Lol bye

 

(maybe you'll find out when I finish it, not that you've done that before lolz :ph34r: )

 

Don't bring my not-finishing-things-ness into this!

 

Ooh at 'All We Can' showing up here (although I feel the shade with that commentary). :heart: Probably still marginally my favourite of my UP entries this year althoughy GOAT is very close.

 

You seem to have omitted #90 :heehee:

 

Generally good songs so far with the clear exception of 'Everything Is AWESOME!!!' (Y) 'Faded' is way too low tho.

I adore take me to church now but it also took a long time to hit me. Stunning song though :wub:

You seem to have omitted #90 :heehee:

 

 

I have just noticed I've included a duplicate of the song at 81 (wouldn't be my countdown if I didn't forget something/make some form of error!) so everything now moves up a place (so Tasseomancy gets a top 100 place *.*) 81-89 are coming later tonight hopefully!

 

:magic:

 

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71. Azure Blue – Time is on Our Side
2nd of the four Unknown Pleasures marvellous discoveries and sure enough the song in 2nd place in my initial votes, lolz contradictory indeed. But again this song is still a wonderful listen. This has quite similar appeal to All We Can in the sense it's another quite chilled song, characterised by a very warming, hazy synth line along with more hushed vocals. It's a really lovely, dreamy affair that will will really make you feel...calm I guess.

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72. Calvin Harris – Summer
I must confess I do like a bit of really generic Calvin Harris from time to time. I'm sure he recycles his breakdowns an awful lot, but it's hard to deny that every time that they're pretty finely produced and infectious just like Summer's one, so really it's job well done to him there. I think the main thing I really love about this is his voice on the track, so soothing and unconventional and it's slightly rare I hear it these days thanks to the latest A-lister that's featuring on his songs (which isn't always a bad thing, as we'll come to). I do have quite a few memories of leaving Uni attached to this but essentially, Summer is, for me, picking up where I'm Not Alone and Feel So Close left off and it does a brilliant job of it.

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73. Kasabian – Eez-eh
It's been a while since I've really been interested in Kasabian, their last effort pretty much went right over my head, but this one caught my attention a bit more. Rock bands going electronic isn't always a good thing, but Eez-eh works very well by somehow maintaining their unique charm whilst providing a really infectious song that doesn't outstay it's welcome. It's no Club Foot or Fire that's for sure, but it's definitely the most interesting thing they've done since then.

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74. Lushington – Settle Down
I don't have a whole lot to say about this one except it is just REALLY REALLY CATCHY, by the end of the five minutes, you'll be singing along to the verse before it even comes up. It's a track that couldn't be any more different from what's inferred in the title and manages to sound uniquely timeless, I'm kinda more surprised this hasn't become a big hit yet...

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75. Justin Timberlake – Not a Bad Thing
I was kinda surprised by this. The 20/20 Experience was in general quite a disappointing era for Justin, Mirrors aside, no songs really managed to match the quality of that. This manages to capture Timberlake's more emotive and mature side that was seen in Mirrors and make it a bit more simpler and stripped down yet not losing any of the emotion. It's another very good mid-tempo number from Justin and, for me at least, didn't prove that Mirrors was all he had for this campaign.

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76. George Ezra – Blame it on Me
I really like George Ezra, his success for me was a refreshing alternative to the charts and not just drippy ballads, he has a properly soulful and retro yet also timeless sound and a brilliant voice to match that doesn't particularly sound like a commercial prospect. His follow up to Budapest was my preferred of the two for a while but that just about got ahead in this list, Blame it on Me is still really great, sounding more like a classic rock'n'roll record in the vein of Neil Diamond or Bruce Springsteen, it's also really catchy and filled full of soul. On another note, I've just realised he's younger than me, well shit.

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77. Laurel – Fire Breather (Nexity Remix)
I must admit prior to this being entered into BJSC, I didn't know the original of this and if it eliminates that simply exquisite synth line, I'm not really interested as that really did make this stand out a lot more. I actually was surprised to see it was over six minutes as this one really feels memorable all the way through, the fade in and fade out before the verses are particularly good and give it a more intense feel than the middle section.

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78. Aquilo – You There
I saw their name on a lot of 'hype of 2014' sort of lists but they never quite took off in the mainstream thus far and you may not be familiar with this one, but again,

. Most piano ballads on the airwaves this year have been pitifully shit but they can still be beautiful like in this case when the thoughtful lyrics and chilling background sound shines through to contribute to the atmosphere. This could easily be a cut from Keane's latest album which may have put some of you off but for me, is really wonderful.

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79. Ejecta – Afraid of the Dark
Speaking of atmosphere, I don't think you can get a more soothing yet quite edgy and fully wonderful one than what this song creates. A BJSC entry from late last year that followed me through this year. The song moves into a more frantic electronic mode later on yet still maintains that warming feel even without her soft vocals.

