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liamk97's Favourites of 2016

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Welcome all to my 2016 End of Year Countdown! This year may have been an annus horribilis in many ways, taking a number of the world's finest musicians far too soon, but pop music has also delivered a lot to be proud of and enjoy. Over the coming weeks, I shall take a look back at my favourite songs and albums of the past 12 months and I hope you enjoy following along! As ever, the singles countdown is based on a point system (40 points for every #1 position, 1 point for every #40 position) whilst the albums are sorted by preference.

First, a look back at what soundtracked my 2015 and a 13 minute montage of 2016, courtesy of Robin Skouteris:

liamk97's Favourite 10 Records of 2015

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01 Years & Years - King
02 Ellie Goulding - Love Me Like You Do
03 Years & Years - Shine
04 LunchMoney Lewis - Bills
05 Madonna - Ghosttown
06 Jess Glynne - Hold My Hand
07 Alesso featuring Roy English - Cool
08 Tove Lo - Timebomb
09 Giorgio Moroder featuring Sia - Déjà vu
10 Madonna - Living for Love

liamk97's Favourite 10 Albums of 2015

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01 Adele - 25
02 Madonna - Rebel Heart
03 Tove Lo - Queen of the Clouds
04 Giorgio Moroder - Déjà vu
05 Florence + the Machine - How Big How Blue How Beautiful
06 Fifty Shades of Grey: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
07 Years & Years - Communion
08 Kylie Minogue - Kylie Christmas
09 Nothing But Thieves - Nothing But Thieves
10 Rae Morris - Unguarded

Glad this is coming. Bring it on !!

Dat intro is very promissing :dance:

Excited!!!!

A quick shout out to Drake's 'One Dance' and Kungs vs. Cookin' on 3 Burners' 'This Girl' which I didn't chart at all (and thus won't be appearing on this countdown), yet they ended up becoming two of my favourites of the year, largely thanks to their inescapability in the club where they instantly lift the atmosphere another notch.

 

Position // Overall Total // 2016 Total // Artist // Song // Peak (* = still charting)

100 | 209 | 209 ZAYN - PILLOWTALK 10

099 | 213 | 213 Tom Odell - Here I Am 13 *

098 | 217 | 217 Troye Sivan - YOUTH 05

097 | 218 | 218 Blonde & Craig David - Nothing Like This 13

096 | 219 | 219 twenty one pilots - Heathens 08

095 | 220 | 220 Red Hot Chili Peppers - Dark Necessities 13

094 | 222 | 222 Two Door Cinema Club - Are We Ready? (Wreck) 09

093 | 229 | 229 Nathan Sykes featuring G-Eazy - Give It Up 07

092 | 235 | 235 twenty one pilots - Stressed Out 16

091 | 235 | 235 Beyoncé - Formation 08

 

090 | 237 | 237 Adele - Water Under the Bridge 06 *

089 | 240 | 240 DNCE - Toothbrush 10

088 | 241 | 241 Sia - Footprints 03

087 | 242 | 242 NEIKED featuring Dyo - Sexual 05 *

086 | 243 | 243 Sigala featuring Imani & DJ Fresh - Say You Do 08

085 | 243 | 243 Tove Lo - True Disaster 02 *

084 | 244 | 244 Beyoncé featuring The Weeknd - 6 Inch 06

083 | 247 | 247 The Chainsmokers featuring Daya - Don't Let Me Down 08

082 | 251 | 251 Tom Odell - Magnetised 14

081 | 292 | 252 Snakehips featuring Tinashe & Chance the Rapper - All My Friends 05 (14 in 2015)

 

I won't be doing a commentary until we get nearer the top, however I will reply to all comments as best I can!

Loving the double Tom Odell in that section, Magnetised was the perfect choice of lead single I think, the lyrics are great and the music video just enhances it further. Here I Am felt like an obvious single from the minute I heard it, although I'm glad he didn't put it out directly after Magnetised because they're pretty similar, Concrete was perfect inbetween the two I think.

