2 appearances for me, nice. :o :D

'Glowing' :wub:

 

020 // Glasser -

// N DNTN // LVIII // 10pts

019 // NOAH -

// Sandebörg // LII // 12pts

 

 

We kick off the top twenty with two very different moods - the effervescent, swooping beauty of 'Over byen', surely the finest Sandebörg entry ever, just beats out the compulsive, eerie creep of 'Shape', N DNTN's second highest entry in the countdown and one of the most arresting moments of the year.

 

018 // Gesaffelstein -

// N DNTN // LX // 10pts

017 // Haerts -

// Lake Thermwoods // LIV // DNQ

 

 

And here's N DNTN, hot on the heels of... themselves. 'Hate or Glory''s reputation preceded it, but I was totally unprepared for both how stunning that video would be and how utterly addictive that beat would be. It's absolutely hypnotic, moving along like a machine. 'Wings' is a flightier thing, the introduction to those absolutely glorious vocals which just soar so beautifully.

 

016 // Aston Shuffle & Tommy Trash -

// Danaelanda // LIII // DNQ

015 // Lulu Rouge & Fanney Osk -

// #00274E // LVIII // DNQ

 

 

I don't like that we live in a world where these two weren't even qualifiers. Danaelanda's finest moment was this pulsating dance track, that reaches its first crescendo before one minute has passed and just. keeps. GIVING. 'Sign Me Out' is a very different creation, but equally intoxicating, the soft beat and silky synths wrapping around your ears like velvet.

 

014 // TLC -

// Mdice // LVIII // 8pts

013 // Stromae -

// Juranabaijan // LV // 12pts

 

 

I've known 'Creep' for years, of course, and while it's never been my favourite TLC number, it's enough of a classic to make it into the top fifteen of the year. Such natural swagger. Meanwhile, the addictive 'papaoutai' is Juranabaijan's sole entry on the countdown, but with such a knockout combination of song - joyous melody and beats mixed with that edge of desperation in the vocals - and video - I wish I could do that - I don't regret that 12 for a moment, even if a song from the same contest is still to come.

 

012 // Ghost Beach - Close Enough (feat. Noosa) // Tinnmark // LII // 10pts

011 // Dolly Parton - Jolene // #00274E // LIX // 7pts

 

 

I really wish there'd been room for these two inside the top ten. Alas, Dolly's diamond-encrusted classic 'Jolene' lingers just outside, possibly adding to the lamenting tone of her faultless vocals. The song is so simple but so effective because the sentiment is so bare and vulnerable. 'Close Enough' is a much more robust song, vibrating with sharp energy and vocal flourishes, but the subject isn't that dissimilar, speaking of a deep romantic connection leaving the singers at their most vulnerable.

 

I'll leave the top ten until tomorrow. It includes, among others, two DNQs, one song I gave no points to at the time, and three entries from one nation. Any guesses?

ok so i have a confession to make... i never actually listened to papaoutai before. OOPS. it's so good tooo.

 

 

double N DNTN, aston shuffle and hearts are the best of recent!!! very surprised (but very happy) that slava ended up as your highest from me!

 

010 // Basecamp - Emmanuel // Unovia // LVII // DNQ

 

The sole Unovian entrant on this countdown, and one that I didn't even listen to until after the contest, but Pavel's outrage over its failure to qualify and the description of its soft, mournful r'n'b sound - a vibe that's captured me big-time this year - I soon fell hard. The percussion is particularly exquisite, lending the song unusual rhythms to match the soulful vocals, delicately crowing on that exquisite chorus.

 

009 // Laura Jansen - Queen of Elba // Caerfyrrdia // LIII // 10pts

 

Caerfyrrdia remain the country I've awarded the most points to in my time in BJSC, and when they send glories like this - their highest entry on this year's countdown - it's no wonder. Jansen's smooth, increasingly desperate vocals crown the song in a chorus that builds to a stunning blast, before the simple piano melody scatters everything back down and glides along. When Jansen gets lost among the wails of "home", the song has conquered me completely.

 

008 // Juveniles - Fantasy // Fljótavík // LIV // 12pts

 

The moment this strident piece of pop hit my ears, it was love. The song marches along for almost fifty seconds on a synthy swagger of '80s beats before any vocals come in, electric guitars folding sharply into the mix. When it pauses and counts into the chorus, you can tell it's preparing for something big - a swirl of more of those gorgeous riffs, beeps and swoops. The attitude of the entire thing is really quite empowering.

one of the most undeserved flops of the ENTIRE year. ridiculous.

'Emmanual' is very special indeed <3 Unovia's best of the year easily.

 

You MUST hear 'Into the Night'. Just so so gorgeous - as is the singer. You will like. :heart:

Ooh lovely! Thanks for that.

 

007 // Josef Salvat - Hustler // D'yermak'er // LIV // 8pts

 

By no means our last trip to D'yermak'er in the top ten, 'Hustler' being seventh feels like I'm underselling it. Fact is, this is one of the most delicate, enchanting compositions of the year - a burst of synths and drums as a intro fall away into a soft, circular piano rhythm, which itself drops out to let Josef's desolate vocals take centre stage. The lyrics are devastating, bare, daring - it's such an emotionally fragile song, built on simple rhythms, that it ends up impossible to get out of your mind and heart.

...and skin.

 

Still can't get over it. And the video is exceptional if you've seen?

...and skin.

 

Still can't get over it. And the video is exceptional if you've seen?

 

Quite!

 

And I hadn't! Beautiful. And 'Every Night' is finally on sale next week, hurrah.

 

006 // Postiljonen - Supreme // Skall // LIV // 0pts

 

So here it is. The third song in a row from LIV, and the greatest mystery of the year. Why didn't I give this any points? When I hear it now, as soon as it explodes into life with those glorious, reaching synths, I'm alive, feeling like we're floating above the clouds. I love the soft ghostliness of the vocals, drifting along through the song, swerving in and out of the synths as they zoom around like stars. It's absolute magic. And, as I've said before, the film nerd in me lives for the Bette Davis sample that acts as the middle-8. So, I'm sorry, Harve; but hey, at least you won anyway.

 

0pts

 

literally don't compute

literally don't compute

 

I don't know either :(