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BuzzJack Music Forum _ Countdowns and End of Year Charts _ Jupiter's EOY 2018

Posted by: M˙rtleSnow Dec 11 2018, 06:02 PM

I'm doing it guys! Even though I didn't finish my 2017 I swear I'll finish this one! Maybe I'll go for less commentary or something...

Anyway this will be done by PLAYS through the year, because I've been here 3 years and I still don't understand the points things. (If someone could explain to me or give a go, that would be fab! and I could maybe give that a spin for 2019!)

As we speak the top 2 are continually in flux and we'll be keeping tracking plays as we go through, so ultimately what they are when I finish might not be the same as when I start! All solid tracks though.

We have a nice diversity of genre this year and no huge dominance by any one act like we've had in previous years by Rihanna (2016) and Lana and Nicki (2017). Expect some representation from pop, latin, country, dance, metal, r&b, rap, pop rock, rock, and of course a few BJSC discoveries wink.gif The vast majority of my #1s through the year will be charting, and I think just about everything in the top 100 charted at some point during 2018, which isn't always the case. (on my personals that is - this year I veered WILDLY away from what's generally been popular in the official charts in the UK and around the world). To date this year only 2 UK #1s have been chart toppers for me, and tho I've charted 9 of the 15, only 6 of those have been even top 20 for me. Diversity!

Right, I will start this proper in a few days or maybe a week to give everything just a little more time to build up steam, and because I'm torn between discomfort starting this before the year ends, and no-one reading it because it's horribly out of date and no fun if I do it in 2019 :')

In the meantime, feel free to predict or guess what artists might be charting! Or have a chat with me biggrin.gif

Posted by: PeteLeftLeeds Dec 11 2018, 06:07 PM

Yeah I had the discomfort of finishing my EOY in March last year and no-one commented until about a week after when I'd put a link to it in my weekly chart tongue.gif

Looking forward to seeing what's here anyway and hopefully making some discoveries!

(I don't think there's a set-in-stone points system, for your chart I guess it would be 40 points for your #1 and 1 point for your #40 but I found that gives some horribly inaccurate results because some parts of the year were really active/really dull so I tweaked quite a bit of it!)

Posted by: sergejdordij98 Dec 11 2018, 07:22 PM

Really excited for it!

Posted by: SantaDalek32 Dec 12 2018, 12:22 PM

Looking forward to this

Posted by: UltraReputation Dec 14 2018, 11:27 PM

Hyped for this <3 Haha I'm in the same situation of not finishing 2017 so let's both try & get through it this year laugh.gif kink.gif

Hopefully Lana will turn up with Mariners here as she dominated 2017 <3

Posted by: M˙rtleSnow Dec 15 2018, 07:07 PM

Thanks guys!

To start us off I will actually list the top 100 of 2017!

I debated going back to finish it now but I'm not really in the space any more to even have anything to say about half of the songs, it's too long ago :')
To be fair to me the main reason I didn't finish it was being hospitalised for a big chunk of last January. Talk about a momentum killer. Hopefully that won't happen this year!

2017
http://www.buzzjack.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=208435

01 DJ Khaled/Rihanna - Wild Thoughts
02 Gaga - The Cure
03 Garrix/Lipa - Scared to be Lonely
04 Jason/Nicki - Swalla
05 Chainsmokers/Jhene - Wake Up Alone
06 DuaLipa - Be the One
07 Syn Cole/Nevve - Sway
08 KP - Chained to the Rhythm
09 LanaDelRey/Wknd - Lust for Life
10 Katy/Migos - Bon Appetit

11 Inna/Erik - Ruleta
12 Inna - Gimme Gimme
13 XX - Seasons Run
14 LM/Stormzy - Power
15 Paperwhite - Only Us
16 Era/Felix Snow - Redrum
17 Calvin/Migos/FrankO - Slide
18 Jhene Aiko - OLLA
19 Halsey/LaurenJ - Strangers
20 Garrix/Troye - There for You

21 LittleBigTown - Don't Die Young
22 Jax/Demi/Stefflon - Instruction
23 Smltwn/Lisa - Erased the Night
24 Young Summer - Alright
25 Guetta/Nicki - Light My Body Up
26 Blackpink - Playing with Fire
27 Grace/Yachty/Cassidy - Honor
28 Cashmere/Jhene - Plz Don't Go
29 Sophie EllisB - Wild Forever
30 Infernal - Hurricane

31 Lorde - Green Light
32 FOB - Young and Menace
33 Nicki/Wayne/Drake - No Frauds
34 CleanBandit/Zara - Symphony
35 Katy/Nicki - Swish Swish
36 Haim - Little of your Love
37 LonGram - Rooting for You
38 LanaDelRey - Coachella
39 CharmingHorses/GraceGrundy - You Get What You Give
40 Una Healy - Battlelines

41 Sigrid - Plot Twist
42 Rita Ora - Anywhere
43 Tinashe - Flame
44 Whethan/XCX - Love Gang
45 Blackpink - As If It's Your Last
46 TOLD - Return Forever
47 Luis Fonsi - Despacito (original)
48 MuraMasa/XCX - 1 Night
49 Emily Zeck - Two Cents
50 LM - No More Sad Songs

51 YoGotti/Nicki - Rake It Up
52 XX - Dangerous
53 TN&F - Last Forever
54 Shura - What Happened To Us?
55 Dua Lipa/Wale/Lazer - My Love
56 Jhene Aiko - While We're Young
57 Dulsae/Elsa&Emelie - Chains of Promises
58 G-Eazy/Bebe - FFF
59 Youngr - Monsters
60 LOLO - Shine

61 XCX/Uffie - Babygirl
62 MisterWives - Coloring outside the lines
63 M0 - Nights With You
64 BearsDen - Broken Parable
65 Sage Gem - Reverse
66 Sia - Move Your Body
67 Lana Del Rey - Groupie Love
68 Joseph&Maia - Pouring Light
69 Brooke Candy - Volcano
70 Lorde - Sober

71 Deaf Havana - St Paul's
72 LM - Touch
73 Sage Gem - Now and Later
74 Nelly Furt - Paris Sun
75 Carly Rae - Cut to the Feeling
76 Nelly Furt - Magic
77 Smallpools - Million Bucks
78 Alt-J - 3WW
79 Dej Loaf - No Fear
80 St Clair - Heavy on my Heart

81 Pink - What About Us
82 Weeknd - I Feel it Coming
83 Marian Hill - Wild
84 Little Big Town - Lost in California
85 Lana Del Rey/Stevie Nicks - BPBP
86 Stefflon Don/French Montana - Hurtin Me
87 Blanche - City Lights
88 Lana Del Rey - Cherry
89 The Naked & Famous - Higher
90 2NE1 - Goodbye

91 Miniature Tigers - Crying in the Sunshine
92 Ed Sheeran - Castle on the Hill
93 VERITE - Saint
94 Rachel K Collier - Ships
95 Lil Debbie - Work With That
96 Goldfrapp - Anymore
97 Francesco Gabbani - Occidentali's Karma
98 London Grammar - Wild Eyed
99 Lana Del Rey - Love
100 Yungen/Yxng Bane - Bestie

A quick look at this list reveals we will be seeing at least 25 of the above artists in 2018's countdown, and some big gaps from none of the above releasing anything this year, most notably last year's leader, Rihanna!

