Drewsky1211

12/11/2023 24 Pulp — Common People -2 21 The Verve — Bitter Sweet Symphony +1 20 The Cardigans — Lovefool 20 Supergrass — Alright / Time 19 Kylie Minogue — Confide In Me 19 Deee-Lite — Groove is in the Heart +2 19 Madonna — Beautiful Stranger -3 18 Blur — Song 2 +1 14 James — Sit Down -1

Alma Mahler Gropius Werfel died on this day 59 years ago, aged 85. - Born to a Jewish family in Vienna, Alma was the daughter of noted painter Emil Schindler. - Like her father, Alma would enter the field of arts, albeit in music instead of painting. She made several lieder: - Alma is more famous for her varied celebrity lovers- she dated figures such as Gustav Klimt, Oskar Kokoscha, and Alexander von Zemlinsky- but only married three people (think of her as the Elizabeth Taylor of early 20th century Europe). - The first one of her marriages was to Das Lied von der Erde composer Gustav Mahler in 1902, having two daughters with him. Their marriage was unhappy due to Gustav forbidding Alma from composing, and the two would seek therapy from Sigmund Freud. - While married to Mahler, Alma began an affair with Bauhaus leader Walter Gropius. Mahler died in 1911, and Alma married Gropius in 1915; he would be away fighting in World War I for most of their marriage, leaving Alma to seek other relations- with the man who soon became her third husband. - Alma divorced Gropius in 1920, and married The Song of Bernadette author Franz Werfel in 1929. The couple fled Austria to France in 1938, then fleeing again to the US in 1940. The two would remain there until their deaths- Franz in 1945, Alma in 1964. - Upon reading her obituary, Tom Lehrer made a waltz about her life:

"HEY YOU GUYS!" Rita Moreno is 92.

12/10/2023 44 Greg Lake — I Believe In Father Christmas 42 Gabriella Cilmi — Warm This Winter 40 Wham! — Last Christmas 40 The Pogues ft. Kirsty MacColl — Fairytale Of New York +1 37 Kate Bush — December Will Be Magic Again 37 The Ronettes — Sleigh Ride  36 Queen — Thank God It’s Christmas 36 Bing Crosby — White Christmas 36 The Pretenders — 2000 Miles 34 Andy Williams — It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year 33 Beach Boys — Little Saint Nick 33 Wizzard — I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday 32 Jona Lewie — Stop the Cavalry 32 Bobby Helms — Jingle Bell Rock +1 31 Ray Conniff — Carol Of The Bells 31 Eartha Kitt — Santa Baby 30 Burl Ives — Holly Jolly Christmas +1 29 Saint Etienne — I Was Born On Christmas Day 27 Brenda Lee — Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree +1 26 The Darkness — Don’t Let The Bells End  26 Nat King Cole — The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You) +1 25 Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters — Mele Kalikimaka +1 22 Dean Martin — Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! 22 Elton John — Step Into Christmas 21 The Crystals — Santa Claus Is Coming To Town 20 Mike Oldfield — In Dulci Jubilo -5 18 Gene Autry — Here Comes Santa Claus 18 Kay Starr — (Everybody’s Waitin’ For) The Man With The Bag 18 Chuck Berry — Run Rudolph Run 13 The Wombles — Wombling Merry Christmas -4 5 Perry Como — It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas I find it funny that the song we're trying to avoid is in the top three right now.

12/10/2023 25 The Cardigans — Lovefool 24 Kylie Minogue — Confide In Me 24 Pulp — Common People -2 24 Madonna — Beautiful Stranger -2 21 James — Sit Down -2 19 Supergrass — Alright / Time 19 The Verve — Bitter Sweet Symphony +1 17 Blur — Song 2 +1 16 Deee-Lite — Groove is in the Heart +1 15 Natalie Imbruglia — Torn 8 Ace Of Base — The Sign +1

