http://oi65.tinypic.com/2hey8h3.jpg

 

Hello and welcome to my musical retrospective of 2015!

 

Like last year, this thread will consist of thoughts on my favourite 100 songs of the last 12 months, where sometimes I'll use the opportunity to also ramble about associated artists' careers, commercial performances, market trends...or just things tenuously connected that happen to pop into my head. I'd been contemplating not doing a countdown at all this year as last year's took up way more time than expected, but decided against it as, despite that, I got a lot of enjoyment out of putting into words the personal appeal of certain tracks, as well as reading feedback and interacting with others over them. As such, I don't imagine I'll get through this very efficiently and there may be longish gaps of inactivity, but I'm absolutely set on finishing it eventually!

 

All of the songs featured here have (or will have) appeared in my monthly personal chart, but I haven't determined the EOY ordering on their chart runs or taken into account where they peaked there. This list is simply based on what feels right to me as I look back on songs I've consistently enjoyed and/or hold in particularly high esteem. It should also be noted that I've included a few tracks technically released before 2015 which have had some sort of prominence this year, for example as an official single or through BJSC exposure.

 

Firstly, here's a noahstalgic return to the 100 songs that best defined my 2014:

(Link to thread)

 

#01 | Coldplay | Magic

#02 | Years & Years | Take Shelter

#03 | Katy B | Crying For No Reason

#04 | Kwabs | Wrong Or Right

#05 | Jessie Ware | Tough Love

#06 | Josef Salvat | Open Season

#07 | Mr. Probz | Waves (Robin Schulz Remix)

#08 | Ariana Grande ft. The Weeknd | Love Me Harder

#09 | Kwabs | Walk

#10 | BANKS | Beggin For Thread

#11 | Taylor Swift | Out of the Woods

#12 | Ben Howard | End of the Affair

#13 | TOKiMONSTA ft. Anderson Paak | Realla

#14 | HAIM | If I Could Change Your Mind

#15 | Ella Henderson | Ghost

#16 | Cheryl | Only Human

#17 | Pharrell Williams | Gust Of Wind

#18 | Hozier | Sedated

#19 | Tove Lo | Stay High (Hippie Sabotage Remix)

#20 | The Midnight | The Years (Prologue)

#21 | Lana Del Rey | West Coast

#22 | Take That | These Days

#23 | Justin Timberlake | Not A Bad Thing

#24 | Selena Gomez | The Heart Wants What It Wants

#25 | Josef Salvat | Diamonds

#26 | Ed Sheeran | Don't

#27 | Imagine Dragons | Demons

#28 | James Bay | Hold Back The River

#29 | Paolo Nutini | Iron Sky

#30 | Calvin Harris ft. HAIM | Pray To God

#31 | Iggy Azalea ft. Charli XCX | Fancy

#32 | Ed Sheeran | Afire Love

#33 | Years & Years | Desire

#34 | Sam Smith | I'm Not The Only One

#35 | Lorde | Yellow Flicker Beat

#36 | Tove Lo | Not On Drugs

#37 | Clean Bandit ft. Jess Glynne | Rather Be

#38 | MAGIC! | Rude

#39 | Marina and the Diamonds | Froot

#40 | Lorde | Team

#41 | Sia | Chandelier

#42 | Hozier | From Eden

#43 | One Direction | Steal My Girl

#44 | Lilly Wood & The Prick and Robin Schulz | Prayer In C (Robin Schulz Radio Edit)