Countdown looking to start perhaps sometime during this week biggrin.gif

Posted by: PeteLeftLeeds Dec 15 2018, 07:12 PM

Lots of mainstream tracks in your 2017 Top 10, from what you've said we probably won't get a repeat of that this year ohmy.gif

Nice to see Hurricane there, I think that was my favourite from the mini-revival of Infernal last year! A solid dance tune.

Posted by: M˙rtleSnow Dec 18 2018, 07:39 PM

QUOTE(PeteLeftLeeds @ Dec 15 2018, 07:12 PM) *
Lots of mainstream tracks in your 2017 Top 10, from what you've said we probably won't get a repeat of that this year ohmy.gif

Nice to see Hurricane there, I think that was my favourite from the mini-revival of Infernal last year! A solid dance tune.


Weeellll there will be some, but not as mainstream as an official UK #1 at the top of the tree!

Posted by: M˙rtleSnow Dec 27 2018, 05:48 PM

Okay folks, time to start! Slight delay as I've had a main internet detox for the last few days. Back in the saddle now though.

In terms of appearances, this year's leaders will be two sets of collaborators interestingly enough; Sean Paul, Jhene Aiko, Nicki Minaj and Ariana Grande have landed three appearances each on 2018's countdown.

As I'm a little late, I'll be dropping the first 10 songs all at once in this first set!

Posted by: M˙rtleSnow Dec 27 2018, 06:27 PM

100) BROOKE CANDY, MYKKI BLANCO, PUSSY RIOT + MNDR - MY SEX



2018 peak: #6

Starting off with a bang! Brooke Candy dropped her rap-pop persona this year to fall into electroclash and riot grrl, suggesting she might be moving to follow the path of another of my fave queer party starter artists, Peaches! Brooke continues her run of appearing in my top 100s by the skin of her teeth, landing her fourth in a row this year despite releasing hardly anything every year. An EP might be coming in 2019 though, and she's just leaked a load of her own songs too. Azealia who?? A fun list of collaborators here too show her learning from previous collab pal and BuzzJack fave Charli XCX.

99) ALT-J, MR JUKES, THE AGE OF LUNA - PLEADER (REMIX)



2018 peak: #31

A low-peaker that picked up solid plays through the year returns Alt-J here for a second year running, although not reaching the heights of their very successful 2014 and 15. The remix album wasn't unfortunately as solid throughout as this cut from it. More leftfield collabs like Hunger of the Pine (ft. Miley Cyrus) in 2019 please guys!

98) G-EAZY, ANNA OF THE NORTH - PICK ME UP



2018 peak: #3

On the flip, this was a great leftfield collab. G-Eazy had a very strong 2018 in general, landing three more top ten hits off the back of the Cardi B-starring No Limit released at the tail end of 2017. Anna of the North contributes a catchy chorus hook here very unlike her previous work, but more along these lines would be welcome! Since around 2016 she's been on my radar, but until now I'd struggled to really gel with any of her work. This was a great find from G-Eazy's (very solid) latest album.

97) DEAF HAVANA - SINNER



2018 peak: #3

With pure alt rock Deaf Havana got me right on board in 2017, but I had thought for a band with moderate but not much better success nearing a decade in the industry, they might not go on to release anything much else. Could I have been more wrong? 2018 saw the group immediately follow-up 2017's album with a new one released this summer, which has landed several tracks in this top 100. I was sure on first hear of this one it might be their first #1 for me - infectious energy - but unfortunately at the time it was blocked by a few big hitters. Nevertheless, they managed one this year - which is still to come a bit higher up!

96) JORJA SMITH - BLUE LIGHTS



2018 peak: #5

Former BJSC hit (apparently, before my time) which saw a re-release this year, giving Jorja by far her highest charter on my personals. Once again, she got a pity chart in early 2018 following her Sound Of win, but I had thought after that she'd sink like a stone before coming out with this classic. Her album was surprisingly solid too although a little melancholic for my tastes. Eager to see what she brings us in 2019, though.

95) PALOMA FAITH - KINGS AND QUEENS



2018 peak: #2

I didn't expect to see Paloma Faith having a successful 2018 for me at the end of last year, knowing that she takes long album cycles. The singles released before her latest album The Architect made little to no impact on my charts, so I was resigning her mentally to having lost the plot a bit this year, but the album had some hidden gems! Kings and Queens was the first standout track to me on first listenthrough of the album and actually challenged for the top spot this spring. Paloma followed upthrough the year with a chart topper anyway (still to come) and two further top tens (which aren't), with possibly another, Final Breath, threatening to crack my top ten this week. Definitely one to check out even if you didn't like the singles!

94) SMALLPOOLS - STUMBLIN HOME



2018 peak: #13

A surprise two years running appearance for indie boys Smallpools who started me off on BJSC just a little before this time last year, as follow-up Stumblin Home was a moderate hit with me this year. A version of this featuring The Aces was also sent for me to BJSC - but I do prefer, and am used to, the solo!

93) SAY LOU LOU - GOLDEN CHILD



2018 peak: #24

The girls are back! And with quite a lowkey return. SLL's first album was pitch-perfect dream pop and nearly every track from it was a hit on my personals, but they've stepped back a bit since then. After several years of radio silence and sporadic covers, they dropped short album (EP?) Immortelle this October, and it's...definitely different. They've gone for a HAIM-ish retro/soundtracky sound this time round, which is different but not bad. This one has a spooky vibe that gives it good replayability. Also on the album you'll find both pop rock and trip-hop. Check it out! This was another long-runner, pinballing between #40 and its peak of #24 for around seven or eight weeks without making it any higher.

92) J BALVIN, NICKY JAM - X (SPANGLISH VERSION)



2018 peak: #10

First slice of Latinx music this year with the addictive X by J Balvin and Nicky Jam. I can't recall whether this was a hit in the UK or not, but it definitely got good music channel rotation, I used to always see it on at my previous job. Expect to see Balvin again a bit higher up with everyone's favourite flavour of the month rapper Cardi B!

91) MGMT - WHEN YOU DIE



2018 peak: #1

And finally for these first ten, our first #1 of 2018 (that made it in to the countdown) drops out. (If you're interested, those that didn't make it are the current holder - Nicki and Lil Wayne's Good Form, Nicki again with Majesty, Inna's Nirvana, Eminem's River, Simian Ghost's Eat the Rich, and if something else takes the final #1 of the year! In any case, this was a welcome return for MGMT and was a minor hit on my 2017 charts that rose slowly over ten weeks of growing on me into the top ten, top 5, and finally to taking the #1 spot. As many of its plays were accrued in 2017, they've been discounted, which is why such a long-runner only manages this low. 2019 might be prime time to revisit the album for any more gems!

Posted by: SantaDalek32 Dec 27 2018, 08:30 PM

Love Blue Lights

Posted by: Riser Dec 28 2018, 02:56 PM

Oh I didn't actually realize 'Stumblin' Home' was originally just a Smallpools song! I'll give that version a listen, and will check out 'Pick Me Up' too as a G-Eazy and Anna Of The North collab sounds randomly intriguing ohmy.gif

Posted by: Petivity Dec 28 2018, 06:02 PM

Was great to see Blue Lights in the chart, a one-of-a-kind song I think! Stumblin' Home is the only other one I think I've heard and it's nice enough but not something I go back to really.

Posted by: dobbo Dec 29 2018, 05:28 PM

X was not a hit in the UK, but you'd certainly not believe it if you ever went out regularly in London like myself - I don't think it's physically possible to avoid hearing it!

I like the production on Blue Lights but not the vocals sadly.

