My Favorite 50–actually 51–Songs of 2017

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

https://youtu.be/eMG8H4yFtmU

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

https://youtu.be/yTay2mZhiXA

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!

 

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