best of GreatestLoveofAll's 2024: The Oldies and the Newbies- DONE! #1 Album and Song pg 4!!!

[GreatestLoveofAll]

Ok this took forever to write up so i will get to comments tomorrow! see you all later 

[Alldeezy]

Bed chem + Forever With Me

[JGibson]

Songs: Bed Chem + II Most Wanted 

 

Albums: Billie 

[Mezik]

Both Timeless + HMHAS are incredible albums, and deserve all their flowers.  

 

Honestly this reveal/set of songs are all 11/10 songs. Not one bad thing I can say about any of them. Bed Chem is especially a fabulous track, and so tongue in cheek. Sabrina really delivered an incredible album this year.

[Renzo_]

Bed Chem 

[Kiss It Better]

Timeless + HMHAS + NLU + Bed Chem + BOA 

[Lee!!]

DWAS, Megan, Not Like Us, HMHAS

[GreatestLoveofAll]

Ive been away for so long im sorry. I never intended for that but I had a family trip and I left my laptop at home forgetting about this. I was so busy anyways tho so nothing would have happened fr. Anyways here it is! The final round and the one I have been waiting for. But before I present my top five songs and albums of the year, here's the last batch of songs that I discovered. Enjoy!

 

Round Eight

 

Songs I Discovered

 

 

Westside- Kaytranada and Amine (2023)

One of my tasteful friends (the one who recommended the 70s rnb!) suggested I listen to some other Kaytranada songs and this one was a highlight. I should finish the whole album tbh. 

 

 

 

 

This Woman's Work- Maxwell (2002)

The TikTok sound sent me to this (some of my twitter moots would be very disappointed) and this is just another reason why this app, for all its bad, is still such a powerful tool to help revisit and actually know the catalogs of so many past hitmakers in order to find fresh new sounds or bring back something that was of yesteryear. It boggles me how he sits in that falsetto for like 60 percent of this song. I cant imagine having to do this one live night after night. Finding out this was a COVER was even more mind boggling- and by Kate Bush no less. High chance her version shows up on next year's list. 

 

 

 

 

Gold- Prince (1995)

top five Prince song for me. Love the messaging, the pre-chorus is gold (pun intended) and it just proves how even in the years when he was just rushing through his output, his quality was never far away. 

 

 

 

 

Glory of Love- Peter Cetera (1986)

Once again, soft rock ballads with pop influences are my weakness and the 80s MASTERED that formula- I had like 3 of these kinda songs on my list last year and this year is hardly any different. Had this on repeat for a while for sure and Im gonna gag all over again in like five months when I rediscover it again.

 

 

 

 

I Wanna Know- Joe (2000)

A cool, sexy ballad and while his voice can be a little odd to me, I like this song a lot. It really feels like another time- I can imagine some of my friends vibing to this if I played this in the car and it kinda reminds me of Tamia's "So Into You".

 

 

 

 

Rub You the Right Way- Johnny Gill (1990)

New jack swing at its finest. One of the last songs to make this list, Johnny's voice growls, bellows, and rips across this track and you almost never want it to end. Very much a church reared baby he was and this proves it. 

 

 

 

 

Here and Now- Luther Vandross (1989)

Another very recent song to make the list this year, I was giving his greatest hits playlist on Spotify a spin and this gem came on. I already have a fave Luther song but this is very, very close to taking that spot. I can see why this is a must have wedding song for many and not cause its very obvious lyrics, but cause Luther is embodying every lyric and run and coo. A genius he was, an artist of impeccable stature. Also this was from his first major compilation and would go on to be bigger than any of the hits he was actually highlighting. I love when that happens.

 

 

 

 

Conqueror- Estelle (2014)

 I dont know why but when I realized who this was singing this I was rather shocked. Idk its may be cause it doesnt sound much like American Boy and ofc she isnt obliged to have all her songs sound the same, its the only one I have heard so the difference was a bit wowing too me even tho the song isnt very like non-mainstream. I love me a nice song of empowerment and she sells that chorus well. I especially love the second verse. 

 

 

 

 

Satellite- Khalid (2022)

During the whole drama between him and his ex, I saw snippets of a video to a song he made where it was purple hued and he was dancing with others and the chorus played- and I neeeeeeeded it. I'm honestly so annoyed that I never discovered this when it first came out cause there is almost nothing that brings me more joy than to see black artists openly delve into genres the music industry box them into. Honestly listening to the song and watching the video, a lot of joy went into this. This song is pop perfection from the lyrics, the catchy and endearing melody and how earnest he sounds. I cant stop playing this one and I dont think I mind.  

