send so...hopefully not x)

A shame that Wildwood couldn't have done better, I guess it's marketed a bit darkly for a kids film, I just saw it today and the animation is absolutely breathtakingly gorgeous and if there's any film to see just to support the hard work and craft of these animators, it's that one. Interested to see how Primetime does, Robert Pattinson could well be on course for a third smash in a row in one year.

Prince And The Revolution - Raspberry Beret Kate Bush - Running Up That Hill Bonnie Tyler - Holding Out For A Hero Huey Lewis And The News - The Power Of Love Jennifer Rush - The Power Of Love Can't ignore the opportunity for two songs of the same title in my votes x (Red Box, Midge Ure, Colonel Abrams and Billy Idol also close) Tiebreak: Both on about the same level, but going with Trans-X - Living On Video as the slightly more inspired one

I may or may not try my swapped entry elsewhere so maybe not x

Yeah, knew that would happen, not a great round for my favourites </3 I don't blame them though as apart from maybe Fontaines, this would've been a pretty round to pick. The Females will definitely be more competitive in the Gamu round, but Kate's certainly got a song that'll give her a headstart on that hill (and that's that for all my puns you'll be glad to hear x)

Oh no, that's my 2nd place going out two rounds in a row </3 (I don't think the women's will be the same, although I worry for my first place choice), this wasn't particularly standout at all and was the beneficiary of a poor category, but wasn't anywhere near as bad as everyone was making it out to be. Not that it means much, I will eat my hat if he isn't the solo male pick to return (even if the AF artist choices aren't allowed, he has a surefire solo winner that's been sitting alone for some time)

Oh that is definitely the wrong way round for that last two x I really liked that one from Depeche Mode, I thought New Order would be more at risk if anything. Still, their mentor has been quite conservative with their choices so far so hopefully now one of the big ones can come and they won't be silent for long x

30; Weeknd - Blinding Lights 29; Jessie Ware - What's Your Pleasure 28; Miley Cyrus - Midnight Sky 27; Phoebe Bridgers - I Know the End 26; London Grammar - Baby It's You 25; Taylor Swift & Bon Iver – Exile 24; Camelphat (feat. LOWES) - Easier 23; Dua Lipa - Physical 22; Chappell Roan - Pink Pony Club 21; Haim - The Steps 20; Taylor Swift - Cardigan 19; Weeknd - In Your Eyes 18; Doja Cat - Say So 17; Dua Lipa - Levitating (Original / DaBaby Remix) 16; Taylor Swift - Willow 15; Royal Blood - Trouble's Coming 14; aamourocean - Parmi les Mortels 13; Billie Eilish – No Time To Die 12; Eric Prydz - NOPUS 11; Everything Everything - Violent Sun 10; Billie Eilish - Therefore I Am 09; Bring Me The Horizon - Parasite Eve 08; Miley Cyrus - Angels Like You 07; Nora En Pure - Wetlands 06; Roddy Ricch - The Box 05; Fontaines D.C. - A Lucid Dream 04; Cardi B (feat. Megan Thee Stallion) - WAP 03; Dua Lipa - Break My Heart 02; Harry Styles - Watermelon Sugar 01; My Marianne & Will Ferrell - Husavik

I echo this, didn't know he had complex lyricism like that in him x Makes up for the rest of the category

Yeah, C definitely, males and groups may as well not bother otherwise x

ABC x easy as 123

It's in the album chart currently and in the YTD! You're all the problem, not me xx

Ooh I do love a horror mystery, whatever this entails x Joe McElderry being in a Halloween spin-off was...not what I expected! Lingua Ignota and Diamanda Galas though are great choices based on what I know from them, I'm also familiar with the Siouxsie song, they were actually sent way back in the edition that I hosted with a song literally titled Halloween! I got my entry through hearing it in the end credits of Backrooms and that led me to their excellent album Inferno, everyone stream it x

Banishing Ross really was a gift for the Traitors, he would've absolutely sussed them out but Jerry's chaotic nature makes her completely miss it and an easy target, and they somehow even managed to avoid detection after they choked on that task. They look pretty strong unless they start thinking about who else was in the room with Ross and Jerry which they still could. James being such a wuss on that task though, hope they sacrifice him before the final as comeuppance x

Oh FFS, I had Red down but thought Gold was higher on the EOY, sod this xx

Blast, 2 and 3 were questions I was unsure of as I knew they'd be recent and can't keep up with ACR/Physicals, at least the former went well, I avoid FCP threads when Kylie's got a release out so blame that x

An actual accountant doing BJSC Love the stats, glad to see my loyalty to Semi 2 was repaid nicely x (and wow, I think that's one of my biggest ever semi wins! It was a perfect draw for this though)

(Assuming this is all correct and I don't have to retract this once Bre has checked the scoreboard) It seems with that recent post about song contest finishes and me realising my overall second places and wins were starting to equal up, balance had to be restored somehow x Nonetheless, I of course cannot complain at 2nd place even with that frustrating margin (my other runners up weren't especially close iirc), I did figure this one had potential to have wider appeal and it had minor 6Music/real world exposure so not exactly my most inspired hit, but I'm not sure I quite saw it going as high as 2nd. Thank you very much to all who voted, I was following them earlier in the year but I'm very glad I waited until now to send them as this is easily my favourite they've done, I would also highly recommend their self-titled album if you like Prodigy/Underworld style 90s rave throwbacks x And the outcome is actually much more inspired as that's a properly curveball and unexpected winner that I like to see, congrats Freeze! I never knew about the subject matter and it was a very standout and interesting song even though the strength of the final means it didn't make my votes, I must give it another listen. Such a shame the Eledan/Pestolia top 2 fell back a bit, but great positions for them both, two very big favourites, Herbilore was also in my commiserations so great to see that get them a first top 10. Many thanks for hosting, blacksquare, the music, discussion and wonderful artwork from everyone has made this a wonderful contest to follow, my favourite in a while <3

shajdgwiwgdjwjw that was always going to happen wasn't it xx

Well, no unique position then, but am I about to rage... edit: oh shit x

11th for Eledan after being first for almost half the reveal, oops </3 hopefully you haven't pulled similar trickery with me x (I'm not 100% on everyone still to vote, but not convinced it will favour me much)

Aw Ennea must've dropped a bit from the start, glad it's just about top 20 but deserved better. Same with Pagasa x We seriously need to stop doing New Helvetica's entries dirty, that's another fantastic one confined to the 30s </3 I definitely expected POPHub to do better than that as well.

how spooky!