Nice to see Cheap Thrills here! It's a great song and really catchy, but it did stick around in the charts for WAY too long :(

Thanks guys! Another section or maybe two to come soon :)

Edited January 15, 20178 yr by 360Jupiter

Love Cheap Thrills :)

 

Dua Lipa - Hotter Than Hell [8.5]

Vaults - Midnight River (Pomo Remix) [8.5] This remix is fire!

M83 feat. Jordan Lawlor - Walkway Blues [9.5]

Glass Animals - Youth [10.0]

Warpaint - New Song [9.0]

Fergie - MILFS [4.5]

Tinie Tempah feat. Zara Larsson - Girls Like [6.5]

Frenship feat. Emily Warren - Capsize [8.5]

Iveta Mukuchyan - Lovewave [8.0]

Rihanna - Sledgehammer [7.5]

Katy B x Major Lazer x Craig David - Who Am I [8.0]

AlunaGeorge - Mediator [8.0]

Bear's Den - Red Earth & Pouring Rain [8.5]

Birdy - Keeping Your Head Up [8.5]

NAO - Fool To Love [9.0]

Sia feat. Sean Paul - Cheap Thrills [10.0]

 

Favourites so far: Youth, Cheap Thrills, Walkway Blues, New Song, and Fool To Love.

 

 

 

Good to see the love for Walkway Blues, Red Earth, NAO and Pomo! Thanks for commenting :)

65) MEGHAN TRAINOR FT. MEGHAN TRAINOR’S TIN FOIL COAT – NO

 

 

No, the lead single that serves as shorthand for Meghan Trainor’s entire second era. I’d like to say I know what she was going for, but between the photoshopping scandal, the new ginger do, continued blaccent, and frankly embarrassing second single Me Too, Meghan Trainor’s Thank You era has been a bit of a mess. And that’s not even mentioning the tin foil coat, which – really – someone on her team thought was a good idea. Really. Despite this all, No was a catchy little jam with good ‘retro’ (god, I am old) 90s elements, which altogether propelled this into the upper end of the lower end of my top 100.

 

64) RKCB – IGNITE

 

 

This one’s a beautifully smooth, chill, relaxed ballad track with some Jason Derulo-esque R&B-plus-falsetto elements to nail down its modernity. It’s RKCB’s first EOY appearance and the most successful of four charting tracks this year; the others being Speechless with Candyland, Enough and Open Arms. They’re a little like the band Alt-J if they’d stayed more firmly within indie pop for album 2 instead of taking the MGMT-esque further-into-alternative-and-weird path. The LA band seem to be on the up, as they’ll be playing a set with Major Lazer in Feb of this year. They also just released an EP, In Contrast, which I’ll be checking out this year.

 

63) DEEP CHILLS FT. EMMA CARN – BLINDED

 

 

Typical EDM-with-female-vocals is typical. Both the producer/DJ and the vocalist are unknowns to me, and Deep Chills notably don’t seem to have released any other vocal tracks. It’s another one that I was surprised not to see reach any kind of success – although it may have picked up some club plays, I’ve had a quiet year in that regard due to some ill health – so I can’t quite comment there. Musically it’s very similar to previous EDM Prayer in C and Are You With Me from 2015, but doesn’t hit on their levels of success. I liked it, though, and it’s another that’s not one you’d skip, which also helps it. Emma’s got a lovely voice, and I’ll be keeping an eye on her career from here.

 

62) BECKY HILL FT. LITTLE SIMZ – BACK TO MY LOVE

 

 

Becky Hill is a great find who’s really capitalized on her initial exposure. I hope The Voice will start to acknowledge her. British rapper Little Simz also features here. Back To My Love has picked up plays here and there all year, and finally charted in my top 40 as the year came to an end after a late surge. It’s Becky’s second year in a top 100, after Overdrive scraped in at the lower end in 2014. This was robbed by not charting in the UK singles chart, it’s a gem.

 

61) ALUNAGEORGE, LEIKELI47 & DREEZY – MEAN WHAT I MEAN

 

 

Second appearance for AlunaGeorge – but not the last we’ll see of them. I’m really surprised by how their sophomore album I Remember was received, as I like nearly every track on it. Possibly not marketed strongly enough to the right groups? Also, maybe not a great title – I’m In Control, or Control, after it’s lead single, would have been much stronger titles. The two female rappers are unknowns, it’s kind of Aluna to have given them this boost to their careers. The video to this is energetic and dancefloor-ready – fitting the song. This was a #1 for me during the year – my first #1 when I started my charts, actually. Cheeky.