Ed Wood died on this day 45 years ago, aged 54. - Wood entered the film industry in 1947, mostly doing advertisements, and directed a few TV pilots. - One of Wood's childhood film heroes was Bela Lugosi, whom he met in 1952. From there, Wood would begin directing grindhouse movies starring both himself and Lugosi- the first being 1953's Glen or Glenda, considered one of the worst movies ever made. Wood starred as the titular crossdresser (he was also one offscreen, too). - Wood made several more Z-movies over the coming years, which included Jail Bait, Bride of the Monster, and The Violent Years. - Wood's magnum opus is considered to be 1959's Plan 9 From Outer Space, a film where aliens try to start a zombie apocalypse to prevent humanity from making a universe-destroying device. This was Bela Lugosi's final film role (he died 3 years before its release). - Wood would shift to pornographic films- examples include 1965's Orgy of the Dead, 1970's Take It Out in Trade, and 1971's Necromania (those first and last movie titles... yikes... (they're fortunately just horror films with smutty elements)) - Wood also wrote over 80 books- in a similar vein to his movies, these mostly consisted of crime novels and erotica. - Wood died from a heart attack in 1978. Sixteen years later, Tim Burton directed a biopic of him, casting Johnny Depp as Wood, which received two Academy Awards.

Kenneth Branagh is 63.

12/9/2023 46 Wizzard — I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday 43 The Ronettes — Sleigh Ride 40 Greg Lake — I Believe In Father Christmas 38 Gabriella Cilmi — Warm This Winter 38 Wham! — Last Christmas 37 Queen — Thank God It’s Christmas 37 The Pretenders — 2000 Miles 35 Kate Bush — December Will Be Magic Again 34 Bing Crosby - White Christmas 35 Jona Lewie — Stop The Cavalry 34 Andy Williams — It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year +1 34.Eartha Kitt — Santa Baby 33 Beach Boys — Little Saint Nick 31 The Pogues ft. Kirsty MacColl — Fairytale Of New York +1 29 Burl Ives — Holly Jolly Christmas +1 27 Saint Etienne — I Was Born On Christmas Day 27 Bobby Helms — Jingle Bell Rock 26 The Darkness — Don’t Let The Bells End 26 Perry Como — It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas 26 Brenda Lee — Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree +1 25 Nat King Cole — The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You) +1 24 Ray Conniff — Carol Of The Bells 24 Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters — Mele Kalikimaka +1 23 Mike Oldfield — In Dulci Jubilo 23 Kay Starr — (Everybody’s Waitin’ For) The Man With The Bag 22 Dean Martin — Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! 22 Elton John — Step Into Christmas 21 The Crystals — Santa Claus Is Coming To Town 21 Gene Autry — Here Comes Santa Claus 18.Chuck Berry — Run Rudolph Run 17 The Wombles — Wombling Merry Christmas -4 13 The Waitresses — Christmas Wrapping  13 Perry Como — Winter Wonderland 12 Chris de Burgh — A Spaceman Came Travelling -5

12/9/2023 33 Pulp — Common People 28 Kylie Minogue — Confide In Me 27 Natalie Imbruglia — Torn 25 The Cardigans — Lovefool 25 Madonna — Beautiful Stranger 22 Deee-Lite — Groove Is In The Heart +1 20 James — Sit Down -3 18 The Verve — Bitter Sweet Symphony +1 17 Supergrass — Alright / Time -3 16 Fatboy Slim — Right Here, Right Now +1 10 Ace Of Base — The Sign 10 Blur — Song 2 +1 A lot of my favorites are in the bottom half...

King Malcolm IV of Scotland died on this day 858 years ago, aged 24. - Malcolm became the heir apparent to the Scottish throne when his father Henry died when he was 11- and became king the next year after the death of his grandfather David I. - Malcolm would attempt to gain the favor of Henry II of England by having several diplomatic meetings with him (accepting ceding Scottish land in exchange for English land), and would be knighted by him after assisting him in besieging Toulouse in 1159. - Malcolm would then face a rebellion in Moray in 1163, and managed to disperse the revolting populace. - Malcolm reigned for twelve years, but died at a young age from what historians believe was hastened by Paget's disease (a bone disorder). His death at said age led to his epithet "Malcolm the Maiden", or "Malcolm Virgo" (also fitting due to his death as a virgin). His younger brother William I would succeed him as king.

Judi Dench is 89.

