wibble

So the Brits nominations have been announced.

Here are my choices for each category - let’s see how many I get right. :)  As my tastes are different I don’t expect there too be many matches…

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The shortlist for this year’s Brit Awards, to be held at Earls Court, London on 20 February.

British male solo artist: Jamie T, Mark Ronson, Mika, Newton Faulkner, Richard Hawley.
I’m going for Mika as he’s made the most contribution to the charts this year. Although Mark Ronson is also in the running, technically I don’t class him strictly as a solo artist.

British female solo artist: Bat For Lashes, Kate Nash, KT Tunstall, Leona Lewis, PJ Harvey.
Again, Kate Nash has had more impact on the charts, so I have plumped for her.  This is a difficult category as there are many other good artists. Bat For Lashes are brilliant, but probably not a mainstream choice, KT Tunstall - second album so currently in the spotlight, Leona Lewis - large sales, but not much else (?).

British group: Arctic Monkeys, Editors, Girls Aloud, Kaiser Chiefs, Take That.
I’ll go for Take That as last year was their comeback year, whilst the other groups have plodded along over the last year.

British album: Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare, Leona Lewis - Spirit, Mark Ronson - Version, Mika - Life In Cartoon Motion, Take That - Beautiful World.
Mark Ronson - Version for me.  Although mainly covers, I like the way current songs are made to sound different.

British breakthrough act: Bat For Lashes, Kate Nash, Klaxons, Leona Lewis, Mika. (Winner chosen by BBC Radio 1 listeners)
Mika again as he has had the most success over the last year.  (Although if this is Radio 1’s choice it will probably end up being Klaxons.)

British live act: Arctic Monkeys, Kaiser Chiefs, Klaxons, Muse, Take That. (Winner chosen by BBC Radio 2 listeners)
Not sure about this one…  Take That or Kaiser Chiefs based on personal taste.

British single: Leona Lewis - Bleeding Love, Mika - Grace Kelly, Take That - Shine, Kaiser Chiefs - Ruby, Sugababes - About You Now, Mark Ronson Ft Amy Winehouse - Valerie, Kate Nash - Foundations, The Hoosiers - Worried About Ray, James Blunt - 1973, Mutya Buena - Real Girl. (A live public vote will decide the winner on the night)
Another difficult one - I can think of a good case for each of these songs. I have a feeling it may be Mark Ronson - Valerie. (Kate Nash and The Hoosiers are my other front-runners).

International male solo artist: Bruce Springsteen, Kanye West, Michael Buble, Rufus Wainwright, Timbaland.
This would have to be Timbaland as he was everywhere and working with almost everyone in 2007.

International female solo artist: Alicia Keys, Bjork, Feist, Kylie Minogue, Rihanna.
2007 seemed to be Rihanna’s year and looks set to continue for a few months yet…

International group: Arcade Fire, Eagles, Foo Fighters, Kings of Leon, White Stripes.
No idea - Foo Fighters?

International album: Arcade Fire - Neon Bible, Eagles - Long Road Out Of Eden, Foo Fighters - Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace, Kings of Leon - Because Of The Times, Kylie Minogue - X. 
I don’t think any of these albums are particularly spectacular, but I’ll go for Kylie Minogue - X.

The Christmas songs below are those that made it into the Christmas chart for 2007.  Let’s see how fast they fall out!

#4 - Fairytale Of New York - Pogues Featuring Kirsty Maccoll
#6 - All I Want For Christmas Is You - Mariah Carey
#16 - Last Christmas - Wham
#18 - I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday - Wizzard
#20 - Merry Xmas Everybody - Slade
#21 - It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year - Andy Williams
#22 - Merry Christmas Everyone - Shakin’ Stevens
#24 - Do They Know It’s Christmas - Band Aid
#33 - Driving Home For Christmas - Chris Rea
#34 - Don’t Shoot Me Santa - Killers
#41 - Happy Xmas (War Is Over) - John & Yoko/Plastic Ono Band
#42 - White Christmas - Bing Crosby
#44 - Wonderful Christmastime - Paul Mccartney
#47 - Mary’s Boy Child/Oh My Lord - Boney M
#49 - It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like - Perry Como
#51 - The Christmas Song - Nat King Cole
#53 - Step Into Christmas - Elton John
#60 - Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town - Bruce Springsteen
#68 - Mistletoe And Wine - Cliff Richard
#72 - Walking In The Air - Aled Jones
#73 - Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy - Bing Crosby & David Bowie
#76 - Santa Baby - Kylie Minogue
#86 - Santa Baby - Eartha Kitt
#87 - Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow - Dean Martin
#93 - Please Come Home For Christmas - Eagles
#94 - Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree - Brenda Lee
#105 - Christmas Time (Don’t Let The Bells End) - Darkness
#106 - When A Child Is Born - Johnny Mathis
#111 - Last Christmas - Cascada
#115 - Frosty The Snowman - Ronettes
#120 - Christmas Wrapping - Waitresses
#121 - Lonely This Christmas - Mud
#123 - Calling It Christmas - Joss Stone & Elton John
#128 - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Frank Sinatra
#150 - Do They Know It’s Christmas - Band Aid 20
#151 - A Spaceman Came Travelling - Chris De Burgh
#156 - Sleigh Ride - Ronettes
#157 - Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow - Michael Buble
#159 - Proper Crimbo - Bo Selecta
#160 - Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow - Frank Sinatra
#185 - 8 Days Of Christmas - Destiny’s Child
#187 - Winter Wonderland - Tony Bennett
#189 - Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree - Mel Smith & Kim Wilde
#195 - Blue Christmas - Elvis Presley

