2021
A quick look back over my Spotify Wrapped for 2021. Most of it’s easy to guess, some of it’s surprising though.
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100:
Dancing On My Own by Robyn
Last Seen: 3rd in 2017There’s going to a general theme this year of “I really don’t remember listening to this that much!”. Not all the songs, mind you, but here’s the first in the countdown and I’m already thinking it. I really, really don’t remember listening to this that much! I remember when it came third in my 2017 list. I remember that well! This year though… not so much. I always have a hard time knowing what to write in these spaces, and in all honesty, I don’t even know why I feel the need to comment on all the songs, but here we are anyway. Dancing On My Own is from Robyn’s 2010 album, Body Talk. A very good pop album and this is a great pop song.
99:
The Longest Time by Billy Joel
Last Seen: 2nd in 2018I think this is proof if proof were needed that I need to start branching my music taste out more. I think, as it is, it’s pretty vast; there’s very little I actively dislike. Mainly country and rave. Even then, #notallcountry, but all of rave can pretty much get in the bin. The Longest Time is from Billy Joel’s album The Longest Time. Without thinking about it too much, I’d say that this album would make my top 20 of all time. Maybe top 10. It’s a classic.
98:
All The Girls Love Alice by Elton John
Last Seen: New Entry!The first new entry of this years top 100. Funnily enough, it’s a song I feel like I do actually listen to all the time. This song marks the first time that Elton John sang about a gay character in one of his songs! Bet you didn’t know that. Or, you probably did.
97:
Black & Gold by Sam Sparro
Last Seen: New Entry!I loved this song the very first time I heard it and then, for some reason, barely ever listened to it. I think it’s still just as good now as it’s ever been. Whatever happened to Sam Sparro? He kinda fell out of the mainstream after 2012’s Return To Paradise. Apparently after checking Spotify, he has had a couple of albums in the last couple of years, but his listenership has fallen off. A shame. Very talented guy. His 2008 self titled album is a fucking banger.
96:
I Feel It Coming by The Weeknd / Daft Punk
Last Seen: New Entry!Three new entries in a row! Madness! The Weeknd is one of my fave artits… yes, artits. I’m sticking with it. Sounds like a pirate who’s just seen boobs. I still need House of Balloons to round off my Weeknd vinyl collection, but short of me winning the lottery, I don’t see it happening anytime soon. I’m fairly sure Starboy was 2016 which means this is celebrating it’s 5th anniversary this year. Honestly, it’s nice to see a song that feels like it’s been around a while having such a low numbered birthday. Feels like all my fave stuff is having 30 and 40th anniversaries at the moment and it’s just another way of reminding me that I’m almost dead. Death. That’s what I feel coming. I feel it coming, babe. I feel it coming. I feel it coming, babe.
95:
Give up by Birdy
Last Seen: 1st in 20166 songs in and we find our first former winner! I mean, I don’t know if Birdy would see it as winning to have ever topped one of my most listened to charts, but, obviously I feel like it’s an incredibly high honour, up there with winning a Grammy. Give Up is still my fave song by Jasmine, and honestly I don’t ever see her topping it in my eyes. I’m sure she’ll do better songs, but for me, this is the GOAT. The fact it never made the main album for Beautiful Lies is mad to me.
94:
Crazy by Seal
Last Seen: New Entry!Another new entry! This isn’t helping my thing about listening to some different stuff. Having just mentioned songs and such having their anniversaries, here we are with Seal’s classic Crazy, which turned 30 this year. I don’t have a massive amount to say about this one, so I hope you enjoy the very early 90s music video. Some classic tropes on display!
93:
Falling To Pieces by Faith No More
Last Seen: New Entry!1 place up and 2 years prior, we find Faith No More’s Falling To Pieces from the album The Real Thing. I think that album is probably their best work. Maybe 92’s Angel Dust is better but… no. I’m sticking with The Real Thing. Just look at the opening three tracks, all of which are contenders for their best ever song. I don’t think anyone in my family was ever a huge fan of their music. If anyone, it would have been my brother I’d imagine. Just don’t remember hearing them a lot when I was younger.
