Interesting to see 'Somebody Loves You' in this section as it's appeared in my top 100 too and a few places higher. I'm sure your eoy next year it'll be way higher though :P fantastic trance track anyway even if it initially did go past me but I think that's because my mind was trying to get through my first semi listen through and I was probably looking at other things at the same time lol. Glad it gave you a big bjsc smash anyhow.

I'm surprised it's higher in your chart than mine even with my points system being a big hindrance to recent songs. :o Glad you do enjoy it anyhow!

Thermo's hot hits | EOY 2020 | #86-90

#90. Tiësto and Mabel ~ God Is A Dancer [2019 EOY #143]
Date entered: 27/09/2019
Chart sales: 453,900
Chart run: [7-10-11-13-12-27-29-32-30-30]-41-46-70-x-32-31-33-31-37-46-54-x [10 weeks (20 weeks total)]

#89. The Weeknd ~ Blinding Lights
Date entered: 06/12/2019
Chart sales: 458,700
Chart run: 88-91-97-x-67-58-53-48-57-48-43-46-50-65-x-66-x [14 weeks]

#88. Disclosure ~ Tondo (feat. Eko Roosevelt)
Date entered: 28/02/2020
Chart sales: 459,200
Chart run: 16-9-12-19-23-43-59-75-83-89-x-81-x [11 weeks]

#87. i_o and Lights ~ Annihilation
Date entered: 22/05/2020
Chart sales: 459,900
Chart run: 13-12-14-15-14-17-22-22-30-37-40-44-48-70-78-x [15 weeks]

#86. Jubël ~ Dancing in the Moonlight (feat. Neimy)
Date entered: 29/05/2020
Chart sales: 469,400
Chart run: 96-84-82-96-84-14-14-25-33-26-29-33-43-49-53-x [15 weeks]

Commentary

Tiësto starts off the top 90 with Mabel collab 'God Is A Dancer', the only representation either of them have in the top 100. It is one of the most poppy songs Tiësto has done yet but it does work great for what it is (and is better than what he's doing in terms of club tracks). It's a song full of hooks which puts it above his other recent commercial hits for me. At #89 is The Weeknd with what was only the biggest hit song of the year across the world and deservedly so. 'Blinding Lights' is one of those very rare songs that everyone seems to agree is an great track, although it was a bit of a sleeper hit for me being one of two tracks in the Hottest 100 without a top 40 peak. It's a great 80s synth pop inspired track with the vocals and production as great as each other, a song that'll likely be well remembered years from now too. A place above we have Disclosure with the first of three appearances from them in the top 100. One of the great things about Disclosure is their willingness to incorporate African influenced music in their songs which they do here with 'Tondo', supposedly sung in Batanga, a Cameroonian dialect. It's also got a bit of a disco feel to the production but it very much sounds like a Disclosure record. i_o & Lights are next with 'Annihilation' their second of two collaborations to appear in the rundown. This track more than any other showed just how great i_o was at progressive/electro house and for a while it seemed like he had the potential to be deadmau5's equal, the influence here is plain to see. So it was a big shame that the year ended with him having passed away at only 30 years old. At #86 we have a dance cover version and it won't be the last one either, as they were really popular this year. Swedish duo Jübel broke through with their take on 'Dancing in the Moonlight' giving it the laidback house treatment, which sounded particularly great at the start of summer. It proved to be a bit controversial but I definitely think it works well, it has a great relaxed vibe. I don't expect we'll be hearing from them again however.

Personal recommendation


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Thermo's hot hits | EOY 2020 | #81-85

#85. Fatum ~ City Lights (feat. Dan Soleil)
Date entered: 29/05/2020
Chart sales: 470,600
Chart run: 21-42-49-41-26-30-23-31-38-35-39-38-58-61-67-x [15 weeks]

#84. Firebeatz ~ Bad Habit
Date entered: 13/03/2020
Chart sales: 471,500
Chart run: 57-65-72-71-82-69-55-27-29-32-44-45-68-70-75-74-61-77-x [18 weeks]

#83. Lucas & Steve ~ Another Life (feat. Alida)
Date entered: 06/09/2020
Chart sales: 471,600
Chart run: 69-17-15-14-13-12-15-2-5-5-6-6-8-... [13+ weeks]

#82. Metrik ~ Gravity
Date entered: 18/10/2019
Chart sales: 477,200
Chart run: [88-61-83-87-60-48-25]-32-39-46-68-22-19-24-29-44-52-64-65-67-x [13 weeks (20 weeks total)]

#81. Disclosure ~ Douha (Mali Mali) (feat. Fatoumata Diawara)
Date entered: 07/08/2020
Chart sales: 479,900
Chart run: 10-9-10-10-7-8-12-20-34-54-78-x [11 weeks]

Commentary

Fatum are here again and with their highest appearance in the rundown in 'City Lights', another pop-trance number from them. It's big and melodic just how I like it! Firebeatz are next up with 'Bad Habit', a song perhaps more famously covered by ATFC in the early 00s. This version takes the production right up to the present day giving it the piano house treatment but the diva vocals are still there. At #83 we have Lucas & Steve who you may remember had one of my albums of the year. The highlight of said album was the lead-in single of 'Another Life', another Avicii inspired song from them alongside a great vocal from Alida. Drum n bass man Metrik has his highest appearance at #82 with 'Gravity', a very energetic track with a great little vocal hook. It's the highest DnB song in this countdown so well done to him for that. Meanwhile Disclosure are here again with 'Douha' at #81. It's also another of their songs to feature African language vocals and brings back Fatoumata from their former #1 hit 'Ultimatum'. This one's not quite as good for me but nonetheless still one of their best of recent times, sounding like a classic Disclosure track.

