Luciano's Year-End 2006 Singles Chart

Welcome to my Top 100 Singles of 2006. I'll post my 100 favourite songs of the year, updating the thread periodically.

100 http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/9875415.JPG A-HA - Analogue (All I Want)

A-Ha made a welcome back this year with new album and single "Analogue". The single was a nice return for them, as it peaked at No.10 in the UK and was included on Now 63. I like this song because it sounds nostalgic and melancholic, it has deep vocals and nice guitar chords. This song was regularly played on my I-pod during the first part of 2006.

99 http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/SKCD842.JPG EDITORS - All Sparks

Indie-rock band Editors re-issued their album "The Back Room" this year. From that album, 3 singles were re-activated, two of them make their appearence into the charts, being "All Sparks" one of them. Following the same pattern as the previous more successful re-issue "Munich", "All Sparks" was a simple indie-rock track that captivated me between March and June of 2006.

98 http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/1713050.JPG THE FEELING - Love It When You Call

Fourth and final release from their album "Twelve Stops And Home", this new Feeling's single is another catchy number and a current favourite from the band. In spite of peaking at No.18, we all have to agree they've had an amazing year and we cannot forget this is the fourth release from their debut album. This song is a current favourite on my I-pod, and I expect it to keep on playin' it even in the new year!

97 http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/9876852.JPG KUBB - Grow

Kubb is a band catalogued as emo-punk/rock (...erm whatever) just like Panic! At The Disco... when I first listened to their music I thought to myself "this is pop, this is far from rock or any type of it" and I'm still standing strong in my opinion. Anyways, they'd become well-known in 2005 when they achieved a minor hit with "Wicked Soul" and the press was rapidly writing them off as the upcoming success of 2006. That never happened, their new single of 2006 "Grow" made a respectable UK No.18, the track was included on Now 63, but their album never sold a good amount of copies and their follow-up single "Remain" never saw the chart. In spite of all that negativity, I happened to love "Grow", it was one of my favourites from the first part of 2006 and I still think of it as a beautiful ballad.

96 http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/82876886832.JPG JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE - Sexy Back

Okay, I may hate Justin Timberlake the persona, especially being a Britney fan (he picks on her and make unnecessary nasty comments from time to time), but he usually delivers a good pop track. "Sexy Back" wasn't amazing, but it was rather good. I used to hate it when it came out and I'm not a huge fan of it either now-a-days, but sometimes I feel like enjoying this track. This song marked Justin's return to the music business after 3 long years. The weird thing is the follow-up is a kick-ass song you'd have expected as the lead single...

95 http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/1703606.JPG MICHAEL GRAY FEAT. SHELLY POOLE - Borderline

Michael Gray is a well respected DJ responsible for many club anthems. In 2004, he found chart success with the No.7 hit "The Weekend". Two years passed and he returned to the singles chart with "Boderline" (nothing to do with Madonna's 80's classic), a dancefloor filler featuring sexy vocals of former Alisha's Attic member Shelly Poole. This is still one of my favourite dance songs of the year, and I listen to it oftenly.

94 http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/7WAP201.JPG MAXÃMO PARK - I Want You To Stay

Following last year's string of Top 20 hits, Independent band Maxïmo Park returned with the final single from their album "A Certain Trigger". "I Want You To Stay" is another example of the band's blend of indie-rock music, a very special chemistry between riff guitars and cool vocals. It's a shame they're far from being a mainstream act and that their moderate success on the Singles chart wasn't reflected with their album, it's a great record that shouldn't be ignored.

93 http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/XLS238CD.JPG THOM YORKE - Harrowdown Hill

Thom Yorke is famous for being the frontman of rock superstars Radiohead. This 2006, he landed himself as a soloist with his debut solo album "The Eraser". The album proved to be an amazing record, the most experimental act of recent times that mixed the coolest sounds with relentlessly bleak vocals! "Harrowdown Hill" was the lead single that promoted the album and that took it to a spectacular No.2 placing on the album charts. It's just an introduction to the astonishing music produced on the LP and one of the stand-out tracks along "Analyse", "The Clock" and "The Eraser".

92 http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/9850069.JPG t.A.T.u. - Friend Or Foe

Completely ignored by the media and buying public, "Friend Or Foe" was t.A.T.u.'s last single to ever see the light. Released in early 2006, the song was nothing but a great pop record, much better produced than the far more successful predecessor "All About Us" and a real gem from their latest offering "Dangerous And Moving". This song was one of my favourites from the first half of the year, it ranks as a top underrated track for me and it's my favourite t.A.T.u. song by far.

91 http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/wea398.JPG THE SUBWAYS - No Goodbyes

This song is actually from last year, but I've been listening to it so much that it is necessary to include it here as well. "No Goodbyes" was the fourth and last single from a string of 4 UK Top 30 hits released by The Subways in 2005. Unluckily, these beautiful songs won't ever be remembered the way I would like them to be, the band haven't been successful at all but people really need to pay attention to them! "No Goodbyes" is very special to me, the voices and harmonies have a very nice sentiment that adds to the beautiful guitar melody. I've been listening to this song since November 2005 and haven't stopped including it on my i-Pod. I don't appear to get tired of it!

