Songs: Top 300

 

 

51 Alec Benjamin - The Way You Felt | 1-2-5-12-19-23-28-27-35-40-x

52 Justin Bieber feat. The Kid LAROI - Unstable | 1-2-4-11-14-17-29-33-40-x

53 Joel Corry & Jax Jones feat. Charli XCX & Saweetie - OUT OUT | 3-9-10-19-24-28-27-28-36-36-40-x

54 EBEN - Ghost Town | 2-5-12-22-31-35-x

55 Miles Wesley - Golden | 2-9-16-19-29-28-34-x

56 Saweetie feat. Doja Cat - Best Friend | 3-5-7-13-20-24-25-29-33-x

57 Jutes & Miles Wesley - Sober Up | 39-22-4-8-10-13-24-32-x

58 Alan Walker & Benjamin Ingrosso - Man on the Moon | 3-6-8-11-9-…

59 Laura Mvula - Got Me | 3-5-11-30-37-x

60 Ruel - too many feelings | 3-6-10-15-20-30-36-x

 

One of the busiest weeks of 2021 saw an entirely new top 5. With two songs from Rita Ora, a love song from Ulrik Munther and a dance-pop bop from Lance & Linton occupying two slots either side, Ruel's too many feelings felt quite understated in comparison. The production is strong (it always is on his tracks) and it felt like a carry-over from the Bright Lights, Red Eyes EP somewhat despite not being attached to it in any way, but it's a strong track that could easily have made #1 had it been released on a less competitive week. It's one of three #3 hits to kickstart this section in fact. Laura Mvula matched her highest chart peak with the Michael Jackson-influenced Got Me, which also won my Music Video of 2021 award earlier in the thread. Two Alan Walker songs feature in my countdown and impressively, we've only just reached the first one! Man on the Moon, with Benjamin Ingrosso, was a hit towards the end of 2021, and, save for his one song still to come in this countdown, it's his best performing track in my chart so far.

 

Jutes kickstarted his weekly release series with freestyle Sober Up. It's the closest his 2021 releases have come to hip-hop, with the chorus performed by his friend Miles Wesley, who features twice in this section. Sober Up proved to be quite the grower - initially, it scraped my top 40, but it became a top 5 hit just two weeks later! Miles' other track, Golden, was the third single from Here Goes Nothing Demos! and became his highest peaking track since 2017 #1 Trust. Speaking of friends, Saweetie and Doja Cat's friendship anthem Best Friend was an instant favourite at the start of the year, becoming Saweetie's first top 10 since her feature on Four of Diamonds' Stupid Things four years before. It was the first of four top tier hits for Saweetie in 2021, and all four made the top 100 - Confetti was lower down, and huge anthem OUT OUT also features in this section. It's by far my favourite Joel Corry track to date, thanks to Charli XCX's charismatic vocal performance and a short-but-fun rap from Saweetie.

 

Another of my BJSC entries drops out at #54 - EBEN's Ghost Town was unlucky to miss out on the #1 spot, with Anton Ewald's New Religion easily defeating it, though its success at Melodifestivalen meant it got released three whole weeks after he first performed it at the show (as per the show's rules - finalists' songs only get released when all 28 artists have performed). Nevertheless, it was a strong performance for EBEN, who scored his second #2 hit following 2020's The Kids Are Alright. Alec Benjamin's The Way You Felt was his first #1 of the year and finishes as his middle ranking hit of 2021, while Justin Bieber album track Unstable falls out just one spot below. With a guest verse from The Kid LAROI, Unstable was always going to be a strong contender in my chart, and it made it to #1 ahead of new singles from Boy In Space and Ulrik Munther - though the former is actually still to come (and it overtook the week after!).

 

 

 

41 Isac Elliot - Waving At Cars | 1-2-7-9-13-19-29-x

42 Anne-Marie & Little Mix - Kiss My (Uh Oh) | 4-3-4-7-14-20-29-29-35-x

43 Agnes - Here Comes the Night | 7-3-3-8-13-13-17-17-18-15-…

44 JayXander - Too Late | 10-9-8-8-7-9-11-14-23-27-29-32-32-37-31-…

45 Tom Odell - numb | 1-3-9-14-26-35-37-x

46 The Kid LAROI - BAD NEWS | 5-14-21-30-31-28-36-38-x-40-…

47 Lance & Linton - Death of Me | 1-2-4-11-20-28-36-x

48 The Kid LAROI - I DON'T KNOW | 8-22-14-18-17-16-26-26-34-x

49 Troye Sivan - could cry just thinkin about you | 2-6-24-27-36-x

50 The Kid LAROI - OVER YOU | 6-15-22-33-39-x

 

Just outside the top 40 is a sea of album tracks from The Kid LAROI. Album opener, and the title track of F*CK LOVE's third chapter, OVER YOU starts the section off. It just missed out on a top 5 peak after a battle with BAD NEWS, which finishes at #46, so it looks like I made the right decision...! I DON'T KNOW slides in between despite a lower peak - it had better longevity, thanks to the high energy of the track (and the final lyric - "I promise you shit ain't over, album 2022" *.* ). Anne-Marie and Little Mix's huge collaboration Kiss My (Uh Oh) debuted that same week, and was the only non-Laroi song in that week's record-breaking top 10! It improved on its entry position by climbing to #3 the week after, though it did seem quite unlucky to not have peaked at at least #2 at some point (considering how dominant STAY was at the time). Little Mix have no more songs to come, but Anne-Marie has a further two while Laroi has three.

 

Across its mammoth 9 weeks at #1, Laroi's STAY blocked SEVEN songs from peaking at the top. The lowest of which features here at #49 - Troye Sivan released the full version of could cry just thinkin about you just in time to feature in my 500th chart. It's a gorgeous, understated track and one of my favourites from the In a Dream era, though its chart run was somewhat derailed by the Laroi album drop! The highest non top-5 hit of the year features in this section too - breakthrough star JayXander scored two big hits in 2021, and Too Late is the first to drop. It spent a huge six weeks in my top 10 despite peaking no higher than #7 - a rarity in my chart nowadays! His #1 hit Ghost Me features in this year's top 40. Also worth noting is Agnes' Here Comes the Night, a top 3 hit towards the end of the year. The track is by far her biggest in my chart to date, and I'd actually say I prefer it to classic track Release Me - it just doesn't get old!

 

Three chart-toppers feature in this section. Lance & Linton had two hits as a duo in 2021, and their #1 hit is actually the lower of the two, but Death of Me still performs well and outdoes their 2020 #2 hit Best Time's Right Now (EOY #62). Tom Odell's comeback single numb was an instant chart-topper, blocking Conan Gray's Overdrive from the top, though that's still to come, as is Tom's own track monster which also never made #1! Regardless, I love the drama and mood of numb, and those final 30 seconds are incredible. Isac Elliot continued his top 10 streak into a ninth year with chart-topper Waving at Cars early in 2021 - the track is a more subdued effort than his previous releases and it pays off, the subtle production allowing Isac's vocals to shine.

