[Ammi]

...Bombay Bicycle Club......I haven’t listened to them for such a long time...

[Shaun]

they're still going, but their albums are always like... " this is nice i guess " just not a very exciting band lol but definitely a nice blast of nostalgia.

170-161:

Spoiler:

#170 - "Feel It All Around" by Washed Out

Youtube video

This was my ringtone for almost a decade (I recently changed it to a song that'll appear later). The theme tune to the wonderful sitcom Portlandia was at the peak of the chillwave movement around the turn of 2010, and is definitely one of those tracks that just conjure memories of beaches, sunsets and every other cliche good vibe.

#169 - "Hips Don't Lie" by Shakira and Wyclef Jean

Youtube video

There aren't really many better examples of a song that absolutely stole a summer than this. 2006 was the best summer of my life (I was 16, so, of course it was) and the music definitely shaped that; this was Shakira's biggest hit and... hell, do I need to explain Hips Don't Lie? You already know it, and already love it.

#168 - "I Got U" by Duke Dumont, Jax Jones and Kelli-Leigh

Youtube video

I'm going to right some wrongs now and point out that Kelli-Leigh, despite not being credited as a featured artist on either of them, topped the charts twice in 2014 (the other time on SecondCity's I Wanna Feel) and that seems rude, doesn't it? It's a slight I'll quickly get over, because... oh my god these steel drums are wonderful and I don't know a better example of a summer anthem.

#167 - "Supercut" by Lorde

Youtube video

When Lorde burst onto the scene in 2013 with Royals (and the album, Pure Heroine), I remember feeling flummoxed and uncertain of what the hype was all about. I still maintain most of the songs on that album were... just really boring but the follow-up... may be one of the albums of the decade? It was difficult picking a standout Lorde track, including her collaboration 'Magnets' with Disclosure, but in the end I opted for this because it's a rush from start to finish and full of poignancy.

#166 - "Fourth of July" by Sufjan Stevens

Youtube video

I really did try and keep the list of songs light-hearted and reflections of happy times but at the same time I couldn't deny that there have been songs and even entire albums that have had me on the verge of tears this century 2015's Carrie & Lowell was a dedication to Stevens' recently deceased mother, and as such the majority of tracks featured are heavy with grief. This, for me, was the favourite; yes, it's devastating and heartbreaking, but also so staggeringly beautiful and full of sweet nicknames for a mother's son.

#165 - "Love It If We Made It" by The 1975

Youtube video

The 21st century's version of Billy Joel's We Didn't Start the Fire; a frenetic lyrical epic that touches on an infinite number of references to blights and political moments that have accumulated into the overwhelming sense that we, as a species, are doomed... whilst aiming to undermine that all with a determined optimism. Uh.... yeah I like the song?

#164 - "Is It 'Cos I'm Cool?" by Mousse T and Emma Lanford

Youtube video

Turkish producer Mustafa Gundogdu had a string of hits in the late 90s and early 00s - most famously "Horny", and "Sex Bomb" with Tom Jones - but I remember this single coming out in 2004 and loving the hell out of it.

#163 - "Let It Rock" by Kevin Rudolf and Lil Wayne

Youtube video

I've always shrugged off the idea of a "guilty pleasure" but if I were to actually ever confess one I think it'd be this? The song is this over-the-top swag-rock nonsense, and I never liked Lil Wayne's rap career, but the two combined in 2008 to create this monster of a song that... I couldn't stop playing, and still find (to borrow an overused word from that time) epic.

#162 - "Thinkin Bout You" by Frank Ocean

Youtube video

Once I've gotten over the memory of that "a potato flew around" Vine, I am reminded of the fragility and the soul that Ocean displayed on Channel Orange back in 2012... the album was a huge moment in queer music; the first major-label, extremely cool and at the peak of his career, rap and R&B artist to come out of the closet. Ignoring all of the press about it though: the song is a beautiful vocal.

#161 - "Round Round" by Sugababes

Youtube video

Forever the coolest girlband of all time, the Sugababes were at their cultural peak in 2002 and the hits were numerable and fantastic. This was one of their best: a bewitching drum-beat that sees the girls literally whip up a tornado of rhythm and sex. The special effects in this video were actually pretty impressive for the time, and make Avatar look like a huge waste of ****ing time! Keisha delivers a wonderful verse, but it's new member Heidi who gets the slowed-down, bizarre bridge and steals the show.

