Thursday 4 January 2018

Songs of the Year 2017



I gave up my regular "new music round-up" blogs many moons ago - too much like hard work, for diminishing returns (I would often find myself looking forlornly as no-one read, let alone commented on, them after hours of research). However, just occasionally I am tempted to revive the concept...

There were actually, after all, a few songs [no rappers, no Ed Sheeran, no Bieber, no Coldplay and no Miss Swift, obviously!] that were released in 2017 which piqued my interest - such as this absolutely brilliant one by Beck [a particular fave of the fantabulosa Ana Matronic; as she admitted when she played it while sitting in for Jo Wiley on her show on Radio 2 last night]:


Speaking of "faves", this track by the-latest-"weirdo"-on-the-block Lorde has topped many a "sensible" music critic's list - and, even I have to admit, (with its defiant, angsty style reminiscent of Robyn Dancing On My Own) it is rather contagious:


This was inescapable all through the summer of '17:

[The pre-Bieber version]

Speaking of inescapable - this one also dominated the year, and is likely destined to be a staple of every daytime radio station, advert and trendy boutique "mood music" playlist for ever more - unsurprising, really, since it is basically a bastard child of ABBA and Simple Minds...


But, then there's this! It became a huge "earworm" here at Dolores Delargo Towers when I first encountered it back in November [despite the fact it was already two years old at the time], and is likely to remain there for a good while yet. My "fave choon of the year", by a long chalk:


So what were your songs of the year 2017, dear reader?

12 comments:

  1. I, for one love your selections - please remember us - your people out there in the Dark!

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    1. "Ships that pass in the night, and speak each other in passing, only a signal shown, and a distant voice in the darkness; So on the ocean of life, we pass and speak one another, only a look and a voice, then darkness again and a silence." - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

      I shall consider whether to start this sort of "new music blog" again on a regular basis. Unfortunately, and increasingly, as so much "new music" is shit, it may prove even more hard work than before. Jx

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  2. Some nice stuff.
    God I miss Bowie

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  3. I like the Beck song a lot. It reminds me of late Beatles.

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    1. It reminds me more of Scissor Sisters - which may explain why Miss Matronic loves it, too... Jx

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    2. I thought the same, Jon. It really has the flavour of the Scissor Sisters' earlier stuff - if a little diluted.

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    3. "A distillate of Scissor Sister." Sounds like an incantation. Jx

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  4. Green Light really surprised me. I thought I was going to hate it (especially because I found those first head-shots of the singer really annoying - I shouldn't have watched the video!), but you're right, it has that Dancing On My Own feel which I love!

    Everything Now is my favourite out of all these - so catchy! And, as well as the Abba & Simple Minds sounds, it also reminds me of another song that I've been trying to remember for months (possibly by Cliff Richard - I know!), but still can't!

    Thank you for these. I'm going to be listening to Arcade Fire on a loop now!

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    1. Lorde gained my absolute admiration for her brilliant Bowie tribute at the Brit Awards in 2016. Jx

      PS the Arcade Fire track is remarkably addictive, but... Cliff Richard??? Aaaargh!

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  5. Replies
    1. Glad you enjoyed the selection, dear! Jx

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