Severin

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.

18th Gett Off Points 97 - Chartjack 2 (7) JulianT (18) dandy* (28) Bjork (17) Severin (21) Popchartfreak (5) Jimwatts (19) Artist - Prince and the New Power Generation Released - 1991 Album – Diamonds and Pearls UK Chart Peak - #4 6f4BwQFF-Os The lead off single from the album Diamonds and Pearls is probably the most explicit of all his hits and even now it can raise a few eyebrows to think this receive lots of mainstream airplay on radio and tv. It is another Prince track that pays homage to James Brown. The song was born from Prince playing around with a remix of Glam Slam and some of the words from Love Machine off the Graffiti Bridge album. It also borrowed some musical passages from the track Get Off. This new song was then titled Gett Off and became an exclusive single release to clubs. it was so well received that a proper release was granted and then it was added to the album in place of Horny Pony. The track also became the template for both Blue Light and Get Wild. The video version is notably different to the other releases.

19th 7 Points 95 - Chartjack 2 (26) JulianT (18) HausofKubrick (16) dandy* (16) Bjork (7) Severin (6) Popchartfreak (6) Artist - Prince and the New Power Generation Released - 1992 Album – LoveSymbol UK Chart Peak - #27 9V-vcXOpG9g The first song to receive points from seven voters is this, the 3rd single from the LoveSymbol album. The 7 of the title refers to the seven assassins from the Three Chains of Gold film but intentionally refers to several other interpretations - the seven deadly sins, the sevennames of God and the seven Archons who built the universe. Meanwhile, the lyrics hint at Eastern mysticism and reincarnation. Musically the song harks back to his Psychedelic Pop of Around the World in a Day but fused with the New Power Generations Funk/Hip Hop stylings.

Ah fair enough. Probably just the circles I moved in then. I remember Paula Cole as a song I'd occasionally hear on the radio but the Placebo one was played a lot on evening radio, tv and the pubs/clubs I went to

Quite a bunch there I'm familiar with but thankfully fair few I'm not. I'm surprised Placebo got in though. Not only was it originally from '95, although admittedly re-recorded, but it was a bigger hit than Paula Cole's That said I'm not complaining as it's my favourite of theirs.

20th The Cross Points 84 - Jimwatts (28) King Rollo (21) Severin (14) JulianT (9) HausofKubrick (9) dandy* (3) Artist - Prince Released - 1987 Album – Sign O' The Times UK Chart Peak - DNC _REFPbBnGJk The final wildcard comes in at 20th and it's one of the absolute standout tracks from what is most often acclaimed as his best album - Sign O' the Times. The song is Prince's ode to Jesus and was one of the songs created originally for the Crystal Ball album. It was retained as the album was pared back to a double rather than triple disc set. When Prince converted to becoming a Jehovah's Witness he changed both the lyrics and the title. Now named The Christ because JW's do not believe that Christ died on a two beamed cross but a single stake. This re-titling was controversial among fans.

Valtteri Bottas has signed for Mercedes as their reserve driver.

Hadjar gave some very cryptic replies in a press conference in Qatar I think it was. Pretty much gave the game away.

What did you get for Christmas, Liam? 'Six months in a Red Bull...'

I was so pleased when you picked that as your wildcard. Would have been my choice too