Personal recommendation


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Thermo's hot hits | EOY 2020 | #76-80

#80. Torren Foot ~ More Life
Date entered: 07/08/2020
Chart sales: 480,200
Chart run: 43-30-48-57-84-86-63-28-18-17-16-14-18-19-21-21-22-... [17+ weeks]

#79. Oliver Heldens ~ Take A Chance
Date entered: 21/02/2020
Chart sales: 482,700
Chart run: 17-32-30-34-44-43-49-51-53-71-71-90-91-x [13 weeks]

#78. Armin van Buuren vs. BT ~ Always (feat. Nation Of One)
Date entered: 01/11/2019
Chart sales: 484,900
Chart run: [26-35-51-74-99-x]-69-62-67-72-68-65-44-33-25-35-41-63-67-73-51-48-55-x [17 weeks (22 weeks total)]

#77. Key4050 and Plumb ~ I Love You
Date entered: 03/01/2020
Chart sales: 486,300
Chart run: 29-27-29-30-46-63-82-73-38-46-74-91-47-76-x [14 weeks]

#76. Robbie Doherty and Keees. ~ Pour the Milk
Date entered: 13/03/2020
Chart sales: 487,800
Chart run: 60-62-53-50-61-64-61-66-67-50-73-93-95-71-72-72-79-x [17 weeks]

Commentary

Let's jump back into the chart now that Christmas is well and truly Over. In at #80 is Australian newcomer Torren Foot. 'More Life' was another sort-of song contest discovery for me - a remix he did was sent to Club Bizarre so I checked out his other recent material and it was this track that really stood out to me. Soon afterwards it would get a vocal mix with Tinie Tempah, but it is the original version that I much prefer. Doing big tech house in a similar style to Fisher ('Losing It') along with a very good sax sample and bassline. More life certainly is what you are getting with this track and I hope to hear more goods from him in 2021. A place higher is a name you've definitely heard of in Dutch superstar DJ Oliver Heldens! He had another good year although only one of his tracks really stood out enough to make the year-end list. It's not what you may've expected in his actual hit single 'Turn Me On' however. 'Take A Chance' takes a sample from an 80s track by Material that I'd never heard of, but safe to say it definitely works as a future house banger and has a lot more punch to it in the production. Armin van Buuren & BT are next with 'Always' - 2nd of four appearance for Armin in the top 100 and first of two for BT. Whilst Armin does of course have the primary credit, it does have more of the feel of a BT record, culminating in a big prog trance breakdown that he is known for. It was quite a steady grower for me after its music video release eventually managing to outpeak itself from the album bomb debut. Key4050 appear at #77 with what is so far their sole hit single, 'I Love You' was a big favourite of A State Of Trance listeners for 2019 and that was before it even had a proper release. The duo are the collaboration of respected trance producers John O'Callaghan and Bryan Kearney and it features a great vocal from Plumb who you may remember from my BJSC entry 'Somebody Loves You' (this was nearly a BJSC entry of mine itself but clearly I wise to wait for another Plumb-sung effort). It is fairly similar to that song being a big uptempo trance number with Plumb going all out with her vocals in the chorus. Lastly we have another (probable) one-hit wonder in Robbie Doherty and Keees. - although the song actually missed the top 40 and now holds the record for the lowest-peaking track ever to have made my Hottest 100! 'Pour The Milk' is a house reworking of 'Tom's Diner' which may've took a few listens to really get but it is a well-done remake. It's fairly minimalist but I like it that way.

Personal recommendation


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Thermo's hot hits | EOY 2020 | #76-100 RECAP

100 DJ D-Sol ~ Electric (feat. Hayley May)
99 Love Regenerator ~ CP-1
98 John Summit ~ Deep End
97 Solardo and Eli Brown ~ My Life
96 Tinlicker ~ Lost (feat. Run Rivers)
95 Aly & Fila and Plumb ~ Somebody Loves You
94 MK ~ 2AM (feat. Carla Monroe)
93 F.O.O.L and The Forgotten ~ Dystopia 2077
92 Rising Star ~ The Voice (feat. Cari)
91 Sonny Fodera and King Henry ~ Before U (feat. AlunaGeorge)
90 Tiësto and Mabel ~ God Is A Dancer
89 The Weeknd ~ Blinding Lights
88 Disclosure ~ Tondo (feat. Eko Roosevelt)
87 i_o and Lights ~ Annihilation
86 Jubël ~ Dancing in the Moonlight (feat. Neimy)
85 Fatum ~ City Lights (feat. Dan Soleil)
84 Firebeatz ~ Bad Habit
83 Lucas & Steve ~ Another Life (feat. Alida)
82 Metrik ~ Gravity
81 Disclosure ~ Douha (Mali Mali) (feat. Fatoumata Diawara)
80 Torren Foot ~ More Life
79 Oliver Heldens ~ Take A Chance
78 Armin van Buuren vs. BT ~ Always (feat. Nation Of One)
77 Key4050 and Plumb ~ I Love You
76 Robbie Doherty and Keees. ~ Pour the Milk

