Top 100 songs of 2020

1. Pomplamoose feat dodie - Monster
2. Smith & Thell - Goliath
3. Beatrice Egli - Bunt
4. Steps - Something In Your Eyes
5. Midnight Kids feat Annika Wells - Run It
6. Delta Goodrem - Paralyzed
7. Steps - What The Future Holds
8. Dua Lipa - Physical
9. Daði Freyr - Think About Things
10. Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande - Rain On Me
11. Joel Corry feat MNEK - Head & Heart
12. VICTORIA - Tears Getting Sober
13. Delta Goodrem - Keep Climbing
14. Little Mix - Sweet Melody
15. Way Out West - Mindcircus
16. Capulets - Stranger Love
17. The Fizz - The World We Left Behind
18. Delta Goodrem - Let It Rain
19. Deborah Harry - I Want That Man
20. Hayley Ross - Come Back (N-Joi Remix)
21. Diodato - Fai Rumore
22. Steps - To The Beat Of My Heart
23. Dotter - Bulletproof
24. Loods - Gummi
25. The Weeknd - Blinding Lights
26. Linda & Taryn Bornman - Side By Side
27. The Fizz - Winning Ways
28. Patricia Kelly - Medicine
29. Taylor Swift feat HAIM - no body, no crime
30. Ella Henderson - Take Care Of You
31. Erika Vikman - Cicciolina
32. Carola feat Zara Larsson - Säg Mig Var Du Står
33. Ndlovu Youth Choir - We Will Rise
34. Alex The Astronaut - Split The Sky
35. Dua Lipa - Love Again
36. Dua Lipa - Levitating
37. BTS - Dynamite
38. Mason - Alive
39. SACHI feat Naïka - Enchanté
40. Ava Max - Kings & Queens
41. The Weeknd - In Your Eyes
42. Dua Lipa - Break My Heart
43. Lady Gaga - Stupid Love
44. beabadoobee - Care
45. Little Mix - Break Up Song
46. Little Big - UNO
47. Nanne - Carpool Karaoke
48. Agnes - Fingers Crossed
49. Midnight Kids feat Lisa Goe - Break Away
50. Lady Gaga - Babylon
51. Anna Bergendahl - Kingdom Come
52. Paul Woolford, Diplo & Kareen Lomax - Looking For Me
53. Julie Bergan with Seeb - Kiss Somebody
54. Delta Goodrem - Back In 84
55. Alex Metric & TCTS feat VÖK - Undone (Chambray Remix)
56. Patricia Kelly - One More Year
57. Kylie Minogue - Magic
58. Katy Perry - Daisies
59. Natalie Shay - Naked
60. The Mamas - Let It Be
61. Kylie Minogue - Say Something
62. Minimalistix - A Forest
63. Becky Hill - Space
64. PS1 feat Alex Hosking - Fake Friends
65. Seeb x Julie Bergan - Don't You Wanna Play?
66. Delta Goodrem - Solid Gold
67. Matt Maeson - Hallucinogenics (Seeb Remix)
68. Helene Fischer & Peter Maffay - Nessaja
69. Joslin - Fall
70. Noonie Bao - Pyramids
71. Montaigne - Don't Break Me
72. Roddy Ricch - The Box
73. Simmy feat Sino Msolo - Ngihamba Nawe
74. Special-K - Quest To Impress
75. Julia - SEXTO
76. Real Lies - Boss Trick
77. Kylie Minogue - Dance Floor Darling
78. Steps - Heartbreak in This City
79. BEN & TAN - YES
80. dodie - Cool Girl
81. Master KG feat Nomcebo Zikode - Jerusalema
82. Eden - Feker Libi
83. Danky Cigale & Vincent Price feat Inka - Super Dancer
84. Zanda Zakuza feat Mr Brown - I Believe (Afrosoul Mix)
85. Doja Cat - Say So
86. Will Ferrell & My Marianne - Husavik (My Hometown)
87. Beatrice Egli - Mini Schwiiz, Mini Heimat
88. Michael Schulte - For A Second
89. H & Claire - Don't Give Up (Don't Let Go)
90. Donna Lewis - Agenais
91. Lady Gaga - Alice
92. Sheppard - Somebody Like You
93. Matthias Schweighöfer - Lauf
94. Kita Alexander - Against The Water
95. Ed Sheeran - Afterglow
96. EVERGLOW - LA DI DA
97. Kate Miller-Heidke - Deluded
98. Sara Bareilles - Little Voice
99. Kylie Minogue - Celebrate You
100. Powfu feat beabadoobee - death bed (coffee for your head) 

