I think out of almost anything, it’s the music from a year that really defines it and makes that one individual year stick out from those around it to me, and what a year this has been for music! There have been so many good songs, and albums even, that have played around me throughout what has been an important and memorable year.
This list is largely dominated by my favourite artists of this year: Porter Robinson, Clean Bandit and the amazing CHVRCHES. For the first time since I started doing this list back in 2010, most of my songs are actually from this year – so whether that says that my music tastes have become more modern or I’ve just found all of the good oldies by now I don’t know! There are of course ones from a little while back, and I’ll let you know which ones they are, but seeing as the songs have only been added to my iTunes library this year I include them because they’re new to me.
There are few songs I think that deserve an honourable mention that haven’t quite made it this year including: “Fasten Your Seatbelt” by Pendulum, “Beat and the Pulse” (Still Going Remix) by Austra, “Fancy Footwork” by Chromeo, “Closer” by Tegan and Sara & “Alba” by Runrig – which are all great but were only re-discovered this year rather than being new.
But as tough it was to whittle the songs of 2014 down to a list of 40, I did manage to. Here are the songs that were the soundtrack to my year:
40. Porter Robinson – “Lionhearted”
Kicking off the list is the most poppy song from Porter Robinson’s new album “Worlds”, which fits the mould of his older and more electro music roots whilst bringing the new flavours of his newer stuff in as well. It’s a catchy song with a good drop that fits really well.
39. CHVRCHES – “Night Sky” (2013)
One of the many fantastic songs from CHVRCHES’ debut album “The Bones of What You Believe”. It’s quiet and reserved, leaving the vocals to carry the song most of the way with a light drum beat in the back but when it erupts for the chorus it’s a delight of chanting synths. My favourite part is the bridge to the second chorus, with the off-sequence drums just hitting the right note.
38. Clean Bandit – “Cologne” (feat. Nikky Cislyn & Javeon)
“Cologne” is probably the best song from Clean Bandit’s hit album “New Eyes” that they didn’t release as a single, and as such it hasn’t got the sort of recognition I think it deserves. It would be a perfect R&B club hit, with the classical elements and deep house style to it coming together flawlessly with the duet between the guest vocalists playing together really well as well.
37. Porter Robinson – “Fellow Feeling”
Definitely the song that surprised me most this year, “Fellow Feeling” starts off with a classical note before gently folding in electronic elements and drumbeats. Then it throws a curveball at you with a sort of dubstep breakdown that is alien to the entire rest of the album and a drop that reminds you of what Porter was once known. It’s a delight and that feeling of shock will make you remember the song long after it’s over.
36. Michael S – “Sunshine” (2012)
Easily one of the most cheery songs I’ve ever heard, this tune is sickly sweet and just exudes happiness from start to finish. The Avicii influence is clear but it stays clear of having pointless vocals draped over it, with the drop and the constantly dinging bell sounds making it so much fun to listen to.
35. Neon Jungle – “Braveheart”
A bit of a guilty pleasure, Neon Jungle have done really well for themselves by going that little bit further with the dance side of their music compared to the myriad other girl bands that have tried it, with this song’s drop being just has hard-hitting as something you’d find from one of the bigger DJs. It’s all held together with a dark and sinister tone broken only by the high notes of the bridge, and a rap that’s worth forgetting about, but always manages to keep me listening.
34. Lilly Wood & The Prick – “Prayer in C” (Robin Schulz remix)
“Prayer in C” is a great example of when doing a dance song that’s slower works better. Robin Schulz channels the simple art of bringing a groovy flow to a track with understated vocals, as he did with “Waves”, and it works really well as a song that can be enjoyed while listening to it almost anywhere.
33. Kiesza – “Hideaway”
One of 2014’s breakthrough acts, Kiesza brings an amazing voice along with some groovy beats that have made for a few killer songs. “Hideaway” is of course her finest to date, with the simple but impressive drop being a highlight of nights out all year. Couple it with an incredible freestyled video that was shot in one take and this will be one of the songs 2014 is remembered for without a doubt.
32. Knife Party – “Begin Again”
Treading the lines between Knife Party and older act Pendulum, “Begin Again” is Knife Party’s best track from their debut album. It has the energy we’ve come to expect from Knife Party, and while it doesn’t ever descend into the mad, dubstep-infused drops that we expect from them it does give some reason to get up and move.
