#like the billie charli guess remix mv

[theheroofherbook]

2016 Music Madness

Super super overdue but again I wanted to commemorate another good year in music and I definitely think there are some fantastic songs out there despite all the viral ones that only became famous because of challenges-memes. For those who read last year’s list you’d also notice I added new categories (signposted as ‘new’). Hope everyone will try to check out these songs just to get out of your comfort zone but also so that we can discuss them (and fangirl over the artists(!!))

Album of the Year Carly Rae Jensen - Side B

This was a tough one. I’m super biased because I almost awarded Emotion AotY in 2015 but it was beaten by Adele’s later release of 25. This year I was still happily listening to the songs in Emotion but around March Carly released the *songs that didn’t make the cut/didn’t make it to Emotion* and I was so f@*%ing ecstatic because I wanted more of her 80s synth-pop songs. Will be discussing my faves from Side B below.

The reason it was tough was because I also just discovered Alessia Cara’s Know-It-All (released late 2015) in 2016 and I really really like her songs too (pun intended). She is so refreshing not just with her non-pretentious MVs but it’s the first time since Taylor, Adele and Carly that I truly thought the lyrics were great and relatable and were written by a true artist (or maybe I’ve just not tried to discover that many artists in a hot minute). So I’m giving Know-It-All the runner-up award to Best Album of 2016 (even though technically it’s a 2015 album).

Best Comeback - None I can think of/that is notable

Most Surprising Album (in a good way) - Troye Sivan’s Blue Nieighbourhood and Charlie Puth’s Nine Track Mind

Don’t wish to belabor this but I just find it a recurring experience of mine that the first single off any album I almost always am annoyed by. Just like when I initially thought Adele’s Hello was annoyingly sombre when it first came out (because she said it was kind of a ‘revival’ album–of her coming to terms with everything that’s happened in her life so far, so I wasn’t expecting Hello to be the first single off 25, was expecting something more upbeat and revival-y). Anyhoo, Youth from Blue Neighbourhood and Marvin Gaye from Nine Track Mind annoyed the f%@# out of me too initially. Probably because they were always on the radio but I guess like Hello they were songs that just grew on you more than anything. And for the record I understand why the song was named Marvin Gaye but my goodness if he was gonna name a song after a classic artist I feel that the song should’ve at least channeled the artist’s style at the very least? It happened that it was only alluding to the mood that Marvin Gaye songs put people in which is such a waste because Marvin Gaye was a true thespian and master of his craft (listen to What’s Going On and you’ll know what I mean).

Fave New Artist (New) Zara Larsson

People are calling her the ‘White Rihanna’ which I think is unfair because although there are similarities in their music Rihanna is such a queen in her genre and Zara is just starting out (she’s only 19!! Omg I feel so unaccomplished) but I have confidence that this girl is gonna go far (not to say she’ll be Taylor Swift big but I think we haven’t seen much of her yet/she’s only just begun).

fave songs of 2016 (in no particular order) Carly Rae Jensen - Fever, Higher and Store Alessia Cara - I’m yours, Scars to your Beautiful and Overdose Troye Sivan- Wild (ft. Alessia Cara) and Heaven (ft. Betty Who) Charlie Puth - We Don’t Talk Anymore (ft. Selena Gomez), Marvin Gaye (ft. Meghan Trainor) Zara Larsson - Ain’t My Fault and I Would Like Flume - Never Be Like You Michael Posner - I took a pill in Ibiza James Arthur - Say You Won’t Let Go Little Mix - Shoutout to My Ex The Weeknd - I Feel It Coming Maroon 5 - I Dont Wanna Know Drake - One Dance and Too Good (ft. Rihanna) Middle - DJ Snake Chainsmokers - Closer (ft. Halsey) Cashmere Cat - Trust Nobody (ft. Selena Gomez) DNCE - Body Moves Neikd - Sexual Léon - Treasure Calvin Harris ft. Rihanna - This is what you came for

