The Best Of 2017 - part 5

JUMP TO: 100-81 II 80-61 II 60-41 II 40-21 II 20-1

Even in a year that hasn't been the best for new music, the top 20 songs on my annual chart are a pretty solid list. Let's start counting down to the inevitable (and no, I don't mean Ed Sheeran)... 

20. "Stay Up Late" by Monsieur Adi featuring Red

It'd been a few years since we'd heard music from (as opposed to remixes by) Monsieur Adi, the French DJ/producer who featured in my year-end top 100s for 2013 and 2014. Then, at the tail end of 2016, he returned with "Bad Habits", but it was this year's "Stay Up Late", featuring a thrilling vocal by Red (aka former The X Factor contestant Nicole Simpson), that proved he was back on form. 

19. "Neon Blue" by Steps

I have to admit, I wasn't thrilled when I discovered "Neon Blue" was picked as the third single from Steps's comeback album, Tears On The Dancefloor - I would've chosen a song we'll see in a little while. To me, it felt like it could've been released in 1999, while many of the songs on the new album sound more current. But as its placement here suggests, I came around in the end. It's classic Steps - on a par with, say, "Better Best Forgotten" or "Here And Now" - although one thing that does distinguish it from their previous hits is that Lee gets a decent solo.

18. "Cloud 9" by Jamiroquai

Here's another song that sounds like it could've come out years ago. The second single from Automaton, "Cloud 9" has a similar vibe to 2005's "Seven Days In Sunny June" - a breezy disco ballad with a killer melody.

17. "New Rules (Initial Talk remix)" by Dua Lipa

Up until a month or so ago, this UK chart-topper and ARIA chart number 2 hit didn't make my top 100. I understood the appeal of the song and its music video, but I just found the melody a bit underwhelming, especially after "Hotter Than Hell". But it's amazing what a bit of '80s production can do for my interest in a song. Inspired by Stacey Q's "Two Of Hearts", Japanese producer Initial Talk created an unofficial remix of "New Rules" that made it the aerobics soundtrack it never was - and then, to her credit, Dua gave an official release the green light. 

16. "Electric Nights (Pete Hammond mix)" by Parralox

One good '80s remix deserves another - and there are few remixers who can capture that moment in time better than Pete Hammond, the former PWL staffer responsible for countless mixes in the late '80s, and more recent throwback remixes for Kylie Minogue, Mini Viva, Alphabeat and Parralox. This year, he teamed up with the latter again to transform this single from the Subculture album into a glorious burst of nostalgic synthpop.

15. "Dearly Beloved" by Kiesza

Three years after "Hideaway" and its one-shot music video, Kiesza returned at the very start of 2017 with brand new track "Dearly Beloved". The seemingly buoyant song was actually inspired by the death of her friend, musician Alicia Lemke, whose white guitar the Canadian singer plays in the music video.

14. "Love Me More" by Chase & Status featuring Emeli Sandé

Unlike the track we saw from them in Part 1, this most recent single from Chase & Status is very much what I would expect from the duo behind "Lost And Not Found" and "Count On Me". It's also not a million miles away from Emeli Sandé's "Heaven", making me think the collaboration would've been massive five years ago. In 2017, unfortunately, it wasn't the hit it deserved to be.

13. "I Will Love Again" by Steps

Here's the Tears On The Dancefloor track I would've released as third single - Steps' version of Lara Fabian's English-language debut from 2000. A minor hit in Australia and a flop in the UK for the Belgian singer, "I Will Love Again" was a great choice for a remake.

12. "Anywhere" by Rita Ora

Just when it looked like Rita Ora was going to pull a Samantha Mumba and abandon her music career in favour of exploring opportunities in Hollywood, the singer/actress/reality TV host returned in 2017 with a pair of pop hits (and a feature on an Avicii track that's just outside my top 100). "Your Song" was good (and also just missed by top 100), but "Anywhere" put her back in "I Will Never Let You Down" territory. 

11. "Roulette" by Katy Perry

Proof that even the biggest artists in the world can hit a speed bump in their career, Katy Perry's fifth album, Witness, faced mixed reviews, singles under-performing and sales well below what she'd come to expect. And yet, it contained the best song she's ever released as far as I'm concerned.

