New Entry Review: April 2023

"Eyes Closed" by Ed Sheeran

The lead single from Ed Sheeran's new album "Subtract" and wow... this feels like a label concession from the weird percussion, Sheeran's vocals that sound raw in a really kind of unpleasant way even if its a nod to a recently passed friend. This is definitely one to please the label as Ed is capable of better.

"Like Crazy" by Jimin

This got enough sales to debut on top of the Billboard Hot 100 and yet I am not sure why, it feels like a song The Weeknd did better in 2021/22..."Take My Breath" etc. It doesn't feel anywhere as distinctive or memorable as it should probably be. One for the hardcore BTS fans

"5 Leaf Clover" by Luke Combs

It did make me laugh that this song was released on St Patricks Day but god damn, I stopped laughing when I realized that this song is damn great, warm organic fiddle that sounds great and Luke Combs singing about how he is so lucky to have great family and friends along with an incredible career that he feels like he somehow jagged a five leaf clover. Damn great song!

"Growin' Up and Getting Old" by Luke Combs

The second of three Luke Combs songs, this was the lead single and really of the singles released from "Gettin' Old", this is the one that I care about the least of the Luke Combs singles mostly because it feels pretty stock Luke Combs. Its fine but its not anything I go back to from "Gettin' Old"

"Fast Car" by Luke Combs

Ahh... so Luke Combs finally put out a studio version of his cover of the Tracy Chapman classic "Fast Car", a cover that has been a staple of Luke's concerts for years and is a fan favourite and yeah, I completely  understand why, Combs doesn't change much here except to give the instrumentation a warm, organic country feel and Comb's gruff voice singing about the girl working at a convenience store with dreams of moving and breaking the endemic cycle of alcoholism and poverty, she watched her parents divorce and desperately wants to begin again somewhere new and do better. Is it better than the original? ABSOLUTELY NOT. Nothing beats Tracy Chapman. Is it one of the best hits of this year? Uh...yeah! You'll be seeing this on my best list in January!

"Cupid" by FiftyFifty

Okay so FiftyFifty are a K-Pop act that made a sudden breakthrough this year and yeah....this is really adorable, this song has made me smile a lot, it's probably one of the best pop songs of the year. She gave a second chance to Cupid so if you have been  ignoring this song...give it a second chance, it deserves it.

"Flower" by Jisoo

Oh more k-pop courtesy of Blackpink's Jisoo going solo aaannnnd I barely remember it. I don't know, it just feels more forgettable than outright good or bad. I just wish the song was more distinct...that's all.

"Dogtooth" by Tyler The Creator

Hey...its Tyler back with a song from "Call Me if You Get Lost: The Estate Sale" and while I think it's good with that guitar line and Tyler rapping his ass off, I just wish there was more swell or more of a change up here to keep me interested.

"Rock and a Hard Place" by Bailey Zimmerman

Well, I was not expecting Bailey Zimmerman of all people to cross over, although he is an American country rock act and given the year country is having with sustained success for both Morgan Wallen and Luke Combs I should not be as surprised as I am. Anyway, how is the song? Well, its pretty solid, the lyrics still fret over a relationship gone sour and that can be something that puts people off but ehh, I'll take it.

"People" by Libianca

Ahh the last song before we dive headfirst into a musical garbage compacter (you'll see), this song is this absolutely beautiful afrobeat song where Libianca just wants people to check in on her and pay a little attention to her occasionally. Yeah, this hits hard...terrific song.

"Search & Rescue" by Drake

Lets cut to the chase here, this is easily the most embarrassing song Drake has released since 2018's "I'm Upset".  Never mind he apparently needs a mami to rescue him but the mixing is also absolute dross. Its also very telling that this was left off his new album. 

"Slut Me Out" by NLE Choppa

Oh gawd...Australia, we didn't need to chart a song where NLE Choppa is apparently on enough of a vegan kick to want a girl to "chickpea" him and her to put her butt in his face til he gets pink eye. Yeah, this might be more embarrassing than the previous song.

"Daylight" by David Kushner

Guys, Hozier returned this year, we could have had anything from that last Hozier album over this pale Christian facsimile of a song...expect this to cop a mention on my worst list.

"Chemical" by Post Malone

Uhh...something that doesn't suck? Yeah, I dig this lead single from Post Malone, its got this driving groove under it and bright production thats an unsettling contrast to Post Malone's lyrics where he is dependent on drugs or this bad relationship where its pretty obvious things are at best explosive. I like it, its a good bounce back from Posty.

"Never Felt So Alone" by Labrinth

This song is pretty much saved from being bad because an uncredited Billie Eilish shows up to give this song more weight than it deserves. Otherwise with all the issues it has, I'm skipping it.

Worst of the Month: "Search and Rescue" by Drake

Dishonourable Mention: Tie between "Slut Me Out by NLE Choppa and "Daylight" by David Kushner

Honourable Mention: "Love You Anyway" by Luke Combs and "Chemical"  by Post Malone

Best of the Week: Another tie "Fast Car" by Luke Combs and "People" by Libianca

New Entry Review: March 2023

"Painting Pictures" by Superstar Pride

This is one of those songs that I feel l should care about more than I actually do. Superstar Pride is an American rapper and songwritter  who somehow managed to get this song to chart and well, this doesn't leave me much to say, he does have a decent flow  even if the lyrics really aren't anything spectacular so more often than not I'll leave this.

"Heaven" by Niall Horan

Waahhhheeeeyyyy, its nice to see Niall Horan back on the chart after the pandemic ruined the release of his excellent sophomore album "Heartbreak Weather" ("Nice to Meet Ya" deserved to be a hit...come on), this time with the lead single of his upcoming third album called "The Show" and I wish I liked this more than I do, the production ia as jarring as hell in the beginning with the "Ahhhhhh" and Niall singing in this weirdly forced sounding country twang, what does save the song is that is has some decent swagger, I don't hate it but I definitely don't love it and honestly considering Niall's past releases as a solo artist...that's disappointing.

"Rhyme Dust" by MK and Dom Dolla

Now for something that is a bit out of my lane here. MK is an  American DJ who teamed up with Australian house music producer Dom Dolla for this song which has apparently got quite a few fans because at the behest of those fans, this became a single and...I kind of like this? Yeah, it needs some fleshing out but I like how much energy the song has and that bass groove is doing slome serious heavy lifting. This is worth checking out if you are curious

"Ceilings" by Lizzy McAlpine

I feel like I have been aware of Lizzy McAlpine for awhile or at least long before she had a charting presence thanks to this song going viral on TikTok. "Ceilings" comes from McAlpine's 2022 album "5 Seconds Flat" and look, this is good but its midtier from that album, the sparse acoustic guitar and Lizzy McAlpine reminiscing on a past relationship. The song definitely does hit and is better then a majority of the songs here this month, check it out.