#45 | Hopium | Cut

#46 | Olly Murs ft. Demi Lovato | Up

#47 | 5 Seconds Of Summer | She Looks So Perfect

#48 | Marina and the Diamonds | Happy

#49 | Rixton | Me And My Broken Heart

#50 | CHVRCHES | Dead Air

#51 | Ben Howard | I Forget Where We Were

#52 | Hozier | Take Me To Church

#53 | Fka twigs | Two Weeks

#54 | Nicki Minaj | Pills N Potions

#55 | Henry Saiz | All The Evil Of This World

#56 | Taylor Swift | Blank Space

#57 | Josh Record | Wide Awake

#58 | Katy B | Stay Down

#59 | Paloma Faith | Only Love Can Hurt Like This

#60 | Walk The Moon | Shut Up and Dance

#61 | G.R.L. | Ugly Heart

#62 | Rhodes | Your Soul

#63 | One Direction | Fireproof

#64 | Busta Rhymes ft. Q-Tip, Kanye West and Lil Wayne | Thank You

#65 | Lykke Li | Gunshot

#66 | Ed Sheeran | Runaway

#67 | VÉRITÉ | Strange Enough

#68 | Vance Joy | Riptide

#69 | Sam Smith | Like I Can

#70 | Rita Ora | I Will Never Let You Down

#71 | Shakira ft. Rihanna | Can’t Remember To Forget You

#72 | Pearl | Not Enough

#73 | The Script | Superheroes

#74 | Hopium ft. Phoebe Lou | Dreamers

#75 | Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars | Uptown Funk

#76 | M.O | Dance On My Own

#77 | London Grammar | Hey Now

#78 | Katy Perry | This Is How We Do

#79 | will.i.am | It’s My Birthday

#80 | OneRepublic | I Lived

#81 | The Magician ft. Years & Years | Sunlight

#82 | One Direction | Night Changes

#83 | Professor Green ft. Tori Kelly | Lullaby

#84 | Nothing But Thieves | Lover Please Stay

#85 | Charli XCX | Boom Clap

#86 | Josef Salvat | Shoot And Run

#87 | Beyoncé | Partition

#88 | Lana Del Rey | Ultraviolence

#89 | Coldplay | A Sky Full Of Stars

#90 | Luke James | Dancing In The Dark

#91 | Foxes | Holding Onto Heaven

#92 | JUCE | Call You Out

#93 | Ella Eyre | If I Go

#94 | Gorgon City | Ready For Your Love

#95 | Eliot Sumner | Information

#96 | Ella Henderson | Hard Work

#97 | Nothing But Thieves | Graveyard Whistling

#98 | Aloe Blacc | The Man

#99 | Jamie T | Zombie

#100 | Tinie Tempah ft. Labirinth | Lover Not A Fighter

 

I will get this all underway very soon but in the meantime here are some honourable mentions~

 

Adele | Water Under the Bridge

All Tvvins | Thank You

Ben Haenow | Something I Need

Carly Rae Jespen | Your Type

CHVRCHES | Never Ending Circles

Ciara | Dance Like We're Making Love

Ciara | Give Me Love

Cloves | Everybody's Son

Coldplay | Adventure Of A Lifetime

Disclosure ft. Lorde | Magnets

Disclosure ft. Sam Smith | Omen

Django Django | First Light

Ellie Goulding | Army

Ellie Goulding | On My Mind

Eves The Behavior | Electrical

Fetty Wap | Trap Queen

Flor | Heart

Florence + The Machine | Queen Of Peace

Foxes | Better Love

Foxes | Body Talk

George Maple | Vacant Space

Hailee Steinfeld | Hell Nos And Headphones

Hailee Steinfeld | Rock Bottom

Hozier | Someone New

Huntar | Autumn

Justin Bieber | I'll Show You

Justin Bieber | Sorry

Kacy Hill | Arm's Length

Kiiara | Feels

Kinnie Lane | Je Te Suivrai

Kwabs | Fight For Love

Kwabs | Love + War

Kygo ft. Parson James | Stole The Show

Lana Del Rey | High By The Beach

Laura Welsh | Sex & Violence

Lauv | The Other

Mirror Talk | 1/M/T

MUNA | So Special

Nick Jonas – Chains

Nothing But Thieves | Honey Whiskey

Nothing But Thieves | Itch

Nothing But Thieves | Wake Up Call

Olly Murs | Kiss Me

One Direction | Drag Me Down

Philip George & Anton Powers | Alone No More

Refs | Pain Goes Away

Rihanna | Bitch Better Have My Money

Sia | Big Girls Cry

Sia | Elastic Heart

Sinead Harnett | She Ain't Me

The Weeknd | Can't Feel My Face

The Weeknd | Earned It

Tinashe ft. Chris Brown | Player

Tove Styrke | Borderline

Wolf Colony | Beauty

Wolf Colony | The One

Big hype for this Noah, your commentaries are always amazing *.*

Body Talk and High By The Beach are two of my favourites in that section :heart: And :o at Je Te Suivrai being on the honorable mentions list :heart: :heart: Glad to see you love it and it is definitely one of my favourites of the year, going to appear very high in my countdown :wub: So happy it had even made it onto that list here!

