Two interesting things happened to skew Spotify’s perception of my music tastes in 2019:
- This was the first full year of our new business, an active, relatively-well-trafficked, family-friendly storefront. While I love Spotify’s intuitive nature when it comes to seguing from my playlists into songs it insists I’ll love if I give ’em the chance, it tends to give the impression from a statistical standpoint that I’m more enamored by certain songs than I actually am. Also: just by virtue of owning a store that oldheads and families wander into, this kinda filters out a lot of my hip-hop, hard rock, and metal listening.
- My toddler started to branch out into music beyond “Itsy Bitsy Spider” and the like. Some of her favorites are gonna show up a LOT.
Still, it’s an interesting snapshot of an interesting year, one in which I almost exclusively walked to and from work, lost in my headphones, one in my lengthy car rides dwindled down to almost nothing.
Thanks to Spotify for their end-of-year roundup and accompanying playlists. They continue to be the gift that keeps on giving. Without further ado, let’s delve into the top 100.
100. “Never Forget You” (Zara Larsson and MNEK)
99. “Pull Shapes” (The Pipettes)
On any given year, I’m shocked to find that I didn’t listen to “Pull Shapes” more than literally everything. This addictive sugar-rush of a throwback – way back – bop remains The Pipettes’ finest hour.
98. “Absolutely” (Ra Ra Riot)
Spotify really wanted me to listen to Ra Ra Riot this year. I didn’t recognize this mid-tempo slice of inoffensive indie dance-rock by name alone, but I vaguely recalled the chorus when I hit play, so there’s that.
97. “When They Fight, They Fight” (The Generationals)
96. “She Looks So Perfect” (Five Seconds of Summer)
Listen, I’m not mad at finding a modern boy band in my top 100 listens. I just don’t recall ever cosigning it on purpose.
95. “Love Myself” (Hailee Steinfeld)
94. “Sunday Candy” (Donnie Trumpet and the Social Experiment)
The Chance the Rapper-spearheaded “Sunday Candy” has been a playlist staple for a couple of years now, so I’m not surprised to see it pop up. Ebullient and gospel-inflected, Chance is the star here, whipping up wistful nostalgia and infectious enthusiasm in equal measure. If there were a museum of line deliveries in popular music, Chance’s “LIGHT GAS WATER ELECTRICITY RENT” would have its own exhibit.
93. “Burning” (Maggie Rogers)
I met Maggie at one of my karaoke shows before she got for-real famous. It was a private gig full of rich douchebags and she was the only one who was nice to me. Her friends kept drunkenly informing me that she was “like, a real artist” who had “songs on the radio and everything” and I definitely eyerolled when they walked away. I say all this because while I appreciate Maggie’s demeanor that evening, I only know a couple of her songs, none of which are “Burning” soooooo shrug emoji I guess.
92. “Man on Fire” (DNCE)
91. “Can You Tell” (Ra Ra Riot)
Spotify really, really wanted me to listen to Ra Ra Riot this year.
90. “Wolf Like Me” (TV on the Radio)
Return to Cookie Mountain is TVotR’s best album-length statement, and “Wolf Like Me” is its centerpiece, propulsive, feral, ominous, and absolutely addictive. Will never not listen.
89. “Dance Yrself Clean” (LCD Soundsystem)
88. “Sunflower” (Vampire Weekend)
Not a Post Malone cover, kinda-sadly, but one of the weirder flights of fancy from VW’s newest, Father of the Bride. It’s an album that grew on me tenfold over the course of the year, but more on that later.
87. “Retrograde” (Striking Matches)
Nothing else in Striking Matches’ discography quite grabs me like “Retrograde,” but hey, at least I have “Retrograde”, a track Spotify flung at me while cooking dinner a couple of years back. It’s made it to all my playlists since, a loping groove based on a distorted slide guitar riff that culminates in a big chorus full of gang harmonies and descants. It’s dope.
86. “Portions for Foxes” (Rilo Kiley)
85. “Secret Love Song” (Little Mix feat. Jason DeRulo)
Anguished, conflicted portrait of infidelity or LGBTQ anthem? Sure, it’s one of those. Probably both. Either way, it’s a big, singable power ballad with sweeping harmonies and melisma to spare. Jason DeRulo always sings like he’s near tears and I think we’re all the better for his innate theatricality.
84. “Out At Night” (Clean Bandit feat. KYLE and Big Boi)
Is the chord structure of this low-key banger meant to echo “Careless Whisper”, or are we just extremely lucky that it does?
83. “Feel It Still” (Portugal. The Man)
Yup, still listening to the song of summer 2017 in winter 2019. Fight me.