 

No [5.5]

Ignite [9.0] Reminds me of Gallant

Blinded [8.0]

Back To My Love [8.0]

Mean What I Mean [9.0]

 

Favourites: Ignite and Mean What I Mean

Thanks for sharing your thoughts DT! Glad to share some new tracks on :3

 

One more section incoming...

60) BEYONCE FT. THE WEEKND – 6 INCH

 

 

Beyonce’s first ever entry in an end of year for me. Prior to the release of Lemonade, I could be charitably referred to as not a Beyonce fan. Perhaps more accurately as an anti-fan. Everyone’s favourite mover and booty-shaker from the early 2000s has always struck me before as uncomfortably corporate and calculated, and her music as more of the same. There’ve been a few tracks in her back catalogue that I’ve liked (Green Light, Who Run The World, embarrassingly, Video Phone with Lady Gaga), but in general, she’s never been quite up my street. Well, 2016 completely won me over, from Formation, to the Superbowl, to the release of the visual album film on TV, nearly all of which I watched in that one sitting. I ended up liking it a lot as a whole piece and particularly liking certain tracks, as well as coming away feeling like perhaps I understood the real person behind the very deliberate image she’s always seemed to be putting out. The sultry, badass, don’t-mess-with-me swagger of 6 Inch was something that really caught me, and deservedly gives her her debut. The Weeknd’s feature is perfect, too. (of course, Beyonce is still corporate enough not to allow the actual song on youtube, so I've had to link in a slight remix)

 

59) BAT FOR LASHES – JOE’S DREAM

 

 

From warm to cold now. I really, really liked this song until I found out what it was about, which honestly has made the whole album a hard listen for me. I wouldn’t recommend it, to anyone else who isn’t great with sad things. Outside of the context though, this is a beautifully crafted, beautifully sung, thoughtful ballad track, similar to other acts I’m a huge fan of, Lisa Hannigan or Goldfrapp, in more acoustic moments. I still like Joe’s Dream a lot – it’s Bat For Lashes’ first big hit on my charts ever, and her end-of-year debut – but there is a shadow over it and over me, to a degree, every time I hear it now. I’ll be keeping an eye on what she releases in the future though – and maybe avoiding the album liner notes and reviews next time.

 

58) CLEAN BANDIT, SEAN PAUL & ANNE-MARIE – ROCKABYE

 

 

Clean Bandit’s real comeback single, following the almost-definitely-bought-for-by-Syco Tears, featuring 2015 winner Louisa Johnson, whose winning single had tanked, scraping into the top 10 for one week on sympathy-buys. For a winning and children’s charity single, at Christmas, that was atrocious. Johnson’s fortunes and reactions to her have continued to be mixed. Rockabye, by contrast, has been universally-adored since release, and its success has helped the group sidestep the drama and office politics that led to the withdrawal from the band by one of their members earlier this year. Although I love the song, I’m a little surprised that the general public in post-Brexit Britain took en masse to a song celebrating the life story and choices of a mixed-race exotic dancing single mother, but there you go. Rockabye walks the line between a ballad and a dance track and, like previous topper Rather Be, hits the bullseye on both elements. This would be higher, no doubt, if it hadn’t released so late in the year. As is it’s one of the, if not the highest of the Q4 releases in the countdown.

 

57) ARIANA GRANDE – INTO YOU

 

 

What should have been Ari’s proper comeback single, in place of the double fake-out of Focus and Dangerous Woman. Into You took a long time to grow on me, partly because the video is a little try-hard and also runs the line close to off-putting from empowered, given how Ms. Grande comes off here and there a little like a pre-teen dressed in her big sister’s clothes. Or maybe I’m just too old. The song structure is also a little unusual. It’s not Ariana’s only entry this year, but it’s a good one, and might just edge out Problem as my second favourite Ari track over her whole career. It’s criminal that this didn’t do better in the UK, but I guess the public were as slow to warm to it as I initially was.

 

56) CHAINSMOKERS FT. HALSEY – CLOSER

 

 

The track that Halsey must be thrilled will keep her lights on for the next few years, and another step in the Chainsmokers’ turnaround that has seen them go from a one-minor-hit wonder joke act to a bona fide force in both EDM and pop crossover. Closer is exactly the kind of track that was bound to, if picked up, become a crossover pop hit. As you’llve been seeing in my countdown though, there’s plenty of those kinds of tracks out there – it very much depends on who gets picked to get radio plays and manages to nab some exposure. Halsey will be looking to capitalize on her overnight transformation from internet-and-burgeoning-indie-star – especially in the US – to mainstream pop sensation overnight, in 2017. But even if she can’t, the massive streaming and sales success of Closer should keep both acts afloat for a fair while yet. This peaked at #3 in my charts and notched up 5 weeks in my top 10 across two separate runs.

