Everything posted by Ansel
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The Pop Factor: Season 2 • Boot Camp: Part One (Solo Female)
1 ROSALÍA - Aute Cuture 2 Lily Allen - Everyone’s At It 3 Kesha - Take It Off 4 FKA twigs - Perfectly 5 LiSA - Another Great Day!! 6 Toni Braxton feat. Loon - Hit the Freeway 7 Delta Goodrem - Wings 8 Nadia Oh - Jump Out the Window
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The Pop Factor: Season 2 • Boot Camp: Part One (Groups)
1 ABBA - SOS 2 The 1975 - The Sound 3 Florence + the Machine - Spectrum (Say My Name) [Calvin Harris Remix] 4 Calvin Harris feat. HAIM - Pray to God 5 Scissor Sisters - Filthy/Gorgeous 6 Erasure - Sometimes 7 Blondie - Denis 8 The Corrs - So Young (K-Klass Remix) 9 Ace of Base - Cruel Summer (Big Bonus Mix) 10 Atomic Kitten - I Want Your Love 11 The Chicks - Gaslighter
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The Pop Factor: Season 2 • Boot Camp: Part One (Solo Male)
1 David Bowie - Modern Love 2 George Michael - Too Funky 3 The Weeknd - Take My Breath 4 Troye Sivan - My My My! 5 Conan Gray - Never Ending Song 6 Fred again.. - Jungle (Rico Nasty Remix) 7 Guitarricadelafuente - Agua y Mezcal 8 Ruel - YOU AGAINST YOURSELF 9 Nik Kershaw - Dancing Girls 10 Shawn Mendes - There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back 11 Eric Saade feat. DEV - Hotter Than Fire
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BJSC 182: Confirmations
Fine if I can't have Tove I'm sending Polish rap instead x
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The Pop Factor: Season 2 • The Solo Male Orbit Auditions
1 Troye Sivan - Strawberries & Cigarettes 2 Guitarricadelafuente & Troye Sivan - midsummer pipe dream 3 David Bowie - Young Americans 4 Nik Kershaw - Gone to Pieces 5 George Michael - Freeek! 6 Conan Gray - Killing Me 7 Fred again.. - Berwyn (all that i got is you) 8 The Weeknd - A Lesser Man 9 Shawn Mendes - Lost in Japan (Zedd Remix) 10 Ruel - Not What’s Going On 11 Eric Saade - Every Minute 12 Markus Riva - Forever
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The Pop Factor: Season 2 • The Solo Female Orbit Auditions
1 ROSALÍA - DIABLO 2 Chappell Roan - Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl 3 Kesha - Blow 4 Lily Allen - Who’d Have Known 5 Kelly Clarkson - Gone 6 LiSA - Gurenge (紅蓮華) 7 FKA twigs - Glass & Patron 8 Michelle Branch - You Set Me Free 9 Nelly Furtado & Tiësto - Who Wants to Be Alone 10 Toni Braxton - You’re Makin’ Me High 11 Nadia Oh - Taking Over the Dancefloor 12 Delta Goodrem - Sitting On Top of the World
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The Pop Factor: Season 2 • The Groups Orbit Auditions
1 HAIM - I Know Alone 2 Blondie - Hanging On the Telephone 3 Florence + the Machine - Queen of Peace 4 The 1975 - Love Me 5 Erasure - So the Story Goes 6 Scissor Sisters - Take Your Mama 7 The Chicks - Not Ready to Make Nice 8 Ace of Base - Beautiful Life 9 The Corrs - I Never Loved You Anyway 10 Atomic Kitten - If You Come to Me 11 ABBA - Hole in Your Soul 12 Girlicious - Over You As soon as I saw I Know Alone here I knew what my #1 would be, probably my fav HAIM song!
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BJSC 182: Confirmations
Sent something Sarah Kinsley-esque (or have I) ((I assume what I've sent has already been confirmed tbh))
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The Pop Factor: Season 2 • The Solo Female Earth Auditions
01 Nelly Furtado - I’m Like a Bird 02 ROSALÍA - MALAMENTE (Cap.1: Augurio) 03 Chappell Roan - Good Luck, Babe! 04 Kesha - Praying 05 Michelle Branch - Everywhere 06 LiSA - QUEEN 07 Delta Goodrem - Innocent Eyes 08 Toni Braxton - You Mean the World to Me 09 Kelly Clarkson - Walk Away 10 FKA twigs - ride the dragon 11 Lily Allen - URL Badman 12 Cher Lloyd - Sirens 13 Nadia Oh - Hot Like Wow
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The Pop Factor: Season 2 • The Solo Male Earth Auditions
01 David Bowie - Life on Mars? 02 Nik Kershaw - The Riddle 03 Troye Sivan - Got Me Started 04 George Michael - Faith 05 The Weeknd - Blinding Lights 06 Conan Gray - Actor 07 Fred again.. & The Blessed Madonna - Marea (we’ve lost dancing) 08 Ruel & DMA’S - What a Life 09 Guitarricadelafuente - BABIECA! 10 Luke Black - VOMIT 11 Shawn Mendes - Teach Me How to Love 12 Eric Saade - Made of Pop 13 Markus Riva - You Make Me So Crazy The Riddle is getting robbed in some of these votes, one of my fav 80s songs!
