Happy new year...almost! As is tradition, before I reveal my top 100 favourite songs and top 40 albums of 2023, here - in alphabetical order - are the songs that either made my top 100 most played songs of the year according to Spotify but for the reasons stated are not in my overall top 100, or just missed out for other reasons stated! I adore all of these but only had 100 spaces sadly.

 

Alessandro Safina - Luna (missed the cut)

ALMA - Tell Mama (missed the cut)

Amy Studt - Ladder In My Tights (was in my 2021 EOY chart)

Bananarama - Help! (1989 song that I played a lot this year)

Beth Nielsen Chapman - I Find Your Love (missed the cut)

Black Motion, Osaze & Bucie - Please Stay (missed the cut)

Cal Stamp - Trapped In Paradise (missed the cut)

Confidence Man - Firebreak (missed the cut)

Cornelia Jakobs - It Takes A Fool To Remain Sane (missed the cut)

CREAM SODA and HLEB - Plachu Na Tekhno (BJSC entry in 2020)

Creeds - Push Up (missed the cut)

Daxson - Wild Horses (missed the cut)

DJ HEARTSTRING - It Ain't Over (missed the cut)

[dunkelbunt] - Cinnamon Girl (missed the cut)

Ed Sheeran - Life Goes On (missed the cut)

Emmie - I Thought It Was You (missed the cut)

Fey - Azúcar Amargo (was in my 2022 EOY chart)

Faith Hill - This Kiss (was in my 1998 EOY chart)

Hannah Laing & RoRo - Good Love (missed the cut)

HeartCry Worship - Shine Jesus Shine (was in my 2022 EOY chart)

Hyyken - So Good To Me (missed the cut)

Jemini - Cry Baby (UK Eurovision 2003 entry and in my 2003 EOY chart - Liverpool hype and I met them there!)

Jemini - Constantly (their new single this year - missed the cut)

John Mayer - No Such Thing (a small UK hit in 2003 - I heard this a lot in Las Vegas when I visited in Jan)

JONE & Silke - Ekko inni meg (missed the cut)

Kelly Clarkson - Red Flag Collector (missed the cut)

Kiki Rockwell - Burn Your Village (missed the cut)

Kim Kaey - Touch Me There (was in my 2022 EOY chart)

Kylie Cantrall - Texts Go Green (missed the cut)

LB9 - Breathe (this is my own song - excluded)

Leena Punks - Mirage (missed the cut)

Loreen - Euphoria (was in my 2012 EOY chart)

Louise - High Hopes (missed the cut)

Love City Groove - Love City Groove (UK Eurovision 1995 entry - added to Spotify finally this year and on Top of the Pops repeats a lot)

Madonna - I'll Remember (from 1994 - played a lot this year after seeing on a Top of the Pops repeat)

Martin - (Du är så) Yeah Yeah, Wow Wow (Melodifestivalen 1999 entry)

Maruja - One Hand Behind The Devil (missed the cut)

Mike Oldfield - To France (1980s song I listened to a lot this year)

N-Trance - Set You Free (2001 Rob Searle Remix) (was in my 2001 EOY chart)

One More Time - Den Vilda (Sweden's Eurovision 1996 entry and in my 1996 EOY chart - almost always in my most played every year)

Powerwolf - No Prayer At Midnight (missed the cut)

Rank 1 - Airwave (was in my 2000 EOY chart)

Regina Spektor - Samson (was in my 2007 EOY chart)

Rikky Disco - Love Hangover - (missed the cut)

Sam Ryder - SPACE MAN (was in my 2022 EOY chart)

S Club 7 - Never Had A Dream Come True (was in my 2000 EOY chart)

S Club 7 - Rain (was in my 2015 EOY chart)

Shouse & David Guetta - Live Without Love (missed the cut)

SIX Cast - Don't Lose Ur Head (missed the cut)

Susanne Sundfør - rūnā (missed the cut)

Symphonia - Kaapse Draai (was in my 2022 EOY chart)

Synne Sanden - Pleasure Fuel (missed the cut)

Take That - One More Word (missed the cut)

Taylor Swift - Is It Over Now? (missed the cut)

The Beatles - Now And Then (missed the cut)

Total Touch - Touch Me There (missed the cut)

Troye Sivan - One Of Your Girls (missed the cut)

Jemini - Constantly (their new single this year - missed the cut)

 

New single from Jemini. :o

 

 

New single from Jemini. :o

 

Yes, after 20 years. Same songwriter as Cry Baby. They do look older now, although you wouldn't know from old picture used for the artwork:

 

 

Top 40 albums of 2023

 

 

