2015, what a great year for music! There were so many tunes that we loved here at Internal Jukebox, and there are some songs we can't believe missed our end of year countdown - 50 just seems too few. But take a look our list, and tell us in the comments section below which of these tunes you love, and what you would put on your end of year list.
50 - Omen - Disclosure featuring Sam Smith
Disclosure and Sam Smith both hit it big after teaming up for "Latch", so it seemed fitting they team up again. This was a bit of a sleeper hit for me, it took me a few months to truly understand its understated brilliance. Great beat, production and lyrics, "Found my baby crying, saw the silver lining" - my workmate wanted a man say those romantic things to her .... she may be in trouble!
49 - FourFiveSeconds - Rihanna, Kanye West & Paul McCartney
We go right back to the start of the year for number 49. Rihanna, Kanye West and Paul McCartney got together and the end result was unexpected, a folk inspired track that was all kinds of infectious. I think I had this song stuck in my head for a month straight. While some other recent Rihanna releases have disappointed, this was a perfect demonstration of her brilliant vocals, and Kanye also sounds great here too!
48 - Style - Taylor Swift
Sorry Taylor, the only song to make it to this year's list - it's been a big year in music! But this has quickly become one of my favourites on the "1989" album, right up there with "Blank Space". "Style" is oh so stylish, a brilliant lazy beat, spot on vocals and some lyrics that were so good they inspired Harry Styles to write a response song. So was this song called "Style" because of his last name? No matter, a great song that can easily get stuck in your head.
47 - Back Together - Robin Thicke featuring Nicki Minaj
Now I have never been a massive Robin Thicke fan, "Blurred Lines" kind of passed me by, but this song is so damn good. I get this song stuck in my head often, and I love it. It has a retro electronic beat, that is a little disco inspired. The vocals and production are spot on and the writing is excellent. Bonus points for the amazing verse from Nicki Minaj, you gotta love the line, "Used to call me Hillary cause I used to Rodham", or maybe she said "Ride 'em". Love her!
46 - We Want the Same Thing - Rixton
British man band Rixton are very underrated. They released an excellent album this year with some killer tracks, my favourite is this little heard single. Lead Singer Jake Roche has a sensational falsetto and it is on full show here. The song is the right kinds of naughty and has an infectious beat. This is a solid track that if you haven't heard, you should check out, trust me on this!
45 - Kiss Me - Olly Murs
Olly's fourth album, "Never Been Better" was a great one, with some awesome singles, "Up" and "Seasons", so when the album was repackaged he needed good songs to keep up the consistency. Lucky that "Kiss Me" is such a strong song, in fact, one of Olly's best. There's a great defined adult pop sound, some cheeky vocals and a refreshing beat. This is a great pop song.
44 - Love Me Like You Do - Little Mix
Little Mix had a great year, their new album, "Get Weird", is fantastic and they released some great singles. This 60s girl group inspired tune is a real showcase for the vocals talents of the ladies. They sound so great here, with so much character in their vocals. The beat is fun, as is the great film clip - they are wonderfully packaged girl group who look very unstoppable right now.
43 - Papercut - Zedd featuring Troye Sivan
While the first single from the new Zedd album, the Selena Gomez lead, "I Want You To Know", is a great pop song; the album's best cut is this great track featuring the brilliant vocal talents of Aussie Troye Sivan. The beat is intoxicating, the production brilliant and the lyrics are fantastic; this is a song where it is easy to lose yourself in the music. Zedd and Sivan were a great pairing.
42 - Hello - Adele
Well it's certainly one of the most iconic songs of the year! What a great return from Adele after a few years off. While "Hello" may not be as strong as "Rolling in the Deep", it is a great pop song that has an amazing ability to get stuck in your head. Adele's voice is just ridiculous, the notes she can hit. The lyrics are passionate and will make most of us mere humans crumble into tears. Adele is a freak of nature, thank God she uses her powers for good and not evil!