92:
Take Me To The Pilot by Elton John
Last Seen: New Entry!6 new entries in the first 9 songs. That’s not bad at all. I don’t think that pace is going to continue, however. The rest of the 100 is going to be a lot of stuff that’s appeared before. Take Me To The Pilot is from Elton John’s self titled, second album from 1970. It’s the one that’s got that not very well known track, Your Song on. Did you know that he released 12 albums between 1969 and 1976? How fucking mad is that!
91:
Mad About You (Live) by Hooverphonic
Last Seen: 26th in 2020I honestly didn’t think this would have fallen as many places as it has since last year. I feel like this is something else I’ve heard quite a lot this year. I gave up a while ago trying to work out the line-up of the band since, I think the original singer is back in the group now. Remember when every week it felt like there had been 9 new Sugababes, keeping track of Hooverphonic is like that. Was nice to see them on Eurovision this year though! Who’d have thunk it!
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90:
Power Glove by Clutch
Last Seen: 66th in 2020Woooooooooooooooo. That’s the one way to describe this song. Last year I’ll have mentioned Lucas Barton, and I wasn’t going to let this year go by without bringing him up. After all, he LOVES the Power Glove. LOVES IT! We all know after he showed off his Rad Racer skills, he put it on and had a wank. It’s fact. Enjoy not knowing what the fuck I’m talking about.
89:
Don’t Leave Me Lonely by Mark Ronson Feat. Yebba
Last Seen: 37th in 2020I think what I like most about this song is that it doesn’t try to be more than it needs to be. With someone like Yebba doing the vocals, it’d be tempting to end up trying to belt it out like Sia doing one of all her songs. It’s never like that. It’s understated and beautiful. I like the video, too, which is always a plus. The title is one of those that doesn’t really make grammatical sense, but works for the song and I’m fine with that. lol.
88:
Don’t Be So Serious by Low Roar
Last Seen: 60th in 2020I banged on enough about this being great last year. This year, I’ll just say “yup!” and leave it at that.
87:
America by Razorlight
Last Seen: New Entry!Here’s another “Did I really listen to this that much?!” moment. Genuinely can’t remember listening to it even once. Obviously, I’m wrong, but here’s the thing. I think I could be forgiven for listening to a song a handful of times and forgetting about it. It could have all been within the first week of the year. However, forgetting listening to something enough to make this list? I’m clearly going mad and not only because I can’t remember it, but also because I listened to it at all. Fucking Razorlight. I disgust myself. Ha.
86:
Murder Song (5, 4, 3, 2, 1) Acoustic by AURORA
Last Seen: New Entry!AURORA! Do I have to type it in capitals every time? Who does she think she is? ZAYN?! AURORA is a beautifully voiced Norwegian whom I got into this year. I don’t even remember (running theme) where I heard her first. It’ll probably have been in a film or TV show like usual. I did, at some point, create a playlist of a load of new stuff I wanted to try and I think it might have been on there. I’ve deleted it since so can’t be 100% on that. This is specifically the acoustic version of MUR… (Checks capitalisation)… Murder Song, which I prefer to the original song from her 2016 album, All My Demons Greeting Me As A Friend. Good album title.
85:
If This Is Love by Ruth B.
Last Seen: New Entry!Another new one and another one I’ve got no idea where it came from. This was very early in the year, I do remember that, and was also on the same playlist as the prior song. It’s a very lovely ballad, and again, like the Ronson/Yebba track, it’s never more than it needs to be. Great tune. I might just start talking about people on here like I’m Alex Horne. Ruth is Canadian and owns a scarf!
84:
Superstition by Stevie Wonder
Last Seen: New Entry!No explanation needed.
83:
New Divide by Linkin Park
Last Seen: New Entry!This is just the worse version of What I’ve Done, right? Everyone knows this, right? “Lads, we need another one of them What I’ve Done songs for the next Transformers film!” I still love it though. Chester is sorely missed. I’d love to know what they’d be putting out now with him still around. Even if it was just reworking this song over and over. I’d lap it up.
82:
What About Us by Pink
Last Seen: New Entry!Pink’s last good song. There, I said it.
