The Lux Familiar Cup: The Final – Result
Fittingly, the morning after the band play about the closest they’re ever likely to get to Wembley, we have a winner. In front of by far the largest crowd of the tournament (513 votes!), the nation’s favourite Half Man Half Biscuit song is chosen: A Country Practice. Consistently behind the plucky Chatteris – if only slightly so – for about the first two-thirds of the match, ACP then put in a sudden surge and dominated the last part of proceedings. Was it some intensive canvassing elsewhere? Or was Chatteris just more successful at getting its support out early doors? We’ll never know. But it was a classic encounter between two worthy opponents. They’ll be dancing in the streets of Toxteth tonight.
| A Country Practice | 267 | v | 246 | For What Is Chatteris… |
See the full details of every round, as they happened.
57 Letters Sent:Jump to latest »
BIG CON
Gutted.
Jun 18th, 2011
Martin
I wouldn’t say gutted here, but would have preferred a different result.
It’s time to say a big thanks here to Chris and the Rand boys for what’s been a brilliant few weeks on the internet. Kudos for doing the hard yards while also coming up with really fun improvisation. I doff my cap, sir.
Jun 18th, 2011
Chris The Siteowner
Why thank you, it was fun. And now, as is usual on a Saturday morning after posting the results, I hear Mrs R nagging that I’m late doing my fatherly duties (kids’ swimming, at the Hamilton Bland Memorial Pool, naturally).
Jun 18th, 2011
Murray Meikle
Congratulations to A Country Practice. It wouldn’t be in my top ten but that’s the joy and fascination of a knockout tournament. Think it might struggle in Europe – especially if it’s up against Ghent.
Jun 18th, 2011
nigel, no not that one (nx3to)
I followed Chatteris from the off and have never been a great fan of ACP. However, I’ve grown more fond of it as the tournament progressed.
The performance od ACP last night was almost enough to have made me change my allegiances, if I had not already voted. That’s for another thread, so I’ll pop over and have a peruse.
In the meantime back to the fens with heads held high for the Butchers and Chandlers of Chatteris
Jun 18th, 2011
littlegrafter
It seems that the A Country Practice fans must be driving round the Barbican, flags out of car windows, doing drive by shoutings in celebration, given the initial comments to the result.
Very glad it won in the final though it has suffered a bit in my estimation over the course of the cup, given how much we’ve all had to analyse our favourite songs.
Great competition, roll on the next one! Though I have to say the timing has been cruel, this should be a summer sport, Final result to be announced on the first day of the football season to keep us all going.
Jun 18th, 2011
John Burscough
They’ll be dancing in the streets of A Country tonight.
Jun 18th, 2011
Neil G
A Country Practice was my favourite HMHB song until National Shite Day came along, so I’m not too unhappy.
How about a league competition next year, with each song playing every other within its league? Some top songs would show their worth much more clearly than they can in the cup competition. Some of my favourites were knocked out at the last 32 stage, including Turned Up Clocked On Laid Off and the wonderful 24 Hour Garage People. In a league environment, I think they would do very well. What do you mean it’s too much work? It’s about 160 songs, divided into eight leagues of twenty, say. That’s 80 matches a week. What’s wrong with that? I’m sure there are plenty of people on here with the know how to set it all up. I’m not one of them, fortunately. We could have a button for a draw as well, for those matches that we don’t think either side should lose.
I’m not really suggesting that anyone should do this, but it would be nice, wouldn’t it?
Can anyone tell me where I might be able to find a life?
Jun 18th, 2011
Lollipop Man Darren
Disappointed that Chatteris didn’t win.
Well done ACP, you’ve grown on me a bit, but the best HMHB song? Never. There are so many other tracks out which are lyrically your equal and have far more memorable tunes.
Great tournament though; many thanks for running it, it’s been really good fun.
Jun 18th, 2011
Lollipop Man Darren
Still, I’m looking forward to next year’s competition, when giantkiller “Third Track Main Camera Four Minutes” brushes aside allcomers (including the might of ACP) to claim the trophy!
Well, I can dream……..
