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Posted by: Liаm 9th December 2018, 03:35 PM

It's that time of year again! Last year, Dua Lipa - New Rules beat Francesca Michielin - Vulcano to become my #1 song of 2017, and Taylor Swift's Reputation beat out tough competition from Lorde's Melodrama and SZA's Ctrl to become my #1 album of 2017 for me.



The top 40 albums will start right now, with albums spanning pop, country, rock, hip-hop, dance and more *.*

Posted by: Liаm 9th December 2018, 03:46 PM

40 Lauren Daigle – Look Up Child

Check out: You Say, Like Rolling Stones

This is an album I’m really not the target audience for, but this is damn good for a Christian album! You Say was absolutely stunning so I had to check this out and I was pleasantly surprised. It’s definitely a Christian album in its themes, and there’s nothing groundbreaking in terms of genre or musicality, but it does a really great job at bringing the themes to a more radio ready AC sort of sound, you could easily imagine Adele or similar popular pop singers doing some of these songs, I’m interesting to see how her career builds as her voice is so captivating.


39 Florence & The Machine – High As Hope

Check out: Hunger, Patricia

Definitely her weakest to date, but it’s still very good ofc or it wouldn’t be here. Hunger is definitely the best track, I wish it had made top 40, I feel like it does a good job of straddling the line between old and new Florence. My big gripe with this is that it feels a bit stripped and Florence’s huge and bellowing voice can’t shine to its fullest on songs like this, but it definitely brings out sides to her we don’t always see when she lets her voice and interpretative skills do the talking, with many softer and more raw moments than the huge, bellowing and full anthems on past albums. It’s one of those I haven’t been compelled to go back to too much, but you have to appreciate it as a honest effort that bares a soul.


38 Cher – Dancing Queen

Check out: One Of Us, The Winner Takes It All

Exactly what it says on the tin – Cher sings ABBA. Now of course, this is the gayest thing ever but that’s no bad thing! It’s quite karaoke but when you have songs as classic and foolproof as ABBA, again that’s no bad thing. The real highlight is One Of Us, which I actually might prefer to the original in all its rawness and emotion, Cher’s one of a kind deep and feeling vocal really brings that one alive. There’s gay pop bangers aplenty, and in a chartscape like 2018 that was really quite welcomed.

37 The Greatest Showman: Reimagined


As with Cher, this is what it says on the tin! Of course, we’re all aware of the phenomenon that is The Greatest Showman and its songs, most of which have been chart hits and been in our heads all year. This album takes them and twists them to fit many chart singers of today, with varying results. The only one that’s outright bad is the chemistry free, strained and outright deathly dull audio hell that is Anne-Marie and James Arthur’s Rewrite The Stars, but others are competent and stick to the originals, so can’t do too much wrong. The real winners are Panic! At The Disco’s The Greatest Show and P!nk’s A Million Dreams, both of which outstrip the already brilliant originals This was a great refresh of songs we’d heard and loved all year, without taking too much away from what made them great in the first place.

36 Hayley Kiyoko – Expectations

Check out: Curious, What I Need

Another one I’m not really the target audience for, but it has to be said that Hayley is doing a lot for lesbian themes in music, and giving so many young WLWs a home in her music by representing the way they’ve felt. Regardles of the themes though, this is some pretty good pop that is a really promising debut. It would have easy for Hayley to release generic radio pop as an album and just add some lesbian themes (she partly did on the perfect pop lead single Curious and Kehlani collab What I Need), but she didn’t. The textured and lush soundscapes really bring her voice alive and stand out a bit in the pop landscape of 2018, even if the aforementioned pop bops are the highlight for me <3

35 AS IT IS – The Great Depression

Check out: The Stigma (Boys Don't Cry), The Great Depression

The themes on this are so important, talking about mental health particularly on the track The Stigma (Boys Don’t Cry), which touches on the damaging assumption that males should keep things bottled up. The vocals on this really open up to the personal and raw themes, but there’s also a surprising amount of pop sensibility in the melodies, I find the title track in particular is one that worms its way into your head. Definitely a band I need to hear more of, this was a great introduction as I’ve have a bit of a mini emo phase this year

34 Tove Stryke – Sway

Check out: Sway, On The Low

As always, some real pop gold from Tove <3 It’s not as strong as her previous efforts, but given how this looking a few singles ago this turned out so well! This takes a lot of the familiar sounds, melodies and themes of our easily listenable Spotify generation, but fleshes them out with exuberant melodies and an irresistible quality that keeps you coming back, case in point being the title track

33 Ella Mai – Ella Mai

Check out: Boo'd Up, Whatchamacallit

One of the big breakout stars in the US, this is a fab little R&B album that harks back to classic R&B, in a similar way to Tinashe’s Aquarius a few years ago. Lead single Boo’d Up is really really refreshing in a year that’s seen a lot of mumble rap and god knows what else in terms of urban music, she’s got such a smooth voice and easy swagger that carries songs like that and I think the nostalgic and timeless quality is a big reason why she’s done so well. It can get a bit samey and perhaps is a bit overlong, but the bulk of it is really really promising and I can’t wait to see where she goes, this does a great job as a debut in that it’s made me really intrigued for this blooming new artist.

32 Blair St Clair – Call My Life

Check out: Now Or Never, Call My Life

The release of Now or Never was probably the biggest musical surprise Drag Race has ever given, as the cutesy theatrical queen who you might have expected broadway type music from unleashed an electropop banger that’s lyrically defiant and empowering. Ostenibly, this album is full of modern, radio-ready pop that’s dance-able and will stick in your head, but when you look a little deeper, the lyrics are personal and deep, detailing Blair’s struggles with alcoholism after earlier trauma. For sheer surprise factor, juggling on trend pop with personal themes and opening up in a novel way we didn’t expect, this is a really great debut from one of Season 10’s robbed queens.

31 Courtney Barnett – Tell Me How You Really Feel

Check out: Crippling Self Doubt and a General Lack Of Confidence, Nameless Faceless

The debut of this Australian was one of the best of 2015 in all its compulsively grabbing uniqueness, her way with words was instantly astounding and only she could put them across in the way that she did. This album took a while to sit right with me, as it’s more enclosed and introverted, but it’s just as honest and refreshing. The tone fits with the themes, this is often all about the claustrophobia of the expectations placed upon her as a lyricist, having to follow up a debut that got such acclaim and feeling like she isn’t good enough to do it. Crippling Self Doubt and a General Lack Of Confidence is possibly the standout though and I’d say the best bridge between her debut and this, there’s still melodies aplenty here which is what another part of what made her debut so special.

Posted by: Liаm 9th December 2018, 05:51 PM

30 Poppy – Am I A Girl?

Check out: Play Destroy, Time Is Up (ft. Diplo)

Definitely a step up for Poppy, prior to this I thought Money was a bop but never really took to a lot of her other stuff. Play Destroy instantly piqued my interest in this album, the juxtaposition of Poppy’s whole cutesy sweet schtik and the aggression of Grimes’ usual stuff makes for an amazing end product, and the whole thing is similarly odd yet amazing. It’s very daring, both sonically and thematically, with production from the likes of Garibay and Diplo. It’s too weird to ever be successful in a large way, but there’s flecks of some real pop sensibility and there’s a lot to go back to – even just to figure out what on earth is going on at times!

29 Molly Sanden – Storre

Check out: Storre, Sand

This is certainly an evolution for the three time Melodifestivalen finalist, who leaves behind the huge Eurovision ready pop for a slickly produced Spotify ready collection of songs that are super contemporary without leaving behind the real Molly. Another huge change is that this is all in Swedish, but Molly has one of those voices where you are drawn into every word and every melody even if you have no idea what she’s singing. I definitely recommend this to any pop fan who wants melody and a contemporary edge.

28 Let’s Eat Grandma – I’m All Ears

Check out: Falling Into Me, Hot Pink

These two girls had a very strange debut back in 2016 with I, Gemini, which was a solid and intriguing set of tracks but was a bit too clashy and mish-mash to be a great album. This is a huge step forward though, a cohesive and forward thinking album that’s more glittery and glittery, while staying experimental. It’s very hard to marry so many styles together and create an album that feels like a unified set, but this is a great example and intrigues me even more than the debut about them as artists.

27 Post Malone – Beerbongs & Bentleys

Check out: Stay, Better Now

Colour me surprised that I enjoyed a Post Malone this much, to put it above the likes of Cher, Molly Sanden and Florence & The Machine, but here we are! Many point to Post Malone as one of the bastions of the rap plaguing the chart recently, but I think he’s one of the few of that adds something and has something to say in a way that we want to hear. Unlike his mumbly and tuneless peers, Post has stuffed this album full of melodies and pop sensibility, as you will no doubt have heard in singles like Better Now and Rockstar, but there's also a lovely raw moment in Stay which nobody was expecting.

26 MNEK – Language

Check out: Tongue, Colour

It’s been a long time coming, but there was certainly no disappointment with the album that MNEK has finally unleahsed on us after countless writes for the likes of Beyonce, Madonna, Kylie, Dua Lipa and Zara Larsson. It’s pretty much the perfect album he needed, one that could and really should have launched him to the next level as a star. It’s uniquely smooth and flowing while still being upbeat and danceable, pop perfection that shows off how well he can carry a song with his voice as well as writing them for others. It’s such a shame that he got paid with the 400 sales or whatever ridiculous amount it was :/


25 Kim Petras – Turn Off The Light

Check out: Close Your Eyes, In The Next Life

One of the newest pop gay icons, despite some Dr Luke controversy, Kim Petras has risen and risen this year and this Halloween themed EP shows every reason why. Close Your Eyes is an absolute out and out banger, and every song is seeping with spooky Halloween production and themes, throbbing beats and compelling vocal delivery. I’m so excited for when Kim eventually gives us a whole album because she’s capable of such pop perfection which this just serves to prove.


24 Jorja Smith – Lost & Found

Check out: Blue Lights, 3rd February

If you’ve ever heard Jorja’s voice you know exactly why she’s so great, no matter what she sings she has a voice that leaves you wanting even more and she can pretty much sell anything. That’s the strength of this album, her vocal leaves it all feeling safe and predictable yet complex and intriguing, it feels like there’s so many layers to her and we’re only just beginning to peel them back. As a new artist that’s so exciting, I always feel with Jorja that she could be on the brink of doing an Adele or Amy Winehouse and blowing up because she’s just got one of those voices. The songs might be a bit samey and the album lingers a bit despite being 12 tracks, but with a voice like hers it’s really elevated and is a must listen for R&B fans.


23 Ashley McBryde – Girl Going Nowhere

Check out: A Little Dive Bar in Dahlonega, Radioland

God knows I love a good country album, and this is the first one of this countdown but not the last (spoilers xx). Ashley’s debut is a bold statement in country, it’s in some ways what you expect from a country debut but in others it’s quite daring and experimental, with flecks of classic rock and even jazz. There’s certainly a lot for country radio to love, in a safe and dependable way, but if Ashley McBryde is the future of country, then country is looking bright. The empowering defiance and confidence in her achievements of the title track and the wistful memories of first single A Little Dive Bar in Dahlonega sum up her way with words and telling a story, which is the foundation of great country. I've got flashbacks of Miranda Lambert's first album here and here's hoping she has a similar breakout to Miranda soon.

22 Tinashe – Joyride

Check out: No Drama, Stuck With Me (ft. Little Dragon)
Finally we got a follow-up to the seminal R&B masterpiece Aquarius, and whilst that doesn’t reach those highs, it still shows why Tinashe is sorely underrated. This Is cool and sexy like Aquarius, it’s cohesive and moody but isn’t one dimensional, with ballads like Fire and Flames showing some vulnerability and weakness alongside the swagger and confidence that characterises many of her best moments. Even on the weaker moments, the star quality bursts out of pretty much every song and you can just hear she’s capable of SO much and never ever gets the break she deserves.

21 Amy Shark – Love Monster

Check out: Adore, All Loved Up

Adore and the Night Thinker EP had me so hyped for this debut, and it did not disappoint! It’s very hard, especially for a debut, for an artist to craft something that fully relates to them and lets you in on every level, with honesty, but still make it wholly relatable for anyone listening and able to be related to their experiences. This mastery of lyrics and the melodic pop sensibilities come together to make a really great debut that any pop or alternative fan should hear.

Posted by: SantaDalek32 9th December 2018, 08:30 PM

I really liked High As Hope, Tell Me How You Really Feel and Lost And Found

Posted by: PeteLeftLeeds 10th December 2018, 10:11 AM

Great to see my album of the year pop up in here in Love Monster! Pretty much every song on that album is memorable and completely different

Other than that I don't really listen to albums but Lauren Daigle - You Say is beautiful and AS IT IS have some great tunes as well!

Posted by: Calum 12th December 2018, 05:54 PM

Nice to see The Greatest Showman: Reimagined making it into the top 40! I wasn't keen on most of the songs to begin with (and still not keen AT ALL on James and Anne-Marie's version of Rewrite the Stars ) but a lot of them have really grown now. Panic! and Jess/Years & Years are the clear highlights.

Posted by: Liаm 14th December 2018, 12:17 AM

QUOTE(SantaDalek32 @ Dec 9 2018, 08:30 PM)

QUOTE(PeteLeftLeeds @ Dec 10 2018, 10:11 AM)

Great to see my album of the year pop up in here in Love Monster! Pretty much every song on that album is memorable and completely different

Other than that I don't really listen to albums but Lauren Daigle - You Say is beautiful and AS IT IS have some great tunes as well!

QUOTE(Calum @ Dec 12 2018, 05:54 PM)

Nice to see The Greatest Showman: Reimagined making it into the top 40! I wasn't keen on most of the songs to begin with (and still not keen AT ALL on James and Anne-Marie's version of Rewrite the Stars ) but a lot of them have really grown now. Panic! and Jess/Years & Years are the clear highlights.

Posted by: JosephCarey 14th December 2018, 10:14 PM

Hey Liam!! I've only heard Hayley and Jorja's album out of those so far. I quite liked Expectations but Curious remains her best for sure, and Lost & Found was a really solid listen although not one I'm drawn back into much!

Didn't even know Molly Sandén had a new album out

Posted by: UltraReputation 14th December 2018, 11:50 PM

This already slaying as ever Liam <3

Lauren's album is so good and those are my two highlights as well *.* You Say is SUCH a moment. I honestly would love it if she explodes next era and get Adele's success, ik it's v. unlikely but part of me can see her exploding if she gets a high profile peformance or something.
I loved Florence's album and again those are my two faves *.* Hunger is a bop and her best since What Kind Of Man *.*
I acc love Dancing Queen, her version of Gimme x3 gives me life and One Of Us is incredible <3
Reimagined is mostly good *.* I think you know my opinions on this haha but ew at TGS Panic stanning xxx Omg what an accurate description of that James & Anne trash x Yass at Pink love tho <3
Expectations was also fab and way better than I was expecting! And once again your two highlights are the exact same for me
I've struggled to get into any of Tove or Ella's stuff this year Also I've barely checked out Courtney since Pedestrian At Best oops!
I really need to listen to Poppy's album, I'm so obsessed with Play Destroy and your description of it slays again <3
I didn't like Post's album either oops but those highlights are def the best two on the album!
MNEK *.* King of 400 sales xxxxxxx Colour is a bop tho, Hailee's impakt *.*
Ugh I can't stan Kim cos of the certain controversy as much as Heart To Break issa bop
Jorja's album was soo good, tho I'm gutted at her leaving Let Me Down off it
Joyride was underwhelming in the end haha after the 900 year wait and 1,200 preceeding singles x
Love Monster is fab, I Said Hi is my fave tho *.*

So hyped for the top 20 <3

Posted by: Liаm 17th December 2018, 01:50 PM

QUOTE(JosephCarey @ Dec 14 2018, 10:14 PM)

Hey Liam!! I've only heard Hayley and Jorja's album out of those so far. I quite liked Expectations but Curious remains her best for sure, and Lost & Found was a really solid listen although not one I'm drawn back into much!

