What Are You Waiting For is great and so fun and I also adore Boom Clap. I used to love Real Love but I am bored of it now

 

Those 2 Taylor tracks are unsurprisingly lush :wub: Shake It Off is definitely one of my favourite songs ever and it is so catchy and addictive and Out Of The Woods is stunning, it really needs to be a single :wub:

 

I love Taylor this era, watch out for her album in my EOY album chart *.*

Hey Rich :D just catching up ~

 

Brilliant to see 'Rebel Heart' here <3 i hope you're loving (at least some of) the new tracks! Very excited for Madonna in 2015 and i really hope she delivers a solid album. 'Shake It Off' isn't my favourite from Taylor this era, far from it, but i too have been so impressed with her this era. Consider me a big FAN now :o

 

Not On Drugs is sensational :wub: that chorus *.* was hoping she'd continue to make an impact on the charts after Stay High but the era sort of got royally screwed up :/ maybe next year??

60-51

 

60. Tove Styrke - Ego (#3)

59. Helena Paparizou - Survivor (#4)

58. Sheppard - Shine My Way (#4)

57. Cash Cash feat Bebe Rexha - Take Me Home (#5)

56. A Great Big World feat Christina Aguilera - Say Something (#6)

55. Rae Morris feat Fryars - Cold (#4)

54. Sanna Nielsen - Trouble (#2)

53. Goldfish - Moonwalk Away (Moonlanding Mix) (#4)

52. Ace Wilder - Busy Doin' Nothin' (#5)

51. Martin Garrix & Firebeatz - Helicopter (#4)

 

Sanna Nielsen - Trouble

 

 

Goldfish - Moonwalk Away (Moonlanding Mix)

 

 

Martin Garrix & Firebeatz - Helicopter

 

 

Tove Styrke kicks off the top 60 with a song without a studio version in existence - when will your faves? I heard this track at her London gig last month and it instantly stood out as one to watch, the chorus is absolutely stunning, like Girls Aloud at their creative peak, I really hope the studio version lives up to the potential. Former Eurovision winner Helena Paparizou slogged her way through Melodifestivalen, turning what looked like an embarrassing flop into a respectable fourth place finish - the song itself is a power pop song with a killer chorus.

 

The second of six from Sheppard is a non-album track called Shine My Way, taken from the Soundtrack to The Giver. A sun-drenched beach singalong, it's pretty irresistible. Cash Cash's slightly random and forgotten UK top five hit Take Me Home also peaked at No.5 for me, although way back in January. I almost sent it to BJSC but Hendinia got there first...hey ho.

 

Talking of hits from the start of the year, Say Something by Fun. A Great Big World and Christina Aguilera probably sent shockwaves through Buzzjack when it ticked all of my boxes and still failed to reach my weekly top five. Not to worry, the piano ballad duet has outpaced many top five hits in this chart and has had plenty of exposure from X Factor this year.

 

The first of two entries from Rae Morris is her achingly cool collaboration with Fryars, Cold. Another song I probably should have sent to BJSC really...but I figured it would be vetoed. John slides one past the mods again but it was naturally another 12 points from Rontvia to Altyr - hey, if the mods give it the green light then who am I to penalise?

 

Sanna Nielsen features again later on but as always, she had a couple of killer album tracks lined up and the highlight of 7 was the blistering mid-tempo pop stormer Trouble. That chours...that tempo change towards the end...that power! *.* Back to South Africa and to my 2014 BJSC canon at #53 with the beautiful moon landing vocal sampling house song Moonwalk Away (Moonlanding Mix) by Goldfish. Of all the South African songs I've heard this year, this is the one that would most definitely smash if it got a UK push - of course that will never happen. It finished a respectable fourth in the contest, though predictions ranged from 1st to bottom five iirc.

 

For many people, Ace Wilder should have won Melodifestivalen. I'm not one of those people, but I definitely appreciate her Icona Pop meets Avicii anthem Busy Doin' Nothin'. Would it have been a Eurovision winner? Probably not with all the goodwill that Conchita and The Common Linnets had built up by the end, but no doubt it would have matched Sanna's third place. How did this never get a UK release though?