12/8/2023 40 The Pretenders — 2000 Miles 39 Kate Bush — December Will Be Magic Again 38 Greg Lake — I Believe In Father Christmas 38 Wizzard — I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday 37 Gabriella Cilmi — Warm This Winter 37 Wham! — Last Christmas 37. Eartha Kitt — Santa Baby 37 The Wombles - Wombling Merry Christmas -2 34 Queen — Thank God It’s Christmas 34 The Ronettes — Sleigh Ride 33 Beach Boys — Little Saint Nick 33 Andy Williams — It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year 30 Bing Crosby - White Christmas 28 Burl Ives — Holly Jolly Christmas 27 Bobby Helms — Jingle Bell Rock 26 The Darkness — Don’t Let The Bells End 26 Jona Lewie — Stop The Cavalry 26 Perry Como — It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas 25 Brenda Lee — Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree +1 24 Nat King Cole — The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You) +1 24 Saint Etienne — I Was Born On Christmas Day 24 Ray Conniff — Carol Of The Bells 23 Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters — Mele Kalikimaka +1 23 Mike Oldfield — In Dulci Jubilo 23 Kay Starr — (Everybody’s Waitin’ For) The Man With The Bag 22 Dean Martin — Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! 22 Elton John — Step Into Christmas 21 Chuck Berry — Run Rudolph Run 21 The Crystals — Santa Claus Is Coming To Town 21 Gene Autry — Here Comes Santa Claus 21 Bing Crosby & David Bowie — Peace On Earth / Little Drummer Boy 20 Donny Hathaway — This Christmas 20 The Waitresses — Christmas Wrapping 18 The Pogues ft. Kirsty MacColl — Fairytale Of New York +3 18 Darlene Love — Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) 14 Destiny’s Child — 8 Days Of Christmas -4 13 Perry Como — Winter Wonderland 11 Chris de Burgh — A Spaceman Came Travelling -2 6 The Eagles — Please Come Home For Christmas -1

12/8/2023 33 Natalie Imbruglia — Torn 32 Pulp — Common People 30 James — Sit Down 25 Kylie Minogue — Confide In Me 25 Madonna — Beautiful Stranger 25 The Cardigans — Lovefool 24 Supergrass — Alright / Time 23 The Verve — Bitter Sweet Symphony 18 Fatboy Slim — Right Here, Right Now +2 15 Deee-Lite — Groove is in the Heart +2 13 Ace Of Base — The Sign 12 Blur — Song 2 11 DNA ft. Suzanne Vega — Tom's Diner -6

John Lennon died on this day 43 years ago, aged 40. - Lennon's middle name, "Winston", was given to him by his parents because Winston Churchill was PM at the time. - Before The Beatles, Lennon formed his first band when he was 15, called The Quarrymen- named after his high school, Quarry Bank. - Animated versions of Lennon were voiced by John Clive in Yellow Submarine, and Paul Frees in the 1965 cartoon series based on the band. - You may have seen this image of Lennon floating around the Internet: This was taken in 1971 at the Cannes Film Festival- it's believed Lennon was either doing an impression of a cowboy's walk, imitating the "Keep on Truckin'" drawing, or referencing Monty Python's "Ministry of Silly Walks" sketch. - Because of his songs denouncing the Vietnam War (i.e. "Give Peace a Chance" and "Happy Xmas (War is Over)"), US Senator (and one-time DeathList pick) Strom Thurmond suggested to Richard Nixon that Lennon should be deported from the country. The proceedings would be initiated, but dismissed in 1975. - Many people first learned of Lennon's murder while watching a football game, with Howard Cosell being the one to deliver the news: - "Imagine" had initially peaked at #6 on the UK Singles Chart in 1975, but topped it in 1981.

Geoff Hurst is 82.