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80. Clean Bandit feat. Jess Glynne – Real Love
When I saw that Clean Bandit were repeating their collaboration that got them a number 1 for their next single, I was worried, as probably most were, that this would be a straight out copy of Rather Be to score another big hit, but I was very glad to be proven wrong and not be disappointed like the very weak Extraordinary. Real Love could be the ideal follow up to either artist - it captures a contemporary dance/house sound that could be a hit for anyone yet still maintains that classical uniqueness that surrounds all of Clean Bandit's work. It's only hit me recently, so it may continue to grow in the year hence a lowly position here, but still pretty good for that. This was the case which kept out Uptown Funk for my 2015 list instead, so I should hope I'm not sick of them by then oops.

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-x-

This will most likely resume at the weekend because I've been lazy today and need to catch up on Christmas/essays etc. tomorrow Merry Christmas y'all!

Edited December 23, 201410 yr by FrostytheWallaby

Mixed section for me :)

Eez-eh is absolutely stunning and one of my favourite Kasabian songs. Fire still remains one of my favourite. They were fantastic when I saw them live :wub:

I used to really like real love but I am bored of it now

Blame it on me/ Not a bad thing are boring and bland and summer is generic at it worst :puke2:

 

Anyway I love your commentaries Chez and Merry Christmas :cheer:

blame it on me is lovely and definitely better than budapest for me. he has such a soulful voice and i agree about it being timeless. shame that listen to the man is being overshadowed too.

 

real love outshines rather be for me, i just think the violins in the chorus to real love are so subtle yet striking and beautiful. job well done to them!

 

 

Afraid Of The Dark omg, that's so amazing. Didn't expect to see it on any EOY charts this time around but I guess I have been playing it and my other highlights from LX a lot this year. Very nice to see Eez-Eh, Summer, Faded and Settle Down in here too. Oh and All We Can, I missed that out as I never charted it but that's been one of the few songs that's stuck with me from any UPs this year.

 

I should see The Lego Movie as I do really like Everything Is Awesome!!, it's cute and I love the two acts behind it anyway. Kind of a lesser Let It Go for me in that sense (yes I've still not seen Frozen and yes I still stan Idina)

Agree with everything you say in the 'Alive' commentary, I did find the era to be a disappointment but that was my definite highlight from it. I think perhaps it's the song that fits most with the 'No More Idols' era.

 

George Ezra has been the unexpected success story this year for both me and commercially! I wasn't initally familiar with his music but saw he had a singer/songwriter tag attached to him so just assumed he would blend into the already oversaturated market. However, he really does stand out for me and I think that the comparisons that are often made with Ed Sheeran and Sam Smith are unfair.

 

Agreed about 'Real Love' too as I really was expecting a weak carbon copy but it shows that perhaps Clean Bandit and Jess Glynne are made for each other.

 

I fully expect 'Uptown Funk' to feature highly next year then, I will be there watching :angry:

Excellent to see some Afraid of the Dark love here, looking forward to listening to their new mini-album next month (now as Young Ejecta).

 

Other favourites so far are The Midnight, Imagine Dragons and ZHU.

 

Liking the awards, can't say I disagree with any of them!

IZ, you need to watch Frozen (and The Lego Movie while you're at it) :o if anything it'll make you loon over all of the songs even more <3 More about a specific one of those later though.

 

OK, all family related festivities out of the way, I think we can resume this (and probably should to save me not over-running into the first week of January)

 

-x-

 

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61. American Authors – Best Day of my Life

OK yes, it does sound identical to kinda like Imagine Dragons' It's Time/Train's Hey Soul Sister and it's not remotely original, and I'm hardly the first to be a big fan of acoustic pop songs masquerading as 'alternative' because the lead singer/band plays a guitar, but something about the sunny optimism and really infectious nature of this really spoke to me, I've grown to associate it with Uni memories (I heard it a few months prior to it's success thanks to my friends) and it never fails to make me crack a smile when looking towards the future, which is sometimes all that's really needed.

 

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62. Ephera – Alaska

I do wish I searched out wonderful gems like this more often, I guess I can thank UP for bringing them more to my attention. This wonderful almost instrumental song is complimented by a monologue (which may be from a film/somewhere but I'm not familiar with it) which does use 'fuckin' a bit too much but it's message of looking to that special place in that moment, if even in just your thoughts, it works brilliantly with the music - which twists and turns through various synthesiser sequences and computerised sounds with a jaunting piano in the background that work to create layer after layer of atmosphere-enhancing music. Just beautiful, give it a listen, non-UP people.

