I am in no way prepared for this but it's that time of year again (and I have an app which tots up all the points for me) so here we go! I'll start off with my usual pre-ambles before diving into the EOY proper next week.

2023 Recap

 

 

1. NEEDTOBREATHE - Everknown

2. Teleman - Trees Grow High

3. Nothing But Thieves - Overcome

4. Son Mieux - Tonight

5. Josh Gauton - Love In the Time of Madness

6. Michael Patrick Kelly - Wonders (ft. Rakim)

7. Seafret - See, I'm Sorry

8. Monika Linkyte - Stay - Ciuto Tuto

9. TobyMac - Faithfully

10. Owl City - Kelly Time

 

Last year's number 1 was NEEDTOBREATHE with Everknown, pipping Trees Grow High by Teleman to the top spot. NEEDTOBREATHE did have one new song this year, but it only just made my Top 10 so whilst it will make an appearance it won't crack the higher echelons. In fact it's been a quiet year for most of my Top 10 from last year - TobyMac did feature on a #1 of mine this year but beyond that the Top 10 this year is set to look quite different!

This Year's #1s:
Darren Kiely - Sunrise (3wks)
WE ARE ONE - Spitfire (1wk)
Zerb & Sofiya Nzau - Mwaki (1wk)
Pa Sheehy - Wretched (1wk)
Nathan Evans - Heather On The Hill (3wks)
Amy Shark - Beautiful Eyes (4wks)
Djo - End of Beginning (1wk)
DI-RECT - My Blood (3wks)
Kinnship - Toiling (2wks)
Slimane - Mon amour (1wk)
alyona alyona & Jerry Heil - Teresa & Maria (1wk)
Alice Merton - how well do you know your feelings? (1wk)
The Coronas - Speak Up (4wks)
Crowder & TobyMac - - [DASH] (1wk)
The Coronas & Gabrielle Aplin - That's Exactly What Love Is (1wk)
Benjamin William Hastings - Set Me On Fire (2wks)
*The Coronas & Gabrielle Aplin - That's Exactly What Love Is (2wks)
Blossoms - Gary (2wks)
Coldplay - feelslikeimfallinginlove (2wks)
Andrew Ripp - Loves Got A Way (2wks)
Elle Limebear - Bye Fear (1wk)
Andrew Ripp - City on a Hill (1wk)
Alex Warren - Carry You Home (4wks)
Amistat - hello (4wks)
Sam Fender - People Watching (2+wks)

That's 24 #1s, an increase of 1 from last year!

Album of the Year: The Coronas - Thoughts & Observations

I was a big fan of The Coronas back in 2020 when, well, their name was very representative of the time we were living in, with Lost In The Thick Of It coming in in third place in my 2020 EOY. But since then I lost track of them with so many other artists around, and finally realised they were still going with getting onto the 'Getaway Car' bandwagon a little too late. But when 'Speak Up' and then the rest of the album came along, I was very ready to listen, and their suite of honest love songs really got me going. The sort of songs that very much get stuck in my ears, and I'm sure a number of them will be popping up as we count down the chart!

Charting Songs from This Album:
2024 01 Speak Up
2024 01 That's Exactly What Love Is (The Coronas & Gabrielle Aplin)
2024 05 Ghosting
2024 07 Singing Just For You (On Occasion)
2024 07 If You're Going
2024 21 Confirmation (The Coronas & Jamie Duffy)
2024 23 Good Boy
2024 26 At Least She's Laughing
2024 39 Hearts For Eyes
2024 40 Still On Your Good Side
2024 62 Unbelievable Scenes

Hall of Fame
2014: Nico & Vinz - Black Star Elephant
2015: Avicii - Stories
2016: Lukas Graham - Lukas Graham
2017: Declan McKenna - What Do You Think About The Car?
2018: Amy Shark - Love Monster
2019: Walking on Cars - Colours
2020: Declan McKenna - Zeros
2021: -None-
2022: Bear's Den - Blue Hours
2023: NEEDTOBREATHE - Caves
2024: The Coronas - Thoughts and Observations

Ooh we actually had a snap #1 this year in End of Beginning, hope to see that do well in your EOY! :wub:

Funny you should mention that song Joseph!

 

Mainstream Song of the Year: Djo - End of Beginning

 

 

2024 was a real upturn in terms of charting music compared to last year, with great new artists including Myles Smith and Alex Warren, plus Coldplay's return. Four of my #1s were Top 40 hits this year, that's an increase from zero last few years so an infinite increase! But this is the song which takes my Mainstream #1. I remember listening to a Top 40 recap the week after Easter after my music hiatus and initially being disappointed that there wasn't too much new music, but then into the Top 10 there were suddenly some interesting music, and for an artist I'd never heard of to be in the Top 5 with a song that actually sounded pretty good was a nice surprise! It went straight in that week at number 1 and still sounds great now.

