TQR

Amazing work. Hey hello hi. Our little bubba Kill or Save is now all grown up (happy 18th!), but despite its maturity, much like modern day Britain, there’s fuck all chance of it fleeing the nest anytime soon. How about this: the No.1s are all ticked off, and this edition is (until 2030 at least) the last of the No.2s too! 1,033 oh-so-nearlies, whittled down to 7. It’s brutal, it’s contentious, it’s chaotic, and that’s why it’s irresistable. We’ve just done a double-dose of 50s. Sounds nightmarish, but actually I think many of us were pleasantly surprised to find how much music back then still slaps to this day. Volare by Dean Martin won the fun-size final last time out, and very nearly achieved a first-ever 1-2. But enough of that; on we bang, all the way back to the modern day. The land of cheap pot purri scent billowing from a disposable vape held by the manicured and unevenly bronzed hands of the poor corrupted social media generation, raving silently to whatever is hissing at a critical volume through their noise cancelling headphones. The 2010s, everyone. Those had better be moans of excitement. Fancy reliving all the action? See below for links to all Kill or Save games to date: 50s No.1s; 60s No.1s; 70s No.1s; 80s No.1s; 90s No.1s; 00s No.1s; 10s No.1s 50s No.2s; 60s No.2s; 70s No.2s; 80s No.2s; 90s No.2s; 00s No. 2s; 10s No.2s (you are here) (IN PLAY!) 70s No.3s; 80s No.3s; 90s No.3s (IN PLAY!) Christmas Special 2023; Christmas Special 2024 (IN PLAY!) KoS HoF Bobby Darin — Mack The Knife The Rolling Stones — Paint It, Black Donna Summer — I Feel Love Nena — 99 Red Balloons Madonna — Vogue Gorillaz — Dare Gotye ft. Kimbra — Somebody That I Used To Know The Pogues ft. Kirsty MacColl — Fairytale Of New York Dean Martin — Volare Barry Ryan — Eloise Queen — Somebody To Love A-Ha — Take On Me The Cardigans — Lovefool Sophie Ellis-Bextor — Murder On The Dancefloor David Bowie — Life On Mars? Tears For Fears — Mad World Termsandconditionsapply: Each song starts with 20 points (whether it deserves it or not). You can vote once a day. Since we all live in different parts of the world with all sorts of different timezones, please add a date at the top of your votes to avoid any confusion (e.g. Thu 25 Jul, 25/7/24, 7/25/24 if you’re a wrongun). Each day you may add up to 4 points to and subtract 6 points from any song on the board. You can split your points between as many songs as you like. You must use all six minus points (unless it’s a round-ending turn) and give at least one plus point. Placeholder posts are allowed, but if you don't edit your votes within 5 minutes, then the next person can go and do their votes. Consecutive votes are not allowed. Before voting, please listen to the songs of each round and vote according to your own opinions, don't vote for songs because they're high/low on the board or because of your opinions about the artist, only the song matters. Make sure you copy and paste the most recent voter's scoreboard when you take your turn to score. For your own ease, ‘paste as plain text’ to get rid of the previous poster’s formatting. Then, delete their +/- scores, add yours, adjust the song’s points total and make your scores bold. Here’s a random example post from a previous game’s finale: Tue 15 Oct 35 Dean Martin — That’s Amore 31 Nat King Cole — When I Fall In Love 31 Dean Martin — Volare +4 27 Elvis Presley — Hound Dog 09 Elvis Presley — Heartbreak Hotel  -6 Reveal hidden contents at your peril, for they contain your destiny. (which happens to involve all 130 UK Singles No.2s of the 2010s) As usual, we’ll go through 5 group stages, beginning with the No.2 hits of 2010/11, followed by a grand final consisting of the 25 songs that have qualified, in which we will decide upon the best UK single of the 10s that wasn’t quite the best, and the artist(s) of said song can resist an offer from Celebrity Big Brother for at least another year. 2010-11: 28 songs, 5 finalists 2012-13: 37 songs, 7 finalists 2014-15: 24 songs, 5 finalists 2016-17: 25 songs, 5 finalists 2018-19: 16 songs, 3 finalists Right then team, time to chow down a big pile of number twos…in Kill or Save.

