A musical journey through Beth’s 2017 …

At the beginning of every year, I make a list of the my 40 favourite songs from the previous year. It’s fun to look back over the musical landscape of the past twelve months. The songs make me smile, cry and remember. I started doing this in 2014 – and I’ve not missed a year since. Ryan has dutifully listened to every chart in its entirety – not because he likes my music. He makes no bones about the fact that he thinks some of my musical tastes are appalling. That’s fine by me because I know I’m right. This is, after all, BethBlog. No, he listens because he’s an avid music fan, a lover of numbers – and a grand husband. And I’m sure all my faithful readers totally listen to every song, too. Right? Right? Of course, you do!

Having made the chart in January, I would like to publish it before Easter. Have I mentioned that I still can’t seem to conquer my way-too-much-all-the-damn-time? Sigh … So, without further ado, the following list is my Top 40 of 2017. As usual, I’ve ordered them from barely-hanging-on #40 to glittering #1 – and I’ve provided links so you can listen along. And, as usual, there are plenty of genres to enjoy. From rap to pop tarts to yee-haws …

40. Chained to the Rhythm – Katy Perry feat. Skip Marley

39. Believer – Imagine Dragons

38. … Ready for it? – Taylor Swift

37. Reminder – The Weeknd

36. Look What You Made Me Do – Taylor Swift

35. Praying – Kesha

34. Scars to your Beautiful – Alessia Cara

33. You’re the Best Thing About Me – U2

32. Rockabye – Clean Bandit feat. Sean Paul & Anne-Marie

31. Bad at Love – Halsey

30. If I Yold You – Darius Rucker

29. Born Yesterday – Hollerado

28. Blood in the Cut – K-Flay

27. Glorious – Macklemore feat. Skylar Grey

26. Bank Account – 21 Savage

25. I Got You – Bebe Rexha

24. The Way You Used To Do – Queens of the Stone Age

23. The Story of OJ – Jay Z

22. The Man – The Killers

21. No Such Thing As A Broken Heart – Old Dominion

20. How to Boil an Egg – Courtney Barnett

19. Thunder – Imagine Dragons

18. Strip That Down – Liam Payne feat. Quavo

17. Wish I Knew You – The Revivalists

16. Bad Liar – Selena Gomez

15. Los Ageless – St. Vincent

14. High – Sir Sly

13. Issues – Julia Michaels

12. Bad and Boujee – Migos feat. Lil Uzi Vert

11. Creature Comfort – Arcade Fire

10. Love Me Now – John Legend

9. rockstar – Post Malone feat. 21 Savage

8. Starboy – The Weeknd feat. Daft Punk

7. Something for Your Mind – Superorganism

6. Shark Smile – Big Thief

5. Sign of the Times – Harry Styles

4. Million Reasons – Lady Gaga

3. New Rules – Dua Lipa

2. Man Listen – Belly

If you’re still with me, thank you … Your reward is Lorde, dancing in with #1, the hypnotic, urgent, sexy “Green Light”! Happy listening!

“The smaller the numbers, the bigger the hits!”

Tonight’s the night for many music lovers: the Grammys! Every year, the Grammys generate alot of talk. Did you see his face when she was performing? She wore what? Pretty sure he was drunk, or high, or both …. Somebody needs to make insert-poptart-du-jour-here put on a sweater. Why does everyone seem to love that shitty song? They can’t even sing! Was that a mistake, or did he actually mean to do that? Yeah, thought so, mistake. And, of course, somewhere in the middle of it all, we should all feel really, really, really bad about not buying music, and music in schools is going to save us all.

Then, there’s the chance to see musicians who wouldn’t normally collaborate, joining each other in some very fine performances. Last year’s tribute to Levon Helm by a dazzling collection of old and new artists was my favourite Grammy moment, ever. My apologies for the quality of that video; it was the best I could find. I’m still waiting for what I know would be delicious: a joint project by Mavis Staples and Brittany Howard. Somebody, somewhere, make it happen! Anyway. Tonight, Ryan and I will be watching it all from our basement futon, on our little old hard-working box. (Yes, the one he had when I met him. We’re such dinosaurs.)

I recently put together my own year-end chart. It’s my Top 40 of 2013. I presented it to Ryan, who dutifully (and, I might add, enthusiastically) listened to every song. Even the ones that I should only be enjoying in a darkened, sound-proof room, and should never share with anyone. But, since I am a Beth of very little shame, and this is – after all – BethBlog, I am going to share them with you. Complete with YouTube links for the top 10, for your listening and viewing pleasure! Or not …. 😉 

If you’re a purist, you will probably develop an eye twitch over my Top 40, because it includes a small number of songs that came out in 2012. However, if they were still on the charts, and played all over the radio, during 2013, they’re eligible for this list. My methodology is as follows: did I love this song and crank it every time I heard it in 2013? Then it can be on my chart. You probably also pay more than $10 for a bottle of wine, and use measuring tape to hang your pictures. You might even own a smoking jacket. Yay, you!  You’re free to make your own chart, and feature it on your own blog.

Details and asides aside, here we go ….

40. “Do What U Want” by Lady Gaga & R. Kelly

39. “Crash My Party” by Luke Bryan

38. “Stompa” by Serena Ryder

37. “The Dog is Mine” by k-os

36. “Let Her Go” by Passenger

35. “It’s A Beautiful Day” by Michael Buble

34. “Blowin’ Smoke” by Kacey Musgraves

33. “When I Was Your Man” by Bruno Mars

32. “Cups” by Anna Kendrick

31. “Don’t Ya” by Brett Eldredge

30. “Devil’s Got a Gun” by Whitehorse

29. “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” by Taylor Swift

28. “Blurred Lines” by Robin Thicke

27. “Come and Get It” by Selena Gomez

26. “Scream and Shout” by will.i.am. & Britney Spears

25. “Brighter Than Gold” by The Cat Empire

24. “Stutter” by Marianas Trench

23. “Get Lucky” by Daft Punk

22. “Mama’s Broken Heart” by Miranda Lambert

21. “Gone Gone Gone” by Phillip Phillips

20. “Suit And Tie” by Justin Timberlake

19. “Some Nighs” by fun.

18. “Can’t Hold Us” by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

17. “Wrecking Ball” by Miley Cyrus

16. “Highway Don’t Care” by Tim McGraw & Taylor Swift

15. “Carry On” by fun.

14. “No Good Woman” by Elise Legrow

13. “I Love It” by Icona Pop & Charli XCX

12. “Wagon Wheel” by Darius Rucker

11. “The Monster” by Eminem & Rihanna

10. “Holy Grail” by Jay Z & Justin Timberlake

9. “Odds Are” by Barenaked Ladies

8. “Same Love” by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

7. “The A Team” by Ed Sheeran

6. “Sweet Nothing” by Calvin Harris & Florence Welch

5. “Royals” by Lorde

4. “My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark (Light ‘Em Up)” by Fall Out Boy

3. “Stay” by Rihanna & Mikky Ekko

2. “Thrift Shop” by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

1. “Just Give Me a Reason” by P!nk & Nate Ruess

* Note the absence of anyone wearing the sad combination of thick-framed glasses, a plaid shirt and an overgrown beard.