Top 10 UK Hit Songs Of 2020

2020. The year that many thought was going to kick off a modern day equivalent of the Roaring 20’s, but sadly, that didn’t happen. The COVID-19 pandemic meant pubs were shut, live events and cinema screenings were put on hold, you couldn’t see friends face to face and you could only go on holiday to a nice exotic place if you were lucky. But what made us feel more lucky were the movies and the TV shows we were able to access. Streaming services like Netflix benefited from this, with their year defined by the likes of Tiger King, as well as episodes of Arrested Development from 2004. Also adding the list of things to keep us company throughout these tough times was the music. And how was the music this year?

If 2019 was the year that introduced us to songs getting big off TikTok, then 2020 was one in which TikTok became a prominent figure in pushing some of the year’s biggest hits, ranging from a lo-fi hip hop song with a Beabadoobee sample to a UK hip hop duo that crossed over to the US to even a Fleetwood Mac classic from the late 70’s.

Many critics were calling 2020 one of the best years for chart music in recent memory (at least for the Billboard hits), but I wasn’t sure if I agreed with that. I felt so because my favourite albums of 2020 didn’t reach the huge highs of my faves from 2019 (the year where fifteen albums managed to get a GOLD rating from me). I was also quite underwhelmed by the fact that the OCC had about a third of its year end list devoted to songs that already made previous year ends. But after planning out the albums list and refreshing my thoughts on the singles from the OCC year end list, I can safely say that this was another great year for music (both in the charts and in the albums)

Rules:

• Song must have debuted on the UK End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 compiled by The Official Charts Company (or OCC for short)
• For a song to be eligible for a Top 10 Hit Singles of {Year} list. It has to have a maximum of five years between its year of release and the year it debuted on a year end list. So for example, if I’m doing a Top 10 UK Hit Singles of 2018 countdown, hits that came out before 2013 do not count.
• I also have a ‘one entry per lead artist’ rule in order for the list to have more variety. Bands and members’ solo material can be separate exceptions to this. 

Transition Song Picks:

• Don’t Rush by Young T & Bugsey feat. Headie One
• Think About Things by Daði Freyr 
• Supalonely by Benee feat. Gus Dapperton
• Who’s That What’s That by Niko B
• Diamonds by Sam Smith

Now onto the countdown!

Number 10

So, it may be a while till this artist releases her sophomore album. But for now, let’s appreciate the non-album singles we have.

everything i wanted by Billie Eilish

Warning: References to suicide

One of the many instances in which Billie Eilish paints a melancholy picture through song and makes it sound beautiful.

The piano gives off an ambient, but also sombre vibe. It helps compliment the lyrical detail, as well as back up the emotional depth of the song. A keyboard ostinato then comes in during the 2nd verse to give off a more upbeat feel in contrast to the desolate pedal-driven piano.

The lyrics detail a dream in which Eilish commits suicide by jumping off a bridge. Everyone, including the bystanders, acted like nothing happened. The second verse looks at the people calling her ‘weak like [she’s] not just somebody’s daughter’, further adding to how badly society often treats mental health. After waking up from the nightmare, her brother comforts her in a chorus that strikes a chord.

Number 9

Since 2019, drill music is starting to become more mainstream in the UK. There were already hints of it before with Man’s Not Hot by Big Shaq and Airforce by DigDat (which hit the Top 20 near the end of 2018). There was also one drill track that made it to the 2019 year end, that being Keisha & Becky by Russ Splash and Tion Wayne. 

But the 2020 year end had some more. Four Pop Smoke songs made it there, though only Dior really contains that drill sound, the other three (which were posthumously released) are more in the R&B lane. There were two other singles, both featuring Stormzy. One has Tion Wayne as the lead artist, the other has Headie One. Guess which one made it onto the list?

Ain't It Different by Headie One feat. AJ Tracey and Stormzy

Headie One is one of the artists who has been getting more chart success thanks to the rising popularity of drill. He has had a few Top 20 hits in 2019, but 2020’s year end list marks his first appearance. Ain’t It Different is an easy highlight off of Edna. I may not like it as much as the Jamie xx produced track Smoke, but it comes quite close.

