27 April 2018 This was the first new music released by Ariana Grande after the bomb attack outside her concert in Manchester on 22 May 2017. Twenty-two people were killed by the attack and over a thousand others were injured. The up-tempo electro-pop of 'No Tears Left To Cry' aims to be defiant and resolute … Continue reading Ariana Grande – ‘No Tears Left To Cry’
Tag: 10s
Drake – ‘God’s Plan’
2 February 2018 Maybe the provocative video for 'God's Plan' was acknowledgement that the track was especially bland and needed an add-on to grab attention. The synth riff and trap beat are nice but slight. Drake's rap, though, is a contrail of nothingness, a swatch of beige and off-white shades you could paint your kitchen … Continue reading Drake – ‘God’s Plan’
Dua Lipa – ‘IDGAF’
26 January 2018 I feel defeated. 'IDGAF' must be one of the dullest tracks ever to top the charts. From its lack of a tune to its lack of a hook, the whole thing is resolutely dour and flat. The pitch is Dua Lipa serving up attitude, but her cursive monotone is a subdued mumble … Continue reading Dua Lipa – ‘IDGAF’
Ed Sheeran – ‘Perfect’
8 December 2017 When all 16 tracks from Ed Sheeran's Divide album swamped the top twenty in the UK and in Ireland in March 2017, they had to change the rules. However, Ed wasn't done with breaking the charts that year, no sirree. 'Perfect' had been around for a while - after all, it was … Continue reading Ed Sheeran – ‘Perfect’
Camila Cabello ft. Young Thug – ‘Havana’
3 November 2017 With all the tropical house appropriation of the preceding couple of years, it's somewhat heartening that 2017 gives us two huge Latino Caribbean hits—'Despacito' and now 'Havana'—from acts for whom the culture is their family heritage rather than a keyboard setting. That said, I wonder if there are native Cubans who feel … Continue reading Camila Cabello ft. Young Thug – ‘Havana’
Post Malone ft. 21 Savage – ‘Rockstar’
20 October 2017 My brain, stretched to breaking point by all this listening and mulling on Ireland's historically WTF music purchases, evidently only has room for one chart-topping track called 'Rockstar', as this 2017 number one has been overwritten by a number one of the same name from 2020. Another explanation is that this one … Continue reading Post Malone ft. 21 Savage – ‘Rockstar’
Taylor Swift – ‘Look What You Made Me Do’
1 September 2017 Our first chart-topping encounter with the world's biggest pop star feels like it's overdue. 'Shake It Off', 'Style' and 'Bad Blood' had already been gargantuan hits in the preceding couple of years, even if only top ten placers in Ireland. They had also helped establish the most popular flavours in the Taylor … Continue reading Taylor Swift – ‘Look What You Made Me Do’
Dua Lipa – ‘New Rules’
18 August 2017 The most disappointing thing about Dua Lipa's 2024 album Radical Optimism was that it meant her excellent preceding album Future Nostalgia was the exception. Where she had infused the fresh and exciting 'Don't Start Now' and 'Physical' with character and energy, seemingly kicking on to a higher level and upping her game, … Continue reading Dua Lipa – ‘New Rules’
Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee ft. Justin Bieber – ‘Despacito’
5 May 2017 The 15 weeks of 'Despacito' were finally overtaken by Kingfishr's 'Killeagh' in January 2026 as second only to 'Riverdance' on the all-time list of songs with the most weeks at number one in Ireland. 'Killeagh' had the power of local Gaelic football and hurling, a folk music resurgence and a prominent Late … Continue reading Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee ft. Justin Bieber – ‘Despacito’
Ed Sheeran – ‘Galway Girl’
10 March 2017 Steve Earle's Galway Girl was from Dublin. Ed Sheeran's Galway Girl was from Limerick. Alliteration, rhythm and other mysteries of lyric writing were probably the forces prevailing over mundane accuracy in both instances. That said, fans of feminist and post-colonial theories will recognise the trope of a western male tourist or voyager … Continue reading Ed Sheeran – ‘Galway Girl’
