Music: Near misses 66-70

The penultimate list of not-good-enough music...

Voices - Dario G: Never knew this until 'The Beach' movie soundtrack but very clever building from initial instrumental through to the chanting at the end. Not a top 40 song, but everyone should listen to this one.

Promise Me - Beverley Craven: Overall tune puts it in the shortlist, little piano instrumental in the middle almost puts it over the top. Not quite enough mystery in the music - although there's certainly some - and not quite the start of the journey like Piano in the Dark. But this really could have been in there.

The Boys Of Summer - Don Henley: It's good - especially the guitar - but put in a straight fight against any of the 30-40 list it lost out. I think the final time it was replaced in the list was by 'From The Inside Out' by Hillsong, a very different song and that was the moment I realized that Don Henley just wasn't going to make the list.

I Can Only Imagine - MercyMe: Good lyrics, good music, good song, but like 'Stairway to Heaven' I just don't listen to it any more. Not quite enough staying power to make the final list.

Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen: How could this not be in the top 40? It's great - truly great - and Brian May's guitar is the strongest part of the piece (particular towards the end), it checks a lot of boxes (getting to the end makes you feel you've achieved something; it 'earns' the right to do 'loud'; musically very interesting and varied without being up itself too much). But not quite enough overall in each area to push it over the top. 'Shine On You Crazy Diamond' beat it, but then so did 'Going Home' by Runrig.