The low end of the top 40 looked like something of a glass ceiling for the alt fave non chart hit songs so I'm a little surprised that Wolf Alice and especially Metric are both still to come (but thrilled of course!) - gwan Käärijä finally beating Loreen in something as well *.*

 

Solid debut position for Peggy Gou and indeed the 31-40 section would have made a fine top 10, I'm all for all of the alt faves in the 36-40 section (particularly lovely to see 'Two Weeks' having such a strong final hurrah here and Tame Impala/Wolf Alice also making the top 40 for the first time after fairly long gestations as well) and we love to see new peaks for 'On Hold' and (even though I've heard it enough times for one lifetime) 'As It Was' too.

 

+ a belated yay for the new peaks for 'Circles' (how did this never make the final until this year!), 'Gone' and 'If I Could Change Your Mind', it didn't occur to me that the latter was on its final year too so finishing on a high including getting my +40, I don't remember if I gave it that in 2022 as well or not!

Rooting for Billie/Dua/Miley/RAYE to win.

A mostly brilliant section from #40 to #27, brought crashing to a halt by the appearance of 'I'm Good (Blue)' at #26 :kink: not sure where that came from after it missed the final last year! Good placings for the new songs, I thought Loreen might be a little higher but perhaps didn't miss the top 20 by much. Also I thought Hozier might have climbed this year but that's still his second highest position.

 

Three songs top 20 from Future Nostalgia ('Don't Start Now' returning and 'Levitating' getting there for the first time) bodes well for 'Physical' going all the way this year, though I wouldn't be surprised if it's last year's top 2 ahead of it still.

 

20 29 329 Rita Ora - Anywhere

13-05-05-18-20-29-20- | 2nd, 2017

 

19 11 331 Tove Lo - Habits (Stay High) (Original / Hippie Sabotage Remix)

178-188-163-282-121-72-39-28-11-19-xx | 1st, 2014

 

18 51 332 Metric - Doomscroller

51-18- | 6th, 2022; 2nd, SF1

 

17 12 335 Taylor Swift & Bon Iver – Exile

65-33-12-17- | 7th, 2020; 9th, SF2

 

16 14 336 Billie Eilish - Happier Tan Ever

18-14-16- | 3rd, 2021

 

 

Commencing the top 20 is the highest-rated song of the year 2017. Whilst more recent material from Rita Ora has struggled to gain chart and forum popularity, 'Anywhere' remains much-loved by the user base here for being a very-well made dance-pop track. The song's writers & producers include dance DJ Alesso as well as Andrew Watt who has been behind quite a few hits of the late 2010s and 2020s. It was unfortunate enough to get stuck behind another massive hit at the time 'Havana' in the UK chart spending three weeks at #2.

 

Our last goodbye entry up next, the top-rated song of 2014 comes from Tove Lo who a decade ago scored her breakthrough hit with 'Habits (Stay High)'. The song was actually first released in 2013 however it was when American duo Hippie Sabotage remixed it the following year that the track gained mass popularity - turning it into an alt-EDM track. Tove Lo has continued to remain reasonably popular on the forum ever since however this has always been her top-rated track so this may be farewell to her going forward in the final rundown. The song ended on a high, at least - spending its second year in the top 20.

 

Metric are a band with a long history and perhaps the most unlikely of contenders for a smash hit in this contest. Originating in Canada they have been releasing music all throughout the 21st century, however it is their ten-minute long epic 'Doomscroller' that gained a lot of popularity with the alt/indie section of the forum and amazingly has taken a big yearly climb to #18. Although, the song did have just 12 voters which was as many as it had last year, so perhaps mostly a case of it improving in the rankings of its existing base than gaining new followers. It is amazing though so let's have a few more of you discover it to push for a top 10 peak!!

 

However, it is Taylor Swift who once again has the highest-ranked song here which did not secure an automatic pass to the finals, as 'Exile' spends a second year in the top 20 and as her top-performing song. Perhaps helped by the Bon Iver feature also appealing to the indie fans. Sadly none of her recent album tracks (that I've heard at least) were half as good as this. One place above we have Billie Eilish, who probably has more of a chance of appearing here next year with a 2024 release. 'Happier Than Ever' spends a third year in the top 20 although is yet to overtake 'Everything I Wanted' as her most rated hit.

A superb section there. Anywhere is good pop, the other 4 are worldies. Doomscroller and Happier Than Ever were my +39 and +38 - delighted and amazed Doomscroller has cracked the top 20. Slightly disappointed that Happier Than Ever isn't pushing the top 10, especially as it might get swamped by her Hit Me Hard And Soft tracks next year.

