Songs: 71-80

 

Igranka bez prestanka vanka, na podijum ili pored sama šanka

Chart Peak: #6

 

From one Eurovision song to another, this will be the last one that made it to the actual contest for quite a while here, although that doesn't rule79 out NF failures making it. Igranka is however my third favourite Eurovision song this year. *.* And it is quite the prospect, deep Montenegrin rap with a screamingly loud and contrasting chorus, I had high hopes for it to be the moment of the year and Montenegro's first qualification. Obviously that did not happen and the 2013 final was far less fun and had a deep shortage of astronaut suits.

 

79. Paramore - Ain't It Fun

So what are you gonna do when the world don't orbit around you?

Chart Peak: #5

 

Ain't It Fun is very fun, and sarcastic. I listened to loads upon loads of Paramore this year, even and sometimes especially their retro tracks, but this was one of the standouts from the newest album, lots of personality, and oh god I was just on the verge of descending into doge language (such Paramore, many rocks etc). YAY AIN'T IT FUN.

 

Catch up 'cause you got an awful long way to go

Chart Peak: #14

 

I was very late to the party with this one, I completely ignored it when I first got Origin Of Love and for quite a while when it was a single while doing nothing because that's what Mika does these days in the UK. I did finally get into it and because it is hella catchy even specially charted even though it was like a year after I first heard it. Perfectly executed duet from one of my favourite singers and a young popstar who I should really pay more attention to.

 

I could be the one to set you free

Chart Peak: #1

 

One of my first #1s of the year, little did I know at the time the huge year Avicii would have for me and so this came and went pretty quickly at the time. It's not much like the glorious country-dance he's doing right now, it's more traditionally Nordic in its roots but Noonie Bao manages to feel very cool on it and the resulting instrumental beats are very lovely.

 

Look at my reflection in the mirror, underneath the power of the light

Chart Peak: #8

 

With more than a few influences of M83 among this wonderfully titled song to lead off their greatest hits, this stuck around with me for a very long time just like any near perfect song should do. Shot At The Night gets most powerful in the lead-up to the final chorus, when the previously light-hearted chorus repeatings become almost desperate. Love all that.

 

I never meant to start a war

Chart Peak: #2

 

There has been so much said, done and memed about this song and its accompanying video throughout the year that it's verging on overkill. Taking the song itself aside from the video and we have a conventional but brilliant pop ballad that Miley sings her way out of very emotionally. Songs like this are how I can get on board with Miley even through all the controversy.

 

74. Carli - Look Up

Help is on the way

Chart Peak: #8

 

And on to this speaker-smasher from Carli, which is distinctive for its loudness and the euphoria that comes from that and the very noisy vocals and beats. It's not subtle at all, which is very good in this case. I love a constantly changing in-your-face dance song most of the time, and this one unlike so many big hits feels clever too. I don't think I can ever get bored of what it offers.

 

Oh we were comin' around

Chart Peak: #7

 

I'm so proud of this little song! A former potential for me from early in the year, it took BJFestivalen by storm, something I was not expecting as it captures that uniqueness/personality I like to have (and am constantly searching for) in my BJSC entries and makes it look easy. For something so summery and likeable it should have taken off even a little bit over in the States but unfortunately no luck yet. I guess it'll take some time before 'math pop' comes into the mainstream (and yes, that is what the band call the genre).

 

Now I’m rising from the ground

Chart Peak: #1

 

A big hit now, from John Newman no less. He's one of the more enjoyable male pop artists around today and based on this and Feel The Love (and to a lesser extent, Cheating) he is very good. Although of late he may have gained a bit of a fame whore approach (what with that overplay at New Year) it's only deserved. All hail Sir Newman.

 

71. Robin Thicke (feat. T.I & Pharrell) - Blurred Lines

ERRBODY GET UP

Chart Peak: #8

 

And from one huge hit straight to another, the biggest of the year no less. Despite everything that's gone against this song I still love going along to the very well placed beats, a great piece of rap from T.I and the feeling of the biggest hit of the year (which just serves to increase my enjoyment of it). Given that #Thicke's other song was pretty awful it's a clearly bit of a fluke for him but the success whore in me will never get bored of this.

Running Guns :wub: Alyssa has once again been on fire this year. Too much love for her.