#100 Skrillex & Diplo ft. Justin Bieber | Where Are Ü Now

UK | 3 | Ire | 9 | US | 8 | PC | 17

 

My top 100 begins with the track that heralded Justin Bieber’s musical reinvention, his transition from famed irritant to the most popular male act of the year, as well as my personal journey to fully-fledged Belieberdom. Created under Jack Ü, a collaboration between tastemaking dance heavyweights Skrillex and Diplo, 'Where Are Ü Now' sees a featuring Justin reflective, vulnerable and in a state of abandonment, repeatedly calling out for attention and comfort. Despite being distorted in various ways, his vocals feel both delicate and sincere, qualities which are afforded enough prominence throughout by contrasting waves of exotic, high-energy production. When interpreted as a rallying cry of sorts to his (former) fans, the song shows that Justin’s ready to take things seriously and hints at the career turnaround that is to come with their reinvigorated support, which, incredibly, will be accompanied in time by that of his legions of haters passionate critics.

 

 

#99 Years & Years | Ties

 

UK | 172 | Ire | - | US | - | PC | 16

 

Having heard (and loved) the majority of ‘Communion’ over the course of about a year before its July release, I was slightly worried that Years & Years’ debut album would end up disappointing, whether feeling jarring between the 'new' and 'old', or simply boasting little more of note to join the singles/promo tracks I’d been hammering incessantly. As it happened, two album cuts stood out strongly to me immediately and their appeal didn’t let up, securing themselves among a total of five Years & Years offerings in my top 100 songs of the year. Sandwiched between ‘Eyes Shut’ and ‘King’ in the record’s tracklist, ‘Ties’ defied the odds in revealing itself as a real highlight, with the unconventional chorus of repeated vocal layering set on a bed of dazzling synths proving highly effective. The condescending tone in lines like ‘It's so beautiful to see you lie/Are you having fun?’ makes the verses and pre-chorus feel almost predatory, giving the whole thing a deeply addictive quality, which I imagine would serve it very well if pushed as a single in 2016.

 

#98 Kiiara | Gold

UK | - | Ire | - | US | - | PC | 24

 

 

With a succinct, ice-cold delivery of scathing lines like ‘Your brother was a good substitute for you’, a chorus/hook consisting of chopped-up vocal samples rid of almost all intelligibility, and the whole thing underpinned by an infectious, throbbing beat, ‘Gold’ is alternative R&B at its most inventive. What’s more, the final package ends up feeling akin to a standard pop song in its catchiness and instant appeal. This is all particularly impressive considering that Kiiara is a 20 year-old Illinois-based struggling singer-songwriter and hardware store assistant (!), who released the track this year as part of her excellent EP ‘Meet Me In The Cornfield’. I'm hoping an album is on the horizon in 2016...or failing that, a promotion to store supervisor at the very least.

 

#97 Kygo ft. Conrad | Firestone

 

UK | 8 | Ire | 6 | US | 92 | PC | 23

 

Gaining global blog attention with his tropical house remixes of ‘I See Fire’ (my absolute favourite of Ed’s output <3) and Kyla La Grange’s ‘Cut Your Teeth’ (also amazing in its own right), Norwegian DJ Kyrre Gørvell-Dahll a.k.a. Kygo didn’t need much persuading to abandon his economics degree in my adopted hometown of Edinburgh to pursue a full-time career in music, releasing a predictably summery-sounding debut single in the depths of winter last. Taking 13 weeks to hit the UK top 10, ‘Firestone’ was slow to connect with me too, the combination of Conrad’s gently emotive vocals and the chilled, shimmering house production gradually revealing the track’s hypnotic beauty after months of radio/Chart Show exposure. Unfortunately the same can’t be said for X Factor’s Lauren Murray, who’d never even heard of the long-running hit and had to have its identity confirmed by a drunken Essex crowd while preparing for her next karaoke performance that weekend. Poor hen.

