The list nobody asks for begins again...
In the midst of an ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, this list encompasses the music that helped make this year a bit easier to swallow. Priority given to music actually purchased, not just streamed.
Many singles serviced in 2020 from a parent album released in 2019 were not considered, as they were likely included on last year's list. Neither are 2019 singles featured on an album officially released in 2020 (ex. "Don't Start Now" by Dua Lipa).
#50. "Love Not Loving You" by Foxes
Following a four-year hiatus, Foxes returned in 2020 with "Love Not Loving You", pushing the artist in a funk-driven creative direction. Dealing with the end of a relationship, she reminisces and appreciates all the good times shared, but has now reached the point of full breakup recovery. So as the artist smiles while remembering the joyous early days of a blossoming bond, she's also celebrating finally detaching herself from an unappreciative partner. "You broke me out of a fever, you make me feel like someone else, you make me dance like I mean it, now I love, now I love, now I love not loving you," she belts with exuberance on the energetic chorus. Foxes might have once relied on someone else to improve her own happiness, however, she is now standing on her own two feet and learning to love herself again.
Swedish pop artist Paul Rey shared "Talking In My Sleep", a heartfelt pop ballad that served as the artist's entry for Melodifestivalen 2020, Sweden's qualifier competition to represent the country at the Eurovision Song Contest. Though the effort finished in sixth place, the song itself became Rey's first charting song in his home country. Inspired by the unfortunate distance between loved ones, the concept of escaping reality through one's dreams was heightened by the current COVID-19 pandemic. As we are all told to stay at home, the feelings of separation and isolation can creep in. Missing someone you care for and not being able to physically be by their side can take an emotional toll. The ballad comes off as an authentic display of affection and longing, inspired by a real-life connection to his wife. It's relaxed and poignant, carried by stellar vocals.
#48. "Bump This" by Michael Medrano feat. Jake Germain & Michete
After a string of successful, dynamic song releases in 2019, independent artist Michael Medrano kickstarted the new decade with… a nose bleed. Teaming up with fellow queer artists Jake Germain and Michete, the troublesome trio shared an ode to partying, substance abuse, and reckless behavior in the form of “Bump This”. While the subject matter might be obnoxious to some, the carefree vibe exuded by the creators turn the problematic anthem into the perfect weekend obsession. Medrano opens the effort with a pompous attitude, Germain lures an unsuspecting stranger to his bedroom for some midnight fun, and Michete walks into the party fashionably late, as usual, with a goal to be the most destructive of all. Mission accomplished.
#47. "I'm A Winner, Baby" by RuPaul
“I’m A Winner, Baby” is the typical inspirational dance/pop tune we’ve come to expect from RuPaul. However, with a production structure eerily similar to that of “What Is Love?” by Haddaway, the entertainer transports listeners back to the 90s technicolor dance floor for a tough lesson in love. Acknowledging her usual lucky streak, RuPaul sings of losing her balance for a moment when she locks eyes with another. Backed by a child’s taunt turned motivational piece of advice, the artist pats herself on the back for stumbling across the rare romantic find. “I never fell in love, cuz the odds are too high, you lose before you get across the finish line”, she sings on the second verse. Usually, RuPaul exerts confidence and assurance. Here though, she is unsure whether the romance jackpot will hit. Still, she pushes forward. That's what we expect.
#46. "React" by The Pussycat Dolls
Tumultuous 2020 will forever be remembered as the year that The Pussycat Dolls finally reunited and returned with a vengeance, sans Melody. "React", an electropop/R&B hybrid, sheds unfortunate light on a troubled relationship. However, it may be the PCD members who are steering it toward an end. Instead of lamenting, the women develop an intoxicating sense of control, fearlessness and indifference. Is it the proper response to an overly nice partner who only wants to please and love? Good guys clearly frustrate the members. And while they acknowledge bashing something healthy and supportive, they've allowed their aggressive instincts to get the better of them. Sometimes they just want to fight and argue. Let's hope we get single number two in 2021!
#45. "Who I Am" by Melanie C
Melanie C, the sporty chartreuse of the Spice Girls, embraced her unique strengths and individuality in 2020. She did so by first acknowledging her vulnerability and mistakes on "Who I Am". The disco-tinged, synth-heavy effort served as the official lead single off the artist's self-titled eighth studio album. The track finds Melanie C addressing her past, admitting to the times she would remain quiet or adopt a persona that never felt authentic. As time has gone by, as she drops her defense armor, she has learned there's no longer a reason to hide. She reflects on her growth, the courage she has developed, and now fully appreciates the reflection in the mirror. Some may not like this new version, but it's not slowing her down. She persists.
#44. "my future" by Billie Eilish
Following the lush and dramatic "No Time to Die", Billie Eilish flexed her jazz and ballad muscles with the release of "my future". Written and recorded alongside her brother FINNEAS, the song details that while there is vast uncertainty in the future, excitement still builds as one wonders what's in store when the world returns to some sense of normalcy. For Eilish, the message has two directives. For her professional career, after accomplishing what seasoned artists are still clamoring for, how can she best pesky expectations? For her personal life, how can she prove that she's happy keeping to herself ? "I know supposedly I'm lonely now, know I'm supposed to be unhappy, without someone, but aren't I someone?," she questions on the second verse, content with the reflection she sees in the mirror.
#43. "When the Sun Goes Down" by Saara Aalto & Baga Chipz
For the most unlikely collaboration of the year, Finland songstress and Eurovision darling Saara Aalto joined forces with RuPaul's Drag Race UK finalist Baga Chipz for a strong pop offering encouraging women to strive for better in regards to selecting potential suitors. "When the Sun Goes Down" finds both artists tired of the one-night stands and men who vanish once the sun comes up. Aalto and Baga sing for the women who don't think they are deserving of a long-term commitment, pushing them to kick the game-playing men to the curb and bask in your own worth and independence. Aalto calmly opens the track by sending desperate followers straight to voicemail, while comedy queen Baga transforms into a true pop starlet, giving drag lingo lessons in the process.
#42. "Break Up Song" by Little Mix
UK girl group Little Mix may have lost Jesy to 2020, but the year produced their sixth studio album Confetti. Lead single "Break Up Song" is an 80s-inspired synth gem with retro, electronic production at the forefront. The women sing of forgetting all of one's troubles in the midst of mending a broken heart. While they might have been choked up about the separation at the beginning, Little Mix quickly moves on, promising to shed no more tears for those who screwed them over. "'Cause I'll be good all by myself, yeah, I'll find a way to dance without you, in the middle of the crowd, and forget all of the pain inside," Jesy sings on the radio-ready hook. Taking a cue from "No More Sad Songs", the women aren't going to let a man get them down, they're ready to pick up the pieces and dance.
#41. "Gaslighter" by The Chicks
As their last official release before a name change to The Chicks, "Gaslighter" was a scathing lead offering for the trio's eighth studio album. Directed at the former husband of Natalie Maines, and likely inspired by the outgoing President Trump, the artists accuse men of manipulating those who entrusted them the most. On the personal level, Maines accuses her husband of infidelity and lying, leading to the publicized end of their marriage. "'Cause, boy, you know exactly what you did on my boat, and, boy, that's exactly why you ain't comin' home," Maines belts. Men may blame the "crazed" woman, but The Chicks find strength in kicking the cheaters to the curb. The track carried the grit of crowning moment "Not Ready to Make Nice" with the slightly humorous country-pop stylings that made them a household name.
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