What is it about that Toxic song? It's acidically eaten itself into all sorts of musically interesting places. While the Nickel Creek version is maybe so far the most delightfully idiosyncratic cover I've heard of this so far (Chris Thile and his goddamn charisma have a knack for owning songs they cover), I think my favorite is still Nick Ogawa's cello-rific rendering.

What is it about "Toxic"? For me, it's the only universally likable Britney Spears song. Call it a guilty pleasure, but I really dig that track, and would give a week's salary to hear Shirley Manson and Garbage cover it.

"Hurt number 1 again?!

And Buckley number 3?

I guess the vote for the dead guy goes a long way...I was convinced, once people heard Allison Crowe's version, this would push it ahead of Jeff Buckley's. Maybe people go for maudlin music!!

Great entry for The Polyphonic Spree though!!

Democracy provides some odd choices, but I don't need to tell Americans that...

Happy New Year to all!

Brian:
I shouldnt complain because I didnt vote but I certainly listen and listen a lot. I enjoy your work because it exposes me to extremely beautiful, well performed and uplifting music, true works of art! When I listened to all of the countdown, I was shockedhowever, did you get the numbering mixed up in Excel because I thought the best music was presented with the highest numbers.

I can listen to some Rapbut not much, in fact I enjoy Eminem's sense of humor, thats about it, I cant get into the rest so I lleave the listening to other people. Ditto for the American Idol podcast, I cant listen to it.

I think that audio conveys much more information about a person's chararcter than video. If your an Sob, it comes through the Video stream. I think that one reason that I enjoy your Podcasts so much is that you and your family come through my speakers as very nice people. I am guessing that I am about your father's age and he must be a wonderful man because he did a good job raising you. Its obvious that he taught you how to make good decisions about people, how to work hard, set goals and stick with what you do until the job is finished. I can hear it in the music that you post ( except for a few horrifying incongruities).

Thanks very much for all of the hard work, I know that you have a passion for what you are doing because you are so good at it. You have barely scratched the surface of your potential and I will be a listener for a long time. Give the Old man a pat on the back for me, tell him Well Done.

Greg

Brian,

Congrats on another excellent count down and another year of Coverville. The Toxic song in this year's count down is a good one, but I also am a big fan of the "...Baby One More Time" cover done by Dweezil & Ahmet Zappa which can be found on the S/T of the film "Ready to rumble". I believe you played this cover in a previous show.

Have you ever played the K.D. Lang cover of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah"? I had the good fortune of seeing her perform that song live at the Canadian Song Writers Hall of Fame Gala in Feb '06 and it was truly awe inspiring performance.

Ken

Exactly 50% of the top 40 were new tracks. This is great, but the top 40 from 2005 were automatically included in the final vote. Would this not increase the chances of votes being cast for the good old favourites rather than the "new kids on the block", including some that have never been aired on Coverville?

I wonder whether a more representative list for 2007 would be derived from including 2006 songs only if they are voted for, or, bolder still, by excluding them completely, so we get a best of newly played songs/newly voted songs?

Fantastic show! I like to wait until all episodes of the countdown are posted and listen to them all at once. That means I miss out on the contest, but that's ok. I wouldn't win anyway!!
Here's to a brilliant year at Coverville! HAPPY NEW YEAR!

And, just for the record, I like the way you give us a voice in the countdown, whether "new kids" are near the top or not. Sure, Wayne from UK, Ms. Crowe has talent, but I do love my Johnny Cash cover, which is highly emotionally-charged. What is wrong with that?

Hi Nat

I love the emotionally charged Allison Crowe cover, just as you love the Johnny Cash one. I think we're both just stating an opinion, which is great - that's what this section is for, and there is nothing at all wrong with that! As a matter of fact, the Johnny Cash track is one of my favourites too, it's just that I think it's yesterdays news.

My opinion only of course, you don't need to agree!

Wayne

I think just about any cover of Hallelujah would move me. The k.d.lang version was my favourite until I heard Allison Crowe. Simply breathtaking.
Good idea Nat. We've yet to get 279 and 280 in the Australian iTunes. When I do get them I'm goining to listen to them as you do.
Brian I must be telephonically challenged. I couldn't get through on the 206 number. Do I have to put more numbers on it cos I live at the other end of the known world?
Hope everyone one had a safe and happy New Year.

"Hurt" again? Nice countdown though. Maybe we should retire the top 5 every year?

Brian, Brian, Brian. I loved the show, loved the countdown, was very happy to hear Jeff Buckley and Johnny Cash at the top of the list, but one thing grated me. Kelis. Or, as you pronounced it, Kellis. (Rhymes with trellis.)

Dude, don't you know your R & B divas? Kelis pronounces her name with a hard "e" in the first syllable, and the second syllable rhymes with Reese. Stress on second syllable. It rhymes with "release," if you're pronouncing it right.

Hey, how did Rufus Wainwright's "Across the Universe" not even make the list? Protest! Protest! I doth hereby protest! That is all.

Sky Bluesky, thanks. I had no idea how to pronounce her name either!