Posted by: M˙rtleSnow Dec 29 2018, 05:48 PM

So many comments guys! Ah great thoughts biggrin.gif can't believe X wasn't a UK hit either! The public have no taste...

More incoming shortly!

Posted by: dobbo Dec 29 2018, 05:52 PM

I stand corrected, turned out it just scraped the top 75!

Posted by: M˙rtleSnow Dec 29 2018, 06:53 PM

90) ANNE-MARIE - 2002



2018 peak: #15

A nice return for Anne-Marie who has been once again - though still not that convincingly - challenging for main pop girl status in 2018, at least by UK standards. This was a cute wee bop that was unlucky in my personals, landing between 15 and 20 for six weeks running, but unable to progress beyond that. I still don't really *get* Anne-Marie, but she's not bad. I will eat my words - I was deeply critical of this before it came out, but it's cute and inoffensive and I'm not bothered by it. At least it's an Ed co-write and not a feature!

89) ARIANA GRANDE - BREATHIN



2018 peak: #5

The second of our frequent appearers makes her first appearance now following Deaf Havana's in the last batch. Breathin was a solid third single from Ari's fourth album which she's already quickly moved on from into a new era coming in 2019, but also easily my least favourite of those three singles. Predictably, the other two are still to come, but will be a LOT higher up.

88) THE SHIRES - ACCIDENTALLY ON PURPOSE



2018 peak: #9

Our first foray into country pop now at #88, for one of just a few times this year. The Shires are a UK duo, still quite a small niche in the UK country music, but growing every year it seems.

87) SOPHIE - IT'S OKAY TO CRY



2018 peak: #7

Didn't come across SOPHIE properly until this year though I knew OF her, it was my impression she was solely a producer and didn't do her own stuff. This was a fab discovery, dark and light at once, a shimmery sad song that could be Robyn if she was going for a vocoder sound this time round. More like this in 2019, please!

86) LYKKE LI, AMINE - TWO NIGHTS



2018 peak: #21

Actually Ms Li's lowest peaking track for me this year is the one that makes it highest into the countdown thanks to continual small plays. Lykke charted also Deep End and Jaguars in the Air this year from her unexpectedly trap (!) 4th studio album as a solo artist. The swedish songstress has a long history on my personals, being on my radar more than a decade now, from her first EPs. Nothing from this era made it beyond top 20, but in the past she had a run of 5 top 10 singles between 2010 and 2012 culminating in a #1 with I Follow Rivers (The Magician Remix). Still a fave, anyone know it?

85) BIRTHDAY BOY, TRISH - MAGIC



2018 peak: #7

Lounge music made a big comeback for me in 2018 (and into 2019 too, I think), and this is the first of its genre to drop in this countdown. Both Birthday Boy and Trish are relative unknowns to me, although they've since charted another collab for me (Golden Medal) and have a full collaborative EP out, on spotify and youtube too.

84) WEEZER - AFRICA



2018 peak: #2

This was a fun bop. Who doesn't like Africa, and it's always nice when a band does what their fans want of them!

83) M0, DIPLO - SUN IN OUR EYES



2018 peak: #3

M0 returns with this to the top 3 after a rollercoaster few years that saw her reach the top spot with Lean On, go pop, release a string of non-album singles and leftfield collaborations, and finally return with a second album several years too late to capitalise on her brief moment in the sun as a pop girl. Oh well. This was still a solid track though and a cute video even despite her awful Ellen Degeneres circa 1999 hair!

82) CARLY RAE JEPSEN - PARTY FOR ONE



2018 peak: #1

Carly's welcome return and first chart topper for me is next to drop. The video gets you hooked on this song at first - before its own hooks complete the sell. As a late in the year release this does well to get this high - testament to the power of Carly Slay. Get her a sword!

81) SEAN PAUL, JHENE AIKO - NAKED TRUTH



2018 peak: #4

First dropper now for both Sean Paul and Jhene Aiko, the third-last and second-last of my top artists to appear this year and lose one of their three entries in this year's 100. (Predictably for this stage, it's Nicki Minaj that still has all three of her three appearances to come). One of the highlights of Sean Paul's 2018 EP, Jhene contributes a solid hook and chorus to this collab which is a bit of a slow jam by Sean Paul's standards, with a slinky and self-assured beat. This seems to - yeah, really late now - be getting a push as a single now, but it's already well been and gone on my personals. Solid from both though, and is Jhene's second-highest peaking song of 2018.

Posted by: Petivity Jan 1 2019, 11:19 AM

Giving Magic a listen - definitely sounds like a grower, liking the chilled vibes! Accidentally on Purpose is sounding really nice as well, haven't heard much Shires this year ohmy.gif

Posted by: M˙rtleSnow Jan 4 2019, 08:14 PM

80) SABRINA CARPENTER - ALMOST LOVE



2018 peak: #12

A frequent player for Sabrina starts off this batch. The young singer launched a nice comeback this year following her acoustic era that debuted her on my charts with a #1 and nothing else, diversifying into both dance songs - like this one - and retro throwback pop towards the end of the year. Her other dance collab this year, Alien, will be appearing too a little further up. Intrigued to see if she makes the transition to pop princess in 2019.

79) AVICII, ALUNAGEORGE - WHAT WOULD I CHANGE IT TO



2018 peak: #10

To date this is unfortunately the young tragically passing DJ's swan song entry, peaking within my top ten following his death and finding more poetic space with the mellow and somewhat fatalistic lyrics. This also picked up plays towards the end of the year, sounding better in the mellow and reflective winter months of this year. AlunaGeorge make their first appearance since topping 2016's list.

78) FEMME EN FOURRURE - SEER



2018 peak: #2

A wonderful find late in the year from my BJSC entry from last Spring. That entry will be appearing too here, higher up. No promises I won't self-recycle this for BJSC at some point!

77) CARDI B, BAD BUNNY, J BALVIN - I LIKE IT



2018 peak: #1

J Balvin's second appearance and our first appearance for a female rapper this year. Much as I'm neutral to Cardi personally (gosh, she seems like such an awful person sometimes, and the defenses of her as if she was a troubled teen, not a mid twenties divorced millionaire mother are just really fatiguing) this was a grade A bop and such a summery hit. If she can throw out more tracks like this and less shoes and shade, she might win me over right into her camp yet. If.

76) RITA ORA - LET YOU LOVE ME



2018 peak: #3

The hit Rita needed to redeem the controversial 'Girls' from earlier this year makes it all the way to here despite being a late in year release. Rita has most definitely won me over and her finally-released 6 years on 2nd album was a solid pop effort, cementing her as one of my pop faves tbh. It's one of two top 5s she landed for me this year, the other - For You, with Liam Payne - just misses out landing in the top 100 after a strong start in the Spring.

75) PRIDES - ON OUR OWN



2018 peak: #5

The Scottish duo - formerly trio - got their highest peaking track this year after racking up a string of top 20s and 40s since their chart debut, is it five years ago now? Would love to see them getting a mainstream or indie hit single in 2019, they deserve it with their solid releases so far.

74) KREWELLA, VAVA, YELLOW CLAW - NEW WORLD



2018 peak: #3

Another BJSC act of mine lands here alongside the first of two tracks for Krewella. The producer-singer duo made an unexpected chart comeback four years on from their previous peak (Enjoy the Ride - a solid gym song) and having released plenty songs I was tbh underwhelmed by in the interim. Vava's BJSC entry fell just short of the top 100 this year. The girls have yet to come a #1.

