Getcha passports ready - the middle-aged dummies are going to the British Isles! Top 31 song countdown. (19 Viewers)

[jwb]

I'm sure this has been talked about already, but what's be best way to vet a band? Is there a good site for this? I've just been going to bands' official website and can find most of what I'm looking for, but not always

Wikipedia is pretty good for vetting a band/album - most album entries will have a personnel section (with each one usually having his/her own page that usually tells where they were born.)

I found wiki to be about 80% thorough. I had to dig a bit deeper to find out, for example, that Cliff Richard's parents were also born in India (like he was), making him ineligible (I think.)

 

[Dr. Octopus]

I'm sure this has been talked about already, but what's be best way to vet a band? Is there a good site for this? I've just been going to bands' official website and can find most of what I'm looking for, but not always

Wikipedia is pretty good for vetting a band/album - most album entries will have a personnel section (with each one usually having his/her own page that usually tells where they were born.)

I found wiki to be about 80% thorough. I had to dig a bit deeper to find out, for example, that Cliff Richard's parents were also born in India (like he was), making him ineligible (I think.)

That’s funny because I thought at one point he was considered the “most British” British pop star.

 

[Tau837]

Dire Straits

Brothers in Arms being ineligible will hurt them a little.

It shouldn't IMO. Their best stuff all came before that.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Elton John, I think, will be all over this list - but given my list and Pip's (got a sneak preview), I do wonder if he's the rare instance in which one particular song may outcrowd all the others ...

I believe he'll have a pretty good spread, too.

Me, too. I've no idea what the "one particular song" would be.

It was VERY popular on the radio stations DrIan and I listened to growing up. Maybe it was a Mid-Atlantic states thing. But he’s got a lot of songs people love.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Have some time to work on my list today finally.

Would save me (and maybe others?) if someone could tell me which albums are OK/Not OK for Yes and The Cure. TIA

For Yes, all the good albums are eligible.

You don’t like Relayer? It’s the favorite Yes album of a LOT of Phish fans I know.

 

[Hawks64]

I will be on autopick. This is not the typical "by the seat of my pants" draft I am accustomed to.

It’s actually not a draft. You PM your 31 picks to Krista and she unveils them.

Thanks. I dropped in for some camaraderie and diversion. I doubt I made more than 30-40 posts this year and I'm tired tired of spending way too much time on stressful things..This format sounds fun.
Its not at all what I expected when I joined, assuming it was my mental image of a FFA draft. I'm just not used to hardly coming to the FFA anymore and keeping up on anything. I think it might enhance my life if I started hanging out again. Still lots of good people still hang around.
I imagine I can find what I need to know in the first few pages to get his done in a day or two, if that's not too late.
Lots of you have my phone, so feel free to text or call (lol) if I need shepherding herding..

Definitely join this man...you would be a welcome addition to this thread GB.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

Soory to add to the ruling chaos. I need a ruling on Fatboy Slim. While he is very English, the performers on a lot of his stuff are not. If Bootsy is singing all of it, is the song eligible?

 

[Uruk-Hai]

If Bootsy is singing all of it, is the song eligible?

Bootsy is exempt from national boundaries set by mere mortals.

 

[New Binky the Doormat]

If Bootsy is singing all of it, is the song eligible?

Bootsy is exempt from national boundaries set by mere mortals.

he isn't called "Casper the Funky Ghost" for nuthin'

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

If Bootsy is singing all of it, is the song eligible?

Bootsy is exempt from national boundaries set by mere mortals.

he isn't called "Casper the Funky Ghost" for nuthin'

I'm not sure that "I see dead people" is really helpful here.

 

[Doug B]

Soory to add to the ruling chaos. I need a ruling on Fatboy Slim. While he is very English, the performers on a lot of his stuff are not. If Bootsy is singing all of it, is the song eligible?

Solo artist privilege, as far as I can tell.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Soory to add to the ruling chaos. I need a ruling on Fatboy Slim. While he is very English, the performers on a lot of his stuff are not. If Bootsy is singing all of it, is the song eligible?