"River" by Miley Cyrus

I am not a fan of Miley's newest album, its sloppily produced and diverts back to bad pop and disco complete with some really poor writing but I will say this song about orgasms or as Miley herself so eloquently calls it "cumming" even if the production is going for a weird nightclub vibe that make the lyrics of the song lyrics feel a little sleazy but hey the hook is at least memorable so I guess it gets a pass. Oh and by the way, Miley, men do not jizz rivers....could be worse....could be Fifth Harmony's "Work From Home" where apparently the guy is such a sex god that he can jizz an entire ocean. Ehh.

"All Of The Girls You Loved Before" by Taylor Swift

Oh, a song off the cutting room floor from "Lover" where you can absolutely tell why it did not make the cut for "Lover", Taylor sounds like she's phoning it in with her flat vocal delivery and the weirdly sparse production...its fine but I am not going to remember this in a month. 

"Miracle" by Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding

It feels like we get at least one Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding collaboration at least once every couple of years however this might be the best thing they have done together in a awhile or possibly ever. "Miracle" goes closer to 90s trance and closer that decade's big beat dance music and Ellie Goulding sounds at her ethereal best... yeah, the lyrics are a little cliche but when its all about finding a miracle aka love on the dancefloor, hell, I'll take it and I'll take this song!

"You Proof" by Morgan Wallen

I need something Morgan Wallen proof. Seriously this is the first draft of "Last Night" that only sounds good after you've consumed a tonne of alcohol, it just sounds really lethargic and seedy especially when Wallen croons on the hook like he is busting for a trip to the toilet. The guitars sound sludgy and textureless...yeah, more Luke Combs, less Morgan Wallen please.

"Mother" by Meghan Trainor

Oh look, a song from the deluxe edition of that Meghan Trainor album that everyone forgot about and lets make no bones about it...this is utter garbage that not even a sample of "Mr Sandman" by The Chordettes can save it, the title of this nightmare fuel has become queer slang which you know Trainor doesn't get at all and then there' the lyrics where she calls her child a "bum" with all the flair and cadence of fucking Sam Hunt on "Drinkin' Too Much" in 2017. Absolute trash and a contender for the worst song of the year across any genre.

Worst of the Month: Mother by Meghan Trainor (duh)

Dishonourable Mention: You Proof by Morgan Wallen

Honourable Mention: Ceilings by Lizzy McAlpine

Best of the Month: "Miracle" by Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding

ARIA New Entries Review: February 2023

 "Love Again" by The Kid Laroi

Brand new single from The Kid Laroi for an upcoming album and well...I cannot be the only one thinking that The Kid Laroi's music is becoming more generic? I didn't hate "Thousand Miles" but I certainly did not care for it and unfortunately "Love Again" is this guitar based song that features Kid Laroi howling his lungs out and it just sounds awfully raw but just not in a good way...I'll forget this exists come December.

"Players" by Coi Leray

Ahh.. Coi Leray, an American female r'n'b star and rapper who has been notching success in the US for awhile now and with this being Coi Leray's break out hit in Australia, I just wish I cared more about this...it samples Grandmaster Flash's "The Message" and Coi Leray going on about how women are players too, thing is I found myself listening more to the sample than Coi Leray AND this does feel like a push to copy Latto's "Big Energy"...Coi, you can do better.

"Boy's A Liar" by Pink Pantheress feat. Ice Spice

Ahh more artists having their breakthrough moment with this song getting a lot of praise as being one of the best hits of 2023 so far so what do I think of it? Honestly... I like it but I am not sure it's quite great, the production reminds me a lot of K-Pop or at least a sound that NewJeans did better on "Ditto", its very pretty sounding and the lyrical content about this guy not being honest is threatening to blow apart this relationship, I just wish the production reflected more of that tension...thats all.

"Last Night" by Morgan Wallen

Well all cross overs from the American country scene cannot be good and this from Morgan Wallen is a case in point and look I think there's potential, there's a solid hook here and the guitar sounds fine in a song where last night both Wallen and this girl got drunk and had sex and now Wallen has caught feelings but ugh, its Morgan Wallen himself that I just cannot stand here, he sounds painfully nasal like somebody grabbed hold of his nose and won't let go.... I really do not like this.

"Trustfall" by Pink

Oh Pink, what happened to you? Why does your whole new album feel so bare of personality? I mean this is one of the better songs from that album but to see Pink making music like this for the adult contemporary radio meat market is just disheartening, you are better than whatever the hell RCA are turning you into.

"Delilah (pull me out of this)" by Fred Again...

So more Fred Again...and you know, I actually like this a fair bit more than "Rumble" especially as the production reminds me a lot of Armand Van Helden....its a vibe, I dig it.

"I'm Not Here To Make Friends" by Sam Smith feat. Jessie Reyez and Calvin Harris

So the Sam Smith album is solid but why couldn't "No God" have been the next single and not this where the hook is this shouting, overproduced junk and Jessie Reyez adding adding about as much to the song as lettuce does to salad, throw in that annoying hook and its a skip for me.

"OMG" by NewJeans

K-Pop time! NewJeans are the newest act to breakthrough and I am not as sold on this as I am with  "Ditto".and I suspect its that stiff percussion that feels omnipresent in the mix to a distracting level, I don't think its bad  per se but I wish it'd been "Ditto" instead

"Green Green Grass" by George Ezra

Nice to see George Ezra back on the charts, he had one of my favourite hits of 2018 courtesy of "Shotgun" so I was looking forward to hearing this song which was a hit in the UK last year aaannnnd...what the ever loving fuck happened here? Why has George Ezra turned to making a song that sounds fit for a Colourbond commercial or peformed in front of four year olds as a precursor to a Wiggles concert? The hook is annoying as hell and it just sounds like complete ass.... What a disappointment.

"Love You Anyway" by Luke Combs

So Luke Combs dropped his new album this month with this being a promo single and...god damn, dude is ON FIRE because this song is excellent with its warm fiddle and organic guitar, production wise, this is a really easy song to love however its the lyrics that may as well create human puddles because the sentiment is sticky sweet in that he is saying no matter what his wife does, nothing will change his feelings and he will still love her, great song!

" Lost" by Linkin Park

Rest in peace, Chester....thats all that really needs to be said here.

"Snooze" by SZA

 Finally, we have this album cut from that last SZA album but its not one that I care for with trap effects smeared over over the top of a decent piano line. As for the lyrical content, its actually just "Nobody Gets Me" except she's realizing she isn't happy without this guy in her life. Its not terrible but SZA has done better.

