Every Friday, I’m publishing my top ten songs from a single year and this week it’s the turn of 2014.

For previous top ten tunes, please click on the year: 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

In 2014, severe floods hit the UK, the first gay weddings in England and Wales take place, teacher Ann Maguire is stabbed to death by a pupil in front of her class in Leeds, publicist Max Clifford is convicted of eight indecent assaults on women and girls and is jailed for 8 years, the World Cup takes places in Brazil and is won by Germany, Rolf Harris is found guilty of 12 counts of indecent assault and is jailed for almost 6 years, the Tour de France starts in Leeds, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes over Ukraine- 298 people are killed (10 are Britons), the Commonwealth Games open in Glasgow, British actor and director Richard Attenborough dies aged 90 years old, an independent inquiry into child abuse in Rotherham concludes that over 1,400 children were abused between 1997-2013, the Scottish independence referendum takes place and the “No” vote wins with 55% of the votes, Nicola Sturgeon becomes the leader of the Scottish National Party, 6 people are killed after a refuse lorries crashes in the centre of Glasgow, Robin Williams takes his own life aged 63, Philip Seymour Hoffman dies aged 46, Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 disappears somewhere over the South China Sea, Ebola strikes West Africa, 276 Nigerian schoolgirls are kidnapped, protests takes place in Ferguson, USA after the police shoot dead Michael Brown, a siege took place in a cafe in Sydney with a gunman claiming alliance with ISIS- 3 people are killed including the gunman, the films Gone Girl, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Boyhood, Birdman, Whiplash, The Imitation Game and Selma are released and I turn 38 years old.

Another year that I absolutely love musically. As you can tell, whilst I still love the odd commercial chart song, I was (and still am) listening to less commercial stuff. 2014 saw my other half finally getting round to getting down on one knee and asking me to be his wife after 15 years together. I said yes. Obvs. Here’s my favourites from 2014. Spotify playlist at the end for y’all.

1. Living for Love by Madonna

2. The Beigeness by Kate Tempest

3. Digital Witness by St. Vincent

4. Mr Tembo by Damon Albarn

5. My Silver Lining by First Aid Kit

6. Say You Love Me by Jessie Ware

7. ***Flawless by Beyonce

8. Chandelier by Sia (I’ve also included the piano version of this too on the playlist as it is also fantastic).

9. Glory by Common & John Legend

10. Just One of the Guys by Jenny Lewis

Whilst Glory, First Aid Kit and Bey are all close runner-ups, Sia is my clear winner this week. So, tell me- which one is yours?

See you next week for 2015!

Every Friday, I’m publishing my top ten songs from a single year and this week it’s the turn of 2013.

For previous top ten tunes, please click on the year: 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

In 2013, Margaret Thatcher dies at the age of 87, Fusilier Lee Rigby is murdered in a terrorist attack outside army barracks, Sarah McClay a 24 yr-old zookeeper is killed by a tiger at a zoo in Cumbria, Andy Murray wins Wimbledon– the first British man to do so since 1936, same-sex marriage becomes legal in England and Wales, Prince George is born and becomes third in line to the throne, 8 people are killed and 19 are seriously injured when a police helicopter crashes in to a pub in Glasgow, World War II computer pioneer and codebreaker Alan Turing, who had been chemically castrated in 1952 following his conviction for homosexuality, is given a posthumous royal pardon, Lance Armstrong admits to doping in all of his Tour de France wins, two bombs explode at the Boston Marathon finish line killing 3 and injuring 264, Sopranos star James Gandoifini dies at 51 and Nelson Mandela dies at 95, the films Gravity, Captain Phillips, The Wolf of Wall Street, Frozen, American Hustle and 12 Years a Slave are released and I turn 37 years old.

Music is back on track this year. I love this year. Lots of great new tunes and first time appearances from several acts. Plus Beyonce is here again and after several years missing from these lists, Bowie is back. Here’s my favourites from 2013, in no particular order.

1. Gun by Chvrches

2. Talk Dirty by Jason Derulo featuring 2 Chainz

3. Q.U.E.E.N. by Janelle Monae & Erykah Badu

4. That’s Alright by Laura Mvula

5. The Wire by Haim

6. Sacrilege by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs

7. Royals by Lorde

8. XO by Beyonce

9. Strong by London Grammar

10. Where We Are Now? by David Bowie

This week, my favourite is the wonderful Janelle Monae with Queen Erykah. Which one is yours?

See you next week for 2014!