 

YOUTH is also a stunner, it's a shame that Capital didn't give that one a go because I think it could've been a decent-sized hit with both them and Radio 1 on board :(

Loving the double Tom Odell in that section, Magnetised was the perfect choice of lead single I think, the lyrics are great and the music video just enhances it further. Here I Am felt like an obvious single from the minute I heard it, although I'm glad he didn't put it out directly after Magnetised because they're pretty similar, Concrete was perfect inbetween the two I think.

 

YOUTH is also a stunner, it's a shame that Capital didn't give that one a go because I think it could've been a decent-sized hit with both them and Radio 1 on board :(

Agreed! 'Magnetised' showed the public a side of Tom they're perhaps not familiar with, plus it's instantly euphoric and comes alive even more on the stage. It also works very well in stripped back form too. 'Concrete' didn't make too much of an impression on me but I can appreciate it was a good single choice, particularly as something to stand between 'Magnetised' and 'Here I Am', like you said. The latter is probably my favourite from this era now; I love the way it builds and the piano melody makes me so happy from the moment I hear it!

 

'YOUTH' is definitely a smash hit that never was. I preferred the likes of 'WILD' and 'TALK ME DOWN' but 'YOUTH' fits the current music landscape so well whilst still being interesting and full of character. It had impressive longevity in the Top 200 despite barely scraping the Top 100, as well as taking off pretty well in the US, so the potential was definitely there. Shame, but at least we got a cracking tune that shows Troye can deliver both big pop and ballad numbers.

One Dance not featuring, what!? Madness! How did you not chart it :nono:

 

100 | 209 | 209 ZAYN - PILLOWTALK 10

098 | 217 | 217 Troye Sivan - YOUTH 05 Glad to see this feature, he's one of my favourite artists of recent years and the album is a massive all time favourite for me now. This is a standout from there!

097 | 218 | 218 Blonde & Craig David - Nothing Like This 13

096 | 219 | 219 twenty one pilots - Heathens 08

091 | 235 | 235 Beyoncé - Formation 08

 

090 | 237 | 237 Adele - Water Under the Bridge 06 * My favourite from '25'! Love the production in particular and the rousing chorus

088 | 241 | 241 Sia - Footprints 03 filler x

087 | 242 | 242 NEIKED featuring Dyo - Sexual 05 *

086 | 243 | 243 Sigala featuring Imani & DJ Fresh - Say You Do 08

085 | 243 | 243 Tove Lo - True Disaster 02 * probably the most QOTC sounding song on the latest album and so a GOOD ONE obviously

084 | 244 | 244 Beyoncé featuring The Weeknd - 6 Inch 06

081 | 292 | 252 Snakehips featuring Tinashe & Chance the Rapper - All My Friends 05 (14 in 2015) :wub: such a lovely sentiment in this and quite a harrowing song deep down!

 

Fab stuff ~

Great to see the Tom Odell tracks here, especially Here I Am :D

 

Nice to see Water Under the Bridge here as well, one of my favourite songs from the album alongside Send My Love!

One Dance not featuring, what!? Madness! How did you not chart it :nono:

 

100 | 209 | 209 ZAYN - PILLOWTALK 10

098 | 217 | 217 Troye Sivan - YOUTH 05 Glad to see this feature, he's one of my favourite artists of recent years and the album is a massive all time favourite for me now. This is a standout from there!

097 | 218 | 218 Blonde & Craig David - Nothing Like This 13

096 | 219 | 219 twenty one pilots - Heathens 08

091 | 235 | 235 Beyoncé - Formation 08

 

090 | 237 | 237 Adele - Water Under the Bridge 06 * My favourite from '25'! Love the production in particular and the rousing chorus

088 | 241 | 241 Sia - Footprints 03 filler x

087 | 242 | 242 NEIKED featuring Dyo - Sexual 05 *

086 | 243 | 243 Sigala featuring Imani & DJ Fresh - Say You Do 08

085 | 243 | 243 Tove Lo - True Disaster 02 * probably the most QOTC sounding song on the latest album and so a GOOD ONE obviously

084 | 244 | 244 Beyoncé featuring The Weeknd - 6 Inch 06

081 | 292 | 252 Snakehips featuring Tinashe & Chance the Rapper - All My Friends 05 (14 in 2015) :wub: such a lovely sentiment in this and quite a harrowing song deep down!

