Best Songs of 2019: 50-1

My Top 100 songs of the year: Part Two: From 50-1...

The second half of the hardest year end list to narrow down, the Top 100 Songs out of a pool of over 2800 potential candidates. To briefly reiterate the criteria, any song released as a single or in an album between December 1st 2018 and November 30th 2019 is applicable, and there is a three-song limit per artist. The first half of this list was much easier to order, but this is the half that matters Over a month's work has brought me to this moment, I'm counting down my Top 50 Songs of 2019...

50

"Cuz I Love You"
Lizzo

The most expressive and emotive song on Lizzo new album, it feels deservedly massive. It packs more of a punch than the guitar solo on "Better In Color" and has better, more spectacular production than the slick beat on "Tempo". Most people have been complaining that "Juice" should have been her big hit of the year, and whilst I love that song this is my favourite from Lizzo.

49

"bury a friend"

Billie Eilish

"Oo so edgy"
I completely understand why many people have this huge problem with Billie Eilish's music and fanbase, but ignoring her old singles and "bad guy" her output is actually quite unique. The biggest pull factor that draws me to her music is her brother Finneas' compositions and production, crafting her unique sound and honing it to be some of the most experimental music of the year. For a short time, it was "bury a friend" that was her biggest single, and you'd have to be extremely stubborn and ignorant to not appreciate how alluring and detailed this song is.

48
"Paramour"
Anna Meredith

Maybe not the most off-the-wall song that Anna delivers on FIBS, but a song that pulls together the best elements of other songs into one fantastic electronic piece that captures my full attention every time I hear it. It would definitely work as the perfect entry point into the album. The last section of the song in particular is one of the most striking moments you could hope for.

47
"Vossi Bop"
Stormzy

The return of the king of grime right here. It's brilliantly catchy, unashamedly bold and boasts one of the best beats of his career. I appreciated his debut a whole lot more than I liked it, and this single was a signifier of a direction in his career I would be on board with a whole lot more, and given my love of "Sounds of the Skeng" and "Crown", I can now confidently say he's one of the best rap artists right now.

46
"Western"
black midi

Naming themselves after an obscure genre of ultra-intricate computer electronic music seems strangely appropriate when considering the sounds they play with on their debut album. Blending avant-garde with hardcore punk, progressive rock and folk whilst retaining a clear influence from classical and traditional compositions has resulted in the band making one of the most insane albums of the year, and for me at least this song "Western" is the centrepiece of it all.

45
"Summon the Fire"
The Comet Is Coming

This is really the only jazz song that's made the list because unlike the majority of jazz music I've heard this year it's something I can enjoy equally within and without the context of the album. This song has a solid foundation and although it may not build up in as many layers as "Blood of the Past", another fantastic track from the album, the layers it does build up are incredible. This band doesn't just grab your attention, they demand it.

44
"Whiplash"
Theophilus London
ft. Tame Impala

I've been waiting to talk about this all year. This phenomenal collaboration between two of the most exciting truly independent artists of the decade. The beat is retro bliss and the glorious splashes of synths really help to provide me with the incentive to continually revisit this amazing song. It almost transcends fun, and I hope this isn't the last time these two collaborate.

43

"fake smile"

Ariana Grande

From her most critically acclaimed album, she has made some of my favourite and least favourite music of her career. Whilst the "7 rings" found its way onto my worst list for its abhorrent lack of self awareness and frustrating performance, "fake smile" is her most honest and self aware song to date. The music fits the tone perfectly and altogether it adds up to be the best Ariana Grande song... maybe ever.

42

"Letter to Madeline"

Ian Noe

Country is a genre I am not at all familiar with past the pop-country acts big enough to be at least notable here in the UK and yet as soon as this came up on my radar I was hooked by the very real and raw yet poetic feel to the songwriting. It evoked a sort of wonderful nostalgia for a sound I'd only come across in films, but it was powerful enough to keep me interested and listening to this beautifully uncompromising song is a chilling experience.

41

"Living"

Andrew Huang

Boasting perhaps the most diverse discography of any artist I've come across, Andrew Huang is a music genius and there was at least an album's worth of songs that could have made this list but I decided that this as my favourite, due to its enormous feel and explosive impact. Andrew also provides some of his best rapping here, and it's a thrill to listen to.

40

"RICKY"
Denzel Curry

Easily one of the most fun rap songs of the year, I mean it's fast and fun and refreshingly positive and inoffensive, standing out from the masses of flexing trap rappers that dominate the mainstream.

