The Bullpen's Top 100 Songs of 2017: Part 2: #75 to #51

Our Top 100 continues as now we bring works from old and new,

from Drake to Open Mike Eagle, from Beck to Ibeyi and

from The xx to The Heavytrackerz.

Welcome back! We continue with Part 2 of our countdown. Let's get right into it.

THE BULLPEN'S TOP 100 SONGS OF 2017:

PART 2: #75 TO #51

Continuing Disclaimer:

This part of the Top 100 will compose of the songs ranked #75 to #51 and will have links to all the songs on YouTube or in some cases, music streaming sites. It will also display the release package (album, EP, etc.) the songs came from as well as the release date and will have a brief description/analysis of the song,

highlighting its merits to belong on this list.

Qualifying for Top 100:

Songs must have been released in 2017 or have been a track of an album that was released in 2017 if they were released in 2016. Covers are eligible but scarce, as are remixes. In the cases of some of the songs on this list, songs not previously released and later released on a deluxe version of a previously released album prior to 2017 are also allowed.

#75: "Hey Road" - Russkaja

Single off the album Kosmopoliturbo,

released August 4, 2017.

This Russian ska punk group provides this track which provides an up-tempo vibe to the idea of change and one's travels through life and the journey it becomes, despite the uncertainty and doubt that may lie ahead.

#74: "Ol Fashioned Kiss" - ALA.NI

Track off the album You & I, released May 12, 2017.

This girl has some smooth pipes. This London native will take you back to the days of drive-in theaters and slick-back hair with a tune that illustrates the most passionate of intimate experiences.

#73: "Free Me" - Sia

Non-album single released June 9, 2017.

An impactful and heartbreaking tale about an expecting mother struggling with the news that she is

HIV-positive, with a chance that her soon-to-be child could face the same fate is accompanied by a beautifully

gut-wrenching music video starring Zoe Saldana.

#72: "The Gate" - Bjork

Single off the album Utopia, released November 24, 2017.

The first of multiple mentions of a track off of Utopia, Bjork controls this musically ornamented track with strong, yet gentle vocals, a musical theme that carries for the majority of this album that serves as a view into the Icelandic superstar's personal life.

#71: "One More Light" - Linkin Park

Single off the album One More Light, released May 19, 2017.

Perhaps the most heartbreaking song of the year given the context of his unexpected death, Chester Bennington provides a passionate solo vocal performance in this song that addresses helping someone in need when they have no one else to turn to. An answer was universally heard following the death of Bennington: When one light, in middle of millions of stars fades, we all care. As a fan since childhood, I'd like to give a personal thank you to Chester Bennington for all the times that he gave millions inspiring words to push on. Thank you Chester, rest in peace.

#70: "95 Radios" - Open Mike Eagle

Single off the Brick Body Kids Still Daydream LP,

released December 8, 2017.

On a lighter note, this chill track by Open Mike Eagle provides a peek through the window of nostalgia through a poor young man's eyes as he desperately tries to find a radio to relish in the simple joys in life.

#69: "Goldilocks Engima" - Gramatik ft. Anomalie

Single off the Re:Coil Part I EP, released October 20, 2017.

Staying on the lighter side of the music released on 2017, this track by Gramatik with help from Anomalie is an incredibly produced jam that will have you dancing or nodding your head in approval as you study. "Goldilocks Enigma" is an amazing track overall that will surely be on repeat after you take a listen.

#68: "911/Mr. Lonely" - Tyler, the Creator ft. Frank Ocean and Steve Lacy

Track off the album Flower Boy, released July 21, 2017.

The two parts of the this piece from Flower Boy provides a contrast in tone but similarities in emotions during a period of loneliness. Where the "911" portion of the track illustrates the song's character, whether it be Tyler himself or someone else describing his incoming call patterns as frequent as 911 calls, which is to say just for emergencies, "Mr. Lonely" takes a darker turn, describing in greater depth the loneliness the character suffers through. The word play of 911 changes dramatically in the last bar: "Treat me like direct deposit/Check in on me sometime/Ask me how I'm really doin'/So I never have to press that 911".

