NAIL-BITING FINISH FOR GRUPO DEL MUERTE

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

The group of death will claim two victims tomorrow but we're no closer to knowing which two, after all the first four games ended in entertaining draws, leaving the group deadlocked. Serbia and Montenegro will feel aggrieved this morning after coming within 5 minutes of booking a place in the second round, before Argentina struck to equalise in injury time against the run of play. In the other group C game the Ivory Coast and Holland played out a thriller, with the Europeans' dominating the first half through their direct tactics, and the African team coming back after the break with some scintillating passing moves. Neither side will feel able to complain about the scoreline and all four teams have everything to play for in the final group games.

Despite rescheduled matches and initial difficulties with the Ivory Coast ticket allocation, this group has been marked by the passionate support each team has enjoyed - whoever is on the early flights home tomorrow it's fair to say they will leave some disappointed fans behind them.

(In other words: one day of voting left in the Pop World Cup Group C - all votes must be in by midnight tonight. And believe me, your votes WILL count, with fewer than 20 points separating the four teams as it stands.)

And calling dubdobdee, martinskidmore, thebopkids and "Victor" - your MP3s and team talks or a link thereof to freakytrigger@gmail.com by Tuesday midnight.

The History Of Pop Part 21 aka It's a fine day, people open windows

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

More 'heartbreak' for Drummond and Cauty as for the second Now Poll in a row they lose out by a single vote, this time to 2 Unlimited's "Get Ready For This", whose 1-point advantage also saw off the Pet Shop Boys and Salt N Pepa in an absurdly close contest. Only one person picked Ver Limited as their actual favourite, and there was a broad spread of worsts, with Python, MacLean and "Dizzy" all getting much dissing as well as a healthy level of actual-poll support.

Pop fate however seems to have smiled on the KLF, as they get two tracks on Now 21* and a frankly weak line-up going against them, packed full of second-single-syndrome, which is particularly grievous at a time when a lot of dance acts only really got one big single. Will they prevail? Let's see.

( Let's set sail on seas of passion )

*even if neither of them are nearly as good as "It's Grim Up North", le sigh.