 

 

#96 Justin Bieber | Love Yourself

 

UK | 1 | Ire | 1 | US | 4 | PC | 7

 

Thundering to instant hit status upon the release of ‘Purpose’, ‘Love Yourself’ was essentially chosen by Beliebers old and new as the album’s third official single, the involvement in the song of celebrated balladeer Ed Sheeran going some way toward explaining its mass appeal. A subdued, melodic, downtempo acoustic track with an ostensibly affectionate sentiment and overall vibe, it’s not hard to understand how it stood out in an album so defined by electronic thrills and experimentation. What makes ‘Love Yourself’ so interesting though is that everything about its delivery and context feels very much like it’s a ‘nice little song’ with obvious Sheeran sensibilities, when closer attention reveals its lyrics throughout to be cold and bitter. Selena A former flame is more or less being told to go f*** herself, and insults really don’t get more effective than the chorus’ first line: ‘My mama don’t like you and she likes everyone’, a real standout lyric of the year. Perhaps the song’s best moment though is the brief trumpet solo and Justin’s carefree humming along and mimicking of it, the clearest indication of anything else that he’s truly moved on.

Edited January 5, 20169 yr by Noahspike

'Firestone' is one of the best dance tracks to come out this year :wub:

Loving the layout, shame I can't say the same for the songs in that section :kink:

Jack U - This song has recently crept up on me.

 

Y&Y - Ties is a good song on the album glad to see it hear.

 

Kiiara - I love this song she is one to look out for :heart:

 

Kygo ft Conrad - I love this song so much One of my highlights :heart:

 

Justin Bieber - I do love this song now :heart:

 

 

Very much looking forward to reading all of these commentaries Noah, and you're off to a great start already. Very insightful as always, I didn't know that Kygo lived in Edinburgh for a start, nor that little anecdote about the X Factor girl.

 

(hope the best is still to come, Firestone aside :kink: )

Hi Noah, glad this has started because love your taste as always,

 

Where Are U Now never really had that moment where I properly loved it hence why I had it at a similar position on mine to yours but it's still a well produced track and the first stepping stone to Bieber's new re-invention. Interesting video too which I've always liked.

 

The only other track I properly love here is Love Yourself, maybe I've been converted to a proper JB fan too. It's a nice little song but his up tempos are still way stronger for me. I do prefer the more interesting production on tracks like I'll Show You as well but it's a strong pop track and a great comeback to Selena as you say!

Kacy Hill | Arm's Length

 

^ missing out :snif: My only chance of her appearing in another countdown was this, but at least she got a mention!

 

Love the two Bieber tracks there and 'Ties' is good too. I have fallen in love with 'Without' from the album recently <3 probably my favourite album track ~

Just YAS at all of these, especially "Gold" from an Apple iWatch ad that sometimes appears whenever you try to access a VEVO video.

This layout is beautiful Andy.

 

I hope to see plenty of Years & Years in your chart.

Lots of love for Firestone, Love Yourself, Where Are U Now, Sorry and Drag Me Down in this thread so far Noah! Can't wait to see what else is still to come :D

Apologies for leaving this idle for so long - spent the last few days stranded on an island without internet access. :lol: (:drama:)

 

Big hype for this Noah, your commentaries are always amazing *.*

Body Talk and High By The Beach are two of my favourites in that section :heart: And :o at Je Te Suivrai being on the honorable mentions list :heart: :heart: Glad to see you love it and it is definitely one of my favourites of the year, going to appear very high in my countdown :wub: So happy it had even made it onto that list here!

'Firestone' is one of the best dance tracks to come out this year :wub:

Loving the layout, shame I can't say the same for the songs in that section :kink:

Jack U - This song has recently crept up on me.

 

Y&Y - Ties is a good song on the album glad to see it hear.

 

Kiiara - I love this song she is one to look out for :heart:

 

Kygo ft Conrad - I love this song so much One of my highlights :heart:

 

Justin Bieber - I do love this song now :heart:

Very much looking forward to reading all of these commentaries Noah, and you're off to a great start already. Very insightful as always, I didn't know that Kygo lived in Edinburgh for a start, nor that little anecdote about the X Factor girl.

 

(hope the best is still to come, Firestone aside :kink: )

Just YAS at all of these, especially "Gold" from an Apple iWatch ad that sometimes appears whenever you try to access a VEVO video.