[Daniel.]

I thought you hated Paramore so was pleasantly surprised to see Misery Business.

[Shaun]

Originally Posted by Daniel.

I thought you hated Paramore so was pleasantly surprised to see Misery Business.

I never really cared for them at the time Riot! came out, but when MB popped up on the soundtrack for a game (I think it was Saints Row 3?) I was like... "****, this was amazing actually"

[Zizu]

Originally Posted by Shaun

I never really cared for them at the time Riot! came out, but when MB popped up on the soundtrack for a game (I think it was Saints Row 3?) I was like... "****, this was amazing actually"

I always wonder why people don’t have a gap between the last letter and an ! or a ?


So it would be Riot ! ... instead of Riot!

See what I mean ? ( see what I mean? )


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[Smithy]

Originally Posted by Zizu

I always wonder why people don’t have a gap between the last letter and an ! or a ?


So it would be Riot ! ... instead of Riot!

See what I mean ? ( see what I mean? )


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Because that’s **** grammar and wrong

[Zizu]

Originally Posted by Smithy

Because that’s **** grammar and wrong

I still prefer my way !




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[Shaun]

160-151:

Spoiler:

#160 - "When a Fire Starts to Burn" by Disclosure

Youtube video

2013's Settle LP was the home to a whole string of massive chart hits that made the year seem an exciting time for house and dance music; there was the breakthrough single "Latch" with Sam Smith, top ten hits "White Noise" and "You & Me", and other star names like Mary J Blige, London Grammar, Jessie Ware and Jamie Woon appeared to create something special. The record really sprang to life, though, thanks to the reworking of Eric Thomas' motivational speaking on this track. The production is immaculate.

#159 - "Chill Out" by RAY BLK & SG Lewis

Youtube video

The winner of the BBC's annual "Sound Of..." competition is usually someone incredibly safe and white and in the 2010s there were only three that didn't become chart-toppers or festival headliners... they happened to all be black (Michael Kiwanuka and Octavian are the other two... the other 7 are Sam Smith, Ellie Goulding, HAIM, Years & Years, Jack Garratt, Jessie J and Sigrid). But yeah... no racism in the UK What's especially frustrating for me is that RAY BLK - demonstrably on this track, but on many others, too - has more heart and soul in her voice than the majority of those other winners combined. This video shines a light on the experience of trans and gay people in Jamaica, and the track is just so breezy and showcases both her singing and rapping.

#158 - "Flowers" by Sweet Female Attitude

Youtube video

I haven't checked, but this might be the earliest-released song to make it into this thread... having dropped all the way back in April of the year 2000 The song needs no introduction; it firmly established itself as a garage classic back at a time when your Craig Davids, Artful Dodgers, Mis-Teeqs and So Solid Crews were in full swing - but at the same time it doesn't suffer particularly from that dated feeling that some of its contemporaries might experience; there's an electronic poppy element to it that cements it as an immediate floor-filler, whatever the year.

#157 - "Monster" by Lady Gaga

Youtube video

Narrowing down Gaga's discography to just the two tracks to feature in this list was an arduous effort, given the sheer number of hits and reinventions of herself. One I had to choose, however, wasn't even a single; "Monster" is hidden on her 2009 album The Fame Monster with a cold, slick, metallic production and a dark, cannibalistic lyric.

#156 - "Party in the U.S.A." by Miley Cyrus

Youtube video

As I've already said, this list was compiled long before I even knew what a Midnight Sky was, and as such it might feel a little dated... but I picked this track when there were other competitors like Malibu, We Can't Stop and Nothing Breaks Like a Heart on offer, and I am comfortable I made the right choice. Party in the USA is an iconic moment in pop: it's cheesy, it's camp, it's the catchiest thing you'll hear all day and it's one of the most joyous and sing-along-able songs released this century. **** the Star Spangled Banner, this is their national anthem

#155 - "Pumped Up Kicks" by Foster the People

Youtube video

Then again, maybe this is a more appropriate American national anthem. Foster the People came along and disappeared promptly in 2011 with this monolith of a hit that deploys an unmistakable cool. That its lyrics for such a cheery, foot-tapping song are the vows of a high school shooter to terrorise his classmates is remarkable; and the fact that this song endured such longevity despite being pulled from radio stations every time one such tragedy happens, is nothing short of an oddity.

