Fri 27 Sep

Space/Works/Magic – Group A

The final weekend of group qualifiers commenced with Radio Ga Ga sticking around to top SWM Grp A  (beating Pain Is So Close To Pleasure 97-5) and guaranteeing a place in the QWC finals (perhaps yet to have its finest hour?). Despite thumping Calling All Girls (96-6) Who Wants To Live Forever checked out of the competition as group runner-up. Cool Cat finished the group in third, pipping Action This Day on vote difference as the Hot Space duo played out a 51-51 draw.

Space/Works/Magic – Group B

Under Pressure was cool as ice (ice, baby) beating a mute Body Language (97-5), to qualify as Group B winner. A Kind Of Magic cast a spell over Gimme The Prize (74-28) and secured the honour of second spot,  whilst Machines (Or ‘Back To Humans) defeated Life Is Real (Song For Lennon) in the Battle of the Brackets (82-20).

Space/Works/Magic – Group C

I Want To Break Free made it a clean sweep in SWM Grp C by beating Back Chat (89-13). Princes Of The Universe fell foul of SWM group qualifying rule – there can only be one – despite a win over Man On The Prowl (83-19). In the basement battle Put Out The Fire extinguished Don’t Lose Your Head’s hopes (68-34) in the group closer.

Space/Works/Magic – Group D

Hammer To Fall nailed down the SWM Grp D qualifying place defeating out of step Dancer (90-12). Las Palabras De Amor wasn’t far apart from Keep Passing The Open Windows but it’s narrow win (57-45) secured second spot. An even tighter tie left Friends Will Be Friends winless, pointless and friendless as One Year Of Love and it’s saxy solo won out 53-49.

Space/Works/Magic – Group E

Post-Live Aid rocker and Colonel Sanders favourite One Vision ensured there would still be representation from A Kind Of Magic in the QWC finals by defeating Tear It Up (84-18). It’s A Hard Life was left with a broken heart, shy of One Vision by a vote difference of only five votes despite an 87-15 win over bottom song Is This The World We Created

Sat 28 Sep

Miracle/Innuendo/MIH – Group A

With both songs secure in a play-off spot, the tie between Innuendo and The Invisible Man was purely to claim the glory of first place in MIM Grp A. As it turned out it was Innuendo that disappeared out of sight via a 85-6 over The Invisible Man. Elsewhere I Can’t Live With You came through the madness and tears to finish in third place (65-26 v My Life Has Been Saved), whilst Party finished festivities in MIM Grp A with another loss (15-76 v Ride The Wild Wind).

Miracle/Innuendo/MIH – Group B

The Show Must Go On and Scandal had routine wins (85-6 v Let Me Live and 84-7 v My Baby Does Me respectively) to maintain their play-off places in MIM Grp B. This left Made In Heaven in third place purgatory despite sinking Khashoggi’s Ship 79-12.

Miracle/Innuendo/MIH – Group C

Breakthru topped MIM Grp C with a 70-21 win over Too Much Love Will Kill You and will now seek to make a QWC Finals breakthrough in the play-offs. The second play-off spot was still in the balance as contenders Mother Love and Headlong squared up – a 52-39 win provided all the comfort and care needed for the Mother Love to progress. The Grp C wooden spoon went to Delilah as the feline failure suffered a fifth successive defeat, All God’s People benefitting 67-24.

Miracle/Innuendo/MIH – Group D

Adventure seeker I Want It All topped MIM Grp D beating Was It All Worth It 61-30, but both claim play-off places. Also-rans Heaven For Everyone and It’s A Beautiful Day played out an inconsequential 55-36 win for the Taylor-penned track.

Miracle/Innuendo/MIH – Group E

I’m Going Slightly Mad was actually in the pink atop MIM Grp E, precipitating a 80-11 washout for Rain Must Fall. I the other Grp E game A Winter’s Tale cozied into the second play-off place via narrow win over Bijou (48-43).

Miracle/Innuendo/MIH – Group F

The sun is still shining for These Are The Days Of Our Lives as it topped MIM Grp F by thumping non-song It’s A Beautiful Day (Reprise) 89-2. Despite the efforts of Don’t Try So Hard (67-24 win v You Don’t Fool Me), The Miracle needed no supernatural interventions to experience the second play-off place.

With all group fixtures completed the QWC play-offs are now set to kick off on Fri 4 Oct with five immense match-ups and guaranteed painful choices:

The Prophet’s Song v You’re Best Friend

(2nd Place Group B vs 2nd Place Group E)

We Are The Champions v Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy

(2nd Place Group C vs 2nd Place Group F)

JAZZ/GAME/FLASH

Bicycle Race v Play The Game

(2nd Place #1 vs 2nd Place #4)

Crazy Little Thing Called Love v Let Me Entertain You

(2nd Place #2 vs 2nd Place #3)