Tag Archives: New Order

THE SOUND OF 2020

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We haven’t had our first 24 hours of 2021 yet and I can’t imagine that many want to look back at 2020, but it’s time for my annual look back at the best songs of the past year.

I’m not going to insult you by cutting and pasting the usual about how it was a great year and all that. It really wasn’t.

Even though we got treated to some interesting covers and live online concerts from bored pop stars in lockdown, i’d swap all that for a return to normality.

As much as i’ve loved Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s Kitchen Disco, i’d rather it not have to exist, if you know what I mean.

I actually have concert tickets for 2021, unsurprisingly, most are carried over from 2020.

Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott are first up in April, although that is looking ambitious, considering that Paul Weller scheduled for the week before has already been put back to November.

Also in the diary is Lightning Seeds, Ash, Doves and Beabadoobee.

Hopefully, when I do get back to concerts, it won’t be in the first batch. Let’s be honest, they’ll be full of tanked up bellends determined to “make up for” what they’ve “missed out on”.

You don’t realise how much a sound crowd adds to a concert until you’re surrounded by bellends.

So, enjoy the best songs of 2020. Hopefully, i’ve introduced you to something you’ll like.

Let’s hope 2021 will be a lot better than 2020, although we’re working off a very low bar.

  1. Tame Impala – Lost In Yesterday
  2. The Weeknd – Blinding Lights
  3. Powfu ft Barbadoobee – Death Bed
  4. Post Malone – Circles
  5. David Guetta and Sia – Let’s Love
  6. Royal Blood – Trouble’s Coming
  7. Beabadoobee – Care
  8. Paul Molloy – Dungaree Day
  9. Shader – Don’t You Forget About Me
  10. Georgia – Running Up That Hill
  11. Declan McKenna – Beautiful Faces
  12. Tom Grennan – Amen
  13. Andy Bell – Cherry Cola
  14. Lady Gaga – Stupid Love
  15. Dea Matrona – Roll With It
  16. Blossoms – Paperback Writer
  17. Dermot Kennedy – Giants
  18. 5 Seconds Of Summer – Wildflower
  19. Blossoms ft James Skelly – Dreaming Of You
  20. Beabadoobee – Together
  21. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – Come On Outside
  22. Crowded House – Whatever You Want
  23. Tom Grennan – Something Better
  24. Samara Ginsberg – Inspector Gadget
  25. Dermot Kennedy – Power Over Me
  26. Oasis – Don’t Stop
  27. 24kgoldn – City Of Angels
  28. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – We’re Gonna Get There In The End
  29. Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott – Some Might Say
  30. Samara Ginsberg – Knight Rider
  31. Declan McKenna – Rapture
  32. Samara Ginsberg – Thomas The Tank Engine
  33. Liam Gallagher – All You’re Dreaming Of
  34. Beabadooebee – Worth It
  35. Karen O and Willie Nelson – Under Pressure
  36. Tate McRae – You Broke Me First
  37. Declan McKenna – Be An Astronaut
  38. Two Mad Men And A String Quartet – Madness Hits Medley
  39. Blossoms – It’s Going To Be A Cold Winter
  40. Arlo Parks – Black Dog
  41. New Order – Be A Rebel
  42. Izzy Bizu – Faded
  43. The 1975 – If You’re Too Shy
  44. David Latto – Geordie Munro
  45. Magnum Haus – Rip It Up
  46. Swim School – Dignity
  47. Ash – Darkest Hour Of The Night
  48. Doves – Broken Eyes
  49. AC/DC – Shot In The Dark
  50. Tom Ogden – Everyday I Write The Book

PAST WINNERS

2019 Vampire Weekend – Harmony Hall
2018 Lovelytheband – Broken
2017 Liam Gallagher – For What It’s Worth
2016 The Strumbellas – Spirits
2015 Blossoms – Charlemagne
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

MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : SMASH HITS – 14.2.1985

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The new Duran Duran? asks Smash Hits of their cover stars The Power Station. You may recognise a few Duran Duran faces in the band.

As you open the magazine, there is a poster of Paul King, the lead singer of the band King.

Smash Hits has noticed a recent trend in recent weeks, of stars such as Andrew Ridgeley, Boy George, Steve Strange and Eurythmics all wearing tartan.

Pat Benatar is interviewed as she enters the final weeks of pregnancy.