#154 - "L.S.F. (Light Souls Forever)" by Kasabian

Youtube video

At the height of their fame, Kasabian were one of the UK's most exciting bands to bother the charts; taking Oasis' remnants of Cool Britannia and adjusting them to a more electronic-friendly audience. Their self-titled debut album in 2004 is one of my favourites, and the psychedelic haze about this saw it become an indie classic.

#153 - "Down On My Luck" by Vic Mensa

Youtube video

Mensa broke through in 2014 with this monstrously catchy hit that... sadly was never really followed up on. His album came three years later, and it was... bland and forgettable hip hop. Go back to deep house pls x

#152 - "Relax, Take it Easy" by Mika

Youtube video

Before he went straight to the top of the charts with Grace Kelly, Mika dropped this song first and it was an instant shake-up of 2000s pop music. A queer immigrant from the Middle East commanding the charts felt like a real breath of fresh air, and it helped that the cheesy pop he was releasing was golden and full of joy.

#151 - "Time to Pretend" by MGMT

Youtube video

Although best known for that inescapable synth hook on 'Kids', MGMT really made their first impact with this single in 2008. I suppose I loved the psychedelic element of the song and its aesthetics so much that I was able to suppress my queerness (and ignore the hotness of the lead singer, apparently, jesus christ I missed this one?!) But... jesus this song defines a wonderful period of time.

[Ammi]

...I’m not sure why but Pumped Up Kicks always makes me think of Drew......Ray BLK......

[Shaun]

Originally Posted by Ammi

...I’m not sure why but Pumped Up Kicks always makes me think of Drew......

well he is serving 22 years at Whitemoor for shooting up his local college

[Shaun]

150-141:

Spoiler:

#150 - "Alice Practice" by Crystal Castles

Youtube video

The genre-shifting and era-defining music of Crystal Castles is a little overlooked now, perhaps because it's taken as a given, and perhaps because the duo's impact has been dramatically overshadowed by allegations of all kinds of abuse by one against the other... but I remember this song being absolutely huge in 2008 and my sensitive ears found it... completely alien, to put it kindly. Over time I've grown to appreciate it more and more; from Alice Glass' visceral performance on vocals to the manic, 8-bit production trickery.

#149 - "Higher Ground" by TNGHT

Youtube video

Hudson Mohawke and Lunice only ever really released one EP as the duo called TNGHT, but they truly shook everything up and really ushered in a wave of new production styles to hip hop. This track was its stand-out; a bombastic, chaotic use of a tuba that's to be worshipped.

#148 - "Crazy" by Gnarls Barkley

Youtube video

A song that grew so big that Cee-Lo and Danger Mouse themselves had to take it off download stores. It was #1 for 9 weeks in the UK and could've been for so much longer, had they not taken that step. It was named the song of the decade by Rolling Stone, and... if you put aside whatever lingering, residual sense of "overplaying" there might be in the recesses of your mind, it's not undeserved. The song is massive in scale and success.

#147 - "Pale Green Ghosts" by John Grant

Youtube video

I adored both PGG and the Queen of Denmark albums released by Grant at the turn of the 2010s, so it was difficult to choose just the one song... but I had to settle for the dark, electronic shift from his earlier (more acoustic) sound. In recording this (and the album), he worked and lived a lot in Iceland - and there isn't a greater example of a song that is best visualised with Aurora Borealis.

#146 - "Never Be Like You" by Flume and Kai

Youtube video

This topped the Australian charts back in 2016 and was a huge hit in America, too, but... never really made an impact over here I'm not sure why. It's a slick, rattling production and has one of those vocal lyrics about being "****ed up and missing you" that formed the basis of dance hits from Cheat Codes, Hippie Sabotage and Oliver Heldens through the majority of the 2010s... but, eh. We rarely get things right on the charts.

#145 - "C'Mon" by Kesha

Youtube video

Looking back on the career - and more specifically the chart domination - of Kesha is difficult since it's tinged with a hue of abuse, misogyny (she was the trashy girl, but LMFAO, Flo Rida and Lil Wayne were seen as party guys) and the misfortune of being all connected to Dr. Luke. Some purists would write off his music entirely, but I feel doing so raises two problems: one - it erases a huge part of pop history, and two - it discredits the work done by the popstars themselves. Kesha's pop appeal was always her own, and she gave a lot of us incredibly happy nights out and euphoric feelings. My favourite such track was "C'Mon", taken from Warrior. It didn't top charts like We R Who We R or Tik Tok, but... jesus what a banger