73) DJ KOZE - PICK UP



2018 peak: #10

Another BJSC one - and not one of mine! The divisive track by DJ Koze quickly became a fave for me in its contest and beyond, despite its odd video.

72) GOLDFRAPP, DAVE GAHAN - OCEAN



2018 peak: #22

This remake of Ocean was a slow burner on my charts and picked up a late surge towards the end of the year. Gahan brings something more to the track than Alison's original IG solo version released back in 2017. Purity Ring vibes tbh.

71) AZEALIA BANKS - TREASURE ISLAND



2018 peak: #6

And it's another lady rap song. Azealia had such strong output this year, including the zany Christmas EP she dropped without warning in December which has her actually singing standards! I know. She's still an interesting character personally, but she does make good points mental health and gender wise that many of the things she gets slammed for are things that people turn - or turned - a blind eye to coming from Kanye or Eminem in his heyday. In any case, she's hella talented and makes great music, which has been the case since her debut to now. I still support that, at least.

Posted by: Riser Jan 5 2019, 05:15 AM

'Almost Love' was not quite as amazing as 'Thumbs' or 'Why' IMO but still catchy and one I came back to a lot. People really do need to stop overlooking Sabrina though, she's a talent for sure!

Posted by: LewisGT Jan 7 2019, 03:31 PM

Breathin is my far my favourite of your countdown so far wub.gif It's a huge contender for my #1 song of the year.

I do quite like Blue Lights but it never quite hit me in the same way that Let Me Down did.

You have reminded me that I still need to listen to Weezer's Africa cover. I keep forgetting to do so. :lol

Posted by: M˙rtleSnow Jan 12 2019, 02:03 AM

70) ANTONIA - HOTEL LOUNGE



2018 peak: #3

This section kicks off with a BJSC-er from earlier in the year for me, the Romanian Antonia! She seems to be pushing for an Era Istrefi type career with big visuals. Her entry for me, Tango, is still to come; this one was a fab discovery too if a little more basic.

69) RAE SREMMURD, JUICY J - POWERGLIDE



2018 peak: #1

One of two #1s for the produer-rapper duo this year. This is a very pop crossover R&B tune, probably the biggest crossover on their album SR3MM. I've been a lowkey fan since https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwrY0D2ACNk (5 years ago now??? wtf), still rising stars imo.

68) BLAKEY - FUTURE SKIES



2018 peak: #13

A nice discovery through collaborator JONES who I've been a fan of for some years now. One to watch in 2019. One of the few solo males to really jam with me this year. Fans of Bright Light Bright Light or Lostboycrow might enjoy this.

67) PINK - SECRETS



2018 peak: #4

The first of two for Pink in this countdown and indeed in this section. Released as a while-touring single it didn't do much on the charts anywhere in the world but returned her to my top 5, the 4th such track from her latest album.

66) MY INDIGO - MY INDIGO



2018 peak: #5

Another solid BJSC discovery from one of my favourite nations AND a metal singer branching out into an indietronica solo project. 100% up my street.

65) TAYLOR SWIFT, ED SHEERAN, FUTURE - END GAME



2018 peak: #9

An unusual flop by the standards of the names involved here worldwide, just another step in the weird era that was Reputation for Taylor. This is very replayable though. Her third (and to date, final) top ten single from the era for me, following LWYMMD (also #9) and #1 Call It What You Want.

64) THOM YORKE - SUSPIRIUM



2018 peak: #3

Absolutely gorgeous track from the soundtrack and theatrical version of the remake to one of my favourite ever films, Suspiria! Gutted I wasn't able to see it while it was in cinemas due to a chest infection last autumn, but I can't wait for the DVD/streaming release. The whole soundtrack is well worth checking out; perfectly witchy and ethereal.

63) PINK - BETTER LIFE



2018 peak: #1

And our second slice of Pink now; possibly her last charter from the era, the eighth track to date for me to chart from Beautiful Trauma. After playing a few of the album's ballads through autumn and early winter I realised I'd slept on this one and its positive, upbeat vibe was very energizing after my illness and as a hopeful look to 2019. It's a slightly leftfield step for Pink too with a slight oldschool R&B vibe, really nice to see a wee branch out at this stage of her career.

62) KREWELLA - BAD LIAR



2018 peak: #1

Another #1; and the second track for Krewella in this year's countdown, the female DJ duo really came back with a bang in 2018 and coming into 2019 too. The great slightly throwback dub inspired drop really makes this song and helped it stand out among the even-further-throwback dance which dominated at least dance pop this year.

61) CHARLI XCX - FOCUS



2018 peak: #1

And finally for this section, it's Charli baby with her first #1 for me since starting her career. This was an absolutely perfect cross of pop and her now-signature PC music style and an instant hit for me. Very catchy. All I want from her now in 2019 is another Carly Rae collab, deliver pls queen! Next section coming this weekend too maybe, please comment if you have thoughts! biggrin.gif

Posted by: M˙rtleSnow Jan 26 2019, 04:08 PM

60) CHRISTINE AND THE QUEENS - GIRLFRIEND



2018 peak: #7

First up of this section we have the highest charter ever for Christine and the Queens, beating both Tilted and 'before-she-was-famous' charter https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNvEO-0HRUU from 2013. Christine's androgynous look and disco-influenced sound this era were big ups for me and much more appealing than her previous sound. This was unlucky to release in a week with many other big hitters, only peaking at #7 - but passes several #1s to get to here in the year-end. Quelle video magnifique aussi!

59) MAJOR LAZER, TOVE LO - BLOW THAT SMOKE



2018 peak: #1

Major Lazer and Tove Lo both return with a bang after a fairly quiet (Bitches aside) 2018! This was an instant hit and guaranteed #1 for me from first hearing it, and I'm shocked at how - with an EP in between - it seems to carry on the sound of Major Lazer's 2017 My Love featuring Dua Lipa! Would love to hear Tove on more like this.

58) DEAF HAVANA - SAVIOUR



2018 peak: #4

The second of Deaf Havana's three rock tracks next. Despite the biblical-esque titles, I'm assured that Deaf Havana are actually NOT a Christian rock band - must just be me projecting :') Once again this is a track that I can definitely see being an official top 10 hit were it released 15 or 20 years ago when rock and alt were still in vogue with the wider public.

57) JHENE AIKO, BRANDY - ASCENSION



2018 peak: #5

The first of Jhene's tracks as lead to drop is next, also giving Brandy her first year-end appearance. The gorgeous mainly acoustic track is a nice turn for Jhene from her usual moody, and sometimes braggy R&B, and fits neatly on her LSD-inspired Trip concept album.

56) LANA DEL REY, A$AP ROCKY, PLAYBOI CARTI - SUMMER BUMMER



2018 peak: #7

First 2017 release to chart as Summer Bummer did much better for me through 2018, given a full year to build up steam. Despite the title this one sounds much better in the colder months of the year when you don't want to just be listening to party music - or in my case, depressing ballads which I'm a sucker for in the sun. Lana's actual 2018 release, Mariners Apartment Complex, is yet to come.

55) NICKI MINAJ - CHUN-LI



2018 peak: #1

Nicki becomes the last prolific artist this year to drop a track, her lowest in here at #55. Chun-Li was what she needed at the time and blows co-release Barbie Tingz out of the park, but I'm not sure it'll stand the test of time in her discography. If only she'd released the sublime Good Form as lead!

