THE 101 GREATEST TRACKS OF 2016

Trump , Brexit , Aleppo , the deaths of Bowie , Prince and Cohen. The rise of the alt right. 2016 has been a turbulent and trying year. And while we lost many legends , and saw a world divided by fear , xenophobia and false news. I t was music that provided the soothing balm for all the many global ills. And there were many. But in times of turmoil , where backward ideologies rise , artistic endeavours flourish.

Beyonce stormed back with her magnum opus Lemonade. Bowie tooka  breathtaking final bow on Blackstar. And we were treated to a wave of new stars like Christine And The Queens , Anderson Paak , Chance The Rapper , Zara Larssson and Shura.

Rihanna , Lady Gaga, Frank Ocean and Drake stormed back with titular albums that proved why they are on top of their game.

And now we count down , reflect and present to you the 101 Greatest Tracks of 2016. This is the fifth consecutive year , The Playlist has presented its end of year list. In the past Frank Ocean , Daft Punk , Sia and The Weeknd have all landed atop the year end summit.

101.  WASTE A MOMENT  Kings Of Leon
100.  DONT LET ME DOWN The Chainsmokers
99.   JUST LIKE FIRE  Pink
98.   METEORITE   Years And Years
97.   NO PROBLEMS  Chance The Rapper
96.    SAY YOU DO   Sigala
95.  GETAWAY  Blossoms
94.  PERFECT ILLUSION Lady Gaga
93.  COME DOWN  Anderson Paak
92.  CANT STOP THE FEELING  Justin Timberlake
91.  CAKE BY THE OCEAN  DNCE
90.  THIS IS NOT ABOUT US  Banks
89.   WARM  Becky Hill
88.   SHOUT OUT TO MY EX  Little Mix
87.   AFTER THE AFTERPARTY Charli XCX
86.   TOO GOOD  Drake feat. Rihanna
85.   LIGHT IT UP  Major Lazer
84.   LOVE ME   The 1975
83.   IN CONTROL  AlunaGeorge
82.   TESCOLAND   Jamie T
81.   CONTROLLA   Drake