 

Songs: The Top 40

 

Alan Walker, K-391 & Boy In Space - Paradise

Alec Benjamin - Older

Anne-Marie & Niall Horan - Our Song

Anne-Marie, KSI & Digital Farm Animals - Don't Play

Anton Ewald - New Religion

Benson Boone - GHOST TOWN

Boy In Space - Dance Alone

Boy In Space - Remember Me

Boy In Space - Sucker Punch

Cardi B - Up

Conan Gray - Overdrive

Conan Gray - People Watching

Conan Gray - Telepath

DVBBS & Powfu - Losing Sleep

GUS - Lies

Gwen Stefani & Saweetie - Slow Clap

JayXander - Ghost Me

Justin Bieber - Anyone

Justin Bieber - Ghost

Justin Bieber - Hold On

Jutes - Shania Twain

Lance & Linton - I'm Alive

Lizzo & Cardi B - Rumors

Powfu feat. Mila Moon & Jomie - tinted green

Regard, Troye Sivan & Tate McRae - You

Rita Ora & Imanbek - Bang Bang

Robin Packalen feat. Alex Mattson - Hard to Love

Robin Packalen feat. SAAY - Sucker for That Love

Ruel - GROWING UP IS _____

Sarcastic Sounds - say goodbye

Sarcastic Sounds feat. Maisie Peters - Song You'll Never Hear

Sigala & Rita Ora - You for Me

Sub Urban & Bella Poarch - INFERNO

The Kid LAROI - SAME ENERGY

The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber - STAY

The Kid LAROI feat. Mustard - STILL CHOSE YOU

Thomas Day - The New Me

Tom Odell - monster

Ulrik Munther feat. Maia Hirasawa - Jag älskar dig

Why Don't We - Love Back

Thanks Rob!! Sweet Talker is probably quite unlikely to feature next year unless it soars up my affections in the future :kink: Red is the Way was such a good discovery! I didn't know it existed before 2021 and it was a top 10 hit so it being a 2019 release didn't affect it featuring here!

 

I'm glad you loved it so much. I guess Xenomania were behind lots of pop artists that you love though so maybe should have seen it coming along with the fact you are primarily a pop nation as well haha.

 

From the last few sections I like Ella & Tom, 'OUT OUT', 'Rasputin' & 'Good Ones'. The latter should have made the top 40 as it's one of Charli's strongest of recent memory imo. The Laura Mvula track is catchy as well.. it came on on radio 1 once and quite enjoyed despite not going back to listen on my own accord.

 

While I'm not a Justin or KID LAROI fan at all.. I do sort of enjoy 'Anyone' and 'Stay' respectively so hopefully those are high up. The latter being your #1 :kink:

Edited January 24, 20223 yr by Roba.

I'm glad you loved it so much. I guess Xenomania were behind lots of pop artists that you love though so maybe should have seen it coming along with the fact you are primarily a pop nation as well haha.

 

From the last few sections I like Ella & Tom, 'OUT OUT', 'Rasputin' & 'Good Ones'. The latter should have made the top 40 as it's one of Charli's strongest of recent memory imo. The Laura Mvula track is catchy as well.. it came on on radio 1 once and quite enjoyed despite not going back to listen on my own accord.

 

While I'm not a Justin or KID LAROI fan at all.. I do sort of enjoy 'Anyone' and 'Stay' respectively so hopefully those are high up. The latter being your #1 :kink:

Thanks once again Rob for your comments! :wub:

Songs: Top 300

 

 

40 Regard, Troye Sivan & Tate McRae - You | 2-4-14-18-25-33-37-29-39-x

 

Regard has one of the best examples in UK chart history of where, in my personal opinion, quality and quantity don't match up a single bit...! I didn't enjoy mega smash Ride It at all, I found it tacky and cheap on the whole, and RAYE collaborations Secrets didn't do much for me even though it was an improvement on the previous single. Third single You got my interest, though, when Troye Sivan and Tate McRae were announced as the vocalists. I enjoyed Tate's you broke me first in 2020, it was a top 10 in my weekly chart, but of course Troye got my attention most notably. You became a #2 hit in my chart, blocked by Robin Packalen's huge hit Hard to Love, and finishes as Troye's first EOY top 40 since 2018. Regard still hasn't had another charting hit, but this proved that there is potential for more good songs to follow, even if this was by far his worst performing single to that point...!

 

End of Year History

 

Regard

2021 | 040 | You (Regard, Troye Sivan & Tate McRae)

 

Troye Sivan

2015 | 008 | WILD

2015 | 029 | TALK ME DOWN

2015 | 038 | FOOLS

2015 | 067 | BITE

2015 | 068 | Papercut (Zedd feat. Troye Sivan)

2015 | 171 | YOUTH

2015 | 211 | Touch

2015 | 236 | DKLA (feat. Tkay Maidza)

2016 | 023 | YOUTH

2016 | 040 | HEAVEN (feat. Betty Who)

2017 | 012 | There For You (Martin Garrix & Troye Sivan)

2018 | 008 | My My My!

2018 | 031 | Lucky Strike

2018 | 032 | 1999 (Charli XCX & Troye Sivan)

2018 | 048 | Bloom

2018 | 065 | Dance to This (feat. Ariana Grande)

2018 | 140 | Strawberries & Cigarettes

2018 | 237 | The Good Side

2018 | 272 | Revelation (Troye Sivan & Jónsi)

2019 | 118 | i'm so tired... (Lauv & Troye Sivan)

2020 | 050 | Take Yourself Home

2020 | 072 | Rager teenager!

2020 | 085 | Easy

2021 | 040 | You (Regard, Troye Sivan & Tate McRae)

2021 | 049 | could cry just thinkin about you

2021 | 119 | Angel Baby

 

Tate McRae

2020 | 162 | you broke me first

2021 | 040 | You (Regard, Troye Sivan & Tate McRae)

 

 

 

39 Cardi B - Up | 1-6-8-12-17-21-33-37-31-39-x

 

Riding high off the huge smash hit WAP, which became her first EOY top 10 last year, Cardi B returned in early 2021 with solo track Up. Intended as the second single from her second album, which still hasn't materialised (nor has a follow-up single), Up became her third #1 in my weekly chart and her second as a lead artist. The track is easily Cardi's best solo offering to date, with plenty of quotable lyrics ("once upon a time, man, I heard that I was ugly") and an incredible video to boot, but that wasn't any sort of shock from Cardi. I'm glad it was a US #1 and that it hit the top 20 here too, though I need the album now please Cardi! She has one more song to feature, in the form of Lizzo collaboration Rumors.

 

End of Year History

 

2018 | 011 | Girls (Rita Ora feat. Cardi B, Bebe Rexha & Charli XCX)

2018 | 020 | I Like It (Cardi B, Bad Bunny & J Balvin)

2018 | 028 | Dinero (Jennifer Lopez feat. DJ Khaled & Cardi B)

2018 | 054 | Taki Taki (DJ Snake feat. Selena Gomez, Ozuna & Cardi B)

2018 | 115 | Finesse (Bruno Mars feat. Cardi B)

2018 | 223 | Ring (feat. Kehlani)

2018 | 230 | Bartier Cardi (feat. 21 Savage)

2019 | 042 | South of the Border (Ed Sheeran feat. Camila Cabello & Cardi B)

2019 | 147 | Money

2019 | 184 | Twerk (City Girls feat. Cardi B)

2019 | 227 | Please Me (Cardi B & Bruno Mars)

2019 | 259 | Press

2020 | 006 | WAP (feat. Megan Thee Stallion)

2021 | 000 | Rumors (Lizzo & Cardi B)

2021 | 039 | Up

 

Songs: Top 300

 

 

38 Conan Gray - Overdrive | 2-5-6-11-20-25-24-32-36-x

 

After his debut album was one of my musical highlights of 2020, I eagerly anticipated new Conan Gray music in 2021, and it came even earlier than I expected. With Heather being a global hit just a few months before, Conan released new single Overdrive, initially teased as being from a re-issued Kid Krow album but it ended up being entirely separate. Overdrive is a euphoric pop track with a huge chorus and top notch production. It was saddening to see Spotify playlists not giving this track a chance after Heather became his breakthrough hit, but it set the tone for Conan's 2021 - high quality with no support and therefore no chart success :drama: Either way, Overdrive was a surefire hit in my chart, being blocked from #1 by Tom Odell's comeback single numb, though Overdrive finishes higher here so perhaps it's the moral winner...!

