Severin

3rd Sign o' the Times Points 206 - Jimwatts (30) Popchartfreak (29) Chartjack2 (29) King Rollo (28) Severin (26) Bjork (23) dandy* (21) HausofKubrick (14)Julian T (6) Artist – Prince Released – 1987 Album - Sign o' the Times UK Chart peak - #10 8EdxM72EZ94 This picked up votes from everybody once again, including a full maximum from Jimwatts, making it look like a serious contender at the beginning and it beat many more well known hits of his, but lukewarm scores from HausofKubrick and JulianT meant it stalled at number 3. The title track from his 1987 album was Prince at his most overtly political. The song is something of a 'state of the nation' address as he shines a spotlight on America's social and political issues, taking in AIDS, poverty, drugs, gang violence and more, all over a minimal beat that allows the words to be front and centre. Prince doesn't offer any solutions merely giving the listener food for thought. The song is regularly listed among the best of his work and has been listed as among the greatest and most important songs of all time by some - including Rolling Stone and The Rock N Roll Hall of Fame. The video for the track is equally minimalistic, consisting of the words playing out of digital images. One of the earliest examples of a 'lyric video'

Jacko? Chuck Berry? Or are we including Elvis?

On iplayer Be aware, it's a 4 hour+ story edited down to 90 mins. It's a great story but the edit is pretty good with some jarring music and iffy editing

I'll file this one under 'generally approved'. I didn't love it and I did find my attention wandering in the third act but there was nothing particularly bad in there. It's a Christmas episode so I expected the usual lightwight guff and it had plenty of that. Gatwa was good, the supporting characters of Trev and Anita both shone in their moments. Joy was ok but had less presence than either of the two I just mentioned, although her angry outbust was well done. As was The Doctor's poking her and his 'guilt' afterwards. The villain, whilst potentially an interesting one (and one we could see again in more depth), was basically an afterthought. Moffat's writing was on point and not too complex that casual watchers would be confused. I understand why he chose to have The Doctor miss Ruby but it didn't feel earned. She's at home with her mum and he can visit whenever he likes. It's not like she died or get lost in a parallel universe. Seemed far too mopey from The Doctor and a character mis-step. Shoe-horned in to fit the story. Also, The Doctor saying he's not used to living one day after the other does forget very large periods of his life (76 Totters Lane, 3rd Doctor, Trenzalore etc) but it's vague enough to get a pass. It fell apart in the ending which seemed far too easy a resolution and ramped the cheese factor up to eleven. Massive improvement on last year's special and among the least weak of Gatwa's tenure as 15 so far, but not really the kind of episode that's ever going to bowl me over..

Leaving us with just three to reveal after Christmas. I have to say when I first had a conversation with friends about what was his best/most popular song, whilst there was some deviation in the top answer, these three remaining songs where the ones we all agreed were his best and it seems the site agrees too. But which will come out on top?

4th Little Red Corvette Points 191 - King Rollo (16) HausofKubrick (24) Jimwatts (25) Popchartfreak (17) JulianT (28) Severin (24) Chartjack2 (25) dandy* (27) Bjork (5) Artist – Prince Released – 1983 Album - 1999 UK Chart peak - #2 v0KpfrJE4zw Scores from everybody once again. The 2nd single from 1999, was a minor hit in 1983 and later re-issued in 1985 as a double A with the title track where it reached a UK peak of #2, held off the top by Foreigner’s I Want to Know What Love Is. The songs uses car and horse related metaphors to describe a one night stand with a woman.

=5th Kiss Points 183 - King Rollo (19) HausofKubrick (19) Jimwatts (23) Popchartfreak (21) JulianT (21) Severin (25) Chartjack2 (20) dandy* (8) Bjork (27) Artist - Prince and the Revolution Released - 1986 Album – Parade UK Chart Peak - #6 H9tEvfIsDyo Scores from everybody once again. Perhaps the best song Prince ever gave away. This song's acoustice demo was given to the band Mazarati who promptly ditched Prince's arrangement and produced a stripped back funky beat and sparse backing vocals. When Prince heard what they and producer David Z had done with the track he promptly took it back and finished the song, retaining the basis that they had created. He didn't give them a writing credit which upset the band. Warner Brothers took some convincing but eventually acquiesced to include the song on the album Parade. It gave Prince another international hit and US #1

