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Scottish Sun
24-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
The world's best karaoke songs officially revealed by scientist – with surprise throwback topping list
AN Oxford university boffin has come up with a mathematical formula to determine the best endorphin-boosting karaoke songs of all-time. Dr Tom Crawford uses V for number of verses, C as repetition of chorus, Y for when the track was released, combined with BPM beats per minute to scientifically grade songs out of 100. 5 The ultimate karaoke songs of all time have been revealed 5 Dr Tom Crawford and his unique formula. His formula says that the 2,000 folk who took part in the Three Mobile survey prefer fast-paced songs with an average of 126 BPM and three repeated choruses for every two verses. Chief Features Writer MATT BENDORIS asks Dr Crawford to apply his calculations to some classic Scots karaoke favourites to see how our chart stars compare THE Proclaimers I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) almost walked away with being crowned kings of the karaoke charts, according to Dr Crawford's formula. It ticked all the right boxes with 132 Beats Per Minute - just over the perfect rate of 126 BPM - but was let down slightly by having four choruses instead of the ideal three. Instead Craig and Charlie Reid slipped to No5 in the overall rankings with Shania Twain, Oasis, Whitney Houston and the winner Bon Jovi all ahead of them. 5 Bon Jovi rocked their way to the top of the karaoke charts. 5 The Proclaimers 500 Miles is the best Scots karaoke song However had 'foot stomping' being part of the doc's unique formula, he is certain the twins from Leith would have come out on top. He said: 'What I really liked about some songs, especially 500 miles, is that it just makes you want to get up, stamp your feet and join in. 'It kind of has that euphoric, mood-lifting ability, so it's not just songs people like to sing, but how they make you feel.' Dr Crawford believes that was the whole point of the survey which has launched the 'Kathartic Karaoke' initiative as part of Three and the Samaritans' ongoing commitment to mental health support and wellbeing. A special karaoke booth will be erected from August 15 to 16 on The Mound at the Edinburgh Fringe to help festival goers boost their mood with music and singing. TOP 10 KARAOKE SONGS 1) Livin' On a Prayer – Bon Jovi (91%) 2) I Wanna Dance with Somebody – Whitney Houston (90%) 3) Don't Look Back in Anger – Oasis (89%) 4) Man! I Feel Like a Woman – Shania Twain (88%) 5) I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) – The Proclaimers (88%) 6) Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) – ABBA (85%) 7) Unwritten – Natasha Bedingfield (84%) 8) Someone Like You – Adele (84%) 9) Wannabe – Spice Girls (84%) 10) Let Me Love You – Mario (83%) That's after Dr Crawford's research found that nine out of ten (90 per cent) people felt that singing gave them an emotional uplift, made them feel empowered (81 per cent) while 70 per cent found it cathartic. There is also evidence to suggest music can improve happiness and help sustain a healthy immune system, by reducing stress and boosting the production of endorphins and immunity antibodies – whilst singing can specifically improve breathing, posture and muscle tension. Dr Crawford, 35, who also has 225,000 subscribers on YouTube under the handle @TomRocksMaths, said: 'I've been trying to make maths fun for years now on YouTube and through my teaching at university and this is why I was so excited to be involved in this project. 'I think the whole idea of talking about karaoke and mood boosting and linking it back to mental health and working with the Samaritans is a fantastic thing, especially as young men in particular are pretty bad about discussing these topics. 