Thermo's hot hits | EOY 2020 | #71-75

#75. Don Diablo ~ Congratulations (feat. Brando)
Date entered: 06/12/2019
Chart sales: 490,200
Chart run: 7-13-16-39-11-10-18-22-42-54-74-94-x [12 weeks]

#74. Smith & Thell ~ Goliath
Date entered: 13/03/2020
Chart sales: 492,100
Chart run: 13-15-14-18-27-27-24-32-37-42-81-x [11 weeks]

#73. Topic ~ Breaking Me (feat. A7S)
Date entered: 07/02/2020
Chart sales: 493,300
Chart run: 67-37-43-63-91-x-54-53-51-72-55-62-54-58-91-x [14 weeks]

#72. Gareth Emery ~ You Are (feat. Emily Vaughn)
Date entered: 28/02/2020
Chart sales: 498,500
Chart run: 8-10-14-17-19-25-32-33-47-61-75-77-100-x [13 weeks]

#71. Laura Brehm ~ Breathe Music
Date entered: 15/05/2020
Chart sales: 499,000
Chart run: 7-10-10-10-6-7-12-21-26-37-48-43-49-49-71-70-x [16 weeks]

Commentary

Into the 2nd quarter of the top 100 now and we start with the first of two appearances for Don Diablo. It also provided Brando with an unexpected 2nd hit here as the featured singer. It's another well-done dancepop track from the Don, nothing too flashy with a more subdued drop but still featuring a little of his signature sound. Smith & Thell are next up with one of my favourite BJSC discoveries of the year which also went on to win the contest. 'Goliath' is an anthemic folk-dance track and being a big Avicii fan it was always going to have some appeal here. It sounds quite Eurovision-esque but it in the best way too alongside some lovely vocal harmony and texture. Another song from BJSC is up next although this was one of the very few to go on to be a huge UK mainstream hit as well. It was the debut appearance of Topic in my chart having been unimpressed with previous songs of his. It has a great vocal melody and bassline influenced from slap house. I even quite like the heavily processed vocal on it although it's a trend I'm not a huge fan of. Gareth Emery is here again at #72 with 'You Are', one of the non-album singles he put out at the start of the year. It's another great melodic trance track from him with a progressive feel to it. Ultimately it's not a huge standout of his recent work but he is just that good that this is only the 7th highest song of his in the rundown. Laura Brehm has 3 appearances in the top 100, the joint-most for a vocalist with Annabel this year. The first of these is one of her solo efforts 'Breathe Music'. It is a totally acoustic track which is a bit of a change with her usually appearing on dance beats, but it is such a beautiful song with some outstanding vocals and vocal texture. It's about her love for music which is rather relatable lyrically as you'd expect for someone who's been a Buzzjack regular for 10 years.

Personal recommendation


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Thermo's hot hits | EOY 2020 | #66-70

#70. Gareth Emery ~ End of Days (feat. Annabel)
Date entered: 22/05/2020
Chart sales: 500,700
Chart run: 4-5-6-7-8-9-16-17-12-23-37-45-57-x [13 weeks]

#69. Don Diablo ~ Never Change [2019 EOY #94]
Date entered: 13/09/2019
Chart sales: 502,100
Chart run: [9-8-9-11-10-11-10-19-26-30-29-29]-39-45-69-x-31-30-26-25-31-26-38-40-x [11 weeks (23 weeks total)]

#68. Endor ~ Pump It Up [2019 EOY #169]
Date entered: 20/09/2019
Chart sales: 503,100
Chart run: [29-52-92-x-47-29-54-72-71-59-38]-60-86-99-x-15-15-25-23-30-35-40-42-x [11 weeks (21 weeks total)]

#67. Becky Hill ~ Better Off Without You (feat. Shift K3Y)
Date entered: 17/01/2020
Chart sales: 505,600
Chart run: 13-16-20-20-22-30-47-62-79-80-80-87-x [12 weeks]

#66. Ben Gold ~ The City Sleeps Tonight [2019 EOY #55]
Date entered: 13/09/2019
Chart sales: 506,400
Chart run: [17-9-2-1-1-1-4-9-8-8-9-9]-11-19-37-47-14-12-22-26-35-43-x [10 weeks (22 weeks total)]

Commentary

As it turns out Gareth Emery is sandwiching Laura Brehm as another song of his is next at #70, this time the first of three songs from his album which all have vocals from Annabel. 'End of Days' has a great piano part to it and is another more song-focused effort of his, this one isn't even remotely trance but still is great. It's lyrically about how the end of a relationship rather than the end of the world however, probably for the best considering the year it came out. Don Diablo is back at #69 with 'Never Change' making the hottest 100 for a second time. The song is now firmly my favourite of his, very much helped by the inspired choice of sample, using the iconic piano line of 80s hit 'The Way It Is'. Another sample-led track is at #68 and one you're more likely to have heard of. Endor managed to make his mainstream breakthrough with tech house banger 'Pump It Up' proving that sometimes all you need is an iconic sample and a meaty kick and bass. Repetitive and minimalist as it may be, it is quite the tune. Becky Hill had a great 2020 starting it off with 'Better Off Without You', one of two tracks she has in the hottest 100. It's a great track about feeling great about a breakup which is the kind of positivity we needed this year, alongside a great commercial dance backing from Shift K3Y proving he still can make a good tune on occasion. Another hangover from last year is next in 'The City Sleeps Tonight', which remains Ben Gold's biggest hit of the year as he took a bit of a backseat in 2020. The anonymous vocalist does a standout performance on this too but it's all about the synth heavy drop for me although the energy is kept up throughout the entirety of the song which I also love. It's quite simply a very impressive vocal trance anthem and hopefully we get another like it from him next year.

