Something of a sparse year for favourites again, but here we go :

1. Beyonce & Shakira - Beautiful Liar (Freemasons remix) *
2. Christina - Candyman
3. Colbie Caillat - Bubbly
4. Nelly Furtado - Say It Right
5. Feist - 1234
6. Freemasons - Uninvited
7. Manics - Your Love Alone
8. Gossip - Standing In The Way Of Control
9. Cascada - What Hurts The Most
10. Rihanna - Umbrella

* The original version wouldn't even have made my top 10, in which case 
Kylie's '2 Hearts' would have moved up from #11.
-- 
Paul Hyett, Cheltenham (change 'invalid83261' to 'blueyonder' to email me)

"Paul Hyett"  wrote in message
news:nNdloYCWH1cHFwyP@blueyonder.co.uk...
> Something of a sparse year for favourites again, but here we go :
>
> 1. Beyonce & Shakira - Beautiful Liar (Freemasons remix) *

Terribly naff to me, although that's largely because of the sax solo and the 
fact that I've heard so many other Freemasons mixes.

> 2. Christina - Candyman

Eww.

> 3. Colbie Caillat - Bubbly

Only heard this once, and I'm perfectly happy about that.

> 4. Nelly Furtado - Say It Right

Grower of the year for me, perhaps, although I still don't like it that 
much.

> 5. Feist - 1234

I do like this but there's something a wee bit "art-project" about it that 
puts me off slightly. Nice trumpets.

> 6. Freemasons - Uninvited

Sounds like Steps, but there are worse things in the world.

> 7. Manics - Your Love Alone

Spot the odd one out here!
This is another one where I can't make a totally dispassionate assessment. 
Well, I can't really do that for any record in the world, but this is one 
where I have a conscious bias.

> 8. Gossip - Standing In The Way Of Control

Probably the one of these that comes closest to my list, although again I 
got a bit fed up of Ms Ditto as the year wore on. And I might have 
disqualified it on the basis that I heard it the first time it came out.

> 9. Cascada - What Hurts The Most

A song I don't particularly like, whoever's doing it. Not as bad as the 
Rascal Flatts version, though.

> 10. Rihanna - Umbrella

I found it a bit irritating-ating-ating-ah.

> * The original version wouldn't even have made my top 10, in which case
> Kylie's '2 Hearts' would have moved up from #11.

It didn't really convince me in either form, I must admit, although I found 
the original backing track more interesting.

Anyhow, after the above slating I feel I should show my own hand, which in 
this case means picking out ten favourites from the "Best Of 2007" playlist 
on my computer, in no particular order:

Bloc Party - The Prayer
Maximo Park - Our Velocity
Richard Hawley - Tonight The Streets Are Ours
DJ Shadow - This Time (I'm Going To Try It My Way)
The White Stripes - Icky Thump
Foo Fighters - The Pretender
Just Jack - Starz In Their Eyes
Dan Le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip - Thou Shalt Always Kill
Klaxons - Golden Skans
The Arcade Fire - No Cars Go

Just off the top of my head, I think 'Brianstorm' would overtake the Arcade 
Fire if I had it on this computer.

    Chris
-- 
"It's always hard meeting your heroes. Especially when they punch you in the 
face."

http://thehitparade.blogspot.com

More of my blathering is available at
http://faynights.users.btopenworld.com

"Paul Hyett"  wrote in message 
news:nNdloYCWH1cHFwyP@blueyonder.co.uk...
> Something of a sparse year for favourites again, but here we go :
>
> 1. Beyonce & Shakira - Beautiful Liar (Freemasons remix) *
> 2. Christina - Candyman
> 3. Colbie Caillat - Bubbly
> 4. Nelly Furtado - Say It Right
> 5. Feist - 1234
> 6. Freemasons - Uninvited
> 7. Manics - Your Love Alone
> 8. Gossip - Standing In The Way Of Control
> 9. Cascada - What Hurts The Most
> 10. Rihanna - Umbrella
>

Here's mine, well a top 8 anyway.
Interesting as 2007 was the year I started to take at least some
interest in the charts again, due to the change in the regulations
regarding downloads at the start of the year.

1. Lilly Allen - Alfie
2. Mark Ronson/Amy Winehouse - Valerie
3. Just Jack - Starz in their Eyes
4. Mika - Grace Kelly
5. Kate Nash - Foundations
6. Freemasons - Uninvited
7. Hoosiers - Goodbye Mr A
8. Kaiser Chiefs - Ruby

We agree on no.6 I see :)
-- 
Col

Steal a spaceship and head for the sun,
Shoot the stars with a lemonade ray gun.

