best of mokis best of 2020 | FINAL update - AOTY/SOTY revealed !

[K$Ellie]

Magic -> my future are all really good  haven't hurd the Rosalia sing, I would if she finally put out an album x

I was gonna listen to Teyana but the album was way too long and the reviews weren't even that good so I passed on it

Jojo album sucked ASS  Sawayama deserved to be higher but I'm happy to see it here  PG album was cute as well

Stay Tonight and Do It top 10, gay BOPS  If You're Too Shy and Naughty kinda basic  anthems a bit of a bop too x

ahhhhh Brightest Blue so high, VERY underrated album  Kali's album was STUNNING as well  Reve had big bops Haim cute x

[Lazuli]

chung ha really delivered the best kpop song of 2020 that’s only an unpromoted pre-release, and gave the gays everything they wanted at the same time. no wonder covid attacked her, she worked too hard this year  

anthems, do it, if you’re too shy, naughty. bops  

same girl, STTY was so disappointing that i had little hope in wimpiii but the 1-2-3 punch of summer girl, NIIT and hallelujah made me think they were gonna release AOTY instead 

did you really call the trash singles from brightest blue “blockbuster”?  

[mokitsu]

Spoiler

 

23 hours ago, Mr. Duff said:

The 1975  

 

Their most recent album is so underrated - I actually think I prefer it over most of their albums  

 

23 hours ago, Blue Rose said:

yaas at Do It stomping

Lianne  

 

22 hours ago, KasioKas said:

Do it top 10 I know that's right 

 

22 hours ago, Navyofbadgals said:

Do it and brightest blue

 

1975 turrible

 

21 hours ago, geodancefreak said:

Sin Miedo was very good 

 

20 hours ago, Psycho said:

Stay Tonight and Naughty house bops 

Anthems is catchy but too noisy

Do It too overrated 

 

We have WIMPIII at the same spot yas

Reve Festival is cute but Dumb Dumb and Perfect Red Velvet >

 

20 hours ago, Remmy said:

anthems is an absolute knock!!! my favorite from the album. Do It also goes off || WIM3 has some solid moments, never been a HAIM fan and it was actually the first full project I've heard from them. Then I heard previews of the others and just picked out a few tracks that sounded good. I wasn't in love with Brightest Blue, still enjoyed it for the most part. Gasoline + Power in your favorites

 

20 hours ago, Enigmanotta said:

Stay Tonight, Naughty, Anthems, Do It, The ReVe Festival, Brightest Blue

 

20 hours ago, Madame X said:

lol.  i didn't know charli did that with darude sandstorm but now i can't unhear it whenever i listen to the song.  thanks!

naughty is better than monster.  there i said it!  

and im glad you chose stay tonight, i think you know what i already think of it seems we're in agreement.  poor girl, hope she recovers from covid.

that cxh song is high for the top 10! shoulda been another, but im still glad to see them represented.

 

im kind of shocked you liked brightest blue that much tbh.  i agree its better than her last, but i'd say the tacked on songs were the best on the album too lol.

red velvet is cheating!  but you kinda had tea.

 

 

 

18 hours ago, Valtersen said:

definitely love your list 

 

18 hours ago, TalkThatRihanna said:

Do It is so high on so many peoples lists, I love to see it

 

17 hours ago, Slate said:

do it and anthems classics i fear  

 

17 hours ago, dangerousalex said:

Do It, Kali and Ellie 

 

17 hours ago, BlackoutZone said:

Do It is really great, but I'm one of the people who prefer the title track a little bit more

Naughty was definitely an instant highlight of the project, but the chorus production aged for me and I don't come back to it much, the melody is still strong af tho

ReVe obviously a career highlight, they just can't stop serving as a whole group

 

17 hours ago, Tom Vercetti said:

Favorite song set so far. Anthems has been relatable for many of us throughout the year. Stay Tonight and Naughty are some of the respective groups best songs. Album wise, I think Kali does stick with more of a unified sound since Isolation is more like a "buffet" of difference genre inspirations. I haven't listened to her album enough though to really be in tune with it. 