Personal recommendation


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Thermo's hot hits | EOY 2020 | #61-65

#65. Ace Marino ~ Spaces
Date entered: 31/01/2020
Chart sales: 509,800
Chart run: 58-27-18-7-15-16-27-42-58-89-65-66-77-x [13 weeks]

#64. Zack Martino ~ Crave U (feat. Lenii)
Date entered: 17/01/2020
Chart sales: 514,900
Chart run: 95-78-79-88-93-98-x-94-90-88-91-52-53-58-21-24-27-30-43-44-65-x [20 weeks]

#63. Croatia Squad ~ Ven Pa Ca [2019 EOY #10]
Date entered: 17/05/2019
Chart sales: 517,700
Chart run: [45-22-24-22-28-28-29-29-22-21-21-23-18-14-17-15-6-6-3-3-2-2-2-5-11-12-9-11-14]-18-27-44-49-13-13-19-20-25-25-34-38-x [12 weeks (41 weeks total)]

#62. Gareth Emery ~ Somebody (feat. Kovic)
Date entered: 13/12/2019
Chart sales: 519,200
Chart run: 3-17-29-9-8-8-8-14-19-28-39-61-78-x [13 weeks]

#61. Joe Stone and Camden Cox ~ Mind Control
Date entered: 06/03/2020
Chart sales: 520,400
Chart run: 11-11-13-16-21-28-28-35-50-61-73-x [11 weeks]

Commentary

Another BJSC entry of mine is next to appear at #65, coming from synthwave act Ace Marino. I found 'Spaces' by chance towards the end of last year and it soon quickly grew on me. With the genre becoming a bigger trend this year I thought the track would get some love but it sadly DNQed instead. It's towards the bottom end of my entries ranking but I still stand by it being a bit of a tune, I love the big drop that a lot in the genre don't tend to go for, alongside its 80s synthpop influences. House DJ Zack Martino got his first hit in my chart this year too with 'Crave U', a track that was one of the biggest sleeper hits of the year and ends up at #64. It's a great commercial deep/future house track and has one of the best uses of the house organ I've heard this year. Not to mention that sexy sub bass focused drop complete with actual nice sounding vocal pitching effects. At #63 we have one of this year's hangovers from the top 10 of last year coming from Croatia Squad - 'Ven Pa Ca' ended up having one of the longest chart runs ever joining an elite few to pass 40 weeks. I've quoted the commentary I wrote last year (or to be more exact, in February of this year) at the end of the post. Believe me, we won't have a Gareth Emery song in every section - but he does appear again at #62. 'Somebody' was released right at the end of last year, intended to be the first track of the then-forthcoming album but ultimately being a non-album single. It's a bit more commercially-oriented by his standards, right down to the lyrics where Kovic fantasises about getting a million streams in one day. :lol: It still sounds like one of Emery's tracks however and has a rather great drop along with trancey synths even if it's a bit more mid-tempo for him. Joe Stone & Camden Cox appear at #61 - it's been another good year for Stone as he'll be appearing again shortly, and we've already seen a few Camden tracks earlier on. 'Mind Control' is a bit different for him, most notably because it's actually not a remake of an older song! It's got more of a deep feel to it fitting alongside Camden's hypnotic vocal.

Personal recommendation


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'Ven Pa Ca' 2019 commentary:

We start the top 10 with 'Ven Pa Ca' (which translates to 'come over here'), a song that really should be a bit higher but there has to be a cut-off at some point. It is still in my top 40 anyhow so could appear in the 2020 EOY. Swiss producer Croatia Squad (don't be fooled by the name) first broke through with a re-work of Khia's 'My Neck, My Back' before getting a massive #2 hit with 'Make Your Move' which also made it to #10 in the EOY. The hits dried up completely afterwards until this track appeared in my release radar, instantly making my chart afterwards but becoming a real sleeper hit, peaking on its 21st week in the chart at #2 (unluckily he now has 8 weeks at #2 over two songs without a #1).

The song itself is a cross between future house and Latin pop, with its lyrics in Spanish it is the highest track here sung in a foreign language. I love the vibe this song is going for with the Spanish guitar and snaps in the verses which seamlessly transitions to a big sounding drop, and the vocal (from an anonymous female) sounds rather sensual. It's just all round a great tune that sounds unique in the landscape of current dance music, and one that deserved better than it got in BJSC.

Great to see Congratulations make it into your Top 100, my favourite of his music this year. I don't think I remember Never Change despite YouTube telling me I've heard it before so giving another listen, that piano riff is pretty nice but I think I still prefer Congratulations!

 

Also giving Take a Chance a listen now which seems to have passed me by, seems very classic Oliver Heldens which is good to see. Ven Pa Ca, Breaking Me, Deep End and Goliath are other highlights from this section.

