Lightning Surlaw - BBC Sound of 2021

Electric Nitwit · 07-01-2021 2:27pm #1

Hi gang - every year I check out the BBC Sound of the year and try to pretend I'm not an old has-been. They shortlist 10 up and coming artists and I thought it might make an interesting mini surlaw.
(They actually announced the winner last night but anyway...)

So, if you want to play along, there’s ten songs below for you to sample. PM me your top five, in order. And I thought it might be nice if you added a couple of sentences for your top two that I’ll copy out in the reveal. Aiming for this to be lightning quick – reveal next Thursday night if a few people are in, so submissions to me by Wednesday 13th please. I'll give your first choice 7pts, then 5-3-2-1

Youtube music playlist

Green&Red wrote: »

Spotify playlist

1 – Alfie Templeman, Forever Isn’t Long Enough

17-year-old Alfie Templeman started making music by banging pots and pans in his family kitchen in Bedfordshire. After mastering those, he also taught himself bass and guitar.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVCWlT2EAcg

2 - BERWYN, Vinyl

An accomplished multi-instrumentalist, he plays drums, piano, guitar and violin “but I’m not even sure if I play them properly because I taught myself”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-p4C3WMRLEs

3 – Bree Runway, Apesh!t

With influences as diverse as Lil Kim, Madonna and Shania Twain, she bristles at being pigeon-holed. “I’m not just a rapper. Like, that’s completely impossible. I’m literally everything.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q16-dJuCD4w

4 - Dutchavelli, Bando Diaries

The younger brother of rap star Stefflon Don, Dutchavelli was born in Birmingham but raised in the Netherlands – hence his stage name. Known for his gruff voice and ominous beats, he released his first song, New Jack City, in 2016

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lnI-PENwSA

5 - Girl In Red, Rue

Norwegian lo-fi artist Marie Ulven scored a viral hit with her first ever song, I Wanna Be Your Girlfriend, in 2017, which has since been played 80 million times on Spotify.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xeAK9A8SOI

6 - Greentea Peng, Hu Man

Her tripped-out, spiritually-enriched soul is inspired by her attempts to relax and unwind. “I’ve got a busy brain,” she told The Face. “I’m always thinking about some madness.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yf6r5m0TM7Y

7 - Griff, Say It Again

After being nominated for an Ivor Novello Rising Star Award this summer, she was chosen to sing Love Is A Compass – the emotional ballad that soundtracked Disney’s Christmas advert.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5MtXXxXYm0

8 – Holly Humberstone, Falling Asleep At The Wheel

Her intensely personal lyrics all have to pass a quality control test. “They have to be lyrics that someone would get tattooed on their skin for life,” she told one interviewer. “If they're not tattoo lyrics, then they don't make the record.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILPo-HdvfHA

9 – The Lathums, I See Your Ghost

In July, they topped the vinyl album charts with The Memories We Make – a compilation of all their recordings to date. Since then, they’ve started working on their debut album.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpuR7zT33p4

10 – Pa Salieu, My Family

Not afraid to experiment with different sounds and styles, he draws on everything from dancehall and drill, while incorporating the hand-drummed sounds of his Gambian heritage. “I don’t do genres,” he said in one interview, ”I do everything”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxTV3vODb3s

Also Starring LeVar Burton · 07-01-2021 2:41pm

Will have a couple of listens to them all today, and hopefully I'll have clear preferences from the first listen and be able to rank them swiftly and efficiently...

07-01-2021 2:45pm

I know what me number one is anyway.

Electric Nitwit · 07-01-2021 2:47pm

Also Starring LeVar Burton wrote: »

Will have a couple of listens to them all today, and hopefully I'll have clear preferences from the first listen and be able to rank them swiftly and efficiently...

Yep, no messing around!

Ah, I thought a quick one as it won't get in anyone's way given I'm queue jumping. And it's only 10. And they're not my picks so you don't have to give them the care and attention I know you'd dedicate to them if I'd handpicked them

Just heard this morning that the winner was announced and thought it might be interesting. I actually started writing the OP before listening to them myself. The standard isn't as high as I'd have hoped, which either means I am an old has-been, or kids today have terrible taste

jacool · 07-01-2021 3:36pm

Two tracks way ahead of the rest.
My 3,4 and 5 are obvious too, but now have to rate 1 and 2.

Electric Nitwit · 07-01-2021 4:07pm

Three entries in already

I'm avoiding reading them until I sort my order though. Think I have my top two, my next two, then fifth. Just need to order the pairs...

07-01-2021 4:25pm

It was relatively easy for me to pick. I only really liked 5 of them.

My first and second picked themselves. First was a clear winner.

Order of 4th and 5th were the only real decision I had to make.

the purple tin · 07-01-2021 5:42pm

Deleted User wrote: »

It was relatively easy for me to pick. I only really liked 5 of them.