 

16 hours ago, TheWayWeWere said:

Charli getting acclaim WE LOVE TO SEE IT

Do It is ****ing masterpiece  

 

HAIM and Ellie did surprise me too with their records  

Lianne praise

 

and as always thank u for your writing, such a pleasure to read!

 

14 hours ago, hjelp said:

Lianne's album was a nice change of pace for her. I like the new sound  ReVe  but the Remember Forever snub is not cute  

 

14 hours ago, dreamofyou said:

anthems goes hard, i need an album full of those from miss xcx

 

14 hours ago, JGibson said:

IYTS(LMK) 

 

14 hours ago, 1998tweety said:

The kpop girlies ate this year up! Stay Tonight and Naughty are both amazing gay bops. The ReVe Festival felt a little all over the place, but it's understandable seeing as it's multiple projects stitched together. Overall a good album though!

 

13 hours ago, Legend E said:

do it

 

women in music and lianne  4 goddesses, literally

 

brightest blue overrated xx

 

13 hours ago, Sunderland 4ever said:

I just checked Lianne Le Havas a few days ago. Such a good discovery. I also like HAIM's record.

 

48 minutes ago, K$Ellie said:

Magic -> my future are all really good  haven't hurd the Rosalia sing, I would if she finally put out an album x

I was gonna listen to Teyana but the album was way too long and the reviews weren't even that good so I passed on it

Jojo album sucked ASS  Sawayama deserved to be higher but I'm happy to see it here  PG album was cute as well

Stay Tonight and Do It top 10, gay BOPS  If You're Too Shy and Naughty kinda basic  anthems a bit of a bop too x

ahhhhh Brightest Blue so high, VERY underrated album  Kali's album was STUNNING as well  Reve had big bops Haim cute x

 

 

 

thanks for the comments, as always now here's what you have all been waiting for, hope y'all like (most of) it

 

[mokitsu]

 SONGS

 

 

i know this song is like... universally panned but i don't care! blackpink came back stronger than ever after their regularly scheduled one year break with "how you like that", but the world hasn't forgotten them and they make it clear that they're aware of their ginormous power. the first few notes in their comeback single recall 2019's "kill this love", with its triumphant horns and their iconic callout: they're back in your area. but if "kill this love" was about a toxic romance that needed to be ended, "how you like that" is its triumphant follow up - the girls are alone and better than ever. every section in this song is different, but obviously the drop in the chorus is so present that it should be the 5th member. it's noisy but it gives me a buzz, and it's when it mutates into it's final form during the outro, it's genuinely chill inducing.

 

 

 

 

 

megan and beyoncé was a collaboration that is both obvious and unexpected. the texans had expressed love and admiration for each other, but when was the last time beyoncé hopped on a newcomer's track? "savage", a standout track on megan's ep "suga", was already on track to become a chart hit after going viral on tiktok, but the beyoncé rework made it soar up the charts in no time. and it's deserved: it's a ****ing good remix. the already great song gets ten times richer and sexier with beyoncé's adlibs and whispers throughout the song and her rap verses are genuinely catchy and quoteable as **** (it's not everyday you hear bey rap about having an onlyfans). their dynamic and playfulness throughout the song is amazing, and it truly feels like two best friends having fun.

 

 

 

 

 

despite being butchered with horrible remixes across the year, "levitating" is undoubtedly the crown jewel of "future nostalgia". it balances the breezy and carefree energy of the record with its unapologetically fun disco side, creating an irresistible banger that will be played across every gay club in the world for decades to come. the space imagery of the cover is present in the lyrics, that invite the listener to an intergalactic party. and if this bouncy song is indication of how fun a night out with dua is, then i'll get in my spaceship asap.