#144 - "Katy on a Mission" by Katy B

Youtube video

Dubstep brought us a lot of bad music. But filtered down through the best musicians and producers it could actually be listenable, and Katy B went stratospheric with the release of this single in 2010 and followed it up with solid albums. I still hold a soft spot for this above all, though... it was everywhere when I was at university

#143 - "Your Protector" by Fleet Foxes

Youtube video

Folk music as a genre seemed pretty much wrapped and dusted; impossible to expand upon, and pointless to venture into unless appreciating its classics. This was up until 2008, when Bon Iver and Fleet Foxes took it and ran. I'll get to the former later, but Fleet Foxes are just... incredible with building instrumentals and when paired with Robin Pecknold's gorgeous voice the end result is often beautiful. 2008's self-titled album is really flawless from start to finish.

#142 - "Starlight" by The Supermen Lovers and Mani Hoffman

Youtube video

This music video is so deeply embedded in the back of my 2001 MTV and The Box-riddled brain that it is one of the most reliable forms of inducing nostalgia I can imagine. The French just had this endless list of electronic and dance producers during the 2000s and some stayed for decades (Daft Punk, David Guetta)... others produced one-hit-wonders (Stardust, this). What a song.

#141 - "Strict Machine" by Goldfrapp

Youtube video

I will forever have time for Goldfrapp. They've been here since the year 2000 itself, so looking back on their discography encompassed the entire period of time I was looking at for this thread concept... and there was a lot to choose from (in the end I chose two, but we'll get to the other later!) In 2003, Strict Machine came along and stole the dancefloor with an electro-clash epic that can only really be compared to the like of Donna Summer's I Feel Love. It's a gay classic.

[Dogeatdog]

Originally Posted by Shaun

160-151:

Spoiler:

#160 - "When a Fire Starts to Burn" by Disclosure

Youtube video

2013's Settle LP was the home to a whole string of massive chart hits that made the year seem an exciting time for house and dance music; there was the breakthrough single "Latch" with Sam Smith, top ten hits "White Noise" and "You & Me", and other star names like Mary J Blige, London Grammar, Jessie Ware and Jamie Woon appeared to create something special. The record really sprang to life, though, thanks to the reworking of Eric Thomas' motivational speaking on this track. The production is immaculate.

#159 - "Chill Out" by RAY BLK & SG Lewis

Youtube video

The winner of the BBC's annual "Sound Of..." competition is usually someone incredibly safe and white and in the 2010s there were only three that didn't become chart-toppers or festival headliners... they happened to all be black (Michael Kiwanuka and Octavian are the other two... the other 7 are Sam Smith, Ellie Goulding, HAIM, Years & Years, Jack Garratt, Jessie J and Sigrid). But yeah... no racism in the UK What's especially frustrating for me is that RAY BLK - demonstrably on this track, but on many others, too - has more heart and soul in her voice than the majority of those other winners combined. This video shines a light on the experience of trans and gay people in Jamaica, and the track is just so breezy and showcases both her singing and rapping.

#158 - "Flowers" by Sweet Female Attitude

Youtube video

I haven't checked, but this might be the earliest-released song to make it into this thread... having dropped all the way back in April of the year 2000 The song needs no introduction; it firmly established itself as a garage classic back at a time when your Craig Davids, Artful Dodgers, Mis-Teeqs and So Solid Crews were in full swing - but at the same time it doesn't suffer particularly from that dated feeling that some of its contemporaries might experience; there's an electronic poppy element to it that cements it as an immediate floor-filler, whatever the year.

#157 - "Monster" by Lady Gaga

Youtube video

Narrowing down Gaga's discography to just the two tracks to feature in this list was an arduous effort, given the sheer number of hits and reinventions of herself. One I had to choose, however, wasn't even a single; "Monster" is hidden on her 2009 album The Fame Monster with a cold, slick, metallic production and a dark, cannibalistic lyric.