Didn't even know Molly Sandén had a new album out

QUOTE(UltraReputation @ Dec 14 2018, 11:50 PM)

This already slaying as ever Liam <3

Lauren's album is so good and those are my two highlights as well *.* You Say is SUCH a moment. I honestly would love it if she explodes next era and get Adele's success, ik it's v. unlikely but part of me can see her exploding if she gets a high profile peformance or something.
I loved Florence's album and again those are my two faves *.* Hunger is a bop and her best since What Kind Of Man *.*
I acc love Dancing Queen, her version of Gimme x3 gives me life and One Of Us is incredible <3
Reimagined is mostly good *.* I think you know my opinions on this haha but ew at TGS Panic stanning xxx Omg what an accurate description of that James & Anne trash x Yass at Pink love tho <3
Expectations was also fab and way better than I was expecting! And once again your two highlights are the exact same for me
I've struggled to get into any of Tove or Ella's stuff this year Also I've barely checked out Courtney since Pedestrian At Best oops!
I really need to listen to Poppy's album, I'm so obsessed with Play Destroy and your description of it slays again <3
I didn't like Post's album either oops but those highlights are def the best two on the album!
MNEK *.* King of 400 sales xxxxxxx Colour is a bop tho, Hailee's impakt *.*
Ugh I can't stan Kim cos of the certain controversy as much as Heart To Break issa bop
Jorja's album was soo good, tho I'm gutted at her leaving Let Me Down off it
Joyride was underwhelming in the end haha after the 900 year wait and 1,200 preceeding singles x
Love Monster is fab, I Said Hi is my fave tho *.*

So hyped for the top 20 <3

Posted by: Liаm 17th December 2018, 03:25 PM

20 grandson – A Modern Tragedy Vol. 1

Hghlights: Stick Up, Blood In The Water, Despicable

A mere 5 tracks, otherwise this would probably be MUCH higher. Grandson is probably the best artist discovery I’ve made in 2018, with a sound that sticks in your mind and lyrics that cut deep and affect your conscious. He makes music that’s so needed, on his own terms with his own sound and putting across messages that need to be put across no matter if that happens to be trendy or glamorous or not. Blood In The Water, about politcal greed and corruption, is a hugely topical and effective song, it's message pierces you as much as the aggressive and loud production. Stick Up, about the shootings going on in America and what can lead to them, is even better. If you like Twenty One Pilots and want a topical edge, please listen to grandson! If only Thoughts And Prayers was on this too, what a holy trinity *.*

19 Lykke Li – so sad so sexy

Highlights: Deep End, Hard Rain, Two Nights

A rather unexpected re-invention but one that worked out pretty well! Lykke’s previous albums were characterised by indie-pop and dream-pop, at times wistful, at times dark, at times forlorn. When she came back with a trap-pop R&B influenced single in Deep End, that sounded like exactly what Nelly Furtado should come back in 2012 instead of whatever passed as a follow-up to Loose, it was pretty surprising! But this fits her voice just as much as the indie-ish material of her past albums, it’s so smooth and easy to listen to and when you listen it feels like you’re just drawn into the little world of this album <3

18 Rosalia – El Mal Querer

Highlights: Malamente, Bagdad, Di mi nombre

This is such a fresh and exciting album! The way that each track really mixes traditional flamenco pop with the sounds of today makes it seem so novel, we’ve never heard anything like it before and it’s hitting pop so hard. Even the vocal delivery seems like nothing we’ve heard, it feels like she’s truly been taken out of a traditional era and put to some pop beats. On paper it might seem odd but it so so works, truly unique but feels so familiar and potentially influential.

17 Rae Morris – Somewhere Out There

Highlights: Atletico (The Only One), Do It, Lower The Tone

This was quite a surprise to me, her debut was great with its art-pop feel and emotive vocals, packed with genuine feeling and it really had something to say, but this takes a different lane with its infectious synth-pop. It suits her as much as the feel of her debut, she’s got one of those voices that have a real personality and warmth that can mould quite easily to many different styles. There’s a bit of her token ballads, but the perfect pop like Atletico and Do It really make this album!

16 Trixie Mattel – One Stone

Highlights: Moving Parts, Break Your Heart, Soldier

Much of the time, music from Drag Race is predictably trashy or at least danceable and fun if it’s not just throwaway or comedy (see: Blair St. Clair). Distancing herself from this, the All Stars 3 winner brought us a genuinely brilliant album, regardless of who it is, in the country genre. Lyrically and melodically as compelling as any of her country contemporaries, Trixie has made possibly the best collection from any Drag Race alum (I went there, yes).

15 George Ezra – Staying At Tamara’s

Highlights: Paradise, Shotgun, All My Love

You’d have to have lived under a rock all year to have avoided the anthemic singles Shotgun and Paradise, both absolutely brilliant, and you should owe it to yourselfto listen to this if you like those! I liked his debut but it didn’t capture my attention for too long nor did it ever really grab me back after a few initial listens, beyond the brilliant smash Budapest. But this feels like a natural next step, it doesn’t lose any of his charm and uplifting melodies that hook themselves onto you and don’t let go, but it feels more mature and worldly, with much more to say. It’s an ode to escapism, not to ignore problems, but to take time out and look after yourself if you need it.

14 SOPHIE – Oil Of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides

Highlights: Immaterial, Is it Cold In The Water?, It's Okay To Cry

A pretty odd but incredibly important album, as always SOPHIE pushes boundaries and it really feels like we’re hearing the future listening to this album. It almost feels like someone went to a far off planet and brought back their version of pop, it’s strangely disorientating to listen to and yet it also feels comfortably and recognisably pop in many places. It might not have set the charts alight now, and SOPHIE may never do that, but I really get the feeling that in a few decades time this might be looked back on as one of those albums that set pop music off on a certain tangent.

13 Lily Allen – No Shame

Highlights: Apples, Lost My Mind, Family Man

It took me far too long to check this out, but I’m so glad I did! On their own, many of these songs don’t feel or sound like much, and I wasn’t taken much by anything pre-release. But as a whole collection, a no holds barred and access all areas post-divorce album, this is really quite special. There’s no stone left unturned, a therapy session of an album, a musical diary. The fact that everything she went through, all of her feelings, the regrets, hopes and fears, are all present, sometimes alongside what might otherwise be contemporary throwaway Spotify pop, is just such a striking package and it all comes together so beautifully. It's a devastating listen, but a listen that any even vague of Lily should undertake.

12 The Greatest Showman OST

Highlights: This Is Me, Never Enough, The Greatest Show

Even if you lived under a rock, I’d imagine you practically know the songs from this inside out just from them being everywhere There’s a reason that this soundtrack has been so colossal all year, the songs are bloody brilliant, by and large. They hit the right spots, with huge choruses that won’t leave your head, memorable lyrics and themes that fit with the film, and great production that fits right into the charts while really standing out. There’s nothing revolutionary about the rousing uptempos or soaring ballads, but it just nails what is there and sometimes that’s all you need.


11 Camila Cabello – Camila

Highlights: Havana, Never Be The Same, She Loves Control

This feels like pretty much exactly the debut that Camila needed, she totally broke out of a girl group who had pretty much hit their glass ceiling and made a name for herself. It’s authentic and cohesive, it feels like the only album she could have released in a way, but it still has stand out singles and moments that really pop. It would have been easy for her to chase trends and just do 10 or so Latin bangers, but whilst we do have Havana and She Loves Control, we also have romantic ballads, rhythmic pop and an honest heart on her sleeve. Her voice sells everything no matter what it is, warm and raspy. There’s no wonder she’s been one of the biggest breakout stars of the year, and she remains one of the most exciting going into 2019 if she does release again next year.

Posted by: Petivity 17th December 2018, 07:38 PM

Yeah I've never seen TGS but I know the seven charting songs pretty much inside out Interesting that the more powerful slow-songs were the ones that did well rather than the fun lively ones (with the exception of The Greatest Show) - TGS is my favourite of the songs though!

Posted by: SantaDalek32 18th December 2018, 12:16 PM

Staying At Tamara's, No Shame and The Greatest Showman (despite lingering onto the Top 5 for weeks and weeks) are some good ones.

Posted by: Liаm 18th December 2018, 02:32 PM

QUOTE(Petivity @ Dec 17 2018, 07:38 PM)

Yeah I've never seen TGS but I know the seven charting songs pretty much inside out Interesting that the more powerful slow-songs were the ones that did well rather than the fun lively ones (with the exception of The Greatest Show) - TGS is my favourite of the songs though!

QUOTE(SantaDalek32 @ Dec 18 2018, 12:16 PM)

Posted by: Liаm 18th December 2018, 02:56 PM

10 Shawn Mendes – Shawn Mendes



Highlights: In My Blood, Youth, Like To Be You, Nervous, Where Were You In The Morning?

This feels like such a breakout moment for Shawn as an artist <3 He’s had some great singles on past albums, but I’d never taken to any of his albums until now! The lead single In My Blood was so raw, it felt like he was actually singing from his heart finally not just singing decent pop songs, and the album definitely has more of a theme and sound to it that solidifies him as an artist. Some guest appearances from Khalid and Julia Michaels are other album highlights, but there’s barely a bad track here, whereas his others seemed to be full of filler.

09 Twenty One Pilots – Trench



Highlights: Jumpsuit, My Blood, Neon Gravestones, Morph, Leave This City

I’m surprised this ended up top 10 for me in a way, I remember my first listen being like oh is that it As always, they cover themes like self-doubt, mental health and suicide, and this album is based around a conceptual place called Trench and the city of Dema. Musically it’s as diverse as ever, with elements of rap, hard rock, indie-pop, pop and electronic music, but they as ever manage to make it all feel like one cohesive idea. It does take a few listens, even for fans, but it really hits you once you properly listen and take it all in! I could see it growing on me even more, perhaps one of those situational albums you listen to a lot at certain times of your life and begin to appreciate more and more, because they've got a genius way of being really open and honest on a personal level, but making you feel like you've had those feelings too, you get drawn in and really feel the stories they're telling and can equate them to your own experiences.

08 Pistol Annies – Interstate Gospel



Highlghts: Got My Name Changed Back, Cheyenne, Best Years Of My Life, Sugar Daddy, Interstate Gospel

Easily the best Pistol Annies album to date, with Miranda Lambert on board it’s never going to be bad but this feels like a real step up. Ostensibly, this is a classic country record through and through, with bluegrass and honky tonk running through its veins, but these classic, tried and true sounds are taken and moulded into being used to frame novel ideas such as feminism and empowerment which sadly still aren’t common enough in country, and all three Annies are doing a lot to reverse that in both their solo music and here. There’s so much nuance to the characters and stories in these songs, whether they’re born out of bitter resentment (Got My Name Changed Back) or numbing wistfulness (Best Years Of My Life), they feel like such heart-on-sleeve stories and as I’ve already said in this countdown, that’s what’s really at the heart of great country music.

07 Ariana Grande – Sweetener



Highlights: No Tears Left To Cry, God Is A Woman, Breathin’, Goodnight & Go, R.E.M.

Sweetener got some flack from fans for not having enough bops and bangers like Dangerous Woman had, but whilst I agree I would have liked more of that, we got Breathin’ and the album really fit where she is as a person and an artist. After a terrible year with the Manchester bombing, she had really had a terrible time of it and at that time was in a honeymoon phase with Pete Davidson, so this represented a time where she was trying to focus on the good things and appreciate what she had when it could have all been taken away. The themes and sound of this album really represent that, it’s not *all* successful but as a whole motif it just felt so perfect for where she was as an artist, and the poor girl has suffered a breakup and death of an ex so is likely to slay us with emotion again with her upcoming fifth album!

06 Francesca Michielin – 2640



Highlights: Vulcano, Tropicale, Io non habito al mare, Due galassie, Lava

Just missing the top 5 is the highest foreign language album, from the Italian pop princess *.* Vulcano was narrowly beaten to my EOY #1 single last year, and the album followed in January. This was a step up from her last two albums, di20are was solid but had a bit too much filler. This still has a couple of tracks we could do without, but largely it is SO strong. There’s a lot of versatility on show, with pop bops like the singles Vulcano and Tropicale, some New Age vibes in Tapioca, sassy urban vibes in Lava, a bit of quirk in Due galassie and some emotional ballads like Io non habio al mare and E se c’era. She’s got one of those voices that can sell pretty much everything, it can be visceral, it can be raw and vulnerable, it can be defiant, and here it’s anchoring some really great pop.

Posted by: Calum 18th December 2018, 09:12 PM

The Greatest Showman Everything about the film and the soundtrack is so good. Apart from Tightrope.

Yasss at Shawn in your top 10 too! Amazing highlights there and I agree with your commentary - I think this album has defined the type of raw, emotional songs he can get out there, ie. In My Blood.

Posted by: Liаm 18th December 2018, 10:27 PM

QUOTE(Calum @ Dec 18 2018, 09:12 PM)

The Greatest Showman Everything about the film and the soundtrack is so good. Apart from Tightrope.

Yasss at Shawn in your top 10 too! Amazing highlights there and I agree with your commentary - I think this album has defined the type of raw, emotional songs he can get out there, ie. In My Blood.

Posted by: Petivity 19th December 2018, 08:19 PM

Never heard of Pistol Annies before but I'm giving Best Years Of My Life a listen now, quite a nice piece!

Posted by: SantaDalek32 20th December 2018, 12:57 AM

Sweetener is a good pop album.
I think Mendes' newer stuff sounds much better than his 2016 stuff.

Posted by: Liаm 20th December 2018, 07:21 PM

QUOTE(Petivity @ Dec 19 2018, 08:19 PM)

QUOTE(SantaDalek32 @ Dec 20 2018, 12:57 AM)

Posted by: 🎄Cqmerqn🎄 21st December 2018, 06:57 PM

Lost My Mind really is a highlight on No Shame

Posted by: sergejdordij98 21st December 2018, 10:39 PM

Hello Liam!
Really like most of the albums, really surprised that you like Francesca Michelin's album!
I thought I was the only one who knows her music!

Posted by: Liаm 24th December 2018, 01:37 AM

Oops I realised I forgot an album so I'll slot it in as it WOULD have been top 10

Little Mix - LM5



Highlights: Woman Like Me, Strip, Wasabi, Forget You Not, The Cure

This has been a bit divisive for the girls, at a time when they could easily (and probably should) have released a Glory Days mark II full of undeniable pop bangers that the public would eat up. Of course, it's hardly experimental darkwave or jazz metal or anything wild, but there feels like there's a bit more risk on this album, they're not relying on the undeniable pop melodies. Wasabi and Strip are very odd for them, shunning traditional pop hallmarks but still feeling like absolute bangers, and it feels like some of the tracks rely on the girls' attitudes and star powered sass rather than great writing or production values that radio will eat up. And whilst this doesn't have highs like Power, Touch or No More Sad Songs from Glory Days, this is perhaps more consistent as an album and really feels like a collection that fits the girls and where they're at now. This proves why they've weathered a storm that's killed many girlbands - they make bloody good pop and they can do it on their terms.





--------

back to the actual countdown oops x

05 Panic! At The Disco - Pray For The Wicked



Highlights: High Hopes, Say Amen (Saturday Night), Roaring 20s, Hey Look Ma I Made It, Dancing's Not A Crime

Kicking off this top 5 is the highest male vocal *.* Panic are a band I really got into this year, after liking them from afar from a while. Say Amen hit me with such a bang and I ended up checking out this album, and I do not regret a thing! This has all the theatricality and drama that you'd expect after Brendon had a Broadway stint, you can really tell that's informed this album and it's all the better for it. High Hopes is as poppy as they've ever been, but it doesn't lost any of that Panic! charm, there's some brilliant vocals on show and a variety of styles, but Brendon fits each one and sells each one as much as the last, and crucially it never feels like a mish mash. It's a cohesive, yet varied collection of great theatrically tinged pop with a rock edge.

04 Janelle Monae - Dirty Computer



Highlights: Make Me Feel, Pynk, Screwed, American, Crazy Classic Life

This is one of the most critically acclaimed albums of the year for a reason *.* A review I read summed this up SO well, saying that it shows that pop and art don't have to be mutually exclusive. In a time like the one we live in, it is so important for an album to be so unapoletically black, queer and feminist, and this does so with incredible musicality. There's such a unique mix of current and even future sounds, with a sci-fi polished sheen at times, with a real classic and organic rockstar vibe, this has been compared a lot to Prince and that's definitely something that's easy to hear. But she's really in her own lane, like any great artist should be, and I can honestly see this being seen as a milestone in decades to come, even if she never gets the commercial success she deserves.

Posted by: Liаm 24th December 2018, 01:37 AM

QUOTE(🎄Cqmerqn🎄 @ Dec 21 2018, 06:57 PM)

Lost My Mind really is a highlight on No Shame

QUOTE(sergejdordij98 @ Dec 21 2018, 10:39 PM)

Posted by: Petivity 26th December 2018, 11:25 AM

Somehow I hadn't realised that Little Mix had managed to get five singles from this album into the charts Would be interested to see how this does in the long run, Strip only spending two weeks in the Top 100 wasn't a great sign though.

Posted by: Liаm 26th December 2018, 02:46 PM

QUOTE(Petivity @ Dec 26 2018, 11:25 AM)

Somehow I hadn't realised that Little Mix had managed to get five singles from this album into the charts Would be interested to see how this does in the long run, Strip only spending two weeks in the Top 100 wasn't a great sign though.

Posted by: Liаm 26th December 2018, 07:55 PM

03 Carrie Underwood – Cry Pretty



Highlights: Cry Pretty, The Bullet, Love Wins, Southbound, That Song We Used To Make Love To

Carrie absolutely ALWAYS brings it, but artistically this feels like a real step forward for her. Flecks of R&B are all the rage in country at the minute, thanks to the likes of Sam Hunt and Maren Morris, and Carrie has managed to experiment a bit more on this album without losing any of her heart and charm, or that honesty and raw truth that makes for great country. Country can often be a bit muted poitically, and whilst Carrie still shys away from talking about politics in interviews etc. this is a brave record that tackles gun crime and same-sex marriage, as well as the usual topics of love, regret, shame etc. that you’d find in country normally. As a whole album, this just feels like such a moment and one that will likely define her growth as an artist in years to come. The title track is an arena-ready huge rock influenced ballad, The Bullet is devastatingly raw in its take on gun crime, Love Wins is an incredibly uplifting celebration of the love we need and should be focusing on, and Southbound is such a breezy pop bop, perfect for summer, there’s so much on offer here but it all maintains that pure country heart that makes Carrie such a megastar. We even get some hip-hop Carrie in the form of Champion, an NFL anthem that features Ludacris, bop x

02 Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper – A Star Is Born




Highlights: Shallow, I'll Never Love Again, Always Remember Us This Way, Is That Alright?, Hair Body Face

Just missing out on gold is a soundtrack album from the queen of pop, who reached a new level of her superstardom with this. I knew this movie and soundtrack would be great, but I couldn’t have ever dreamed it would be such a moment. It’s not just the music, but the triumph that the film and music have had as well, they’ve really contributed to my love for it. The music is brilliant, there’s a lot of what Gaga brought on Joanne that really worked, that raw and organic vibe that just lets her world class voice do the talking (or singing), on ballads like Shallow and I’ll Never Love Again. When you apply them to the character of Ally and how they fit into her story, it’s all so striking and even when you just listen to the album, you can follow the journey of the film, you rarely want to skip anything because it’s all so good and fits within the structure of the album. Bradley has some great turns here too, and there’s even some bops like Hair Body Face and Why Did You Do That for fans of classic Gaga. This might have cemented her in the film world, but I expect it will inform her musical endeavours from now on too, and I would be totally ok with the best vocalist around right now doing that.