81:
Skinny Love by Bon Iver
Last Seen: 41st in 2020I think I’ll have gone over how to actually pronounce the band name last year, so I won’t repeat myself. This is an amazing song and I’m fairly sure it’ll go down as a classic in years to come.
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80:
Relax by Frankie Goes To Hollywood
Last Seen: 3rd in 2019A former top 5 song! I don’t know why it fell out of my most listened to last year. I think I was listening to it more than usual in 2019 because I wrote an intro to an imaginary Hotline Miami film and in my head, it was set to this song. I wrote a good intro, but I would say that, I wrote it. Still think Hotline Miami needs to be a film. sigh. Anyway, this is a out and out classic and one of my fave song intros of all time.
79:
Never Too Much by Luther Vandross
Last Seen: 42nd in 2020Still perfection, nothing to add.
78:
How To Disappear by Lana Del Rey
Last Seen: New Entry!Lana.
Lana.
LAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNAAAAAAAAAAA!NFR is a great album and this is my fave song from it. I think the biggest expanse of my record collection last year was down to LDR. I think I got 8 albums by her. Maybe 7. Depends how you count the Paradise add on. Thinking way too much out loud now. This song is great, go listen to it. In fact, don’t go anywhere, just press play on the video! If you’re interested, 0:40 in the actual song is why I love it so much. Not the lyrics, not the music, just the lift in her vocie. Yep. Vocie. That’s what we’re calling it nowadays. GET WITH THE PROGRAM.
77:
Nobody Knows by The Tony Rich Project
Last Seen: New Entry!I love this song like Lucas Barton loves his wanking mitten. From the Grammy award winning 1996 album, Words, this was also nominated for best male vocal performance or something similar to that. Best male pop vocal performance? The categories are so specific it’s hard to remember. You know, if you ever wanted an amazing collection of albums, just buy all the albums that have won best R&B album. They only started dishing it out in 1995, so it’s not a massive amount of albums but they’re all brilliant and worth it. Just miss out 2012.
76:
She Said by Plan B
Last Seen: New Entry!Is it just me or should this song be older than 12 years? 2010? Really? It feels like it came out in the mid 2000s. From the great album, The Defamation of Strickland Banks, this will far and away always be his biggest hit. It’s what put him on the map as far as I remember. Still think it was way earlier than 2010. He has a great voice, being able to sing like that and then rap to a decent level. “He’s so… multitalented!” I may be misremembering that quote but points if you know what it’s from.
75:
Meet Me Halfway by Black Eyed Peas
Last Seen: New Entry!What the fuck happened to Black Eyed Peas?! I mean, they’re still releasing stuff, but it’s shitty. Was Fergie where all the quality came from? I’m upset, I don’t want to talk about it.
74:
Elephant by Damien Rice
Last Seen: New Entry!Elephant, aka, The Blower’s Daughter 2.0. I don’t like Damien Rice as a person, and I don’t really know why. I’m not basing that on the lyrics, as, they’re not all true etc, they’re just songs. Sure, some can be based on real stuff but again, we don’t know what’s real and what not. I just think, whenever I see his face, that he looks like a dick. Sorry, Damien. Actually, I’m not sorry, you dick.
73:
Bye Bye Blackbird by Joe Cocker
Last Seen: 68th in 2019Written about this enough time. It’ll keep coming up year after year because it’s fucking incredible. I probably mentioned it last time, but this came out in 1969. NINETEEN SIXTIE NINE! LISTEN TO IT! The song was even written way before that. WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY before that. Fairly sure Sol still thinks this is a 2/10 song.
72:
Jason by The Midnight
Last Seen: 29th in 2020If I had to pick 5 songs to give someone to get into The Midnight, this would be one of them. Maybe not the first, maybe not the last, maybe not even second, third or fourth, but it would be one of them. Makes sense.
71:
Everybody Wants To Rule The World by Tears For Fears
Last Seen: 49th in 2019Welcome to your life, there’s no turning back. Good opener. I’ve always loved this song for as long as I can remember, and as we’ve established already, my memory is tip top! As I think I mentioned last time, it’s that driving rhythm that I love so much. Hat tip as usual to the Lorde cover as I think I also mentioned last time.