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The Pop Factor: Season 2 • The Groups Earth Auditions
01 Florence + the Machine - Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up) 02 The Corrs - Breathless 03 Blondie - Maria 04 The 1975 - It’s Not Living (If It’s Not With You) 05 Ace of Base - All That She Wants 06 ABBA - As Good As New 07 Erasure - Drama! 08 HAIM - Forever 09 Scissor Sisters - I Don’t Feel Like Dancin’ 10 Atomic Kitten - The Tide is High 11 The Chicks - Goodbye Earl 12 A1 - Same Old Brand New You 13 Girlicious - Like Me
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2025 in review (ansel's version)
Finally finishing this off 🤠 05 Just Two - Rose Gray Rose has had a lot of huge hits this year and we're finally at the biggest! 'Just Two' is a dance-pop banger, which just maybe samples Eiffel 65? Rose Gray's EOY history: 2020 44 Same Cloud 2021 66 Easy 2021 70 Nothing Can Stop Us 2022 32 Prettier Than You 2022 38 Cupid 2022 75 Promise Me 2023 10 Ecstasy 2023 59 Sun Comes Up 2023 96 Promise Me 2024 47 Angel Of Satisfaction 2025 05 Just Two 2025 17 First 2025 52 Lotus 2025 57 Everything Changes (But I Won't) (ft. Shygirl & Casey MQ) 2025 61 April 2025 79 I Don't Speak French 04 Favourite Daughter - Lorde 'Favourite Daughter' is one of the most straight-up-pop moments on 'Virgin' and is a really interesting look into family relationships. 'Virgin' soundtracked my 2025 pretty heavily and considering I've just today booked to see her in Bristol later this year (along with Rose Gray!), I think 2026 will be another big Lorde year for me! Lorde's EOY history: 2021 24 Solar Power 2021 34 Mood Ring 2024 02 Girl, so confusing (with Charli XCX) 2025 04 Favourite Daughter 2025 12 What Was That 2025 20 Shapeshifter 2025 49 Broken Glass 2025 91 David 03 Abracadabra - Lady Gaga This section basically is a rundown of the most iconic albums of the year for me, and now it's Gaga's turn! 'Abracadabra' is dark-pop excellence, as was its predecessor 'Disease', which perhaps set up a different direction for 'Mayhem' to the more 80s synth-pop album we ended up with. No complaints however as it's a great album, and 'Abracadabra' remains an absolute dancefloor anthem. Lady Gaga's EOY history: 2020 33 Stupid Love 2020 56 Rain On Me (ft. Ariana Grande) 2020 65 Babylon 2020 66 Sour Candy (ft. BLACKPINK) 2021 71 911 (A.G. Cook remix ft. Charli XCX) 2021 76 1000 Doves (Planningtorock remix) 2021 89 Babylon (Jimmy Edgar remix ft. Bree Runway) 2024 67 Disease 2025 03 Abracadabra 2025 46 How Bad Do U Want Me 2025 48 Vanish Into You 2025 60 Zombieboy 2025 70 Garden Of Eden 02 Fame is a Gun - Addison Rae Seeing Addison live over the summer was a real 2025 highlight for me and this song was a real moment! I think it's been really interesting to see popstars getting very self-aware about their place in the industry lately (see also: everything Charli XCX does these days), so 'Fame is a Gun' plays perfectly into that trope for me. Addison Rae's EOY history: 2024 84 Aquamarine 2025 02 Fame is a Gun 2025 16 Headphones On 2025 75 Aquamarine 01 Baller - Abor & Tynna And to top my 2025 EOY chart, a one-hit wonder from Eurovision! Germany has been consistently one of my least favourite countries in the contest, so it definitely took me by surprise that they actually sent something good for once? This song owes a lot to Charli and the electropop sound that's made a comeback in the last few years, but it's great to hear something so fresh from a country that usually insists on sending dated drivel. Also, a very deserved success on the UK charts! Abor & Tynna's EOY history: 2025 01 Baller
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2025 in review (ansel's version)
10 Deslocado - NAPA 'Deslocado' is a song that didn't feel like an immediate fave to me. But I let TikTok influence me and here we are 🤷♂️ It's a gorgeous, nostalgic song about missing your home, and I love that despite becoming a global trend, the song kept its meaning and was used for the exact purpose of celebrating people's hometowns/countries. NAPA's EOY history: 2025 10 Deslocado 09 Leash - Sky Ferreira Released right at the end of 2024, 'Leash' is the first Sky Ferreira release in thirty-eight years and we are all the better for it. The pulsing instrumentation and 80s flourishes in-between lines make it an instant synthpop classic, earning it a rightful 4 weeks at the top of my chart. Sky Ferreira's EOY history: 2025 09 Leash 08 Parachute - Hayley Williams Hayley's recent output has been deeply personal, and nothing more so than this song. Going into very specific detail about her relationship with her bandmate, the lyrics are truly heartbreaking and a real insight into what I can only imagine as such a confusing situation to find yourself