bradluen.substack.com/p/semipop-li...
50. Gonora Sounds: "Go Bhora"
Zimbabwe 2022
Indulgent pick to finish: a blind street guitarist and his percussion prodigy son cheer the local football team with irrepressible exuberance. Still don't know why "Walker Texas Ranger" comes up tho.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfzO...
50. Gonora Sounds: "Go Bhora"
Zimbabwe 2022
Indulgent pick to finish: a blind street guitarist and his percussion prodigy son cheer the local football team with irrepressible exuberance. Still don't know why "Walker Texas Ranger" comes up tho.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfzO...
49. Taylor Swift: "Betty"
I tried to keep the century’s greatest singer-songwriter* off my list until I asked why I should keep the century’s greatest singer-songwriter off my list
*though wow is she better when she's not writing about herself
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TAP...
49. Taylor Swift: "Betty"
I tried to keep the century’s greatest singer-songwriter* off my list until I asked why I should keep the century’s greatest singer-songwriter off my list
*though wow is she better when she's not writing about herself
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TAP...
48. Miya Folick: "Fist"
USA 2025
I'm still a month away from the "yell-sing along and see how that makes me feel" stage of year-end listmaking, but songs that make me punch myself in the face and/or collapse in tears tend to rise quickly
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNqM...
48. Miya Folick: "Fist"
USA 2025
I'm still a month away from the "yell-sing along and see how that makes me feel" stage of year-end listmaking, but songs that make me punch myself in the face and/or collapse in tears tend to rise quickly
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNqM...
47. The Beths: "Expert in a Dying Field"
New Zealand 2022
Tactical concession: "Silence Is Golden" is my fave (it's fast!) but let's try to get NZ on to the parade outside of duets with short (of stature or of temper) stars from other islands
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KAC...
47. The Beths: "Expert in a Dying Field"
New Zealand 2022
Tactical concession: "Silence Is Golden" is my fave (it's fast!) but let's try to get NZ on to the parade outside of duets with short (of stature or of temper) stars from other islands
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KAC...
46. Dlala Thukzin, Funky Qla, Zee Nxumalo: "Ama Gear"
South Africa 2024
Thukzin's my man; I have this on a par with "iPlan" but this one has a vote already (plus it gets Zee N. onto my list.) Last year's great album Finally Famous Too omits it.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObhU...
46. Dlala Thukzin, Funky Qla, Zee Nxumalo: "Ama Gear"
South Africa 2024
Thukzin's my man; I have this on a par with "iPlan" but this one has a vote already (plus it gets Zee N. onto my list.) Last year's great album Finally Famous Too omits it.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObhU...
this is clever and important and you should read it carefully if, unfortunately, you argue about US politics on the Internet
however:
this is clever and important and you should read it carefully if, unfortunately, you argue about US politics on the Internet
however:
45. Bree Runway & Baby Tate: "Damn Daniel"
UK/USA 2020
Keisha might say this is the Anglosphere's best example of cross-class feminist solidarity of its time. Bree and Baby Tate might respond "say that shit, better watch your back."
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGBM...
45. Bree Runway & Baby Tate: "Damn Daniel"
UK/USA 2020
Keisha might say this is the Anglosphere's best example of cross-class feminist solidarity of its time. Bree and Baby Tate might respond "say that shit, better watch your back."
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGBM...
44. Tom Zé: "Metro Guide"
Brazil 2022
Am I really blowing a late-round pick and an Ice Spice strike on
an octogenarian reciting emergency service phone numbers? Ten words: seven one eight nine nine nine double five double five.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=dd7a...
44. Tom Zé: "Metro Guide"
Brazil 2022
Am I really blowing a late-round pick and an Ice Spice strike on
an octogenarian reciting emergency service phone numbers? Ten words: seven one eight nine nine nine double five double five.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=dd7a...
Me, 4 am: WHY DOES VIRGINIA SOMETIMES HAVE A BEDFORD AND A BEDFORD CITY AND WHY IS THERE SOMETIMES ONLY A BEDFORD
Me, 4 am: WHY DOES VIRGINIA SOMETIMES HAVE A BEDFORD AND A BEDFORD CITY AND WHY IS THERE SOMETIMES ONLY A BEDFORD
43. Billlie: "Ring X Ring"
South Korea 2021
Like many SUPER-MAXIMALIST works, it feels slightly wrong, but trying to figure what's a bit off is part of the pleasure. Obviously the sheer size of the chorus is the bigger pleasure though.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9jh...
