Tag Archives: Rick Astley

THE SOUND OF 2019

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So 2019 is now over and we are almost in 2020.

Seeing as everybody is doing End Of Year Reviews, I thought i’d join the party, albeit a bit belatedly.

So here is my Top 50 Songs Of 2019. There’s no scientific formula to this list. I just went through 2019s Friday Fives and decided to spend an hour and rank the songs in order of favouriteness.

In a change from previous years, it’s only a Top 50 as it would probably take me until 2021 to do a Top 100.

1. Vampire Weekend – Harmony Hill
2. Sigrid – Mine Right Now
3. Taylor Swift ft Brendon Urie – Me
4. Dermot Kennedy – Outnumbered
5. Catfish and the Bottlemen – Longshot
6. Liam Gallagher – Shockwave
7. Sam Fender – Hypersonic Missiles
8. Two Door Cinema Club – Talk
9. Freya Ridings – Castles
10. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – Wandering Star
11. Tom Walker – Just You and I
12. Billie Eilish – Bury A Friend
13. Pet Shop Boys ft Olly Alexander – Dreamland
14. Of Monsters And Men – Alligator
15. Chvrches and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra – Miracle
16. Kygo ft Whitney Houston – Higher Love
17. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – Black Star Dancing
18. Bastille – Joy
19. Coldplay – Orphans
20. Liam Gallagher – Now That I’ve Found You
21. Sam Fender – Will We Talk
22. Gang Of Youths – What Can I Do If The Fire Goes Out?
23. Editors – Black Gold
24. Bastille – Can’t Fight This Feeling
25. Bloxx – Go Out With You
26. Katy Perry – Never Really Over
27. Blossoms – Your Girlfriend
28. Muse – Hungry Like The Wolf
29. The Courteeners – Heavy Jacket
30. Billie Eilish – Bad Guy
31. Chemical Brothers – MAH
32. Jade Bird – Lottery
33. Haim – Now I’m In It
34. Crystal – Just Can’t Get Enough
35. Rick Astley – Every One Of Us
36. Chvrches – Death Stranding
37. OMD – Don’t Go
38. The Divine Comedy – Infernal Machines
39. Vic and Bob – Bono’s Cooking Some Pork
40. Miles Kane – That’s Life
41. Liam Gallagher – The River
42. The Divine Comedy – Queuejumper
43. Weezer ft Tears For Fears – Everybody Wants To Rule The World
44. The Vaccines – All My Friends Are Falling In Love
45. Dua Lipa – Don’t Start Now
46. Shakespear’s Sister – All The Queen’s Horses
47. Lizzo – Juice
48. Rose Elinor Dougall – First Sign
49. Miley Cyrus – Nothing Breaks Like A Heart
50. Dea Matrona – Let’s Go Crazy

Congratulations to Vampire Weekend. There’s no physical prize, but they can just boast about it everywhere they go. Ideally, they’d be doing so in Belfast before a concert. Hint hint.

If you care, here’s the list of previous winners (NOTE: The 2006-2008 Countdowns were on Bebo, and have now been wiped from internet history)

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 Diamons – Shampain
2009 Little Boots – New In Town
2008 Sons and Daughters – Darling
2007 Feist – 1, 2, 3, 4
2006 Kasabian – Empire

MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : SMASH HITS – 19.4.1989

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Wendy James of Transvision Vamp is the cover star of Smash Hits, having broken into the charts during 1989.

As you open the magazine, there is a poster of Fleetwood Mac and Rolling Stones haters The Reynolds Girls.

Smash Hits asks various pop stars if they are O-Zone friendly. Simon Le Bon states that the situation is “Bloody frightening”.

A Spokesperson for Prince Charles says he has given up using O-Zone damaging products.

Jim Kerr of Simple Minds will be hosting a show on Radio 1 about ecological concerns. There is also a cut out letter to send to lobby the Minister for the Environment.

Nathan Moore of Brother Beyond is subject to a questionnaire asking if he is a thug or a weed, with the result putting him in the middle.

There was a token for readers to get free badges – Kylie Minogue, Yazz, Rick Astley and Michael Jackson.

