Happy New Year! Before I reveal my top 100 favourite songs and top 40 albums of 2024, 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! Step forward all of the songs that I was clearly listening to a lot and loving but couldn't quite make it due to space reasons or because they have appeared before:

 

A*Teens - Upside Down (was in my 2001 EOY chart)

ABBA - Don't Shut Me Down (was in my 2021 EOY chart)

Aqua - Turn Back Time (was in my 1998 EOY chart)

April Snow & Sharlene Hector - Alive On The Dance Floor (missed the cut)

Atomic Kitten - Southgate You're The One (Football's Coming Home Again) (2021 song that missed the cut)

Avril Lavigne - Losing Grip (2003 song that missed the cut)

Baddiel, Skinner & The Lightning Seeds - Three Lions '98 (was in my 1998 EOY chart)

beabadoobee - Take A Bite (missed the cut)

Beagle Music – Like Ice in the Sunshine (was in my 2023 EOY chart)

Becky Hill & Self Esteem - True Colours (missed the cut)

Celine Dion - My Heart Will Go On (was in my 1998 EOY chart)

Celine Dion - That's The Way It Is (was in my 1999 EOY chart)

Chloé Caillet & SG Lewis - B Somebody (missed the cut)

Ed Sheeran - Under The Tree (missed the cut)

Florrie - Looking For Love (missed the cut)

Florrie - The Lost Ones (missed the cut)

Goldie Boutilier - Cowboy Gangster Politician (missed the cut)

Grace Davies - Another Night (missed the cut)

Gunilla Persson - I Won't Shake (La La Gunilla) (missed the cut)

Headache – The Beginning of the End (was in my 2023 EOY chart)

Helene Fischer - Atemlos Durch Die Nacht (was in my 2014 EOY chart)

Hepburn - I Quit (was in my 1999 EOY chart)

Howard Goodall - 2Point4 Children Theme (missed the cut)

Jennifer Paige - Crush (was in my 1998 EOY chart)

Katy Perry - WONDER (missed the cut)

Kylie Minogue - Lights Camera Action (missed the cut)

Leddra Chapman - Paint Your Hometown (missed the cut)

Lia Larsson - 30 KM/H (missed the cut)

Lola Young - Messy (missed the cut)

Loreen - Forever (missed the cut)

Loona - Hijo de la Luna (1998 song that missed the cut)

Loreta - Trouble With Boys (1999 song that missed the cut)

Maria Sur - When I'm Gone (missed the cut)

Mauro Picotto - Lizard (old track that missed my 1999 EOY chart)

Missy Higgins - You Should Run (missed the cut)

Nabihah Iqbal – Zone 1 to 6000 (was in my 2023 EOY chart)

Natasha Bedingfield - Unwritten (was in my 2004 EOY chart)

Nerina Pallot - My Last Tango (2001 song that missed the cut)

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

Opus - Live Is Life (old 80s song that missed the cut)

Republica - Ready To Go (was in my 1997 EOY chart)

Rondò Veneziano – Casanova (was in my 2023 EOY chart)

SACHI & Mali-Koa - Feel Good (was in my 2023 EOY chart)

Secret Garden - Renaissance (missed the cut)

Sheppard - Something's Missing (was in my 2014 EOY chart)

Shkodra Elektronike - Zjerm (missed the cut)

Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Murder On The Dancefloor (was in my 2001 EOY chart)

Spice Girls - Viva Forever (was in my 1998 EOY chart)

Steps - Last Thing On My Mind (was in my 1998 EOY chart)

Sugar Ray - Every Morning (was in my 1999 EOY chart)

Super Rob & Erika Norwich - My AI (missed the cut)

Take That - You & Me (missed the cut)

The Veronicas - When It All Falls Apart (was in my 2006 EOY chart)

Tin Tin Out feat Shelley Nelson - Here's Where The Story Ends (was in my 1998 EOY chart)

TSHA - Green (missed the cut)

Vegyn & Lauren Auder - Halo Flip (missed the cut)

Vengaboys - Forever As One (old track that missed my 2001 EOY chart)

Top 40 albums of 2024

 

 

