I produce a yearly playlist of my Top 40 most played tracks of that year. Thanks to last.fm, this is a fairly simple process.
It’s almost time to produce the 2016 playlist and usually by now I have done a pre-check to see what will be Number One but so far I have refrained and will leave it as a surprise.
I thought it would be a nice bit of nostalgia to share previous year’s playlists on the run up to the big 2016 reveal, so over the next few weeks I will be posting/reminiscing about playlists gone by – let’s hear from 2015…
It was very close at the top but the number one song is a non-mover from last year – “Chandelier” by Sia. I obviously still just can’t get enough of that song and I am really looking forward to hearing her new, “This Is Acting”, album when it is released in January. As you might expect there are a few other songs in this list from Sia.
The runner up this year is perhaps a bit of an odd choice but I got so hooked on American Horror Story this year and especially the song “Gods And Monsters” which was the brilliant Jessica Lange covering a Lana Del Ray track.
Ed Sheeran has two entries in the top ten – he’s just such a nice guy and I love his voice. “Photograph” is such a beautiful song. He’s about to take a break from working so I hope he has an amazing time.
“Want To Want Me” is such a party tune and I can remember playing it on repeat one Sunday morning when I was tidying the garage. I have to admit there was perhaps more dancing than tidying going on.
I’ve always been a big of fan of Nate Ruess and the band he’s been so when I heard that he was doing a solo album I was thrilled. “Nothing Without Love” was the lead track and is awesome.
There’s always a few surprise when I compile these types of list and the one this year is “Dear Future Husband” by Meghan Trainor. I must have fallen asleep with this on repeat or something!
Of course Tom Odell, Madonna and Marina & The Diamonds were going to feature heavily this year and I’m sure that will continue…forever!
“Sax” by Fleur East is only in her because I played it about 30 times in a row when I first heard it and I soon sickened myself of the song…and her.
Nick Jonas snuck up on me and took me by surprise with “Jealous”.
The brilliant Florence + The Machine returned this year with a stomping new album and “Ship To Wreck” was the major highlight.
A very small and unknown band but I really like their sound is Alphabet Backwards and if you’ve not listened to it yet I would urge you do – “Taller”.
“Hello” – need I say any more? Sadly, due Adele’s decision not to put her new album on Spotify I haven’t really listened to it.
I had a mad Kylie Christmas this year and I have to admit that her songs really made this year much more festive for me. I am making it my mission to see her perform live very soon.
“Giving It Up” by Aiden Grimshaw really hooked me this year and I’m hoping to hear more from the former X Factor loser in the next year.
When I went on vacation this year I discovered the song “Last Days Of Dancing” by Maja Francis and it turned out to be the soundtrack to the summer. Everytime I hear it now I am immediately reminded of sitting out on the balcony, drinking wine and watching the sun set. Also, “What Do You Mean?” by Justin Bieber was a real holiday tune.
A big mention to songs such as “Black Magic”, “Wings” “Johnny Delusional” and “Four Five Seconds” as I had short obsessions with them all.
One of my playlists wouldn’t be complete without a cracking 80’s tune so thanks to The Bangles for “Walk Like An Eqyptian”.
I didn’t expect to like “Downtown” by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis as much as I did. I think that if you listen to it from about 2 minutes in that’s when it gets really good.
So, that’s almost it for another year – let’s look forward to what 2016 could bring!
Finally, there is a song in the Top 40 that I wanted to leave until last to mention. The late, great Miss Cilla Black!
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