While krista is the final arbiter, imo as long as it’s labeled as “Fatboy Slim” it would be eligible but really not in the spirit of the lists - but that’s not a decision for me to make for some one else.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

If Bootsy is singing all of it, is the song eligible?

Bootsy is exempt from national boundaries set by mere mortals.

he isn't called "Casper the Funky Ghost" for nuthin'

I'm not sure that "I see dead people" is really helpful here.

He's a rhinestone rock star monster of a doll baby, bubba

 

[Andy Dufresne]

See, this is what I don't get. Why do we need a ruling on Fatboy Slim?

In what world could Fatboy Slim make the top 31 British songs ever? I can understand liking him personally but...

 

[zamboni]

See, this is what I don't get. Why do we need a ruling on Fatboy Slim?

In what world could Fatboy Slim make the top 31 British songs ever? I can understand liking him personally but...

Didn’t you have a similar discussion for The Fat Boys in the US thread?

 

[Andy Dufresne]

See, this is what I don't get. Why do we need a ruling on Fatboy Slim?

In what world could Fatboy Slim make the top 31 British songs ever? I can understand liking him personally but...

Didn’t you have a similar discussion for The Fat Boys in the US thread?

I didn't participate in that one.
But I would have said the same thing, yes.

 

[jwb]

See, this is what I don't get. Why do we need a ruling on Fatboy Slim?

In what world could Fatboy Slim make the top 31 British songs ever? I can understand liking him personally but...

It is liking him personally though. It's 31 favorite songs, not top 31 ever. Feel free to cut out the classics (or bands/artists) you think "should" be there.

ETA - for me, it's also going to be a more "here's what I'd like on the playlist today". This means some beloved classics that maybe I heard one too many times may not make it, replaced by a <much lesser artist> song. I did that a little in the US one but I'm doing it more here.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

See, this is what I don't get. Why do we need a ruling on Fatboy Slim?

In what world could Fatboy Slim make the top 31 British songs ever? I can understand liking him personally but...

It is liking him personally though. It's 31 favorite songs, not top 31 ever. Feel free to cut out the classics (or bands/artists) you think "should" be there.

So it's a list of "your" 31 favourite songs, innit?

And my initial assessment was right - "Show how deep your musical knowledge goes" is what's really going on. Not that that's bad.

 

[Hawks64]

See, this is what I don't get. Why do we need a ruling on Fatboy Slim?

In what world could Fatboy Slim make the top 31 British songs ever? I can understand liking him personally but...

It is liking him personally though. It's 31 favorite songs, not top 31 ever. Feel free to cut out the classics (or bands/artists) you think "should" be there.

So it's a list of "your" 31 favourite songs, innit?

And my initial assessment was right - "Show how deep your musical knowledge goes" is what's really going on. Not that that's bad.

Not even close, at least IMO, it's sharing your favorites and introducing folks to artists they may not know about. There isn't any look at me anything about these lists, at least in the US there wasn't and I suspect the UK won't have any either.

 

[Manster]

See, this is what I don't get. Why do we need a ruling on Fatboy Slim?

In what world could Fatboy Slim make the top 31 British songs ever? I can understand liking him personally but...

Go take a peek at my American top 31....

My list was very personal. This one will be as well. I am not interested in a public consensus top 31

 

[Andy Dufresne]

See, this is what I don't get. Why do we need a ruling on Fatboy Slim?

In what world could Fatboy Slim make the top 31 British songs ever? I can understand liking him personally but...

It is liking him personally though. It's 31 favorite songs, not top 31 ever. Feel free to cut out the classics (or bands/artists) you think "should" be there.

So it's a list of "your" 31 favourite songs, innit?

And my initial assessment was right - "Show how deep your musical knowledge goes" is what's really going on. Not that that's bad.

Not even close, at least IMO, it's sharing your favorites and introducing folks to artists they may not know about. There isn't any look at me anything about these lists, at least in the US there wasn't and I suspect the UK won't have any either.

That's what I was trying to say.

I can tell I'm not being clear - I'm just playing around.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

And my initial assessment was right - "Show how deep your musical knowledge goes" is what's really going on.