In Reviews, new singles by Cliff Richard, The Smiths, The Stranglers, Mick Jagger and Kim Carnes are all reviewed.

Phil Collins is interviewed, where he reveals that John Taylor from Duran Duran is a fan of Genesis.

Cover stars The Power Station get a three page feature.

Wham! have recently toured Asia, and Smash Hits covers this with a two page photo feature.

Mick Jagger gets profiled as he gets set to release his debut solo album at the age of 44, lying in bed in a hotel room when Smash Hits came to visit.

Terry Hall gets interviewed as he launches his third band (after The Specials and Fun Boy Three) The Colourfield, with the headline OLD MISERY GUTS IS BACK.

Concert Reviews sees Smash Hits go to see New Order and Chaka Khan in action.

THE FRIDAY FIVE – 16.6.2017

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1. The Killers – The Man
2. George Ezra – Don’t Matter Now
3. Adam West – Minding My Business
4. Lindsay Buckingham and Christine McVie – Red Sun
5. Nerina Pallot – Stay Lucky

It was announced that Paul Weller is coming to Belfast in February next year. It’s the day after my birthday too. Wish me luck in getting a ticket for this, even though he was a grumpy arse the last time he was in Belfast.

So, to celebrate, here’s a Paul Weller chart

FIVE SONGS BY PAUL WELLER

1. Paul Weller – Changingman
2. The Jam – Beat Surrender
3. Paul Weller – Sunflower
4. Paul Weller – Mermaids
5. The Jam – Start

Apparently, there’s a thing called Manchester Day. It’s this Sunday. That sounds like an excuse for a Manchester themed chart.

FIVE SONGS BY ACTS FROM MANCHESTER

1. Oasis – Don’t Go Away
2. Puressence – It Doesn’t Matter Anymore
3. The Courteeners – Van Der Graaff
4. New Order – True Faith
5. The Smiths – Panic

THE SOUND OF 2015 : 51-75

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51. Stereophonics – Song For The Summer
52. Foo Fighters – Saint Cecilia
53. Travis – Everything At Once
54. Brandon Flowers – Can’t Deny My Love
55. Echosmith – Cool Kids
56. Charli XCX ft Rita Ora – Doing It
57. Cathal Smyth – Do You Believe In Love?
58. Squeeze – Cradle To Grave
59. Stereophonics – Cest La Vie
60. Walk The Moon – Different Colours
61. David Bowie – Blackstar
62. New Order – Restless
63. Muse – Psycho
64. Kodaline – Ready
65. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – Riverman
66. Carly Rae Jepsen – Run Away With Me
67. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – The Dying Of The Light
68. James Bay – Hold Back The River
69. The Weekend – Can’t Feel My Face
70. Chvrches – Empty Threat
71. Sunset Sons – She Wants
72. The Vaccines – Handsome
73. Years and Years – King
74. Charli XCX – Famous
75. Natalie Imbruglia – Instant Crush

THE FRIDAY FIVE – 18.9.2015

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1. The View – Under The Rug
2. Muse – Lies
3. Foals – Mountain At My Gates
4. The Libertines – Gunga Din
5. New Order – Plastic

After much confusion, Muse announced a gig at The Odyssey for April 6th. Thankfully, a bigger venue and much more notice than their Ulster Hall gig earlier this year.

Just to get you in the mood for this, here’s a Muse Top Five

FIVE SONGS BY MUSE

1. Panic Stations
2. Neurton Star Collision
3. Knights Of Cydonia
4. Starlight
5. Muscle Museum

As a bonus, Ash announced a Christmas gig at The Empire. If that is more your thing, here’s an Ash Top Five

FIVE SONGS BY ASH

1. Envy
2. Oh Yeah
3. A Life Less Ordinary
4. Goldfinger
5. True Love 1980

THE FRIDAY FIVE – 31.7.2015

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1. Chemical Brothers – Go
2. Sunset Sons – She Wants
3. Hidden Cities ft Tim Halperin – Hungry Like The Wolf
4. New Order – Restless
5. Andreya Trian – Gold

Tomorrow, is International Yorkshire Day. So, to celebrate, here’s a musical chart from Yorkshire’s musical output.

FIVE SONGS BY ACTS FROM YORKSHIRE

1. Pulp – A Little Soul
2. Kaiser Chiefs – Oh My God
3. Kiki Dee – Star
4. Def Leppard – When Love And Hate Collide
5. Human League – Tell Me When