 

 

 

 

 

much like the disco divas of the 70s, jessie starts of "spotlight" slow: during its first 40 seconds, there's nothing but some strings and her voice, tinged with melancholy and crying for her unreachable lover. and then we're introduced to the groovy, nu-disco beat that makes up the song. it still feels like a slow burner, with its intensity and tension building up over the course of the song in a theatrical way. jessie carries this song much like her best song "running" - with a quiet, dreamy intensity that's tinged with sadness and despair, and that reaches its peak during the amazing climax. not only is this one of the most faithful disco reinterpretations of the year, it's also the best - and jessie carries it with an unmatched class and elegance.

[mokitsu]

 ALBUMS

 

 

its quite fitting that the weeknd, being the leading man in pop and r&b right now, is surrounded in mystery - despite getting one or two glimpses into his life through his music, he stays largely in the shadows. and "after hours" plays up to that: it's cinematic, almost like a conceptual night out in las vegas where the red suited, beaten up character abel portrayed this era thrives. and almost ten years since his first mixtape "house of balloons" came out, "after hours" feels like a museum trip in which every persona abel inhabited this past decade is on display: there's the max martin produced pop in this year's biggest hit "blinding lights", some callbacks to 2018's excellent ep with "too late" and of course, the hazy alternative r&b he became famous for. in no way do they feel like rehashes though; there's a clear sonic pallette and cohesive theme across all tracks, and a fresh approach inspired by his electronic influences and collaborators (obligatory opn shoutout - he also remixed save your tears and made it ten times better). it's a dark project, a nocturnal tour-de-force where death and overdoses are just around the corner, and abel carries it in a way that nobody else could.

favorite songs: alone again, until i bleed out, faith

 

 

 

 

 

and here's my go to depressive album of the year! i've loved phoebe ever since i listened to "stranger in the alps" in 2017, but her music and genius truly hit me hard last year. for the first time, i feel like i understood what she meant when she talked about abuse and overcoming trauma. phoebe showed her growth in "boygenius" and "better oblivion community center", and this album feels like her best and most realized project yet. phoebe has gone through some **** and "punisher" is a 40 minute therapy session. the lyrics are scatterbrained and conversational but vulnerable, and incredibly personal. i'd describe this album as cinematic and haunting - her storytelling paints a vivid image in your mind only to tear it apart the next verse and rearrange it completely, and the instrumentals are both epic/climatic and more sparse, folk - all with a hint of doom. phoebe is probably the closest i have to a gen-z hero and even through her deadpan humor, "punisher" is a crushing record, and one i've cherished in my loneliest nights this year.

favorite songs: punisher, savior complex, graceland too

 

 

 

 

 

i've been a fan of this sister duo for some years now, and seeing them finally coming into their own and getting their flowers just makes me happy as ****. yes, "the kids are alright" was a little... disney in its themes (they WERE teens, after all), but it was still a great record front to back, with some moments that truly showcased how well they work together and how sharp their creative vision is. with "ungodly hour", however, it truly feels like they tapped into all the unrealized potential they had and used it to create a coming of age album unlike any other. as the bailey sisters grew into young adults, they discovered what it's like to date, get cheated on (and be the other woman), and party - and all that is evident on this album, that highlights their sisterly bond and love as they journey through new feelings and experiences. there's a nocturnal and dark feel here, as if all of the tracks take place after some shots - both the fun, ass shaking ones and the late night confessional ones. in a time where r&b is lacking in groups, their harmonies and how they play off each other's vocals stands out here - and ****, im not even going to go into those vocals! "ungodly hour" is an incredible fusion of r&b and pop, and it was truly a MOMENT this year.

favorite songs: do it, ungodly hour, forgive me

 

 

 

 

