THE FRIDAY FIVE – 4.3.2016

1. Lukas Graham – 7 Years
2. James – Nothing But Love
3. Coldplay – Hymn For The Weekend
4. Richard Ashcroft – This Is How It Feels
5. Nathaniel Rateliffe and the Bad Sweats – I Need Never Get Old

Firstly this week, an apology. Who to? The nation of Wales, all 3 million of them. Last Tuesday was St David’s Day and I forgot to do a Welsh Music Chart.

A bit belatedly, here is a Welsh Music Chart for St David’s Day.

FIVE SONGS BY WELSH ACTS

1. Stereophonics – Dakota
2. Donna Lewis – I Love You Always Forever
3. Bonnie Tyler – Total Eclipse Of The Heart
4. Manic Street Preachers – Autumn Song
5. Lisa Scott-Lee – Electric

I could just about get away with offending the Welsh, but there’s one group of people you shouldn’t offend, and that’s Internet Feminists, which is why there was never any danger of me forgetting International Women’s Day next Tuesday.

So, to celebrate this event, here’s some related charts for you – Female acts and songs with female names and pronouns.

FIVE SONGS BY FEMALE SINGERS

1. Nina Nesbitt – He’s the One I’m Bringing Back
2. Jane Weidling – Rush Hour
3. Lisa Loeb – Stay
4. Sinead Lohan – Whatever It Takes
5. Brianna Corrigan – Love Me Now

FIVE SONGS BY GIRL GROUPS

1. Sugababes – Soul Sound
2. Little Mix – Black Magic
3. Girls Aloud – Biology
4. Madasun – Don’t You Worry
5. All Saints – Pure shores

FIVE SONGS BY FEMALE FRONTED BANDS

1. Chvrches – Leave A Trace
2. Blondie – Heart Of Glass
3. Texas – Black Eyed Boy
4. Hole – Celebrity Skin
5. Sixpence None The Richer – Kiss Me

FIVE SONGS WITH FEMALE NAMES IN THE TITLE

1. The Killers – Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine
2. Oasis – Lyla
3. Jon Bon Jovi – Janey Don’t You Take Your Love To Town
4. Glasvegas – Geraldine
5. Franz Ferdinand – Eleanor Put Your Puts On

FIVE SONGS WITH WOMAN/GIRL/SHE/ HER IN THE TITLE

1. The Kooks – She Moves In Her Own Way
2. White Town – Your Woman
3. Ash – Girl From Mars
4. Neil Finn – She Will Have Her Way
5. Kate Bush – Rubberband Girl

Of course, when International Men’s Day comes around, there’ll be similar charts for the menfolk.

If you don’t know when International Men’s Day is, just go on Twitter on Tuesday and you’ll have smug and self righteous comedians (looking at you Richard Herring) and journalists pointing it out to you in a patronising manner.

It’s on November 19th, if you want to save yourself the effort of being spoken down to by patronising wankers (looking at you Richard Herring) desperate to boost their own personal brand.

That’s eight months away. Until then, you have St Patrick’s Day, St George’s Day, Euro 2016 and International Yorkshire Day charts to listen to.

50 YEARS OF TOP OF THE POPS : FEB 28 – MAR 6

We start this week’s round-up with an audience member possibly more famous than the band he’s there to see. Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones, one of the few rock stars whose name rhymes with his band would have been 72 this week.

Apart from rock stars who share their name with their band, such as Jon Bon Jovi, Eddie Van Halen, and um, Paul King.

Here he is performing “The Last Time” in 1965. Keep an eye out for George Best being in the audience.

Sharing a birthday (not the same year though) with Brian Jones is Cindy Wilson of B-52s. I know everyone loves “Loveshack” but “Roam” is a far far better song.

Unfortunately, there’ll be no February 29th mentioned on this blog as this isn’t a leap year. Maybe if I do a 60 Years Of Top Of The Pops blog series in 2024, we’ll see.

70 this week, was Roger Daltrey of The Who. So many songs to choose from, “You Better You Bet”, their last Top Ten single, is my favourite.

Which 80s pop star is like dry land? Nik Kershaw, because he has no C. OK, that was a bloody awful riddle. This is a better riddle.

We all know Bon Jovi, but can anyone name any of his solo hit singles, apart from me, who is the proud owner of a copy of Destination Anywhere?

Meanwhile, former ruler of the world, Chris Martin, was 37 this week. Sometimes, I like to dressed up as Chris Martin and pretend i’m him. Yep, I do Coldplay Cosplay.

Sad anniversary time, it’s 15 years this week since the death of Dusty Springfield.

Born the day after Chris Martin was Ronan Keating. To be fair, some of his solo stuff is not dreadful.

Believed to be the main influence of Elvis Presley, Shakin Stevens, no relation to Rachel Stevens from S Club 7 or Cat Stevens was on Top Of The Pops so much in the 1980s, they invited him back for their end of the 80s special in 1989, unsurprisingly. When else would you have an end of the 80s show?

Also celebrating a birthday this week, Evan Dando from The Lemonheads, seen here performing “Mrs Robinson”

Eddy Grant, 66 this week, was once offered a role in Strictly, but declined, stating “I Don’t Wanna Dance”

One of his biggest hits was “Baby Come Back”, covered by Irish Reggae singer Pat O’Banton.

Meanwhile, both Charlie Reid and Craig Reid of The Proclaimers were 52 this week. They’re twins, obviously. The second most successful pop twins (after Bros) of 1988.

And finally ……. remember The Kooks? I liked them.

THE FRIDAY FIVE – 9.3.2012

1. Emeli Sande – Next To Me
2. Jeff Wayne – Jubilation
3. Cast – Time Bomb
4. Bruce Springsteen – Born To Run
5. Gotye – Somebody That I Used To Know

Last week saw the BBC announce who will be the UK’s Eurovision entry. So, in honour of this, I shall present to you a Top Five Eurovision chart.

FIVE EUROVISION SONGS

1. Katrina and the Waves – Love Shine A Light
2. A Friend In London – New Tomorrow
3. Jedward – Lipstick
4. Johnny Logan – Hold Me Now
5. Bucks Fizz – Making Your Mind Up

As yesterday was International Women’s Day, I thought it was only right that this blog should commemorate it. Enjoy

FIVE SONGS WITH WOMEN’S NAMES IN THE TITLE

1. Steve Winwood – Valerie
2. Dion – Runaround Sue
3. Jon Bon Jovi – Janey Don’t You Take Your Love To Town
4. Glasvegas – Geraldine
5. Blondie – Maria

FIVE GIRL GROUP SONGS

1. Ronettes – Be My Baby
2. Bananarama – Cruel Summer
3. Girls Aloud – The Promise
4. Sugababes Soul Sound
5. The Bangles – Manic Monday

FIVE SONGS WITH GIRL OR WOMAN IN THE TITLE

1. Rick Springfield – Jesse’s Girl
2. Tori Amos – Cornflake Girl
3. Kate Bush – Rubberband Girl
4. Frankmusic – Confusion Girl
5. Cliff Richard – Devil Woman

Not a five, but a four coming up now.

I am absolutely loving the 1977 Top Of The Pops repeats on BBC Four. There is an absolutely fantastic series of parodies of the opening credits on Youtube, courtesy of the user TVGCity

You need to watch the show to

“get” the joke. I was literally crying with laughter at acts such as Isle Of Man World Cup Squad, St Winifred’s School Caretaker, Balls and Co, and Tony Tempah.