prussianblue

Because some of us like catchy, fun, energetic songs?

Last photo of Franklin D. Roosevelt, taken on April 11th 1945. He died of a cerebral haemorrhage the following day.

I know, but Nigel Slater is such a complete bastard it's hard to beat him.

78 No Doubt – Don’t Speak 47 Spice Girls – Wannabe 46 Deep Blue Something – Breakfast at Tiffany's 46 White Town – Your Woman 42 Gina G – Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit +2 41 The Fugees – Killing Me Softly 30 Olive — You’re Not Alone +2 24 The Verve – The Drugs Don’t Work -3 18 Mark Morrison – Return of The Mack 14 Aqua — Barbie Girl 10 The Prodigy – Firestarter -3 8 Various Artists – Perfect Day 

For George V's coronation the US sent John Hays Hammond, diplomat and mining magnate, and Maj. Gen. Adolphus Greely, a polar explorer. A joint diplomatic/military representation approach does seem to be the one with precedent. Interestingly, the Vatican representative at the coronation of George V was the future pope Pius XII.

Roosevelt didn't attend George VI's coronation either. In fact, it seems to be rare for heads of state to attend the coronation of another. Looking at the guests of the last two coronations, the only monarchs present were from British protectorates, and the European and other royalty were represented by assorted crown princes and other lesser members of their families. As for the US, Gen. George Marshall of Marshall Plan fame was the head of the American delegation at Elizabeth II's coronation, and for George VI's they sent James W. Gerard, a diplomat, and John Pershing, the famous WWI general.

Have just learned that he played the director in the fantastic video for Madonna's Rain.

77 No Doubt – Don’t Speak 44 Deep Blue Something – Breakfast at Tiffany's 41 Spice Girls – Wannabe 39 White Town — Your Woman 38 The Fugees – Killing Me Softly 36 Gina G – Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit +2 36 The Verve – The Drugs Don’t Work -3 33 Olive - You're Not Alone +2 29 Mark Morrison - Return of The Mack 28 The Prodigy – Firestarter -3 25 Aqua – Barbie Girl  23 Various Artists — Perfect Day 09 Spice Girls – Say You'll Be There

77 No Doubt – Don’t Speak 45 Deep Blue Something – Breakfast at Tiffany's 42 Spice Girls – Wannabe 38 Olive – You’re Not Alone +1 37 The Verve – The Drugs Don’t Work 34 White Town — Your Woman 34 The Prodigy – Firestarter 33 The Fugees – Killing Me Softly 28 Gina G – Ooh Aah... Just a Little Bit +3 27 Aqua – Barbie Girl 27 Mark Morrison – Return of the Mack 24 Oasis – Don’t Look Back In Anger 24 Various Artists – Perfect Day 14 Spice Girls – Say You'll Be There 10 Blur – Beetlebum 6 Babylon Zoo – Spaceman 0 The Fugees – Not Ready -6

Looking into it, the numbering of the Perth titles seem to be very complicated thanks to the family being attainted for Jacobitism, but later having the titles restored to them. Wiki article does state that the 'present' Earl considers himself the 18th. Assuming that it hasn't been completely updated, that would pertain to the just deceased. His father's article says that he was 'informally' known as the 17th, so that checks out. The 7th Earl was the first and longest-serving Secretary-General of the League of Nations.

John Paul II was still wheeled out for Easter despite being a mute, hunched, drooling husk. I suspect Francis would need to be on his deathbed to miss it.

On the subject of Perfect Day, which I personally enjoy largely for nostalgia value, but which makes a decent job of what could be a horrible clashing mess.

Agreed, Gwen Stefani et al seem to be this round's Coolio. The tide can and does turn on songs, but there's a pretty comfortable cushion for Don't Speak at this point.

I've always imagined a Bing Crosby-style fatal heart attack on the golf course for him. Can't come soon enough!

69 No Doubt – Don’t Speak 47 The Prodigy – Firestarter 42 Mark Morrison – Return of the Mack 40 Spice Girls – Wannabe 40 Olive – You’re Not Alone +1 38 Aqua – Barbie Girl 38 The Verve – The Drugs Don´t Work 33 Deep Blue Something – Breakfast At Tiffany's 34 Oasis – Don’t Look Back In Anger 32 White Town – Your Woman 29 The Fugees – Killing Me Softly 27 Gina G – Ooh Aah … Just A Little Bit +3 27 Blur – Beetlebum 25 Spice Girls – Say You'll Be There 24 Various Artists – Perfect Day 15 Spice Girls – 2 Become 1 15 The Fugees – Ready Or Not 15 Will Smith – Men in Black 12 Chemical Brothers - Block Rockin Beats 11 Spice Girls – Spice Up Your Life 10 Babylon Zoo – Spaceman 01 L L Cool J – Ain´t Nobody -6

Given that a previous Rochdale MP was Cyril Smith, you could argue that Danczuk was also a relative improvement on what came before. At this rate, maybe in a couple of decades Rochdale will have the best MP?

The one good thing about having LL Cool J here is that it reminded me of a superior cover of Ain't Nobody.

