Kill or Save: UK No.2 Hits of the 50s

[TQR 14,334]

And that, in just under 4 weeks, is a wrap...the winner of this piccolo KoS is Dean Martin's version of Volare! The original version, 'Nel Blu, Dipinto Di Blu' by Domenico Modugno, came third in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1958. Soon after, Dean Martin mashed it up with some lines of English and got it to No.2 in the singles chart. Now, 66 years on, it has finally peaked, becoming the 16th KoS champion and the first (partially) non-English song to do so.

 

 

Lovely innit. And props to the King of Cool, he's on the podium twice! Here's how this finale microscopico played out:

1. Dean Martin — Volare
2. Elvis Presley — Hound Dog
3. Dean Martin — That’s Amore
4. Nat King Cole — When I Fall In Love
5. Elvis Presley — Heartbreak Hotel
6. Elvis Presley — King Creole
7. Frank Sinatra — (Love Is) The Tender Trap
8. Nat King Cole — Smile
9. The Everly Brothers — Bird Dog
10. Harry Belafonte — Banana Boat Song

 

And here is a musty old pile of merda; the ten worst in the game:

 

Obernkirchen Children’s Choir — The Happy Wanderer

Various Artists — All Star Hit Parade

Four Aces ft. Al Alberts — Love Is A Many Splendored Thing

Max Bygraves — Meet Me On The Corner

Mitch Miller — The Yellow Rose Of Texas

Lonnie Donegan — Battle Of New Orleans

Russ Hamilton — We Will Make Love

Elias & His Zigzag Jive Flutes — Tom Hark

Little Richard — Baby Face

Cliff Richard & The Drifters — Move It

 

Ick.

 

Anyway, as always, no time to dwell on the past - we've got a load more songs from the past to dwell on. We'll be back in the 50s in a few games time for the No.3s, but for now, it's back to this milennium to sort the last of the No.2s. See you there!

[TQR 14,334]

Out of the 10 that made the final, this would've been my order. I think this might be the first time my No.1 choice actually got there.

1. Dean Martin — Volare
2. Elvis Presley — Hound Dog
3. Nat King Cole — When I Fall In Love
4. Frank Sinatra — (Love Is) The Tender Trap
5. Nat King Cole — Smile
6. Harry Belafonte — Banana Boat Song
7. The Everly Brothers — Bird Dog
8. Elvis Presley — King Creole
9. Dean Martin — That’s Amore
10. Elvis Presley — Heartbreak Hotel (fucking shit)