Posted by: Calum 26th December 2018, 08:30 PM

Cry Pretty A great album, and your highlights are pretty perfect there! Love Wins and Southbound are some of her best I think.

A Star Is Born slaying

Posted by: Liаm 26th December 2018, 09:10 PM

01 Kacey Musgraves – Golden Hour



Highlights: Slow Burn, High Horse, Butterflies, Oh What A World, Lonely Weekend

If you’ve paid any attention to my posts (dw I don’t either x) this year this will be no surprise Bizarrely, I remember being really disappointed by the era so far when we just had Butterflies and Space Cowboy

This album is just extraordinary, I remember listening for the first time and barely having the words to express what I felt. Every listen, this just grabs me up and whisks me away into some glorious ethereal breezy realm, suspended from real life, and for that 40 minutes or so I’m experiencing every word and emotion Kacey is singing about. The melodies wrap around your ears, it’s such a soothing but affecting listen, that feeling of being so content that you just feel warm about where you are in life. The songwriting is astounding, capturing perfectly things you didn’t know you ever felt, but you know that you felt them as soon as you hear them being sung to you, and the production is exquisite. This is all country, no doubt, but it bends so many genres to craft something that could only be Kacey Musgraves. The songs really linger, and that’s largely due to the way with words and melodies that Kacey has, she crafts it all like magic and the words settle in your brain, pierce your heart and won’t leave you. It may be too early to declare this, but this has to be one of the absolute best albums I’ve ever heard and I will never run out of words to say how bloody incredible it is. I had the pleasure to see it live in October and it was just magical, she's got such a gift.

Posted by: JosephCarey 27th December 2018, 02:07 AM

A superb #1 album there Liam, Kacey really brought it with this album! I've really liked her since the debut but this is eaaaasily her most cohesive effort to date

Posted by: Petivity 27th December 2018, 05:57 PM

I don't think I know much about Kacey Musgraves, giving Slow Burn a listen now, I can see why you're really getting into this, I feel like if I had put it on my playlist then I would have been obsessed a few weeks later

Posted by: Riser 28th December 2018, 02:17 PM

Love that entire top 3 to nobody's surprise. Cry Pretty is probably in my top 3 Carrie albums ever, A Star Is Born everyone already knows is a masterpiece, and Golden Hour is easily my #1 of the year as well! AMAZING that Kacey is finally getting some of the attention she deserves...particularly on Buzzjack too which has been great to see!

Posted by: SGrey 29th December 2018, 05:30 PM

YES @ Interstate Gospel! Such a good album!

Posted by: Liаm 30th December 2018, 01:56 PM

QUOTE(JosephCarey @ Dec 27 2018, 02:07 AM)

A superb #1 album there Liam, Kacey really brought it with this album! I've really liked her since the debut but this is eaaaasily her most cohesive effort to date

QUOTE(Petivity @ Dec 27 2018, 05:57 PM)

I don't think I know much about Kacey Musgraves, giving Slow Burn a listen now, I can see why you're really getting into this, I feel like if I had put it on my playlist then I would have been obsessed a few weeks later

QUOTE(Riser @ Dec 28 2018, 02:17 PM)

QUOTE(SGrey @ Dec 29 2018, 05:30 PM)

YES @ Interstate Gospel! Such a good album!

Posted by: SGrey 30th December 2018, 05:58 PM

QUOTE(Liаm @ Dec 30 2018, 01:56 PM)

Yaass, glad someone else on here loves it!

Posted by: Liаm 31st December 2018, 01:39 AM

QUOTE(SGrey @ Dec 30 2018, 05:58 PM)

I know Miranda Lambert is the established one of the three but I genuinely couldn't find a topic on about them so thought nobody would know them!

The title track, Cheyenne, When I Was His Wife, Got My Name Changed Back and Best Years Of My Life are all 10/10!

Posted by: Liаm 31st December 2018, 01:52 AM

Let's get the singles started then!

200 Lea Sirk – Hvala, ne!
199 Jasmine Sandlas – Sip Sip
198 Little Mix - Motivate
197 Benjamin Ingrosso - Dance You Off
196 Jennifer Lopez ft. DJ Khaled & Cardi B - Dinero
195 Ziv Zaifman - A Million Dreams
194 Sofi Tukker - Batshit
193 Loona (Olivia Hye) - Egoist
192 Bebe Rexha - Ferrari
191 Ellie Goulding & Diplo ft. Swae Lee - Close To Me

Hvala ne kicks us off, the first of many Eurovision adjacent songs. This was Slovenia's entry, after a couple of years of DNQ flops it returned them to the final. It's really nothing shining or outstanding, but a really catchy solid pop song that used a "oh no the sound's gone sing for me1!!1" gimmick despite it hardly being a fan fave, that did work out though!
Sip Sip is the first of many BJSC adjacent tracks, this time from D'yermak'er aka Haus. This is a Punjabi BANGER which I believe has been quite a hit around parties etc. for that community, and I can see why, it's so catchy and I can imagine everyone proper getting their life to it after a few too many at a wedding or family party.
Motivate reminds me a lot of I Like It by Cardi B, but done in a way that feels very Little Mix and really anchors itself as a highlight of their latest album, it's current and on trend but isn't trying *too* hard.
Dance You Off is another Eurovision entry, this time for Sweden. This bombed in the televote, and was a bit of a flop for Sweden. I initally resented it for being YET ANOTHER pretty male representing Sweden, beating some great female pop (bloody app voters x), but this is such a slick and polished piece of pop that was performed so well, robbed of a higher finish tbh.
Dinero features THE DEVIL WOMAN (who has one song still to come oops), but it's SO catchy and trashy I have to love it. Really it's a mess, but it's all the more enjoyable for it. DJ Khaled isn't really needed but hey when is he?
A Million Dreams is the first of two versions in this countdown Come thru A Million Dreams - Reprise xxx This is a really lovely song and is even better in the moment during the film, normally kids have quite annoying voices but this is really really nice.
Batshit is exactly as the title says, a bit odd but so so good for it. The female vocals as always are great, but the Right Said Fred esque interjections really make this song for me
Egoist is one of the few songs Loona deserve the hype for (oops) x It's really slick and cool but still has a bit of that cutesy charm you want from K-Pop, it melds both in such a great way and makes for such an easy and satisfying listen.
Ferrari makes sure the country queen is represented here xx Despite being an absolute dumpster fire of a person, this shows exactly what her voice can do, I love it on songs like this, it shows all the quirks and strengths of her voice without it straining or going to waste.
Close To Me rounds off this section, a fairly recent release! It's not Ellie's best or most unique song, but it's pretty much what you'd expect from a very good Ellie song that's quite Spotify and fitting in 2018.

Posted by: Petivity 1st January 2019, 11:36 AM

Hvala Ne didn't really resonate with me but it was a nice enough song from what I remember! A Million Dreams was a great song from TGS as well

Posted by: DalekTurret32 2nd January 2019, 07:02 PM

I really like Dinero.

Posted by: Liаm 3rd January 2019, 03:25 PM

190 Francesca Michielin - Lava
189 Marshmello ft. Anne-Marie - FRIENDS
188 Bradley Cooper - Maybe It's Time
187 Rina Sawamaya - Cherry
186 Twenty One Pilots - Neon Gravestone
185 Sigrid - Sucker Punch
184 Years & Years - If You're Over Me
183 Ghost Voices - Virtual Self
182 Post Malone - Stay
181 BTS - Idol

Lava is the first of a few Francesca tracks to appear, the only track on her album 2640 in English. It's visceral and cool, feels quite different to the rest of the album (not just because of the language, but also the slightly R&Bish beat), but not so that it doesn't fit in the tracklist.
FRIENDS was a huge hit for Marshemello and an artist I've been quite critical of, Anne-Marie. It's really nothing revolutionary, but so so catchy and piercingly sassy which I kinda love.
Maybe It's Time kicks off what I can reveal is many A Star Is Born tracks, the only one by solely Bradley Cooper to appear. This is a really lovely country track and he completely sells the whole story, every word, which is astoudning for someone who's not usually a singer.
Cherry is the best thing I've heard so far from blog darling Rina, a perfect melding of turn of the century nostalgia and forward thinking pop. She manages to bring that classic sounds we all know right up to date without butchering them or losing them.
Neon Gravestones is one of the highlights from the latest TOP album, although it was quite controversial in its depiction of suicide. I think the message is right - not to glorify the actual act because someone did it and it got attention and became a news story. As always, Tyler brings alive such a personal and touching message so that it resonates with us all.
Sucker Punch wasn't quite the "punch" that Strangers was but it's stll a pop triumph for Sigrid! Its power-pop sound really hits you and I often find it stuck in my head even if it took a while to click with me.
If You're Over Me got a bit of flack for being a bit plinky-plonky, but I love that production flourish and it stands out really well on the album! I can see why it was a hit.
Virtual Self is an absolute banger, I'm usually not a fan of instrumental dance music but it's just lush and feels like it has so many layers to discover each time you listen without being too much or a mess.
Stay recalled I Fall Apart from Post Malone but naturally it was instantly one of my highlights from Beerbongs & Bentleys. I think Post is at his best on rawer songs like this, his voice isn't perfect but it's honest and affecting on a track like this.
Idol rounds off this section, strictly the solo version none of this Trashi Minaj shit xx *insert Trinity Taylor "I have no idea what she's saying but I'm getting my life" gif* This is just a banger, I love the production and it's the first time I've properly loved a BTS song and got their hype!

Posted by: Petivity 3rd January 2019, 03:32 PM

I was always surprised Stay was never properly pushed, when I heard it as a 'contender' after the chart show I didn't catch who it was and would never have guessed Post! It was great to see Y&Y get a hit from this album but they have done much better than this before for me.

Posted by: Liаm 6th January 2019, 01:13 AM

QUOTE(Petivity @ Jan 3 2019, 03:32 PM)

Posted by: Liаm 6th January 2019, 01:49 AM

180 Lady Gaga - Look What I Found
179 Pojkarna ft. Flickan - Fangad av en stormvind
178 Tamar Kaprelian - Poison (Ari, Ari)
177 Robinson - Nothing To Regret
176 Aitana & Ana Guerra - Lo malo
175 Ricki-Lee - Unbothered
174 Panic! At The Disco - Roaring 20s
173 Jax Jones ft. Ina Wroldsen - Breathe
172 One Bit ft. Noah Cyrus - My Way
171 Shanguy - La Louze

Look What I Found is the first Gaga entry here, and it's a sassy slightly soulful midtempo track that kind of evokes of that late 00s soul-pop craze while still feeling really authentically raw Gaga, befitting the whole vibe she has going as Ally.
Fangad av en stormvind takes a really familar track (in this case, the 1990 Eurovision winning track from Carola) and turns it on its head. It's very Spotify filler but it's so fun and summery, think Kamferdrops reworking of Jag trodde änglarna fanns on a summer holiday.
Poison (Ari, Ari) is another Eurovision adjacent track, this time one that was utterly ROBBED in Armenia's Eurovision selection, not even making it out of the semi final! This is how you do ethno-pop, it's got a contemporary edge too that makes it catchy and memorable. Armenia did this so dirty smh.
Nothing To Regret is the first of my BJSC entries to appear! This was an instant hit for me, such an easy listen that's effortlessly melodic and just glides around your head as you listen.
Lo malo is yet another robbed bop from national final season, this time from Spain. By choosing a dull ass High School Musical reject ballad because of the relationship between the singers, Spain lost this bona fide hit, totally on trend that would surely have done super well, it could easily be an actual chart hit.
Unbothered was finally a new track from Ricki-Lee, a year after the pretty disappointing Not Too Late. This is only 2:30 long, but it packs so much sass and attitude into that short time and is a full on mood going into 2019 - don't let people keep you lingering on shit that has already happened!
Roaring 20s is one of the highlights of Pray For The Weekend, hopefully a future single! It has a bit of a jazzy 20s vibe to the new Panic sound that makes the album such a hit.
Breathe was a hit early in the year and it's easy to see why - one of the best dance tracks of the year! The da da dum parts are so catchy and the vocals are so icy cool that they really fit the song.
My Way was not a hit but really should have been! Th funky disco vibes and Mylo sample are so so good and Noah Cyrus, who I can't take to really, sounds so so good and really in her element.
La Louze rounds off this section, I got real BJSC entry envy with this. Foreign pop is a sure way to my heart, this has got a bit of a house-y vibe, the brass in the chorus is really distincitve.

Posted by: JosephAvery 6th January 2019, 04:53 PM

Hey Liam My favourites so far:

198 Little Mix - Motivate
197 Benjamin Ingrosso - Dance You Off
196 Jennifer Lopez ft. DJ Khaled & Cardi B - Dinero This is sooooo addictive, DJ Khaled and Cardi B on one song was something I desperately wanted in 2018
195 Ziv Zaifman - A Million Dreams
192 Bebe Rexha - Ferrari
191 Ellie Goulding & Diplo ft. Swae Lee - Close To Me
189 Marshmello ft. Anne-Marie - FRIENDS
187 Rina Sawamaya - Cherry
185 Sigrid - Sucker Punch
184 Years & Years - If You're Over Me
182 Post Malone - Stay
181 BTS - Idol I actually love the Nicki version of this (as much as I don't want to admit it xx) but the song as a whole really grew on me with repeated listens!
176 Aitana & Ana Guerra - Lo malo
173 Jax Jones ft. Ina Wroldsen - Breathe
172 One Bit ft. Noah Cyrus - My Way

Posted by: PeteFromLeeds 7th January 2019, 09:55 PM

I remember at the time you saying how much you liked La Louze, it's an amazing dance track and I'm still surprised at how well it did Didn't make my EOY but if I had heard it now it would probably have made it as I still love it. Breathe was a great track from the start of the year, I prefer it to both the songs that came after it.

Posted by: Liаm 8th January 2019, 01:37 AM

QUOTE(JosephAvery @ Jan 6 2019, 04:53 PM)

Hey Liam My favourites so far:

198 Little Mix - Motivate
197 Benjamin Ingrosso - Dance You Off
196 Jennifer Lopez ft. DJ Khaled & Cardi B - Dinero This is sooooo addictive, DJ Khaled and Cardi B on one song was something I desperately wanted in 2018
195 Ziv Zaifman - A Million Dreams
192 Bebe Rexha - Ferrari
191 Ellie Goulding & Diplo ft. Swae Lee - Close To Me
189 Marshmello ft. Anne-Marie - FRIENDS
187 Rina Sawamaya - Cherry
185 Sigrid - Sucker Punch
184 Years & Years - If You're Over Me
182 Post Malone - Stay
181 BTS - Idol I actually love the Nicki version of this (as much as I don't want to admit it xx) but the song as a whole really grew on me with repeated listens!
176 Aitana & Ana Guerra - Lo malo
173 Jax Jones ft. Ina Wroldsen - Breathe
172 One Bit ft. Noah Cyrus - My Way

QUOTE(PeteFromLeeds @ Jan 7 2019, 09:55 PM)

I remember at the time you saying how much you liked La Louze, it's an amazing dance track and I'm still surprised at how well it did Didn't make my EOY but if I had heard it now it would probably have made it as I still love it. Breathe was a great track from the start of the year, I prefer it to both the songs that came after it.

Posted by: Liаm 8th January 2019, 01:54 AM

170 M.O. ft. Lotto Boyz – Bad Vibe
169 Jess Glynne – I’ll Be There
168 Little Mix – Forget You Not
167 Khalid & Normani – Love Lies
166 Kelly Clarkson - Never Enough
165 Janet Jackson - Made For Now
164 Shawn Mendes - Where Were You In The Morning?
163 Kacey Musgraves - Space Cowboy
162 M-22 ft. Medina - First Time
161 Janelle Monae ft. Zoe Kravitz - Screwed

Bad Vibe was quite the surprise hit, I thought the girls would vanish after taking so long to follow up Not In Love! This was bang on trend without being too try-hard, it had that effortlessly summery vibe so it's no wonder it stuck around so long.
I'll Be There is the only entry from Jess, I give her a fair share of hate and she is awful as an artist but this is a lovely little bop, so hooky and easy to listen to, I can't help but let it into my affections.
Forget You Not is one of the highlights of LM5, a bop that feels quite early 10s with its DJ Mustard esque urban club ready production *.* It'd be a great future single, although that's unlikely as it somehow missed the standard edition of the album and is a deluxe bonus!!
Love Lies was a big hit for Khalid and Normani, leaving Normani with a lot of momentum for a solo career which seemed to go nowhere judging by how her Calvin Harris EP flopped oops x Released for Love Simon, this track is so smooth and sensual, something that plays to both their strengths.
Never Enough is one of the best movie songs of recent songs, and of course Kelly Clarkson covering it can never be bad! I found that the slight production changes took some getting used to, but they make it a version that sets itself apart from the original an brings something different out of it.
Made For Now's afrobeat and dancehall influences make it bang on trend, a perfect end of summer bop from Janet and should've been a huge hit. I have no idea what Daddy Yankee's rap is saying but it always gets stuck in my head
Where Were You In The Morning is so effortlessly smooth and sexy, Shawn in song form tbh xx His voice is perfect for a song like this, the bluesy melancholy tone is a MOOD.
Space Cowboy is the first track to appear from my album of the year, Golden Hour by Kacey Musgraves. I remember being disappointed by this and thinking the era might be a bit shit at first It's a beautifully understated and raw track though that really got into my heart <3
First Time is a great example of how to do a generic chart dance song *.* Medina is usually so good so that helps, but I love the production on this.
Screwed rounds off this section in a very politcal way. A song that makes a statement, this is super catchy on the surface but deeper down, it toys with the idea that "everything is about sex, except sex, which is about power".