I like how the Chili Peppers guitar sample blends with the beat, which compliments our three artists as they rap with lots of charisma. Headie One’s verse has him rapping about finding a way to America without having his criminal record spotted, cheating a urinalysis and that iconic line about the Digestive biscuit birthday cake. Then we get to the chorus where the Lady Saw sample comes to further make this beat bump (and grind).

Number 8

This Is Real by Jax Jones feat. Ella Henderson

May not be as fondly memorable as You Don’t Know Me, or has as good production as All Day And Night, but my, it still succeeds in bringing in the fun. It’s the typical piano driven house that has become a UK chart trend for a few years now, but Ella Henderson sells this euphoric feeling of love well through the lyrics. She also does a random Rick Astley interpolation, and, weirdly, it works for me.

This is real, alright. Real good!

Number 7

This was originally released as a promo single for this artist’s album. Then summertime came, and it got re-released as an actual single with a music video. Needless to say, it was the perfect time.

Watermelon Sugar by Harry Styles

I was expecting Adore You to make it on my list, but going back to the Harry hits, I find myself preferring this one by a small margin.

The guitars give off some nice summer vibes as Harry uses food to describe a scene of love, starting off with ‘strawberries on a summer evening’ before getting to the chorus with the uplifting repetition of ‘watermelon sugar high’. All done so with subtlety and well done food metaphors.  Oh, and the trumpets near the end were a great addition.

Treat People With Kindness may have missed out on its UK chart entry, but at least we have the success of this, along with the big hits of Fine Line, to remember by.

Number 6

I briefly discussed a subgenre of electronic music called UK garage on my list for the Top 10 UK Hits of 2019. Go check that list out if you want to hear more about it, or if you’re more curious, check out Resident Advisor’s video on how UK garage evolved into dubstep.

I say this because the artist with the UK garage throwback from  that list did something similar the following year.

West Ten by AJ Tracey and Mabel

AJ Tracey successfully recaptures the magic of Ladbroke Grove with the help of producers Fred Again and Take A Daytrip (the former of whom was one of the producers on Ain’t It Different) and pop singer Mabel. He further does so by making a callback to the ‘cruise like a four wheel drive’ line.

Mabel’s chorus focuses on the joy of moving on from a past relationship as she gives this guy a kiss-off. AJ proves that he’s a ‘big beast when it comes to the lyrics’ and not only does he flow well over the two-step beat like he did on Ladbroke Grove, but with him saying that this girl was trying to stop him from achieving his goals, he could be rapping from the perspective of this guy Mabel is rejecting. This could make this a song about both people bragging about how they’ve made it on top after they break up, which is nice to hear.

Number 5

When your first big hit is a cover song (or a remix of a previously existing song), it can be tricky trying to follow it up with an original that matches the success of that cover. There have been a couple of artists this year who succeeded in doing so. Joel Corry, Nathan Dawe and this particular artist who got big off TikTok thanks to his remix of a Jay Sean song

Secrets by Regard and RAYE

The synths sound vibrant and chill and help compliment the feel of the lyrics, especially in the chorus. The content focuses on RAYE being suspicious of her partner, who could be cheating when she’s not around. The drop does have the same synth setting as the one on Ride It, but that doesn’t take away from the listening experience.

Also I have to give credit to this line in the 1st verse...

 I'ma have to take a mugshot, baby

What you're doin' to me is criminal, out here

Ha!

Number 4

2020 was the year of the retro throwback. Many artists have incorporated elements of the disco, pop and funk music of the 70’s and 80’s (and even the 90’s to some extent). All done to amazing results. Here’s the first of them.

Midnight Sky by Miley Cyrus

I was already curious about what Miley would have to offer after listening to Mother’s Daughter and Slide Away (the latter of which may rank as one of my favourites from her), but I was not expecting her to go for this gothic, cinematic style of 80s synthpop.

The song focuses on Miley feeling liberated after she moves on from a failed relationship. She takes the midnight sky and dives into her wildest desires to the point where she can’t ‘bite the devil on [her] tongue’. To further add to the 80s influence, she interpolates Edge Of Seventeen by Stevie Nicks in the chorus and it sounds wonderful. So wonderful that a mashup of the two songs called Edge Of Midnight entered the neon coloured building. 