Hark, the angels sing their dross, glory to our newborn KoS Welcome to the nineteenth edition of Deathlist’s melee of melodies, KIL SAWE Kill or Save. Back by popular-ish demand, it’s only another bleedin’ Christmas Special! So, it’s nearly Christmas. Again. But what exactly does that mean? If you’re British, you might know this scenario all too well: you’re finally home, you’ve packed up work for a few days for the festivities. Lovely. Maybe doing the last few bits of prep before the big day. Wrapping presents, perhaps? The telly isn’t on because if you hear another snippet of that bloody Mariah song on an advert for mini pig-in-blanket and cinnamon eggnog quiche tikka pasty lasagnes from Iceland, you might just vomit up chunks of the carrot that was meant for the garden snowman, if it snowed, which of course it fucking hasn’t. But it’s okay, because the radio’s on. That'll lift your spirits. Oh listen, it’s Jack Saunders and his palpably false enthusiasm, announcing that this year’s Christmas No.1 is…a big ole pile of bilge but it’s okay because it’s sort of for charity partly. “For fuck sake”, you exclaim. You switch the radio off in disgust, just in time to hear a tap at the door. You answer it, still wearing an exasperated expression and a bit of the bottle of plonk you were in the middle of opening. The local sprogs have a begging bowl for you to fill, and, in return, they’ll stop screeching saccharine songs at you. “For fuck sake”, you exclaim. You collapse onto the sofa, tired, slightly poorer, irritated, confused, covered in glitter and not quite drunk enough to be in full festive swing yet. The radio goes back on to drown out the noise outside. You can’t help but ask yourself: is this really what Christmas is all about? Of course, there’s only one proper way to answer this annual quandary: with a game of Kill or Save. Natch. Last year, a fortuitous 69 songs we’re used to hearing this time each year battled it out in the mother of all eliminators. After three and a bit weeks of tussles, curveballs, tinsel, snowballs, scumbags, maggots and…yep, Fairytale of New York was declared the best Christmas song of the lot in a thrilling finale that, just half a dozen votes from the end, was a three-way tie. This year’s game, however, will look a bit different. The host-curated single super-round of festive bangers format is having a year off. This is how it’s gonna work, and see the spoiler tags for more details: Round 1: An incomplete collection of UK Official Chart Christmas No.1s (36 songs, 5 finalists) Round 2: Something else (some songs, the odd few finalists) Round 3: Someotherthing else (some more songs, a small number of which will be finalists) Grand Final: A mishmash of finalists Clear as mud, right? More will be revealed as the game goes on… Anyway...fancy reliving all the action? See below for links to all Kill or Save games to date: 50s No.1s; 60s No.1s; 70s No.1s; 80s No.1s; 90s No.1s; 00s No.1s; 10s No.1s 50s No.2s; 60s No.2s; 70s No.2s; 80s No.2s; 90s No.2s; 00s No. 2s; 10s No.2s (IN PLAY!) 70s No.3s; 80s No.3s; 90s No.3s (IN PLAY!) Christmas Special 2023; Christmas Special 2024 (you are here) (IN PLAY!) Right, kids, settle down...before we play, daddy's gotta read the rules: Each song starts with 20 points...normally. You can vote once a day. Since we all live in different parts of the world with all sorts of different timezones, please add a date at the top of your votes to avoid any confusion (e.g. Wed 25 Dec, 25/12/24, preferably not 12/25/24 but whatever, wronguns gonna wrong). Each day you may add up to 4 points to and subtract 6 points from any song on the board...usually. You can split your points between as many songs as you like. You must use all six minus points (unless it’s a round-ending turn) and give at least one plus point. Placeholder posts are allowed, but if you don't edit your votes within 5 minutes, then the next person can go and do their votes. Consecutive votes are not allowed. Before voting, please listen to the songs of each round and vote according to your own opinions (of the songs, not the artists or indeed the other posters voting for them). Make sure you copy and paste the most recent voter's scoreboard when you take your turn to score. For your own ease, ‘paste as plain text’ to get rid of the previous poster’s formatting. Then, delete their +/- scores, add yours, adjust the song’s points total and make your scores bold. Here’s a perfectly laid out example post from last year's Christmas Special: Tue 19 Dec 30 The Pogues ft. Kirsty MacColl — Fairytale Of New York +1 26 Greg Lake — I Believe In Father Christmas 24 Wizzard — I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day 22 The Pretenders — 2000 Miles +3 17 Brenda Lee — Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree 10 Andy Williams — It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year -6 Got it? No? Never mind. All will become clear. Take it away, Noddy:

Thu 28 Nov 24 Lauryn Hill- Doo Wop (That Thing) +4 22 The Chemical Brothers- Hey Boy Hey Girl 22 Shania Twain- Man! I Feel Like a Woman 20 Wildchild- Renegade Master ‘98 20 Catatonia- Mulder and Scully 20 Will Smith- Gettin’ Jiggy wit It 20 Robbie Williams- Let Me Entertain You 20 Sash!- La Primavera 20 Kula Shaker- Sound of Drums 20 Wyclef Jean- Gone till November 20 Lutricia McNeal- Stranded 20 Five- Got The Feelin’ 20 Savage Garden- To the Moon and Back 20 The Corrs- What Can I Do (Tin Tin Out Remix) 20 Fatboy Slim- Gangster Trippin 20 U2- Sweetest Thing 20 Touch and Go- Would You…? 20 The Tamperer featuring Maya- If You Buy This Record (Your Life Will Be Better) 20 Stereophonics- The Bartender and the Thief 20 Bryan Adams ft. Melanie C.- When You’re Gone 20 Billie- She Wants You 20 Denise & Johnny- Especially for You 20 Blockster- You Should Be… 20 Tatyana Ali ft. Will Smith- Boy You Knock Me Out 20 2Pac- Changes 20 Whitney Houston- It’s Not Right but It’s Okay 20 Vengaboys- We Like to Party! (The Vengabus) 20 Billie- Honey to the Bee 20 TLC- No Scrubs 20 911- Private Number 20 Shania Twain- That Don’t Impress Me Much 20 Britney Spears- Sometimes 20 Bran Van 300- Drinking in L.A. 20 Bob Marley Vs Funkstar De Luxe- Sun Is Shining 20 ATB- Don’t Stop! 20 A1- Everytime/Ready or Not 20 Boyzone- Every Day I Love You 20 Vengaboys- Kiss (When the Sun Don’t Shine) 17 Celine Dion & R. Kelly- I’m Your Angel -3 17 Will Smith- Miami -3 14 Cleopatra- Cleopatra’s Theme Spoilt for choice here. What a great round!

Thu 28 Nov 74 No Doubt - Just a Girl 56 Faithless - Insomnia 54 The Source ft. Candi Staton - You Got The Love (Now Voyager Mix) 42 Suede - Trash 31 Radiohead - Paranoid Android +4 21 The Seahorses - Love Is The Law 0 Jamiroquai - Virtual Insanity -6 Done to protect the recently attacked Paranoid Android, the best song in this round by a country mile.

Thu 28 Nov 27 Rag’n’Bone Man — Human 26 The Weeknd ft. Daft Punk — Starboy 26 Bastille — Pompeii 25 Emeli Sande — Heaven 25 Bruno Mars — Locked Out Of Heaven 25 Adele — Rolling In The Deep -6 24 Katy Perry — Teenage Dream 23 Years & Years — Shine +4 23 Maroon 5 ft. Christina Aguilera — Moves Like Jagger 23 George Ezra — Paradise 22 James Bay — Hold Back The River 22 Pink ft. Nate Ruess — Just Give Me A Reason 21 Justin Timberlake — Can’t Stop The Feeling 20 Aloe Blacc — I Need A Dollar 20 Taylor Swift — I Knew You Were Trouble 20 Adele — Skyfall 18 Chainsmokers & Coldplay — Something Just Like This 14 Taylor Swift — Shake It Off 14 Mark Ronson ft. Miley Cyrus — Nothing Breaks Like A Heart 13 Emeli Sande — Next To Me 11 Maroon 5 — Maps 10 Nicki Minaj — Starships 06 Sia — Cheap Thrills  06 Dua Lipa — Don’t Start Now