 

Some other fab tracks here too - Tich, Avicii, Miley and Paramore to name a few. :cheer:

Ooh good section there! Still waiting for the "Ain't It Fun" video though :\

Some of the big hits coming up now, plus my two Eurovision favourites Cascada and La Berger :wub: I Could Be The One is my favourite 'hit' in that section, Noonie's ballad version of it is glorious :wub:

Running Guns :wub: Alyssa has once again been on fire this year. Too much love for her.

 

Some other fab tracks here too - Tich, Avicii, Miley and Paramore to name a few. :cheer:

 

Just you wait and see where her other one places!

 

Ooh good section there! Still waiting for the "Ain't It Fun" video though :\

 

:( Both the Still Into You and Now videos have been great, Ain't It Fun could have used one.

 

Some of the big hits coming up now, plus my two Eurovision favourites Cascada and La Berger :wub: I Could Be The One is my favourite 'hit' in that section, Noonie's ballad version of it is glorious :wub:

 

Just giving that a listen now, that is really quite beautiful.

Songs: 61-70

 

I’m more than alright, can’t you see me smile?

Chart Peak: #4

 

An entry that Finland really should have gotten their act together and sent to Eurovision, Mikael Saari's huge piano ballad could have probably competed among the best of them at the contest, but at least it was unleashed upon the world anyway. The slow, deliberate piano adds so much to this and with Mikael's almost tortured vocals, it's one of the most interesting ballads to come out of NF season this year. UMK was on fine form this year and this isn't the last we'll be seeing of it yet. It could use a bit longer to properly finish though, it suffers from being a Eurovision entry.

 

I found my soulmate but we're screwing just for fun

Chart Peak: #6

 

This is completely beautiful. What we have here is a pop midtempo with inspired lyrics worthy of Ironic, a beautiful instrumental that is very good at making me emotional, and a fantastic laid-back chorus that felt entirely perfect for ending the year of 2013. Why it wasn't at least a megasmash in BJSC I'll never understand, this is what Swedish pop should look up to all the time.

 

68. Ecstasy - Exhale

Don't think I tell you enough, I love hanging out with you

Chart Peak: #2

 

Just one above is my entry to that final contest of the year. A blissful electropop wave, the band's name is pretty accurate for this one. I was utterly obsessed almost as soon as I heard it, even though I was a little late to the party and it had been around all year. I have heard comparisons with everyone from CHVRCHES to M83 to Icona Pop (not sure about that last one) but it really does stand on its own as a very big track with few but good lyrics.

 

And if somebody hurts you, I wanna fight, but my hands been broken, one too many times

Chart Peak: #6

 

I never really expected to like anything by Tom Odell, all that I was hearing about him pointed to a boring young singer-songwriter with very little original to say. Another Love then was quite the pleasant surprise, the piano, like in We Should Be Through, is used to full effect to build the tension inbetween the vocal sections and what we have from then is a very addictive alternative song that stuck with me for a long while in the early part of the year.

 

I was used to seeing no future in my sight line

Chart Peak: #3

 

What January brought me in terms of something to overplay was the first song that would send me on a love train to Tegan & Sara loonland. Unlike Closer which is still merely okay, I'm Not Your Hero tapped into everything I like about pop-rock, the sometimes 'epic' lyrics (but seriously they are amazing here) and some really nice interesting melodies to go along with it. It's probably one of my most played tracks of the year and it only isn't higher because something happened later on in the year to slightly eclipse this with an even better T&S track. Still beautiful though.

 

I know if I go, I'll die happy tonight

Chart Peak: #4

 

I wasn't really expecting any Lana this time around, I was quite prepared to wait for 2014 for new material. While this wasn't 'new', I'm very glad it existed as it helped prolong Lana's profile VERY well with a lovely remix of one of the best tracks on her album. One of my many summer tunes this year and upping the tempo even a little bit really helped this.

 

My friends tell me I should stop dreaming

Chart Peak: #8

 

Like with Eurovision, I have a very clear top 2 with Melodifestivalen. But this is just as clear a bronze medal position for me. Wonderfully produced song, and pretty much everything I would normally imagine to be a perfect Melodifestivalen song, the clear winner of that this year.

 

We've come too far to give up who we are, so let's raise the bar and our cups to the stars

 

THE song of the early summer here, and the first song of Daft Punk's I've really loved. It really needs no introduction but this will always scream first year summer term to me from now on, and it's a pretty amazing song to become a million seller anyway. Pharrell is on much better form on here than he is on Blurred Lines, where in all honesty he's probably the weak link.