in. However it's a gorgeous song which I kinda mentally hijacked to soundtrack the end of my own relationship, giving it a very long life in my chart and a real personal tie to 2025 for me. Hayley Williams' EOY history: 2020 02 Simmer 2020 16 Over Yet 2020 17 Sugar On The Rim 2020 21 Dead Horse 2020 50 Pure Love 2020 54 Leave It Alone 2020 63 Taken 2020 70 Roses/Lotus/Violet/Iris 2020 71 Watch Me While I Bloom 2020 83 Crystal Clear 2021 27 My Limb 2021 29 Inordinary 2021 72 Colour Me In 2021 93 Over Those Hills 2021 95 First Thing To Go 2025 08 Parachute 2025 21 Mirtazapine 2025 26 True Believer 2025 30 Showbiz 2025 93 Discovery Channel 07 The Subway - Chappell Roan 'The Subway' was teased for so long that the hype was huge, and it definitely didn't disappoint. There's a very clear 90s dream-pop-y influence going on, and the lyrics paint such a beautiful picture of being unable to forget the small things about someone. I think Chappell is really proving herself as such a varied artist and I hope we hear some more new stuff this year too! Chappell Roan's EOY history: 2024 16 HOT TO GO! 2024 35 Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl 2024 50 Femininomenon 2024 57 Good Luck, Babe! 2025 07 The Subway 2025 92 The Giver 06 Deep Diving - After Frutigering it to the max, we have a Pestolian BJSC entry in the form of 'Deep Diving'! I heard this on TikTok for ages before the song was actually released, and fell in love instantly, just waiting for it to actually drop. After have perfected that 00s visual language in their artwork and videos, and it translates so well into their music as well, because you can literally imagine this in the background of some early 00s Windows program. I'm also always a sucker for songs about beaches and the ocean, and this leans heavily into the All Saints 'Pure Shores' vibes for added 00s realness. After's EOY history: 2025 06 Deep Diving 2025 22 Outbound
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DANÆVIIA_181_BJSC_FINALE_RESULTS
So close to the top ten, and the fact that I gave The Spodic Empire the exact amount of points they needed to be 10th as well as the aforementioned, very glad to have Cheiron, Fljótavík, Bøtanikkä, Sovarasma, Scotland 2, and Elëdan in the top ten too! Neliönoir disgustingly robbed tho x Thank you to Flynnonda for the 18pts as well as any other voters, and thanks Dan for a great contest!
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The Pop Factor: Season 2 • The Orbit Auditions Results
This is so insanely stacked wtf ready for the bloodbath! Are there even any artists left for Season 3? Not giving any hints about who I am but I actually wrote roughly 1/3 of my uni dissertation on one of these artists and I'm excited to see if any of their songs I spent months of my life over-analysing show up here x
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2025 in review (ansel's version)
Thank you again Sergej! :) 15 Bur man laimi - Tautumeitas [25 - 29 - 32 - 01 - 01 - 04 - 06 - 09 - 09 - 07 - 10 - 14 - 22 - 26 - 32 - 38] Eurovision songs have done quite well this year (I... don't predict the same for 2026 x) and even though this isn't the highest one in this countdown, I do think it's probably my favourite (or 2nd favourite) entry of the year. The harmonies are so otherworldly and it was staged in such a perfect way to create a sort of eerie submarine world. Tautumeitas's EOY history: 2025 15 Bur man laimi 14 House Tour - Sabrina Carpenter [05 - 01 - 02 - 04 - 05 - 07 - 10 - 10 - 14 - 20 - 21 - 27 - 31 - 38 - RE - 29 - 30 - 39] Sabrina's album went heavy on the country-pop vibe but my favourites are the ones where she drifts away from that - hence the very 80s 'House Tour'! The lyrics are full of the kind of double entendres that Sabrina has made her trademark, and I wish it had been a fully-fledged single! Sabrina Carpenter's EOY history: 2024 15 Espresso 2024 44 Please Please Please 2024 60 Taste 2025 14 House Tour 2025 54 Busy Woman 2025 64 Manchild 2025 90 Nobody's Son 13 ICH KOMME - Erika Vikman [02 - 02 - 02 - 05 - 08 - 08 - 06 - 06 - 10 - 14 - 18 - 22 - 30 - 40] More Eurovision here, with an absolute stadium anthem from Finland! I'm still surprised this one missed the top ten in the contest as it felt like such a favourite beforehand. Erika Vikman's EOY history: 2025 13 ICH KOMME 12 What Was That - Lorde [19 - 01 - 01 - 03 - 03 - 04 - 08 - 08 - 11 - 16 - 26 - 31 - 35 - 36 - 35 - 39 - 39 - 39 - 39 - 39 - 39 - 39 - 39 - 39 - 39 - 39 - 39] Lorde's comeback was always going to be big here, and knowing that she was returning to a more electronic sound was very exciting. 