 

A slightly random one at #51, one of MANY released (?) /farted out (?) tracks by Martin Garrix over the past 18 months, Helicopter is a euphoric electro house stomper with a riff that takes me right back to the early 00s. I don't recall seeing any buzz from anybody else over this track though so perhaps I was alone in loving it?

Hey Rich :D just catching up ~

 

Brilliant to see 'Rebel Heart' here <3 i hope you're loving (at least some of) the new tracks! Very excited for Madonna in 2015 and i really hope she delivers a solid album. 'Shake It Off' isn't my favourite from Taylor this era, far from it, but i too have been so impressed with her this era. Consider me a big FAN now :o

 

Not On Drugs is sensational :wub: that chorus *.* was hoping she'd continue to make an impact on the charts after Stay High but the era sort of got royally screwed up :/ maybe next year??

 

Thanks Haus!

 

Rebel Heart is so gorgeous, and I'm very impressed with the majority of what I've heard so far, it's sounding way better than MDNA. Taylor's album is very very solid, although few individual tracks actually appear in my singles top 100, as a body of work it's incredibly good.

 

Agree about Tove, I guess at least she's set for another hit this week with Alesso, might jog the public's memory of her a bit. Can't say that I'm overly interested in Heroes though personally.

heya Rich :)

 

78. Sheppard - Let Me Down Easy (#6) Apparently this is one of their follow-up singles. Very nice

76. The Veronicas - Born Bob Dylan (#4) their whole album was a wonderful surprise.

75. Shakira - Empire (#5) should be higher in my countdown :kink:

73. Vance Joy - Riptide (#4)

72. Maroon 5 - Feelings (#4)

71. Ed Sheeran - Sing (#6) this was alright but Don't & TOL and some of the album are better over this!

70. Taylor Swift - Shake It Off (#5) i'm actually preferring BS over this now!

69. The Saturdays - What Are You Waiting For? (#3)

68. Agnes - Instant Repeater (#4)

66. Charli XCX - Boom Clap (#5) i find this overrated, it's not that good really imo i prefer BTR but even that's average at best.

65. Madonna - Rebel Heart (#3) still need to heard this :P

63. Taylor Swift - Out Of The Woods (#5)

62. Clean Bandit & Jess Glynne - Real Love (#5)

58. Sheppard - Shine My Way (#4)

57. Cash Cash feat Bebe Rexha - Take Me Home (#5)

56. A Great Big World feat Christina Aguilera - Say Something (#6)

55. Rae Morris feat Fryars - Cold (#4)

 

good stuff again!

SLOW DOWN :magic: Lots of copy and pasting to do below! my faves so far:

 

99. Klangkarussell - Symmetry (#8)

98. Ella Henderson - Yours (#6)

97. Blonde feat Melissa Steel - I Loved You (#8)

94. The Common Linnets - When Love Was King (#9)

92. A.G. Cook - Beautiful (#7)

90. Kölsch feat Gregor Schwellenbach - Cassiopeia (#5)

88. The Veronicas - If You Love Someone (#6)

87. Pharrell Williams - Happy (#10)

86. Cheryl Cole feat Tinie Tempah - Crazy Stupid Love (#7)

85. Robyn & Röyksopp - Do It Again (#8)

82. Tove Lo - Not On Drugs (#9)

80. Sophia Del Carmen feat Pitbull - Lipstick (#6)

77. Colbie Caillat - If You Love Me Let Me Go (#6)

75. Shakira - Empire (#5)

74. Burial - Come Down To Us (#3)

73. Vance Joy - Riptide (#4)

70. Taylor Swift - Shake It Off (#5)

66. Charli XCX - Boom Clap (#5)

65. Madonna - Rebel Heart (#3)

63. Taylor Swift - Out Of The Woods (#5)

62. Clean Bandit & Jess Glynne - Real Love (#5)

57. Cash Cash feat Bebe Rexha - Take Me Home (#5)

56. A Great Big World feat Christina Aguilera - Say Something (#6)

55. Rae Morris feat Fryars - Cold (#4)

53. Goldfish - Moonwalk Away (Moonlanding Mix) (#4)

 

Excellent countdown! :heart:

Enjoying reading your countdown and commentary so far, Rich. Particularly love the inclusions of 'Empire', 'Riptide', 'Out Of The Woods' (which absolutely must be a single at some point - I don't care how many potential hits she has!) and 'Moonwalk Away' (thanks for the discovery!).