 

I SAY I SAY MY HEAVEN

Chart Peak: #4

 

Probably the oldest song in here, obviously that doesn''t really matter too much. I loved this from the first time I heard it, for an anime theme tune it's actually a superbly constructed and sonically pleasing pop-rock song, and now I've become a fan of Haruhi Suzumiya over and beyond that original love, it holds quite a lot of extra meaning + increased quality for me. I honestly can't thank Umi enough for introducing me to it, it formed a gateway for me into an entirely new genre of TV (as I'd barely watched any anime before) as well as a great show. So much love for it.

 

Whatever it is, it feels like it's laughing at me through the glass of a two-sided mirror

Chart Peak: #3

 

One of my original favourite tracks on Unapologetic I was really quite happy when this was chosen as a single, it allowed me to have a huge amount of love for the delicate midtempo that represents the best of that album pretty damn well. The video is one of her best in ages and in a year when my favourite artist wasn't particularly that active it gave me something to love by her in the interim between Stay and The Monster.

Songs: 51-60

 

Won't let history repeat in parallel lines

Chart Peak: #5

 

Certainly one of the strongest growers this year, 5am took 9 weeks to reach its eventual peak of #5 on my chart (and 5 weeks later is still there) and a track that I originally thought had nothing on What Love Is Made Of has finished over 60 places higher than it. Just really undeniably lovely, I said this down by Crying For No Reason but it's worth saying again; with 3 singles like this this album is going to redefine SOMETHING at least.

 

Oh no, there goes another and it tastes like snow

Chart Peak: #13

 

Final entry from UP in here, and as my only Unknown Pleasures successes come out of nowhere, that I was so overjoyed at it finishing 4th may have helped it a little here. Obviously what also helped it is the very atmospheric buildup that this promising young indie band have created with some really lovely sounds. MMM. It's very good. I recommend it.

 

But I could go all night right here between their crossfire

Chart Peak: #6

 

Another summer song, one that should easily be a hit (if it's ever bothered with) as it's bright, lovely indie-pop that features a very unique instrumental that's reminiscent of Sail, if Sail were less moody and more fun and ready to party at a moment's notice. One of my absolute favourites from American bands of their ilk of late, it never fails to make me happy.

 

57. AWOLNATION - SAIL

This is how an angel dies

Chart Peak: #2

 

Speaking of the devil, up next is Awolnation's now incredibly famous Sail. I had heard it back in 2011 but it never fully registered before crossing over the UK almost a full 2 years later. While some people don't like his voice it's the imperfections that make it so addictive, as well as those incredible instrumental sections which are quite the highlight.

 

You can see what a savage I’ve become, in my eyes

Chart Peak: #3

 

One of the first tracks I was obsessing over this year, Hurts' return struck a very big chord with me, the bridge and chorus feel much bigger than anything off their first album, as if they've fully mastered how to feel grandiose while singing over great pop tracks. I've been playing it regularly throughout the year. With Under Control currently doing very well for me they should also have a hit on my chart of next year assured (as I excluded that for growing on me too late)

 

Everything you touch surely dies

Chart Peak: #3

 

A radio hit that only really started to tire towards the end of its run, I ended up really falling for the soft, slightly weird tones of Passenger in the middle of the year. One of the nicest of the year's hits, now that I haven't heard it for a couple of months it feels almost completely fresh again.

 

54. Belanger - Take Me Home

I need a little sympathy

Chart Peak: #6

 

When Look Up won LIII I didn't think it would be topped. Fortunately, I was wrong and an even better winner was yet to come. Cut from the same cloth of heavy stabbing dance but focused a little more to the side of connecting with the track also it was a pretty perfect combination and while I only gave it 7 points at the time I'd happily give it 12 now.

 

 

You know I'm bad at communication, it's the hardest thing for me to do

Chart Peak: #10

 

Hitting a real retro feel with their third single, HAIM, who were becoming more and more my type of band with each passing day at this point, saw this stay in my affections for a very very long time, the lyrics are interesting and based on the video, very good at going against the norm, and the catchiness of the tune demands you give it more and more listens.

 

Climbing out the back door, didn't leave a mark

Chart Peak: #1

 

The best track so far I've heard from Panic! At The Disco, for a time I was really quite into this and its fun alt rock power. While the guys do a good job in most of it, the highlight is Lolo's very short verse towards the end, building up to a wonderful climax.