'So talking more about mental health and using karaoke singing as a way to boost that and also bringing in the maths and the fun are things that I am passionate about.' During his study Dr Crawford discovered that age of a song was also a big defining factor where it finished in the karaoke charts too. TOP 10 SCOTTISH KARAOKE SONGS 1) 500 Miles - The Proclaimers (88%) 2) Why Does it Always Rain on Me - Travis (87%) 3) It's Got to be Perfect - Fairground Attraction (80%) 4) Someone You Loved - Lewis Capaldi (78%) 5) Dignity - Deacon Blue (77%) 6) Vienna - Ultravox (76%) 7) Maggie May - Rod Stewart (73%) 8) Caledonia - Dougie Maclean (65%) 9) Shout - Lulu (65%) 10) Leave a Light On - Tom Walker (61%) He explained: 'Older songs didn't do so well, with the 70s doing really badly, with the exception to the rule being ABBA who were the most popular individual artists. 'Adele did well, although many of her tracks were from the 2010s, which were actually a bit too modern for the best performing songs in this formula. 'Lewis Capaldi also scored well with Someone You Loved as he's a kind of Scottish Adele really, isn't he? 'But the best performing tracks were roughly from the 90s with Britpop, Oasis, Spice Girls, all that kind of thing.' And even being a terracing favourite was no guarantee of doing well under the doctor's figures. He said: 'Neil Diamond's Sweet Caroline did quite badly, even though it's hugely popular with the likes of women's football fans right now. 'Similarly Caledonia is a favourite on the rugby terraces in Scotland but it didn't do well either.' However, Dr Crawford insists he also wanted to create a debate with the exercise. He says: 'People can look at our top 10 and think it's nonsense, as everyone has their own personal opinion. 'But this was all about trying to determine how a song makes you feel when singing it and even if you wouldn't score these tracks exactly as we have, you can also have a lot of fun discussing them and what songs you say lift your mood best. 'At the end of the day it's all part of the fun.'
Daily Mirror
18-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Three Mobile rivals EE, O2 and Sky with a cheaper Unlimited Data SIM-only plan
Three Mobile has a string of SIM-only packages on offer Three Mobile has rolled out a string of SIM-only plans with priced from £22 for unlimited data. The network's low-cost deals rival SIM-only deals from the likes of EE, O2 and Sky. Three Mobile's ' Unlimited 24-month Lite' includes extras such as 5G-ready at no extra cost, unlimited calls and texts and Three+ rewards. It costs £22 monthly, increasing to £23.50 from April 2026, and to £25 in April 2027. Phone owners who are willing to pay a little extra can opt for the £24 a month package. It includes all the extras listed above, as well as roaming data and Paramount+ (prices increase to £25.50 from April 2026, £27 from April 2027). In comparison, Sky Mobile's unlimited SIM-only plan is £29 monthly. Consumers can also opt to go for an e-SIM, which means they can activate thier plan immediately, without having to wait for a physical SIM to arrive. Over at EE, the Unlimited Essential SIM-only plan is on offer for £22, down from £35. It includes unlimited minutes, texts and data, gift data to family and friends, and max speeds of 100Mbps. For an upgraded package, shoppers can pick the Unlimited Full Works for iPhone SIM-only contract (£31 a month, was £48). This includes no-charge roaming in the EU and further, unlimited data for a watch, and priority coverage in busy areas. Uncapped speeds and inclusive extras, like Apple One or TNT Sports, are also included. Meanwhile, O2's 24-month Unlimited Data SIM-only contract also begins at £22, per month. Consumers who opt for this can enjoy roaming freely in the EU (up to 25GB), choose three months of Disney+ Standard, Amazon Prime, or more. They also have an option to upgrade to a new phone and plan after three months. Consumers can find general reviews and ratings of Three Mobile's service and reliability on Trustpilot. One person left a review of their in-store experience, saying: "I needed to replace a lost iPhone quickly - Lisa in the Wigan store was really helpful and sorted me out very efficiently. "This store staff has always delivered excellent service." Another network user said: "Their network is okay, but then you can't even send any Whatsapp messages when you're in Glasgow city centre. "Please work on your internet connectivity in city centre." Another user noted the broadband, writing: "Great service and cheap. "Very easy to plug in the Broadband modem and use. Internet is quick. Also, Sonu was great at problem solving when I needed to call customer service."