90 http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/HK27CDX.JPG BOOTY LUV - Boogie 2Nite

If I had listened to this song more during the year (it is way too new) I'm sure it'd definitely be into the Top 30 of a year-end summit. Booty Luv made a splash into the charts with this amazing dancefloor filler "Boogie 2Nite" that is certainly reminiscent of any 90's club classic. The vocals are the typical strong harmonies of great singers that you could expect on a Snap! or Black Box hit from 15 to 20 years ago, and the music is as catchy and groovy as any dance hit from the late 80's. The sounds are familiar to Axwell's more recent hit "Feel The Vibe" released in late 2005.

89 http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/ATUK043CD.JPG PAOLO NUTINI - Jenny Don't Be Hasty

Paolo Nutini is the result of emotional romantic music mixed with a soulful charming voice. That until we heard "Jenny Don't Be Hasty". In total opposition of his debut single "Last Request", "Jenny Don't Be Hasty" was a clever catchy number with guitars and everything, including groovy vocals by Paolo. Unfortunately the public didn't feel the fuss and the single scraped the UK Top 20. Hopefully his third single "Rewind" will do a bit better.

88 http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/82876834272.JPG PRIMAL SCREAM - Country Girl

What a comeback! After a 3 years hiatus, Primal Scream made a huge comeback in the form of a super rock metamorphosis. "Country Girl" is nothing but the best rock single of the year, rock in the pure meaning of the word, and it's a reminder of how good this band is and how wrong were we to ignore it so many years. It's okay, broken pieces were mend when this single became Primal Scream's biggest UK hit single to date peaking at No.5 in May 2006.

87 http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/1712693.JPG BODYROX FEAT. LUCIANA - Yeah Yeah

Dance DJs Bodyrox had released "Yeah Yeah" in October 2006 but it wasn't until they added vocals by sexy Luciana to the song that they scored a hit. Still into the UK Top 15, "Yeah Yeah" is one of the few great dance anthems of the year not to include cheap samples of an 80's pop classic. As a matter of fact, it's a new production on its own right and it deserves the success it's having, mainly cause it's one of 3 or 4 tracks of the year that are taking dance to the mainstream once again.

86 http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/9854376.JPG DIRTY PRETTY THINGS - Bang Bang You're Dead

Rising from the ashes of The Libertines, Carl Barat formed Dirty Pretty Things, an indie rock new band that was a certain improvement from what Babyshambles (Pete Doherty's new outfit) could deliver. The brilliance of debut single "Bang Bang You're Dead" took this new band to the UK Top 5 in April and opened the door to a new question: who the **** cares about Babyshambles??

85 http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/DATA102T.JPG TOM NOVY FEAT. MICHAEL MARSHALL - Your Body

Another hit to the dance music's rescue! "Your Body" was released in December 2005 and made a very respectable UK No.10. This dance anthem by Tom Novy was giving prestige back to the words DANCE MUSIC, and opened a new door for several acts that released great dance records this 2006. This song definitely reminds me of Christmas 2005 and Summer 2006, it was a favourite on my i-Pod especially on summer nights, when warming things up before clubbing was an exciting activity.

84 http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/82876861582.JPG JAMES DEAN BRADFIELD - That's No Way To Tell A Lie

Following from his extensive and productive career with the Manic Street Preachers, James Dean Bradfield took his career to a new level when he and his ever-distinct voice were ready for solo material. As a result, the brilliant "That's No Way To Tell A Lie" came in the form of a debut solo single and a debut solo album, entitled "The Great Western", followed. Manics most besotted fans and rock music lovers were surely happy to see this new era happening, especially when the song is full of depth and quality.

83 http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/ALLSAINTS.JPG ALL SAINTS - Rock Steady

Yupp, they were back! Already dropped from their label, the highly anticipated All Saints come back seems to come to an end, after their album couldn't manage a bang (it peaked at UK No.40 on the albums chart and dropped off the Top 200 like a hot potatoe in the following weeks) and it wasn't able to reflect the success of the lead single "Rock Steady". Anyways, back to the song, it is nothing but a good piece of pop, including beats and vocals you would've expected on any Sugababes or Girls Aloud single, but with the distinct All Saints trademark. At this stage, we could certainly assure that Girls Aloud have won the battle of the girlbands, anyway.

82 http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/AT0251T.JPG CASSIE - Me & U

She definitely can't sing to save her life, but she's hot as hell and I don't give a toss! "Me & U" is the sexy debut single from R&B new mini-diva Cassie. The former model and teenage sensation launched her career this year and started quite nicely, "Me & U" was a super hit in the US and followed its success peaking at UK No.6. Follow-up "Long Way 2 Go" wasn't that lucky, but in spite of peaking at a mere UK No.12, it managed a whopping 7 weeks into the Top 40 and it's still hanging tough there.

