1. Catfish and the Bottlemen – Longshot
2. Chvrches and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra – Miracle
3. KT Tunstall – Suddenly I See
4. The Prodigy – Firestarter
5. Rose Elinor Dougall – First Sign
Today, is International Women’s Day. As is now tradition on this blog, i’ll do some themed charts.
If you doing something or going to something, enjoy yourself.
If you’re not that bothered and it’s just another day to you, enjoy yourself.
Whatever you’re doing, just don’t be a dick about it. You know who I mean, the sort of person who sits in front of a computer screaming IT’S NOVEMBER 19TH!!!!!!
Here’s some charts
FIVE SONGS BY FEMALE VOCALISTS
1. Donna Lewis – I Love You Always Forever
2. Celine Dion – It’s All Coming Back To Me
3. Madonna – Who’s That Girl?
4. Amy Studt – Misfit
5. Britney Spears – Boys
FIVE SONGS BY FEMALE FRONTED BANDS
1. Blondie – Heart Of Glass
2. Chvrches – Lies
3. Paramore – Hard Times
4. Altered Images – Don’t Talk To Me About Love
5. Garbage – Stupid Girl
FIVE SONGS BY GIRL GROUPS
1. Sugababes – Soul Sound
2. Alisha’s Attic – I Am I Feel
3. Bananarama – Love In The First Degree
4. Girls Aloud – Biology
5. Little Mix – Black Magic
FIVE SONGS WITH A GIRL’S NAME IN THE TITLE
1. The Killers – Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine
2. Toto – Roseanna
3. Oasis – Lyla
4. Marillion – Kayleigh
5. Franz Ferdinand – Eleanor Put Your Boots On
FIVE SONGS WITH GIRL OR WOMAN IN THE TITLE
1. Rick Springfield – Jessie’s Girl
2. White Town – Your Woman
3. Kate Bush – Rubberband Girl
4. Fergie – Big Girls Don’t Cry
5. Billy Joel – Uptown Girl
1. Robert Goulet – Jingle Bells, Batman Smells
2. The Waitresses – Christmas Wrapping
3. Greg Lake – I Believe In Father Christmas
4. Fountains of Wayne – Alien For Christmas
5. John Lennon – Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
You didn’t think I wouldn’t have any Christmas songs this week? I’m not that much of a Scrooge.
Somebody started a rumour that i’ve cleared my diary to watch Christmas With Daniel O’Donnell on RTE 1 at 9.30pm tomorrow. It might be true, or it might not be true.
This week, saw the first headliners for Belsonic 2017 announced, a lot earlier than usual (recent years have been announced between February and April)
Just the two announced, and they were, well, underwhelming.
If you don’t know, it’s Jess Glynne and Axwell Ingrosso (who sounds like a Swiss footballer)
I know i’m guilty of complaining about bands I don’t like/have never heard of being on the bill when Belsonic headliners are announced, because I should know by now that not every Belsonic concert will appeal to me due to the line-up being so vast and varied.
These concerts will be at Ormeau Park, the third venue in the last three years. It’s slightly concerning that it’s starting to have a nomadic existence like what Tennent’s Vital used to have.
I thought Titanic worked as a venue in my own observations. Spatious, easy to get to and out of. I didn’t experience any real problems, even though Ormeau Park will be very convenient for me.
I really hope they don’t go down the Tennent’s Vital route of having pits. I find the idea that someone could just turn up ten minutes before showtime and get a better view than me, simply because they’re mates of a mate of a mate of a mate of someone who works for a sponsor.
I love Belsonic because it’s not Tennent’s Vital. I really hope it doesn’t go down a road of trying to be Tennent’s Vital.
I would imagine there will be more concerts announced in the new year.
One of the fun things I like to do when announcements are announced is to try and predict who will be performing.
As you can see from the link, my predictions were well off.
Belsonic isn’t the only festival in Belfast/Greater Belfast. There’s also Catherdal Quarter Arts Festival, Feile and Open House Festival (Bangor) which will be staging concerts.
So, i’m going to post my musical hopes for people coming to Belfast. The only 2017 concert I have in my diary is Blossoms. They’re brilliant. You may remember them winning The Sound Of 2015 on this blog. If you want to see how good they are, they’ll be on Top Of The Pops on New Year’s Eve.
You may remember me getting excited about Simple Minds coming to Waterfront Hall in June next year. Well, it’s an all seated gig and I can’t be arsed with that.