41 - Deja Vu - Giorgio Moroder featuring Sia
Here's another track that didn't get the attention it deserved. What a perfect pairing, the unique and fabulous voice of Sia and the disco brilliance of Giorgio Moroder. It sounds 70s, it sounds 90s, it sounds now. This song has some very fun lyrics and really does make me want to get up and dance. This was a great album from Giorgio that deserved so many more hearing it!
40 - When We Were Young - Adele
My favourite song from the new Adele album certainly had to be the brilliance of the second single, "When We Were Young". This is a special song, again with those beautiful trademark vocals from Adele, this track made even more special by the added heartbreak in its sound. She hits those notes and we all collectively reach for the tissues. Adele deals in heartbreak, and she does it so well.
39 - Worth It - Fifth Harmony featuring Kid Ink
"Sledgehammer" should have made this list last year, but it came out at the end of the year and I didn't realise the song was going to stick with me for a whole year, so apologises to the girls for that. But I am happy to add "Worth It" to the list this year. The song perfectly rides the line between girl group pop and R&B. Their vocals sound great together, the beat is fierce and the sax is addictive. This is a very fun song that has proven the girls are a force to reckon with.
38 - Don't Be So Hard on Yourself - Jess Glynne
Jess Glynne continues to be a truly fascinating artist, she has released some truly great singles these past two years - I promise there's more to come on this list. She has a truly special voice, a white soul voice that is distinctive and unique. The song is fun, the beat is great and the chorus is infectious. Jess Glynne has wisely surrounded herself with some great producers who have made her some magic.This really is a great little pop number.
37 - Nobody Love - Tori Kelly
Tori Kelly's American Idol journey wasn't all she hoped, but she didn't need it, 2015 saw her release one of the best debut singles. "Nobody Love" is such a great piece of pop, 90s inspired and vocal driven, the song is a perfect showcase for the many talents of Ms Kelly. The beat is thick and this song spent a long time stuck in my head. Plus those notes she hits are pretty damn impressive.
36 - Hold My Hand - Jess Glynne
Appearance number two for Jess Glynne and it's another monster hit, "Hold My Hand". This was on such high rotation for so many of us this year, a great pop track with that awesome clap track. Jess's voice is again sublime and the production is brilliant. Both the bridge and chorus are addictive and the lyrics are fun. This is 90s inspired pop at its best, like Cathy Dennis for a new generation!
35 - Drag Me Down - One Direction
One Direction gave us two surprises this year, one was that this was their last album for a while (read, probably ever), that one sucked. The other was the surprise release of this track which jumped to the top of the charts everywhere and gave the gents their first ever Aussie number one. This is your classic 1D pop/rock combo, the guys sound great here and you barely miss Zayn. Chalk it up as another great 1D single.
34 - Used to Love You - Gwen Stefani
This one broke my heart this year. Gwen Stefani continues to make great music people just aren't listening to - and more the fool them. This, and last year's "Baby Don't Lie" are brilliant slices of pop. This pop ballad sees Gwen rip open her heart and let us see how she's feeling since her divorce. The result is devastating and brilliant. Gwen's voice and those lyrics shine here, "You go, I'll stay, you can keep all the memories". We've all been there Gwen!
33 - Never Be - Meg Mac
Aussie Meg Mac certainly made her mark this year with this truly brilliant and beautiful gospel inspired track. With a driving beat, stunning vocals and inspiring lyrics, this was one highly addictive tune, There seems no pretentions about this track, it's just a solid pop / rock tune made from passion. If you don't know it, listen, love it!
32 - Fire Under My Feet - Leona Lewis
2015 saw the return of one of the world's strongest vocalists, the stunning Leona Lewis. And what a great track this was, though it should have gotten more attention. The clap beat is infectious, the lyrics are inspired, "I've got fire under my feet and I feel it in my heartbeat"; and her vocals are again spot on. Her album was also a brilliant addition to the year!
31 - Good For You - Selena Gomez featuring A$AP Rocky)
What a year for Selena Gomez, the former teen star grew up and it was brilliant. Her "Revival" album was one of the year's best surprises, and first single, "Good For You", is a perfect example of her fantastic new direction. The slow 90s inspired, R&B groove fits her soulful and seductive voice and she is finally finding material that is a perfect fit. I can't wait to see more!