=5th 1999 Points 183 - King Rollo (26) HausofKubrick (25) Jimwatts (24) Popchartfreak (22) JulianT (22) Severin (22) Chartjack2 (19) dandy* (12) Bjork (11) Artist - Prince Released - 1982 Album – 1999 UK Chart Peak - #2 rblt2EtFfC4 Scores from everybody once again. The title track from Prince’s 5th solo album and something of a signature tune that originally performed modestly in the US and UK charts in 1983, peaking at #44 and #25 respectively. A January 1985 re-release would see it hit #2 in the UK eventually. The song’s lyrics take inspiration from a documentary about the prediction by Nostradmus of a ‘Great Terror’ that would come from the sky to destroy the world in 1999. Prince felt that the world would throw one hell of a party before the coming apocalypse. The day after discussing the programme with his band he arrived at the song studio with the song finished. Lead vocals are shared by Prince, Dez Dickerson, Jill Jones and Lisa Coleman, the latter three being members of his still uncredited backing band The Revolution.

I'm full of surprises :D

With one final tie causing there to be six songs in the top five, I'll pause here. I was hoping to get this finished before Christmas but will have to finish this off, likely the day after Boxing Day, as I'm visiting family now and should probably stop ignoring them! I expect most of you will be busy soon anyway. We can just pretend it is some sort of attempt at building suspense. Your final six are - Kiss Little Red Corvette Purple Rain Sing o' the Times When Doves Cry 1999 Only one of the six didn't gain marks from everyone and all of the Top 10 come from his golden era of 1982-87

7th Raspberry Beret Points 180 - HausofKubrick (27) Jimwatts (26) dandy* (25) Severin (23) Chartjack2 (21) King Rollo (20) Popchartfreak (20) JulianT (10) Bjork (8) Artist - Prince and the Revolution Released - 1985 Album – Around the World in a Day UK Chart Peak - #25 l7vRSu_wsNc Scores from everybody once again. The opening single from Around the World in a Day was first committed to demo back in 1982 and pulled out for the follow up to the mega selling Purple Rain. It is perhaps Prince's finest pure Pop song embelished with light strings and a Psychedelic flourish. The video features the screen debut of actress Jackie Swanson of Cheers fame. Former Germs and future Nirvana and Foo Fighters guitarist Pat Smear featured in the video as one of the dancers although he apparently found it very difficult to match the synchronised moves and was nearly fired. He keep his job because Prince liked his hair. Perhaps because Prince himself was having a bad time with his own hair recently, having bleached it blonde causing it to become brittle, he had switched back to black and according to the stylist Earl Jones, 'it was all I could do with it'

8th Let's Go Crazy Points 165 - King Rollo (30) Severin (28) Popchartfreak (26) dandy* (20) Chartjack2 (18) HausofKubrick (18) Jimwatts (13) JulianT (13) Bjork (10) Artist - Prince and the Revolution Released - 1984 Album – Purple Rain UK Chart Peak - #7 aXJhDltzYVQ Prince's second US #1 and the opening track to the film and album Purple Rain. Released as a Double A side with Take Me With U in the UK Lyrically typical of Prince's work it is a exhortation to follow a Christian lifestyle and reject temptations. The 'De-Elevator' of the lyrics is meant to represent the Devil. Musically it is a fine example of his fusion of Rock, Pop and Funk, perhaps his finest ever. A live staple for years it is one of his most popular songs and here becomes the first to receive votes from all particpants, including the big 30 points from King Rollo.

9th Take Me With U Points 133 - King Rollo (25) Popchartfreak (24) Chartjack2 (24) HausofKubrick (18) Severin (17) Jimwatts (12) JulianT (13) Artist - Prince and the Revolution Released - 1985 Album – Purple Rain UK Chart Peak - #7 HHmrJv4e6pE The final single from Purple Rain took Prince back into the UK Top 10 after Baby I'm a Star had stalled outside even the Top 40. The sing is a duet between Prince and Apollonia Kotero, although it was originally intended to be sung by Vanity. However, she left the project after being signed by Motown and ending her relationship with Prince. After this is was marked for inclusion on thr Apollonia 6 album but subsequently switched over tho the Purple Rain soundtrack. I was a little surprised to find this in the Top 10 but it appears to have broad appeal and score decent marks from 7/9 voters. Only dandy* and Bjork left this one out of their scores.