Edited January 18, 20178 yr by 360Jupiter

55) COLDPLAY FT. TOVE LO – FUN

 

 

The best single from Coldplay’s latest album that never was. Why Fun, that struck me as the most obvious single when the album came out, was never released, is beyond me. The Tove Lo feature and soundtrack feel of it had this one primed to be the next Princess of China, I thought. Still. It’s a song that completely turned me around on Coldplay, a band I was at best lukewarm to in the past. It shows a different side to Tove Lo – although, this countdown will have a few more opportunities for that – and lets her voice shine as well as blend with Chris Martin’s in the duet portions.It, along with lead single Adventure of a Lifetime, has made me interested in what – if anything – Coldplay will do next. 2016, eh. This might yet see the light of day, but I’m charting it now anyway. Very much a wintery/spring song, so right for the season.

 

54) EMPIRE OF THE SUN – HIGH AND LOW

 

 

A smash #1 for me in the year, one of two #1s by the Austalian duo, and one of many, many charting tracks from their new album released in Oct 2016. The band saw long-awaited US success in 2016 after one of their older songs was used in an American Honda ad, causing it to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, and raising their profile in the country immensely. The album was a moderate success in the US and a top 10 in their native Oz – but tanked in the UK. Oh well. Empire are very much what the band MGMT could well have become if they’d stayed in pop crossover instead of going further into indie-pscyhedelica. They’ve not always been great at choosing the singles they release, but this era’s had good choices. I’d recommend To Her Door, featuring Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac, and Friends, as other picks from the album. Unfortunately, they released a little too late in the year to chart any more tracks in my EOY this time round.

 

53) BOSS SELECTION FT. RASHIDA JONES – FLIP AND REWIND

 

 

One of the highest unknowns or rarities now. Boss Selection, the producer(s?) are still that way even for me – but for any fans of Parks and Rec, Rashida Jones might be more familiar… that’s right, this track features Ann Perkins jumping about and dancing along to a gloriously retro hip-hop inspired dance anthem with shades of Ms. Lauryn Hill and early Nelly Furtado to it. This is easily one of my top discoveries of the year – of course, now I’ll find it was a former BuzzJack tip, no doubt, from before I was a member – and I’m glad I came across it.

 

52) TAYLOR SWIFT – NEW ROMANTICS

 

 

Another year, another Taylor. This didn’t seem to do well on the charts anywhere and was more of a gift for her fans, which is cute. I enjoyed it a lot during the year though, including the cute youtube video. It’s a bit Carly Rae Jepsen and a bit of a throwback to Taylor’s old story-telling style of songwriting. Speaking of Style, that track was last year’s #2 overall. This is her 2016 pinnacle, but really, it’s her own fault for not releasing anything else. Somehow, I don’t think the 50 Shades track with Zayn will be making it in to 2017’s countdown though – it’s quite a step down. I think New Romantics could have been a success if she’d released it in place of Wildest Dreams - or Out Of The Woods! what a choice :o - and pushed it – but really, the album had come to the end of its lifespan by the time she got round to putting it out. A cute one though, her last album really made me turn around on her.

 

51) TROYE SIVAN – FOOLS

 

 

Finally for this section, a track I came across entirely from watching a Kids React video on youtube (Teens React?) where they watched this video, Wild, and the third video in the series that make up a short film trilogy about an ill-fated gay couple. It’s pretty emotional stuff. Wild, I loved when I first heard it (great song lyrics, great wordplay) and it would have charted in my top 5 this year, if it hadn’t actually been released in 2015. This one however didn’t seem to see a release at all, so it’s eligible. It’s definitely pessimistic, angry, and emotional, and it’s nice to hear that from a male singer as sad-angry, not gonna-break-something-angry, for once. Disappointment, rather than destructiveness. Anyway. It’s a good track with a strong story behind it. Troye has another track coming up higher up too. Prior to these, his track

was his highest-charter and my pick of his releases.

Edited January 18, 20178 yr by 360Jupiter

Joe's Dream [10.0] When I'm listening to The Bride and this songs comes up, it brings tears to my eyes. :cry:

Rockabye [10.0] Great track from da Bandit.

Into You [6.0]

Closer [6.5]

 

If you had a fiver for everytime you listened to "Closer" on the radio, would you be able to afford that Rover they were talking about?

