Zebra's Year End Charts - 2015 (Finished)

[Zeebz]

041. "What Kind Of Man" - Florence + the Machine

Listen!

Peak: 06

Weeks: 14

Album: How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful

Ceremonials is easily in my top five albums of the decade so far, so naturally I was highly anticipating new material from Flo and co. This certainly didn't disappoint. I love the intensity of her vocals in the chorus. How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful may not be as perfect as Ceremonials, but it has gems like this (not to mention it's good in general - it is near impossible to top that). I'm not sure why I gave this such a short run though?

[Zeebz]

Jan 2, 2016 23:04:56 GMT -5 Juan Carlos said:

Good to see "I Can Change", "King", "Molecules", "R.I.P. 2 My Youth", "Sparks", "All That" and "Desire" in the last two batches.

Also, I've checked "Gunshot" and I really enjoyed it. The music video is good too. :)

Thanks Juan Carlos! Glad that you enjoyed it! :)

[sadchild]

high five for these ones!

057 - "Molecules" - Atlas Genius
094 - "Ex's & Oh's" - Elle King

[Deleted]

#45.

[Unhinged]

Loving your year end so far!

[Zeebz]

040. "I Got The Boy" - Jana Kramer

Listen!

Peak: 10

Weeks: 16

Album: Thirty One

I loved Jana's debut album, so naturally I was excited to hear more from her. "Love" never really clicked with me until it was already off the charts, and I'm not sure why. "I Got The Boy", however, was instant. Jana's rich vocals, paired with her cutting lyrics about how she only got the man while he was young, really help to convey a lot of emotion and to help the song to stick with you. I love the juxtaposition of imagery (suit vs. ballcap; class ring v. wedding band; etc.) and they really help to sell the theme. This is one of the best country songs that I've heard in a long, long time. Simply beautiful. I gave this too low of a peak, though, and have regretted it since. That's why it's here. I need to check out her album in more depth. 

[Zeebz]

039. "Stitches" - Shawn Mendes

Listen!

Peak: 02

Weeks: 15

Album: Handwritten

Shawn Mendes really didn't impress me when I first heard "Life Of The Party". It was kind of boring, in all honesty. "Something Big" was really fun, but it burned on me before it could make the top ten. Shawn finally scored his first big hit with "Stitches". It didn't click with me at first, but as soon as it did I was obsessed. I love his vocals, and I love the lyrics. They make for such a fun sing-a-long. The line "You watch me bleed until I can't breathe, shakin', fallin' onto my knees" are definitely lines that help this to stick. I'm so glad that this was such a big hit for Shawn, as it is one of my favorite hit songs of the entire year. "Stitches" was one of several songs blocked from the top by "Run Away With Me", but it would've made for a great number one. It burned on me a bit and had a short run, but it's still fantastic. 

[Zeebz]

038. "679" - Fetty Wap ft. Remy Boyz

Listen!

Peak: 06

Weeks: 17

Album: Fetty Wap

I'll start off on this one by saying this: I adore Fetty Wap. He might make some run-of-the-mill rap songs, and he certainly isn't a lyrical genius, but they're all super catchy and he adds a certain charisma to them that just makes them so likable. "679" is easily my favorite (although "My Way" is close behind). It stands out from most of the rest of the hits this year as a lot of this year's hits were slow and boring, whereas this is a party jam. It contains some of the most memorable lines of any song this year ("I got a glock in my 'rari" being my favorite), and it never fails to put me in a good mood. To be honest this should've peaked higher, but charted in a really competitive time period. Hope he sticks around for a bit!

[Zeebz]

037. "The Blade" - Ashley Monroe

Listen!

Peak: 02

Weeks: 17

Album: The Blade

I don't think there could've been a more jarring transition, lol. This and "679" are worlds apart, with one being a party jam and the only being a heartbroken tale of, well, heartbreak. I love the vulnerability of this one. Ashley's lyrics cut like a blade, and thus accurately fit the song and the atmosphere that she's trying to convey. She's been cut deep by this man and the lyrics reflect that. Like "Stitches", this was also blocked from the top by "Run Away With Me". I was late to the party as far as appreciating Ashley Monroe, but I'm so glad that I checked out her album. Thanks for the push, .indulgecountry ! You always recommend the best stuff!

[Zeebz]

036. "Go All Night" - Gorgon City ft. Jennifer Hudson

Listen!