Worst of the Month: " Last Night" by Morgan Wallen

Dishonourable Mention: "Green Green Grass" by George Ezra

Honourable Mention: Uhh...I guess "Delilah (Pull Me out of this)" by Fred Again...

Best of the Month: Love You Anyway" by Luke Combs

Top Ten Best Hit Songs of 2022

 So this best list is one of the harder ones I have had to write more because unlike 1989 where there was too much material, it felt like there was a lack of good to excellent songs due to either the ridiculous amount of older songs clogging the year end and if they were from this year, I just didn't  care for them or they outright pissed me off, don't get me wrong, there were great songs this year...just not as many of them... I will also say my number one best hit of the year is possibly one of the best hits of the whole decade thus far.

So reminder of the rules, a song can make this list if it debuts on or appears higher on the 2022 ARIA year end chart than it did during its original chart run

Older songs, if eligible, can make honourable mentions but not the top ten proper.

All clear? Alright, let's get this show on the road with some honourable mentions. 

HM1: "Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)" by Kate Bush

I can already hear the shocked indignation already but here's the thing, I've never really connected that well with Kate Bush's music (I cannot stand "Babooshka") however I can respect the hell out of this song from 1985 that given modern pop music's current fawning over the 80s, it sounds modern. We owe Stranger Things a thank you for giving this song it's justly deserved top ten chart run in Australia and the USA.

HM2: "Another Love" by Tom Odell

Look, if this song had of made the year end in 2013, this would have placed number two or three on the best list. I love the barely restrained sadness and fear of losing this girl because he worries he might stuff his chance with this girl up in taking the first step but eventually realizes that he needs to take chances in order to find happiness. Great song.

HM3: "Cuff It" by Beyonce

So I am going to be honest and say that I wasn't head over heels for Beyonce diving into house/EDM unlike all the critics who panicked to praise Renaissance after it was released and "Break My Soul" is going to be one of those songs that doesn't age well at all  however "Cuff It" is actually one of the better songs from the alum, Beyonce sounds fantastic over a nu disco groove and even if the lyrics are a little repetitive, it's a good song, I'll take it.

HM4: "As It Was" by Harry Styles

Yeah...this was going to make the top ten but hearing it a little too often and Harry's rather oddly lethargic performance of his at the Grammys made it sour on me, that said this is still a solidly good song, it's got this gentle chill vibe to it that works in its favour. Yeah it probably deserves to be the biggest song of the year, I just hope "Harry's House' as a whole is not a sign of things to come

HM5: "All Too Well (Taylor's Version)" by Taylor Swift 

 Chillax Swifties, there's more Taylor a bit later on the list proper. The only reason this didn't make the list proper is because there were ten songs I liked more but really, while this to a degree cheating because it comes from the rerecording of Red and Taylor making a ten minute version to break records , this is a really well fleshed out story and Taylor is always at her best when there's a moral ambiguity to her writing, it makes the ten minute run time well  worth it.

Now onto the list proper...

Number Ten

Look, I have said in the past that my number ten slot generally goes to a guilty pleasure....looks like I got my head out the sunroof.. 

"Sunroof" by Nicky You're and Dazy

I know, I know. The song is aggressively chipper and beyond basic also you do have to be in the mood for it and I was waiting to sour on it but it never happened even with the ridiculous amounts of radio airplay it got, this song was a bright spark of pure unadulterated fun where Nicky You're has his head out the sunroof of his car, blasting music and he has one thing on his mind...a girl.

Yeah, his words of love for this girl come across as clumsy and really clunky, the girl likely wouldn't be, impressed but for me, that adds to the charm of the song, it's cute, sweet and just way too much fun. Happy it became a hit.

Number Nine

It was that sort of year...I guess Bieber deserves to be here

"Ghost" by Justin Bieber

Yeah this is a 2021 leftover that debuted on the year end for 2022 and yeah, this is a pretty sweet little pop song even if the percussion is a tad too heavy and lyrically it does feel like Bieber is reaching... (he misses her more than life is a big over reach) but I get the sentiment of this Jon Bellion co-write, it's about missing a loved one be it through walk out or death and Bieber will still cling to the ghost of that person and the memories...something I do get having spent years clinging to memories of my grandmother out of fear I will somehow forget her so yeah this song holds more goddamn weight than I thought.

Number Eight

Remember what I said that when country music does chart in Australia, it's rarely ever good? Well that changed in 2022...

"The Kind of Love We Make" by Luke Combs

Seems Nashville finally came to grips with utilising streaming to its benefit this decade which has actually helped make this song Luke Combs longest running hit in Australia and while "The Kind of Love We Make" is not Luke Combs best song he released in 2022 but there's a charm to this song that makes me love this song. Yeah, it's Luke Combs singing about sexy time with his wife but it's not like the song goes into explicit detail about the bedroom antics and Combs vocal delivery is full of passion which you'd hope for.

Also this is just sticky and melodic enough to get stuck in my head, it's just got enough in the production to keep the song passionate yet playful. Compared to a lot of sex songs, this is really tasteful. Good job, Luke.

Number Seven

Okay, this song might be one of the best things that both these two acts have done to date...

"My Universe" by Coldplay feat. BTS

Yeah, it made the year end...it's actually one of two songs I am thrilled made Aria's year end list for 2022 mostly because it's the best thing Coldplay have made since the album Viva La Vida, for BTS probably "Boy Wit Luv" feat. Halsey. What I like about thid song is how big this sounds which makes sense for a love song where Coldplay and BTS claim this girl is their universe and they just want to put her first which is sweet and works vocally for both Chris Martin and BTS.

Does it seem like pandering to the fanbase? Maybe but this song was one of those that made me smile every time I heard this. Definitely an under rated gem from 2021/22.

Number Six

Speaking of under rated gems...this one was ignored by the US which is a shame because...yeah... Elley Duhe deserves better.

"Middle of the Night" by Elley Duhe

This is the second song I am thrilled made the year end mostly because its great to highlight songs that become hits despite slippimg under the radar to a large degree and oh god, "Middle of the Night" just sounds like the title ofnthe song with the plucky guitars that have something of a Middle Eastern vibe and that dark, creepy atmosphere that gives the song its middle of the night feel. It also sounds like nothing else in 2022.

Elley Duhe can also command this kind of atmosphere too, she's calling for her lover to come to her in the middle of the night and love her in the lyrics and yeah, she sells it well even if it she reminds me a lot of Ellie Goulding however that chorus goes off and when its this good...I'll take it.

Number Five

This next song took its time to grow on me, it was good the first time I heard it and time only helped to convince me that this was great.