 

Mainstream Song of the Year: Hall of Fame

1999: Fatboy Slim - Praise You

2000: Madison Avenue - Don't Call Me Baby

2001: Kylie Minogue - Can't Get You Out Of My Head

2002: DJ Sammy & Yanou ft. Do - Heaven

2003: Room 5 - Make Luv

2004: Eric Prydz - Call On Me

2005: Arctic Monkeys - I Bet You Look Good On the Dancefloor

2006: Scissor Sisters - I Don't Feel Like Dancin'

2007: MIKA - Grace Kelly

2008: Basshunter ft. DJ Mental Theo's Bassheadz - Now You're Gone

2009: Black Eyed Peas - I Gotta Feeling

2010: Taio Cruz - Dynamite

2011: LMFAO - Party Rock Anthem (ft. Lauren Bennett & GoonRock)

2012: PSY - Gangnam Style

2013: Ylvis - The Fox (What Does the Fox Say?)

2014: DJ Fresh & Jay Fay ft. Ms. Dynamite - Dibby Dibby Sound

2015: Jess Glynne - Don't Be So Hard On Yourself

2016: Lukas Graham - 7 Years

2017: JP Cooper - September Song

2018: Dean Lewis - Be Alright

2019: Avicii ft. Aloe Blacc - SOS

2020: Taylor Swift ft. Bon Iver - exile

2021: Sam Fender - Seventeen Going Under

2022: Sam Ryder - SPACE MAN

2023: Peggy Gou - It Goes Like (Nanana)

2024: Djo - End of Beginning

Right let's get going!

 

200: Manor Collective - How Good (ft. Becca Folkes, Junior Garr & Tertia May) (523pts)

NE (8/6/2024) 92-95-80-74-50-40-36-48-54-58-65-72-77-78-98-xx

 

I've just managed to poke this one into my Top 200, a beautiful groovy worship song. Great to have Manor Collective back this year!

 

199: Bisrat Surafel - Erefi (524pts)

NE (6/7/2024) 58-55-56-62-67-67-66-43-48-52-60-72-85-99-xx

 

The highest non Top 40 song this year, a very catchy Ethiopian track with some very smiley dancers if you get round to watching the video

 

198: Manor Collective - Amen (ft. Elle Limebear & Charlotte Kiwanuka) (524pts)

NE (22/6/2024) 33-36-35-35-42-56-61-68-73-79-84-86-xx

 

A lovely rendition of the Lord's Prayer here. (and yes, Charlotte Kiwanuka is Michael Kiwanuka's wife if you were wondering!)

 

197: Madison Ryann Ward - Amen (525pts)

NE (26/10/2024) 38-35-36-43-49-58-58-60-...

 

I can basically copy the same thing I said for the last one here, as it's another rendition of the Lord's Prayer (but this time not featuring Michael Kiwanuka's wife). It's also done over an Amen break - I've learnt what one of those is now!

 

196: Unspoken - Say The Word (526pts)

NE (12/10/2024) 37-33-33-37-45-51-57-66-77-92-xx

 

195: St. Lundi - Following My Heart (527pts)

NE (11/5/2024) 67-77-46-39-38-37-48-54-59-68-77-85-94-98-xx

 

194: Pyramid Park - Believe Ya (529pts)

NE (16/12/2023) 71-56-48-38-29-28-33-50-56-72-xx

 

Pyramid Park has another song still to come much higher up but this was a nice way to start the year off.

 

193: Crowder - Grave Robber (529pts)

NE (6/4/2024) 66-21-16-21-29-39-54-70-78-87-xx

 

192: Tali - Fighter (532pts)

NE (18/5/2024) 16-19-25-33-42-54-59-68-78-91-94-xx

 

Eurovision song number 1! Nice to see Luxembourg back in the contest and with a song which had a sprinkling of late 00s Turkey to it.

 

191: Red Rum Club - Afternoon (534pts)

NE (13/4/2024) 38-31-31-27-30-43-53-65-75-83-xx

 

190: Tom Speight - Stay Alive (542pts)

NE (13/7/2024) 87-51-36-34-37-38-46-52-56-65-79-89-xx

 

189: Kingfishr - Afterglow (550pts)

NE (27/7/2024) 82-74-57-41-41-39-37-39-49-60-65-82-97-100-xx

 

188: Lost Frequencies & David Kushner - In My Bones (551pts)

NE (27/4/2024) 45-23-24-30-31-42-54-64-77-82-89-xx

 

I wasn't sure how Kushner would sound on a dance song as his voice generally falls into the 'moody' bucket but this is quite good!

 

186: Declan McKenna - Honest Test (559pts)

NE (17/2/2024) 40-40-40-40-40-40-40-53-62-76-88-92-xx

 

187: Declan McKenna - Elevator Hum (561pts)

NE (9/12/2023) 83-39-44-45-43-38-42-50-53-50-65-xx

 

Double McKenna! And that's it for him this year as his big hits appeared in last year's EOY, but there were a couple of decent songs on his album.

 

185: Kaiser Chiefs - Sentimental Love Songs (566pts)

NE (20/4/2024) 30-35-44-58-73-84-75-64-61-58-58-62-73-84-90-xx

 

The first of a few Kaiser Chiefs album tracks in my chart this year, this one didn't make a massive immediate impact but was able to stay the course in the long run.