My first and second picked themselves. First was a clear winner.

Order of 4th and 5th were the only real decision I had to make.

Quite easy for me too. I liked my first two, the next three were okay but not doing much for me. The other five were grade-A stinkers. Pe-yoo

Also Starring LeVar Burton · 07-01-2021 5:50pm

I quite liked them all, so finding it difficult enough to just narrow it down to five. After three listens, I've reluctantly culled it down to six, but having a tough time deciding which of the remaining won't make it into my Top 5. And don't even talk to me about trying to rank them yet...

Electric Nitwit · 07-01-2021 5:54pm

the purple tin wrote: »

Quite easy for me too. I liked my first two, the next three were okay but not doing much for me. The other five were grade-A stinkers. Pe-yoo

Five stinkers :eek:
Two for me, three I really liked and five middley

Also Starring LeVar Burton · 07-01-2021 8:20pm

Right, that's me done, choonage assessed and choices are in...

Electric Nitwit · 07-01-2021 8:33pm

That's five...

Clarabel
the purple tin
Alijah Odd Nectarine
ShaneU
Also Starring LeVar Burton...

...in already, flying it

Obviously the more the merrier, everyone welcome!

07-01-2021 8:33pm

I've just listened to a couple of songs from one of the acts that didn't make my top 5 and it's much, much better stuff.

Electric Nitwit · 07-01-2021 8:34pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I've just listened to a couple of songs from one of the acts that didn't make my top 5 and it's much, much better stuff.

I didn't pick the playlist so I accept no responsibility for any misrepresentation

JP Liz V1 · 07-01-2021 10:23pm

I'll have a listen and get my 5 in soon

Zaph · 08-01-2021 12:17am

Only one song there I could actually say I liked. Another 5 of varying degrees of meh, and the last 4 are truly awful imo and I hope I never hear them again.

Green&Red · 08-01-2021 9:11am

Spotify playlist

Electric Nitwit · 08-01-2021 9:17am

Green&Red wrote: »

Spotify playlist

Nice one

I stuck that in the OP too

Electric Nitwit · 08-01-2021 10:11am

Eight (including me) now

Me
Clarabel
the purple tin
Alijah Odd Nectarine
ShaneU
Also Starring LeVar Burton
Zaph
jacool

Every song has scored points, and only two points separate the top four, so every vote counts. Come and join the fun!

Mollyb60 · 08-01-2021 10:59am

That's my day's music sorted. I'll have a submission by the end of the day probably.

JohnGreenFan · 08-01-2021 11:00am

Mollyb60 wrote: »

That's my day's music sorted. I'll have a submission by the end of the day probably.

same here!

Electric Nitwit · 08-01-2021 3:35pm

Up to 11, flying along

Me
Clarabel
the purple tin
Alijah Odd Nectarine
ShaneU
Also Starring LeVar Burton
Zaph
jacool
Homer J. Fong
Mollyb60
AnLachaCorcra

Will definitely stick to the plan now, reveal will be next Thurs (14th) at about 9pm

Irish Aris · 08-01-2021 4:45pm

make that 12 (or 13 or 14, if anyone else submitted between these posts).

That was fairly easy - exactly 5 songs made it through after the first listen, so it took a couple more listens to finalise the 5.
After I submitted the list, I couldn't resist the temptation to check who the winner of the real thing was. . .

Necro · 08-01-2021 6:07pm

Will try and get this done EN, between Album Walrus and an audiobook I can't put down my free listening time is a bit limited at the moment though!

Electric Nitwit · 08-01-2021 6:27pm

Necro wrote: »

Will try and get this done EN, between Album Walrus and an audiobook I can't put down my free listening time is a bit limited at the moment though!

Well whose idea was the album walrus?

No worries, it's just for fun. But obviously the more the merrier

lassykk · 08-01-2021 6:33pm

I'm so glad to hear you didn't pick these as five of them I couldn't get past thirty seconds of!

Will rank the other five early next week though

Electric Nitwit · 10-01-2021 1:14pm

Electric Nitwit wrote: »

Up to 11, flying along

Me
Clarabel
the purple tin
Alijah Odd Nectarine
ShaneU
Also Starring LeVar Burton
Zaph
jacool
Homer J. Fong
Mollyb60
AnLachaCorcra

Will definitely stick to the plan now, reveal will be next Thurs (14th) at about 9pm

Little weekend bump. Aris was the 12th man, and Reberetta is the 13th, not sure who that's unlucky for!

In case you're just seeing this, in the OP there's a song from each of the 10 artists on the BBC Sound of 2021 shortlist. If you fancy, have a listen and send me your top five. Then, on Thursday evening you can see if anyone agrees with you and we'll crown the boardsie Sound of 2021!

Arghus · 10-01-2021 9:40pm

I will have my choices in by Wednesday.

