Drewsky1211

12/16/2024 26 Wham! — Last Christmas +1 (still in though I've heard the Taylor Swift cover once) 24 Isaac Watts — Joy To The World 22 Pet Shop Boys — Always On My Mind 19 Tom Jones — Green, Green Grass Of Home 19 Queen — Bohemian Rhapsody / These Are The Days Of Our Lives +1 18 Mykola Leontovych — Carol Of The Bells 16 The Human League — Don’t You Want Me +1 15 David Willcocks — God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen -5 14 John Williams — O Holy Night +1 14 Charles Wesley — Hark! The Herald Angels Sing 14 Pink Floyd — Another Brick In the Wall 13 Greg Lake — I Believe In Father Christmas 13 The Beatles — I Feel Fine 06 The Pretenders — 2000 Miles -1

12/16/2024 110 Shania Twain - That Don’t Impress Me Much 84 Fatboy Slim - Gangster Trippin +1 59 Stereophonics - The Bartender and the Thief 41 Savage Garden - To the Moon and Back 38 Shania Twain - Man! I Feel Like a Woman 29 2Pac - Changes +3 27 Lauryn Hill - Doo Wop (That Thing) 26 Kula Shaker - Sound of Drums 06 Robbie Williams - Let Me Entertain You -4 06 U2 - Sweetest Thing -2

Lillian Disney died on this day 27 years ago, aged 98. - Lillian was born as 'Lillian Bounds', and she would study business in college for a year. She joined the then-Walt Disney Studios as a secretary for its ink and paint department- and her boss (2 years her junior) fell in love with her. - Lillian and Walt Disney married in 1925, and they had two children together. In 1928, Walt showed her concept of a new mascot for the studio which he named 'Mortimer Mouse', and Lillian suggested he rename it to 'Mickey' due to disliking how it sounded. The rest is history: (Mortimer Mouse would become an actual character later on, as a rival to Mickey) - Lillian would be credited with ink work on the 1929 Mickey short film Plane Crazy (incidentally, it will fully enter the public domain in a few weeks), and her legacy as a part of Disney lives on at the theme parks, where several vehicles were christened after her (Disney Land and Disney World both have trains called the 'Lily Belle', and the latter also has a steamboat called 'The Empress Lily'). - After Walt died in 1966, Lillian would remarry to a man named John Truyens- this marriage lasted for 12 years until his death. In later years, she would become a noted philanthropist, notably donating large sums to the CalArts animation school, and making the initial donation to build the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. - Lillian Disney died of a stroke, having suffered it on the 31st anniversary of her husband's death. Coincidentally, her nephew-in-law Roy E. Disney died on the same day 12 years later. The last Disney film within its animated canon to be released during her lifetime was Hercules, to put things in perspective.

Benjamin Bratt is 61.

137 Queen — Bohemian Rhapsody / These Are The Days Of Our Lives +10 81 The Beatles — I Feel Fine 49 Spice Girls — 2 Become 1 35 Band Aid — Do They Know It’s Christmas? 20 Queen — Bohemian Rhapsody 13 The Beatles — Day Tripper / We Can Work It Out -11 03 Leona Lewis — A Moment Like This -13 Third time's the charm.

12/15/2024 147 Queen — Bohemian Rhapsody / These Are The Days Of Our Lives +20 81 The Beatles — I Feel Fine 49 Spice Girls — 2 Become 1 35 Band Aid — Do They Know It’s Christmas? 20 Queen — Bohemian Rhapsody 13 The Beatles — Day Tripper / We Can Work It Out -11 03 Leona Lewis — A Moment Like This -13 This better?

12/15/2024 136 Queen — Bohemian Rhapsody / These Are The Days Of Our Lives +9 81 The Beatles — I Feel Fine 49 Spice Girls — 2 Become 1 35 Band Aid — Do They Know It’s Christmas? 29 Queen — Bohemian Rhapsody +9 24 The Beatles — Day Tripper / We Can Work It Out 00 Leona Lewis — A Moment Like This -16

12/15/2024 106 Shania Twain - That Don’t Impress Me Much 79 Fatboy Slim - Gangster Trippin +1 59 Stereophonics - The Bartender and the Thief 41 Savage Garden - To the Moon and Back 38 Kula Shaker - Sound of Drums 36 Shania Twain - Man! I Feel Like a Woman 36 2Pac - Changes +3 27 Lauryn Hill - Doo Wop (That Thing) 10 U2 - Sweetest Thing -6 10 Robbie Williams - Let Me Entertain You

Glenn Miller died on this day 80 years ago, aged 40. - Miller's first name was actually Alton, and he went by an alternate spelling of his middle name (it originally had one N). - Miller would form a band with some of his friends during high school, and would soon become a freelance trombonist for big bands. Notably he worked for the Dorsey Brothers, writing several songs for them. - Miller formed the Glenn Miller Orchestra in 1938, and their first hit was 1939's "In the Mood": The band would have a string of hits over the next few years, many of which became swing music staples- "Pennsylvania 6-5000", "Chattanooga Choo Choo", "Tuxedo Junction", and the original version of "At Last": - Miller would enlist in the US Army in 1942 to serve in World War II. Rather than have him serve in combat, the military would use him and his band to entertain soldiers and boost troop morale. They would be stationed in England in June of 1944. Miller was planned to be restationed to Paris in December of that year. Miller grew impatient due to delays made because of inclement weather, and would soon learn that an acquaintance would be flying there and so joined him without notifying his superiors. The plane took off- and went missing, believed to have crashed into the English Channel due to either a mechanical failure from freezing weather, or poor visibility from fog. Miller was declared dead in absentia a year later, and the wreckage remains to be found.