12/7/2023 36 Kate Bush — December Will Be Magic Again 35 Greg Lake — I Believe In Father Christmas 35 Wizzard — I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday 34 Wham! — Last Christmas 33 Bing Crosby — White Christmas 33 Beach Boys — Little Saint Nick 33 Andy Williams — It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year 33 The Wombles — Wombling Merry Christmas 32 Gabriella Cilmi — Warm This Winter 31 The Pretenders — 2000 Miles 31 Eartha Kitt — Santa Baby 30 Queen — Thank God It’s Christmas 28 Burl Ives — Holly Jolly Christmas +1 27 Bobby Helms — Jingle Bell Rock 26 The Darkness — Don’t Let The Bells End 26 Jona Lewie — Stop The Cavalry 25 The Ronettes — Sleigh Ride 24 Brenda Lee — Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree +1 24 Ray Conniff — Carol Of The Bells 24 Elvis Presley — Blue Christmas 24 Bing Crosby & David Bowie — Peace On Earth / Little Drummer Boy 23 Mike Oldfield — In Dulci Jubilo 23 Kay Starr — (Everybody’s Waitin’ For) The Man With The Bag 23 Nat King Cole — The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)  22 Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters — Mele Kalikimaka +1 22 Dean Martin — Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! 22 Elton John — Step Into Christmas 21 Destiny’s Child — 8 Days Of Christmas 21 Chuck Berry — Run Rudolph Run 21 The Crystals — Santa Claus Is Coming To Town 21 Perry Como — Winter Wonderland 21 Gene Autry — Here Comes Santa Claus 20 The Waitresses — Christmas Wrapping 20 The Pogues ft. Kirsty MacColl — Fairytale Of New York +1 20 Saint Etienne — I Was Born On Christmas Day 20 Perry Como — It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas 20 Darlene Love — Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) 19 The Eagles — Please Come Home For Christmas 19 Donny Hathaway — This Christmas 18 José Feliciano — Feliz Navidad 17 Run-DMC — Christmas In Hollis 14 Chris de Burgh — A Spaceman Came Travelling 13 George Michael — December Song 6 Coldplay — Christmas Lights -6 6 The Ronettes — Frosty The Snowman

12/7/2023 31 Pulp — Common People 30 Supergrass — Alright / Time 29 Kylie Minogue — Confide In Me 27 DNA ft. Suzanne Vega — Tom's Diner 26 The Verve — Bitter Sweet Symphony 26 James — Sit Down  23 Natalie Imbruglia — Torn 23 The Cardigans — Lovefool 23 Madonna — Beautiful Stranger 23 Blur — Song 2 18 Deee-Lite — Groove is in the Heart +2 16 Fatboy Slim — Right Here, Right Now +2 16 Ace Of Base — The Sign 10 KLF ft. Tammy Wynette — Justified And Ancient 07 Haddaway — What Is Love 0 Ce Ce Peniston — Finally Out -6

Elizabeth Edwards died on this day 13 years ago, aged 61. - Edwards' actual first name was Mary, and her maiden name was Anania. She married John Edwards in 1977. - Edwards worked at a law firm, retiring after her son Wade was killed in a car accident. - Edwards gained national spotlight during her husband's presidential run in the 2004 election due to how open she was about her struggles (especially Wade Edwards' death), and would have become the Second Lady of the United States had John Kerry beat George W. Bush. - The day after the 2004 election, Edwards was diagnosed with breast cancer, becoming an activist against the disease. She beat it once, but it recurred in 2007, metastasizing to her bones and lungs. - While undergoing cancer treatment, John Edwards had an affair and fathered an illegitimate daughter (which was highly publicized between 2008 and 2010). Elizabeth would legally separate from John in January of 2010 following his admission, and excluded him from her will. - Edwards died the day after she stopped treatment due to the cancer spreading to her liver. She had made one appearance on the DeathList, at #30 on the 2008 list.

Noam Chomsky is 95.

"From Lear to Eternity". RIP- here's a clip of him guest starring as Benjamin Franklin on an episode of South Park: (Fun fact: Cartman was based off of Archie Bunker and Lear was a friend of Trey Parker)