39

"MIDDLE CHILD"
J. Cole

For a while now, J. Cole's supposed wokeness has been a source of frustration, as it often seems as though both his presentation of his music and the critical reception are convinced of some grandeur and lyrical quality that the majority of the time comes across as faux-deep and self-impressed. "Middle Child" is a completely different story, as he details his insecurities over his place in the current rap scene. It's incredibly smart and a huge step up for J. Cole.

38

"House Of Glass"
Cage the Elephant

Filling the void left by The Voidz this year, Cage the Elephant impressed me with this amazing and chaotic experimental rock single. The theme of isolation in this song is a powerful one, and unlike many of the other songs on their latest album this has only grown on me with time.

37

"An Angel of Great and Terrible Light"

Uboa

Over eight minutes of mostly instrumental industrial-ambient glory. On an album of genuinely unsettling and scary sounds, this song stands out as impressively huge and grandiose. Uboa is fantastic at making you feel things listening to her music and on this song you can feel the power exuded by the instrumentation, especially the driving guitars towards the end of the song. It's an inspirational and immersive experience, a self contained journey.

36

"Ulfilas' Alphabet"
Sundara Karma

Their latest album has many great songs to offer, and it's the title track that provides possibly the most striking imagery from the fascinating commentary in the lyrics. Take the line "You're both the sinner and the saint/The wolf, the man, the things you hate" as an example of the sort of perceptive brilliance they showcase throughout the song and eponymous album. 

35

"Beware of the Dogs"

Stella Donnelly

A rather depressing and political song that, through Stella's fantastic lyrics and plain but pleasant instrumental, becomes the most potent track on the album of the same name.

34

"Girl with Basket of Fruit"
Xiu Xiu

At first I struggled to get into Xiu Xiu's extremely abrasive and nihilistic themes and lyrics, but the music behind it was always far too interesting for me to completely ignore. Although I do now enjoy the majority of Xiu Xiu's work much more than I did, this song in particular continues to impress me with its mad, twisted energy and fantastic instrumental.

33

"why you gotta kick me when i'm down"

Bring Me The Horizon

The best example of genre blending the band has achieved, this extremely hip-hop influenced track is an angry joy to listen to with its skittering percussion, descending chimes and of course the booming bass. The grimy feel is intoxicating, and the bridge and ending are nothing short of spectacular.

32

"Penrose Tiling"

Max Cooper

One of only two completely instrumental tracks on this list, Max Cooper is an underground electronica and techno producer that fascinates me with his both beautiful and incredibly tense style of experimental ambience. Except, calling his music ambient would do him a disservice, as I would struggle to ignore this song in particular were it to play in the background.

31

"Gone"

Charli XCX

ft. Christine and the Queens

#1 crossover of the year right here, honestly the most brilliantly in-your-face song I've heard on the radio all year. It would have made this list without it, but the beat breakdown for the last minute of the track earns it a spot so high up.

30

"the greatest"

Lana Del Rey

Her latest and greatest album had many fantastic exports, this being the definitive highpoint for its incredible lyrics, performance and somewhat off-kilter grand instrumentation, courtesy of Jack Antonoff. Whilst his production makes Lana's new music special, her songwriting is at its best and most refreshingly self aware.

29

"Blood of the Fang"
clipping.

"There existed an addiction to blood"

This album is probably the darkest hip hop album of the year, an unsettling experience that gets genuinely difficult to listen to at times with its passages of white noise and harsh noises contrasted with often sparse samples and sounds that all contribute to the overwhelming beats. This trio are lead by rapper Daveed Diggs, who delivers some of his best bars on this phenomenal song.

28

"Bare Hands"

PUP

For me, there were several very relatable songs on this song and it surprised me that this was the one I gravitated to the most, given its specific and non-relatable themes. No, I love this song because of the emotion conveyed by singer Stefan Babcock's sincere and potent lyrics and performance.

27

"Life Was Coming In Through The Blinds"

Another Sky

There's no denying that Another Sky are a pretentious band, but this song just transcends that with its heavenly vibe and almost trip-hop beat that helps transport me far away every time I hear this track. On top (or should I say, below) all of this is one of the best basslines of the year. I adore this song.

26
"Stigmata"
Grandson

After complaining about how disappointed I was in the second volume of his a modern tragedy EP trilogy in my Most Disappointing list, I realised that in spite of the overall mediocrity Grandson had released one of the best songs of his career. "Stigmata" seems to have consumed the energy of the other tracks on the EP to focus it here into one of the most aggressive songs of his career. It's loud, it's brash and it's open.

25
"Venom"
Little Simz

Last year, as the official companion to the film of the same name, Eminem released one of the worst songs of his career in "Venom", an honestly terrible track that I despise now even more than when it was released. This year, Little Simz released one of the best songs of her career also called "Venom". Other than both being hip hop songs, the two couldn't be more different and Little Simz's track is an incredible feminist anthem that boasts a great beat and flawless production.

