Tag Archives: Rolling Stones

THE SOUND OF 2023

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So, 2023 is almost over and everybody is looking back at the year just gone.

As is tradition, I do my Songs Of The Year chart. There is no scientific approach, I just hoke through my Friday Fives throughout the year and try to out them into a Top 50.

So here, is my Top 50 songs from 2023. Hopefully, you discover someone on the list that you go on to love.

Check out the band at Number 3, The Beatles. I reckon they’ve got a big future ahead. You heard it here first.

1. Nothing But Thieves – Welcome To The DCC
2. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – Easy Now
3. The Beatles – Now And Then
4. Rolling Stones – Angry
5. Declan McKenna – Nothing Works
6. Holly Humberstone – Into Your Room
7. Beabadoobee – That’s The Way Things Go
8. Jungle – Back On 74
9. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – Open The Door, See What You Find
10. Andy Taylor – This Will Be Ours
11. Olivia Dean – Dive
12. Fall Out Boy – We Didn’t Start The Fire
13. Ed Sheeran – Eyes Closed
14. Cat Burns – People Pleaser
15. Duran Duran – Psycho Killer
16. Andrea Bocelli – Festa
17. Ryan Gosling – I’m Just Ken
18. Deco – Seventeen Going Under
19. Ash with the RTE Concert Orchestra – Shining Light
20. David Byrne and Miley Cyrus – Let’s Dance
21. U2 – Pride 2023
22. The Killers – Your Side Of Town
23. OMD – Bauhaus Staircase
24. Blossoms and Findlay – To Do List (After The Break Up)
25. Lucy Gaffney – Make Me Smile
26. Susanna Hoffs – Under My Thumb
27. The Coral – Wild Bird
28. Purple Disco Machine – Something On My Mind
29. Olivia Rodrigo – Get Him Back
30. Ash – Oslo
31. Shed Seven – Starlings
32. Royal Blood – Shiner In The Dark
33. Cat Burns – Live More And Love More
34. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – Council Skies
35. Blink 182 – Dance With Me
36. The National – Deep End (Paul’s In Pieces)
37. Shed Seven – Kissing California
38. The Kid Laroi – Love Again
39. Shambolics ft Kyle Falconer – Attention
40. Noah Kahan – Stick Season
41. Feeder – ELF
42. Cast – Love Is The Call
43. Miles Kane – Time Of Your Life
44. Susanna Hoffs – I Don’t Know Why
45. Nothing But Thieves – Tomorrow Is Closed
46. Keyside – Paris To Marseille
47. Blur – The Narcissist
48. Kid Kapichi – Smash The Gaff
49. Apollo Junction – Magic
50. U2 – Atomic City

Congratulations to Nothing But Thieves. If you haven’t heard the winning song, the video is embedded below. There’s no prize, but they do join an illustrious list of former winners.

2022 Taylor Swift – Anti Hero
2021 Maneskin – Zitti E Buoni
2020 Tame Impala – Lost In Yesterday
2019 Vampire Weekend – Harmony Hill
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
2006 Kasabian – Empire

MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : Q – DECEMBER 2012

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It’s the end of 2012 and there’s a killer on the cover of Q. Not an actual killer, but Brandon Flowers, lead singer of The Killers.

2013 will see the 50th anniversary of The Rolling Stones, a year which will see new music and a documentary, this getting a single page feature from Q.

Charlotte Church gets a two page interview, where she reveals pensioners still turn up at her concerts thinking she will perform her opera hits.

The band Keane get a five page profile as Q goes on tour with them in Japan, and are having a more successful time that Roy Keane did in Japan ten years previously.

Also featured is someone else looking to have success in a foreign country, asking why Breaking Bad isn’t available in the UK.

Q features the recent trend of musicians becoming DJs, with a profile of Radio 6 Music stars Cerys Matthews, Jarvis Cocker, Guy Garvey and Huey Morgan.

Cover star Brandon Flowers is interviewed as part of an eight page feature on The Killers, revealing that he believes he will one day overtake The Osmonds as the world’s most famous Mormon.

In live reviews, Q goes to see George Michael in London, back on the concert trail after a near fatal bout of pneumonia.

The magazine ends with a Q and A with Florence Welch, who reveals she has no plans to follow David Cameron on Twitter.

50 YEARS OF TOP OF THE POPS : MAY 30 – JUN 5

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It’s June now, and summer is almost here, so what does the birth and deaths register of pop have in store for us.

Tim Burgess is 47 this week.

Tom Robinson edges another year closer to a Bus Pass, where he can travel along the 2-4-6-8 Motorway

Meanwhile, there’s two Stones birthdays this week. Bet Mick buys 2 for 1 presents for Ronnie and Charlie too.

(PEDANTS BEWARE : Yes, I know Ronnie Wood isn’t in this video, but there appears to be no Stones appearances on TOTP with Ronnie Wood on Youtube)

(DISCLAIMER : First video introduced by Jimmy Savile)

Tony Hadley turned 54 this week, but let’s throw this curveball into the mix. Pop fact, Tony Hadley made a 3 second cameo appearance in the video for this song.

I went to Tim Rice-Oxley from Keane’s birthday party this week. Where was it? Somewhere only we know.

Bit of 90s nostalgia now …

Meanwhile, Kelly Jones turned the big 40 this week.

This week’s sad anniversary ……. three years since Andrew Gold from Wax died.

Back to birthdays, and I doubt Tony McCarroll, formerly of Oasis will be getting any cards from Liam and Noel. He got sacked soon after this performance.

And finally, to end this week, a shot of JD ……. Jason Donovan that is.

And, it would be rude not to.

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

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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.

