Lopez Blogs

It's always really quite difficult to narrow down a year of tracks that have had profound impact on you at some point or the other. Songs that you absolutely adored at the time may have faded as the year moves on, while newer songs may seem fresh and more exciting but don't have the test of longevity. Regardless, I've cobbled together 30 (or so) tracks that weren't necessarily singles but certainly still stand out at the end of the year. And as always, I don't always go for critical acclaim - just the tracks that made me happy, giddy, euphoric, morose or heartbroken at any point during 2010. Feel free to share your thoughts, surprises and disagreements in the comments :)

Honourable mentions: Kyle Brylin ~ The Star; Adam Tyler ~ friction; James Leon ~ Caught In Your Vanity; Barenaked Ladies ~ Your Run Away; Goldfrapp ~ Rocket (or any single from their album); Lady Antebellum ~ Need You Now; Marina & The Diamonds ~ Hollywood; Bright Light x 2 ~ A New Word To Say; Ellie Goulding ~ Your Song & The Writer; The Wanted ~ All Time Low; Cee-Lo ~ Fuck You; Kelly Rowland ~ Commander...

Songs that Glee made better: Teenage Dream, Hey Soul Sister and Just The Way You Are...

• No. 35 ~ McFly, Shine A Light: Five albums in and Britain's most inventive pop group change the game for themselves. A slick r'n'b influenced groove kept their core sound but opened the door to something new and delicious...
• No. 34 ~ One Direction, Forever Young: X-Factor number three (same as Same Difference!) had a rather brilliant cover version lined up for if they won. They didn't, but mercifully the single leaked and it was all one could've hoped for in a youthful new boyband for a new decade...
• No. 33 ~ Music Go Music, Light of Love: It was The Magic Numbers mixed with Abba and all done rather wonderfully to boot. Chorus that took you back to a time where vocoders and autotune were as futuristic as flying cars and holidays on Mars...
• No. 32 ~ Daniel Boys, To Make You Feel My Love: It vaulted up and down the charts depending on who was singing it on X-Factor that week in its Adele form, but the lovely young Daniel put out a restrained, polished version that continues to sparkle long after the X memory has faded...
• No. 31 ~ Sophie Ellis Bextor, Bittersweet: Another collaboration with the freemasons, another dance floor pop record triumph. The reasons why this wasn't a massive chart hit are as mysterious as the whereabouts of her long awaited fourth album...

• No. 30 ~ Joe McElderry, Ambitions: Last year's x-factor winner won me over as probably the only person in the world who get away with turning Donkeyboy's bittersweet anthem to disappointment into something that was musically optimistic and gleeful!
• No. 29 ~ Candle Thieves, My Love Will Clap It's Hands For You: The lovely lovely Candle Thieves have a most amazing knack for putting together downbeat lyrics with uplifting pop music. This criminally wasn't a single but was a highlight from an already outstanding album...
• No. 28 ~ Dirty Disco, White Room: One of 2010s most visually arresting and most exciting new acts will be one of 2011s big success stories. Their vaudevillian electro romp around mental health issues on this track was both bonkers and brilliant...
• No. 27 ~ Neo, Human Frontier: Just when I thought he was done with singles from his charming debut album, he whips out a brand new track for melodifestivalen that out Mika'd Mika and became a soaring space anthem for young love. Incandessantly good!
• No. 26 ~ Scissor Sisters, Any Which Way: Fire with Fire showed a more serious side to them, but this was perhaps their most sexy single since Filthy-Gorgeous and was topped off by the most raunchy middle 8 from Ana Mantronic I've heard in a long time...