 

 

 

&

 

 

Songs of the Year

 

 

5. 360- Charli xcx

"Legacy is undebated, you gon' jump if AG made it"

 

It took me ages to full get into Brat and finally respect Charli for the artist that she is (more on that very soon). Yet you know what was instant? This CLASSIC. From the moment I heard I knew something special was happening. In my opinion this song is rightfully the most defining song of this album and encapsulates the whole "brat" theme and image that Charli has crafted and permanently implanted into the pop music vocab zeitgeist. From the undeniable bounce and darkness of the synths, the fearless attitude drenched all over her tones in the verses and lyrics, the way she lays out the eras entire thesis in barely 2 minutes... I dont know a pop song that was so clearly different from what was popular yet fit in so seamlessly you wonder where it was all along. I very nearly put this in the top 3 as I was writing this list up and while I may or may not regret not doing that soon, let it be known that this is one of the greatest songs of the decade- hands down.

 

 

 

 

4. Disease- Lady Gaga

"Lay you down like one, two, three, eyes rolled back in ecstasy"

 

Gaga's every 4 year return to pop music is always heralded in my book and this time, she might have done her greatest return yet. I was already hooked on the song's mere MENTION; needless to say the moment I could reach for my phone the morning it dropped I had already given the song its well-deserved 10s. Its not a perfect song exactly but the pros here heavily outweigh the far and few cons here. The bass is addicting, driving the darkness of the synths and lyrics deeper as the song gets more and more chaotic, more and more twisted. The song clearly harkens to her 2008-11 material but in my opinion might be more on the nose than any of them and that's not even a bad thing in this case. It feels like with some tweaking you could be transported right back to the days of Blackberries and iphone 4s with this. Her voice is the highlight here though, however no matter how pristine the production is. She resides in the lower chest for the first verse, and you almost wonder which path she will take- head voice dominant like on Shallow or thunder through the chest like on ROM. The latter is where she chooses and it in turn makes the most satisfying chorus of the year- especially when as she jumps from the second verse to it and from the bridge. Speaking of, I really do love how she made the bridge so distinct here. She was determined to give us a throwback-esque bop with this and made she each part that made the pop songs she pioneered so great was pronounced and the bridge is no different. Bringing it down slow enough to build up to the final howls of the last chorus and taking it home like only she can. LG7 is going to be a blast I just know it. 

 

 

 

 

3. YAYA- Beyonce

"Baby if you aint got no grits, get the f*** up out the South"

 

Here we are. I dont even think its fair to have to rank songs from this album because on an object level, none of them are seeing Cowboy Carter's very best songs musically. Yaya has been THE best song on this album for the very reason- there are few songs in her own discography that are as diverse, as fiery and as political all in one. Which is of course saying something as Beyonce has been political in every way since 2013's self-titled but here she simmers in it. As much as I want to, I am not equipped with the knowledge or words to break this down the way it deserves to be (there are plenty of articles and videos that can do that) so all I can really say is that if Beyonce can be this good so far into her career, there is no doubt whatsoever that she belongs in the same breath as all of the greats who ever came before her. Yaya's blending of traditional country, rock, americana, soul and funk- all genres with black people at its roots- is what makes it the true shining point on this album and without a doubt might very well be the best song of the trilogy so far.

 

 

 

 

2. supernatural- Ariana Grande

"This love's possessing me, but I dont mind at all"

 

Ariana at her best and one of the greatest non-single I have heard in years and by far the best of hers since "ghostin". It has everything that has made Ariana the most successful hitmaker of her generation: lyrics that feel like syrup gliding, synth pop production that borrows from R&B liberally, and of course the endlessly flexible and cooing voice that only Ariana possesses despite legions of younger girls using that vocal styling to craft their own perfect sets of pop songs. "supernatural" was the clear highlight of the album since day and I think that might be the one fact that her fans can agree on when it comes to these past two years of her life and career. When I first was making this list I knew this was going to be there somewhere but when it finally came to arranging the list I found myself thinking of the songs that came out this year that are undeniable in everyway. "supernatural" fit the description better than pretty much every single song on this list for just how perfect it is and had I gave the album a full listen when it first dropped it might have claimed the year's top spot. Yet another song got its dues first and I couldnt resist...

 

 

 

 

1. Good Luck, Babe!- Chappell Roan

"You'd have to stop the world just to stop the feeling"

 

Pop music is every shifting and changing form and rejuvenating under the scepter of a new pop star every so often. While others have had bigger numbers (Sabrina and Taylor) or been a part of larger musical narratives and praise (Beyonce and Kendrick), there is one who stood out and made her personality and her truest self- for better or worse- her star image and the world has collectively given her the attention and merit she deserves.

