Thank You for the kind comment Riser, glad to see us both sharing some favourites here!

 

Starting the top 40 on Monday, some hints as to what's to come...

 

SIX songs remain from 2015...

FIVE UK #1s...

One Artist has FOUR songs remaining...

 

Thank You to everyone who has read and commented, hope you enjoy what is to come.

40. Miguel - Adorn

 

 

I didn't like this much at the time, but in the years since Adorn has grown on me immensely. Such a sexy song and without question Miguel's signature song. The synths aren't conventional R&B, but the silky smooth vocals work well with them to create this masterpiece.

 

39. Dizzee Rascal - Bassline Junkie

 

 

Where has this Dizzee Rascal gone!? After his popularity had peaked during his commercial glory days of 2009-10, this is what all Dizzee fans who remembered the iconic 'Boy In Da Corner' album wanted to hear. Unashamedly grimey, not pandering to the charts - just great music. The fact this ended up charting in the UK top 10 is testament to the infectiousness of this. All the follow-ups he released were terrible.

 

38. Tujamo & Plastik Funk feat. Sneakbo - Dr. Who

 

 

Imagine if this was the actual Dr.Who theme music :lol: Judging by this, there should be more grime-house records made because this one bangs! Sneakbo offers nothing I haven't heard before, but acts as hype for the ravey breakdown. The sort of song to heat up the coldest winter nights.

 

37. Fuse ODG feat. Sean Paul - Dangerous Love

 

 

When I first heard this about two months before release, I ended up with a massive smile on my face. Why? Because I knew it would be another huge hit for Fuse ODG - his highest peaking to date. Roping in Sean Paul was a masterstroke and this has everything you'd want from an early Summer song - catchy, danceable and beach vibes. Anybody else play Fuse catchphrase bingo!?

 

36. The Weeknd - Can't Feel My Face

 

 

The Weeknd's emergence as one of 2015's stars has been incredibly pleasing to see. Earned It was sultry and a slow burner, The Hills was the R&B anthem but this was his major play for the charts - and paid off superbly. Fusing Max Martin production with his own soul qualities created this outstanding Pop record that evokes Michael Jackson at his pomp.

I'm only a casual fan but I do love Mirrors :wub: Level Up is very good and Feel The Love is Rudimental's beet song :music: shame their recent songs aren't doing a great lot for me :(

 

La La La is very good too! If only Mr Smith sounded more like in this song with his solo singles :lol:

 

CFMF is pretty catchy. Dangerous Love is my favourite Fuse track so far and glad it succeeded well in the chart. Dr Who :music: what a fun bop this is! Especially love the TV show reference :P

 

Bassline Junkie :music: was great to see this go top 10 a few years ago. It's a really catchy track and one of his best.

Bassline Junkie actually becoming a proper chart smash was quite the moment *.

 

love 'Adorn' too, that made my top 100 of its year as well as BJ.

35. Sean Paul - She Doesn't Mind

 

 

'Sean da Paul' is undoubtedly one of my favourite artists ever! I still listen to classics such as Gimme The Light, Get Busy, Like Glue, We Be Burnin' and Temperature on an almost daily basis. This song doesn't quite stand up to those, but I loved this at the time. Sort of song that grows on repeated listens and almost gave Sean Paul an elusive solo chart topper that 2003 somehow denied him.

 

34. Major Lazer & DJ Snake feat. MO - Lean On

 

 

Recently announced as the most streamed song on Spotify ever and alongside Cheerleader, the worldwide sound of Summer 2015. I didn't quite predict that when I first heard it but this was a song that really took off through word of mouth. In years to come, if my children ask me what Pop music sounded like in 2015, I'll point them to Lean On without doubt. Almost flawless song.

 

33. Wretch 32 feat. Example - Unorthodox

 

 

Using the famous Fool's Gold sample, this was hot back in the Spring of 2011. Coming off the back of debut hit Traktor, this couldn't really help be a success, a collobaration between two of the year's defining acts. Playful raps from Wretch and and an anthemic chanty-worthy chorus from Example made this a staple of house parties for ages!