• No. 25 ~ Same Difference, Shine On Forever: Should've been a massive comeback single for them. Wasn't (though i suspect that will happen with Karma Karma). Was still a riotous pop single with a harder pop edge from one of my favourite x-factor alumni ever...
• No. 24 ~ Ola, All Over The World: Lots of swedish male artists were flying the flag for decent bloke-pop this year yet not really getting the recognition they should've been outside their own country. Amazing chorus, addictive beats and intricately crafted verses that scream fun from start to finish. What's not to love...
• No. 23 ~ Jessie J, Price Tag: She launched herself onto the world with the fierce Do It Like A Dude but this sweet sweet Dr Luke jam will propel her to much bigger stardom in 2011. It's the Where Is The Love for a new decade...
• No. 22 ~ DeeDee, Been There Done That: Irrefutable proof that Cher Lloyd isn't the most innovative artist in the UK this year despite claims on the x-factor. DeeDee puts together a vicious slam down to a foolish fella with a wickedly naughty middle 8 and weaves it together over a bouncy groove. Tremendous!
• No. 21 ~ Tove Styrke, White Light Moment: Penned by Lykke Li but delivered with a delightful vocal from Swedish Idol runner up Tove, this proved to be a sparkling gem of a tune that brightened up many a Christmas dancefloor I cut a rug on this year :P

• No.20 ~ Le Kid, We Should Go Home Together: Oh my days. Can this band hurry up and be enormous already? As if Mercy Mercy wasn't perfect enough, they follow it up with an mmmboptastic tune that just knits together everything that is stunning about a pop tune and manages to make it sound so easy. Can't wait for their melodifestivalen entry!
• No. 19 ~ Brandon Flowers, Crossfire: The Killers wanted a bit of a rest, so little B-Flo decided to take his act solo. His first single was a heavenly slice of Americana that got (and still gets) better with every listen. His Christmas return with the Killers (Boots) was also quite bonza...
• No. 18 ~ Bright Light, Bright Light, Love Part II: What an absolutely charming chappie Rod Thomas is. Add to this his ability to put together an exquisite piece of 80s inspired pop that sounds totally modern and you have the complete package. So so so need more from him in 2011! (The b-side Cry At Films is also vair vair fandabbydoozy)
• No. 17 ~ Amy Meredith, Lying: There is nothing quite as exhilariting balls to the wall anthem that has elements of indie, pop, theatre and rock in it and this was certainly one of the years best. I can't imagine how brilliant this will sound live and have fingers crossed for some UK dates from the Aussie group this year...
• No. 16 ~ Bjorn Johan Muri, Yes Man: Surprised this hasn't been pilfered for an x-factor act! But there's still time. Pure pop delivered with a tiny hint of edge made this one of the most woefully overlooked pop gems of the year.

• No. 15 ~ Maroon 5, Misery: The addition of Mutt Lange didn't really give them any Pour Some Sugar On Me moments (though new single Hands All Over comes close), but their comeback single was so lovely and bouncy and singalong that I don't think anyone paid any attention. Plus Adam looked magnificent in the video. I certainly blushed in Maroon...
• No. 14 ~ Gabriella Cilmi, On A Mission: Ooo this certainly made me sit up and take notice of Gabriella. A perfect pop song with a healthy dose of dance and attitude that made it perfect for my daily strut to work. I still break into the semi-rap middle 8 at any given moment of the day. Also lovely was Love Me Cos You Want To co-penned by Ellie Goulding...
• No. 13 ~ Gravitonas, You Break Me Up: Out of the ashes of BWO, Alexander brings Gravitonas. Having made me fly with their Kites (how'd Andreas get those trousers so tight?!), they then released two EPs. This epic ballad was from the latter and just crescendoed and soared from start to finish. A major talent for 2011...
• No.12 ~ Grobbie, Shame: The teaming of Robbie with Gary wouldn't yield it most impressive results til a few months later (and higher up this list) but while some were left cold, I was completely smitten with the autobiographical, john Denver tinged tune and its suggestive video. Quite lovely...
• No. 11 ~ Elouise, Fireman Of My Dreams: Very possibly would have been higher if I hadn't been playing a live version non-stop on youtube throughout 2009. Steve Anderson turned an already cheeky, delightful tune into a swooning sixties sounding wonder that evoked memories of everything from I Will Always Love You to Tears On My Pillow. Dreamy times one million.