#156 - "Party in the U.S.A." by Miley Cyrus

Youtube video

As I've already said, this list was compiled long before I even knew what a Midnight Sky was, and as such it might feel a little dated... but I picked this track when there were other competitors like Malibu, We Can't Stop and Nothing Breaks Like a Heart on offer, and I am comfortable I made the right choice. Party in the USA is an iconic moment in pop: it's cheesy, it's camp, it's the catchiest thing you'll hear all day and it's one of the most joyous and sing-along-able songs released this century. **** the Star Spangled Banner, this is their national anthem

#155 - "Pumped Up Kicks" by Foster the People

Youtube video

Then again, maybe this is a more appropriate American national anthem. Foster the People came along and disappeared promptly in 2011 with this monolith of a hit that deploys an unmistakable cool. That its lyrics for such a cheery, foot-tapping song are the vows of a high school shooter to terrorise his classmates is remarkable; and the fact that this song endured such longevity despite being pulled from radio stations every time one such tragedy happens, is nothing short of an oddity.

#154 - "L.S.F. (Light Souls Forever)" by Kasabian

Youtube video

At the height of their fame, Kasabian were one of the UK's most exciting bands to bother the charts; taking Oasis' remnants of Cool Britannia and adjusting them to a more electronic-friendly audience. Their self-titled debut album in 2004 is one of my favourites, and the psychedelic haze about this saw it become an indie classic.

#153 - "Down On My Luck" by Vic Mensa

Youtube video

Mensa broke through in 2014 with this monstrously catchy hit that... sadly was never really followed up on. His album came three years later, and it was... bland and forgettable hip hop. Go back to deep house pls x

#152 - "Relax, Take it Easy" by Mika

Youtube video

Before he went straight to the top of the charts with Grace Kelly, Mika dropped this song first and it was an instant shake-up of 2000s pop music. A queer immigrant from the Middle East commanding the charts felt like a real breath of fresh air, and it helped that the cheesy pop he was releasing was golden and full of joy.

#151 - "Time to Pretend" by MGMT

Youtube video

Although best known for that inescapable synth hook on 'Kids', MGMT really made their first impact with this single in 2008. I suppose I loved the psychedelic element of the song and its aesthetics so much that I was able to suppress my queerness (and ignore the hotness of the lead singer, apparently, jesus christ I missed this one?!) But... jesus this song defines a wonderful period of time.

Love Disclosure, Sweet FA and Pumped up Kicks

[Smithy]

Omg yes @ monster

[Zizu]

Originally Posted by Smithy

Omg yes @ monster

I have no idea what this even means !



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[DouglasS]

Originally Posted by Zizu

I have no idea what this even means !



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

I don’t blame you!

[Zizu]

Originally Posted by DouglasS

I don’t blame you!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[Smithy]

Originally Posted by Zizu

I have no idea what this even means !



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

...it’s one of the songs in the list....

[Fetch The Bolt Cutters]

AM In LUUHHHVE


AM In LUUUHVE

AM IN LuUUHvE wih a striCT MACHINE

[Shaun]

tea!

140-131:

Spoiler:

#140 - "Still Life" by The Horrors

Youtube video

The Horrors were pretty big during the 2000s but I didn't really give them the time of day until 2011's album "Skying", from which this is taken. I had sort-of pigeon-holed them as this indie/scene band with a greater emphasis on hairstyles and clothing than music, so this came along and hit me like a brick. The album - and most of theirs, actually - is great from start to finish and full of 80s new wave pop done right.

#139 - "Don't Lie" by the Black Eyed Peas

Youtube video

The Black Eyed Peas were absolutely colossal for a long time; from their breakthrough with "Where is the Love?" to the never-ending summer where "I Gotta Feeling" was top of the charts. Between those two bookends, though, is where most of my favourite singles can be found, and I had a hard time choosing between Don't Phunk With My Heart, Pump It, Mas Que Nada with Sergio Mendes, and this... in the end, this seemed the summer-iest and evoked the most fond memories.

#138 - "Where I'm Going" by Cut Copy

Youtube video

2011's album Zonoscope is a wonderful fusion of traditional glam rock instrumentation and a psychedelic, electronic filter, and the record kicks off with this triple-whammy of amazing club tracks that culminate in this. The song just evokes chill vibes, and an enrapturing warmth.

#137 - "Disparate Youth" by Santigold

Youtube video

aka that song that was used to advertise about 40 different companies during the 2010s. Santigold was a lot more relaxed on 2012's Master of My Make-Believe than on the 2008 self-titled album, but both are honestly all-time favourites and full of this fascinating songwriting. I spent most of 2012 and 2013 finding this song a huge, calming presence.

#136 - "Freedom" by Beyonce and Kendrick Lamar

Youtube video

Such is the global impact that Beyonce has made that I am writing this knowing full well that I've probably chosen the wrong two tracks to represent her. Since her poppier breakthrough and domination she's turned a hell of a lot more political, and taken control of critics as well as the masses in the process. 2016's Lemonade was full of incredible highs, but for me the standout was this: propelled by a marching drumbeat and Kendrick's incredible guest verse, it's one of the most powerful and stunning tracks released this millennium.

#135 - "Huddle Formation" by The Go! Team

Youtube video

For a long time, the Go! Team were a Brighton unit full of incredibly exciting, multicultural, experimental music and had this output that was like nothing else being released. 2004 saw their debut Thunder, Lightning, Strike unleashed, and it's jam-packed with so many standouts... but I had to settle for this one. I think this song was featured on one of the LittleBigPlanet games, and I don't know a better suited form of media for it to marry up with: it's relentlessly optimistic, imaginative and creative.

#134 - "Some Kinda Rush" by Booty Luv

Youtube video

If I were to take this a little less seriously, I could very convincingly make a case for each and every of the Booty Luv singles to make their way into this countdown... but in the end I spared you from staring too long at God and narrowed it down to one. I am known for worshipping their altar, and will be until the day I die. Their pop was... so, so good.

#133 - "Don't Take The Money" by Bleachers

Youtube video

Jack Antonoff has become one of the most powerful producers and songwriters today thanks to his work on Taylor Swift's recent albums, Lana Del Rey's Norman ****ing Rockwell, Lorde's Melodrama, St Vincent's Masseduction and The Chicks' Gaslighter (amongst others)... but he's also the frontman for the littler-known Bleachers. In 2017, they released this single - with background vocals from Lorde herself - and it's still something I'm trying to unpack... it's so, so breathtaking and climactic. "You steal the air out of my lungs, you make me feel it" indeed

#132 - "Jerk It Out" by The Caesars

Youtube video

Swedish band Caesar's Palace had to change their name thanks to a little bit of a threat from the Las Vegas casino, but to even get on the radar of a giant business you'd have to release a one-hit-wonder so phenomenal... and in 2003 they did! Jerk It Out made its way onto the FIFA 2004 soundtrack and became the favourite song of pretty much every football-loving teenager at the time, with one of the most catchy and unique hooks in rock of all time.

#131 - "Galvanize" by The Chemical Brothers

Youtube video

They'd already cemented themselves as giants of UK electronic music in the 90s, but they had the kindness in them to dominate the 2000s as well, with this being their biggest hit of the decade. The song is a banger in every sense: hip hop giant Q-Tip guests as vocalist and keeps it lyrically tight, but I'd be lying if I said the track's main draw wasn't the reworking of an obscure Moroccan song's strings.

[Shaun]

130-121:

Spoiler:

#130 - "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)" by Katy Perry

Youtube video

Katy Perry's domination of pop music lasted for a solid 5 years at least, and at its height was 2010's Teenage Dream album. It gave us Firework, it gave us California Gurls, it gave us Teenage Dream and E.T. It was an album so big it required a re-release two years later with further singles to keep the momentum going. But the real highlight was this song... this glorious, irreverent nonsense that is jam-packed with The Hangover montage lyrics and a sax solo from Kenny G (in the video at least; not on recording). A lot of her singles from that period of time have endured because of their feelgood factor, and inspirational messages (Roar, Firework, etc.) but is there a song more joyous than this? I'd love to hear it.

#129 - "Who Knew" by P!nk

Youtube video

Few would've believed back in 2000 that in a sea of popstars like Britney, Beyonce, Christina, Mariah and, um, Michelle Branch, it would be P!nk that is still capable of making the singles charts in 2021. The lady has shown an incredible staying power and whilst a lot of that is down to releasing the most boring pop music imaginable and the same album cycle (big **** YOU lead single, followed by 3 NO COME BACK ILY ballads!) since 2006, a lot of it has indeed been fantastic. The majority of it is buried back in the 2000s though, and my favourite song of hers is Who Knew, a gorgeous strings-epic from her I'm Not Dead! record. A lot of her songs can feel vague and general, but the emotional weight behind this (the song is about the death of a friend of hers to drugs) still gives me goosebumps from time to time.

