Best Xmas Song Ever... (Pool E)

We last left you to decide which Xmas Act was going to take the runners-up spot in Pool D, it came down to (Dave Hill's) FOREHEAD against (Roy Wood's) Beard. You voted in your thousands, with Devon's Dave Hill just taking it, meaning Slade's "I Wish It Could Be Christmas..." takes the runner-up qualification place and joins Elton John's "Step Into Christmas" in the knock-out rounds. Elton, I'd come over for a cup of tea and congratulate you in person, but I'm very busy at the moment (drinking Sherry).

So, onto our next Qualification Pool...

Pool E

John and Yoko - "Happy Christmas (War Is Over)"

Band Aid - "Do They Know It's Christmas"

Paul McCartney - "Wonderful Christmastime"

Shakin Stevens - "Merry Christmas Everyone"

Bing Crosby & David Bowie - "Peace On Earth / Little Drummer Boy"

Pool E goes 'high-tech' with some videos (they probably won't even work, we'll see...).


John and Yoko - "Happy Christmas (Was Is Over)"

Band Aid (1984) - "Do They Know It's Christmas"

Paul McCartney - "Wonderful Christmastime"

Shakin Stevens - "Merry Christmas Everyone"

Bing Crosby & David Bowie - "Peace on Earth / Little Drummer Boy"

Well, Bing and Davey go through, legends, group winners, no question. Apparently Bing died a few days after this appearance with Bowie, I think Marc Bolan also died a few days after appearing on TV with David Bowie. There's a lesson to be learnt there*.

Paul Macca won't be slipping through the net, and he certainly won't be slipping through with Yoko in tow, leaving just Shakin Stevens and Band Aid (the 'proper' one).

"Merry Christmas Everyone" is a solid effort from Shakin Stevens, but I'm going to let the 'form' of the performers on the Band Aid single decide who takes the runner-up spot. 

• Adam Clayton (U2) -1
• Phil Collins (Genesis, solo) -1 
• Bob Geldof (The Boomtown Rats) +1
• Steve Norman (Spandau Ballet) +1
• Chris Cross (Ultravox) 0
• John Taylor (Duran Duran) +1
• Paul Young -1
• Tony Hadley (Spandau Ballet) +1
• Glenn Gregory (Heaven 17) -1
• Simon Le Bon (Duran Duran) +1
• Simon Crowe (The Boomtown Rats) 0
• Marilyn -1
• Keren Woodward (Bananarama) +1
• Martin Kemp (Spandau Ballet) +1
• Jody Watley (Shalamar) +1
• Bono (U2) -5
• Paul Weller +1
• James "J.T." Taylor (Kool & The Gang) +1
• George Michael (Wham!) +1
• Midge Ure (Ultravox) +1
• Martyn Ware (Heaven 17) 0
• John Keeble (Spandau Ballet) 0
• Gary Kemp (Spandau Ballet) +1
• Sting (The Police) -5
• Pete Briquette (The Boomtown Rats) 0
• Francis Rossi (Status Quo) +1
• Robert 'Kool' Bell (Kool & the Gang) 0
• Andy Taylor (Duran Duran) 0
• Jon Moss (Culture Club) 0
• Rick Parfitt (Status Quo) +1
• Nick Rhodes (Duran Duran) +1
• Johnny Fingers (The Boomtown Rats) 0
• David Bowie +1
• Boy George (Culture Club) +1
• Holly Johnson (Frankie Goes to Hollywood) +1
• Paul McCartney (The Beatles) 0

There are 15 reasons why Band Aid should lose out to Shakin Steves, with Sting and Bono making up two-thirds of those, however, there are 18 positives, so it progresses through to the next round!

Pool winner = Bing Crosby and David Bowie - "Peace on Earth / Little Drummer Boy"

Pool runner-up = Band Aid (the first one!) - "Do They Know It's Christmas Time"

Forthcoming Fixtures, Pool F...

Pogues & Kirsty MacColl - "Fairytale of New York"

Boney M - "Marys Boy Child"

Wham! - "Last Christmas"

The Pretenders - "2000 Miles"

Frankie Goes To Hollywood - "The Power Of Love"

* The lesson is never to wear socks with sandals.