 

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63. One Direction – Night Changes

Recipient of: Most unexpected gem considering the artist

It's only fair I give them this as though I do have a soft spot for them like pretty much the entire nation, I haven't REALLY liked, in a non guilty pleasure sorta way, any song from them since their wonderful debut. This marked a change (lol) though, it definitely deviates a lot from their normal pop sound and slows the tempo a bit, thankfully it's not down the Ed Sheeran route with something like the cringeworthy Littlest Things and instead a slightly more serious tone and sound that is quite similar to (as I believe I've said before) of something that Coldplay or Travis may do, which I of course very much approve of. It really is a mature and very well written song that I think shows both how far they've come with their sound and how their capability of doing a song like this puts them one step ahead of the various other indistinguishable boybands out there.

 

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64. MAGIC! - Rude

I see a lot of hate for this on here, why you all gotta be so rude? :( I like hits in the chart that deviates slightly from the norm in terms of sound and this wonderful pop-reggae sound is just that and is a right earworm to match. I find it kinda funny also that this song sounds rather suspicious (and kinda stupid) lyrically in it's/his intentions yet shameless at the same time. I think this would be the sort of song that Heart would make me hate, but for the time being, it still has a great slight oddball/novelty charm about it.

 

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65. Calvin Harris feat. Ellie Goulding – Outside

When Calvin gets it right, boy does he get it right. Outside is him at his best and this was refreshing after the utterly dull, vapid Blame, the strings compliment the euphoria of the track and Ellie's vocals are lovely and charming as ever, I think this packs a lot more of a punch musically than the quite generic and plodding I Need Your Love, plus this thankfully hasn't had the overplay that that had which made me hate it so even better, and is definitely what I wanted from a collaboration from these two.

 

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66. Vanic x Machineheart - Circles

The mainstream side of trap music here as discovered through BJSC definitely, but that's no bad thing, the breakdown/production really do elevate this otherwise fairly catchy pop song to great heights. It was a big hit in BJSC and it's not too hard to see why really. Her vocals do remind me slightly of those of Ellie Goulding which kinda reinforces the belief that this could easily get mainstream success if given a push.

 

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67. Flight Facilities feat. Elizabeth Rose – I Didn't Believe

One of my own BJSC entries now which I sent in August after hearing it for the first time in their home nation of Australia. I didn't know at the time it was over a year old, but frankly a song like this could well have come from any time from the 1970s to 2000 as it's that timeless. The disco Nile Rodgers-esque background music and disco breakdown combined with Elizabeth Rose's really catchy vocal loop made this a really infectious, feel good tune that was one of my favourite discoveries from the wonderful Triple J radio (I'd srsly recommend if you ever happen to be down under).

 

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68. George Ezra – Budapest

Overplay has made me not think this was as beautiful as it was when I heard it the first time, but it nonetheless is comfortably amongst my favourite big hits of the year. Stripped back, simple and his soothing vocal style is accompanied with a wonderfully subtle instrumental backing before breaking into a huge guitar solo midway through. You can guarantee this will become a modern classic remembered throughout the ages and deservedly so. I was rather glad that this marked a turnaround for George Ezra, Cassy O really didn't deserve to flop so much.

 

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69. Verite – Strange Enough

A BJSC discovery and a rather good opening statement from whoever this is for sure. Very subtle production precede an explosive chorus, it's a great little blogosphere indie pop song and has clicked with me massively in the months following the contest it was entered in (where I only gave it one point iirc), her follow up Weekend which was also entered is also a very nice song which was definitely a huge grower after the contest (sorry Bal) and shows the lovely tone to her vocals. A promising prospect for sure.

 

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70. Haim – If I Could Change Your Mind

I've enjoyed Haim a lot since their debut last year (and not just aesthetically) and having just acquired their album, I hope for my enjoyment of their music to continue. This song was another catchy indie-pop song fitted in with their unique vocal style and clear 80s-pop influences. I guess what adds to it's wonder is the video, I never quite envisioned them as doing Destinys Child & TLC-esqe dance routines but it's great to see!

 

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Edited December 27, 201410 yr by FrostytheWallaby

'Circles'! :wub:

 

I was thinking the other day if it might recieve a mainstream push as it's been taken off the two main YouTube channels that it was on - MrSuicideSheep and I can't remember the other one oops! I would love to see it being big anyway.

Superb section, Chez!

 

I also don't get the hate on Buzzjack for 'Rude' and wasn't aware of it until the other day when it kept being mentioned as one of the worst songs of 2014 :(. Such an enjoyable, catchy song and I agree with you about it bringing some welcomed variety to the charts. Also love 'Night Changes', 'Circles', 'Strange Enough' and 'If I Could Change Your Mind' and am a casual fan of a few of the others too.

 

Also, (very late but) really enjoyed reading your excellent commentaries on the first page. The one on Elyar Fox, among others, was absolutely spot on!

Edited December 28, 201410 yr by Noahspike

'Circles'! :wub:

 

I was thinking the other day if it might receive a mainstream push as it's been taken off the two main YouTube channels that it was on - MrSuicideSheep and I can't remember the other one oops! I would love to see it being big anyway.