1. Sabrina Carpenter - Short n' Sweet

2. Charli xcx – Brat/Brat and it’s completely different but also still brat

3. Dua Lipa - Radical Optimism

4. Billie Eilish – HIT ME HARD AND SOFT

5. Leddra Chapman – Telling Truths

6. Chappell Roan – The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess

7. Kylie Minogue - Tension II

8. Pet Shop Boys – Nonetheless

9. Taylor Swift - THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT

10. Michael Aldag - sorry for everything

11. Beyoncé - COWBOY CARTER

12. Sheppard - Zora

13. Shaznay Lewis – Pages

14. The Last Dinner Party - Prelude to Ecstasy

15. Missy Higgins - The Second Act

16. The Rhythm Method - Peachy

17. The Veronicas - Gothic Summer

18. Nerina Pallot - A Psalm For Emily Salvi

19. Ed Sheeran – +-=÷x (TOUR COLLECTION)

20. Cher – Forever Fan

21. Saint Etienne - The Night

22. Lady Gaga – Harlequin

23. Cat Burns - early twenties

24. Nelly Furtado – 7

25. Kate Nash – 9 Sad Symphonies

26. Katy Perry – 143

27. Deuce - On The Loose! - Expanded Edition

28. Shakira - Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran

29. Becky Hill – Believe Me Now?

30. Ariana Grande - eternal sunshine

31. Pixie Lott – Encino

32. Sophie Straat - Smartlap Is Niet Dood

33. Avril Lavigne – Greatest Hits

34. Michelle – Flutlicht

35. Peggy Gou – I Hear You

36. Helene Fischer - Die Schönsten Kinderlieder

37. Maria Willson – Alibi

38. Vegyn - The Road To Hell Is Paved With Good Intentions

39. DJ Sabrina The Teenage DJ - Hex

40. ABBA - The Singles (The First Fifty Years)

 

2024 has been Sabrina Carpenter's year, and who am I to argue? Short n' Sweet is exactly that - 36 minutes and 15 seconds of pure pop goodness, smash after smash and it turned her into one of the world's biggest stars very deservedly. Just behind is the iconic Brat by Charli xcx, the UK star finally getting a huge, long-running success to her name after many years with not just an album but a whole cultural movement, with the music contained being very diverse and enjoyable electro pop with more than a hint of the underground.

 

And while it may not have set the world alight compared to Future Nostalgia, I still think Radical Optimism is a great set from Dua Lipa that deserves more than it got. It's one I've had on repeat all year anyway and I'm looking forward to seeing her live this summer. The Big Pop Girls of 2024 continue with excellent (and huge) albums by Billie Eilish and Chappell Roan in the top ten, plus Taylor Swift's extremely long (but solid) album, Kylie's Tension follow-up, which is not up there with the first part quite, but still a good listen. UK singer/songwriter Leddra Chapman's long awaited (by me) third album is another impressive listen, while Pet Shop Boys put out yet another strong collection too. Just pipping Beyoncé's country album to the final spot in the top 10 is the brilliant debut set from British singer Michael Aldag.

Top 100 songs of 2024

 

 

 