Loving the appearances for Public Service Broadcasting! :D

 

I've also hugely enjoyed Moonwalk Away since you sent it to BJSC, definitely one of my favourite discoveries this year.

Sheppard :wub:

I used to love say something but it is too boring for me now :(

heya Rich :)

 

78. Sheppard - Let Me Down Easy (#6) Apparently this is one of their follow-up singles. Very nice

76. The Veronicas - Born Bob Dylan (#4) their whole album was a wonderful surprise.

75. Shakira - Empire (#5) should be higher in my countdown :kink:

73. Vance Joy - Riptide (#4)

72. Maroon 5 - Feelings (#4)

71. Ed Sheeran - Sing (#6) this was alright but Don't & TOL and some of the album are better over this!

70. Taylor Swift - Shake It Off (#5) i'm actually preferring BS over this now!

69. The Saturdays - What Are You Waiting For? (#3)

68. Agnes - Instant Repeater (#4)

66. Charli XCX - Boom Clap (#5) i find this overrated, it's not that good really imo i prefer BTR but even that's average at best.

65. Madonna - Rebel Heart (#3) still need to heard this :P

63. Taylor Swift - Out Of The Woods (#5)

62. Clean Bandit & Jess Glynne - Real Love (#5)

58. Sheppard - Shine My Way (#4)

57. Cash Cash feat Bebe Rexha - Take Me Home (#5)

56. A Great Big World feat Christina Aguilera - Say Something (#6)

55. Rae Morris feat Fryars - Cold (#4)

 

good stuff again!

 

Thanks Rob, it was their first single I believe although I think they may be re-releasing it soon too. Don't & TOL are still to come :D I wasn't fussed on Boom Clap for a while but I came to love it in the end!

 

SLOW DOWN :magic: Lots of copy and pasting to do below! my faves so far:

 

99. Klangkarussell - Symmetry (#8)

98. Ella Henderson - Yours (#6)

97. Blonde feat Melissa Steel - I Loved You (#8)

94. The Common Linnets - When Love Was King (#9)

92. A.G. Cook - Beautiful (#7)

90. Kölsch feat Gregor Schwellenbach - Cassiopeia (#5)

88. The Veronicas - If You Love Someone (#6)

87. Pharrell Williams - Happy (#10)

86. Cheryl Cole feat Tinie Tempah - Crazy Stupid Love (#7)

85. Robyn & Röyksopp - Do It Again (#8)

82. Tove Lo - Not On Drugs (#9)

80. Sophia Del Carmen feat Pitbull - Lipstick (#6)

77. Colbie Caillat - If You Love Me Let Me Go (#6)

75. Shakira - Empire (#5)

74. Burial - Come Down To Us (#3)

73. Vance Joy - Riptide (#4)

70. Taylor Swift - Shake It Off (#5)

66. Charli XCX - Boom Clap (#5)

65. Madonna - Rebel Heart (#3)

63. Taylor Swift - Out Of The Woods (#5)

62. Clean Bandit & Jess Glynne - Real Love (#5)

57. Cash Cash feat Bebe Rexha - Take Me Home (#5)

56. A Great Big World feat Christina Aguilera - Say Something (#6)

55. Rae Morris feat Fryars - Cold (#4)

53. Goldfish - Moonwalk Away (Moonlanding Mix) (#4)

 

Excellent countdown! :heart:

 

Thanks Math :wub:

 

Enjoying reading your countdown and commentary so far, Rich. Particularly love the inclusions of 'Empire', 'Riptide', 'Out Of The Woods' (which absolutely must be a single at some point - I don't care how many potential hits she has!) and 'Moonwalk Away' (thanks for the discovery!).