 

End of Year History

 

2019 | 069 | Maniac

2019 | 115 | The King

2019 | 160 | Checkmate

2019 | 220 | The Other Side

2020 | 021 | Wish You Were Sober

2020 | 073 | Heather

2020 | 178 | Fake (Lauv & Conan Gray)

2020 | 230 | The Story

2021 | 000 | People Watching

2021 | 000 | Telepath

2021 | 038 | Overdrive

2021 | 092 | Astronomy

 

Songs yet to be revealed are listed in alphabetical order.

 

 

 

37 Robin Packalen feat. SAAY - Sucker for That Love | 1-2-3-8-9-9-13-18-21-25-31-38-x

 

As I mentioned earlier, 2021 turned into quite the landmark year for Finnish popstar Robin Packalen. With years of hits in his home country under his belt, Robin only previously made my chart with his debut single Frontside Ollie, and even that charted for the first time a couple of years after I first heard it. He achieved three hits in 2021 though, and the last of those was Sucker for That Love. Following one of the longest-running #1s of the year (more on Hard to Love later), Sucker for That Love had my interest piqued. Could he sustain the quality? It turned out the answer was yes, and Robin delivered another slick pop track. The chorus is incredibly infectious and South Korean singer SAAY has a great guest verse - their voices work so well together! Sucker for That Love was the second song to dethrone The Kid LAROI's STAY from #1, and a week later, became one of nine songs to place at #2 behind STAY when it reclaimed the top spot. Nonetheless, it managed a strong run, with six weeks in the top 10 and a further six in my top 40.

 

End of Year History

 

2014 | 155 | Frontside Ollie

2021 | 000 | Hard to Love (feat. Alex Mattson)

2021 | 037 | Sucker for That Love (feat. SAAY)

2021 | 068 | Better Than That

 

Enjoying "Sacrifice" and "Chain My Heart" pretty much. Bebe Rexha's vocals fit well in house music.

Didn't expect "Man On The Moon" finishing that high. It's rather decent to me.

Interested to see where "Paradise" and "Don't Play" will finish!

Enjoying "Sacrifice" and "Chain My Heart" pretty much. Bebe Rexha's vocals fit well in house music.

Didn't expect "Man On The Moon" finishing that high. It's rather decent to me.

Interested to see where "Paradise" and "Don't Play" will finish!

Thanks Cow Cow! :wub:

Songs: Top 300

 

 

36 Thomas Day - The New Me | 4-1-…

 

I remember watching Thomas Day's America's Got Talent audition when it got suggested to me on YouTube in 2020/2021 - it was great, and he showed obvious potential, but when I found him again with The New Me, I didn't make the initial connection that it was the same guy! I'm not actually sure I remember how I came to discover The New Me - perhaps it was through my Discover Weekly playlist, or as a YouTube recommendation, but either way I know I really liked it from first play. The New Me became Thomas' first charting song, reaching #1 in its second week, which was also the final week of 2021. Ranking newer tracks is always difficult in my EOY and I've actually bumped this up since my initial rank at the end of the year, but it's held up well for me and hasn't yet left my top 10! I'm excited for what's to come from Thomas - time will tell if he manages another big hit but hopefully his next single isn't too far away.

 

End of Year History

 

2021 | 036 | The New Me

 

 

 

35 Lizzo & Cardi B - Rumors | 2-4-3-8-17-26-32-35-x

 

One of the breakout stars of 2019, I really enjoyed Lizzo's hit singles over the year, even though her album Cuz I Love You wasn't my cup of tea entirely. New music felt like it had been a long time coming by the time Rumors was confirmed for release in summer 2021, but news of a Cardi B collaboration had me really excited - the potential was huge. Debuting to mixed reviews, Rumors didn't disappoint for me. The chemistry between Lizzo and Cardi is unmatched, and it was effortlessly infectious. I wish it had performed a little better in the charts! Rumors became Lizzo's second top 10 hit in my own chart (first as a lead artist), blocked from the top spot by The Kid LAROI's STAY, and is by far her highest EOY position so far.

 

End of Year History

 

Lizzo

2019 | 077 | Blame It On Your Love (Charli XCX feat. Lizzo)

2019 | 187 | Truth Hurts

2019 | 268 | Tempo (feat. Missy Elliott)

2021 | 035 | Rumors (Lizzo & Cardi B)

 

Cardi B

2018 | 011 | Girls (Rita Ora feat. Cardi B, Bebe Rexha & Charli XCX)

2018 | 020 | I Like It (Cardi B, Bad Bunny & J Balvin)

2018 | 028 | Dinero (Jennifer Lopez feat. DJ Khaled & Cardi B)

2018 | 054 | Taki Taki (DJ Snake feat. Selena Gomez, Ozuna & Cardi B)

2018 | 115 | Finesse (Bruno Mars feat. Cardi B)

2018 | 223 | Ring (feat. Kehlani)

2018 | 230 | Bartier Cardi (feat. 21 Savage)

2019 | 042 | South of the Border (Ed Sheeran feat. Camila Cabello & Cardi B)

2019 | 147 | Money

2019 | 184 | Twerk (City Girls feat. Cardi B)

2019 | 227 | Please Me (Cardi B & Bruno Mars)

2019 | 259 | Press

2020 | 006 | WAP (feat. Megan Thee Stallion)

2021 | 035 | Rumors (Lizzo & Cardi B)

2021 | 039 | Up

 

Songs: Top 300

 

 

34 Sarcastic Sounds feat. Maisie Peters - Song You'll Never Hear | 2-3-5-8-10-14-12-…

 

With a couple of hits under his belt in 2020, I shouldn't have been too shocked that Canadian producer Sarcastic Sounds became one of the most consistent hitmakers of 2021, but I wouldn't have called such a strong run of hits this time last year! Until halfway through 2021, Sarcastic Sounds had only charted alongside Powfu, but #1 hit say goodbye turned the tide - more to come on that later! Two more hits as a lead artist followed, with Song You'll Never Hear arriving in November. The song, about the breakdown of a relationship, saw him collaborating with British singer/songwriter Maisie Peters, who sings the verses while Sarcastic Sounds' own vocals make up the chorus (albeit pitched up). It's a genius collaboration and the production is reliably strong, and it resulted in a #2 debut in my chart, only blocked from the top by Benson Boone's huge hit GHOST TOWN. I also sent the song to BJSC but the less said about that, the better - hence it becoming my last entry there for the time being. Nevertheless, the track matches Sarcastic Sounds' highest EOY position from 2020, and he still has one more to come!