 

I was wondering where the official video went actually, hope that doesn't mean bad things for it :(

 

-x-

 

Sorry, was meant to continue this yesterday but I was kinda ill and had no motivation, I'm hoping to get 41-60 done tonight though.

Ephera, George Ezra and Flight Facilities all good, though I prefer some other FF songs, Two Bodies my favourite of theirs this year.

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51. Porter Robinson – Sea of Voices
I am the first to admit I love building atmospheric music and any artist that does it has my number, but I wasn't quite expecting it from Porter Robinson of all people. Especially considering his last two (brilliant) singles were both upbeat dance hits. Nonetheless it is completely wonderful, starting with echoed whispering and quietly frantic production before after a nonsensical and lyrically cheesy yet still quite goosebump inducing verse, everything comes to life. A glorious five minutes of music, it's really makes me wanna check out the album if there are other songs like this on it.

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52. Nico & Vinz – Am I Wrong
I vaguely remember this being entered into BJSC last year yet it did take me a while to fully match them considering the name change, anyway, I liked this there but it becoming a huge number 1 made me love it, predictably. Whilst it's lyrics aren't it's strong point, it is surely the most infectious song to reach the top of the charts this year, the quite eccentric Afrobeat and Hip Hop inspired instrumental along with the catchy chorus and pop hooks makes it have quite a universal and timeless feel. This could easily have been a huge hit in the 1990s and seeing it become one today isn't a huge surprise.

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53. Kye Kye – Honest Affection
The first thing that came to mind when I heard this in BJSC was 'this sounds a lot like CHVRCHES' and as I've recognised over the years, this seems to be the key to what makes me really love the female fronted electro-pop blog friendly sound. If you're a fan of CHVRCHES, you'd definitely love this, her solemn and high vocals work well with the synths to establish a feeling of real emotion and meaning to this otherwise very infectious electro-pop offering.

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54. Bok Bok feat. Kelela – Melba’s Call
I'm not normally drawn to the R'n'B-electro kinda sound but this definitely grabbed me right from the off, so much so it gave me the confidence to send it to BJSC. Very left-field and unconventional in sound, itt's quite hard to define in terms of genre, Kelela's vocals bares some resemblance to Brandy/Janet Jackson and it's surrounded with a jarring and eclectic instrumental and production that goes a lot of places yet still maintaining it's sound. It's eclectic charm and tendency to go so many places at once make it a really great, if odd, listen.

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55. Coldplay – Midnight
Did you think they were never gonna show up? I suppose one of the many reasons Coldplay remain my favourite ever act is their ability to still surprise me sometimes with which direction they go in, I could never have predicted them to go down the subtle indie route and I wouldn't have guessed it would've worked but it did so well. Chris' voice is perfect in complimenting the atmosphere and though it stays in one place throughout, it never becomes less interesting because of that. Indeed, it ended up sticking out like a sore thumb on the album in terms of sound, like a certain other song still to come, but on it's own, it remains a fantastic listen.

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56. Vermont – Majestat
More subtlety/slowly building atmospheric songs again, yay! This time, probably one that most don't know,

. Mysterious in just about every way, it slowly builds from what seems a single beat becoming more and more layered until the track is bursting with energy yet maintaining that beat throughout. They, a electronic duo is about all I know of them, haven't put out much else this year except this, and when the primary image you can find when you search 'vermont duo' is a mountain, you know they're quite mysterious, but I can only hope they have more gems like this up their sleeve

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57. Paradis – Garde Le Pour Toi
Recipient of: Best foreign language song
Admittedly, I've not listened to a lot of foreign language songs this year that have really grabbed me but this is definitely one that has. Though, it does rely on that slow moving beat and the slowly building atmosphere (like pretty much every song in this section that I've already described so no need for me to repeat adjectives), his vocals add an excellent soothing quality to the song that serves as making it wonderfully relaxing and making the length seem necessary. Must say thank you, RFC, if you're reading for these two fantastic BJSC discoveries, keep it up! :heart:

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58. Pharrel Williams - Happy
Well, I had to didn't I? Statistically, the biggest song of the year has also resonated quite well with me even after all this time. Ignoring it's huge commercial success for a moment, it really is a quite unique little song, it again has a very timeless feel to it musically with it's gospel choir, soulful vocals and just underlying optimism, it couldn't be any more than what it is titled as and that is a very good song. I never got bored and seeing some people going crazy about it not going away in the chart forum all year made me enjoy it even more so.

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59. Highasakite – Darth Vader
I had heard of this group before but it wasn't until this song where I really got into them. This was another song I heard a lot whilst I was out in Australia and I really grew to love it's very bizarre lyrics and typical euphoric production you'd expect from a European indie synth pop song.

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60. Miami Horror feat. Cleopold – Colours In The Sky
Another great discovery of an artist I knew little prior to this year, their music will please anyone with an ear for indie music with just about every electronic synth thrown in as possible. This one particularly struck a chord with me, the chorus is a full on lighters-in-the-air moment and the swirling synths and electronics that surround it makes it impossible not to be taken by it (or so I thought before it flopped in BJSC anyway :().