I think you're misreading the group.

 

[Hawks64]

See, this is what I don't get. Why do we need a ruling on Fatboy Slim?

In what world could Fatboy Slim make the top 31 British songs ever? I can understand liking him personally but...

It is liking him personally though. It's 31 favorite songs, not top 31 ever. Feel free to cut out the classics (or bands/artists) you think "should" be there.

So it's a list of "your" 31 favourite songs, innit?

And my initial assessment was right - "Show how deep your musical knowledge goes" is what's really going on. Not that that's bad.

Not even close, at least IMO, it's sharing your favorites and introducing folks to artists they may not know about. There isn't any look at me anything about these lists, at least in the US there wasn't and I suspect the UK won't have any either.

That's what I was trying to say.

The lack of ego and piling on picks in these is what makes it so much fun. Lots of folks do some kind of why this made my list after each round reveal. It's pretty awesome.

 

[Manster]

See, this is what I don't get. Why do we need a ruling on Fatboy Slim?

In what world could Fatboy Slim make the top 31 British songs ever? I can understand liking him personally but...

It is liking him personally though. It's 31 favorite songs, not top 31 ever. Feel free to cut out the classics (or bands/artists) you think "should" be there.

So it's a list of "your" 31 favourite songs, innit?

And my initial assessment was right - "Show how deep your musical knowledge goes" is what's really going on. Not that that's bad.

My musical knowledge is pretty limited. These exercises have shown that. I think it comes down to taste.....what makes the needle move for you. Also, it is fun to find new music or maybe appreciate something you didn't before

 

[jwb]

See, this is what I don't get. Why do we need a ruling on Fatboy Slim?

In what world could Fatboy Slim make the top 31 British songs ever? I can understand liking him personally but...

It is liking him personally though. It's 31 favorite songs, not top 31 ever. Feel free to cut out the classics (or bands/artists) you think "should" be there.

So it's a list of "your" 31 favourite songs, innit?

And my initial assessment was right - "Show how deep your musical knowledge goes" is what's really going on. Not that that's bad.

At the very start of the US one I kind of thought it might be like that too. I even mentioned in my initial writeup with Krista something along those lines ("hopefully not too many too cool for the room picks nobody's ever heard of" or something like that).

But it wasn't like that at all. It was just friendly and fun, the entire time. And nobody laughed or said "how could you?" when you picked a bubblegum pop song at #5 instead of that Stevie Wonder or Allman Brothers classic. In fact, many applauded it.

Pick what you like Andy. Chalk or deep. That's what makes it fun.

 

[DrIanMalcolm]

But it wasn't like that at all. It was just friendly and fun, the entire time. And nobody laughed or said "how could you?" when you picked a bubblegum pop song at #5 instead of that Stevie Wonder or Allman Brothers classic. In fact, many applauded it.

Exactly. Glad to be part of it as well. (It's also why I'm serving up a few helpings of snark now, because once we get going, that goes out the window. Once we hit #31, I stay away from negativity.)

 

[Uruk-Hai]

See, this is what I don't get. Why do we need a ruling on Fatboy Slim?

In what world could Fatboy Slim make the top 31 British songs ever? I can understand liking him personally but...

It is liking him personally though. It's 31 favorite songs, not top 31 ever. Feel free to cut out the classics (or bands/artists) you think "should" be there.

So it's a list of "your" 31 favourite songs, innit?

And my initial assessment was right - "Show how deep your musical knowledge goes" is what's really going on. Not that that's bad.

At the very start of the US one I kind of thought it might be like that too. I even mentioned in my initial writeup with Krista something along those lines ("hopefully not too many too cool for the room picks nobody's ever heard of" or something like that).

But it wasn't like that at all. It was just friendly and fun, the entire time. And nobody laughed or said "how could you?" when you picked a bubblegum pop song at #5 instead of that Stevie Wonder or Allman Brothers classic. In fact, many applauded it.

Pick what you like Andy. Chalk or deep. That's what makes it fun.

This all day long.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Got it, thanks. My list will still be pretty straight forward. Except for the inclusion of A Flock of Seagulls (I think. I'm still awaiting the genealogical results).