 

184: Silvester Belt - Luktelk (573pts)

NE (18/5/2024) 7-10-21-29-36-47-53-66-80-93-96-xx

 

Eurovision again! Eurovision songs always tumble down these EOYs as they debut high and then the only place to go is down, but Luktelk was pretty catchy.

 

183: Annatoria - Fountain (ft. Joe L Barnes) (587pts)

NE (4/5/2024) 28-18-22-27-31-42-51-66-70-79-90-xx

 

182: Bad Sounds - Lovers (588pts)

NE (14/9/2024) 89-53-34-30-30-32-41-49-58-66-71-82-90-xx

 

181: Walk Off The Earth - Mom's Old Car (590pts)

NE (16/11/2024) 84-38-32-27-28-...

 

Walk Off The Earth are back! After a few years of me not really being into them, this one is really catchy and they seem to be finding themselves as a band again.

Luktelk was one of my faves from Eurovision this year, long live dancey songs in Euroviz.

 

as far as Christian songs go the Lord's Prayer over an amen break certainly has to be one of the more interesting ideas I've come across, she has quite a pleasant voice too. certainly beats the Cliff Richard rendition :kink:

Luktelk was one of my faves from Eurovision this year, long live dancey songs in Euroviz.

 

as far as Christian songs go the Lord's Prayer over an amen break certainly has to be one of the more interesting ideas I've come across, she has quite a pleasant voice too. certainly beats the Cliff Richard rendition :kink:

Glad you're enjoying Amen - I think Madison Ryann Ward does tend to go a little more alternative than most Christian artists! I guess that means we might be seeing Luktelk in your countdown then?

180: NAKED KOALA - Heat of the Sun (591pts)

NE (13/7/2024) 60-33-33-29-32-39-47-53-57-66-81-91-xx

 

NAKED KOALA is a really weird name for a music act but this song is pretty catchy and a nice indie track.

 

179: The Strumbellas - Running Out of Time (599pts)

NE (13/1/2024) 93-98-93-75-64-78-xx

RE (11/5/2024) 33-34-36-34-39-49-64-67-76-86-99-xx

 

The Strumbellas had a couple of songs enter my chart at the start of the year after I did my usual thing of remembering acts after they appeared in my EOY :lol: This one didn't make an immediate impression but stayed on my mind and after Lent finally managed a Top 40 peak.

 

178: Karma Kid - The Gates Will Open (600pts)

NE (9/12/2023) 36-35-43-44-37-33-37-48-58-63-77-xx

 

A BJSC song from last year I believe! This one got my +18 and managed to survive the Christmas onslaught as well.

 

177: Good Neighbours - Daisies (606pts)

NE (20/7/2024) 57-47-41-35-30-32-38-46-51-64-78-87-xx

 

The follow up to Home (which is still to come), would have been happy to see this in the UK Charts but sadly didn't happen.

 

176: Limoblaze & Princeton South - Victory (612pts)

NE (9/11/2024) 55-46-39-30-28-33-...

 

175: Skinny Living - Thank You For Making Me Feel Good (615pts)

NE (9/11/2024) 66-18-20-26-26-37-...

 

174: Kaiser Chiefs - The Lads (616pts)

NE (20/4/2024) 28-27-25-26-39-48-52-58-62-74-77-84-97-xx

 

Another decent Kaiser Chiefs album track, this one is about still being friends with people from school (which ironically I am not)

 

173: Forrest Frank - UPS & DOWNS (620pts)

NE (23/11/2024) 88-34-29-22-...

 

172: Unspoken - What He Says About You (622pts)

NE (13/7/2024) 67-49-45-32-28-31-39-42-51-59-71-84-93-xx

 

Unspoken have been around for ages but this song grabbed me, putting a bit of a fresh spin on the usual Christian music.

 

171: Jeremy Camp - No Survivors (625pts)

NE (15/6/2024) 26-32-37-42-39-45-50-56-61-68-74-79-80-100-xx

 

170: KXC, Gas Street Music & Manor Collective - Hallelujah Jesus Saves (ft. Rich Dicas & Millie Ferguson) (628pts)

NE (28/9/2024) 81-85-72-49-36-33-34-37-43-53-60-71-...

 

Took me a while to get into this one but really enjoy it now, a lively contemporary worship track.

 

169: JERUB - Gonna Be Okay (633pts)

NE (4/5/2024) 42-27-25-28-29-36-48-63-66-65-74-86-91-xx

 

168: Jacob Smith - To Your River (643pts)

NE (24/8/2024) 34-27-22-24-24-31-40-50-65-72-84-96-xx

 

167: ayokay - Leave With My Love (648pts)

NE (14/9/2024) 22-14-15-20-25-41-53-62-68-75-83-91-96-xx

 

Another BJSC +18 here! This was a good dance track that probably just enterd my chart at the wrong time to have a longer run.

 

166: Saint Motel - Stay Golden (651pts)

NE (17/8/2024) 89-84-47-41-34-27-32-39-47-58-64-66-72-80-91-95-100-xx

 

165: Harrison Storm - My Way Home (656pts)

NE (10/2/2024) 71-38-38-38-38-38-38-38-50-52-67-75-82-95-xx

 

164: Galactus Jack - Words (656pts)

NE (17/2/2024) 46-46-46-46-46-46-46-55-65-41-33-43-56-72-83-90-xx

 

I think I sent this to BJSC? It's a fairly nice dance track although not one that stands out for me particularly.

