Let's get this finished then - it already feels like a chore (good job there's only 3 to go) so glad I did something very unambitious this time.

 

Well I think I know what the order is based on your dance awards votes! :P

 

Funky Friday and First Time are both great anyhow, though they missed my Y/E Hot 100. The former was so good for its genre, a real game changer for Dave too who I expect will have a big 2019. Was great seeing First Time become a big surprise hit too.

 

Ah but had the order changed since when I compiled this countdown? :P (no it hadn't)

 

I expect Dave may have a Stormzy 2017-like year? Hope we get something from him as good as this anyhow.

 

Promises really grabbed me on first listen which is really rare for a modern Calvin track! First Time was nice enough but not something I go back to often sadly.

 

Yep and a rare Calvin track that I don't eventually tire of, he knocked it out the park with this one.

 

Funky Friday is alright and First Time is a good dance tune.

 

Definitely a one-hit wonder I expect iro M-22 :/

 

Funky Friday definitely did grow on me! Was very surprised when it went to number one and wasn't too impressed but I really like it now!

 

I also was surprised it had enough about it to go straight in at #1 too! The grower of all growers :music:

 

Great to see Funky Friday so high here. Certainly one of the chart moments of the year when that made #1.

 

Yeah I wasn't as huge on it the week it went straight in at the top but looking back I'm so glad it did. That, Ladbaby & Three Lions were the chart moments of the year imo.

3. Clean Bandit (feat. Marina & Luis Fonsi) - Baby

 

 

 

In retrospect this is perhaps a little bit too high but that's not to say I don't love it by any means. They've always maintained superbly high consistency but it had been a little while since I truly got on board with one of their releases ('I Miss You' & 'Solo' were both very good but not top tier). Then came this latin-fused stormer - yes it had elements that have been done to death in recent times but something about their style & sound still keeps it interesting, they always put their unique stamp on their songs. Marina's vocals are quite wonderful & Luis' parts don't feel shoehorned in contrary to the general consensus.

2. Jax Jones (feat. Ina Wroldsen) - Breathe

 

 

 

This really was a super-rare case of me absolutely loving a track from the very first listen. The start is very teasing but as soon as that bassline drops in the chorus I was in the fan club. There is such a beautiful flow to this song & it's one such that demands being played extremely loud on any & every occasion. It's just the right blend of sounding fresh but still harking back to earlier times when this sound was more commercially successful. That said, to see it make the official top 10 when his previous single 'Instruction' (which I never liked) didn't was damn pleasing indeed. His best song by a clear mile and will likely remain so for eternity.

1. Marshmello (feat. Bastille) - Happier

 

 

 

So there we have it, my favourite top 40 single of 2018 is this rather inspired collaboration, 'Happier'. This wasn't one that particularly struck me on first listen but it definitely had something about me that caught my attention & after a few more spins had established itself as a forerunner for this countdown. It's just such an upfliting track, true to its title, and Dan Smith's vocals are absolutely excellent - he needs to feature on more dancey songs clearly! As for Marshmello, I really thought he would remain a one-trick pony with his 'Alone'-like sound but he's actually been behind 2 of my favourite hits from the past 2 years (the other being 'Silence'). If he keeps up the quality like this there's no reason why he can't be up there with the Alesso's & the Avicii's of the dancehood kingdom.

 

 

As always, thanks for all the comments & I hope you have enjoyed this countdown. See you all again in November!

Breathe is my fave by far of your top 3 but Happier is great too!

Baby is still one of my least fave Clean Bandit singles sadly.

 

great chart anyhow!

I can relate to your thoughts on 'Happier', in fact the song only just grew on me in the past few weeks. One of many collabs this year that you wouldn't have expected to work as well as they did. And 'Breathe' makes for a superb top 2, pretty sure Ina can do no wrong and Jax is pretty darn close too!

Approve of all your Top 3! Baby isn't as good as some other CB singles but it is still growing, Breathe is one of Jax's best and of course Happier really is a moment :wub: I've enjoyed following this, thanks for doing!

A great end of year #1 there, dobbo.

 

 

'Mine' getting some rare love *.*

 

Nice For What, Baby and Funky Friday are some of the best chart hits this year, a good selection there~