 

Fab stuff ~

I don't know why I never charted 'One Dance' - I know I didn't really get it at first but it must have been some point over the summer that I really started enjoying it and obviously it was still huge at this point; it's not like the right time to chart it had been and gone. I suppose for some reason I never listened to it through choice, only when out on a Friday/Saturday night, and that may have been why... I don't know. :no:

 

I also have to admit that I don't think I ever really listened to Troye's album! :ph34r: 'TALK ME DOWN' is my favourite from him, if that helps?

 

'Water Under the Bridge' was a standout to be a single from the very beginning I think! I had bigger favourites but this always stuck in my mind to be a great song to close the era with, if not 'All I Ask'. The production is magical, really teasing you for a big chorus which it of course delivers. I hope there is indeed some promo coming its way (hello BRITs!) because it would be great to not only see her receive a fourth big hit from a huge selling album but also for this to get some big recognition!

 

That's what attracted me to 'True Disaster' the most I think. I know artists need to grow and progress but I think the more minimalistic approach to music wasn't the right way to go, not when Tove Lo had already proven to create some of the most catchiest yet often poignant pop songs in a long time with her previous album. 'True Disaster' is a brilliant homage to that sound and it makes me wonder why she didn't feel encouraged to take that style further.

 

On the surface, it may appear that 'All My Friends' is just another song about clubbing and getting drunk, but you're quite right that there's something quite harrowing in the song's message. It's the line "another Friday night I've wasted" that resonates most with me - that moment when you realise that trying to fill an inner void with drinking and dancing actually isn't working and you know you're going to have a hangover the next day and it'll all have been for nothing. Quite like something you'd see explored in a Sia or Tove Lo song, so it's quite nice, in a weird sort of way, to hear that kind of sentiment being portrayed in a song designed for commercial success.

 

Great to see the Tom Odell tracks here, especially Here I Am :D

 

Nice to see Water Under the Bridge here as well, one of my favourite songs from the album alongside Send My Love!

Thanks Pete! 'Send My Love' has always been about mid-to-bottom on my rank of 25 but that is absolutely to do with the standard of the album, not the song itself. It's something very different from Adele and it's nice to hear such a chilled-out, go-with-the-flow track from her in amongst her classic, heart-wrenching, big ballads!

Position // Overall Total // 2016 Total // Artist // Song // Peak (* = still charting)

080 | 256 | 256 The Vamps & Matoma - All Night 09 *

079 | 343 | 257 Disclosure featuring Lorde - Magnets 11 (19 in 2015)

078 | 260 | 260 Britney Spears - Liar 01

077 | 262 | 262 All Saints - One Strike 05

076 | 268 | 268 Little Mix - Shout Out to My Ex 11 *

075 | 269 | 269 Meghan Trainor - NO 09

074 | 269 | 269 Little Mix - F.U. 02 *

073 | 272 | 272 Tove Lo - Cool Girl 18

072 | 273 | 273 Nick Jonas & Tove Lo - Close 05

071 | 275 | 275 Rihanna - Love on the Brain 02 *

 

070 | 280 | 280 Fifth Harmony featuring Ty Dollar $ign - Work From Home 06

069 | 518 | 282 Ellie Goulding - Army 04 (03 in 2015; #83 EOY)

068 | 283 | 283 Christine and the Queens - Night 52 04 *

067 | 285 | 285 Sia featuring Kendrick Lamar - The Greatest 11 *

066 | 288 | 288 The 1975 - The Sound 03

065 | 289 | 289 Dua Lipa - Blow Your Mind (Mwah) 08 *

064 | 518 | 290 Ariana Grande - Focus 02 (01 in 2015; #84 EOY)

063 | 297 | 297 Rihanna - Sledgehammer 07

062 | 298 | 298 James Arthur - Say You Won't Let Go 07 *

061 | 300 | 300 Christine and the Queens - Saint Claude 08 *

Hi Liam :hi:

 

099 | 213 | 213 Tom Odell - Here I Am 13 * :wub:

098 | 217 | 217 Troye Sivan - YOUTH 05 This is still so good for him and different too!!