'What Was That' certainly didn't disappoint, and remains one of my favourites from the whole era. Lorde's EOY history: 2021 24 Solar Power 2021 34 Mood Ring 2024 02 Girl, so confusing (with Charli XCX) 2025 12 What Was That 2025 20 Shapeshifter 2025 49 Broken Glass 2025 91 David 11 The Fate of Ophelia - Taylor Swift [01 - 01 - 01 - 03 - 04 - 04 - 06 - 09 - 12 - 12 - 21 - 28 - 17 - 18 - 28] Meanwhile, Taylor's latest album was a bit of a letdown! Luckily she's started to get good at choosing lead singles post-Lover, so the album's highlight was a very deserved smash. It's hugely catchy and comes with a visually stunning music video - I especially love the part set on a ship at sea. Taylor Swift's EOY history: 2020 67 cardigan 2021 17 All Too Well 2021 42 Renegade (with Big Red Machine) 2021 45 'tis the damn season 2022 15 Anti-Hero 2022 31 Karma 2022 37 The Great War 2022 40 You're On Your Own, Kid 2022 47 Snow On The Beach (ft. Lana Del Rey) 2022 64 Labyrinth 2022 68 Bigger Than The Whole Sky 2023 43 Enchanted 2023 64 Back To December 2025 11 The Fate of Ophelia 2025 45 Opalite
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The Pop Factor: Season 2 • Registration
V excited for this again! I've entered but am ready with a few backups x
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2025 in review (ansel's version)
20 Shapeshifter - Lorde [08 - 03 - 03 - 04 - 05 - 06 - 08 - 12 - 16 - 22 - 24 - 28 - 33 - 35 - 35 - 38 - 38] 'Shapeshifter' was one of the album tracks from Virgin that really hooked me on first listen. I'd describe it as the equivalent of Supercut, with the lyrics quite literally shapeshifting between the different roles Lorde describes herself playing. Lorde's EOY history: 2021 24 Solar Power 2021 34 Mood Ring 2024 02 Girl, so confusing (with Charli XCX) 2025 20 Shapeshifter 2025 49 Broken Glass 2025 91 David 19 Playing Classics - Water From Your Eyes [02 - 01 - 03 - 04 - 06 - 08 - 10 - 10 - 12 - 18 - 25 - 36 - 39 - 40 - 23 - 24 - 34] A BJSC discovery now, the highest BJSC-related song in this countdown except one of my own entries which is coming up soon! The band have said they were trying to write a Charli XCX song when they wrote this, and while I don't quite hear the similarities it does make sense that I'd gravitate to it if that was their intention! I really love the deadpan vocal delivery and the strange piano instrumentation. Water From Your Eyes' EOY history: 2025 19 Playing Classics 18 Stateside - PinkPantheress [04 - 02 - 02 - 02 - 03 - 07 - 07 - 09 - 13 - 24 - 30 - 34 - 35 - 33 - 38] I hardly need to introduce this song anymore considering what a smash it's gone on to become! I honestly don't listen to the Zara remix that much, although I love how much of a moment it's become and the music video builds on each artist's hype so well. For me it's all about The Dare's production on the solo version, but overall it's just great to see PinkPantheress getting another hit and reclaiming that overly British-ised (?) aesthetic. PinkPantheress' EOY history: 2021 21 Just for me 2023 14 Angel 2023 45 Boy’s a liar 2025 18 Stateside 2025 28 Illegal 2025 47 Tonight 17 First - Rose Gray [07 - 06 - 05 - 05 - 07 - 07 - 08 - 14 - 18 - 18 - 25 - 31 - 26 - 33 - 28 - 28 - 40 - 39 - 40 - 40 - 40 - 40] Rose has had an incredible year and it's been so rewarding to see her finally getting her flowers (although not enough of them!). 'First' became a fast fave of mine as one of the most high-energy songs on 'Louder, Please', with lyrics about competitiveness in a relationship. The 'da-da-da-da' chorus kind of reminds me of 'My Favourite Game' by the Cardigans if that makes sense? Rose Gray's EOY history: 2020 44 Same Cloud 2021 66 Easy 2021 70 Nothing Can Stop Us 2022 32 Prettier Than You 2022 38 Cupid 2022 75 Promise Me 2023 10 Ecstasy 2023 59 Sun Comes Up 2023 96 Promise Me 2024 47 Angel Of Satisfaction 2025 17 First 2025 52 Lotus 2025 57 Everything Changes (But I Won't) (ft. Shygirl & Casey MQ) 2025 61 April 2025 79 I Don't Speak French 16 Headphones On - Addison Rae [01- 02 - 03 - 04 - 04 - 06 - 11 - 13 - 15 - 17 - 27 - 32 - 36 - 37 - 36 - 40 - 40 - 40 - 40 - 40 - 40 - 40 - 40 - 40 - 40 - 40 - 40] Typing out that chart run is actually sending me why did I give this song TWELVE WEEKS at #40 😭😭 justified though because it's a stunning song, with Addison really getting into her trip-hop bag for the first time and setting up the main sound of her album. The music video is stunning too - and who knew the supermarket Iceland actually exists in Iceland? Addison Rae's EOY history: 2024 84 Aquamarine 2025 16 Headphones On 2025 75 Aquamarine
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2025 in review (ansel's version)