• No. 10 ~ Simon Curtis, 8 Bit Heart: Another year end countdown, another Simon Curtis tune. The title track to his viral smash album was a surprisingly sweet plea for love set to a doo-wop inspired simplistic synth riff and beat. Perfect for a boy band to cover any time now if Simon wants to make some money from his writing, but this will always be the definitive listen...
• No. 9 ~ Eric Saade, Manboy: And so from the dying embers of Whats Up! comes solo Eric Saade. Everything about him on his own has been a sheer pleasure to take part in. He seems quite delightful, mixes fashion, music, pop and dance well into all his performances and isn't afraid of getting a bit wet on stage despite his perfect popstar hair. Magnificent tune that would soon be one upped by an amazingly even better track on his debut album...
• No. 8 ~ Darin, Lovekiller: Much like McFly, Darin put together a fifth album that showcased his strengths but had some dark surprises in there too. Lovekiller was one of those - a slowly building pop song built around unconventional lyrics that deserves to be massive worldwide. His Swedish Royal Wedding anthem Can't Stop Love is also glorious and will probably be pinched by JLS or someone for April 29th...
• No. 7 ~ Andrea Lewis ft Simon Curtis, Talk To Me: While Voodoo was the scintillating single that launched Andrea's debut album, it was her raw and ever so painfully honest wistful reminiscing about a failed love affair that shone brightest. The addition of Simon's response to her memories in the middle 8 catapulted a great song to absolutely magnificent status. Very sad but exquisitely beautiful...
• No. 6 ~ Gravitonas, Religious: Oh my did those Gravitonas boys know how to play with genres, create thoughtprovoking music and look mighty fine while doing it. Certainly the best song of it's ilk since Madonna's lofty Like A Prayer, the chorus with a polished choir and plainative plea from Andreas became a living work of actual art. Stunning.

• No. 5 ~ Eric Saade ~ It's Gonna Rain: Oh oh Eric. His quality of work and love of pop in 2010 was very nearly unsurpassed. This giddy treat of a pop tune (think a male version of Hung Up without the Abba sample) was an instant standout from his very good indeed debut album and worked wonderfully live. More is coming from Eric in 2011 and I am on the edge of my seat. He. Is. Magnificent.
• No. 4 ~ Elouise, You'll Never Walk Alone: The joining of Steve Anderson's angelic production on this track with Elouise's pure and powerful vocal makes for something very special indeed. It eschews trends for something incredibly timeless and the haunting backing music is the perfect setting for this knocked down now get back up again tune. Elouise not only delivers a powerful vocal that rises and falls in all the right places but delivers a powerfully nuanced vocal that makes the track come to life and breaks my heart (in a good way) each time I hear it.
• No. 3 ~ Take That, The Flood: My worries about Robbie rejoining the band were completely swept away as soon as I heard this song. Not only does Robbie seem completely invigorated, but the band have embraced something new and daring for the 3rd return album that showed they were not content to just rest on their laurels. Truly anthemic from start to finish and a worthy lead off single to an excellent, inventive album...
• No. 2 ~ Simon Curtis, Diablo: It was actually my number 3 song of 2009 and continued to completely woo me throughout 2010. As his internet presence soared and his debut album proper provided many fine moments, for me this wry, funny, pop culture embedded, instant as porridge oats pop tune showed that the Lord Gaga wannabes had better watch out. Still sounding fresh and epic 13 months on, it's now time for Simon to parlay his fanbase into a massive record buying public. Please.

• NUMBER ONE TRACK OF 2010 ~ Kylie, All The Lovers: Dame Kylie has returned a top of sea of bodies (some of which were total hotties) and a pop tune that was instantly brilliant, hopeful, romantic, optimistic and glorious all at once. Love, love, love.

My number one tracks in weekly chart this year ~ Simon Curtis, Diablo (4 weeks); Elouise, Fireman of My Dreams (4 weeks); Gabriella Cilmi, On A Mission (2 weeks); Sophie Ellis Bextor, Bittersweet (3 weeks); Adam Tyler, Friction (3 weeks); Eric Saade, Manboy (2 weeks); Kylie, All The Lovers (7 weeks); Maroon 5, Misery (5 weeks); Darin, Lovekiller (3 weeks); Gravitonas, Religious (2 weeks); Robbie Williams, Shame (4 weeks); Take That, The Flood (1 week); Andrea Lewis ft Simon Curtis, Talk To Me (3 weeks); Gravitonas, You Break Me Up (3 weeks); Elouise, You'll Never Walk Alone (4 weeks); One Direction, Forever Young (2 weeks)...