54) LILY ALLEN - HIGHER



2018 peak: #2

Lily's last album was a little disappointing but this was a head and shoulders above many of the tracks highlight. Lily dips a toe in the chill dance genre with this lowkey midtempo track with ballad elements, as well as pitching her singing into a much higher key than she usually performs. The result is a great original sound for her which still feels firmly Lily Allen. I'm a sucker for when artists experiment and it works. This was a shade off #1 in my personals this year.

53) CHEAT CODES, KIIARA - PUT ME BACK TOGETHER



2018 peak: #7

What a bop this was. If Kiiara does more of this kind of pop crossover thing in 2019 her star will definitely rise. A Halsey-like career path is there if she just takes the right steps down it!

52) JHENE AIKO, RAE SREMMURD - SATIVA



2018 peak: #1

Jhene's last appearance this year follows hot on the heels of her first and like it, misses top 50. Bit of a change after her sweep last year. This proved to be a slow burner, released as a single which buffed it to #1 on my personals. It's a solid R&B male-female vocal song with Aiko's typical asian influence and ethereal rainy synths, but for me, it's not my favourite of her work beyond that.

51) FOUR OF DIAMONDS, SAWEETIE - STUPID THINGS



2018 peak: #2

And finally for this section a completely unexpected hit from ex-X Factor girlband Four of Diamonds. I was vocally critical of them during their time on the show - and tbh, I stick to my guns on that, they were clearly unwanted, put in awful outfits, and given horrible song choices and arrangements. With that backdrop I was very surprised to see them signed...but really, they're not bad. This is the clear best of their three singles put out so far and a really catchy track that proved a surprise hit on my personals this summer. It just misses top 50, which is nonetheless very impressive, lapping several #1s through the year. Needless to say this is the girls' - and feature Saweetie's first year-end entry for me.

Top 50 next...

Posted by: DalekTurret32 Jan 27 2019, 07:32 PM

Glad to see Suspirium on this list. Spine-chilling song

Posted by: PeteFromLeeds Jan 29 2019, 10:05 PM

I don't think I've heard that Cheat Codes song! I'm giving a listen now, the drop is pretty nice but it is blending into a few of the other songs of the last few years sadly sad.gif Giving the Four of Diamonds one a listen now though and that I am liking!

Posted by: M˙rtleSnow Feb 6 2019, 12:04 PM

Thanks for your comments folks! Into the top 50 we go...

50) GRLZ (LIL DEBBIE + KIM LEE) - MONEY DANCE



2018 peak: #1

It's Lil Debbie! (and some other girl in the background...just like Debbie herself when she https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WJFjXtHcy4) It's a trashy rap/club song which I'm an absolute sucker for. Not to everyone's taste but totally up my alley. Also Debbie's highest peaking track for me following up a string of top 10s this year.

49) INNA, RENGLE - ME GUSTA (REMIX)



2018 peak: #5

A nice standalone from Inna is one of two she lands in this section. The original song is pretty good too with a different video, great fashion serves and a much more lowkey glitchout drop, but this brings some exciting spanish flavour and imo is much more summery - where it picked up the bulk of its plays. Also one ofthe few tracks on this list my mother likes :')

48) LP - GIRLS GO WILD



2018 peak: #1

I'll confess to forgetting I didn't myself send this to BJSC. What a bop from LP, who I've actually met in the past (nice lady, crazy crazy fans). A chart topper for me before it went to BJSC and then landed my top points again there. Her current EP is also fab - enjoying Shaken from it right now.

47) FALL OUT BOY, RM OF BTS - CHAMPION (REMIX)



2018 peak: #5

The added rap transformed the original Champion similarly to other tunes on the remix album that first got me into FOB.This one was a slow burner for me, entering in he 30s and then dropping out before resurging after a six week gap to end up in the top 10. RM (BTS) really breathes some life (with great English too) into the track and I'm a sucker for rock + rap sounds.

46) CHVRCHES, MATT BERNINGER OF THE NATIONAL - MY ENEMY



2018 peak: #3

This would have been SUCH a hit for me in 2014 when I was an absolutely huge The National fan and just getting into CHVRCHES. This year it's a bit more muted and a slow burner. The Scots have had a lot of hits both on my weekly chart and year-end personals, and this is one of two they've landed this year from last year's album Love is Dead.

45) DEAF HAVANA - RITUAL



2018 peak: #1

From death to Deaf the rockband land their last entry this year here just before we hit top 40 zone. Their first #1 for me is a real classic stadium anthem that once again would have been a huge mainstream hit circa 2004-6. Nowadays, destined to languish in obscurity. Please share if you like, love to see theseguys go on to do well!

44) ROBYN - HONEY



2018 peak: #1

Robyn returned this year! And served us a gloriouslate night club track with heavy sexy synth and disco elements. This became only her 4th chart topper for me following the one-two punch of Dancing on My Own and Hang With Me, and older track Be Mine! Nevertheless she's one of my favourite artists and a style icon, and has landed a string of hits over the last decade. Here's hoping she sticks around and goes for another era instead of swan songing here.

43) INNA - TROPICAL



2018 peak: #1

Another #1 for Inna, this time just as summer was coming last year. I feel like I may have flown last year while listening to this, it reminds me vaguely of being up in the air. Anyway this sees our star playing with puns and language with a cute and sunny video, fab.

42) RAINSFORD, TWIN SHADOW - INTENTIONS



2018 peak: #2

To close off this section, two of my own BJSC entries - we've got one yet to come a bit higher up, in the top 20 I think! As recently ranked, this is my 12th favourite out of my own 15 entries, so...it's not bad, but I might have gone off it a bit since I sent it. Unfortunately this was a DNQ for me breaking my streak and getting really hardly any points at all despite its cute genderbending video. Ah, plus ca change :')

41) ANTONIA - TANGO



2018 peak: #4

And from that to this, my 5th favourite of my own entries. Again Antonia makes an appearance following the lower Hotel Lounge. This serves gorgeous visuals, dancing, an on trend beat and drop and unusual musical structure, so of course it was a total flop not even breaking top 30 :') Still a bop tho despite what all y'all haters think tongue.gif

One more BJSC to come from me, any guesses what it might be?

Posted by: Pėpé Le Pew Mar 3 2019, 12:48 AM

40) HAIM - YOU NEVER KNEW



2018 peak: #1

HAIM's only #1 this year lands kicking off the top 40, but it's actually not the ladies' highest - they have a slow burner yet to come in (I think) the next section. Thsi is a lovely track for lazy days and manages some 90s and even some 70s influence with that guitar drawl. Would've made a great official single imo.

39) CALVIN HARRIS, SAM SMITH - PROMISES



2018 peak: #1

Calvin's highest of the year for me peak wise, outpeaking One Kiss, but not overcoming its plays lead, it's still to come. I think this just might be my favourite thing Sam Smith's recorded and it's cute to see him finally embracing being a gay popstar. Or, as he'd probably put it, The First gay popstar :')

38) PALOMA FAITH - TIL I'M DONE



2018 peak: #1

I was so unsure of this at first as it isn't AT ALL what I come to Paloma's music for, but the infectious disco bop proved ultimately a hit with me becoming Paloma's second chart topper for me and first in six years. The versatility jumped out. It's nice to see Paloma doing well and making hay for herself while Adele's sun is set - she's definitely managed to capitalize on that gap better than some other faves in her lane like the unfortunate Emeli Sande! (and the less said about the likes of Jessie J, the better!)