1. Kylie Minogue – Tension

2. FIZZ – The Secret To Life

3. Ed Sheeran - -

4. Take That - This Life

5. Carly Rae Jepsen – The Loveliest Time

6. Taylor Swift – 1989 (Taylor’s Version)

7. Aly & AJ - With Love From

8. P!nk – TRUSTFALL

9. Headache – The Head Hurts but the Heart Knows the Truth

10. Kelly Clarkson - Chemistry

11. Busted – Greatest Hits 2.0

12. Colbie Caillat – Along The Way

13. Christine and the Queens – Paranoïa, Angels, True Love

14. ALMA – Time Machine

15. Ed Sheeran – Autumn Variations

16. Taylor Swift – Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)

17. Barbie The Album

18. Six: The Musical (Studio Cast Recording)

19. Freya Ridings – Blood Orange

20. Mika - Que ta tête fleurisse toujours

21. Claire Richards - Euphoria

22. Ellie Goulding – Higher Than Heaven

23. Lana Del Rey - Did You Know That There's a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd

24. Alexis Strum – Cocoon

25. Ava Max – Diamonds & Dancefloors

26. DJ Sabrina The Teenage DJ - Destiny

27. Olivia Rodrigo – Guts

28. CASISDEAD – Famous Last Words

29. RAYE - My 21st Century Blues

30. Cher – Christmas

31. Sophie Ellis-Bextor – HANA

32. Texas – The Very Best Of 1989-2023

33. Pet Shop Boys – SMASH – The Singles 1985-2020

34. Mae Muller – Sorry I’m Late

35. Powerwolf – Interludium

36. Nabihah Iqbal – Dreamer

37. Louise – Greatest Hits

38. Saint Etienne - Built On Sand: Rarities 1994-1999

39. Anne-Marie – Unhealthy

40. Lucy Spraggan – Balance

 

Commentary

 

Tension...what an album! A very easy and clear end of year No.1 for Kylie, with her best album since Aphrodite, which topped my 2010 end of year chart. A brilliant mix of new and contemporary sounds that bagged her a couple of big hit singles, plus the 80s and 90s infleunce seen on Kylie's last few albums. It is very nearly unskippable for me and I also loved Extension - the extended mix album just as much.

 

dodie's new band FIZZ are in a distant second but nevertheless provided a really excellent debut album, with influences clearly ranging from Alphabeat to Queen and any late 90s pop band too. Ed Sheeran has had a poor year by his standards but I thought his - (Subtract) album was very hard done by commercially. A really quite engaging album with darker lyrics than usual and some lovely melodies. It deserved to do a lot better and was easily the better of his two albums released this year. However, I did prefer nearly every song on it to the hit single Eyes Closed, which didn't fit in with the rest of the album at all.

 

Take That's This Life, at No.4 here, was probably their best studio album since Progress - clearly a long way behind the majesty of that opus but still better than III and Wonderland. It was nice to see some sonic similarities to Beautiful World and The Garden on this.

 

And Carly Rae Jepsen rounds off the top five with The Loveliest Time, which I far preferred to its prequel, The Loneliest Time - absolutely full of big pop choruses and sublime production, as ever.

 

Also in the top ten this year are 1989 (Taylor's Version) - boosted by some great tracks from the American superstar's Vault - the original album was No.4 in my end of year 2014 chart. Also Aly & AJ, who were a revelation when I saw them live supporting Take That earlier this year - I really adore their Fleetwood Mac vibes these days. The solid new albums from P!nk and Kelly Clarkson are also top ten, and sandwiched in between is an odd but brilliant little collection of AI-assisted electronic music from Headache.

Top 100 songs of 2023

 

 