Posted by: Riser 8th January 2019, 05:28 AM

M.O finally getting another hit was amazing to see, 'Bad Vibe' was so much fun to listen to and never got old either!

Posted by: DexTheHalls 8th January 2019, 06:07 AM

Robinson! A great little pop song that managed to be an actual official hit over here that I tried to enter into BJSC like a month after you did

Unbothered is such a bop *.* I've heard this on the radio loads of times but never knew what it was

Also very glad to see Roaring 20's here

Posted by: Liаm 10th January 2019, 01:28 PM

QUOTE(Riser @ Jan 8 2019, 05:28 AM)

QUOTE(DexTheHalls @ Jan 8 2019, 06:07 AM)

Robinson! A great little pop song that managed to be an actual official hit over here that I tried to enter into BJSC like a month after you did

Unbothered is such a bop *.* I've heard this on the radio loads of times but never knew what it was

Also very glad to see Roaring 20's here

Posted by: Liаm 13th January 2019, 03:38 AM

Bit of a dump in this post bc I just want to get to top 100


160 Lily Allen - Lost My Mind
159 Little Mix - The Cure
158 Selena Gomez - Back To You
157 Bebe Rexha - I'm A Mess
156 Reinada - All The Feels
155 Lauren Daigle - You Say
154 Dotter - Cry
153 Ciara - Level Up
152 Jade Bird - Uh Huh
151 Janelle Monae - Americans

Lost My Mind is my highlight of the recent Lily album, it does the whole tropical on trend thing really well without losing the meaning of the song. In fact, I think the fact that it on the surface sounds like a throwaway tropical pop song just highlights the lyrics and emotional punch when you listen properly!
The Cure is a great empowering pop song, LM at their best *.* It lets the melody and vocals do the talking and they're two things the girls are super strong at <3
Back To You definitely took a while with me, I don't know why but it just didn't do anything for me at first! As always with Selena thoguh, it soon grabbed me even if it does feel like a lesser It Ain't Me.
I'm A Mess shows that, despite all the shit she comes up with and mess/drama she starts, Bebe knows how to write a bloody good pop song. The Meredith Brooks sample is brilliant, her voice really suits this kind of thing too as its distinctive enough to sell a radio ready pop song in a way that makes it stand out from the crowd.
All The Feels is a Melfest track, a bit of a surprise hit that will be remembered for a technical hitch that meant she had to perform again in the final. It's a banger that gets you up dancing - YOU GIVE MEHHHHHHHHHHH ALL THE FEELS *.*
You Say is a gorgeous song that surprisingly hit the main Hot 100 top 40, a rare feat for a Christian track, as well as making waves in the UK! The vocals here are just stunning, the clarity and expression recall Adele and it's no wonder it fits right in with other hits today despite being a Christian track.
Cry is another Melfest track, a bit less of a triumph than All The Feels at the actual competition as it crashed right out of its semi in 6th - despite being the pre-contest favourite to win, oops. This was down to a Julia Michaels esque midtempo with relatable lyrics and a memorable vocal performance being absloutely butchered live, Dotter rally was not on point on the night
Level Up brought Ciara right back into music after a quiet few years, and it was definitely a great comeback! It's still got her R&B flair, but I get a bit of PC Music from it in a way that really grabbed me *.*
Uh Huh is a pretty short listen but it does a lot in 2:22 *.* Her voice is very Elle King-esque, it has a real punch to the chorus where she goes all out (screech to some, perhaps).
Americans is another Janelle track rounding off a section, this time it's a very politically charged track that sums up the themes of the whole album perfectly - the racism, sexism, homophobia etc. that plague American society even today. A very important song that has a lot to say.

150 Charli XCX - Girl's Night Out
149 Jonas Blue ft. Liam Payne & Lennon Stella - Polaroid
148 Amy Shark - I Said Hi
147 Serena - Safari
146 Nina Nesbitt - Somebody Special
145 Elodie ft. Michele Bravi & Gue Pequeno - Nero Bali
144 Camila Cabello - She Loves Control
143 Ariana Grande - Goodnight N Go
142 Dean Lewis - Be Alright
141 Molly Sanden - Storre

Girl's Night Out is pretty trashy but it so works, Charli makes it work. It's a messy pre-drinks sesh with a bottle of Lambrini before going to a questionable club, it's a 4am walk home after Popworld still buzzing from hearing Spice Girls, it's an Uber ride where you control the aux and put on Vengaboys, all condensed into this 4 minute pop song, it doesn't necessarily stand up to the likes of Lipgloss, Nuclear Seasons and 3am (Pull Up), but it's a bop.
Polaroid is one of three appearances for Lennon Stella, one of the best new artists of the year for me! Jonas Blue has been a bit iffy but this is a lovely bop, wistful if nothing revolutionary but Lennon really elevates this for me and Liam Payne sounds good too.
I Said Hi is a great alt-pop song, it's huge and radio ready but unique and quirky, Amy has a brilliant way of merging those styles and hasn't lost herself as she's become more famous.
Safari was absolutely ROBBED at the Romanian Eurovision selection - NINTH (!!!!!!!!!!!!) in its semi Its v Inna in 2018, its subdued but banging, I feel like it would have potentially stood out at Eurovision but instead we got an incredibly dull song that didn't make the final, serves them right x
Somebody Special feels like the perfect marriage of Nina's first era and new sound, as great as the album was thank god she's not female Ed Sheeran anymore It's got that acoustic feel that made her debut special, but it feels more mature and contemporary with the R&B vibes, her voice really shines.
Nero Bali is another BJSC song, omg Liam in loving Italian pop song shock xx I was toying with entering this myself, it's so summery and joyful with a super catchy chorus that won't leave your head even if you have 0 idea what they're on about.
She Loves Control isn't quite as life changing as people make out, but it's definitely a huge bop and should have been a single. On an album that's a bit ballad heavy (whilst that is where Camila's voice shines), this really stands out and would have undoubtedly been a hit!
Goodnight n Go, an Imogen Heap cover, is stunning and shows that a lot of Sweetener album tracks should have been but just weren't. It embodies the feelings of love and gratefulness she felt about Pete at the time, the good place she was in despite the Manchester horror, which formed much of the basis of Sweetener.
Be Alright shouldn't be something I love so much, but I do! His voice is really intriguing, he reminds me of the bits I love about Ed Sheeran that get kinda lost at times in some of his less good music.... It's very Australian in lyrics and even his accent seeping through so I'm surprised it smashed but I really do like it.
Storre is quite Spotify, but in a good way As I said about the album, it's different for her yet feels so natural, it's very fitting for today but doesn't lose her sparkle that made songs like Phoenix, Why Am I Crying and Spread A Little Light so great.

140 Sabrina Carpenter - Paris
139 Lauren Aquilina - Psycho
138 Kacey Musgraves - Rainbow
137 SALMO - 90MIN
136 Poppy ft. Grimes - Play Destroy
135 5 Seconds Of Summer - Youngblood
134 Francesca Michielin - Femme
133 Feli - Buna de iiubit
132 Rae Morris - Do It
131 Twenty One Pilots - My Blood

Paris was a real triumph for Sabrina after what was a disappointing couple of singles imo. It's dark and mysterious, pretty much flawless pop that leaves you wanting a bit more, another listen to satiate.
Psycho brought Lauren back after a break I believe, I remember her saying she was going to focus on songwriting but apparently she loved this song too much to give it away and released it herself! It's very Bad Liar but that really suits her, I've never been that fussed with her apart from a song or two but this made me take notice!
Rainbow is one of the most beautiful moments on Golden Hour, super simple and lets Kacey's voice do the talking Her Seth Myers performance of this sums up exactly why she's such a star.
90MIN is a bit of a change of pace from the last few Aggressive hip-hop from Italy, not normally something I'd like but this really hit me for some reason.
Play Destroy perfectly melds Grimes and Poppy's sounds - cute and aggressive at the same time works, who knew? The rocky production hits hard, Poppy stays in character, it's very very odd but I just embrace it *.*
Youngblood was a redemption for 5SOS after Want U Back kinda flopped, I didn't care much for it either. The synthy new wavey production is definitely different for them, but it works, the chorus is anthemic af like their earlier stuff and it all ties together so well.
Femme was a step in a new direction for Francesca, being a collaboration with a house producer. This dance sound was great to hear from her, it maintains her usual girl next door kind of feel but ups it to a thumping club anthem *.*
Buna de iiubit is the second song in this countdown Romania robbed, it came so close to Eurovision it's a bit tribal, a bit summery, very Eurovision, a bit of a revamp and an English version and this could have been a fan fave and a hit at Eurovision but we'll never know </3
Do It was a bit of a shock from Rae, I thought she'd vanished after Unguarded didn't do as well as perhaps expected or hoped, but she arrived back on the scene with this electro-pop blog darling kind of sound *.* It's very laid back and tentative, yet hard-hitting and memorable, her voice really sells it.
My Blood was a different sid to Trench after the chilled rap track Levitate and aggressive lead Jumpsuit, and intriuged me further for an already anticipated album. It's quite indie-pop, not necessarily what we'd expect from the guys but then again when it comes to TOP you can't really have an expectation because they could come out with anything!

130 Delta Goodrem - Think About You
129 Margaret - In My Cabana
128 Post Malone - Better Now
127 Jorja Smith ft. Stormzy - Let Me Down
126 Billie Eilish ft. Khalid - Lovely
125 Tove Stryke - Sway
124 Troye Sivan - Bloom
123 Jessie Reyez ft. Normani & Kehlani - Body Count
122 Zac Efron & Zendaya - Rewrite The Stars
121 Clean Bandit ft. Marina & Luis Fonsi - Baby

Think About You was a change for Delta, a sexy and playful bop about undressing someone with your eyes because you just have so much lust - relatable queen xx Despite her usual forte being vocally powerful ballads and emotional songs, this really worked to bring out a different side of her voice.
In My Cabana was Margaret's return to Eurovision selections after probably the biggest NF robbery EVER in 2016 as Cool Me Down lost to Michal bloody Spzak... She didn't win again, but made the final with this Havana-esque Latin bop, and is back again for 2019 *.*
Better Now is every reason why Post is a shining light in the shit rap that plagues the chart, so so catchy and really that's all a song like this needs.
Let Me Down is so gorgeous, why on earth did Jorja leave it off the album Both her and Stormzy are at their best here, they meld so well as two sides of a story.
Lovely is a gorgeous collab from two rising stars, two very different voices but they come together in such a way that feels like they're meant to be together, the light and dark each other needs.
Sway is a wonderful blog-pop bop from one of the two perenially underrated Toves! It's nothing that new from her previous album, but if ain't broke don't fix it. She has such a way with pop melodies *.*
Bloom is one of the few good Troye songs, bottoming bop x It's really obvious what it's about once you know, I suppose there's a reason the gays have taken it on as such an anthem, it captures that sort of exciting first time feeling and the feelings that come with exploring those things in a new relationship.
Body Count is such a unique song, I love how it subverts the whole "hoes" thing in urban music and makes it empowering, women singing about owning their own bodies and sexual freedom, because they can *.* All three voices bring something different, I couldn't imagine the track without them all.
Rewrite The Stars brings Greatest Showman back to this countdown, after a fair few sections without the biggest movie of the year! This ready-made pop smash is brimming with electricity and chemistry which comes alive even more in the context of the film when you see the relationship between the two characters <3
Baby was another great pop track from Clean Bandit, with a newly Diamond-less Marina. It might not be Symphony level (what is?) but it's a really fresh take on the Latin trend. It could easily have been identikit, but it's got a bit of that classic sort of Boney M/Bacara feel that makes it feel really needed in the charts today.


120 BLACKPINK - DDU-DU DDU-DU
119 Marshmello ft. Bastille - Happier
118 Maren Morris - Rich
117 Ella Mai - Boo'd Up
116 Jessica Andersson - Party Voice
115 Hugh Jackman & The Greatest Showman Ensemble - The Greatest Show
114 Mikolas Josef - Lie To Me
113 Rebecca - Who We Are
112 Years & Years - All For You
111 Azealia Banks - Anna Wintour

DDU-DU DDU-DU is a fierce and piercing trap track that shows exactly why BLACKPINK are the #1 K-Pop girls in the game, they fill the hole 2NE1 left in my heart when they disbanded for sure.
Happier is one of those odd songs I felt nothing about for ages then it came on randomly and just hit me It's very generic but it packs emotion in, especially with the video as part of the package <3 Dan from Bastille isn't someone you'd expect to work so well on a generic future bass track, but here we are.
Rich is the final single from Maren's debut album, it continues the trend of them all slaying *.* It's got a sort of reggae-ish vibe, but is undeniably country, as always she's blending the genres and slaying with it.
Boo'd Up was a huge surprise smash in the US, an unknown Brit absolutely smashing it and becoming one of the biggest songs of the year! This really harks back to classic 90s R&B, bringing it into the modern era with production by DJ Mustard. It's so smooth but imbued with confidence and heart on sleeve lyricism, a winning combo.
Party Voice is yet another Melfest song, this time a Schlagerfest that any Eurovision obsessed gay worth their salt will have got their life too at some point over the past 12 months. This is classic Melfest, a huge chorus you can sing along to, gay as anything, perhaps a bit outdated for how far things how come but I still adored it and Melfest will always have a place for songs like this.
The Greatest Show is the song that kicks it all off in The Greatest Showman, a huge statement of a song that instantly sets the tone for the fun and uplifting film. It really makes you want to sing along and puts you in a good mod <3
Lie To Me was one of my Eurovision highlights this year, I knew from first listen it was gonna be up there *.* It's so modern and fun, with the hip-hop vibes, swagger and silly lyrics (plenty motherf***ers wanna eat my spaghetti *.*), it's no wonder it was by far Czech Republic's biggest success in Eurovision ever.
Who We Are is yet another robbery from a national final (take a shot every time I say that, I'll get you an ambulance ready x) Instead of this soaring ballad, we got Alexander Rybak's absolute embarrassment which was one of the worst ESC songs in history.
All For You is easily the highlight of Y&Y's latest album, a super danceable pop song for the gays that's about leaving behind a toxic relationship. If you were in that position, this song would help you shake it off and feel much better *.*
Anna Wintour is a funny one when we're speaking of toxic xx Azealia Banks is ofc an awful person, but this is an absolute banger and shows why she's more than worth her salt as a musician. The 90s hosue esque production fits so well with her aggressive raps and the chorus that almost sounds like a demonic chant


110 Freya Ridings - Lost Without You
109 Asmik Shiroyan - You & I
108 Shawn Mendes ft. Julia Michaels - Like To Be You
107 Trixie Mattel - Break Your Heart
106 Vitaa - Comme dab
105 Tinashe ft. Offset - No Drama
104 Lady Gaga - Hair Body Face
103 Mariette - For You
102 Blair St. Clair - Now Or Never
101 Cardi B ft. J Balvin & Bad Bunny - I Like It

Lost Without You was a song I orgiinally heard in BJSC, but it become a real world hit following interest after a Love Island soundbed. It's a gorgeous piano led ballad that lets her voice do the talking, and it's been so popular it's back in the top 10 at its peak at #9 in the week I post this *.* Queen of avoiding ACR for seemingly an eternity.
You & I is ANOTHER national final robbery, 2019 wasn't kind to some of my Eurofaves This is pretty much made to be a Buzzjack fave, a soaring dance-pop track with a huge chorus, it would have surely been a fan fave at Eurovision as well but they chucked it in favour of a dull male ballad that failed to qualify.
Like To Be You was an instant fave of Shawn's album for me, Nervous released to prior to the album recalled some Julia Michaels written songs for me so a collab was a natural next step. Their voices work so well together, Julia's vulnerability and Shawn's raw honesty playing out as two sides of a story within a relationship makes for a great listen.
Break Your Heart shows exactly why Trixie is one of the best Drag Race alumni musically, a bona fide country triumph that has as much melody and heart as any of her contemporaries, showing that drag queen music doesn't always have to be trashy dance-pop.
Comme dab was my biggest BJSC flop of the year, failing to qualify in January It's definitely a grower which maybe went against it in a contest with a one week voting window, the Stromae production creeps up on you and it's certainly quite subtle but once it hits you it really hits you. Here's hoping it does better in Rejects given it had a year to grow on people!
No Drama is definitely the highlight of Tinashe's long awaited second album, a swaggering blast of confidence that embodies everything that makes Tinashe such an underrated star, but ofc as always it was paid dust and she flopped.
Hair Body Face is a classic Gaga throwback, one of the poppy moments on the A Star Is Born soundtrack where Ally in her career lost her way a tad. It's nothing revolutionary or groundbreaking, but for those of us who've stanned for years, it's a nice moment that feels like Gaga's career in reverse is playing out on screen, this easily could have been a The Fame track!
For You is another Melfest track, and another that didn't quite win. Mariette is becoming a Sanna Nielsen type, as this was her 3rd time in the final and the 3rd time just not quite getting there. The performance brought this alive although it wasn't *quite* a winning performance, the song is a great pop song but again didn't feel quite there to win as much as I love it, here's hoping she comes back soon and gets 4th time lucky
Now Or Never was a real shock for me when it come out, it felt like a theatrical young queen like her would release some kinda cringe Broadway type album, but this EDM banger came out of nowhere *.* It had power and honesty, but also would be right at home blasting out of a club at 3am, a great combo tbh.
I Like It is the final song to fall before the top 100. It's well documented I can't stand Cardi B, but whilst I disliked this summery Latin jam at first, I couldn't resist it for too long! It was perfect for the hot summer weather we had, and was a huge summer hit worldwide because of it.