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Getting into the REALLY GOOD stuff now, eep.

 

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41. Ariana & The Rose – In Your Bed (Oliver Nelson Remix)

Probably one of the only charts on Buzzjack where you'll see a different artist called 'Ariana' charting this year. Anyway, whilst the original of this song was a stripped back acoustic number, this quite wonderful nu-disco remix breathes new life into the song without sacrificing it's inner dark tone which, for me, just didn't really come through in the original. Narrowly my favourite of my own personal UP hits.

 

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42. Matrix & Futurebound feat. Max Marshall - Control

Matrix & Futurebound continue to release their annual dance anthem that always worms it's way into my affections. Magnetic Eyes was one of the best musical moments of last year for me and Control...well, it sounds almost exactly like that except without the rap, but I still can't help but really like it mainly as the production is as slick and brilliant as ever and ,much like All I Know & Magnetic Eyes, helps lift this otherwise fairly disposable yet catchy hit to another level.

 

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43. Klingande - Jubel

Another example of the wonderful dance-sax craze that hit the UK months after the rest of Europe if only for about five minutes, but they were great while they lasted. Jubel isn't quite as good as the rather wonderful Changes but takes a more laid back feel as the sax moves along slowly, but emphasising the chilled atmosphere of the whole thing and the occasional vocals are pleasant enough even if they don't add a whole lot. If we put all the sax hits in the context of being performed in one night with Bakermat as the opener and Changes in the middle, Jubel would be the one at the end of the night played to calm everyone down and be in a good mood by the end of the night.

 

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44. Cosmonaut Grechko – Anytime

The Soundcloud description for this says all that I could have said about it: ''Anytime is a retro sounding electro track with such nostalgic variance that it could be pulled from literally, anytime". This really wonderful, timeless number makes excellent use of electronic synthesizers and excellently hushed vocals and combining them with a glorious string and trumpet section to make for a gloriously relaxing, smooth four minutes. Nostalgia never sounded so good.

 

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45. Kids of the Apocalypse – Empire

Recipient of: Greatest concept artist

KOTA (as they were then abbreviated) finished in my top 10 last year with what was essentially a demo, but it was also an excellently genre bending action-packed two minutes with a startling message and video to match. Their first full length song was always going to intrigue me (and when Bré sent it to BJSC, it made it slightly easier) and sure enough it carries on where the latter picked off. A powerful message and video (not for the faint hearted) enhance the track as the enigmatic fear and foreboding that was seen in Masters of the Sun now turns to sorrow and despair at the state of the world as the childrens choir take the lead and the track frantically shoots along, watching it with the video will leave you quite speechless, I can assure you. That said, KOTA, more material and less mystery please, I don't wanna not justify this award.

 

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46. Nick Mulvey – Cucurucu

It's wonderful to see something completely different that charts against the odds sometimes, and this is just that. There's no tricks or autotune present here, just a totally stripped back acoustic quite beautiful song, which is I believe based on an ancient poem but I'll be damned if I can decode this song. But the emotion and feeling and lyrical wizardry comes across perfectly in this track and shows and it is reassuring that songs like this can still make a small impact in this day and age.

 

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47. Taylor Swift – Shake It Off

Whod've thought Taylor Swift could become so good? I certainly didn't, before this era, she generally drew the line between occasionally good (I Knew You Were Troubl) and annoying as fuck (We Are Never..., most of her other songs). Shake It Off was a defiant statement, one that definitely made the world take notice that things would be slightly different from the young girl that was using Romeo & Juliet metaphors five years ago. I think the main appeal in this is it is just so darn catchy, I challenge anyone to not be humming the chorus constantly after a few plays. I still don't think she looks very comfortable in the video, which for me does devalue this song a little (but she'd go on to redeem herself a bit there, more on that later), but seperate from that, I think you have to commend Taylor for turning a 'haters' song into something most can relate to (and even if not, just like it because it's a catchy as hell song) and not sacrificing a great song or letting her overbearing personality turn it into a patronising mess (hi Jessie J). That alone is a feat that Taylor manages to almost completely avoid.

 

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48. Emmelie Du Forest – Rainmaker

I think I can safely call Emmelie Du Forest as my favourite Eurovision winning artist in recent years, I have not liked a Eurovision winning song as much as I have Only Teardrops and Rainmaker continues both the flowing water theme and the excellent folk-pop crossover of it's predecessor, cheesy especially with the chanting in the background but still so likable. It was something else great to take away from Eurovision this year which is good considering I don't normally view that show as anything other than light entertainment and cheese (Iceland & France still should've been the top 2 this year, bye).