11-01-2021 12:48pm

Jaysus some of that was torturous :pac:

1 clear winner for me anyways

Electric Nitwit · 11-01-2021 1:09pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Jaysus some of that was torturous :pac:

That's the aim of all my games

lassykk · 11-01-2021 3:40pm

Votes submitted there now

Only 5 of these listenable to!

Probably 2 of the 5 I ranked I'd listen to again by choice

Electric Nitwit · 11-01-2021 4:05pm

That makes 15

Me
Clarabel
the purple tin
Alijah Odd Nectarine
ShaneU
Also Starring LeVar Burton
Zaph
jacool
Homer J. Fong
Mollyb60
AnLachaCorcra
Irish Aris
Reberetta
MicksJaguar
lassykk

13-01-2021 6:26pm

My list is the definitive list.

The rest are merely opinion.

Necro · 13-01-2021 6:43pm

Tried, I really did. Didn't like a single song

Gonna sit this one out EN, soz!

13-01-2021 6:45pm

Necro wrote: »

Tried, I really did. Didn't like a single song Gonna sit this one out EN, soz!

Typical gig-goer.

Electric Nitwit · 13-01-2021 7:10pm

Necro wrote: »

Tried, I really did. Didn't like a single song Gonna sit this one out EN, soz!

Wow, not one? Wow!
Fair enough though

the purple tin · 13-01-2021 8:49pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Typical gig-goer.

I got news for you, gig-goers have been extinct for ages.

13-01-2021 8:50pm

the purple tin wrote: »

I got news for you, gig-goers have been extinct for ages.

They're alive in spirit.

Unfortunately.

Arghus · 13-01-2021 10:28pm

I wasn't too pushed about most of them at first listen, but a few more listens definitely helped.

Electric Nitwit · 13-01-2021 10:34pm

Arghus wrote: »

I wasn't too pushed about most of them at first listen, but a few more listens definitely helped.

I was the same, the standard definitely grew with repeat listens. Well, not all of them...!

Arghus brings us up to 16

I'll close up shop at 5pm tomorrow, reveal to follow at 9pm

Zaph · 13-01-2021 10:53pm

Electric Nitwit wrote: »

I was the same, the standard definitely grew with repeat listens. Well, not all of them...!

Definitely not all of them. I know what was selected as number one by the BBC, and it didn't matter how many times I tried to listen to it, it still kept sounding like some of the most godawful sh*te I've ever subjected my ears to.

Kolido · 14-01-2021 8:17am

I will be honest, only liked 1 or 2.

Electric Nitwit · 14-01-2021 9:50am

19

Me
Clarabel
the purple tin
Alijah Odd Nectarine
ShaneU
Also Starring LeVar Burton
Zaph
jacool
Homer J. Fong
Mollyb60
AnLachaCorcra
Irish Aris
Reberetta
MicksJaguar
lassykk
JohnGreenFan
Arghus
JP Liz v1
Kolido

14-01-2021 9:55am

Electric Nitwit wrote: »

19

Me
Clarabel
the purple tin
Alijah Odd Nectarine
ShaneU
Also Starring LeVar Burton
Zaph
jacool
Homer J. Fong
Mollyb60
AnLachaCorcra
Irish Aris
Reberetta
MicksJaguar
lassykk
JohnGreenFan
Arghus
JP Liz v1
Kolido

Off topic but are you not a mod?

Electric Nitwit · 14-01-2021 9:59am

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Off topic but are you not a mod?

Hell no, why would anyone do that to themselves?!

14-01-2021 10:02am

Electric Nitwit wrote: »

Hell no, why would anyone do that to themselves?!

Haha I thought you were

You should be a Forum Games one. Easy money.

Necro · 14-01-2021 10:59am

Electric Nitwit wrote: »

Hell no, why would anyone do that to themselves?!

Electric Nitwit · 14-01-2021 11:02am

Necro wrote: »

Sorry Necro, I should have added "unless they're a crazed, power hungry, megalomaniac

Necro · 14-01-2021 11:07am

Electric Nitwit wrote: »

20

Me
Clarabel
the purple tin
Alijah Odd Nectarine
ShaneU
Also Starring LeVar Burton
Zaph
jacool
Homer J. Fong
Mollyb60
AnLachaCorcra
Irish Aris
Reberetta
MicksJaguar
lassykk
JohnGreenFan
Arghus
JP Liz v1
Kolido
Necro

FYP

Went with the option of 'songs I dislike the least' to fill out your entries to an even number

Electric Nitwit · 14-01-2021 11:17am

Necro wrote: »

FYP

Went with the option of 'songs I dislike the least' to fill out your entries to an even number

Phew, I was getting twitchy about it being 19

Kolido · 14-01-2021 11:21am

Electric Nitwit wrote: »

Phew, I was getting twitchy about it being 19

Because that is the number of league titles we have? Necro just won us another one this year I guess

Lightning Surlaw - BBC Sound of 2021

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