Every Friday, I’m publishing my top ten songs from a single year and this week it’s the turn of 2012.

For previous top ten tunes, please click on the year: 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

In 2012, Gary Dobson and David Norris are jailed for life for the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence back in 1993, the Queen celebrates her Diamond Jubilee marking 60 years on the throne and there is a 4 day bank holiday int he UK to celebrate, David Rathband the policeman blinded by Raoul Moat in 2010 is found dead at home, the tallest building in Europe, the Shard is opened in London standing 1,016 ft tall, London hosts the 2012 Olympics and it was amazing, Great Britain comes third in the Olympics medals table, London then hosts the 2012 Paralympics, which was also amazing, a documentary reveals that deceased TV presenter Jimmy Saville sexually abused underage girls, Scotland Yard launches a formal criminal investigation into Jimmy Saville after over 200 sexual abuse victims come forward, Hurricane Sandy hits the US East coast and the Caribbean killing over 200 people, US President Barak Obama is re-elected, a 20 yr-old gunman kills 26 people– most of whom were children- at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut, the first man on the moon Neil Armstrong dies, Whitney Houston dies in a bathtub at the age of 48yrs, the films Skyfall, The Impossible, The Avengers, Brave, Argo, Lincoln and Les Miserables are released and I turn 36 years old.

2012 will always be synonymous with the Olympics and the feel good factor it created across the UK (and hopefully across the world too). I obsessively watched both the Olympics and the Paralympics and forced my two year old daughter to do the same. Even though she had no idea what was going on, she still joyfully waved her Team GB flag at the TV screen. In other 2012 news, I also somehow got Glandular Fever which in turn gave me hepatitis. So, you win some, you lose some. I struggled again in finding 10 songs I loved from this year (maybe because I was either obsessed with sport or very, very ill in 2012), but there are some real gems in this lot. Here they are, in no particular order.

1. Wildest Moments by Jessie Ware

2. Wild Ones by Flo Rida featuring Sia

3. Skyfall by Adele

4. Wisely & Slow by the Staves

5. Under the Westway by Blur

6. Age by Lianne La Havas

7. Laura by Bat for Lashes

8. Titanium by David Guetta featuring Sia

9. Read All About It Part III by Emeli Sande (yes I know we all got a little sick of her in 2012, BUT this is still a stunning song with an important message)

https://youtu.be/FsVIzK1VLdo

10. I Am What I Am by Beverley Knight (watch Bev OWN the stage at the Paralympic Opening Ceremony)

In 2012, my favourite may have been Emeli Sande, BUT now it most definitely is Titanium. So, which one is your favourite gang?

See you next week for 2013!

Every Friday, I’m publishing my top ten songs from a single year and this week it’s the turn of 2011.

For previous top ten tunes, please click on the year: 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

In 2011, Prince William marries Catherine Middleton in Westminster Abbey and a public holiday was declared across the country, the last British combat veteran of the First World War, Claude Choules, dies in Australia at 110 years old, the News of the World ceases publication due to allegations of hacking mobile phones belonging to celebrities, politicians and high-profile crime victims- it had ben in circulation for 168 years, Amy Winehouse is found dead in her London home- she was 27 yrs-old, following the death of Mark Duggan who was shot dead by police rioting takes place in London and spreads across the country, police struggle to restore order and David Cameron holds a COBRA meeting, Scottish police are sent into England to help with the riots, 3 Muslim men are run over and killed whilst trying to protect their neighbourhood, a new October high temperature record is set in the UK when it experiences unusually hot weather as it reaches 30C degrees (86F) and I remember spending the day on the beach with my baby in disbelief that we could do this in October, Welsh national football team manager Gary Speed takes his own life– he was 42, Elizabeth Taylor dies at 79, an earthquake off the coast of Japan, causes a tsunami to hit Japan and triggers a nuclear disaster, Osama Bin Laden is found and killed by US Navy Seals, in Oslo an bomb explodes and shortly afterwards Anders Behring Breivik attacks and kills people at a youth camp– in total 76 people are killed and the films Bridesmaids, The Artist, The Help, The Muppets, and the final Harry Potter film- the Deathly Hallows Part 2 are released and I turn 35 years old.

2011 for me was partly maternity leave (and me holding my baby and crying on my bed in the final days of it because I couldn’t bear to be parted from her) and after several months of returning to working, I gave up my career that I had worked so hard on for so many years (not just due to baby reasons, mainly due to health reasons), so it was quite a life changing year for many reasons. And here’s the 10 songs that soundtracked all of that. In. No. Particular. Order.