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70:
Shadow by Bleachers with Carly Rea Jepsen
Last Seen: 7th in 2020I really, really, really, need to get the Bleachers albums for my collection. Really like his work. Fond memories of going out at midnight on my scooter and just riding around whilst listening to this.
69:
Waves by Dean Lewis
Last Seen: 31st in 2019Last seen in 2019, however, this was number 1 in 2018! I still really like this, but I guess last year I didn’t like it as much. Back in the list for this year, however. Weirdly, I think it was last year that I learnt to play it on the guitar, or at least started to. I wonder why it didn’t place. Odd.
68:
Dream Away by The Midnight
Last Seen: 84th in 2020The 2nd of 4 songs by The Midnight on this year’s list and the first from their most recent album. One thing I think The Midnight are very good at is including songs like this that challenge the mould of Synthwave and let them branch out into other areas. This is a great fucking tune and it grows on me more and more every single time I hear it. Also, it doesn’t start with what Tyler was or wasn’t looking for, which is a plus.
67:
Trampoline by SHAED with ZAYN
Last Seen: 28th in 2020It’s an all caps affair! SHAED featuring ZAYN. I wonder what makes someone want to have their name always written in caps. It’d be a bit of a power move to announce that my name is now CHRIS. Not Chris, or chris, or Ms Jackson if you’re nasty, but CHRIS. Anyway, I like the normal version of this, but I think ZAYN actually adds an extra layer to it. It’s from the 2019 album, Melt, well, the normal version is, I think you need the Deluxe version if you want the Zayne version.
66:
Let’s Face The Music And Dance by Nat King Cole
Last Seen: 62nd in 2019Given that this came out in 1964, I think that this is probably the oldest song on my list this year! I’ve spoken about it plenty before, so onto the next song.
65:
Counting Stars by OneRepublic
Last Seen: New Entry!This is a banger but it’s nothing amazing. I feel like it genuinely wouldn’t matter what he was saying as long as you sung it in that rhythm to drive the song. Seriously, try it, make up your own words.
64:
Numb/Encore by Linkin Park and Jay-Z
Last Seen: New Entry!One of the greatest mashups of all time. Nothing else to add to that. I don’t even know anyone fresher than Hov’.
63:
Silk by Wolf Alice
Last Seen: 66th in 2017I was a firm believer that My Love Is Cool, Wolf Alice’s first album from 2015 was their best work, but then last year they released Blue Weekend and now I don’t know what to think. Silk on the other hand will probably always be my fave song of theirs. It’s just TOO good.
62:
The Middle by Jimmy Eat World
Last Seen: 55th in 2019Blah blah The Middle. Great video etc.
61:
Set Adrift On Memory Bliss by P.M. Dawn
Last Seen: New Entry!You know, I never knew P.M. Dawn are American. I don’t think I thought they were a particular nationality, I just don’t think I ever considered it. I can go to bed tonight having learnt something. P.M. Dawn are American. I get the feeling, however, you people just learnt that P.M. Dawn is a group, and not a person.
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60:
Jealous Guy by Roxy Music
Last Seen: New Entry!coughbestcoverever*cough*. New entry? Really? That does surprise me. Searching the site for this only brings up the page when I used it as one of my daily song posts. Well here it is at long last. Bryan Ferry is too cool in the video. TOO COOL. HE DOESN’T CARE WHAT YOU THINK! He needs to be careful he doesn’t end up in Intergalactic Cool Court for crimes against Coolmanity! That’s for you, Regular Show fans.
59:
Murderers by John Frusciante
Last Seen: New Entry!Speaking of people that are too cool. John Howeveryoupronouceit. Guitarist for the Red Hot Chili Peppers every other month. Actually, to be fair, I think he’s only left… twice? Maybe three times. John is super duper cool. Almost as much as me for using the phrase super duper. I really love his solo stuff and as usual, need to add some to the record collection but I’d imagine it’s all stupid money now!