Thermo's hot hits | EOY 2020 | #56-60

#60. Purple Disco Machine ~ Hypnotized (feat. Sophie and the Giants)
Date entered: 17/04/2020
Chart sales: 523,000
Chart run: 56-32-28-30-33-47-50-69-60-69-55-55-52-59-58-44-51-52-61-69-x [20 weeks]

#59. Joel Corry ~ Head & Heart (feat. MNEK)
Date entered: 10/07/2020
Chart sales: 525,700
Chart run: 33-24-13-7-8-8-9-14-13-15-22-33-57-x [13 weeks]

#58. Lady Gaga ~ Stupid Love
Date entered: 06/03/2020
Chart sales: 527,400
Chart run: 20-33-46-59-79-80-67-67-78-68-44-37-29-8-14-33-49-73-x [18 weeks]

#57. Gareth Emery and Ashley Wallbridge ~ Amber Sun [2019 EOY #02]
Date entered: 19/04/2019
Chart sales: 536,400
Chart run: [6-5-3-4-2-3-3-3-14-9-6-5-5-6-6-5-3-4-4-4-4-5-7-11-18-18-21-23-43-52-62-56-70-x]-17-22-32-36-38-38-41-50-x [8 weeks (41 weeks total)]

#56. Lika Morgan ~ Be My Lover
Date entered: 06/12/2019
Chart sales: 539,400
Chart run: 6-11-15-28-8-9-15-18-27-36-51-64-81-x [13 weeks]

Commentary

Purple Disco Machine starts off the section with what is his first ever appearance in the year-end top 100! 'Hypnotized' was a bit different for him being not reliant on a sample but accompanied with a great original vocal from Sophie. It however kept his trademark disco sound albeit making it a little more accessible to the mainstream audience, it ended up being a big hit for him across Europe getting 88m Spotify streams but sadly the UK didn't give it the time of day. Next up is the first of two appearances in the top 100 for Joel Corry. It is of course 'Head & Heart' which became his biggest hit yet and one of the biggest songs of the year in the UK across all genres! It has a fairly standard piano house production tailor made for Love Island but it's very much helped by an irresistibly catchy hook and great vocal from MNEK so it was very pleasing to see it be such a hit. Lady Gaga also has two appearances in the top 100 and the first of these is 'Stupid Love'. The song was the comeback single I had been waiting for from her for oh so many years so it was great to see her go down this direction so well after doing ballads for the last few years. It may not be one of her most remembered songs ever in the future largely thanks to what would follow it up but it's certainly a highlight of her output for me for just being a great care free dancepop track. Hello to Gareth Emery yet again as 'Amber Sun' appears at #57, off of the continuing residual streaming after being his biggest hit yet and making it to last year's #2! I still think it's his absolute best song although 'Saving Light' is strong competition. Last year's commentary for it is down below. Following that we have Lika Morgan, queen of dance remakes! She started off the chart year with one of the 90s euro dance hit 'Be My Lover', with the production doing a great job of modernising it. She'll be making another appearance later on with... another remake!

Personal recommendation


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Amber Sun 2019 commentary:

Gareth Emery & Ashley Wallbridge just miss out on getting the year's #1 with one of the big trance anthems of the summer, but they have had a very impressive year. 'Amber Sun' was released during the Avicii era, which is the only reason it never made #1. It even going #2 with two Avicii singles out was impressive however, and it also managed a quick recovery following the release of 'Tim', eventually racking up 22 weeks in the top 10.

The song is completely instrumental but all the better for it. It's done so well here because for me it is quite simply trance music at its absolute best. It instantly grabs you with the guitar-esque pluck before the main synth leads come though like rays of sunshine. The highlight however is the anthemic and euphoric drop section that lasts for about half of the song. It's got a real drive to it and many layers of sound, with the track only getting better as it progresses.

With another album to be expected from Gareth this year, perhaps 2020 is the year he can get an EOY #1? For now, he'll have to settle for #2 behind the obvious pick...

Great to see Congratulations make it into your Top 100, my favourite of his music this year. I don't think I remember Never Change despite YouTube telling me I've heard it before so giving another listen, that piano riff is pretty nice but I think I still prefer Congratulations!

 

Also giving Take a Chance a listen now which seems to have passed me by, seems very classic Oliver Heldens which is good to see. Ven Pa Ca, Breaking Me, Deep End and Goliath are other highlights from this section.

Never Change is a lot better for me but that's very much helped by the piano riff.

Take a Chance certainly stood out as one of Oliver's best of recent times, it does have the feel of much of his early stuff which I like.

Thermo's hot hits | EOY 2020 | #51-55

#55. Lane 8 ~ Road (feat. Arctic Lake)
Date entered: 14/08/2020
Chart sales: 540,100
Chart run: 66-38-31-27-30-30-26-15-16-17-15-19-23-27-28-27-... [16+ weeks]

#54. Bronson ~ Heart Attack (feat. Lau.ra)
Date entered: 26/06/2020
Chart sales: 545,200
Chart run: 29-23-16-23-20-16-18-17-21-25-25-31-31-36-50-59-55-x [17 weeks]

#53. Sigala ~ We Got Love (feat. Ella Henderson)
Date entered: 08/11/2019
Chart sales: 548,100
Chart run: [15-10-10-11]-13-24-39-67-19-16-23-28-36-45-55-62-75-x [13 weeks (17 weeks total)]