Jun 18th, 2011
BrumBiscuit
Justice done, sort of.
I’m surprised, though delighted, that ACP has seen off the fenland pretender.
Having seen NSD succumb to Chatteris, I’m pleased that ACP saw off its nadir.
Chris t S O: any idea why there were so many more votes in the final than in the earlier stages? I was tempted to double vote, but thought better of it.
Jun 18th, 2011
Robiscuit
Long time lurker etc yada yada yada. Well, A Country Practice would have been in my top 5 HMHB songs, Chatteris nowhere near the top 50, possibly not even the top 100 – it’s the only song on AB I don’t listen to IIRC; don’t get it – an HMHB song without quintessence. Just goes to show there’s many different HMHBs and many different HMHB fans.
Be vey interested to know what NB57 thinks of the result – wonder if he thinks FWIC is typical of what he does or wants to do?
Jun 18th, 2011
Chris The Siteowner
Brumbiscuit: I don’t know why so many people joined in for the final – there were no obvious surges in voting to suggest that people were responding to exhortations to vote from social media, not that I could detect many – and virtually all I saw (thank you, by the way) just encouraged people to vote, rather than canvassed for one song or the other. The only additional promotion I did was to mention the final on an HMHB Facebook group – that might have got a few new people along. ACP’s late catch-up with Chatteris did coincide with some rather plaintive pleading for support (since removed) on a Liverpool fans’ site by our very own Charles Exford. It only got 100 or so views there, but I suppose that could have made the difference.
Robiscuit: We’d all like to know what NB57 thinks of the band’s works, although I imagine you could sit down with him and chat about the subject for hours and emerge none the wiser. However, the set lists have to be a good indication of what they’re proudest of, and from what I can see, Chatteris has appeared on 22 consecutive set lists now, dating back to 2008, so it’s certainly a song they like performing. ACP has appeared in about half of the gigs in that time, although it’s older, so that may have something to do with it. If any statto wants to do a set list analysis (I think most are on Gez’s site here), just let me know what you find and I’ll be happy to start a page here showing the results, even if it does make us look a bit like a Bruce Springsteen fan site.
Jun 18th, 2011
Charles Exford
Chris, very well spotted indeed – chapeau, as the cycling fraternity would put it . We all knew someone at primary school who had a very powerful search engine. Can I borrow yours to investigate more of NB57′s literary quotes ?
The thread you found (notice the title “Old School HMHB fans only”) got a grand total of 2 people saying they’d vote ACP and 2 people saying they’d already voted for Chatteris.Used to be a good site that.
As you’ll notice I deleted the original post, rather embarrassed to be seen grubbing for votes when a few rounds ago I’d had a rant on here about someone on Twitterface doing the same for Chatteris, and when I’d declared huffily that I’d lost interest after Chatteris beat NSD (which I did for a couple of weeks). Hypocrisy will absolve me, as Mr. Galbraith once said.
Surely my last-minute “Friends, Ro-mos, Countrypracticemen” speech on the HMHB Yahoo Group is more likely to have canvassed a few votes.
I did also see a thread on an old hoolie site where the Inter-Country Practice Crew had somehow been joined in an unlikely alliance by the Shower of Shite and were planning to jump the Chatteris Under 5s in March station carpark on their way to Wembley.
Jun 18th, 2011
Robiscuit
AN HMHB SONG WHICH LACKS QUINTESSENCE?
Chris – well done on the site my man – lovely looking thing too.
Agree that sitting Nigel down to explain or expand on The Work may equate to herding cats. The setlist thing is interesting so you might be right that it’s indicative of the band’s esteem for the song, but there’s many reasons why songs might be chosen for a show, and as I’ll expand below, it might be that to slow it all down with the one about that bird, Chatteris is the only one of its kind. Anyway, that said, back to the site, which itself is An Important Thing, so congrats.
Fellow commenteeers (and Chris too of course) – as for FWIC – just shows how often I listen to it as I misquoted it: anyhoo, I reckon “For What is Chatteris” “lacks quintessence” – as in, it’s not typical of what HMHB do.
