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Forum - General: Forum Games - Quick List Vote Game Pt. 3

Part 2: http://australian-charts.com/forum.asp?todo=viewthread&id=47554

New year, same ol' me

By popular(?) demand(?) the Quick List Vote Game is back for the new year. If you are new to this then I shall explain. The core of this game is that we take a list of 100 songs and over the space of about a fortnight, sequentially eliminate them until we have an eventual winner. Each game starts on a Monday, and eliminations/new rounds take place on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays. It is in your best interest to make sure you vote in each round, as there will be a minor penalty in your votes' points in rounds that you miss out. I've explained it before in the old thread and I don't want to re-type it so look there. At the end of each round, the 20 songs with the least points will be eliminated, although if there is a tie on the line of elimination, then all the tied songs will proceed through the round. Also after round 2, all songs will retain 25% of their points from the previous round into the next round. Basically nothing has changed since last year so if you already knew this then I wasted your time. EXCEPT

NEW RULE

I never mentioned exactly how many songs you vote in the previous paragraph because I'm going to be changing that. Previously, I had it so that you would vote 25% of the available list. With the way the game has run, I've found myself frequently struggling to squeeze in votes for everything I want, and even during the qualifying games I would end the week by qualifying/nominating songs I had no intention of voting because I knew I had too strong of a vote already. I also found that watching the scores at my end, the battle for #1 became somewhat arbitrary because it was all about what eliminations would squeeze songs out of people's votes. So I am changing it and now you can vote up to 40% of the list. This means that in round one, you can vote between 25 and 40 songs, and in the last round, between 5 and 8. You are absolutely free to adjust this round by round however you like, though in the interest of fairness, I will start with 25, 30, 35 or 40 votes and keep my vote in that proportion (so round 2 would be 20, 24, 28 or 32) for all rounds, so I can't just change my vote to rig the result in my favour. As for scoring, I may adjust this in future games depending on how this goes, but for now I'm going to make it that no matter how many songs you vote, your #1 vote will be 40 points, and each successive song will be 1 point less.

Retired Champions
Years & Years - King (2015 ARIA End Of Year)
La Roux - Bulletproof (2006-2015 Hottest 100 Top 10s)
Britney Spears - Toxic (2000-2016 ARIA Top 10s)
All Saints - Pure Shores (Girl Groups)
The Prodigy - Breathe (1990-1999 ARIA Top 10s)
Flight Facilities feat. Christine Hoberg - Clair de lune (Artists with 1 ARIA Top 50 hit)
a-ha - Take On Me (Debut singles)
A$AP Rocky feat. Drake, 2 Chainz & Kendrick Lamar - F**kin' Problems (Songs with <3.00 review averages)
Powderfinger - These Days (Movie soundtrack songs)
Lady Antebellum - Need You Now (Songs with male & female vocals)
Tears For Fears - Everybody Wants To Rule The World (#1 hit follow-ups)
Swedish House Mafia feat. John Martin - Don't You Worry Child (non-AU/UK/US/IE/CA artists)
James Blake - Retrograde (non-top 50 artists)
The Presets - My People (Australian artists)
Alexis Jordan - Happiness (One-word titles)
Dua Lipa - Be The One (2016 ARIA End Of Year)
Drake feat. Wizkid & Kyla - One Dance (2016 Hottest 100)
A Tribe Called Quest - We The People.... (2016 Favourites)
Michael Jackson - Thriller (Title tracks)
Bastille - Pompeii (Geographical tracks)
Evanescence - My Immortal (Unmentioned titles)
Carly Rae Jepsen - Run Away With Me (ACI Hits)
Queens Of The Stone Age - No One Knows (10 letter titles)
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Now as previously stated, to kick things off, we're doing pretty much what we did last year, by digging into the latest ARIA EOY Chart

Adele - Hello
Adele - Send My Love (To Your New Lover)
Alan Walker - Faded
Alessia Cara - Wild Things
Anne-Marie - Alarm
Ariana Grande - Dangerous Woman
Ariana Grande - Into You
Ariana Grande feat. Nicki Minaj - Side To Side
Betty Who - I Love You Always Forever
Bruno Mars - 24K Magic
Calum Scott - Dancing On My Own
Calvin Harris - My Way
Calvin Harris feat. Rihanna - This Is What You Came For
Charlie Puth - One Call Away
Charlie Puth feat. Selena Gomez - We Don't Talk Anymore
Cheat Codes feat. Kris Kross Amsterdam - Sex
Clean Bandit feat. Sean Paul & Anne-Marie - Rockabye
Coldplay - Hymn For The Weekend
Daya - Hide Away
Desiigner - Panda
Disturbed - The Sound Of Silence
DJ Snake feat. Bipolar Sunshine - Middle
DJ Snake feat. Justin Bieber - Let Me Love You
DNCE - Cake By The Ocean
Drake feat. Rihanna - Too Good
Drake feat. Wizkid & Kyla - One Dance
Dua Lipa - Be The One
Duke Dumont - Ocean Drive
Elle King - Ex's & Oh's
Fifth Harmony feat. Ty Dolla $ign - Work From Home
Flo Rida - My House
Flume feat. Kai - Never Be Like You
Flume feat. Tove Lo - Say It
Galantis - No Money
G-Eazy feat. Bebe Rexha - Me, Myself & I
gnash feat. olivia o'brien - i hate u, i love u
Hailee Steinfeld & Grey feat. Zedd - Starving
Hilltop Hoods feat. Montaigne & Tom Thum - 1955
Illy feat. Anne-Marie - Catch 22
Illy feat. Vera Blue - Papercuts
Imany - Don't Be So Shy (Filatov & Karas Remix)
James Arthur - Say You Won't Let Go
Jonas Blue feat. Dakota - Fast Car
Jonas Blue feat. JP Cooper - Perfect Strangers
Justin Bieber - Love Yourself
Justin Bieber - Sorry
Justin Bieber - What Do You Mean?
Justin Timberlake - CAN'T STOP THE FEELING!
Keith Urban feat. Carrie Underwood - The Fighter
Kiiara - Gold
Kungs vs. Cookin' On 3 Burners - This Girl
L D R U feat. Paige IV - Keeping Score
Lil Wayne, Wiz Khalifa & Imagine Dragons feat. X Ambassadors, Ty Dolla $ign & Logic - Sucker For Pain
Little Mix - Shout Out To My Ex
Little Mix feat. Jason Derulo - Secret Love Song
Little Mix feat. Sean Paul - Hair
Lukas Graham - 7 Years
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Eric Nally, Melle Mel, Kool Moe Dee & Grandmaster Caz - Downtown
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Idris Elba & Anderson .Paak - Dance Off
Major Lazer feat. Justin Bieber & MØ - Cold Water
Major Lazer feat. MØ & DJ Snake - Lean On
Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars - Uptown Funk
Maroon 5 feat. Kendrick Lamar - Don't Wanna Know
Martin Garrix & Bebe Rexha - In The Name Of Love
Meghan Trainor - Me Too
Meghan Trainor - NO
Mike Perry feat. Shy Martin - The Ocean
Mike Posner - I Took A Pill In Ibiza (SeeB Remix)
MØ - Final Song
NEIKED feat. Dyo - Sexual
Nevada feat. Mark Morrison & Fetty Wap - The Mack
P!nk - Just Like Fire
Peking Duk feat. Elliphant - Stranger
Rae Sremmurd feat. Gucci Mane - Black Beatles
Rihanna - Needed Me
Rihanna feat. Drake - Work
Selena Gomez - Hands To Myself
Shawn Mendes - Mercy
Shawn Mendes - Stitches
Shawn Mendes - Treat You Better
Sia - Cheap Thrills
Sia feat. Kendrick Lamar - The Greatest
Snakehips feat. Tinashe & Chance The Rapper - All My Friends
The Chainsmokers feat. Daya - Don't Let Me Down
The Chainsmokers feat. Halsey - Closer
The Chainsmokers feat. Phoebe Ryan - All We Know
The Chainsmokers feat. Rozes - Roses
The Veronicas - In My Blood
The Weeknd feat. Daft Punk - Starboy
Tinie Tempah feat. Zara Larsson - Girls Like
Topic feat. Nico Santos - Home
Troye Sivan - Youth
Twenty One Pilots - Heathens
Twenty One Pilots - Ride
Twenty One Pilots - Stressed Out
Usher - Crash
Zara Larsson - Ain't My Fault
Zara Larsson - Lush Life
Zara Larsson & MNEK - Never Forget You
ZAYN - PILLOWTALK

So if you so wish to have a say in how these songs will be ordered, you merely need to choose 25 to 40 tracks here, ordered of course and submit them to my inbox by 6pm on Wednesday.
=#97. Calum Scott - Dancing On My Own

Points - 0
Current Voters - 0
Top Vote - N/A


=#97. G-Eazy & Bebe Rexha - Me, Myself & I

Points - 0
Current Voters - 0
Top Vote - N/A


=#97. Maroon 5 feat. Kendrick Lamar - Don't Wanna Know

Points - 0
Current Voters - 0
Top Vote - N/A


=#97. Shawn Mendes - Mercy

Points - 0
Current Voters - 0
Top Vote - N/A


#96. Cheat Codes & Kris Kross Amsterdam - Sex

Points - 2
Current Voters - 1
Top Vote - #39


I naively figured that since you can nearly vote half the list, and there are so many varying opinions on this site, surely under these conditions we won't be seeing any zeros. Of course then it became apparent just what caliber we had on display. Anyway, the new voting system has led to much higher scores on the whole, as a slight majority have opted for a full 40 song vote, while some are satiated with just 25, or some random amount between. Anyway, as for this lot, this is a non-nomination based list which means in a very rare instance, I'd like to indulge as I don't think I'll be stepping on many toes when I say that Calum Scott's cover is abhorrent and finds no support here. He's not alone here of course, joined by the sort of middle-of-the-road that couldn't really pick up support, whether or not they are particularly bad. Following the 2015 saga of Bebe Rexha not initially being credited on "Hey Mama" for fear of it being too crowded and because Afrojack was more important, part 2 in the series of 'Poor Bebe' comes as "Me, Myself & I" was originally a song just on her own, but her label wouldn't release it, until king of charisma & Quiplash bait G-Eazy came along and turned it into an absurdly long running US top 10 hit. In an act that surely only frustrated both fanbases, Maroon 5 collaborated with Kendrick Lamar and the radio fell in love with it. Shawn Mendes is also here with the first of his 3 entries here, not being quite the hit the other two are, it's perhaps understandable that "Mercy" would appear here first. Lastly, we have a song that actually did score points so I obviously have nothing but respect for it. Cheat Codes interpolated Salt-N-Pepa's #1 hit "Let's Talk About Sex" and Spotify fell in love with it.
Last edited:
#95. Tinie Tempah feat. Zara Larsson - Girls Like

Points - 4
Current Voters - 1
Top Vote - #37


=#93. Betty Who - I Love You Always Forever

Points - 7
Current Voters - 1
Top Vote - #34


=#93. Martin Garrix & Bebe Rexha - In The Name Of Love

Points - 7
Current Voters - 1
Top Vote - #34


#92. The Chainsmokers feat. Phoebe Ryan - All We Know

Points - 9
Current Voters - 1
Top Vote - #32


#91. Topic feat. Nico Santos - Home

Points - 10
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #34


Now that we're getting scores on the board, it's just a matter of which songs are liked the most, obviously. We kick off here with one of the songs lucky to scrape through considering a relatively low peak of #15 from Tinie Tempah & Zara Larsson, the latter will of course be appearing 3 more times as a lead artist in songs you might suspect have more of a following. We have the only other tie in the entire list at #93, as another cover takes a fall courtesy of Betty Who remaking "I Love You Always Forever", meeting alongside Bebe Rexha's other entry, teaming up with Martin Garrix to get a surprisingly large smash in the form of "In The Name Of Love", though not one that was overly popular here it would seem. It was inevitable I'd be talking about The Chainsmokers soon enough considering they've notched 4 entries here, and the first one to drop is "All We Know", perhaps just out of being the less engaging of the 4, something that I'm sure can be agreed upon regardless of what you think of the others. Lastly, we have the song that Australian radio loved to death, and Hot Hits Australia on Spotify refused to let go of...for reasons that no one understands. It's Topic's "Home", which YouTube frequenters will be delighted to know, actually does appear on one of those '- Topic' channels.
#90. Jonas Blue feat. Dakota - Fast Car

Points - 14
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #31


#89. Mike Perry feat. Shy Martin - The Ocean

Points - 15
Current Voters - 1
Top Vote - #26


#88. Flo Rida - My House

Points - 15
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #32


#87. Disturbed - The Sound Of Silence

Points - 16
Current Voters - 1
Top Vote - #25


#86. Usher - Crash

Points - 18
Current Voters - 1
Top Vote - #23


Covers and remakes of popular songs continue to be tremendously unpopular here, as Jonas Blue loses the first of his 2 entries with his cover of "Fast Car" that for one week, Australia decided was the most interesting thing going on in music at the time. In case you need some more blue imagery, we've got 2016 in popular music summarised through Mike Perry's "The Ocean" which appears at #89. After a brief bit of dissonance from the Australian public, Flo Rida finally made his long-awaited return to the top rungs of the charts with "My House", which is some ways away from that here at #88. Disturbed's cover of "The Sound Of Silence" rocks up at #87 which means that there is only one cover/remake of a popular song left in the running and I can't imagine anyone would have predicted it to be the one it is. Speaking of chart 'veterans' of some sort, we finish this lot off with Usher's surprise top 10 hit "Crash".
#85. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Idris Elba & Anderson .Paak - Dance Off

Points - 24
Current Voters - 1
Top Vote - #17


#84. Hailee Steinfeld & Grey feat. Zedd - Starving

Points - 27
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #26


#83. Charlie Puth - One Call Away

Points - 30
Current Voters - 1
Top Vote - #11


#82. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Eric Nally, Melle Mel, Kool Moe Dee & Grandmaster Caz - Downtown

Points - 32
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #12


#81. Meghan Trainor - Me Too

Points - 38
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #16


Considering how much chart success they lacked in 2016 around the world, I'm sure there are other countries that are baffled that Macklemore & Ryan Lewis managed not one, but two EOY entries in Australia, though they only narrowly slipped through (and let's be honest, "Capsize" probably was robbed of enough points that it probably should have been there, knocking out "Downtown"). Anyway, they both take a fall right at this last hurdle of the elimination line, with "Downtown" at #82, and "Dance Off" at #85. A song I imagined would be more popular here in "Starving" falls out early at #84, while Charlie Puth's "One Call Away" is probably about where I'd expect at #83. The unlucky #81 spot goes to Meghan Trainor's "Me Too", and I know we're all devastated, but on the brightside, I know we all can't wait for it to make the combined EOY as I'm pretty sure it's already accrued enough points to do so.
And with that, we have 80 songs that keep on going:

Adele - Hello
Adele - Send My Love (To Your New Lover)
Alan Walker - Faded
Alessia Cara - Wild Things
Anne-Marie - Alarm
Ariana Grande - Dangerous Woman
Ariana Grande - Into You
Ariana Grande feat. Nicki Minaj - Side To Side
Bruno Mars - 24K Magic
Calvin Harris - My Way
Calvin Harris feat. Rihanna - This Is What You Came For
Charlie Puth feat. Selena Gomez - We Don't Talk Anymore
Clean Bandit feat. Sean Paul & Anne-Marie - Rockabye
Coldplay - Hymn For The Weekend
Daya - Hide Away
Desiigner - Panda
DJ Snake feat. Bipolar Sunshine - Middle
DJ Snake feat. Justin Bieber - Let Me Love You
DNCE - Cake By The Ocean
Drake feat. Rihanna - Too Good
Drake feat. Wizkid & Kyla - One Dance
Dua Lipa - Be The One
Duke Dumont - Ocean Drive
Elle King - Ex's & Oh's
Fifth Harmony feat. Ty Dolla $ign - Work From Home
Flume feat. Kai - Never Be Like You
Flume feat. Tove Lo - Say It
Galantis - No Money
gnash feat. olivia o'brien - i hate u, i love u
Hilltop Hoods feat. Montaigne & Tom Thum - 1955
Illy feat. Anne-Marie - Catch 22
Illy feat. Vera Blue - Papercuts
Imany - Don't Be So Shy (Filatov & Karas Remix)
James Arthur - Say You Won't Let Go
Jonas Blue feat. JP Cooper - Perfect Strangers
Justin Bieber - Love Yourself
Justin Bieber - Sorry
Justin Bieber - What Do You Mean?
Justin Timberlake - CAN'T STOP THE FEELING!
Keith Urban feat. Carrie Underwood - The Fighter
Kiiara - Gold
Kungs vs. Cookin' On 3 Burners - This Girl
L D R U feat. Paige IV - Keeping Score
Lil Wayne, Wiz Khalifa & Imagine Dragons feat. X Ambassadors, Ty Dolla $ign & Logic - Sucker For Pain
Little Mix - Shout Out To My Ex
Little Mix feat. Jason Derulo - Secret Love Song
Little Mix feat. Sean Paul - Hair
Lukas Graham - 7 Years
Major Lazer feat. Justin Bieber & MØ - Cold Water
Major Lazer feat. MØ & DJ Snake - Lean On
Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars - Uptown Funk
Meghan Trainor - NO
Mike Posner - I Took A Pill In Ibiza (SeeB Remix)
MØ - Final Song
NEIKED feat. Dyo - Sexual
Nevada feat. Mark Morrison & Fetty Wap - The Mack
P!nk - Just Like Fire
Peking Duk feat. Elliphant - Stranger
Rae Sremmurd feat. Gucci Mane - Black Beatles
Rihanna - Needed Me
Rihanna feat. Drake - Work
Selena Gomez - Hands To Myself
Shawn Mendes - Stitches
Shawn Mendes - Treat You Better
Sia - Cheap Thrills
Sia feat. Kendrick Lamar - The Greatest
Snakehips feat. Tinashe & Chance The Rapper - All My Friends
The Chainsmokers feat. Daya - Don't Let Me Down
The Chainsmokers feat. Halsey - Closer
The Chainsmokers feat. Rozes - Roses
The Veronicas - In My Blood
The Weeknd feat. Daft Punk - Starboy
Troye Sivan - Youth
Twenty One Pilots - Heathens
Twenty One Pilots - Ride
Twenty One Pilots - Stressed Out
Zara Larsson - Ain't My Fault
Zara Larsson - Lush Life
Zara Larsson & MNEK - Never Forget You
ZAYN - PILLOWTALK

You know how it goes though, we need to cut another 20 of these songs on Friday, and to decide which of those that may be, I'll need you to select a Top 20 to 32 (we'll get used to these numbers eventually) from this list. Remember that you are free to vote however many you like, and don't need to stay consistent with previous rounds if you don't want to. And regardless of how many songs you vote, your #1 vote will always be worth 40 points, #2 39 points, and so on. Now just make sure you get these votes in by 6pm Friday AEDT.
I should have disclosed this earlier but it simply hadn't crossed my mind. If you miss a round of voting, I will as you may know, count your vote as 80% of the previous round's points (which stacks with subsequent rounds), but the relevant thing with this new system is that I will count points for as many songs on your previous vote are still in play, without going over the limit. Now I continue

#80. P!nk - Just Like Fire

Round by round: 79-80

Points - 20
Current Voters - 0
Top Vote - N/A


#79. L D R U feat. Paige IV - Keeping Score

Round by round: 73-79

Points - 27
Current Voters - 1
Top Vote - #14


#78. gnash feat. olivia o'brien - i hate u, i love u

Round by round: 80-78

Points - 40
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #12


#77. The Chainsmokers feat. Halsey - Closer

Round by round: 75-77

Points - 41
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #17


#76. Nevada feat. Mark Morrison & Fetty Wap - The Mack

Round by round: 74-76

Points - 43.2
Current Voters - 1
Top Vote - #9


There are some slight shifts in the bottom rungs of the top 80 for this round though the differences are largely negligible for this lot, save perhaps from the dishonour of being at the bottom of the list, which has been transferred to P!nk as she didn't receive an active vote this round. L D R U was perhaps the arbitrarily beneficiary of the 2015 Hottest 100, with the timing of release allowing enough momentum for "Keeping Score" to stick around on the chart in 2016. There's a chance that Paces' cover of the song with Guy Sebastian will be voteable in next fortnight's Hottest 100 themed game, we'll have to see if it can outdo the original here. gnash was the lucky party to slip through into this round and ends up at #78, I await gnash's response to see if he likes that shit, but I suspect he wouldn't like that shit. Our Quiplash regulars may be delighted to see the #1 song of 2016, "Closer" only managing #77, to which you can write your own punchline. Lastly we round out all the covers & remakes of popular songs with of all things Nevada's "The Mack". Of course we do still have interpolations and remixes of lesser known songs by Drake & Kungs that might help give the art of sampling some dignity if they can manage a decent ranking.
#75. The Chainsmokers feat. ROZES - Roses

Round by round: 66-75

Points - 47
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #22


#74. Justin Bieber - Love Yourself

Round by round: 77-74

Points - 48
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #2


#73. Charlie Puth feat. Selena Gomez - We Don't Talk Anymore

Round by round: 76-73

Points - 51
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #8


#72. Lil Wayne, Wiz Khalifa & Imagine Dragons feat. Ty Dolla $ign & Logic feat. X Ambassadors - Sucker For Pain

Round by round: 78-72

Points - 52
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #11


#71. Anne-Marie - Alarm

Round by round: 63-71

Points - 53
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #7


The bad news keeps coming for The Chainsmokers. Their actually rather respectable "Roses" landing at #75 meaning they're down to just the one track left to salvage their legacy in this game. Justin Bieber has the first of his 5(!) entries go down next with incidentally the most successful of the lot in "Love Yourself". Charlie Puth on the other hand has run out of entries and will have to pass a theoretical baton to Selena Gomez who has another song to come, or he would if they were still on speaking terms. The battle of Suicide Squad tracks sees Lil Wayne & lesser company going out first with "Sucker For Pain" at #72. You might not have noticed but Anne-Marie actually turns up 3 times on this list, though only once with her name at the front of it, and that just so happens to be her first casualty at #71. But hey, triple j played "Alarm" a lot so maybe it'll get into the Hottest 100 game??
#70. Keith Urban feat. Carrie Underwood - The Fighter

Round by round: 58-70

Points - 56
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #16


#69. Shawn Mendes - Treat You Better

Round by round: 69-69

Points - 60.6
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #23


#68. Daya - Hide Away

Round by round: 71-68

Points - 64
Current Voters - 2
Top Voters - #4


#67. Lukas Graham - 7 Years

Round by round: 67-67

Points - 66
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #1


#66. twenty one pilots - Heathens

Round by round: 64-66

Points - 67
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #10


Despite still not even getting a push in the US, Keith Urban had a big iTunes seller in "The Fighter" which aided him in having the highest selling album here that was released in 2016. Here he lands around where he did on the EOY list at #70. Which means that we fittingly find my much beloved "Treat You Better" at #69. If Shawn Mendes didn't have his own entry still to come here, it would feel more appropriate to say that 68 songs have done BEDDA DAN E CAN. One such song that can stake that claim is Daya's "Hide Away" at #68. We continue with the crowd favourites as Lukas Graham's "7 Years" shows up at #67. Lastly here we have the first of 3 twenty one pilots tracks, though the only one that was actually released in 2016. Maybe in a year's time "Heathens" will be more popular.
#65. Galantis - No Money

Round by round: 62-65

Points - 71
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #1


#64. Alessia Cara - Wild Things

Round by round: 65-64

Points - 75
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #12


#63. Shawn Mendes - Stitches

Round by round: 72-63

Points - 75
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #8


#62. DJ Snake feat. Justin Bieber - Let Me Love You

Round by round: 55-62

Points - 75.4
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #20


#61. Justin Timberlake - CAN'T STOP THE FEELING!

Round by round: 54-61

Points - 78
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #4


When we did this game last year, Galantis had a strong result finishing at #38 and #6. This year around they only have one song to show and it lands at a relatively low #65 instead. Also here is Alessia Cara's only entry "Wild Things", which is fortunate to be her only hit not to be bothered by its success spread across two years. Here's that final phantom Shawn Mendes track at #63, of course being "Stitches", while it's an unlucky time to be a Justin. Firstly, DJ Snake loses the first of his 3 entries alongside Justin Bieber on "Let Me Love You", and even though radio would have you believe that it's still the hottest ticket in town, Justin Timberlake's troll song can only land at #61.
We arrive at the top 60 as things start to get tougher

Adele - Hello
Adele - Send My Love (To Your New Lover)
Alan Walker - Faded
Ariana Grande - Dangerous Woman
Ariana Grande - Into You
Ariana Grande feat. Nicki Minaj - Side To Side
Bruno Mars - 24K Magic
Calvin Harris - My Way
Calvin Harris feat. Rihanna - This Is What You Came For
Clean Bandit feat. Sean Paul & Anne-Marie - Rockabye
Coldplay - Hymn For The Weekend
Desiigner - Panda
DJ Snake feat. Bipolar Sunshine - Middle
DNCE - Cake By The Ocean
Drake feat. Rihanna - Too Good
Drake feat. Wizkid & Kyla - One Dance
Dua Lipa - Be The One
Duke Dumont - Ocean Drive
Elle King - Ex's & Oh's
Fifth Harmony feat. Ty Dolla $ign - Work From Home
Flume feat. Kai - Never Be Like You
Flume feat. Tove Lo - Say It
Hilltop Hoods feat. Montaigne & Tom Thum - 1955
Illy feat. Anne-Marie - Catch 22
Illy feat. Vera Blue - Papercuts
Imany - Don't Be So Shy (Filatov & Karas Remix)
James Arthur - Say You Won't Let Go
Jonas Blue feat. JP Cooper - Perfect Strangers
Justin Bieber - Sorry
Justin Bieber - What Do You Mean?
Kiiara - Gold
Kungs vs. Cookin' On 3 Burners - This Girl
Little Mix - Shout Out To My Ex
Little Mix feat. Jason Derulo - Secret Love Song
Little Mix feat. Sean Paul - Hair
Major Lazer feat. Justin Bieber & MØ - Cold Water
Major Lazer feat. MØ & DJ Snake - Lean On
Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars - Uptown Funk
Meghan Trainor - NO
Mike Posner - I Took A Pill In Ibiza (SeeB Remix)
MØ - Final Song
NEIKED feat. Dyo - Sexual
Peking Duk feat. Elliphant - Stranger
Rae Sremmurd feat. Gucci Mane - Black Beatles
Rihanna - Needed Me
Rihanna feat. Drake - Work
Selena Gomez - Hands To Myself
Sia - Cheap Thrills
Sia feat. Kendrick Lamar - The Greatest
Snakehips feat. Tinashe & Chance The Rapper - All My Friends
The Chainsmokers feat. Daya - Don't Let Me Down
The Veronicas - In My Blood
The Weeknd feat. Daft Punk - Starboy
Troye Sivan - Youth
Twenty One Pilots - Ride
Twenty One Pilots - Stressed Out
Zara Larsson - Ain't My Fault
Zara Larsson - Lush Life
Zara Larsson & MNEK - Never Forget You
ZAYN - PILLOWTALK


If you've had it good so far, things might get rougher as we'll be cutting another 20 of these songs on Monday. Should you wish to have a substantial say in how that goes, you merely must submit your Top 15 to 24 selections from this list. Remember that from this point on, songs will retain 25% of their points scored into the next round. Also get your votes in by 6pm Monday AEDT. Have a good weekend, it'll probably be more thrilling than mine. Also vote in the ACI if that's a thing that you do.
Oh dear, already voting for the minimum and lost six songs here, including my top two.
#60. Zara Larsson - Ain't My Fault

Round by round: 70-59-60

Points - 85.25
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #4


#59. Zara Larsson & MNEK - Never Forget You

Round by round: 68-58-59

Points - 90.75
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #12


#58. Elle King - Ex's & Oh's

Round by round: 49-48-58

Points - 94.5
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #2


#57. Calvin Harris - My Way

Round by round: 57-60-57

Points - 103.75
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #2


#56. Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars - Uptown Funk

Round by round: 52-57-56

Points - 108.75
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #6


Maybe Zara Larsson was lucky to get through the 2nd round unscathed but it's hard to say that's the case this time around as she has the bottom two songs on the list, with "Ain't My Fault" followed by "Never Forget You". The former not quite a big hit and the latter perhaps more 2015, and so it will be up to "Lush Life" to defend her honour here. For the 2nd time in a row, the song that started off in last place has moved up a little, this time being "My Way" by Calvin Harris, which is the first of his 2 songs on show here. The other two songs here are the oldest ones in the list, so much so that they're both already regularly appearing in the Unofficial Catalogue Singles Chart. Perhaps the novelty of voting for "Uptown Funk" yet again has faded as it only can muster #56, but "Ex's & Oh's" might not be able to use the same excuse as it lands at #58.
#55. Ariana Grande - Dangerous Woman

Round by round: 60-51-55

Points - 110.48
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #14


#54. Coldplay - Hymn For The Weekend

Round by round: 42-56-54

Points - 113
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #4


#53. Selena Gomez - Hands To Myself

Round by round: 61-54-53

Points - 113.84
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #12


#52. Alan Walker - Faded

Round by round: 32-55-52

Points - 114.65
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #7


#51. Little Mix - Shout Out To My Ex

Round by round: 56-40-51

Points - 118.47
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #2


Ariana Grande hadn't taken a hit in the game thus far until now, as we see "Dangerous Woman" go down at #55, while it remains to be seen if her other 2 entries have survived this round...they're in the top 50 at least. Coldplay on the other hand just have the one entrance here, and the closest thing to being able to vote Beyonce here, also known as "Hymn For The Weekend" is #54. Selena Gomez sets off without Charlie Puth, and is rewarded with a finish 20 places higher for "Hands To Myself". A song I thought might be more popular, "Faded", falls narrowly short of the top 50, while Little Mix also come ever so close to getting all 3 of their entries in the top 50, with the most recent track "Shout Out To My Ex" being the one that let the team down.
#50. Major Lazer feat. Justin Bieber & MØ - Cold Water

Round by round: 50-47-50

Points - 119.5
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - 4


#49. Jonas Blue feat. JP Cooper - Perfect Strangers

Round by round: 59-45-49

Points - 121.53
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #18


#48. ZAYN - PILLOWTALK

Round by round: 53-43-48

Points - 123.35
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #5


#47. Illy feat. Vera Blue - Papercuts

Round by round: 51-49-47

Points - 124.5
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #8


#46. Clean Bandit feat. Sean Paul & Anne-Marie - Rockabye

Round by round: 43-50-46

Points - 124.5
Current Voters - 3
Top Voters - #8


Major Lazer can at least claim they've won the battle of those Justin Bieber featuring singles that everyone was super excited about in the latter half of the year. Meanwhile I'm slightly surprised to see Jonas Blue sneak into the top 50 with "Perfect Strangers", considerably higher than his other entry. ZAYN continues to piss off the neighbours with his excessive shout-typing, which finds a home at #48 here. At least with Niall & Louis perhaps releasing their tracks too late in the year, he can claim winning the One Direction solo battle by the two greatest words in the English language: De-fault. Illy appears here with the first of his two entries, actually being the far more successful "Papercuts", while I know that you have been waiting DAILY to find out if Clean Bandit can STRUGGLE their way into the top 40. I am here to say they did not.
#45. James Arthur - Say You Won't Let Go

Round by round: 45-44-45

Points - 126.3
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #4


#44. twenty one pilots - Ride

Round by round: 24-46-44

Points - 127
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #5


#43. DNCE - Cake By The Ocean

Round by round: 44-52-43

Points - 129
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #11


#42. Flume feat. Tove Lo - Say It

Round by round: 31-26-42

Points - 129.95
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #5


#41. Major Lazer feat. MØ & DJ Snake - Lean On

Round by round: 40-42-41

Points - 133.8
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #10


When James Arthur finishes cleaning up puke off the floor he'll find out that he's finished at #45 in this game. He had a very steady run, which cannot be said for twenty one pilots whose "Ride" actually sat close to the top 10 for a while but hasn't been able to maintain it and now resides at #44, leaving them with one track left, though at least you can have confirmation that it's in the next round. Pundits will note that DNCE landing at #43 is a considerable drop off from Nick Jonas making the top 20 in last year's game, though other pundits will note that it's considerably better than Kevin Jonas will ever manage. PROVE ME WRONG KEVIN. It is unfortunate for Flume that he got too complacent in his high standings, as surely if he'd remembered to ask for votes through social media, "Say It" would have safely gotten through. And lastly we have another 2015 holdover for which the enthusiasm doesn't carry through as strongly, so Major Lazer's "Lean On" saves any major heartbreak by taking up the #41 mantle.
As preposterous as it may seem, these are the 40 songs that will go into the city, see a marching band and CAAAAARRRY ON...for at least 2 more days

Adele - Hello
Adele - Send My Love (To Your New Lover)
Ariana Grande - Into You
Ariana Grande feat. Nicki Minaj - Side To Side
Bruno Mars - 24K Magic
Calvin Harris feat. Rihanna - This Is What You Came For
Desiigner - Panda
DJ Snake feat. Bipolar Sunshine - Middle
Drake feat. Rihanna - Too Good
Drake feat. Wizkid & Kyla - One Dance
Dua Lipa - Be The One
Duke Dumont - Ocean Drive
Fifth Harmony feat. Ty Dolla $ign - Work From Home
Flume feat. Kai - Never Be Like You
Hilltop Hoods feat. Montaigne & Tom Thum - 1955
Illy feat. Anne-Marie - Catch 22
Imany - Don't Be So Shy (Filatov & Karas Remix)
Justin Bieber - Sorry
Justin Bieber - What Do You Mean?
Kiiara - Gold
Kungs vs. Cookin' On 3 Burners - This Girl
Little Mix feat. Jason Derulo - Secret Love Song
Little Mix feat. Sean Paul - Hair
Meghan Trainor - NO
Mike Posner - I Took A Pill In Ibiza (SeeB Remix)
MØ - Final Song
NEIKED feat. Dyo - Sexual
Peking Duk feat. Elliphant - Stranger
Rae Sremmurd feat. Gucci Mane - Black Beatles
Rihanna - Needed Me
Rihanna feat. Drake - Work
Sia - Cheap Thrills
Sia feat. Kendrick Lamar - The Greatest
Snakehips feat. Tinashe & Chance The Rapper - All My Friends
The Chainsmokers feat. Daya - Don't Let Me Down
The Veronicas - In My Blood
The Weeknd feat. Daft Punk - Starboy
Troye Sivan - Youth
Twenty One Pilots - Stressed Out
Zara Larsson - Lush Life


Should you wish to have an impact on the proceedings of this game from this point onward I merely request that you submit your Top 10 to 16 from this list of 40, numbered in order and I will do the typical proceedings to turn this list into a smaller list.
#40. The Veronicas - In My Blood

Round by round: 48-32-33-40

Points - 99.44
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #10


#39. Calvin Harris feat. Rihanna - This Is What You Came For

Round by round: 46-29-26-39

Points - 108.55
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #6


#38. Sia feat. Kendrick Lamar - The Greatest

Round by round: 37-39-40-38

Points - 134.17
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #4


#37. Ariana Grande feat. Nicki Minaj - Side To Side

Round by round: 47-37-38-37

Points - 134.88
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #2


#36. Mike Posner - I Took A Pill In Ibiza (SeeB Remix)

Round by round: 38-27-27-36

Points - 140.66
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #3


First up we have The Veronicas' big return to the #1 spot on the charts with "In My Blood", which is quickly followed by Calvin Harris's slightly bigger return to the #1 spot on the charts with "This Is What You Came For". Sia shows up in this list twice and she's managed to get both of those entries into the top 40, which also means that Kendrick Lamar's average performance here is somewhat salvaged. Ariana Grande was very much moving side to side on the list each round, settling at her highest position of #37 though with still one more track to come. Finally Mike Posner made his long awaited return to the charts with the intentionally depressing dancefloor banger "I Took A Pill In Ibiza (SeeB Remix)", which sits at #36 here.
#35. Adele - Send My Love (To Your New Lover)

Round by round: 23-30-35-35

Points - 148.87
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #3


#34. Justin Bieber - Sorry

Round by round: 30-53-39-34

Points - 156.36
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #7


#33. Meghan Trainor - NO

Round by round: 39-36-31-33

Points - 165.04
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #4


#32. Kiiara - Gold

Round by round: 27-35-28-32

Points - 166.19
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #3


#31. The Chainsmokers feat. Daya - Don't Let Me Down

Round by round: 34-38-34-31

Points - 174.3
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #3


Though she'd already sold hundreds of thousands of albums by the end of 2015, Adele kept her success going on to 2016 and like Sia, has both of her entries here in the top 40, with "Send My Love (To Your New Lover)" the first to drop off at #35. Justin Bieber takes another hit at #34 with "Sorry" leaving just 1 track left to represent him. No. We follow with a track called "Gold" that has been surprisingly successful despite the fact that no one seems to be talking about it. The Chainsmokers also show up here at #31 with "Don't Let Me Down" being their highest entry in this list.
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#30. Zara Larsson - Lush Life

Round by round: 25-20-17-30

Points - 179.68
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #6


#29. Little Mix feat. Jason Derulo - Secret Love Song

Round by round: 36-31-29-29

Points - 187.41
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #2


#28. Peking Duk feat. Elliphant - Stranger

Round by round: 33-41-37-28

Points - 188.56
Current Voters - 5
Top Vote - #6


#27. Illy feat. Anne-Marie - Catch 22

Round by round: 29-34-36-27

Points - 190.79
Current Voters - 5
Top Vote - #3


#26. Little Mix feat. Sean Paul - Hair

Round by round: 41-28-30-26

Points - 41-28-30-26
Current Voters - 5
Top Vote - #4


You could perhaps draw the conclusion that Zara Larsson fans became despondent with last round's results, as "Lush Life" takes a heavy hit this round to go from top 20 potential to #30. Meanwhile Little Mix managed to get both of their "Get Weird" singles into the top 30, but now they both go down together, with "Secret Love Song" at #29 and "Hair" at #26. Interesting the two songs swapped order every round. In the 2015 game, Peking Duk landed an impressive #27 with "Take Me Over", so now they have the mother of all form slumps as "Stranger" can only manage a miserable #28. I also deliver great disappointment to you as Illy's "Catch 22" was unable to land at #22, instead settling for #27.
#25. twenty one pilots - Stressed Out

Round by round: 35-33-32-25

Points - 198.44
Current Voters - 5
Top Vote - #2


#24. Justin Bieber - What Do You Mean?