43. Billlie: "Ring X Ring"
South Korea 2021
Like many SUPER-MAXIMALIST works, it feels slightly wrong, but trying to figure what's a bit off is part of the pleasure. Obviously the sheer size of the chorus is the bigger pleasure though.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9jh...
42. CMAT: "The Jamie Oliver Petrol Station"
Ireland 2025
"My Singapore-style fried rice:
Put ½ a tablespoon of olive oil into the hot pan"
yeah I'm gonna stop you there, Jamie
www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTWg...
42. CMAT: "The Jamie Oliver Petrol Station"
Ireland 2025
"My Singapore-style fried rice:
Put ½ a tablespoon of olive oil into the hot pan"
yeah I'm gonna stop you there, Jamie
www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTWg...
41. Wet Leg: "Chaise Longue"
UK 2021
alldaylong alldaylong alldaylong alldaylong alldaylong alldaylong alldaylong alldaylong alldaylong alldaylong alldaylong alldaylong alldaylong alldaylong alldaylong alldaylong alldaylong alldaylong
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zd9j...
41. Wet Leg: "Chaise Longue"
UK 2021
alldaylong alldaylong alldaylong alldaylong alldaylong alldaylong alldaylong alldaylong alldaylong alldaylong alldaylong alldaylong alldaylong alldaylong alldaylong alldaylong alldaylong alldaylong
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zd9j...
40. Corook: "They!"
USA 2025
Look, I'm not saying that Corook being the only artist to get two of my top 50 means I think they've had a musically better decade than, say, K. Lamar or B. Eilish (who got none.) They're probably on a par at best
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoTG...
40. Corook: "They!"
USA 2025
Look, I'm not saying that Corook being the only artist to get two of my top 50 means I think they've had a musically better decade than, say, K. Lamar or B. Eilish (who got none.) They're probably on a par at best
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoTG...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8eR...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8eR...
39. Dj Kawest, T-Gui, T-Will: "Konpa Paradise 2"
France/Guadeloupe/Martinique 2024
The most audacious opening ten seconds of any song this decade. Seconds fifteen to twenty-five, when the keyboard part fully vests, are nearly as good.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWIe...
39. Dj Kawest, T-Gui, T-Will: "Konpa Paradise 2"
France/Guadeloupe/Martinique 2024
The most audacious opening ten seconds of any song this decade. Seconds fifteen to twenty-five, when the keyboard part fully vests, are nearly as good.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWIe...
Howlin' Wolf (1962)
How do you follow perhaps the GOAT blues LP? With your SEXFUNK record obvs. Wolf/Dixon/Sumlin etc. spin tales of fluids being drunk by the spoonful, modest-sized cocks causing ruckuses, back doors well you see where this is going.
Howlin' Wolf (1962)
How do you follow perhaps the GOAT blues LP? With your SEXFUNK record obvs. Wolf/Dixon/Sumlin etc. spin tales of fluids being drunk by the spoonful, modest-sized cocks causing ruckuses, back doors well you see where this is going.
Howlin' Wolf (1962)
How do you follow perhaps the GOAT blues LP? With your SEXFUNK record obvs. Wolf/Dixon/Sumlin etc. spin tales of fluids being drunk by the spoonful, modest-sized cocks causing ruckuses, back doors well you see where this is going.
38. Rosé & Bruno Mars: "Apt."
South Korea/USA/technically NZ 2024
For a year I've been puzzling over whether "apateuapateu" is five syllables or six. Currently I think it's five and a third, so I hope they didn't overpay "Mickey"'s writers.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8WE...
38. Rosé & Bruno Mars: "Apt."
South Korea/USA/technically NZ 2024
For a year I've been puzzling over whether "apateuapateu" is five syllables or six. Currently I think it's five and a third, so I hope they didn't overpay "Mickey"'s writers.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8WE...
37. Duke Deuce, Lil Yachty, Turnt Lil Thadd: "Crunk Ain't Dead Mob"
USA 2020
Things I wish there'd been more of in 2020s rap: crunk; unison chanting; finding solidarity in survival; spelling things; jumping around in shopping mall food courts.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_cB...
37. Duke Deuce, Lil Yachty, Turnt Lil Thadd: "Crunk Ain't Dead Mob"
USA 2020
Things I wish there'd been more of in 2020s rap: crunk; unison chanting; finding solidarity in survival; spelling things; jumping around in shopping mall food courts.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_cB...