This is such a quality band and Nigel has such a massive range that it’s all but impossible to try to pin down what he / they do but just asking missen the questions “What’s typical of HMHB / what do they do better than anyone else / What makes them an important band?”, what about:
• Cleverness?
• Laughs?
• Sardonic attacks on the hard of thinking / hypocrites?
• Commentary on the dark absurdity of the human condition?
• Driving bass lines from Neil?
• Celebration of all things British / local?
Ignoring the first, which all HMHB songs have, FWIC has only got the last, and 2/6 is about 33% of Quintessence by my count. ACP in contrast has all 6, and I wrote out the 6 before I thought about how it fitted. Of the other Semifinalists, TR I reckon has 5 (the sardonic attacks came later) and TLATEOTTITLOAOT (wish I’d just typed that out fully tbh) has all 6 I think.
Don’t want to step on any sacred cows, just intrigued that what looks like an atypical song is such a favourite – perhaps Nigel’s shooting himself in the foot by producing mainly unChatterisy stuff and would be sitting atop piles of gold were he to refocus! But don’t do that Nigel, I hasten to add…
Welcome any thoughts!
Jun 18th, 2011
dj
have to say that after many years in the biscuit wilderness, a spot of painting accompanied by john peel one night. i happened to catch him playing a country practice and from then it was back to all things biscuit for me. purchased 4 lads and never looked back. so for that reason i’m glad it was the victor
Jun 18th, 2011
BrumBiscuit
Thanks Chris. I wasn’t hinting at a bit of chicanery by anyone, for the record. As I said, I thought about voting on another machine, but thought better of it. It’s a sad man who tries to influence a vote like this by foul means. I mentioned the vote on a cycling forum, but I doubt whether that gained half a dozen votes.
It’s been an epic few weeks and you deserve all the plaudits coming your way for getting this up & running.
I’ll get back to me yodelling classes…
Jun 18th, 2011
A Little Lady
Idle layabouts! Haven’t you got anything better to do?
Jun 18th, 2011
bomaya
I’m still astonished that Chatteris even got to the final. ACP were by far the better team and quality won out on the day.
Jun 19th, 2011
Ray Gee
glad A Country Practise won, though I also love Chatteris, fitting that it was those two in the final……and such a close score.
would like to have seen A Lilac Harry Quinn do better.
ray………..in Batley
ich bin ein binliner.
Jun 19th, 2011
Mark
To think I went through Ely only the other week.
Jun 19th, 2011
Peter PInguid
Feel that familiar let down feeling… but that is what makes the upset so special – it’s true rarity.
Jun 19th, 2011
Paul Rodgers
ACP better than FWIC? Nah! Any irregular voting patterns observed? Votes gone missing in Port Sunlight? I’m off to listen to the Buena Vista Social Club CD in protest.
Jun 19th, 2011
The King of Rome's Loft
Slightly concerned that the Chatteris Casuals and Chigley Skins Alliance might lead to a something untoward. That said>>>>
Jun 19th, 2011
PAUL RODGERS
This could get confusing. I’m Paul Rodgers (not that one) as well. I didn’t vote, but if I had it would have been for ACP.
Jun 20th, 2011
Look Dad No Tunes
The best song didn’t even make it to the 3rd Round Proper.
Jun 20th, 2011
BrumBiscuit
Which one’s that then?
Jun 20th, 2011
Elderlylady@thebustop
Don’t worry boys, there’ll be another competition coming along at about 25 past……that was a good song…what was is now?………..oh yes, ….. Fuck off Fred Titmuss….that was it. Good tune that. Don’t make them like that anymore. I’m 87 you know….
Jun 20th, 2011
Sean Macreavy
Well done Chris on a fab diversion – thanks for all your hard work. Most fun I think I’ve ever had on the internet! Looking forward to seeing the AV debate rage over the next 12 months…!
Jun 21st, 2011
Ricardo
I enjoyed the cup, and voted in every group and knockout tie, but for me it was all about the taking part rather than the winner; after all, I doubt many of us were attracted to HMHB by worrying about what was popular.