Round by round: 26-24-25-24

Points - 203.73
Current Voters - 5
Top Vote - #5


#23. Drake feat. Rihanna - Too Good

Round by round: 10-13-15-23

Points - 215.27
Current Voters - 5
Top Vote - #2


#22. Adele - Hello

Round by round: 18-11-16-22

Points - 216.01
Current Voters - 5
Top Vote - #1


#21. Sia - Cheap Thrills

Round by round: 12-21-23-21

Points - 222.58
Current Voters - 5
Top Vote - #1


But if that Illy disappointment wasn't already too tough to swallow, let me further it by revealing here that Bruno Mars' "24K Magic" has not landed at #24 either, though if you are a fan of the song you will be happy to know it's landed in the top 20. As for the unlucky company, it's all repeat offenders in this list though sadly only one of them goes further with another track. First off it's twenty one pilots finishing off their run at #25 with "Stressed Out", while Justin Bieber manages a pretty strong #24 placing for what is much more of a 2015 hit in "What Do You Mean?". Drake & Rihanna have two collaborations together in this list, the unlucky one to miss the top 20 being "Too Good" at #23, while after only just first appearing in this top 40, Adele & Sia have their luck run out at the final hurdle, Sia's "Cheap Thrills" being less than 1 point behind the #20 song.
Thus we are down to the final 20

Ariana Grande - Into You
Bruno Mars - 24K Magic
Desiigner - Panda
DJ Snake feat. Bipolar Sunshine - Middle
Drake feat. Wizkid & Kyla - One Dance
Dua Lipa - Be The One
Duke Dumont - Ocean Drive
Fifth Harmony feat. Ty Dolla $ign - Work From Home
Flume feat. Kai - Never Be Like You
Hilltop Hoods feat. Montaigne & Tom Thum - 1955
Imany - Don't Be So Shy (Filatov & Karas Remix)
Kungs vs. Cookin' On 3 Burners - This Girl
MØ - Final Song
NEIKED feat. Dyo - Sexual
Rae Sremmurd feat. Gucci Mane - Black Beatles
Rihanna - Needed Me
Rihanna feat. Drake - Work
Snakehips feat. Tinashe & Chance The Rapper - All My Friends
The Weeknd feat. Daft Punk - Starboy
Troye Sivan - Youth

Who will win though, it could theoretically be any one of these but I'd be lying if I said that were actually true. Still, you have the power to decide it as you select your Top 5 to 8 songs from this selection, and send them to my memo box by 6pm on Friday. Remember to tune in for triple j's Hottest 100 tomorrow as we will be getting our playlist for the next game directly from there. If the winning song in this game ends up polling, I'll sub in the highest song on my top 100 prediction that missed out.
Ouch, I lost my entire top five and seven of the ten I was voting for. It's a struggle to find a #5 vote now.
I lost my top four there, after losing my steady #5 the round before so I feel your pain bz haha.
I also lost seven of my top ten bz, so I also feel your pain.
Meanwhile this game has treated me much more kindly after the last game of 2016 had me losing 5 or 6 per round on the regular. Swings and roundabouts
Yeah this game has also been great for me! Of the final 20, 18 were in my original vote of 35 in the first round.
#20. Rae Sremmurd feat. Gucci Mane - Black Beatles

Round by round: 14-18-11-12-20

Points - 138.60
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #2


#19. Desiigner - Panda

Round by round: 16-19-10-20-19

Points - 160.46
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #1


I will somehow resist just saying 'ya joking shoulda been higher' 19 times. We start off with a pair of Hot 100 #1s though, firstly Rae Sremmurd's "Black Beatles", which I can only imagine was such a surprise finalist even for its voters that no one knew what to do for it anymore. It's followed by Desiigner's "Panda" which was only about to GIT GIT GIT into the finals thanks to a late new voter saving it from a hefty drop last round. It's perhaps only through Rae Sremmurd dropping that it recovers slightly this round.
#18. Rihanna - Needed Me

Round by round: 28-25-24-19-18

Points - 193.86
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #2


#17. NEIKED feat. Dyo - Sexual

Round by round: 13-10-18-17-17

Points - 199.04
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #1


True to its general chart performance, Rihanna's "Needed Me" has been slowly ascending each round, thanks in part to a lot of its voters not wanting to part with it. Following that we have NEIKED's late in the year hit "Sexual", which has been a consistent presence in the top 20 all game.
#16. Imany - Don't Be So Shy (Filatov & Karas Remix)

Round by round: 22-14-20-16-16

Points - 210.17
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #1


#15. Rihanna feat. Drake - Work

Round by round: 15-16-14-15-15

Points - 239.34
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #1


Despite a relatively understated chart performance, Imany's "Don't Be So Shy" has the sort of popularity here that would have you believe it was a major hit, as she lands at #16. Following that we have Rihanna ending her run in this game with "Work" at #15 being her highest. We're not quite done with Drake yet though.
#14. DJ Snake feat. Bipolar Sunshine - Middle

Round by round: 09-12-13-13-14

Points - 241.67
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #1


#13. Fifth Harmony feat. Ty Dolla $ign - Work From Home

Round by round: 20-17-19-14-13

Points - 253.45
Current Voters - 5
Top Vote - #1


Though it should perhaps be treated as a 2015 hit, DJ Snake's "Middle" had a late ascent up the chart meaning that it only cracked the year end list in 2016. It also easily outperforms DJ Snake's other entries here to land at #14. For Fifth Harmony, they have just the one track to vote for here, and "Work From Home" does well to land at #13, and can lay claim to being the slightly more popular song that repeats the word 'work' over and over again.
#12. Bruno Mars - 24K Magic

Round by round: 21-23-21-10-12

Points - 283.00
Current Voters - 6
Top Vote - #4


#11. Troye Sivan - YOUTH

Round by round: 19-22-22-18-11

Points - 307.97
Current Voters - 6
Top Vote - #1


Well Bruno Mars may not have landed at #24 like we may have wanted, but I suppose the next best thing is to land and exactly half of that? Funnily enough it wasn't until he needed to crack the top 20 that he did so. Similarly, "YOUTH" had a last moment climb into the top 20 to save face last round, and now has a respectable boost to #11.
#10. Flume feat. Kai - Never Be Like You

Round by round: 08-08-09-08-10

Points - 314.94
Current Voters - 5
Top Vote - #3


#9. Hilltop Hoods feat. Montaigne & Tom Thum - 1955

Round by round: 17-15-12-11-09

Points - 316.13
Current Voters - 6
Top Vote - #1


Well, Flume may be able to lay claim to taking the top spot on triple j's Hottest 100, but in the poll that really matters, "Never Be Like You" can only manage a #10 placing. He's even beaten out by fellow Hottest 100 company in the Hilltop Hoods, whose "1955" just jumped into the top 10 this round after languishing outside it for the entire game.
#8. Kungs vs. Cookin' On 3 Burners - This Girl

Round by round: 11-09-07-07-08

Points - 316.13
Current Voters - 5
Top Vote - #1


#7. Snakehips feat. Tinashe & Chance The Rapper - All My Friends

Round by round: 07-07-08-09-07

Points - 326.59
Current Voters - 6
Top Vote - #2


At #8 we have the perennial summer jam of 2016 that of course was popular in Australia during winter, that of course being "This Girl". We're then followed by another one of those late blooming hits from Snakehips, that being "All My Friends" at #7.
#6. Drake feat. Wizkid & Kyla - One Dance

Round by round: 04-05-05-04-06

Points - 333.41
Current Voters - 5
Top Vote - #1


#5. Duke Dumont - Ocean Drive

Round by round: 05-04-04-05-05

Points - 337.77
Current Voters - 7
Top Vote - #2


For those keeping tabs on whether or not a song will be DQ'd from next week's game, know that exactly half of the remaining songs made yesterday's Hottest 100, a fact that is true whether or not you include the above two songs because "One Dance" lands at #6, while the other song here "Ocean Drive" was in last year's Hottest 100. Nonetheless an impressive feat for Duke Dumont as he landed top 5 for last year's game as well.
#4. MØ - Final Song

Round by round: 06-06-06-06-04

Points - 344.44
Current Voters - 7
Top Vote - #2


#3. Ariana Grande - Into You

Round by round: 03-03-03-03-03

Points - 427.15
Current Voters - 8
Top Vote - #1


I'm almost disappointed in you all, MØ had but one request for you to not let "Final Song" be our final song, but you just couldn't stop voting for it, to the point that it landed all the way up at #4, which is actually the highest that MØ has ever landed in one of these games. We then have the perennial 3rd place of Ariana Grande's "Into You", which is also her highest ranking entry to date in this game, beating "Problem" which landed at #8 last year.
#2. The Weeknd feat. Daft Punk - Starboy

Round by round: 02-02-02-02-02

Points - 436.87
Current Voters - 8
Top Vote - #2


#1. Dua Lipa - Be The One

Round by round: 01-01-01-01-01

Points - 492.78
Current Voters - 9
Top Vote - #1


Well, well, well, look what you've done. This is the sort of thing I absolutely could make up, but the fact that it came about of its own fruition is probably sweeter. Purists will be pleased to know that we will be running the Hottest 100 in its unaltered form next week because the top contender to stop that from happening, "Starboy", has done what we've all become accustomed to, finishing at #2. With thanks to its voters who put it as high as #2 in their votes each and every round, making it finish at #2 on the list, each and every round. And wouldn't you know, the song that it took to beat it, is a song that on its previous iteration in QLVG, could only manage a #47 finish, perhaps indicative of a stronger field. But true to her word, Dua Lipa proved more than able to be the one and her #6 peaking hit (unfortunately missing the top 5 due to its peak coinciding with Prince's passing) "Be The One" was almost uncontested for this entire game. Only briefly during the last round when votes were swapping in and out did The Weeknd challenge her, but her total, as backed by more than half of the 16 voters (she actually has 10 votes this round if you include a non-voter) sees her unassailable here. But still, she only amassed 493 points, even though with the number of people who voted each round, it would have been possible to go upwards of 990. Which can lead me to saying but one thing: ya joking shoulda been higher.
And so that is a wrap. I will be seeing you on Monday as we look at yesterday's Hottest 100. Acts like Flume, Hilltop Hoods & Desiigner managed to get into the top 20 in this game, but how will they fair against different competition like Amy Shark, Childish Gambino or Tash Sultana?

Also on Tuesday I'll be kicking the Qualifying thread back off again as we get a chance to shine a light on your favourite songs of 2016 that weren't featured in either of these 2 games.
Fantastic top 10 and fantastic #1! Great to see Dua take it out and Starboy enjoy eat its #2s
#BTOfor2017EOY

But yay, it was my number one throughout too, so I'm chuffed!
Swinging back into action with the latest Hottest 100!

A.B. Original feat. Dan Sultan - January 26
A.B. Original feat. Paul Kelly - Dumb Things {Like a Version}
Alex Lahey - You Don't Think You Like People Like Me
Ali Barter - Girlie Bits
Amy Shark - Adore
Banks - Gemini Feed
Beyoncé - Hold Up
Big Scary - The Opposite of Us
Birds of Tokyo - Brace
Blink-182 - Bored to Death
Bliss N Eso feat. Thief - Dopamine
Broods - Free
Broods - Heartlines
Camp Cope - Lost: Season One
Catfish and the Bottlemen - 7
Catfish and the Bottlemen - Soundcheck
Catfish and the Bottlemen - Twice
Chance the Rapper feat. Knox Fortune - All Night
Childish Gambino - Me and Your Mama
Childish Gambino - Redbone
Client Liaison - World of Our Love
Cub Sport - Come On Mess Me Up
D.D Dumbo - Satan
D.D Dumbo - Walrus
Desiigner - Panda
DMA's - Believe {Like a Version}
DMA's - Step Up the Morphine
DOPE LEMON - Marinade
DOPE LEMON - Uptown Folks
Drake feat. Rihanna - Too Good
Drake feat. Wizkid & Kyla - One Dance
Dune Rats - Bullshit
Dune Rats - Scott Green
Elk Road feat. Natalie Foster - Hanging by a Thread
Empire of the Sun - High and Low
Flume feat. Kai - Never Be like You
Flume feat. Tove Lo - Say It
Flume feat. Vic Mensa - Lose It
Flume feat. Vince Staples and Kučka - Smoke & Retribution
Frank Ocean - Pink + White
Frank Ocean - Solo
Gang of Youths - Strange Diseases
Glass Animals - Life Itself
Glass Animals - Season 2 Episode 3
Glass Animals - Youth
Golden Features feat. Julia Stone - Wolfie
Gretta Ray - Drive
Halsey - Love Yourself {Like a Version}
Hilltop Hoods feat. James Chatburn - Higher
Hilltop Hoods feat. Montaigne & Tom Thum - 1955
Illy feat. Anne-Marie - Catch 22
Illy feat. Vera Blue - Papercuts
Kanye West feat. Rihanna & Swizz Beatz - Famous
Kanye West feat. Chance The Rapper, Kirk Franklin, Kelly Price & The-Dream - Ultralight Beam
Kid Cudi feat. Pharrell Williams - Surfin'
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - Gamma Knife
Kingswood - Creepin
L D R U feat. Savoi - Next to You
Luca Brasi - Anything Near Conviction
Mac Miller feat. Anderson .Paak - Dang!
Maggie Rogers - Alaska
Miike Snow - Genghis Khan
Milky Chance - Cocoon
MØ - Final Song
Montaigne - Because I Love You
Mura Masa feat. A$AP Rocky - Love$ick
Paces feat. Guy Sebastian - Keeping Score {Like a Version}
Peking Duk feat. Elliphant - Stranger
Pnau - Chameleon
Radiohead - Burn the Witch
RÜFÜS - Innerbloom (What So Not Remix)
RÜFÜS - Say a Prayer for Me
SAFIA - Make Them Wheels Roll
SAFIA - My Love Is Gone
SAFIA - Over You
Sofi Tukker - Drinkee
Sticky Fingers - Our Town
Sticky Fingers - Outcast at Last
Sticky Fingers - Sad Songs
Tash Sultana - Jungle
Tash Sultana - Notion
The Amity Affliction - All Fucked Up
The Amity Affliction - I Bring the Weather with Me
The Amity Affliction - This Could Be Heartbreak
The Avalanches - Because I'm Me
The Avalanches - Subways
The Avalanches feat. Danny Brown & MF DOOM - Frankie Sinatra
The Smith Street Band - Death to the Lads
The Weeknd feat. Daft Punk - I Feel It Coming
The Weeknd feat. Daft Punk - Starboy
The xx - On Hold
Thundamentals feat. Peta & The Wolves - Think About It
Tkay Maidza - Simulation
Vallis Alps - Fading
Vera Blue - Settle
Violent Soho - Blanket
Violent Soho - How to Taste
Violent Soho - No Shade
Violent Soho - So Sentimental
Violent Soho - Viceroy

Just like last game, you may select a Top 25-40 from this list and submit it to my inbox by 6pm on Wednesday, wherein I will do my best to maintain composure and things to say for the same songs all over again, and also potentially eliminate 20 of them.
=#98. Golden Features feat. Julia Stone - Wolfie

Points - 0
Current Voters - 0
Top Vote - N/A


=#98. Halsey - Love Yourself {Like A Version}

Points - 0
Current Voters - 0
Top Vote - N/A


=#98. The Amity Affliction - All F**ked Up

Points - 0
Current Voters - 0
Top Vote - N/A


=#97. Kingswood - Creepin

Points - 2
Current Voters - 1
Top Vote - #39


=#96. The Amity Affliction - I Bring The Weather With Me

Points - 6
Current Voters - 1
Top Vote - #35


We start this off in rather inoffensive fashion with Golden Features' 2nd successive Hottest 100 appearance (almost 3rd, lest we forget), and his Julia Stone collaboration "Wolfie". It's not alone on null points, and that's where things get slightly more offensive, depending on who you'd ask, with that Halsey Like A Version which is apparently the most viewed one on YouTube, I imagine thanks to a lot of international viewers, and the first of 3 Amity Affliction tracks in "All F**ked Up" which has admittedly been growing on me in the last week. I was slightly worried we'd end up with all of their tracks on 0 points which feels wrong in terms of creating some sort of democracy around them. Although in saying that, "I Bring The Weather With Me" couldn't quite escape the first post at #96, with the two tracks surrounding not Beyonce, but instead Kingswood's smooth stylings on "Creepin".
=#93. Dune Rats - Bullshit

Points - 10
Current Voters - 1
Top Vote - #31


=#93. Glass Animals - Season 2 Episode 3

Points - 10
Current Voters - 1
Top Vote - #31


=#93. SAFIA - Over You

Points - 10
Current Voters - 1
Top Vote - #31


#92. Flume feat. Vic Mensa - Lose It

Points - 12
Current Voters - 1
Top Vote - #29


#91. Bliss N Eso feat. Thief - Dopamine

Points - 21
Current Voters - 1
Top Vote - #20


We've got another 3 way tie, this time on 10 points, with rather diverse company. All of these artists have more to show for themselves later at least, with current feature album stars Dune Rats in with "Bullshit" alongside the surprising (for the person who didn't prepare blurbs for them on the day) entries from Glass Animals & SAFIA. Right ahead of them is another busy character here with Flume's first entry "Lose It", while we have a big jump in points to get to Bliss N Eso at #91 with the first taste of their upcoming album.
#90. Elk Road feat. Natalie Foster - Hanging By A Thread

Points - 21
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #21


#89. L D R U feat. Savoi - Next To You

Points - 22
Current Voters - 1
Top Vote - #19


#88. A.B. Original feat. Paul Kelly - Dumb Things {Like A Version}

Points - 23
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #23


#87. The Amity Affliction - This Could Be Heartbreak

Points - 28
Current Voters - 1
Top Vote - #13


I hope you realise by not voting Elk Road a little bit higher, I missed out on the opportunity to say in the next round that he was "Hanging By A Thread", though if you rate the top 90 as a significant milestone then that is still the case. If L D R U was hoping to improve on his standings from the last game then "Next To You" has not quite done the trick as it lands at #89, though it's not the last of his songs to appear here so there's that. A.B. Original are in at #88 with the best Like A Version I've heard in years, something something Ben Lawson, while The Amity Affliction end their run here with "This Could Be Heartbreak", considerably higher than their other two though only in points.
=#85. Luca Brasi - Anything Near Conviction

Points - 28
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #23


=#85. Sticky Fingers - Sad Songs

Points - 28
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #23


#84. Catfish and the Bottlemen - Twice

Points - 31
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #11


#83. Violent Soho - No Shade

Points - 31
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #25


#82. DOPE LEMON - Marinade

Points - 32
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #19


#81. Violent Soho - So Sentimental

Points - 33
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #22


To ruin the consistency of the posts, we had a tie at #85 between Luca Brasi's quite solid "Anything Near Conviction", and the first of 3 Sticky Fingers' songs "Sad Songs", which I think is the only song in the list I can't remember the tune to off the top of my head. That distinction doesn't include me frequently mixing up Catfish and the Bottlemen songs, though "Twice" which comes in at #84 is free from that problem. Also look at that, they have cracked the top 80 not once but twice. Speaking of twice, Violent Soho show up here twice, narrowly missing out on having their full hand through to the next round. "No Shade" and "So Sentimental" kick off the proceedings, and they make for something of a "Marinade" sandwich with the first of two DOPE LEMON tracks out.
Thus we have 80 songs that are carrying on from here:

A.B. Original feat. Dan Sultan - January 26
Alex Lahey - You Don't Think You Like People Like Me
Ali Barter - Girlie Bits
Amy Shark - Adore
Banks - Gemini Feed
Beyoncé - Hold Up
Big Scary - The Opposite of Us
Birds of Tokyo - Brace
Blink-182 - Bored to Death
Broods - Free
Broods - Heartlines
Camp Cope - Lost: Season One
Catfish and the Bottlemen - 7
Catfish and the Bottlemen - Soundcheck
Chance the Rapper feat. Knox Fortune - All Night
Childish Gambino - Me and Your Mama
Childish Gambino - Redbone
Client Liaison - World of Our Love
Cub Sport - Come On Mess Me Up
D.D Dumbo - Satan
D.D Dumbo - Walrus
Desiigner - Panda
DMA's - Believe {Like a Version}
DMA's - Step Up the Morphine
DOPE LEMON - Uptown Folks
Drake feat. Rihanna - Too Good
Drake feat. Wizkid & Kyla - One Dance
Dune Rats - Scott Green
Empire of the Sun - High and Low
Flume feat. Tove Lo - Say It
Flume feat. Vince Staples and Kučka - Smoke & Retribution
Flume feat. Kai - Never Be like You
Frank Ocean - Pink + White
Frank Ocean - Solo
Gang of Youths - Strange Diseases
Glass Animals - Life Itself
Glass Animals - Youth
Gretta Ray - Drive
Hilltop Hoods feat. James Chatburn - Higher
Hilltop Hoods feat. Montaigne & Tom Thum - 1955
Illy feat. Anne-Marie - Catch 22
Illy feat. Vera Blue - Papercuts
Kanye West feat. Chance The Rapper, Kirk Franklin, Kelly Price & The-Dream - Ultralight Beam
Kanye West feat. Rihanna & Swizz Beatz - Famous
Kid Cudi feat. Pharrell Williams - Surfin'
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - Gamma Knife
Mac Miller feat. Anderson .Paak - Dang!
Maggie Rogers - Alaska
Miike Snow - Genghis Khan
Milky Chance - Cocoon
MØ - Final Song
Montaigne - Because I Love You
Mura Masa feat. A$AP Rocky - Love$ick
Paces feat. Guy Sebastian - Keeping Score {Like a Version}
Peking Duk feat. Elliphant - Stranger
Pnau - Chameleon
Radiohead - Burn the Witch
RÜFÜS - Innerbloom (What So Not Remix)
RÜFÜS - Say a Prayer for Me
SAFIA - Make Them Wheels Roll
SAFIA - My Love Is Gone
Sofi Tukker - Drinkee
Sticky Fingers - Our Town
Sticky Fingers - Outcast at Last
Tash Sultana - Jungle
Tash Sultana - Notion
The Avalanches - Because I'm Me
The Avalanches - Subways
The Avalanches feat. Danny Brown & MF DOOM - Frankie Sinatra
The Smith Street Band - Death to the Lads
The Weeknd feat. Daft Punk - I Feel It Coming
The Weeknd feat. Daft Punk - Starboy
The xx - On Hold
Thundamentals feat. Peta & The Wolves - Think About It
Tkay Maidza - Simulation
Vallis Alps - Fading
Vera Blue - Settle
Violent Soho - Blanket
Violent Soho - How to Taste
Violent Soho - Viceroy


The ranks will likely be thinned by a count of 20 once more on Friday, but to make sure that all goes the way you want it to, I ask that you submit your Top 20-32 ranked tracks to my inbox by 6pm on Friday.
Also I just wanted to point out that I have added up all the year end lists that have currently been posted on the site. Still no deadline set but if you plan on altering your list, please let me know so I can adjust my spreadsheet!

Also also I've just been alerted that I made a mistake and Flume's "Lose It" should have 25 points from 2 voters, shifting it from #92 to #88.
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All of my top ten survived, and I only lost four with three in my bottom five. That Halsey cover can suck it.

Same method as last year for the combined EOY?
I'm thinking so, though it does seem like it'll be much more minor.
I don't remember how many I'd have had last time but I think this time would be more, though not as strong.
In terms of cracking the top 100 you might not have any, currently only a small handful in the top 200 and only one that looks almost a lock in the top 100, which I wouldn't suspect is on your list
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I realise it is not yet 6pm but I have a bus to catch and so I'd rather just post the results now (everyone who voted last round voted this round anyhow) otherwise I won't be able to until close to midnight.

#80. Violent Soho - How To Taste

Round by round: 74-80

Points - 36
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #21


#79. Catfish and the Bottlemen - Soundcheck

Round by round: 78-79

Points - 37
Current Voters - 1
Top Vote - #4


#78. Thundamentals feat. Peta & The Wolves - Think About It

Round by round: 76-78

Points - 39
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #19


#77. Vallis Alps - Fading

Round by round: 73-77

Points - 39
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #18


#76. D.D Dumbo - Walrus

Round by round: 75-76

Points - 45
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #8


Violent Soho capped off the previous round, so here they are back to back just 2 days apart. "How To Taste" is track 1 on Violent Soho's rather good 4th...anyway them being there stops us from having Catfish and the Bottlemen act as the soundcheck for the post with "Soundcheck", which instead resides at #79. We then have Thundamentals swapping up the formula at #78 by having a lady crooner on the hook rather than a dude with "Think About It", and then Vallis Alps at #77 who triple j would be quick to inform you are playing all 5 of Australia's capital cities later this year. J Award winner D.D Dumbo gets his first entry in with "Walrus" at #76.
#75. RÜFÜS - Say a Prayer for Me

Round by round: 66-75

Points - 47
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #3


#74. Dune Rats - Scott Green

Round by round: 80-74

Points - 48
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #21


#73. Chance The Rapper feat. Knox Fortune - All Night

Round by round: 55-73

Points - 50
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #22


#72. Catfish and the Bottlemen - 7

Round by round: 77-72

Points - 53
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #9


#71. Cub Sport - Come On Mess Me Up

Round by round: 72-71

Points - 54
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #13


RÜFÜS also have their first showing at #75 with the only track on their album "Bloom" to get a showing in this year's countdown #Justice4Brighter. I can only assume if you're a person reading this that you are inherently normal and not like me whose most played song in wake of collecting this year's Hottest 100 songs is "Scott Green" http://www.last.fm/user/Dircashede/library/tracks?from=2017-01-27&to=2017-02-03 but anyhow, the key highlight on the current iTunes #1 album comes through at #74. Chance The Rapper had a goofy song not quite befitting of his talents come into the top 20 of the countdown, but here "All Night" stops off at #73, though it will not be the last we here of him. You may also gain some delight from learning now that not only has Catfish and the Bottlemen's "7" landed in a position with a '7' in it, but it was even #77 last round. Lastly here we have one of my favourite underdog success stories of the countdown in Cub Sport's "Come On Mess Me Up", which can't quite emulate that here but comes through at #71.
#70. Hilltop Hoods feat. James Chatburn - Higher

Round by round: 79-70

Points - 54
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #16


#69. SAFIA - Make Them Wheels Roll

Round by round: 63-69

Points - 56
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #1


#68. Glass Animals - Youth

Round by round: 65-68

Points - 61
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #18


#67. DOPE LEMON - Uptown Folks

Round by round: 70-67

Points - 63
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #2


#66. Paces feat. Guy Sebastian - Keeping Score {Like A Version}

Round by round: 59-66

Points - 63
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #18


If you're someone who has vocal, passionate disgust at Hilltop Hoods moreso than anything else...well, you're an oddity. But anyhow, you no longer need to internally comment on every track so far by thinking 'ya joking shoulda been "Higher"', because that's stopped off at #70. But perhaps it would have been fitting if it lived up to its title and got a little bit higher, but instead the #69 position goes to the arguably also fitting "Make Them Wheels Roll" for SAFIA. Their most popular song by far on the countdown, but not quite the case here. Actually it's the same thing happening with Glass Animals, with their "Youth" bowing out 2nd. DOPE LEMON unfortunately do not have a 3rd song to back them up though, so it's the end of the road for them at #67 with "Uptown Folks". Lastly we have Paces' Like A Version of "Keeping Score", which does in fact land 13 places higher than the original version did in the last game. Now we just need to come to agreement as to whether or not Guy is singing the correct lyrics https://twitter.com/LOOFRunDry/status/824098646069129216
#65. Sticky Fingers - Outcast At Last

Round by round: 68-65

Points - 64
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #4


#64. RÜFÜS - Innerbloom (What So Not Remix)

Round by round: 60-64

Points - 66
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #1


#63. Kanye West feat. Rihanna & Swizz Beatz - Famous

Round by round: 62-63

Points - 66
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #15


#62. The Avalanches - Because I'm Me

Round by round: 67-62

Points - 67
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #11


#61. Sticky Fingers - Our Town

Round by round: 71-61

Points - 69
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #8


Sticky Fingers got 2 tracks through to round 2 but akin to Violent Soho last round, or Dick Dastardly in the majority of Wacky Races, they have a rough casualty right at the finish line with "Outcast At Last" at #65, and "Our Town" at #61. RÜFÜS also say goodbye to us with the What So Not remix of "Innerbloom" at #64. I WILL NOT DISCUSS THE CONTENT OF "FAMOUS" AND YOU CAN'T MAKE ME...it's Kanye's 1st of 2 tracks here though at #63, while lastly (in terms of this commentary), we have The Avalanches taking their first loss with "Because I'm Me" at #62.
Rihanna can go 0 to 60 in 3.5, but it took us well over 160,000 seconds to go from 100 to 60, which clearly shows that I need to put in more worworworwawawa

A.B. Original feat. Dan Sultan - January 26
Alex Lahey - You Don't Think You Like People Like Me
Ali Barter - Girlie Bits
Amy Shark - Adore
Banks - Gemini Feed
Beyoncé - Hold Up
Big Scary - The Opposite of Us
Birds of Tokyo - Brace
Blink-182 - Bored to Death
Broods - Free
Broods - Heartlines
Camp Cope - Lost: Season One
Childish Gambino - Me and Your Mama
Childish Gambino - Redbone
Client Liaison - World of Our Love
D.D Dumbo - Satan
Desiigner - Panda
DMA's - Believe {Like a Version}
DMA's - Step Up the Morphine
Drake feat. Rihanna - Too Good
Drake feat. Wizkid & Kyla - One Dance
Empire of the Sun - High and Low
Flume feat. Tove Lo - Say It
Flume feat. Vince Staples and Kučka - Smoke & Retribution
Flume feat. Kai - Never Be like You
Frank Ocean - Pink + White
Frank Ocean - Solo
Gang of Youths - Strange Diseases
Glass Animals - Life Itself
Gretta Ray - Drive
Hilltop Hoods feat. Montaigne & Tom Thum - 1955
Illy feat. Anne-Marie - Catch 22
Illy feat. Vera Blue - Papercuts
Kanye West feat. Chance The Rapper, Kirk Franklin, Kelly Price & The-Dream - Ultralight Beam
Kid Cudi feat. Pharrell Williams - Surfin'
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - Gamma Knife
Mac Miller feat. Anderson .Paak - Dang!
Maggie Rogers - Alaska
Miike Snow - Genghis Khan
Milky Chance - Cocoon
MØ - Final Song
Montaigne - Because I Love You
Mura Masa feat. A$AP Rocky - Love$ick
Peking Duk feat. Elliphant - Stranger
Pnau - Chameleon
Radiohead - Burn the Witch
SAFIA - My Love Is Gone
Sofi Tukker - Drinkee
Tash Sultana - Jungle
Tash Sultana - Notion
The Avalanches - Subways
The Avalanches feat. Danny Brown & MF DOOM - Frankie Sinatra
The Smith Street Band - Death to the Lads
The Weeknd feat. Daft Punk - I Feel It Coming
The Weeknd feat. Daft Punk - Starboy
The xx - On Hold
Tkay Maidza - Simulation
Vera Blue - Settle
Violent Soho - Blanket
Violent Soho - Viceroy

Nonetheless we must continue to take it down from here, so I task you with eliminating 20 more songs, which will be decided upon once you submit your Top 15 to 24 tracks from this selection, provided you do so before 6pm Monday. Also vote in the ACI if that's a thing you tend to do, and have a good weekend. I'm off to look at video games that were produced in the time it took this QLVG round to complete.
#60. Broods - Heartlines

Round by round: 61-60-60

Points - 79
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #9


#59. Banks - Gemini Feed

Round by round: 36-38-59

Points - 80
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #5


#58. SAFIA - My Love Is Gone

Round by round: 57-59-58

Points - 80.5
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #7


#57. Sofi Tukker - Drinkee

Round by round: 42-50-57

Points - 98
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #8


#56. Alex Lahey - You Don't Think You Like People Like Me

Round by round: 69-58-56

Points - 107.75
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #9


"Heartlines" may be the most popular Broods track on the countdown, but it hasn't quite managed the same here as it lands at #60 to kick off the last round. It's followed by a bit of a collapse from Banks who was sitting rather unsteadily in the top 40, but now drops about 20 places lower to the bottom end of the top 60 at #59. SAFIA keep up their trend of losing one song each round, though with "My Love Is Gone" out now they have nothing left to represent them. Then at #57 we have everyone's favourite song about being with God, shutting yourself up, hitting shots and getting dizzy, courtesy of Sofi Tukker. Alex Lahey just scraped through into the Hottest 100 but here she's at the much steadier standing of #56, so I think some people like people like her.
#55. Tkay Maidza - Simulation

Round by round: 30-41-55

Points - 113
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #5


#54. Gang Of Youths - Strange Diseases

Round by round: 54-54-54

Points - 124.75
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #10


#53. Frank Ocean - Solo

Round by round: 56-57-53

Points - 124.75
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #1


#52. Maggie Rogers - Alaska

Round by round: 16-32-52

Points - 125.5
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #2


#51. D.D Dumbo - Satan

Round by round: 64-55-51

Points - 127.5
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #3


In this game, the simulation that Tkay was stuck in was one that involved rapid descent, perhaps she was playing Downwell? Or maybe Chapter 6 in Portal 2? Anyway, "Simulation" falls short of the middle mark of the list at #55. Same goes for Gang Of Youths who intriguingly stayed put at #54 every round amidst all the surrounding chaos. Frank Ocean would be in some trouble if "Solo" was his sole appearance here, but he can rest assured that he has in fact gotten into the top half of the list. The other two are not so lucky, with Maggie Rogers' sole entry at #52, and D.D Dumbo's highest of two at #51. Perhaps they're in luck in the future though, as both will find a place in the next QLVG, with possibly better songs in my biased opinion.
I just realised that I have double applied daylight savings and voting wasn't supposed to close until an hour from now...at least once again everyone voted
#50. DMA's - Believe {Like A Version}

Round by round: 41-42-50

Points - 129
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #3


#49. blink-182 - Bored To Death

Round by round: 51-53-49

Points - 134.75
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #6


#48. The Smith Street Band - Death To The Lads

Round by round: 50-44-48

Points - 135.75
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #8


#47. Violent Soho - Viceroy

Round by round: 45-48-47

Points - 139.5
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #9


#46. A.B. Original feat. Dan Sultan - January 26

Round by round: 37-35-46

Points - 141
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #5


DMA's covered an artist that isn't Oasis and score the highest ranking Like A Version. I know Noel Gallagher hates them but I'd love to hear from Cher on the matter. Further showing that the '90s aren't dead, we now have blink-182 returning to the fold at #49, being beaten out by more modern contemporaries from Australia. On Hottest 100 day, Violent Soho even took to Twitter to say they were more stoked about blink-182 getting in than their own entries, here they've stomped them twice, with "Viceroy" just ahead at #47. In a similar vein we have The Smith Street Band who perhaps took advantage of only releasing one song last year to get a strong finish...keen for a new single now but here's "Death To The Lads" at #48. Lastly we have perhaps the most important song in the countdown, it would be appropriate for "January 26" to poll on what could be the last time the Hottest 100 is held on that date. Here it has a #46 finish.
#45. Empire Of The Sun - High and Low

Round by round: 33-36-45

Points - 143.5
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #6


#44. Milky Chance - Cocoon

Round by round: 39-39-44

Points - 143.75
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #7


#43. Childish Gambino - Me And Your Mama

Round by round: 52-56-43

Points - 147.25
Current Voters - 5
Top Vote - #8


#42. Glass Animals - Life Itself

Round by round: 49-49-42

Points - 148.5
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #2


#41. Illy feat. Anne-Marie - Catch 22

Round by round: 31-33-41

Points - 148.5
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #1


Empire of the Sun didn't really get a chance to experience being high and low, with "High And Low" kind of just in middling positions and ending up at #45. We are also left only further perplexed as to where exactly Milky Chance's cocoon is, but I can only hope it's at #44 because that's where they're staying. Listening to "Me And Your Mama" makes it feel like a higher plane of existence, but we have to return to reality to plonk it down at #43, while Childish Gambino has another entry locked in the top 40. For Glass Animals however it's all over here, getting as high as #42 with "Life Itself". But the unlucky rung today goes to Illy's "Catch 22", which oddly has swapped orders with his other entry since the last QLVG game. It's hard to work out who's the weak link here, if only Anne-Marie had a solo career to compare to it.
Getting to crunch time now, we have just 40 songs left challenging for the mantle.

Ali Barter - Girlie Bits
Amy Shark - Adore
Beyoncé - Hold Up
Big Scary - The Opposite of Us
Birds of Tokyo - Brace
Broods - Free
Camp Cope - Lost: Season One
Childish Gambino - Redbone
Client Liaison - World of Our Love
Desiigner - Panda
DMA's - Step Up the Morphine
Drake feat. Rihanna - Too Good
Drake feat. Wizkid & Kyla - One Dance
Flume feat. Tove Lo - Say It
Flume feat. Vince Staples and Kučka - Smoke & Retribution
Flume feat. Kai - Never Be like You
Frank Ocean - Pink + White
Gretta Ray - Drive
Hilltop Hoods feat. Montaigne & Tom Thum - 1955
Illy feat. Vera Blue - Papercuts
Kanye West feat. Chance The Rapper, Kirk Franklin, Kelly Price & The-Dream - Ultralight Beam
Kid Cudi feat. Pharrell Williams - Surfin'
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - Gamma Knife
Mac Miller feat. Anderson .Paak - Dang!
Miike Snow - Genghis Khan
MØ - Final Song
Montaigne - Because I Love You
Mura Masa feat. A$AP Rocky - Love$ick
Peking Duk feat. Elliphant - Stranger
Pnau - Chameleon
Radiohead - Burn the Witch
Tash Sultana - Jungle
Tash Sultana - Notion
The Avalanches - Subways
The Avalanches feat. Danny Brown & MF DOOM - Frankie Sinatra
The Weeknd feat. Daft Punk - I Feel It Coming
The Weeknd feat. Daft Punk - Starboy
The xx - On Hold
Vera Blue - Settle
Violent Soho - Blanket

And said crunching will happen, though if you were to imagine it being the job of a Raticate, then perhaps a Super Fang will be more appropriate as we will be taking away half of this list. To impact how that will proceed, select your Top 10-16 from this lot and memo them to me by 6pm Wednesday, I will try to actually close it when that hour arrives too

ALSO IMPORTANT: The time has come for new QLVG Qualifying rounds, and I'm enlisting you to vote as many of these that take your fancy http://www.strawpoll.me/12280291 But my ideas suck so I would love for your input if you have ideas for these.
So I was all ready to actually post this at the normal time until I found out the power had to be out riiiiight around 6pm

#40. Peking Duk feat. Elliphant - Stranger

Round by round: 25-25-32-40

Points - 73.81
Current Voters - 1
Top Vote - #9


#39. Tash Sultana - Notion

Round by round: 34-34-39-39

Points - 126.25
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #4


#38. Birds of Tokyo - Brace

Round by round: 15-15-35-38

Points - 142.06
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #4


#37. Illy feat. Vera Blue - Papercuts

Round by round: 35-37-20-37

Points - 152.81
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #2


#36. Ali Barter - Girlie Bits

Round by round: 38-28-37-36

Points - 160.81
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #8


It would seem there's a bit of a back & forth cycle with QLVG, in that the nature of eliminations affect the proceeding ones. So a lack of crossover hits getting taken down last round meant they were bound to take a hit this round. We start off with Peking Duk's top 5 hit "Stranger" sinking to the bottom of the list with only one person finding a space to vote for it this time around. Then followed by Tash Sultana doing better than I'd have expected with "Notion". Until now we could claim to have the top 2 and the bottom 2 of the countdown still in the running, but that time is up, with Birds of Tokyo's strong starting "Brace" taking a big hit last round and not able to recover. We then have the intriguing pattern of Illy's "Papercuts", which saw a huge boost last round, thanks to a lot of people just sneaking it into their votes then, but that catches up to him and he ends up pretty much back where he started at #37. Lastly we have Ali Barter's "Girlie Bits", which comes from the debut album she announced just yesterday, and it's the only single released so far that doesn't mention cigarettes, the more you know.
#35. Hilltop Hoods feat. Montaigne & Tom Thum - 1955

Round by round: 22-26-18-35

Points - 172.03
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #3


#34. Vera Blue - Settle

Round by round: 17-18-38-34

Points - 172.19
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #6


#33. Mac Miller feat. Anderson .Paak - Dang!

