The Best of 2015

Yes - I am doing in this in 2016. And, in the middle of second month of 2016 too. I get it. Its late. Really late. Really really really late. But better to have done it than not. And, this madame has way too much on his plate than to do things when I'm supposed to. After much consideration, cups of tea and marshmallows these contributions to pop are the ones I toot the most from last year....enjoy....(I hope).

Justin Bieber - What Do You Mean

Justin finally arrives on DontStopThePop with his first good song. He's had okay pop mingles that give you shingles. But with What Do You Mean, and its parent album, Justin finally created a pop product that was worth the immense buzz that surrounds him. Well done. Quite catchy indeed. 

Molly Sanden - Satellites 

I loved everything Molly did this year. Her E.P Like No One's Watching was one of my most treasured possessions of 2015. She has a big voice and stunning pop songs. Very good. 

Chinook - Dancing In Flames

Amazing. Speechless. I love Chinook. It is very early days yet for this Norwegian star. I'm not sure its totally safe to mix water and electricity as she does in the video for the brilliant Dancing In Flames but who cares! The minute I heard Chinook early last year I was hooked. And, Dancing In Flames has made a home in my ear-drums. It refuses to leave. Thankfully.

Cilia - Silhouettes in Slow Motion

Another Scandinavian appearance here with Cilia who has constantly released brilliant music this year. Silhouettes clearly stated her intentions to win over my heart. In an extremely busy market place concerning Swedish pop stars Cilia has managed strike through and mark out her identity by creating absolutely stunning pop music. Thank you Cilia. Cannot wait for you 2016 and 2017. P.S please do some gigs in London. Tack. 

Carly Rae Jepsen - Run Away With Me/Emotion

Gosh, my heart hurts for Carly Rae Jepsen. Her album Emotion was amazing. And, it is my my album of 2015! But what an bittersweet experience. Such a well-produced album loaded with so many good pop songs and yet, nowt seemed to stick. Chart success aside, Emotion and all its beautiful gems it contained glisten bright like a super-nova in my heart. I love it always. Pop album of the year. 

Noonie - Noonia 

And, now Noonie! Someone who actually contributed to the brilliance of Carly's album! Yes, Noonie co-wrote Run Away With Me. Her EP Noonia was a fantastic follow-up to her 2012 debut album which was my album of that year. I was smitten the very first time I heard the singles Pyramids and I'm In Love. Adorable. 

Danny Saucedo - Dör För Dig

A song about growing up in Stockholm, friendship and the first glimpse of a bit of boob made my summer theme of 2015. My Swedish ain't so good but Danny's Dör för dig is pretty absolutely brilliant. I love every note, word and shuffle. A warm and cosy single.

Adam Lambert - Ghost Town

Everything on The Original High was very good and if it wasn't for Carly Rae Jepsen's album Lambert would've easily snatched the DontStopThePop's album of the year title. I'd love to celebrate the fact that Adam and Carly proudly highlight the multi-faceted international list of 2015 but that is totally bollocks as most of my song's hail from Scandinavia. Sorry (but not sorry - its just the way it was last year). Illustrating the power of Sweden at the moment BOTH Adam and Carly's excellent albums last year featured the immense writing talent of Max Martin. On Ghost Town Adam managed to explore the darker aspects of Martin's pop wall of of sound by infusing club synths throughout the record making the single bloody hot rampant pop song and the best in Lambert's career.

Kastrup - Come and Get Me

Returning to Sweden, the boys of Kastrup released not one but two amazing songs in 2015 but Come & Get Me eclipsed their debut single Thieves. While they remain unsigned now don't expect to last. They are good. Very VERY good. I simply love their brazen bold ability to embrace utter epicness.

Zara Larsson - Lush Life

Zara Larsson's first album is amazing. Get it on import if you can. It is well worth it. She is gonna be so big this year. Last year she had hits with Lush Life and with MNEK. Yay! She's been in the studio in-between a year of promoting her hits so expected a re-worked album and confluent global domination. Oyster. Is. Hers!

Aurora - Murder Song (5,4,3,2,1)

Melt my heart. Aurora has had an amazing year and golly how quick have the stars aligned for the Norwegian artist. Her music is outer-wordly. And, she is amazing live too. One of the best performers you'll see this year (if you can grab tickets). Everything Aurora released last year was stunning but for me it was the Murder Song that had me enraptured. Her album is out in March and is amazing. 

LEON - Tired of Talking

Bouncing back over to Sweden now, Leon came right out of the blue and gave us one of the most promising debut singles of 2015. Perhaps the best debut single of 2015. With its fantastic baseline and sharp lyrics, I'm not entirely convinced that Leon is unsigned but I can't say for sure that she's with a label. Suffice to say there's probably a production deal in place that will most likely upgrade to a big ole 360 deal sooner or later. Her music thick with brilliant pop tunage that promises to see her score big at next year's Polar Prize. Welcome, Leon. Your time has started and buckle up for the very excited ride. Ready to dance my heart out to your 2016.

Sophia Somajo - Klein Blue

To the pirate of pop: Sophia Somajo (SOSO). Everything Sophia does turns to the most violent and outrageous shade of gold its actually unbelievable. Not one of her songs is ever a dud, alright or meh. Sophia will not put out something lesser. Her high standards are stratospheric and I love that about her. Amazing amazing amazing pop song of 2015: I can't wait for more from her this year. 

Harriet - Love Will Burn

Ok, I am totally biased for sure but when I first heard Love Will Burn my heart raced, I was shaken, stirred and I couldn't believe how Sam Smith's 007 theme tune could've flown the nest when epic polemics such as Harriet's Love Will Burn and Thom Yorke's/Radiohead's Spectre (listen here)exist in the world. Thing is, I know that Harriet, and Thom, will one day perform the James Bond theme. This time round the stars simply aligned for Smith....