 

32. Rudimental feat. Ella Eyre - Waiting All Night

 

 

Ella Eyre hasn't really come close to replicating this, let's be honest. Rudimental became one of the poster boys in the Return of British Dance Music in 2012/13 and this song was perfect for the time. For me as well, seeing as this was the year I finished Sixth Form and left school. Always makes me feel warm listening to this and no doubt nostaglic as time goes on.

 

31. Devlin feat. Wretch 32 - Off With Their Heads

 

 

Devlin had two top 10 hits in 2012 which is quite strange looking back on it. He's an underrated rapper but neither Watchtower nor Rewind really showcased his potential. This song does. Never had a chance of being a chart hit considering it's lack of an chorus but what an excellent back and forth this was between Devlin and Wretch 32. The string-laden beat is majestic and adds a sense of importance to this song. Brilliant.

30. Labrinth feat. Tinie Tempah - Earthquake

 

 

Labrinth's crowning moment and I definitely remember this being huge in the Winter of 2011/12. There's so much going on in the beat, with a heavy dubstep influence and video game elements. My favourite part has got to be the the gospel middle-eight section. Doesn't get much recurrent play these days, but this song should go down as a classic.

 

29. Chase & Status feat. Moko - Count On Me

 

 

THIS is how to make an 90's inspired dance record modernised. The sort of song that should age very well, I honestly think this is outstanding. Different for Chase & Status, but Moko's vocals are so uplifting they transcend the song. Seen this described as a bro-jam and the song doesn't receive as much love as it should really.

 

28. Sigma feat. Doctor - Rudeboy

 

 

My favourite Drum & Bass record of the decade! With the genre hitting the mainstream and producing plenty of great crossover songs, that may surprise some. For those following the countdown, you've probably worked out my love of Jamaican patois, which Doctor delivers on point here. Overshadowed by Sigma's chart toppers, I've always felt this was their best record and the fact it entered the UK chart despite it's sound is testament to the quality of the song. Very underrated.

 

27. DJ Fresh feat. Ms Dynamite - Gold Dust (Shy FX Re-Edit)

 

 

The original Gold Dust was a huge club record back in 2010 and set up DJ Fresh to be a consistent chart force over the decade. For the release of Nextlevelism, he called in Shy FX to re-work Gold Dust with added vocals from legend Ms Dynamite and, for me, took the song up another level. Major carnival vibes on this, especially when the BPM is lowered in parts of the song. A song I use regularly in the gym to this day.

 

26. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Ray Dalton - Can't Hold Us

 

 

A great example of how to do playful Hip Hop ready for mass consumption and one of the major anthems of early Summer 2013. The video emphasises this, literally so much going on in it! The song is so triumphant and coming of the back of the mammoth Thrift Shop, couldn't help but be a success really. Like Waiting All Night, this takes be back to finishing school so maybe that's where the triumphant sound comes from!

25. Angel - Wonderful

 

 

This why I love the urban music we can produce in the UK. I mean, how many influences does this contain!? I count garage, drum & baas, rock, soul and R&B to create this festival anthem and Angel's best song. I remember this climbed to it's #9 peak as well, rare in 2012. Always reminds me London Olympics and also the time I dabbled in marijuana!

 

24. Snakehips feat. Kaleem Taylor - Forever (Pt. II)

 

 

Ultimate driving music this. Overlooked by many, I sometimes struggle to articulate how much I love this song. The rich vocals of Kaleem Taylor and the warm R&B/House production from Snakehips made this the soundtrack to my Spring in 2015. We experienced a three week heatwave in April and this sounded perfect throughout that.

 

23. Wiley feat. Ms D - Heatwave

 

 

2012 was one of the wettest years on record. I vividly remember the Spring and Summer months passing by overcast and wet (alongside the odd warm spell of course). Listen to this and you wouldn't suspect that! The instrumental is slightly more interesting than the standard dance-pop of the time but the chorus is one that is so repetitive it becomes infectious. Wiley, the godfather of Grime, is of course better than this but I loved this at the time.

 

22. Jeremih feat. YG - Don't Tell 'Em

 

 

Smashed so hard both here in the US that it didn't even need a video... Jumping on the Mustard train, Jeremih had his biggest hit for years with this. The 'Rhythm is a Dancer' sample works well and creates a chantable chorus which saw this crossover majorly. Another song that works as well in a club as it does on radio.

