My Top 20 Favorite Songs in 2019

Yep. I'm pretty late to do this. I know I haven't updated this blog but I'm back atleast for now. (Future me: Oh man. When was the last time I use this blog? I apologize for my inactivity with some posts leaving in the drafts. I'm trying to get back to writing.)

It's list season. Normally I would start with the hits from worst to best but I don't feel like it. Instead, I'm going to do a top 20 list of favorite songs in 2019. Yes, Top 20. There's a lot of songs I liked from artists I love which includes my top favorites to brand new artists you should check out. Despite having 20 songs on the list, I'll be adding a lot of honorable mentions which I will talk about them in brief. Some songs will be cut so this list won't be super long. And for the sake of my sanity, I had to limit this list to one artist per entry. Without further ado, here are the top 20 songs that I enjoyed in 2019. Starting with...

Number 20

So you've probably heard of this song called I Don't Care by Ed Sheeran ft. Justin Bieber. It is about not caring about anything as long as they have their partners with them (the song being appeal to the introverts). I hated it, It's kinda boring and both artists clashed horribly with this basic tropical production. But if you want to find a less boring version of this subject matter, let me present to you Gone.

20. Gone by Charli XCX ft. Christine & The Queens

You might have heard of one of the artists which is Charli known for her hits like I Love It, Fancy, Boom Clap and 1999. She is also known for her hyperpop and experimental songs like Vroom Vroom, Unlock It and 3AM. This one is my favorite of hers. A catchy beat with great lyrics and phenomenal performers, this is how you make a song that has a punch and appeals to introverts like me. I should also give a shout out to the featured artist, Christine and the Queens. I love her voice and she nails this performance. If I love it so much, why is it only number ten? Well, the breakdown towards the end. I was lukewarm during the first listen but it kind of grew on me. It didn't ruin the song but I always skip that part. Sorry.

Number 19

*grabs mic* TELL ME WHAT YOU HATE ABOUT ME

19. Good Things Fall Apart by ILLENIUM ft. Jon Bellion

There are few songs that made me feel like I want to sing my heart out and scream every line on top of my lungs, this is one of them. I know Jon Bellion from his collaboration with Zedd's Beautiful Now and his song All Time Low. As for the main producer, I loved Crashing with Bahari and... that's pretty much it. When I heard these two artists collaborating on a song, I was excited about it. I loved the organic guitars that accompany with the EDM production and Bellion's vocals sound fantastic. I've never been in a relationship so I couldn't relate the lyrics that are about a post breakup and the singer is wondering why it didn't work out as he questions the past lover in the chorus. This is my favorite part of the song. I have nothing else to say so... check it out if you haven't.

Number 18

Originally, this list has a lot of songs by female artist. It's not to say male artist haven't made good songs, a lot of them I felt disappointed by. Acts like Khalid, Shawn Mendes and even Ed Sheeran disappointment me with their recent output but there is one artist who impressed me this song that goes PARADISE! Not the Coldplay one.

18. PARADISE by Bazzi

I don't get the appeal of this guy at first when he released his song Mine 2 years ago. I still don't but he has a few songs that I like, Myself, I Like That and this one. The elegant strings complimenting the lush production with trap snares. I wasn't a huge fan of the lyrics (especially the first verse) but the melodies in the pre-chorus sound lovely and when it goes to the part, "Paradise!" into the chorus, what a payoff. The chorus sounds bombastic and euphoric as the production, backing vocals and Bazzi go well together. I'm a bit underwhelmed that this song is so short. It could have been a bridge to make it expectional. 

Number 17

There's a lot of new artists making great hits and becoming huge stars overnight. Artists like Billie Eilish, Lil Nas X, Lizzo and many more. While I'm not a huge fan of this artist when she first started, I admit that she has a knack for making catchy tunes.

17. Torn by Ava Max

When I first listened to this song, I thought it sampled Madonna's Hung Up which samples ABBA's Gimme Gimme Gimme A Man After Midnight. It wasn't, must be coincidental. Anyway, I was Torn (pun intended) to choose either this song or Freaking Me Out which is a nice guitar driven pop tune. Eventually, I have to pick the former because of the music that captivated me more over the latter. Max expresses having an internal struggle with her relationship. She wanted to leave but she wanted to stay with her lover. Basically, it's a song about being in a rocky relationship set to a disco groove. I can work with that.

Number 16

Man, I really need to start writing the EP review of this artist. It's been in the drafts for a while.