1. Loreen – Tattoo

2. Calvin Harris with Ellie Goulding - Miracle

3. Kylie Minogue – Padam Padam

4. Nabihah Iqbal – Zone 1 to 6000

5. FIZZ – High In Brighton

6. Peggy Gou – (It Goes Like) Nanana

7. Headache – The Beginning of the End

8. Käärijä – Cha Cha Cha

9. Dzivia – Voryva

10. The Rhythm Method – Please Don't Die

11. Anne Pigalle – He! Stranger

12. Billx & Otyken - My Wing (Rave Music Edit)

13. Mae Muller – I Wrote A Song

14. The Kiffness – Sometimes I'm Alone (Lonely Cat)

15. FIZZ – Hell Of A Ride

16. Annalisa – Mon Amour

17. Sam Ryder – You’re Christmas To Me

18. Kylie Minogue – Tension

19. Delta Goodrem – Back To Your Heart

20. Freya Ridings – Weekends

21. Powerwolf – Sainted by the Storm

22. Zaho de Sagazan – Tristesse

23. Kali Mutsa – Hayako Hayako

24. Alessandra – Queen of Kings

25. MENT feat Alicja and Marvin Brooks – Loner

26. Brutalismus 3000 – Romantika

27. Of Wild – Haddaway

28. P!nk – TRUSTFALL

29. Melis, Erlend & Steinjo – I'm Still Single

30. Palesa - Dali Wami

31. Dua Lipa – Houdini

32. Dua Lipa – Dance The Night

33. Michael Aldag – cheating

34. Billie Eilish – What Was I Made For?

35. Bassboy – Motion

36. Rondò Veneziano – Casanova

37. DATSKO – REMEMBRANCE

38. Theoz – Mer av dig

39. Cher – DJ Play A Christmas Song

40. ALMA – Dreaming

41. Bernice West – Lyfie

42. WIIGZ – French Tips

43. Mariette – One Day

44. Gustaph – Because Of You

45. CASISDEAD – Pat Earrings

46. NKD – What I Believe

47. Beagle Music – Like Ice in the Sunshine

48. Michael Aldag – girlfriends

49. Udo Lindenberg & Apache 207 – Komet

50. Kiana – Where Did You Go

51. Blümchen – Herz an Herz

52. Emmeline – The Dance

53. Melle Brown & Annie Mac – Feel About You

54. Olivia Rodrigo – vampire

55. CRUZ – Disco Colour Beams

56. The Kiffness – I Need Something (Scary Cat)

57. Willow Kayne – White City

58. Bizarrap & Shakira - Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol.53

59. Loreen – Is It Love

60. Miley Cyrus – Flowers

61. Olivia Lunny – HEARTBREAK ON REPEAT

62. DOLLA feat Hard Lights – DAMELO

63. Taylor Swift – Cruel Summer

64. Ed Sheeran – Curtains

65. RAYE feat 070 Shake - Escapism.

66. Nabihah Iqbal – Sunflower

67. Kylie Minogue – Story

68. TEYA & SALENA - Who The Hell Is Edgar?

69. SACHI & Mali-Koa - Feel Good

70. Colbie Caillat – For Someone

71. Texas – After All

72. MJ Lenderman – You Have Bought Yourself A Boat

73. Olivia Rodrigo – bad idea right?

74. Ski Aggu, Joost & Otto Waalkes – Friesenjung

75. PRISMA – Andy

76. Remy – Chasing Down Gold

77. Rufus Wainwright – Beautiful Child

78. Stacey Ryan – Over Tonight

79. Olivia Rodrigo – Can’t Catch Me Now

80. Agoria, NOEMIE & Rami Khalifé - Teardrops (Don't Stop The Music)

81. Loraine James – I DM U

82. Taylor Swift – All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor's Version) (From The Vault)

83. PinkPantheress feat Ice Spice - Boy's a liar Pt.2

84. Take That – This Life

85. S Club – These Are The Days

86. Trijntje Oosterhuis – De Zee

87. Busted – Good One

88. Dada – I'm Feeling Nothing

89. Kenya Grace – Strangers

90. Kylie Minogue – Hold On To Now

91. Sophie Ellis-Bextor – Breaking the Circle

92. Belle and Sebastian – I Don't Know What You See In Me

93. Billy Gillies feat Hannah Boleyn - DNA (Loving You)

94. Willow Kayne – Final Notice

95. Sophie Holohan – Cognitive Dissonance

96. Aly & AJ – Don't Need Nothing

97. The Jordan – Dancefloor

98. Christine and the Queens – Full of life

99. Sub Sub – Southern Trees

100. George Clanton – I Been Young

 

Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4FMTb2brT...db245bc484f45cf

 

Commentary:

 

For the second year in a row, Sweden's Eurovision entry (and the winner of Melodifestivalen) tops my end of year chart. But this time it's a BIG one - returning legend Loreen (of Euphoria fame - her 2012 Eurovision winner and my second favourite song of all-time) dished out another all-time classic in the shape of the brilliant Tattoo, which was a bit more mysterious than Euphoria but just as artistic and with evidently even more commercial potential - with it peaking at No.2 in the UK. An absolute stormer of a track, from the subtle verses to the powerful chorus to the Frozen-esque slow down before it explodes to its finale. This is easily my favourite song released so far this decade and Loreen repeats her 2012 end of year No.1 feat.

 

A rather distant second, but not at all unimpressively, the now veteran power combo of Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding have delivered a couple of solid collaborations before, but Miracle was the one where they finally went all the way to No.1 in the UK...because the time was finally here to bring trance back into the mainstream. Of course it was going to be Calvin that did this, and he certainly delivered with this dream trance/Robert Miles influenced beauty. Ellie's silky voice glides effortlessly over a pulsating production which absolutely deserved all of the success it had. The previous highs for both Calvin and Ellie in my end of year chart were No.3, for One Kiss in 2018 for the former and Love Me Like You Do in 2015 for the latter.