 

So you believe I'd forget you, Seriously?

Chart Peak: #2

 

I don't think I could have dreamed when Tove Lo first appeared on the scene that she'd come up with something this good. The phenomenal pop workings and the power behind her voice make this one of my favourite hits from the tail end of the year. Oh yes, undoubtedly a good part is her passion in the chorus but possibly the best part is those beautiful warblings towards the end, they are too pleasurable to listen to in a song that's already hitting all the right buttons by being all loud and in-your-face. Definitely her greatest song for me.

 

Woo, finally at the top 50. The days of these 10-song sections are numbered.

:puke2: it was never fresh :angry:

 

But away from that, YAY Katy. '5 AM' is my favourite from her now, never fails to get underneath me. 'What Now' is fab too (i've grown to really quite appreciate a fair bit of 'Unapologetic') - i do still wish we got 'Love Without Tragedy/Mother Mary' though :(

YES!

 

Brilliant chart, delighted 'Demons' , 'Gentlemen' and 'Wrecking Ball ' have slayed so far :D

THE WIRE :wub: pop-rock didn't get much more infectious than that in 2013 imo, deserves more appreciation on this site <3

 

Songs: 46-50

 

 

------

 

I've been infected with restless whispers and cheats

That manifested in words and lies that you speak

Chart Peak: #5

 

Those highlighted lyrics are repeated over one of the more understated Disclosure instrumentals, before launching into a buildup over the 'fool for you' parts. While, particularly because it was not a Disclosure collaboration, this took a good time to grow on me, because it was touted as a future single I really made the effort and now I couldn't really imagine Disclosure without it. It finishes as their second highest song here, some really masterful work.

 

You’re caught in the middle

Chart Peak: #6

 

London Grammar's second single is by far the more beautiful one. Not to take anything away from Wasting My Young Years but this succeeds far more at both being emotional and not getting boring. A lovely ballad and something that I'm going to imagine as the signature song from London Grammar from now on.

 

I get a little dangerous

Chart Peak: #3

 

Florrie's 2013 single starts off with.. ahem.. a flurry of fantastic instrumental sounds before becoming a brilliant pop song typical of what I've come to expect from her. The blog hype and cries at lack of success continues to be entirely justified. Very fun.

 

Mä vieraan kylän reunalla, oon matkalaukut mudassa

Chart Peak: #2

 

I will keep saying this until more people pick up on it, it really should not be only me (and maybe a couple of other people) who loves this. I might sound a little ridiculous at this point but it's a pop song most big artists should kill to have, the sense of pace for building emotion is spot on, and it never falters long enough to get boring unlike so many ballads. Jannika's Finnish singing voice sounds so aurally pleasing on here and I can never get enough of this; it's the 4th single from Jannika's album but by far the best. An underrated and understated Finn pop triumph.

 

46. Sia (feat. The Weeknd & Diplo) - Elastic Heart

But why can I not conquer love?

Chart Peak: #3

 

Managing to be glorious as most Sia songs AND most Hunger Games songs are, Elastic Heart is pretty brilliant; hanging around in my affections for a long time even through only hearing it occasionally, even one listen to it can send joy through me. And, well.. it's Sia and ever since Titanium I've paid her plenty of attention.

 

-----

 

Songs: 41-45

 

 

----

 

Everything that kills me makes me feel alive

Chart Peak: #6

 

What SHOULD be mindless commercial radio fodder from OneRepublic these days actually manages to be rather infectious and like most of the big hits up here, shows no sign of tiring. Singing along to the lyric 'no more counting dollars, we'll be counting stars' is incredibly fun, as ironic as doing so may be. One of the best hits of the year.

 

Now I'll take the lead, you're so far behind me

Chart Peak: #2

 

I may be in denial about being a fan of the Saturdays because one needs to keep up appearances but on the down-low (so forget I said this next part) I love them nearly as much as Lee does, still have not gotten their new album but otherwise total fan. When the proper version of What About Us finally turned up, with no Sean Paul because who needs him these days, I was quite on board. It's the bridge again. So good.

 

And all is wasted in the sand, like breaking diamonds with your hand

Chart Peak: #3

 

Submitting a beautiful, clear track in collaboration with Susanne Sundfor, Royksopp make it in from the tail end of last year with this beauty. Ethereal and otherworldly after a while of listening to it, there are too many reasons to love this.