 

Thanks Noah! Glad you're liking some of them and agree with you about Out Of The Woods - it screams smash! Pleased to hear quite a few people are still enjoying Moonwalk Away!

 

Loving the appearances for Public Service Broadcasting! :D

 

I've also hugely enjoyed Moonwalk Away since you sent it to BJSC, definitely one of my favourite discoveries this year.

 

I was a bit late to the party with PSB but got there in the end :lol: Pleased you liked Moonwalk Away, it appealed to quite a few more people than I'd initially anticipated!

 

Sheppard :wub:

I used to love say something but it is too boring for me now :(

 

Indeed :wub: I still like it quite a lot, despite the huge overexposure.

50-41

 

50. Seinabo Sey - Younger (#5)

49. Kylie Minogue - Into the Blue (#4)

48. Sia - Chandelier (#5)

47. Tove Styrke - Borderline (#3)

46. Professor Green feat Tori Kelly - Lullaby (#3)

45. Minx feat Hannah Joy - Hold On (#2)

44. Martin Tungevaag - Wicked Wonderland (#3)

43. Route 94 feat Jess Glynne - My Love (#5)

42. Coldplay - A Sky Full of Stars (#5)

41. Tom Odell - Real Love (#2)

 

Seinabo Sey - Younger

 

 

Minx feat Hannah Joy - Hold On

 

 

Martin Tungevaag - Wicked Wonderland

 

 

The top 50 kicks off with Swedish soul singer Seinabo Sey's Younger. I personally marginally prefer the original version, as discovered in Unknown Pleasures (thanks Dandy*), thanks to that beautiful string breakdown, but the Kygo version is obviously very impressive too and hopefully a future hit.

 

In a perhaps underwhelming era for Kylie (although I thought the album was strong on the whole), lead single Into The Blue is the only entrant into the top 100, after peaking at #4 early in the year, it's a very strong pop song and ticks all the boxes but I didn't find it as stunning as All The Lovers. Beautiful outro on the album version though.

 

As a fan of Sia since she launched her career, it's been a joy to see her career go stratospheric over the past few years. And after numerous collaborative smashes and songwriting hits, she finally scored her second UK top ten hit, 14 years after the first, with the Rihanna-esque power pop of Chandelier. One of those songs that never seems to get boring, hopefully it will go down as something of a future classic - 25 weeks and counting in the UK top 40 is a good start *.*

 

The lady behind the magnificent White Light Moment finally returned this year, Tove Styrke burst back onto the scene as an almost entirely different type of artist. Yet for all the naysayers, I think she's just as good as ever, just in a different way. Ego shows she still has that shimmering pop magic in her but M.I.A.-esque ska-infused Borderline really grew into something special for me, although it took a few listens.

 

Professor Green was somebody I started out really disliking a lot, I thought his first few singles were really dire. He has steadily improved over the years in my eyes and Lullaby is by far his best moment yet, although admittedly largely down to the gorgeous hook from American singer Tori Kelly. It's all very 2010 and pretty dated but who can deny a melody like that?

 

Another of my BJSC entries, and Minx's Hold On stood out to me immediately, an atmospheric dance track from Australia that brought to mind shades of London Grammar, Florence + The Machine and the 2005 Reflekt hit Need To Feel Loved. It outperformed my expectations by finishing in the top half in the final, although only after scraping through in the first place after somebody not voting in the semi final and pushing me into the final by default - thanks for that!

 

Norway seems to be churning out some decent new artists recently in the form of Nico & Vinz and Kygo and another one to watch is Martin Tungevaag who has already smashed in a few countries with the saxtastic and highly infectious Wicked Wonderland. Hopefully a UK smash next year.

