THE FRIDAY FIVE – 7.6.2019

1. Billie Eilish – Bury A Friend
2. Liam Gallagher – Shockwave
3. Lewis Capaldi – Grace
4. Feeder – Save Us
5. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – Rattling Rose

So, are you all excited? Tonight is The Story Of 1988 on BBC Four. So, to get you in the mood ahead of that and the next year of Top Of The Pops repeats, here’s a chart for you.

FIVE SONGS FROM 1988

1. Jane Weidlin – Rush Hour
2. U2 – Angel Of Harlem
3. Ofra Haza – Im Nin Alu
4. Desireless – Voyage Voyage
5. Kylie Minogue – I Should Be Lucky

It appears that yesterday was Sweden’s National Day. I only found out after their promotional bus was packing up outside Belfast City Hall. So here’s some Swedish songs for you

FIVE SONGS BY SWEDISH ACTS

1. Europe – The Final Countdown
2. Roxette – Joyride
3. The Cardigans – Lovefool
4. Ace Of Base – The Sign
5. Emilia – Big Big World

THE FRIDAY FIVE – 16.11.2018

1. Jade Bird – Love Has All Been Done Before
2. Johnny Marr – Spiral Cities
3. Editors – Cold
4. Razorlight – America
5. The Strypes – Get Into It

This Monday, sees International Men’s Day. So, as is tradition, here’s a series of musical charts. If you’re celebrating, that’s cool. If it’s just another day for you, that’s cool. Just don’t be a self-hating dick fishing for likes on Social Media about it.

FIVE SONGS BY MALE SOLO ARTISTS

1. Prince – Gold
2. David Bowie – Let’s Dance
3. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – AKA … What A Life
4. Falco – Rock Me Amadeus
5. Kyle Falconer – Family Tree

FIVE SONGS WITH BOY OR MAN IN THE TITLE

1. The Killers – The Man
2. T-Rex – 20th Century Boy
3. Aneka – Japanese Boy
4. Andrew Gold – Lonely Boy
5. Bronski Beat – Smalltown Boy

FIVE SONGS BY ALL MALE GROUPS

1. Europe – The Final Countdown
2. Duran Duran – Ordinary World
3. A-Ha – Take On Me
4. U2 – The Fly
5. Queen – I Want It All

FIVE SONGS WITH MALE NAMES IN THE TITLE

1. Bat For Lashes – Daniel
2. Toni Basil – Mickey
3. Oasis – Little James
4. Sister Sledge – Frankie
5. Fine Young Cannibals – Johnny Come Home

THE FRIDAY FIVE – 6.7.2018

1. George Ezra – Shotgun
2. Tom Odell – If You Wanna Love Somebody
3. Bay City Rollers – I Only Wanna Be With You
4. Oasis – Columbia
5. James – Coming Home (Part II)

If Brazil v Belgium is a bit boring, or if one team is a couple of goals up, you can switch over to BBC Four for The Story Of 1986.

Oh yes, the Top Of The Pops repeats have now reached 1986.

So, to get you in the mood, here’s a chart.

FIVE SONGS FROM 1986

1. Falco – Rock Me Amadeus
2. Europe – The Final Countdown
3. Peter Gabriel – Sledgehammer
4. Paul Hardcastle – The Wizard
5. Genesis – Land Of Confusion

50 YEARS OF TOP OF THE POPS : AUG 15 – AUG 21

It’s a Royal Edition this week, so put on your best clothes and be on your best behaviour.

This week saw the 37th anniversary of Elvis Presley faking his death to open up a chip shop. Remember, he’s not dead, he’s just having a break. The week after he faked his death, Legs and Co did a tribute. It’s what he would have wanted.

No even a Number 1 in 2002 off the back of a sportswear commercial could tempt him out of retirement.

That day, was Madonna’s 19th birthday. It’s unknown wether that ruined it. On her 34th birthday, Nottingham Forest played Liverpool in the first ever Sky Super Sunday. It’s unknown if she watched it.

Meanwhile, sharing a death date with Elvis, is Ronnie Drew of the Dubliners.

Born the day after Madonna, a woman who believes Heaven is a place on earth, and her surname is the most heavenly place on earth.

Kevin Rowland (no relation to Kelly Rowland) from Dexy’s turned 61 this week. They did more than one song you know.

So, we’ve had The King Of Rock N Roll, The Queen Of Pop, and now, John Deacon from Queen, 63 this week.

Queen’s TOTP appearances were rare. It’s a pity they didn’t do one for Radio Ga Ga. It would have looked amazing the whole audience doing the hand clappy bit at the chorus.

And now, Europe, who actually came from Europe (Sweden) with The Final Countdown.

Their follow-up single, The Final 15 To 1, didn’t chart so high.

It’s an onslaught of poodle hair rockers now. Led Zep’s lack of singles denied Robert Plant any TOTP action until his solo career.

Phil Lynott would have got his Bus Pass this week.

Joe Strummer would have been 62 this week. Here’s his only TOTP appearance, pretending to be a football commentator.

THE FRIDAY FIVE – 4.5.2012

1. Goldie Lookin Chain – Tony Pulis
2. Marina and the Diamonds – Primadonna
3. Thea Gilmore – London
4. Fun ft Janelle Monae – We Are Young
5. Kate Bush – Running Up That Hill

This weekend, is Europe Day, so in honour of this, let’s celebrate this great continent in music, by songs from acts from Mainland Europe, and songs about cities in Europe

FIVE SONGS BY MAINLAND EUROPEAN ACTS

1. Europe – The Final Countdown
2. Falco – Rock Me Amadeus
3. Desireless – Voyage Voyage
4. Freiheit – Keeping The Dream Alive
5. 2 Unlimited – No Limit

FIVE SONGS ABOUT EUROPEAN CITIES

1. Boney M – Belfast
2. The Clash – London Calling
3. Editors – Munich
4. The Beautiful South – Rotterdam
5. Ultravox – Vienna

Meanwhile, the line-up for the Olympic Ganes opening concert was announced, featuring a band from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Duran Duran are representing England, with the organisers presumably thinking it’s the 1984 Olympics rather than the 2012 games. Snow Patrol got the Northern Ireland choice as Baltimora is dead, and Janet Devlin was too busy sitting in her bedroom listening to obscure music.

Stereophonics got the Welsh vote as Bonnie Tyler was too busy washing her lovely blonde hair. I have no idea why Paolo Nutini was chosen to represent Scotland.

To celebrate this, I shall do a Duran Duran, Stereophoincs, and Snow Patrol Top Five, as well as another Scotland Top Five (after previous St Andrew’s Day and Burns Night Top Fives)

Choosing a Duran Duran Top Five wasn’t easy. It was about as easy as a nuclear war.

FIVE DURAN DURAN SONGS

1. Wildboys
2. Hungry Like The Wolf
3. Ordinary World
4. Save A Prayer
5. White Lines

FIVE STEREOPHONICS SONGS

1. Dakota
2. A Thousand Trees
3. Superman
4. Just Looking
5. Madame Helga

FIVE SNOW PATROL SONGS

1. Signal Fire
2. Hands Open
3. How To Be Dead
4. Called Out In The Dark
5. Chocolate

FIVE SONGS BY SCOTTISH ACTS

1. Big Country – One Great Thing
2. Aztec Camara – Somewhere In My Heart
3. Del Amitri – Roll To Me
4. Simple Minds – She’s A River
5. The Proclaimers – Letter From America