097 | 218 | 218 Blonde & Craig David - Nothing Like This 13 :heart:

096 | 219 | 219 twenty one pilots - Heathens 08 :heart:

095 | 220 | 220 Red Hot Chili Peppers - Dark Necessities 13

094 | 222 | 222 Two Door Cinema Club - Are We Ready? (Wreck) 09

093 | 229 | 229 Nathan Sykes featuring G-Eazy - Give It Up 07

092 | 235 | 235 twenty one pilots - Stressed Out 16 :heart:

091 | 235 | 235 Beyoncé - Formation 08 :heart:

090 | 237 | 237 Adele - Water Under the Bridge 06 * :heart:

089 | 240 | 240 DNCE - Toothbrush 10

088 | 241 | 241 Sia - Footprints 03

086 | 243 | 243 Sigala featuring Imani & DJ Fresh - Say You Do 08 :heart:

085 | 243 | 243 Tove Lo - True Disaster 02 * :heart:

084 | 244 | 244 Beyoncé featuring The Weeknd - 6 Inch 06

083 | 247 | 247 The Chainsmokers featuring Daya - Don't Let Me Down 08

082 | 251 | 251 Tom Odell - Magnetised 14

081 | 292 | 252 Snakehips featuring Tinashe & Chance the Rapper - All My Friends 05 (14 in 2015) My favourite song here in this second such a party anthem :heart:

 

079 | 343 | 257 Disclosure featuring Lorde - Magnets 11 (19 in 2015) :heart:

078 | 260 | 260 Britney Spears - Liar 01

077 | 262 | 262 All Saints - One Strike 05 :heart:

076 | 268 | 268 Little Mix - Shout Out to My Ex 11 * :heart:

075 | 269 | 269 Meghan Trainor - NO 09 :heart:

074 | 269 | 269 Little Mix - F.U. 02 * :heart:

073 | 272 | 272 Tove Lo - Cool Girl 18 :heart:

072 | 273 | 273 Nick Jonas & Tove Lo - Close 05 This song and Vid is just incredible tbh

071 | 275 | 275 Rihanna - Love on the Brain 02 * :heart:

070 | 280 | 280 Fifth Harmony featuring Ty Dollar $ign - Work From Home 06

069 | 518 | 282 Ellie Goulding - Army 04 (03 in 2015; #83 EOY) Ellie :heart:

068 | 283 | 283 Christine and the Queens - Night 52 04 *

067 | 285 | 285 Sia featuring Kendrick Lamar - The Greatest 11 * :heart:

066 | 288 | 288 The 1975 - The Sound 03 :heart:

065 | 289 | 289 Dua Lipa - Blow Your Mind (Mwah) 08 * The mwah parts :wub:

064 | 518 | 290 Ariana Grande - Focus 02 (01 in 2015; #84 EOY) :heart:

063 | 297 | 297 Rihanna - Sledgehammer 07

062 | 298 | 298 James Arthur - Say You Won't Let Go 07 * :heart:

061 | 300 | 300 Christine and the Queens - Saint Claude 08 * :wub:

Blow Your Mind is my favourite Dua Lipa track of the one's I've heard, it's not as catchy as it was though :(

 

I like All Night as well, but I do think that's mainly to do with Matoma's influence and the catchy chorus

Magnets, Saint Claude, Don't Let Me Down, Say You Do, Magnetised. Lots of good tracks

 

Hi Liam :hi:

 

099 | 213 | 213 Tom Odell - Here I Am 13 * :wub:

098 | 217 | 217 Troye Sivan - YOUTH 05 This is still so good for him and different too!!