Top 40 albums of 2020

1. Steps - What The Future Holds

2. Dua Lipa - Future Nostalgia / Club Future Nostalgia

3. Lady Gaga - Chromatica

4. Kylie Minogue - Disco

5. Taylor Swift - folklore

6. Little Mix - Confetti

7. Taylor Swift - evermore

8. Katy Perry - Smile

9. Patricia Kelly - One More Year

10. Kate Miller-Heidke - Child In Reverse

11. Pet Shop Boys - Hotspot

12. Ace Of Base - All That She Wants: The Classic Collection

13. Rina Sawayama - Sawayama

14. Ava Max - Heaven & Hell

15. Carly Rae Jepsen - Dedicated Side B

16. Delta Goodrem - Only Santa Knows

17. Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Songs From The Kitchen Disco

18. Zanda Zakuza - Khaya Lam

19. DJ Sabrina The Teenage DJ - Charmed

20. Fiona Apple - Fetch The Bolt Cutters

21. Ellie Goulding - Brightest Blue

22. The Fizz - Smoke & Mirrors

23. Midnight Kids - The Lost Youth

24. Julia - Passe... comme tu sais

25. Eurovision Song Contest: The Story Of Fire Saga (Music From The Netflix Film)

26. Helene Fischer - Die Helene Fischer Show - Meine Schönsten Momente (Vol. 1)

27. Jessie Ware - What's Your Pleasure?

28. Vanessa Amorosi - The Blacklisted Collection

29. Beabadoobee - Fake It Flowers

30. Mariah Carey - The Rarities

31. Gary Barlow - Music Played By Humans

32. The Kelly Family - 25 Years Later - Live

33. Beatrice Egli - Bunt - Best Of

34. Oonagh - Best Of

35. Annie - Dark Hearts

36. KEiiNO - OKTA

37. Ariana Grande - Positions

38. The Weeknd - After Hours

39. Sara Bareilles - More Love - Songs From Little Voice Season One

40. Disclosure - ENERGY

Tunes I'm currently loving // 2020 // Volume 12

1. Taylor Swift feat HAIM - no body, no crime
2. Helene Fischer & Peter Maffay - Nessaja
3. Ed Sheeran - Afterglow
4. Freebee - Heaven
5. Michelle - Vorbei Vorbei
6. Nora En Pure - Wetlands
7. Nathan Dawe x Little Mix - No Time For Tears
8. DJ Sabrina The Teenage DJ - My Baby, I Become Unhinged
9. Taylor Swift - willow
10. Páula, Povoa & Jerge - Primavera
11. Tove Styrke - Bara Du Och Jag
12. Palace Winter feat Jason Lytle - The Deeper End
13. dodie - Rainbow
14. Julian Reim - Euphorie
15. Texas & Wu-Tang Clan - Hi
16. Rae Morris - Heading North For Christmas
17. beabadoobee - Winter Wonderland
18. Cathrin Gram - Kite
19. STAYC - So Bad
20. DJ Sabrina The Teenage DJ - Alrighty, Then!

Tunes I'm currently loving // 2020 // Volume 11

1. Steps - To The Beat Of My Heart
2. Carola feat Zara Larsson - Säg Mig Var Du Står
3. Kylie Minogue - Dance Floor Darling
4. Steps - Heartbreak In This City
5. Kylie Minogue - Celebrate You
6. Ava Max - My Head & My Heart
7. Mae Muller - Dependent
8. Little Mix - Happiness
9. Steps - Clouds
10. Dubstar - I Can See You Outside
11. Shane Codd - Get Out My Head
12. Kylie Minogue - I Love It
13. Sasha Jay - I Never Knew You
14. Simmy - Wamuhle
15. Marina - Man's World
16. Delta Goodrem - Only Santa Knows
17. Kylie Minogue - Real Groove
18. Blue Adonis - Disco Cop
19. Miley Cyrus feat Dua Lipa - Prisoner
20. Rina Sawayama - Lucid