Oh dear…one short. Al Martino gets fucked off. I’ll pop that down as an assist for BuffaloPhil. Thu 28 Nov 37 Rage Against The Machine — Killing In The Name +4 37 Pet Shop Boys - Always On My Mind 36 Mud — Lonely This Christmas 33 Benny Hill — Ernie 31 Tom Jones — Green, Green Grass Of Home 30 Girls Aloud — Sound Of The Underground 30 Pink Floyd — Another Brick In The Wall -6 29 Wham! - Last Christmas 23 The Flying Pickets — Only You 21 Michael Andrews & Gary Jules — Mad World 21 Danny Williams — Moon River 21 Shakin’ Stevens — Merry Christmas Everyone 21 Dave Edmunds — I Hear You Knocking 20 Frankie Laine — Answer Me 20 Johnnie Ray — Just Walkin’ In The Rain 20 Conway Twitty — It’s Only Make Believe 20 Emile Ford & The Checkmates — What Do You Want To Make Those Eyes At Me For? 20 Elvis Presley — Return To Sender 20 Whitney Houston — I Will Always Love You 19 The Human League — Don’t You Want Me 17 Jackie Wilson — Reet Petite 15 Clean Bandit ft. Sean Paul & Anne-Marie — Rockabye 14 Michael Jackson - Earth Song 14 East 17 — Stay Another Day  12 Robbie Williams & Nicole Kidman — Somethin’ Stupid

…ok. It’s final time. GRAND FINAL Wed 27 Nov 24 Years & Years — Shine +4 20 Aloe Blacc — I Need A Dollar 20 Nicki Minaj — Starships 20 Emeli Sande — Heaven 20 Maroon 5 — Maps 20 Justin Timberlake — Can’t Stop The Feeling 20 Sia — Cheap Thrills 20 Mark Ronson ft. Miley Cyrus — Nothing Breaks Like A Heart 20 Dua Lipa — Don’t Start Now 20 Bastille — Pompeii 20 Taylor Swift — I Knew You Were Trouble 20 Taylor Swift — Shake It Off 20 Bruno Mars — Locked Out Of Heaven 20 Adele — Rolling In The Deep 20 George Ezra — Paradise 20 James Bay — Hold Back The River 20 The Weeknd ft. Daft Punk — Starboy 20 Chainsmokers & Coldplay — Something Just Like This 20 Hozier — Take Me To Church 20 Pink ft. Nate Ruess — Just Give Me A Reason 20 Adele — Skyfall 20 Maroon 5 ft. Christina Aguilera — Moves Like Jagger 20 Katy Perry — Teenage Dream 20 Rag’n’Bone Man — Human 14 Emeli Sande — Next To Me -6 On the whole, this list quite genuinely makes me feel sad.

Wed 27 Nov 74 No Doubt - Just a Girl 56 The Source ft. Candi Staton - You Got The Love (Now Voyager Mix) 52 Faithless - Insomnia 44 Suede - Trash 35 Radiohead - Paranoid Android 21 The Seahorses - Love Is The Law -6 19 Jamiroquai - Virtual Insanity +4

Wed 27 Nov 65 George Ezra — Paradise -6 47 Dua Lipa — Don’t Start Now 46 Mark Ronson ft. Miley Cyrus — Nothing Breaks Like A Heart 16 Marshmello ft. Bastille — Happier +4 Yes, I know I’m being awkward. Sorry bout it.