 

do i really need to write about "future nostalgia"? as we're wrapping up 2020, it stands as one of the most successful albums of the year, with countless hit singles and an era that will be written about in the gay history books. we've all heard it, and we all love it. while i've been a fan of dua's since i heard "last dance" through twitter in 2015, her self titled debut was pretty much a disappointment - all over the place stylistically, and with a generic-ness that was hard to shake. it was a result of years in limbo, waiting for a hit to arrive and kickstart dua's career (which, ironically, only came after its release). after the massive success and acclaim of the house-y bops "one kiss" and "electricity", dua employed the same sleek and sensual throwback sound into "future nostalgia", and it's a massive success. rooted in 70s disco and 80s synthpop with a modern twist, this album feels like a blockbuster superhero movie - every single song in it is crafted to be as big and interesting as possible, with no boring moments (except that closer). her artistic integrity and evolution shines through this record, and if we didn't care dua or wrote her off as a radio artist, this album is a big wake-up slap.

favorite songs: levitating, pretty please, don't start now

 

 

[mokitsu]

 #1 SONG

Spoiler

red velvet

psycho

 

 

as the kpop group with the best discography, across decades, genres and trends, red velvet are no strangers to making great music and undeniable hits. and with so many years and experience under their belt, it's no wonder that this song is just an all around triumph. rarely have the girls managed to balance their brash, lowkey experimental pop side with their r&b, sensual one - "bad boy" succeeded with this, but "psycho" just blows it out of the water. this song is just gargantuan, with the combination of dramatic strings and pulsating cold synths creating a chorus so big it's chill inducing. this song is perfectly paced, with each member showing off their individual strengths and gorgeous, powerful vocals. "we'll be ok" is the perfect way to send red velvet, and the rest of us, into 2021.

 

 

#1 ALBUM

Spoiler

jessie ware

what’s your pleasure?

 

 

i knew from the second i heard "overtime" that jessie ware wasn't here to play anymore. although the 2018 house single ended up not making the record my suspicions came true, and "what's your pleasure?" stands easily as my favorite album of the decade (ha!). and after her last two records (one being great, the other...not so much) it's such a pleasure to see and hear jessie having fun again. in fact, she was so miserable after "though love" and "glasshouse" that she considered retiring - especially after touring the latter album and an awful 2018 coachella set, where besides clashing with cardi b and having technical issues, she felt as if the audience just wasn't there for her songs about "motherhood". and well... she's right. as warm and cute those adult contemporary songs are, it's a completely different thing to hear jessie whisper about sadomasochism over a dark nu-disco beat. this album is jessie's love letter to a sweaty night club in berlin, where everybody is looking for somebody to go to the bathroom for a quick **** with. it's lush, it's funky, it balances class, sophistication, emotion and sexuality in a way only a 36 year-old woman who knows what she's doing can. there's a newfound edge and boldness to jessie and that confidence can be heard throughout every track. even when her heart is breaking, she has her hand in your face and she's demanding you to listen. it's a consistent and exciting album unlike any other i've heard this year - and quite frankly, a masterpiece.

favorite songs: spotlight, in your eyes, what's your pleasure?

 

Edited December 14, 2020 by mokitsu

[mokitsu]

 RECAP:

 

eps of the year

Spoiler

#10: (G)I-DLE - "I trust"

#9: Red Velvet - Irene & Seulgi - "Monster"

#8: EVERGLOW: "-77.82x-78.29"

#7: LOONA - "[12:00]"

#6: Tei Shi - "Die 4 Ur Love"

#5: NATURE - "NATURE WORLD: CODE M"

#4: KAI - "KAI - The 1st Mini Album"

#3: GWSN - "the Keys"

#2: Troye Sivan - "In a Dream"

#1: Jasmine Jethwa - "Hurricane"

 

songs of the year

Spoiler

#50: Fiona Apple - "I Want You to Love Me"

#49: Ariana Grande - "west side"

#48: Lady Gaga with BLACKPINK - "Sour Candy"

#47: Lykke Li - "BRON"

#46: Arca with ROSALÍA - "KLK"