80.  WHO AM I Katy B feat Craig David & Major Lazer

79.  I WOULD  Zara Larsson

78.   GIRLS LIKE Tinie Tempah feat Zara Larsson

77.   BOY PROBLEMS  Carly Rae Jepsen

76.  PHENOMENAL WOMAN Laura Mvula

75.  GOLD Kiiara

74.  THIS GIRLS  Kungs vs Cookin On 3 Burners

73.  24K MAGIC Bruno Mars

72.  OPHELIA  The Lumineers

71.   WOULD I LIE TO YOU John Gibbons

70.  SEND MY LOVE  Adele

69.  STRESSED OUT  Twenty One Pilots

68.  DANGEROUS WOMAN Ariana Grande

67.  SCARS TO YOUR BEAUTIFUL  Alessia Cara

66.   FAMOUS  Kanye West

65.   THE GREATEST  Sia

64.   ALL NIGHT Beyonce

63.   BURN THE WITCH   Radiohead

62.  THIS IS WHAT YOU CAME FOR Calvin Harris feat Rihanna

61. DONT TOUCH MY HAIR Solange

60.  TREAT YOU BETTER   Shawn Mendes

59.  WILD HORSES   Birdy

58.   FALSE ALARM Matoma & Becky Hill

57.  PIECE BY PIECE (Idol Version )  Kelly Clarkson

56.  WHATEVER  Roisin Murphy

55.   LET ME LOVE YOU DJ Snake feat Justin Bieber

54.  U TURN  Tegan And Sara

53.  BE THE ONE Dua Lipa

52.  HURTS  Emeli Sande

51.  LOVE ON THE BRAIN Rihanna

50.  CHANGE  Christina Aguilera

49.   AT NIGHT ( I THINK ABOUT YOU )  MNEK

48.   I HATE U , I LOVE U Gnash feat Olivia O'Brien

47.  FREEDOM Beyonce feat Kendrick Lamar

46.  CLOSER The Chainsmokers feat Halsey

45.  WORK FROM HOME  Fifth Harmony

44.  LUSH LIFE Zara Larsson

43.  ALARM   Anne-Marie

42. THIS AINT OVER  Alez Newell

41.  HUMAN  Rag n Bone Man

40. NERVOUS SONG Gavin James

39.  GOOD GRIEF  Bastille

38. COLD WATER Major Lazer feat Justin Bieber & MO

37.  RAGING  Kygo feat Kodaline

36.  ALL MY FRIENDS  Snakehips feat Tinashe

35.  TEARS Clean Bandit feat Louisa Johnson

34.  DONT MIND Kent Jones

33.  COOL GIRL Tove Lo

32.  WHEN WE WERE YOUNG Adele

31.  HYMN FOR THE WEEKEND Coldplay

30.  INTO YOU Ariana Grande

29.  YOUTH  Troye Sivan

28.  I TOOK A PILL IN IBIZA Mike Posner

27.  HOLD UP  Beyonce

26.  PIECE OF ME MK & Becky Hill

25.  CRUEL Foxes

24.  BEAUTIFUL THING Stone Roses

23.  NEVER BE LIKE YOU Flume

22.  WORK  Rihanna feat Drake

21.  SORRY  Beyonce

20.  IN COMMON Alicia Keys

19.   ULTRALIGHT BEAM  Kanye West

18.  SEXUAL  Neiked

17.  LAZARUS  David Bowie

16.  WHATS IT GONNA BE  Shura

15.   CRANES IN THE SKY  Solange

14.  ONE STRIKE  All Saints

13. NEEDED ME  Rihanna

12.  THE SOUND The 1975

11.  ONE DANCE  Drake

10.  CHEAP THRILLS Sia feat Sean Paul

9. NIKES  Frank Ocean

8.  STARBOY The Weeknd feat Daft Punk

7.  BLACK BEATLES Rae Sremmurd

6.  MILLION REASONS  Lady Gaga

5.  FINAL SONG  MO

4. HANDS A Song For Orlando

3.  FUCK APOLOGIES JoJo feat Wiz Khalifa

2.  TILTED  Christine And the Queens

1. FORMATION Beyonce

" I came to slay bitch " And slay she did. Some 18 years since Destinys Child burst onto the scene , Beyonce released her magnum opus in the shape of the mighty Lemonade.

Formation was officially dropped on an unsuspecting public on a dull Saturday night last February. After a sombre start to year with the death of David Bowie , it was a welcome return for Beyonce.
The jaw dropping video saw Beyonce embrace her roots whilst shining a distinctly high profile spotlight on the Black Lives Matter movement. It was Beyoncé's most political video yet.

The track itself whilst starting off minimal transforms into a marching band , four to the floor anthem. The lyrics are sharp and punchy throwing shade at conspiracy theories regarding her and the illuminati and the now immortal line " I got hot sauce in my bag , swag "

It was a relevant , power anthem that was needed in a post Bowie , pre Trump , fierecely more frightening world. A call to arms for women , for black people sick of police injustice towards unarmed black men. And a reminder that when Beyonce is on the very top of her game , there is no one of her generation with more power and talent and more influence on the current social narrative. Had Beyonce stuck to the traditional ways of releasing music which she abandoned with 2013's eponymous album. Then , Formation would have stayed atop iTunes charts for months.

In a new world of false news , the lines urging us to "get in formation " couldn't be more apt. And the sassy , defiant closing line "you know you that bitch when you cause all this conversation. always stay patient , best revenge is your paper "

Little Mix storm charts with Shout Out To My Ex

Little Mix returned to the X Factor last night for a showstopping first performance of new single Shout Out To My Ex.
The foursome wowed viewers with a high octane performance backed by stage full of dancers.


The track has soared to the top of the UK iTunes Chart , the fastest rising song since Adele's Hello last year. It puts them in a prime position to claim their 4th UK Number 1. The song has also entered the US iTunes Top 20 overnight.

Shout Out To My Ex trails the bands fourth studio album Glory Days which is et for release on November 18th.

JoJo storms back with Mad Love

After a decade marred by legal troubles and the death of her father , JoJo has not only returned stronger but has fully emerged as a full on pop force.

In a year of big hitting female albums from Beyoncé , Britney , Rihanna and Ariana , JoJo has delivered an album that deserves to put her on the same multi platinum pedestal

Mad Love is defiant , empowering , moving , sexy , sultry , ballsy and pulses with more swagger and charisma than many of her more talked about contemporaries. Its the great pop comeback of  2016.

The album opens and ends with two of the most gorgeous and soaring ballads you'll hear on any pop record this year.

The closing vocal on Music is goosebump inducing as JoJo remembers her late father. Closing track I Am is a powerful self love anthem. Both tracks showcase JoJo's powerhouse vocals. A voice that deserves to be heard and played loudly.

The resulting album is smart , edgy , current pop sprinkled with R&B that puts JoJo back on the forefront.