37) THE MIDNIGHT - LOST BOY



2018 peak: #1

The Midnight added a #1 to their collection this year. Look out for this in my #1s playlist which I'm currently putting together on spotify as a snapshot both of me and some good tunes over the last few years. If you're an explorey and discovery sort you might have a good time.

36) A$AP FERG, NICKI MINAJ - PLAIN JANE REMIX



2018 peak: #8

Second Nicki here sees her team up with A$AP Ferg for a solid remix that gives her actually the lion's share of the track including her own chorus. Nicki's wordplay and delivery here is one of the best of the year and cements her easily uncontested status as the queen of rap - lyricism and swagger based, anyway. Of course by daring to be over 35 and not retired, that's not good enough for the music industry and they've decided to throw their weight behind a pretty, social media popular, mimer instead, and change all the rules to support this choice. Talent wins out though so we'll see how that pans out down the line. Nice to have Ferg back up this high as well, it's his first placing back in a year-end chart of mine since HAIM collab My Song 5 back in 2014, gosh, so long ago!

35) LANA DEL REY - MARINERS APARTMENT COMPLEX



2018 peak: #1

A beautiful comeback from Lana saw her embrace a more indie-acosutic sound than some of her high concept orchestral and trip-hip-hop tracks. It's yet another hat she can wear effortlessly and became her 12th #1 on my personals, extending her lead above all other artists. If released earlier in the year this could easily have ended up at the top. Lana continues to chart older songs in my extended top 500 of the year (not posted on Buzzjack) and remains year on year my outright favourite artist. Can't wait for the new album to drop.

34) WHINNIE WILLIAMS - WHAT ABOUT ME



2018 peak: #5

Gorgeous track from the equally goregous indie artiste Whinnie. I've debated a lot of times sending this to BJSC and at some point I probably will. Keep an eye out. So low video views too for such a gorgeous retro inspired and stylish wee tune. Would like to see Whinnie back with more of the same this year.

33) M.O, MR EAZI, LOTTO BOYZZ - BAD VIBE



2018 peak: #1

What might end up being the group's last charter for me following the arrest of one of the girls for dangerous driving, what a high to go out on though. Despite the girls not appearing to feature so much in this collab song they are all there for the chorus and bring a nice swagger to the track that isn't as put on as some of their later releases during the era. It was all going so well for them... Still, I ended up preferring this to their previous one hit single and will be one to come back to in the summers.

32) JACK ANTONOFF, M0 - NEVER FALL IN LOVE



2018 peak: #23

One of the highest low peakers now, the cute collab featured in the film Love, Simon which I still haven't got around to seeing. One to watch as a pick me up when I'm feeling down, I imagine. This proved to be quite addictive throughout the year picking up lots of trickle plays despite never hitting the high heights on first release.

31) NICKI MINAJ, LIL WAYNE - RICH SEX



2018 peak: #5

With her third and final entry this year Nicki bows out just before we hit top 30. Rich Sex was something of a sleeper hit for me, gaining new traction after the Queen album release and re-peaking inside the top 5 after initially missing top ten. Nicki's other Wayne collab from the era, Good Form, recently went one better and topped my personals for a few weeks. It was a rough year for Nicki all said - not helped by a BLATANT media campaign to support the bafflingly successful Cardi B who has become labels' latest Chosen One despite not bringing anything to the table herself and being by far my least fave of all the up and coming rap girls... now, if it was Dreezy or Kash Doll that was challenging, I'd be so here for that :3 - so here's hoping she finds her feet again in 2019.

Posted by: Riser Mar 3 2019, 06:29 AM

Looooove 'Bad Vibe' and 'You Never Knew' heart.gif

Posted by: Mack. Mar 4 2019, 03:37 PM

From #40-#31, really liking 'Promises, 'Plain Jane Remix, 'Bad Vibe' and 'Rich Sex'.

Posted by: JüperBass Apr 7 2019, 11:38 PM

30) NAO - ANOTHER LIFETIME



2018 peak: #2

NAO made a fab unexpected comeback this year with a second album several years after looking like she might break through. Not sure if it will be her swan song yet, but the new sound she came back with was shockingly solid, delving into vocoder and heavy production more like her live shows compared to her relatively restrained earlier album and EP.

29) EZI - DANCING IN A ROOM



2018 peak: #2

Think this is my highest of my own BJSC entries this year. I went off it towards the end of the year but it was a fun little midtempo during the summer months.

28) SOFIA REYES, DE LA GHETTO, JASON DERULO - 1, 2, 3



2018 peak: #11

This was a great collab which predictably went nowhere on the mainstream charts most places in the world. The track introduced me to Sofia Reyes, who's since landed a few more hits for me, and gives Jason Derulo a year-end charter for the second year in a row.

27) GREAT GOOD FINE OK - TOUCH



2018 peak: #2

I was surprised to find this was actually GGFOK's first charter for me, having been on my radar since about 2013 but just missing top 40 with several releases over the intervening 5 years. This is a gorgeous electronic pop ballad and is one I've considered for BJSC a few times now, with a great charming video too!

26) CLEAN BANDIT, DEMI LOVATO - SOLO



2018 peak: #4

A summery classic that just missed out on hitting #1 on my charts as it did on the officials in the UK. Hope Demi is feeling better these days.

25) IGGY AZALEA, TYGA - KREAM



2018 peak: #2

THIS is what Iggy should have been doing since she first started faltering. This was a wonderful comeback and gives Iggy her highest year-end placing for me since Problem in 2014. The visuals on this are so killer and she completely won me back over into team Iggy with this one.

24) ELOHIM - HALF LOVE



2018 peak: #1

Great comeback track from Elohim after a short break, just a shame I wasn't able to send it to BJSC thanks to her recent win with another track! This was a long-running #1 for me in the summer, blocking some other big hitters from the top spot.

23) SELENA GOMEZ - BACK TO YOU



2018 peak: #25

And this was the definition of a slow burner. One I found myself listening to on the way to and from work a lot after I'd just started my (then) new job, so it holds a special place in my heart as a rememberance of that time when I'd just escaped a job I'd come to hate. I wouldn't call myself a fan of Selena, but she has been quite solid recently with what she's been putting out (with the obvious exception of the aptly-named 'tacky tacky'). Dance suits her.

22) HAIM - FOUND IT IN SILENCE



2018 peak: #19

And this is I think the highest low-peaker of the year, just scraping into top 20 but managing a long run within my top 40, this is Haim's highest charter this year. Very reminiscent of their earlier work and some 90s vocal bands that I was getting into this year like Wilson Phillips, this was incredibly replayable throughout the year and so lands here. Very glad to hear the ladies will be back with even newer music this year, too!

21) MATOMA, AYME - LOSING IT OVER YOU



2018 peak: #5

This was such a long runner in my personals, peaking at #5 after 7 or 8 weeks, and really threatened top 20 towards the end of the year, it's the kind of dance pop song thats really replayable. I'm a sucker for a ballad-like dance track and this was able to really rack up the replays throughout the winter. It's I believe the first appearance for Matoma on a year-end for me.