#45: Perfume Genius - "Jason"

#44: Chloe x Halle - "Ungodly Hour"

#43: JoJo - "Comeback"

#42: Tove Lo - "Bikini ****"

#41: LOONA - "Fall Again"

#40: Lost Girl - "I Won't Give Up"

#39: Pabllo Vittar - "Rajadão"

#38: GFRIEND - "MAGO"

#37: Florence + the Machine - "Light of Love"

#36: The Weeknd - "Alone Again"

#35: Miley Cyrus - "Midnight Sky"

#34: Red Velvet - "Milky Way"

#33: Lianne La Havas - "Weird Fishes"

#32: NIKI - "Switchblade"

#31: HAIM - "Leaning on You"

#30: Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande - "Rain on Me"

#29: ROSALÍA - "Juro Que"

#28: Rina Sawayama - "Comme des Garçons"

#27: GFRIEND - "Apple"

#26: Apink - "Dumhdurum"

#25: Soccer Mommy - "circle the drain"

#24: TAEMIN - "IDEA"

#23: Amber Mark - "Generous"

#22: Tennis - "Need Your Love"

#21: Romy - "Lifetime"

#20: Madison Beer - "Baby"

#19: Selena Gomez - "Boyfriend"

#18: STAYC - "SO BAD"

#17: Dua Lipa with Angèle - "Fever"

#16: YUKIKA - "SOUL LADY"

#15: Kylie Minogue - "Magic"

#14: Dua Lipa - "Pretty Please"

#13: Jessie Ware - "In Your Eyes"

#12: Billie Eilish - "my future"

#11: ROSALÍA - "Dolerme"

#10: Chung Ha - "Stay Tonight"

#9: The 1975 - "If You're Too Shy (Let Me Know)"

#8: Red Velvet - IRENE & SEULGI - "Naughty"

#7: Charli XCX - "Anthems"

#6: Chloe x Halle - "Do It"

#5: BLACKPINK - "How You Like That"

#4: Megan Thee Stallion with Beyoncé - "Savage Remix"

#3: Dua Lipa - "Levitating"

#2: Jessie Ware - "Spotlight!

#1: Red Velvet - "Psycho"

 

albums of the year

Spoiler

#40: Cleo Sol - "Rose in the Dark"

#39:  GFRIEND - "Walpurgis Night"

#38: Fleet Foxes - "Shore"

#37: Mac Miller - "Circles"

#36: Poppy - "I Disagree"

#35: Lina & Raul Refree - "Lina_Raul Refree"

#34: Soccer Mommy - "color theory"

#33: Flo Milli - "Ho, why is you here ?"

#32: Selena Gomez - "Rare"

#31: Hayley Williams - "Petals for Armor"

#30: Jhené Aiko - "Chilombo"

#29: Dagny - "Strangers / Lovers"

#28: Yves Tumor - "Heaven to a Tortured Mind"

#27: The 1975 - "Notes on a Conditional Form"

#26: Charli XCX - "how i'm feeling now"

#25: Kylie - "DISCO"

#24: Lapsley - "Through Water"

#23: Disclosure - "ENERGY"

#22: Carly Rae Jepsen - "Dedicated Side B"

#21: Alina Baraz - "It Was Divine"

#20: Halsey - "Manic"

#19: Taylor Swift - "folklore"

#18: Empress Of - "I'm Your Empress Of"

#17: TAEMIN - "Never Gonna Dance Again"

#16: YUKIKA - "SOUL LADY"

#15: Teyana Taylor: "The Album"

#14: Jojo: "good to know"

#13: Perfume Genius: "Set My Heart on Fire Immediately"

#12: Rina Sawayama: "SAWAYAMA"

#11: Tennis: "Swimmer"

#10: Kali Uchis: "Sin Miedo"

#9: HAIM: "Women in Music Pt. III"

#8: Red Velvet: "ReVe Festival Finale"

#7: Ellie Goulding: "Brightest Blue"

#6: Lianne La Havas: "Lianne La Havas" 

#5: The Weeknd - "After Hours"

#4: Phoebe Bridgers - "Punisher"

#3: Chloe x Halle - "Ungodly Hour"

#2: Dua Lipa - "Future Nostalgia"

#1: Jessie Ware - "What's Your Pleasure?"