 

15 67 337 Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande - Rain On Me

67-39-67-15- | 5th, 2020

 

14 NE 348 Käärijä - Cha Cha Cha

14- | 4th, 2023

 

13 43 351 Wolf Alice - The Last Man On Earth

17-43-13- | 5th, 2021

 

12 35 352 Dua Lipa - Levitating (Original / DaBaby Remix)

38-27-35-12- 2nd, 2020

 

11 02 363 Alan Walker - Faded

188-16-23-26-12-06-02-11- 3rd, 2016

 

 

Taking a massive jump this year is Lady Gaga perhaps in anticipation of her forthcoming album release. 'Rain On Me' became one of the big pop anthems of the pandemic era leading into 'Chromatica' - assisted muchly by a feature from another of the forum's favourite pop singers Ariana Grande. Both singers went on to starr in box office musicals this year although Lady Gaga's Joker 2 ended up being a critical flop. However she did manage one of 2024's biggest hits in 'Die With A Smile' which could very well feature in the rundown next year.

 

The biggest new entry of the year perhaps unexpectedly comes from Finish rapper Kaarija. He of course featured on Eurovision with 'Cha Cha Cha' which quickly became a fan favourite and dominated the telephone vote though ultimately finishing 2nd in the contest. As a high energy dance track it was very welcome having this here and that it managed to break the foreign language barrier for being full of hooks.

 

It has been a good year for Wolf Alice as anticipated by their other entry climbing into the top 40 this track has rebounded back into the top 20, keeping hold of the indie fans who have loved it from its release. It is indeed the biggest indie entry in the rundown narrowly finishing ahead of Metric. Also taking a rebound we have Dua Lipa whose 'Levitating' does just that up to #12. 'Future Nostalgia' was such a big era for her that it is the only album with three of its songs to make the top 20 here. This also puts DaBaby as the highest-charting rapper in the rundown thanks to his contribution in the single remix.

 

Alan Walker got close (but not really points-wise) to taking the title of Record of the Decade last year. Alas, 'Faded' takes a bit of a fall to just miss this year's top 10, though it is still the biggest EDM record here. This does mean The Weeknd is the sole male performer left in the rundown. This remains an excellent song which has quite a strong fan base here - only 12 voters but most of us giving it very high points.

 

This leaves the top 10 as:

Ariana Grande - Into You

Ariana Grande - No Tears Left To Cry

Billie Eilish - Everything I Wanted

Carly Rae Jepsen - Run Away With Me

Dua Lipa - Don't Start Now

Dua Lipa - Physical

Miley Cyrus - Midnight Sky

RAYE (feat. 070 Shake) - Escapism.

Weeknd - Blinding Lights

Weeknd - Save Your Tears (Original / Ariana Grande Remix)

So many results to shout about since I last commented in here but I think I'm most impressed by 'Doomscroller' finishing top 20, excellent work BuzzJack :clap:

Doomscroller was my +40 - an utter event of a song, frenetic, pacy, building epically, perfectly timed on its societal commentary, introduced me proper into a band who've become one of my favourites of the last few years - I'd heard a few songs of theirs before but this was my motivation to go check out their albums which are fantastic. Not surprised it had so few voters as a 10 minute song doesn't look appealing from the outside and of course it wasn't a hit but absolutely recommended if you like any sort of indie-rock with synths. And 'Exile' just ahead of it is also brilliant.

 

Probably prefer all of #11-#14 to a large majority of the top 10 oops ('Levitating' is absolutely my Dua pick) but great that all 4 of those are up that high. guess I'm team Escapism now.

Agree with the above comment about Doomscroller being a great gateway into Metric, whose entire discography I now love. And this very rate was my introduction to Doomscroller in the first place, so thank you Buzzjack!

 

The #11-15 section has knocked out all my remaining favourites (Kaarija, Faded and above all my +40 Last Man On Earth). But delighted at Kaarija and Wolf Alice being so high.

 

Physical, Escapism and Billie are the only songs left I much enjoy so I'm rooting for one of them to win, probably in that order.

The top 40 would be an excellent playlist for the decade!

 

Not such a surprising top 10, apart from for me, Save Your Tears outperforming some of these last 5. Probably between Miley and Dua now again? Though I'm still hauling for Billie

 

Could see Birds of a Feather doing it for her next year if she can beat out Charli and Chappell!

Oh we’ve kinda lost all the more unexpected songs! Great that they made it so high but this feels like a slightly underwhelming top 10 after seeing the list of what made it top top 40.