#67: "Grounds for Resentment" - Kele Okereke ft.

Olly Alexander

Single off the album Fatherland, released October 6, 2017.

Bloc Party lead vocalist Kele Okereke takes his talents in his solo effort and his labor is displayed on this track about two exes awkwardly meeting up. Although the situation is inherently awkward, the lyrics raise the question whether the seemingly uninterested ex has some emotion deep down towards their counterpart.

#66: "Green Light" - Lorde

Single off the album Melodrama, released June 16, 2017.

If you hadn't noticed, I'm not a huge fan of mainstream, Top 40 tracks, as they normally get overplayed and therefore, less enjoyable. However, with Lorde's "Green Light", Lorde's unique vocal ability the hyped-up pre-chorus that leads into the bouncy, dance-inducing chorus makes this song a guilty pleasure to a number of people, no matter how much they deny it.

#65: "Don't Cry For Me" - Stormzy ft. Raleigh Ritchie

Track off the album Gang Signs and Prayer,

released February 24, 2017.

Stormzy gives anecdotes of his tough upbringing in London, telling stories of friends that ended up in the cemetery or in prison. British actor Raleigh Ritchie also lends his vocals for the chorus in this track about bittersweet success after a hellish childhood.

#64: "Rose-Colored Boy" - Paramore

Track off the album After Laughter, released May 12, 2017.

Hayley Williams and Paramore bring true emotions in this track from After Laughter. The song's lyrics explain a past of faking happiness and finally, after such a long time of faking emotions, the character in the song asks their titular acquaintance to allow them to express their true feelings and just be sad.

#63: "Rockstar" - Post Malone ft. 21 Savage

Single off the album Beerbongs & Bentleys,

released December 1, 2017.

Contrary to the title of this track, Post Malone became a rap star in 2017, thanks in great part to this hit single featuring 21 Savage. Post Malone compares his experiences from his newfound success to the old sex, drugs and rock-and-roll era during the 1960s and 70s. Also, as unrelated as the music video is, it's very entertaining.

#62: "AvengHer" - Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah

Track from the album The Emancipation Procrastination, released October 20, 2017.

What a year it's been for perhaps one of America's most talented trumpeters. Christian Scott is heavily represented on this list for his wonderful success in his three albums released in 2017, perhaps the most successful being

The Emancipation Procrastination. "AvengHer" combines the main elements of Scott's music, a hip-hop beat and an incredible presence of trumpets accompanied by an ensemble of ominous and chilling instruments.

#61: "Say Something Loving" - The xx

Single from the album I See You, released January 13, 2017.

One of the earliest hits of 2017, Oliver Sim and Romy Madley Croft duet this beautiful track about a less-than-beautiful subject matter, a long love fading by a lack of affection and attention. Accompanied from an intro by the Alessi Brothers, this track warns that actions is necessary before love "fades away".

#60: "Daydreaming" - The Deli ft. Kid Abstrakt and

DJ Million Faces

Track off the album Daydreaming,

released September 1, 2017.

Prolific chillhop artist The Deli collaborates with minutely known (with all due respect) hip-hop artist Kid Abstrakt throughout the entirety of this album. The partnership works well in the title track, providing a truly calming, relaxing and enjoyable opening track that begins the unraveling of this next edition of The Deli's work.

#59: "Turn Out The Lights" - Julien Baker

Single off the album Turn Out The Lights,

released October 27, 2017.

Memphis sweetheart Julien Baker continues to wow music lovers with her lyrical and musical talents following the release of her most-recent album this year. As per usual, Baker describes living life with depression in this track, illustrating the struggle of living when life seems difficult and overwhelming, leaving her to turn out the lights and leave herself to her own thoughts and reflect.