58:
I Did Something Weird Last Night by Jeff Rosenstock
Last Seen: 71st in 202071st last year and 58th this year. Jeff is heading in the right direction. What a hero. From the album Worry that came out in 2016 and was featured in James Acaster’s book etc. It really is a brilliant album and well worth your time. I think I latched onto this song more than most because of that ridiculously catchy chorus. It’s perfect. Just been reminded that I bought special gravy for chicken ready for Christmas and then went and got beef for dinner. Jesus I’m a dickhead at times. Not at all relevant.
57:
Redbone by Childish Gambino
Last Seen: 77th in 2019Jimmy Fallon: “Singing Red Bone…”
IT’S ONE WORD YOU COLOSSAL DICKEND. That always bothers me when I watch the live performance Childish Gambino did on his show. I know you can’t see how many words he said it as, but I could hear it!
56:
Spirit by Judah & The Lion
Last Seen: New Entry!Lovely little song that I only heard when I saw the trailer for the Mighty Ducks TV series. That I subsequently watched. All of. IT WAS GREAT AND I’D DO IT AGAIN SO FUCK OFF! This song smacks of trying to be like those folky twats. Erm. Mumford & Sons. That’s them there folky twats. Anyway, great tune.
55:
All The Same by Sick Puppies
Last Seen: New Entry!I’ve been listening to this for years and it’s finally made the list. I guess I upped my listens! More famous for it’s video than for the actual song, I’d guess. It came out in… hmm. You know, I don’t think I know. I’m going to guess… 2008? checks BAH! 2009. I knew it was late 2000s. The video is the free hugs one that’s cleverly cut together to make it seem like it was some sort of massive oppression that he wasn’t allowed to hug people. It’s still nice though.
54:
Hook by Blues Traveler
Last Seen: 73rd in 2020Blah blah, the hook brings you back.
53:
Eyes Without A Face by Billy Idol
Last Seen: 55th in 2020Blah blah, a floating pair of eyes etc. Actually, let’s quickly acknowledge that this song has been in every single chart since I started tracking them etc. I think I questioned if it was my fave ever song last year. It may well be. I’ve always said that it’s Roads by Portishead, but where are you, Portishead!? I think it’s a perfect song and I’d happily listen to it all day.
52:
Despacito by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee
Last Seen: 88th in 2019Let’s ask Sol about this and see if he still likes it. I don’t think it’s his fault it’s on my list this year but I don’t remember listening to it more than the previous songs. I asked him if he still likes it and he said no, and when I asked why, he shouted “I DON’T KNOW!”. Probably just leave this there, then.
51:
Nothing Burns Like The Cold by Snoh Aalegra
Last Seen: 22nd in 2020Last year’s 22, this year’s 51. I still listen to this album a lot and this track especially. It’s so fucking good. I’m a big fan of the line, “Can we talk about us, like we care about us”. It’s very nice. I’ve just managed to finally get one of her albums on vinyl as well, which is nice. Sadly not either of the first two which are my faves. DAMN YOU, SNOH!
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50:
Monsters by Angus Powell
Last Seen: New Entry!I thought this had been in my chart before, but apparently not. I first heard this in a TV show and, thinking about it now, I can’t remember at all what it was. It may have been Sherlock, but I’m guessing. Great tune from a guy who has under 10k monthly listeners on Spotify. Check him out.
49:
Yesterday by The Beatles
Last Seen: 27th in 2020What a great tune. I mean, it’s not Coldplay. It’s not Fix You.
48:
PILLOWTALK by ZAYN
Last Seen: 8th in 2020Again with the capital letters. Am I supposed to shout his name whenever I say it? A drop of 40 places for ZAAAAYYYYYNNNN! I really do love this song. I’m not really sure what it is about it that’s really made me stick with it so much. There’s a tiny sound in it that always makes me think of another song, and every time that moment arrives, I start to hear the other song and then I lose it. I’ve been trying to work out what the song is for a few years now, but I’ve never been able to get it.
47:
One Day Like This by Elbow
Last Seen: New Entry!Surely one of the greatest intros of all time. Not sure why this is on my list though. I remember listening to it a few times, but not enough to make it this high up my most listened to songs. Not mad at it though, it’s a classic.