10. "More Than Friends" by James Hype featuring Kelli-Leigh

The original was one of the biggest singles of En Vogue's career and 21 years later, the moody R&B track was transformed into a veritable banger courtesy of British DJ/producer James Hype and singer Kelli-Leigh Henry-Davilla, who actually received a credit for her work, unlike on previous hits she'd performed on by Duke Dumont and Secondcity. 

9. "Strangers" by Halsey featuring Lauren Jauregui

After appearing on one of the biggest singles in ARIA chart history (The Chainsmokers' "Closer") in 2016, Halsey's second album, Hopeless Fountain Kingdom, was one of the most anticipated of 2017. And one of its most buzzed about tracks was "Strangers", the promotional single featuring Fifth Harmony member Lauren Jauregui that delved into a relationship between two women that's gone sour.

8. "Find You" by Nick Jonas

Solidifying his status as the best Jonas brother, Nick Jonas released his best single yet in "Find You". The acoustic guitar-meets-dance track was co-written and produced by Swedes Svante Halldin and Jakob Hazell (aka Jack & Coke), who were behind my 2012 number 1, "Euphoria" by Loreen. 

7. "Say Love" by Julian Jordan x SJ

While Nick Jonas traipses around the desert in the video for "Find You", Dutch DJ/producer Julian Jordan shot his clip in - and got inspiration for "Say Love" from - the freezing landscape of Iceland. The tender electronic track is a departure from Julian's normally harder club-oriented sound.

6. "Now" by Grace Mitchell

Twenty-year-old American singer Grace Mitchell has been busy in 2017, releasing upwards of half a dozen singles that span a variety of genres. Naturally, since it appears here, "Now" is the poppiest of those songs - a hand-clapping, big chorused celebration of being in the now.

5. "Don't Look Back" by Full Of Keys

Just when I'd given up hope that 2017 had anything else brilliant to offer, this Scandipop gem from Swedish singer Anni Bernhard (who goes by Full Of Keys professionally) sneaked out at the end of November. With one of the biggest choruses of the year, "Don't Look Back" was her first new song in over a year-and-a-half.  

4. "Cut To The Feeling" by Carly Rae Jepsen

Thank goodness for Carly Rae Jepsen and her dedication to big pop moments. While many of her contemporaries do their downright best to avoid anything remotely approaching a melody, the Canadian singer continues to release uplifting, exuberant music, like "Cut To The Feeling", which was recorded during the sessions for the Emotion album but only ended up seeing the light of day after it was used in animated film Ballerina.

3. "What's Wrong" by PVRIS

Of course not all pop needs to be happy, as this angst-ridden single from PVRIS proves. The second appearance on this list by the electro-rock trio comprised of singer Lynn Gunn, guitarist Alex Babinski and bass player Brian MacDonald, "What's Wrong" is big on energy, emotion and hooks.

2. "Real Life" by Duke Dumont x Gorgon City featuring NAATIONS

Separately, they've been incredibly consistent performers the past few years, with a combined tally of nine singles in my year-end top 100s between 2013 and 2016. Clearly more powerful together than they've ever been apart, dance acts Duke Dumont and Gorgon City both achieve their highest rank in 2017 with "Real Life", a '90s piano house-influenced track with vocals handled by NAATIONS (the Australian duo comprised of Nat Dunn and Van She's Nicholas Routledge).

1. "Scared Of The Dark" by Steps

If you've flicked through my year-end charts from 1998 to 2001, this should really come as no surprise. Steps took out my number 1 spot in the first three of those years (and were at number 4 in 2001), and given "Scared Of The Dark" didn't venture too far away from their brand of perky pop, it was always going to be odds-on favourite to end up as my favourite song for 2017. And so here it is, with all the elements you'd expect - a slow-to-fast intro, a soaring chorus, nods to ABBA, a key change and the obligatory join-in-at-home dance routine. The best of turn-of-the-millennium pop wrapped in 2017 pop/dance production. Welcome back, Steps.

