#34 Haim – If I Could Change Your Mind

(UK Chart peak #27)

The second girl-group to appear in my top 40. But will it be the last? This by far not my favourite of Haim's singles. Not up there with 'Don't Save Me' or 'Falling', of 2013. But I still think this is a breath of fresh air. With the help of an great video (The Saturdays WISH they could be so in-sync) and some decent air play this turned out to be a bit of s surprising hit for them, for a post-album single.

Hey Joe :D don't know too much of your music taste beyond The Saturdays so this should be interesting! Will keep checking back~

 

A lot i'm liking so far, particularly 'Nobody To Love' and 'Steal My Girl' :wub:

omg yes if i could change your mind, that'll be appearing high in my eoy too. it's so fantastically summery and upbeat that i love it. i think it's my favourite song but dont save me/days are gone are up there too. their album is just fantastic though..

Thanks Bal -I'm sure there will be some pleasant surprises on the rest of the chart!

 

Josh - Days Are Gone is SUCH an album. I hope Calvin Collab gets released next year!

If I could change your mind is amazing . I adore that song so much :wub:

My favourites are the wire, forever, don't save me and IICCYM but days are gone is an amazing album and my favourite from last year

If I could change your mind is amazing . I adore that song so much :wub:

My favourites are the wire, forever, don't save me and IICCYM but days are gone is an amazing album and my favourite from last year

 

Oh I forgot to mention 'The Wire'! Obviously another 2013 release, but amazing all the same.

#33 Lorde – Team

(UK Chart peak #29)

'Royals' was one of 2013's biggest hits, worldwide. But it is 'Team' is the song that made me buy Lorde's album (which is also very strong). Team > Tennis Court > Royals in my opinion. Anyway, I think this is well written sung and has a killer hook. Slightly worried that Lorde's chart massive success will be a flash in the pan, so I'm excited and nervous for her next album - because she's a really interesting artist.

 

 

 

 

#32 Sam Smith - Money On My Mind

(UK Chart peak #1)

What an amazing year it has been for Sam Smith. When I was listening to this back in 2013, I only HOPED it would do well upon its release at the start of this year. Despite his awards, I did not guess that this would storm to number 1 and be the first of a string of massive hits. Unfortunately, his following ballads really haven't done it for me, though I don't mind 'Like I Can'. This is amazingly upbeat, with a huge chorus. As his career continues, I really hope Smith releases more singles in this upbeat vein and doesn't just stick to the slower numbers.

Edited November 29, 201410 yr by Joe.

#31 RHODES - Your Soul

(UK Chart peak N/A)

Coming straight after Sam Smith's massive number #1 and *just* missing out on my personal top 30 is RHODES, with a song that I'm not quite sure even made the top #200 officially. RHODES is a English singer/songwriter, and if you're one of many that missed 'Your Soul' this year, I strongly urge that you click play on the Youtube video above. This song is beautifully and powerfully sung and produced. I'm really glad RHODES is starting to get some Radio 1 support now, a re-release of this song would be perfect as the world needs to hear it.

Can't believe 'What Are You Waiting For?' is so low for you Joe! :o I haven't grown tired of it yet at all, it's fast approaching the holy trinity of 'Up', 'Higher' and 'Disco Love' for me even!

Team is definitely one of THE defining songs of my year, the hook is so strong and so is the album, definitely in my top 3 albums of all time. I agree with your order of Team > Tennis Court > Royals too.

 

Excited for the rest.

Team is definitely one of THE defining songs of my year, the hook is so strong and so is the album, definitely in my top 3 albums of all time. I agree with your order of Team > Tennis Court > Royals too.

 

Excited for the rest.

 

Thanks Josh! The next few are coming on Monday!

Thanks for all the comments guys.

 

Here's a reminder of #40 - #31:

 

#40 The Saturdays - What Are You Waiting For

#39 One Direction - Steal My Girl

#38 Beyonce - 7/11

#37 Shakira - Empire

#36 Hozier - Take Me To Church

#35 Sigma - Nobody To Love

#34 Haim - If I Could Change Your Mind

#33 Lorde - Team

#32 Sam Smith - Money On My Mind

#31 RHODES - Your Soul

 

More coming tomorrow!

"Team > Tennis Court > Royals"

 

^ i also agree completely with this ranking :o quite big gaps between the three of them too!

 

Not a fan of 'Money On My Mind'... i hope Sam's other hits are still to come. 'Your Soul' though :wub: Really happy to see that making an appearance here. A haunting beauty <3

'if i could change your mind' isn't as good as 'falling' but that is no reason why it shouldn't be featured in this year end directly or indirectly

 

 

NEVER LOOK BACK NEVER GIVE UP

Hey, great so far! I completely agree with you on Money On My Mind, it was everything I wanted in a Sam Smith solo effort. Shame it's so underrated on Buzzjack!

 

Empire, Team, If I Could Change Your Mind were all massive growers for me and excellent inclusions here!

#30 Calvin Harris Ft. John Newman - Blame

(UK Chart peak #1)

I hate to have this in my top 30. I’m neither a Calvin Harris nor a John Newman fan. And this song is so generic. However, something about the production/vocals on this just works for me, and it cannot be ignored that I had this on repeat for a good while. It’s infinitely better than ‘Summer’. Though, if Calvin releases ‘Pray To God’ as a single in 2015, I can see that easily challenging my top 5 next year, so hopefully he does the right thing.

 

#29 Tove Lo – Not On Drugs

(UK Chart peak #N/A)

This is kind of cheating. I don’t know if this can count as a single, as it seemed to be shelved/snubbed for whatever reason. After ‘Stay High’ was a massive hit, I was so ready for ‘Not On Drugs’ to smash just as much or even more-so! Single or not, it has a video and had a pre-order at one point, so I have to include this since I love it so much. It has a massive chorus, and Tove Lo’s vocals sound fantastic as always. Maybe there is some hope that this can get a release in the UK next year?

 

#28 La Roux – Uptight Downtown

(UK Chart peak #63)

Commercially, La Roux’s long awaited comeback was somewhat of a let-down. But the album didn’t disappoint. For me, it is a superior pop album that deserved a lot better. The lead single ‘Uptight Downtown’ is just one of many stand-outs on the album. Where’s the video for this?!

Edited December 1, 201410 yr by Joe Ho Ho.

#27 Paolo Nutini – Iron Sky

(UK Chart peak #42)

I was dubious that Paolo would come back in 2014 and manage any sense of relevancy. But he did. I hated ‘Scream (Funk Up My Life)’ and was annoyed he was being championed so much by Radio 1, when so many women that had taken such a gap in music wouldn't usually get supported by them. But then I won tickets to see him at iTunes Festival, and not only was his fantastic but I fell in love with ‘Iron Sky’. He sings it so passionately, it gives me tingles and everything.