As much as I love putting this post together, I’m admittedly terrible at keeping track of where or how I discovered these songs throughout the year. And as you’ll see, there aren’t as many songs as past years. That said, there was no way I wasn’t posting it. Consider this a fun little recap of the music that stuck with me over the past 12 months. Hopefully, you find a few you enjoy too.

Dean Martin – Tess Henley (2019)

If this doesn’t make you want to dance, please seek help. If I had to compare Tess Henley to a current artist, she reminds me a bit of Olivia Dean — jazzy, soulful pop with a quiet confidence. It’s the kind of sound that I think flew under the radar for a few years but feels like it’s finally having a moment. I’m very much here for it.

We Gonna Make It – Jadakiss, Styles P (2001)

My brother sent me something on Instagram featuring this song, and I had to sheepishly admit I’d never heard it before. As someone who considered himself a serious early-2000s hip-hop fan, this was not a proud moment. I immediately added it to both my workout and running playlists, and given how much training I did for the half-marathon, Spotify telling me it was my 18th most-played song of the year checks out completely.

Discoproof – La Roux, Chromeo (2023)

I think it goes without saying that this also means I somehow missed “Bulletproof” in 2009. Regardless, I couldn’t get enough of this song. It’s pure fun — unapologetically pop, endlessly catchy, and a near-perfect endorphin boost whenever I needed one this year.

Ballin’ – Jeezy, Lil’ Wayne (2011)

I somehow missed this from TM:103, probably because “Lose My Mind” and “I Do” (minus for the Jay-Z verse) were on repeat back then. Serious question, though: as great as all of his albums, mixtapes, and EPs are, is there a more dangerous feature in hip-hop history than Weezy? He brings it every time, and even with a simple 14-line verse, he somehow manages to take over the entire song.

My Sweet Lord / Today Is a Killer – Live at Fort Dix, NJ – Nina Simone (1972)

I came across this after seeing it mentioned in Inciting Joy by Ross Gay, and of course I had to look it up. This is such a cool, uniquely Nina take on the song. It also sent me down a rabbit hole where I discovered her covers of “Black Is the Color,” “House of the Rising Sun,” “Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out,” and “Alone Again.” The range of genres she touches is incredible, and this performance is a perfect reminder of just how singular she was.

Fly Like A Bird – Ken Canedo (1995)

I’m a sucker for a sad-adjacent song, especially a Church one. In mid-March, at a Sunday Mass at St. Mary’s in Charlestown, the female cantor sang this, and it actually really touched me. The lyrics are based on Psalm 139:1-4, 7-12, 23-24, which speaks to how fully God knows our thoughts, plans, and actions, and how we can’t hide from Him. More importantly, it’s a reminder that we can trust Him, even in the darkest and most uncertain moments.

Shama Lama Ding Dong – Goose (2021)

This was my most-played song of the year and it wasn’t particularly close. I genuinely could not get enough of it, and I made sure everyone around me knew it. The piano solo alone is insane, but then that guitar solo hits and holy smokes! If I could isolate just that section and listen to it on a loop all day, I absolutely would. I mentioned endorphin boosts earlier, but nothing else came close to what this song delivered. Sitting at my desk during work, out on a long run, driving, cooking dinner — you name it, this song was everywhere for me.

Make That Booty Clap (Must Be Jelly) – Taylor Scott Band (2024)

I first heard this at Tradesman in Charlestown, and before I even processed the lyrics, I was already locked into the groove. Then I caught the line “that ass is big and fat” and did a full-on auditory double take. Did I just hear that right? Five seconds later, Shazam confirmed that yes I absolutely did. While this may not be the most universally appropriate song choice, the funk-forward vibe is infectious and undeniable.

Vivir Mi Vida – Marc Anthony (2013)