It may seem strange to be so sentimental about what was essentially a month ago, but 2016 sure was a solid year. Forget the pessimistic media that intentionally casts shade over the past 12 months for a number of reasons…2016’s pop culture blunders have nothing on the sheer entertainment produced within the music industry over the same time frame.
After an unbelievable 2015, 2016 was the year that “couldn’t possibly top it” according to most students of the stereo. Lucky for us, the Kanyes, Beyonces, Frank Oceans, Chance The Rappers, and Bruno Mars’s of the world would prove otherwise for hit music station fanatics, while the remaining genres kicked ass in a more humbled and matchless fashion. Simply put, it was a year filled with surprises. There was a brilliant showing of conscious, instrumentally driven hip-hop; numerous beautifully tweaked covers; and even some scattered yet noticeable attempts at a funk revival. Newly divergent solo acts brought nothing but production skills, vocal talent, and the occasional single instrument with them on stage, while folk rock bands successfully leached off of country’s stagnant inability to make logical progressions away from the same old song and dance. To everyone’s pleasure, the musical cog within the beastly machine known as the entertainment industry functioned smoothly, effectively, and without tire.
I feel bad masking these songs wordy and ostentatious writing, so as they say, let’s get on with the damn thing. The entire list can also be found in order on this Spotify playlist, but keep in mind that shuffling may provide a completely different experience than listening linearly. Either the music video or the Spotify link is connected to each song title in the itemized list below if you prefer to take that path instead. Remember, if you like what you hear, you can like, comment, and follow the page for frequent updates on the latest and greatest tunes that this world has to offer.
- Angela by The Lumineers
- We Choose/Good Night (Live) by Her
- Gravity Don’t Pull Me by Rostam
- Pink + White by Frank Ocean
- Part Two – In My Own Way by Ray LaMontagne
- Rivers by The Tallest Man On Earth
- Blessings by Chance The Rapper
- Love & Hate by Michael Kiwanuka
- A Change Is Gonna Come (Sam Cooke Cover Recorded live at Studio Ferber) by Her
- In A Black Out by Hamilton Leithauser + Rostam
- Rule The World by Michael Kiwanuka
- Father’s Child by Michael Kiwanuka
- My Eyes by The Lumineers
- Am I Wrong by Anderson .Paak (feat. Schoolboy Q)
- Because I’m Me by The Avalanches
- Ophelia by The Lumineers
- Mistakes by Lake Street Dive
- Monday by Matt Corby
- Daydream by Medasin (feat. JOBA)
- Morning by William Wild
- Pasadena by Young Mister
- Studio 6 by Matt Maltese
- New Hampshire by PWR BTTM
- California by The Lagoons
- The Magician by Andy Shauf
- Is It Me by St. Paul and The Broken Bones
- Nobody Speak by DJ Shadow (feat. Run The Jewels)
- Get You by Daniel Caesar (feat. Kali Uchis)
- Time Of The Blue by The Tallest Man On Earth
- Dang! by Mac Miller (feat. Anderson .Paak)
- Crazy Dream by Tom Misch
- The City Nowadays by L.A. Salami
- Look At What The Light Did Now by Flo Morrissey and Matthew E. White
- Sleep On The Floor by The Lumineers
- Here In My Arms by Leon Bridges
- Someone That Loves You by HONNE, Izzy Bizu
- Set The Fire by Swimming Tapes
- West Coast (Under The Covers) by Max Jury
- Soothsayer by Cousin Tony’s Brand New Firebird
- Watch Me Dance by Tom Misch
- Melt by JONES
- Patience by The Lumineers
- Flowers by Palmas
- Dear To Me by Electric Guest
- Elegy by Leif Vollebeck
- Here In Spirit by Jim James
- Miss You (Honne Remix) by James Hersey
- Get Low by James Vincent McMorrow
- Tides by Swimming Tapes
- Hoops by The Rubens
- Self Control by Frank Ocean
- Friends by Francis and the Lights (feat. Bon Iver)
- Old Friends by Pinegrove
- Nikes by Frank Ocean
- Put It Together by Langhorne Slim
- My Instincts Are The Enemy by American Football
- Stuck by The Aces
- In A New Bed by Matt Maltese
- Easily by Bruno Major
- Montana by Mesita
- White Lie by The Lumineers
- Coins by Local Natives
- Sheila by Minden
- Cleopatra by The Lumineers
- Polymorphing by Chairlift
- Slow Down by VOKES
- Cautionary Tale by Dylan LeBlanc
- Castles by Appleby (feat. Elias Abid)
- To You by Andy Shauf
- Same Drugs by Chance The Rapper
- Time In A Circle by Proxima Parada
- & Bird by L.A. Salami
- Day to Day (for 6 days a week) by L.A. Salami
- Runnin’ by Free n Losh (feat. Busty And The Bass)
- Answer by Phantogram
- Check Please by Trash Panda
- In The Light by The Lumineers
- Everything Has Its Place by Young Mister
- Somebody Else by The 1975
- The Final Frame by Michael Kiwanuka
- Let’s Just Forget It by Jerry Williams
- 25.22 by Allan Rayman
- Get Out by Frightened Rabbit
- Love Keeps by Scenic Route To Alaska
- Little River by Loamlands
- C’est Toi by Cameron Avery
- Daisy May by Leon Bridges
- Hostage by Klangstof
- Solo by Frank Ocean
- Epiphany by James Vickery
- Didn’t I by Max Pope
- Coming Back by Scenic Route To Alaska
- You Don’t Get Me High Anymore by Phantogram
- Off by Trash Panda
- yea, babe, no way by LANY
- Follow by Tom Misch
- The Right Song by Free n Losh (feat. Terrell Morris)
- An Able Beast by Feelds (feat. Ariela Jacobs)
- Something To Believe In (Live Acoustic) by Young The Giant
- Stealing by Ty Dolla $ign
100 songs just doesn’t seem like enough, does it? Luckily dissatisfaction leads to inspiration, as there’s much more on the way. From the top 10 albums of the year, to the top 10 music videos of the year, to the next 100 songs that barely missed the cut, the posts in the upcoming weeks are sure to be too hot to handle. Additionally, be on the lookout for some major FeenyFresh branding changes in the upcoming weeks!