Quota reached! Well done. @Toast, @Bibliogryphon, @Commtech Sio Bibble and @Drewsky1211, for one day only, as a little Christmas bonus for getting us there, you four have got +6 and -9 to play with. Wed 27 Nov 31 Bob The Builder — Can We Fix It? 30 Mud — Lonely This Christmas 30 Pet Shop Boys - Always On My Mind 28 Benny Hill — Ernie 28 Wham! — Last Christmas 27 Rage Against The Machine — Killing In The Name +4 27 Tom Jones — Green, Green Grass Of Home 26 Girls Aloud — Sound Of The Underground 24 Pink Floyd — Another Brick In The Wall -6 22 The Flying Pickets — Only You 22 Whitney Houston — I Will Always Love You 21 Danny Williams — Moon River 20 Michael Andrews & Gary Jules — Mad World 20 The Human League — Don’t You Want Me 20 Al Martino — Here In My Heart 20 Frankie Laine — Answer Me 20 Winifred Atwell — Let’s Have Another Party 20 Johnnie Ray — Just Walkin’ In The Rain 20 Conway Twitty — It’s Only Make Believe 20 Emile Ford & The Checkmates — What Do You Want To Make Those Eyes At Me For? 20 Elvis Presley — Return To Sender 20 Dave Edmunds — I Hear You Knocking 20 Shakin’ Stevens — Merry Christmas Everyone 20 Jackie Wilson — Reet Petite 20 Robbie Williams & Nicole Kidman — Somethin’ Stupid 19 Michael Jackson — Earth Song 17 East 17 — Stay Another Day 12 Slade - Merry Christmas Everybody 11 Clean Bandit ft. Sean Paul & Anne-Marie — Rockabye

Society is being strangled by woke ideology/mind virus/blob. Here’s a place to document all that’s woke in the world so we can either avoid/get angry about it. See, at the bottom of the post, a comprehensive, growing list of woke things to be furious at (with thanks to AFB for this idea). If you see it, report it. First: Scones. Avoid These At All Costs Cos They're Woke!!!1!! Scones made with margarine The BBC The National Trust McDonalds Team GB Fantastic Four Scrabble Defibrillators Elections the Tories didn't win School

Ole Robert Builder here is gonna have a heck of a legal case to bring to Donold Trump and Elonia Musk, after they recently wondered “Can we fix it?” (and yes, as it turns out, they could).

Staggered at the popularity of George Ezra. Lovely guy but his songs are jizz imo.

Not necessarily every day...I'll try getting me stuff ready on the dot, though no guarantees obvs, but for now the only surefire thing is the kill quota.

Ah yes, good question. Of the songs on that score, the one(s) to be given minus points most recently would be spared.

Tue 26 Nov 59 George Ezra — Paradise -2 44 Mark Ronson ft. Miley Cyrus — Nothing Breaks Like A Heart +4 37 Dua Lipa — Don’t Start Now 32 Regard — Ride It 18 Marshmello ft. Bastille — Happier 12 Calvin Harris & Rag’n’Bone Man — Giant 0 Ariana Grande — Dry Your Eyes, Mate -4

Tue 26 Nov 70 No Doubt - Just a Girl 58 The Source ft. Candi Staton - You Got The Love (Now Voyager Mix) 48 Faithless - Insomnia 46 Suede - Trash 43 Radiohead - Paranoid Android +2 31 Jamiroquai - Virtual Insanity +2 29 The Seahorses - Love Is The Law 0 Cackstreet Boys - Why Don’t You Love Me? -6

Tue 26 Nov 29 Rage Against The Machine — Killing In The Name +2 28 Bob The Builder — Can We Fix It? 25 Wham! — Last Christmas 24 Whitney Houston — I Will Always Love You 24 Tom Jones — Green, Green Grass Of Home 24 Mud — Lonely This Christmas 24 Pet Shop Boys — Always On My Mind 24 East 17 — Stay Another Day 24 Benny Hill — Ernie 24 Girls Aloud — Sound Of The Underground 22 Michael Andrews & Gary Jules — Mad World 22 Pink Floyd — Another Prick In The Wall -6 20 Slade — Merry Xmas Everybody +2 20 Al Martino — Here In My Heart 20 Frankie Laine — Answer Me 20 Winifred Atwell — Let’s Have Another Party 20 Johnnie Ray — Just Walkin’ In The Rain 20 Conway Twitty — It’s Only Make Believe 20 Emile Ford & The Checkmates — What Do You Want To Make Those Eyes At Me For? 20 Danny Williams — Moon River 20 Elvis Presley — Return To Sender 20 Dave Edmunds — I Hear You Knocking 20 The Flying Pickets — Only You 20 Shakin’ Stevens — Merry Christmas Everyone 20 Jackie Wilson — Reet Petite 20 Michael Jackson — Earth Song 20 Robbie Williams & Nicole Kidman — Somethin’ Stupid 19 The Human League — Don’t You Want Me 17 Renée & Renato — Save Your Love 16 Clean Bandit ft. Sean Paul & Anne-Marie — Rockabye 15 The Scaffold — Lily The Pink 09 Dickie Valentine — Christmas Alphabet 06 Johnny Mathis — When A Child Is Born

Right, day 1 done and you’ve killed 3 songs. Go for 4 today! …no, that’s not a request. That’s a warning. The daily kill quota is now 4. If you don’t kill ‘em, the bottom ones will be booted out when the clock strikes 12 (am, GMT) to make 4.