I suppose what surprised me the most was the popularity of Chatteris (although I shrewdly stopped taking bets on both finalists by May 29th). It’s a nice little song, with some nifty wordplay and all that, but it always struck me as the song most likely to give credence to those who refer disparagingly to NB as the “indie Richard Stilgoe”. And that use of the word ‘bonce’, it makes me shudder every time I hear it.
Not that I care, you understand.
Jun 22nd, 2011
Arthur Lowe
“The Indie Richard Stilgoe”. I like that. That’s my handy byte-sized description sorted for future queries from the multitudes of “Never heard of them. What are they like?” philistines. I realise that it’s bound to deter possible interested parties. As I haven’t converted anyone since around 1991 (with the exception of my offspring, sort of), I don’t think it’ll make much difference in the long run.
Delighted for ACP. I voted for it in the final. A very worthy winner and one of my favourites, but then there’s another 50 or 60 songs I’d have been happy to see at the top.
Jun 22nd, 2011
Gregg Z
As one of the few among us who is not native to the British Isles, I’ve been wondering about the appeal of “ACP”, particularly to those who were most directly affected by Thatcher’s policies. (Hate to get so analytical, but isn’t that what we’re here for?)
As a Yank, I’ve had to endure the misguided policies of Reagan and Bush (although, I realize the evil tentacles of my country’s govt. reach far and wide, so unfortunately, all of you lovely souls are affected by the skullduggery that occurs here in the US and A), just as young Bobby String has lived through the various tribulations of a native South African.
The point is, “A Country Practice” is not in my top 50 HMHB tunes, and I wonder if it’s because I didn’t experience Thatcher’s plundering of your fair nation firsthand. Does that bit at the end, put it over the top for the 90% (95%??) of those tournament voters who are native to the Isles?
Advancing this theory respectfully, oh my British brothers and sisters, (and those from other nations, as well), but I’d love to know if a bit of the appeal of “ACP”, might elude some of us auslanders..
Hope that was vaguely cogent, but then, I’m sitting in hospital waiting for my brother to emerge from surgery.
And while I’m neither dragging my guitar ’round maternity ward, nor hoping my brother stays alive to watch “Bilko”, I do hope he is soon “Surging Out Of Convalescence”.
Jun 23rd, 2011
Kingsbeef
Well done Chris. Great crack. Funny how the song most people would’ve expected to win ended up winning. Not at all as predictable as footie though.
Jun 24th, 2011
Paul F
Gregg – Much as I hate Thatcher and what she did, I personally think that it’s the Sting line that most makes the song for me.
Jun 24th, 2011
Third Rate Les
Gregg – it’s certainly a very specifically British set of whinges, but I disagree it’s aimed at specific politicians (the Millennium celebrations were squarely a multi-party balls-up).
All the best to your brother.
Jun 24th, 2011
Neil G
Gregg Z,
Thatcher stopped being Prime Minister in 1990, a full decade before the incredibly boring millennium celebrations. I wouldn’t read too much into her name check. Blair and Brown have done far more to destroy this country than Thatcher ever did. I would like to see both their heads on the ends of pikestaffs. You might hate Thatcher, but not a tiny part as much as I hate every single member of the Labour governments of 1997 to 2010. May they all burn in hell.
Jun 24th, 2011
Norbert D
“It’s a nice little song, with some nifty wordplay and all that, but it always struck me as the song most likely to give credence to those who refer disparagingly to NB as the “indie Richard Stilgoe”. And that use of the word ‘bonce’, it makes me shudder every time I hear it”
You don’t go on the WSC messageboard do you? Music critic from a national Sunday paper spotted on there a while back raising precisely the same objection to “Chatteris” and using the same Indie Stilgoe jibe. Also called them “the punk Victoria Wood”, which is actually quite shrewd because when you listen to it, “Chatteris” really could be a Victoria Wood pastiche. Same kind of rhythm, same kind of tune, same kind of wordplay, same kind of understated English subject matter. Just, for my money, 100 times better than anything the lady herself ever cooked up.
Jun 24th, 2011
Paul F
Does anyone think Jonathan Wilson has been inspired by the Lux Familiar Cup?