82. “This Must Be the Place” (Sure Sure)
81. “Silver Springs” (Fleetwood Mac)
This would probably have a higher play count if I didn’t rewind that outro chorus a hundred times to listen to Stevie Nicks absolutely scorch the earth.
80. “Two Weeks” (Grizzly Bear)
79. “Saturdays” (Twin Shadow feat. HAIM)
78. “What I Like About You” (Jonas Blue feat. Theresa Rex)
I had no idea what this Jonas Blue song was – I pictured a cover of The Romantics, but turns out it clicked as soon as I got to the chorus. This sort of Producer + Generic Female Pop Singer = Hit track is the exact sort of sonic candy I gobble up giddily and I make no apologies.
77. “Little Secrets” (Passion Pit)
76. “When Am I Gonna Lose You” (Local Natives)
75. “Wrecking Ball” (Miley Cyrus)
Can we just acknowledge as a society that Miley Cyrus put out one of the 2010’s most durable power ballads? Can we acknowledge it for the titanic chest-burster of a track it is without resorting to “hurr de hurr Hanna Montana” or whatever?
74. “You Need to Calm Down” (Taylor Swift)
While I don’t think the Day-Glo minimalist pop of “You Need to Calm Down” will be enshrined as one of Tay-Tay’s finest musical moments – we’re talking about the woman who recorded “I Knew You Were Trouble”, after all – we’ve gotta acknowledge how gleefully she leapt into her stance on LGBTQ rights and the fact that she pissed off Westboro Baptist by depicting them in this video, accurately, as mouth-breathing, hateful amoebas. We also gotta talk about how loudly I sing “SHADE NEVER MADE ANYBODY LESS GAY” in the car, or how forcefully my daughter launches into the stacked harmonies in the chorus.
73. “Break-Thru” (Dirty Projectors)
72. “New Slang” (The Shins)
I technically first heard “New Slang” when I purchased The Shins’ Oh, Inverted World album back in the early aughts, listened to it all the way through once, and then set it aside. I non-technically “first” heard it in a Boston bar on the way to the can in-between rounds of absolutely crushing it at trivia on an ill-fated date. Still love it.
71. “Photograph” (Def Leppard)
This is still the perfect pop song and you can’t change my mind. I have no idea how it’s only #71 here.
70. “Pompeii” (Timeflies)
This is a Bastille cover, and it’s…. fine. Now you know that.
69. “TenTwentyTen” (Generationals)
68. “Wraith Pinned to the Mist and Other Games” (Of Montreal)
67. “I Like Me Better” (Lauv)
66. “Insomnia” (Rahsaan Patterson)
I can’t describe how passionately I love this song: its structure, that whiz-bang of a chorus that stuffs mountains of vocals under Patterson’s lead, and above all Rahsaan’s powerful lead vocal, nuanced and forceful and keening.
65. “Bad To Worse” (Ra Ra Riot)
Spotify really, really, really wanted me to listen to Ra Ra Riot this year.
64. “Take It All Back 2.0” (Judah and the Lion)
63. “Best Friend” (Sofi Tukker feat. Nervo, The Knocks, and ALISA UENO)
Sometimes I feel like a tool when I steal my new favorite song from an Apple commercial, but, like… “Best Friend” is undeniable, right? That syncopated percussion, that bass-heavy groove, the surplus of endearing guest spots? You’re with me on this, right? Whatever, I’m rocking out. DO YOU WANNA MEET ME AT THE BAR? YAWP.
62. “Havana” (Camilla Cabello feat. Young Thug)
This song remaining in my most-played is equally the work of my daughter and myself. And, if we’re being quite honest with ourselves, Young Thug.
61. “All My Friends” (LCD Soundsystem)
60. “Light On” (Maggie Rogers)
Maggie didn’t sing “Light On” – the song that I assume is her biggest hit – at karaoke that night. She did, however, sing “Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield. I like “Light On” enough, despite the fact – actually, scratch that, definitely because of the fact – that it reminds me of Donna Lewis’ immortal “I Love You Always Forever” for some reason.
59. “Missed Connection” (The Head & The Heart)
58. “I Don’t Care” (Ed Sheeran & Justin Bieber)
When I first heard that Ed Sheeran had an album of collaborations coming out, I misunderstood it as an album of collaborations with Bieber. After hearing “I Don’t Care” and its jaunty, summery take on crippling social anxiety, I was in love with that concept.
57. “If I Can’t Have You” (Shawn Mendes)
This is the only Shawn Mendes song that I enjoy – I would claw my own eardrums out to avoid “Treat You Better” – but it’s wonderful.