 

End of Year History

 

Sarcastic Sounds

2020 | 034 | ill come back to you (Powfu, Sarcastic Sounds & Rxseboy)

2020 | 156 | Some Nights (Jomie feat. Powfu, Rxseboy & Sarcastic Sounds)

2021 | 000 | say goodbye

2021 | 034 | Song You'll Never Hear (feat. Maisie Peters)

2021 | 082 | hold somebody (guccihighwaters feat. Powfu & Sarcastic Sounds)

2021 | 135 | Closure (Sarcastic Sounds, Birdy & Mishaal)

2021 | 147 | the long way home (Powfu, Sara Kays & Sarcastic Sounds)

2021 | 210 | snowflake (Powfu feat. Jaden & Sarcastic Sounds)

2021 | 223 | the way that you see me (Powfu, Rxseboy & Sarcastic Sounds feat. Ayleen Valentine)

 

Maisie Peters

2021 | 034 | Song You'll Never Hear (Sarcastic Sounds feat. Maisie Peters)

2021 | 111 | Psycho

 

 

 

33 Gwen Stefani & Saweetie - Slow Clap | 2-3-5-15-21-29-x

 

One of the biggest 180s I did over the year was on this particular track. I'm a big fan of Gwen Stefani's solo music - all of her hit singles from her heyday were (and are still) excellent, and I've enjoyed a lot of her more recent material too, including comeback track Let Me Reintroduce Myself, a #10 hit in my chart in 2020. Slow Clap didn't impress me on first play, though. In fact, I found it quite annoying! I didn't revisit it once until the remix with Saweetie arrived a few weeks later, and I saw a clip of the video on Twitter. I was shocked that it actually sounded good, so I checked out the full thing and the rest was history - I was so wrong the first time round! Slow Clap has become one of my favourite Gwen tracks. I still don't give the solo version much attention, but there's no need when Saweetie's guest verse is just too good to ignore. "My favourite position is CEO, check the stacks" is one of my favourite lyrics of the year *.* I hope a follow-up isn't too far away, Gwen!

 

End of Year History

 

Gwen Stefani

2016 | 154 | Make Me Like You

2020 | 213 | Let Me Reintroduce Myself

2021 | 033 | Slow Clap (Gwen Stefani & Saweetie)

 

Saweetie

2018 | 188 | Stupid Things (Four of Diamonds feat. Saweetie)

2018 | 294 | You Come First (Zak Abel feat. Saweetie)

2021 | 033 | Slow Clap (Gwen Stefani & Saweetie)

2021 | 053 | OUT OUT (Joel Corry & Jax Jones feat. Charli XCX & Saweetie)

2021 | 056 | Best Friend (feat. Doja Cat)

2021 | 094 | Confetti (Little Mix feat. Saweetie)

 

Songs: Top 300

 

 

32 Justin Bieber - Hold On | 1-3-4-6-7-15-15-18-30-36-x

 

Compiling the EOY chart history below made me realise just how Justin Bieber's star seemed to fade, relatively speaking, in my chart. Friends hit #1 in 2017, but after that, a series of collaborations didn't really make a big splash in my chart, and in fact, none of them graced my EOY top 100 until last year. Even then, Changes' lead single Yummy didn't make my EOY top 200. Of course, I remained a fan, but things really picked back up in 2021 with the Justice era, and Hold On was a big reason why I've loved this era so much. Following on from Anyone, which is still to come, Hold On had big shoes to fill and it easily slotted into them, becoming Justin's second #1 hit of the year (he'd achieve four in total) and third within six months, after three years without any! I really like the middle 8 section of the track - "midnight 'til morning, call if you need somebody, I will be there for you." As glad as I was to see it make the UK top 10, it was a shame it didn't go on to be a bigger hit like Peaches was around the same time.

 

End of Year History

 

2012 | 009 | As Long As You Love Me (feat. Big Sean)

2012 | 027 | Beauty and a Beat (feat. Nicki Minaj)

2012 | 031 | Boyfriend

2012 | 042 | Fall

2012 | 070 | All Around the World (feat. Ludacris)

2012 | 078 | Live Your Life (Far East Movement feat. Justin Bieber)

2012 | 098 | Turn To You (Mother's Day Dedication)

2013 | 134 | #thatPOWER (will.i.am feat. Justin Bieber)

2013 | 168 | Nothing Like Us

2013 | 170 | Bad Day

2013 | 174 | All That Matters

2013 | 176 | Recovery

2013 | 190 | Heartbreaker

2014 | 065 | Home to Mama (Justin Bieber & Cody Simpson)

2014 | 148 | Roller Coaster

2014 | 178 | Confident (feat. Chance the Rapper)

2015 | 005 | Sorry

2015 | 006 | What Do You Mean?

2015 | 054 | Love Yourself

2015 | 057 | Where Are Ü Now (Skrillex & Diplo feat. Justin Bieber)

2015 | 157 | I'll Show You

2015 | 206 | The Feeling (feat. Halsey)

2016 | 013 | Cold Water (Major Lazer feat. Justin Bieber & MØ)

2016 | 038 | Let Me Love You (DJ Snake feat. Justin Bieber)

2016 | 185 | Company

2017 | _19 | Friends (Justin Bieber & BloodPop®)

2017 | 161 | 2U (David Guetta feat. Justin Bieber)

2017 | 175 | I'm the One (DJ Khaled feat. Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper & Lil Wayne)

2017 | 177 | Despacito (Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee feat. Justin Bieber)

2018 | 218 | No Brainer (DJ Khaled feat. Justin Bieber, Chance the Rapper & Quavo)

2019 | 231 | 10,000 Hours (Dan + Shay & Justin Bieber)

2019 | 272 | I Don't Care (Ed Sheeran & Justin Bieber)

2020 | 065 | Holy (feat. Chance the Rapper)

2020 | 075 | Intentions (feat. Quavo)

2020 | 090 | Monster (Shawn Mendes & Justin Bieber)

2020 | 149 | Lonely (Justin Bieber & benny blanco)

2020 | 203 | Stuck With U (Ariana Grande & Justin Bieber)

2020 | 205 | Yummy

2021 | 000 | Anyone

2021 | 000 | Ghost

2021 | 000 | STAY (The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber)

2021 | 032 | Hold On

2021 | 052 | Unstable (feat. The Kid LAROI)

2021 | 099 | Deserve You

2021 | 146 | Peaches (feat. Daniel Caesar & GIVĒON)

2021 | 176 | Don't Go (Skrillex, Justin Bieber & Don Toliver)

2021 | 244 | LET IT GO (DJ Khaled feat. Justin Bieber & 21 Savage)

2021 | 275 | Love You Different (feat. Beam)

 

Songs yet to be revealed are listed in alphabetical order.

 

 

 

31 Alec Benjamin - Older | 1-3-3-7-12-17-20-23-29-33-40-x

 

Though he didn't release a full album in 2021, Alec Benjamin still managed to secure three new chart-toppers with the new singles he released over the year. Older was the third and final #1, dethroning The Kid LAROI's STAY after its eighth week (and third stint) at the top, much like previous single Change My Clothes had done just a month beforehand. It's one of Alec's most emotional and vulnerable tracks, discussing a topic we all know something about - growing up. Alec doesn't shy away from his worries - "I'm not prepared for the future" is the opening line, after all - and it makes for a gut punch of a track that's completely relatable. I'm not ready to get older either :lol:

 

End of Year History

 

2016 | 224 | End of the Summer

2017 | 067 | I Built a Friend

2018 | 010 | Let Me Down Slowly

2018 | 073 | 1994

2018 | 077 | Outrunning Karma

2018 | 100 | If We Have Each Other

2018 | 117 | Steve

2018 | 194 | Annabelle's Homework

2018 | 205 | Water Fountain

2019 | 008 | Must Have Been the Wind

2019 | 018 | Mind Is a Prison

2019 | 022 | Jesus in LA

2020 | 019 | Match in the Rain

2020 | 022 | Eyes Blue Like the Atlantic, Pt. 2 (Sista Prod feat. Powfu, Alec Benjamin & Rxseboy)