16. Prom by Riah

This is a nice pretty song.... What else to write? The melodies go from cold and haunting in the verses to warm and soft in the chorus. The lyrics are about being lovesick towards someone at a Prom (metaphorically or literally). Riah's singing on the track is euphoric and lovely. Check it out.

Number 15

If I were to describe my life in 2019, this is the song.

15. The Sun Will Come Up, The Seasons Will Change by Nina Nesbitt

I have an album review that's currently in the drafts. I first heard of this artist through a YouTube video where it ranks pop songs that are mainstream and undiscovered. The song Loyal To Me was playing and I fell inlove with it. I'm a sucker for 2000's pop songs. What I thought was my first exposure to her but it was actually Selfies when it was playing on the radio few years ago. I didn't know it was by her until I watched a Fine Bros React to the artist on YouTube. 

The Sun Will Come Up, The Seasons Will Change is my favorite album of 2019. It has a mixture of nostalgic pop and R&B tunes as well as some piano ballads and modern infused pop tracks. The title track being my favorite as Nina reminisces about her life and former lover in the verses and apparently, it's a continuation of her other song, The Moments I'm Missing. The chorus is very comforting as she expressed that nothing's permanent, everything's changing, everything will be okay. It is a reassuring track that is also introspective of Nesbitt's career. As the title implies, the sun will come up, the seasons will change. 

Number 14

Great artists tend to showcase their raw talent but this one sells it.

14. Sweettalk My Heart by Tove Lo

I like the twinkling keys as an opener of the track as the singer talks about wanting to be in a relationship eventhough both partners may not be right for each other. Tove sounds desperate in wanting someone that she's willing to overlook the bad things in order for their relationship to work. She shines the track with her raw vocals and sweet melodies. I wasn't too bothered with the bridge breakdown because it fits this somber theme. When it comes to the final chorus, it hits the sweet spot for me. 

Number 13

This is a difficult pick. I'm deciding on which songs will be placed on to this slot. And it's by the same artist.

13. Maybe You're The Reason by The Japanese House

I had a hard time choosing between this or Lilo because they're both fantastic songs. Eventually, I went with the track relased after. It has a synth and guitar heavy production mixed with the frontwoman's delicate vocals. I originally thought the song is about a relationship because of how the lyrics imply but it's actually about depression. Looking at the lyrics again, I can see why through the verses with the chorus finding assurance of oneself. The 'you' of Maybe You're The Reason can be about yourself or someone you loved. Similar to the number fifteen entry, this is a comforting tune.

Number 12

Well, she sold out but that doesn't mean that's a bad thing.

12. JEKYLL & HIDE by Bishop Briggs

I wasn't a huge fan of Champion and the other single before this. They're too generic for my taste and I can hear them playing through a commercial or a scene from a show, especially the former song. Meanwhile, JEKYLL & HYDE is a return to form. Sure, it's very similar to what Imagine Dragons put out but this is way better. The gospel intro leading to a kickass track with an awesome drop. I never knew that Bishop could sell a sexy kiss off track but she did. From her soaring vocals in the verses to the hush delivery in the chorus, she nailed it. 

Number 11

Billie Eilish.

11. I love you by Billie Eilish

This is one of my favorites of her album. An quiet and somber acoustic ballad where Billie talks about the ups and downs of a relationship, similar to entries number seventeen and fourteen. Her emotive vocals alongside detailed lyrics make the track, especially the chorus. I don't want to think about it, I just wanna listen to the song in a quiet dark room with my headphones on. I nearly cried to this song.

Number 10

This is going to be difficult to talk about this next entry. I wasn't a huge fan of this artist when he first started. I didn't like how his songs are whiny and sexist. Well, not all of them, I really like Lean Wit Me, Robbery, Lucid Dreams (which grew on me), some of the posthumous releases and this one.

10. Fast by Juice WRLD

Hearing the news of his passing has shocked me. I couldn't believe someone so young had died so soon. I may not be a fan of him but he's really talented based on the songs I mentioned above as well as his features and freestyles (you should go watch his one hour freestyles on YouTube). In interviews, he seems like a cool guy to hang out with. Man, rest in peace Juice. May your legacy live on.

As for this song, it's my favorite of his. Juice reflects on his life since his newfound fame and how fast the world moves around him. His tired delivery and sung melody fits well with this beautiful production. I would say it's his best song. The second verse hits me hard knowing his sudden death. 

I blame it on the drugs and this life I'm involved in. 

Number 9

Man, that last entry was quite heavy. Here's another entry about being alone.