 

And roudning off my most commercial end of year top three since 2011 (The A Team/Moves Like Jagger/On The Floor) is the absolute sensation of a comeback single from Kylie Minogue. Now in her mid-50s, the Australian superstar proved again that she is ageless and that her success is eternal when she unexpectedly wheeled out a modern slap house banger for the summer. Padam Padam is her coolest single for many, many years, easily the biggest earworm of the year and famously spent a month in the UK top ten, with 'padam' becoming a meme in itself.

 

As with last year, five BJSC entries finish in my top ten of the year, although unusually two of these were not my entries. In fact, the highest of them all is from Roba's Summericia - Nabihah Iqbal's Zone 1 to 6000 is strongly challenging as the greatest song I've ever discovered in 16 years of participating in this contest. Dating back to 2017, this very relateable tale (to me at least) of the bland 9 to 5, tedious rat race life, delivered in a spoken/electronic style, was a very deserved winner in the first contest of the year, and a song that has stuck with me all year. While down at No.7 - just to prove that if you send a spoken word entry I'll likely be all over it - is the mesmerising The Beginning of the End by Headache, a song whose vocal was astonishingly created by AI. Perhaps the most affecting piece of music I've heard this year, Dandy's Fljótavík finished 2nd with this but it really deserved to go one higher.

 

The highest of my own entries was dodie's band FIZZ with the summer pop/indie anthem High In Brighton, which tanked in its final, but who cares - this is a slice of joy which I absolutely love, and it's nice to have my place of birth mentioned in my top five of the year too. And another flop ends up in 10th place - the absolutely gorgeous and heartbreaking Please Don't Die from Rhythm Method, who have been threatening a major hit in my chart for years and now finally achieve it. But of course, the tail of FSR Rontvia in recent times has been our unrivalled ability to finish 2nd, yet without ever winning. Both of my silver medallists from 2023 are high up, but of course it's the epic nine-minute world music stunner Voryva from Dzivia which finishes inside the top ten, at No.9.

 

The remaining two slots in the top ten are a high finish for a chart dance song - Peggy Gou's ATB inspired (It Goes Like) Nanana was one of the summer's most excellent singles and deservedly finishes at No.6 here, while also of course making the top ten is Finland's Eurovision entry, Cha Cha Cha by Käärijä, which unsurprisingly stormed the public vote in Liverpool, but the juries weren't as kind to this insane track and it finished 2nd overall - still, a great entry, unforgettable staging and quite something to witness live. It even peaked at No.6 in the UK, which is clearly unheard of for a Finnish language song.

 

It's been a far better year for mainstream songs in my end of year chart this year, partly due to Eurovision having a historically successful year commercially, but other big hits that also crossed over into my affections included Sam Ryder's Alexa-assisted Christmas No.2 (No.17), the ever wonderful Dua Lipa's double (No.31 and 32), Billie Eilish's beautiful Barbie soundtrack No.1 (No.34) and a trio of hits from the brilliant Olivia Rodrigo (No.54, 73 and 79), as well as some of the year's biggest sellers from Miley Cyrus (No.60), Taylor Swift (No.63), RAYE (No.65), PinkPantheress (No.83), and Kenya Grace (No.89). Germany's biggest seller of the year, which spent something ridiculous like six months at No.1 there, is also in for Udo Lindenberg & Apache 207 (No.49).

Edited December 31, 20232 yr by gooddelta

Aw I was kinda hoping Maruja might appear here but at least they got an OP mention :kink:

 

The lower half of your top 10 *.* (I like most of your top 5 too but I'll pretend that's the real top 5 x). Also oh my at there being a second cat song from The Kiffness on here *_*

Daxson - Wild Horses (missed the cut)

Never knew this existed before. :o Hopefully he and Black Hole Recordings could clear the sample and release this officially!

 

Aw I was kinda hoping Maruja might appear here but at least they got an OP mention :kink:

 

The lower half of your top 10 *.* (I like most of your top 5 too but I'll pretend that's the real top 5 x). Also oh my at there being a second cat song from The Kiffness on here *_*

 

So close, Maruja was literally in the top 110 and just missed out.

 

The Kiffness has a whole world of iconic cat songs *.* Scary Cat might even have done better than Lonely Cat, I'm not sure, but I plumped for the one I preferred in the end.

 

Never knew this existed before. :o Hopefully he and Black Hole Recordings could clear the sample and release this officially!

