'The Yuletide 24 2012' Part 2 (Session Bloggers' Songs of the Year)

So there we have it, my songs of the year have been revealed. For those of you who have been following my daily tweets on twitter ('hi mum'), you'll already know who made the shortlist.  For those who didn't, well this is your lucky day!  Without further ado here is the final list from 24 to 1 and, as a bit of added value you even get a bit of commentary, plus a You Tube video, for numbers 5 to 1 - I spoil you sooooo much sometimes, don't I?!

Oh, and if you scroll down to the bottom of the page, I've got another little treat for you (please don't get too excited, it is a bit rubbish).

Anyway, here we go :

24. 'Hold On' by Alabama Shakes
23. 'Forget' by Lianne La Havas
22. 'Mind Control' by Friends
21. 'California Daze' by Peace
20. 'Feel to Follow' by The Maccabees
19. 'Hail Bop' by Django Django
18. 'The Daily Mail' by Radiohead
17. 'Because I know that I can' by Andy Burrows
16. 'The Road' by Simple Kid
15. 'Cough Cough' by Everything Everything
14. 'Freedom at 21' by Jack White
13. 'When your garden's overgrown' by Paul Weller
12. 'Five Seconds' by Twin Shadow
11. 'Leonard' by Sharon Van Etten
10. 'Comeback Kid' by Sleigh Bells
9. 'United' by Sean Bones
8.'Jostle' by Breton
7. 'Seek it' by Richard Hawley
6. 'Inhaler' by Foals

5. 'That's Alright' by Kindness

First of all I'd just like to say that the band Trouble Funk should also be credited for this beauty as it samples one of their songs.  I know they're reading this so I didn't want to disappoint them, or open myself up to any potential legal proceedings, by not mentioning them. To be honest it could have either been this song or 'House' by Kindness that I chose for my top 5 but, do you know what swung it?  Play the song below and listen to how it kicks in at 1 minute and 8 seconds.  It is one of the best 'kicking in bits' to a song that I've heard this year, maybe ever and for that, I salute you Mr. Kindness.

Anyway, decide for yourself and listen here -

4. 'Under the Westway' by Blur

This was a great return to form for one of my favourite ever bands.  It was a similar case with Radiohead's 'The Daily Mail' which is up there with the best bits from their last album.  Anyway, this song is just a beauty and, being about London, it always reminds me of the Olympics and what a bloody great year it's been working and living in London (well, I live 15 miles north of it to be exact but who's splitting hairs?)

I'm sure you've all heard it anyway but, if not, put on your Team GB attire and have a listen here -

3. 'Forever' by Haim

Haim were a breath of fresh air this year and this song is just brilliant.  I started the year thinking that Friends could become one of my favourite bands and then Haim came along and pulled the rug from under their feet (in a nice way though, I'm sure) - even though they are similar sounding, there's just something about Haim which I love.

Am very very excited about their album next year, if you haven't heard them yet, you have to listen to this beauty immediately -

2. 'Black White & Blue' by Ladyhawke

This song was very nearly my number one, I just love it so much and couldn't stop listening to it when it first came out.  It's definitely one of the catchiest songs of the year and I'm really surprised that this and the album didn't do better, especially in the end of year polls as they are both corkers. Okay, there's one bit that sounds a bit like 'Tragedy' by The Bee Gees (maybe even the Steps version) but why does that matter?  All the best songs sound like something else, don't they?! 

Anyway, if you haven't heard it, listen here and be prepared to fall in love with a truly amazing song -

1. 'Lightning Bolt' by Jake Bugg

I know Ladyhawke came very close, and I nearly did a joint first prize but thought that would be a cop out, but at the end of the day Jake Bugg is a worthy winner.

When I first heard this it blew me away and it proves, as I've said all along, that not all the best songs have to sound like something else. Ahem.

Anyway, before I leave you with this lovely lad's video, I'd like to thank the fabulous blogger @KateTakes5 for introducing me to Jake Bugg many months ago.  Without her Ladyhawke may have won and Jake would never have fulfilled his lifetime ambition of becoming my song of the year.  I did tweet him, asking him how it felt winning such an accolade, when it was announced the other day but he declined to comment, think he was too choked up to speak to be honest.

I'm sure you've all heard it but if you fancy listening to it again, here it is -

So, that's it.  Agree / disagree?  Shocked by the lack of Alt-J, Tame Impala and Palma Violets?  I think they're all great bands, with some great songs released this year, but they just didn't do it for me as much as the beauties above did I'm afraid.

Anyway, thanks for reading. Before you go, I've put all of the songs into a Spotify playlist for you to listen to here - The Yuletide 24 - 2012 (that's the treat I was talking about above, if you didn't realise. Like I said earlier, it is a bit of a rubbish treat, especially as 'Inhaler' by Foals isn't on Spotify yet - they have to spoil everything, don't they?!)

Until next time, take care.

Thanks for having me.

Simon S.
xx