9. Leaning on Myself by Anna of the North

This song is all about the vibes. I don't want to think about anything, I just wanna vibe to this song. Compared to the number 20 entry, this one's more laidback as the singer's muses on being with herself and not needing anybody else. I'd say it's a breakup track from the line, eversince I let you go, but it can be more than that. In my interpretation, it can be about letting go of a toxic friend. That's pretty much it. 

 
Number 8

Stan this woman.

8. Stay Happy by Au/Ra

You may heard of songs like Darkside, Panic Room, Ghost and Screw Feelings on the radio. These were all by this artist named Au/Ra. She makes incredible and unique dark pop songs. With this one, it's about trying to mask all your feelings by 'staying happy'. In an interview, the singer states that it isn't about sadness, it is more of not feeling anything, neither happy or sad. I can relate to that. I have my days where I'm neither feeling happy or sad as I went on with my mundane life. 

Is there a shortcut to stay happy?

'Cause I'm running out of life hacks

I just wanna get my glow back

The minimal production compliments well with the tone of the theme alongside Au/Ra's delicate vocals and wonderful harmonies in the chorus. The bridge is my favorite part of the song. Go check it out if you haven't. 

Number 7

I originally don't have anything to say for this next entry except that it's a vibe. But man, it is a good song.

7. Make It Better by Anderson. Paak ft. Smokey Robinson

Another vibey track mixed with comfort on the list. This is a really good throwback tune. It's a soulful and calming track about falling out in a relationship. The lines from the first verse indicates the message of the song, remenisicing about the memories they had as a couple. 

From the start. Somehow, we fell in love, then fell right out of touch.

So, this must be a breakup song? I wouldn't consider that. Further down the song, the narrator wishes to reignite the relationship with his partner as he find ways to get back with them. 

The chorus line, Do you want to make it better? Do you want to stay together? capture the feeling of wanting to get back with his lover. Whether it be staying in a motel together or a place they don't know so well (from the second verse), he wanted this relationship to work as he wants to make his lover feel good now. Let's not forget about Anderson Paak's smooth vocals and production alongside the accompanying feature, Smokey Robinson, for creating a masterful of a song. I can imagine it becoming a soundtrack where two lovers fall out and getting back together again. 

Number 6

Yes, this is another comfort track on the list. This one's a country song.

6. Rainbow by Kacey Musgraves

Golden Hour was an excellent album filled with country pop bops that are catchy and romantic as well as some ballads that are heartstrung and beautiful. The song I'm picking for this entry falls in the latter. A piano driven ballad where the singer comforts the listener, describing the rainbow as a way of good things coming as the rain (being their sadness or loneliness) goes away. Just like the number fifteen entry, it is very warm and soothing as Musgraves delivers her lovely vocals with sincerity into the track. I like to think of this song as a calm after the storm, a symbol of hope, a lullaby.  This ranks as my top comfort song next to Zealyn's Faster Now and the song that I'll mention in the 2021 list.

Number 5. 

My life in a song.

5. Hard Place by H.E.R.

To put this simply, I have a hard time choosing things. I sometimes get stuck in making a decision. Should I still continue my studies if I keep failing in my subjects? Should I choose another college after I struggle in every resits I've taken in the previous one? Is my true major in business, accounting or media? Do I like what I'm doing? These are some questions that I've pondered. As for the song, H.E.R. talks about deciding on whether to leave a toxic relationship for her wellbeing, just like the number seventeen entry. The only notable difference is the production where Torn is a dancey groovy tune while Hard Place is laidback and acoustic. I prefer this more over the former as I can relate more on the lyrics of struggling to choose between someone's love and a hard place. My favorite part of the song is the pre-chorus. Though, I tend to prefer losing sleep at night over a fight and my heart over the other. If I were to make any crticism, I didn't like the radio edit of the song. There's some parts that didn't needed to be cut like the final chorus. It loses its impact that I'd rather listen to the full 5 minute version of it.

Number 4

This is a bop.

4. Number One Fan by MUNA

Ah yes, a fun dancey track dealing with self-doubt. Fun! In fairness, I really like this song and how it deals with the issue. We tend to be hard on ourselves that we didn't feel like we're good enough. The message being to appreciate ourselves as a way of counteract with self- doubt is what drives this song. We tend to be our own critics but we are also our number one fans. Makes you think. Give it a listen.

Number 3

Man, I miss Daft Punk. Are they ever coming back with new music? (Future me: *laughs and cries*) I know they did two songs with The Weeknd, "Starboy" and "I Feel It Coming." but what about them as lead artists? Their last album was 7 years ago. 7 years! You might be wondering, "They didn't released anything aside from that. Why talk about them?" It's because there's a song that resembles one of their songs from their last album called Doing It Right. The song I'm gonna talk about is does not sample that song but I can hear some similarities between both of them. One of them being an intro with a vocoder and a danceable song.