Jun 26th, 2011
John Anderson
I know Jonathan Wilson and I doubt he’s even heard of U2 never mind HMHB.
Jun 26th, 2011
Bobby String
Methinks Jonathan needs to pay more attention in history class too. He says that only post WWII teams were admitted but includes the River Plate team of 1942 which was, of course, during and not after WWII.
Jun 26th, 2011
TWO FAT FEET
Now the dust has settled on the Lux Familiar Cup, maybe it’s time to kick a bit up again. Looking at the results as the tournament progressed I wondered if some songs were punching above their weight while others had been cut cruelly down before their time.
Thus, having much better things to do but refusing to give them any attention, and using a system marginally less complicated than the Elo ratings used to rank chess players (although presumably not on Yahoo) among other things, I hereby present what I feel is a more accurate representation of the most popular HMHB songs – based on the LFC results, but not just ranking a song higher because it went further, but more for how it performed in its matches and how it compared with others.
Some interesting results (‘interesting’ in the sense that it is actually ‘boring’ to anybody else) were that TUCOLO finished ranked seventh despite crashing out at the first round, while Evening of Swing may have made the quarter-finals but actually ranks lower than half the songs which fell at the first, chiefly due to a savage beating at the hands of Chatteris, all of whose other victims ran it quite close and thus rank more highly. TUCOLO on the other hand was narrowly beaten by Vagaries, which itself went on to prove almost the equal of the eventual winner, suggesting TUCOLO may well have had a better run with a kinder draw. Comparisons are based on the ratio of votes rather than the absolute margin of victory.
Those Bibi ratings in full :
[1] A Country Practice 1000
[2] For What Is Chatteris 922
[3] Them’s The Vagaries 905
[4] Trumpton Riots 896
[5] Light At The End Of The Tunnel 876
[6] National Shite Day 809
[7] Turned Up Clocked On Laid Off 766
[8] Tending The Wrong Grave 665
[9] Dukla Prague Away Kit 656
[10] JDOG 620
[11] 24 Hour Garage People 594
[12] Everything’s A O R 593
[13] Trad. Arr. Tune 586
[14] Paintball’s Coming Home 566
[15] Surging Out Of Convalescence 553
[16] Bob Wilson – Anchorman 481
[17] When The Evening Sun Goes Down 465
[18] Irk The Purists 423
[19] Dickie Davies Eyes 422
[20] Bastard Son Of Dean Friedman 420
[21] Evening Of Swing 419
[22] Friday Night And The Gates Are Low 373
[23] Bad Losers On Yahoo Chess 370
[24] Running Order Squabble Fest 342
[25] Monmore, Hare’s Running 304
[26] Tour Jacket With Detachable Sleeves 229
[27] Even Men With Steel Hearts 226
[28] Outbreak Of Vitas Gerulaitis 200
[29] Vatican Broadside 197
[30] Teenage Armchair Honved Fan 187
[31] 4AD3DCD 176
[32] Secret Gig 97
Anyone who’s still curious as to what all that’s about can just compare the ratings of two songs which met in the competition and the ratio will be the same as that of the score when they met.
Meanwhile I might just keep my head down for another week …
Jun 27th, 2011
Chris The Siteowner
This is fantastic. Not boring to me – most sincere hat tip, in fact. And, I suspect, as close as we’re ever going to get to a consensus opinion. Perhaps if (and I say if) we ever do this again, we could come up with a competition format which would allow all the songs to be fairly ranked in this way, without having to play 13,861 matches.
Looks like if you wanted to make a CD compilation of the “Best Of HMHB” you could squeeze about the first 21 of these on, and interestingly the compilation would then include a track from every album except “Godcore”, and most EPs.
It’d also be interesting to see if any of these were not regularly played live, or if the band actually have a very good idea of everyone’s favourite songs and endeavour to play them.
Jun 27th, 2011
Third Rate Les
Chapeau to Two Fat Feet there; with a couple of odd exceptions that’s an undeniably strong list.
I’m currently working on a statistical model which demonstrates that San Antonio, despite going out in the qualifiers, actually came 3rd. It’s going to need some numerical wizardry of Goldman Sachs proportions.