 

21. Fuse ODG - Antenna

 

 

I've compared Fuse ODG to Sean Paul before and this is the 2010's version of Get Busy. Became huge and was the first real Afrobeats hit (Oliver Twist didn't have the last appeal of this). I'm sure plenty of people thought Fuse would be a one hit wonder and I must admit I did too. Absolute party anthem and this was all over Kavos during my lad's holiday there in 2013. His signature song I think and will become a cult classic of the decade in the eyes of many.

Earthquake is definitely one of my major favourites of the decade, it spent 12 weeks in my personal top 10 anyhow.

 

Lean On and Antenna are also biggg songs! Other than the stuff I don't know nothing I dislike in the top 40 so far (although I was never that big on Unorthodox, seemed weak as a Traktor follow up)

20. Jay Z & Kanye West feat. Frank Ocean - No Church In The Wild

 

 

Music with meaning. The opening to the Watch The Throne album, I've always loved the production on this - giving the song a cinematic vibe. Kanye's chorus really speaks to me and, as good as N*ggas in Paris is, this remains my favourite from their collaborations together.

 

19. Ed Sheeran - Sing

 

 

A dead ringer for 'Like I Love You', as even Ed Sheeran has admitted in interviews. However, as that is one of all-time favourites I cannot help but love this. Sheeran gets plenty of hate for his MOR music and dull ballads but I always remember his No.5 Collaborations Project with the hottest Grime MC's and the great You Need Me... remix with Devlin and Wretch 32. Over the Summer of 2014, I kept this on repeat, great song.

 

18. Tinie Tempah - Pass Out

 

 

The first smash hit of the decade? I remember this was all over school at the time and got labelled the 'chavviest' song ever by some! At a time where UK rappers were achieving unprecedented chart success with the likes of Chipmunk, Dizzee and Tinchy, this was the first #1 that didn't use a cheesy 4x4 dance beat. The drum&bass section at the end is particularly great as is the Britishness of Tinie's raps. As debut singles go, this is hard to beat.

 

"I've been Southampton but I've never been to Scunthorpe". Iconic.

 

17. Kendrick Lamar - i

 

 

Honestly don't know why this received hate when released... it is fantastic! Maybe people have too high expectations of Kendrick Lamar, but the funk-laden beat and bombastic raps from Kendrick make this a firm favourite of mine. The ultimate self-confidence anthem and listening to this, I never feel bad.

 

16. Drake - Headlines/Take Care

 

 

Cannot split these two! Both from the 2011 'Take Care' album, these two showcase different sizes to Drake who is arguably the biggest rapper of the 2010s. Headlines is swaggy, backed by one of the best Hip Hop beats of the decade and a song that went off in the clubs. Take Care also gets played in clubs (normally mixed in with something else), but the rawness of Drake's raps, the dancehall flecked beat and a dope hook from Rihanna made this the biggest radio hit from the album.

15. Chipmunk feat. Chris Brown - Champion

 

 

I've spoken before about how, post Airplanes and Love The Way You Lie, every British mainstream rapper seemed to have their own attempt at that successful formula. There were successes - Read All About It and Written In The Stars while some like Forgiveness and Lay Down Your Weapons failed to have the same lasting appeal. This song was particularly huge and helped reestablish Chris Brown following the Rihanna controversy. He is far better than Chipmunk here and the chorus is stadium sized. Chipmunk slipped away after this, becoming Chip and getting into beef with Bugzy Malone.

 

14. Shift K3Y - Touch

 

 

Craig David-influenced garage returned to the charts for precisely one song in April 2014. Garage had made a small return the previous year in songs like Bassline Junkie, Higher (Free), La La La & You & Me but this was the glorious climax. Maybe this tapped into people's nostalgia but this was one of those songs I heard everywhere. Party starter and ones that girls love ;)

 

13. Fetty Wap - Trap Queen

 

 

Confession time: I didn't get this when I first heard it!

