songs of the year (1-5)

Happy New Year!  So we made it to 2026 - yay!  It will be time to start listening to new music again, hearing what is released this year, figure out over the next eleven to twelve months what will make my list.  That should be fun.

We're packing up the car and heading home from Carmel Valley Ranch today.  With luck, we'll get home to find that Pasadena is not overrun with football fans.  And also, may the rain that is due hold off until after we're home!

I don't think 2025 was anywhere as strong a year for music as 2024 was (but not the weakest year I've known - 2022 had some strong songs but was weaker overall, I think).  I wish I had more Canadian content in there as well.  Still, there was music I like, and perhaps you've discovered one or two things of interest (or one or two things about me) in the process.

So then, the top 5.  Here we go!

#5.  Ghost Town - Purple Disco Machine featuring Retrosonix

#4.  Find Xanadu - Alison Goldfrapp

#3.  Sunny - Bright Light Bright Light featuring Beth Hirsch & Nerina Pallot

#2.  Emergence - Sleep Token 

#1.  Don't Put It All On Me - Noah Cyrus & Fleet Foxes

songs of the year (6-10)

TOP TEN!!  Let's do this!

#10.  Old Recliners - ROLE MODEL

#9.  Lesbian of the Year - The Beaches

#8.  Idiot Box - Sharon Van Etten

#7.  Gordon in the Willows - Patrick Watson & Charlotte Cardin

#6.  Safety - Bell Towers 

 

songs of the year (11-15)

Top third of the list now.  In among the Christmas music in the past couple of weeks, I was listening to my top of the year list, and I feel like it's when we get to these songs here (working up from the bottom), we're really getting into the ones that I love, not just like.

And yes, there are two Pulp songs in this grouping.  Not the only artist to have two appearances on the list, though. 

#15.  We Didn't Know We Were Ready - Ólafur Arnalds & Talos

#14.  Spike Island - Pulp

#13.  Pull Together - Poolside & Satin Jackets

#12.  Don't Have the Words - Nolan Taylor

#11.  Got to Have Love - Pulp 

songs of the year (16-20)

Ooooo... now we're getting somewhere.  My favourite songs of the year now into the top 20!  Exciting.

Here we go!

#20.  Guilty - Teddy Swims

#19.  Vampires - Matt Nathanson

#18.  HURRICANE - Låpsley

#17.  Lawdy Rolla - Paul Weller

#16.  The Second High - Liz Stringer 

songs of the year (21-25)

On to the next part of my list of favourite songs of the year...

#25.  last night i dreamt i fell in love - Alok & Kylie Minogue

#24.  My Head & The Glass - Bastille

#23.  Circle of Trust - Arcade Fire

#22.  Quiet Light - Luke Howard

#21.  Rain Brings Change - Tori Amos 

songs of the year (26-30)

Boxing Day morning as I write this.  I'll soon brew some decaf.  Today will be a day for staying in at home and dry from the rain.  Well, until we go to the home of friends later this afternoon.  A good day for getting some blogging done!

Back to my favourite songs of the year for now.  Then the decaf!

#30.  Dracula - Tame Impala

#29.  raat ki rani (Khruangbin Remix) - Arooj Aftab & Khruangbin

#28.   High Like Heaven - adore and Blue DeTiger

#27.  The Fate of Ophelia - Taylor Swift

#26.  Landslide - Boox Kid 

songs of the year (31-35)

Third entry of songs of the year.  I've been posting these to my Instagram, and I've made it to #16 there, so a little ahead of the blog.

I was thinking to myself this morning as I was walking, listening to an older year-end list, that these lists are a snapshot of me in December of the year, not much more.  I go back to old lists and I think, hmmm... not so sure about this or that song any longer.  Even now, I'm posting these and rethinking the order.  So take these with a grain of salt.  Still, some of them will sit on my playlist for a loooong time to come!

That said, let's press on.

#35.  Rolling Stone - Maribou State

#34.  Another Life - Eelke Kleijn featuring Nathan Nicholson

#33.  For Him - Dan Mangan

#32.  Disintegrate - Suede

#31.  Wolves - Jeremy Loops 

songs of the year (36-40)

Shall we continue with my favourite songs of the year?  Why not?  Onward!

#40.  Last Night - Alaina Castillo

#39.  Thieves - Roan Ash

#38.  You Don't Know My Name - Giolì & Assia

#37.  Don't Let Me Go - Tom Odell

#36.  Gone Gone Gone - David Guetta, Teddy Swims, & Tones and I  

songs of the year (41-45)

That time of year when I do my musical countdown.  I narrowed my favourite songs of the year down to 45 this year.  Ready for the countdown?  Here we go!

 

#45.  Breathe In, Breathe Out - David Kushner

#44.  Wasted Love - JJ

#43.  Sports car - Tate McRae

#42.  Vodka Cranberry - Conan Gray

#41.  Born Again - LISA featuring Doja Cat and Raye 

songs of the year (1-10)

As the year wraps up, so does this list.  I've moved on from Christmas music season already - for all that I love a long lead up to Christmas with my listening, it's a pretty hard stop when Christmas and Boxing Day are past.  Ah well.

Here's hoping there is good and enjoyable music ahead in 2025!  Now then, on to my top ten....

10.  Turning Stones (Mind Against Remix) - CamelPhat & SOHN

9.  Beat Of Your Heart - Purple Disco Machine & ÁSDÍS

8.  how to change a tire - Zach Hood

7.  Untidy Creature - Sleater-Kinney

6.  Happier (feat. Clementine Douglas) - The Blessed Madonna

5.  One Night/All Night - Justice & Tame Impala

4.  CHIHIRO - Billie Eilish

3.  Tonight In Belfast (Edit) - Orbital, David Holmes & Mike Garry

2.  Supernova - Bananarama

1.  Andrew - Ben Platt