10th U Got the Look Points 128 - Severin (30) Bjork (29) Popchartfreak (23) Chartjack2 (22) Jimwatts (20) King Rollo (2) dandy* (2) Artist - Prince Released - 1987 Album – Sign o' the Times UK Chart Peak - #11 _jCuroTbqBI Into the top 10 now but still yet to receive votes from everyone. Here we have te second single from Sign o' the Times - an uncredited Sheena Easton provides the female vocals as her and Prince (this time as Camille) face off over the 'world series of love'. The song reached #2 in the US and just only just missed the UK top 10, so it goes one better here! This is my personal favourite Prince track, the first single of his I bought when it came out and one I will never tire of hearing. Therefore, it is the second song to be revealed that received top marks from anyone. I'm glad it made the top 10 even if I hoped it would land a few places higher.

I quickly learnt that to be untrue. In fact I still have my CD of Darklands by The Jesus & Mary Chain that I bought in '87. It quckly began to start skipping during Cherry Came Too and still does to this day (or at least the last time I tried it) I maintained a dual policy for years because not everything came out on CD back then, especially all the Indie chart stuff I was buying, so a second copy of Lovesexy (and it was a second hand shop favourite for a while) was an easy option. Anasthasia was my skip to track though.

Yeah that was particularly annoying. I bought the vinyl as well to make life easier

+20 Fairytale Of New York - The Pogues Featuring Kirsty MacColl (1987) +19 Sunshine Superman - Donovan (1966) +18 She Loves You - The Beatles (1963) +17 Hallelujah - Jeff Buckley (2008) +16 I Believe In Father Christmas - Greg Lake (1975) +15 When I’m Dead And Gone - McGuiness Flint (1970) +14 Jeepster - T. Rex (1971) +13 Build Me Up Buttercup - The Foundations (1968) +12 Under The Moon Of Love - Showaddywaddy (1976) +11 Rock Around The Clock - Bill Haley And His Comets (1955) +10 Christmas Time (Don’t Let The Bells End) - The Darkness (2003) +09 Y.M.C.A. - The Village People (1978) +08 (Just Like) Starting Over - John Lennon (1980) +07 JCB Song - Nizlopi (2005) +06 Patience - Take That (2006) +05 My Oh My - Slade (1983) +04 Caravan Of Love - The Housemartins (1986) +03 Hoots Mon - Lord Rockingham’s XI (1958) +02 Human - Rag’n’Bone Man (2016) +01 Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love To Town - Kenny Rogers And The First Edition (1969)

Well spotted. I have corrected this now.

11th Diamond and Pearls Points 119 - HausofKubrick (22) dandy* (22) Chartjack2 (15) JulianT (15) Bjork (14) Popchartfreak (13) King Rollo (13) Jimwatts (3) Artist - Prince and the New Power Generation Released - 1991 Album – Diamonds and Pearls UK Chart Peak - #25 hwUKR_9Xdns This, the title track from his 1991 album received marks from all but one voter (Me, sorry) and is probably one of his most well known of his '90s output. The female vocals are shared with Rosie Gaines arguably steal the show, some what slightly sidelining Prince - no mean feat. Structurally it is an uplifting Soul Pop ballad that build to a Rock ending. The main lyric hints back to a track from his 1983 album 1999 - International Lover - where Prince states 'I'll buy you diamonds and pearls only if you're good girl'

12th The Most Beautiful Girl in the World Points 110 - HausofKubrick (29) Bjork (25) Jimwatts (17) Chartjack2 (14) Popchartfreak (13) King Rollo (7) dandy* (5) Artist - Prince Released - 1994 Album – The Gold Experience UK Chart Peak - #1 FuXbKLiW1UI In 1994 Prince released this expertly crafted slice of Soul Pop on his NPG label - granted permission by Warner's to do so on the condition it was a one off whilst he was under contract. The song is a straightforward declaration of admiration to future wife Mayte and would be slightly remixed before its inclusion on the parent album. It became his only UK #1 and an international smash hit, in large part to a very strong marketing campaign, premiering at Miss World USA and with a large printed and visual media blitz. It remains one of his most enduringly popular songs on radio and a perennial favourite around Valentine's Day. It scored big marks here, taking points from 7 of 9 voters, with HausofKubrick giving it almost full marks, proving that it remains one of his most popular songs. Naturally, I hate it.