Thanks Sergej! 25 RADIO - Frost Children ft. Kim Petras [01 - 03 - 03 - 05 - 08 - 08 - 10 - 13 - 16 - 21 - 27 - 30 - RE - 33 - 33] 'RADIO' is what Frost Children do best - big throwback 2010s EDM pop, and was an instant #1 for me. It's their highest song in my countdown, and I have no doubt they'll appear again in future years as their album 'SISTER' was one of my favourites of 2025! Frost Children's EOY history: 2025 25 RADIO (ft. Kim Petras) 2025 74 WHAT IS FOREVER FOR 2025 78 CONTROL 2025 80 Falling Kim Petras's EOY history: 2025 25 RADIO (with Frost Children) 2025 34 I Like Ur Look 24 Girl Feels Good - FKA twigs [02 - 03 - 03 - 05 - 06 - 07 - 11 - 15 - 15 - 22 - 29 - 31 - 37 - 37 - 37] A lot of 'EUSEXUA' has a Madonna-esque feel to it, and this song could easily pass for a 'Ray of Light' album track. I genuinely cannot understand why Twigs took this song off the deluxe edition, it's an immediate highlight for me! FKA twigs' EOY history: 2022 23 darjeeling (ft. Jorja Smith & Unknown T) 2022 65 jealousy (ft. Rema) 2022 81 papi bones (ft. Shygirl) 2025 24 Girl Feels Good 2025 82 Got To Feel 2025 96 Childlike Things (ft. North West) 23 The Boys & The Girls - Babymorocco [06 - 06 - 04 - 04 - 06 - 07 - 11 - 17 - 18 - 24 - 24 - 28 - 29 - 32 - 34] Babymorocco has had a big year with 4 EOY entries, and this is his highest. It's pop in a similar vein to Frost Children, with a real throwback sound. The rap chorus sound easily be cringe but I think Babymorocco's persona makes it work really well and fit the 2000s/2010s era he's referencing. Babymorocco's EOY history: 2025 23 The Boys & The Girls 2025 40 Jean Paul 2025 59 Really Hot 2025 99 Redeye 22 Outbound - After [01 - 02 - 03 - 05 - 06 - 08 - 11 - 12 - 21 - 24 - 27 - 31 - 34 - 31 - RE - 36 - 36 - 40] After are one of my favourite discoveries of the year, they make such great 00s-influenced pop. 'Outbound' is slightly less electronic and more acoustic than their earlier songs, but it's a gorgeous song that would sound great in a coming-of-age movie. After's EOY history: 2025 22 Outbound 21 Mirtazapine - Hayley Williams [06 - 08 - 02 - 02 - 06 - 07 - 08 - 13 - 16 - 19 - 25 - 29 - 33 - 36 - 36 - 37 - 37] One of the rockier tracks on Hayley's album, 'Mirtazapine' is an ode to an antidepressant drug. Like the rest of the album, it's very open and personal, and I love the heavier, intenser sound than what's found across most of the record. Hayley Williams' EOY history: 2020 02 Simmer 2020 16 Over Yet 2020 17 Sugar On The Rim 2020 21 Dead Horse 2020 50 Pure Love 2020 54 Leave It Alone 2020 63 Taken 2020 70 Roses/Lotus/Violet/Iris 2020 71 Watch Me While I Bloom 2020 83 Crystal Clear 2021 27 My Limb 2021 29 Inordinary 2021 72 Colour Me In 2021 93 Over Those Hills 2021 95 First Thing To Go 2025 21 Mirtazapine 2025 26 True Believer 2025 30 Showbiz 2025 93 Discovery Channel
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2025 in review (ansel's version)
Thanks Sergej, those are all great choices! 30 Showbiz - Hayley Williams [02 - 02 - 01 - 01 - 02 - 04 - 04 - 04 - 04 - 08 - 11...] The final song to be released from Hayley's iconic 20-single album, and the only one to go #1! That actually feels so wrong because I love the whole album so much. 'Showbiz', like the other 2 tracks belatedly added to the album's tracklist, is much more explicitly about what seems to be the end of a relationship and not being quite sure how to process that. I think the production is so interesting, especially the vocal effects, which is something it's been especially interesting to see Hayley experimenting more with on this whole project. Hayley Williams' EOY history: 2020 02 Simmer 2020 16 Over Yet 2020 17 Sugar On The Rim 2020 21 Dead Horse 2020 50 Pure Love 2020 54 Leave It Alone 2020 63 Taken 2020 70 Roses/Lotus/Violet/Iris 2020 71 Watch Me While I Bloom 2020 83 Crystal Clear 2021 27 My Limb 2021 29 Inordinary 2021 72 Colour Me In 2021 93 Over Those Hills 2021 95 First Thing To Go 2025 30 Showbiz 2025 93 Discovery Channel 29 Pussy Palace - Lily Allen [01 - 02 - 02 - 04 - 06 - 08 - 07 - 12 - 15 - 25 - 36...] The Lily Allenaissance this year has been so thoroughly deserved and I love that she managed it with something so deeply personal. Like, can any of us really relate to visiting your second home and finding out that your husband is not in fact using it to practice martial arts? But nonetheless, everyone becoming so firmly team Lily is so valid and it was great to see her back in the top ten after so long! Lily Allen's EOY history: 2025 29 Pussy Palace 2025 81 Ruminating 28 Illegal - PinkPantheress [21 - 23 - 02 - 06 - 05 - 07 - 07 - 13 - 15 - 19 - 23 - 25 - 33 - 34 - 36 - 37 - 37] The first two weeks of this song's chart run are genuinely criminal (/illegal x), what was I thinking? Luckily I soon realised it's a banger and corrected that, and while Stateside (the original!) has overtaken it in my estimations now, I do think this is one of Pink's best. PinkPantheress' EOY history: 2021 