 

It was April when I first came across this song. It was a streaming elixir since the jump as the first time I ever saw it was on US Spotify's daily chart. I was curious ofc- you have to be an exceptionally significant song (mostly) to break into a top 10 dominated by Morgan Wallen and Taylor Swift and the usual hip-hop songs. Especially anyone with such a fashion statement as a single cover and the name 'Chappell'. I clicked play... and was truly floored. This is what America was making popular??? Everything about this song SCREAMS anthem of the year. A lesbian singing her frustrations to a closet partner who would rather fly through male partners instead of accepting that fact that they belong together and both of them know that was not what I expected to the song that stood out to me the most this year but its high time for it and I cant think of a better song to define my 2024. 

 

 

 

\\\

 

 

 

Albums of the Year

 

 

5. Brat- Charli xcx

What is there to say about this album without feeling pretentious and reaching for straws? I wont sit here and lie and act like I know much about hyper pop and electronic music even though I enjoy many songs that straddle both genres. I also wont sit here and lie and say I know much about Charli beside the obsession gays have over her decade long music career and the two radio hits she scored in like 2015. I never understood the appeal to her and avoided her music without a glimpse of guilt- after all I was sure that I wasn't her target audience and its not like she was omnipresent like some pop stars. The era's rollout started at the top of the year but I was none the wiser of its existence until the summer when the vibrant green album began to show its face literally everywhere I went. So that, with the mounting pressure of all my online mutuals and friends, I decided against my bias and tried the album out. I didn't care much for it first listen. The sound was clunky to me, lacking the familiar melodies and instrumentation I was accustomed to and while it definitely wasn't bad, I hadn't clicked like I wanted to. So it was a month or two before I returned, trying once again to find my footing with it. Second times the charm in this case cause it was with the second full listen where it clicked. What I most love about this album is how honest she is about serious issues in her life and that cross her mind. Anxiety runs rampant on this album and underneath the bangs and glitter and bravado of a few tracks, there is some very relatable songs here that are pulled off brilliantly. An album that defined a year and one that will stand the test of time. When we hit the end of the decade this album is making it top 10 on every list just you watch. Highlights: Rewind, I think about it all the time, 360, everything is romantic, B2b

 

 

 

 

4. eternal sunshine- Ariana Grande

So I think I'm just gonna say it: this is my favorite Ariana album and might even be her best one. I tend to appreciate shorter albums and especially ones that make every track count. ES is an album that was created from the fall out of her marriage and her life at that point and its clear the backlash she got after the news of her and Ethan broke was a huge factor in her mental health and that fragile state she was in battled with her will to survive and live her life on her own terms would spill into a beautiful, raw and graceful album that holds self love at its central theme. Ariana doesnt often get credit for being a great artist and most likely never truly will have her work held at the standards of a Billie and Taylor cause of her glamorous pop girl image (rather similarly to her greatest influence, Mariah), but she has consistently proven her ability to grow, try new things and most importantly be true to herself and tell her story time and time again. With this potentially being her last album for several years, I hope more and more people can find solace in their pain and insecurities with this album. Highlights: supernatural, the boy is mine, we cant be friends, imperfect for you, true story

 

 

 

 

3. Found Heaven- Conan Gray

Honestly I cant exactly remember what I was doing in the Music base here on ATRL the day this album dropped. I was in the mood for new music apparently cause both him and Benson Boone dropped that day and I gave two men streams that day which is very rare. Yet while the Benson album show faint promise here and there and I dont think I paid it much mind since, Conan's album? Oh this album has stayed in rotation and with the endless quality of its songs, I have a feeling it'll be like that for some time. I had never listened to a full Conan album before this (still haven't beside this) and the few songs I did know gave cute synth-pop and foot tappers but not truly hook worthy until I pressed play on this album. A time capsule to the glam rock, soft rock, dazzling pop melodies that defined the 70s and 80s, Conan jumps from track to track detailing the matters of his failed relationships. He laments about those who have left him, those who he knew were bad for him yet he stayed or still cant get away from. He yo-yos back and forth between wanting his pain to be acknowledged and wanting to still be with that person who perpetrated the mess- sometimes both in the same song. As disjointed as that sounds, the energetic, dramatic pop smash production makes the journey irresistible and truly, there are hardly any filler and on a good day, its one if the few albums where I sit through it all, constantly excited for the next song as if it was a popular TV show. Usually, i dont like when artist make their niche in one type of music and considering this is his worst-performing album, I dont see this musical shift staying for him but what i would do if I could ask him to give it one more go all over again. Highlights: Forever with Me, Never-Ending Song, Lonely Dancers, The Final Fight, Alley Rose