 

So hollow and hopeless, her sleepless night awaits, like a twisted dream where love takes a violent shape

Chart Peak: #4

 

An extremely promising young metal band, Arion entered UMK this year with this powerful song and instantly captured my attention. I've been pretty obsessed since, the way they sing 'YOU'RE NOT LOST' as the song takes a dive into the chorus just makes me feel like everything is right with the world. I would have loved to see this one represent Finland if only to see the reaction it would have gotten from fans, I say it's metal, but really it's on an accessibility level with Lordi, has far more of a melody than that, and would have worked very well at Eurovision I think. Arion are now firmly on my list of 'new bands of 2013 to love' because of this song.

 

Now I'm lying on the cold hard ground

Chart Peak: #1

 

The final song to miss out on the top 40 is I Knew You Were Trouble, which improves greatly on last year's position of #100-something after having a year or so to play with it, now it's one of my favourite Taylor songs. Probably now my favourite from Red if we tally everything up fairly.

 

----

Mostly agreeable choices so far, especially good to see 'F For You' and 'Strong' top 50 ~

 

And poor Pharrell being called the weak link of 'Blurred Lines' - those woos really make the song for me. :heehee:

 

Oh and I've only just listened to 'Running To The Sea' and I really don't know why I held off for so long, GLORIOUS song - expect an eye-roll-worthily late entry to my personal chart this week.

Songs: 36-40

 

 

----

 

Kai oon jotain tehnyt oikein kun sä vielä siinä oot

Chart Peak: #2

 

Back on this after a break of a couple of days due to important work, I'll make sure I finish this very soon because it's gone on for quite a while now. At #40 is my 4th highest entry to BJSC this year, the awesome power rock ballad from Antti Railio, winner of Finland's Voice 2013, this being his first single following that. Despite him being a male rocker I had a few hopes that it could win over some people as it is just THAT good a ballad. It builds and builds, his voice is a bit rough but I keep coming back for it and as he hits the final chorus, the epic feelings are indescribable. LOVE. And I remain proud of how it performed, even as a DNQ I was pleased it got so close and managed to fend off at least SOME naysayers.

 

rockit boys, gregorian och ikaros

Chart Peak: #8

 

Slowly growing on me throughout the latter half of the year, I'm now quite obsessed with Team Rockit's triumph of aura. Some wonderful foreign rap parts are complemented well by a beautiful stabbing chorus, this ended up being a beautiful discovery and a great introduction to a group who have many good songs but certainly none to top this aural marching bliss.

 

If my yesterday is a disgrace, tell me that you still recall my name

Chart Peak: #5

 

Lights' main single from Acoustic with a feature from Owl City, this was inevitably was going to be great, and more than any other track on Siberia, the acoustic version outstripped the original so well, adding layers and layers of emotion on the now-duet. Beautiful.

 

Sometimes the wire must tense for the note

Chart Peak: #2

 

Coldplay's Atlas is everything I want from a good soundtrack single, feels atmospheric, fits with the feeling of the film, which it does with Catching Fire just as brilliantly as all the songs from the first film. On its way to becoming one of my favourite Coldplay tracks, always feels poignant and never dull.

 

There's a place where you never have been before

Chart Peak: #2

 

The second-best song out of Melodifestivalen this time, I never expected to like this so much as they looked like a throwaway band, but the 00s alt rock guitar band 'throwback' sound really appealed to me this time round, and as my favourite song in the strongest MF heat I've watched, was excellent seeing them proceeding to the final against all odds. State Of Drama have crafted a very lovely song that due to a very addictive chorus, keeps me coming back. Obviously I knew it was going to flop at Eurovision but had this gone all the way it would have brought something really quite different to Eurovision - and I look forward to their 2014 entry. I know I'm doomed to be one of their only fans though.

 

----

 

Songs: 31-35

 

 

The clock ticks it's time, but still I can't unwind

Chart Peak: #6

 

Coupled with iconic video that me and Joseph (but mainly Joseph) have been showing off at any convenient opportunity, is possibly Alyssa's most accomplished track yet. It is a very perfect pop song and outstrips many of the ones on the charts right now very nicely. Go Canada's finest.

