THE FRIDAY FIVE – 17.5.2019

1. Taylor Swift ft Brendon Urie – Me
2. The Divine Comedy – Queuejumper
3. Oasis – Stop Crying Your Heart Out
4. Billy Joel – We Didn’t Start The Fire
5. Wham! – Wake Me Up Before You Go Go

I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but it’s Eurovision this weekend. So, to get you in the mood, as if you need to be got into the mood, here’s a chart for you

FIVE SONGS FROM EUROVISION

1. Rasmussen – Higher Ground
2. Katrina and the Waves – Love Shine A Light
3. A Friend In London – New Tomorrow
4. Johnny Logan – Hold Me Now
5. Anna Rossinelli – In Love For A While

THE FRIDAY FIVE – 20.4.2018

1. Blossoms – There’s A Reason Why (I Never Returned Your Calls)
2. Natalie Prass – Short Court Style
3. Tim Burgess- Clutching Insignificance
4. James – Busted
5. Tom Cochrane – Life Is A Highway

This Monday, is St George’s Day. As with all Saints Days, this blog will do a chart. In fact two charts. Enjoy.

FIVE SONGS BY ENGLISH ACTS

1. Marillion – Cover My Eyes
2. Duran Duran – Ordinary World
3. Oasis – Don’t Go Away
4. The Human League – Don’t You Want Me?
5. The Cure – Friday I’m In Love

FIVE SONGS BY BANDS FEATURING A GEORGE OR SINGERS CALLED GEORGE

1. Wham! – Freedom
2. One Night Only – Say You Don’t Want It
3. The Beatles – While My Guitar Gently Weeps
4. George Baker Selection – Little Green Bag
5. George Ezra – Budapest

MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : SMASH HITS – 20.11.1985

George Michael is the cover star of Smash Hits, as Wham! are once again riding high in the charts.

1985 was the year of Live Aid, and the Fashion industry joined in with Fashion Aid, an event attended by the likes of Freddie Mercury, Suggs and Boy George.

Feargal Sharkey is interviewed, where he reveals he doesn’t like Ginger Nuts and isn’t very good at sports.

Wham! get a four page feature, where they reveal that their new single I’m Your Man is about sex.

In ads, there is an advert for a new single called West End Girls by an unknown band called Pet Shop Boys.

Also getting interviewed this week is the band Mai Tai.

Paul Hardcastle is subject to a Q and A. It wasn’t N-n-n-n-n-n-nineteen questions long, but he did reveal that Joan Collins is his favourite actress.

Concert Reviews sees Smash Hits head to Glasgow for Midge Ure doing a hometown show at Barrowlands Ballroom.

There’s no guest reviewer for Singles, as In Embrace got voted Best Single.

New products on the markets were Popic Watches, watches with the image of your favourite pop band on them.

Enjoying a good review were Jesus and Mary Chain, whose new album got awarded 9 and a half out of 10.

THE FRIDAY FIVE – 1.12.2017

1. Tom Grennan – Found What I’ve Been Looking For
2. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – If Love Is The Law
3. Sia – Santa’s Coming For Us
4. Embrace – Wake Up Call
5. The Divine Comedy – Something For The Weekend

First of all, an apology. To the entire nation of Scotland. Yes.

Yesterday was St Andrew’s Day and I forgot to do a themed chart last week. So, belatedly, here is a St Andrew’s Day chart, celebrating two of the best things on earth – Scotland and people called Andrew.

FIVE SONGS BY SCOTTISH ARTISTS

1. Pilot – Magic
2. Simple Minds – She’s A River
3. The View – Blondie
4. Aztec Camara – Somewhere In My Heart
5. Strawberry Switchblade – Since Yesterday

FIVE SONGS BY BANDS FEATURING AN ANDREW

1. Wax – Bridge To Your Heart
2. Wham – Freedom
3. Depeche Mode – Never Let Me Down Again
4. INXS – Afterglow
5. Primal Scream – Jailbird

Sorry to Oasis, Duran Duran and OMD, but this chart is for Andrews only, no Andys.

It was announced that Blossoms will be supporting Noel Gallagher on his European tour next year. Fingers crossed they’ll be supporting him on his UK dates as well. The fact they’ll be touring in 2018 means we can hopefully expect new music from them as well. They’re brilliant by the way. If you haven’t already, you should check them out.

If there are any readers in the South-East of England, Victorious looks like it has a decent line-up on the Friday night : Lightning Seeds, Shed Seven and Kaiser Chiefs all playing on the Friday. Admittedly, Libertines headlining is underwhelming. Still, you can just use the time to get a bite to eat/go to the bar/go home early. Not going to lie, i’m jealous of that line-up.

….. and talking of Shed Seven, they’ve announced a Belfast gig to go with their rearranged concerts that were recently cancelled. Now that’s what I call a stroke of luck. I’ll be trying to get a ticket later this morning.

Finally, it’s the World Cup draw today. I’ll be doing a themed chart for each group with songs by artists from the countries when it comes along in June. I’d rather be including Baltimora than Yello to be honest. I’m over it, i’m over it. Ok, i’m still not over it. If Switzerland end up in a group with Panama, Russia and Iran, I might just cry.

MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : SMASH HITS – 14.2.1985

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 – 2.6.2017

1. Liam Gallagher – Wall Of Glass
2. The Courteeners – Don’t Look Back In Anger
3. Maggie Rogers – Alaska
4. OMD – Isotype
5. Ray Davies – Broken

In gig news, Erasure have announced a tour for early 2018 with no Belfast gig. Boooo. I’m pining my hopes on Belfast Pride saving the day. Come on, be the heroes we need. DISCLAIMER – I have no inside information, i’m just letting my imagination run wild. What’s the point in having an imagination if you can’t let it run wild?

Liam Gallagher’s first solo show on Tuesday night sounded rather good. I know this, because it seemed like everyone was broadcasting it onto social media via their phone. A reminder that not all heroes wear capes.

I’m not saying I have a favourite Gallagher brother, but Noel does Belfast gigs when he goes on tour.

Hopefully, a full tour will follow when the album is released towards the end of the year.

Meanwhile, the Top Of The Pops juggernaut on BBC Four has reached 1984. The Story Of 1984 is on tonight at 9pm.

So, to celebrate, here’s a 1984 chart for you.

FIVE SONGS FROM 1984

1. Frankie Goes To Hollywood – Two Tribes
2. Wham! – Freedom
3. Duran Duran – Wild Boys
4. Depeche Mode – Master and Servant
5. Strawberry Sitchblade – Since Yesterday

Ryan Adams update. Still looking for a ticket for his Ulster Hall gig in September. Standing, Face Value.

MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : SMASH HITS – 3.1.1985

As 1985 starts, Wham! are the cover stars of Smash Hits, who join them on tour, stating that their fans enjoy their gigs than people who go to see Duran Duran, Culture Club and Spandau Ballet.

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

In news, Smash Hits launches an Australian version, to compliment the American version, which is known as Star Hits.

Ian McCullough of Echo and the Bunnymen is interviewed, as the band takes a year off.

There are three pages dedicated to Alannah Currie’s life story so far. You know, her from Thompson Twins.

Smash Hits joins Wham! on tour in Edinburgh, and Andrew Ridgeley dresses up for the occasion by wearing a tartan suit.

Concert Reviews sees Smash Hits go to see UB40, Howard Jones and Cocteau Twins.

THE FRIDAY FIVE – 21.4.2017

1. Paramore – Hard Times
2. Kasabian – Bless This Acid House
3. Prince – Deliverance
4. Camens – Boys Will Stray
5. Spoon – Hot Thoughts

Today is Robert Smiths’s birthday, and it’s his favourite day of the week. It’s the first time it’s fallen on a Friday since 2006, and won’t happen again until 2023, so he had better enjoy it.

To celebrate, here’s a The Cure Top Five

FIVE SONGS BY THE CURE

1. Friday I’m In Love
2. Lullaby
3. Hot Hot Hot
4. Close To Me
5. In Between Days

This Sunday, is St George’s Day, so time to lie back and think of England with some themed playlists for you

FIVE SONGS BY SINGERS CALLED GEORGE OR BANDS WITH SOMEONE CALLED GEORGE

1. Wham! – Freedom
2. One Night Only – Say You Don’t Want It
3. George Baker Selection – Little Green Bag
4. George Ezra – Blame It On Me
5. The Beatles – While My Guitar Gently Weeps

FIVE SONGS BY ACTS FROM ENGLAND

1. Pulp – A Little Soul
2. Depeche Mode – Enjoy The Silence
3. Cast – Finetime
4. The Beautiful South – Ole Red Eyes Is Back
5. Duran Duran – Ordinary World

Gig news, Paramore are coming to Belfast. The downside is, i’m already going to see The 1975 that night. If their marketing team had any brains, they could get them to do a gig at the bar of a South Belfast hotel and call it “PARAMORE AT THE PARADOR”

No doubt you all saw May’s big announcement on Tuesday morning. Brian that is, not Theresa. “Queen” are coming to The Odyssey in November. I’m not a big fan of him as a solo artist (apart from What Do You Want From Me?) but Adam Lambert is a capable vocalist and Queen + Adam Lambert looked decent at their BBC New Year’s Eve concert in 2014/2015. However, £74? For £74, i’m expecting Freddie Mercury and John Deacon on stage, and David Bowie to make a guest appearance on Under Pressure.

Ever since BBC Four had a night of programming dedicated to Depeche Mode, i’m been rediscovering how brilliant they are. There’ll be a Belfast gig this year, date to be announced, so I might pop along to see them.

Ryan Adams update. Still looking for a ticket for his Ulster Hall gig.

COS YOU GOTTA HAVE PAINT

When you hear that there is mural in Belfast of a guy called George, you immediately think it will be of George Best. However, this one is of George Kyriacos Panayiotou, better known to you and me as George Michael, who died on Christmas Day last year.

Like David Bowie and Prince before him, his death has been commemorated in Belfast with a mural.

This one is in Botanic, in India Street. Does that address sound familiar? That’s because, last month, I posted that a mural of Prince appeared there. This mural of George Michael is right beside Prince. The mural of Prince has since had a purple background added to it since I blogged about it.

The image is of the cover of his 1996 album Older.

The painting is by an artist called Glen Molloy. You probably guessed that from the fact is name is beside the George Michael.

Dubbed “The Belfast Banksy”, he recently outed himself as the artist responsible for the “Wall Of Legends” near Royal Mail offices, which was documented on this blog late last year.

He has his own Facebook page. You can like it here.

Photo Album