#58: "Passionfruit" - Drake

Track off the album More Life, released March 18, 2017.

Drake, as usual, had a successful year in 2017 following the release of More Life. Track after track became hit after hit. What makes this track special however is the deeper meaning of the lyrics and even the song title according to the Genius lyric breakdown. Regardless, "Passionfruit" is a great track that surprisingly was not treated as a single with a music video by Drake. The track's mellow beat and vocals in the chorus make this track stand out as a classic for Drake.

#57: "Told You So" - Paramore

Single off the album After Laughter, released May 12, 2017.

Back to Paramore, this track serves as a reminder to all the negative critics of the band's changing musical style. Contrary to the bright colorful visuals and musical style of fellow single, "Hard Times" (more on that track later in the countdown), "Told You So" is more serious in tone and only uses a monochromatic red and a spectrum from white to beige to black to express the darker times that Hayley Williams and the rest of band passed during the transition to their new sound.

#56: "The Emancipation Procrastination" -

Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah

Track off of the album The Emancipation Procrastination, released October 20, 2017.

Like the majority of Christian Scott's work, the general vibe of his work is a new age vibe of a sort of sexy jazz noir. The title track of The Emancipation Procrastination provides the best view into Scott's work. Where some of Scott's work, especially from 2015's Stretch Music had more of a Caribbean and West African influence, the biggest influence immediately felt in this work is classic American jazz.

#55: "Wow" - Beck

Single off the album Colors, released October 13, 2017.

The lyric video of this Beck single was released in June of 2016, yet was not a part of a studio album until 16 months later. While Beck's previous studio album, Album of the Year at the 2015 Grammys, Morning Phase had more of a country and folk vibe, Beck expresses yet another side of his musical chameleon style. Wow's use of trap beats and upbeat vocals make Beck stand out yet again.

#54: "Feel The Love" - The Heavytrackerz ft. Glorynade, London House Cats, Mikill Pane and Paije

Track off the album Odyssey "A Musical Journey",

released August 25, 2017.

What a mouthful. This track from stars The Heavytrackerz, accompanied by a slew of incredible vocalists and rappers, begins with a sort of spoken word poem before evolving into a hip-hop choral piece that will surely lift your spirit and hype you up.

#53: "Deathless" - Ibeyi ft. Kamasi Washington

Single off the album Ash, released September 29, 2017.

What a talented pair of sisters Ibeyi are. Lisa-Kaindé Diaz and Naomi Diaz are an incredibly dynamic duo and the addition of the soulful Kamasi Washington makes this already amazing trio concoct a powerful track that packs a punch into the political, social and racial tensions that have been dominant in news coverage over the past year or two in American and international discourse.

#52: "Timmy's Prayer" - Sampha

Single off the album Process, released February 3, 2017.

Sampha has quickly become one of the most famous British musical artists within the past year. In his Mercury Prize winning album Process, the 29-year-old UK native throws his emotions on paper concerning the loss of his parents and the distance between himself and his brother, a reoccurring theme in Sampha's music. The inner battles of this man are illustrated at great depth in this album and "Timmy's Prayer" is one of many incredibly written pages of his story.

#51: "Phantom of Aleppoville" - Benjamin Clementine

Single off the album I Tell A Fly,

released September 15, 2017.

Benjamin Clementine did not disappoint when he released his first single off the new album at the end of May after his past album, At Least For Now, won the UK's Mercury Prize. Clementine's mastery of the piano and vocals has drawn comparisons to the immortal Nina Simone. Given the name of the track, there is connection between Clementine's story of childhood bullying and the children of Aleppo, Syria. Clementine stated that the children of Aleppo had their childhoods and lives taken away from war and conflict over the past six years. Clementine's track provides a melancholy lesson that there may never be an explanation we all can understand as to why evil is committed to the innocent in the most bone-chilling way possible.