 

and that's a wrap for this year! i'm honestly surprised and glad i finally finished one of my best of threads. thank you so much to any and everyone who commented i love seeing the appreciation for my graphics, writing and obviously my taste i know there's mainly mainstream releases here as i didn't explore much besides the big label artists, but im loving finding out stuff i missed through everyone's best ofs, so keep em coming and i'll keep lurking in this section have a great 2021

[K$Ellie]

oh wow well Psycho does slap, I still don't know which version I prefer cause I like the extra synths but it sounds overproduced that way

the whole top 3 is flawless, all 10/10s  I prefer the original Savage by miles tho  and HYLT, well I listen for a giggle sometimes, great outro x

#1 album is deffo deserved, she DELIVERED  Future Nostalgia and Ungodly Hour are both great with like 2 fillers but still

wasn't huge on Phoebe's album but I should have given it a few more tries  After Hours great album too

[dreamofyou]

i really need to listen to jessie but the taste otherwise

[Navyofbadgals]

Yes Dua yea talent  and if FN wasn’t to be #1, WYP is a great alternative very noice

[clue]

We have the same AOTY woooooo :riri:

 

Save a Kiss -> Adore You -> In Your Eyes is like the strongest punch EVER

 

[BlackoutZone]

Amazing amazing update

Surprised with AH being so high, but I get it with the write up

Same top 2 for the albums, but obviously flipped, Ungodly Hour would make it to my top 10/15 too

The top 4 tracks just couldn't be more perfect either

[TalkThatRihanna]

Savage Remix & Levitating  

[Alex]

ungodly hour and future nostalgia 

i got into WYP too late so i can’t say if it deserves #1 but i get why it could be 

[Mr. Duff]

I have read so much good things about the Jessie Ware album - I guess I should listen.

 

Dua Lipa also dominating  

[Enigmanotta]

Jessie sweeping as she absolutely should! Very great final top 5 in both of these categories. 

[nasa]

Perfect update  Levitating, Savage Remix, After Hours, Future Nostalgia, other great songs / albums 

 

[Psycho]

HYLT

Savage Remix was cute 

Levitating and Spotlight

Psycho  best K-Pop song for sure

 

Didn't expect After Hours

Ungodly Hour, FN

WYP top 3 AOTY

[Blue Rose]

Snapped with your #1 album

Savage Remix securing another top10 placement

[Slate]

great update  psycho is truly a masterpiece

[ikiru]

amazing update!

love the whole album top 5, except for punisher

how you like that #5 wow my biggest guilty pleasure this year!

psycho is a great song! I just started to appreciate it, wasn't a fan when it got released!

[geodancefreak]

Dua and Jessie yaaaasss 

[madonnas]

Psycho is not one of my faves ...    BUT YESS WHATS YOUR PLEASURE.  it’s true I felt the same way.  Overtime just completely made me forget that most of glasshouse happened.  

[Staryu]

Taste  Levitating and Savage are in my top 100 of all time I think, Jessie Ware deserves all the praise  

[TheWayWeWere]

I kinda hated Beyonce trend to jump onto remixes of already popular songs  but her verse on this slays  

Levitating is pop perfection

Spotlight deserved to be #1 too  it's one of my all-time favorite songs tbh  

 

I loved After Hours, but I think it was his weakest record of the 3

Punisher such a nice discover by the end of the year

Ungodly Hour is one of the best r&b records in YEARS

Future Nostalgia  

WYP is ****ing masterpiece! I loved all her 4 records, but this truly going to be my favorite of hers