21 Just for me 2023 14 Angel 2023 45 Boy’s a liar 2025 28 Illegal 2025 47 Tonight 27 FUFN (f*** You For Now) - JADE [03 - 01 - 04 - 04 - 05 - 08 - 12 - 12 - 17 - 20 - 27 - 34] None of the singles from JADE's album disappointed, including this one. It's a great cold-hearted piece of electro-pop, slightly more on the Ava Max side than the all-to-the-wall Angel Of My Dreams but still pop perfection! JADE's EOY history: 2024 28 Angel Of My Dreams 2025 27 FUFN (f*** You For Now) 2025 42 Backbone 2025 55 gossip (with Confidence Man) 2025 89 Plastic Box 26 True Believer - Hayley Williams [02 - 02 - 03 - 04 - 08 - 09 - 12 - 16 - 21 - 22 - 27 - 31 - 37 - 38 - 38 - 38 - 38] 'True Believer' is such an insightful song, covering gentrification, enshittification, gun violence, racism, and religious corruption in less than four minutes. I'm glad this one got a good deal of attention on release via TikTok, because the lyrics are really brave for an artist with a decent amount of profile - the section after 'the south will not rise again' especially always gives me chills. Hayley Williams' EOY history: 2020 02 Simmer 2020 16 Over Yet 2020 17 Sugar On The Rim 2020 21 Dead Horse 2020 50 Pure Love 2020 54 Leave It Alone 2020 63 Taken 2020 70 Roses/Lotus/Violet/Iris 2020 71 Watch Me While I Bloom 2020 83 Crystal Clear 2021 27 My Limb 2021 29 Inordinary 2021 72 Colour Me In 2021 93 Over Those Hills 2021 95 First Thing To Go 2025 26 True Believer 2025 30 Showbiz 2025 93 Discovery Channel
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2025 in review (ansel's version)
Thank you both for your comments! Zjerm is such an intriguing song and I definitely recommend Jade's version of Backbone :) 35 JRJRJR - Jane Remover [15 - 05 - 08 - 07 - 08 - 06 - 08 - 11 - 14 - 24 - 28 - 30 - 35 - 38] Jane Remover's music is quite honestly the most overstimulating experience I can imagine but I really do love it. 'JRJRJR' is about self-doubt and public perception, and something I really love about Jane's music is how self-referential it is: you can always recognise sound effects and samples from their other music. Jane Remover's EOY history: 2024 10 Flash in the Pan 2025 35 JRJRJR 34 I Like Ur Look - Kim Petras [02 - 02 - 03 - 03 - 05 - 08 - 14 - 15 - 28 - 33 - 16 - 17 - 27] I've always been a bit wary of engaging TOO much with Kim given her... closest collaborator, but I'm glad she's now moved away from him and is working with Frost Children a lot, who really compliment the sound and image she's going for. This is straight up 2010s EDM-pop and it's just fun! I hope that now Kim is negotiating her way out of her record deal, she can keep working in more interesting circles and make more stuff like this. Kim Petras's EOY history: 2025 34 I Like Ur Look 33 harvest sky - Oklou ft. underscores [02 - 02 - 03 - 06 - 10 - 11 - 15 - 20 - 23 - 23 - 23 - 25 - 37] Getting into Oklou was a real highlight of my year discovery-wise, and this was the most immediate song for me. I think the best description of her is, in Ethel Cain's words, 'pop music for bugs' the memes inserting sound effects from this song into random clips are also iconic x Oklou's EOY history: 2025 33 harvest sky (ft. underscores) 2025 67 Crystallise My Tears (with Danny L Harle & MNEK) 2025 84 take me by the hand (ft. Bladee) 32 Berghain - ROSALÍA ft. Björk & Yves Tumor [20 - 01 - 01 - 03 - 05 - 06 - 06 - 13 - 21 - 14 - 16 - 26 - 38...] Rosalía coming back swinging with an opera-pop epic was not what I expected this year but I've been absolutely obsessed! Motomami-era Rosalía will always be so special to me but this is such a great introduction to the Lux era and feels like such a different, brave step for her. I love as well that THIS is what gets her into the UK top 40 on her own merit at long last x ROSALÍA's EOY history: 2020 09 TKN (ft. Travis Scott) 2022 05 DESPECHÁ 2022 24 CHICKEN TERIYAKI 2022 91 SAOKO 2023 26 VAMPIROS (ft. Rauw Alejandro) 2025 32 Berghain (ft. Björk & Yves Tumor) 2025 66 Dios Es Un Stalker Björk's EOY history: 2025 32 Berghain (with ROSALÍA & Yves Tumor) Yves Tumor's EOY history: 2023 38 Echolalia 2025 32 Berghain (with ROSALÍA & Björk) 31 WHERE IS MY HUSBAND! - RAYE [01 - 02 - 04 - 05 - 07 - 09 - 12 - 14 - 20 - 26 - 29 - 40 - RE - 28 - 29 - 38] It's genuinely so nice to see Raye getting continued success now that she's actually able to release her own music how she wants to, and this was a great lead single. Maybe a little overplayed by now but I'm still very here for it, and looking forward to seeing what her new album brings in 2026! RAYE's EOY history: 2022 97 Escapism. (ft. 070 Shake) 2023 37 Escapism. (ft. 070 Shake) 2023 49 Black Mascara. 2023 53 Prada (with cassö & D-Block Europe) 2025 31 WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!