#52. Avicii ~ Levels (feat. Etta James) [2019 EOY #98, 2018 EOY #46, 2012 EOY #42, 2011 EOY #08]
Date entered: 07/11/2011
Chart sales: 549,400
Chart run: [12-1-1-1-1-1-2-3-3-1-4-7-18-27-33-36-43-39-47-49-49-46-46-38-27-39-39-48-x-41-x-1-3-3-9-10-10-11-16-21-24-33-29-65-62-70-69-41-67-95-x-16-16-20-24-33-44-x]-7-14-20-27-33-x [5 weeks (59 weeks total)]

#51. Smr Lve ~ Sanctuary (Suprafive Remix) (feat. Christina Novelli)
Date entered: 27/03/2020
Chart sales: 557,900
Chart run: 98-x-55-37-31-22-18-21-28-39-61-63-74-69-63-70-58-55-59-69-x [19 weeks]

Commentary

Lane 8 managed to get three sleeper hits this year from the album 'Brightest Lights' he put out at the start of the year. The most recent of these to impact was 'Road' which appears to be the most popular of his on Spotify and is at #55 here. It's got a nice laidback beat accompanied by the lovely vocal of Arctic Lake, a great melodic house track - and with the sub-genre gaining popularity in my chart this year it is only right that one of its leaders has multiple appearances in the list. At #54 we have another BJSC discovery - not only that but the highest of them all in the rundown! It is from Bronson, the project of Odesza & Golden Features, two dance acts I haven't paid much attention to but they came together to give us this great driving dance track, a great cross between melodic and bassy house. Sigala didn't have such a great 2020 with none of his releases for the year making the list. However he does manage to get 'We Got Love' from the tail end of last year to make it in at #53. It is miles better than 'Lasting Lover', so of course it wasn't half as big of a hit. Helped by a great vocal from Ella Henderson who I'd certainly be happy to hear more dance tracks from in the years to come and the upbeat vibe it is going for. Meanwhile at #52 we have a song that is nearing its 10th birthday! It is of course 'Levels' from Avicii which got a big chart boost from the end of decade where it was ranked my #1 song of the past 10 years by quite some distance (and I'd be surprised if any song ever overtook in my lifetime!). For as long as the UK continue to put 'Mr. Brightside' in the year-end chart, I may as well allow this to chart every year too. :P Avicii still has 5 appearances left in the top 50. Just missing out however is Smr Lve, an unknown trance act who broke through by virtue of the Christina Novelli feature allowing it to pop up on my release radar. It is however the Suprafive remix that did it for me which is more of a progressive house take. With less than 20k streams on Spotify it is one of the most obscure tracks in the entirety of the countdown. It really deserved a bit more attention though, especially for that drop bassline.

Personal recommendation


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Hi Dan, I want to sincerely apologise for my lack of response to the mass of hard work you have out into this countdown so far. It is credit to your love of dance music and keeping meticulous records too. I’m so very impressed and I don’t think I could ever achieve what you have done, so I really want you to take this as a huge sign of respect and awe that I have for what you do here year after year, it’s just so pleasing to see, and I truly am enjoying this. It is just that I hadn’t ventured into this part of the forum of late, and due to not keeping a personal chart for the whole of 2020 I won’t be posting an Enf Of Year chart myself, but I’m very interested in seeing what is still to come from you as one of my most super compatible last.fm users! ^_^

 

Surprised so many big songs have already been named, but within this Top 50 I am expecting to see Paul Woolford, Regard, Jax Jones, CamelPhat, Joel Corry and Nathan Dawe just to name a few.

 

Like I said I’ve been really impressed with all your hard work, please don’t take my lack of comments as a sign that I’m not interested in your countdown because I really am, in fact I often ask you on plug where certain songs peaked on your personal chart right? :lol:

 

Well done Dan, I will try and check back tomorrow to see more from you here! :cheer:

Hi Dan, I want to sincerely apologise for my lack of response to the mass of hard work you have out into this countdown so far. It is credit to your love of dance music and keeping meticulous records too. I’m so very impressed and I don’t think I could ever achieve what you have done, so I really want you to take this as a huge sign of respect and awe that I have for what you do here year after year, it’s just so pleasing to see, and I truly am enjoying this. It is just that I hadn’t ventured into this part of the forum of late, and due to not keeping a personal chart for the whole of 2020 I won’t be posting an Enf Of Year chart myself, but I’m very interested in seeing what is still to come from you as one of my most super compatible last.fm users! ^_^

 

Surprised so many big songs have already been named, but within this Top 50 I am expecting to see Paul Woolford, Regard, Jax Jones, CamelPhat, Joel Corry and Nathan Dawe just to name a few.

 

Like I said I’ve been really impressed with all your hard work, please don’t take my lack of comments as a sign that I’m not interested in your countdown because I really am, in fact I often ask you on plug where certain songs peaked on your personal chart right? :lol:

 

Well done Dan, I will try and check back tomorrow to see more from you here! :cheer:

thanks for that very lovely comment :heart: glad you are enjoying the countdown so far!

well you are right about most of the names you're expecting to see, however Nathan Dawe has been a bit of a chart flop for me with no top 40 hits in my chart yet. :o

 

#41-50 will be coming this afternoon.

