2017 was the year when I listened and discovered more independent music than ever before. It became much harder for the artists to spend 10 weeks on the chart. As well, I made a decision that I will only include the songs from the artists who are truly independent.
I have to admit it was an extremely hard decision to make. However, in 2017 I was still pretty flexible with the songs. The chart grew from Top 25 to Indie TOP 39. 390 songs entered the chart and 27 songs reached number 1.
At the end of this post, you can find a Spotify playlist to 100 Best Songs of 2017. The songs are displayed from number 1 to number 100.
Below I would like to briefly look at the songs from number 50 to 26.
50. SWEAT » Heaven?
SWEAT was one of the first live performances of 2017. I was standing so close to the stage that I nearly got hit by a mic in the middle of the performance.
Record Label: Liquid World Records
49. HANDSOME GHOST » Better Off
A duo HANDSOME GHOST released a debut album “Welcome Back” at the end of January. “Better Off” managed to reach number six.
Record Label: Photo Finish Records
48. MAJIK » Friends (Under The Influence)
MAJIK is one of my favourite discoveries of 2016 as “Real” spent last three weeks of the year at the top spot. “Friends” (Under The Influence) reached number three.
Record Label: Unsigned
47. RITUAL FT. MONONOKE » Bottle Tops
For “Bottle Tops” RITUAL has teamed up with MONONOKE. The hauntingly catchy track reached number five.
Record Label: Universal Music / An Island Records/ Decisive Records
46. CHARLIE CUNNINGHAM » Minimum
The way Charlie plays “Minimum” brings me JOSE GONZALEZ’s vibe. I saw Charlie perform live at the UNION CHAPEL. The song reached number three and spent nine weeks on the chart.
Record Label: Dumont Dumont
45. TORA » Amsterdam
TORA is a 4-piece electronic band born in Byron Bay, Australia. “Amsterdam” is their second single to enter the chart. I was introduced to a song by ALESSANDRO CIMINATA. It was climbing the chart when I was visiting Amsterdam back in August.
Record Label: LUSTRE
44. HIGHLY SEDATED » Wasted Youth
HIGHLY SEDATED is a 5-piece band based in Stockholm. Ironic, that one of the members is one of the best Lithuanian music producers LEON SOMOV. “Highly Sedated” reached number four.
Record Label: SIZE Records
43. AQUILO » Thin
Even though AQUILO is one of my favourite bands and this song reached number one, this will be the last single from the duo to enter the chart. Due to the change of the rules, I will not be including artists signed to major labels.
Record Label: Universal Music / An Island Records
42. JAGARA » Twice
“Twice” is my favourite single from JAGARA. It was one of the two singles to reach the top spot. The song secured #42 on the final chart only after spending seven weeks. Another three weeks were in 2018. If it was in the same year, the song would have been in the TOP 10.
Record Label: Unsigned
MORE: Introducing » JAGARA » “A band is only as good as their songs”
41. HAARLO » Love’s Gone
Hands down “Love’s Gone” is one of the sexiest tracks of 2017. The song peaked at number nine.
Record Label: Unsigned
40. NATHAN BALL » Cold Hands
NATHAN BALL had several songs to enter the chart. “Cold Hands” reached number three and spent all ten weeks on the chart. Nathan was one of the artists I saw perform live at OMEARA.
Record Label: Unsigned
39. SCOTT QUINN » Delicate
“Delicate” was a great example of how the song can grow on me. Looking back, I can’t understand why song made a debut only at number thirty-one. The song started climbing and managed to reach number one in the last week on the chart.
Record Label: Mahogany Records
38. JURGA » Not Perfect
JURGA is one of my favourite singer-songwriters from Lithuania. Last year she released a new studio album “Not Perfect”. The song of the same title entered the chart and reached number three.
Record Label: M.P.3
37. NATHAN BALL » Waste Of Time
“Waste of Time” is the third single from NATHAN BALL. Just like “Cold Hands” it reached number three.
Record Label: Unsigned
36. TEMPER TRAP » Sweet Disposition (YOUNGR Bootleg)
Even though the video for “Sweet Disposition” YOUNGR’s Bootleg version was shared on Youtube in the summer of 2016, it only appeared on Spotify the last year.
Record Label: Island Records / Universal Music
35. GONGKREEPER » Solitary Soul
GONGKREEPER is one of the artists who approached me himself. Originally from the UK he now lives in Sweden.
Record Label: Unsigned
34. OVERCOATS » Smaller Than My Mother
OVERCOATS is a New York-based duo. “Smaller Than My Mother” kept on warming me up during a typical English summer.
Record Label: Arts & Crafts Productions
33. RATIONALE » Tethered
RATIONALE needs no introduction. “Something For Nothing” was one of the best tracks of 2016. Out of five singles that entered the chart last year, “Tethered” performed the best-reaching number five.
Record Label: Best Laid Plans Records / Warner Music
32. SEA BED » Silent Song
It’s such a shame that I’ve discovered way too late. On the week when “Silent Song” hit number one spot the bad announced that they are no longer together.
Record Label: Unsigned
31. TYCHO FT. BEACON » See
“See” is one of the best dance tracks of 2017. The song kept me on dreaming about summer vibes.
Record Label: Unsigned
30. SKOTT » Mermaid
When I heard “Mermaid” for the first time, I was blown away. At first, you think is LANA DEL RAY? But then once SKOTT hits the chorus it’s obvious that SKOTT can do it much better than Lana. And she proved it well at a sold-out gig in London.
Record Label: Sony Music
29. HUNDRED WATERS » Particle
I saw HUNDRED WATERS perform earlier in the year and to be very honest I was a bit distracted because songs even performing live were so overproduced. It would have been different to hear the band from the States play acoustically. Still, “Particle” reached number one.
Record Label: !K7 Music
28. JAMES GILLESPIE » What You Do
“What You Do” is one of my biggest regrets of the year. This song deserved to be number one, however at the time it was released I was so focused on other songs. I saw James live as well, and damn he is has a great character and stunning voice. I can’t wait for new music from him.
Record Label: Unsigned
MORE: Alessandro Ciminata » “I believe there is room for everyone”
27. KUDU BLUE » NGFM
To date, this is the first single from 4 piece band KUDU BLUE that reached number one at the end of 2016. If the song was released in 2017 it would have made it much higher in the annual chart.
Record Label: Unsigned
MORE: “Perfection is achieved when there is nothing left to take away”
26. NEW LUNA » Noise
NEW LUNA is a 4-piece band from Manchester. Damn, they got the skill. “Noise” spent ten weeks on the chart and peaked at number three.
Record Label: Unsigned
Enjoy the playlist Best Songs of The Year 2017 » Indie Top 39 » Dov Zavado
