10
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The Fratellis - Chelsea Dagger
I'm not entirely sure why, but occasionally a potential play on words crosses my mind that I can't shift, and now I find myself trying to rework all the lyrics to this song to the new title of "Kelsey Grammer". Focussing back to the band, I'd put them in charge of the Scottish branch of rabble rousing indie bands. This to me sounds like the soundtrack to anything involving large groups of twenty-somethings, preferably involving alcohol. See if you hear it being chanted at a falling out time near you - bonus points awarded for them doing the intro replete with the "aaaaaaaaaaaargh!" just before the vocals kick in.
Jason M
No of votes: 14, Score:
95, Highest vote: 1st
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9
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The Kooks - She Moves in Her Own Way
Artist link: 33
'She' may very well move in her own way, but as much as one would like to the same can't honestly be said of The Kooks. But though it's not exactly groundbreaking material, it was an unusually catchy, sing-a-longy, always welcomey on the radioey single in a year which saw Shayne Ward at number 1 for the first three weeks of January. And when that happens, you'd be forgiven for attempted suicide by February. But not with The Kooks around singing this lovely song, oh no. Of course this single didn't get released until June, but we could all feel it in the air. It is mooted that this song is actually about the lead singer's former girlfriend, one 'Katie Melua'. So you see? Shayne Ward, Katie Melua; good music really can prevail in face of so much adversity.
Elliot H
No of votes: 15, Score:
74, Highest vote: 1st
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8
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Nelly Furtado - Maneater
Artist link: 16
Nelly seemed like such a nice polite girl. Fluttery songs, she wanted to float and fly away like a bird, and everyone in the world loved her. In 2006 the world still likes her, but she's come back this time as a mutated carniverous bird that's spitting out men at the end of the second course. Well her music has gone a bit more uptempo, and that's largely thanks to the collaboration with top hip-hop knob twiddler Timbaland on this and the rest of the album "Loose". Nelly may have changed, but it's thankfully not bird-flu (ok I've stretched the bird analogy as far as I can) ..... Maneater was one of the hottest tracks of the summer.
Dan Mc
No of votes: 15, Score:
87, Highest vote: 1st
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7
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Take That - Patience
Artist link:6  19 21
If someone had asked me which boyband would be in this year's chart, I'd have plumped for a certain Irish quartet who have graced every Top 50 since 2000; but I'd have been wrong. Whilst Westlife are languishing in the lower reaches of this year's chart, another boyband has risen like a phoenix from the flames. Gary Barlow's well-crafted pop songs have once again ensnared the British public and 'Patience' deservedly ruled the charts in the Autumn. They are, to quote the pun that everyone expects, most definitely back for good!
Kat B
No of votes: 17, Score:
97, Highest vote: 1st
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6
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The Automatic - Monster
A lively, catchy song. Almost know it as soon as you've heard it a couple of times. Good harmonies in the chorus. One that just keeps playing in your head, long after you've finished listening to it. (The Automatic have also got the edge over many an indie band thanks to the distinctive sound of a loon screaming the vocal accompaniment in the background - take a bow, keyboardist Alex Pennie - Jason M)
Wendy B
No of votes: 18, Score:
91, Highest vote: 2nd
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5
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Amy Winehouse - Rehab
Artist link:11
Amy Winehouse has snuck under the radar with her dulcet tones, her retro-sounding melodies, her bang up-to-date lyrics and her 'mad as a box of frogs' attitude. Her first album was critically acclaimed as a jazz standard, but wasn't heard much beyond Radio 2 listeners. So she went slightly more mainstream and here she is in the Top 50 with a great anthemic track. Maybe she shouldn't go to rehab...but she really should stop visiting Russell Brand's stylist!
Kat B
No of votes: 19, Score:
112, Highest vote: 1st
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4
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Razorlight - America
Artist link: 28 38
Razorlight are full of surprises, aren't they? Just when you think you've got them pegged as a band that writes songs (great songs mind you) about sex, drugs, rock'n'roll and other provincial ephemera they come up with this amazing piece of socio-political commentary disguised as the sweetest song in the world. Billy Bragg must be green with envy.
Greg B
No of votes: 28, Score:
145, Highest vote: 1st
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3
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Gnarls Barkley - Crazy
Let's face it - we can all trace the origins of when we heard this for the first time. It started for me as when it was the backing track to Zane Lowe's TV trailer for his Radio 1 show (which does strike as a contradiction in terms I know, but there you go). Even then, it sounded totally out of this world, one true piece of priceless originality in a mire of copyism. So when I finally got to hear it in its unexpurgated glory, with the chorus "does that make me craze-eyhhhhhhhhhh" delivered full force at my eardrums I drew it even closer to my heart. I'll admit, it got overplayed so much that I don't think there is anyone in the country now who hasn't heard of it, but give it a few years and it's status as a true classic will be as obvious as the rising sea levels.
Jason M
No of votes: 33, Score:
160, Highest vote: 1st
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2
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Snow Patrol - Chasing Cars
Artist link:37
You turn the radio on, squeal with excited recognition and tell me that you love this song by Snow Patrol. "Hmm" I mumble, looking up briefly before returning to the Sudoku puzzle which has blighted my life for the past 48 minutes. You point out that the single made it into the US top 5 after featuring in the TV show 'Grey's Anatomy'. I make a sarcastic remark about how a song called 'Chasing Cars' is rather inappropriate for a medical drama, since any kind of horseplay on the highway would almost certainly result in more work for the already hard-pressed doctors and interns - especially if those running down the middle of roads were doing so with scissors. You persist with the information barrage by telling me that it was the UK's 14th biggest-selling single of 2006 and that Virgin Radio listeners voted it the Best Song Ever. I offer a kind of derisory snort in response but stop short of commenting that the result says more about the IQ of Virgin's listeners than it does about the quality of the song. You tell me that you voted for it in the radio poll and, just as my respect for you plummets to levels I normally reserve for estate agents, the chorus hits: "If I lay here, if I just lay here - will you lie with me and just forget the world." I look at you. You are still the prettiest girl I've ever known but I recognise instantly that we'll never have that kind of vulnerable desire and simple beauty in our relationship. My eyes return to the numbers and boxes, resolving to pack my all of my clothes into the big brown leather suitcase, just as soon as I finish the puzzle.
Danny G
No of votes: 40, Score:
266, Highest vote: 1st
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1
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Scissor Sisters - I Don't Feel Like Dancin'
Artist link: 13 13 21 45
Kind of odd, isn't it - you look at the Top 2 this year and it's almost as if 2005 never happened (which as far as this site is concerned, it didn't). Looking back at 2004, that was in many ways the year of the Scissor Sisters. Since success shoved its disco pants in their faces there's been plenty of touring and partying, which is all well and good, but inevitably you have to go back to writing the follow-up. What this song is about though, is wanting to stay at home and not go out painting the town red. Oddly, it's all set to an uptempo beat and tune, with the almost trademark vocal gymnastics that make you think the leotards must be pinching a bit too tight. And of course its co-written with their mentor, Sir Elton, going to prove the pedigree of the song was beyond question from the outset, and boy does it deliver a star turn.
Jason M
No of votes: 40, Score:
278, Highest vote: 1st
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Thanks go to the following people for assisting with getting together our comprehensive aide-memoire: Danny G, Paul M, Kat B
A MASSIVE THANKS also to all those who slaved over a hot keyboard to produce the write ups: Danny G, Paul M, Kat B, Isaac H, P Shoo, Dan Mc, Karen G, Emyr I, Greg B, Lisa S, Elliot H, Wendy B, Elliott