Smash Hits previews Madonna’s new album with a poster and an interview. The interview isn’t with Madonna, but the Songwriters she worked with on the album.

As well as hosting a show on Radio 1, Jim Kerr and his band Simple Minds have a new single out, This Is You Land, which gets the Lyrics Poster treatment.

Cover star Wendy James gets a two page interview, with the headline asking if she is the new Kylie Minogue, revealing that she was suspended from school for knocking over chairs in assembley.

Holly Johnson is the Singles Reviewer, wanting to sit on the fence for songs he doesn’t like such as Texas, Kylie Minogue and Cher. He awarded Best Single to I’m Every Woman by Chaka Khan.

There is a feature on Duran Duran, as they try to regain their status as biggest band in the world.

The magazine ends with a poster of The Bangles.

THE SOUND OF 2017 : 51-75

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51. Rag n Bone Man – Skin
52. Erasure – Love You To The Sky
53. Simon Le Bon – Let’s Dance
54. The Kooks – Be Who You Are
55. The Chainsmokers – Young
56. The XX – On Hold
57. Beck – Up All Night
58. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – Be Careful What You Wish For
59. Pvris – What’s Wrong
60. Ed Sheeran – Castle On The Hill
61. Calvin Harris – Feels
62. Niall Horan – Slow Hand
63. Rick Astley ft Foo Fighters – Never Gonna Give You Up
64. Shed Seven – Don’t Get Me Wrong
65. Depeche Mode – Heroes
66. Ryan Adams – Streets Of Philidelphia
67. The National – The System Only Dreams In Total Darkness
68. James – Sit Down (Game Of Thrones 2017 version)
69. Coldplay – Something Just Like This
70. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – The Man Who Built The Moon
71. Ariana Grande and Miley Cyrus – Don’t Dream It’s Over
72. Muse – Dig Down
73. Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott – Here I Go Again
74. Ringo Starr – Give More Love
75. Rory Lavelle – When The Crazies Come Out

THE FRIDAY FIVE – 25.8.2017

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1. Rick Astley ft Foo Fighters – Never Gonna Give You Up
2. Bastille – Basketcase
3. Liam Gallagher – For What It’s Worth
4. Alex Cameron – Candy May
5. Rews – Shine

Still looking for a Ryan Adams ticket. Ulster Hall, Standing, Face Value. Do get in touch.

50 YEARS OF TOP OF THE POPS : JAN 31 – FEB 6

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With February now here, what does our look back at Top Of The Pops have for us.

We start, with Mike Read, in a pair of short shorts introducing KC and the Sunshine Band, wearing a multicolour coat. The 1980s, eh?

Fast forward a few years, we have Public Image Limited performing the superb Rise. Despite the jingly jangly radio friendly nature of the song, it actually has a dark subject matter …………. police brutality in South Africa.

We continue our 1980s theme with Lloyd Cole, who is actually no relation to Jimmy Car, believe it or not.

Moving away from the 1980s, to a pop star born in the 1980s, January 31st 1981 to be precise, Mr Justin Timberlake.

Another birthday this week, is Big Boi from Outkast.

A death anniversary, of sorts, as 19 years ago this week, Richey Edwards from Manic Street Preachers disappeared, and has never been seen since.

Incidentally, Richey Edwards disappeared on Shakira’s 18th birthday.

Alice Cooper turned 66 this week. Sadly for any kids watching, school isn’t out for summer ……. you still have another five months to go.

Also born this week in pop history was Tim Booth of James, the lead singer of one of my favourite bands. If you don’t like them, you should probably look away now, there’s a few videos coming up.

Also celebrating a birthday this week, is Natalie Imbruglia. She’s done some good songs you know.

Meanwhile, a death anniversary this week for Alex Harvey.

Patrick MacNee turned 92 this week. Yes, he of The Avengers. It’s basically an excuse to post a link to Don’t Look Back In Anger, which he appeared in the video for.

And finally, it’s Rick Astley’s birthday this week. It’s safe to watch this video. You won’t get Rickrolled.