Thermo's hot hits | EOY 2020 | #46-50

#50. Drake ~ Toosie Slide
Date entered: 10/04/2020
Chart sales: 567,700
Chart run: 10-11-11-13-7-11-15-17-30-31-42-53-54-62-71-x [15 weeks]

#49. Joe Stone and Four of Diamonds ~ Superstar
Date entered: 03/04/2020
Chart sales: 569,600
Chart run: 8-11-12-10-11-14-17-23-30-46-50-60-66-67-74-x [15 weeks]

#48. Dua Lipa ~ Don't Start Now
Date entered: 08/11/2019
Chart sales: 584,200
Chart run: [14-11-13-17]-23-43-76-x-37-42-49-55-67-83-65-71-68-63-x-60-71-x [15 weeks (19 weeks total)]

#47. Armin van Buuren and Avira ~ Hollow (feat. Be No Rain)
Date entered: 03/07/2020
Chart sales: 596,700
Chart run: 10-11-19-16-15-14-16-17-16-14-18-24-24-33-38-54-x [16 weeks]

#46. Love Regenerator and Steve Lacy ~ Live Without Your Love
Date entered: 24/07/2020
Chart sales: 598,200
Chart run: 2-5-6-7-8-9-9-14-21-23-32-40-51-75-x [14 weeks]

Commentary

Starting off the top 50 we have Drake with 'Toosie Slide' which is the #1 hip-hop song of the year in the countdown. It wasn't by any stretch the most 'credible' song the genre had to offer but I'd be lying if I pretended to not enjoy it. It's another smooth and catchy track from him. It got a lot of negativity for the TikTok bait of a chorus but it didn't put me off. Next up is the highest appearance for Joe Stone this year and this time taking on 'Superstar' which is perhaps best known for Jamelia's cover version of it in 2003. He makes it into an upbeat piano house tune and managed to get former X Factor finalists Four of Diamonds a hit here in the process. I'm not a fan of their own output however so it has been their sole chart hit so far. It is an honest cover of the song which doesn't do anything more than it needs to with it and well worth a listen if you like a good remake. Dua Lipa has 2 appearances in the top 50 and the first of these is her mega hit 'Don't Start Now'. The track started off her 2nd era in the best possible way giving us an excellent nu-disco pop track. At #47 we have Armin van Buuren again and with the highest of his three collabs with Avira who came into prominence with 'Hollow'. The track is the closest thing to a 'pop' song from their collaborative EP but Armin isn't in sellout mode here, it is a great progressive trance track with a drop that pays off for having to wait the majority of the song for. Love Regenerator doesn't manage to have a top 40 appearance this year but given the change of sound Calvin did this year even #46 is a good showing. It is of course with 'Live Without Your Love', the most 'commercial' track released from the alias project so far (having even spent a few weeks in the UK top 100). It is a track inspired from classic house which is welcome to hear from him alongside a great soulful vocal from Steve Lacy. Some more tracks in this style would be most welcome (and not another 'Over Now' esque disappointment).

Personal recommendation


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Thermo's hot hits | EOY 2020 | #41-45

#45. Bunt. ~ Unbreakable (feat. Clarence Coffee Jr.)
Date entered: 07/08/2020
Chart sales: 604,800
Chart run: 1-1-3-6-11-12-18-18-27-31-23-24-31-30-29-33-41-... [17+ weeks]

#44. CamelPhat and Yannis ~ Hypercolour
Date entered: 03/07/2020
Chart sales: 606,300
Chart run: 8-9-17-19-24-27-32-52-60-91-96-x-59-54-62-61-74-50-32-30-40-x [20 weeks]

#43. Eelke Kleijn ~ Lost Souls (Nora En Pure Remix) (feat. Ost) [2019 EOY #201]
Date entered: 20/09/2019
Chart sales: 616,400
Chart run: [52-59-63-55-65-68-85-88-95-38-27]-27-41-48-75-23-17-11-9-13-16-16-22-34-33-46-x [15 weeks (26 weeks total)]

#42. Craig Connelly ~ Run Away (feat. Cammie Robinson)
Date entered: 22/05/2020
Chart sales: 616,400
Chart run: 12-14-17-4-5-7-12-18-18-15-21-25-29-46-50-59-x [16 weeks]

#41. 220 Kid and Gracey ~ Don't Need Love
Date entered: 13/03/2020
Chart sales: 618,200
Chart run: 94-64-46-46-52-54-59-46-57-61-70-68-81-64-51-32-32-47-57-57-x [20 weeks]

Commentary

Now we reach the final section before we go into the top 40 and to start off we have Bunt.. They released a couple of duds in the meantime before coming back strong with 'Unbreakable'. The song has a bit of history to it originally having been written for Avicii who produced his version of it and even played it live, but never gave it a proper release. It was later given to Bunt. to remake and finally got its release this August after months of anticipation by the Avicii fanbase. It certainly has an Avicii feel to it and I think they did the absolute best job they could with it. It's got a big anthemic chorus and uplifting feel similar to the track 'On My Way' which you may well remember from having represented us in BJSC. CamelPhat had a great year in 2020 and although they didn't get a mega smash live 'Breathe' was last year 'Hypercolour' came close to giving them another year-end top 40 hit, being their biggest of the year. The track was a rather unexpected collab with the frontman of indie band Foals but his vocal ended up really suiting the track. It is a great melodic progressive track which they do so well. Eelke Kleijn is next up albeit helped by one of my current big faves Nora En Pure with her remix of 'Lost Souls'. It is a lovely deep house track here as I've come to expect from her who provided the remix to this track I'd otherwise have not have heard of. It proved to be a real grower of a track for me too, taking 19 weeks to make the top 10. At #42 we have uplifting trance producer Craig Connelly with 'Run Away', a track that was an instant standout when I gave his album a listen. It ended up being a BJSC potential then later being sent to Club Bizarre where it performed perhaps not quite as well as it should've. It does take its time to really get going but pays off well with a great long trance breakdown, one of the best of the year in my opinion, it's just how I like my trance. Just missing out on a top 40 spot is 220 Kid who broke through this year with sleeper hit 'Don't Need Love'. The production on it isn't by any means outstanding, and is more than most songs here very reliant on the vocal, fortunately it does have a good one and as a basic bop I enjoy it.