"B.O.T.A (Baddest Of Them All)" by Eliza Rose and Interplanetary Criminals

I am so glad this clicked for me in 2022 because daaaammmmnnnn, "B.O.T.A" is fresh, smooth and would likely go off in the club. Eliza Rose manages to split the line between badass and cool. Its also one of the more interesting dance/club hits in years, it's just kind of summer fun that knows its value.

Great song!

Number Four

So Lil Nas X had a quiet 2022 with one notable exception...

"That's What I Want" by Lil Nas X

No joke, this was my number one song of 2022 for quite awhile. Somehow the best pop/rock that hit hardest was this slice of wonderful from Lil Nas X where he just wants a man he can cuddle withand someone to love him for who he is...something that we all want out of life, someone who wants us for who we are and somewhere to belong...its a basic need for us all. 

Hell, Lil Nas X is so keen for that man to love, he even says they can argue and fight but its that hook thats the crowning glory of this song and that shout of "That's what I fucking want" that underlines how much he wants that love and sense of belonging tlhats probably only gotten bigger since he became famous in the wake of "Old Town Road" but yeah, its still a damn great song.

Number Three

My top three best hit songs of the year all feel complicated, songs where the writing shines laying forth some hard emotions that are confronting especially whrn faced with the end of a relationship hence...

"Glimpse of Us" by Joji

Of any song that was a hit this year, this song being number one hit felt...weird in more than one way given Joji's well publicised background and history and given the messy at best album it comes from, this dark piano heavy song might be a single entity in Joji's career where Joji is stuck in the past remembering everything that this ex girlfriend did for him but now they have split up and she's found love again with somebody new yet every time Joji sees his ex with her new man, he sees a glimpse of when he was with her and cannot move past it wondering how he could have fixed things so she would have stayed with him instead.

Its a dark, toxic and frankly emotiinally complicated song that stole my heart for much of this year mostly because there was not much like it on the charts in 2022.

Number Two

There are songs that aren't meant to be hits like bar fests in hip hop, a rock song or even alt country songs like this...

"Something In the Orange" by Zach Bryan 

I remember the shock I felt seeing this debut on the ARIA singles chart, it didn't sound like anything else on the charts, I was sure this was going only be on the charts for a week but nope, its now spent 24 weeks on the chart and no wonder, its a song that surrounds you with its intense, broody atmosphere as Zach Bryan sees the end of his relationship in his partner's eyes like she has already mentally ridden off into the sunset having ended the relationship leaving Zach angry, sad and wondering what he can do save the relationship which he knows there may well be nothing he can do given how convinced she is that its over.

The music with that guitar that sounds like its been through the desert and Zach Bryan's vocals that to a degree remind me of the 90s alternative rock scene.

Its a gut wrenching song that burns brighter with every listen and made a break out star of Zach Bryan and very well deserved however its not number one so what could the number one best hit song be?

Number One

You know, she nor this song doesn't need any introduction but...god dammit, 2022 was the year Taylor Swift broke me...

"Anti-Hero" by Taylor Swift 

This might be one of the best pop songs Taylor Swift has ever written and recorded, I instantly fell in love with this song the first time I heard it...this resonated hard for me in ways that shattered me emotionally, I won't go into detail about the awful 2022 I had (safe to say I nearly closed both my Twitter accounts). Its a song where late at night, Taylor thinks about her own behaviour and sees how those around her might percieve and remember her as while she's alive and long after she's died and the lyrics are just brutal where she acknowledges that some percieve an act of altruism by her as covert narcissism, on the hook, she sings "I'll stare directly at the sun butl never in the mirror" or how she's terrified fans will walk out and not return.

There's just so much I love about this song including Jack Antonoff's production which is just gorgeous here, it sounds like a pop song at midnight, especially in the breakdown where Taylor repeats the opening lines of the hook sounding progressively world weary and ragged like she's about to break down.

"Anti Hero" by Taylor Swift is the best hit song of 2022.

ARIA New Entries Review: January 2023

 Well, happy new year about a month or so late so just a quick update...I am going to continue doing the monthly ARIA new entry review series so yeah the weekly charts current and retro are on the back burner for a bit however year end list content is planned with the top ten best hit songs of 2022 hopefully by end of February plus my usual year end retro best and worst lists this time for 2004. I am also in early stages of seeing if a best list for 1999 is feasible.

However enough of that, time to talk about the songs that entered the ARIA singles chart in January beginning with...

"10:35" by Tiesto & Tate McRae

So this song has been on my replay list for awhile now and yeah,this is probably one of both artists better songs in years. Tate McRae sounds better on this than she has on anything...possibly ever and that hook is sticky as hell...check it out.

"Rumble" by Skrillex, Fred again... & Flowdan

Oh gosh, this is one of those songs where I get the appeal but it does not quite click for me. I actually like the production  from Skrillex and both Fred again and Flowdan sound good over this but yeah something in this ain't quite clicking but objectively this is pretty good.

"Flowers" by Miley Cyrus 

So I was looking forward to this, a new single from Miley Cyrus who'd shown pretty good promise as a rock artist in 2020 only to be pretty much ignored by the public bar "Midnight Sky" being a hit in Australia, only for my excitement to turn to disappointment because "Flowers" is mediocre self empowerment  post break up schlock via early 80s bad disco updated for 2023., it just feels calculating and like this is something Miley's record label wanted her to release because the nu disco sound in pop is in the in sound at the moment...sad thing is this netted a number one

Sigh...you can have your Flowers and hold your hand, Miley but you can do better.

"VIBE" by Taeyang and Jimin

So more k-pop via Taeyang who brought Jimin of BTS for the ride and yeah, this was a load of fun! The song kind of reminds me of the early 2000s boy band sound even if like bands in the early 2000s, the song is a little over produced but it's lightweight pop that's really more about coasting on the vibe...I had fun with this. Worth checking out.

"Sure Thing" by Miguel

Really? We could not have made "Coffee" a hit? Okay seems TikTok virality helped this song from the early 2010s chart and yeah, this is solid even if I don't like voice that comes over the top on the intro as it feels rather unnecessary but these of the song is really a pretty love song, I am fine with this being on the chart...unlike...

"Nonsense " by Sabrina Carpenter 

Le's be real, this song is only here because of chicanery by Sabrina Carpenter's label and Spotify whereby Spotify changed its auto play algorithm and thus gave this song an inflated boost by it appearing disproportionately in auto playlists... I mean really? Of any song they could have inflated the streams of, they could have done better than this gummy mush of song that resort's to spouting gibberish on the chorus. I don't see this sticking around, thankfully.