Okay guys we're finally nearly there, top 20 next! Let's hit that before May! Goals ohmy.gif

Posted by: JüperTrouper Apr 27 2019, 05:33 PM

20) ALLIE X - LITTLE THINGS



2018 peak: #3
Prior EOY history: n/a


This was a revelation this year. I came late to Allie X, only knowing her as a feature on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpVunjboAWg and some minor songs from back in the day, so her transformation to main indie pop girl was a pleasant surprise. Definitely filling the pop hole left by most of our big girls genreshifting or taking time off in 2018. (Charli, Katy, Gags, looking at u xo)

19) ARIANA GRANDE - GOD IS A WOMAN



2018 peak: #1
Prior EOY history: 2014 = Problem (#7), 2016 = Side to Side (#27), Into You (#80), 2018 = Breathin (#88)


Second last one from Ari now, either my second or first favourite song she put out last year, very close to the one yet to come, No Tears Left To Cry, which lands higher mainly from just being out those few months longer. Ari's first foray into trap pop is imo still her most convincing as she doesn't quite have the image - even when racebending (yikes) to go all the way in as a trap queen. GIAW became quite convincingly her third, and to date, most recent #1 on my personals, and helped secure her as an artist I'm now actively interested in following as opposed to the progenitor of the amazing Problem and a few other minor hits who was scrabbling for greater relevance. (sorry but I'm a hater until a fan in many cases x)

18) FEMME EN FOURRURE, PYKARI - RIDE



2018 peak: #1
Prior EOY history: n/a


Criminally underserved in its edition of BJSC (altho I'm biased as its my own entry), this was a fab discovery from the group responsible for the weird and slippery Creepers from a few years back that saw them embracing a slightly more mainstream structure and going all out with the nuttiness in the video to compensate. This definitely went some way to fill the Grimes-sized hole in 2018's musical landscape. Warning - the video's maybe not for the faint hearted or small c conservative among us!

17) PHARRELL WILLIAMS, CAMILA CABELLO - SANGRIA WINE



2018 peak: #2
Prior EOY history: n/a


I really liked this! Although it was critically panned by the big critics and on here and loads of other places online. I love the metaphor of the wine and the fruit, it's lovely and summery and with an unorthodox structure, and I love the bilingual bonus lyrics. Altho I guess being moderately fluent en espanol does help there. I don't even like Pharrell in general either (maybe that helps as I had overwhelmingly negative expectations...oops). I do find it hilarious how misjudged this was by the producer and the label tho as Camila having a massive flop despite a star collaborator and big promo so early on in her career was clearly not an ideal sitch.

16) CHVRCHES - GET OUT



2018 peak: #1
Prior EOY history: 2014 = By The Throat (#17), Gun (#37), We Sink (#83), 2015 = Leave a Trace (#72), 2016 = Empty Threat (#67), 2018 = My Enemy (#43)


The rare Chvrches lead single to hit me is next; Get Out saw the group channelling their inner Hayley Williams and a bit of a throwback to the sound of their first album too. Although Love is Dead was a disappointment at first, its been something of a slow burner since, positively. This is quite infectious though and quite listenable into this year and beyond.

15) HAYLEY KIYOKO, KEHLANI - WHAT I NEED



2018 peak: #6
Prior EOY history: n/a


This year's high-peaking gay anthem goes to Hayley Kiyoko and Kehlani where last year Halsey and Lauren J took the crown. I hazard to say this one is even done better in terms of the video, and the song is solid too, while the singers have undeniable chemistry...I ship it. Hayley first hit my radar back in 2014 with early hit Gravel to Tempo, but she's been quiet since. Hoping she serves us a new era in 2019. Kehlani is also on the up for me earning her second #1 this year as well as a string of other hits alongside other artists. Shame she'll be likely taking a break now following the birth of her child.

14) VISIONS OF ATLANTIS - THE LAST HOME



2018 peak: #1
Prior EOY history: n/a


And next we have this year's wildcard high placer, Visions of Atlantis with metal piano ballad The Last Home, featuring their new singer Clémentine Delauney. Unfortunately I was blocked from sending this to BJSC by Cody's choice of the same artist at the same time, but perhaps it will go this year once the colder weather comes around again and we're feeling wistful.

13) SABRINA CARPENTER, JONAS BLUE - ALIEN



2018 peak: #6
Prior EOY history: Sabrina: 2018 = Almost Love (#84)
Jonas: 2017 = Fast Car (#11), Perfect Strangers (#7)


This unlikely collab just misses out on top ten this year as Sabrina's second track to make it in. I had originally marked her as another one hit wonder teenage acress-turned-wannabe-singer, but she's putting in the work to follow through and fully make the transition to popstar, which is pretty cool to see. Just missing my top 5 in the year, the track also sees Jonas move even further into a pop remit from the pure dance he started off in and although being a little generic, is a strong release from both acts.

12) STEFFLON DON - SENSELESS



2018 peak: #5
Prior EOY history: 2017 = Hurtin Me (#98)


Although this bombed on the official charts, it seemed to be a minor youtube hit, notching up a number of views and spawning several reaction videos internationally, and for me was definitely one I liked as much if not more than Hurtin Me, which landed in my top 100 of 2017. This was one I found myself playing a lot come lockup at my last job, oddly enough. Ironically since I hated that place towards the end, it now reminds me of it a little and so I haven't found myself coming back to it as much! A great solidifier for Stef's commercial potential though and she's gone from strength to strength this year with collabs with Wiley, Sean Paul and even Mariah Carey, not bad lass.

11) JENNIFER LOPEZ, DJ KHALED, CARDI B - DINERO



2018 peak: #5
Prior EOY history: Jennifer: n/a
Cardi: 2018 = I Like It (#73)
DJ Khaled: 2017 = Wild Thoughts (#1)


And finally just missing this year's top 10, yes folks, it's Cardigan Bardigan. Since there's no Nicki forum any more its not quite as sacrilegious perhaps, but...yikes. But man this is a guilty pleasure track with that 'me and Benjamin Franco' hook and JLo's swagger in the video and on the track. I am actually quite a lowkey JLo fan and she's been really on the money with the sounds she's put out a few times over the last few years, even highkey flops like El Anillo, I Luh Ya Papi and Goin In ended up as major hits on my personals - her latest, Medicine, is already a solid top 5 for me. JLo forum when? I'm assuming DJ Khaled produces this track as he doesn't do much else but add some Fatman Scoop esque ad libs, but in any case it's his second year in a row to land in my top 20, last year of course he topped the whole thing alongside Rih with Wild Thoughts. Talent, somehow!

And that's nearly us folks with just the top ten of 2018 to come. Comments, thoughts, predictions welcome! We're getting there before June, amazing! :')

Posted by: DalekTurret32 Apr 29 2019, 07:16 PM

I like Dinero too. Such a bop!

Posted by: DalekTurret32 Apr 29 2019, 07:16 PM

Double post deleted

Posted by: Riser May 27 2019, 05:01 AM

This is super late but haha, I had considered 'Touch' for BJSC too! Pleased to see that, 'Found It In Silence' and 'God Is A Woman' in your top 30 <3

Posted by: TheJüpreme Jul 13 2019, 02:34 PM

Speaking of super late...I am actually going to finish this today, wtf! It's only July after all, 7 months since the year finished :') but I finally have the energy which is a nice relief.

Thanks for the comments those who have! Dinero is one of Cardi's best, fight me. Touch is great isn't it? And God is A Woman is a career peak for Ari - Sweetener has held up much better for me than TUN - either the album or the title track!

Right, final ten incoming...

Posted by: TheJüpreme Jul 13 2019, 04:13 PM

10) ELENI FOUREIRA - FUEGO



2018 peak: #1
Prior EOY history: n/a


Cqmrn would be happy no doubt to see Eleni in my top ten! Fuego was robbed at Eurovision by the somehow more popular odd chicken woman with a song I still fail to see the appeal of over one year on. Before we get into the cultural appropriation! Eleni has since landed back on my charts with a random cover of Eurythmics' Sweet Dreams with Snoop Dogg and a random rapper-producer, but something on a par with this bop has not yet materialized sadly. Fuego itself continues to be very replayable, however!