1. Sophie Straat & Metropole Orkest - Gebroken Spiegels

2. Chappell Roan - Good Luck, Babe!

3. Joost - Europapa

4. Billie Eilish - BIRDS OF A FEATHER

5. Jacqline - Effortless

6. FRÖKEN SNUSK - UNGA & FRIA

7. Sabrina Carpenter - Please Please Please

8. Jude York - Monaco

9. Lea Heart - If I Did What You Did

10. Cazzi Opeia - Give My Heart A Break

11. Beast In Black - Power Of The Beast

12. Rachel K Collier feat Saruri - Kiye Yuku Hana

13. Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars - Die With A Smile

14. Bambie Thug - Doomsday Blue

15. JADE - Angel Of My Dreams

16. Louis Dunford - Billy Flynn of Bethnal Green

17. Prima Queen - Butter Knife

18. estraden - Genom Eld & Vatten

19. ROSÉ & Bruno Mars - APT.

20. Valtos & Elephant Sessions - 1990

21. Kit Sebastian - Bul Bul Bul

22. Victor Le Masne - Higher

23. The Veronicas - Invisible

24. Angelina Mango - la noia

25. Sabrina Carpenter - Taste

26. Die Arkitekt feat Lena Platonos - Mirkhel

27. Kaleen - We Will Rave

28. Swimming Paul - Different Time

29. Davinia - Sempre di più

30. Laufey - Christmas Magic

31. Leddra Chapman - Type of Monster

32. Michelle - Flutlicht

33. Marie Reim - Naiv

34. Methodical Madness - fwb

35. Dai - happiness of marionette

36. Elisa Lindström - Forever Yours

37. Shaznay Lewis - Miracle

38. Jamie xx & Robyn - Life

39. Artemas - i like the way you kiss me

40. Lady Gaga - Disease

41. Danny Saucedo - Happy That You Found Me

42. Joost - Luchtballon

43. METTE - BET

44. Dua Lipa - Training Season

45. dandelion hands - How To Never Stop Being Sad

46. Gracie Abrams – That’s So True

47. Baby Lasagna - Rim Tim Tagi Dim

48. Hydelic - Connected (Yours Forever) [in-Game Mix]

49. Zach Bryan - Pink Skies

50. Herman van Veen - Zo Vrolijk

51. Dua Lipa - Illusion

52. Cassie Henderson - Seconds To Midnight (11:59)

53. Chappell Roan - HOT TO GO!

54. Dua Lipa - These Walls

55. Olly Alexander - Dizzy

56. Beyoncé - TEXAS HOLD 'EM

57. Rasmus Gozzi & FRÖKEN SNUSK - VA VA DE JA SA

58. Sarek - Genom Eld & Vatten

59. Delta Goodrem - Hearts On The Run

60. Pet Shop Boys - The schlager hit parade

61. LYR - Never Good With Horses

62. BombayMami - DhinDhinDha

63. Dasha - Austin

64. Charli xcx - Apple

65. Perrie - Forget About Us

66. niina - limousine

67. Ariana Grande - we can't be friends (wait for your love)

68. Sabrina Carpenter - Juno

69. Kanii, Riovaz & Nimstarr - tell me

70. Girls Aloud - Disco Bunny

71. Anna Lunoe - Deep Blue Sea

72. Janet Jackson - This Time

73. Medina - Que Sera

74. Marianne Rosenberg - Ich bin wie du

75. Louis Dunford - Lucy

76. Annalisa - Sinceramente

77. Gåte - Ulveham

78. Najoua Belyzel - Gabriel

79. Pet Shop Boys - Feel

80. Charli xcx - I think about it all the time

81. Bee Gees - Fallen Angel

82. Hozier - Too Sweet

83. Bat For Lashes - Home (Special Request Remix)

84. Dua Lipa - Falling Forever

85. Mandoza - Nkalakatha

86. Brooke Eden - Outlaw Love

87. ili - It's Giving...

88. Lady Gaga - Happy Mistake

89. Leddra Chapman - 2 Years of Sleep

90. alyona Alyona & Jerry Heil - Teresa & Maria

91. KAROL G - Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido

92. Sabrina Carpenter - Espresso

93. Creams - Need To Talk (Kordz Remix)

94. The Last Dinner Party - Nothing Matters

95. Sara Vita - Støj Igen

96. Marcus & Martinus - Unforgettable

97. Pale Waves - Perfume

98. Michael Aldag - hot chocolate

99. Nemo - The Code

100. Baby B3ns - T-Shirt

 

Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6KQcXW1W5...71d0380fd5f448b

 

Commentary:

 

A close fought battle for the end of year No.1 between two songs that are very hard to compare, but in the end the spoils go to Dutch protest singer Sophie Straat, whose performance of the hard-hitting Gebroken Spiegels with the Metropole Orkest is a rock symphony that twists and turns for 13 minutes, and is an unforgettable listen. I took a risk on it and sent it to BJSC 164 but it failed to crack the top 20, perhaps due to its divisive nature, but it is probably my favourite song I've sent to the contest in many years - and the first to top my end of year chart since Pomplamoose and dodie's Monster in 2020 - a DNQ (see also Sheppard's A Grade Playa in 2014), so my tastes never quite align with the voters.

 

Racing up all year but never quite getting past Sophie is one of the stars of the year, Chappell Roan, the American star's fantastic breakthrough hit Good, Luck Babe! finishing in second place here. It hardly needs an introduction, being one of the longest running and biggest selling hits of the year in Chappell's own unique style. And proving that I went double Dutch in 2024, disqualified Netherlands Eurovision star Joost may not have been allowed into the final with his bonkers but charming techno anthem Europapa, but he made the UK top 40 nonetheless and secures a top three finish on my end of year chart to boot.

 

Also in the top five, the highest ever end of year finish for Billie Eilish, with the gorgeous BIRDS OF A FEATHER, another of the biggest hits of the year, and Melodifestivalen finalist Jacqline's Effortless being the only Swedish act in the top five this year, a very weak showing for the nation that has topped my end of year chart for the last three years running, but this song should have been their Eurovision entry, yet they left it languishing in 9th in the Melodifestivalen results - where is the justice? Another track from the contest, the fantastic FRÖKEN SNUSK with UNGA & FRIA, controversially missed the final due to a terrible voting system, but the modern schlager anthem finishes at No.6 for me. Arguably the star of the year, American Sabrina Carpenter topped my album chart of the year and has a smattering of entries across my top 100 songs, the highest being her second No.1 single, the irresistible Please Please Please.