 

163: Gaetan Judd & CalledOut Music - Let Me Know (657pts)

NE (25/5/2024) 17-16-17-19-24-34-43-61-71-79-87-91-97-xx

 

162: Anna Ermakova - Behind Blue Eyes (657pts)

NE (3/2/2024) 28-27-42-42-42-42-42-42-42-61-71-82-93-xx

 

161: Royal Otis - Merry Mary Marry Me (685pts)

NE (13/7/2024) 81-37-35-30-29-33-42-49-49-48-50-64-74-88-xx

 

Certainly a fun title :lol: Although it does just sound like they're saying 'Marry Marry Marry Marry Me'. A decent song to go alongside their BJSC success with Oysters In My Pocket and their actual success with their Linger cover. (And I'm just finding out now that they're actually called 'Royel Otis', guess I'm going to have to correct all my chart records!)

160: Coldplay - WE PRAY (ft. Little Simz, Burna Boy, Elyanna & TINI) (695pts)

NE (31/8/2024) 46-27-19-16-22-27-36-52-60-69-80-88-97-100-xx

 

The first of two Coldplay songs in my EOY, was nice to see a song about prayer make the Top 40 for the first time in a while!

 

159: Skillet - Unpopular (708pts)

NE (5/10/2024) 60-53-35-28-29-33-40-47-55-53-61-...

 

158: Stevie Valentine - All In (708pts)

NE (25/11/2023) 94-52-47-45-48-46-35-27-27-30-41-49-64-xx

 

157: Sheppard - Edge of the Earth (709pts)

NE (11/5/2024) 35-33-32-32-32-33-39-44-53-63-69-76-85-88-94-99-xx

 

I've not charted Sheppard for a few years but really enjoyed this one - and it's just struck me that the song title is almost the same as 'Edge of the Night', I guess artists are doing that sort of thing more and more nowadays.

 

156: Jax Jones - Never Be Lonely (ft. Zoe Wees) (712pts)

NE (17/2/2024) 34-34-34-34-34-34-34-34-47-58-66-72-87-100-xx

 

SO CLOSE to Zoe Wees getting her first Top 40 single this year! A decent track from Jax as well.

 

155: Felix Jaehn - Without You (ft. Jasmine Thompson) (719pts)

NE (25/5/2024) 24-17-18-20-21-30-40-47-66-72-78-82-87-93-xx

 

154: Jenna Raine - Roses (722pts)

NE (14/9/2024) 88-77-65-48-48-44-43-48-42-38-44-54-61-68-...

 

153: Johnossi - Forevers (725pts)

NE (19/10/2024) 50-34-28-25-26-30-38-41-48-...

 

152: The Coronas - At Least She's Laughing (731pts)

NE (12/10/2024) 67-37-29-26-28-32-33-44-46-53-...

 

The first of many Coronas songs in this year's EOY - At Least She's Laughing is a song about trying to find romantic love when you've not done it for a while.

 

151: Blossoms - What Can I Say After I'm Sorry? (731pts)

NE (8/6/2024) 47-40-36-33-29-31-34-44-53-56-63-71-75-76-96-xx

 

Blossoms have a song much higher up this list but this was a decent one to kick their new album off with!

 

150: Blanks - Hopes Up High (736pts)

NE (19/10/2024) 59-37-24-23-23-27-36-38-47-...

 

149: The Sherlocks - Man on the Loose (736pts)

NE (5/10/2024) 53-51-47-52-51-39-36-36-39-43-51-xx

 

148: KEYS - There's No I In Team (738pts)

NE (3/8/2024) 100-78-58-48-36-31-27-26-33-32-40-55-63-73-85-93-xx

 

This one took a while for me but I ended up really getting into it, a quirky alternative song about being stuck on calls all day long.

 

147: Reblah & Jo Joey - I'm Blessed (739pts)

NE (24/8/2024) 26-20-17-17-15-24-33-42-57-65-75-88-95-xx

 

I've started to get more and more into Christian rap, and this is one of the better offerings! Very catchy.

 

146: Good Neighbours - Home (739pts)

NE (10/2/2024) 84-28-28-28-28-28-28-28-38-48-63-73-80-93-xx

 

Another charting song now, was nice to see a new indie act breaking into the Top 40.

 

145: Grace Graber - Breakthrough (746pts)

NE (13/4/2024) 29-24-18-16-15-26-38-45-53-63-75-80-86-100-xx

 

144: Frank Walker - Waiting (ft. Stephen Puth) (746pts)

NE (27/1/2024) 73-46-36-27-27-27-27-27-27-27-41-53-68-78-85-xx

 

143: Ladaniva - Jako (769pts)

NE (18/5/2024) 21-23-26-30-32-42-47-46-48-60-66-72-76-82-88-95-94-xx

 

Eurovision again! This one didn't make an immediate impact but lasted longer than most of the songs that did, very upbeat and cheery.