65 No Doubt – Don’t Speak 45 The Prodigy – Firestarter 44 Olive — You’re Not Alone 38 Spice Girls – Wannabe 35 Aqua — Barbie Girl 35 Deep Blue Something – Breakfast At Tiffany's 35 The Verve – The Drugs Don´t Work 34 Oasis – Don’t Look Back In Anger 34 White Town – Your Woman 33 Mark Morrison — Return of The Mack 32 Blur — Beetlebum 29 The Fugees – Killing Me Softly 26 Various Artists – Perfect Day 24 Gina G – Ooh Aah … Just A Little Bit +4 24 Will Smith — Men in Black  23 Spice Girls – Say You'll Be There 20 The Chemical Brothers – Block Rockin´ Beats 18 Spice Girls – Mama / Who Do You Think You Are 16 Babylon Zoo – Spaceman 15 The Fugees – Ready Or Not 15 Spice Girls – 2 Become 1 13 L L Cool J – Ain´t Nobody  13 Spice Girls – Spice Up Your Life 0 The Chemical Brothers – The sun has set -6

A thousand times this. Don't just rely on fading memories or complete ignorance, it's music FFS, you can listen to it! I've taken this game as an opportuniy to become acquainted with stuff I don't know or haven't listened to in years.

61 No Doubt – Don’t Speak 43 Olive – You’re not alone +1 39 The Prodigy – Firestarter 39 Aqua – Barbie Girl +1 38 Spice Girls – Wannabe 36 Mark Morrison – Return of The Mack 35 White Town – Your Woman 33 Deep Blue Something – Breakfast At Tiffany's 33 The Verve – The Drugs Don´t Work 32 Various artists – Perfect day 31 Will Smith – Men in Black 29 The Fugees – Killing Me Softly 28 Gina G – Ooh Aah … Just A Little Bit +2 26 Oasis – Don’t Look Back In Anger 23 Spice Girls – Say You'll Be There 21 Babylon Zoo – Spaceman 21 Spice Girls – 2 Become 1 21 Spice Girls – Mama / Who Do You Think You Are 20 Blur — Beetlebum 20 Spice Girls – Spice Up Your Life 20 The Chemical Brothers – Block Rockin´ Beats 17 The Chemical Brothers – Setting Sun 15 The Fugees – Ready Or Not 14 L L Cool J – Ain´t Nobody 12 George Michael – Fastlove 9 Tori Amos ft. Armand van Helden – Professional Widow (It’s Got To Be Big) 8 Spice Girls – Too Much 2 Eternal & BeBe Winans – I Wanna Be The Only One -6

I've actually met Humza, when he was Transport Minister. Confident, personable, fairly slick. I have no real sense of how good he'll be as FM, but he was the best of a very uninspiring bunch.

Every time I see the Tori Amos song I get You Gotta Be by Des'ree in my head, which is no bad thing.

56 No Doubt – Don’t Speak 45 Olive – You’re Not Alone +1 40 The Prodigy – Firestarter 35 Deep Blue Something - Breakfast At Tiffany's 35 Spice Girls – Wannabe 34 Mark Morrison – Return of The Mack +1 33 White Town – Your Woman 32 Aqua — Barbie Girl +1 29 The Fugees – Killing Me Softly 28 Gina G – Ooh Aah … Just A Little Bit +1 28 Oasis – Don’t Look Back In Anger 27 The Verve – The Drugs Don´t Work 27 Will Smith – Men in Black 27 Spice Girls – 2 Become 1 26 Spice Girls – Spice Up Your Life 24 Spice Girls – Mama / Who Do You Think You Are 24 Various Artists – Perfect Day 22 Spice Girls – Say You'll Be There 21 Babylon Zoo – Spaceman 21 The Fugees – Ready Or Not 21 Blur — Beetlebum 20 George Michael – Fastlove 20 The Chemical Brothers – Setting Sun 17 Michael Jackson – Blood On The Dancefloor 16 The Chemical Brothers – Block Rockin´ Beats 16 Eternal & BeBe Winans – I Wanna Be The Only One 14 Spice Girls – Too Much 14 L L Cool J – Ain´t Nobody -6 12 Tori Amos ft. Armand van Helden – Professional Widow (It’s Got To Be Big) 08 The Prodigy – Breathe

45 No Doubt – Don’t Speak 36 The Prodigy – Firestarter 35 Oasis – Don’t Look Back in anger 32 White Town – Your Woman 31 Spice Girls – 2 Become 1 30 Olive – You’re Not Alone 30 Spice Girls – Wannabe 30 Mark Morrison - Return of The Mack 29 The Fugees – Killing Me Softly 28 Deep Blue Something – Breakfast At Tiffany´s 26 Will Smith — Men in Black 25 Aqua — Barbie Girl 24 Spice Girls – Mama / Who Do You Think You Are 24 Various Artists – Perfect Day 23 Gina G — Ooh Aah … Just a little bit +4 23 The Verve – The Drugs Don´t Work 22 Spice Girls – Too Much 22 Spice Girls – Say You'll Be There 22 Spice Girls – Spice Up Your Life 21 Babylon Zoo – Spaceman 21 George Michael – Fastlove 21 The Fugees – Ready Or Not 20 The Chemical Brothers – Setting Sun 20 L L Cool J – Ain´t Nobody 20 The Chemical Brothers – Block Rockin´ Beats 20 Eternal & BeBe Winans – I Wanna Be The Only One 19 The Prodigy – Breathe 19 Blur – Beetlebum 17 Michael Jackson – Blood On The Dancefloor 14 Teletubbies – Teletubbies Say `Eh-Oh!´ 14 Gary Barlow – Love Won´t Wait -6 12 Tori Amos ft. Armand van Helden – Professional Widow (It’s Got To Be Big) 11 Gary Barlow – Forever Love 11 Boyzone – A Different Beat  08 Oasis – D´you Know What I Mean 08 Take That – How Deep Is Your Love 07 Baddiel, Skinner & Lightning Seeds – Three Lions 06 U2 – Discothèque Hadn't heard either of the Gary Barlow offerings before, and frankly don't wish to ever again.

Republicans having double standards? Never!