2020 | 056 | Six Feet Apart

2020 | 068 | Demons

2020 | 101 | Oh My God

2020 | 171 | The Book of You & I

2020 | 188 | Just Like You

2020 | 249 | Alamo

2020 | 255 | I'm Not a Cynic

2020 | 274 | I Built a Friend

2021 | 031 | Older

2021 | 051 | The Way You Felt

2021 | 077 | Change My Clothes (Dream & Alec Benjamin)

 

Songs: Top 300

 

 

30 Sub Urban & Bella Poarch - INFERNO | 4-2-2-5-10-15-25-25-29-34-39-x

 

Before 2021, I'd only given a tiny bit of attention to singer and producer Sub Urban (real name Daniel Maisonneuve) through a song in BJSC. My BJSC memory is notably terrible though so when this song was announced, no bells rang in my mind and the more familiar name was of course Bella Poarch, fresh from breakthrough hit Build a Bitch. They make an excellent pairing though - the production makes INFERNO one of the most unique-sounding tracks I've charted this year, whilst also being more radio-friendly than other Sub Urban tracks I've heard. His breathy vocals gel brilliantly with Bella's own on the track's chorus, and she undoubtedly adds a touch of star quality to what's quite a dark song lyrically. INFERNO was blocked by #1 twice - once by Dream and Alec Benjamin's Change My Clothes (which has already dropped out, oops) and then by The Kid LAROI's STAY, making this one of seven tracks blocked from the top spot by the mammoth hit.

 

End of Year History

 

Sub Urban

2021 | 030 | INFERNO (Sub Urban & Bella Poarch)

2021 | 195 | PARAMOUR (feat. AURORA)

 

Bella Poarch

2021 | 030 | INFERNO (Sub Urban & Bella Poarch)

2021 | 081 | Build a Bitch

 

 

 

29 Justin Bieber - Ghost | 18-x-3-4-11-14-16-15-19-19-22-24-23-23-29-31-38-32-…

 

More Bieber, and this time we have his most recent single. Ghost was an immediate highlight from the Justice album for me - I always loved the strong melody and how strong Justin's vocals sounded on it. Ghost charted in my top 20 upon release, and returned after it was confirmed as a single, complete with a VMA performance medley alongside STAY. Though it was an easy top 3 hit in my chart, I didn't anticipate Ghost doing much in the official charts - it's the sixth single from a big era, which doesn't usually bode well, but Ghost has peaked at #21 in the UK and made the US top 15, so it's safe to say it's surpassed all of my expectations. I'm glad Ghost has become such a hit, it's easily working its way into my top Bieber favourites!

 

End of Year History

 

2012 | 009 | As Long As You Love Me (feat. Big Sean)

2012 | 027 | Beauty and a Beat (feat. Nicki Minaj)

2012 | 031 | Boyfriend

2012 | 042 | Fall

2012 | 070 | All Around the World (feat. Ludacris)

2012 | 078 | Live Your Life (Far East Movement feat. Justin Bieber)

2012 | 098 | Turn To You (Mother's Day Dedication)

2013 | 134 | #thatPOWER (will.i.am feat. Justin Bieber)

2013 | 168 | Nothing Like Us

2013 | 170 | Bad Day

2013 | 174 | All That Matters

2013 | 176 | Recovery

2013 | 190 | Heartbreaker

2014 | 065 | Home to Mama (Justin Bieber & Cody Simpson)

2014 | 148 | Roller Coaster

2014 | 178 | Confident (feat. Chance the Rapper)

2015 | 005 | Sorry

2015 | 006 | What Do You Mean?

2015 | 054 | Love Yourself

2015 | 057 | Where Are Ü Now (Skrillex & Diplo feat. Justin Bieber)

2015 | 157 | I'll Show You

2015 | 206 | The Feeling (feat. Halsey)

2016 | 013 | Cold Water (Major Lazer feat. Justin Bieber & MØ)

2016 | 038 | Let Me Love You (DJ Snake feat. Justin Bieber)

2016 | 185 | Company

2017 | _19 | Friends (Justin Bieber & BloodPop®)

2017 | 161 | 2U (David Guetta feat. Justin Bieber)

2017 | 175 | I'm the One (DJ Khaled feat. Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper & Lil Wayne)

2017 | 177 | Despacito (Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee feat. Justin Bieber)

2018 | 218 | No Brainer (DJ Khaled feat. Justin Bieber, Chance the Rapper & Quavo)

2019 | 231 | 10,000 Hours (Dan + Shay & Justin Bieber)

2019 | 272 | I Don't Care (Ed Sheeran & Justin Bieber)

2020 | 065 | Holy (feat. Chance the Rapper)

2020 | 075 | Intentions (feat. Quavo)

2020 | 090 | Monster (Shawn Mendes & Justin Bieber)

2020 | 149 | Lonely (Justin Bieber & benny blanco)

2020 | 203 | Stuck With U (Ariana Grande & Justin Bieber)

2020 | 205 | Yummy

2021 | 000 | Anyone

2021 | 000 | STAY (The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber)

2021 | 029 | Ghost

2021 | 032 | Hold On

2021 | 052 | Unstable (feat. The Kid LAROI)

2021 | 099 | Deserve You

2021 | 146 | Peaches (feat. Daniel Caesar & GIVĒON)

2021 | 176 | Don't Go (Skrillex, Justin Bieber & Don Toliver)

2021 | 244 | LET IT GO (DJ Khaled feat. Justin Bieber & 21 Savage)

2021 | 275 | Love You Different (feat. Beam)

 

Songs yet to be revealed are listed in alphabetical order.

 

Songs: Top 300

 

 

28 Tom Odell - monster | 5-16-21-2-4-6-9-21-23-30-x-21-34-x

 

Completing his best year since 2016, Tom Odell's monster gives him his highest EOY position since Magnetised reached #14. Every album of his has produced at least one EOY top 40 hit - Long Way Down produced three (including EOY #5 Another Love), Wrong Crowd produced two, and new album monsters ties Jubilee Road with one. Title track monster came as the second single from the album, and it was released in two versions. v.1 came out first - a stripped back version of the track, almost demo-like, and it reached #5 in my chart in its first week. Three weeks later, v.2 came out. This was the fully produced track, and undoubtedly my favourite of the two. monster leapt up to #2, behind Robin Packalen's Hard to Love, and it's cemented itself as one of my favourite Tom tracks to date. Lyrically, the song is about conquering your mind when your mental health isn't great, and it makes for an encouraging and reassuring listen on an album that can at other points be dark and honest.

 

End of Year History

 

2013 | 005 | Another Love

2013 | 016 | Grow Old With Me

2013 | 081 | Hold Me

2013 | 110 | I Know

2013 | 146 | Can't Pretend

2014 | 011 | Real Love

2014 | 029 | I Know

2016 | 014 | Magnetised

2016 | 039 | Concrete

2016 | 063 | True Colours

2016 | 083 | Wrong Crowd

2016 | 088 | Here I Am

2016 | 152 | Fiction (Kygo feat. Tom Odell)

2017 | 091 | Silhouette

2018 | 035 | Half As Good As You (feat. Alice Merton)

2018 | 084 | If You Wanna Love Somebody

2019 | 209 | Summer Day

2021 | 028 | monster

2021 | 045 | numb

2021 | 085 | lose you again

2021 | 201 | streets of heaven

 

 

 

27 Anne-Marie, KSI & Digital Farm Animals - Don't Play | 1-2-6-11-17-17-22-28-34-x-37-x

 

Of course, I've always been one of Anne-Marie's biggest champions on the forum, and seeing the start of her second era flounder a bit in 2020 was gutting. That said, it was clear the pop princess found her footing again in 2021, both chart-wise and song-wise. Birthday was fun and To Be Young had potential, but Don't Play was a clear reminder of why I love Anne-Marie's music. For the proper lead from second album Therapy, Anne-Marie teamed up with KSI and Digital Farm Animals for a garage-inspired track, and it was love at first listen. The chorus is effortlessly catchy and KSI's contributions are strong too - the song has so many hooks. It became an instant #1 in January, Anne-Marie's first since 2018's FRIENDS, and it was pleasing to see it grab a #2 debut in the UK and so many top 10 weeks alongside that. Anne-Marie still has one more track to come!

 

End of Year History

 

Anne-Marie

2016 | 016 | Rockabye (Clean Bandit feat. Sean Paul & Anne-Marie)

2016 | 036 | Alarm

2017 | 004 | Ciao Adios

2017 | 072 | Heavy

2017 | 239 | Either Way (Snakehips & Anne-Marie feat. Joey Bada$$)

2018 | 012 | FRIENDS (Marshmello & Anne-Marie)

2018 | 030 | 2002

2018 | 089 | Then

2018 | 148 | Perfect to Me

2018 | 160 | Don't Leave Me Alone (David Guetta feat. Anne-Marie)

2019 | 160 | fuck, i'm lonely (Lauv feat. Anne-Marie)

2019 | 297 | Rewrite the Stars (James Arthur & Anne-Marie)

2020 | 074 | Birthday

2020 | 234 | To Be Young (feat. Doja Cat)

2021 | 000 | Our Song (Anne-Marie & Niall Horan)

2021 | 027 | Don't Play (Anne-Marie, KSI & Digital Farm Animals)

2021 | 042 | Kiss My (Uh Oh) [Anne-Marie & Little Mix]

2021 | 120 | Way Too Long (Nathan Dawe, Anne-Marie & MoStack)

2021 | 139 | Everywhere (Niall Horan & Anne-Marie)

2021 | 209 | Better Not Together

2021 | 261 | Therapy

2021 | 279 | Tell Your Girlfriend

 

KSI

2021 | 027 | Don't Play (Anne-Marie, KSI & Digital Farm Animals)

 

Digital Farm Animals

2016 | 116 | Millionaire (Digital Farm Animals & Cash Cash feat. Nelly)

2017 | 009 | Back to You (Louis Tomlinson feat. Bebe Rexha & Digital Farm Animals)

2017 | 148 | All Falls Down (Alan Walker, Noah Cyrus & Digital Farm Animals feat. Juliander)

2017 | 228 | Digital Love (feat. Hailee Steinfeld)

2021 | 027 | Don't Play (Anne-Marie, KSI & Digital Farm Animals)

 

Songs: Top 300

 

 

26 Conan Gray - People Watching | 26-2-11-7-7-10-19-21-32-31-39-x

 

The third Conan single of four to arrive in 2021, I wasn't sure what to expect from People Watching. He'd already served a bop in the form of Overdrive and an acoustic ballad in the form of Astronomy, so what would be next? The answer was... something in the middle. People Watching falls into the midtempo category, but the main focus of the track is the lyrics. People Watching is about seeing other people falling in love and wanting that for yourself, and it's so well-written. From the random observations about couples, like the opening line of "that wasn't funny but she laughed so hard she almost cried", to the self-reflection of the middle 8 ("cut people out like tags on my clothing"), People Watching is a track bound to be relatable for many, myself included. A midweek release, People Watching peaked in week 2, behind, you guessed it, The Kid LAROI's STAY (which was also in its 2nd week at that point). It was pushed out of the top 10 the week after by Laroi's album bomb (it would've been #3 with his album tracks removed!) but re-entered for a few more weeks after that, notching up a solidly consistent run and a great EOY position - Conan's third highest ever, also factoring in the fact he has one more song to feature.

 

End of Year History

 

2019 | 069 | Maniac

2019 | 115 | The King

2019 | 160 | Checkmate

2019 | 220 | The Other Side

2020 | 021 | Wish You Were Sober

2020 | 073 | Heather

2020 | 178 | Fake (Lauv & Conan Gray)

2020 | 230 | The Story

2021 | 000 | Telepath

2021 | 026 | People Watching

2021 | 038 | Overdrive

2021 | 092 | Astronomy

 

 

 

25 Lance & Linton - I'm Alive | 5-5-9-12-16-27-33-34-x

 

A year ago, Lance & Linton were still very new to me. Debut single Best Time's Right Now, though a song released in 2019, only came to my attention at the very end of 2020 and it shot into my chart's top 5, peaking at #2. Whether that would be a fluke for the Swedish duo, comprised of friends Lancelot Hedman-Graaf and Linton Calmroth, I didn't know, particularly as their only actual 2020 release was a remix of 2019 single Sunshine with their own vocals replaced...! It wasn't long into 2021 when they delivered this anthem, though. I'm Alive is a the definition of a dance-pop anthem, with hook-filled verses and chorus, and a massive EDM drop that I'd kill to experience live. The track debuted at #5, which makes it the lowest peaking song in my EOY top 40, but let's put that into context - it came out the same week as Rita Ora's Bang EP (which charted two songs in my top 4) and new singles from Ulrik Munther and Ruel. Obviously, the bigger names dominated, though two of those songs (one by Rita, and Ulrik) still remain in the EOY so it was obviously an insane week for new music, and for Lance & Linton to hold their own against them shows that I'm Alive really is one of the best bangers of the year - one I returned to consistently over 2021!

 

End of Year History

 

2020 | 062 | Best Time's Right Now

2021 | 025 | I'm Alive

2021 | 047 | Death of Me

 

Nice to see Older appear here - as you say a really relatable song, I'm not ready to get older either :lol: Giving I'm Alive a listen now, liking it very much, dance pop with guitars always sounds very good and the melody works well as well!

Nice to see Older appear here - as you say a really relatable song, I'm not ready to get older either :lol: Giving I'm Alive a listen now, liking it very much, dance pop with guitars always sounds very good and the melody works well as well!

Thanks Pete! Glad you liked I'm Alive, I couldn't agree more! They've really mastered the "dance pop with guitars" formula, not really sure if Lance & Linton is still going as a duo or not though as Lance has been releasing solo music and is even taking part in Melfest this year... :lol:

Songs: Top 300

 

 

24 Boy In Space - Dance Alone | 1-3-4-10-12-15-21-28-39-x-39-x

 

Unquestionably one of the biggest artists of the past couple of years in my chart, I actually remember feeling a little underwhelmed by Boy In Space's first release of 2021. Obviously, looking at the chart run above, an eyebrow might be raised when I say it was a grower...! It was just the first play though, because I expected it to be something bigger than it was, but Dance Alone's understated-ness is actually something that works to its favour. The track is about feeling lonely and pretending you're fine, and with an impactful chorus and top notch production, Dance Alone took no time at all to hit me and become his first of four #1s in 2021. The fact this is the lowest of the four, at #24, speaks volumes as to how good Boy In Space's material across the year was, and this was just the start.

 

End of Year History

 

2019 | 017 | On a Prayer (feat. SHY Martin)

2019 | 112 | 7UP

2019 | 121 | Goodbye

2019 | 192 | California

2019 | 251 | Drown

2019 | 264 | Cold (Boy In Space & unheard)

2020 | 002 | Caroline

2020 | 012 | Therapy (Boy In Space & NOTD)

2020 | 038 | Still the Same (SHY Martin feat. Boy In Space)

2020 | 043 | u n eye

2020 | 066 | PSYCHO (DREAMDNVR & Boy In Space)

2020 | 218 | Forever Young

2021 | 000 | Paradise (Alan Walker, K-391 & Boy In Space)

2021 | 000 | Remember Me

2021 | 000 | Sucker Punch

2021 | 024 | Dance Alone

2021 | 107 | Let You Go

 

Songs yet to be revealed are listed in alphabetical order.

