It was a kind of wild 2016, well just mildly wild, if there ever was such a thing. If this year was a painting, it would be one giant abstract. Yes, pretty much also explains the kind of songs that influenced me and my moods this year – a cornucopia of beats, emotions and lyrics that range from the melodramatic to psychedelic with a hint of angst or celebration or joy and all of the above.
With about 25 days to go before final touchdown of the year, I now present my pick of personal favorite 16 songs of 2016:
16) SIDE TO SIDE by Ariana Grande ft. Nikki Minaj - there’s something in the beat that’s catchy and bitchy at the same time. Something that describes my mood on most parts of each grueling month of 2016. Always will love Ariana’s vocals while Minaj lent the proper swag to an upbeat yet pretty chill song. ‘Ive been there all day…”
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15) CHEAP THRILLS by Zia – The title of the song is simply what it is. A cheap thrill. Entertaining stuff once more from a great artist, Zia. Song talks about no costs to having fun as long as you enjoy what you do, you don’t need dollar bills or money especially when you love the one you’re with.
14) STARVING– Hailee Steinfeld featuring Zedd – oh to have that kind of affection for someone. The all-encompassing feeling of having that one who exceeds every boundaries you set for your life. What made me like this song is partly on the line that says ‘I didn't know that I was starving 'til I tasted you
Don't need no butterflies when you give me the whole damn zoo’. That feeling of being overwhelmed by someone that has changed you forever.
13) HEATHENS – Twenty one Pilots – song caught my attention while watching the movie Suicide Squad. Very apt for the times especially with the many murders and killings in the Philippines in the past few months. These lines from the song got me hooked ‘You'll never know the psychopath sitting next to you,
You'll never know the murderer sitting next to you.’ And realizing that all you and your friends are heathens because you need to adapt to the situation, be a little weird when you have to coz there are a lot of psychos in our midst.
12) NOBODY'S BETTER – Z feat. Fetty Wap – there's something in the beat that gets to me. And the exchange of lines between the male and female singers. Pretty much explains how some guys think and how most girls also feel for them to remain secure in the relationship. Where the guy often says what you see is what you get in trying to explain his shenanigans, and the girl saying that she needs a little bit of honesty.
11) RISE by Katy Perry – this is a mantra to survive the year. Katie Perry is like a motivational speaker in a song. Always challenging you to rise and keep up to the challenge. To keep on keeping on. I especially had this as my imaginary background music when faced with a kind of tricky situation as I often find myself in this year. I also dedicate the song to my fave basketball team, Ginebra that paved the way for their being champions this year after 8 long forgettable seasons.
10) 7 YEARS – Lukas Graham – this has been a song that enjoyed quite a lot of radio airtime this year that I couldn’t help getting LSS’d. The singer’s voice was a mix of a melancholy with a touch of a boy band ruggedness. And I love how it touched on the passage of age and time, albeit a simplistic view from adolescence to adulthood to eventual senior moments. And the piano intro..
9) WORK FROM HOME by Fifth Harmony – this simply is a beat to enjoy. And when you thought the song is about working one’s ass off it actually sings about how you’ll work on that relationship with your man. The kind of effort one puts in to make it all fun instead of all work, work, work.
8) DON'T LET ME DOWN– Chainsmokers ft. Daya – this group may very well be the artist of the year for me. With their songs as ubiquitously playing on the radio or on hangout joints as frequent as a Duterte cuss word. Don’t Let me Down is the song that exactly means what it says on the title. About crashing and hitting a wall and holding on to that someone who you will beg and expect to not let you down. As in “I need ya, I need ya, I need you right now Yeah, I need you right now..” Yes, I do need this song to not let me down in times when there are less reasons to find goodness in the world.
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7) WORTH IT by Fifth Harmony – these girls are rocking it this year. And the song is like an affirmation of what you deserve from life and from those you love. Song caught on latter part of 2015 and went on to start the year. That’s why I love this song that went ringing in my head for some weeks during the early part of 2016. Definitely listening to it is worth it.
6) PILLOW TALK by Zayn Malik – when you think of pillow talk and that eyelashes of Zayn, damn! But this is the kind of song that may be trying too hard to be sexy and sensual but came out just a wee bit cute. But I still love it. Especially the cover of Jojo during one of her live performances. There’s a part in the song that describes the bed in less than innocent terms and which somehow got me hooked in listening and singing to it.
5) TILL THE END – Jessie Ware – first time I heard this song playing was on the movie Me Before You. A surprisingly beautiful love story and one of the best movies I watched this 2016. It was playing as a background during a wedding scene and I got hooked on it. Turns out it’s by a favorite British singer- Jessie Ware whose sultry voice lent the perfect vibe to the melody. I especially adore the part when she sings ‘and And even when it's raining I don't see the clouds again.’ Captures the essence of being so in love with that person that all the crazy and negative things around don’t matter as long as you’re with him.
4) I HATE YOU, I LOVE YOU - Gnash ft. Olivia O'Brien – this is such a sweet sad love song about having the kind of love that is largely unreciprocated yet even if you hate the feeling you still love the person. Love singing the chorus especially when the feeling matches the frustration one gets when there is conflict in the relationship.
3) SECRET LOVE SONG – Little Mix ft. Jason Defulo - there's always something about songs that sings of keeping behind closed doors that gets me. An ideal song for belting out with all the pent-up emotions of a love that's real but hidden. Plus I love the range of vocals of this mix of female singers. Powerful voices that each sound has its own character. There's something about the over-all theme of the song that just speaks to the heart. When there are secrets hard to reveal.
2) ALL I ASK - Adele (collaborating with Bruno Mars) - afte having us at Hello last year,she brings us all we can ask for in a love song. The Adele melancholy vibe. I especially love the part about making memories that we can use. It's like speaking of a time spent with someone we may not have forever that a one special moment or night spent together can be a beacon to light us during darker days even when both have gone their separate way. Oh, the Adele effect and add to it the artistry of Bruno Mars who helped co-wrote this song with her. Also love Bruno Mars' live cover of this on BBC Live. The feels! This is all I ask for in a love song.
1) CLOSER - Chainsmokers ft. Halsey - I just couldn't stop singing and listening to this song this year. Like hey.. And could well relate to the part of '4 years no call, and now I'm looking pretty in a hotel bar..' after seeing your ex after no communication for well, 4 years. and then picking up from where you left of. A dance music that is part electro-pop and part club music that has an element of the brooding ambiance lent by the female vocalist. It has made it to my top choice of 2016. I just love how it brings me closer to that feeling of not so long ago just by listening to it. a blast.