When it comes to Stevie Nicks references in pop music, I don’t know if I prefer this or the pulsating guitar sample on Destiny’s Child’s Bootylicious, but I can say this is an amazing song. Now I patiently wait for Night Crawling to be released as the next single.

Number 3

Now onto the second of the throwback tunes on this list. And it comes from none other than the Poker Face artist herself.

Rain On Me by Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande

Chromatica marked Lady Gaga’s return to upbeat dance pop after her brief venture into country, and what better way to do it than with some disco influenced house that’s perfect for the dancefloor. The song sees Gaga move past trauma and become more sober. Ariana Grande comes in and sings about how we try to be our best in a ‘world where no one’s innocent’ and how we should refrain from bottling up our emotions. 

I like the different contexts that rain is placed in throughout the song. Gaga’s verse uses rain as a metaphor for her misery, while Ari’s verse uses it as holy water used to wash away your sins, adding a hint of gospel to this song.

Then we get to the drop and the effects used on the synths sound phenomenal, to the point where we start getting up and jumping up and down on the dancefloor. But we’ll have to wait a while before we can actually do that. Still looking forward to a potential Chromatica listening party

Number 2

And here’s throwback tune #3

Physical by Dua Lipa

Dua’s sophomore album Future Nostalgia came at a time when lockdown was commencing and we desperately needed that dose of upbeat dance pop, and it’s safe to say Dua fully delivered.

Physical is one of the highlights from that album, giving us some energetic synthpop in a similar vein to the Flashdance soundtrack. 

Dua relishes in the simulation of love she and her partner are in. She further sells this feeling when she says 'Who needs to go to sleep when I got you next to me?' before exploding into a pumping chorus with an Olivia Newton John interpolation.

Fantastic song! Hopefully, Levitating will make it to the next year end.

And now for some honourable mentions

HM1. Head & Heart by Joel Corry and MNEK

This and Watermelon Sugar were the songs that soundtracked the charts this summer. Coming with an earworm of a chorus and some nice piano driven house production.

HM2. Say So by Doja Cat

The Nicki Minaj remix did weigh this down for me, and I ended up preferring Like That for a few months, but after listening to Doja’s Hot Pink album, I was back to loving this song.  Doja gives off a sensual performance over the lush funk guitars as she encourages this guy to join in on the sex.

HM3. Break Up Song by Little Mix

I don’t think 16 year old me would have thought of including Little Mix on a favourites list of his, but here we are!

This song sees Little Mix go for an 80s new wave style. The synths sound lush as they sing about moving on from their past relationships through the music they listen to.

HM4. Looking For Me by Paul Woolford and Diplo feat. Kareen Lomax

Just a brilliant house song with good production as usual. Only further elevated by that short synth line in the instrumental break. The lyrics can get repetitive but they compliment the rhythmic pulse of the song.

HM5. What A Man Gotta Do by The Jonas Brothers

Well, this was an unexpected grower for me! I thought it was decent at first, but then I kept coming back to it and when I was listening to the songs from the 2020 year end, it further solidified itself as a contender for this list.

The guitars manage to generate this rhythmic pulse that just pulls me into the song, which is further elevated by that Bo Diddley rhythm in the bridge. The Jonas Brothers go ahead for this relationship to start. It does come with the weird line where they would do anything to be ‘locked up’ by this girl, but it’s executed well enough.

HM6. Roses (Imanbek Remix) by SAINT JHN

One of the occasions in which the remix manages to be better than the original. The pitched vocals weirdly work and fit the braggadocious tone of the lyrics. And because of the multiple listens I gave this song, I came to appreciate the original a little more.

HM7. Rain by Aitch and AJ Tracey feat. Tay Keith

Aitch’s most recent EP Polaris was a pleasant surprise considering that I originally wasn’t keen on him after hearing his breakout single “Taste (Make It Shake)”, and Rain is easily my favourite off that EP. 

Our two artists bring lots of charisma to their bars as they rap over the HUMBLE-esque piano beat, while also bringing in references to Looney Tunes, Kenan And Kel and Blueface.