A few more Christmas songs entered the Top 200 this week.  This has been commented on in Music Week as well:

“This is the first Christmas in which singles available only as downloads have been eligible to chart, and it has had a massive effect on seasonal titles, with 10 in the Top 40, 17 in the Top 75 and 44 in the Top 200 – all record tallies.”

The full list for this week is:
#4 - All I Want For Christmas Is You - Mariah Carey
#8 - Fairytale Of New York - The Pogues Featuring Kirsty MacColl
#14 - Last Christmas - Wham!
#16 - I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday - Wizzard
#21 - It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year - Andy Williams
#22 - Merry Xmas Everybody - Slade
#23 - Merry Christmas Everyone - Shakin’ Stevens
#27 - Do They Know It’s Christmas? - Band Aid
#35 - Driving Home For Christmas - Chris Rea
#40 - Happy Xmas (War Is Over) - John And Yoko/The Plastic Ono Band With the Harlem Community Choir
#43 - Don’t Shoot Me Santa - The Killers
#44 - Here Come The Girls - Ernie K-Doe
#48 - White Christmas - Bing Crosby
#61 - Mary’s Boy Child/Oh My Lord - Boney M
#64 - It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas - Perry Como
#65 - Elton John’s Christmas EP - Elton John
#70 - Wonderful Christmastime - Paul McCartney
#72 - Stop The Cavalry - Jona Lewie
#76 - The Christmas Song - Nat ‘King’ Cole
#82 - Mistletoe And Wine - Cliff Richard
#83 - Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town - Bruce Springsteen
#85 - Santa Baby - Eartha Kitt
#86 - Walking In The Air - Aled Jones
#92 - Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow - Dean Martin
#93 - Santa Baby - Kylie Minogue
#97 - Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy - Bing Crosby And David Bowie
#109 - Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree - Brenda Lee
#112 - Christmas Time (Don’t Let The Bells End) - The Darkness
#114 - Last Christmas - Cascada
#116 - Please Come Home For Christmas - The Eagles
#118 - When A Child Is Born - Johnny Mathis
#123 - Cool Yule - Louis Armstrong
#129 - Frosty The Snowman - The Ronettes
#130 - Stay Another Day - East 17
#131 - Lonely This Christmas - Mud
#138 - Calling It Christmas - Joss Stone And Elton John
#142 - Do They Know It’s Christmas? - Band Aid 20
#147 - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Frank Sinatra
#151 - Proper Crimbo - Bo Selecta
#154 - Christmas Wrapping - The Waitresses
#158 - Let It Snow - Michael Buble
#171 - Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow - Frank Sinatra
#180 - A Spaceman Came Travelling - Chris De Burgh
#184 - Baby, It’s Cold Outside - Tom Jones ??
#185 - Sleigh Ride - The Ronettes
#194 - Winter Wonderland - Tony Bennett

I think this song is starting to rival the record for the most number of artists to record a song.
As far as I know there are versions by
- Bellefire
- Jo O’Meara
- Rascal Flatts
- Cascada

Any more to come?