Personal recommendation


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Thermo's hot hits | EOY 2020 | #41-75 RECAP

75 Don Diablo ~ Congratulations (feat. Brando)
74 Smith & Thell ~ Goliath
73 Topic ~ Breaking Me (feat. A7S)
72 Gareth Emery ~ You Are (feat. Emily Vaughn)
71 Laura Brehm ~ Breathe Music
70 Gareth Emery ~ End of Days (feat. Annabel)
69 Don Diablo ~ Never Change
68 Endor ~ Pump It Up
67 Becky Hill ~ Better Off Without You (feat. Shift K3Y)
66 Ben Gold ~ The City Sleeps Tonight
65 Ace Marino ~ Spaces
64 Zack Martino ~ Crave U (feat. Lenii)
63 Croatia Squad ~ Ven Pa Ca
62 Gareth Emery ~ Somebody (feat. Kovic)
61 Joe Stone and Camden Cox ~ Mind Control
60 Purple Disco Machine ~ Hypnotized (feat. Sophie and the Giants)
59 Joel Corry ~ Head & Heart (feat. MNEK)
58 Lady Gaga ~ Stupid Love
57 Gareth Emery and Ashley Wallbridge ~ Amber Sun
56 Lika Morgan ~ Be My Lover
55 Lane 8 ~ Road (feat. Arctic Lake)
54 Bronson ~ Heart Attack (feat. Lau.ra)
53 Sigala ~ We Got Love (feat. Ella Henderson)
52 Avicii ~ Levels (feat. Etta James)
51 Smr Lve ~ Sanctuary (Suprafive Remix) (feat. Christina Novelli)
50 Drake ~ Toosie Slide
49 Joe Stone and Four of Diamonds ~ Superstar
48 Dua Lipa ~ Don't Start Now
47 Armin van Buuren and Avira ~ Hollow (feat. Be No Rain)
46 Love Regenerator and Steve Lacy ~ Live Without Your Love
45 Bunt. ~ Unbreakable (feat. Clarence Coffee Jr.)
44 CamelPhat and Yannis ~ Hypercolour
43 Eelke Kleijn ~ Lost Souls (Nora En Pure Remix) (feat. Ost)
42 Craig Connelly ~ Run Away (feat. Cammie Robinson)
41 220 Kid and Gracey ~ Don't Need Love

Hey Dan, of that last 10 songs you shared that just missed out on the Top 40, I’m especially surprised about Live Without Your Love which would surely have been a Top 20 if I had my own EOY chart. Also a shame to see 220 KID and also CamelPhat just missing out on the EOY Top 40.

 

I didn’t realise that you had t charted Nathan Dawe in 2020, maybe this year he will appear if he gets the right vocalist on board.

 

I suspect Joel Corry’s single Lonely will finish between 40 and 30 when you reveal that soon! ;)

 

Have a great 2021 too! :heart:

Hypnotized is an absolute tune, didn't do much for me on first listen but it just kept growing and growing, it still sounds really good now. Both that and Hypercolour will be appearing in my Top 100.

 

Don't Need Love and Head & Heart were two of the best Top 10 songs from last year, the former didn't do much for me initially but began to grow on me just as it dropped out of the chart :lol:

From the top 100 so far..

 

95 Aly & Fila and Plumb ~ Somebody Loves You

93 F.O.O.L and The Forgotten ~ Dystopia 2077

89 The Weeknd ~ Blinding Lights wow didn't expect this to be that low for you tbh!

74 Smith & Thell ~ Goliath yeah this was very avicii esque and that's a good thing of course. continued to grow after the contest for me too!

73 Topic ~ Breaking Me (feat. A7S) amazed this took off so well and for a song I threw points too as well. Mack chose well with this!

67 Becky Hill ~ Better Off Without You (feat. Shift K3Y)

66 Ben Gold ~ The City Sleeps Tonight

59 Joel Corry ~ Head & Heart (feat. MNEK) first thing I've liked by either artist. what a bop!

58 Lady Gaga ~ Stupid Love don't really get why this gets a bit of a hard time. it was exactly the kind of comeback single she needed. ROM would have been fab as a lead too though.

54 Bronson ~ Heart Attack (feat. Lau.ra) only gave this 1 point in the contest but it really was equivalent to about 8-11 really as that contest was so good. Loved the video to this too, really sold the song for me!

52 Avicii ~ Levels (feat. Etta James)

48 Dua Lipa ~ Don't Start Now

41 220 Kid and Gracey ~ Don't Need Love

 

good stuff.