097 | 218 | 218 Blonde & Craig David - Nothing Like This 13 :heart:

096 | 219 | 219 twenty one pilots - Heathens 08 :heart:

095 | 220 | 220 Red Hot Chili Peppers - Dark Necessities 13

094 | 222 | 222 Two Door Cinema Club - Are We Ready? (Wreck) 09

093 | 229 | 229 Nathan Sykes featuring G-Eazy - Give It Up 07

092 | 235 | 235 twenty one pilots - Stressed Out 16 :heart:

091 | 235 | 235 Beyoncé - Formation 08 :heart:

090 | 237 | 237 Adele - Water Under the Bridge 06 * :heart:

089 | 240 | 240 DNCE - Toothbrush 10

088 | 241 | 241 Sia - Footprints 03

086 | 243 | 243 Sigala featuring Imani & DJ Fresh - Say You Do 08 :heart:

085 | 243 | 243 Tove Lo - True Disaster 02 * :heart:

084 | 244 | 244 Beyoncé featuring The Weeknd - 6 Inch 06

083 | 247 | 247 The Chainsmokers featuring Daya - Don't Let Me Down 08

082 | 251 | 251 Tom Odell - Magnetised 14

081 | 292 | 252 Snakehips featuring Tinashe & Chance the Rapper - All My Friends 05 (14 in 2015) My favourite song here in this second such a party anthem :heart:

 

079 | 343 | 257 Disclosure featuring Lorde - Magnets 11 (19 in 2015) :heart:

078 | 260 | 260 Britney Spears - Liar 01

077 | 262 | 262 All Saints - One Strike 05 :heart:

076 | 268 | 268 Little Mix - Shout Out to My Ex 11 * :heart:

075 | 269 | 269 Meghan Trainor - NO 09 :heart:

074 | 269 | 269 Little Mix - F.U. 02 * :heart:

073 | 272 | 272 Tove Lo - Cool Girl 18 :heart:

072 | 273 | 273 Nick Jonas & Tove Lo - Close 05 This song and Vid is just incredible tbh

071 | 275 | 275 Rihanna - Love on the Brain 02 * :heart:

070 | 280 | 280 Fifth Harmony featuring Ty Dollar $ign - Work From Home 06

069 | 518 | 282 Ellie Goulding - Army 04 (03 in 2015; #83 EOY) Ellie :heart:

068 | 283 | 283 Christine and the Queens - Night 52 04 *

067 | 285 | 285 Sia featuring Kendrick Lamar - The Greatest 11 * :heart:

066 | 288 | 288 The 1975 - The Sound 03 :heart:

065 | 289 | 289 Dua Lipa - Blow Your Mind (Mwah) 08 * The mwah parts :wub:

064 | 518 | 290 Ariana Grande - Focus 02 (01 in 2015; #84 EOY) :heart:

063 | 297 | 297 Rihanna - Sledgehammer 07

062 | 298 | 298 James Arthur - Say You Won't Let Go 07 * :heart:

061 | 300 | 300 Christine and the Queens - Saint Claude 08 * :wub:

Hi Harry! I felt like 'All My Friends' was a surprise hit at the start of the year, despite how obviously well-suited it is to the club environment. Really interesting spin on the party theme, backed by cool beat and great sing-a-long chorus.

 

I love the video to 'Close' too! Quite Sia inspired; something that's so intriguing to watch, working out what the movements suggest.

 

Blow Your Mind is my favourite Dua Lipa track of the one's I've heard, it's not as catchy as it was though :(

 

I like All Night as well, but I do think that's mainly to do with Matoma's influence and the catchy chorus

'Hotter Than Hell' remains my favourite, but I think all of her songs have been great and give insight to different aspects of her artistry.

 

The Vamps were on to a winner by having Matoma on the track. Completely defies what it is to be a boyband single and allows them to compete in an OA/OS, streaming-dominant market.

 

Magnets, Saint Claude, Don't Let Me Down, Say You Do, Magnetised. Lots of good tracks

Thank you! Always great to see another Christine & The Queens fan!

