for heaps of reasons.

Firstly, because as with so many great pop and rock songs of the last two decades (and I'm thinking of everything from The Smiths, PJ Harvey, Nirvana and Arcade Fire through to Kylie, Richard X and Xenomania here), the TT's succeeded in making something fresh, peculiar and contemporary by stripping a song down to its fundaments, rather than by diluting it and effectively date-stamping it with unnecessary embellishment.

Secondly, because its aim is true; its clear disdain for idle patronage and its demand for respect lend it an ideological clarity and a fire which is lacking from so much popular music this decade.

Thirdly, because it's just dead exciting; it hits all those worthy buttons I've mentioned without coming on all hairshirt like The Clash or something, and because that "Are You Calling Me Darling?" bit throws in a top-slice of killer tune just when you think it's going to get boring.

Fourthly, and most importantly of all, because almost every day for about five weeks I would hear school children on the bus, on the train or just walking down the street singing this, at a time when I thought pop music had lost the ability to jump from one impressionable mind to another like a bad dose of chicken pox.

ever catch up with starting a year early? I am confused have I lost a year will the media start their list of "the best of for the next deacade" in 2018 ? . I fairly sure it's half six on monday because HIGNFY has just started!
Good luck Jude with you blog

What a charmer. I'm glad your photograph of him captured the punchability of his face so well. Oh, and I'd never heard of him either.