 

Quickly grew then and by April it was fast becoming one of the songs of the year. Will no doubt go down as a 2015 classic for many, there wasn't too much in the chart that sounded like this and it's longevity was amazing. I think of Trap Queen as a great love ballad backed with great production. I can see Fetty Wap being a bit of a 'One Year Wonder' but this could be one of those songs that could sound quite dated in a few years. If ever a customer's shopping comes to £17.38, just try and stop me singing!

 

12. Wretch 32 feat. Shakka - Blackout

 

 

Settled and happy as I am, I do have a tendancy to be very introspective at times. This is the song version of that.

 

Very laid back production and a real earworm of a chorus from Shakka (watch out for him in 2016) mean this is a song I return to regularly. Wretch is talking about the pressures of fame and attention and how he just wants to be left to do his own thing - something people can relate to. Doesn't sound like a chart hit, but the fact this peaked at #6 is testament to just how strong this is. Very definition of a grower.

 

11. Wretch 32 feat. L - Traktor

 

 

Almost five years later, I still love this! This sounded fresh at the time with an irrestiable hook and the memorable "Jeremy Kyle" bar from Wretch. He got the balance just right here between commercial and underground making a genuine crossover record. When I'm drunk, I do a special rendition of this haha.

She Doesn't Mind is great :music: wasn't it #2 for 3 weeks? How unlucky

 

Lean On and Unorthodox :music: and love WAN also. Shame they're not bringing back they're older beats :(

 

LOVE Earthquake and Count on Me is great also. I've got into Rudeboy recently and it's great :D

 

Gold Dust and Can't Hold Us in this list too :cheer:

 

Wonderful was a great track a few years ago. Shame he hasn't done much in the chart since. Time After Time missing the top 40 though :snif:

 

Heatwave :music: :wub: I used to dislike it with it's repetition and Wiley's verses used to be annoying to me but I changed my mind very quickly!

 

Don't Tell 'Em and Antenna also great :D

 

It's a shame Ed Sheeran doesn't have more Sings on the album. His others TOL and Photograph for example are rather dull for me :/

 

Pass Out :music: :wub: what a classic! I love most of Tinie's songs! His new one isn't that amazing and I'm not sure on the female vocal part :no: Take Care is a beautiful song :heart:

 

Chipmunk's Champion is great! It's aged really well and sounds just as good as it did back in the day of release :music:

 

Touch was a great #3 peaker this year! Shame I Know didn't do too well. The other follow ups weren't amazing but his latest one isn't too bad!

 

It took a bit of time for me to like Trap Queen but I got there in the end, although I do prefer 679 still. I'm loving the Trap King cover/remix by Two Friends a lot more at the moment!

 

Not big on Blackout but it's good. And Traktor is a classic. Odds are your top 10 is going to be full of goodies :cheer:

Edited November 24, 20159 yr by Shivering Adam❄️

Great to see you liking so much Adam! Thanks again to everyone who has read and commented. :)

 

The top 10 is coming soon... to tease, here is the breakdown by year...

 

2012: 1

2013: 3

2014: 4

2015: 2

 

Any predictions!?

Note to self: Make sure my shopping never adds up to £17.38. Or £38.17

 

Apart for that, a pretty good list. Count On Me is still a classic. Champion, Can't Feel My Face, Lean On, Waiting All Night are just a few of my favourite songs. i was also surprisingly good.

I meant to comment in this before but forgot :kink:

I love most of the song so far. :wub:

So many classics modern classics. My favourites being Thank You (Q-Tip particularly massively underrated on this), No Love, Fester Skank, That's Not Me, Level Up, Heatwave, Don't Tell 'Em and all the Tinie/Wretch/Jay-Z & Kanye tracks.

Note to self: Make sure my shopping never adds up to £17.38. Or £38.17

 

Apart for that, a pretty good list. Count On Me is still a classic. Champion, Can't Feel My Face, Lean On, Waiting All Night are just a few of my favourite songs. i was also surprisingly good.

 

Sadly it doesn't happen too often. :lol:

 

Count On Me sounded like a future classic even before release - just has a timeless vibe to it. Like your selection from the other songs too (considering you've said we have opposite tastes!)

