fair comment

I'd never heard of it before someone did it on X Factor so was surprised when Cheryl announced 'Everyone loves this song'. I agree with you though, its as though the song was written specifically to annoy the hell out of me. Its everything that's wrong with limp, weak, bland, formulaic, drab soft rock to play air guitar to.

For me, I don't have a clue what's number one most of the time unless it crosses over and gets played in the places I go to. Think the last number one I actually knew and like was Storm Queen and that only became a hit on its 3rd release

21 pilots have another good single - heathen...

......& Prince possibly as well, although 'the artist who used to be called Prince who is no longer with us' was partially post-Jacko (as in post Jacko after he became mega-celebrity).

.....forgeting, the nonsense I have written above .......after listening some tracks (briefly) to the Timberlake / Timbaland collaboration 20/20 (thingy) & reading about it a bit, it could be said that there is a little bit of innovation in that album, in a retro sort of way.Many of the tracks are 7+ minutes long.It has been said that this was a deliberate attempt to replicate the music often played on freeform / progressive radio format which was prevalent in the late '60's & '70's ( a for runner of the progressive rock movement but not necessarily linked) which, very often, played longer songs on radio which was not attempted in the '50 / early '60's .Timberlake definitely has taken his vocal inspirations more from '60's soul artist's as well which links in with that period.
It was thought that Timberlake had forsaken his musical career for films / acting.Perhaps he had become dis-interested in the *Nsync (early solo) type of 3 minute pop song he was known for.There is definately a more 'cinematic' approach to 20/20 (thingy / project) - perhaps it approximates trip-hop a little.

My point is......at least Timberlake with Timbaland are trying to move their musical approach on a bit.I at least give him credit for that.Perhaps his chart single (off 20/20) releases are condensed versions of the album songs, however, which is an about turn really.

Also noticed alot of pop releases has gone in a sort of dark / atmospheric hip-hop direction Rihanna / Beyonce - Jay Z production team have seemed to have taken this approach, a few others seem to have taken similar inspirations as this music approach as well - not sure how far the extent this music direction has gone.Don't think it has been 'that' commercially successul generally.It seems to have been influenced by James Blake (who has been tagged as post-dubstep by music Journo's ?) & related artist's.

The main point......perhaps a little procrastinated .....is perhaps this is turning people off chart music as well.Perhaps pop is becoming a little too pretentious or hypobolic.Pop seems to be at a crossroads, as it is seems to be loosing it's focus.Old commercial formulaic music business practices are not getting the result's they once used to, although the Major Label's seem to be trying to control media platforms more than ever.Younger people seem to be harder to demographify, eclectic tastes in music seem very common amongst teenagers / twenty somethings, a marketing problem for them.This is perhaps why Adele has been successful as she was marketed at Millenniums (30+ age group), whilst also factoring in this eclecticism in younger people.

It's a great track but I personally prefer Stressed Out and Ride more.

I dare say if Heathens wasn't featured in the Suicide Squad film, it wouldn't be anywhere near as successful as it has been. Probably would've done about as well as Ride.

Regardless, twenty one pilots have definitely been a breath of fresh air to the charts of 2016 so I'm happy to see them doing well.

One thing we may never see again in the chart... the novelty number one. Songs like Mr Blobby, Star Trekkin by the Firm, Cliff Richard and the Young Ones: Living Doll, Can We Fix It? by Bob The Builder, Jive Bunny etc - I can't imagine we'll see stuff like that hitting the top of the chart in the streaming internet era.

Not that I'm desperate for the return of Mr Blobby, though.

I fear we might just get Living Doll from the X Factor at no 1.

Have you actually listened to 'Don't Stop Believing'? It has a driving electric piano intro..not many songs have that..it then has a looping guitar figure in a different time signature that emulates a train...it has a lyric about escaping a hum drum life and actually the chorus is only sung at the end. Perhaps the arrangement is a bit 80s rock at times but it hardly formulaic with that sort of song structure.

............. maybe, but its still shite

Don't Stop Believing? Utter rubbish.

I think I stopped knowing what was going on in the charts around the mid naughties.

Everyone going on about a song was going to beat Bryan Adams' record, did not have a Scooby what it was!


Doesn't mean I don't listen out for new stuff, I do. Radio 6 has some great shows and presenters. Always finding out new and old stuff I have not heard before on there. Just nothing really chart related.

Yeah It's sad that what was a cheesy 80's pop song is now somehow labelled as classic rock.

Of course they weren't, because the charts were still the most accurate barometer of public tastes during that time.

You can't honestly say the the charts of 2016 are a good barometer of what the general public are listening to. There are so many alternative ways to acquire and listen to music that it simply doesn't stack up.

Metallica haven't had a 'chart hit' since the early 90s, yet they still are one of the highest grossing touring acts in the world, and headlined Glastonbury.

Babymetal aren't setting the charts alight and yet have managed to develop an absolutely cult following, to the extend that they are supporting the Red Hot Chili peppers on their UK tour. Babymetal are playing Wembley Arena.

These things just didn't, and couldn't, happen in the decades you mention. Sure, many acts cut their teeth on the live circuit, but at the end of the day it always ended in chart success. I can't think of any band who achieved the same sort of global success some bands have today, without any chart (singles) to show for it.

not sure how your reply to my quote fits in with what my quoted post was referring to . you appear to be arguing against a point i didnt make!