The results are in , in the 3rd annual The Playlist Readers Poll. This year saw the largest number of respondents across social media. However it was Pink who topped the polls more than once and runner up in two further categories.
The triumphant One Love Manchester concert picke dup the most votes with 32% of votes in its category. Read on below for the full results , and thanks to everyone who voted
So , 2017 is almost done and dusted. And like the iconic Madonna hit , "music makes the people come together ".
This was in stark evidence in May when a terrorist attack left 22 dead in Manchester following an Ariana Grande concert. That one of music's greatest cities should give us one of the defining moments in music this year at the One Love Manchester concert. It is testament to the power and resilience and power of music in 2017.
Kesha rose like a phoenix to deliver a triumph of an album. Taylor Swift threw more shade than an episode of Drag Race with her comeback. Dua Lipa rewrote the rules and we all stood back and complied. Ed Sheeran was the definition of ubiquity this year , dominating the airwaves all year long.
Veteran pop luminaries such as Pink showed they can still strike a chord and sell millions in the process. Katy Perry got woke , Lana showed us her Lust For Life and Lorde produced possibly the album of the year.
In hip hop , Kendrick Lamar told us to be humble , Jay Z returned and Eminem also stormed back. Then there was the invasion of Latino music as Despacito claimed the summer and Camila Cabello's solo career took full flight with the massive Havana.
Rock saw old reliables such as Foo Fighters , The Killers , U2 , and Elbow deliver new albums. whilst young blood such as Alt J and Royal Blood continued to stretch the boundaries of the genre.
And here , once again , we count down the annual 101 greatest tracks of the year. An accolade previously won by Frank Ocean , Sia , Beyoncé and Daft Punk.
101. PASSPORT HOME JP Cooper
100. iSPY Kyle feat Lil Uzi Vert
99. BAD THINGS Machine Gun Kelly feat Camila Cabello
98. LIFES ABOUT TO GET GOOD Shania Twain
97. WATERFALL Stargate feat Pink & Sia
96. CRYBABY Paloma Faith
95. HUMONGOUS Declan McKenna
94. SPENT ALL DAY IN BED Morrissey
93. CAME HERE FOR LOVE Sigala feat Ella Eyre
92. BAD LIAR Selena Gomez
91. GOLDEN SLUMBERS Elbow
90. LOST IN YOUR LIGHT Dua Lipa feat Miguel
89. SKIN Rag n Bone Man
88. IT AINT ME Kygo & Selena Gomez
87. SOLO DANXE Martin Jensen
86. POWER Little Mix feat Stormzy
85. LOVE SO SOFT Kelly Clarkson
84. WILD THOUGHTS DJ Khaled feat Rihanna & Bryson Tiller
83. GO TO WORK Nadine Coyle
82. MALIBU Miley Cyrus
81. READY FOR IT ? Taylor Swift
80. BAD AT LOVE Halsey
79. DONT MATTER NOW George Ezra
78. FOR WHAT ITS WORTH Liam Gallagher
77. BELIEVER Imagine Dragons
76. HATERS TLC
75. SHOULD'VE BEEN YOU Imelda May
74. SUN COMES UP Rudimental feat James Arthur
73. THE MAN The Killers
72. GOOD OLD DAYS Macklemore feat Kesha
71. OH WOMAN , OH MAN London Grammar
70. LOOK WHAT YOU MADE ME DO Taylor Swift
69. SORRY NOT SORRY Demi Lovato
68. DISCONNECTED Clean Bandit & Marina And the Diamonds
67. THE RAREST BIRDS Alison Moyet
66. TOUCH Little Mix
65. CASTLE ON THE HILL Ed Sheeran
64. SOMETHING JUST LIKE THIS The Chainsmokers & Coldplay
63. FEELS Calvin Harris feat Pharrell , Katy Perry & Big Sean
62. LUST FOR LIFE Lana Del Rey feat The Weeknd
61. SHAPE OF YOU Ed Sheeran
60. RUN Foo Fighters
59. LIVE FOR THE MOMENT The Sherlocks
58. WALL OF GLASS Liam Gallagher
57. FRIENDS Justin Bieber & BloodPop
56. PYT John Gibbons
55. MIDNIGHT Jessie Ware
54. STAY Zedd feat Alessia Cara
53. ROCKSTAR Post Malone
52. WALK ON WATER Eminem & Beyoncé
51. THUNDER Imagine Dragons
50. BEAUTIFUL TRAUMA Pink
49. MIRACLES (SOMEONE SPECIAL ) Coldplay feat Big Sean
48. HAVANA Camila Cabello
47. CIAO ADIOS Ann-Marie
46. YOU KNOW ME Jax Jones feat RAYE
45. DID YOU SEE J Hus
44. WHITE MUSTANG Lana Del Rey
43. PERFECT PLACES Lorde
42. ROYAL HIGHNESS Tom Grennan
41. LIVING IN THE CITY Hurray For The Riff Raff
40. HOLY MOUNTAIN Noel Gallaghers High Flying Birds
39. RUDE LOVE Becky Hill
38. BEAUTFUL ONES Hurts
37. ON MY MIND Disciples
36. GLORIOUS Macklemore feat Skylar Grey
35. LOYALTY Kendrick Lamar feat Rihanna
34. WAY BACK TLC feat Snoop Dogg
33. SYMPHONY Clean Bandit feat Zara Larsson
32. DREW BARRYMORE SZA
31. PRAYING Kesha
30. UNFORGETTABLE French Montana feat Swae Lee
29. LOVE Lana Del Rey
28. FINDERS KEEPERS Mabel
27. BOYS Charli XCX
26. ISSUES Julia Michaels
25. THE CURE Lady Gaga
24. BLINDED BY YOUR GRACE PT 2 Stormzy feat MNEK
23. NO ONE KNOWS ME ( LIKE THE PIANO ) Sampha
22. CHASING HIGHS Alma
21. FEEL IT STILL Portugal , The Man
20. DISCO TITS Tove Lo
19. HUMBLE Kendrick Lamar
18. CUT TO THE FEELING Carly Rae Jepsen
17. SILENCE Marshmello feat Khalid
16. SKYWALKER Miguel
15. SAY SOMETHING LOVING The XX
14. BIG FOR YOUR BOOTS Stormzy
13. 1800 - Logic feat Alessia Cara & Khalid
12. YOU'RE IN LOVE WITH A PSYCHO Kasabian
11. WANT YOU BACK Haim
10. BIG PICTURE London Grammar
9. WHAT ABOUT US Pink
8. YOUNG , DUMB AND BROKE Khalid
7. SLIDE Calvin Harris feat Frank Ocean & Migos
6. SCARED OF THE DARK Steps
5. DONT KILL MY VIBE Sigrid
4. BLESS THIS ACID HOUSE Kasabian