Honorable Mentions Chainsmokers - All We Know and Dont Let Me Down Charlie Puth - Dangerously Meghan Trainor - No Shawn Mendez - Treat You Better and Mercy Flume - Say It (ft. Tove Lo) The Veronicas - On Your Side The Weeknd - Starboy Demi Lovato - body Say Jonas Blue ft. JP Cooper - Perfect Strangers DNCE - Toothbrush Léon - Tired of Talking (remix) Jonas Blue - By Your Side Bad things - Machine gun Kelly ft. Camilla Cabello

DJ Snake ft. justin Bieber - Let Me Love You

Most Overrated Song (New) Side to Side - Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj

Im a fan of both artists (don’t judge but yes I listen to Nicki from time to time) but I just couldn’t with this song. I don’t know what the hype is all about.

Most Disappointing Song Release/Collaboration (New) Cold Water - Major Lazer and Justin Bieber

I enjoy some of Major Lazer's songs and as you know I selected Justin as best comeback of 2015 but even though this song went into the top 10 charts I was still disappointed. Not their best work tbh.

Artist with Potential (but needs to tweak his/her current Sound - New) Bebe Rexha - trying too hard to be edgy but I think she’ll shine with more ballads (In the Name of Love ft. G-Eazy was pretty good)

Annoying (but still OK) Can’t stop the feeling - Justin Timberlake Black Beatles - Rae Sremmurd

When Trolls came out, this. song. Was. Everywhere. All. The. Damned. Time. Black Beatles was slightly better because I didn’t mind it with the mannequin challenge–but really it was everywhere too😅 #annoyingaf

Best Animated Movie Song (New) How Far I’ll Go - both Auli'i Cravalho and Alessia Cara versions

Shoutout to Disney for finally getting a Pacific Islander Princess. Some problematic Orientalisms and slight cultural appropriation aside, I’m letting it slide because wtf at least Disney is trying and we all know diversity has to start somewhere. Moana was a good first step and as a Pacific Islander myself I really dont mind it. First time ever that I can 100% fully relate to a Disney Princess even down to the overprotective parents and amazing grandma😭😂😝 I cried watching. Twice (or maybe thrice oops).

Most Annoying Song (shouldn’t have been made) Juju on the Beat - Zay Hilfigerrr and Zayion McCall

Read up on this because it was such a WTF Song moment and what I found out was that these were two middle school boys who wanted to go viral on the internet. Yes, boys. Yes, because they wanted to be viral. Go figure why this song sucks 🙃

Album I recognise as a work of art but I just can’t get on the bandwagon (New) Lemonade - Beyoncé (maybe it’ll grow on me too but atm I still can’t and please don’t hate me I’m just being honest)

Indie Music I couldn’t stop listening to (New) A Place You Like - ISLAND Her and Drive - Glades Wake Up Where You Are - State of Sound

Spotify playlist most played (New) Today’s Top Hits Quiet Evening Throwback Thursday

Oldies but goodies/Old Songs I like and rediscovered in 2016 (New) Just the Way You Are - Billy Joel Fast Car - Tracy Chapman

Notable Cover Songs Shane Ericks - the Carpenter’s You cover and Love Me for What I Am cover Citizen Four - I Feel it Coming cover and Black Beatles cover (with Kurt Hugo Schneider) Alex Aiono and William Singe - Black Beatles and Confessions mashup Harvey and Samantha Harvey - We Don’t Talk Anymore and Perfect Strangers mashup Alex G and Sam Tsui - We Don’t Talk Anymore and I Don’t Wanna Know mashup The Three of Us - Middle cover Jonas Blue - Fast Car cover

The Good Riddance Award (New) Fifth Harmony - for axe-ing Camilla Cabello because she was so antithetical to the idea of a 5th harmony. She was always a diva (music-wise in that she ALWAYS sticks out and doesn’t even try to blend with the rest). I’m kinda over her tbh and that’s not to say I don’t think she’s good. I do think she’s a great singer. She just was never a girl-group player.