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2025 in review (ansel's version)
Thanks Joseph! Mayhem is definitely an album that defines 2025 for me Slowing things down now for the top 40 with a few more stats along the way 🤓 40 Jean Paul - Babymorocco [03 - 04 - 05 - 09 - 11 - 14 - 15 - 20 - 21 - 26 - 30 - 35 - 37 - 37] I still remember my reaction the first time I heard this song. Babymorocco sings this song in character as the titular 'Jean Paul'... which means he sings the entire song with a French accent. At the time, I left this track to one side and listened a lot more to a different track (which is yet to come). However, eventually the completely nonsensical 'I want to rearrange it / I want to go and taste it' became a bit of a vocal stim for me and a friend, and this song made a late entry into my chart. It's fun! Babymorocco's EOY history: 2025 40 Jean Paul 2025 59 Really Hot 2025 99 Redeye 39 PRINCESA PORRO - SIMONA [15 - 20 - 06 - 04 - 05 - 05 - 09 - 13 - 17 - 21 - 29 - 39] The title of this song translates to 'Joint Princess' and is basically just about a weed dealer. It's a fun, catchy, reggaeton-influenced banger in SIMONA's typical bold brash fashion. SIMONA's EOY history: 2023 54 PLUSH 2025 39 PRINCESA PORRO 38 Chains of Love - Charli XCX [03 - 01 - 02 - 03 - 03 - 06 - 12 - 07 - 08 - 16 - 21...] After the huge success of BRAT, the question was always going to be: where does Charli go next? She admitted she wanted to do something completely different, and swapping club-ready electronic production for dramatic orchestrals definitely fits that description! This is gorgeously dramatic and cinematic, and I'm excited to hear the rest of her Wuthering Heights soundtrack (also, I never posted my 2024 EOY but just look below to see how much she devoured ). Charli's EOY history: 2020 34 claws 2020 39 i finally understand 2021 09 Good Ones 2021 22 CHARGER (with ELIO) 2021 71 911 (with Lady Gaga & A.G. Cook) 2021 96 New Shapes (ft. Christine and the Queens & Caroline Polachek) 2022 25 Beg For You (ft. Rina Sawayama) 2022 27 Baby 2022 29 Used To Know Me 2022 39 Every Rule 2022 44 Yuck 2022 46 Crash 2022 59 Constant Repeat 2022 63 Lightning 2022 80 Twice 2023 20 Speed Drive 2024 01 Talk talk (solo or ft. Troye Sivan) 2024 02 Girl, so confusing (solo or ft. Lorde) 2024 03 Guess (solo or ft. Billie Eilish) 2024 06 Von dutch (solo or A.G. Cook remix ft. Addison Rae) 2024 07 360 2024 08 Apple 2024 09 Sympathy is a knife (solo or ft. Ariana Grande) 2024 12 Everything is romantic (solo or ft. Caroline Polachek) 2024 18 B2b 2024 27 365 (solo or ft. Shygirl) 2024 31 Club classics (solo or ft. Bb trickz) 2024 39 So I (solo or A.G. Cook remix) 2024 92 Mean girls 2025 38 Chains of Love 2025 58 Talk talk (ft. Troye Sivan) 2025 98 Everything is romantic (ft. Caroline Polachek) 37 F*** Me Eyes - Ethel Cain [02 - 02 - 03 - 03 - 07 - 10 - 14 - 19 - 26 - 30 - 34 - 36] I'm just gonna be honest, I've struggled to get into Ethel Cain! :( But when I heard this song, it was nothing like what I knew her for. The production is gorgeous synthpop that honestly wouldn't sound out of place on a recent Taylor Swift album, with lyrics inspired by the 80s classic 'Bette Davis Eyes'. I was a bit disappointed by Ethel's album overall but this is a real gem from it (sorry!). Ethel Cain's EOY history: 2025 37 F*** Me Eyes 36 Jungle - Sugababes [04 - 02 - 05 - 06 - 07 - 10 - 13 - 13 - 19 - 22 - 29 - 36] 'Jungle' is such an infectious upbeat song that shows how much the girls excel at any tempo. Just give us that album already! Sugababes' EOY history: 2023 13 No Regrets 2023 94 Summer of '99 2023 97 Boys 2025 36 Jungle 2025 100 Weeds
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Ranking Kylie's #2s
Confide in Me On a Night Like This Better the Devil You Know Love at First Sight Kids (with Robbie Williams) I Believe in You The Loco-motion Got to Be Certain Wouldn't Change a Thing Je Ne Sais Pas Pourquoi Give Me Just a Little More Time #7 and below I don't really go out of my way to listen to, but this is such a competitive list!