1. Born This Way by Lady Gaga

2. Better Off Without You by Summer Camp

3. Price Tag by Jessie J

4. Everything Goes My Way by Metronomy

5. Desire by Anna Calvi

6. The Lion’s Roar by First Aid Kit

7. F**ckin’ Perfect by Pink

8. Pumped Up Kicks by Foster the People

9. Video Games by Lana Del Ray

10. Someone Like You by Adele (This performance of Adele’s on Jools Holland is absolutely stunning)

Gang, I’ve done you a little bonus this week. It’s not part of my Top Ten, but it was released in 2011 and is such a wonderful performance by both Amy Winehouse and Tony Bennett. When, I first watched this within the documentary film Amy, I was moved to tears. It is perfect and so very lovely.

Oooh, now which one is my favourite? Obviously, Adele and Lana’s songs are beautiful. P!nk yet again makes me cry. The Lion’s Roar made me fall in love with First Aid Kit, BUT for me it’s Anna Calvi that really sticks out this week. Come on then, tell me your favourite.

See you next week for 2012!

Every Friday, I’m publishing my top ten songs from a single year and this week it’s the turn of 2010. Welcome to our final decade- the 10s!

For previous top ten tunes, please click on the year: 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

In 2010, the UK is officially no longer in recession, Tony Blair appears at the Iraq enquiry and is questioned on his decision to take the UK into war against Iraq, American company Kraft Foods takes over British chocolate company Cadburys and the whole country collapses isn’t very happy about it, Levi Bellfield is charged with the murder of Milly Dowler who went missing 8 years ago, a Birmingham couple are charged and sentenced for starving their 7 yr-old daughter Khyra Ishaq to death, volcanic ash from Iceland causes British airports to close for 6 days, the general election takes place and results in a hung parliament, after leader of the Liberal Democrats Nick Clegg whores himself negotiates between the Conservative and Labour parties a coalition government is formed between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats, David Cameron becomes the new British Prime Minister and Nick Clegg becomes the Deputy Prime Minister, 12 people are killed and 25 injured when gunman Derrick Bird goes on a killing rampage in Cumbria- he then turns the gun on himself, in the North East Roaul Moat shoots dead one person and badly injures two others– a week later a six-hour stand-off with the police and Gazza (yes Gazza) takes place as they try to talk him into giving himself up- he then also turns the gun on himself, Ed Miliband becomes the leader of the Labour Party, Prince Williams becomes engaged to Catherine Middleton, students protest against increased tuition fees and cuts to funding, fashion designer Alexander McQueen dies, the 2010 World Cup takes place in South Africa and Spain win the cup, the world’s tallest building opens in Dubai– it is 2,716ft tall, 33 miners are trapped underground in Chile– they are rescued after being underground for 69 days (I became OBSESSED with the Chilean miners and watched their rescue at 3am), the films Inception, Blue Valentine, Toy Story 3, The Social Network, Black Swan and The King’s Speech were all released, I turn 34 years old and Bessie Dye was born.

Well, there we have it, 2010 is the year that I have struggled the most to come up with 10 songs that I genuinely love. Now, is this because it was a weak year for music OR is it because for most of the year, I was either growing a human being inside of my actual body or I was tending to my tiny, beautiful, very loud human being and trying to keep it alive whist suffering from severe sleep deprivation and leaking milk from my mammaries (am I really selling motherhood to you?). Either way, I somehow came up with 10 songs that I loved from the year my babygirl was born. Here they are, in no particular order.

1. Only Girl (In the World) by Rihanna

2. Tightrope by Janelle Monae (here’s a video of Janelle performing Tightrope at Glastonbury Festival 2011. It is a masterclass in how to give audiences their money’s worth).

3. Rill Rill by Sleigh Bells

4. Beat the Devil’s Tattoo by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

5. Rambling Man by Laura Marling

6. Rolling in the Deep by Adele

7. We Used to Wait by Arcade Fire

8. All the Lovers by Kylie Minogue

9. Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down by Alicia Keys (yes I know the other version featured last week, but it is beautiful and I told you I’m struggling this week)

10. I’d Do It All Again by Corinne Bailey Rae (Corinne wrote this song about her husband that died suddenly at 32 years old and every time I hear it, it devastates me)

This week my favourite is Laura Marling. Don’t forget to let me know in the comments, which one is yours.

See you next week for 2011!