50 YEARS OF TOP OF THE POPS : JAN 17 – JAN 23

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We begin this week by celebrating the birth of a Rolling Stone called Mick, but not that one. Mick Taylor, a Stone from 1969 to 1974, here in one of their last TOTP studio appearances before they became too busy/big for the show, then too low charting.

17th January is a birthday for not 1, not 2, but 3 1980s stars. Paul Young (1956) being introduced here by Simon Le Bon.

Meanwhile, three years later (or, 1959) saw the birth of Susanna Hoffs. As a treat, here’s The Bangles performing Eternal Flame in 2001, shortly after Atomic Kitten took a cover of it to Number 1.

And finally, in 1964, Andy Rourke. You know, one of the two in The Smiths that wasn’t Johnny Marr or Morrissey.

Onto more recent times, Ricky Wilson from Kaiser Chiefs (and, um, The Voice) turns 36 this week.

While Calvin Harris turns 31 this week.

It’s a busy week for birthdays, with Tom Bailey of Thompson Twins turning 60. Here’s Mike Read introducing them by playing Harmonica.

Sir John Mills grandson is 41 this week. You may know him better as the singer from Kula Shaker.

Meanwhile, here’s Hard-Fi living for the weekend in 2005

Meanwhile, Robert Palmer would have been eligible for a bus pass this week if he was still alive. Here’s a random find of him performing with The Power Station, introduced by Harry Hill.

Nicky Wire from the Manics is 45 this week. Here they are performing Everything Must Go. Is it me, or does the drum loop slightly rip off Be My Baby?

The birthdays keep coming, Gary Barlow (1971) and Emma Bunton (1976)

Now to some would be birthdays, first Malcolm McLaren

And Michael Hutchence, who would have been 52 this week.

Sporting some dodgy gym gear in 1987

Performing ‘Taste It’

And finally, being introduced by his ex, Kylie Minogue in 1997, the year he later died.

Almost near the end of this week’s Birthday Bonanza, one last one, Andrew Roachford, or just plain Roachford.

Though, you can’t hear ‘Cuddly Toy’ without thinking about this.

And finally, we end on a sad note, as this week saw the 18th anniversary of the death of the London Boys. This song, is just fantastic.

THE FRIDAY FIVE – 23.11.2012

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1. Alicia Keys – Girl On Fire
2. The Vaccines – I Always Knew
3. Two Door Cinema Club – Sun
4. Harvey Danger – Flagpole Sitta
5. The Family Rain – Trust Me, I’m A Genius

Last week’s X-Factor theme was ‘Guilty Pleasures’, which was a difficult one for me, as all the music I like is brilliant.

Anyway, play to the crowd, here’s some songs that may be classed as ‘Guilty Pleasures’

FIVE ‘GUILTY PLEASURES’

1. Kylie Minogue – I Should Be So Lucky
2. Glenn and Chris – Diamond Lights
3. London Boys – Requiem
4. Cast Of Grange Hill – Just Say No
5. Louise – Naked

Sometimes (well, most of the time) life isn’t fair. James doing a tour with Echo and the Bunnymen, which isn’t coming to Belfast is one such example.

I saw both bands in 2010 and they are both fantastic. To celebrate (or in my case, commiserate) here’s a top Five from both acts

FIVE JAMES SONGS

1. Tomorrow
2. She’s A Star
3. Destiny Calling
4. Laid
5. I Know What I’m Here For

FIVE ECHO AND THE BUNNYMEN SONGS

1. Nothing Lasts Forever
2. Bring On The Dancing Horses
3. It’s Alright
4. Bedbugs and Ballyhoo
5. The Cutter

Last Saturday, and this Saturday, BBC 2 are having a night of programming dedicated to the Rolling Stones. It’s as if they’re battling with BBC 4 for my affections.

So, to celebrate, here’s a Rolling Stones Top Five

I saw the Stones in 2007, for free. If you want to read about it, click here

FIVE ROLLING STONES SONGS

1. You Can’t Always Get What You Want
2. Get Off My Cloud
3. I’m Free
4. Ruby Tuesday
5. Love Is Strong

And finally, Monday was International Men’s Day. To celebrate my, and others, manliness, I give you chart. Five songs about men (And in the name of equality, I celebrated International Women’s Day with a chart)

FIVE SONGS ABOUT MEN

1. Mansun – Electric Man
2. Michael Jackson – Man In The Mirror
3. REM – Man On The Moon
4. Human League – Mirror Man
5. David Bowie – The Man Who Sold The World

THE FRIDAY FIVE – 12.10.2012

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1. Green Day – Kill The DJ
2. Muse – Madness
3. Paloma Faith – 30 Minute Love Affair
4. Wonder Villains – TV
5. Rolling Stones – Doom And Gloom

Last week, saw the first of the live finals of X-Factor. As with last year, I shall do a Top Five of the previous week’s theme.

Last week’s theme was ‘Songs Inspired By The Olympics And Paralympics’

Between me and you, I think they’re making it up as they go along.

FIVE SONGS ‘INSPIRED’ BY LONDON 2012

1. Queen – Bicycle Race (Inspired by Bradley Wiggins)
2. Babybird – The F Word (Inspired by Jody Cundy)
3. Knaan – Wavin Flag (Inspired by Hampden Park scoreboard operators)
4. ABBA – Money Money Money (Inspired by Vangelis impending PRS cheques)
5. Stereophonics – Mr Writer (Inspired by boring journalists using London 2012 to bash football)

In other exciting news, Girls Aloud are making a comeback to mark their 10th anniversary. It’s unknown if One True Voice are planning a comeback for their 10th anniversary.

So, to commemorate, here’s a Girls Aloud Top Five

FIVE SONGS BY GIRLS ALOUD

1. Biology
2. The Promise
3. Life Got Cold
4. I’ll Stand By You
5. Whole Lotta History