This layout is beautiful Andy.

 

I hope to see plenty of Years & Years in your chart.

Lots of love for Firestone, Love Yourself, Where Are U Now, Sorry and Drag Me Down in this thread so far Noah! Can't wait to see what else is still to come :D

THANKS for all the interest and comments, guys! And Lee, there's still four more to come~ :o

 

Hi Noah, glad this has started because love your taste as always,

 

Where Are U Now never really had that moment where I properly loved it hence why I had it at a similar position on mine to yours but it's still a well produced track and the first stepping stone to Bieber's new re-invention. Interesting video too which I've always liked.

 

The only other track I properly love here is Love Yourself, maybe I've been converted to a proper JB fan too. It's a nice little song but his up tempos are still way stronger for me. I do prefer the more interesting production on tracks like I'll Show You as well but it's a strong pop track and a great comeback to Selena as you say!

Kacy Hill | Arm's Length

 

^ missing out :snif: My only chance of her appearing in another countdown was this, but at least she got a mention!

 

Love the two Bieber tracks there and 'Ties' is good too. I have fallen in love with 'Without' from the album recently <3 probably my favourite album track ~

Funnily enough, 'I'll Show You' and 'Arm's Length' were the two last songs to get cut :cry:! Very fond of them both (and 'Without' too). <3

 

Cheers!

 

 

 

 

 

 

#95 Brandon Flowers | Still Want You

 

UK | - | Ire | - | US | - | PC | 17

 

The first of three Brandon Flowers singles to appear in this countdown, ‘Still Want You’ boasts an array of 80s-influenced pop/rock sounds and is thus a fitting representative of its parent album; ‘The Desired Effect’. Though embellished with flamenco strings and a gospel choir, the main appeal of the song lies in its simple charm, with brief storytelling in the verses leading immediately to a prolonged, sing-a-long refrain which proclaims a message of unflinching (marital) love in a way that’s full of natural warmth and sincerity. A particularly great moment is the middle 8’s slowed-down, hesitant delivery of ‘There’s something you should know’, which then descends into a drum solo calling back in that big, cheery chorus. The fact that this cheeriness and the song’s touching sentiment remain intact despite references to entirely uncheery things like rising crime, debt, natural disasters, nuclear distress and climate change is a real testament to a craftsmanship and songwriting prowess that’s so evident throughout all of Brandon’s work, both in and out of The Killers.

 

#94 Vallis Alps | Young

 

UK | - | Ire | - | US | - | PC | 27

 

Fusing dreamy synths with an acoustic guitar and echoed vocals sung with a beautiful subtlety, the debut single from Australian duo Vallis Alps is one of my favourite chillout tracks of the year. The gradual build of instrumentation is the song’s real selling point, but it also has a slow-paced chorus about being unable to keep up with time that's wonderfully effective. The nostalgic vibes inherent to the song have always been magnified on a personal level with the second verse's closing line; ‘Those nights back in Tokyo’, which puts in mind some of the best few months of my life.

(Fun fact: such was my attachment to ‘Young’ back at the start of the year that it was locked in a fiercely competitive, week-long battle with Eves The Behavior’s ‘TV’ to become my February BJSC entry!)

 

#93 A-WA | Habib Galbi

 

UK | - | Ire | - | US | - | PC | 22

 

 

I can confidently say I’ve never heard anything like ‘Habib Galbi’; an upbeat love song by three Yemeni-Arabic-singing Israeli sisters (whose surname happens to be Haim!) known as A-WA. With the risk of revealing myself to be culturally ignorant, the track strikes me as innovative, traditional and comical all at once, blending urban and rural-rooted influences into a fun-filled, infectious listen that sounds just as fresh now as it did back in April when it unexpectedly claimed BJSC glory for Persephonia - my favourite contest-related moment of the year.