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2025 in review (ansel's version)
Thank you Sergej, glad you liked all those songs! :) 50 tower of memories - ivri [03 - 07 - 08 - 09 - 11 - 15 - 18 - 24 - 28 - 32 - 35 - 35] 49 Broken Glass - Lorde [04 - 05 - 07 - 10 - 12 - 16 - 21 - 24 - 28 - 32 - 35 - 37 - 38 - 38] 48 Vanish Into You - Lady Gaga [12 - 13 - 13 - 20 - 27 - RE - 05 - 04 - 08 - 18 - 11 - 14 - 23 - 33...] 47 Tonight - PinkPantheress [05 - 03 - 03 - 05 - 06 - 11 - 18 - 25 - 32 - 35] 46 How Bad Do U Want Me - Lady Gaga [02 - 05 - 05 - 08 - 12 - 14 - 18 - 21 - 22 - 35 - 37 - 38] 45 Opalite - Taylor Swift [02 - 02 - 04 - 06 - 09 - 11 - 17 - 23 - 27 - 38 - RE - 31 - 31] 44 Relationships - HAIM [01 - 03 - 06 - 07 - 11 - 14 - 17 - 17 - 28 - 31 - 33 - 38] 43 GRAN VÍA - Quevedo ft. Aitana [02 - 01 - 01 - 02 - 03 - 02 - 04 - 04 - 05 - 10 - 13 - 18 - 19 - 22 - 29 - 36] 42 Backbone - JADE [02 - 01 - 02 - 03 - 07 - 12 - 18 - 21 - 28 - 35] 41 One of the Greats - Florence + The Machine [08 - 07 - 04 - 02 - 02 - 05 - 08 - 05 - 05 - 11 - 17...] We're on the very edge of my 2025 top 40 now, but before we get there we're starting with one of my BJSC entries. I heard this so much on TikTok and knew I had to send it - it feels like an updated version of Paramore's 'All I Wanted' at times. At #49 is Lorde with 'Broken Glass', one of the poppiest moments on Virgin. Several Gaga songs as per usual by this stage, 'Vanish Into You' is one that really grew into a highlight over time, hence it re-entering my chart towards the end of this year (I think winter is definitely its season!). 'Tonight' was the introduction to a phenomenal era for PinkPantheress, meanwhile 'Opalite' was one of the few bearable songs from Taylor's latest album xx HAIM made a comeback this year with the R&B-influenced 'Relationships' - although I did struggle to connect with much of the rest of their album which was a shame as Women In Music was one of my favourite things they've done. Quevedo & Aitana scored a late-2024 #1 with 'GRAN VÍA', and its success continued into the start of 2025 (for me this is such a cold weather song because of when it originally released, so I've been listening to it a lot again lately!). JADE covered Chase & Status's 'Backbone' for Radio 1 and gave it a streaming release, and I loved it enough to make it a chart-topper. I love the production flip-up and how she showcases her heritage on this version of the song. And finally, cruelly denied a top 40 placing is Florence + The Machine's 'One of the Greats' which just feels so huge and cathartic to me, my highlights of Florence's latest album are the songs that examine how women are perceived in the music industry (i.e., this one and 'Music By Men').
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2025 in review (ansel's version)
60 Zombieboy - Lady Gaga [05 - 09 - 07 - 09 - 13 - 16 - 21 - 22 - 23 - 36] 59 Really Hot - Babymorocco [14 - 17 - 22 - 09 - 05 - 06 - 10 - 13 - 14 - 19 - 25 - 28 - 31] 58 Talk talk - Charli XCX ft. Troye Sivan [03 - 05 - 06 - 07 - 11 - 15 - 18 - 19 - 20 - 26 - 31 - 39 - RE - 01 - 01 - 01 - 01 - 02 - 04 - 05 - 03 - 05 - 04 - 03 - 03 - 03 - 05 - 05 - 03 - 07 - 08 - 11 - 14 - 15 - 20 - 26 - 29 - 32 - 37] 57 Everything Changes (But I Won't) - Rose Gray ft. Shygirl & Casey MQ [23 - RE - 07 - 07 - 06 - 09 - 13 - 20 - 24 - 33 - 38 - 21 - 22 - 32] 56 SMH - Jae Stephens [02 - 03 - 05 - 08 - 12 - 15 - 23 - 28 - 33 - 39] 55 gossip - Confidence Man ft. JADE [09 - 05 - 07 - 09 - 13 - 19 - 21 - 26 - 28 - 30 - 34] 54 Busy Woman - Sabrina Carpenter [04 - 05 - 05 - 10 - 14 - 14 - 21 - 28 - 30 - 35 - 35 - 36] 53 Zjerm - Shkodra Elektronike [14 - 11 - 09 - 11 - 14 - 14 - 14 - 15 - 19 - 26 - 33] 52 Lotus - Rose Gray [06 - 03 - 05 - 09 - 09 - 14 - 21 - 26 - 37 - 40 - 24 - 25 - 35] 51 TRANKIS - Aitana ft. Barry B [03 - 03 - 07 - 09 - 12 - 15 - 17 - 25 - 29 - 32] This section starts off strong with a Gaga album track - despite not having the longest of chart runs it's turned into a real Mayhem highlight for me! Next up, an uptempo dance number from Babymorocco, 'Really Hot' sees Rocco acknowledging that he is really hot, self aware king x He's recently said he doesn't plan on releasing anything that sounds like this song again soon, which is a shame as it's one of my favourites from him! 'Talk talk' by Charli is my longest charting song of all time (tied with 'Girl, so confusing' on 38 weeks), most of its insane chart run was actually in 2024 where it was understandably the biggest song of the year. Next is a real slow burner from Rose Gray which got a new lease of life thanks to a Shygirl remix. Jae Stephens feels like she's finally getting her flowers (just not enough of them) and this is one of my favourite songs from her - 'SMH' in this instance rather iconically stands for 'so many hoes' 'gossip' is a great collab from JADE and Confidence Man - I love that JADE has really pushed the boundaries of what a post-Little Mix career could look like. Next up is 'Busy Woman' which remains one of my favourite Sabrina songs, 'Zjerm' is... honestly not a song I've thought about in a while! But a real return to form for Albania in Eurovision. At #52 is 'Lotus': you wait for one song to sample 'Dark & Long' by Underworld and in 2025 you get 2! To cap this section off is an Aitana album track, the relatively chilled 'TRANKIS' which I think is a good representation of Aitana's latest album as a whole, more reflective and melancholy at times than her poppier previous efforts.