"Here With Me" by D4VD

Round two with D4VD and while this isn't as horrible as "Romantic Homicide", it still feels pretty forced and D4vD sounds pretty lethargic and the song as a whole feels like vague attempt to copy Steve Lacy's formula. It's not the worst of what is here though

"The Color Violet" by Tory Lanez

Really? I am supposed to care that the public suddenly sympathises with the now imprisoned Tory Lanez enough to give him a charting song on the ARIA  singles chart? Fuck that...I have better things to do than listen to this whiny prison bird complain he'll never dance again over a limp beat...bitch, please...

Worst of the month: "Nonsense" by Sabrina Carpenter

Dishonourable Mention: "The Color Violet" by Tory Lanez (Only just edges out Miley...

Honourable Mention: "Sure Thing" by Miguel

Best of the Month: "VIBE" by Taeyang feat. Jimin

Top Ten Worst Hit Songs of 2022

*Sigh*. I guess we have to deal with the worst popular music of 2022 but honestly when the year was a slow one for the ARIA singles chart, there shouldn't be that much to be mad at, right? Weelll no, the charts were slow because the world was out of lockdown and suddenly, people had more to do than just listen to new pop music hence unlike 2020, in 2022, the popular music really didn't matter that much. 

However what epitomises the worst music of 2022 is the laziness that was on display. Seriously...there were songs this year that didn't bother to recontextualise the sample or just dove into chasing trends from the last two years! 

A reminder that a song can only make this list if it debuted on the year end list for 2022 or charted higher than it did when it previously charted. 

So now that's clear, let's dive in and get this autopsy on 2022's musical garbage over with, starting with...

Number Ten

2022 was a disappointment for this guy,  his album wasn't good and there were genuine concerns over where his next hit was coming, well, he got that hit but did it have to be this?

"I Like You (A Happier Song)" by Post Malone feat. Doja Cat

So here's the thing, I actually don't mind the actual  music here, it's bouncy and really catchy but what does sink this song is the lyrics... Post Malone says he is pulling this girl like he is pulling a hammy which just sounds painful or on the hook where he says that they went over to France and woke up in Japan...what the....? The worst part is that Post Malone sounds like he doesn't want to be there, he sounds really bored.

Then there's Doja Cat whose verse really just misreads the intention of the song and complains her partner got her on a leash? Ugh...this song was only released by a desperate label looking for a hit...somehow I suspect both artists involved wouldn't have minded the miss.

Number Nine

2000s nostalgia is currently doing the rounds and some of it honestly is really good but on occasions, you get this...

"Do It To It" by Acraze feat. Cherish 

This song has honestly grated on my nerves all 2022 and is up there in terms of being annoying as bat shit (only barely saved by the offence to the eardrums that is " Music for a Sushi Restaurant" by Harry Styles for the most annoying song of the year)...but none the less this takes a 2006 song by r'n'b Cherish and removes any kind of personality or groove to make a pale facsimile of a song complete with production stiffer than grandad's legs. 

Also once you've heard the hook, there's really not much else to this wholly unimpressive and really generic dance song. Time to move on.

Number Eight

Look, he made worse music than this in 2022 which we'll get to if his current song on the charts makes the 2023 year end but this was from the first album he released last year and well..

"Jimmy Cooks" by Drake feat. 21 Savage

Let's rip the bandaid off and say the quiet part loud... Drake is coasting and has done since 2018, this has been evident in the music he has been making in that it's low quality junk that requires so very little effort because he knows that name recognition alone will get some of the effuse he calls music to chart highly, take "Jimmy Cooks" for example which hinted at the junk that was to come from both Drake and 21 Savage over beats that aren't anything interesting or do much that's exciting hence its monotonous.

Oh and Drake seems to lack any kind of self awareness when complaining about others being fake. Hey Drake, you are being fake yourself when you put on the phony accents. We can hope for better from both acts but I wouldn't be counting on it given coast mode is on...

Number Seven

Let's deal with a easy target here...

"abcdefu" by GAYLE

This song wore out my last nerve in 2022...blame the radio airplay for it but my God, the reason this song wound up here it sounds like somebody having a major tantrum... if your hook is "abcdefu your mum and your dad" than I have to start questioning you emotional intelligence to be in a relationship if that's the sour and immature way you are going to act, maybe be better and be adult about things, rise above the shitty boyfriend. 

This song would spark Leah Kate to release "Twinkle Twinkle Little Bitch" which thankfully didn't chart but can we do away with nursery rhymes being used in bad pop songs. I will say Gayle has better songs sh released on her EPs last year but seems like she might be set to be a one hit wonder.

Number Six

Remember the days when One Republic were good? Yeah...be nice if we could delete junk like this...

"I Ain't Worried" by OneRepublic

I really don't know what to say about this except OneRepublic have wasted their potential and have turned into massive disappointment over the last couple of years, take this song from the latest Top Gun movie which is horrendously produced where the guitars sound whiny and have about as much depth as a kids wading pool. Throw in lyrics that are pretty much AJR core where Ryan Tedder admits there are issues but he ain't worried about them right now because he has to keep dreams to keep alive other than the more important matters that he should be worried about which either makes Tedder selfish or stupid...who knows but it does make this song a wretched sidelight as a result

Number Five

Feel like this song was telegraphed to be on this list when I first reviewed it but hey, there's no reason for hacks like this to chart...

"Doja" by Central Cee

I could just state that the opening line of this garbage qualifies this song for this list alone plus I doubt Doja Cat likes being name associated with this, top it off with a good dose of lazy word play and the song being so short that it barely feels like any effort was put in at all other than a "no homo" joke that's about as funny as the boring Jason Derulo falling down the stairs at Met Gala meme that seems to get a run every year. 

It just feels like a filler fragment that tried to court controversy but still somehow became a hit. Blergh.

Number Four

At this point, it's starting to feel like bullying but if Imagine Dragons could make better music than they might not have any enemies.

"Enemy" by Imagine Dragons feat J.I.D

I think it's time I gave up on this notion that Imagine Dragons will go back to the sort of music they came to prominence with and that sucks "Enemeeeee" is a Dan Reynolds howling nightmare where the piercing shriek of enemeeee will never leave your brain. What is worse is the beat just sounds clunky and honestly kind of painful when you combine the shrieking with the music, it just sounds so annoying that not even a decent guest verse from J.I.D saves this.

Its just an annoying pain of a song that hopefully with time will go away.

Number Three

For the longest time this was my number one worst hit song of the year, mostly because it infuriates me that this was allowed to happen to an Australian music classic synonomous with Australia and thus...