Tunes I'm currently loving // 2020 // Volume 10

1. Steps - Something In Your Eyes
2. Little Mix - Sweet Melody
3. Becky Hill - Space
4. Zanda Zakuza feat Mr Brown - I Believe (Afrosoul Mix)
5. Capulets - Stranger Love
6. Joslin - Fall
7. Millie Turner - Eye Of The Storm
8. Matthias Schweighöfer - Lauf
9. Beabadoobee - Horen Sarrison
10. Kasbo feat Noomi - Talk Slow
11. Dodie - Cool Girl
12. Annie - The Streets Where I Belong
13. Everglow - La Di Da
14. Fiona Apple - Shadowboxer
15. DJ Dan Murphy feat Kristen Pearson - Ready To Go
16. Kate Miller-Heidke - Little Roots, Little Shoots
17. Katie Kittermaster - The Problem
18. Michael Schulte - For A Second
19. Mae Muller - HFBD
20. Claire Rosinkranz - Backyard Boy

Tunes I'm currently loving // 2020 // Volume 9

1. Steps - What The Future Holds
2. Mason - Alive
3. Delta Goodrem - Solid Gold
4. Kylie Minogue - Magic
5. Ava Max - Born To The Night
6. Ohlayindigo - Nocturnal Love
7. Ava Max - OMG What's Happening
8. Nerina Pallot - There's A River
9. Master KG feat Nomcebo Zikode - Jerusalema
10. Alex Metric & TCTS feat Vök - Undone (Chambray Remix)
11. Dua Lipa - Love Is Religion (The Blessed Madonna Remix)
12. Gary Barlow feat Michael Bublé and Sebastián Yatra - Elita
13. Nádine - Kom Maar In
14. David Guetta & Sia - Let's Love
15. Nerina Pallot - Next Life
16. Jac & Harri - How We Roll
17. Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Crying At The Discotheque
18. TTRRUUCES - The Disco
19. Holly Rey - Home
20. Matilda feat Tyler Hilton - If You Saw Me Now

Tunes I'm currently loving // 2020 // Volume 8

1. BTS - Dynamite
2. Delta Goodrem - Back In 84
3. Agnes - Fingers Crossed
4. Paul Woolford, Diplo & Kareen Lomax - Looking For Me
5. Matt Maeson - Hallucinogenics (Seeb Remix)
6. H & Claire - Don't Give Up (Don't Let Go)
7. Danky Cigale & Vincent Price feat Inka - Super Dancer
8. Angel - Sommaren I City
9. Kate Miller-Heidke - Deluded
10. Myd - Together We Stand (Radio Slave & Thomas Gandey Remix)
11. Gareth Malone's Great British Home Chorus - Ordinary World
12. Clean Bandit & Mabel feat 24kGoldn - Tick Tock
13. Oonagh - Gäa
14. Donna Lewis - Agenais
15. Ashworth - Changes
16. Dua Lipa feat Madonna and Missy Elliott - Levitating (The Blessed Madonna Remix)
17. Nena - Wandern
18. Katy Perry - Only Love
19. Gabby Barrett - I Hope
20. Mariah Carey with Ms Lauryn Hill - Save The Day

Tunes I'm currently loving // 2020 // Volume 7

1. Delta Goodrem - Paralyzed

2. Loods - Gummi

3. Joel Corry feat MNEK - Head & Heart

4. Kylie Minogue - Say Something

5. Beabadoobee - Care

6. Seeb x Julie Bergan - Don't You Wanna Play

7. Natalia Nykiel - Atlantyk

8. AJ Tracey & Mabel - West Ten

9. Ndlovu Youth Choir - We Will Rise

10. Julia - Et Toi Mon Amour

11. Wiktoria - ME

12. Neda Ukraden - Na Balkanu

13. Taylor Swift - cardigan

14. Largo - Just A Decision

15. Ace Of Base - Hey Darling

16. Taylor Swift - august

17. Beatrice Egli - Bunt

18. Josie Proto - BTEC Lily Allen

19. Eli Brown - Immortal

20. Jessie Ware - The Kill

Tunes I'm currently loving // 2020 // Volume 6

1. Deborah Harry - I Want That Man
2. Alex The Astronaut - Split The Sky
3. Lady Gaga - Babylon
4. Ella Henderson - Take Care Of You
5. Noonie Bao - Pyramids
6. Will Ferrell & My Marianne - Husavik
7. Kate Miller-Heidke - This Is Not Forever
8. Lady Gaga - Alice
9. Mya - Space And Time
10. Helena Bergström - Aldrig Ska Jag Sluta Älska Dig
11. K3 - Bikini Vol Zand
12. Annie - American Cars
13. Frida Sundemo - Backbone
14. Rhys - Better Break My Heart
15. Archi & Pelago - River
16. Kenzie feat Sia - Exhale
17. E^ST - I Wanna Be Here
18. Will Ferrell & My Marianne - Double Trouble
19. Polo & Pan - Feel Good
20. Sheppard - Symphony