 

Two more BJSC entries follow - the rather more successful Monaco by Jude York, which finished 5th in the penultimate contest of the year, and my most played song of the year (probably due to its short length and catchiness), If I Did What You Did by Irish star Lea Heart. The top 10 is completed by another song from Melodifestivalen, Cazzi Opeia with the rather wonderful Give My Heart A Break, the Canon-inspired melody and colourful performance bagging Cazzi a 4th place in the Swedish contest in Stockholm in March (which I was lucky enough to attend in person this year).

 

There are, as ever, a number of big UK hits taking position, the chart smashes that I have been loving this year including two collaborations involving Bruno Mars, the classic soft rock ballad Die With A Smile (No.13) with Lady Gaga, and the infectious APT. with ROSÉ (No.19). Also; Little Mix's JADE with her great solo debut Angel Of My Dreams (No.15), while bandmate Perrie's Forget About Us is at No.65. Sabrina Carpenter's other two No.1s, Taste (No.25) and Espresso (No.92), Laufey's Alexa-assisted festive hit Christmas Magic (No.30), Artemas' super catchy i like the way you kiss me (No.39), and another from Lady Gaga, with Disease at No.40. UK No.1s from Gracie Abrams, Beyoncé and Hozier also feature in the top 100.

Hey Rich, my faves from your chart.

 

1. Sophie Straat & Metropole Orkest - Gebroken Spiegels

2. Chappell Roan - Good Luck, Babe!

3. Joost - Europapa

4. Billie Eilish - BIRDS OF A FEATHER

7. Sabrina Carpenter - Please Please Please

11. Beast In Black - Power Of The Beast

13. Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars - Die With A Smile

14. Bambie Thug - Doomsday Blue

15. JADE - Angel Of My Dreams

19. ROSÉ & Bruno Mars - APT. - great to see this top 20!

20. Valtos & Elephant Sessions - 1990 - definitely a top highlight of your entries!

25. Sabrina Carpenter - Taste

27. Kaleen - We Will Rave

30. Laufey - Christmas Magic

39. Artemas - i like the way you kiss me

40. Lady Gaga - Disease

43. METTE - BET

44. Dua Lipa - Training Season

47. Baby Lasagna - Rim Tim Tagi Dim

49. Zach Bryan - Pink Skies

51. Dua Lipa - Illusion

52. Cassie Henderson - Seconds To Midnight (11:59)

53. Chappell Roan - HOT TO GO!

54. Dua Lipa - These Walls

55. Olly Alexander - Dizzy

56. Beyoncé - TEXAS HOLD 'EM

63. Dasha - Austin

64. Charli xcx - Apple

65. Perrie - Forget About Us

67. Ariana Grande - we can't be friends (wait for your love) - think this may be challenging for her best song now imo, close between that and 'Into You'.

71. Anna Lunoe - Deep Blue Sea

77. Gåte - Ulveham

82. Hozier - Too Sweet - surprised this is so low down. I do much prefer it to TMTC and was pleased it did get him the #1 instead lol but do understand Church has always been a bigger hitter of yours!

84. Dua Lipa - Falling Forever

92. Sabrina Carpenter - Espresso

94. The Last Dinner Party - Nothing Matters

99. Nemo - The Code - oops a major flop considering. It's nice and the performance was good but not one you'd come back to in years to come tbf.

 

Great chart as usual!

 

hey Rich, here's my faves in the chart:

 

1. Sophie Straat & Metropole Orkest - Gebroken Spiegels a great find, I really thought this would've stood out in the contest a bit more even with its sheer runtime

2. Chappell Roan - Good Luck, Babe! one of the true standout pure pop hits of recent times

3. Joost - Europapa

4. Billie Eilish - BIRDS OF A FEATHER

8. Jude York - Monaco

9. Lea Heart - If I Did What You Did

11. Beast In Black - Power Of The Beast

12. Rachel K Collier feat Saruri - Kiye Yuku Hana

13. Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars - Die With A Smile this will also certainly be a future pop classic

14. Bambie Thug - Doomsday Blue

19. ROSÉ & Bruno Mars - APT.

20. Valtos & Elephant Sessions - 1990 really enjoyed this, I'm now really into another track of theirs 'Etive' which is similar thematically but it's DnB *_*