My guess: "Probs not"

 

Fun [8.5] I admired Head Full Of Dreams and I even have a CD copy of it, which I bought from an Oxfam shop

High And Low [8.0] Ligh and how. I also really like We Are The People and Walking On A Dream.

Flip And Rewind [7.5]

FOOLS [7.0]

Some of your descriptions of the songs I've not heard definitely make me wanna hear them at some point, will have to put them all in a playlist.

 

NO was such a guilty pleasure, loved that retro sound she went for.

 

Closer won me over after initially hating it, quite a remarkable success for both acts!

Should I make a playlist? Maybe I can share one after we're done, that would ruin the surprise of what's yet to come!

 

Maybe just a playlist of the new tracks? I have a few like that - want a link?

 

NO is v much a guilty pleasure, it's one line away from trashy!

50) GRIMES – KILL V MAIM

 

 

After a shockingly successful last year, Grimes’ last album proved itself to be quite top-heavy, and I ended up playing her a lot less this year. Previous heavy hitters Flesh Without Blood, and my personal favourite album picks California and World Princess Part II were much more lowkey this year, with only ‘Flesh’ of the three scraping into my year-end top 500 longlist according to LastFM. Of this year’s dominants, Butterfly and Venus Fly peak just outside the top 100, and Kill V Maim – incidentally, a single – is the only one of the bunch that makes it in. It makes it high though, all the way into the top half – just, making it Grimes’ 3rd or 4th year to consecutively have year-enders. I feel the indie queen is still underappreciated in the UK – here’s hoping 2017’s popular music scene shifts more in that direction again!

 

 

49) BRITNEY SPEARS FT. G-EAZY - MAKE ME

 

 

 

From the indie queen to a former queen of pop. Brit’s lovely R&B inspired jam with her rent-a-rapper and shockingly poor video is nonetheless one of my favourite things she’s ever done. (Don’t subject yourself to the video if you want to keep enjoying the song)

 

 

48) PEKING DUK - SAY MY NAME – LUCA LUSH's SEXY SAX REMIX FT. BENJAMIN JOSEPH

 

 

I was fairly sure that this would be Peking Duk’s only success this year when I came across this in 2016’s Spring; a niche, goofy remix, a silly band name, copious saxophone…it seemed guaranteed. So I was pretty surprised when Peking Duk proceeded to release the catchy ‘Stranger’ featuring Elliphant, later in the year, which became a long-runner on my charts, on some other members’ charts, and a bit of a minor hit officially too, going by its Spotify impact. This is essentially saxophone gone wild on a slightly trappy beat with otherwise Phoenix-like vocals. I didn’t at all start listening to it after a binge of stupid saxophone songs like Mr Saxobeat and Eurovision’s Sexy Sax Man meme… Anyway, I’m a little surprised this made it this far, but it is super catchy.

 

 

47) THE 1975 – SHE’S AMERICAN

 

 

A band that had a very strong 2016, cementing and ringfencing their mainstream appeal with their strangely-titled second album, and its hit releases The Sound, Love Me and UGH!. She’s American was my initial standout pick from the album, and it was later thankfully made a single, although perhaps a little late after the album had already made its main impact. It’s exactly the kind of indie triumph song that would have been a huge success in 2007 or 2008, or even alongside Gotye in 2012. Naturally, in 2016, it doesn’t chart, and doesn’t appear really anyway in the mainstream, except for being briefly playlisted on Radio 1 on a diversity run. Glad to be able to share it on, however.

 

46) ABC - VIVA LOVE

 

 

More indie now, with the surprise comeback of 80s band ABC with The Lexicon of Love II, a 30-years-out sequel to the original Lexicon of Love released in 1982. Lastfm’s entry for this helpfully tags it as a ‘wake-up song’, which is I think, pretty accurate. It would also make a great movie theme song, I think. Music video is appropriately theatrical, and just a little bit adorable.

Edited January 21, 20178 yr by 360Jupiter

Kill V Maim [10.0] Art Angels is a great album! My favourites from Grimes are this, Genesis, Oblivion and Flesh Without Blood.

Make Me [5.5]

Say My Name [8.0] Good track!

She's American [7.5]

Viva Love [7.5] My favourites from ABC are Poison Arrow and The Look Of Love

Cheers DT! You might like

, by Grimes, it's one of my top tracks by her and by anyone ever ;)

 

I will need to check out those other two by ABC. Kiss Me Goodbye from the most recent album recently charted on my weeklies :)

 

Another section just incoming now...