 

I do like everything though, albeit Into You isn’t as good as the others imo. Blinding Lights and Midnight Sky are my two faves but they’ve both won before so I don’t really mind what ends up winning this year

 

Doomscroller cracking the top 20 is the main story this year for me, who’d have thought that would ever happen!

Yeah, that is pretty much all my main favourites out oops, I guess there's a glass ceiling to these indie songs and that is still a great position for Metric & Wolf Alice :heart: (wonder what happened last year with that?)

 

I do still enjoy all of the top 10 though, Faded's huge love here did seem a bit Buzzjack-unique but it's one of my favourites as well so I always loved it, shame to see it fall back a bit x

Personally speaking, adore that top 10 apart from Billie :wub:

 

So happy to see Cha Cha Cha this high, I don't know that I see it ever beating that but what a triumphant debut. And yay for a Levitating rebound.

 

10 06 367 RAYE (feat. 070 Shake) - Escapism.

06-10- | 1st, 2022

 

09 28 374 Dua Lipa - Don't Start Now

08-11-15-28-09 | 2nd, 2019

 

08 25 399 Carly Rae Jepsen - Run Away With Me

05-01-06-04-12-32-32-25-08 | 3rd, 2015

 

07 01 399 Miley Cyrus - Midnight Sky

04-03-01-07 | 4th, 2020

 

06 18 415 Ariana Grande - Into You

03-03-02-02-22-13-18-06 | 1st, 2016

 

 

Commencing the top 10 we have Raye whose 'Escapism' was the highest new entry last year and this year remains the highest-rated song of the year 2022. The song led into her belated debut album and quickly gained vitality following its release for her storytelling and vocal performance. It was inspired by her dealing with a relationship break-up by turning to partying, drinking and drugs. The song was also widely praised here for its production values and an unusual key change in the final section.

 

Dua Lipa has another rebound with 'Don't Start Now' making its way back into the top 10 - the new era certainly helping out these older tracks this year. The song led her second album and was instant proof she was not to be a one album wonder. It was much loved for its disco groove and a catchy hook dealing with kissing off her ex. Perhaps this will prove promising for 'Physical' which remains in contention again.

 

Absent from the top 10 for the last four years, it may have been safe to assume the mass love for 'Run Away With Me' had died down. However the song now makes a grand return at #8. Carly Rae did previously win with the song of course and she will have one last chance to do so next year. It followed up the bigger UK hit 'I Really Like You' however instantly got more critical acclaim for its synthpop production and grandiose chorus.

 

Miley Cyrus won last year's proceedings with 'Midnight Sky' with ease however she has lost a fair chunk of support now and drops to a new low at #7. Or perhaps some of its fans just wanted to see a different song win this time. Although perhaps 'Flowers' underperforming was a sign this wouldn't win again. Still a great pop song however that I'm sure will continue to stick around in the top area for years to come.

 

Another song regaining support this year comes from Ariana Grande - 'Into You' was unlucky enough to just miss out on taking the title for its first four years before it lost a chunk of support - but she's now back and impressively this is only her third-highest appearance in the rundown. The song was her most acclaimed track from 'Dangerous Woman' with a fair bit of help from pop veteran Max Martin on writing and production duties.

A change at the top confirmed *.*

 

My preference of those left would be:

 

01. Physical

02. everything i wanted

03. no tears left to cry

04. Save Your Tears

05. Blinding Lights

 

but I really like all 5 ('Blinding Lights' was still a #2 hit in my chart )

no tears left to cry winning would be my dream :wub:

I really want Physical to have its moment and a lot of Dua rebounds are making me hopeful it could.

 

Couldn’t be mad at the impeccable No Tears doing it either though.

I swear the winning often makes people discount it the following year!

 

Blinding Lights and everything I wanted are my choices to win... can't see the former winning, maybe the latter. I feel like it will be Dua's year this year though and it would be deserved as it's been a huge hit with Buzzjack

Wow big drop for Midnight Sky!

'Midnight Sky' and 'Faded' was an extremely underwhelming top 2 last year so I'm not sad at them both falling away (especially the latter which I've never cared for at all, the former is decent just not one of Miley's best for me).

 

I like all of the top 5 now, 'Blinding Lights' being the weak link but I'd still be happy with that winning again! Any of Billie, Ariana or (the other) The Weeknd winning would be fantastic though (most rooting for Billie).

 

Carly and Dua (DSN) both didn't quite make my votes but still good tunes so not complaining at their return to the top 10, shame that RAYE has dropped a bit this year but yay a second year top 10. Feels a little random to see 'Levitating' and 'Rain On Me' rebounding so much to new peaks but both good tunes too + of course thrilled to see the big new peaks for Wolf Alice & Metric and Käärijä pulling off the highest new entry :wub: