THE SOUND OF 2020

We haven’t had our first 24 hours of 2021 yet and I can’t imagine that many want to look back at 2020, but it’s time for my annual look back at the best songs of the past year.

I’m not going to insult you by cutting and pasting the usual about how it was a great year and all that. It really wasn’t.

Even though we got treated to some interesting covers and live online concerts from bored pop stars in lockdown, i’d swap all that for a return to normality.

As much as i’ve loved Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s Kitchen Disco, i’d rather it not have to exist, if you know what I mean.

I actually have concert tickets for 2021, unsurprisingly, most are carried over from 2020.

Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott are first up in April, although that is looking ambitious, considering that Paul Weller scheduled for the week before has already been put back to November.

Also in the diary is Lightning Seeds, Ash, Doves and Beabadoobee.

Hopefully, when I do get back to concerts, it won’t be in the first batch. Let’s be honest, they’ll be full of tanked up bellends determined to “make up for” what they’ve “missed out on”.

You don’t realise how much a sound crowd adds to a concert until you’re surrounded by bellends.

So, enjoy the best songs of 2020. Hopefully, i’ve introduced you to something you’ll like.

Let’s hope 2021 will be a lot better than 2020, although we’re working off a very low bar.

1. Tame Impala – Lost In Yesterday
2. The Weeknd – Blinding Lights
3. Powfu ft Barbadoobee – Death Bed
4. Post Malone – Circles
5. David Guetta and Sia – Let’s Love
6. Royal Blood – Trouble’s Coming
7. Beabadoobee – Care
8. Paul Molloy – Dungaree Day
9. Shader – Don’t You Forget About Me
10. Georgia – Running Up That Hill
11. Declan McKenna – Beautiful Faces
12. Tom Grennan – Amen
13. Andy Bell – Cherry Cola
14. Lady Gaga – Stupid Love
15. Dea Matrona – Roll With It
16. Blossoms – Paperback Writer
17. Dermot Kennedy – Giants
18. 5 Seconds Of Summer – Wildflower
19. Blossoms ft James Skelly – Dreaming Of You
20. Beabadoobee – Together
21. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – Come On Outside
22. Crowded House – Whatever You Want
23. Tom Grennan – Something Better
24. Samara Ginsberg – Inspector Gadget
25. Dermot Kennedy – Power Over Me
26. Oasis – Don’t Stop
27. 24kgoldn – City Of Angels
28. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – We’re Gonna Get There In The End
29. Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott – Some Might Say
30. Samara Ginsberg – Knight Rider
31. Declan McKenna – Rapture
32. Samara Ginsberg – Thomas The Tank Engine
33. Liam Gallagher – All You’re Dreaming Of
34. Beabadooebee – Worth It
35. Karen O and Willie Nelson – Under Pressure
36. Tate McRae – You Broke Me First
37. Declan McKenna – Be An Astronaut
38. Two Mad Men And A String Quartet – Madness Hits Medley
39. Blossoms – It’s Going To Be A Cold Winter
40. Arlo Parks – Black Dog
41. New Order – Be A Rebel
42. Izzy Bizu – Faded
43. The 1975 – If You’re Too Shy
44. David Latto – Geordie Munro
45. Magnum Haus – Rip It Up
46. Swim School – Dignity
47. Ash – Darkest Hour Of The Night
48. Doves – Broken Eyes
49. AC/DC – Shot In The Dark
50. Tom Ogden – Everyday I Write The Book

PAST WINNERS

2019 Vampire Weekend – Harmony Hall
2018 Lovelytheband – Broken
2017 Liam Gallagher – For What It’s Worth
2016 The Strumbellas – Spirits
2015 Blossoms – Charlemagne
2014 Jamie T – Zombie
2013 Haim – The Wire
2012 Taylor Swift – We Are Never 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 Daughters – Darling
2007 Feist – 1, 2, 3, 4

THE FRIDAY FIVE – 6.11.2020

1. Tom Grennan – Amen
2. David Guetta and Sia – Let’s Love
3. Paloma Faith – Gold
4. Beabadoobee – Together
5. Crowded House – Whatever You Want

THE FRIDAY FIVE – 23.10.2020

1. David Guetta ft Sia – Let’s Love
2. Tom Grennan – Amen
3. Spencer Davis Group – Keep On Running
4. Beabadoobee – Worth It
5. Arlo Parks – Hurt

THE FRIDAY FIVE – 16.10.2020

1. Beabadoodee – Worth It

2. Samara Ginsberg – Thomas The Tank Engine

3. Tate McRae – You Broke Me First

4. David Guetta ft Sia – Let’s Love

5. Arlo Parks – Hurt

THE FRIDAY FIVE – 1.12.2017

1. Tom Grennan – Found What I’ve Been Looking For
2. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – If Love Is The Law
3. Sia – Santa’s Coming For Us
4. Embrace – Wake Up Call
5. The Divine Comedy – Something For The Weekend

First of all, an apology. To the entire nation of Scotland. Yes.

Yesterday was St Andrew’s Day and I forgot to do a themed chart last week. So, belatedly, here is a St Andrew’s Day chart, celebrating two of the best things on earth – Scotland and people called Andrew.

FIVE SONGS BY SCOTTISH ARTISTS

1. Pilot – Magic
2. Simple Minds – She’s A River
3. The View – Blondie
4. Aztec Camara – Somewhere In My Heart
5. Strawberry Switchblade – Since Yesterday

FIVE SONGS BY BANDS FEATURING AN ANDREW

1. Wax – Bridge To Your Heart
2. Wham – Freedom
3. Depeche Mode – Never Let Me Down Again
4. INXS – Afterglow
5. Primal Scream – Jailbird

Sorry to Oasis, Duran Duran and OMD, but this chart is for Andrews only, no Andys.

It was announced that Blossoms will be supporting Noel Gallagher on his European tour next year. Fingers crossed they’ll be supporting him on his UK dates as well. The fact they’ll be touring in 2018 means we can hopefully expect new music from them as well. They’re brilliant by the way. If you haven’t already, you should check them out.

If there are any readers in the South-East of England, Victorious looks like it has a decent line-up on the Friday night : Lightning Seeds, Shed Seven and Kaiser Chiefs all playing on the Friday. Admittedly, Libertines headlining is underwhelming. Still, you can just use the time to get a bite to eat/go to the bar/go home early. Not going to lie, i’m jealous of that line-up.

….. and talking of Shed Seven, they’ve announced a Belfast gig to go with their rearranged concerts that were recently cancelled. Now that’s what I call a stroke of luck. I’ll be trying to get a ticket later this morning.

Finally, it’s the World Cup draw today. I’ll be doing a themed chart for each group with songs by artists from the countries when it comes along in June. I’d rather be including Baltimora than Yello to be honest. I’m over it, i’m over it. Ok, i’m still not over it. If Switzerland end up in a group with Panama, Russia and Iran, I might just cry.

THE SOUND OF 2016 : 1-25

And here we are, what you’ve been waiting for, to find out the best song of 2016. Not long to go until it is revealed. Are you ready? Are you ready?

Oh ok, I’ll shut up, here’s the Top 25.

1. The Strumbellas – Spirits
2. James – Nothing But Love
3. Iggy Pop – Gardenia
4. The Courteeners – No One Will Ever Replace Us
5. Christine and the Queens – Tilted
6. The Temper Trap – Fall Together
7. Chvrches ft Hayley Williams – Bury It
8. Clean Cut Kid – We Used To Be In Love
9. Sia – The Greatest
10. Oasis – D’You Know What I Mean? (NG’s 2016 Rethink)
11. Travis – Animals
12. Stone Roses – All For One
13. Bastille – Good Grief
14. Travis – Magnificent Time
15. Aurora – Conquerer
16. Biffy Clyro – Howl
17. Bastille – Send Them Off
18. The Lumineers – Ophelia
19. Grimes – California
20. Travis – 3 Miles High
21. Two Door Cinema Club – Are We Ready? (Wreck)
22. Blossoms – Getaway
23. KT Tunstall – Maybe It’s A Good Thing
24. Rose Elinor Dougall – Stellular
25. Clean Cut Kid – Make Believe

Thank you for your support over the past year and I’ll hope to bring you more Friday Fives and pointless themed charts throughout 2017.

Congratulations to The Strumbellas, who join Kasabian, Feist, Sons and Daughters, Little Boots, Marina and the Diamonds, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Taylor Swift, Haim, Jamie T and Blossoms in the Hall Of Fame.

Hopefully, over the past four weeks, i’ve helped you discover some songs you’ve never heard before.

If you haven’t heard the winning song, here it is ……

Want to get excited for music in 2017? Here’s four words for you – Liam. Gallagher. Solo. Album.

THE FRIDAY FIVE – 14.10.2016

1. Oasis – Stand By Me (Mustique Demo)
2. Twin Atlantic – No Sleep
3. Sia – The Greatest
4. Twin Atlantic – The Chaser
5. Simple Minds – Alive and Kicking (Acoustic)

THE FRIDAY FIVE – 11.12.2015

1. Disclosure ft Lorde – Magnets
2. Sia – Alive
3. Muse – Revolt
4. Chvrches – Empty Threat
5. David Bowie – Valentine’s Day

THE SOUND OF 2014 : 26-50

26. Lorde – Team
27. Chvrches – Recover
28. Weird Al Yankovic – Word Crimes
29. Ella Henderson – Ghost
30. Manic Street Preachers ft Nina Hoss – Europa Geht Durch Mich
31. Sia – Chandelier
32. Black Keys – Fever
33. Johnny Marr – Easy Money
34. Sophie Ellis-Bextor – True Faith
35. Wonder Villains – Golden Five
36. U2 – Invisible
37. Chvrches – Dead Air
38. U2 – The Miracle Of Joey Ramone
39. Jake Bugg – Messed Up Kids
40. Manic Street Preachers – Walk Me To The Bridge
41. Ting Tings – Wrong Club
42. The Pierces – Kings
43. The Pretty Reckless – Heaven Knows
44. Kasabian – Eez-Eh
45. Pollaponk – No Prejudice
46. Alexi Lalas – Rio
47. George Ezra – Cassy O
48. Take That – These Days
49. Cher Lloyd – Sirens
50. Labrinth – Let It Be

THE FRIDAY FIVE – 21.11.2014

1. McBusted – Air Guitar
2. Sia – You’re Never Fully Dressed Without A Smile
3. David Guetta ft Sam Martin – Dangerous
4. Charli XCX – Gold Coins
5. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – In The Head Of The Moment (Andrew Weatherall remix)

Last week on X-Factor, was Big Band Week. Sorry, i’m doing a chart of that, it’s a bloody awful form of music. Let’s try again next week.