Daily Mirror
13-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Cheapest Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7 deals to pre-order
Samsung's all-new Z Fold and Z Flip foldable phones have been announced Samsung's latest foldable smartphones have been unveiled, and they might just be the top picks for those on the hunt for a new mobile. The brand-new Z Fold and Z Flip were showcased during the Unpacked event in New York, boasting significant improvements over their predecessors. The most noticeable transformation is seen in the latest Z Fold 7. Its revamped design makes it more pocket-friendly, and it now features an enhanced triple-lens camera with a primary 200MP lens for superior night-time photography and videography. Then there's the Flip 7, which comes equipped with speedier processors, superior screens, and upgraded cameras. Our tech team has rounded up what to anticipate from the Flip 7. While these updates are thrilling, one crucial consideration for consumers is where to buy the best phone deals. This largely depends on how buyers prefer to pay for the device. For those looking to spread the cost, check out Three Mobile for the best contract deals. For the Fold 7, customers can shell out £45.50 per month on a 36-month contract with a £60 upfront fee, as The Express reports. However, this doesn't include data, so that will need to be factored into the monthly cost as well, a potential downside for some shoppers. The same applies to the Flip 7. Samsung enthusiasts can snag the device for a monthly payment of £25.25 with an upfront cost of £40, spread over 36 months. Both phones come with additional storage and significant trade-in savings. Customers can also pre-order from Sky and EE, and depending on the carrier, they may be eligible for a variety of freebies. For those seeking alternatives, Carphone Warehouse offers a range of other deals worth exploring. For Apple users, Giffgaff provides a reasonable monthly plan for the iPhone 16 Pro at £24 a month, with a slightly higher upfront cost of £25. Returning to Samsung, the South Korean tech giant has the best SIM-free deals for customers willing to pay in full up front. The brand is offering double storage, up to £935 in trade-in value, and a £100 discount if consumers pay using PayPal. For the Fold 7, customers can reduce the price from £1,799 to £1099 through trade-in, and get an additional £100 off with PayPal, bringing the price down to £1064. As for the Flip 7, with a trade-in, customers could pay as little as £596 for the phone.
The Sun
03-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Major mobile network with 10million customers to bring back FREE roaming while abroad this summer
THREE Mobile is bring back FREE roaming for thousands of holidaymakers this summer. It axed free roaming for new customers and upgrades from in October 2021 and started charging £2 per day for Europe or up to £7 per day for other destinations. 1 Customers who signed up before October 2021 still had access to free roaming. Now it's bringing back the free roaming offer for two plans - it's Value and Complete tariff. This change comes shortly after Three completed a "mega-merger" with Vodafone. For the Value Plan, it costs £14 per month and gives free roaming in 49 European countries. While it's Complete Plan is £19 per month and offers free roaming in Europe and 114 destinations worldwide. However, there's a fair usage limit of 12GB every four weeks. If you go over this limit, you'll be charged 3p for every extra MB used. If you joined Three after June 22, free roaming is included in your plan. If you're an existing customer, you'll need to switch to a new plan to get free roaming. Easy ways to slash your mobile bill Which regions can I roam for free? Value plans: Aland Islands (Finland) Austria Azores (Portugal) Balearic Islands (Spain) Belgium Bulgaria Canary Islands (Spain) Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France French Guiana Germany Gibraltar Greece Guadeloupe Guernsey Hungary Iceland Ireland Isle of Man Italy Jersey Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Madeira (Portugal) Malta Martinique Mayotte Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Reunion Romania Saint Barthelemy Saint Martin San Marino (Italy) Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Vatican City Complete plans: Albania Andorra Anguilla Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba (Netherlands Antilles) Australia Azerbaijan Back to top Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Bermuda Bonaire (Netherlands Antilles) Bosnia and Herzegovina Brazil British Virgin Islands Brunei Burkina Faso Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cayman Islands Chile China Colombia Costa Rica Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) Curacao (Netherlands Antilles) Cyprus, North (Turkey) Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Faroe Islands Gabon Georgia Ghana Greenland Grenada Guatemala Guinea Guyana Haiti Honduras Hong Kong (China) India Indonesia Israel Jamaica Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kosovo Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Liberia Macao (China) Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Mexico