Round by round: 27-31-33-33

Points - 173.85
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #5


#32. Client Liaison - World Of Our Love

Round by round: 20-29-36-32

Points - 175.13
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #1


#31. Kid Cudi feat. Pharrell Williams - Surfin'

Round by round: 46-52-30-31

Points - 176.13
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #13


It's hard not to link "Papercuts" and "1955", and now they have one more thing in common as they both take 17 place drops this round and get eliminated, while their featured artists carry on without them. But not for long in Vera Blue's case as her "Settle" is right up next at #34. I was slightly hoping we'd have our two hip hop party jams right next to each other but we can't have everything the way we want. Still, imagine that, a Mac Miller song in the top third of a QLVG, while Kid Cudi's standing is somewhat impressive just because "Surfin'" was the only song this round not to receive a top 10 vote. In the middle of them we have that Client Liaison song which I don't have anything to say about.
#30. Big Scary - The Opposite Of Us

Round by round: 13-14-25-30

Points - 178.53
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #2


#29. King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - Gamma Knife

Round by round: 58-40-29-29

Points - 179.63
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #2


#28. Violent Soho - Blanket

Round by round: 53-51-40-28

Points - 182.19
Current Voters - 5
Top Vote - #4


#27. Camp Cope - Lost: Season One

Round by round: 40-23-31-27

Points - 187
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #1


#26. The Avalanches feat. Danny Brown & MF DOOM - Frankie Sinatra

Round by round: 28-19-22-26

Points - 194.13
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #1


Kicking off the top 30 with a lot of cool songs, firstly Big Scary who had a bit of a tumble after a strong start with "The Opposite Of Us", as a lot of its middle-ranking votes just couldn't stick around as long as they were needed. King Gizzard benefitted on the other hand by not knowing the meaning of the word middle-ranking votes, and having persistence to keep improving after a slow start. Also improving was Violent Soho's top entry "Blanket", which feels very lucky to land up at #28, not only after just barely scraping into this round, but because 3 of its 5 voters put it at the very bottom of their votes, and 1 more was just 1 spot away from that. We then have one of the best bands on the way up in Australia with Camp Cope landing at #27, who by some strange irony never managed to end up in the EXACT SAAAAAAME PLAAAAAACE once in this proceeding. Lastly we have The Avalanches taking their 2nd hit with "Frankie Sinatra" but never fear because we've got some more Danny Brown to go around in the next game, and you'll never, never know when it's time to go.
#25. Desiigner - Panda

Round by round: 44-43-27-25

Points - 194.24
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #4


#24. The Avalanches - Subways

Round by round: 43-47-26-24

Points - 200.64
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #4


#23. DMA's - Step Up The Morphine

Round by round: 48-46-34-23

Points - 202.66
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #5


#22. Childish Gambino - Redbone

Round by round: 29-30-24-22

Points - 205.69
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #5


#21. Flume feat. Tove Lo - Say It

Round by round: 23-27-23-21

Points - 208.34
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #4


I actually thought that due to the difference with this list compared to last fortnight's, that Desiigner would be at a bit of a disadvantage and underperform, but in this game "Panda" ends up at #25, just 5 places lower than he was in the last game. Also a surprise is that The Avalanches get their highest entry with "Subways", considering that "Frankie Sinatra" was soundly beating it the entire way up to this round. DMA's land also rather high with "Step Up The Morphine" at #23, I'd be curious to know if preference for this song correlates with preference for an appropriately similar choice in Episode 4 of Life Is Strange, as the only data I have to go by is that anton conveniently likes the song more than I do. At #22 we have Childish Gambino with "Redbone", which in my downtime an hour ago I learnt makes for a really good mashup with Gorillaz's "Clint Eastwood" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouycfHgjky4 Just missing out is Flume's "Say It" at #21, which would be able to make the top 20 if there weren't a couple of Flume songs taking up spots instead, I hope you're happy Flume, you've ruined Flume's moment.
And so the 20 songs that have made it all the way to the final round are as such:

Amy Shark - Adore
Beyoncé - Hold Up
Broods - Free
Drake feat. Rihanna - Too Good
Drake feat. Wizkid & Kyla - One Dance
Flume feat. Vince Staples and Kučka - Smoke & Retribution
Flume feat. Kai - Never Be like You
Frank Ocean - Pink + White
Gretta Ray - Drive
Kanye West feat. Chance The Rapper, Kirk Franklin, Kelly Price & The-Dream - Ultralight Beam
Miike Snow - Genghis Khan
MØ - Final Song
Montaigne - Because I Love You
Mura Masa feat. A$AP Rocky - Love$ick
Pnau - Chameleon
Radiohead - Burn the Witch
Tash Sultana - Jungle
The Weeknd feat. Daft Punk - I Feel It Coming
The Weeknd feat. Daft Punk - Starboy
The xx - On Hold


Should you wish to contribute to how this pans out, I ask that you submit your Top 5 to 8 selections to my inbox by 6pm on Friday after which I will do what is expected of me, perhaps at the expected time but that's a surprise for Friday to unveil. Try not to vote for eliminated songs as there has been an odd uptick in that behaviour for some reason Also if you haven't already, vote in the strawpoll for deciding the next qualifying game http://www.strawpoll.me/12280291 and since I know you haven't already, vote in the ACI if that's a thing you do.
#20. Mura Masa feat. A$AP Rocky - Love$ick

Round by round: 47-45-28-19-20

Points - 120.77
Current Voters - 1
Top Vote - #5


#19. Frank Ocean - Pink + White

Round by round: 19-21-21-20-19

Points - 194.54
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #1


We start things off with the current ACI #1 under silly circumstances, that being Mura Masa's "Love$ick". It was quite lucky to make it through to the finals, and in doing so ends up with not much support left. So we have a big jump in points to #19 with Frank Ocean getting his highest entry with "Pink + White". You may or may not know that Beyoncé features briefly on the track, but we're not done with her here just yet.
#18. Kanye West feat. Chance The Rapper, Kirk Franklin, Kelly Price & The-Dream - Ultralight Beam

Round by round: 18-22-19-18-18

Points - 213.17
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #1


#17. Radiohead - Burn The Witch

Round by round: 32-17-17-17-17

Points - 216.61
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #1


With a mostly stable performance in this game, we have Kanye West getting his top appearance with the stellar "Ultralight Beam" at #18, and he has respectable and also very stable company with Radiohead up next with "Burn The Witch", which kicked up a gear in round 2 and then decided to stay put from there on at #17.
#16. Gretta Ray - Drive

Round by round: 14-13-16-11-16

Points - 229.23
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #1


#15. Amy Shark - Adore

Round by round: 07-11-13-15-15

Points - 239.92
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #1


I don't make these things up but coming up together we have two songs about fantasizing unrequited love through brief encounters that just make you think to yourself 'ah, to be young again'. Incidentally there's about 12 years difference in age here, with Gretta Ray at #16, and Hottest 100 runner up Amy Shark at #15. I have in the works what will possibly be the longest review I have ever written for "Adore", so avoid that space in the future.
#14. Flume feat. Vince Staples and Kučka - Smoke & Retribution

Round by round: 24-24-15-13-14

Points - 247.09
Current Voters - 5
Top Vote - #1


#13. Flume feat. Kai - Never Be Like You

Round by round: 09-08-02-08-13

Points - 250.74
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #2


I heard you like Flume, so I put a Flume on your Flume so you can Flume while you Flume. Amazingly, it was "Smoke & Retribution" that got the most voters this round out of the two, but "Never Be Like You" had a better start and stays just ahead. Also true story, "Never Be Like You" got the most votes in round 3 which made me think it was going to win this, but as per usual, I am not very good at predicting the way this game will unfold.
#12. Miike Snow - Genghis Khan

Round by round: 12-10-14-14-12

Points - 250.98
Current Voters - 5
Top Vote - #2


#11. The Weeknd feat. Daft Punk - I Feel It Coming

Round by round: 08-07-11-16-11

Points - 251
Current Voters - 5
Top Vote - #1


Bloodshy & Avant can only mock Andrew Wyatt as the only member of Miike Snow not to taste top 10 success in this game, with the formers having done so through songs like "Toxic" and "Runaway (U & I)". Not through lack of trying though as "Genghis Khan" did have a brief stint in the top 10, but it finishes here at #12. Landing at #11 is The Weeknd in familiar territory as we all remember that brief tension of when it was looking like "I Feel It Coming" would peak at #11 on ARIA, which of course wouldn't be appropriate because it wasn't following a #1 hit. Just like ARIA, it got as high as #7, but it's where it's destined to be at #11.
#10. The xx - On Hold

Round by round: 06-06-09-09-10

Points - 253.50
Current Voters - 5
Top Vote - #3


#9. Pnau - Chameleon

Round by round: 26-20-12-05-09

Points - 256.77
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #1


The xx are surely flicking a middle finger to Milky Chance who couldn't dream of occupying the top 10 alongside them in this increasingly arbitrary association between the two bands. Then we have Pnau who have waited nearly 2 decades to get this most prestigious top 10 finish to put on their CV, I would make a snappy pun based on the lyrics if I was ever confident on any full lines of the song.
#8. Montaigne - Because I Love You

Round by round: 02-04-10-07-08

Points - 278.24
Current Voters - 5
Top Vote - #2


#7. Drake feat. Rihanna - Too Good

Round by round: 11-12-06-04-07

Points - 288.07
Current Voters - 5
Top Vote - #3


Proving that you don't need to be an ARIA top 50 hit to get this high, we have Montaigne flying high at #8, "Because I Love You" impressively being voted by every single person except me in the first round, which is quite hilarious if I were to flashback a year or so ago. We've then got Drake coming back around, though a decent amount higher than the last game with "Too Good", in fact it's just behind where "One Dance" was in that game.
#6. Tash Sultana - Jungle

Round by round: 04-02-04-03-06

Points - 290.85
Current Voters - 5
Top Vote - #2


#5. Beyoncé - Hold Up

Round by round: 21-16-07-12-05

Points - 307.72
Current Voters - 5
Top Vote - #1


Fresh from smashing Like A Version this morning, we've got Tash Sultana at #6, unlucky to slip out of the top 5 when it counted the most. /r/indieheads continues to remember it was conflicted as Ezra Koenig & Father John Misty misuse their influence, or something like that. Nonetheless the Hottest 100 makes up for the lack of Beyoncé in the ARIA EOY, and the demand is certainly here in full force as "Hold Up" lands in the top 5.
#4. MØ - Final Song

Round by round: 05-05-05-06-04

Points - 311.67
Current Voters - 5
Top Vote - #4


#3. Broods - Free

Round by round: 01-01-01-02-03

Points - 327.72
Current Voters - 6
Top Vote - #2


I warned you in the last game but you still didn't listen, and were seemingly determined to let "Final Song" be our final song. Or maybe this was deliberate since it was carefully skidding the line just below that, and thus ends up at #4 here, which is incidentally as high as anyone voted it. It is actually an odd curiosity that nearly everyone's #1 votes missed the top 10, with very few to see at this side of the list. Also here we have Broods who enjoyed a brief spell of being at both the top and the bottom of the list in round 3 when "Heartlines" was #60. They had quite a commanding start too that seemed unsurmountable but couldn't quite hold on, and thus they lose everything.
#2. The Weeknd feat. Daft Punk - Starboy

Round by round: 03-03-08-10-02

Points - 351.95
Current Voters - 7
Top Vote - #3


#1. Drake feat. Wizkid & Kyla - One Dance

Round by round: 10-09-03-01-01

Points - 360.35
Current Voters - 6
Top Vote - #2


I only claim to count the votes, I don't claim to understand them, though with all those seemingly arbitrary decimal points, who could. Anyway, it would seem that you be loving the creeeeew, or just liking cruel poetic irony, as in the words of my niche Twitter meme, 'DRAKE IS HINDERING THE WEEKND'S CAREER'. But nonetheless, if you've been looking for another chance to laugh at "Starboy" being #2 then you're in luck. I bet The Weeknd is regretting not making Nicki Minaj & Eminem remixes of it. This also means that Drake is the first artist to ever be #1 in two different QLVGs.

Anyhow, I'll be seeing this thread again on Monday wherein we will look at a whole bunch of songs from 2016 that weren't in these last two games. Then on Tuesday, the voters have decided and we will be looking at title tracks to albums for the qualifying game. There was a late upswing in votes for the colours & iTunes top 1500 games, but not quite enough to split the difference.
Shame to have lost Drive and Adore in the same post (and not in the top ten at least) but I'm glad they did well overall.
New fortnight and a new list to go with it. I feel I say this a lot but this might be one of the best lists we've ever had for it. Not just filled with the brim with quality, but even diversity for that matter, to the point that even the small handful of artists that appear twice, mostly do so with wildly different tracks.

A Tribe Called Quest - We The People....
Alex Lahey - Let's Go Out
Ali Barter - Far Away
Alicia Keys - In Common
All Saints - One Strike
Allie X - Old Habits Die Hard
AlunaGeorge feat. Popcaan - I'm In Control
Angel Olsen - Shut Up Kiss Me
Ariana Grande feat. Future - Everyday
Baauer feat. Novelist & Leikeli47 - Day Ones
Banks - F**k With Myself
Bastille - Good Grief
Beyonce - Sorry
Beyonce feat. Kendrick Lamar - Freedom
Birds Of Tokyo - Harlequins
Blood Orange - Better Than Me
Bon Iver - 22 (Over S∞∞N)
Bon Iver - 33 "GOD"
Britney Spears feat. G-Eazy - Make Me...
Camp Cope - Jet Fuel Can't Melt Steel Beams
Carly Rae Jepsen - Higher
Carrie Underwood - Heartbeat
Chance The Rapper feat. Lil Wayne & 2 Chainz - No Problem
Charli XCX - Vroom Vroom
Cherry Glazerr - Told You I'd Be With The Guys
CHVRCHES feat. Hayley Williams - Bury It
Clean Bandit feat. Louisa Johnson - Tears
D.D Dumbo - Brother
Danny Brown - When It Rain
Danny Brown feat. Kendrick Lamar, Ab Soul & Earl Sweatshirt - Really Doe
David Bowie - Lazarus
Delta Goodrem - Dear Life
Demi Lovato - Body Say
DIIV - Under The Sun
Elle King - America's Sweetheart
Ellie Goulding - Still Falling For You
Emeli Sande - Hurts
Enrique Iglesias - DUELE EL CORAZON
Fifth Harmony - That's My Girl
Frank Ocean - Ivy
Frank Ocean - Nights
Grace - Hell Of A Girl
Highasakite - Someone Who'll Get It
Jake Bugg - Gimme The Love
Jarryd James feat. Broods - 1000X
Jessica Mauboy - Risk It
JoJo feat. Wiz Khalifa - F*ck Apologies
Jon Pardi - Head Over Boots
Julia Jacklin - Coming Of Age
KAYTRANADA feat. AlunaGeorge and GoldLink - Together
KDA & Tinashe - Just Say
Kelly Clarkson - Piece By Piece
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - People-Vultures
Kings of Leon - Waste A Moment
Lady Gaga - Million Reasons
Lady Gaga - Perfect Illusion
Little Big Town - Better Man
Little Mix - Touch
M83 feat. Mai Lan - Go!
Maggie Rogers - Dog Years
Martin Solveig feat. Tkay Maidza - Do It Right
Middle Kids - Edge Of Town
Migos feat. Lil Uzi Vert - Bad and Boujee
Miranda Lambert - Vice
MUNA - I Know A Place
Nicole Millar - Tremble
Olympia - Smoke Signals
OneRepublic - Wherever I Go
Parquet Courts - Dust
Porter Robinson & Madeon - Shelter
PUP - DVP
Radiohead - Daydreaming
Rebecca Ferguson - Bones
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Dark Necessities
Rihanna - Kiss It Better
Röyksopp feat. Susanne Sundfør - Never Ever
Sam Hunt - Make You Miss Me
Shura - What's It Gonna Be?
Sigala feat. Imani & DJ Fresh - Say You Do
Skepta - Man
Sleigh Bells - I Can Only Stare
Solange - Cranes In The Sky
St. Lucia - Help Me Run Away
The 1975 - Somebody Else
The 1975 - The Sound
The Hard Aches - Glad That You're Gone
The Jezabels - Pleasure Drive
The McClymonts - House
The Strokes - Oblivius
Tia Gostelow - Vague Utopia
Tigertown - Lonely Cities
Tinashe - Superlove
Tove Lo - Cool Girl
twenty one pilots - Cancer
Urthboy feat. Kira Puru - Daughter Of The Light
Walking on Cars - Speeding Cars
What So Not & Ganz feat. JOY - Lone
Years & Years - Meteorite
Young Thug & Travis Scott feat. Quavo - Pick Up The Phone
Zendaya feat. Chris Brown - Something New

You may know the drill by now, but to reiterate, I ask for you to submit your Top 25 to 40 selections ordered from this list, and from that I will crunch numbers to sadly eliminate up to 20 of these after voting closes at 6pm on Wednesday. Also look out tomorrow as I'll open the proceedings for the qualifying game which tackles album title tracks.
#100. Enrique Iglesias - DUELE EL CORAZON

Points - 31
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #13


#99. Tia Gostelow - Vague Utopia

Points - 38
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #15


#98. Years & Years - Meteorite

Points - 39
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #27


#97. The Strokes - OBLIVIUS

Points - 42
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #20


#96. Julia Jacklin - Coming Of Age

Points - 44
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #17


Most of you won't realise how chaotic this past half hour has been for me, but I have results and it's VERY fascinating. Possibly due to this being the first curated list under the new voting rules, we've smashed all previous standards for the game, to the point that every single song has at least 2 voters, and even the #100 song has a pretty impressive total of 31 points! So be afraid because some of you are going to lose your #1 votes in this round D: Starting from the bottom since we're here though, we have one of Enrique Iglesias's several huge latin hits of recent years, the very catchy "DUELE EL CORAZON" at #100. Following that we go local with Tia Gostelow's absolutely lovely "Vague Utopia", which is nominated for several awards at the Queensland Music Awards, even up against another song of hers. #98 sees the first ever winners of this game Years & Years come back with not quite that vengance, but don't let the low ranking deter you from thinking "Meteorite" is a quality track. #97 sees the main single released from The Strokes from their quick EP they released last year, while #96 has Julia Jacklin with the rockier cut from her otherwise more folk/alt-country album "Don't Let The Kids Win".
#95. DIIV - Under The Sun

Points - 46
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #11


#94. Baauer feat. Novelist & Leikeli47 - Day Ones

Points - 49
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #1


#93. twenty one pilots - Cancer

Points - 51
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #17


#92. Urthboy feat. Kira Puru - Daughter Of The Light

Points - 51
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #10


#91. Blood Orange - Better Than Me

Points - 52
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #12


I want to say thanks to the nominators of DIIV's "Under The Sun" for properly putting me onto a pretty great track! Following on from that at #94 we have one of the big highlights from Baauer's "Aa" album in "Day Ones". Then we turn down more than slightly as twenty one pilots take on a cut from My Chemical Romance's "The Black Parade" to celebrate its 10th anniversary. I do not know Tyler Joseph's stance on save/kill the animals. #92 sees a great highlight of Urthboy's latest album that could be corny but is actually a rather sweet dedication. Then at #91 we have Blood Orange with his Carly Rae Jepsen-aided cut from his album in "Better Than Me".
#90. Parquet Courts - Dust

Points - 53
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #6


#89. What So Not & Ganz feat. JOY. - Lone

Points - 54
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #17


#88. Chance The Rapper feat. Lil Wayne & 2 Chainz - No Problem

Points - 55
Current Voters - 5
Top Vote - #10


#87. Jon Pardi - Head Over Boots

Points - 57
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #8


#86. Sam Hunt - Make You Miss Me

Points - 59
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #9


Parquet Courts' album from last year is highly acclaimed and one that I really need to get around to listening to. They have some admiration here to land at #90. What So Not just keeps pumping out moody-bangers with his biggest one from last year "Lone" landing at #89. #88 sees the just announced Best New Artist winner at the Grammys, Chance The Rapper with the infectious "No Problem" which I guarantee would have been inescapable last year if he had a major label and conventional release strategy. It's also another wild representation of this round when a song with 5 different voters can't get through. At #87 we have Jon Pardi with, despite the daggy title, one of the best big country hits of last year and a potential signalling of a neo-trad resurgence...though incidentally he's bested by Sam Hunt who is of course riding the current wave of silly and doing battle with Thomas Rhett to get the least country-resembling songs to #1 on the country charts.
#85. The McClymonts - House

Points - 60
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #6


#84. Allie X - Old Habits Die Hard

Points - 62
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #1


#83. Jessica Mauboy - Risk It

Points - 65
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #1


#82. St. Lucia - Help Me Run Away

Points - 65
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #4


#81. Little Big Town - Better Man

Points - 66
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #3


We stay in the world of country, though the one on the other side of the world with The McClymonts taking #85 with "House". Then we're into a whole different world with Allie X's "Old Habits Die Hard" at #84. At #83 we see the long awaited return of QLVG vanguard Jessica Mauboy to this game who has been missing due to the nature of the previous lists. "Risk It" almost got through this round and was safe for all of 9 minutes before unluckily getting pushed back out. This all happened less than an hour ago At #82 we have St. Lucia with the very catchy "Help Me Run Away", while in the unlucky slot we have Little Big Town, who recruited acclaimed EDM songwriter Nils Sjöberg for "Better Man", but it's not quite enough to make the next round.
As per usual, 80 songs have managed to get even more votes than those ones to survive for at least 2 more days:

A Tribe Called Quest - We The People....
Alex Lahey - Let's Go Out
Ali Barter - Far Away
Alicia Keys - In Common
All Saints - One Strike
AlunaGeorge feat. Popcaan - I'm In Control
Angel Olsen - Shut Up Kiss Me
Ariana Grande feat. Future - Everyday
Banks - F**k With Myself
Bastille - Good Grief
Beyonce - Sorry
Beyonce feat. Kendrick Lamar - Freedom
Birds Of Tokyo - Harlequins
Bon Iver - 22 (Over S∞∞N)
Bon Iver - 33 "GOD"
Britney Spears feat. G-Eazy - Make Me...
Camp Cope - Jet Fuel Can't Melt Steel Beams
Carly Rae Jepsen - Higher
Carrie Underwood - Heartbeat
Charli XCX - Vroom Vroom
Cherry Glazerr - Told You I'd Be With The Guys
CHVRCHES feat. Hayley Williams - Bury It
Clean Bandit feat. Louisa Johnson - Tears
D.D Dumbo - Brother
Danny Brown - When It Rain
Danny Brown feat. Kendrick Lamar, Ab Soul & Earl Sweatshirt - Really Doe
David Bowie - Lazarus
Delta Goodrem - Dear Life
Demi Lovato - Body Say
Elle King - America's Sweetheart
Ellie Goulding - Still Falling For You
Emeli Sande - Hurts
Fifth Harmony - That's My Girl
Frank Ocean - Ivy
Frank Ocean - Nights
Grace - Hell Of A Girl
Highasakite - Someone Who'll Get It
Jake Bugg - Gimme The Love
Jarryd James feat. Broods - 1000X
JoJo feat. Wiz Khalifa - F*ck Apologies
KAYTRANADA feat. AlunaGeorge and GoldLink - Together
KDA & Tinashe - Just Say
Kelly Clarkson - Piece By Piece
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - People-Vultures
Kings of Leon - Waste A Moment
Lady Gaga - Million Reasons
Lady Gaga - Perfect Illusion
Little Mix - Touch
M83 feat. Mai Lan - Go!
Maggie Rogers - Dog Years
Martin Solveig feat. Tkay Maidza - Do It Right
Middle Kids - Edge Of Town
Migos feat. Lil Uzi Vert - Bad and Boujee
Miranda Lambert - Vice
MUNA - I Know A Place
Nicole Millar - Tremble
Olympia - Smoke Signals
OneRepublic - Wherever I Go
Porter Robinson & Madeon - Shelter
PUP - DVP
Radiohead - Daydreaming
Rebecca Ferguson - Bones
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Dark Necessities
Rihanna - Kiss It Better
Röyksopp feat. Susanne Sundfør - Never Ever
Shura - What's It Gonna Be?
Sigala feat. Imani & DJ Fresh - Say You Do
Skepta - Man
Sleigh Bells - I Can Only Stare
Solange - Cranes In The Sky
The 1975 - Somebody Else
The 1975 - The Sound
The Hard Aches - Glad That You're Gone
The Jezabels - Pleasure Drive
Tigertown - Lonely Cities
Tinashe - Superlove
Tove Lo - Cool Girl
Walking on Cars - Speeding Cars
Young Thug & Travis Scott feat. Quavo - Pick Up The Phone
Zendaya feat. Chris Brown - Something New

Wish to have a say in all this? You can now! Simply determine your Top 20-32 of this lot and submit it to my memos by 6pm on Friday and I will count it. The ACI is also now open for those who partake in that.
Damn you the person who voted 9 minutes after me and booted Mauboy! Even though I wasn't the person who had it at #1.
I had her as #1 Devo'd
I'm sure you're all out purchasing some fine golf clubs this evening but I have been sure to post these results for when you get back

#80. Migos feat. Lil Uzi Vert - Bad and Boujee

Round by round: 68-80

Points - 64
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #3


#79. OneRepublic - Wherever I Go

Round by round: 80-79

Points - 70
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #7


#78. D.D Dumbo - Brother

Round by round: 79-78

Points - 77
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #8


#77. Lady Gaga - Perfect Illusion

Round by round: 43-77

Points - 78
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #6


#76. Grace - Hell Of A Girl

Round by round: 71-76

Points - 80
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #7


Raindrop, drop top, new formations of this meme will never stop. Nonetheless we kick off with what is perhaps the most significant work of art relating to the nouveau riche since The Great Gatsby, with the Migos song where Quavo affectionately compares himself to a rat. It was a #1 hit in the states but here it's slightly bested by the OneRepublic song that Spotify couldn't make a smash with all their might. I also think "Wherever I Go" overshadowed some of the more interesting songs OneRepublic have ever released but that's just me. Speaking of interesting music, the ever eclectic D.D Dumbo appears at #78 with the other, other big song from his debut album, "Brother". Much like its unfortunate international chart runs, it's a steep drop off here for Lady Gaga's "Perfect Illusion", a failure that always disappointed me as the same public who rejected it soundly latched onto autopilot mediocrity from DJ Snake, Sia and the like at the time. But hey, maybe Lady Gaga can redeem herself with her other remaining entry here. Anyhow, 4 of these 5 artists have been at one point #1 in either the US or here, and the last of those is Grace with an original song of hers, "Hell Of A Girl".
#75. Rebecca Ferguson - Bones

Round by round: 77-75

Points - 81
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #5


#74. Bon Iver - 22 (Over S∞∞N) [Bob Moose Extended Cab Version]

Round by round: 73-74

Points - 83
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #8


#73. Ariana Grande feat. Future - Everyday

Round by round: 70-73

Points - 83
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #6


#72. Elle King - America's Sweetheart

Round by round: 72-72

Points - 83
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #3


#71. Skepta - Man

Round by round: 46-71

Points - 84
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #3


I must admit that I've not heard much from Rebecca Ferguson of late, though she still has plenty of support here to land at #75. Perhaps it's a showing of my circumstance that I certainly have heard plenty from Bon Iver of late, and their 3rd album was released in 2016 completely with utterly bizarre song titles. The closest thing to a title track comes here, as Bon Iver recalls the odd foreground noise that permeated "Heavenly Father". Nonetheless there will be more Bon Iver to appear later here. Now at #73 is Ariana Grande, not quite matching up to her usual finishes here with her latest single "Everyday". The last two songs were both tied on both points and voters, with only top vote to break that tie, and that also applies to the next song. Finishing at the top of that mini pile is Elle King's "America's Sweetheart", a song that I imagine is generally easier to search for than the Fall Out Boy song of a similar name. Then at #71 we have Skepta sampling a riff from the first Queens of the Stone Age album and ending up sounding akin to the creepy Lavender Town music from Pokemon, as well as being the most provocative song to contain the lyric 'my mum don't know your mum'.
#70. The Hard Aches - Glad That You're Gone

Round by round: 75-70

Points - 86
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #2


#69. Charli XCX - Vroom Vroom

Round by round: 76-69

Points - 86
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #8


#68. Ali Barter - Far Away

Round by round: 56-68

Points - 87
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #4


#67. Clean Bandit feat. Louisa Johnson - Tears

Round by round: 67-67

Points - 88
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #9


#66. Banks - F**k With Myself

Round by round: 64-66

Points - 89
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #6


The Hard Aches come fresh from sabotaging my Hottest 100 prediction, though I suppose they still achieved a pretty good result. I'm sure they wouldn't even mind being eliminated at this point, because they aimed to be dead and buried by the mid to late 20s. In a totally different musical pool we have one of the more interesting songs Charli XCX has released of late, beep beep. Ali Barter also impressively lands at #68 with her song that Spotify informs me was just released today, while at #67 we have what I would say is the best Clean Bandit song released last year, as they team up with one of the least successful UK X Factor winners ever and make it work. Then at #66 we have Banks putting on her best FKA twigs impression for "F**k With Myself".
#65. CHVRCHES feat. Hayley Williams - Bury It

Round by round: 78-65

Points - 90
Current Voters - 5
Top Vote - #14


#64. Young Thug & Travis Scott feat. Quavo - Pick Up The Phone

Round by round: 47-64

Points - 91
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #7


#63. Carrie Underwood - Heartbeat

Round by round: 74-63

Points - 91
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #4


#62. Miranda Lambert - Vice

Round by round: 60-62

Points - 92
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #2


#61. KAYTRANADA feat. AlunaGeorge & GoldLink - TOGETHER

Round by round: 63-61

Points - 92
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #14


CHVRCHES' 2015 album "Every Open Eye" remains excellent I'll have you know, and in 2016 when they released "Bury It" as a single, they re-recorded it including Hayley Williams of Paramore of Airplanes of B.o.B of flat Earth believing fame. If I recall correctly it has a rather cute video. At #64 we have the odd but surprisingly tight union of Young Thug & Travis Scott, and also a return of Quavo for "Pick Up The Phone". Then just like the end of the last round's post, we go back to *Damon Albarn voice* the countraaaay, with a later single from Carrie Underwood's 2015 album in "Heartbeat", alongside Miranda Lambert's lead single in 2016 "Vice" which was cruelly treated on the radio and couldn't even crack the top 10. Lastly we have an important union of two artists that have a capital letter in the middle of their names, the sort of union you can only expect to be fostered by an artist who stylises in all caps. Nonetheless KAYTRANADA's "99.9%" album is incredibly good and "TOGETHER" is just one of the reasons why.
And so we have 60 songs that can't waaaaait, for the weekend to begin.

A Tribe Called Quest - We The People....
Alex Lahey - Let's Go Out
Alicia Keys - In Common
All Saints - One Strike
AlunaGeorge feat. Popcaan - I'm In Control
Angel Olsen - Shut Up Kiss Me
Bastille - Good Grief
Beyonce - Sorry
Beyonce feat. Kendrick Lamar - Freedom
Birds Of Tokyo - Harlequins
Bon Iver - 33 "GOD"
Britney Spears feat. G-Eazy - Make Me...
Camp Cope - Jet Fuel Can't Melt Steel Beams
Carly Rae Jepsen - Higher
Cherry Glazerr - Told You I'd Be With The Guys
Danny Brown - When It Rain
Danny Brown feat. Kendrick Lamar, Ab Soul & Earl Sweatshirt - Really Doe
David Bowie - Lazarus
Delta Goodrem - Dear Life
Demi Lovato - Body Say
Ellie Goulding - Still Falling For You
Emeli Sande - Hurts
Fifth Harmony - That's My Girl
Frank Ocean - Ivy
Frank Ocean - Nights
Highasakite - Someone Who'll Get It
Jake Bugg - Gimme The Love
Jarryd James feat. Broods - 1000X
JoJo feat. Wiz Khalifa - F*ck Apologies
KDA & Tinashe - Just Say
Kelly Clarkson - Piece By Piece
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - People-Vultures
Kings of Leon - Waste A Moment
Lady Gaga - Million Reasons
Little Mix - Touch
M83 feat. Mai Lan - Go!
Maggie Rogers - Dog Years
Martin Solveig feat. Tkay Maidza - Do It Right
Middle Kids - Edge Of Town
MUNA - I Know A Place
Nicole Millar - Tremble
Olympia - Smoke Signals
Porter Robinson & Madeon - Shelter
PUP - DVP
Radiohead - Daydreaming
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Dark Necessities
Rihanna - Kiss It Better
Röyksopp feat. Susanne Sundfør - Never Ever
Shura - What's It Gonna Be?
Sigala feat. Imani & DJ Fresh - Say You Do
Sleigh Bells - I Can Only Stare
Solange - Cranes In The Sky
The 1975 - Somebody Else
The 1975 - The Sound
The Jezabels - Pleasure Drive
Tigertown - Lonely Cities
Tinashe - Superlove
Tove Lo - Cool Girl
Walking on Cars - Speeding Cars
Zendaya feat. Chris Brown - Something New

But we met these songs on Monday, and a week from now 20 of them will be no more, although perhaps some of them may be immortalised elsewhere as I will be broadcasting on Sunday the top 100 combined chart for this site and maybe we'll have some overlap with this list? That's all locked in place but this list isn't so have your say by submitting your Top 15 to 24 selections to my inbox by 6pm on Monday. Also do the ACI if that's a thing that you do.
Shame to lose Vice and Heartbeat there, and with them all the country songs are gone (unless something I haven't heard is country) which is sad. There already aren't many left I care much about.
Sad to see Everyday out, but yay for not losing any of my top 5 yet. Keen to see how this plays out.
Presented without commentary because I'm still kind of exhausted from yesterday and so I'm keen to smash through this and unwind. ACI and Unofficial Catalogue Charts (latter was prepared yesterday) will come tonight or tomorrow for those waiting on them.

#60. Tigertown - Lonely Cities

Round by round: 66-55-60

Points - 83.8
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #5


#59. Alex Lahey - Let's Go Out

Round by round: 69-47-59

Points - 84
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #5


#58. Britney Spears feat. G-Eazy - Make Me...

Round by round: 52-57-58

Points - 87.2
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #5


#57. Olympia - Smoke Signals

Round by round: 65-59-57

Points - 90
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #1


#56. Bon Iver - 33 "GOD"

Round by round: 49-42-56

Points - 92.4
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #3
#55. Emeli Sande - Hurts

Round by round: 37-41-55

Points - 95
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #3


#54. Radiohead - Daydreaming

Round by round: 42-46-54

Points - 97.6
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #3


#53. Cherry Glazerr - Told You I'd Be With The Guys

Round by round: 36-31-53

Points - 99
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #1


#52. Zendaya feat. Chris Brown - Something New

Round by round: 55-58-52

Points - 100
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #4


#51. JoJo feat. Wiz Khalifa - F*ck Apologies

Round by round: 57-56-51

Points - 100
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #3
#50. Carly Rae Jepsen - Higher

Round by round: 45-54-50

Points - 102.6
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #7


#49. Jake Bugg - Gimme The Love

Round by round: 59-45-49

Points - 103
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #4


#48. Kings of Leon - Waste A Moment

Round by round: 39-34-48

Points - 103.4
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #1


#47. Angel Olsen - Shut Up Kiss Me

Round by round: 50-51-47

Points - 104
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #3


#46. The Jezabels - Pleasure Drive

Round by round: 48-40-46

Points - 105
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #6
#45. PUP - DVP

Round by round: 40-38-45

Points - 105.8
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #2


#44. Tove Lo - Cool Girl

Round by round: 41-60-44

Points - 107
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #4


#43. MUNA - I Know A Place

Round by round: 44-49-43

Points - 108
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #2


#42. KDA & Tinashe - Just Say

Round by round: 25-26-42

Points - 108
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #6
So I kind of lied on Friday when I said 20 songs would be eliminated as against all odds we have a 3rd round tie for the #40 position no less, so against the norm we have 41 songs progressing to the penultimate round:

A Tribe Called Quest - We The People....
Alicia Keys - In Common
All Saints - One Strike
AlunaGeorge feat. Popcaan - I'm In Control
Bastille - Good Grief
Beyonce - Sorry
Beyonce feat. Kendrick Lamar - Freedom
Birds Of Tokyo - Harlequins
Camp Cope - Jet Fuel Can't Melt Steel Beams
Danny Brown - When It Rain
Danny Brown feat. Kendrick Lamar, Ab Soul & Earl Sweatshirt - Really Doe
David Bowie - Lazarus
Delta Goodrem - Dear Life
Demi Lovato - Body Say
Ellie Goulding - Still Falling For You
Fifth Harmony - That's My Girl
Frank Ocean - Ivy
Frank Ocean - Nights
Highasakite - Someone Who'll Get It
Jarryd James feat. Broods - 1000X
Kelly Clarkson - Piece By Piece
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - People-Vultures
Lady Gaga - Million Reasons
Little Mix - Touch
M83 feat. Mai Lan - Go!
Maggie Rogers - Dog Years
Martin Solveig feat. Tkay Maidza - Do It Right
Middle Kids - Edge Of Town
Nicole Millar - Tremble
Porter Robinson & Madeon - Shelter
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Dark Necessities
Rihanna - Kiss It Better
Röyksopp feat. Susanne Sundfør - Never Ever
Shura - What's It Gonna Be?
Sigala feat. Imani & DJ Fresh - Say You Do
Sleigh Bells - I Can Only Stare
Solange - Cranes In The Sky
The 1975 - Somebody Else
The 1975 - The Sound
Tinashe - Superlove
Walking on Cars - Speeding Cars

I am slightly more confident this won't happen again though, which means we'll be culling slightly more than half of this list to get down to 20 on Wednesday 6pm. Should you wish to contribute to that selection process, memo me your Top 10 to 16 selections from this fine list to me before that deadline.

This is also the part of the week when I usually open the poll for the next qualifier. I didn't have time to prepare that so I'll do that on Wednesday instead. Don't forget to vote in the current one, we're now rounding up the last few slots!
#41. Jarryd James feat. Broods - 1000X

Round by round: 34-49-36-41

Points - 129.25
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #2


#40. Nicole Millar - Tremble

Round by round: 13-15-26-40

Points - 134.3
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #7


#39. King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - People-Vultures

Round by round: 54-43-37-39

Points - 139.75
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #1


#38. Shura - What's It Gonna Be?