 

That would be amazing, I can't believe it sounds as good as it does!

Hey Rich! My favourites from your top 100:

 

1. Loreen – Tattoo A worthy winner of Eurovision, amazing that she came back with a song that truly rivals Euphoria in quality (though I think I still prefer the latter)

2. Calvin Harris with Ellie Goulding - Miracle

3. Kylie Minogue – Padam Padam

6. Peggy Gou – (It Goes Like) Nanana

8. Käärijä – Cha Cha Cha

13. Mae Muller – I Wrote A Song

17. Sam Ryder – You’re Christmas To Me

18. Kylie Minogue – Tension

19. Delta Goodrem – Back To Your Heart Feels like ages since we had this, hopefully Hearts on the Run or another track is on the way soon!

20. Freya Ridings – Weekends Head and shoulders above anything else from her second album

24. Alessandra – Queen of Kings

28. P!nk – TRUSTFALL

31. Dua Lipa – Houdini

32. Dua Lipa – Dance The Night

33. Michael Aldag – cheating Also my favourite of his 2023 tracks! Heard it live before it came out and I knew it was amazing from that

34. Billie Eilish – What Was I Made For?

38. Theoz – Mer av dig I was expecting good stuff from him in Melfest last year and he delivered, a step up from Som du vill!

43. Mariette – One Day Nice to see another fan of this, I thought it was really lovely

44. Gustaph – Because Of You

48. Michael Aldag – girlfriends

50. Kiana – Where Did You Go

54. Olivia Rodrigo – vampire

58. Bizarrap & Shakira - Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol.53

59. Loreen – Is It Love

60. Miley Cyrus – Flowers

63. Taylor Swift – Cruel Summer This becoming a belated hit just feels right, criminal that it wasn't a single at the time

64. Ed Sheeran – Curtains

65. RAYE feat 070 Shake - Escapism.

67. Kylie Minogue – Story

68. TEYA & SALENA - Who The Hell Is Edgar?

73. Olivia Rodrigo – bad idea right?

79. Olivia Rodrigo – Can’t Catch Me Now

82. Taylor Swift – All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor's Version) (From The Vault)

83. PinkPantheress feat Ice Spice - Boy's a liar Pt.2

84. Take That – This Life It's not up there with their very best but this is a pretty catchy track, is the album much like this?

85. S Club – These Are The Days Obviously a lot of love for this, it fits really nicely in with their older stuff and works perfectly as a nostalgic callback.

89. Kenya Grace – Strangers

90. Kylie Minogue – Hold On To Now

91. Sophie Ellis-Bextor – Breaking the Circle

93. Billy Gillies feat Hannah Boleyn - DNA (Loving You)

 

Great stuff! Tension is a brilliant #1 album of the year too

here's my faves of your top 100!

 

1. Loreen – Tattoo -> I didn't end up loving this quite as much as Euphoria but it was still one of the very best Eurovision entries we've had, was quite a moment seeing this (and yay for Kaarija top 10 too)

2. Calvin Harris with Ellie Goulding - Miracle -> yay for two top 10 matches here with this and Peggy, both very much stand out commercial dance tracks of the 2010s

3. Kylie Minogue – Padam Padam

4. Nabihah Iqbal – Zone 1 to 6000

6. Peggy Gou – (It Goes Like) Nanana

7. Headache – The Beginning of the End

8. Käärijä – Cha Cha Cha

9. Dzivia – Voryva -> I think this ended up being my top BJSC discovery of the year yay

12. Billx & Otyken - My Wing (Rave Music Edit)

14. The Kiffness – Sometimes I'm Alone (Lonely Cat)

16. Annalisa – Mon Amour

18. Kylie Minogue – Tension

20. Freya Ridings – Weekends

21. Powerwolf – Sainted by the Storm

22. Zaho de Sagazan – Tristesse

24. Alessandra – Queen of Kings

28. P!nk – TRUSTFALL

31. Dua Lipa – Houdini

32. Dua Lipa – Dance The Night

39. Cher – DJ Play A Christmas Song

44. Gustaph – Because Of You

51. Blümchen – Herz an Herz

58. Bizarrap & Shakira - Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol.53

60. Miley Cyrus – Flowers

63. Taylor Swift – Cruel Summer

65. RAYE feat 070 Shake - Escapism.

68. TEYA & SALENA - Who The Hell Is Edgar?

79. Olivia Rodrigo – Can’t Catch Me Now

82. Taylor Swift – All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor's Version) (From The Vault)

83. PinkPantheress feat Ice Spice - Boy's a liar Pt.2

89. Kenya Grace – Strangers

90. Kylie Minogue – Hold On To Now

93. Billy Gillies feat Hannah Boleyn - DNA (Loving You) -> really excited by this being a big chart hit too

99. Sub Sub – Southern Trees -> oh my at this ending up doing better here than in my EOY chart (may've stuck around for me a bit longer if it didn't unjustly DNQ I guess)

100. George Clanton – I Been Young

Hey Rich!