Tunes I'm currently loving // 2020 // Volume 5

1. Delta Goodrem - Keep Climbing
2. Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande - Rain On Me
3. Midnight Kids feat Lisa Goe - Break Away
4. The Mamas - Let It Be
5. Katy Perry - Daisies
6. Real Lies - Boss Trick
7. Ebba Torstensson - Candle
8. Jamie Mathias - Love Ourselves
9. Minimalistix - A Forest
10. Sea Girls - Do You Really Wanna Know?
11. Disclosure feat Eko Roosevelt - Tondo
12. Foxes - Love Not Loving You
13. Hayley Ross - Come Back (N-Joi Remix)
14. MOTi with Mary N'diaye - Sing For Me
15. Carly Rae Jepsen & Bleachers - Comeback
16. Iskender Paydaş & Ferman Akgül feat Nilüfer Çocuk Korosu - 100 kere 23 Nisan
17. Carly Rae Jepsen - Solo
18. Ferris Pier & Claire DeJean - Closer Now
19. Hedda Mae - Too Good To Be True
20. EHLE - Mental Funeral

Tunes I'm currently loving // 2020 // Volume 4

1. Dua Lipa - Love Again
2. The Weeknd - In Your Eyes
3. Little Mix - Break Up Song
4. Simmy feat Sino Msolo - Ngihamba Nawe
5. Sheppard - Somebody Like You
6. Natalie Shay - Naked
7. Powfu feat beabadoobee - death bed (coffee for your head)
8. Laleh - Det Kommer Bli Bra
9. Keiino feat Charlotte Qamaniq - Black Leather
10. Eat More Cake feat River - Inside Out
11. Vasas Flora Och Fauna - Ett Juni-tåg
12. Inge van Calkar - Spinning Around
13. Kelly Clarkson - I Dare You
14. All Saints feat Sting - Message In A Bottle
15. Ramon Roselly - Eine Nacht
16. Pet Shop Boys - Angelic Thug
17. Rina Sawayama - Chosen Family
18. Pamela Myburgh - In The Words (Of Satan) Part 2
19. Fiona Apple - Shameika
20. Live Lounge Allstars - Times Like These

Tunes I'm currently loving // 2020 // Volume 3

1. Way Out West - Mindcircus
2. Victoria - Tears Getting Sober
3. Diodato - Fai Rumore
4. SACHI feat Naïka - Enchanté
5. Elodie - Andromeda
6. Daði Freyr - Think About Things
7. Little Big - UNO
8. Eden - Feker Libi
9. Dua Lipa - Break My Heart
10. Julia - SEXTO
11. Ava Max - Kings & Queens
12. Patricia Kelly - Luck On The Way
13. BENEE feat Gus Dapperton - Supalonely
14. The Mamas - Move
15. The Fizz - T.O.T.P
16. Tove Lo - I'm Coming
17. Sapphire - I'll Never Be Lonely Again
18. Pomplamoose & Dodie - Monster
19. Largo - Lemonade
20. Eliza Shaddad - Pure Shores

Review: Sasha Jay - Learning By Experience (EP)

In September, Brighton-born singer-songwriter Sasha Jay, who now lives in North London, released her debut single 'Three Rings'. A unique tale about her much-missed late mother Lynn, who was a real character, the jaunty and unique track sets the tone for this debut EP, 'Learning By Experience', which takes the listener on an eclectic musical journey over its 14 minute running time.



The EP is a perfect sampler of Sasha's wide repertoire; a varied performer both musically and lyrically with inspirations ranging from Eva Cassidy and Lily Allen to Red Hot Chili Peppers and Eminem, she is just as strong when singing a melodic pop chorus as she is when delivering a gritty rap about her often turbulent life experiences.

Sasha's lyrics are clever and thought-provoking throughout this EP, with other themes covered including her reaction to the political lanscape of the last few years on 'The Politics Song' while 'They Hate The Truth' tackles the reactions of Sasha's family to some home truths.

'Worth More' tells the story of a troubled friend who deserves more than the unpleasant life that he is currently enduring, while 'Keep On Going' is an introspective highlight of the EP that sees Sasha deliver a raw and heartfelt vocal that conveys the honest emotion of the song's lyrics.