Peak: 10

Weeks: 21

Album: Sirens

Gorgon City was a promising new act that I discovered in 2014, and to this day I still play "Ready For Your Love" rather often. This, however, is my favorite song from them. It has one of their best productions, and Hudson's vocals are perfectly suited to dance (and more specifically, House) songs. I love her in general, but her contribution on this song takes my appreciation for her vocals to a whole new level. Blissful. Like Jana's song, this peaked FAR too low and should've made the top three. 

[Deleted]

#39.

[Zeebz]

035. "Tear In My Heart" - Twenty One Pilots

Listen!

Peak: 08

Weeks: 20

Album: Blurryface

I unfortunately didn't discover Twenty One Pilots until late in 2014, long after I had the chance to chart anything from them. I was thrilled to see "Fairly Local" on the iTunes charts, but it didn't do anything for me. Neither did this, but eventually it grew on me. I love the strange lyrics and the chorus. They have better, but this is still fantastic. It's hard to explain why I love this song, I just do. I guess the best explanation would be that it is fun? This hit the top ten and had a solid run, and now "Stressed Out" is starting to smash too.

[Zeebz]

034. "Pray To God" - Calvin Harris ft. HAIM

Listen!

Peak: 01

Weeks: 22

Album: Motion

I love Calvin Harris and I enjoy Motion, but honestly it was kind of a letdown compared to his other albums. "Pray To God", however, wasn't. I love both Calvin and HAIM, so naturally a collaboration between the two piqued my interest. I wasn't disappointed. HAIM's harmonies perfectly complement his production and the whole song feels so breezy and wonderful. The song was also given new life thanks to the Mike Pickering Hacienda Remix, which added a new layer to the song and made it even more brilliant. This had a rather steady climb to number one, but a really fast fall. It is my my 4th lowest-ranked number one of 2015, but that doesn't mean that I don't enjoy it.

[Zeebz]

033. "Electric Love" - BØRNS

Listen!

Peak: 06

Weeks: 17

Album: Dopamine

There's always room for feel-good love songs on my playlist, which "Electric Love" is. It was sugar sweet lyrics, and a falsetto chorus that is so fun to sing along to. It took a while to grow on me, but to this day I'm still obsessed with it. This peaked at number six in a rather competitive week, but it should've at least made the top five. Hope this takes off in the new year!

[Zeebz]

032. "Wild" - Troye Sivan

Listen!

Peak: 02

Weeks: 14

Album: Blue Neighbourhood

I first discovered Troye due to "Happy Little Pill", and I was mesmerized. It managed to peak at a paltry number seven, but it was a slow burner and had legs. I was eagerly anticipating Troye's next move, and when he released "Wild" I became obsessed. I love everything about this. The laughter of the children, the atmospheric chorus, Troye's vocals, the wobbly production, everything. It's a brilliant song that can't be ignored. It peaked at number two behind an onslaught of Adele songs, but should've been a number one to be honest. It's fantastic. Also, I love the music video, and the album. I really hope "Youth" blows up.

[Zeebz]

031. "When We Were Young" - Adele

Listen!

Peak: 01

Weeks: 07 

Album: 25

Here we have my current number one! It would be ranked higher, but I made this list several weeks ago before the song actually grew on me completely. No worries, though, this'll have another great showing next year. I've always enjoyed this one, but it took a few weeks for me to truly appreciate it. Adele's vocals are gorgeous as always, and I love the theme of nostalgia. I also love how her vocals are smooth as butter during most of the song and how they escalate to full on intensity when she sings lines such as "I'm so mad, we're getting older". She's very convincing, and he ability to emote is uncanny. Love this, love her. She has two more entries to come. 

[Deleted]

31, 33, 35.

[Juan Carlos]

As expected, there are still so many great songs out there. Amazing to see "Go All Night", "Pray to God" and "Wild" so far, among others. Also, great to see "When We Were Young" appearance so high when it's a relative new track. Looking forward to the next set, Justin.

[.indulgecountry]

Lovely seeing "I Got the Boy" and "The Blade" in this set. Both are among my very favorite country releases of the year and are just superb songs, vocally, lyrically, production-wise... ahh. Perfect. And you're welcome on the Ashley Monroe recommendation! I hope you do get around to check out Jana's album, too, btw! I like it a lot more than her debut, which was honestly pretty basic outside a few songs, lol. ;)

[Zeebz]

030. "Standard" - Empress Of

Listen!

Peak: 01

Weeks: 05

Album: Me.

"Standard" is yet another recent number one that I can't get enough of. At first I thought it was kind of strange, but the heavy production quickly grew on me. I love the intensity that Empress Of conveys towards the end. It makes the song more emotive and helps it to stand out. This'll continue to do well in 2016. I highly recommend her album, Me.. It's fantastic.