31. Big Country – “One Great Thing” (1986)
A song that featured heavily in Yes Scotland’s campaign efforts for Scottish independence, it’s a great example of Big Country’s unique and uplifting sound with the guitars straining bagpipe-style. Even though the drama of the referendum is over, listening to this gives a flashback to what was one of the most exciting few weeks/months I can remember.
30. The Naked and Famous – “Punching in a Dream” (2010)
This song is a great stress reliever I find, as you can pour all your anger and frustration into this song where the warping synths are interspersed with driving and thrashing guitar and Alisa Xayalith sing/screaming over them. Once it’s all over, and you’ve got it out of your system, things do seem better – and things don’t seem as futile as punching in a dream anymore.
29. Technotronic – “Get Up! (Before the Night is Over)” (1989)
I underwent a kind of 90s revival this year, with lots of great songs from a decade dominated by Eurodance making their way into my library and I think this is the pick of them. Shamelessly poppy and so catchy because of it, it’s a tune that really does what it sets out to do – to make you dance and sing along despite how unsubtle it is compared to modern music.
28. Martin Garrix – “Proxy”
As envious as I am of Martin Garrix’s phenomenal success at the age of 18, I can’t deny that his house music is incredibly good. This song, released for free no less, does a great job of showcasing his talents – with a signature two-stage drop that’s one-part hard-hitting electro house and one-part more groovy and melodic deeper house. Also available as a free download!
27. GotSome feat. The GetAlong Gang – “Bassline” (Main Mix) (2013)
Indeed it does have a good bassline, with it anchoring a slow and sultry rap that incorporates a few higher paced breakdowns into it. There’s a dark and mystical atmosphere to the song which I really like and the way in which it always keeps you on your toes is really interesting.
26. CHVRCHES – “We Sink” (2013)
Thudding into life with a drum beat that keeps hammering away through the whole song, Lauren Mayberry’s vocals skip over the beat beautifully and create a cheery atmosphere that leaves a smile on your face. It’s such an uplifting song with the synths and the overall feeling of togetherness melding into a perfect representation of pop happiness.
25. Sub Focus – “Turn Back Time” (2013)
Riffing off a classic house tune from DJ Steve “Silk” Hurley, “Turn Back Time” does a great job of bringing a pounding deep bass to a nice electronic melody with the typically great backing vocals of a Sub Focus song behind it. As everything winds up and the drums get faster, it leaves you hanging perfectly for the minimalist drop that leaves you pretty stunned.
24. ZHU – “Faded”
A song that starts out quiet and slow quickly changes into something that sounds much sinister but just as sexy when the deep, pounding bass breaks through. It’s a tad repetitive and after that first hit it never recovers the shock value that it had, but the slightly mystical feeling to it doesn’t leave you in a hurry.
23. Duke Dumont – “Won’t Look Back”
I think Duke Dumont’s at his best when he tries to take on the darker side of dance music, and with “Won’t Look Back” he does it and then some. With the 80s style strong soul in the background stretched over a piece of signature deep house that never gets repetitive as it rises and falls throughout the song, it’s a catchy dance song that was well-deserving of being number 1 this year.
22. Porter Robinson – “Flicker”
The Japanese influence on Porter Robinson’s new album is seldom as apparent as in this gem, with the kawaii-esque vocals that repeat “I’m trying to find what’s the most important” in Japanese being strangely catchy. The way in which he experiments with different sort of beats which range of the video game soundtrack style at the start to the loud, foreboding crashes and plinking guitar towards the end – it’s got a very distinct sound to it that’s exceptionally addictive.
21. Porter Robinson – “Divinity”
An incredible opener to a spectacular album, “Divinity” was the first sample of Porter Robinson’s new blend of atmospheric and dance music and it was divine. Hard-hitting when it needs to be, gentle and building when otherwise – it manages to create the sort of uplifting and mind-clearing effect that Porter was going for with his new brand of tunes and is something special to behold, especially for the first time.