In uk.music.charts on Sun, 30 Dec 2007, Chris Brown 
 wrote :
>>
>> 1. Beyonce & Shakira - Beautiful Liar (Freemasons remix) *
>
>Terribly naff to me, although that's largely because of the sax solo and the
>fact that I've heard so many other Freemasons mixes.

At least you responded to my thread - no-one else has...
>
>> 2. Christina - Candyman
>
>Eww.
>
>> 3. Colbie Caillat - Bubbly
>
>Only heard this once, and I'm perfectly happy about that.
>
>> 4. Nelly Furtado - Say It Right
>
>Grower of the year for me, perhaps, although I still don't like it that
>much.
>
>> 5. Feist - 1234
>
>I do like this

That's 1 out of 5 then...

>but there's something a wee bit "art-project" about it that
>puts me off slightly. Nice trumpets.

Is that a euphemism? :)
>
>> 6. Freemasons - Uninvited
>
>Sounds like Steps, but there are worse things in the world.
>
>> 7. Manics - Your Love Alone
>
>Spot the odd one out here!
>This is another one where I can't make a totally dispassionate assessment.
>Well, I can't really do that for any record in the world, but this is one
>where I have a conscious bias.

How come?
>
>> 8. Gossip - Standing In The Way Of Control
>
>Probably the one of these that comes closest to my list, although again I
>got a bit fed up of Ms Ditto as the year wore on. And I might have
>disqualified it on the basis that I heard it the first time it came out.

I base the list on the year of peak position.
>
>> 9. Cascada - What Hurts The Most
>
>A song I don't particularly like, whoever's doing it. Not as bad as the
>Rascal Flatts version, though.
>
>> 10. Rihanna - Umbrella
>
>I found it a bit irritating-ating-ating-ah.
>
>> * The original version wouldn't even have made my top 10, in which case
>> Kylie's '2 Hearts' would have moved up from #11.
>
>It didn't really convince me in either form, I must admit, although I found
>the original backing track more interesting.
>
>Anyhow, after the above slating I feel I should show my own hand, which in
>this case means picking out ten favourites from the "Best Of 2007" playlist
>on my computer, in no particular order:
>
>Bloc Party - The Prayer

Now if you'd said 'Flux'...

>Maximo Park - Our Velocity
>Richard Hawley - Tonight The Streets Are Ours
>DJ Shadow - This Time (I'm Going To Try It My Way)
>The White Stripes - Icky Thump
>Foo Fighters - The Pretender
>Just Jack - Starz In Their Eyes

This one is OK.

>Dan Le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip - Thou Shalt Always Kill
>Klaxons - Golden Skans
>The Arcade Fire - No Cars Go

I don't even remember four of these!
-- 
Paul Hyett, Cheltenham (change 'invalid83261' to 'blueyonder' to email me)

In uk.music.charts on Sun, 30 Dec 2007, Col  
wrote :
>
>Here's mine, well a top 8 anyway.
>Interesting as 2007 was the year I started to take at least some
>interest in the charts again, due to the change in the regulations
>regarding downloads at the start of the year.
>
>1. Lilly Allen - Alfie
>2. Mark Ronson/Amy Winehouse - Valerie
>3. Just Jack - Starz in their Eyes
>4. Mika - Grace Kelly
>5. Kate Nash - Foundations
>6. Freemasons - Uninvited
>7. Hoosiers - Goodbye Mr A
>8. Kaiser Chiefs - Ruby
>
>We agree on no.6 I see :)

I don't mind #3 either, though I didn't like it enough to get near my 
top 10.
-- 
Paul Hyett, Cheltenham (change 'invalid83261' to 'blueyonder' to email me)

"Paul Hyett"  wrote in message 
news:t26XW9ANk+dHFwpn@blueyonder.co.uk...
> In uk.music.charts on Sun, 30 Dec 2007, Chris Brown 
>  wrote :
>>>
>>> 1. Beyonce & Shakira - Beautiful Liar (Freemasons remix) *
>>
>>Terribly naff to me, although that's largely because of the sax solo and 
>>the
>>fact that I've heard so many other Freemasons mixes.
>
> At least you responded to my thread - no-one else has...

Looks like somebody has now, but I've not read it yet.

>>> 5. Feist - 1234
>>
>>I do like this
>
> That's 1 out of 5 then...
>
>>but there's something a wee bit "art-project" about it that
>>puts me off slightly. Nice trumpets.
>
> Is that a euphemism? :)

Not necessarily.

>>> 7. Manics - Your Love Alone
>>
>>Spot the odd one out here!
>>This is another one where I can't make a totally dispassionate assessment.
>>Well, I can't really do that for any record in the world, but this is one
>>where I have a conscious bias.
>
> How come?

Because of my former investment in the band. If this had been, say, a 
Stereophonics single I'd have thought it was OK but from the Manics I 
thought it was, if you'll pardon the phrase, not enough.