Cindy Birdsong is 85.

12/14/2024 121 Queen — Bohemian Rhapsody / These Are The Days Of Our Lives +5 82 The Beatles — I Feel Fine 41 Spice Girls — 2 Become 1 41 BandAid — Do They Know It’s Christmas? 28 The Beatles — Day Tripper / We Can Work It Out 20 Harry Belafonte — Mary’s Boy Child 20 Queen — Bohemian Rhapsody 20 Leona Lewis — A Moment Like This 20 Matt Cardle — When We Collide 20 Sam Bailey — Skyscraper 18 Leon Jackson — When You Believe 13 The Beatles — I Want To Hold Your Hand 10 Ben Haenow — Something I Need 00 Shayne Ward — That’s My Goal -10

12/14/2024 100 Shania Twain - That Don’t Impress Me Much 77 Fatboy Slim - Gangster Trippin 58 Stereophonics - The Bartender and the Thief 41 Savage Garden - To the Moon and Back 38 Lauryn Hill - Doo Wop (That Thing) 38 Shania Twain - Man! I Feel Like a Woman 35 Kula Shaker - Sound of Drums 33 2Pac - Changes +1 17 U2 - Sweetest Thing -4 17 Robbie Williams - Let Me Entertain You -2 10 TLC - No Scrubs +3

George Washington died on this day 225 years ago, aged 67. - When Washington was young, he aspired to become a mapmaker, and in 1749 was named the surveyor of Culpeper County, Virginia. During this time he was also a diplomat to the Iroquois Confederacy- the Iroquois called him 'Conotocaurius', which meant 'town destroyer' (George's great-grandfather John Washington was an infamous figure to the local Susquehannock tribe, as he ordered five chiefs killed before they could negotiate with his regiment). - During the American Revolution, British soldiers would often intercept letters written by Washington- one notable example being a 1781 letter to his dentist. His teeth were not made out of wood- rather they were constructed from brass, gold, hippopotamus ivory... and teeth bought and extracted from his slaves. - Rather than the popular belief that Washington retired after two terms because he did not want to become a king, Washington initially planned to be a one-term president (retiring after the 1792 election), but stayed due to infighting within his cabinet and the need to build up foreign policy. - Washington is credited with creating the American Foxhound breed of dog, desiring to breed a hound that was faster and more adept at sniffing out foxes. Some of his own dogs' names are known- among which were 'Scentwell' and 'Sweetlips'. - Washington contracted epiglottitis after a day of riding out in cold rain, hastened by bloodletting in an attempt to cure him (it was standard medical procedure back then).

Vanessa Hudgens is 36.

Always Dreaming, winner of the 2017 Kentucky Derby, has died at the age of 10.

12/13/2024 101 Queen — Bohemian Rhapsody / These Are The Days Of Our Lives +6 91 BandAid — Do They Know It’s Christmas? 75 The Beatles — I Feel Fine 30 Spice Girls — 2 Become 1 23 The Beatles — Day Tripper / We Can Work It Out 23 Leon Jackson — When You Believe 21 Ed Sheeran — Perfect -9 20 Harry Belafonte — Mary’s Boy Child 20 Queen — Bohemian Rhapsody 20 Shayne Ward — That’s My Goal 20 Leona Lewis — A Moment Like This 20 Matt Cardle — When We Collide 20 Sam Bailey — Skyscraper 20 Ben Haenow — Something I Need 20 Lewisham & Greenwich NHS Choir — A Bridge Over You 18 The Beatles — I Want To Hold Your Hand 15 Westlife — I Have A Dream / Seasons In The Sun 10 Spice Girls — Too Much Fixed the score (Diego forgot to change it)- and then took away from it.

12/13/2024 96 Shania Twain - That Don’t Impress Me Much 73 Fatboy Slim - Gangster Trippin 58 Stereophonics - The Bartender and the Thief 44 Shania Twain - Man! I Feel Like a Woman 43 Lauryn Hill - Doo Wop (That Thing) 40 Savage Garden - To the Moon and Back 34 2Pac - Changes +1 33 Kula Shaker - Sound of Drums 23 U2 - Sweetest Thing -2 18 Robbie Williams - Let Me Entertain You 18 TLC - No Scrubs +3 06 Bran Van 300 - Drinking in L.A -4