Round by round: 27-29-33-38

Points - 141.75
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #1


#37. Walking On Cars - Speeding Cars

Round by round: 33-33-39-37

Points - 142.4
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #1


#36. Frank Ocean - Ivy

Round by round: 19-37-34-36

Points - 143
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #2


I have a serious first world problem in that whenever there's a tie in the previous round and I have to include 6 songs in the same post, I can't see them all on my screen at the same time as I type this. However I can figure from this distant view point that the results start at #41 with Jarryd James and his somewhat surprising top 50 peak snatcher "1000X". Fun fact, "Do You Remember" was high enough to enter the Unofficial Catalogue Singles Chart 2 weeks before it was eligible but hasn't managed to get back to those heights now that it is. Into the actual top 40 we have Nicole Millar, whose "Tremble" has been quite unfortunate to tumble after a strong start in the first two rounds. Current triple j features stars King Gizzard & The Lizard-Wizard are in at #39 with the almost ineligible "People-Vultures" from their previous album. We get a peak into Sunday's countdown with Shura at #38 with "What's It Gonna Be?", which is beaten out by 101-200 alumni from Walking On Cars & Frank Ocean, so whichever way you look at it, at least one of my countdowns is useless.
#35. Ellie Goulding - Still Falling For You

Round by round: 51-52-38-35

Points - 151
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #1


#34. Sleigh Bells - I Can Only Stare

Round by round: 61-44-35-34

Points - 154.25
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #1


#33. Camp Cope - Jet Fuel Can't Melt Steel Beams

Round by round: 53-53-40-33

Points - 155.25
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #4


#32. Fifth Harmony - That's My Girl

Round by round: 31-28-27-32

Points - 159.45
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #5


#31. Highasakite - Someone Who'll Get It

Round by round: 62-48-40-31

Points - 161.25
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #4


And we stay in that not quite making the combined EOY with Ellie Goulding finishing at #35 with "Still Falling For You", which was quite lucky to survive into this round so it's not a result you can complain with if you're rooting for it. Sleigh Bells are in a slightly less egregious but similar situation with their somewhat poppier "I Can Only Stare". But perhaps the most egregious examples go to our #40 tied tracks from last round, not only were both on the way up, but both continued it this round. Camp Cope's ode to questioning the status quo and Highasakite's chilling depiction of a war state are somewhat downers when they surround Fifth Harmony's upbeat "That's My Girl".
#30. Little Mix - Touch

Round by round: 21-22-18-30

Points - 162
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #3


#29. Tinashe - Superlove

Round by round: 32-32-32-29

Points - 162.95
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #4


#28. Martin Solveig feat. Tkay Maidza - Do It Right

Round by round: 30-27-28-28

Points - 163.75
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #3


#27. Delta Goodrem - Dear Life

Round by round: 29-35-21-27

Points - 164.3
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #5


#26. Bastille - Good Grief

Round by round: 23-21-25-26

Points - 164.45
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #3


While only a minor hit in Australia at this stage, I just want to shout out the fact that Little Mix's "Touch" peaked at #4 for 6 non-consecutive weeks in the UK. Nonetheless a sudden drop in points this round means that it lands below Tinashe's much less commercially successful "Superlove". Then at #28 we have the oddity collaboration of Martin Solveig & Tkay Maidza which proves popular here. Also shout out to about a year ago when Delta Goodrem's "Dear Life" outdebuted that Justin Timberlake song. It doesn't stop at that though as it also lands considerably higher in these 2016 games. Lastly we have Bastille at #26 with their quite catchy "Good Grief" that I'm sort of surprised didn't chart here.
#25. Demi Lovato - Body Say

Round by round: 38-36-31-25

Points - 178.75
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #9


#24. Kelly Clarkson - Piece By Piece

Round by round: 28-30-23-24

Points - 188.35
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #5


#23. Alicia Keys - In Common

Round by round: 24-23-20-23

Points - 188.55
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #5


#22. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Dark Necessities

Round by round: 35-25-29-22

Points - 190
Current Voters - 5
TOp Vote - #2


#21. The 1975 - The Sound

Round by round: 14-18-19-21

Points - 193.8
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #1


"Body Say" is one of those oddballs last year in that Spotify promoted it senselessly to the point that it even cracked the top 50 in Australia, but for whatever reason the song was never allowed onto the ARIA Chart, even when it started selling somewhat decently. But hey, a #25 finish here shows that it does have some fanfare. It's followed by Kelly Clarkson's "Piece By Piece" which was oddly a Billboard top 10 hit last year though the short burst of success was never properly followed through on so it dived down from there. Alicia Keys changed things up for her newest album to some fanfare as "In Common" lands at #23. I don't know if Red Hot Chili Peppers know the meaning of the word 'change', but "Dark Necessities" was a pretty solid tune that lands at #22 here. Lastly we have The 1975 who are ever so unlucky to slip out of the top 20 after residing there the whole time with "The Sound", though perhaps they can take solace that they got another song in there anyway...or perhaps that means that they kept themselves out of the top 20.
So this time we actually have a number that's divisible by 20, that number of course being 20.

A Tribe Called Quest - We The People....
All Saints - One Strike
AlunaGeorge feat. Popcaan - I'm In Control
Beyonce - Sorry
Beyonce feat. Kendrick Lamar - Freedom
Birds Of Tokyo - Harlequins
Danny Brown - When It Rain
Danny Brown feat. Kendrick Lamar, Ab Soul & Earl Sweatshirt - Really Doe
David Bowie - Lazarus
Frank Ocean - Nights
Lady Gaga - Million Reasons
M83 feat. Mai Lan - Go!
Maggie Rogers - Dog Years
Middle Kids - Edge Of Town
Porter Robinson & Madeon - Shelter
Rihanna - Kiss It Better
Röyksopp feat. Susanne Sundfør - Never Ever
Sigala feat. Imani & DJ Fresh - Say You Do
Solange - Cranes In The Sky
The 1975 - Somebody Else

But whose cuisine will reign supreme? Whose food-stuff will be the good stuff? Who slipped LSD into their song for a tactical advantage? Who even has in-depth knowledge of Futurama quotes and plots? All of that is irrelevant as I'd rather you focus on selecting your Top 5 to 8 selections from this list and memoing them to me by 6pm on Friday after which I will crown a winner from these.
OH AND THE NEW POLL IS HERE I FORGOT TO LINK IT IN THE POST http://www.strawpoll.me/12392569
Ick, lost my top three there, and there's nothing much left I care about.
#20. Solange - Cranes In The Sky

Round by round: 06-08-08-18-20

Points - 127.63
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #2


#19. Birds of Tokyo - Harlequins

Round by round: 22-20-13-12-19

Points - 195.35
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #1


Potentially the subject of a Shins classic from 2001, we start things off with a new classic from Solange, with the centrepiece of her album "Cranes In The Sky" in at #20. Following that we have Birds of Tokyo returning for the 2nd game in a row, though this time able to crack the elusive top 20 with one of the lesser known cuts on their latest album in "Harlequins". I've personally always pronounced the word as 'har-le-kin' and now I have no idea if it's Kenny or me who's wrong.
#18. Frank Ocean - Nights

Round by round: 17-16-24-19-18

Points - 198.88
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #1


#17. Beyoncé feat. Kendrick Lamar - Freedom

Round by round: 05-06-03-07-17

Points - 199.2
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #4


We now go back to Frank Ocean who's back at it again here, this time halving his previous position to land at #18. It's a testament to the album that there's so much variation in choices amongst this game, the Hottest 100 and the a-c EOY, so to me it feels like an album that you'll look back on and be shocked at how many hits it has. I'd say the same for "Lemonade" but I think that's been abundantly clear since pretty much when it was released. I mean hey, this isn't even her highest song in this list. Her Kendrick Lamar team-up "Freedom" does take a bit of a hit this round though to the point that a #17 finish feels a bit lackluster, but perhaps she'll make up for it?
#16. Danny Brown feat. Kendrick Lamar, Ab-Soul & Earl Sweatshirt - Really Doe

Round by round: 58-39-30-15-16

Points - 201.25
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #1


#15. All Saints - One Strike

Round by round: 09-10-17-11-15

Points - 210.13
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #1


We now return to one of my favourite aspects of QLVG: utter disparity. Funnily enough that's bookended by two consecutive appearances from Kendrick Lamar, but I'm talking about these two songs right here. We've got the first of two appearances from Danny Brown with his mega posse cut "Really Doe", one which thoroughly divides opinions https://twitter.com/LOOFRunDry/status/815587082202583041 (Earl's verse is the best though). Then of all things, we get the comeback single from All Saints that had a lot of love here in 2016, and it continues into 2017 as it lands at #15 here.
#14. Lady Gaga - Million Reasons

Round by round: 20-17-14-20-14

Points - 212.35
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #1


#13. AlunaGeorge feat. Popcaan - I'm In Control

Round by round: 18-19-16-14-13

Points - 228.54
Current Voters - 5
Top Vote - #4


Though radio and Spotify seem determined to hold it down, Lady Gaga has really been pushing through with "Million Reasons" of late, and it recently has become her first top 10 hit in the US since..."Dope" I think. The adoration was strong here as it consistently ranked within the top 20 and finishes at #14. It sits next to AlunaGeorge who consistently were putting out killer singles in 2016, a run which started off with "I'm In Control".
#12. Sigala feat. Imani & DJ Fresh - Say You Do

Round by round: 16-13-15-16-12

Points - 231.00
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #1


#11. Rihanna - Kiss It Better

Round by round: 15-14-06-08-11

Points - 231.06
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #2


One of the few songs that can be recognised as an unlucky #101 peaker in Australia is Sigala's "Say You Do". Teaming up with Imani (no relation to Imany) and DJ Fresh, he perhaps made the perfect summer song and I would say a big improvement on past releases. Then in a different place we have Rihanna's very varied "ANTI" album, from which a popular favourite everywhere but in the charts was the rock ballad "Kiss It Better", which sits at the unlucky #11 slot.
#10. Danny Brown - When It Rain

Round by round: 26-24-22-17-10

Points - 236.81
Current Voters - 5
Top Vote - #3


#9. The 1975 - Somebody Else

Round by round: 03-04-12-13-09

Points - 241.09
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #1


I cannot say I expected Danny Brown to land two songs in the top 20 and one in the top 10, but I'd like to think that's recognition for what was one of the best albums of last year. "When It Rain" was the lead off single and had me instantly psyched for what was to come. On the other hand, it's perhaps my differing perspective that makes "Somebody Else" seem like a fascinating case. What was seemingly just an instant grat of little note on release, quickly spread through word of mouth to be a hugely adored song long before its inevitable single status. They've made up for their combined EOY ranking as they find themselves safely lodged in the top 10 this time.
#8. Röyksopp feat. Susanne Sundfør - Never Ever

Round by round: 12-09-09-09-08

Points - 244.31
Current Voters - 5
Top Vote - #2


#7. Porter Robinson & Madeon - Shelter

Round by round: 11-12-11-10-07

Points - 244.39
Current Voters - 5
Top Vote - #3


Time to get your hyperactive, wonky dance moves on as we journey to the electronic side of things here. First up we have Röyksopp who back in 2014 decided to stop making albums and instead stick with a singles format, which has thus far personified in a huge tune teaming up with former collaborator and generally excellent musician Susanne Sundfør, that finds its way up at #8 here. In a similar way, we have the 'so obvious it had to happen' teaming up of Porter Robinson and Madeon, who combined into the weebtastic explosion that is "Shelter".
#6. David Bowie - Lazarus

Round by round: 07-03-05-05-06

Points - 248.34
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #1


#5. M83 feat. Mai Lan - Go!

Round by round: 04-05-04-06-05

Points - 251.24
Current Voters - 5
Top Vote - #2


David Bowie released his final album just over a year ago in January and a few days later passed away. This became an essential part of the album's narrative as it became abundantly clear that it was the very focus of the album, and rarely does it hit as hard with that as on "Lazarus", his final 'chart hit' in many countries. By comparison this perhaps dampens the emotional response to M83's "Go!" which is more in the line of a surprisingly touching but also super cheesy synth rock fest.
#4. Maggie Rogers - Dog Years

Round by round: 02-02-01-03-04

Points - 284.1
Current Voters - 5
Top Vote - #2


#3. Beyoncé - Sorry

Round by round: 01-01-02-02-03

Points - 285.20
Current Voters - 5
Top Vote - #1


We're now getting deep into the list and here in the #4 and #3 slots we have the early leaders for the first three rounds. You could say it's a failure but honestly it was rather tight for nabbing those initial rankings, as an extra vote for "Shelter" at #11 at the time could have moved it all the way up to #1. Nonetheless we're being timely with this one as Maggie Rogers was just covered on Like A Version this morning, though for another song. I also just learnt yesterday via the making-of video that the video for "Dog Years" was filmed at a summer camp that Maggie went to for about a decade, where a particularly rainy summer convinced her to pick up a guitar and do her thing she does now. Also just narrowly ahead we have Beyoncé back at it again with the good hair.
#2. Middle Kids - Edge Of Town

Round by round: 08-07-07-01-02

Points - 288.88
Current Voters - 5
Top Vote - #1


#1. A Tribe Called Quest - We The People....

Round by round: 10-11-10-04-01

Points - 319.7
Current Voters - 7
Top Vote - #2


Not that it would have made them eligible, but I do find it curious that the top two consists of two of the most noteworthy songs that my instagram Hottest 100 vote counting let me down on, or rather the people who don't publicly post their votes let me down on because neither ended up even in the top 200. And I have to admit it's one of the oddest pairings we've ever had at the top of this game. First up we have Middle Kids, a band from Sydney that formed very recently and have a penchant for writing rather delightful pop songs, most notably "Edge Of Town" which is billed as 'a non-fictional account of a girl who got swallowed up by the earth'. They're beaten out by a band that perhaps formed before they were even born, and have spent most of my lifetime not putting out music together. I'm talking about A Tribe Called Quest, one of the many victims of the state of 2016 with Phife Dawg passing away, though not before a spark of inspiration in late 2015 to record one last album together. Doubling down on both social commentary and paying respects, the album was an instant critical and commercial success. Just this week at the BRIT Awards, they were recognised as the best band to include a song called "Stressed Out" on their 4th album, or something like that. The lead single "We The People...." was pretty instantly loved here and I'm pretty thrilled to say that one of my favourite groups of all time have taken the top slot here. Or perhaps it proves this as a waste of two weeks to find the top of the list has been exactly the same as the alphabetised version of the list I posted last Monday? Well at least you get a lot of pretty numbers to go with it.
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And thanks to everyone who voted in the strawpoll, so starting on Tuesday we'll be looking at songs named after countries and cities, and I'll get to return to my hobby of refreshing aus-charts to see what people have nominated while I commute to uni. Have a good weekend y'all, and vote in the ACI if that's a thing that you do.
I hadn't heard We The People before this game and ended up putting it right at the top of my votes, so thanks. And in pretty sure Kenny is right on Harlequin.
My main basis is that there was the band Harlequin League (also from WA funnily enough ) who had a song on the radio in 2008 and I seem to recall it being pronounced that way. It sounds odd both ways to me now.
I have written myself into a hole with this new game because it will be very difficult to maintain a non-tedious commentary with every single track sharing a common feature that thus perhaps doesn't need to be mentioned 100 times but is difficult to write around. I also continue to struggle to even get down to a top 40 vote but alas

ABBA - Waterloo
AC/DC - Back In Black
Amy Winehouse - Back To Black
Anastacia - Not That Kind
Arcade Fire - Reflektor
Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
Ariana Grande - Dangerous Woman
Ben Folds - Rockin' The Suburbs
Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals - Burn To Shine
Billy Joel - Piano Man
Blur - Parklife
Boy & Bear - Harlequin Dream
Brandy - Afrodisiac
Bruce Springsteen - Born In the U.S.A.
Bruce Springsteen - Born To Run
Bruno Mars - 24K Magic
Calvin Harris - Ready For The Weekend
Carly Rae Jepsen - E•MO•TION
Chris Isaak - Wicked Game
Coldplay - X&Y
David Bowie - Blackstar
David Bowie - Changes
David Bowie - Let's Dance
David Bowie - Space Oddity
Death Cab For Cutie - Transatlanticism
Destiny's Child - Survivor
Eagles - Hotel California
Enrique Iglesias - Escape
Faith Hill - Breathe
Father John Misty - I Love You, Honeybear
Flight Facilities - Down To Earth
Foals - What Went Down
fun. - Some Nights
Green Day - American Idiot
Gwen Stefani feat. Akon - The Sweet Escape
Haim - Days Are Gone
Hilltop Hoods - The Calling
Hilltop Hoods - The Hard Road
Iggy Pop - Lust For Life
INXS - Listen Like Thieves
Jack White - Lazaretto
Jeff Buckley - Grace
Jessica Mauboy - Been Waiting
Jimmy Eat World - Bleed American
Josh Pyke - Memories and Dust
Karnivool - Themata
Katy Perry - Teenage Dream
Ke$ha - Warrior
Kelly Clarkson - Breakaway
Kylie Minogue - Fever
Lana Del Rey - Born To Die
Little Dragon - Ritual Union
Little Mix - DNA
Little Mix - Salute
Madness - One Step Beyond
Madonna - Ray Of Light
Madonna - True Blue
Mariah Carey - Butterfly
Meghan Trainor - Title
Metallica - Master Of Puppets
Metric - Synthetica
Michael Jackson - Thriller
Michael Paynter - Weary Stars
Muse - Showbiz
Muse - Sing For Absolution
My Chemical Romance - Welcome To The Black Parade
N.W.A. - Straight Outta Compton
Natasha Bedingfield - Unwritten
Neutral Milk Hotel - In The Aeroplane Over The Sea
Oasis - Morning Glory
Olympia - Self Talk
P!nk - Funhouse
Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here
PJ Harvey - Let England Shake
Placebo - Meds
Placebo - Without You I'm Nothing
Prince & The Revolution - Purple Rain
Radiohead - The Bends
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Californication
Rihanna feat. Jay-Z - Talk That Talk
Roy Orbison - Crying
Run The Jewels - Run The Jewels
Savage Garden - Affirmation
Shura - Nothing's Real
Skyhooks - Living in the 70's
System of a Down - Toxicity
Taylor Swift - Fearless
Taylor Swift - Red
The Avalanches - Since I Left You
The Clash - London Calling
The Cruel Sea - The Honeymoon Is Over
The Cure - Boys Don't Cry
The Gaslight Anthem - The '59 Sound
The Killers - Sam's Town
The Smiths - The Queen Is Dead
The Vines - Highly Evolved
Train - Drops Of Jupiter
Unknown Mortal Orchestra - Multi-Love
Van Morrison - Moondance
You Am I - Hourly Daily

Should you wish to have a say in the way that these songs are organised, simply choose your Top 25 to 40 selections from here and I will apply some magic that perhaps will spit out the lowest 20 scoring tracks of it. I will also try to remember to actually open the qualifying game in the morning tomorrow.
#100. Coldplay - X&Y

Points - 11
Current Voters - 1
Top Vote - #30


#99. Metric - Synthetica

Points - 12
Current Voters - 1
Top Vote - #29


#98. Hilltop Hoods - The Calling

Points - 19
Current Voters - 1
Top Vote - #22


#97. The Killers - Sam's Town

Points - 22
Current Voters - 1
Top Vote - #19


#96. Haim - Days Are Gone

Points - 28
Current Voters - 1
Top Vote - #13


Starting off on this is the best track on the Coldplay album that sounds the most like you think Coldplay sound like. Then there's the punchy synth rock of Metric's "Synthetica". We go back to 2003 for the first major release album for Hilltop Hoods, and still their best I would say. Title track "The Calling" is also my favourite on it, with a bit of a mellow swing for a change. What isn't mellow is The Killers' utter bombast that comes from the title track of their second album "Sam's Town". It's #97, is the answer to the question on your mind. Lastly we travel forward to 2013 with still the only music from Haim we have, come back soon </3
#95. Taylor Swift - Fearless

Points - 28
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #18


#94. Run The Jewels - Run The Jewels

Points - 32
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #19


#93. Jack White - Lazaretto

Points - 33
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #20


#92. PJ Harvey - Let England Shake

Points - 36
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #9


#91. Michael Paynter - Weary Stars

Points - 37
Current Voters - 1
Top Vote - #4


Back before she was famous, Taylor Swift released the super successful album "Fearless" that contained several hits, the title track not really among those but still finding some fanfare here. I also have to be honest that I only nominated "Run The Jewels" because I wanted there to be an eponymous title track in this list. It goes pretty hard though. We stay in a similar timeframe to look at Jack White's 2nd solo album "Lazaretto", whose single I believe got a Guinness World Record for being the fastest recorded, pressed, released & sold single ever, having done so in the space of just 4 hours. We keep jumping around the 2010s as we come to PJ Harvey's wonderful album "Let England Shake" which allowed her to be the first and only artist to win the Mercury Prize twice. Then at #91 we have Michael Paynter's debut album which despite being released in 2014, still contains the 2010 hit "Love The Fall".
#90. You Am I - Hourly Daily

Points - 44
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #14


#89. Placebo - Meds

Points - 46
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #22


#88. Muse - Showbiz

Points - 46
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #9


#87. The Gaslight Anthem - The '59 Sound

Points - 47
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #7


#86. Boy & Bear - Harlequin Dream

Points - 48
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #13


At #90 we have the opener to one of the best albums that this country has ever produced, and if anything, this isn't enough hyperbole to do it justice. #89 was my personal introduction to Placebo who I of course had no idea had been popular for about a decade and weren't just a trendy new band, see also AFI. On the other hand, when Muse released "Showbiz" they WERE a trendy new band, with the title track maintaining one hell of a crescendo. At #87 we have The Gaslight Anthem who are obviously big fans of this concept because their last 4 albums have all had title tracks included, of which the most of my adoration goes to my introductory one here. Lastly, get out your jazz hands as Boy & Bear pulled out some "Baker Street" type stuff to close out "Harlequin Dream".
#85. Ke$ha - Warrior

Points - 48
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #10


#84. Faith Hill - Breathe

Points - 48
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #21


#83. Taylor Swift - Red

Points - 50
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #19


#82. Meghan Trainor - Title

Points - 52
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #16


#81. Father John Misty - I Love You, Honeybear

Points - 52
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #7


If you haven't heard it, I would potentially recommend Kesha's "Warrior" album which shows a much different side to her than the valley girl stereotype that Dr. Luke laid out for her. Then at #84 we have arguably the Taylor Swift of the turn of the century with Faith Hill, followed by arguably the Taylor Swift of today, Taylor Swift with her slight pop turn in "Red" that feels so inconsequential now compared to what came next. Meghan Trainor fans get to have a guffaw by taking the concept of this game to its most literal extreme, finding odd company alongside Father John Misty being so uncharacteristically earnest in his love ballad. Well as earnest as you can be with that title.
And so on that bombshell we're left with 80 songs to carry on, 1 perhaps slightly more determined than the other 79 in that regard?

ABBA - Waterloo
AC/DC - Back In Black
Amy Winehouse - Back To Black
Anastacia - Not That Kind
Arcade Fire - Reflektor
Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
Ariana Grande - Dangerous Woman
Ben Folds - Rockin' The Suburbs
Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals - Burn To Shine
Billy Joel - Piano Man
Blur - Parklife
Brandy - Afrodisiac
Bruce Springsteen - Born In the U.S.A.
Bruce Springsteen - Born To Run
Bruno Mars - 24K Magic
Calvin Harris - Ready For The Weekend
Carly Rae Jepsen - E•MO•TION
Chris Isaak - Wicked Game
David Bowie - Blackstar
David Bowie - Changes
David Bowie - Let's Dance
David Bowie - Space Oddity
Death Cab For Cutie - Transatlanticism
Destiny's Child - Survivor
Eagles - Hotel California
Enrique Iglesias - Escape
Flight Facilities - Down To Earth
Foals - What Went Down
fun. - Some Nights
Green Day - American Idiot
Gwen Stefani feat. Akon - The Sweet Escape
Hilltop Hoods - The Hard Road
Iggy Pop - Lust For Life
INXS - Listen Like Thieves
Jeff Buckley - Grace
Jessica Mauboy - Been Waiting
Jimmy Eat World - Bleed American
Josh Pyke - Memories and Dust
Karnivool - Themata
Katy Perry - Teenage Dream
Kelly Clarkson - Breakaway
Kylie Minogue - Fever
Lana Del Rey - Born To Die
Little Dragon - Ritual Union
Little Mix - DNA
Little Mix - Salute
Madness - One Step Beyond
Madonna - Ray Of Light
Madonna - True Blue
Mariah Carey - Butterfly
Metallica - Master Of Puppets
Michael Jackson - Thriller
Muse - Sing For Absolution
My Chemical Romance - Welcome To The Black Parade
N.W.A. - Straight Outta Compton
Natasha Bedingfield - Unwritten
Neutral Milk Hotel - In The Aeroplane Over The Sea
Oasis - Morning Glory
Olympia - Self Talk
P!nk - Funhouse
Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here
Placebo - Without You I'm Nothing
Prince & The Revolution - Purple Rain
Radiohead - The Bends
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Californication
Rihanna feat. Jay-Z - Talk That Talk
Roy Orbison - Crying
Savage Garden - Affirmation
Shura - Nothing's Real
Skyhooks - Living in the 70's
System of a Down - Toxicity
The Avalanches - Since I Left You
The Clash - London Calling
The Cruel Sea - The Honeymoon Is Over
The Cure - Boys Don't Cry
The Smiths - The Queen Is Dead
The Vines - Highly Evolved
Train - Drops Of Jupiter
Unknown Mortal Orchestra - Multi-Love
Van Morrison - Moondance

And you can help decide what to make of all this, when you select your Top 20 to 32 from this selection that I will do my best to accurately count and then give up and let a spreadsheet do the work for me. Do this before 6pm on Friday, and you are also free to vote in the ACI if that takes to your fancy.
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Life lesson: of sleeping in, running errands and making sure QLVG gets posted ASAP, there is only sufficient time to do two of the three. I thoroughly await the end of Daylight Savings

#80. Flight Facilities - Down To Earth

Round by round: 79-80

Points - 55
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #10


#79. Radiohead - The Bends

Round by round: 80-79

Points - 55
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #9


#78. Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals - Burn To Shine

Round by round: 72-78

Points - 56
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #5


#77. Madonna - True Blue

Round by round: 77-77

Points - 56
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #22


#76. Skyhooks - Living In The 70's

Round by round: 75-76

Points - 56
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #18


I want to give shout out to the voters of the first two songs for putting them next to each other and making for some slightly faster point adding when all was said and done. We start with Flight Facilities' long awaited debut album that amazingly got nominated for album of the year at the ARIA Awards, though they'd not actually win one until being nominated in the classical field. Radiohead's "The Bends" is the only one of their 9 albums that never cracked the annual Hottest 100 polls, and one could gather that it's because it's just so stuffed with highlights and everyone seems to have a different favourite. Speaking of Hottest 100 alumni, we've got the first ever appearance in this game for Ben Harper at #78 with "Burn To Shine". At #77 we have Madonna's "True Blue" which despite being quite a hit in its time, was not included on "The Immaculate Collection" meaning that I failed at Pointless yet again. Skyhooks had one of the highest selling albums ever in this country with "Living In The 70's", and if you're a big fan like me, you can perhaps take solace that they ended up in an apt place on this list.
#75. Hilltop Hoods - The Hard Road

Round by round: 56-75

Points - 57
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #8


#74. Anastacia - Not That Kind

Round by round: 74-74

Points - 58
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #8


#73. The Smiths - The Queen Is Dead

Round by round: 78-73

Points - 58
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #2


#72. Carly Rae Jepsen - E•MO•TION

Round by round: 71-72

Points - 59.2
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #14


#71. Iggy Pop - Lust For Life

Round by round: 73-71

Points - 61
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #8


I have a shockingly relevant anecdote for this one. I recall hearing/reading an interview with Hilltop Hoods looking back at "The Hard Road" and the one thing they took away from it is that it's really annoying when the big single has the same name as the album because it's difficult to properly promote. Perhaps this is why moreso than any other artist, they find a way to work their album titles into just the lyrics of so many of their singles. At #74 we have Anastacia who missed the memo that #1 hit follow ups are supposed to peak at #11, so "Not That Kind" peaked at the similarly unlucky #21. At #73 we have The Smiths whose much beloved "The Queen Is Dead" did a very good job at reaching its intended audience, something that perhaps couldn't be said of Carly Rae Jepsen's also excellent "E•MO•TION" album. There's a 'queen' joke in here somewhere. Then at #71 is the song that launched a million Jet album sales, "Lust For Life".
#70. Madness - One Step Beyond

Round by round: 69-70

Points - 62
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #1


#69. The Cruel Sea - The Honeymoon Is Over

Round by round: 76-69

Points - 63
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #12


#68. David Bowie - Blackstar

Round by round: 65-68

Points - 64
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #7


#67. Karnivool - Themata

Round by round: 70-67

Points - 65
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #2


#66. The Vines - Highly Evolved

Round by round: 64-66

Points - 66
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #4


Madness do an impressive job of having one of their most beloved singles barely clocking 2 minutes, but then perhaps that can be mocked as nothing of note considering they share this post with The Vines' "Highly Evolved" which doesn't even tick over to 100 seconds long. All of this shortness is offset by the fact that they also share this post with David Bowie's "Blackstar", a song so long that Bowie and his producer had to cut off about 30 seconds on it to get it under 10 minutes so it could still be sold as a single on iTunes. The track would go on to win two Grammys, and the album won two as well, which excluding a win for a shortform video, are David Bowie's only Grammy wins ever. We complete this post's disorganised state with some Australian flavour, with perhaps the best releases from The Cruel Sea and Karnivool.
#65. INXS - Listen Like Thieves

Round by round: 65-65

Points - 67
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #8


#64. Muse - Sing For Absolution

Round by round: 54-64

Points - 70
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #6


#63. AC/DC - Back In Black

Round by round: 67-63

Points - 70
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #10


#62. Foals - What Went Down

Round by round: 68-62

Points - 71
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #15


#61. Placebo - Without You I'm Nothing

Round by round: 58-61

Points - 73
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #3


Though just another hit album over here, "Listen Like Thieves" proved a US breakthrough for INXS thanks to the single "What You Need". Being a late released single, the title track only barely cracked the top 30 here. Also shout outs for back when I was a teenager and I played "Sing For Absolution" at a piano recital, meaning that I trolled hundreds of people into listening to Muse for a good 5 minutes one night. Such is AC/DC's incredible longevity that the death of their lead singer was not an immediate halt to their prospects, but would lead to their biggest wave of success. "Back In Black" of course being the tribute to Bon Scott which wound up being the 2nd highest selling album of all time. At #62 we have Foals' "What Went Down" which was lowkey robbed in the Hottest 100 that year, while today's unlucky party is Placebo, with the title track to their most popular album.
But fret not. Amidst all the sad elimination posts I do, it's easy to forget that there are plenty of songs that do proceed, these 60 as it were

ABBA - Waterloo
Amy Winehouse - Back To Black
Arcade Fire - Reflektor
Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
Ariana Grande - Dangerous Woman
Ben Folds - Rockin' The Suburbs
Billy Joel - Piano Man
Blur - Parklife
Brandy - Afrodisiac
Bruce Springsteen - Born In the U.S.A.
Bruce Springsteen - Born To Run
Bruno Mars - 24K Magic
Calvin Harris - Ready For The Weekend
Chris Isaak - Wicked Game
David Bowie - Changes
David Bowie - Let's Dance
David Bowie - Space Oddity
Death Cab For Cutie - Transatlanticism
Destiny's Child - Survivor
Eagles - Hotel California
Enrique Iglesias - Escape
fun. - Some Nights
Green Day - American Idiot
Gwen Stefani feat. Akon - The Sweet Escape
Jeff Buckley - Grace
Jessica Mauboy - Been Waiting
Jimmy Eat World - Bleed American
Josh Pyke - Memories and Dust
Katy Perry - Teenage Dream
Kelly Clarkson - Breakaway
Kylie Minogue - Fever
Lana Del Rey - Born To Die
Little Dragon - Ritual Union
Little Mix - DNA
Little Mix - Salute
Madonna - Ray Of Light
Mariah Carey - Butterfly
Metallica - Master Of Puppets
Michael Jackson - Thriller
My Chemical Romance - Welcome To The Black Parade
N.W.A. - Straight Outta Compton
Natasha Bedingfield - Unwritten
Neutral Milk Hotel - In The Aeroplane Over The Sea
Oasis - Morning Glory
Olympia - Self Talk
P!nk - Funhouse
Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here
Prince & The Revolution - Purple Rain
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Californication
Rihanna feat. Jay-Z - Talk That Talk
Roy Orbison - Crying
Savage Garden - Affirmation
Shura - Nothing's Real
System of a Down - Toxicity
The Avalanches - Since I Left You
The Clash - London Calling
The Cure - Boys Don't Cry
Train - Drops Of Jupiter
Unknown Mortal Orchestra - Multi-Love
Van Morrison - Moondance

And you can have a say in which of this lot proceed a bit further if you are able to select a Top 15 to 24 from this and memo it to me by 6pm on Monday. I'll do my usual nonsense and produce quality #content in the thread. Also you may freely vote in the ACI if that's a thing you do, and have a good weekend.
#60. Rihanna feat. Jay-Z - Talk That Talk

Round by round: 51-59-60

Points - 77.72
Current Voters - 1
Top Vote - #3


#59. Brandy - Afrodisiac

Round by round: 49-57-59

Points - 78.24
Current Voters - 1
Top Vote - #5


#58. Amy Winehouse - Back To Black

Round by round: 44-45-58

Points - 87.53
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #7


#57. Unknown Mortal Orchestra - Multi-Love

Round by round: 46-44-57

Points - 91.25
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #5


#56. Little Mix - Salute

Round by round: 43-40-56

Points - 96.93
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #4


Starting off with Rihanna's "Talk That Talk", a song that has far more Jay-Z than I had remembered, but also holds up pretty solidly. I also had a positive experience with Brandy's "Afrodisiac" which just narrowly gets ahead at #59. We take a dour turn for Amy Winehouse's already heartbreaking "Back To Black" whose potency only increased after her untimely passing. Unknown Mortal Orchestra's "Multi-Love" came up on a recent Take 5 segment on the radio and also continues to be excellent. Lastly here we've got Little Mix's 3 pronged attack of subliminal, liminal & superliminal advertising by way of the bombastic and oh so fun "Salute".
#55. Shura - Nothing's Real

Round by round: 63-50-55

Points - 98.25
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #6


#54. Bruno Mars - 24K Magic

Round by round: 62-47-54

Points - 98.87
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #16


#53. Savage Garden - Affirmation

Round by round: 57-56-53

Points - 99.25
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #8


#52. Bruce Springsteen - Born In The U.S.A.

Round by round: 34-41-52

Points - 99.5
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #2


#51. Billy Joel - Piano Man

Round by round: 52-60-51

Points - 100.5
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #6


Having only previously had limited exposure prior, I was taken aback by just how good Shura's "Nothing's Real" was when it came up here. Definitely in the banner of clever, well-constructed pop that could always use more attention. Incidentally just ahead we have Bruno Mars' very popular "24K Magic" which continues to be a blast. I believe that if Savage Garden were to write a song called "Affirmation" it would land at #53, doing Blessid Union Of Souls proud in the process. Then, as if to advertise the current qualifying game, we've got Bruce Springsteen's classic tune about PTSD that is for some reason misinterpreted as jingoism. There's more Bruce on the way too. Just falling shy of the top half is Billy Joel's "Piano Man".
#50. Enrique Iglesias - Escape

Round by round: 55-53-50

Points - 101.75
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #7


#49. Kylie Minogue - Fever

Round by round: 42-46-49

Points - 103.27
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #7


#48. Metallica - Master Of Puppets

Round by round: 61-52-48

Points - 104.75
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #6


#47. Roy Orbison - Crying

Round by round: 50-54-47

Points - 108.5
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #8


#46. Mariah Carey - Butterfly

Round by round: 39-43-46

Points - 108.7
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #1


You can run, you can hide, but you can't escape the fact that every song has to turn up eventually. Enrique was quite lucky though as he was nearly eliminated in the first round until some almost-late votes saved the day. We stick in a similar timeframe for Kylie Minogue's "Fever" which is remarkably familiar to me perhaps due to my childhood. Then it's back to the '80s when Metallica could reliably be pretty great, a notable example of that being "Master Of Puppets". We then go even further back for a rare foray into the '60s with Roy Orbison's classic #1 hit "Crying". Then at #46 we've got Mariah Carey's lovely "Butterfly", coming from what remains her last #1 album in Australia surprisingly.
#45. Ariana Grande - Dangerous Woman

Round by round: 30-36-45

Points - 112.29
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #6


#44. Eagles - Hotel California

Round by round: 47-48-44

Points - 113
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #2


#43. System of a Down - Toxicity

Round by round: 45-51-43

Points - 114.25
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #2


#42. Chris Isaak - Wicked Game

Round by round: 59-55-42

Points - 114.5
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #12


#41. Josh Pyke - Memories and Dust

Round by round: 53-49-41

Points - 116
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #4


As if to balance out her previous performance, after landing at #55 with "Dangerous Woman" in the ARIA Year End game, Ariana has landed on the opposite side at #45 this time. At #44 we've got a regular visitor to my unofficial catalogue chart in "Hotel California", which is also a rare Eagles hit with Don Henley out at front. Speaking of that fabulous chart I produce, at #42 is the very first #1 on it, Chris Isaak's "Wicked Game". This round ends up in the 2000s though, with System of a Down's "Toxicity", from a classic album of my childhood that still holds up quite well, and the unlucky slot this time going to Josh Pyke's "Memories and Dust", which was sort of my introduction to his music due to its inclusion on the Hottest 100 CD that year.
40 songs left now though, who will cut sufficient amounts of mustard to get all the way to the top?

ABBA - Waterloo
Arcade Fire - Reflektor
Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
Ben Folds - Rockin' The Suburbs
Blur - Parklife
Bruce Springsteen - Born To Run
Calvin Harris - Ready For The Weekend
David Bowie - Changes
David Bowie - Let's Dance
David Bowie - Space Oddity
Death Cab For Cutie - Transatlanticism
Destiny's Child - Survivor
fun. - Some Nights
Green Day - American Idiot
Gwen Stefani feat. Akon - The Sweet Escape
Jeff Buckley - Grace
Jessica Mauboy - Been Waiting
Jimmy Eat World - Bleed American
Katy Perry - Teenage Dream
Kelly Clarkson - Breakaway
Lana Del Rey - Born To Die
Little Dragon - Ritual Union
Little Mix - DNA
Madonna - Ray Of Light
Michael Jackson - Thriller
My Chemical Romance - Welcome To The Black Parade
N.W.A. - Straight Outta Compton
Natasha Bedingfield - Unwritten
Neutral Milk Hotel - In The Aeroplane Over The Sea
Oasis - Morning Glory
Olympia - Self Talk
P!nk - Funhouse
Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here
Prince & The Revolution - Purple Rain
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Californication
The Avalanches - Since I Left You
The Clash - London Calling
The Cure - Boys Don't Cry
Train - Drops Of Jupiter
Van Morrison - Moondance

You can have a say in that mustard distribution, and more acutely, the order of the list. Simply select your Top 10 to 16 from this list and memo it to me by 6pm on Wednesday after which I will do my usual nonsense.

On that note, I have a new votey thing for you to vote on http://www.strawpoll.me/12473923 remember you can vote multiple options, and you are also free to suggest ideas for this so I don't have to force my rubbish ideas on everyone.
#40. Olympia - Self Talk

Round by round: 31-35-39-40

Points - 129.63
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #3


#39. The Avalanches - Since I Left You

Round by round: 22-20-25-39

Points - 138.94
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #2


#38. Ben Folds - Rockin' The Suburbs

Round by round: 38-42-34-38

Points - 139.13
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #2


#37. Little Mix - DNA

Round by round: 23-27-35-37

Points - 140.16
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #3


#36. Destiny's Child - Survivor

Round by round: 17-19-24-36

Points - 143.07
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #1


Sadly I have to kick off International Women's Day eliminating several women right off the bat. Though I suppose in the first case I'm more just surprised it's even here. Nonetheless I welcome any and all support for Olympia for putting out a great album last year. Actually The Avalanches did that too but that's with no shortage of attention. Anyhow we're going back over a decade and a half for their previous album in "Since I Left You". At #38 we have Ben Folds who you'll be quick to note hasn't landed quite as high as Michael Jackson has. At #37 we've got Little Mix's top entry on this list which is once again a single that never really caught on in Australia. Then we've got Destiny's Child with "Survivor", a song that at the time I remember thinking was a huge #1 smash everywhere. However it was that I was deceived, it does seem like a curious precursor to Beyonce's status in popular culture despite having less US top 10 hits than Jeremih this decade.
#35. Neutral Milk Hotel - In The Aeroplane Over The Sea

Round by round: 36-26-23-35

Points - 143.19
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #1


#34. David Bowie - Let's Dance

Round by round: 37-39-28-34

Points - 146.44
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #11


#33. Arcade Fire - The Suburbs

Round by round: 18-17-17-33

Points - 148.25
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #2


#32. Death Cab For Cutie - Transatlanticism

Round by round: 60-58-33-32

Points - 151.69
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #4


#31. Jimmy Eat World - Bleed American

Round by round: 27-30-22-31

Points - 152.31
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #1


"In The Aeroplane Over The Sea" is a very, very, very, very good album. It's hard for me not to be reduced to sheer hyperbole here because I'm very much in my element here. So much so that David Bowie's "Let's Dance" feels like a relative lowlight here, but that's with no shade because it's still pretty excellent. Funnily enough, David Bowie lands next to the first of two Arcade Fire tracks (more on that later), "The Suburbs", which was actually sitting snugly in the top 20 initially until doing what 2nd & 3rd century historians might call 'a Yuan Shao' and slipping big time this round to #33. Then at #32 we've got Death Cab For Cutie's tearjerker "Transatlanticism" that's almost making me want to re-do my 2003 EOY because this game has made me realise it's so damn good. And we stay in emo territory*, though on a totally different end of the spectrum with Jimmy Eat World's explosive "Bleed American".

