Another Year In Pop: 50

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

Leona's still on top - news that will shock you to your very core, I am certain.

[Poll #1315468]

Non-xmas bonkers re-entry watch: Dido's White Flag in at 82. Grans all over the country will be delighted with their gift of an mp3 I am sure.

Comments

[lockedintheatti.livejournal.com]

That Bandaged record is HORRIBLE. It's like the worst thing I have ever heard. I don't like the original all that much, but this is just in a different league of terrible.

Point of order

[jeff-worrell.livejournal.com]

I'm impressed you've heard the original (NB - not by Bing and the Dame)

Re: Point of order

[lockedintheatti.livejournal.com]

oh

(who is the original by then? - i thought the 'peace on earth' bit, which is particularly annoying, was added by bowie??)

Re: Point of order

[jeff-worrell.livejournal.com]

I was being facetious. I think you're right that the LDB/Peace on Earth combo was a Bowie & Crosby innovation.

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

Oh, now we get the influx of the DREADFUL Xmas records. I think we had this argument last year but I don't get how anyone can enjoy the Wizzard or Slade songs...vile, clumsy things. BAH HUMBUG all I want for Xmas is MARIAH.

Enjoyed this Ladyhawke song a lot more than her last one, though not convinced that her Stevie Nicks impression is all that necessary while Stevie Nicks' own records still exist in the world. It might grow on me, or I might never think about it again. Possibly she just seems a lot better in the light of all the kooky art students highlighted by the appalling Sound of 2009 longlist.

Ne-Yo's 'Mad' is just lovely, the melody is unstoppable and his ability to pull you right into an emotional situation is kinda unparalleled right now. Easily the best on offer this week. Why aren't people ticking it?

[alexmacpherson.livejournal.com]

Re: that Macy Gray Xmas song I've never heard. Doesn't Macy Gray's brief success seem...completely imaginary, in retrospect? I mean, she was huge! And then she vanished! And this is all that is left, apparently.

Re: Dido - 'White Flag' is the only song of hers that I like, because it sounds so sensible and comforting, and then you listen to the lyrics and realise that this is a depiction of a real emotional extreme, by which I mean the narrator is completely nuts...she's stating calmly that she will deal with the end of this relationship by never acknowledging that it is over, and that she is going to embrace the pointless nihilism in this that will drive her insane, and possibly do a bit of high-grade stalking along the way. That is DARK. Never has the line "I'm in love, and always will be" sounded quite this chilling.

[braisedbywolves.livejournal.com]

Yes to both of these - that is a really terrifying song.

Clinging to the broken heart inside my head

[koganbot]

Have never heard "White Flag" but will go and do so shortly. From the description it could be a John Conlee song! Any number of John Conlee songs!

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

> Why aren't people ticking it?

Because everyone (including me) possibly hadn't realised that this is the one you linked to the other day with the out-of-body-experience video innit. I think the verse is a bit weak but I like the chorus a lot, that's worth a tick by itself.

[bengraham.livejournal.com]

I'm loving 'My Delerium' right now... a late contender for Top 10 songs of the year.

The Darkness' Xmas song is one of my favourites, although I'm still yet to hear this year's equivalent novelty track - The Hives' Xmas duet with Cyndi Lauper. Anyone else heard it? Is it anyh good?

[jeff-worrell.livejournal.com]

Yes, I've heard it. It's closer to Pogues & Kirsty than The Darkness, in terms of Wobs Precursors, what with the two singers tossing insults at eachother and so forth.

I think it tries too hard. I deleted it almost instantly after d/l-ing it.

However, since you're interested, I'll include it in my planned (and hopefully forthcoming) new Xmas songs round-up post!

[martinv.livejournal.com]

I quite like the Hives/Cyndi thing. In a throwaway sort of way. While it wants to be closer to 'Fairytale' than 'Bellend', it's probably closer to the latter in quality. It's diverting for a bit this year but hardly an xmas classic.

[bengraham.livejournal.com]

Do you have an MP3 by any chance? :-)

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

The Gabriella Cilmi song is off an advert I think - it's quite jolly!

[jeff-worrell.livejournal.com]

Yes, the Co-op's wobs ad.

Also, it's apparently a cover (of an old Connie Francis song, "I'm Going To Be Warm This Winter", which is described online as a "Christmas classic". I'd never even heard of it before, though.)

Clinging to the broken heart inside my head

[koganbot]

Bandaged "Little Drummer Boy": Never fails to get you in the Christmas mood (assuming the Christmas mood is profound, black, immobile depression). NONTICK.

Boyzone "Better": Starts like Neil Diamond in a stupor, then rises to a lifelike upper register. The somnolent beat seems to have been scavenged from the Bandaged soundlot. NONTICK.

Gabriella Cilmi "Warm This Winter": I suppose that this track is the strongest challenge to my contention that Cilmi's neo-soul/retro-revival is really a variant on singer-songwriter. Has a pulse compared to Bandaged and Boyzone. Not much, um, soul, however. NONTICK.

Ladyhawke "My Delirium": It's gonna be a goth Christmas! (Sorta what I wish Paramore were doing.) TICK.

Ne-Yo "Mad": Ne-Yo never gets even, he gets mad, then tries to repress it. Of such things artistry is made. (I wonder how many casual listeners think this song is called "I don't wanna go to bed.") TICK.

Basshunter "Jingle Bells": It's silliness is almost a relief from the surrounding Christmas catatonia. And I appreciate the way the beat shifts to broken-toe boogie in the middle. Wouldn't want to hear this thing twice, however. NONTICK.

Status Quo "It's Christmas Time": Boogie brought down to comfortable plod. NONTICK.

[chezghost.livejournal.com]

I foolishly ticked NeYo and Ladyhawke without hearing the songs properly. Having now done so I find them both to be crap. Unfortunately this means Wizzard or Slade might actually win :(

[ijgrieve.livejournal.com]

This must be the most ticks I've ever ticked in a week. It's Chriiiiiistmaaaaaas!

I didn't think that much of Status Quo's Christmas song when I first heard it, but I've really taken to it now. Best new Christmas song since The Darkness in 2003 IMO.