56. “So Lonely” (The Police)
I can listen to this song all day even without Sting whipping himself into an utter frenzy in the breakdown, but I think we’re all better for having heard that breakdown.
55. “Water” (Ra Ra Riot)
Spotify really really really wanted me to listen to Ra Ra Riot this year.
54. “Juice” (Lizzo)
Hot take: don’t trust anyone who’s 2019 playlists don’t have a solitary Lizzo song. They’re aliens and they do not come in peace.
53. “Attention” (Charlie Puth)
52. “Bob Marley” (Grizfolk)
51. “Can We Hang On?” (Cold War Kids)
50. “The Way We Get By” (Spoon)
49. “Thinkin Bout You” (Ciara)
This isn’t a Frank Ocean cover, perhaps mercifully – although, to be crystal clear, I’d listen to Ciara cover Frank Ocean in an absolute heartbeat – but it’s an absolutely delightful ’80s synthpop/r&b hybrid, minimalist and cooing and sweet. Think “Kiss” by the way of “Cherish” and you’re in the ballpark. If you can get it out of your head, cool, but I don’t want to know why you wanted it out of your head in the first place.
48. “Satisfied” (Galantis feat. MAX)
47. “bad guy” (Billie Eilish)
46. “I Wanna Be Your Lover” (Prince)
Prince isn’t going to show up much on this list. Surprising, because Spotify also informed me today that he was both my “artist of the year” and “artist of the decade”, but also not surprising, because I rarely linger on a solitary Prince song long enough to let it rocket up a list like this. I prefer to listen to all the different Prince songs. Still, “I Wanna Be Your Lover” is forever a sexy, danceable party-starter with a hell of a groove, so if this is P’s sole representation I ain’t mad at it.
45. “Lost In Your Light” (Dua Lipa feat. Miguel)
44. “Borderline” (Tame Impala)
43. “broken” (lovelytheband)
My initial thoughts about this song – namely, “that synth riff sounds like the riff from MGMT’s ‘Kids’ with a couple of notes changed around, this is the Dr. Thunder of songs” – have given way to the amused chuckle I get out of my child perking up and dropping everything to sing “da da da da-da da-da da da” along to the intro every time.
42. “Love Me Less” (MAX feat. Quinn XCII)
41. “Silver Lining” (Rilo Kiley)
I don’t even really like this song and I’m frankly upset that Spotify pushes it upon me over the superior “Portions For Foxes”.
40. “Sucker Punch” (Sigrid)
I don’t even know at what point in the year I was gifted this feisty, addictive little pop number. I only know that I genuinely can’t recall a point in my life that I didn’t know it.
39. “Hang Me Out To Dry” (Cold War Kids)
38. “Wake Up” (Arcade Fire)
Okay, so, maybe it’s cliche to have this on my morning wake-up playlist, but if that chorus of “ahhs” doesn’t cut the mustard for you, I GUESS YOU’LL JUST HAVE TO ADJUST.
37. “Post Malone” (Sam Feldt feat. RANI)
36. “Every Time I’m Ready To Hug” (Ra Ra Riot)
I know what you think I’m gonna say, but “Ready To Hug” is a ginormous, addictive power-pop confection and I listen to it gleefully every time. Also, Spotify REALLY REALLY wanted me to listen to Ra Ra Riot this year.
35. “Remind Me To Forget” (Kygo feat. Miguel)
34. “Sucker” (Jonas Brothers)
In my head, every time the chorus of sucker ends in “I’m a sucker for you” and then goes into the little musical break, they segue into the riff from “Bark at the Moon”. That’s not how it actually goes down but I keep listening in case something changes.
33. “Heart It Races” (Dr. Dog)
32. “Pink Lemonade” (James Bay)
Listen, the James Bay who oozed banal ballads all over my radio was not a James Bay I had any interest in hearing. I assume he’s been replaced by a pod person because that James Bay had no business releasing a power-pop song as cool, poignant, propulsive, and effortlessly singable as “Pink Lemonade”, which…. might be perfect? I haven’t found a flaw yet. I’ll let you know.
31. “Don’t Leave Me Lonely” (Mark Ronson feat. YEEBA)
30. “Sweet But Psycho” (Ava Max)
Catchy. Also a dead ringer for “Down” by Jay Sean. Fight me.
29. “No New Friends” (Labrinth, Sia, and Diplo)
28. “Missed the Boat” (Modest Mouse)
27. “Higher Love” (Kygo feat. Whitney Houston)
Man, if you had told me at the outset of this year that I wanted – nay, needed – an ebullient, beyond-the-grave Whitney putting on a clinic of a Steve Winwood cover, I’d have scoffed. Joke’s on me, this is essential listening.
