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!