Edited January 23, 20178 yr by 360Jupiter

45) 4MINUTE – HATE

 

 

The only Asian act in this year’s countdown (there's usually one), K-Pop representatives 4Minute in what ended up being a song away from their swan song, just as they were starting to achieve massive international success and recognition. The nature of the game is to be young and new though, and lead member HyunA was raring to get back to her solo career – comeback solo single How’s This was a close contender for this EOY despite being released late in the year, just missing the cutoff. Like a lot of K-Pop tracks this one blends soft and hard and features the band wearing a variety of personas throughout the video. This was another I initially came across through a REACT video, although I’d enjoyed previous tracks by the band

and Cut It Out, which I’d recommend.

 

44) ANOHNI – MARROW

 

 

Antony and the Johnsons, stepping out as a solo act, and with a new moniker to boot. It’s Anohni’s first year-end charter in any guise, and one of two she ends up landing this year. This is morose bordering on morbid, but has a serious and serene message, of course. It’s very strong spiritually and emotionally. One of few slower songs in this countdown this year. I didn’t like all of Anohni’s album, but it was a powerful effort that the singer took on tour, despite her shyness and anxiety. I’ve been following her on social media since too, a great personality who really cares about our world and making it a better place.

 

43) JAMES BLAKE – POINTS

 

 

A good year for James Blake, an artist I’ve always liked the idea of but never actually been able to get into the music of – it’s always been a little too far-out for my tastes; glitchy, morose white-boy electronic soul was always going to be an interesting proposition and a bit of a hard sell. 2016 saw him teaming up with Frank Ocean and Beyonce on their critically acclaimed comeback albums, and releasing his own third effort, The Colour in Anything, a more easily accessible listen, a bit more contemporary R&B, alternative, dark easy listening. Call me a pleb, but I don’t like music that threatens my ears when I’m listening – I’m generally doing something else alongside and don’t need the distraction. Points has a great mellow vocal, slightly choral synths and a trap-influenced structure. Trap meets industrial meets easy listening, a really unique structure. Very atmospheric. This was another long-term slow burner that hit its peak in May and June.

 

42) NOTHING BUT THIEVES – GRAVEYARD WHISTLING

 

 

The third slower track consecutively, and one of the few traditionally-instrumentalized tracks this year, in yet another year where rock-indie and rock-alternative has struggled against synth- and electronica-led variants. That’s mainly officially, but it’s trickled down to my charts too. Nothing too much to say here, this is another example of the ballad-from-an-otherwise-rock-album that’s often one of my top picks from an album of that genre (previous examples; Biffy Clyro’s

, Prides’

, Paramore’s

). Some people have called this song pessimistic, but I don’t get that at all. It’s thoughtful, and I get a bit of a Florence-album-2 vibe from it. Another one that should be in a movie or a TV show.

 

41) REMMI – AWAKE, ASLEEP

 

 

One of two successful tracks by the Nashville indie pop and EDM-featuring singer this year, the other being Forever with Lucian, who most recently appeared on my charts with the #4-peaking Calm Waters featuring Beth Duck. Remmi recently released her debut EP New America, which is available now on Spotify and digital music outlets. I’ve not heard everything on it yet myself – so I’m looking forward to having a peruse myself. This one hit its first peak in March and then had a second surge in June after I came across more of her material. “Are we awake, are we asleep, are we enslaved, are we free?” is such a great lyric, and the instrumentation and echoes perfectly complement Remmi’s clear vocals. This reminds me a little of the quieter moments of Chainsmokers’ Roses and Shura’s work – both big positives!

 

Hate [6.5]

Marrow [8.5] My favourites from ANOHNI's Hopelessness are 4 Degrees, Drone Bomb Me and Why Did You Separate Me From The Earth

Points [8.0] My favourites from James Blake's The Colour In Anything are Radio Silence, I Need A Forest Fire, Timeless and I Hope My Life.

Graveyard Whistling [9.5] I like this band. The songs I love the most by them are Trip Switch, Itch, Ban All The Music, Wake Up Call, this song, and Hostage (sometimes I feel like a hostage)

Awake, Asleep [8.0]

No and Mean What I Mean in the top section of this page bangers :heart:

 

All in the next section good and great too :cheer:

 

Fun, High and Low, New Romantics and FOOLS all good!

 

Make Me, Kill V Maim and Shes american all great too all different to!

 

In recent section I am loving Hate, Graveyard Whistling and Points!

 

Not heard Marrow but will have too as I do like her a lot

Nice to see Rockabye here! Closer is nice as well, but it is a little boring now :(