On the eve of a new year, I wanted to share my favorite songs of 2019 in the annual Gibby Fifty. There are a lot of singles in the bunch, but there are also plenty of deep cuts, too. This one’s pretty straight forward: it had to come out this year to make this alphabetical list, and if it’s here, it’s not on the forthcoming best pop songs of the year list. Just an aside, if you want a window into what my listening for a year looks like, this entry always has the clearest view. I’ll leave you with tunes for now (playlist at the bottom) and see you in the new year!

Aaron West and the Roaring Twenties – “Just Sign the Papers”
American Football feat. Hayley Williams – “Uncomfortably Numb” The emo band tapping Hayley Williams feels like some kind of affirmation of Paramore.
American Pleasure Club – “What Kind of Love?” The sound of utter oblivion.
Anderson .Paak feat Andre 3000 – “Come Home”
Angel Olsen – “Chance”
Arcade Fire – “Baby Mine” From Dumbo, which I legit forgot came out this year.
Ariana Grande – “ghostin”
Carly Rae Jepsen – “No Drug Like Me” I love that this song has a groove.
Charli XCX and Christine and the Queens – “Gone”
Charly Bliss – “Young Enough”
Chris Farren – “Love Theme from ‘Born Hot'”
Dogleg – “Fox” Dogleg’s new album from next year is one I probably won’t shut up about.
Doja Cat – “Bottom Bitch”
Ellen Alien – “Bowie in Harmony” Things I found out this year: I kinda dig Euro electronia!
Empath – “Roses That Cry”
fka Twigs – “fallen alien” Both this and the Empath track are insane and I love them both.
Florence + the Machine – “Moderation”
Frank Ocean – “DHL”
Free Nationals feat. Mac Miller and Kali Uchis – “Time”
Future – “Love Thy Enemies”
glass beach – “glass beach” (…or “bedroom community” or “neon glow” or “yoshi’s island” or “orchid” or “cold weather or)
I Love Your Lifestyle – “Dreamy Dreams”
Jaden feat. Tyler, the Creator – “Noize” A great song on a way too long album. Killer Tyler verse.
Jay Som – “Superbike” Anah Ko gets my annual “watch me love this in like 4 months” award.
Kim Gordon – “Air BnB” It really shouldn’t be surprising that Kim Gordon’s the member of Sonic Youth who’s sounded the most creatively vital after the split, right?
Kitty – “Mami”
Lana Del Rey – “How to disappear”
Leggy – “Prom”
Lizzo – “Juice” Can’t wait to see this top the charts in 2022.
Mannequin Pussy – “In Love Again” In which Mannequin Pussy experience joy and it is incredible.
Oso Oso – “The View”
Proper. – “Lime Green Jheri Curl”
PUP – “Sibling Rivalry” If we’re going by pure listens, this was probably my song of the year. Feels like a continuation of “If this Tour Doesn’t Kill You, I Will.”
Sharon Van Etten – “Seventeen” Me and a pair of friends of mine saw SVE debut this at a show while opening for The National last year in Colorado. We were underdressed and miserable in the cold and sleet and snow, but hearing “Seventeen” for the first time left me gobsmacked.
Solange – “My Skin My Logo”
Tame Impala – “Patience”
Taylor Swift – “Cornelia Street” You could also put “I Think He Knows” or “Cruel Summer here.
The 1975 – “Frail State of Mind”
The Menzingers – “Anna”
The National – “Rylan” Fun fact: The National played this at that show where Sharon Van Etten opened for them.
The Pom-Poms – “200 Grams”
The Raconteurs – “Don’t Bother Me” A rollicking number despite it being about how much Jack White hates phones.
The Twilight Sad – “VTr”
The Weeknd – “Blinding Lights”
Turnover – “Number on the Gate” Altogether didn’t do much for me that Good Natured hadn’t already, but this is still a jam.
The World is a Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid to Die – “Smoke + Felt”
Tyler, the Creator – “I THINK”
White Reaper – “Real Long Time” See above on Turnover.
Willow – “Overthinking IT” I was on the fence on Willow on a first listen until the second half of this one.
Young Thug – “Light It Up” Thug’s So Much Fun might be the album kneecapped hardest by rap’s compulsion to make 13 track albums into 19 track ones.