*This site is always a valuable education to stop misconceptions http://isthisbandemo.com/
#30. Van Morrison - Moondance

Round by round: 40-37-40-30

Points - 154.31
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #1


#29. Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here

Round by round: 48-29-30-29

Points - 154.63
Current Votesr - 4
Top Vote - #3


#28. Calvin Harris - Ready For The Weekend

Round by round: 29-25-36-28

Points - 156.07
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #1


#27. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Californication

Round by round: 41-24-29-27

Points - 157.38
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #4


#26. ABBA - Waterloo

Round by round: 33-34-38-26

Points - 166.86
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #5


Once again I have to give thanks to this game for helping me put a name to a great track in Van Morrison's "Moondance", which slots snugly into the top 30 after only narrowly qualifying for this round. We stay in the world of classics with the title track to one of Pink Floyd's most beloved albums, the brutally sad "Wish You Were Here". But you can turn that frown upside down after that. Not content with merely creating disco, Calvin Harris got up off of his laurels nearly a decade ago to also make "Ready For The Weekend", the title track from which lands at #28 here. As if to continue advertising next week's game, Red Hot Chili Peppers get away with a cheesy pun to make sure radio presenters get to be saying 'fornication' on a regular basis for decades to come. While at #26, we've got ABBA showing that spritely pop can be inspired by all sorts of things, like say a devastating battle with thousands of casualties. I'll try to stop bringing the mood down.
#25. Gwen Stefani feat. Akon - The Sweet Escape

Round by round: 15-16-26-25

Points - 166.95
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #4


#24. Blur - Parklife

Round by round: 26-23-21-24

Points - 168.44
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #4


#23. Oasis - Morning Glory

Round by round: 32-38-20-23

Points - 168.5
Current Voters - 4
TOp Vote - #5


#22. Little Dragon - Ritual Union

Round by round: 20-18-18-22

Points - 168.69
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #2


#21. P!nk - Funhouse

Round by round: 35-33-31-21

Points - 158.87
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #8


#25 sees one of those super unlucky #2 peakers on the ARIA Chart in Gwen Stefani's "The Sweet Escape". I am also now not making this up and somehow didn't notice it until I started typing this commentary but we've got Blur at #24 with "Parklife" mere hundredths of a point behind Oasis's "Morning Glory". If you've ever needed a little time to be rudely awoken by the dustman, you're surely in heaven now. That's not the end of fun coincidences though, as just last round, P!nk was sitting next to Pink Floyd, though now she jumps all the way up to nearly qualifying for the finals at #21 with "Funhouse". Also a surprise here is the huge success of Little Dragon, who just narrowly slip out of the top 20 now with "Ritual Union".
Thus there are just 20 more to proceed and do elaborate fisticuffs over the next 2 days

Arcade Fire - Reflektor
Bruce Springsteen - Born To Run
David Bowie - Changes
David Bowie - Space Oddity
fun. - Some Nights
Green Day - American Idiot
Jeff Buckley - Grace
Jessica Mauboy - Been Waiting
Katy Perry - Teenage Dream
Kelly Clarkson - Breakaway
Lana Del Rey - Born To Die
Madonna - Ray Of Light
Michael Jackson - Thriller
My Chemical Romance - Welcome To The Black Parade
N.W.A. - Straight Outta Compton
Natasha Bedingfield - Unwritten
Prince & The Revolution - Purple Rain
The Clash - London Calling
The Cure - Boys Don't Cry
Train - Drops Of Jupiter

Should you wish to give a song an upper hand in said proceedings, it is merely a case of submitting your Top 5 to 8 of this list to me by 6pm on Friday, after which I will determine the victor.

You can also still vote in the current poll until then to determine what the next qualifying game will be http://www.strawpoll.me/12473923 and the ACI is ready to take your votes as well.
#20. fun. - Some Nights

Round by round: 25-21-19-14-20

Points - 149.381
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #4


#19. Green Day - American Idiot

Round by round: 13-13-14-15-19

Points - 156.76
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #2


Proceedings are kicked off with fun. and their 2nd Australian #1 single "Some Nights". Despite the band having not done much since (though Jack Antonoff has written his fair share of hits lately) it's the 2nd newest song in this top 20. We then stay in a similar rock/pop crossover market, just 8 years prior as Green Day had a big resurgance in popularity with their "American Idiot" album.
#18. Madonna - Ray Of Light

Round by round: 06-09-11-08-18

Points - 170.13
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #3


#17. Lana Del Rey - Born To Die

Round by round: 24-28-27-13-17

Points - 183.34
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #1


Speaking of huge albums for long enduring artists, #18 goes to Madonna's huge pop anthem "Ray Of Light", in its lowest standing position after being a top 10 regular prior. We had two options of purposes of being born in this run, the first of these to appear is Lana Del Rey's "Born To Die", instantiating her cult popularity that I feel only makes sense if you were there to see it.
#16. N.W.A - Straight Outta Compton

Round by round: 19-22-16-16-16

Points - 186.20
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #3


#15. Jessica Mauboy - Been Waiting

Round by round: 21-32-37-20-15

Points - 186.54
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #1


Because I can't help but continue to advertise the next game, it comes handily that N.W.A are in here with a song that could fit in both games, with their enduring "Straight Outta Compton". After that, it wouldn't be a QLVG top 20 if we didn't have a Jessica Mauboy track in it, so she adds to her tally with her 3rd single, "Been Waiting".
#14. Train - Drops Of Jupiter

Round by round: 28-31-32-18-14

Points - 190.00
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #1


#13. The Clash - London Calling

Round by round: 16-15-10-19-13

Points - 190
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #1


If you thought that pairing was close, you haven't seen nothing yet because here's two tracks that are so close, you cannot see a proper difference with 2 decimal places. So get your deep fried chicken out to pay respects to Train who fall short of #13 by 3 thousandths of a point. Though in fairness they also had less voters so that's all moot. Meanwhile The Clash can always take solace that there were no Beatles tracks in the whole list, conclusively proving that they've outlived phony Beatlemania.
#12. Katy Perry - Teenage Dream

Round by round: 10-11-13-17-12

Points - 193.89
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #2


#11. David Bowie - Space Oddity

Round by round: 02-02-02-02-11

Points - 219.84
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #1


You might not realise from looking, but "Teenage Dream" is actually lucky to even be here, only be saved from the jaws of unfortunate elimination in the closing moments last round. Though it had still slipped a bit that round, there's a decent recovery this round to land at #12. In those terms though, I cannot say that "Space Oddity" was blessed the same fortune. Indeed, you could make your own ground control jokes right about now, as it descends from the top 10. Fret not though, as there's more Bowie where that came from.
#10. Arcade Fire - Reflektor

Round by round: 08-07-09-10-10

Points - 229.51
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #2


#9. David Bowie - Changes

Round by round: 11-12-08-12-09

Points - 230.17
Current Voters - 5
Top Vote - #4


And it's all right here! Because as an astute observer would note, Bowie does in fact feature on Arcade Fire's "Reflektor", which lands in the top 10 in this game for I believe the 2nd time. And as such we complete this set with "Changes" which does a sneaky overtaking in this pivotal round to be the highest of the 5 Bowie related songs here.
#8. The Cure - Boys Don't Cry

Round by round: 12-14-12-11-08

Points - 236.14
Current Voters - 5
Top Vote - #2


#7. My Chemical Romance - Welcome To The Black Parade

Round by round: 07-04-04-09-07

Points - 236.5
Current Voters - 5
Top Vote - #3


Back to back we have the closest things here to askewing the standard template for this game. Firstly The Cure whose "Boys Don't Cry" album was just the US version of their debut album with a different tracklisting, though in fairness, the title track was never on that debut. And there's also My Chemical Romance who take advantage of a not-total match of titles. "Welcome To The Black Parade" only manages to actually get the last 3 words into its lyrics, and I'm sure the reasoning behind all of these decisions is that the title as is, is just much cooler.
#6. Kelly Clarkson - Breakaway

Round by round: 14-10-15-06-06

Points - 243.26
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #2


#5. Natasha Bedingfield - Unwritten

Round by round: 04-06-07-07-05

Points - 249.62
Current Voters - 5
Top Vote - #1


We stay in the mid 2000s now as we go to Kelly Clarkson's huge 2nd album, which only modestly debuted at #29 and then slipped to #42 the next week at the start of 2005, but would go on to spend the entire year in the top 50, often in the top 10. Then at #5 is Natasha Bedingfield's "Unwritten" which despite being a hit in its own right at least a year prior, personally cannot escape a particular syndication usage for me, think of it as "All Star" syndrome.
#4. Jeff Buckley - Grace

Round by round: 05-05-06-04-04

Points - 253.09
Current Voters - 5
Top Vote - #1


#3. Prince & The Revolution - Purple Rain

Round by round: 01-01-01-03-03

Points - 262.22
Current Voters - 5
Top Vote - #1


But I would be a failure to deliver my standard expectations if I didn't bring down the mood with two musicians who are no longer with us, though I suppose some people reading this will be young enough that Jeff Buckley was never with them. Still, "Grace" was the song that made me fall in love with Jeff's music and it endures as a treasure. And next to him is a song that I'm admittedly at a loss for words in commentating on, and it was also the leading song for the majority of this game, Prince's sublime "Purple Rain".
#2. Bruce Springsteen - Born To Run

Round by round: 09-08-05-05-02

Points - 279.34
Current Voters - 5
Top Vote - #1


#1. Michael Jackson - Thriller

Round by round: 03-03-03-01-01

Points - 286.68
Current Voters - 5
Top Vote - #2


An astute reader could notice from this that we had a curious trend with the top votes in this game. As for the entire lead up to this round, the top 3 was filled by deceased artists, and last round that upgraded to the top 4. So we can keep things lively here, which is incidentally convenient as I just contrasted the track with "Born To Die" earlier, that of course being Springsteen's "Born To Run", which true to the endlessly crashing momentum of the song, managed to sneak its way from the bottom end of the top 10 to finishing right near poll position, just 7 points behind! But nonetheless it should be no major shock, and perhaps it's quite fitting that the title here goes to the title track from the highest selling album of all time, Michael Jackson's "Thriller".
As always, thanks to all who voted, and if you've still got a voting kick in you, the ACI awaits your call

But actually there is more to do here I think. Because thanks to poll voters, the winning option for the next qualifying game is songs whose title does not feature in the lyrics. But it's had me thinking about how to define some of the rules, and I'd like some input because I don't feel comfortable making the choice on my own. Specifically I'm referring to how instrumentals are handled for this game, do they count, should they be discarded? I'll use this poll to help make a final ruling when it's needed http://www.strawpoll.me/12499052

Enjoy your weekend.
From Ni**as In Paris to Berlin Chair my heart is pumping with love for this fortnight's new list ~

Alex Gaudino feat. Crystal Waters - Destination Calabria
Amanda Palmer - Map Of Tasmania
Arctic Monkeys - Fake Tales Of San Francisco
Avicii - Somewhere in Stockholm
Bastille - Pompeii
Beirut - Postcards From Italy
Beirut - Santa Fe
Ben Folds - Adelaide
Ben Folds - Hiroshima (B B B Benny Hit His Head)
Billy Bragg - A New England
Bon Iver - Calgary
Bon Iver - Perth
Boney M. - Rivers of Babylon
Bruce Springsteen - Streets of Philadelphia
Camp Cope - Footscray Station
Caribou - Odessa
Chris Stapleton - Tennessee Whiskey
Cold Chisel - Khe Sanh
Coldplay feat. Rihanna - Princess Of China
Cousin Tony's Brand New Firebird - Melbourne Bitter
Dante Thomas feat. Pras - Miss California
David Bowie - China Girl
Dead Kennedys - Holiday In Cambodia
Demi Lovato - Made In The U.S.A.
Dropkick Murphys - I'm Shipping Up To Boston
Ed Sheeran - New York
Editors - Munich
Elvis Presley - Viva Las Vegas
Eskimo Joe - New York
Everclear - Santa Monica
Evil Eddie - Queensland
Father John Misty - Bored In The USA
Fergie - London Bridge
Fleet Foxes - Mykonos
Foals - Spanish Sahara
Frank Sinatra - New York, New York
Friendly Fires - Paris (Aeroplane Remix)
George Ezra - Budapest
Grimes - California
Hole - Malibu
Infernal - From Paris To Berlin
Jay-Z & Kanye West - Ni**as in Paris
Jess & Matt - Sydney To Me
Kanye West feat. Jay-Z - Diamonds From Sierra Leone (Remix)
Kanye West feat. Kendrick Lamar - No More Parties In LA
Katy Perry - Waking Up In Vegas
Katy Perry feat. Snoop Dogg - California Gurls
Kings Of Leon - California Waiting
LCD Soundsystem - New York, I Love You, But You're Bringing Me Down
Lily Allen - LDN
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Sweet Home Alabama
Madonna - Don't Cry For Me Argentina
Manic Street Preachers - Australia
Marc Cohn - Walking In Memphis
Maty Noyes - London
Michael Jackson - Stranger In Moscow
Midnight Oil - Mountains of Burma
Miley Cyrus - Party In The U.S.A.
Morcheeba - Rome Wasn't Built In A Day
Murray Head - One Night In Bangkok
Muse - Stockholm Syndrome
Nas - N.Y. State Of Mind
OutKast - B.O.B (Bombs Over Baghdad)
Owl City feat. SEKAI NO OWARI - Tokyo
Paloma Faith - New York
Paul Kelly - From St. Kilda To King's Cross
Peter Allen - I Go To Rio
Phantom Planet - California
Pussy Riot - Make America Great Again
Rihanna - California King Bed
SBTRKT feat. Ezra Koenig - New Dorp. New York
Simple Minds - Belfast Child
Skrillex feat. Sirah - Kyoto
Sticky Fingers - Australia Street
Sufjan Stevens - Chicago
Taylor Swift - Welcome To New York
The 1975 - Paris
The Ataris - San Dimas High School Football Rules
The Chainsmokers - Paris
The Chemical Brothers - It Began In Afrika
The Mamas & The Papas - California Dreamin
The National - Bloodbuzz Ohio
The Pogues feat. Kirsty MacColl - Fairytale of New York
The Range - Florida
The Sex Pistols - Anarchy In The UK
The Shins - Australia
The Smith Street Band - Calgary Girls
The Smiths - London
The Strokes - New York City Cops
The Waifs - London Still
The Whitlams - Melbourne
The Wombats - Tokyo (Vampires & Wolves)
They Might Be Giants - Istanbul (Not Constantinople)
Tinashe - Feels Like Vegas
Toto - Africa
U2 - Angel of Harlem
Ultravox - Vienna
Vengaboys - We're Going To Ibiza
Wolf Alice - Lisbon
You Am I - Berlin Chair

Have your say in how this whole thing plays out by submitting to me your Top 25 to 40 selections from this lot by 6pm on Wednesday. I'm just rushing out this write up to open it as soon as possible.
#100. Friendly Fires - Paris (Aeroplane Remix)

Points - 7
Current Voters - 1
Top Vote - #34


#99. Murray Head - One Night In Bangkok

Points - 10
Current Voters - 1
Top Vote - #31


#98. Amanda Palmer - Map Of Tasmania

Points - 11
Current Voters - 1
Top Vote - #30


#97. The Ataris - San Dimas High School Football Rules

Points - 24
Current Voters - 1
Top Vote - #17


#96. Simple Minds - Belfast Child

Points - 25
Current Voters - 1
Top Vote - #16


Because we're all very unique and original, the list can lay claim to having two songs that use Paris as both a reference to the city but arguably doubling as a reference to a specific state of mind. Friendly Fires hit a stellar mark with their "Paris" which would also get additional remix work from Aeroplane transforming it completely. It sits behind one of the most unusual #1 hits there have ever been, or at least in the sense that it has a super catchy chorus but what on earth in going on in the rest of the song. All adds to the charm for "One Night In Bangkok". This also would have been a prime time for someone to nominate Don Henley's most famous performance in "Hotel California", but because they haven't, The Ataris can claim superiority after I dissed them a few days ago for the Unofficial Catalogue Chart. Simple Minds also see a position in here with "Belfast Child", which is obviously the much more classy version of "Galway Girl".
#95. Dropkick Murphys - I'm Shipping Up To Boston

Points - 27
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #16


#94. Lynyrd Skynyrd - Sweet Home Alabama

Points - 27
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #30


#93. Pussy Riot - Make America Great Again

Points - 30
Current Voters - 1
Top Vote - #11


#92. Nas - N.Y. State Of Mind

Points - 31
Current Voters - 1
Top Vote - #10


#91. The Range - Florida

Points - 33
Current Voters - 1
Top Vote - #8


I always think of "I'm Shipping Up To Boston" has having an odd title that doesn't fully capture the song's spirit, but that's probably because "*THAT Celtic Riff*" would be a more unusual title. Since we're in the spirit of mocking artists who recently debuted on the Unofficial Catalogue Charts, we've got Lynyrd Skynyrd's song which as far as I'm concerned, is just about giving Neil Young crap. Coming straight from the dungeons of rap, is the spiritual opener to what could be argued as the greatest rap album of all time in Nas's "Illmatic", "N.Y. State Of Mind" being one of many classics featured on it. Then we've got The Range's "Florida" which can lay claim to being one of very few ACI top 10 hits in this current game. I have good memories of forgetting which is the artist and which is the title.
#90. Chris Stapleton - Tennessee Whiskey

Points - 35
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #11


#89. Evil Eddie - Queensland

Points - 37
Current Voters - 1
Top Vote - #4


#88. The Mamas & The Papas - California Dreamin'

Points - 38
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #12


#87. Sex Pistols - Anarchy In The UK

Points - 39
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #12


#86. Billy Bragg - A New England

Points - 39
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #5


Fun fact for all the Unofficial Catalogue Chart follower(s) here, Chris Stapleton's cover of "Tennessee Whiskey" has seen a bit of a sales boon lately and if it can maintain, is headed for that chart, hoping to join the league of country covers like "Hurt" and "Wagon Wheel". But if that's all too dignified for you, then you have the opportunity to shake your gluteus maximus for Evil Eddie and his essential tourism campaign that is "Queensland". You'd think with it being autumn, a time known for all the leaves being brown would be ample time for The Mamas and The Papas here but sadly it is not the case this time around. We then get to hang with some British artists who wrote songs about Britain because that's the most British thing to do. Sex Pistols and Billy Bragg are essentially tied though the latter winning out because of the way the points were distributed.
#85. Infernal - From Paris To Berlin

Points - 40
Current Voters - 1
Top Vote - #1


#84. The 1975 - Paris

Points - 40
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #16


#83. Ben Folds - Hiroshima (B B B Benny Hit His Head)

Points - 40
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #9


#82. Skrillex feat. Sirah - Kyoto

Points - 40
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #12


#81. Dante Thomas feat. Pras - Miss California

Points - 41
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #8


Now you can draw your own conclusions here, but the question does arise as to whether Infernal were largely overlooked in the voting because everyone was too ashamed to associated with my terrible pun at the start of the game, or if it was just because I didn't do it enough justice because I didn't get the lyric down correctly. It kicks off a busy 40 point section where it's followed by The 1975 whose album has so many tracks, it's no surprise at least one of them is eligible for this game. I get a personal nostalgia trip for back when Ben Folds' amusing tale of international touring was on radio rotation as "Hiroshima (B B B Benny Hit His Head)" lands at #83. Then at #82 is insight into when Skrillex was so big that he could pull up a non-single on his current EP to sneak a top 50 position with very little airplay from memory, though in fairness even his top 5 hit of the time couldn't crack the airplay chart. Then closing things off is the ultimate nostalgia trip for more people than just me, with Dante Thomas's big hit "Miss California".
This would be a great time to reprise an Around The World In 80 Songs pun, though that may detract people from wanting to vote any of these songs

Alex Gaudino feat. Crystal Waters - Destination Calabria
Arctic Monkeys - Fake Tales Of San Francisco
Avicii - Somewhere in Stockholm
Bastille - Pompeii
Beirut - Postcards From Italy
Beirut - Santa Fe
Ben Folds - Adelaide
Bon Iver - Calgary
Bon Iver - Perth
Boney M. - Rivers of Babylon
Bruce Springsteen - Streets of Philadelphia
Camp Cope - Footscray Station
Caribou - Odessa
Cold Chisel - Khe Sanh
Coldplay feat. Rihanna - Princess Of China
Cousin Tony's Brand New Firebird - Melbourne Bitter
David Bowie - China Girl
Dead Kennedys - Holiday In Cambodia
Demi Lovato - Made In The U.S.A.
Ed Sheeran - New York
Editors - Munich
Elvis Presley - Viva Las Vegas
Eskimo Joe - New York
Everclear - Santa Monica
Father John Misty - Bored In The USA
Fergie - London Bridge
Fleet Foxes - Mykonos
Foals - Spanish Sahara
Frank Sinatra - New York, New York
George Ezra - Budapest
Grimes - California
Hole - Malibu
Jay-Z & Kanye West - Ni**as in Paris
Jess & Matt - Sydney To Me
Kanye West feat. Jay-Z - Diamonds From Sierra Leone (Remix)
Kanye West feat. Kendrick Lamar - No More Parties In LA
Katy Perry - Waking Up In Vegas
Katy Perry feat. Snoop Dogg - California Gurls
Kings Of Leon - California Waiting
LCD Soundsystem - New York, I Love You, But You're Bringing Me Down
Lily Allen - LDN
Madonna - Don't Cry For Me Argentina
Manic Street Preachers - Australia
Marc Cohn - Walking In Memphis
Maty Noyes - London
Michael Jackson - Stranger In Moscow
Midnight Oil - Mountains of Burma
Miley Cyrus - Party In The U.S.A.
Morcheeba - Rome Wasn't Built In A Day
Muse - Stockholm Syndrome
OutKast - B.O.B (Bombs Over Baghdad)
Owl City feat. SEKAI NO OWARI - Tokyo
Paloma Faith - New York
Paul Kelly - From St. Kilda To King's Cross
Peter Allen - I Go To Rio
Phantom Planet - California
Rihanna - California King Bed
SBTRKT feat. Ezra Koenig - New Dorp. New York
Sticky Fingers - Australia Street
Sufjan Stevens - Chicago
Taylor Swift - Welcome To New York
The Chainsmokers - Paris
The Chemical Brothers - It Began In Afrika
The National - Bloodbuzz Ohio
The Pogues feat. Kirsty MacColl - Fairytale of New York
The Shins - Australia
The Smith Street Band - Calgary Girls
The Smiths - London
The Strokes - New York City Cops
The Waifs - London Still
The Whitlams - Melbourne
The Wombats - Tokyo (Vampires & Wolves)
They Might Be Giants - Istanbul (Not Constantinople)
Tinashe - Feels Like Vegas
Toto - Africa
U2 - Angel of Harlem
Ultravox - Vienna
Vengaboys - We're Going To Ibiza
Wolf Alice - Lisbon
You Am I - Berlin Chair

But if you haven't been repelled, you are freely able to select a Top 20 to 32 from this list and submit it to me by 6pm on Friday wherein I will do the necessary business. You can also vote now in the ACI.
After hearing One Night in Bangkok again I really want to see Chess the musical. I think the dudes from ABBA had something to do with it.
Don't forget Hotel california was ineligible for this round because it was in the last one. Lost some good'uns that round though.
Haha true, I just had no memory of writing about it so assumed not
Only lost just the one that round
I saw Dante perform Miss California at RnB Fridays late last year
Phew, all of my Top 10 are still in
#80. Frank Sinatra - New York, New York

Round by round: 55-80

Points - 33
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #20


#79. Beirut - Santa Fe

Round by round: 69-79

Points - 38
Current Voters - 1
Top Vote - #3


#78. Owl City feat. SEKAI NO OWARI - Tokyo

Round by round: 76-78

Points - 44.2
Current Voters - 1
Top Vote - #8


#77. The Smiths - London

Round by round: 79-77

Points - 45
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #6


#76. Miley Cyrus - Party In The U.S.A.

Round by round: 66-76

Points - 48.8
Current Voters - 1
Top Vote - #13


This round is full of sharp declines to counter some sharp increases which may not be seen in these posts. Nonetheless it all goes way back to Sinatra to start things off with his theme from the musical of the same name at #80. Beirut is a band who are such a big fan of this concept that they named themselves after the capital city of Lebanon, in addition to having multiple tracks showing here, "Santa Fe" being the first of those. Owl City ups the stakes by actually recruiting a band from Tokyo for his ode to the city which lands at #78, though in process making Japan's overall representation in these games considerably less brutal than prior. The Smiths also have a lovely song called "London" which was new to me because it's not on my plebby Best Of compilation but proved quite a treat here. Lastly, though I can't think of a Britney song that qualifies for this, we can collectively rejoice with Miley that a JAY Z song is on this list.
#75. The Smith Street Band - Calgary Girls

Round by round: 71-75

Points - 49
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #3


#74. Avicii - Somewhere In Stockholm

Round by round: 65-74

Points - 49.2
Current Voters - 1
Top Vote - #11


#73. Ben Folds - Adelaide

Round by round: 80-73

Points - 50
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #16


#72. The Shins - Australia

Round by round: 73-72

Points - 53
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #11


#71. Bon Iver - Perth

Round by round: 50-71

Points - 53
Current Voters - 1
Top Vote - #8


We've just had The Smiths so here's The Smithies, also waving the flag for vaguely geographically named artists and also not the last song dedicated to Calgary to be seen here. Same can go for Avicii who shows Stockholm into this list for the first but not last time. For the rest of this set, we're stuck in 'straya though incidentally none of these artists are Australian. Ben Folds takes that pass because he wrote the song about the [s]hole[/s] city he was living in, while The Shins didn't even bother to write their chirpy tune about Australia, rather just filming the video there. And Bon Iver is just Bon Iver as usual and make of it what you will.
#70. Kings Of Leon - California Waiting

Round by round: 75-70

Points - 54.2
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #18


#69. Father John Misty - Bored In The USA

Round by round: 62-69

Points - 54.6
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #19


#68. Manic Street Preachers - Australia

Round by round: 77-68

Points - 55
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #17


#67. Paul Kelly - From St. Kilda To King's Cross

Round by round: 74-67

Points - 55
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #8


#66. U2 - Angel Of Harlem

Round by round: 49-66

Points - 55.8
Current Voters - 1
Top Vote - #10


Now it's back to the States having a majority representation in the locales but not the artists. Satisfying both of those contingents is the band who are more popular in the UK and Australia than their homeland funnily enough, but nonetheless it is Kings Of Leon's "California Waiting" from their finest album "Youth and Young Manhood". Meanwhile there's also Father John Misty's 2nd album, whose lead single was a bit of a bait-and-switch considering how much less existential it was. I look forward to finding out soon if he did it again on his new album! Next we have another international band writing about Australia courtesy of Manic Street Preachers, though slightly less happy-go-lucky than The Shins considering it was on the album released after Richey Edwards disappeared. At #67 we have track one on Paul Kelly's Greatest Hits which I believe is mandatory ownership for Australian citizenship [citation needed], and lastly U2 not quite living up to their previous top 20 finish with "Angel Of Harlem".
#65. Demi Lovato - Made In The U.S.A.

Round by round: 63-65

Points - 56
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #10


#64. Midnight Oil - Mountains Of Burma

Round by round: 58-64

Points - 57
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #5


#63. Wolf Alice - Lisbon

Round by round: 64-63

Points - 59
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #6


#62. Paloma Faith - New York

Round by round: 67-62

Points - 60
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #12


#61. The Waifs - London Still

Round by round: 57-61

Points - 61
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #9


Suffice to say it was not a fortunate round if you were interested in doing things in the U.S.A., as said niche takes a 3rd hit via Demi Lovato at #65. Then there's Midnight Oil who wrote "Mountains Of Burma", presumably because alliteration aside, "Mountains Of Myanmar" doesn't have the same ring to it. Ignore my ignorant reviews, the song is very good. I would also say something to the same effect for The Waifs' "London Still" which is not nearly as boring as I'm sure I've previously pegged it. In terms of me sticking with my first take, #63 has one of my favourite modern bands in Wolf Alice, who I hope are planning on releasing a new album this year, while last off to be mentioned is Paloma Faith, kicking it off for songs called "New York" here, and hers is quite a good one I would say.
60 songs here

Alex Gaudino feat. Crystal Waters - Destination Calabria
Arctic Monkeys - Fake Tales Of San Francisco
Bastille - Pompeii
Beirut - Postcards From Italy
Bon Iver - Calgary
Boney M. - Rivers of Babylon
Bruce Springsteen - Streets of Philadelphia
Camp Cope - Footscray Station
Caribou - Odessa
Cold Chisel - Khe Sanh
Coldplay feat. Rihanna - Princess Of China
Cousin Tony's Brand New Firebird - Melbourne Bitter
David Bowie - China Girl
Dead Kennedys - Holiday In Cambodia
Ed Sheeran - New York
Editors - Munich
Elvis Presley - Viva Las Vegas
Eskimo Joe - New York
Everclear - Santa Monica
Fergie - London Bridge
Fleet Foxes - Mykonos
Foals - Spanish Sahara
George Ezra - Budapest
Grimes - California
Hole - Malibu
Jay-Z & Kanye West - Ni**as in Paris
Jess & Matt - Sydney To Me
Kanye West feat. Jay-Z - Diamonds From Sierra Leone (Remix)
Kanye West feat. Kendrick Lamar - No More Parties In LA
Katy Perry - Waking Up In Vegas
Katy Perry feat. Snoop Dogg - California Gurls
LCD Soundsystem - New York, I Love You, But You're Bringing Me Down
Lily Allen - LDN
Madonna - Don't Cry For Me Argentina
Marc Cohn - Walking In Memphis
Maty Noyes - London
Michael Jackson - Stranger In Moscow
Morcheeba - Rome Wasn't Built In A Day
Muse - Stockholm Syndrome
OutKast - B.O.B (Bombs Over Baghdad)
Peter Allen - I Go To Rio
Phantom Planet - California
Rihanna - California King Bed
SBTRKT feat. Ezra Koenig - New Dorp. New York
Sticky Fingers - Australia Street
Sufjan Stevens - Chicago
Taylor Swift - Welcome To New York
The Chainsmokers - Paris
The Chemical Brothers - It Began In Afrika
The National - Bloodbuzz Ohio
The Pogues feat. Kirsty MacColl - Fairytale of New York
The Strokes - New York City Cops
The Whitlams - Melbourne
The Wombats - Tokyo (Vampires & Wolves)
They Might Be Giants - Istanbul (Not Constantinople)
Tinashe - Feels Like Vegas
Toto - Africa
Ultravox - Vienna
Vengaboys - We're Going To Ibiza
You Am I - Berlin Chair

Votes to me Top 15-24, 6pm Monday. Also ACI.
Slightly rushing this because I want to get off the computer

#60. Tinashe - Feels Like Vegas

Round by round: 39-52-60

Points - 54.25
Current Voters - 1
Top Vote - #4


#59. Michael Jackson - Stranger In Moscow

Round by round: 72-58-59

Points - 67.5
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #14


#58. Grimes - California

Round by round: 48-53-58

Points - 74
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #9


#57. Sticky Fingers - Australia Street

Round by round: 52-51-57

Points - 76.35
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #3


#56. Peter Allen - I Go To Rio

Round by round: 59-43-56

Points - 79.5
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #9


Tinashe makes an appearance at #60 with a track from her debut album that I haven't heard but increasingly want to. Michael Jackson's "Stranger In Moscow" was an answer on Pointless last night is what I would say if the song didn't get saved from getting eliminated just barely last round. Grimes has "California" from her latest album which she'll hope to improve on as the next game features at least 2 more songs from that album. Sticky Fingers' video for "Australia Street" was allegedly copied by Coldplay a year later, while Peter Allen's "I Go To Rio" was very much lifted by Coldplay several many years later.
#55. Beirut - Postcards From Italy

Round by round: 51-59-55

Points - 80.5
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #7


#54. The Chainsmokers - Paris

Round by round: 53-60-54

Points - 81.25
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #3


#53. Jess & Matt - Sydney To Me

Round by round: 44-54-53

Points - 82
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #2


#52. LCD Soundsystem - New York, I Love You But You're Bringing Me Down

Round by round: 43-38-52

Points - 82.25
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #3


#51. Camp Cope - Footscray Station

Round by round: 29-48-51

Points - 82.75
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #2


As I like to call it the best Vance Joy song ever, Beirut's "Postcards From Italy" lands at #55. Speaking of Vance Joy, Jess & Matt covered him when they auditioned for The X Factor a couple years ago and they're here at #53. The Chainsmokers' song, Paris, coincidentally sounds suspiciously like the French "Midnight City". The New York odes reach their most elaborate with LCD Soundsystem's grandiose ballad, while things get a bit more lo-fi with Camp Cope's "Footscray Station" from their recent split EP with US band Cayetana. Clearly I should have nominated "Mesa" to go with it.
#50. The Whitlams - Melbourne

Round by round: 54-56-50

Points - 83
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #4


#49. Madonna - Don't Cry For Me Argentina

Round by round: 33-42-49

Points - 85.5
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #1


#48. The Strokes - New York City Cops

Round by round: 28-41-48

Points - 87
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #5


#47. Elvis Presley - Viva Las Vegas

Round by round: 42-37-47

Points - 88.75
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #15


#46. Vengaboys - We're Going To Ibiza

Round by round: 45-31-46

Points - 92.25
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #5


One of my favourite "Eternal Nightcap" lyrics comes in "Melbourne" as it goes 'if I had 3 lives, I'd marry her in 2'. Madonna gives South America what is I think it's highest placing here with "Don't Cry For Me Argentina". We then go up north to the US with The Strokes & Elvis, while the Vengaboys give us the happy prelude to "I Took A Pill In Ibiza". Woah.
#45. The Chemical Brothers - It Began In Afrika

Round by round: 61-39-45

Points - 92.25
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #9


#44. Cousin Tony's Brand New Firebird - Melbourne Bitter

Round by round: 36-47-44

Points - 93
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #1


#43. Bon Iver - Calgary

Round by round: 38-57-43

Points - 92.25
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #8


#42. The National - Bloodbuzz Ohio

Round by round: 37-55-42

Points - 94.25
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #4


#41. Ultravox - Vienna

Round by round: 34-44-41

Points - 99
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #4


Proving far more popular than I'd have predicted is The Chemical Brothers at #45. Also anecdote time, as many of you may know, I partake in a sadistic exercise of counting Hottest 100 votes on instagram, and something I've learnt from that is that there is also a Hottest 100 beers vote that non-chalantly coexists. The two clearly have a meeting point via "Melbourne Bitter" which sounds like it could be a vote for both polls. At #43 is another Bon Iver song that has aged quite well for me in "Calgary", while I can say I was always a strong fan of The National's "Bloodbuzz Ohio". In the unlucky position is one of those hit songs that feel larger than life, in Ultravox's "Vienna".
Here are your 40 songs

Alex Gaudino feat. Crystal Waters - Destination Calabria
Arctic Monkeys - Fake Tales Of San Francisco
Bastille - Pompeii
Boney M. - Rivers of Babylon
Bruce Springsteen - Streets of Philadelphia
Caribou - Odessa
Cold Chisel - Khe Sanh
Coldplay feat. Rihanna - Princess Of China
David Bowie - China Girl
Dead Kennedys - Holiday In Cambodia
Ed Sheeran - New York
Editors - Munich
Eskimo Joe - New York
Everclear - Santa Monica
Fergie - London Bridge
Fleet Foxes - Mykonos
Foals - Spanish Sahara
George Ezra - Budapest
Hole - Malibu
Jay-Z & Kanye West - Ni**as in Paris
Kanye West feat. Jay-Z - Diamonds From Sierra Leone (Remix)
Kanye West feat. Kendrick Lamar - No More Parties In LA
Katy Perry - Waking Up In Vegas
Katy Perry feat. Snoop Dogg - California Gurls
Lily Allen - LDN
Marc Cohn - Walking In Memphis
Maty Noyes - London
Morcheeba - Rome Wasn't Built In A Day
Muse - Stockholm Syndrome
OutKast - B.O.B (Bombs Over Baghdad)
Phantom Planet - California
Rihanna - California King Bed
SBTRKT feat. Ezra Koenig - New Dorp. New York
Sufjan Stevens - Chicago
Taylor Swift - Welcome To New York
The Pogues feat. Kirsty MacColl - Fairytale of New York
The Wombats - Tokyo (Vampires & Wolves)
They Might Be Giants - Istanbul (Not Constantinople)
Toto - Africa
You Am I - Berlin Chair

While you leave me to suffer yet another round of incorrectly attributing "New York" votes, I will leave you the task of selecting a Top 10 to 16 from this lot and submitting it to me by 6pm Wednesday. There's also a qualifying game which is nearly wrapped up for selections, AND if you're not too busy, you could quickly have a vote on here for deciding the next qualifying game http://www.strawpoll.me/12569039 (as always feel free to attack me with ideas which I will shove in here amongst the ones I quickly came up with 5 minutes before they were due)
Apologies for the delay.