 

I'll see the veins of my city like they do in space

Chart Peak: #3

 

Fun fact, I thought she said 'iPhone' in the chorus until just a minute ago when looking up the lyrics. Tennis Court is probably shaping up to be Lorde's finest hour. While I keep liking Royals more and more, that's at a very steady pace, it's gone from dislike back in March to 'like' now so it'll be a long time before I love that. Tennis Court is however something I can completely get on board (and was at the beginning) for the new young popstar on the block. It's melodic, it's fun, it promises intrigue. I have wanted this to be a followup smash all year, let's hope it doesn't get completely forgotten.

 

you're so magnetic

Chart Peak: #5

 

Possessing a real talent for clear dance tracks, Magnetic Eyes is the highlight of Matrix & Futurebound's work so far, the vocals work very clear and it doesn't get tiring. May be nothing we haven't really heard before but it's doing the sort of quirky dance I love very well and the buildup before the drop is VERY COOL.

 

32. Ghost Beach (feat. Noosa) - Close Enough

Who am I to call everything mine?

Chart Peak: #9

 

The second highest 'foreign' BJSC entry entered this year, this is one of a few tracks I've come across that regularly gives me 'chills'. Big points for that. It's a duet, which helps, and the chorus is real fun indie-pop power. Both artists really outperformed my previous expectations on this one.

 

I see love like a fire

Chart Peak: #7

 

Closing off a relatively obscure section is Bombo by new Norwegian-who-wishes-she-was-Romanian star Adelen. While at the time of Melodi Grand Prix I did prefer Ms Berger winning, over time, as summer dawned, the joys of this began to work their way over me, as it is an utterly superb summer track that I'll probably use next summer and the summer after that. Still pretty amazing even when the whether is awful, nothing like a really strong dance-pop song when the genre gets it right. It just narrowly misses out on the title of my favourite 'failing NF song' of 2013.

 

---

 

Songs: 30-26

 

 

----

 

Round and around and around we go

Chart Peak: #1

 

My first #1 of the year and the highest Rihanna solo single this time round, the Bajan queen's piano ballad Stay is first to fall from the top 30. The duet card is played yet again here, but for an artist who so often makes club bangers, it's really refreshing to see her do something almost completely stripped back, with only minimal instrumentation. Very beautiful, it may not quite get into my top Rihanna tracks or the top edges of this chart but that should take away nothing from it.

 

29. Katy Perry (feat. Juicy J) - Dark Horse

So you wanna play with magic

Boy, you should know what you're falling for

Chart Peak: #2

 

The ONLY Katy Perry song that has really grabbed me this time around, Dark Horse, as a promo single, had me playing it over and over again, so much so that I can't understand why they spent so much time on Roar (obvious smash though it was it's still basic) and Unconditionally when this was waiting to be a leftfield hit 'dark horsing' the charts. The sooner it smashes over here (if it's released here) the better, because this is feeling like a mini-Titanium situation right now.

 

And if it gets rough, it's time to get rough

Chart Peak: #7

 

The second song called Falling in less than 10 songs. This one is far more complex; hitting all the retro notes right on their third single, HAIM made themselves for me with this song. I initially dismissed it rather quickly but after a few weeks of ignoring it kept going back to it (kept hearing it calling :heehee:). Too many harmonies and layers to deal with.

 

You take me back in time, to 1999, we hear the DJ playing Hit Me Baby One More Time

Chart Peak: #1

 

Guilty. It's too good a pop song to ignore. Plus all the references are pretty cool, especially for a song of the Saturdays, I'm impressed how many they worked in there.

 

Light it up, like we're the stars of the human race

Chart Peak: #2

 

This however, this was the pop song of the summer. Burn is a song that can work well anywhere, I could see it in a club, on the radio, in front of elderly relatives, under a summer sunset, etc. There aren't that many songs I can say that about. And in it is such a warm current of good feeling, unity, catchiness and the knowledge that one of your favourite female singers is actually singing one of the biggest hits of the year - very little gets better than that. While it may not be Ellie's career zenith, it's certainly a clear highlight and one I'm very proud she's had.

 

---

 

Songs: 25-21

 

 

---

 

You've got disaster to the left, and devastation to the right, catastrophe in front of you and a fiasco in behind

Chart Peak: #10

 

Yeah, that #10 peak was a bit of an oversight in the long run. Better has ended up as my favourite discovery from BJSC this year, a dark brooding indie-pop track that does promise some optimism with the hook line, but that atmosphere... so good. It should have really picked up a lot more support than it ended up doing. Can everyone just enter tracks as brilliant as this to every contest next year? Because if so, the contest will be very very good.