46:
Run (It’s Never Too Late) by Classic Fiction
Last Seen: 43rd in 2020Speaking of “Classic”, check out that segue! Another song that is hugely underrated and barely listened to. Classic Fiction are currently sat at 2,199 listeners on Spotify. A tragedy! As usual, I heard it somewhere and it now escapes me. It will probably have been a TV show or film or something. Highly recommended, obviously.
45:
July by Noah Cyrus
Last Seen: New Entry!Noah Cyrus seems to have shot up in popularity recently and it’s no surprise it’s due to the massive improvement in the quality of her music. July is a great tune. The whole EP is worth a listen. It’s called THE END OF EVERYTHING. Yep. In all caps. sigh
44:
Immigrant Song by Led Zeppelin
Last Seen: 98th in 2020Yep.
43:
Heavy, California by Jungle
Last Seen: 15th in 2020I think the thing I like most about this song is how it’s parsed. It’s sung in a really different way. Plus, you know, it’s catchy as fuck, has a great beat to it and it’s put together super well. Jungle continue to impress with their new album also. I hope they’re around for a while!
42:
Diamonds by Rihanna
Last Seen: 44th in 2019What’s odd about this is that it was in this chart, 2019 and 2017. It keeps missing a year out. Maybe we’ll see it in 2023, who knows! I think this is Sia’s best song (that she gave to someone else). Rihanna knocks it out the park and it’s always going to be one of my favourite songs. Also, Rihanna only has 48 million listeners if you could all go help her out!
41:
Holding Out For A Hero by Bonnie Tyler
Last Seen: 35th in 2020I can’t imagine a time when I would ever turn this off if it came on. It’s been one of my fave songs for as long as I can actually remember. I can remember my mum really liking it when it came out. I would have been about 3. I think it’s one of the songs I had on my tape player that I used to take everywhere with me.
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40:
We Don’t Need Another Hero by Tina Turner
Last Seen: New Entry!From Holding Out For A Hero to We Don’t Need Another Hero. Tina and Bonnie, the classic battle. This is such a cool song. Tina is ace, as always, but I think it’s the music that really makes this song for me. It’s so understated. I feel like there was probably a temptation there to really rock it up during the verses, but I’m glad they didn’t. It’s perfect the way it is.
39:
Master Blaster (Jammin’) by Stevie Wonder
Last Seen: New Entry!Another that I don’t really remember listening to as much as I’d have needed to for it to be so high up my list. Don’t get me wrong, I love the song, but, yeah, just don’t recall listening to it a lot. I’d put this down as a contender for his best song, but I’d probably vote Part Time Lover, still. Another song that I don’t think I’ve ever turned off if it’s been on.
38:
Gorgeous by Ash and Naila
Last Seen: 30th in 2017Facts.
37:
Nothing Breaks Like A Heart by Mark Ronson and Miley Cyrus
Last Seen: 1st in 2020Last year’s number 1! The video for this was shot in Ukraine There’s also a strong chance that the video below won’t play because it’s age restricted, probably due to Miley’s ass cheeks being on prominent display. I’ve listened to this song a lot the last two years and I don’t see myself slowing down that much. I absolutely love it. I think it’s a masterpiece.
36:
Dance With Somebody by The Midnight
Last Seen: 9th in 2020Every time, and I mean EVERY TIME (Like Zayne wrote it), I hear this, I get annoyed at the writing of Some Dance Partners Need A Dance Partner. I don’t know if it’s the repetition of it that annoys me or what, I just know that I don’t like it haha. I love the song, obviously. It was top 10 last year and it’s in the top half this year, but I’m never gonna get past that line. I have a few issues with the lyrics on the last album, which I’ve spoke of before, but I’ll let them off as I love them so much.
35:
Through The Cellar Door by Lanterns On The Lake
Last Seen: 46th in 2019I’ve written about this enough.
34:
Dynamite by BTS
Last Seen: New Entry!How can anyone not like this? Seriously. It’s one of the catchiest songs I’ve ever heard. It’s like musical Covid. The lyrics definitely intrigue me though.