 

#92 Little Mix | Black Magic

 

UK | 1 | Ire | 3 | US | 67 | PC | 20

 

I’ve always been on board with Little Mix; four girls thrown together as an afterthought who’ve continually overcome mountains of odds through sheer talent, charisma and good instincts. Surviving biased X Factor voting demographics, a limply-received coronation single and, most incredibly, an utterly awful brand name that somehow sounds just as awful four years later, they’ve released quality pop music stamped with their identity and achieved consistent prosperity in the industry. That’s partly why I find it so difficult to properly evaluate the faceless smash hit that broke the group into the big leagues (and indeed to decide on a placing for it in this countdown), even now after its massive exposure and impact over the latter half of the year has settled. In 2015’s musical landscape, the song’s ‘statement’ of unashamedly meaningless feel-good pop is simultaneously refreshing and unimpressive, feeling like the group was sapped of all blossoming artistry at a crucial juncture in favour of a soulless sure-fire radio hit with the kind of cheese-drenched chorus to be expected from an anonymous teenage Disney girl having a crack at being a pop puppet for a while. Months of airplay, technically excellent live performances and personality-filled promo appearances have made me warm to the track’s innate catchiness and element of fun in spite of myself, but I still value what ‘Black Magic’ symbolises much higher than the song itself. I’m thankful for it as the vehicle to a level of (international) prominence that hopefully sustains for a few more years, but otherwise view it as a good but throwaway moment that says very little about the four-piece’s unique appeal and capabilities.

 

 

#91 Nothing But Thieves | Trip Switch

 

UK | - | Ire | - | US | - | PC | 19

One of a slew of commercially-doomed Nothing But Thieves’ singles released over the last year or so that was somehow impervious to notoriously cut-throat Radio 1 playlisting criteria (not that I’m complaining), ‘Trip Switch’ is the song best justifying the Muse comparisons that the band frequently receives. The guitar-heavy track is full of anxiety in its verses, with the near-whispered pre-chorus and delicate middle 8 biding their time in order to give the explosive chorus of unrestrained, angsty vocals all the more impact. I can’t say I know or particularly care what the song’s actual meaning is – it’s all about the instruments and overall execution in this one.

Edited January 5, 20169 yr by Noahspike

Just so you know, I'm here for JoJo and only JoJo.

 

But Habib Galbi is a jam-and-five-quarters anthem of life death and rebirth please play this at my wedding and my funeral. And I agree with Black Magic, it doesn't stand out much at all so I was surprised when it finally held my interest after a month or two. Little Mix certainly could've come back with a worse song so I'm not at all bothered at how things have turned out for them.

Hello Noah

 

Glad to see Trip Switch make it here, the explosive chorus is my highlight of the song, so much energy in that moment with the vocals and the instruments that you just get so into it. Same with Itch, not sure which I prefer really.

Just so you know, I'm here for JoJo and only JoJo.

 

But Habib Galbi is a jam-and-five-quarters anthem of life death and rebirth please play this at my wedding and my funeral. And I agree with Black Magic, it doesn't stand out much at all so I was surprised when it finally held my interest after a month or two. Little Mix certainly could've come back with a worse song so I'm not at all bothered at how things have turned out for them.

Well your soul isn't gonna be saved for another while yet (:o) but you're very welcome to pop in here and feign interest in the meantime. :bounce:

 

I shall of course play 'Habib Galbi' at your funeral and I'll even read my glowing noahstalgic review of it in your eulogy. :D (And you can play it at your own damn wedding, I'm busy)

Hello Noah

 

Glad to see Trip Switch make it here, the explosive chorus is my highlight of the song, so much energy in that moment with the vocals and the instruments that you just get so into it. Same with Itch, not sure which I prefer really.

Hey Josh!

 

Yeah 'Itch' is another one with a big, impactful chorus moment that they seem to specialise in. Been listening to the album a lot recently and I'd forgotten just how good it is - nothing approaching a weak track on there so it's a real shame it didn't get more attention. -_-

 

Thanks to both of you for the comments!

#90 Tove Styrke | Ego

 

UK | - | Ire | - | US | - | PC | 13

 

A February encounter with ‘Ego’, as well as reggae-tinged jam ‘Borderline', was my very belated introduction to Tove Styrke - a name I’d seen continually cropping up on blogs and forums for months (years?) beforehand. The song’s twinkling production and breezy, conversational delivery of home truths to a lover immersed in his own hype enabled me to instantly understand Tove’s, whose refreshingly direct lyrical approach strykes (eh?!) a real chord throughout. Also making a big impression was the video, which features the stunning Swede larking around the streets of Tokyo, engaging in all the fun and vibrancy of the city rather than letting her relationship woes get the better of her. A truly captivating package all-round.

