This was a really good year for music. Really good. Some years, I get nervous about putting my list together. I’m afraid there won’t be enough to fill it out. But this was definitely not one of these years.
If anything, there was so much good stuff, I had a hard time getting to all of it. I could’ve easily made a list of 100 songs–but I kept it to 50–actually 51. There are many release that people loved that I didn’t get to spend enough time with or didn’t full give my attention, so I know there are songs I missed.
But that’s what’s fun about these lists. To back and discover all the great music that’s all around you.
Admittedly, my favorites list is just that–MY favorites. And that means they aren’t necessarily the BEST songs of the year, but they are the songs I have the strongest connection to and therefore, stand out. Generally, seeing an act live can assure a place on the list. I tie so much to that live experience–but that also means that if I didn’t get to check out an artist’s show–that relationship with the music may not be complete.
I tried to keep it to one song per artist and I’ve stuck with my rule that songs had to come out between November 1, 2016-October 31, 2017 to be considered for this list.
Additionally, I still like to organize my list into two “CD” sets, even though now they just live as playlists. I like the narrative and mood these songs can create so I’d prefer you listen to them in order I put them in–at least the first time through–then go ahead and shuffle away!
Reviewing the list, I’m excited that it turned out to be such a great reflection of my general music sensibilities and includes a mix of old favorites and new finds.
And for the record, this list is in no particular order, but my favorite song of the year was Break Apart, Bonobo featuring Rhye. To get a full appreciation for the song, may I recommend you check out the Song Exploder episode on this track. I loved it on first listen, but I was in DEEP after hearing the song broken down.
And if you missed my list of my favorite albums of the year, that list can be found here.
Let’s do it!! Here’s the list! Enjoy!!
Disc One
Frontline, Kelela
Cola, CamelPhat, Elderbrook
Just Dancing, Sylvan Esso
Priestess, Pumarosa
You Don’t Know Me, Jax Jones featuring RAYE
Heartline, Craig David
Lost In Your Light, Dua Lipa and Miguel
Body, Syd
First Fuck, 6lack and Jhene Aiko
IDK About You, Fever Ray
Cut to the Feeling, Carly Rae Jepsen
Still Got Time, Zayn and PARTYNEXTDOOR
Super Trapper, Future
wokeuplikethis*, Playboi Carti featuring Lil Uzi Vert
Crowded Places, Banks
Something Here, Day Wave
Doomed, Moses Sumney
Three Rings, Grizzly Bear
Does She Even Know, IDER
Baby Luv, Nilüfer Yanya
Little of Your Love, Haim
Bobby, (Sandy) Alex G
Gonna Hurry (As Slow as I Can), Whitney
oh baby, LCD Soundsystem
Don’t Leave, Snakehips & MØ
Disc Two
Halfway Home, Broken Social Scene
Break Apart, Bonobo and Rhye
Sideline, Niia featuring Jazmine Sullivan
Olvidame y Pega la Vuelta, Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony
Bodak Yellow, Cardi B
Chanel, Frank Ocean
Andromeda, Gorillaz featuring DRAM
Shark Smile, Big Thief
Blue Train Lines, Mount Kimbie featuring King Krule
Sign of the Times, Harry Styles
(No One Knows Me) Like the Piano, Sampha
DNA, Kendrick Lamar
Day I Die, The National
Young Death, Burial
Bike Dream, Rostam
Get it Together, Drake featuring Black Coffee and Jorja Smith
(trailer video)
Prom, SZA
On and On, Curtis Harding
Selfish, Future and Rihanna
Lay It On Me, Vance Joy
Jackpot, Nikki Lane
Undercover, Kehlani
Love, Lana del Rey
Slip Away, Perfume Genius
Afterglow, Ásgeir
Radiohead, I Promise
Here are some playlists so you can listen to them all at one–the first is all the songs on YouTube and then the Spotify playlists. What songs am I missing? Are there songs on here you also love? I wanna know!! Hit me up in the comments below!