>>> 8. Gossip - Standing In The Way Of Control
>>
>>Probably the one of these that comes closest to my list, although again I
>>got a bit fed up of Ms Ditto as the year wore on. And I might have
>>disqualified it on the basis that I heard it the first time it came out.
>
> I base the list on the year of peak position.

That's a fair critereon, but I usually set a tough one to exclude as much as 
possible because I'm so bad at making decisions. Obviously a line has to be 
drawn somewhere, otherwise my pick of tracks that charted in 2007 would 
include 'Suspicious Minds', 'Paint It, Black', 'Life On Mars?'...

>>Anyhow, after the above slating I feel I should show my own hand, which in
>>this case means picking out ten favourites from the "Best Of 2007" 
>>playlist
>>on my computer, in no particular order:
>>
>>Bloc Party - The Prayer
>
> Now if you'd said 'Flux'...

If they hadn't released this one, I would have!
I liked 'Hunting For Witches' too, so Bloc Party would certainly be my 
choice for singles act of the year.

>>Just Jack - Starz In Their Eyes
>
> This one is OK.

Seems to have been slightly forgotten, although it did OK in the YTD chart. 
I liked some of his other singles too, although I didn't buy them either.


>>The Arcade Fire - No Cars Go
>
> I don't even remember four of these!

Which four?
I actually thought it was a bit of a mainstream one for me this year, since 
almost all of them went Top 40.

    Chris

In uk.music.charts on Mon, 31 Dec 2007, Chris Brown 
 wrote :
>
>>>> 5. Feist - 1234
>>>
>>>I do like this
>>>but there's something a wee bit "art-project" about it that
>>>puts me off slightly. Nice trumpets.
>>
>> Is that a euphemism? :)
>
>Not necessarily.

Ahem, moving swiftly on...
>
>>>> 7. Manics - Your Love Alone
>>>
>>>Spot the odd one out here!
>>>This is another one where I can't make a totally dispassionate assessment.
>>>Well, I can't really do that for any record in the world, but this is one
>>>where I have a conscious bias.
>>
>> How come?
>
>Because of my former investment in the band.

Literal or metaphorical?

>If this had been, say, a
>Stereophonics single I'd have thought it was OK but from the Manics I
>thought it was, if you'll pardon the phrase, not enough.

Wonder why Nina Persson got no 'featured artist' credit, though?
>
>>>
>>>Bloc Party - The Prayer
>>
>> Now if you'd said 'Flux'...
>
>If they hadn't released this one, I would have!
>I liked 'Hunting For Witches' too, so Bloc Party would certainly be my
>choice for singles act of the year.

I liked 'Helicopters' from a previous album.
>
>>>The Arcade Fire - No Cars Go
>>
>> I don't even remember four of these!
>
>Which four?

I forgot which. :)
-- 
Paul Hyett, Cheltenham (change 'invalid83261' to 'blueyonder' to email me)

"Paul Hyett"  wrote in message
news:968T1sAbwSeHFwzs@blueyonder.co.uk...
> In uk.music.charts on Mon, 31 Dec 2007, Chris Brown
>  wrote :
>>
>>
>>>>> 7. Manics - Your Love Alone
>>>>
>>>>Spot the odd one out here!
>>>>This is another one where I can't make a totally dispassionate
>>>>assessment.
>>>>Well, I can't really do that for any record in the world, but this is
>>>>one
>>>>where I have a conscious bias.
>>>
>>> How come?
>>
>>Because of my former investment in the band.
>
> Literal or metaphorical?

Metaphorical - as in my emotional investment. The financial investment 
wasn't wasted. Well, apart from £13:99 of it.

>>If this had been, say, a
>>Stereophonics single I'd have thought it was OK but from the Manics I
>>thought it was, if you'll pardon the phrase, not enough.
>
> Wonder why Nina Persson got no 'featured artist' credit, though?

Possibly a contractual thing, but the more likely answer is that her name 
just wasn't well-enough know to be a big draw commercially.

>>>>
>>>>Bloc Party - The Prayer
>>>
>>> Now if you'd said 'Flux'...
>>
>>If they hadn't released this one, I would have!
>>I liked 'Hunting For Witches' too, so Bloc Party would certainly be my
>>choice for singles act of the year.
>
> I liked 'Helicopters' from a previous album.

I liked that one too, and I'd have that album if a certain website hadn't 
let me down. Still, they delivered my Mum's Christmas present... yesterday.

Happy New Year everybody.


    Chris

In uk.music.charts on Tue, 1 Jan 2008, Chris Brown 
 wrote :
>>>
>>>>>> 7. Manics - Your Love Alone

>>>>>Well, I can't really do that for any record in the world, but this is
>>>>>one
>>>>>where I have a conscious bias.
>>>>
>>>> How come?
>>>
>>>Because of my former investment in the band.
>>
>> Literal or metaphorical?
>
>Metaphorical - as in my emotional investment.