[Zeebz]

029. "Lifted Up (1985)" - Passion Pit

Listen!

Peak: 03 

Weeks: 16

Album: Kindred

Passion Pit has been a favorite of mine since "Take A Walk"/Gossamer in general (their older stuff is wonderful too), so I was really excited to hear about new music this year. I first heard this and I loved the explosive energy of it. The chorus is full of life and is just so fun. It's almost like a chant that I want to chant along to. Brilliant. This peaked at number three in the spring. Reminder to self: listen to this album! Oh, and I LOVE this single cover. It's stunning, visually speaking.

[Zeebz]

028. "Say You Love Me" - Jessie Ware

Listen!

Peak: 01

Weeks: 22

Album: Tough Love

The only holdover from last year, "Say You Love Me" is such a beautiful song. Jessie's vocals are rich and so full of emotion, and the lyrics just get to me. I don't have much to say about it that I didn't say last year, but regardless it is wonderful.

[Zeebz]

027. "Hold My Hand" - Jess Glynne

Listen!

Peak: 06

Weeks: 20

Album: I Cry When I Laugh

Jess Glynne was one of my favorite new discoveries of last year, and my love for her only increased this year. From first listen I was obsessed with this. The chorus is so explosively fun and Glynne's vocals are incredible, as usual. This is a feel good love song, and as I've mentioned earlier, I really love those. This should've done so much better both on my chart and on the real charts. Too good to be ignored. :'(

[Zeebz]

026. "S.O.B." - Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats

Listen!

Peak: 06

Weeks: 18

Album: Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats

This was definitely not what I expected hear when I first heard it, but I quickly fell head over heels for this one. The claps really give this and organic feeling, and that, combined with the humorous lyrics, make this such a jam. It's great to listen to when you're angry - just yell "SON OF A BITCH" out loud in a cathartic manner. This has grown on me even more over the past few weeks. Love it.

[Zeebz]

025. "What We Ain't Got" - Jake Owen

Listen!

Peak: 04

Weeks: 27

Album: Days Of Gold

I've never really been a huge fan of Jake Owen. "Alone With You" and "Anywhere With You" are good but they never drew me in the way this did. On first listen, this is a song about heartbreak and not appreciating her until she's gone. Upon further listens, the song takes on more and more meanings. It can be about anything that you don't appreciate until you don't have it anymore. It makes this song so much more powerful and the video only adds to that. Owen's vocals are the best they've ever sounded as well. This peaked at number four and had amazing longevity.

[Zeebz]

024. "Dreams" - Beck

Listen!

Peak: 04

Weeks: 20

Album: Dreams - Single

I don't have much to say about this one, but it's infectiously fun indie pop from a veteran artist whom I need to look further into. I had never really charted one of his singles, so I made up for it with this. It peaked at number four.

[Zeebz]

023. "Girl Crush" - Little Big Town

Listen!

Peak: 01

Weeks: 21

Album: Painkiller

I don't have much to say that I didn't say in my 100 weeks countdown:

God I love "Girl Crush" so much. I've previously mentioned that Little Big Town is one of my favorite artists out there nowadays, but "Girl Crush" took my love for them to a whole new level. I love how unusual it is in its approach. It address wanting to be like the woman who has her man so that the man will love the narrator like he loves his new fling. The songwriting is beautiful and the production is so simple that the focus is purely on the narrators's saddened vocals. "Girl Crush" makes me feel like someone has stole my partner even though I'm single, lol. It's sad but it's so wonderful. Thankfully I gave it a peak that it deserved (number one, one week), and I would've loved for it to take off a la "Need You Now".

It hasn't held up as well as I thought it would, but it's still great.

[Zeebz]

022. "Dime Store Cowgirl" - Kacey Musgraves

Listen!

Peak: 03

Weeks: 18

Album: Pagaeant Material

Kacey is so underrated. I wish she'd had success this year, and I definitely thought this was the song that'd do it for her. Lyrically, it's about being true to your roots. The concept is kind of overdone but is executed in a unique way. I love how true Kacey is to her roots. Brilliant song, and one that'll be in my playlist for a long time.

[Zeebz]

021. "I Don't Need Another Lover" - Billie Black

Listen!

Peak: 01

Weeks: 19

Album: 000 100

Major props to Elle for this one! Billie is one of my favorite new artists of the year and I'm completely enamored with her music. This served a a wonderful introduction to her. The production is so relaxed and lush and Black's vocals are gorgeous. This is one I still revisit often simply because it always puts me in a great mood. Love her. You'll see her again.

[Deleted]

27, 24, 23.