The Bullpen's Top 100 Songs of 2017: Part 5: FINALE: The Top Ten Songs of 2017
- Alex Marchante
- Dec 31, 2017
- 8 min read
Here are your finalists for the Top 10 Songs of 2017. After days and weeks of listening to music and judging each track of 2017, the finalists are: Julien Baker, Sampha, Gorillaz, Jay-Z, Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah, Stormzy,
Dizzee Rascal, Kesha and Queens of the Stone Age.
At long last, the time has come. The top ten tracks of 2017. You see who will be featured in this final leg of our countdown to celebrate the year in music. Of course this is just one man's opinion and there are countless songs around the world that deserve to be recognized as this year's best, but these ten track were, in my humble opinion, the year's best. Let's get right into it without the disclaimers and the qualifications necessary to be a part of this world class display of musical and lyrical talent.
Kesha
Rainbow
In her return to music after years of absence, Kesha made a comeback that surpassed any expectations. Following a long, painful legal battle with producer Dr. Luke dating back to early 2014, "Praying" opens all the avenues that Kesha was denied during her legal bout. Expressing a change in identity and spirit after a relationship in which Luke was accused of verbally, emotionally, physically and sexually abusing of the star while the two had a business relationship, Kesha gives perhaps the most emotionally tolling, passionate and heart-tearing performance of the year. Angered yet under self-control, Kesha finds strength in herself as well as religious faith to find a path to the light at the end of the tunnel. Also, what a vocal performance! Kesha's listeners can sense the built-up emotion that had been tormenting her for years suddenly release in an array of powerful lyrics and, in the music video, bright luscious colors that represent the evolution of Kesha.
Queens of the Stone Age
Villains
One of the more overlooked pieces of Villains, this track follows up "Feet Don't Fail Me" wonderfully by keeping the same slow build and darker tone. However, Josh Homme provides an unusually politically driven track about power and revolution. Normally a fan of the romantic and sexual in his work with Queens as well as his partnership with Jesse "Boots Electric" Hughes in "perv-punk" duo Eagles of Death Metal, Homme delivers a story about someone in power mocking others who are relatively powerless. For those who are filled with "heart" and humanity, Homme simply devours them and assesses his power. In the midsection of the track addressing the search for gold, there is a sense of both greed and rebellion by not leading those in power to the gold in the ground. Instead of accepting a portion of ruling the world, Homme speaks mockingly and in rebellion, making the ending climax of the track the end result of ultimate power.
Stormzy
Gang Signs and Prayer
2016 had been a been of hype but no real action for Stormzy. However, to the surprise of his critics, the London grime rapper was plotting his first ever full-length album that quickly became a favorite in the British scene. In the shortest track of the album, Stormzy touts his success as a lone artist while also celebrating his success following nearly a year without new music released. Following time of hard work and dedication to perfecting his craft, Stormzy leaves us with "Cold" on a note of more hype, suggesting that his reign of success is far from over and we can expect to see him out with new music very soon.
Dizzee Rascal
Raskit
It's difficult being a grime artist in the UK. Although the ultimate style is similar to the US rap scene, most of the time the style of grime is faster in pace than its American counterpart. The biggest names in grime belong to those who have mastered the art of pace and maintaining flow; Wiley, Skepta, JME and our previous entry in Stormzy have built a reputation for themselves following the essentials of grime. However, perhaps only second to Wiley, Dizzee Rascal is one of the most influential grime artists in the UK scene. Performing at a pace of 317 words in the minute-long first verse and 190 words in the 37 seconds of the second verse, Dizzee Rascal puts to rest all the criticisms of him "selling out" by turning back to the roots of the genre that he influenced years ago.
Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah
The Emancipation Procrastination
Although I may be biased in suggesting that an instrumental version of Radiohead's final track of 2007's In Rainbows would naturally be in my sixth-best spot of 2017, but Christian Scott's rendition of the piece is nothing short of magical. In his best piece of the year spanning three incredible albums, Scott remakes a track about the arrival of death into a beautiful, melodic song that brings art to life in the most precious way possible. An expert in creating music for theatrical purposes, as Scott has worked before in film scores, the American trumpeter works his best to achieve the vibe of fragile life. This track could make its way to a film one day and it wouldn't surprise me if one day, Radiohead and Mr. Scott collaborate together to bring a truly emotional masterpiece.