3. GREEN LIGHT Lorde
2. NEW RULES Dua Lipa
1. FOUND WHAT I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR Tom Grennan
Tom Grennan is poised to be THE soundtrack of 2018. With his debut album Lightning Matches due on March 9th, the Bedford singer songwriter is set to be catapulted to stardom. Found What I've Been Looking For is EVERYTHING we needed in a sometimes bleak and frustrating year. Anthemic , resilient , emotive and a voice that is balm for the soul. Grenann is authentic and his voice gritty and more mature than his years.
He will dominate 2018 , but in 2017 , Found What I've Been Looking For is The Playlist's Ultimate track of 2017.
Tom Grennan once said about writing songs whilst being dyslexic "mentally I put songs on a washing line. So then I pick the odd socks , lyrically. And then I put an odd sock to an odd sock and think "How can I make that a pair of pearly whites "
Well , those pearly whites have come to fruition in the shape of his highly anticipated debut album Lightning Matches which drops on March 9th 2018. The Bedford singer songwriters lyrical approach may be unorthodox, But the man himself has built up a legion of fans with his everyman personality coupled with a raw and emotive voice that is set to soundtrack 2018.
It could all have been so different for the 21 year old though. Instead of lining up a long awaited debut album , Tom could have found himself on the England team heading to Russia next summer. Grennan had a promising football career , running out for Northampton Town , Lution Town , Aston Villa and Stevenage.
However he'll just have to make do with lighting up next summers festival circuit. Its probably just as well Glastonbury is on hiatus next summer as Grennan would more than likely steal the show down Worthy Farm.
Tom discovered that unmistakeable voice at a "piss up " and his head was soon turned by music. Its little stories like this that have endeared him to an ever increasing faithful.
Dates for his tour next year are already vanishing ahead of the release of his hotly anticipated debut album Lightning Matches on March 9th
For a guy who at the tender age of 21 is on the cusp of stardom , Grennan's voice sounds older than his year. A primal , raw and gravelly voice infused with warmth , emotion and true grit. His lyrics and songs are certainly that of a 21 year old finding his way in this crazy world. None so more evident on the rousing closing track of his stunning EP Release The Brakes , the fantastic This Is The Age. "raise a glass to those who choose to live without. I dont need no keys for a castle or a ticket to the stars. So close your eyes and know how lucky you are "
Grennan as you can guess from his surname , has Irish blood running through his Bedford born veins and his voice recalls the earthy , gritty soul that emanates from a good old fashioned Irish session.
On the awesone Royal Highness , Tom displays an irresistible swagger on an absolute stomper of a track. Bowed down and beseeched to his lady in waiting , its a track that will cause much fervour during his upcoming UK dates.
The video shows the sheer star quality of the guy. Evidence of this was further displayed in his cameo in Charli XCX's Boys video. And with his down to earth charm and lush vocals , Grennan doesn't look at all out of place with such pop pin ups as Joe Jonas and Dplo. In fact he clearly belongs there
His Found What I've Been Looking For EP is a joy to listen to from start to finish.The title track , which he recently performed on primetime Friday night BBC1 music show Sounds Like Friday Night. It is my track of the year here at The Playlist.
A sure fire anthem that will be the soundtrack to many a festival weekend next summer.
Interestingly enough , Tom has stated that he listens to at least one Amy Winehouse track a day. And if the late great Queen of Camden Town could break your heart with vulnerability and soaring vocals. Then Tom does exactly the same on the demo of Silhouette. Its raw , vulnerable and as soaring as the London skyline. Here is where Grennan stretches his vocal muscles to devastating effect. He sounds wise beyond his years yet coupled with the fragility of early adulthood. Its a stunning track.
And just before that track were treated to the jaunty First Day Of The Sun. Another uplifting , bouncy , festival bound sing a long. Grennan goes from the highs of youth - partying with your mates , falling in love to the lows such as heartbreak and self doubt. It just shows how adept he is at veering from ripping your heart out one minute and making you sing your heart out the next.
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2018 is set to be the year of Tom Grennan. In these uncertain times of Brexit and Trump , Grennan and his voice and youthful vigour are balm for the soul. The Bedford boy done good will break your heart , lift your sagging spirits and more than likely make more than a few girls and some boys fall in love with him in the coming year.
Your summer festival soundtrack Lightning Matches drops on March 9th. And when it does , stand a few inches back cos Tom Grennan is bringing the fire in 2018. And long may the flames roar
