It felt extra challenging to narrow down my favourite songs of the year to a list of ten. Once again nu-disco, nostalgic 80s and synth-pop bangers dominate my selection.
Another highly-anticipated collaboration between Sir Elton John and a newly liberated Britney. Similar to the hugely successful Cold Heart, Hold Me Closer is an amalgamation of three Elton John hits, namely Tiny Dancing, The One and Don't Go Breaking My Heart, all of which are integrated seamlessly by a catchy dance beat.
A trippy, synth-pop collaboration from Years and Years and Kosovo-Albanian DJ Regard that also features on the streaming edition of the former's Night Call album, one of my best-loved albums of the year.
I was fortunate to experience the magic of Orville live in concert. His performance of this melancholic ballad, the second single from his incredible album, Bronco, was one of the best songs of the set and indeed, it's one of my favourite on the album.
Say what you want about Harry Styles, As It Was, from his third album Harry's House, proves that he is a superstar at the top of his game. The Guardian described the song as an effervescent, high-tempo song with an "80s-style melody" and an "earworm instrumental motif" reminiscent of The Weeknd's Blinding Lights.
A fantastic track from German DJ Purple Disco Machine featuring the rich vocals of Swedish singer-songwriter Agnes. According to Electro Wow, Purple Disco Machine "continues to reinvent the 80s for the new generation of listeners" with tracks, such as this one, that are "full of energy and groove".
This was an unexpected and deliciously sexy surprise from Sam Smith, one that burned up the charts - and TikTok. The Music Universe sums up the song as follows: "Crafted around a sultry Arabic scale, the track delivers a multi-voiced, menacing sound collage with instant club appeal, underpinned with a throbbing bass".
A stunning collaboration between two iconic English synth-pop duos, Soft Cell (vocalist Marc Almond and instrumentalist David Ball) and Pet Shop Boys. David Ball referred to the collaboration as "probably our finest pop moment since the early 1980s” and I would have to agree.
I always look forward to new music from Bananarama and once again, they did not disappoint with the first single from their latest album, Masquerade. Favourite was an instant...favourite, a track which Women In Pop describes as a "delicious slice of electro-synth pop with a dash of melancholy weaving through the addictive beats".
2 | Free Yourself - Jessie Ware
Jessie Ware's disco and house-infused anthem lit up the dancefloor this year. Jessie said she hoped the song would make people dance, feel no inhibitions and feel joyful and I think she succeeded in doing all of that and more.
The last couple of months of the year have belonged to Taylor Swift with the release of the magnificent Midnights, an album that set the charts on fire and broke multiple records. Anti-Hero was the lead single from the album and also my favorite. The iconic line "It's me. Hi. I'm the problem, it's me" soon made its way onto TikTok videos, helping the song's popularity to skyrocket.
Always enjoy PSB so: 4 | Purple Zone - Soft Cell & Pet Shop Boys
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