26. “Now That I Found You” (Carly Rae Jepsen)
25. “Valerie” (Ra Ra Riot)
In case you’re keeping score, that’s two Steve Winwood covers in three entries. First band to release a dynamite cover of “The Finer Things” next year gets their logo tattooed on me and you can hold me to that.
24. “Sit Next To Me” (Foster the People)
Essential listening for my toddler – she does the claps, you see – but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t into it. This song is a whole vibe.
23. “Rather Be” (Clean Bandit feat. Jess Glynne)
22. “All the Way” (Timeflies)
21. “Sunflower” (Post Malone feat. Swae Lee)
Okay, Postie, if you don’t stop releasing delightful songs and being overwhelmingly likable in your public appearances, I’m gonna end up being a fan.
20. “Put A Light On” (Generationals)
19. “Off the Record” (My Morning Jacket)
18. “Mistake” (Middle Kids)
Essential listening culled from a “late night walks” playlist a couple of years ago. That chorus is absolute gangbusters.
17. “One Thing Leads To Another” (The Fixx)
Or, as my wife used to call it, “what’s that song I like that sounds like it’s by Oingo Boingo but it’s not?” I will nominate this song for permanent enshrinement in a museum. This is literally on every playlist I make because it’s perfect.
16. “This Life” (Vampire Weekend)
This might be 2019’s most instant-vintage song. Seriously, spend three minutes with this song, and it’s like you’ve known it forever. This is new-millennium “Brown Eyed Girl”.
15. “Waiting For A Star To Fall” (Boy Meets Girl)
Deeply, immaculately ’80s, awash in synths and falsetto, and a song that loves you enough to grant you the euphoric release of a sax solo and a key change at the same time. We owe this song a debt of gratitude for existing.
14. “Sixteen” (Ellie Goulding)
13. “Genius” (Labrinth, Sia, Diplo)
This song has the coolest energy since… I dunno, maybe “One Thing Leads to Another”? Sia and Labrinth’s vocals dovetailing over those chest-rattling drums and see-sawing synths are worth a billion Red Bulls if you’re trying to kick-start the work week.
12. “Lollipop” (Mika)
Yeah, my kid discovered Mika this year. This was her favorite, and why wouldn’t it be? Repetitive, astoundingly catchy, candy-coated and lively, it’s a confection for the ages.
11. “Wish You Well” (Sigala feat. Becky Hill)
10. “The High Road” (Broken Bells)
James Mercer’s octave jump from verse to chorus is the highlight of this dynamic, arresting arrangement, but it’s all good, from that squelchy canned-instrument intro to the rhythmically-scrubbed acoustics in the verse.
9. “Australia” (The Shins)
8. “Instant Crush” (Daft Punk feat. Julian Casablancas)
Someday, I’ll write a whole article on how much I love this moody, beguiling dance-power-ballad, but today, I’ll simply suggest that you throw on some over-the-ear headphones and just kinda marinate in it. Also, please allow the moment that the guitar solo rises from the ether to give you the goosebumps it has earned.
7. “Harmony Hall” (Vampire Weekend)
I’m gonna sound like a broken record here, but seriously. Vampire Weekend’s new record sounds like I’ve known it my entire life.
6. “Sedona” (Houndmouth)
5. “Came Here For Love” (Sigala feat. Ella Eyre)
This is still such a sunny, feel-good jam that I want to hug it every time I hear it. Sigala is low-key my favorite of the “create instrumental, paste female pop singer over it” brand of producer.
4. “The Underdog” (Spoon)
An interesting choice, to be sure, but yeah I definitely listened to Spoon in the shop a ton this year.
3. “The Middle” (Zedd feat. Maren Morris)
2. “Close To Me” (Ellie Goulding feat. Diplo and Swae Lee)
I don’t know if I’ve heard a chorus more indelible than “Close To Me” since… well, probably since “The Middle”. Ellie Goulding would be my favorite purveyor of electronic-based lady pop music if Carly Rae Jepsen didn’t exist, I think.
1. “Strange Embrace” (Kitten)
From Drew’s random “this song reminds me of another unrelated song” files: the chorus to “Strange Embrace” makes me think of The Wallflowers’ “Some Flowers Bloom Dead”, but that’s neither here nor there. “Strange Embrace” has been my #1 for two years running. Despite being smitten by it – that gigantic chorus, that defiant lead vocal, the deceptively busy bassline, the Robyn-esque commitment to dancing through heartache – I’d still make the joke that you’d think it was my favorite song ever if you didn’t know better. After two years with this song, I’m not so sure it’s a joke anymore.
Drew's Album of the Day 