Posted by: Riser 13th January 2019, 05:40 AM

Happier hit me pretty randomly too after finding it so bland for months

Just gave Paris a first listen, really liked it! Definite Lana vibes to it but still fits Sabrina, more so than Almost Love as much as I liked that. She's such a talent and needs to properly break through one of these days

Posted by: Liаm 14th January 2019, 08:34 PM

QUOTE(Riser @ Jan 13 2019, 05:40 AM)

Happier hit me pretty randomly too after finding it so bland for months

Just gave Paris a first listen, really liked it! Definite Lana vibes to it but still fits Sabrina, more so than Almost Love as much as I liked that. She's such a talent and needs to properly break through one of these days

Posted by: Jack 14th January 2019, 11:42 PM

Some really good stuff here - Bad Vibe, Level Up, Boo'd Up & Body Count being some of my faves

Intrigued to see what is in your Top 10!

Posted by: Liаm 15th January 2019, 01:06 AM

100 MNEK - Tongue
99 Kim Petras - Close Your Eyes
98 The Chainsmokers - Sick Boy
97 Charli XCX ft. Troye Sivan - 1999
96 Lil' Dicky ft. Chris Brown - Freaky Friday
95 Michael Schulte - You Let Me Walk Alone
94 Ariana Grande - R.E.M.
93 Dua Lipa ft. BLACKPINK - Kiss And Make Up
92 Zedd ft. Maren Morris - The Middle
91 Pistol Annie - Got My Name Changed Back

Tongue kicks off our top 100, absolutely robbed of being a smash! This is unique and gay af, but really hit ready with bags of pop sensibility, Spotify ready at the same as being something only MNEK could have released.
Close Your Eyes is also gay af, an absolute pop banger that could wake the dead *.* Kim has such a way of punching you with perfect pop and this is a perfect example of it.
Sick Boy was a real shock from Chainsmokers, after an era of uninspiring bland Spotify filler EDM (although Closer was a bop) the last thing I expected was a brilliant Twenty One Pilots esque track but this actually suited Drew's limited voice so well and brought out the best in him.
1999 is a joyous, bouncy and fun nostalgia trip, right down to the video and the album cover. Despite Charli and Troye being 7 and 4 respectively in 1999, they could bring anyone back to the good old days.
Freaky Friday is a true guilty pleasure, I am so sorry Chris Brown is an awful person but it's just so catchy and silly, very throwaway but I can't help but love it against all my better judgement.
You Let Me Walk Alone is a beautiful Eurovision track that deservedly finished 4th in the end <3 There's so much emotion and history in this song, the story of a torn up childhood and the emotions felt from it, and you can feel it all in every word.
R.E.M. is the non-single highlight of Sweetener, originally recorded by Beyonce but having heard her demo if fits Ari so much better. Her airy vocals float through the track and it feels so dreamy.
Kiss And Make Up made Blackpink the first K-Pop girl group to get a top 40 hit, the power of their fans and Dua's star power *.* The track is an absolute banger that melds the best of both acts to make some damn good pop.
The Middle is super generic, make no mistake, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Maren's got such a great pop voice, hearing it on a song like this really brought out another side to it.
Got My Name Changed Back is a bumpkin bop, a country song through and through about the freedom and closure of getting a divorce and being a liberated woman again. Typically punchy and feminist for Pistol Annies *.*

Posted by: jakewild 15th January 2019, 04:15 PM

QUOTE(Liаm @ Jan 15 2019, 01:06 AM)

Posted by: Liаm 16th January 2019, 01:35 AM

90 Billie Eilish - When The Party's Over
89 Janelle Monae ft. Grimes - Pynk
88 Lady Gaga - Why Did You Do That?
87 Betta Lemme - Bambola
86 Francesca Michielin - Due galassie
85 Benny Bennassi & Sofi Tukker - Everybody Needs A Kiss
84 Ani Lorak - Сумасшедшая
83 Jorja Smith - Blue Lights
82 Carrie Underwood - Southbound
81 Clean Bandit ft. Demi Lovato - Solo

When The Party's Over is a stunning song that was quite the surprise hit! It's very very sparse, basically just leaving Billie's vocals to tell the entire story, but that works so well with such a unique voice that spews raw vulnerability with every word <3
Pynk is a feminist bop that concerns female bodies and female empowerment using the colour pink. Sonically, it definitely has a Grimes touch and Janelle's soft cool vocals actually work really well with it!
Why Did You Do That? is the best pop bop from A Star Is Born, it feels like it was taken right from The Fame but also fits in 2018 as a song Ally could have released as a hit.
Bambola is a BJSC entry that came 2nd, and a perfect pop song in both French and Italian that was a fair sized hit across Europe too. It's exactly what I want from a BJSC entry, some foreign pop with a banging drop and a catchy af chorus.
Due galassie is another Italian pop song, this time an album track from my fave Italian queen *.* This has a bit of a quirk to it, almost speak-singing in places but the chorus is an earworm pop moment, it feels like only Francesca really could have done it.
Everybody Needs A Kiss is a banger of life *.* This is the sort of dance I love, a lively floorfiller with real pop sensibility that should have been huge - this would sound amazing out in a club *.*
Сумасшедшая is the only Russian track in this countdown, and one of my BJSC entries. It's a slightly hypnotic, addictive pop track that's elevated by being in a language I know very little about, so it sounds kind of mysterious because she could be singing anything
Blue Lights was when I knew Jorja Smith was something special but it hit me even harder with her album out this year, due to her leaving off most of her other stuff I'd loved before the era! Her voice is so jazzy, soulful and smooth that it draws you in for the whole song and takes you to its world.
Southbound is a dose of pop on Carrie's latest album, which ventures a lot into R&B flavours! It's super summery and pop-rocky, it could have easily been a 2012 single for like Katy Perry, but it's got that country flavour to make it bang even more.
Solo rounds off this section, the highest Clean Bandit song which is a step down from their year-end #3 with Symphony! Still, this quack quack banger really lasted in my affections and I'm so glad it gave Demi a UK #1 *.*

Posted by: Liаm 16th January 2019, 01:36 AM

QUOTE(jakewild @ Jan 15 2019, 04:15 PM)

Posted by: Liаm 16th January 2019, 03:20 PM

80 Camila Cabello - Never Be The Same
79 Tove Lo ft. Charli XCX, Elliphant, Icona Pop & Alma - Bitches
78 Silk City ft. Dua Lipa - Electricity
77 ZiBBZ - Stones
76 Liam Payne - Familiar
75 Lennon Stella - Like Everybody Else (Acoustic)
74 Saara Aalto - Monsters
73 Benny Blanco ft. Halsey - Eastside
72 Lykke Li - Deep End
71 Trixie Mattel - Moving Parts (Acoustic)

Never Be The Same was definitely a change of pace after the Latin jam smash Havana but it's become a Camila fave for me! Her voice works just on well on a song like this (minus hero-een, morph-een x), with the vulnerability and breathy rawness.
Bitches is a feminist bop and the only time Alma has been tolerable and that's because her verse is mostly Elliphant x The rocky production is so attitude filled, it's empowering and confident and brash and really stands out among Tove's recent era.
Electricity was a great throwabck to the 2014 dance sound, something we don't hear much of now <3 Dua really fits it, such a breezy and carefree fun song.
Stones was robbed in Eurovision, poor Switzerland can never catch a break The striking drums and raspy vocals combined to hit you, it was performed and staged so well as well.
Familiar is a bit of a guilty pleasure, I'm not sure why I love it so much when it's such an identikit Latin track Famili, famili, famili, familiar gets stuck in my head so easily though and the video doesn't hurt either as he is looking fiiiiiine *.*
Like Everybody Else is one of two acoustic versions in this countdown, in the very same section! This song is yet to have a "normal" version but I'm not sure it would feel right now, the sparseness really suits her vulnerable vocal and the relatable lyrics of not quite feeling normal or good enough.
Monsters is another Eurovision song, again I'll use that word robbed There was definitely something missing from the performance but 21st or whatever was ridiculous from a song that sounded like a winner at first :/
Eastside was unsurprisngly a huge hit, with two rising stars plus Ed Sheeran on board. It's very X Ed Sheeran which is a good thing, before he got shit and sappy. Both vocals are instantly recognisable and unique and mesh so well with the production.
Deep End is best summed up as the song Nelly Furtado should have come back with in 2012. It's very different for Lykke Li but she actually really smashes this kind of smooth, vibey song, the production compliments her voice instead of drowning it out.
Moving Parts is another acoustic version, one I prefer over the main album version! It was first performed on Drag Race All Stars 3, and immediately hit me. Trixie really sells every word as a good classic country song should, you feel it all and easily relate to it all as if it's telling your life story.

Posted by: PeteFromLeeds 16th January 2019, 09:12 PM

Nice to see Tongue so high! That chorus with those spoken vocals is what really makes it for me, such an earworm

It's great to see Billie Eilish getting mainstream success as well, maybe the start of more alternative acts getting charts hits? Here's hoping anyway. Liking Blue Lights, Solo and Everybody Needs a Kiss from that lot as well!

Posted by: JosephAvery 19th January 2019, 06:48 PM

Kiss and Make Up in the top 100 *.* an anthem that deserved more!!

Posted by: Liаm 21st January 2019, 02:52 AM

70 Mabel ft. Not3s - Fine Line
69 Hailee Steinfeld- Capital Letters
68 Little Mix ft. Sharaya J - Strip
67 Lennon Stella - Bad
66 Isabell Otrebus - Delirium
65 Kim Petras - Heart To Break
64 Demi Lovato - Sober
63 Panic! At The Disco - The Greatest Show
62 Elina Nechayeva - La forza
61 Lady Gaga - Is That Alright?

Fine Line was the best Mabel had done to date until she released the best song of 2019 so far on Friday *.* It's an absolute bop that I feel melds her R&B roots with a poppier wide appealing style very well, it was no surprise to see it end up as a big hit.
Capital Letters was another hit out of the park for Hailee who always gives us pop bops. This was easily the highlight of the recent 50 Shades soundtrack and should've been the one that was a hit tbh.
Strip is an absolute banger and highlight of LM5, very very unique and was initially thought to be second single although the reactions that some people had may have put the girls off I still think they should push it, it stands out and the Spotify debut when the album came out spoke for itself!
Bad is the highest of Lennon's three entries, cementing her as one of my favourite breakouts of 2018. A breezy, insanely catchy pop bop, any of the current pop girls would kill for this song - imagine it in the hands of Dua Lipa??
Delirium is the latest in a long line of national final robberies - dw still more to come Poland did this SO dirty having it come NINTH out of 10... This is even better than Voiceless, it kind of feels like what Loreen should have come back with to Melfest (not that Statements wasn't better than this, but this probably would have done better at Melfest).
Heart To Break is a BJSC winner and a piece of pop perfection *.* Kim really soared in 2018, becoming a bit of a Twitter gays fave, and made her mark on Buzzjack. This is easily her best to date, a punchy and soaring pop anthem.
Sober was a real gutpunch from Demi, released just before her overdose, hospitalisation and rehab stint which made it all the more raw and hard-hitting. Knowing her past and what she was going through, every word strikes so hard and you can feel the struggle pouring out of each and every word.
The Greatest Show is the second version of this song in the countdown, with Panic taking the epic film opener even higher. It was originally written for Brendon actually and you can so tell, his voice is immediately at home and it puts on even more of a spectacle than the film version <3
La forza was one of the absolute highlights of Eurovision <3 Opera really isn't usually my thing but I remember going through the Eesti Laul songs and being absolutely bowled over by this immediately, the simplicity of the perfomance allowed her voice to just totally strike and by god did it
Is That Alright? rounds off this section as another ASIB song slaying *.* One of the most raw and emotional songs, this symbolises everything we love about the "real" Gaga and her balladry, allowing her voice to interpret every word, making us feel every nuance, it works incredibly well as a credits song to tie together the whole emotional rollercoaster of a film, just stunning <3

Posted by: Liаm 21st January 2019, 02:55 AM

QUOTE(PeteFromLeeds @ Jan 16 2019, 09:12 PM)

Nice to see Tongue so high! That chorus with those spoken vocals is what really makes it for me, such an earworm

It's great to see Billie Eilish getting mainstream success as well, maybe the start of more alternative acts getting charts hits? Here's hoping anyway. Liking Blue Lights, Solo and Everybody Needs a Kiss from that lot as well!

QUOTE(JosephAvery @ Jan 19 2019, 06:48 PM)

Posted by: sergejdordij98 21st January 2019, 05:36 PM

Hello Liam!
So... I haven't checked out your EOY chart for a long time, I blame myself, because I was too busy, so now I'll try to do it right!
Here are my favourite songs from your chart:
191 Ellie Goulding & Diplo ft. Swae Lee - Close To Me
189 Marshmello ft. Anne-Marie - FRIENDS
186 Twenty One Pilots - Neon Gravestone
185 Sigrid - Sucker Punch
184 Years & Years - If You're Over Me
183 Ghost Voices - Virtual Self
182 Post Malone - Stay
181 BTS - Idol
173 Jax Jones ft. Ina Wroldsen - Breathe
172 One Bit ft. Noah Cyrus - My Way
170 M.O. ft. Lotto Boyz – Bad Vibe
169 Jess Glynne – I’ll Be There
167 Khalid & Normani – Love Lies
162 M-22 ft. Medina - First Time
161 Janelle Monae ft. Zoe Kravitz - Screwed
160 Lily Allen - Lost My Mind
159 Little Mix - The Cure
158 Selena Gomez - Back To You
152 Jade Bird - Uh Huh
151 Janelle Monae - Americans
149 Jonas Blue ft. Liam Payne & Lennon Stella - Polaroid
146 Nina Nesbitt - Somebody Special
145 Elodie ft. Michele Bravi & Gue Pequeno - Nero Bali
144 Camila Cabello - She Loves Control
142 Dean Lewis - Be Alright
135 5 Seconds Of Summer - Youngblood
132 Rae Morris - Do It
131 Twenty One Pilots - My Blood
128 Post Malone - Better Now
127 Jorja Smith ft. Stormzy - Let Me Down
126 Billie Eilish ft. Khalid - Lovely
121 Clean Bandit ft. Marina & Luis Fonsi - Baby
120 BLACKPINK - DDU-DU DDU-DU
119 Marshmello ft. Bastille - Happier
117 Ella Mai - Boo'd Up
112 Years & Years - All For You
110 Freya Ridings - Lost Without You
101 Cardi B ft. J Balvin & Bad Bunny - I Like It
98 The Chainsmokers - Sick Boy
97 Charli XCX ft. Troye Sivan - 1999
95 Michael Schulte - You Let Me Walk Alone
93 Dua Lipa ft. BLACKPINK - Kiss And Make Up
92 Zedd ft. Maren Morris - The Middle
90 Billie Eilish - When The Party's Over
89 Janelle Monae ft. Grimes - Pynk
87 Betta Lemme - Bambola
81 Clean Bandit ft. Demi Lovato - Solo
80 Camila Cabello - Never Be The Same
78 Silk City ft. Dua Lipa - Electricity
76 Liam Payne - Familiar
73 Benny Blanco ft. Halsey - Eastside
70 Mabel ft. Not3s - Fine Line
69 Hailee Steinfeld- Capital Letters
68 Little Mix ft. Sharaya J - Strip
62 Elina Nechayeva - La forza
Great chart so far!

Posted by: Liаm 22nd January 2019, 11:29 AM

QUOTE(sergejdordij98 @ Jan 21 2019, 05:36 PM)

Posted by: Liаm 22nd January 2019, 12:05 PM

60 Shawn Mendes - Nervous
59 Saara Aalto - Domino
58 Samir & Viktor - Shuffla
57 Little Mix ft. Nicki Minaj - Woman Like Me
56 Zara Larsson - Ruin My Life
55 Grandson - Blood // Water
54 Kacey Musgraves - Lonely Weekend
53 Rae Morris - Atletico (The Only One)
52 Carrie Underwood - Love Wins
51 Elissa - Se piovesse il tuo nome

Nervous is one of the best tracks on Shawn's self-titled, no surprise being written by Julia Michaels *.* It's fun, playful and coy, but still feels authentic and real so fits in very nicely alongside the more serious In My Blood and Youth as the best of the album.
Domino was better than Monsters and should've been the ESC entry tbh, I said what I said (no shade to Monsters which ofc was in this too) x This could easily be a Melfest smash for Sanna Nielsen or Molly Sanden (that comparison makes sense when you see Thomas G:son and Bobby Ljunggren), a huge ballad with a chorus that breaks the stratosphere.
Shuffla is also a Eurovision national final track, I won't say it's robbed because I don't think it was what Sweden needed to send but WHAT A BANGER. If anyone told me that Samir & Viktor would behind my favourite Melfest song for 2018 in 2017, I'd have laughed them right out of my face but here we are! This is just so much fun, it makes me want to do the shuffla with them any time I so much as hear "Nu är vi back igen".
Woman Like Me might have a bit of a disappointment to some fans, but it's nonetheless a solid bop for the girls that showed what LM5 was going to be all about. The production makes this a jam, very Side By Side, Nicki's rap is questionable but so is her whole existence x The girls' voices all really fit this and it's so catchy, it not being as instantly banging as some singles made it stick with me for a while and keep growing, really worming its way into my affections before long.
Ruin My Life is one that took a while with me, I remember being so disappointed at first but it was only a few days before I was on board. It's hypnotically smooth yet striking, with a strong vocal that gives it real feeling, great pop *.*
Blood // Water is the first entry from a great new artist, and his biggest hit yet, a top 20 on the US rock, alternative and mainstream rock charts. The dark, deep and broody verses build up to a a HUGE trappy chorus drop that should probably feel generic but just works so well, a massive song that shows some immense potential.
Lonely Weekend is another entry for Kacey, a relatable breezy little song about being lonely but actually sometimes cherishing the time you get to yourself instead of dwelling on it. Lyrically and melodically this is every reason why Kacey is so brilliant, as always lyrics just make you think "damn I felt that", even if you didn't realise you felt it. She puts into words how I feel better than I ever could sometimes
Atletico (The Only One) is the biggest triumph on a surprising triumph of a sophmore album, a carefree, quirky electro-pop track that plays with the feelings of pressure to enjoy everything on a night out, and how you might regret not seizing the moment, going to talk to that hot guy, making friends with the girl with a nice dress on.
Love Wins shows Carrie flirting with politics, as much as a country artist dares without ruining their career In a divisive political climate, the importance of love above all should triumph, and having shown support for gay marriage, I like to think this is a little nod to that too in a subtle way.
Se piovesse il tuo nome rounds off this section as one of the best Italian language songs of the year. I didn't think much of it at first, but listening closer to feel the emotion, translating the lyrics rather than just getting vague gists, it really hit me. It feels powerful and striking, yet raw, quiet and introspective all at the same time, touching on the feelings of being lost and not understanding what went wrong with a lost love.