22. Victor Le Masne - Higher

24. Angelina Mango - la noia

26. Die Arkitekt feat Lena Platonos - Mirkhel

27. Kaleen - We Will Rave

38. Jamie xx & Robyn - Life

39. Artemas - i like the way you kiss me

40. Lady Gaga - Disease

43. METTE - BET

44. Dua Lipa - Training Season

47. Baby Lasagna - Rim Tim Tagi Dim

51. Dua Lipa - Illusion

53. Chappell Roan - HOT TO GO!

56. Beyoncé - TEXAS HOLD 'EM

64. Charli xcx - Apple

67. Ariana Grande - we can't be friends (wait for your love)

71. Anna Lunoe - Deep Blue Sea

74. Marianne Rosenberg - Ich bin wie du

76. Annalisa - Sinceramente

77. Gåte - Ulveham now this was predictably my fave in Eurovision!

82. Hozier - Too Sweet

90. alyona Alyona & Jerry Heil - Teresa & Maria

94. The Last Dinner Party - Nothing Matters

96. Marcus & Martinus - Unforgettable

99. Nemo - The Code

Hey Rich! My faves from your top 100:

 

2. Chappell Roan - Good Luck, Babe! :wub: I did not expect this to blow up as much as it did, even when it was already in the top 20 - that alone felt like a win. It's by far and away my favourite song of hers so far!

3. Joost - Europapa

4. Billie Eilish - BIRDS OF A FEATHER

5. Jacqline - Effortless :wub: an appropriate title because it really is such an effortlessly slick, cool and precise pop track

6. FRÖKEN SNUSK - UNGA & FRIA

7. Sabrina Carpenter - Please Please Please

10. Cazzi Opeia - Give My Heart A Break

13. Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars - Die With A Smile

15. JADE - Angel Of My Dreams

19. ROSÉ & Bruno Mars - APT.

24. Angelina Mango - la noia

25. Sabrina Carpenter - Taste

27. Kaleen - We Will Rave

37. Shaznay Lewis - Miracle Can't believe it took her so long to release a second solo album! Stellar lead single and I enjoyed the album as a whole too, made me miss All Saints.

39. Artemas - i like the way you kiss me :wub:

40. Lady Gaga - Disease :wub:

44. Dua Lipa - Training Season

49. Zach Bryan - Pink Skies

51. Dua Lipa - Illusion

54. Dua Lipa - These Walls

55. Olly Alexander - Dizzy

56. Beyoncé - TEXAS HOLD 'EM

59. Delta Goodrem - Hearts On The Run Where is the album? :(

63. Dasha - Austin

64. Charli xcx - Apple

65. Perrie - Forget About Us :wub:

67. Ariana Grande - we can't be friends (wait for your love)

68. Sabrina Carpenter - Juno

70. Girls Aloud - Disco Bunny Was really cool to hear "new" Girls Aloud songs after so many years! This was definitely my favourite of the three newbies, it's got that classic Girls Aloud energy.

80. Charli xcx - I think about it all the time

82. Hozier - Too Sweet

84. Dua Lipa - Falling Forever

88. Lady Gaga - Happy Mistake

92. Sabrina Carpenter - Espresso

96. Marcus & Martinus - Unforgettable

98. Michael Aldag - hot chocolate Another year of us hoping for a commercial breakthrough :(

99. Nemo - The Code

 

Fantastic stuff!

Hi there!

 

Here are the songs that I like from your list:

 

2. Chappell Roan - Good Luck, Babe!

3. Joost - Europapa

4. Billie Eilish - BIRDS OF A FEATHER

7. Sabrina Carpenter - Please Please Please

13. Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars - Die With A Smile

14. Bambie Thug - Doomsday Blue

15. JADE - Angel Of My Dreams

19. ROSÉ & Bruno Mars - APT.

24. Angelina Mango - la noia

25. Sabrina Carpenter - Taste

27. Kaleen - We Will Rave

38. Jamie xx & Robyn - Life

39. Artemas - i like the way you kiss me

40. Lady Gaga - Disease

44. Dua Lipa - Training Season

46. Gracie Abrams – That’s So True

47. Baby Lasagna - Rim Tim Tagi Dim

51. Dua Lipa - Illusion

53. Chappell Roan - HOT TO GO!

54. Dua Lipa - These Walls

55. Olly Alexander - Dizzy

56. Beyoncé - TEXAS HOLD 'EM

63. Dasha - Austin

65. Perrie - Forget About Us

67. Ariana Grande - we can't be friends (wait for your love)

76. Annalisa - Sinceramente

77. Gåte - Ulveham

82. Hozier - Too Sweet

84. Dua Lipa - Falling Forever

91. KAROL G - Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido

92. Sabrina Carpenter - Espresso

94. The Last Dinner Party - Nothing Matters

99. Nemo - The Code

 

Great list!

 

I still have to finish my list somehow.