THE SOUND OF 2021

It’s that time of year where people do End Of Year Lists and this blog is no different with the now traditional chart of the best songs of the year.

Nothing scientific, just a scroll through The Friday Fives and trying to put them in order of songs I love the most.

Enjoy, hope i’ve helped you discover something you’ve never heard before

  1. Maneskin – Zitti E Buoni
  2. Gaspard Auge – Force Majeure
  3. Alfie Templeman – Everybody’s Gonna Love Somebody
  4. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – The Mighty Quinn
  5. Sam Fender – Seventeen Going Under
  6. Wesley Gonzalez and Rose Elinor Dougall – Greater Expectations
  7. Tears For Fears – Tipping Point
  8. The Weeknd – Save Your Tears
  9. Lonelady – There Is No Logic
  10. Chvrches – Good Girls
  11. Rag n Bone Man – All You Ever Wanted
  12. Amy Montgomery – Anywhere
  13. Lorde – Solar Power
  14. Coldplay – Higher Power
  15. Laura Mvula – Got Me
  16. The Anxiety – Meet Me At Our Spot
  17. Griff – One Foot In Front Of The Other
  18. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – We’re On Our Way Now
  19. Dermot Kennedy – Better Days
  20. Tom Grennan – Little Bit Of Love
  21. Taylor Swift – All Too Well (Taylor’s version)
  22. Sting – Rushing Water
  23. Holly Humberstone – The Walls Are Way Too Thin
  24. Marshmello and Jonas Brothers – Leave Before You Love Me
  25. Griff – One Night
  26. Royal Blood – Limbo
  27. The Alarm – The Red Wall Of Cymru
  28. Tears For Fears – No Small Thing
  29. Tix – Fallen Angel
  30. Chvrches – The Killing Moon
  31. Harry Styles – Treat People With Kindness
  32. The Roop – Discotheque
  33. Sigrid – Burning Bridges
  34. Baby Queen – Dover Beach
  35. Maisie Peters – John Hughes Movie
  36. Villagers – So Simpatico
  37. Alphabeat – Danmark’s Dynamite
  38. Jendrik – I Don’t Feel Hate
  39. Hooverphonic – The Wrong Place
  40. Jeangu Macrooy – Birth Of A New Age
  41. Andy Bell – Skywalker
  42. U2 – Your Song Saved My Life
  43. The Fratellis – Yes Sir I Can Boogie
  44. Olivia Rodrigo – Good 4 U
  45. Chvrches – He Said, She Said
  46. Mike Patton – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turles
  47. Olivia Rodrigo – Deja Vu
  48. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – We’re Gonna Get There In The End
  49. The Divine Comedy – The Best Mistakes
  50. Franz Ferdinand – Billy Goodbye

So congratulations to Maneskin. There isn’t a formal prize on offer, but you can still bask in the glory of coming top of this poll and joining the Hall Of Fame below.

2020 Tame Impala – Lost In Yesterday
2019 Vampire Weekend – Harmony Hill
2018 Lovelytheband – Broke
2017 Liam Gallagher – For What It’s Worth
2016 The Strumbellas – Spirits
2015 Blossoms – Charlamagne
2014 Jamie T – Zombie
2013 Haim – The Wire
2012 Taylor Swift – We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together
2011 Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – AKA What A Life
2010 Marina and the Diamonds – Shampain
2009 Little Boots – New In Town
2008 Sons and Daughter – Darling
2007 Feist – 1, 2, 3, 4
2006 Kasabian – Empire

THE SOUND OF 2016 : 51-76

51. White Spaces ft Jim Kerr – The Man Who Sold The World
52. Stone Roses – It’s A Beautiful Thing
53. We Are Scientists – Too Late
54. Biffy Clyro – Wolves Of Winter
55. Oasis – Stand By Me (Mustique Demo)
56. Laether Strip – Waterfront
57. Bruce Springsteen – Purple Rain
58. Birdy – Keeping You Head Up
59. Madness – Mr Apples
60. The 1975 – Somebody Else
61. Ellie Goulding – Army
62. Nika Kocharov and Young Georgian Lolitaz – Midnight Gold
63. Simple Minds ft KT Tunstall – Promised You A Miracle
64. Chvrches – Warning Call
65. Tom Odell – Magnetised
66. Nina Nesbitt – Chewing Gum
67. Halsey – New Americana
68. Lorde – Life On Mars?
69. All Saints – One Strike
70. Coldplay – Hymn For The Weekend
71. The 1975 – A Change Of Heart
72. Paul Simon – Wristband
73. Blink 182 – Home Is Such A Lonely Place
74. Laura Mvula – Overcome
75. Graham Nash – This Path Tonight