12/6/2023 35 Wizzard — I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday 34 Kate Bush — December Will Be Magic Again 34 Wham! — Last Christmas +1 33 The Wombles — Wombling Merry Christmas 33 Andy Williams — It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year 32 The Pretenders — 2000 Miles 32 Greg Lake — I Believe In Father Christmas 32 Gabriella Cilmi — Warm This Winter   31 Eartha Kitt — Santa Baby 30 Queen — Thank God It’s Christmas 29 Bing Crosby — White Christmas 29 The Beach Boys — Little Saint Nick 27 Bobby Helms — Jingle Bell Rock 27 Burl Ives — Holly Jolly Christmas +1 26 The Darkness — Don’t Let The Bells End 26 Darlene Love — Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) 25 Jona Lewie — Stop The Cavalry 24 Ray Conniff — Carol Of The Bells 24 Elvis Presley — Blue Christmas 24 José Feliciano — Feliz Navidad 24 Bing Crosby & David Bowie — Peace On Earth / Little Drummer Boy 23 Kay Starr — (Everybody’s Waitin’ For) The Man With The Bag 23 Run-DMC — Christmas In Hollis 23 The Ronettes — Sleigh Ride 23 Nat King Cole — The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You) 22 Brenda Lee — Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree +1 22 Mike Oldfield — In Dulci Jubilo 22 Dean Martin — Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! 22 The Waitresses — Christmas Wrapping 22 Elton John — Step Into Christmas 21 The Pogues ft. Kirsty MacColl — Fairytale Of New York +1 21 Destiny’s Child — 8 Days Of Christmas 21 Chuck Berry — Run Rudolph Run 21 Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters — Mele Kalikimaka 21 George Michael — December Song 21 The Crystals — Santa Claus Is Coming To Town 21 Perry Como — Winter Wonderland 21 Gene Autry — Here Comes Santa Claus 20 Perry Como — It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas 19 The Eagles — Please Come Home For Christmas 19 Donny Hathaway — This Christmas 16 Saint Etienne — I Was Born On Christmas Day 14 Coldplay — Christmas Lights 13 Chris de Burgh — A Spaceman Came Travelling 12 The Ronettes — Frosty The Snowman 8 Shakin’ Stevens — Merry Christmas Everyone 6 Boney M — Mary’s Boy Child (Oh My Lord) 6 Frank Sinatra — Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas   0 Perry Como — God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen -6

12/6/2023 33 Pulp — Common People 30 Kylie Minogue — Confide In Me 27 Supergrass — Alright / Time 26 DNA ft. Suzanne Vega — Tom's Diner 26 Deee-Lite — Groove Is In The Heart 25 Madonna — Beautiful Stranger 25 Natalie Imbruglia — Torn 24 The Verve — Bitter Sweet Symphony 23 The Cardigans — Lovefool 23 Blur — Song 2 23 James — Sit Down -3 21 Ace Of Base — The Sign 20 KLF ft. Tammy Wynette — Justified And Ancient 16 Fatboy Slim — Right Here, Right Now +4 13 Ce Ce Peniston — Finally (Re-Issue) -3 07 Haddaway — What Is Love

Pope Clement VI died on this day 671 years ago, aged 61. - Clement was born as Pierre Roger- or Pierre Rosiers- to a family in the French nobility. - Clement entered the Benedictine order when he was just 10 years old, eventually becoming a doctor of theology at the age of 32. - In 1328, Clement became the Bishop of Arras, and was promoted as the Archbishop of Sens a year later. Pope Benedict XII made him a cardinal in 1338. - Clement would succeed Benedict as pope after the latter's death in 1342. His papacy is best known for coinciding with the Black Death from 1347 to 1351. During the pandemic, Clement cleared the sins of those who died from it, and said those who blamed Jewish people for it had been "seduced by that liar, the Devil". He attributed the bubonic plague as a "hidden judgment" from God. - Clement was also known for declaring a crusade in 1343 (that nobody went on), excommunicating German king Louis IV in 1346, and donating the vast fortune Benedict XII had accumulated- also using the money to build new chapels and commission Vatican artists. - Clement was known to suffer from kidney stones, and died from some kind of tumor after a 10-year reign. His successor was Pope Innocent VI.

Tom Hulce is 70.

12/5/2023 28 Blur — Song 2 27 James — Sit Down 25 Pulp — Common People 25 Kylie Minogue — Confide In Me 25 The Cardigans — Lovefool 25 DNA ft. Suzanne Vega — Tom's Diner 24 Supergrass — Alright / Time 24 The Verve — Bitter Sweet Symphony 24 Deee-Lite — Groove Is In The Heart 23 Madonna — Beautiful Stranger 21 KLF ft. Tammy Wynette — Justified And Ancient 21 Ace Of Base — The Sign 20 Natalie Imbruglia — Torn 19 Fatboy Slim — Right Here, Right Now +4 18 The Corrs — Runaway 16 Haddaway — What Is Love 16 Ce Ce Peniston — Finally (Re-Issue) 7 Stardust — Music Sounds Better With You 5 Alannah Myles — Black Velvet -3 5 Pulp — Mis-Shapes / Sorted For E’s And Wizz -3