Tag Archives: U2

THE SOUND OF 2021

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It’s that time of year where people do End Of Year Lists and this blog is no different with the now traditional chart of the best songs of the year.

Nothing scientific, just a scroll through The Friday Fives and trying to put them in order of songs I love the most.

Enjoy, hope i’ve helped you discover something you’ve never heard before

  1. Maneskin – Zitti E Buoni
  2. Gaspard Auge – Force Majeure
  3. Alfie Templeman – Everybody’s Gonna Love Somebody
  4. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – The Mighty Quinn
  5. Sam Fender – Seventeen Going Under
  6. Wesley Gonzalez and Rose Elinor Dougall – Greater Expectations
  7. Tears For Fears – Tipping Point
  8. The Weeknd – Save Your Tears
  9. Lonelady – There Is No Logic
  10. Chvrches – Good Girls
  11. Rag n Bone Man – All You Ever Wanted
  12. Amy Montgomery – Anywhere
  13. Lorde – Solar Power
  14. Coldplay – Higher Power
  15. Laura Mvula – Got Me
  16. The Anxiety – Meet Me At Our Spot
  17. Griff – One Foot In Front Of The Other
  18. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – We’re On Our Way Now
  19. Dermot Kennedy – Better Days
  20. Tom Grennan – Little Bit Of Love
  21. Taylor Swift – All Too Well (Taylor’s version)
  22. Sting – Rushing Water
  23. Holly Humberstone – The Walls Are Way Too Thin
  24. Marshmello and Jonas Brothers – Leave Before You Love Me
  25. Griff – One Night
  26. Royal Blood – Limbo
  27. The Alarm – The Red Wall Of Cymru
  28. Tears For Fears – No Small Thing
  29. Tix – Fallen Angel
  30. Chvrches – The Killing Moon
  31. Harry Styles – Treat People With Kindness
  32. The Roop – Discotheque
  33. Sigrid – Burning Bridges
  34. Baby Queen – Dover Beach
  35. Maisie Peters – John Hughes Movie
  36. Villagers – So Simpatico
  37. Alphabeat – Danmark’s Dynamite
  38. Jendrik – I Don’t Feel Hate
  39. Hooverphonic – The Wrong Place
  40. Jeangu Macrooy – Birth Of A New Age
  41. Andy Bell – Skywalker
  42. U2 – Your Song Saved My Life
  43. The Fratellis – Yes Sir I Can Boogie
  44. Olivia Rodrigo – Good 4 U
  45. Chvrches – He Said, She Said
  46. Mike Patton – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turles
  47. Olivia Rodrigo – Deja Vu
  48. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – We’re Gonna Get There In The End
  49. The Divine Comedy – The Best Mistakes
  50. Franz Ferdinand – Billy Goodbye

So congratulations to Maneskin. There isn’t a formal prize on offer, but you can still bask in the glory of coming top of this poll and joining the Hall Of Fame below.

2020 Tame Impala – Lost In Yesterday
2019 Vampire Weekend – Harmony Hill
2018 Lovelytheband – Broke
2017 Liam Gallagher – For What It’s Worth
2016 The Strumbellas – Spirits
2015 Blossoms – Charlamagne
2014 Jamie T – Zombie
2013 Haim – The Wire
2012 Taylor Swift – We Are Never Ever 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 Daughter – Darling
2007 Feist – 1, 2, 3, 4
2006 Kasabian – Empire

MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : SELECT – MAY 1992

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Bono is the cover star of this edition of Select, an edition which goes on tour with U2.

In news, 1992 is going to be a busy year for Madonna, as she will release an erotic book, a new album, and star in a film.

Select spends eight days with Paul Heaton of The Beautiful South, a period which covers an Irish Awards Ceremony, and a trip to Italy to see Juventus, where his taxi driver helped him buy a ticket from a tout for “a reasonable price”

Boo Radleys get a double page feature, which reveals that Tim Brown, their Bassist, lives in Stuart Sutcliffe (original Bassist in The Beatles) old house.

Therapy?, The Sugarcubes, Lou Reed, Soundgarden and Ride get concert reviews in this edition.

Carter USM hold a press conference to address the state of the nation, and aren’t particularly complimentary to Lush or Ride.

Cover stars U2 get six pages as Select joins them on tour in America.

That is followed by four pages of The Cure, after they have launched a comeback.

In reviews, Jesus and Mary Chain have a new album out, which gets awarded five out of five, while Lightning Seeds new album gets two out of five.

THE FRIDAY FIVE – 7.6.2019

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1. Billie Eilish – Bury A Friend
2. Liam Gallagher – Shockwave
3. Lewis Capaldi – Grace
4. Feeder – Save Us
5. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – Rattling Rose

So, are you all excited? Tonight is The Story Of 1988 on BBC Four. So, to get you in the mood ahead of that and the next year of Top Of The Pops repeats, here’s a chart for you.