 

142: Philip Jonathan - Giant (773pts)

NE (15/6/2024) 35-31-26-25-25-28-37-44-49-56-64-68-69-84-xx

 

141: The Coronas & Jamie Duffy - Confirmation (773pts)

NE (14/9/2024) 77-62-37-26-28-21-24-36-44-50-56-65-75-88-xx

 

And we finish this section with our second Coronas song! This is quite a downbeat track but works well in the entirety of the album.

So far I like "Fighter", "In My Bones", the two Declan McKenna songs, "Luktelk", "We Pray", "Never Be Lonely", "Without You" and "Jako".

 

Great list so far!

140: The Coronas - Good Boy (775pts)

NE (12/10/2024) 31-26-23-27-27-31-35-46-47-54-...

 

This song does seem to go against the grain of the rest of the album which made it pretty interesting to listen to.

 

139: Bad Sounds - Aah Song (781pts)

NE (8/6/2024) 97-89-46-41-34-29-23-26-31-38-45-53-58-61-72-92-xx

 

The highest Bad Sounds song this year, I do seem to like their more mellow sounds compared to the more traditional indie side of them!

 

138: Manor Collective - Holy Spirit Move (ft. Sarah Bird) (786pts)

NE (22/6/2024) 44-29-19-21-25-29-37-42-48-57-62-64-69-86-97-xx

 

This song is really short but also really beautiful, with just a piano and her voice.

 

137: Limoblaze - Holy Father (797pts)

NE (27/7/2024) 46-38-43-49-36-29-25-26-35-40-46-57-75-80-93-xx

 

136: JERUB - Carry The Load (797pts)

NE (3/8/2024) 49-31-19-20-19-19-23-28-45-49-61-77-82-95-xx

 

135: Elle Limebear - Soar (800pts)

NE (9/11/2024) 79-49-26-20-20-21-...

 

134: Forrest Frank - MORE THAN A FEELING (803pts)

NE (7/9/2024) 21-14-10-16-21-26-42-54-63-69-76-85-92-92-xx

 

Forrest Frank's second Top 10, this didn't grab me as much as Hallelujah but still sounds great and was one of my picks from his album.

 

133: Mark Ambor - Belong Together (816pts)

NE (20/4/2024) 19-11-7-8-14-26-36-48-57-70-75-82-94-xx

 

Another actually-popular song! I think it may have actually spent another week early on in my chart as I accidentally named it 'Good To Be' after his other song but ah well, I've given it a few more points to bump it up anyway!

 

132: Billy Lockett - I Could Use A Friend (822pts)

NE (9/12/2023) 31-23-20-20-19-16-19-17-29-40-55-xx

 

Apparently Billy Lockett performed this on The Voice or something more recently - good to see him get a bit more exposure I guess, but this was the first song of his I've heard in a little while and it is pretty emotional.

 

131: Noel Robinson & Steph Macleod - Breaker of Chains (827pts)

NE (16/11/2024) 52-28-25-17-16-...

 

130: Keane - Love Actually (834pts)

NE (16/12/2023) 12-4-3-4-8-20-41-82-xx

 

A sort-of Christmas song that had a gentler fall, this was actually written for the film Love Actually as opposed to a new song but was only released last year.

 

129: SOFYKA - Waterfall (834pts)

NE (13/7/2024) 50-21-17-17-23-26-30-30-35-41-55-67-77-91-xx

 

Another of my BJSC entries! This one was pretty close to making the final as well.

 

128: Bastille - Seasons & Narcissus (836pts)

NE (17/8/2024) 35-14-3-5-7-23-50-55-73-89-91-xx

 

Nice to see Bastille come back with something a little different, I got into this pretty quickly but the sad ambience of it meant it dropped quite quickly as well.

 

127: Circa Waves - We Made It (839pts)

NE (5/10/2024) 89-60-29-21-20-21-24-29-37-42-46-...

 

126: Steve Angello - ME (843pts)

NE (27/1/2024) 39-22-18-20-20-20-20-20-20-20-33-45-57-64-71-86-99-xx

 

125: Feeder - Sahara (852pts)

NE (11/5/2024) 50-47-37-27-26-25-28-31-37-43-58-64-70-74-80-86-92-91-xx

 

Nice to see Feeder back! This song is pretty epic and certainly had a decent chart run.

 

124: Jonas Blue & Galantis - Mountains (ft. Zoe Wees) (861pts)

NE (22/6/2024) 85-20-9-11-13-16-26-30-40-49-54-58-67-83-93-xx

 

Another Zoe Wees entry in my chart that grabbed me very quickly after I heard it! Funnily enough there's a lower-charting Galantis song still to come.

 

123: Brandon Lake - Tear Off The Roof (863pts)

NE (6/1/2024) 92-58-44-40-33-34-50-50-50-50-50-50-50-51-51-62-70-79-92-xx

 

 

I've had this song in my head today coincidentally! A song which sort-of mirrors Jesus healing the paralysed man.

 

122: Tinlicker - Nowhere To Go (ft. Brian Molko) (881pts)

NE (3/8/2024) 15-12-13-13-14-14-15-21-46-50-63-78-83-96-xx

 

One of the few BJSC entries in my Spotify Wrapped (largely because Spotify kept deciding to play it when my 50-song playlist was on shuffle!), this one grew on me as the contest went on and the contrast of the vocals and the dance music worked well.