 

 

 

23 JayXander - Ghost Me | 30-34-33-22-9-1-2-5-11-15-16-21-19-30-28-…

 

Of the thirty-six #1 hits my chart had last year, only seven of them climbed to the top (discounting any midweek releases that made the top in their first full week), and of those, only one took longer than JayXander's Ghost Me six weeks to make the top (The Kid LAROI's STILL CHOSE YOU took 19 weeks to reach the top...!). Debuting at a lowly #30 in the week I heard his debut EP Toxic Trait Sandwich for the first time, Ghost Me became one of two simultaneous hits for Californian singer, songwriter and producer Jayden Palmer, debuting the same week as then-current single Too Late, which started at #10 and peaked at #7. While Too Late is one of JayXander's most uptempo tracks, Ghost Me is angsty and moody, with the main hook of the song being the line "ghost me, I f***ing dare you to" in the chorus. It crept up to #1 in a quiet week, but Ghost Me's solidified itself as a worthy chart-topper with a long chart run, and it's comfortably his best performing track in this EOY too.

 

End of Year History

 

2020 | 208 | HOODIES

2021 | 023 | Ghost Me

2021 | 044 | Too Late

 

Songs: Top 300

 

 

22 Jutes - Shania Twain | 1-2-5-4-…

 

Just one year ago, Canadian singer/rapper Jutes only had one hit to his name. This year, no artist featured more in my EOY top 300 - it's an impressive turnaround and aided mostly by how prolific he's been in the past year. Dropped by his label and looking to reignite his love of music, Jutes (real name Jordan Lutes) decided to challenge himself to release a new song every week. With a back catalogue of unreleased songs ready to go, this proved to be an easy task, and it resulted in numerous top 10 hits and over the 20 weeks he managed, every song reached my top 40 (with varied peak positions). He grew bored of the strategy so chose to end it, but more singles arrived over the rest of the year, and he struck gold with his final 2021 single. The pop anthem with a slight country-tinge Shania Twain became his first chart-topper, aided by just how exceptionally catchy it is. It's also his highest in my EOY despite only arriving a month before the year ended, meaning it's at a slight disadvantage considering how late in the process it arrived! I'm intrigued by what's coming over 2022 for Jutes, but I'm confident that whatever arrives will happen on Jutes' own terms as an independent artist.

 

End of Year History

 

2020 | 157 | Bad Dream

2021 | 022 | Shania Twain

2021 | 057 | Sober Up (Jutes & Miles Wesley)

2021 | 083 | Painkiller

2021 | 109 | Broke Boy

2021 | 115 | Medicine (Miles Wesley & Jutes)

2021 | 127 | Give U a Call

2021 | 152 | Here We Go Again

2021 | 154 | California

2021 | 158 | Couch Surfin

2021 | 191 | Say It Out Loud

2021 | 203 | Those Were the Days

2021 | 213 | Delete My Number

2021 | 260 | Ballerina

2021 | 270 | Funeral (Diamond Pistols feat. Jutes)

2021 | 276 | Careful What You Wish For

2021 | 278 | Danny Phantom

 

 

 

21 Ruel - GROWING UP IS _____ | 12-1-2-2-…

 

As mentioned above, a release late into the year can often result in a harsher EOY position than is deserved. My EOY chart isn't based on points, so I can easily bump songs up as far as I'd like, but ranking songs I'm enjoying currently against stuff I liked at the start of 2021 isn't very easy and therefore I tend to err on the side of caution with newer stuff. Ruel's intriguingly-titled GROWING UP IS _____ is the second newest song in my top 40 (only Thomas Day's The New Me is more recent, at EOY #36), but it still manages to be his third best EOY position to date. Intended as the lead single from Ruel's forthcoming debut full-length album, GROWING UP IS _____ is a coming-of-age track about how relationships can shift and change as you grow up. It's a topic Ruel's discussed before, notably on early single Younger, but GROWING UP IS _____ is a big moment for Ruel - it's one of his most confident tracks yet with a more upbeat, joyous production than many of his previous tracks. It shot to an easy #1 in its first full week, becoming Ruel's third chart-topper, and it's made me super excited for the full album which is due any time soon.

 

End of Year History

 

2018 | 019 | Younger

2018 | 039 | Dazed & Confused

2019 | 010 | Painkiller

2019 | 049 | Free Time

2019 | 101 | Real Thing

2019 | 137 | Face to Face

2019 | 282 | Flames (SG Lewis feat. Ruel)

2020 | 030 | as long as you care

2020 | 058 | say it over (feat. Cautious Clay)

2020 | 174 | Empty Love (GRACEY & Ruel)

2020 | 192 | Down for You (Cosmo's Midnight & Ruel)

2021 | 021 | GROWING UP IS _____

2021 | 060 | too many feelings

2021 | 125 | distance

 

Songs: Top 300

 

 

20 Sigala & Rita Ora - You for Me | 1-3-3-13-11-15-16-23-25-33-32-40-x

 

Sigala has a very hit-and-miss track record for me. There have been tracks I've really enjoyed, like Lullaby, We Don't Care and album track Somebody, and some I've really not enjoyed at all, like Give Me Your Love and Lasting Lover. Despite notching up a few top 10 hits, a #1 still alluded the British DJ, until 2021 that was. You for Me saw Sigala team up with Rita Ora for a track that broke a record in my chart - You for Me became Rita Ora's fourteenth chart-topper, making her the outright artist with the most #1 singles, overtaking a record The Vamps had held for almost four years. It's a track that defined my summer, too, with its feel-good chorus and Rita's smooth vocals complementing the vibe of the track expertly. It deserved to be a bigger chart hit but I'm still glad it had reasonable longevity! Speaking of Rita...

 

End of Year History

 

Sigala

2016 | 149 | Say You Do (feat. Imani Williams & DJ Fresh)

2018 | 085 | Lullaby (Sigala & Paloma Faith)

2018 | 099 | We Don't Care (Sigala & The Vamps)

2019 | 098 | Somebody (Sigala, HRVY & Nina Nesbitt)

2021 | 020 | You for Me (Sigala & Rita Ora)

 

Rita Ora

2012 | 028 | How We Do (Party)

2012 | 065 | R.I.P. (feat. Tinie Tempah)

2014 | 013 | Black Widow (Iggy Azalea feat. Rita Ora)

2014 | 030 | I Will Never Let You Down

2015 | 013 | Doing It (Charli XCX feat. Rita Ora)

2015 | 143 | Poison

2015 | 161 | Coming Home (Sigma & Rita Ora)

2015 | 164 | Body On Me (feat. Chris Brown)

2015 | 170 | New York Raining (Charles Hamilton feat. Rita Ora)

2017 | 003 | Anywhere

2017 | 007 | Lonely Together (Avicii feat. Rita Ora)

2017 | 060 | Your Song

2018 | 011 | Girls (feat. Cardi B, Bebe Rexha & Charli XCX)

2018 | 014 | Let You Love Me

2018 | 022 | For You (Liam Payne & Rita Ora)

2018 | 051 | Only Want You

2018 | 282 | First Time High

2019 | 013 | R.I.P. (Sofía Reyes feat. Rita Ora & Anitta)