So, i’m going to post my hopes for those who I would love to come to Belfast in 2017.
Cast and Embrace will have albums out in 2017, so hopefully they’ll fit in a Belfast gig.
Kaiser Chiefs, Paul Weller, The Kooks, Amy MacDonald, KT Tunstall and Two Door Cinema Club all have 2017 tours announced but no Belfast gig. Hopefully some of them well be adding Belfast to their schedule.
Rose Elinor Dougall is a singer I absolutely adore, a former member of The Pipettes (Remember them? They were brilliant too) who is releasing her first album in six years, so i’m hoping she stops off in Belfast.
This week, Red Hot Chili Peppers were supposed to be doing two concerts in Dublin, but due to Anthony Kiedis being unwell, they have been postponed until September 2017.
Wouldn’t it be great if they snuck in a couple of Odyssey gigs around that.
If you were to sum up 2017 in four words, it would be ………… LIAM. GALLAGHER. SOLO. ALBUM. Which i’m hoping is as entertaining as his Twitter.
It may be brilliant, it may be bad, it won’t be boring. Cannot wait for it. Potato.
Meanwhile, the race for Christmas Number 1 (Usually dominated by X-Factor in the same way Celtic have dominated the SPL over the last few years) is between Rangers and Little Mix, which gives me an excuse to post my favourite Youtube videos, from the time Celtic and Rangers players formed a band with a man in a tiger costume to record a charity single to promote Glasgow as a tourist destination.
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.
So here we go, what you’ve been waiting for …….. The Top 25 songs of 2015. Enjoy.
1. Blossoms – Charlemagne
2. The Strypes – Get Into It
3. Chvrches – Leave A Trace
4. Muse – Revolt
5. Chemical Brothers – Go
6. Muse – Mercy
7. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – Ballad Of The Mighty I
8. Ellie Goulding – Love Me Like You Do
9. Florence and the Machine – Queen Of Peace
10. Everything Everything – Spring/Sun/Winter/Dread
11. Calvin Harris ft Haim – Pray To God
12. Mumford and Sons – The Wolf
13. The 1975 – Love Me
14. Little Mix – Black Magic
15. Taylor Swift – Style
16. Mini Mansions – Death Is A Girl
17. Florence and the Machine – Ship To Wreck
18. Muse – Dead Inside
19. Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats – SOB
20. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – You Know We Can’t Go Back
21. FFS – Piss Off
22. John Newman – Come And Get It
23. Everything Everything – Regret
24. Soak – Sea Creatures
25. Paul Weller – Saturn’s Pattern
So, congratulations to Blossoms. I bet they didn’t think that supporting Paul Weller and The Charlatans on tour could be topped, but it has.
If you haven’t heard the song before, here you go …..
They join an illustrious list of winners. Sadly, Bebo has wiped their archive, so I can’t link you 2006-2008.
THE SOUND OF …… PAST WINNERS
2014 Jamie T – Zombie 2013 Haim – The Wire 2012 Taylor Swift – We Are Never Getting Back Together 2011 Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – AKA …. What A Life 2010 Marina and the Diamonds – Shampain 2009 Little Boots – New In Town
2008 Sons and Daughters – Darling
2007 Feist – 1,2, 3, 4
2006 Kasabian – Empire
1. Florence and the Machine – Delilah
2. Paul Weller – Going My Way
3. Mans Zelmerlow – Heroes
4. Father John Misty – Chateau Lobby #4 (In C For Two Virgins)
5. Little Mix – Black Magic
Yesterday teatime, I went to see Ash play an acoustic gig at HMV – performing three new songs and A Life Less Ordinary. Ash was my first gig on New Year’s Eve 1998, going into 1999. Some drunk guy clumbed onto a signpost and rearranged the directions. Such memories.
The gig was described by Tim Wheeler as “A good warm-up for Slane”, very much tongue in cheek.
On Saturday, Ash will be performing at Slane, a line-up that is already impressive before headliners Foo Fighters enter the stage.
Talking of which, remember in 2012 when Dave Grohl promised Foo Fighters would be back to Belfast?
Come on Dave, don’t let us down. There’s a Facebook group with a ridiculously low number of members here.
If you’re going, i’m very jealous of you. I won’t be so jealous when you’re trying to get out afterwards.