#40. Ed Sheeran - New York

Round by round: 31-45-40-40

Points - 89.38
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #8


#39. Taylor Swift - Welcome To New York

Round by round: 32-49-37-39

Points - 90.44
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #8


#38. Fergie - London Bridge

Round by round: 41-26-24-38

Points - 92.13
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #9


#37. The Pogues feat. Kirsty MacColl - Fairytale Of New York

Round by round: 25-33-25-37

Points - 98.06
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #5


#36. Marc Cohn - Walking In Memphis

Round by round: 70-28-28-36

Points - 108.19
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #1


If my snide remark on Monday wasn't enough of a clue, we did in fact have a "New York" just sneak through at #40, which became something of a bother for me only because my quick scanning of similar names meant that last round I initially attributed all of Eskimo Joe's votes to Ed Sheeran. Meanwhile if that's not enough New York for you, we've got El-P's favourite song from "1989", "Welcome To New York" at #39. Then at #38 is one of the most divisive pop songs I've ever come across in Fergie's "London Bridge". But anyway back to New York with one of the most realistic songs in the Christmas canon because of how antagonistic it is, The Pogues' "Fairytale Of New York". We stay in roughly the same era for #36, though if you didn't know in advance it might be difficult to pinpoint exactly which era that is, with Marc Cohn's "Walking In Memphis".
#35. Everclear - Santa Monica

Round by round: 68-40-33-35

Points - 116.25
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #7


#34. David Bowie - China Girl

Round by round: 24-35-30-34

Points - 117.25
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #9


#33. Arctic Monkeys - Fake Tales Of San Francisco

Round by round: 60-50-39-33

Points - 117.38
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #2


#32. Maty Noyes - London

Round by round: 22-36-36-22

Points - 118.5
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #7


#31. Editors - Munich

Round by round: 35-32-27-31

Points - 121.19
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #9


Arguably sharing its plot with "Shawn Of The Dead" is Everclear's opus in "Santa Monica" at #35. Then at #34 is David Bowie whose song is called China Girl even though the eponymous girl is apparently Vietnamese. But it also refers to a slang term for heroin. Either way, it's not about a particularly fragile girl if you catch my drift. If you don't, I'll use that segue to remind you that people are fragile things, you should know by now, if you've ever listened to "Munich" by Editors which lands at #31. We've also very much got onto the bandwagon by ranking Arctic Monkeys' "Fake Tales Of San Francisco" all the way up at #33. Lastly here is a much more recent song that only came out about a month ago. Former Kygo collaborator Maty Noyes put out an interesting song called "London" whose bridge inexplicably reminds me of, of all things, the song that fake Yuna sings at the start of Final Fantasy X-2, which is probably why I like it.
#30. Phantom Planet - California

Round by round: 78-27-35-30

Points - 124.5
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #1


#29. You Am I - Berlin Chair

Round by round: 26-34-32-29

Points - 129.81
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #1


#28. Eskimo Joe - New York

Round by round: 47-25-31-28

Points - 131.03
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #5


#27. They Might Be Giants - Istanbul (Not Constantinople)

Round by round: 27-22-23-27

Points - 132.5
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #3


#26. Dead Kennedys - Holiday In Cambodia

Round by round: 21-30-29-26

Points - 134.44
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #1


Depending on your exposure, seeing the name Phantom Planet will either make you wish you knew Natalie Portman, Mark Ronson or the entire cast of The O.C.. "California" works a treat here after a slow start to land in the top 30. Seeing You Am I beaten by Eskimo Joe makes me sad. But I'll counter it with a thrill because up higher we've got that wacky cover by They Might Be Giants, why this round it got given the works, that's nobody's business but the Turks. And if that's too cheerful for you, there's the satirical "Holiday In Cambodia" written timely around the end of the Khmer Rouge.
#25. Boney M. - Rivers Of Babylon

Round by round: 46-23-19-25

Points - 137.5
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #4


#24. Fleet Foxes - Mykonos

Round by round: 56-46-34-24

Points - 137.75
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #10


#23. Alex Gaudino feat. Crystal Waters - Destination Calabria

Round by round: 06-03-16-23

Points - 137.99
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #1


#22. Kanye West feat. Kendrick Lamar - No More Parties In LA

Round by round: 30-29-38-22

Points - 140.94
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #8


#21. Bruce Springsteen - Streets Of Philadelphia

Round by round: 23-18-15-21

Points - 141.02
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #3


You want a mixed bag? Say no more. Boney M. kick us off with "Rivers of Babylon", followed by what in hindsight feels like one of the most glaring omissions on an album with Fleet Foxes' "Mykonos" remaining solely on an EP released before their debut album, that is arguably more famous than much of that album. Pay respects to Alex Gaudino who two rounds ago was sitting safely at #3 but now comes crashing down to #23. At #22 we've got Kanye West spitting bar after bar in such a way that the rest of "The Life Of Pablo" just couldn't match up to sadly. And the unlucky #21 position goes to Bruce Springsteen, fresh from getting a similarly unlucky #2 finish in the previous game.
This lengthy process leaves us with 20 songs left

Bastille - Pompeii
Caribou - Odessa
Cold Chisel - Khe Sanh
Coldplay feat. Rihanna - Princess Of China
Foals - Spanish Sahara
George Ezra - Budapest
Hole - Malibu
Jay-Z & Kanye West - Ni**as in Paris
Kanye West feat. Jay-Z - Diamonds From Sierra Leone (Remix)
Katy Perry - Waking Up In Vegas
Katy Perry feat. Snoop Dogg - California Gurls
Lily Allen - LDN
Morcheeba - Rome Wasn't Built In A Day
Muse - Stockholm Syndrome
OutKast - B.O.B (Bombs Over Baghdad)
Rihanna - California King Bed
SBTRKT feat. Ezra Koenig - New Dorp. New York
Sufjan Stevens - Chicago
The Wombats - Tokyo (Vampires & Wolves)
Toto - Africa

And it's crunch time, is what I'd be saying if I didn't have a very strong indication of the final result, but hey, I've been surprised before. Select your Top 5 to 8 from this lot and submit them to me by 6pm on Friday. Remember to vote in the poll if you haven't already http://www.strawpoll.me/12569039 and feel free to vote in the ACI, especially as it's the 200th ACI this week ~
#20. Katy Perry - Waking Up In Vegas

Round by round: 14-10-12-17-20

Points - 108.78
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #3


#19. Rihanna - California King Bed

Round by round: 17-09-14-18-19

Points - 115.67
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #1


Kicking things off is perhaps the first in what has become a lengthy career of being unlucky to miss out on top 10 hits for Katy Perry, the fact that "Waking Up In Vegas" was briefly top 10 here just twisting the knife. Incidentally, Rihanna had a very similar progression in this game with "California King Bed" which also peaked in the top 10 during the second round.
#18. Kanye West feat. Jay-Z - Diamonds From Sierra Leone (Remix)

Round by round: 16-15-13-13-18

Points - 118.44
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #1


#17. George Ezra - Budapest

Round by round: 02-04-02-10-17

Points - 121.53
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #3


The world of songs that blew it after stronger starts continues, only to a lesser extent for Kanye West whose pop hit about conflict diamonds that comes with one of Jay-Z's best verses of all time. The true misfortune though goes to George Ezra, who was happily sitting in the runner up position to begin with! Evidently mirroring a public who may just keep forgetting about him until he releases some new music.
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#16. Lily Allen - LDN

Round by round: 40-17-26-20-16

Points - 136.97
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #6


#15. Katy Perry feat. Snoop Dogg - California Gurls

Round by round: 13-16-20-16-15

Points - 153.49
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #1


If you didn't know already that LDN is short for London, well now you know. I was always surprised that Lily Allen's ode to the underbelly of society wasn't more of a hit, I mean it's so cheerful! I suppose you could say it worked out for Katy Perry considering she got a #1 hit with "California Gurls", which actually never sat in the top 10 at any point unlike "Waking Up In Vegas".
#14. Caribou - Odessa

Round by round: 18-20-17-12-14

Points - 177.03
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #4


#13. Hole - Malibu

Round by round: 15-24-22-14-13

Points - 177.70
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #5


I bet you didn't expect to see Ukraine represented in the upper echelons of this list, but then I imagine if you had to pick a location for where Odessa is, that probably wouldn't be your first guess either. I can only heartily recommend the Caribou song though, sounding nothing quite like anything else I've encountered before or since.Hole's "Malibu" I can't quite say the same for, except echoing my Lily Allen comment in that I'm surprised it wasn't a bigger hit.
#12. Muse - Stockholm Syndrome

Round by round: 12-19-18-11-12

Points - 179.16
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #1


#11. SBTRKT feat. Ezra Koenig - New Dorp. New York

Round by round: 08-12-09-15-11

Points - 179.16
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #1


Though Muse tend to be very polarising with a lot of their singles, especially lately, the lead single to "Absolution" here has always been a fan favourite, and also formed the basis for my username on their official board which I've posted with exactly once. Also fun fact: despite being immensely popular with close to a dozen Hottest 100 entries, Vampire Weekend have never made the ARIA singles chart, with the closest instance being Ezra's collaboration with SBTRKT which was also bizarrely an ACI #1 in its time.
#10. Sufjan Stevens - Chicago

Round by round: 10-21-21-19-10

Points - 183.05
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #1


#9. OutKast - B.O.B (Bombs Over Baghdad)

Round by round: 03-08-08-09-09

Points - 188.37
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #3


Is there not enough eclecticism in this list for you? Well things continue to go in all wild directions here, many of them contained solely within Sufjan Stevens' "Chicago", from one of his as of yet just 2 albums based on US states. It's also sitting next to one of the most wild and over-the-top singles of the 2000s from OutKast, which is odd to listen to with the context that they would become one of the most popular groups in the years following it.
#8. Foals - Spanish Sahara

Round by round: 04-11-10-07-08

Points - 192.35
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #2


#7. The Wombats - Tokyo (Vampires & Wolves)

Round by round: 19-14-11-05-07

Points - 194.83
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #4


Now we turn to distant sections of the 2010 Hottest 100 with this lot. #8 is that classic instance where Foals polled with a song I'd genuinely never heard of beforehand but I'm now grateful for it. If you play "Life Is Strange" there is a roughly 50% chance that you'll gain a powerful connection to the song. Not me though because #BaeB4Bay. Also here is that Wombats song that is oddly their only ever top 50 entry, most memorable for the mondegreen where it sounds like he's saying 'boring Tokyo'.
#6. Coldplay feat. Rihanna - Princess of China

Round by round: 05-02-05-08-06

Points - 195.46
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #1


#5. Cold Chisel - Khe Sanh

Round by round: 20-13-06-06-05

Points - 201.19
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #1


We cool things down a bit in this section and someone slaps me across the face for that. Firstly, an entry from the Coldplay album that most people seem to not like, and also oddly enough a brief sitter in the #2 slot with "Princess Of China". Sitting right next to it is arguably the most popular song in Cold Chisel's catalogue, despite the noted handicap of having an unusual title that's difficult to spell and isn't very prominent in the lyrics, and the fact that the song actually doesn't have a chorus. If you read my other thread, you'll know that doesn't stop people from buying "Khe Sanh" week after week.
#4. Jay-Z & Kanye West - Ni**as In Paris

Round by round: 11-06-03-04-04

Points - 212.66
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #2


#3. Toto - Africa

Round by round: 07-07-07-02-03

Points - 247.18
Current Voters - 5
Top Vote - #1


Speaking of a lot of those things I just said about "Khe Sanh", you can repeat them for Jay-Z & Kanye's "Ni**as In Paris", which remains astoundingly popular for a song that never even cracked the top 60 here. Toto on the other hand have favour with a song that's always been exceedingly popular. "Africa" also manages to land slightly higher than the #5 position it scored last time it came into this. There's always next time I suppose.
#2. Morcheeba - Rome Wasn't Built In A Day

Round by round: 09-05-04-03-02

Points - 270.46
Current Voters - 5
Top Vote - #2


#1. Bastille - Pompeii

Round by round: 01-01-01-01-01

Points - 298.27
Current Voters - 6
Top Vote - #2


But with this around the world trip, we end up somewhat static at the end with Italy in various carnations taking the top gongs. Though in saying that, it's not a very modern Italy but rather ancient Rome, with the two songs incidentally spinning essentially opposite tales, one of construction, one of destruction. Also true to their name, Morcheeba didn't instantly ascend to these heights, and gradually moved up 1 place at a time before resting in the runner up slot. The winner? It couldn't be much more geographical. Not only is "Pompeii" obviously an ancient Roman city, but the band themselves take their name from a French national day which coincides with the lead singer's birthday. It also serves as a nice preview for the next game with the title not appearing in the song at all, so by taking this win, you need not begrudge Bastille for wasting an opportunity here.
And there are also results in the other voting front, which proved to be an affair so close it couldn't be split. This is great news for me because it means I don't need to think of new ideas for ages, as we have a 3 way tie. So over the next 3 fortnights, it'll be ACI top 25 hits (I'll see if I can update the pastebin for convenience), songs that were #1 on at least one national chart, and songs with exactly 10 letters in the title. Whew.
Got a shiny new list for ya here

Alicia Keys - Empire State Of Mind Part. II
Arctic Monkeys - Fluorescent Adolescent
Ásgeir - Stardust
Ashanti - Foolish
At The Drive-In - Invalid Litter Dept.
Avril Lavigne - Alice
Bastille - Laura Palmer
Beyonce - Countdown
Big Scary - Belgian Blues
Big Wild feat. Tove Styrke - Aftergold
Birds Of Tokyo - Off Kilter
Bjork - Hyperballad
blink-182 – Adam’s Song
Bloc Party – Helicopter
Bombay Bicycle Club - Luna
Brooke Fraser - C.S. Lewis Song
Bruno Mars - The Lazy Song
Butthole Surfers - Pepper
Chet Faker - 1998
Childish Gambino – IV. Sweatpants
Coldplay - Charlie Brown
Courtney Barnett - Dead Fox
deadmau5 feat. Chris James - The Veldt
deadmau5 feat. Colleen D'Agostino - Seeya
Evanescence - My Immortal
Fall Out Boy - The Take Over, The Breaks Over
Fatman Scoop feat. The Crooklyn Clan & Faith Evans - Be Faithful
Gang Of Youths - Magnolia
Gorillaz feat. Del The Funky Homosapian - Clint Eastwood
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five - The Message
Green Day - Basket Case
Grimes - Flesh Without Blood
Grimes - Kill V. Maim
Gyroscope - 1981
Gyroscope - Beware Wolf
Hayley Kiyoko - Gravel To Tempo
Hole - Celebrity Skin
Interpol - Evil
Interpol - Obstacle 1
Interpol - The Heinrich Maneuver
James - Laid
Kelis - Jerk Ribs
Kendrick Lamar - Backseat Freestyle
Lilly Wood & The Prick - Prayer In C (Robin Schulz Remix)
Linkin Park - Faint
M83 - Reunion
Maggie Rogers - Alaska
Mary J. Blige - Family Affair
Massive Attack - Unfinished Sympathy
McFly - Transylvania
Methyl Ethel - Ubu
Muse - Butterflies & Hurricanes
Muse - Knights of Cydonia
Nelly feat. Kelly Rowland - Dilemma
New Order - Bizarre Love Triangle
New Order - Blue Monday
Nirvana - Aneurysm
Nirvana - Lithium
Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit
Oasis - The Importance of Being Idle
Olympia - This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things
Panic! At The Disco - I Write Sins Not Tragedies
Panic! At The Disco - Lying Is The Most Fun A Girl Can Have Without Taking Her Clothes Off
Pendulum - Propane Nightmares
Portishead - Glory Box
Powderfinger - D.A.F.
Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody
Queens of the Stone Age - Feel Good Hit of the Summer
Radiohead - Exit Music (For A Film)
Regina Spektor - Fidelity
Regurgitator - ! (The Song Formally Known As)
Rihanna - Russian Roulette
RUFUS - Innerbloom
Run The Jewels feat. Kamasi Washington - Thursday In The Danger Room
San Cisco - Awkward
Santigold - L.E.S. Artistes
Savage Garden - Affirmation
Shapeshifters - Lola's Theme
Skrillex - First Of The Year (Equinox)
Spiderbait - Buy Me A Pony
Stereophonics - Dakota
Stone Temple Pilots - Interstate Love Song
Tamar Braxton - Catfish
The Amity Affliction - Pittsburgh
The Beatles - A Day In The Life
The Cranberries - Ode To My Family
The Goo Goo Dolls - Iris
The Mars Volta - Inertiatic ESP
The Pussycat Dolls feat. will.i.am - Beep
The Righteous Brothers - Unchained Melody
The Smashing Pumpkins - Bullet With Butterfly Wings
The Strokes - Juicebox
The War On Drugs - Red Eyes
The White Stripes - Black Math
The Who - Baba O'Riley
TheFatRat feat. Laura Brehm - Monody
Tool - Stinkfist
TV On The Radio - Wolf Like Me
Vampire Weekend – A-Punk
Wolf Alice - Moaning Lisa Smile

I apologise if I came across as an evil dictator during the qualifying process, I hate having to do it honestly. Nonetheless, from this list of songs whose titles do not appear in the lyrics, I wish for you to select your Top 25 to 40 and submit it to me by 6pm Wednesday.
I've not been feeling well all week and don't have it in me to write any specific commentary today. There is some excellent music amongst all this though I will say

#100. Oasis - The Importance Of Being Idle

Points - 3
Current Voters - 1
Top Vote - #38


#99. The Amity Affliction - Pittsburgh

Points - 14
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #33


#98. McFly - Translyvania

Points - 26
Current Voters - 1
Top Vote - #15


#97. Hayley Kiyoko - Gravel To Tempo

Points - 29
Current Voters - 1
Top Vote - #12


#96. Birds Of Tokyo - Off Kilter

Points - 30
Current Voters - 1
Top Vote - #11
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#95. Regina Spektor - Fidelity

Points - 32
Current Voters - 1
Top Vote - #9


#94. Kelis - Jerk Ribs

Points - 32
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #13


#93. Wolf Alice - Moaning Lisa Smile

Points - 33
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #16


#92. The Who - Baba O'Riley

Points - 33
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #24


#91. M83 - Reunion

Points - 34
Current Voters - 1
Top Vote - #7
#90. Linkin Park - Faint

Points - 34
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #18


#89. Gang Of Youths - Magnolia

Points - 37
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #24


#88. Panic! At The Disco - Lying Is The Most Fun A Girl Can Have Without Taking Her Clothes Off

Points - 38
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #18


#87. The White Stripes - Black Math

Points - 38
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #13


#86. Powderfinger - D.A.F.

Points - 39
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #6
#85. Interpol - The Heinrich Maneuver

Points - 42
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #8


#84. Gyroscope - 1981

Points - 42
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #12


#83. Queens Of The Stone Age - Feel Good Hit Of The Summer

Points - 42
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #7


#82. Run The Jewels feat. Kamasi Washington - Thursday In The Danger Room

Points - 43
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #7


#81. Bruno Mars - The Lazy Song

Points - 45
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #12
80 songs here

Alicia Keys - Empire State Of Mind Part. II
Arctic Monkeys - Fluorescent Adolescent
Ásgeir - Stardust
Ashanti - Foolish
At The Drive-In - Invalid Litter Dept.
Avril Lavigne - Alice
Bastille - Laura Palmer
Beyonce - Countdown
Big Scary - Belgian Blues
Big Wild feat. Tove Styrke - Aftergold
Bjork - Hyperballad
blink-182 – Adam’s Song
Bloc Party – Helicopter
Bombay Bicycle Club - Luna
Brooke Fraser - C.S. Lewis Song
Butthole Surfers - Pepper
Chet Faker - 1998
Childish Gambino – IV. Sweatpants
Coldplay - Charlie Brown
Courtney Barnett - Dead Fox
deadmau5 feat. Chris James - The Veldt
deadmau5 feat. Colleen D'Agostino - Seeya
Evanescence - My Immortal
Fall Out Boy - The Take Over, The Breaks Over
Fatman Scoop feat. The Crooklyn Clan & Faith Evans - Be Faithful
Gorillaz feat. Del The Funky Homosapian - Clint Eastwood
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five - The Message
Green Day - Basket Case
Grimes - Flesh Without Blood
Grimes - Kill V. Maim
Gyroscope - Beware Wolf
Hole - Celebrity Skin
Interpol - Evil
Interpol - Obstacle 1
James - Laid
Kendrick Lamar - Backseat Freestyle
Lilly Wood & The Prick - Prayer In C (Robin Schulz Remix)
Maggie Rogers - Alaska
Mary J. Blige - Family Affair
Massive Attack - Unfinished Sympathy
Methyl Ethel - Ubu
Muse - Butterflies & Hurricanes
Muse - Knights of Cydonia
Nelly feat. Kelly Rowland - Dilemma
New Order - Bizarre Love Triangle
New Order - Blue Monday
Nirvana - Aneurysm
Nirvana - Lithium
Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit
Olympia - This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things
Panic! At The Disco - I Write Sins Not Tragedies
Pendulum - Propane Nightmares
Portishead - Glory Box
Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody
Radiohead - Exit Music (For A Film)
Regurgitator - ! (The Song Formerly Known As)
Rihanna - Russian Roulette
RUFUS - Innerbloom
San Cisco - Awkward
Santigold - L.E.S. Artistes
Savage Garden - Affirmation
Shapeshifters - Lola's Theme
Skrillex - First Of The Year (Equinox)
Spiderbait - Buy Me A Pony
Stereophonics - Dakota
Stone Temple Pilots - Interstate Love Song
Tamar Braxton - Catfish
The Beatles - A Day In The Life
The Cranberries - Ode To My Family
The Goo Goo Dolls - Iris
The Mars Volta - Inertiatic ESP
The Pussycat Dolls feat. will.i.am - Beep
The Righteous Brothers - Unchained Melody
The Smashing Pumpkins - Bullet With Butterfly Wings
The Strokes - Juicebox
The War On Drugs - Red Eyes
TheFatRat feat. Laura Brehm - Monody
Tool - Stinkfist
TV On The Radio - Wolf Like Me
Vampire Weekend – A-Punk

The usual business, Top 20 to 32 inbox by 6pm Friday. ACI is also now open and you can also do the qualifying thingy which relates to that.
You could see this as a ploy for me to wait until April 1st to post some sort of ruse but I was genuinely out for most of the day. I also considered not commenting again considering how late this is, but I voted for most of these songs anyway


#80. Muse - Butterflies & Hurricanes

Round by round: 67-80

Points - 43
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #16


#79. Big Scary - Belgian Blues

Round by round: 80-79

Points - 47
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #6


#78. The Strokes - Juicebox

Round by round: 74-78

Points - 52
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #5


#77. Coldplay - Charlie Brown

Round by round: 75-77

Points - 53
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #6


#76. Pendulum - Propane Nightmares

Round by round: 76-76

Points - 54
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #19


Things start off with the first of our 'butterfly' songs, this one courtesy of Muse and filled with all manner of glorious piano. Fresh from their Friday morning Like A Version, we've also got Big Scary with a great highlight on their 2nd album in "Belgian Blues". #78 belongs to "Juicy Juice" by Stroke. While coming from no one's favourite Coldplay album is 3rd single "Charlie Brown". Alongside all this sad dude and mad dude rock, Pendulum unleash their colossal banger "Propane Nightmares" at #76.
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#75. Courtney Barnett - Dead Fox

Round by round: 79-75

Points - 54
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #12


#74. Nirvana - Aneurysm

Round by round: 78-74

Points - 55
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #3


#73. TheFatRat feat. Laura Brehm - Monody

Round by round: 68-73

Points - 58
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #7


#72. The Beatles - A Day In The Life

Round by round: 73-72

Points - 58
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #17


#71. Gyroscope - Beware Wolf

Round by round: 72-71

Points - 58
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #7


Trigger warning for Facebook bogans, we've got a Courtney Barnett song at #75. But fret not because Nirvana's brand of out-the-rails grunge comes up at #74 with "Aneurysm", a track that is most famous as a live recording. I best know TheFatRat for having one of the best tracks on the Rocket League soundtrack, but he's also responsible for what I feel sounds like "My Heart Will Go On" and "Auld Lang Syne" made into a huge dance track in "Monody". Perhaps a little early out is one of the most fascinating songs I've ever heard, The Beatles' "A Day In The Life", which admittedly looks a bit funny sitting below Gyroscope's "Beware Wolf".
#70. The Cranberries - Ode To My Family

Round by round: 77-70

Points - 59
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #19


#69. Regurgitator - ! (The Song Formerly Known As)

Round by round: 71-69

Points - 59
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #17


#68. The Mars Volta - Inertiatic ESP

Round by round: 66-68

Points - 60
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #4


#67. Bloc Party - Helicopter

Round by round: 69-67

Points - 61
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #9


#66. Big Wild feat. Tove Styrke - Aftergold

Round by round: 61-66

Points - 62
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #6


Since everyone remembered to vote on time, there's very little in the way of movement in the songs today, so The Cranberries' 7 place jump is relatively major here. They couldn't jump enough to stop Regurgitator from fittingly claiming the #69 position with "! (The Song Formerly Known As)". Not having that fact to use herein, you could say that in terms of writing commentary, NOOOOOWWWW IIIIII'MMMM LOOOOOOOST, oh hey The Mars Volta are at #68 look at that. Next we've got one of the many huge singles off of Bloc Party's "Silent Alarm" album with "Helicopter", while Big Wild collaborates with Tove Styrke, making me continue to try to type Stryke.
#65. Tamar Braxton - Catfish

Round by round: 63-65

Points - 63
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #1


#64. Butthole Surfers - Pepper

Round by round: 64-64

Points - 64
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #11


#63. Arctic Monkeys - Fluorescent Adolescent

Round by round: 70-63

Points - 64
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #6


=#61. Interpol - Obstacle 1

Round by round: 60-61

Points - 65
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #1


=#61. The Righteous Brothers - Unchained Melody

Round by round - 58-61

Points - 65
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #1


Don't hurt me crazy Interestingly though, Tamar can take claim as most popular Braxton as Toni has only gotten as high as #70 in her appearances here to date. Meanwhile, Butthole Surfers' "Pepper" seems to love the number 64 in both its positions and points, conveniently sharing the same release year as the Nintendo 64, potentially putting on some #illuminati mess. Meanwhile at #63 is arguably the most enduring track in Arctic Monkeys back catalogue, "Fluorescent Adolescent" even gets more streams in the UK than "Do I Wanna Know?" lately. Then to spare us some mess at the cut off, but not sparing any heartbreak, we've got a tie for the #61 spot, between the rather stiff and angular "Obstacle 1", and the not at all similar "Unchained Melody". For Interpol you can fret not because you will see their face again; my comments are daggy and stuff.
Round 2 is always a marathon for me, phew! Here's the 60 going through

Alicia Keys - Empire State Of Mind Part. II
Ásgeir - Stardust
Ashanti - Foolish
At The Drive-In - Invalid Litter Dept.
Avril Lavigne - Alice
Bastille - Laura Palmer
Beyonce - Countdown
Bjork - Hyperballad
blink-182 – Adam’s Song
Bombay Bicycle Club - Luna
Brooke Fraser - C.S. Lewis Song
Chet Faker - 1998
Childish Gambino – IV. Sweatpants
deadmau5 feat. Chris James - The Veldt
deadmau5 feat. Colleen D'Agostino - Seeya
Evanescence - My Immortal
Fall Out Boy - The Take Over, The Breaks Over
Fatman Scoop feat. The Crooklyn Clan & Faith Evans - Be Faithful
Gorillaz feat. Del The Funky Homosapian - Clint Eastwood
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five - The Message
Green Day - Basket Case
Grimes - Flesh Without Blood
Grimes - Kill V. Maim
Hole - Celebrity Skin
Interpol - Evil
James - Laid
Kendrick Lamar - Backseat Freestyle
Lilly Wood & The Prick - Prayer In C (Robin Schulz Remix)
Maggie Rogers - Alaska
Mary J. Blige - Family Affair
Massive Attack - Unfinished Sympathy
Methyl Ethel - Ubu
Muse - Knights of Cydonia
Nelly feat. Kelly Rowland - Dilemma
New Order - Bizarre Love Triangle
New Order - Blue Monday
Nirvana - Lithium
Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit
Olympia - This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things
Panic! At The Disco - I Write Sins Not Tragedies
Portishead - Glory Box
Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody
Radiohead - Exit Music (For A Film)
Rihanna - Russian Roulette
RUFUS - Innerbloom
San Cisco - Awkward
Santigold - L.E.S. Artistes
Savage Garden - Affirmation
Shapeshifters - Lola's Theme
Skrillex - First Of The Year (Equinox)
Spiderbait - Buy Me A Pony
Stereophonics - Dakota
Stone Temple Pilots - Interstate Love Song
The Goo Goo Dolls - Iris
The Pussycat Dolls feat. will.i.am - Beep
The Smashing Pumpkins - Bullet With Butterfly Wings
The War On Drugs - Red Eyes
Tool - Stinkfist
TV On The Radio - Wolf Like Me
Vampire Weekend – A-Punk

Should you wish to participate in these proceedings, you can select your Top 15 to 24 from this lot and submit them to me by 6pm on Monday. I am writing a stern reminder to myself that DAYLIGHT SAVINGS IS ENDING BETWEEN NOW AND THEN so I'll have to post it an hour later in my timezone than usual. Also the ACI can be voted on, as has less bearing with daylight savings.
She definitely should be the most popular Braxton.
My health keeps finding new ways to let me down, and also I'm in a hurry so away I go!

#60. Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit

Round by round: 30-54-60

Points - 64
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #12


#59. Stereophonics - Dakota

Round by round: 62-56-59

Points - 76.5
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #4


#58. Ásgeir - Stardust

Round by round: 57-53-58

Points - 82.25
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #1


#57. deadmau5 feat. Colleen D'Agostino - Seeya

Round by round: 24-41-57

Points - 82.75
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #4


#56. Brooke Fraser - C.S. Lewis Song

Round by round: 54-57-56

Points - 84.5
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #4
#55. Fall Out Boy - The Take Over, The Breaks Over

Round by round: 20-19-55

Points - 87
Current Voters - 1
Top Vote - #2


#54. San Cisco - Awkward

Round by round: 59-59-54

Points - 88.5
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #14


#53. James - Laid

Round by round: 52-52-53

Points - 90
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #5


#52. New Order - Bizarre Love Triangle

Round by round: 51-49-52

Points - 93.5
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #10


#51. Bastille - Laura Palmer

Round by round: 49-40-51

Points - 93.85
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #13
#50. Vampire Weekend - A-Punk

Round by round: 65-60-50

Points - 94.5
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #8


#49. Bombay Bicycle Club - Luna

Round by round: 56-55-49

Points - 94.75
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #7


#48. Avril Lavigne - Alice

Round by round: 47-48-48

Points - 96.5
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #10


#47. Skrillex - First Of The Year (Equinox)

Round by round: 25-37-47

Points - 99.45
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #12


#46. Hole - Celebrity Skin

Round by round: 41-43-46

Points - 105.25
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #7
#45. Tool - Stinkfist

Round by round: 46-44-45

Points - 106
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #2


#44. Shapeshifters - Lola's Theme

Round by round: 45-45-44

Points - 107
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #3


#43. Maggie Rogers - Alaska

Round by round: 21-42-43

Points - 107.5
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #8


#42. Spiderbait - Buy Me A Pony

Round by round: 43-58-42

Points - 107.75
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #15


#41. Interpol - Evil

Round by round: 55-46-41

Points - 110.75
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #1
Here be the 40 persisting songs

Alicia Keys - Empire State Of Mind Part. II
Ashanti - Foolish
At The Drive-In - Invalid Litter Dept.
Beyonce - Countdown
Bjork - Hyperballad
blink-182 – Adam’s Song
Chet Faker - 1998
Childish Gambino – IV. Sweatpants
deadmau5 feat. Chris James - The Veldt
Evanescence - My Immortal
Fatman Scoop feat. The Crooklyn Clan & Faith Evans - Be Faithful
Gorillaz feat. Del The Funky Homosapian - Clint Eastwood
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five - The Message
Green Day - Basket Case
Grimes - Flesh Without Blood
Grimes - Kill V. Maim
Kendrick Lamar - Backseat Freestyle
Lilly Wood & The Prick - Prayer In C (Robin Schulz Remix)
Mary J. Blige - Family Affair
Massive Attack - Unfinished Sympathy
Methyl Ethel - Ubu
Muse - Knights of Cydonia
Nelly feat. Kelly Rowland - Dilemma
New Order - Blue Monday
Nirvana - Lithium
Olympia - This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things
Panic! At The Disco - I Write Sins Not Tragedies
Portishead - Glory Box
Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody
Radiohead - Exit Music (For A Film)
Rihanna - Russian Roulette
RUFUS - Innerbloom
Santigold - L.E.S. Artistes
Savage Garden - Affirmation
Stone Temple Pilots - Interstate Love Song
The Goo Goo Dolls - Iris
The Pussycat Dolls feat. will.i.am - Beep
The Smashing Pumpkins - Bullet With Butterfly Wings
The War On Drugs - Red Eyes
TV On The Radio - Wolf Like Me

Decide what continues to persist by selecting your Top 10 to 16 from this lot and submitting it to me by 6pm Wednesday AEST.
Oops totally forgot to vote last round but luckily most of my faves survived
Yep, you were super lucky with where your votes ended up in that regard
#40. Kendrick Lamar - Backseat Freestyle

Round by round: 44-51-38-40

Points - 93.31
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #3


#39. Chet Faker - 1998

Round by round: 29-22-24-39

Points - 100.61
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #5


#38. The Smashing Pumpkins - Bullet With Butterfly Wings

Round by round: 53-50-25-38

Points - 105.56
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #1


#37. Methyl Ethel - Ubu

Round by round: 48-39-26-37

Points - 111.31
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #13


#36. Fatman Scoop feat. The Crooklyn Clan & Faith Evans - Be Faithful

Round by round: 10-08-06-36

Points - 123.54
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #2


Now, when Kendrick said that you've got until April 7th to get your shit together, know that he was referring to voting in the last round of this current QLVG game, though sadly you won't get to vote a Kendrick song as his Taylor Swift turn-up anthem "Backseat Freestyle" comes in here at #40. Following that is what I'd think is a surprisingly high entry for Chet Faker's "1998", and that's not even considering that it was residing even higher for the prior duration of this! Despite all of Billy Corgan's rage, The Smashing Pumpkins are still going to have to make do with a #38 finish. Meanwhile we have the highest 2017 entry with Methyl Ethel's passive aggressive attack on your choice of hairstyle in "Ubu". Perhaps the most tragic drop in votes I've seen in some time here comes from Fatman Scoop, whose gloriously over the top "Be Faithful" takes a tumble here. Fun facts about the song: It was a club hit from 1999 that took years for samples to clear and allow for re-release, and if you never made the connection, it just has the title it has because it samples a Faith Evans hook.
#35. Stone Temple Pilots - Interstate Love Song

Round by round: 50-47-35-35

Points - 124.69
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #2


#34. Childish Gambino - IV. Sweatpants

Round by round: 31-23-32-34

Points - 125.63
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #4


#33. Olympia - This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things

Round by round: 39-38-39-33

Points - 126.88
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #6


#32. Santigold - L.E.S. Artistes

Round by round: 37-28-19-32

Points - 129.19
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #5


#31. Björk - Hyperballad

Round by round: 34-34-33-31

Points - 129.5
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #2


Stone Temple Pilots' brand of commercial grunge is often derided though for my money, "Interstate Love Song" has enough of a strong foundation in songwriting that it deserves praise. I suppose you can say it's done alright here at #35. Just above at #34 is Childish Gambino, who is absolutely doing him better than you're doing you, don't be mad. Then at #33 we've got a title I've never been able to make sense of, but I'll be damned if "This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things" isn't one of the most exquisite pop songs of recent years. At #32 we've got Santigold's "L.E.S. Artistes", though only 2008kids will remember when she was called Santogold. Keeping things exquisite though with a totally different approach is Björk at #31 with her aptly named "Hyperballad".
#30. At The Drive-In - Invalid Litter Dept.