 

Jess Glynne followed up her huge #1 Rather Be by guesting on the fairly minimal deep house song My Love by Route 94. It's a pretty subtle but highly impressive dance track although it always amazes me to see how much it sold looking back, easing past platinum status despite it never really feeling quite THAT big.

 

After really never being much of a fan of Coldplay until around 2008 when I took a shine to Violet Hill, I've liked and even loved quite a few of their singles since. Paradise became their highest peaking hit in my chart when it went to #3 in 2011 and the Avicii-produced A Sky Full Of Stars was never going to fail to follow it into the upper reaches. A number five peak, it spent the best part of a couple of months in the top ten, an incredibly euphoric anthem and possibly my favourite Coldplay single to date.

 

And juuuuust missing the top 40 by a whisker, but outpacing Lily Allen who was #42 of 2013 with Somewhere Only We Know, is Tom Odell with the John Lewis ad song Real Love. I was one of Tom's few major fans on this forum last year with Long Way Down finishing in my EOY top ten albums last year. So unlike many others I was pleased with his selection for the advert and it's a pretty beautiful piano ballad take on the quite underrated John Lennon/The Beatles track. Shame it hasn't really seen that much commercial success so no doubt John Lewis will return to a female singer for next year's campaign.

Top 40 singles and albums to follow later in the week, thanks for all the comments thus far! :D

Chandelier is stunning because of Sia's vocals, Real Love is good but pales in comparison to the other John Lewis songs and I really like Into The Blue :wub:

However I hate a sky full of stars :puke2:

 

Can't wait for the top 40 Gooddelta :wub:

Heya Rich! :D Have missed quite a lot so catching up ~

 

- Damn at Ugly Heart and Problem missing your top 100! Both are in my top 10 :heart:

- Nice to see Crazy Stupid Love appear though, it seems quite divisive even amongst Cheryl fans!

- Not actually surprised to see Delta quite low, Love Thy Will Be Done is a lovely cover but that's about it, it lacks a certain Delta charm that makes most of her other singles so wonderful.

- I can imagine Jo from S Club 7 singing Animals actually :o It's not a bad track exactly but you're right, it's Adam Levine's voice that puts me off lmao.

- Professor Green REALLY surprised me with Lullaby, not usually a fan of his at ALL (not even his Lily collab does much for me - Lily's parts are the only good bits lol) but Lullaby is an absolute beauty. Tori Kelly steals the song of course but Prof's parts aren't even bad.

- Tom's Real Love is absolutely gorgeous, I was always gonna eat up anything new he did following the wonderful debut album (my EOY #2 last year but it's the most successful album in my chart history, 70 weeks in my top 15! :o) but this is so so good :heart:

 

Excellent stuff so far *.*

Chandelier is stunning because of Sia's vocals, Real Love is good but pales in comparison to the other John Lewis songs and I really like Into The Blue :wub:

However I hate a sky full of stars :puke2:

 

Can't wait for the top 40 Gooddelta :wub:

 

Thanks ultraviolence :D Agree about Chandelier. I think Real Love is just as good as most of them, shame it's not seen much success in comparison to Lily and Gabrielle.

 

Heya Rich! :D Have missed quite a lot so catching up ~

 

- Damn at Ugly Heart and Problem missing your top 100! Both are in my top 10 :heart:

- Nice to see Crazy Stupid Love appear though, it seems quite divisive even amongst Cheryl fans!

- Not actually surprised to see Delta quite low, Love Thy Will Be Done is a lovely cover but that's about it, it lacks a certain Delta charm that makes most of her other singles so wonderful.

- I can imagine Jo from S Club 7 singing Animals actually :o It's not a bad track exactly but you're right, it's Adam Levine's voice that puts me off lmao.

- Professor Green REALLY surprised me with Lullaby, not usually a fan of his at ALL (not even his Lily collab does much for me - Lily's parts are the only good bits lol) but Lullaby is an absolute beauty. Tori Kelly steals the song of course but Prof's parts aren't even bad.

