These are the groups for Day 6 of the People’s Pop Poll! Obviously it contains SPOILERS for the day’s matches so if you’d prefer to be surprised read no further! As usual, these are in order from the group with the most-streamed tracks to the one with the least (except today Division 6 is a bit special).
Division 1 GROUP 6:
JAMES – “Laid”: Lead single from the LP of the same name and a big US college radio hit for the Manchester indie group. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_qZ5B-yioU
KELLY CLARKSON – “Since U Been Gone”: Signature 2004 track and floor-filler by the American Idol winner. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7UrFYvl5TE
THE KILLERS – “Mr Brightside”: The most streamed song in the poll! (800 million+) Indie disco monster and debut single for the Vegas indie rockers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGdGFtwCNBE
R.E.M. – “It’s The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)”: Apocalyptic fast-talker by the Athens indie royalty, from their 1987 LP Document. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OyBtMPqpNY
Division 2 GROUP 6:
BILLY PAUL – “Me And Mrs. Jones”: Adulterous Gamble & Huff-penned 1972 soul classic from the Philadelphia hitmaker. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWOTdt9Bovk
MARLENA SHAW – “California Soul”: 1969 soul-funk slow burner by the oft-sampled New York singer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kC2QK6KHnEA
NINA SIMONE – “Sinnerman (Live In New York)”: Epic 1965 live performance by the jazz legend that’s become one of her best-regarded tracks. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kl849RJ2bbU
STEVIE WONDER – “Don’t You Worry ‘Bout A Thing”: This hit single from the soul master is from his 1973 classic Innervisions. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zywDiFdxopU
Division 3 GROUP 6:
THE PRIMITIVES – “Crash”: Biggest hit for Coventry indie-poppers and leading lights of the Blonde scene. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1y7NGqfZteg
PROPAGANDA – “Duel”: Biggest hit for ZTT synth teutons from their 1985 LP A Secret Wish. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnQ2zOmb6Hg
ROXETTE – “Joyride”: Pan-European 1991 smash by the Swedish dance-rock duo from their LP Look Sharp! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCorJG9mubk
SWING OUT SISTER – “Breakout”: Biggest hit for the Manchester sophisti-pop outfit, from 1986 from their debut platter It’s Better To Travel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIOJdMdS56k
Division 4 GROUP 6:
KATE BUSH – “Them Heavy People”: Japan-only 1978 single from the then-teenage warbler from her debut LP The Kick Inside. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfNtPbHkp0U
THE ROCHES – “Hammond Song”: Written after a bust-up with their record label, this is from the folk sisters’ eponymous 1979 debut. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EA-U5H4VoX8
ROSANNE CASH – “Seven Year Ache”: A 1981 Billboard country chart-topper for the Tennessee singer-songwriter. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrUs_FWqj9s
THROWING MUSES – “Not Too Soon”: 1991 single from the Boston indie band, written by Tanya Donnelly (later of Belly). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZI-FTcFtn8
Division 5 GROUP 5:
JOHNNIE ALLAN – “Promised Land”: Cajun swamp-pop pioneer’s 1983 cover of the Chuck Berry classic. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gG8rG9RhnhY
LORD KITCHENER – “London Is The Place For Me”: The oldest song in the poll, a 1948 calypso by the Trinidadian legend (recorded in 1951) – famously sung on a newsreel to celebrate the arrival of the Empire Windrush. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGt21q1AjuI
NINA SIMONE – “Funkier Than A Mosquito’s Tweeter”: Jazz-funk diss track from 1974 and Nina Simone’s second appearance in the poll. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GsCHQkulr4
SHIRLEY BASSEY – “You Can Have Him”: Welsh star’s version of the Irving Berlin standard, recorded several times in the 60s so I hope we found the right one. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uakECvlebfg
Division 6 GROUP 6:
FRANCO BATTIATA – “Bandiera Bianca”: 1987 hit by the multi-genre pop singer and experimentalist known in Italy as “Il Maestro”. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i483knGRppA
GOLD – “Capitaine Abandonee”: French No.1 hit from 1985 for the Toulouse band and the 318th best selling single EVER in France.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i01oMkipjdk (video contains flashing lights)
LUCIO DALLA – “Pafff…Bum!”: Early single by the Italian singer-songwriter, from his 1966 debut LP 1999. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7PojOm3Yks
MIRIAM MAKEBA – “Pata Pata”: Signature song for the South African star from 1967. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBJVVhn7iuo