"Down Under" by Luude feat. Colin Hay

I am left speechless by this, just how was this catastrophe allowed to happen to Men At Work's 80s classic "Down Under" (a song that is controversial for copyright seasons), nobody asked for a curdled and dank bass cover that manages to make a great song about being an Australian visiting countries overseas into this ugly sounding mess that just sounds unpleasant especially when Colin Hay's vocals sound almost drowned out. The bass also strips out the pretty damn great and infectious melody of the original.

Give me Men At Work's somewhat overplayed original over junk like this.

Number Two

2000s revival was in full swing in 2022, the seeds were planted in 2019 but it was full on in 2020 especially as Eiffel 65's "Blue (Da Ba Dee)" was sampled by several acts including Nea's "Some Say" which I didn't mind because that song recontextualised the sample and made it work however it doesn't work when you put two artists desperate for a hit together and add in laziness, you end up with this...

"I'm Good (Blue)" by David Guetta feat. Bebe Rexha

I guess congratulations are in order for both acts on somehow nabbing a hit despite the lack of effort and everything else that is wrong with the song. The biggest issue is the blatant trend chasing of something that was already done to death the past two years, David Guetta took the path of chasing a tired trend of sampling 2000s classic "Blue (Da Ba Dee)" and not doing near enough to make the sample interesting or give it a brand spin  to make it sound fresh...it just sounds lazy.

Then there's Bebe Rexha who sounds nasal on the hook and just kind of miserable, it's like she's bored and forcing herself to have "the best freaking night of her life" complete with the gritted teeth and sarcastic yawning, it's a party song that just isn't having any fun at all and the energy at the party is akin to where the party has hit the point where everyone is either tired, asleep, high, drunk or having the kind of sex on the floor where STDs are guaranteed so yeah this song is a cheap, low effort hangover...next!

However its not the worst hit song of the year...

Number One

Before I rant about this song, let me say... I stand with Southstar.

"Miss You" by Robin Schulz and Oliver Tree

This atrocity is the stuff of nightmares to me, it just sounds like absolute torture chamber music with Oliver Tree sounding even more annoying than he normally does on his own material thanks to some pretty awful vocal mixing and changes in the production that make the bass headache inducing.

Oh, I mentioned changes to this song, right? That's because this song was originally made by producer Southstar who took Oliver Tree's song "Jerk" and with the permission of Tree's label, Southstar worked the lyrics into a new song called "Miss You" which wasn't all that good in the first place but fuck, it's better than what happened next.

What was next was another producer Robin Schulz grabbing hold of one the song, made some changes to the vocals, bass and tempo then proceeded to keep the song called "Miss You" which proceeds to blow up and become a hit despite there being cause for fucking lawsuits.

Now the reason is number one worst hit song of 2022 is because of how this song could make copyright law an even worse nightmare than it is now and just howg much non effort was put into making this shit...did they just say "A few tweaks and nobody will notice that somebody else made it"

Fuck this song and fuck the laziness on display, it's the worst hit song of 2022.

Stay tuned for the best hit songs of 2022 list which hopefully will be out by end of next month. 

ARIA Singles Chart Top 50. New Entries Special: November/December

 "Lift Me Up" by Rihanna

Welcome back Rihanna...oh wait...no, this is not the lead single from that expected (or not?) ninth album of hers but a song for "Wakanda Forever" and is a tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman and yeah, this got to me, it's this gorgeous piano ballad and Rihanna sounds the best she has in years, she is well supported by the choir and all up this song ends up being quite a deal bit moving and powerful. Nice.

"Made You Look" by Meghan Trainor

Okay...I thought we had consigned Meghan Trainor to the bin of bad artists after 2016, nobody asked for a comeback, except she's been actively releasing music for the past couple of years with Nome of it catching traction until this came along and yes, Trainor is still on her Doo wop thing on a songwhere she's bragging that even with nothing on or wearing expensive brand  names, she's made you and me look. The song is complete arse anyway so let's not give this any more attention.

"Shirt" by SZA

Hey, about time we got new music from SZA and its a song that I'd been hearing about for months so I was curious to hear this...it's definitely not as good as her previous singles but there's still a lot to like here, SZa's exploration of a relationship where things have gotten complicated and she's not at all comfortable in this situation that she wants out of. It's a dark song matched by the curdled trap production that offers no relief from the discomfort. Not bad.

"Golden Hour"  by JVKE

It seems like at least once a month, we get some no name rapper winding up charting thanks to Tik Tok  but anyway JVKE is an American producer, singer-songwriter and social media personality with this winding up on the chart and...I am not impressed, this does a whole lot of nothing for me to say. The content is the very teenage sentiment of finally spending time alone with the person you love which is cute but ehh, this merely just exists for me.

"Rich Flex" by Drake and 21 Savage

So this is the only song that I will  touch from "Her Loss" and wow...the shitty misogyny positively drips off this. I think I'll have more to say on this one if it makes the 2023 year end cause yeah, it fucking blows more biscuits than my sister's stinky butt.

"Die for You" by Joji

So this came from Joji's latest album "Smithereens" which was a massive  disappointment especially in the wake of the pretty great "Glimpse of You" and yeah, this is major drop in quality, it's really pretty mucha fragment, I'd skip this.

"Calm Down" by Rema feat. Selena Gomez 

Nigerian Afrobeat artist Rema makes his first appearance on the ARIA chart and he has teamed up with Selena Gomez for this really chill, sweet song about a romance that may not work out over a gentle guitar groove. I really dig this, hope it sticks around, also I think Selena Gomez has found a groove that works for her.

Worst of the month: Rich Flex

Dishonourable mention: Made You Look

Honourable Mentions: Calm Down, Shirt

Best of the Month: Lift Me Up

December

"Just Wanna Rock" by Lil Uzi Vert

Really? We are so desperate for anything from Lil Uzi Vert that we chart fragments from hi  and in this case, it's not a particularly good fragment, it's mostly filler over production that lacks rock edge or groove...yikes.

"Creepin" by Metro Boomin, The Weeknd and 21 Savage

Okay, with the exception  of 21 Savage's verse, this is pretty much a cover of Mario Wigan's 2004 hit "I Don't Wanna Know" , a song I have never liked but somehow I actually like this, Metro Boomin's production ramps up the unease and danger of the situation they find themselves in, yeah...I'll take this?

"Escapism" by Raye fear 070 Shake

Well finally this charts, it's already blowing up in the UK so I am pretty happy to see this here from UK independent artist RAYE and yeah this absolutely incredible, a songabout how she's doting on her husband when for some reason he decides to up and leave RAYE leaving her feeling like shit. Determined to never feel this terrible again, she seeks out alcohol, sex and drugs to help her escape except the creaking, dramatic production  is implying the very real danger that this "escapism" could have bad implications for Raye down the road. Yeah, this is fucking great. Make it a hit please.