- Tom's Real Love is absolutely gorgeous, I was always gonna eat up anything new he did following the wonderful debut album (my EOY #2 last year but it's the most successful album in my chart history, 70 weeks in my top 15! :o) but this is so so good :heart:

 

Excellent stuff so far *.*

 

Thanks Joseph :D

 

Aww, they hung on well throughout the year but just dipped outside at the end. Yeah I grew to quite love CSL, the same can't be said for I Don't Care sadly. I think I really would have come across as a blind loon if Delta had finished any higher than that, I do like it a lot but you're right, it lacks her normal magic.

 

I didn't like Pro Green's Lily collab either really. I agree with you, I find his parts quite tolerable wrapped around that beautiful chorus. Even if he does sound like a Poundland Eminem on the track. Real Love is really beautiful, shame it couldn't have been a bigger hit but then I never honestly expected him to have another top ten hit (or even one at all before Another Love got there :lol:)

Albums

 

40-21

 

40. Lana Del Rey - Ultraviolence (#3)

39. Sam Smith - In The Lonely Hour (#4)

38. Christina Perri - Head Or Heart (#3)

37. Sweet California - Break Of Day (#2)

36. The Pierces - Creation (#3)

35. Tove Lo - Queen Of The Clouds (#3)

34. Sarah McLachlan - Shine On (#2)

33. David Guetta - Listen (#2)

32. Public Service Broadcasting - Inform - Educate - Entertain (#3)

31. Carrie Underwood - Greatest Hits: Decade #1 (#2)

30. Kiesza - Sound Of A Woman (#3)

29. Mariah Carey - Me. I Am Mariah...The Elusive Chanteuse (#2)

28. Missy Higgins - Oz (#2)

27. Calvin Harris - Motion (#2)

26. Sanna Nielsen - 7 (#2)

25. Armin Van Buuren - A State Of Trance 2014 (#4)

24. Helene Fischer - Farbenspiel (#3)

23. Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Wanderlust (#2)

22. The Saturdays - Finest Selection: The Greatest Hits (#1 for 1 week)

21. Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga - Cheek To Cheek (#1 for 1 week)

 

So here is the bottom half of my top 40 albums of the year. The likes of Lana Del Rey, Sarah McLachlan, Missy Higgins, Calvin Harris, David Guetta and Mariah Carey all turned in perfectly decent albums, although all have produced better in the past. Lana's in particular is a major fall from grace after Born To Die finished at #2 in my EOY 2012 chart. Mariah's album in particular though was way better than her last mess.

 

In terms of debuts there are some strong albums from Sam Smith (although oddly I don't LOVE any individual song but as a whole it's decent), Sweet California (so trashy...but great!), Kiesza (her live concert was pretty spectacular and the album is very strong), Tove Lo (strong but maybe not as brilliant as I'd hoped from the promise of the Truth Serum EP) and Public Service Broadcasting (a year late with this oops but it's great). Greatest hits collections from Carrie Underwood and The Saturdays pop up and it was quite a joy listening to both and remembering just how consistently high quality both act's discographies are.

 

Elshewere, Christina Perri turned in a pretty strong album, The Pierces brought the melodies again on another strong collection, Sanna Nielsen's seventh album is short but very sweet and Helene Fischer's album is pure corny schlager cheese but a joyous listen, and I think the biggest selling album of 2014 in Germany. Sophie Ellis-Bextor displayed a blistering return to form with the Radio 2 aimed Wanderlust - not somebody I'd have ever expected to see the top five (even top fifty!) albums/top 40 singles again but it was a very pleasant surprise.

 

I wasn't sure whether to include Armin Van Buuren's album as I've excluded all other compilations but it features more than enough of his own material to just about qualify, and it's been by far my favourite trance album of the year. And juuuust missing out at No.21 is Cheek To Cheek, Lady Gaga's jazz covers side project with crooner Tony Bennett. Not a popular move with a lot of people but I can appreciate it for what it is - a highly pleasant listen with some great vocals. Like everyone else though (apart from Tony), I'm still looking forward to the return of Popga.