 

Stanning the 🇿🇦 representation here! Lyfie is that bop and especially LOVING the surprise NKD appearance. All 3 members were in the top 12 of an early season of SA Idols. I remember voting for Nicky from the group on my Nokia every night at the time :lol: It was so cool to see them form a girl band after the show and have a huge hit with What I Believe, but then they sadly faded into obscurity after that.

 

I was also considering that track for BJSC back in 2009 around the time of Jamali, Jody. I might have missed out on a SA hit it seems!

Hey Rich! My favourites from your top 100:

 

1. Loreen – Tattoo A worthy winner of Eurovision, amazing that she came back with a song that truly rivals Euphoria in quality (though I think I still prefer the latter)

2. Calvin Harris with Ellie Goulding - Miracle

3. Kylie Minogue – Padam Padam

6. Peggy Gou – (It Goes Like) Nanana

8. Käärijä – Cha Cha Cha

13. Mae Muller – I Wrote A Song

17. Sam Ryder – You’re Christmas To Me

18. Kylie Minogue – Tension

19. Delta Goodrem – Back To Your Heart Feels like ages since we had this, hopefully Hearts on the Run or another track is on the way soon!

20. Freya Ridings – Weekends Head and shoulders above anything else from her second album

24. Alessandra – Queen of Kings

28. P!nk – TRUSTFALL

31. Dua Lipa – Houdini

32. Dua Lipa – Dance The Night

33. Michael Aldag – cheating Also my favourite of his 2023 tracks! Heard it live before it came out and I knew it was amazing from that

34. Billie Eilish – What Was I Made For?

38. Theoz – Mer av dig I was expecting good stuff from him in Melfest last year and he delivered, a step up from Som du vill!

43. Mariette – One Day Nice to see another fan of this, I thought it was really lovely

44. Gustaph – Because Of You

48. Michael Aldag – girlfriends

50. Kiana – Where Did You Go

54. Olivia Rodrigo – vampire

58. Bizarrap & Shakira - Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol.53

59. Loreen – Is It Love

60. Miley Cyrus – Flowers

63. Taylor Swift – Cruel Summer This becoming a belated hit just feels right, criminal that it wasn't a single at the time

64. Ed Sheeran – Curtains

65. RAYE feat 070 Shake - Escapism.

67. Kylie Minogue – Story

68. TEYA & SALENA - Who The Hell Is Edgar?

73. Olivia Rodrigo – bad idea right?

79. Olivia Rodrigo – Can’t Catch Me Now

82. Taylor Swift – All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor's Version) (From The Vault)

83. PinkPantheress feat Ice Spice - Boy's a liar Pt.2

84. Take That – This Life It's not up there with their very best but this is a pretty catchy track, is the album much like this?

85. S Club – These Are The Days Obviously a lot of love for this, it fits really nicely in with their older stuff and works perfectly as a nostalgic callback.

89. Kenya Grace – Strangers

90. Kylie Minogue – Hold On To Now

91. Sophie Ellis-Bextor – Breaking the Circle

93. Billy Gillies feat Hannah Boleyn - DNA (Loving You)

 

Great stuff! Tension is a brilliant #1 album of the year too

 

Thanks Joseph! Yes despite Tattoo probably being my favourite song released in at least the last five years, I do still prefer Euphoria - such is the quality of Loreen when she's firing on all cylinders *.* Oh true yeah, Delta really needs to get another single out, presumably the album will be out this year. Yes, agreed about Freya - nice enough album but this was the definite high point and the rest of the album wasn't as strong as the debut at all.

 

I thought Michael was so good live, such an enjoyable little gig when I saw him in August, Cheating and Girlfriends are two of the catchiest pop songs of the year, I still can't believe with his great voice, personality and online following that he hasn't broken through commercially properly yet. Agreed about Theoz, a definite step up and another of the catchiest songs of the year - despite not being in English!

 

Yeah I'd say This Life is a little bit of an outlier, it seems to be the most jolly song on the album by some distance. I love the album but it's quite a serious affair compared to their last few. Glad they seem more prominent again this era than with Wonderland though, even if clearly they'll never get back to the highs of the late noughties.

 

I love Tension so much, it's definitely my favourite Kylie album since Aphrodite <3

 

here's my faves of your top 100!