"Kill Bill" by SZA

So the first song from that SZA album and while this is not my favourite song from the album, I do like it, the song takes its name from the film series of the same name with SZA using the film to sing about her own dark, twisted murder fantasies namely to kill her ex and his new girlfriend out of pure jealousy, I just wish the production matched the somewhat grisly fantasy vibe more, just feels not quite there, still pretty good though.

"Until I Found You" by Stephen Sanchez and Em Beihold

So the solo version of this song has been on the US Hot 100 for a month or two now but get Em Beihold on board and yeah, it does work even if Em Beihold only serves backing vocals which is disappointing as there was an opportunity there for Em to singa verse from Georgia's point of view but as it is? It's still pretty good and kind of cute even if it definitely sounds like the song was recorded in the early 60s in the production. Check it out if you are curious

"Let Go" by Central Cee

Oh God, why are we rounding out 2022 with Central fucking Cee sampling Passenger's awful song "Let Her Go"? Why? Especially AS Central Cee spends the song complaining about this girl who he had sex with but she up and left after without any after sex care...no wonder she didn't stay when you laugh and call her a ho on the hook of the song? Or that he also fools around with other girls likeshe does with other guys so that makes him as bad as her and this song just a fucking gross skidmark.

Worst of the month: Let Go

Dishonourable mention: Just Wanna Rock

Honourable mention: Creepin'

Best of the week: Escapism 

Top Ten Best Hit Songs of 1989

Ahh onto what I actually like talking about...the music I loved from 1989 and really, I honestly disagree with the critics assessment that it was a bad year for music, we had Madonna at her best, some pretty great pop and rock was being awesome so much so I had way too much material so because I can't make up my mind at all, there will be no less than fifteen Honourable mentions spread out through this list... yes, that's  how good 1989 was...at least to me.

A quick reminder of the rules that in order for a song to make this, it must have debuted on the ARIA year end chart for 1989 or appear higher on the chart in 1989 than it did in 1988.

Let's not waste anymore time and look at our first five honourable mentions...

HM1: "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" by The Proclaimers

I know this will piss people off that this isn't in the top ten proper but it just doesn't click for me as much as it does for everyone else. Still is a good song though, I'll take it.

HM2: "Stuck on You" by Paul Norton

Australia's answer to Bruce Springsteen or John Mellencamp that probably doesn't get the attention that other more easily recognisable Australian songs do but honestly in a year where The Boss was quiet, this kicked a lot of arse. Nice song

HM3: "Wait" by Gyan

Another song that doesn't get a whole lot of attention but this works for that sweeping piano and Gyan's vocals which blew me away. She apparently re recorded "Wait" for her 2015 album This Girl's in Love" replacing the vastness of the original with a smaller cozy version using an acoustic guitar...well worth checking out both versions though.

HM4: "She Makes My Day" by Robert Palmer

It's actually really nice to see a less bombastic Robert Palmer song become a hit because yeah this is just a really nice love song that just feels easy to listen to and go back to unlike "Simply Irresistible" which felt kind of over the top in 1986 but not this song which makes my day whenever I hear it.

HM5: "Poison" by Alice Cooper

I was going to leave this off the list but I can't, that hook just goes off and Alice Cooper's charisma does wonders. Also, why isn't this song played at Halloween more often? It's made for it!

Let's start the list proper now...

Number Ten

You know it's noticeable these days that acts from New Zealand don't break through in Australia like they used to...sure, there's Lorde but L.A.B and Six60 are yet to break into the Australian market despite notching considerable success in their homeland however in 1989, this female artist continued to notch success on the Australian charts and...yeah...no wonder...

"She Has To Be Loved" by Jenny Morris

This is definitely a song that the critics wouldn't pick for their best lists, the hook is nauseatingly repetitive so I can see how how some would hate it but here's the thing, I love it because Jenny Morris is making it believable that this guy will one day find his perfect girl who wants to be loved and appreciated because it makes her feel loved and wanted...she needs that!

I also love the production which gives the vocals room to breathe and the sinuous bass that's just enough to keep the song moving. Can also hear potential for a country cover from somebody like Kelsea Ballerini. Great song!

Number Nine

This next pick might piss my mum off, she cannot stand this song but hey I am not doing this list for my mum's happiness soooo...

"She Drives Me Crazy" by Fine Young Cannibals

I know what you are all thinking but when you have a hook that's incredibly infectious and makes you want to sing along to the point where I can overlook the background noises on the chorus that sounds like people being repeatedly jump scared but I get it? The song is about him being head over heels in love with a woman but the fact she isn't reciprocating those same feelings for him is driving him crazy however he can't help being in love with her.

Throw in that spasmodic guitar riff that's some off kilter enough to stick in the mind for days on end and paired with that falsetto that might be a little creepy but still works in the context of the song. 

Number Eight

Alright, rugby league fans you all know this next one...

"The Best" by Tina Turner

So I had a rough time with placing it on the list mainly due to the fact I am a rugby league fan, this song basically being synonymous with that code and is pretty much still the best anthem rugby league has ever had. I love Tina's somewhat raw yet powerful vocal delivery and the production that allows her to belt on the chorus in what is actually a love song that isn't sappy or over the top unlike a lot of love songs in 1989 (looking at you, Richard Marx "Right Here Waiting") and yeah, it's sweet and really kind of understated...I get why it's easy to forget it's actually a cover of Bonnie Tyler's song because yeah, Tina made this her own.

In 1992, Tina Turner would turn this song into a duet with Jimmy Barnes (a perfect duo...lol) for the Winfield Cup rugby league competition which didn't make my best hits list for 1992 but was damn close. Awesome song.

Number Seven

Speaking of Jimmy Barnes, it's time to talk about his bandmate from Cold Chisel who was notching his own solo success in 1989...

"Telephone Booth" by Ian Moss

"Whaaaaat? Where's 'Tucker's Daughter"?" I hear you cry, well as much as I think that song is pretty great, "Telephone Booth" is just slightly better in that it's a song that gives off all kinds of imagery and the appeal of this song does not need explaining the song is instantly as catchy as "Tucker's Daughter" maybe even more so. 

The song finds the protagonist out on some lonely highway somewhere, none of the issues he would have to confront at home to confront but along that drive on this desolate highway are these telephone booths reminding him tat he will have to confront the issues eventually after his escape from the horrors is over. Fantastic songbthat gets nowhere close to the attention it deserves.

Number Six

This was the last slot to fill on this list and yeah, I considered several songs but the one that felt the most right was this one....