FIVE SONGS FROM 1988

1. Jane Weidlin – Rush Hour
2. U2 – Angel Of Harlem
3. Ofra Haza – Im Nin Alu
4. Desireless – Voyage Voyage
5. Kylie Minogue – I Should Be Lucky

It appears that yesterday was Sweden’s National Day. I only found out after their promotional bus was packing up outside Belfast City Hall. So here’s some Swedish songs for you

FIVE SONGS BY SWEDISH ACTS

1. Europe – The Final Countdown
2. Roxette – Joyride
3. The Cardigans – Lovefool
4. Ace Of Base – The Sign
5. Emilia – Big Big World

2018 IN PICTURES – OCTOBER

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I had to wait until the 8th of the month for a photo adventure, heading to The Oval to see Linfield take on Glentoran.

That was then followed up by a trip to Windsor Park the following Saturday to see Linfield take on Newry City.

Another weekend, another football match, as I then headed to the Seaside to see Linfield take on Ards.

The following weekend, began with Rugby, as I headed to Ravenhill to see Ulster take on Dragons.

It was back to football the following day as I headed to Stangmore Park to see Linfield take on Dungannon Swifts.

The month ended with a trip to The Odyssey to see U2 in concert.

Glentoran v Linfield

Linfield v Newry City

Ards v Linfield

Ulster v Dragons

Ulster v Dragons Photo Album

Dungannon Swifts v Linfield

U2 live at The Odyssey

U2 live at The Odyssey Photo Album

MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : SMASH HITS – 4.11.1987

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As 1987 comes to an end, U2 are now the biggest band in the world. So big, they get to be on the cover of Smash Hits.

In news, Curiousity Killed The Cat are definitely not splitting up.

Back in the charts with Got My Mind Set On You, George Harrison’s career so far gets featured, just in case you didn’t know who he was.

There is also speculation this week about the futures of Level 42 and The Smiths.

In competitions, you could win a signed Erasure single.

From splits to reunions, there are rumours that Culture Club might be getting back together.

Smash Hits goes on tour with Colin Vearncombe, better known as Black, as he tours Europe.

Carol Decker of T’Pau gets a double page interview where she disagrees that she looks like the Duchess Of York and prefers Barbie over Sindy.

There were lyric posters for Jesus and Mary Chain, The Smiths, T’Pau and Marillion.

U2 get a four page feature which is accompanied by a review of a biography of them written by Eamon Dunphy, as well as a competition to win U2’s entire back catalogue.

Talking of U2, Jimmy Somerville reveals he has a poster of Larry Mullan in his kitchen despite not being a fan of U2.

Pet Shop Boys answer questions from readers where Neil Tennant confirms that he actually has to wear glasses and it’s not part of an image.

In ads, you could buy a pink cassette player from Rumbelows for £34.99.

Featured earlier in the magazine, The Communards are Single Of The Fortnight.

Wet Wet Wet get a concert review, with fans being interviewed outside the venue, with 15 year old Sharon saying that Marti Pellow has a nice bottom.

Talking of concerts, you could win a VHS of Spandau Ballet in concert

MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : SMASH HITS – 10.2.1988

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In answer to their question, appearing on the cover of Smash Hits is probably a good sign that Bros are famous. They found being on the cover of Smash Hits to be weird, having read the magazine at school.

As you open the magazine, there is a poster of Morrissey.

In competitions, you could win an Eddie Cochran single and a Levi’s T-shirt, or you could try to win an AC/DC satchel. Larry Mullan Jnr is interviewed, where he reveals people ask him to hold their umbrella for them while they got Bono’s autograph.

The American and Australian versions of Smash Hits had their Readers Polls, with the results being published. Duran Duran were popular in America, while Australian acts were unsurprisingly popular in Australia.

There is a profile of American star Taylor Dayne, riding high in the charts with Tell It To My Heart.

Kylie Minogue gets a poster an and interview, where she reveals she doesn’t like her teeth.

Debbie Gibson gets a double page interview, where she offers readers a guide to America.

In tours, you could see Pink Floyd, Robert Plant or Erasure if you wished.

Beastie Boys get a double page interview, where they say they want to start a Heavy Metal TV channel.

The Bangles get interviewed where Susanna reveals that her favourite music is Terence Trent D’Arby, Peter Gabriel and Rolling Stones.

Patsy Kensit reviews new singles, giving her favourite to Sting, and admitting to liking early Echo and the Bunnymen, but not knowing who The Doors were.

In concerts, Tiffany gets reviewed as she tours UK shopping centres.

The magazine ends with a double page interview with cover stars Bros.