Top 10 Songs of 2020

  

2020 was that year.  I got through it, like so many people, with the help of friends and family, Netflix, Schalk Bezuidenhout's lockdown diaries and music.  Music has always offered solace and motivation and this year was no exception.  The awful year was certainly punctuated with so many bright spots in the form of incredible pop music and a welcomed reprieve from what was going on.  Here, then, are my top ten songs of 2020:

10 | the 1 - Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift continued to break records and silence haters (is there anyone who still questions her Midas touch?) this year with the release of her foray into folk, the aptly titled Folklore.  Pitchfork accurately described Swift's eighth studio album as "a sweater-weather record filled with cinematic love songs and rich fictional details".  From the opening lyrics of the first song, the 1, the album's interwoven narratives and poetic lyrics transport you to a richly-coloured world filled with nostalgic imagery and emotion.  the 1 juxtaposes humour and sadness in beautifully written one-liners as the narrator reflects on the "one that got away".

9 | Who I Am - Melanie C

Melanie C described this song as follows: “It’s about how I’ve changed and developed through my life. The more courage I’ve found, the more I have been able to express myself and grow into the woman I now am.”  I loved the message behind the song as well as the video, in which Melanie C wanders through a museum and looks at past iterations of herself, ultimately suggesting that she has come to accept the woman she is today.  While it's not quite a club track, the rise and fall of synths give it a dance edge and the chorus is a catchy declaration of self-acceptance.

8 | Lightning Fields - The Killers feat. k.d. Lang

Like so many things in 2020, this collaboration was surprising.  But unlike almost everything this year, it was a welcome surprise.  It's an incredibly emotional song but k.d. Lang's powerful vocals take it to a whole other level.  The song, taken from Imploding the Mirage, felt instantly recognizable with a distinct 80s rock nostalgia.  Bre Offenberger from The Post nailed it in her review of the album: "a nod to the classic rock genre, preserving the anthemic spirit of Bruce Springsteen while telling stories that galvanize the mind and soul".  The lyrics of this stunning track explore the enduring love between frontman Brendan Flowers' parents, with k.d. Lang's vocals acting as the voice of his late mother, Jean, who tells her husband not to beat himself up and "There's not end to truth / There's not end to me / There's no end to you".

7 | I'm Ready - Sam Smith feat. Demi Lovato

This is a beautiful collaboration between two amazing artists.  Like many songs on my list this year, it is a pop song with distinct disco elements and a generous helping of synth-pop.  Their vocals combine seamlessly as they outline what they are looking for in a partner while simultaneously exploring the importance of being open to love and being loved and the vulnerability that that entails.  In the video, Smith and Lovato, along with other characters, participate in a series of sporting events (what some have described as the Queer Olympics) including wrestling, gymnastics and synchronised swimming, before the two of them take part in a medal ceremony during the song's climax.

6 | Roses - Adam Lambert

Adam Lambert opted for a retro glam look and nostalgic sound for his fourth album (which also includes all the tracks from his Velvet: Side A EP released last year).  The whole album is fun and soulful and each track really showcases his vocal expertise, creating a strong desire to throw on some velvet bell-bottoms and oversized shades and head to the nearest disco.  Roses is a funky mid-tempo track that features legendary guitarist and disco pioneer, Nile Rodger; a song I loved from the first time I heard the opening notes.  An aside: Adam Lambert was the last live show I attended (at an intimate venue in Brooklyn) before Ms Rona showed up; he was spectacular.

5 | Julianna Calm Down - The Chicks

Gaslighter, the first studio album from The Chicks in 14 years, was one of my favourite albums of the year, filled with perfect three-part harmonies, foot-stomping choruses, heartbreaking lyrics and plenty of banjos and strings sprinkled around.  While there are several standout tracks, including the title track, March March and Texas Man, the female empowerment anthem Julianna Calm Down is my favourite.  The lyrics encourage women in abusive or oppressive relationships to stand up for themselves and reclaim their independence, with the chorus offering some of the best advice I've heard in a song: "Just put on, put on, put on your best shoes / And strut the fuck around like you've got nothing to lose".

4 | Midnight Sky - Miley Cyrus

This was certainly a busy year for Miley Cyrus, who seemed to be performing every other week.  Not that I'm complaining.  Her "Backyard Sessions", in which she showcased her versatility by covering and reinterpreting several songs from other artists, including Communication by the Cardigans, were fantastic to watch.  She also performed covers of The Eagles' Take It To The Limit on BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge, Blondie's Heart of Glass at the iHeart Music Festival and Hall and Oates' Maneater on The Tonight Show.  Midnight Sky is a sleek and sexy track.  Miley's husky vocals suit the retro sound of the song (with just a little help from Stevie Nicks' Edge of Seventeen) and the accompanying video is a glamorous display of self-expression that was inspired by Pat Benatar and David Bowie.

3 | Sine From Above - Lady Gaga feat. Elton John

There was a lot of hype and speculation ahead of the release of Chromatica, Lady Gaga's sixth studio album.  And in my opinion, she served the Gaga dance-pop masterpiece that we needed!  This album is pop perfection, from the opening instrumental track, Chromatica I, which blends into the metaphorical Alice, to its "ancient city style" serve in Babylon.  It was difficult to choose my favourite track but I settled on her collaboration with Elton John, an electropop banger that explores the healing power of music.  Other favourites from the album are Alice, Rain on Me, 1000 Doves and 911.

2 | Love Again - Dua Lipa

One of the best pop albums of the year, Future Nostalgia made me an official Dua Lipa fan.  There are so many standout tracks from her sophomore studio album (Physical, Hallucinate, Levitate, and Break My Heart) but this one was hands down my favourite.  It features the catchy 1930s Al Bowlly trumpet sample that was also used in White Town's 1997 hit, Your Woman, and kept me dancing on some pretty dark days.  She also released a remix album, Club Future Nostalgia, which includes the hot remix of Levitating featuring the Queen herself, Madonna, and Missy Elliot.

1 | Say Something - Kylie Minogue

When I heard that Kylie was releasing a new disco-themed album, I knew everything was going to be okay.  The first single, released months before the full album, was love at first listen.  There is just so much to love: a sexy disco-infused bassline, funky synths and drum crashes, vocal layering and of course, her repeated calls for unity ("Cause love is love, it never ends / Can we all be as one again?").  The video sees Kylie flying through the a shiny and sparkly universe on a giant sculpted horse and radiating psychedelic lasers from her hands. Kylie also released a soaring acoustic version of the song, which feels like it could be from her Abbey Road sessions. Other favourites from DISCO include Supernova, Last Chance, Magic and Where Does The DJ Go?