20. 2NE1 – “I Am the Best” (내가 제일 잘 나가) (2011)
I’m prone to getting little bits of advert songs stuck in my head, and this is certainly the most bizarre of the year. It’s a song by a South Korean girl group of all people, but with a strong EDM influence over what is actually a pretty stereotypical sort of song lyric wise. The bass in the song is fantastic and the chorus is catchy as anything you’ll hear. Shame it didn’t work out that the song was 21st in the list though!
19. The Chainsmokers vs Dragonette – “Let it Go” (Chainsmokers Filter No. 2)
No, it’s not the Frozen one. This is a tune that takes a lighter approach to dance music than we expect nowadays, with a breezy but emotional pop song with the Chainsmokers’ keen sense for catchy melodies. The elements of the song just snap together really well I feel and it makes for a tune that’s great to listen to. And even better, it’s a free download via their Facebook page!
18. CHVRCHES – “Do I Wanna Know?”
For my money the best cover CHVRCHES have done to date, Lauren Mayberry and co. manage to inject the passion and feeling that I think was badly missing from the Arctic Monkeys original. With the way the synth hits a beat or two into the bar it really manages to make things a lot darker and more emotional.
17. CHVRCHES – “Gun” (2013)
One of CHVRCHES’ signature songs, this is one of their highlights in concert. With the two-tiered chorus that they do so well, the first part eases you in by dropping the noise and leaving the chanty vocals of Mayberry before leading you into a rock-infused part that leaves you head-banging like nothing else. It also manages to nail the outro, with the fading out of the vocals as the keyboards keep on going – giving it a haunting quality that makes it stand out.
16. Tove Lo – “Habits” (The Chainsmokers Remix)
Taking what was originally a very slow, sad and melodic song this one of many amazing Chainsmokers remixes that manages to inject life and an amazing energy into it, whilst keeping the bones of what made the song so good. The drop is fantastic while the build-up is typical electro house but laced with the emotion that drove the original.
15. Passion Pit – “Live To Tell the Tale” (2008)
Every end-of-year list I’ve done so far has featured a Passion Pit song, so why would this year be any different? An incredibly powerful love song from their first EP, this is one that falls into the classic homemade geeky charm that the band oozed through their first songs that make them so unique. The awkward lyrics make the feeling feel far more genuine, and the wailing melody and drums keep everything together nicely. In a time where songs are often over-produced and devoid of the sort of magic that they used to, this song shows it still exists.
14. The Chainsmokers – “#Selfie”
Say what you want about how annoying this song may or may not be, there’s no denying how catchy it is. For me, it’s got a great sense of ironic humour and an even better beat going on behind it. It’s a blatant grab at the trend of the day to get famous, but when the song’s so much fun I really couldn’t care less.
13. Clean Bandit – “Dust Clears” (feat. Noonie Bao)
Clean Bandit are great for making songs that blend genres and types of music, and this is one of the best. With the slow and measured start met in the middle with slap bass sections and the obligatory flurry of strings leaving you caught in a whirlwind of great music. Its vocals have a perfect sort of festival sing-along vibe to them as well, something they did well at T in the Park this year.
12. Calvin Harris – “Outside” (feat. Ellie Goulding)
Violins have made a big impression on the music of this year as it’s happened, but none are as dramatic as the ones infused with Ellie Goulding’s magical voice on this brilliant song. The way the song’s beat shuffles through with such ease and still manages to have a drop that’s full of emotion is pretty remarkable.
11. Faul & Wad Ad vs. Pnau – “Changes” (2013)
This is a slick and catchy song, and a mainstay of adverts and montages all year long. With a simple verse repeated over and over again by a children’s choir with a saxophone-led beat in between that is slower but still manages to snap you into a rhythm.
10. Dan Croll – “From Nowhere” (Baarsden Remix) (2013)
A leftover from last year’s GTA V soundtrack, this song is perfect for those times where you want to slow things down and chill a bit. With relaxing and echoey verses coming together with a bouncy drop in the middle, it takes a tone that’s pretty unusual in dance music, but welcome all the same.
9. The Naked and Famous – “Young Blood” (2010)
When those synths start up there’s an immense level of impending drama I feel, and I love it. This is a song about looking back on your younger days and essentially saying to enjoy them while you can, and that things will work out even if they don’t seem like it, and it’s a message that really rings true I find. Couple that with the amazing melody that is deliberate and slow then this song is made to be savoured and enjoyed.