Round by round: 38-35-30-30

Points - 132.19
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #4


#29. Radiohead - Exit Music (For A Film)

Round by round: 32-27-28-29

Points - 132.5
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #1


#28. blink-182 - Adam's Song

Round by round: 35-26-31-28

Points - 132.75
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #2


#27. Muse - Knights Of Cydonia

Roud by round: 19-18-22-27

Points - 134.06
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #3


#26. deadmau5 feat. Chris James - The Veldt

Round by round: 18-29-29-26

Points - 134.19
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #4


It's a big section for adventurous songs, perhaps best noted by the fact that 3 of them run over 6 minutes long. At The Drive-In's "Invalid Litter Dept." in particular is always a thrill to listen to for me. There's also Radiohead's "Exit Music (For A Film)" which isn't nearly as long, but manages a tremendous emotional climax all the same. The 'film' in question is of course Baz Luhrmann's "Romeo + Juliet". blink-182 have "Adam's Song" which makes me wonder if it had a mentioned title, would the first thought for the song still always be the 'du-nu-nu' riff. We manage to take Muse alive at #27 with their song that still feels so absurd as a Hottest 100 #1, at least in today's standards. Lastly at #26 is deadmau5's "The Veldt", a song which I believe started off as an instrumental until Chris James sent a vocal take to him which deadmau5 reacted to on a livestream, which is quite heartwarming to watch.
#25. Panic! At The Disco - I Write Sins Not Tragedies

Round by round: 14-12-10-25

Points - 136.39
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #1


#24. Gorillaz feat. Del The Funky Homosapien - Clint Eastwood

Round by round: 05-05-13-24

Points - 137.94
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #5


#23. Grimes - Kill V. Maim

Round by round: 26-24-20-23

Points - 147.37
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #11


#22. Nirvana - Lithium

Round by round: 42-33-21-22

Points - 151.5
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #6


#21. Beyonce - Countdown

Round by round: 28-30-36-21

Points - 154.81
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #1


This is the part where I chime in and wonder if people have ever heard of the fact that the chorus line on "I Write Sins Not Tragedies" actually says 'closing a goddamn door', though if you watch it on YouTube, it's more like 'closing a damn door'. And then I would say to all the motherf**kers in the room, remember where the door is because "Clint Eastwood" is in at #24. If nothing else this is showing the stark transformations of popular alternative music throughout the years, especially after you pair these up with Grimes at #23 with her ridiculously catchy "Kill V. Maim". And then things transport in a totally different direction for Nirvana's "Lithium" at #22, far surpassing "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and making for one of the more surprising results in this game. Lastly just missing out is Beyonce's "Countdown" which came ever so close to sneaking through one more round. Some readers might be happy to at least know that the song has grown on me a lot, even just since the last time it appeared in this game.
And so you're left with a fascinating bunch of 20 songs to duke it out in the last round

Alicia Keys - Empire State Of Mind Part. II
Ashanti - Foolish
Evanescence - My Immortal
Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five - The Message
Green Day - Basket Case
Grimes - Flesh Without Blood
Lilly Wood & The Prick - Prayer In C (Robin Schulz Remix)
Mary J. Blige - Family Affair
Massive Attack - Unfinished Sympathy
Nelly feat. Kelly Rowland - Dilemma
New Order - Blue Monday
Portishead - Glory Box
Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody
Rihanna - Russian Roulette
RUFUS - Innerbloom
Savage Garden - Affirmation
The Goo Goo Dolls - Iris
The Pussycat Dolls feat. will.i.am - Beep
The War On Drugs - Red Eyes
TV On The Radio - Wolf Like Me

Deduce selection from this list however you see fit, provided that the end result is a Top 5 to 8 selection and that it finds its way to my inbox by 6pm on Friday, after which I will crown another song victorious. The ACI voting has also just opened up today so you can also do that if you fancy.
#20. Savage Garden - Affirmation

Round by round: 36-36-37-19-20

Points - 115.11
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #3


#19. Alicia Keys - Empire State Of Mind Part. II (Broken Down)

Round by round: 27-25-34-15-19

Points - 146.82
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #2


I believe that the repetitive refrain in Savage Garden's "Affirmation" is in some way emblemic of songs that appear multiple times in the game with me having nothing to say on the matter. On the other hand there's a first time appearance for Alicia Keys' solo version of "Empire State Of Mind", which is interestingly the only version of the song that was eligible for this game.
#18. Lilly Wood & The Prick - Prayer In C (Robin Schulz Remix)

Round by round: 11-11-14-17-18

Points - 153.44
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #3


#17. Rihanna - Russian Roulette

Round by round: 17-17-17-08-17

Points - 152.83
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #1


Mixing up gloomy lyrics with upbeat & trendy music? That's "Prayer In C"'s remix for you! It proved a strong, steady performer staying in the top 20 the whole way. Meanwhile Rihanna has to be a bit different so she makes her music just as gloomy as the lyrics, and has a funny chart run.
#16. Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody

Round by round: 04-04-07-07-16

Points - 156.18
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #2


#15. Grimes - Flesh Without Blood

Round by round: 06-07-05-09-15

Points - 162.20
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #2


I imagine you probably expected Queen in the final round from the very beginning, but how many predicted them right here?? Nonetheless they find their all-conquering track relatively humbled in this sitting, behind a Grimes song that has never charted really anywhere. It has a lot of love here though, being an ACI #1 in its time.
#14. The Pussycat Dolls feat. will.i.am - Beep

Round by round: 28-30-36-20-14

Points - 174.45
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #5


#13. Green Day - Basket Case

Round by round: 23-21-18-12-13

Points - 187.19
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #1


Perhaps my favourite in the creative workarounds of this game's restrictions is the onomatopoeia of The Pussycat Dolls' "Beep", which after a modest start, found itself a strong finish at #14. If you're reading this, then you probably have the time to listen to me whine, well here's Green Day at #13.
#12. The Goo Goo Dolls - Iris

Round by round: 33-31-40-16-12

Points - 189.44
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #1


#11. RÜFÜS - Innerbloom

Round by round: 15-16-11-13-11

Points - 191.03
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #2


John Rzezniziz has a guardian angel looking out for him I imagine. Must be from whatever city he's in. Nonetheless, in all of the 3 times that the "Iris" card has been played, the song has been saved an early elimination, and occasionally ended up tremendously higher than expected from that. Not enough to make the top 10 this time around though. RÜFÜS also find themselves unlucky to land at #11, perhaps though there's solace to be had as "Innerbloom" previously landed at #29 when it was in here.
#10. TV On The Radio - Wolf Like Me

Round by round: 22-20-27-18-10

Points - 196.23
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #1


#9. Nelly feat. Kelly Rowland - Dilemma

Round by round: 13-13-15-06-09

Points - 197.68
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #2


Surprisingly finding its way into the top 10 is the blistering dance punk of TV On The Radio's "Wolf Like Me", which for my money is the best song of 2006. Next up is a huge hit for Nelly from 2002, which makes sense because 2002 was a good time for Billboard #1 hits that didn't mention their title, and Billboard #1 hits recorded by Nelly.
#8. Mary J. Blige - Family Affair

Round by round: 03-03-04-03-08

Points - 206.86
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #1


#7. Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five - The Message

Round by round: 40-32-23-14-07

Points - 217.94
Current Voters - 5
Top Vote - #4


As one who's not often to tolerationing hateration, I can be glad that I have Mary J. Blige to back me up in this dancery, considerably making up for the disappointing #81 finish for "Family Affair" the first time it was played. We've then got the oldest song in all of the top 60, with Grandmaster Flash's "The Message". A fun fact for those who did not know, the entire song is rapped by Melle Mel who would go on to have an ARIA #1 hit 33 years later, don't let that daggy association bring it down though.
#6. The War On Drugs - Red Eyes

Round by round: 02-02-01-02-06

Points - 220.11
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #1


#5. Ashanti - Foolish

Round by round: 06-09-08-10-05

Points - 221.30
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #3


Peddling our favourite variety of beer commercial rock, we've got The War On Drugs sitting strong at #6, though interestingly the only song to interrupt the #1 position through this whole process. Then, to echo what I said about Nelly before, Ashanti's "Foolish" was also a #1 hit in 2002, it and "Dilemma" in fact bookending, wouldn't you know it, another Nelly #1 hit!
#4. Portishead - Glory Box

Round by round: 12-15-09-11-04

Points - 227.80
Current Voters - 5
Top Vote - #3


#3. New Order - Blue Monday

Round by round: 16-14-16-04-03

Points - 237.05
Current Voters - 5
Top Vote - #3


At #4 we've got one of the most strikingly powerful takes on femininity in Portishead's "Glory Box", or if you're under 20, another song that sounds like "Here". It's followed by the best selling 12 inch single of all time in New Order's "Blue Monday", a single that I imagine had to be a shock to the system considering all the members of New Order were making gloomy post punk music just a few years prior.
#2. Massive Attack - Unfinished Sympathy

Round by round: 08-06-03-05-02

Points - 242.64
Current Voters - 5
Top Vote - #1


#1. Evanescence - My Immortal

Round by round: 01-01-02-01-01

Points - 281.52
Current Voters - 5
Top Vote - #1


It had not occurred to me that this is in fact the first time that Massive Attack have appeared in this game, I really remember voting for "Teardrop" in something recently. Nonetheless, they see strong favours with what is not even their most well known song, with the still highly spellbinding "Unfinished Sympathy" landing in the runner up slot. On the other hand this is not Evanescence's first time in here, as they had previously finished in the top 20 with "Bring Me To Life". This time around we have the far less antiquated "My Immortal" which pays strong dividends. Its lead was often quite slim but it goes out of the final round with by far the biggest lead it's ever had.
And that is a wrap. Thanks for bearing with me through my troubled times, hopefully the next game can go off without a hitch as we look at the hits of the ACI. Also remember to get your thinking caps on for the next qualifying game on Tuesday, you want to start thinking of 10 letter song titles, I've found myself constantly thinking of 9 & 11 letter titles, but I'm curious what everyone else will come up with.
Brilliant to see Unfinished Sympathy so high!
Yea that's a pretty enjoyable top 10.
Here's a new list to feast on, spanning the first 200 weeks of the ACI and the songs that it has contained in that time

Adam Lambert - Ghost Town
Adele - Send My Love (To Your New Lover)
AlunaGeorge feat. Popcaan - I'm In Control
Amy Shark - Spits On Girls
Arctic Monkeys - Do I Wanna Know?
Ariana Grande feat. Big Sean - Best Mistake
Ariana Grande feat. Mac Miller - The Way
Ariana Grande feat. Zedd - Break Free
Banks - Beggin For Thread
Beach House - Space Song
Beck - Dreams
Beyonce - XO
Bloc Party - Ratchet
Bonnie Anderson - Blackout
Braids - Miniskirt
Calvin Harris feat. Ayah Marar - Thinking About You
Carly Rae Jepsen - Run Away With Me
Carmada - Maybe
Chairlift - Ch-Ching
Childish Gambino - Sober
CHVRCHES - Leave A Trace
Clean Bandit feat. Louisa Johnson - Tears
Coldplay - A Sky Full of Stars
Cymbals Eat Guitars - Warning
Dami Im - Alive
Delta Goodrem - Wings
Demi Lovato - Cool For the Summer
Dua Lipa - Hotter Than Hell
Duke Dumont feat. A*M*E - Need U (100%)
Everything Everything - Distant Past
Fall Out Boy - The Phoenix
Fifth Harmony - Sledgehammer
First Aid Kit - My Silver Lining
Flight Facilities feat. Owl Eyes - Heart Attack
Florence + The Machine - Ship To Wreck
Foster The People - Coming Of Age
Foxes - Let Go For Tonight
Franz Ferdinand - Love Illumination
Future Islands - Seasons (Waiting On You)
Gang Of Youths - What Can I Do If The Fire Goes Out?
George Ezra - Blame It On Me
Ghost Town DJ's - My Boo
Giorgio Moroder feat. Kylie Minogue - Right Here, Right Now
GoldLink feat. Anderson .Paak - Unique (Louis Futon Remix)
Haim - If I Could Change Your Mind
Hot Natured - Benediction
Hozier - Take Me To Church
Iggy Azalea feat. Jennifer Hudson - Trouble
Jamie xx feat. Romy - Loud Places
Jessica Mauboy - Can I Get A Moment?
Jessica Mauboy - Never Be The Same
Jessica Mauboy - Pop a Bottle (Fill Me Up)
Jorja Smith - Blue Lights
Katy Perry feat. Juicy J - Dark Horse
Katy Perry feat. Skip Marley - Chained To The Rhythm
Kendrick Lamar - The Blacker The Berry
Kiesza - Hideaway
Kimbra - Miracle
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - Rattlesnake
Lana Del Rey - Young and Beautiful
Little Mix - Love Me Like You
Little Mix - Move
Little Mix - Touch
Little Mix feat. Jason Derulo - Secret Love Song
Lorde - Liability
Mariah Carey - All I Want For Christmas Is You
Mariah Carey feat. Wale - You Don't Know What To Do
Miguel - Coffee
Missy Elliott feat. Pharrell Williams - WTF (Where They From)
MKTO - Classic
MØ - Final Song
Montaigne - Clip My Wings
Nero - The Thrill
Ngaiire - Once
Nick Jonas - Jealous
Oasis - Wonderwall
Owl Eyes - Nightswim
Prince - 1999
Purity Ring - Begin Again
Rita Ora - I Will Never Let You Down
Route 94 feat. Jess Glynne - My Love
Royal Blood - Figure It Out
Röyksopp & Robyn - Do It Again
Run The Jewels feat. Zack De La Rocha - Close Your Eyes (And Count To F**k)
Samantha Jade - Always
Samantha Jade - Firestarter
Shakira feat. Rihanna - Can't Remember To Forget You
Shamir - On The Regular
Sufjan Stevens - Should Have Known Better
Tame Impala - The Less I Know The Better
The Chemical Brothers - Go
The xx - Say Something Loving
Tiësto & KSHMR feat. Vassy - Secrets
Tinashe - Superlove
Tkay Maidza - M.O.B.
Troye Sivan - Youth
Vampire Weekend - Diane Young
Violent Soho - Covered In Chrome
Warpaint - So Good
Zara Larsson - Lush Life

Should you wish to have some sort of say in this business, I'd ask that you deduce a Top 25 to 40 from this list and submit it to me by 6pm on Wednesday, after which I will do all that business I say I'll do every time. Also keep an eye out for the qualifying thread which will probably begin tomorrow afternoon.
#100. Warpaint - So Good

Points - 10
Current Voters - 1
Top Vote - #31


#99. Adam Lambert - Ghost Town

Points - 12
Current Voters - 1
Top Vote - #29


#98. Owl Eyes - Nightswim

Points - 23
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #29


#97. Amy Shark - Spits On Girls

Points - 23
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #29


#96. George Ezra - Blame It On Me

Points - 27
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #25


It would perhaps make sense that when the primary perpetrators of Warpaint's current ACI success aren't voting in this, that they're first to go out with the rather lengthy "So Good". Otherwise all I know is that the number of hearts that have time for Adam Lambert presently here make for somewhat of a ghost town. In what can only be described as excruciating for me, since the ACI started nearly 4 years ago, miss Eyes has not released any new music, though she seems to be back in Australia from recording so I remain hopeful. Keeping in the theme of animal-named artists from Australia we have Amy Shark at #97, while George Ezra is in at #96 with the song I honestly hear far more than "Budapest" nowadays, I even did just an hour ago!
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#95. Mariah Carey feat. Wale - You Don't Know What To Do

Points - 33
Current Voters - 1
Top Vote - #8


#94. Hozier - Take Me To Church

Points - 35
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #14


#93. Adele - Send My Love (To Your New Lover)

Points - 38
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #7


#92. Cymbals Eat Guitars - Warning

Points - 39
Current Voters - 1
Top Vote - #2


#91. Montaigne - Clip My Wings

Points - 39
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #10


It would seem that Mariah Carey is something like Regurgitator in that we like her old stuff better than her new stuff, as she has two songs in this list that are separated by over 2 decades, the first to come up being "You Don't Know What To Do" at #95. In what is a surprise to me, a big hit and former QLVG top 10 finisher from Hozier crashes out early at #94, followed by a bunch of songs that charted for less time than it put together. First is Adele's sole representation this time around with "Send My Love (To Your New Lover)", followed by two songs that were very late to make it onto the ACI in their time, Cymbals Eat Guitars with their indie rock near-perfection, and Montaigne with the gloriously dramatic "Clip My Wings".
#90. Dua Lipa - Hotter Than Hell

Points - 40
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #18


#89. Miguel - Coffee

Points - 43
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #20


#88. Hot Natured - Benediction

Points - 44
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #1


#87. Iggy Azalea feat. Jennifer Hudson - Trouble

Points - 46
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #11


#86. Demi Lovato - Cool For The Summer

Points - 46
Current Voters - 5
Top Vote - #18


Dua Lipa of course had a tremendous ACI smash with "Be The One", hitting #1 before getting any attention in Australia, but "Hotter Than Hell" couldn't quite replicate it, and makes for a steep distance from her getting a 2nd winning song. On a totally different sonic aspect is Miguel with "Coffee" at #89, while Hot Natured get you bouncing in a chill way with "Benediction" at #88. Next up is one of those songs that are lucky to even be here, with Iggy Azalea's "Trouble" spending only 1 week in the ACI a couple years back, while on the other hand Demi Lovato had a big hit with "Cool For The Summer", with plenty of love to go around here, just not particularly high enough on anyone's votes.
#85. Lana Del Rey - Young and Beautiful

Points - 47
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #13


#84. Jorja Smith - Blue Lights

Points - 47
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #10


#83. Nero - The Thrill

Points - 48
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #2


#82. Gang Of Youths - What Can I Do If The Fire Goes Out?

Points - 48
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #11


#81. Delta Goodrem - Wings

Points - 49
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #9


Though ARIA will insist it's all the work of that remix, Lana Del Rey had quite a big hit with "Young and Beautiful" which finds itself at #85. Meanwhile I'm unsuccessfully trying to get Jorja Smith back into the ACI via Drake, but even well before that co-sign, she had some success here with "Blue Lights", which heavily interpolates Dizzee Rascal's "Sirens". We get very current with the latest #2 hit on the ACI from Gang Of Youths at #82, while Delta Goodrem finishes up this round, unluckily tied with two songs who had better top votes, as "Wings" has to take the solitary #81 position.
After that first round of eliminations, here are the 80 songs that will press on and pitch for your votes

AlunaGeorge feat. Popcaan - I'm In Control
Arctic Monkeys - Do I Wanna Know?
Ariana Grande feat. Big Sean - Best Mistake
Ariana Grande feat. Mac Miller - The Way
Ariana Grande feat. Zedd - Break Free
Banks - Beggin For Thread
Beach House - Space Song
Beck - Dreams
Beyonce - XO
Bloc Party - Ratchet
Bonnie Anderson - Blackout
Braids - Miniskirt
Calvin Harris feat. Ayah Marar - Thinking About You
Carly Rae Jepsen - Run Away With Me
Carmada - Maybe
Chairlift - Ch-Ching
Childish Gambino - Sober
CHVRCHES - Leave A Trace
Clean Bandit feat. Louisa Johnson - Tears
Coldplay - A Sky Full of Stars
Dami Im - Alive
Duke Dumont feat. A*M*E - Need U (100%)
Everything Everything - Distant Past
Fall Out Boy - The Phoenix
Fifth Harmony - Sledgehammer
First Aid Kit - My Silver Lining
Flight Facilities feat. Owl Eyes - Heart Attack
Florence + The Machine - Ship To Wreck
Foster The People - Coming Of Age
Foxes - Let Go For Tonight
Franz Ferdinand - Love Illumination
Future Islands - Seasons (Waiting On You)
Ghost Town DJ's - My Boo
Giorgio Moroder feat. Kylie Minogue - Right Here, Right Now
GoldLink feat. Anderson .Paak - Unique (Louis Futon Remix)
Haim - If I Could Change Your Mind
Jamie xx feat. Romy - Loud Places
Jessica Mauboy - Can I Get A Moment?
Jessica Mauboy - Never Be The Same
Jessica Mauboy - Pop a Bottle (Fill Me Up)
Katy Perry feat. Juicy J - Dark Horse
Katy Perry feat. Skip Marley - Chained To The Rhythm
Kendrick Lamar - The Blacker The Berry
Kiesza - Hideaway
Kimbra - Miracle
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - Rattlesnake
Little Mix - Love Me Like You
Little Mix - Move
Little Mix - Touch
Little Mix feat. Jason Derulo - Secret Love Song
Lorde - Liability
Mariah Carey - All I Want For Christmas Is You
Missy Elliott feat. Pharrell Williams - WTF (Where They From)
MKTO - Classic
MØ - Final Song
Ngaiire - Once
Nick Jonas - Jealous
Oasis - Wonderwall
Prince - 1999
Purity Ring - Begin Again
Rita Ora - I Will Never Let You Down
Route 94 feat. Jess Glynne - My Love
Royal Blood - Figure It Out
Röyksopp & Robyn - Do It Again
Run The Jewels feat. Zack De La Rocha - Close Your Eyes (And Count To F**k)
Samantha Jade - Always
Samantha Jade - Firestarter
Shakira feat. Rihanna - Can't Remember To Forget You
Shamir - On The Regular
Sufjan Stevens - Should Have Known Better
Tame Impala - The Less I Know The Better
The Chemical Brothers - Go
The xx - Say Something Loving
Tiësto & KSHMR feat. Vassy - Secrets
Tinashe - Superlove
Tkay Maidza - M.O.B.
Troye Sivan - Youth
Vampire Weekend - Diane Young
Violent Soho - Covered In Chrome
Zara Larsson - Lush Life

Should you have some inherent desire to contribute to the standings of this, it is imperative that you deduce a Top 20 to 32 from this lot and submit it to my inbox prior to 6pm on Friday wherein I will do this nonsense all over again. You may also contribute to the real ACI which is ready to take your votes.
#80. Coldplay - A Sky Full Of Stars

Round by round: 78-80

Points - 47
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #6


#79. Fall Out Boy - The Phoenix

Round by round: 80-79

Points - 50
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #5


#78. Fifth Harmony - Sledgehammer

Round by round: 79-78

Points - 50
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #4


#77. Clean Bandit feat. Louisa Johnson - Tears

Round by round: 68-77

Points - 55
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #1


#76. Samantha Jade - Always

Round by round: 69-76

Points - 58
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #11


Kicking things off with the original ill-advised Coldplay dance song that peaked at #2 on the charts! It is followed by what is Fall Out Boy's only ever ACI entry, "The Phoenix" at #79. Fifth Harmony have 3 to their name, the first of which was "Sledgehammer" which lands at #78. Surprisingly the biggest hitmakers here are Clean Bandit who've had stacks of hits since their big #1 in "Rather Be". Representing them today is "Tears" at #77. Finally it's Samantha Jade with something of a surprise hit in "Always".
#75. The xx - Say Something Loving

Points - 59
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #11


#74. MKTO - Classic

Points - 60
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #6


#73. Chairlift - Ch-Ching

Round by round: 63-73

Points - 63
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #3


#72. Route 94 feat. Jess Glynne - My Love

Round by round: 74-72

Points - 63
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #13


#71. Beck - Dreams

Round by round: 75-71

Points - 64
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #19


Now a recent surprise #1 with The xx coming in at #75 with "Say Something Loving". It's beaten out by an MKTO track that was lucky to chart at all. Similar case for Chairlift whose "Ch-Ching" didn't chart until their next single came out and overshadowed it. There's a time capsule into 2014 with Route 94's "My Love" at #72, while Beck had a big hit following his Grammy win with "Dreams".
#70. GoldLink feat. Anderson .Paak - Unique (Louis Futon Remix)

Round by round: 61-70

Points - 70
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #8


#69. Lorde - Liability

Round by round: 76-69

Points - 70
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #12


#68. Dami Im - Alive

Round by round: 62-68

Points - 71
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #3


#67. Tinashe - Superlove

Round by round: 54-67

Points - 73
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #9


#66. Franz Ferdinand - Love Illumination

Round by round: 60-66

Points - 73
CUrrent Voters - 3
Top Vote - #3


As remixed last year is GoldLink's Anderson .Paak collab "Unique" which lands at #70. Things get super recent after with Lorde's most recent single "Liability" which has already found plenty of fans. At #68 is Dami Im's X Factor coronation single which just barely snuck into the ACI for a week, which she wouldn't appear on again until 2016 when she scored a much bigger hit. Franz Ferdinand on the other hand, haven't yet seen a 2nd entry, though they also haven't released much since.
#65. Royal Blood - Figure It Out

Round by round: 70-65

Points - 73
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #18


#64. Beach House - Space Song

Round by round: 56-64

Points - 76
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #6


#63. Purity Ring - Begin Again

Round by round: 53-63

Points - 77
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #10


#62. Jessica Mauboy - Can I Get A Moment?

Round by round: 67-62

Points - 78
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #5


#61. Foxes - Let Go For Tonight

Round by round: 59-61

Points - 78
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #14


On the other hand, Royal Blood are perhaps eager to end that one hit wonder status as just today they released a new song. Their big hit "Figure It Out" lands at #65. It also sticks out like a sore thumb next to Beach House, who wistfully mark their spot at #64 with "Space Song". Purity Ring do so with a bit less subtlety as their electrobanger "Begin Again" is in at #63. At #62 is the first of 3 entries here for Jessica Mauboy, with one of the shortest lasting iTunes #1's in "Can I Get A Moment?". The unlucky spot today goes to Foxes who just narrowly slips out with "Let Go For Tonight".
60 songs proceeding beyond this point

AlunaGeorge feat. Popcaan - I'm In Control
Arctic Monkeys - Do I Wanna Know?
Ariana Grande feat. Big Sean - Best Mistake
Ariana Grande feat. Mac Miller - The Way
Ariana Grande feat. Zedd - Break Free
Banks - Beggin For Thread
Beyonce - XO
Bloc Party - Ratchet
Bonnie Anderson - Blackout
Braids - Miniskirt
Calvin Harris feat. Ayah Marar - Thinking About You
Carly Rae Jepsen - Run Away With Me
Carmada - Maybe
Childish Gambino - Sober
CHVRCHES - Leave A Trace
Duke Dumont feat. A*M*E - Need U (100%)
Everything Everything - Distant Past
First Aid Kit - My Silver Lining
Flight Facilities feat. Owl Eyes - Heart Attack
Florence + The Machine - Ship To Wreck
Foster The People - Coming Of Age
Future Islands - Seasons (Waiting On You)
Ghost Town DJ's - My Boo
Giorgio Moroder feat. Kylie Minogue - Right Here, Right Now
Haim - If I Could Change Your Mind
Jamie xx feat. Romy - Loud Places
Jessica Mauboy - Never Be The Same
Jessica Mauboy - Pop a Bottle (Fill Me Up)
Katy Perry feat. Juicy J - Dark Horse
Katy Perry feat. Skip Marley - Chained To The Rhythm
Kendrick Lamar - The Blacker The Berry
Kiesza - Hideaway
Kimbra - Miracle
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - Rattlesnake
Little Mix - Love Me Like You
Little Mix - Move
Little Mix - Touch
Little Mix feat. Jason Derulo - Secret Love Song
Mariah Carey - All I Want For Christmas Is You
Missy Elliott feat. Pharrell Williams - WTF (Where They From)
MØ - Final Song
Ngaiire - Once
Nick Jonas - Jealous
Oasis - Wonderwall
Prince - 1999
Rita Ora - I Will Never Let You Down
Röyksopp & Robyn - Do It Again
Run The Jewels feat. Zack De La Rocha - Close Your Eyes (And Count To F**k)
Samantha Jade - Firestarter
Shakira feat. Rihanna - Can't Remember To Forget You
Shamir - On The Regular
Sufjan Stevens - Should Have Known Better
Tame Impala - The Less I Know The Better
The Chemical Brothers - Go
Tiësto & KSHMR feat. Vassy - Secrets
Tkay Maidza - M.O.B.
Troye Sivan - Youth
Vampire Weekend - Diane Young
Violent Soho - Covered In Chrome
Zara Larsson - Lush Life

If you're not too busy listening to "DAMN." over the weekend, I should hope you're able to find the time to select a Top 15 to 24 from this list and submit them to me by 6pm Monday. I'm also totally obliged to mention that the ACI is up and running to take your votes. Have a good and safe weekend.
#60. Tkay Maidza - M.O.B.

Round by round: 48-52-60

Points - 97.75
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #7


#59. Foster The People - Coming Of Age

Round by round: 55-39-59

Points - 103
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #3


#58. Carmada - Maybe

Round by round: 40-60-58

Points - 106.75
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #6


#57. Bonnie Anderson - Blackout

Round by round: 57-50-57

Points - 107
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #6


#56. Violent Soho - Covered In Chrome

Round by round: 44-55-55

Points - 108
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #4


With her pertinent mantra of "M.O.B.", Tkay kicks us off at #60. Next up is one of many songs to find themselves shuffling between safety thresholds, with Foster The People falling 20 places to #59 with ACI #1 "Coming Of Age" this round. Carmada land at #58 which is a new high for any and all L D R U related material this year. Then at #57 it's "Rodeo" hitmaker Bonnie Anderson with "Blackout", following by Usher/Lil Jon/Ludacris enthusiasts Violent Soho with "Covered In Chrome".
#55. Tiësto & KSHMR feat. Vassy - Secrets

Round by round: 44-55-55

Points - 112
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #9


#54. King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - Rattlesnake

Round by round: 43-51-54

Points - 115
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #2


#53. Ariana Grande feat. Big Sean - Best Mistake

Round by round: 37-54-53

Points - 115.5
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #4


#52. Childish Gambino - Sober

Round by round: 49-56-52

Points - 115.5
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #12


#51. Bloc Party - Ratchet

Round by round: 33-48-51

Points - 117.75
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #5

DJ Tiësto has only once reached the ACI and it's with the rather non-hit "Secrets" which proves popular here still with a #55 finish. When the qualifying round for this game started, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard had just the one entry to their name. Now 3 weeks later they have four, but that first one "Rattlesnake" lands here at #54. On the topic of ACI favourites, a perennial one has been Ariana Grande, whose entire pop career has been followed by the ACI. Such was her popularity, that an instant grat like "Best Mistake" nearly reached the top 10, and still has plenty of fanfare here 3 years later. On the other hand, I'd say Childish Gambino always feels a little under-represented, still yet to have a huge smash, but "Sober" has always been popular and lands at #52. Lastly at #51 we have #21 enthusiasts Bloc Party with "Ratchet".
#50. Jessica Mauboy - Pop A Bottle (Fill Me Up)

Round by round: 35-47-50

Points - 119.75
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #2


#49. Braids - Miniskirt

Round by round: 41-46-49

Points - 119.75
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #1


#48. First Aid Kit - My Silver Lining

Round by round: 30-43-48

Points - 127.75
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #9


#47. Shakira feat. Rihanna - Can't Remember To Forget You

Round by round: 41-41-47

Points - 132
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #3


#46. Kimbra - Miracle

Round by round: 26-27-46

Points - 134.5
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #7


At #50 we have a rare instance of a repeat Mauboy appearance, though "Pop A Bottle (Fill Me Up)" can at least lay claim to landing 19 places higher than its first time in. At #49 is one of the lesser known tracks in the game, but a very powerful one from Braids. First Aid Kit are also back in the game for a 2nd time with "My Silver Lining", which lands 23 places higher than its first run in. Perpetually stuck outside the top 40, the big Shakira/Rihanna collaboration of early 2014 still has its fans, and still reminds me of my first time playing Cave Story. Meanwhile Kimbra has a bit of a collapse, though still landing higher than I'd have expected with her Thundercat collaboration "Miracle".
#45. Missy Elliott feat. Pharrell Williams - WTF (Where They From)

Round by round: 50-49-45

Points - 135
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #4


#44. Beyonce - XO

Round by round: 20-14-44

Points - 137
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #4


#43. Mariah Carey - All I Want For Christmas Is You

Round by round: 71-35-43

Points - 139
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #2


#42. Vampire Weekend - Diane Young

Round by round: 34-45-42

Points - 140.5
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #7


#41. Little Mix - Love Me Like You

Round by round: 34-45-41

Points - 142.25
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #5


Coming in at #45 is the surprise comeback track for Missy Elliott, with any sort of album still yet to surface a year and a half later. Beyonce weathers this round quite badly despite only losing one vote, dropping down 30 places to land at #44 with "XO". Mariah Carey is also a little unlucky to slip out of the top 40 though "All I Want For Christmas Is You" still proves to be much higher than it started. At #42 is one of the classic 25-OUT runners in the ACI history, Vampire Weekend's "Diane Young", while feeling very unlucky to be here considering that I thought they were safe 15 minutes ago, Little Mix have the first elimination of their 4 entries in the game, with "Love Me Like You" lagging behind the rest at #41.
If you can do the maths, you'll know that leaves us with 40 tracks left

AlunaGeorge feat. Popcaan - I'm In Control
Arctic Monkeys - Do I Wanna Know?
Ariana Grande feat. Mac Miller - The Way
Ariana Grande feat. Zedd - Break Free
Banks - Beggin For Thread
Calvin Harris feat. Ayah Marar - Thinking About You
Carly Rae Jepsen - Run Away With Me
CHVRCHES - Leave A Trace
Duke Dumont feat. A*M*E - Need U (100%)
Everything Everything - Distant Past
Flight Facilities feat. Owl Eyes - Heart Attack
Florence + The Machine - Ship To Wreck
Future Islands - Seasons (Waiting On You)
Ghost Town DJ's - My Boo
Giorgio Moroder feat. Kylie Minogue - Right Here, Right Now
Haim - If I Could Change Your Mind
Jamie xx feat. Romy - Loud Places
Jessica Mauboy - Never Be The Same
Katy Perry feat. Juicy J - Dark Horse
Katy Perry feat. Skip Marley - Chained To The Rhythm
Kendrick Lamar - The Blacker The Berry
Kiesza - Hideaway
Little Mix - Move
Little Mix - Touch
Little Mix feat. Jason Derulo - Secret Love Song
MØ - Final Song
Ngaiire - Once
Nick Jonas - Jealous
Oasis - Wonderwall
Prince - 1999
Rita Ora - I Will Never Let You Down
Röyksopp & Robyn - Do It Again
Run The Jewels feat. Zack De La Rocha - Close Your Eyes (And Count To F**k)
Samantha Jade - Firestarter
Shamir - On The Regular
Sufjan Stevens - Should Have Known Better
Tame Impala - The Less I Know The Better
The Chemical Brothers - Go
Troye Sivan - Youth
Zara Larsson - Lush Life

But we have a problem here. Specifically that there is an overbooking en route to the final round, and I will need to enlist your help to decide the 20 songs that will be forcibly removed from this game. Now that we are united in our cause, I will instruct that you should be submitting your Top 10 to 16 from this list and memoing it to me by 6pm on Wednesday.
#40. Jessica Mauboy - Never Be The Same

Round by round: 28-44-35-40

Points - 114.19
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #2


#39. Ghost Town DJ's - My Boo

Round by round: 73-57-38-39

Points - 128.03
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #3


#38. Florence + The Machine - Ship To Wreck

Round by round: 45-38-20-38

Points - 140.84
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #7


#37. Calvin Harris feat. Ayah Marar - Thinking About You

Round by round: 21-28-34-37

Points - 143.38
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #1


#36. Everything Everything - Distant Past

Round by round: 15-22-39-36

Points - 143.56
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #1


Not a repeat entry this time but unfortunately Jess Mauboy can't add to her tally of top 20 finishers with "Never Be The Same" the first casualty of this round. Following that is one of a few catalogue entries among this list, with Ghost Town DJ's 20 years belated hit "My Boo" at #39. It's also been a rocky road for Florence + The Machine, though "Ship To Wreck" only barely cracked the ACI in the first place so a #38 finish can't be begrudged I imagine. Next is one of the perennial kings of the ACI, though with only one song featured in this list, Calvin Harris checks out at #37. Finally we get the surprisingly strong finish for Everything Everything whose "Distant Past" proved more popular than I expected, even starting off in the top 20.
Anyway, here's Wonderwall

#35. Oasis - Wonderwall

Round by round: 15-22-39-35

Points - 153.25
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #1
Last edited:
#34. AlunaGeorge feat. Popcaan - I'm In Control

Round by round: 46-36-32-34

Points - 162.19
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #5


#33. Giorgio Moroder feat. Kylie Minogue - Right Here, Right Now

Round by round: 47-58-40-33

Points - 163.16
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #3


#32. The Chemical Brothers - Go

Round by round: 30-42-37-32

Points - 166.05
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #6


#31. Shamir - On The Regular

Round by round: 17-26-36-31

Points - 168.44
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #4


Somewhat steady in its standing was AlunaGeorge's "I'm In Control". Less so for Giorgio Moroder who is lucky to even make it through to this round after a slow start. We finish this set with some reasonably big ACI hits from The Chemical Brothers & Shamir, whose finishing positions perhaps reflect that.
#30. Troye Sivan - Youth

Round by round: 16-12-27-30

Points - 175.69
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #4


#29. Little Mix feat. Jason Derulo - Secret Love Song

Round by round: 52-29-19-29

Points - 177.63
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #2


#28. Nick Jonas - Jealous

Round by round: 32-31-26-28

Points - 181
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #4


#27. Haim - If I Could Change Your Mind

Round by round: 25-34-25-27

Points - 183.56
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #10


#26. Run The Jewels feat. Zack De La Rocha - Close Your Eyes (And Count To F**k)

Round by round: 27-33-28-26

Points - 185.56
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #10


Fun story, I initially messed up last round's votes which resulted in Troye Sivan collapsing in the votes until I double checked and fixed it. He did still fall a bit, but stabilising enough to remain in the top 30. Little Mix take their second hit with "Secret Love Song", another song perhaps punching above its weight having only charted on the ACI for 1 week. On the other hand, I'm somewhat surprised that Nick Jonas didn't hit top 10 there as I recall "Jealous" to be a bigger hit than it actually was. Last off here are lengthy stayers on the chart from Haim & Run The Jewels, who might have run into trouble maintaining their votes next round if they had survived.
#25. Sufjan Stevens - Should Have Known Better

Round by round: 09-17-16-25

Points - 186.38
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #2


#24. Little Mix - Touch

Round by round: 19-16-22-24

Points - 189.44
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #1


#23. Kiesza - Hideaway

Round by round: 36-21-33-23

Points - 191.44
Current Voters - 5
Top Vote - #5


#22. Banks - Beggin For Thread

Round by round: 13-19-30-22

Points - 191.94
Current Voters - 5
Top Vote - #3


#21. Arctic Monkeys - Do I Wanna Know?

Round by round: 11-08-09-21

Points - 195
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #2


Just the one song that started in the top 10 unable to progress to the final round as Sufjan Stevens has a bit of trouble maintaining his votes. Little Mix also lose their 3rd entry though that may be a blessing in disguise if it prevents them from splitting their vote in the final round with their one remaining entry. For a song that feels a bit forgotten (coming from someone who bought it!), Kiesza lands a strong finish at #23 with "Hideaway". Banks had a bit of an inconsistent run to finish at #22, while there's perhaps a shock elimination right at the last hurdle for Arctic Monkeys, with one of the longest chart running songs in the ACI's history.
So here's your final batch of songs, no doubt with some surprises among them

Ariana Grande feat. Mac Miller - The Way
Ariana Grande feat. Zedd - Break Free
Carly Rae Jepsen - Run Away With Me
CHVRCHES - Leave A Trace
Duke Dumont feat. A*M*E - Need U (100%)
Flight Facilities feat. Owl Eyes - Heart Attack
Future Islands - Seasons (Waiting On You)
Jamie xx feat. Romy - Loud Places
Katy Perry feat. Juicy J - Dark Horse
Katy Perry feat. Skip Marley - Chained To The Rhythm
Kendrick Lamar - The Blacker The Berry
Little Mix - Move
MØ - Final Song
Ngaiire - Once
Prince - 1999
Rita Ora - I Will Never Let You Down
Röyksopp & Robyn - Do It Again
Samantha Jade - Firestarter
Tame Impala - The Less I Know The Better
Zara Larsson - Lush Life

There can be only one winner though save for some extremely unlikely cases of extremely decimal laden numbers co-operating with each other. You can help make that be the song you might like it to be by selecting a Top 5 to 8 from this lot and submitting it to me by 6pm on Friday. You may also freely vote in the actual ACI which I just opened today.
Run Away With Me for #1
#20. Katy Perry feat. Juicy J - Dark Horse

Round by round: 66-32-23-15-20

Points - 130.98
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #1


#19. Ariana Grande feat. Zedd - Break Free

Round by round: 08-10-11-20-19

Points - 195.19
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #1


Things here start off with two of the luckiest songs to even be here. "Dark Horse" having a slow start for reasons I think one other person might be able to deduce, but gained enough support just in the nick of time to make it into this final round. For "Break Free" it was the other way around, starting strong, but almost falling short if not for another song in "Do I Wanna Know?" having an even steeper drop off.
#18. Duke Dumont feat. A*M*E - Need U (100%)

Round by round: 12-18-12-16-18

Points - 196.65
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #1


#17. MØ - Final Song

Round by round: 39-25-21-19-17

Points - 197.85
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #3


Duke Dumont has appeared in QLVG two times prior, with "Ocean Drive" appearing in both ARIA EOYs and finishing strongly in both cases. He proves to be more than a one trick pony as he retains a top 20 finish with a different song in "Need U (100%)". Meanwhile we came somewhat close to having MØ have the final song eliminated in round 4 as "Final Song" was in prime position after round 3. You heeded her advice and didn't let that happen, #17 is obviously much more appropriate.
#16. Katy Perry feat. Skip Marley - Chained To The Rhythm

Round by round: 77-40-31-18-16

Points - 198.06
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #2


#15. Zara Larsson - Lush Life

Round by round: 23-24-24-14-15

Points - 198.16
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #2


Feeling even luckier than "Dark Horse" considering the length of its stride is "Chained To The Rhythm". It seems to have this one weird trick to staying in the game; Spotify executives hate it! But those Spotify executives should be ok because it's cushioned next to Zara Larsson's "Lush Life" which finally nets her a top 20 finish after some failed attempts in the 2016 ARIA game.
#14. Future Islands - Seasons (Waiting On You)

Round by round: 18-13-13-13-14

Points - 199.36
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #2


#13. Samantha Jade - Firestarter

Round by round: 29-22-14-12-13

Points - 201.33
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #1


A big surprise #1 in its time (or long after it, really), Future Islands maintain that popularity with "Seasons (Waiting On You)" landing at #14. Meanwhile we have a problem that seems to have eluded me. Samantha Jade's "Firestarter" never made the ACI, only peaked at #28 :/ Count yourselves lucky I seem to have overlooked that
#12. Prince - 1999

Round by round: 64-37-15-10-12

Points - 208.16
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #2


#11. Flight Facilities feat. Owl Eyes - Heart Attack

Round by round: 02-04-08-11-11

Points - 233.73
Current Voters - 5
Top Vote - #1


Now for totally eligible songs we have a 30+ year old song by Prince. One of the many songs of his that entered the chart following his passing last year. Then at #11 we have Flight Facilities who actually reach higher on this list than they have ever on the ACI, with the Owl Eyes-aided hit reaching #12.
#10. Ariana Grande feat. Mac Miller - The Way

Round by round: 22-20-18-09-10

Points - 237.72
Current Voters - 5
Top Vote - #3


#9. Little Mix - Move

Round by round: 07-06-04-08-09

Points - 246.72
Current Voters - 5
Top Vote - #1


In a classic case of fortune reversal, Ariana Grande swapped her entries here. So in sync "The Way" and "Break Free" were, that in every single round, their combined position is either 29 or 30. Alongside all these songs that couldn't maintain their top 10 positions all the way through, Little Mix actually did with their ironically named "Move", also a big ACI #1 hit in its time.
#8. Kendrick Lamar - The Blacker The Berry

Round by round: 05-03-06-04-08

Points - 249.86
Current Voters - 5
Top Vote - #1


#7. CHVRCHES - Leave A Trace

Round by round: 38-53-17-17-07

Points - 267.62
Current Voters - 6
Top Vote - #1


One of the most confronting ACI hits there have ever been is Kendrick Lamar's look into internal race relations with "The Blacker The Berry". Kendrick also currently has the #1 song on the chart with "HUMBLE." because it's great. Meanwhile surprising me is a top 10 finish for CHVRCHES with "Leave A Trace". Despite an extremely inauspicious start to this game, they really came through with the points when they needed them.
#6. Rita Ora - I Will Never Let You Down

Round by round: 14-09-05-05-06

Points - 278.58
Current Voters - 6
Top Vote - #2


#5. Röyksopp & Robyn - Do It Again

Round by round: 01-01-03-06-05

Points - 280.48
Current Voters - 6
Top Vote - #1


You want more ACI #1s, well I've got one courtesy of Rita Ora which seemed to signal a big era on the way until Calvin Harris decided to be a bit of a jerk. On the other hand, Röyksopp didn't have a #1 with "Do It Again" even though it seems like they should have. They'd get their comeuppance a couple years later with "Never Ever" though, and perhaps this #5 finish is something to be happy about too.
#4. Tame Impala - The Less I Know The Better

Round by round: 10-11-07-03-04

Points - 282.22
Current Voters - 6
Top Vote - #2


#3. Ngaiire - Once

Round by round: 06-07-10-07-03

Points - 286.22
Current Voters - 6
Top Vote - #2


We switch from before the #1 hit to after the #1 hit. Tame Impala have another big finish with "The Less I Know The Better" landing in the lofty heights of #4. You can bet that Trevor is feeling mighty jealous about that. Following that we have even less of a hit via Ngaiire, who has actually appeared in a QLVG once before with "Once" which landed at #4 in the AU only game. Now she gets one step closer to the top with a #3 finish.
#2. Jamie xx feat. Romy - Loud Places

Round by round: 03-05-02-02-02

Points - 307.66
Current Voters - 6
Top Vote - #1


#1. Carly Rae Jepsen - Run Away With Me

Round by round: 04-02-01-01-01

Points - 348.39
Current Voters - 7
Top Vote - #1


Something that was pointed out to me a fortnight ago by 392 is that the last two winners of QLVG have had a peculiar feature in that they were songs that would also hypothetically fit into the rules of the following games, perhaps one that you'd sooner place it in. So "Pompeii" won just before we did the game about songs without mentioned titles, and then "My Immortal" won before we got to do the 10 letter song game (it also nearly made the ACI once). That has nearly come to fruition once again as there were a small handful of 10 letter songs in this game, and one of them has made it all the way to the top two. I am of course talking about "Loud Places", after all I doubt you managed to look at this part of the text without already seeing the result above it. As part of a 3 month long tussle, Jamie xx managed to get a share of the #1 slot in 2015, and he'd later get two more of them recently via the new xx album. Perhaps the lesson of this is that 2015 was a good time for music as that's where we find all of the top 4. The number one is of course "Run Away With Me", as I think many suspected. It wasn't quite a runaway winner and took some time to get momentum, but it does so with more than a #1 vote margin. So praise queen of QLVG, and I'll be waiting for /r/popheads to make me a moderator for this.
That is a delicious wrap. Thanks to all who contributed as you're as responsible for making this game run as I am. Next week as mentioned above, it's all about 10 letter song titles, while the qualifying game will be looking into songs that have been #1 on any national charts. You can also still vote in the actual ACI if you like. Have a good weekend.
If you can forgive my questionable sleep cycles, we can say this is on time, and if you couldn't parse it from looking at the list, we've got 10 letter song titles on full display here, have at it!