Posted by: Liаm 22nd January 2019, 03:50 PM

50 Eye Cue - Lost & Found
49 Little Mix - Wasabi
48 Kacey Musgraves - Butterflies
47 Sigala, Ella Eyre & Meghan Trainor - Just Got Paid
46 Grace Carter - Why Her, Not Me
45 P!nk - A Million Dreams
44 Hayley Kiyoko - Curious
43 Lucas & Steve - I Could Be Wrong
42 Louisa ft. 2Chainz - YES
41 Nina Nesbitt - Loyal To Me

Lost & Found was such an unjust Eurovision flop, Macedonia can never seem to catch a break but this coming 18th out of 19 songs... From the No Doubt esque ska tinged verses to the banging Europop chorus, this meshes together a few influences but it works so well rather than feeling disjointed. Musically, it really stood out and became one of my faves of the year in the contest, but it lost out to some absolute shite, admittedly in a competitive semi but still.
Wasabi felt like it would be my highlght of LM5 from the clips, and the clips didn't lie *.* It's very unsusal, with a spoken chorus, vocal effects on Jesy's interjections and thumping production that wouldn't sound out of place on Britney's Blackout in places, but the girls are at their best when they're pushing things a bit and showing why they stand out from any other girl group.
Butterflies is a lovely, magical little song that captured a honeymoon period feeling Kacey felt to her husband after 3 weeks of not knowing him, and finally feeling loved and reborn after so much darkness. Hearing this live was a real moment, her voice in the same room as me singing such feelings just felt absolutely magical and so authentic, it's a personal song that lets you in and speaks to you as if you're experiencing the feelings too.
Just Got Paid is a flat out BANGER. Ella Eyre has a perfect voice for dance tracks as Came Here For Love confirmed, and the production just makes you want to dance as you sing along. Even if you're absolutely broke and indeed were not just paid, it makes you feel the joy and looking at your bank account and seeing your money's gone in, you'll feel bougie for 3 minutes x
Why Her, Not Me is one hell of a calling card for someone who could and should be huge in 2019! Lyrically, it's a desperate plea wondering why she wasn't enough for her dad to stick around, and the soulful vocals only add to the raw emotion and tug at your heartstrings.
A Million Dreams is the second and final TGS cover in this top 100, Pink took a lovely little cute song and made it a real pop moment with her ever impressive vocals that own absolutely song she sings <3
Curious is simply perfect pop from the self-proclaimed lesbian Jesus who went from strength to strength in 2018 with the release of her debut. Lyrically, this focuses on people who suppress their same-sex attractions by putting up a facade, the catchy melody makes it accessible to all.
I Could Be Wrong is an excellent example of how to do a dance reworking of a classic <3 Brandy re-recorded her vocals and the soulful classic I Wanna Be Down becomes one of the best dancefloor anthems of 2018, with banging house production that breathes new life to the song rather than taking things away from it.
YES was a bit of a flop for Louisa but it gave the gays everything they want, somewhat of a Dirrty for 2018 with its sexy, thumping production. This might have been ruined by the video making her look like a young working mother on a night out at the M&S awards having three glasses of wine instead of her usual two, rather than a pop goddess, but the sentiment was there, this is bloody good pop.
Loyal To Me is the final song before the top 40, just missing out </3 I believe this was written with Little Mix in mind and you can definitely hear that, it's got a perfect throwback late 90s R&B kind of sound, which actually really suits her voice and you imagine the girls slaying it. But it's such a pop triumph it's no wonder Nina kept it for herself.

Posted by: PeteFromLeeds 22nd January 2019, 09:53 PM

I feel like I never gave Just Got Paid the justice it deserved, I was sidetracked by a full album of songs from him, but it is a real bop from start to finish and still feels really fresh now!

Posted by: JosephAvery 23rd January 2019, 08:58 PM

I still totally love YES lmao, it deserved better

Posted by: SevenSeize 23rd January 2019, 09:28 PM

Wasabi was the clear highlight of LM5 for me, felt similarly about Power before so i hope they eventually make this a single too!

I'm All Ears getting on the albums list

Posted by: Liаm 26th January 2019, 09:41 AM

QUOTE(PeteFromLeeds @ Jan 22 2019, 09:53 PM)

QUOTE(JosephAvery @ Jan 23 2019, 08:58 PM)

I still totally love YES lmao, it deserved better

QUOTE(SevenSeize @ Jan 23 2019, 09:28 PM)

Wasabi was the clear highlight of LM5 for me, felt similarly about Power before so i hope they eventually make this a single too!

I'm All Ears getting on the albums list

Posted by: Liаm 26th January 2019, 09:43 AM

40 grandson - Thoughts & Prayers

Kicking up the big 40 is a BJSC winner, and a devastatng take on the mass shootings that plague America. It takes aim at the useless yet omnipresent phrase "thoughts and prayers", which really means very little when the government (who are the ones usually using that phrase) do absoltuely nothing about it in terms of gun legislations. "The body count is on your hands" is perhaps the most haunting, striking and raw line of this statement of a song, doing nothing means the government are just as responsible. This is one of those songs that's more than just a song, it's an incredibly important statement that needs to be made, coming at exactly the right time.

39 Shawn Mendes ft. Khalid - Youth

Similar in theme to Thoughts & Prayers, Youth was written about events such as the Manchester bombing at Ariana Grande's concert, and the sense of unity that our generation has in standing against the hate and attacks, and trying to effect a change. It's incredibly hard-hitting in its optimistm and defiance, that no matter what happens and what people try to do, they can't erase people and the love and experiences they share, that's something that's been evident in the aftermath of Manchester and similar events - the worst things in the world can in turn bring out the best in humanity.

38 Mark Ronson ft. Miley Cyrus - Nothing Breaks Like A Heart

The newest addition to this countdown, this would probably be a bit higher if it had longer with me. After a flop with her country effort Younger Now, Miley doesn't actually venture too far back into anything different as this is a glittery country-disco anthem, with the emotion and power of everything she's been through. Her voice shines, as one of the most underrated vocalists of our time, it breaks free of, but is also complimented by, the production.

37 Kacey Musgraves - Oh, What A World

A gloriously gauzy track, this is one of the absolute highs on the album of the year. Kacey herself describes this as the song that set the tone for the record, it melds electronic Daft Punk like influences with her usual country elements, it marvels at realising the beauty of life and the wonder of our world in all the small things we sometimes take for granted. The themes might not be as outspoken or daring as those on say Follow Your Arrow, but they're still hugely important to be aware of.

36 Lady Gaga - Always Remember Us This Way

The first Gaga/ASIB entry in the top 40 is the wistful and loving Always Remember Us This Way. The first song Ally performs for a crowd on her own. Raw and timeless, this feels like it would be Ally's signature song if she was really an artist, while at the same time being such a perfect evolution of a Lady Gaga ballad, it's almost like Speechless or Dope brought up to date and polished. It's intimate and raw, but powerful and explosive, and that's 99% down to the dynamic voice she has, she can sell anything and it makes you feel about 20 different emotions along with her.

Posted by: Liаm 27th January 2019, 03:15 PM

35 Carrie Underwood – Cry Pretty

This was one that definitely took a while with me, I liked it at first but remember thinking "oh is that it" as a lead It's still country, but it's got a timeless arena rock kind of feel, the chorus is so powerful and that really suits a song that's packed with emotion, it's been held in but it explodes all over this song, about it being ok to show your emotions, you don't have to keep it in and struggle to keep a pretty face. It's a great centrepiece for the same-titled album, if you heard and liked this it's a good advertisement for the album.

34 Calvin Harris ft. Dua Lipa - One Kiss

The biggest hit of 2018 in the UK, this summer ready euphoric house banger epitomised 90s dance whilst feeling like a fresh step forward for both artists. There was a time where I was a bit tired of this being EVERYWHERE but now that's died down I still adore it, Dua's smoky distinctive vocals pair so well with a dance song and Calvin is at his best too, it's not too generic or rehashing his old stuff as he's been guilty of in the past.

33 Carly Rae Jepsen - Party For One

A perfect breezy pop bop, what else would we expect from Carly? *.* With a chorus as huge and poppy as the lyrics are empowering, this self-care anthem builds on what made the highs (ie 90% of the album) of Emotion so good, simultaneously subtle and paced but impactful and explosive. The video is brilliant too, so much fun and perfectly encompasses the hairbrush in the mirror vibe of the song.

32 Loren Allred - Never Enough

A towering power ballad and one of the best movie songs of recent years It's no wonder this has become such a talent show favourite, there's such power in every note and within the movie it's a showstopping number where a character who otherwise isn't *that* memorable draws you in completely.

31 Twenty One Pilots - Jumpsuit

This was a perfect introudction to a new TOP era, the way it builds encompasses all the best things about them. At times it's soft and somewhat acoustic, vulnerable and revealing, but by the end it's a heavy rock anthem with piercing screams to match. The progressive nature of the song made it perhaps not the best choice of lead, it was never going to be a hit, but it was perfect for setting up the album and announcing they were back.

Posted by: JosephAvery 27th January 2019, 04:52 PM

Cry Pretty's a great track!! As far as Carrie lead singles go, it's not her very best, but it's great nonetheless and definitely sets the album up well.

Posted by: Liаm 29th January 2019, 10:20 AM

QUOTE(JosephAvery @ Jan 27 2019, 04:52 PM)

Posted by: Dexton 29th January 2019, 10:26 AM

Wow at that 1-2-3-punch of emotions with thoughts & prayers, Youth, and Notging Breaks Like A Heart *.* Always Remember Us This Way is by far my favourite Gaga ballad too

Posted by: Liаm 29th January 2019, 10:44 AM

30 Childish Gambino - This Is America

Kicking off our top 30 is a very important statement of a song from Childish Gambino, who soared to #1 in the US and became his first solo top 10 in the UK. This song touches on the historic racism that's still prevalent in America, as well as mass shooting and gun violence, with a lyrical deftness only Gambino could bring us. It's one of the effective and powerful politicial statements in music I can remember, particularly paired with the video added to the package. The jolliness of the melody and production could almost distract from the message if you weren't paying attention, so this song worked as a pop hit as well as a message and statement.

29 Shawn Mendes - In My Blood

The highest of Shawn's multiple entries from his triumphant self titled album is of course the lead single! This was really a huge step for Shawn, continuing his artistry developing after the excellent There's Nothing Holding Me Back. It's raw and emotional, it feels totally genuine and real from the heart, you can feel the anxiety in his voice and it pours from his heart, he could make anyone feel like they're experiencing what he has as they listen to him tell the story and it's stunning.

28 Panic! At The Disco - Say Amen (Saturday Night)

The song that kicked off my love for Panic, after being aware of them for a while and appreciating the classics (ok mainly drunk screaming to I Write Sins at pres as my friend is a big fan) *.* It brings the theatricality that makes Panic so great into a new sound, it's a bit more poppy but not so much that it loses the best parts of previous material. It's hooky as hell, you just want to bellow the chorus out along with Brendan.

27 Charli XCX - Focus

In a discography full of absolute bangers, and with her recent penchant PC Music esque production, Charli delivered one of her absolute best to date with this *.* The hypnotic production of this club ready gem is incredible, icy cool and cycling, the half-rapped vocals elevate this too and it's just so forward thinking whilst being pretty simple, sometimes less is more. An impeccably produced pop track that shows where pop could go, where can you go wrong with that *.*

26 grandson - Stick Up

As one of the best new artists I've found this year, grandson heads up his three appearances in the top 100 with this crowning gem of his output so far! Again, this is about gun violence, telling the story of a veteran who can't afford PTSD meds and commits a robbery because the system left him angry. It's an interesting take on songs about gun violence, but just as valid in showing how the system and government leaving out certain people or stripping them of what they want or need can affect them greatly and lead them into the worst places. It's a lot harder and heavier musically than Thoguhts and Prayers, mirroring the character's aggression and anger which makes for such a well rounded story of a song.

Posted by: Liаm 29th January 2019, 10:44 AM

QUOTE(Dexton @ Jan 29 2019, 10:26 AM)

Posted by: PeteFromLeeds 29th January 2019, 10:11 PM

Thoughts & Prayers was a very deserving BJSC winner, a subject which definitely needs to be addressed. Nothing Breaks Like a Heart is wonderful as well, one of my favourite songs in the Top 40 right now!

Posted by: Liаm 1st February 2019, 09:59 PM

25 Francesca Michielin - Tropicale

Only the third highest Italian song this time after being a year end #2 last time, flop x This is an all out summery bop, quite Spotify but not in a tired generic way, in a way that makes it feel like something really went into it for it to a fun, great pop song that sticks in your mind.

24 Carrie Underwood - The Bullet

Another gun crime song, the last one although not the last reference to guns we'll see ;o This is a devastating song, it will pierce your heart with every word. It sums up exactly what needs to be said, what doesn't matter is "they're taking our freedom by taking our guns!11" what matters is that being allowed guns makes sure that a bullet can go through the victim, everyone's lives, their past and their future. Carrie's story songs are often incredible but this is absolutely one of her most raw and emotional.

23 Halsey - Without Me

Halsey wanted to show she could write good radio pop with her second album, and this standalone single is just more proof of that! This just does everything right as a polished pop song, from the production to the theme and lyrics to the vocals to the genius Cry Me A River sample

22 Ariana Grande - Thank U, Next

Another smash, this was a surprise release but went straight to #1 in both the US and UK, queen *.* Even when you're perenially single with no real exes to speak of, this song makes you feel like you've just emerged stronger from a break-up. This was and still is SUCH a classy way to look back on the past, it's easy to do a relatably bitter anthem but this really reasonated for being the way everyone should deal with break-ups and the past, even if it's not always that easy in theory

21 Janelle Monae - Make Me Feel

The final song before the top 20 is a critically acclaimed bop from Janelle Monae, which simultaneously feels like the future of pop and a lost Prince classic. It was reminiscent of past glories for her such as Dance Apocalyptic, but still felt like a huge step up that really showed this album was going to be incredible. The San Junipero esque video with her girlfriend Tessa Thompson really sells the song too

Posted by: Liаm 1st February 2019, 09:59 PM

QUOTE(PeteFromLeeds @ Jan 29 2019, 10:11 PM)

Posted by: JosephAvery 1st February 2019, 10:00 PM

Anything I heard from Halsey's second attempt felt like a pretty poor attempt to get an easy chart hit. Without Me feels less blatant an attempt, yet somehow works so much better. Her best track to date

Posted by: Liаm 1st February 2019, 10:42 PM

QUOTE(JosephAvery @ Feb 1 2019, 10:00 PM)

Anything I heard from Halsey's second attempt felt like a pretty poor attempt to get an easy chart hit. Without Me feels less blatant an attempt, yet somehow works so much better. Her best track to date

Posted by: Jade 1st February 2019, 10:44 PM

So pleased to see 'This Is America' placing in your top 30 I'm pretty sure it's my absolute favourite song of last year! What an incredible song AND video package indeed. Touches like the gun shots and the Jim Crow pose were very effective uses of shock value.

It was so cool to witness it charting at #1 in the U.S. and top 10 here too, slay us Gambino <3

Posted by: Liаm 1st February 2019, 11:21 PM

20 Keala Settle - This Is Me

A megahit from the biggest film of the year, this hasn't left the chart all year and made a huge impact on me too. The most powerful musical moment of the film, this is an empowering track about embracing who you are and not apologising for it no matter what impact that have on your life or those around you. It might be overplayed, but there was something lovely about a 40+ woman with a bit of extra weight having a chart smash with a song about loving yourself, and what a song it is.

19 George Ezra - Shotgun

From one big hit to another, George had one of the biggest smashes of last year with this balmy, summery anthem. This is just so easy going, one of those songs that just kind of relaxes you and makes you feel like you're off somewhere sunny and nice without a care in the world. It's so easy to see why it was so huge, it was so perfect in the hot weather we had over summer, and it's just nice even know when you want to kick back and relax and float away for a few minutes and feel like everything's ok.