24
"Too Real"
FIDLAR

I will continue defending this band's third album as, similar to Hobo Johnson's debut, once you get past the cringe on the surface there is a surprising amount of truth and power in the lyrics and instrumentals. This song in particular effortlessly blends EDM elements into their rough punk rock sound. Their sarcastic and accusatory lyrics are excellent, and the bombastic intensity of the bridge and final chorus is nothing short of spine tingling.

23
"React/Revolt"
Drahla

Drahla's jazz infusions climax with this song, the empowering and mysterious "React/Revolt", their magnum opus as far as I am concerned. For me, they were the most interesting punk band of the year, and this song is the prime example of that.

22
"The Archer"
Taylor Swift

In my opinion, this is Taylor Swift's best song in years due to its tear-jerking honesty and heartbreaking lyrics. She's one of the best songwriters of her generation, and it's great to have that fact reiterated, especially after a long string of questionable singles gaining all the attention for their bold but ultimately shallow statements. As much as I similarly loved so many of the other tracks on her new album, it was the intriguing lack of a payoff in the building dreampop instrumental paired with her vulnerability and self awareness that made this track stand out above all others on Lover.

21
"INGLEWOOD/3"
FEVER 333

I do love the Fever 333, and this song is a huge part of the reason why. Both the most calm and confrontational song on their album, kind of split into two separate songs but they act as two sides of the same coin and only compliment each other: It's the contrasts that set this song above and result in a display of raw emotion across the spectrum of sincerity, hate, dependance, frustration and love.

20
"Psycho"
slowthai, Denzel Curry

High octane, ultra-combative rap.
Best beat of the year.
Best collaboration of the year.

19
"Don't Wait 'Til Tomorrow"
YONAKA

If there's one word to describe this song it would be supportive. It's an extremely relevant declaration of care and value that in 2019 is not just needed but completely necessary. This song helped me get through the year, and not a moment of the track is wasted or redundant. Yonaka are an amazing band, and this is the song that connects with me more than any other.

18
"Lesley"
Dave
ft. Ruelle

Get ready to cry because this account of domestic abuse and toxic relationships is phenomenal. Dave's more emotional and socially relevant output is outstanding, his poetry fresh and insightful and this song is the pinnacle of these elements. It's a narrative that escalates past initial expectations and features one of the biggest twists of the year.

17
"Inhale Exhale"
Anna Meredith

"You say you're dancing in the deep end/But to me, it looks like drowning".
One thing I never expected from Anna Meredith's brilliant electronic experimentation was perceptive lyrics, and this song has them in spades.

16
"Solid Ground"
Michael Kiwanuka

From one of the most critically acclaimed albums of the year, Michael Kiwanuka provides plenty of fun and serious music that I've massively enjoyed, but it's the emotional depth and instrumental crescendo of this song that for me seems to have the largest impact.

15
"Monatomic Mushroom"
Yugen Blakrok
ft. Bravestarr

This is just my kind of hip hop. Yugen Blakrok is a lyrical, science fiction influenced queen, delivering line after line of obscure references, backed by a phenomenal beat that perfectly mirrors her aesthetic - half cosmic, half South African. It is that juxtaposition between the grounded and the surreal that intrigues me most with her music, and makes it such an enjoyable listen.

14
"Black Roses"
Eli Moon

This is what I'd describe as ultramodern music, the incredibly fresh production not quite looking forward through experimentation like with artists such as Charli XCX and not retreading classic R&B like The Weekend's new singles. Eli Moon sits somewhere inbetween the two, in a sweet spot that makes me really excited for future releases.

13
"Crow"
Bear's Den

An extremely personal and emotive song that excels in its fantastic imagery and jarring words, as singer Andrew Davie remembers his late stepfather like a familiar scar, thinking of the fond memories and dependance he had on his life ("my Daedelus my wings to fly") and the positive impact this stepfather had both on Andrew and his mother.

12
"Fever"
CUT_
ft. Klangstof

The dripping percussion and breathy vocals make for an extremely chilled listen, it's tight production boosting my love for this song further. It's extremely intimate and sweet, an immaculate little tune.

11
"Girl Crush"
Self Esteem

I consider this the best LGBTQ anthem of the year, and without the compromise or weighty controversy of something like Taylor Swift's "You Need To Calm Down" which regardless of your opinion of the song itself was at least a little clunky. This however is from one of the best rising stars and her sincerity is unquestionable. Themes aside, the production here is extremely smooth and the strings are gorgeous. Great song, Self Esteem deserves more, uh, esteem (sorry).