81 http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/BUN1127X.JPG THE ORDINARY BOYS - Lonely At The Top

The Ordinary Boys have had an amazing year this 2006. Following their 2 top 10 singles "Boys Will Be Boys" and "Nine2Five", the band returned to the UK Top 10 with "Lonely At The Top", the first single-off their new album "How To Get Everything In Ten Easy Steps". This song is rather different than their previous material, but definitely in a good way. It is quite weird but I find them very reminiscent of old indie bands like Madness!

80 http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/PRERELCDGIRLS.JPG GIRLS ALOUD - See The Day

This is so last year! It is indeed, the song was released on Christmas week 2005 (!) So why the heck is this charting here? I don't have the foggiest idea, but I've been listening to this track and loving every second of it since November last year, and the spark and charm still continue as on the very first listen. Originally recorded by Dee Cee Lee, the super British girlband took this song to their own blend of 21st Century's pop perfection! It was a No.1 for several weeks on my personal charts, and it was still into the Top 3 in February 2006!

79 http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/cdglobe476.JPG LIZ MCCLARNON - Woman In Love

Liz McClarnon was 1/3 of the megaselling British girlband Atomic Kitten until they splitted up back in early 2005. It was pretty obvious that each member was going to try on a solo career, first off Jenny Frost flopped terribly with her dance chick attempt "Crash Landing", but the more successful Liz McClarnon made a good deal appearing on reality TV show "Celebrity Love Island". She started off pretty well, her cover of the classic Barbara Streisand love song "Woman In Love" peaked at an excellent UK No.5, although a strong career for her seems highly unlikely.

78 http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/vscdx1910.JPG THE KOOKS - You Don't Love Me

This is the single that pretty much started it all. In spite of being their third release, "You Don't Love Me" made most of us pay attention to this band when it took The Kooks to the UK Top 15 for the first time back in January 2006. The song is the typical 2 and a half minute indie rock number, very usual on the band's album "Inside In Inside Out". This was definitely the catalyst of their now big successful career and I listened to it a lot during the first semester of this year.

77 http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/3679782.JPG ROXETTE - One Wish

Roxette came back this year to celebrate their 20th anniversary, with the release of a new greatest hits album "A Collection Of Roxette Hits! Their 20 Greatest Songs". To promote the album, 2 new tracks were recorded, one of them is "One Wish", a joyride of pop and bubblegum fun! Nevertheless, the other new song "Reveal" is in total opposition, being a delicate ballad with emotional heartbreaking vocals and a distinct European melody.

76 http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/cdr6680.JPG RICHARD ASHCROFT - Break The Night With Colour

A return to top form for Richard Ashcroft, "Break The Night With Colour" was one of the most beautiful indie ballads released this year. This was one of my favourites to listen to on winter nights, especially the freezing ones I happen to love. It also reminds me of my last freshman University days, (thank God I'm a sophomore now!).

75 http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/RUG226CD.JPG ARCTIC MONKEYS - The View From The Afternoon

Included on the EP "Who The F**k Are Arctic Monkeys?" as the main song, "The View From The Afternoon" was the third Arctic Monkeys' single to get a release. It was as catchy and enjoyable as its predecessor "When The Sun Goes Down" and "Dancefloor", and along with Richard Ashcroft's hit-single, this was a choice for cold Winter nights this year and noons as well.

74 http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/1707529.JPG SCISSOR SISTERS - I Don't Feel Like Dancin'

I currently hate this song with passion, but I liked it very much around its release date, so an appearence on this year-end resume was inevitable. The Scissors got back with this bang hit, following their huge selling debut "Scissor Sisters" album, and it was pretty obvious that the follow-up would be a success.

73 http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/TENT505.JPG JUSTICE vs SIMIAN - We Are Your Friends

Sampling Simian's 2002 record "Never Be Alone", the dance act Justice released this re-version of the track in Summer 2006. It is incredibly catchy and a favourite back in July/August. It is also accompanied by an astonishing video, which scooped the award for Best Video at the MTV's Europe Music Awards '06.

72 http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/VSCDT1918.JPG THE KOOKS - Ooh La

Sixth (!) and final release from the album "Inside In Inside Out", "Ooh La" was another option from The Kooks, this time with a more acoustic indie pop sound. The song is nothing but the nicest record of the last few months, it was never bound to be a success after so many singles were released, but it is a certainty the fact that you will enjoy the track a lot when you listen to their phenomenal album.

71 http://www3.hmv.co.uk/hmv/Large_Images/HMV/82876847012.JPG PINK - Who Knew

Arguably Pink's most emotional track ever, "Who Knew" was actually the most successful release from the singer this year. Including the well-known edgy Pink vocals, this time the female pop/rockster added a more passional, gut-wrenching singing feeling to the song, and the result was great: her biggest selling single of the year and the more responsible for the "I'm Not Dead" album's double platinum certification in the UK.

CHECK THIS THREAD FOR MORE UPDATES OF MY PERSONAL 2006 CHART ^_^