33:
Think About Things by Daði Freyr
Last Seen: New Entry!Speaking of catchy songs. Here’s the musical Ebola. I think Iceland were robbed not being allowed to re-submit this at Eurovision last year. I’m 100% sure they’d have won with it. Just listen to it. It’s flawless.
32:
Slow Dancing In A Burning Room by John Mayer
Last Seen: New Entry!New Entry?! Really? I find that mad, given that I listen to this all the time, or so I thought. I wonder if I listen to it on YouTube a lot or something. I definitely listened to it there when I was learning it. Probably the case. One of my fave guitar solos, ever. It’s short but sublime. I like a guitar solo that isn’t more than it needs to be.
31:
On Our Way Home by Empire Of The Sun
Last Seen: 7th in 2018Written about this loads as well. I still think it’s one of the best electronic songs out there.
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30:
Bom Bom by Sam And The Womp
Last Seen: 90th in 2017Bom Bom BOM! Not seen since it came 90th in 2017. I can’t express enough how much I like this song. I think it’s genius and I’m not even joking.
29:
Youth by Daughter
Last Seen: 62nd in 2020Still perfect. Written about it enough though.
28:
Sign Of The Times by Harry Styles
Last Seen: New Entry!I thought this may have been number 1 this year before I saw my chart. I fell in love with it earlier in the year. I think it’s superb. Both his first two albums have been really good and I’m excited for more work. Conversely, the music video is shit. lol.
27:
Thing Song Has No Title by Elton John
Last Seen: 94th in 2020I’m glad this shot up quite a bit from last year, and that there’s more Elton in my list this year. I think this is fast becoming my fave song of his!
26:
The Promise by When In Rome
Last Seen: 87th in 2019I’m also glad that this made it back into my list. It’s such a perfect slice of 80s pop. It’s a shame that they just disappeared after they made it. Maybe they just felt like they’d peaked and it’d clearly be downhill after this! Ha.
25:
Don’t Take The Money by Bleachers with Lorde
Last Seen: 18th in 2020You steal the air out of my lungs, you make me feel it.
24:
Stranger Love by Ollie Wride and Sunglasses Kid
Last Seen: 2nd in 2020I think last year I suggested that this is the only synth song I’ve ever thought rivalled the mighty Lovers by Timecop198 and Seawaves. I think I stand by that. Lovers still takes the crown though. Ollie can’t be faulted vocally. He’s our best synthwave vocalist currently. Josh Dally wants what he’s got so bad! lol.
23:
Fascination by Alphabeat
Last Seen: 19th in 2018Wooooooooooooooo! One of the finest feel good songs this century has produced.
22:
Hey Jealousy by Gin Blossoms
Last Seen: 21 in 2018I love the feeling that this song gives me. I can’t explain it, but I love it.
21:
I’m So Excited by The Pointer Sisters
Last Seen: New Entry!One of the finest feel good songs the last century produced! I remember listening to this, but not THAT much. Another mystery entry!
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20:
The Bird by SYML
Last Seen: New Entry!This song is so fucking good. I love the mix of styles and how it handles the transitions between them. He does a great job with the vocals and uses them to hold the whole thing together. Work of art.
19:
Surrender by Birdy
Last Seen: New Entry!Huzzah! Birdy, once more! I watched her live show that she did during quarantine and loved it. Glad she’s back. The new album was excellent and this song in particular is a delight.
18:
What’s Up Danger by Blackway and Black Caviar
Last Seen: 6th in 2019Wrote about this enough! A fucking tune.
17:
Kitsune by Gunship
Last Seen: 31st in 202031st last year and 1st the year before that, I think! 3rd place in synthwave behind Stranger Love and Lovers. Facts!
16:
Out Of Touch by Hall & Oates
Last Seen: 99th in 2019Also written about this too much. It’s forever going to be one of the greatest ever 80s tunes and I can’t find anything about it I don’t like. Except that god awful edit of it that’s usually used for the video. That can get in the bin.