3. All The Time by Zara Larsson

Out of all the singles she has put out, this is the best one and is among my favorite of hers. The instrumentation is tight and punchy, the groove is a killer and Zara sounds like she's having a time of her life when recording her vocals to this song. I just love the vibe of this song that I don't have much else to say. Except for why didn't she add this to the album, including the summer edition eventhough the song has the line summertime and I'm caught in the feeling?

Number 2

 

So the Jonas Brothers made a comeback. Sucker was decent, their other singles from their recent album sucked (If only Strangers became a hit). Selena Gomez also return with her first number one hit song Lose You To Love Me and Miley Cyrus made some decent songs. As much as I'm happy to see former Disney stars succeeding in the pop landscape, I wish the people should pay attention to the other former Disney stars who made incredible synth pop tunes. (Future me: This was written before the TikTok resurgence of Potential Breakup Song)

2. Don't Go Changing by Aly & Aj

I was originally going to pick Church as my entry but the lyrics feel underwritten so I went with the other song they released after. This is a solid track with beautiful synthwork as the ladies sang about self-love and positivity, similar to the number thirteen entry. In contrast to the number four entry, this one's laidback as the chorus represents a manifestation of not being able to change of who they are. Who ever told you you're not good enough? The girls sell the track with phenomenal deliveries and lyrics. Don't sleep on them, check out their music. It's really good.

Before I revealed the number one song on this list, here are a lot of honorable mentions.

1. I Lost A Friend by FINNEAS
Heartbreaking, somber, melancholic.

2. Nobody's Home by Mallrat
Thank you H&M for exposing me to this fun pop song. Very cute.

3. Juice by Lizzo
It's good. Fun, catchy, funky and charismatic.

4. New Girlfriend by Gia Woods
I swear I heard that song somewhere. Regardless, it slaps.

5. Nuketown by Ski Mask The Slump God ft. Juice WRLD
Yes. I like this song. I like it very much. It's not for everyone tough. There's a lot of screaming.

6. okay by LANY ft. Julia Michaels
The chorus should've become a meme. Aside from that, this is a nice song.

7. This Could Be Love by Violet Skies

I was supposed to write a solo song review but I scrapped it for Dua Lipa's Dont Start Now. So here's a brief review of This Could Be Love. It's a nice piano ballad where Skies becomes frustrated of how her relationship comes to an end. This could be love but you're f**king it up and it makes me so hard to stay. That's a gut wrenching line. 

8. Teeth by 5 Seconds of Summer
Nice! Love the gritty guitars, the vocalist sells the track. Would've been on the proper list if that song doesn't tied with *that show* that I'm not a fan of.

10. Link Up by Tinashe
I would've picked between the emotionally heartstrung Know Better or the danceable Save Room For Us but I decided to choose this song instead. It's a banger.

11. Miles To Your Heart by Bahari
Would've been on the proper list if the drop wasn't so mediocre and kills the song.

12. What If I Never Get Over You by Lady Antebellum
Another country song. This one's good.

13. Sleep On It by Gallant
Man, I love Zealyn. Jokes aside, I like this sleek groove on the production and Gallant has a killer voice. Worth a listen.

14. Take a Number by Marian Hill ft. Dounia
Dark, sexy, inticing. Jeremy kills the production, the guest rapper rocks, Samantha's vocals were the only weak spot on this song. That's a shame cause her singing on Like You Do is better.


Number 1

This is an obvious one. If you know, you know.

1. A Weekend in Maine by Zealyn

To keep this brief, this song speaks to me. If you haven't check out the full review of the EP, click here. I'm not into nature but I can relate to the lyrics about how things are simple back then that we couldn't recapture now. Zealyn sells the nostalgic atmosphere with a twilight production and magnetic vocals. She reminisces about the simplicity of her childhood like running to the woods with her brother and climbing through the trees in the summer. 

Getting lost in the city isn't as pretty as the trees in November

She dreams of being back in the woods as a past memory that was once lost. We can't get those simple memories back, we have to go through life and create new memories for ourselves. 

That's pretty much it. I can't believe it took two years of finishing this post. I haven't even done the list for 2020 songs. It's coming up after I'm done with my 2021 list which will arrive soon. I hope you enjoyed my song choices and commentaries of each track. What is your favorite song in 2019? Comment below.