 

1. Loreen – Tattoo -> I didn't end up loving this quite as much as Euphoria but it was still one of the very best Eurovision entries we've had, was quite a moment seeing this (and yay for Kaarija top 10 too)

2. Calvin Harris with Ellie Goulding - Miracle -> yay for two top 10 matches here with this and Peggy, both very much stand out commercial dance tracks of the 2010s

3. Kylie Minogue – Padam Padam

4. Nabihah Iqbal – Zone 1 to 6000

6. Peggy Gou – (It Goes Like) Nanana

7. Headache – The Beginning of the End

8. Käärijä – Cha Cha Cha

9. Dzivia – Voryva -> I think this ended up being my top BJSC discovery of the year yay

12. Billx & Otyken - My Wing (Rave Music Edit)

14. The Kiffness – Sometimes I'm Alone (Lonely Cat)

16. Annalisa – Mon Amour

18. Kylie Minogue – Tension

20. Freya Ridings – Weekends

21. Powerwolf – Sainted by the Storm

22. Zaho de Sagazan – Tristesse

24. Alessandra – Queen of Kings

28. P!nk – TRUSTFALL

31. Dua Lipa – Houdini

32. Dua Lipa – Dance The Night

39. Cher – DJ Play A Christmas Song

44. Gustaph – Because Of You

51. Blümchen – Herz an Herz

58. Bizarrap & Shakira - Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol.53

60. Miley Cyrus – Flowers

63. Taylor Swift – Cruel Summer

65. RAYE feat 070 Shake - Escapism.

68. TEYA & SALENA - Who The Hell Is Edgar?

79. Olivia Rodrigo – Can’t Catch Me Now

82. Taylor Swift – All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor's Version) (From The Vault)

83. PinkPantheress feat Ice Spice - Boy's a liar Pt.2

89. Kenya Grace – Strangers

90. Kylie Minogue – Hold On To Now

93. Billy Gillies feat Hannah Boleyn - DNA (Loving You) -> really excited by this being a big chart hit too

99. Sub Sub – Southern Trees -> oh my at this ending up doing better here than in my EOY chart (may've stuck around for me a bit longer if it didn't unjustly DNQ I guess)

100. George Clanton – I Been Young

 

Thanks Dan! Yeah agreed, I do still prefer Euphoria but for me that's an almost impossible bar to reach, being my 2nd favourite song of all-time.

 

Agreed, absolutely obsessed with Miracle and (It Goes Like) Nanana, two fantastic dance hits. A few years ago there's just no way that this and DNA would have been as big.

 

So glad to see that about Voryva, you're the second person that's mentioned that, and somebody else said it was in their top five discoveries, which is so pleasing to see <3

 

Southern Trees was absolutely and ridiculously robbed, what a stunning track! Thank you for the introduction and I'm sorry it didn't end up paying off for you. It's pretty unusual for 'foreign' DNQs to make my end of year chart at all but this year a couple did, some of the 2023 results left a lot to be desired.

 

Hey Rich!

 

Stanning the 🇿🇦 representation here! Lyfie is that bop and especially LOVING the surprise NKD appearance. All 3 members were in the top 12 of an early season of SA Idols. I remember voting for Nicky from the group on my Nokia every night at the time :lol: It was so cool to see them form a girl band after the show and have a huge hit with What I Believe, but then they sadly faded into obscurity after that.

 

I was also considering that track for BJSC back in 2009 around the time of Jamali, Jody. I might have missed out on a SA hit it seems!

 

Thanks Kath!

 

Ha yes, Lyfie is such a super infectious song and dance routine. What I Believe I stumbled across during a YouTube trawl last year and it felt to me like something Atomic Kitten might have released in 2003/4? Nicky even reminds me of Natasha Hamilton vocally. I love it and even got hold of the South African Now album that features the song, as of course it's not on Spotify here, and their own album cost a ridiculous amount to buy. I think in 2009 it could have done pretty well in BJSC! Probably not these days though. Good to see the famous Nokia get another mention *.*

Hey Rich. My faves here

 

1. Loreen – Tattoo hard to deny this being your #1 really :lol: and I have no qualms with it either as it's a better song of hers for me :kink:

2. Calvin Harris with Ellie Goulding - Miracle fabulous track!

3. Kylie Minogue – Padam Padam SLAYLIE, shame she didn't get her deserved uk chart EOY result but this was such a triumph for her and at 55 years old too *.*

4. Nabihah Iqbal – Zone 1 to 6000 :heart: can't believe this has finished above all your own BJSC entries last year. A true testament this is. Such a mysterious track and no doubt the video with her walking through London streets emphasises things just that bit more!