"Chained to the Wheel" by The Black Sorrows

For the past couple of years, I have been in love with this song and yet if you listened to Joe Camilleri talk about it on ABC radio in April 2020, the song very nearly didn't make the cut which blows my mind because "Chained to the Wheel" is incredible from start to finish from the very unmistakeable opening to the brilliant interplay between Camilleri and Vika and Linda Bull, they trade verses on the song and wow, it's impressive

The song really does pack a punch lyrically though with a family on the breadline and chained to the wheel purely just survive with all the mouthes to feed am stuff going.

Either way, it says a lot about this song that in 1991, John Denver chose to cover the song...it's a solid cover as you'd expect from someone the calibre of John Denver. Fantastic song.

So before we get to the top 5, let's have five more honourable mentions...starting with...

HM6: "If I Could" by 1927

1989 was a great year for 1927 and with a song that has this much of a propulsive hook, it's no wonder!

HM7: "Cherish" by Madonna

I've always felt like this was a guilty pleasure song for me but yeah, I just find this really sweet even though, it's a bit ironic coming from Madonna of all people.

HM8: "I Don't Want a Lover" by Texas

This song just bangs! Sharpen Spiteri sounds incredible as she vows she just needs friendship not a romantic partner. Yeah, it sounds a little choppy but it works for me

HM9: "Onionskin" by BOOM Crash Opera

These here are crazy times so try keeping in mind that this unconventional song from BOOM Crash Opera is ridiculously catchy and so much fun so keep it in but don't cut it up and kick it out, okay?

HM10: "One Summer" by Daryl Braithwaite

This is one of those songs that is justbperfect for marking the end of summer with, it just sounds like a breezy late summer anthem as Daryl Braithwaite reminisces about a summer fling. Just competition for spots squeezed this one out

Now back to the list proper...

Number Five

I've said before how some songs don't hit me properly until I am adult which is how the passage of time did this song a favour or two and thus...

"The Living Years" by Mike + the Mechanics

This song just didn't do much for me as a kid but holy shit...as an adult, it packs a freaking hard punch. A song that starts small in terms of the production but whenthat chorus hits and that backing choir start singing...yeah, it's genuinely beautiful. The song just progressively gets bigger as the song goes. 

However what hits the hardest is the content, a father-son relationship that's combustible and they have never seen eye to eye on much of anything, then one day, the father has died and the son is now realising that he has no chance to talk to his father again to sort things out, build a better relationship and introduce that granchild.

Yeah, it's powerful stuff and worthy of being here.

Number Four

This is one of my favourite songs this band ever recorded and I am so beyond thrilled it was a hit in 1989...yeah, I want it all and I want it now...

"I Want It All" by Queen

I can't be the only person who kind of hears this song and hears it as a theme for the state of our society, right? Anyway all that set aside, "I Want It All" is truly an under rated Queen gem, written by Brian May about a somebody who is determined to achieve everything they want and in a hurry, most often not caring who they hurt.

I also love that Freddie Mercury and Queen embody the I want it all attitude in the delivery of the lyrics, seriously, Freddie had enough charisma for three trap rappers and then some, dude just nails it. Oh and the guitar solo bangs too.  Just a shame, AIDS robbed us of hearing Freddie sing this live. 

Number Three

Super groups are often hit and miss with me, sometimes there's the talent there but the song doesn't  come to much or in this particular case you put former Beatle George Harrison, Roy Orbison, ELO's Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty and Bob Dylan in room together and they come up with magic like this...

"Handle With Care" by The Traveling Wilburys

I mean this is a case of a song where there's almost too much talent for it too fail, that guitar riff that permeates through the song so much so the song is really comforting until you realize the lyrics are actually about somebody who is struggling looking for somebody who cares enough about them to talk to about their problems that yes can even come with success and asking this person to be compassionate and handle them with care as they are feeling particularly fragile.

Yeah, this is a song I can relate to a little too closely which is why it's so high on this list.

Number Two

So I don't always agree with the year end number one (see 2021 as proof) but for 1989, I can't disagree, this song is extraordinary and 1989 would prove to be one of the last years this artist released anything of genuine great quality...but just like a prayer, let her take us there...

"Like A Prayer" by Madonna

Let's just forget about the controversy around the music video because all that forgets that "Like a Prayer" is fucking awesome right from the electric guitar riff that opens the song before it stops and the organ and choir start then Madonna takes all the attention, she's the star of this song and she sounds incredible alone or harmonising with the choir.

I guess it can be interpreted as a love song which actually makes the lyrical duality of the song damn clever because according to Madoonna, it's about this girl who feels religious figure so close to her, she believes that this figure is a father figure in her life. Now I am not religious but I do kind of it get it. Normally a track this awesome would top this list, so what beat it?

Well before we find out, let's get to our final batch of honourable mentions, shall we?

HM11: "You Got It" by Roy Orbison 

A song released after Roy Orbison died and its just a gorgeous love song. The music industry today could only dream of handling posthumous releases this well. Great song.

HM12: "I Won't Back Down" by Tom Petty

Yeah, this song has more resonance now than when it was released in 1989. Holy hell, a song about not backing down hits hard for me.

HM13: "Cry in Shame" by Johnny Diesel and The Injectors 

Lots of love songs in 1989, yet this was as nasty a break up song as we got on the year end list, blame being apportioned for the bitter break up of a relationship and the realisation that there's truly no one else to blame but yourself for where it went wrong. Also that sax solo is awesome.

HM14: "Tucker's Daughter" by Ian Moss

What? Did you think I'd leave this off the list entirely? I was never going to do that, this song is a bonifide 80s Australian classic! Duh!

HM15: "Buffalo Stance" by Neneh Cherry

The most excruciating cut I had to make, God damn it, consider this my unofficial number eleven.

So back to the list proper, what topped this list?

Number One

Ahh the Swedes, they've done it again!

"The Look" by Roxette

I am going to say it... Roxette are the most under rated pop act to come out of Sweden, "Listen to Your Heart" only barely missed the cut for this list and they would go on to release one of my all time favourite songs in 1991 but oh gosh, "The Look" is just 80s pop perfection from the actual music with synths, guitar and drum that sound fresh, also helps the opening line of the song is memorable "Walking like a man, hitting like a hammer" sure is one hell of a way to draw people into a pop song.

Then throw in that instantly sticky chorus that will not ever leave your head for days, it's incredibly  infectious and fun in ways I cannot possibly explain here. The song refers to a woman who has this particular confident look about her that makes her extremely attractive and sexy...hey, kind of a call back to "She Has To Be Loved"  by Jenny Morris! 

Now, I will say that this song was nearly ruined by an ad for blinds and awnings in the 90s especially during cricket season but thank goodness, time and returning to the song helped me to love this amazing slice of pop music.

"The Look" by Roxette the best hit song of 1989.