Alicia Keys feat. Nicki Minaj - Girl On Fire
Angus & Julia Stone - And The Boys
Arctic Monkeys - Brianstorm
Ariana Grande feat. Nicki Minaj - Side to Side
Atomic Kitten - Whole Again
Belinda Carlisle - Summer Rain
Betablock3r - Out Of Touch
Big Sean - Bounce Back
Blur - This Is A Low
Bomfunk MCs - Freestyler
Bon Iver - Skinny Love
Boy & Bear - Rabbit Song
Brooke Fraser - Arithmetic
Bruce Hornsby & The Range - The Way It Is
Bryan Adams - Summer of '69
Calvin Harris - I'm Not Alone
Cher Lloyd feat. Mike Posner - With Ur Love
Chic - I'll Be There
Cloud Nothings - Wasted Days
Cold Chisel - Flame Trees
Conor Maynard feat. Ne-Yo - Turn Around
Daft Punk - Face To Face
David Bowie - Life On Mars?
David Guetta feat. Jessie J - LaserLight
Demi Lovato - Neon Lights
Diana Ross - Upside Down
Dido - Here With Me
Dinosaur Jr - Freak Scene
Disclosure feat. AlunaGeorge - White Noise
Dizzee Rascal feat. Calvin Harris & Chrome - Dance Wiv Me
Ed Sheeran - Shape Of You
Eels - Flyswatter
Elliott Smith - Memory Lane
Florence + The Machine - Cosmic Love
Florence + The Machine - Shake It Out
fun. feat. Janelle Monae - We Are Young
Gorillaz - Dirty Harry
Gorillaz - Doncamatic
Grouplove - Tongue Tied
House of Pain - Jump Around
Iggy Azalea feat. Rita Ora - Black Widow
Jamiroquai - Canned Heat
Jamiroquai - Cosmic Girl
Jay-Z - 99 Problems
Jeff Buckley - Hallelujah
Jennifer Hudson - Remember Me
Jess Glynne - Hold My Hand
Kelly Clarkson - Never Again
Kelly Rowland feat. Lil Wayne - Motivation
Kendrick Lamar feat. Jay Rock - Money Trees
Kylie Minogue - Did It Again
Kylie Minogue - In Your Eyes
Lady Gaga - Bad Romance
Little Mix - Black Magic
Lorde - Green Light
Lou Reed - Perfect Day
Magic Dirt - Dirty Jeans
Mariah Carey - Dreamlover
Mariah Carey - Without You
Melody's Echo Chamber - I Follow You
Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
Michelle Branch - Everywhere
Mika - Grace Kelly
Muse - Plug In Baby
Nada Surf - Always Love
Natasha Bedingfield - These Words
Nelly Furtado - Pipe Dreams
Nelly Furtado - Say It Right
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Into My Arms
Nicole Scherzinger feat. 50 Cent - Right There
Orchestral Manoeuvers In The Dark - If You Leave
Passion Pit - The Reeling
Queens Of The Stone Age - No One Knows
Radiohead - Optimistic
Radiohead - There There
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Suck My Kiss
Regurgitator - Blubber Boy
Ricki-Lee - Burn It Down
Rihanna - Unfaithful
Serj Tankian - Empty Walls
Sevyn Streeter feat. Chris Brown - It Won't Stop
Shakaya - Cinderella
Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Get Over You
Sticky Fingers - Just For You
Sugababes - Round Round
Taylor Swift - Blank Space
The Beach Boys - I Get Around
The Chemical Brothers - Setting Sun
The Corrs - Breathless
The Jezabels - Look Of Love
The Kingsmen - Louie Louie
The National - Fake Empire
The Veronicas - On Your Side
The White Stripes - Blue Orchid
TLC - Waterfalls
Weezer - Buddy Holly
You Am I - Heavy Heart
Young The Giant - Cough Syrup
Young Thug - Wyclef Jean
Zoe Badwi - Freefallin


Should you wish to get this ball rolling in some way or another, I ask that you submit your top 25 to 40 selections to me by 6pm on Wednesday, after which I will cut loose approximately 20 of these combatants. Also get your thinking caps on for tomorrow when I'll open up the qualifying game for songs that have been #1 on any national chart. Peace out, a-town down.
#100. The Veronicas - On Your Side

Points - 13
Current Voters - 1
Top Vote - #28


#99. Nelly Furtado - Pipe Dreams

Points - 24
Current Voters - 1
Top Vote - #17


#98. Nada Surf - Always Love

Points - 30
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #21


#97. Chic - I'll Be There

Points - 34
Current Voters - 1
Top Vote - #7


#96. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Suck My Kiss

Points - 37
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #15


This is all kind of amusing because when I went to count the votes last night there were only 3 votes in but that's quickly been seen to so as you can see by these point values, this round may sting! First off is The Veronicas with their recent single that I still perpetually get the title wrong thanks to Jonas Blue and vice versa. We stay recent with a track on Nelly Furtado's recently released album. I actually couldn't quite recognise her on it but the song impressed me. At #98 is Nada Surf with "Always Love" which I swear would go perfectly over a sentimental credits sequence and shoot the song up a la "The Night We Met". Speaking of songs by artists long beyond their commercial peak, Chic come in with recent track "I'll Be There". Red Hot Chili Peppers on the other hand are right on timing with "Suck My Kiss".
#95. Big Sean - Bounce Back

Points - 38
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #16


#94. Young Thug - Wyclef Jean

Points - 39
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #7


#93. Kendrick Lamar feat. Jay Rock - Money Trees

Points - 39
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #22


#92. Ed Sheeran - Shape Of You

Points - 41
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #15


#91. Michelle Branch - Everywhere

Points - 44
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #3


Sadly the workings of this game mean that despite Big Sean taking an L tonight, he is unable to bounce back, so #95 he must remain (although as I wrote this post, the song just hit 100 million plays on YouTube so there's that). At #94 is Young Thug's "Wyclef Jean" which has one of the greatest music videos I have ever seen. #93 is Kendrick Lamar's "Money Trees", which is no stranger to the 10 letter phenomenon, as it's a collaboration between members of Black Hippy, and samples the song "Silver Soul" by Beach House. It deserves top 10 for all that surely. Then because this is Australia, Kendrick must be slightly surpassed by Ed Sheeran whose "Shape Of You" is liked by enough people to have neverending runs at #1, supposedly. Michelle Branch finishes off this set with "Everywhere".
#90. Dinosaur Jr. - Freak Scene

Points - 46
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #15


#89. Jessie J feat. David Guetta - LaserLight

Points - 49
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #6


#88. Demi Lovato - Neon Lights

Points - 49
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #6


#87. Elliott Smith - Memory Lane

Points - 49
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #22


#86. Betablock3r - Out Of Touch

Points - 54
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #10


We go back to the '80s with Dinosaur Jr. as we end the 90s in this count with "Freak Scene". I've been duly noted that "LaserLight" was credited backwards on the list, so consider this a fix as Jessie J's song appears at #89. Demi Lovato's "Neon Lights" is a song that if memory serves me right didn't reach Australia (or just charted for 1 week), while doing a bit better overseas. Elliott Smith's "Memory Lane" is the sort of cheery song that you wouldn't associate with the fact that it was posthumously released. Lastly we've got Betablock3r who clearly wanted more of a part in this game so one letter of their name was replaced to make sure they have 10 alphabetic characters in their name.
#85. Melody's Echo Chamber - I Follow You

Points - 54
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #6


#84. Daft Punk - Face To Face

Points - 54
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #14


#83. The Kingsmen - Louie Louie

Points - 54
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #11


#82. Nicole Scherzinger feat. 50 Cent - Right There

Points - 55
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #11


#81. Jennifer Hudson - Remember Me

Points - 55
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #5


Just to give you a perspective of how close this all was, even #77 was on 55 points. Amazingly no ties amongst this though. Melody's Echo Chamber starts it off with the divine "I Follow You". We then get a cut from Daft Punk's "Discovery" album in "Face To Face". Things get considerably less modern with The Kingsmen's "Louie Louie", though a track that still holds up as very good. Nicole Scherzinger has the SLIGHTLY bigger (according to the ARIA EOY) of her two 2011 hits with "Right There" at #82, while Jennifer Hudson has her very recently released "Remember Me" at #81, not to be confused with her 2011 album & single "I Remember Me"
Here are your 80 songs that have been carefully selected in this haphazardous game

Alicia Keys feat. Nicki Minaj - Girl On Fire
Angus & Julia Stone - And The Boys
Arctic Monkeys - Brianstorm
Ariana Grande feat. Nicki Minaj - Side to Side
Atomic Kitten - Whole Again
Belinda Carlisle - Summer Rain
Blur - This Is A Low
Bomfunk MCs - Freestyler
Bon Iver - Skinny Love
Boy & Bear - Rabbit Song
Brooke Fraser - Arithmetic
Bruce Hornsby & The Range - The Way It Is
Bryan Adams - Summer of '69
Calvin Harris - I'm Not Alone
Cher Lloyd feat. Mike Posner - With Ur Love
Cloud Nothings - Wasted Days
Cold Chisel - Flame Trees
Conor Maynard feat. Ne-Yo - Turn Around
David Bowie - Life On Mars?
Diana Ross - Upside Down
Dido - Here With Me
Disclosure feat. AlunaGeorge - White Noise
Dizzee Rascal feat. Calvin Harris & Chrome - Dance Wiv Me
Eels - Flyswatter
Florence + The Machine - Cosmic Love
Florence + The Machine - Shake It Out
fun. feat. Janelle Monae - We Are Young
Gorillaz - Dirty Harry
Gorillaz - Doncamatic
Grouplove - Tongue Tied
House of Pain - Jump Around
Iggy Azalea feat. Rita Ora - Black Widow
Jamiroquai - Canned Heat
Jamiroquai - Cosmic Girl
Jay-Z - 99 Problems
Jeff Buckley - Hallelujah
Jess Glynne - Hold My Hand
Kelly Clarkson - Never Again
Kelly Rowland feat. Lil Wayne - Motivation
Kylie Minogue - Did It Again
Kylie Minogue - In Your Eyes
Lady Gaga - Bad Romance
Little Mix - Black Magic
Lorde - Green Light
Lou Reed - Perfect Day
Magic Dirt - Dirty Jeans
Mariah Carey - Dreamlover
Mariah Carey - Without You
Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
Mika - Grace Kelly
Muse - Plug In Baby
Natasha Bedingfield - These Words
Nelly Furtado - Say It Right
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Into My Arms
Orchestral Manoeuvers In The Dark - If You Leave
Passion Pit - The Reeling
Queens Of The Stone Age - No One Knows
Radiohead - Optimistic
Radiohead - There There
Regurgitator - Blubber Boy
Ricki-Lee - Burn It Down
Rihanna - Unfaithful
Serj Tankian - Empty Walls
Sevyn Streeter feat. Chris Brown - It Won't Stop
Shakaya - Cinderella
Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Get Over You
Sticky Fingers - Just For You
Sugababes - Round Round
Taylor Swift - Blank Space
The Beach Boys - I Get Around
The Chemical Brothers - Setting Sun
The Corrs - Breathless
The Jezabels - Look Of Love
The National - Fake Empire
The White Stripes - Blue Orchid
TLC - Waterfalls
Weezer - Buddy Holly
You Am I - Heavy Heart
Young The Giant - Cough Syrup
Zoe Badwi - Freefallin

But we cannot deal with 80 tied winners, imagine the clusterf**k in the original post, so let's rank them further and possibly eliminate 20 songs after 6pm on Friday. Just submit your Top 20 to 32 selections to me before that date to get to it. Also the ACI is ready to take your votes now.
#80. Blur - This Is A Low

Round by round: 77-80

Points - 55
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #4


#79. Young The Giant - Cough Syrup

Round by round: 48-79

Points - 56
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #14


#78. You Am I - Heavy Heart

Round by round: 75-78

Points - 57
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #7


#77. Sticky Fingers - Just For You

Round by round: 80-77

Points - 57
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #2


#76. Brooke Fraser - Arithmetic

Round by round: 73-76

Points - 59
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #6


Starting things off with the most low song on the list, with Blur's "This Is A Low". I'm glad to be re-introduced to this as one of the big Blur singles that aren't on my iTunes library...yet. In more familiar territory for me we've got Young The Giant with their big rock ballad "Cough Syrup", and the similarly named You Am I with their more sombre ballad "Heavy Heart". Sticky Fingers put their Britpop cap on for "Just For You" at #77. Lastly here is Brooke Fraser with a song I wasn't at all familiar with but was quite impressed with.
#75. The White Stripes - Blue Orchid

Round by round: 65-75

Points - 59
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #10


#74. Mika - Grace Kelly

Round by round: 63-74

Points - 62
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #6


#73. The National - Fake Empire

Round by round: 79-73

Points - 62
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #17


#72. Conor Maynard feat. Ne-Yo - Turn Around

Round by round: 66-72

Points - 63
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #6


#71. Angus & Julia Stone - And The Boys

Round by round: 76-71

Points - 63
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #9


My mortal nemesis from my Guitar Hero 5 days, The White Stripes' "Blue Orchid" comes in at #75. We then stick with the mid-2000s with the next couple, Mika's big pop hit "Grace Kelly" and The National's more restrained but delightful "Fake Empire". The 2000s love-in gets a brief interruption with Conor Maynard's "Turn Around", from the days when he performed his own songs. Then back to the 2000s with one of Angus & Julia Stone's less obvious-sounding hits "And The Boys".
#70. Bryan Adams - Summer Of '69

Round by round: 46-70

Points - 63
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #5


#69. Mariah Carey - Without You

Round by round: 69-69

Points - 65
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #1


#68. Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Get Over You

Round by round: 71-68

Points - 65
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #8


#67. Kelly Clarkson - Never Again

Round by round: 68-67

Points - 66
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #8


#66. Cher Lloyd feat. Mike Posner - With Ur Love

Round by round: 59-66

Points - 68
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #3


We've got a major missed opportunity right here as Bryan Adams' "Summer Of '69" lands at...#70. The fault in this case rests on his consecutive weeks at #1 record holder on the other side of the Atlantic in Mariah Carey. Her Nilsson cover has the fitting position locked down, and fortunately for her, there's another track of her's to come. This post is getting progressively more modern as we get up to the 2000s with Sophie Ellis-Bextor at #68, and continue to skip forward with Kelly Clarkson's edgier return at #67 "Never Again". We then arrive in the current decade with Cher Lloyd's breakthrough single (in Australia) "With Ur Love", everyone who complained about the misspelt song title must now realise that she did it all for the QLVG.
#65. Rihanna - Unfaithful

Round by round: 67-65

Points - 68
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #2


=#63. Ariana Grande feat. Nicki Minaj - Side To Side

Round by round: 45-63

Points - 70
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #5


=#63. Magic Dirt - Dirty Jeans

Round by round: 57-63

Points - 70
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #5


#62. Florence + The Machine - Cosmic Love

Round by round: 56-62

Points - 70
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #2


#61. Cloud Nothings - Wasted Days

Round by round: 54-61

Points - 70
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #1


It's all in the 21st century now, starting off with one of Rihanna's earlier hits "Unfaithful". We then shoot forward to the present with Ariana Grande's most recent top 10 hit "Side To Side", which is actually tied with '90s/'00s Australian rock royalty Magic Dirt. At #62 is a perpetual fan favourite from the first Florence + The Machine album, "Cosmic Love", and lastly it's possibly my favourite song of the decade, Cloud Nothings' gargantuan "Wasted Days".
60 songs

Alicia Keys feat. Nicki Minaj - Girl On Fire
Arctic Monkeys - Brianstorm
Atomic Kitten - Whole Again
Belinda Carlisle - Summer Rain
Bomfunk MCs - Freestyler
Bon Iver - Skinny Love
Boy & Bear - Rabbit Song
Bruce Hornsby & The Range - The Way It Is
Calvin Harris - I'm Not Alone
Cold Chisel - Flame Trees
David Bowie - Life On Mars?
Diana Ross - Upside Down
Dido - Here With Me
Disclosure feat. AlunaGeorge - White Noise
Dizzee Rascal feat. Calvin Harris & Chrome - Dance Wiv Me
Eels - Flyswatter
Florence + The Machine - Shake It Out
fun. feat. Janelle Monae - We Are Young
Gorillaz - Dirty Harry
Gorillaz - Doncamatic
Grouplove - Tongue Tied
House of Pain - Jump Around
Iggy Azalea feat. Rita Ora - Black Widow
Jamiroquai - Canned Heat
Jamiroquai - Cosmic Girl
Jay-Z - 99 Problems
Jeff Buckley - Hallelujah
Jess Glynne - Hold My Hand
Kelly Rowland feat. Lil Wayne - Motivation
Kylie Minogue - Did It Again
Kylie Minogue - In Your Eyes
Lady Gaga - Bad Romance
Little Mix - Black Magic
Lorde - Green Light
Lou Reed - Perfect Day
Mariah Carey - Dreamlover
Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
Muse - Plug In Baby
Natasha Bedingfield - These Words
Nelly Furtado - Say It Right
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Into My Arms
Orchestral Manoeuvers In The Dark - If You Leave
Passion Pit - The Reeling
Queens Of The Stone Age - No One Knows
Radiohead - Optimistic
Radiohead - There There
Regurgitator - Blubber Boy
Ricki-Lee - Burn It Down
Serj Tankian - Empty Walls
Sevyn Streeter feat. Chris Brown - It Won't Stop
Shakaya - Cinderella
Sugababes - Round Round
Taylor Swift - Blank Space
The Beach Boys - I Get Around
The Chemical Brothers - Setting Sun
The Corrs - Breathless
The Jezabels - Look Of Love
TLC - Waterfalls
Weezer - Buddy Holly
Zoe Badwi - Freefallin

But that's no good at all, I won't stand for it even, so let's trim it down to 40 songs so I can vent at that after that round's over, and thus the cycle continues. But on topic, you'd be wise to select a Top 15 to 24 from this list and submit it to me by 6pm on Monday. You can also readily submit in the ACI if you so wish.
#60. Orchestral Manoeuvers In The Dark - If You Leave

Round by round: 72-56-60

Points - 66.25
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #14


#59. Jess Glynne - Hold My Hand

Round by round: 62-58-59

Points - 84
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #9


#58. Serj Tankian - Empty Walls

Round by round: 78-58-59

Points - 86
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #2


#57. Alicia Keys feat. Nicki Minaj - Girl On Fire

Round by round: 39-49-57

Points - 86.75
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #7


#56. Regurgitator - Blubber Boy

Round by round: 58-55-56

Points - 87.25
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #6


As it would turn out, this round starts off with a bunch of songs that are lucky to be here, having only cracked the top 60 when it was needed. Firstly it's the difficult to spell OMD with "If You Leave" at #60. Then we've got some hype for the next game as Jess Glynne takes one of her many UK #1's "Hold My Hand" to #59. One of my favourite songs when it came out to the point that I voted for it in my first ever Hottest 100 vote, is the solo track from System of a Down's frontman Serj Tankian. Next is a favourite song of mine just for pointing out how crazy digital sales were in 2012, case in point "Girl On Fire" has sold more copies than "One Dance" and "Shape Of You". Lastly here is an early crossover hit for Regurgitator in "Blubber Boy".
#55. Kelly Rowland feat. Lil Wayne - Motivation

Round by round: 50-53-55

Points - 87.25
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #3


#54. Bruce Hornsby & The Range - The Way It Is

Round by round: 28-60-54

Points - 88.75
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #1


#53. Sevyn Streeter feat. Chris Brown - It Won't Stop

Round by round: 52-57-53

Points - 95.25
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #1


#52. Ricki-Lee - Burn It Down

Round by round: 52-51-52

Points - 95.5
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #1


#51. Cold Chisel - Flame Trees

Round by round: 35-42-51

Points - 100.5
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #12


Though not an Australian hit, Kelly Rowland's urban hit "Motivation" has always had a lot of fans and lands here at #55. Then next we have the song that was sampled in 2Pac's "Changes", though a popular hit in its own right from Bruce Hornsby & The Range. Then next is an early track from Sevyn Streeter who would later get a bit more success via a Fast & Furious soundtrack which is obviously relevant to mention since the latest one is currently in cinemas. Then it's a slightly older song but one that must be described as later career for Ricki-Lee, "Burn It Down" nearly matches its ARIA peak at #52. Finishing off the first half is Cold Chisel's 2nd most enduring track "Flame Trees", which lands at #51, just slightly higher than it is on my cumulative points for the unofficial catalogue chart.
#50. Bomfunk MCs - Freestyler

Round by round: 70-45-50

Points - 102.25
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #7


#49. Shakaya - Cinderella

Round by round: 64-50-49

Points - 102.5
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #6


#48. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Into My Arms

Round by round: 38-40-48

Points - 102.75
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #5


#47. Grouplove - Tongue Tied

Round by round: 27-27-47

Points - 104
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #10


#46. Radiohead - Optimistic

Round by round: 60-39-46

Points - 106.5
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #6


The round starts off super nostalgic for me, as "Freestyler" was pretty much my favourite song ever when it came out, only to be later usurped by the next Bomfunk MCs song. Then it's a different kind of nostalgia as this game has re-introduced me to the super catchy "Cinderella" by Shakaya. Things take a sombre turn with Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds' "Into My Arms", and then revert back to upbeat party time with Grouplove's "Tongue Tied". As a way to wrap around, after starting with the early 2000s stuff I listened to at the time, we end with the early 2000s stuff I listen to now, because I'm a music nerd and of course I like Radiohead.
#45. Sugababes - Round Round

Round by round: 51-47-45

Points - 107
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #9


#44. Arctic Monkeys - Brianstorm

Round by round: 47-54-44

Points - 107.25
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #5


#43. Mariah Carey - Dreamlover

Round by round: 74-52-43

Points - 107.25
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #3


#42. Iggy Azalea feat. Rita Ora - Black Widow

Round by round: 44-44-42

Points - 108.5
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #2


#41. Passion Pit - The Reeling

Round by round: 40-38-41

Points - 110.75
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #8


Sugababes have been sitting pretty consistently though climbing and "Round Round" ends at #45. Arctic Monkeys are a little less balanced but "Brianstorm" also manages to finish on its highest position. Mariah Carey makes a commendable effort with the climbing for "Dreamlover" but her highest entry bows out at #43. Iggy Azalea has her "Fancy" follow up land in the slightly unlucky position of #42, but the real misfortune is for Passion Pit who slip just outside of the top 40 with "The Reeling", not unlike its #107 finish in the 2009 Hottest 100.
If you were able to access the morphogenetic field then you might be able to see a different result, but in this universe, these are the 40 songs that have progressed.

Atomic Kitten - Whole Again
Belinda Carlisle - Summer Rain
Bon Iver - Skinny Love
Boy & Bear - Rabbit Song
Calvin Harris - I'm Not Alone
David Bowie - Life On Mars?
Diana Ross - Upside Down
Dido - Here With Me
Disclosure feat. AlunaGeorge - White Noise
Dizzee Rascal feat. Calvin Harris & Chrome - Dance Wiv Me
Eels - Flyswatter
Florence + The Machine - Shake It Out
fun. feat. Janelle Monae - We Are Young
Gorillaz - Dirty Harry
Gorillaz - Doncamatic
House of Pain - Jump Around
Jamiroquai - Canned Heat
Jamiroquai - Cosmic Girl
Jay-Z - 99 Problems
Jeff Buckley - Hallelujah
Kylie Minogue - Did It Again
Kylie Minogue - In Your Eyes
Lady Gaga - Bad Romance
Little Mix - Black Magic
Lorde - Green Light
Lou Reed - Perfect Day
Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
Muse - Plug In Baby
Natasha Bedingfield - These Words
Nelly Furtado - Say It Right
Queens Of The Stone Age - No One Knows
Radiohead - There There
Taylor Swift - Blank Space
The Beach Boys - I Get Around
The Chemical Brothers - Setting Sun
The Corrs - Breathless
The Jezabels - Look Of Love
TLC - Waterfalls
Weezer - Buddy Holly
Zoe Badwi - Freefallin

Your actions in the present will dictate reactions in the future, in this instance it's manifested through your potential willingness to participate in this game. If you wish to do so, then select your Top 10 to 16 from this list and submit them to me by 6pm on Wednesday. Have a nice triumph.

Also it's time to vote again for new games here http://www.strawpoll.me/12870266 you can freely vote for multiple choices which is something I like because it makes it look like more people are reading this. Remember that if you have an idea for a future game you are free to suggest it to me and I'll probably put it in the next poll.
#40. fun. feat. Janelle Monae - We Are Young

Round by round: 61-48-37-40

Points - 85.44
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #11


#39. The Beach Boys - I Get Around

Round by round: 55-46-40-39

Points - 92.75
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #5


#38. Kylie Minogue - Did It Again

Round by round: 30-34-27-38

Points - 104.38
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #4


#37. The Jezabels - Look Of Love

Round by round: 36-43-39-37

Points - 122.88
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #7


#36. Boy & Bear - Rabbit Song

Round by round: 43-41-31-36

Points - 123.63
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #10


A surprise (to me at least) was the initial slow performance of fun.'s ever popular "We Are Young", which could have been out in the 2nd round if its voting didn't pick up. It actually has a similar run to The Beach Boys' #1 hit from some 5 decades earlier in "I Get Around". Oddly enough the run of #1 hits ends with Kylie Minogue who had re-targetted her audience with her "Impossible Princess" album to the point that "Did It Again" was a Hottest 100 entry. Though unsuccessful overseas, it's often been popular here. That's something I couldn't really say for "Look Of Love" from The Jezabels, the 2nd single from their 2nd album. One of their best songs though so I'm as glad as I am surprised to see it land at #37. It's followed by the band I've always associated them with, Boy & Bear, both having gotten big from Unearthed initiatives and having their debut albums blocked from the top spot by Adele's "21". Boy & Bear have however gone to amend that with two further #1 albums. "Rabbit Song" goes way back to their first EP though.
#35. Zoe Badwi - Freefallin

Round by round: 25-26-35-35

Points - 125.75
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #2


#34. The Chemical Brothers - Setting Sun

Round by round: 32-33-29-34

Points - 125.94
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #9


#33. Gorillaz - Dirty Harry

Round by round: 48-32-32-33

Points - 128.19
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #5


#32. Jay-Z - 99 Problems

Round by round: 15-16-34-32

Points - 128.5
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #2


#31. Calvin Harris - I'm Not Alone

Round by round: 26-37-33-31

Points - 128.94
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #2


Another artist who has manipulated the title of their song in order to fit it into this game many years later is obviously Zoe Badwi, whose top 10 hit "Freefallin" lands at #35. Possibly because a Gallagher provides vocals on the track, or possibly because it's a massive tune, The Chemical Brothers had big breakout success with "Setting Sun" in 1996, becoming a UK #1 hit no less. We've then got Gorillaz who two games ago had their song "Clint Eastwood", and now we have one of his most famous portrayals in "Dirty Harry". Recent Spotify abandoner Jay-Z has his wonderfully Rick Rubin produced "99 Problems" in at #32, while we have yet another UK #1 in this batch, with Calvin Harris's "I'm Not Alone", the song that knocked "Poker Face" off the top spot no less.
#30. Belinda Carlisle - Summer Rain

Round by round: 33-36-36-30

Points - 131.69
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #4


#29. Jamiroquai - Cosmic Girl

Round by round: 22-28-30-29

Points - 131.75
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #3


#28. The Corrs - Breathless

Round by round: 29-24-25-28

Points - 134.19
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #4


#27. Taylor Swift - Blank Space

Round by round: 31-29-23-27

Points - 134.44
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #6


#26. Jamiroquai - Canned Heat

Round by round: 41-22-22-26

Points - 134.63
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #5


Now we go to mostly happy & pleasant times with this batch. We've got Belinda Carlisle's impossibly cheery "Summer Rain" at #30, and two feel good Jamiroquai songs with "Cosmic Girl" at #29 and "Canned Heat" at #26. Interestingly, "Cosmic Girl" started way ahead but now "Canned Heat" has the edge. The Corrs have their sole UK #1 hit "Breathless" at #28, while we take away the happy smiles with Taylor Swift's somewhat bitter "Blank Space" at #27.
#25. Eels - Flyswatter

Round by round: 42-25-26-25

Points - 136.88
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #1


#24. Bon Iver - Skinny Love

Round by round: 24-31-28-24

Points - 138.13
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #1


#23. Diana Ross - Upside Down

Round by round: 37-35-38-23

Points - 138.88
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #1


#22. Radiohead - There There

Round by round: 14-19-14-22

Points - 144.88
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #3


#21. Little Mix - Black Magic

Round by round: 10-09-12-21

Points - 146.25
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #1


A surprise to me (considering I'd not heard the song before this game started) is Eels landing "Flyswatter" at #25, but it's been a happy discovery and I look forward to reaching it in my EOY quest. Up next we have Bon Iver's breakout hit "Skinny Love" which apparently got covered once. Diana Ross brings us back to the ARIA #1's with "Upside Down" landing at #23. Radiohead have recently announced the details for the 20th anniversary of "OK Computer" which hasn't yet arrived despite what Pitchfork will tell you. "There There" is of course not on that album so with it not on mind, it obviously makes sense for it to be a casualty this round at #22. Lastly, Little Mix find themselves in a similar pickle to the previous game. There, "Love Me Like You" landed at #41, now "Black Magic" is the #21 song.
And at last there are but 20

Atomic Kitten - Whole Again
David Bowie - Life On Mars?
Dido - Here With Me
Disclosure feat. AlunaGeorge - White Noise
Dizzee Rascal feat. Calvin Harris & Chrome - Dance Wiv Me
Florence + The Machine - Shake It Out
Gorillaz - Doncamatic
House of Pain - Jump Around
Jeff Buckley - Hallelujah
Kylie Minogue - In Your Eyes
Lady Gaga - Bad Romance
Lorde - Green Light
Lou Reed - Perfect Day
Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
Muse - Plug In Baby
Natasha Bedingfield - These Words
Nelly Furtado - Say It Right
Queens Of The Stone Age - No One Knows
TLC - Waterfalls
Weezer - Buddy Holly


But who will reign victorious, and who will be punished in some way by a monochromatic bear? The decision is up to you and how you decide to allocate your votes in this final round. I must thank everyone so far for consistently voting each round so far, let's see if we can keep it up all the way to the end. You simply must select a Top 5 to 8 from this and submit to me by 6pm on Friday. The strawpoll is still open here http://www.strawpoll.me/12870266 and it's looking like a two horse race. The ACI is also ready to take your submissions if that's a thing you do.
#20. Lorde - Green Light

Round by round: 09-23-15-17-20

Points - 113.17
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #2


#19. Kylie Minogue - In Your Eyes

Round by round: 21-17-24-18-19

Points - 113.72
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #4


Doing its best to get canonised, we start off with the newest song in the whole top 20, Lorde's "Green Light" from her yet to be released second album. Sitting next to her is a song that received a form of instant canonisation given that Kylie Minogue's "In Your Eyes" was a #1 debut on the ARIA Charts in 2001.
#18. Dido - Here With Me

Round by round: 17-21-20-16-18

Points - 140.4
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #6


#17. Jeff Buckley - Hallelujah

Round by round: 08-08-17-20-17

Points - 142.23
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #3


We continue to progress backwards in time, as we step into the '90s with Dido's captivating "Here With Me". Sitting alongside here is arguably the most famous and loved rendition of "Hallelujah", I'm of course referring to Jeff Buckley's version which lands at #17.
#16. Florence + The Machine - Shake It Out

Round by round: 11-11-07-08-16

Points - 144.08
Current Voters - 2
Top Vote - #7


#15. Atomic Kitten - Whole Again

Round by round: 18-14-18-12-15

Points - 147.11
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #6


A song that caught me by surprise with its performance in this game is "Shake It Out" by Florence + The Machine, constantly a high placer in the standings, though it does bow out at its lowest position at #16. Atomic Kitten's performance on the other hand seemed in line with expectation. The ultra-cozy "Whole Again" arguably saved their career with its surprise success at the time.
#14. Natasha Bedingfield - These Words

Round by round: 19-15-16-15-14

Points - 151.42
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #3


#13. Disclosure feat. AlunaGeorge - White Noise

Round by round: 23-18-21-14-13

Points - 152.45
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #3


While not quite reaching the same heights as she did with "Unwritten" recently, Natasha Bedingfield can be satisfied notching up another top 20 finish, this time with "These Words". Up next at #13 is a frequent favourite cut from Disclosure's debut album, teaming up with AlunaGeorge for "White Noise".
#12. Michael Jackson - Billie Jean

Round by round: 05-05-06-09-12

Points - 181.55
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #3


#11. Dizzee Rascal feat. Calvin Harris & Chrome - Dance Wiv Me

Round by round: 07-10-11-13-11

Points - 183.64
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #1


It was probably a safe bet to say that Michael Jackson would finish in the top 20 with "Billie Jean" given the recent success of "Thriller" here, but it may come as a surprise to see it fall short of the top 10, landing at #12 behind some close company. Landing just ahead at #11, is yet another title that has been tampered with in order to fit to this game, Dizzee Rascal's first UK #1 single "Dance Wiv Me"
#10. House Of Pain - Jump Around

Round by round: 34-30-19-19-10

Points - 185.11
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #3


#9. Muse - Plug In Baby

Round by round: 16-20-13-11-09

Points - 186.56
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #2


A strong catalogue seller of late thanks to the power of movie trailers, House Of Pain became a surprise upstart in this game, sneaking their way into the top 10 with "Jump Around". A similar case for Muse who only just now cracked the top 10 with perhaps their most famous guitar riff masquerading as a full song in "Plug In Baby".
#8. Gorillaz - Doncamatic

Round by round: 20-13-10-10-08

Points - 189.19
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #2


#7. Lou Reed - Perfect Day

Round by round: 12-07-08-06-07

Points - 191.11
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #1


I have to say the two biggest surprises of the whole thing come right together here. At the start of the game I wasn't even sure "Doncamatic" was eligible as I'd for some reason gotten the impression at the time that the official title contains '(All Played Out)', though all documentation seems to say otherwise. Nonetheless it's huge success for what was just a standalone single in 2010. Then we've got Lou Reed all the way up at #7 with "Perfect Day", a song I've really liked ever since discovering about it via a producer's blog for a TV show no one else watched, but I was quite surprised to see so much voter support for it here!
#6. Lady Gaga - Bad Romance

Round by round: 13-12-09-07-06

Points - 199.52
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #2


#5. Weezer - Buddy Holly

Round by round: 03-03-04-05-05

Points - 200.44
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #1


It obviously comes with pertinent timing that "Bad Romance" would show up here, as just today I had the experience of listening to a song called "Bad Romance" on Spotify's New Music Friday playlist which had no relation to the Lady Gaga song. Nonetheless, the far better "Bad Romance" finds a strong finish at #6 here. We've then got a constant presence in the top 5 from Weezer, with one of the most popular cuts on The Blue Album with "Buddy Holly".
#4. David Bowie - Life On Mars?

Round by round: 01-01-01-03-04

Points - 206.52
Current Voters - 4
Top Vote - #1


#3. Nelly Furtado - Say It Right

Round by round: 04-04-02-01-03

Points - 211.86
Current Voters - 3
Top Vote - #1


Now we're into the top contenders of the game, to the point that these two songs right here were the leaders for the first four rounds of the game. Firstly it's perennial favourite David Bowie who's still yet to take the top gong in one of these games but came mighty close considering the dominant start for "Life On Mars?". Nelly Furtado looked to have the song to stop it with her song "Say It Right" picking up late momentum, but it trips up at this last hurdle with the top 2 a bit of a distance ahead.
#2. TLC - Waterfalls

Round by round: 06-06-05-04-02

Points - 242.95
Current Voters - 5
Top Vote - #1


#1. Queens Of The Stone Age - No One Knows

Round by rounds: 02-02-03-02-01

Points - 250.64
Current Voters - 5
Top Vote - #1


When the nominations game started, I was really struggling to think of songs for it with seemingly everything having 9 or 11 letters. I did think of TLC's "Waterfalls" though and was fully expecting it to be nominated. It would turn out to be quite auspicious too as it finds itself all the way up in the #2 slot. If only we could figure out how many waterfalls. And so by process of having written about every other song, or by process of reading the top of the post first, it becomes clear that the #1 spot goes to Queens Of The Stone Age with the enduring anthem on their "Songs For The Deaf" album in "No One Knows". I'm of course a big fan of it and it leads in nicely for me to self-plug and say that my 2002 EOY list should be finished in a matter of weeks, perhaps it's due for an appearance??
My usual thanks and regards for participating in this game. I forget if I mentioned it before but I have terrific news in that I will be opening new threads for this game next week, as I, more than anyone else am tired of these loading times And next week it'll be looking at songs that were #1...somewhere, while the qualifying game has been determined as consisting of any artist that HASN'T appeared in QLVG before. I'll make sure to make another pastebin list so you don't have to search through all the threads. Until then, enjoy your weekend.


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