Pope Callixtus II died on this day 900 years ago, aged 59. - Callixtus' birth name was Guy, and he was the son of William I, Count of Burgundy- making him related to many medieval European monarchs. - At 23, Callixtus became the archbishop of Vienne (France, not Vienna in Austria), and would preside over clergy meetings discussing the excommunication of Holy Roman Emperor Henry V in 1112 (Henry had abducted Pope Paschal II in order to coronate him at the start of his reign over Germany), successfully arguing in favor of the punishment. - Callixtus was elected pope in 1119 following the death of Pope Gelasius II. He was very popular among the citizens of Rome, causing Antipope Gregory VIII (the person Henry recognized as pope) to flee. In 1122, Callixtus and Henry would finally reconcile by signing the Concordat of Worms, where Henry relinquished claims to select his own clergy. The terms would be codified in the Lateran I ecumenical council the following year, which would also lay out punishments for simony (selling church offices) and those who robbed from churches in battle. - Callixtus was tolerant of Europe's Jewish population, issuing the Sicut Judaeis papal bull in 1120- stating they were free to practice their religion, and should not be harmed or proselytized. This bull would unfortunately be largely ignored by Europe's Christians. - Callixtus died after five years as pope, and was succeeded by Pope Honorius II.

Steve Buscemi is 67.

12/12/2024 76 Band Aid — Do They Know It’s Christmas? 70 Queen — Bohemian Rhapsody / These Are The Days Of Our Lives 45 The Beatles — I Feel Fine 39 Spice Girls — 2 Become 1 33 The Beatles — I Want To Hold Your Hand 32 Ed Sheeran — Perfect 32 Leon Jackson — When You Believe 23 The Beatles — Day Tripper / We Can Work It Out 20 Harry Belafonte — Mary’s Boy Child 20 Queen — Bohemian Rhapsody 20 Spice Girls — Too Much 20 Shayne Ward — That’s My Goal 20 Leona Lewis — A Moment Like This 20 Matt Cardle — When We Collide 20 Sam Bailey — Skyscraper 20 Ben Haenow — Something I Need 20 Lewisham & Greenwich NHS Choir — A Bridge Over You 17 Cliff Richard & The Shadows — I Love You 15 Boney M - Mary’s Boy Child 15 Westlife — I Have A Dream / Seasons In The Sun 00 LadBaby — I Love Sausage Rolls -15

12/12/2024 92 Shania Twain - That Don’t Impress Me Much 69 Fatboy Slim - Gangster Trippin 58 Stereophonics - The Bartender and the Thief 45 Lauryn Hill - Doo Wop (That Thing) 44 Shania Twain - Man! I Feel Like a Woman 42 2Pac - Changes +1 38 Savage Garden - To the Moon and Back 35 Kula Shaker - Sound of Drums 23 U2 - Sweetest Thing  22 Bran Van 300 - Drinking in L.A. 19 TLC - No Scrubs +3 16 Robbie Williams - Let Me Entertain You -1 05 Bob Marley Vs Funkstar De Luxe - Sun Is Shining 00 Catatonia - Mulder and Scully -5

12/12/2024 32 Bastille — Pompeii +4 02 Adele — Rolling In The Deep -6

Norman Bridwell died on this day 10 years ago, aged 86. - Bridwell began his career as a commercial artist before applying at several publishers to become a children's book illustrator. Rejected many times (likely due to his style often involving white spots within the characters akin to a child's drawing ability), he would make his first book based on one of them- that being 1963's Clifford the Big Red Dog: Bridwell would write many books in the Clifford series, and the character later became the mascot of the publishing company that published it (Scholastic). It has also been adapted into a live-action/animated movie and two PBS Kids cartoons: (Fun fact: Emily Elizabeth was named after his daughter.) - Bridwell would also write The Witch Next Door in 1965, writing six books in that series: - Bridwell died from prostate cancer, unfortunately hastened by a fall.

Bill Nighy is 75.

12/11/2024 56 Band Aid — Do They Know It’s Christmas? 45 Queen — Bohemian Rhapsody / These Are The Days Of Our Lives +2 44 Spice Girls — 2 Become 1 38 The Beatles — I Want To Hold Your Hand 38 The Beatles — Day Tripper / We Can Work It Out 34 Leon Jackson — When You Believe 30 The Beatles — I Feel Fine 22 Cliff Richard & The Shadows — I Love You 20 Harry Belafonte — Mary’s Boy Child 20 Queen — Bohemian Rhapsody 20 Spice Girls — Too Much 20 Westlife — I Have A Dream / Seasons In The Sun 20 Shayne Ward — That’s My Goal 20 Leona Lewis — A Moment Like This 20 Matt Cardle — When We Collide 20 Sam Bailey — Skyscraper 20 Ben Haenow — Something I Need 20 Lewisham & Greenwich NHS Choir — A Bridge Over You 20 Ed Sheeran — Perfect 15 LadBaby — We Built This City -4 15 LadBaby — I Love Sausage Rolls -4 10 Spice Girls — Goodbye 10 Boney M - Mary’s Boy Child 10 Wings — Mull Of Kintyre / Girls’ School 00 LadBaby ft. Elton John & Ed Sheeran — Sausage Rolls For Everyone -5