Having written lyrics since the age of 11 and music since the age of 16, Sasha's tales of her upbringing, her family, the people she has met, and the situations she has encountered over the years make for a very diverse debut EP. And while the lyrics and storytelling take centre stage here, the melodies are strong and there are also some neat production flourishes throughout. This EP deserves to be heard far and wide.

Tunes I'm currently loving // 2020 // Volume 2

1. Smith & Thell - Goliath
2. Dua Lipa - Physical
3. Dotter - Bulletproof
4. Special-K - Quest To Impress
5. Anna Bergendahl - Kingdom Come
6. The Fizz - Winning Ways
7. Montaigne - Don't Break Me
8. Nanne - Carpool Karaoke
9. Mae Muller - Therapist
10. Michel van der Aa feat Kate Miller-Heidke - The Aleph
11. Hanna Ferm - Brave
12. Ben & Tan - Yes
13. Zanda Zakuza & Bongo Beats - Awuyazi Oyifunayo
14. Mariette - Shout It Out
15. Robin Bengtsson - Take A Chance
16. Jaguar Jonze - Rabbit Hole
17. James Newman - My Last Breath
18. Patricia Kelly - One More Year
19. Kita Alexander - Against The Water
20. Doja Cat - Say So

Tunes I'm currently loving // 2020 // Volume 1

1. Delta Goodrem - Let It Rain
2. The Fizz - The World We Left Behind
3. Linda & Taryn Bornman - Side By Side
4. Roddy Ricch - The Box
5. Patricia Kelly - Medicine
6. Alicia Keys - Underdog
7. Vanessa Amorosi - Lessons Of Love
8. Eva Tobin - 11:57
9. The Dumplings - Dla Nas KRS 0000 338 803
10. Erika Vikman - Cicciolina
11. Frida Sundemo - Gazelles
12. Pet Shop Boys - Will-o-the-wisp
13. Sheppard - Phoenix
14. Daya - Insomnia
15. Gareth Emery & NASH feat Linney - Yesterday
16. Lady Gaga - Stupid Love
17. Elisa Lindström - Ditt Hjärta I Min Hand
18. Julie Bergan & Seeb - Kiss Somebody
19. Bárbara Tinoco - Passe Partout
20. Gabrielle Aplin - Dear Happy

Book review: Freak Like Me

I was recently sent a review copy of Freak Like Me and it's probably the funniest and most relateable book I've read in years, transporting me back to a glorious musical time that I basically still live in in my head.

The book is the true story of a teenage pop fan who, with a group of like-minded outcasts, witnesses the disposable but incredibly fun music industry of the late nineties and early noughties first-hand. It details author Malcolm McLean's escapades as he stalks and gets to meet some of the biggest popstars of the day.

As the press release states: "This hilarious memoir is packed with scandalous gossip and poignant memories from the era of Nokia 3310s and dial-up internet, when chart positions meant everything and, if you wanted to know what your idols were up to off-screen, you had to track them down yourself!"

Malcolm was born in suburban Surrey in 1983. I was born four years later in Brighton in 1987, and while I didn't get up to any of the wild antics that he did, I did live and breathe the iconic 1997-2002 era of pop music covered in depth in this book, and was also bullied at school, with the charts and the pop (and dance) music of the era as my main escape.

But Malcolm went many steps further than I did with his pop obsessions. He even details how he painted his bedroom radiator in leopard print in tribute to an album cover of his beloved Eternal.

Many memories I thought only I had and songs and artists that I thought everybody else had forgotten are recalled in this book, and there are also numerous brilliant mentions of Eurovision, including how our 2006 entrant Daz Sampson started out, as part of cheesy Eurodance rap act Bus Stop in 1998.

Malcolm discusses at length his near weekly trips to not-so glamorous Borehamwood to watch Top Of The Pops, with details on performances and surrounding anecdotes of the stars involved that made me laugh out loud (who could forget Destiny's Child's flop duet with Corrie's Matthew Marsen, or how eight-year old kids across the country were naively singing 'I'm horny all night long' that summer).

He even saw Geri Halliwell's last ever performance with Spice Girls before the split in 1998 - although it wasn't on Viva Forever, as is widely reported, but was in fact as part of the England United supergroup on their dull MOR official World Cup anthem of that year. Who knew!?

This is a brilliant book and one that I wholeheartedly recommend to any pop fan, or anybody who grew up through the era.

It's currently available on Amazon for £7.19 while the Kindle edition is a steal at £2.99. Don't miss it.