And previously banned @diego...it's Christmas, the time of goodwill, so everyone should be welcome. Please feel free to join in with this game if you want. Please don't make me regret it though!

I would say that, as with the last Christmas special, be ready for some surprises here and there but, to be honest, any curveball I throw at this game probably pales into insignificance while Bob the fucking Builder is one of the frontrunners.

That'll be because the British public are absolutely insane. Love that you're celebrating it, though

Mon 25 Nov 41 George Ezra — Paradise 36 Mark Ronson ft. Miley Cyrus — Nothing Breaks Like A Heart +1 27 Dua Lipa — Don’t Start Now 24 Regard — Ride It 22 Marshmello ft. Bastille — Happier +3 20 Calvin Harris & Rag’n’Bone Man — Giant 16 Billie Eilish — Bad Guy 15 Meduza ft. Goodboys — Piece Of Your Heart 14 Ariana Grande — No Tears Left To Cry -6 12 Ariana Grande, Miley Cyrus & Lana Del Rey — Don’t Call Me Angel 11 Ramz — Barking

Mon 25 Nov 70 No Doubt - Just a Girl 64 The Source ft. Candi Staton - You Got The Love (Now Voyager Mix) 48 Faithless - Insomnia 47 Radiohead - Paranoid Android 42 Suede - Trash 25 The Seahorses - Love Is The Law 25 Jamiroquai - Virtual Insanity +4 19 Backstreet Boys - As Long As You Love Me -6 09 Eternal - Don’t You Love Me

Right then, let’s go! Standard KoS rules for now, but yes, I’ll be counting the kills, and yes, we have exactly one month to wrap this game up, so put some effort in! This is only half of the UK Christmas chart-toppers there’ve ever been, but let’s be fair, that’s probably enough innit. 5 go through to the final. Round 1: (some) UK Official Chart Christmas No.1s Mon 25 Nov 22 Rage Against The Machine — Killing In The Name +2 22 Wham! — Last Christmas +2 20 Al Martino — Here In My Heart 20 Frankie Laine — Answer Me 20 Winifred Atwell — Let’s Have Another Party 20 Dickie Valentine — Christmas Alphabet 20 Johnnie Ray — Just Walkin’ In The Rain 20 Conway Twitty — It’s Only Make Believe 20 Emile Ford & The Checkmates — What Do You Want To Make Those Eyes At Me For? 20 Danny Williams — Moon River 20 Elvis Presley — Return To Sender 20 Tom Jones — Green, Green Grass Of Home 20 Dave Edmunds — I Hear You Knocking 20 Benny Hill — Ernie 20 Jimmy Osmond — Long Haired Lover From Liverpool 20 Slade — Merry Xmas Everybody 20 Mud — Lonely This Christmas 20 Johnny Mathis — When A Child Is Born 20 Pink Floyd — Another Brick In The Wall 20 St Winifred’s School Choir — There’s No One Quite Like Grandma 20 The Human League — Don’t You Want Me 20 Renée & Renato — Save Your Love 20 The Flying Pickets — Only You 20 Shakin’ Stevens — Merry Christmas Everyone 20 Jackie Wilson — Reet Petite 20 Pet Shop Boys — Always On My Mind 20 Whitney Houston — I Will Always Love You 20 Mr Blobby — Mr Blobby 20 East 17 — Stay Another Day 20 Michael Jackson — Earth Song 20 Bob The Builder — Can We Fix It? 20 Robbie Williams & Nicole Kidman — Somethin’ Stupid 20 Girls Aloud — Sound Of The Underground 20 Michael Andrews & Gary Jules — Mad World 20 Clean Bandit ft. Sean Paul & Anne-Marie — Rockabye 14 The Scaffold — Lily The Pink -6