My top 170 for 2017 in full:

1          SCARED OF THE DARK Steps

2          REAL LIFE Duke Dumont x Gorgon City featuring NAATIONS

3          WHAT’S WRONG PVRIS

4          CUT TO THE FEELING Carly Rae Jepsen

5          DON’T LOOK BACK Full Of Keys

6          NOW Grace Mitchell

7          SAY LOVE Julian Jordan x SJ

8          FIND YOU Nick Jonas

9          STRANGERS Halsey featuring Lauren Jauregui

10        MORE THAN FRIENDS James Hype featuring Kelli-Leigh

11        ROULETTE Katy Perry

12        ANYWHERE Rita Ora

13        I WILL LOVE AGAIN Steps

14        LOVE ME MORE Chase & Status featuring Emeli Sandé

15        DEARLY BELOVED Kiesza

16        ELECTRIC NIGHTS / PETE HAMMOND MIX Parralox

17        NEW RULES / INITIAL TALK REMIX Dua Lipa

18        CLOUD 9 Jamiroquai

19        NEON BLUE / ADAM TURNER MIX Steps

20        STAY UP LATE Monsieur Adi featuring Red

21        I FEEL ALIVE IMRI

22        MOVE SLOW Magdalena Bay

23        DANCING WITH A BROKEN HEART Steps

24        SET ME OFF Magdalena Bay

25        1UL Danny L Harle

26        BREAKING KIND Steve Angello featuring Paul Meany

27        HAIDE Helena Paparizou

28        GALAXY Dannii Minogue

29        DISCONNECT Clean Bandit and Marina & The Diamonds

30        MY CONSEQUENCE Hey Violet

31        SUN COMES UP Rudimental featuring James Arthur

32        FEEL THE NIGHT Luxxury

33        DO IT Rae Morris

34        AUTOMATON Jamiroquai

35        HOME Joe Goddard

36        SUPERFRESH Jamiroquai

37        STRANGERS Sigrid

38        SKELETONS MY

39        THIS SUMMER Sigrid Bernson

40        DON’T TAKE THE MONEY Bleachers

41        FAKE FRIENDS Sigrid

42        WINTER PVRIS

43        BAD THINGS Noella Nix

44        LADY POWERS Vera Blue

45        NOBODY Niia

46        NO MORE SAD SONGS Little Mix

47        DARK LOVE Miami Horror featuring Danny Pratt

48        WON’T SAY TOO MUCH Liv Lovelle

49        BACK IN THE ROOM KLP

50        BEAUTIFUL LIFE The Sound Of Arrows

51        BURNING ECHOES Storme

52        OVERNIGHT Parcels

53        MAN IN THE MOON LCAW featuring Dagny

54        WHITE WING DOVE Priest

55        ONE OF US Nina

56        NEVER STOP FM-84 featuring Ollie Wride

57        STORY OF A HEART / 7TH HEAVEN MIX Steps

58        ANYMORE Goldfrapp

59        DON’T WORRY The Sound Of Arrows

60        SUNROOF courtship.

61        MOVING ON Roosevelt

62        BACK FOR ME Electric Guest

63        HOT2TOUCH Felix Jaehn, Hight & Alex Aiono

64        SOUNDING THE ALARM The Pigeon Detectives

65        SUPERNATURAL Bright Sparks

66        DIVE IN KYKO

67        READY TO GO Hurts

68        LOS AGELESS St Vincent

69        CLAP YOUR HANDS Le Youth featuring Ava Max

70        LOVERS StéLouse featuring Brave

71        FEELS Calvin Harris featuring Pharrell Williams, Katy Perry & Big Sean

72        BEAUTIFUL ONES Hurts

73        CELEBRATE Sigrid Bernson

74        THE CURE Lady Gaga

75        EYES WIDE OPEN Scavenger Hunt

76        ALREADY THERE ARY

77        SOMEONE Anna Of The North

78        LOVE IN RUINS Gryffin featuring Sinead Harnett

79        UNPREDICTABLE Olly Murs / Louisa Johnson

80        IN THE WATER Nakita

81        HEAVY Powers

82        TAKE ME ON joan

83        CALL ON ME / RYAN RIBACK REMIX Starley

84        HOPELESS DREAMS Stockholm Noir

85        IS YOUR LOVE ENOUGH? Little Mix

86        BOY LIKE A GIRL Stockholm Noir featuring Ofelia

87        UNCONDITIONAL Sinead Harnett

88        RIVER Adrees

89        ISLAND Stockholm Noir