5. FIZZ – High In Brighton this was rather fun!

6. Peggy Gou – (It Goes Like) Nanana what a anthem.

7. Headache – The Beginning of the End

8. Käärijä – Cha Cha Cha a major highlight from Eurovision and my highest placed as you'll see when you look at mine :P

9. Dzivia – Voryva <3 truly epic track this was. Deserved to win as well as Nyteout!

10. The Rhythm Method – Please Don't Die still can't believe this had music over some retro 90's WWF/E interview/clips :lol: and considering the characters a very accurate song!

12. Billx & Otyken - My Wing (Rave Music Edit) yeah apologies but didn't feel this one sadly but glad it was another big hit for you!

13. Mae Muller – I Wrote A Song

14. The Kiffness – Sometimes I'm Alone (Lonely Cat)

16. Annalisa – Mon Amour

17. Sam Ryder – You’re Christmas To Me

18. Kylie Minogue – Tension

20. Freya Ridings – Weekends

21. Powerwolf – Sainted by the Storm

22. Zaho de Sagazan – Tristesse

24. Alessandra – Queen of Kings

26. Brutalismus 3000 – Romantika

27. Of Wild – Haddaway

28. P!nk – TRUSTFALL

31. Dua Lipa – Houdini

32. Dua Lipa – Dance The Night

34. Billie Eilish – What Was I Made For?

39. Cher – DJ Play A Christmas Song iconic to see Cher grab a top 20 hit every decade and then!

44. Gustaph – Because Of You

51. Blümchen – Herz an Herz

54. Olivia Rodrigo – vampire

57. Willow Kayne – White City

58. Bizarrap & Shakira - Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol.53

59. Loreen – Is It Love

60. Miley Cyrus – Flowers

63. Taylor Swift – Cruel Summer

64. Ed Sheeran – Curtains

65. RAYE feat 070 Shake - Escapism.

66. Nabihah Iqbal – Sunflower

67. Kylie Minogue – Story

68. TEYA & SALENA - Who The Hell Is Edgar?

73. Olivia Rodrigo – bad idea right?

79. Olivia Rodrigo – Can’t Catch Me Now

82. Taylor Swift – All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor's Version) (From The Vault)

83. PinkPantheress feat Ice Spice - Boy's a liar Pt.2

85. S Club – These Are The Days

89. Kenya Grace – Strangers

90. Kylie Minogue – Hold On To Now

91. Sophie Ellis-Bextor – Breaking the Circle should probably check this off the back of her success with Murder On The Dancefloor!

93. Billy Gillies feat Hannah Boleyn - DNA (Loving You)

94. Willow Kayne – Final Notice

100. George Clanton – I Been Young

 

Fantastic as always :D

Hi there!

 

Here are my favourites from your top 100 list:

 

1. Loreen – Tattoo

2. Calvin Harris with Ellie Goulding - Miracle

3. Kylie Minogue – Padam Padam

6. Peggy Gou – (It Goes Like) Nanana

8. Käärijä – Cha Cha Cha

13. Mae Muller – I Wrote A Song

16. Annalisa – Mon Amour (LOVE this being here!)

17. Sam Ryder – You’re Christmas To Me

18. Kylie Minogue – Tension

20. Freya Ridings – Weekends

24. Alessandra – Queen of Kings

28. P!nk – TRUSTFALL

31. Dua Lipa – Houdini

32. Dua Lipa – Dance The Night

34. Billie Eilish – What Was I Made For?

44. Gustaph – Because Of You

47. Beagle Music – Like Ice in the Sunshine

49. Udo Lindenberg & Apache 207 – Komet

51. Blümchen – Herz an Herz

54. Olivia Rodrigo – vampire

58. Bizarrap & Shakira - Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol.53

59. Loreen – Is It Love

60. Miley Cyrus – Flowers

63. Taylor Swift – Cruel Summer

64. Ed Sheeran – Curtains

65. RAYE feat 070 Shake - Escapism.

68. TEYA & SALENA - Who The Hell Is Edgar?

73. Olivia Rodrigo – bad idea right?

74. Ski Aggu, Joost & Otto Waalkes – Friesenjung

79. Olivia Rodrigo – Can’t Catch Me Now

82. Taylor Swift – All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor's Version) (From The Vault)

83. PinkPantheress feat Ice Spice - Boy's a liar Pt.2

84. Take That – This Life

89. Kenya Grace – Strangers

90. Kylie Minogue – Hold On To Now

91. Sophie Ellis-Bextor – Breaking the Circle

93. Billy Gillies feat Hannah Boleyn - DNA (Loving You)

 

Great list!

Hi Rich, great to see Loreen at #1, should be quite high on my list too! Cool to see FIZZ as the highest of your BJSC entries, it's a fun song!