HM8. Godzilla by Eminem feat. Juice WRLD

Rapping fast can be viewed by many as a gimmick, but for me, as long as it matches the intensity and the energy of the beat, then I like it, and Godzilla falls into this category.

Eminem’s frantic flows are just a treat to listen to, with him pulling so many rhymes and references together (even if a few of them come out cheesy). The super fast verse at the end may be just as good as the one on Rap God. I also like the posthumous chorus from Juice WRLD and how it compliments the addition of those menacing piano chords.

HM9. Savage by Megan Thee Stallion (particularly the Beyonce remix)

The SUGA EP would have made it onto my Top 10 EPs of 2020 hadn’t it been for the last three tracks. The song, while short, is already a fun bop with its minimal beat and amusing punchlines, but the Beyonce remix makes it feel more complete. We also have Beyonce doing a hip hop style that surprisingly fits.

HM10. you should be sad by Halsey

Like with What A Man Gotta Do, this was an unexpected grower for me. The acoustic guitar has this country vibe to it as Halsey sings about moving on from an unhealthy relationship (there seems to be a lot of songs on this list about this). She calls this guy out for abusing his hedonism and taking her for granted, and it sounds cathartic. I even got used to the loud guitar instrumental that comes after the chorus. This, Experiment On Me and Strangers are amongst my favourite Halsey songs.

HM11. WHAT'S POPPIN by Isaiah Zeke Jack Harlow

You know you’ve received satisfaction when one of your picks for future hits not only enters the Top 40, but makes it to the year end. Though to be fair, it mainly did so because of the remix.

Jack Harlow flows well over this rinky-dinky piano loop with quotable line upon quotable line. He brags about eating at an Italian restaurant and compares this girl he met to the Kim Possible villain Shego.

HM12. The Box by Roddy Ricch

No one was expecting this up and coming artist from the 2019 XXL Freshman list to block Justin Bieber’s Yummy from number one on Billboard Hot 100 (no matter how much Bieber tried). 

Like with WHAT’S POPPIN, this song is filled with lines that are instantly quotable. My favourites being ‘'Bitch, don't wear no shoes in my house' and a line where Roddy Ricch says that if he became president, he would put a bounty on George Zimmerman. The synths help compliment the feel of the lyrics, as do the sustained string chords that come up every now and then.

NUMBER ONE

Those who have been following my UK Top 20 rankings, you may know which song is sitting at this spot. For those that don’t, let me tell you something.

This artist released two songs in the same week near the end of 2019. One song looked like it was going to be the big hit of the two, but as time went by, the other song became bigger. And after a few months, it became a smash. And this hit is none other than…

Blinding Lights by The Weeknd

Looks like Physical wasn’t the only dose of synthpop we got this year, as The Weeknd came through with a song in this lane. The main difference is that this feels darker and has a faster pace. The production is filled to the brim with energy and also makes this song perfect for a night drive.

The song sees The Weeknd go over a breakup while feeling lonely in the city of Las Vegas, which he describes as ‘cold and empty’. The music backs up the melodrama really well and it only gets more exciting when he throws in a ‘Hey, hey, hey’ in the chorus just before the instrumental breakdown.

This has become such a sensation that when it got snubbed by the Grammy’s in favour of Yummy, it sparked outrage amongst the music reviewing community on Twitter. Looks like the Grammy’s made a mistake snubbing this, because this is a fantastic song.

Thanks for reading! But there is one thing that I need to say before we finish…

This was going to be the part where I say stay tuned for the Top 50 Songs Of 2020. Well, the thing is, back when I did my 2019 EOY countdown, The Top 50 Songs Of 2019 was the part of the countdown I enjoyed doing the least. This could be because of the time spent doing the lists for the albums and the hit songs, and possibly due to the fact that I wanted to move on to other things involving the succeeding year, and given the huge chaos of 2020, I now feel like moving on to 2021.

So with that being said, the Top 50 Songs Of 2020 may be going, but I won’t be doing the added elaboration for each song like I did with previous lists. I may think of changing things up when I post the list, but for now, this is what I feel like doing.

End of year list: https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-singles-chart/20200101/37501/