30 - Marvin Gaye - Charlie Puth featuring Meghan Trainor
You can go a long way with a good duet, and Charlie Puth had two massive duets this year. There was the Wiz Khalifa track, "See You Again", but for me, his best of the year saw him teaming up with Meghan Trainor for a damn sexy little pop ditty. What a great line, "Let's Marvin Gaye and get it on"; the pair sound great together and the track leaves you with a smile ... and maybe the need for a cigarette.
29 - All Hands on Deck - Tinashe featuring Iggy Azalea
Tinashe's "2 On" didn't hit it big in Australia until this year, but it was her follow up that really got stuck in my internal jukebox. This is one damn sexy R&B / pop song, the beat is thick and the vocals are sublime. This really does feel like a song that you put on "that" playlist, you know the one, the one that also features candles and wine. With or without the Iggy verse, this is a great little song.
28 - Alive - Sia
Sia co-wrote this song with Adele for Adele's "25" album, but it didn't make the cut. You would never be able to tell this wasn't always meant for Sia as her sublime voice fits it so very perfectly. Sia gets this amazing pain in her voice that reaches deep into your soul, when she hits those notes on "Alive", I want to put my hands in the air and worship Sia. She took out number one on this list last year and she continues to make fascinating pop music.
27 - Black Magic - Little Mix
Little Mix really have put the fun back in girl groups, like a modern day Spice Girls, the vixens from Little Mix have an infectious quality that is hard to deny. Their first single from the "Get Weird" album is so much fun. A great pop song that has a brilliant chorus, great harmonies and a fun film clip. For a song about black magic, it does make me smile a lot!
26 - This Ain't Love - Jessica Mauboy
Jessica Mauboy really does know how to rock a good single and this top ten smash was another perfect example of her pop brilliance. The producers really did throw everything at this track and the results was an 80s and 90s inspired dance track that showcases Ms Mauboy's magnificent vocals. Jessica deserves all the success she gets, she truly is a fascinating and inspiring pop star.
25 - Heartbeat Song - Kelly Clarkson
Like a force of nature, that big and bold voice of Kelly Clarkson was back with her trademark blend of pop/rock. Driving guitars, big choruses and amazing notes are her trademark and there's no way I want her to mess with that. "Heartbeat Song" is such a great tune, one you love to sing along with; in fact her whole new album is pretty damn special. Long may Kelly Clarkson reign.
24 - Fight Song - Rachel Platten
Here's another artist who made such a big splash with new music. Rachel Platten's "Fight Song" is a brilliant tune, it's inspiring, "I might only have one match, but I can make an explosion"; and it's highly infectious. It's the kind of tune that will be stuck in your head for days. She is certainly an artist to watch out for in the future.
23 - Lighthouse - G.R.L
A beautiful song born out of a horrible experience. When G.R.L member, the very talented, Simone Battle, took her own life, the girls released this wonderful track in her honour. What a stunning ballad with an important message. G.R.L are a great group, their "Ugly Heart", was high on this chart last year; so it is such a shame they have disbanded. R.I.P Simone Battle - you are missed.
22 - Not Letting Go - Tinie Tempah featuring Jess Glynne
Welcome back Jess Glynne, her third appearance on the list this year! She is joined by the brilliant British rapper, Tinie Tempah. He really is a talented MC, he's not a lazy rapper, his speed and delivery is inspired and teamed with Jess and that catchy chorus, the result was brilliant. A few friends and I think of each other when this comes on, it's such a joyous tune that's great at a party.
21 - Want To Want Me - Jason Derulo
Hands down, "Want To Want Me", is the best single Jason Derulo has ever released. This is a pretty special marriage between pop & R&B. Jason's voice is crazy good, the beat is great and the chorus is one of the strongest of the year. Time and time again, Derulo has proven he knows how to release a damn catchy single!
