Brits 25 Best Song Award

David Bowie, Queen and Oasis are heading a shortlist to win the Brits 25 Best Song Award. The controversial list, drawn-up by a panel of music industry and media experts for the Brit Awards, is aiming to find the UK's favourite hit single since the ceremony was launched in 1977. Other big name acts to be nominated in the category include Kate Bush, for her 1978 hit 'Wuthering Heights', George Michael, for 'Careless Whisper', and Robbie Williams, who has been nominated for his classic track 'Angels'. To qualify for entry, songs had to be performed by a British act and had to have entered the UK charts between January 1, 1977 and December 31, 2004, with only one title per artist allowed. The final twenty-five tracks were revealed on BBC Radio 2 yesterday afternoon (03.01.05), and listeners will now be able to vote for their top five until next Monday (10.01.05). The five finalists will then be played on the popular station during January with the overall winner announced at this year's Brits on February 9. However, the list has attracted huge criticism after classic British artists such as Blur, Radiohead and The Smiths were ignored from the final twenty-five tracks.

BBC Radio 2 music editor Colin Martin, who sat on the panel, admitted the list would not please everyone.

He said: "Distilling over a quarter century of hits to a list of 25 to be voted on by Radio 2 listeners has been one of the most difficult tasks I have ever shared in."