Music Chart RP Style - w/c sometime in December...

A new year, and that brings a whole new set of songs to listen to.

Now I know I’ve been neglecting my duties slightly here, not giving you one a week, but I’m going to try my hardest to keep updating you with songs that tickle my heart, make me tap my feet and drum along with my fingers.

It’s been a weird year. And even though this day has only had 7 days in it so far (I’m scribing this on January 7th) it’s been just as weird... But what I’ve truly missed this year, is the NEW films that should have come out. Because with every new film, comes new music...

But that said, there still millions, if not billions of songs to choose from for now... so below are the 10 I’ve been mainly listening to in week 1 of what I hope will be a FANTASTIC year. (Come on 2021, be fantastic!)

I was going to start afresh completely, when I realised I still had 10 left to review... And these 10 awesome tracks have been supplied from the musical brain of my cousin Harry (apologies Harry for this taking so long to get up...) But it’s better late than never, eh?

(I like to think that I had some input here because I've essentially forced movie soundtracks on Harry his whole life... but some of these are things we've experienced together, or just plain awesome songs! And some are completely brand new.)

The playlist is here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5uvGPB5HsOhdICfOxGVqDZ?si=6mF64sCsT12-sb3mmQUB9Q

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NUMBER 10.

Adore You - Harry Styles

I've never really been a fan of the One Direction boys in their solo careers... and I was a bit peed off that the only reason people (of a certain age variety (ahem, Teens)) were watching Dunkirk was because of the above Harry Styles. I admit he was okay... but I was gladly one of the people who watched it for it's cinematography and story, not the eye-candy. Although Tom Hardy. Anyway. The song. It's actually pretty good! He's probably got the best voice out of the 1D boys, although Niall is a close second, and I very much enjoyed the backing track to it as well. Good shout Hazza!

NUMBER 9.

Dumbledore's Farewell - Nicholas Hooper

I've already done this track in one of mine, I think, but it is most definitely worth a repeat. The solemn strings and the sorrowful choir tones are what gives all the emotion in.this track. Even without looking at the picture, you can hear the sadness in everyone as they look on at their headmaster. As the music builds, you can hear the magic pulsing through, warding away evil. I'd argue this is my favourite track of the whole series... and definitely an excellent choice. God it's giving me feels.

NUMBER 8.

Glasgow Love Theme - Craig Armstrong

This is probably one of the most iconic pieces of piano music you can ever hear in a film. It's full of love, hope and sadness at the same time. Whenever I hear it, I remember just how good this film really is, and how good of a job Craig Armstrong did. If you listen carefully you can hear the beautiful motif whenever a pair fall in love... Listen out for it when you watch the film and then you'll never unhear it. We sang this with choir in 2019 at our Christmas concert, and even if it's just strings and the piano, it's one of the most beautiful piano and strings pieces you will ever hear.

NUMBER 7.

Grace Kelly - MIKA

This is just a throwback. I love Mika's voice. Where is Mika these days? He sounds so much like Freddie Mercury, it's scary... and after doing a Queen concert, you really can hear the similarities. This came out in 2007 and I remember everyone at school being obsessed with this song - the album really - so it's lovely to listen to it again... taking me back.

NUMBER 6.

Kids - Mikky Ekko

Harry and my thing is Teen Wolf. And Kids by Mikky Ekko is the one song that both of us can categorically tell you in the best song in the series. And these two. The bond between these two is the whole reason the show is as amazing as it is - season 3 is the best hands down (AND the season that showed the acting world just how amazing Dylan O'Brien's talent is) - and this was mine and Harry's life for 6 seasons. Every weekend was us sitting in front of separate laptop screens watching the latest episodes... Ahhhh good times.

(Unfortunately the original isn't on Spotify for some reason, so it's just a tribute copy, but if you want to hear the REAL one, which is amazing, click the link here to find it on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnSYFBvrZLs)

NUMBER 5.

Arrival of the Birds - The Cinematic Orchestra

I've only heard one of The Cinematique Orchestra's songs 'To Build A Home' so this band is actually still relatively new to me, and I love that I'm pleasantly surprised. Again the juxtaposition of the strings and a piano works so well here... and the beauty in the music is graceful and gliding, like a bird, that it makes sense that it describes a flock of flamingoes. I don't know if this is a TV series or just an album, but it's beautiful, and was definitely on repeat for a while back in December. Also how CUTE are baby flamingoes. It will always remind me, though, of mine and Harry's trip to Mull, where we went into a nature hut, and someone had written on the board that they had spotted a 'grey flamingo'. It took me a second to work out the little kid who'd wrote it meant he'd seen a heron... but he isn't technically wrong. They do look like grey flamingoes.

NUMBER 4.

Light of the Seven - Ramin Djawadi

Even though this track sits at a whopping 9m49s, this is arguably the best song in the Game of Thrones soundtrack, aside from the opening credits of course. The song has stages, because it tells of stages in the longest tele-cinematic experience. You have the first softer, unsure theme of the piano and cello (see, yet another track that shows how WELL the piano and cello work together!!). You have the second theme, the piano, cello and then the addition of the soft choral voices... which even though they're soft, pack emotional punch. Then you have the third theme... which is the best one. The addition of the organ and the accelerated notes hint at something coming closer and closer to its end. Spoilers: Lannisters. And you know what, even after all that you have 3 minutes left. Epic. So much happens in this episode, and this track describes it all perfectly. If you have a spare 10 mins, give it a listen.

NUMBER 3.

Blinding Lights - The Weeknd

Ah, 2020's lockdown anthem. The original TikTok dance number... Whenever I hear this, I just see all the stupid dances that I continually scrolled through, causing me to sink further and further into that TikTok hole EVERYONE understands. It's a really good track though. Totally singable. And you have no idea how many times my computer corrected his name on the description above. (NO the missing E is not my lack of spelling skills...) This song will be branded the song that got the entire world through Lockdown. That and 'Oh Nanana'.

NUMBER 2.

He Lives In You - Lebo M

This is probably the only Disney original sequel that I actually enjoy. It's not as good as Lion King, OBVS, but it's literally a very close second. But this song IS one THE GREATEST songs of songdom. I cannot skip this song whenever it comes on. If anyone has ever seen the stage show, they will understand. It has the power to evoke emotions and make you well up every single time. The guy that sings it at the beginning of the show is INCREDIBLE. And of course Lebo M is a genius for bringing the world this. Josie and I can sit in the car and sing this for hours.

If you do anything once Lockdown is properly over, please go and see The Lion King stage show. I promise you it will blow your socks off, and you will cry when you hear this song.

NUMBER 1.

Quarter Past Midnight - Bastille

I'd only really heard Pompeii before Harry, Rob, Josie and I went on our road trip to Highclere Castle, but now I am firmly a Bastille fan. This song will now always remind me of that day, which was one the highlights of last year. A day out with great people, at a great place... Bring back social plans!! And soon!!

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So there we go... Anybody not want that to end?? There isn't anything wrong with any of these, and I've even learned a few new ones this time around! Thank you Hazza!

As ever, if you can't be arsed to scroll back to the top of the screen, the playlist is here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5uvGPB5HsOhdICfOxGVqDZ?si=6mF64sCsT12-sb3mmQUB9Q

And if you want to listen to my old tracks I've 'reviewed' before, you can find them here too: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5fhY81wTXMPjzRRKu2CAbY?si=_sXb6r-6TFKeMxrmi05Vsw

Stay tuned soon to hear some more tunes. I've forgotten how much I love writing these, as it gives me a chance to switch off from work, listen to great tunes and write about the films I truly love!