20 - Right Here, Right Now - Giorgio Moroder featuring Kylie Minogue
Our second appearance for Giorgio on the list this year and it's with a song that was the best we'd heard from Kylie for years. And after her great Christmas album this year, it's safe to say Kylie's back on track. Kylie does disco so well, as does Giorgio, so the marriage seems perfect. Kylie hits the highest parts of her falsetto and it's glorious. This is such a great dance song that needed more support!
19 - Another Lonely Night - Adam Lambert
Adam Lambert's "The Original High" was such a good album, there were so many good songs that I was a little disappointed this was the second single. Then as the weeks went past and I listened to the song more I began to understand its sheer brilliance. It's low key for Adam, but it's that subtle quality that makes it brilliant. There is much longing in his beautiful voice and the spectacular lyrics. I now find myself listening to this track a lot!
18 - Wings - Delta Goodrem
Haters beware, Delta is sticking around; this number one smash proves that. And what a great song, "Wings" is, a true return to form. I love when Delta speeds up her delivery, her voice sounds so rich. Pair it with those great high notes and you have a classic Delta track. Plus, the lyrics are pretty special, "What if I lose my self control?", we've all been there Delta!
17 - Magnets - Disclosure featuring Lorde
Now this was one of the biggest tracks of the year for getting stuck deep in my internal jukebox, I couldn't stop singing this one for weeks. Disclosure know how to produce amazing dance beats and paired with the moody brilliance of Lorde; you have a winning recipe. Lorde's vocals are inspired and the lyrics give me a smile, "Pretty girls don't know the things that I know".
16 - One Last Time - Ariana Grande
While Ariana may be gearing up for her next album, we got one last track from her "My Everything" album this year and it may have just ended up as my favourite song from the album. "One Last Time" is less in your face than "Problem" or "Break Free", but there's something wonderful about it. Ariana sounds very sweet here, and the passion in her voice is intoxicating. A beautiful little pop ditty.
15 - Stitches - Shawn Mendes
Shawn Mendes made the big jump this year from YouTube star to legitimate pop star, and the result was amazing. His album, "Handwritten" is pretty extraordinary, but it was this single that really shone. "Stitches" is the perfect acoustic pop song, the guitar is fresh, the beat is solid, the lyrics are clever and the vocals are perfect. Plus, it doesn't hurt that Shawn is one helluva good looking man!
14 - Double Tap - Jordin Sparks featuring 2 Chainz
Sometimes the key to a brilliant song is just the ability to make you smile, and months later, Jordin Sparks' ode to Instagram is still making me smile. Moving away from her pop roots and heading further into harder R&B, Sparks is still shining bright. Her vocals are spot on and the lyrics are very cute, "If you like what you see, then you've got to let me know that you won't double tap that ho" - a message for all really!
13 - No Sleeep - Janet Jackson featuring J Cole
One of the best things to happen in 2015 was the triumphant return of Ms Janet Jackson. Teaming up with her favourite producers, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Janet took a step back in time to produce a 90s style R&B record and first single, "No Sleeep", was everything we were hoping it would be. What a stunning track where Janet sounds great, the lyrics are the right level of naughty and the beat makes you want to move. Welcome home Janet, never leave us again.
12 - WILD - Troye Sivan
I've spoken of my love of Troye Sivan on this blog before, and why should today be any different? His voice is the stuff of the heavens and he is such a genuinely talented songwriter. First single from his new album, "Blue Neighbourhood", is such a perfect pop song. There is such yearning in this track and he beautifully sets the scene that you can't help but be a part of his journey. This is a man to watch.
11 - Shine - Years & Years
Speaking of people I like to talk of my love for, welcome Years & Years to this year's countdown. Lead vocalist Olly Alexander is such a special talent, his voice is beautiful. The group has a special knack for writing catchy pop tunes that get stuck in your head, the production is top notch and the beat is thick and fabulous. "Shine" is such a great song, one I'll be loving for years to come.