The above was, of course, their most successful single for some years - 
unlike the others, not disappearing without trace after 2 weeks.

>The financial investment
>wasn't wasted. Well, apart from £13:99 of it.

Their album cost *that* much?
>
>>>If this had been, say, a
>>>Stereophonics single I'd have thought it was OK but from the Manics I
>>>thought it was, if you'll pardon the phrase, not enough.
>>
>> Wonder why Nina Persson got no 'featured artist' credit, though?
>
>Possibly a contractual thing, but the more likely answer is that her name
>just wasn't well-enough know to be a big draw commercially.

That theory won't wash - there are plenty of totally unknown artists 
who've been given featured artist credits recently, e.g. One Republic, 
Bailey Tzuke...
-- 
Paul Hyett, Cheltenham (change 'invalid83261' to 'blueyonder' to email me)

"Paul Hyett"  wrote in message 
news:1b+BdsBTozeHFwgC@blueyonder.co.uk...
> In uk.music.charts on Tue, 1 Jan 2008, Chris Brown 
>  wrote :
>>>>
>>>>>>> 7. Manics - Your Love Alone
>

>
>>The financial investment
>>wasn't wasted. Well, apart from £13:99 of it.
>
> Their album cost *that* much?

Yeah - the album in question being Know Your Enemy.
To be fair, there are probably a couple of decent tracks other than the ones 
I'd already bought on single, so maybe I only wasted about twelve quid 
fifty.

>>>>If this had been, say, a
>>>>Stereophonics single I'd have thought it was OK but from the Manics I
>>>>thought it was, if you'll pardon the phrase, not enough.
>>>
>>> Wonder why Nina Persson got no 'featured artist' credit, though?
>>
>>Possibly a contractual thing, but the more likely answer is that her name
>>just wasn't well-enough know to be a big draw commercially.
>
> That theory won't wash - there are plenty of totally unknown artists 
> who've been given featured artist credits recently, e.g. One Republic, 
> Bailey Tzuke...

There are, but it tends to be in cases like the solo vocalist on a record 
credited otherwise to producers (as with the various Freemasons hits). One 
Republic performed "their" hit in its entirety and it appears on their 
album.
Anyway, nobody ever said it was supposed to be consistent. Traci Lords 
didn't get an artist credit either.

    Chris

In uk.music.charts on Wed, 2 Jan 2008, Chris Brown 
 wrote :

>>>>>>>>Manics - Your Love Alone

>>>£13:99 of it.
>>
>> Their album cost *that* much?
>
>Yeah - the album in question being Know Your Enemy.

A special edition presumably, at that price?!
-- 
Paul Hyett, Cheltenham (change 'invalid83261' to 'blueyonder' to email me)

"Paul Hyett"  wrote in message 
news:lQ81$gAcrIfHFw6g@blueyonder.co.uk...
> In uk.music.charts on Wed, 2 Jan 2008, Chris Brown 
>  wrote :
>
>>>>>>>>>Manics - Your Love Alone
>
>>>>£13:99 of it.
>>>
>>> Their album cost *that* much?
>>
>>Yeah - the album in question being Know Your Enemy.
>
> A special edition presumably, at that price?!

No, but it was a few years ago.
On the positive side, I picked it up in the same transaction as The Optimist 
LP by Turin Brakes, which is one of my favourite albums of the past decade 
if not of all time.

    Chris

On Dec 27 2007, 7:48 am, Paul Hyett 
wrote:
> Something of a sparse year for favourites again, but here we go :
>
> 1. Beyonce & Shakira - Beautiful Liar (Freemasons remix) *
> 2. Christina - Candyman
> 3. Colbie Caillat - Bubbly
> 4. Nelly Furtado - Say It Right
> 5. Feist - 1234

I remember hearing this a lot at the end of June and thinking it would
become a hit but it never seemed to. I started losing track of the
charts - and listneing to the radio lss - round mid/late August and
(through everyhit) discovered it reached top 10 in September. Was this
a re-release?

Nick

In uk.music.charts on Mon, 7 Jan 2008, Nick  
wrote :

>> 5. Feist - 1234
>
>I remember hearing this a lot at the end of June and thinking it would
>become a hit but it never seemed to. I started losing track of the
>charts - and listneing to the radio lss - round mid/late August and
>(through everyhit) discovered it reached top 10 in September.

It peaked at #8 in early October.

> Was this
>a re-release?

The explanation is very simple - it was used in an iPod Nano advert!

The sales were almost exclusively via downloads, though there were a few 
physical copies around - I bought one.
-- 
Paul Hyett, Cheltenham (change 'invalid83261' to 'blueyonder' to email me)