90        MAKE YOUR MOVE Ronika

91        SAY IT TO MY FACE Maty Noyes

92        CROSS MY MIND A R I Z O N A featuring Kiiara

93        GONE ionnalee

94        WATERSLIDES Pixx

95        THIS MOMENT Chase & Status and Blossoms

96        MOVE YOUR BODY Sia

97        CHASING HIGHS / ROOSEVELT MIX Alma

98        DANGEROUS Glades

99        GAIA Sacre

100      UNUSUAL RAC featuring MNDR

101      LOVER LIKE YOU Rudie Edwards

102      EMPTY BLOCKINGS Amanda Mair

103      WOULD YOU MIND PrettyMuch

104      YOUR SONG Rita Ora

105      CRUEL SUMMER Daniella Mason

106      POWER Little Mix featuring Stormzy

107      TECHNO PARTIES Lustgas

108      SOS LKA

109      LONELY TOGETHER Avicii featuring Rita Ora

110      OUT OF MY HEAD Loote

111      ATLETICO (THE ONLY ONE) Rae Morris

112      THERE FOR YOU Eves Karydas

113      I KNOW Aly & AJ

114      I NEED YOU Luxxury

115      THE CALL Sacre

116      GOLD ANGEL (SAVOIR ADORE MIX) Minke

117      GOOD TIMES KLP

118      ON MY MIND Disciples

119      HEARTLINE Craig David

120      TOKYO joan

121      DON’T YOU FEEL IT Sub Focus featuring ALMA

122      HUMAN NATURE Paperwhite

123      YOURS Now, Now

124      HOLD ON Flor

125      CRYING ON THE BATHROOM FLOOR Muna

126      TEASE Ralph

127      CRYBABY Paloma Faith

128      LOVE YOU LIKE THAT Dagny

129      HIGH ON ME Guy Sebastian

130      LOVE SO SOFT Kelly Clarkson

131      I CAN’T GO ON Robin Bengtsson

132      WARRIORS Tigertown

133      WALK AWAY Le Youth

134      JEALOUSY Disciples

135      GRAB THE MOMENT JOWST

136      IMPOSSIBLE Steve Lipson featuring Avec Sans

137      RUNNING BACK TO YOU Bright Light Bright Light with Elton John

138      WE ARE Avec Sans

139      SWEET DREAMS BØRNS

140      PHYSICAL The Aces

141      WHAT ABOUT US Pink

142      SYMPHONY Clean Bandit featuring Zara Larsson

143      GLOW IN THE DARK Force Major

144      CHAINED TO THE RHYTHM Katy Perry featuring Skip Marley

145      DYING TO KNOW Tegan & Sara

146      PLOT TWIST Sigrid

147      CASTLE ON THE HILL Ed Sheeran

148      DON’T CALL Lost Kings

149      OSLO Anna Of The North

150      SHAPE OF YOU Ed Sheeran

151      YOU DON’T KNOW ME Jax Jones featuring RAYE

152      A MILLION SONGS Sophia Somajo

153      ALPHABET BLOCK Marnie

154      I WANNA DANCE WITH YOU AGAIN Band Of Gold

155      GO TO WORK Nadine

156      THE MAN The Killers

157      THERE’S NOTHING HOLDIN’ ME BACK Shawn Mendes

158      HIGHER GROUND Roland Tings featuring Nylo

159      FAKE MAGIC Peking Duk and AlunaGeorge

160      LIONS IN THE NIGHT Julia Bergwall

161      GREEN LIGHT Lorde

162      17 MK

163      SILENCE Marshmello featuring Khalid

164      GIANTS Take That

165      BEAUTIFUL TRAUMA Pink

166      LOST IN YOUR LIGHT Dua Lipa featuring Miguel

167      FRIENDS Justin Bieber and BloodPop®

168      ISSUES Julia Michaels

169      WANT YOU BACK Haim

170      FIRST TIME Kygo featuring Ellie Goulding

Yep, only 170 songs on the full list this year - let's hope 2018 has more to offer. And you can listen to them all here:

My 25 Years Ago... recaps return on January 10, with the first chart of 1993. If I have time, I'll sneak something else in before then.

MY YEAR-END CHARTS

1979 II 1980 II 1981 II 1982 II 1983 II 1984 II 1985 II 1986 II 1987 II 1988 II 1989

1990 II 1991 II 1992 II 1993 II 1994 II 1995 II 1996 II 1997 II 1998 II 1999

2000 II 2001 II 2002 II 2003 II 2004 II 2005 II 2006 II 2007 II 2008 II 2009

2010 II 2011 II 2012 II 2013 II 2014 II 2015 II 2016 II 2017 II 2018