13th Alphabet Street Points 109 - Bjork (19) Jimwatts (21) Popchartfreak (27) Severin (18) King Rollo (11) Chartjack2 (13) Artist - Prince Released - 1987 Album – Lovesexy UK Chart Peak - #9 vP1kZLGG5gw The sound of 1987 writ large. Alphabet Street was the lead off single from Lovesexy and the first official release after the infamous Black Album debacle. Prince had decided the album was cursed by 'Spooky Electric', yet another persona he had created but apparently this one was a negative and 'evil' presence. The album was scrapped and instead we got Lovesexy, a much more positive and uplifting record. The Black Album itself wasn't actually all that great so this was probably the right move. There are several subliminal messages throughout the song's video, which was produced at short notice and for a very low budget. The first message states 'Don't buy the Black Album, I'm sorry; and appears 27 seconds in to the promo clip. The album version is much longer an features a rap from percussionist Cat before evolving into an extended Funk workkout

14th I Would Die 4 U Points 108 - HausofKubrick (28) Bjork (24) Jimwatts (15) dandy* (14) Popchartfreak (11) King Rollo (9) JulianT (7) Artist - Prince and the Revolution Released - 1984 Album – Purple Rain UK Chart Peak - #58 x5AwwU4nBCY AKA the single from Purple Rain that no-one bought. Possibly its November 1984 release date didn't help as it got lost in a stacked Christmas market or perhaps as the fourth single from an album everyone owned by now, though that didn't harm the follow up single Take Me With U. One of the six tracks on the album to feature the full band, it was recorded at a live show in Minneapolis in August 1983, with overdubs added in the studio later. Normally coupled with Baby I'm a Star, the single version does seem somewhat brief and ends rather abruptly. For me this is definitely one track that has performed better than I expected.

15th Gold Points 106 - dandy* (29) JulianT (27) Chartjack2 (23) Jimwatts (16) HausofKubrick (8) Popchartfreak (2) King Rollo (1) Artist - Prince Released - 1995 Album – The Gold Experience UK Chart Peak - #10 7IQE62Vn4_U According to Prince this was the new Purple Rain, in other words a stadium anthem that would be a highlight of his later live shows. The reality was a little different. The song flopped big time in the US limping in at #88 and remaining in the Billboard Hot 100 for a glorious two weeks. In the UK though it went Top 10 and was given glowing reviews. Not for it's creativity or any sense of breaking new ground, but because it was recognised as a very well crafted 7 minute Pop song that builds to a rousing crescendo, and for its optimism and hopeful mood. The song would be Prince's last UK Top 10 single. Here it scores well in genreal but gains a big boost through three high scores, particularly those from dandy* and JulianT

=16th Thieves in the Temple Points 98 - JulianT (26) Popchartfreak (25) dandy* (23) HausofKubrick (11) Bjork (9) Chartjack2 (4) Artist - Prince Released - 1990 Album – Graffiti Bridge UK Chart Peak - #7 FyfF20APPrA The 1st single from the Graffiti Bridge soundtrack is another that is considered among the best of his '90s output. Lyrically the song deals with themes of spirituality that are ever present in his work but musically is where the song shines. The syncopated drum patterns and steady build of the various musical layers help elevate the song. The extended 12" mix is also well worth checking out.

=16th Money Don't Matter 2 Night Points 98 - Bjork (26) King Rollo (24) dandy* (19) Severin (19) HausofKubrick (10) Artist - Prince and the New Power Generation Released - 1992 Album – Diamonds and Pearls UK Chart Peak - #19 d_ZoU_5t5SI The 4th single from Diamonds and Pearls is widely regarded as one of the album's highlights and among Prince's best work from the '90s. A song with a straight, unaffected vocal from Prince, that concerns itself with matters of poverty and social injustice. It was accompanied by a Spike Lee directed video that was considered overly political and not airplay friendly. Subsequently a second video was released that focused on band shots but the delay likely held the song back somewhat.