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11/12/05
Record of the Year (ITV1 Saturday 10th Dec) This week I was going to write about one of the many long-running series that I enjoy watching. But then last night’s so-called ‘Record of the Year’ show produced such a stupid result that I’m in need of a rant. First off, the recipient of each year’s award triumphs without being pitted against any Christmas singles. To qualify, you have to have had one of the biggest selling singles of the year, but only up until the end of November. So it’s actually the ‘Record of between January and November of the Year’. Which doesn’t sound quite as catchy. To make matters worse, here’s what’s not included: Any charity records – fair enough, people feel obliged to buy them, which boosts sales. Football songs – erm, ok, not that they sell well anyway. Ringtones (by which they mean songs that started out as ringtones) – I’m fairly sure they quickly added that one when they realised the Crazy Frog had one of the biggest hits of the year and couldn’t bear giving him the title. I applaud them for that, but it’s not exactly fair is it? The final nail in the coffin is that, instead of giving out an award to the song that actually sold the most; they put it to a public vote. As we all know, the public are fools, so this is not a good idea. Cast your minds back a couple of years to 2003. Now this was quite a good year for singles. Black Eyed Peas stayed at number 1 for 6 weeks with ‘Where Is The Love’; Beyonce successfully went solo with ‘Crazy In Love’; Justin Timberlake did the same; The Darkness brought fun back into rock with ‘I Believe In A Thing Called Love; erm, Busted. But even with all this top class opposition (and Busted), what won that year’s ‘Record of the Year’? Westlife – Mandy West-bloody-life with sodding Barry Manilow’s godawful Mandy WHY?! It got to number 1 on the 29th November, making it just about eligible. But it sold nowhere near enough to even make the top 10 selling singles of 2003, let alone number 1. ‘Changes’ by Ozzy and Kelly Osbourne sold more for god’s sake. Which brings me back to this year’s event. And the winner was? Westlife – You Raise Me Up Argh!!! They came back from a break and released….another ballad surprise surprise, and what do they do? Win the bloody ‘Record of the Year’. I just hope little Jane’s parents won’t be too hard on her when they get the phone bill… Ed (Channel 4 – Weekdays @ 12:30) Honestly, make sure you watch it before it finishes. |
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