ben’s top 50 songs of 2020 [50–26]
Imagine for a moment if I started this blog saying how much this year sucked and added “while it did, at least we had good music through it all.”
If you imagined me writing that clownery, look to the top of your screen, hit that X on the tab and go on about your day without this write-up.
I had an OK year but don’t get it twisted, I don’t see songs — or any art form — as some saving grace to the wrongs of this year.
From a personal standpoint, music did find its way as a soundtrack to a chaotic yet interesting year: a year where an adventurous furry little man (Sullivan) joined my family, a year where I started a podcast with my brother and a year where my mom was as happy as ever living in a new apartment with my little brother.
Simply put, I’m glad those things happened and I’m hoping for more of the same in 2021 (the only thing I want to change is for Frank to drop an album).
But I’m gonna cut to the chase on the following 50 songs, my favorites and the ones that kept me afloat through it all. I’m breaking this up into two parts but I’m going to consider this a living document. If things wind up dropping post-this list, I’ll change it. But I want to start doing this for now and forever. Hopefully someday this list can act as a personal history book for some younger family member or kid of mine to show them how cool I once was (“once”). So to kick it off… here’s the first 25 songs:
50. “Dear April” — Frank Ocean
Will we ever get a follow-up to “Blonde”? I know this technically came out last year but Spotify added it THIS YEAR so get outta here with any nonsense like that. A simple, in & out acoustic beat and sprinkle some Frank crooning on it and it’s a natural combination.
49. “Moody” — Sheff G
Oh my how much I love this song. And boy how nice it would have been to hear this at some New Yorker’s house party as I closed out my time in college. Sheff G has it, this hook is just too dang catchy.
48. “Boys Don’t Cry” (feat. Bobby Raps)— KEY
I’m not going to lie I was super disappointed by KEY!’s offerings this year (also his party he hosted early on in the pandemic that he openly invited his fans to attend in the ATL shouldn’t go unnoted). But this man knows how to make a hook and how to flow over a beat more than 99% of the rap game. This was the dopest song of them all this year, even if it wasn’t in the same bracket as “777.”
47. “Stunt Cams” — They Hate Change
Maybe I’m dating myself, maybe I’m not, but I miss the Main Attrakionz. This is the closest thing to that fun, cloud rap-era that’s producing BETTER rap over more house-style beats. I’m so glad these dudes came up on a random playlist of mine earlier this fall. Seriously, check them out.
46. “HIT EM WHERE IT HURTS” — PawPaw Rod
I’m so glad guys like this mellow me the heck down. The coolness of his voice, the bridge on this thing — “I’ve been down with you, you been down with me, we know this ain’t all talk” — along with the chant (“set sail, lighthouse, search) just oozes of wavyness. I love this a lot.
45. “fuego” (feat. Tyler The Creator) — Channel Tres
May I just say Channel Tres please do a tour when this is all over?? This is one of those collaborations where both the producer/smooth vocalist in Channel Tres and Tyler’s scattered drum pattern and singing just sound lovely together.
44. “Song 33” — Noname
Remember that moment when this woman dissed J. Cole? Feels like a decade ago. Anyways, I know things were ironed out or whatever but this is still dope as hell and I loved the way she responded here.
43. “Not Friendly” — Flo Milli
I listened to this song/project at least 100 times the week it dropped. That is all. This brings me back to early 00s trap/rap with that drum effect.
42. “SUCKA!” (feat. Fred Flippstone) — Teezo Touchdown
From the dancing/hand motions in this video to the punk attitude he has, oh yeah and that “howling at the moon, SUCKA” crying guitar laced in the middle of this whole thing, what’s there to hate?
41. “Stick!”(feat. FABO) — Zack Fox
This man wasn’t even really a rapper but dang, some of these lines are as hilarious as “Jesus is the One, one of my most listened to songs EVER. Anyways, Sade??? DONALD DUCK??? And Fabo’s dancing is all I really need in my life.