15:
Is Everybody Going Crazy by Nothing But Thieves
Last Seen: New Entry!By far the best song off of Moral Panic. I listened to this a fuck ton back in the early months of the year. Moral Panic one of two Nothing But Thieves albums released last year, if you include Typhoons by Royal Blood. Wink wink.
14:
Relief by Chris Garneau
Last Seen: New Entry!I can’t believe it’s taken this long for this song to appear in my list. I don’t think it’s actually true. I refuse to believe it. I’ve been listening to this song a lot for the last 15 years at least. I still think it’s as perfect as the first time I heard it.
13:
Nightcall by Kavinsky
Last Seen: 35th in 2015Written about it loads. Drive wouldn’t be the same film without it.
12:
Take Me Where Your Heart Is by Q
Last Seen: New Entry!Q! This guy put Trump in power? I jest. This song is so good. I want more of his stuff! I also really want this LP. WANT WANT WANT!
11:
The Night We Met by Lord Huron
Last Seen: 54th in 2019Not sure why this didn’t make it in last year. As I’m secretly a teenage girl inside, I’ve been listening to this a lot since it came out. I’m not slagging off teenage girls by the way. I don’t want letters. The cadence of “I had all and then most of you, some and now none of you” is so great.
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10:
Never Tear Us Apart by INXS
Last Seen: 69th in 2020Oh God. Like I haven’t written enough about this over the years. It’s perfection. We all know it. It’ll be in the chart most years, get used to it.
9:
Are We Having Any Fun Yet? by Larkins
Last Seen: 14th in 2020Speaking of songs that’ll be in the chart most years… I think this has the potential. It’s so very good. I haven’t decided yet if I like the band on the whole. They have some great songs. This and TV Dream to pick two. I think I need more examples of their work though. I think they could be great, but I also think they could go completely in the wrong direction.
8:
Blinding Lights by The Weeknd
Last Seen: 24th in 2020Me looking for the reason I bother writing all these posts.
7:
Smile by Jungle
Last Seen: 95th in 2020Jungle’s finest work, I think. Just enjoy it!
6:
The Dark Sentencer by Coheed and Cambria
Last Seen: New Entry!Coheed! I do love me some modern prog rock. They’ve got more new music out now as well! What a time to be alive lol.
5:
Kayleigh by Marillion
Last Seen: 80th in 2019lol. Yeah.
4:
Kissing Girls by Grady
Last Seen: New Entry!This was the other song I was convinced was gonna be my most listened to song of last year. 1 minute and 40 seconds of perfection. I’m not gonna say too much about it, but this song is gonna be in playlists of mine for a long time to come. “Let’s eat dinner twice, cos nothings fucking with those curves”.
3:
Someone You Love by Lewis Capaldi
Last Seen: New Entry!I have nothing to say about this. I don’t know why.
2:
Exile by Taylor Swift and Bon Iver
Last Seen: New Entry!I knew this would be high up. It’s a great song. I’m glad that Justin finally gave in and sang on it. I believe he didn’t want to at first and the song would have been very different without him. His voice sits so perfectly next to hers. Taylor knows how to write!
1:
Neon Medusa by The Midnight
Last Seen: New Entry!Synthwave at its very best. The Midnight finally top my year end chart. They’ve had a few goes at it now but they’ve finally made it. Rightly so, too. I really love this tune. It couldn’t be more perfect. Congrats, guys!
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Just for funsies I thought I’d throw some stats together this year for the end of year chart. Here you go!
Number of Songs: 100 (Obviously)
Total Playlist Length: 6 hours, 39 minutes, 43 seconds
Average Song Length: 4 minutes. Exactly. Well, 1/100th of a second or so under 4 minutes.
Number of Artists: 88 (I only included the lead artists)
Number of Countries: 17
Number of Decades: 7Artists with more than 1 song:
4 x The Midnight
3 x Elton John
2 x The Weeknd
2 x Jungle
2 x Birdy
2 x Stevie Wonder
2 x Mark Ronson
2 x Linkin Park
2 x BleachersCountries of origin for artists:
39 x USA
27 x England
6 x Australia
2 x Iceland
2 x Sweden
After those, all the other countries have 1 artist each