Jay-Z
4:44
Starting our top five tracks of the year is the title track of the critically-acclaimed and Grammy-nominated 13th studio album by Brooklyn's own Sean Carter, as we have highlighted on this list. What makes the title track undeniably powerful is the vulnerability found in the rap mogul's performance of the track. Following the very public scandal that
Jay-Z had be unfaithful to his superstar wife Beyonce, one of the most powerful couples in the world were thrown deeper into the media microscope more than ever during their 15 years together. In this track, as well as the majority of the album, Jay-Z openly and deeply apologizes to his wife and three children, five-year-old Blue Ivy and six-month-old twins Rumi and Sir. Say what you will about Jay-Z and his infidelity, but most must admit that the apology in 4:44 as a song and album is undeniably musically powerful. Thankfully, the two superstars seem to have made up so you can expect more collaborations like the track "Family Feud" on the album that features Beyonce with her husband.
#4: "Un-Reborn Again" Queens of the
Stone Age
Villains
I know, I know, I know. I criticized this track and claimed it was the main low-point of Villains. However, time and warming up to this track allowed me to realize its incredible work. Making countless references to old rockers and friends of Homme, the point of this track is that people age no matter how they take care of their appearance. The experiences and our reactions to them do not alter when we try to hide our age. Each interaction we have with anyone or anything will impact our future selves. Rather than trying to achieve the illusive Fountain of Youth, it is best to embrace our age because we will drown in the fountain if we continue to search stubbornly. Towards the end of the track, the introduction of violin and later saxophone makes a wonderful conclusion to this track that turned from least-liked to
most-beloved tracks off Villains for me.
#3: "Plastic 100°C"
Sampha
Process
Our final look into Sampha's album brings us to this track that sheds light into the many things that has brought stress and uncertainty to Sampha's life. The newfound fame in his previous work has added stress as he witnesses himself becoming a part of the public eye. As we've covered before multiple times, Sampha addresses his parents again as he takes notice of a lump in his throat that reminds him of the family history of cancer. The lump becomes a metaphorical and literal worry to his health as the doctors don't have a solution as to what the lump may be, which leads Sampha to sleep with he worries. In an interview, he explained that it remains a part of him because he can feel it every time he swallows. This track provides a realistic depiction of the vulnerability and limitations of life, especially because of the previous encounters Sampha has experienced with death. The chorus alludes to him melting as plastic from his own worries and public life, much like flying too close to the sun, as the clips of Neil Armstrong's Walk on the Moon suggest. This track is Sampha as his peak and we can't wait to see where his journey takes him.
Gorillaz ft. DRAM
Humanz
Our runner-up is our first-place winner at the midpoint of the year. "Andromeda" remains one of the best songs of the year for its incredible dance and electronic instrumental as well as its wonderful featuring of DRAM. However, the best work of course belongs to the main man, Damon Albarn. In an album that features dozens of artists taking control of the tracks, "Andromeda" is almost entirely Albarn's vocal work, with DRAM providing the pre-chorus and backup vocals in the chorus. In a track that highlights the nightclub Albarn frequented in the early 80s, the audience is teleported to those nights in Colchester with Albarn where seemingly anything was possible. Also, the track illustrates the necessity of finding love with the heart and taking advantage of any opportunity to find the right one. This track as a whole brings good times and dance vibes to our hearts, feet and souls in a year that although polarized with political overtones in music, reminds us to have fun and enjoy the best experiences of life.
#1: "Appointments" Julien Baker
Turn Out The Lights
Julien Baker is a goddess of melancholy. Over the course of her two albums, Sprained Ankle and Turn Out The Lights, the 22-year-old Nashville sweetheart has captivated her audience with themes of sadness and coping with depression. In this track that takes the cake for us this year, "Appointments" is a story of a couple where one party, where Baker represents, wants to stay in instead of go out with their partner. Seeing that their attitude has changed from a happier, more cheerful person to someone who constantly deals with depression, Baker's character feels that they will no longer fight and that their attempt to rid their depression is moot and will eventually push away their lover. The ultimate concession of losing love due to depression consuming them, Baker suggests that even seeking another counselor or therapist will not be enough to solve her depression and although they will try and be optimistic, they ultimately feel powerless and as if they will not succeed. The climax of this heartbreak is the peak of positivity and optimism that makes it seem that Baker will survive and find a way to conquer her depression in the new hope that seeking help will be the solution, that believing it will help will make it better. The final lines of our top pick describe someone who feels that they can go along with feeling optimistic until the cycle continues and their depression returns to destroy all the progress made: "And when I tell you that it is/Oh, it's more for my benefit/Maybe it's all gonna turn out all right/Oh, I know that it's not, but I have to believe that it is." We are left not on a positive note, as many songs dealing with depression do, but rather on a somber note that Baker's character has fallen deeper into their dismay, losing their lover, trying to improve themselves just to fail again and again. Although the song itself is heartbreaking to say the least, the raw delivery of Julien Baker on this track and the beautifully artistic music video that accompanies her unfazed singing makes this song, "Appointments" by Julien Baker off Turn Out The Lights, our favorite song of the year for 2017.
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