18 Annalisa - Il mondo prima di te

THE biggest robbery of the Eurovision national final season (been a while since I had to use that word ), it may only be me and my random Italian pop obsession who thinks that but this is an exemplary ballad that builds and builds. The story of a love that shatters everything and challenges one's view of the world bursts through every note, of course the Italian language sells it even more. I grew to love Non mi avete fatto niente and this would have probs flopped but ffs I just love it so much.

17 Eleni Foureira - Fuego

The gays' winner of Eurovision 2018, nobody who likes pop music, music, Eurovision or anything at all could deny what a great pop song this is. From the second I heard it, it had so much potential, it's an impeccably written pop song that hit all the right notes not just as a Eurovision song but as a contemporary pop song, so it's no wonder it was the biggest hit post contest. It totally came alive on the stage too, going from a fan fave to the favourite to snatch the whole thing, no thanks to epic staging and the electric stage presence of the superstar in waiting Eleni. I still have 2 Eurovision songs to come so it's not quite my winner, but it would have been most other years tbh.

16 Ariana Grande - Breathin'

The banger of Sweetener, this satiated many gays' need for a bit more when Sweetener didn't quite give us an Into You. It's subtle but huge, intimate but universal, a bloody good pop song that Ari really excels at. We didn't necessarily know we needed a mental health, self care bop from Ari but we got it and it slayed us *.* It's one of those songs you know comes right from Ari's heart, from the experences she had with Manchester and what a terrible year it was, but you also feel like you can pin down a moment in your life where you felt the same and relate to exactly what she means.

Posted by: Liаm 1st February 2019, 11:21 PM

QUOTE(Jade @ Feb 1 2019, 10:44 PM)

So pleased to see 'This Is America' placing in your top 30 I'm pretty sure it's my absolute favourite song of last year! What an incredible song AND video package indeed. Touches like the gun shots and the Jim Crow pose were very effective uses of shock value.

It was so cool to witness it charting at #1 in the U.S. and top 10 here too, slay us Gambino <3

Posted by: Jade 1st February 2019, 11:26 PM

'Breathin' was such a grower for me! Not quite up there with 'no tears left to cry' and 'God Is A Woman' but then again what is tbh. I also feel like the video is underrated, those other two obviously had spectacular videos but this one had a more subtle charm to it for sure, really channelling the anxiety theme well. I guess it was kinda just chucked out there while the next era was slowly unravelling so it makes sense that it was brushed over a bit, but I do have a soft spot.

Posted by: Liаm 2nd February 2019, 11:31 AM

15 MNEK ft. Hailee Steinfeld – Colour

Hailee always brings the goods, and this is no different! MNEK was already a talent to watch but this was a step up from anything we'd heard before, a chart ready summery bop that's imbued with that honeymoon period feeling of falling in love and realising how much that person brings to your life, making you see everything in a brighter light. Hailee's got one of those voices that makes you feel joyous, it's so sunny and perfect and joyous, and for that reason she was a perfect feature for this track, which was really really robbed of being a hit

14 Ariana Grande - God Is A Woman

The follow-up to the shimmeringly soaring No Tears Left To Cry, this was a bit more brazen and sultry, with sexually and spirtually lyrics over a thumping trap beat that all makes for a song that dares to be exactly what it is and doesn't apologies. The production really makes this one, it thumps along with the confidence you can feel in every note she sings, and the way it culminates in the choral layering of Ari's vocals is just stunning and the icing on the cake

13 Kacey Musgraves - High Horse

I've always adored Kacey but it was certainly a surprise that she came out with a glitzy disco bop *.* A big part of the reason why the gays rightfully stan Golden Hour so much, this is basically Dolly Parton under a disco ball at the best gay bar in town and I live for it. It might seem odd for a country act to fit so well with this sound, but she never once compromises what makes her special in giving us a bit of a different sound, and that's what makes it work so well. With the thinly veiled lyrics that seem to fit a little too well to Trump, it's a song that came at the right time that can mean what you want it to, or nothing at all, much like a lot of Golden Hour.

12 George Ezra - Paradise

Idk if I'm alone in preferring this to Shotgun (as you can see I love that too as it was #19 here) but the UK public make me feel so, although this did get to #2 and go Platinum so it was hardly robbed and unappreciated. This is just so vibrant and joyous, about being so in love and happy you're just in your own little world and don't need anybody else to define it or set the parameters, and the song makes you feel as if you're in that place of joy <3

11 Aja - Brujeria

Just missing the top 10 is a gender neutral rap and drag star who pushed to redefine drag through the way they performs their music and presents herself. Right from her C.L.A.T. verse, I knew this kween was going to slay when music inevitably come to fruition and this proved my theory *.*The banging production from Mitch Ferrino compliments a fierce flow, pop culture references and a sense of confidence we came to expect from Aja on their two seasons of Drag Race and activities since the show *.*

------


That leaves the following songs in the top 10, ranging from a Eurovision winner punctuated by chicken noises to a heart-on-sleeve Italian ballad about the phobia of happiness to a perfect pop banger that broke out another Albanian pop starlet to a devastatingly raw rock epic about self harm!

Ariana Grande - No Tears Left To Cry
Ava Max - Sweet But Psycho
Badflower - Ghost
Jessica Mauboy - We Got Love
Kacey Musgraves - Slow Burn
Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper - Shallow
Martina Atilli - Cherofobia
Netta - Toy
Panic! At The Disco - High Hopes

Posted by: Liаm 2nd February 2019, 11:32 AM

QUOTE(Jade @ Feb 1 2019, 11:26 PM)

Posted by: Liаm 2nd February 2019, 12:14 PM

10 Martina Attili – Cherofobia



Dirti che staremo insieme
Dirti che staremo bene

Kicking off our top 10 is the one least of you will know, and the least accessible, but a song that really instantly hit me I randomly stumbled across this thanks to her X Factor audition on the Italian version, I found that on Youtube and instantly I was just shook. I only had a vague gist of what she was saying but I was in tears within a minute, the sense of emotion and melody to this song was insane, this 16 year girl didn't even to speak my language to pierce my heart. When I read the translation, really felt the song and got into it more, I knew it was something special even more. Written about fearing being happy, and the fact that people can't believe this cute 16 year old girl feels like it, this just draws me in and crushes my heart with every listen <3 I cannot wait for more music from her, she's got such a unique, intimate and raw voice that could craft any story into something beautiful. She also had a very good cover of Material Girl by Madonna that was in the original style yet somehow still worked with her voice


09 Netta - Toy



Wonder Woman don't you ever forget
You're divine and he's about to regret

A little bit of a change of pace I knew this was IT when I heard it as it leaked, Israel had been a bit hit and miss success wise this decade (although they were my 2015 winner with the banger Golden Boy) but this was so bizarre, so unique yet so right. Quirky production, vocal trills, Hebrew slang and chicken noises all combine here, and that sounds like a mess on paper but it all absolutely works! Netta has such a unique mind for crafting music, she did things nobody else would have dared to, on the biggest music platform in Europe, and slayed it all. The live performance was a spectacle and it's no wonder the song won, love it or hate it, it was certainly hugely memorable. She got a bit of hate for not being Eleni Foureira and "robbing" her, but she fully deserved the win - although it wasn't quite my fave of the year

Posted by: Jade 2nd February 2019, 12:37 PM

Pleased that you also like the 'Breathin' video <3 I guess 'no tears left to cry' and 'God Is A Woman' were like blockbuster affairs (...plus the gopher part x) so it was always going to pale in comparison, but she is basically the queen of videos right now *.*

Speaking of 'God Is A Woman', yayyyy for it nabbing a top 15 position here *.* it has now surpassed 'Love Me Harder' as my favourite Ariana song! It feels so silly now that I was initially underwhelmed by it, I guess it was always going to be hard to follow up 'no tears left to cry', but I slowly got the appeal of it more and more and now it's absolutely incredible <3 the 'Sweetener' singles cannot be faulted tbh. Also, from that section, I definitely prefer 'Paradise' to 'Shotgun' too! The latter is a lot of fun but 'Paradise' was so striking and exactly the era revival that George needed after 'Don't Matter Now' happened, his best ever song!

Rooting for Ariana, Ava, Badflower, Gaga or Panic! to take the crown here!

Posted by: JosephAvery 2nd February 2019, 10:35 PM

Toy is an absolute bop, the chicken noises actually work really quite well which I'd never have called

Posted by: Liаm 3rd February 2019, 12:31 PM

QUOTE(Jade @ Feb 2 2019, 12:37 PM)

QUOTE(JosephAvery @ Feb 2 2019, 10:35 PM)

Toy is an absolute bop, the chicken noises actually work really quite well which I'd never have called

Posted by: Liаm 3rd February 2019, 12:47 PM

08 Lady Gaga – I’ll Never Love Again



Don't wanna to give my heart away
To another stranger
Or let another day begin
Won't even let the sunlight in
No, I'll never love again

The first of Lady Gaga’s two appearances in this top 10 is the heart wrenching finale of A Star Is Born, performed after the death of Ally's husband Jackson, Bradley Cooper's character. This is reminscent of a classic love ballad such as I Will Always Love You, I remember seeing it in the film without having heard any of the soundtrack as I went to an advance screening before the soundtrack came out, and I was just blown away. The effortless power, the tangible emotion and the simplicity of it all, it's one of those songs that just lets an incredible voice shine through and there's not really a more incredible voice around than Lady Gaga's. This feels timeless, such a fitting end to the film, you can imagine if that was Ally in the real world, it'd be a moment that sets her career off an another level, just like ASIB is doing for Gaga.

07 Panic! At The Disco – High Hopes



Had to have high, high hopes for a living
Shooting for the stars when I couldn't make a killing
Didn't have a dime but I always had a vision

Brendan Urie got his biggest hit with this, the pop money shot from Panic's latest album, and it's easy to see why. It perfectly blends the classic Panic formula of a dash of theatricality and punchy vocals with blazing horns that make the song totally ready for radio, without losing their magic or "selling out". The video is just brilliant too, simple but really effective and sticks in your mind. The layers of sound, the drums and beats and punchy vocals, with an uplifting message of breaking out and achieving your dreams, all combine to make this one of the best pop songs of the year and my favourite Panic track to date amongst stiff competition!

Posted by: coi 3rd February 2019, 12:59 PM

What a great pair of songs there!! I'll Never Love Again works very well in the film and High Hopes was a real slow-burner but glad it managed to revive Panic's status in the charts as well! Not sure I'd quite put it up there as my favourite Panic song as the top two from the rate (IWSNT and TBOML) probably still take that for me, but still a great tune!

Hope Ariana, Ava or Badflower take it in the end!

Posted by: Liаm 3rd February 2019, 01:27 PM

06 Badflower - Ghost



I tried it once before but I didn't get too far
I felt a lot of pain but it didn't stop my heart
And all I really wanted was someone to give a little f***
But I waited there forever and nobody even looked up

This is one of the most instantly chilling and affecting songs I've ever heard, I was looking for BJSC potentials and came across it from the Billboard rock chart, just thought I'd have a listen and I was blown away. It's very raw and hard-hitting, with lyrics that detail suicidal thoughts and self harm in such an honest way, you really feel like you're being let into someone's lowest ebb and it's harrowing but done so well. The lead singer's rough vocal just affirms that, you can feel the pain in every note and believe it, it's coming from a place of truth, begging for someone to take any chances to hurt himself away because he doesn't really want to die but can't see any other way out. This was my biggest BJSC hit of the year and one of my biggest to date, mere points away from winning, so close but so far but 3rd was fab!

05 Kacey Musgraves - Slow Burn



I'm alright with a slow burn
Taking my time, let the world turn
I'm gonna do it my way, it'll be alright
If we burn it down and it takes all night

Kicking off the all important top 5 is this hazy, psychedelic slow jam that is the best song on the best album of the year If one song sums up the vibe of Golden Hour perfectly it's this, it's got an undeniable 70s classic sound but also feels modern and timeless, it seeps through your speakers and washes over you and instantly relaxes you so that you can, just like the lyrics say, take some time to enjoy life and not let it pass you by in a rush.

Posted by: Liаm 3rd February 2019, 01:27 PM

QUOTE(coi @ Feb 3 2019, 12:59 PM)

Posted by: sergejdordij98 3rd February 2019, 04:06 PM

Hi Liam!
Really like a lot of the songs in your top 50!
And from your top 20 right now, I like "Shotgun", "Il Mondo Prima Di Te", "Fuego", "Breathin", "God Is A Woman" and "Paradise"!
From your top 10, I like "High Hopes" right now!
Can't wait to see, where "No Tears Left To Cry", "Shallow" and especially "Sweet But Psycho" lands, considering all 3 songs are really good!

Posted by: Liаm 3rd February 2019, 08:09 PM

04 Ava Max - Sweet But Psycho



When she's mean, you know you love it
'Cause she tastes so sweet, don't sugarcoat it

One of the most refreshing hits of the year, and also one of the very best pop songs. It's easy to compare her to Lady Gaga, but the Just Dance paralells are huge. This is a perfect pop song that gave an unknown a smash and turned her into a rising star, and it's all simply because of a great pop song. With Cirkuit behind it, that's no surprise, but the ma ma mas, vocal inflections and banging production all combine to make a simply perfect pop song and I'm so so glad that it resonated with the public and became a #1 because god knows the chart needed some perfect, pure pop like this. 2019 is going to be big for Ava I think and I can't wait to witness it all!

03 Jessica Mauboy - We Got Love



Don't you think it's just a waste of time?
When we're always fighting over material, trivial things in this life

After a huge amount of NF robberies and other entries, we get to my Eurovision winner for 2018! I may be biased as she's one of my top 5 artists, so she was probably going to be my favourite no matter what (barring a disaster of a song) but when she brought us a soaring pop anthem about spreading some love, that certainly helped cement her there! The subtle build up with the drums lets her voice shine instantly, then the production builds with subtle yet thumping rhythm that gets you caught up in the uplifting message. It's one that's actually really important in the world we live in today, that people can stand together and rise above all the awful things that are going on. The message and actual song was so Eurovision, I initially had a great feeling about this so it was devastating to see her come 20th, as much as her vocals weren't her best


That means it's two chart smashes fighting for the top but will it be Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper's Shallow or Ariana Grande's No Tears Left To Cry?

Posted by: Liаm 3rd February 2019, 08:09 PM

QUOTE(sergejdordij98 @ Feb 3 2019, 04:06 PM)

Posted by: Jay ☆ 4th February 2019, 02:01 AM

Hi Liam!

Jessica Mauboy definitely deserved to do better in the final, certainly one of my highlights from last year's Eurovision.

Agree that Sweet But Psycho is refreshing in terms of commercial hit singles. Major bop! Keeping my fingers crossed that this isn't just a fluke and that she has more to give, would be great to see Ava becoming a big pop girl!

I'll Never Love Again is incredibly touching Really looking forward to seeing the film again. Shallow is my favourite from the soundtrack!

Yaas at Ariana's Sweetener singles all being within your Top 20. My personal favourite of the three is No Tears Left to Cry, so I'm glad to see that's in your Top 2 along with Shallow *.*

Posted by: Riser 4th February 2019, 02:58 AM

Ooh, wanting Shallow to win but I'm thinking it'll be NTLTC. The variety in this top 10 though *.* Just watched A Star Is Born again last night and YES I'll Never Love Again is such a modern-day I Will Always Love You it's unreal.

I imagine Slow Burn to be such a moment live, was it??

Posted by: Liаm 4th February 2019, 09:19 PM

QUOTE(Jay ☆ @ Feb 4 2019, 02:01 AM)

Hi Liam!

Jessica Mauboy definitely deserved to do better in the final, certainly one of my highlights from last year's Eurovision.

Agree that Sweet But Psycho is refreshing in terms of commercial hit singles. Major bop! Keeping my fingers crossed that this isn't just a fluke and that she has more to give, would be great to see Ava becoming a big pop girl!

I'll Never Love Again is incredibly touching Really looking forward to seeing the film again. Shallow is my favourite from the soundtrack!

Yaas at Ariana's Sweetener singles all being within your Top 20. My personal favourite of the three is No Tears Left to Cry, so I'm glad to see that's in your Top 2 along with Shallow *.*

QUOTE(Riser @ Feb 4 2019, 02:58 AM)

Posted by: Liаm 5th February 2019, 12:07 PM

So here it is, I'm finally done oops I'm so slow but oh well x











































02 Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper - Shallow



[Bridge: Lady Gaga]
Hoo, huh, uh, huhh-ow
Huh, huhh-huhhh



I'm falling
In all the good times
I find myself longing for change
And, in the bad times, I fear myself

Just pipped to the post, not having an EOY #1 since Judas in 2011, Lady Gaga's smash hit was the best #1 of 2018 and probably one of the most surprising smashes! AS much as we knew everyone loved Gaga, and she can smashed, who would have thought that a country power ballad would be a huge #1 in 2018?? Of course the second I heard it, in a way it was no surprise because it is just so raw, pure, universal and beauitfully harmonised. It perfectly represents the chemistry between Jack and Ally in the film, as the first time they sang together live and Ally's big introduction to an audience of Jack's fans, it's truly electric and captivating, you feel the chemistry as soon as they meet but this explodes in a chemical reaction that'll grab your heart so you're truly invested in this romance. If you told me in 2009 that a country ballad would take Gaga to a new level, an Oscar nominee kind of level, 9 years later, I'd have laughed, I always believed in her talent and knew she was special but she just keeps going and going Bradley's voice compliments hers perfectly, and as the most versatile and generally best vocalist around today, this is perfect to show everything that's so brilliant about authentic, raw Gaga, and will no doubt go down as one of her signature songs.






