Best Of 2020: Top Singles In Order Of Preference Through October 31st, 2020

Song 33 – Noname – Noname apologized for this response to the J. Cole, but she shouldn’t. It is a 69 second vision of life for a black woman, and how she will change it. So much jumps out at you “one girl missing, another one go missing,” and “I’m the new vanguard” at the top of his list. How many songs care about transgendered women, how many songs push themselves to the forefront of a conscious change in perception. She buries into your subconscious you and on repeat it all becomes real in your mind. Noname has always been a great, but now she might be the greatest. Produced by Madlib.

20 10 20 – Burna Boy –  Police opened fire on peaceful protesters in Lagos, this is dancehall meets African pop  superstar Burna Boy’s response.

Lilacs – Waxahatchee – a most gloriously tuneful indie folk stroke of love and difficulties, she sounds both scratchy and sweet and jumps up an octave on the chorus

WAP (feat. Megan Thee Stallion) – Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion – Cardi’s ode to female physical response (or at the least gynecological architecture)  uses  a sample of Frank Ski’s 1993 single, “Whores in This House,” to incredible effect where the result of sexual excitement is embraced instead of frowned upon ala male dominant sex scenario. The video is excellent

death bed (coffee for your head) – Powfu, beabadoobee – a true original variant on sad boy dipped in electronics and a spectacular hook by the up and coming Filipino via London beabadoobee, the most original sound this side of 100 gecs

True Love – Yemi Alade – The Nigerian popster calls it Afro-Pop and it is but it is most world music pop with aastonishing drumming and nothing if not a high as a kite melodic quotient, better than “Don’t Jealous Me”

Bounce – Cazzu – Argentina trap queen but more youthful and exciting than even the most now Latin Trap

I Think You’re Great – Alex the Astronaut – The Australian singer songwriter has written the lick of the year here, a tasty acoustic underpinning which is among the best pep talks since Marina’s “I Am Not A Robot”. She is a terrific songwriter and her disposition completely pleasant.

Cut Me – Moses Sumney – Sublimely sung chill soul with an artful hip hop package and an intense lyric that swerves in and out around the horns

Space And Time – S.G. Goodman – One of our great new voices, hear she sounds worthy, and not just just with a glorious country ballad but with the voice, of being dubbed a modern day k.d. lang

The Father, My Son, And The Holy Ghost – Craig Morgan – in the face of the worst loss a person can suffer, the death of his son, Morgan finds strength in faith

ringtone (Remix) [feat. Charli XCX, Rico Nasty, Kero Kero Bonito] – 100 gecs, Charli XCX, Rico Nasty – The sine qua non of queer pop crossover.

I’m Not Getting Excited – The Beths – combustibile punk pop rocker about morbidity and death

la – Kelsea Ballerini – As a non-believer, I might be wrong. This is the best song of its sort since “I Took A Pill In Ibiza” (not the remix, the original), and Kelsea takes it exactly right with a gorgeous bridge.

Sweet – Porridge Radio – the sort of song that changes a semi-underground rock band from Brighton in England into overnight sensations

Do To Me – H.E.R. – dancehall H.E.R. continues her year in a lifetime

Forgiveness – Mandy Moore – all the action here has already happened off the tracks, in a divorce that became a referendum. But Mandy’s final response is devastating: “Will I forgive you? You don’t get to know…”

Which Side Are You On? – S.G. Goodman – gorgeously sung Union song

Only You Freestyle – Headie One, Drake – Drake’s best rap of the year (so far, there is a new album in the works) including a hello in Arabic, Headie One takes back on the track on his verses

Gary Lives in the Twilight Zone – Gary Wilson – The cult artists cult artist, obtuse, strange, a little otherworldly and bizarre and yet completely brilliant dance pop, and here is one of Gary’s very best.

FNY – Barkley – the tuneful crusade to “Fuck New York’ lives is a lesbian lost love triumph

Scared To Live – The Weeknd – The Weeknd’s genius pop ballad, with a very useful Elton John sample that is a study in how to use an expensive song

NO MORE TEARDROPS feat. Malik Yusef & Wyatt Waddell – VIC MENSA, Malik Yusef, Wyatt Waddell – one of the best #BLM protest raps of the year in a year with a whole lotta good ones