2019 | 045 | Only Want You (feat. 6LACK)

2019 | 054 | Ritual (Tiësto, Jonas Blue & Rita Ora)

2019 | 114 | Carry On (Kygo & Rita Ora)

2020 | 115 | How to Be Lonely

2021 | 000 | Bang Bang (Rita Ora & Imanbek)

2021 | 020 | You for Me (Sigala & Rita Ora)

2021 | 075 | Big (Rita Ora, David Guetta & Imanbek feat. Gunna)

2021 | 198 | Follow Me (Sam Feldt & Rita Ora)

 

 

 

19 Rita Ora & Imanbek - Bang Bang | 1-3-6-7-13-21-26-25-38-x

 

One of the barmiest #1s of last year came from Rita Ora, a regular face at the top end of my chart of course. With twelve previous #1s to her name, Rita's new EP with Kazakh DJ Imanbek was guaranteed to make a splash, and it sure did - two of its tracks debuted in my top 5 in release week, but it wasn't lead single Big that made the top spot, it was this. Bang Bang featured a sample of Axel F - yes, that track that Crazy Frog had a hit with (and Imanbek's specified that it's this version of the song he was inspired by...!). It's absolutely ridiculous but it works SO well, the familiar melody working so well with Rita's incredible voice. It had a slightly high burnout rate at the time but I've grown to love it again recently, I think it could've been a big hit without Rita's party-gate fiasco just a couple of months beforehand...!

 

End of Year History

 

Rita Ora

2012 | 028 | How We Do (Party)

2012 | 065 | R.I.P. (feat. Tinie Tempah)

2014 | 013 | Black Widow (Iggy Azalea feat. Rita Ora)

2014 | 030 | I Will Never Let You Down

2015 | 013 | Doing It (Charli XCX feat. Rita Ora)

2015 | 143 | Poison

2015 | 161 | Coming Home (Sigma & Rita Ora)

2015 | 164 | Body On Me (feat. Chris Brown)

2015 | 170 | New York Raining (Charles Hamilton feat. Rita Ora)

2017 | 003 | Anywhere

2017 | 007 | Lonely Together (Avicii feat. Rita Ora)

2017 | 060 | Your Song

2018 | 011 | Girls (feat. Cardi B, Bebe Rexha & Charli XCX)

2018 | 014 | Let You Love Me

2018 | 022 | For You (Liam Payne & Rita Ora)

2018 | 051 | Only Want You

2018 | 282 | First Time High

2019 | 013 | R.I.P. (Sofía Reyes feat. Rita Ora & Anitta)

2019 | 045 | Only Want You (feat. 6LACK)

2019 | 054 | Ritual (Tiësto, Jonas Blue & Rita Ora)

2019 | 114 | Carry On (Kygo & Rita Ora)

2020 | 115 | How to Be Lonely

2021 | 019 | Bang Bang (Rita Ora & Imanbek)

2021 | 020 | You for Me (Sigala & Rita Ora)

2021 | 075 | Big (Rita Ora, David Guetta & Imanbek feat. Gunna)

2021 | 198 | Follow Me (Sam Feldt & Rita Ora)

 

Imanbek

2021 | 019 | Bang Bang (Rita Ora & Imanbek)

2021 | 075 | Big (Rita Ora, David Guetta & Imanbek feat. Gunna)

2021 | 180 | Go Crazy (Imanbek, Lil Xan & KDDK)

2021 | 248 | Dancing on Dangerous (Imanbek & Sean Paul feat. Sofía Reyes)

 

Songs: Top 300

 

 

18 GUS - Lies | 2-5-10-14-23-25-32-36-36-34-38-36-39-38-40-x

 

I always find it interesting to see whether a new artist can follow up their breakthrough hit with anything particularly significant, and with Canadian singer Gus McMillan, known mononymously as GUS, I truly couldn't call it. A year ago, he'd had a pretty significant #2 hit with Dancing Alone, a track blocked from the top by Shawn Mendes and Justin Bieber's Monster, a big name collaboration that fell behind Dancing Alone within just a week. Follow-up single 19 arrived in early 2021 and scraped my top 10, so I assumed Dancing Alone would be as big as things would get. Lies came in mid-2021 and made an instant impression on me. The track had an energy that GUS's previous tracks didn't - it was euphoric, singalong-ready and extremely catchy. Lies became a second #2 hit for GUS, once again losing out to a Bieber collaboration, but this time it was STAY with The Kid LAROI, which was unquestionably the bigger hit. Will 2022 be the year GUS finally gets a lucky break and makes #1? If he keeps the quality up, it's looking likely.

 

End of Year History

 

2020 | 051 | Dancing Alone

2021 | 018 | Lies

2021 | 217 | 19

 

 

 

17 Anne-Marie & Niall Horan - Our Song | 1-2-3-7-6-10-13-16-16-23-23-27-35-x

 

It doesn't feel like it's been a gap of three years between Anne-Marie's most recent EOY top 20 hits. She's felt like a continued presence at the top end of my weekly chart, but Our Song is the track to return her to the top end of my EOY for the first time since 2018's FRIENDS. Our Song was the second of two chart-toppers for Anne-Marie in 2021, but it was a more significant milestone for her collaboration partner, Niall Horan. Though he has 11 #1s with One Direction, Our Song was Niall's first solo chart-topper, finally allowing him to follow in the footsteps of Harry, Louis and Liam. More surprising was Niall's EOY history below - I couldn't believe he hadn't graced my EOY top 100 before...! Nevertheless, Our Song is a triumphant collaboration. Anne-Marie and Niall have an obvious chemistry and the melody of Our Song allows them both to shine in the nostalgic, reminiscent track. Crazily, Our Song dropping out means that for the first time ever, there are no female-led tracks in my top 10! :o

 

End of Year History

 

Anne-Marie

2016 | 016 | Rockabye (Clean Bandit feat. Sean Paul & Anne-Marie)

2016 | 036 | Alarm

2017 | 004 | Ciao Adios

2017 | 072 | Heavy

2017 | 239 | Either Way (Snakehips & Anne-Marie feat. Joey Bada$$)

2018 | 012 | FRIENDS (Marshmello & Anne-Marie)

2018 | 030 | 2002

2018 | 089 | Then

2018 | 148 | Perfect to Me

2018 | 160 | Don't Leave Me Alone (David Guetta feat. Anne-Marie)

2019 | 160 | fuck, i'm lonely (Lauv feat. Anne-Marie)

2019 | 297 | Rewrite the Stars (James Arthur & Anne-Marie)

2020 | 074 | Birthday

2020 | 234 | To Be Young (feat. Doja Cat)

2021 | 017 | Our Song (Anne-Marie & Niall Horan)

2021 | 027 | Don't Play (Anne-Marie, KSI & Digital Farm Animals)

2021 | 042 | Kiss My (Uh Oh) [Anne-Marie & Little Mix]

2021 | 120 | Way Too Long (Nathan Dawe, Anne-Marie & MoStack)

2021 | 139 | Everywhere (Niall Horan & Anne-Marie)

2021 | 209 | Better Not Together

2021 | 261 | Therapy

2021 | 279 | Tell Your Girlfriend

 

Niall Horan

2016 | 104 | This Town

2017 | 117 | Slow Hands

2017 | 130 | Too Much to Ask

2018 | 195 | On the Loose

2019 | 286 | Put a Little Love On Me

2020 | 140 | No Judgement

2021 | 017 | Our Song (Anne-Marie & Niall Horan)

2021 | 139 | Everywhere (Niall Horan & Anne-Marie)