01 Ariana Grande - No Tears Left To Cry



Oh, I just want you to come with me
We're on another mentality
Ain't got no tears left to cry
So I'm pickin' it up, pickin' it up
I'm lovin', I'm livin', I'm pickin' it up

So she's done it After six entries, three of which made the top 20, Ariana grabs her second EOY #1 after reaching the top in 2016 with Into You as well! Not to mention One Last Time has become my fave 2015 song too, queen of having astronomical highs This track is just bottled euphoria, an ode to optimism that captures a moment that inspires you to keep going, a joyful act of defiance that won't let anything bring it down. Ariana had a terrible year in 2017 with the bombing at her Manchester concert that took the lives of 22 of her beloved fans and their families/friends, which left her with PTSD and anxiety, but she came through it and organised the One Love concert that was one of the most touching and inspiring things I'd ever seen. This song was absolutely perfect to come back with, she could have easily done a weepy Manchester ballad and that would have been devastatingly brilliant, but this is what the world needed in the wake of what happened. It's a breezy inspiration to recover and appreciate what you do have in the worst times, it was very hard to navigate something addressing such an event respectfully and tactfully, but this did more than I could ever ask for. This simultaneously makes you feel sad remembering what happened, but brings so much joy in the way that Ari can move on from it and have such optimism, still looking on the bright side of life. I can't describe the feelings I still get when I hear that soaring beauty of a chorus

Posted by: Liаm 5th February 2019, 12:08 PM

Full list of the top 200:

01 Ariana Grande – No Tears Left To Cry
02 Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper – Shallow
03 Jessica Mauboy – We Got Love
04 Ava Max – Sweet But Psycho
05 Kacey Musgraves – Slow Burn
06 Badflower – Ghost
07 Panic! At The Disco – High Hopes
08 Lady Gaga – I’ll Never Love Again
09 Netta – Toy
10 Martina Attili – Cherofobia

11 Aja – Brujeria
12 George Ezra – Paradise
13 Kacey Musgraves – High Horse
14 Ariana Grande – God Is A Woman
15 MNEK ft. Hailee Steinfeld – Colour
16 Ariana Grande – Breathin’
17 Eleni Foureira - Fuego
18 Annalisa – Il mondo prima di te
19 George Ezra - Shotgun
20 Keala Settle – This Is Me

21 Janelle Monae – Make Me Feel
22 Ariana Grande – Thank U, Next
23 Halsey – Without Me
24 Carrie Underwood – The Bullet
25 Francesca Michielin – Tropicale
26 Grandson – Stick Up
27 Charli XCX – Focus
28 Panic! At The Disco – Say Amen (Saturday Night)
29 Shawn Mendes – In My Blood
30 Childish Gambino – This Is America

31 Twenty One Pilots – Jumpsuit
32 Loren Allred – Never Enough
33 Carly Rae Jepsen – Party For One
34 Calvin Harris ft. Dua Lipa – One Kiss
35 Carrie Underwood – Cry Pretty
36 Lady Gaga – Always Remember Us This Way
37 Kacey Musgraves – Oh What A World
38 Mark Ronson ft. Miley Cyrus – Nothing Breaks Like A Heart
39 Shawn Mendes ft. Khalid - Youth
40 Grandson – Thoughts & Prayers

41 Nina Nesbitt – Loyal To Me
42 Louisa ft. 2Chainz – YES
43 Lucas & Steve ft. Brandy – I Could Be Wrong
44 Hayley Kiyoko – Curious
45 P!nk – A Million Dreams
46 Grace Carter – Why Her, Not Me?
47 Sigala, Ella Eyre & Meghan Trainor – Just Got Paid
48 Kacey Musgraves – Butterflies
49 Little Mix – Wasabi
50 Eye Cue – Lost & Found

51 Elisa – Se piovesse il tuo nome
52 Carrie Underwood – Love Wins
53 Rae Morris – Atletico (The Only One)
54 Kacey Musgraves – Lonely Weekend
55 Grandson – Blood // Water
56 Zara Larsson – Ruin My Life
57 Little Mix ft. Nicki Minaj – Woman Like Me
58 Samir & Viktor – Shuffla
59 Saara Aalto – Domino
60 Shawn Mendes – Nervous

61 Lady Gaga – Is That Alright?
62 Elina Nechayeva – La forza
63 Panic! At The Disco – The Greatest Show
64 Demi Lovato – Sober
65 Kim Petras – Heart To Break
66 Isabell Otrebus – Delirium
67 Lennon Stella – Bad
68 Little Mix ft. Sharaya J - Strip
69 Hailee Steinfeld – Capital Letters
70 Mabel ft. Not3s – Fine Line

71 Trixie Mattel – Moving Parts (Acoustic)
72 Lykke Li – Deep End
73 Benny Blanco ft. Halsey - Eastside
74 Saara Aalto – Monsters
75 Lennon Stella – Like Everybody Else (Acoustic)
76 Liam Payne ft. J Balvin – Familiar
77 ZiBBZ – Stones
78 Silk City ft. Dua Lipa – Electricity
79 Tove Lo ft. Charli XCX, Elliphant, Icona Pop & Alma – Bitches
80 Camila Cabello – Never Be The Same

81 Clean Bandit ft. Demi Lovato – Solo
82 Carrie Underwood – Southbound
83 Jorja Smith – Blue Lights
84 Ani Lorak – Crazy
85 Benny Benassi ft. Sofi Tukker – Everybody Needs A Kiss
86 Francesca Michielin – Due galassie
87 Betta Lemme – Bambola
88 Lady Gaga – Why Did You Do That?
89 Janelle Monae ft. Grimes - Pynk
90 Billie Eilish – When The Party’s Over

91 Pistol Annies – Got My Name Changed Back
92 Zedd ft. Maren Morris – The Middle
93 Dua Lipa ft. BLACKPINK – Kiss And Make Up
94 Ariana Grande – R.E.M.
95 Michael Schulte – You Let Me Walk Alone
96 Lil’ Dicky ft. Chris Brown – Freaky Friday
97 Charli XCX ft. Troye Sivan – 1999
98 The Chainsmokers – Sick Boy
99 Kim Petras – Close Your Eyes
100 MNEK – Tongue

101 Cardi B ft. Bad Bunny & J Balvin – I Like It
102 Blair St. Clair – Now Or Never
103 Mariette – For You
104 Lady Gaga – Hair Body Face
105 Tinashe ft. Offset – No Drama
106 Vitaa – Comme dab
107 Trixie Mattel – Break Your Heart
108 Shawn Mendes ft. Julia Michaels – Like To Be You
109 Asmik Shiroyan – You & I
110 Freya Ridings – Lost Without You

111 Azealia Banks – Anna Wintour
112 Years & Years – All For You
113 Rebecca – Who We Are
114 Mikolas Josef – Lie To Me
115 Hugh Jackman & The Greatest Showman Ensemble – The Greatest Show
116 Jessica Andersson – Party Voice
117 Ella Mai – Boo’d Up
118 Maren Morris – Rich
119 Marshmello ft. Bastille – Happier
120 BLACKPINK – DDU-DU DDU-DU

121 Clean Bandit ft. Marina & Luis Fonsi – Baby
122 Zac Efron ft. Zendaya – Rewrite The Stars
123 Jessie Reyez ft. Normani & Kehlani – Body Count
124 Troye Sivan – Bloom
125 Tove Stryke – Sway
126 Billie Eilish ft. Khalid – Lovely
127 Jorja Smith ft. Stormzy – Let Me Down
128 Post Malone – Better Now
129 Margaret – In My Cabana
130 Delta Goodrem – Think About You

131 Twenty One Pilots – My Blood
132 Rae Morris – Do It
133 Feli – Buna de iiubit
134 Francesca Michielin – Femme
135 5 Seconds Of Summer – Youngblood
136 Poppy ft. Grimes – Play Destroy
137 Salmo – 90MIN
138 Kacey Musgraves – Rainbow
139 Lauren Aquilina – Psycho
140 Sabrina Carpenter – Paris

141 Molly Sanden – Storre
142 Dean Lewis – Be Alright
143 Ariana Grande – Goodnight n Go
144 Camila Cabello – She Loves Control
145 Elodie ft. Michele Bravi & Gue Pequeno – Nero Bali
146 Nina Nesbitt – Somebody Special
147 Serena – Safari
148 Amy Shark – I Said Hi
149 Jonas Blue ft. Liam Payne & Lennon Stella – Polaroid
150 Charli XCX – Girl’s Night Out

151 Janelle Monae – Americans
152 Jade Bird – Uh Huh
153 Ciara – Level Up
154 Dotter – Cry
155 Lauren Daigle – You Say
156 Reinada – All The Feels
157 Bebe Rexha – I’m A Mess
158 Selena Gomez – Back To You
159 Little Mix – The Cure
160 Lily Allen – Lost My Mind

161 Janelle Monae – Screwed
162 M-22 ft. Medina – First Time
163 Kacey Musgraves – Space Cowboy
164 Shawn Mendes – Where Were You In The Morning?
165 Janet Jackson ft. Daddy Yankee – Made For Now
166 Kelly Clarkson – Never Enough
167 Khalid & Normani – Love Lies
168 Little Mix – Forget You Not
169 Jess Glynne – I’ll Be There
170 M.O. ft. Lotto Boyz – Bad Vibe
171 Shanguy – La louze
172 One Bit ft. Noah Cyrus – My Way
173 Jax Jones ft. Ina Wrolsden – Breathe
174 Panic! At The Disco – Roaring 20s
175 Ricki-Lee – Unbothered
176 Aitana & Ana – Lo malo
177 Robinson – Nothing To Regret
178 Tamar Kaprelian – Poison (Ari, Ari)
179 Pojkarna ft. Flickan – Fangad av en stormvind
180 Lady Gaga – Look What I Found

181 BTS – Idol
182 Post Malone – Stay
183 Virtual Self – Ghost Voices
184 Years & Years – If You’re Over Me
185 Sigrid – Sucker Punch
186 Twenty One Pilots – Neon Gravestones
187 Rina Sawamaya – Cherry
188 Bradley Cooper – Maybe It’s Time
189 Marshmello ft. Anne-Marie – FRIENDS
190 Francesca Michielin – Lava

191 Ellie Goulding ft. Diplo & Swae Lee – Close To Me
192 Bebe Rexha – Ferrari
193 LOONA (Olivia Hye) – Egoist
194 Sofi Tukker – Batshit
195 Ziv Zaifman – A Million Dreams
196 Jennifer Lopez ft. DJ Khaled & Cardi B – Dinero
197 Benjamin Ingrosso – Dance You Off
198 Little Mix – Motivate
199 Jasmine Sandlas – Sip Sip
200 Lea Sirk – Hvala, ne!

Posted by: Dexton 5th February 2019, 01:01 PM

A fantastic Top 2! NTLTC is Ariana's crowning hit really, although not a worldwide #1 (but it was in Australia x) I imagine it being remembered a lot more than TUN or 7 Rings in future

Great to see High Hopes in the top 10 too!

Posted by: PeteFromLeeds 5th February 2019, 10:08 PM

Toy was an absolutely iconic winner *.* It's a really catchy song though and certainly very attention-grabbing! Jessica Mauboy's was alright I guess, I quite liked it but it wasn't anything spectacular really.
Nice to see Ghost so high as well, one of my favourite of your BJSC entries, the message is very important but I really like how the song builds musically as well!
And I'm not a massive Ariana fan but I didn't mind NTLTC and the weird speak-y bit after the main chorus certainly got stuck in my head. It was so unlucky to miss the #1 spot! (although she seems to be hitting it perfectly well now )

Thanks for putting this on, I've enjoyed following!

Posted by: Jay ☆ 6th February 2019, 02:57 AM

Yaas Ariana! An excellent choice of EOY#1

I remember finding my first listen of No Tears Left to Cry a bit... disorientating? It was nothing like I expected it to be, but another couple of plays and it completely clicked for me. A highlight of her career so far and certainly one of the best songs of 2018!

You've perfectly summarised Shallow, what a powerful song

Here are my other favourites from your Top 100:

03 Jessica Mauboy – We Got Love
04 Ava Max – Sweet But Psycho
07 Panic! At The Disco – High Hopes
08 Lady Gaga – I’ll Never Love Again
09 Netta – Toy
12 George Ezra – Paradise
14 Ariana Grande – God Is A Woman
15 MNEK ft. Hailee Steinfeld – Colour
16 Ariana Grande – Breathin’
17 Eleni Foureira - Fuego
19 George Ezra - Shotgun
20 Keala Settle – This Is Me
21 Janelle Monae – Make Me Feel
22 Ariana Grande – Thank U, Next
23 Halsey – Without Me
27 Charli XCX – Focus
29 Shawn Mendes – In My Blood
30 Childish Gambino – This Is America
32 Loren Allred – Never Enough
33 Carly Rae Jepsen – Party For One
34 Calvin Harris ft. Dua Lipa – One Kiss
36 Lady Gaga – Always Remember Us This Way
38 Mark Ronson ft. Miley Cyrus – Nothing Breaks Like A Heart
39 Shawn Mendes ft. Khalid - Youth
42 Louisa ft. 2Chainz – YES
44 Hayley Kiyoko – Curious
45 P!nk – A Million Dreams
47 Sigala, Ella Eyre & Meghan Trainor – Just Got Paid
49 Little Mix – Wasabi
56 Zara Larsson – Ruin My Life
57 Little Mix ft. Nicki Minaj – Woman Like Me
59 Saara Aalto – Domino
60 Shawn Mendes – Nervous
61 Lady Gaga – Is That Alright?
64 Demi Lovato – Sober
65 Kim Petras – Heart To Break
68 Little Mix ft. Sharaya J - Strip
69 Hailee Steinfeld – Capital Letters
70 Mabel ft. Not3s – Fine Line
73 Benny Blanco ft. Halsey - Eastside
74 Saara Aalto – Monsters
76 Liam Payne ft. J Balvin – Familiar
78 Silk City ft. Dua Lipa – Electricity
79 Tove Lo ft. Charli XCX, Elliphant, Icona Pop & Alma – Bitches
80 Camila Cabello – Never Be The Same
81 Clean Bandit ft. Demi Lovato – Solo
88 Lady Gaga – Why Did You Do That?
90 Billie Eilish – When The Party’s Over
92 Zedd ft. Maren Morris – The Middle
93 Dua Lipa ft. BLACKPINK – Kiss And Make Up
94 Ariana Grande – R.E.M.
96 Lil’ Dicky ft. Chris Brown – Freaky Friday
97 Charli XCX ft. Troye Sivan – 1999
98 The Chainsmokers – Sick Boy
100 MNEK – Tongue

You've reminded me that I've still not checked out Kacey Musgraves' album, I keep meaning to because I see so many good comments about Golden Hour!

Overall a fantastic EOY - the good taste jumped out! xx

Posted by: sergejdordij98 6th February 2019, 05:41 AM

Great to see "No Tears Left To Cry" and "Shallow" reach #1 and #2 in your Year-End List!
Fantastic EOY chart Liam!

Posted by: gooddelta 21st April 2019, 08:59 PM

Tune after tune as expected in this list Liam *.* My faves in the top 50:

01 Ariana Grande – No Tears Left To Cry Probably my favourite single of hers to date, must be the biggest mainstream pop melody in years, well until Sweet But Psycho at least!
02 Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper – Shallow Incredible track, so glad to see her career turn back around, she was just too talented to be racking up flop after flop
03 Jessica Mauboy – We Got Love Yassss. I despair at its position at Eurovision considering Isaiah was top ten for Aus
04 Ava Max – Sweet But Psycho
05 Kacey Musgraves – Slow Burn
07 Panic! At The Disco – High Hopes The intro to this song seems to soundtrack everything! Great to see them (well, Brendon) get their biggest hit so far into their career
08 Lady Gaga – I’ll Never Love Again
09 Netta – Toy
12 George Ezra – Paradise I've done such a turnaround on him with this era, this is so good
13 Kacey Musgraves – High Horse
14 Ariana Grande – God Is A Woman
15 MNEK ft. Hailee Steinfeld – Colour
16 Ariana Grande – Breathin’
17 Eleni Foureira - Fuego
19 George Ezra - Shotgun
20 Keala Settle – This Is Me
21 Janelle Monae – Make Me Feel
22 Ariana Grande – Thank U, Next
23 Halsey – Without Me
24 Carrie Underwood – The Bullet
25 Francesca Michielin – Tropicale
27 Charli XCX – Focus
28 Panic! At The Disco – Say Amen (Saturday Night)
29 Shawn Mendes – In My Blood
32 Loren Allred – Never Enough
33 Carly Rae Jepsen – Party For One
34 Calvin Harris ft. Dua Lipa – One Kiss
35 Carrie Underwood – Cry Pretty Yasss, another fan of this. Huge track, and for me Carrie's best in a while
36 Lady Gaga – Always Remember Us This Way
37 Kacey Musgraves – Oh What A World
38 Mark Ronson ft. Miley Cyrus – Nothing Breaks Like A Heart
39 Shawn Mendes ft. Khalid - Youth
40 Grandson – Thoughts & Prayers
41 Nina Nesbitt – Loyal To Me
43 Lucas & Steve ft. Brandy – I Could Be Wrong
45 P!nk – A Million Dreams
47 Sigala, Ella Eyre & Meghan Trainor – Just Got Paid
49 Little Mix – Wasabi
50 Eye Cue – Lost & Found Ha, I saw them at the London preview party the other day as a special guest, quite a catchy song though I never LOVED it