 

I know you’ll come to save me from harm

Chart Peak: #1

 

I have come to the conclusion I prefer her solo version, as much as I love a good guest rap now and then - and this is definitely the best track using Rattle as its backing. Acid Rain was supposed to be a huge comeback for Alexis but as we all know, that did not work. MMM, it's not quite what her first album was but her voice still is as brilliant as it was before, this should mean great things for 2014.

 

And no, this was never going to be #1. I do love it but I'm not BLINKERED.

 

23. YOHIO - Heartbreak Hotel

YOU BETTER WAKE UP

Chart Peak: #1

 

My favourite entry to a country's national final that didn't go to Eurovision, I was expecting several good things from a performer with an image like Yohio's, and based on just that I wanted Sweden to send him, but then I heard the track; and my love for him was activated. And so, seemingly was the rest of Sweden's. I'm still bitter. Brilliant performer, and a great pop-rock song that was all over my early months of the year.

 

How am I gonna be an optimist about this?

Chart Peak: #5

 

Everything went so right for this. A new up and coming rock band? Check. Some lovely imagery on their new single by evoking images of the most famous ruined Roman town? Check. To top off the good music in the song, does it have a great hook line? Check. And now, with all of that, is this song actually successful? It is. Bastille are the answer to their own italicised question when I consider the future of the rockier side of the popular music scene, more innovative bands like them taking centre stage with great songs like Pompeii will be certainly leave me optimistic.

 

When our worlds collide I'm gonna drown you out before I lose my mind

Chart Peak: #1

 

Among the million sellers this year, a huge radio hit featuring the man who also helped bring us the wonders of Latch seemed a bit of a tall order, but helped by the use of a slightly annoying gimmick that I've learned to appreciate now made it. Sam Smith continues to have some of the best vocals in pop out there, and I look forward to his debut album. Of course, La La La continues to be massive, so well done Naughty Boy for finding inspiration in your artistic partners (for once).

 

----

 

 

YAY EFFORT EXPENDED and we're nearly there. Top 20 tomorrow/later today.

20. Avril Lavigne - Rock n Roll

 

 

I don't care if I'm a misfit

Chart Peak: #2

 

I was really quite pleased with Rock N Roll; lately it has seemed like many of my previous favourite artists could never deliver the way I expected them to, and while I do appreciate their efforts I'm just going to go back to the old stuff every time. Rock N Roll is Avril's one great attempt lately at defying that trend, it's nothing that new but it captures old Avril and her battle against this new order in pop quite nicely, and it's a pretty damn nice song as well. This sort of Avril is welcome any time.

 

19. Imagine Dragons - Radioactive

 

 

It's a revolution I suppose

Chart Peak: #9

 

Despite giving this a frankly awful chart run, I was loving this pretty epic song throughout the year, even as my second year of university started, and so it'd be very silly not to give it a very good placing here. The clear highlight of Imagine Dragons so far, promising some lovely intriguing sounds, and some brilliant rebellious-anthemic lyrics to sing out as it pounds through the chorus, all serves to give it a great post-apocalyptic feel. Definitely a hit I was glad to support all the way through.

18. Selena Gomez - Slow Down

 

 

You know I'm good with mouth-to-mouth resuscitation

Chart Peak: #1

 

Going all the way up to possibly becoming my favourite Selena song (it still has to challenge Naturally but we'll see how that goes) is her second single from Stars Dance, showing off some far more interesting and dare I say sensual pop than even Come & Get It promised, and if I'm honest, is far more interesting musically than that one. While remaining classy like Selena always does in the face of far less subtle moves from other ladies in the pop genre, it gets across its message very nicely and obviously. I will always make time for this these days.

 

17. P!nk (feat. Nate Ruess) - Just Give Me A Reason

 

 

No nothing is as bad as it seems, we'll come clean

Chart Peak: #1

 

People, we have reached the evolutionary peak of the adult radio ballad. It will never get better than this. Just Give Me A Reason, or as I like to call it these days, the misnomer of 'Screech', is also a duet and I'm sure we know I feel about those normally, it's the contrast of both male and female voices working together that is so good and Nate and P!nk do this wondrously. Easily eclipsed all of P!nk's previous work to become my favourite of hers, would have won this shiz easily if I were doing this on points and has never, ever, not for one little play, gotten boring.