Anyway, here’s a Slane playlist for you
FIVE SONGS BY ACTS PERFORMING AT SLANE
1. Foo Fighters – The One
2. Hozier – Take Me To Church
3. Ash – Envy
4. Kaiser Chiefs – Modern Way
5. The Strypes – Blue Collar Jane
1. Little Mix – Black Magic
2. Kodaline – Ready
3. Muse – Mercy
4. The Strypes – Scumbag City
5. Doctor and the Medics – Spirit In The Sky
As if you needed to be reminded, this weekend is Eurovision, and i’m as excited as a Priest singing about a horse. So, to get you in the mood, as if you need to be got into the mood, he’re five Eurovision classics for you.
FIVE EUROVISION SONGS
1. A Friend In London – New Tomorrow
2. Emmelie De Forest – Only Teardrops
3. Katrina and the Waves – Love Shine A Light
4. Jedward – Lipstick
5. Anna Rossinelli – In Love For A While
Christmas is almost upon us, so here’s some TOTP classics to warm you up.
Rick Buckler of The Jam isn’t far from 60 this week.
And Peter Buck of REM isn’t too far behind him.
And now, time for some Ace Of Base
Damien Rice turns 41 this week.
While Nicole Appleton hits the big 40 this week.
Jim Morrison would have been 71 this week. Not sure what he would have made of this.
Remember the bald guy that used to be in Duran Duran when all the Taylors left? It’s his birthday this week.(Although he had hair during this performance)
Oh Sinead, Text speak. why?
John Lennon died 34 years ago this week. I’m sure he’d have loved Candy Flip.
Donny Osmond. 57, looks 27
And going in a completely different direction, here’s some Placebo.
And finally, a tribute to Mozart, much love popular entertainer, who died this week in 1791.
So, it’s time of year, looking back at the year which is coming to an end.
As is traditional on this blog, i’ll be looking back at the 100 best songs of the year over the next 4 weeks.
Before we do so, time to look at the previous winners. There’s no physical prize on offer, just the smug satisfaction that I think you’ve done the best song of the year.
Previous winners
2012 Taylor Swift – We Are Never Getting Back Together 2011 Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – AKA …… What A Life 2010 Marina and the Diamonds – Shampain 2009 Little Boots – New In Town 2008 Sons and Daughters – Darling 2007 Feist – 1, 2, 3, 4 2006 Kasabian – Empire
So, without any further hesitattion, time to start with 75-10 of The Sound Of 2013
76. Nonono – Pumpkin Blood
77. Aviici – You Make Me
78. Nina Nesbitt – Don’t Stop
79. Paramore – Still Into You
80. Rizzle Kicks – Let’s Skip To The Good bit
81. Pink ft Nate Reuss – Just Give Me A Reason
82. Manic Street Preachers – Anthem For A Lost Cause
83. Margaret Berger – I Feed You My Love
84. Rizzle Kicks – Lost Generation
85. Robin Thicke ft Pharrell Williams – Blurred Lines
86. Dizzee Rascal ft Robbie Williams – Goin Crazy
87. Pink ft Lily Allen – True Love
88. Tom Odell – Another Love
89. Miles Kane – Don’t Forget Who You Are
90. Beady Eye – Second Bite Of The Apple
91. Chvrches – Gun
92. We Are Scientists – Return The Favor
93. Lana Del Ray – Summertime Sadness (remix)
94. Arctic Monkeys – Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High?
95. Little Mix – Move
96. The Wanted – We Own The Night
97. Arlissa – Sticks And Stones
98. Bridget Mendler – Ready Or Not
99. Biffy Clyro – Black Chandelier
100. VV Brown – The Apple
1. U2 – Ordinary Love
2. Birdy – Light Me Up
3. Bruce Springsteen – High Hopes
4. Imagine Dragons – On Top Of The World
5. Rudimental ft Emeli Sande – Free
So, last week’s X-Factor celebrated ten years of X-Factor. X-Factor. Yep, lots of nice Product Placement for X-Factor. X-Factor.
FIVE SONGS BY ACTS FROM X-FACTOR
1. Matt Cardle – It’s Only Love
2. Olly Murs – Army Of Two
3. Little Mix – Wings
4. Leona Lewis – Forgive Me
5. Jedward – Lipstick
And don’t worry Scottish folk, I haven’t forgotten you. Happy St Andrew’s Day.
FIVE SONGS BY SCOTTISH ACTS
1. Simple Minds – Don’t You Forget About Me
2. Biffy Clyro – The Captain
3. Pilot – Magic
4. Bay City Rollers – I Only Want To Be With You
5. Strawberry Switchblade – Since Yesterday
Analogue Boy In A Digital World 