Position // Overall Total // 2016 Total // Artist // Song // Peak (* = still charting)

060 | 301 | 301 Lady Gaga - Million Reasons 05 *

059 | 302 | 302 All Saints - One Woman Man 05

058 | 305 | 305 Lady Gaga - Perfect Illusion 05 *

057 | 309 | 309 Years & Years - Worship 05

056 | 309 | 309 Gwen Stefani - Make Me Like You 02

055 | 310 | 310 Major Lazer featuring Justin Bieber & MØ - Cold Water 10

054 | 310 | 310 Britney Spears - Slumber Party [Original + Remix featuring Tinashe] 04 *

053 | 630 | 313 Fleur East - Sax 01 (01 in 2015)

052 | 314 | 314 Digital Farm Animals & Cash Cash featuring Nelly - Millionaire 03 *

051 | 319 | 319 The Weeknd featuring Daft Punk - Starboy 09 *

 

050 | 320 | 320 Meghan Trainor - Me Too 12

049 | 320 | 320 Adele - Send My Love (To Your New Lover) 10

048 | 345 | 321 5 Seconds of Summer - Jet Black Heart 05 (17 in 2015)

047 | 329 | 329 Shawn Mendes - Treat You Better 06

046 | 669 | 329 Elle King - Ex's & Oh's 03 (01 in 2015)

045 | 330 | 330 Clean Bandit featuring Sean Paul & Anne-Marie - Rockabye 01 *

044 | 462 | 331 Adele - When We Were Young 11 (03 in 2015)

043 | 331 | 331 Years & Years - Meteorite 06 *

042 | 333 | 333 Alesso featuring Nico & Vinz - I Wanna Know 04

041 | 341 | 341 Biffy Clyro - Animal Style 05

 

Hi Liam, catch-up time!

 

Great to see All Night here, I've sung its praises in my own EOY and in other people's too but it really is such a great track and delightful to see it hanging around officially. I'm really intrigued as to what they're gonna release next, their management was so close to getting this campaign right, they just need to put it on the popular Spotify playlists sooner! :lol:

 

I think a lot of people were underwhelmed by the second 5SOS era (I think they mostly got it right although I think they could've pushed a different single instead of Hey Everybody! which is their weakest for me by faaaar), but Jet Black Heart seems quite well received which is great, I really like it and it's got a different feel to it compared to their previous singles, despite being 5SOS all over, if that makes sense. Shame it got such a shoddy playlist run from Radio 1.

 

One Strike, Cold Water, Treat You better and Work from Home are big faves of mine from last year too :wub:

Hi Liam, catch-up time!

 

Great to see All Night here, I've sung its praises in my own EOY and in other people's too but it really is such a great track and delightful to see it hanging around officially. I'm really intrigued as to what they're gonna release next, their management was so close to getting this campaign right, they just need to put it on the popular Spotify playlists sooner! :lol:

 

I think a lot of people were underwhelmed by the second 5SOS era (I think they mostly got it right although I think they could've pushed a different single instead of Hey Everybody! which is their weakest for me by faaaar), but Jet Black Heart seems quite well received which is great, I really like it and it's got a different feel to it compared to their previous singles, despite being 5SOS all over, if that makes sense. Shame it got such a shoddy playlist run from Radio 1.

 

One Strike, Cold Water, Treat You better and Work from Home are big faves of mine from last year too :wub:

Hi Joseph!

 

Yes, it's quite an exciting time for The Vamps! A big risk was taken with 'All Night' but it's been a great success, so I'm hoping the band and the record company are confident in building on that and releasing something equally or perhaps slightly more experimental. I think streaming promo will improve too now that they know how to tackle it.

 

I agree that 'Hey Everybody' was a wrong single choice and killed any momentum for the era. I know the chart run for 'She's Kinda Hot' wasn't quite what would have been expected, but this was a time where OA/OS hadn't quite taken off because not everyone was putting it into practice. I certainly don't think it was anything to do with the song itself; it was the first time I had actually viewed 5SOS as the pop punk band they claimed to be and it put them in a much more interesting position in the music market. Then 'Hey Everybody' came along, relied far too greatly on the Duran Duran sample, which people immediately picked up on and criticised, and had a pretty weak chorus. 'Jet Black Heart' may not have been punky like 'She's Kinda Hot' was, but it was a great rock ballad which suited their artistry well. It should have been pushed as the second single because it just ended up lost in the Christmas/New Year market where it actually was.

 

I had actually forgotten about 'Jet Black Heart' being a hit for me in 2016 so I'm relistening now - still holds up as well as it did. :wub:

Animal Style, Rockabye, Starboy, Worship. ^_^

Nice to see I Wanna Know here! It's my favourite thing Nico & Vinz have put their name to this year :)