#128 - "Touch" by Shura

Youtube video

I've grown enamoured with Shura's soft, sensual electropop since 2014, with the release of this video of a diverse cast of actors making out. She's since goe and released three stellar albums, but when push came to shove I couldn't look past this early cut. Wonderful stuff

#127 - "New York" by St. Vincent

Youtube video

St. Vincent is someone who I had bookmarked as a little too pretentious and escapable for my tastes, but that flipped back in 2017 with the release of MASSEDUCTION. This ballad, penned as a death of a relationship had already touched me before she went and revealed it was also about the death and mourning of David Bowie, so that just ramped up a few more levels in the "god bless this woman" stakes.

#126 - "Perfect (Exceeder)" by Mason vs. Princess Superstar

Youtube video

The 2000s were awash with a whole bunch of reworkings of 80s pop bangers into contemporary club/electroclash anthems and it was a daunting task, going back through all of the singles and floorfillers that I remember from my "being 16 year old and still trying to get into nightclubs" days (there were, surprisingly, more successful ones than not)... but in spite of that vast mass of Eric Prydz, David Guetta, Fedde le Grand, Armand van Helden, Alex Gaudino and Bob Sinclar, it was this that stuck out with the most pizazz. Combining the production of Mason's Exceeder with the tongue-in-cheek, no-****s-given vocals of Princess Superstar (best known then for her iconic Bad Babysitter single) was a masterstroke... promptly given your typical scantily-clad music video a cultural reset.

#125 - "Around U" by MUNA

Youtube video

The song's been out for almost five years now and still feels fresh and like a smack in the face with desperate sadness. The song is a breakup epic, powered along by this chorus that is simultaneously dancey and inducing wailing hysteria. The constant refrain of "I no longer revolve around you" feels both mournful and triumphant.

#124 - "Us" by Regina Spektor

Youtube video

A song that became synonymous with the hugely popular film (500) Days of Summer but was already wonderful in its own right. I've adored Regina Spektor for a long time - so much so that there's another of her songs to come - and there's just such a unique, energetic arrangement of the track here that keeps you second guessing. It feels like a ballad, but it's far more folksy and beguiling. My heart honestly swells every time she does that drawn out falsetto on "living in a den of thieves".

#123 - "All Time Love" by Will Young

Youtube video

I always believed that Will Young would've been a perfect candidate for a Bond theme, but it never happened... so he took the typical themes of a Bond movie and put them in this music video instead. I'm not picking this for the video, though; the song itself is so ludicrously gorgeous. His voice is honey here, but the composition is its main draw, swelling at every perfect moment with strings and falling back to that simple piano chord.

#122 - "It's Okay to Cry" by SOPHIE

Youtube video

When I put the list together I had planned to talk about how she was one of the most exciting new producers and artists to keep looking forward to, but that's obviously now been tragically ripped away. She really changed pop music and gave a fresh lease of life to the genre; inspiring and collaborating with the likes of Charli XCX, Shygirl, Let's Eat Grandma and Kim Petras... but aside from her signature sound, she really stole hearts and brought an inestimable visibility to trans women everywhere; thriving as one of the most respected producers in the world whilst showcasing her identity in this video. Her death really stings.

#121 - "Everyway That I Can" by Sertab Erener

Youtube video

I've loved Eurovision since I was about 11 years old (just not to the extent that I am willing to find stream links for the semi-finals of the Norwegian song selection process). I ummed and ahhed over which song to put highest from the years of competitions this century, and in the end I felt this - the winner from 2003 - was the perfect embodiment of what the competition is all about. Showcasing other cultures (the Turkish really changed what would be a "stereotypical" entry for years to come with this) and allowing an unapologetic, feisty woman to steal the show. This song is just absolute fire, and I don't know if there'll ever be another winner like it. **** your Loreens and your Conchitas.

[Braden]

Sertab Erener winning with Everyway That I Can changed Eurovision's trajectory in becoming the contest we know and love to this day. It could've been Dana International, but then we had that phase from 1999 to 2002 where the acts were more pop-based and fun, but the contest was still taken a bit too seriously.

Also, I love your work, hope you win, but I do have to defend Paris Hilton and say that the 'STOP BEING POOR' t-shirt is photoshopped

[Shaun]

Originally Posted by Braden

Also, I love your work, hope you win, but I do have to defend Paris Hilton and say that the 'STOP BEING POOR' t-shirt is photoshopped

Who would do this to her? </3

[Fetch The Bolt Cutters]

The look the lips the hips the tits

[Tony Montana]

A lot of great songs, some that I'd even forgotten about.

[Daniel.]

It would be interesting if you did it with albbums (if you've listened to that many)