Great first lot of the album chart GoodDelta :wub: Here are my faves:

 

40. Lana Del Rey - Ultraviolence (#3) This is definitely one of my favourite albums of the year, it is so stunning

39. Sam Smith - In The Lonely Hour (#4) I'm Not The Only One >>> The rest of the album

38. Christina Perri - Head Or Heart (#3) I never got that much into her first album but I adore this one

33. David Guetta - Listen (#2)

31. Carrie Underwood - Greatest Hits: Decade #1 (#2)

30. Kiesza - Sound Of A Woman (#3)

29. Mariah Carey - Me. I Am Mariah...The Elusive Chanteuse (#2)

27. Calvin Harris - Motion (#2) Pray To God >>> The rest of Motion

23. Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Wanderlust (#2)

22. The Saturdays - Finest Selection: The Greatest Hits (#1 for 1 week)

21. Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga - Cheek To Cheek (#1 for 1 week)

Great first lot of the album chart GoodDelta :wub: Here are my faves:

 

40. Lana Del Rey - Ultraviolence (#3) This is definitely one of my favourite albums of the year, it is so stunning

39. Sam Smith - In The Lonely Hour (#4) I'm Not The Only One >>> The rest of the album

38. Christina Perri - Head Or Heart (#3) I never got that much into her first album but I adore this one

33. David Guetta - Listen (#2)

31. Carrie Underwood - Greatest Hits: Decade #1 (#2)

30. Kiesza - Sound Of A Woman (#3)

29. Mariah Carey - Me. I Am Mariah...The Elusive Chanteuse (#2)

27. Calvin Harris - Motion (#2) Pray To God >>> The rest of Motion

23. Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Wanderlust (#2)

22. The Saturdays - Finest Selection: The Greatest Hits (#1 for 1 week)

21. Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga - Cheek To Cheek (#1 for 1 week)

 

Thanks :wub: I like Ultraviolence on the whole but it's definitely not as good as Born To Die for me. Agree with you about Christina although I did like her first album to some extent.

Some great inclusions in that last section. Right now I despise listening to 'Chandelier' due to the hideous amount of times I've listened to it, but I'm sure I'll regain my initial love of it in time. 'A Sky Full of Stars' was quite the unexpected track from Coldplay but they didn't steer TOO much away from their original sound and pulled it off so gloriously. 'Real Love' is also a huge highlight from this section. The Beatles/John Lennon are practically my all time faves, but I really liked Tom Odell's delicate rendition, then again I'm a total sucker for festive saccharine. Great stuff! <3

Singles

 

40-31

 

40. The Common Linnets - Lovers & Liars (6-4-6-7)

39. Marble Sounds - Leave A Light On (4-3-5-8)

38. Ryan Hemsworth feat Tomggg - Cream Soda (6-3-2-5)

37. Mark Ronson feat Bruno Mars - Uptown Funk (2-1)

36. Jessie J, Ariana Grande & Nicki Minaj - Bang Bang (8-4-7-OUT-10-7)

35. Sheppard - Something's Missing (9-8-6-3-6)

34. Mr Probz - Waves (Robin Schulz Radio Edit) (8-5-5-5-7)

33. Duke Dumont feat Jax Jones - I Got U (5-3-3-6)

32. Pamela Myburgh - Fool (9-3-6-9-6-10)

31. Lilly Wood & The Prick and Robin Schulz - Prayer In C (Robin Schulz Radio Edit) (7-OUT-9-5-7-8-4-6)

 

Marble Sounds - Leave A Light On

 

 

Ryan Hemsworth feat Tomggg - Cream Soda

 

 

Pamela Myburgh - Fool

 

 

The top 40 kicks off with the first of three songs in the upper reaches from Dutch country band The Common Linnets. And it's album track Lovers & Liars that kicks off proceedings this year - one of the instant highlights of the album for me, the chorus has everything you could need in a melody. I was bowled over to hear it playing in a music shop in Germany whilst I was on a business trip there in May!