 

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49. Sigma feat. Paloma Faith - Changing

I've always had a soft spot for Paloma Faith and have always thought her wonderful talent was not appreciated enough in the UK, so I was quite glad to see her get a number 1 with this, and especially as I really tired of Only Love Can Hurt Like This. Paloma's soaring, strong vocals surprisingly fit very well with a drum'n'bass song, of course Sigma get credit here too, proving that Nobody To Love wasn't a one off with exactly the same immense production with added anthemic strings, 'woah's and even a gospel choir, all of which make this a rather short but nonetheless sweet listen.

 

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50. Hang The DJ – Dark Dark In The Night

Finally for this section, a very odd discovery from BJSC back in the summer. This really is a rather excellent attention grabber either way with what is essentially a standard electro-pop song yet shrouded in 'darkness' as seen by the odd lyrics, the stylish and horror film like video and minimalist electronic production that surrounds the song, along with the somewhat comical but also dark 'da da dum' beat throughout, it's a strange song to figure out in terms of what exactly it's intention was but it's undeniably a captivating and chilling listen,

if you're not in BJSC or don't remember it.

 

 

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-x-

 

And I am caught up, yay!

Edited December 30, 201410 yr by FrostytheWallaby

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31. Fuck Buttons – Surf Solar
I'd never prior listened to Fuck Buttons, indeed the notable expletive in the name is the only thing I really associated with them. Hearing this in BJSC was the perfect introduction as instrumentals (as we've seen) are mainly my bag, but experimental rough, slowly building ones aren't ones I usually hear, so hearing one in that song contest of all places was a surprise but a brilliant one. I liked it so much, I checked out the whole ten minute version and then their whole album and was really taken by their style. If I had recommend them, I'd say...think of Clubbed to Death sped up a lot and you're halfway there. Good stuff.

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32. Idina Menzel – Let It Go
Here she is, The iconic queen of life/everything, slayer of all your fave Disney film songs, weave snatcher, the cold never bothered her anyway etc. in truth, I wasn't all that taken by the song when I first heard it on the chart show back in January (!), but I was slowly take by it's charm - the sweet piano/orchestral combination, her voice may be offputting to some but you can definitely feel the genuine emotion and defiance in it in the build up to THAT note. It's a little cheesy but it's Disney down to a tee, and I just can't hate a good Disney ballad. In truth, it was watching the film, whose status as a cultural phenomenon was about as unexpected as this song becoming one of the biggest hits of the year, that made me appreciate it fully, seeing it in context really does make it's *ahem* magic work on you properly and now, well any further week it stays in the chart is one I cherish and in a similar charm to Happy, it is wonderful seeing hatahs getting up in arms about it (Srsly, YOU CLOSED MINDED HUSSIES, watch the film you'll at least appreciate it more then). Anyway, yep, WD Adele Dazeem :cheer:

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33. Broken Bells – Holding On For Life
Lovely little quirky song from way back in January here, which seems to go a lot of different places - from the acoustic building verses to suddenly breaking out into a Bee Gees style high pitched chorus before the synthy Kraftwerk-like breakdown sends things back to the starts. Really lovely little 80s-inspired indie pop song which I am completely out of things to say about. It's cool, listen to it, monkey, dog, giraffe.

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34. Ella Henderson – Glow
Still one to come from her, I wasn't quite alternative enough to stand by my stance that this better than Ghost but I'm still extremely disappointed this got such a muted reaction overall as it's every bit as captivating as it's predecessor, this time with an added anthemic feel to the chorus, not half helped ofc. by her powerful voice driving the track. It's a really gorgeous moment, would've made a fine Eurovision entry for us, or a really good X Factor's winners song.

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35. Taylor Swift – Blank Space
Recipient of: Biggest turnaround for an artist
She wouldn't quite have earned this for Shake it Off, but by the time I heard this, I was fully sold and I can only hope she carries on with this sort of sound and doesn't go completely Katy Perry on us as it's both infectious and actually interesting. Blank Space is not an 'I don't care' sort of song like it's predecessor but instead a cynical 'yeah, that's what I'm like' jibe with clever lyrics centred around her general representation as a bit of a bunny boiler, which really works infinitely better for her. The accompanying video with it's quite lavish visuals works extremely well as a parody as well. Really both musically and lyrically, the extremely cynical tone could easily be something by Lorde or Marina & The Diamonds, and it works so much better than generic country-pop. I feel this represents Taylor's 'postmodern' stage where she can openly make fun of herself and can break out from the caricature pop star mold, it is a far more convicing case of shaking it off. Overall, an impressive comeback, Swifty, more of the same next year please.

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36. Kiesza – Hideaway
A real stand out of the influx of deep house hits from early in the year and still quite an unexpected number 1, considering the woman herself isn't exactly a polished generic pop star. Unconventional by appearance and clearly seen in her sound too. The production lurks throughout the track, but it's really her voice that brings the song to another level and drives the track, the song's constant refusal to resort to a standard chorus or do a washing machine cycle synth breakdown for commercial appeal and remain a minimal and subtle gem throughout is really it's beauty and still sounds wonderfully fresh now. Shame that ultimately she turned out to be a one trick pony, but it was a pretty damn good trick.