 

[jwb]

Got it, thanks. My list will still be pretty straight forward. Except for the inclusion of A Flock of Seagulls (I think. I'm still awaiting the genealogical results).

Mine is pretty chalky too (to me anyway). 80% is stuff everyone has probably heard at one time or another (on a quick scan Flock looks good to me. They have a few good songs.)

One of the best parts of the last draft was the "oh wow, I love that song - haven't thought about it in years" that happened over and over for all of us.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

In the U.S. version of this, every record I chose with the exception of Golden Smog (the supergroup, not Bill Callahan) were massive radio hits. And the Golden Smog (the supergroup, not Bill Callahan) record is by far their most well-known.

 

[zamboni]

Music snobbery since 2003 - longer for those on old yeller.

 

[Manster]

Got it, thanks. My list will still be pretty straight forward. Except for the inclusion of A Flock of Seagulls (I think. I'm still awaiting the genealogical results).

Fatboy Slim be beefin with you

 

[krista4]

I don't have time to go through it more right now, but I've already approved Fatboy Slim for someone else.

 

[Yankee23Fan]

Submitted.

All my joking aside when I finally started listing songs, doing the research for birthplaces and all the things that went into this the fact that I only get 31 songs and not like 75 at least is driving me nuts, so once again, I decided to go with my gut, listed the 31 from my longer list, maybe moved 1 or 2 things, and just went with it. Another playlist I can listen to every day, probably not perfect, I know I forgot a billionty songs, but I can't take the stress. I'm good with my top 5 I know that. I think.

 

[Chaos34]

But it wasn't like that at all. It was just friendly and fun, the entire time. And nobody laughed or said "how could you?" when you picked a bubblegum pop song at #5 instead of that Stevie Wonder or Allman Brothers classic. In fact, many applauded it.

Exactly. Glad to be part of it as well. (It's also why I'm serving up a few helpings of snark now, because once we get going, that goes out the window. Once we hit #31, I stay away from negativity.)

Too late. Yur ded to me mrpinkfloydsucks.

 

[simey]

I agree for many of the big artists, it’s hard to single out one song, and thus they may not appear in my 31.

I had some favorite artists in the American favorite 31 that I couldn't decide on a specific favorite so I left them off.

 

[krista4]

The soundtrack at my house is different on days OH has off. So far today it has been the partially eligible The Specials.

 

[Eephus]

I'm glad we're not talking about Charley Charles anymore. I apologize for causing that ruckus.

Charley Charles' angel got his wings thanks to us

 

[Eephus]

The soundtrack at my house is different on days OH has off. So far today it has been the partially eligible The Specials.

Mrs. Eephus has been doing the same. I kind of feel like telling her that's not going to help when she has to put her list together on January 12th but 36 years of marriage has taught me to shut my mouth sometimes.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Music snobbery since 2003 - longer for those on old yeller.

I wasn't in the first wave of drafts, but I've been doing them for a while. I was mentioning to @krista4 in a PM that I associate several drafters with specific artists or songs now because of these drafts. Another memory I had while driving the other day was the burned CDs I had (I still think I have several in a closet somewhere) of people's playlists that I made. I had a stack of those things that I would play in the car. I've been introduced to so many good bands and so much good music over the years.

 

[Tau837]

See, this is what I don't get. Why do we need a ruling on Fatboy Slim?

In what world could Fatboy Slim make the top 31 British songs ever? I can understand liking him personally but...

While I agree on Fatboy Slim, IMO this countdown is favorite songs, not "best" songs, which may or may not be the same thing for various people. In the first post, @krista4 referenced that this is another fun follow-up to the American artists thread, which was titled favorite songs.

So "liking him personally" might be enough for someone.

ETA: I see I'm late to the party on this one. Never mind.

 

[Zegras11]

First pass through my spotify and a couple links gives me 49 songs. Still have bad feeling I'm missing some. Will gladly take PM lists of artists you submitted. (don't send me songs LOL)

 

[KarmaPolice]

See, this is what I don't get. Why do we need a ruling on Fatboy Slim?

