The Verve's "The Drugs Don't Work" has topped a list of songs that make people feel sad, a scientist has found in research conducted on behalf of phone company Nokia.

Dr Harry Witchel, an expert in physiology and music, has measured physical reactions to music – heart rate, respiratory responses and skin temperatures to find song's "tune trigger quotient".

In conjunction with the Official UK Charts Company, Dr. Witchel has also compiled lists of the happiest songs, measured by levels of sighs - as they indicate happy memory recollection, and exhilarating songs, measured by an increased breathing rate.

Dr Witchel commenting on the results said, "Music is undeniably powerful at triggering different emotional states. Changes in tempo and frequencies induce profoundly different emotional states. A slow tempo song like the Verve's The Drugs Don't Work slows down the heart
compared to most of the other songs and compared to white noise - in other words, it works like the emotional state of sadness.”

In contrast, the research found that Lily Allen's “LDN”, Abba's “Dancing Queen” and R.E.M's “Shiny Happy People” were the ones guaranteed to bring on a smile.

Blur's “Song 2” topped the ‘exhilerating' songs list by quite some way, Witchel said, “I was surprised that Blur's Song 2 could be such a clear winner among our participants."

The research found that the saddest ten songs were:

1. The Verve - The Drugs Don't Work
2. Robbie Williams - Angels
3. Elton John - Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word
4. Whitney Houston - I Will Always Love You
5. Sinead O'Connor - Nothing Compares 2 U
6. Will Young - Leave Right Now
7. Elvis Presley - Are You Lonesome Tonight?
8. Christina Aguilera - Beautiful
9. James Blunt - Goodbye My Lover
10. Radiohead - Fake Plastic Trees


and the happiest ten were:

1. Lily Allen - LDN
2. Abba - Dancing Queen
3. REM - Shiny Happy People
4. B52s - Love Shack
5. The Beatles - She Loves You
6. Beyonce - Crazy In Love
7. Britney Spears - Baby One More Time
8. Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes - I've Had The Time Of My Life
9. The Spice Girls - Spice Up Your Life
10. Kylie Minogue - Spinning Around

Source Uncut

The perennially jovial Noel Gallagher has accused Green Day of ripping off Oasis' biggest hit, "Wonderwall."

He says "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" is "exactly the same arrangement." He continues by saying "They should have the decency to wait until I am dead (before releasing this). I, at least, pay the people I steal from that courtesy." He also says of Green Day "They consider themselves to be - and I quote - 'a kick-ass rock 'n' roll band'. They could not be less kick-ass if they tried."

Source Punkbands

Pop superstar GEORGE MICHAEL will continue his comeback when he embarks on his first US tour in 15 year next spring (07).
The FAITH singer has recently been making more headlines for his run-ins with the law than with his music .

In February (06), he was arrested in London for possession of cannabis and in May (06) and again in October (06) he was found passed out in his car by police.

Michael finishes his sold out 16-city European tour 25 Live in London on Sunday (17DEC06).

And now sources close to the star tell US publication People he's on the verge of announcing a major American tour.

Source PR-Inside