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37. Vancouver Sleep Clinic - Flaws
But talking of beautiful voices, this song would simply be nothing without the incredible vocals here. Coming from, believe it or not, a 17 year old, his voice tingles with sadness and desperation yet with a wonderfully soothing quality, the slow piano and acoustic guitar provide a support but really they are in the background here to those vocals. I think I found about him on here, but wasn't as taken by one of his tracks until I heard this.

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38. Ten Walls – Walking With Elephants
No it's not farting, it's called a tuba, now go back to listening to your boring pop-dance studio-synthesised instrumentals thanks ^_^ I initially found out about Ten Walls through BJSC when Gotham was entered last year, which was very refreshing and Walking with Elephants was, well honestly it wasn't much different but had much more of a unique and quite tense build up that went on whilst still not sounding like anything else out there, I love how the track was literally quite like walking with a herd of elephants, due to the slowly plodding nature yet the beat never stops and remains on the one constant, but still noticeably noticeably building with the changing atmosphere. One of the most unexpected but brilliant chart hits of the year.

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39. Indiana – Solo Dancing
I heard about Indiana way back in 2013 with the brilliantly dark and unsettling yet subtle Bound. When Solo Dancing emerged, I began seeing her name around a lot more, which resulted in a quite unexpected but great chart hit. Solo Dancing definitely sounds a lot more commercial, the violins and choral chants of Bound are replaced by synths, but it still maintains that subtlety and distinct weirdness that Bound had (qualities of the latter shown in the video which features her with a frog, a squeezed lemon and a picture of Mr Bean amongst other things), and the slightly unsettling feel is reflected in the slightly mysterious lyrics. It still feels like her and not exactly the sort of thing that becomes a hit, so I'm glad that she still managed to keep her identity without selling out, even if it looks like it'll only be the one hit.

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40. M83 – Ali & Matthias
This quite wonderful and relaxing choral interlude kinda track is the opening track to M83's soundtrack to You & The Night, a french film about an orgy that unfortunately I never got the chance to see, but was more interested in the wonderfully wistful and beautifully composed soundtrack by M83, who are no strangers to beautiful compositions, despite not seeing it in context, it all felt so sensual and beautiful that really moved me. I would recommend listening to it, one of the standouts on it I will talk about later, but this was another one that stayed with me, it's a really great little interlude with the folky pipe opening and the slowly building chanting vocals before becoming immersed into the atmospheric instrumental.

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21. Henry Saiz – All The Evil Of This World
Given I heard this for the first time just over a month ago, it's really done well to worm it's way up into the upper tier of my chart, the marking of a song I LOVED instantly. This is really quite a different kind of song right from the off - with the worrisome shrill vocals, the sinister lyrics and the murky production that only takes over in the last minute of the song. It's a really beautiful, yet seemingly mysterious song. I always thought it sounded like Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains), which as by some distance my favourite Arcade Fire track is a good thing indeed, and still think the vocal style and beat of the track move along in a similar way.

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22. Connan Mackosin - Forever Dolphin Love (Erol Alkin's extended rework)
Recipient of: Best song title (well duh)

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Like WTF right?! Probably the weirdest, most anti-mainstream song I have in this countdown, I found it, like I do through a lot of these sort of anti-mainstream songs, through Unknown Pleasures and was promptly weirded out, but it slowly grew on me. The lyrics are primarily psychadelic, I assume, and whilst the original has crashing bells, a slowly fluctuating beat and seemingly insane sounding vocals and accompanied by an equally bizarre video of love of some very strange kind. The version I prefer in the title is actually different and replaces the chimes with a meandering synth beat that becomes very infectious after a while that makes this quite bizarre nine minutes flow by relatively smoothly. I've been listening to Pink Floyd recently and I do hear some semblence of their work in here if mainly for the exteme unconventional-isms of the music, I always sort of love hearing this from time to time. It's about as refreshing a break from the mainstream you can get.

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23. The Magician feat. Years & Years - Sunlight
Sandwiched between the two tracks around it, I can't help but think this looks a bit out of place as it's just...about as simple as you can get, but it's nonetheless extremely infectious, the synths are srsly orgasmic in this case and really bring this to another level and Years & Years' vocals are convincing enough, if not spectacular. This doesn't sound like a commentary that makes this track worthy of being this high, but really, I smile every time I hear it and it always makes me picture having fun in the summer with it blaring out, which is more than enough.