 

#89 Kendrick Lamar | King Kunta

 

UK | 56 | Ire | 47 | US | 58 | PC | 15

 

‘King Kunta’ served as the third official single of Kendrick Lamar’s critically acclaimed third album; ‘To Pimp A Butterfly’ - the hotly anticipated follow-up to his breakout record that so infamously lost out on a 'Best Rap Album' Grammy to Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ debut (...and I’ve only just noticed the significance of my own ordering here, apols Kenny x). Relentless funk-infused verses, an effortless groove and that iconic chorus opener of ‘Bitch, where you when I was walkin’?’ enabled the track be an effective access point to the rapper’s much-revered material for otherwise casual observers like myself.

 

#88 Macklemore & Ryan Lewis ft. Eric Nally, Melle Mel, Kool Moe Dee & Grandmaster Caz | Downtown

 

UK | 11 | Ire | 2 | US | 12 | PC | 20

 

Wait, is that Alexandra Burke on the left?!

One of the biggest breakout acts of 2013, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis made a triumphant comeback over the summer with 'Downtown'; a prolonged, disjointed, everything-but-the-kitchen-sink-sounding hot mess of a lead single which features the contributions of three hip hop veterans along with a wildly theatrical, Freddie Mercury-esque vocalist on hook duties. I really didn’t know what to make of the track at first. It bears striking similarities to ‘Uptown Funk’ and pays homage to the act’s own ‘Thrift Shop’ in more ways than one, but ultimately the ridiculous package in its entirety sounds like nothing else out there, and it only took a couple of bemused listens for me to appreciate it properly in all of its outlandish glory. Macklemore’s unique charisma shines throughout in typically flamboyant verses filled with witty wordplay – a personal favourite being the ‘tiramisu’/’tearing my suit’ rhyme…or really just the fact the word ‘tiramisu’ got a mention at all in a hit song!

 

#87 Tinie Tempah ft. Jess Glynne | Not Letting Go

 

UK | 1 | Ire | 8 | US | - | PC | 21

 

Tinie Tempah buoyed himself up from terminal commercial decline by nabbing two more #1 hits during the year to add to his impressive tally, both of which have made it into this countdown. As well as his featuring role for KDA, which he had the privilege of sharing with the undisputed queen of the UK dance scene and ultimate goddess of life and love and light Katy B, his own track ‘Not Letting Go’ (featuring a subpar pasty ginger pretender to Her hallowed throne~) shot straight to the top spot upon release. It proved a fitting soundtrack to the summer months, with light, upbeat production and lovestruck verses complemented wonderfully by the addition of Jess’ distinctive lilt over an irresistible beat. Not something to which I’ll likely return much in the future, but a nicely enjoyable of-the-moment bop that did all it needed to do.

 

 

#86 Tori Kelly | Should've Been Us

 

UK | 198 | Ire | - | US | 51 | PC | 25

Having been impressed by her angelic touch on the chorus of Professor Green’s 2010-belonging 2014 hit ‘Lullaby’, Tori Kelly was a name I was casually anticipating for a while until her bland and trend-chasing launch single ‘Nobody Love’ killed that off for a bit. Faith was swiftly restored upon hearing follow-up ‘Should’ve Been Us’; an emotion-packed mid-tempo R&B belter with near-rapped verses and a powerful chorus bemoaning a failed relationship/what could have been (an aspect that instantly put me in mind of ‘Rolling In The Deep’). Alas, the song didn’t give her the big commercial breakthrough she needs, though a standout vocal performance at the VMAs did help it (just about) become her biggest US hit to date. Despite everything she has going for her; undeniable talent and beauty along with accessible, radio-friendly material, I’ve always found it hard to place her in the current market and haven't been surprised to see her attain only moderate success thus far, much as I’d like her to prove me wrong. Her act strikes me as being more suited to a decade or so ago and lacking an all-important USP, but I’m hopeful she can work that all out and return in 2016 stronger than ever.

Edited January 27, 20169 yr by Noahspike

Love this layout and the commentaries as usual.

 

Totally agree about Not Letting Go, it's far from breaking boundaries but it did what it needed to do well and provided a great summer tune along the way.