Before you hear it on BBC Radio 1, and before the rest of the world.

As you can see, it’s listed as the Artist Name, then the track, and finally the sales.

1. KILLING IN THE NAME - RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE – 502672

2. THE CLIMB – JOE MCELDERRY – 450838

3. BAD ROMANCE – LADY GAGA – 61677

4. THE OFFICIAL BBC CHILDREN IN NEED MEDLEY – PETER KAY’S ANIMATED ALL STAR  – 52605

5. STARSTRUKK – 3OH3 FT KATY PERRY – 40742

6. YOU KNOW ME – ROBBIE WILLIAMS – 38435

7. 3 WORDS – CHERYL COLE – 36232

8. RUSSIAN ROULETTE – RIHANNA – 34094

9. DON’T STOP BELIEVIN’ – JOURNEY – 33337

10. MEET ME HALFWAY – BLACK EYED PEAS  – 32517

(Thanks to smemon)

Update: As you’re aware, these were the figures for Great Britain. Ireland were not cool enough to have a rockin’ Christmas Number 1. Shame on you, Éire.

You thought you’d never see this happen!

Thanks for the lovely folks in Film4 for this tip off.

Viewers on Facebook/RSS Readers – You may not be able to see this video. Click here to view in your browser.

Okay, a new little type of post from Yours Truly.

Book Now is an update of some gigs and events that I recommend you get tickets for.

There’ll always be the big players in the industry, but there’ll also be some smaller acts and clubnights that I recommend across the Capital, and also Europe. I don’t benefit from plugging these; I genuinely just drop recommendations becuase I think you may like them. So, without further adieu…

Rihanna – The O2 – 22nd May 2010

She’s had a big year, and not just for the music. She’s the honorary culture and youth ambassador for Barbados, she’s an award winning musical artist and she’s release a new album, Rated R, which shows her darker side and an edgy new style. Plus, she will be hitting Dublin in May of next year. Sure, she may not have the same theatrical shows as Ms. GaGa, but no doubt it’ll be a fantastic show.

Fight Like Apes – The Academy – 18th December 2009

If you’ve not seen these guys live, where have you been? Fight Like Apes are the excitable, loud and energetic Dublin alternative rock band that you’ve no doubt heard on Phantom for the past few years. They’ve released great records, and always deliver a brilliant gig, with loyal punters who always will come back to see them. Here’s your chance to jump onboard the FLA train. Plus, it beats seeing Miley Cyrus, who plays the same night. Who knows, maybe the band might perform All I Want for Christmas by Mariah Carey with their funky electro rock sounds?

Green Day – Marlay Park, Dublin – 23rd June 2010

I had the pleasure of seeing these guys rock the stage and meeting Billie Joe Armstrong at the MTV Europe Music Awards, and although they face a lot of slagging and namecalling as “sellouts” for being commercial, the threesome really do know how to perform. With several albums under their belt, and now a musical, it’s your duty to witness them on-stage and make your mind up on which side you are on: Love them or Hate them.

The Looks – Thinktank – 18th December 2009

Fancy a free gig to see one of Dublin’s best emerging bands? The Looks bringing their indie-punk tunes to Thinktank in Temple Bar this Friday, with support from Animal Channel and Kid Karate. I first saw the band perform a small South Dublin gig a few years back, and since then they’ve exploded onto the underground scene. This gig, which is free, kicks off at 8pm. The group will be showcasing their new single Red Jacket, along with other hit tracks. The band have started receiving airplay on RTÉ 2FM, and even have been picked up by Tim Robinson (BBC Radio 6), so you know they’re going to be big. I strongly recommend that you see this show on Friday night, ahead of their album, which is to be released in March 2010.

More Book Now very soon. Feel free to drop me an email with your recommendations, and feedback if you’ve gone to any of the gigs.

photo credits: RALF-D. / Neil Dorgan / Madison_Rayne

… of a YouTube parody.

Remember I posted about Ke$ha’s Tik Tok? (That song I recommended to you, weeks before its release? The one which now has got huge in the charts and launched her career. *Cough*, You know it.)

Well, have you seen the latest parody?

It’s by The Midnight Beast, featuring St£fan, a group of witty and lyrically bonkers Englishmen, who’ve ripped Tik Tok to shreds, and left a track that will stick in your head. Next time you hear the real song on the radio, try not to think of this parody, or that video.

I guarantee you won’t be able to forget about it.

Viewers on Facebook/RSS Readers – You may not be able to see this video. Click here to view in your browser.

It speaks for itself really: check out Simon’s first ever television appearance- on a rubbish game show, Sale of the Century, in 1989.


His strong business sense was very apparent in the programme, and he watched his spending, especially on the hideous jackets, which he was invited to purchase on the initial few minutes of the game.


Who knew Mr. Cowell would later start to make some *interesting* television formats.