 

121: Son Mieux - This Is The Moment (ft. Nile Rodgers) (881pts)

NE (6/7/2024) 51-46-53-53-46-40-34-28-26-29-32-44-54-61-69-84-87-100-xx

Not heard that Royel Otis track but have heard several of others by them including 'Linger' of course that did nothing for me as a cover. 'Oysters In My Pocket' I had sent to BJSC and was my top streamed song of 2024 too. Can't remember if you were in that contest but worth checking if you weren't.

 

Also on the BJSC related stuff 'Nowhere To Go' was a grand entry and Brian from Placebo's voice really suits electronic dance!

 

'Belong Together' was decent for me as far as that folky guitar fad this year goes. 'WE PRAY' is absolutely the superior Coldplay song and was glad it did end up top 40 and had a little run inside it.

ooh yay for Tinlicker making a big impression for you

they'll be very high up my year end list of course

120: Praise Lubangu & David Carpenter - make it home - Jellis Re-Work (892pts)

NE (28/9/2024) 39-31-21-20-19-21-26-30-34-45-54-64-...

 

Another of my BJSC entries here - and another that was fairly close to qualifying! The vocals really work well with the re-worked instrumentation

 

119: Jamie Webster - Sing Your Tears (894pts)

NE (17/2/2024) 35-35-35-35-35-35-35-25-20-21-26-33-44-60-75-81-93-xx

 

118: Clinton Flames - Loved (ft. Oba Reengy & Rehmahz) (899pts)

NE (3/2/2024) 48-32-25-25-25-25-25-25-25-26-25-36-44-50-64-82-90-97-xx

 

A very fun Nigerian worship song!

 

117: The Avener - The Morning Sun (901pts)

NE (20/7/2024) 90-19-11-8-10-18-23-28-38-48-62-71-86-xx

 

A summer dance song that sounded great when the sun was out but began to fade afterwards.

 

116: Benson Boone - Beautiful Things (902pts)

NE (10/2/2024) 79-22-22-22-22-22-22-22-24-30-40-51-60-71-87-98-xx

 

The only song to top the Official Chart this year and appear here, a fairly inoffensive song and he does have a good voice.

 

115: WE ARE ONE - Up In My Bones (906pts)

NE (13/4/2024) 69-27-14-11-9-17-22-30-44-50-55-57-61-72-83-89-xx

 

114: Vance Joy - Rock It (911pts)

NE (3/2/2024) 34-23-17-17-17-17-17-17-17-30-39-50-50-58-70-86-97-xx

 

113: The Head And The Heart - Tiebreaker (911pts)

NE (13/1/2024) 65-53-45-40-29-21-21-21-21-21-21-21-32-44-55-72-81-94-xx

 

112: CalledOut Music - Avalanche (915pts)

NE (19/10/2024) 17-15-12-13-14-15-18-24-34-...

 

111: METRUTH - Steady My Heart (ft. Christian Singleton) (921pts)

NE (6/4/2024) 10-11-12-13-15-22-35-42-50-56-67-81-85-94-xx

 

A second Top 10 for Leeds-based METRUTH, this one is more powerful than It'll Be Okay which was more of a soothing song but still sounds great.

 

110: Lake Malawi - Do It (925pts)

NE (18/5/2024) 79-69-71-52-41-37-28-23-23-24-31-42-46-54-62-65-67-81-99-xx

 

Their first Top 100 since Eurovision, this is a great synth-pop track that stayed for a decent while in my chart.

 

109: Myles Smith - Stargazing (926pts)

NE (25/5/2024) 54-35-34-23-22-23-27-32-31-42-50-52-60-68-72-73-93-xx

 

And we have another charting song dropping out here! I love this sort of song, so much positive energy and a real antidote to all the breakup songs that so often clog the charts up.

 

108: CalledOut Music - Never Die Gang (ft. Guvna B) (937pts)

NE (20/1/2024) 49-28-26-21-32-32-32-32-32-32-32-46-56-70-76-84-100-xx

 

107: Hollow Coves - Milk & Honey (939pts)

NE (6/1/2024) 46-31-30-24-25-28-43-43-43-43-43-43-43-56-68-79-90-xx

 

106: Josiah Queen & Henrik - i need you more (940pts)

NE (21/9/2024) 20-14-15-17-18-18-25-31-35-42-51-66-79-xx

 

Not listened to too much Josiah Queen, but this one grabbed me for some reason and sounds good!

 

105: Jon Foreman - Eulogy (945pts)

NE (8/6/2024) 6-8-12-16-20-24-27-34-43-47-55-63-66-68-82-100-xx

 

104: Courteeners - Pink Cactus Café (947pts)

NE (5/10/2024) 88-70-34-27-18-17-16-18-21-25-30-...

 

103: Petit Desk - Is there anyone? (948pts)

NE (17/2/2024) 16-16-16-16-16-16-16-20-19-23-30-37-48-65-79-86-100-xx

 

Highest act from Thailand in my countdown (probably), the East Asian countries do make some good indie music when I go out of my way to find it!

