CZECH MATE

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

The Pop World Cup Final
Portugal 2 Czech Republic 3 (aet: 2-2 in normal time)

A fairytale ending for the Pop World Cup as mostlyconnect's team triumphed in an engrossing final. After starting brightly and taking the lead while playing textbook possession football, the Czechs' relative lack of flair began to tell, and Portugal dominated over the game, first equalising and then pulling ahead. The Czechs fumbled an equaliser to force extra time, but Portugal still looked the likelier winners. In extra time though, the Czechs continued to push bodies into the box and Portugal were made to rue a series of fluffed chances when they conceded a late winner.


Dry your eyes mate...

There was little to separate the two sides and when the disappointment has faded and the tears have dried thebopkids will be justly proud of his side's efforts. But the honours go to the indomitable Czechs. "This is an incredible day for our country," said one overjoyed fan, "We have never been known for pop music but now we have proved our nation is the best in the world." mostlyconnect will be given the freedom of every jazz club in Prague and an invitation to jam with Vaclav Havel will surely also be forthcoming. The trophy will be presented on Friday.

Third Place Match
Iran 2 France 1

Hard-battling Iran have lit up the tournament with some of their displays and confirmed their third-place status with an emphatic win over a French team who looked like they would rather be elsewhere. For its few attendees this match was rich in entertainment, and the services of Iranian team's outspoken manager dubdobdee will surely be in demand for future tournaments.

Final Results

Czech Republic - 57 points (average 3.56)
Portugal - 55 points (average 3.44)

Iran - 32 points (average 3.56)
France - 28 points (average 3.11)

So that's it for the Pop World Cup. Thankyou very much to everyone who participated, voted, and commented, and we'll see you for Europop 2008, no doubt!

I Love #1s - 2001

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

Last week Brian and his Beach Boys nabbed the most votes for 1966 with Good Vibrations (edging out Nancy and Mick'n'Keef) whilst Tom Jones was consigned to the Bin Of Oblivion!

2001 was PACKED with number ones! We've got a Sclub Children In Need song, debut singles from Bunton and Bedders, and a plasticene builder doing the Mambo. Tick away!

[Poll #766638]

Poptimist Books?

[mippy.livejournal.com]

I've just finished reading Pet Shop Boys: Literally, which I rather liked. It felt wonderfully anachronistic to sit on the tube with 1989-era Neil and Chris staring out from the cover, and, as the PSBs were the first band I really liked back when I was wee, to get little insights behind the songs and image. They do come across as a pair of big whiny jessies, though. Guess it goes to show how quickly one gets accustomed to the money and the tedium of popstardom...

Anyway, it's made me want to read more pop books. Trouble is, I feel I've either read all the good ones or can never find what I'm looking for on the library shelves. Past favourites have included:

Feel by Chris Heath
Lost in Music by Giles Smith
Living Through Pop, ed. Andrew Blake (read this for my degree, but it's a good mix of academe and the anecdotal)
The Shoe by Gordon Legge (a novel, but sums up the effect of music on a young boy's life better than anything else I've read)
You Don't Have To Say You Love Me by Simon Napier-Bell
The Look by Paul Gorman
Tainted Life by Marc Almond 
Love Is The Drug, ed. John Aizlewood (I'm quite fond of the Dexys chapter)
Hell for Leather by Seb Hunter (approx 1000x more entertaining than I expected) 
EDIT:
Forgot The Nation's Favourite - one of my favourite books ever, for shame - and Bill Drummond's 45, which isn't really all about music but does have nice pieces in about Crystal Day and the Bunnymen's rabbit ears tour.

I have Saint Morrissey, Rip It Up... and England's Dreaming sat on my shelf, taunting me. I'm after something a bit more, well, suited to reading on the bus in the morning, though. 

What's your favourite pop book? And, even better, what made you throw it across the room with irritation?

Pop Star Showdown: FITES 1 and 2

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

I realised this morning that because I won't be on the web tomorrow there is zero chance of the Ultimate Pop Star Showdown actually finishing on Friday, so instead of overwhelming you with polls I'll be putting the pop fights out a couple at a time and make this a slightly longer term bit of orgafun.

Anyway the preliminary round is over and the results are in:

KATE BUSH beat Celeste.
SERGE GAINSBOURG beat Joan Jett.
CHER beat Paris Hilton.
DUSTY SPRINGFIELD beat Phil Oakey.
NENEH CHERRY beat Kelly Clarkson.
BILL DRUMMOND beat H Steps.
MICHAEL JACKSON beat Dr Alban.
LILY ALLEN beat Thom Yorke.

We'll be meeting all of those qualifiers again - in fact we'll be meeting two in the poll under this very cut, along with two stars who have actually teamed up on the same (very good indeed) record! Which will make it through to round two? You decide!

( Popfite! (contains pictures) )

Top 40 Singles Of 2006 Pol #6: June RESULTS

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

Results of last week's Top 40 Singles of June poll:

1. Nelly Furtado - Maneater (26)
2. Lordi - Hard Rock Hallelujah (16)
3. Shakira ft. Wyclef - Hips Don't Lie (12)
4. T.I. - Why You Wanna (11)
5. The Automatic - Monster (11)
6. The Futureheads - Skip To The End (10)
7. Paul Oakenfold - Faster Kill Pussycat (10)
8. Dannii Minogue - So Under Pressure (10)
9. Sugababes - Follow Me Home (9)
10. Matt Willis - Up All Night (7)

2006 leaderboard:

1. Gnarls Barkley - Crazy (28)
2. Nelly Furtado - Maneater (26)
3. Rihanna - S.O.S. (24)
4. Sugababes - Red Dress (19)
5. The Go Team - Ladyflash (18)
6. Belle & Sebastian - Funny Little Frog (17)
7. Girls Aloud - Whole Lotta History (17)
8. The Pet Shop Boys - I'm With Stupid (16)
9. Hot Chip - Boy From School (16)
10. Goldfrapp - Ride A White Horse (16)

When the time is right (i.e. no other polls going on) I'll do the Best Non-Top 40 Songs Of 2006 poll as touted a few weeks back featuring the nominations provided by people in the comments box for the June Top 40 poll.