2016 : THE HALF-TERM HALF CENTURY

It’s that time of year again, where we have reached the halfway point. So, as is tradition, it’s time to look back at the 50 best songs of the year so far.

1. The Strumbellas – Spirits
2. James – Nothing But Love
3. Iggy Pop – Gardenia
4. Blossoms – Getaway
5. Aurora – Conquerer
6. Travis – Magnificent Time
7. Blossoms – At Most A Kiss
8. Grimes – California
9. The Lumineers – Ophelia
10. James – Dear John
11. Christine and the Queens – Tilted
12. Stone Roses – All For One
13. Bloc Party – Virtue
14. Manic Street Preachers – Feels Like Heaven
15. Taylor Swift – Out Of The Woods
16. Last Shadow Puppets – Bad Habits
17. The Temper Trap – Fall Together
18. The Coral – Miss Fortune
19. The Last Shadow Puppets – Aviation
20. Jake Bugg – Gimme The Love
21. Lukas Graham – 7 Years
22. White Spaces ft Jim Kerr – The Man Who Sold The World
23. Tom Odell – Magnetised
24. Foxes – Feet Don’t Fail Me Now
25. Tegan and Sara – Boyfriend
26. Coldplay – Hymn For The Weekend
27. Ellie Goulding – Army
28. Biffy Clyro – Wolves Of Winter
29. Halsey – New Americana
30. Richard Ashcroft – This Is How It Feels
31. Bruce Springsteen – Purple Rain
32. The 1975 – The Sound
33. DNCE – Cake By The Ocean
34. Lorde – Life On Mars?
35. The 1975 – A Change Of Heart
36. All Saints – One Strike
37. Laura Tesoro – What’s The Pressure?
38. Birdy – Keeping You Head Up
39. Nika Kocharov and Young Georgian Lolitaz – Midnight Gold
40. Tame Impala – The Less I Know The Better
41. Paul Simon – Wristband
42. Laura Mvula – Overcome
43. Manic Street Preachers – Together Stronger
44. Sergey Lazarev – You Are The Only One
45. Graham Nash – This Path Tonight
46. Tegan and Sara – U-Turn
47. Chvrches – Warning Call
48. Richard Ashcroft – Hold On
49. Nina Nesbitt – Chewing Gum
50. Travis – 3 Miles High

THE FRIDAY FIVE – 1.2.2013

1. Stereophonics – Indian Summer
2. Arlissa – Sticks And Stones
3. Nina Nesbitt – Boy
4. Wonder Villains – Girls Who Rock
5. Laura Mvula – Green Garden

This week, The Who announced a gig at The Odyssey in June. Have to admit though, a seated gig does ruin the vibe, speaking from experience at Ray Davies last October.

Anyway, to cut to the chase, any excuse for a The Who Top Five.

FIVE SONGS BY THE WHO

1. You Better You Bet
2. Baba O’Reilly
3. Join Together
4. Won’t Get Fooled Again
5. My Generation

Meanwhile, Stereophonics are doing a concert at Waterfront Hall next month. Will certainly be trying to get tickets for this one.

Anyway, sounds like a good excuse for a Stereophonics Top Five

FIVE STEREOPHONICS SONGS

1. Dakota
2. Superman
3. A Thousand Words
4. Just Looking
5. Madame Helga

And finally, Stroke City (Though it’s now marketing itself as Derry ~ Londonderry, should it not be Squiggle City?) is hosting Radio One’s Big Weekend (Or is it Raydeeoo Waaannn’s Biiiggg Weeekennnd hai?) – so feel free to wish me luck when I apply for a ticket.

You know me, I love Radio 1. Every morning I listen to the Noel Edmonds Breakfast Show when I get up.