40. “SHOWING YOU” — PARTYNEXTDOOR
One of my clear memories from listening to music this year was driving down that busted highway in Lewiston after running at Fort Niagara, looking above me to see a helicopter circling overhead apparently looking for something and blasting this album with the windows down. The emotions on this through his voice show this guy hasn’t fell off.
39. “Day 7.5093” — Nilufer Yanya
This literally came out a few hours ago but this is one of my favorite artists currently. She’s so catchy and the seemingly guitar-heavy song still feels heavily out of the bounds of any genre you can pinpoint.
38. “Reinvent” — Phoebe Green
Soundtrack vibes, final credits or “moment of truth” scene vibes. The lyrics here over and approach are seemingly influenced by some products of the 80s. 2020 is the year of Phoebes.
37. “You’ll miss me when I’m not around” — Grimes
We love to see a pro-sword musician. I wonder what X Æ A-12 of this joint, a joint that feels like an AI was asked to produce the next Grimes song and that AI did its job to the nth degree.
36. “Ghost of Soulja Slim” — Jay Electronica
“…My ancestors took old food, made soul food. Jim Crow’s a troll, too, he stole the soul music. That’s the blood that goes through me, so you assumin’. I could never sell my soul, they sold their soul to me. Peaceful teaching of Rumi, but don’t confuse me. You mouth off for the cameras, I’ll make a silent movie. Now here’s some jewelry. No civilization is ever conquered from the outside until it destroys itself from within. Pen. Put a pin in that, will come back when I fin. You can’t talk like I talk ’cause you ain’t been where I been.” Just wow.
35. “Euro Step” — Westside Gunn
The dancing in the MV is on point but man, Westside Gunn just sails over this.
34. “Ion Rap Beef” (feat. Earl Sweatshirt and 03 Greedo) — Drakeo the Ruler
The cover art shows a man sick and tired of hearing that Ratoutille song on TikTok. The track itself is an unlikely combo but it’s enough to hold me over as I await the next Drakeo or 03 Greedo project.
33. “Take Me Where Your Heart Is” — Q
God I hate how much this sounds like Steve Lacy. You can literally throw “Somethinnnn bad’s about to happen….to me” over this and I couldn’t tell you the difference. But when something slaps and this man is as cool as he is at this bowling alley, I really don’t care to be critical.
32. “I Want You To Love Me” — Fiona Apple
“I know a sound is still a sound around no one.” That’s the line, it just sticks, this song is masterful what more can I say.
31. “Minnesota” — Samia
Samia if you ever read this because you Google’d this song seeing who put it on their favorite end-of-the-year song lists, I just want to say the question I asked you about your “Shrek” cameo during that interview last summer was maybe the most obscure find of information ahead of an interview ever. Anyways, this is one of my favorite overall artists and I’m so glad this album came out this year.
30. “Secrets” (feat. RAYE)— Regard
This is catchy, this rides, it's fun. I drove at night to pick up food or groceries so often during the onset of the pandemic and can just imagine this song playing in the background.
29. “Bebey” (feat. Giggs) [SN1 Road Mix] — Theophilus London
Oh, what’s that? This song came out in 2018. I just found that out today. Too bad it’s on a 2020 album and I couldn’t help but replay it in the wake of Kobe’s death because — and I haven’t confirmed it — it sounds like he’s getting a shoutout throughout the record. Anyways, British rappers are more fun to listen to.
28. “The Void” — Kid Cudi
This song came out less than a day ago and I already find it to be one of the most compelling tracks this year. The pitch changes, the outro, the content itself is just all too much… it makes me cry a little. Just like the next artist.
27. “Chinese Satellite” — Phoebe Bridgers
This woman needs to get away from my Spotify queue. This sorta orchestral, experimental but very pop sensible production coupled with lyrics like “when I can’t sleep it’s just a matter of time before I’m hearing things,” “you’d say I’d never be your vegetable” and the picket sign line. Wow.
26. “My Rajneesh” — Sufjan Stevens
This is what Sufjan is all about. It’s very “Age of Adz.” Why the heck wasn’t this on his album? It’s a beautiful, ambient and particular space that I just want to be in forever.
So yeah…more to come Sunday…