In what world could Fatboy Slim make the top 31 British songs ever? I can understand liking him personally but...

It is liking him personally though. It's 31 favorite songs, not top 31 ever. Feel free to cut out the classics (or bands/artists) you think "should" be there.

So it's a list of "your" 31 favourite songs, innit?

And my initial assessment was right - "Show how deep your musical knowledge goes" is what's really going on. Not that that's bad.

Not even close, at least IMO, it's sharing your favorites and introducing folks to artists they may not know about. There isn't any look at me anything about these lists, at least in the US there wasn't and I suspect the UK won't have any either.

This has influenced my picks. Maybe more so in this one because I know that many were following along a bit and listening to the playlists as they were released. There's been a couple times where I'm deciding between a couple from an artist, I'm really struggling because I love both, and use as a tiebreaker if it's something that people haven't listened to in a bit.

I mean ask me tomorrow what my favorite Radiohead song is and you get a different answer than today.

 

[Tau837]

See, this is what I don't get. Why do we need a ruling on Fatboy Slim?

In what world could Fatboy Slim make the top 31 British songs ever? I can understand liking him personally but...

It is liking him personally though. It's 31 favorite songs, not top 31 ever. Feel free to cut out the classics (or bands/artists) you think "should" be there.

So it's a list of "your" 31 favourite songs, innit?

And my initial assessment was right - "Show how deep your musical knowledge goes" is what's really going on. Not that that's bad.

At the very start of the US one I kind of thought it might be like that too. I even mentioned in my initial writeup with Krista something along those lines ("hopefully not too many too cool for the room picks nobody's ever heard of" or something like that).

But it wasn't like that at all. It was just friendly and fun, the entire time. And nobody laughed or said "how could you?" when you picked a bubblegum pop song at #5 instead of that Stevie Wonder or Allman Brothers classic. In fact, many applauded it.

Pick what you like Andy. Chalk or deep. That's what makes it fun.

In fairness, I noted that I was surprised people took Debbie Gibson and Backstreet Boys songs.

But I was careful to caveat that with to each their own or something like that.

 

[krista4]

While I agree on Fatboy Slim, IMO this countdown is favorite songs, not "best" songs, which may or may not be the same thing for various people. In the first post, @krista4 referenced that this is another fun follow-up to the American artists thread, which was titled favorite songs.

So "liking him personally" might be enough for someone.

Absolutely. I purposefully changed the usage that Dr. O had in his countdown, from "top" to "favorite." Dr. O's group did the exercise the same (i.e., favorites not "best"), but I think the word "top" could be interpreted differently. I know for some people, "best" and "favorite" are closely aligned (Dr. O, for one, has mentioned this before), but as we saw in the last countdown, many people will take songs because of a personal connection to a time or place or experience. In those instances, the distinction between "best" and "favorite" will likely be broader. And I definitely would want to encourage that, since people's stories are as interesting to me as learning the new music itself.

 

[zamboni]

I mean ask me tomorrow what my favorite Radiohead song is and you get a different answer than today.

Username checks out - occasionally.

 

[krista4]

First pass through my spotify and a couple links gives me 49 songs. Still have bad feeling I'm missing some. Will gladly take PM lists of artists you submitted. (don't send me songs LOL)

Don't fall for this! It's his way of winning the charity contests!

 

[rockaction]

In what world could Fatboy Slim make the top 31 British songs ever? I can understand liking him personally but...

Fatboy Slim might have just missed or been on my list. Possibly. Big Beat was a huge and global phenomenon back in '97.

This is why we don't rip on people or do this with tastes. To remove all doubt in a relativistic exercise is a problem one suffers when one does that. He's easily one of the top ten influential British electronica acts of the past thirty years, a form of music revered in Britain.

 

[rockaction]

I'm staring to second guess a lot of my choices. I'm having trouble with "best" and "favorite" this time around. It's so much quality that I'm just having trouble cementing anything for submission.

Jan. 13th, by the way? Wow. That's time to change the list about fifty times.

 

[krista4]

My request is only that, if one were to change his/her list 50 times, this time around one should do that before sending to me.