Essential 200 (Nova) vs Top 105 Gutarists of All Time (TXFM)

Declan A Walsh

Over the weekend, both Radio Nova and TXFM were doing special listener-based countdowns. Radio Nova were compiling the Top 200 Essential songs, while TXFM were compiling the Top 105 Guitarists of All Time.

I admit that I heard far more of the former than the latter - I only heard the latter yesterday evening at No. 5. TXFM was finishing later which meant that I could hear the Top 5 (and presumably Top 10) on both. TXFM went one further by dedicating two songs for each guitarist from Nos. 5 to 2... and wait for it! Nearly, two hours was dedicated to the No. 1 guitarist.

Here is Nova's countdown:
http://www.nova.ie/essential-200/

Here is TXFM's countdown:
http://www.txfm.ie/player/blogs/921.922.927/367

What do people think of the respective countdowns? Did people listen to either or both? Which did you prefer if you listened to both, or which looks better now having seen both sets above?

It is also interesting to see where they differ and where they overlap.

radioland

To be honest , they should be seen for what they are - bank holiday weekend fillers. As to their credibility, each to his / her own but I think the format's well past its sell by date

former legend

Radio Nova essential 100; "Sex on Fire" at #9. Wow.

The TXFM was great in terms of music if very predictable in terms of the outcome of the poll.

ghostdancer

they both look sh1te and full of predictable, boring rubbish.

at least TXFM's has a few mildly more interesting names/acts, although you could probably guess most of the top 50.

i didn't listen to either, as the stodgy dad-rock of Nova is atrocious, and TXFM doing basically the same countdown as they probably did 5 years ago as Phantom is a complete waste of my day.

ford fiesta

These and similar countdowns were better when the songs were not already available at the touch of a button on a smartphone or computer device and when the songs were rarely heard on the radio (and you'd be rushing around to find a blank tape to record them when they did come on the radio probably during Fanning's Fab 50!).

Yes they are an outdated format.

Max Headroom

Listened to both at different stages...until i realised that Nova's was a list of songs theyve played this year with the top 20 being the current playlist...:rolleyes:...at least TXFM threw in a few obscure (read interesting) tracks.....:)

Birneybau

Nova is irredeemably naff. It's what I imagine Alan Partridge would tune into if he wanted to 'Rock Out'.

Fair play to TXFM, they played who the voters wanted. If only they could do it every day.

Max Headroom

Birneybau wrote: »

Nova is irredeemably naff. It's what I imagine Alan Partridge would tune into if he wanted to 'Rock Out'.

..........Isnt he a DJ on Nova,,no ,sorry, thats Pat Courtenay..........:p

Declan A Walsh

Birneybau wrote: »

Nova is irredeemably naff. It's what I imagine Alan Partridge would tune into if he wanted to 'Rock Out'.

Fair play to TXFM, they played who the voters wanted. If only they could do it every day.

But both countdowns were listeners' choices, so naff or not, both played what the voters wanted!

Looking at the countdowns, it is a curious coincidence that Pink Floyd's Comfortably Numb is at No. 4 on the Essential 200 and Pink Floyd's David Gilmour is at No.4 on The Top 105 Guitarists!

Birneybau

As Max Headroom said above, Nova's top 20 was their current playlist. It doesn't ring true if that is what 'listeners' apparently voted for.

Having looked through the Nova list, it's kinda embarrassing about how obvious a Nova list it is. Smashy and Nicey springs to mind.

Ol' Donie

How in the name of jesus did a miss a countdown of the top 105 guitarists! Christ.

Heard bits of the Nova one, but got a bit cross with it, so turned it off.

Looking at the other one, though...

so much good stuff there.

Don't agree with a lot the ranking (EVH just one place above The Edge?), but still a hell of a list.

former legend

Birneybau wrote: »

As Max Headroom said above, Nova's top 20 was their current playlist. It doesn't ring true if that is what 'listeners' apparently voted for.

Having looked through the Nova list, it's kinda embarrassing about how obvious a Nova list it is. Smashy and Nicey springs to mind.

So a public poll resulted in the most popular and mainstream songs coming out on top. And you think this was rigged? Think about that for a minute.

Birneybau

former legend wrote: »

So a public poll resulted in the most popular and mainstream songs coming out on top. And you think this was rigged? Think about that for a minute.

Did you look at the poll? They are all 'Nova' songs by 'Nova' acts.

At least on TXFM they threw some curve-balls like Robert Johnson and Les Paul.

former legend

Birneybau wrote: »

Did you look at the poll? They are all 'Nova' songs by 'Nova' acts.

At least on TXFM they threw some curve-balls like Robert Johnson and Les Paul.

Nova play dadrock. That's what people tune in to hear, it's what their listeners like.

So if you ask those listeners to vote for their favourite songs, that's what you'll get back. A "curve ball" would actually be much stronger evidence of interfering with the results.

There's a few reasons why it's easier to get more obscure acts into the txfm chart.

Max Headroom

former legend wrote: »

Nova play dadrock. That's what people tune in to hear, it's what their listeners like.

So if you ask those listeners to vote for their favourite songs, that's what you'll get back. A "curve ball" would actually be much stronger evidence of interfering with the results.

There's a few reasons why it's easier to get more obscure acts into the txfm chart.

I dissagree..i'm a "dad"..but most of the stuff Nova play makes me cringe....which is why i listen to TX more...
I dont believe for one minute that either poll are results from listeners..i'd like to see the figures...
IMO TXFM are starting off like Nova did..safe popular songs with an oldie thrown in now and then....but hopefully they'll grow a pair and not end up like Nova , who havent moved on since day one....