Fuck Apologies is still that ballsy bop that throws two fingers to an ex. That's followed up by the fantastic FAB ,  where JoJo dirches any shade and goes full in on any fake ass bitches that may come for her. Its one of the highlights of the album. An anthem calling out those who would have sunk under the strain of the problems JoJo has encountered this past decade.

The duet with Alessia Cara on I Can Do  is as unexpected as it is fresh. The album's title tarck remains as glorious as ever. Sounding like a cross between Sam Cooke's A Change Is Gonna Come and Rihanna's Love On The Brain. The vocal recalls classic Mariah and it is a gorgeous , belting ballad. An absolute gem of a song that I couldn't gush about any further. This is Phil Spector , Motown genius for the millennials.

 

On the pulsing Vibe , JoJo delivers a full on club banger that is screaming out to be a single.  A track that surpasses some of the drivel served up by other female stars this year. It's a summery ,  R&B flecked stomper that deserves to be huge.

On the triumvirate of Honest , Like This and Edibles ,  JoJo demonstrates her undeniable R&B queen credentials in sultry and seductive fashion.

The albums highlight comes in the shape of High Heels. An anthemic , girl power anthem about a "bad muthafucker " whose wandering libido sees his sheets get burned as JoJo struts off in her high heels. This is a track that makes Dangerous Woman sound more like a sulky teenager. The track bristles with an irresistible swagger and confidence.

JoJo has sang about being "in the trenches " and "being worthy of love ".Mad Love is one of the most impressive female pop albums of the year. JoJo is the star we need and deserve right now.  A voice that soars after being kept silent for so long.

STANDOUT TRACKS :  F**K Aplogies , FAB , Mad Love , Music , Vibe , High Heels

                                                  RATING:  4.5/5

Glory Days ahead for Little Mix

Little Mix have announced that their fourth album Glory Days will be released on November 18th.

Available to pre-order from tomorrow , the deluxe edition will feature the foursome's Get Weird Live Tour dvd.

The album follows last years Number 1 album Get Weird , which outsold One Directions farewell album. It featured the massive Number 1 smash Back Magic as well as recent hits Hair and Secret Love Song.

The album will be trailed by new single Shoutout To My Ex. The track is released this Sunday ( October 16th ) after a world exclusive first performance on The X Factor. The girl band return to the show they won in 2011.

They'll be hoping to score a 4th career UK Number 1 following Cannonball (2011 ) , Wings (2012 ) and Black Magic (2015 ).

Glory Days is released November 18th. Shoutout To My Ex is released this Sunday October 16th.

The Weeknd destroys past in scorching Starboy video

The Weeknd has unveiled the epic new video fro his current single Starboy.  The video , directed by Grant Singer , is another cinematic triumph to add to the Canadian singers already eye catching videography.
Smashed platinum records , driving with panthers and ushering in a new era , are all themes of the symbolic video.

The video sees a version of the singer from the height of his Beauty Behind the Madness era ibeing tied up by a masked man wearing a diamond-encrusted cross around his neck who strangles his captive. It's later revealed that the man is actually the new, Starboy-era version of the singer who enters the record company to destroy all evidence and history of his past, including numerous trophies and posters. He drives off with a black panther at the end. There's also a nod to track collaborators Daft Punk , with a close up of a portrait of the French dance icons

The title tracks  lead single from his forthcoming third album was released last week. Its already set for a Top 10 chart placing in both the US and UK.

The album , out November 25th , still has no official track listing. Although , according to its iTunes pre order , it will contain 18 tracks , including one track called False Alarm.

MTV Europe Music Awards 2016 - Bieber & Beyonce lead the way

Beyonce and Justin Bieber lead the pack at this years MTV Europe Music Awards. The ceremony which heads to Rotterdam on November 6th , sees both stars land 5 nominations apiece.
Other acts with multiple nods include Adele , Rihanna , Lady Gaga , Coldplay and Twenty One Pilots

The ceremony airs live on MTV on Sunday November 8th. As yet no presenter or performers have been confirmed for the show.