 

 

 

 

2. GNX- Kendrick Lamar

The very last album to come out on this list- so late that 90 percent of the list had already been done and I was basically at the final draft of the songs list. Hence why I didnt get the chance to include any of its songs and I didnt want to knock out any of the songs I had as I felt they were all deserving. Plus they came out far too late to fully live out their potential as individual tracks. As an album however... they do more than that. Kendrick has been my second favorite rapper since 2017 basically and I always respected him. His beef with the Canadian this year however put my respect for him on a new level and I spent the year going back into his catalog to see what he and all the rap legends were really about. GNX wrapped up a year of discovery and great feelings of appreciation for his art in a way that I was sort of hoping for/expecting, but not to the level in which in less than a month I deemed it worthy to pull ahead of much older albums and claim my #2 spot for the year. He seethes at #that man still and cements himself as the only true inheritor of the culture's scepter (though it's a spot even he is realizing isn't worth coveting for but not for the same reasons that he got into on his last album), but he also finds time to make it known that he has more to say than just dragging that one person. His cadences, his ability to create a melting pot of West Coast dominate sounds into an album littered with metaphors, both double entendres and straight in your face bars is really what not only makes this album an excellent piece of work not only for Kendrick's catalog but of the year, but easily his album with the most replay value. It may not move the culture like GKMC or TPAB did, but it certainly speaks to it and the people are responding back enthusiastically. Highlights: squabble up, reincarnated, luther, dodger blue, hey now

 

 

 

 

1. Cowboy Carter- Beyonce

You all saw this coming a mile away didnt you. I mean I think I gave it away pretty much like at the very beginning but if you skimmed or didnt see the CC songs littered in nearly every update or maybe just didnt read my many paragraphs, here it is: Cowboy Carter is my number one album of the year. If im honest, a lot of what I want to say about this album I already said in the praise I heaped on the 2-3 songs from it that I scrapped to keep on my countdown (there was like six originally) and I don't feel like repeating all of that again. Frankly, I really dont need to. The album does a far better job than I do when it comes to showcasing its greatness and all you need to do is click play on American Requiem and the journey of legacy, perseverance and musical excellency will begin to display itself before you. Its funny how I had slightly mixed feelings about this album when I first heard it. Now I cant imagine a world where Beyonce doesn't challenge the status quo and change the game with an album this ambitious. Simply the greatest artist of the century. Highlights: II Most Wanted, American Requiem, Tyrant, Yaya, Bodyguard

Edited December 31, 2024 by GreatestLoveofAll
editing

[GreatestLoveofAll]

On 12/26/2024 at 11:43 PM, Alldeezy said:

Bed chem + Forever With Me

taste and taste! did you like conans album (sorry if you already talked about it i havent checked everyones list updates yet)

On 12/27/2024 at 12:48 AM, JGibson said:

Songs: Bed Chem + II Most Wanted 

 

Albums: Billie 

omg i think youll like this album update even more and yesss 2 most legendary

22 hours ago, Lee!! said:

DWAS, Megan, Not Like Us, HMHAS

omg Lee hi! and tasteful as ever 

On 12/29/2024 at 9:06 AM, Kiss It Better said:

Timeless + HMHAS + NLU + Bed Chem + BOA 

TIMELESS PRAISE YUP what was your fave song 

On 12/27/2024 at 12:33 PM, Renzo_ said:

Bed Chem 

2025's number one hit i called it 

 

On 12/27/2024 at 10:32 AM, Mezik said:

Both Timeless + HMHAS are incredible albums, and deserve all their flowers.  

 

Honestly this reveal/set of songs are all 11/10 songs. Not one bad thing I can say about any of them. Bed Chem is especially a fabulous track, and so tongue in cheek. Sabrina really delivered an incredible album this year.

oh the tasteee. incredible albums indeed and yesss she really did im excited to see where she goes next 

 

[ARTPØP]

360, Disease, Good Luck Babe!, Supernatural  Sooooo many BOPS on your list, for sure 

[JGibson]

360 + Disease + Good Luck, Babe! 

[Hollywood.]

360 and Disease in songs 

 

Cowboy Carter and Eternal Sunshine 

[Kiss It Better]

Cowboy Carter being our AOTY 

 

Kaytramine was so good i think i should revisit that album again 

[gagacasanova]

Ok top 5 songs bringing all the bangers! Love to see it!

 

Cowboy Carter & eternal sunshine 

[Alldeezy]

360 + Disease + supernatural