The power of downloads strikes again. Following on from this BBC article, the number of tracks that make it into the charts for holidays seems to go into full swing at Christmas.  Whilst there were a few for Hallowe’en, expanding the list of Christmas songs in this weeks chart, to the full Top 200 shows many more.  Some of these are genuine physical releases with a Christmas theme, mostly from adverts (#25, #44, #71), even more are from downloads alone. With another two charts due before Christmas, this number may increase.

week ending 15/12/2007
#8 - All I Want For Christmas Is You - Mariah Carey
#12 - Fairytale Of New York  - The Pogues Featuring Kirsty MacColl
#25 - It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year - Andy Williams
#27 - I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday - Wizzard
#33 - Merry Christmas Everyone  - Shakin’ Stevens
#37 - Merry Xmas Everybody - Slade
#38 - Do They Know It’s Christmas? - Band Aid
#44 - Don’t Shoot Me Santa - The Killers
#51 - Driving Home For Christmas - Chris Rea
#60 - Happy Xmas (War Is Over) - John And Yoko/The Plastic Ono Band With the Harlem Community Choir
#61 - White Christmas - Bing Crosby
#71 - It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas - Perry Como
#77 - Wonderful Christmastime - Paul McCartney
#82 - Elton John’s Christmas EP - Elton John
#83 - Mary’s Boy Child/Oh My Lord - Boney M
#86 - Mistletoe And Wine - Cliff Richard
#90 - Walking In The Air - Aled Jones
#100 - Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow - Dean Martin
#101 - Santa Baby - Kylie Minogue
#106 - The Christmas Song - Nat ‘King’ Cole
#108 - Stay Another Day - East 17
#118 - Lonely This Christmas - Mud
#120 - Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town - Bruce Springsteen
#121 - Stop The Cavalry - Jona Lewie
#123 - Frosty The Snowman - The Ronettes
#128 - Santa Baby - Eartha Kitt
#134 - Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree - Brenda Lee
#137 - Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy - Bing Crosby And David Bowie
#139 - Christmas Time (Don’t Let The Bells End) - The Darkness
#148 - When A Child Is Born - Johnny Mathis
#152 - Cool Yule - Louis Armstrong
#153 - Do They Know It’s Christmas? - Band Aid 20
#160 - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Frank Sinatra
#161 - 9 To 5 - Dolly Parton
#181 - Please Come Home For Christmas - The Eagles
#184 - Christmas Wrapping - The Waitresses

We’ve found something to keep us active during the winter months: geocaching. Basically you try to find ‘treasure’ that other people have hidden using latitude and longitude co-ordinates given by the person who has hidden the cache.  (Or you can use a clue if you need it). Once there you can sign a logbook to let others know you’ve found the cache, and you can also take or place little ‘trinkets’ - hence the ‘treasure’ :)  This works best with a GPS receiver, although some of the caches still take a bit of looking around even when you have the exact co-ordinates.

With over 200 of them within seven miles of where we live, we should be kept busy for a few weekends, and get us going to places we wouldn’t otherwise have gone to.

A lot less than I expected, but then most of the questions seem to be about ‘more modern’ things.

40% Geek

from this week’s chart - week ending 27/10/2007

#1 - About You Now - Sugababes
#4 - Goodbye Mr A - The Hoosiers
#7 - Happy Ending - Mika
#11 - Hey There Delilah - Plain White T’s
#12 - She’s So Lovely - Scouting For Girls
#23 - Big Girls Don’t Cry - Fergie
#26 - Kanye West - Stronger
#30 - Young Folks - Peter Bjorn & John feat Victoria Bergsman
#31 - It Means Nothing - Stereophonics
#40 - Foundations - Kate Nash

I might do this each week - as a sort of ‘personal chart’

As a sort of follow-on from the previous chart run post, I put this together before that post.  It doesn’t provide a definitive answer to the whole copyright aspect of charts on websites, but explains my reasoning for re-instating the search in a round-about way…

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Some of you may have noticed that the chart run search is back.  Below are some of the reasons for this:

– As far as I know emails from the Official Charts Company (OCC) were sent to only two sites.  These sites have so far complied with the request.  However, they have asked the OCC questions, to which they have received no reply, now over a month later.  (I did not receive such an email myself.)  These emails were mainly concerned about the copyright on the data being infringed, and the being used without a licence - no details of which were included in the email, and something which the OCC seems to be a bit hazy about.

– As far as I can see from my basic reading of copyright, what I am doing by presenting the charts runs via a search engine, does not breach the copyright. As the sites that received the emails were publishing the charts in the same format the OCC publishes them (i.e. position, lw, title, artist) the OCC may be correct in applying copyright to the format of the data.  I have taken the data (which I can keep in a database for personal use, according to copyright law) and presented this in a way which does not resemble the format the OCC use - chart runs.  Sure, the title and the artist are the same, but obviously these names do not belong to the OCC.

Therefore the chart run searches will be back for now, and will continue until I hear otherwise from the OCC.