Jun 27th, 2011
Geordie Paul
There has been an item on BBC6Music news about irregular betting patterns. It seems that 3 people of east asian origin put bets of “several thousand pounds” at early stages on A Country Practice and bet even more when it got into the final.
Good luck to them I wouldn’t have picked it.
I think the best song is either National Shite Day or Dukla Prague Away Kit, but what do I know?
I am looking forward to the Kendal gig. I will be wearing a Joy Division T-shirt but will be un oven-gloved.
Jun 27th, 2011
Floreat Ultonia
Evening all. Just a quick thanks for setting all this up, excellent entertainment following it. Even if Florrie barely registered and ETAOR crashed out early…
Jun 27th, 2011
Gregg Z
I just noticed on I-Tunes that most of the HMHB catalogue is listed under “Genre” as “Spoken & Audio” (as opposed to say, “Indie Rock” or “Alternative”). Sounds a bit “Stephen Fry-ish”, no?
Defying categorisation, once again..
Jun 29th, 2011
Third Rate Les
I’m someone who obsesses a bit about Itunes categorisation. It’s the “alternative & punk” category that is thorniest, as it tends to embrace everything from The Dead Kennedys to Coldplay. What’s so alternative about Coldplay? Alternative to what – something good? Mrs Les also got a bit hacked off when I created a new genre called “shite”, mainly for her Alanis Morrissette collection.
Sometimes I’m tempted to give up and just categorise it all into both kinds of music – country AND western.
Jun 29th, 2011
Gregg Z
I’m wondering if the “alternative” tag applies to Coldplay for the simple fact that the guy has the ability to sing from his tradesman’s entrance.
Surely, that’s an alternative to the conventional method.
Jun 30th, 2011
Mr Larrington
In my iTunes library HMHB as categorised as “Complete & Authentic British Folk”.
Jun 30th, 2011
Paul F
Is it sitting alongside Lodon Calling?
Jun 30th, 2011
Paul F
Or even London Calling?
Jun 30th, 2011
Arthur Lowe
I find HMHB marvellously impossible to categorise, regardless of what Andy Kershaw says, but I’d definitely move Coldplay into Third Rate Les’s succinct ‘sh*te’ genre, along with Alanis. In fact, if the tag was adapted by iTunes, it would allow an immense cull to be carried out on the whole ‘alternative & punk’ melting pot.
I realise they’re an easy target, but I do find it endlessly bewildering how I keep meeting people that will list Coldplay as a favourite within seconds of getting into the obligatory “So, what are you into?” conversation. That in itself is baffling, but it’s the way they say it, as if the idea of being anti-Coldplay were an unthinkable heresy. Instead, they expect an awed nod of agreement and a slap on the back for being so aware of real music. The earnestness of their expression always prevents me from launching into an enthusiastic tirade. I usually back off and mutter something like “Yeah, they’re popular alright”, or some such cop out. Snore Patrol are another. Everyone loves ‘em. I hold the opposite view.
Jun 30th, 2011
Third Rate Les
“People? People like Coldplay. People like voting for the Nazis. You can’t trust people”. (Super Hans, from Peep Show).
Categorisation-wise, I suppose the problem is that “alternative” tends to mean something that’s too boring to classify as “pop” and too self-consciously right-on to classify as “rock”.
Jun 30th, 2011
Half Arsed
Suggestion for Country Practice at Kendal tomorrow: “I’m incedibly bored with Olympic Ticket Allocation”.
Jun 30th, 2011
Hagerty F.
This was a great competition. Will it be repeated? If so, I propose a straight knockout from the very beginning. And perhaps seedings. I’m sure it could be worked out…
Aug 4th, 2011
Picky
If you want to find out peoples favourites, surely just have an open vote and the winner is the one with the most votes. This stops “heavyweights” being drawn against each other and allowing lesser songs through and produces a simple list. Ok, not as fun as the knock out cup but surely much more accurate. You could hold it annually on National Shite Day. Thanks.
Mar 13th, 2012
Picky
Oh and yes … I am a little late
Mar 13th, 2012
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