 

102: Alicia Keys - Lifeline (954pts)

NE (13/1/2024) 75-48-35-38-30-24-24-24-24-24-24-24-28-33-48-60-62-73-89-99-xx

 

101: Axel Flóvent - This Feeling (958pts)

NE (22/6/2024) 23-18-18-14-14-14-21-26-36-44-50-54-63-75-87-xx

So far I like "Fighter", "In My Bones", the two Declan McKenna songs, "Luktelk", "We Pray", "Never Be Lonely", "Without You" and "Jako".

 

Great list so far!

Thanks for commenting Sergej!

 

Not heard that Royel Otis track but have heard several of others by them including 'Linger' of course that did nothing for me as a cover. 'Oysters In My Pocket' I had sent to BJSC and was my top streamed song of 2024 too. Can't remember if you were in that contest but worth checking if you weren't.

 

Also on the BJSC related stuff 'Nowhere To Go' was a grand entry and Brian from Placebo's voice really suits electronic dance!

 

'Belong Together' was decent for me as far as that folky guitar fad this year goes. 'WE PRAY' is absolutely the superior Coldplay song and was glad it did end up top 40 and had a little run inside it.

I was indeed in that contest! Gave it quite high points if I remember correctly - although I had heard the song before as my dad had it on his playlist.

 

ooh yay for Tinlicker making a big impression for you

they'll be very high up my year end list of course

Indeed - it'll be interesting to see where it places for you!

#100 (960pts)

 

Rend Collective

Homesick

-

Chart Statistics

 

NE (2/12/2023) 41-34-29-34-36-26-15-10-14-21-38-54-xx

 

Video

 

 

Commentary

 

Rend Collective have re-invented themselves more recently with a host of new folk-y songs, but this one was from their last era as an add-on following the belated success of 'Hallelujah Anyway' in the Christian Charts. This is a catchy indie-pop track focussing on wanting to remain close to God.

 

Top 100 Chart History

 

Rend Collective

2021 27 Coming Out Fighting

2022 51 As For Me

2022 17 Plans

2022 19 Let It Roll

2022 01 Hallelujah Anyway

2022 23 We Need The Love Of God

2022 19 True In The Light

2022 30 Joy To The World (You Are My Joy)

2024 10 Homesick

2024 10 What I Was Made For

2024 08 Holy Trouble

2024 06 Reap That Joy

 

 

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#99 (974pts)

 

Sea Girls

I Want You To Know Me

-

Chart Statistics

 

NE (3/2/2024) 52-26-14-14-14-14-14-14-14-19-24-35-42-48-62-80-88-95-xx

 

Video

 

 

Commentary

 

I haven't been grabbed by too much Sea Girls music recently but I quite enjoyed this one! It's a simple song about wanting to be what he's not in order to impress someone else (although the 'I wanna be a singer in a pop band' is an interesting lyric given he is!)

 

Top 100 Chart History

 

Sea Girls

2018 23 All I Want to Hear You Say

2019 36 Open Up Your Head

2019 57 Damage Done

2020 52 Why Won't You Admit

2020 38 Do You Really Wanna Know?

2021 38 Accident Waiting to Happen

2021 01 Hometown

2022 03 Paracetamol Blues

2024 14 I Want You To Know Me

 

 

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#98 (986pts)

 

Martin Smith

Joy (What The World Calls Foolish)

-

Chart Statistics

 

NE (6/4/2024) 43-14-9-10-14-23-36-41-49-57-68-82-86-96-xx

 

Video

 

 

Commentary

 

Almost certainly the longest song in my Top 100 at a whopping 7 minutes, this is a fairly standard uplifting praise song with a 3-minute ad-lib at the end which took me a while to warm to but does complement the song quite well!

 

Top 100 Chart History

 

Martin Smith

2019 32 Iron Lung

2020 34 Jesus Only You

2021 77 Fire In Your Eyes

2022 07 Our Eyes Are On You (ft. Elle Limebear)

2024 09 Joy (What The World Calls Foolish)

2024 84 Garment of Praise

2024 58 Revival Town - 2024 (Martin Smith & Elle Limebear)

 

 

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#97 (989pts)

 

The Snuts

Circles

-

Chart Statistics

 

NE (13/4/2024) 35-26-19-18-17-29-25-28-31-34-45-51-56-66-76-84-93-96-xx

 

Video

 

 

Commentary

 

After Gloria being a long-running non-Top 10 hit for The Snuts last year, they've repeated the feat in my chart this year with Circles. It's not as cheery as Gloria, but it's still a committed love song, the singer expressing what lengths he'd go for the subject of the song.

 

Top 100 Chart History

 

The Snuts

2021 09 Somebody Loves You

2021 03 Glasgow

2023 15 Gloria

2024 17 Circles

 

 

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#96 (996pts)

 

Manor Collective

Paradise (ft. Junior Garr, Elle Limebear, Charlotte Kiwanuka & Féz)

-

Chart Statistics

 

NE (11/5/2024) 13-20-21-19-14-16-20-24-31-42-64-70-76-80-85-91-99-97-xx

 

Video

 

 

Commentary

 

Now that's a set of chart histories! :lol: I think I mentioned in 2022 that Manor Collective are a collective of Christian artists from different denominations, cultural backgrounds and music styles that make a really varied range of music. This one is pretty different from anything they've done before with elements of dance being thrown in there. I think it works really well!