Moldova Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Myanmar New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria North Macedonia Oman Pakistan Panama Paraguay Peru Puerto Rico Qatar Rwanda Saba (Netherlands Antilles) Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Singapore Sint Eustatius (Netherlands Antilles) Sint Maarten (Netherlands Antilles) South Africa South Korea Sri Lanka Suriname Taiwan Tajikistan Thailand Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turks and Caicos Islands Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates (UAE) United States of America (USA) Uruguay US Virgin Islands Uzbekistan Vietnam Zambia Before switching mobile plans, check if you're still in contract to avoid high exit fees. Over 33million people are out of contract, according to Uswitch, so it's worth checking if you can upgrade or switch to avoid paying more than necessary. To check your contract status, text "INFO" followed by your date of birth (DDMMYY) to 85075. You'll get a text confirming if you'd need to pay an early termination fee. These fees only apply if you're still in contract. If no fee is mentioned, you're likely out of contract and free to switch. What tariffs don't involve inclusive roaming? Three's cheapest "Lite Plans," starting at £9 a month, don't include free roaming abroad. Customers on these plans can either buy a Go Roam pass or pay a daily roaming fee to use their UK allowances in Go Roam destinations. The daily fee is £2 for Europe, £5 for Around the World, and £7 for Around the World Extra. Go Roam passes allow customers to use their UK allowances for 24 hours in over 160 destinations. These passes can be purchased before travelling or while abroad, with no limit on how many can be bought. Which mobile networks don't charge roaming fees? Asda Asda will let you roam for free in 46 European countries. You don't need to tell Asda if you're going away, you can simply carry on texting, calling and streaming as you would at home. However, customers a have a data roaming limit of up to 5GB so make sure you don't go over. After this, usage will cost 10p per MB. The provider says it will let you know when you reach 80% and 100% of your data limit. BT Mobile BT Mobile's 'Roam Like Home' offering lets its customers roam for free in 47 destinations. You can use your mobile plan allowance to use data, make calls and send texts back to the UK as well as to receive calls and texts for free when you're roaming in these zones. GiffGaff GiffGaff plans can be used in the EU and some other destinations at no extra cost. However, there is a cap of 5GB and if you go over it'll cost 10p/MB. If you're a pay as you go customer, the provider will charge you at the usual UK rates. iD Mobile Roaming comes as standard on all iD mobile phone and SIM only plans. Customers can use their UK monthly allowances of minutes, text and data in 50 destinations worldwide up to 30GB. Lebara Lebara customers can use UK plan allowances while roaming in the EU or India for no extra cost. There is a fair use cap of up to 30GB on the unlimited data plan. O2 O2 is the only major network provider that has not brought back roaming charges. If you're travelling in what it calls its 'Europe Zone' which covers more than 40 destinations, you can call text or use data like you would in the UK and for no extra cost. There is a cap of 25GB. Smarty Smarty lets its customers roam in the EU for no extra costs. If your plan includes calls and texts, they'll also work as usual. However, there's a cap on data of up to 12GB. Talkmobile Talkmobile offers free EU roaming to countries in a list of 'zone A' destinations. This includes France, Spain, Portugal and other popular European spots. Outside of these zone A countries, you'll be subjected to charges. You can check the list of countries covered by zone A on its website at There is a fair usage of 5GB or 15GB depending on when you became a customer. Tesco Mobile Tesco Mobile has once again extended its free roaming offer until 2026. That means that you can use your text, call, and data allowances at no extra cost in 48 destinations
The Sun
27-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Three Mobile customers urged to apply for compensation after network went down for 14 hours
THREE Mobile customers are being urged to file complaints and seek compensation following a 14-hour outage. Tens of thousands of customers reported being unable to make or receive phone calls or send SMS text messages on Wednesday. 1 The outage began at 8am, with angry customers flooding social media with complaints. Three, which recently merged with Vodafone, swiftly acknowledged the issue with a post on X (formerly Twitter). It read: "We're aware of an issue affecting voice services and are working hard to fix it. " Data services are working normally. Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience caused." Despite the early update, the mobile network didn't confirm the issue was resolved until 10pm last night. Since then, many customers have asked if they'll get compensation. A third customer said: "I hope we all get compensated from you." So, can customers claim compensation? Three Mobile network down with customers unable to make or receive calls We reached out to Three, but the company declined to confirm if it will pay out. Telecom regulator Ofcom has an automatic compensation scheme for broadband and landline customers when services are disrupted. However, mobile customers aren't covered and don't receive the same protection for connection issues. That said, you can still request compensation directly from your provider. Simrat Sharma, Uswitch mobiles expert, said: "Three's reported outages this week will be incredibly frustrating for customers - and it's understandable that many will be thinking about compensation. "Ofcom advises that compensation for mobile signal outages is 'dependent on the circumstances'. "But in extreme cases where repairs take much longer, you may be entitled to an additional refund or account credit. "If you've experienced huge disruption from the outage, don't hesitate to contact your provider to see if they can help." Customers can use the 'Live Chat' feature on Three's website or dial 333 from their mobile to file a complaint and request compensation. It's likely compensation would be considered on a case by case basis, for example if you use your phone for your business and you were unable to make calls or if you needed to use your phone urgently, then it might be worth logging a complaint. There's no guarantee on whether compensation will be paid - but it might be worth asking. An Ofcom spokesperson added: "Anyone who has been affected by this outage should get in touch with Three directly, and if they are dissatisfied then they can consider logging a formal complaint." How to complain and WIN compensation If your provider hasn't fixed the issue on time or you're unhappy with the delay, follow the formal complaints process. Take screenshots of the outage on your phone and note how long your service was down. Be clear about any extra costs you faced because of the outage, as you might be able to claim them back. To complain, call Three on 333 or use their live chat. Keep copies of receipts or bills to show any extra costs caused by the outage – these will help strengthen your case. If your formal complaint doesn't resolve the issue, you can ask for a "deadlock letter" after eight weeks and take your dispute to an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) scheme. ADR schemes are free and act as an independent mediator between you and your provider when complaints can't be settled directly. There are two ADR schemes in the UK - the Communications Ombudsman and CISAS. Providers must be part of one, and you can check which scheme covers your provider at Three is a member of the Communications Ombudsman. To file a complaint, you can fill out the claims form on the ADR scheme's website by visiting or send a letter. The ADR scheme looks at the evidence from you and your provider before making a decision. If it agrees you should get compensation and you accept the decision, your network has 28 days to pay. If you reject the decision, you won't be able to claim the resolution offered. CUT YOUR TELECOM COSTS By James Flanders, Chief Consumer Reporter Switching contracts is one of the single best ways to save money on your mobile, broadband and TV bills. But if you can't switch mid-contract without facing a penalty, you'd be best to hold off until it's up for renewal. But don't just switch contracts because the price is cheaper than what you're currently paying. Take a look at your minutes and texts, as well as your data usage, to find out which deal is best for you. For example, if you're a heavy internet user, it's worth finding a deal that accommodates this so you don't have to spend extra on bundles or add-ons each month. In the weeks before your contract is up, use comparison sites to familiarise yourself with what deals are available. It's a known fact that new customers always get the best deals. Sites like MoneySuperMarket and Uswitch all help you customise your search based on price, allowances and provider. This should make it easier to decide whether to renew your contract or move to another provider. However, if you don't want to switch and are happy with the service you're getting under your current provider - haggle for a better deal. You can still make significant savings by renewing your contract rather than rolling on to the tariff you're given after your deal. If you need to speak to a company on the phone, be sure to catch them at the right time. Make some time to negotiate with your provider in the morning. This way, you have a better chance of being the first customer through on the phone, and the rep won't have worked tirelessly through previous calls which may have affected their stress levels. It pays to be polite when getting through to someone on the phone, as representatives are less inclined to help rude or aggressive customers. Knowing what other offers are on the market can help you to make a case for yourself to your provider. If your provider won't haggle, you can always threaten to leave. Companies don't want to lose customers and may come up with a last-minute offer to keep you. It's also worth investigating social tariffs. These deals have been created for people who are receiving certain benefits.
