10:

Lady, You Shot Me by Har Mar Superstar

Probably the best song from Har Mar’s fifth album, Bye Bye 17, I was hooked as soon as it opened. It’s a proper soul record and I love the whole album from start to finish, but this is a great side one, track one. If you’ve never listened to Har Mar before, then I highly recommend picking this up and You Can Feel Me. You’re in for a treat. A very varied treat.

09:

Dance With Somebody by The Midnight

THIS should have been my most listened to Midnight song last year, but it wasn’t. I definitely feel like I listened to this the most and it’s my fave song off the latest album. It has a little something different about it to their usual sound I think. I love the electronic voice used in it, I think it’s very effective and gives us another voice to hear, instead of just Tyler all the time. Not that there’s anything wrong with his vocal work at all. Just nice to break it up.

08:

PILLOWTALK by ZAYN

I hope this goes down as a pop classic. I really love it. I don’t know if I could tell you why. Something about it reminds me of something else but no matter how much I think about it, I can’t place what the memory is that’s being triggered. It’s one particular sound that’s making something in my music brain fire, but I can’t seem to access it. It’s right as the break happens as it heads into the chorus. Occasionally I feel like I’m on the cusp of it, but I never get there. Anyway, ZAYN made a great record with this. I think it’s truly great.

07:

Shadow by Bleachers / Carly Rae Jepsen

3 of 3 for Bleachers. Carly Rae Jepsen has a vastly underrated voice and I don’t think she’s ever got the credit she deserves for making some really great pop songs. Kiss is a brilliant album. Most people will have overlooked it thinking she was a one hit wonder. You’re all wrong! This is a great tune and one of the best duets I’ve heard in forever. I used to go out on my scooter at around midnight and just listen to it on repeat. Ha.

06:

The Sound Of Silence by Disturbed

This is a great cover. I think there’s been a bit of a backlash against this in recent times, but I don’t really get why. It’s brilliantly composed and brilliantly executed. Can’t really ask for much more than that, no matter what you think of Disturbed on the whole. It’s very much the perfect example of making a song you’re own by just singing it well. It didn’t need to vary too much. It’s a perfect song as it is.

05:

Deep Blue by The Midnight

I think this pipped Dance With Somebody simply because it was released earlier in the year. Being the first single we’d had from the guys in like a year, I just drank it up. I assume that’s why it ended up being my most listened song by The Midnight this year. It’s a great tune, I just prefer the other one.

04:

Nobody Speak by DJ Shadow / Run The Jewels

What a tune. DJ Shadow has always been brilliant for pumping out great beats, and to put Run The Jewels over that is inspired. They work together so fucking well, not to mention the video for this song is fucking brilliant. Please watch it. It’s amazing. The icing on the cake is…

Get running
Start pumping your bunions, I’m coming
I’m the dumbest, who flamethrow your function to Funyons
Flame your crew quicker than Trump fucks his youngest
Now face the flame fuckers your fame and fate’s done with

*chefs kiss*

03:

All For You by Rynx / Kiesza

Probably the most surprising entry on the chart. I knew I’d listened to this, and I do really like it, I just didn’t expect it to be so high. It’s a great little synth tune. It always makes me think it’s the sort of thing I hear over YouTubers videos when they’re doing some kind of montage of stuff. I don’t know why I have that image but I do. Good little video, too! Well done, Rynx, 3rd place!

02:

Stranger Love by Ollie Wride / Sunglasses Kid

Thought this was going to be my number 1 if I’m honest. Probably the only synthwave song that I think has ever rivalled Lovers by Timecop1983 for what is the best synth song in my opinion. Ollie just has the best fucking voice for this kinda thing. His voice is great overall, but it fits so perfectly into synth stuff. Sunglasses Kid also put together a song that sounds so perfectly nostalgic and 80s. It’s perfect.

01:

Nothing Breaks Like A Heart by Mark Ronson / Miley Cyrus

I did, obviously, listen to this a lot. Like A LOT. Thinking back over the year, it’s easy to see why this is the number one song. Now, Mark Ronson made a fucking great song here, but I’m giving him zero credit as my love for this song comes entirely from Miley’s vocals. I don’t care if he stuck his hand up her and worked her like a glove puppet. I’m all in on Miley here. I don’t think there’s anything she can’t do and I hope she’s around forever.