9) CHRISTINA AGUILERA, 2 CHAINZ, TY DOLLA $IGN - ACCELERATE



2018 peak: #1
Prior EOY history: N/A


Christina lands in the year-end for the first time ever with this wonderfully experimental trap-influenced comeback. It was right up my street and so predictably the GP, and a lot of this site, were not here for it. I feel like there's maybe a little too much of the featured artists here and not quite enough Christina, and the music video with the sexy milk is A Choice, but what a bop and imo exactly the kind of experimentation Christina Aguilera, secure in her millions, should be doing in 2018 and beyond. Banger.

8) SEAN PAUL, BECKY G, DAVID GUETTA - MAD LOVE



2018 peak: #3
Prior EOY history: Sean: 2016 = Rockabye (#84), 2018 = Naked Truth (#85)
Becky: N/A
David: 2015 = Hey Mama (#97), 2016 = This One's For You (#34), 2017 = Light My Body Up (#26)


The first of two for Sean Paul in 2018's top ten, wow. The dancehall king came back this year with a dance-influenced EP with his traditional reggae-fastrap over it and a string of interesting collaborators giving him some flair beats to work with. This one has a strong reggaeton vibe with Guetta taking a bit of a backseat while Becky G takes the lion's share of the feature duties with both the hook and the pre-chorus. Becky's own Sin Pijama with Natti Natasha just missed this countdown too, and she seems to be making a move to level up in 2019 as a chart force in mainstream pop. Good luck to her!

7) POOLCLVB, RŲSE - WHAT YOU WANT



2018 peak: #1
Prior EOY history: n/a


Originally charting in 2017 without much notice, this came back to my attention in 2018 and became a summer smash, topping the chart for three weeks and sticking around for ten or so gathering more plays. This is probably the most indie track in the top ten coming from the most unknown artists, but holds up well for this summer too - a slice of chilly yet summery lounge with chillwave influence but slightly higher tempo, and a smooth jazzy vocal. Still a fave tbh. Not sure how I missed it first time round!

6) SEAN PAUL, MAJOR LAZER - TIP PON IT



2018 peak: #1
Prior EOY history: Sean: 2016 = Rockabye (#84), 2018 = Naked Truth (#85), Mad Love (#8)
Major Lazer: 2015 = Lean On (#5), Look at Where We Are x Hot Chip (#94), 2017 = My Love (#56), 2018 = Blow That Smoke (#57)


The second for Sean is much more EDM influenced with an almost dubstep-inspired Brazilian sounding drop that wouldn't be out of place on a Sofi Tukker track. The video is An Experience - although can we get some equal opportunities objectification up in hurr pls? - and the track is extremely catchy with strong replay value. Tbh following Rockabye I thought that was probably it for Sean Paul and did not anticipate at the end of 2016 that two years on he'd be still notching up top tens on my personals or in my year-end. Still going strong in 2019 though with some new collabs. Hats off.

5) TINASHE, OFFSET - NO DRAMA



2018 peak: #1
Prior EOY history: Tinashe: 2017 = Flame (#47)
Offset: N/A


Tinashe's first ever #1 comes in my fifth year of her being one of my favourite artists, and features a kinda superfluous turn from Offset. This had a long climb to the top spot and features some questionable styling in the video, all in all though 2018 was a strong year for Tinashe as she finally managed to drop her major-label album and dropped a few cool videos, although managing kinda negligible offical chart success. This is very replayable and for most of the year was leading the way as the overall leader before being pushed back to #5 by those coming up. Solid track though and a shame even the high-profile feature wasn't enough to see it become a bigger hit for her around the world.

4) ARIANA GRANDE - NO TEARS LEFT TO CRY



2018 peak: #1
Prior EOY history: 2014: Problem (#3), 2016 = Side to Side (#27), Into You (#80), 2018 = Breathin (#88), God is a Woman (#19)


What a comeback for Ari. This should be her new signature song, although unfortunately it's been overshadowed by the huge international success of her follow-ups on Thank U Next, her quickly-released sequel to her 2018 album. No Tears Left to Cry susprised us all by NOT being, as the title suggested it might be, a heartfelt power pop ballad following her extremely rough year with regard to her personal life. The upbeat pop and 90s R&B influenced song was inescapable through summer into autumn of 2018 and racked up the plays well after topping my personal chart. It becomes Ari's highest year-end charter for me since Problem managed to become my third most played of 2014 behind Lana and, randomly, Mariah. Not bad considering I still wouldn't class Ari as even one of my top 40 favourite artists!

3) CALVIN HARRIS, DUA LIPA - ONE KISS



2018 peak: #8
Prior EOY history: Calvin: 2014 = Sweet Nothing (#57), 2015 = Pray to God (#4), Outside (#18), Blame (#76), 2016 = This is What You Came For (#43), 2017 = Slide (#17), 2018 = Promises (#40)
Dua: 2017 = Scared to Be Lonely (#2), Be the One (#5), My Love (#56)


At #3 we have the highest peaking non #1 of the year. Calvin and Dua's One Kiss had a fairly unlucky run, not really hitting me at first but becoming a song with high replay value to consistently skate within my most played songs but outside the top 40 after its main top 40 run had completed. Dua's back following a strong run last year two with two of the top 5 of a year-end and Calvin reaches a new high the likes of which he hasn't seen since 2015's Pray to God. Having said that, on balance I think I actually prefer Promises, Calvin's second single from the same era!

2) KYLIE MINOGUE/KYLIE MINOGUE & GENTE DE ZONA - STOP ME FROM FALLING



2018 peak: #1
Prior EOY history: Kylie: N/A
Gente de Zona: N/A


And for a large chunk of the year, like Tinashe this was the year-end leader, in the last few months swapping up and down with our eventual victor. Kylie has long precedence on my charts and in my music history on the whole, being one of the first albums I owned on tape (!) after my mum's friend gifted it to me as an alternative to only ever listening to the radio. Hitting #1 by itself this was later stabilized through the year by the Gente de Zona multi-lingual version which fitted nicely into the Latin-inspired sound of the summer otherwise. Easily the best thing on Kylie's Golden album, if only she'd released this as the first single! Although sadly her time as a singles chart queen is probably behind her now, thanks sexism and ageism!

1) AZEALIA BANKS - ANNA WINTOUR



2018 peak: #1
Prior EOY history: 2014 = Chasing Time (#40), 2018 = Treasure Island (#76)


And yes, finally its #1 time after seven months. One you probably won't be seeing on a lot of lists, but as a longtime Azealia fan this release was such a return to form for her, bringing back on the one track all of her signatures that she does better than I would say nearly any other rapper out there. Anna Wintour brings us rap over a house beat, clever wordplay, some singing, megaphone shouting, an undeniable groove, attitude, and even some choreo in the music video. Azealia may be an absolute wildcard of a person and may have said some very questionable things over the years - along with, it must be said, making some very valid points about prejudice in the music industry, sometimes accidentally - but despite that, the woman knows how to make a damn good beat and this one is undeniable. Yes, I am still hoping for a comeback sometime, at least an indie one! Get help girl!

Well folks, thanks for following along all this time! Maybe come 2019 I will complete it that bit earlier, goals!

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