 

I meant to comment in this before but forgot :kink:

I love most of the song so far. :wub:

So many classics modern classics. My favourites being Thank You (Q-Tip particularly massively underrated on this), No Love, Fester Skank, That's Not Me, Level Up, Heatwave, Don't Tell 'Em and all the Tinie/Wretch/Jay-Z & Kanye tracks.

 

Ah that's great to hear you love most of what's come up! I agree Thank You is very underrated, the instrumental in particular.

 

Hope you'll like what's to come in the top 10 :)

10. Drake - Hold On, We're Going Home

 

 

A modern day classic I think. At a time where most rappers were hitting up Diplo and DJ Mustard for hot beats, Drake took it back to basics with a stripped back R&B ballad and had his biggest hit to date. So smooth and romantic sounding, this proves that sometimes it's the simple tracks that really connect with people.

 

9. Krept & Konan feat. Jeremih - Freak Of The Week

 

 

After hearing the premiere of this on 1Xtra I instantly knew this was going to be huge for Krept & Konan, an act I've followed for years prior who were now poised to breakthrough.

 

A Mustardised dancehall riddim beat and a hot hook from Jeremih (who almost owns this basically) saw 'Freak Of The Week' crossover and become a staple of commercial radio in 2015. To be honest there's been better Krept & Konan songs, better Jeremih songs and better DJ Mustard songs but this, for me, will always be the perfect song for my life in Summer 2015 and will always have a special place in my memories of the decade!

Alright Hammer! Been meaning to post here earlier but at least in time for the top 10 ;) Will definitely mention some of highlights of this list at some point...

 

Hold On I loved at the time but I'm weirdly not as big on it as I am most of his discography. It feels one of his weaker efforts but of course that still means a great song as his standard is so strong!

 

Freak Of The Week is great! Took a while to grow but once it did I loved it, great beat and catchy hook. I do agree though they have better track, Certified is a class A BANGER :dance:

Hold on is a nice little Drake song. I prefer Take Care personally though. I'm not big on Freak of the Week but it's still good.

Alright Hammer! Been meaning to post here earlier but at least in time for the top 10 ;) Will definitely mention some of highlights of this list at some point...

 

Hold On I loved at the time but I'm weirdly not as big on it as I am most of his discography. It feels one of his weaker efforts but of course that still means a great song as his standard is so strong!

 

Freak Of The Week is great! Took a while to grow but once it did I loved it, great beat and catchy hook. I do agree though they have better track, Certified is a class A BANGER :dance:

 

Better late than never mate! Looking forward to seeing your list of highlights from the whole countdown.

 

Drake features prominently here, love so much of his music. Hold On is the highest just because it seemed to stand out at the time. Says it all when a song I loved as much as Started From The Bottom missed out here entirely!

 

As for Krept & Konan, Don't Waste My Time is hard to top. ;)

8. Gorgon City feat. MNEK - Ready For Your Love

 

 

Probably the song that stirs up the most emotions for me on the Countdown. Namely because it was the song I 'discovered' around the time of my Grandad's death almost two years ago. In the midst of a busy Aldi Christmas and an understandably tense family, I never felt I had time to grieve which was a mistake looking back. This song became a release and when it charted two months later I took as tribute to my Grandad.

 

The song itself is elevated by MNEK's vocals over an accessible beat from Gorgon City. They never replicated the success of this again as most of their stuff followed exactly the same song structure and formula. But this was strong. Fitted in well with the House trend of the time and became a club and radio staple.

 

7. Meridian Dan feat. Big H & JME - German Whip

 

 

Following the Urban music scene, and Grime in particular, is often a frustrating experience. You see talented artists and underrated songs suffer from a lack of exposure. Anthems that soundtrack great moments and written off in favour of the latest Taylor Swift track. This was one of those moments where an underground anthem blew up...

 

Around since Autumn 2013, German Whip from relatively unknown Meridian Dan started picking up serious traction at the start of 2014. A 140bpm grime record, infused with trap snares, was suddenly being promoted and aimed at the charts. There was a time where I would hear this every single day - a real crossover record. The chorus almost has a nursery rhyme quality to it!

 

It is now remembered as the kickstart Grime needed and the scene experienced a huge renaissance in 2015. Not always in chart positions, but culture. :)