10 - Perfect - One Direction
One Direction have a habit of hanging around my end of year countdown, and "Perfect" deserves its top ten spot - it is the best song from their last two albums (big call I know). We all know this is Harry Styles' response to Taylor Swift, and it is in fact, "Perfect". It deserves to make the list for this line alone, "And if you're looking for someone to write your break up songs about then baby I'm perfect". This is a favourite at my work place, it's such a great pop anthem.
9 - Ghost Town - Adam Lambert
It was certainly a great year for openly gay pop stars, with some amazing music being released. With "Ghost Town", Adam released, arguably, his best single to date. The song is a brilliant showcase for Adam's extraordinary voice and the beat is fresh and catchy. Adam is really coming into his own and the results are spectacular. What an amazing artist.
8 - BURNITUP! - Janet Jackson featuring Missy Elliot
Shame on everyone, why wasn't this song the biggest thing in the clubs this year? Janet and Missy Elliot teamed up together again and the result was exhilarating. This is the perfect pop/dance/R&B song designed to make you dance your butt off. Janet sounds great and Missy is on fire, her "Kitty Cat" line has a habit of getting stuck in my head for hours. I love to play this while driving and turning it up very, very loud.
7 - All Cried Out - Blonde featuring Alex Newell
Sometimes it feels like a song is speaking directly to you, this year that honour belonged to this brilliant tune from Blonde. I had a very big break up this year and this was my break up song, it didn't always work, there were still tears, but at least this song always made me feel better. Alex Newell, he of former Glee fame, has a special voice and the production is so fresh. What an amazing song, if you don't know it, listen, please.
6 - Pray To God - Calvin Harris featuring HAIM
Dance producers are now just as famous as the singers they hire. Sometimes the collaborations they do are about ego, and sometimes they work so perfectly. "Pray to God" definitely fits into the latter. This song is so fucking awesome. Calvin Harris has crafted an amazing song with a brilliant beat and the ladies of HAIM sound so wonderful. Lyrically, the song was also spot on, "I was living in the heat of the moment", gets me singing every time.
5 - Bitch, I'm Madonna - Madonna featuring Nicki Minaj
Anyone who has read this blog before, or knows me, knows my love of Madonna. She is, and will always be, my Queen. Her first appearance on the list is so much fun, after all, it is a party anthem, and Madonna knows them. This tongue in cheek masterpiece sees Madonna taking control of her crown and gives us all an expression when we want people to know we are not to be fucked with, "Bitch, I'm Madonna", even Nicki Minaj gets in on the action. Words to live by!!!
4 - Cool For the Summer - Demi Lovato
To beat Madonna on one of these countdowns you must have a pretty special song, and this year Demi Lovato did. Demi has always had a knack for releasing kick arse singles, "Skyscraper" anyone? But this year she topped herself, and most, with this fun ode to playing around with girls. The beat is infectious, the vocals flawless and the lyrics are so much fun, "Don't be scared 'cause I'm your body type". This wasn't just an anthem for summer, it was an anthem for 2016. Bravo Demi, bravo!
3 - King - Years & Years
My favourite non-Madonna song for the year was one very addictive tune. "King" is perfect in so many ways, Olly Alexander's voice is brilliant, truly brilliant, and the production is amazing. This must be the chorus of the year, getting stuck in so many of our heads. This is also a great track to dance to. The passion that comes from this song is incredible and it makes me send so much love back in return.
2 - Living For Love - Madonna
The hardest decision of the year for me was deciding which order one and two would go in. While some may argue this was a track for 2014, it wasn't officially released until this year. This is Madonna making classic pop again, with an amazing bridge and chorus that sees a triumphant Madonna once again. Add some great backing vocals from Alicia Keys and you have a piece of pure pop gold.
1 - Ghosttown - Madonna
So here we are, all the way at the top, and the rightful winner had to be Madonna's big ballad, "Ghosttown", a song that SHOULD have been a massive hit. So many music magazines and blogs are putting this song on their lists of the best of 2015, because they can see that this is pure Madonna. An amazingly produced pop song with passionate vocals and brilliant lyrics. Plus, this is the best film clip of the year. My play count for this song is in triple figures, it is perfect song from an amazing icon.
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