8. Clean Bandit – “Rather Be” (feat. Jess Glynne)
Probably the hit of the year chart-wise, “Rather Be” really set out Clean Bandit’s stall as one of the freshest and most exciting acts of 2014 with the magnificent voice of Jess Glynne adding to it beautifully. It’s got a universal appeal that not many pop songs can do nowadays, with the soul and classical elements combined with the powerful and sing-along chorus to give everyone something they can enjoy. It’s hard not to love it.
7. David Guetta & Showtek feat. Vassy – “Bad”
While I’d question David Guetta’s influence on what is almost unmistakably entirely a Showtek song, this has probably the best electro house drop of any song this year – crashing through the ground with the big room style that you’d expect. The catchy high-pitched vocals of Vassy just add to the suspense as you wait for the action, and make it an absolute masterpiece of high-octane dance music.
6. CHVRCHES – “Tether” (2013)
There’s no other song I know that’s as much a tale of two halves as “Tether”, with its slow and quiet verses and its’ simple chanting chorus giving way to an absolutely incredible explosion of synths. The emotion and melody of the first half, a song about feeling attached to something that has run its course, are amplified massively in the second half as the same mantra of “I’m feeling capable of / seeing the end” feels far more like a final and emphatic epiphany when drowned out by the screeching and soaring going on behind it – giving a massive release. Always great to listen to, it’s perhaps CHVRCHES’ most well-crafted song.
5. Oliver Heldens – “Gecko (Overdrive)”
Great as an original demo track, but even better with the vocals over it, this tune is a great fusion of the different parts of dance music at the fore today. The way the chorus layers itself a bit off-centre with the industrial beat in the background adds a bit of character and emotion to the song that other poppy dance songs rarely manage so well.
4. Wankelmut & Emma Louise – “My Head is a Jungle” (MK Remix)
To enjoy this song to the fullest, it’s got to be the full 8 minute plus version that you go for. Building from the slow pounding bass and evolving throughout into the dance spectacular that it is always manages to impress, as it shows its different styles, different feelings and different beats the whole way through. Emma Louise’s slow and ethereal vocals make the song’s heart shine through even with the great drum and piano beats going on around it. It’s as close to an opera of dance music as you’ll ever find.
3. Sub Focus – “Tidal Wave” (feat. Alpines) (2012)
An absolute tour de force of a song, “Tidal Wave” is packed full of emotion and feeling whilst being able to give something that’s danceable and even some drum and bass too. Alpines’ singer Catherine Pockson provides beautiful vocals for this jilted love song, which towers over the straining synths and beats that sound as though they’re tearing each other apart. The first drop is pure sadness but the second adds the energy, with the same emotion layered over some tempered drum and bass giving the song another dimension and taking it to another level.
2. Say Lou Lou – “Julian” (The Chainsmokers Remix) (2013)
A song that is absolutely perfect for all occasions, “Julian” is my favourite dance song of the year. It’s simple the whole way through, with the delicate vocals being accompanied by a melody that just makes everything seem happier. The drop to the song is golden too, being easy enough to listen to when you want something that bit quieter and loud enough to have at a party as well. It’s got both a delightful light summery feel to it and a winter warmer vibe as well. There are not many songs that cover so many bases and still end up sounding so good, but “Julian” manages to do it with style.
1. CHVRCHES – “The Mother We Share” (2013)
A masterpiece from start to finish, it’s been my song of the year from day one and one of my favourites of all-time. From the very start, with the echoing vocals of Lauren Mayberry being cut with the dreamy synth to them fading out again it’s pop heaven. Mayberry’s beautiful voice over the uplifting melody just works so well, and when it all goes quiet in the middle it just serves to make things even more satisfying when it all comes back.
With lyrics that are pretty dark as well, it’s even more testament to the song that it manages to sugar-coat them so well and to make it seem so happy. It’s an absolutely faultless song and that’s why it’s my favourite song of 2014.
So there is my top 40 for the year! Here’s a Spotify playlist featuring as many of the songs as possible, with the honourable mentions as well:
Feel free to suggest songs that I’ve missed or where you would rank the ones from my list in the comments below.