 

Top 100 Chart History

 

Manor Collective

2022 66 Golden (ft. CalledOut Music & Elle Limebear)

2022 05 Thank You, Sorry, Please (ft. Becca Folkes, Charlotte Kiwanuka & Elle Limebear)

2022 20 Shelter (ft. Becca Folkes, Tertia May & CalledOut Music)

2022 83 Never-Ending Love (ft. Junior Garr, Elle Limebear & Tertia May)

2022 70 Human (ft. Elle Limebear & Becca Folkes)

2022 58 God of the Ages (ft. Sarah Bird, Elle Limebear & CalledOut Music)

2022 15 Home This Christmas (ft. CalledOut Music, Becca Folkes & Tertia May)

2022 10 Christmas Is Here (ft. Junior Garr, Elle Limebear & CalledOut Music

2022 27 Christmas Nights (ft. Junior Garr, Sarah Bird & Charlotte Kiwanuka)

2024 13 Paradise (ft. Junior Garr, Elle Limebear, Charlotte Kiwanuka & Féz)

2024 36 How Good (ft. Becca Folkes, Junior Garr & Tertia May)

2024 33 Amen (ft. Elle Limebear & Charlotte Kiwanuka)

2024 37 Lives In Me (ft. Becca Folkes & CalledOut Music)

2024 19 Holy Spirit Move (ft. Sarah Bird)

2024 36 Let Him In (ft. Becca Folkes &Tertia May)

2024 52 Without You (ft. Charlotte Kiwanuka)

2024 54 You Got Me (ft. CalledOut Music & Tertia May)

2024 33 Hallelujah Jesus Saves (KXC, Gas Street Music & Manor Collective ft. Rich Dicas & Millie Ferguson)

2024 89 Never Sing Alone (KXC, Gas Street Music & Manor Collective ft. Tertia May & Alice-Lily)

 

Charlotte Kiwanuka

2022 05 Thank You, Sorry, Please (Manor Collective ft. Becca Folkes, Charlotte Kiwanuka & Elle Limebear)

2022 27 Christmas Nights (Manor Collective ft. Junior Garr, Sarah Bird & Charlotte Kiwanuka)

2024 13 Paradise (Manor Collective ft. Junior Garr, Elle Limebear, Charlotte Kiwanuka & Féz)

2024 52 Without You (Manor Collective ft. Charlotte Kiwanuka)

 

Elle Limebear

2020 20 Alive & Breathing (Matt Maher ft. Elle Limebear)

2022 07 Our Eyes Are On You (Martin Smith ft. Elle Limebear)

2022 66 Golden (Manor Collective ft. CalledOut Music & Elle Limebear)

2022 05 Thank You, Sorry, Please (Manor Collective ft. Becca Folkes, Charlotte Kiwanuka & Elle Limebear)

2022 63 Rest On Us

2022 83 Never-Ending Love (Manor Collective ft. Junior Garr, Elle Limebear & Tertia May)

2022 70 Human (Manor Collective ft. Elle Limebear & Becca Folkes)

2022 58 God of the Ages (Manor Collective ft. Sarah Bird, Elle Limebear & CalledOut Music)

2022 10 Christmas Is Here (Manor Collective ft. Junior Garr, Elle Limebear & CalledOut Music

2024 06 Over (Limoblaze & Elle Limebear)

2024 13 Paradise (Manor Collective ft. Junior Garr, Elle Limebear, Charlotte Kiwanuka & Féz)

2024 01 Bye Fear

2024 58 Revival Town - 2024 (Martin Smith & Elle Limebear)

2024 20 Soar

 

Junior Garr

2022 83 Never-Ending Love (Manor Collective ft. Junior Garr, Elle Limebear & Tertia May)

2022 10 Christmas Is Here (Manor Collective ft. Junior Garr, Elle Limebear & CalledOut Music

2022 27 Christmas Nights (Manor Collective ft. Junior Garr, Sarah Bird & Charlotte Kiwanuka)

2024 13 Paradise (Manor Collective ft. Junior Garr, Elle Limebear, Charlotte Kiwanuka & Féz)

2024 36 How Good (Manor Collective ft. Becca Folkes, Junior Garr & Tertia May)

 

Féz

2024 13 Paradise (Manor Collective ft. Junior Garr, Elle Limebear, Charlotte Kiwanuka & Féz)

 

Hi Pete

 

I don't think we're going to have any crossover this year but still excited to follow along ofc.

 

I've give the Bastille and Alicia Keys songs a spin as I don't think I've heard anything by either of them for years. The Bastille song is definitely a different vibe from the indie-pop they're known for. It sounds like it could be a John Lewis Christmas Advert song.

 

Judging from the video, the Alicia Keys song seems to be for the movie version of 'The Color Purple'. I did see that so I must have heard it before. It's pretty!

Nice to see "Belong Together", "Mountains", "Stargazing" in your list!