We enter the Top 10 with the stomping barrage of synths that is "Doctor's In" by Pond, the closing track from their latest album and an instrumentally powerful one. It's a unique moment on Tasmania that is unafraid to experiment with full-blown drive-heavy synths that blur and merge in a psychedelic swirl of chaotic noise, making one of my favourite songs of the year as you're plunged into a slightly suffocating reality.

Similar to Tame Impala's "Solitude Is Bliss", this is a lonely and isolated track that gloomily and cynically observes the darkest thoughts in your head and the lies we tell ourselves and others about ourselves when we feel our worst. Connie is a young talent that has already established herself with great lyrics, and this song consolidates and improves upon that. Beautiful and a little uncomfortably relatable.

Weyes Blood cuts through any illusions of grandeur that a hopeful lover is presenting to her on "Andromeda", maybe not the most ambitious song on her latest album but certainly the most achieving of the emotional depth and complexity she's carried through from her folkier roots. Her new baroque pop stylings, the harmonies and strings in particular, are just gorgeous on this track and her vocals are another shining example of her brilliance.

FKA twigs has been hurt more than most people are in a lifetime in the years between her two albums, and this song is her moment of empowerment of her mentally abusive and messy breakup with Robert Pattinson. She is downright scary and when she declares herself a "fallen alien" it feels like a statement that should be taken deadly serious. The wild experimentation and intense percussion leaves me awestruck ever time I hear it, and for any fan this is a must listen.

Klangstof's return this year has brought me so much joy, it's better than I could have even hoped for, and this is for me a moment of near perfection. It feels somewhat deconstructed, but it all adds up to one of the biggest choruses of their career and a phenomenal high that would be the highlight of the track if not for the post-dubstep drop at the end of the track leaving nothing to be desired.

It feels as though this song might have been made specifically for me, it's odd chimy instrumental exactly the sort of pop experimentation I live for. I don't know much about this young new artist but I know that I love this song with a passion from the sleep and destruction themed lyrics to the computer sweeping synths, it's hard to describe but easy to love. Check this one out.

Everyone seems to have a different favourite from Tyler the Creator's latest album, and this is mine. The magical blend of classic soul with Tyler's gruff rapping and immaculate production is all I could have hoped for.

Sundara Karma's most danceable song is not what I expected to be my favourite from Ulfilas' Alphabet, but it's a track that I can connect with, move to or simply appreciate for its energetic new rave sound that seems to have transcended many of the originators of the genre in sleekness and intricacies. Oscar's voice is like the cherry on top, tying together themes of death and religion with the flashy synths and tight drums into a fantastic track that I've loved throughout every month of the year.

Upon discovering shey baba's debut album this year, I was immediately struck by songs like "Vertigo" and "Inside Out" for their rather accessible but nonetheless brilliant instrumentals, their trip-hop vibes resonating really well with me, a huge fan of artists like Massive Attack and London Grammar. As I listened more and more to this album however, I found that as much as I retained my love for those songs, this track "Requiem" only grew on me more and more. Calling it a beautiful ballad doesn't do it enough justice, as this really is what it describes itself as. As pretentious as it is, this really is a "requiem to the old world" from shey baba to the society we are leaving behind. "You don't have to be who you are anymore" - I hope that's the case, shey, I really do.

This is it then, my favourite song of 2019. From a band I only discovered last August, APRE have quickly become a new favourite of mine and have already shown an intriguing career arc, spanning psychedelic pop to the indietronica of their latest release. This track sits somewhere inbetween. Its percussion is wonderful, seemingly clicking into place as you listen to it just as the lyrics fall into place as sincere, open and truthful, qualities I seem to greatly admire given how frequently I've commented on those elements as a highlight of many of the songs on this list. It makes sense in 2019 that I'd value things like honesty and simplicity, and this song is exactly that. Classic indie pop with distinctly modern production that elevates the guitars, vocals and drum machines. It's not unusual or weird, not experimental and not deconstructed or strange but it holds a special place in my heart for what it achieves in spite of its reasonable simplicity. Of course I love every song on this list, especially as you go into the top 10, but "Gap Year 2008" is for me the most definitively perfect and emotionally resonant. I think anyone could love this song, and out of any song on this list this is the one to listen to, not only because it's my favourite but because of how much it can offer to anyone who listens.


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I hope you enjoyed this list, thank you so so much for reading <3


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The Top 100 as a playlist

Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4GULB1iEn0GN2qhDLn70S2
Deezer Playlist: https://www.deezer.com/playlist/6927181284?utm_source=deezer&utm_content=playlist-6927181284&utm_term=582910131_1577037568&utm_medium=web
Tidal Playlist: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/d7ee64af-f443-4949-9a45-88275de7d5a5