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24. Sia - Chandelier
Hearing it just now in the top 40 singles of the year really hammers home how much of an unexpected hit this was, but it was a wonderful one at that. A complex song from quite a complex person, the video and subsequent live performances from Sia show that she's not quite what you'd call fame-hungry. I honestly hadn't checked out a lot of Sia's stuff, Titanium was all I could associate her with that I really loved but this had just as much magic as that did. A genre blend of electronic and R'n'b and verses that definitely sound somewhat like Rihanna, but the chorus is something else, sending the song sky high and turning it into an anthem of epic proportions. Lyrically, it's rather clever and quite dark with it's use of a somewhat sad metaphor of a chandelier in the chorus going from flying but then really 'clinging on for dear life'. It was a quite unforgettable moment musically and even if her extreme oddness/reservedness prevented us from hearing anything else, this was enough to leave me satisfied.

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25. Christopher Tin feat. The Soweto Gospel Choir – Baba Yetu
Another marvellous BJSC discovery here a brilliant representation of the diversity that is entered into that contest sometimes. This being a Swahili translation of the Lord's Prayer accompanied by a gospel choir and a glorious world music setting that wouldn't sound out of place at the end of a David Attenborough documentary. It's multiple awards wins and more important by far, it's 2nd place smash in BJSC are well deserved as it gets more gorgeous with every listen.

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26. Kaiser Chiefs – Coming Home
It's been a long time since I've really been interested by the Kaiser Chiefs, they completely lost me shortly after the disaster that was Off With Their Heads, I didn't think they'd grab me again, but Coming Home was a fantastic return to form, instumentally, it's a lot more meaty and heavier than their previous work and, crucially, actually retains the anthemic and catchy feel that enhanced their Employment/Angry Mob era work, hearing it at a great set in V Festival made it all the more enjoyable. It was a joy to see them still have enough relevance to get a top 40 single and they couldn't have done it with a better song.

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27. Ella Henderson – Ghost
Recipient of: Most unexpected Gem
I never give X Factor my serious attention now, a lot of the acts that come from it are either acts with potential whose talent is scuppered by poor managing or dull as fuck/unfunny blink and you miss em acts. Never did I expect anything from someone who finished 6th in a series that I didn't even watch, then I heard this and all doubt were dispelled. I can comfortably call this my favourite ever X Factor related act song, a lyrically mature, dynamic song with a stunning chorus that showcases her excellent vocals. It wouldn't sound out of place as an Adele album track and it's massive selling number 1 status is hardly surprising and it still hasn't gotten remotely old. I haven't quite checked out her album (nor have I fathomed how she finished as low as 6th considering some of the dullards that came from that series) behind but if it's the standard of Ghost and Glow (and Yours is fairly nice as well), then I hope she has long term potential as an artist.

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28. Nils Noa feat. Vinni – Fade Away
This was another really lovely song that grew on me loads after the UP contest which I discovered it in, and didn't give it a lot of points, whereas now it's only behind one other song from the same contest which I gave slightly more to. I love the relaxing and atmospheric feel of the whole thing, Nils' vocals set the tone very well but it's the echoing chanting that follows the chorus that really makes this song. A really wistful song, it was the perfect song to accompany me through summer and various uni stress at the time. Must say thank you to you for this one Iz (and now we're even in terms of entries in each others charts :magic:)

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29. Glass Candy – Warm In The Winter
I recall finding this one while I was on a sort of internet scourge in terms of finding new music and didn't know until a while later that it was three years old! I only knew Glass Candy vaguely prior to this but this was a great moment. What I can describe it in simple terms is seven minutes of pure happy bliss, a single instrumental synth line runs throughout this song but it never becomes boring and the girls serve a fairly good purpose of shouting messages of happiness before climaxing the track with a ending of a stadium concert like monologue which makes the instrumental lift and become particularly eargasmic. You should really listen, you'll get so much enjoyment out if it.

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30. Vance Joy – Riptide
Recipient of: Best Music Video
This was initially a track I heard well back in 2013 after it exploded in other parts of the globe, I was glad to see it become a sleeper hit over here, even if it always seemed like a massive number 1 that never was :( It's a brilliant infectious folk-pop crossover and ofc. not enough can be said about that brilliant video, defining wonderfully the idea of the video being reflective of the song's message.

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Edited December 31, 201410 yr by Wauldlangsynaby

And OMG those extremely time consuming sections are done :drama: Must do a less laborious format next year.

 

I may start the top 20 today, slowly though with a more focused approach. I wanna get this done by Friday at the latest as I have...way too much to think about next week to allow this to continue.

 

HNY everyone who may be reading :cheer:

Just catching up!

 

The majority of your commentaries are so on point, in particular with 'Sunlight'. Looking back, it is quite simple but it really is so so infectious.

 

Another I have to point out is 'Glow' as it really is on a similar quality level as 'Ghostm so it was a shame to see it drop down the chart so quick. It is of course more understated and less immediate but it really is just as anthemic.

 

Amazing to see 'Baba Yetu' so high too. One of my favourite, and unexpected!, BJSC discoveries.