The full list of nominations is as follows

BEST SONG
Adele – “Hello”
Justin Bieber – “Sorry”
Lukas Graham – “7 Years”
Mike Posner – “I Took A Pill In Ibiza (Seeb Remix)”
Rihanna ft. Drake – “Work”

BEST VIDEO
Beyoncé – “Formation”
Coldplay – “Up & Up”
Kanye West – “Famous”
Tame Impala – “The Less I Know the Better”
The Weeknd ft. Daft Punk – “Starboy”

BEST FEMALE
Adele
Beyoncé
Lady Gaga
Rihanna
Sia

BEST MALE
Calvin Harris
Drake
Justin Bieber
Shawn Mendes
The Weeknd

BEST LIVE
Adele
Beyoncé
Coldplay
Green Day
Twenty One Pilots

BEST NEW
Bebe Rexha
DNCE
Lukas Graham
The Chainsmokers
Zara Larsson

BEST POP
Ariana Grande
Fifth Harmony
Justin Bieber
Rihanna
Selena Gomez
Shawn Mendes

BEST ROCK
Coldplay
Green Day
Metallica
Muse
Red Hot Chili Peppers

BEST ALTERNATIVE
Kings of Leon
Radiohead
Tame Impala
The 1975
Twenty One Pilots

BEST HIP HOP     
Drake
Future
G-Eazy
Kanye West
Wiz Khalifa

BEST ELECTRONIC
Afrojack
Calvin Harris
David Guetta
Major Lazer
Martin Garrix


BEST PUSH
Alessia Cara
Anne-Marie
Bebe Rexha
Blossoms
Charlie Puth
DNCE
Dua Lipa
Elle King
Halsey
Jack Garratt
Jonas Blue
Lukas Graham

BIGGEST FANS   
Ariana Grande
Beyoncé
Justin Bieber
Lady Gaga
Shawn Mendes

BEST WORLD STAGE         
Duran Duran – Piazza Del Duomo, Milan (2015)
Ellie Goulding – Piazza Del Duomo, Milan (2015)
Jess Glynne – Isle of MTV, Malta (2016)
Martin Garrix – Isle of MTV, Malta (2015)
One Republic – MTV Evolution, Philippines (2016)
Tinie Tempah  – MTV Crashes, Plymouth (2015)
Tomorrowland – Belgium (2016)
Wiz Khalifa – Isle of MTV, Malta (2016)

BEST US ACT
Ariana Grande
Beyonce
Charlie Puth
Kanye West
Twenty One Pilots

BEST CANADIAN ACT
Alessia Cara
Justin Bieber
Drake
Shawn Mendes
The Weeknd

BEST UK & IRELAND ACT
Adele
Coldplay
Little Mix
Zayn
Years & Years
The MTV EMAs will air Sunday, Nov. 6, from Rotterdam, Netherlands. Voting is open now!

                     

   

   

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Lady Gaga reveals Joanne track listing

Lady Gaga too k to Twitter last night to reveal the full track listing for her new album. Released on October 21st , Joanne will feature 11 tracks on the standard edition.  And a further three on the deluxe edition.

Gaga has teamed up with Florence welch to duet on the track Hey Girl.  Already , her rabid fanbase has been speculating on future singles. Some have cited closing track Angel Down as the next single from the album.

The track listing is as follows

Joanne Track List1. "Diamond Heart"
2. "A-Yo"
3. "Joanne"
4. "John Wayne"
5. "Dancin' In Circles"
6. "Perfect Illusions"
7. "Million Reasons"
8. "Sinner's Prayer"
9. "Come to Mama"
10. "Hey Girl" (featuring Florence Welch)
11. "Angel Down"
Joanne deluxe edition:12. "Grigio Girls"
13. "Just Another Day"
14. "Angel Down (Work Tape )


The album also features contributions from Bloodpop , Mark ronson , Kevin Parker of Tame Impala , Josh Homme and Father Misty John on Sinners Prayer.

The Weeknd readies new album for November

The Weeknd has confirmed this new album STARBOY will be released on November 25th. After unveiling the album cover yesterday , the singer has released the title track featuring French electronic legends Daft Punk.

Starboy is a moody and atmospheric club track , which further enhances The Weeknds credentials as one of the world's best popstars right now.

Although no track list has been released , its rumoured that Drake and Travis Scott are amongst the collaborations on the new album.

On last years Beauty Behind The Madness , The Weeknd teamed up with Ed Sheeran and Lana del Rey.

The Weeknd announces STARBOY album

The Weeknd is gearing up for the imminent release of his third album STARBOY. The Canadian R&B star unveiled the album cover today , but no release date or lead single has yet been announced.

The star ascended to global stardom last year with a trio of globe conquering singles including the Oscar nominated Earned It and US chart toppers Cant Feel My Face and The Hills. The album Beauty Behind The Madness became one of the 2015's biggest selling.

Earlier this year , he was nominated for a slew of Grammy Awards and an Oscar. He's also appeared on Beyoncé's massive Lemonade album on the track 6 Inch.