 

Belgian band Marble Sounds sneak in at No.39 with a #3 peaking hit from early on in the year. Leave A Light on is a really gorgeous ballad which I sent to Unknown Pleasures at the time - it really didn't do very well at all but I still love it. It's a sort of indie ballad and almost like a male version of Swedish band Hello Saferide for me. Quite a tender song and rather short but incredibly beautiful.

 

Ryan Hemsworth was sent to BJSC by Pavel early on in the year iirc. I don't recall anything about that song but Cream Soda was something different altogether for me, a song which essentially did exactly what it says on the tin. A sickeningly sweet, slightly K-pop inspired 8-bit inspired track which sounds like it's about to break into the Gameboy Super Mario Land theme at any given moment - a very good thing in my eyes.

 

My Christmas No.1 has done enough to grab a place in the top 40 in the dying moments and no doubt it will feature in my EOY 2015 list too - Uptown Funk is without a doubt the best thing either Mark Ronson or Bruno Mars have ever put their name to - a blistering 80s inspired beauty harking back to the disco and funk records around in the early part of that decade. It also very slightly reminds me in parts (mainly the guitar licks) of this song by Masai which managed four weeks which inexplicably topped my charts for four weeks in 2003. Shame this couldn't have been the UK Christmas No.1 but it will be an easy million seller anyway.

 

Jessie J is somebody I go on and off, I don't care for her much as a person but she had a big hit for me with Price Tag in 2011 (#5) and a few other mid-table hits. I didn't enjoy anything on her last album at all so wasn't exactly anticipating hearing the lead single from her new album. However, the bold brassy sounds of Bang Bang completely surprised me in a good way - a real triumph of a pop song - in no small part due to the guest appearances from Ariana Grande & Nicki Minaj but in my opinion all three bring something good to the table in this record and it's my favourite thing Jessie has put out to date.

 

Sheppard's first song in the top 40 is the follow up to Geronimo (up later), Something's Missing. A big drop in tempo, this song is a lot more pensive but still quite a jaunty singalong chorus with some great harmonies. It completely failed to take off in Australia, for whatever reason not clicking with the public at all and peaking at a really disappointing #35. Not the album lead in they'd have hoped for but then if they will keep avoiding pushing A Grade Playa then they get what they deserve...

 

Dutch rapper Mr Probz was one of many artists to score a laidback house hit this year with the pretty gorgeous Waves. Although it was the magic of German producer Robin Schulz that brought the track to life (and indeed brought it global success) - the tempo increase and the added production really changed a relatively uninteresting song into something quite special and it spent three straight weeks at No.5 for me in May. (Eurovision season so it should have peaked higher probably).

 

Another big UK dance #1 this year was Duke Dumont's Whitney sampling I Got U. I didn't care at all for Need U (100%) but this song really ticked all the boxes for me eventually. I say eventually because I believe it premiered around this time last year but I didn't start to get into it until the radio edit surfaced and I started hearing it around more (and no doubt once the temperature rised too - talk about the perfect summer smash premiering in completely the wrong season). I Got U is a gem of a dance song - the steel pans are literally everything.

 

Pamela Myburgh is another crushing Unknown Pleasures flop of mine - if I will keep sending these piano ballads to a contest saturated with chillwave what can I expect I guess!?! Pamela is one half of South African duo The Arrows who finished 2nd in my EOY chart last year with the still fantastic Spin My World. Fool is a complete 180 on that, a really tender grower of a ballad, but I love it all the same. Her voice is quite nasally but I surprisingly love it, it's very distinct.

 

And back over to Mr Schulz with his second UK #1 of the year, and a #4 with a lengthy top ten stay (by my standards at least!) in my chart. Prayer In C pulled the same trick as Waves although admittedly I do like the very different original of this track quite a lot too. But the dance version is my favoured choice and turns the French indie acts song into one of the most addictive dance smashes of the year.

 

Quite strange how this section has featured five UK #1's and five almost completely unknown songs on reflection but I like my polar opposites!