Watch The Weeknd perform Cant Feel My Face on BBC's Later With Jools Holland below

Gaga rocks out in Perfect Illusion video

Lady Gaga has premiered the video for current single Perfect Illusion. With a videography rich in theatricality and polished choreography , Perfect Illusion is her most sparse ,s tripped back and carefree video. There are no huge gimmicks , special effects or disjointed storytelling.

Instead we see a stunningly fresh faced Gaga rock out in denim shorts in the burning heat of the desert moshpit, Its short  simple but ultimately effective , and sets the tone perfectly for the Joanne era.

The video features the songs co-writers and co-producers Mark Ronson and Tame Impala's Kevin Parker.

Gaga has often been criticised for over elaborate videos but on this occasion , less is most definitely more. The track which has had a mixed reception critically and commercially is a definite grower.

Joanne is released October 21st.

Fifth Harmony unveil epic Thats My Girl video

The year of  Fifth Harmony continues with the epic post apocalyptic video for That's My Girl. The US girl band storm through the video waving flags , saving lives and kicking ass. With nods to the Mad Max:Fury Road movie , its also harks back to classic girl band videos from Destinys Child and Spice Girls.

Its the third track to be lifted from their second album 27/7 released back in May. It follows the globe conquering success of Work From Home and All In My Head ( Flex ) , providing the former US X Factor stars with the most successful era of their careers.

Sean Smith premieres Turn Me On video

Sean Smith has premiered the raucous but fun filled new video for his Turn Me On single. The video sees the hunky singer have fun at a wild house party. And if you're gonna do a house party , do one with Sean Smith.

The sexy Portsmouth singer finds himself surrounded by scantily clad women , dropped bra's , some very attractive men and even finds himself partaking in a game of strip poker. Luxkily for us , Sean loses his shirt , to reveal that eyewatering six pack he's revealed lately. There's alos a game including strawberries and mouths and despite all this madness , Sean even gets to break out some slick choreography in the video. The choreography was provided by Scott Norton , and shows Smith giving a few other male heart throbs a run for their money.

Speaking of that quite frankly , obscenely heavenly new body of his , Sean  joked to Gaydio in an interview that "it was hard work in the gym , but worth it for that one shot " referring to the single's cover sleeve below.  And what a shot.

But more importantly , what a song. Turn Me On is finally up for pre-order on iTunes now and is released on September 23rd , the day before Sean's birthday. And what better gift would there be than to hand him a smash hit.

Calvin Harris debuts My Way

Calvin Harris has debuted his brand new single My Way. The track features sole vocals by Harris despite rumours of a huge female artist lending her voice to the track. Of course , the tracks lyrics have been dissected in the wake of his break up with Taylor Swift this year. They have a melancholic tone against the Scottish DJ's signature arena dance sound.

made my move and it was all about you," the Scottish DJ sings. "Now I feel so far removed

The song follows this summers massive single This Is What You Came For featurimg Rihanna. The song went Top 3 in both the US and UK , kept off the top spot by Drake.

Harris is rumoured to be releasing his fifth studio album later this year. It follow's 2014's Motion. Next years marks the 10th anniversary of the release of Harris' debut smash AcceptableIn The 80's

Long Live The Angels - Emeli Sande returns

Emeli Sande has premiered her haunting and stunning new single Hurts. It serves as the lead single from her sophomore album Long Live The Angels set for release on November 11th. It of course follows 2012's massive debut album , the million selling Our Version Of Events.

"This entire album is about me not holding back and not censoring myself, and ‘Hurts’ is an explosion, it’s just…real talk,” Sandé said of the new recording.“I’m proud of my first album and thankful for the experiences it gave me. But I’m so much happier with my new album and with where I am in life.”

Despite some unfair criticism regarding ubiquity during 2012 , its great to hear Sandes delicate and distinctive vocal return on the soaring and anthemic ballad. And its sure to clock her an eighth Top 10 hit in the UK.

See the track-listing for Long Live the Angels below:
1. Selah
2. Breathing Underwater
3. Happen
4. Hurts
5. Give Me Something
6. Right Now
7. Shakes
8. Garden (feat. Jay Electronica & Áine Zion)
9. I’d Rather Not
10. Lonely
11. Sweet Architect
12. Tenderly (feat. Joel Sande & The Serenje Choir)
13. Every Single Little Piece
14. Highs and Lows
15. Babe


Long Live The Angels is released November 11th. Listen to Hurts , out now , below